Friday's Pick: Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express, Stephanie Finch & the Company Men

By Marc Hawthorne Fri., Jun. 18 2010 at 7:50 AM

Categories: What to Do

Chuck Prophet & Stephanie Finch

Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express

Stephanie Finch and the Company Men

DJ Kelley Stoltz

Great American Music Hall

9 p.m., $16

In a society obsessed with instant gratification, it's gratifying to hear about someone letting something simmer. Local musician Stephanie Finch has been playing music since she was a kid, and can be seen backing up her husband, Chuck Prophet, on keys and vocals. But she only recently completed her debut solo album, Cry Tomorrow. "Sometimes you have to wait for the planets to line up," says Finch, who released a collaborative disc with Prophet under the name Go Go Market last decade. "What's the hurry? There's already lots of great music out there. You write some songs, and then you wait, and if nothing happens, you wait some more. At a certain point I had a batch of songs. It just seemed like the right thing to do."

The 10 songs on Cry Tomorrow nod to classic rock and timeless pop, showcasing Finch's beautifully hearty voice. She was assisted by the Company Men, a top-shelf backing band that includes Prophet, J.J. Wiesler, Jackpot's Rusty Miller, and singer-songwriter Kelley Stoltz on drums. Finch has a habit of associating herself with great players, including Mark Kozelek, who invited her to duet with him on Red House Painters' "Song for a Blue Guitar."

"It's always flattering when someone calls," she says. "In the case of Mark, he called and asked Chuck if it would be cool if I sang on his record. That's where Chuck earned his pimp nickname Ike, as in Ike Turner. Mark is a soulful guy, and has such a beautiful voice. Singing with him was a thrill."

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