Concert Review: Barclay Martin Ensemble at Crosstown Station

Clad in a loose-fitting suit, Barclay Martin took the stage at Crosstown Station with the other three members of the Barclay Martin Ensemble at a little after 9 p.m. this past Friday Night. The wardrobe choice was far from ironic. Martin and company were simply prepared for what would turn out to be a low-key, classy affair. (Martin, from my own experience in interviewing him, revels in authentic connections with his audience, whether it’s over coffee or across a stage.)

The crowd of mostly middle-aged folks — with a handful of mid-20s professionals thrown in — appreciated the Ensemble’s laidback approach. So much, in fact, that by the middle of the set there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. For those who haven’t been: Crosstown Station is, as far as local music venues go, a fairly large space. Filling the place out is a noteworthy accomplishment.

What was perhaps most odd about the entire evening — and had nothing to do with the music, or perhaps had everything to do with the music — was that everyone in the entire place seemed to know Barclay Martin. People crept close to the stage to take pictures, not as awed groupies, but more as if they might send them as keepsakes to the band afterward. They sat reclined in their seats, as if they’d seen Barclay’s show a hundred times before, and were waiting to throw back a few beers with him afterward.