Sunday, April 30, 2006

Gibson Brothers Photos


The Gibson Brothers and their group delighted bluegrass fans at the Narrows Saturday night with their creative pickin' and light-hearted approach.

But don't let the frivolity fool you--these guys have one of the hottest CDs on the Americana chart, and they have a video on the CMT website.

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Josh Ritter Pleases His Fans


It was a sellout crowd Friday night as Josh Ritter and his band charmed the Narrows with their musicality and personality.
By the way, the crew at the Narrows was impressed by the fact that not only were Josh and his folks nice on stage, they were a pleasure to work with!

Sometimes nice people do win!

If you have some photos from the evening you'd like to share, email your humble blogger at slouishug@comcast.net.


Friday, April 28, 2006

Cheryl Wheeler, Slaid Cleaves and Susan Cowsill Coming

At this writing they're not yet on the official schedule, but we thought you'd like to know:

July 22
Susan Cowsill

September 8
Slaid Cleaves

September 16
Cheryl Wheeler

Projo Piece on Ritter

Josh Ritter, at the Narrows tonight (Friday), was featured in Rick Massimo's column in the Providence Journal yesterday.

Read it as long as the link is alive by clicking here.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Josh Ritter Featured in No Depression Magazine

Josh Ritter, playing the Narrows Friday night, is featured in the latest No Depression magazine.

In the article the magazine notes that, believe it or not, Ritter is a major star in Ireland.

In 2003, readers of an Irish magazine voted him the best international male performer, best international songwriter, and fourth-best international live act. He beat out the likes of Jack White, Ryan Adams and Justin Timberlake for these honors.

In fact, in Ireland a "tribute" band formed playing Ritter's music.

See you Friday night?

Monday, April 24, 2006

Keep An Eye on this Jewell


Eilen Jewell, who opened for Sarah Borges on Saturday night, electrified the crowd with her countrified soul. It was the second appearance at the Narrows for Eilen (pronounced with the same sound as reelin') and her fab band, who are based up in Boston.

After her performance, she sold a lot of CDs to her new fans. We'll certainly be bringing her back to the Narrows in the future! Watch this space!

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Gorgeous Sarah Borges Getting It Done


A glammed-up Sarah Borges and her band--now known as The Broken Singles--rocked and countrified the Narrows Saturday with a huge crowd; her largest since she first appeared at the Narrows last year.

That's a good sign, because it means this young artist is growing her fan base.

There's no question, she's been working hard--recently playing the legendary South by Southwest event deep in the heart of Texas, getting her CD way up on the Americana charts last year, getting her lovely mug on the cover of at least one magazine that we know about, setting up a thing on myspace.com, doing interviews and generally doing the stuff to build a following for her art. Including standing on amplifiers with her bass man Binky!


Here's Sarah's master guitar-man Mike Castellana, who not only is a great technician but has the artistic sensibility for knowing when to play aces and when to leave spaces.

If you were at the concert and have photos to share, email me: slouishug@comcast.net

Saturday, April 22, 2006

New Shows Include the Return of Ollabelle, Greg Brown

Not yet on the official schedule yet:

June 25
Elana James and the Continental Two (formerly Hot Club of Cowtown)

June 30
Entrain

November 18
Ollabelle

November 30
Greg Brown

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Sarah Borges on Puremusic.Com

Sarah Borges, who's playing the Narrows Saturday night, was interviewed for Puremusic.com.

Check it out by clicking here.

Monday, April 17, 2006

We Give You The Slip

Saturday night The Slip played until the wee, wee hours to a passionate crowd of young fans at the Narrows.

Drummer Andrew Barr clearly was prepared for the best and the worst, wearing protective eye gear that's sure to create a new fashion sensation.

Brother Brad seemed less concerned as he sang and turned his guitar into an extension of his soul.

Bassist Marc Friedman played some 6-string guitar and we think he snuck over and played some piano, though we couldn't see over the heads of the fans crowding the stage.

Although The Slip are progressive, they still practice family values. Brad's dad sat in on drums and le pere Barr showed his guitar chops.

If you have photos to share with readers of this blog from this memorable evening, email them to
slouishug@comcast.net.



Sunday, April 16, 2006

Drunk Stuntmen's Trailer Life Review

Your humble blogger writes a review column for americanaroots.com, which is a pretty good folk/alternative country webzine.

Recently your lowly blogger wrote a review of Trailer Life by the Drunk Stuntmen, who played the Narrows in April.

Read the review, if you dare, by clicking here.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Merle Haggard Interview

Merle Haggard, who's been touring with Dylan and has one of the hotter Americana CDs of 2006, was interviewed by GQ.

To go to the interview, click here.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Sample The Slip

The Slip, returning to the Narrows Saturday night, have got the my space thing going on.

Listen to them by clicking here:http://www.myspace.com/TheSlipmusic

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Interview with Pierre Bensusan, Guitar Master

Pierre Bensusan, who plays the Narrows Friday night, was interviewed by Frets magazine.

It's a nice way to get to know this guitar master before you go to the show. Many tickets are still available.

Read the interview by clicking here.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Digital Blues
















Tools of the bluesman. The bluesman. John Hammond sanctifying the Narrows Saturday night.














They Ain't Pretty, But Drunk Stuntmen Get The Job Done


They may not be the most dashing bunch of guys, but musically the Drunk Stuntmen get the job done!

An appreciative crowd Saturday night at the Narrows whooped and yelped as the energetic group did a Southern Rock kind of thing, with a bit of Elvis Costello's "Radio Radio" and their bass player honking on a trumpet thrown in for good measure.

By the way, their brand new CD, Trailer Life, is fab. Your humble blogger thinks it's one of the best CDs he's heard in 2006.



Saturday, April 08, 2006

Yes There ARE John Hammond Tickets

As of this writing there are a good chunk of tickets to see John Hammond tonight (Saturday) at the Narrows.

Walk ups should be no problem, at least between 7 and 8 p.m.

See you tonight?

Friday, April 07, 2006

David Wilcox Coming to Narrows May 19!

Singer/songwriter David Wilcox was recently booked at the Narrows for Friday, May 19.

Last time he played here it was a sellout!

Get your tickets today!

Clear Channel Goes Americana!

Your humble blogger, who does some work on the side for Clear Channel, was nonetheless surprised that Clear Channel has created an Americana radio station down there in West Virginia.

(If you don't know what Americana is, it's roughly folk music, usually with a bit of a country bent.)

Anyway you can listen on-line.

Here's the link: http://www.wtcramericana.com/main.html

Thursday, April 06, 2006

New Shows Added

New to the Narrows' website over the past few days:

Saturday June 10 The Iguanas

Thursday June 15 Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett (guys from Little Feat)

Saturday September 30 Steve Forbert

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

3 Artists Display Their Wares at the Narrows' Gallery

As your humble blogger (too) often blabs from the stage, the Narrows' roots are in the visual arts. Music came later.

So, we continue to have a gallery...until April 23 featuring J.C. Lazarus, abstract artist; Michelle Lapointe-Morris, glass and metal artist; and Lori Bradley, ceramic and printmaker artist.

See if you know who's who in the photos below.






Monday, April 03, 2006

Prepping with Julian


Richard Julian, who had played the night before on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, graced the Narrows stage on Saturday night.

Instead of the usual performance shots, I took a few of Richard and his group getting the gear squared away. The guy above bending down adjusting the microphone stand is Narrows president/booking guy/sound man Patrick Norton. That's Richard Julian in the t-shirt on the left. Below, Richard starts strumming and checking his sound and monitor (a monitor is a speaker aimed at the performer so he/she can hear themselves better). Further down below, Tim the bass guy gets into the act and then ultimately the guys change clothes and are set for performance.



Saturday, April 01, 2006

Richard Shindell's First Narrows Visit















Intense and serious singer/songwriter Richard Shindell wasn't as intense and serious as I've seen him in the past, although his artistry was the same Friday night at the Narrows.

In fact, he was trying out new material from his upcoming CD and is still in the "warm up" phase of this tour. It was only the second time he's played publicly in about 5 months, he said. He also noted that he's new to that 8-stringed instrument featured in the phot0 (I don't know what it's called) and has to take a minute to remember where the various positions are for the chords.

His honesty and modesty charmed the crowd.

Opener Anais Mitchell also charmed the crowd with her oh-too-short set, which she ended with Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time"--a perfect fit for her voice (which sounds a bit like Lauper's).