Well here’s one that seems like a good time waiting to happen as the Hogwaller Ramblers join the Mayor of Candyapolis, Keith Morris, and his band the Crooked Numbers for an evening of foot stompin, hand clappin’, singin’ and shoutin’ American music at The Box on Thursday (10/16).  I’m told the music kicks off at 10:30pm, but if you want to make sure you can get a table or a seat at the bar I’d get there a little early (they don’t call it The Box for nothing you know).  As an added bonus, there is no cover for the evening’s festivities.

The Hogwaller Ramblers, as their website proudly proclaims, are “Charlottesville’s oldest continuously recombinant musical project”, which loosely translated means they’ve been at it for awhile.  Led by Jamie Dyer and featuring an ever-changing cast that includes some of Charlottesville’s finest musicians, the Ramblers have been a fixture on the local music scene since the 80’s.  In addition to tonight’s performance you can catch them holding court at Fellini’s nearly each and every Sunday night.

As for Keith Morris, what can I say that I haven’t already said?  The self-professed Mayor of Candyapolis leads his band of merry men and women through a world of lullabies and modern-day fairy tales that are intelligent, offbeat, and joyous.  His highly recommended debut album Songs from Candyapolis features of a collection of stellar guest artists from right here in Charlottesville, including a handful of Ramblers of the Hogwaller variety.

If you go to tonight’s show expect to see a fair amount of interaction between these two bands.  Shared members abound and great songs are around every corner, but sadly this time around the bunny suit is not included.  Keith Morris opens with the Ramblers to follow.  [the Mayor provides a couple of tunes from Songs from Candyapolis for your listening pleasure ]

Listen:
MP3:  Keith Morris–”Candy Apples”

Listen:
MP3:  Keith Morris–”Baby Saves World”

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My Wednesday night in Charlottesville was a busy one.  I had already planned on making it a late night, what with Keith Morris & The Crooked Numbers and special guest Panter Burn performing at The Box (which started at 10pm on a school night), but what I hadn’t planned on was a last minute opportunity that arose to go see B.B. King at the Pavilion.  It was a full night indeed and one jam packed with great music.  That’s not to say that I didn’t pay for it on Thursday, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.

I had never seen B.B. King perform before so I have to admit that this was really a great last minute addition to my night.  As a music fan you always hope to get a chance to see one of the legends perform live and there is no denying that B.B. King is a legend.  Sure he’s getting up there in age (he’s 82 years old) and there’s no denying that Lucille (his trusty guitar) sits in King’s lap silent more than she gets played, but know this:  B.B. King is still an incredible performer and both vocally and musically he can still dig down deep and belt out the blues.

[B.B. King photo by L.Ann]

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I know the work-week has just begun and but I’m already mapping out my upcoming week in music.  One of my planned stops around the Charlottesville music scene this week will find me heading downtown to The Box (formerly The Atomic Burrito) to catch a sweet three-band bill on Wednesday, August 6. 

The line-up includes special guest opener Joe Pollock (Jay Pun of Lasko & Pun called Pollock “one to watch” in the Charlottesville music scene), Panther Burn (led by Phillip St. Ours on guitar and vocals and featuring Aaron Farrington on bass), and headlining act Keith Morris and the Crooked Numbers (whose debut album Songs from Candyapolis from late 2007 is still one of the finest albums I’ve heard in quite some time.  You can read my review of Candyapolis here.)

[Keith Morris photo from the artist’s MySpace]

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Keith Morris is the pied-piper in reverse.  His music takes you into town, not away from it.  He leads the parade.  He is the grand marshall of a procession of song.  And behind him his band plays in time with clocks that have the most magnificent hands. 

There’s Jeff Romano who has his own float outfitted with guitars, a piano, an organ, and a string of sleigh bells.  There’s Jennifer Morris with angelic voice and Morwenna Lasko with her own angel-voiced violin.  Paul Curreri strums a guitar and sings in tune while Devon Sproule throws candy-coated verse to the folks lining Main Street.  Spencer Lathrop plays drums, Brandon Collins on cello, Sandy Gray on electric guitar, and a choir of singers in robes clap hands and shout in key.  And there’s a rabbit in a human suit or is it the other way around?  And at the end of the line, which is only a glass half-empty way of saying: at the head of the line, is a princess with ruby cheeks and a magical wand who plays the role of Santa Claus in this Macy’s Day parade. 

This is the scene on the cobblestoned streets of Candyapolis, a town where there’s a celebration every day and reverance by night, and it’s Keith Morris who leads us all through the Songs from Candyapolis. »Read More

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