Neil Finn at Largo

This was our makeup show. Neil, the gentleman that he is, put us on the list for Sunday night’s show after the problems we had at the Crowded House concert in San Diego. And what a great way to say I’m sorry. Both shows (Saturday and Sunday) were sold out and with the room only seating about 220 people you can imagine how tough it was to get a ticket.
I have seen Neil with a band, with his brother Tim and with Crowded House. This was my first solo (although he wasn’t alone all night) show. What a treat it was to just see him. But, Neil is Neil. If you’ve seen him perform, you know, it really doesn’t matter who is around him. He is up there putting on a show and having lots of fun. The first hour or so of the set was dedicated to rarities; songs he hasn’t sung in years. Not owning everything Neil, I’m not sure I recognized a single song. But it didn’t matter. He is such a talented songwriter, all of the songs were instantly enjoyable.
The show kicked into a higher gear when he brought out Jon Brion to accompany him. Jon is himself pretty amazing. Bouncing between piano and guitar he played some fantastic licks throughout the evening. Taking it up a notch, Neil brought out Grant-Lee Phillips. I’m not sure which was the bigger highlight for me, Grant-Lee singing harmonies on “Only Talking Sense” or trading lead vocals on “Four Seasons in One Day”. Neil also brought out Sebastian Steinberg on upright bass and a drummer who’s name I missed.
Maybe the biggest surprise that evening was the computer. Given that Largo is so anti electronics (phones/cameras/etc.) I was shocked that they actually had an Internet connection. Next thing we know, Neil is calling Tim on Skype and after chatting for awhile, Tim and friends in NZ were performing with Neil and friends in L.A. It was pretty amazing and worked really well.
The evening pretty much ended with covers. First the Talking Heads classic, “Road to Nowhere” and coming back for their encore with David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream”.
And I can't end this without talking about some of the funny moments. The sound guy, Jesse, had to come down from the balcony to adjust the microphone so that Neil wasn’t playing his mandolin, uhmmm, between his legs (that turned into a very funny moment as I’m sure you can imagine). Grant-Lee bopped onto stage and when asked if he knew the song they were about to play, said, “No” and then bopped off again. He also showed his willingness to serve Neil, dropping to his knees to sing into the guitar mic when it appeared there wasn’t a microphone for him. It was that kind of evening. One I’ll remember for a long time.

New Music for September 2010

Yes, I’m a big Sam Phillips fan. I’ve seen her over a dozen

times during the last 6 years and had many conversations with her and her band members. When it comes to talking about her music on this blog it definitely overshadows the other reviews. For those of you who don’t think that’s right, I’m sorry. I just love talking about Sam. And so, first up, Sam.

Sam Phillips - Days of the One Night Stands (2010)
This is the last EP in Sam’s Long Play Project (there is a final digital CD coming in October or November). It is hard to believe a year has passed since Sam announced this at her show in Santa Monica. The output of music this year is by far the most we have ever seen from Sam. This final EP is a group of covers. She opens with a “late night” version of the Monkees (actually Boyce and Hart wrote this) “...Stepping Stone” with a cool guitar solo from Eric. “Lying” is a Sam Phillips cover (yes she covers herself twice on this CD) with maybe the most vibrant, rock and roll solo on a SP song since the 90’s. Eric’s blistering violin solo takes this beautiful version of “Lying” to new heights. I have been waiting for a recorded version of “Green Grass”, a song originally written and recorded by Tom Waits, for five years now. Sam’s version is breathtaking, and the studio version is even better than the live versions I’ve seen over the years. Sam donated “Where is Love Now” to Jimmy Dale Gilmore and has finally done her own version of it. This version so overwhelms Jimmy’s I’m considering deleting his mp3 from my collection (just joking, but it is that good). And finally, Sam covers an old 30’s song, “Undecided”, from Django Reinhardt, turning it into a Sam Phillips song. What a wonderful collection of songs. And as this project rolls to an end, one can’t help think how Sam seems to have covered all of the areas that we have been craving over the years. She did this without compromise; one of the few true artists recording today. Thank you Sam for everything. If you haven’t signed up for The Long Play, you still can.

Last month I added a bunch of music to the station and didn’t have time to write, so briefly...

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Mojo (2010)
This is a live in the studio type CD and although on first listen you might now find the “hit”, just keep listening. It is worth the wait.
Squeeze - Spot the Difference (2010)
This is a money thing, but we all get the benefit. Squeeze has gotten back together to re-record their hits so that they will get performance royalties when they are used for movies. You can’t blame them in this time of lower incomes for performers. They decided to make the songs spot on the same as the originals, even digging up old equipment to get the right sound (hence the title “Spot the Difference”). It is always fun to listen to Squeeze, so... enjoy.
The Innocence Mission - My Room in the Trees (2010)
They have barely changed over the last 15 years or so, and that’s a good thing. There are some surprises in this CD, but mostly it is Karen’s beautiful voice with the flowing innocence of the mission backing it up. Pure beauty.
Crowded House - Intriguer (2010)
They have yet to release a bad CD. The highlight here is a wonderful song called “Amsterdam”; worth the price of admission. It may not be their best, but it is better than almost everything else out there.
Flogging Molly - Live at the Greek (2010)
From a show recorded last year at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, this IS Flogging Molly. No studio CD can capture the raw craziness of their live shows. These are two CDs that will make you want to order a glass of Guinness.
Walt Cronin - California - I Gotta Run (2010)
On his third release Walt continues his folk/Americana singing/songwriting. A storyteller like Kris Kristoffersen, this is an album about being on the road and pursuing dreams. Nice job. http://www.thegousters.com/
Handful of Luvin’ - Life Inbetween (2010)
I really am having trouble describing this band. Is it modern rock? Or is it country? Is that a violin player or a fiddle player (there is a difference)? Whatever it is, it works and they have delivered one of the more original CDs of the year. Do check them out at http://www.handfulofluvin.com/fr_introduction.cfm .
Gaslight Anthem - American Slang (2010)
Think a rocking Jesse Malin and you have a good idea what this excellent CD sounds a bit like. Worth checking out, especially since it has The Boss’ seal of approval on it. :-)
John Mellencamp - No Better Than This (2010)
Using a tape recorder, a single mic and the brilliance of T-Bone Burnett, John channels his inner John Prine (or is it Bob Dylan as many like to say). This CD is not for everyone, but if you like your singers with good words and light production, with a low-res feel and an Americana spirit, then this CD is for you.
Peter Case - Wig (2010)
Peter Case is rockin’ again and this quickly recorded roots rock/Americana CD shows why Peter Case has been an important part of the musical landscape since he first appeared 30 plus years ago. This is a Yep Roc records release; always a good sign that you’re going to hear some great music.
Pernice Brothers - goodbye, killer (2010)
Do you know who the Pernice Brothers are? You should. One of the finest pop rock bands around, they combine great lyrics with catchy tunes. Isn’t that why we love rock and roll?

Crowded House at Humphrey’s by the Bay in San Diego

It wasn’t a good night for us tonight. In fact, the review of the 2 hour plus Crowded House show will not really be a review... Just a story.
We came down to San Diego to celebrate our anniversary. We both love Crowded House and Humphrey’s is a wonderful place to see a concert. The venue is small, the sound is good and... If you buy a hotel room you get dinner and front row seats. It is a bit of an expense, but you are staying in San Diego during peak season so it is reasonable.
Now Maria recently had shoulder surgery. Her shoulder continues to cause her pain and just touching it will send her into tears. With a seated show, and in the front row, we thought we were safe. Neil and company hit the stage and for the first hour we were having a great time. Granted there were a few fans in the front who had too much to drink, but they rarely got in our way. There was this one girl who kept coming up to the front of the stage from her seat a few rows back. Security kept sending her back until Neil interceded. Once she was allowed up front, everyone rushed the stage. Maria couldn’t stand because getting her shoulder bumped would have caused her excruciating pain. And I needed to stay in my chair to protect her as best as I could. And so, for the next hour, the band played on. We could hear them but could no longer see them. We couldn’t even leave because there was no way she could walk through the crowd without someone hitting her shoulder.
I don’t blame Neil. It is part of rock and roll. But, it was still his fault.
I’m sure I’ll see Crowded House again, but I’ll always have this bad taste in my mouth from a ruined evening.

John Hiatt at the Coach House 2010

Last Thursday I saw John Hiatt for the umpteenth time and it never gets old. He always gives his best. He always puts on a great show. He always mixes old and new music. He throws in a few jokes and makes us laugh. And... he sings with the spirit of one who has lived his life. I never realized how good a singer he was until I heard some back to back songs with John and then a cover version. The emotion coming from within just can’t be beat.
Still, there are subtle differences from tour to tour. There was no keyboard on stage for the first time that I can remember (although I may have missed the last tour). Normally he would move to the keyboards to sing his ballads. Instead he didn’t do many and when he did, they were done on his acoustic guitar. Backed by a solid three piece band featuring Doug Lancio on guitar (has worked a lot with Patty Griffin), this version of John Hiatt rocked the house. I haven’t seen John rock this hard in some time. And the crowd loved it.
Speaking of crowds, we love going to the Coach House. For the Hiatt show, we were seated across from a couple who had seen John many times. We started trading stories of many of the bands we both loved and how we were probably at some of the same shows. Suddenly this Irish woman (Bernie) to the left of me, taps me on the shoulder and the next thing I know we (her husband Peter has now joined in) are talking about even more bands and definitely seeing the same shows (they were at Shawn Colvin the week before). In fact, we plan on seeing them on Sunday since we are both not only seeing Crowded House in San Diego, but we are both in the front section and we are both having dinner at the Humphrey's restaurant. Did I mention that I love going to the Coach House?
Over the 2 hours, John performed many of our favorites and several songs from his new CD, “The Open Road”; one of his best CDs in years. The live versions of these songs were even more rockin then on the CD and blended nicely with his classic rockers.
Overall we had a great time and after being disappointed with “Same Old Man”, I am once again a rabid John Hiatt fan. Don’t miss him when he comes to your town.

Joan Armatrading in Long Beach

The last of three nights of music (or 5 out of 10 nights) came to an end last night with a bang. Saturday night I watched one of the great female acoustic guitar players in Shawn Colvin. Tonight we got to watch one of the best female electric guitar players. Over the last few years Joan Armatrading has decided to take on all of the electric guitar parts, including the solos, and she has proved that she knows how to handle an axe. This is probably why she has resurrected “Tall in the Saddle” in her live shows. With the potent guitar solo during the slow part of the song, which she nailed, it fit well with her more current offerings. Joan played plenty of songs from her current CD, “This Charming Life” (her most pop CD since the early 80’s) and her blues CD from a year ago, “Into the Blues”. Both CDs feature plenty of electric guitar solos and Joan handled them like she’s been a guitar God for years. So there are three sides to Joan at her shows: the early years with songs like “Love and Affection”, the early 80’s with songs like “Me Myself I” and now the new stuff with lots of guitar (these songs are actually similar to the early years material). Missing, of course, are the late 80s and 90s which is fine with me. The first two areas receive long and often standing ovations after almost every song. The newer songs are applauded but not with the enthusiasm of her older material. The middle section of the show, which contained most of her newer work, with extended guitar solos, seemed to slow the pace of the show. But then she would throw in a nugget and the place would explode. This isn’t to say that her newer material isn’t good, just maybe not as emotionally relevant to the crowd as that older material.
Joan did turn one new song into an immediate classic. On her new CD is a song called “Best Dress On”. She has started a contest to see how long the audience can repeat the chorus (“Hey hey, look at you now. Look at you now with your best dress on”) after the song ends. The crowd sings it twice, then the band joins in then leaves it to the crowd (and back and forth until it somehow ends). I don’t think the audience got it at first because when the song ended, it ended with no one singing. So, Joan told us we weren’t even in the top 10. Suddenly a group of people in the audience started singing it and before we knew it we had defeated Denver (the current leader). Of course, this whole thing is set up to allow the last show on the tour be the winner. But they are going to have to work pretty darn hard because the count is up to 22 times right now and there are another 5 shows on the tour. The show ended with her classics, “Willow” and “Drop the Pilot”. It was a perfect evening with one of the truly great performers in rock. Too bad only about half of the Terrace Theater was filled for this amazing woman and her band.

A Great Triple Header at the Coach House

I’ve been to the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano many many many... many times. Last night may have been one of the best all round shows I’ve seen there. All three acts put on great shows and I came home with a bunch of CDs to listen to. What was truly amazing was that the audience was there to listen. I’ve never seen a crowd at the Coach House so respectful for all three acts. It was almost like they were all headliners. Shawn Colvin was the real headliner, but we will start at the beginning.
Tracy Niles is a young energetic local talent who has that certain flair onstage. She is having fun and you could see she was enjoying the evening as much as we were. Her style is very singer/songwriter, but there is a certain jazz sensibility that shows up in her songwriting and singing style. And then, in mid song, as she sings about smoke, you hear the chords to “Smoke on the Water” and you know this girl is well rounded musically. Accompanied by her bass player, she wowed the audience and received the type of applause normally reserved for the main act. I can’t wait to hear more from her. You can check her out at tracyniles.com .
Sasha Evens was next on the bill and sitting behind a keyboard, accompanied by a violinist, Sasha seemed to be having even more fun than Tracy. Her songs were... Hmmm... Think Juno soundtrack.. or maybe Jenny Lewis. The overall feel was a young Natalie Merchant (although she is already a better keyboard player and has a much lighter approach to music). The songs are very personal but can be humorous. In one song, she sings a cappella about the guy who wants back in, “‘cause your number 36 on the list and I’m calling number 12 next”. (check out the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5yDM0TRUzc ) For someone who hasn’t been playing long and who may have been performing her first live show in front of a paying audience, she was fairly confident and relaxed on stage. The interplay between her and her violinist was beautiful. I see a big future for this young lady. There are some videos of her here: http://www.thebellalifeblog.com/2010/07/29/sasha-evans/ and you can go directly to her here: http://www.myspace.com/sashamoon
You never know what Shawn Colvin will be like on any given night, and that is part of the fun in seeing her live. She is easily the finest female guitar player in the singer/songwriter category and honestly, I’ve only seen a handful of men who can compete. Her ear is so good, she can, and often does, tune her guitar mid song, without missing a note. She has a beautiful voice and has, over the years, written some great songs. Sometimes her shows can be a bit sloppy. Again, that is part of the fun. She is honest about it and will not think twice about playing a song she may not remember and has no problem stopping and asking help from the audience. That was the show we got last night. Pulling out “I Want it Back”, something she hasn’t done in years, she had to stop several times because she couldn’t remember the lyrics. But it is always a lot of fun when this happens. In fact, right off the bat she forgot her capo and someone from the Coach House lent her one. Then she found hers but played with the borrowed one saying, “If I “F” it up it will be this borrowed capo’s fault”. (Uhmm, yeah, she said the whole word by the way). Shawn brought out Kate Markowitz to sing harmony on a handful of songs. I believe she has done this before. Their voices sound so good together. As for her storytelling, we got an old story that I had never heard, about her being the grand prize in a Gallo Wine contest. She had us in stitches, as always. Her encore included two Beatles songs, during which one of the funnier moments of the night occurred. As she was playing “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away”. Someone yelled out, “Not in California”. Very funny and timely. Overall it was a fun show by one of the most talented women performing today.

Kristy Hanson in Noho

The Valley is not dead. A cool thing is happening in Noho (the arts district of North Hollywood). The first Thursday of the month is “Hear Noho” and several galleries and performance spots are opening their doors to up and coming artists. You purchase a ticket from any of the locations and then can go see any of the seven or eight shows that are going on that night.
I was there to see Kristy Hanson doing a rare acoustic set and was not disappointed. I’ve said many times that the true test of the quality of a song is to strip it down. If it survives, you’ve got a good song. When I first heard about this gig, Kristy seemed a bit apprehensive. She’s been working with a full band for awhile now and, at least online, seemed worried that we would not like her music without... all the guys behind her. Well, Kristy had nothing to worry about. With just Timothy Young backing her with a variety of banjos and guitars, Kristy performed a strong 45 minute set. In fact, stripping away the band seemed to help emphasize her beautiful voice and original melodies. The lyrics also seemed to stand out more. In fact, she seemed even more confident in front of the crowd than the last time I saw her (at the Hotel Cafe). I hope Kristy continues to perform acoustic shows. She is playing to her strength.

New Music and Taking Requests

Before I get to a small list of new music I’ve recently added to the the play list, I wanted to let you all know that I’m spinning the records (digital files actually... and I suppose and they don’t spin) live this week from about noon Pacific till I run out of time (somewhere between 2 and 3 PM). If you want to make requests, simply go to the station page, http://live365.com/stations/thepromiseradio , and at the bottom of the page where it says “Shout Out”, put your request in. Today was a battle with a horrible echo, but I’ve solved most of the echoing issue and look forward to talking music with you all.

Alejandro Escovedo - Street Songs of Love (2010)
Al has once again hooked up with Chuck Prophet to write the CD and allowed Tony Visconti to produce it and give it the big rock and roll sound. This may be better than his last and possibly as good, song for song, as anything he has done. Bruce Springsteen once again appears on one song, although it (“Faith”) isn’t the “single”. These are great songs with big hooks and even bigger guitars. If you love rock and roll, there is no reason to not have this in your collection.
Jimmy Webb - Just Across The River (2010)
One of the great American songwriters, Jimmy goes through a great catalog of standards that... well... that he wrote. It is always nice to hear the artist interpret his own songs. Jimmy has plenty of help, with everyone from Lucinda Williams to Billy Joel adding harmonies and singing duets. If you love the songs, you’ll love his take on them.
Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More (2010)
I heard one song on Siruis/XM’s The Loft and I was hooked. I can’t even remember which one because there are so many good songs on this CD. It is rootsy Americana funneled through the sensibilities of a group of guys from the other side of the pond. The big single right now is “Little Lion Man”, but listen to it all: I know you’ll like it. This should end up on my year end favorites.
Cyndi Lauper - Memphis Blues (2010)
Okay, this will be the last time I say or write this. If you don’t know by now, Cyndi has a big voice and can sing way way beyond her goofy hits of the 80’s. So, I wasn’t surprised when I saw this CD in the mail. She does a nice job of singing these blues standards with a tight band behind her. If you enjoy the blues you might want to give this a shot.

Paul Thorn and Missiles of October at The Coach House 2010

I’m not sure what else I can say about Paul Thorn. This is the fourth time I’ve seen him in about 5 years and as I looked back on the previous reviews, things started to sound a bit redundant. Maybe that’s a good thing. Paul puts on a great show, whether he is solo or with his band. He always has funny stories to tell (not quiet as many this time around), usually gets around to most of his fans favorites (with a heavy dose of songs from “Ain’t Love Strange”, his breakthrough CD that never broke through for some unknown reason), and always brings us the best of his new material. And honestly, I can’t figure out what else I could ask for. Sure he skipped over some favorites, like “Fabio and Librace” and “Sister Ruby’s House of Prayer”, but overall he rocked the house, with his tight rockin’ band punching most songs up a couple of notches. It was a great show. I’m already looking forward to his next visit. With a house about two thirds filled, he should be coming back her in the OC some time in the future. Can’t wait.

The last time I saw Paul with his band at the Coach House, Missiles of October opened for him and did a solid job. Once again, they came out and played like a headliner, not just an opening band, and had the whole place bouncing around to their catchy tunes and smart covers. I picked up Poul’s new solo CD “Coveralls”, which I’m sure I’ll be talking about soon. I understand they play in Laguna Beach every Sunday night. If you are in So Cal, I’m sure it is worth a visit.

Peter Bradley Adams at the Hotel Cafe

Close your eyes. It is nighttime somewhere in middle America. There is a soft drizzle of rain. In the distance you can hear the sound of a train whistle which sounds suspiciously like a pedal steel guitar. Through the mist you start to hear a voice. There is no twang, no harshness. It is soft and reassuring. It is sad and yet hopeful. That is the sound of Peter Bradley Adams. And that is what we got for nearly an hour last night at the Hotel Cafe. Peter, backed by a solid three piece band (Josh Grange on guitar and pedal steel guitar, JImmy Paxson on drums and Ian Walker on bass) and backing vocalist (the beautiful and very talented Priya Darshini), created the atmosphere that makes his CDs such a joy to listen to. Actually, solid doesn’t really do these guys justice. They all are accomplished musicians with great credentials.

Peter sang songs from his latest CDs as well as a couple of brand new songs (he intro-ed one song by saying this is the name, “so far”). The highlight of the evening was a song that opened with a Raaga, a style of music from India, sung by Priya, and then segued it into “Angeles”. It was a gorgeous arrangement.

Peter has a very relaxed, humble and happy style onstage. It helped create a very appreciative crowd. In fact, he got a real encore. There was no plan to return to the stage, but, and this is so unusual for L.A., the crowd would not stop clapping. And so, he returned, re-plugged in the guitars and sang a great version of “Keep Us”.

This is the first of 5 or 6 upcoming concerts for me and it was a great start.

Peter's CD is available here: http://tinyurl.com/itunesPBATraces

Just a quick Update...

It has been a slow summer concert season here so far, but that is all about to change. Paul Thorn is coming

to town later this month and Joan Armatrading, Shawn Colvin and Crowded House will be here in August.

Up first though is Peter Bradley Adams.

The biggest perk you get when running any type of radio station these days are the emails from fans and friends. I always love talking music with people. Somewhere down the list of perks, but still a great perk, are the occasional free shows that you get invited to. And once in awhile, they are shows you’re looking forward to. Such is the case this month as Peter Bradley Adams will be at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood on July 28th. I’ve been a fan of Peter’s ever since eastmountainsouth was first played on XM’s The Loft several years ago. Peter has since released three solo CDs and has a fourth one coming out soon. In a small room like the Hotel Cafe, his quiet and lushes sound should make for a very special evening. Peter is hitting the west coast this month, including stops in Porland, Seattle and San Francisco. For more info you can go to Peter’s web site: http://www.peterbradleyadams.com

And of course, if you listen to the Promise, you’ll hear plenty of Peter along with lots of other great artists.

New Music for May 2010

Sam Phillips - Old Tin Pan (2010)
"Old Tin Pan" is the latest EP from Sam's Long Play project. This EP is a treat for us die hard fans (that was a pun I suppose), because it is comprised of the songs Sam had written for her last CD, "Don't Do Anything", but pulled out by her so that she could rework the entire album. It seems pretty obvious, after the fact I suppose, that she made the right choices back then. Although these songs are good, they would have changed "Don't Do Anything" quite a bit. The other big news for us long time fans is that finally, what may be the oldest unreleased (but played live) song from Sam has finally been officially released. I've been waiting years to hear a studio version of "When You're Down". It's funny too, because just the other day on XM's The Loft, they played a live version of it from Sam's performance in their studios back in 2004. I love the full quartet driving this version of the song. And the Section Quartet is all over this EP along with Jay Bellerose on percussion, with some nice piano from Sam. It is more somber than the last EP, "Magic for Everybody", but overall very satisfying. Again, if you haven't signed up for the Long Play it isn't too late. 4 of the 5 EPs have now been released and there is still a digital CD to be released later this year. There has never been a better year to be a Sam Phillips fan.

Sparks - Hello Young Lovers (2006)

I usually don't review older CDs here, but I just couldn't resist. I really love this CD. It isn't for everyone. But for those of you who like to take risks in your music, who love a good hook but still need it to find its way to you in a unique setting, for those of you ready to rock, this is worth the listen. A blending of Phillip Glass, metal, country, glorious harmonies and hooks straight from the 70s, and almost anything else you can throw into the blender, this is your album. None of this is haphazard though. Strangeness is everywhere you look; especially in the lyrics. I was hooked with "Dick Around" and was totally won over by "Perfume". This is just a fun yet complex CD that deserves more attention.

Joan Armatrading - This Charming Life (2010)
This is her most pop, most accessible CD in many many years. Joan plays all of the instruments (except drums) on this rock and roll album. As always there are stories about interesting people in and out of love. And there are hooks all over the place. She is touring America this summer. Don't miss her. http://joanarmatrading.com

Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back (2010)

A lot has been said about this in the press. I'll just say that the arrangements of these covers are unique and beautiful. The tone is similar throughout the CD and some people might find that boring, but I really enjoyed letting Peter just take me on this trip with him.

Drive By Truckers - The Big To-Do (2010)

DBT continues to be one of my favorite southern rock bands, singing about common people and so many problems in life, then driving it home with jangling guitars and a power and sound not unlike the Stones of the 60s. Love these guys... and girl.
The Watson Twins - Talking To You, Talking To Me (2010)
A little more focused than previous releases and strong arrangements make this their best outing yet. The sisters have moved away from dueting every song without losing any of the beauty that their voices bring to the record. A beautiful CD. http://thewatsontwins.com

Melissa Etheridge - Fearless Love (2010)
Melissa rocks harder than most men, and with this release it is a bigger, 70's rock sound. The female Bruce Springsteen continues to deliver solid rock and roll.
Pete Kilpatrick Band - Hope In Our Hearts (2008)

Their PR says they sound like The Fray. If they remind me of anyone, it would Five For Fighting. And that's a good thing. Catchy pop tunes with a solid modern rock sound. http://www.myspace.com/petekilpatrick

Anne McCue - Broken Promise Land (2010)

Women sure have figured out how to rock and roll over the years. Over the last year or two I've been enjoying artists like Grace Potter and Carolyn Wonderland, not to mention Nicole Atkins and of course Melissa Etheridge. Joining those rockers is Anne McCue, who's new CD is grittier and more alive than what is being released by most male rockers these days. I love the arrangements, which often start off with a standard bar band rock sound, and then in come the horns and you're moved to a different place. This is a tough world she lives in on the CD (it appears tough on the outside too, where she had to sell her steel guitar to get this CD made) and those lyrics add to the gritty and real feel that this album brings to you. The back of the CD says it all: PLAY LOUD. http://annemccue.com

Chris Wolf - Better Be Scared! (2006)

What a fun CD to listen to. Chris is a classic folk singer with some unusual stories to tell. I was smiling throughout this 14 song CD and can't wait to hear his next one (due out this summer). You can check out this CD at CDBaby.

Sam Phillips at the Hotel Cafe

If you follow the music biz at all, you know that the entire industry is going through a rebirth, with everyone trying to figure out just were they belong and how they are going to get there. If you're a music publisher, the days of sitting back and waiting for the royalties to roll in are long gone. So what do you do? You become more aggressive. And that is what the owners of Notable Music (a music publishing company) are doing. This afternoon they booked the Hotel Cafe for lunch, bringing in pizza and an open bar and inviting industry types and the press to see just why Sam Phillips fans love Sam Phillips. Sam, of course, did her part, playing a 30 minute set of new and almost new music. Backed by Eric Gorfain on violin and guitar, Jay Bellerose on drum kit and Jennifer Condos on bass, Sam appeared to be in mid tour form. Later she told me how strange it was, they had rehearsed and rehearsed and now the show was over, and there was no tour bus to get on.

Although there were a lot of familiar faces, I'm sure there were some people there who really didn't know Sam's music. This is probably why she opened with "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" (a song from the "Raising Sand" CD that was so popular a couple of years ago). She slipped in a couple of songs from her "Magic for Everybody" EP ("Lever Pulled Down" and "Magic For Everybody"), another from "Don't Do anything" ("Shake it Down") and "Was it all in My Head" a single from her Long Play project. It was at the end of "Shake it Down" that Sam pulled out what looked like a metal bread bowl and started hitting it to add to Jay's percussion. One too many slaps caused the bowl to fly off the stage and land at my feet. Sam apologized after the song, saying it was not intentional and was done with affection. I told her I knew that. She finished off the short set with a crowd favorite "Reflecting Light" and then "One Day Late" (which she dedicated jokingly to the Dodgers... who could use some help right now). What can I say about this band that I already haven't mentioned here before. Jay is one of the most interesting drummers alive; creating sounds like no one else. I have never been disappointed in any of the projects he has worked on in the past. I can't even imagine what Sam sounds like without Eric these days. His violin (and now guitar) have been a big part of Sam's sound for the last 5 or so years. Jen is the newest kid in the band, but she has been backing some pretty big names over the years. The four of them worked so smoothly together, you would have to think that they were, as I said, in the middle of a tour. This show makes me hungry for more live Sam Phillips. Hopefully, when the Long Play project is over, she will do some live gigs. But this will have to do for now.

After the show, I chatted with Jay (until Randy Lewis snuck in there). He's got some interesting projects coming up, including being on tour with Ray LaMontagne. There is no new news about Section Quartet shows. I think Sam is keeping Eric pretty busy. And nothing new to report about Sam. I believe an new EP is coming soon. What a wonderful afternoon. If felt like 2004 all over again.

Bruce Cockburn at the Coach House

It is almost always a fun time when we go to the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. The crowds are almost always polite and they seat you for dinner next to total strangers who often become your best friends (at least for the evening). So it was Friday night, where we met a friendly couple from San Diego who were not only seeing Bruce for the first time, but where at the Coach House for the first time. I explained their dining choices (beef okay, chicken dry, ranch dressing is the only choice - although they now have Caesar) and we then spend the next hour and half talking music. A very familiar story, as was much of Bruce Cockburn's show. But not as familiar as you might think.

The stage was flanked by two huge wind chime like devices that we later found out Bruce could control with his foot. Actually, control isn't a good work, since he just pumped his foot and the metal clanger (or whatever it was called) seemed to hit the bars randomly. There was no opening act and Bruce came out and started right in on some of the crowd's favorites. After about a half hour, he switched gears and started playing new music. Some of the new songs were instrumentals (this is where he used the chimes) on guitar or Charango in one case. There was a wonderfully weird song about Richard Nixon (sort of) and a few others that I can't remember now. But I enjoyed them all. His first set lasted about an hour. After the break, he came back and continued to mix old with new songs. I have always enjoyed the solo Bruce over the band Bruce because of his amazing guitar playing. Although I liked his instrumentals, I felt that they take away from the pace and the power of the show. Bruce Cockburn has lots to say about this world, and he can't really say it with an instrumental. Still, the two plus hours he played were excellent and we had a great time.

Patty Griffin at the Wiltern

There is something special about a Patty Griffin concert in L.A. It has nothing directly to do with Patty's performance and everything to do with her music. We always seem to meet people who are seeing Patty for the first time and yesterday was no exception. Hanging next to us as we leaned against the stage was a group of 3 or 4 who had flown in from Hawaii for their first ever show. But nothing could compare to the bubbling energy that was Jocelyn, a 21 year old on her own who hung out with us for the entire 5 plus hours (2 hours in line). This was her first Patty Griffin show and she was so excited. I have been there many times and it was easy to relate to her. We had a great time telling each other stories and talking about music. What made this all humorous was that she is also Jewish. So, here are three Jews, front and center, waiting for Patty Griffin to come out and sing songs from her new Gospel CD.

But first... Buddy Miller came on stage and sang with only an acoustic guitar. After just one song, he brought his band out on stage, which included backup singer, Patty Griffin. She sang backup the entire set (except for the closing number which was again an acoustic solo). And what a potent 45 minutes it was. Singing classics like, "I Worry Too Much" along with a few songs from his latest collaboration with his wife Julie, "Written in Chalk", he had the entire audience bouncing around and loving every minute of it.

After a 20 minute break, Patty came out, with the same band (plus an extra guitarist and keyboards) and Buddy sang backup and played guitar. As expected, Patty focused on her latest CD, "Downtown Church", playing very few other songs from her catalog ("Stay on the Ride", "Heavenly Day", "Up To The Mountain") and only one song from the previous millennium ("Mary"). I may have missed one, but that is my recollection. About half way through her set, she did a solo acoustic set, introducing us to a sexy new song about her grandparents that was so cute. Early in her career Patty proved what a great songwriter she was. Now she is showing us her vocal talents; and they continue to amaze. I will never get tired of listening to her sing. This night was obviously about other people's music, so it was not a surprise when she finished the night with a cover; a rockin' version of the Fabulous Thunderbirds "Why Get Up". It was another great Patty Griffin at the Wiltern show. I can't wait for the next one.

On a side note, my Emitt Rhodes t-shirt continues to get noticed at concerts. I had a few minute conversation with a long time fan about Emitt. It has now surpassed my Alejandro Escovedo shirt, which got lots of comments when Springsteen was last in town. I think I'll wear it to the Peter Himmelman show at McCabes on the 25th.

New Music April 2010

Katell Keineg - At the Mermaid Parade (2010)

It has been over a dozen years since Katell has put out a completely satisfying CD, but the wait is over. From start to finish, Katell has crafted an poetic CD that has her trademark vocals leading well designed melodies into another world. It is only available via download in the U.S. right now. You can purchase it at ITunes or CDBaby.
Kristy Hanson - Into The Quiet (2010)
A nice leap forward for Kristy, who's second CD builds on her first with stronger production, stronger songs and well... It's just a stronger CD. In the days when radio mattered, I could see several songs getting airplay on AAA and maybe even pop rock stations. You can pick up this solid independent CD at CDBaby.
Kenny White - Comfort in the Static (2010)
Kenny's CDs don't come out often enough so I always feel like I'm waiting for the next one. "Comfort in the Static" is well worth the wait. His humor and passion remain intact and the songwriting shows no signs of aging. Kenny continues to document his attempt to navigate through this strange but wonderful world we live in. As one of those who relate to getting older, you can't help but listen and nod, "Yep, I've been there". This man is so talented and it sure would be nice to see him have a bigger fan base. So, please, go to Amazon and purchase this excellent CD.

Allison Moorer - Crows (2010)

It's been 6 years since Allison Moorer has blown us away. "Crows" is s stunning piece of work from Allison and easily her best output since "The Duel". This isn't as loud and fuzz guitar driven as that previous CD, but it is filled with great songs; as good as anything she has written.
John Hiatt - The Open Road (2010)

I don't review music I don't like. It keeps this blog positive (It is so easy to go negative in this day and age). So, when John Hiatt released his last CD (And I've been a huge fan for years), I just didn't get it and decided to play a couple of songs on The Promise, but not blog about the CD. I have no problems talking about "The Open Road" though. This is John's best CD in some time and I love how the songs are all tied into the road, travelling and life on the run. The music rocks, the melodies sparkle and, and, I just love this CD.

Jude Johnstone - Blue Light (2007)
It is sometimes a fine line between singer/songwriter and jazz singer. The more time I spend with great singer/songwriter vocalists, the more I find myself attracted to jazz vocalists. On a small label, Jude Johnstone has a voice that at times reminds me of Shawn Colvin. So, it only seems fair that I share some of this music with you. You can hear more at Jude's website.
Steve Poltz - Dreamhouse (2010)
Steve's "Chinese Vacation" may have some of the funniest songs I've heard in years, but Dreamhouse is a mature work by a talented singer/songwriter. It is a mellower Poltz who has humor and irony drifting in and out of his songs. Lots of good stories/songs here to enjoy.
k.d. lang - recollection (2010)

This is a cool box set with lots of unique and unreleased songs. If you are a big fan you should pick this up. If you've never purchased any of her CDs (like me), this is a great way to start. There are plenty of good songs including 2 versions of Hallelujah.

The Swell Season at McCabe's

I can't believe nearly a month has gone by and I haven't written about this. In what may turn out to be one of the best club shows of the year for me, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performed for a small group of fans (under 150) at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. For nearly 2 hours they sang songs, told stories, made us laugh and thoroughly entertained us all. That they are talented and have written some beautiful songs goes without saying. If you haven't seen them before, the extra piece that makes them so special is their humble and down to earth attitude. When Glen begs you to sing along, he really wants you to be a part of the show. His stories are always touching and funny. In one of them, he gives Bono all of the credit for the Swell Season getting to the Academy Awards (something that changed their lives). Marketa, who is just as humble on stage, was supporting a new hairdo giving her an extra bit of sophistication. Although this is really Glen's band, he always leaves a nice chunk of the set open for Marketa to lead. Sending this show over the top was the inclusion of Javier Mas for several songs near the end of the show. Javier is a guitar player from Spain who was also one of the highlights from Leonard Cohen's recent tour. The pure joy he displays while playing incredible leads on his acoustic guitar was a perfect compliment to the Swell Season. For those of you in So Cal who missed the show, the full band will be playing the Hollywood Bowl this summer. Don't miss them.

Raul Malo - Solo at The Coach House

Upon entering the Coach House last night, the first thing I noticed was that there were no drums on the stage. This made me a bit nervous. When Raul focuses on ballads it can sometimes get a little less interesting. I love his high energy songs. What were we in for tonight? After the opening act left the stage, they took away everything and I realized we were getting a true solo show. No band, just Raul Malo on guitar and, of course, vocals. Would Raul be able to engage the audience? Would he be able to bring the energy? The answers to these questions is an emphatic yes!

Raul has a wonderful and sometimes sarcastic sense of humor. He made no bones about the fact that he didn't really care what we wanted because he was going to deliver us a show that we would love. When he stated that a song was an old Maverick number, he got cheers and replied, "Thanks. That's better than: When are you getting back together". Later he made joking references about not really playing requests. After singing a song with some Spanish lyrics in the middle, he got some yelling in Spanish from the crowd and responded with, "Cubans are in the house tonight", but in a here they are AGAIN manner. Still, it was all in good fun and he had us laughing throughout the night. When he said he wrote a song for the Mills Brothers he followed with, "They're all dead though... So I recorded it".

But, it is all about the music with Raul, isn't it. And he delivered. With his Elvis meets Roy Orbison voice, it is hard to miss. Some of the faster songs were slowed down as he played with tempos to fit his set. He had the women swooning when he covered Mexican standards like Volver and sent shivers at the end when he sang the Roy Orbison song, "Crying". Near the end of the set he really picked up the pace with some Mavericks classics and had us all singing along. If there is anyone who can bridge the gap between the gringo and Latino music worlds, it is Raul Malo. He has been doing it for years and the best part is, he does both sides so well. He has a CD of new music coming out in August and is also working on a Spanish language CD. Hopefully he will be back this way in the Fall. Can't wait!

New Music February 2010

Somehow I just couldn't get through all of the 2009 releases and here we are in 2010 already. So, up first are all the latest 2010 CDs that are now playing on The Promise, including music from Amy Correia, Sam Phillips, Patty Griffin, The Burned, Jon Dee Graham, Tina Dico and Spoon. For you indie artists that have sent me CDs and are waiting to hear your music, it's coming. I promise.

Amy Correia - You Go Your Way (Spring 2010)
It opens with a piano/percussion driven song, the title track, "You Go Your Way", and I am hooked. It doesn't let up there though. The beautiful "Love Changes Everything" follows and then the funny/sad "Powder Blue Trans Am". Most CDs are lucky to have 3 winners, let alone lead off with 3 unique, powerful, and fun songs. All of Amy's original songwriting is wrapped up in Paul Bryan's solid production and Jay Bellerose's always amazing percussion. It's early in the year, but it is going to take a hell of a lot for an indie release to beat this CD in 2010. The CD is only available on Amy's website right now, but will be available everywhere soon. You can listen and buy it here: http://amycorreia.com/ .
Sam Phillips - Magic for Everybody (2010)

And speaking of Jay Bellerose, he makes a return to recording with Sam Phillips on her latest EP, part of The Long Play project. The EP opens with "Always Merry and Bright", a look at the sadness behind the smile. Interestingly, the strings, arranged by Eric Gorfain, I believe, have a very traditional sound (not what we've grown to expect from Eric). This just adds to the sadness the song seems to bring out. That is not to say that Magic is a downer of a CD. Sam always seems to find the silver lining and the title track, "Magic for Everybody" which follows is so hopeful, she obviously placed it in that order to bring you back up. The 5 song EP ends with a remake of her Gilmore Girls song "Tell Her What She Wants to Know". It is slower and more... more... Sam. This may be my favorite of the EPs released so far and with this collection, we have easily gotten our money's worth. Check out the project at http://samphillips.com

Patty Griffin - Downtown Church (2010)

That I am listening to a "Gospel" album is a testament to the respect I have for both Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller. To Patty's credit, this CD is inspirational, but not overly in your face with the religion. As she has stated in interviews, she was working her way through her own faith as she recorded this. Most of the songs are covers of religious tunes that come in many forms; from country to Mexican traditional to soul. This is a very entertaining CD and Patty's voice shines throughout.

The Burned - The Burned (2010)

Just got this one the other day (thanks Mike) and it has "wow" written all over it. Moody, electric, bluesy, fascinating, wow. You must check these guys out! I hear they have a great live show too.

Jon Dee Graham - Its Not As Bad Aa It Looks (2010)
With a strong rocking band, The Fighting Cocks, behind him, Jon Dee continues to put out good music that gets ignored by the mainstream media. Many of the songs continue to dig into his life and his world, all of which is interesting, sad and beautiful. Check out this wonderful CD at http://jondeegraham.com .
Spottiswoode - Piano 45 (2010)

All good songwriters should be able to strip down their songs to piano or guitar and voice and you should be able to see the beauty of it all. On this solo CD from Jonathan Spottiswoode, the theatrics and strange but exciting arrangements are gone and it is all about the songs themselves. It may not be a starting point for new listeners, but if you are a Spottiswoode fan, you will find this batch of 15 songs a wonderful diversion from his other music. But judge for yourself. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. You'll find more info here: http://www.spottiswoode.com/

Tina Dico - The Road To Gavle (2010)
Another great CD from Tina. Her wonderfully personal songs are only eclipsed by her beautiful voice. Why don't you own any Tina Dico? http://www.tinadico.com/
Spoon - Transference (2010)

Spoon continues to knock out great music. This CD is a bit more experimental, maybe even a bit Wilco like in that way. Still, you find yourself loving these quirky songs and their strange moments.

Happy Birthday Steve Poltz

On a rainy night in North County San Diego, Steve Poltz, the somewhat crazy, friend to everyone, singer/songwriter, and co-writer of Jewel's hit "You were meant for me", turned 50 with hundreds of his closest friends and family there to help him celebrate. The Belly Up Tavern was packed for their local hero who put together a show that hardly stopped from 9pm till well past midnight.

Steve, sporting a pink cast on his left arm came out and introduced Lisa Sanders, who played guitar and sang along with a backup singer. She has a beautiful voice, although it was often lost because of the crowd noise. This is San Diego, and having lived there for over 4 years I can say without a doubt that they are the worst audiences I've ever had to share clubs with. I love the Belly Up, but most people in San Diego seem to go to shows for the scene, not the music. It has been that way since the 70's and hasn't appeared to change any. But I digress.

Juan asked me if all the bands were going to sound alike. Well, it was obvious right away that this wasn't going to be one of those nights. As the beautiful sounds of Lisa Sanders were replaced by Mojo Nixon. If you don't know who Mojo Nixon is, this will give you an idea of what the next half hour or so were like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojo_Nixon . He opened with a new song called, "Steve Poltz is an old MF". If I need to explain what MF is, you're not old enough to be reading this. Anyways, this was a sweet ballad compared to where he was headed last night. And... And... I just don't think I can go there in this blog. Let's just say it was obscenely over the top with Mojo performing some of his biggest hits. Well, maybe not hits, but they were some of his most notorious songs. Okay, pretty much everything he sings is notorious. He didn't do the Don Henley song though. "Elvis is Everywhere" may have been the show's highlight. Throughout his performance, he kept coming back to the Steve Poltz song, and we sang as loud as we could. I feel lucky that I finally got to see this legend. Uhmmm, but I really felt like I needed a shower afterwards.

Mojo worked the crowd to a near frenzy, and now it was time for Steve Poltz to perform for us. Unfortunately this caused a short disruption in the pace of the show since this was also Steve's CD release party for "Dreamhouse" and much of the CD is quiet (at least quiet compared to Mojo). But Poltz mixed up old songs and new ones with ease. His band, the Cynics really rocked. He brought out guests to perform solo and with him. It started with Anya Marina, a singer/songwriter who has had a bunch of songs on TV shows. Her solo singing was totally drowned out by the crowd although they gave her a nice round of applause. Gregory Page, from the Rugburns sang a few songs. I love his voice. A.J. Croce (yes, that is Jim's son) sang a few songs also, and man, can he play piano. He did a ragtime number that was out of this world. Each artist would join the band, then sing a song or two by themselves (or with Steve) and then the band would come back and they might stay for another number or two. Cindy Lee Berryhill (who I haven't seen in over 20 years) came out and sang backup to a song. Meanwhile, Steve's set rocked the house. With his broken hand putting his guitar playing out of commission, he bounced around the stage non stop, not really knowing what to do with himself. He was almost manic. He brought up his physician who helped with the broken hand, and a couple who danced to one of his songs at their wedding (they danced on stage). He even wished his sister a happy birthday (they were born 2 years apart on the same day). When he finally got to the classic "You were meant for me" (which, as usual, included the David Cassidy rap), he shared the guitar with his guitarist in a cozy funny way.

The evening ended for us with the Rugburns reuniting on stage for an absurdly rocking set. We had to leave early, but I can't imagine any more craziness could have happened that night. Of course, it was a Steve Poltz show, so anything was possible.