Short Month Moon
Birmingham’s weather, as always, had its way with Moonlight’s schedule that February week, it seems that mere days before this post the skies were blue and blissful— a precursor to the ice storm that crystallized in front of Suzi Ragsdale’s ride down from Nashville. The fourteen people that braved the slick skids on our hilltop to attend the show got an impromptu trio treatment of both featured artists’ best work— beefed up by the bass lines of one of Music City’s sterling session men, whose name I cannot recall, and of which I made nary a note. There he is in the photo, though, and I do remember him as a player who knew right where he was supposed to go…. solid, no nonsense.
And oh we tingled at the prospect of the return of The Tall Girl, knowing that her cadre of renegade sorority sisters would gather to cackle and crack wise, like a snarky choir with Marshall on the conductor’s podium. And indeed they did, topping out the room a hundred strong, the zingers back and forth snapping like sparks from a Van de Graaff generator, Miz Chapman letting the classroom get a lil’ rowdy, as is her wont. In time the bell rang, with nobody having learned anything, but with many old bonds rebound, and the henhouse of half-hooligans slipping back into the night.
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February 1, 2011
Friends of The Moonlight---
Don't know about you, but that little glimpse of Spring we enjoyed last week seemed like a late Christmas present--- our hilltop was buzzing on a sunny Saturday, with folks out for a gawk at the valley floor below... hopefully they got a glance at the artists' posters in The Moonlight's big front window. Indeed, our next several weeks are heavy with the fruit of fine music, beginning with this weekend's lineup--->
Thursday the 3rd--- SUZI RAGSDALE, and COWBOY JOHNSON, $12
This is a return trip for both artists, who had separate summer shows their first trip through--- Suzi SHOULD be better known for her many years of background vocals, her professional collaborations with Nashville's finest tunesmiths, and her own premier songwriting, than for who her daddy is--- but because much of the former was maybe made possible by the latter, she's glad to acknowledge her blessings, whatever form they've taken. In addition to being a gifted singer and keyboard player, she keeps her pitch and balance as a yoga teacher, and is a gourmet cook as well.
www.suziragsdale.com
Kent "Cowboy" Johnson is a remarkably mild-mannered and introspective guy these days--- considering the wildcat trail he blazed in his early years out west of here... he can tell you about all sorts of pitfalls that beckoned him, from California, to Colorado, to Minnesota, a string of marriages and misadventures that brought him close to perdition time and again, his rangy ass saved only by grace of the music that served as a constant guidepost. From his childhood singing backroads gospel, to a huge repertoire of old country and folk tunes, to his treasure trove of Mickey Newbury's catalog, Cowboy has finally grasped a solid rail, and proves again the power of four chords and the truth. 7:30pm
www.cowboyjohnson.com
Suzi Ragsdale and Cowboy Johnson, February 3 2011, 14 present
Friday the 4th-- MARC GUNN, $10
You wouldn't think a guy in full Braveheart regalia-- kilt, tasseled stockings, Highlander shirt, arm-length ponytail--- would be one of the world's leaders in Podcast and Mp3 distribution, but there it is--- almost ten million of 'em since he began producing his own a dozen years ago. Marc is an arresting combo of the new and the ancient, in many ways--- a tireless advocate of classic Celtic music, he nonetheless infuses his own songs and performances with elements of our modern world, tossing off twisted ditties that mention Doctor Who, super glue, and Pheasant Plucking, among a zillion other unexpected things.
Gunn chooses the autoharp as his chief instrument, and if you haven't heard one in a while, you're sure to have not heard one like this. Don't expect a tiresome recital of jigs, reels, and keening funeral dirges--- though he could knock off every one of your obscure requests, without a doubt--- be ready, rather, for an unforgettable evening of Irish-flavored wit and wackery, a one-man "seisun", an honest "ceili"---- nay, lads, sure and it'll be a true "fleadh", we'll be bettin' ya! 7:30pm
www.marcgunn.com
Marc Gunn, February 4 2011, 33 present
Saturday the 5th-- MARSHALL CHAPMAN, $15
According to Wikipedia, Marshall would've been named James Alfred had she been born a boy--- as a six-footer, bold and brassy, grit-and-spittle roots rocker in the '70s, she erased any consideration of her gender in the relentless repudiation of her blueblood beginnings. Chopping and churning her way across two decades, from beer bars to beach barns, she scorched an indelible legacy as an example of "the triumph of rock 'n roll over good breeding." Her arrival in Nashville early on inflamed the veins of country and blues that underlay her songwriting, and brought her to the attention of major artists who lined up to cover her tunes.
No less a natural force today, Marshall has expanded those creative energies in different directions, having authored two autobiographical books, and co-written a full-scale stage musical script and score. By chance, she walked into a substantial role in the recently-released major motion picture "Country Strong", as the acerbic road manager of Gwyneth Paltrow's lead character. Outspoken, raw-boned, and full of riveting stories, Chapman is sure to bring her best game in one of our most anticipated evenings of this new year. 7:30pm
www.tallgirl.com
Marshall Chapman, February 5 2011, 100 present
Mosh
Monday the 7th-- OPEN MIC NIGHT, only $5!
More and more popular every time we do it--- in a common search for the best of our area's non-professional songwranglers, the Moonlight stage is available to virtually anyone who's got the gumption to get up there and show their chops, in two tunes that can earn them a cash prize for the evening... and a spot in the summer Playoff for much bigger rewards. Anywhere from five to ten amateur performers sign up at 7pm, starting at 7:30 we draw names to determine the batting order--- points are given for originality, musicianship, professionalism, and audience response. Five bucks never bought you such entertaining drama--- grab your wine, your cheese tray, and come check it out! 7:30pm
A PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK'S LINEUP--->
Thursday 10th--- LEE ANNA CULP, and JON VOGEL, two tasty servings of Birmingham's best post-college acoustic up-'n-comers
Friday 11th-- DYLAN SNEED, and BEN GLOVER, Sowth Cahlina meets Northern Ireland, two of these times' strongest new talents
Saturday 12th--- PRIVATE EVENT, Moonlight's available In the future for yours, too
Please hit up the web Calendar for a look ahead--- coming soon: Michelle Malone, Seth Glier, Phil Lee, Peter Bradley Adams, Richard Shindell, James McMurtry, many more!
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