Ep.8/ Show: Mapache @ Metro Music Hall in Salt Lake City, UT
3/4/2023: Mapache Performs At Metro Music Hall In Salt Lake City, UT
REWIEW BY: Natalie King
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Review of the Show:
Even when sometimes performing in a different language, Mapache’s love for music could be felt by anyone attending their two-set performance at Metro Music Hall. To start off, they played through familiar songs with an acoustic set, featuring songwriters and frontmen Sam Blasucci and Clay Finch on steel and Spanish guitar. Listening to this acoustic set was somewhat reminiscent of sitting around a campfire, as Mapache created an atmosphere that was both intimate and communal, implicitly inviting the audience to sing along. It was clear from this set alone that Sam and Clay have been playing together for a long time. They managed an intricate interplay between both their guitar work and vocal harmonies, showcasing a level of synchrony and skill that only comes with years of intense practice. Additionally, it was interesting to note that Sam played a standard guitar left-handed, adding a unique touch to their sound.
Folksy, stripped down, and most of all genuine and heartfelt, Mapache showcased their mastery of songwriting in both Spanish and English. Sam and Clay’s vocals, accompanied by dual performances on guitar, were not only accessible but simply a delight to listen to. They kept this up during their second set, where they brought along bassist Cam Wehrle and drummer Steve Didelot to the stage to play music from their latest release “Roscoe’s Dream.” This shift from two singers with guitars to a fully realized band made this show a kind of microcosm for their evolution since they started in 2015, taking the audience on a musical journey from their early work to an almost psychedelic blend of folk and country music. At the beginning of their set, they ease you in with a friendly on (and off) stage demeanor along with music that takes you back to Neil Young and Bob Dylan.
After this first set (which didn’t require ear protection), they launched into full on cosmic folk rock, taking full advantage of the abundance of talent on stage. Even with this shift in sound, they maintained a consistently laid back and wholesome vibe throughout the show, delighting both longtime fans and new listeners such as myself.
