by rockzan on October 14, 2007
Boy, 3rd and Lindsley has been booking some exceptional talent lately, not that they are ever light in that department–but one of my personal faves is playing Friday, September 14th–the great Billy Joe Shaver. He was here just a few weeks ago, playing the Buds’n'Suds benefit (which was a mighty fine evening of music, and raised a lot of money for a very worthy cause), but this is a chance to see him up close and real personal. Shaver is one of the few real country legends left, and although he may not be as well known to those outside of Texas and Tennessee as some of his compadres–folks like Kristofferson, Nelson, and those that have gone on to greater glory–Cash, Jennings, and Van Zandt, make no mistake–this is the real deal. Willie Nelson once called Billy Joe the country’s number 1 living songwriter–which carries a pretty good bit of weight coming from Willie. In 1973, Waylon’s Honky Tonk Heroes album kicked Nashville’s country establishment right in the ass, and almost the entire album was Billy Joe Shaver tunes. When you have writers like Kristofferson and Tom T. Hall cutting your stuff, you know it has to be way past good. His personal life is the stuff of legend as well, such as marrying wife Brenda 3 times, and surviving an onstage heart attack (after quadruple bypass). There are damn few of these larger than life, blood, bare knuckles, and Jesus men left, and maybe even fewer great songwriters–here’s your chance to see one!
by rockzan on October 12, 2007
The White Stripes have cancelled all remaining tour dates through the end of the year, including all fall U.K. dates. It’s been attributing to Meg’s suffering "from acute anxiety" and her resulting inability to travel. Nashville was lucky enough to have them play a show at the Mercy Lounge May 18th.
by rockzan on October 9, 2007
Interpol will be playing the Ryman promoting their major-label debut Our Love To Admire on Saturday the 22nd of September, with Liars opening.
by rockzan on October 2, 2007
The annual benefit concert for Cumberland Heights is Saturday, October 13th at the Ryman, and this year’s show features hometown legend John Hiatt and superstar guitar hero Peter Frampton. This is to benefit a wonderful cause, and the evening promises to be one to remember. Hiatt will be playing solo with an acoustic guitar, and Frampton will be backed by his incredible band. You can pick up tickets through Ticketmaster, or the Ryman. Mr. Hiatt had been working on a new, anxiously awaited new album, and I hope to hear some new songs from that upcoming release. Frampton won a Grammy for his last outing Fingerprints, which is instrumental, and showcases his virtuosity.
by rockzan on October 1, 2007
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga–I say GO GO GO GO GO to the show! Spoon’s out on tour promoting their new album, and will be playing the Cannery Ballroom October 26th.
by rockzan on September 30, 2007
Feist will be breezing into town to play the Ryman on Wednesday, November 21st. The show starts at 7:30, and tickets are $32 and $25, and available through www.ryman.com as well as www.ticketmaster.com. Should be a good show, and I expect it will sell out, but if I see the iTunes commercial one more time–I think I’ll scream!!
by rockzan on September 25, 2007
Grimey’s big bi-annual outdoor bash is this Saturday, September 29th from 11 am till the sun goes down (and maybe till the proverbial cows come home)!
by rockzan on September 5, 2007
Well, the Crowes definately put on another great show at the Ryman! No opening act–so it was straight to the deal, and the Robinson brothers and band started off strong, and stayed tight for the whole show. Chris was in fine vocal form, and the rest of the band sounded great as well. Rich sang a lot more, swapping lead with Chris a good bit (a by-product of the Brothers of a Feather tour, no doubt). They lead off strong with "Remedy", followed up by "Sting Me" and "Gone". One of the highlights of the show was the soul-drenched rendition of "Seeing Things". I’m always amazed at the power and depth of Chris’s voice–that great big voice coming from his skinny bod! This show featured a mellow, acoustic set in the middle, and I really dug it, as I think the Ryman is a great venue to showcase harmonies–the acoustics just naturally lend themselves to it. The band played "Sweet Mental Revenge" for the first time, and the acoustic set featured "She", "Lost My Driving Wheel", and "Girl from the North Country" before ramping back into classics "Thorn in My Pride", "Jealous Again" and "Soul Singing".
The band has finished recording 16 new tracks at Allaire Studios in Shoka, NY, and are set to start mixing them in September for a spring ‘08 release. The new studio album was produced by Paul Stacey and the Crowes, and features the addition of Adam MacDougall on keyboards, and Luther Dickinson from the North Mississippi Allstars also joined in on several tracks.
All in all, a tall time was had by everyone!!
by rockzan on August 23, 2007
Porter Hall Tennessee is playing the Five Spot tomorrow night–wOOt!! Last time I heard, they weren’t going to be back in town until November–and that was straight from Molly’s mouth via our mutual friend’s ear. I missed them the last time they were here, and Sweet Melissa called to see when my next chance would be–and they were playing Birmingham and Memphis that weekend, and didn’t have anything else in Nashvegas until November.
But when I was going through show dates last night, working on my picks to check out–there it was!! PHT is a punk band gone to whisky-bent, honky-tonk hell, and their music takes you right along with them!
by rockzan on August 21, 2007
Here’s your chance to see a real live legend, the kind of bigger than life old-style honky tonk hero that’s just about extinct–Billy Joe Shaver is headlining the Buds’nSuds Kick Off Party tonight, which is a bebefit for the The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America tonight at the Mercy Lounge. The show starts early–6:30–and for a mere $10 (but feel free to give more for a good cause!) you can see Billy Joe, Kylie Sackley, Lee Brice, Jerrod Neimann, and Randy Houser.