Winter Solstice: Dark As A Dungeon
And just like that the sun sets on the shortest day of our year. We can all now look forward to lighter days ahead as the earth tilts its way toward the sun, little by little, day by day.
Here’s a playlist for the darkest day. Enjoy.
Tedeschi Trucks Band @ The Keswick – Dec 4-6 2014
This band is top notch. Whenever I think I’ve heard something, or I’ve heard them play a song before, they change it up. I’ve seen TTB several times now, and what’s most incredible is that they seem to be able to bring something new and amazing each time. Their improvisation skills are impeccable. They don’t even play the same song, the same way twice. During this epic 3-night run at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside PA I saw them play 3 different set lists with a different opener each night.
Right now they are playing a ton of new songs and from what I’ve heard, its a solid batch. Looking forward to a new album sometime next year.
It’s great knowing that a band like this is still finding different and ever-changing ways to stay exciting. They will be doing their thing for years to come and I will keep following wherever they may go.
Here’s the setlist from night #2 (amy ray from indigo girls opener) –
Misunderstood
All That I Need
In Every Heart (new one)
Get What You Deserve (Derek Trucks Band song)
Midnight In Harlem
Break In The Road (new one)
Acoustic:
Calling Out To You
Rollin and Tumblin
Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright (With Amy Ray) (Bob Dylan song)
Let Me Get By (new one)
Anyhow (new one)
The Sky Is Crying
Bound For Glory
The Storm
Encore:
Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
Space Captain (Joe Cocker)
Great Movie Soundtracks
Today at the Keswick Theatre social lunch hour (happens every tuesday at noon on their Facebook site), we talked about some of the greatest movie soundtracks. And man, there are some iconic songs that play a huge part in the movies. From ‘Say Anything’ to ‘Frozen’, this is a list to behold. Check it out.
Here’s a playlist of some of the songs that were mentioned:
2013 Year In Review Part 2: Top 10 Songs
Ah, the art of song. There’s nothing better than a well written, well performed song. Here are my Top 10 songs of the year:
10. Stony Ground – Richard Thompson
9. Can You Get To That – Mavis Staples
8. Limpia Hotel (Chihuahua Desert) – Shinyribs
7. Get Lucky – Daft Punk
6. Walking On A Pretty Day – Kurt Vile
5. Most People – Dawes
4. Come To My Party – Black Joe Lewis
3. Part of Me – Tedeschi Trucks Band
2. Unbelievers – Vampire Weekend
1. A New Life – Jim James
Honorable Mention:
Wallace – The Hard Pans
The Man Who Wants You – Amos Lee
Back Seat Lover – Mayer Hawthorne
2013 Year In Review: Top 10 Live Shows
One of my favorite things about doing this Shady Groove thing, living in the Philadelphia area, and being friends with the Keswick Theatre, is that I get to go see a ton of live music. Here’s my favorite concerts of the year:
10. Cyndi Lauper @ The Keswick Theatre – November 15
A Sellout crowd poured in for the 30th anniversary of “She’s So Unusual”. Cyndi talked at length about the origin and making of each of the songs off of the huge album from 1981. Radio songs of my youth. It was great to hear her speak about pop music and its roots. This album actually originated in the Philly area, with the Hooters playing the music and them jamming in a warehouse in Manayunk, PA. Cool stuff.
9. Zappa Plays Zappa @ The Keswick Theatre – October 16
Dweezil and friends killed it as they recreated dad Frank’s “Roxy and Elsewhere” album.
8. Michael McDonald @ The Keswick Theatre – December 7
Iconic songs and soulful sounds bellowed from the stage at this show. Love Michael McDonald. It was worth it to see every 40 something adult stand and sing all of the lyrics to “What A Fool Believes”.
7. Colin Meloy @ The Keswick Theatre – November 2
The Decemberists front man played an intimate solo show at the Keswick and rocked the house.
6. Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band @ Philly Folk Fest – August 18
Funny because the band consists of just 3 members. But the sound is big. Rev Peyton rips the slide guitar and Ben “bird dog” Bussell keeps the rhythm driving. It makes for some highly danceable music.
5. Richard Thompson @ Philly Folk Fest – August 17
His mind-blowing guitar and thoughtful lyrics are always on display when you see Richard Thompson. This show was no exception.
4. Avett Brothers and Trombone Shorty @ The Mann Center – September 14
Gotta love a double bill like this. Trombone Shorty never disappoints. And as much as I complain about the Avett Brothers new stuff, its really pretty good. Plus their live presence is unmistakable.
3. Mayer Hawthorne @ Union Transfer – September 7
Mayer brought his brand of new-age motown/hip hop/soul to the Union Transfer and rocked the house down. Great show.
2. Spirit Family Reunion @ Philly Folk Fest – August 16
This band blew me away at the Folk Fest this year. My favorite new (to me) band of the year.
1. Jimmy Cliff @ The Keswick Theatre – September 29
An absolutely amazing performance. A sublime experience. I waited all year and my whole life to see this show. Jimmy lost not a beat over the years. I originally thought this show would be mainly promoting his 2012 grammy-winning album, Rebirth. And he did play a couple of tunes off of that album. But he played the hits and he played them well. And it wasn’t just his hits but hits from reggae as a musical genre. This show was a chronology of the songs and ideas that made reggae popular, played narrated by one of its founding fathers.
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Honorable Mention:
– Billy Bragg @ The Keswick Theatre – April 20
Perennial folk hero played us some awesome tunes at the Keswick.
– Joe Pug @ Johnny Brenda’s – May 1
Always a treat to hear one of my favorite new (ish) folk writers. Plus I love Johnny Brenda’s.
– Hogmaw and Dom Flemons @ Philly Folk Fest – August 17
I had the pleasure of helping run the Culture Tent at this years Folk Fest and this was one of the highlights. Dom (of the Carolina Chocolate Drops) produced Hogmaw’s new album. So the band and Dom were on the Culture Tent stage playing and explaining the though process behind the album.