Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Assembly Line Concert Hours 260 & 351 - The Rudedog and Smokerman


The Assembly Line Concert, live from AJ's Music Cafe in Ferndale, Michigan has kicked off in its third run at the Guinness Book of World Records attempt for World's Longest Concert.   This is my second year following the concert via U-Stream.  This year's attempt is 360 hours of live, continuous music!  My blog is covering some of the fine musicians I met last year and who will also be appearing this year. 


What do you get when you take a self-proclaimed rude dog, and a harmonica player famous for his smoked turkeys, and throw them together on stage?  You might answer, "A smoking dog?"   To that I would say that the definition of a "smoking dog" is the indisputable evidence of a jam. 
Come hear the evidence as The Rudedog and Smokerman take to the Assembly Line Concert stage for two performances:  Wednesday, March 30 at 12:00 noon EDT and Sunday, April 3 at 7 a.m. EDT.

Smokerman and The Rudedog at last year's Assembly Line Concert

The Rudedog is as comfortable as part of a band as he is in a solo acoustic setting.   Armed with his guitar, The Rudedog is always ready to entertain with an endless supply of cover tunes, as well as fine original works - I suggest a listen to "Wasted" It is his vocals listeners do not soon forget.  Try to describe The Rudedog's voice and you will realize it is as original as the dog himself.   His rendition of Govt Mule's "Soulshine" is the best I have ever heard - with apologies to Warren Haynes of course. 

Smokerman comes to the stage an experienced harmonica and mouth harp player,  in genres ranging from 1970s rock to historical folk music.   My favorite of his styles are jump blues tunes.  Showing Smokerman's broad musical ability, he will also be performing at 2 pm on Thursday March 31, as part of Dave and the Harmellos, a guitar, cello and harmonica trio.   View the archive of his April 1 performance with Blaise Glander here.  Always creative, Smokerman is also an accomplished artist and gourd carver. 
Don't miss these two on The Assembly Line - there will be indisputable evidence of a jam!
To find out more:

Sunday, March 27, 2011

The Assembly Line Concert Hours 203, 204, 261 - Blaise Glander and Kelly Wishart's Acoustic Soul


The Assembly Line Concert, live from AJ's Music Cafe in Ferndale, Michigan has kicked off in its third run at the Guinness Book of World Records attempt for World's Longest Concert.   This is my second year following the concert via U-Stream.  This year's attempt is 360 hours of live, continuous music!  My blog is covering some of the fine musicians I met last year and who will also be appearing this year. 

Blaise Glander and Kelly Wishart

I met Blaise Glander and Kelly Wishart during The Assembly Line Concert last year.   Over the course of the concert, I saw Blaise perform at least four times and had the pleasure of hearing Kelly bring her bluesy sound to a collaboration of musicians who met during those two weeks in the web site's social stream.   Both are not only experienced musicians, but have engaging personalities which draw the audience immediately - instant friends you have listened to all your life.
Together Blaise and Kelly perform as Acoustic Soul.  They will be performing Monday, March 28 at 10 a.m.   Blaise has a run of solo performances scheduled - Monday, March 28 from 3-5 a.m. (Hours 203 and 204) and Wednesday , March 30 from 1-2 p.m. (Hour 261.)
My friends and followers in the U.K., being 5 hours ahead of the U.S., will be in a good time zone to catch most of Blaise's performances.   Listeners will be treated to a blend of all musical genres from rock, pop, jazz & country to Motown & folk and all styles in between.  Morning coffee and Blaise's smoky, soulful voice is a good way to start the day.  Catch him here in a 9 a.m. April 1st performance with the Smokerman.
Blaise is also a wonderful songwriter, with the ability to capture the parts of his own story which are familiar to all of us.   Be sure to check out his music below.   And tune into The Assembly Line Concert for a dose of live Acoustic Soul.



Friday, March 25, 2011

The Assembly Line Concert Hours 169 and 173 - "Jason Roseboom"

 The Assembly Line Concert, live from AJ's Music Cafe in Ferndale, Michigan has kicked off in its third run at the Guinness Book of World Records attempt for World's Longest Concert.   This is my second year following the concert via U-Stream.  This year's attempt is 360 hours of live, continuous music!  My blog is covering some of the fine musicians I met last year and who will also be appearing this year. 
Jason Roseboom

I meet incredible people in unusual places.  Jason Roseboom is one of those people.   He is also another person I met solely because of the Assembly Line Concert.    As soon as I met Jason, I hit his social networking sites.  Within a few minutes I was a fan.  Fours addictive hours later, I came up for air.   Okay, I admit, I am a sucker for folkies.  I did not even have to look at Jason's list of influences to know that his musical heroes are artists I look up to as well.
Listening to Jason's lyrics about hate crimes, poverty, hope and hopelessness, and hypocrisy, one hears the influences he cites, from Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, to Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.   In keeping with the great poets of folk music, he blends his vocals, which sing of life experience all on their own, with guitar and harmonica.   Some of my favorites of Jason's tunes from his newest release, Kalamazoo, are "I Am Your Son," "Doris Day," and  "The Death of Matthew Shepard." 
You can meet Jason Roseboom  on the Assembly Line Concert 3rd Shift on Saturday, March 26 when he will be doing hour-long sets at 5 p.m. and at 9 p.m. EDT.
"Be strong my friends / Don't let this be forgotten
Brotherhood is a virtue / But hatred is not
We need to remember this / We mustn't lose sight
To win the battle / We've got to win the fight."
- Jason Roseboom, "The Death of Matthew Shepard"

Find out more about Jason Roseboom:
On Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jroseboom
On Reverbnation:

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Assembly Line Concert Hour 30 - The Anthony/Wayne Project

The Assembly Line Concert, live from AJ's Music Cafe in Ferndale, Michigan has kicked off in its third run at the Guinness Book of World Records attempt for World's Longest Concert.   This is my second year following the concert via U-Stream.  This year's attempt is 360 hours of live, continuous music!  My blog is covering some of the fine musicians I met last year and who will also be appearing this year.

Music From the Mind of ... Z-MAN
 Usually one thinks of memorable performances as being those actually seen.  Not the case as Donald Anthony, a.k.a. Z-MAN, and friends took the Assembly Line Concert stage last year.  I was somewhere else.   Today, I cannot tell you where I was.  But I distinctly remember that when I returned to U-Stream I was greeted with the chorus, "Shay, where were you?  You missed it!  Z-MAN rocked the house!"
This year, Music from the Mind of ... Z-MAN returns to the stage in its acoustic form as THE ANTHONY/WAYNE PROJECT, featuring Donald Anthony, vocals & guitar; Billie Wayne, vocals & percussion; and introducing on vocals, Carolyn Cage. The date is Sunday, March 20 from 10:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m.  EDT.  I will be there on U-stream, in the chat, not to miss a single note this year.
Z-MAN tells me there will soon be an official announcement of the re-recording, re-mastering, and broader distribution of the previous disc,  Music from the Mind of... Z-MAN.  Some of the current music will now feature Carolyn Cage's vocals and Z-MAN himself will be singing lead on some tracks.  This is exciting news for an artist whose music deserves to be heard. 
When I received my copy of Music from the Mind of...Z-MAN, I was expecting blues.  Blues is just the beginning.  This album really does rock the house starting with some cool blues grooves.  One of my favorites is "Shelley's Song."    Outstanding guitar, percussion, and keyboard are delivered on tunes such as "Leave Me in the Rain," "Hide & Seek," and "U Raised the Bar."  There is even some reggae influence in "Good Day."  And the very special surprise tune for me, one of the sweetest jazz numbers ever, "Blues 4 Tazim."

Donald Anthony, aka Z-MAN
The band on the original recording of Music from the Mind of ...Z-MAN features Donald Anthony - Guitar/Vocals, Dan Carter-Lead Vocals, Billie Wayne-Percussion, and J. Emmanuel-Keyboards and other fine musicians, including Tim Reeves and Scott Sumner on saxophones, adding so much to the sound, especially on "Lightning in a Bottle." 

Find out more about Music from the Mind of ... Z-MAN and join us online for a live performance of THE ANTHONY/WAYNE PROJECT!


The Assembly Line Concert
Music from the Mind of Z-MAN on Reverb Nation:
 

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Assembly Line Concert 3rd Shift Hour 24 - Alan Cayn, Fly Fishing Folk Fisherman

The Assembly Line Concert, live from AJ's Music Cafe in Ferndale, Michigan has kicked off in its third run at the Guinness Book of World Records attempt for World's Longest Concert.   This is my second year following the concert via U-Stream.  This year's attempt is 360 hours of live, continuous music!  My blog is going to cover some of the fine musicians I met last year and who will also be appearing this year.

Cheryl and Alan Cayn at AJ's last May
First up is one of the best friends I met last year - Alan Cayn.  He will be performing during Hour 24 on Sunday, March 20 at 4 pm EDT.  
Cayn is the only fly fishing folk musician I have the pleasure of knowing.   Last May, on a visit to the Detroit area, I was in house for an almost command performance by the man himself at AJ's Music Cafe. 
Alan Cayn writes fishing songs.   One listen and it is apparent he writes fishing songs because he loves to fish and he loves the stream.  He also has a touch for taking the simple act of fishing, along with his love of nature, and crafting songs with a charming philosophy of life. The sweet tones of Cayn's mountain dulcimer add to that magic. The world needs more fun songs, more sing-a-longs, and more children's voices and his album Streamside Confession delivers all that.
Cayn has said that he wants to tell stories. The stories he tells are quite interesting. Check out "Streamside Confession," "Big Ugly Bug," and the haunting fisherman's tale "Demon Angler." The most poignant offering is "In Between the Stars," which any listener will certainly relate to someone they miss, yet feel close to under the night sky. Also close to my heart is the final track on Streamside Confession, "River of Sand," a beautiful melody with references to creation and the timelessness of the cycle of the river and of life.
Join us on The Assembly Line Concert for a live Alan Cayn performance with some fishing songs and other songs that will surprise you and make you smile. 
For more information or to join us online at the concert:
The Assembly Line Concert Third Shift  http://ustre.am/vJ5n
Visit Alan Cayn's website http://www.alancayn.net/


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Sunday, March 6, 2011

MLS in Chattanooga - This Really is Football!

Even though this is primarily a music blog, it was inevitable that the Liverpool FC supporter in me would eventually have to pull out a football post!   Today I attended my first Major League Soccer game - a friendly hosted by Chattanooga FC.  With 4378 other football lovers, I sat in a bitter north wind and watched the New England Revolution win over the Columbus Crew, 2-1.


The Crew warming up in a stadium.
I mention the wind because it was miserably cold, even for early March.  The weatherman had promised a little sun and mid-upper 50s, but it was 42°F and that wind 12 mph at kickoff.  For my European readers, that puts the wind chill temperature right around 0°C.  Collegiate American football stadiums are not built to shelter anyone, after all no one plays in them past bowl season.  Chattanooga FC plays at Finlay Stadium,  home of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team.  Considered a jewel on the southside of the city, it was cold as ice today.  I felt this was appropriate for my first major league experience.   Why else would I need a scarf? 


Announcing the lineups.
 The game started impressively for the Crew.  They dominated possession of the ball for most of the first half, with several shots on goal failing to find the net.  With the MLS season starting soon, the players were giving their all to impress coaches and secure their positions on their teams.  I really thought that the Crew would connect for a goal at any moment.  Yet in spite of the Crew's control of the action, Revolution scored after winning a corner and they led at half time, 1-0.

For the second half, both teams replaced their entire rosters, allowing everyone time on the pitch.  The Revs came into the second half with better rhythm and picked up their game.  At 80 minutes they scored off a blocked shot following a corner making it 2-0.

At the 90 minute mark, the Crew's Heinemann finally broke away with the ball, stepped around the goalkeeper and found the goal making the final score 2-1, Revolution. In all it was fantastic soccer.  No! This was fantastic FOOTBALL! 

There were a few Arsenal fans in the crowd around me, including a twitter acquaintance, Matt, who came up and introduced himself and gave his congratulations on Liverpool's trouncing of Manchester United earlier today.  I am looking forward to the Chattanooga FC season and the home opener against Knoxville May 21st with all the local faithful and the chanting, drum banging, cowbell clanging, Chattahooligans.  So come on Liverpool supporters among you - please give me a wave and a shout! I want to find you!  YNWA!

For more pictures of today's friendly see the NE Revolution's photostream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nerevolution/5504169106/in/set-72157626211132102/

Saturday, March 5, 2011

The Happy Songs of Townes Van Zandt

It is said that upon being asked why he never wrote happy songs, Townes Van Zandt replied, "They're all happy songs.  Some folks just don't "get" it." 
 
Happiness is a matter of one's own perspective I suppose, but none can deny that Townes' music is lyrically beautiful and timelessly profound.  Dad and I were privileged to attend a celebration of his songs tonight at Charles and Myrtle's Coffeehouse in Chattanooga, where a group of regional musicians gathered in concert to benefit the venue.

You may know Townes Van Zandt's music well - who hasn't heard of "Pancho & Lefty?" Or you may not know it at all.  Either way, I hope you will enjoy these highlights from tonight's show, along with samples of his original music.  At the end is included a list of fantastic performers and tunes I was not able to capture with my camera.  Some were my favorites from the show, so be sure to look up those videos and lyrics for more "happy" songs!

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Bob Carty, "Two Girls" at Charles & Myrtle's Coffeehouse
Check out The Real Bob Carty http://t.co/bHjnf3G


Bob Carty played "Two Girls" on this instrument he found in a music store in Ringgold, Georgia. The body is made from a Red Star Cheddar Cheese box and lent an interesting sound to the images found in the lyrics of this pretty song.  Listen to the video below.

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Troy Underwood, "Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel"
"Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel" is one of many of Townes' songs about leaving.  Troy Underwood learned this one for the show and wowed the audience with his rendition.  
 

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Channing Wilson
Everyone has a favorite Townes Van Zandt song.  Channing Wilson's is "Loretta."  The comments left on the Youtube say it all, "Just one hell of a good song."

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Martha Ann Brooks, "Two Hands"

Martha Ann Brooks is not only a fine singer-songwriter, but I consider her a friend.  She organized this concert and was said to have sent hundreds of emails.  However she did it, it was a great success!  Her musical contribution was the gospel song "Two Hands."

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Andrew Kelsay, "She Came and She Touched Me"


Andrew Kelsay runs the coffeehouse, making coffee and most importantly, the best cookies - ANYWHERE!  Some thought it a myth that he actually plays and sings, as few of us had ever seen this happen!  Andrew performed my favorite of tonight's songs.  The imagery of this one left me in awe and wanting more!  Listen for: "Harlequin mandolins harmonize helplessly." 

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The group closed the show, performing "Harm's Swift Way," Townes Van Zandt's last song,
which was recently recorded by Robert Plant and The Band of Joy

Please also look up these artists and the music they performed tonight:

John Lathim, "Blaze's Blues"
Steve Mikell, "Tecumseh Valley"
Bill E. Payne, "White Freightliner Blues"
Chris Stevens, "Waiting Around to Die"
Pattee Wilbanks, "Don't You Take It Too Bad"
Jeff Talmadge, "Snow on Raton"
Nathan Bell, "If I Needed You"
Jerre Haskew, "To Live is To Fly"
Travis Kilgore, "Pancho & Lefty"
Butch Ross, "Flyin Shoes"
Vic Burgess, "You Are Not Needed Now"
Robby Hopkins, "Still Looking For You"

For more information about Townes Van Zandt please visit http://www.townesvanzandt.com/