Check Out Clutch

Don't know if we'll ever have them play the Narrows, but your humble blogger has been digging Clutch's new CD "From Beale Street to Oblivion."

They come out of heavy metal, but really never quite fit in that category, due to their bluesy influence.

Lots of riffing, organ and a strong rock 'n roll vocal.

Your humble blogger recommends to you Clutch.

Jeff Pitchell Suffers To Play The Blues

Bearing down early in the gig

Looking like a wedding singer grooving after hours, electric bluesman Jeff Pitchell hit the ground running from note one on Friday night at the Narrows. Within a few bars of the first tune he hopped off the stage and took his guitar to the seats.

No question--he and his band, Texas Flood, were making sounds perfect for a Friday night!

Elana James Profiled in Projo

Tuesday's Providence Journal had a feature on Elana James, playing the Narrows on Saturday. To see the story, click here.

Tickets are still available. Go to www.ncfta.org for details.

Attention Kinks Fans!

Kinks fans may want to take note that The Waybacks, coming to the Narrows on April 6, cover the Kinks song "Motorway."

The Waybacks included it on their 2006 CD "From the Pasture to the Future."

The Kinks originally included the Ray Davies' composition on their "Everybody's in Showbiz" album in 1972.

God Save the Kinks!

Women Rule The Weekend

Friday night--Mary Gauthier (above) and Eliza Gilkyson.

Saturday night--the pheee-nominal Ruthie Foster.

Hope you were at the Narrows!

Buck Jones Killed

One of your humble blogger's favorite CDs over the past few years is singer Buck Jones' "Lucky Star."

Buck never played the Narrows (not sure if he traveled out of Texas much).

Anyway, click here to see a brief story and a performance of his song "You Only Call Me When You're Drunk" from YouTube. I'm not wild about the performance, but the CD version is terrific.

Harmonica Night at the Narrows

Magic Dick, Charlies Musselwhite, Kim Wilson, Mark Hummel share center stage

Kim Wilson, Charlie Musselwhite and Mark Hummel entertained a sold-out Narrows Saturday night playing the blues harp every-which-way-you-can.

And for good measure, Magic Dick, of J. Geils Band fame, dropped by and lent a hand.

Kim Wilson, shoeless, taking it to the seats!

Magic Dick in his trademark shades makes the Narrows scene

Johnny Winter, Cracker Coming

These have yet to be posted on www.ncfta.org, so your humble blogger is giving you a big heads up.

April 26
Cracker (acoustic)
$18, $20

October 19
Johnny Winter
$35, $40

October 27
California Guitar Trio
$18, $20

Are You Tuff Enuff? Fab T-Bird Frontman Coming

Remember the song that was all over the video channels and the radio waves--Tuff Enuff?

The guy who wrote and sang it is Kim Wilson, who will be at the Narrows this coming Saturday night with Charlie Musselwhite.

Tickets are still available, but moving quite well. Don't wait much longer on this one.

Go to www.ncfta.org

John Cowan Band Survives Drive From New Jersey

Despite an aggravating drive from New Jersey to the Narrows, a voyage your humble blogger hates with all his heart, the John Cowan Band delighted a good-sized crowd Saturday night at our establishment.

John is a heck-of-a-singer and his crack band of banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and him on bass was a solid back-up. As one fan told your humble blogger, the group is "overburdened with talent."

This was the first time that John and the boys brought their bluegrass to the Narrows, and we were happy with the strong turnout to see the show.

Backstage, despite the horrid commute from the so-called Garden State, the group was in good spirits and easy to work with.

Loudon Wainwright Coming in September

Yes, it's the "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road" guy. Loudon Wainwright III. He's coming to the Narrows for the first time ever on September 28. Tickets should be available shortly. Visit www.ncfta.org often.

Also coming in September is the wonderful Cheryl Wheeler, who has played our space several times, and in November it's the rootsy, sexy group Crooked Still. They had one of the best damn roots CDs in 2006.

We Join the Dukedom

Duke Robillard reigned supreme Saturday night with his first appearance ever at the Narrows!

Playing to a packed house, the Duke showed why he's been an internationally acclaimed blues guitarist since his days with Roomful of Blues.

Plus, the Narrows crew has given a thumbs up to Duke and his band on a personal level.

Let's do it again real soon!!

Here, There and Everywhere

--Yes, Lucy Kaplansky did bring her new CD to the gig, even though it's not officially released until later this month.

--Our buddies The Slip got a distribution deal with EMI up in Canada. Let's hope the cash registers ring a lot up there and everywhere. The Slip deserve it!

--Don't forget that The Holmes Brothers show in April is an absolute lock--meaning that even if you don't know the group, buy tickets to the show because there's no way you won't like them. Visit www.ncfta.org for details.

--I know it's not you, but some people who go to the Narrows talk too loud during the show, disturbing their neighbors. When we get complaints, we ask people--nicely--to lower their voices or take it outside. If you need to engage in a long conversation, we have plenty of space outside the performing area to take care of business.

--I hate it when people shout out requests to performers. Some artists ask the crowd to do this, but I still hate it. Let the performer do his or her job without a hassle. They ain't a jukebox, baby. They usually have a planned set; let 'em stick to it.

--In the back of the Narrows, near the bathrooms, there's a book exchange going on. Take what you need and bring something in for others. I sometimes leave CDs there, too. Take 'em, but bring something in, too!

--Yes, bring your kids to the Narrows if you think they'll like the show. Understand, though, that although we don't sell alcohol, people can bring in their own. Still, the Narrows is far from having a barroom or nightclub atmosphere. All we ask is that you keep your little ones under control.

--We hope to have the elevator in place later this year.