CONCERT REVIEW: JEFF DANIELS AT JONATHAN’S IN OGUNQUIT

Maine Today
by Steve Feeney
January 20, 2015

Award-winning actor Jeff Daniels has played heroes and villains, smart guys and dumb guys. On Friday night in Ogunquit, though, he was an artist playing his own personal brand of down-home music before a sell-out crowd.

The star of “The Newsroom” and both “Dumb and Dumber” films was in town to continue his long-standing “other” career as a singer/songwriter. Exploring several popular genres while maintaining a strong connection to the blues, the Michigan-raised entertainer filled the acoustically-friendly Jonathan’s performance space with musical stories delivered through his recognizable, if a little roughed-up, voice. Those expecting a quiet evening of song got a bit of a surprise, though, as Daniels was mostly backed by a rowdy quintet headed by his son Ben.

As his fans had to expect, the elder Daniels included a good deal of friendly humor alongside a few more serious moments. Indeed, the show mixed comedy, acting reminiscences and impressive musicianship in a way which made the two-hour performance fly by.

Daniels went on at some length in a playful rant about the recent playoff loss by the Detroit Lions before launching into “Days Like These,” the title tune from his latest album. He and the band donned what he described as the official hat of Michigan for this number which bemoans how sometimes even “hats don’t help.” Ben Daniels added some tasty slide guitar to bring home the message while dad warmed-up his finger-picking style on amplified acoustic guitar.

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