Live Music Reviews

The Felice Brothers Philadelphia Trocadero 5-16-13

You know one of those nights where you almost didn’t do something, and then you’re very glad you did?

Long standing plans had me penciled in and heading to the Trocadero to see The Felice Brothers and Josh Ritter, an unexpected yet welcome combination of good and fun. The past FB show in Delaware I was unable to go to, so I made a point to get to the Troc to see their set. Glad I did– did I say that? After taking some pictures- and I was laughing to myself because I think I confused the other photographer because I was trying to “multitask photograph” (dance and shoot simultaneously- not easy, but I did it). I think I need to invent a word for dance photographing, because I do this often.

And as usual, there is no lens to catch Farley because he moves WAY too fast. Even when he thinks he isn’t moving (I suspect). You can see the full show photo set here.

Looking forward to the shows this summer, and more new music by the Bros. Our Newport Folk Fest countdown is on!

FB5

Emily Wells at the Beachland Ballroom | Cleveland OH May 5, 2013

IMG_2643bEmily Wells is one of those people who inherently possesses a larger-than-life presence. Even when quietly slipping into the corners of the Beachland Tavern to catch a bit of her opening act this magnetism is apparent.

I first saw Wells perform in the fall of 2009 when Ady and I traveled to NYC to catch a show where she opened for Joseph Arthur at City Winery. It was the first we had heard of her, but within minutes of her taking the stage, the audience was transfixed.

The same occurred last Sunday night (5-5-2013) at the Beachland. Wells took the stage and began by telling her cozy and obviously very dedicated audience the answer to “why did she decide to come to the Midwest?” was “for each one of you.” She opened her set with deceptive tranquility, something akin to the maneuverings of a snake charmer, quickly hypnotizing the crowd into forming a tight semi-circle around the stage as she built her songs layer-upon-layer, looping her voice, a violin, synthesizer and melodica. And, just to be sure there wasn’t a stray person that was not fully engrossed, she commanded full attention by suddenly introducing a thundering tribal drum beat.

As the evening went on she slid easily from genre to genre—gospel; an “impersonation of [herself] doing trance;” the southern spiritual-esque “Mama’s Gonna Give you Love” from her most recent album, Mama; an acoustic cover of one of her own songs that will appear on her “recently and accidentally recorded” spinoff album Mama Acoustic Versions (during which she donned a cowboy hat and a fake twang with a smile, adding that she sometimes likes to roll into town like that for self-entertainment); the violin-hip hop stylings of her 2008 album Symphonies —in the same slick way as she transitioned from instrument to instrument.

As a performer one gets the sense that, eyes closed and arms outstretched, Wells is singing to no one, to herself, to the skies, and to each and every person in the audience, all at the same time, adding an even greater emotional depth to her music. Live, she takes her vast catalogue of recordings to another, heightened level revealing the full scope of her genius talent.

Her tour continues into August 2013.

05.13.13 Natasha’s Bistro Lexington, KY
05.16.13 Iota Club & Cafe Arlington , VA
05.17.13 Historic Blairstown Theater Blairstown, NJ
06.13.13 The Echo Los Angeles, CA
06.14.13 The Chapel San Francisco, CA, US
06.15.13 Benefit Concert for Trek For a Cure /Plainfield Station Davis, CA
06.19.13 The Crocodile Seattle, WA, US
06.20.13 Doug Fir Portland, OR, US
06.21.13 Hi-Dive Denver, CO, US
07.26.13 Lincoln Center Out of Doors New York City, NY w/My Brightest Diamond, Kronos Quartet
08.08.13 Michigan Womyn’s Festival Hart, MI, US

Emily Wells opening for Joseph Arthur at City Winery NYC Sept 2009

Emily Wells opening for Joseph Arthur at City Winery NYC Sept 2009


Emily Wells on stage with Joseph Arthur, Sept 2009

Emily Wells on stage with Joseph Arthur, Sept 2009

Looking ahead, looking forward | 2013 Newport Folk Festival

Sisters Dissonance has a history of roadtrip-itis. It is not unusual for us to travel to a new place that is a decent distance away for a show at least once, if not a few times each year. The goal: eliminate the 400 mile gap between us, soak up music we love, find good food and drink and culture, and explore a new location.

2013 is a bit different. Last July after attending the 2012 Newport Folk festival, my sister Ady and I decided on the spot that all of our traveling pennies would immediately be stashed and we named the Newport Folk Festival our sole 2013 long-distance travel destination.

Jim James and My Morning Jacket performing at Fort Stage as the rain rolls in

NFF 2012: Jim James/ My Morning Jacket, Fort Stage

{ Travel back in time to last year’s festival via our archive}
{ An Alphabetical Memoir of the 2012 Newport Folk Festival }

It’s no joke when I say the groundwork for our trip this year was laid less than a few weeks after we returned home from the festival last year. We also added a 2013 NFF countdown on this site back in August. Now here we are a mere 16 weeks away, bands are being announced on a rolling basis (that has been a bit like getting to open a giant gift every few days as the festival tweets and posts announcements as they are added to the schedule), and we are reveling in our decision. The excitement grows evermore!

The festival, despite the fact that the full line up was not announced before tickets were released, managed to sell out (very quickly) all 2 and 3-day passes, and single day passes for Saturday and Sunday. All that remains now is some single-day Friday tickets, which are still available via the Newport Folk Festival site (a-hemm-grab’em!). A testament to the adoration of the finest of festivals.

Among the line up this year are acts that fall into three categories: those that we have covered in the past including The Felice Brothers, Andrew Bird, John McCauley (Deer Tick), The Mountain Goats, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Spirit Family Reunion, and Shovels and Rope—all of whom we danced around in excitement as they were announced. We are looking forward to catching them all again.

John McCauley
Newport Folk Festival 2012!
2012 Newport Folk Festival
Spirit Family Reunion
Andrew Bird
Cary Ann Hurst and Michael Trent / Shovels and Rope
Felice Brothers
Spirit Family Reunion (w Ben Sollee)
At the 2012 Newport Folk Festival
Felice Brothers
My Morning Jacket
Felice Brothers
Jim James and friends

Then there are the many acts that we have never had a chance to see live (Feist, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Justin Townes Earle, Colin Meloy, Lumineers to name but a few)—until now. For that we are equally excited. Finally, there are those that we’ve only just discovered thanks to NNF, that adds to this buildup of anticipation. (For me Bombino, Cold Specks, Lord Huron, and Trombone Shorty are among those calling!) I have no doubt every single act on the bill will be an amazing experience. The amount of energy and love and camaraderie that fills the air in Newport, RI on that very special folkin’ weekend is immeasurable and not fully defined on paper or in words. You just have to be there. And we anxiously await that moment when we have arrived there once again.

The 2013 Newport Folk Festival Lineup to date:
The Avett Brothers
Milk Carton Kids
Feist
Phosphorescent
Sarah Jarosz
Amanda Palmer
Berklee Gospel and Roots Choir
Old Crow Medicine Show
Blake Mills
Justin Towers Earle
Cold Specs
Bonny “Prince” Billy and Dawn McCarthy
Colin Meloy
Lord Huron
Beth Orton
Wheeler Brothers
Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls
Langhorn Slim and the Law
Bombino
Black Prarie
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue
Hey Marseilles
The Felice Brothers
Tiff Merritt
Rayland Baxter
Iris Dement
Father John Misty
JD Mcpherson
Kingsley Flood
Hurrah for the Riff Raff
Jim James
Jason Isbell
Nicki Bluhm and the Gamblers
Spirit Family Reunion
Michael Kiwanuka
The Lumineers
Houndmouth
The Last Bison
Andrew Bird
Shovels and Rope
The Lonely Bellow

(Yet to be announced are the NFF after shows…a whole other world unto themselves!)

Tim Kasher Johnny Brenda’s Philly

tkcoverSomewhere in the “outskirts” of  Austin, TX – there was an amazing show Tim Kasher played on March 13, 2013. TK joked with the crowd, through funny giggles that he was excited to play this SXSW, hard to get tickets for- secret show in his familiar self-depricating tone. I wonder if he would have rather been in TX on this awesome Wednesday night, or if he was aware of how much the crowd enjoyed his set here in Philly.

This made my third time seeing him (should have been fourth, but illness seems to preempt me whenever he is in town. In fact tonight I could have stayed behind yet again for an illness, but didn’t). I had many thoughts tonight as I always seem to note in my posts. My first thought was that I get to photograph and unbearded Tim Kasher! I made a silly assumption that he was beard-free only because of the promo photo he posted this week with NO beard. “God Damn” his beard grows fast. My sister Shan’s first question by text while I’m pushing through the crowd to settle in to photograph him (see the photo set here)  was, ” Is his beard gone? Is his pirate name rebeard? Why is the first question I’m asking about his beard”? {Insert laughter here}
Tonight, had I been able to interview him like I did back in 2011 after his solo set at Johnny Brenda’s I would have asked him a couple questions, I had a few formulated in my head.
He played many new songs for the crowd, and I was curious about the evolution of his song writing. Words then melody? Melody then words? I am always curious about what went into the song as it was written. Was the writer driving, in the shower, sitting over coffee, dreaming? I especially liked the song he dedicated to Man. I am not a man, but if I were I could see myself oddly identifying with it. Not sure what that reveals about me, and I’m not sure if I care? I loved his glow stick props he shared with the crowd. I caught one with the girl in front of me. We both literally had one end of it each. I let her keep it. She was getting pretty drunk, yea I just thought it was best to let go.

The night ended with an encore, where Tim asked for requests. The man with the loudest lungs got his way and we were graced with “Album of the Year” from his former band, The Good Life (which I bought a ticket to see last year when they weren’t actually playing Philly, but Ticketfly had advertised and sold one to me. I’m still confused by this mystery. And I think my tweet to the universe, “I just got The Good Life  tickets” confused the band also). So, in the middle of the  last song he was without a drummer and he invited someone to play the drum portion from the crowd. No one stepped up at first except to play guitar. Eventually Tim on vocals, and a guitar and drummer from the audience, he was able  to conclude the night singing in the crowd. It was fun, and a great way to spend and end a Wednesday night.

Oh, and  the other thought I had was during his set was, “I wonder if out of the three bearded sets I’ve photographed of his when in Philly– do I have enough Tim drinking beverages to create a montage? There is always a coffee cup, and whiskey cup or two, or three. I might have to put that together.
Thanks for a great show in a great venue, in a great town just outside “Austin”. I feel so lucky to have caught an imaginary private sxsw set without the lengthy, costly travel!
Till next time!
~Ady

For older Tim Kasher set click here. For older Cursive set, click here.