Singer/songwriter Dana Cooper played the intimate setting of the
Trinity Backstage concert series Saturday night, April 22, and
performed a selection of songs from his 33-year recording career.
The audience, 100-people strong, kept calling for more, and would
have stayed all night if he kept playing. Trinity Backstage
continues to bring interesting, provocative, and talented musicians
to Santa Barbara monthly, so see trinitybackstage.com. For more
information about Dana Cooper, see danacoopermusic.com.

1) Cooper’s right hand: American guitarists maintain a list of
who gets the right hand if anything happens. Cooper’s nimble right
hand, speedy and graceful, kept a driving yet lyrical melody on all
tunes, from “Jesse James”—“The song that got me my first record
deal”— to the recently released “Made of Mud.” 2) Political
commentary: Throughout the show, Cooper interspersed comments on
the world around both in his conversation as well as his song
lyrics. “Sit This One Out,” a song to Rosa Parks, reminds us of the
power we all possess.

3) Sense of humor: Cooper’s wry sarcasm was evident throughout
the performance as he bantered with the audience. This began with
Cooper’s comments about the crowd’s enthusiastic response to his
first tunes, “You’re a tough crowd, but I’m going to try and win
you over.”

4) Uplifting message: “Great Day in the Morning” delivers the
feeling of joy in a moment, so much so that concert series hostess
Kate Wallace announced it was the song on her sister’s alarm
clock.

5) Danceability factor: Cooper proved this, particularly when an
inhibited 2-year-old in the back of the room got down and boogied.
We were all tempted.

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.