Inside Bay Area

By Jim Harrington, STAFF WRITER
Inside Bay Area

WE'VE BEEN hearing for decades about how some new singer-songwriter was destined to be the next Bob Dylan. Think Dan Bern, Conor Oberst, Elliott Smith and, even, Bruce Springsteen.

Enough, already. What we really need is the next John Prine.

Meet Mary Gauthier.

That's no faint praise coming from this critic, given that I consider Prine to be the greatest singer-songwriter to come along since, well, Bob Dylan.

But it's hard to point to another new artist who combines humor and heartbreak, the sad and the sarcastic, in such a Prine-like fashion as Gauthier (pronounced "Go-SHAY). The comparison goes behind just lyrics. Gauthier is also very Prine-like in her delivery, especially in terms of rhythm and cadence, as well as in the arrangements she uses.

Of course, it's too early to know whether Gauthier will live up to this comparison in the long run. She is currently only able to reach Prine-like heights on occasion. But those occasions happened frequently enough during her sold-out show at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on Wednesday night that local folk fans can be encouraged.

In what was probably the coffeehouse's second biggest booking thus far in 2006 — the first being Ralph Stanley's stand a few weeks back — Gauthier charmed the capacity crowd and lived up to the hype surrounding her breakthrough CD, 2005's "Mercy Now."

Accompanied by touring partner Thomm Jutz, who played electric guitar from a chair, Gauthier opened the show with a slow waltz through the charming "I Drink." If there is one song that perfectly sums up the singer-songwriter's appeal, it's "I Drink." It's full of curious snapshots, humorous rhymes and includes a great punch line. It's both touching and hilarious. In other words, it could be a John Prine song. That's particularly true of the chorus:

"Fish swim
Birds Fly
Daddies yell
Mamas cry
Old men
Sit and think
I drink"

With the crowd in the palm of her hand, the folk musician continued to sing and strum her way through forlorn and funny versions of "Camelot Motel" and "Christmas in Paradise" (both from 2002's "Filth and Fire"). The latter was really a gem, one that certainly wouldn't shine as brightly coming from a lesser artist. "Christmas in Paradise" is a tale of how a homeless person spends the holiday season, yet — believe it or not — it's a very uplifting tune that manages to celebrate the humanity of the situation without cheapening the plight.

Not all Gauthier tracks work on multiple levels, nor do they need to. She can be equally effective with a straightforward sad song. One of the best on this night was "Long Way to Fall," another "Filth and Fire" track, leaving the crowd gasping at the fully realized images of quiet desperation.

Jutz played a big hand in helping make the music work. On "Mercy Now," Gauthier uses a variety of instruments, most notably the cello, to help underscore the lyrical sentiments. Jutz was able to convey nearly the same emotions at the Freight using barren, hollow and echo-like tones that strongly recalled the production work of Daniel Lanois. He's a major talent, and it's recommended that fans check out his own CD "Second Thoughts."

The duo really clicked on two newly composed, yet unrecorded, tunes — perhaps entitled "Can't Find the Way" and "Carry Me Away." Both numbers were very straightforward and tender in their approach, which some might see as a signal that Gauthier is turning away from the funny business for her next record.

That probably won't happen. Gauthier's world, as listeners heard at the Freight, is a place where laughter and teardrops are best served up in the same cocktail. The result, at times, tastes good enough to make one think she has a shot at being the next John Prine.

Contact music critic Jim Harrington at jharrington@angnewspapers.com.