Concert Memories

I've been privileged in my life to see many great musicians live in concert. I couldn't list them all if I tried but I wanted to touch on a sampling of the best ones in a particularly good era for Classic Rock shows-the mid to late 1990's!

John Fogerty-Harborlights Pavilion Boston, MA 7/20/1997

John Fogerty had toured only twice in the twenty years leading up to these shows on the "Blue Moon Swamp" tour and had not played any CCR songs regularly live since the band disbanded. This show with the Fairfield Four was a romp through Fogerty's best stuff-CCR and solo that was everything a rock-n-roll show should be and more. Fogerty was positively energized. I got to re-live this music and have a new moment with my wife to be on Fogerty's Premonition tour at Great Woods in Mansfield, MA in 1998.

Fleetwood Mac Great Woods Mansfield, MA 9/20/1997
1997 was an amazing concert year thanks in no small part to the re-emergence of John Fogerty and the reunion of the heyday line-up of Fleetwood Mac. I took a coworker named Leanne Savino to the show and we had an amazing time. The band was phenomenal-sounding fresh and energized as this was an early stop on the tour. Stevie in particular was very energetic and Lindsey was on fire. We were the first audience to hear "Oh Daddy" live instead of "Eyes of The World" on this tour.

Stevie Nicks-Great Woods Mansfield, MA 6/12/1998
This was Stevie's tour to support her newly released "Enchanted" box set and lots of live rarities were played. This is the only time I have ever heard "After The Glitter Fades," "Rose Garden," "Sleeping Angel" and "Garbo" live at a Stevie show. I was accompanied by my beautiful soon-to-be wife and this was the time of our lives.

Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band Worcester Centrum 9/17/1996
Bob Seger waited nine years between albums and tours while he focused on his wife and beautful young son Cole Seger. His triumphant return to Boston area audiences was nothing short of a hard rocking all-out celebration. Seger rocked harder than I've ever heard him with a crack edition of the Silver Bullet band that included John Mellencamp's drummer Kenny Aronoff and Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne. I went with my kid brother and a female friend named Meg who had an in for tickets since she worked for Classic Rock WZLX-FM in Boston. This was an early tour stop and no prisoners were taken.

Aerosmith Great Woods Mansfield, MA 7/11/1997
This was a phenomenal show by one of Boston's finest hometown bands. My kid brother and I went because we are huge fans and this show was an absolute revelation. I got to see Aerosmith again with my wife at the first show they performed after the 9/11 transportation ban was lifted...but that's another post for another time.

The Moody Blues with The World Festival Orchestra 7/17/1996
The Moody Blues played Great Woods with the orchestra 3 times in a four year period and at two of three shows I was there in the audience with my girlfriend Nicole Kaiser. This show in particular was special because it was the "Time Traveler" box set tour and lots of rarities were dusted off for a longer than usual set. I am a huge fan of Justin Hayward's introspective songwriting and brilliant pithy guitar work. The Moodies did not disappoint including such live rarities as "Legend of a Mind which was especially fitting given the recent death of Timothy Leary.

Music Review-Black Crowes "Before The Frost...After The Freeze"

The Black Crowes disappeared from the music scene for seven years prior to releasing last year's "Warpaint." Now they seemed poised to make up for lost time. The Robinson brothers have release a double album of new material recorded live at Levon Helm's Woodstock, NY facility. There's even a new marketing strategy-all customers who buy "Before The Frost" will receive a password to download the digital version of the companion album..."Until The Freeze." This is an unexpected modern turn of events from a band so firmly rooted in the past glory of British Blues.

The sound of applause on several tracks reminds you that this is a live recording in a way the excellent playing does not. The opener "Good Morning Captain"immediately puts you in familiar territory with the Crowes enthusiastically riding a ragged roadhouse blues groove punctuated by slide guitar. The fun factor is still present, but with a profound lyrical depth. "I Ain't Hiding" is reminiscent of the Rolling Stones circa "Some Girls" with a gritty disco vibe that channels 'Miss You." "Appaloosa" is a rustic romp that woulda made Levon Helm proud. This record shows off the complex interplay you'd expect from such a seasoned group of performers without the weariness that so often creeps into the performances of established groups. This band performs with a high energy and enthusiasm that is infectious. These old road dogs sound enthusiastically alive and comfortable in their own skin-and that is a darn good thing.

"Before The Frost...After The Freeze" 4 out of 5 stars

Review-The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again

As a musician, when I talk about my musical influences none loom larger than John Fogerty. Creedence's blending of rock, rockabilly and country into a swampy Louisiana inspired gumbo was the first sound to electrify my soul and convince me that I should play guitar. After Creedence folded, Fogerty's first release was "The Blue Ridge Rangers" a collection of country and gospel songs on which John played all the instruments. Despite being a project begun as a contractual obligation stopgap, the original Blue Ridge Rangers album has a homespun charm and undeniably enthusiastic performances. It is clear that country and rockabilly are never too far from the mind of this singer.

Fast Forward to 2009. Last Tuesday "The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again" was released on Verve records. This time John has enlisted top drawer studio players to play with in the studio but otherwise follows the formula of the original by simply picking favorite songs and reworking them with his inimitable sound. I had mixed feelings about John doing an album of covers at this point since he is one of America's greatest songwriters-and his last release 'Revival' proved he had lost none of his songwriting mojo. With all of this in my mind, I clicked 'buy' on Amazon.com and purchased.

First up is a reworking of John Prine's 1971 classic 'Paradise' done in a neo-bluegrass style. Fogerty's voice is so ebullient and his enthusiasm so palpable that it almost belies the sadness of this tale of appalachian environmental disaster. The tone for the rest of the album is set...it is obvious that John is having a ball revisiting some of his favorites. The classic 'Never Ending Song of Love,' 'I Don't Care (As Long as you Love Me) 'Heaven's Just A Sin Away' and 'Fallin, Fallin' Fallin' are pure country bliss with Fogerty's trademark vocals.

'Garden Party' sung with Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit is an apt choice with its tale of being true to yourself. It is also notable that Fogerty was a huge fan of the classic rockabilly music Ricky Nelson and James Burton made together. Like Rick Nelson, Fogerty also found himself haunted by the shadows of his past work at one point in his career. He has since made peace with the past and embraced it fully.

'Haunted House' is reworked as a rockabilly rave up with Fogerty's voice crackling over a twangy guitar. Pat Boone's 1961 murder ballad "Moody River" is a left field surprise that actually delighted me. I've never been a Pat Boone fan...but this particular song in its new arrangement is undeniably great.

I'm sure Fogerty's detractors will take great pride in questioning his dobro sweetened version of John Denver's 'Back Home Again' but I'm gonna stick my neck out and admit that I like John Denver's original...and this new version. Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time traveling for a living understands the sentiment.

John did revisit one of his originals, "Change in the Weather" from the much maligned and poorly received 'Eye of the Zombie' album. Re-imagining this song in a different arrangement to underscore the prevailing feeling of the last eight years was a daring move on Fogerty's part...though I don't necessarily believe he has improved on the original.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of songs. I think the sheer joy and enthusiasm that this group of musicians displayed on this album is the reason. John's voice is in fine form and he sounds positively inspired. I'm eagerly anticipating an album of new material soon...but I will be listening to this regularly until then.

The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again-Four out of Five Stars

One of my favorites-Brother John/Iko Iko-The Neville Brothers

I've made no secret over the years of my affinity for New Orleans. Since I moved away,  I am what some might call a 'regular out of towner.' I have traveled to the Crescent City many times in my lifetime and each time I have taken something intangibly beautiful and meaningful back with me. One of the most fabulous aspects of New Orleans is its music. I have soaked up the music of New Orleans like a sponge...New Orleans Jazz, Dixieland, Zydeco, Blues, Rhythm and Blues and Funk all course through my veins and the influence on my own sound is palpable.

In the history of New Orleans music there are plenty of great exports. These include Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Ernie K. Doe and Better Than Ezra. No mention of New Orleans music would or could be complete without mentioning Art Neville's group The Meters which is the music that became known as New Orleans funk. In 1976 the elder Neville Brother would get together with his younger brothers Aaron Neville, who already had a national hit with "Tell it Like it is," as well as sax man Charles Neville and drum virtuoso Cyril Neville to record "The Wild Tchoupitoulas" with their uncle, Big Chief Jolly. This was essentially an album of Mardi Gras Indian chants set to music. This went so well the brothers remained together as simply "The Neville Brothers" and begun officially performing together in 1977.

Their self titled major label debut hit the shelves in 1978 and they were on their way. Their second album and arguably their best "Fiyo on the Bayou" in 1981 saw them reaching deep into their funk and rhythm and blues roots...and also their Mardi Gras Indian family tradition. This is where we pick up the story of Brother John/Iko Iko. Here we have the brothers returning home to their roots on Valence Street in uptown New Orleans. Iko Iko is a song that is based on call and response chants that occur during a parade collision between tribes of Mardi Gras Indians. It was only natural for the Nevilles to incorporate the melodically similar "Brother John" which is also Mardi Gras based-and had already been recorded on "The Wild Tchoupitoulas." The result is a funky redux that is absolutely stunning and may be the best versions of these songs on record. It is impossible to keep still when this song is playing. If you want a song that will take you to New Orleans in your mind every time...this is the one.

RIP Jim Dickinson

I just heard that Jim Dickinson passed away at 67. This guy was the

primary facilitator of the "Memphis Sound" which was a cross pollination

of rock, pop, blues, country, and rhythm and blues. His work with Aretha

Franklin, Big Star, The Rolling Stones, The Replacements, Ry Cooder, Bob

Dylan and Sam and Dave is some of the finest music of its kind on

record anywhere. It is also notable that Jim spawned Luther and Cody

Dickinson who are better known these days as "The North Mississippi

All-Stars." I tip my hat to his contributions to the world of music.

Rock and Roll Heaven has gained a heck of a producer.

A Milestone for the music business

Atlantic Records announced in November of 2008 that digital music was

responsible for half of their revenue. That is definitely a

milestone...that digital music is now half of a major label's revenue.

Did anyone see that one coming? ;-) The story within the story is that

the overall revenue in the established music business is down

drastically and the trend shows no signs of abatement. This means that

many commercial studios, producers and engineers are struggling or going

under as the paradigm continues to shift. The old order has continued

its catastrophic collapse. This is by no means the death knell of the

music industry...independent artists have more opportunity than ever to

showcase themselves and make a real livable income with music as a full

time career. The money changing hands for independent music downloads

goes through fewer middlemen with a much more sizable cut ending up

where it belongs-in the pocket of the recording artist. There is also

much more choice for the consumer...you can obtain a wide range of music

that fits your listening preferences easily and cheaply via download. I

came up with the music business of old...but in truth I like the new

paradigm for a solo artist. I can do some shows, sell a few downloads,

make a little money and market myself via the internet with minimal fuss

and investment. What's not to like? Do you really want to go back to the

nation's programmer of 70's Top 40 AM radio telling you what to listen

to? Remember those days...when "You Light Up My Life" was number one for

so many weeks in '78 that you wanted to shoot Pat Boone for being a

daddy? Interesting how much of the music I heard Arnie 'Woo-Woo'

Ginsberg play on WMEX AM back when has vanished into the sunset...but

the stuff we heard the Woofa Goofa and Charles Laquidera play on WBCN in

the early 70's is now called 'Classic Rock.' Don't tell me those

anti-establishment types didn't know their music!

Review Redux-Cropper/Cavaliere-Nudge it up a Notch

Another review-this one from 2008. -AC-

There aren't many in the world of music of any color that have the soul credentials of Steve Cropper and Felix Cavaliere. These two often found themselves competing in the top forty back in the late 60's. Cropper is notable for his work at Stax records as sideman on the releases of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave and his own group Stax house band "Booker T and the MG's." Felix is lead vocalist and organist on such great Rascals hits as "Good Lovin'" "Groovin,'" and "People Got to Be Free. Here we are forty years on and these two old farts have not only still got it, they're proving it with their original song collaboration-"Nudge it up a Notch."

This album delivers exactly what you'd expect-Cavaliere's rich soulful vocals coupled with Cropper's pithy and perfect guitar work. It is as if the last forty years have melted away and these guys are in their heyday again-writing songs, just playing in the studio sandbox together and having a big time. "One of These Days," "To Make it Right," and "Without You" are full of strong Stax inspired grooves that show Cropper and Cavaliere playing inspired parts that weave in and out of each other perfectly. The level of perceived nonchalance and ease heard here can only be attained by professionals at the top of their game. Throw in a couple of great instrumental tracks such as "Cuttin' it Loose" which give Cropper and Cavaliere ample room to show off their guitar and organ chops and you have the combination that will no doubt make several "top 10 lists" of music critics this year.

"Nudge it up a Notch" Five out of Five.