Liar is the best musical discovery I've made in a long while. Having relocated from Albuquerque, New Mexico, they're now a San Francisco-based band, led by versatile guitarist, Eric McFadden. The music is all original, influenced by rock, blues, country, flamenco and probably a couple of other flavors.
McFadden is a guitar virtuoso and a pleasure to watch. He shares the front line with a couple of sexy women, Sheila Schat, an excellent fiddler who trades off solos with him, and Paula O'Rourke a solid bass player. Paulo Baldi on drums completes the four-piece.
They've put out two CD's. Gone Too Far is the most recent, which has McFadden on all lead vocals, while the previous release, Devil Dog Road, had Sheila's predecessor singing lead on several tracks. Both discs have some great songs on them, but none capture the energy of their live show. The fast-paced One Crazy Day, and the bluesy Wanna Be Yo' Man, show off what this band is all about.
Looking like Slash in a cowboy hat, Eric McFadden is a guitarist that gets the crowd drooling for more. He can pull off some amazing licks, and I have to say, he is THE BEST local guitarist I've seen in San Francisco. Playing in apparently four other projects, including The Eric McFadden Experience, he's also one of the hardest working musicians around.
If this doesn't sound like your type of thing, check it out anyway! I doubt you'll be disappointed. And don't skip out early. Liar knows how to make a big finish.
Opening the show is the Jim Campilongo Band and Red Meat. Tickets are $8.00 in advance and available through Ticketweb. The show starts at 9:00, and doors open at 8:00. See y'all there!
Steve Cefaratti
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