Slaid Cleaves Give JJ Baron Thumbs Up

You're invited to celebrate the release of JJ Baron's new CD this Friday night at the Narrows! I've heard several cuts off it, and it's great!

Slaid Cleaves performs on the CD, as do a number of other notables. Here's what Slaid says about JJ:

"It's hard to believe someone so young could be so talented. JJ reminds me of myself 20 years ago. Except he has a lot more talent than I did. JJ's got the gift. He knows how to craft songs that give you the goose bumps, he plays a mean guitar, and he has a great attitude. In the next few years, the folk world will come to know JJ Baron, and I'll be saying, 'I told you so!' "

It will be a great show Friday night, and we hope you'll be there!

Haven't Bought your Buckwheat Zydeco Ticket Yet? Read What You May Miss

Buckwheat Zydeco is coming to the Narrows on Thursday, June 2nd, and tickets are moving, but are still available.

Here's a review of a Buckwheat Zydeco show earlier this year to whet our appetites.

It's from zydecoroad.com. Click here to read the write up. Then get your tickets before they're gone.

Projo Photo Contest Picture Features Holmes Brother at Narrows Event

You may remember back in March we produced a tribute show to Sister Rosetta Tharpe. One of the featured acts was the Holmes Brothers.

Actor/photographer Keith Jochim of Warwick was at the show and snapped a black and white photo that won the annual Providence Journal photo contest.

The shot features bassist Sherman Holmes.

Unfortunately, there's no direct link to the photo, but go to www.projo.com and scroll down until you find it. Don't know how long the Projo will display the piece on its webpage, so if you can't find it, sorry about that.

Rumor: Sarah Borges To Open for Rosie Flores

It's not yet confirmed at this writing, but the word I get is that Sarah Borges, whose debut CD is being celebrated across the country, will open for Rosie Flores on Saturday, July 23rd.

Sarah and her band opened for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals recently at the Narrows, and tore the place down!

If you like twangy country that KICKS ASS, you'll love Sarah Borges and her CD "Silver City," which is named after her hometown, Taunton.

By day, Sarah is an admissions counselor at Berklee School of Music in Boston. At night she becomes an angst-filled, in-your-face country/rockabilly singer, who somehow mixes hard rock sensibilities with a traditional country feel.

July 23 will be a special evening at the Narrows, with Sarah and Rosie!

Country Music Television (CMT) High on Hayes Carll

As you may have heard, Hayes Carll is coming to the Narrows on Sunday, June 12th. You may not have heard of him, but his CD "Little Rock" is one of the hottest in the Americana genre.

Even the mainstream media are taking notice. Here's something from CMT.com:

Hayes Carll, Little Rock (Highway 87): I still say this guy is going to be a huge star, and I suppose I'll have to be happy for him when that day arrives. But in the meantime, there are very few songwriters I'd rather hear perform in a bar. His self-deprecating wisecracks from the stage are as charming as the colorful songs he writes, and that's saying something. If you enjoy dry humor, get this.

Review of Chip Taylor, Carrie Rodriguez's Latest CD

Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez are coming to the Narrows on Friday, June 10th. Their latest CD was just released, and I wrote a review for the San Antonio-based website americanaroots.com.

You can link to the review right here.

Hayes Carll Coming to Narrows June 12

Although things are kinda quiet at the Narrows right now, as the volunteers get re-introduced to their families over the Memorial Day weekend, hot shows are afoot!

Thursday, June 2nd, we feature the great Buckwheat Zydeco! Tickets are moving on this one already, so you might want to get your tickets soon before they're gone.

Friday, June 3rd is a record release party for our adopted son, JJ Baron. JJ has got some wonderful songs on his new CD and some great players, including Jim Weider, Buddy Cage and Slaid Cleaves.

Saturday and Sunday feature a play called "The Belle of Amherst." Then back to the music:

Thursday, June 9, Graham Parker returns, but this time with the band The Figgs. This will be a rockin' show!

Friday, June 10, Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez, the power couple in the Americana genre. Their latest CD, "Red Dog Tracks," just released, is getting critical acclaim, and is already moving on the Americana charts! In fact, last we checked it was #4!

Saturday, June 11, Greg Trooper with opener Dulcie Taylor. Greg's latest CD has been zooming up the charts across the country for awhile. He's played the Narrows before, and knocked 'em dead!

AND...this just in, on Sunday, June 12, we'll be presenting Texan Hayes Carll. At this writing, this is not on the official schedule. Learn about him at www.hayescarll.com. By the way, his latest CD, "Little Rock," is right behind Chip and Carrie on the Americana chart.

Whew!

Review of Jim Weider's New CD "Percolator"

Does Jim Weider need an introduction? Probably, although he replaced roots legend Robbie Robertson on lead guitar in The Band in 1985.

Maybe you saw him at the Narrows earlier this year. Maybe you saw him at the Bob Dylan Tribute at Madison Square Garden (dubbed “Bobfest”) in 1992 playing with The Band. Maybe you were at Bill Clinton’s “Unofficial Blue Jean Bash” in 1993, along with Jim Weider, Bob Dylan, Steven Stills and Dr. John. Or maybe you spotted him on the A & E Biography show about The Band.

Or maybe you studied guitar using one of Jim’s instructional videos.

Jim’s a master of the Telecaster, which, thanks to Texas native Buck Owens, became “the instrument of choice in the country field,” according to author John Einarson in his book “Desperados, The Roots of Country Rock.” “The thing about a Telecaster…,” he quotes Eagle Bernie Leadon as saying, “is that it’s remarkably comfortable for an acoustic player to make the transition to electric guitar. A Les Paul or Stratocaster is more suited for rock. You can play most of the same styles on a Tele that you do on an acoustic, and it just sounds great. It has to do with the tone. Leo Fender designed the Strat to be a country instrument, but over time the Tele caught on more for country music.”

Which finally brings us to Jim Weider’s new CD “Percolator,” which has plenty of “Tele” on it—however, it’s not a country record. Oops!

“Percolator” is an instrumental album that’s in the “jam” style so popular with many of the same people who would have boogied to the Grateful Dead were they alive during the Dead’s heyday. The recently departed Phish and “Martin, Medeski and Wood” might be described as jam bands. (I don’t mean to be pedantic, but I keep running into people who’ve never heard of the whole jam band thing.) John Medeski, by the way, is playing B3 organ all over “Percolator.”

(And I have to mention that bass legend Tony Levin is on several cuts. Levin has played with everybody great--John Lennon (that was him playing on “Double Fantasy”), Yes, James Taylor, Lou Reed, Buddy Rich (?), Ringo Starr, Tom Waits and many more.)

This is a top-notch CD if you dig funky guitar instrumental recordings, or even if you like to have on quality background music while you’re at work. If you get a chance to see Jim Weider don’t miss it. He’s based in the Woodstock, New York area, so you’ll probably have a better chance seeing him if you live in the Northeast.

NOTE FOR GUITAR FANATICS: In the CD booklet, Jim lists the guitars he plays on the recording. They include: a 1952 Telecaster, a Flying Finn Telecaster (with humbuckers), a 1960 Guild Starfire, and a Gibson Sonoma Acoustic. Not being a guitar fanatic, I guess that’s good stuff!

Silver City Means Taunton

One of the hottest Americana CDs across the country is by Boston-based Sarah Borges, who recently performed with her band at the Narrows.

The name of the CD is "Silver City," which I thought was sort of a Western-style thing, like "Dodge City," or something like that.

Duh.

Silver City is right up the road from the Narrows--Taunton, Massachusetts. Sarah noted during her performance that she's actually from Taunton, which is known as "the silver city," and that's where she got the title of her album.

In life, sometimes the answer lies right in front of your nose. Duh.

We Talk With Greg Trooper

Greg Trooper is returning to the Narrows on Saturday, June 11th!

He has one of the hottest Americana CDs in the nation. It's called "Make It Through This World," and it's receiving rave reviews.

We emailed Greg with some questions about the CD and other topics.

Question: The new album seems to be a breakthrough for you, from a commercial point of view. If that's true, what are the benefits of having some commercial success?

Well, it's too early to tell if it's a commercial success but if that does happen I'm going to the dentist straight away.

Question: Are you thinking about your next recording? Are you writing?

Haven't been writing much lately. Been busy touring in support of the CD and don't write a whole lot on the road.

Question: Much has been made about your working with legendary producer Dan Penn. Do you think you'll do your next record with him?

I will make my next 100 records with Dan if the opportunity presents itself.

Question: What music are your listening to these days? Any recommendations?

Can't get enough of Nick Lowe "The Convincer" and just bought John Prine's latest. It's gorgeous.

Dan Hicks Loans Guitar to Jimmy Page!!

Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks are coming to the Narrows on Thursday, June 16.

I thought you'd enjoy this little tidbit I spotted on the Dan Hicks website, www.danhicks.net.


From Rolling Stone Magazine online:“When guitar [sic] JIMMY PAGE began work on a new album on which each track would feature him playing a different, rare guitar, he was quick to contact DAN HICKS. Hicks had an exclusive 1956 Gibson, given to him decades ago by a fan who claimed the instrument had belonged toCHUCK BERRY. Hicks, at work putting the last touches on his upcoming Selected Shorts (due November 9th), sent the Gibson off to Page's London studio . . . “

All About Jazz Webzine Write-Up On Buckwheat Zydeco

On Thursday, June 2nd, the Narrows welcomes Buckwheat Zydeco!

Read about him in this write-up in allaboutjazz.com.

Tickets are still available for the show, but they are moving rapidly. You might want to get yours in advance.

Visit www.ncfta.org for more information about getting tickets.

Chris Wood Show Not Happening

It turns out that Chris Wood will not be playing the Narrows in June, as previously announced. Watch this space for future announcements regarding another date.

Chris Wood, as you may know, plays in the jam band Medeski, Martin and Wood. But he's doing an Americana roots thing with his brother Oliver.

We hope to bring the Wood Brothers to the Narrows soon!

New Orleans Roots Radio Reviews New Buckwheat Zydeco CD

Thursday, June 2, the Narrows hosts Buckwheat Zydeco, just about the time Buckwheat releases a brand new CD.

New Orleans Roots Radio WWOZ already has a review on-line. Read it here!

Tickets Still Available for Saturday Night's Show

Saturday night we feature Grace Potter & the Nocturnals and Sarah Borges, who has an extremely hot CD across the country. She should have it for sale at the show.

Advance ticket sales have been healthy, particulary since these are young performers who are just starting to generate buzz (Remember how we had the Duhks before they were one of the hottest roots acts in the country? Same thing for Ollabelle.)

Nonetheless, we expect to have tickets available at the door. So bring a date, your spouse, your partner, your kids, your friends. Remember, we don't sell alcohol, but you can bring it with you if you are of legal age. We do sell coffee, etc.

See you Saturday night at the Narrows!

Dulcie Taylor Interviewed by FolkWax

Dulcie Taylor, who is opening for Greg Trooper at the Narrows on Saturday, June 11, is interviewed by FolkWax.

Read it here.

Narrows Artists Continue to Dominate Americana Chart

The Americana Radio Chart almost looks like the Narrows Center for the Arts music schedule!

Let's see--there's Sarah Borges, who's playing the Narrows on Saturday night. Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez, who are playing the Narrows on Friday, June 10th. Greg Trooper, who's playing Saturday, June 11th. And that's just for starters!

There's Jimmy LaFave, Mary Gauthier, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, the Red Stick Ramblers, the Duhks, Donna the Buffalo, Tish Hinojosa and Chatham County Line.

JJ Baron Wants to Own a Home in 5 Years!

Friday, June 3, JJ Baron has a CD release party at the Narrows. JJ's new CD features great tunes and great players, including Jim Weider, formerly of The Band.

If you come to a lot of Narrows' shows, you've probably seen JJ open, as a solo artist or with a backing group. We wanted you to get to know this rising young artist a bit better, before he's so famous he won't even answer our questions.

Question: How did you learn to play and sing so well?

A. I played and PLAYED the guitar and sang and sang and sang. It's a very very lonesome job, a lot of ALONE time....

Question: Your songs seem well-crafted. Does songwriting take a lot of time?

A. I started writing before I could play guitar, lyrics and poems, songs with melodies in my head...I started at 11 or 12. I use to rap with a turntable. Those were the days!

Question: Are you searching for a major label? Or are you planning to go the "indie" route for your recordings?

A. Searching? No, we have an aim and destination when it comes to a major label.

Question: What music are you listening to these days? Any artists you would recommend to the readers?

A. Local Artist: Michael Troy, Ryan Fitzsimmons, Jenna Nicholls, The Lingo,Lindsay Mac.....National: Tom Waits, Ryan Adams, Doug Burr, Slaid Cleaves, Townes Van Zandt, Paul Westerberg, Iron and Wine.....

Question: Those of us who have been following your career know that you have been considering moving outside of New England. Any plans in the works right now?

A. Boston or New York, New York or Boston??? That is the question....maybe Nashville for a little while, but not to go there and struggle; maybe to hang there for awhile....

Question: Where do you want to be in your music career 5 years from now?

A. I want to be able to buy a house within 5 years. I'm 22 now and by the timeI'm 23 I hope to be touring nonstop/writing and recording.... those things are in the works right now, which is nice! Five years I hope to be able to make a good living. I think it will be an adventure!

Professor Louis and the Crowmatix CD Review

Here's a little review I did for americanaroots.com of the latest CD from Narrows faves "Professor Louis and the Crowmatix."

Get the review by clicking right here.

Narrows Faves The Holmes Brothers Get Blues Award

Our buddies The Holmes Brothers received a W.C. Handy Award recently. The W.C. Handy is sometimes called the "blues Grammy."

Anyway, they got the "blues band" award.

Congrats to the guys!

For the complete list of winners, go to
www.blues.org/about/news.php4?Id=132