Rayland Baxter warms up the World Cafe Live audience

Rayland Baxter | Photo by Hope Helmuth for WXPN | hopehelmuth.com

The last time we saw Rayland Baxter was on a warm summer night opening up for Grace Potter at The Susquehanna Bank Center.  In contrast to that night, there was still post-blizzard snow dusting the streets last weekend when he appeared at World Cafe Live.

With the air of a folksy troubadour, Baxter and his band played many favorites from his newest album Imaginary Man as well as some songs from his debut Feathers & Fishhooks.  Between songs, Baxter touched on the history of his songwriting routing back to his days in Israel. 

With much of his influence stemming from travel and personal experience, he has created a dreamy visual soundscape on his latest record. Later in the night, Baxter had the crowd light up when he played his hit “Yellow Eyes,” arguably his most well crafted song. The final encore song was a super cool rendition of Neil Young’s “Vampire Blues.”

Joining him on this show was singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy.  She delivered soft enriching vocals that touched on a blues-garage energy. The delivery of her intimate lyrics and intricate guitar notes hushed the World Cafe Live audience in awe. About midway through the set we learned that Glasby was sick was a cold, though I doubt any of us noticed that prior.

Check out photos of Baxter and Glaspy’s sets in the gallery below.