Bryson Jones / Jonny Kaplan
"Tears in My Beer" at the Hotel Cafe in LA - Thursday, August 15

Ok, ok, I know you've all been waiting with bated breath to read about the "Tears in My Beer" show, and since I've finally rediscovered the missing notebook (it helps to clean out the office once in a while!) here goes!

The Hotel Cafe is a small, intimate room, perfect for the low-key acoustic night. It's dark and cozy, with seating for about 40 or so, plus standing room along the side and in back by the bar. Parking is $5 at the lot next door, and the convenience is worth every penny. I was lucky enough to grab an open seat right near the front, and I wasn't giving it up for anything, although the two drunk guys slobbering in my ear were almost enough to convince me to move elsewhere. Except for those two, the crowd was very attentive and respectful of the performers.

I missed the first band High or Hellwater, but was in time to see Bryson Jones take the stage. His friendly, genuine manner immediately caught the attention of the packed room. I found out later that this was the first time in years that he had performed his own songs live, but you'd never have known it from his performance. His smoky twang drew the crowd into a world of broken hopes and open eyes with the searching "Only So Many Chances" and the and exquisite love song "Couldn't Even Dream You." Breaking into the rollicking, Stones-y "Loaded On You Again," Bryson wryly observes the parallel between the harmful effects of drugs and women. Brian Forsyth joined him on harmonies for "Cowboy Clothes" a plaintive ode to the hardscrabble life of a western family. He closed with "Good Things Born of Pain," a musical gift to friend Polly Parsons, and "The Last You Hear From Me," a song Jones wrote to be played at his eventual funeral. The chorus "I want I love you to be the last you hear of me" is a touching reminder that unfortunately, we don't always leave our loved ones on the best of terms.

After a short break, Jonny Kaplan, sans Lazy Stars, was up. He started out with the understated "Henry" (I have no idea if these song titles are right by the way, they're just my best guesses!) followed by the tangibly heartbroken "Heart, Soul, Blood, Skin." Bryson returned to the stage to harmonize on the gorgeous and melancholy "Damaged," where Jonny displayed his considerable finger-picking skills. They were joined by another guitarist (I didn't catch his name) on "High Desert Love Song," which puts a slight twist on the typical love song concept. Jonny ended on a high note with the catchy, campy "Stick Around" off his new three song-demo, then invited the rest of the evening's musicians back to the stage for a hootenanny rendition of the Rolling Stones' "Sweet Virginia."

If you're looking for some excellent acoustic music in a cool venue and with a great crowd, show up at the Hotel Cafe on the third Thursday of the month and say hi to Shilah, the brains behind the "Tears." You won't be disappointed.