Lagniappe Moon
I’m confident in claiming that Moonlight presented at least a thousand separate artists in the course of its run, a VERY small number of whom fell short of our expectations performance-wise. Far more often, we were treated to a level of talent that gobsmacked everybody in the room, leaving us all feeling blessed to have seen these extraordinary performers hitting the gold notes in front of an audience of such petite dimensions. This week’s events, in my memory, put the proof deep in the middle of that pudding.
Chris Burke’s local family came out to support their prodigal son, and in the bargain were treated to a Nashville pickup band of commanding finesse, featuring soon-to-be-Grammy-nominated songwriter-producer ex-German hillbilly Thomm Jutz on guitar, and powerhouse vocalist Merideth Clark from the touring Broadway production of “Wicked” as opener and backup. It was as soulful a show as any skinny white boy ever delivered, with no small credit going to that seasoned stevedore rhythm section.
We’d heard Amy Speace six years earlier at the Original Moonlight, and her return to us this week came at a time she has referred to as particularly ragged and privately turbulent… in fact, there was nary a glint of anything but polished showmanship that night as she gifted us with two sets of her intimate and candid songs, spiked with enough humor to let us know she was on her way to higher ground. In several subsequent appearances Amy confirmed her inherent brilliance, and we learned that she is always determined to give only her best at every performance.
We also encountered for the first time the perfection of Rupert Wates, a charmingly urbane and proper ex-pat Brit with prodigious guitar skills, and a professor’s passion for Americana songcraft. His visionary pairing with Valorie Miller’s Appalachian authenticity struck a harmonius contrast that drew a compelling overlap of city mouse/country mouse sensibilities.
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October 6, 2010
Friends of the Moonlight---
Our thanks go to those supporters who took a Tuesday night's time to show their concern for our well-being--- the Strategy Session produced several good ideas, and a half-dozen folks raised their hands in commitment to the non-profit group we're forming, to find the financial footing we'll need to steam our way into the next calendar year. The MOONLIGHT MUSIC ALLIANCE will have its 501-c3 status confirmed very soon, at which time we will be able to fully pursue tax-deductible contributions and endorsements at every level--- individual, corporate, and foundational.
The greater part of our efforts will ALWAYS be spent in finding and presenting the original acoustic artists you want to see and hear--- but we also have to meet our expenses in doing so. With time, The Moonlight might come to pay for itself, but for now, we'll need help from folks who would like to see us continue the mission. Look for more details very soon as the org comes together--- and thank you for coming up for these shows!
THIS WEEK--->
Thursday the 7th-- THE CHRIS BURKE BAND, with MERIDETH KAYE CLARK, $12
Another Birmingham boy comes home to show his stuff to friends and family--- we expect a warm, welcoming house gathering to enjoy Chris' soul/pop ballads and Idol-style rhythm romps. He's pretty enough, sure--- and the evening is dressed up further with the addition of his friend Merideth Kaye Clark, a Broadway baby whose internal musical reactor has generated a whole show of her own.... this is a little outside our normal fare, perhaps, but we're sure you'll find it MORE than worthwhile. 7:30pm
www.chrisburkemusic.com
www.meridethkayeclark.com
Chris Burke, October 7 2010, 13 present
Merideth Kaye Clarke
The Chris Burke Band
Friday the 8th-- AMY SPEACE, with opener Kathryn Scheldt, $12
Here's another songwritress who came from the theatre--- toured with the National Shakespeare Company, led her own acting troupe, even taught the Bard in NYC schools... how'd she wind up folk-twangin' for the last ten years? Because she's even better at that--- Amy's straight-on personality immediately fills the room, and her strong, honest songs set her above and apart from the norm. Judy Collins herself signed Speace to her Wildflower record label, and it's been a busy road ever since.
www.amyspeace.com
Amy Speace, October 8 2010, 18 present
We'll also enjoy a short opening set from Kathryn Scheldt, fresh from her show at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe just the night before--- a studied guitarist and songwriter, she makes her home these days in Fairhope AL.
www.southerngirlmusic.com
Kathryn Scheldt
Saturday the 9th-- VALORIE MILLER, and RUPERT WATES, $12
One of the mother-nests of Americana music is Asheville NC, a place where Valorie's well-known for her spirited, solid mountain-girl style--- a clean blend of Appalachian folk and hill blues, plaintive and sexy at the same time. Accompanied by her bass player Mike Holstein, Miller runs red-headed through a set of eye-opening tunes from her five CDs.
Half the night goes to a guy who's written enough songs to take us on into Monday morning--- Rupert Wates is a Londoner with an ongoing fascination for American culture, and the inclination to celebrate it in his three most recent albums. He's melded a jazz-pop background with the melodic folk-coffeehouse style he's adopted recently, to create an engaging form of delivery that has across-the-board appeal. 7:30pm
www.valoriemiller.com
www.rupertwates.com
Valorie Miller and Rupert Wates, October 9 2010, 6 present
HERE'S A PEEK AT NEXT WEEK--->
Monday 11th-- BIRMINGHAM MUSIC GROUP, kind of a record-party thing, come share your favorite song-- more info here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Birmingham-Music-Group/135218696517996
Wednesday 13th-- EMIL BRYNGE and EMALINE DeLAPAIX, Sweden/Australia/Canada/Germany--- these people ain't from around here, so you'll find them particularly fascinating!
Thursday 14th-- SUSAN GIBSON, and STEPHANIE NILLES, Texas hit-writer for Dixie Chicks, and Naw'Lins piano torch-blues
Friday 15th-- STOLL VAUGHAN, and WES SWING, a Carolina-bred Townes Van Zandt, and a cello-meister from Athens GA
Photos, songs, and even movies of these artists are on our website's Calendar page, you should see it--- and thanks for coming out!
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