Today would've been Warren Zevon's 60th birthday. Go listen to some of his songs, wouldya? And if you aint got any of his songs, go buy some of his CDs. Here's some:
*Excitable Boy
*Warren Zevon
*The Wind
*Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School
*Sentimental Hygiene
and if you prefer the less adventurous Greatest Hits route:
*I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology)
*Genius: Best of Warren Zevon
I'll forever be a little bummed that I ignored him for so many years and never got to see him live. But here's his last Letterman appearance. Still hits me hard:
1.24.2007
1.20.2007
Rethinking the Songs of My Youth: Bangles Edition
Before I get to the Bangles, let me just share an interesting discovery I made Friday night, while walking from the Atlantic City Hilton to the Showboat House of Blues, where the Bangles were performing. Avid readers of T&R (as the kids call it), will no doubt be aware of the many depressing things Atlantic City has to offer, from belligerent amputees to Eddie Money singing on a beach. But, as it turns out, the true depression in Atlantic City can only be achieved when you walk the entire length of the boardwalk at night in the middle of January. Nearly every store was shut down, with the exception of the "Never Closed" Bob's Gyros and competing sleazy-looking massage parlors offering $20 and $32 full body massage parlors. Yet, music still blares out, both from casinos (like Bally's Wild Wild West's New Country mix) and from a section of shops just down the way from Bally's, where, right on cue, "Theme from 'A Summer Place'" blared out as I walked past.
Anybody in Atlantic City in January is inside the casinos, hunkered down among the slot machines or gorging on a comped buffet. And there isn't much movement from casino; you pick your spot and hope for the best. Should the worst happen to hit, you must decide to either ride it out or venture out onto the boardwalk and faced those harsh winds. And judging by the dead-eyed glares that met me when I walked into a few of the casinos, there was a lot of riding out going on Friday night.
Yes, if you find yourself traveling to Atlantic City in the dead of winter, it is clear that you either have a severe gambling problem or there is something much, much worse wrong with you.
I, of course, am among the latter.
***
With a Ticketmaster gift card and the knowledge that I'd get at least two-thirds of my bus fare back, I made the decision to board an Academy bus at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and head out to see the Bangles at the Showboat House of Blues. Much like my love for Huey Lewis and the News, my love for the Bangles is genuine and nonironic. Of course, I find the Bangles to be much better-looking than Huey Lewis and any members--past, present, and future--of the News, so that may have played a part in my decision to go to Atlantic City on the weekend that winter finally got its act together. Or I may just be crazy. Feel free to come to the conclusion that makes you most comfortable.
But I have been attracted to a lot of female musicians in my time, so it's not just the fact that I was gonna have a chance to see Susanna Hoffs that put me in Atlantic City. The Bangles also don't do too many shows these days, particularly on the east coast (though rumors of a summer 2007 tour have popped up).I saw them a bunch of years ago at Irving Plaza, which, as it turns out, was probably the only time I'll ever see the classic Bangles lineup, since bassist Michael Steele retired from the band a few years ago. Lest you think I spend a lot of time thinking about the Bangles, I learned of her retirement about three hours after I bought my ticket to the AC show. I don't want to give the impression that I sit in my apartment and pore through the Bangles' web site. However, I have spent the last two days doing just that. And looking for a clip of "The Allnighter" on YouTube. I've said too much.
Anyway, the chance to see a rare Bangles show and to hear the Bangles songs I enjoyed in my youth (and, OK, yeah, to see Susanna Hoffs...and the equally-pleasing- to-my-eye Vicki Peterson) compelled me to get on that bus, on which the bus driver and the man in the front seat engaged in a two-hour-long, loud, rambling dialogue (much thanks to the music of Dave Edmunds and Eddie Floyd, which drowned out a good deal of that). I wound up getting $22 of my $31 bus fare back from the Atlantic City Hilton, plus a $5 food coupon. So I stepped foot in Atlantic City down only $4. I could get used to being elderly.
After the aforementioned most depressing walk ever, I headed into the Showboat right on time, something I am always grateful for when I'm in Atlantic City. The show began with a brief set from the horribly named Fran Smith Jr. and the Ten-Cent Millionaires. Here's something I just discovered five minutes ago: Fran Smith Jr. currently plays bass for the Hooters, who his biography says have ridden the fame of "And We Danced" to become "one of the hottest bands in Europe." Really? C'mon, Europe. Get your act together.
(Oooh...here's something else very entertaining from his bio [which, I should mention is much more enjoyable than his set was]:
"From his own recording studio he has produced many successful projects. His clients run the gamut from friends like Joe Piscapo and Flo and Eddy of The Turtles to local artists and bands."
I'm willing to let it slide that he misspells the names of two of the three friends he mentions, but I do feel obligated to note that that may be the saddest gamut I've ever seen.)
There was a 45-minute wait between the end of the Millionaires' set and the start of the Bangles', and that was filled with 45 minutes of '80s music over the PA. The most entertaining part of that lengthy intermission was watching the steely, leather-jacketed facade of the gentleman to my left crumble two notes into Katrina and the Waves' "Walkin' on Sunshine," when his head started reflexively bobbing to the peppy beat. I was also trying to gauge how many guys came just to see if Susanna Hoffs still held up. I put the number at roughly two-thirds.
And many of those two-thirds angled up to my spot stage left seconds after the Bangles came out swinging with "Hazy Shade of Winter" (one of the Top 10 cover songs of all time). Security spent a good part of the first three songs picking out those snapping photos, including the guy behind me who was so dead set on getting that Susanna photo that the flashlight shining directly in his face barely even phased him. And even after the first warning, he kept at it. He gave up after being spotted again, though. As my own attempts to smuggle a camera in were thwarted, I can offer you no photographic proof that Susanna Hoffs is still hot. But she is. You'll have to just trust me.
You will also have to trust me that it was a really good show. All the hits were polished up and presented just as good as they sounded on my 45s in the '80s, and the newer songs from their last record, "Doll Revolution," fit in just fine. Particular highlights were "Ride the Ride" (which segued into the '80s classic "In Your Room"), the Elvis Costello-penned "Tear Off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution"), and my favorite song of the first half of the show, "Rain Song," originally cowritten by Vicki Peterson when she was in the Continental Drifters.
And then there were the hits of the '80s--"Manic Monday," "Eternal Flame" (the final encore), "If She Knew What She Wants" (kind of a hit), and, of course, the main-set closer, "Walk Like An Egyptian." I guess I was about nine years old when that song came out, as it was released in 1986, the Year of Great Things (Mets win the World Series, Giants march to the Super Bowl, Wrestlemania 2, my family gets cable), a year that may never be duplicated again. "Walk Like An Egyptian" was probably one of the first 45s I bought, compelled by that super-cool video. I can't really say why I liked--and still like--the song (other than its catchiness), but I do know that Susanna Hoffs's delivery of the following benign couplet still does something to me, even on a cold night in Atlantic City:
"If you wanna find all the cops,
They're hangin' out in the doughnut shops."
I don't know what it is about those lines, but I hear them and it brings me back to the Year of Great Things. And I feel a little better. About the past. About the present. And about going to Atlantic City in January to see a really good band.
Anybody in Atlantic City in January is inside the casinos, hunkered down among the slot machines or gorging on a comped buffet. And there isn't much movement from casino; you pick your spot and hope for the best. Should the worst happen to hit, you must decide to either ride it out or venture out onto the boardwalk and faced those harsh winds. And judging by the dead-eyed glares that met me when I walked into a few of the casinos, there was a lot of riding out going on Friday night.
Yes, if you find yourself traveling to Atlantic City in the dead of winter, it is clear that you either have a severe gambling problem or there is something much, much worse wrong with you.
I, of course, am among the latter.
***
With a Ticketmaster gift card and the knowledge that I'd get at least two-thirds of my bus fare back, I made the decision to board an Academy bus at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and head out to see the Bangles at the Showboat House of Blues. Much like my love for Huey Lewis and the News, my love for the Bangles is genuine and nonironic. Of course, I find the Bangles to be much better-looking than Huey Lewis and any members--past, present, and future--of the News, so that may have played a part in my decision to go to Atlantic City on the weekend that winter finally got its act together. Or I may just be crazy. Feel free to come to the conclusion that makes you most comfortable.
But I have been attracted to a lot of female musicians in my time, so it's not just the fact that I was gonna have a chance to see Susanna Hoffs that put me in Atlantic City. The Bangles also don't do too many shows these days, particularly on the east coast (though rumors of a summer 2007 tour have popped up).I saw them a bunch of years ago at Irving Plaza, which, as it turns out, was probably the only time I'll ever see the classic Bangles lineup, since bassist Michael Steele retired from the band a few years ago. Lest you think I spend a lot of time thinking about the Bangles, I learned of her retirement about three hours after I bought my ticket to the AC show. I don't want to give the impression that I sit in my apartment and pore through the Bangles' web site. However, I have spent the last two days doing just that. And looking for a clip of "The Allnighter" on YouTube. I've said too much.
Anyway, the chance to see a rare Bangles show and to hear the Bangles songs I enjoyed in my youth (and, OK, yeah, to see Susanna Hoffs...and the equally-pleasing- to-my-eye Vicki Peterson) compelled me to get on that bus, on which the bus driver and the man in the front seat engaged in a two-hour-long, loud, rambling dialogue (much thanks to the music of Dave Edmunds and Eddie Floyd, which drowned out a good deal of that). I wound up getting $22 of my $31 bus fare back from the Atlantic City Hilton, plus a $5 food coupon. So I stepped foot in Atlantic City down only $4. I could get used to being elderly.
After the aforementioned most depressing walk ever, I headed into the Showboat right on time, something I am always grateful for when I'm in Atlantic City. The show began with a brief set from the horribly named Fran Smith Jr. and the Ten-Cent Millionaires. Here's something I just discovered five minutes ago: Fran Smith Jr. currently plays bass for the Hooters, who his biography says have ridden the fame of "And We Danced" to become "one of the hottest bands in Europe." Really? C'mon, Europe. Get your act together.
(Oooh...here's something else very entertaining from his bio [which, I should mention is much more enjoyable than his set was]:
"From his own recording studio he has produced many successful projects. His clients run the gamut from friends like Joe Piscapo and Flo and Eddy of The Turtles to local artists and bands."
I'm willing to let it slide that he misspells the names of two of the three friends he mentions, but I do feel obligated to note that that may be the saddest gamut I've ever seen.)
There was a 45-minute wait between the end of the Millionaires' set and the start of the Bangles', and that was filled with 45 minutes of '80s music over the PA. The most entertaining part of that lengthy intermission was watching the steely, leather-jacketed facade of the gentleman to my left crumble two notes into Katrina and the Waves' "Walkin' on Sunshine," when his head started reflexively bobbing to the peppy beat. I was also trying to gauge how many guys came just to see if Susanna Hoffs still held up. I put the number at roughly two-thirds.
And many of those two-thirds angled up to my spot stage left seconds after the Bangles came out swinging with "Hazy Shade of Winter" (one of the Top 10 cover songs of all time). Security spent a good part of the first three songs picking out those snapping photos, including the guy behind me who was so dead set on getting that Susanna photo that the flashlight shining directly in his face barely even phased him. And even after the first warning, he kept at it. He gave up after being spotted again, though. As my own attempts to smuggle a camera in were thwarted, I can offer you no photographic proof that Susanna Hoffs is still hot. But she is. You'll have to just trust me.
You will also have to trust me that it was a really good show. All the hits were polished up and presented just as good as they sounded on my 45s in the '80s, and the newer songs from their last record, "Doll Revolution," fit in just fine. Particular highlights were "Ride the Ride" (which segued into the '80s classic "In Your Room"), the Elvis Costello-penned "Tear Off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution"), and my favorite song of the first half of the show, "Rain Song," originally cowritten by Vicki Peterson when she was in the Continental Drifters.
And then there were the hits of the '80s--"Manic Monday," "Eternal Flame" (the final encore), "If She Knew What She Wants" (kind of a hit), and, of course, the main-set closer, "Walk Like An Egyptian." I guess I was about nine years old when that song came out, as it was released in 1986, the Year of Great Things (Mets win the World Series, Giants march to the Super Bowl, Wrestlemania 2, my family gets cable), a year that may never be duplicated again. "Walk Like An Egyptian" was probably one of the first 45s I bought, compelled by that super-cool video. I can't really say why I liked--and still like--the song (other than its catchiness), but I do know that Susanna Hoffs's delivery of the following benign couplet still does something to me, even on a cold night in Atlantic City:
"If you wanna find all the cops,
They're hangin' out in the doughnut shops."
I don't know what it is about those lines, but I hear them and it brings me back to the Year of Great Things. And I feel a little better. About the past. About the present. And about going to Atlantic City in January to see a really good band.
1.15.2007
Get naked
Those who have studied my works (and there are, of course, many) will know of my endless devotion to what is clearly the greatest TV show of all time, "Freaks and Geeks." Now, some may have expected "Saved by the Bell" to follow that introductory phrase, but those folks have really only scratched the surface of Tinsel and Rot. And to that I say, "Please stop scratching the surface; you are ruining the paint job."
But back to "Freaks and Geeks," the greatest TV show of all time, criminally mistreated by programmers at NBC and cancelled after only one season. It's a damn near perfect season, though, and you can view that season on the "normal people" boxed set or, like me, shell out the big bucks for the special high school yearbook edition, which remains one of the greatest purchases I've ever made. I cherish it even more than I cherish my Singing and Dancing Bocephus (I actually have Singing and Dancing Bocephi, but I only purchased one).
As great as the DVD set is, it its still sad and unfortunate that there will likely never be another show as good as "Freaks and Geeks." But the actors who made it such a fantastic show are still out there. Some have appeared on shows that didn't exactly work out (John Francis Daley [Sam Weir] on "Kitchen Confidential," Busy Philipps [Kim Kelly] on "Love, Inc."), and some have landed on halfway-decent shows (Jason Segel [Nick Andopolis] on "How I Met Your Mother," Linda Cardellini [Lindsay Weir] and, ta da, Busy Philipps on "ER"). But there is no "Freaks and Geeks"-related show that I am more excited about than the upcoming "Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show" on Comedy Central.
The show stars David Koechner (Champ Kind from "Anchorman" and, yes, a waiter in one scene in "Freaks and Geeks") as Gerald "T-Bones" Tibbons and Dave "Gruber" Allen (guidance counselor Jeff Rosso on "Freaks and Geeks") as the Naked Trucker, whose guitar covers up his, er, area. The Naked Trucker generally only does shows in L.A., but I did get to see the show as part of an ultra-serious political show at the Knitting Factory in New York a few years ago. Many people in the audience seemed stunned and unable to really laugh, which was pretty unfortunate. Because it was damn funny. Plus, I got Gruber to sign the aforementioned DVD yearbook and found out that playing Rosso on "Freaks and Geeks" probably wasn't much of a stretch for him. One of the coolest celebrity encounters ever.
Anyway, I'd been hoping the Naked Trucker show would come back to NYC, but then I heard about the TV show. And I became giddy. The clips I've seen so far are pretty fantastic. It may not be for everyone, but if it aint for you, maybe you should rethink reading this blog.
Here's a video clip from comedycentral.com. The premiere show is Wednesday night at 10:30. Plan your lives accordingly.
But back to "Freaks and Geeks," the greatest TV show of all time, criminally mistreated by programmers at NBC and cancelled after only one season. It's a damn near perfect season, though, and you can view that season on the "normal people" boxed set or, like me, shell out the big bucks for the special high school yearbook edition, which remains one of the greatest purchases I've ever made. I cherish it even more than I cherish my Singing and Dancing Bocephus (I actually have Singing and Dancing Bocephi, but I only purchased one).
As great as the DVD set is, it its still sad and unfortunate that there will likely never be another show as good as "Freaks and Geeks." But the actors who made it such a fantastic show are still out there. Some have appeared on shows that didn't exactly work out (John Francis Daley [Sam Weir] on "Kitchen Confidential," Busy Philipps [Kim Kelly] on "Love, Inc."), and some have landed on halfway-decent shows (Jason Segel [Nick Andopolis] on "How I Met Your Mother," Linda Cardellini [Lindsay Weir] and, ta da, Busy Philipps on "ER"). But there is no "Freaks and Geeks"-related show that I am more excited about than the upcoming "Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show" on Comedy Central.
The show stars David Koechner (Champ Kind from "Anchorman" and, yes, a waiter in one scene in "Freaks and Geeks") as Gerald "T-Bones" Tibbons and Dave "Gruber" Allen (guidance counselor Jeff Rosso on "Freaks and Geeks") as the Naked Trucker, whose guitar covers up his, er, area. The Naked Trucker generally only does shows in L.A., but I did get to see the show as part of an ultra-serious political show at the Knitting Factory in New York a few years ago. Many people in the audience seemed stunned and unable to really laugh, which was pretty unfortunate. Because it was damn funny. Plus, I got Gruber to sign the aforementioned DVD yearbook and found out that playing Rosso on "Freaks and Geeks" probably wasn't much of a stretch for him. One of the coolest celebrity encounters ever.
Anyway, I'd been hoping the Naked Trucker show would come back to NYC, but then I heard about the TV show. And I became giddy. The clips I've seen so far are pretty fantastic. It may not be for everyone, but if it aint for you, maybe you should rethink reading this blog.
Here's a video clip from comedycentral.com. The premiere show is Wednesday night at 10:30. Plan your lives accordingly.
1.08.2007
Rethinking the Songs of My Youth: "City of Crime" Edition
There are many reasons why there will always be a place in my heart for "Dragnet." First, I think it's a good movie, and I watch it just about every time it comes on TV. Of course, I've only recently stopped watching every episode of "Boy Meets World" on TV, so maybe that's not such an impressive accomplishment for the creators of "Dragnet." I imagine they'll take what they can get at this point, though.
Second, it's got my all-time favorite character name--Emil Muzz (portrayed winningly by Jack O' Halloran). If I ever become so famous that I have to check into hotels under an assumed name, you, the crafty and attractive Tinsel and Rot reader, will be able to find me by asking around for Emil Muzz.
Third, I like the TV show the movie pays tribute to (and lovingly mocks) almost as much as the movie. If you ever get the chance to see the "Blue Boy" episode of the TV show (actual episode title: "The LSD Story"), you will find what might be the greatest half-hour program ever on TV. I tried finding it on YouTube, but it was a rare instance where YouTube failed. You can buy it on iTunes, though. It'll only cost $1.99, which is a helluva bargain. I'm gonna buy it as soon as I get done writing this.
Fourth, "Dragnet" was the only movie my dad ever took me to, and it took a lot of pleading to make that happen. And it's not because my dad didn't like hanging out with me (I think); he just didn't like going to the movies. At all. I know of only three movies he saw in a movie theater after my birth ("Goodfellas" and "Titanic" were the other two). So, getting him to take me to the Saturday night showing of "Dragnet" at the Fairview Cinema in Hudson, New York, in the summer of 1987 is really one of my major life accomplishments. (Trivia Note: I saw another revered classic, "My Blue Heaven," in that same theater, which solidifies its status as one of the most important movie theaters ever.) I couldn't tell if he enjoyed the movie all that much, but I know he liked the TV show just fine. So I reckon he at least dug that Gannon (Harry Morgan, Colonel Potter from "M*A*S*H," one of my dad's all-time fave shows) was in the movie.
And, finally, "Dragnet" will always hold a place in my heart because of the big hit off the soundtrack, the Dan Aykroyd/Tom Hanks rap duet (with help from Deep Purple's Glenn Hughes) on "City of Crime." And that song was the reason I bought--I mean, made my dad buy me--the LP of the soundtrack (from the Strawberries three doors down from the Fairview Cinema) even though there was only one side of actual songs (Side B just had selections from the score, which fell well short of an Academy Award). The songs on Side A were no great shakes either, featuring Patti LaBelle's "Just the Facts" and New Edition's "Helplessly in Love," which weren't exactly career highlights for either artist.
But it didn't matter, so long as the soundtrack had "City of Crime." I loved that damn song. And I think I kinda still do. Which is why I'm glad YouTube (and mjsamps, whoever you are) didn't let me down when it came time to find the video for it. The dancing clearly makes the song even better. I bet Tom Hanks watches this every day.
I feel much better about this than the Jermaine Stewart thing. I don't know if I should, but I do.
1.03.2007
Del Reeves RIP
Here at Tinsel and Rot, when a member of the Grand Ole Opry dies, we mourn (a policy we reserve the right to revisit in a few decades). And so, we note the passing of Del Reeves on New Year's Day at the age of 73.
There are four Del Reeves songs that find a home in the deep, tangled morass that is the psyche of Tinsel and Rot. The first is "Philadelphia Fillies," which I first heard as a youth on "Baseball's Greatest Hits: Let's Play II," the less entertaining sequel to the classic first volume. It was Reeves's last hit and hardly one of his best, but it's a cute novelty song (written by Jim Mundy) anyway.
The other three songs that register in the Tinsel and Rot universe are all truckin' songs, starting with Reeves's first big hit, "Girl on the Billboard," which can be found on the swell "Truck Driver's Boogie" CD from Diesel Only/Audium. It's up there among some of Red Sovine's songs and, of course, "Six Days on the Road" as one of my favorite truckin' songs. And it seems like Canadian country band the Road Hammers released a cover of it last year. From what I can hear on YouTube, it don't beat the original.
Another of Reeves's hits, "Looking at the World Through a Windshield," may be my all-time favorite trucking song. And Son Volt's cover of it on the "Rig Rock Deluxe" record is the closest I've come yet to actually liking Son Volt. That record also featured Reeves and Jim Lauderdale doing "Diesel, Diesel, Diesel," which you can listen to right now, should you click here.
That whole record's great, and you oughta get it.
And you also oughta raise a glass to the memory of Del Reeves.
141
So, in January 2006, someone on the Marah message board threw down the idea of attending 100 shows in the year. Some doubted it would happen, which was all the push I needed. Tell me something can't be done, and I'm just stupid enough to try to do it. (Quick...someone tell me I can't be successful in life.)
And so, here I am in January 2007, the proud attendee of 141 shows in 2006. Please hold your applause 'til the end.
Anyway, here are some highlights, followed by the whole list for those keeping score at home.
And if you are keeping score, God help you. But here are some fun facts. I saw shows in 12 states. The fewest shows seen in a month was 5 (February). The most shows seen in a month was 19 (in June). From June 7 to June 17, I saw 25 full or near-full sets. I saw Maybe Pete 17 times. I saw the Hudson Falcons 12 times. I saw Marah 12 times. I saw the Avett Brothers a measly 8 times. The last live song I heard in 2006 was "Judas Kiss" by Eric Ambel and the Roscoe Trio (and it was damn good).
Top 10 Shows
1. BR549/Avett Brothers (Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY)
This was the third time I'd seen the tour, and it was by far the best, with both bands revved up for the Saturday night NYC crowd. It was the first time I saw the Avetts really claim a big NYC crowd as their own, and, unfortunately, some Avett fans bailed after their set and missed out on seeing BR549 rise to the challenge of living up to the Avetts' set. And while they didn't necessarily come out on top, they did put on a helluva show that ended with the Avetts coming back on stage to tear apart "Stay A Little Longer." One of the best shows I've ever seen in any year.
2. The Campbell Brothers/Lee Boys (BB King's Blues Club, New York, NY)
Sometimes great shows hit you when you least expect it. I'd sorta been interested in seeing the Campbell Brothers for awhile, since I like Sacred Steel music, or at least what I'd heard of it. So, when I got the weekly e-mail from BB King's offering free tickets (the easy access to free shows in NYC helped out in the drive for 100), I figured I'd take a shot. And what I got was another of the best shows I've ever been to. The opening set by the Lee Boys was good enough, but it didn't prepare me for the total domination and joyful noise of the Campbell Brothers' set. By the time, the Lee Boys joined the Campbell Brothers on "Jump for Joy," I was out of my seat, jumping around, overtaken by the genuine euphoria of the music. There are no pictures of this, so you'll have to trust me. And trust me that you have to see the Campbell Brothers at least once in your life.
3. The Yayhoos/Bottle Rockets (Mercury Lounge, New York, NY)
Again, there's no possible way this show could've sucked. Even after already seeing the Yayhoos twice and the Bottle Rockets four times in the year, I was ready for more, and both bands delivered. The Bottle Rockets seemed a little more revved up than usual after a dismal turnout in Brooklyn the night before and pounded out absolutely killer rock. And then the Yayhoos took the stage, opened with an NRBQ cover, and then showed why they are the mightiest band in the world. People who cannot enjoy themselves at a Yayhoos show are people who should be locked in a room and forced to listen to the Dave Matthews Band for the rest of their lives. Or maybe subjected to something less harsh.
4. Alejandro Escovedo/Marah (Irving Plaza, New York, NY)
Another unbelievable double bill that shows that there was some divine force that wanted me to break the 100 Shows in a Year barrier. I only wish I could've seen more than one show with this lineup. It's always good to see Marah on a big stage where they can stretch out and show a big crowd why they're everything rock and roll oughta be. And though a short Marah set is never ideal, they managed to pack every minute on the Irving Plaza stage with the sweat and power of a marathon, three-hour show. When they were done doing that, the Alejandro Escovedo Orchestra took everybody higher with a set that alternated between haunting and rocking. Or, in other words, it kicked ass like every Alejandro show does.
5. John Fogerty/Willie Nelson (PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ)
I don't generally hold high hopes for outdoor amphitheater shows, even ones co-headlined by two legends like Fogerty and Nelson. But this turned out to be the best amphitheater show ever, even though I almost ended up stranded in the PNC Bank Arts Center parking lot after getting on the wrong bus to the Aberdeen-Matawan train station. Of course, the only reason I was running late for that bus was because during the encore, which was a few minutes after people started to leave in order to beat the traffic, Bruce Springsteen joined John Fogerty on stage to sing "Long Tall Sally." And with that, my first unannounced Springsteen appearance, I officially became a New Jerseyan. But it was a kickass show before that moment, with a great opening set by Willie and the Family, during which Willie's guitar picking was back on display after his recent carpal tunnel troubles. And then Fogerty choogled through his headlining set, pounding out hit after hit before the Boss joined in. I was so happy that I was able to not scream at the stupid git that said she was "glad I finally got up" to see Bruce. Pardon me for having manners, hot shot.
6. The Yayhoos/Avett Brothers/Walter Clevenger and the Dairy Kings (Blueberry Hill, St. Louis, MO)
The first night of Twangfest, a festival that apparently made it its mission to book almost all of my favorite bands for their tenth (and final?) year. Walter Clevenger and the Dairy Kings (and Robbie "Cousin Oliver" Rist) were a happy surprise, the Avett Brothers nailed a set that alternately rocked the believers and offended the naysayers, and the Yayhoos topped it all off by overpowering a crowd that should have been bigger. And then I was so deliriously happy that I (a) related to Yayhoo Keith Christopher that he once walked in on me taking a dump in the Mercury Lounge bathroom and (b) walked all the way back to my hotel through streets that I'd never walked before. Completely sober. It was a good night.
7. Marah/Adam Masterson/Christine Smith (Underground, Philadelphia, PA)
The best Marah show of the year, undoubtedly a much sought-after distinction for all involved. If the eight people that read this blog weren't already Marah fans, maybe I would go on another rant about how a Marah show will almost certainly be the greatest thing you'll ever see, particularly a Marah show in Philadelphia. Or I would mention how a life lived without seeing a Marah show is empty, shallow, and meaningless. Luckily, you've all seen Marah, so I can stop now.
8. Joe Ely (Joe's Pub, New York, NY)
I generally like Ely best with a band, but this solo show was almost as entertaining (though not as powerful) as a Joe Ely Band show. The night was full of interesting stories (how many people do you know that actually ran away and joined the circus?) and classic songs, both his own ("Me and Billy the Kid" and "I'm Gonna Strangle You Shorty") and others' (the only song about cockfighting that always puts me on the verge of tears, Tom Russell's "Gallo del Cielo," and Terry Allen's "Gimme A Ride To Heaven, Boy"). And it was also the last show I saw in my 20s. Sigh.
9. Scott Miller and the Commonwealth/Lucero/Mic Harrison and the High Score (Blueberry Hill, St. Louis, MO)
Another great Twangfest show, although Lucero's set didn't do all that much for me. But seeing V-Roys Mic Harrison and Scott Miller sharing a mike on "Cold Beer Hello" (and Shawn McWilliams's guitar solo) puts this show on the Top 10 list. Miller's set was actually a blast from start to finish, heavy on songs from the excellent "Citation." I also caught about 10 songs from headliners BR549, but I had to be up early in the morning for a reluctant flight home. Twangfest was a good time. I hope they figure out a way to do it again. [EDIT: Looks like they just might: The Twangfest site says it's on for June 6-9, 2007. Make your plans accordingly.]
10. Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete/Doug McKean (Chuck's Steakhouse, Akron, OH)
The best all-around show of my week on the road with the Hudson Falcons and Maybe Pete, and it was (a) preceded by a good dinner and a killer jukebox run, (b) featured a request for Phil Collins during Maybe Pete's set, and (c) was capped off by a jam on Bruce Springsteen's "No Surrender." I wish more than eight music lovers in Akron had seen it.
The next 10
11. Little Jimmy Dickens/Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright/Hank Thompson/Jean Shepard/Ferlin Husky/Charlie Louvin (American Music Theatre, Lancaster, PA)
12. Eric Ambel and the Roscoe Trio (Lakeside Lounge, New York, NY)
13. Ollabelle and Friends (Banjo Jim's, New York, NY)
14. Strays Don't Sleep (Canal Room, New York, NY)
15. Soweto Gospel Choir (NJPAC, Newark, NJ)
16. Bottle Rockets (Mercury Lounge, New York, NY)
17. Drive By Truckers/Bobby Bare Jr. (Webster Hall, New York, NY)
18. Bloodshot CMJ BBQ (Meat Purveyors, Bobby Bare Jr., Deadstring Brothers, Silos, Mark Pickerel, Scott Biram) (Union Pool, Brooklyn, NY)
19. Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete/Jason Bennet and the Resistance (Middle East, Cambridge, MA)
20. Scott Miller (Rodeo Bar, New York, NY)
And here's the full list, as documented by me in a multicolored table in Microsoft Word throughout the year. I will soon be passing that on to the Nerd Hall of Fame. Look for it. I can get you passes.
(And for those who don't read this blog regularly, I suppose I should prepare you for the fact that, yes, I saw Debbie Gibson. And to make that a little more pathetic, I only had the opportunity to see her because Steven Seagal cancelled his scheduled show. Judge me if you must.)
JANUARY (9)
1/9 Dan Baird and Homemade Sin/Laura Veltz Scenic (New York, NY)
1/13 Marah/Adam and Dave's Bloodline/Maybe Pete/Kindred Souls Stone Pony (Asbury Park, NJ)
1/14 Marah/Andrew Grimm Iota (Arlington, VA)
1/15 BR549/Avett Brothers Ram's Head Tavern (Annapolis, MD)
1/18 Bobby Bare Sr. Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
1/20 BR549/Avett Brothers Mohegan Sun Wolf Den (Uncasville, CT)
1/21 Blackout Shoppers/Hymen Holocaust/A lot of punk bands whose names weren't as memorable as Blackout Shoppers and Hymen Holocaust Nikki and Sam's (New York, NY)
1/21 BR549/Avett Brothers Bowery Ballroom (New York, NY)
1/25 Maybe Pete/Pagoda Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
FEBRUARY (5)
2/16 Flogging Molly/Scotch Greens Nokia Theatre (New York, NY)
2/19 Allen Toussaint Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
2/21 Maybe Pete Rockwood Music Hall (New York, NY)
2/21 Bobby Bare Jr. Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
2/25 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete/Jason Bennet and the Resistance Middle East (Cambridge, MA)
MARCH (11)
3/8 Jon Langford's Ship and Pilot Bowery Poetry Club (New York, NY)
3/10 Marah/Kieran McGee Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
3/11 Marah Drew's (Ringwood, NJ)
3/12 Todd Snider World Cafe Live (Philadelphia, PA)
3/16 Pogues/Slackers/William Elliott Whitmore Nokia Theatre (New York, NY)
3/18 Little Jimmy Dickens/Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright/Hank Thompson/Jean Shepard/Ferlin Husky/Charlie Louvin American Music Theatre (Lancaster, PA)
3/19 Mike Ferrio/Eric Ambel Banjo Jim's (New York, NY)
3/23 Kathleen Edwards/Joel Plaskett Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
3/24 Billy Bragg/Jill Sobule Society for Ethical Culture (New York, NY)
3/25 Maybe Pete Pussycat Lounge (New York, NY)
3/31 Alejandro Escovedo Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
APRIL (8)
4/7 Neko Case/High Dials Webster Hall (New York, NY)
4/9 Soweto Gospel Choir NJPAC (Newark, NJ)
4/13 Losers' Lounge: The Highwaymen Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
4/14 Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys/King Wilkie Town Hall (New York, NY)
4/15 Lakeside Lounge 10th Anniversary w/ The Roscoe Trio Lakeside Lounge (New York, NY)
4/19 Jon Langford's Ship and Pilot (w/ Sally Timms)/Chris Mills/The Victoria Lucas Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
4/24 Highway 61 Revisited Lion's Den (New York, NY)
4/28 Supersuckers/Rhino Bucket Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
MAY (10)
5/3 Rodney Crowell Canal Room (New York, NY)
5/4 Rodney Crowell Canal Room (New York, NY)
5/6 Greencards Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
5/10 Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver WFC Plaza (New York, NY)
5/13 Hudson Falcons/Final Summation Club Deep (Asbury Park, NJ)
5/13 Hudson Falcons/Five Shot/Labor Day Saints East End Cafe (Newark, DE)
5/18 Marah/Adam and Dave's Bloodline World Cafe Live (Philadelphia, PA)
5/19 Elvis Costello and the Imposters (w/ Billie Joe Armstrong/Fiona Apple/Death Cab for Cutie) Taj Mahal (Atlantic City, NJ)
5/21 Avett Brothers Wine in the Woods (Columbia, MD)
5/27 Black 47/Searson/Glengarry Bhoys East Durham (NY) Irish Fest (East Durham, NY)
JUNE (19)
6/1 Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder Schimmel Center (New York, NY)
6/3 Deborah Gibson Newport Centre Mall (Jersey City, NJ)
6/7 Yayhoos/Avett Brothers/Walter Clevenger and the Dairy Kings Schlafly Tap Room (Twangfest; St. Louis, MO)
6/8 Dirtbombs/Deadstring Brothers/Glossary/ Transmitters Duck Room (Twangfest; St. Louis, MO)
6/9 Bottle Rockets/Kevin Gordon/Sovines Duck Room (Twangfest; St. Louis, MO)
6/10 Scott Miller and the Commonwealth/Lucero/Mic Harrison Duck Room (Twangfest; St. Louis, MO)
6/13 Yayhoos/Chris Harford/Tom Freund Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
6/14 Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys/Tres Chicas Stuyvesant High School Auditorium (New York, NY)
6/15 Bottle Rockets/Bobby Bare Jr. Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
6/16 Bottle Rockets Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
6/17 Rhett Miller/Ollabelle/Teddy Thompson Summerstage (New York, NY)
6/17 Maybe Pete CBGB Lounge (New York, NY)
6/20 Son Volt WFC Plaza (New York, NY)
6/20 Will Hoge Southpaw (Brooklyn, NY)
6/22 Alejandro Escovedo/Marah Irving Plaza (New York, NY)
6/25 Cheap Trick/George Clinton/Los Lobos/Patti Smith/Fab Faux/Smithereens/John Eddie Liberty State Park (Jersey City, NJ)
6/28 Dr. John Rockefeller Park (New York, NY)
6/29 Strays Don't Sleep Canal Room (New York, NY)
6/30 Scott Miller and the Commonwealth South Street Seaport (New York, NY)
JULY (14)
7/1 Southside Johnny/Maybe Pete/Bob Polding Band/Joe D'Urso Stone Pony (Asbury Park, NJ)
7/3 Hudson Falcons/Ratchets/Guns on the Run/Chilling Details Club Deep (Asbury Park, NJ)
7/5 Rhonda Vincent and the Rage Madison Square Park (New York, NY)
7/6 Biscuit Burners/Chapin Sisters Living Room (New York, NY)
7/12 Uncle Earl/Abigail Washburn Madison Square Park (New York, NY)
7/14 Dave Alvin South Street Seaport (New York, NY)
7/14 Avett Brothers/Nicole Atkins Bowery Ballroom (New York, NY)
7/15 Green River Music Festival (Alejandro Escovedo/Avett Brothers) Greenfield Community College (Greenfield, MA)
7/17 Mark Linskey/Roger Hoover and the Whiskeyhounds Club Deep (Asbury Park, NJ)
7/18 Terry Allen WFC Plaza (New York, NY)
7/18 Roger Hoover and the Whiskeyhounds Rodeo Bar (New York, NY)
7/19 Little Feat Rockefeller Park (New York, NY)
7/22 Maybe Pete Bitter End (New York, NY)
7/29 Huey Lewis and the News/Chicago PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel, NJ)
AUGUST (18)
8/1 Billy Joe Shaver Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
8/2 Mary Gauthier/Eliza Gilkyson Madison Square Park (New York, NY)
8/2 Ollabelle and Friends Banjo Jim's (New York, NY)
8/3 Hippiefest (Dr. Hook, Country Joe, Mountain, Terry Sylvester, Joey Molland, Mitch Ryder) Asser Levy Park (Brooklyn, NY)
8/5 John Fogerty/Willie Nelson PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel, NJ)
8/12 German Alps Festival (Jimmy Sturr, die Bayrische 7) Hunter Mountain (Hunter, NY)
8/13 German Alps Festival (Jimmy Sturr) Hunter Mountain (Hunter, NY)
8/15 Todd Snider/Rebecca Schiffman Canal Room (New York, NY)
8/16 Will Kimbrough Lakeside Lounge (New York, NY)
8/17 Morley/April Smith and the Great Picture Show NJPAC Theater Square (Newark, NJ)
8/18 Roots of American Music Festival (Bettye Lavette, Hazel Dickens, Murray Porter, Chico Hamilton/Buster Williams, Guy Davis) Lincoln Center (New York, NY)
8/19 Roots of American Music Festival (Percy Sledge, Eddie Floyd) Lincoln Center (New York, NY)
8/20 Roots of American Music Festival (Adrienne Young, Murray Porter, Blue Vipers of Brooklyn) Lincoln Center (New York, NY)
8/20 Avett Brothers/Reverend Payton's Big Damn Band Concert Cruise (New York, NY)
8/24 Holmes Brothers Terra Blues (New York, NY)
8/25 John Arthur Martinez/Uncle Monk Ace of Clubs (New York, NY)
8/28 Miranda Lambert/Buddy Love Project House of Blues (Atlantic City, NJ)
8/30 Campbell Brothers/Lee Boys BB King's (New York, NY)
SEPTEMBER (15)
9/2 Bob Dylan/Jimmie Vaughan/Junior Brown Doubleday Field (Cooperstown, NY)
9/9 Marah/Slo Mo/Shalitas/ Adam and Dave's Bloodline/Christine Smith Northsix (Brooklyn, NY)
9/10 Beausoleil Robert F. Wagner Park (New York, NY)
9/16 Suzanne Vega/Alejandro Escovedo/Don Byron Fulton Ferry Park (Brooklyn, NY)
9/18 Ernst Hutter and Die Egerlander Musikanten/Jimmy Sturr Carnegie Hall (New York, NY)
9/21 Drive By Truckers/Bobby Bare Jr. Webster Hall (New York, NY)
9/23 Bobby Bare Jr./Films/Ghostfinger Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
9/24 Chuck Berry/Jerry Lee Lewis/Duprees/Frankie Lymon's Teenagers Patriots Stadium (Bridgewater, NJ)
9/25 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete Manitoba's (New York, NY)
9/26 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete/Unarmed/The War Is On Mr. Roboto Project (Pittsburgh, PA)
9/26 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete Smiling Moose (Pittsburgh, PA)
9/27 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete/Doug McKean Chuck's Steakhouse (Akron, OH)
9/28 Yesterday's Youth/Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete Bernie's Distillery (Columbus, OH)
9/29 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete/Trouble Clefs/Dig-Its/Two-Bit Hoods Marley's Dog House (Huntington, WV)
9/30 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete 2500 Park (Detroit, MI)
OCTOBER (10)
10/4 Hank Williams III Northsix (Brooklyn, NY)
10/6 John Train Fergie's Pub (Philadelphia, PA)
10/11 Randy Newman Carnegie Hall (New York, NY)
10/12 Jon Langford's Ship and Pilot (w/ Sally Timms) Southpaw (Brooklyn, NY)
10/13 Earl Scruggs/King Wilkie BB King's (New York, NY)
10/16 Flogging Molly/Bedouin Soundclash Webster Hall (New York, NY)
10/20 Marah/Chris Mills/Michael Leviton Housing Works Used Book Cafe (New York, NY)
10/26 Marah/Adam Masterson/Katy Pfaffl Living Room (New York, NY)
10/28 Marah/Adam Masterson/Christine Smith Underground (Philadelphia, PA)
10/31 George Jones/Kris Kristofferson Carnegie Hall (New York, NY)
NOVEMBER (15)
11/1 Steve Earle/Allison Moorer/Laura Cantrell/Tim Easton Southpaw (Brooklyn, NY)
11/3 Jon Langford (w/ Sally Timms, Bill Anderson, Jean Cook, and John Wesley Harding) Living Room (New York, NY)
11/4 Bloodshot CMJ BBQ (Meat Purveyors, Bobby Bare Jr., Deadstring Brothers, Silos, Mark Pickerel, Scott Biram) Union Pool (Brooklyn, NY)
11/4 Maybe Pete/La Dolce Vita/Morning Theft Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
11/8 Bottle Rockets/Sean Kershaw and the New Jack Ramblers Europa (Brooklyn, NY)
11/9 Yayhoos/Bottle Rockets Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
11/10 Matthew Ryan/Thad Cockrell/Michelle Malone Living Room (New York, NY)
11/14 Christine Smith Living Room (New York, NY)
11/14 Joe Ely Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
11/15 Will Hoge Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
11/17 Bobby Bare Jr. Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
11/20 Adam Masterson/Willie Breeding/Christine Smith Googie's Lounge (New York, NY)
11/26 Marah/Adam Masterson Drew's (Ringwood, NJ)
11/27 Mike Viola/Jim Boggia Living Room (New York, NY)
11/28 Scott Miller Rodeo Bar (New York, NY)
DECEMBER (7)
12/4 Matthew Ryan/Willie Nile/Matt Mays + El Torpedo Union Hall (Brooklyn, NY)
12/8 Marah/Shalitas/Matt Mays + El Torpedo Irving Plaza (New York, NY)
12/12 Ollabelle Union Hall (Brooklyn, NY)
12/15 Ducky Boys/Hudson Falcons//Pug Uglies/Singing Spells TT The Bear's (Cambridge, MA)
12/18 Adam Masterson/Christine Smith/Willie Breeding Googie's Lounge (New York, NY)
12/22 Maybe Pete/The Commons/Mike June The Underpass (Elmwood Park, NJ)
12/31 Eric Ambel and the Roscoe Trio Lakeside Lounge (New York, NY)
I don't plan on topping 141 in 2007. Or even keeping track of concerts seen. But, by February, I'll probably get bored.
And so, here I am in January 2007, the proud attendee of 141 shows in 2006. Please hold your applause 'til the end.
Anyway, here are some highlights, followed by the whole list for those keeping score at home.
And if you are keeping score, God help you. But here are some fun facts. I saw shows in 12 states. The fewest shows seen in a month was 5 (February). The most shows seen in a month was 19 (in June). From June 7 to June 17, I saw 25 full or near-full sets. I saw Maybe Pete 17 times. I saw the Hudson Falcons 12 times. I saw Marah 12 times. I saw the Avett Brothers a measly 8 times. The last live song I heard in 2006 was "Judas Kiss" by Eric Ambel and the Roscoe Trio (and it was damn good).
Top 10 Shows
1. BR549/Avett Brothers (Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY)
This was the third time I'd seen the tour, and it was by far the best, with both bands revved up for the Saturday night NYC crowd. It was the first time I saw the Avetts really claim a big NYC crowd as their own, and, unfortunately, some Avett fans bailed after their set and missed out on seeing BR549 rise to the challenge of living up to the Avetts' set. And while they didn't necessarily come out on top, they did put on a helluva show that ended with the Avetts coming back on stage to tear apart "Stay A Little Longer." One of the best shows I've ever seen in any year.
2. The Campbell Brothers/Lee Boys (BB King's Blues Club, New York, NY)
Sometimes great shows hit you when you least expect it. I'd sorta been interested in seeing the Campbell Brothers for awhile, since I like Sacred Steel music, or at least what I'd heard of it. So, when I got the weekly e-mail from BB King's offering free tickets (the easy access to free shows in NYC helped out in the drive for 100), I figured I'd take a shot. And what I got was another of the best shows I've ever been to. The opening set by the Lee Boys was good enough, but it didn't prepare me for the total domination and joyful noise of the Campbell Brothers' set. By the time, the Lee Boys joined the Campbell Brothers on "Jump for Joy," I was out of my seat, jumping around, overtaken by the genuine euphoria of the music. There are no pictures of this, so you'll have to trust me. And trust me that you have to see the Campbell Brothers at least once in your life.
3. The Yayhoos/Bottle Rockets (Mercury Lounge, New York, NY)
Again, there's no possible way this show could've sucked. Even after already seeing the Yayhoos twice and the Bottle Rockets four times in the year, I was ready for more, and both bands delivered. The Bottle Rockets seemed a little more revved up than usual after a dismal turnout in Brooklyn the night before and pounded out absolutely killer rock. And then the Yayhoos took the stage, opened with an NRBQ cover, and then showed why they are the mightiest band in the world. People who cannot enjoy themselves at a Yayhoos show are people who should be locked in a room and forced to listen to the Dave Matthews Band for the rest of their lives. Or maybe subjected to something less harsh.
4. Alejandro Escovedo/Marah (Irving Plaza, New York, NY)
Another unbelievable double bill that shows that there was some divine force that wanted me to break the 100 Shows in a Year barrier. I only wish I could've seen more than one show with this lineup. It's always good to see Marah on a big stage where they can stretch out and show a big crowd why they're everything rock and roll oughta be. And though a short Marah set is never ideal, they managed to pack every minute on the Irving Plaza stage with the sweat and power of a marathon, three-hour show. When they were done doing that, the Alejandro Escovedo Orchestra took everybody higher with a set that alternated between haunting and rocking. Or, in other words, it kicked ass like every Alejandro show does.
5. John Fogerty/Willie Nelson (PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ)
I don't generally hold high hopes for outdoor amphitheater shows, even ones co-headlined by two legends like Fogerty and Nelson. But this turned out to be the best amphitheater show ever, even though I almost ended up stranded in the PNC Bank Arts Center parking lot after getting on the wrong bus to the Aberdeen-Matawan train station. Of course, the only reason I was running late for that bus was because during the encore, which was a few minutes after people started to leave in order to beat the traffic, Bruce Springsteen joined John Fogerty on stage to sing "Long Tall Sally." And with that, my first unannounced Springsteen appearance, I officially became a New Jerseyan. But it was a kickass show before that moment, with a great opening set by Willie and the Family, during which Willie's guitar picking was back on display after his recent carpal tunnel troubles. And then Fogerty choogled through his headlining set, pounding out hit after hit before the Boss joined in. I was so happy that I was able to not scream at the stupid git that said she was "glad I finally got up" to see Bruce. Pardon me for having manners, hot shot.
6. The Yayhoos/Avett Brothers/Walter Clevenger and the Dairy Kings (Blueberry Hill, St. Louis, MO)
The first night of Twangfest, a festival that apparently made it its mission to book almost all of my favorite bands for their tenth (and final?) year. Walter Clevenger and the Dairy Kings (and Robbie "Cousin Oliver" Rist) were a happy surprise, the Avett Brothers nailed a set that alternately rocked the believers and offended the naysayers, and the Yayhoos topped it all off by overpowering a crowd that should have been bigger. And then I was so deliriously happy that I (a) related to Yayhoo Keith Christopher that he once walked in on me taking a dump in the Mercury Lounge bathroom and (b) walked all the way back to my hotel through streets that I'd never walked before. Completely sober. It was a good night.
7. Marah/Adam Masterson/Christine Smith (Underground, Philadelphia, PA)
The best Marah show of the year, undoubtedly a much sought-after distinction for all involved. If the eight people that read this blog weren't already Marah fans, maybe I would go on another rant about how a Marah show will almost certainly be the greatest thing you'll ever see, particularly a Marah show in Philadelphia. Or I would mention how a life lived without seeing a Marah show is empty, shallow, and meaningless. Luckily, you've all seen Marah, so I can stop now.
8. Joe Ely (Joe's Pub, New York, NY)
I generally like Ely best with a band, but this solo show was almost as entertaining (though not as powerful) as a Joe Ely Band show. The night was full of interesting stories (how many people do you know that actually ran away and joined the circus?) and classic songs, both his own ("Me and Billy the Kid" and "I'm Gonna Strangle You Shorty") and others' (the only song about cockfighting that always puts me on the verge of tears, Tom Russell's "Gallo del Cielo," and Terry Allen's "Gimme A Ride To Heaven, Boy"). And it was also the last show I saw in my 20s. Sigh.
9. Scott Miller and the Commonwealth/Lucero/Mic Harrison and the High Score (Blueberry Hill, St. Louis, MO)
Another great Twangfest show, although Lucero's set didn't do all that much for me. But seeing V-Roys Mic Harrison and Scott Miller sharing a mike on "Cold Beer Hello" (and Shawn McWilliams's guitar solo) puts this show on the Top 10 list. Miller's set was actually a blast from start to finish, heavy on songs from the excellent "Citation." I also caught about 10 songs from headliners BR549, but I had to be up early in the morning for a reluctant flight home. Twangfest was a good time. I hope they figure out a way to do it again. [EDIT: Looks like they just might: The Twangfest site says it's on for June 6-9, 2007. Make your plans accordingly.]
10. Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete/Doug McKean (Chuck's Steakhouse, Akron, OH)
The best all-around show of my week on the road with the Hudson Falcons and Maybe Pete, and it was (a) preceded by a good dinner and a killer jukebox run, (b) featured a request for Phil Collins during Maybe Pete's set, and (c) was capped off by a jam on Bruce Springsteen's "No Surrender." I wish more than eight music lovers in Akron had seen it.
The next 10
11. Little Jimmy Dickens/Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright/Hank Thompson/Jean Shepard/Ferlin Husky/Charlie Louvin (American Music Theatre, Lancaster, PA)
12. Eric Ambel and the Roscoe Trio (Lakeside Lounge, New York, NY)
13. Ollabelle and Friends (Banjo Jim's, New York, NY)
14. Strays Don't Sleep (Canal Room, New York, NY)
15. Soweto Gospel Choir (NJPAC, Newark, NJ)
16. Bottle Rockets (Mercury Lounge, New York, NY)
17. Drive By Truckers/Bobby Bare Jr. (Webster Hall, New York, NY)
18. Bloodshot CMJ BBQ (Meat Purveyors, Bobby Bare Jr., Deadstring Brothers, Silos, Mark Pickerel, Scott Biram) (Union Pool, Brooklyn, NY)
19. Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete/Jason Bennet and the Resistance (Middle East, Cambridge, MA)
20. Scott Miller (Rodeo Bar, New York, NY)
And here's the full list, as documented by me in a multicolored table in Microsoft Word throughout the year. I will soon be passing that on to the Nerd Hall of Fame. Look for it. I can get you passes.
(And for those who don't read this blog regularly, I suppose I should prepare you for the fact that, yes, I saw Debbie Gibson. And to make that a little more pathetic, I only had the opportunity to see her because Steven Seagal cancelled his scheduled show. Judge me if you must.)
JANUARY (9)
1/9 Dan Baird and Homemade Sin/Laura Veltz Scenic (New York, NY)
1/13 Marah/Adam and Dave's Bloodline/Maybe Pete/Kindred Souls Stone Pony (Asbury Park, NJ)
1/14 Marah/Andrew Grimm Iota (Arlington, VA)
1/15 BR549/Avett Brothers Ram's Head Tavern (Annapolis, MD)
1/18 Bobby Bare Sr. Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
1/20 BR549/Avett Brothers Mohegan Sun Wolf Den (Uncasville, CT)
1/21 Blackout Shoppers/Hymen Holocaust/A lot of punk bands whose names weren't as memorable as Blackout Shoppers and Hymen Holocaust Nikki and Sam's (New York, NY)
1/21 BR549/Avett Brothers Bowery Ballroom (New York, NY)
1/25 Maybe Pete/Pagoda Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
FEBRUARY (5)
2/16 Flogging Molly/Scotch Greens Nokia Theatre (New York, NY)
2/19 Allen Toussaint Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
2/21 Maybe Pete Rockwood Music Hall (New York, NY)
2/21 Bobby Bare Jr. Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
2/25 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete/Jason Bennet and the Resistance Middle East (Cambridge, MA)
MARCH (11)
3/8 Jon Langford's Ship and Pilot Bowery Poetry Club (New York, NY)
3/10 Marah/Kieran McGee Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
3/11 Marah Drew's (Ringwood, NJ)
3/12 Todd Snider World Cafe Live (Philadelphia, PA)
3/16 Pogues/Slackers/William Elliott Whitmore Nokia Theatre (New York, NY)
3/18 Little Jimmy Dickens/Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright/Hank Thompson/Jean Shepard/Ferlin Husky/Charlie Louvin American Music Theatre (Lancaster, PA)
3/19 Mike Ferrio/Eric Ambel Banjo Jim's (New York, NY)
3/23 Kathleen Edwards/Joel Plaskett Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
3/24 Billy Bragg/Jill Sobule Society for Ethical Culture (New York, NY)
3/25 Maybe Pete Pussycat Lounge (New York, NY)
3/31 Alejandro Escovedo Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
APRIL (8)
4/7 Neko Case/High Dials Webster Hall (New York, NY)
4/9 Soweto Gospel Choir NJPAC (Newark, NJ)
4/13 Losers' Lounge: The Highwaymen Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
4/14 Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys/King Wilkie Town Hall (New York, NY)
4/15 Lakeside Lounge 10th Anniversary w/ The Roscoe Trio Lakeside Lounge (New York, NY)
4/19 Jon Langford's Ship and Pilot (w/ Sally Timms)/Chris Mills/The Victoria Lucas Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
4/24 Highway 61 Revisited Lion's Den (New York, NY)
4/28 Supersuckers/Rhino Bucket Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
MAY (10)
5/3 Rodney Crowell Canal Room (New York, NY)
5/4 Rodney Crowell Canal Room (New York, NY)
5/6 Greencards Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
5/10 Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver WFC Plaza (New York, NY)
5/13 Hudson Falcons/Final Summation Club Deep (Asbury Park, NJ)
5/13 Hudson Falcons/Five Shot/Labor Day Saints East End Cafe (Newark, DE)
5/18 Marah/Adam and Dave's Bloodline World Cafe Live (Philadelphia, PA)
5/19 Elvis Costello and the Imposters (w/ Billie Joe Armstrong/Fiona Apple/Death Cab for Cutie) Taj Mahal (Atlantic City, NJ)
5/21 Avett Brothers Wine in the Woods (Columbia, MD)
5/27 Black 47/Searson/Glengarry Bhoys East Durham (NY) Irish Fest (East Durham, NY)
JUNE (19)
6/1 Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder Schimmel Center (New York, NY)
6/3 Deborah Gibson Newport Centre Mall (Jersey City, NJ)
6/7 Yayhoos/Avett Brothers/Walter Clevenger and the Dairy Kings Schlafly Tap Room (Twangfest; St. Louis, MO)
6/8 Dirtbombs/Deadstring Brothers/Glossary/ Transmitters Duck Room (Twangfest; St. Louis, MO)
6/9 Bottle Rockets/Kevin Gordon/Sovines Duck Room (Twangfest; St. Louis, MO)
6/10 Scott Miller and the Commonwealth/Lucero/Mic Harrison Duck Room (Twangfest; St. Louis, MO)
6/13 Yayhoos/Chris Harford/Tom Freund Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
6/14 Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys/Tres Chicas Stuyvesant High School Auditorium (New York, NY)
6/15 Bottle Rockets/Bobby Bare Jr. Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
6/16 Bottle Rockets Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
6/17 Rhett Miller/Ollabelle/Teddy Thompson Summerstage (New York, NY)
6/17 Maybe Pete CBGB Lounge (New York, NY)
6/20 Son Volt WFC Plaza (New York, NY)
6/20 Will Hoge Southpaw (Brooklyn, NY)
6/22 Alejandro Escovedo/Marah Irving Plaza (New York, NY)
6/25 Cheap Trick/George Clinton/Los Lobos/Patti Smith/Fab Faux/Smithereens/John Eddie Liberty State Park (Jersey City, NJ)
6/28 Dr. John Rockefeller Park (New York, NY)
6/29 Strays Don't Sleep Canal Room (New York, NY)
6/30 Scott Miller and the Commonwealth South Street Seaport (New York, NY)
JULY (14)
7/1 Southside Johnny/Maybe Pete/Bob Polding Band/Joe D'Urso Stone Pony (Asbury Park, NJ)
7/3 Hudson Falcons/Ratchets/Guns on the Run/Chilling Details Club Deep (Asbury Park, NJ)
7/5 Rhonda Vincent and the Rage Madison Square Park (New York, NY)
7/6 Biscuit Burners/Chapin Sisters Living Room (New York, NY)
7/12 Uncle Earl/Abigail Washburn Madison Square Park (New York, NY)
7/14 Dave Alvin South Street Seaport (New York, NY)
7/14 Avett Brothers/Nicole Atkins Bowery Ballroom (New York, NY)
7/15 Green River Music Festival (Alejandro Escovedo/Avett Brothers) Greenfield Community College (Greenfield, MA)
7/17 Mark Linskey/Roger Hoover and the Whiskeyhounds Club Deep (Asbury Park, NJ)
7/18 Terry Allen WFC Plaza (New York, NY)
7/18 Roger Hoover and the Whiskeyhounds Rodeo Bar (New York, NY)
7/19 Little Feat Rockefeller Park (New York, NY)
7/22 Maybe Pete Bitter End (New York, NY)
7/29 Huey Lewis and the News/Chicago PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel, NJ)
AUGUST (18)
8/1 Billy Joe Shaver Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
8/2 Mary Gauthier/Eliza Gilkyson Madison Square Park (New York, NY)
8/2 Ollabelle and Friends Banjo Jim's (New York, NY)
8/3 Hippiefest (Dr. Hook, Country Joe, Mountain, Terry Sylvester, Joey Molland, Mitch Ryder) Asser Levy Park (Brooklyn, NY)
8/5 John Fogerty/Willie Nelson PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel, NJ)
8/12 German Alps Festival (Jimmy Sturr, die Bayrische 7) Hunter Mountain (Hunter, NY)
8/13 German Alps Festival (Jimmy Sturr) Hunter Mountain (Hunter, NY)
8/15 Todd Snider/Rebecca Schiffman Canal Room (New York, NY)
8/16 Will Kimbrough Lakeside Lounge (New York, NY)
8/17 Morley/April Smith and the Great Picture Show NJPAC Theater Square (Newark, NJ)
8/18 Roots of American Music Festival (Bettye Lavette, Hazel Dickens, Murray Porter, Chico Hamilton/Buster Williams, Guy Davis) Lincoln Center (New York, NY)
8/19 Roots of American Music Festival (Percy Sledge, Eddie Floyd) Lincoln Center (New York, NY)
8/20 Roots of American Music Festival (Adrienne Young, Murray Porter, Blue Vipers of Brooklyn) Lincoln Center (New York, NY)
8/20 Avett Brothers/Reverend Payton's Big Damn Band Concert Cruise (New York, NY)
8/24 Holmes Brothers Terra Blues (New York, NY)
8/25 John Arthur Martinez/Uncle Monk Ace of Clubs (New York, NY)
8/28 Miranda Lambert/Buddy Love Project House of Blues (Atlantic City, NJ)
8/30 Campbell Brothers/Lee Boys BB King's (New York, NY)
SEPTEMBER (15)
9/2 Bob Dylan/Jimmie Vaughan/Junior Brown Doubleday Field (Cooperstown, NY)
9/9 Marah/Slo Mo/Shalitas/ Adam and Dave's Bloodline/Christine Smith Northsix (Brooklyn, NY)
9/10 Beausoleil Robert F. Wagner Park (New York, NY)
9/16 Suzanne Vega/Alejandro Escovedo/Don Byron Fulton Ferry Park (Brooklyn, NY)
9/18 Ernst Hutter and Die Egerlander Musikanten/Jimmy Sturr Carnegie Hall (New York, NY)
9/21 Drive By Truckers/Bobby Bare Jr. Webster Hall (New York, NY)
9/23 Bobby Bare Jr./Films/Ghostfinger Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
9/24 Chuck Berry/Jerry Lee Lewis/Duprees/Frankie Lymon's Teenagers Patriots Stadium (Bridgewater, NJ)
9/25 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete Manitoba's (New York, NY)
9/26 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete/Unarmed/The War Is On Mr. Roboto Project (Pittsburgh, PA)
9/26 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete Smiling Moose (Pittsburgh, PA)
9/27 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete/Doug McKean Chuck's Steakhouse (Akron, OH)
9/28 Yesterday's Youth/Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete Bernie's Distillery (Columbus, OH)
9/29 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete/Trouble Clefs/Dig-Its/Two-Bit Hoods Marley's Dog House (Huntington, WV)
9/30 Hudson Falcons/Maybe Pete 2500 Park (Detroit, MI)
OCTOBER (10)
10/4 Hank Williams III Northsix (Brooklyn, NY)
10/6 John Train Fergie's Pub (Philadelphia, PA)
10/11 Randy Newman Carnegie Hall (New York, NY)
10/12 Jon Langford's Ship and Pilot (w/ Sally Timms) Southpaw (Brooklyn, NY)
10/13 Earl Scruggs/King Wilkie BB King's (New York, NY)
10/16 Flogging Molly/Bedouin Soundclash Webster Hall (New York, NY)
10/20 Marah/Chris Mills/Michael Leviton Housing Works Used Book Cafe (New York, NY)
10/26 Marah/Adam Masterson/Katy Pfaffl Living Room (New York, NY)
10/28 Marah/Adam Masterson/Christine Smith Underground (Philadelphia, PA)
10/31 George Jones/Kris Kristofferson Carnegie Hall (New York, NY)
NOVEMBER (15)
11/1 Steve Earle/Allison Moorer/Laura Cantrell/Tim Easton Southpaw (Brooklyn, NY)
11/3 Jon Langford (w/ Sally Timms, Bill Anderson, Jean Cook, and John Wesley Harding) Living Room (New York, NY)
11/4 Bloodshot CMJ BBQ (Meat Purveyors, Bobby Bare Jr., Deadstring Brothers, Silos, Mark Pickerel, Scott Biram) Union Pool (Brooklyn, NY)
11/4 Maybe Pete/La Dolce Vita/Morning Theft Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
11/8 Bottle Rockets/Sean Kershaw and the New Jack Ramblers Europa (Brooklyn, NY)
11/9 Yayhoos/Bottle Rockets Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
11/10 Matthew Ryan/Thad Cockrell/Michelle Malone Living Room (New York, NY)
11/14 Christine Smith Living Room (New York, NY)
11/14 Joe Ely Joe's Pub (New York, NY)
11/15 Will Hoge Maxwell's (Hoboken, NJ)
11/17 Bobby Bare Jr. Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
11/20 Adam Masterson/Willie Breeding/Christine Smith Googie's Lounge (New York, NY)
11/26 Marah/Adam Masterson Drew's (Ringwood, NJ)
11/27 Mike Viola/Jim Boggia Living Room (New York, NY)
11/28 Scott Miller Rodeo Bar (New York, NY)
DECEMBER (7)
12/4 Matthew Ryan/Willie Nile/Matt Mays + El Torpedo Union Hall (Brooklyn, NY)
12/8 Marah/Shalitas/Matt Mays + El Torpedo Irving Plaza (New York, NY)
12/12 Ollabelle Union Hall (Brooklyn, NY)
12/15 Ducky Boys/Hudson Falcons//Pug Uglies/Singing Spells TT The Bear's (Cambridge, MA)
12/18 Adam Masterson/Christine Smith/Willie Breeding Googie's Lounge (New York, NY)
12/22 Maybe Pete/The Commons/Mike June The Underpass (Elmwood Park, NJ)
12/31 Eric Ambel and the Roscoe Trio Lakeside Lounge (New York, NY)
I don't plan on topping 141 in 2007. Or even keeping track of concerts seen. But, by February, I'll probably get bored.
1.01.2007
What I Liked About December
*Visiting with the Chambalas in Vestal, NY
*Picking up cool records at Autumn Leaves, Ithaca, NY
*Eric Ambel and the Roscoe Trio doing "Judas Kiss" at Lakeside Lounge, NYC
*The Maybe Pete Christmas shindig at the Underpass, Elmwood Park, NJ
*Islanders 7, Rangers 4; Islanders 4, Rangers 3; Islanders 2, Rangers 0
*The Marah Christmas show at Irving Plaza, NYC
*The biscuits at, um, Biscuit
*Finally buying a new computer
*Ollabelle at Union Hall, Brooklyn, NY*Hanging with the HeindlWintringhams in Providence (and the trip to Cellar Stories)
*Picking through the remains of Tower Records
*The willingness of people with cars to drive me places
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)