The Medusa Fora

Just got back from Austin, TX where I was able to catch the best $8 show on the planet. John Dee Graham at 10:30 followed by James McMurtry at midnight at the Continental Club on South Congress . Saw these gents rock both of these songs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBWB65Py9us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfxo7Iz6yVc&feature=related

Good stuff, Clash C. I'd still like to see Mr McMurtry this side of the Broad Atlantic.

This weekend's activity round these parts... I shall be watching a selection of the following or in the Guinness tent:

http://www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk/artists

firehazard wrote:Good stuff, Clash C. I'd still like to see Mr McMurtry this side of the Broad Atlantic.

This weekend's activity round these parts... I shall be watching a selection of the following or in the Guinness tent:

http://www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk/artists

Only one I have seen from that list is Keb Mo aka Kevin Moore who was excellent. Been meaning to catch John Prine as he has been playing shows only 5-6 hours away, just never seems to work in my schedule. Enjoy...

We attended the Mission Folk Festival last weekend. Other than my daughter playing on stage with the unbelievable Andy Leftwich (with her whole class who had him as an instructor at the music camp all week) the highlights for me were probably:

The Fretless - folk chamber music - yeah sure you've heard it before, but not done this well! Canadians.
Anna Lindblad - the fiddle player from Sweeden's "Lyy". They were OK but she did a set on her own that was jaw dropping.
Buffy Sainte Marie - is 71 and rocking harder than ever. With a leather-wearing tattooed FIrst Nations trio from Winnipeg backing her, she brought the hard rock and modern music to the folk fest. And they did an amazing job on the country & folk stuff as well.

We missed Martin Hayes' set with the Teetotalers on the main stage, but did get to see him play a few tunes on a side stage. He's hilarious when he talks, tho' i'm not sure he's trying. Colum Sands also proved to be a belly-laugh provoking story teller, and a damn fine picker. But his songs are a bit too earnest for me.

Clash Cadillac wrote:

firehazard wrote:This weekend's activity round these parts... I shall be watching a selection of the following or in the Guinness tent:

http://www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk/artists

Only one I have seen from that list is Keb Mo aka Kevin Moore who was excellent. Been meaning to catch John Prine as he has been playing shows only 5-6 hours away, just never seems to work in my schedule. Enjoy...

Damn fine festival, much enjoyed it. Saw a little bit of Mr Prine and Mr Mo, though probably not as much as we should've done. It's always hard to fit in everything you want to see at a festival with several stages...

Highlights were Billy Bragg doing a Woody Guthrie thing; a stunning solo set in the club tent from young Lucy Ward; the ever-brilliant Lau; and legendary English folkie Nic Jones, 30 years after a car accident that left him with severe and lasting injuries and nearly cost his life, doing a very rare appearance, which left not a dry eye in the house.

Discovery of the weekend as far as I was concerned: The Destroyers (nothing to do with George Thorogood), a 15-piece ensemble playing loud Gypsy folk-thrash music, led by a little old fez-wearing man with a Tom-Waitsish style. I assumed they were from Eastern Europe, until I read the programme and discovered they come from Birmingham in England: http://thedestroyers.co.uk/

Only real gripes were the whole site being nearly washed away by a three-hour thunderstorm on the final day (though I suppose it did give the authentic British festival mud experience). And the legendary Guinness Tent having been changed into an "Irish bar". Dammit. Which means you actually have to specify what it is that you want a pint of. Double dammit.

A few pics here for anyone who wants a look: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15437467@N07/sets/72157630772014986/

Permission To Come Aboard

Judging from this cryptic press release, I'd say there's a chance I may be going to see
the great Tom Waits sometime in the near future!


I Breathe Better Underwater

And it may be at a water park!



I'm going to see The Bard next month, with a rare solo acoustic opening set by Bobby Weir.

Low D wrote:
We missed Martin Hayes' set with the Teetotalers on the main stage, but did get to see him play a few tunes on a side stage.

Martin Joined Paul Simon in Dublin recently. He played a couple of reels in which Paul's Graceland band joined in and jammed along He then came back on for the encore and played the melody part of 'The Boxer' that's usually played by a clarinet (oboe?). It was magical.

Seen Stones Roses, that were inaudible apart from the last 30 minutes, Brooos who got the plug pulled after a thrilling 3 hours, hoping for an uninterupted, loud, Blur/New Order/Specials gig!

Have entered contests to win tickets to The English Beat (Dave Wakling & Co.), Dead Can Dance, and The Guthrie Family Reunion concerts. So here's hoping...

O'Blivion wrote:
I'm going to see The Bard next month, with a rare solo acoustic opening set by Bobby Weir.

The Cadillac family is catching him in Sioux Falls, SD later this month.

Clash Cadillac wrote:

O'Blivion wrote:
I'm going to see The Bard next month, with a rare solo acoustic opening set by Bobby Weir.

The Cadillac family is catching him in Sioux Falls, SD later this month.

Enjoyed seeing the legend again. After the show I asked the girls whose lyrics were harder to understand in concert Bob Dylan or Shane MacGowan. Dylan was the unanimous choice. So Shane has that going for him...

Ms Patti Smith and her Band last night at the Cambridge Corn Exchange.

A truly excellent gig, a two-hour set with songs both old and new. Ms Smith was on top form, and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself, full of musings and stories as ever. She and Lenny Kaye are both looking remarkably good for their age. Full of true punk energy. And strong words in support of Pussy Riot.

And the Corn Exchange for once seems to have sorted out its sound problems.

It made me feel a little less sad about not being at another gig in Paris today.

A few pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15437467@N07/sets/72157631509802734/

I've got no gigs planned no gigs booked (except for the one I'm not going to tonight).

MissWalshy wrote:I've got no gigs planned no gigs booked (except for the one I'm not going to tonight).

Gigs are out there. Tickets are out there. Go get 'em. You know you want to. You won't regret it.

Peter Gabriel: So Back to Front tour with original musicians, Philly, September 21