Time Passages

Perusing through the Projo today, I started taking note of the folks who died in 2008 of special significance for many of us Narrows folks.

Here's a quick list.

Odetta--We did a show or two with her over the years. Very classy to work with. It was an honor for many of us at the Narrows to meet her.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi--The Beatles' guru for a time, and the alleged inspiration for several songs.

Comediens Dick Martin and George Carlin--nothing says 1960s and rock 'n' roll more than "Rowan and Martin's Laugh In" and George Carlin. Say goodnight, Dick (that was part of Laugh In's sign off, to which Dick Martin would say "Goodnight Dick!")

Bo Diddley--In my view, this important founder of rock 'n' roll got more press when he died than in his music career.

Larry Harmon--the guy who made "Bozo" a household name.

Isaac Hayes--The voice. The songwriter. The soul man.

Levi Stubbs--Four Tops front guy. You might not have heard of him, but you heard his music.

Bob Enos--"Roomful of Blues" trumpeter. Unexpected loss to the local music community.

Jerry Reed--Guitar man who made a name with the "Smokey and the Bandit" movies and hits
"Amos Moses" and "When You're Hot You're Hot."

Jeff Healey--I didn't see his name on the Projo's end of the year lists (there were actually two in today's paper), but he was known for "Angel Eyes" and the odd way he played guitar. If memory serves, Coco Montoya talked about his passing during his show at the Narrows.

Roy Scheider--The actor who played the lead in the "Jaws" movies. I threw him on the list because your humble blogger loves the first "Jaws" movie.

Studs Terkel--Radio host based in Chicago. Might be described as left-wing. Wrote the book "Working" which was an influence on your humble blogger.

Harvey Korman--Loved the movie "Blazing Saddles" and therefore loved Harvey.

Suzanne Pleshette--Bob Newhart's TV wife on his first show, before he ended up in Vermont.

Miriam Makeba--South African singer who fought apartheid in that country and beyond.

Mike Smith--the voice of "The Dave Clark Five." Snappy records that out Beatle'd the Beatles.

Nick Reynolds and John Stewart--Members at one time or another of "The Kingston Trio," the group that helped launch the folk movement in the 1960s. John Stewart worked with Fleetwood Mac members to score a solo hit "Gold" in the late 1970s.

Eartha Kitt--The original "Santa Baby" and much, much more.

Mitch Mitchell--One of Jimi's drummers.

Buddy Miles--Another one of Jimi's drummers. (Info courtesy of Rolling Stone magazine).

Ivan Dixon--Played "Kinch" on "Hogan's Heroes." Loved that show.

Dave McKenna--Jazz cat out of Woonsocket.

Danny Federici--Springsteen's keyboard guy right from the start.

Leroi Moore--Sax man for Dave Matthews.

Dennis Yost--Voice of the group "Classics IV." Did the original version of "Spooky."

Please add anybody I've missed.

One name fortunately not on the list is local musician Jeff Olson, who damn near didn't pull through after getting hit over the summer with Legionnaires' disease. But the music community pulled together and sent him good thoughts and prayers, and held a benefit concert for him and his family. Jeff is much better these days (though still a little shaky) and recently went back to work after months of often painful recovery. Jeff--you've got a lot more music to make!

Favorite Fotos of 2008--Parte Trois

Justin Townes Earle, that's right Steve Earle's son, played a great show at the Narrows in 2008. When I was walking into the Narrows I spotted a rather intense-looking young man drinking coffee and smoking just outside the door.

I asked him if he was Justin, and he said yes. So I asked if I could take several shots of him on the street.

Justin has wrestled some of the demons his father wrestled with, and I think this photo suggests that.

Favorite Fotos of 2008--Parte Deux

Eilen Jewell continues to be one of the hottest new performers on the circuit. I missed her recent visit, but I heard she's incorporated more variety into her performance. She's continuing to evolve as an artist, and that's wonderful to see.

I did catch her when she visited earlier in 2008. She was "backstage" near the old timely looking mirror when I had an inspiration and took the above photo. Since she has an old timey voice I thought the photo captured a bit of what she's all about.

Favorite Fotos of 2008 Parte Une

Your humble blogger takes photos with a modest digital camera--fairly low tech.  The photos are "worked on" a bit after I take 'em, but there's not a heck of a lot I know how to do.

On top of that, whether they're too bright or too dark is really subject to how you set your browser.

That said--I tried to take some interesting shots during the year.  Over the next few days I'll display a few of my favorites.

Above, the photo is Maura Kennedy of The Kennedys as shot through another camera.  I was just walking by and snapped it quickly.  I like the effect.  Hope you do too.

Top Shows of 2008

Your humble blogger saw most, but not all, the shows of 2008.  So my top concerts may be missing some of those I missed (e.g. Dar Williams, Johnny Winter).  But of those I saw, here are the tops in no particular order (leave your list in "comments").

Shelby Lynne--absolutely fab.  Great songs.  Great energy.  Great showmanship.

Los Strait Jackets--A load of fun from these masked masters of surf.

Jake Shimabukuro--Ukelele cat brought new respect for the instrument.  His version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is worth the price of admission.

Lil' Ed--Loved the "blues ballet."  Check his entry in this blog and you'll see why.

Sometymes Why--A super group of top female roots artists.  Loved the hand clapping part.

Samuel James--great, scratching blues dude.  He opened for Sonny Landreth.  You probably weren't paying attention.  I was.

Leo Kottke--Light-hearted class all the way.

Beppe Gambetta--Italian guitarist who didn't take himself too seriously.  Fun.

Pierre Bensusan--A classic.

Eric Lindell--A Springsteen for the new millennium.

Bettye LaVette--Soul for the ages.

Judith Owen--Funny, fairly unknown jazz pianist.  Very entertaining. 

Step Into Christmas!

Celtic cats Coyote Run brought glad tidings--and kilts--to the Narrows Friday night, along with step students from the Dunleavy Shaffer school of Irish dance.

Flying Burrito Brothers--Chris Hillman Speaks Out

Narrows alum--and a Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers founder--Chris Hillman tells his story in a new book about the Burritos.

More info here.

The Subdudes Sell Out

The Subdudes, sort of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band meets The Temptations, sold out the Narrows Friday night.  It was their first visit.

Opener Jen Murdza, whose Elvis influence was evident, opened the show.  That's her below.

Narrows Alum Odetta Passes

Civil rights folk singer, and Narrows alum, Odetta, has died.

A write up from Rolling Stone here.

Is This The New Face of Rock 'n' Roll?

In the end, the crowd surged and jumped on the stage with the band--just a typical happening at Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles' annual post-Thanksgiving bash at the Narrows.  A busload of folks from Taunton--led by Sarah's dad--stormed the Narrows to welcome the band as it wrapped up its 2008 touring schedule, after dozens of states and foreign countries.  About 100 shows, according to bassist--and the new face of rock 'n' roll--Binky, pictured above.

Sarah=-wearing a dress she says she bought at a Salvation Army store for a buck--introduced the group's new guitarist--an axeman with plenty of rock chops--and noted that a new CD was coming out in March 2009.  From the tunes they played, it sounds like the band is moving toward a rock sound, perhaps lessening the countrified seasoning as in the past.

But Saturday night was about coming home--to her family and to her friends from Taunton. Like the guy below--perhaps a Borges' relative--who ended up personally supervising Sarah as she belted out a song.

Still Crooked

Even though there's been a shuffling of some members, roots revivalist Crooked Still continues to grow its audience, playing to a packed house at the Narrows Friday night.

Sarah and The Times

Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, playing their annual Thanksgiving weekend show on Saturday night, were recently featured in the New York Times.

Check it out here.

Mikes Get In Your Eyes

Celtic prog rockers Enter the Haggis, from Canada, made their debut Friday night at the Narrows.  Mixing slamming rhythm guitar with a bagpipe, whistle, powerful drums, keyboards, fiddle and bass, the band was hard to pin down--are they Celtic? Alternative rockers?  Secret metal lovers?  

Whatever you call it, the music was upbeat, hooky and fun.  These guys are your humble blogger's favorite new band.

Iris Dement Goes Shopping

As Iris Dement pointed out early in the show Saturday night, the concert would have started a bit earlier but was delayed because she noticed that the Narrows "has stores."  So, above, she briefly did a little shopping in one of the studios until your humble blogger gently suggested it was time to start the music.

Peter Wolf at the Narrows

The Wuffer Guffer with the Green Teeth (or whatever his nickname is) Peter Wolf stopped by the Narrows on Thursday night to watch Shelby Lynn. The word we got was that he was visiting with her in her bus before the show. He quietly came up through the usual entrance, drawing little attention, and took his seat.

Of course, those of us who grew up listening to the J. Geils Band were knocked out to see him. Forget about "Centerfold" and "Love Stinks"; listen to the live "Blow Your Face Out" album and tunes like "Lookin' for a Love," "I Do," "First I Look at the Purse," and "Hard Driving Man."

Fab Narrows volunteer Carl, below with the Wuffer Guffer, advises him where a wolf might get a late night bite on a Thursday night.

Soul Country

Shelby Lynne made a fab debut at the Narrows Thursday night, bringing her soulful country musicality with more than a dash of rock 'n' roll.

Her vocals were gorgeous and her band right on the mark (despite seemingly rehearsing Tony Joe's White "Polk Salad Annie" for the first time, which delighted the crowd as Shelby, tongue in cheek, coached her bandmates).  It was clear by the end of the night that Ms. Lynne was loving the show as much or even more than the audience.

She waved a vinyl copy of her latest recording on stage (photo above), which celebrates the late British chanteuse Dusty Springfield.  We've been playing the CD version at the Narrows for months, and it's a good 'un.

By the way, in the audience was one of the original bad boys from Boston, the Wuffa Guffa. More on him in the next entry.

In short, Shelby Lynne's concert was in the top two or three concerts of the year at the Narrows.  Probably number one in the eyes and ears of your humble blogger.

Beautiful Voices

Kris Delmhorst, one of the first musicians ever to play the Narrows, returned Friday night with a bagful of new songs and a collaboration with opener, Meg Hutchinson (right, in above photo).

The show was streamed live on mvyradio.com, by the way.

Meg, a first-timer at the Narrows, also brought a bagful of songs and delivered a moving rendition of "America the Beautiful" which deserves to be airing on Americana radio stations across the USA (maybe mvyradio.com can grab it off the recording made of the show).

Narrows prez Patrick Norton recalled that Kris was the 4th artist ever to perform at the Narrows.  Her first show took place on an extremely snowy night 7 years ago.  That also was the first time your humble blogger ever volunteered at the Narrows.  So as Kris pointed out onstage "we grew up together."

It was a night of beautiful voices, lush songs (for someone with just a guitar), and positive vibes.

Backstage

Tim O'Brien brought his relaxed rootsy sound to the Narrows Saturday night to a packed house.  Tim played solo this visit, which probably allowed him to interact with the audience a bit more and do things on a whim.

Opener Jimmy Ryan warmed things up.  Above in the photo, Tim (left) and Jimmy do some pickin' "backstage" at the Narrows.

Boo, Baby!

Thursday night at the Narrows was a celebration of surf music, starring Los Straitjackets (above) and Laika and the Cosmonauts (below), a Finnish band calling it a career over the next few days after decades in the business.  We were slightly surprised at the strong turnout by the local folks.  Goes to show that the surf sound is still making waves in these parts.

The Providence Journal did an interview with the group, which you can link to here.  (By the way, Laika and the Cosmonauts used the Los Straitjackets' drum kit, which is why it says "Los Straitjackets" in the photo below.)  Apparently a Finnish television station was videotaping everything, so we hope that the folks in Finland will soon be learning about the Narrows.

We should point out that Los Straitjackets always wear masks on stage, so the Halloween season had nothing to do with their appearance.

In the photo below both groups and management gather together for a "backstage" photo. That's Narrows prez Patrick Norton on the far right.

4 In A Row

The Narrows began a rare 4-in-a-row weekend Wednesday night, welcoming for the first time the Infamous Stringdusters.

That's some of them in the photo below, cookin' up a storm with their bluegrass virtuosity.

There's a show Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night.  Visit www.ncfta.org for more.