Was really delighted to be able to get along to the Boo Hewerdine and Darden Smith show in Glasgow recently. The Glad Café is a very small venue and I was pleased to see the show had sold out.
Like most I was there to here the duet tracks from the Evidence album which was released in 1996. A great lp and a little bit of a cult album I guess.
Unfortunately I cannot locate a setlist or any videos but the highlights were all there. Standouts were Little Victories, Evidence, Reminds Me a Little of You, Graceland, Patience of Angels.
Interesting set list from Bryan Ferry - very light on "hits" and some real Roxy obscure material. Probably on the back of the debut album re-release. Really good concert and the band were superb. I would expect more hits at the Bandstand later this year if you happen to be going.
I don't know anything about him but he comes highly recommended. Playing in Broadcast, Glasgow and I am hoping for another strong Americana show. Here is the wiki blurb:
Courtney Marie Andrews has become a strong favourite of mine and I have been lucky enough to see her a few times.
This is a 4th lp and is getting outstanding reviews. I am really looking forward to hearing it properly. I know she is touring again this year so if you get the chance I would go and see her.
The Guardian had this to say:
"It’s one of the elements – along with the organ and Mark Howard’s spacious but focused production – that gives the album an unusual intensity. May Your Kindness Remain sounds forever on the brink of eruption – no shucks-we-were-drinking-beer-in-your-truck here. Andrews has said the theme of the album is coming to terms with depression, which you can sense without even listening to the lyrics. Amid the misery, though, there is a search for moments of levity. This House is a long way from Madness’s house or Graham Nash’s house – “Empty cans on the counter / And the laundry’s never done,” Andrews sings, detailing the shortcomings of the surroundings, even as she insists “this house ain’t much of a house, but it’s a home”. May Your Kindness Remain confirms Andrews’ rise. It’s a brilliant record, proof that old forms can still be timeless."
Have been talking about Alzheimer's and Dementia and this song sprung to mind. John Prine is an incredible songwriter and the 10,000 Maniacs also covered the track brilliantly.
And here is a wee bit of the great chocolate Genius:
Ok love him or loathe him there is no denying that Dylan's trio of "gospel" albums are a pivotal moment in his career - and in my view completely underrated.
Each album has at least several great tracks and Shot of Love is superb from start to finish (its not totally a Gospel album though).
At 108 tracks I would suggest stick to the 2Cd edition - however I have to say this is an astonishing Live Document. I ordered the 6lp vinyl set which also has 2 CD's and this allows you to "autorip" the full 108 tracks - you don't get the concert DVD but it is much cheaper than the £140 box set! It does have the added bonus of the worst artwork in the planet! Anyway...
Dylan's voice is powerful, the band and backing singers just incredible. The live versions add so much to the studio ones I am amazed that a Live album was not released before now. The set also has a smattering of outtakes and rehearsal versions of unreleased songs.
I have to admit I know next to nothing about Phil Vassar - however a few of my friends going to see him at the ABC so as always happy to go along for some live music.
Lifting from his bio : Phil Vassar is one of a handful of musicians to have multiple hits as a songwriter AND as an artist. He has 10 Number 1s, 15 Top 10s, and 26 TOP 40s. Top songs include Just Another Day in Paradise. Carlene, Six Pack Summer, American Child, For a Little While & My Next Thirty Years (Tim McGraw), Right on the Money (Alan Jackson), I’m All Right & Bye Bye (Jodee Messina) and many more. American Soul is Phil’s ninth album.
So he certainly has a good pedigree and I am looking forward to the gig and I particularly like this version of Another Day In Paradise and no wonder this was a huge hit.
I am really looking forward to this gig. It is a format I really like where several singers strip back their songs, tell some stories and join in with each other.
I must admit I don't know any of these artists but they come highly recommended. Kevin Morris regularly puts on these types of shows during his Glasgow Americana Festival, notably in 2016 where Roddy Hart, Boo Hewerdine Ben Glover put on a great show.
More recently at C2C in London I was lucky enough to be at the Songwriters show featuring Luke Combs, Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby and Kip Moore. This was an utterly superb show with every performer outstanding on the night.
I am really struggling to work up any enthusiasm for this whatsoever. Oddly I am fairly sure I saw Faith solo back in the day and she was pretty good. But this just screams out "product" to me, totally fake and incredibly underwhelming as a principal act at C2C.
Its quite odd that the mist you can find out about Morgan is that he is Mr Ballerini! So I guess good to lump them together so to speak. I like what I hear of his work though got to admit I know very little
Kelsea on the other hand is absolutely a rising star and was absolutely superb supporting Lady A at the Hydro and I was really taken by her (not my normal thing), worth listening to for Peter Pan alone, outstanding track. First Time to me is also a superb song. Could do without their wedding video!
Ok so how much more can they milk out of Elvis. And do you really need Take 6 of Suspicious Minds, probably not but hey ho.
This might be worth the cover alone which looks superb and the track listing is excellent. Thom Zimny has directed the documentary and so it is bound to be a first class film, Im looking forward to it. Ernst Michael Jorgensen is of course the Elvis expert and Jon Landau does not lend his name to anything other than perfect:
Vinyl list below:
Side A
Trouble / Guitar Man
My Baby Left Me
That’s All Right
Baby Let’s Play House
Heartbreak Hotel
Side B
Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
Hound Dog
Crawfish
Mona Lisa
Milky White Way
Side C
Like A Baby
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
It’s Now Or Never
Tomorrow Is A Long Time
Side D
Suspicious Minds (take 6)
Separate Ways (rehearsal version)
Hurt (take 5)
If I Can Dream
Soundtrack Producers: Ernst Mikael Jørgensen, Thom Zimny and Jon Landau
