Son Young Moon
I suppose I should be careful with what I say regarding the first show detailed below— as you might surmise, the promotional paragraphs in my promotional emails were very often written on the basis of promotional information gathered from an artist’s own website, which may have been the only source available from which to forge a promotional description of what we expected to present. VERY seldom were we dismayed by what we actually got in a booked performer— but this poor feller, Gawd bless him, was the exception by which all other disappointments might be measured.
There are no photos of the show, mainly because the presentation fizzled so quickly— like a crippled Cessna’s engine failure following a botched takeoff. I am compelled by a sense of charity to assume that what we witnessed that evening was a man’s discomfiting detachment from reality. Ten minutes into what I thought was an extended guitar tuning ritual, he stopped and quietly asked the audience if they wanted to hear “two more”. Following some similar awkward noodling on a banjo, he opened a small book and took to mumbling passages from therein, each of which he delivered with an interrogatory inflection.
Bewildered audience members, understandably, began to take their leave. I left my station at the soundboard, and followed them out to the sidewalk to make an earnest refund of their admission—- to everyone’s credit, they declined the cash, assuring me they’d return on a better night. The unfortunate spectacle, now without listeners, soon sputtered to a halt. You’ll note that I’ve redacted some of the identifying info below, to avoid the gentleman’s embarrassment, in case he one day regained lucidity or still peddles his wares— but also because I’d expect a Nashville lawyer to be a bit meaner than mine.
More successful was the return visit by that Gadsden-boy-done-good…. Steve Young once again drew out his retinue of long-time Alabama acquaintances and fans from all over the territory, and gave ‘em a confident dose of what for, as befit his stature in the pantheon of Americana originators. It was also our introduction to his son Jubal Lee, who continues now to burnish the family legacy in his own style after the untimely passing of his father a few years later.
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June 10th, 2010
Friends of The Moonlight---
Maybe because this is the first flush of vacation time, we're going kinda light on you this weekend with our scheduled music--- but there ARE two solid shows to remind you of...
*** Friday, June 11---- TOM S****
Common name, unique entertainer... one of the nation's premier guitarists, known and respected for many years now as a singular stylist and master of composition. His playing has been ranked alongside that of his contemporaries, including Leo Kottke and John Fahey, though he's also an author, teacher, and raconteur of first order... which means he can tell the stew out of a story.
Now a resident of Nashville, his recent release "Juliet's W****ow" is a technical masterpiece, though it's also so diverse that it could be thought of as jazz, folk, ambient/New Age--- or even in some spots, blues. He's also taken the banjo in a direction that defies description, and makes good use of it in his show--- but his best chops are performed on a Sitka Spruce and Brazilian Rosewood guitar that he built for himself long ago-- on top of it all, he's one of a handful of fine instrument-
makers that also plays at world-class levels. Show is at 7:30pm, donation of $10 requested at the door.
www.toms****guitar.com
www.myspace.com/toms****music
*** Saturday, June 12--- STEVE YOUNG, and JUBAL LEE YOUNG
The legend looms large for Alabama native Steve Young, whose earliest days growing up near Gadsden led him to depart for California, where in the late '60s he was one of the first to fuse country and rock flavors, to help create the genre that we now celebrate as Americana. Best known for a couple of iconic songs he wrote--- "Seven Bridges Road" and "Lonesome, Orn'ry, and Mean"--- Steve's maintained his standing as a foundational figure in the progress of original acoustic music.... and kept his reputation as one of the most powerful singers to trailblaze the territory. In recent years, he's forged a duo with his son Jubal Lee, a man of his own considerable accomplishments in the country-rock arena--- they'll do separate sets, then play together as the evening reaches a crescendo. Reservations are already running strong for this show... go to the website, and save yourself a space.... might be a while before Steve comes home again. Music begins at 7:30, $15 cash at door.
www.steveyoung.net
www.juballeeyoung.com
Steve Young, June 12 2010, 65 present
Next week we pick up the pace, including a couple of exciting nights of social interaction early on--- check the website Calendar for links to learn more about the details--->
Tuesday 15th, at 7pm--- OVER THE MOUNTAIN DEMOCRATS gather to hob-nob, hug, and hash over the recent elections... great group of people coming to relax and enjoy each other's convivial company, they'd be pleased to meet ya!
Wednesday 16th, 8pm--- GRAYSON CAPPS leaves his band The Stump Knockers at home, and rolls in for a solo show like he used to love to do....
Thursday 17th, 6:30-10pm-- BACK STAGES 2010 is a reunion of City Stages' earliest and most loyal volunteers, an open event that will find us all marking the first time in twenty-one years that our town's signature summer event won't be happening. This party doubles as a fund-raiser for one particular young woman's fight against cancer--- there will be lots of memories, wild tales told, and a DJ replay of tunes from CS artists going aaaallllll the way back... wear your old buttons and laminates! $10 donation
Friday 18th, 7:30pm--- JENN FRANKLIN and MARIE McGILVRAY, two stirring Nashville singer/songwriters... plus a local player to be added!
Sunday 20th, 7:30pm-- AMANDA PEARCY and COWBOY JOHNSON combine Texas and Florida influences to duel and duet in some unique--- and classic--- country folk originals. $12
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