One concert attendee used the word “spellbinding” to depict the evening with indie singer/songwriters Deb Talan and Steve Tannen at Chautauqua Auditorium Center. As the musicians’ soft sound filled the large barn at the base of the Flatirons, the audience was captivated by the obvious chemistry between the two.
The dynamic couple can thank a chance encounter 10 years ago at a club in Boston for their pairing. They say they both felt “an electric connection that made them nervous,” and soon combined their talents together to birth “The Weepies.” Both individually talented with their own music, together the hitched artists create a harmony that can turn any sad heart into a believer of love.
The concert opened with Catie Curtis, that seemed to have fans in the older adult crowd, but who was relatively unknown to the younger generation. It wasn’t until she began strumming her guitar and letting out her lyrics that her sound was understood. Her music revealed her age, and the audience was brought back in time to the late nineties. Her songs have been featured on Dawson’s Creek and Grey’s Anatomy, and brought up images of lovesick teens.
Curtis ended her set after about an hour of tugging at our heart strings, with a song from her upcoming CD titled “Stretch Limousine on Fire.” This song felt more upbeat and comical. She said she was singing about when she had a rough day and was stuck in traffic, it made her feel better to see that everyone, including the affluent, have the same problems.
On the auditorium’s stage, a paper mache tree sits to the left, while a cardboard cutout of a city skyline looms in the background. Above the stage hung paper sailboats and a diorama of cutout paper moon and stars. The makeshift set created intrigue for the audience, considering many audiences today are familiar with bright lights and noisy pyrotechnics.
When The Weepies walked onstage, the two sat on white wooden chairs with their guitars and bassist, who stood behind them. The intimate set up and juvenile backdrop made the audience feel like they were sitting around the campfire, listening to enchanting music. Watching them, it was hard to believe that these seemingly humble indie musicians have sold more than half a million albums.
The second Talan spoke into the microphone, the audience was entranced by her voice. Her soft-spoken, yet bubbly personality was reflected in her finely trimmed pixie haircut. Steve said nothing, but waved to the audience. The dynamic in their marriage was instantly obvious. As soon as she began to softly pick her guitar, a wave of silence spread over the packed auditorium, each and every person engrossed in her sound. Steve began to harmonize, creating such depth that chills immediately followed.
The two played melodies that could put babies to sleep, as well as some cheerful songs that would “send us out jauntily,” as Talan put it. At one point in the night Tannen, who once lived in Boulder, sang a few songs from his “Big Senorita” album giving the audience some local attention. Although both musicians are equally talented in their own right, it is undeniable that when intertwined together as “The Weepies,” true magic is made.
They shared a few stories about touring, and what they do to unwind after the chaos (Talan paints while Tannen plays World of Warcraft.) She laughed that this may have been too much information, but the audience fed off the intimate sharing. Later on, she developed a cough in the middle of a song and Tannen ran out to give her a cup of water. The love between them was obvious enough that perhaps the crowd was growing green with envy.
Regardless, the musically gifted duo had an unforgettable sound. Even after the standing ovation, when the audience spilled out of the auditorium and down the hill toward Baseline, murmurs of their accolades continued.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Victoria Vargas at Victoria.vargas@colorado.edu