Alexa Scherrer, Schaffhauser Nachrichten, Monday, April 16, 2007

TWO MAKES ONE

The promoters at the "Summerlust" were positively surprised by the beautiful, summer-like weather and the many guests. Every seat was taken in the performance space on the upper floor of the restaurant, and the audience was eagerly awaiting Mat Callahan and Yvonne Moore's appearance. The two are definitely not unknown stars - they have established their names over many music filled years.

After eight years of collaborating on their respective solo projects, the couple discovered their creative potential as a duet. Friday night they proved that they truly use their potential to the fullest. There was certainly no need for Yvonne's nervousness at the beginning - and this not only because she's performed here before, at the "Kammergarn" music hall a long time ago, and also at "Summerlust".

Her vibrating voice and nervous hands, however, contributed a lot to the fondness one began to feel for the couple sometime after the brief introduction of her life partner Mat Callahan. As Mat explains, the music was, in fact, written for friends and family, so that they can gather around the fire-place in the living-room and become lost in thought.

The couple resides in Bern. For this reason the two traveled to Schaffhausen to share the music on their new CD "Welcome" with the audience, and for their enjoyment.

New Folk - this can be any music direction. The many descriptions of styles nowadays are overwhelming as it is. Sometimes it is better to attend a concert without knowing anything about the particular music style. This way, one can actually be pleasantly surprised. Isn't it much more important to like the music performed at a concert, rather than the interesting sounding name of the music style?
One doesn't necessarily have to become a New Folk fan after Mat Callahan and Yvonne Moore's concert. But their music, melodies and their voices will always surface when talking about or listening to this music style. And the music of these two artists will always produce a smile - it embodies an utter zest for life.

The songs, accompanied by acoustic guitar and harmonica, tell personal stories. Stories about American history, stories about the Vietnam war, about politics. But there are also stories about friends, about truth and lies, about love, about oneself.

After the concert - while walking along the river Rhein towards downtown Schaffhausen, reflecting on the woman with the long blond hair and the man in the red shirt, and their songs - one makes a mental note to check the calendar of events, wondering when the next New Folk concert will take place.

The vibrating voice and nervous hands contributed a lot to the fondness one began to feel for the couple sometime after their brief introduction.