The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster...
..the buzzzzzzzzz
If there is possibly a bad thing about having tickets to see Lucinda Williams at the Calvin Theatre on Sunday, March 25, it's that I will miss that night at Cafe Nine. She is touring to support her hot new album, The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, which is getting big-time reviews.
For example, says..
...
" Ruthie Foster fans, brace yourselves. The longtime Austin fixture is reinventing herself with The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster. Needing a creative spark, Foster gave in to the urgings of producer Malcolm "Papa Mali" Welbourne, set aside her acoustic guitar in favor of a Wurlitzer, and recorded a full-blown blues/soul revival album.
While her style has long blended blues and soul, any edge generally has been softened by a folk sensibility. But here there's no relief from the groove. On tracks like "'Cuz I'm Here," "Mama Said," and the Maya Angelou poem turned song "Phenomenal Woman," Foster delivers such a gritty vocal tension and sustained passion that one can't help but compare her to Aretha Franklin.
And the heartbreaking "I Don't Know What to Do with My Heart" is a signature song in the making, sure to pop up in playlists of the lovelorn for years to come. The results of Foster's metamorphosis are nothing short of, well, phenomenal. We're just six weeks into 2007, but it's never too early to crown a frontrunner for the year's best album.
"
She will, however, be performing at the following area venues, so perhaps all is not lost:
Wed 03/21/07 New York, NY
Fri 03/23/07 Windsor, CT
Sat 03/24/07 Fall River, MA Narrows Center For The Arts
Sun 03/25/07 New Haven, CT
Tue 03/27/07 Westbrook, ME Chicky's Fine Diner
Wed 03/28/07 Somerville, MA
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Ramsey Lewis had a pop hit with an instrumental version of The In Crowd, with which we could all identify (I'm in with the In Crowd, I go where the In Crowd goes), in the 1960's.Commencing in April 2006, Lewis has hosted a weekly PBS series of half-hour jazz performances featuring specific themes or groupings. On Friday night, I caught the episode with trumpeters Clark Terry, Roy Hargrove and Chris Botti exchanging rather banal chitchat with Ramsey, but then each playing a jazz number in his own unique style, then all playing together with Lewis for the finale. Very pleasant.
And, of course, there are various CDs and DVDs available to purchase- .
Everything is everything....
The Donny Hathaway Story at the
Book by Ken Robinson / Music by Donny Hathaway
Directed by Tea Alagic
February 22 - 24
WORLD PREMIERE!
The Story is a new musical based on the life of the legendary musician. This surreal journey reveals the true story of Donny's life, complex friendship with Roberta Flack, struggle with his sexuality, and tragic suicide at age 33.
Featuring such soul classics as "The Ghetto" and "Someday We'll All Be Free," The Donny Hathaway Story celebrates the musical legacy of this extraordinary artist.
Fat Tuesday at AJ's....
.
The food was deliciously spicy, the was HOT and Johnny Gumbo wore his famous PIANO SHIRT Tuesday night at for the 2007 Southington Rotary Mardi Gras fundraiser.
Interesting note, Robert Orsi, D.
Smith Blues Band lead singer, played in the legendary with Christine Ohlman and SNL's G.E. Smith in the 1970's.
The smart-looking couple at left traveled up from Trumbull to take part in Tuesday evening's festivities.
Johnnyk and Johnny Gumbo together again!
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After a late Friday of Mercy Brothers soul and blues, Peter is off to Cambridge to see Tom waits' ex-soulmate rickie Lee Jones, recently cleaned up and sporting a new CD. A report:After a warmer day the streets are not as nasty as they were Friday night for the Brothers K tour, making logistics much easier.
My friend D and I find a parking spot on Mass Ave and walk a couple of blocks...
.well maybe three or four..
.to the Temple Bar for a quick supper. Sit next to Paul and his guitar case.
He's warming up with a beer or maybe a few for an annual Fat Tuesday gig at TT The Bears (not tried yet...
Paul says not if you are over 25).
Parking is the curse of Cambridge. I'd even spring for a lot, but there are none.
...
just empty locked up Harvard parking garages. Driving down Mass Ave, pass up a questionable one, try to squeeze into a short one, can't do it. About to start a second pass when, hey that big-ass Mercedes is pulling out!
Brakes, reverse, got it! This is probably the spot on Mass ave with the shortest possible walk to Memorial Hall.
Sanders Theatre in Memorial Hall is spectacular.
1,100 seats, all in the round, tightly stacked balcony, great views and every seat close to the stage. We are center balcony, excellent seats. Memorial Hall also houses a main dining hall.
..so it's in the same role as Woolsey Hall at Yale, but Harvard wins this one.
This building is a cathedral celebrating the wealth and confidence of late 19th century Boston. Everything shines..
.incredible massive woodwork, grand chandelier, richly painted walls.
The crowd is middle aged Cambridge casual.
...
we're a little over-dressed, but we look good.
Rickie Lee Jones comes out pretty much on time. With little banter, she sits down at the grand piano.
Then about 20 minutes of agonizing wails and complaints in her whiny little girl shriek voice...
and can't understand a word. I know we are both thinking, this is torture!
Then the band comes out and things brighten up.
She does a mix of older stuff I don't recognize...
.the loyalists in the audience seem to..
.and her new Biblical theme DVD. Still can't understand more than two words per song, but the band is great, and the new music is engaging, smart.
They seem to be doing a lot of innovating. Drummer plays almost the whole show with mallet sticks. You sense rather than hear clearly what he is doing.
The bass player uses a violin bow on his guitar with amazing results. Junior, the lead guitar, is doing a bunch of electronic stuff that keeps his hands, eyes, feet flying through every song. Meanwhile it's hard to tell if Rickie Lee is bullying, flirting with her handsome young band guys, or just playing/being a crazy lady.
Rickie Lee is good as her word that they won't do an encore. So it's a mixed review..
..great band, interesting eclectic sound, but very frustrating to not hear any words clearly.
D sums up...
"I liked that girl we saw at Fireflies better." That would be Sarah B.
Daytona? Oh, just go down and take a left.....
Listening to Lucinda's new West after reading reviews that range wildly from love to hate...
..Her latest lyrics are getting "America's best songwriter" in trouble with the purists, but I like the album very much.
...
.a couple duds, but solid overall and has an attitude..
..the added strings give it a little different feel.
...
.Lucinda must be one tough chick in the sack:
I'm so over you, you don't even have a clue, all you did was make me blue, you didn't even make me - come on! You're so self-involved, you're in some kind of fog, you're hung up on your hog, you didn't even make me - come on!
|
(btw, one reviewer was right, Animals-like organ background. Also, the violin makes me think of Scarlett Rivera in Dylan's old band.
) article on Lucinda
And it was a freezing Friday in February....
Off to Somerville tonight to meet up with Peter (possibly Joe, Kay, Andy, Carolyn, Ron) to see the at . Of note, Somerville defeated the supremely talented Bristol CT American Legion squad in the 1962 American Legion NE baseball championship game in Keene, NH.
Reviews for Lucinda's West range from flawless to flawed, but generally paint it as dark, but redeemingly beautiful in various degrees. Rolling Stone gave it 4 stars, but felt that her songwriting has "dropped half a notch.
" I haven't had time, but intend to give a good listen this weekend.
I now read Sports Illustrated for its music-themed articles. This year's shoot was at the in Cleveland (rocks!
). Here is the Jimmy Buffett SI swimsuit edition . For Tim Hardaway, they have the old Burt Reynolds Playgirl centerfold shot in there.
BTW, nice job, Tim. And just what were you thinking? It's curious that someone famous for his "killer crossover" would say such things.
Hanson at Toad's Place. Don't miss it!
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An email from :My name is Dan Hewins and I'm with a band called from Brooklyn, NY. I wanted to let you know that Up The Empire is coming back to New Haven to play at on Wednesday, Feb 21.
We'll be playing with SSM and it's gonna be a great show. We just played a sold-out show at New York's Mercury Lounge and are heading out to Providence, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia this weekend. We're happy to be coming back to New Haven.
Up The Empire will be releasing "Light Rides The Super Major," our first full-length on May 8. Here's the first track from Light Rides The Super Major:
A new sound coming to downtown Meriden....
Jazz club Essence Lounge will replace Club Impulz
by Adam Wittenberg, Record-Journal staff
MERIDEN — The signs are up, and it’s only a matter of weeks before the sounds of jazz will be heard downtown. Floresia and Greg Allen are slated to open Essence Lounge later this month at 16 N. Colony St.
, the former home of Club Impulz, which had its final night Saturday. The lounge will feature a mix of jazz and blues, and will cater to an adult crowd. “The city deserves to have a place where we can go and sit,” Floresia Allen said Monday.
“Hopefully, we can turn things around and make it work.”
Allen, who owns Allen’s Asbestos LLC, had hoped to open Essence above her 23 N. Colony St.
office. She obtained zoning and liquor permits and planned to open in early 2006, but soon found the renovation work too expensive. Allen knew Linda and Lucio Ruzzier, who owned Club Impulz, and eventually they agreed to work together on Essence.
“We decided to put it across the street instead,” Allen said. “I got a bigger area at a better price.” Inside the building that has housed a variety of clubs over the last decade, a picture collage still hung Monday with the words “Club Impulz Memories,” but it won’t be there when Essence is unveiled with its new look.
“We’re trying to brighten the place up,” said Greg Allen, who was replacing lights and ceiling fans. “We want everybody to come out and have a good time.” New rugs, tables and renovations to allow natural light are in the Allen’s plans, but vestiges such as the dance floor will remain.
“We’re going to incorporate a Latin Jazz night,” Floresia Allen said, “and we’re going to have stepping, so we need a dance floor.”
The lounge doesn’t plan any teen nights like Impulz and its predecessors had, but Allen said the venue would invite youth to showcase their artistic talents. Local poets and artists also will have chances to use the space.
That could coincide with art produced at nearby Gallery 53, and eventually with artist housing planned by developer Ross Gulino on West Main Street. At least two other live music venues are planned for downtown. Developer Paul Edwards is working on a restaurant at 13-17 Colony St.
with a banquet and events facility next door at 9-11 Colony St. featuring a piano bar and ballroom/cabaret style entertainment. That venue could open this spring.
And last month, the former owners of Club 290 in Plainville applied to open a lounge downstairs at the former Cabin Restaurant on North Colony Street, with an upstairs nightclub.
The Zoning Board of Appeals next month will consider the special exception application, which is required for all nightclubs. The Allens said they don’t fear competition, but hope the venues feed off one another to bring more people to downtown.
Chip Geriak, member services representative of the Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce, welcomed news of the lounge. “Floresia’s had a longtime dream to have a jazz club downtown,” said Geriak, whose offices are across the street from Essence. “It’ll give another option for people to go to downtown.
New Lucinda out today....
Lucinda steering beyond `Car Wheels' by DAVID BAUDER, AP writer
The album "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" is the work that introduced Lucinda Williams to most of her fans.
It won a Grammy. Rolling Stone and Spin called it one of the top discs of the 1990s. It has sold twice as much as anything else she's done.
An undeniable career highlight, it's been a straitjacket for its creator, too. "Ever since `Car Wheels' I've been struggling with where do I go now? What do I do?
" she told The Associated Press. "I was defined by `Car Wheels' and everything I've done since gets compared to `Car Wheels.'"
"West," released Tuesday and her third collection of new music since that 1998 landmark, may be the disc to set her free.
Produced by Hal Willner, it's a sonic departure with tight writing and experimental song structure. Williams' weathered voice and depressing subject matter sound familiar, but it's miles away from the gravel road.
Frozen by the pressure of following up her signature disc, Williams went nearly five years without writing a thing.
She kept touring, playing the same songs over and over. Like so many other songwriters, she took a specific inspiration from Bob Dylan — in this case his late-career resurgence started by the 1997 "Time Out of Mind" album. Williams, 54, saw it as Dylan moving forward and not worrying about topping classics like "Blood on the Tracks" or feeling he had to write in the same way.
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Watching the Grammys.....
..ok, now I've seen them again after 20 years, I'm fine for another 20.
...
.the performance exposed Roxanne as pretty thin stuff
..
...
Tony Bennett thanked Target!
..I bet they wanted to say "Fuck off, George".
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and Nashville...
.they were introduced by Joan Baez..
..oh, I get it!
...
REBELS!
.I wish it were the other way around
..He's got the touch
...
.Mayer killed with his guitar solo..
..Mayer, who rose from the ghettos of Fairfield County, won for best pop vocal album
..
..beat our boy James Hunter
...
at least Jamie Fox seemed to think so
-
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His grab from : (The Clash)
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Listening to Boys and Girls in America on a Sunday morning.VERY good. The title refers to a line in Jack Kerouac's 1957 novel On the Road, which is made explicit in the opening line of the album: "There are nights when I think Sal Paradise was right: Boys and Girls in America have such a sad time together." SO early Springsteen, when he was young and energetic and not so important.
Touches of Counting Crows.
from G-Man in Brooklyn on Norah Jones and Regina Spektor.
.in Hartford! (go figure).
...
Pumping Up Indie Music by ERIC R. DANTON, Courant Rock Critic
Classic rock is king in Connecticut, but there's a subtle insurrection afoot. Outside the arenas and theaters crammed with nostalgia acts, and the rock clubs plying heavy metal and teen-centric pop-punk, fans of independent rock 'n' roll have traditionally had few options beyond traveling to Boston or New York to see buzz-worthy, new groups or underground acts whose tour itineraries rarely include stops in this state.
That's changing, thanks to local music fans in central and southern Connecticut who are circumventing more established live-music gatekeepers and hiring the musicians they want to see in concert - groups whose followings are often too small to play rooms like Toad's Place in New Haven or the Webster Theatre in Hartford. Bands like The Hold Steady, Aberdeen City and Protokoll are playing Masonic lodges in Hamden, bars in Hartford and American Legion halls in Manchester, booked by music lovers who see no reason the Land of Steady Habits can't shake its somnolent attitude and build a vibrant indie-rock scene. -
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We made a sacred pact at Hot Basil (very good, btw) on Friday night: Keith would get the James Hunter (Iron Horse) and I would get Norah (Oakdale).Keith picked up tix for James Hunter's current tour at the in Northampton on Monday, April 2nd. Early show, so we should be back at a reasonable hour. Reet is opting out.
Interestingly, the date is not on tour dates, but a Sunday gig at the at Mohegan Sun is. Good luck to James tonight at the . No Norah, as it turns out.
Conflicting arts commitments.
So I was dancing in the lesbian bar, oh, oh, oh....
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Concert report from ...
| Last Saturday I went to see Jonathan Richman at the Knitting Factory in NYC. It has taken a week to write this and that’s the kind of effect the performance had on me. I was entertainted, but saw more of a comedian than a musician…don’t jump to conclusions on me yet though…I enjoyed myself…The Knitting Factory was a small venue (approx. 200 peeps there), a pretty cool place to see live music, most of crowd was mid-30s-40s…all that thought JR was hilarious…however, as funny as we think he is, we showed up to hear his music…recognizable songs for me were “Dancing at the Lesbian Bar” and “Pablo Picasso” (‘never called an asshole’)…both two very funny songs, but JR isn’t Adam Sandler and we listen to these songs for the music and then additional chuckles…JR was joined only by a drummer…we’ll call him “boy” and he didn’t add much…and unfortunately JR’s instrumentation didn’t either……playing off the crowds enthusiasm for comedy, JR spun his g-tar around often, doing some comical dances…I don’t give out thumbs or anything, but I’ll just say I don’t know the last song JR played or whether he got a encore…I left before that could happen…after I finished my 6 buck Boddingtons…I will certainly check out future bands playing at the Knitting Factory again…and would like to eventually see Jonathan Richman with a band… |
8:00 PM LIVE!
ON STAGE JONATHAN RICHMAN Featuring Tommy Larkins on the Drums With Special guest direct from Spain: KIKO VENENO.
saw at the last night and phoned Jonathan (his brother, not JR, for he, Richman, was performing) with blaring in the background, but JFK was sleeping. This was Richman's third night of a four-night gig at the Factory.
Waiting on a concert report.
Artist profile:
Jonathan Richman is an American proto-punk icon and one of the progenitors of "indie rock." He is known for his wide-eyed, near-childlike lyrical outlook, and music that, while rooting in 50's rock and roll structures, can be wildly eclectic.
Jonathan Richman has been writing songs, making records and performing live for most of his life, winning fans and making friends around the world with his guileless honesty and playfully catchy compositions. He's revered by countless fellow artists, and has built a remarkably loyal international audience through his tireless touring. His deceptively straightforward songs embody timeless qualities of humanity, optimism, emotional insight and a boundless sense of humor, untainted by cynicism or transient notions of hipness.
Jonathan Richman is undoubtedly the coolest of the uncool in popular music. For three decades now Jonathan Richman has enjoyed cult status amongst the lonely, misunderstood, sentimental and sad romantics amongst us.His anti-rock stance and lo-fi attitude has made him an unlikely punk hero.
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Browsing the concert schedule this evening, noting that Sarah Borges will be there on March 11 with Shannon NcNally, when, EUREKA, I see that will be returning for a Monday night show on April 2! MUST GO!
Hunter is up for a on Sunday night in the Best Traditional Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental.):
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Per the Sawtelles monthly email: - re: FEB FlingsWe've got a pretty busy month lined up, with a spot at Ken Safety's open mic tonite, and another double-gig nite coming up tomorrow nite, FRIDAY, one in b'port and one at the Nine.
we are also going to be performing on tv as part of Chad and Tamara's live on CTV wedding extravaganza, hitting a beatnik, and then also checking out INITY and the Furors at various locations. P has been coming up with some new songs as part of a songwriters series which will become our new record.
A good o/m to check out is at the in Watertown, just off rt 8 past wattaberry.
We went for the first time this past tues and the talent was really awesome. We met up with someone we hadn't seen in a few years and made some new myspace friends. this is a bar only, no food, and there is NO charge to play.
The guy running it keeps things on schedule and does not hesitate to pull the plug if you've gone over your five-minute warning. You get a 15 min slot so if you're a fast setup you can def pull off 4 or 5 songs if you don't jam too long.
ok, onto the info:
this is hal klein's b'day (part of the parkers tangent outift which includes our very own Grimfacts Ed, guitar/bass slinger. everything starts at 9pm.
first over at the NEST in b'port. At the bottom is the info about the whole thing. we'll be on somewhere in the first three slots performing safety patrol music as we've gotta book it over to the Nine for the Beatnik Anniversary show.
you never know what you'll see at a beatnik.
wedding. valentine's day. music.
dress-up in your most awesome rock star apparel. music!
Ground control to Major Tom.... Is it halftime yet?.
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VERY good show under trying circumstances, Prince, despite not singing Red Corvette (and despite not performing in your ass-less pants). Not sure why you threw Proud Mary in there, but Purple Rain was the perfect ending. What band was it, Hurricanes?
Billy Joel is slated to sing the National Anthem. Here's hoping 'ol BJ doesn't have to drive out to the ballpark. My goodness, Billy was wet and pretty lame, but at least he got it done quickly.
Keith purchased the new Norah Jones, but is underwhelmed. Sharie is less underwhelmed.
We tried to order Sliders' wings for the Super Bowl, but they are SOLD OUT!
Settled for delivered Chinese.
Met an interesting couple last night at Leo/Kathy's housewarming (propane) party last evening. Big blues aficianados, huge fans of Tab Benoit and frequent attendees of blues concerts at the Iron Horse in Northampton and Black-eyed Sally's in Hartford.
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Peter's barstool tour of Cambridge music, edition II....
on Friday night. . Hard driving guitar, fiddle, accordion, country Tex Mex.
..and oh yeah, couple of klezmer numbers.
They were very good.
Saturday at in Central Square. The web site, or someplace, maybe a sign over the bar, says in business since 1938.
This place is a time machine. it's a 1950s neighborhood bar in a not so great neighborhood. Music at 9:30, but I did not plan very well and got there a little before 9:00.
This place is grim. Two or three guys at the bar..
...
they are probably younger than me, but they look old and only a step or two from homeless...
.guy working very slowly on a beer that went flat half an hour ago, keeping a good foot grip on the bar stool just in case gravity cuts in unexpectedly, hoping one of the other inmates gets a windfall and buys a round. The wine selection is a sure sign these guys are a couple of decades in calendar debt.
...
.a dozen airline style split-size bottles on the back bar. You were hoping for maybe a nice South Australia Shiraz?
Yikes, I don't think I can hold out until 9:30.
The reason I came at all was that I noticed the other night walking by..
.another story..
..that sings here sometimes.
She's terrific, so I thought maybe the other music would be OK. Finally the band comes on at a little past 9:30. Middle aged guys on lead and sax, couple of younger guys on bass and drums, great blues sound.
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Fatback Band ...
.I suspect just a name for a basically pickup crew. Sax player is terrific.
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burly guy with a big white beard, kangol cap on backwards, bowling shirt...
probably a conservatory prof by day. And by 10:30 the place is transformed. Bar packed, dance floor full, white, black, young, old.
Elegant 60ish Cambridge lady dancing next to absurdly skinny high fashion multitasking African American girl who is dancing, drinking, talking, and snapping pix with her cell phone. Definitely worth the trip. Next time wait til 10:00.
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A one and a two and.....
Southington's true Renaissance Man, John Ryan, has done it again, composing a polka to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday. Ryan plans to perform his piece at 2pm at Anthony Jack's Wood-Fired Grill on Center Street. Reservations are encouraged. Mercy, mercy me, things ain't what they used to be..
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A quick, mid-week trip to Northampton:
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