Last weekend, rising band, NeedToBreathe, filled any and all space in the Exit/In with their tight melodic rock sound.
The South Carolina band, which includes brothers Bear and Bo Rinehart, moved effortlessly from straight rock and pop to Southern tinged blues. Their well crafted songs and energetic stage presence got the room moving while showing the band’s musical abilities without seeming to show off.
Going into the venue Saturday night, I was only familiar with one song. Our local progressive Rock Radio Station (wrlt.com) recently placed “More Time” off of the band’s release, The Heat into their on-air rotation.
Although a band that falls into the Christian music genre, they are basically a band that happens to be made up of believers. And yes, that influence is very obvious in most of their songs. BUT, NeedToBreathe is not sloughing. They have worked to bring artistry to their work and have made their songs pretty accessible to just about anybody.
NEW YORK (AP) — Another Super Bowl, another rock 'n' roll superstar at halftime.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform at this year's Super Bowl halftime show in Tampa, Fla., the NFL and NBC announced Sunday night.
Continuing a run of major talent that has lately included the Rolling Stones, U2, Paul McCartney, Prince and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the biggest television event in the nation will showcase one of its most beloved rock 'n' roll artists. The Super Bowl will be played Feb. 1 at Raymond James Stadium.
Last year's halftime show was watched by more than 148 million viewers in the U.S., the NFL said in its release. It wasn't always that way: For years, the game's halftime show was made up of local and college marching bands and drill teams.
Chubby Checker in 1988 was the first popular musician to perform at halftime, and Michael Jackson upped the ante in 1993. His sister Janet provided the show's most infamous moment with 2004's "wardrobe malfunction" — and the show has stuck with straight ahead rock acts ever since. On the Net:
I like being employed - i really do -- but NOT when David Bryne is doing an in-store right down the road from me.
My job just didn't get it -- they didn't understand that i needed an extended lunch break in order to stand in a crowded record store and stare at him...and possibly babble something about him being one of my musical heroes.
He freaking road his bike to Grimey's, talked with people and signed stuff.
I am not normally starstruck, but he is different. Byrne chose to take musical chances when others were living safe. He "stopped making sense" long time ago.
His people called the store to ask if it was OK for him to stop by and do an in-store...and I had to freaking work!!!!
BUT...peeps I know were there....and peeps I know talk about how nice and humble a man he is.
Heal For The Honey, Brooke Waggoner’s first full length cd has finally been released and has proven to be a fantastic follow-up to her acclaimed ep, Fresh Pair of Eyes, which was offered as a free, ear tickling, download beginning in July 2007.
Waggoner, a Louisiana native, who studied classical piano, went to LouisianaStateUniversity to study Music Composition & Orchestration with hopes of one day having a career in scoring soundtracks and musicals. That all changed when she started attending live concerts while in school. There, she was introduced to a whole new world of music other than the classical compositions of her youth.
It’s not often that I find it hard to take a disc out of my cd player; Heal For The Honey is one of the exception. With songs that are at once reflective and playful, I keep going back to find another little treasure that I may have missed in my first 100 listens.
What I truly like about Heal For The Honey is that Brooke Waggoner does not sound like the thousands of other girl singers that I can pluck off of any store shelf.She has artfully blended classical and pop influences while masterfully blending her voice and piano in a stirring record that will long be remembered.
The couple, who were married in April and now live in France, is on a short American tour celebrating their new self produced, self titled album on Stiff Records.
Although Eric and Amy shared the stage and sang together, the feel Thursday evening was more of a collaborative effort than of a duet act. They have found a way to play together while highlighting one another’s strengths.
Amy Rigby has been known in recent years as a quiet folky singer/songwriter while Eric has a reputation for being ranty and edgy. The chemistry between the two works though. The enjoyment that they have for one another is evident. Even as surly as Eric can be, he softens when talking about his wife. It’s very sweet.
I learned new ways for words that start with *F* and heard the proper use of wanker. Now I need to find a way to fit my new education into my daily life. ;)
“Got Myself A New Mantra: Don’t Forget To Have A Good Time”.
A copy of Ani DiFranco’s new release made it into my hands earlier this week and I have been trying to absorb it ever since.
Along with the title track which brings to mind the troubles in New Orleans, Red Letter Year, the newest offering from Ani DiFranco, tackles love, life, celebration, politics, and the life long struggle of learning to accept oneself as is.
There is simplicity to Red Letter Year as DiFranco discovers the joys found in loving and letting go. It finds the Maverick Folky hopeful and relaxed. It is a laid back, well produced, and intimate Ani DiFranco. This is an Ani who has learned in the past two years that you don’t always have to yell or beat others over the head to get your point across. This is Ani the mother, Ani in love, Ani contented.
Have no fear, this quieter Ani is still denouncing sexism, consumerism, and the Iraq conflict. She is just talking this time instead of yelling.
Co-produced by DiFranco’s partner Mike Napolitano, Red Letter Year was recorded in New Orleans and carries that favor throughout with tasteful inclusion of orchestrations that color many of the tracks, most notably the reprise of ‘Red Letter Year’, which closes the disc.
The Rebirth Brass Band was called upon to add joyous instrumentation to these songs of renewal. One can almost envision a party breaking out in the studio as the trombones, trumpets, and saxophones add celebratory punctuation to the stillness.
I am enjoying getting to know this Ani. It’s nice sitting down to chat for awhile.
The Industry Kicked the Writer’s asses…so what else is new? ;)
A quick stop was made to Grimey’s Outside sale and party where a few non-descript items were plucked out of the “take one” bins.
Hopefully one day soon, I will take the time to investigate them.
On the way home, I smiled happily while fantasizing about the sweet nap I planned to take right after wrapping up a few errands. This evening promises to be another very busy NBN ’08 event and I didn’t want the tired grumpies to take hold of me.
Saturday travels were nice since we only had to go to one venue for the entire evening – ok, technically two, but upstairs/downstairs…baby, that’s doable!
Once arriving at the Cannery, we caught Sam and Ruby mid-note into their set which was not scheduled to begin until 9pm. We later found out that some other scheduling issue forced the venue to push show time by 15 minutes.
Maybe it was the rush to stage, or just an off night, but I found Sam & Ruby’s performance a little rough. After hearing so much about this duo, I wanted to like them. The songs on their myspace caught my attention and begged me to find out more…then I did…and was disappointed.
Only knowing their music through word of mouth and the internet, I am unfamiliar with their song titles, but there were a few times during their set that I was hopeful…almost saying aloud, “Come on, you can do it…” only to be left flat once again.
I am hopeful enough to chalk it up to a bad night and plan to visit this band again. I just don’t want to give up that easily.
Brooke Waggoner was rushed to the stage soon after entering the Cannery Ballroom. Under the impression that she had a few minutes of breathing room before beginning, she appeared to be a little wide-eyed at first, but that all faded away as soon as she struck the first chords on her keyboard. The powerful WOW factor hushed the room as Ms. Waggoner presented her infectious classical-piano driven pop music.
Waggoner was engaging, sweet, risky, familiar, impressive, and memorable. Goodness woman! Keep up the awesome work!
The Mercy Lounge beckoned us upstairs for Erin McCarley’s thirty minute showcase. McCarley is quickly becoming one of Nashville’s singer/songwriter darlings with her cautious and fiery approach to music. Supported on keys by K.S. Rhoads, she appeared comfortable and shy on the stage, the mixture of which played out powerfully.
It is possibly the inconsistencies that play together so well for Erin McCarley. Even here, I have used descriptors such as Cautiously & Fiery, Comfortable & Shy to describe the musician and her music…they are so intertwined and add so much to the mysteries she reveals through her songs.
Fresh off of a short tour in Willie Nelson old bus, the tight little ensemble (minus Griffin House) hit The Cannery Ballroom stage utilizing one another as accompaniment for their solo songs.
The audiences’ sense of pride for this group of performers was almost palatable. They have done a great job, not only of representing their music, but also of representing Nashville.
Stand out performers for the evening were Jeremy Lister and an almost quiet K.S. Rhoads. Rhodesperformed The Bayonet and the Cigarette as his solo selection and had the crowd cheering from beginning to end. Lister appeared more confident this time around…like a light had been turned on…like he realized sometime recently that “Yeah, I can do this…”
A second wave of this group is scheduled to take to the road later this year. It is with happy anticipation that I await this promise to see the light of day.
Wrapping up NBN ’08 at the Cannery Ballroom were The Features, a band best known for their quirky new-age influenced pop. The front of the stage quickly filled with smiling, screaming, swaying, and singing underage girls – you know…the ones with the big black sharpie induced X’s etched onto the backs of their hands, who, it appears, are among the bands biggest fans. Watching the fans was almost as entertaining as watching the band – well, for a little while.
We stayed for a few songs then decided to beat the rush out of the parking lot.
From where I sat, Next Big Nashville 2008 was a great success. I am already looking forward to next year to see what will be offered to those of us lucky enough to live in this big ‘ol crazy music saturated town.
I am so excited about tonight’s NBN ’08 line-up. The shows I have been giddy about happen this evening.
Tonight, we began our trek at The Basement to check out Jennifer Niceley, an artist who summons up the spirits of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone right down to phrasing and tonality. It was hard to tell where Niceley’s influences ended and she began. Although she presented a well executed, laid-back set, I found myself desperately wanting to know the music of the nice young lady before me. She is one to watch…as soon as she finds her own skin.
What James lacks in vocal power, he more than makes up in accessibility. He has successfully broken down the dividing wall by making himself vulnerable through his lyrics and stage banter thus welcoming the audience into his world for at least a little while.
Soon after James tapped out his final note, we sprinted four blocks over and about 3 block down to The Cannery Ballroom/Mercy Lounge where we would be spending the remainder of the evening.
Paper Route took the stage very near their 10:15pm start time to a full room of eager listeners.
Playing music that can be loosely described as Electronic-Americana-Rock or any variation of those themes, Paper Route boldly shares their wounds, fears, struggles and hopes in a harmonious explosion of sound. Friday night, they laid bare their souls once more as we, the audience, nodded our heads in time to the music and in quiet recognition of our like vulnerabilities.
Lister transplanted to Nashville from Mississippi in 2003 in pursuit of his passion for making music. After setting up camp, he started playing writer’s nights until he finally caught the ear of a rep from Warner Brothers Records.
Jeremy appeared fit and ready to play to the packed room before him. The audience was captivated and sang along to his stand out performance of “Some Other Time”. His energetic performance was a great advertisement for his current EP, "Just One Day", while nodding toward his long anticipated full length CD due in 2009.
I have seen AutoVaughn a couple of times and they have never been a disappointment. One can tell instantly that the stage is where these gentlemen belong. Not only are they tight musically, they are just damn fun to watch. That is saying a lot for a band that seems to be playing somewhere every night of the week. They are doing what they are supposed to be doing and it shows.
The night closed with SuperDrag! Any complaints of tiredness were vanquished as soon as John Davis and company hit the stage.
I had forgotten about this band but was snapped back when songs like “Do the Vampire” were played and I found myself singing along.
Are old songs like riding a bicycle? Once you learn them, you never forget?
It was fun watching Tom Pappas, the man of endless energy, jump and duck-walk across the stage while Davis screamed and sang his self completely sweaty. It was beautiful and we loved it!
Day Two of NBN ’08 has come and gone and what a day it was.
My traveling companion and I begin the night relatively early by relaxing at Edgehill Studios and Café to take in the beautiful sounds of Chickamauga, Georgia native, Angel Snow. Presenting music described as "classic Americana folk with a modern edge", Snow is beginning to make a name for herself around Nashville.Her songs were like adding candlelight to the small Edgehill Studios stage.
Husband and wife duo, McClain took the stage after Angel Snow. Travis and Lindsey offered sweet harmonies wrapped around American/Folk melodies that brings to mind a coupling of Eastmountainsouth and Joshua Radin.
After making a stop to pick up a third party, we headed to 12th and Porter hoping to see Peter Bradley Adams but that wasn’t in the cards for us but we were able to catch Cassinoand their fun to watch, chair playing drummer.
Although Cassino’s songs were well executed, lack of distinction made their set sound like one long song. That said, this band does show promise and it is because of that promise that I am interested to see them after they work to add a little more variety into their song-smithing.
Going to the Anchor was the first festival roadblock my friends and I faced. The church venue was running behind schedule…about 30-45 minutes behind posted start times and we were soon to find out why – or at least little of why.
Whether it was the band or the sound engineers, thirty minutes was spent on sound check – a no-no in a festival atmosphere…‘fix it in the mix’ became the mantra of many in attendance. The wait coupled with lack of adequate air control forced a lot of people out of the doors before the first ‘true’ note was played…my friends and I left after 1 ½ songs in order to catch Megan McCormick at The Basement.
Entering mid-set, Ms. McCormick’s powerhouse performance redeemed the latter part of the evening for me. Her command of the stage and true knowledge of her songs held the attention of the audience who begged for more of her bluesy/rock presentation.
McCormick, backed by a band that is as connected to the music as she is, added an intimacy to the fire. McCormick is an artist to watch.
Matthew Perryman Jones closed out the evening with a rocking late night performance. Showing his gentle humility, Jones acknowledged the audience a few times for choosing to come out to support him when there were so many other artist to choose from who were playing in the city that night. We were rewarded, in a sense, by an appearance from former Toad the Wet Sprocket front man, Glen Philips, who took the stage at the end of Jones’ set and graced us with three tunes from the old days.I think I’m still smiling.
Friday is another day of jumping from venue to venue. Good thing I took the day off in order to catch up on my sleep.
Tonight was spent sitting at a table in 12th and Porter. Unheard of!!!
Kicking off the evening were Sandra McCracken and Derek Webb, husband and wife artist who mentioned that their time on stage was the first that they had been able to talk all day. In the midst of the set, Sandra reveled that she is four months pregnant.
Hearing about this couple for a long time through friends, I really wanted to enjoy their presentation more than I did. Maybe it was the build-up I had in my head from others that let me down or maybe it was how many times I counted Sandra saying “I’m Sorry” to Derek that marred the performance. A friend in attendance also brought this little observation up, so that let me know that I was not imagining it. All in all, I would like to sit in on a solo set from Sandra McCracken; she seems to have an observer’s eye which she translates almost effortlessly to the strings of her guitar.
Next up was California resident, Kyler England who was backed by Cincinnati duo, Ellery (Justin and Tasha Golden). England’s set was filled with enjoyable Acoustic Americana styled pop and cheerful stage banter. She mentioned a full length CD in the making as soon as her husband returns home from working with Prince…yeah, that royal one.
Not normally a fan of whisky voiced singers, I was captured by Matthew Ryan in a very strange set in which the sound engineer seemed to be having a beef with the night. Ryan’s sound and poetry survived amid an evening replete with sound issues and pissing contest.
After the set, I was able to acquire a copy of his latest release, “Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver States” and have found that if I put it in my cd player, it remains on for most of the evening. I hope to research his back catalog soon.
Ending the evening was reformed band, My Tyger, featuring Sam Ashworth with a set full of toe-tapping rock melodies accompanying Ashworth’s soulful vocals.
Next Big Nashville is a celebration of the diverse music and musicians who call Nashville home. Now in its third year, Next Big Nashville has once again assembled a wide array of artist representing craftsmanship that does not necessarily tip its hat to the country strummers and crooners that this city has become known for.
Boasting daytime conferences, after-parties, and music, music, music, Next Big Nashville (NBN) is scheduled to present a Keynote address from Ben Folds.
In its first year, there were only 36 featured showcase acts. This year will feature over 250 artists playing in about 16+ venues around town. The performers range from singer/songwriters, R&B, Rock, Hip-Hop, Americana, Blues, and the hard to describe. Musicians scheduled to appear include those who are mostly unknown to well established artist and bands. This should be an interesting weekend.
Not all of the artist scheduled to play this year’s showcases are Nashville residents but have some tie to the city in the form of management, co-writing experiences, or label presence.
Tomorrow night includes what I consider a NBN kick off party at 12th and Porter, a venue that is quickly becoming one of my favorites for live music in this city.
Les Kerr self describes his music as "Hillbilly Blues Caribbean Rock & Roll." His song, For the Love of Ole Miss, co-written with Bryan Cumming, is the official song of the University of Mississippi’s MomentUM Campaign.
Sarah Masen, an artist best known in the Contemporary Christian community began her set with selections from the Churches Hymnal. Now mother to three and wife to author David Dark, Masen released three independent eps in 2007 which were debuted at the Festival of Faith and Music at Calvin College in Michigan.
Singer and songwriter Julie Lee’s short set focused upon selections from her just released atmospheric 8-song EP entitled "Will There Really Be A Morning". A Nashville transplant from Maryland, Lee has seen her songs recorded by Alison Krauss and Pam Tillis.
Overall, this was a beautiful way to spend the first Saturday of the month. I am encouraged by DTP’s attention to the arts in our community and am looking forward to their next offering.
Last weekend, rising band, NeedToBreathe, filled any and all space in the Exit/In with their tight melodic rock sound. 
