Spring Break Moon
Just a couple of murky memories have come to me regarding the performances featured this week, and I’ll beg the forgiveness of anyone of more correct recall than I am of mine…
As described below, we eagerly anticipated the arrival of a sideman to Shannon Whitworth who would fill the room with the celestial sounds of a pedal steel guitar, but were dismayed to see the trio set up only an electric piano and an acoustic six-string. A further unexpected development occurred only two songs into Shannon’s set— despite her best and bravest efforts, it was clear that her voice, compromised by some pernicious infective condition, had also not come along with her for the show. With croaked apologies, she directed her two backup players to serve up a truncated display of their prodigious Nashville talents, which they did in a most professional and face-saving fashion. The night was in no way a washout—- it was also our introduction to the deeply impressive Hannah Miller, whose opening set paved the way for her five returns to Moonlight in just the next few years.
Some of those attending the solo acoustic outing of our Saturday songwriters were accustomed to hearing them in a full band (louder) format, and came through the door in a more raucous frame of mind, may I say. Confronted with the unexpected somnolent tone of the musicians in their snoozy, single-instrument presentation, these fans turned restlessly to the beverages they’d brought to elevate their spirits in a familiar and conventional manner. During the first break, an uncomfortable sense of growing turbulence had me, as the showrunner, negotiating with a portion of the audience to pipe down some during the performance, then making a visit to the green room to suggest to the players that they pipe UP a bit. I think things worked out better after that balancing act, but it would not be the only time that Moonlight’s nouveau, naive clientele would find themselves advised in situ of our non-standard protocol.
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March 9, 2011
Friends of The Moonlight---
We are advised that this weekend marks the first few days of the Vernal Getaway granted every year to our schoolchildren... times past, we reckon, it was so they could be available for the family's task of planting the summer's crops. A mere four generations later we find the young ones turning away from their books to focus on sowing a very different kind of seeds (some of which will inevitably become future schoolchildren, no doubt, as more seasons go by....).
This annual intermission was for many years the earliest opportunity for Ma, Pa, and The Kids to blow town for a cross-state visit with Gramma, but since today's version of the station wagon gets only about five miles to the dollar, there could now be a shift toward entertaining the brood a lot closer to home. And that's a pretty good thing, we think--- because right here at The Moonlight, we're offering you the kind of family diversions you once had to drive long distances to find. Here's three to start us off perfectly, something for everybody!
Friday the 11th--- SHANNON WHITWORTH, Hannah Miller opens, 7:30pm, $12
Languid, smoky, sultry-- Shannon's vocals are the perfect wrapping for the dark chocolate tunes she's set out so nicely on her new CD, "Waterbound", which has earned widespread praise from critics and programmers nationwide. Blending the best elements of Patsy Cline, Billie Holliday, and Neko Case, Whitworth fronts a string trio tonight that features her on banjo and ukelele, backed by two masters of guitar, dobro, and pedal steel. It's a classic/unique sound that scored her a full-page cow-pasture photo in this month's Music Issue of Garden & Gun magazine.... currently the pinnacle of Southern Appalachian hip.
www.shannonwhitworth.net
An extra blessing tonight is the opening set by recent discovery Hannah Miller, who slipped out of her hometown of Dothan AL to find more receptive crowds further north and east. Joined by her husband and bandmate James, she delivers a light, sweet grade of soul/pop that will sound best to fans of Brandi Carlisle, Over the Rhine, and Rachel Yamagata.
www.myspace.com/hannahmiller
Shannon Whitworth, March 11 2011, 27 present
Hannah Miller, March 11 2011
Saturday the 12th--- WILDER ADKINS, PRESTON LOVINGGOOD, and GREY WATSON, 7:30pm, $12
Three of this area's best-known independent musicians go it solo, to walk the wire of their own songs and skills without benefit of full-band backup. Wilder Adkins, fast becoming our favorite neo-folk orchestrator and facilitator, has recruited two notable friends for a triptych evening of original tunes and words-in-the-works--- Preston Lovinggood fronted the successful touring band Wild Sweet Orange during their giddy heyday, Grey Watson holds cred as guitarist for edge/pop group Through the Sparks, both are stepping into more narrowly-focused performances as they explore their own creative obsessions. Wilder calms things down with his own set of Renaissance-roots gems, this promises to be a Saturday we'll remember for years to come---
www.facebook.com/pages/Preston-Lovinggood/135937826452726
www.myspace.com/wilderadkins
www.myspace.com/greywatson
Grey Watson, March 12 2011, 22 present
Preston Lovinggood and Wilder Adkins, March 12 2011
Sunday the 13th--- MAIRTIN de COGAIN PROJECT, 7:30pm, $12
If you think of Irish music as mossy old weepers and mournful ballads, here's a jolt of authentic County Cork energy to set you right-- Mairtin is, among other things, a passionate singer, award-winning storyteller, featured film actor, fervent drummer, high-kicking dancer, enthusiastic Celtic translator, and a bit of a wild-eyed lunatic in his furtherance of modern Green Isle culture. Last here in August with the urgent Fuchsia Band, he returns with two Yanks--- fiddler Valerie Plested and guitarist Don Penzien of The Legacy Band-- to give life to the unpredictable expressions and tales of his country's most entertaining songs and characters. Never a boring minute with this guy, we can promise you--- a great lead-in to the St. Patrick's holiday!
www.mairtinmusic.com
Valerie Plested, Mairtin de Cogain, and Don Penzien, March 13 2011, 27 present
Don Penzien of The Legacy Band, a constant Moonlight supporter, March 13 2011
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WE LEAK A PEEK AT NEXT WEEK--->
Thursday 17th--- THE PINEAPPLE SKINNERS, let's do Saint Pat's Day with Dixieland swing, jazz, and jump--- green beer's for posers!
Friday 18th-- TONY McLOUGHLIN and IRENE KELLEY, yeah, he IS Irish, but this is Americana folk/rock, and a very successful Nashville songwriter en duo
Saturday 19th-- STOLL VAUGHAN, CHRIS PORTER, two guys who define roots music, Stoll's from Out There, Chris is From Here
Sunday 20th-- JAMES McMURTRY, Grace Askew opens, it's another Moonlight Premium Event, Google the name, bub, and get here early
Monday 21st-- OPEN MIC NIGHT, your chance to shine, shimmer, or shake--- our bi-weekly event, & there's always a cash prize!
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