TOP TEN CONCERTS
Time for another list, this time the Top Ten shows of the year. The one I’m kicking myself for missing was Stevie Wonder at the Bank of America Pavilion, but I tried to catch most of the biggies this year. So here goes: (Oh, and WBOS jock John Laurenti and I both discuss our Top Tens for records and concerts in podcasts that you can call up through WBOS.com. Happy holidays!)
1. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & the E Street Band at TD Banknorth Garden. His second night there was celestial, filled with early classics like “Kitty’s Back’’ and “Candy’s Room.’’
2. NEIL YOUNG at the Orpheum. Caught the second night and was completely blown away by his acoustic set, especially, with “Cowgirl in the Sand’’ and “Journey Through the Past’’ (on solo piano). His electric set also mesmerized, but not to the extent of the acoustic one, where Neil’s soul really shone through.
3. VAN HALEN at the TD Banknorth Garden. Who knew that David Lee Roth would come back so strongly? He nearly made you forget all about the Sammy Hagar years.
4. PAULO NUTINI at the Paradise. The newcomer showed that he’s not just a teen idol with a pretty face. He is making music to justify a long career.
5. BRAD DELP TRIBUTE at the Bank of America Pavilion. Brad’s suicide was one of the year’s saddest stories, but at least his friends in the band Boston reunited on his behalf. Also nice sets by Godsmack, Extreme, and Farrenheit.
6. RYAN SHAW at the Copley Square series this summer. Ryan is bringing soul music back with a bang. And openers Eli “Paperboy’’ Reed & the True Loves were perfect for the occasion.
7. THE POLICE at Fenway Park. The Brit trio had been absent for more than 20 years, but they picked up right where they left off. Chemistry is everything.
8. WOLFMOTHER at Avalon. The Aussie hard-rockers seem the logical successors to AC/DC. Turn it up loud.
9. RATDOG at Bank of American Pavilion. Former Grateful Dead singer Bob Weir had one of his best Ratdog lineups yet, with Steve Kimock filling in the guitar chair. A psychedelic night on the harbor.
10. AUGUSTANA at TD Banknorth Garden. They played after a Celtics game this year and were anything but an anticlimax. Their song “Boston’’ is an instant classic, but they’ve got more going on than just that.
NEW YEAR’S EVE: Here are some possibilities – Soulive at the Paradise, Bang Camaro at the Hard Rock Café, Roomful of Blues and David Maxwell at the Regattabar, Superhoney at T.T. the Bear’s, and Ellis Paul at Club Passim.
CRITIC’S TIPS
A Christmas Celtic Sojourn – at the Cutler Majestic Theatre Thursday, Dec. 20-Saturday, Dec. 22. I caught the show last week and loved it. The group Solas anchors this Celtic-themed musical revue, with special guests Dougie MacLean and Aoife O’Donovan (from the band Crooked Still).
Benefit for Jeanne – at T.T. the Bear’s on Friday, Dec. 21. Bartender Jeanne Sheehy (who is fighting cancer) gets more support from the local community as the Shods, the Pills, and Jules Verdone raise money for her medical bills.
Lemonheads – at the Middle East Downstairs on Saturday, Dec. 22. Enfant terrible Evan Dando returns with his latest incarnation of the alt-rocking Lemonheads.
Wheelers and Dealers – at the Plough & Stars on Saturday, Dec. 22. Fun country/rock-roots music with a comic edge.
Sub Rosa – at the Lizard Lounge on Saturday, Dec. 22. Rose Polenzani teams up with an exciting cast including Dennis Brennan, Sam Bigelow, and Dave Godowsky.
Aine Minogue – at Club Passim on Sunday, Dec. 23. The local harpist is a folk music wonder. Her concerts are often spellbinding events.
Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers – at Club Passim on Thursday, Dec. 27. I’ve often thought of Kellogg as a latter-day Tom Petty. Great songs, great band, great time.
Mary Lou Lord – at the Plough & Stars on Thursday, Dec. 27. The ever-intriguing Ms. Lord returns to the Plough, where she recently did an acclaimed residency.
(Steve Morse can be reached at spmorse@gmail.com.)
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Top Ten CDs, crit tips
TOP TEN CDs for 2007
Ben Harper, “Lifeline.’’ Ben comes back strong with a soul album. Memphis soul great Al Green would likely approve.
Eddie Vedder, “Into the Wild’’ soundtrack. Eddie does the one-man band thing and sounds as natural as ever. Spare production, powerful vocals.
John Fogerty, “Revival.’’ Finally, an album that Fogerty can put up against the best work from his seminal Creedence Clearwater Revival days.
Kaiser Chiefs, “Yours Truly.’’ These Brit-rockers scored a chart hit from this with the driving “Ruby, Ruby,’’ but there’s plenty to like throughout.
John Lennon tribute “Instant Karma’’ to save Darfur. An important social statement from many of today’s rockers. Lennon would have appreciated the sentiments.
Martin Sexton, “Seeds.’’ Beautifully singing that spans the spectrum from folk to R&B. And a great cover of Billy Preston’s “Will It Go Round in Circles.’’
Anoushka Shankar and Karsh Kale, “breathing Under Water.’’ Ravi Shankar’s daughter teams up for a ravishing mix of Indian music and techno-ambient production.
Serj Tankian, “Elect the Dead.’’ The System of a Down singer goes solo with a punk-metal swipe at the status quo. Most biting song: “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition.’’
Uncle Earl, “Waterloo, Tennessee.’’ The young, all-female vocal group takes on old-timey music and makes it sound new again.
Fountains of Wayne, “Traffic and Weather.’’ Named for a lawn ornament store in New Jersey, Fountains of Wayne continue to release ultra-witty pop-rock music.
(Steve Morse can be reached at spmorse@gmail.com.)
CRITIC’S TIPS
Mr. Lif – at the Middle East Downstairs on Friday, Dec. 14. The Boston hip-hopper is building a national audience brick by brick. He deserves one.
Gretel and Temper – at the Lizard Lounge on Friday, Dec. 14. Gretel is a fast-emerging local rock group, while Temper is a more reflective, but still noteworthy, experience.
Dop-Wop everywhere – Saturday, Dec. 15. No shortage of the vintage harmony singing known as doo-wop this weekend. The Royalty of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Doo-wopp show is at the Somerville Theatre with Gene Chandler (“Duke of Earl’’), Shirley Reeves (Shirelles) and Boston’s own Little Joe Cook. And another is at the Berklee Performance Center with Earl Speedo Carroll & the Cadillacs, the original Chantels, Frankie Ford, and more.
Session Americana holiday concert – at Club Passim on Saturday, Dec. 15. The rotating, local troupe, which sings into a single, omni-directional microphone, sheds new light on the holidays.
Sally O’Brien’s Xmas show – at Sally O’Brien’s on Sunday, Dec. 16. Cambridge country-rock legend John Lincoln Wright comes out of the woodwork to perform at Sally’s Xmas party, which runs from 5 to 9 p.m. And the White Owls (Dennis Brennan’s blues band) perform the rest of the night.
Ben Harper, “Lifeline.’’ Ben comes back strong with a soul album. Memphis soul great Al Green would likely approve.
Eddie Vedder, “Into the Wild’’ soundtrack. Eddie does the one-man band thing and sounds as natural as ever. Spare production, powerful vocals.
John Fogerty, “Revival.’’ Finally, an album that Fogerty can put up against the best work from his seminal Creedence Clearwater Revival days.
Kaiser Chiefs, “Yours Truly.’’ These Brit-rockers scored a chart hit from this with the driving “Ruby, Ruby,’’ but there’s plenty to like throughout.
John Lennon tribute “Instant Karma’’ to save Darfur. An important social statement from many of today’s rockers. Lennon would have appreciated the sentiments.
Martin Sexton, “Seeds.’’ Beautifully singing that spans the spectrum from folk to R&B. And a great cover of Billy Preston’s “Will It Go Round in Circles.’’
Anoushka Shankar and Karsh Kale, “breathing Under Water.’’ Ravi Shankar’s daughter teams up for a ravishing mix of Indian music and techno-ambient production.
Serj Tankian, “Elect the Dead.’’ The System of a Down singer goes solo with a punk-metal swipe at the status quo. Most biting song: “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition.’’
Uncle Earl, “Waterloo, Tennessee.’’ The young, all-female vocal group takes on old-timey music and makes it sound new again.
Fountains of Wayne, “Traffic and Weather.’’ Named for a lawn ornament store in New Jersey, Fountains of Wayne continue to release ultra-witty pop-rock music.
(Steve Morse can be reached at spmorse@gmail.com.)
CRITIC’S TIPS
Mr. Lif – at the Middle East Downstairs on Friday, Dec. 14. The Boston hip-hopper is building a national audience brick by brick. He deserves one.
Gretel and Temper – at the Lizard Lounge on Friday, Dec. 14. Gretel is a fast-emerging local rock group, while Temper is a more reflective, but still noteworthy, experience.
Dop-Wop everywhere – Saturday, Dec. 15. No shortage of the vintage harmony singing known as doo-wop this weekend. The Royalty of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Doo-wopp show is at the Somerville Theatre with Gene Chandler (“Duke of Earl’’), Shirley Reeves (Shirelles) and Boston’s own Little Joe Cook. And another is at the Berklee Performance Center with Earl Speedo Carroll & the Cadillacs, the original Chantels, Frankie Ford, and more.
Session Americana holiday concert – at Club Passim on Saturday, Dec. 15. The rotating, local troupe, which sings into a single, omni-directional microphone, sheds new light on the holidays.
Sally O’Brien’s Xmas show – at Sally O’Brien’s on Sunday, Dec. 16. Cambridge country-rock legend John Lincoln Wright comes out of the woodwork to perform at Sally’s Xmas party, which runs from 5 to 9 p.m. And the White Owls (Dennis Brennan’s blues band) perform the rest of the night.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Christmas Celtic Sojourn
Christmas may provoke some tense reactions in some people. They may need a reminder about the warmth of the season -- and one way to jumpstart that is to catch the upcoming Christmas Celtic Sojourn shows at the Cutler Majestic Theatre over the next two weeks.
"These shows allow us to be sentimental. People look for the assurance of Christmas time,'' says producer Brian O'Donovan, who presents the Christmas Celtic Sojourn for the fifth straight year starting this Thursday, Dec. 13 and running to Dec. 22.
"There will be up to 17 musicians and dancers on stage at any given time,'' adds O'Donovan, who has a rotating cast each year. This year's program includes the renowned Solas, Aoife O'Donovan (Brian's daughter, who is also in the folk group Crooked Still that just sold out the Somerville Theatre), Dougie MacLean, Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas, Seamus Eagan, and Kieran Jordan and her troupe of four dancers.
"It's a very collaborative effort,'' says O'Donovan. "The group is chosen in April of each year and that's when the collaborative effort begins. There's a fair amount of interesting Christmas music and some music that would fit an old-fashioned kitchen party gathering.''
O'Donovan himself ties it together by providing thoughts, poems, and commentary, though the program's focus is on music.
"There a main female singer and a main male singer. Last year it was Karen Kasey and Robbie O'Connell. This year it's Dougie MacLean and Aoife,'' he says.
I caught the show last year and loved it. The formula has also been quite successful. Three of the previous years' versions have come out on CDs from Rounder Records and the first DVD, "A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, Live,'' has come out from last year's show.
For tickets, you can call 1-800-872-8997 or go online at www.maj.org./p2008/celtic.html.
(Steve Morse can be reached at spmorse@gmail.com)
"These shows allow us to be sentimental. People look for the assurance of Christmas time,'' says producer Brian O'Donovan, who presents the Christmas Celtic Sojourn for the fifth straight year starting this Thursday, Dec. 13 and running to Dec. 22.
"There will be up to 17 musicians and dancers on stage at any given time,'' adds O'Donovan, who has a rotating cast each year. This year's program includes the renowned Solas, Aoife O'Donovan (Brian's daughter, who is also in the folk group Crooked Still that just sold out the Somerville Theatre), Dougie MacLean, Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas, Seamus Eagan, and Kieran Jordan and her troupe of four dancers.
"It's a very collaborative effort,'' says O'Donovan. "The group is chosen in April of each year and that's when the collaborative effort begins. There's a fair amount of interesting Christmas music and some music that would fit an old-fashioned kitchen party gathering.''
O'Donovan himself ties it together by providing thoughts, poems, and commentary, though the program's focus is on music.
"There a main female singer and a main male singer. Last year it was Karen Kasey and Robbie O'Connell. This year it's Dougie MacLean and Aoife,'' he says.
I caught the show last year and loved it. The formula has also been quite successful. Three of the previous years' versions have come out on CDs from Rounder Records and the first DVD, "A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, Live,'' has come out from last year's show.
For tickets, you can call 1-800-872-8997 or go online at www.maj.org./p2008/celtic.html.
(Steve Morse can be reached at spmorse@gmail.com)
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Neil Young still rules, and tips
Neil Young’s catalog has a breadth that few others can touch. His absurdly rich reservoir of acoustic and electric material was on display at three Orpheum Theatre shows this week, each with some varying song choices that had diehards wondering which was the best night. For me, I only went to the second show, but it’s enough to keep me content for a while.
Neil broke the show into acoustic and electric sets. The acoustic one was the most powerful for yours truly. He has acquired an emotional depth – and an appreciation of life from a scary brain aneurysm a couple of years ago – that made the acoustic set the most personal, and the most fertile. Sitting in a chair flanked by six guitars, a banjo, and two pianos to the side, Neil opened with the panoramic scope of “From Hank to Hendrix,’’ then settled into one gem after another.
The novelty song “A Man Needs a Maid’’ had new depth, while “Love is a Rose’’ took things even deeper. Neil thanked Linda Ronstadt for recording it (one young fan shouted, “Who is Linda Ronstadt?’’), but his version of “Journey Through the Past’’ on piano was the highlight for me. It was on the “Live at Massey Hall’’ album that Neil released earlier this year, right around the time my mother died. I played that song incessantly and it gave me a much-catharsis. Thank you again, Neil, for doing it at the Orpheum. It sounds like a hymn and has a spiritual that turns back the years.
The acoustic set was soon capped by “Cowgirl in the Sand,’’ a stunning choice by any estimation. Neil shambled off, then returned for an electric set keyed by the efforts of drummer Ralph Molina (a veteran of Young’s Crazy Horse group), though it lost some punch because pedal steel guitarist Ben Keith, who is a brilliant player, was not quite up to the rocking edge that the electric set needed. I missed Frank Sampedro of Crazy Horse on guitar.
The set has some classic Neil tracks – “The Loner,’’ “Everybody Knows This is Nowhere,’’ “Spirit Road,’’ and “Cinnamon Girl,’’ which built the concert into a high-energy stew. But as good as Neil still is on electric guitar, it just didn’t dig into my soul the way the acoustic moments had. It did, however, prove that Neil is a master who is still a must-see act from the ‘60s. Long may he roam.
,
CRITIC’S TIPS
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals – at the Paradise Rock Club on Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 6-8. Grace & Co. have really gone national since playing the WBOS Earth Fest in the spring. Her Bonnie Raitt-influenced sound is infectious and she’s playing three weekend with three different opening acts – Eli “Paperboy’’ Reed tonight, Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles tomorrow, and Tim Gearan Saturday.
John Mellencamp – at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. on Thursday, Oct. 6. Word is leaking that Mellencamp will not just be a nominee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, but a full-fledged inductee. It’s about time.
Benefit for Jeanne – at T.T. the Bear’s on Thursday, Dec. 6. Veteran T.T.’s bartender Jeanne Sheehy has been diagnosed with cancer, so the community is giving back with a series of upcoming benefits. This Thursday kicks it off with the Delusions, Wide Iris, Country Doctors, and Doug MacDonald. Other benefits follow on Dec. 21 and 28.
Cake – at the Orpheum on Friday, Dec. 7. The Sacramento-hatched Cake released one of the decade’s best albums in 2001’s “Comfort Eagle,’’ featuring the bitingly sardonic “Meanwhile, Rick James.’’
Bleu – at the Lizard Lounge on Saturday, Dec. 8. Bleu cut his teeth in the Boston scene and his probing pop-rock looked to be the Next Big Thing at one point. Plans are still on hold for that, but Bleu is extremely talented and he may still get there.
Angeline and others – at The Middle East Upstairs on Saturday, Dec. 8. Angeline, whose new album was produced by Boston rock legend Asa Brebner, has been coming on strong. The Nervous Eaters, Fox Pass, and Totaro open up. A great night of rock.
Youssou N’Dour – at the Somerville Theatre on Monday, Dec. 10. N’Dour will forever be remembered as the world music voice on the Amnesty International tour in the ‘90s that featured Bruce Springsteen, Sting, and Tracy Chapman.
Royal Crown Revue – at Scullers on Wednesday-Thursday, Dec. 12-13. The Royal Crown Revue burst out of the neo-swing movement and they’ve received another bonus by having their song “Hey Pachuco’’ featured on the recent finale of TV show “Dancing with the Stars.’’
Neil broke the show into acoustic and electric sets. The acoustic one was the most powerful for yours truly. He has acquired an emotional depth – and an appreciation of life from a scary brain aneurysm a couple of years ago – that made the acoustic set the most personal, and the most fertile. Sitting in a chair flanked by six guitars, a banjo, and two pianos to the side, Neil opened with the panoramic scope of “From Hank to Hendrix,’’ then settled into one gem after another.
The novelty song “A Man Needs a Maid’’ had new depth, while “Love is a Rose’’ took things even deeper. Neil thanked Linda Ronstadt for recording it (one young fan shouted, “Who is Linda Ronstadt?’’), but his version of “Journey Through the Past’’ on piano was the highlight for me. It was on the “Live at Massey Hall’’ album that Neil released earlier this year, right around the time my mother died. I played that song incessantly and it gave me a much-catharsis. Thank you again, Neil, for doing it at the Orpheum. It sounds like a hymn and has a spiritual that turns back the years.
The acoustic set was soon capped by “Cowgirl in the Sand,’’ a stunning choice by any estimation. Neil shambled off, then returned for an electric set keyed by the efforts of drummer Ralph Molina (a veteran of Young’s Crazy Horse group), though it lost some punch because pedal steel guitarist Ben Keith, who is a brilliant player, was not quite up to the rocking edge that the electric set needed. I missed Frank Sampedro of Crazy Horse on guitar.
The set has some classic Neil tracks – “The Loner,’’ “Everybody Knows This is Nowhere,’’ “Spirit Road,’’ and “Cinnamon Girl,’’ which built the concert into a high-energy stew. But as good as Neil still is on electric guitar, it just didn’t dig into my soul the way the acoustic moments had. It did, however, prove that Neil is a master who is still a must-see act from the ‘60s. Long may he roam.
,
CRITIC’S TIPS
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals – at the Paradise Rock Club on Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 6-8. Grace & Co. have really gone national since playing the WBOS Earth Fest in the spring. Her Bonnie Raitt-influenced sound is infectious and she’s playing three weekend with three different opening acts – Eli “Paperboy’’ Reed tonight, Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles tomorrow, and Tim Gearan Saturday.
John Mellencamp – at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. on Thursday, Oct. 6. Word is leaking that Mellencamp will not just be a nominee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, but a full-fledged inductee. It’s about time.
Benefit for Jeanne – at T.T. the Bear’s on Thursday, Dec. 6. Veteran T.T.’s bartender Jeanne Sheehy has been diagnosed with cancer, so the community is giving back with a series of upcoming benefits. This Thursday kicks it off with the Delusions, Wide Iris, Country Doctors, and Doug MacDonald. Other benefits follow on Dec. 21 and 28.
Cake – at the Orpheum on Friday, Dec. 7. The Sacramento-hatched Cake released one of the decade’s best albums in 2001’s “Comfort Eagle,’’ featuring the bitingly sardonic “Meanwhile, Rick James.’’
Bleu – at the Lizard Lounge on Saturday, Dec. 8. Bleu cut his teeth in the Boston scene and his probing pop-rock looked to be the Next Big Thing at one point. Plans are still on hold for that, but Bleu is extremely talented and he may still get there.
Angeline and others – at The Middle East Upstairs on Saturday, Dec. 8. Angeline, whose new album was produced by Boston rock legend Asa Brebner, has been coming on strong. The Nervous Eaters, Fox Pass, and Totaro open up. A great night of rock.
Youssou N’Dour – at the Somerville Theatre on Monday, Dec. 10. N’Dour will forever be remembered as the world music voice on the Amnesty International tour in the ‘90s that featured Bruce Springsteen, Sting, and Tracy Chapman.
Royal Crown Revue – at Scullers on Wednesday-Thursday, Dec. 12-13. The Royal Crown Revue burst out of the neo-swing movement and they’ve received another bonus by having their song “Hey Pachuco’’ featured on the recent finale of TV show “Dancing with the Stars.’’
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