All I can say is that on Saturday I put in a little bit of overtime. I got three posts up by the late afternoon and then made by way to the Gravity Lounge to catch both of the Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy / the Anomoanon shows. My day started around 6:30am on Saturday and I don’t think I made it back home until 3am on Sunday morning. I’m still trying to put it all together but here’s what you missed if you didn’t make it to the shows.
There was a definite buzz in the air as I walked up to the Gravity just before 7pm. It’s not very often that I’ve had to wait in line to get in the door but then again it’s not every day that Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy is in town for a back-to-back double bill. We’ve said it before but it’s worth saying again. A big thank you goes out to Bill Baldwin, the owner of Gravity Lounge, and Danny Shea, of Satellite Ballroom fame, for putting these two shows together.
Around 250 tickets were sold to both shows and from what I gathered both were sell outs. I’ve seen a ton of shows at Gravity, but these were definitely the largest crowds I’ve ever been a part of there. All the chairs and just about all of the tables were gone, a standing room only crowd stretched from the front of the house to the rear, and the stage was filled with significantly more amps, guitars, and gear. The Gravity Lounge, at least on this night, felt more like a rock club, albeit one lined with shelves of books.
You may argue otherwise, but I’m going to say that tonight’s back-to-back shows at the Gravity Lounge featuring Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy with special guests Anomoanon promises to be one of the the Top Five Concert events in Charlottesville this year. The two shows are being put on by The Satellite Ballroom Presents in conjuction with the Gravity Lounge. The doors for the first show open in just about three hours (at 6pm). Doors for the second show open at 10pm. Showtimes are at 7pm and 10:30pm.
All I can say is prepare yourself for a very special evening. Here’s the word: There may one or two songs that appear in both show setlists, but for the most part the two shows are going to be entirely different from each other. Also, as an added local bonus, Charottesville’s own Sarah White is going to be making an appearance onstage with the brothers Oldham.
Tickets are $15 and at last check there are only a limited number of available tickets left. These remaining tickets will be sold at the door this evening. [pic]
The (All New) Acorn Sisters sing country songs written by other people. Actually they sing country songs written by other people quite well. The sweet singing duo of Sarah White (aka Sugar) and Sian Richards (aka Cookie) have been performing in and around Charlottesville for a number of years now. The songs they perform come from the deep well of country music, stretching back to the Carter Family all the way forward to the likes of Emmylou Harris. And since they spend so much time on stage singing what others have written, I thought it would be cool if we gave them a chance to say a few things of their own. So I sent them seven little questions and they, in turn, supplied the answers. Who knew they that they cuss like sailors and like “Tight Fittin’ Jeans”? »Read More
The title alone should be enough to get the attention of our friends over at the Charlottesville Drinking Club. Who knows? Maybe once they hear about this one, they may change their usual Wednesday get-togethers to a Friday for a change of pace. And why not?
This Friday marks the beginning of one of Charlottesville’s Rites of Spring as Fridays After Fivekicks off at the Pavilion on the Downtown Mall with The Sons of Bill!. And if that alone isn’t reason enough to celebrate the end of the work week, then what do you say we up the ante with a smokin’ double shot of Charlottesville performers at the Satellite Ballroomto close out the evening as Sarah Whiteopens for 6 Day Bender. By the way, 6 Day Bender (pictured above) will also be celebrating the release of their brand new self-titled debut album on Friday.
Did I mention that it’s also supposed to be sunny and in the 70’s on Friday? I’m not suggesting you call in sick to work and try to squeeze in a three-day weekend or anything but you may want, at the very least, to have Wahooptie on speed dial for that late night ride home. For all the particulars on these Friday happenings…
There are a couple of shows in town tonight that may make for a rather full evening of entertainment for the intrepid music fan.
Start off your evening at the Gravity Lounge with a heavy dose of lightning paced acoustic music from Trampled by Turtles. Doors at 8. Cost is $8. (See yesterday’s Trampled by Turtles post for more)
From there you could head over to the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar for a shot of ragged rock with The Gunshy. Joe Anderi opens. Show time is 9pm. Cost is a suggested donation of $3-7.
Finish off the evening by jumping in the car and heading down to the Corner to catch Sarah White and the Sam Wilson Band at Orbit Billiards. Show time is 10:30pm and it’s FREE.
Happy trails music fans! So much to see, so little time. Maybe I’ll see you out at the shows. And just in case you haven’t seen The Gunshy, you can now consider yourself informed.
I thought we’d kick off our first Monday at cvilleMUSE, as well as our first full week in operation, with a little taste of Charlottesville.
For my money, Sarah White is one of our local superstars. And if you don’t own a copy of her album White Light…you should be stung by ten thousand bees. If you say you’re going to go get a copy right away, five thousand bees. If you already own a copy, one bee. (thank you Jack Handey).
Sarah’s latest gem is the self-released five song EP Sweetheart. In 2007, the title track won best song in the NewSong Contest sponsored by the fine folks at the Mountain Stage.
This week you can catch Sarah White at Orbit Billiards on Wednesday, 3/26 at 10:30pm. Sarah will be opening for the Sam Wilson Band. To see it, the price is O so nice: FREE. Here’s Sarah performing “Sweetheart” live in NYC. Happy Monday.
Mark your calendars for this one. One of my favorite Charlottesville voices (Sarah White) meets the S.O.B. guitar slinger (Sam Wilson). March 26, 10:30pm@Orbit. Sarah White opens. Be there or be square.
For more on Sarah White’s musical universe, check out her MySpace page. Sam’s got one too.
[Update: I corrected this is my Song of the Day piece on Monday, but I failed to do the same here. Sarah is indeed opening at 10:30pm, followed by the Sam Wilson Band–Thanks Brian Shaun on 03/26]
