March 11: US Navy Sea Chanters concert while they were touring the South-East. Unique experience & these men & women of our Navy can really sing. They did several songs including a really nice acapella version of "Bring Me A Little Water, Sylvie". very enjoyable & best of all it was free (i suppose our tax dollars at work). All the members of the Sea Chanters were extremely courteous to all in the audience after the show when they mingled among us. Well done, US Navy!! :) |
I kicked off my 2015 concert season with Mike and the Mechanics last evening. The band came out smoking and only got better as the evening wore on. I'm very glad they came to town. If you have a chance to see them, they will not disappoint.Great show!!! |
Last night (3/7/15), Oz Noy Trio at Saxon Pub, Austin. Roscoe Beck on bass and Chris Layton, drums. Oz is my favorite "young" electric guitarist on the scene. |
Caught Paul Rodgers on Valentine's Day and his vice is as strong as ever. The concert was basically Bad Company material with two songs from Free one from The Firm and a cover of Albert Kings Born under a Bad Sign. The band was awesome it sounded like you had just cranked up the stereo. They did all the songs that ruled the fm daily during their run. If you have a Jones to hear some Bad Co. Or if you never saw them like me then go,you will not be disapointed. |
Thursday Marc Cohn, Friday Eilen Jewell. Happy man here. |
Just returned home from seeing The Jolie Holland Band ( Anti Records recording artists) four nights in a row in San Francisco.Different set every night,guests on most nights.Fantastic shows featuring her unique blend of blues,country,Townes Van Zandt covers,pop,dylan covers,her own songs and anything else that might pop up.Beautiful music delivered with what I feel is probably the greatest voice out there.It certainly is for me.This was music that stretched from Lou Reed style NYC rock to Backporch Texas downhome blues.Every note perfectly integrated into a cohesive sound.If you can't get out to see her,get some of her music and you won't be able to stop yourself from going next time she comes around.She's the real deal. |
Vienna Teng last night in Berkeley CA. I think it was my fifth time. I guess you would call me an ultra fan. Before that, Peter Rowan. |
Went to go see James Taylor and his all-star band on Saturday November 29th..They were just fantastic. One of the best shows for me so far this year. These guys played their guts out.... Musicianship of the highest order....And for a bonus,the sound quality was sublime. My wife and myself didnt want the show to end.Bravo.
Sweet baby James indeed... |
Rodrigo and Gabriella in Birmingham(UK not Alabama). That certainly blew the cobwebs away. Just astonishing, dynamic guitarists |
Fleetwood Mac last night at the LA Forum. Second show I've seen on the current tour and substantially identical to opening night in Minneapolis. Which is to say, absolutely wonderful. |
Carl Palmer, 21 November 2014, Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH. We've seen several excellent acts in the past 12 months: Joe Bonamassa (2 November 2013, State Theater, Cleveland), Stanley Clarke, Tony Levin, Adrian Belew and Carl Palmer (those last 4 at Beachland Ballroom). Carl Palmer was the only one who received standing ovations for every song. Wow. We are still blown away. |
Tonight Stevie Wonder Songs from the Key of Life tour in Atlanta. 10th row center!! Very excited. |
Chris Smithers in Philly Wednesday, and tonight and tomorrow, Dylan in Philly. A good week I say. |
Joe Bonamassa last night at the Stranahan Theater in Toledo. He had a very interesting 50 minute acoustic set followed by a 90 minute electric set. I actually preferred the acoustic set, though the entire show was very, very good. |
I enjoyed the Doo Wop Project in the Matthews Auditorium of the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey tonight.
It was an extraordinary performance by a most talented ensemble -- 5 male vocalists backed up piano, sax, drums, bass guitar, and electric guitar. They did numbers from Jersey Boys, Motown the Musical, and others from the same genre. What a treat, a real visit down memory lane.
I especially enjoyed the Smokey Robinson and Frankie Valli sets. The singers were unbelievably good, their renditions were waay beyond what I could have imagined.
Really super. |
Greg Brown last night for wife's birthday. Small venue a full acoustic set, alone on a bare stage sitting on a old chair . The performance was fantastic, highly engaging. We were in awe of his talented songwriting, delivery and guitar work. |
Just attended Chris Botti's performance in the Matthews Auditorium of McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, tonight.
As always, Chris put on a great show. He had five sidemen - piano, guitar, bass, drums, and electronic keyboard, and three guest artists - violinist, female vocalist, and male vocalist. All were extraordinary performers.
The material range from straight jazz (like Flamenco Sketches) to pop jazz (like Look of Love and Let's Stay Together) to neo-classical jazz (like Italia and Emmanuel). It was quite a tour de force, although I personally preferred the pop jazz numbers he featured more in earlier appearances.
I'm glad he has kept Look of Love in his routine since it is still my favorite, with its inspired original arrangement and its knockout opening. Auhmmm,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muisPg2ti8Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGTDwiGxkzU
The performance was electronically augmented through the room's substantial audio equippage, even while Botti and female vocalist Sy Smith walked up the aisles engaging the audience in some of the numbers. By the way, he welcomed the audience to take pics and make recordings as we wished -- no copyright lawyers here.
Notably, while Botti's tour travels the world, there are some devotees that are so taken that they follow his travels to attend his performances in many geographically diverse venues.
I wish I could be one of them. Ahem. |
Beats Antique and Shpongle at the Shrine in Los Angeles Saturday.
Black Keys at the Fabulous Forum in Los Angeles on Wednsday before that. |
I figured that I haven't seen last concert yet. It always will be...
My next one I'm going to see DakhaBrakha. Tube'em and love'em. They're just super great. |
Can't see Dylan enough over the last 20 years. Always a great band. Always different arrangements to songs. Sometimes his voice is nothing but a growl, but, even then, it's ok under the circumstances. |
Halloween went to Steve Forbert. Soon is Dylan a few nights in Philly (recently saw him in Seattle too). A highlight of my concert "career", or whatever. Literally been to his shows dozens of times, and these are at or near the top. My 25 yo son went with me in Seattle, his 6th time. Does anyone here care, or am I talking to myself again? |
Bob Dylan at the Cadillac Palace Theater in Chicago last Saturday night (11/8/14). Of the about ten times I have seen him this was the most enjoyable. His voice was the best in a while. He sang about half of his songs center stage front behind a microphone. The others off to the side playing an acoustic piano. In concerts past he mostly played an electronic keyboard that was mixed in very low. This concert the piano was prominent in the mix. He played a number of songs from Tempest. No introductory band, just two sets of Dylan with a twenty minute intermission between them. It was a very enjoyable evening. |
Rufus Wainwright at the Carolina Theatre in Durham, North Carolina this past Saturday. He was most entertaining as usual. His relaxed style reminds me so much of his mother and aunt, my beloved "Kate and Anna McGarrigle". Just him and his piano and guitar. |
While on holiday in Cleveland Ohio I caught The Tubes at The Tangiers in Akron. They were fantastic and this band is still tight and their more of a show than a music concert. Roger Steen and Prarie Prince are masters at their instrument's and Fee with all his costume changes still has it. Great show, and enjoyed chewing the fat at the meet and greet afterwards. |
Adrian Belew Power Trio, Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH, 31 October 2014 |
Saw Fleetwood Mac sellout in Toronto....It echoed their new mantra: "the Mac is back!"
Christine McVie had a standing ovation when reintroduced at the start of the gig and she had several similar applauses throughout the concert.
Lindsay Buckingham was on fire.
Fleetwood Mac is in an elite league of touring supergroups with the Eagles and the Stones.
The have a repeat gig back in TO on Feb 3.
Highly recommended |
Fjn,
Not akg, but I was at the show opening night in Minny, so I'll offer my take. I thought that it was a great show, but very different from last year's set. Christine got a third of the songs this time and the net effect was a show that was a bit less rockin' (IMO), but still very high energy. Mac showed more of its pop side this time around as some of last year's Lindsey Buckingham rock songs were traded away for Christine's pop hits. OTOH, I thought that both McVie and Nicks were in peak form.
I'm a Buckingham first guy, so I preferred last year's set, but - for me - this one was still better than 99% of the shows I've seen this year. |
Went to see Ian Anderson on 10-25-14.
Although I'm a huge fan of Jethro Tull this show was a letdown. Ian's voice is shot and the band was so-so.But man he can still play the flute.That in and of itself was worth the price of admission. |
Akg_ca- How was MAC? I saw them last year, and they were excellent. This was before Christine rejoined. |
Stick Men, Beachland Ballroom, 17 October 2014, Cleveland OH |
Perimeter Breach at Red 7 in Austin. 9/24/14 |
I think it was The Chariot in Birmingham... |
Tonight Mary Black, finally! |
Tonight Jason Isbell and John Prine. Recently saw Holly Cole who was fantastic. |
CSN, Austin, TX the Long Center. Great evening of entertainment. August.
Best,
Dave |
Dylan, of course, excuse the flying fingers quicker than the eye please. |
Dyaln in Seattle this coming Sunday, then again next month in Philadelphia. |
I see Uriah Heep is touring smaller venues these days. That could be fun. |
Fleetwood Mac this coming Saturday |
Mary Chapin Carpenter with Tift Merritt opening Tuesday in Berkeley CA at the wonderful Freight and Salvage 'coffee house'. MCC played long and her voice sounds great. Backed up by her longstanding keyboard player and an excellent guitarist. |
Govt Mule a month ago 4th row, great as always. |
On Thursday night, we saw Gordon Lightfoot give his first San Francisco concert in 30 years. Great concert! What took so long? |
Czar, it is a great hall,believe it or not the Ted Mann Hall on the U of MN campus is even better !
Macalester College has a new superb sounding hall to showcase their excellent Early Music ensemble.
Twin Cities has more high art per-capita than anywhere in US.
Within 10 miles of my house there are 7 liberal arts colleges and the U of MN , there is a plethora of free and $5 bucks for senior events.
Not to mention 30 quality choral groups of which 5-6 are world-class.
Can't beat it with a stick ! |
Schubert, I've been in Minnesota Orchestra hall in 2010 and saw Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg performing 4-seasons Piazzolla tango version of Vivaldi. I believe this venue is substantially superior acoustically to Carnegie Hall in NYC. I enjoyed performance and enjoyed the sound as well. |
Map, you could have listened to Mahler 3 10.000 times without knowing it was "about " nature. |
Gov't Mule 20 Years Strong US Tour in Kalamazoo a couple of weeks ago with guitarist Larry McCray helping out on a few songs - great show! |
I've been a subscriber to the bible "Grammphone" for over forty year and I never heard anyone say such a silly thing.
What I have read, many times,is like the following from J.S. Smith in"The Gift of Music" .
"One is aware that Mahler tried to do too much.His excesses can be heard in the exhaustive tension is his music and in the repetitions. His symphonies are long and they lack unity.They all begin to sound alike , and many times the composer finds it difficult to bring the music to a close"
IMHO Mahler is the fave of people who like entertainment sound more than music. |
I first heard Mahler #3 on NPR years ago. THere was a nice intro explaining what it was about beforehand (see wikipedia entry for it for more). I was totally taken by it from the outset. Then it was a lengthy rollercoaster ride from there, lots of ups and downs, and I felt accordingly along the way. At teh end, I felt transformed in some way, somehow more in tune with the world around me, and I was ready for some Bach at that point. I think the explanation provided up front prior to listening was a big part of that. It all made sense in the end. |
Mahler has some lovely moments, but no doubt it takes a commitment to have a chance of being able to soak it all in.
Even that Kansas wheatfield, like nature in general, has a lot of interesting things going on in places, but you gotta slow down or even get out of the car to have a chance of seeing it.
Mahler #3 is mostly about nature I believe, so the Kansas wheatfield comparison is probably a reasonable one. |
Not a giant Mahler fan. so I don't know the repertoire all that well, but I did see a performance of Symphony #9 many years back that was a knockout. It was memorable enough to prompt me to explore his work a bit further, but I never found much else that grabbed me. |
