July 2008
16 posts
Falcon Ridge Postview - Part II/Club Passim...
So, if I’ve learned anything in the past few days, it is that my strength, if I have one, probably does not lie in performance. Faced with a large crowd and time restrictions at Falcon Ridge, it felt like a struggle to choose the right songs and get them across. Then, Monday night at Club Passim, I participated in a Songwriter Tribute to Jackson Browne. Performing someone else’s...
Falcon Ridge Postview - Part I
So, the 2008 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival is officially over, ending last night with a main stage performance by Janis Ian. From a spectator’s perspective, highlights of my weekend included Vance Gilbert’s main stage set; a Workshop Stage set entitled “Beatles Forever” that included Tracy Grammer, Jim Henry, and others; and a “Guitar Gods and Goddesses” Workshop...
Falcon Ridge Preview - Part III
The 2008 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival is officially underway. Today’s main stage performers will include Red Molly, Crooked Still, and Lori McKenna. Unfortunately, I’m not among those in attendance today, though that does mean I have one more night to pack and prepare.
My next update will likely come Sunday or Monday, after performing Friday afternoon and taking in the Festival...
Falcon Ridge Preview - Part II
The Falcon Ridge site now includes a full itinerary, which lists stage times for featured performers and a full roster of the Emerging Artist Showcase participants. What I haven’t seen is a web directory for these artists. Since I’m an excellent googleer (long “e” like these), I’ve compiled just such a directory. The artists are listed in the order in which they...
Falcon Ridge Preview - Part I
Since Falcon Ridge is only a few days away, I figured I’d post a few updates to lead up to the big day then report back after the festival with some behind the scenes information (metaphorically speaking since, as far as I know, there are no “scenes” to be either in front of or behind).
Most recently, festival organizers have asked that I drop off four press kits at the Press...
as sure as the moon rolls around the sea
It’s been a big week for Jenny Lewis. First, her solo debut Rabbit Fur Coat was named the best record of 2006 (by me). Now she’s announced the details of its follow-up. Per Pitchfork, Acid Tongue will be released in September and will feature a whole slew of guest spots (including Elvis Costello returning the favor). As with Lucinda and her new material, I’ve heard some of...
Little Rock Star
Joan Anderman has a review in today’s Boston Globe of last night’s John Mellencamp show. The Mellencamp portion, as you can almost certainly guess, is skippable, but Joan does have some interesting information on the evening’s opener:
“Lucinda Williams also debuted songs from her forthcoming album, due in September, and from the sound of it this one is a full-blown...
time, the denigrator
Since, according to the A.V. Club, everybody’s doing it and since it would tie thematically (very loosely) to another post this week (The theme? Arbitrary music lists!), I’ve decided to attempt to compile a list of one album from each year I’ve been alive. Presumably, most of these should be albums I listened to at the time or have since grown fond of. Having grown up in the ’80s, this could be...
People Take Warning!
Ol’ friend Charlie Louvin seems to have found a touch of the Ryan Adams prolificness in him: according to Paste, he’s set to release to release two albums this fall. The first, Steps To Heaven on September 16, will feature gospel numbers along with two Louvin Brothers songs (no strangers to gospel in their day). On December 9, he’ll follow up with Charlie Louvin Sings Murder...
car radio consequences
I was flipping through the car radio Sunday afternoon when, surprisingly enough, I came upon “Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream” (this was on WUMB, the only radio station I know of that would ever play this song). I was stunned moments later to find that my navigator/co-pilot had never heard the song. That famous false start and Tom Wilson’s uncontrollable laughter (later nicked by...
songs for celebratin'
Here is a brief list of songs to brighten your Independence Day before the fireworks light up your Independence Night (so poetic…).
1. Tears Of Rage - Bob Dylan & The Band, The Basement Tapes, 1975 (recorded 1967)
A condensed Shakespearean drama with a rare Bob Dylan/Richard Manuel co-writing credit. This might not be the way to kick things off if you’re planning a mix.
2. New...
these boots are made for line-dancing
CNN has an interesting article about Jessica Simpson’s new country single, “Come On Over,” from her upcoming country album, Do You Know (the title track of which was written by Dolly Parton). The article details the recent surge in acts courting country radio and country fans: the list provided includes Jewel, Bon Jovi, and The Eagles.
A decade ago, the tide was turned the...
Déjà Vu again
In other news, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young have announced the release of their upcoming concert film, Déjà Vu. The concert documents the band’s 2006 Freedom of Speech Tour, during which they performed much of the material from Neil’s Living With War, resulting in some rather angry crowd reactions and protesting. The film will be released on multiple platforms on July 25,...
Next Go 'Round
Good news out of Nashville today: Old Crow Medicine Show will be releasing a new album, Tennessee Pusher, on September 23. Don Was has replaced David Rawlings as producer, and the legendary Jim Keltner has jumped behind the drum kit occupied by Gillian Welch on their first two albums. Interestingly, Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench will also add his two cents, which I believe will be mark...
hearing Seeing Things revisited
I noticed last night that a few people have been reaching my blog through the forum on Jakob Dylan’s website: it seems that some enterprising fan found my thoughts on Jakob’s new album and started a thread there to bring it to other fans’ attention. In fact, my blog post has started an interesting discussion with a few different points that are worth touching on:
-The original...
