8.21.2008

EMBOSSED...


My only regret after witnessing the pure power of Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band at the Coliseum Monday night, besides the unforgivably long beer lines, was that I had gone for nearly sixty years and never experienced The Boss in all his gritty glory...live. We'd heard all the stories about three-hour non-stop concerts and unrivaled engagement of the audience, but what a thrill to see Freehold's favorite son deliver and exceed the hype. From an uncluttered, unadorned stage by today's standards, but with glorious HD video support, this seasoned team of nine took control of the sold out crowd at around 8:15 and didn't let go until well after 11:30. Most were on their feet for the whole thing, and not just the general admission customers with no seats who filled the entire floor. The last note of one song became the first note of the next as the Boss grabbed a freshly tuned guitar after each tune. He prowled the multi-level stage like a caged lion, often venturing into the sea of pumping fists and more than once providing lifetime moments to audience members like the straw-haired teen with whom the legend shared a vigorous call-and-response rendition of "All Night." He took to the baby grand and offered up a moving "I Came For You" dedicated to a Richmond promoter (was it John Richardson?) who gave him his first gig here. He took requests that tested the band's mettle including "Crush On You" which he set up as one of the worst tunes they'd ever done, but seemed to really enjoy playing when all was said and sung. And of course, he called out his old pal Robbin Thompson during the prolonged encore for a steamy take on "Twist and Shout" which guitar mate Stevie Van Zandt got a good piece of too. Tireless E Street drummer Max Weinberg, on leave from Conan O'Brien's Late Night show on NBC, provided a fat, relentless foundation for the proceedings and saxophone giant Clarence Clemons was always there to add his signature hot sauce. Bruce Springsteen's iconic status is well-deserved and his affection for our hometown is genuine. It may have been our first time...I hope it won't be our last. (I got the Bruce & Robbin photo from Robbin...don't know who took it)

The rest of August holds some strong incentives to make the Ashland Coffee & Tea scene at least once...tonight (Thursday) brings The Gibson Brothers back to town on the heels of their great new album Iron And Diamonds. Eric and Leigh bring top-notch songwriting and seamless brotherly harmony to the realm of bluegrass and are highly recommended. On Saturday it's Jackson Browne's versatile veteran sideman David Lindley, and on Friday the 29th, Old School Freight Train chugs in for one of its always memorable stops. And a save-the-date heads up: The Infamous Stringdusters play AC&T on Halloween night! Don't be scared.

And...are you ready for this? The generous folks at Genworth have offered up some free tickets to see Sheryl Crow at the Siegel Center on October 18th for the annual Children's Advantage Classic. And three of my loyal journal readers can each win a pair by correctly answering the following question: Who played trumpet on the track "We Do What We Can" from the Grammy winner's breakout album Tuesday Night Music Club? If more than three of you get this right we'll have a drawing. You can email me your answers at mail@timtimberlake.com and they must be received by September 15th. Do forward this link to any Sheryl fans you know, and thanks for clicking in.

Still dancin' for rain...TT

8.07.2008

The Family of Floyd...

 

                  floydlogo08

       dreamin creek

The remarkable mountaintop gathering that is FloydFest is now a rich but fading memory...I should've done this post a week ago but...best laid plans and all that.  The festival's seventh year was our second and it has reaffirmed in us the conviction to make it an annual summer pilgrimage.  Kris Hodges and Erika Johnson, their dedicated staff and army of volunteers have built this early-maturing cultural happening into a true experience of the heart on so many levels...the elegant staging, the diverse festival food offerings (think alligator burritos), the unrivaled people-watching (think too many bare bellies of both genders) and of course, the music.

And that's where FloydFest really shines in offering an inclusive a lineup as you'll find anywhere, from Zimbabwe's best-selling recording artist Oliver Mtukudzi to the haunting highland a capella of Elizabeth Laprelle.  And so much in between.  It's four full days of creative camping, communing with the hills and its short-term inhabitants and opening the mind and soul to all that music can mean.  A few illustrations follow: 

tuku

Charming chimurenga exponent "Tuku" Mtukudzi of Zimbabwe holds court and wins hearts at sunset on Saturday.

aoife   2

Brittany Haas, Aiofe O'Donovan and Greg Liszt of Crooked Still on the VA Folklife Porch...string quartet with a banjo and an unforgettable lead singer in Aiofe (Ee-fah).

crooked still porch

The rest of the Still...Corey DiMario on bass and Tristan Clarridge on cello...a band not to miss.

eliz laprelle_460

From Rural Retreat VA, Elizabeth Laprelle renders an aching Appalachian ballad.  She was here in Richmond for the National Folk Festival.

dj & todd

DJ Williams and Todd Harrington of Richmond's DJ Williams Projekt sweat out the funk on the Hill Holler Stage

new monsoon guy

Bo Carper, guitarist/lead singer for New Monsoon, one of our first-time favorites.  Their Saturday set on the Hill Holler stage was spectacular. 

cleveland & larkey 

 adam larkey

Above left, 4-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year Michael Cleveland warms up for his set with prodigious 11-year-old veteran Adam Larkey.

amos lee

From the City of Brotherly Love, Amos Lee sings powerful love songs that resonate with lovers of all ages.  He opened for Elvis Costello and Dylan in C'ville last year and nearly stole the show.  We had to buy his great new CD Last Days at the Lodge.

sky boys

Fresh back from a festival in France the night before, Ross Holmes, Matt Menefee, Andy Moritz and Bryan Simpson of the powerful and profound Cadillac Sky jam it up on the Dreamin' Creek main stage on Sunday afternoon.

There were 44 acts in the Emerging Artist competition this year and the hands-down favorite was Charlottesville's

William Walter & Company.  Check 'em out.

 

FloydFest carries a refreshingly-retro, sixties, love-is-all-we-need vibe but with a contemporary edge that includes all that's new and needed in this wide and wonderful world of music.  FF 8 can't come soon enough.

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We'll wrap this post with a few options for the next week or so.  Friday night we've got Brad Spivey & The Honky Tonk Experience at Shenanigans, best Among Friends friends Frank Coleman & Chris Fuller at Ashland Coffee & Tea the same night and the Friend-filled Big Boss Combo in one of their big Johnson reunions at Legend's south of the river downtown out on the deck...summer at its best. 

Brad Wells at The National reminded me to also mention their Friday night artists, Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero.  Collectively they're Rodrigo y Gabriela, a unique act from Mexico performing heavy metal covers on acoustic guitars.  Sound intriguing?  Maybe a great reason to check out Richmond's fabulous new music venue, especially if you haven't been.

The Children's Museum of Richmond is holding a benefit concert for The Phoenix Project rebuilding post-Katrina downtown New Orleans featuring zydeco master Terrance Simien on Friday, the 15th.  Click here for tickets and info or call 474-7007.

And if you're up for one more festival roadtrip the weekend of the 15th, how about John Cowan, Alecia Nugent, Cadillac Sky, Karl Shiflett and Verlon Thompson among many others at Hickory Fest an day's drive up in Wellsboro, PA.  Photographer friend and HF promoter Frank Serio says it's one of those warm and wonderful small fests...if you go, let me know.

Shall we rain dance?

TT