Americana Music Festival notes
Posted: October 1st, 2009 | Author: admin | Filed under: album, festival, live, music, review | Tags: Americana, festival, Nashville | No Comments »|
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I’ve been to Nashville before, but representing The 15th Floor in Nashville during this festival (Sept 16-19) was like going to “good music Nirvana.” I proudly wore our motto, “Songs should make you feel something”, on my shirts and hat all that week; the songs did not disappoint. Chip Taylor: I met Chip in Toronto in the 90’s when he was promoting “The Living Room Tapes.” (In Toronto, he performed for about an hour in a hotel room to about 5 or 6 people, |
including Sherry and me.) One of his songs, “Angel of the Morning”, in various forms, has sold 13 million records! This trip, I heard him a couple of times, teamed up with his new young protégé/discovery, Kendall Carson. WOW! If you are a connoisseur of good songs, check out his new album, “Yonkers, NY”, coming out in October.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Yes, they are reincarnated, in a new/old configuration (very pure) with
Jeff Hanna, Jimmie Fadden, Bob Carpenter, and John McEuen. In about 1970, they (reluctantly?) became a “pop” group with Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy and Mr. Bojangles. But it was, Will the Circle Be Unbroken in 1972 that my friends and I fell in love with—hell, we were seventeen-year-old “old folkies” and very hip, using a reel-to-reel while we played pool in my best friend’s basement. The new album, “The Speed of Life”, brings back the memories. Last week’s concert at The Cannery moved me, but it was very late, the sound was suboptimal, and the local youngsters (who seem to “dig” them as much as we did in our day) finally chased me away with all the bumping, beer spilling, and shouting at each other, which seems to be the trend. (Are young concert goers always that tall?)
Baskery: Three sisters from Sweden. They all sing and play very well. They all harmonize, then one really belts out a song and the other two harmonize, and then occasionally the other two belt out their own. Most intriguing was a distorted electric banjo. You know the old joke: “I left my banjo in the back of the car and forgot to lock it. When I came back there were two.” Well now it can be: “I left my banjo in the back of the car and forgot to lock it. When I came back it was all distorted and plugged in to something.” They are a sight to see, live. I am not sure the songs will hold up well to just play the album, but I am going to try it.
Greg Trooper: I have known of this artist for many years and for some reason the name just hasn’t stuck. BUT I heard him in a songwriter’s “round” presented by The Bluebird Cafe and both his performance and his songs blew me away- I was late for a meeting just because I had to hear one more from him. A songwriter’s songwriter. His name stuck this time.
JD Souther: He looks really, really old. He sounds as young as ever. Totally enjoyed his set at The Mercy Lounge. Three young female back-up singers kept both his attention and ours. I never really heard their names- anyone want to fill me in?
Radney Foster: Comeback kid. He rocks for a country guy. Was that his daughter with him?
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