Get Ready for the Next Big Rock Star. No Really, Get Ready!

Ryan Bingham and Elijah Ford

If, a few years from now, you want to be able to say I saw one of the most influential rock and roll bands of our time while they were still playing in small clubs, you may still have a small window of opportunity.  I went to the show by Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses at TT the Bears, a fairly small rock club in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Tuesday, and walked away thoroughly convinced that they won’t be playing places that small for much longer.  They are definitely among the best bands I have ever seen play live, and word spreads fast about something like that.  Bingham already has an Oscar for best song and the tracks they played from the upcoming album to be released in September lead me to believe it may well be showered with accolades, as well.

If you didn’t already know the band, you might not have expected much had you been there when they walked out on the small stage. They came out into this small dark club, having to duck so they didn’t hit their heads on their way to the stage. They were dressed unremarkably, with only Elijah Ford, the bassist and keyboardist looking like he’d made any effort at all.  The rest were dressed for work in jeans and work shirts.  Ryan wore Carthart work pants.  It turns out that this was appropriate attire, because go to work they did!  They played hard, loud and superbly, really into the music and committed to giving the audience the best show they could.

(Here’s a video of their performance on The Late Show with David Letterman, to give you a little bit of a sense of how they sound.  More on the show and the band, after the clip.)  Continue reading

The Bluebird Cafe at the Country Throwdown

My friends and family are worried. They’re constantly calling to check in on me and telling me I’ve changed. It’s true. My behavior has been out of character lately. Since adolescence I have generally despised country music, and yet yesterday I went to the Country Music Throwdown at the Meadowbrook Pavilion in Gilford, New Hampshire.

Don’t get me wrong, a lot of those concerned about this behavior are not concerned because they disapprove. Most of my family and friends back where I grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and even some of them up here in New England like Country Music. They worry because it’s so unlike me. Don’t worry folks, I’m fine.

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A Few Highlights from the Shows at the Meadowbrook Pavilion

I’ll write a full report later this week, but for now, here is my account of the Country Throwdown as I posted it on Whrrl.

More check-ins at Meadowbrook Pavilion

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Lest We Forget – An iMix + Videos

Memorial Day, a day on which we honor those who’ve served their country, always feels much more solemn to me than the way we celebrate it, with picnics and long weekends at the beach. People are maimed and killed in wars, and it is too often unnecessary.

American soldiers should never be put in harm’s way until it is absolutely necessary, and our mighty arsenal ought not be employed against any nation except as a last resort. The sacrifice a soldier makes, especially now that the armed forces are all volunteer, is a noble one. We should always remember that.
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About Train Songs

I recently discovered this song about train songs. It’s not new, but rather from a 2008 release by Tyler Reeve called “Whiskey Down.” It’s a The gel drug of this reputed brand has emerged as the most interesting compound that can be used for both conditions erectile dysfunction and also premature ejaculation. buy generic cialis Think of the last sildenafil cheap time where you felt completely relaxed. But there are three other benefits that aren’t as well known, but much more sildenafil online pharmacy exciting. Those who suffer from severe forms of the tadalafil 20mg india condition from physical and psychological health. great song and a fine album.

What do you think?

Up on the Ridge Tour

from L to R Travis Linville, Hayes Carll and Bonnie Whitmore at the Music Hall

On May 7 I went to a concert I was expecting to leave feeling lukewarm about. Hayes Carll was opening for Dierks Bentley and the Traveling McCoury’s. I’m a fan of Hayes Carll and I really went to see him, so let me start with that. He’s an artist that’s often placed in that tradition that’s epitomized by the Texas singer/songwriter like Townes Van Zandt and Steve Earle and that now counts among Hayes’s peers the likes of Ryan Bingham, Bruce Robison and others. In fact you hear a lot of influences in his music from Kris Kristoferson, Johnny Cash, Buck Owens and Willie Nelson, to Bob Dylan and David “Honey Boy” Edwards and the Delta Blues. I don’t know that he would list all these, but I hear them. Continue reading

Train Songs-Two Lists

Regular readers of this blog, follows of my twitter feed, and all my friends are aware that I’ve been collecting train songs for a few weeks. I wanted to post the list before National Train Day on May 8, 2010, but I didn’t get it posted. But here they are now, in two versions. Neither Rhapsody or iTunes has all the songs I need for the list, but between the two of them, I have almost nearly all the songs. There’s some overlap.  Thanks to everyone who sent me suggestions.  If you have more, keep them coming.  Let me know the song and where you heard it or why you like it. Let me know what you think of these lists, too.

Train Songs

Here’s the Rhapsody List.
Train Songs

  1. Play A Train Song  Todd Snider
  2. City Of New Orleans  Steve Goodman
  3. Midnight Train to Georgia   Gladys Knight
  4. Chatanooga Choo Choo   Glenn Miller
  5. Last Train To Clarksville  Cassandra Wilson
  6. People Get Ready  Rod Stewart
  7. Take The “A” Train  Ella Fitzgerald
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“American VI: Ain’t No Grave” Wow!

Johnny Cash!  The Man in Black!  He’s had an amazing career.  One of his biggest hits was “I Walk the Line,” but for the most part Cash drew the line he walked.  It didn’t always go forward, either.  At points in his life Cash struggled with drug addiction and alcoholism.  He landed in jail more than once, and his first marriage ended because of infidelity.  But Cash ultimately kicked these habits and settled down with his second wife, June, who he lived with until she died in 2003. (bio)

He died 5 months later, but some of his most interesting albums came out toward the end of his life.  In the 90s Cash had lost his recording contract, but he made yet another comeback.  began working with producer Rick Rubin on American Recordings, a stark series of albums that showcase the ability of this great artist to write and interpret songs, making them his own.  But while Johnny has settled down in his life, he never stopped being something of a musical Rebel.  You’ll find Johnny Cash in the Country section of your record store, but you’ll find albums the really defy genres by a man who influenced fell musicians from the world of country, rock, new wave, punk, rhythm and blues and gospel, including Merle HaggardBruce SpringsteenBob Dylan, Ray Charles, U2, Oscar the GrouchSheryl Crown, Gaslight Anthem, Elvis Costello and Norah Jones
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Hayes Carll Album On Sale at Amazon

I love this guy, and right now you can download his whole album in MP3 format from Amazon for $5. I have it already, and am patiently waiting for the next one.
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Robert Earl Keen, Bruce Robison and Todd Snider in Foxboro

The Rose Hotel

The Rose Hotel

I almost didn’t go to the concert tonight at the Showcase in Foxboro. It’s a school night, the weather is crappy, and tickets are expensive. I’d only recently discovered Robert Earl Keen and had been impressed by his album Rose Hotel, but I didn’t know the other two acts on the bill, Todd Snider and Bruce Robison. I checked out a few tracks by each of them on YouTube and Lastfm, but didn’t have much time to explore more than that. All in all it just wasn’t worth it. Then I got free tickets, and all I had to do was hang some posters and pass out some stickers. Well, I love live music, so what was I supposed to do? Off I went.

I am glad I did. It was a fantastic show. I’d never been to the Showcase before, but it’s nice venue with good acoustics and even decent food. Given that this was an acoustic show, the way a room conducts sound is important. But ultimately it is all about the performers, and these guys were great.

Robert Earl Keen was on the marquee as the headliner.  Known as a singer/songwriter, he is, indeed, an engaging storyteller, not only in his songs but introducing them. It makes for a good show.  Not to mention the fact that their just really good songs.  When man can stand on a stage with just a spotlight and an acoustic guitar and hold the audience’s attention, he’d better hope that he can check off at least three of the following: Continue reading