Lucy Kaplansky has a well-honed grasp on melody, which is something almost impossible to teach and reveals her deeply rooted and intuitive musicianship. Still, Kaplansky’s seriousness and austerity, matched with a few uninspired new songs, made it a long evening, and one whose highlights were frustratingly weighed down by filler.
It is crazy to think that Hanson has been playing professionally for nearly 20 years. The three brothers (Isaac, Taylor and Zach), found success with their highly successful hit, “MMMBop” in 1997, and since then, have managed to maintain their loyal, if not obsessive, fan base of young girls. Fast forward to 2011 and the young girls have become twenty to thirty-something women, but their unyielding love is still apparent.
With first estimates of one million plus dollars raised from Phish’s Benefit for Vermont Flood Recovery on September 14, it’s going to be hard to quell calls for another such affair, especially in light of the flawless execution of the occasion (from announcement to ticket sales to actual show operations) plus the absence of any negative affects on the surrounding community the day of the concert. After all there’s no shortage of worthwhile causes and the fanbase would certainly welcome a sequel given what they witnessed this full-moonlit night.
Concert Confidential and EventbriteNYC got together last week and announced with the quickness a series of 5 simultaneous concerts across the country with proceeds and donations going to charity. New York City were blessed with hometown heroes The Hold Steady who were announced as the headliners for Saturday Night’s shindig in downtown Manhattan. It was short notice, and a quick turnaround but the Unified Scene was on hand to party with the boys for a worthy cause down by the South Street Seaport.
Will Sheff is a densely literate songwriter of the highest degree. Like a good novelist, his songs reveal layers as they progress, adding intrigue and possibility to the plot and subtle nuance to the characterization, while weighty symbolism abounds throughout. The man also likes his hand-claps, as Sheff raucously urged and prodded the crowd to “throw their hands up” and clap along to the beats of some of the band’s best-known numbers
For an artist so deeply in touch with her musicianship and songwriting, it’s important for the listener to cede some control and go along for the ride. If Carlile has proven anything since her debut in 2005, it’s that she’s fully capable of taking her audience on a journey that remains firmly and fondly affixed in their minds.
The Hopscotch Music Festival is only in its second year, but the event already feels like a tradition. That’s partly due to the undeniable uniqueness of the festival, and partly to the huge cache of local bands that take part, thus drawing out local music fans by the busload. During Hopscotch, the lucky locals are happy to show the weekenders just how brightly Raleigh’s music scene, and the city itself, can shine. With so many amazing venues taking part, and the ever-increasing variety of other diversions downtown, the weekend becomes one big make-out session with the capital city.
Fans of the band Great White are loyal and they have stayed with them through good songs and bad songs, tragedy and heartaches, highs and lows. And the band knows this more than anyone. “I really, really, really, really appreciate all the support from the fans over the years,” guitarist Mark Kendall stresses to me a few days before their show in Biloxi. “Our fans are the most unreal friends and fans ever and I’m just like overwhelmed by joy to actually meet people that have been watching us for twenty plus years
At this point in its career, Umphrey’s McGee is like a spinning top of rock – just drop it on stage and watch in awe as it spins with power and unpredictability. The band returned to North Carolina’s capital city to kick off their fall tour at the oversized Raleigh Amphitheater, which highlighted the band’s unique situation in the market
Closing with fan-favorite “Everlong” seemed appropriate and concluded what was an amazing set by one of rock’s top-notch touring attractions, only further amplified by mother-nature. As fans plodded through the massive mud pit following the show, Lollapalooza’s 20th Anniversary was abruptly closing. All attendees had left to do was check if their cellphone still worked, if it didn’t, it was probably worth the damage.
