The Medusa Fora

Just saw Nick Cave will be in the states in May/June.
Still a few shows not sold out. Philly at $70 each for a GA tix. Not sure what the VIP experience entails but at $200 i'll have to pass.

http://www.nickcave.com/live/

Saw "The Last Waltz Remembered" tour last night, with Amy Helm, Matt Andersen & Corb Lund backed by the Russell Broom House Band.

I would like to say that i LOVE Corb Lund, but he was very much overshadowed by Amy & Matt, who are two of the most powerful, soulful, emotive singers it has ever been my pleasure to see perform, and it looked like Corb knew it too. That said, one of my favourite moments was when he took a verse in "I Shall Be Released" and did it in falsetto, as a tribute to the late Richard Manuel. Judging by their shocked, smiling faces, nobody on stage was expecting this. When he took Rick Danko's verse in "The Weight" ("Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog..."), he copied Rick's idiosyncratic phrasing perfectly, he's clearly a huge fan.

Another highlight was a Matt Andersen-led take on Neil Young's "Helpless", which had the whole theater singing along but Matt's huge voice still drowned us all out.

Great show, only wish it had been an hour or two longer.

Low D wrote:Saw "The Last Waltz Remembered" tour last night, with Amy Helm, Matt Andersen & Corb Lund backed by the Russell Broom House Band.

I would like to say that i LOVE Corb Lund, but he was very much overshadowed by Amy & Matt, who are two of the most powerful, soulful, emotive singers it has ever been my pleasure to see perform, and it looked like Corb knew it too. That said, one of my favourite moments was when he took a verse in "I Shall Be Released" and did it in falsetto, as a tribute to the late Richard Manuel. Judging by their shocked, smiling faces, nobody on stage was expecting this. When he took Rick Danko's verse in "The Weight" ("Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog..."), he copied Rick's idiosyncratic phrasing perfectly, he's clearly a huge fan.

Another highlight was a Matt Andersen-led take on Neil Young's "Helpless", which had the whole theater singing along but Matt's huge voice still drowned us all out.

Great show, only wish it had been an hour or two longer.

I've got a Corb Lund album..'Cabin Fever'..love it!
Actually going out on saturday evening..a rarity these days what with not drinking and being in pain constantly..anyway off to the legendary local venue 'The Gliderdrome' to see my mates The Band From County Hell topping the bill, several bands playing..i'll have to time it so i'm getting out of the taxi and into the 'glider' just as they take the stage, cannot abide the idea of being in a place full of people drinking for longer than an hour or so...and they reminded me the other day, last time they played the Gliderdrome, I was backstage with them afterwards and almost got myself and them thrown out and banned! Of course alcohol was involved..shameful.

Cracking gig last night with Skinny Lister at Cambridge Junction. They get better and better.

This is currently the best night out you're ever likely to get. In the absence of a Pogues tour of course.

A few pics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/15437467@N07/albums/72157683437759985

firehazard wrote:Cracking gig last night with Skinny Lister at Cambridge Junction. They get better and better.

This is currently the best night out you're ever likely to get. In the absence of a Pogues tour of course.

A few pics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/15437467@N07/albums/72157683437759985

Agree entirely. Nice to see them again so soon. I think they may well be in bigger venues soon. Catch them while you can.

soulfinger wrote:

firehazard wrote:Cracking gig last night with Skinny Lister at Cambridge Junction. They get better and better.

This is currently the best night out you're ever likely to get. In the absence of a Pogues tour of course.

A few pics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/15437467@N07/albums/72157683437759985

Agree entirely. Nice to see them again so soon. I think they may well be in bigger venues soon. Catch them while you can.

They played in the smaller of the two main Cambridge Junction venues last night, for the second time. This time they sold it out. Towards the end, they said. "Bring your friends next time, and we'll play next door." Response from the crowd: "This one's better!"

Damn good band. I really needed that gig too, in this poor benighted country of ours.

firehazard wrote:

soulfinger wrote:

firehazard wrote:Cracking gig last night with Skinny Lister at Cambridge Junction. They get better and better.

This is currently the best night out you're ever likely to get. In the absence of a Pogues tour of course.

A few pics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/15437467@N07/albums/72157683437759985

Agree entirely. Nice to see them again so soon. I think they may well be in bigger venues soon. Catch them while you can.

They played in the smaller of the two main Cambridge Junction venues last night, for the second time. This time they sold it out. Towards the end, they said. "Bring your friends next time, and we'll play next door." Response from the crowd: "This one's better!"

Damn good band. I really needed that gig too, in this poor benighted country of ours.

We've seen them half a dozen times and have always been impressed by them. They are such an excitement inducing band live. I'm always a sucker for a good singalong. I agree, they are a much needed bright spot amidst the constantly depressing daily diet of political bullshit.

Sounds like we need them here on this side of the pond as well.

territa wrote:Sounds like we need them here on this side of the pond as well.

Cdn Steve has said he caught them in Seattle a while ago.

We've seen them four times now, which I think is every time they've played in this city. Still remember the first time, and the amazement that anyone could crowdsurf with a double bass. Michael Camino's since left the band, but they're still bloody good.

Great to see you aboard, territa!

Looks like I'm going to see Flogging Molly Tuesday in NYC at Irving Plaza. First time seeing them.

Just saw Amy Helm & The Handsome Strangers, who are currently featuring the great Cindy Cashdollar on dobro/lap steel.

With a musical heritage that includes her father, Levon Helm, her singer/songwriter mother Libby Titus, and stepfather Donald Fagan of Steely Dan, Helm was born with big shoes to fill, but holy crap, does she ever! A high-energy, exuberant perform with a powerful voice and amazing range, she exudes music from every pore in a way I remember her father doing in performance. Heavily influenced by all of the above, but perhaps more so by old R 'n B, gospel, and a bit of funk (one gets the impression she grew up listening to her parents' record collections). Her regular three-piece backing band are a showstopper on their own, matching her for energy, exuberance, and talent. How a man as big & hairy as her bass player can pull off a high sweet harmony like he did .... ? (seriously, it was like a sandy-haired Hagrid, made the bass look like a uke).

Special guest for this tour, Cindy Cashdollar was a treat - a specialist, she only plays steel guitar & dobro, but damn, does she ever! She elevated all the songs to something different, adding a country/blues/americanna injection into the r 'n b rock & roll and creating something uniquely their own.

The Rails at Cambridge Junction last night, Mr James Walbourne and Ms Kami Thompson touring their new album, Other People.

Cracking gig, catch them on tour if you can.



A few more pics:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/15437467@N07/albums/72157686846666114

Mr Cave and the Bad Seeds at London O2 Arena tomorrow...

firehazard wrote:Mr Cave and the Bad Seeds at London O2 Arena tomorrow...

I assume you've already got your foam red hands ready to go: