Tuesday, September 21, 2010
JIMMY LAFAVE at Unplugged at the Grove 9-16-10
What is there to say that you don't always say when Jimmy plays? Same old great show, once again. There were a couple of twists. He had Chip Dolan, a great keyboard player here in town, sit in and he added much, took several solos. Really sparked the music, I thought. Secondly, Jimmy added another Bob Dylan cover to his set, "All Along The Watchtower," only he did it Jimi Hendrix style and John Inmon, his lead guitarist who is GREAT, tore that thing up! They ended the first set with it and man, everybody was all wound up after that. Seriously killer version! Other than that, we got our usual wonderful dose of Jimmy LaFave blues, ballads and Bob D. covers we've come to expect. I don't believe we heard any new songs from Jimmy. I'm sure they're coming at some point soon.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
WILLIAMS NITE at Threadgill's 9-14-10
This was the 4th annual, my 2nd, Williams Nite where local musicians get together and honor Hank and Lucinda by playing a song of each along with one of their own. I love these kind of shows because you get to see so many artists, different styles and just a bunch of good music and it's bang, bang, bang, one after another up on stage.
This was a $10 cover, all of which went to an emergency breast cancer support fund called b club. The musicians were playing for free, although there was a tip jar but with that many musicians, once it was divvied, couldn't have amounted to much each.
On to the show. A blast. At least 12 different acts doing 3 songs each. Patterson Barrett and Julieann Banks kicked off the evening with Lucinda's "Crescent City," a favorite of mine.
Richard Bowden, a violinist, played with just about everybody, I think. As someone said, he was the house band!
I'd never heard George Ensle before and I loved his voice. He also had Kristin DeWitt harmonizing with him and that was real neat because she hardly ever comes out and has a knockout voice.
Another cool moment, Randy Weeks played the song he wrote that Lucinda had a huge hit with, "Can't Let Go." Jess Klein harmonized with him. They sounded great!
Next came one of the big highlights, I thought. Danny Malone with 2 singers named Jazz and Angelina. He took Lucinda's "Changed the Locks" and really changed it up style wise and it was so good! Outstanding. This guy has a lot of soul. Jazz has one heckuva voice. Wish I knew her last name. She was terrific. The 3 of them did an a cappella number that was mesmerizing. It was one of Jazz's songs, I believe. Anyway, this trio ratcheted it up a notch, for sure.
Next highlight was Noelle Hampton bringing BettySoo and Jess Klein up to sing harmony on her song "Blackwing Butterfly." It's a good, little catchy number and all those voices sounded great!
Jenny Reynolds, who puts this show together, came up and brought Kristin DeWitt back up for "Drunken Angel." It was terrific!
Shelley King got to play 4 songs because whoever was up after her wasn't there yet, I guess. Anyway, they picked a good one to do the extra song. Shelley's 4 song set, along with Danny Malone, were my 2 favorites on this evening. She had her keyboard (Chip Dolan) and lead guitarist (Marvin Dykhuis) with her and Richard Bowden played fiddle, also. They started with "Still I Long For Your Kiss" and Shelley just ate that song up! Then she did Hank's "Why Don't You Love Me" and that was fantastic. Seriously honky tonking. After that it was her own "Welcome Home" which is so good. Marvin sings the heck out of that song. Lastly was "How You Make Me Feel" and then they were done. Could have listened to them all night.
Closing out the night was Guy Forsyth and he had a guy on harmonica named Wammo! They did a great "Ramblin' Man." Brought Kristen up for "Prove My Love." Really good.
Show started right at 7pm and it was after 10:30 when it was finished. This stuff doesn't happen anywhere else. You can't tell me it does. We're lucky.
This was a $10 cover, all of which went to an emergency breast cancer support fund called b club. The musicians were playing for free, although there was a tip jar but with that many musicians, once it was divvied, couldn't have amounted to much each.
On to the show. A blast. At least 12 different acts doing 3 songs each. Patterson Barrett and Julieann Banks kicked off the evening with Lucinda's "Crescent City," a favorite of mine.
Richard Bowden, a violinist, played with just about everybody, I think. As someone said, he was the house band!
I'd never heard George Ensle before and I loved his voice. He also had Kristin DeWitt harmonizing with him and that was real neat because she hardly ever comes out and has a knockout voice.
Another cool moment, Randy Weeks played the song he wrote that Lucinda had a huge hit with, "Can't Let Go." Jess Klein harmonized with him. They sounded great!
Next came one of the big highlights, I thought. Danny Malone with 2 singers named Jazz and Angelina. He took Lucinda's "Changed the Locks" and really changed it up style wise and it was so good! Outstanding. This guy has a lot of soul. Jazz has one heckuva voice. Wish I knew her last name. She was terrific. The 3 of them did an a cappella number that was mesmerizing. It was one of Jazz's songs, I believe. Anyway, this trio ratcheted it up a notch, for sure.
Next highlight was Noelle Hampton bringing BettySoo and Jess Klein up to sing harmony on her song "Blackwing Butterfly." It's a good, little catchy number and all those voices sounded great!
Jenny Reynolds, who puts this show together, came up and brought Kristin DeWitt back up for "Drunken Angel." It was terrific!
Shelley King got to play 4 songs because whoever was up after her wasn't there yet, I guess. Anyway, they picked a good one to do the extra song. Shelley's 4 song set, along with Danny Malone, were my 2 favorites on this evening. She had her keyboard (Chip Dolan) and lead guitarist (Marvin Dykhuis) with her and Richard Bowden played fiddle, also. They started with "Still I Long For Your Kiss" and Shelley just ate that song up! Then she did Hank's "Why Don't You Love Me" and that was fantastic. Seriously honky tonking. After that it was her own "Welcome Home" which is so good. Marvin sings the heck out of that song. Lastly was "How You Make Me Feel" and then they were done. Could have listened to them all night.
Closing out the night was Guy Forsyth and he had a guy on harmonica named Wammo! They did a great "Ramblin' Man." Brought Kristen up for "Prove My Love." Really good.
Show started right at 7pm and it was after 10:30 when it was finished. This stuff doesn't happen anywhere else. You can't tell me it does. We're lucky.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
RAY BONNEVILLE at Cactus Cafe 9-11-10
Saw Ray about a month or so ago at the Cactus and he knocked me out so definitely had to go back for more.
Different show on this night as, instead of solo, he had Mike Meadows on percussion. Also brought Jess Klein up for several songs in the second set. It was another good show. The guy has that bluesy, swampy style I love. Writes great songs, love his voice, phrasing and guitar picking. Different. Plus, that harmonica. Ray doesn't sound like anybody else. No mistaking him. Mike on his Black Swan drum is a sight to see. Fascinating to watch, really. How he chooses which foot, sound, hand, shaker and everything else to use, is beyond me but it is something to see. Jess sounds great with Ray. Truthfully, she sounds great with whomever she sings with. They were fantastic on his "The Big Easy." Show was free which is ridiculous. I sure hope the tip jar was good to him. Had a pretty good crowd considering it was a UT football night. The streets were deserted but there were enough of us non-fanatics and we filled the room. This town is tough. Not only football to compete with but Leon Russell was at Threadgill's, Kevin Russell (The Gourds) was at Wyldwood House Concerts. Big night in Austin. As usual.
Different show on this night as, instead of solo, he had Mike Meadows on percussion. Also brought Jess Klein up for several songs in the second set. It was another good show. The guy has that bluesy, swampy style I love. Writes great songs, love his voice, phrasing and guitar picking. Different. Plus, that harmonica. Ray doesn't sound like anybody else. No mistaking him. Mike on his Black Swan drum is a sight to see. Fascinating to watch, really. How he chooses which foot, sound, hand, shaker and everything else to use, is beyond me but it is something to see. Jess sounds great with Ray. Truthfully, she sounds great with whomever she sings with. They were fantastic on his "The Big Easy." Show was free which is ridiculous. I sure hope the tip jar was good to him. Had a pretty good crowd considering it was a UT football night. The streets were deserted but there were enough of us non-fanatics and we filled the room. This town is tough. Not only football to compete with but Leon Russell was at Threadgill's, Kevin Russell (The Gourds) was at Wyldwood House Concerts. Big night in Austin. As usual.
MARY GAUTHIER at Cactus Cafe 9-10-10
Great, great show! Hadn't seen Mary in a few years, for sure. I was aware of the new record she recently put out, but hadn't bought it. Knew it was the story of her life; being given up at birth, the orphanage, adoption, finding her birth mother. Boy, you write it all in one sentence like it's so simple when it is anything but. The name of the album is "The Foundling." Enough said, right?
She played 7 or 8 songs off the new cd. Really, really good. Intense, most definitely. These songs grab you and don't let go, but in a good way. Great songs. Bought the cd after the show without hesitation. Singing the songs live, I'll tell ya, she was completely mesmerizing. And, she was accompanied by Tania Elizabeth on fiddle and harmony vocal. You know how some people get up on stage and play while others get up there and have so much personality that comes flowing into the audience? She's the latter. A joy to see and hear. Her voice really gels with Mary. The fiddle was perfect. Her emotion was all there. The two of them together make a wonderful duo. You don't need drums, bass or anything else. Their 2 voices, an acoustic guitar and a violin will take you around the world of song.
As usual with Mary, the writing is topnotch. There was a phrase and a line from 2 different songs that stayed with me as soon as I heard them:
"I'm gonna walk in the water til my hat floats away." What an image. I'll bet when she wrote that line she must have smiled, knowing she nailed one!
The second, a phrase, "another truly troubled troubador." Nothing like great alliteration! Love it!
So, for $17 we got an hour and a half of one of the best shows I've seen this year. Another cool thing, as far as being in Austin goes, before the show I looked around and there was Carrie Rodriguez! Great herself, she was there for the entire show. She has good taste : )
She played 7 or 8 songs off the new cd. Really, really good. Intense, most definitely. These songs grab you and don't let go, but in a good way. Great songs. Bought the cd after the show without hesitation. Singing the songs live, I'll tell ya, she was completely mesmerizing. And, she was accompanied by Tania Elizabeth on fiddle and harmony vocal. You know how some people get up on stage and play while others get up there and have so much personality that comes flowing into the audience? She's the latter. A joy to see and hear. Her voice really gels with Mary. The fiddle was perfect. Her emotion was all there. The two of them together make a wonderful duo. You don't need drums, bass or anything else. Their 2 voices, an acoustic guitar and a violin will take you around the world of song.
As usual with Mary, the writing is topnotch. There was a phrase and a line from 2 different songs that stayed with me as soon as I heard them:
"I'm gonna walk in the water til my hat floats away." What an image. I'll bet when she wrote that line she must have smiled, knowing she nailed one!
The second, a phrase, "another truly troubled troubador." Nothing like great alliteration! Love it!
So, for $17 we got an hour and a half of one of the best shows I've seen this year. Another cool thing, as far as being in Austin goes, before the show I looked around and there was Carrie Rodriguez! Great herself, she was there for the entire show. She has good taste : )
SAHARA SMITH at Unplugged at the Grove 9-9-10
Finally got to see Sahara in a full show plus her debut record, "Myth of the Heart" is FINALLY out. Just released and boy, go get it, really good. She has it all, voice, melody, words, words, words. A poet. And her band, stellar. Jake Owen on lead guitar, Mike Meadows (Porterdavis) on percussion and Will Sexton on bass.
We heard much from the new album and all I can tell you is the last time I heard someone this young write and sing like she does, her name was Joni. Not trying to be dramatic but this young singer/songwriter is scary talented.
Got a couple of decent videos and here is the link to one of them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQdi1qUY7-0
If that doesn't grab you, nothing will.
By the way, her album was produced by T-Bone Burnett. No kidding.
We heard much from the new album and all I can tell you is the last time I heard someone this young write and sing like she does, her name was Joni. Not trying to be dramatic but this young singer/songwriter is scary talented.
Got a couple of decent videos and here is the link to one of them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQdi1qUY7-0
If that doesn't grab you, nothing will.
By the way, her album was produced by T-Bone Burnett. No kidding.
PAUL THORN at Unplugged at the Grove 9-2-10
A wild night this one was. Love Paul Thorn. Exciting to see him at Shady Grove in a free show. They started about 8:15pm and no sooner did they start and it started raining. Never stopped. But, Paul is a trooper. He was rocking us up and down. There was a very drunk woman who was interested in dancing right in front of the stage. Problem was, the stage is so small, Paul had his guitar rack, which held 3 of his guitars, right in front of the stage where drunk girl was trying to stay on her feet while dancing. Plus, it was seriously pouring buckets of rain. He finally had to call security to get her out. I think that was a first for me at Unplugged, security having to be called from the stage. But the chick was so hammered, she fell onto the stage! Shortly after that, it started lightning so they ended up stopping the show after he had played maybe an hour. So, it wasn't the best of circumstances but I'll take Paul and his band for an hour any time I can.
NOELLE HAMPTON at Momo's 8-31-10
I'm getting so far behind on this blog I think it's about time to give it up. If I don't write about a show right away, I struggle with remembering the important details. To continue writing it/she/he/they are good, go see them, is boring and I know it.
That said, if you live in Austin and haven't seen Noelle, you're missing the boat. She writes good songs, some catchy, some bouncy, some heart breakers, some rockers, some ballads...really mixes it up. Great voice. And her band is cool. Her husband, the lead guitarist, has a unique kind of sound, I think. He just slips in and out of the spaces but when he wants to wail, like he did on this night to "Thin Line," it is a sight and sound to behold.
This was an early show, 6:30pm at Momo's on a Tuesday night, and she filled all the tables and had a very nice crowd. Usually, these shows attract about 8 people. Testament to how good she is. Think it was a $5 cover. Too cheap for that kind of talent. Plus, the AC was out. It was very hot and they still put on a heckuva show.
That said, if you live in Austin and haven't seen Noelle, you're missing the boat. She writes good songs, some catchy, some bouncy, some heart breakers, some rockers, some ballads...really mixes it up. Great voice. And her band is cool. Her husband, the lead guitarist, has a unique kind of sound, I think. He just slips in and out of the spaces but when he wants to wail, like he did on this night to "Thin Line," it is a sight and sound to behold.
This was an early show, 6:30pm at Momo's on a Tuesday night, and she filled all the tables and had a very nice crowd. Usually, these shows attract about 8 people. Testament to how good she is. Think it was a $5 cover. Too cheap for that kind of talent. Plus, the AC was out. It was very hot and they still put on a heckuva show.
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