Garden Variety Gratification…

It couldn’t have been a more perfect breezy pre-summer night at Lewis Ginter’s rose belvedere stage as the final concert at the Garden this month, before moving to Maymont, featured the timeless charm of Nanci Griffith.  I first remember being enchanted by this gifted Texas gal at our first Telluride in ‘88 on a drizzly afternoon with hummingbirds hovering around the flowers on stage as she cast her spell with tunes like “Roseville Fair” and “Love at the Five and Dime.”  Nanci has aged well and despite her surprisingly lengthy admission to the guilty pleasure of “All My Children” and how empty her life will be now that it’s been canceled, she still brings her knowing sense of life and love and the world condition to her deep well of covers and originals including “It's A Hard Life Wherever You Go” which she was happy to note has seen some of its issues resolved since the potent protest was written in 1989.  Her bandmates were concert openers and Pete and Maura Kennedy and British acoustic rhythm legend Pat McInerny, (below)who’s been with Nanci for what seems like forever.  The karma was running high Thursday as I’d been outside doing yard work earlier with my mp3 player on ‘random’ and up came Nanci’s unforgettable duet with Arlo Guthrie on Townes Van Zandt’s “Tecumseh Valley” from her album Other Voices/Other Rooms.  Of course she performed it beautifully as her encore tune last night.  I love when that stuff happens.

An added bonus to an already perfect evening was walking past the merch table and seeing a stack of Road Mangler Deluxe paperbacks, a book I’d read years ago by the wild man who’d been been road manager for everyone from Mick Jagger, to Gram Parsons, to Emmylou Harris, to Nanci Griffith.  No way he was actually here to smell the roses in Richmond.  But indeed he was and here’s a chance to share my Phil Kaufman story from way back in the early 80’s when I was working country radio and had the chance to do the stage intro for Emmylou at Busch Gardens.  This is the very same Phil Kaufman who kept a promise made at Clarence White’s funeral and basically stole Gram’s body from the airport in L.A. and drove it to Joshua Tree National Monument to see to the ceremonial cremation.  A top-five moment in Americana music history.  It was for me a long awaited reunion and he’s admittedly mellowed over the years.  Anyway, Phil was Emmy’s road manager at the Busch Gardens show and I was instructed backstage to keep it brief and that my saying her name “Emmylou Harris” would be her cue to come on stage…the band was already in place.  So in an effort to adequately express our affection and love of her music, I said something (I forget what) that got a pretty decent round of applause from the crowd which Phil mistook for her cue, and unbeknownst to me, he sent her onstage. I was still finishing her intro and when I finally said “please welcome Emmylou Harris,” to my surprise she was already standing right behind me.  I awkwardly shook her hand and headed backstage only to be greeted by a beet-red Phil Kaufman who, in true in-my-face drill sergeant fashion, proceeded to angrily ream me out for my insidious inability to follow instructions.  In my defense, I followed his direction to the letter but was victimized by an adoring crowd’s reaction to a sincere comment. I went from sky-high to an in-shock cower.  We made up last night, thirty years later at Groovin’.  Which appropriately continues with a special add-on concert starring…Emmylou Harris on July 20th.  Tickets on sale here.

Don’t forget to keep up with the rich musical offerings over the next few months thanks to Groovin’, Friday Cheers and Fridays at Sunset, covered in previous posts…and of course our perennial pilgrimage to Graves Mountain comes around next week.  I know I’ll see a lot of you there.  Thanks for the memories, both past and new ones to be made.

TT

(Photo of Phil & me by Tom Beals…I have no idea who took the fuzzy Emmylou shot)

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)

Momentous MerleFest

Security was unprecedented…a virtual lockdown backstage at MF XXIV.  Just blame the golden-maned guy in the white t-shirt, it’s Robert Plant who’d just finished off the 24th edition of North Carolina’s venerable Americana celebration in grand style.  With his well-picked Band of Joy comprised of Buddy Miller, Patty Griffin, Darrell Scott, Byron House and Marco Giovino, Plant prowled the Watson Stage shared generously with his capable music mates.  After his inspired collaboration with Alison Krauss, Raising Sand, Zeppelin’s iconic lead singer eschewed a chance to relive the rock band’s glory days and gathered these familiar players to continue his mining the deep vein of traditional American tunes.  And it was amazing…so much more powerful and profound than I’d expected it would be.  I love it when delivery surpasses anticipation.  And it was moving to hear the depth of knowledge and reverence that a Brit holds for this music…he even encored with Doc and Rosa Lee Watson’s plaintive “My Lone Journey” as a loving duet with Patty.  Don’t miss this steamroller if it comes anywhere near.

Another headliner whose humility was a refreshing drink of water along with his unrivaled musical sensibilities was Lyle Lovett, who closed Saturday night with a sweet acoustic set not with his Large Band but with festival favorites Sam Bush, Luke Bulla and Viktor Krauss.  And speaking of favorites, John Cowan joined his current traveling companions, the Doobie Brothers for a well-done walk down memory lane the night before.

And deep-growling country crooner Randy Travis made the most of his opening night set with a cavalcade of hits like “1982,” “Diggin’ Up Bones” and “Forever and Ever, Amen.”  He still sounds just like Randy Travis and looks just like him too.  It was just an example of an ambitious year of programming for John Adair and company with lots of big names and a wide-ranging roster of revered artists and new comers alike.  There was talk of a record-breaking year of attendance.  Very promising for an over-the top silver anniversary edition in 2012. I’ll try to cover the best of what I was able to see while working the Cabin Stage for the 20th year, in the pictures below and right.

Great to have Crooked Still back on the Cabin Stage…Brittany Haas and Aoife O’Donovan.

The predictably perfect Del McCoury Band on the Watson Stage…my nieces and I had too much fun in a wee-hours hang with Ronnie & Rob Thursday night…whew.

Missed catching up with Johnny C but we can always count on quality after-hours time with Jeff Autry.

We were blessed with the best female-based bands this year, including the elegant Wailin’ Jennys above…Heather Masse, Ruth Moody and Nicky Mehta with Richard Moody on fiddle.

Red Molly also graced our stage…Abbie Gardner, Laurie MacAllister and Molly Venter…should’ve heard them sing “Dear Someone.”  And listen for Laurie singing the “best part of waking up” jingle on the latest Folger’s TV spot.

A sea of Band of Joyful fans on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

 

 

Is this man the coolest or what?

 

Jim Lauderdale 

pauses in the Jerry Douglas doorway to the Cabin Stage

 

 

 

 

 

Infamous Stringdusters’ banjo man Chris Pandolfi is becoming a multi-media magnate…check out his many modes of expression here.

He’s quickly becoming a MerleFest fixture after loving his first trip last year. Zac Brown’s only official gig was Thursday night on the Watson but he popped up everywhere over the weekend including the Midnight Jam at the Walker Center.

Jerry Douglas has played all 24 MerleFests in countless combinations, this year with bassist Viktor Krauss and incredible percussionist Omar Hakim.

Guitar god Tony Rice brought an A-list Unit with him…Stuart Duncan, Josh Williams, brother Wyatt Rice, Barry Bales and Rob Ickes.  Tony’s getting really sentimental lately with lots of blessings to count.  Chokes me up.

Delightful meeting and hearing Veronika Jackson sing the blues to start us off on the Cabin Saturday morning…she even brought us flowers!

 

 

 

Another case of cool personified…on the edge fiddler and Midnight Jam host with the most, Casey Driessen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

An all-star tribute to John Hartford…see if you can name them all.  (Matt Combs, Alison Brown, Chris Sharp, Sam Bush, Bob Carlin, Tim O’Brien, Pete Wernick, Mark Schatz.

Lauderdale’s too cool for just one shot…

Tim O’Brien brought tears as only he can with “Letter In The Mail” that hit home this year for me.  He was flanked by Stuart Duncan and Bryan Sutton.  Oh my.

And a footnote-Sandy Feat’s latest triumph.  Until next April…

*********************************************

 

Please check the previous post below for cool stuff coming up this weekend, including the Canal Club show Sunday in tribute to Page Wilson.  We’ll see you there I hope.

TT

Beyond that dark river…

One of American music’s most earnest and important voices has gone home leaving us with a catalog of powerful songs but taking with her the cutting instrument she used to sing them.  West Virginia’s Hazel Dickens died of complications from pneumonia last week summoning up the lyrics of one of her tunes I first heard Hot Rize do years ago…it would become one of their most requested:  “I feel the shadows now upon me, and the angels beckon me, before I go dear sisters and brothers, won’t you come and sing for me.  Sing those hymns we sang together, that plain little church with its benches all worn.  How dear to my heart, how precious the moments, we stood shaking hands and singing a song.”  My friend and JAMinc partner Wally Thulin remembered Hazel eloquently: 

I’m sure most of you acoustic music lovers have heard the sad news that we lost Hazel Dickens last week at the age of 75. Back when I used to drive to the IBMA gathering in Owensboro, KY, I‘d put on a Hazel Dickens CD (actually I think it was a cassette) the exact moment we crossed into West Virginia. It just seemed the right thing to do. Her raw, emotion filled voice seemed to belong to the dark hollows and intriguing hills of that state that she broke from as a young girl. In addition to her pro miner songs for which she was known, one of her most powerful, Mama’s Hands (IBMA song of the year by Lynn Morris in 1996) tells her story of leaving WV so vividly:

“One old paper bag filled with hand-me-downs

Plain old country girl raised on gospel sounds,

With only the love she gave me and pride in what I am,

It was hard to let go of Mama’s hands, my mama’s hands.”

She lived it and she sang it like she lived it, and it connected with her fans who really didn’t give a flip if she was always exactly on key. It was authentic; it resonated with listening hearts and moved them. Hazel’s voice, like black coffee, was an acquired taste, but once acquired, was treasured.

So much of today’s culture is slick, contrived, and fake. Lady Gaga comes to mind. Hazel was the real thing. Pitch correction? Who needs it? Sing with sincerity from the heart and it’s always on pitch to those who are tuned in emotionally.

I venture to say that at this week’s MerleFest, more than one artist will sing one for Hazel.

 

It was only a year ago when another lesser known but full of promise musician was taken in a tragic motorcycle accident.  Houston Caldwell was just 18 but had already become a Galax fireman, completed Army basic training and was a head-turning banjo player.  By all accounts, Houston was an impressive young man, mature beyond his years, and friends of mine who knew him were devastated this time last year when they learned of the fatal accident.  Caldwell will be remembered at Felts Park in Galax the weekend of May 6th and 7th with an event called Houstonfest, presenting a strong lineup of performers that includes Blue Highway, Mountain Heart, Sierra Hull, Larry Cordle, Wayne Henderson, Ron Block and the farewell performance of Cherryholmes.  There are lots more.  Tickets are available here and all proceeds will benefit the Galax Volunteer Fire Department.

Don’t forget JAMinc’s season-ending double header at In Your Ear…on Friday, May 13th it’s Piedmont blues night with Phil Wiggins and Rick Franklin.  And the very next night, it’s the fine folkgrass band East of Monroe.  Reservations for both are available now on the website. 

At the risk of too much gushing, I do want to mention again the new Alison Krauss & Union Station project as it debuted at #3 in Billboard Album Chart covering all genres and #1 in both the Billboard Country and Bluegrass Charts.  Here’s a link to a beautifully done video on the making of Paper Airplane.  Highly recommended.

Congrats to Scott Adams who won tickets here to enjoy Iron & Wine and The Low Anthem at the National Wednesday night.  Promises to be a great show…tickets still here.

The 24th MerleFest commences Thursday…we’ll keep you posted.

TT

(Hazel Dickens and Houston Caldwell photos from artist websites)

On a roll…

Native and Fine Records is Bill Evans’ label where you can order his Banjo for Dummies book and any of his many great recordings.  He is a native Virginian, although now a west coaster, and he is a fine practitioner of all the five-string and its predecessors can deliver.  Bill brought his one-man Banjo In America symposium to In Your Ear for our latest JAMinc studio concert last Thursday.  With seven different instruments and a head full of stories and illustrative tunes, this genial and well-versed musician offered rare insight into why the banjo has so indelibly worked its way into our consciousness.  Some remember him from his UVA days and Cloud Valley, or his stint with Ron Thomason and the Dry Branch Fire Squad.  Those of us who go way back were reminded of what a genuinely nice guy he is, to supplement his tasteful musicianship and his scholarly appreciation of an instrument both beloved and derided.  And he finished up by bringing up old pal Jack Cowardin to offer a little mando backup.  Bill Evans is as much as anyone out there, giving the banjo a good name.

While we’re at it, here’s the deal on JAMinc’s “Farewell ‘til Fall” weekend at In Your Ear next month, a first-time double header the nights of the 13th and 14th.  As mentioned in our previous post, Phil Wiggins’ long-time partner John Cephas played his final solo set at In Your Ear on May 1st, 2009.  So it’s full circle that we welcome Phil and one of his new collaborators Rick Franklin to Studio A on a very lucky Friday the 13th.  Rick is a Virginia-born exponent of the Piedmont Blues and will bring a solid guitar and vocal complement to Phil’s signature harmonica style.  Reservations going fast here. 

We’ll leave the chairs and food tables set for the following night as we segue from blues to bluegrass with the acoustic string band East of Monroe (see full disclosure from previous post).  If you missed their sold-out show at AC&T in March, here’s a second chance, or if you did catch EOM trackside, maybe you’re hankerin’ for more of that sweet three-part harmony and Gary Ferguson’s tasty licks.  Catch JAMinc’s last concert until September by making your reservations here.  If you’re in the Fredericksburg area, the band’s playing upstairs at Picker’s Supply this coming Saturday.  And some of us will be headed back to my old hometown of Staunton on May 21st as EOM plays the Valley’s very nicest venue, the Mockingbird Roots Music Hall.  It’ll be the band’s final gig before Eminor packs it up to Portland…this would be a great chance to see and hear what all the Mockingbird buzz is about at 123 West Beverly Street in charming old downtown Staunton.

 

Some very special events coming to town the weekend of May 6-7…first, a homecoming for Ann Savoy who grew up in Richmond and ended up marrying and making a life of music with Cajun accordionist Mark Savoy.  The Savoy Family Band will play a benefit “Louisiana Friday Night” concert and Cajun fest at Trinity Methodist Church that will enable Goochland kids to attend Camp Westview on the James.  Read all about it here and get your tickets here.

And the next night, May 7th on the growing campus of St. Joseph’s Villa on the northside, the 17th annual Hoedown In The Garden marks the 17th consecutive appearance of the incomparable Lonesome River Band for this bigtime night of food and fun benefitting the Villa’s Flagler Home.  Tickets are $75 each and include an open bar, great barbecue and all the fixins from David Napier’s White House Catering, and a couple of choice sets from one of the top bluegrass bands in the land.  I’ve missed the last few, but trust me it’s an amazing evening for a great cause, not to mention a great deal.  Order tickets here, or…stop the presses…win them!  Thanks to the Villa’s generous CEO Kathleen Barrett, I have a pair of Hoedown tickets to give away to the 17th (get it) one of you to email me (mail@timtimberlake.com) with SAMMY! in the subject line.  Go for it.  I’ll miss Mr. Shelor and the boys this time around but will enjoy sharing judging duties with Stephen Lecky at AC&T’s Songwriter’s Showdown Shootout finals on that Saturday night.  Hope to see some of you there…I hear the finalists bring a lot to the table.  And on Sunday the 8th, a very special tribute show for our too-soon departed pal Page Wilson at Canal Club.  Details in our next post.

MerleFest moments starting in this space next week, like the journal’s title shot above featuring Emily and her fantasy band from a MerleFest long ago…fellas named Thile, Fleck, Witcher and Watkins.  Magic always happens in Wilkesboro every April.

TT

 

(Wiggins, Savoy and LRB photos from artist websites)