Last Friday, I saw the California Guitar Trio at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, and it was a great show.

I first became aware of this group when I was working at The McDonald Theatre in Eugene. CGT, Neko Case, Public Enemy, and The Decemberists are the acts that won me over with their live shows while I was alternating between box office and artists hospitality duties. I didn’t have any direct interaction with the guys in the Trio, but I loved watching them play. When I noticed last fall that they were slated to play The Coach House in January, I decided to try to be there.

I’d never been to The Coach House before, so I didn’t know what to expect. I knew they served dinner there, and the last dinner/show I went to was at a pretty swanky place in San Diego. With that in mind, I decided to dress up a little and bust out a little black dress that got far too little wear in recent months. I thought there was a chance I’d feel over-dressed, but I was surprised that I also felt like I’d left the state when I entered the venue.

I should say now that I was really charmed by The Coach House, and that I will definitely try to make it back there. My shiny little dress was a bit much for their honky tonk atmosphere and long, community dining tables, though. Between the people in the crowd and the band on the stage, I felt like I’d teleported back to Eugene… or Missouri. It was strange, but good.

There were two opening acts, which I hadn’t expected. Both were talented, but their music was almost too soothing. I felt like I was in a cozy trance by the time CGT took the stage. Fortunately, though, their hour+ of guitar harmony was fascinating and rousing enough to wake us up and carry us through their set.

I really love to watch talented people play the guitar, and this group gives you three times the bang for your buck on that front. They talked about their personal and professional origins (none of them are from CA, and they formed the group in the UK), and they showed off a lot of their technical prowess, passing notes to each other in a semi-circular fashion and using effects to create an aural space-scape. Really fantastic stuff.

Since I wanted to attend this show as a fan, I didn’t tape anything, but I did find a great video of them playing a Bach piece that’s one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it, and I’d strongly encourage you to check them out if they come to a venue near you.

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