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Performance reviews
Bud Harmon, Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce, October 2008
Doug Kolmar's writing and playing skills are wonderful for all occasions. Whether entertaining in an intimate setting or wowing crowds in a large venue, he's one of the very best on my short list when I’m hiring for event entertainment.
Doug's thoughtful and rich lyrics grab you in such a way that you never want his storytelling to end.
Mainefolkmusic.com
First Parish Congregational Church in Saco, April 5, 2008
Concert Review by Bob McKillop
The First Parish Congregational Church in Saco looks like a scene from a science fiction movie, where a familiar, historic building has been given a futuristic appendage that reflects more modern sensibilities. While the entire building is new, the "churchy" part looks like a nineteenth century New England frame church building. The rest of the building looks like a barn on Mars. But I digress---this is not an architectural review!
The First Parish Church hosts a coffee house series, and the sanctuary where the concerts are held is beautiful; the people who host the series are warm and friendly, and they have great taste in music. On Saturday, April 5, I attended a show that featured two local folk music heroes. The headliner was Catie Curtis, and Doug Kolmar opened the show.
I am a big fan of Doug's music. His debut CD, "Homebody / Somebody" was released in 2005. It consisted of six of his best tunes at that time; my favorites tracks included "Whatever", "Better Part of Me", and "Dream Darkly". Doug's first disc was notable for the songwriting, and for the competent, jazz-influenced guitar work that makes his tunes so enjoyable.
His opener set for Catie Curtis included "Dream Darkly", which gets better each time I hear Doug play it. The rest of the set consisted of three of the best songs from his newer, 2006 release, "As If I Was Almost Here", plus one other song that I had not yet heard. Great stuff! "Indiana" is a gently rolling, image-laden tribute to the rust belt. It is full of stories about factory workers, grimy cities, and changing economic values. A nice finger-picked riff opens and closes the song and each verse, while the meat of the tune is carried along by an introspective chord progression that fits the theme of the song very well. A guitar break again shows off Doug's finger style skills.
"Sailor Song" is a story of a sea-going man and his redemption. "I am a stone washed by the sea… you are a beach comber finding me" is the refrain that sets the mood and the story. Doug's arrangement manages to find a connection with maritime music without making the song sound like a sea shanty. I did miss, in this live performance, the great mandolin part laid down by Alan Dickson on the record.
It was great seeing Doug play a set in this gorgeous venue, opening for a national folk act---he deserves it. Even if his vocals stray from perfection from time to time, his music is honest and authentic, well written, and harmonically sophisticated. His performances are warm, always well-rehearsed, and very enjoyable.
As If I Was Almost Here Indie-Music.com, October 2006
By Dan MacIntosh
It is not for nothing that Doug Kolmar titles his new CD As If I Was Almost Here. That's because Kolmar writes his best lyrics about particular places.
On "New England," he goes into great detail about that region. "Indiana (A Blue Song for a Red State)" is even better. On it he sings, "Roll back another sheet of rustbelt grime." Kolmar's voice is filled with love, regret, and pathos. On "High Wire," Kolmar uses the circus as a metaphor for the big top-like atmosphere found in much of modern life.
Kolmar keeps this CD of folk songs about as simple as possible. He's joined by Jamalieh Haley for a touch of violin on "New England," and Alan Dickson adds mandolin to "Sailor Song." But for the most part, this is just Kolmar's voice and his guitar. Fortunately, he's also a quite accomplished guitarist.
Writing lyrics is what Kolmar does best, and one can only imagine how good these words would sound dressed up in a little more production. Some artists pile on the production to hide limited lyrics, but a little extra aural sauce would probably help bring out the natural flavor of Kolmar's smart words.
It takes a little close listening to appreciate what Kolmar has done here, but it is well worth the extra effort.
Homebody/Somebody Indie-Music.com, June 2005
By Kevan Breitinger
An easy chair, an expresso macchiato, and Doug Kolmar. The Jeopardy answer to what's a good Friday night, caffeinated. Kolmar's new CD offers the best of coffeehouse acoustic, richly topped with velvety jazz foam.
Homebody Somebody mixes alt-pop guitar with some humorously dark introspection, a la Bruce Cockburn. A reviewer's high falutin' way of saying Kolmar tells a good musical story, some tales earthy, others angrier. But they all work. 'Whatever,' the poetic consideration of fate, highlights his natural storytelling chops, essential for all the best folkies. Kolmar's low and occasionally nasal tones don't allow for a wide vocal range but make him well-suited for spinning musical yarns like this one and the shimmery, note-bending closer, 'Human Scale.'
But I enjoyed him most when he got slightly effervescent, as in the fun-house song, 'Bookstore.' Kolmar adds some smooth electric riffs (think George Benson) that lift this track above the mellow coffeehouse feel. It’s a buzzy consideration of the limitations and quirks of human communication, intelligent, melodically rich, and full of surprises, as delightfully eccentric as its subject matter.
Standout track is the wonderfully titled 'Never Been a Man,' dreamin' its way through jazz-tinged changes. This unusual song, 'you know, you know, you know,' is as sensuous as folkies go, strangely hot and intelligent, the best combo, to my mind. 'I know, I know, I can't expect you to understand, you've never been a man.' That line alone had me thinking for hours. Homebody Somebody, it hits the spot.
MSA Newsletter, May 2005
Doug's new CD, "Homebody / Somebody", is an eclectic mix of folk, jazz, and intelligent pop music, with great, full arrangements and the kind of lyrics that stick with you long after the music has ended! Doug is an honest, skilled guitarist and a warm, sincere performer!