The Brotherhood Tour: Los Lobos & Los Lonely Boys Bring Tex-Mex to Wolf Trap

Last night we were fortunate enough to grab lawn seats Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys at the Wolf Trap - Filene Center.  This was the second time I've seen the two bands paired together at Wolf Trap and in my eyes they are so close, they are listed consecutively on the myjoog.com site (11 & 12).  The three brothers started the night and even though their last few CDs haven't received the critical acclaim as their self titled debut CD, they are remarkable musicians. And they showed it this evening, JoJo on bass, Henry on lead, and Ringo behind the drums - these bros rock. Yes, they had to play the obligatory Heaven in their encore - but everything else was pure jamming.

Los Lobos followed and continued a twenty five year tradition of playing outstanding Latin infused rock. Most of the songs were from the 20th anniversary re-release of Kiko -  which I had to add to my collection - particularly since the band was signing anything after the show. 

The two bands continue the Brotherhood Tour all summer and into the fall, with Alejandro Escovedo joining in. That's the only way this evening could have been better. Cheers.

The Greencards Return to Wolf Trap, Brittany Haas in Tow

We wanted to pass along news that our friends The Greencards will be performing at The Barns of Wolf Trap next Wednesday night, October 17. The performance is particularly news worthy since the talented fiddler Brittany Haas from Crooked Still will be joining Carol, Kym and Carl onstage.Now that's a nice addition. Tickets are $20 and still available from the box office.  Here's a sneak peak what to expect. Cheers.

 

John Prine & Emmylou Harris Duet at WolfTrap

Last night John Prine and Emmylou Harris were the co-bill for an awesome show at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap. The night featured each artist performing separately with their bands, but also included duets between Prine & Harris with In Spite of Ourselves, Angel from Montgomery, and in the encore, Paradise. What a duo - I would love to hear an entire evening of them performing together - Prine's powerful songwriting and simple melodies combined with the angelic voice of Harris. Will Kimbrough sitting in again on the banjo would be an added bonus. Prine started the evening off like last time with Spanish Pipedream and made sure he included Lake Marie and on the complete opposite side - Lets Talk Dirty In Hawaiian. The most moving song in Harris' set was her tribute to Gram Parsons and when John Starling, formerly of The Seldom Scene and now fronting John Starling and Carolina Star joined her onstage. Thanks to both artists for appearing in the DC area.

Here's the only video I was able to capture last night before told to put the camera away.


Update:emmylunatic has posted a couple videos of the show on YouTube such as Angel from Montgomery.

Levon Helm - The memories will always continue

We learned this week that Levon Helm's daughter Amy and wife Sandy posted a note announcing that Helm "is in the final stages of his battle with cancer. Please send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey."

What a tragic turn. Conquered throat cancer, then won three Grammies, and now the end.

*Dirt Farmer - Best Traditional Folk Album 2007
*Electric Dirt - Best Americana Album 2009
*Ramble At the Ryman - Best Americana Album 2011


Here's two videos showing my favorite memory of Helm with John Hiatt performing with the Levon Helm Band at Wolf Trap on Nov 7, 2010.

The Weight


The Slackers - I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan)


Update: Here's the Rolling Stones with the sad news.

Jiffy Lube Live bans tailgating

Sorry Parrotheads; there will be no tailgating when Jimmy Buffett plays at Jiffy Lube Live this summer. In fact, there will be no tailgating allow,  period.According to the Washington Post, the venue’s general manager, Matt Rogers, the new policy is an effort to stem drunken driving. Now, this new policy isn't out of the ordinary. Rival venue, Merriweather Post Pavilion, has a similar policy and that could be one reason that I've been to one concert at that venue for the past ten years. I like to tailgate. A like to meet neighboring tailgaters and discuss music. I don't like paying $8 for a mass produced draft beer. That's why I usually have a few beers in the parking lot and then drink water during the show. Although its also painful paying $3-$4 for a bottled water.

Now, like many politicians, I feel that the Jiffy Lube management is exploiting tragedy for their own personal benefit. Yes, its horrible that four people have perished driving home from Jiffy Lube concerts. yet, if the venue really cared about drunk driving then you'd think they'd change their alcohol policies within the venue. Nope. They will serve as much of their overpriced crap beer as customers will buy. Just don't bring any competing beverages into the parking lot. I'll be spending my summer at Wolf Trap.

This Week at MyJoog

There's a strong Americana presence in the nation's capital this week starting tonight with John Mellencamp at DAR Constitution Hall. On Wednesday night, Slightly Stoopid comes to the Nightclub 9:30 and then Thursday we head west to WolfTrap in order to watch Paul Thorn. The following evening we either head back to DAR Constitution Hall to catch The Avett Brothers or head to Alexandria and The Birchmere to watch Tom Principato Band 'CD Release Show' which also includes Bill Kirchen. We finish the week back at Nightclub 9:30 for the second night of The Drive-By Truckers - who also play at the venue Friday night.  Or we stay close to home and watch four entertaining local bands at The State Theatre: The Dreamscapes Project, Melodime, Crooked Crow, and Cobra Collective. And speaking of The State Theatre; the 25th annual Wammies show is scheduled for this Sunday the 20th with the after party at Bangkok Blues.

Reminder - The Greencards Coming to the Barns of Wolf Trap in Early February

The Greencards will make their debut at The Barns at Wolf Trap,1645 Trap Road in Vienna, Virginia on Wednesday, February 9, 2011. We are very excited about this opportunity for the band to perform in this premier venue known for its warm atmosphere and wonderful acoustics. All seats are reserved and tickets can be purchased now at the box office or online by clicking on this advance ticketing link. Tickets to this show make excellent last minute holiday gifts.

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

This  critically acclaimed Austin-formed / Nashville-based band’s love and respect for Americana, bluegrass and country brought them together in 2003. The Greencards have:

• Toured multiple dates with Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Rosanne Cash, Kasey Chambers and Tim O'Brien just to name a few;
• Earned the Americana Music Association Award in 2006 for “Emerging Artist of the Year”; and
• Landed Grammy nominations for 2008 and 2010.
  

Originally from Australia, an urge to challenge themselves and test the limits of any established genre has guided singer / bassist Carol Young, and mandolin master Kym Warner (accompanied by fiddle and guitar) on their first three albums.

The Greencards released their fourth album in April 2009. Fascination is the band’s most daring project to date. Meticulously crafted arrangements serve as springboards for exhilarating improvisations. While technically breathtaking and acoustically driven, The Greencards have consistently moved towards a sound of their own.

The Greencards appeared at several festivals in 2009 such as Austin City Limits, Telluride, Walnut Valley (Winfield), MerleFest, Lollapalooza and the Cayamo Cruise. They were at MerleFest again in 2010 as well as Grey Fox and Winfield.

Visit The Greencards' CD Baby page to hear samples from of their various projects. You can also join them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/thegreencards

Three Days at WolfTrap

Starting today, Wolf Trap has three straight days of excellent music - particularly for a Sunday->Tuesday night. The series starts tonight with Great Big Sea - saw this Canadian band a couple times at Merlefest - a great set of alt-irish-folk-rock each time. Monday night brings forth Train and NeedtoBreathe. Enough said. The series concludes with heavy metal influenced flamenco artists Rodrigo y Gabriela. The best guitar work you will ever see. Period.

20 Days in November - Day 7: WPA

Tonight I decided to skip Bob Dylan and instead attend a show at nearby Barns of WolfTrap featuring Works Progress Administration (WPA). WPA is composed of "superstars" Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Luke Bulla (Jerry Douglas Band), and Sean Watkins (Nickle Creek). Along with Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Greg Leisz (Joni Mitchell, Bill Frisell, Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Randy Newman), and Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Cracker), these artists recorded 17 songs together at recording engineer Jim Scott's L.A. studio. A dozen of these made it into their self titled CD, wpa, in which you can listen to tracks and purchase from the MyJoog home page. Because of other obligations, WPA did not perform this evening as a full band - instead by Quintet - with Phillips, Bulla, and Watkins joined by Sebastian Steinberg (bass) and Jerry Roe (drums).

The Barns is a great music venue; the acoustics are phenomenal and it has an interesting design. Phillips said that it reminded him of the Country Bear Jamboree, without the bears, but with a full bar. I lucked out with my seat, purchasing a ticket a showtime and receiving a front row, center seat. Got to like that. The Spring Standards opened and were a big hit as evident by the long line of CD buyers at intermission. This is one band that you need to view live in order to appreciate. During every song the trio play multiple instruments simultaneously. While singing, Heather can play the keyboards with one hand and maintain rhythm on a drum with the other - all without missing a beat. Both James play the guitar while using their feet to beat symbols or a bass drum. Or play the trumpet with one hand and whisk away on percussion with the other. They are generate interesting sound with the xylophone or drumming the rim of the drum. And despite the distraction of watching them play in this unusual style - they are really amazing musicians - go out and see this group.

WPA followed and what an entertaining show. Phillips, Bulla, and Watkins come off as friends playing in your basement - joking amongst themselves, taking responsibility for equipment problems, or when taking too long to tune an instrument. As for the music, the first impression is that you are among serious professionals. It actually starts with the rhythm section and Roe and Steinberg. The acoustics are so clear in the venue that the drums and bass are heard perfectly - subtle - but a necessary presence. I spent most of the night watching Roe effortlessly set the tone for each song. The second impression is that the amalgam of bluegrass and alt-rock works - and as Bulla and Watkins explained, they are pulling Phillips over to the Bluegrass side - or at least an alt-country\bluegrass combination. This is evident in Bulla's “Who’s Gonna Cry For You” and “Remember Well”; several of Watkin's songs including "Somebody More Like You", "Cherokee Shuffle", and “Not Sure” - sung by Bulla; a Del McCoury cover; as well as a "tragic" song about lesbians from the great bluegrass band Weezer. Bulla shines on the fiddle and Watkins can pick the guitar. He was probably mimicking the mandolin on several of these songs. But even these bluegrass styled tunes were not performed in the traditional bluegrass style - more of an alt-rock flavor - not surprising with the drums and electric bass on board. But this is also a result of Phillips influence. The opening song tonight as well as the CD was his "Always Have My Love" - closer to the Wet Sprocket sound; my favorite track. They also performed his "Good As Ever", the powerful "Rise Up", and a hilarious tale concerning a "dog drive-by shooting". But Phillips does get his country on in "A Wedding or a Wake" - this is a fun song to watch them play. Appropriately, for me, they finished the night with a Dylan cover - but a real treat watching three songwriters perform their trade. I look forward to Merlefest where hopefully, the full ensemble will appear.

Buddy Guy and Susan Tedeschi@ Wolf Trap

We spent Father's Day evening at our favorite summer venue taking the blues in with Buddy Guy and Susan Tedeschi. Plus, the weather was finally dry for those of us who enjoy setting camp on the lawn at Wolf Trap - Filene Center. Ms. Tedeschi opened playing with a full band including local saxophonist Ron Holloway. She played some covers, but stuck to material from her recent CD, Back To The River. Produced by Tony Joe White, this CD includes her husband, Derek Trucks
on some tracks and is worth a look - particularly "700 Houses". Ms. Tedeschi is talented - as a "bluesman", guitarist, and songwriter; and with a full band backing her - she was worth the admission herself.

Buddy Guy followed and immediately started paying tribute to the great masters with a rendition of "Hoochie Coochie Man" - all the while sarcastically encouraging the crowd to sing along - as with "while I was out, somebody snuck in". Guy was fired up and spend a portion of the show strutting through one corridor in the Filene Center. He continued mimicking the masters from Albert King, Tampa Red, to Marvin Gaye and Johnny Lee Hooker. After a long rendition of the title song from Skin Deep, Ms. Tedeschi joined him for an entertaining duet singing "It Feels Like Rain". But all things come to an end, and Mr. Guy appeared to run out of steam - retiring slightly ahead of schedule. Who can blame him, he is in his seventies. But even at this age he's touring regualrly and even heading into the studio to record a new album. His last, Skin Deep, is awesome and features Tedeschi, Trucks, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Eric Clapton, and now-10 year old guitar whiz Quinn Sullivan.

Paul Thorn @ The Barns of Wolf Trap

The beauty of satellite radio is that it exposes us to a wider variety of music that we normally an not hear using traditional media sources. One of the first artists we heard on XM Radio X Country was Paul Thorn and his "800 Pound Jesus". This was instant classic in our household and eventually led us to Hammer & Nail, his debut CD and Mission Temple Fireworks Stand. Two great CDs. When Thorn released A Long Way from Tupelo last year, we immediately purchased it, and talking about a CD I can relate to. See Thorn and I are nearly the same age, and this CD expresses his version of a mid life crisis. Its not the standard fare wishing he was younger, but instead a self examination of his life - is he doing the right thing - the Gospel according to Thorn: we are accountable about how we treat other people. The son of a Pentecostal preacher, Thorn knows how to preach; but its not the in your face your a sinner message. Instead its encouragement for listeners to reflect on their own lives. Just listen to "What Have You Done To Lift Somebody Up". But it also seems that Thorn has a bottle of bourbon in his hand at the same time; everyone has their vices.

Thorn is a great storyteller and coming from Mississippi his music reflects blues, gospel, country, R&B, and Sun records classic rock n' roll. Not surprising the later since he was raised in Tupelo - the birthplace of Elvis. He's traveled a long road to his current situation. He learned to play the guitar at an early age and started writing songs almost immediately. He has had some interesting professions before becoming a professional musician; he was a professional boxer for awhile and even boxed Roberto Duran on national television. But eventually some smart people appreciated his talent and he slowly rose through the record label hierarchy.

We normally think of Thorn playing solo with his acoustic guitar, but for this tour, Thorn is traveling with a full band. This gives him a more rock n' roll sound and when you utilize outstanding musicians, you can't go wrong. Where did he find Bill Hinds. Tonight at Wolf Trap - The Barns he started with the full band, opening with "Mood Ring" and then following with songs from A Long Way from Tupelo. The audience sung along with "I'm Still Here", which includes our favorite line: "Father Time is undefeated". They also played the title track, "What Have You Done To Lift Somebody Up" and "Stavin' For Your Kisses". Halfway though, the band left the stage and Thorn played solo for a few songs. Here is when you can really appreciate his unique gritty voice and song writing skills. While he was playing "800 Pound Jesus", the band slowly returned each member joining in when ready. It was a nice touch. After several more songs they finished with a tent revival encore. Thorn called for the audience to rush the stage and eventually hopped down to walk through the crowd. All the while the Paul Thorn Band jammed on. An appropriate ending for a great evening.