Bdp24- I didn't get into Lyle's story telling and dry/offbeat sense of humor because it can be a bit off-putting to some folks. It tickles my funny bone, but I'm pretty far off the norm on that axis. I've seen him several times now over about 20 or more years; in a small venue with small "acoustic" type back-up, in a large venue with a rocking band, but this is the first time with "His Large Band". All shows were excellent, but this took it to "perfection". My wife and I would look at each other several times during each song with an OMG face. I know Kunkel's resume and always enjoyed his drumming but this was the first time I saw him drum live. It takes an extraordinary percussionist to really catch my attention but I was absolutely dumbstruck. Each time he drew a song to a conclusion, each stroke was obviously, perfectly pre-ordained by the prior one and lead inexorably to the next. And the same could be said for pretty much each vocal and instrumental part all night. Something as simple as a short sax lick in the middle of a bridge was exactly as long (or short) and loud (or soft) and as mournful (or joyful) as it needed to be. No more and no less.
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Swampwater---it was with his Big Band that I last saw Lyle, and what a band it was! What makes a band that good is just what makes Russ Kunkel such a good drummer---what each musician plays serves the song above all, the parts being "musical", serving a musical purpose. A lot of musician’s play so to as impress other musician’s with their technical prowess, the results often being rather amusical, the part serving no purpose to the song itself, or being musically related to what any other musician is playing. I have found that the better a songwriter is, the more he values "musicality" in players , not necessarily technical prowess. The two are very different things. As the old spiritual expression goes, you can’t serve two masters ;-). Not that a very technically endowed musician can’t be very musical, or visa versa, but that is a rarity imo. I have found the two to have an inverse relationship. Others may, I have no doubt, disagree. |
James Hunter and his band- big, full band with horns, blue-eyed soul. These guys are very good players and put on a tight, bang-on performance. The drummer is terrific, the bass is a good old fashioned acoustic bass- made me realize how much is missing, harmonically, from an electric bass. Solid keyboard player and did I mention the horn players? Jazzy, slick professionals with soul. James has a good voice- he pushes hard, and you walk out a couple hours later fully satisfied that you've been fully entertained by great performers, delivering the goods. We've heard them at least 6 times now, and particularly enjoy them in the little local club not far from our NY place. |
Buddy Guy and Jeff Beck in SF, 8/16/16. Buddy Guy was so amazing as I have seen before (x4). The big surprise was when Carlos Santana showed up and played with Buddy Guy. It was so disappointing that Jeff Beck didn't participate??!!! Jeff beck played parts of his new album after the break and per my taste, it wasn't that great as I have seen him before... |
I saw Culture Club with the LA Symphony Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl last night. Boy George has long been a favorite singer of mine but he was merely good enough (rather than impressive) last night. It may be what he's always sounded like outside of the studio or time may have taken its toll on his voice (or maybe some of each), but the singing didn't carry the show the way I expected. OTOH, one fun, familiar, bouncy hit after another made for an enjoyable evening. George has surprising charisma and a great sense of humor regarding his public image (and a lot of their stuff, too). The LASO is always a great time as well, and they did a short "pops" (Pomp and Circumstance, et al) set before CC. In all, it was great good fun. |
It's been a GREAT year of concerts for me. Since the beginning of the year I've seen Lucinda Williams, Springsteen, Shovels and Rope, Zac Brown Band, Shawn Colvin and Steve Earl, and Lucinda Williams again last Tuesday night. All were within the first 4 rows - center except Springsteen and Zac Brown. I loved all of these shows, but the standouts were Shovels and Rope and the most recent Lucinda WIlliams show with her excellent backing band - Buick 6. These two show were ROCKIN' in small, intimate theaters. The hits keep coming with Elvis Costello at the Ryman Theater on Oct. 17 and Nick Lowe in a tiny 400 seat theater on Oct. 19. Can't wait...... |
The Mystix last night at One Longfellow Square, Portland, Maine. I think it holds about 200 listeners. Singer/guitars/leader Jo Lily, guitar Bobby Keyes, bass (electric & standup) Jesse Williams, drums Marty Richards, harmonica & organ Annie Raines, fiddle Matt Leavenworth. And from the audience Jug Band James on the washboard and spoons. It was a show I did not want to end. Even the I hate your music wife loved it! |
Coldplay, last week at Levi's stadium, Santa Clara, CA. One of the best concerts I've been to in recent years. Great music, brilliant performance. Not a single person could sit down. It was that electrifying. Sound, light, and production were just superb. On the other hand, last Month I went to see Guns n' Roses in San Francisco, 20 minute into the concert, I left. $150 ticket down the drain. Sound was so bad it was hurting my ears. |
Saw Air Supply last night, very good show. Other concerts this year, Steve Miller, Pat Benatar, Alan Parsons, Paul Anka, Meat Loaf and Diana Ross. Both Parsons and Paul Anka were seller shows, by far the best, on the flip side Meat Loft was very disappointing, he seem to only go through the motions to get the show over with. |
My wife and I saw John Prine (& co.) Saturday night at the Warner Theater in Torrington, CT Saturday night. A great show from one of the greatest songwriters and performers out there. His voice has changed as a result of his cancer treatments, but the songs still have the ring of honesty and humor that they always have. Excellent band (
Dave Jacques • Jason Wilber • Pat McLaughlin), good acoustics, very few annoying cell phone videographers. John played non-stop for over 2 hours, ending w my all-time favorite, Paradise. Greg Trooper was a terrific opening act and also joined in for the encores. If you like the Americana/folk genre, don't miss him.
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bdp- Pat played a little geetar ;-) but mostly mandolin, and a did a lot of backing vocals. Again, what was remarkable about him (and the two other backing musicians), was their ability to add to the experience of the song w/o sticking out. With mandolin a little can go a long way, but he was never over the top, even on the solos. And he had a unique (to me anyways) way of gently strumming with all of his fingers that produced a feathery kind of sound that I have never heard from a mandolin. Plus his physical style was so expressive; truly a man who loved what he was doing. |
Last Friday, Jerry Douglas in Portland Oregon. There are two main strains in Bluegrass---Traditional, and Progressive. Jerry as a sideman (Alison Krauss, Iris Dement, Dolly Parton, hundreds of others) is involved in the Traditional wing. As a soloist/bandleader, he is more Progressive. While his dobro playing was fantastic on Friday, I didn't like his band or the music very much. There were no real "songs", just some chords strung together to give a structure for the instrumentalists to play off of, know what I mean? The band was too jazzy for my taste, the guitarist playing in "flurry of notes" style---no phrasing, no lyricism, no elegance or poetry. The drummer, though very accomplished technically and fairly musical, was way too busy for my taste, to the point of distraction. That's just my taste though, admittedly. I'm all about songs, and playing for them. I also love Bluegrass harmony, of which none was heard that night. A big disappointment, unfortunately. Still love Jerry's playing though! |
Concert season is heating up in the Cincinnati Area. Just bought tickets to a few more upcoming shows. Here the current list of tickets I'm holding for spring - early summer: Shovels and Rope Pixies Richard Thompson Dave Mason Wussy Adrian Belew Bruce Cockburn Diana Krall Looks like its going to be a fantastic year for live music..... |
Umphrey's McGee in Grand Rapids Mi. earlier this month. First time I've seen them & it was an excellent show. Had a great time. Not to be a downer but went there with a good friend of mine who unfortunately died a few days ago. He was an old hippie (like me) & over the years we went to many shows together. Fortunately he lived a full life & died in peace. I will miss him greatly. |
I saw Queensriche at the Beacon Theater in Hopewell, VA! That's right, Hopewell! This little theater has been booking some huge acts. And Queensriche was amazing, what a great show, and I could see the entire stage from the 3rd row. First show I've seen in years, and believe me, their new singer never missed a note! As great as they ever were. |
I saw Shovels and Rope again last night. All I can say is WOW! I've seen hundreds of shows spanning 40 years. I've seen most of the top bands in the world, many in their heyday, and I can tell you that the Shovels and Rope shows I've seen are in my top 10 of all time. Maybe top 5. This duo puts on one heck of a ROCK show. You would likely never know they could ROCK if you've just heard their studio recording. I like their studio stuff, but the way they perform them live is a totally different thing. They come off the stage at the end absolutely drenched in sweat, having given everything they have to the audience. My highest recommendation. And only $20 at the 1500 capacity theater where I saw them last night. |