Buddy Gibson's Echo River Project at JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe in Sarasota

Buddy Gibson's usual powerful versatility was bumped up a notch last Wednesday night at JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe in Sarasota where he performed as the Echo River Project with Zach Yoder (guitar and vocals) and Dave Townsend (drums). Virtuoso doesn't even come close to conveying the deep and soulful wall of sound that emanated from that tiny stage.

Memorable numbers included Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower", in a percussive, punchy version mellowed-up by Zach Yoder's Hendrix-flavored lead breaks.

On Marley's "So Much Trouble in the World", Gibson and Yoder duked it out with call-and-response guitar-neck wizardry. Here's a taste from a previous Gibson/Yoder gig:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X49pBwp3OE

Echo River Project tributes to Jimmy Buffet's "A Pirate Looks at Forty", Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl" and Crosby Stills & Nash's "Helplessly Hoping" gave listeners a sweet and moody break from the higher-octane numbers. Dire Strait's "Calling Elvis"pumped it up with a danceable beat that got this listener out of her seat to work off a delish OPC dinner.

Buddy Gibson's Echo River Project -- with a changing cast of characters -- can be heard every 4rd Wednesday night at the OPC. Well worth the night out.