Subject: old music
Date: Fri Dec 9 17:27:54 2022
User: TNmountainman
Message:Well...........just checked into WNCW about 45 minutes ago, and the third cut was "Simulation Swarm" by Big Thief. A couple of cuts later was (speaking of Chris Stapleton *and* Bela - stay tuned a sec for the connections) "EMD" from the Barry Waldrep & Friends album (sort of a Tony Rice tribute album). That particular cut was: Tammy Rogers of earlier-mentioned Steeldrivers note with Stapleton, and who is from very nearby here, but she spent a chunk of growing-up time in Texas; John Jorgensen, who I hope needs no introduction......but on the chance that's wrong.......get thee forthwith to a google machine and youtube machine; and.....John Cowan who played with Bela for like 20+ years in New Grass Revival - one of the best bands that ever was (live). Yes, it *is* all connected in that Americana world; yes, those folks have all played with "everybody who is anybody"; and yes, one does need a program. And yes, sorry for the long connect-the-dots diagram. 💠🤯♻️
Just for the record..............a lot of Stapleton's stuff is too country for me, too - maybe at least half of it, but he's got a perfect voice for that as well as crossover stuff, and he's got excellent musical sensibilities, whatever that may mean.
Date: Fri Dec 9 17:57:53 2022
User: TNmountainman
Message:Are you sure it's his "Bluegrass Heart" tour, or the Punch Bros. tour? Can't go wrong, either way, assuming it's a small-ish venue. If it's the Bluegrass Heart tour, although some of those personnel may rotate a bit(???), that conglomeration of talent is so obscene that it should be borderline 🚫 illegal. Sierra Hull(!), Mark Schatz (best bass player you may not even notice), Stuart Duncan(!), Michael Cleveland(!). I mean, come on now....
If it's the Punch Bros.........Chris Thiele is just a crisp dealer on mando, and one of the best. I personally prefer Sam B., but that's just personal taste. And IF IF IF by chance Bryan Sutton is playing with them now, hold onto your jaw. He and Billy can, and have, gone toe-to-toe. Absolutely one of the top 5 flatpickers on the planet. But I kinda think he hasn't toured with them lately.
Heck, maybe it's a combo of the two tour line-ups. That's Bela's problem - *every*body loves playing with him because he makes it fun, adventurous, and also challenging. No musical grass ever grows under his feet. But it's an iron-clad certainty that if they're on stage playing with him, they're world-class.
Date: Sat Dec 10 20:06:42 2022
User: BuzzClik
Message:At the time I bought the tickets (many moons ago), Fleck was still blazing in his "My Bluegrass Heart" tour, and the venue was suggesting that Fleck was the headliner ... with Punch Brothers, too. Over the months, I gave Punch Brothers several listens, and they seemed interesting.
I was quite surprised when Fleck came on stage as the opener. He strapped on his banjo, and 5 more musicians began to follow. I assumed it was going to be the crew he announced in March: Fiddler Stuart Duncan, Sierra Hull (mandolin), Justin Moses (dobro), Mark Schatz (bass), Bryan Sutton (guitar). Much to my shock and delight, Sutton was leading Michael Cleveland on stage. Needless to say, this was the most amazing opener I have ever seen. About 2/3 of the songs were from "My Bluegrass Heart." Toward the end, the various members of Punch Bros wandered out to join the gang, including the very dynamic Chris Thiele.
The experimental approach of Punch Bros unfortunately paled in comparison to the amazing opening set, but I enjoyed it.
Date: Sat Dec 10 20:55:10 2022
User: TNmountainman
Message:That sounds great - if a little unorthodox. Welcome to Bela Fleck's world! So Cleveland was there, and Duncan wasn't, I take it? Not that's there's a thing wrong with that! Hope I didn't oversell Sutton to you.
It's now been probably about, or nearly, 25 years since I first saw Nickel Creek (Thile and the Watkins siblings). They were all still teenagers, as I recall, but stunningly accomplished, and stunningly progressive in their arrangements. It was at a free festival, and I vividly remember their set.
I'm lettin' you absorb your experience a tad before I throw the other thing at you.........;)
Date: Sun Dec 11 00:54:46 2022
User: BuzzClik
Message:No, you didn't oversell Sutton. He was excellent. Justin Moses had interesting abilities on just about every instrument on stage. (Yes, Duncan was absent. He originally replaced Cleveland when Michael bailed earlier in the very long tour.)
Date: Mon Dec 12 02:02:35 2022
User: TNmountainman
Message:Ok, this one is just bodacious beginning to end. Looks like they're having so much fun they can hardly stand it. This one is a bit more old-time-flavored, but with guest appearances of Samuel Coleridge(!), and some klezmer(?) - and a "Christmas" song. It's 59 minutes, but not much wasted space, as Dave Marsh might say.
Jason Krekel is Tim's son, if you remember him from Buffett's early bands, as well as some time with the Eagles - before starting Tim Krekel & the Sluggers. Jason *may* be an even better musician than his father, which is saying a lot. I *may* be related to one of the guys herein, but if so it's pretty far back, near as we could figure out. Caroline Pond is as delightful and enchanting in person as she seems to be here, fwiw.
Doubt if it would ever happen, but if by some chance any of you were to be in western NC when Snake Oil Medicine Show is playing one of their infrequent-these-days gigs, they're highly recommended.
Link: just sittin' on the porch in downtown Asheville - again
Date: Thu Dec 15 12:02:17 2022
User: Klepp
Message:Without the work of Ryan Murphy (and others) I'd likely never have been introduced to this little ditty--since I don't recall knowing it as a little kid, back in the 70s.
Link: SUZI QUATRO & CHRIS NORMAN Stumblin' In
Date: Thu Dec 15 12:05:44 2022
User: Klepp
Message:Dedicated to you, Steven Mark Hicks! R.I.P.
Date: Fri Dec 30 02:00:52 2022
User: Klepp
Message:I think this is the most beautiful song Stevie Wonder ever wrote.
Link: Joy Inside My Tears
Date: Mon Jan 2 02:13:36 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:I really like that Suzi Quatro song. Unfortunately I think I detected some cringe-worthy lip-syncing. Like *really* bad lip-syncing. She even forgot her lines toward the end. I was watching that, and imagining how much practice they put into their little playful interplay. Either not enough, or too much. Either way, I'm glad I wasn't one of them.
Suzi could rock a little bit. But only a little bit (imho). She tried hard, but Chrissie she was not. Or even Joan Jett.
Yet I think she's had some considerable success, but mostly overseas, as I recall.
Date: Mon Jan 2 22:48:59 2023
User: Klepp
Message:I think she portrayed Fonzie's old flame Leather Tuscadero in the "Happy Days" days.
Date: Fri Jan 6 01:00:38 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:This is pretty sweet. Hope some of you have gotten to experience John Jorgensen, either as part of the Hellecasters, Desert Rose Band, or later with his own band. Phenomenal.
(And Hop, this is partly because your link to "Down to the Waterline" shows up as unavailable. Maybe that's a U.S. thing.)
Link: Not the way Mark done it.....
Date: Wed Jan 11 18:03:59 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:Jeff Beck now gone, at 78. Bacterial meningitis.
Such brilliance.....
Date: Thu Jan 12 15:23:44 2023
User: BuzzClik
Message:Beck's early start with the Yardbirds reflects the beginnings of his greatness. "Shapes of Things" is considered by many to be a pivotal recording, and some of the elements discussed in TN's link above can be heard starting at 1:30. (In the opening bars of "Heart Full of Soul" coaxes his guitar to sound like a sitar.)
Link: The Yardbirds, "Shapes of Things"
Date: Thu Jan 12 16:02:21 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:And curiously...........at least so I heard............they originally *did* plan on having a real sitar player (on "Heart Full of Soul"), but didn't like his sound - or something - so Beck came up with what he came up with. And the rest is history - altho there's a bit more to it than that, shall we say.
Date: Thu Jan 19 18:14:00 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:David Crosby, at 81. I guess the secret to a long life is living hard - just not *too* hard?
Date: Wed Feb 1 23:35:14 2023
User: Klepp
Message:I like this Ayten Alpman...laid back jazz sort of, with some strings, comfortable sounds...makes me envision SE Europe, Eastern Med...
Date: Thu Feb 16 10:50:50 2023
User: BuzzClik
Message:[This could fit in a dozen places, but "old music" seems best.]
Had the pleasure of seeing Lyle Lovett and his acoustic band recently. He played with Jim Cox on the piano, Leland Sklar on bass, Jeff White on guitar, and Luke Bulla on fiddle. It was one of the longer concerts in my recent times, running 2.5 hours. He played some new material, crowd favorites, and told several stories of growing up and going to college nearby.
One of the advantages of a long, continuous set is that Lovett featured his accompanists on extended solos. Sklar was featured the least, but the man can really go in his five-string. Bulla had the stage to himself for a solo piece, and Jeff White was featured many times. All these guys, including Lovett, have played extensively with uber famous folk, and Lovett asked each one about the person they played with the most: Mark Knopfler and Burt Bacharach for Cox; James Taylor for Sklar; Allison Kraus and the Chieftans for White. (They clearly recognized the demographic of the audience in making their lists.)
Date: Thu Feb 16 13:56:56 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:Ok, now that's "high cotton" right there. Lee Sklar must be on 200 albums or more. Probably seen him with various artists over 20 times. Jeff White is so steeped in the whole body of bluegrass and Americana work that I'm sure he reeks of it. Not as familiar with Cox and Bulla, but know they're highly respected.
On top of your recent experience with Bela and friends, aren't you afraid of checking too many boxes in such a short period of time?
Date: Fri Feb 17 00:29:45 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:We haven't thrown down any boogie in a while..........so let's allow John Lee to fix that. Nice groove throughout, but he digs up some almost angry licks beginning about 6:50.
Analogously to how no one could copy Jeff Beck, John Lee is inimitable.
Link: John Lee brings the boogie to Soledad
Date: Fri Feb 17 21:57:10 2023
User: BuzzClik
Message:This was a big week for me and concerts: Lyle Lovett and Big Thief on consecutive nights. Both were really good, and really different.
On the third night, it was another episode of "payback" to my concert-going buddy. They hated Vampire Weekend so much that I guess the debt will never be repaid. Anyway, this concert we were going to see was one of my friend's faves. I was warned it was going to be crazy -- about 17,000 fans in a brand new arena. I made all the arrangements, including getting a reservation in a small parking garage I knew well near the arena. Getting to the venue was a nightmare. Roads were blocked off to allow for pedestrian traffic, and GPS was worthless. After 20 minutes of meandering, we were 10 minutes from showtime, so I dropped off my friend near the venue for a quick walk to the place. Forwarding the electronic ticket was seamless (one advantage of Ticketmaster) so we would be able to enter separately. And I crept off to the parking garage. Forty five minutes later, I took one of the last available spaces on the roof, and a nice couple who just flew in from Costa Rica (!!) ushered me to the venue. They lived in town and knew the venue, but the road closures surprised them, too. By the time we got through security, the show was three songs deep. This wasn't a deal because this guy plays a solid three hour set.
I found my friend. We had decent seats in the first balcony directly behind the mixer. The sound system was astoundingly good, and the arena had large video screens in key places. The performer is a very energetic, diminutive fellow who is absolutely ripped for a man of his age. His first few songs that I heard were a variety of high energy rock, a ballad or two, and one tune that was on the edge of gospel. He had four horns in backup (trumpet was featured a bit, but the sax was front and center). He had four backup singers, bassist, two guitarists, two percussionists, pianist, two talented women who would bounce around between instruments, and the man himself played a mean guitar. The entire group seemed to have a wonderful time. One of his guitarists in particular was pretty much all smiles and antics. Here's a picture I took from one of the video screens: https://www.freecell.net/img/cell//p/BuzzClik_1676688629.jpeg
The audience was interesting. Despite the advancing age of this rocker, the audience was an even mix of young and old. Of the 5,000 people on the floor (half of which were GA/SRO), it was a 50/50 mix of college kids and gray hair. The kids knew all the songs.
He likes telling stories between songs, and his music seems to tell the story of his life: his younger years where girls and cars are all the rage, midlife reminiscing about "glory days", and some of his later tunes relating tales of lost friends. The poetry of this man's lyrics are fantastic. Whether the stuff from his early efforts ("Mary's dress sways. Like a vision, she dances across the porch") or from one of his most recent spoken words ("At 15 it’s all hellos. At 73 it’s a lot of goodbyes."), he is captivating.
About 2 hours in, he launched into a 10 song binge of high energy rock that drove the audience out of their minds. The band paid a video tribute to their lost friend, a giant of a sax player. When all that energy ended, the band left the stage, and he concluded with something of a goodbye, saying "I'll see you in my dreams."
Such a great concert.
Date: Fri Feb 17 23:29:26 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:Nice..... So was this your first live experience with this artist?
Date: Sat Feb 18 00:40:41 2023
User: BuzzClik
Message:No, but a definite departure for me. I make it a point to keep away from "geezer rock" concerts to avoid disappointment (**cough cough Elton John cough cough**). I saw this guy in 1980, touring his album released that year. Again, a 3-hour stadium concert. Great stuff.
My friend saw him about 6 years ago, and apparently his voice is stronger than on that tour. If all rock bands of my youth could show up like this, I might consider making more exceptions. (Due to timelessness of bluegrass, jazz, and blues, I see a lot of old musicians playing those genres.)
Date: Sat Feb 18 00:43:24 2023
User: BuzzClik
Message:btw... seeing John Lee would have been such a treat. My favorite blues venue has his concert poster proudly on display. Jan 26-27, 1989.
Date: Sat Feb 18 02:06:54 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:I saw John Lee and Jerry Lee, both at Jazzfest, on the same stage by coincidence, altho not at the same time (duh?). Would have to check my concert list to see if it was the same year. I kinda think it was. I was no more than 10 ft. away from each of them. Both had the larger-than-life aura and presence one would expect, with John Lee's being the most weighty.
Date: Wed Feb 22 17:50:35 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:I know I've mentioned Bukka before, probably in this thread, but this is rich. He and Son House and Skip James give a seminar in how to earn chickens - or maybe even a pig. This is the real, authentic, Delta country blues. Imagine spending a day with these guys listening to their stories.
Link: Bukka White, Skip James, and Son House at Newport
Date: Tue Feb 28 20:23:50 2023
User: Klepp
Message:"Joplin" comes to me as I see a Marquette (#6 nationally) ballplayer with that name...oh, to be a relation (one can wish)!
Date: Tue Feb 28 23:55:07 2023
User: BuzzClik
Message:Janis or Scott?
Date: Wed Mar 1 13:40:37 2023
User: Kumquat-of-Conciliation
Message:Assuming he was referring to Scott................yes, he VERY much was a baseball fan. He even organized a team!
See link.
Also, his composition "The Entertainers" had a sporting theme, including baseball:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Easy_Winners
Link: (Scott) Joplin organized a baseball team
Date: Wed Mar 1 14:39:50 2023
User: Klepp
Message:Maybe you can credit Ken Burns (and friends) with the score I've heard, letting me "see" early 20th-century baseball as I hear his jazzy, raggy stuff.
Date: Sat Mar 4 02:22:16 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:I'm not a fan of Supertramp. They're talented, but just too "pop-ish"; like way pop-ish. But......................I just 'forced' (really pretty close to the truth) myself to go thru that whole album. Yes, I skipped some parts of stuff, particularly segments of the overplayed singles, and finally got to the end - and boy was I then surprised. That last cut, "Child of Vision" is awesome. Fully righteous, front-to-back, with killer keys. I know I'd heard it before, but apparently loooong ago, and it didn't make the impression on me that it did tonight. I've just finished my *6th* listen of that cut, and will likely do some more. So, thanks for that; I otherwise would have never gotten there.
Over 7 minutes long, but I could have stood it to go on for at least 5 more.
Date: Sat Mar 4 03:38:56 2023
User: Klepp
Message:Listening to albums in their entirety is much more a rarity these days, surely...but yeah, nuggets are out there to still be found with music being so utterly ubiquitous.
Date: Sat Mar 4 21:32:36 2023
User: BuzzClik
Message:Nice choice. How many decades since I last heard that song…
Date: Sun Mar 5 19:12:03 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:ix, one of the stories tonight on "60 Minutes" is on David Byrne.
Date: Sun Mar 5 19:18:11 2023
User: ix
Message:
Date: Sun Mar 5 21:08:00 2023
User: BuzzClik
Message:Speaking of Byrne... he will be performing the Oscar nominated song, "This Is a Life," with Son Lux and Stephane Hsu. Byrne and Son Lux are on the version in the movie as was Mitski. Not sure why Mitski was bounced for the performance.
Link: Son Lux, David Byrne, Mikski: "This Is a Life"
Date: Wed Mar 8 13:42:09 2023
User: TNmountainman
Message:WTH?!?!?? David Lindley passed away Friday, FIVE DAYS AGO, and I'm just now learning about it - and then only because one of the public radio stations I listen to just happened to be playing a bunch of cuts in sequence I happened to know he was on, so I went and looked out of suspicion!! How was this not big news?!?
I link a nice story about him, which is easily jailbroken, and which includes two gootube videos embedded, the first of which is of him and his incomparable pedal steel work on "Runnin' on Empty".
He was just one of those "musician's musicians". A musical uber-genius. I can't believe nobody has posted this here. I earlier posted a Jackson Browne video near the end of the "good lyrics" thread, with his brilliant fiddle work on "After the Deluge".
Link: David Lindley gone at 78
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