Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Branford Marsalis Quartet - Live 2003

Branford Marsalis and Friends to Benefit the North Carolina Symphony

The name Branford Marsalis radiates all things jazz, along with a certain level of pop celebrity from his days leading the house band on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He also known for an extreme level of cool created by his work with a host of noted musicians including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead.

Branford's experiences as a young musician were intense. He cut his teeth under the tutelage of drummer Art Blakey, virtuoso keyboardist Herbie Hancock and vibraphonist / band leader Lionel Hampton. He later went on to create the Branford Marsalis Quartet, which still stands today as one of the best modern jazz groups to come around since the golden days of jazz. Marsalis now rests comfortably as one of the most prolific and in-demand saxophonists around.

June 8th, Marsalis is gathering an all-star crew of musicians - including jazz pianist Joey Calderazzo, old-time string band Big Medicine, gospel vocalist Tina Morris-Anderson and other North Carolina musicians for a concert to benefit The North Carlina Symphony. This will be an unforgettable night, not to be missed by jazz lovers and supporters of our amazing NC Symphony. Tickets are available at www.ncsymphony.com , and through ticketmaster.com

Monday, May 24, 2010

Martin Sexton Can't Stop Thinking About You

Martin Sexton @ The Lincoln Theater June 6th

Singer songwriter and vocalist of the highest order, Martin Sexton is performing at The Lincoln Theater in Raleigh June 6th. I've had the pleasure of seeing him perform twice before and I swear on all that is holy : this man can sing like the sun shines. The content sways from rock to blues with hints of gospel and country and leans toward the religious at times. Sexton uses his vocal super powers to improvise guitar solos through the microphone and his pipes - not the guitar strings. I strongly recommend picking up a copy of his first live album, Live Wide Open to get a taste of the magic he creates on stage alone. He is currently promoting his latest studio effort Sugarcoating. Don't miss this opportunity to hear and see one of the most earthshaking singers around today.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Front Porch Sofa @ The Cave to benefit The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center


Jeff Bradford and I have a few things in common. The first and more pleasant being an insatiable love for music, the second and much gloomier commonality is that we both have survived brain cancer. His music is partly inspired by his journey through life with a brain tumor, but also by his life experiences with love, hate, and everything in between. His band, Front Porch Sofa will headline with support from Rachel Van Slyke and The Black Cadillacs. Attending this concert at The Cave Thursday night will not only expose you to spectacular music, your presence and donations will be used toward brain tumor research at The Preston Robert Tisch Center at Duke. Be at the Cave in Chapel Hill by 7:30.


Thursday, May 13, 2010

Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie 1971

The Neil Diamond All Stars @ Cat's Cradle Friday Night, Drivin' and Cryin' at The Pour House, Schooner Saturday night at The Cave

Cover bands come and go, usually evoking a cheap remembrance of the sensation the band being covered once delivered. It's usually pretty sad too. A group of grown men devoted to recreating an REO Speedwagon concert. Or even worse the experience of seeing Bad Company in their hey day. Well, The Neil Diamond All Stars are the exception to the rule. Their shows bring out something magical and indescribable- even if you don't like Neil Diamond. Not only will you hear a killer "Cracklin' Rosie" and "Sweet Caroline," the showmanship of this group will leave you breathless. Check them out at the Cat's Cradle this Friday night.

Also this Friday : Drivin' and Cryin' is performing at the Pour House in Raleigh with Dex Romweber Duo.

Saturday: Schooner is playing The Cave in Chapel Hill with Wages and The Tomahawks.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Oatmeal Conspiracy



Last evening I wandered into The Pour House to see some friends and whatever band happened to be on stage. I was pleasantly surprised by the infectious sounds of The Oatmeal Conspiracy. Lead singer and sax player Mitchell Morton's refreshing vocals reminded me of The Long Winters' John Roderick, while bassist Matt Levine and drummer Brett Conner's ryhtyms made TOC something all their own. Check out Part of the Package on i-tunes or pick up a copy at their next show.

Listen : Spring has Sprung

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Amelias Mechanics @ The Pour House 5-12

Tomorrow night the Pour House in Raleigh welcomes from Nashville, Amelia's Mechanics. This bio was attached to their promotion email and I was impressed. From what it sounds like, this is not to be missed.

BRIEF BIO:
Amelia's Mechanics is fronted by Greensboro, NC singer-songwriter's Molly McGinn and Molly Miller, and backed by a talented group of musicians out of Nashville, TN. Despite what the oil-and-iron name might suggest, the women of Amelia's Mechanics swap that toughness for a more urban, sophisticated take on Americana music, using luxuriating harmonies and classical swells to temper their lyrical frustrations with love and life. The instrumentation and vocal harmonies of Amelia's Mechanics result in a genre-busting sound best described as "vintage country with a moonshine concerto." The band released their debut album "North, South," produced by Jim Avett (father, The Avett Brothers,) in February of 2010 to critical acclaim and embarked on an inaugural spring tour to the delight of audiences all across the southeastern United States. Amelia's Mechanics will begin recording a follow-up album this summer in Asheville, NC at the wonderful Echo Mountain Studios (whose client list includes Smashing Pumpkins, The Avett Brothers, Band of Horses) with Grammy-winning producer Steven Heller and fellow Greensboro, NC singer-songwriter Laurelyn Dossett at the helm. A release date has not been set for the new album

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

This Week

Tonight Cat's Cradle Welcomes The Album Leaf, one of many bands to arise from the early 2000's which brought a digitally peppered post-techno sound, ambient enough for acupuncturists office-play, but danceable. Iceland's Sigor Ros was a forerunner for this genre which is still going strong and becoming more fascinating as technology expands exponentially.

Also appearing at Cat's Cradle:


Friday May 7th Durham's own Megafaun with Mount Moriah and Great White Jenkins

Tues May 11th Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings

Wed May 12th Caribou