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Showing posts from 2012

Otis "TCB" Taylor Stole The White Mountain Boogie N' Blues Festival

Otis "TCB" Taylor at 2012 Boogie N' Blues Festival The White Mountain Boogie N’ Blues Festival is always a good time.  It usually boasts top-notch blues lineups, pulling in fan festival followers from all around the country and Canada.  This year was no exception; however,   there was one act in particular that caught my eye more than the rest. From the moment Otis “TCB” Taylor walked on stage, I sensed a change wash over the audience.  People were paying attention .  This marked his debut appearance in New Hampshire, and my first impression was quite clear:  The blues had arrived. Unlike the other acts, his trance jam approach made him stand out.  He played with his band, layering and cultivating sound, as opposed to the standard 12 bar formula with a few showy solos.   I recalled Hendrix had that same mesmerizing approach.   Taylor’s music is more like an experience, rather than just another song checked off on a setlist.  In my opinion, he was worth

Lowell Folk Festival Does It Right

There is something philosophically wrong with folk festivals that charge exorbitant ticket prices.  I had this epiphany at the 2012 Lowell Folk Festival , the largest still free folk festival in the country.  I was amazed at how well engineered, and well planned out this festival was.  Traveling down to Lowell was easy.  Parking the car was easy and cheap.  The festival specialized in ethnic foods that were both delicious and inexpensive.    The amazing lineups scheduled at the various stages, was the best part of all.   This is a grassroots festival that truly got it right. My top 5 favorite performances, in pictures, were: 5.   Zhentian Zhang (traditional Chinese hammered dulcimer) Zhentian Zhang at the 2012 Lowell Folk Festival  4.  Quarteto Olinda (Brazilian folk fiddle) Quarteto Olinda at the 2012 Lowell Folk Festival 3.  Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto (Columbian gaita ensemble) Gaiteros de San Jacinto at the 2012 Lowell Folk Festival 2.  T

Billy Bragg Inspires His Audience 6/30/12

It seems that wherever Billy Bragg goes, a crowd gathers.  The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH was packed full of Bragg’s socially-conscious fans on Saturday night (6/30/12), all eager to see the legendary British protest singer-songwriter up close and personal.  The Music Hall’s “Intimately Yours” backdrop seemed to emphasize Bragg’s minimal yet effective stage setup consisting of two amps, a guitar, a chair, a stand, and a microphone.  The essential tools for Bragg’s performance seemed within themselves, revolutionary. Bragg was greeted enthusiastically by his fans, and spent over two hours performing a unique two set show.  His first set celebrated the life and work of the great Woody Guthrie, while the second set was quintessentially Billy Bragg.  What tied the two sets together was Bragg’s left of center sense of humor and, his storytelling dialogue between each song.   Highlights from the Guthrie set: Black Wind Blowing – This eerie song sent chills down my spine pa

Mayer Hawthorne Brings Geeky Back 4/20/12

Picture as seen at  http://www.stonesthrow.com/mayerhawthorne Close your eyes for a moment and conjure up the 1970’s.  The decade when men wore polyester leisure suits and women wore orange lipstick and blue eye shadow.  Bell bottoms evolved into elephant bells.  Heads were styled in picked-out perms and Farrah Fawcett layers.  Pet rocks were en vogue.  Everybody had a Venus Fly Trap.  New age types gobbled up Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s transcendental meditation.  Wealthy housewives took synchronized swimming classes.  Avocado green appliances and faux wood paneling took homes hostage.  Roller discos were filled every Saturday night.  Cars were tanks.  Eight-track tapes clicked midway through your favorite song.    Wolfman Jack was traveling over the airwaves.  Soul Train was in your living room… It was no surprise to me that Mayer Hawthorne and The County packed the Port City Music Hall in Portland Maine on Friday night.   This marked his first performance in Portland.   The

Jeffrey Foucault Plays to Crowded House at Club Passim in Harvard Square 3/31/12

Photo Courtesy of   http://www.jeffreyfoucault.com/press.html      Outlaw folk musician Jeffrey Foucault had Club Passim bursting at the seams on Saturday night.  Just a few steps down from street level, fans crowded into the landmark venue nabbing any available nook that they could find.  Armed with his guitar, Foucault literally had to squeeze his way through the friendly shuffle to get on stage.  He flashed a smile, joked a bit about his day, and plugged in. What happened next was amazing, and I’m not just saying that as a goofy fan-geek.  He maneuvered through sixteen songs, captivating the audience’s complete concentration.  He did this by simply feeling every note and meaning every word he sang.  He was believable.  He had me at first strum. He connected both musically and lyrically with the crowd.   He called up his friend and opener Hayward Williams to play along with him for several songs.  They were free and unincorporated, treating the audience to a solid s

Mica's Groove Train Packs The Strange Brew Tavern 2/11/12

Picture Courtesy of Yamica Peterson New England based band Mica’s Groove Train packed the Strange Brew Tavern on Saturday night.  The crowd was filled with smiling faces, hoppy effervescence, and good mojo.  The band put on a rousing performance, combining slick pulsed beats with soulful laments.  Lead singer Yamica Peterson sang straight from her heart, revealing her vocal power as an undeniable assimilation of her natural gift.  She underscores talent . Behind the voice was her subtly understated band.  They were all masterful, yet not overpowering the vocals.  It was evident that the band members share a good rapport, as the music was intelligent and intuitive.  I asked a friend who was at the show to describe the band’s sound, and she stated, “It’s as if their music gives you your own personal space to experience the message as the songs envelop you.”  I could not have said it better myself, and pondered if that is the definition of groove.  Sprouting buds of groove,

Gandalf Murphy & the Grand Slambovians Sell Out Tupelo Music Hall 1/13/12

Picture as seen at  http://www.slambovia.com/     Gandalf Murphy & the Grand Slambovians (AKA Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams) played for a sold out crowd Friday night at the Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, NH.   The audience was an eclectic mish mash of young and old, many of whom had seen the band several times before.   Despite this being my first time seeing the group live (a Slambovian virgin), it was clear that they had a strong underground following.    That being the case, it was the classic tell-tale mark of a great live show. Happily settled in my general admission seat in the back of the room with a strong cup of joe, I waited in anticipation for the show to start.  Then the lights went dim, the room lulled, and in walks the psych-rock band taking their positions on stage.  Aesthetically the band members looked as if they were a bunch of crazed carnies that had just fell out of a possum belly nap and landed on stage.  “Alas” I thought to