Battle of the Bands Results: Diana Krall wins a close one

I am back with the results for The Battle of the Bands for May 15th. I am publishing the results a tad late. I am blogging again after being unplugged for a few days. Wasn't planned that way it just happened. My work scheduled change to more normal hours which is great for the family, life work balance thing but apparently not so good for the blogging balance.



The battle was close with Diana Krall winning 9 votes to 6 over Prince. It was a fun Battle to put together. What will I come up for in June? I have no idea but check back for that battle on June 1st.

I did get to review one of Diana Krall's concerts almost four years ago at Wolf Trap for DC Metro Theater Arts, you can read my thoughts on that show here. Hard to believe that was four years ago. Life changes. We could reminisce all day or I could share some songs.

What's that I see oh..."The Look of Love"...

That one left me "Almost Blue"...

Okay just "Walk on Bye"..

Thanks for visiting and I will be back soon I hope!

Diana Krall

I don't write as I often as I used too. I am not reviewing concerts and theatre productions on a regular basis anymore. I've started to see more shows. Just haven't found the right opportunities that fit my writing and my regular job. One of the things I miss about writing regular reviews is it gave me plenty to blog about here. I used to call it "shameless self promotion." However, I always strived to add a little bit more to my blog. Perhaps it was videos that couldn't be added to the review, maybe an explanation of my thoughts.

In that spirit since I still write for the Examiner covering live music in the Washington area I decided to blog about Diana Krall who is one of the most successful jazz artist of my time. I wrote a preview article for her upcoming concert at the Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland later this week. You can read it here. Her latest album "Wallflowers" sounds like a potential goldmine for my blogs' monthly Battle of the Bands series I participate in.

Below she performs "Walk on By"

The Strathmore is a venue I have reviewed shows at several times in the past. I can't praise the venue enough for the great sound and easy access. I reviewed Diana Krall when she performed at another famous venue Wolf Trap in 2012. You can read the review here at DC Theater and Arts.

Here she performs "Temptation" in Canada...

In the end it is always about the music and I do enjoy sharing it. 

"I'm A Little Mixed Up"

Hope you enjoyed my blog on Diana Krall and if she is coming to a venue near you and you enjoy jazz do yourself a favor and go see her perform!

Happy Birthday Martina McBride

Country hit maker Martina McBride celebrates her birthday today.

A couple of years ago I had the honor of reviewing her show at Wolf Trap. You can relive it here in my review.

The first video was "Independence Day" followed by "Concrete Angel." Below is from the concert I reviewed.

Here is one more hit to wrap this blog up..

Happy Birthday Martina McBride! Thanks for stopping in stay tuned for a new post!

Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie is playing Wolf Trap tonight July 21 and Tuesday July 22, 2014.  I wrote a preview article here at Examiner.The article has a slide show of recent pictures of Lionel Richie and an interesting video of opener CeeLo Green. Recently I wrote about him in another article about musicians who have adopted children you are invited to read that article here.

Of course here in my blog I am going to add some music videos. Starting off with Lionel's first number one hit...

"Endless Love" with the amazing Diana Ross. For CeeLo Green lets go back to his Gnarls Barkley days for "Crazy"

If you are lucky enough to catch this tour I hope you enjoy! I'll say goodbye with this one..

Crosby, Stills and Nash

I just finished writing a preview for tonight's Crosby, Stills and Nash show at Wolf Trap which you can read here. If you are a fan of the band check out the attached slide show with the article though I can't take credit for the photographs.

I have been lucky enough to see Crosby, Stills and Young twice even though it was like 20 years apart. Funny thing it was at the same venue Wolf Trap. Anyway the last time I watched them I reviewed the show for DC Metro Theater Arts and you can relive the show through my review.

Yes, if you read my blog you know I like to add extras. I am digging some extras to add to this post like this..

That was the encore from the show I reviewed. Below is a song they performed in March of this year..

And one of my favorite songs by them..

If you are going to the show tonight enjoy! If you catch them on the tour I hope you enjoy! If not I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog.

A to Z: Wolf Trap

Wolf Trap is the only National Park devoted to the performing arts. In the summer months Wolf Trap's Filene Center outside amphitheater hosts some of the biggest names in music, theater, and opera. It also hosts some special events. Special Theatre-in-the-Woods. In the Fall, Winter, Spring fans can catch more intimate shows at Wolf Trap's Barns.

Robert Plant performing at Wolf Trap last year..



You can read my review of that show here.

My daughter ready for a show..



I've been lucky to catch folk performers such as Judy Collins, Country stars like Alan Jackson, symphonies, plays, the blues such as Buddy Guy, B.B. King and John Lee Hooker, classic rockers like Joe Walsh, Crosby Stills and Nash, and Joe Walsh. Jazz like Diana Krall. Wolf Trap really is where the arts come out to play.

You can see who is playing at Wolf Trap this year at their site.

Gretna

My last day in New Orleans was quite different from the previous one. Still started with a delicious breakfast this time cooked by my host Eric, who is a writer and long time friend. His energy level did not meet that of the waiter at The Camellia Grill where we had breakfast the day before. However, that waiter could have been a motivational speaker and I don't think many people could match that energy level.

On this day there would be no costumes. A good thing. Another good thing was instead of the scheduled tropical storm we were treated to a beautiful day. We headed out across the Mississippi River to a strip mall to catch a shuttle bus to the last day of the Gretna Heritage Festival.The Festival already had the likes of Chicago, Marcia Ball, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Earth, Wind and Fire. Almost anywhere else it would have been considered a major festival in the New Orleans area my friend told me it was just another weekend.

I was sold on going to the show when my friend told me Tab Benoit was playing. After all Eric had turned me on to Tab on my first trip to New Orleans too many years ago. As a blues fan I don't think it gets much better than listening to the blues on the banks of the Mississippi. If I had a bucket list I would be checking it off.

Tab Benoit on stage,,,



Here is a taste from his set...

They do like their football in NOLA. Tab's set was during the Saints game. Tab had the game on the big screen instead of the band to oblige the fans.

I took in the sights of Gretna, the historic Court House, the Spirit of Louisiana steam train on display, the arts and crafts. I took in the sounds of the other bands playing on the different stages. While the Ben Miller Band was more Americana than blues it was still neat to hear and see Cigar Box guitars and electric spoons played while sitting on a levee.

The day's headliner was ZZ Top.Here the little old band from Texas plays "Catfish Blues" t the festival.

Marie Frank reviewed ZZ Top's September Wolf Trap show for DC Metro Theater Arts and you can read her review of that show here. Since it is on the same tour to get an idea of what I experienced. If you want to read another point of view of my adventure in New Orleans check out my friend Eric's blog here. He calls it "My Year of Mardi Gras" and Eric blogs about almost everything related to New Orleans. Including writers, music, adventures and more.

A view o New Orleans from across the river in Gretna...

That is how I spent the first weekend of October! Good friends, fun times, and then topped with some great music. 

Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick played all their favorites at Wolf Trap recently. The guitarist threw out a ton of picks and had a blast during the show. The sound washed out the vocals a bit at times in that typical rock show sound. All and all it was a great show and they kept the crowd ready to rock some more when Pat Benatar came out. You can read my review here.

On my review you can check out a live version of "I Want You to Want Me." Also my editor added in a full show of Cheap Trick at Austin City Live. So, make sure you check it out on DC Metro Theater Arts. I'm going to add a few more to add a bit more to it!

Here they perform "Surrender"

"The Flame"..

Well I hope you enjoy and I will be back soon with more...

Pat Benatar

I recently reviewed Pat Benatar in concert with her husband Neil Giraldo and rock legends Cheap Trick.
I wanted to blog about their marriage. No, I am not turning my blog into the TMZ. I just found it neat that the pair have been working together for 35 years and that they have been married for 31 years. You really don't hear about people in entertainment, much less rock being married for that length of time. I found it neat they were still joking, having fun, and sharing banter with each other.

In concert they were great. I came away with a lot more respect for Neil as a guitarist. Pat looked great for her age, sounded wonderful, and was trying to help Brynn Marie with her career.You can read my review here.

Okay you might be asking who is Brynn Marie. She is a rising country music star. Her current video being played on CMT is on my review. Here is a taste of her at a recent sound check the song is "I'm Sorry"

Here is a compilation of Neil's guitar solos..

Here is Pat Benatar in action..."Hit Me With Your Best Shot"

I will be back soon with a new post in the mean time enjoy! 

Don McLean

I split this post into two  and I spent the first one talking about the opener Judy Collins. Don McLean will be rememberd for the song "American Pie." The song overshadows everything else he ever wrote.

He has some other songs that are great too! Here he plays one of those classics at the concert I reviewed...

You can read my review here He said this Elvis Presley's version of this song McLean  wrote is his favorite verssion...

Well I will be back soon with a new post.

Judy Collins

I had a chance to see and review Judy Collins and Don McLean in concert. One question comes up when reviewing aging stars is how does their voice hold up. At 74 years young Judy Collins was able to hit any note she desired, her voice never cracked, and she performed music from throughout her career. I've read other reviews where her voice has cracked in the past. Maybe I was lucky, perhaps she played it safe and chose songs she new she can handle, perhaps a combination of the two. I don't know. I do know she sounded great. You can read my review here.

Here she is performing "My Father" a song she performed Friday. This was at the same venue but 11 years ago...

She has played Wolf Trap 30 times, 28 times at the Filene Center which is the outdoor amphitheater and two times in the more intimate Barns. She has been performing longer than I have been alive. Yet stripped down sets, simple voice and guitar, or guitar and piano, or voice and piano, or just voice is something Judy has down. Here she performs back in 1963.

Of course she performed her break through hit "Both Sides Now" and a few other songs written by Joni Mitchell which was fine by me. I am a fan of Joni's songwritting.

There were some surprises as well...She oerformed "Helplessly Hoping" by stephen Stills

I picked the above version since it had Ari Hest performing with her. I reviewed him in concert last year. HEr doing the song by herself vocally was daring. She is good but the song is fitted for the three voices in Crosby, Stills and Nash.

She also performed "Someday Soon"

She is a wonderful singer and I could sit here all day and plug in musical videos. Perhaps I will...

She ennde her show with this cover..

Well I hope you enjoy! I know I enjoyed watching her in concert.

Strange Twists of Fate and Robert Plant

Robert Plant was in town this week. I was really tempted to go. I was working  a project so I would have to go by the venue on the way home any way. The show was assigned to another writer. I was putting off getting tickets fuguring I would buy one at the venue the day of the show. Just in case I was too tired or something came up. My wife being sensible asked "how I was going to pay for it?" I avoided conflict by simply stating I don't know. Well the night before the show I got an email from the writer who said she couldn't make it and asked if I would want to cover the show? Well of course I said the obvious answer.

The rest was history and here is the view from my seat..

You can read my review here. It is pretty long, since I did cover every song.

Bombino was the opening act with their Nomadic style of guitar driven Afro-pop from Niger.

Here they play a song "Tenere"

They played a 40 minute set and they were plugged in the whole time.

Robert Plant played for 1:40 minutes, playing seven Led Zeppelin songs. It was the first time he had played Wolf Trap.

Here is how Robert Plant ended his show with Led Zeppelin's classic "Rock and Roll"

Enjoy I know I did..

Warren Haynes and the NSO Tribute to Jerry Garcia at Wolf Trap

You can read my review of the show here. However a truer testimony might have been my six year old daughters reaction to the show as my guest. Her favorite musical artists are Katy Perry, Justin Beiber, Miley Cyrus, and Taylor Swift. She volunteered to go with me and even dressed the part..



Any way we took our seats and as we were waiting for the show to start she started getting crabby. The typical humid summer evening weather wasn't helping. She was suddenly thirsty and hungry. Oh, no the complaining had begun Then something magical happened the band came out and together with the National Symphony Orchestra they started to play music. The smile came to her face and she was happy again. When the grown ups started to dance so did my daughter. When they started playing with balloons she wanted one. Some how the balloons avoided us and my daughter didn't take away the grown ups play toys.By intermission her I wants went from food and water to souvenirs. By the end of the show she wanted to meet  Warren Haynes and get his autograph. I was honest and told her I would like to do that too!

Here is a taste of the wonderful concert...

Enjoy and I will be back soon with a new post...

Great 80's show: The Psychedelic Furs and The GO--GO's

Earlier this month I reviewed the Go-Go's show at Wolf Trap with The Psychedelic Furs. You can read my review here.Two very influential bands. The Go-Go's were an all girl band, who played all their instruments rocked with pop sensibilities. I could hear the influences of The Psychedelic Furs on other bands and the bands hat influenced them. Bands slightly older than me but bands who hit their stride in my youthful days.

Like always I try to give a little more on the show or artist that I review.

Here The Psychedelic Furs perform "Heaven" from that show...

Below The Go-Go's perform their hit "We Got the Beat" with a cover of "Rock and Roll All Night" from the same show..

My review had The Go-Go's performing "My Lips are Sealed" from a show in Central Park and The Psychedelic Furs performing "Love My Way" from Belgium. Hope you enjoyed the clips from the show and my review. I will be back soon with another post..

The Fresh Beat Band

Yes the 3PM start time for the Fresh Beat Band did come as a surprise. I had to sign my daughter out of school and had the long ride home in rush hour to deal with. However, it was all worth it. My daughter had a wonderful time! You can read my review here.

Here is my daughter hamming it up before the show..


I applaud Wolf Trap for setting up a lost kids station at the concert knowing the Fresh Beat Band would draw a lot of young kids. An ounce of prevention goes along way!

My review has three videos attached to it if you would like to hear what the Fresh Beat Band sounds like. Here is another video for the song It's A Great Day...

Yesterday was a great day for my daughter and I. I hope I am blessed with many more!

Alan Jackson

Last night I went to the sold out Alan Jackson concert, the opening act was Craig Campbell. You can read my review here. It was a cool country concert as Alan played lots of hits. My wife nudging and winking at me as he played "Don't Rock the Jukebox" since he says "my heart ain't ready for the Rolling Stones" my wife was poking fun at me knowing I am a big Rolling Stones fan.

Here is Alan Jackson playing that song from last night..

To be honest I do like Alan Jackson's music. The opening act Craig Campbell was not bad. He has a good chance of becoming a star..

Here he is performing his biggest hit last night called "Family Man"...

I know I could sit here all day posting Alan Jackson hits but I will just post these two videos from last night.I had three articles published today including this one. So I will have at least two new blog posts coming up this week so stay tuned. I'll leave you with one more.."Where I Come From"

Hope you enjoy!

Life's Been Good-Joe Walsh

Yes I teased on an earlier post I was covering the Joe Walsh concert this week. You can read my review here.Well life has been good to me so far this summer on concerts.

Here is a different version of the song..taken from this year..

Here is Joe performing at the show I reviewed, you can take a look and a listen for your self..

Here is a picture I took of Joe Walsh performing...



Well I hope I shared a little extra and I hope you enjoy my review. Thanks for stopping bye I will have another post soon...

Jackson Browne

I reviewed Jackson Browne's concert this week with special guest Sara Watkins. You can read my review here if you like. I knew it was going to be a good concert. I like a little Bluegrass, Americana music and I was aware of Sara's work with Nickel Creek. Always a plus when you like both groups performing. I hadn't seen Jackson Browne perform but he was right up my alley as well. He impressed me as a mellow, very cool person who enjoyed the music. I mean he actually came on stage to introduce Sara Watkins who opened the show. Then he sat in with her for the final two songs of her set. Then he allowed her to set in on several songs during his set.

Here is Sara performing "Long Hot Summer Day" which she also performed at the show I saw her at:

Sorry that song is on the review as well but at least this one is a different version.
Here is her  old group Nickel Creek...

Okay the main attraction was Jackson Browne, even though he sure gave Sara her dues! Okay I couldn't find a performance from this year's show but her is a clip from the last time he played Wolf Trap in 2009...

It was a good time. I'm taking a little break from reviewing shows until August but I will be back with a new blog post soon!

Wilco at Wolf Trap

My review for Tuesdays Wilco show went up today you can read the review here. Another cool light show by the way and no rain for a change.

Lee Ranaldo, the Sonic Youth founder and guitarist was the opening act. He only got about a half hour he sounded like someone I would like to hear at a club. Here is a taste of his solo stuff..

Wilco was pretty solid! Half the set came from the first album and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, though they did promise to change the set list for Wednesday. Here is how they opened the show on Tuesday..

Here is another song from the show..

Well I just got back from another show so I am about to write another review. I hope you enjoyed the videos and my review and I will have a new post soon!

Buddy Guy and John Mayall

My fantastic year of concerts continue. I finally got to see John Mayall. He brought so many great guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor to the for front of the music world. A living bridge from blues to rock and roll. Here is a song her performed Thursday night but an older version...

Well he was opening for Buddy Guy, who I finally got to see earlier this year now I got to see him do a full set! Somebody pinch me..You can read my full review of the concert here.

Buddy Guy also introduced me and the audience to Quinn Sullivan check out this kid with Buddy Guy

Well I hope you enjoy and I will be back soon with another post!