Souper Moon

Howdy, podnahs—- long time, no read…. I’ve no worthwhile explanation for the multi-week sabbatical I’ve taken since my last post some time ago… I am prompted now by the surprising addition of three new subscribers (welcome, you few!), don’t want them to think they’ve signed on for nothing, so let’s resume. Also, if these Election Results portend the prospects of our American culture staggering backwards in time, we can first begin with a harmless short step of just thirteen years and some—-

The week’s scuttlebutt was peppered with warnings about the unpredictable effects of our planet’s Moon zooming unusually close to Mama Earth, as if it had never happened before—- I don’t recall any associated catastrophes of the time, so we all got away with it I guess. One memorable hiccup occurred on the Sunday show, though— James McMurtry brought his own soundman, a bearded burly fella, to set and balance three separate channels on the venue’s mixing board, which I swear I never touched after sound check. Following Grace Askew’s short set, I introduced our headliner, and relinquished my chair to the big man during the thunder of applause, who had apparently lost track of which knobs controlled James’ vocals and two guitars. The momentum of the show was awkwardly hobbled right out of the gate while Bear Paws struggled to reignite the audio—- and I will never forget the withering glare of reproach that we both got from the stage as a result. Serious man, that McMurtry— didn’t hardly seem happy ‘bout nothin’. Even the fact that it was his birthday— his AND mine.

And let’s nod our heads in a thought of our late native son Chris Porter, who brightened the Saturday as an opener for Stoll Vaughn, a rare occasion on which I failed to use the camera. This was one of the several times that Affable Scarecrow breezed into Moonlight with his countryfied cool—- may his memory be a blessing.

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March 15, 2011

Friends of The Moonlight---

Maybe you've heard some of the jittery conversation regarding this weekend's Super Moon--- an unusual variation in our Little Sister's orbit that brings her thousands of miles closer to Earth than she normally wanders. In addition, she'll be in Full bloom, and while she's got our attention, will show her shining face as the herald of the Vernal Equinox--- the first day of Spring. Of course, whenever a lovely mistress steps forth in unapologetic resplendence, you will find nearby a clot of grudging cynics anxious to besmirch her glow, whispering bits of dubious gossip meant to discolor her moment of radiance. This time, the yipping jackals want to blame her amplified gravitational pull for impending disruptions in our planet's crust, likely resulting in sudden floods, volcanoes, and--- wow, what timing!-- earthquakes. A rational discussion of this jealous prattle is nicely treated here:

http://planetsave.com/2011/03/14/did-the-impending-super-moon-cause-japans-earthquake/

We who routinely celebrate the Moon's beauty, constancy, and subtle influence simply cannot hold her responsible for even a fraction of the withering devastation and spoilage incessantly perpetrated on us by Brother Sun, who extracts a fearsome price for the essential provisions he supplies our world. Nope--- rather than clench our teeth in anticipation of abrupt cataclysm, we'll simply smile and nod in Ms. Moon's honor as she glides through in benevolent countenance, leaving us pleased to be her namesake, and resolved to reflect her best qualities in our own behavior.

BUT--- if we're wrong about it being the end of the world--- well, we got a balcony seat up here on the mountain's crest for watching the whole thing go down--- & if that happens, we'll be partying all the way out, as you can see from this weekend's events listed below--->

Thursday the 17th--- THE LEGENDARY PINEAPPLE SKINNERS, 7:30pm, $12
We did our Irish thing this past Sunday night, just so we wouldn't get all thrown in with the orgy of shamrocks and shillelaghs that will dominate the day elsewhere--- but the festive vibe is alive, as we will instead get merry with a five-piece Dixieland band and their mixed renditions of jazz, blues, and big band standards. Frontman Chuck King adroitly handles a lead trumpet and Satchmo vocals, buoyed by the sprightly filigrees of sax and clarinet, banjo, tuba, and drums.

The town's going to be full of folks raising a glass and lifting their feet, we'd be spoilsports if we sat this one out--- come prepared to work out your best Second Line steps, because who knows if we'll live another day? 
www.pineappleskinners.com

The Pineapple Skinners, March 17 2011, 24 present

Friday the 18th-- TONY McLOUGHLIN and IRENE KELLEY, 7:30pm, $12
Okay, so we're NOT through with the Irish thing--- technically. Tony is a native of Ireland, lives there still, in fact--- but his music's better thought of as American roots rock. On his first visit to Nashville in 2006, he hooked up with some of the town's top players to create his third CD "Tall Black Horse", a record that still generates buzz and radio airplay. His new disc is called "Ride the Wind", and echoes the rock flavors of Neil Young and Tom Petty.
www.tonymcloughlin.com

Though she got her start as front singer in a Pennsylvania rock band, Irene Kelley found her true gifts by way of Dolly Parton's TV show--- a chance viewing shifted her attentions to writing country songs, and an invitation to CBS Studios in Nashville got her signed to a publishing deal, followed by the first of many cuts placed with top radio stars of the time. Once she was in, the successes kept coming--- the list of hits she's had since the mid-'80s with country's chart toppers is long and fascinating, and has allowed her the pleasure of recording her own remarkable projects, including her most recent disc "Thunderbird".
www.irenekelley.com

Tony McLoughlin and Irene Kelly, March 18 2011, 11 present

Saturday the 19th-- STOLL VAUGHAN, and CHRIS PORTER, 7:30pm, $12
Every time Stoll comes back to Birmingham for a visit, he seems a little wiser to the world, but no less wide-eyed to its wonders-- the rambling stories he tells between his earnest folk-roots tunes paint him as either a journalist or a comic. For someone who's toured the US of A for ten years now, in the company of big-stage headliners including Jon Mellencamp, Def Leppard, and Shooter Jennings, he's immediately comfortable in a small room like ours, fresh and sparky as a kid home from college. The songs are pure reflections of what he's seen out there on his travels, nuggets of wit and wisdom powerfully delivered with just voice and guitar.
www.stollvaughan.com

He's the impossibly tall and friendly frontman for two Birmingham-based country/rock bands, you'll remember it if you've ever heard The Stolen Roses.... even if it was late one night at one of their many, many briny bar gigs, here or beyond. More recently, Chris leads a more polished, but no less potent, assemblage called The Back Row Baptists, who tackle his original Southern songs with a homespun collection of traditional instruments, including washboard, fiddle, and ukelele. Here for a solo set, he'll bring along the gifted violinist Helen Gassenheimer to flavor his hand-picked tunes.
www.myspace.com/chrisporterandthebackrowbaptists
www.myspace.com/thestolenroses


Sunday the 20th-- JAMES McMURTRY, Grace Askew opening, A Moonlight Premium Event! 7:30pm, $20
You'll never see a photo of him smiling, which tells you James McMurtry is quite serious about his business, and his obligations as a troubadour. If he was as pretty as The Dixie Chicks, he might have been similarly blistered for his outspoken musical criticisms of the Bush administration--- as it is, he's embraced by legions of Americana fans who admire his dead-center roots/rock sensibilities, and his penchant for telling the damn truth. Since his first breakout 1989 album "Too Long in the Wasteland", JMc has rung the bell every three years or so with another high-gravity release that redefines the front lines of 21st century topical songwriting. Normally backed by his band The Heartless Bastards, McMurtry will treat us to an intense solo set.
www.jamesmcmurtry.com

Burning her way out of Memphis is 21-year-old Grace Askew, whose eclectic cultural influences find a home in her unique blend of music--- jazz, country, urban rhythm, bossa nova, it's all thrown in there, blended in a stew styled by six generations of her family's West Tennessee heritage. A short set will find her serving up a half-dozen samples of her choice pieces, sweetened by her sideman on pedal steel guitar.
www.myspace.com/graceaskew

James McMurtry, March 20 2011, 100 present

James McMurtry

Grace Askew

Monday the 21st-- OPEN MIC, 7:30pm, $5
Our stage is once again available to you who have musical inclinations, and would like to swim in the pure waters of public exposure for a few minutes--- our Open Mic is different from all others in a couple of ways, not the least of which is the Cracker Jack cash prize for the best performer of the night! Players sign up starting at 7pm, we draw names at random for the playing order when music starts at 7:30, each act gets two songs to break through or bust it. We can accommodate solo or duo players only, and make no representation that the quality of the musical services to be performed is greater than the quality of musical services performed at other venues---- ha! For only five bucks, how can you go wrong?

AND LET'S SQUEAK A PEEK AT NEXT WEEK---->

Thursday 24th-- MERRY ELLEN KIRK, KRISTIN COTHRON, RACHEL PEARL, three fresh and fetching new-folk players, a set from each one

Friday 25th-- DAYNA KURTZ, and MISS MEAGHAN OWENS, two more from the distaff side, one seasoned, one saucy, both skillful

Saturday 26th-- THE HERB TROTMAN BAND-- best homegrown bluegrass to be had 'round here, they never get worse, only better!

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