Willie Nile - Looney Tunes CD's

Here are a couple of shots from tonight's in store performance to celebrate the release of his new CD "American Ride".  The new album is yet another fine release by this critics fave who has been criminally overlooked by the mainstream music world.  Check him out at the Highline Ballroom in NYC Wednesday night.

Son Volt - Music Hall of Williamsburg

Son Volt played the second of two NYC area shows last night at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.  Colonel Ford opened the show with a short set of hard country originals and standards. Colonel Ford is actually the current Son Volt without Jay Farar.  A good time was had by the early arrivals.

Son Volt is currently delving deeply into country music Bakersfield style and they played a pretty good chunk of their newest album along with some catalog cuts.  The big tracks from Trace killed towards the end of the show to the delight of the hipsters, I mean fans in attendance. A good time was had by all.  And Tear Stained Eye > Windfall is still a killer 1-2 punch.

Paul McCartney - Barclay's Center 6/10/13

So Sir Paul stopped by Brooklyn for the second of two nights at the Barclay's Center.  I last saw him about 8 or so years ago and thought the show at MSG was, well it was ok.  I was less than excited by what I thought was a by the numbers performance.  Last night was exactly the opposite to these ears.  The set list was what you would expect...the mandatory songs and a few numbers that have never been played some of which were great and a couple not so much,

Eight Days a Week, Lovely Rita, and Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite were all first timers and Listen To What the Man Said is back on the set list for the first time since the mid-70's.  You got a bunch of Beatles, some Wings, some solo almost all of which was as classic as it gets.  The only missteps for me were a couple of newer songs and the silly All Together Now.  Other than that...just great song after great song.

It's easy to forget he is 70 now.  He certainly hasn't slowed down at all and played for a solid 2 1/2 hours.  It's hard to believe that some of those songs are closing in on 50 years!  Paul McCartney is everything that the Rolling Stones are not on this tour.  A little less able to hit the high notes, but still rock solid.  And there was nothing embarrassing like the current Stones duets with the current "pop stars".  Oh yeah and I still love watching him do Live and Let Die.

A really great night out and we even made our connection in Jamaica for the express to Babylon!  Catch this tour if you get the chance...an OldRockr's night if there ever was one.

Oh yeah, the new Nikon Coolpix s9500 did a pretty good job from all the way across the arena.

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.