Biblical Team of Stanton & Been
The Apostle John and Saul of Tarsus--together again, live at the Palomino. . . .
Singer-turned-actor Michael Been and actor-turned-singer Harry Dean Stanton, who essay those respective biblical roles in “The Last Temptation of Christ,” started jamming on the film’s Moroccan set and decided to team up for more rock ‘n’ roll back home.
Thursday, the only protests were from a rabid Palomino audience demanding encores.
Playing mostly acoustically--backed by two members of Been’s group, the Call--the duo at times suggested a dustier version of the Everly Brothers (reinforced by a lovely encore rendition of the bros’ 1960 hit “Let It Be Me”).
Though he found the occasional flat note, Stanton is usually smooth enough and could well be the country singer he pretended to be in “The Rose.” Been is a more emotive crooner--and a passionate guitarist to boot--but in overly sacrificial fashion let Stanton take most of the lead vocals, reserving his angelic falsetto for the upper end of surprisingly well-matched two-part harmonies.
Been and Stanton also play Sunday at the Coach House, Thursday at Bogart’s and Friday at McCabe’s.
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