Aside

Tedeschi Trucks Band: Keswick Theatre 11/27-11/28

Tedeschi Trucks Band just dropped their second show in a legendary two-night stand at the historic Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA.
This band is more that just the hottest husband wife duo in the country. They are much much more than that. The band features dynamite horns, a great rhythm section with George Porter Jr. on bass, two full drum sets, Kofi Burbridge on keys and flute, and Mike Mattison on background vocals. One thing’s for sure, this was not the Derek Trucks show; nor did Susan Tedeschi steal the show, although she can slay the guitar like the best of them. This is a big band that is as tight as a skirt on a hooker. They came to play. And play they did, taking us through some of their seasoned favorites as well as some classic covers. Their sound is a blend of cajun, soul, blues, r&b, and rock and roll. Most of the songs they played are on their most recent album, “Everybody’s Talkin'”.
One of the things I liked most about the Tedeschi Trucks Band is the fact that all of the respective artists know their place in the band. Not one outshines another. It’s pretty cool that in one of the standout tunes, the Stevie Wonder penned “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” Derek Trucks does not even have a solo. Not that I don’t love his guitar playing and think his slide guitar work is second to none, it just shows that they put the sound first. If it feels good, play it. Sometimes less is more. I’m a big fan of low and slow and both Susan and Derek can be great even when they are playing at their quietest. Then they build the jam.
It’s great to see a band hittin’ the note  like the Tedeschi Trucks Band did these last two nights.
________________________
Setlists:
Night #1
11/27/12
Everybody’s Talkin’
Wah Wah (George Harrison)
The Sky Is Crying (Elmore James)
Midnight In Harlem
Don’t Let Me Slide
Rollin’ and Tumblin’ (
Wade In The Water (old spiritual song) >>
Funky Jam intro>>
Love Has Something Else to Say
That Did It
Old Time Lovin’ (Al Green)
Uptight (Stevie Wonder)
Drum Solo
Sweet Inspiration (Spooner Oldham)
E.
I Know
Bound For Glory
_______________________
Night #2
11/28/12
Don’t Let Me Slide
Wah Wah (George Harrison)
That Did It (Bobby Bland)
I Know
Ain’t No Use (The Meters)
Sweet Inspiration (Spooner Oldham)
Midnight In Harlem
The Sky Is Crying (Elmore James)
Wade In The Water >>
Funky Jam intro>>
Love Has Something Else To Say
Old Time Lovin’ (Al Green)
Uptight (Stevie Wonder)
Drum Solo
E.
Angel From Montgomery (John Prine)
Get What You Deserve
_______________
Aside

Banjo Summit: 5 String Masters – 1 Stage, 1 Night at the Keswick

BANJO SUMMIT

Béla Fleck * Tony Trischka * Bill Keith *Noam Pikelny * Eric Weissberg * Richie Stearns * Pete Wernick

OCTOBER 25 @ 8 PM

Many of the world’s most influential banjo players are gathering for an exclusive and limited tour this month and make a once-in-a-lifetime stop at the Keswick on Thursday, October 25 at 8 PM.

Generally considered the most accomplished master of the instrument, Béla Fleck will be joined by fellow pickers Tony Trischka, Bill Keith, Eric Weissberg, Noam Pikelny, Richie Stearns, Pete Wernick and Mac Benford in concerts that will find the banjo being performed in both conventional and unexpected ways. In performances ranging from solos and duets to full-tilt banjo blowouts with all the players and an acoustic band, the stage setting will range from the traditional backdrop of bluegrass and old-time country music to the more unconventional banjo genres including jazz, classical and rock music.

Béla Fleck – a native of Manhattan – began making waves with a series of progressive banjo-centric recordings in the 1970s and as a member of the Newgrass Revival in the 1980s. As leader of the genre-busting Béla Fleck and the Flecktones since 1989, he has used the banjo to define the band’s one of a kind fusion of jazz, rock, bluegrass and world music. His collaborations with a wide diversity of artists such as jazz piano icon Chick Corea, Indian tabla master Zakir Hussain, classical bass virtuoso Edgar Meyer, and African artists Toumani Diabate and Oumou Sangare, have brought the banjo even further into unchartered territories. Béla Fleck has been nominated for Grammy awards in more categories than any artist in history, and has won 15 to date, with 30 nominations.

Tony Trischka – originally from Syracuse – took the bluegrass banjo to a whole new level in the 1970s with a series of recordings that explored rock and avant-garde jazz. He served as young Béla Fleck’s banjo teacher, and continues to explore the traditions and possibilities of the banjo through his “World Turning” concerts, his band Territory and as a record producer for artists such as Steve Martin.

Bill Keith, from Woodstock, is widely considered a trail blazer of the melodic style of banjo picking he brought forward as a member of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys. He went on to join the Jim Kweskin Jug Band and then helped pioneer the early newgrass movement with his work in bands with artists such as David Grisman, Peter Rowan and Richard Greene. He invented the “Keith tuners” that are used by banjo players around the world and which he distributes through his business Beacon Banjos.

Eric Weissberg – also a Woodstock resident – helped to bring the sound of the bluegrass banjo to mainstream America with his performance of “Dueling Banjos” on the soundtrack of the major motion picture “Deliverance”. This signature tune has gone on to become the world’s most familiar bluegrass instrumental.

Richie Stearns of Ithaca, brought the old-time clawhammer banjo style to a whole new audience with the jam bands Donna The Buffalo and The Horseflies, and has accompanied artists such as Natalie Merchant, Jim Lauderdale and Vassar Clements.

Pete Wernick – AKA “Dr. Banjo” – originally from New York City – is renowned as a hot-picking force in several trend-setting bands including Hot Rize and Country Cooking. A respected author and teacher of the instrument, Pete is a long-term President of the International Bluegrass Music Association.

Noam Pikelny, currently residing in Brooklyn, played in Leftover Salmon and the John Cowan Band before joining the Punch Brothers in 2006. The recipient of the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass in 2010, he has also recorded two albums as leader of the Noam Pikelny Band.

The banjoists will be accompanied on stage by a stellar acoustic band that features guitarist Russ Barenberg (of the Barenberg, Douglas & Meyer band), mandolinist Jesse Cobb (of the Infamous Stringdusters), violinist Alex Hargreaves (of the Sarah Jarosz band) and bassist Corey DiMario (of Crooked Still).

Tickets are $29.50 & $39.50 and can be ordered online at KeswickTheatre.com, via 24-hour phone charge @800-745-3000, at the Keswick box office, Monday-Saturday, noon-6PM and all Ticketmaster locations.

For additional information about upcoming Keswick Theatre attractions, visit www.keswicktheatre.com

 

 

Thanks to Jen Muscatello at the Keswick for posting.

Aside

The Rain Is No Match For Bruce and His Fans

 

Bruce and the band: Citizens Bank Park

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band

September 3, 2012

Citizens Bank Park, Philly PA

3 hours and 30 mins

 

The Boss came out shredding on this rainy night in Philly. More so than usual, Bruce picked up his Telecaster and showed his electric guitar ‘chops’ as he ripped through the first 5 songs of the night. This was highlighted by a killer intro to ‘Prove It All Night’ that really set the mood of the night. He was also, at times, on a more serious note, really focusing on working in dual themes of “ghosts” and “working”. Overall a great show and a wonderful crowd. Glad to see the Boss and the E Street Band still love to perform and didn’t miss a beat without Clarence; although he is dearly missed. They are on fire right now and playing some of the best shows in years. Check em out if you can. Rock on.

 

Setlist:

1. Factory (acoustic)

2. Adam Raised A Cain

3. Streets Of Fire

4. Prove It All Night (sick intro)

5. Something In The Night

6. We Take Care of Our Own

7. Wrecking Ball

8. Death To My Hometown

9. My City Of Ruin

10. Spirit In The Night

11. Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street

12. It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City

13. Frankie

14. Jack Of All Trades

15. Atlantic City

16. Darlington County

17. Mona >

18. Shackled And Drawn

19. Waiting On A Sunny Day

20. The River

21. Lonesome Day

22. Badlands

23. Thunder Road

 

Encore:

24. We Are Alive

25. Born To Run

26. Dancing In The Dark

27. Jungleland

28. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out > Clarence Clemons Tribute (Silence by the band) > Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

29. American Land

 

Aside

The Gourds Melt The Face Off NYC

 

The Gourds

The Boys really tore it up this week in NYC. The place was packed, the band was stoked, they got down and dirty. The band broke out some deep tracks, rolling through “Pickles” and “Honduras”. I was not disappointed. The Gourds continue their east coast run at Johnny D’s outside of Boston last night and head on up to Charleston, RI for the Rhythm and Roots Fest this weekend.

 

The Gourds

Mercury Lounge, NYC

8/29/12

Setlist:

 

1. Everybody’s Missing the Sun (Nils Lofgren)

2. Pickles

3. Tomb of Nefertari >

4. Lament

5. Pine Island Bayou

6. Illegal Oyster

7. Cracklins

8. Jenny Brown > I Can’t Stand It (Lou Reed)

9. Your Benefit

10. Blankets

11. Eyes of A Child

12. Honduras

13. All The Labor

14. Haunted

15. Drop What I’m Doing

16. Two Sparrows

17. All In The Pack > Sheena Is A Punk Rocker (The Ramones) > All In The Pack

18. Lower 48

 

Encore

19. Mr. Betty

20. Pill Bug Blues

21. Caldonia

22. Werewolves of London (Warren Zevon)

23. Ants On The Melon

24. Maria

25. Michoacan (Doug Sahm)

26. Take Me Back To Tulsa (w/ Patrick Sweany rockin guitar)

27. Waxy’s Dargle

 

 

Image

Folk Fest 2012