Blog Archives
Music And Politics
This website is for musings about music and the arts in general and this post is about that and more. Well, sort of…
The Great American Songbook Is Alive And Well
I first heard of Michael Feinstein at least thirty years ago, but did not see him perform until recently. I have no idea why I waited – if you enjoy songs by the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen and others as I do, you should see Feinstein.
Michael Feinstein
Childsplay Is Everything But That!
Silly me to think that Childsplay is a group of children playing violins, but that is exactly what I thought before sitting down to chat with Bob Childs, violin and viola maker extraordinaire, in advance of Childsplay’s tour this month. I am happy he set me straight about the ensemble as well as the craft of violin making.
Childsplay
Magic Happened
It is rare that I use ‘magic’ to describe a music or any other event, but magical is the perfect description for the evening with Livingston Taylor at The Extended Play Sessions at the Fallout Shelter.
Livingston Taylor
If You Like Boz Scaggs, You Will Love Garrett Lebeau!
Sometimes I go on faith that the person booking a show knows something I do not. Such was the case recently when I saw Garrett Lebeau at The Extended Play Sessions at the Fallout Shelter.
Garrett Lebeau
An Evening of Guitar Magic
While I have seen Jason Isbell perform a number of times over the past four years, I had not seen him with the 400 Unit since the band swept the 2014 Americana Music Association top awards with the album Southeastern nor since they won the best album and song awards at this year’s AMA.
Jason Isbell
I love the latest album, Something More Than Free, so I knew I was in for a treat at his recent show at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
An Intimate Afternoon With Bob Weir
I was lucky indeed to spend part of an afternoon with Bob Weir at AmericanaFest, along with 212 other lucky music lovers! The event was held in the Ford Theatre at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which partnered with the organization for a number of special events during the festival and conference.
Bob Weir
Part interview, part live performance, and part broadcast from Bob’s new album, Blue Mountain, this was 75 minutes more or less that was incredibly well spent!
Final Additions To AmericanaFest Showcases Announced
“The Americana Music Association has unveiled its final round of artists to perform during the 17th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference to be held in Nashville on September 20-25, 2016. The lineup, featuring icons, innovators and up-and-comers, underscores Americana’s perennially formative place in the world’s musical landscape. (The official Spotify playlist is here: http://bit.ly/AmericanaFest .)
Green River Festival Was An Amazing Anniversary Celebration!
The Green River Festival celebrated its 30th anniversary in July with a spectacular lineup! Sure, it rained during much of the Festival, but that did not dampen my spirits in the least! It wasn’t quite Woodstock – there was little to no mud – but it was fabulous.
I will start with my top three sets/experiences from the Festival, in no particular order.
The Mavericks Never Bring Me Down!
Despite the title of one of The Mavericks better-known songs (“All You Ever Do is Bring Me Down”), this band always delivers a fantastic show that keeps me smiling for days after the show!
The Mavericks
This show at the South Shore Music Circus was no different, with one caveat which I mention at the end of this review.
suze reviews the blues 