2 posts tagged “guitar”
It's been a while (again). Work and life and everything that comes along with it got the best of me ... For me, music has a tendency to be all-consuming, so I have to put it aside when other responsibilities require my attention.
But Bill and Art and I have been rehearsing, and we're really excited about our gig this weekend at the 16th Annual Frederick Festival of the Arts! We'll be playing on the acoustic stage outside La Paz & the Greene Turtle, on Carroll Creek Linear Park in downtown Frederick. I hope you can join us on Sunday, June 7 from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m. For more info: frederickarts.org or 301-662-4190. Click here for the full entertainment schedule.
One of these days we'll get a recording of our band playing. Until then, you can listen to these songs from a solo performance a few years back. And of course, there's always my CD! It was recorded almost 10 years ago, but I still love these songs and play them often. Visit CD Baby to listen to samples and purchase the album.
What are the 10 most memorable music performances you've seen? (Remember, "memorable" may not be good.)
Submitted by Bill.
Here are a few blasts from my past:
James Taylor (Philadelphia, PA - 1996)
My first "real" concert. JT was my favorite at the time, so it seemed like a pretty big deal. My mom and I went, and the people who sat next to us smoked pot all night long. It was my first exposure to marijuana, so it was definitely memorable.
Steppenwolf (Harvey's Lake, PA - 1997)
I had just graduated from high school. My friend and her boyfriend and I went to see these aging rockers ... The ticket price was $20 per carload. The set was terrible, and they made us wait through all kinds of crappy psychedelic organ solos before they finally played "Born to be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride" at the end of the night. We hit a skunk on the way home, and my clothes reeked for weeks afterwards.
Martin Sexton (Syracuse, NY - 1999)
The first time I ever saw Martin Sexton play. Syracuse is his hometown, and some of his family and old friends were there, singing harmony in the audience. He's a fantastic performer - very soulful - and his drummer is good too. I was particularly impressed with the drum kit, which included an upside-down watering can.
Any concert at the Birchmere (Alexandria, VA) during the summer of 1999
I finagled my way into an "internship" (really just volunteering), helping out with sound and lighting in the Music Hall. Though highly unprofitable, it was one of the best experiences of my life. It was great exposure to the music industry, and I learned a lot about performing and live music. My aunt and cousin lived in Alexandria at the time, and were kind enough to host me for the entire summer.
Ellis Paul (Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, NY - 1999)
Ellis Paul played a set at the folk fest with an electric guitarist and a bongo player as backup. He broke a guitar string halfway through a song, and kept singing while the electric guitarist played fills and the drummer kept the beat. The whole time he was restringing his guitar. He managed to string it, tune it, and play the last 10 chords of the song. That's skillful performing.
The weird, scruffy guy at the ABC Cafe open mic night (Ithaca, NY - circa 2000)
This strange fellow showed up at many an open mic night during my college years, usually playing odd songs of his own creation as we squirmed uncomfortably in our seats. One time, around Christmas, he really caught our attention by playing a cover song: Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is you." It was one of the most disturbing musical experiences of my life!
Karen Savoca (Trumansburg, NY - circa 2000)
Karen Savoca was playing at the Rongovian Embassy, and I went to see her with a fellow musician friend. She plays percussion (usually a set of bongo drums) and sings, and her husband plays guitar. She's a good songwriter, but her voice is the real attraction -- It's sweet and mellow with the occasional unexpected growl.
Jazz Mandolin Project (Ithaca, NY - 2001)
The first time I really remember seeing a mandolin as the main instrument in a band. I went by myself, which was rare, and was totally absorbed in the jazzy grooves.
Open mic night at Turning Point (Piermont, NY - 2001)
My first open mic night as an "adult" (i.e., not a student). It was one of the best quality open mic nights I'd been to, and I ended up making friends with a couple of the other songwriters: Fia Hill and Kevin Cubberly. We shared a gig a couple months later, and got together at Fia's house around Christmas to swap songs. It was the only time & place where I had several really talented songwriter friends that enjoyed sharing songs and collaborating. I only lived in the area for about 6 months, and it's one of the things I miss the most about suburban New York.
Willy Porter & Angie Aparo (Alexandria, VA - 2004)
Willy Porter played the first set of the split bill, and his performance was great. He has a really good stage presence, and his songwriting is stellar. Angie Aparo's set was also good, and his rendition of Elton John's "Rocket Man" was one of the coolest cover songs I've ever heard.
