REJOICING OVER PETTY:
Good news for concert fans: The best double bill in ages -- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and Steve Winwood – is coming to the TD Banknorth Garden on June 13. Petty will be riding high from his Super Bowl halftime-show appearance, but it’s just good to see him back out there. There were reports that he might hang up his performing shoes after his vintage 2006 tour.
Petty’s long history in Boston dates from opening for Al Kooper at the now-defunct Jazz Workshop on Boylston St. back in the ‘70s. He has since made Boston one of his biggest markets, so don’t be surprised if he adds a second Garden show. The only bummer is that June 13 is the same day that R.E.M. plays the Tweeter Center in Mansfield. That will force some tough decisions.
MOVIE ROUNDUP: Gag on a spoon – I just went to see “27 Dresses’’ and there’s not enough syrup in the world to compete with this film. OK, I was the only guy in the theater, since this is quintessentially a “chick flick.’’ But I was persuaded to go because it was done by the same scriptwriter who did the excellent “Devil Wears Prada’’ with Meryl Streep. But “27 Dresses’’ is a long way from that. It’s named for the 27 bridesmaid dresses that a wedding planner has in her closet – the inevitable plot twist, of course, is that she’ll finally get married; it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that – but along the way there are so many contrived high jinks that I was checking my watch about one hour in. When the highlight is the lead characters singing a besotted version of Elton John’s “Bennie & the Jets’’ in a bar, then that says something. Actually, that was a fun moment. Just wish there were more.
And, hey, what happened to the movie “The Honeydripper’’? I see that it’s already left the theaters after a too-brief run. I enjoyed it. Danny Glover plays the owner of a late ‘40s juke joint in Alabama and struggles to stay solvent. Stacy Keach plays a sheriff who frowningly watches his every move, and the direction is done by John Sayles of “Return of the Secacus Seven’’ fame. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a highly watchable film that is both entertaining and instructive. And North Shore resident Mason Daring helps write a bunch of the music, including the song “The Music Keeps Rolling,’’ featuring Boston’s own Barrence Whitfield. Other local musicians who are on the soundtrack include Jerry Portnoy and Duke Levine. Check it out when it comes to DVD.
CRITIC’S TIPS
Lenny Kravitz – at the Orpheum on Thursday, Jan. 31. Lenny brings his latest love revolution with him. Hippie idealism still lives. And Lenny rocks, regardless.
No Static – at Ryles on Thursday, Jan. 31. This Steely Dan tribute act is locally based and ready to please the connoisseurs.
Mika – at the Orpheum Theatre on Friday, Feb. 1. The new British sensation, who was supported early on by WBOS, makes a long-awaited appearance in town.
Richard Thompson – at the Berklee Performance Center on Friday, Feb. 1. The longtime British folk-rock great never fails to startle with his virtuosity.
TAB – at T.T. the Bear’s on Friday, Feb. 1. This free-wheeling hard-rock band features two sons of Aerosmith’s Joe Perry. Joe was there the last time to see them perform, so he might show up again, but he didn’t play last time. He just watched and enjoyed.
Ryan Montbleau – at the Paradise on Friday, Feb. 1. The acclaimed new pop-rocker, who bears some stylistic similarity to Dave Matthews, steps into a Paradise showcase.
Les Sampou – at the Cushing Center in Norwell on Saturday, Feb. 2. Underrated folk-rocker Sampou performs at the Cushing Center in Norwell to benefit teenage students at her Norwell Voice Studio.
Rhett Miller – at the Paradise on Saturday, Feb. 2. The cult-legend singer is known best for his work with seminal alt-country band the Old 97’s. He has released a couple of solo albums that are mighty fine, too.
Charmaine Neville – at Johnny D’s on Saturday, Feb. 2. Charmaine should be a star. She’s the daughter of Neville Brothers sax man Charles Neville and has mostly performed in her home base of New Orleans. It’s party time when she unleashes her jazz-mambo flavors.
Shaun & Suzy’s Mardi Gras Ball – at T.T. the Bear’s on Saturday, Feb. 2. The 15th annual bash by these local stalwarts should once again be a winner.
Showing posts with label WBOS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WBOS. Show all posts
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
U2 to the Max, plus tips
U2 TO THE MAX
I haven’t seen many 3D movies, but I’m a willing learner when it comes to the new concert version of U2’s last tour in South America. Entitled “U2 3D,’’ it’s a true must-see for U2 fans. It is booked into the IMAX Theatres (in Boston, Natick, and Reading) until Feb. 13, so pack up your family and/or friends and treat yourself to a new way of appreciating this increasingly global band.
Can you believe this film is produced by the National Geographic? Neither could I, but no complaints. Any skepticism vanished immediately when I sat down at the Natick IMAX and my seat vibrated from the excellent sound system and I nearly had Bono in my lap during the opening song, “Vertigo.’’
The 3D effects (thanks to oversized yellow glasses that everyone gets at the ticket counter) made it seem as if you could touch Bono as he reached out in his patented, open-hearted way. The band’s LED lights jumped off the screen and twinkled somewhere around your ears, while your face was suddenly greeted with The Edge’s guitar, so close that you felt you could strum a couple of chords with him or sing harmonies into his microphone. The giddy feeling was felt throughout the show, which started in Buenos Aires and incorporated footage from several other stadiums on the Southern hemisphere.
A unique moment came with the scrolling of the Declaration of Human Rights on the LED screen – a staple of the group’s previous American tour – but this time it was in Spanish. A nice touch. And Bono often spoke Spanish within the songs and between them. I didn’t know he was this multi-lingual.
The songs crunched through the IMAX’s ridiculously powerful speakers – “New Year’s Day,’’ “Sunday Bloody Sunday’’ and “Pride (in the Name of Love),’’ stood out. But another great touch was having cameras placed in the general-admission crowd area in front of the stage, so the view was of the outstretched arms of the fans – and the 3D effects put you right in the middle of it. I’m as big a lover of U2 as anyone, but this gave me a new way to enjoy them and I intend to go back and see it again.
CRITIC’S TIPS
G Love & Special Sauce – at Lupo’s in Providence on Friday, Jan. 25.
Sticky – at Toad on Friday, Jan. 25. A reunion of one of Boston’s most fun-loving roots bands. Member Jonas Kahn also books the up-and-coming Sally O’Brien’s Bar in Somerville.
Miss Tess – at the Plough & Stars on Saturday, Jan. 26. A personal favorite, Miss Tess is a kind of latter-day Bonnie Raitt with colorful doses of New Orleans-steeped festivity.
Age Against the Machine – at T.T. the Bear’s on Saturday, Jan. 26. Hey, cut these guys a break. They’re local veterans paying tribute to Rage Against the Machine and they’re purported to be quite good.
Xavier Rudd – at the Paradise Rock Club on Wednesday, Jan. 30. The singer-songwriter from Australia is a unique talent, to say the least.
Lenny Kravitz – at the Orpheum on Thursday, Jan. 31. Lenny is almost money in the bank when it comes to rocking a crowd with classic-rock style and showmanship.
I haven’t seen many 3D movies, but I’m a willing learner when it comes to the new concert version of U2’s last tour in South America. Entitled “U2 3D,’’ it’s a true must-see for U2 fans. It is booked into the IMAX Theatres (in Boston, Natick, and Reading) until Feb. 13, so pack up your family and/or friends and treat yourself to a new way of appreciating this increasingly global band.
Can you believe this film is produced by the National Geographic? Neither could I, but no complaints. Any skepticism vanished immediately when I sat down at the Natick IMAX and my seat vibrated from the excellent sound system and I nearly had Bono in my lap during the opening song, “Vertigo.’’
The 3D effects (thanks to oversized yellow glasses that everyone gets at the ticket counter) made it seem as if you could touch Bono as he reached out in his patented, open-hearted way. The band’s LED lights jumped off the screen and twinkled somewhere around your ears, while your face was suddenly greeted with The Edge’s guitar, so close that you felt you could strum a couple of chords with him or sing harmonies into his microphone. The giddy feeling was felt throughout the show, which started in Buenos Aires and incorporated footage from several other stadiums on the Southern hemisphere.
A unique moment came with the scrolling of the Declaration of Human Rights on the LED screen – a staple of the group’s previous American tour – but this time it was in Spanish. A nice touch. And Bono often spoke Spanish within the songs and between them. I didn’t know he was this multi-lingual.
The songs crunched through the IMAX’s ridiculously powerful speakers – “New Year’s Day,’’ “Sunday Bloody Sunday’’ and “Pride (in the Name of Love),’’ stood out. But another great touch was having cameras placed in the general-admission crowd area in front of the stage, so the view was of the outstretched arms of the fans – and the 3D effects put you right in the middle of it. I’m as big a lover of U2 as anyone, but this gave me a new way to enjoy them and I intend to go back and see it again.
CRITIC’S TIPS
G Love & Special Sauce – at Lupo’s in Providence on Friday, Jan. 25.
Sticky – at Toad on Friday, Jan. 25. A reunion of one of Boston’s most fun-loving roots bands. Member Jonas Kahn also books the up-and-coming Sally O’Brien’s Bar in Somerville.
Miss Tess – at the Plough & Stars on Saturday, Jan. 26. A personal favorite, Miss Tess is a kind of latter-day Bonnie Raitt with colorful doses of New Orleans-steeped festivity.
Age Against the Machine – at T.T. the Bear’s on Saturday, Jan. 26. Hey, cut these guys a break. They’re local veterans paying tribute to Rage Against the Machine and they’re purported to be quite good.
Xavier Rudd – at the Paradise Rock Club on Wednesday, Jan. 30. The singer-songwriter from Australia is a unique talent, to say the least.
Lenny Kravitz – at the Orpheum on Thursday, Jan. 31. Lenny is almost money in the bank when it comes to rocking a crowd with classic-rock style and showmanship.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Psyched about Shawn, and tips
PSYCHED ABOUT SHAWN
Am excited today because I've been asked to help anchor a Q&A with one of my favorite story song artists, Shawn Mullins, at the Hayden Planetarium next Wednesday (Jan. 23). It's part of the Boston Globe's Arts & Entertainment week and they asked WBOS's Dana Marshall and me to pop the questions to this highly literate songwriter, who also played a show for the station's Copley Square series last summer.
Some people only know Shawn through his original hit, "Lullaby,'' which was huge and had the soothing line of "Everything is gonna be all right.'' But if you've listened deeply to Shawn, you know that his songs tackle situations that aren't always going to be all right. He's a deep thinker and I remember early on he did a groundbreaking tune called "Clarice,'' about falling in love with a woman in the Ku Klux Klan and trying to get her to leave it. He did the song when opening for Chris Isaak at the Orpheum Theatre ten years ago.
I'm also excited to hear Shawn's forthcoming album, "Honeydew,'' which comes out on Vanguard Records on March 11. According to a spokesman, its topics include "railroad workers, traveling salesmen, homeless troubadours, and several generations of family members, living and dead.'' That about sums up Shawn. He's all over the map.
The CD also includes guest appearances from the great Australian singer Kasey Chambers, plus guitarist Peter Stroud of Sheryl Crow's band and Francene Reed of Lyle Lovett's group. I can't wait, but at least I'll get a chance to ask him about it at the Planetarium, where he'll also play some music. Check out WBOS.com for details on how you might attend.
CRITIC’S TIPS
Dennis Brennan & the Iodine Brothers – at Atwood’s Tavern on Thursday, Jan. 17. Another of Dennis Brennan’s side projects, this one usually features guitarists Duke Levine and Kevin Barry on backup (no drummer). It ventures into more cover tunes, but it’s still great.
Johnny Winter and James Montgomery – at Kowloon’s in Saugus on Thursday, Jan. 17. This is a blues brothers night with the legendary Johnny Winter sharing a bill with New England legend James Montgomery.
Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles – at the Lizard Lounge on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 18-19. Continuing to make her stamp as a country-rocker who is earning national attention, Borges delves back into the clubs for two nights of bliss. Diane Miraglia opens up Friday, and the Teenage Prayers do the same on Saturday.
Girls, Guns & Glory – at the Paradise Rock Club on Friday, Jan. 18. One of the best new bands in Boston, this group is moving up quickly. They’re on an exciting bill with Three Day Threshold and Cassavettes.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – at Sanders Theatre on Friday, Jan. 18. Paul Simon used them on “Graceland,’’ and Ladysmith has been on a roll ever since. Beautiful Afro-pop melodies.
The Editors, Hot Hot Heat and Louis XIV – at the Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, Jan. 19. Three international breakout rock acts together on the same night. Talk about bang for your buck.
Von Bondies – at Great Scott on Tuesday, Jan. 22. The garage-rocking Von Bondies were helped early by Jack White of the White Stripes, but then the Bondies’ Jason Stollsteimer and White got in a brawl in a Detroit club four years ago. It hasn’t stopped the Von Bondies from still rocking hard.
(Steve Morse can be reached at spmorse@gmail.com)
Am excited today because I've been asked to help anchor a Q&A with one of my favorite story song artists, Shawn Mullins, at the Hayden Planetarium next Wednesday (Jan. 23). It's part of the Boston Globe's Arts & Entertainment week and they asked WBOS's Dana Marshall and me to pop the questions to this highly literate songwriter, who also played a show for the station's Copley Square series last summer.
Some people only know Shawn through his original hit, "Lullaby,'' which was huge and had the soothing line of "Everything is gonna be all right.'' But if you've listened deeply to Shawn, you know that his songs tackle situations that aren't always going to be all right. He's a deep thinker and I remember early on he did a groundbreaking tune called "Clarice,'' about falling in love with a woman in the Ku Klux Klan and trying to get her to leave it. He did the song when opening for Chris Isaak at the Orpheum Theatre ten years ago.
I'm also excited to hear Shawn's forthcoming album, "Honeydew,'' which comes out on Vanguard Records on March 11. According to a spokesman, its topics include "railroad workers, traveling salesmen, homeless troubadours, and several generations of family members, living and dead.'' That about sums up Shawn. He's all over the map.
The CD also includes guest appearances from the great Australian singer Kasey Chambers, plus guitarist Peter Stroud of Sheryl Crow's band and Francene Reed of Lyle Lovett's group. I can't wait, but at least I'll get a chance to ask him about it at the Planetarium, where he'll also play some music. Check out WBOS.com for details on how you might attend.
CRITIC’S TIPS
Dennis Brennan & the Iodine Brothers – at Atwood’s Tavern on Thursday, Jan. 17. Another of Dennis Brennan’s side projects, this one usually features guitarists Duke Levine and Kevin Barry on backup (no drummer). It ventures into more cover tunes, but it’s still great.
Johnny Winter and James Montgomery – at Kowloon’s in Saugus on Thursday, Jan. 17. This is a blues brothers night with the legendary Johnny Winter sharing a bill with New England legend James Montgomery.
Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles – at the Lizard Lounge on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 18-19. Continuing to make her stamp as a country-rocker who is earning national attention, Borges delves back into the clubs for two nights of bliss. Diane Miraglia opens up Friday, and the Teenage Prayers do the same on Saturday.
Girls, Guns & Glory – at the Paradise Rock Club on Friday, Jan. 18. One of the best new bands in Boston, this group is moving up quickly. They’re on an exciting bill with Three Day Threshold and Cassavettes.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – at Sanders Theatre on Friday, Jan. 18. Paul Simon used them on “Graceland,’’ and Ladysmith has been on a roll ever since. Beautiful Afro-pop melodies.
The Editors, Hot Hot Heat and Louis XIV – at the Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, Jan. 19. Three international breakout rock acts together on the same night. Talk about bang for your buck.
Von Bondies – at Great Scott on Tuesday, Jan. 22. The garage-rocking Von Bondies were helped early by Jack White of the White Stripes, but then the Bondies’ Jason Stollsteimer and White got in a brawl in a Detroit club four years ago. It hasn’t stopped the Von Bondies from still rocking hard.
(Steve Morse can be reached at spmorse@gmail.com)
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Club 47, Viva the Hot Stove, and tips
CLUB 47 LIVES ON, AND VIVA THE HOT STOVE
Two marathon shows took place this past Sunday – the 50th anniversary gig of Club 47 (now Club Passim) at the Brattle Theatre, and the Theo Epstein/Peter Gammons extravaganza, Hot Stove, Cool Music, at the Paradise Theatre. Both featured a seeming cast of thousands and lasted in the vicinity of five hours or more, testing one’s patience but also going beyond one’s expectations.
Timing made it impossible to complete each show, so I opted for the first three hours of the Club 47 reunion, then nearly the same time at Hot Stove. Nary a dull moment was felt at either, but I’ll admit to musical overkill at the end of it.
The Club 47 show was flush with lifelong hippies whose talents, remarkably, were still often intact. Singer-songwriter Chris Smither was his standout self (calling himself a “new kid’’ compared to the elders) and his easygoing grace on guitar continues to amaze. So did the duo of Jim Rooney and Bill Keith on a vital version of the Rolling Stones’ “No Expectations.’’ And let’s not forget the modest talent but great spirit of Carolyn Hester, the winsomeness of Banana (who went on to back Mimi Farina at the Newport Folk Festival), the ageless gospel of the Silver Leaf Gospel Singers, and the crusty Al Kooper’s ever-deepening blues brilliance.
The Hot Stove event was more of a madhouse. Where you could hear a pin drop at the Brattle, you were thrust into a giant party at the Paradise. Highlights included Lori McKenna’s thrilling set (does she ever have an off night?) and Bill Janovitz singing The Band’s “It Makes No Difference.’’ And Peter Gammons’ Allstars were a far-reaching gang this time, including Little Feat’s Paul Barrere, J. Geils Band keyboardist Seth Justman, singer Kay Hanley, Mighty Mighty Bosstone Dicky Barrett (blasting out a hot version of the Geils tune “Give It to Me’’), Epstein on guitar. and Elan Trotman (who normally backs Bronson Arroyo, who played before I arrived) on rocketing sax solos.
The energy kept right on coming with Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck’s hard-rock cover band, French Lick. They opened with a Georgia Satellites tune and never turned back. I slipped out around this time, but was encouraged to hear that the Hot Stove experience this time raised $250,000 for Epstein’s A Foundation to Be Named Later. A good job by all.
ROYAL CROWN REVUE: The neo-swing era was revived earlier this decade and you have to put the Royal Crown Revue right at the top of it. I caught their recent show at Scullers Jazz Club and it kept building in excitement throughout, even if there was no dance floor for fans to expend energy. Led by cool-cat singer Ed Nichols, the Royals ripped up the room with a virtuoso display of fast-charging swing, enhanced by a three-piece horn section. The repertoire was handsomely varied, from the opening strut of “Walking Like Brando’’ to Dizzy Dillespie’s “Salt Peanuts’’ and a newer tune, “El Toro,’’ that charged with a polyrhythmic frenzy that marks this excellent band. Catch them next time through.
CRITIC’S TIPS
Edwin McCain – at the Paradise Rock Club on Thursday, Jan. 10. The Southern rocker fronts an acoustic trio this time around.
Radio Kings – at Toad on Thursday, Jan. 10. One of Boston’s best blues-rock groups has reunited, so be primed for a high-octane night.
Casey Desmond – at the Lizard Lounge on Friday, Jan. 11. Desmond is the new It Girl around town, witness her cover story in a recent issue of Improper Bostonian. Come see what the fuss is about. She’ll play the middle set and rising talent Sarah RabDAU (yes, that’s her spelling) performs afterward.
Laura Vecchione – at Johnny D’s on Friday, Jan. 11. It’s not everyday that a great country-rock talent tries to emerge from Boston, but Vecchione is doing an outstanding job of it.
Laurie Lewis – at the National Heritage Museum on Saturday, Jan. 12. Lewis is a connoisseur’s bluegrass star. Worth the trek to this museum in Lexington to see her.
Soulgrass – at the Regattabar on Saturday, Jan. 12. Soulgrass not the coolest name in the world, but it’s aptly descriptive of this fusion jazz-bluegrass act, starring Bill Evans and all-world picker Sam Bush.
Spider John Koerner – at the Plough & Stars on Monday, Jan. 14. The legendary acoustic folk-bluesman used to play the Plough all the time. He no longer lives in town, but it’s great to see him back at his familiar haunt.
Two marathon shows took place this past Sunday – the 50th anniversary gig of Club 47 (now Club Passim) at the Brattle Theatre, and the Theo Epstein/Peter Gammons extravaganza, Hot Stove, Cool Music, at the Paradise Theatre. Both featured a seeming cast of thousands and lasted in the vicinity of five hours or more, testing one’s patience but also going beyond one’s expectations.
Timing made it impossible to complete each show, so I opted for the first three hours of the Club 47 reunion, then nearly the same time at Hot Stove. Nary a dull moment was felt at either, but I’ll admit to musical overkill at the end of it.
The Club 47 show was flush with lifelong hippies whose talents, remarkably, were still often intact. Singer-songwriter Chris Smither was his standout self (calling himself a “new kid’’ compared to the elders) and his easygoing grace on guitar continues to amaze. So did the duo of Jim Rooney and Bill Keith on a vital version of the Rolling Stones’ “No Expectations.’’ And let’s not forget the modest talent but great spirit of Carolyn Hester, the winsomeness of Banana (who went on to back Mimi Farina at the Newport Folk Festival), the ageless gospel of the Silver Leaf Gospel Singers, and the crusty Al Kooper’s ever-deepening blues brilliance.
The Hot Stove event was more of a madhouse. Where you could hear a pin drop at the Brattle, you were thrust into a giant party at the Paradise. Highlights included Lori McKenna’s thrilling set (does she ever have an off night?) and Bill Janovitz singing The Band’s “It Makes No Difference.’’ And Peter Gammons’ Allstars were a far-reaching gang this time, including Little Feat’s Paul Barrere, J. Geils Band keyboardist Seth Justman, singer Kay Hanley, Mighty Mighty Bosstone Dicky Barrett (blasting out a hot version of the Geils tune “Give It to Me’’), Epstein on guitar. and Elan Trotman (who normally backs Bronson Arroyo, who played before I arrived) on rocketing sax solos.
The energy kept right on coming with Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck’s hard-rock cover band, French Lick. They opened with a Georgia Satellites tune and never turned back. I slipped out around this time, but was encouraged to hear that the Hot Stove experience this time raised $250,000 for Epstein’s A Foundation to Be Named Later. A good job by all.
ROYAL CROWN REVUE: The neo-swing era was revived earlier this decade and you have to put the Royal Crown Revue right at the top of it. I caught their recent show at Scullers Jazz Club and it kept building in excitement throughout, even if there was no dance floor for fans to expend energy. Led by cool-cat singer Ed Nichols, the Royals ripped up the room with a virtuoso display of fast-charging swing, enhanced by a three-piece horn section. The repertoire was handsomely varied, from the opening strut of “Walking Like Brando’’ to Dizzy Dillespie’s “Salt Peanuts’’ and a newer tune, “El Toro,’’ that charged with a polyrhythmic frenzy that marks this excellent band. Catch them next time through.
CRITIC’S TIPS
Edwin McCain – at the Paradise Rock Club on Thursday, Jan. 10. The Southern rocker fronts an acoustic trio this time around.
Radio Kings – at Toad on Thursday, Jan. 10. One of Boston’s best blues-rock groups has reunited, so be primed for a high-octane night.
Casey Desmond – at the Lizard Lounge on Friday, Jan. 11. Desmond is the new It Girl around town, witness her cover story in a recent issue of Improper Bostonian. Come see what the fuss is about. She’ll play the middle set and rising talent Sarah RabDAU (yes, that’s her spelling) performs afterward.
Laura Vecchione – at Johnny D’s on Friday, Jan. 11. It’s not everyday that a great country-rock talent tries to emerge from Boston, but Vecchione is doing an outstanding job of it.
Laurie Lewis – at the National Heritage Museum on Saturday, Jan. 12. Lewis is a connoisseur’s bluegrass star. Worth the trek to this museum in Lexington to see her.
Soulgrass – at the Regattabar on Saturday, Jan. 12. Soulgrass not the coolest name in the world, but it’s aptly descriptive of this fusion jazz-bluegrass act, starring Bill Evans and all-world picker Sam Bush.
Spider John Koerner – at the Plough & Stars on Monday, Jan. 14. The legendary acoustic folk-bluesman used to play the Plough all the time. He no longer lives in town, but it’s great to see him back at his familiar haunt.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Top Ten shows, New Year's Eve options, crit tips
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.)
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.)
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.
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.’’
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Bruce at the Garden, Jeanne Sheehy, tips
OK, this was more like it. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band were pretty good show at their tour opener in Hartford this fall, but they were fantastic at their second Boston show last week when they hit the archives for some gems that had the diehards in a swoon.
Bruce again kept with a fairly predictable set list overall, but the show hit transcendence with the rarely played likes of “Candy’s Room’’ (with drummer Max Weinberg in overdrive on the skins), “Kitty’s Back’’ (a true Bruce classic), and the very emotional “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy),’’ another oldie that turned back the years and made you feel you had seen an extraordinarily special show.
An encore of “Tenth Avenue Freezeout’’ also featured J. Geils singer Peter Wolf, who has bopped out to perform “Dirty Water’’ with Bruce in the past (including a Fenway Park show), but who featured some blues exclamations instead on this track, though his vocal mic cut out at the end. Still, it was a fitting highlight to a mesmerizing night with the E Streeters.
Speaking of which, saxophonist Clarence Clemons (having recovered from two hip replacements) was much more active than at the Hartford show – and that was refreshing to see. So was the twin-accordion dynamism of keyboardists Danny Federici and Roy Bittan on the closing “American Land,’’ though this was Federici’s last gig before departing the tour with melanoma. Bruce gave him special props during the night and you somehow sensed that something might be wrong with Danny, before his cancer was confirmed in the next couple of days.
Whether or not this was Federici’s last show (he hopes to be back), it was a Bruce concert for the ages. The new material has been whipped into sharper focus (especially “Last to Die,’’ about the Iraq fiasco) and oldies like “Darkness on the Edge of Town,’’ “Badlands,’’ and “Working on the Highway’’ had a full-fledged roar to them. And with the seldom played gems of “Kitty’s Back’’ and others, this was a show to keep Bruce fans talking until the band returns to New England to play the Hartford Civic Center on Feb. 28.
RALLYING FOR JEANNE: If you’re a local club fan, you no doubt go to T.T. the Bear’s occasionally and are served by bartender extraordinaire Jeanne Sheehy. She’s been there for a quarter-century, but has been hit with colon cancer and is going through chemotherapy. Some benefit shows will soon take place in her honor at T.T.’s: Dec. 6, the Delusions, the Country Doctors, and more; Dec. 21, the Shods, the Pills, Ad Frank, and others; and Dec. 28, the Gravel Pit, Francine, and Baker. She’s a great lady, so get out and help her out.
CRITIC’S TIPS
Will Dailey – at the Paradise on Thursday, Nov. 29. Dailey has parlayed his engaging singer-songwriter pop into a national career. He’s been one of the recent success stories out of Boston.
A.KA.C.O.D. – at the Plough & Stars on Friday, Nov. 30. This group has been tearing up the clubs with its angular, offbeat rock. It’s a trio with Monique Ortiz, Dana Colley (formerly of Morphine), and Larry Dersch.
deSol – at the Paradise on Friday, Nov. 30. The Latin rock group put on a great show at WBOS’s Copley Square series this past summer. They stoke the party spirit. And Adam Ezra opens up.
Boston Music Awards – at the Orpheum on Saturday, Dec. 1. Incredibly, the 20th anniversary of these awards is upon us. The performers alone are enough to lure you in: Augustana, Bobby Brown, Lori McKenna, Martin Sexton, Peter Gammons, and many others. Plus, Aerosmith’s Joey Kramer as emcee.
Sister Hazel – at the Somerville Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 1. Say what you will about Sister Hazel, they have some of the best vocal harmonies in the land. The Hazelnuts will be out in force to support this WBOS-sponsored show.
Chris Trapper – at the Brattle Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 1. Trapper cut his teeth in the pop-rock Push Stars. He has gone in a more pensive direction, but his talent remains underestimated.
David Gray – at the Orpheum Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 5. Gray is among the most emotionally gripping singer-songwriters of the past decade, yet he makes it look so easy.
Raul Malo – at the Paradise on Wednesday, Dec. 5. Many people liked Malo better when he fronted the country-rocking Mavericks, but there are many sides to his talent and he’s showing them now.
(Steve Morse can be reached at spmorse@gmail.com.)
Bruce again kept with a fairly predictable set list overall, but the show hit transcendence with the rarely played likes of “Candy’s Room’’ (with drummer Max Weinberg in overdrive on the skins), “Kitty’s Back’’ (a true Bruce classic), and the very emotional “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy),’’ another oldie that turned back the years and made you feel you had seen an extraordinarily special show.
An encore of “Tenth Avenue Freezeout’’ also featured J. Geils singer Peter Wolf, who has bopped out to perform “Dirty Water’’ with Bruce in the past (including a Fenway Park show), but who featured some blues exclamations instead on this track, though his vocal mic cut out at the end. Still, it was a fitting highlight to a mesmerizing night with the E Streeters.
Speaking of which, saxophonist Clarence Clemons (having recovered from two hip replacements) was much more active than at the Hartford show – and that was refreshing to see. So was the twin-accordion dynamism of keyboardists Danny Federici and Roy Bittan on the closing “American Land,’’ though this was Federici’s last gig before departing the tour with melanoma. Bruce gave him special props during the night and you somehow sensed that something might be wrong with Danny, before his cancer was confirmed in the next couple of days.
Whether or not this was Federici’s last show (he hopes to be back), it was a Bruce concert for the ages. The new material has been whipped into sharper focus (especially “Last to Die,’’ about the Iraq fiasco) and oldies like “Darkness on the Edge of Town,’’ “Badlands,’’ and “Working on the Highway’’ had a full-fledged roar to them. And with the seldom played gems of “Kitty’s Back’’ and others, this was a show to keep Bruce fans talking until the band returns to New England to play the Hartford Civic Center on Feb. 28.
RALLYING FOR JEANNE: If you’re a local club fan, you no doubt go to T.T. the Bear’s occasionally and are served by bartender extraordinaire Jeanne Sheehy. She’s been there for a quarter-century, but has been hit with colon cancer and is going through chemotherapy. Some benefit shows will soon take place in her honor at T.T.’s: Dec. 6, the Delusions, the Country Doctors, and more; Dec. 21, the Shods, the Pills, Ad Frank, and others; and Dec. 28, the Gravel Pit, Francine, and Baker. She’s a great lady, so get out and help her out.
CRITIC’S TIPS
Will Dailey – at the Paradise on Thursday, Nov. 29. Dailey has parlayed his engaging singer-songwriter pop into a national career. He’s been one of the recent success stories out of Boston.
A.KA.C.O.D. – at the Plough & Stars on Friday, Nov. 30. This group has been tearing up the clubs with its angular, offbeat rock. It’s a trio with Monique Ortiz, Dana Colley (formerly of Morphine), and Larry Dersch.
deSol – at the Paradise on Friday, Nov. 30. The Latin rock group put on a great show at WBOS’s Copley Square series this past summer. They stoke the party spirit. And Adam Ezra opens up.
Boston Music Awards – at the Orpheum on Saturday, Dec. 1. Incredibly, the 20th anniversary of these awards is upon us. The performers alone are enough to lure you in: Augustana, Bobby Brown, Lori McKenna, Martin Sexton, Peter Gammons, and many others. Plus, Aerosmith’s Joey Kramer as emcee.
Sister Hazel – at the Somerville Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 1. Say what you will about Sister Hazel, they have some of the best vocal harmonies in the land. The Hazelnuts will be out in force to support this WBOS-sponsored show.
Chris Trapper – at the Brattle Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 1. Trapper cut his teeth in the pop-rock Push Stars. He has gone in a more pensive direction, but his talent remains underestimated.
David Gray – at the Orpheum Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 5. Gray is among the most emotionally gripping singer-songwriters of the past decade, yet he makes it look so easy.
Raul Malo – at the Paradise on Wednesday, Dec. 5. Many people liked Malo better when he fronted the country-rocking Mavericks, but there are many sides to his talent and he’s showing them now.
(Steve Morse can be reached at spmorse@gmail.com.)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Control, Into the Wild, Malayaka House, tips
Two movies to put on your must-see list before they leave the theaters:
“Control’’ (about the ill-fated ‘80s band Joy Division) and “Into the Wild,’’ based on a true story about a fellow who gets a little too far out in the Alaskan wilderness and can’t make it back.
I’m still recovering from “Control,’’ one of the most emotionally overwhelming films that I’ve ever seen. It’s a biopic centered on singer Ian Curtis of Joy Division, a band that came out of the tough city of Manchester, England. Curtis was an epileptic who had a brilliant way of updating Jim Morrison of the Doors’ poetic, heart-piercing style, but who made poor decisions in life (marrying and having a child, but at the same time getting swept away by an affair with another woman).
It all came crashing down on him, as the epilepsy intensified. We know he committed suicide, but the genius of this movie is that we get so immersed in the immediacy of the story that we don’t think about the end. Curtis, as played by wunderkind actor Sam Riley, is an extremely likable guy underneath his confusion, and film director Anton Corbijn (perhaps best known as a rock photographer who has specialized in shooting U2) moves the story along until our tear ducts can’t stand it anymore. Like most people in the theater, I was crying at the end.
“Into the Wild,’’ on the other hand, is a classic hippie-escape film, but we don’t share the same sympathy for the lead character. He willfully turns his back on just about everything – leaving his family with no word – and his story is a more foregone conclusion. I’d recommend renting the video rather than paying top dollar to see it in a theater, though the cinematography is impressive. But more impressive is the soundtrack written by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. He’s virtually a one-man band as he switches off on instruments and captures the character’s wanderlust in song. I highly recommend it. It’s destined to be on my Top Ten list this year, for sure.
MALAYAKA HOUSE: There was a great benefit at Toast in Somerville this past Sunday to raise more than $7,000 to help an African orphanage (Malayaka House) in Uganda that is run by a former tennis coach from Vermont. Many local acts performed during a seven-hour show, including Adam Ezra (playing in bare feet a la Jimmy Buffett), Christian McNeill, Flynn, Paddy Saul, Dennis Brennan and others. Toast, which is located right next to the Independent in Union Square, is becoming a great scene and this event helped show why. Organizer Julee Vitello put on one heck of an event. She did all the legwork and people responded.
CRITIC’S TIPS
Sam Bisbee – at Toad on Thursday, Nov. 15. The Cambridge native now lives in New York, but his rockin’ returns to Toad are always a treat. Get there late and he’ll sprinkle in some great covers of Stones and Tom Petty tunes.
Natalie Merchant – at the Strand Theatre (in Dorchester) on Friday, Nov. 16. Natalie has been absent for a while, but she returns for a benefit concert for the Give Us Your Poor campaign to help the homeless. And hopefully she’ll debut some new material.
Dark Star Orchestra – at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium on Friday, Nov. 16. Confession: I’ve never seen this Grateful Dead tribute group, but I’m going this time. They recreate Dead shows and the buzz on them has been continually mounting.
State Radio – at the Orpheum on Friday, Nov. 16. Chad Urmston of Dispatch is at the helm here and he’s a fascinating character who often flies under the radar while making great music.
Reverend Horton Heat – at the Roxy on Saturday, Nov. 17. It’s party time with the Reverend and his rockabilly mania. Also, Hank Williams III and Nashville Pussy (hey, I didn’t make up the name) open up.
Great Bandini – at T.T. the Bear’s on Saturday, Nov. 17. Scott Janovitz, whose brother Bill fronts Buffalo Tom, ehlms this emerging outfit. They’re on at 11, sharing a heady bill with Sand Machine and Me and Joan Collins.
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – at TD Banknorth Garden on Sunday-Monday, Nov. 18-19. Some fans are disappointed that Bruce isn’t doing five Garden shows like he did last time. But I bet he’ll be back to play Gillette Stadium next summer.
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – at the Orpheum on Wednesday, Nov. 21. Touring under the name of the Swell Season (not the greatest name in the world), this duo was the heart and soul of the recent movie, “Once.’’ Hansard is also in the Frames.
(Steve can be reached at spmorse@gmail)
“Control’’ (about the ill-fated ‘80s band Joy Division) and “Into the Wild,’’ based on a true story about a fellow who gets a little too far out in the Alaskan wilderness and can’t make it back.
I’m still recovering from “Control,’’ one of the most emotionally overwhelming films that I’ve ever seen. It’s a biopic centered on singer Ian Curtis of Joy Division, a band that came out of the tough city of Manchester, England. Curtis was an epileptic who had a brilliant way of updating Jim Morrison of the Doors’ poetic, heart-piercing style, but who made poor decisions in life (marrying and having a child, but at the same time getting swept away by an affair with another woman).
It all came crashing down on him, as the epilepsy intensified. We know he committed suicide, but the genius of this movie is that we get so immersed in the immediacy of the story that we don’t think about the end. Curtis, as played by wunderkind actor Sam Riley, is an extremely likable guy underneath his confusion, and film director Anton Corbijn (perhaps best known as a rock photographer who has specialized in shooting U2) moves the story along until our tear ducts can’t stand it anymore. Like most people in the theater, I was crying at the end.
“Into the Wild,’’ on the other hand, is a classic hippie-escape film, but we don’t share the same sympathy for the lead character. He willfully turns his back on just about everything – leaving his family with no word – and his story is a more foregone conclusion. I’d recommend renting the video rather than paying top dollar to see it in a theater, though the cinematography is impressive. But more impressive is the soundtrack written by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. He’s virtually a one-man band as he switches off on instruments and captures the character’s wanderlust in song. I highly recommend it. It’s destined to be on my Top Ten list this year, for sure.
MALAYAKA HOUSE: There was a great benefit at Toast in Somerville this past Sunday to raise more than $7,000 to help an African orphanage (Malayaka House) in Uganda that is run by a former tennis coach from Vermont. Many local acts performed during a seven-hour show, including Adam Ezra (playing in bare feet a la Jimmy Buffett), Christian McNeill, Flynn, Paddy Saul, Dennis Brennan and others. Toast, which is located right next to the Independent in Union Square, is becoming a great scene and this event helped show why. Organizer Julee Vitello put on one heck of an event. She did all the legwork and people responded.
CRITIC’S TIPS
Sam Bisbee – at Toad on Thursday, Nov. 15. The Cambridge native now lives in New York, but his rockin’ returns to Toad are always a treat. Get there late and he’ll sprinkle in some great covers of Stones and Tom Petty tunes.
Natalie Merchant – at the Strand Theatre (in Dorchester) on Friday, Nov. 16. Natalie has been absent for a while, but she returns for a benefit concert for the Give Us Your Poor campaign to help the homeless. And hopefully she’ll debut some new material.
Dark Star Orchestra – at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium on Friday, Nov. 16. Confession: I’ve never seen this Grateful Dead tribute group, but I’m going this time. They recreate Dead shows and the buzz on them has been continually mounting.
State Radio – at the Orpheum on Friday, Nov. 16. Chad Urmston of Dispatch is at the helm here and he’s a fascinating character who often flies under the radar while making great music.
Reverend Horton Heat – at the Roxy on Saturday, Nov. 17. It’s party time with the Reverend and his rockabilly mania. Also, Hank Williams III and Nashville Pussy (hey, I didn’t make up the name) open up.
Great Bandini – at T.T. the Bear’s on Saturday, Nov. 17. Scott Janovitz, whose brother Bill fronts Buffalo Tom, ehlms this emerging outfit. They’re on at 11, sharing a heady bill with Sand Machine and Me and Joan Collins.
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – at TD Banknorth Garden on Sunday-Monday, Nov. 18-19. Some fans are disappointed that Bruce isn’t doing five Garden shows like he did last time. But I bet he’ll be back to play Gillette Stadium next summer.
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – at the Orpheum on Wednesday, Nov. 21. Touring under the name of the Swell Season (not the greatest name in the world), this duo was the heart and soul of the recent movie, “Once.’’ Hansard is also in the Frames.
(Steve can be reached at spmorse@gmail)
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Crit tips -- the Police, Annie Lennox and more
CRITIC’S TIPS
Mary Lou Lord – at the Plough & Stars on Thursday, Nov. 8. Mary Lou is playing half the night with a band, the other half solo. Either way should be engaging.
Marc Cohn – at the Somerville Theatre on Friday, Nov. 9. The man who made the hit of “Walking to Memphis’’ is back with his slow-drawling, but finely articulated, style.
Middle East’s 20th anniversary party – at the Middle East Upstairs on Saturday, Nov. 10. Let the celebration begin with Boston veteran Thalia Zedek (with special guest Chris Brokaw) and new buzz bands Hallelujah the Hills and Drug Rug.
The Police – at the TD Banknorth Garden on Sunday, Nov. 11. They were fun at Fenway, and there’s no reason to expect less this weekend.
John Butler Trio – at the Orpheum on Sunday, Nov. 11 with Ian Ball of Gomez. Butler was sensational at the WBOS Earth Fest last spring. And opening act Ian Ball should be a nice complement.
Annie Lennox – at Symphony Hall on Sunday. The co-founder of Eurythmics pays a rare visit. The last time she was in the area, she opened for Sting at the Tweeter Center. Lennox personifies style.
Benefit for Malalaka House – at Toast on Sunday, Nov. 11. Robert Fleming a former Vermont tennis coach, has opened an orphanage in Uganda. This show will help him out. A great bill with Adam Ezra, Flynn, Paddy Saul, Christian McNeill and others. And Toast is a hot new club, so it’s worth a visit.
Asleep at the Wheel – at the Regent Theatre in Arlington on Wednesday, Nov. 14. The Wheel’s Western Swing speaks for itself. And the excellent, Boston-based Duke Levine Band opens.
Mary Lou Lord – at the Plough & Stars on Thursday, Nov. 8. Mary Lou is playing half the night with a band, the other half solo. Either way should be engaging.
Marc Cohn – at the Somerville Theatre on Friday, Nov. 9. The man who made the hit of “Walking to Memphis’’ is back with his slow-drawling, but finely articulated, style.
Middle East’s 20th anniversary party – at the Middle East Upstairs on Saturday, Nov. 10. Let the celebration begin with Boston veteran Thalia Zedek (with special guest Chris Brokaw) and new buzz bands Hallelujah the Hills and Drug Rug.
The Police – at the TD Banknorth Garden on Sunday, Nov. 11. They were fun at Fenway, and there’s no reason to expect less this weekend.
John Butler Trio – at the Orpheum on Sunday, Nov. 11 with Ian Ball of Gomez. Butler was sensational at the WBOS Earth Fest last spring. And opening act Ian Ball should be a nice complement.
Annie Lennox – at Symphony Hall on Sunday. The co-founder of Eurythmics pays a rare visit. The last time she was in the area, she opened for Sting at the Tweeter Center. Lennox personifies style.
Benefit for Malalaka House – at Toast on Sunday, Nov. 11. Robert Fleming a former Vermont tennis coach, has opened an orphanage in Uganda. This show will help him out. A great bill with Adam Ezra, Flynn, Paddy Saul, Christian McNeill and others. And Toast is a hot new club, so it’s worth a visit.
Asleep at the Wheel – at the Regent Theatre in Arlington on Wednesday, Nov. 14. The Wheel’s Western Swing speaks for itself. And the excellent, Boston-based Duke Levine Band opens.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Van Halen, Ron Pownall exhibit, crit tips
At long last, a Van Halen tour with original singer David Lee Roth. It seemed like a dream, but there was no way I was going to miss their show at the Garden this week. And Van Halen did not disappoint, as Roth and the Van Halen brothers – Eddie on guitar and Alex on drums – made happy as though there had never been a two-decade rift between them.
The sold-out show was ecstasy-producing from the start, when the band slammed into their cover of the Kinks’ classic, “You Really Got Me.’’ Roth wore an Edwardian jacket (his first of several during the night) and Eddie was shirtless, but fashions aside, they were on the same musical page. This Roth-spiced show clearly blew away any past Van Halen gig with Sammy Hagar at the helm. (Sammy is a great, party-hearty character, but these songs were made for Roth.)
Roth is starting to look like a latter-day Liberace – with a canyon-wide smile firmly pasted on his mouth – but he was in excellent form, much better than any time I saw him on his own. He easily negotiated the rock-lite of “Dance the Night Away’’ and “Jump,’’ but also bore down hard on the metallic “Hot for Teacher’’ and the exquisite talk-sing blast of biker tune “Panama.’’ And the set-closing “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love’’ had enough clout for the most diehard VH fan. Roth also donned a red top hat in honor of the Red Sox – a timely move given their recent World Series triumph. He was the prodigal son returning in all of his glory.
While Roth got a Grade A for the night, Eddie and his son, Wolfgang (now on bass in place of Michael Anthony), were in the A-plus range. Eddie was stupefying with his arsenal of licks – and when Roth went into various scats at one point, Eddie was able to duplicate them immediately on guitar. And Wolfie, his kid, was a complete monster on bass, playing power riffs that drove the whole show. He didn’t have the showmanship of Anthony (yes, I missed Anthony’s customized bass with the Jack Daniels logo on it), but musically he was not a step back at all. His vocal harmonies were also first-rate.
Eddie and Alex still took their endless solo turns, but it was the songs that people came for, and it was fabulous to hear them done with so much passion. They also threw in a great laser light show, covering all the bases. The ‘80s were back, better than ever. Let’s hope this lineup stays together for a while.
RON POWNALL EXHIBIT:
A renowned rock photographer, Pownall has been working around Boston for many years. His credits include unsurpassed shots of the likes of the Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, Boston, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Bob Seger, and the J. Geils Band. He’s been a fixture in all the clubs and arenas around Boston. He has now mounted an exhibit that runs at the Center for the Arts in Natick until Jan. 2. Check it out. And for more info regarding his career, check an article at http://www.rangefindermag.com/magazine/jan06/pownall.tml.
CRITIC’S TIPS
Waterboys – at the Berklee Performance Center on Thursday, Nov. 1. Mike Scott is back in town with a new group of Waterboys. A comeback now seems like a probability, not just a pipe dream.
Mary Lou Lord – at the Plough & Stars on Thursday, Nov. 1. The often beloved singer-songwriter (and famed subway performer) has a Thursday residency at the Plough this month.
Colbie Caillat – at the Roxy on Thursday, Nov. 1. See what the fuss is all about. Caillat has been riding high with her Myspace-boosted hit, “Bubbly.’’ She has a loping California sound filled with echoes of the past.
Mieka Pauley – at Johnny D’s on Friday, Nov. 2. Anyone who still believes in smart, articulate songwriting must see Ms. Pauley. She’s as smart as they come.
International Pop Overthrow Festival – at Great Scott on Friday-Tuesday, Nov. 2-6. The annual cutting-edge fest has a slew of important local bands playing for five nights. Tomorrow’s lineup includes Rooftop Suicide Club, Saturday has the Prime Movers, Sunday offers Vinyl Skyway and the Kickbacks, Monday boasts the Buckners and Cheater Pink, and Tuesday concludes with Sal Baglio, Bird Mancini and others.
Steppin’ Out – at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel on Saturday, Nov. 3. The annual benefit event has an adult-themed, jazz-tinged lineup with George Benson, Rebecca Parris, Freddie Jackson, Cyrus Chestnut and Motown Express featuring Wannetta Jackson.
(Steve Morse can be reached at spmorse@gmail.com.)
The sold-out show was ecstasy-producing from the start, when the band slammed into their cover of the Kinks’ classic, “You Really Got Me.’’ Roth wore an Edwardian jacket (his first of several during the night) and Eddie was shirtless, but fashions aside, they were on the same musical page. This Roth-spiced show clearly blew away any past Van Halen gig with Sammy Hagar at the helm. (Sammy is a great, party-hearty character, but these songs were made for Roth.)
Roth is starting to look like a latter-day Liberace – with a canyon-wide smile firmly pasted on his mouth – but he was in excellent form, much better than any time I saw him on his own. He easily negotiated the rock-lite of “Dance the Night Away’’ and “Jump,’’ but also bore down hard on the metallic “Hot for Teacher’’ and the exquisite talk-sing blast of biker tune “Panama.’’ And the set-closing “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love’’ had enough clout for the most diehard VH fan. Roth also donned a red top hat in honor of the Red Sox – a timely move given their recent World Series triumph. He was the prodigal son returning in all of his glory.
While Roth got a Grade A for the night, Eddie and his son, Wolfgang (now on bass in place of Michael Anthony), were in the A-plus range. Eddie was stupefying with his arsenal of licks – and when Roth went into various scats at one point, Eddie was able to duplicate them immediately on guitar. And Wolfie, his kid, was a complete monster on bass, playing power riffs that drove the whole show. He didn’t have the showmanship of Anthony (yes, I missed Anthony’s customized bass with the Jack Daniels logo on it), but musically he was not a step back at all. His vocal harmonies were also first-rate.
Eddie and Alex still took their endless solo turns, but it was the songs that people came for, and it was fabulous to hear them done with so much passion. They also threw in a great laser light show, covering all the bases. The ‘80s were back, better than ever. Let’s hope this lineup stays together for a while.
RON POWNALL EXHIBIT:
A renowned rock photographer, Pownall has been working around Boston for many years. His credits include unsurpassed shots of the likes of the Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, Boston, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Bob Seger, and the J. Geils Band. He’s been a fixture in all the clubs and arenas around Boston. He has now mounted an exhibit that runs at the Center for the Arts in Natick until Jan. 2. Check it out. And for more info regarding his career, check an article at http://www.rangefindermag.com/magazine/jan06/pownall.tml.
CRITIC’S TIPS
Waterboys – at the Berklee Performance Center on Thursday, Nov. 1. Mike Scott is back in town with a new group of Waterboys. A comeback now seems like a probability, not just a pipe dream.
Mary Lou Lord – at the Plough & Stars on Thursday, Nov. 1. The often beloved singer-songwriter (and famed subway performer) has a Thursday residency at the Plough this month.
Colbie Caillat – at the Roxy on Thursday, Nov. 1. See what the fuss is all about. Caillat has been riding high with her Myspace-boosted hit, “Bubbly.’’ She has a loping California sound filled with echoes of the past.
Mieka Pauley – at Johnny D’s on Friday, Nov. 2. Anyone who still believes in smart, articulate songwriting must see Ms. Pauley. She’s as smart as they come.
International Pop Overthrow Festival – at Great Scott on Friday-Tuesday, Nov. 2-6. The annual cutting-edge fest has a slew of important local bands playing for five nights. Tomorrow’s lineup includes Rooftop Suicide Club, Saturday has the Prime Movers, Sunday offers Vinyl Skyway and the Kickbacks, Monday boasts the Buckners and Cheater Pink, and Tuesday concludes with Sal Baglio, Bird Mancini and others.
Steppin’ Out – at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel on Saturday, Nov. 3. The annual benefit event has an adult-themed, jazz-tinged lineup with George Benson, Rebecca Parris, Freddie Jackson, Cyrus Chestnut and Motown Express featuring Wannetta Jackson.
(Steve Morse can be reached at spmorse@gmail.com.)
Thursday, October 25, 2007
CRIT TIPS
Detroit Cobras – at T.T. the Bear’s on Thursday, Oct. 25. These Detroit rockers have swung through town a lot lately, but they deliver a sometimes necessary jolt of garage-punk by digging out ‘60s underground classics that shouldn’t be forgotten.
Sarah Borges – at Johnny D’s on Friday, Oct. 26. The Somerville-based singer has worked hard to become a national touring act this year. She’s as likely to be in Vancouver as she is in Boston. Her vital country-rock is the reason why.
Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theatre – Tingle’s Davis Square venue has been creative in its bookings. This Friday and Saturday they’ve got Jeremy Lyons, a New Orleans bluesman who came her after Katrina, along with catered food from Redbones.
Buffalo Tom – at the Somerville Theatre on Friday, Oct. 26. Tom Janovitz and the lads aren’t resting on their ‘90s alt-rock laurels. They just released a new album and have been promoting it vigorously.
Angeline and Robin Lane & the Chartbusters – at the Lizard Lounge on Friday, Oct. 26. The female-fronted Angeline is up and coming, while the Chartbusters had their heyday in the ‘80s. But the constant between these two groups is Boston rocker Asa Brebner, who always lifts whatever act he’s playing with.
Paddy Saul – at the Lizard Lounge on Saturday, Oct. 27. The local Celtic rocker has been on the move. He has emerged from the Tir na Nog circuit to play some larger venues – and this is his first headlining stint at the Lizard. I believe.
Mary Gauthier – at Club Passim on Monday, Oct. 29. The former owner/chef of Boston’s Dixie Kitchen restaurant has become a startlingly emotional folk-country singer. Give her credit for trying a new career and making it.
Pink-Tie Rock ‘n’ Roll Ball -- at the Hard Rock Café on Monday, Oct. 29. The bands Gretel and Static of the Gods are among the acts playing this benefit event, which WBOS is helping sponsor.
Van Halen – at the TD Banknorth Garden on Tuesday, Oct. 30. Van Halen’s onetime clown prince, David Lee Roth, is back in the saddle, so this should stir some memories. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen is still aboard, while his son, Wolfgang, is on bass this time.
Australian Pink Floyd – at Agganis Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 30. My WBOS DJ partner John Laurenti loves these guys. Close your eyes and you’ll think the real Pink Floyd might be in the room. They deliver a spectacular light show as well.
Detroit Cobras – at T.T. the Bear’s on Thursday, Oct. 25. These Detroit rockers have swung through town a lot lately, but they deliver a sometimes necessary jolt of garage-punk by digging out ‘60s underground classics that shouldn’t be forgotten.
Sarah Borges – at Johnny D’s on Friday, Oct. 26. The Somerville-based singer has worked hard to become a national touring act this year. She’s as likely to be in Vancouver as she is in Boston. Her vital country-rock is the reason why.
Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theatre – Tingle’s Davis Square venue has been creative in its bookings. This Friday and Saturday they’ve got Jeremy Lyons, a New Orleans bluesman who came her after Katrina, along with catered food from Redbones.
Buffalo Tom – at the Somerville Theatre on Friday, Oct. 26. Tom Janovitz and the lads aren’t resting on their ‘90s alt-rock laurels. They just released a new album and have been promoting it vigorously.
Angeline and Robin Lane & the Chartbusters – at the Lizard Lounge on Friday, Oct. 26. The female-fronted Angeline is up and coming, while the Chartbusters had their heyday in the ‘80s. But the constant between these two groups is Boston rocker Asa Brebner, who always lifts whatever act he’s playing with.
Paddy Saul – at the Lizard Lounge on Saturday, Oct. 27. The local Celtic rocker has been on the move. He has emerged from the Tir na Nog circuit to play some larger venues – and this is his first headlining stint at the Lizard. I believe.
Mary Gauthier – at Club Passim on Monday, Oct. 29. The former owner/chef of Boston’s Dixie Kitchen restaurant has become a startlingly emotional folk-country singer. Give her credit for trying a new career and making it.
Pink-Tie Rock ‘n’ Roll Ball -- at the Hard Rock Café on Monday, Oct. 29. The bands Gretel and Static of the Gods are among the acts playing this benefit event, which WBOS is helping sponsor.
Van Halen – at the TD Banknorth Garden on Tuesday, Oct. 30. Van Halen’s onetime clown prince, David Lee Roth, is back in the saddle, so this should stir some memories. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen is still aboard, while his son, Wolfgang, is on bass this time.
Australian Pink Floyd – at Agganis Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 30. My WBOS DJ partner John Laurenti loves these guys. Close your eyes and you’ll think the real Pink Floyd might be in the room. They deliver a spectacular light show as well.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Across the Universe, Smashing Pumpkins, Tips
Rarely has a movie gotten more mixed reviews than “Across the Universe,’’ the new musical comedy/drama based around songs by the Beatles. But forget the reviews. Go see it. It’s an attempt to do something imaginative – and more often not succeeds if you have an open mind. Plus, it’s great to see Beatles songs reinterpreted by everyone from lead actress Evan Rachel Wood (a great job on “Blackbird’’) to music vets like Bono (“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’’) and Joe Cocker (“Come Together’’), who are predictably excellent as well.
Directed by Julie Taymor (this movie definitely has a female touch), it revisits the ‘60s through scenes of squashed innocence (the urban riots in Detroit, the war in Vietnam), through psychedelic montages (Bono playing a Ken Kesey-like role of leading his Merry Pranksters on a magic bus trip while singing “I Am the Walrus’’), and through a warmly felt love story between Wood and male lead Jim Sturgess.
She plays an American suburban girl, while Sturgess is an illegal immigrant (and former dock worker) from overseas. Their trials and tribulations form the backdrop of the story, but there are all kinds of ‘60s-related scenes from the student takeover of Columbia University to cultural experimentation with LSD. There are even singers whose roles evoke Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. It’s a hodge-podge – and critics have had a field day knocking its occasional clunky editing – but eventually you’re pulled along by its momentum and not only do you root for the youthful lovers, but you are swept up by the hope and idealism that was once the ‘60s.
Parts of it are campy, parts of it are serious, but collectively it’s a vividly creative look at a youth culture that was all about alternative lifestyles, not about making money and being the next Yuppie on the block. Plus, it’s darned entertaining. I came in with low expectations because of the cynical reviews, but walked away a believer.
SMASHING PUMPKINS:
The Pumpkins have been off the road for a while, but you wouldn’t know it from their recent Boston appearance. I caught the first of their three shows at the Orpheum and was very impressed. They don’t have the extreme punk energy of their early days -- only singer Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin remain from that period – but the expansion into more progressive rock has been a sincere, and applauded, addition.
The early hits still blistered, including “Bullets & Butterfly Wings.’’ Newer band members Jeff Schroeder (guitar) and Ginger Reyes (bass) fit right in and were able to match Corgan’s dynamics and also his increased proclivity to jam. There were plenty of trippy moments, fostered by an over-the-top lighting production (an interlocking of high-wattage, geometric triangles) that made it feel like a stadium show at the Orpheum. A barrage of strobe lights also notched up the hallucinatory mood.
Corgan’s voice can still grate at times – he’s never been confused with a balladeer – but his acoustic performances of “1979’’ and “Perfect’’ were a nice counterpoint to his caterwauling on the hard-rock numbers. And his guitar playing was much more advanced than before. He and fellow axman Schroeder traded some gritty solos, while Corgan even did some Hendrix-like soloing on “The Star Spangled Banner.’’ Corgan & Co. might not be at the epicenter of modern rock anymore, but they’re far from the oldies circuit. A powerful night overall. (They’re also at the Providence Performing Arts Center on Oct. 18.)
CRITIC’S TIPS:
Tori Amos – at the Orpheum on Thursday-Friday, Oct. 18-19. Tori can get sidetracked into almost too much mythology in her songs, but the beauty of those songs can’t be denied.
Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers – at the Paradise on Thursday-Friday, Oct. 18-19. For years I’ve felt that this band could be the next Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers if they got the right breaks.
Chad Perrone – at Harpers Ferry on Friday, Oct. 19. The former lead singer with Boston band Averi has daringly gone on his own. Only time will tell if he made the right decision, but give him credit for taking the risk.
Toots & the Maytals – at Row-a-Palooza on Saturday, Oct. 20. The reggae stars perform by the Weeks Memorial Footbridge on Memorial Drive by the Charles River near Harvard Square at 3:30 p.m. to spice the Head of the Charles Regatta.
Jason Spooner – at Toad on Saturday, Oct. 20. While up in Portland, Me. about a year ago, I stumbled upon Spooner playing in a bar and discovered why he’s a rising light of the Portland scene. Great melodies, great spirit.
The Wallflowers – at Somerville Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 21. Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dylan mounted a solo tour in the past year, but it’s good to see that he’s giving the Wallflowers another chance. They deserve it.
Sinead O’Connor – at the Orpheum on Monday, Oct. 22. Sinead has been up and down for so long that you never know where she’s at. But the bottom line is that the lady can sing.
The Hold Steady – at the Roxy on Monday, Oct. 22. When I caught the Dropkick Murphys at the ICONS Festival in Canton this summer, their sound engineer warmed up the evening by playing a CD by this band. Its hard-driving, garage-influenced sound held steady, and then some.
Directed by Julie Taymor (this movie definitely has a female touch), it revisits the ‘60s through scenes of squashed innocence (the urban riots in Detroit, the war in Vietnam), through psychedelic montages (Bono playing a Ken Kesey-like role of leading his Merry Pranksters on a magic bus trip while singing “I Am the Walrus’’), and through a warmly felt love story between Wood and male lead Jim Sturgess.
She plays an American suburban girl, while Sturgess is an illegal immigrant (and former dock worker) from overseas. Their trials and tribulations form the backdrop of the story, but there are all kinds of ‘60s-related scenes from the student takeover of Columbia University to cultural experimentation with LSD. There are even singers whose roles evoke Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. It’s a hodge-podge – and critics have had a field day knocking its occasional clunky editing – but eventually you’re pulled along by its momentum and not only do you root for the youthful lovers, but you are swept up by the hope and idealism that was once the ‘60s.
Parts of it are campy, parts of it are serious, but collectively it’s a vividly creative look at a youth culture that was all about alternative lifestyles, not about making money and being the next Yuppie on the block. Plus, it’s darned entertaining. I came in with low expectations because of the cynical reviews, but walked away a believer.
SMASHING PUMPKINS:
The Pumpkins have been off the road for a while, but you wouldn’t know it from their recent Boston appearance. I caught the first of their three shows at the Orpheum and was very impressed. They don’t have the extreme punk energy of their early days -- only singer Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin remain from that period – but the expansion into more progressive rock has been a sincere, and applauded, addition.
The early hits still blistered, including “Bullets & Butterfly Wings.’’ Newer band members Jeff Schroeder (guitar) and Ginger Reyes (bass) fit right in and were able to match Corgan’s dynamics and also his increased proclivity to jam. There were plenty of trippy moments, fostered by an over-the-top lighting production (an interlocking of high-wattage, geometric triangles) that made it feel like a stadium show at the Orpheum. A barrage of strobe lights also notched up the hallucinatory mood.
Corgan’s voice can still grate at times – he’s never been confused with a balladeer – but his acoustic performances of “1979’’ and “Perfect’’ were a nice counterpoint to his caterwauling on the hard-rock numbers. And his guitar playing was much more advanced than before. He and fellow axman Schroeder traded some gritty solos, while Corgan even did some Hendrix-like soloing on “The Star Spangled Banner.’’ Corgan & Co. might not be at the epicenter of modern rock anymore, but they’re far from the oldies circuit. A powerful night overall. (They’re also at the Providence Performing Arts Center on Oct. 18.)
CRITIC’S TIPS:
Tori Amos – at the Orpheum on Thursday-Friday, Oct. 18-19. Tori can get sidetracked into almost too much mythology in her songs, but the beauty of those songs can’t be denied.
Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers – at the Paradise on Thursday-Friday, Oct. 18-19. For years I’ve felt that this band could be the next Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers if they got the right breaks.
Chad Perrone – at Harpers Ferry on Friday, Oct. 19. The former lead singer with Boston band Averi has daringly gone on his own. Only time will tell if he made the right decision, but give him credit for taking the risk.
Toots & the Maytals – at Row-a-Palooza on Saturday, Oct. 20. The reggae stars perform by the Weeks Memorial Footbridge on Memorial Drive by the Charles River near Harvard Square at 3:30 p.m. to spice the Head of the Charles Regatta.
Jason Spooner – at Toad on Saturday, Oct. 20. While up in Portland, Me. about a year ago, I stumbled upon Spooner playing in a bar and discovered why he’s a rising light of the Portland scene. Great melodies, great spirit.
The Wallflowers – at Somerville Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 21. Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dylan mounted a solo tour in the past year, but it’s good to see that he’s giving the Wallflowers another chance. They deserve it.
Sinead O’Connor – at the Orpheum on Monday, Oct. 22. Sinead has been up and down for so long that you never know where she’s at. But the bottom line is that the lady can sing.
The Hold Steady – at the Roxy on Monday, Oct. 22. When I caught the Dropkick Murphys at the ICONS Festival in Canton this summer, their sound engineer warmed up the evening by playing a CD by this band. Its hard-driving, garage-influenced sound held steady, and then some.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Hendrix, movie capsules, tips
With Red Sox mania on the rise, many people might put cultural events on the back burner for a while, but why not mix a little of both? Being a movie buff, I’m certainly not going to forget about that side of life, even if Jonathan Papelbon pitches another scoreless ninth inning.
Here’s a suggestion if you read this blog in time: “Jimi Hendrix Live at Monterey,’’ which enjoys its New England premier at Arlington’s Regent Theatre on Friday, Oct. 12. It features Hendrix’s entire set at Montery, complete with a new 5.1 soundtrack mix by Hendrix engineer Eddie Kramer. Showtimes are 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30. It’s preceded by Martin Scorsese’s short film, “Hendrix and the Blues.’’ An irresistible take for any Hendrix fan.
I’ve been catching a bunch of movies lately and here are a few capsule reviews:
“The Heartbreak Kid.’’ Ah, skip this one. It’s a wasted role by Ben Stiller, who usually has much better taste than to be caught up in silly vulgarity like this. It’s a supposed comedy about a guy who gets married and honeymoons at Cabo in Mexico, but ditches his wife for another hotel guest, amid a series of dumb high-jinks. Some funny bits here and there, but not enough of them.
“The Darjeeling Limited.’’ A great film, destined to be a cult classic. A Wes Anderson film, it is seriously hilarious. It’s about three brothers who cross India on a train called the Darjeeling Limited, as they try to find their mother, who has entered a monastery. It’s a biting satire about the difficulty of being brothers (Owen Wilson tries to lord it over the other two) and the culture shock in India is by turns exhilarating and sobering.
“The Game Plan.’’ OK, my son wanted to see this. It stars Dwayne “the Rock’’ Johnson as a football-quarterback god who suddenly discovers he has an 8-year-old daughter and she comes to live with him. She manages to tame him and his gruff-talking teammates, though the humor isn’t exactly breathtaking. It’s your basic dumbed-down comedy, but it was shot locally and there’s great footage of Boston and Cambridge.
“Mr. Woodcock.’’ Catch this when it comes to video if you have to. It stars Billy Bob Thornton as a gym teacher who terrorizes his kids – and then starts dating one of the kids’ moms. The jokes are obvious, the script often makes you cringe, and it just might be better to stay home and watch the Red Sox in this case.
CRITIC’S TIPS:
* Smashing Pumpkins – at the Orpheum on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 13, 15 and 16. Singer Billy Corgan leads a new group of Pumpkins into battle. He released a solo album that bombed badly a couple of years ago, so it’s wise that he’s back with his mother ship.
* Loudon Wainwright III and Leon Redbone – at the Somerville Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 13. A quirkier night of folk music can not be imagined. If you haven’t yet seen these titans of eccentricity, here’s your chance.
* Robbie Krieger – at the Berklee Performance Center on Monday, Oct. 15. Doors guitarist Krieger will play a set with the Berklee College of Music Doors tribute band, Morrison Crossing, and discuss the Doors’ new triple CD, “Live in Boston.’’ Classic rock never dies.
* Rodrigo y Gabriela – at the Orpheum on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Our favorite new instrumental duo, which even adapts some heavy metal tunes, is rising quickly and is already at the Orpheum level.
* Erin McKeown – at Club Passim on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 17-18. An engaging singer-songwriter who never runs out of ideas.
.
Here’s a suggestion if you read this blog in time: “Jimi Hendrix Live at Monterey,’’ which enjoys its New England premier at Arlington’s Regent Theatre on Friday, Oct. 12. It features Hendrix’s entire set at Montery, complete with a new 5.1 soundtrack mix by Hendrix engineer Eddie Kramer. Showtimes are 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30. It’s preceded by Martin Scorsese’s short film, “Hendrix and the Blues.’’ An irresistible take for any Hendrix fan.
I’ve been catching a bunch of movies lately and here are a few capsule reviews:
“The Heartbreak Kid.’’ Ah, skip this one. It’s a wasted role by Ben Stiller, who usually has much better taste than to be caught up in silly vulgarity like this. It’s a supposed comedy about a guy who gets married and honeymoons at Cabo in Mexico, but ditches his wife for another hotel guest, amid a series of dumb high-jinks. Some funny bits here and there, but not enough of them.
“The Darjeeling Limited.’’ A great film, destined to be a cult classic. A Wes Anderson film, it is seriously hilarious. It’s about three brothers who cross India on a train called the Darjeeling Limited, as they try to find their mother, who has entered a monastery. It’s a biting satire about the difficulty of being brothers (Owen Wilson tries to lord it over the other two) and the culture shock in India is by turns exhilarating and sobering.
“The Game Plan.’’ OK, my son wanted to see this. It stars Dwayne “the Rock’’ Johnson as a football-quarterback god who suddenly discovers he has an 8-year-old daughter and she comes to live with him. She manages to tame him and his gruff-talking teammates, though the humor isn’t exactly breathtaking. It’s your basic dumbed-down comedy, but it was shot locally and there’s great footage of Boston and Cambridge.
“Mr. Woodcock.’’ Catch this when it comes to video if you have to. It stars Billy Bob Thornton as a gym teacher who terrorizes his kids – and then starts dating one of the kids’ moms. The jokes are obvious, the script often makes you cringe, and it just might be better to stay home and watch the Red Sox in this case.
CRITIC’S TIPS:
* Smashing Pumpkins – at the Orpheum on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 13, 15 and 16. Singer Billy Corgan leads a new group of Pumpkins into battle. He released a solo album that bombed badly a couple of years ago, so it’s wise that he’s back with his mother ship.
* Loudon Wainwright III and Leon Redbone – at the Somerville Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 13. A quirkier night of folk music can not be imagined. If you haven’t yet seen these titans of eccentricity, here’s your chance.
* Robbie Krieger – at the Berklee Performance Center on Monday, Oct. 15. Doors guitarist Krieger will play a set with the Berklee College of Music Doors tribute band, Morrison Crossing, and discuss the Doors’ new triple CD, “Live in Boston.’’ Classic rock never dies.
* Rodrigo y Gabriela – at the Orpheum on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Our favorite new instrumental duo, which even adapts some heavy metal tunes, is rising quickly and is already at the Orpheum level.
* Erin McKeown – at Club Passim on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 17-18. An engaging singer-songwriter who never runs out of ideas.
.
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