Backstage with Bonoff

Karla Bonoff returned to the Narrows Friday night, bringing her polished West Coast folk pop sound.  Left to right in the photo above is her fine guitarist, Nina Gerber, and Ms. Bonoff.  This was "backstage" a little while before the concert.  

The pink blouse that Karla is wearing later turned into a liability while playing the guitar.  She kept pushing it back off the strings--but finally she just rolled up her sleeve, noting that it wasn't a good shirt to wear and play guitar.

The show was opened by longtime producer and collaborator, Kenny Edwards (pictured below).

By the way, several members of the audience drove all the way from Buffalo, NY, just to see the show. I'm sure they felt it was worth it! One of the best concerts of the year at the Narrows!

Jeff Olson Update

Jeff Olson is pulling through.  He's getting physical rehabilitation currently and should be home very soon.

Right now the docs are determining the long-term effects, if any, of the ordeal that nearly took his life.

Check down further on this blog for information about the benefit concert and to learn more about him in case you don't know this outstanding musician and all around fine gentleman.

One More Time!

Eric Lindell, below, wrapped up the main stage at Sunday's Narrows Festival of the Arts. 

Eric brought his swampy Big Easy funk to the Fall River streets--and the people responded wildly when Narrows prez Patrick Norton raised his finger and asked if they wanted Eric and his band to return to the stage for one more song.

Down Home with The Holmes Brothers

Please indulge your humble Backstage Blogger for publishing the above photo of me hangin' with The Holmes Brothers after their show at the Narrows Festival of the Arts on Sunday. Left to right, that's Sherman Holmes (bass, vocals), Popsy Dixon (drums, vocals), the Backstage Blogger, and Wendell Holmes (guitar, keyboard, vocals).

The Holmes Brothers, by the way, will soon be touring for an extended period in Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, Austria and other countries.  There are no language barriers when it comes to Sanctified Soul.

Loving Lauderdale

Grammy-winner Jim Lauderdale brought his country tunes and fun attitude to the Narrows Festival of the Arts on Sunday afternoon.

That's our volunteer coordinator Marilyn Edge in the photo above getting a hug from Jim before the show.  She and Jim got to know each other through their involvement with the Americana Music Association.

We hope to see Jim again sometime in 2009 at the Narrows.

Narrows Festival: Carrie Kicks Off Main Stage

The annual Narrows Festival of the Arts was a huge success Sunday! Tropical Storm Hannah blew in and blew out Saturday night and left a beautiful sunny day for the festival, part of which was carried live on mvyradio.com.

Carrie Rodriguez kicked off the main stage, located outside the Narrows Center for the Arts on Anawan Street.  Above, Carrie and her band put together their set list moments before performing.

More photos of the festival coming up.  Watch this space.

Also, check out mvyradio.com over the next few days to hear some of the performances.

How Do You Warm Up?

Rebecca Pronsky, who opened for Catie Curtis Friday night, uses yoga as a warm up.  That's her in the photo back in the Narrows' "green room" a few minutes before she got onstage and charmed the crowd with her voice, songs and wit.

Catie

Catie Curtis brought her tunes, her humor and musicianship to the Narrows Friday night.

Save the Date

Jeff Olson Update

Your humble blogger has visited Jeff Olson at the hospital...as noted earlier, Jeff is a fabulous musician with Folks Together, and has been involved with various musical projects with your humble blogger and others in the area.

Jeff was striken with Legionnaire's disease, and was in a very serious fight for his life--but, as expected by those of us who know and love him, he was able to beat back the threat.

However, although he's out of intensive care (as of a few days back), he's going through a difficult recovery in the hospital. So please remember him in your thoughts and prayers.

A benefit concert is being planned for early October at the Narrows.  Watch this space for more information.

Thanks

Glory Be

Got the word that former Sarah Borges' guitar god, Mike Castellana, left the group due to his wife having their first child very soon..

and he is playing with a group called the Glory Tellers with whom he's going to tour Europe very soon.

Best wishes, Mike.  Maybe the Glory Tellers will be coming to the Narrows in the future.

Congrats to you, your wife and your baby boy Caetano (due to arrive October 30).

Stay Forever Young

Who knew?  That a Neil Young tribute group made up some of the better known Rhode Island area musicians would have drawn such a crowd?

Forever Young did just that on Saturday night at the Narrows.

Created by John Fuzek (left photo) and starring (in upper photo, l-r) Becky Chace, Dan Lilley and Mark Cutler, the ensemble, backed by several other musicians, put the pedal-to-the-metal for Neil Young songs such as "Heart of Gold" and "Harvest Moon."

New Tables

Narrows program manager Deb Charlebois was a busy person this week, bringing in a bunch of fancy new tables and chairs.

She and president Patrick Norton--with the support of our board, our volunteers and many nice folks in the community--continue to class the place up!

Over the past 12 months or so, here are the improvements: new sound system, new lighting system, installation of an elevator, installation of ceiling fans, new accessible bathroom (with more bathrooms to come)--has your humble blogger missed something?

Probably!

Blueswoman!

It's not often that we get a female electric blues player at the Narrows--in fact, Friday night was perhaps the first time (the great Rory Block is an acoustic blueswoman who has played the Narrows a bunch of times).

So Debbie Davies and her group showed how to play what some might term "Chicago blues" with a female being the "guitar god." Or make that "guitar goddess."

Debbie Davies certainly was that, although her interaction with the audience was more like somebody who lived next door to you. Imagine if you lived next to Buddy Guy, Albert Collins etc. and they came to your house to borrow your lawnmower.  

If you missed her this time and are an electric blues fan, be sure to catch her in the future.  She's got the chops!

Sarah Borges' New Guitar Player

Narrows' faves Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles have a new guitar player: Lyle Brewer.

He's a young roots cat whom you can see at his myspace page right here.

Major Improvements for Jeff Olson

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for Jeff. I guess they're working!

The latest word I have is that Jeff has come out of his coma and is eating normally, and that he's out of immediate danger. His longterm prognosis remains to be seen, but it is much more positive than a few days ago.

He will remain in the hospital for the near future as his recovery continues.

Watch this space for more updates.

Laura Cantrell: A Voice That Stirs

One of the more beautiful voices echoed in the Narrows' rafters Saturday night as alt-country singer,songwriter,guitar strummer Laura Cantrell made her debut.

Narrows fave Jimmy Ryan was the opener and side-guy for her.

Laura hasn't been gigging much in recent years, she explained, because she became a mom and has been sticking close to her New York digs. 

She played tracks from her latest CD "Trains and Boats and Planes" and other selections.

 

Personality Blues

Friday night was the debut of Watermelon Slim and the Workers at the Narrows.

It was blues, but a bit different--no guitar "god" to feature, although Slim was playing some pretty mean slide as well as harmonica.  (Also note: the drummer, who kinda looks like CNN news guy Anderson Cooper, was awesome, in the eyes of your humble blogger.)

It was more the stories, the personality and the showmanship of the group that made the evening a delight.  Watermelon Slim's personal history, which you can read on his website, informed the performance, which was filled with passion, humor and occasional wackiness.

Of particular note is Watermelon Slim's blues song for his friend Howard Zinn, probably a first!

Patriot Ledger Sings Narrows Praises

Probably one of the best, most comprehensive articles about the Narrows has been published by the Patriot Ledger, up there near Boston.

Read it here.

Latest on Jeff Olson

Your humble blogger asks that you continue to send your thoughts and prayers to Jeff Olson and his family. See previous entries for more info about Jeff.

The latest is he's showing some improvement but is still in very serious condition and is in a coma.

I'll post information here when it becomes available.