Moving Day

  Hi everyone.
  Today is moving day... Yes, this blog is moving to Wordpress (http://modernacoustic.com)!
  I promise it will be worth your while to join me there. If you've liked the content you've read here, or are just finding it for the first time, I promise to dazzle you with my words of wisdom about bands I love.  Whether your a fan of Grace Potter, Lori McKenna, Josh Ritter, Patty Griffin, or the hundreds of other musicians and bands I have written about here, I promise to continue to bring you all the CD and concert reviews, all the info that I find interesting and newsworthy.
  The move allows me to have all my content, my magazine (have you seen my magazine?) and my blog all on the same site. In the past, some people who read my music blog had no idea I also published a music magazine and vice versa.
  Well, that is all changing.
  It's exciting, with only a touch of sadness. Sadness in that I really have liked Blogger's features. The way it is set up is perfect, I think, for a blog. I'm addicted to the Stats!
  Anyway please, please join me at my new site, once again, http://modernacoustic.com.
  I think you'll really like it.
 Oh, and don't worry, all the content on this site is now over there as well.
Thanks so much for checking in, and checking out the new site. I think you will find it very cool.
Rich

Videos and other stuff

I ocassionally run across videos and other things that catch my eye. In the past I've just posted them up on my Facebook page (HERE) because it is quick and easy. But in a little rethinking, I think they should be posted on the blog as well. So here are some of the videos I've gotten a kick out of the last couple days... Feel free to check in later for more.

Joni Mitchell - Free Man in Paris from Shadows and Light tour in 1979.


Grace Potter cooking... on her tour bus


Jimmy Fallon (as Neil Young) and Bruce Springsteen

Grace Potter at the House of Blues, Boston

                                                        Photo by Mallory Finley

This was a band supposedly jet-lagged.
Six months after  Grace Potter and the Nocturnals last played the House of Blues, the band returned to the venue just off a tour overseas and ripped through a two-hour set filled with soaring vocals and guitar-heavy highs. Despite comments about her jet lag, Grace sang and danced up a storm – moving easily from the center stage mike, with guitar or without, to her Hammond B3 – never missing a step, a lyric, a breath. She's Tina Turner for a new generation.
And she's finally backed by a band that can keep up with her. In the six months since I saw them last, the new Nocturnals – guitarists Scott Tournet and Benny Yurco, bassist Catherine Popper and drummer Matt Burr – have melded into a cohesive, dynamic group, adding power and finesse to new songs off the upcoming self-titled album as well as the fan favorites.
The group has transformed itself. The once neo-hippie jam band has grown up, dressed up and given itself a harder-rocking sheen. They can still jam, and do it well, but there is a little more pop attitude thrown into the mix. In my review of the band from November (HERE), I foresaw them as a female-led version of the Allman Brothers. I would now like to amend that. I think they are leaning more toward an early-'70s version of Heart. Nothing wrong with that.
Grace and Catherine Popper arrived on stage in swishy mini-dresses and heels (though for both the shoes came off somewhere around midpoint), the boys in suitcoats. They blasted through an early set of new and old songs, including band classic "Ah, Mary" and the new, reggae-ish "Goodbye Kiss." The band showed its ability to mix song styles, as it moved from more new tunes, the jammy "Oasis" and the poppy "One Short Night," to the blues of "2:22."
Grace was completely into it. Dancing wildly, arms over her head, jumping up and down in place. The main set's end was something to behold as the band tore through two more new songs, "Hot Summer Night" and "Paris," with confidence and authority. "Paris" featured some screaming guitar from Scott Tournet. And "Nothing But the Water" went from Grace singing alone to rip-roaring band accompaniment back to just Grace. She knows how to work an audience.
The encores were great as well. Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" seemed to be meant for them to cover. It was followed by another fan favorite, "Stop the Bus,'' and a super new tune, "Medicine," which is sure to be a showstopper for a long time.
This is a band on its way up. How far and which direction are the only questions.
The show if available for download HERE
View Mallory Finley's pics from the show HERE



Setlist (from This Is Somewhere blog)
Only Love
Sweet Hands
Goodbye Kiss
Ah, Mary
Mastermind
Oasis
Money
One Short Night
2:22
Apologies
Tiny Light
Big White Gate
Falling or Flying
Here's to the Meantime
Hot Summer Night
Paris
Nothing But the Water I & II
------
White Rabbit
Stop the Bus
Medicine

All a'Twitter

I recently joined twitter HERE. I waffled a long time about joining... do I really need more "things to update" in my life? No, not really. But I decided to join because I realized there are things posted by bands -- news tidbits, video -- that I was missing.
So in lieu of original content at the moment, here are four videos I found through Twitter. All are really cool to watch. Enjoy.

The Submarines doing the Beatles "For No One"

The Submarines » The Beatles from The Voice Project on Vimeo.

Peter Wolf and Shelby Lynne


Josh Ritter doing "Rattling Locks" in rehearsal


Grace Potter playing live in a rolling studio at SXSW

Grace Potter, "White Rabbit"

It's been pretty quiet here in blogland lately, basically due to trying to put the finishing touches on another issue (No. 28, if you are keeping track!). It's gonna be awesome.
But we thought we'd touch base briefly and offer up a new video from Grace Potter. She and her band are readying a new album, due June 8. They are also featured on the soundtrack to the new "Alice in Wonderland" movie, performing the Jefferson Airplane classic "White Rabbit." Grace Potter singing Grace Slick. We saw Grace and her new band play the House of Blues a couple of months ago and we really liked what we heard. Read our review HERE. The Nocturnals, featuring a new bass player and an added guitarist, sounded great backing Grace's incredible vocals. To our ears, her albums never lived up to her live shows so it will be interesting to hear if the new band is able to bring the albums up a notch.
Anyway, here is the video. Enjoy!

Our favorites of 2009

YEAH! Our faves of 2009 (from Modern Acoustic, Issue 27)

FAVORITE CD
“I and Love and You,” the Avett Brothers; “Sea of Tears,” Eilen Jewell. The Avetts’ mountain music has just enough punky attitude. Yes, we realize the band’s sound has been scrubbed a little cleaner than in the past, thanks to legendary producer Rick Rubin, but “I and Love and You” still comes off fresh and exciting, and new to those of us who hadn’t been paying attention before. As for “Sea of Tears,” Eilen’s timeless voice gets backing from some of the most-kickass late-’60s and early-’70s guitar-based sounds from a band who appears to have totally found its groove.
(Read our album reviews: Avetts HERE; Eilen HERE)

SURPRISE CD
“Friend of a Friend,” David Rawlings Machine. Since we’ve been waiting six years, anytime there is new music from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings it is a surprise.
(Read album review HERE; check out Dave’s music HERE)

MEMORABLE CONCERT MOMENT
Regina Spektor blowing the shofar as part of her encore.

FAVORITE CONCERT PHOTO
Dragonforce guitar player Herman Li (see above)

FAVORITE CONCERT
Big Surprise Tour. We went to see Gillian and David. We also got to hear the Felice Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show and Justin Townes Earle – all together sharing the stage in one big hoedown. The highlight was a concert-ending full-on version of “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll).”
(Watch our video HERE; read our CONCERT review HERE).

FAVORITE VENUE
House of Blues Boston. We have mixed feelings about this. We love small clubs for their intimacy and HOB is a corporate rock club that holds a couple thousand people. But we saw six shows there this year – from Regina’s Spektor’s pin-drop quietude to the jam-rock of Grace Potter -- and the sound was perfect every time. Even when there were nearly 15 musicians on the stage for the Big Surprise Tour, we could hear every instrument and vocal nuance. While you do have to stand most of the time, the sightlines are surprisingly very good. One thing: $6 for a can of Bud? That’s why corporate rock really sucks. A special shoutout to the Palladium in Worcester. We had never been there before and it’s a pretty cool place to see a show. (read our GRACE concert review HERE)

BEST TIME AT A SHOW
Regina Spektor at the House of Blues, Dragonforce at the Worcester Palladium. Anytime you can experience music with your kids, it’s a good time.
(read our REGINA concert review HERE).

FAVORITE QUOTE
Q. How would you respond to some critics saying that “Inhuman Rampage” is just playing fast at the expense of taste?
Vadim Pruzhanov, Dragonforce keyboard player: We love to shred and shredding is what we do. There are plenty of bands that play mid-tempo power metal whilst looking at their fretboards and not move at all. If it’s too fast, you’re too fucking old! (FROM SAVIORSOFROCK.COM)

FAVORITE NEW ARTIST
The Low Anthem. This R.I. band caught our attention with their song “Charlie Darwin.” We look forward to their next album. (Check out the Low Anthem HERE).

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
Steve Earle. We’ve known about Steve for a long time. But after seeing him at the Berklee Performance Center, we realized he is the real deal, a folk singer with that political drive to keep going.
(READ OUR concert review HERE; Steve's Music HERE)


OTHER MEMORABLE CONCERTS
Jenny Lewis at House of Blues We knew Jenny had a great voice, but we were amazed that in concert she hits all the notes, whether singing a solo gospel number or fronting her full-tilt rock band. (Read our concert review HERE; check out her music HERE)

The Avett Brothers at the House of Blues We’d heard that seeing these guys live is a different experience than hearing their albums. And it is true. The energy level is ratcheted up to the point where you can’t help but dance. (Read our concert review HERE; check out their music HERE)

Kathleen Edwards at Paradise This was our second time seeing Kathleen. She puts on a great show, stomping around the stage and firing off funny stories about life on the road. (Read our concert review HERE; check out her music HERE)

Eilen Jewell doing Loretta Lynn songs at Lizard Lounge We almost didn’t go to the show, but at the last minute changed our minds. And we’re glad we did. (Read our concert review HERE; check out her
music HERE)

OTHER MEMORABLE ALBUMS
Erin McKeown, “Hundreds of Lions” Erin has a spark, a wit, and a way with songs like no other. Take a listen to “(Put the Fun Back in) the Funeral” and “The Rascal” and try not to smile. (Read our album review HERE; check out her music HERE)

Regina Spektor, “Far” We thought we’d never love a Regina album as much as we did “Begin to Hope.’’ But, lo and behold, “Far” hooked us. It has so many great tunes full of her amazing vocal acrobatics. One listen to “Eet” or “Dance Anthem of the ’ 80s’’ and you’ll be hooked too. (Read our album review HERE; check out her music HERE)

Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, “Rattlin’ Bones” Kasey is a nationally known folk-pop singer; Shane, her husband, is apparently known mostly in their native Australia. This album, a mix of folk, blues and bluegrass, really stands out for the way their voices meld into one. The best songs -- “Jackson Hole,” “The Devil’s Inside My Head” – are romping tunes filled out with some furious banjo picking. (Read our album review HERE; check out their music HERE)

Issue 27, Dec. 2009

I Survived Dragonforce
We all have have things we have lost tolerance for. Animated kids’ films? No more, thank you. Musical theater? Not unless our kids our in it. Costume parties? No invite necessary.
But it is good occasionally to step outside your comfort zone and take in experiences you don’t consider your style. Sometimes they even surprise you.
A couple of summers ago, we spent a weekend at a jam-band festival. We are not big fans of jam music but we were interested to see if the groovy vibes of the Grateful Dead era that we knew and loved still existed. (They actually do!) Did we come away loving the music? No. But we were more appreciative of the whole scene.
This year we put our mettle to a test by taking our son to a metal concert. Now the metal-est we get is Zeppelin and Hendrix, so this was a real challenge.
The question was not only would our ears be able to take the decibals, but would we be able to tolerate the music and the scene, which has never appealed to us.
So how did it turn out? You’ll have to read all about it in our review, but we will tell you we were pleasantly – and amusingly – surprised.
Something that might not surprise you is that we have picked our favorites for this year and they include albums by Eilen Jewell and the Avett Brothers. We have written about both bands in depth, reviewing both their albums and concerts. It makes us happy just thinking about them.
We had a great time at shows this year, seeing performances by Regina Spektor, Grace Potter, and the Avetts at the House of Blues, Kathleen Edwards at the Paradise, Steve Earle at the Berklee Performance Center, and the metal extravaganza with Dragonforce at the Palladium in Worcester.
Check out our annual list of favorites.
Finally, just in case you hadn’t gotten your complete musical fill from this issue, we offer a review of the new release from – gasp! – Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. It’s actually the first release from David Rawlings, with help from Gillian Welch.
Hey, at least they have finally released something new. And with it, we can slip back into our comfort zone.
Rich Kassirer, editor
To read the full issue, click HERE
To read our review of David Rawlings album, click HERE


MA5 - Songs
Song that helped us survive this issue:
1. “January Wedding,” “I and Love and You,” the Avett Brothers. A wonderful little ditty of a love song.
2. “Long Distance Runaround,” “Fragile,” Yes. Reaching way back to someplace way back in my brain.
3. “To the Dogs or Whoever,” The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter,” Josh Ritter. Still a blast to listen to.
4. “The Rascal,” “Hundreds of Lions,” Erin McKeown. Erin sure knows how to have fun – even when she’s mad!
5. “A Man Needs a Maid/Heart of Gold,” “Live at Massey Hall 1971,” Neil Young. A great solo acoustic version.

Grace Potter, with Brett Dennen, at the House of Blues

Many times in the past two years I have thought -- even planned -- to see Grace Potter in concert. Each time there was a reason it didn't happen. But last Thursday, it finally did, at the House of Blues and it was everything I expected. The word was that if you hadn't heard Grace live, you really hadn't heard her, and this is true. The albums do not do her justice. There is an electricity to her, and it runs right through her body from her fluttering fingertips, to her hair-waving head, right down to her high-heeled shoed feet. Whether she's fronting the band playing slide on her flying V or from her perch at her Hammond organ, Grace Potter is in full throttle. I always like to ask myself, "what does this band want to be"? For Grace and the Nocturnals, I think they'd like to be the female Allman Brothers. And they've got a pretty great start. They've added a second guitarist, Benny Yurco, and have a new female bass player, Catherine Popper, a strong voice to the mix which includes longtime Nocturnals lead guitarist Scott Tournet and drummer Matt Burr. They look like they are having a blast up there, smiling away while blasting through "Ah, Mary," showing off their new dueling lead guitars on one of their new songs, and meeting together on the center stage floor for a kneeling group guitar jam during "Stop the Bus." They have always fit comfortably amid the jam band scene, but they are able stand out a bit from the pack, because of Grace. Not only is she a woman (and a great-looking woman!) amid the sea of guys, but her songwriting is also stronger than most in the jammy genre. She debuted six new songs, including one called "Tiny Light," which starts slowly and builds to a rocking crescendo filled with guitar feedback. She wound up nearly two hours onstage with an encore of the Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit," which fit her band perfectly. She closed the show with her a cappella-to-full blown rocker "Nothing But the Water."
A couple of other notes: I wasn't sure what the crowd would be like for the show. I was initially worried that the place would seem empty. But I was pleasantly surprised. I estimate the crowd at a couple thousand, filling about three-quarters of the place. Brett Dennen was a pleasant surprise and weird sort of cat. And he's got quite a fan base. When he was onstage, the front of the house was packed. It seemed to be less crowded when Grace came on... like all Brett's fans either left or moved back to the bars. That was fine. It left more room for Grace's fans -- which included a large majority of college girls (unusual for a jam band) -- to dance.
One more note about Brett Dennen. He's an odd mix of performer, not really sure where to place him. He's got a unique-sounding voice, a huge mop of hair, and has the stage presence -- dancing and moving his hips that puts him somewhere between Neil Diamond and David Bowie.
All in all, a really fun show.
Check out some great photos from the show (not mine, which were shit), HERE and HERE
Also, a video (not mine, either) from the show of new song "Only Love")



The setlist (from the blog This Is Somewhere)
Medicine
Joey
Mastermind
Apologies
Oasis
Stop the Bus (not on setlist, played after mention of bus fire incident)
Goodbye Kiss
Ah, Mary
Big White Gate
Things I Never Needed
Low Road
Only Love
If I Was From Paris
Tiny Light
Sweet Hands
——————-
Watching You
White Rabbit
Nothing But The Water I
Nothing But The Water II

More Eilen Jewell, and other bits

I know I've blogged more about Eilen Jewell than about most bands... they may have to put me on the payroll soon! I can't help it. I think the band is great, and their new songs rock. Got a chance to see them a couple of weeks ago (that's how behind I am!) at Precinct in Somerville. I had not been there before. It's a small space under a restaurant that used to be a police station. As usual Eilen and the boys put on a fun show, running through a lot of the "Sea of Tears" album, a few from past albums and a great cover of the Yardbirds' "Putty (in Your Hands)" -- see the video below.
For more photos, click HERE


Another video is HERE

Another fun Eilen note: I recently downloaded the new iTunes 9. Afterward, when I was watching a quick tutorial on the new features, I noticed that "Sea of Tears" was one of the albums featured on the tutorial's playlist. Not bad pub for a small-label release!

A little shoutout to my friend Scott Duhaime and his band Tan Odyssey. The other night I ventured to Harvest Cafe in Hudson to hear the band in a stripped-down semi-acoustic performance. Now these guys all have regular jobs and don't get to practice, let alone play out, much. So this was a big deal and a fun night hearing their mix of originals and covers. A standout tune was their reworking of the Allman's "Whipping Post," done as a slow blues on acoustics. Pretty cool arrangement.

Finally, a couple of shows I'm definitely looking forward to: Regina Spektor next week at the House of Blues; the Avett Brothers also at HOB -- I've heard their new album, "I and Love and You," and it is a knockout. Look for a review of the album in my next mag issue (Late September); Grace Potter, also at HOB. Haven't seen her yet so I've gotta catch her...

On the Oregon Trail

My search for great music goes far and wide, and recently we found our way to a website out of Oregon called opb.org. I'm not sure what it stands for but it's an independent music channel, which is set up to serve Oregonians looking for cool music. But of course being on the Internet, anyone who wants to hear their songs can sign up for free. What's really cool about obp is that they feature in-studio interviews and performances and post them for listening. Among those performances are our faves Kathleen Edwards (below), doing a great all-acoustic mini-set; Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter; Eilen Jewell (inset); and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Check out all the in-studio guests here. Enjoy!

Visiting Sun Studio, from home

Some day soon I have to visit Nashville and Memphis... but until then Sun Studios in Memphis -- the home of Elvis and Stax and a boatload of music history -- has begun posting a blog livefromsunstudio which invites musicians to come play in their historic studio. They then post video clips in pieces on the site. So far, one clip each from Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Amber Rubarth are available, with promises of more from both of them and many others. We hear Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles have already recorded there, so we eagerly await those. The nice thing about these clips is that the musicians really seem in awe of playing in such a historic setting but it's casual enough that it feels more like you're in the studio with these guys rather than at a show. Also, the site posts fun historic anecdotes about the studio. Today they feature a happy birthday tribute to Roscoe Gordon and his song "Cheese and Crackers." I don't know of the man or the song, but the story is great. Hear the song here. The Sun Studio blog is definitely worth bookmarking and visiting often.
To see U2 recording "Angel of Harlem" at Sun Studio, click here.
Grace Potter at Sun Studio below.