Photos/Review: Rachel Grimes, On Fillmore in Columbus

Photos by Ed Luna
Though I was very much anticipating this show, it turned out I really had no idea what I was in store for. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a set of only piano music, but Rachel Grimes (of Rachel’s) effortlessly filled the Wexner Center‘s performance space with composed, emotional, divine music. Between donewaiting, Benco and events that I accidentally end up attending, I find myself seeing more live music than ever these days. Though more often than not they are bands I enjoy hearing in my free time, I can’t help but secretly wish for the sets to pass quickly when I’m in attendance. This may be due to my busybody nature, but in the case of Saturday night, I was dreading the end of the show. Grimes proved to be a truly exquisite composer and performer live and translated a sense of calmness very well from music to audience.


On Fillmore (percussionist Glenn Kotche of Wilco and bassist Darin Gray) took the stage shortly thereafter in a storm of whistles, bird calls and pre-recorded bells. The noises from all sorts of devices (from plastic children’s toys to a vibrating head massager) began most songs before erupting into a brilliant sound of various tools of percussion and the double bass. Gray and Kotche stood out as quite the characters, but in an appreciative way. Only a couple of songs in, they invited the audience to join them on stage and that’s where most stayed through the remainder of the performance. Kotche also praised the Wex for being one of his favorite places in the world to play.