Support Live Music....
On Halloween a year ago, I saw
Robert Randolph and the Family Band at a club in Washington, D.C.
This time there were no masks and no
wet T-shirt contest winner.
The
Music Farm was packed Saturday night with RR fans and most knew what to expect.
This was my 5th or 6th (7th?) time enjoying the talented musicians and the evening of fast-paced dance fun they present. Cousin Danyel on bass was in fine voice.
I knew 15-20 ladies would be invited up on stage to "Shake Their Hips" and 1 or 2 local guitarists would have an opportunity to play a song as
The Man backed them on his pedal steel guitar or a 6-string.
Yep, all that happened.
Lots of new songs were added to my favorites from over the years.
Robert
"marched" and
"came to shout." This night he did not stand, kick over his chair and demonstrate the proper way to dance to his music.
The night before I drove to Myrtle Beach for a House of Blues evening with
Los Lonely Boys.
Well worth the drive!
The Grammy-winning Texican Trio of brothers took over the stage and had the crowd on its feet for more than 2 hours.
Henry Garza showed his impressive guitar chops while brother Jo-Jo backed with his 6-string bass.
Brother Ringo pounded the drums and added vocals to the smooth harmony. And, yes, that IS his actual name.
Destined at birth to be a Texas drummer.
It would appear that
HOB has eased its policy on banning cameras and cell phones that take pictures and videos.
(Please click on the photos for more details.)
Photoshop helped me create my imaginary sea of lighted cell phones.
It's actually not that far fetched!
Labels: Cousin Danyel, Henry Garza, HOB, Jo Jo Garza, Los Lonely Boys, Music Farm, Ringo Garza, Texican Trio of brothers
Backstage Pass!
Behind-the-scenes. Finally!
I returned to my native Charleston in '93 and discovered the
MUSIC FARM about 3-4 owners ago.
Have attended shows there for years and years.
Working at the paper, I really had no reason - or justification - to request a Media Pass.
I retired 7 years ago and started writing this blog a few years later.
I enjoy a local trio
THE DEFILERS and their Punkabilly/country sound.
Arleigh Hertzler, guitar & lead vocals, was great playing at The Mill but I can't take all the cigarette smoke there.
He said
"Chuck, we're playing The Music Farm in August."
I put it on my calendar.
Arleigh arranged for me to come up the stairs and enter the Green Room where many of my favorite players hung out.
I looked out the window, down at the stage. Just as Robert Randolph and Jimbo Mathus had done.And Little Feat and Acoustic Syndicate.
I passed on through (it really
IS painted green) and quietly went down the backstage stairs.
Stickers were plastered all around of other bands who had played Charleston.
Painted arrows pointed the way back to the Green Room or out to the stage. Often this area is darkened and lighted only by a stagehand with a small flashlight, directing performers.
I peeked around the corner and stuck out my camera.
Awesome view.
It certainly was worth the wait. Thanks Arleigh.
Play well.
(Click on the photos for more detail. Welcome to the Backstage Tour.)Listen responsibly (ear protectors!)Thanks for humming along. Come back soon.
Labels: Acoustic Syndicate, Bare Knuckle Champions, Bo Stevens, Jimbo Mathus, Music Farm, Papenhausen, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, The Defilers Little Feat
"Poster Boy" for the Blues...
Sure, I saw the poster when I came in.
I knew
Charlie was playing that night so I just gave it a cursory glance.
Good crowd at
Home Team on Sullivan's Island for a Tuesday.
Didn't really know what to expect on a "school night" when people had to get up and go to work the next day.
Well...not ALL of us still do that.
Being retired is good especially if you go to late night events.
I've been to the Music Farm on a Sunday when the main band didn't even take the stage until midnight. Yikes! And I was still working back then.
Anyway, Charlie was to play at the West Ashley Home Team the next night on Wednesday so I was sure there was another poster around.
I took a closer look and said
"Duh. Wait a minit..that's MY picture of Charlie."Yes, it was back on July 13, 2010 when I saw him for the second time.
I remembered how he lurched around the stage a lot in constant motion and would weave back and forth, in and out of the spotlight. Tough to photograph.
But I had caught him at a
"peak action" moment and liked how it had turned out.
So I sent a copy to Gary Erwin, the blues producer who had booked him into Charleston.
Gary agreed it was a good one and sent it on to Charlie.
As they say...the rest is musical history.
My first poster art.
(Click on the photo for more detail. I added a Photoshop filter to my shot to accentuate the grainy, artistic effect but the action is what stands out. Oh, and his music!) Thanks for stopping by. Support live music..go to a late night show.
Labels: Charlie Sayles, Gary Erwin, Home Team - Sullivan's Island, Music Farm, out on a school night, peak action, stage lighting challenge, The Blues Disciples, Tony Fazio
Photography is light .....
Taking pictures at a music concert is a challenge.
First, there might be a sign saying "No Flash Photos."
Well, I try to shoot natural light so that's not the main problem.
The
Pour House has GREAT sound. But, sometimes I am "fighting" the light man.
Changing the lights suddenly is not good. Or flashing them in your eyes. Dimming the lights - ouch! Hard to calculate exposure.
The
Music Farm has great lighting.
There's a balcony level on each side too. Gives different views.
Still, the BEST concert experience is down on the floor.
Being jostled by dancers. Drinks spilled on you. Arms pumping the air excitedly blocking your shots.
Usually, the brighter the stage, the more detail of faces in the crowd.
Shows at major venues are often so well lighted, you can have your camera set same as a regular sunny day.
Then you can freeze action at 1/200 sec.
THAT'S a "light day" at work for me.
(Click on photos for more detail.
Taj Mahal at the Pour House was SRO so more of a challenge shooting from back of the room.
Acoustic Syndicate set up additional flashing lights.
April Mary was an opening act at Music Farm.) Thanks for stopping in.
Labels: Acoustic Syndicate, April Mary, light show, Music Farm, PoHo, Pour House, Taj Mahal Trio
15 Seconds of Fame...
Musicians occasionally invite people to join them on stage for a few minutes.
Sometimes a guy is offered a chance to play his guitar.
But, usually it's the ladies who climb up to dance.
Some look embarrassed. Some are pretty good.
Every now and then, one steals the show!
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings exploded their 60s & 70s Funk/Soul sound at the Music Farm Friday night. Sharon nodded to security to allow a half dozen fans to share her stage for a few moments to wiggle and shake.
The last dancer REALLY worked it!
Sharon brought her 8-piece band - and two back-up singers - to Charleston and packed the Farm.
The music pounded almost non-stop. For two solid hours.
The wildly enthusiastic crowd clapped and shouted as Ms. Jones channeled
James Brown and other R&B stars.
Lots of his songs. Many of his moves. More than matching his high energy. Yikes.
My Funky needs were fulfilled.
(Click the pix for details. It was great leaning against the front of the stage at the Farm as Sharon worked it back and forth. I was exhausted! Thanks for checking out my 401st entry.)
Labels: Dap-Kings, funk/soul, James Brown, Music Farm, Sharon Jones
A Moment To Unwind....
Wow, Spoleto-Piccolo just keeps coming at you. And I'm only barely involved.
Two nights of great Blues at
DoughRe-Mi in Mt. Pleasant.
This was followed by two nights of Gypsy Jazz and Gypsy Swing at
Charleston Music Hall and upstairs at Mistral.The next night was smooth jazz and the next was back-to-back LOL comedy acts at
Theatre 99.Oh boy..a fantastic Punk Rock musical (I always carry my own ear plugs) and then my calendar noted "time out."
Skip to the next evening, ukulele at
The Cistern got me fired up again,
followed by Miss Tess Sunday at
Tin Roof.
The crowd (top photo) loved Little Feat at the
Music Farm and, last night, I was back to festival fare: The Matt Walsh Blues Trio (two Matts and a Roger) at
The Mill.
They had played two earlier sets downtown at
Mad River and were "relaxing" with another two sets near Park Circle.
Tonight I'll see Tab Benoit (Ben-WAH) at the
Pour House.
Am I the only one who actually schedules a "time out" on their calendar during Spoleto?
Labels: Little Feat, Matt Walsh, Miss Tess and The Bon Tons, Music Farm, Pour House
The BIG 200th ....
I wanted something REALLY special to write about for my
200th posting on this blog.
Wow.
"Squirrel Nut Zippers" at the Music Farm the other night.
What a rollicking, bounce around, toe-tappin', foot-stompin' good time. Found myself in the middle of the dance floor as bodies gyrated to the music and swirled all around me. Jimbo Mathus had 'em dancing in the aisles - and every where else.
There even was a Conga line snaking through the crowd.
Over in Mt. Pleasant, at A Dough Re Mi, a last minute venue change brought us
Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band for even more foot pounding music.
The Rev's wife - Breezy Peyton - attacked her washboard with a passion and her gloved hands were flying with thimbles on her finger tips. Brother Jayme was on drums.
The last time the trio from Indiana was in Charleston, they played at the Map Room.
"We must of had 200-250 people there. That was a really great place to play."Their new CD is titled
"Whole Fam Damnily."Labels: 200th posting, Jimbo Mathus, Music Farm, Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band, Squirrel Nut Zippers, whole fam damnily
Honor Thy Father....
The 17th Annual Charleston
Blues Bash is winding down and, as I look back, I see I kept active: my printed programs shows I enjoyed 17 of the 43 performers offered.
The son of
Muddy Waters -
Big Bill Morganfield - qualifies as the person with the
most colorful message added to a stringed musical instrument.
It was a show of fatherly pride as he channeled his daddy keeping the Robert Johnson blues tradition message alive.
My enjoyment of the Bash was briefly interrupted with a trip up to Columbia midweek to catch
Billy Joel who's a legend in his own musical field. The hall was packed yet included a few "young" people ... probably grandchildren. And, Yes, he finished the 2 1/2 hour concert with
Piano Man.
Back in Charleston, another sold out crowd pleaser was
Leon Russell at the Pour House on Maybank Highway.
Last seen here at the "old" Cumberlands, his long white hair and beard looked the same and that gravely, twangy Okie sound was still strong. And we all still needed subtitles.
By spreading the Blues Bash around to 17 venues, many people were introduced to new places as well as old favorites. Home Team BBQ is a newcomer and enjoyed some good crowds as did Sesame in North Charleston.
The Med deli - Med Bistro had steady business when I stopped by several times and Mimi's on James Island charmed a lot of people with its creekside setting.
The 3 Lions Pub at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island paired local favorite
Smoky Weiner and The Hot Links with a Blues Doctor from Paris, France. In an upscale British Pub.
I'll relax tonight by going to the Music Farm for
Robert Randolph and the Family Band. This is one of my favorite groups. Maybe I'll see you there?
Labels: Big Bill Morganfield, Blues Bash, Leon Russell, Muddy Waters, Music Farm, pot, Robert Randolph, Smoky Weiner. Music Farm
On Halloween a year ago, I saw Robert Randolph and the Family Band at a club in Washington, D.C.
Well worth the drive!
It would appear that HOB has eased its policy on banning cameras and cell phones that take pictures and videos.
