Its an unfortunate state of affairs when ones strengths are also the source of ones impediment. For Leo Kottke, the willingness to extend himself in many different directions, elastically incorporating a dizzying variety of musical styles into what still manages to be a singular and signature sound, has kept his music a relative secret. A man of such virtuosic talent should be widely considered a national treasure, rather than marginalized as a cult hero to those in the particular know. Unfortunately, much of the record buying public wants to know what theyre getting before they heart it, with a neat little label applied, and thats just not possible with Kottke. Once you hear Leo Kottke, with his powerful, graceful fingerpicking style and self-described geese farts on a muggy day vocals, you will forever recognize his music, yet be hard-pressed to accurately describe or categorize it, and therein lies the rub.
Sat., May 2, 8 p.m., 2009
