I like this Starlicker live video best, in contrast to the others, including the gig I attended at The Hideout, because the vibes shine along with the drums instead of being drowned out. Seeing Starlicker reminds me of a show by The New Standards that Ron Swanson and I saw at a piano bar. TNS have vibes, piano, vocals, and upright bass; Minnehaha grad John Munson from Semisonic is the bass player. I guess I am drawn to vibes these days, especially The Modern Jazz Quartet, because my youngest son, a percussionist, has had a 6′ long marimba in our basement for three years.
– Mark Erickson
