There’s some part of me that wishes I could say I’ve been a life-long fan of Guy Clark’s music.  But the truth comes in two parts:  1) I haven’t lived my whole life yet and 2) It’s really only been a little over seven years now since I first discovered the Texas-born singer-songwriter that has become one of my musical heroes, even if I am neither a singer or a songwriter myself.

Guy Clark’s first songs were recorded and made known to the world by one Jerry Jeff Walker.  In 1971, Jerry Jeff recorded and released Clark’s poignant, “let’s get the hell out of California” ballad “L.A. Freeway”.  Two years later Walker added Guy’s country masterpiece “Desperados Waiting for a Train” to his now classic live album ¡Viva Terilingua!.  At the time, you would’ve had to closely examine the liner to discover that Guy Clark wrote those songs, but once you did you’d have to say: Damn, that man can sure craft one hell of a tune.. »Read More

Popularity: 11% [?]

September 14:  Song of the Day.  The Band–Don’t Do It

Levon Helm, the longtime drummer for The Band, as well as one of the group’s founding members, performs at the Paramount Theater tonight.  Helm has recently returned to the musical spotlight following the release of his Grammy winning album Dirt Farmer back in 2007.  Currently touring in support of that album which has garnered wide critical praise, Helm will be joined by his band which includes his daughter Amy (of Ollabelle) as well as Larry Campbell (former member of Bob Dylan’s band).

Charlottesville’s own Peyton Tochterman opens.  Joining Tochterman onstage will be Sons of Bill guitarist Sam Wilson and bassist Darrell Muller of Old School Freight Train.   The opening set kicks off shortly after 7pm.  Tickets are still available.  You can order tickets online here.

In addition to performing selections from his latest album, you can expect to hear a number of classics from Helm’s heyday with The Band.  Beyond the familiar hits of “The Weight” and “The Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie Down”, I’ve included the video for one of my personal favorites from The Band, featuring Levon Helm on lead vocals, after the break.  [video performance of The Band performing “Don’t Do It” from a 1971 performance in NYC] »Read More

Popularity: 21% [?]

In what seems like the perfect follow-up to Friday night’s Darfur benefit concert which featured (in part) the music of Malian musician Vieux Farka Toure, comes this concert offering at the Paramount Theater.  Corey Harris’ music has long been about celebrating the African influence that runs through American blues.  Whether he’s exploring the roots and rhythms of reggae, delving into the rich tapestry of blues artists from the Mississippi delta, or traveling the African continent in search of the very seeds of the blues, Corey Harris in his own way has joined them all into one.

You can see Corey Harris and his 5X5 Band perform tonight at the Paramount Theater.  Joining Harris will be special guest poet Kwame Dawes, whose own life story began in the African nation of Ghana.  Dawes is currently a professor of English at the University of South Carolina.  Tonight’s concert at the Paramount will benefit the African American Teaching Fellows of Charlottesville / Albemarle.  Showtime is at 7:30pm.  Tickets range from $19.95 to $49.95 and can be purchased online here.

[after the break check out the video featuring Corey Harris and Ali Farka Toure.  The clip is taken from Martin Scorsese’s documentary The Blues - A Musical Journey] »Read More

Popularity: 15% [?]

September 2:  Song of the Day.  Levon Helm–Poor Old Dirt Farmer

In case you haven’t heard, Levon Helm, probably best known as the drummer and key vocalist in the rock group The Band, is bringing his own group to Charlottesville as The Levon Helm Band visits the Paramount Theater on Sunday, September 14.  Tickets are on sale now and for ticket and show information click here.  Prices range from $32.50 - $77.50.  Showtime is at 8pm.

If you’re a fan of The Band, then surely you’re familiar with Helm’s vocals on some of the group’s best known songs including “Up on Cripple Creek”, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”, and “The Weight”, but if you’ve been paying attention you also know that just last year Helm released one of his best albums in decades. 

In 2007, Helm released Dirt Farmer, his first solo album in 25 years, to loads of praise from both critics and music fans.  While Levon’s voice is not what it once was, due in large part to a bout with throat cancer in the late 90’s, it still shines with a workingman’s beauty on a collection of mainly traditional songs that are at the heart of American roots music .  The album won a Grammy last year for Best Traditional Folk Album.  It is definitely worth a listen or ten. [check out the video for “Poor Old Dirt Farmer” after the break] »Read More

Popularity: 23% [?]

We’re just a couple days away from the next big show taking the stage at the Paramount Theater as Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet visit Charlottesville on Friday, June 27.  The quartet is currently on tour throughout North America in support of the their self-titled debut album which was released on Nettwerk Records in May of this year.  The band performs folk, bluegrass and old-time music with a very unique twist, one that you almost have to hear and see to believe.  Tickets are still available for this performance.  For details click here.

The Sparrow Quartet consists of Ben Sollee on cello, the Grammy-nominated Casey Driessen on fiddle, the no need for further introductions of Bela Fleck on banjo, and Abigail Washburn who also plays banjo.  The real twist in the band’s music arises when Abigail begins to sing, because there are moments when the words might not sound familiar even if the music does.  That’s because those words are being sung in Chinese, a language that Abigail Washburn speaks (and sings) fluently.  In this way the whole concept of old-time music takes on new meaning, expanding it beyond the roots of Appalachia by digging into the old time of one of the world’s most ancient cultures. »Read More

Popularity: 36% [?]

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Well if you live in and around Charlottesville and you’re a fan of world-class guitar players then I’m pretty sure we’ve got just about all your bases covered on what promises to be a weekend filled with hot guitar players and equally hot temperatures here in central Virginia. 

With the thermometer hovering near 100 degrees and scheduled local performances by Nels Cline (left), Bill Kirchen (center), and Corey Harris (right), you might want to stock up now on cold beverages and lots of ice because it’s going to be a scorcher any way you look at it.  For all the details on these performances… »Read More

Popularity: 36% [?]

In March of this year Doc Watson celebrated his 85th birthday.  And while Doc doesn’t play nearly as many tour dates as he did in his younger days he still manages to get out on the road from time to time.  And no matter what stage he finds himself on, music fans of all ages continue to fill theaters, festivals, and concert halls to hear the legendary performer and his combination of folk, bluegrass, and country blues that he’s been performing since the early 1960’s.

Charlottesville music fans will have yet another opportunity to see the master at work as Doc Watson performs Saturday, May 10 at the Paramount Theater on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall.  Doc will be joined by multi-instrumentalist David Holt and Richard Watson, Doc’s guitar playing grandson, for a performance billed as Hills of Home.  Doors open at 7pm, the show starts at 8pm.  Tickets are still available.  $38.50 - $44.50.

For more on Doc Watson’s music career…

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Popularity: 20% [?]

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It’s a ”jam”-packed Thursday for music fans in Charlottesville. We begin with this:

Any band that cooks with the “Iron Chef” and finds musical inspiration from Keanu Reeves should not be taken lightly.  All hail local rockers The Kings of Belmont!  Check them out for yourselves Thursday as they open for San Francisco-based jam band Tea Leaf Green at Satellite Ballroom.  8pm.  $14.
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From the Kings of Belmont we move on to the kings of Queen.  Here’s your opportunity to raise your lighters in the air and sway from side-to-side as Gary Mullen and The Works remind you that “We are the Champions of the World!” and don’t you forget it!  This award-winning Queen tribute band are touring the US for the very first time and you can catch them Thursday at the Paramount Theater.  8pm.  $23.50 - $34.50.  Party on Wayne, party on Garth.

For the rest of tonight’s musical happenings… »Read More

Popularity: 27% [?]

This wasn’t the first time I’ve seen Steve Earle or Allison Moorer (I once saw Steve and the Dukes open for Willie Nelson back in the 90’s and I saw Allison at Merlefest a couple years back, which included a surprise Steve appearance.  I’ve already mentioned seeing Steve in San Fran last October, which was also pretty damn cool).  But last night’s show at the Paramount Theater was by far the best show from Steve and Allison I’ve seen.

Allison opened the show and it should be noted that she has one of the purest singing voices of anyone around.  I’d put here in that rarified air of Patsy Cline and Neko Case when it comes to sheer vocal beauty and power.  Standing on a stage with a just a microphone and a guitar, Allison shimmered.  She played a couple songs from her new album Mockingbird which I thought were two of her set’s highlights. 

The album itself is a tribute of sorts to some of Allison’s favorite female singer-songwriters and her versions of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” and Jessi Colter’s “I’m Looking for Blue Eyes” definitely hit the mark.  But the highlight of highlight’s was by far her set-closing take on Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come”.  The crowd was behind her the whole time and I think she felt it as she blew the audience a kiss before walking off stage and making way for the night’s headliner…the one and only Steve Earle.

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Popularity: 28% [?]

Ok, I have to write about this.  But first let’s get something clear.  Steve Earle is one of my musical heroes.  This is a point that needs to be made now, because you’ll need this information later.  The string of random and planned events that just took place is slightly blowing my mind.  Here’s the story:

I had a scheduled interview today at 2pm with a singer-songwriter from Lowell, Massachusetts.  His name is Bob Martin.  A couple of weeks I received two of Bob’s CD’s in the mail from an acquaintance in the music world that happens to know that I write reviews for an Americana music site called AmericanaRoots.com.  The idea is this:  Who knows, maybe there’s a review in there right?  After listening to one of Bob’s CDs entitled The Midwest Farm Disaster, is there ever a review on the way!  It’s a brilliant album from the early 70’s that is being re-issued and I feel lucky at this point to now know of it’s existence.  I write my acquaintance a brief e-mail stating that I’m going to start working on a review of Bob’s album for the  AmericanaRoots website.  The response I get back is kind of mind-blowing in-and-of-itself.  It turns out that Bob is in Charlottesville and a meeting is arranged.  This is my aforementioned 2pm meeting.

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Popularity: 21% [?]