Full Moon WeekEnd!
A dozen and more years ago, I pined for some way to do what this Substack platform makes possible now— to add a background color and a handful of merry photos to the blocks of gray text I chopped out and freighted to everyone on Moonlight’s email list each Tuesday night. With nuttin’ but line upon line of my earnest prose to keep a reader engaged (some if it CAPITALIZED for emphasis!), the newsletter grew and flew to more than a thousand mailboxes after less than a year— five times more than this repub blog currently pesters, at about the same age. Of course, there was a flesh-and-mortar/brick-and-blood music venue percolating nightly on a nearby hilltop, where these hyped events were reliably actualized…. it’s no great revelation that more people would have an interest in what might probably be supposed to happen, instead of what finally did—- especially now so long ago.
What DID happen this February week long ago involved a fat, joyful crowd supporting Thursday’s gifted local players (no pics—- dang it), a warm dollop of East Nashville Americana on Friday, a stout and sinewy Saturday solo acoustic set by Michelle Malone (whose Mom, living just nearby at the time, came to the stage for a couple of surprising vocal duets—-!), AND a Sunday sendoff by the fevered fingers of two stunningly intense classical mutineers.
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February 16, 2011
Friends of the Moonlight---
Our email list grows every day, we're proud to note--- yours is one of nearly a thousand addresses who get our weekly updates--- we thank you for staying with us, and for giving half a thought to attending some of our ever-better concerts. In addition to our rah-rah website, and the Facebook prattle we fumble with, this hand-wrote Tuesday message is responsible for the bulk of our turnout---- or so we like to think.
For a long time we've wanted to upgrade our online newsletter to something more colorful and attractive, and to be certain that it's truly making its way to every person on our mailing list--- but we need some specific help to do it right. If you (or someone you know) can claim to be an EME (Expert in Mass Emailing), and could spare the time to direct us in making some simple improvements, please click that ol' "Reply" button, we'll take you fishin' one afternoon and get 'er done. People keep signing up to hear from us, we'd sure like to give them something that's got photos, video links, and enough sparkle to reflect the special pleasures we offer up here on the hill top.
Just imagine all the ways we could dress up the coming week's features---!
Thursday the 17th-- TO LIGHT A FIRE, and AEREOPHONICS ATLAS, $12
These are two of the bands that filled the house back on a December night, in a remarkable display of generosity--- their enthusiasm for The Moonlight led them to give us the total door receipts, as a seasonal gift to help keep us going. We'll always be grateful for their gesture, and ask you to come out in support of their return appearance, so that they can benefit from their own previous largesse. Happily, it is not pure kindness that should bring you to this show---
To Light A Fire is a collective of five very committed musicians, drawing their rhythms, melodies, and power from a curious common Muse that seems to speak in unison to them all. Equally strong in all departments-- guitar, vocals, percussion-- TLAF impresses listeners of any age with their imagination and consistency. Aereophonics Atlas took the Grand Prize in duo form at our Open Mic Playoff, with Jacob and John delivering stainless-steel harmonies over steady instrumental chops--- the addition of drums and bass fleshes out the folk-rock flavor this red-hot band has brewing. 7:30pm
www.tolightafire.com
www.aereophonicsatlas.com
Friday the 18th--- AMELIA WHITE, and JON BYRD, $12
Our whole weekend has a high-voltage wire running through it, only partly tamed by the wood and warmth of acoustic guitars.... we're given over tonight to a couple of players who can get the best out of amplified six-strings, first in the person of Amelia White, the shameless spawn of Lucinda Williams and Tom Petty... well, not really, but that's who most of her effusive reviewers name-check in trying to pin down the tinge of her "folkin'-alt-art-country" set pieces. She makes no apologies, after ten years of pushing her way through the underbrush, and hammering out her own sound--- the girl just can't help it, and she's fun to watch.
www.myspace.com/ameliawhite
Since childhood, Nashville picker Jon Byrd has tussled with the parallel worlds of country and rock, doing his best to meld the two with his mastery of a tool uniquely appropriate to both, the Fender Telecaster guitar.... he's a long-time collector of obscure honky-tonk and trucking songs, which gives him a solid touchstone during his recent sidekickin' with Music City's Americana crowd. The recent release of his CD "Byrd's Auto Parts" blends his finely-crafted originals with a smart choice of cover tunes, to remind us of what we used to like about country music. 7:30pm
www.jonbyrd.com
Jon Byrd and Amelia White, February 18 2011, 22 present
Saturday the 19th-- MICHELLE MALONE, $12
She doesn't look like she weighs a hundred pounds, but if you strap a '58 Supro Dual Tone over her slight shoulder, and flick the proper switches, she'll come through the room like a 20-ton Freightliner.... the darkest streets of Atlanta scraped a ragged edge on this determined girl, whose down-and-back-up journey mirrors those of her blues/rock paragons Keith Richards and Bonnie Raitt. Indeed, Malone is often compared to them both, in terms of the rangy riffs and slippery bottleneck slide twists she wrings out of a selection of live-wire guitars--- her 10th album "Debris", just out on her own Thirty Tigers label, re-establishes her standing as one of the most accomplished Southern roots-rockers working today. 7:30pm
www.michellemalone.com
Michelle Malone, February 19 2011, 36 present
Sunday the 20th---MONTANA SKIES, $13
The ticket price is unique, as befits this incomparable duo, who can claim truly extraordinary status in comparison to other instrumental virtuosos--- the rare combination of classical guitar and cello seems sedate enough, until you jack it up with blazing jazz-fusion techniques and a rock-n-roll urgency that ignites their eclectic repertoire.
Jenn and Jonathan's singular creative vision would be remarkable on its own--- their obvious agility, and complete confidence in executing the most demanding compositional challenges, is what takes them into the stellar regions of their artistry. Fair warning--- an evening with these two WILL leave you amazed and exhausted.... 7:30pm
www.montanaskiesmusic.com
Montana Skies, February 20 2011, 19 present
Monday the 21st--- SETH GLIER Plays, then Judges our OPEN MIC NIGHT, $10
The third Monday of each month is set aside for our increasingly-popular Open Mic, a competition that not only gives amateurs a clean stage and audience for test runs, but also awards a cash prize for the winner. This time, there's even more-- our contestants will be evaluated by one of the hottest new artists in American folk-pop, who will also turn in a half-hour set of his own as a mini-concert.
Seth Glier, at age 22, is already a seasoned road player, performing 200 shows last year--- which may have led to his #1 position this week on Clear Channel's New! Music Hub, featured on more than 350 commercial radio stations across the US. The past two years have seen his rapid rise on the New Music horizon, sharing bills with Edwin McCain, The Verve Pipe, and James Taylor, and headlining major festivals nationwide. His considerable piano skills and arresting vocal delivery draw comparison to those who influenced him first, including Billy Joel, Randy Newman, and David Gray. "Talent like Seth Glier brings out the psychic in all of us… He’s gonna be huge." – Ellis Paul
We'll limit our list of contestants tonight to the first six players who sign up at 7pm--- music will begin at 7:30.
www.sethglier.com
Seth Glier and accompanist, February 21 2011, 36 present
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A LOOK AHEAD AT NEXT WEEK--->
Thursday 24th-- PHIL LEE, with BILL JACKSON, our favorite knife-throwing Nashville renegade teams up with an Australian folk stalwart
Friday 25th--- Another Private Event--- you should have one of your own!
Saturday 26th-- JASON BAILEY BAND, the best in regional jazz/grass, featuring TWO world-class mandolin masters
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