Caliente Moon
By the time it was over, the summer of 2010 was calculated to be the fourth warmest on record for the Northern Hemisphere. In each of the thirteen years since then, sadly, it’s been eclipsed of that standing by a dozen even hotter canicules—- but I’ll always remember the opening season as a supreme challenge for The Moonlight’s whining, decrepit rooftop air conditioner. Sweaty fingers don’t move easily on guitar fretboards, and you can see the glistening perspiration on Nora Jane Struthers’ earnest face in the photo below. Some comfort came from knowing these artists were also playing at nearby outdoor festivals in the adjoining weeks, as they were each grateful for the whirling fans in our green room, and the chilled beverages we offered as supplications.
=——=
Friends of the Moonlight---
What say we don't even mention the weather, except to point out that 90 must be the new 80--- howzabout a little break, hey? Good to have our ceiling fans whirling away overhead as we enjoy the last shows of July..... and here they are, all shows begin 7:30pm--->
Wednesday 28th--- FREDDY HALL, and YELLOWBIRDDD, $12
Two pals from Boston and DC hit the southern road to see what sort of reception they'll find down the spine of Appalachia--- Freddy comes out of Berklee College of Music, where real musical prodigies tend to cluster, straight into a full-time gig playing guitar with the national tour of "Spring Awakening," a Broadway musical repeatedly bedecked with Tony Awards--- in the off-weeks, he pursues his own projects, influenced by folk/pop icons Paul Simon, Radiohead, and BenFolds. Travel-buddy Liam McCormack--- project name Yellowbirddd---supports Freddy's
presentation with his own set of reflective, lyrically-inventive tunes.
www.freddyhall.com
www.yellowbirddd.com
Friday 30th--- KASSIE MILLER, and TREES LEAVE, $10
Small-town Alabama girl made her way up the road to Nashville, built a jumpin' little band of backup musicians to flesh out her pop/country originals, and tangled with reality television, winning the debut season of "The Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search", CMT's hot-girl/bartender talent face-off.... bet the prize money came in handy! She's bringing her friends Trees Leave, the witty neo-Bluegrass fiddle-guitar duo that impressed listeners at a Small Stages house concert here some weeks ago. It's a New Nashville Night, don't come if you just want to sit still!
www.kassiemiller.com
www.myspace.com/treesleave
Kassie Miller, July 30 2010, 61 present
Saturday 31st--- NORA JANE STRUTHERS, $12
The flavor is vintage mountain music, the kind that rang through hills and hollers in these parts for two centuries past--- but Nora Jane's no nostalgia act. These are her own songs, sprung from the years spent in duo with her dad Alan as "Dirt Road Sweetheart", winning an increasing number of awards and accolades since her move to Nashville in 2008. The latest is first place in the Telluride Bluegrass Festival's Band Competition, an honor that puts her in the company of past winners The Dixie Chicks, and Nickel Creek. She tours this summer promoting the release of her stunning debut album, an eleven-song catalog thats effectively radiates her authenticity.
Nora Jane Struthers, July 31 2010, 27 present
Sunday 1st--- 3 PENNY ACRE, $12
Rumbling our way from northwest Arkansas is this solid trio.... Bernice and Bryan Hembree blend their voices with that of luthier Bayard Blain to bring to life new/traditional tunes of Middle America, woven through the comfortable sonic cloth of mandolin, bouzouki, six-string and bass. Since forming just a few years ago, they've received critical affirmation through festival appearances, radio airplay, and extended national tours--- their second album, "Highway 71", features 10 songs documenting their people of their homeland, The Louisiana Purchase... the price
of which gave the band its name. They'll trade sets this time out with a storied Maryland guitarist, David Glaser... come for the harmonies!
www.3pennyacre.com
3 Penny Acre, Aug 1 2010, 4 present
A QUICK LOOK AHEAD AT NEXT WEEK--
Monday Aug. 2nd-- OPEN MIKE, with guest judge Jarrod Dickensen, traveling songwriter
Thursday Aug. 5th-- SAM POINTER, his unique "Tribute to John Hartford", with Herb Trotman and Leo McDermott
Friday Aug. 6th-- MASON DOUGLAS, DENISE LOCKE, JEFF JACKSON, a Nashville writer's round, Bluebird style
Saturday Aug. 7th-- ART WILSON, and JANET SIMPSON, Birmingham-based alt-folk band and solo songwriter
Sunday Aug. 8th-- BENEFIT FOR RICK KURTZ, we host a fund-raiser to help a legendary local guitarist, to get him back his chops
Details for all of these shows and more are on the website's Calendar... much more to come!
=———=