Write a commentThe title of Leslie Mendelson's most recent album is "If You Can't Say Anything Nice...". After her performance on Saturday night at The Music Hall in Oswego, there are plenty of nice things to say.
The Brooklyn-based singer opened her Saturday night show at The Oswego Music Hall with a new tune, The Good Life, which she said is from an album she has recently finished recording. She played several new songs throughout the evening, and said of the new album, "I was fortunate to have Peter Asher, who has worked with Carole King and Carly Simon among others, produce the new album." Mendelson said the new album should be available in early spring.
Accompanying herself on acoustic guitar and harmonica, Mendelson played songs from all three of her previous albums, and found time to throw in some tasteful covers of tunes by Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello and The Pretenders for good measure. She also played Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou, which she'd previously recorded with Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, and a song she had co-written and performed with Jackson Browne, The Human Touch.
To say that Mendelson had a good rapport with her audience would be an understatement. It's not every artist who can convince audience members to whistle an entire chorus of one of their songs, but Mendelson can now say that she's one who can. Midway through her song, I Know A Lot Of People, But I Don't Have Many Friends, she called out, "Can anybody whistle?" Several audience members raised their hands, and she told them to take it away - so they did, and got a rousing ovation for their efforts
She closed her set with the rousing All Come Together from her album If You Can't Say Anything Nice..., receiving a standing ovation from the packed house. She came back for encores of Friend Of The Devil from The Grateful Dead, and Joni Mitchell's People's Parties before closing the show with her own sweet tune, Good Night.
iHeart Oswego gives Leslie Mendelson's performance at The Music Hall five stars, and we hope this talented performer can make a return to Oswego soon.
Next up at The Music Hall will be an Open Mike Night hosted by Steve Watson on Friday, November 3rd. On Saturday, November 4th Americana and Celtic artists The John Byrne Band will perform. Advance sale tickets for the November 4 show are available online at OswegoMusicHall.org or at The River's End Bookstore in downtown Oswego.
