Last night the Akron Family, a folk-influenced experimental rock band, played a free concert at the Rock Hall. They were brilliant, and highly entertaining. Their most distinguishing characteristic is their ability (insistence?) to expand the concept of music and deny the definition of musical instrument. Second, I mention their rolling repertoire of genre - throughout and within a song - with seamless transitions. Listening to them was like receiving a shiatsu massage of my brain. These guys are true genuis. 

The highlight of the performance came when the band's faithful rushed the stage platform - perhaps a first for the Rock Hall!?! - and we watched a totally freaked security guard (poor thing I think there were 2 of them) barking sideways into his head phone. There wasn't much he could do about it, so the fans remained on stage. Gentle leaders, the band finished the rest of their song, thanked their exuberant followers, then quietly asked them to please get off their stage. Smiles all around!

I'd never heard this band before and went with my musicophone husband. I fell utterly in love with them -and my husband was very happy. Nice show!

A few of us were talking outside afterwards. We agreed the Rock Hall shows were great - but far too few. They don't quite challenge the widely held perception that the Rock Hall is not part of the Cleveland music community. Maybe thats something that could change? That and their time worn use of echelon to keep the "masses" from the "elite". How stupid. I mean - this is Cleveland, not LA.