Pat Carter and Luis De Cicco (Rodeo FM) | Saturday, March 16th 2024 – The Black Flamingo, Nijlen
This show had already been on my radar since around September ‘23. I remember Jo being thrilled letting me know well in advance that half of Rodeo FM was booked to appear for a stripped down acoustic set at The Black Flamingo in March 2024. Knowing what an excited recommendation like this meant coming from him (and after a brief listen to not spoil too much for myself), I marked my calendar and passed through the ups and downs of another six months, which in hindsight flew by.
The fateful Saturday of the performance I was more than chuffed to be on the way to see Pat Carter and Luis De Cicco, half of the Berlin based Band Rodeo FM. I arrive in my home away from home, and almost immediately Pat Carter himself walks up to me asking me if I’m the author of DownSideUp. Why yes sir I am! An engaging conversation ensues ranging from musical history to commiserations about working in Communications and Marketing; from Kris Kristofferson to media planning. The tone is already set for an up close and personal musical surprise that is about to unfold before my eyes and ears.
Lights out, backdrop blinking merrily away behind them and it’s all aboard for Pat & Luis to take us on a journey through stories, time and genres. It’s difficult to label them under any genre but let’s call it a beautiful blend of bluesy, folky, rocking country influences, mixed in with a lot of anarchist punk spirit.
Rodeo FM has been called a politically left wing country band and Pat Carter remarks that a lot of the songs in the set don’t necessarily emphasise that. The title song to the newest album that came out a year ago (to the day I am writing this all down, as synchronicity would have it) however says it in just three simple words: ‘Right Wing Planet’. Here’s a full band version of that particular song, which suggests a different vibe to the intimate acoustic performance we were served at The Black Flamingo, but should give an idea of that punk mindset I was talking about.
What isn’t difficult to define, is that the first song in the set immediately travels through my senses straight into my heart. These two are part of that rare variety of artists that unfalteringly, yet effortlessly weave visual tales with mere words and notes.
Pat plays his acoustic guitar and sings spiritedly in a voice that puts me in mind of that other troubadour, Gipsy Rufina. A powerful yet delicate tone that fits well within this cosy blanket of sound.
Luis lets his fingers follow the notes across the neck of that gorgeous resonator guitar, eyes closed and seemingly one with the music. I’m reminded of one of my favourite Pixar movies of all time, Soul (I’m sorry guys, conformist commercialism incoming, but hear me out:), where musicians let the music flow through them when they get into the rapturous trancelike state of ‘the Zone’.
The beautiful instrument had caught my eye as soon as I walked into The Black Flamingo to which I noted ‘That is one sexy looking guitar!’ Somewhere further on in my notes I expand that sentiment to the sound of it; “That steel guitar is singing its own song’.
After the show I talk to Luis, fangirling over it (Like I tend to do when I fall in love with the gear). I find out that after admiring the Paul Beard signature resonator some time prior, he fortuitously bought it for a fraction of what it was worth off of a musician who couldn’t take it back with him. Of course a piece like this has its own story.
Back into the comforting arms of the music when I close my eyes myself and drift away, the words and notes flowing through the night. Earnestly I write down: ‘What is this! Love, love, love!’ Immediately I am immersed completely in that spellbinding voice and those strings strung with passion and perfection, and end up wholeheartedly content.
Near the end of the set The Black Flamingo’s most famous resident feline makes an appearance to cuddle and get a front row seat mere seconds after Pat sings ‘Miranda’, a break-up song in which the aforementioned Miranda took the cat, which is in itself a reference to the lyrics of The Way it Goes by Gillian Welch. (Author’s note: the following is not that song, just another great Rodeo FM tune, featuring Caramel getting comfortable.)
After their set, we get talking about instruments, musical influences and again much more. I am already 100% sure that this is going to be the first 2024 Black Flamingo passing that will appear on this blog. Meanwhile it is after midnight on the 17th of March, exactly a week to the day since that fateful Pete Bernhard gig in 2023. It’s only fitting I explain just how integral The Black Flamingo was to the reinvention of my special space on the web. The energy here tonight felt comparable to that night that marked my rediscovery of my love of music. A synchronicitous series of events to top off an enchanting night.
As a bonus, you have a fresh (and much more professional than my) recording to anticipate, because the duo passed by the recording studio of The Rua Room.
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