Two concurrent news events marking this first full week of January 2011 are of different types— one that has continued to occur repeatedly, and one that has never happened again since. The former was a senseless mass shooting by a brainless maniac that killed six bystanders and severely wounded eleven others, which this time included a U.S. Congresswoman. The other event, perhaps more relevant to us in Alabama, was the singular spectacle of a college football player named Cam Newton steering his Auburn Tigers to a national championship for their first time in more than four decades.
It would prove to be year like none before…. as every year has turned out to be since that one. Parts of 2011 now carry the shine of impossibly innocent days, as we may recall in a frosted glow of fractured memories. Sprinkled throughout those following months, of course, would come previously-unimaginable incidents and episodes that twisted and warped our frames of reference, shoving us toward our scrambled perceptions of the world today. Moonlight’s role was to offer predictable refuge from those abrupt challenges, in the muted comfort of melody and mirth. So we bowed our little heads and started kinda slow—-
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January 4, 2011
Friends of The Moonlight:
These next few weeks may be the only time of a year when a live music venue isn't facing stiff competition from other events and diversions.... holidays are over, cold weather limits those outdoor activities, the big money's all gone for presents/champagne/credit cards--- best to just find some friends and a simple, low-cost way to keep the party candles burning until spring gets here. By any logical reckoning, Moonlight should be near the top of your list of options to do just that.
We're thankful to have had the annual break, now let's get back to the happy business of keeping you entertained....
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS--->
Thursday the 6th--- BILL AND KATE ISLES, $12
All true snowbirds head south for the winter, we are fortunate to catch this pair of Minnesota warblers on their way to a full month of appearances in Florida... Bill's lifelong love of rhythm and rhyme got kicked to another level in '93 with a near-death experience, after which he lucked into an encounter with Kate, a fan who turned out to be his perfect partner AND vocal confederate. Determined not to waste any part of these new-found blessings, they travel constantly, and are known worldwide for their warm and witty observations, and CDs that get played over and over and over again. 7:30pm
www.billandkateisles.com
Bill and Kate Isles, January 6 2011, 7 present
Saturday the 8th-- BUDDY MONDLOCK, $15
His birth certificate says Chicago, and that's a pretty good start for a life in music--- but it's his time in Texas and Nashville that brought him the skills and success he's known for today. Buddy's gift for turning a melody got him notice from the biggest names in folk music---- Guy Clark, Janis Ian, Nanci Griffith, Joan Baez, even Garth Brooks--- these people asked to write songs with him, and put several that he already had on their own records. Twenty-five years of running with the big dogs has brought Mondlock legitimate status as an icon singer and songwriter--- he's still at it, and better than ever. 7:30pm
www.buddymondlock.com
Buddy Mondlock, January 8 2011, 34 present
NEXT WEEK'S LINEUP-- AN ESTROGEN EXTRAVAGANZA-->
Thursday 13th--- KIM RICHARDSON, LOUISE MOSRIE, folk-pop lovelies trade off tunes and tales, both cooked and raw
Friday 14th-- AUDREY AULD, Tassie Girl from the other hemisphere, roots/ranch "music with the dirt left on"-- Josh Brown opens
Saturday 15th-- DIANE DURRETT, w/ MELISSA MASSEY, get-at-ya blue-eyed R&B, be ready to sweat and smolder-- Paul Cataldo opens
Sunday 16th-- WILDER ADKINS, BESIDES DANIEL, and THREADBARE, BROTHER-- north Atlanta neo-folk showcase
~~~ Lotta mo' details and samples are always on the Moonlight's website Calendar, check it often, it changes every day---
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Estrogen Extravaganza—I do wish I could have been there!