Blog Archives
Club d’Elf Soars
Club d’Elf is an amazing ensemble that never seems to consist of the same members twice! I’ve seen them three times so far, and the only musician who has performed in all three shows is Mike Rivard, the bass and sintir player.
Mike Rivard
It is difficult, if not impossible, to describe Club d’Elf’s music in one word – other than fabulous! Read the rest of this entry
Willie Nile, A Great Storyteller
Willie Nile is one of the best singer-songwriters you don’t know, yet he’s been around long enough that he opened for The Who and recorded in the same studio at the same time as Yoko Ono and John Lennon.
Willie Nile, Johnny ‘Pie’ Pisano, and Peter Hoffman
Music maven that I am, I wasn’t familiar with Willie until a couple of years ago when I saw a picture of an elementary school friend playing with him. That was reason enough to check him out in a live performance. Now, I will see him every time he plays in the Boston area, especially if he’s at Club Passim.
Willie Nile
Ringing in 2014 With The Felice Brothers
In 2010, I started going to concerts on New Year’s Eve and it’s become a tradition that I intend to keep (as long as there are shows I’d like to see).
This year, the show was The Felice Brothers, who I’d seen open for Mumford & Sons, and The Low Anthem, who I’d never seen, at Brighton Music Hall.
Both Bands Together on Stage at Midnight
Best Concerts of 2013
The time has come for me to reflect on the 128 concerts I attended in 2013 and determine the top ten. It was an extremely difficult task this year because I saw so many excellent shows.
I laid one ground rule for myself. I did not include sets at festivals for one main reason – there is generally a lot more energy at a festival than at a ‘regular’ concert and the musicians feed off that energy which produces a better show. Also, at festivals musicians from other bands tend to sit in with the act on stage so one is not always seeing the band as they typically perform. Read the rest of this entry
A Prince Among Men
In a word, WOW! Prince!!!
The entire show was a spectacle without going over the top.
The Crowd as Prince Took the Stage
An Evening of Excellent Downhome Blues Was Just What I Needed
I was in the mood for some blues last night – the holidays have been quite stressful this year and I hoped that hearing the blues would lift my spirits. It did that and more!
I first saw Sue Foley perform almost twenty years ago at Antone’s in Austin, Texas, and loved her. I saw her again at a blues festival in New Hampshire about eleven years ago and not since. I had never heard of Peter Karp, but figured since he and Sue have partnered, he had to be good. Johnny D’s is quite possibly my favorite venue in the Boston area and was the perfect place to host this terrific blues band.
Peter and Sue
A Night of Unexpected Enjoyment
You know how ‘they’ say that if you have no expectations, you won’t have any disappointments? I try, but don’t always succeed, to approach every art experience that way.
Last Thursday, I scored a couple of tickets to see Chris Trapper, who I have seen perform a few times, and other bands that were completely unfamiliar to me, at Red Star Union, a venue I first heard about a week ago.
The Music of Muscle Shoals, Alabama Socked it to Me!
Amy Black, a Boston-based singer-songwriter who I’ve seen perform several times, assembled a number of other Boston-based musicians for an evening called “Sock It To Me”, a celebration of the musical heritage of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, at Atwood’s Tavern.
I knew about Muscle Shoals, but didn’t realize how many amazing musicians had recorded there. Read the rest of this entry
Delbert Gave It Up For Our Love
Friday night, I saw a fabulous blues musician who I’d never seen perform – Delbert McClinton.
Delbert McClinton
What a performer! It was obvious to me that he’s a seasoned musician who enjoys what he does. He appeared to love playing at Bull Run, which is an intimate venue. The stage is a mere inches off the floor and the tables start close to the stage which makes it easy for the artists to engage the audience. Read the rest of this entry
suze reviews the blues 