Give A Listen To Holmes Brothers Via Amazon

The Holmes Brothers, coming to the Narrows in April, have a new album out that's causing quite a stir.

Now hear some of it courtesy of amazon.com by clicking here.

Get your tickets soon for this show by visiting www.ncfta.org.

Photos from Recent Shows at the Narrows

Hope you enjoy these photos from recent shows at the Narrows.

Dave Alvin rocks out and gets down with his Strat (?).

James McMurtry blazing out on one of his many guitars for the night

The Wood Brothers mixing folk and jazz.

Henry Butler, mixing New Orleans boogie, blues, soul and even classical.

News Flash: Holmes Brothers Named By Rolling Stone

Check out www.rollingstone.com for the editor's hot picks for the week.

Right up there is our very own Holmes Brothers' version of Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me."

Learn more about the Holmes Brothers' show in April at the Narrows at www.ncfta.org

Narrows Alums Doing Well On The Charts

If you check out the chart at www.americanaradio.org you'll notice that Narrows "alums" are doing very well.

Hmmm, let's see...the Holmes Brothers, coming this April for, I think, their 3rd Narrows show, are at #9. If you've attended a recent show at the Narrows, you know I have publicly proclaimed the Holmes Brothers' show a "lock"--meaning that even if you don't know their music, you are guaranteed a great time. (I was right about Old School Freight Train in January!) More info at www.ncfta.org.

The Duhks, #26

Eilen Jewell, #31

Jim Lauderdale, #33

Chip Taylor, #34

Chris Smither, #38

Carrie Rodriguez, #40.

Indulge Me--This Is A Cute Photo

I've been wanting to post this photo for a long time. This is Narrows' president Patrick Norton and his wife Maggie--The "first couple of the arts" in Southern New England.

I took the shot on a whim during a recent concert.

Dave Alvin & James McMurtry Sell Out

The Alvin/McMurtry show Friday night has sold out.

Thanks to everyone for making this show a financial success. Now it's up to the artists to make it a memorable evening.

For those who missed out--check out the schedule. We have a great show Saturday night!!!

Visit www.ncfta.org.

Some New Late Spring/Early Summer Shows

May 18
Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem

The Boston Globe described their sound thusly:"neo old-timey with cosmopolitan splashes of contemporary pop and jazz." By the way, Rani Arbo is a person; Daisy Mayhem is the band. Learn more at www.raniarbo.com.

June 1
Eilen Jewell Band
w/ Paul Burch

If you've been following the doings at the Narrows, you know that we claim to have discovered one of the hottest up-and-coming-young-Boston-area-based performers on the national Americana music scene, Eilen Jewell. Her debut album has charted nationally, and she's created a buzz in these parts with her understated take on "cosmic American music," to, I think, borrow a phrase from Gram Parsons. Visit www.eilenjewell.com. Paul Burch has been kinda doing the same thing, but down Nashville way. He's worked with the greats, including Tim O'Brien, Mark Knopfler and Ralph Stanley. www.paulburch.com.


June 22
Walter "Wolfman" Washington

This is the Wolf's second visit to the Narrows, bringing his soulful New Orleans guitar stylings. He's a snappy dresser, too. Check him out: www.walterwolfmanwashington.com.

Our President Gets Profiled

The Narrows' esteemed president and booking guy, Patrick Norton, was profiled in SouthCoast Today.

Plus, your humble blogger's photography was also utilized in the story.

Before you get to the story link, I should let you know that the photo features volunteer Laura McNamara, musician Leo Kottke (with fork in hand) and Patrick Norton. Maybe my eyes are bad, but I couldn't find a photo caption.

That said, the link to the profile is here.

Chris Smither at the Narrows:Photo

What can you say? Chris Smither did his thing to a sell-out crowd Saturday night.

The Holmes Brothers CD Getting Radio Excited

The Holmes Brothers' new CD is one of the most added CDs to Americana radio.

Visit www.americanaradio.org.

A New Lock

Your humble blogger went out on a limb when I proclaimed on stage months ago that Friday night's show featuring Old School Freight Train was a "lock"--meaning an absolute guaranteed good time no matter what you dig.

Thank you to the many people who believed your blogger and came to the show! We had an excellent turnout, and the group was fab!! People were thanking your humble blogger for turning them on to this up-and-coming dawg-music ensemble from Dixie.

Today I'm announcing my next "lock": The Holmes Brothers show in April. The Holmes Brothers have played the Narrows (and Chan's) for several years, but they are hardly a household name, even for those who follow the musical genres usually featured at the Narrows.

The Holmes Brothers combine gospel, soul, rock and even a bit of country into an energetic, toe-tappin' good time. They may be artists, but they know how to entertain!

Check the schedule at www.ncfta.org.

Johnny A & Jimmy Ryan Photos

Last Friday night was a sell-out or thereabouts for the Johnny A show with opener Jimmy Ryan.
Although Jimmy has opened at the Narrows a bunch of times, Friday night was the first time in memory he employed electronic gizmos and focused on his instrumental virtuosity.




Johnny A did an inspiring show, displaying the guitar licks that have made him famous. He also seemed to genuinely appreciate the crowd, even doing an extended set.

And Now The President's List

Patrick Norton is the Narrows' president and musical booking honcho. Here's his list of top concerts in no particular order:

The Campbell Brothers

Old School Freight Train

Walter "Wolfman "Washington

The Iguanas

Porter, Batiste, Stoltz

Leo Kottke

Richard Thompson

Josh Ritter

Sarah Borges (Thanksgiving show)

Greg Brown

Honorable mention: Tim O'Brien, Asylum Street Spankers, Drunk Stuntmen, Savoy Brown

Okay, Okay, Here's Ben Norton's Top 10

Your humble blogger has been partying like everyone else. But when I arrived at the Johnny A show, the heat was on to get volunteer Ben Norton's Top 10 posted.

Ben is nine years old, but has been in the world of music most of his life, just like his brother Owen.

10 The Slip
9 Deke Dickerson
8 School of Rock All Stars
7 Mary Lee's Corvette and The Kennedy's
6 Drunk Stuntmen
5 Porter, Batiste, and Stoltz
4 Asylum St. Spankers
3 Sarah Borges
2 Ollabelle
1 Rasputina

Volunteer Owen Norton's Top 10

Volunteer Owen Norton may only be six years old, but he has some rather sophisticated picks for his top ten.

10. Richard Shindell
9. Sarah Borges
8. Dan Hicks
7. Richie Havens
6. Drunk Stuntmen
5. Otis Taylor
4. Old School Freight Train
3. Red Stick Ramblers
2. Susan Cowsill
1. Savoy Brown

Leave your top ten in the comments section!

Your Blogger's Top 10 Shows of 2006

I saw about 98% of the shows in 2006. Of the ones I saw, these are my Top 10

1. Old School Freight Train
2. Asylum Street Spankers
3. Sarah Borges (both perfomances)
4. Drunk Stuntman (both performances)
5. Campbell Brothers
6. Fairport Convention
7. Deke Dickerson
8. Savoy Brown
9. Eilen Jewell (I think she performed a couple times)
10. Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks

Post your Top 10!

Electric Blues Night

Saturday night saw British blues pioneer Kim Simmonds and his latest version of Savoy Brown showing the roots of groups such as Led Zepplin, Cream and Black Sabbath.

Louie Leeman and his band Cheap Sneakers opened the evening with a terrific set of songs, including a fab cover of the Beatles' "Dear Prudence."

David Lindley, Elana James

New shows not yet posted:

March 31 Elana James and the Continental Two

April 21 David Lindley

May 4 Drunk Stuntmen

May 12 Paul Rishell and Annie Raines

Avant-garde guitarist Kaki King presided over a night of lovely, electronic vocal layering and guitar work kicked off by opener Bora Yoon.

Ms. Yoon started her set from way back near the cafe with wordless, sweeping unaccompanied vocalizing as she slowly made her way to the stage, stopping briefly to play the Narrows' piano off to the side. Once on stage, she plucked at the violin, xylophone and who knows what, even borrowing an audience member's cell phone to play a melody through the reverbed microphone.

By comparison, the unconventional Kaki was mainstream, as she expertly played her guitar, accompanied at times by a horn synthesizer of sorts played by her soundman back at the control board. He also joined her on stage to play a regular old horn, too.

It was a different night that brought more than a touch of New York City's not-so-underground scene to the Narrows.

Eilen Jewell On the Charts

Eilen Jewell, an official Narrows Center for the Arts discovery, has finally entered the national Americana radio chart!

She debuts at #36. You can look it up here.