The evening was filled with banter, and it was clear that much of the room had seen Doughty before. Much of the banter was fueled by a "question jar" where Doughty answered questions submitted by the audience. However, it was by no means the highlight of the night, as Doughty delivered a lengthy set that included a number of strong tunes from his latest, Sad Man Happy Man.
Doughty managed to create a solid compliment to his songwriting with the addition of a cellist/electric guitarist for the entirety of the set. The two men clearly had a strong rapport, and the benefit of diversified instrumentation did a lot to enhance Doughty's rhythmic, acoustic arrangements.
More than anything, the set reenforced what we already knew: that Mike Doughty is a solid showman with his own distinctive style. Unquestionably, his solo work has landed him in slightly less intricate space than in his Soul Coughing days. Still, the combination of poetic delivery juxtaposed with Doughty's memorable voice made for a show that is well worth your while.
More photos at the HAD Archive
