Amy Cook & Joe Pug

A business trip to the Windy City led to this listing, Lincoln Hall. The latter is a local favorite, ex-carpenter and ex-playwriting student it would seem: talk of Dylan (not Thomas) in the press, and indeed he strapped the harmonica on early in the headlining proceedings. Nice guy, nice shout-out to his opener, but I departed early. Amy got ten songs in in 45 minutes, sans David Garza (in New York City during and post-Sandy, it would seem). One she had recently worked up again because a 9-year-old in Austin went into one of Amy’s friend’s guitar shop and asked to be taught it. A Blondie cover combined nicely with 9 originals, including my favorite “Getting to You.” She mentioned having toured with Tift Merritt and Richard Thompson post-Lu, pre-Pug. Much talk about the white vinyl for sale, although from my vantage point it wasn’t a good merch night for her. The two had played Old Town Folk Music School two nights before. Quite a busy touring year for Ms. Cook. . .