Talk2Me electrifies Wytheville
Blacksburg-based Talk2Me set the stage at Seven Dogs Brew Pub in Wytheville ablaze on November 7 with an energetic mix of ’80s synth-pop and rock. But this band is about so much more than delivering a great dance party. Its members are among the most talented musicians Southwest Virginia has ever produced, boasting remarkable instrumental versatility and an eclectic repertoire that stretches across genres and generations. I’ve had the good fortune of following these musicians through several incarnations over the years. They’ve delivered letter-perfect tributes to Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and Prince, while also putting their own distinctive spin on retrospective music in ways that are often unprecedented. Their original material, including “Dance With Me,” fits seamlessly alongside the ’80s party anthems they performed that Saturday night. Divided into two 70-minute sets, the band proved it remains every bit as powerful, polished, and musically tight as ever. Musical maestro John Hildreth pulled double duty, handling keyboards and synthesizers while also taking on guitar, bass, and even vocal responsibilities. Ezra Ford’s vocals have established him as arguably the finest male singer Southwest Virginia has ever seen. As for Talk2Me’s latest incarnation, the group opened with Prince’s “1999,” followed by Hall & Oates’ “Maneater,” featuring Stephanie Lea on lead vocals. Ford reclaimed the microphone for Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” and my personal favorite of the evening, David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.” Ford’s theatrical flair, combined with his extraordinary musical ability, made him a natural fit for the Bowie material. He would demonstrate that again with two of the night’s closing numbers: “Under Pressure,” Bowie’s collaboration with Queen, and “Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. “These last two songs have a flair for the theatrical,” Ford remarked before launching into them. Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” was also part of the evening’s lineup, along with the J. Geils Band’s “Centerfold” and a brilliant rendition of Depeche Mode’s “Policy of Truth.” When Lea announced that a Madonna song was next, I could only hope it would be her most tolerable single, “Material Girl.” Fortunately, it was. Ford followed with Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London,” another flawless performance. Lea’s shining moment came with her compelling hard-rock interpretation of “Heads Will Roll” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Ford returned to one of his favorite artists, Prince, for an impeccable rendition of “Kiss,” followed by an equally impressive performance of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.” Lea offered her own Fleetwood Mac tribute with Stevie Nicks’ classic “Dreams,” prompting an impromptu a cappella verse at the audience’s encouragement. She later returned to her inner Stevie Nicks with “Rhiannon.” After the somewhat subdued “Dreams,” the band shifted gears dramatically with Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” Given Virginia Tech’s recent loss, the selection may not have been particularly welcome to the ardent Hokie fans onstage, but it certainly brought the rock-and-roll energy back into the room. Lea delivered another winner with The Cranberries’ “Zombie,” a fitting tribute to the late Dolores O’Riordan. Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” closed out the first set, featuring Jeff Hoge delivering a powerful bass performance. Zac Martin’s incredible drumming deserves special recognition. His contribution went far beyond simply keeping the rhythm for an unforgettable night of rock and roll. His versatility was evident in virtually every beat. The second set opened with Lea’s take on Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” undoubtedly benefiting from the song’s remarkable resurgence through the wildly popular television series Stranger Things. Next, Hildreth demonstrated that his many talents extend to vocals as well, delivering Billy Idol’s “Eyes Without a Face.” He continued to impress with blistering guitar solos on Santana’s “Black Magic Woman” and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You.” Ford took a break for those two numbers but was soon called back to the stage to take the lead on Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime.” Michael Sembello’s “Maniac” helped wind down the evening, prompting Hildreth to recall a previous festival performance. “We played a festival while everybody did the dance moves from the music video to this song,” he said. Ford’s performance of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” a tribute to the Prince of Darkness, was another highlight. Hildreth contributed some extraordinary electric-guitar shredding, making the number an especially fitting salute to the late rock legend. I stayed for the entire three hours. At 41, I never expected to be the person closing down the club, something I haven’t done in half my life, but when friends like Ezra and John and their incredibly talented cohorts are onstage, that’s as good a reason as any to stay until the very end. Ford will return to Seven Dogs on November 20 as a solo performer. “It will be just me and a guitar for three hours,” he told me. As much as I’d love to be there, I may have to settle for missing this one. But anyone who appreciates exceptional local talent should make every effort to attend. I’m especially grateful that my first visit to Seven Dogs was to see this fantastic group.