A surprising encounter!

So the most unusual thing happens to me Saturday night/Sun morning. I've just finished all my shift ending paperwork about 2AM after the usual incredibly busy Saturday night and I'm walking to the front of the Fort Oglethorpe, GA Steak-n-Shake by the cash registers. As I walk up I slide my New Orleans Saints super bowl champs black and gold fleur-de-lis cap on my head. At the counter is a short, thin late 20-something black man immaculately dressed in a collared black shirt. I notice a colorful hand carved wooden rosary around his neck. He indicates he likes my hat and asks me if I'm from New Orleans. I indicate that in a manner of speaking yes I am-I spent many good years residing in the city-most recently in the 15th Ward in Algiers. He leans over the counter, grabs my hand with gusto, shakes it, and proceeds to tell me that he is a lifelong Algiers Point resident and that he came to Chattanooga/N GA after the storm. So we shot the shit for a long while...turns out we have a mutual connection to some of the same people and of course know all the businesses in the neighborhood. He was surprised to learn that L.B. Landry high had been closed and was being rebuilt. He went to Walker High out on General Meyer. He bemoaned the fact that violent crime has migrated to the West Bank due to the displaced east bank residents moving. He said he wants to go home desperately...but feels that the place he knew isn't there anymore. I feel the same way. I still want to return...because I believe that people who speak the language and understand the culture must return to prevent the culture withering away. The Quarter has already become sort of a Disneyland version of itself in places. The gentrified bullshit that is so common elsewhere infecting the rest of New Orleans would exacerbate the most real tragedy, which is the loss of the working class native who says hello to you on every corner and utters those melodious (to me) words, "Adrian, My man! Wheah Y'at?!
You can't buy that with federal dollars.

Amazon.com 100 Greatest

Amazon.com has put together a list of their picks for the 100 greatest live albums of all time. Many wonderful jazz, pop and rock choices made the cut-but some glaring omissions marred the integrity of this experiment. For example- Where was "The Allman Brothers-Live at the Fillmore?" This is the quintessential live 'southern rock' album of all time. Also notable in its absence-Creedence Clearwater Revival-"The Concert" (a.k.a The Royal Albert Hall Concert.") "One More From the Road" by Lynyrd Skynyrd also didn't make the cut. "The Wildlife Concert" by the Doobie Brothers is perhaps the most comprehensive collection of their greatest hits with all three lead singers ever collected-performed magnificently-and it didn't make the list either.

To be sure, lots of great albums did make the list including:
Eric Clapton-"Unplugged"
Queen-"Live Killers"
Gram Parsons-"Live 1973"
Jeff Buckley-Live at Sin-e
U2-Under a Blood Red Sky
Lucinda Williams-Live at the Fillmore
Thin Lizzy-Live and Dangerous
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band-Live in New York City
B.B. King-Live at The Regal
Aretha Franklin-Live at the Fillmore
Deep Purple-Made in Japan
James Brown-Live at the Apollo
Bob Dylan-The Royal Albert Hall Concert 1966
Neil Young-Live Rust
Otis Redding-Live in Europe
Eva Cassidy-Live at Blues Alley
Bob Marley Live
Rolling Stones-Get Yer Ya Ya's Out!
Roy Orbison-A Black and White Night
The Who-Live at Leeds
Simon and Garfunkel-Live in Central Park
Jimi Hendrix-Live at Monterey Pop
Cheap Trick-Live at Budokan
Frampton Comes Alive!
Kiss Alive!
Greateful Dead-Europe '72
Led Zeppelin-"How The West Was Won."
Rush-"In Rio"
Pink Floyd-"Pulse"
Stevie Ray Vaughan-"Live at Carnegie Hall"
James Taylor-"Live"
Neil Diamond-"Hot August Night"
Aerosmith-"Live Bootleg"
J. Geils Band-"Blow Your Face Out"
Janis Joplin-"In Concert"

Review-Mark Knopfler-Get Lucky

Mark Knopfler is best known for his work as the frontman of Dire Straits. His folk infused voice, country and blues inspired guitar playing have always made Knopfler's work understated and utterly compelling. On 'Get Lucky,' Knopfler explores much of his musical roots. He seamlessly combines folk and blues with original songs and picturesque lyrical paintings that offer a uniquely British reference point. Knopfler has now been a solo artist for more years than he fronted Dire Straits. Each album since the band folded has seen Mark gradually reveal to us more of his diverse musical roots in his profoundly original songs and highly cinematic lyrical pictures. This disc may be his most compelling and complete work. That's saying alot...because past works such as "Golden Heart" and "The Ragpicker's Dream" made my top ten lists in the years they were released. If you are a fan of folk and blues music played and sung with passion and precision this may be your best bet this year.

Get Lucky-Four out of Five Stars

Updates

My blog has been allowed to languish as I have been devoting my time to overcoming some challenges at the office. I have not forgotten my commitment here and will be posting regularly again soon.

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