Country Comfort

Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer Richie Furay reminded us why country rock is one of the most enjoyable genres, particularly when played well with a lot of simple harmonies.

He and his band (featuring one of his daughters as back-up singer) brought the house down at the Narrows Saturday in his first visit to our fab listening pad.

He played tracks from his former bands Buffalo Springfield and Poco, and new material.

By the way, these days his full-time gig is as a pastor of a church near Denver. Your humble blogger, in fact, walked into a prayer session with the pastor and his band backstage shortly before they started the show.

The prayer worked!

And Now for Something Completely Different...

It was kinda 3 chords and the truth at the Narrows--well, maybe not.

Our beloved stage featured the masked and mysterious surf masters Los Straitjackets doing the instrumental rockabilly sound on a rainy Friday night. It was the 2nd visit for the group, which speaks Spanish on-stage and never appears without their Mexican-wrestling inspired disguises--although your humble blogger saw them uncovered before the show. But I'm sworn to secrecy regarding their true identies. Let's just say let sleeping masks lie.

Openers were Providence 's Mericans, with a Byrds-like flyte that gave the crowd delight.

Club Helsinki in Great Barrington Closing

A number of Narrows' artists--Eilen Jewell and Sarah Borges immediately come to mind--also have regularly played Club Helsinki in Great Barrington, MA, way out there in the Berkshires.

Club Helsinki is closing the end of the month; your humble blogger knows not the reason.

Maybe something on their website although I didn't see details.

Red Molly Makes Narrows Debut

A group your humble blogger has been hearing great things about, Red Molly, made their Narrows debut Friday night. And they did not disappoint, with their rootsy sound, beautiful harmonies, and gentle sense of humor.

And, for their debut, they also drew a nice sized crowd!

It was broadcast on mvyradio.com and should be posted in their archives soon.

Cowtown to Our Town

Because the Narrows is dedicated to everybody in the area and is committed to sharing the arts, the annual Narrows Festival of the Arts will take place once again--this year, Sunday, September 13.

Yep, it's free.

One of the highlights is the return of the internationally loved Hot Club of Cowtown, pictured above.

If memory serves, we hosted these folks a time or two, then they split up, with vocalist/fiddler Elana James starting her own group, which also played the Narrows.

We're glad to see they're back as a unit with their modern take on Western Swing, Dawg Music or whatever one wants to call it.

Pencil the Narrows Festival into your calendar. Starts at 11 a.m. and goes until the sun goes down.

On the Waterfront with the Duke

Your humble blogger, felled by a sudden back ailment, didn't make the free Duke Robillard show last Friday sponsored by the Narrows outside down the street at the Gates of the City.

Fortunately, a sharp-eyed Mike Moran took this shot of the Duke looking quite dapper.

The Dapper Duke!

Founder of the New Riders Passes

John Dawson, who founded Narrows fave New Riders of the Purple Sage, died recently. He founded the group with Jerry Garcia.

More here.

Maria Muldaur Works with Narrows Alums

Maria Muldaur, who makes her Narrows debut on October 31, has a new CD coming out featuring Narrows alums John Sebastian and Dan Hicks.

And she's returning to the old jug band sound.

More here.