Reviews
An Evening with Tegan & Sara
Tuesday, January 29th, 2013 by WLOY Staff
A flat tire, three broken brake lines, and four hours of traffic – the Universe really didn’t want me, an avid Tegan & Sara fan, to attend their concert in Richmond this weekend. Somehow, I made it to the National at seven ‘o’ clock on the nose – right when the doors opened – in time to purchase a t-shirt, order a gin and tonic, and sit up in the seats with all of the other L.o.T.’s – Lesbians Over Twenty-One.
It was my second time seeing the band live in concert, and the audience demographic hasn’t changed much: lesbians with half-shaved heads, lesbians with labret piercings, a random dad and his ten-year-old son, lesbians wearing visors, and hipsters in plaid. I’m all-too-aware that, after only 122 words, the word “lesbian” appears five times. It’s true, the twins have a reputation for attracting a certain crowd, but it only serves to create an incredibly tight-knit community of mutual worshippers and makes the shows all the more enjoyable.
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Night Visions: Imagine Dragons’ Big Debut
Friday, December 7th, 2012 by WLOY Staff
These Las Vegas rockers’ debut is high energy, with each track both as unique and catchy as the next. Its clean production and innovative percussion provide for an extraordinary desire to sing-a-long with these upbeat tracks. Each song has multiple explosive moments, which speaks to the recent shift towards dance-influenced music. But all the while, Imagine Dragons maintains their rocker image without getting lost in the allure of over-production or synthesizing. (more…)
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The Who Are Better You Bet!
Thursday, November 15th, 2012 by The Professor
Daltrey’s vision of a modern-media Quadrophenia is a surreal sensation on stage
-by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman
Just where have these two guys been hiding? Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend are touring behind a fourth generation staging of Quadrophenia and the Whuo Duo have never sounded better! Their Tuesday night performance in Washington, D.C., rivaled the magnificence of their singular May 2004 date in NYC. Cancel all the catty criticism about The Who. This revised touring version of the British legend’s 1973 Opus is really the real deal.
Maybe fan anticipation in the aftermath of their last outing in the USA from the 2006/2007 Endless Wire Tour kept expectations artificially low. The Who’s November 13, 2012 appearance was an incendiary affair with the team of musicians firing on all musical cylinders. Celebratory praise does not efficiently describe the intense level of satisfaction the unit generated in concert.
Townshend’s first major musical piece was the Rock Opera Tommy, released in 1969. His next group proposal was the aborted Lifehouse project in 1971, which eventually morphed into the generic Who’s Next album. Townshend’s preoccupation with the quintessentially British battle between the Mods and the Rockers during the early 1960s provided him with a musical vision as the basis for his 1973 theme-album Quadrophenia.
The tale of a Brighton teen torn by four personalities was actually a composite reflection of the four musicians that once constituted the original members of The High Numbers. Townshend’s fictional anti-hero turns 40 next year. Quadrophenia was eventually made into a 1979 cinematic presentation staring Police bassist Sting as Ace Face.
Early Who singles were styled as recordings for the popular Mod market genre. Competing contenders as British Mod outfits were both The Kinks and The Small Faces. Ringo Starr may have delivered the best line in 1964 about the Mod lifestyle confrontations in the film A Hard Day’s Night when asked by a female reporter if he was a Mod or a Rocker. Starr replied, “I’m a Mocker”.
Both Roger Daltrey’s vocals and Pete Townshend’s vocals were exceedingly stronger than during the course of the last Who tour. Plus, Townshend’s forceful guitar assault eclipsed his playing style from the Endless Wire shows. The core band consists of Zachary Starkey on drums, Simon Townshend on guitar, and Pino Palladino on bass. The touring ensemble includes John Corey and Loren Gold on keyboards, Reggie Grisham and J. Greg Miller as the Brass Section, and Frank Simes on guitar.
As a value-added bonus, The Who continued the concert without hesitation by segueing directly into five major Who classics sure to make the most loyal Who fan salivate for more musical treasures. Two incredible highlights were the inclusion of John Entwistle’s bombastic Bass solo during “5:15”, and Keith Moon’s humorous vocals spliced into “Bell Boy”. Daltrey labored to interject these live archived sequences into the Quadrophenia + More Tour production, and Townshend personally recognized Roger for his efforts to create both poignant segments before their lone encore together.
The Who, Verizon Center, Washington, DC, November 13, 2012 setlist: I Am The Sea * The Real Me * Quadrophenia * Cut My Hair * The Punk Meets The Godfather * I’m One (At least) (Pete Townshend vocal) * The Dirty Jobs (Simon Tonwshend vocal) * Helpless Dancer (Roger’s Theme) * Is It In My Head * I’ve Had Enough * 5:15 (Entwistle bass solo) * Sea And Sand * Drowned (Pete Townshend vocal) * Bell Boy (Keith’s Theme – Moon’s vocals) * Dr. Jimmy (John’s Theme) * The Rock * Love, Reign O’er Me (Pete’s Theme) * Who Are You * Behind Blue Eyes * Pinball Wizard * Baba O’Riley * Won’t Get Fooled Again * Encore: Tea And Theater
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Breakfast on the Road: Roger Hodgson Live
Monday, November 12th, 2012 by The Professor
Legendary composer Roger Hodgson is entertaining enthusiastic audiences
– by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman
Roger Hodgson formerly from Supertramp is currently embarking on his first solo tour featuring an outstanding support band. The backing musicians include Kevin Adamson on keyboards, David Carpenter on bass, Bryan Head on drums, and Aaron MacDonald providing his talents as a multi-instrumentalist embellishing the Hodgson compositions on stage.
Hodgson’s popular Breakfast In America Tour arrived in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, on Friday, November 9, 2012. The band sounded flawless in performance as if it was practically studio perfect. The modern wonders of technology breathe inspired life into the classic Supertramp catalogue penned by Roger Hodgson. One is left to image what The Beatles might have achieved soundwise if this state of the art equipment had been available to them on tour almost five decades ago.
Hodgson himself segued between keyboards, a 12 string acoustic guitar and onto Grand Piano in sharing his musical gift with the Franklin County crowd. Without question, the exceptional level of musicianship presented by Hodgson and company simply topped off the scale. The sparse stage motif left the music to do all the convincing that if you missed Breakfast, then you missed the most important musical fuel out on the touring circuit.
Blending his Supertramp singles with choice solo material selections, the Grove Theatre patrons erupted in appreciative applause throughout the evening. It’s wonderfully rare that a seasoned artist delivers an entire repertoire at such high caliber. The positive impact of love as a powerful theme in music is truly compelling. The Shippensburg venue is a fantastic facility to enjoy intimate concerts, and Hodgson was well suited to appear here.
Hodgson prefaced many of his songs by revealing personal insight into composing his material. He sang four stellar tracks from the 1979 classic album Breakfast In America. A real treat was hearing “The Awakening” accompanied on his 12 string acoustic guitar, an unrecorded tune that Hodgson said is an invaluable lesson about forgiveness. The beautiful melody and touching sentiment exemplify his hallmark traits as a quality composer among his celebrated peers.
Although the ecstatic audience stood up for several standing ovations during the evening performance, it was at the end of the night that Hodgson encouraged his fans to enjoy themselves by standing and clapping along with his second encore. As the lights went up so did the house in unison as Hodgson launched into “Give A Little Bit” ensuring everybody was motivated by its infectious chorus.
Grove Theater, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, November 9, 2012 setlist: [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/take-the-long-way-home/id449815550?uo=4″ title=”Take The Long Way Home” text=”Take The Long Way Home”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/school-live/id502038005?i=502038340&uo=4″ title=”School” text=”School”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/in-jeopardy/id110449627?i=110449645&uo=4″ title=”In Jeopardy” text=”In Jeopardy”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lovers-in-the-wind/id110449627?i=110449652&uo=4″ title=”Lovers In the Wind” text=”Lovers In the Wind”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hide-in-your-shell-live/id502038005?i=502038331&uo=4″ title=”Hide In Your Shell” text=”Hide In Your Shell”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/easy-does-it/id111466?i=111446&uo=4″ title=”Easy Does It” text=”Easy Does It”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sister-moonshine/id81776249?i=81776294&uo=4″ title=”Sister Moonshine” text=”Sister Moonshine”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/breakfast-in-america-live/id502038005?i=502038336&uo=4″ title=”Breakfast In America” text=”Breakfast In America”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lady/id16018606?i=16018473&uo=4″ title=”Lady” text=”Lady”] * Rosie Had Everything Planned * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-logical-song/id111521?i=111503&uo=4″ title=”The Logical Song” text=”The Logical Song”] * intermission * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/child-of-vision/id1485110?i=1485106&uo=4″ title=”Child Of Vision” text=”Child Of Vision”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/only-because-you-lord-is-it/id502038005?i=502038337&uo=4″ title=”Lord Is It Mine” text=”Lord Is It Mine”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/death-and-a-zoo/id502522497?i=502522507&uo=4″ title=”Death And A Zoo” text=”Death And A Zoo”] * If Everyone Is Listening * The Awakening * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dont-leave-me-now/id43265?i=43263&uo=4″ title=”Don’t Leave Me Now” text=”Don’t Leave Me Now”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/music-video/dreamer-live/id329080746?uo=4″ title=”Dreamer” text=”Dreamer”] * Fool’s Overture * Encore: The Two Of Us * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/music-video/give-a-little-bit-live/id329081131?uo=4″ title=”Give A Little Bit” text=”Give A Little Bit”]
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The Scottish Firecracker: Sheena Easton Live
Monday, October 22nd, 2012 by The Professor
Sheena Easton graces an intimate stage in Hanover
-by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman
`80’s singing sensation Sheena Easton came to Hanover, Maryland, on October 18, 2012. All dolled up in a tight black pantsuit, she no longer flaunts her sexy attributes, now projecting a subtle matronly image on stage these days. However, her accent is just as saucy and alluring still fueling Easton’s ageless feminine magnetism.
Not exactly a disco-pop-rocker these days, Easton has switched stage gears appearing as a casual cabaret act. Joe Sparker is the tour’s musical director handling keyboards and backing vocals. Her support musicians are Dave Hart on guitar, Eric Tewalt on Saxophone, flute and backing vocals, Phillip Ingram on vocals, and hometown champion Earl Campbell on drums.
Easton jovially interacted with the house crowd talking openly about herself, her popular singing career, and her displeasure about aging with her 54th birthday looming soon on the horizon. She eagerly thanked everyone for coming out on a school night to party with her in concert. After she paused in performance to sip her tea, she quipped it was from Long Island.
Easton’s repertoire contained several cover songs. She even commented herself confirming that it had been quite a while since she had a hit single cresting on the top of the charts. Both Easton and Phillip Ingram shared duet vocals on a couple of love ballads together. Her engaging personae was sprightly and sparked spontaneous laughter throughout the Thursday night with her loyal fans.
Easton polled the patrons on whether she should sing her slutty songs on stage. They roared in approval for her to do so. Unfortunately, her lackluster dance-beat medley of “U Got The Look”, “Sugar Walls” and “The Glamorous Life” was rather disappointing in delivery. It was her signature Top 40 hits that were the highlights of her appearance. The vivacious “Strut”, “Morning Train”, and 007 classic “For Your Eyes Only” were truly the tiptop tunes of the entire evening.
Rams Head Center Stage is essentially a brand new venue that opened recently in Anne Arundel County. However, there were some impaired visual blind spots depending on far from center view one was seated inside. The show went on too quickly really, but a splendid time was had by all, and her audience clearly enjoyed themselves seeing their beloved icon.
Sheena Easton, Rams Head Center Stage, Hanover, Maryland October 18, 2012 setlist: (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher * Almost Over You * The Lover In Me * How Deep Is The Ocean * How Sweet It Is * U Got The Look > Sugar Walls > The Glamorous Life * We’ve Got Tonight * Strut * In The Winter * Say A Little Prayer > House Is Not A Home > One Less Bell To Answer * Telefone (Long Distance Affair) * 9 To 5 (Morning Train) * Anyway * For Your Eyes Only
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Narcissist R Moi: Madonna Live
Tuesday, September 25th, 2012 by The Professor
The Material Maven is fixated on a steroid-hyped episode
-by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman
What’s gotten into the once virginal Material Girl? Madonna appears to have leapt totally over the top with the peculiar excesses on her 2012 MDNA Tour. Louise Ciccone has retooled her stage personae into that of an over-sexed gansta moll with a bustling ensemble cast in tow gleefully choreographing her rapid descent as a bargain-basement carbon copy of her former celebrity status. How quickly self-consumption can ruin a reputation.
Madonna gave the first of two capacity-crowd concerts Sunday night in Washington, D.C, on September 23, 2012. Tickets were not all that hard to come by out on the walk. Finding a below market-priced seat, however, was a tricky proposition. It seemed the younger you were, the more you were apt to enjoy the exaggerated stage production concocted by Lady Madonna. To beleaguer matters, the Voguestress did not open the show until 10:30 pm. The dreaded end did not occur until after midnight at 12:25 am!
One major disappointment with her 2012 tour is the fact that Madonna rearranged many of her songs altering the structure of her familiar hits. Loyal fans wanna hear what they remember as the song on the radio or on the record. Significantly reconstructing established material is rather a turnoff for seasoned fans. This fact can actually dissuade the overall mood of an audience expecting to be entertained.
Curiously, there were rather subtle similarities between Madge’s 2012 stage romp and Pink Floyd’s The Wall if you knew what to recognize among the changing staging. The engine roar of a helicopter in flight, an image of a large white-bricked Wall, and a small furnished bedroom in the Paradise Motel wherein Madonna is confronted a masked menace attempting to molest her during “Gang Bang”.
Our tramp-vamp found herself under assault in a dingy urban flat brandishing a silver pistol. The two commence in struggle, and Madonna capped the violent intruder complete with several blood splatterings that appeared on the jumbotron for maximum effect. Why all of this gratuitous violence? What purpose does fabricated turmoil serve to promote her stage act? Whatever Maddy was trying to convey visually made no connection whatsoever.
The Cougar may only be 54, but Madonna demonstrated she is ready for action. Flaunting her flourishing sexuality like an aging brothel Madam, her sexually aggressive antics were borderline comical when she revealed her round buttocks wearing a black G-string thong! In an interactive burlesque sequence, she knelt before a male audience member and asked him to write on her back what he thought about her. He scrawled the word SEXY on her bare back to the approval of the randy spectators.
Madonna is desperately seeking for a measure to remain relevant in today’s youth-driven music scene and with today’s fickle downloading public. Performing at the 2012 Super Bowl 46 Half-Time gig was an overdue career pinnacle. No popular female artist has held onto the fascination of Americans for as long as Madge has. Hopefully, Madonna will be able to continue creatively and record more commercially viable albums that score on the charts in the future.
Madonna, Verizon Center, Washington, DC, September 23, 2012 setlist: Transgression: Gregorian Chant Virgin Mary Intro (with Kalakan + with snippets of “Lekhah Dodi” and “Birjina Gaztetto Bat Zegoen”) * Girl Gone Wild (with samples from “Material Girl” and “Give It 2 Me”) * Revolver * Gang Bang * Papa Don’t Preach * Hung Up (with samples from “Girl Gone Wild”) * I Don’t Give A * Prophecy: Best Friend (video interlude; with samples from “Heartbeat”) * Express Yourself (with snippets of “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga and “She’s Not Me”) * Give Me All Your Luvin’ * Turning Up the Hits: (video interlude; with samples from several Madonna songs) * Turn Up The Radio * Open Your Heart (with Kalakan + with snippets from “Sagarra Jo!” by Kalakan) * Holiday * Masterpiece (with Kalakan) * Masculine/Feminine: Justify My Love (video interlude) * Vogue * Candy Shop (with samples from “Ashamed Of Myself” by Kelley Polar + snippets of “Erotica”) * Human Nature * Like A Virgin (with samples from “Evgeni’s Waltz” by Abel Korzeniowski) * Love Spent * Celebration: Nobody Knows Me (video interlude) * I’m Addicted * I’m A Sinner (with Kalakan + with snippets of “Cyber-Raga”) * Like A Prayer * Encore: Celebration (with samples from “Girl Gone Wild”)
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How To Dress Well – Total Loss [2012, Acéphale]
Monday, September 24th, 2012 by WLOY Staff
There’s a moment on the vigorous “& It Was You” when it all becomes inescapably clear: Krell has officially transcended all those pesky comparisons that have simultaneously crippled his How To Dress Well project as well as catapulted it into indie-fame. His peers like Justin Vernon (another beautiful falsetto voice shrouded amid a blanket of fog) and Abel Tesfaye (an Rn’B aficionado who isn’t afraid to use old-school hip-hop beats to give his choruses a little more punch) and even dubstep-hero Burial are all touchstones for breakthrough album Love Remains, and rightly so. That being said, it’s heartening that Total Loss is a more distinctive step past comparisons into territory all his own. (more…)
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Refueling the Blues: The Yardbirds Live
Friday, September 14th, 2012 by The Professor
The Yardbirds forge ahead with another incendiary appearance
– by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman
The Yardbirds are distinctly British and their signature brand of live Rhythm & Blues is a combination mixture of psychedelic rock, instinctive musicianship, and traditional blues jams. But do not discount the occasional all-out rocker, as these gents know how to launch their performance into high gear on stage.
Drummer Jim McCarty is now the final remaining original member of the British Invasion quintet that ignited in 1963. As the group was preparing to return home at the end of their 2011 tour, Chris Dreja suffered an unfortunate stroke and has been sidelined from stage duty since then. Thankfully, Dreja’s unique rhythm guitar style was archived for posterity on the live performance DVD recently released by The Yardbirds.
Lead guitarist Ben King, vocalist Andy Mitchell, and bassist David Smales now form a formidable quartet along with seasoned drummer Jim McCarty anchoring their sound. With both imagination and inspiration, the four of them have been able to transform the band into a stronger unit even in the face of losing Dreja as a key player in their stage act. Best wishes for a healthy recovery are sent to Chris Dreja for his improved well-being.
Several stage staples reappear in the 2012 repertoire. The classic blues covers never grow stale and King’s fierce fretwork never disappoints even rivaling the mastery of former Yardbirds guitar icons Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. This young man has fire in his fingertips and his lead licks are hotter than friction. King keeps the sharp sound on edge with his ability to intensify the resonance of his guitar leads.
Almost exactly one year to the day, The Yardbirds jammed effortlessly in Annapolis, Maryland on September 12, 2012. There were a handful of subtle changes in the Rams Head On Stage setlist but overall, Mitchell nailed down the spotlight and belted out the blues with gusto. McCarty sang lead vocals on “Back Where I Started”, a 1984 Box of Frogs track from a previous reunion project. Smales’ choice bass playing is always a sincere treat.
The big surprise of the Wednesday show was the first encore delivered on solo acoustic guitar by King. Ben parked himself on a stool and performed the 1967 Page-penned instrumental “White Summer” with subtle support from McCarty; truly an excellent highlight. Later while signing autographs after the concert, Yardbird members confirmed that the band has been rehearsing original material to record another new studio album in the near future.
The Yardbirds, Rams Head OnStage, Annapolis, Maryland, September 12, 2012 setlist: [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/im-not-talking/id196067121?i=196067413&uo=4″ title=”I’m Not Talking” text=”I’m Not Talking”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/drinking-muddy-water/id323367895?i=323367926&uo=4″ title=”Drinking Muddy Water” text=”Drinkin’ Muddy Water”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/heart-full-soul-re-recording/id196067121?i=196067185&uo=4″ title=”Heartful of Soul” text=”Heart Full Of Soul”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/train-kept-a-rollin/id196067121?i=196067392&uo=4″ title=”Train Kept A Rollin'” text=”Train Kept A Rollin'”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-nazz-are-blue/id300141773?i=300141910&uo=4″ title=”The Nazz Are Blue” text=”The Nazz Are Blue”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/five-long-years-live/id196067121?i=196067820&uo=4″ title=”Five Long Years” text=”Five Long Years”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shapes-of-things/id196067121?i=196067126&uo=4″ title=”Shapes Of Things” text=”Shapes Of Things”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/back-where-i-started-live/id279650589?i=279651057&uo=4″ title=”Back Where I Started” text=”Back Where I Started”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/over-under-sideways-down/id300141773?i=300141892&uo=4″ title=”Over Under Sideways Down” text=”Over Under Sideways Down”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/smokestack-lightning-live/id196067121?i=196067790&uo=4″ title=”Smokestack Lightning” text=”Smokestack Lightning”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/still-im-sad/id196067121?i=196067232&uo=4″ title=”Still I’m Sad” text=”Still I’m Sad”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/little-games/id323367895?i=323367907&uo=4″ title=”Little Games” text=”Little Games”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/for-your-love/id196067121?i=196067577&uo=4″ title=”For Your Love” text=”For Your Love”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/happenings-ten-years-time-ago/id300141773?i=300141958&uo=4″ title=”Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” text=”Happenings Ten Years Time Ago”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dazed-and-confused/id266077709?i=266077743&uo=4″ title=”Dazed And Confused” text=”Dazed And Confused”] * Encore: [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/white-summer/id323367895?i=323367917&uo=4″ title=”White Summer” text=”White Summer”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/im-a-man/id196067121?i=196067297&uo=4″ title=”I’m A Man” text=”I’m A Man”]
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Silopanna 2012 – A Review of Sorts
Wednesday, August 15th, 2012 by WLOY Staff
Silopanna Festival was this weekend, so two amazing WLOY volunteers – Tenley, our photographer, and Brennan, our field reporter – and I took the trip to Annapolis to check out the set. The festival had a sort of mature feel to it; most of the attendees were older, and many were hippies. As we walked around, we took note of the atmosphere, highlighted by a giant lumberjack statue at the front of the fairground, public cornhole games, and Bud Light Limes.
We all know the headliners – CAKE, Citizen Cope, G. Love & Special Sauce – but what we were really looking forward to was the local acts. However, being three different people, we fittingly formulated three different accounts of the day, translated below.
Christa:
Most Anticipated: Sweet Leda. They played at Loyola back in the spring as part of WLOY’s Thursday night concert series, and I was looking for something even fuller and more fun than what they had to offer last semester. And, with easier access to booze, I anticipated some awkward onstage banter as well.
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Boogie Woogie Down the Stairs Apiece: Charlie Watts Live
Sunday, July 1st, 2012 by The Professor
Alex, Ben, Charlie & David move to the Boogie Woogie mood
– by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman
Boogie Woogie music is enjoying an overdue rebirth with the fabulous talents of Alex Zwingenberger and Ben Waters on piano, Charlie Watts on drums, and David Green on upright bass. Together, this quartet is touring as the A B C & D of Boogie Woogie entertaining audiences on both sides of the Atlantic pond in celebration of 85 years of this unique piano style.
The ABC&D of Boogie Woogie proudly premiered in New York City with a grand total of nine gigs delivering a most memorable evening of magical music on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at the Iridium Jazz Club made famous by the late guitarist Les Paul located in Times Square.
ABC&D welcomed the preeminent American Boogie Woogie pianist Bob Seely on stage to play dueling duets and Lila Ammons to sing vocals on several choice songs as the musicians on stage rotated in configuration on piano. The stylish Lila is the granddaughter of Albert Ammons and her singing added a feminine dimension to the engaging performance.
The infectious selections of diverse material covered a colorful pallet of genres from Boogie Woogie bounce to Blues influences as well as Jazz vibes to R&B grooves plus enjoyable piano instrumentals showcasing the differing styles of Seely, Waters and Zwingenberger. Experiencing six seasoned hands transitioning across 88 keys apiece was musical mastery.
Zwingenberger, Watts & Green as a trio previously released The Magic of Boogie Woogie in 2010. With the exciting addition of Ben Waters, they christened themselves the ABC&D of Boogie Woogie. Now the prominent quartet is on tour in the Big Apple promoting Live in Paris, a live album recorded originally in 2010.
Ben Waters is a proud protégé of the late Ian Stewart. Stu formed the nucleus of The Rollin’ Stones with Brian Jones in the Spring of 1962. The Glimmer Twins of Jagger & Richards would soon join their R&B combo and the Stones career would begin rolling becoming legendary. 2012 is the British institution’s 50th anniversary and speculation is rampant that the gents have several surprises in store to share with their global fanbase later this year.
The Iridium Jazz Club, New York, June 30, 2012 setlist: [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/low-down-dog-blues-live/id537384440?i=537385023&uo=4″ title=”Low Down Dog Blues” text=”Low Down Dog Blues”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-got-an-uncle-in-harlem/id315288538?i=315288551&uo=4″ title=”Uncle In Harlem” text=”Uncle In Harlem”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/whatd-i-say/id465936407?i=465936419&uo=4″ title=”What’d I Say” text=”What’d I Say”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/more-sympathy-for-drummer/id537384440?i=537385019&uo=4″ title=”More Sympathy For The Drummer” text=”More Sympathy For The Drummer”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/women-be-wise/id2245856?i=2245797&uo=4″ title=”Women Be Wise” text=”Women Be Wise”] * Spinach * You Better Learn To Boogie Woogie * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/house-party-tonight/id303128514?i=303128883&uo=4″ title=”House Party Tonight ” text=”House Party Tonight “]* [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/saint-louis-blues/id17244037?i=17243976&uo=4″ title=”Saint Louis Blues” text=”Saint Louis Blues”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lets-do-the-boogie-woogie/id365388585?i=365389425&uo=4″ title=”Let’s Do The Boogie Woogie” text=”Let’s Do The Boogie Woogie”] * [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/chicken-shack-boogie/id266820393?i=266820586&uo=4″ title=”Chicken Shack Boogie” text=”Chicken Shack Boogie”]
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