Twin Bill

It was kind of a roll of the dice for us at JAMinc to present two back-to-back In Your Ear concerts on the same weekend but it proved to be a fitting finale to our 2010-11 season as we enjoyed two unforgettable nights of live music, thanks to bluesmen Phil Wiggins and Rick Franklin on Friday and East of Monroe on Saturday.  We’ve experienced Phil’s singular way with the blues harp in many past pairings including his two-decade partner John Cephas, and after his passing, Nat Reese and Corey Harris (left).  But Northern Virginia’s Rick Franklin really brought Phil out in a special way as he settles into this new chapter in his career.  His dazzling way with a diatonic harmonica along with some thoroughly engaging original story songs gave us a new appreciation for Wiggins’ hold on the blues.  The twin sisters tune could be a movie.  If you missed it, the cool thing is, like all our IYE shows, it was well recorded and will live again perhaps as soon as this fall thanks to our upcoming JAMinc Presents…Live from In Your Ear Studio A series starting in September on WCVE-FM Public Radio.  We’re very excited to announce that our NPR affiliate will air 13 weeks of hour-long programs at 1pm Saturdays featuring two artists or groups each week from our 7-year archives.  More details coming soon.  And speaking of the late John Cephas, his live IYE recording of “I Won’t Be Down” is the first track of Style Weekly’s 10th annual music issue’s “Sounds of Richmond-No. 4” compilation, available for free download here.  It’s the last song of his final solo performance on May 1, 2008.  And it’s haunting.

And I’ll say with all the objectivity I can muster, our Saturday night season closer East of Monroe brought a fine night of sweet three-part harmony and head-turning lead breaks to that acoustically-pristine space.  It was their next-to-last gig before Eminor heads west to Portland, so there’s one more chance to catch the current lineup…this coming Saturday night at Staunton’s fine eatery and listening room, the Mockingbird on West Beverly downtown.  I’m not in a position to encourage you as much as I’d like but I will say I doubt you’ll regret making the trip.  And cover’s only $8 in advance here.  It was a kick for the old man to have both his kids on stage last weekend with DJ Josati opening things up for Dominion Riverrock on Brown’s Island Friday.

 

Last Thursday at Lewis Ginter we were washed in nostalgia hearing durable tunes like “Louisiana Lady” and “Panama Red” courtesy of New Riders of the Purple Sage, still sporting veteran pedal steel legend Buddy Cage.  And I got a second chance in as many weeks to take in the energy of Donna the Buffalo and their leading lady Tara Nevins.  The old purple bus made it from yet another triumph at MerleFest to the Rose Garden stage for what would be the last night of rain-free music in quite a few days around here.  The wonderfully wide-ranging Groovin’ series continues at the Garden this Thursday with the incredible Raphael Saadiq who will quash any notion that Motown-style R&B is a thing of the past.  Check him out here.  And stay tuned for Nanci Griffith, Del McCoury with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Emmylou Harris and Mary Chapin Carpenter still to come this spring and summer.  And maybe one more huge surprise to boot.  Speaking of Emmylou, she’s just been announced as co-chair of the 73rd National Folk Festival, moving from Butte to Nashville this year over Labor Day Weekend.  That should ensure it gets the attention it deserves from an over-saturated Music City USA.

 

And don’t forget a bunch more Friday Cheers happenings on the River with the one and only Trombone Shorty this week, No BS Brass and other RVA faves on the 27th, Drive By Truckers on June 10 and the David Grisman Sextet on the 17th.  We are musically living well.

I’ll be headed back to Ashland on Friday to catch a fresh and exciting young string band, Harrisonburg’s Steel Wheels who are part of a “Made in Virginia” mini-festival at AC&T this weekend.  Ted Pitney and his Roosevelts will be there Saturday, and down the tracks…Gypsy Roots, the Quebe Sisters and Stacey Earle.  And so many more.  Go Kay!

As I start working on my left-hand callouses and pondering the proper single-malt for this year’s Graves Mountain festival the weekend after Memorial Day, I’ll leave you with a link to Craig Havighurst’s excellent NPR piece on Sarah Jarosz to mark the release of her Gary Paczosa-produced album Follow Me Down.  More distinguished work from one of the new generation’s most gifted bluegrass-influenced artists.  Own this one.

TT

(Sarah Jarosz and Josati photos from artist sites)