Anchorage Daily News

You'd have to take a magnifying glass to find a speck of cynicism after the Eric Bibb and Ruthie Foster show at the Sydney Laurence Theatre Sunday afternoon. The two gospel-inspired, blues- and folk-wired singer-songwriters wiped the place clean of contempt and gloom.

Not all things go well in their songs of lonesome journeys and tiresome luck, but their voices commanded higher ground in this double dose of vocal splendor.

Foster opened the concert with a set of contemporary hybrid tunes that blended folk, gospel, blues and even reggae. She started with a dreamy take on late-night New York in "Lost in the City" and quickly kicked into the utterly soulful blues of "Runaway Soul."

She wrote both songs as well as many, many others -- most found on her handful of albums, including the latest release, "The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster" -- but when she let old songs filter through her vocal cords, they sounded all her own.

Her take on "Old Susanna" left people spellbound.

At the end of her set, many people gave her a standing ovation.

A short time later, Bibb closed the deal by sauntering up to the microphone and graciously thanking his opening act. Dressed in slacks, a pink long-sleeve shirt and a Panama hat, he looked poised for a stroll before soulfully belting out his first spiritual.

With sweet heft to his voice and the steady tap of his shoes, the New York-born singer covered old blues songs like "Going Down Slow" and "Cape" as well as originals such as "Tell Riley," "Diamond Days," "Still Livin' On" and the title track to his latest CD, "Get Onboard."

The well-traveled musician played his guitar without fanfare.

Unmistakably gifted, Bibb honed in on the gesture of the song and the spirit and soul of its making.

He and Foster played the kind of concert that makes you want to sit back in a lounge chair with just their voices and guitars as company.

Folks clapped and howled, of course. But Sunday's show demanded a contemplative response as well, a wholly personal synthesis, if you will, of the grittiness of blues and the high praise of gospel.

After Bibb invited Foster back to sing a few closing tunes, including the poignant "Needed Time," virtually everyone stood up.

Sure I would have loved to hear the two sing "Conversation" from Bibb's latest album, but they ended on the right note -- quiet, uplifting and mournful. As the full house of concertgoers left, they looked fully sated.

Look for another surefire double bill presented by Whistling Swan Productions when Marshall Crenshaw and Dan Bern play the Discovery Theatre on Dec. 5(www.whistling swan.net).

Find Dawnell Smith online at adn.com/contact/dsmith or call 257-4587.

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