Crossroads Guitar Festival Night 1 - Madison Square Garden 4/12/13

 

I wasn't going to go.  These big "event" shows always end up being a let down.  Take the Hall Of Fame Concerts a couple of years back...some pretty good performances and some yawns.  Against my better judgment I went ahead and bought an extra pair a co-worker had.  I caved. 

 

Not knowing who would play the first night was a little annoying but with a sense of anticipation the wife and I headed in to NYC to the World's Most Famous Arena (Rangers fan here) via the ever scuzzy LIRR.  This is my first trip after round 2 of renovations and I am less than excited by what I have seen.  Longer rows and more cramped seats.

 

 

The night started out promptly at 7:30 with the promised acoustic set from EC.  Nice mellow vibe and a few songs my wife knew and liked.  Some nice performances with Andy Fairwether-Low and Vince Gill made for a great start.  I was enthused.

 

Next up was Booker T.  A great set with guests Steve Cropper, Matt "Guitar " Murphy, Keb Mo and Alvin Lee.  Born Under A Bad Sign was pretty freakin' hot.

 

 

Robert Cray was up next and his set included the 86 years young King of the Blues Mr. B.B. King.  There couldn't have been a better pairing with Cray's tasteful, clean leads the perfect counter to Lucille's tone.  Clapton and Jimmy Vaughn joined them for a sit down, but not dull, version of Everyday I Have The Blues.  Good stuff folks...

 

 

I missed the beginning of Doyle Bramhall's set but got back to my seat in time to see some smokin' leads from both Doyle and guest Gary Clark Jr.  I am not a fan of Bramhall's style but his playing speaks for itself.

 

 

We got some jazz with a short set from Earl Klugh and then Kurt Rosenwinkle (new to me) with guest turns from Allan Holdsworth and Clapton.  Not my thing and a big energy killer for most of the MSG crowd.

 

 

Huge response for John Mayer.  Yawns from me.  I just don't get the appeal.  The Trio album was pretty good, but the rest leaves me bored.  Keith Urban closed the set with Mayer dueting on the Beatles Don't Let Me Down.  Ugh.

 

 

The King of Chicago Blues and the Baddest Mother Fucker in the World...Buddy Guy.  Great set with 14 year old prodigy Quinn Sullivan and pedal steel badass Robert Randolph.  Energy back.  Volume up.   Things are improving big time.



The headliner for night1 was The Allman Brothers Band.  I was pretty worried about Gregg's health after seeing them at the beach this past summer but those fears are in the past.  He sounded great and the band was smokin' hot.  After the opener DWYNK>Ain't My Cross To Bear.  The band brought out Cesar Rosas and David Hidalgo from Los Lobos and Taj Mahal for Stateboro Blues.  Uh, more please.  Every time I see the guys from Los Lobos play with the Brothers or Gov't Mule I am blown away.  After a really jammy Black Hearted Woman Clapton came out for Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad.  The leads fired off between Derek Trucks and EC made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.  Just amazing. 

And then he walks off????  I was at the Beacon the second night he jammed with the Brothers a couple of years back and I expected more...that is I expected more songs!  A killer Whipping Post followed and the show was over

 

 

So the night ended up how I expected.  Some highlights, a few truly memorable performances and some let-downs.  As I said to my wife I am going to stick to the Brothers and Gov't Mule at the Beacon...they do the guest spot thing so much better.

 

Here's the set list as posted on PhilZone.com

 

Eric Clapton

1. Driftin' (with Steve Jordan & Willie Weeks)
2. Spider Jiving (with above & Andy Fairweather Low lead vocal, Doyle Bramhall II & Greg Leisz)
3. Tears in Heaven (with above and Chris Stainton)
4. Lay Down Sally (with above and Vince Gill)
5. Wonderful Tonight

Booker T, Steve Cropper, Blake Mills, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Keb Mo

1. Time is Tight
2. Hip Hug Her
3.Sleep Walk
4. Born Under a Bad Sign (with Keb Mo)
5. Green Onions (with Keb Mo)

Robert Cray, B.B. King, Jimmie Vaughn, Eric Clapton

1. Side Dish
2. Great Big Old House
3. Let the Good Times Roll (with B.B. King)
4. Sweet Sixteen (with B.B. King)
5. Everyday I Have the Blues (with B.B. King, Jimmie Vaughn & Eric Clapton

Sonny Landreth

1.

Doyle Bramhall II, Citizen Cope, Gary Clark Jr.

1. Green Light Girl
2. Cry
3. Bullet and a Target (with Citizen Cope)
4. Son's Gonna Rise (with Citizen Cope and Gary Clark Jr.)
5. She's Alright (with Gary Clark Jr.)

Philip Sayce

1. Steamroller

Earl Kugh, Al Turner

1.
2. This Time
3.

Kurt Rosenwinkle, Alan Holdsworth, Eric Clapton

1.
2. (with Alan Holdsworth)
3. If I Should Lose You (with Eric Clapton)
4. Way Down that Lonesome Road (with Eric Clapton)

Gary Clark Jr.

1. Next Door Neighbor Blues
2. Don't Owe You a Thing

John Mayer, Keith Urban

1. Who Says
2. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
3. Queen of California
4. Don't Let Me Down (with Keith Urban)

Buddy Guy, Robert Randolph, Quinn Sullivan

1. Damn Right I've Got the Blues
2. Let the Door Knob Hit Ya
3. Slippin in
4. Outro music

Dan Akroyd, Keb Mo

1. Louisiana Blues>Got My Mojo Working

The Allman Brothers Band, Taj Mahal, Cesar Rosas, David Hidalgo, Eric Clapton

1. Don't Want You No More
2. It's Not My Cross to Bear
3. Statesboro Blues (with Taj Mahal, Cesar Rosas & David Hidalgo)
4. Black Hearted Woman
5. Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? (with Eric Clapton)
6. Whipping Post

 

 

The pictures are from the Crossroads Facebook page.

Fifth On The Floor - Ashes & Angels

Fifth On The Floor is a Southern-Rock/Country act out of Lexington, KY.  I had heard a few track off of their earlier releases which I thought were ok.  A little too "jacked up" for my ears but definitely a sound that had potential.  Well that potential is reached with their third release Ashes & Angels.  The band has gone through some lineup changes and some refinements to their sound and all of the pieces seem to come together on this release.

At times hard charging southern rock and at other turns there is some pretty traditional country sounds complete with a mournful steel guitar.  The first track I heard was January In Louisiana which I think gives you a pretty good snapshot of what Fifth on the Floor is all about.


Along with Shotgun and Wild Child this track finds FOTF in full kick ass rockin' mode while Angels in the Snow, Whiskey, and Wine are most definitely in the country camp.  The mix of styles flows well from song to song for a great listen.



Fifth On The Floor has made a pretty damn fine record...one that should appeal to southern rockers and less mainstream country fans alike. Grab a copy from the band, pop a cold one and enjoy.

Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell - The Paramount 3/24/13

 Damn, I forgot my camera...everyone else seems to get good pictures with their phone but me.  Oh well, at least the show was really good.

I have to admit I am not all that well versed in the music of Richard Thompson.  I've owned Shoot Out The Lights for years, but never moved past that release.  After seeing him with his Electric Trio I think I may have to dig a bit deeper.  An absolutely tremendous guitarist.

 Emmylou and Rodney are out on tour in support of their duets album Old Yellow Moon.  What seemed like a can't miss on paper turned out to be a can't miss album.  These two old friends and colleagues have made a great record featuring some well chosen covers which are performed exactly as you would want them to be.

The show last night featured that album, some other covers and a smattering of their own signature songs.  The band was tight, the singers were in fine voice and a good time was had by all.  The show was as good as I expected but I wonder what was up with the crowd...old-timer WFUV fans who appeared to be snoozing!  Oh well, their loss.  Catch this show if it comes your way...you won't be disappointed.

Here are a few better shots courtesy of Larry Dell'Erba.

Robben Ford - Boulton Cener on 3/15/13

I always like to hear Robben Ford play.  He has one of the most identifiable guitar sound to these ears and I try to catch him whenever I can.  Last summer he was working out some new material and playing some blues at BB King's in NYC.  This time around he is out in support of his newest  Bringing It Back Home.  The set leaned heavily on the new album with a few songs from some of his more recent effort sprinkled in. 

Robben is firmly in the soul-blues realm this time out and the material he has chosen is perfectly listenable and make for a nice little show.  I am not one of those fans who expects the hits and oldies, but it would be nice to get one or two from his earlier work (both with and without The Blue Line).  I didn't hold up much hope so I was not really disappointed, but maybe just once...

Holly Williams - The Highway

Being Hank's grand daughter gets you a listen.  Genetics has to count for something doesn't it?  You get the play by birth right.  You get played about a gazillion times this month by making one of the finest records I have heard in a good long while.  Holly Williams "The Highway" is the first great record of 2013.

One listen to the lead track Drinkin' and I was hooked.  The perfect mix of songwriting, singing and playing...Americana defined.  Check out the official video.


There are some upbeat tracks and some ballads any of which blows away what is being sold by Nashville as country music in 2013.  Railroads should be a hit on CMT but that'll never happen...it's too good.  There is so much to like here from the title track to the very last Waitin' On June.  The last one is one giant "ball in the throat" song written in her maternal grandfathers voice about his life with his wife.  If we all get to live that life we will leave this earth winners in my book.  Stellar song writing.

I can recommend this one enough.  Go grab yourself a copy from iTunes, or even better yet on vinyl, you won't regret this one folks.  Here's a little more video to whet your appetites.

Richard Shindell at the Boulton Center

Richard Shindell was at the Boulton Center in Bayshore last night.  I've been a fan for quite a while now but I have to say I was a bit disappointed with last night's performance.  Why you ask?  Well for some reason Mr. Shindell is now very much enamored with the electric guitar and used one on approximately 3/4 of the set.  He has also expanded his backing group since the last time I saw him to include a piano player and a percussionist.  All in all a bit loud and disjointed sounding to me.

 

 

He played several new songs which were ok, and re-worked several others with new arrangements.  Not Bob Dylan crazy, but not exactly the best for the material.  All in all the two hour set left me generally unexcited.  Not the way I wanted to start my 2013 live shows.

 

 

These shots were from the encore...a nice version of I Know You Rider.  He also covered Robert Johnson's Love in Vain.  His version was closer to the Stones than the original.  On a new tune, Stray Cow Blues, he broke out the distorted "blues mike"...never a good idea.

My Best Of 2012 List

I love end of year best of lists.  I still get a kick out of reading other people's opinions and I also end up finding a bunch of things that I missed this year.  I am going with a top 10 for 2012 with all but #1 listed in no particular order.  Was 2012 a great year for music...in my opinion it was a weak year that had some rather good releases.  So here goes nothing...

One of two really good country records that I found over on Triggerman's site.  Just some really great, heartfelt honky tonk music.  Easily better than 99% of what comes out of Nashville in 2012.

This is the other killer from Saving Country Music.  Jason Eady has crafted a piece of classic country music with the title track and the Patty Loveless duet "Man on the Mountain" just two of many high points.

Ian Hunter has crafted some great records over the past decade or so since he started working with the Rant Band.  This is another one.  Ian has his Rock & Roll shoes on for this one.

This live album from Jason Isbell has been on heavy rotation since it came out.  I am liking this more than any of the DBT albums and his solo work.  Jason and the 400 unit belong on stage in front of a crowd.  A great live album.

Bonnie Raitt is one of those artists that doesn't make bad records, it's just that some are better than others.  Slipstream is my favorite record of hers since Nick of Time.  The Dylan covers are exceptional.

I first heard the Hillbenders a couple of years back at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival.  Bluegrass purists?  Nope?  Loads of great musicians and songwriters and a load of fun live?  You bet.  I play this one a lot.

 

I haven't really paid much attention to Graham Parker over the years since Squeezing Out Sparks.  Perhaps I should have.  This record has been on in my car almost as much as the Jason Isbell over the past month.  GP & the Rumour have made a good one.  Check them out live if you get the chance...great show with Ian Hunter last week.

 

I'm not advocating downloading but getting to hear a leaked copy a month or so back made grabbing this on vinyl a no brainer.  Two roots music legends combine to make a really, really good country record.

John Hiatt is another of those artists who never makes a bad record.  For two years in a row he has made a very good one.  It's seems almost effortless for him to write great songs.

Some Honorable Mentions:
Dwight Yoakam - Three Pairs
Melody Walker - Gold Dust Goddess
Tesdeshi Trucks Band - Everybody's Talking
Marty Stuart - Nashville Volume 1:  Tear the Wood Pile Down
Turnpike Troubadours - Goodbye Normal Street

And my choice for the Best Album of 2012...

Some folks hate it, some sort of like it.  I loved it.  After the disappointing Working On a Dream, Bruce returned angry and confrontational with some of the most pointed protest music of his career.  At times introspective, raging and angry...at others uplifting and renewing.  Probably my favorite Springsteen album since Tunnel of Love.  Looking forward to the Wrecking Ball Tour part 2 in 2013. 
 So that's my take on 2012.  Happy Holidays!

Recent Vinyl Releases

I've been getting a little lazy getting reviews out so I am going to try to shorten them up a bit and do more at once.  I spent a lot of years working in a record store and I used to slap short review blurbs on the inventory sleeve to "entice" potential buyers so I figured I'd go with that format for a bit.

Record Store Day Black Friday Releases

This limited release (7500 copies) features most of the second set from 5/30/71.  This was recorded during the same run as Skull and Roses and has that same kind of vibe.  Do we need another 15 minute version of Lovelight?  Why yes.  Yes we do.  And the sound is fantastic.

Released in 1968 but still reflecting that Summer of Love "glow", Forever Changes has grown in stature over the past 40 or so years.  In fact it was #40 on the Rolling Stone Top 500 of all time (if that means anything to you).  It has some really high points but does sound very much of that era so if you've missed this over the years give it a listen.

This was released as a numbered limited edition of 1000.  The album sees its official release on 12/9 so I was happy to grab it early.  The great Buddy Miller who can pretty much do no wrong teams up with roots legend Jim Lauderdale.  Great music pours out of your speakers and massive smiles pop up around the room.  Love it.

Some Other Recent Releases

I kind of dig the Drive By Truckers and found Jason Isbell's last couple of albums interesting, but I absolutely love this live CD.  A great band playing great songs and a kick ass Neil Young cover.  What else could you ask for.

The first two Marshall Tucker Band albums recently got the 180 gram treatment and were quietly released a couple of weeks back.  Does anyone care?  Damn right they should.  Two stone cold classics from the early 70's hey day of southern rock.  Much more country than the Allman Brothers and tastier playing than the Charlie Daniels Band.  There is way more to these albums than Can't You See.  Two classics from one of my all time favorite bands.

One of rock music's original angry young men is no longer very young, but he is still a little angry and his pen still writes razor sharp lyrics.  Politicians, hipsters, and society in general are all targets that are attacked with wit and wisdom.  Nothing really rocks but that's OK...we're all a bit older.

Last but certainly not least...The Beatles Remasters on Vinyl!  I wasn't going to buy them yet again, but I have begun to cave.  I picked up 4 recently (Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper and Let It Be) and the sound quality ranges from good to pretty damn wonderful.  Rubber Soul in particular is just tremendous.  I have some complaints with parts of Sgt. Pepper but the rest of what I have heard is worth the investment.  Am I going to buy the rest?  Probably. 

Happy Thanksgiving

It's Election Day

If you don't vote...don't bitch.