2012 Year In Review (Part 1): Best Live Shows
As the year comes to a close, The Shady Groove would like to give you a summary of this years best music. We like to do a little bit of ‘nutshelling’ for you. So here we go!
There will be 3 parts to the Shady Groove’s Year In Review. Part 1, which we will conquer today, will be the best Live Shows of the year. Enjoy.
Top 12 live shows of 2012:
1. Trombone Shorty @ the Keswick – June
2. Dawes @ Appel Farm – June
3. Nick Lowe @ the Keswick – April
4. Willie Nelson @ the Keswick – May
5. Robert Earl Keene @ Union Transfer – Jan
6. Wilco @ XPoNential Music Fest, Camden – Aug
7. Garth Hudson Songs of the Band @ The Keswick – Nov
Garth Hudson plays the Keswick Theatre’s 82-year old Moller pipe organ. Awesome!
8. The Gourds @ Mercury Lounge NYC – Sept
9. Bruce Springsteen @ Citizens Bank Park, Philly – Sept
10. Michael Kiwanuka @ The Trocodero – Sept
11. Ben Gibbard @ The Keswick – Nov
12. Tedeschi Trucks Band @ The Keswick – Nov
Honorable Mention:
Chris Kasper @ Philly Folk Fest – Aug
Railroad Earth @ World Cafe Live – April
Robert Randolph and the Family Band @ The Keswick – Nov
Secret Sisters @ Philly Folk Fest – Aug
Strand of Oaks @ Philly Folk Fest – Aug
MMW @ The Keswick – Oct
Banjo Summit @ The Keswick – Oct
Here’s to many more shows for you and your loved ones in 2013!
Happy Birthday Mr. Dylan!
Today is Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday and Shady Groove would like to celebrate. Let’s take today to celebrate his life, his music, his influence. It’s funny that almost every radio station you turn the dial to today is playing either a Dylan song or a cover of one of his. Makes me wonder what Bob is doing today. Imagine your birthday is a worldwide celebration of your life’s work. Do you listen and celebrate too? Do you try to get away from it all? I’d have to say that its most likely the latter.
Regardless, let play some Dylan tunes, listen to some Dylan covers, break out your old records, watch some video’s. Here’s one of my favorite vids:
Powder Daze
I’m a sucker for fresh powder. There’s something about that feeling that you get on a powder day. The adrenaline rush, the burning quads. When the snow is sooo light and fluffy that you can literally float on top of the snow and even if you eat it, its like falling into a bed of pillows. These big snows are the reason that I ski.
Gotta love the freshies.
Download: Kellar Williams – Freshies
The Moon and the Sun
Last night something that hasn’t happened in 327 years occurred. Well, two events actually occurred last night, but the fact that they happened at the same time created the rarity. I’m talking about the total lunar eclipse that just so happened to align itself with the winter solstice. This hasnt happened since 1683. In addition, there was a minor meteor shower during the peak of the eclipse. All said, this made for an interesting night of moon and star gazing. I was excited.
The winter solstice marks the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere. This occurs when the sun is at its lowest in the sky because the Earth’s north pole, with its axial tilt, is pointing away from it. Because of this, today is the shortest day of the year and also had the longest night. Being that last night was the longest night of the year meant that it was also the darkest, which allowed for perfect viewing. The minor meteor shower would not have been able to be seen had it not been the darkest day of the year.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth get between the full moon and the sun, blocking the sun’s rays from reflecting off the lunar surface. Not every full moon produces an eclipse but it can only occur during a full moon. There have been 2 full lunar eclipse’ in 2010.
Over the centuries, lunar eclipse’ have generated much lore and even fear. There are those that think the full moon affects their behavior; or that there is most definitely a physical connection between the moon and humans. To the Athenians in the 5th century B.C., a lunar eclipse was seen as a bad omen. Their superstitions led them to delay the siege of Syracuse, which as a result, changed the course of the war. Christopher Columbus, correctly predicted an eclipse in 1504 and used it to frighten natives on Jamaica into feeding his crew.
Science tells us that eclipses are the simple result of predictable celestial alignments. Research has shown no connection between the full moon and human behavior yet many people still believe in the myths. The fact that these myths have been in existence since the beginning of man leads me to the conclusion that people will always believe in these silly myths. In the words of Stevie Wonder,
“When you believe in things
that you don’t understand
and you suffer
Superstition ain’t the way”
Hope you enjoyed this lesson in Lunar science. The moon and the sun will continue to fascinate, inspire, motivate, enthuse, and move. Here’s a couple of tunes that have been inspired by the moon and its powers.
Also keep an eye out for a moon-and-sun-themed podcast from Shady Groove in the near future.