It was just a short 23+ years ago that Fort Atkinson’s own Perry Baird and Jeff Mason (except for their gig last summer) last graced the stage together at the Carpe. Now they are both crusty old coots with grandchildren, looking forward to collecting Social Security. In stubborn defiance to the advance of years and the physical and mental decline that accompanies it, they are ready to turn back the clock (at least for one night). They got to reminiscing at the Rotary pancake breakfast this year and it led to this evening of music.

Perry Baird’s strong and smooth baritone vocals draw you in to the songs he plays, selections that are an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional styles. He occasionally performs solo, accompanying himself on 6- and 12-string guitar, and he’s more frequently on stage with a folk trio known as the Buzzards, which includes Madison’s Mike and Patty McDougal.

Jeff Mason accompanies Perry on guitar and vocals, combining finger-style and flat-picking counterpoint…with a bit of soloing thrown in. Jeff also does a solo act (with his looper), performs with the locally infamous Merry Horde, also occasionally as the newly hatched Jeff Mason Trio. Now this. Nobody (including Jeff) is quite sure where—or with whom—he will end up next.

You don’t want to wait another quarter-century before these guys get together again, so catch them while you can (and they’re able).