1st Birthday Moonlight
Moonlight’s first year felt like walkin’ on stilts—- we were thrilled and surprised to have gotten as far as we did. I spent some time typing up this retrospective to crow about the shiniest parts of the year’s journey, harping just a little more about the spotty attendance data… not knowing I would come to find my peace with that in the several years to follow.
There’s lots to read below, but I have to inject this quick story about Eric Taylor, a man whose very presence carried a whiff of intimidation, for which he did not apologize. His presentation included some hold-your-breath interludes where he recited short, pithy poems of his own and others, and it was in the middle of one of these that he decided he’d had enough distraction from a talkative tipsy fellow up front who didn’t seem to be sufficiently enthralled with the proceedings. He set down his guitar, stepped off the stage, and leaned across the edge of the offender’s table, his hammy mitts holding it firmly to the floor.
I have long wished that I’d written down exactly the words that Eric used to address the situation, the essence of them being “I don’t come bother you at your place of business, now do I?” His delivery was masterful and reserved, eloquent and chilling at the same time, at just enough volume to be understood by everyone in the room, many of whom could also see the glittering menace in his pupils underneath scissoring eyebrows. Chatty-boy had the closest look at that glare, and as Eric returned to the stage and resumed his program, spent the remainder of the evening making less noise than a mummy in its tomb. I expect it wasn’t Taylor’s first time managing his audience, as he seemed steady and sure of his message— but if there was ever a Sopranos moment at The Moonlight, dear friends, that had to be it.
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April 5, 2011
Friends of The Moonlight---
We've lit a lotta candles since we had our first official show last spring, but there's one we'll set aglow this Friday that carries some significance--- a full year has passed since Moonlight came alive again, and we are pleased to celebrate our improbable persistence. We have much to be proud of in our yesterdays, and much uncertainty in our future--- but today, folks, we simply revel in our survival, and invite you who have supported the enterprise to come help us mark the accomplishment.
A review of our year's activities reminds us that success and disappointment are partners on every path. We are compelled to point out the uneven nature of our attendance figures, which vary wildly in NO relation to the quality of our performers. It seems appropriate to make note of this past year's most popular presentations (Show a Lotta People Saw--- SLPS), and to highlight another superb performance that same month that was not well attended (Show More People Should'a Seen--- SMPSS). The big-draw events were some of the year's best, of course--- but so were the others you'll see mentioned... we're sad for you that you missed 'em.
April 8: SLPS- Kevin Welch- an opening night home run
May 29: SLPS- BRET MOSLEY--- one of a kind roots-thumper
May 9: SMPSS- MALCOLM HOLCOMBE--- the very definition of "unique"... AND "unforgettable"
June 5: SLPS- ACT OF CONGRESS-- well, of course... our first time to seat a hundred
June 4: SMPSS- DANA COOPER-- a paramount personality in contemporary folk, at the top of his game
July 17: SLPS- BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN--- historical Nashville hit-maker
July 31: SMPSS- NORA JANE STRUTHERS--- the brightest young light in new Classic Americana
August 13 & 14: SLPS-- DOLORES HYDOCK'S "Eglamore" & "Silence"-- world-class small-stage theatre
August 20: SMPSS- PHIL LEE-- OMG, no way to tell ya what you missed
September 24: SLPS-- DOLORES HYDOCK'S "Dr. Death"--- we'd present her every month if we could
September 19: SMPSS- KRISTA DETOR--- so impressively accomplished, on so many levels, and so few realized it
October 1: SLPS- CAROLINE HERRING-- happily, people will always come out for this lovely Mississippi mistress
October 14: SMPSS- SUSAN GIBSON and STEPHANIE NILLES-- two commanding presences, fun, feisty, and strong
November 13: SLPS- SWEETWATER ROAD-- modern pop-country 'n bluegrass, the best to be found 'round here
November 5: SMPSS-- CLIFF EBERHARDT-- songwriter, storyteller, comedian, mod-folk groundbreaker
December 31: SLPS- THE BEATLADS-- our early New Year's Eve party, this tribute band is SO into it!
December 4: SMPSS- DANA COOPER (again)-- even better the second time, we hope he would be willing to come back
January 21: SLPS- JASON, LOLLY, AND MARK--- three of our best locals, an absolutely transcendental combination
January 30: SMPSS- MICHAEL RENO HARRELL-- there's no better Southern humorist/songwriter out there working today
February 5: SLPS- MARSHALL CHAPMAN-- ex-rocker, writer, unrepentant renegade-- a force of nature
February 24: SMPSS- PHIL LEE (again)-- a match for Marshall Chapman, you're bound to catch on to him SOMEday
March 20: SLPS- JAMES McMURTRY-- prophet of the grim sharp truth, he re-defines roots/rock, even as a solo
March 25: SMPSS- DAYNA KURTZ-- internationally-known, stunning voice, astounding slide guitar
We THANK YOU if you were in the audience for any of these shows--- and we simply want the rest of you to know what's always on the table up here on the hill top. The Moonlight is here first for the players, but mainly for YOU--- please look ahead into our second year, and resolve to come out for the performances we know you'll remember for the rest of your life.
JUST A COUPLE OF SHOWS THIS WEEK, BUT OH BOY WHAT GREAT ONES! ---->
Wednesday the 6th-- SLAID CLEAVES, 7:30pm, $15
Success for a folk musician never comes quick, and Slaid has lotsa stories about the side trips he took on his way to national prominence--- he drove an ice cream truck, read utility meters, developed photo film, and yes, delivered pizzas. After his breakthrough hit in 2000 with the song "Broke Down", written with childhood-friend Rod Picott, he's made a pretty good life of it as a full-time traveling performer--- he's a festival favorite both here and overseas, with a solid fan base that loves to show its support.
Sometimes he'll keep 'em waiting for a new record, though--- he works on his projects a long time before calling them done, and his most recent CD of originals, "Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away", came after a five-year stretch of touring on top of "Wishbones", his 2004 critical success. It's a step toward the darker side of things for this Maine-to-Austin transplant.... but Slaid's affable delivery, augmented by the brightness of his buddy Michael O'Connor's guitar lines, keep these newest tunes from nudging the blues category.
www.slaid.com
Michael O’Connor and Slaid Cleaves, April 6 2011, 54 present
Slaid Cleaves
Friday the 8th-- ERIC TAYLOR, Jarrod Dickenson opens, 7:30pm, $12
Texas holds down the weekend for us this time, and you can't talk about Texas music without a nod to Eric Taylor--- a man whose resume and discography stands as an object lesson to those who are in it for the long haul. A post-college trek to the West Coast in the early '70s got interrupted when Taylor ran out of cash in Houston, and got caught up in the scene surrounding Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark... his own songs soon brought him fame as a Kerrville regular, plus an enduring partnership (and brief marriage) with Nanci Griffith. After a ten-year sabbatical spent as a rehab counselor, Eric stepped back into the limelight with his friend Lyle Lovett, and has toured the world with his story/song performances ever since.
www.bluerubymusic.com
Eric Taylor, April 8 2011, 17 present
A perfect complement to Eric's visit is a return engagement by ex-Texan Jarrod Dickenson, who now bases his road tours out of nearby Nashville. Jarrod's slightly spooky melodies and lyrics invoke a mid-Western post-war America, when cars ran on leaded gas, television hadn't yet kidnapped the country's imagination, and men wore hats every day. His short opening set reminds us that human stories of lost love, sudden fortune, and abiding mystery transcend the decades, and nothing is better or worse than it's ever been.
www.jarroddickenson.com
Jarrod Dickinson
Saturday the 9th-- A Private Event-- please contact us to reserve The Moonlight for yours!
A BIT FURTHER OUT--- MAKE YOUR PLANS---->
Thursday 14th-- SHADES MOUNTAIN AIR, modern bluegrass/gospel good-timers, and a new fiddle player among them!
Friday 15th-- GURF MORLIX, with Blaze Foley documentary film, Austin's legendary producer/sideman in a live set, and his tribute movie to an early mentor--- don't miss this!
Thursday 21st-- CAHALEN MORRISON & ELI WEST, Rebekah Jean opens, the best raw Americana straight outta the Midwestern plains
Saturday 23rd-- NATASHA BORZILOVA, LOUISE MOSRIE, two of Nashville's finest folk-pop creators, and lovely to see as well
COMING: Tim Grimm, David Wilcox, Michelle Malone, Jen Moody, Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart.... more!
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