Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Our September 2011 MyJoog Music Calendar

Now that we are back from Summer vacation, here is our MyJoog.com calendar for September 2011:

Send Event to Friends    William Walter & Co. - Dogfish Head Alehouse Fairfax, VA: Friday, Sept 02, 2011
Send Event to Friends    William Walter & Co. - Whitlow's On Wilson Arlington, VA: Saturday, Sept 03, 2011
Send Event to Friends    The Nighthawks w/ Doug Parks & the Lone Wolves - Vienna Moose Lodge Vienna, VA: Sunday, Sept 04, 2011
Send Event to Friends    John Hiatt & The Combo\Big Head Todd & The Monsters - Wolf Trap - Filene Center Vienna, VA: Tuesday, Sept 06, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Rams Head Onstage Annapolis, MD: Tuesday, Sept 06, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Peyton Tochterman - The Southern CafĂ© and Music Hall Charlottesville, VA: Friday, Sept 09, 2011 
Send Event to Friends    The Nighthawks - Second Chance Saloon Columbia, MD: Friday, Sept 09, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band - The Bayou DC Washington, DC: Friday, Sept 09, 2011
Send Event to Friends    A Night of Blues featuring Tom Principato, Nighthawks, and Moondog Medicine Show - Tarara Vineyard & Winery Leesburg, VA: Saturday, Sept 10, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Hard Swimmin Fish - The Wine Kitchen Leesburg, VA: Sunday, Sept 11, 2011
Send Event to Friends    BILLY JOE SHAVER and JIMMIE DALE GILMORE & THE WRONGLERS Two of the Best Texas Songwriters! - The Birchmere Alexandria, VA: Monday, Sept 12, 2011
Send Event to Friends    The Half & Half Tour with Andrew Ripp and Steve Moakler - Jammin' Java Vienna, VA: Thursday, Sept 15, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Eric Lindell - The State Theatre Falls Church, VA: Thursday, Sept 15, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Kim Richey + Mando Saenz - Jammin' Java Vienna, VA: Friday, Sept 16, 2011
Send Event to Friends    10 Out of Tenn presents Katie Herzig, Gabe Dixon, Andrew Belle and more! - IOTA Club Arlington, VA: Friday, September 16, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Donna the Buffalo - Lime Kiln Theater Lexington, VA: Friday, Sept 16, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Tom Principato Band - Second Chance Saloon Columbia, MD: Friday, September 16, 2011 
Send Event to Friends    The Jamie McLean Band - The Bayou DC Washington, DC: Saturday, Sept 17, 2011
Send Event to Friends    I.M.P. presents HFStival 2011 & The Avett Brothers - Merriweather Post Pavilion Columbia, MD: Saturday, Sept 17, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Dale Watson - Hill Country Washington, DC: Sunday, Sept 18, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Leftover Salmon - The Birchmere Alexandria, VA: Wednesday, Sept 21, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Wayne "the Train" Hancock - Hill Country Washington, DC: Thursday, Sept 22, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Watermelon Park Fest - Watermelon Park Berryville, VA: Thursday, Sept 22, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Watermelon Park Fest - Watermelon Park Berryville, VA: Friday, Sept 23, 2011 
Send Event to Friends    An Evening with The John Jorgenson Quintet - Jammin' Java Vienna, VA: Friday, Sept 23, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Memphis 59 - Ragtime Arlington, VA: Friday, Sept 23, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Watermelon Park Fest - Watermelon Park Berryville, VA: Saturday, Sept 24, 2011 
Send Event to Friends    An Evening with Tom Russell - Jammin' Java Vienna, VA: Sunday, Sept 25, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers - The State Theatre Falls Church, VA: Sunday, Sept 25, 2011
Send Event to Friends    I.M.P. presents Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs w/ Brandi Carlile - Merriweather Post Pavilion Columbia, MD: Thursday, Sept 29, 2011
Send Event to Friends    The Parson Red Heads - Black Cat Washington, DC: Thursday, Sept 29, 2011
Send Event to Friends    All Good Presents A 9:30 Celebration feat. THE BRIDGE w/ Yellow Dubmarine, Dangermuffin - Nightclub 9:30 Washington, DC: Friday, Sept 30, 2011

Friday, August 26, 2011

Some Diverse New Music - From Jazz to Funky Soul

We've recently received several new CDs and here's the lowdown. 

Its definitely time to get your boogie on when listening to T Bird and the Breaks - Never Get Out of This Funk Alive. This is one I'm dancing in my seat; whether driving, at work, at home; this is just a classic fun CD that exudes 70's soul and funk. Just listen to the title track or "Spread the Love". Plus, this is a 10-piece band - wait until you hear the sounds emanating from deep down in the tracks: percussion, keyboards, horns. And gotta love "Your Nasty Love".  Can't believe this sound comes out of Austin - forget about Americana - give me Funk.


Reed Turner got our attention with his new EP Side One: See How Far I Get. His songwriting immediately reminded me of Joe Pug, but he distinguishes himself through a unique finger picking style. His study at the Berklee College of Music has paid off, because this artist is talented. And this talent is immediately on display on the first track, "Beware the Hand". And "let's Roll" showcases some clever songwriting. And the last track, "Acrobats & Soldiers", is just powerful. I can't wait for Side 2.

At first listen, I didn't care for Big Trouble from The Dang-it Bobbys. But that opinion was a result of sitting in traffic for three hours trying to go 30 miles.  After multiple listens, I really came to appreciate the musicianship of this duo, Kris Bauman and guitarist Luca Benedetti. I think it started at "I Love You"; love the composition. Can't seem to categorize the sound, there's some Pop, some Bluegrass ("Whiskey Strut"), plenty of vocal harmony, and even a Tex-Mex sound in "Big Trouble". My favorites were the two instrumentals ("Roadkill Jerky" & "Whiskey Strut"), maybe because I'm not completely sold on the song writing - although the initial track, "Middle Ground", is clever. Yet, these are two to watch considering how nicely they can play their respective instruments.


Finally, I've been really digging the latest from the Joe Deninzon Trio, Exuberance. I listen to this during the work hours, and I tell you, the day flies by.  The trio consists of violinist Joe Deninzon, bassist Robert Bowen, and guitarist Stephen Benson. On occasion there's some gypsy jazz influence, but with Deninzon switching from electric to acoustic violin, also some classical and at times, americana-ish fiddling. In this CD, Bowen's bass plays a noticeable role whereas Benson's guitar sometimes lingers too silently. The guy can play - turn him up - just like the beginning of "Sun Goes Down". And listen to the end, "The Tourist" could be my favorite track.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Greencards Return to Vienna

After nearly selling out The Barns at Wolf Trap in February and releasing a new album in June, The Greencards, who are featured in Time Magazine's 2011 Summer Entertainment Preview, will be performing at Jammin Java, 227 Maple Ave E in Vienna, VA on Thursday August 25. We hope you can come to the show. Click here for ticketing details. Seating is first-come, first-served with the show starting at 8:pm. If you are on Facebook, you can RSVP using this Event link

The Greencards had an exciting time in Austin with activities surrounding the release of The Brick Album on June 21st. Media coverage from around the world has been very positive. See this 4-Star review in American Songwriter for an example of what folks are saying about the new record.


On their fifth, and best, recording, The Brick Album, The Greencards are better than ever ....  (click to see entire review)

Check out this video of "Make It Out West" from The Brick Album. Come on out to the show and hear it performed live. Click here to preview other tracks including #4 which is a duet with Carol and Vince Gill.


================ About The Greencards ============

From the first notes struck together in 2003 through tours with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson and up to and beyond their fourth studio album released in 2009, The Greencards have won steadily escalating acclaim for their multi-dimensional Americana vision. Each step they’ve taken has widened their appeal. Their releases have topped the Billboard Bluegrass charts. Two singles have garnered Grammy nominations. They’ve earned ovations from “newgrass” music devotees at MerleFest and rock loyalists at Lollapalooza.
 
But this band, spearheaded by Carol Young (bass and vocals) and Kym Warner (mandolin, bouzouki and vocals), is interested less in past accomplishments than in looking ahead for new goals to achieve. That’s why their latest record is also in many ways their most significant and impressive to date. The Brick Album is the first album to successfully infuse The Greencards’ eclectic musical references with the excitement they generate on stage.
Warner and Young are from Australia. They moved to Austin, put together The Greencards there, and today call Nashville home. Joining them on stage are Carl Miner and Tyler Andal. Tyler, a young fiddle whiz from Tennessee, reinforces both The Greencards' grounding in roots music and eagerness to let in the fresh air of newgrass, rock, folk elements, Latin America and much more. Former National Flatpicking Championship winner Carl Miner excels as a guitarist in that tradition, but more importantly, applies his virtuosity equally well beyond it.

With The Brick Album the world becomes more than ever their stage. The Greencards' sound defies category, balancing taste and technique, engaging lyrics and melodies and wildly creative arrangements. There may be a wall depicted on the album cover, but the future suggested on these tracks knows no barrier.
To receive updates, please consider joining the band's email list: http://thegreencards.com/mailinglist.html or follow them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thegreencards

Monday, August 15, 2011

More Bluegrass & Roots Coming Our Way -- 8th Annual Watermelon Park Fest

I think we are finally going to be able to attend the closest bluegrass festival to our hometown, the 8th Annual Watermelon Park Fest - just outside of Berryville Virginia. This year's fest begins on Thursday, September 22, 2011 and ends Sunday, September 25. Weekend tickets are quite affordable particularly through August 31st $55 (+2.50 processing) and rise to $75 (+2.50 processing) thereafter. Not convinced; look at the lineup:

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Festy - Coming Again This October

Last year we attended the inaugural The Festy music festival hosted by The Infamous Stringdusters and the Devil's Backbone Brewing Company in Roseland Virginia. We filmed a MyJoogTV episode with Travis Book and Sarah Siskind for MyJoogTV and filmed loads of video available on the MyJoogTV YouTube channel. We will be returning October 7-9th 2011 for the 2nd Annual The Festy Experience anticipating an equally killer lineup and modest ticket fees. Basically $99 for three days of music and camping. This year may be a little different as we may participate in either the Blue Ridge Burn Trail Run or the Devils Backbone Challenge Mountain Bike Race.  I mean this is The Festy Experience, right.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Floydfest X Rocks the BlueRidge


 Last weekend we spent three days on the BlueRidge Parkway not far from Floyd Virginia enjoying the many sounds emanating from Floydfest X. This was the 10th anniversary of the festival which has grown successively each year - in the number of stages, musicians, and attendees. Besides several national acts, the festivals emphasizes the local music scene through the Virginia Folklife Porch and the Emerging Artists Series. In past years we tried to soak in as much music as physically possible - hustling across the festival grounds in between sets. This year, we took a more measured approach and spent most of the day at one end of the festival - and that ended up being the Hill Holler stage side. In this fashion we were able to see many acts in the Beer Garden; Rose's Pawn Shop, the Pimps of Joytime, and Larry Keel on the Holler, and then Railroad Earth, Sam Bush, Nat Reese, Larry Keel & Jorma Kaukonen, and plenty more on the Virginia Folklife Stage. Then there was plenty of the Reverend Peyton on both the Beer Garden and Dance tent stages. Yet, when it came to Taj Mahal, Donna the Buffalo, William Walter, and Big Daddy Love, we ventured to the other side. In fact, Donna the Buffalo kept us up until 3:00 am Saturday, which made it difficult to rise early to watch William Walter and Jesse Chong on the main stage Sunday morning. Then, we had to venture to Foggy Ridge Cider to tape an episode of MyJoogTV with The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band. Sleep is defiantly a short commodity. We are slowing releasing photos on the MyJoog Facebook site as well as videos at MyJoogTV YouTube channel.