The Boston Folk Festival takes place at UMass-Boston – almost right across the street from WBOS – so it was high time that I checked it out. It’s a really sedate affair – it almost makes the Newport Folk Fest seem like a rowdy Lollapalooza – but it’s an ideal setting for singer-songwriters who want a totally enraptured crowd minus any Newport trendiness.
There were plenty of graybeard hippies (many brought their own lawn chairs), but also some fresh-faced young people who were keeping the folk tradition alive and were digging a low-key presentation where you could actually hear the lyrics and not have any yahoos screaming in your ear. There was no alcohol served (even Newport now has alcohol), but the seriousness of the audience was matched by the sincere, often brilliant, music that I heard.
Without question, the scene-stealer was Lori McKenna, the folk-country local who has been embraced by Faith Hill (who recorded a few of her songs) and Tim McGraw, who produced her fine new album. McKenna writes about the subtleties of life, and the wisdom gained by being a mother of five who has survived the Boston suburbs, as well as the vagaries of the music business for many years.
McKenna engaged in a song swap with her guitarist, Mark Erelli, and with longtime local fave, Catie Curtis. They sat next to each other on the small festival stage on the grass by the harbor – and for at least a few minutes, all was right with the world.
I found the price of the Boston Folk Festival a little daunting -- $30 a ticket, especially because I couldn’t stay long – but there’s a definite magic to this event, however low-key. The craft tents that ring the grounds are first-rate, as are the food offerings and the vendor tents selling hard-to-find folk records. Although it’s a grass-roots event, I’d say about 3,000 people were there – a pretty impressive crowd despite the lack of hype, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen an audience that listened more intently. The annual event will return next summer, so put it on your calendar if you believe in the hypnotic spell of up-close-and-personal acoustic music.
CRITIC’S TIPS:
* Kings of Leon – at the Orpheum Theatre on Friday, Sept. 28. A rock battle royale between Kings of Leon and openers Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Guitarslingers unite.
* Audrey Ryan – at the Lizard Lounge on Friday, Sept. 28. Local artist Ryan has been under the radar, but she’s ready to emerge at this CD release party.
* ZZ Top – at the Bank of America Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 29. The little ol’ band from Texas is still looming large after all these years. Always a fun time.
* Dropkick Murphys – at Avalon on Sunday, Sept. 30. The Dropkicks’ new album, “The Meanest of Times,’’ just debuted on the Billboard charts at No. 20 – the highest debut ever for this beloved Boston band.
* Josh Ritter – at the Somerville Theatre on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 4-5. The quietly brilliant Idaho singer-songwriter, who lived for a while in Somerville, returns to his home away from home.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Aerosmith still prime, plus tips
If you listened to the WBOS show I did with DJ partner John Laurenti last week, you’ll know that I was once again hellbent on seeing Aerosmith. I don’t know what it is. Call it loyalty, perhaps. They’ve been great in giving me interviews through the years, so the least I can do is continue to check out their shows – and this recent one at the Tweeter Center was a beauty.
I was thrown off by their opening tune, “Love In An Elevator,’’ which usually comes later in the set; and I missed “Back in the Saddle,’’ which is their typical opener (call me a traditionalist!) but wasn’t even played. Yet, that was probably my biggest quibble of the night, which isn’t much. And the band immediately won me back by ripping into “Same Old Song and Dance,’’ which fueled the diehards to screams of ecstasy before singer Steven Tyler hammered out the last note.
The rest of the show was just plain powerful. Aerosmith skipped some of their sappy MTV ballads and instead shifted into rock ‘n’ roll gear. “You don’t mind if we kick your ass into the middle of next week, do you?’’ Tyler yelled. Well, no, we don’t, not if we get these results.
From the archives came a jolting “Rats in the Cellar.’’ They didn’t play “Seasons of Wither’’ this time, but the fact that they still shake up some of their archival nuggets is gratifying. And songs like “Dream On’’ and “Sweet Emotion’’ continued to impress, esspecially with Tom Hamilton’s signature bass lines. It was great seeing Hamilton back in the band – last summer he couldn’t make it because he was battling cancer. He returned with no loss of energy and remains a key to the Aerosmith machine.
Joe Perry, wearing a bizarre marching cap that looked to be lifted from the “Sgt Pepper’s’’ wardrobe closet, again teamed with fellow axman Brad Whitford for some ear-shredding highlights. Joe and Steven also combined for an exhilarating run through the Memphis classic, “Walkin’ the Dog.’’ And drummer Joey Kramer, who has had some of his own medical issues in the past, was back in peak form on the skins, getting some solo time and really delivering. Just an excellent show. It was heartening to see Aerosmith still in such prime shape.
CRITIC’S TIPS
· Stevie Wonder – at the Bank of America Pavilion on Thursday, Sept. 20. The ageless Stevie Wonder in Boston. Enough said. It’s theoretically sold out, but maybe you can get lucky and find a last-minute ticket.
· Farrenheit – at Kowloon’s on Thursday, Sept. 20. Boston’s classic-rock legends reunited for the recent Brad Delp tribute at the Bank of America Pavilion. They were incredibly well-received and are back for more.
· The Tossers – at Harpers Ferry on Thursday, Sept. 20. These Celtic punk-rockers were a hit at the recent ICONS Festival. Think of a latter-day Pogues and you’re getting close.
· Michael McDonald – at the Bank of America Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 21. The former Doobie Brother has carved a great career lately by reprising Motown hits and other soul nuggets.
· Boston Blues Festival – a FREE event at the Hatch Shell on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22-23. Area producer Greg Sarni presents his annual labor of love with Sonny Rhodes leading a great cast on Saturday (the Brian Templeton Band, Dennis Brennan’s White Owls, and Lloyd Thayer); and Sir Mack Rice and Chicago Bob Nelson leading Sunday’s group with the Mystics, Chris Stovall Brown, and others.
· Local scribe Brett Milano has been a club hound for several decades and throws his knowledge into a book about Boston rock history. The performers at this soiree include Asa Brebner, Robin Lane, Willie Alexander, the Lyres, Nervous Eaters, and the list goes on.
· Mission of Burma – at the Institute of Contemporary Art on Sunday, Sept. 23. Boston’s punk pioneers are playing two shows at the ICA’s new theater. Not to be missed if you want to see an art museum shaken to its core.
· Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals – at the Orpheum on Sunday, Sept. 23. Harper’s latest album is a soulful gem – and he’s sure to back it with another all-out, marathon show.
· John Lincoln Wright’s birthday – at the Cantab Lounge (downstairs) on Sunday, Sept. 23. New England’s country music fixture celebrates his – gasp – 60th birthday party with a bevy of local acts paying tribute.
I was thrown off by their opening tune, “Love In An Elevator,’’ which usually comes later in the set; and I missed “Back in the Saddle,’’ which is their typical opener (call me a traditionalist!) but wasn’t even played. Yet, that was probably my biggest quibble of the night, which isn’t much. And the band immediately won me back by ripping into “Same Old Song and Dance,’’ which fueled the diehards to screams of ecstasy before singer Steven Tyler hammered out the last note.
The rest of the show was just plain powerful. Aerosmith skipped some of their sappy MTV ballads and instead shifted into rock ‘n’ roll gear. “You don’t mind if we kick your ass into the middle of next week, do you?’’ Tyler yelled. Well, no, we don’t, not if we get these results.
From the archives came a jolting “Rats in the Cellar.’’ They didn’t play “Seasons of Wither’’ this time, but the fact that they still shake up some of their archival nuggets is gratifying. And songs like “Dream On’’ and “Sweet Emotion’’ continued to impress, esspecially with Tom Hamilton’s signature bass lines. It was great seeing Hamilton back in the band – last summer he couldn’t make it because he was battling cancer. He returned with no loss of energy and remains a key to the Aerosmith machine.
Joe Perry, wearing a bizarre marching cap that looked to be lifted from the “Sgt Pepper’s’’ wardrobe closet, again teamed with fellow axman Brad Whitford for some ear-shredding highlights. Joe and Steven also combined for an exhilarating run through the Memphis classic, “Walkin’ the Dog.’’ And drummer Joey Kramer, who has had some of his own medical issues in the past, was back in peak form on the skins, getting some solo time and really delivering. Just an excellent show. It was heartening to see Aerosmith still in such prime shape.
CRITIC’S TIPS
· Stevie Wonder – at the Bank of America Pavilion on Thursday, Sept. 20. The ageless Stevie Wonder in Boston. Enough said. It’s theoretically sold out, but maybe you can get lucky and find a last-minute ticket.
· Farrenheit – at Kowloon’s on Thursday, Sept. 20. Boston’s classic-rock legends reunited for the recent Brad Delp tribute at the Bank of America Pavilion. They were incredibly well-received and are back for more.
· The Tossers – at Harpers Ferry on Thursday, Sept. 20. These Celtic punk-rockers were a hit at the recent ICONS Festival. Think of a latter-day Pogues and you’re getting close.
· Michael McDonald – at the Bank of America Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 21. The former Doobie Brother has carved a great career lately by reprising Motown hits and other soul nuggets.
· Boston Blues Festival – a FREE event at the Hatch Shell on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22-23. Area producer Greg Sarni presents his annual labor of love with Sonny Rhodes leading a great cast on Saturday (the Brian Templeton Band, Dennis Brennan’s White Owls, and Lloyd Thayer); and Sir Mack Rice and Chicago Bob Nelson leading Sunday’s group with the Mystics, Chris Stovall Brown, and others.
· Local scribe Brett Milano has been a club hound for several decades and throws his knowledge into a book about Boston rock history. The performers at this soiree include Asa Brebner, Robin Lane, Willie Alexander, the Lyres, Nervous Eaters, and the list goes on.
· Mission of Burma – at the Institute of Contemporary Art on Sunday, Sept. 23. Boston’s punk pioneers are playing two shows at the ICA’s new theater. Not to be missed if you want to see an art museum shaken to its core.
· Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals – at the Orpheum on Sunday, Sept. 23. Harper’s latest album is a soulful gem – and he’s sure to back it with another all-out, marathon show.
· John Lincoln Wright’s birthday – at the Cantab Lounge (downstairs) on Sunday, Sept. 23. New England’s country music fixture celebrates his – gasp – 60th birthday party with a bevy of local acts paying tribute.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Buffett, Genesis, Boston pub-crawling, tips
No Labor Day week is complete without a visit by Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band. I had seen him at Fenway Park in 2004 (the year the Red Sox won the World Series) and knew that he could translate to a stadium setting, but I didn't realize how much he would conquer the bigger Gillette Stadium stage. He did it with ease.
This has all been part of a week in which I was seemingly out every night catching music. There was Buffett and Genesis (at the Garden), plus locally hatched acts such as the Scissormen (at Toad), the Gentlemen and Watts (at the Abbey Lounge), Flynn (Club Passim), the Coachmen (Plough & Stars) and Andrea Gillis (Toad).
Buffett was the biggest surprise, because he played in front of a sold-out 57,000 fans at Gillette as though it were a personal saloon. "You have a nice little bar here!'' he said to the hordes, before opening with a surprise version of Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again.'' That road also led to some fine new songs (Buffett remains a prolific songwriter -- a guru of the beach-bum genre) and to some great covers such as Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl'' (a virtual staple of a Buffett show) and the Grateful Dead's "Scarlete Begonias,'' where Buffett correctly pointed out a "cross-breed'' between Deadheads and his own Parrotheads. The song received a thunderous response and was aided by the slide guitar brilliance of Sonny Landreth, who Buffett often books for the bigger gigs, along with keyboardist Bill Payne of Little Feat renown.
The Coral Reefers were buttressed this time by Cape Verdean musician Elo Ferrier, a captivating new artist who sang one tune with Buffett, then sang lead on another. Buffett hopes to get him a record contract and the kid looks ready.
Another nice touch was paying homage to the recently deceased Luciano Pavarotti a couple of times. One came by dedicating the encore "Defying Gravity'' to Pavarotti. A noble gesture from Mr. Margaritaville.
As for Genesis at the Garden, they delivered a challenging show that pleasantly diverted from the typical "Greatest Hits'' spectacle to target deep-catalog songs aimed at Genesis connoisseurs. There were gasps of surprise at some tunes, dating way back to "Firth of Fifth'' from 1973. Many hits were still there (onetime MTV favorite "Invisible Touch'' rocked the house), but the band, again led by Phil Collins, did not become just another jukebox. They dug into the prog-rock side of their repertoire and Mike Rutherford, who normally plays bass, often switched over to lead guitar and played with a vengeance that I don't recall him having during their heyday. Some of his solos were stunning.
Collins hammed it up more than usual (some antics were more like what he does during his solo tours), but he's always been a born entertainer. The vocal mix could have been better on his voice, but he still sang with precision and a passion for which he's not always given credit. He did a beautiful treatment of "Hold On to My Heart'' that put the crowd into a trance.
But here's a surprise: No lasers! I don't think I'd ever seen a Genesis show without them, yet this time they settled for a LED screen. And no overhead mirrors, either, which they used to use to bounce the lasers off of. Still, the music predominated and if this was their farewell show in Boston, it justified high marks.
Regarding local pub-crawling, here are some snapshots:
SCISSORMEN at Toad: Singer/guitarist Ted Drozdowski relocated the band to Nashville, but must have discovered some newfound confidence down there, because he was a madman at Toad. He riffed on guitar while walking atop the entire bar, then falling to the floor and playing on his back. The crowd gathered around him and was in a complete uproar. A wild, wild night.
GENTLEMEN and WATTS at the Abbey: The Gentlemen don't play out as much anymore (sigh), but are still a crunching powerhouse of garage-rock when they do. And Watts, affectionately named for Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, celebrated a new CD with a slam-bang, guitar-stoked show that made you want to hear more.
FLYNN at Club Passim: The singular-named Flynn has quietly amassed a strong career as an adult-minded singer-songwriter. His songs are full of subtle emotions and revelations. He has just put out his fourth record and celebrated it with this Passim show, a transporting night of music helped by guests Ellis Paul and Antje Duvekot, not to mention an incredibly sharp backup band anchored by bassist Richard Gates (who also plays with Suzanne Vega) and drummer John Sands, who tours with Aimee Mann. Some of Flynn's songs fall into a strummy pop-folk realm, but his open-hearted delivery always seems to win the day. And his cover of the Beatles' "Let It Be'' with Ellis Paul was absolutely sublime.
ANDREA GILLIS at Toad: Andrea has one of the most powerful voices in Boston -- almost too powerful for a small room like Toad -- but she manages to connect no matter where she plays. She has an old-school R&B voice that induces goosebumps when it's not shaking the walls. She's an immense talent and has a residency every Tuesday this month at Toad.
THE COACHMEN at the Plough & Stars: I actually stumbled upon these gents twice at the Plough last week -- once when they headlined, the other time when they played a surprise birthday for a friend. The Coachmen boast a free-wheeling rockabilly sound highlighted by gifted guitarist Jerry Miller. They covered songs by the likes of Johnny Cash and Dick Curless, investing each with an almost preternatural energy. These guys are good.
CRITIC’S TIPS:
· Aerosmith – at the Tweeter Center on Friday, Sept. 13. Aerosmith may not be the “Bad Boys of Boston’’ anymore, but they can still rock the house. And with Tom Hamilton back on bass after his illness, this should be a great homecoming.
· Duke Levine Band – at Club Passim on Friday, Sept. 14. Duke is a sought-after guitarist for everyone from Peter Wolf to Dennis Brennan (he plays in both of their bands), but his solo stuff is all-instrumental, cutting across many styles.
· Boston Folk Festival – at UMass-Boston on Saturday, Sept. 15. The annual, acoustic-flavored gathering this time features Lori McKenna, Vance Gilbert, Patty Larkin, and Chris Trapper of the Push Stars. The fest includes three stages of music.
· Pete Francis – at Harpers Ferry on Saturday, Sept. 15. I recently caught Francis when he was with Dispatch, which played three nights at Madison Square Garden! Francis is back in the clubs, but this CD release party should be sweet.
· Laura Vecchione Band – at Johnny D’s on Saturday, Sept. 15. Vecchione is gathering a lot of attention around town for her country-edged tunes, so this should only add to her momentum.
· Bleu and Mike Viola – at Great Scott on Saturday, Sept. 15. Bleu is one of the best rock tunesmiths to come out of Boston in recent years. And old buddy Viola is another pop-rock legend in the making.
· Dennis Brennan Band – at the Lizard Lounge on Wednesday, Sept. 19. The heart of Boston’s roots-rock scene resumes his Wednesday residency at the Lizard. Count me as among those who are happy to see him back.
This has all been part of a week in which I was seemingly out every night catching music. There was Buffett and Genesis (at the Garden), plus locally hatched acts such as the Scissormen (at Toad), the Gentlemen and Watts (at the Abbey Lounge), Flynn (Club Passim), the Coachmen (Plough & Stars) and Andrea Gillis (Toad).
Buffett was the biggest surprise, because he played in front of a sold-out 57,000 fans at Gillette as though it were a personal saloon. "You have a nice little bar here!'' he said to the hordes, before opening with a surprise version of Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again.'' That road also led to some fine new songs (Buffett remains a prolific songwriter -- a guru of the beach-bum genre) and to some great covers such as Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl'' (a virtual staple of a Buffett show) and the Grateful Dead's "Scarlete Begonias,'' where Buffett correctly pointed out a "cross-breed'' between Deadheads and his own Parrotheads. The song received a thunderous response and was aided by the slide guitar brilliance of Sonny Landreth, who Buffett often books for the bigger gigs, along with keyboardist Bill Payne of Little Feat renown.
The Coral Reefers were buttressed this time by Cape Verdean musician Elo Ferrier, a captivating new artist who sang one tune with Buffett, then sang lead on another. Buffett hopes to get him a record contract and the kid looks ready.
Another nice touch was paying homage to the recently deceased Luciano Pavarotti a couple of times. One came by dedicating the encore "Defying Gravity'' to Pavarotti. A noble gesture from Mr. Margaritaville.
As for Genesis at the Garden, they delivered a challenging show that pleasantly diverted from the typical "Greatest Hits'' spectacle to target deep-catalog songs aimed at Genesis connoisseurs. There were gasps of surprise at some tunes, dating way back to "Firth of Fifth'' from 1973. Many hits were still there (onetime MTV favorite "Invisible Touch'' rocked the house), but the band, again led by Phil Collins, did not become just another jukebox. They dug into the prog-rock side of their repertoire and Mike Rutherford, who normally plays bass, often switched over to lead guitar and played with a vengeance that I don't recall him having during their heyday. Some of his solos were stunning.
Collins hammed it up more than usual (some antics were more like what he does during his solo tours), but he's always been a born entertainer. The vocal mix could have been better on his voice, but he still sang with precision and a passion for which he's not always given credit. He did a beautiful treatment of "Hold On to My Heart'' that put the crowd into a trance.
But here's a surprise: No lasers! I don't think I'd ever seen a Genesis show without them, yet this time they settled for a LED screen. And no overhead mirrors, either, which they used to use to bounce the lasers off of. Still, the music predominated and if this was their farewell show in Boston, it justified high marks.
Regarding local pub-crawling, here are some snapshots:
SCISSORMEN at Toad: Singer/guitarist Ted Drozdowski relocated the band to Nashville, but must have discovered some newfound confidence down there, because he was a madman at Toad. He riffed on guitar while walking atop the entire bar, then falling to the floor and playing on his back. The crowd gathered around him and was in a complete uproar. A wild, wild night.
GENTLEMEN and WATTS at the Abbey: The Gentlemen don't play out as much anymore (sigh), but are still a crunching powerhouse of garage-rock when they do. And Watts, affectionately named for Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, celebrated a new CD with a slam-bang, guitar-stoked show that made you want to hear more.
FLYNN at Club Passim: The singular-named Flynn has quietly amassed a strong career as an adult-minded singer-songwriter. His songs are full of subtle emotions and revelations. He has just put out his fourth record and celebrated it with this Passim show, a transporting night of music helped by guests Ellis Paul and Antje Duvekot, not to mention an incredibly sharp backup band anchored by bassist Richard Gates (who also plays with Suzanne Vega) and drummer John Sands, who tours with Aimee Mann. Some of Flynn's songs fall into a strummy pop-folk realm, but his open-hearted delivery always seems to win the day. And his cover of the Beatles' "Let It Be'' with Ellis Paul was absolutely sublime.
ANDREA GILLIS at Toad: Andrea has one of the most powerful voices in Boston -- almost too powerful for a small room like Toad -- but she manages to connect no matter where she plays. She has an old-school R&B voice that induces goosebumps when it's not shaking the walls. She's an immense talent and has a residency every Tuesday this month at Toad.
THE COACHMEN at the Plough & Stars: I actually stumbled upon these gents twice at the Plough last week -- once when they headlined, the other time when they played a surprise birthday for a friend. The Coachmen boast a free-wheeling rockabilly sound highlighted by gifted guitarist Jerry Miller. They covered songs by the likes of Johnny Cash and Dick Curless, investing each with an almost preternatural energy. These guys are good.
CRITIC’S TIPS:
· Aerosmith – at the Tweeter Center on Friday, Sept. 13. Aerosmith may not be the “Bad Boys of Boston’’ anymore, but they can still rock the house. And with Tom Hamilton back on bass after his illness, this should be a great homecoming.
· Duke Levine Band – at Club Passim on Friday, Sept. 14. Duke is a sought-after guitarist for everyone from Peter Wolf to Dennis Brennan (he plays in both of their bands), but his solo stuff is all-instrumental, cutting across many styles.
· Boston Folk Festival – at UMass-Boston on Saturday, Sept. 15. The annual, acoustic-flavored gathering this time features Lori McKenna, Vance Gilbert, Patty Larkin, and Chris Trapper of the Push Stars. The fest includes three stages of music.
· Pete Francis – at Harpers Ferry on Saturday, Sept. 15. I recently caught Francis when he was with Dispatch, which played three nights at Madison Square Garden! Francis is back in the clubs, but this CD release party should be sweet.
· Laura Vecchione Band – at Johnny D’s on Saturday, Sept. 15. Vecchione is gathering a lot of attention around town for her country-edged tunes, so this should only add to her momentum.
· Bleu and Mike Viola – at Great Scott on Saturday, Sept. 15. Bleu is one of the best rock tunesmiths to come out of Boston in recent years. And old buddy Viola is another pop-rock legend in the making.
· Dennis Brennan Band – at the Lizard Lounge on Wednesday, Sept. 19. The heart of Boston’s roots-rock scene resumes his Wednesday residency at the Lizard. Count me as among those who are happy to see him back.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Toast to the Nog, tips, Willie-Merle-and-Ray
The fall season is upon us -- and there's nothing more underground at the moment than the Sunday-to-Wednesday music series in Union Square called "A Toast to the Nog.'' The Nog, you may recall, is short for Tir na Nog, the nearby club whose lease was yanked amid much consternation last spring. But the Nog has rebounded by taking over four nights up the street at Toast, where the basement has been transformed with oriental carpets and other softening touches to make it seem more like the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge.
I've been hanging out a lot at Toast's Nog nights -- and they've seen a quietly spectacular mix of all kinds of people of different ages and tastes. The literally underground site, which also features a second lounge room with romantically lit couches and an outdoor patio reached by taking stairs down from the street, feels very much like a cosmopolitan New York night spot. Some old Nog faves are playing there -- including David Johnston, Christian McNeill, and Paddy Saul -- plus newcomers such as Mike Hastings, who has shown great potential as a singer-songwriter.
Co-owner Robert Elliott has been building a grass-roots, word-of-mouth image for the place, and he never even got a website going until recently when a MySpace page went up. He mostly has text-messaged people to get them to spread the word. Very fashionably low-key, to say the least, but this is a fun place with a wraparound bar full of intersting conversationalists (ex-Plough & Stars owner George Crowley is often there) and the Guinness is still flowing liberally. Check it out.
Music-wise, the best event I've seen recently was the Last of the Breed tour with Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price at the Bank of America Pavilion the other night. Talk about legends. All of these guys have been around (Price is 81 years old!), but their rich repository of hits was on full display and they also popped up to youthfully sing with each other, most notably on Haggard's "Okie from Muskogee,'' which now sounds more like a pro-pot anthem than the anti-pot tone of the original. Hey, these guys have been around and they know the biggest sin in the world is not pot-smoking (just ask Willie!).
Willie was solid and played his standby outlaw set list (starting with "Whiskey River'' again), but also offered some new material such as the anti-war tune "A Peaceful Solution,'' which had a line about how "we need to take back America.'' A few people actually walked out in protest, but it was good to hear Willie speak his mind.
Haggard's set was the most lackluster, as he babied his voice and didn't sound nearly as strong as when he opened for Bob Dylan at the Orpheum a couple of years ago. But the show was stolen by Price, the country crooner famous for putting a layer of pop on traditional country, but doing it with class. His song, "For the Good Times,'' is still a pre-eminent love song. And his voice belied his age, as he sang with remarkable poise and passion. I'd love to see this tour come back next year.
CRITIC'S TIP THIS WEEK:
Gov’t Mule – at the Bank of America Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 7. The Southern rock jammers, again led by Warren Haynes, should steam up the pavilion. The addition of Vermont’s Grace Potter & the Nocturnals on the bill should also raise pulses.
Gentlemen – at the Abbey Lounge on Friday, Sept. 7. Boston’s Gentlemen remain a command performance for lovers of no-frills rock. They’ll hit the Abbey at 11:30 p.m., preceded by Watts (a dynamic group named in tribute to Stones drummer Charlie Watts) and AM Stereo.
Scissormen – at Toad on Friday, Sept. 7. Singer/guitarist/journalist Ted Drozdowski just moved from Boston to Nashville, but he hasn’t forgotten about us. His bluesy Scissormen will stoke a hedonistic atmosphere.
Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band – at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 8. Few Parrotheads thought they’d ever see Buffett at Fenway, and probably fewer thought he’d play a stadium show in Foxborough. The fans should at least have more tailgating opportunities than they did at a locked-down Fenway. And some last-minute tickets have been released, so you still have a chance to get in.
Pinehills Jazz and Blues -- at the Pinehill village green in Plymouth for two days, Sept. 8-9. It's worth heading to Plymouth for a sophisticated lineup that includes jazz luminaries Rebecca Parris and Myanna on Saturday, then Roomful of Blues, Coco Montoya, and Johnny Hoy & the Bluefish on Sunday.
Charms – at T.T. the Bear’s on Saturday, Sept. 8. The Boston garage-rock band has battled adversity in recent years, but also has soared nationally thanks to the help of Little Steven’s “Underground Garage’’ radio show.
Wachusetts Blues Festival -- at Mt. Wachusetts on Sunday, Sept. 9. A partying lineup stars New Orleans great Marcia Ball, plus the Tommy Castro Band and Danny Klein's Stone Crazy (Danny is the J. Geils Band bassist).
Genesis – at TD Banknorth Garden on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Singer Phil Collins performed his farewell solo tour a few years ago (it was fantastic) and nothing less is expected from what is likely his farewell tour fronting longtime hitmakers Genesis.
I've been hanging out a lot at Toast's Nog nights -- and they've seen a quietly spectacular mix of all kinds of people of different ages and tastes. The literally underground site, which also features a second lounge room with romantically lit couches and an outdoor patio reached by taking stairs down from the street, feels very much like a cosmopolitan New York night spot. Some old Nog faves are playing there -- including David Johnston, Christian McNeill, and Paddy Saul -- plus newcomers such as Mike Hastings, who has shown great potential as a singer-songwriter.
Co-owner Robert Elliott has been building a grass-roots, word-of-mouth image for the place, and he never even got a website going until recently when a MySpace page went up. He mostly has text-messaged people to get them to spread the word. Very fashionably low-key, to say the least, but this is a fun place with a wraparound bar full of intersting conversationalists (ex-Plough & Stars owner George Crowley is often there) and the Guinness is still flowing liberally. Check it out.
Music-wise, the best event I've seen recently was the Last of the Breed tour with Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price at the Bank of America Pavilion the other night. Talk about legends. All of these guys have been around (Price is 81 years old!), but their rich repository of hits was on full display and they also popped up to youthfully sing with each other, most notably on Haggard's "Okie from Muskogee,'' which now sounds more like a pro-pot anthem than the anti-pot tone of the original. Hey, these guys have been around and they know the biggest sin in the world is not pot-smoking (just ask Willie!).
Willie was solid and played his standby outlaw set list (starting with "Whiskey River'' again), but also offered some new material such as the anti-war tune "A Peaceful Solution,'' which had a line about how "we need to take back America.'' A few people actually walked out in protest, but it was good to hear Willie speak his mind.
Haggard's set was the most lackluster, as he babied his voice and didn't sound nearly as strong as when he opened for Bob Dylan at the Orpheum a couple of years ago. But the show was stolen by Price, the country crooner famous for putting a layer of pop on traditional country, but doing it with class. His song, "For the Good Times,'' is still a pre-eminent love song. And his voice belied his age, as he sang with remarkable poise and passion. I'd love to see this tour come back next year.
CRITIC'S TIP THIS WEEK:
Gov’t Mule – at the Bank of America Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 7. The Southern rock jammers, again led by Warren Haynes, should steam up the pavilion. The addition of Vermont’s Grace Potter & the Nocturnals on the bill should also raise pulses.
Gentlemen – at the Abbey Lounge on Friday, Sept. 7. Boston’s Gentlemen remain a command performance for lovers of no-frills rock. They’ll hit the Abbey at 11:30 p.m., preceded by Watts (a dynamic group named in tribute to Stones drummer Charlie Watts) and AM Stereo.
Scissormen – at Toad on Friday, Sept. 7. Singer/guitarist/journalist Ted Drozdowski just moved from Boston to Nashville, but he hasn’t forgotten about us. His bluesy Scissormen will stoke a hedonistic atmosphere.
Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band – at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 8. Few Parrotheads thought they’d ever see Buffett at Fenway, and probably fewer thought he’d play a stadium show in Foxborough. The fans should at least have more tailgating opportunities than they did at a locked-down Fenway. And some last-minute tickets have been released, so you still have a chance to get in.
Pinehills Jazz and Blues -- at the Pinehill village green in Plymouth for two days, Sept. 8-9. It's worth heading to Plymouth for a sophisticated lineup that includes jazz luminaries Rebecca Parris and Myanna on Saturday, then Roomful of Blues, Coco Montoya, and Johnny Hoy & the Bluefish on Sunday.
Charms – at T.T. the Bear’s on Saturday, Sept. 8. The Boston garage-rock band has battled adversity in recent years, but also has soared nationally thanks to the help of Little Steven’s “Underground Garage’’ radio show.
Wachusetts Blues Festival -- at Mt. Wachusetts on Sunday, Sept. 9. A partying lineup stars New Orleans great Marcia Ball, plus the Tommy Castro Band and Danny Klein's Stone Crazy (Danny is the J. Geils Band bassist).
Genesis – at TD Banknorth Garden on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Singer Phil Collins performed his farewell solo tour a few years ago (it was fantastic) and nothing less is expected from what is likely his farewell tour fronting longtime hitmakers Genesis.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)