Solo set from the Sweetbriar guitarist
I remember growing up in Richmond in the 1970s that our local album station, XL 102, played the “who the f*** are you” version of the Who’s “Who Are You?” You can barely hear it, and nobody complained. A few years earlier, a lot of stations took heat for playing Donna Summer’s moaning and nothing-to-the-imagination “Love to Love You Baby.” So, now I’m wondering if I should have any concerns about Charlottesville’s new “it” station, 106.1 The Corner for my own kids. On the one hand, they play the Cure’s “Let’s Go to Bed” pretty heavily, and last summer I seem to recall Fiction Plane’s story of dueling beds in “Two Sisters.” But neither of these present graphic sexuality, and it took me about 20 listenings of each to even figure out the words. And I’ve never heard any paens to violence or to drug use (save Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab“) on the Corner. So what do you think. Is the Corner family-friendly?
After a decade of recording and performing with Dave Matthews Band, keyboardist Butch Taylor has quit the group on the eve of a 52-city tour. In a written statement on the DMB website announcing the personnel change, the band writes, “We’re saddened by this sudden news, but he has our full support. He’s given so much to us and our audience through the years, and he will be missed.”
When the Hook attempted to contact Taylor at his Richmond home, the person who answered the phone hung up when she learned she was speaking to a reporter.
While never officially a member of DMB, Taylor began playing with the group when the Charlottesville-based band recruited him to sit in on (more)
The strolling public gets its first chance to grab a copy of the latest free Corner 106.1 Music Sampler this Friday outside the Hook office on the Downtown Mall. The third such mix disc from the “different is good” radio station, the CD includes non-mainstream musical stylings by Death Cab for Cutie, The Old 97s, Virginia Coalition, and more.
“These CDs are a pretty cool thing for us to work on, because the playlist on the disc matches the current music on the station pretty well,” says Corner station manager Brad Savage. “We are super excited to partner with the Hook as a sponsor.”
While the co-sponsoring company, Horse & Buggy Produce, will conduct the first giveaways at its Frank Ix building pick-up point tomorrow, the Hook giveaway takes place between noon and 1pm on May 30 at the corner of Main and Second Street NW across from the Regal Cinema. Several Hook staffers and a Corner deejay will be there, and subsequent giveaways will occur at Corner-sponsored events throughout the summer.
Among other artists on this mix CD is Amos Lee, who Rolling Stone has claimed was rightfully dubbed Norah Jones’ male counterpart since they (more)
Late show by sacred steel band The Lee Boys, this week’s Fridays After Five performers.
The Lee Boys - Joyful Sounds [live, featuring Luther Dickinson]
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When the Lee Boys take the stage at Fridays After Five this week, you’ll be hearing the result of decades of history. They’re descended from a tradition of pedal-steel guitar playing called “Sacred Steel,” in which the instrument is elevated to center stage, taking the place of the gospel organ.
“With country or Hawaiian music, the steel is not the focal instrument,” explains Lee Boys guitarist and de-facto bandleader Alvin Lee. “We play it with a lot of soul. It’s bluesier. That’s what sets us apart.”
But the history is also personal for the family band. “We’ve been playing this style of music all our lives,” says Lee, who started with piano lessons and the school band around second grade. “My father was a steel player, so we kind of took to the tradition.”
But in 2000, after laying the groundwork for his musical family, Lee’s father– and then his brother– passed away. Both were steel players
The second loss hit Lee especially hard, both emotionally and musically. “When we played in the church after he passed, I would always feel real bad,” he says. “It was hard.”
That’s what inspired him to pull the Lee Boys band together and take the music elsewhere– in part because of the memories, but also to show off his brother’s legacy. “I want to show the world something that me and my brother formed,” he says.
His particular niche of gospel music isn’t the most marketable, but Lee says interest is growing because of his willingness to venture into other styles. “As this music gets more and more known, we’re getting people who are going back and learning the history,” he says. “We were acting like the rebels, throwing in stuff that was a little more bluesy or funky or a little more secular.” Alvin, 43, listens to a lot of ’80s music, and the band’s featured steel player is 24-year-old Roosevelt Collier, who’s also into hip-hop and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Foremost among the rebels, however, is Red Light Management artist Robert Randolph, the biggest success story to come out of the sacred steel world. Lee says Randolph’s success changed the game for everyone.
“Robert Randolph definitely put the sacred steel on the map,” says Lee. “We give Robert a lot of credit for taking this style out to the masses; he opened up opportunities.”
But even more than Randolph– who has recently moved into rock and pop and has seen tremendous success on the jamband circuit– the Lee Boys intend to stay focused on their church tradition. “We just kind of fuse some blues and funk and some different tunes that are more known to the secular world, but it’s still gospel-based music, and we’re not losing that spirituality,” he says, “You can tell it’s church-based music.”
Still, mainstream appeal isn’t out of the question. “If we can touch more people through our music,” says Lee, “then our mission is done.”
Thanks to bands like Lee’s and Randolph’s, that’s starting to happen. “The music just can’t be denied anymore,” Lee says.
The Lee Boys perform on 5/30 at Fridays After Five for free and then again at the Outback Lodge at 10pm for $10.
The Lee Boys - Joyful Sounds [live, featuring Luther Dickinson]
Solo set from the Sons Of Bill guitarist.
Sam Wilson - A Melody Instead
Sam Wilson - In The Morning
Sam Wilson - Once In Your Life
Sam Wilson - Green Gates
Jazz and light rock from the Sons Of Bill’s killer lead guitarist.
Jazz and light rock from the Sons Of Bill’s killer lead guitarist.
Jazz and light rock from the Sons Of Bill’s killer lead guitarist.
http://readthehook.com/music/uploads/2008/05/sam-wilson_a-melody-instead.mp3
The Olivarez Trio plays gypsy jazz in what once was Charlottesville’s favorite old-school music venue.
Olivarez Trio - Double Whiskey
The Olivarez Trio plays gypsy jazz in what once was Charlottesville’s favorite old-school music venue.
Olivarez Trio - Double Whiskey
The Olivarez Trio plays gypsy jazz in what once was Charlottesville’s favorite old-school music venue.
Olivarez Trio - Double Whiskey
The Olivarez Trio plays gypsy jazz in what once was Charlottesville’s favorite old-school music venue.
Olivarez Trio - Double Whiskey
Matthew Willner and Barling and Collins join forces for some funky jams.
Matthew Willner + Barling and Collins = Funky
This potty-mouthed duo makes fun of pretty much everything using a guitar and a cello.
Barling and Collins - (That’s Right) I’m Looking At Your Girlfriend
Vicious mockery with an occasional twang.
Barling and Collins - (That’s Right) I’m Looking At Your Girlfriend
Vicious mockery with an occasional twang.
Barling and Collins - (That’s Right) I’m Looking At Your Girlfriend
Vicious mockery with an occasional twang.
Barling and Collins - (That’s Right) I’m Looking At Your Girlfriend
Vicious mockery with an occasional twang.
Barling and Collins - (That’s Right) I’m Looking At Your Girlfriend
Jazz night at Miller’s from the iconic local jazz musicians’ eponymous band.
Thompson/D’earth - Future Blues
Jazz night at Miller’s
Thompson/D’earth - Future BluesThompson/D’earth
The local guitarist and sax player team up to lead their long-running killer jazz combo through the weekly gig with complex melodic math that will make your head hurt if you’re foolish enough to think you can follow along.
The Mexican restaurant’s house jazz band features a big ol’ horn section.
Clare Quilty and Dirty Dishes vocalist Jenn Rhubright sings jazz accompanied by pianist Gerrit Roessler for the Jive Katze project, which donates all its proceeds to Hurricane Katrina relief projects like Sweet Home New Orleans, which provides housing and financial assistance to needy Big Easy musicians.
Clare Quilty and Dirty Dishes vocalist Jenn Rhubright sings jazz accompanied by pianist Gerrit Roessler for the Jive Katze project, which donates all its proceeds to Hurricane Katrina relief projects.
Also featuring John Carden accompanied by Beleza Brasil guitarist Humberto Sales.
buy tickets onlineTommy Emmanuel is easily one of the most important guitarists Australia has ever produced and was an in-demand Sydney session player until Steve Vai scooped him up for his badass-mofos-only Favored Nations imprint. Pop singer and fellow Aussie Anthony Snape opens.
buy tickets onlineDan Bern is the latest acoustic folk singer allegedly following in the footsteps of Dylan and Phil Ochs, but he doesn’t always take the mantle too seriously: like fellow recent Gravity Performer Marshall Crenshaw his most recent project involved penning songs for the mock biopic Walk Hard.
buy tickets onlineReed KD and the Armchair Aviators play sweet, sparse indie-folk which is at times equally reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens, Paul Simon, and the late Elliott Smith.
Indie folk musicians Hezekiah Jones and Chris Bathgate made waves around these parts last summer when they performed at the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar as part of the release party for Yer Bird’s Folk Music For The End Of The World compilation; New York-based music blog Caf� Eclectica called it “an unabashed cannonball into the swimming pool of lo-fi folk.”
Hezekiah Jones - Cupcakes For The Army
Hezekiah Jones - Mississippi Sea
Hezekiah Jones - Nothing’s Bound
Hezekiah Jones - Albert Hash
The Charlottesville Music Showcase brings you jazz and light rock from Sons Of Bill’s killer lead guitarist.
Local southern-rocker Will Thomas recorded his quartet’s debut EP under the watchful eye of Daughtry guitarist Brian Craddock. Daniel Lipton of Dreaming Isabelle opens.
George Melvin wears many hats (not all of them as cool as this one), and his long-standing gig at South Street even has him wearing several at the same time. For the “Group Sound” format, Melvin plays several keyboards at once, using his left hand for walking basslines that match up with jazzy drum loops and working the sustain pedal to give the illusion of multiple right-hand parts.
George Melvin wears many hats (not all of them as cool as this one), and his long-standing gig at South Street even has him wearing several at the same time. For the “Group Sound” format, Melvin plays several keyboards at once, using his left hand for walking basslines that match up with jazzy drum loops and working the sustain pedal to give the illusion of multiple right-hand parts.
George Melvin wears many hats (not all of them as cool as this one), and his long-standing gig at South Street even has him wearing several at the same time. For the “Group Sound” format, Melvin plays several keyboards at once, using his left hand for walking basslines that match up with jazzy drum loops and working the sustain pedal to give the illusion of multiple right-hand parts.
George Melvin wears many hats (not all of them as cool as this one), and his long-standing gig at South Street even has him wearing several at the same time. For the “Group Sound” format, Melvin plays several keyboards at once, using his left hand for walking basslines that match up with jazzy drum loops and working the sustain pedal to give the illusion of multiple right-hand parts.
George Melvin wears many hats (not all of them as cool as this one), and his long-standing gig at South Street even has him wearing several at the same time. For the “Group Sound” format, Melvin plays several keyboards at once, using his left hand for walking basslines that match up with jazzy drum loops and working the sustain pedal to give the illusion of multiple right-hand parts.
B3 organ wizard George Melvin and pianist Hod O’Brien join drummer Robert Jospe and guitarist Royce Campbell for an evening of multi-keyboard jazz to wrap up Gravity’s big anniversary celebration. Also featuring John Carden and Beleza Brasil guitarist Humberto Sales.
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Clarence Green’s long-running project is now up to seven pieces, four of whom will be appearing here. The rest are members of The Biscuit Burners, the Asheville bluegrass quartet with whom they’re working on the debut record.
The DOWNbeat Project - Simple Life [live]
Jason and Maryline Pollock, the former being the ex-guitarist from 90’s post-grunge rock band Seven Mary Three, have put together a band of local characters to perform their album of home recordings.
The Pollocks - Behind The Songs I Can’t Write
The Pollocks - Negative Blood
The Pollocks - Breathless
The Pollocks - Black Behind Blue
Raw Dog plays bluesy rock for this week’s Charlottesville Music Showcase. Also featuring the Head Band.
At this week’s Charlottesville Music Showcase, Clare Quilty and Dirty Dishes vocalist Jenn Rhubright sings jazz standards with pianist Gerrit Roessler and diverts all proceeds to Hurricane Katrina relief projects.
Ironhead usually uses their old-school metal to smack VA Beach around a bit, but this weekend they’ll give the surfer dudes a break and come visit Outback instead.
Also featuring Raleigh metalheads Colossus.
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Phoenix Noir is a trip-hop project from former Navel guitarist Wally Worsley. Also featuring The Sort and Harrisonburg alt-metal band Jack’s Box.
buy tickets onlineBlack Skies are modern-day Chapel Hill’s answer to Sabbath, a dark metal trio who live by the creed “soft rock is an oxymoron.” Also featuring Caltrop and The Unholy Four.
buy tickets onlineTab Benoit is a Louisiana blues guitarist with a strong Cajun influence.
buy tickets onlineOrange County psychedelic rockers May Haze show you how they pass the time in the boondocks.
Lead singer of the Worx performs a solo acoustic set on the patio.
Lead singer of the Worx performs a solo acoustic set on the patio.
Lead singer of the Worx performs a solo acoustic set on the patio.
Lead singer of the Worx performs a solo acoustic set on the patio.
Dallas Wesley and Byron Massie play acoustic country with religious inflections.
The flute, piano, and guitar trio performs tunes by Bach as well as composers like Toru Takemitsu, Edison Denisov, and Robert Maggio.
Lead singer of the Worx performs a solo acoustic set on the patio.
Local string-throttlers Peter Markush and Marc Perdue play old-time music
GeT is a local teenage rapper. Rookie teen hip hop crew the Gangsta Gangsta Boys (not a typo) open.
Alt-country and Americana duo Over The Rhine were recently named to Paste Magazine’s “100 Greatest Living Songwriters” list. That’s a tall order to fill, but given that within the first three tracks of their most recent release they’ve already managed to rhyme “enchilada” with “Prada,” we’re inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Over The Rhine - If A Song Could Be President
Over The Rhine - Trouble
Over The Rhine - Nothing Is Innocent
Grammy-winning saxophonist Kenny G became the best selling instrumental musician of all time thanks to pop-jazz tunes like “Songbird,” but his most recent album and its accompanying tour both focus on Latin jazz.
buy tickets onlineThe celebrated Wilco guitarist comes back to Charlottesville for his third visit in as many years. This time, though, he’ll be leaving Tweedy behind and instead performing with his eponymous (but otherwise ironically-named) improv and free jazz trio. Rolling Stone recently officially bestowed upon him the title of “guitar god,” and a while back Jazz Times dubbed him “the world’s most dangerous guitarist.” His noisy solo freak-outs are the most outlandish element in Wilco, so what will happen when he’s really turned loose?
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We spent some time hanging out in the magazine aisle at the downtown branch of CVS to get a feel for the musical energy that will be headed toward the Corner once the Satellite Ballroom closes this weekend. The selection was commercial-free except for periodic interjections from the store advertising baby formula and Jergen’s, but unfortunately the house ads were actually layered right over the songs instead of spaced in between. Luckily, we were quick enough to catch ‘em all anyway. Here’s what we heard:
It wasn’t hard to see Clarkson coming, but come on, the Tony Rich Project? God, it feels so gross, doesn’t it?
Luckily there will be plenty of soap on hand.
The Two Man Gentlemen Band promises impeccably tailored outfits, rowdy sing-alongs, furious banjo strumming, and free kazoos, among other things. We can only confirm the latter, but if their performances are anywhere near as cool as their promo gear, you’re in for a treat — however, as you can tell from the above video, it may not be for the Puritans among us.
The Two Man Gentlemen Band - William Howard Taft
Will Hoge is an earthy Nashville rocker, arguably descended from Petty and Bruuuuuuuuuce, who once shared a guitarist with the Georgia Satellites. 200+ shows a year would wear on pretty much anybody, but Will has held it together well enough over the past few years to land opening gigs with My Morning Jacket and the Black Crowes; here, he’ll be kicking off Gravity Lounge’s fifth-anniversary blowout.
Will Hoge - Bible vs. Gun [live]
Also featuring Theresa Andersson and Sweetbriar.
buy tickets onlineMelissa Ferrick has way more formal music training than you’d expect, including short stints with both the New England Conservatory and the Berklee College of Music. Thank God for that — how else would we ever have found a lesbian folk rocker who knows how to play acoustic guitar?
Melissa Ferrick - Never Give Up
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Music from the bluegrass and folk group, but more importantly, a pie auction. (Seriously.)
Cleverly-named little bluegrass ensemble featuring Reverend Jeff Mosier of Aquarium Rescue Unit.
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