John Prine!!!

John Prine. The 2006 winner (this past week) of a Grammy award for "Best Contemporary Folk Album" for his latest cd "Fair and Square." This cd is absolutely one of the best things I have heard from Track one to the end. A quick story. John said at one point he still had his Grammy jacket on and it still had some Mariah Carey makeup on it!

John's show last night was awesome. His band is very tight and it is a joy to watch a performer still in his prime. Yep, Prime Prine. I published this photo in black and white after having several conversations last night about black and white photography with numerous people. I only took two photos during the show but I have a pal who should give me a link to some very fine shots I will soon share of both John and Keith last night. More to come on that.
In the meantime I will tell you to check John's calendar and get out to see him on this tour. He is getting rave reviews and you cannot spend your money in a better place. He played until I thought I heard a rooster crow and he rocked from start to finish. What a bargain. As the Who song says "They call it a bargain, the best I ever had!" Nuff said.

John Prine!

John Prine on stage at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. I took this picture in the early 1980's. One of many John Prine shows I have attended this one was "beer-free" except for the ones I had in my socks...oh yeah, there were no cameras allowed either. (illegal smile inserted here)

John Prine!!!

Online there is a fan shrine to John Prine. http://www.jpshrine.org/
That is where we all belong. John is one awesome guy. A super nice person and genuine talent. Over the course of the night he mentioned several names that mean a lot to me such as Jimmy Buffett and Steve Goodman. Man I miss Steve Goodman!

There was a moment when my friend Keith Sykes came to mind. The last time I saw John Keith opened for him. You can go back in my blog and see that story. Keith co-wrote "Long Monday" with John. What a great song. http://www.keithsykes.com/

That's the way the whole night was. Great.
You rock John. Long may you run. I'll see ya down the road.

You and me
Sittin' in the back my memory
Like a honey bee
Buzzin' 'round a glass of sweet Chablis
Radio's on
Windows rolled up
And my mind's rolled down
Headlights shining
Like silver moons
Rollin' on the ground

We made love
In everyway love can be made
And we made time
Look like time
Could never fade

John Prine Plays Ovens Auditorium!

http://www.johnprine.net/

What can I say about John that I haven't already said on this blog? I never tire of him. I have lost count of the John Prine shows I have seen and they always seem better than the last one. Maybe that is why I keep going. Yes that is it.

Smiles after the show last night!

The lovely wife Julie and me with John Prine last night in Greensboro at War Memorial Auditorium. John put on yet another of his classic performances. I have lost count of how many times I have seen John but I know it dates back to the first one in 1978 at Mississippi State University. As I told John last night I remember a time when we both lacked a single grey hair but you know what, it is great to still be alive and listening to great music. Thanks John for the music and the picture!

Jason Wilber!!

http://www.jasonwilber.com/
Jason Wilber on stage with John Prine.

Jason is one awesome player. He plays about anything with strings and he plays it very well. I am a Jason Wilber VIP. You can be too, for free. Go to his web site and check it out.

I took this photo of Jason just as he finished the song that John wrote for his wife called "The Glory of True Love." Jason has the signature electric guitar line in this song and it is one of my favorites. What an awesome song. Jason also plays a mean slide. He and John were jamming towards the end of the show with two bluesy numbers that really rocked. These guys are just outstanding together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zig_JGosPxw&feature=PlayList&p=E2F22330D96FCD1F&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=5

Oh, the glory of true love
Is a wild and precious thing
It don't grow on old magnolias
Or only blossom in the spring
No, the glory of true love
Is it will last your whole life through
Never will go out of fashion
Always will look good on you

Jason Wilber and Pat McLaughlin in Greensboro last night.

Jason Wilber http://www.jasonwilber.com/ and Pat McLaughlin http://www.patmclaughlin.com/ last night after the Keith Sykes http://www.keithsykes.com/ and John Prine http://www.johnprine.net/ show in Greensboro. Two very talented musicians who put on one fine concert last night. This Prine tour is not to be missed. These guys are very awesome whether playing mandolin, harp, guitar, or just singing background vocals. Check out their web sites for their own music as well.

Sara Watkins!

http://www.sarawatkins.com/

The other night I went to see John Prine at Ovens in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sara Watkins opened for John. I have never seen Nickle Creek or Sara live on stage but I do have a cd or two from them. Not bad! http://www.nickelcreek.com/

Keith and Jerene Sykes

Keith and the lovely Jerene Sykes last night after an awesome opening performance at War Memorial Auditorium. Keith sounded absolutely great and was a hit with the sell-out crowd. Look for Keith http://www.keithsykes.com/ to tour in the coming weeks with his "World Tour of I-40" Tour dates are still being added so watch his web site for a town near you! Trust me he is not to be missed! Listen to this link http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4583390 for a recent interview on NPR with John Prine talking about a song they wrote together for John's GRAMMY-WINNING cd!

Mac to Be Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame!

Our old friend Mac McAnally. http://www.macmcanally.com/
You can see my ticket stub from 1978. Mac opened that show for John Prine. I remember that show like it was last night. I was standing in a plastic chair with steel legs with my elbows on the stage during the whole performance. At the time I was just getting started in school at Mississippi State University in Starkville. I remember also attending a Jimmy Buffett show where Mac performed so I was getting used to hearing his name. Why am I telling you all this? Well read on, Mac is making quite a splash in Nashville.
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF) is pleased to announce this year’s Hall of Fame inductees: from the Songwriter category, hit country tunesmiths Mac McAnally and Bob DiPiero; and from the Songwriter/Artist category, iconic bluegrass duo Flatt & Scruggs and country/Southern rock superstar Hank Williams, Jr. A tie during the voting process resulted in two inductees from the Songwriter/Artist category instead of one. In recognition of her extraordinary career achievements, gospel music legend Dottie Rambo will be honored with special induction at the direction of the NaSHOF board.
The five new inductees will officially join the elite songwriting fraternity at the 38th Annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony on October 14 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
“We extend to all of these fine writers and artists our heartiest congratulations,” said Roger Murrah, Chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation. “They have honed their craft to perfection. For a writer who is connected to the Nashville music community, there is no higher honor than induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.”
There are 162 current members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Hank Williams, Sr. and Hank Williams, Jr. are the only father/son members, and Hank Williams, Sr. was inducted in the charter group of 1970. Flatt & Scruggs are the fourth artist duo to be inducted, joining the Delmore Brothers, the Louvin Brothers and the Everly Brothers. Dottie Rambo is the tenth woman to join the prestigious group.
Congratulations to our friend Mac McAnally!

Jackson Browne.

http://www.jacksonbrowne.com

I took this picture the night I headed to the North Carolina Coast. My favorite destination or maybe one of them. Ocean Isle Beach. An afternoon with the Durham Bulls and some good food, then the number one Pollstar venue in the United States, the Durham Performing Arts Center.
I had to pick this show as the one I really wanted to see was a conflict with a recent travel to Mississippi. I was happy to be close to the Jackson Browne action again and see Sara Watkins open the show. I had seen Sara before open with John Prine a bit ago. She was half of the Nickel Creek group and she is very good. Jackson really likes her. I have some really close shots of her signing my cd and smiling to all the people buying her cd. That was very cool.

Jackson was his usual self. He had a set list but he did not stick to it. Before the show started I met a guy two seats from me who had shook Jackson's hand two nights before in Richmond. He ended up relaying four songs to Jackson to play. The whole thing was awesome. One of the songs relayed was "Shakey Town." Jackson said "You want to hear Shakey Town?" His band had no idea as they had not practiced this one...but they are so talented they played it anyway...

I should mention this song was written by Danny Kortchmar. I shook his hand at a somewhat recent Carole King and James Taylor show. He rocks the guitar. Too bad he dropped off as a Facebook friend due to his popularity!

Here is a video link to a guitar version. We had a piano version. It was awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW1QmBOqWS0


I've witnessed those one night stands
Must have played in a thousand bands
But I'm just here tonight, tomorrow I'll be gone
Seen folks show their blacker sides
Seen them die just for foolish pride
And those drivers always ask to hear that same old song
That's a big ten-four
From your back door
Just put that hammer down
This young man feels
Those eighteen wheels
That keep turning 'round to take me down to Shaky Town
I've heard all those hard luck tales
From all of you U.S. males
I've heard you tell those lies about the love you've know
And I've followed those highway signs
And I've run down those thin white lines
Like those drivers this old road is all I call my own
That's a big ten-four
From your back door
Just put that hammer down
This young man feels
Those eighteen wheels
That keep turning 'round to take me down to Shaky Town

(c) 1978 KORTCHMAR MUSIC

Back to the Booth Amphitheatre!

http://www.boothamphitheatre.com/ (you can click on the pictures to enlarge them)

Back at the amphitheatre, yeah that's what they call it and that's how they spell it...in Cary, North Carolina. Of course I have always said Cary stands for "Containment Area for Relocated Yankees."
OK so it is Raleigh. Call it what you want. They have great shows, it is a fabulous venue, and I always have awesome conversations with nice people I have never met before at every show. This place is really beautiful as it sits in a wooded area and at night the frogs sing as loud as the music after the show from the adjacent water.

I should take this moment to remind Al Bunetta that I told him about this place. A few years back I was discussing hiring John Prine for a benefit concert in Cary. Al says "We'll never fill the place. Too Big, I gotta' run." Two months later he sold the place out. He must have picked the phone up and called as soon as I hung up. 'Nuff said. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Pajamas_Records

Bonnie Raitt.

My ticket from last night. As I said there are no pictures only stories. And the stories are so long I cannot tell them all here. http://www.bonnieraitt.com/

Bonnie came out last night and she still looks the same as the last time I saw her. Hell, she still looks the same as the first time I saw her thirty-two years ago. The best part about last night was I was eight feet from her, the first time I was in the balcony watching her and Lyle Lovett play on a stage at UNC Chapel Hill so long ago. . Last night she was all smiles and she looked like she was twenty-five years old. Ok so there is a winkle in her face. On November 8th she will be sixty years old. All I can say is it looked like she jumped into those jeans and any guy in his right mind would be doing flips to hang out with her for an evening. The best part? She plays that Strat like a master. And her voice is off the meter. She rocks! I wish I had a picture of those roses a guy threw her last night. She smiled and held them tight. I am glad he gave them to her. Very nice.

I never tire of listening to Bonnie. I have been listening for most of her career. This is because she was always hanging with my favorite bands like Little Feat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO3ZMdcL8Pc people like jackson Browne, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6AgpzsnHo8 Stevie Ray, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mylo0piAgc on and on. Not to mention the fact that her voice is a one of a kind - this generation. Oh yeah and as you know she plays guitar like a blues master.

Bonnie played a song she recently recorded which was written by Randall Bramlett last night. She asked how many people had been to New Orleans since Katrina. I raised my hand given my love for the town. She said something about Jazzfest smoking...and yes I agree...Then she broke into the song...

God was in the water that day
Pickin' through the roots and stones
Trippin' over sunken logs
Tryin' not to make his presence known

God was in the water that day
Wadin' in careful steps
Bubbles risin' from his feet
Comin' up from the muddy depths

Castin' out a line
Castin' out a line to the shadows
Castin' out a line but no one's biting

I should add that I saw something last night that made me think about how this lady performs. As I stood there so close I really watched her every move. At times as she explained the song she was about to do she would get almost in a mood to do it. Almost like an actor. She really feels the emotion of the song when she sings it. That is a sign of a performer that has figured out how to pull off a great song. Even John Prine has said many times "Angel from Montgomery is "Bonnie's song." Last night I heard her sing the opening acappella and I thought...yes it really is her song. Yes it is.

Bonnie was on last night and I was really glad I was there. The stage at this venue resonates the audience feedback. She noticed that last night and mentioned it twice. Everyone who plays that stage says that. You can see the performers light up and crank up the show. It is such a cool experience to feel that.

If you go surf pages of up-coming female artists they aways say something like oh "She sounds like Bonnie Raitt" as if this is the pinnacle of what a female artist should be. Well maybe it is. If you can play like that and have the voice she does, maybe you can make it in a tough music world today.

What can I say about last night? Well I saw many great pictures I didn't take, many smiles, a great performance, some awesome slide guitar, a few masters at work, a great crowd, a cool place, and a great show. I certainly plan to see Bonnie again. She was fantastic.

A quick story. As we in the crowd were exchanging stories before the show which I must add is one of my favorite parts of a show....anyway...we were talking about Robert Palmer for a moment. The last song last night was an unrehearsed version of "Bad Case of Loving You" which was pre-ceeded by Randall Bramlett playing sax on Jr. Walker and the All-stars' "Road-Runner." Did I mention I had a great time last night?

Doctor, doctor give me the news
I've got a bad case of lovin' you
No pill's gonna cure my ill
I've got a bad case of lovin' you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNLfQkHQlE8

http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Junior%20Walker.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ek1UslvFps

'Nuff said. until next time, I will see you down the road.

Malcolm Holcombe!

http://www.malcolmholcombe.com/

Malcolm Holcombe last Saturday night at the Evening Muse in Charlotte. http://www.theeveningmuse.com/ This venue is an intimate place right in the heart of a part of Charlotte now called NODA. That would be "North Davidson Street" which is about three miles north of up-town Charlotte. Yeah that's what they call it here...up-town, never downtown...You say downtown in Charlotte and everyone knows you are not from around here.

Malcolm played to a very attentive crowd seated in chairs and standing along the window glass in the front of the venue. It was a nice selection of songs from a guy who has spent most of his time in Western North Carolina. After the show was over he was walking towards the door when a fan asked him about his song 'Dressed in White." He seemed to really like her knowledge of his music so he sat his guitar case down and opened it. He sat down in a chair and played the song to her right there. I thought that was pretty cool. Here's a like to the song if you want to hear it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGp4DVg1Xtw&feature=related

I asked Malcolm about the song "Killing the Blues." I told him I really like that song. Many people have covered it and I recently found out that it was written by Rowland Salley. Malcolm told me that as soon as I started talking about the song. He knows his music for sure. These days everyone from Robert Plant to John Prine has covered that song. Cool stuff.

Here are the links. This song is off the meter.

The Allison Krause and Robert Plant version. I love this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtpeLia33PY

Here is Malcolm's version. I love this one too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZSGs-7jvHw

Go check out Malcolm if you get a chance, he is a real talent. I need to go get another round of his live music...


"Killing the Blues"

Leaves were falling, just like embers,
In colors red and gold, they set us on fire
Burning just like moonbeams in our eyes.

Somebody said they saw me, swinging the world by the tail
Bouncing over a white cloud, killing the blues.

Now I'm guilty of something...
I hope you never do
Because there is nothing
Any sadder than losing yourself in love.

And then you've ask me... just to leave you
To set out on my own
And get what I needed.
You want me to find what I've already had.

Todd Snider Rocks the Pour House Last Night!!!

Todd Snider last night at The Pour house in Raleigh. Man the crowd roared for this guy! A fabulous show that started with Marshall Chapman opening. Todd played all of his best songs along with a few from his just-released cd called "The Devil You Know" He told some really cool stories including the background behind "If Tomorrow Never Comes" a song about a guy who wrote the song "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and was the same guy who ripped-off his famous "Beer Run" song. ...a long and funny story...After hearing the story it really makes the song come alive on the new cd. Todd was "on" last night. I have seen him a few times in various settings, the most recent in Greensboro opening for John Prine where I was standing in front of the mike stand all night. This show as far better as he looked great, sounded really good, and threw those lyrics out like no one except Todd can. If you haven't seen him do a show you have really missed out, so get out there soon and see him. Here is a link to a site that has some extra pictures taken by Jim McKelvey http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=637060 from last night. I am such a Todd fan that I subscribe to his mail list and us rabid fans are very active at supplying setlists, tour dates, pictures, and cool stories. Thanks to Jim for the great pictures...I was down front with my small Canon camera and I really didn't do all that great with my photos! A great place - that Pour House. Great selections of Brew and the price is right. No smokin' ... Shhh signs everywhere, and really nice people. Right on Raleigh. 'Double Wide Blues, who who who who who...thanks Todd you rock.

As I was putting my Warren Haynes Christmas Jam ticket in my book of ticket stubs...yes I have kept them from every show that issued a ticket since the early 1970's ...I saw these picks and thought they would make a cool picture. (L to R) This is the Herco pick Stephen Stills gave me in Greensboro at a show...the story is below under his picture, the next one came from John Prine in Greensboro last year, and finally Peter Mayer
( http://www.petermayer.com/) gave me this pick in Raleigh in 1998 at a Club Trini performance.

Keith Sykes and me in the green room before his show in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. We had just finished an interview for my show and he was getting ready to go on stage. Keith has a brand new cd "All I Know" and features Jerry Jeff Walker helping him on one of the tracks on it. I suggest you go to his web site and buy a copy right now. His last cd 'Don't Count Us Out" is also one of the best. I really like the duets with John Prine and Iris Dement. Keith is a nice guy and a co-writer of the Buffett songs "Volcano" and "The Last Line." Check his web site out at: http://www.keithsykes.com/