Something I’ve noticed in digging up my archive photos, and editing them for best use, is that a high number of these artists were captured in a rapture, as evidenced by their eyes being so often closed—- as if they couldn’t quite hit the note without praying for it. I only have my own reflexes to blame for that, ya’ll— things could certainly get super quiet in that room, sleepy even, but the pics I’ve used so far might lead one to think that a great percentage of our performers were somnambulists.
Good concert photographers are a gifted lot, I don’t count myself among them. What success I may have had in getting decent visual documents of these shows I credit to the clear, high angle I had from my seat at the soundboard, and repeated opportunities to learn from my mistakes. I also had complete control over the stage lighting, simple as it was, so that shouldn’t go unsaid. Even so, after all this time, I am happily transported in spirit to our past events by reviewing these long-unseen images— I hope you find them just as enjoyable.
=——-=
August 24, 2010
Friends of The Moonlight:
Nashville showed us two faces this past weekend, both of them with big smiles--- Phil Lee charmed the daylights out of his audience, a booted, bewhiskered rascal with a Dylan croak and two dozen brilliant tunes--- then Walt Aldridge, who used his perfectly-crafted chart-busting hits to illustrate a master class on contemporary country songwriting. The Old Country came to us on Sunday, as The Fuschia Band filled the house with an authentic Irish "seislun"--- lotta laughs and impressive picking, reminding us that the world is often just One Small Town.
Missed all those? Then give a thought to what's up THIS week--->
***Tuesday 24th- MATT SCOTT, no cover!
Hometown musician skids back south to show what he's learned in his time near Boston--- where they got a thriving indie/folk scene, with radio and everything... hasn't taken him long to find a style that distills all his influences, which range from Amos Lee to Ray LaMontagne, and "vinyls that my dad used to play". Indeed, he'll be joined by family members as he takes the stage for this personal showcase--- his brother and granddad will have a hand in filling out the set. Something tells us this will be worth much more than the price of admission. 7:30pm
www.myspace.com/musicmattscott
www.musicmattscott.com
Matt Scott and His Fam, August 24 2010
***Thursday 26th--- JILL JACK, $12
This is NOT what comes to mind these days when you hear someone mention Detroit... and who knows what Jill is expecting as she heads deep south for these dates in Alabama and Tennessee. Just forget for a moment that her home ground is Michigan, and take a little tour of her weblinks--- the videos will have you believing she's heartland-bred, a convincing mixture of folk, rock, and country, recalling the best of Emmy Lou, Lucinda, and, oh... shall we say Sheryl Crowe? She'll have a couple of sidemen on hand, adding accordion and mandolin... from here they have a headlining date in Chattanooga, and a high-profile show at the annual Americana Conference in Nashville. Can't go wrong with this one, folks--- let's show her we appreciate what she does so well--- 7:30pm
www.jilljack.com
www.myspace.com/jilljack
Jill Jack, August 26 2010, 12 present
***Friday 27th-- THE JASON BAILEY BAND, with SHAD COBB, $10
The best tend to attract the best--- and anyone who has kept up with live local music in this area for the last ten years knows Jason will only be found playing alongside profoundly-talented partners. While he generally coaxes them out of the bushes nearby, he's just as likely to go outside county and state lines to find gifted players who can complement his own proficiencies. This time he brings in Nashville fiddlemaster Shad Cobb, one of the chief sparkplugs of The John Cowan Band, to light the fuse for his other teammates, together whom crew the finest jazzgrass ensemble currently found in these parts. If you're a fan of flawless, frenetic picking, this is the place you can come to get full up on it--- 7:30pm
www.baileyjason.com
www.myspace.com/jasonbaileymandolin
www.myspace.com/shadcobb
The Jason Bailey Band, August 27 2010, 89 present
***Saturday 28th--- JARROD DICKENSON, and HOPE CASSITY, $12
If you came out for our Open Mic Night the first Monday of this month, you met Jarrod Dickenson--- a tall, reserved gentleman who seemed to have stepped out of the post-Depression years, complete with a rumpled suit jacket and fedora. He travels the countryside around his new home of Nashville, having just relocated from Austin, where he made a respectable name for himself as a sensitive troubadour, generally in tandem with various other Austin musicians. He'll continue that pattern tonight by sharing the bill with Hope Cassity, who duplicates Jarrod's trajectory of Texas to Tennessee, from her original home of Monroeville, Alabama... one of our own, you see. They're both earnest, sincere, gifted performers... and they hadn't met until we put 'em together!
An interesting third element is provided through a brief opening set by another Open Mic finalist, Wilder Adkins. Please accept our invitation to come judge the alchemy.... 7:30pm
www.jarroddickenson.com
www.myspace.com/musicofhopes
www.myspace.com/wilderadkins
Hope Cassity, August 28 2010, 31 present
Jarrod Dickenson
Wilder Adkins
***Sunday 29th--- DAVES HIGHWAY, $10, age 15 and under only $7
What could two adolescent sisters and their brother do to collect nearly 25,000 Facebook fans in less than a year's time? Well--- one thing would be to take the divine gift of stunning vocal blessings, forge a telepathic, celestial three-part harmony, then set the pop/gospel business a-buzz by touring the region's churches and faith conferences in exchange for love offerings, and the sheer joy of
spreading The Word. Their repertoire isn't restricted to praise music, however--- being modern kids, they include crowd-pleasing covers of hit singles by The Eagles, Little Big Town, and Lady Antebellum.
Just view ONE of the many videos they have had the good sense to post on their website, or YouTube, and you'll be smitten... as was contemporary Christian superstar Chris Tomlin, who insisted they perform with him at a huge stadium show he played in Memphis. It's clear to see that this Mississippi family has a huge future just ahead, and we are delighted to be able to present them now to lucky fans of all ages, in a special afternoon concert. Reservations are requested, and can be made in reply to this email, or on the Moonlight website. DON'T MISS IT! 4pm
www.daveshighway.com
Dave’s Highway, August 29 2010, 31 present
ONLY TWO SHOWS NEXT WEEK, BUT BOY THEY ARE GOOD 'UNS!
Thursday, Sept. 2--- LADIES' NIGHT OUT, five women cut loose in multi-era, a capella exuberance... Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy!
Friday, Sept. 3--- BUTCH MORGAN, and WILLIAM BOSWELL & JAMES THOMPSON, Texas folk/country/humor, and Open Mic winners!
=———=
Ah, good times. I remember that show with Hope and Jarrod. He is still at it!