Little World
Canes Bar And Grill
August 31, 2005
Jan Hedlun

It was a wonderfully cool evening, on Wednesday August 31st, after several scorching days in the San Diego East County area, when I entered Canes Bar and Grill in Mission Beach to watch some friends play music. Several years ago I had been drawn to a local café by the wonderful sound of a violin wafting in the night air. That was my first introduction to and pleasure of listening to a band called Little World and this last Wednesday I was renewing my acquaintance with these fine musicians.

I had seen Don Moore, guitarist and vocalist, that Wednesday as I came out of another local café from breakfast and in moments found out that the band was playing that evening. And I was glad I made the drive into town, in spite of rising fuel costs.

Little World plays a high-powered blend of original music. After the inevitable time spent setting up, and the resultant sound checks, they swung into their first song with an intense momentum that carried them through their set, definitively highlighted by Byran Butler’s evocative violin playing.

Bryan’s years of music performance, training, and experimentation flowed from his instrument, weaving around the other performers like wisps of smoke, ethereal, otherworldly. Garred Kluth is their low profile equally trained, skilled and talented bassist, playing with a perpetual smile of satisfaction - eyes closed, weaving on his stool. Don’s lead guitar wandered the realm of abilities from definitive rock, to crying for attention, to lonesome rendered wanderings. The incisive percussion of Alvaro Nunez was an intuitive counterpoint to their combined instrumentation.

Don’s voice is unadorned, rising strong with the lyrics of Question Mark Cat, softening for Nothing, a ghostly plea in Simple Problem, and rocking the house in Hole In The Sky.

The band was comfortable with each other: tight, clear and concise in their tempo changes. They swept through The Other Side of Nowhere and the timely and well-wrought tune The Price of Gas that was written prior to today’s crisis but suited this latest gas outrage to a “T”.

My favorite lyrics come from Borderline where Don sings “I’m standing with one foot in heaven and one foot in hell. I thought I knew which side was which but it’s hard to tell when you’re standing down on the borderline . . . “

Cries for more from the appreciative audience climaxed their set with The Monkey Puzzle Tree before they had to give way to the next band waiting in the wings. I was disappointed, wanting to hear more, but was satisfied when I got their CD SIX and have been playing it since that night. I was glad to know, after reviewing their website, that they are back in the recording studio on August 27th for another soon-to-be released compilation that I’ll be waiting in line for.

If you'd like to learn more about the band check out their site at www.littleworldmusic.com. There are sound bytes available from SIX to give you an idea of their talent. Look for their next gig and join me. I’ll be the one sitting up front.

Jan Hedlun