Friday, December 28, 2007

More best . . . in live music

So what were the best live shows around town in 2007? Often it's hard to remember what shows we saw when . . . but below is my stab at some of the more memorable ones for me this year (in no particular order).

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings at the Doug Fir (this is recent, so I haven't forgotten yet!)
John Hammond at Mississippi Studios
Patty Smith at The Bite
Stephen Bruton at Mississippi Studios
Richard Thompson at the Aladdin
Patty Griffin - both shows (Aladdin and the Zoo)
The sets of Mavis Staples, Teresa James, Marcia Ball, and Voices of the Wetlands All Stars at the Waterfront Blues Festival
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi's Soul Stew Review at the Zoo
Los Lobos at the Zoo
The Subdudes at the Aladdin
Ruthie Foster at Mississippi Studios
Alejandro Escovedo at the Aladdin
Tom Russell at Mississippi Studios

I'm probably forgetting some, but these were all really fine shows to my ears . . . .

Feel free to add your thoughts via the comments!

Best of 2007 . . . CDs

End of the year and it's time for all of those obligatory best of the year lists and commentaries. Here's a few (mostly from NPR) that you might want to check out:

NPR Listeners Picks from All Songs Considered

Songs of the Year: 2007's Best Music

Folk Alley's Favorite CD's of 2007

The Year's Best World Music

The Year's Best Jazz CDs

Best of 2007 from WFUV
(New York)

Best Songs of the Year from KUT (Austin)

Paste Magazine lists


Explore and listen . . . I found a lot I've missed this year . . . sometimes all we can do is scratch the surface.

So what's my best CD list? I came up with the following favorites from 2007:
Levon Helm's Dirt Farmer , Robert Plant & Allison Krauss' Raising Sand, The Tipitina Foundation's Going Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino (various artists), Mike Vesceglia/Fiona McBain's Then There Were Two, Mavis Staples' We'll Never Turn Back, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings' 100 Days, 100 Nights, Casey Neill's Brooklyn Bridge, and John Fogarty 's Revival.

So what are yours? Feel free to use the comments to add to the list!

Friday, December 14, 2007

'Twas the penultimate weekend before Christmas

Oh it is a busy time of year . . . . but take a break from holiday prep, shopping, and stressing with a little live music . . . .

Friday
Check out the taping of Live Wire! at the Aladdin with musical guests Chris Walla and Holcomb Waller. 8 PM $15

There's a fundraiser for Toys for Tots at the Ash Street Saloon with a pretty cool local lineup that includes Chris Robley, Matt Vrba, Morgan Grace, Rachael Taylor Brown, Michael Jodell and Matt Brown. 9 PM, $20 or $5 plus an unwrapped toy

And another seasonal fundraiser (Rock for Tots) is at Biddy McGraws - the now annual John Prine sing-along with the likes of Dylan-Thomas Vance, Little Sue, Jeremy Wilson, Adam & Kris, Kate Power and Steve Einhorn . . . . . though no one ever hears it (thank goodness!) I always like to sing along to John Prine songs . . . Really. 9:30 PM, $5

If you're into rockin' out tonight, head to Dante's for the Red Elvises -- have heard a lot about this band, but haven't seen them yet . . . though sadly, I'll probably miss them again . . . but maybe you shouldn't. 9:30 PM, $15

and, the very fine soul vocalist Liv Warfield is at Jimmy Mak's. 8 PM, $15

Saturday
For some fine latin jazz and salsa head to Jimmy Mak's for the Bobby Torres Ensemble . . . bring your dancing shoes . . . . 8 PM, $10

Rock out with Phil Alvin and The Blasters at Dante's - still a kickass band doing drivin' blues and rockabilly. 9:30 PM, $18

Duff's Garage has the western swing of Los Cowtones . . . 9:30 PM, $5

The melancholy pop of Damian Jurado and Tenlons Fort will be heard at Mississippi Studios. After a good cry we'll all feel better. . . . 7 PM, $13

Sunday has some seasonal choices -
Janice Scroggins and Linda Hornbuckle will be doing their annual holiday concert at Mississippi Studios. Two absolutely wonderful talents we should hear together more often . . . 6 PM, $15

Tall Jazz will be doing their annual holiday show at the Kennedy School. The guys from Tall Jazz will be joined by a
wonderful holiday cast of musicians including vocalist Marilyn Keller,Tony Pacini on piano, Bryant Allard on trumpet and Lee Wuthenow on tenor sax. . . . 7 PM, $18

All for now . . . . find the spirit, catch the music . . . more next week.

penultimate: next to last

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Levon Helm Interview on Fresh Air

On Tuesday there was a wonderful interview with Levon Helm on Fresh Air. Check it out. And if you haven't heard his new CD, Dirt Farmer, you really should treat yourself to a purchase. Highly recommended!!!

I'm thinking of doing a post before the end of the year about my favorite music of 2007 - both recordings and shows attended. I'd love to make it collaborative, so send me your best of the year and I'll post it, or wait until I publish mine and add yours via the comments.

A comment from Stephen Bruton on his Portland show

Happened to go to Stephen Bruton's site and below is an excerpt from his road reports under his News link (he wrote this last month). His trip to the NW was his first since his cancer treatments and recovery.

My year just started for me when I was able to get back and start playing. I did a short tour in September, dubbed the "Victory Lap Tour 2007" with Yoggie and Tom Fillman. We did the Pacific Northwest down through Los Angeles. It was a great time for me both musically and restoratively. It was tiring and my voice was not responding like it used to, but hell, I've never been known for my vocal prowess. I just get the point across and I'm happy to be able to do that. The tour had several highlights for me. In Portland, Oregon, we had a capacity crowd at the Mississippi Studios and pretty much played my entire repertoire. Close to a 3 hour show. What a great audience! We played other places and I'm anxious to go back to all of them but that night was special.

It was really gratifying to be part of that night, and I'm glad Portland could be such a great audience . . . . my heartfelt thanks to those of you who made it to that show. It really was one of the best musical experiences of 2007 (for me anyway). Hopefully we can get Stephen back up here in 2008.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Music picks for Dec 7

. . . . a day that will live in infamy (sorry . . . not time for historical speeches . . . . )

But time for some quick picks for tonight and the weekend. Thought I'd get this out earlier, but had a busy day at work . . . . hope you see this before Monday!

Tonight . . . .

The Portland FolkMusic Society has the fine slide and fingerpicking acoustic blues of Mary Flower and the solid songwriting and voice of Ann Weiss at Carvlin Hall (1636 SE Hickory - entrance is on SE 16th, just north of SE Division). $12 general admission. Mary is one of my favorite guitar players in town with a deep knowledge of blues styles and folk music.

Good tip in the Willamette week of a free show at the Muddy Waters Cafe (SE 29th & Belmont) - Emma Hill, Ryan Sollee and Cory Judd. Three fine singer-songwriters for a great price.

Duff's Garage has the DK4 . . . join DK Stewart for some fine piano and blues rockin'

And, at the Doug Fir Lounge, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings . . . . this is THE show in town tonight . . . . old school soul and r&b - great singer, great band, sold out show (or almost - get in line fast and you might score a ticket).

Speaking of the Doug Fir . . . good picks there all weekend - tomorrow night is Laura Gibson (9 PM, $8), and Sunday night a Hanukkah show with Golem and Vagabond Opera - a night of eastern European folk punk - it will be a rather energetic an theatrical evening. (9 PM $10)

Also on Saturday Wreckless Eric, Amy Rigby and The Nevada Lunatics (featuring Scott McCaughey) will be at the East End.

Duff's will have Fiona Boyes . . . fine blues guitar player and singer who's moved here from Australia and getting some well-deserved attention.

All for now . . . . gotta run, but more next week . . . . see ya at a show!