Recording: The Queer Songbook Orchestra

Artist: The Queer Songbook Orchestra feat. Thom Gill

Song: Cosmic Dancer [T. Rex cover]

Recorded at The Great Hall's Black Box (Long Winter 4.5 – Night 1), March 18, 2016.

The Queer Songbook Orchestra feat. Thom Gill - Cosmic Dancer

You can't fault Long Winter for being ambitious and for wanting to close out the season by cramming in as much music and art into the Great Hall as possible, but their plan to close the year out with a two-night stand didn't entirely pay off. Giving patrons the choice of two nights (and holding them at the end of Spring Break) seemed to especially cut into the younger crowd and both nights (especially Friday) lacked that "about to burst" feeling that makes LW unique. But even if the crowd was at less than maximum strength, there was no certainly no lack of music spread throughout the building.

Crowding ten members on stage, the QSO's elaborately-arranged covers were a most-pleasing change of pace at Long Winter and one of the night's real treats. Cramming in a half-dozen songs into their set, there was less storytelling than usual, but a lot of wonderful music sung by Alex Samaras and Ghislain Aucoin — and this one by Thom Gill, delivered in his disarmingly off-the-cuff style with his own commentary following quickly on the lyrics.

[The QSO will be presenting an evening of Anthems & Icons at The Music Gallery on Sunday, April 17th.]