Monday Night with Abigail Washburn

Part Americana, part Chinese folk, Abigail Washburn's mesquite voice and her golden banjo are the constants in her band's multifaceted act.

Monday night at Don Quixote's, her ensemble left a pile of cuteness on the stage. Sing-a-longs, traditional Chinese dance and Whistling Dick—drummer Jamie Dick's alter-ego—made appearances.

The rhythms of the band swayed, chugged, roared and moaned, invoking the spirit of each story, each song. And the stories moved the music in a collaboration of emotion and reflection—Chinese immigrants searching America for meaning and freedom in the bittersweet "Dreams of Nectar," along with other stories of survival and stories of sunshine.

The loopy camaraderie that might only be found traveling in a 15-passenger tour bus with bandmates for months on end was a joyful spectacle. Charming, in fact.

"Everybody loves a pretty girl, and there ain't nothing wrong with that," quipped Kai Welch, who juggled guitar, keyboards, harmonica and horn throughout the evening.

Washburn is lovely to watch, but Welch was referring to the harmonizing quartet from the opening act, Honeymoon, which joined the band onstage for the last few songs.

For those looking for a refuge, Abigail Washburn & Band delivers in its most recent album City of Refuge.

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