Meanwhile Back At The Narrows....

Still trying to reason with hurricane season in Tampa, FLA. I spotted this t-shirt in a window of "Ybor City," a historic area of Tampa similar to the French Quarter in New Orleans. Ybor City, I learned at the official museum, was founded by a Cuban cigar manufacturer who, in the late 1800s, got fed up with the government there and moved his operation to the outskirts of Tampa. It became the top hand-rolled cigar place in the USA and also was a melting pot for Cuban, Italian and other cultures and music.

These days, it's got a sexy streetscape, with bars, stores, a trolley (actually on tracks; not just a bus dressed up to look like a trolley), an "Improv" comedy place, and heavy metal and blues clubs. And places to buy hand-rolled cigars (I'm bringing some back!).

Here's one part of Ybor City I had to photograph:

But life continues at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River. For example, last Saturday we hosted Melanie. One of my deputy photographers, Kris the Metal Queen, snapped this one of Melanie and her son the sideman:

Tuesday night I was once again at Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa (please see earlier blog entrys). I saw the Chris McCarty Band, which mixes reggae, pop, rock, folk, and soul. I liked them so much I reached my claw into my pocket and found a ten spot to buy their CD "Dreaming in Stereo." Here's a photo of Chris in action:

Public Art in Tampa/Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season

While your humble blogger awaits photos to be emailed to him from the Fall River Festival of the Arts, he amused himself by continuing with vengence his "trying to reason with hurricane season" visit to Tampa, FLA.

Nothing opens a blog better than a little fish gutting, which this guy above is doing at Ballast Point Park in southern Tampa, minutes from Mac Dill Air Force Base, where central command is located for the Iraq war.

Your humble blogger drove down a beautiful street in south Tampa (Bayshore Drive) not knowing that after about 5 miles it literally runs into Mac Dill. Since your blogger is too old to be drafted, he had little fear of the guards grabbing him and throwing him in uniform.

Of course, six months from now that may be different.

The Florida Manatee has quite a presence in Tampa Bay, so much so that the city put up this sign with the do's and don't's of dealing with this giant, sluggish creature. If you look closely, you'll see that it states that nearly every manatee in the area has propeller scars from colliding with drunken motorboat wackos (ok, I made the drunken motorboat wackos stuff up).

But this blog is not really supposed to be about all that. Since the Narrows Center for the Arts is also a center for the visual arts, I thought it might be fun to see some of the "street level" creations available for free in Tampa.

Here's one fronting the Bank of America Plaza in downtown Tampa. It's called "Solstice" and was done by Charles O. Perry.
Mr. Perry's stuff is also displayed at Harvard University, Dartmouth College and many other public locations as far away as Singapore. Sidebar note: the dude has patents on designs of chairs. Cool.

Learn more about this interesting guy by clicking here.

The other public art I photographed in Tampa is "Family of Man," by Geoffrey Naylor. The work, located not far from where the guy was gutting the fish, is described by the Tampa Museum of Art as "minimalist stainless steel artwork" which "depicts a man, a woman and children."

Geoffrey Naylor was a University of Florida professor who died in 1997. One of his other pieces was purchased by David Rockefeller who put it on display at Chase Manhatten Bank in New York City.

Everybody I've Met from Massachusetts is an A-Hole

"Everybody I've met from Massachusetts is an asshole," the pretty blond woman at Skipper's ticket area told me, after I informed her I was from the Narrows in the Bay State, a venue similar to Skipper's except that we're a non-profit and don't serve alcohol.

I told her that I was planning to do a write up on Skipper's, located at 910 Skipper Road, in Tampa, FLA.

After hearing I don't have a Massachusetts accent (due to my Midwestern upbringing and work in broadcasting), she suggested perhaps I wasn't quite the typical Massachusetts resident.

I assured her that, quite to the contrary, I was, and remain, very much an asshole.

"Is it because of the high taxes?" she queried, in a hoarse voice that was getting hoarsier as she tried to shout over the folkie group on stage, Halcyon, cranked mega-loud.

Yes, of course, it's the high taxes, I replied.

With the preliminary pleasantries now history, I found out her name was Ginny and, though she was working the door, she was not technically a Skipper's employee.

But it was okay, since she'd been hanging out there for twenty years. Possession is nine-tenths of the law, someone once said (maybe a lawyer) and Ginny seemed to see Skipper's as one of her prized possessions.

The wall of posters introducing today's blog shows that the Narrows and Skipper's, while a thousand miles and tons of alcohol apart, have a link. If you look closely you'll see stuff from Narrows' alums Chuck Prophet ("I love Chuck Prophet!" Ginny said, breaking out into his song "You Did," which has something to do with putting the bomp into the shooby dooby bomp), Fred Eaglesmith and Tony Furtado. There was even a poster for Roomful of Blues.

But then the similarities radically end. For example, Skipper's has a rather huge tree in its performance area, which is only partially roofed. The crew of Skipper's, of course, uses the tree to hang posters. I like to think we'd do the same at the Narrows if "super tree" somehow burst out of the firmament and violated our mill building's integrity.

Skipper's, unlike the Narrows, has a bar and restaurant. Not pictured is an ATM in the bar that now occupies a spot formerly home to a telephone that may or may not have been used for dopers looking to score. But that was a long time ago, maybe decades, and the ever-vigilant management apparently took action to stop patrons from abusing the premises thusly. I only bring it up because there's something poetic about an ATM replacing an (alleged) dope phone. Sounds like something in a Jimmy Buffet song.

A word about the Halcyon group, which had packed the place.

They appear to be a regional trio, with a lot of energy, stellar harmonies and a particularly lesbian following. That's why, according to the scuttlebutt I picked up hanging out, the place was doing so well business-wise that night.

The lesbian link was also probably why a patron came up asked me for whom I was taking photos. "Is it a gay or lesbian publication?" the woman asked. "No, just a blog," I shouted back. She told me that she was a photographer too but "always got permission before taking a photo." I mumbled something back about her being a better person than me or that I really wasn't much of a photographer and walked away, pretending I was busy with my equipment (a tiny Canon digital camera). Whatever happened to freedom? I mused, particularly since Skipper's may be gay friendly but it is not a "gay bar."

I got the point, though. And, being from the Massachusetts/Rhode Island area, I appreciated it, too: careful, because some of these women may still be in the "closet." That's why--sensitive blogger I am--I've avoided head-on photos of any patrons, except for Ginny who told me she was married to a guy.

Thanks to Ginny for showing me around, and thanks to everyone I ran into at Skipper's, which is a must-visit if you're into Americana roots music (sometimes still called folk) and you're passing through Tampa.

By the way, this Saturday, after your blogger's plane is "wheels up," Skipper's is celebrating its 25th anniversary. To mark the occasion, I actually reached into my wallet and bought this t-shirt:

Searching for Americana in FLA

Your very humble blogger skipped the action at the Narrows and the Fall River Festival of the Arts to fly down to Tampa, FLA for a week of trying to reason with hurricane season (thanks Jimmy).

So I grabbed a Southwest flight out of Greene Saturday morning and high-tailed it to Tampa. One of the highlights of the flight (other than taking the photo at 10 million feet above
mother earth and having some guy sitting to my right sniff his nose loudly every 30 seconds for an hour), was to hear a Southwest crew member sing a promotional song about Southwest Airlines, using the melody from the Flintstones cartoon show.

I am staying at the home of my brother, who lives in a gated community. I took this photo out his back door to show you the pond where a "cute little baby alligator lives," quoting my sister-in-law. The gated community keeps nasty people away, but can't do diddley about animals known to swallow dogs.

It's a rugged scene down here, baby.

But the point of this exercise is to check out a legendary venue which a member of the group Chatham County Line told me is pretty much the place to play in FLA.

That venue: Skipper's Smokehouse, located at 910 Skipper Road, Tampa.

Skipper's books many of the same acts as the Narrows Center for the Arts.

But more of that in my next entry, when your "Backstage at the Narrows" blogger goes "Backstage at Skipper's," led by an apparent longtime denizen of Skipper's, and former rock singer, the very lovely (and funny) Ginny.

Bellevue Cadillac Kicks Off Festival of the Arts Weekend

Rock, blues and swing masters Bellevue Cadillac performed at the Narrows Friday night, kicking off the Festival of the Arts Weekend. Up above one of the kids in the audience gets into the act!


You gotta dig those snappy styles the band sports!

Remember, on Sunday the Fall River Festival of the Arts is FREE, and will feature Duke Robillard, The Slip, Susan Cowsill and many more. The shows are in DOWNTOWN FALL RIVER in the streets. Visit www.frfa.org for showtimes etc.

Your humble blogger will not be joining you since I am writing this from sunny Tampa, FLA from where I will be reporting for the next week. Nonetheless, I hope to post some photos from Sunday's celebration.

Sarah Borges Ship Starting to Come In

The word we're getting from Sarah Borges' camp is that her song "Daniel Lee" has been chosen as the lead song on "This Is Americana Vol.2," which we're told is available at the counters of Borders bookstores. It only costs $1.98 and proceeds will go to the National Association of Recording Merchandisers Scholarship Fund.

We also learned that Sarah has been nominated for 3 Boston Music Awards including Best Debut Album for "Silver City." She also got a great write up in Hollywoodreporter.com, which you can only access if you subscribe, and was the talk of Nashville last week at the Americana Music Conference.

Way to go Sarah!!! Great news for this exceptional talent from Taunton, MA.

We like to think that the Narrows played a small role in the Sarah Borges story (the photo is her signing an autograph after a recent Narrows gig).

Quite frankly, your humble blogger believes that "Silver City" may be one of the best CDs he's ever heard. And I'm not kidding.

She returns to the Narrows on Saturday, November 19.

Pre-Show Ping Pong? Why Not?

North Carolina bluegrassers Chatham County Line played their first gig at the Narrows Wednesday night--and we were impressed.

Of course, their playing was great. But we also like the fact that they think "outside the box." Specifically, before the show the guys set up a ping pong table in the parking area next to the Narrows! They travel with paddles, ball and net and try to find an appropriate table wherever they play. Here are some photos of them in action pre-show:












Of course, all ping pong games must come to an end, and the show must go on!

A group out of Amherst, Massachusetts, The Amity Front, opened the show:

RIP Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, who was scheduled to play the Narrows earlier this year, passed away on Saturday.

His show at the Narrows had to be cancelled because of his health.

The Providence Journal did a story on Gate's passing in Tuesday's paper, and spoke with Narrows president Patrick Norton:

Patrick Norton, president of the Narrows Center for the Arts, in Fall River, saw Brown numerous times over the years, starting at the 1992 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. "He was one of the most amazing musicians I'd ever seen," Norton said, citing Brown's ability to play guitar and violin, and leap from country to Cajun to rock to blues to jump music and waltzes.

Norton got to meet Brown a few times over the years and described him as "always a very gracious, gentle man."

Finally, after years of trying, Norton booked Brown to play at the Narrows Center in February of this year. But Brown's health prevented him from making it to the show. "He was just doing fly-ins at that point," Norton said. "He'd just done a weekend in New York, and it was just clear that he wasn't going to be able to do it." Brown, an inveterate road traveler, had been performing while on oxygen for at least a year by that point, Norton says. "He was playing out the string the hard way."

Sometimes, a performer's death can spur a critical reexamination and a popular resurgence. "I hope that's the case with Gatemouth," Norton says, "because he deserves to be heard. . . . He's an American treasure."

Walking Man

Carl De Moor walks around Boston and creates art with his camera.

We'll see the results at the Narrows beginning September 20.

"My style of shooting consists of long walks around Boston, usually in the mornings on the weekends, during which I simply look around, exploring the streets and alleys, and just responding to the things I find," he said.

"I respond most strongly to objects or scenes with strong elements of design and shape; I seldom photograph people right now, though that may change."

For example, this is a photo of traffic cones:



"For my photography, I use a digital camera (Canon Digital Rebel) to capture the images and Photoshop to process them. My current style is more or less abstract, close up studies of objects I find walking around Boston," he said.

He's new to the photo art business, and hasn't yet quit his day job on the faculty in the psychiatry department at Harvard Medical School and in the clinical research program at Boston's Children's Hospital. He has a B.S. in biology from San Diego State University--though he started there as an art major--and an M.S. and Ph.D. in biostatistics from the University of Washington.

His first juried art show was earlier this year.

This one is called "beer foam and asphalt."


Drink up and come to the show!

Wonderful Wednesday

Believe it or not, we at the Narrows have a bluegrass show this Wednesday night with the North Carolina group Chatham County Line.

With the high cost of oil, etc., one of the ways we keep the price down for our shows (check and compare) is by sometimes bringing in groups that are on a travel day, and really could fit in a show and earn some dough, even at a lesser amount.

Anyway, that's one of the reasons why we sometimes go beyond the standard Friday and Saturday night gigs.

As you may know from reading earlier entries in this blog, Chatham County Line views itself as different from many other bluegrass groups because they write their own material and work to avoid cliches that they feel plague the genre. They see themselves as a "rock mind trapped in a bluegrass body."

Want more info?

You can hear a chat with the band by clicking here.

You can read a review of their latest CD by clicking here.

Hope to see you at the show!

Photos from Folks Together & MayBees Show

Folks Together had their CD release concert at the Narrows for their new recording "Pilgrims" on Saturday night.

Here are some photos taken by your humble blogger (h.b.).

The pictures feature a semi-group shot with (from left to right) Vincent Pasternack, Rick Bellaire, and Donna and Jeff Olson, leaving out the bass man/singer John Dunn. But we got a cameo of him playing his bass down below, and we couldn't resist getting a shot of Vinnie bearing down on a guitar, left, one of many stringed animals that he's mastered.

A new group, called the MayBees opened the night. Please forgive your h.b. (humble blogger) for any and all imperfections. And feel free to copy these photos and use as you see fit. All we ask is that you credit the Narrows Center for the Arts. The one below is your h.b. doing a freak thang.

Folks Together CD Release Concert Tonight

You are most cordially invited to see Folks Together, in concert, tonight (Saturday night), marking the release of their new CD, "Pilgrims."

Tickets are still very much available. For more information, click here.

This is a show to go to if you enjoy fairly relaxed folk music that is still passionate and inventive. Feel free to bring the young ones to the show, because this is certainly a family affair.

See you tonight at the Narrows!

Sad News, New Orleans-Style

Very sad to report that the Walter "Wolfman" Washington show scheduled for tonight (Friday) has been postponed until March.

The unofficial word is that Walter had to get back to his home in New Orleans to deal with damage from the storm and flood. His band had similar problems.

While we don't have specifics, here is a statement from the agency, Piedmont Talent, that books the Wolfman and other artists from the Big Easy. We think it says it all:

Many of these artists had their homes and property destroyed, so even though they physically escaped without harm, their lives have been permantly changed. Also, since many of these artists made the bulk of their income performing in New Orleans, they have suffered an economic blow that will not heal for quite some time.

Phone Home From Far Away---PLEEZ!

Finally got a chance to listen to “Brand New Stranger” by JJ Baron, who held his CD release party at the Narrows in June.

I heard a sample of the CD earlier in the spring, and man the stuff was great.

If you've come to a lot of shows at the Narrows, chances are you've seen JJ open for somebody or headline.

The kid's got what it takes. The question is, will he waste his talent or do what it takes to build a nationwide, perhaps international audience?

But first the record:

JJ knows how to write, play and sing a tune—and he knows how to surround himself with talented players, including Slaid Cleaves, Jim Weider (The Band), Stu Kimball (Bob Dylan), Buddy Cage (New Riders of the Purple Sage) and others. I don't know if WUMB in Boston is playing this record, BUT THEY SHOULD BE! And so should the folks at UMASS Dartmouth and URI etc. My god, this record is instantly likeable. My only problem--a minor one--is that JJ's voice needs to be recorded with a bit more variety e.g. interesting harmonies, different microphone positioning, that kind of thing.

Now a note to JJ: Leave this area! Take this record on the road, or it will be ignored. Damn, I looked at his concert schedule and if I see "Rhode Island," "New York," "Massachusetts" or "New Hampshire" much more, I'm going to lose it. Listen JJ--you gotta go solo, except for New England and New York. Very few folkie/Americana artists take a band on the road, so if that's what's holding you back, fergetabout it! You're a fine guitar player all by your lonesome.

When you see JJ, tell him "Kid, we love you, but get the hell out of here!"Maybe then he will listen.

So, congrats to JJ and thanks for using the Narrows' freight elevator as your album cover!

Folk, Sixties Style

Our good friends Folks Together have their record release party this Saturday night at the Narrows for their brand new CD "Pilgrims."

I sampled an early mix (as reported earlier on this blog) and could hear that they are continuing their tradition of mixing tasty classics with thoughtful, intelligent and tuneful new compositions.

If you are unfamiliar with them, they have a kind of 1960s folkie feel to their approach, yet they are as contemporary as Slaid Cleaves.

This will be a relaxed, easy-going evening, since most of Folks Together stuff is mid-tempo or are ballads. Yet, the group has a warm, upbeat sense of humor that makes watching them perform almost a family affair. Certainly, bring the kids to this one!

FREE MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No Depression magazine, the bible for the folkie/Americana community, is now offering free mp3s and some streams on their website.

They plan to change it every couple months. This month they feature Session Americana, which is coming to the Narrows October 1.

Also Nickel Creek (who are on the cover of No Depression and are in the photo below), Delbert McClinton, our old friend Stephen Bruton (one of the first artists to play the Narrows at our current locations; he's got a hot new CD out. He's in the photo over yonder), and Richard Thompson.

Find the music by clicking here.

Artist Michele Soares: I Have My Heart Out On My Sleeve And That Can Be Dangerous

On September 20, the Narrows welcomes visual artist Michele Soares. She's 28 years old, and calls herself an "abstract landscape painter" and "fiber artist." She's a graduate of UMASS/Dartmouth and has a degree in textile design and fiber arts.

"In my paintings I use yarn, fabric, paper, dyes and inks. I love the texture and shapes that these embellishments create on canvas," she says. "The yarn helps convey more drama and tension. I'm also a hand loom weaver creating trendy scarves, table runners, pillows, and handbags with my woven cloth."

Many artists link their work to emotional pain they've experienced. Does she? "Yes, I've had a very serious and emotional life so far. I believe certain events in my life have also made me begin to paint. There is just a need to get the emotions out and painting is my outlet."

She has a brother who is also a painter. "We are extreme opposites in style and medium," she says. But he did inspire her to begin painting.

Speaking of inspiration, Michele gets her inspiration from her love for music and nature. "These two things help me express my emotions on canvas. My work is a reflection of my thoughts, fears and dreams."

Please come to her show, but understand that showing her work is very painful for her. "I love doing it and I love the feedback and great compliments. But sometimes you get snickers and rude comments. Everyone has an opinion and sometimes it hurts to hear them. Exposing my work sometimes feels like I have my heart out on my sleeve and that can be dangerous."

Ani DiFranco, Alex Chilton & This & That

Ani DiFranco, who has a place in New Orleans, is doing better than reported, according to her righteousbabe.com website, which posted this message:

In case you were wondering Ani is OK. She evacuated her home-away-from-home in New Orleans the day before Katrina hit. Despite the article in Rolling Stone she is not too distraught to speak, but understandably a bit distracted. In fact we are happy to report that all of our extended Righteous Babe Records family and friends from the area are safe and healthy. Our hearts are with all those affected by the storm.

That picture of Ani, by the way, was taken from her website, and is not a post-Katrina photo.

VillageVoice.com reports that former Box Tops/Big Star leader Alex Chilton remains missing in the wake of Katrina.

This & That: Your humble blogger is on the road this weekend, taking the blogger daughter back to school in the Berkshires, where your blogger resided 25 years ago. Below is the h.b. (humble blogger) in front of the Pittsfield, MA apartment he used to live in. The blogger's daughter said "So dad, you basically lived in the bad part of town."

Pittsfield, on a Saturday afternoon, by the way, is fairly deserted. A good number of stores are vacant, while there are a lot of attractive new buildings. The people of Pittsfield clearly have been fighting the economic problems that have plagued the community for decades.

New Orleans Musicians At Narrows Friday, Sept. 9

New Orleans-based Walter "Wolfman" Washington and the Roadmasters WILL perform at the Narrows on Friday, September 9.

We don't have any details on what the status of their homes, etc. is at this time. But we hope that everyone will come to the show and show support for New Orleans music in its time of crisis.

The Wolf and his crew have been nominated for a Big Easy Entertainment Award in the rhythm and blues category, joining Dr. John and the Neville Brothers. So the show will be top-notch!

Tickets are still very much available.

New Orleans Musician Fund At Preservation Hall

Thanks to Sheila Lennon who blogs at projo.com for this one:

Preservation Hall has established a special fund to help New Orleans musicians in the wake of Katrina.

For more info click here.

Interviews with Susan Cowsill, Dr. John and Ani DiFranco

As you may have heard, Fats Domino and his wife were considered missing in New Orleans. It's now being reported that he was rescued. No word about the status of his wife.

Also,

Rollingstone.com has posted interviews with New Orleans residents Susan Cowsill, Dr. John and Ani DiFranco.

To go to the page, click here.

New Orleans' Dirty Dozen Brass Band OK

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, which has played the Narrows and is scheduled to return Friday, November 18, is ok. The band is based in New Orleans. Their agency, Rosebud, released this statement on their website:

Along with people across the country and around the world, we at the Rosebud Agency are deeply moved and saddened by the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina and the uncertain future that so many victims now face. As a response to those who have expressed concern, we are relieved and grateful to advise that BeauSoleil and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, who had homes and families in New Orleans and the vicinity, are safe and relocated. Both artists will continue their performance schedules for dates outside of the affected area and, of course, there is no news yet as to what will become of shows planned within the area struck by the hurricane.

Susan Cowsill Seeks Shelter from the Storm

New Orleans-based Susan Cowsill is slated to play the Fall River Festival of the Arts on Sunday, September 18. Of course, Susan is from the famed Cowsill family, pop hitmakers in the 1960s who happened to live in Newport, RI.

Susan, over the years, has played in critical faves the Continental Drifters and the Psycho Sisters (both of which also featuring Susan's sister-in-law Vickie Peterson of the Bangles). These days she's got her own band and a new CD coming out in October.

We were worried about her status because of the hurricane. So we went to her website and found this post from Russ Broussard, her musical colleague:

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 12:53 pm Post subject: Katrina

Hey y'all. Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers. They are really helping. We are very fortunate to have been able to get out of town before Katrina hit. We are extremely fortunate to have so many wonderful, loving, kind, and generous friends and family. We are having a momentary pause today and will begin sorting through our options of what to do and where to do it. In the meantime, we are staying with our friends Pat and Sally outside of Nashville who have opened their farmhouse to us and our other refugee/friends/ex-Continental Drifter manager, Scott Aiges and his family. We will keep everyone posted on our whereabouts and decisions as they change. Again though, please know and feel our gratitude for all your prayers/loving thoughts. The entire area of Souteast La., Mississippi, and Alabama coasts can use all of our loving thoughts and strength sent their way. Governor Blanco has declared today as a day of prayer, sooooo, shall we? Send Divine/Perfect Wisdom all of the victims' way as they make decisions they never ever thought they'd have to make in their lifetimes. Peace and deep breaths couldn't hurt either. Thanks y'all. With Peace, Love, and Gratitude, Russ Broussard

(Susan Cowsill photo from the Continental Drifters website. Photo by Matthew Aron.)