The Sounds of Music....
Music is in the air in our city, at the usual places like CMH (Charleston Music Hall) but also scattered all around.
I try to get out and literally support live music at the Pour House, Tin Roof, and other venues.
It's a labor of love and I flinch when security taps me on the shoulder and says I can't use my camera at a show.
I point out I am complying with the rules as stated at the front door - not using flash and not videotaping performers.
Also stressing I have a point-and-shoot small travel camera that does NOT have removable lenses like a pro DSLR. I am not a threat!
I am told I can use my phone but not my camera. It's possible I have the ONLY camera in the place now that the ubiquitous cell phone has taken over.
The problem for me is my camera has an excellent zoom lens that lets me get in close to capture beads of sweat, glistening on a performer's face.
Cell phone cameras are improving almost daily but can't match that critical excellence quite yet.
I assume technology eventually will bring them to the point that a cell could attain the crisp clarity I now can achieve with my shirt pocket-size digital camera.
The two photos shown here so far were taken with my Smartphone.
Instead of staying in my seat and capturing Jonny Lang and his band the other night, I stood up and walked closer to the stage.
They were taking their final bow after a 2-hour show at this stop on their 2017 national tour,
In this instance, I "was" the zoom lens.
Earlier, seated and using my phone, it performed well because it did not need to "move in closer."
I wanted to capture the overall scene of the solo encore when Jonny came out alone and played 3 more songs.
Then, the rest of the band came back out and joined the encore.
The lighting was moody and excellent.
Quinn Sullivan, the young man and his band who was the opener, really dazzled the crowd, receiving frequent and prolonged well-deserved standing ovations.
He said it was his first trip to Charleston and he appreciated the warm audience reaction to his band and their music.
Lang mentioned how pleased he was with the success of Sullivan as the opener and advised us to keep alert as his popularity rises. "You will hear a lot from this young man," Lang added.
Last Saturday, I was surprised by an elaborate and colorful music DJ setting up at Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers in North Charleston.
I had just finished a mini-Brewery Crawl and was ready to dig into a pizza or Calzone.
Well, and a beer.
The Calzone was great, the beer was cold and the music was unexpected.
Later learned it was an after-party for
The Chainsmokers appearing that night at the Coliseum.
This is a
walk-to-it event held at the Mellow Mushroom, sponsored by
Yazoo Brewery.
Not a place to try for a quiet conversation but the fellow diners and party-goers seemed more than all right with it!
The party was to officially begin around 10 pm, after the show ended at the Coliseum and when the crowd started to arrive. As usual, I had my pro earplugs with me, so I slipped them in and enjoyed my meal.
The sound - and the lighting - was spectacular.
I wandered over to take a closer look at all the hardware it took to put on this show. There was a lot of it!
I also looked up some background on
Yazoo Brewery in Nashville, Tennessee. Very fitting because I had just visited four local breweries.
(Click on the photos and links for more details.)
Thanks for coming along on this musical interlude...and the after-party.
Labels: 500 mm zoom lens, calzone, cellphone vs camera, Jonny Lang, Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers of North Charleston, Quinn Sullivan, Security at CMH, The Chainsmokers after-party, Yazoo Brewing Company
A Downtown EXPERIENCE...
It's called the Jimi
Hendrix "Experience."
I've had "it" a few times before and even once in Washington, DC in Constitution Hall.
Chris "Whipper" Layton kept a steady beat for most of the show at the Gaillard Center last Sunday evening.
It was good to see Jonny Lang again.
His face showed he was really into his music.
It was fun trying to catch a special moment of his intensity with my camera.
And all this time I thought Buddy Guy had emotive facial tics as he played!
In fact, when they played side-by-side, it was great watching their interplay.
Buddy Guy did not do his famed walk through the crowd this time.
The Gaillard's 1800+ seats were sold out but most people were not seated, they were standing during the entire nearly three-hour show.
Anyone who was seated hopped to their feet as Zakk Wylde cornered the stage - both sides and in the middle - back and forth.
Then, he jumped from the stage and went up both aisles, playing like mad.
A crew member scampered behind Wylde, trying to keep the very, very long mic cord untangled.
You can see Zakk, playing in the midst of raised Smartphones, as he headed back down the aisle to get back onto the stage.
After waiting three years to be back in the hall, I am pleased with the diverse shows I have seen in this nice-sounding music center.
I was watching closely as Henri Brown sang and waited for the moment he would pop his eyes wide open and really connect with the audience.
These close-ups of facial expressions reminded me there have not been any
JumboTron screens at any of the shows I've seen so far.
I have been sitting down front, close to the stage, but I wonder about those patrons high up and far away in the balconies.
There was a large LED-lighted screen on stage but it acted as a moving background for the performers.
There probably is a formula for what needs to be added for optimum viewing in a venue. I have not seen large screens for the audience in use either at the PAC (Performing Arts Center) although many shows have used them at the Coliseum.
So, I'll keep trying the get seats very close to the stage.
I like being able to see the subtle twinkle in the eye as a performer connects with the crowd.
(Click on the photos and the links for more details.)
I wanted to add a close-up shot of Eric Johnson, with his lime green electric guitar.
And Kenny Wayne Shepherd as his hair whipped from side-to-side in rhythm with his music.
People in the back may not have noticed these details.
Welcome back Gaillard Center.
Keep on supporting live music!
Labels: Billy Cox, Eric Johnson, Henri Brown, Jimi Hendriks, Jonny Lang, Jumbotron LED screens, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Zakk Wylde
Psst, hey Buddy....
GO, Jonny, GO!
"Blistering" would be a good word to sum up the playing by
Jonny Lang a few nights ago at the PAC.
He was the opening act for Buddy Guy at the Performing Arts Center.
I had seen him before onstage with Buddy at a salute to Jimi Hendrix, also at this venue, about a year ago.
Some reviewer had written that Jonny "had mellowed" and had "backed off" his wild and exciting guitar work.
He has NOT. If you were there, you know that!
I've seen Buddy Guy half a dozen times and enjoy each and every concert.
Especially when he does his "Walkabout."
He moved through the crowd around the stadium at ChazzFest on Daniel Island.
On a freezing January night at his club in Chicago, I saw the floor had painted lanes that said "Do Not Stand Here"
He likes to come off the stage and mingle with his fans.
Bedlam ensues and flashes flash.
People stand and wobbily balance themselves on folding chairs to keep him in sight as he roams the audience in various venues.
I look forward to the
Buddy Guy Stroll.
He is so friendly and down-to-earth that crowds want to chat with him.
Shouting out comments. Yelling unintelligible
phrases.
Hootin' and hollering
.
He started a quiet work and then stopped and stared at one overly-talkative fan.
He waited. We waited. The fan kept yapping.
Buddy finally suggested the man "Shut the f*ck up."
Eventually it got quiet and Buddy told us a musical story in a soft voice.
It was very moving.
Then he gave a demo of various Blues Masters he liked and played some licks in their style.
You have to watch his face when he plays.
Constant interpretation of what he's playing. What he's feeling.
What the music does to him and to us.
While he was seated for a few acoustic songs, you noticed that even the wooden stool was painted with his patented polka dots.
He sang a song that highlighted his age.
"74 years young" was a proud recap of his life so far and I smiled because I too am 74... well, until April, when I turn 75.
Obviously, we both can say
Damn Right, I've got the blues
After he finished, he remarked
"Hmmm, I wrote that three years ago. Now I'm 77 years young."
At many clubs and concerts I look around
and feel I'm the oldest one there.
This night I am sure there were others around even older than I. All of us long-time fans of Buddy Guy.
He started strong when he came out and finished the same way almost an hour and a half later.
Great stamina.
A fine story-teller from a man who played with the best.
He told of auditioning for a dubious club owner in his early days who dropped coins in the jukebox and asked "Can you play like this?" as he chose different artists of the day.
Well, of course he could. And did.
Toward the end of the show, he said a young lady had approached him to ask if she could come onstage and play a song with him?
All the times I have enjoyed Buddy Guy shows, I had not seen this before.
Robert Randolph and The Family Band had agreed to having two guys come up and play with him at the Music Farm.
Buddy said he asked her - a young lady named Julie - if she could play really well?
She said yes so he called her out to share the stage.
The Lady and the Legend. Hope you were there.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
Did you read what was printed in the front of the polka-dotted drum set?
Damn right!
Labels: 74 Years Young, Buddy Guy, Buddy Guy Stroll, Jonny Lang, Julie, Lady and the Legend, polka dots, Shut up! Crowd noise
A Great (Jimi) Experience
Wow. What a musical line up.
A solid three hours salute to the musical genius of Jimi Hendrix.
Two performers I've seen many times are Buddy Guy and Robert Randolph.
Billy Cox, in the cowboy hat,
is the man who runs the 3-week 2012 traveling road show.
Billy was the bassist in two of Jimi's bands.
Of course Eric Gales, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jonny Lang brought their talents to the PAC stage Sunday night.
Hey, there was no ban on cameras.
And, I was sitting in the front row.
I have a batch of photos I'd like to share.
(Click on the photos for even more details.)
Two shows in a row security ignored those of us with cameras.
And, as Daniel Tosh would say, for that, we thank you.
Labels: Billy Cox, Buddy Guy, Chris Layton, Daniel Tosh, Eric Gales, Eric Johnson, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Mato Nanji, Robert Randolph
Playing Tribute to Jimi....
Going to see
Buddy Guy tonight at the Performing Arts Center.
I shot this picture last year at a free concert in Myrtle Beach.
Buddy is one of the world's leading guitarist playing tribute in a program saluting the musical genius of
Jimi Hendrix.
The
Experience Hendrix is led by Billy Cox, bassist for Jimi's band and tonight will feature Guy, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Randolph and others.
The lineup of the traveling 3-week tour varies from city-to-city and also includes several of my favorites
Keb' Mo' and
Taj Mahal who, unfortunately, won't be here tonight.
I was thinking just the other day that Charleston is overdue for a visit by Keb' Mo'.
Hopefully, sometime soon?
I saw "The Experience" a few years ago in Washington, DC at Constitution Hall and look forward to another exciting evening of music.
(Click on the pictures for a larger image.)
Support live music!
Let's keep 'em coming to Charleston.
(Did anyone else wake up an hour late this morning? We lost an hour but gained more sunshine.)
Labels: Billy Cox, Experience Hendrix, Jimi Henrdrix, Jonny Lang, Keb' Mo', Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal
The lighting was moody and excellent.
Later learned it was an after-party for The Chainsmokers appearing that night at the Coliseum.
