View Full Version : Musically Adrift?
Alex Rawls blog post (http://www.louisianamusicdirectory.com/blog/):
Is it just my imagination, or has the city seemed musically adrift this year? I’ve been excited by a lot of music from the past few years, but this year I’ve heard little that seems urgent, confident and fully thought out. Am I hearing desperation and bet-hedging in an economic downturn? A lack of focus as the post-K moment drifts into the post-K decade? Or, am I hearing the sound of doubt and doldrums in my own ears?
I'm curious what folks here think.
saturn
07-15-2009, 10:47 AM
Oh - I disagree. I think we are seeing/hearing a lot of adventuresome exciting music from New Orleans, in addition to the traditional.
Maybe there is some degree of "finding themselves" in the rebuilding, renewing New Orleans, but I think a lot of this is very exciting and fun to hear.
chrisjoseph
07-15-2009, 10:48 AM
I like Alex....but he's a tough critic. I don't agree with him, and I'm not just talking about THR releases. Zachary Richard? Great album. Allen Toussaint? Ditto. Heard great things about the new Tim Laughln album. Maybe it's just how Alex is feeling, and he's projecting it outward.
Signed,
Dr. Chris Joseph
Amateur Psychologist
I think compared to the 80's and 90's, the aughts(00)have been pretty quiet. I think that might be what he's talking about.
Dr. Moon
Noted man about town and Bon Vivant
linza22
07-15-2009, 11:45 AM
I think compared to the 80's and 90's, the aughts(00)have been pretty quiet. I think that might be what he's talking about.
Dr. Moon
Noted man about town and Bon Vivant
drift....you're the only other person i've heard use the word aughts...everybody has been looking at me strangly since 2000 because i use it! ha!
freebo
07-15-2009, 12:01 PM
But, don't mis-read Alex's pernt: THIS YEAR has seemed musically adrift...
"I’ve been excited by a lot of music from the past few years, but this year I’ve heard little that seems urgent, confident and fully thought out."
Um, to best critique that comment, Who can list this year's New Orleans musical releases? What qualifies as a New Orleans musical rekkid?
Does Buckwheat Zydeco qualify?
The Honey Island Swamp Band?
What about Cyril Neville?
I'm at work now, but when I get home I'll try to put together a list that (hopefully) will refute Alex's point.
Wish me luck. :D
freebo
...A Known Associate and Un-named Co-Conspirator...
drift....you're the only other person i've heard use the work aughts...everybody has been looking at me strangly since 2000 because i use it! ha!
It's a southern thing obviously.
Michelino
07-15-2009, 12:19 PM
I think he is actually comparing the immediate Post-K period with recent months. The period after that tragedy did see the release of some powerful and focused recordings across the spectrum from the New Orleans Social Club, Wynton Marsalis, Terrence Blanchard, Allan Toussaint, Dr John and Matt Perine. Irma's best work since the early 90s is just one other example. Many others...but I don't see things as having gone adrift seen then..branching out into new directions is more like it.
With live music considered a dying art in many other places...New Orleans remains a notable exception. I truly believe that there is a renaissance of new music happening in New Orleans and its environs and this is the most vibrant and creative period for the city's music since 50s & earky 60s.
Oh - I disagree. I think we are seeing/hearing a lot of adventuresome exciting music from New Orleans, in addition to the traditional.
Maybe there is some degree of "finding themselves" in the rebuilding, renewing New Orleans, but I think a lot of this is very exciting and fun to hear.
I agree Kath, but I also think the entire nation is a bit adrift musically, overall. Or maybe it's just me...
Michelino
07-15-2009, 12:46 PM
I agree Kath, but I also think the entire nation is a bit adrift musically, overall. Or maybe it's just me...
Speaking of adrift, if it isn't already, some time within the next couple of years, 1990s music is going to be considered "oldies". I find that a little frightening mainly because I never bothered to figure out what the hits were after around 91 or so. Nothing wrong with the music, I just got off the carousel about that time.
Speaking of adrift, if it isn't already, some time within the next couple of years, 1990s music is going to be considered "oldies". I find that a little frightening mainly because I never bothered to figure out what the hits were after around 91 or so. Nothing wrong with the music, I just got off the carousel about that time.
yep. nice avatar btw.
mangoon
07-15-2009, 01:05 PM
Alex Rawls has obiviously not been paying attention to Threadhead Records ;)
Baconwrapped
07-15-2009, 02:25 PM
Obviously I know and like Alex and have engaged in some fun discussions about NOLA music, often with some disagreements...
This particular statement is an intriguing musing, and I think I have a sense of what he's getting at. But I'd like to see him explore it in a larger context, with some cited examples and explorations of what he thinks is and is not working in NOLA music these days.
I do find myself a lot that I wholeheartedly embrace:
the THR releases do seem to add up to a whole greater than the sum of their (very good) parts.
Ensemble Fatien might be the most exciting development from the "new" New Orleans.
Irvin Mayfield's New Orleans Jazz Orchestra album is fantastic, if not quite as arresting as his "Strange Fruit" from a few years ago, but still a solid advance expanding on local jazz traditions.
Troy's rising star is well deserved, though I hope he doesn't start to coast on his reputation and emerges as a true musical innovator, someone setting new standards.
Ditto for Glenn David's breakthrough.
Tom McDermott continues to illuminate and refresh some great traditions himself -- his current album manages the neat trick of transcending the "duets" gimmick and actually cohere as a very solid piece.
As Chris alluded, Tim Laughlin's latest is a terrific, personal and personable entry that makes the case that one can adhere to traditions AND add to them.
The Panorama Jazz Band still potentially has far to go in its exciting mix without it becoming stale.
And of course there are many more to consider. Now, do they represent as a community ... anything? I'd argue yes, they do, simply by the fact that they are all striving and surviving. Maybe it's all a bit disjointed, scattered. Maybe it won't coalesce into anything identifiable -- not that it has to in order to have value. Maybe it will disintegrate and prove Alex R's concerns justified. But to my ears there are plenty of positives to give me hope that a lot of these artists will "drift" to fertile shores...
chopitulas
07-15-2009, 02:49 PM
I had a regular gig at the Apple Barrel on Monday nights with my band Shotgun House from 2004 up until Katrina. Since my return to NOLA last April, I have been back there on Tuesdays with Ken Swartz and The Palace Of Sin. I have to say, overall, it is just not quite what it was on Frenchmen. There is still quality music, of course, the Jazz Vipers at d.b.a. on Tuesdays, the Tin Men and Walter on Wednesdays, just a couple of examples.
It is hard to put a finger on it and I guess it is more that the street was just really happening before the storm...it was a magical period that, given the circumstances, will be hard to achieve again, sort of like New Orleans in general. Up and running again, for sure, but a bit wounded and damaged and changed forever.
The crowds are definitely less than they were, at least during the week, and maybe that is some of it from my perspective.
None of this is to disparage THR, easily one of the best things to happen for musicians here.
chrisjoseph
07-15-2009, 02:52 PM
business is down everywhere, not just NOLA.....recession is hitting most people. That being said, I think there is plenty of good music out there....
Also, we came THIS CLOSE to working with Tom M. on his Duets record, and Fatien is scheduled to work with us and record their album later this year. Also getting set to announce another THR project very soon (not the BIG one I alluded to earlier, though).
freebo
07-15-2009, 02:58 PM
CJ wrote: Also getting set to announce another THR project very soon (not the BIG one I alluded to earlier, though).
What was that again? Something outside of a box?
festivalgirl
07-15-2009, 03:30 PM
I agree Kath, but I also think the entire nation is a bit adrift musically, overall. Or maybe it's just me...
I think we're in a rather generic, boring period of music. I would guess it is a combination of less money to gamble on something new (same with movies - we've worked our way through comic books & tv shows so now we're on toys - GI Joe) and the ability to self publish. If it's not good enough for a record company to put out, no worries, just do it yourself. Self publishing is really diluting the quality, IMO. (I'm sure something exceptional has appeared, but I think that's the exception not the rule).
Concepts like THR is the mid ground between big record company & self publishing.
festivalgirl
07-15-2009, 03:30 PM
CJ wrote:
What was that again? Something outside of a box?
Something including a box? ;)
Baconwrapped
07-15-2009, 03:50 PM
I think we're in a rather generic, boring period of music. I would guess it is a combination of less money to gamble on something new (same with movies - we've worked our way through comic books & tv shows so now we're on toys - GI Joe) and the ability to self publish. If it's not good enough for a record company to put out, no worries, just do it yourself. Self publishing is really diluting the quality, IMO. (I'm sure something exceptional has appeared, but I think that's the exception not the rule).
Concepts like THR is the mid ground between big record company & self publishing.
I say this a lot, but always bears repeating: There is more GREAT music out there today than ever before in history. But you have to work harder to find it and sort through all the things being released. There's no Top 40 that EVERY music fan follows, no Rolling Stone that EVER music fan reads.. the markets are fragmented and the amount of music in those markets is astoundingly vast. Now, of course, I'm in a privileged position in terms of access to music, but I hear something new (or at least new to me) every day that really gets me excited.
Apostrophe (')
07-15-2009, 04:10 PM
Self publishing is really diluting the quality, IMO. (I'm sure something exceptional has appeared, but I think that's the exception not the rule).
...and in some cases those exceptions also get lost in the churn of the internet. My best example is Devin Davis' Lonely People Of The World, Unite! (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wzfuxq9sldae).
Were it not for a random encounter with the AMG blog while searching for something else I would likely never have heard this album and yet I would happily have it on my desert island disc list.
I hear something new (or at least new to me) every day that really gets me excited.
Same here. Drift shmrift. There's tons of great new music out there, in New Orleans and elsewhere. And movies too.
chrisjoseph
07-15-2009, 05:22 PM
Couldn't agree more. Harder to find, but a ton of great music being released. Certainly different than when I was growing up.....but it is what it is. Makes it that much sweeter when great new music is discovered.
Michelino
07-15-2009, 05:34 PM
Tom McDermott continues to illuminate and refresh some great traditions himself -- his current album manages the neat trick of transcending the "duets" gimmick and actually cohere as a very solid piece.
As Chris alluded, Tim Laughlin's latest is a terrific, personal and personable entry that makes the case that one can adhere to traditions AND add to them.
I say this a lot, but always bears repeating: There is more GREAT music out there today than ever before in history. But you have to work harder to find it and sort through all the things being released. There's no Top 40 that EVERY music fan follows, no Rolling Stone that EVER music fan reads.. the markets are fragmented and the amount of music in those markets is astoundingly vast. Now, of course, I'm in a privileged position in terms of access to music, but I hear something new (or at least new to me) every day that really gets me excited.
For example. thanks for the heads up on these two that escaped my notice when I was picking up a dozen others in New Orleans (ok a lot of threadhead stuff but each is impressive)...yyr with the fragmentation you mention...got to search but because of it...the artist seems more in control than ever before...more good music to listen to everywhere...not anywhere enough time to do it.
Off the top of my head, I can think of at least seven new releases that I have purchased in the past few weeks alone, each one of which I love:
Wilco
Patterson Hood
Jason Isbell
Ruthie Foster
Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women
Levon Helm
Diane Birch
On top of this, as always, I've continued to acquire a lot of other music that is new to me, although not necessarily a new release. I have not made any new New Orleans purchases in about a month. I guess I'm due...
PaulC
07-15-2009, 06:45 PM
one thing is for sure,.. back in the heyday,.. you couldn't jus' be sittin' in your office and stumble on a band ya' never heard of.... and from scranton, penn no less.... and no one played pop/punk ska like this back then...
http://www.myspace.com/skiptownmatty
not sure if this will hold true in years down the road ,.. but i'm enjoyin' the heck out of this right now....
Baconwrapped
07-15-2009, 07:13 PM
one thing is for sure,.. back in the heyday,.. you couldn't jus' be sittin' in your office and stumble on a band ya' never heard of.... and from scranton, penn no less.... and no one played pop/punk ska like this back then...
http://www.myspace.com/skiptownmatty
not sure if this will hold true in years down the road ,.. but i'm enjoyin' the heck out of this right now....
Yeah, but they're no Scrantonicity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA1o-ralx5A
Baconwrapped
07-15-2009, 07:20 PM
And depending on which heyday you're talking about, there have been plenty of ska-punk and/or pop bands out there: Specials, Madness, Bad Manners in the Brit "two-tone" era and dozens of Southern California bands a little more recently (Aquabats, early No Doubt, some of Rancid's stuff etc....)
Baconwrapped
07-15-2009, 07:21 PM
I think in another thread a while ago I mentioned the '90s L.A. ska band Ye Olde English that did a complete ska version of "Tommy." It was surprisingly good...
Baconwrapped
07-15-2009, 07:22 PM
what the heck my last few posts had to do with New Orleans music being adrift.... well.... I tend to drift myself.
PaulC
07-15-2009, 07:25 PM
And depending on which heyday you're talking about, there have been plenty of ska-punk and/or pop bands out there: Specials, Madness, Bad Manners in the Brit "two-tone" era and dozens of Southern California bands a little more recently (Aquabats, early No Doubt, some of Rancid's stuff etc....)
i guess i kinda got lost.... :o
thought i was postin' on the 40 yr. thread... those days in 1969 were the targeted heyday... no pop punk ska back then that i can recall.... don't recall hearin' about scranton at 12 yrs old either...
PaulC
07-15-2009, 07:31 PM
Yeah, but they're no Scrantonicity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA1o-ralx5A
too funny... love it....
thank you...
"the rules specifically say,.. that you can not bring beer into work,.. but,.. it says nothing about makin' beer at work..."
festivalgirl
07-15-2009, 07:36 PM
I think it's just a taste thing. I have been underwhelmed by a lot of new music for quite a while. The current "sound" just isn't interesting to me. (not saying it's bad ..... just boring to me) Can't remember the last new band that made me go "WOW". There is a lot that Steve really likes. It's just a taste thing. :)
Baconwrapped
07-15-2009, 07:58 PM
I think it's just a taste thing. I have been underwhelmed by a lot of new music for quite a while. The current "sound" just isn't interesting to me. (not saying it's bad ..... just boring to me) Can't remember the last new band that made me go "WOW". There is a lot that Steve really likes. It's just a taste thing. :)
May be true, festivalgirl.... but I'd still go out on a limb and say that whatever your tastes are, there is GREAT new music being released all the time these days. The problem is finding it. My tastes are very very broad, and I'm still discovering new things I love in pretty much all areas of my spectrum... from 12th century troubadour music to the 21st century avant-garde.
I think it's just a taste thing. I have been underwhelmed by a lot of new music for quite a while. The current "sound" just isn't interesting to me. (not saying it's bad ..... just boring to me) Can't remember the last new band that made me go "WOW". There is a lot that Steve really likes. It's just a taste thing. :)
May be true, festivalgirl.... but I'd still go out on a limb and say that whatever your tastes are, there is GREAT new music being released all the time these days. The problem is finding it. My tastes are very very broad, and I'm still discovering new things I love in pretty much all areas of my spectrum... from 12th century troubadour music to the 21st century avant-garde.
The answer is pretty obvious: Scrantonicity II
festivalgirl
07-15-2009, 08:04 PM
May be true, festivalgirl.... but I'd still go out on a limb and say that whatever your tastes are, there is GREAT new music being released all the time these days. The problem is finding it. My tastes are very very broad, and I'm still discovering new things I love in pretty much all areas of my spectrum... from 12th century troubadour music to the 21st century avant-garde.
Very true on finding it ..... I'm sure you will agree that L.A. radio is pathetic and not a lot of places for the little guys to play here.
Very true on finding it ..... I'm sure you will agree that L.A. radio is pathetic and not a lot of places for the little guys to play here.
But you do stream radio on-line, right? There are lots of incredibly good radio stations that you can stream. In terms of other sources for recommendations, have you tried the iTunes Genius feature, or Pandora?
Baconwrapped
07-15-2009, 08:26 PM
But you do stream radio on-line, right? There are lots of incredibly good radio stations that you can stream. In terms of other sources for recommendations, have you tried the iTunes Genius feature, or Pandora?
I haven't found either the itunes genius or Pandora too helpful for me... I do subscribe to eMusic and have spend a lot of time exploring through their expanding catalog (was indie only but recently added the entire Sony/BMG catalog)...
again, I'm very privileged as a lot of music comes to me in the mail... but I do go hunting a lot on my own as well, particularly for classical, jazz, folk, various other things that are not being sent out by publicists/record companies to journalists... if you're in L.A., Amoeba is a great place to hang out and see what's new...
word of mouth is probably the best, still... fortunately we've got lots of words (and mouths) around here! ;)
festivalgirl
07-15-2009, 08:27 PM
But you do stream radio on-line, right? There are lots of incredibly good radio stations that you can stream. In terms of other sources for recommendations, have you tried the iTunes Genius feature, or Pandora?
Yes I do. Actually, I like listening to KPIG.
steeleye
07-15-2009, 08:34 PM
drift....you're the only other person i've heard use the word aughts...everybody has been looking at me strangly since 2000 because i use it! ha!
I use it alot. As in "Linza aughts to wear a shawl."
Seriously, I think there has been some really great music released this year, not the least of which has come from you-know-what record label, and many of the recordings previously cited.
I haven't found either the itunes genius or Pandora too helpful for me...
word of mouth is probably the best, still... fortunately we've got lots of words (and mouths) around here! ;)
I haven't found either very helpful for me either, but I know others who have. I already have so much music that mainstream sources like that aren't likely to be of much help. The only thing I ever discovered from Pandora was a great track called "I'm Hungry" by Johnny Morisette, which led me on a quest to find it, which led me to discover Keb Darge, the British DJ who apparently has one of the world's greatest collections of rare funk, and who put out a great compilation series called Legendary Deep Funk, which I also finally tracked down with a lot of effort (but it was well worth it).
The iTunes Genius feature has never recommended a new discovery to me, but I do find it helpful for instant playlists when I need them for mixed company that might not appreciate the shuffle of the almost 13,000 tunes on my iPod that I usually do.
I agree that word of mouth still works best for me too. And the internet helps me research suggestions instantly, and usually acquire them soon thereafter...
Apostrophe (')
07-15-2009, 09:27 PM
which led me to discover Keb Darge, the British DJ who apparently has one of the world's greatest collections of rare funk, and who put out a great compilation series called Legendary Deep Funk, which I also finally tracked down with a lot of effort (but it was well worth it).
ahhh, the deep funk series. those are a fun listen for sure. hey lit, it's not really directly related, but for some reason your mention triggered it in my mind... have you heard jazzanova's 'of all the things'? i'd be curious to hear your thoughts...
ahhh, the deep funk series. those are a fun listen for sure. hey lit, it's not really directly related, but for some reason your mention triggered it in my mind... have you heard jazzanova's 'of all the things'? i'd be curious to hear your thoughts...
Nope, but that there is exactly what I'm talkin' about with "word of mouth." Had heard the name of the band before in passing but never looked into them; just sampled on iTunes while downloading a few new discs and will probably be purchasing if I have time tonight. Sounds great to my ears. Thanks.
I haven't found either very helpful for me either, but I know others who have. I already have so much music that mainstream sources like that aren't likely to be of much help. The only thing I ever discovered from Pandora was a great track called "I'm Hungry" by Johnny Morisette, which led me on a quest to find it, which led me to discover Keb Darge, the British DJ who apparently has one of the world's greatest collections of rare funk, and who put out a great compilation series called Legendary Deep Funk, which I also finally tracked down with a lot of effort (but it was well worth it).
The iTunes Genius feature has never recommended a new discovery to me, but I do find it helpful for instant playlists when I need them for mixed company that might not appreciate the shuffle of the almost 13,000 tunes on my iPod that I usually do.
I agree that word of mouth still works best for me too. And the internet helps me research suggestions instantly, and usually acquire them soon thereafter...
Yeah, agree with you guys. Such as Pandora features cuts from the old traditional labels...and there's not a whole lot going on there these days.
Perhaps it would be a better response to say that the 'traditional' sources are 'adrift', and yes there is a lot of new music out there though it takes a concerted effort to find it.
PaulC
07-16-2009, 12:36 AM
yes there is a lot of new music out there though it takes a concerted effort to find it.
yes to yes,.. as for the closin' argument,.. don't know about that....
i find the song of the day to be helpful...
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106638534
and the npr home music site http://www.npr.org/music/ itself has all kinds of leads that should get you surfin' at some point,.. which then should take you to a few myspace pages... then you simply expand the search by checkin' out their friends,.. which leads you to their gifted,.. or not so,.. musical friends...
where's the new cool musical waldo has never been so easy.....
Baconwrapped
07-16-2009, 12:49 AM
and of course, for music suggestions there's always:
http://www.spinner.com/category/around-the-world/
your patronage is always appreciated.
:D
PaulC
07-16-2009, 12:58 AM
and of course, for music suggestions there's always:
http://www.spinner.com/category/around-the-world/
your patronage is always appreciated.
:D
of course.....
Baconwrapped
07-16-2009, 01:01 AM
When I've used Pandora, I always found its suggestions to literal, so to speak. So when I tried a John Fahey channel, for example, all I got was other acoustic guitarists and some folk and blues artists. But what about all the other things that influenced him and that share some sort of spirit with him... Russian romantic composers, Albert Ayler, Sonic Youth, Morton Subotnick, Morton Feldman, and so on and so on?
Also tried a Professor Longhair channel and all I got was some very obvious New Orleans selections. It's pretty condescending, to my thinking. I don't want things that SOUND like my heros, I want things that are as UNIQUE as my heros. The Beatles were the Beatles because they did things no one else had done. So the only way to be "like" the Beatles is just that... do something no one else has done.
Baconwrapped
07-16-2009, 01:02 AM
er... add an o to that "to" before "literal."
where are my copy editors when I need them?
ozzie
07-16-2009, 01:09 AM
Well, if something goes adrift it generally lands somewhere or bumps into something else and that something or somewhere might be a good thing... a new discovery. A surprise.
innertube
07-16-2009, 09:43 AM
new cd's that i have been into this year...
Derek Trucks Band
Bob Dylan
Wilco......hooked after the fest....new DVD...is great also
The Deadweather
Anders Osborne
Booker T and DBT
Patty Griffin
and others......can't think of them all..like already said its out there...but you have to look for it....
Apostrophe (')
07-16-2009, 12:02 PM
Perhaps it would be a better response to say that the 'traditional' sources are 'adrift', and yes there is a lot of new music out there though it takes a concerted effort to find it.
I think that nails it.
http://www.spinner.com/category/around-the-world/
wow, great site. i'm sure i'll spend more time than i should digging through the articles. thanks for the pointer :)
Baconwrapped
07-16-2009, 12:17 PM
Thanks Mr. Punctuation Mark! Glad you're enjoying Around the World.
and of course, for music suggestions there's always:
http://www.spinner.com/category/around-the-world/
your patronage is always appreciated.
:D
Very nice. Just read the Hooker Songs piece. FWIW, I've always thought that Townes Van Zandt's "Tecumseh Valley" was one of the best. And Nanci Griffith's "Looking for the Time" deserves mention too.
Very nice. Just read the Hooker Songs piece. FWIW, I've always thought that Townes Van Zandt's "Tecumseh Valley" was one of the best. And Nanci Griffith's "Looking for the Time" deserves mention too.
Thread drift...I used to catch both Townes and Nanci playing the club scene back when I was in grad school in Austin....actually started going to see Nanci when I was still an undergrad in Houston....good times indeed.
Back to your regular programming....
Thread drift...I used to catch both Townes and Nanci playing the club scene back when I was in grad school in Austin....actually started going to see Nanci when I was still an undergrad in Houston....good times indeed.
Back to your regular programming....
And Nanci does a fine cover of Townes' "Tecumseh Valley" with Arlo Guthrie on her Other Voices, Other Rooms album. I would have loved to have seen them back then. I am glad I got to see Townes before he died, several years ago at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA, a great venue. And I've also seen Nanci here in New Haven several years ago at a small theater, where I had front row center seats, which was nice. One of my friends who came to the show was not familiar with her and remarked that, when she talked, she sounded like she had just swallowed helium. I couldn't get that thought out of my mind for the rest of the night, which led to some uncontrollable (and uncomfortable, given the seats) giggles. I still think about it every time I hear her now.
freebo
07-16-2009, 04:36 PM
NOLA!
I too caught Nanci 'back in the day', as I spent a good bit of my formative years in Austin - I was there from 1976 to 1988.
She was enshrined in the Hole in the Wall's 'Wall of Shame' at the same time as a friend of mine who used to tend bar there... Ah, the (happy) memories.
I definitely want to discuss at our Mag Fest get-togethers.
I am glad I got to see Townes before he died, several years ago at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA, a great venue.
And I've also seen Nanci here in New Haven several years ago at a small theater, where I had front row center seats, which was nice. One of my friends who came to the show was not familiar with her and remarked that, when she talked, she sounded like she had just swallowed helium. I couldn't get that thought out of my mind for the rest of the night, which led to some uncontrollable (and uncomfortable, given the seats) giggles. I still think about it every time I hear her now.
"Several years ago" must be at least 12, as TVZ died on New Year's Day 1997...
I'm gonna have to try to forget that story about Nanci before I see her sing again.;)
NOLA!
I too caught Nanci 'back in the day', as I spent a good bit of my formative years in Austin - I was there from 1976 to 1988.
She was enshrined in the Hole in the Wall's 'Wall of Shame' at the same time as a friend of mine who used to tend bar there... Ah, the (happy) memories.
I definitely want to discuss at our Mag Fest get-togethers.
Our paths must have crossed on Sixth St. at some point - I was in Austin from 1981 - 1983. I'd be happy to reminisce with you about good times in Austin while we're at Mag-fest!
"Several years ago" must be at least 12, as TVZ died on New Year's Day 1997...
Yes. Townes was very mellow, but I'm quite sure he was still alive when I saw him.
I was actually trying to place the year and the best I can do is a general recollection that I was somewhere between my the end of my second year of law school and my first year or two of practice, based on other things I recall about the night and the people around. That puts it at somewhere between '92 and '94. I remember that Martin Sexton opened for him, and he was a big part of the reason I made the trip for the show because I knew him and liked his performances a lot (and still do). I had wanted to see Townes because I knew he was a legend, but I also knew that his set was going to be very mellow. That turned out to be exactly the case, but I was very happy to have seen Townes.
Well, mellow is not quite how I would describe him in the early 80's in Austin. Rip roaring drunk was more like it. His shows were manic - sometimes he would display great energy and yet beautiful singing and story telling - and then it was like somebody threw a switch and he was another (fairly unpleasant) person. It was more than a little sad when he couldn't remember the words to "Pancho and Lefty" (and this was around the time Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard had scored a big country music hit with it)....
Glad you got to see him and enjoyed it.
radi8tors
07-17-2009, 01:26 PM
Same here. Drift shmrift. There's tons of great new music out there, in New Orleans and elsewhere. And movies too.
Well stated, and I concur. I've bought more new music this year than I have in a long time. Most of them you've already listed, but a couple more would be the album I'm listening to now, which is the Nighthawks' "American Landscape". IMHO, this is their best album since Thackery left all those years ago. They run the gamut on this album from original tunes, then songs by the likes of Dylan, Waits, Ike Turner, Marvin Gaye, (and not the commercial ones) to the Andy Griffith Show's "Fishin' Hole Theme" a la Danny Gatton's album "88 Elmira Street" where he covered "The Simpson's Theme".
And of course the album on my avatar, The Radiators', "The Lost South Lake Sessions" which is a collection of new songs, old songs, and songs that were never on an album.
Gards
07-17-2009, 08:50 PM
There is an excelent magazine that I subscribe to.That brings lots of good new music to peoples attention,for instance a recent review of the Album by by Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears a band which not many people down here in Aus would have heard about before.They also review Blues,Jazz,World,Country/Soul and mainstream whatever that may be.
The founding editor has a great interest in Nola and the music and has been to Jazzfest about 15 times or so.They have an online presence at www.rhythms.com.au but the hard copy is better.In the June edition we got a review of Jazzfest,the stomp and also Van live at the Orpheum Theatre in LA.It is well worth a read and you might latch on to some new Aussie stuff as well.;)
Cheers
Gards