Cow Plays Hurt...

A handful of us at our favorite music outpost tonight go back quite a ways with John Cowan...way back a couple of decades to the time Bela and Pat joined him and Sam in New Grass Revival. He's taken us to many memorable places for which we'll always be grateful. But tonight, we saw a comfortably matured J Cow in an intimate, personal performance in spite of and maybe because of the fact he was in the throes of bronchitis. His signature pipes weren't as potent as we're used to, but we were treated to some wonderfully subtle and nuanced renditions of both familiar and new tunes for the band. This "unplugged" approach went as far as having the foursome seated on stage, something they've been trying lately and I must say to great effect. And I couldn't help but notice that we were seeing and hearing something reminiscent of those earlier days. Left to right, it was Tony Wray on banjo, Shad Cobb on fiddle and mandolin, John on bass and Jeff Autry on guitar...the same way Bela, Sam, John and Pat lined up. But this is not a New Grass tribute band...I only counted two NGR tunes, "Steam Powered Aeroplane" and "Callin' Baton Rouge." The rest covered material from John's last few solo projects and even a great take on the Moody Blues' "Tuesday Afternoon." It was softer, gentler set and they may not always do it this way, but it was a treat to witness another side of a consumate performer. And Tony, Shad and Jeff played their tails off. Thanks for everything John. In closing I can't resist sharing this video I saw on YouTube of Bill Monroe introducing New Grass Revival doing "Can't Stop Now" at Fisk University back in the 80's. It's priceless...especially the old Cowan coif. Enjoy.

Have a restful Labor Day Weekend everybody...TT

Transition...

As we get ready to shift gears from the summer season to the fall this weekend, knowing the calendar's about three weeks behind reality as usual, let me take a moment to acknowledge a fine time downtown last weekend at the annual Shockoe Craft Beer Festival in Kanawha Plaza. Thanks to Tracy Leverty of Echelon Events Management for hauling me in to emcee the day that started at high noon with ThermUs. These wizened local troubadors created a languid soundtrack to the sultry afternoon. We thought we were in store for another 100-degree sizzler so the frothy brew proved a popular antidote to the heat. I think we made it officially to 97. Close enough. The venerable Taters were next with their impressive ode to the road from Nashville to Bakersfield. Craig Evans and Brad Tucker did their time-tested terrific job of playing the hits from Orbison to Owens...the boys are so solid after all these Ten Years of Taterin'...keep it comin'. I really enjoyed The Atkinsons for the first time, featuring Dickie and Jamie Wood, who have done so much in support of local bands over the last few years with their Richmond Roots Revival events at various venues. Fresh from a big Friday night in Floyd, Virginia son Scott Miller slid in to the headliner slot with his Commonwealth band and easily drew the biggest crowd of the day to the front of the stage. Scott's crafty and compelling songwriting was a good match for the equally and uniquely creative concoctions of the thirty-some brewers assembled for the two-day event. Scott's also become a confident and engaging performer...check out his fourth release on Sugar Hill, Reconstruction, recorded live at The Down Home in Johnson City Tennessee. And he's got one of the coolest Websites around. And a hot high five to Steve Payne of Soundworks for his consistently stellar job of getting the music from the stage to our ears.

On to Ashland tomorrow for another close encounter with one of the most remarkable pure voices in Americana, or any music for that matter, John Cowan and his band at AC&T by the tracks. If you like r&b or the blues or you want to see and hear part of why New Grass Revival thrilled and inspired so many fans and bands alike back in their day, come check out the Cow. Show starts at 8.

Incidentally, John does a fine job narrating a new half-hour documentary on The Infamous Stringdusters viewable now online. It's a nicely done piece following the boys during a Colorado tour last March called "Four Days Of Infamy" If you don't know these guys yet, this is a great introduction. If you're already a big fan as I am, this will seal the deal. You'll even see Critter get a haircut!

And finally for now, congrats to Jeff Sadler for finally scoring the ABC diploma for Toad's Place! Make mine a double. The Avett Brothers on Sept. 20 and Marty Stuart on the 28th.

TT

Summer slips away...

Hopes were realized Wednesday night at the Coliseum when Alison Krauss and her world-class supporting cast played the big room and made it feel like a living room. Concerns about how her delicate acoustic sound would play in the 6th Street Cavern were quickly forgotten as Cliff Miller had his substantial system tuned to the room beautifully. The stage backdrop was a huge map of eastern Tennessee and western Virginia, presumably to remind us of the headwaters of Alison’s music. Rustic chandeliers hung from the ceiling giving it an intimate, homey feel. As good as the show looked and sounded, my only wish was for the live video projection that most of the arena concerts offer these days. For those of us a good distance from the stage, it would have made the experience more personal to have a closer look. And I feel silly bringing binoculars.

Jerry Douglas adds such a powerful element to the band’s dramatically clean and open arrangements and his tasteful fills are thrilling to hear. During his solo shot, he said he loved coming to Richmond because everyone knew what a Dobro was. He mentioned the influence of Josh Graves and the Old Dominion Barn Dance. I was glad JAMinc’s Wally Thulin was with us to see how far AKUS has come since he and Fieldcrest Music brought the band to McVey Theater at St. Catherine’s School in November of 1991. Back then, the group consisted of Alison Brown, Adam Steffey, Tim Stafford and Barry Bales. Tickets were $12. Alison had just won IBMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year, and her first Grammy. She now has 20, more than any female artist ever. Her Coliseum set included a significant complement of bluegrass tunes as she catered to her audience well. Her contribution to the music is immeasurable.

Be sure to check out our own keyboard wizard Daniel Clarke, now on tour with pop sensation Mandy Moore. He gets a lot of camera time in a new special on the Oxygen network entitled “I Am Mandy Moore” which is a great look at what it takes to prepare for a CD release and a national tour to support it. We talked with Danny C in L.A. Wednesday night and he’s his always- enthusiastic self, and soaking up the whole scene. The show first aired early last week but it’ll probably run again. Don’t miss it.

Our long-awaited first visit to Toad’s Place happened Friday night as we headed down to the old Lady Bird Hat Factory, now the latest new venue along Richmond’s riverfront.
For reasons still unclear, even though they’ve been open since June, there’s still no ABC license at Toad’s but a good lesson was learned that you really don’t have to have drinks to have a great time. It’s quite a facility reminiscent of the old Flood Zone but nicer, with lots of concrete, brick and massive beams still exposed, visually pleasing but making the sound less than ideal, given the investment in high-end audio gear. We hope they’ll be able to soften up the hard surfaces in the room to improve the acoustics, given how much good music is planned in the coming months.

Homegrown bluegrassers Jackass Flats did an energetic opening set and got to spotlight their own Aaron Lewis who was the first-place fiddler at Galax last week. Congrats Aaron…mighty fine. Next up was the ever-enigmatic King Wilkie, who are busy working their new CD on Zoe/Rounder called Low Country Suite. It's a compelling snapshot of the band's musical evolution, which has led from their 2003 beginnings as faithful bluegrass disciples to their current, definitely darker, more mysterious place in Americana and including a few more non-traditional instruments like pedal and lap steel, ukulele and even a Shroeder-like toy piano. There's also a key personnel change now underway as lead guitarist and gifted songwriter Ted Pitney pulls away to pursue matters personal. His spot is being filled at least for now, by Adam Ollendorff, one of those gifted Berklee School guys out of Boston on steel. Seemed to be an amicable parting and I just hope Ted will continue to be one of the band's prime providers of great material. Only wish they'd had longer to play and could've worked in "Wrecking Ball, " my favorite KW tune.

And then, along came Sam Bush and he instantly made subjects of the nearly four hundred in the crowd as he kicked of his 90-minute set with "King of the World." He rode the "Bluegrass Train" straight back to the source with a most successful sing-along on "Uncle Pen." The band is as solid as ever with Sam's high-school classmate Byron House on bass, Chris Brown and his drums of renown, Stephen Mougin on guitar and versatile veteran Scott Vestal on his stealth banjo. Sam's got so many tools to draw on in building his musical game plan, not the least of which these days is his voice. His lead vocals have become stronger and more assured with each passing year and along with his singular eight-string stylings and his soulful way with a fiddle, Mr. Bush is a serious triple-threat. Make that quadruple as he adds another feather to a full cap as host of the IBMA Awards Show in Nashville on October 4th. He's had my vote for Entertainer of the Year for a long time...maybe one day he'll get his due.

I'll finish up tonight with an invitation to join us at my church out in Goochland County this coming Sunday for our annual bluegrass gospel service. It starts at 6pm at Hebron Presbyterian on Shallow Well Road between routes 6 & 250 and again features Paul & Damian Muller, Darin Lawrence and Buster Sexton. It's free, we don't take an offering and there's an old-fashioned ice cream social after the service. Y'all come...

Have a good week and thank the Lord for the rain...TT

Sweatin' To The Dog Days...

Does anyone else feel like they're starting to get used to this triple-digit heat? Almost getting to where you kind of enjoy it? Am I nuts? Maybe the dog days are getting to me but there's something therapeutic about getting some needed work done outdoors and working up a good sweat...and then the delicious cold shower. Hope you've managed to take in some of the hot offerings around here in the last week or so. It's Friday night in America, and I should be having a Honky Tonk Experience at Shenanigans, but here I sit. At least it's cool...

We caught the Nickel Creek/Fiona Apple collaboration at Innsbrook a week ago and thought Fiona, whom I'd never heard live before, did a great job in getting into the NC swing of things. The three California kids served as her band while she was onstage and they'd obviously worked out their arrangements well. Welch & Rawlings' "I Want To Sing That Rock and Roll" was a treat. There were more than a few Creek Freaks who felt Ms. Apple's presence took valuable time away from a fond farewell...not enough swan songs if you will. The tour stopped at the Charlottesville Pavilion the next night, with a different set list and a few distracting sound issues affecting, of all things, Chris Thile's mandolin. Given that they carry all their own sound gear and tech crew, that was the last shoe that should've been dropped.

Now all eyes will turn to Chris' new venture as he gets serious about The Tensions Mountain Boys, soon to pull up stakes from NYC and Nashville to set up shop in The Windy City. The How To Grow A Band will soon transition into the TMB consisting, if you've lost track, of Gabe Witcher on fiddle, Noam Pikelny on banjo, Greg Garrison on bass and Chris Eldridge on guitar. That's right, Chris is taking leave of The Infamous Stringdusters to take a ride on Thile's compelling train to Chicago. It was an understandably difficult decision for Critter to make but now that dust has settled, all concerned seem to be cool with it. Obviously a great opportunity for Ben's gifted boy, and a great opening for another fine guitarist Andy Falco who'll replace Chris in the Dusters come September. All the best to both amazing bands.

Sunday, the wilting heat and the threat of thunderstorms forced The Big Boss Combo indoors at Legend's, depriving us of one of Richmond's most entertaining cultural experiences: a deck full of Johnsons. Don't get me wrong, the gifted brothers from Limber, West Virginia do a great show even indoors, but indoors, you just can't make out all the lively stage banter that separates the BBC from all the other would-be bluegrass ensembles hereabouts. (Hereabouts is used in tribute to the late Norman Rowe) I did hear Harry Johnson when introducing brother Slim say "I'd rather hear Slim play the fiddle than eat. Of course I've heard Slim eat and it's not pretty." Don't miss Rusty, Harry, Tiny, Slim and Big Red Johnson when they next find their way to a stage near you.

Two top-drawer acts roll into R-town this coming week...Alison Krauss + Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas on Wednesday at the Coliseum and Sam Bush on Friday at Toad's Place. Seems like an awfully cavernous venue for Alison's delicate acoustic sound but they're blocking off half the building so it'll be a bit more intimate. Let's hope Cliff Miller can make the old room sound good...if anyone can, Cliff's the man. He runs SE Systems in Greensboro, the company that's done all the MerleFests from the beginning. Alison knows a good sound man when she hears one.

I'm really looking forward to checking out Toad's Place for the first time on Friday, and hats off to manager Jeff Sadler for bringing Sam to town. And for picking Jackass Flats and King Wilkie as openers. Should be a great night, especially if they have their ABC license by then. All the folks who were treated to an amazing Buddy Guy appearance there last week apparently got a little thirsty. Incidentally, the Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder show that was set for July 13th was rescheduled for November 3rd. Sadly that's the same night that Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and Edgar Meyer play the UofR Modlin Center. I hate when that happens.

Congrats to Kay and the gang at Ashland Coffee and Tea for winning a readers' poll in Cooperative Living Magazine as best live music venue in Virginia. They even beat out The Birchmere! Don't miss the legendary Charlie Louvin (Ira's brother and half of country music's all-time best songwriting team) on the 22nd and the golden-throated John Cowan returning on the 30th.

See you somewhere along the way I hope...T