Creamy Acoustic Goodness at C’ville Coffee
Jane Monaghan, staff writer
On Saturday, Feb. 8, anyone who stepped past the entrance of C’ville Coffee and Wine from 7-9 p.m. could join the small crowd for a night of music and drink. On a simple stage, with a vintage standing microphone, Shawn Kaup and Gordon Delaney performed such classics as “Fly Me To The Moon” and “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head,” all arranged for Delaney’s 7-string guitar.
Gordon Delaney playing his 7-string guitar.
Photography by Jane Monaghan
“With other people, it was OK, but with him, we’re exponentially better together,” Delaney said when talking about how the duo came to be. Co-workers at Virginia Credit Union, the two discovered their common interest in music and have played various shows, including a work banquet of 600 people. The roughly 30-person crowd at C’ville Coffee was probably much more relaxed, but the combination of Kaup’s smooth vocals and Delaney’s talented guitar made for the perfect evening, not to mention date night.
In between romantic tunes, Kaup and Delaney shared stories about the songs and occasionally called on the audience to set the tempo by clapping in time. With tables and chairs set up in the café interior, dark except for the stage, the atmosphere was relaxed but sophisticated. Outside the sitting area, people could order wine, coffee, and sandwiches from the front counter.
Kaup and Delaney charged $7 for the event, which ran for two hours and covered arrangements of jazz, swing, and pop tunes, from the upbeat to the calming. Delaney, who performed several guitar solos, had this to say about his career path:
“I was a jazz major, which is why I have a day job,” Delaney joked, eliciting laughter from the audience.
