A Gogo

After recording for Philo/Rounder and High Street, Patty Larkin moved to Vanguard with A Gogo: Live on Tour. Vanguard has been synonymous with folk since the 1950s, so it was a logical place for the Boston-based singer/songwriter. A collection of live performances from Larkin's 1997 tour of the U.S., A Gogo wasn't her first live album -- Philo had put out Live in the Square in 1990. She favors an intimate, stripped-down setting on these acoustic-oriented performances, and that works to the folk-rocker's advantage on gems that range from "Do Not Disturb" and "Good Thing" to "The Book I'm Not Reading," "Tango," and the bluesy "Dear Diary." Because Larkin is such a strong storyteller, going the unplugged route was an excellent idea -- the spare approach really makes her lyrics stand out, whether she's being humorous on "Wolf at the Door" or poignant on "Mary Magdalene" and the Bruce Springsteen-ish "Me and That Train." This excellent CD is easily recommended to both casual listeners and Larkin's diehard fans. ~ Alex Henderson