The art of cabaret has always been a vital part of the musical world in Chicago, and Carla Gordon is a headliner on that scene. Cabaret is more than singing; it is telling a universal story and burrowing into the marrow of a song's meaning. On September 21, Carla Gordon and Cool Friends brought the best of Chicago cabaret to the CheckOut in Ain't Our First Caba-Rodeo. Musical Director Chuck Larkin accompanied the singers on the piano for an evening of witty, charming, and heartbreaking music with a touch of high camp.
Gordon has a lovely voice that evokes Blossom Dearie with a brassier edge and emotive delivery. She delivered her own composition, "Alternative Facts," with a wonderfully droll delivery that recalled Kellyanne Conway's description from the first administration of those who shall not be named. She then invited up the first of three guests to perform some cabaret and pop standards.
Kevin Wood took the mic and regaled the audience with a confident stage presence and a smooth voice. "Fly Me to the Moon" is a standard from the Frank Sinatra era, and Wood nailed it without sliding into lounge lizard mode. Russ Goeltenbodt hit the stage with a defiant "I Am What I Am," wearing a glorious sequined jacket. He delivered a bit of humorous patter to the audience, incorporating some political humor that went over quite well.
Next up was the tall and tan David Meulemans, straight outta Ft. Lauderdale, who did a fantastic set. His version of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" would play well on a big stage as well as the intimate space of the CheckOut. He and Gordon did an amusing duet with a tropical bent. "Shame and Scandal in the Family" featured beachcomber hats and tales of odd bedfellows and paternity questions. Some moments recalled the great variety shows like The Carol Burnett Show, featuring Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, or Red Skelton, that mixed comedy and musical numbers.
Gordon closed out the show with one of my favorite songs by John Prine. "Hello In There" has brought tears to my eyes since I first heard Bette Midler sing it on The Divine Miss M. Gordon did an excellent rendition, with subtle emotion and a genuine connection to the audience. I felt it in my heart and remembered the great songwriters who have called Chicago their "stomping ground." Gordon has deemed the CheckOut to be the new home for Chicago cabaret, and I agree. It's great not to have to trek all the way to Wicker Park when we have a new treasure in Uptown/Lakeview.
The CheckOut Opening Festival closes on September 28 with Wicked Drawl taking the stage. The music does not end there! Please visit https://acmusic.org to explore the latest additions to the music pipeline. The CheckOut is located at 4116 N. Clark at the tip of the Southport Corridor.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider supporting Third Coast Review’s arts and culture coverage by donating. Please select the amount that works best for you, knowing that it will directly support our writers and contributors.
