The Great Americana Holiday
Thanksgiving in the nations capital, this will be my ninth. What is there to be thankful for this year? That I now have to go through two security checks daily to get to my day job? That metro has again put up signs by the escalators that say ‘stand’ to the right? That poison gas detectors always seem to be at the metro station that I am at? That there are now short range defense missiles at area military bases pointed at the National Mall, because threat levels are so high? Hmmm.
Well no. I am not thankful for any of the above, but after thirteen years in DC I am beginning to realize that if you are going to become a native, you need to be able to roll with change and fear of it. I think this often leads outsiders to mistake a wicked and self deprecating sense of humor for DC’er’s bashing their own hometown. I was struck by this fact after falling over in hysterics upon hearing the last track on a locally produced CD called Americana Motel. This CD came out about November 2001. The song is by Karl Straub and is called “Don’t Take Advice”. It doesn’t address DC specifically, but it so purely exhibits a lack of sacredness for the obvious, the best arsenal of us “self-dep” types, I just had to mention the song.
Americana Motel was the brainchild, or lovechild, or both of Peter Fox, a long time area music maven, who recently relocated to CA. He hasn’t left his commitment to the metro areas musicians though, a minimum of 50 musicians appear on the CD. My understanding is that the CD resulted from hours of 'home' studio recording and contains 18 different songs by 18 different area bands and many of the songs and all of the bands are homegrown originals. Along with Straub there are songs written by Eric Brace, Scott McKnight, Kevin Johnson and others. These original songs flirt with classic rock and pop as much as the proverbial Americana genre. The go-to web site, www.americanamotel.net, intelligently gets all the alt-country/roots/no-depression monikers out of the way, refers to itself as “the whatever-you-want-to-call-it scene”. This music doesn’t try to sound like Americana or de-construct Americana, and with 50 musicians working on this thing it could sound like a mother-load of Jam-bands, but it doesn’t.
Just about every single musician that was on the CD performed at the 2001 Americana Motel CD release that was at the Birchmere. I was at that show in 2001. Seeing and hearing these artists work hard for an art they love gave me a reason to traipse all around the metro area this past year to hear a huge variety of songsters. This is an accomplishment, because prior to this I was a DC-ite who would not venture into "the 'burbs" if you paid me. Yet for all that time, and I hate the thought of it, "the 'burbs" was incubating all these great bands. So now I go to "the 'burbs", and today is an anniversary that I am happy to be celebrating. The Americana Motel 2 show is up to bat at The Birchmere tonite, deep in the heart of "The 'burbs". (I'm done now, I won't say it again.) I found inspiration in my own back yard in vibrant, smart, witty, accessible music that is connected to a history that was here before Bush or Clinton or Bush and promises to stick through what ever is to come.
I joke, but it's true, seeing the Americana Motel CD release at the Birchmere in 2001 pretty much changed my life. It gave me a reason to go to shows, meet musicians and enjoy myself knowing that there are people who still work hard for an art they love. This Washington, DC scene is so vibrant, Americana Motel goes a long way in documenting a small and happy part of it that will be growing and changing in the years to come. Many of the bands playing have been together for more than a decade and many of the individuals are full time working musicians WITHOUT record contracts. These are serious folks who play honestly, more for emotion and energy than trying to sound like Americana, deconstruct Americana or make Americana hip again.
So I will return invigorated by whatever happens at Americana Motel 2 and I hope to introduce some of the other people that I have helped turn into raving groupies for the local music who want to try their hand a dishing these bands. Thanks for a great year.....
Wednesday, November 27, 2002
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Well, Last Train Home is out of the gate and they have their first Barns performance under their belts. It was really nice to have everyone there-and by everyone I mean-Bill Williams, Scott McKnight and Alan Brace. I find it really hard to imagine Last Train Home LIVE with out that triumverate.
One of the first things that attracted me to this band was having heard them on Americana Motel. I found the Joe Triplet song that they did on that recording ripe and dripping with harmonies that I had not heard on any recording done in my lifetime. A musician friend of mine that has played in pick-up bands around DC do 20+ years would speak of the elusiveness of intensly layered harmonies found in early-country and bluegrass music. According to him, you randomly assemble a group of male musicians, and no matter how talented they are, they can't harmonize. Their egos and large musical knowledge get in the way. They sing to hear themselves, they don't mean to, it just happens. Well LTH has males, and egos and large musical knowledges-they manage, not all the time, but more often than not to have 4+ voices, 3+ guitars (plus Steel and Mandolin) and rhythm all going to the same place-harmony. A prodigeous accomplishment, if ever there was one.
I hypothetically suppose that this is one of the reasons that a number of men seem to unequivocally fall in love with this band and Eric Brace's charismatic lead. it also does not hurt that the band doesn't shy away from covering and rearranging songs like Bill Monroe's "Walls of Time", Buck Owen's "Heartbreak Mountain" or Dave Alvin's "So Long, Baby Goodbye". The first time "Walls of Time" crossed my ears in a live show, I almost passed out. What a joy. This masterpiece of lyrics is on my all time favorite songs list-I'd heard it on late night WAMU bluegrass by Monroe himself and thought myself possibly alone in being touched by this song so deeply. The passion that LTH sets up in their arrangement, often due to the overwhelming intensity and of Lee Wilhoit's singing, left no doubt in my mind that my favorite song would live on. They bought Lee up on stage at The Barns and I got to dance like my 'name was carved upon the tombstone'.
The Barns 'general admission dance' is a nice set up. You have the option of sitting concert style in the balcony, like The State Theater or hitting the boards, standing style right up by the stage. There is a bar in a separate room and while the LTH show was sold out the place didn't feel packed.
I guess one of the other highlights of the night was hearing 'Sugar' a cover that they've been doing since before their first CD came out. They've been working the song long enough to have made it into a mystery novel by local author George Pelacanos called "Shame the Devil". Eric delighted in reading George's prescient prose where the band The Silos opens for Last Train Home. Well perhaps this was because The Silos did open up for Last Train Home at The Barns. What fun. I wonder if there was a private detective in the audience who went home and had steamy sex? Go to their Websiteif you want to see what I am talking about. So apparently The Silos will open for LTH at IOTA on the 21st of December. Go see this. They were great, I heard the Silos bassist say, like 10 times, to myself and others, "we held back 'cause it's like, The Barns". They were pretty damn intense, so I am pretty damn sorry I will miss that IOTA show. Spottiswoode and his Enemies will open the LTH IOTA show on Friday the 20th. Spottiswoode can also be pretty freakin intense when provoked and I will be there for them, so I will just have to make due.
One of the first things that attracted me to this band was having heard them on Americana Motel. I found the Joe Triplet song that they did on that recording ripe and dripping with harmonies that I had not heard on any recording done in my lifetime. A musician friend of mine that has played in pick-up bands around DC do 20+ years would speak of the elusiveness of intensly layered harmonies found in early-country and bluegrass music. According to him, you randomly assemble a group of male musicians, and no matter how talented they are, they can't harmonize. Their egos and large musical knowledge get in the way. They sing to hear themselves, they don't mean to, it just happens. Well LTH has males, and egos and large musical knowledges-they manage, not all the time, but more often than not to have 4+ voices, 3+ guitars (plus Steel and Mandolin) and rhythm all going to the same place-harmony. A prodigeous accomplishment, if ever there was one.
I hypothetically suppose that this is one of the reasons that a number of men seem to unequivocally fall in love with this band and Eric Brace's charismatic lead. it also does not hurt that the band doesn't shy away from covering and rearranging songs like Bill Monroe's "Walls of Time", Buck Owen's "Heartbreak Mountain" or Dave Alvin's "So Long, Baby Goodbye". The first time "Walls of Time" crossed my ears in a live show, I almost passed out. What a joy. This masterpiece of lyrics is on my all time favorite songs list-I'd heard it on late night WAMU bluegrass by Monroe himself and thought myself possibly alone in being touched by this song so deeply. The passion that LTH sets up in their arrangement, often due to the overwhelming intensity and of Lee Wilhoit's singing, left no doubt in my mind that my favorite song would live on. They bought Lee up on stage at The Barns and I got to dance like my 'name was carved upon the tombstone'.
The Barns 'general admission dance' is a nice set up. You have the option of sitting concert style in the balcony, like The State Theater or hitting the boards, standing style right up by the stage. There is a bar in a separate room and while the LTH show was sold out the place didn't feel packed.
I guess one of the other highlights of the night was hearing 'Sugar' a cover that they've been doing since before their first CD came out. They've been working the song long enough to have made it into a mystery novel by local author George Pelacanos called "Shame the Devil". Eric delighted in reading George's prescient prose where the band The Silos opens for Last Train Home. Well perhaps this was because The Silos did open up for Last Train Home at The Barns. What fun. I wonder if there was a private detective in the audience who went home and had steamy sex? Go to their Websiteif you want to see what I am talking about. So apparently The Silos will open for LTH at IOTA on the 21st of December. Go see this. They were great, I heard the Silos bassist say, like 10 times, to myself and others, "we held back 'cause it's like, The Barns". They were pretty damn intense, so I am pretty damn sorry I will miss that IOTA show. Spottiswoode and his Enemies will open the LTH IOTA show on Friday the 20th. Spottiswoode can also be pretty freakin intense when provoked and I will be there for them, so I will just have to make due.
Thursday, November 21, 2002
Ok, I'm going to attempt to write aboout some music, really fast. Again, I apologize to Last Train Home for not writing about the music. Eric wore these buckskin colored leather pants to a show at Iota last month and I still can't think straight-just kidding. Honestly, I have been sickeningly busy pimping my work at this
Art-Show. I forgot what it was like to be 'a working artist'. Feels good.
So last weekend I treated myself to a nite of combos-solo.
The first stop was American Legion Post 8 over in Southeast for a self-titled CD release for The Dustbowlers. The drummer has been my neighbor for years-so you know what a pleasure to hear him accompanied by vocals and melody. The Dustbowlers are a 3 piece outfit, Mike on drums and percussion, another Mike on bass and double bass and backup (a natural combo for bands I like) and Tim on stringed things (guitars) and lyrics. So listening to Tims song's, I'm struck at the Californ-I-A-ness of the lyrics and his delivery. I seriously have not heard that sound around here in like 5 years, and then I was only hearing it because of another musician friend, who rode into town with his real name and out of town on the psuedonym Sri Baba Marley Jones-that you may remember, he played the songwriters circle, Galaxy Hut, and a few other gigs. So, what is this Californ-I-A sound? Think of Woodie Guthrie's annunciation of electric-I-T on Coulmbia River. Appropriatley enough, the first trak on The Dustbowlers is called "Hey Hey Woodie Guthrie", which is as much about the lonesome sound as the master himself. Another stand out happened to be 'Tailfins', a lonesome metaphor where a visit to 'The Cadillac Ranch" in Texas (you know the place where an artist has buried a bunch of heyday Cadillac's noses in the ground) spurs thoughts of finding your identity before your sell-by date. This song's like a dirge and paints such a clear picture of this unique American monument that it makes me squint in the Texas sun.
Anyway, it's apparent that these guys have been playing music for along time and I hope to see them getting gigs around town and mixing it up with the Virgin-E sound and song writing. Tim's got the lead singer speak down, already pegging Mike and Mike as the 'Beatnik Cowboys" at this homey CD release
To completely 'fess, had to bust out of the The Dustbowlers shindig to hit Staccato and see Cowlick Lucy and the newly formed Karl Straub Combo play together. I arrived at Staccato well into the advertised 1st set of Cowlick Lucy (a band I've already talked about) to find Mr. Straub sitting in with them on guitar. Very, very good move. The strenght of Karl's guitar playing added new force to Cowlick, especially to "Sheep in Wool's Clothing". The "VU" sounding songs "Downtown" and "Breakdown" totally turned this audience on at Staccato. They were captive, and I may note, not totally made up of musicians. Predominently-yes, totally no. I was quite pleased to be approached twice by people that struck up conversations with me about how great they thought the band and the club were when they saw me writing and singing along. Staccato's 'sound improvements' to shut the neighbors up who complain of sound leaking out, have in fact improved the sound inside tremendously. I got there too late to be in the front, but sitting all the way at the back upstairs bar, where I could not see a lick, the sound was clear and crisp. Take into account, the place is smaller than Velvet Lounge, but Staccato's really got something.
As does Karl Straub. This Combo is a new outting for Straub. He played for years with an outfit called the Graverobbers, fronted by him and his song writing. Right now 'The Combo' or this band is getting comfortable with new songs and Karl classics. I admit to not having heard the Graverobbers many times, though I'm a huge devotee of their CD's. The Combo fits it name as the new players in the band seem to hail from more high end lounge oriented rock music, less garage band/folk. I look forward to these guys developing too. Also kudos for Cowlick Lucy's Paula & Vivian singing those high note girl back up vocals to Karl's bubblegum ballad "Shonen Knife". When I listen to it on CD I always here those girl voices in my head, and like anyone, gotta love it when fantasy meets with reality.
Ok, hope that whet your whistle. It's going to be a busy week. I hope to give you some bite on the LTH Wolftrap extravaganza. Then the day before Thanksgiving, the mother of all shows, Americana Motel 2 at The Birchmere. The one year anniversary of the show that changed my life, brought me back into the live music scene, continues to inspire me, and has introduced me to all kinds of lovely people and experiences.
If you want more pre-show information on any of this I suggest you check out groupiegirldc on yahoo groups and look at the calender and links. Thanks-talk to you later.
Art-Show. I forgot what it was like to be 'a working artist'. Feels good.
So last weekend I treated myself to a nite of combos-solo.
The first stop was American Legion Post 8 over in Southeast for a self-titled CD release for The Dustbowlers. The drummer has been my neighbor for years-so you know what a pleasure to hear him accompanied by vocals and melody. The Dustbowlers are a 3 piece outfit, Mike on drums and percussion, another Mike on bass and double bass and backup (a natural combo for bands I like) and Tim on stringed things (guitars) and lyrics. So listening to Tims song's, I'm struck at the Californ-I-A-ness of the lyrics and his delivery. I seriously have not heard that sound around here in like 5 years, and then I was only hearing it because of another musician friend, who rode into town with his real name and out of town on the psuedonym Sri Baba Marley Jones-that you may remember, he played the songwriters circle, Galaxy Hut, and a few other gigs. So, what is this Californ-I-A sound? Think of Woodie Guthrie's annunciation of electric-I-T on Coulmbia River. Appropriatley enough, the first trak on The Dustbowlers is called "Hey Hey Woodie Guthrie", which is as much about the lonesome sound as the master himself. Another stand out happened to be 'Tailfins', a lonesome metaphor where a visit to 'The Cadillac Ranch" in Texas (you know the place where an artist has buried a bunch of heyday Cadillac's noses in the ground) spurs thoughts of finding your identity before your sell-by date. This song's like a dirge and paints such a clear picture of this unique American monument that it makes me squint in the Texas sun.
Anyway, it's apparent that these guys have been playing music for along time and I hope to see them getting gigs around town and mixing it up with the Virgin-E sound and song writing. Tim's got the lead singer speak down, already pegging Mike and Mike as the 'Beatnik Cowboys" at this homey CD release
To completely 'fess, had to bust out of the The Dustbowlers shindig to hit Staccato and see Cowlick Lucy and the newly formed Karl Straub Combo play together. I arrived at Staccato well into the advertised 1st set of Cowlick Lucy (a band I've already talked about) to find Mr. Straub sitting in with them on guitar. Very, very good move. The strenght of Karl's guitar playing added new force to Cowlick, especially to "Sheep in Wool's Clothing". The "VU" sounding songs "Downtown" and "Breakdown" totally turned this audience on at Staccato. They were captive, and I may note, not totally made up of musicians. Predominently-yes, totally no. I was quite pleased to be approached twice by people that struck up conversations with me about how great they thought the band and the club were when they saw me writing and singing along. Staccato's 'sound improvements' to shut the neighbors up who complain of sound leaking out, have in fact improved the sound inside tremendously. I got there too late to be in the front, but sitting all the way at the back upstairs bar, where I could not see a lick, the sound was clear and crisp. Take into account, the place is smaller than Velvet Lounge, but Staccato's really got something.
As does Karl Straub. This Combo is a new outting for Straub. He played for years with an outfit called the Graverobbers, fronted by him and his song writing. Right now 'The Combo' or this band is getting comfortable with new songs and Karl classics. I admit to not having heard the Graverobbers many times, though I'm a huge devotee of their CD's. The Combo fits it name as the new players in the band seem to hail from more high end lounge oriented rock music, less garage band/folk. I look forward to these guys developing too. Also kudos for Cowlick Lucy's Paula & Vivian singing those high note girl back up vocals to Karl's bubblegum ballad "Shonen Knife". When I listen to it on CD I always here those girl voices in my head, and like anyone, gotta love it when fantasy meets with reality.
Ok, hope that whet your whistle. It's going to be a busy week. I hope to give you some bite on the LTH Wolftrap extravaganza. Then the day before Thanksgiving, the mother of all shows, Americana Motel 2 at The Birchmere. The one year anniversary of the show that changed my life, brought me back into the live music scene, continues to inspire me, and has introduced me to all kinds of lovely people and experiences.
If you want more pre-show information on any of this I suggest you check out groupiegirldc on yahoo groups and look at the calender and links. Thanks-talk to you later.
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
OK, the Yahoo groups thing is pretty much up and running. It's called groupiegirldc, big surprise. I am hoping for big things for it, though I know statistics about the internet point against such things. The sharing a calender and the ability to use it to find links to shows, venues, tickets, bands, seems like it will helpful to a lot of my friends-did you just read that there's a whole page to collect links on-watch out. Or here's another for instance, a friend told me last weekend that she had a Loretta Lynn ticket that went to waste. Next time, she can stick in on the yahoo groups/groupiegirldc-that sweetie of a ticket would not have gone to waste. Consider becoming a part of the yahoo group-I am very receptive to suggestions to help make sure more people go to see live and local music.
Once again, I am sorry about the delay in posting my take on the shows I've been to, and I owe a super-sincere apology to Last Train Home. I got caught up in the Nashvillyness of the night: the lights, the elevated stage, 3 bands, black rhinestones. That moment at 'The State' has passed and I can't write about, sorry. So much fluff and not enough talk about music-the best I can say right now is that I would still love Last Train Home if they played naked in a crack house, what better endorsment could you have? There is a great Last Train Home show coming up this Saturday at the Barns of Wolftrap. Their first outing there and it is sold out. If you missed out, I will try to give out the scoop on what you missed. If you've never heard them stay tuned and tell you why I like their music.
Once again, I am sorry about the delay in posting my take on the shows I've been to, and I owe a super-sincere apology to Last Train Home. I got caught up in the Nashvillyness of the night: the lights, the elevated stage, 3 bands, black rhinestones. That moment at 'The State' has passed and I can't write about, sorry. So much fluff and not enough talk about music-the best I can say right now is that I would still love Last Train Home if they played naked in a crack house, what better endorsment could you have? There is a great Last Train Home show coming up this Saturday at the Barns of Wolftrap. Their first outing there and it is sold out. If you missed out, I will try to give out the scoop on what you missed. If you've never heard them stay tuned and tell you why I like their music.
Monday, November 18, 2002
Why did no one I know tell me that Yahoo groups had a calender? Luckily a curious patron of Staccato suggested it to me. This "administrative" garbage is what I have spent most of my time doing when not out "in the field", instead of writing up the music I have been seeing. Still, I hope to have a Yahoo group with calenders and surveys soon! I also hope to have some blab about 11/16/02, this past Saturday "combo" nite for groupiegirl.
Saturday, November 09, 2002
OK, well here's another digression, BUT VERY VERY IMPORTANT! It comes to me via Chris Connoly of the Velvet Lounge. The following text is off his mailing list
"coming soon: new DC laws and regulations governing restaraunts and music.
velvet is above the fray with a tavern license and a parking waiver, but
current laws would close almost every other small venue in town. the new laws
are a big improvement, but not enough of an improvement that some hard
working venue owners would not wind up getting their places shut down. of
particular concern, it has been recommended that the 45% food sales
requirement be lowered, but only to 40% or $1,500 per seat of capacity per
year. it needs to lowered further or many places will be closed.
please come testify on dec 4 (location tba, ask the liquor board) that people
who support nightlife are the majority and the liquor board and the council
should protect their interests against the small minority of citizens who
routinely protest all liquor licenses and aspire to control the city's
commerical corridors as if they were their own living rooms rather than vital
public resources. oddly, despite a couple handfuls of the same protestors
coming in over and over constantly repeating the refrain 1,000s of nightlife
consumers are bothering me, the council and the board seem to forget this is
a democractic society and there are 1,000s of us that like to go out at
night, even if the sidewalks get crowded and even if a couple 100 people
would rather we stayed home. if you work at a restaraunt please encourage
the owner to contact me (Chris at the Velvet Lounge)
regarding the new laws and regulations and our trade association: dc licensed
beverage association."
Thank you Chris. I hope posting this here helps. And remember consumers DECEMBER 4 - TESTIFY that small business and LEGITIMATE business at night is RIGHT and good for a city!!!!! AMEN
"coming soon: new DC laws and regulations governing restaraunts and music.
velvet is above the fray with a tavern license and a parking waiver, but
current laws would close almost every other small venue in town. the new laws
are a big improvement, but not enough of an improvement that some hard
working venue owners would not wind up getting their places shut down. of
particular concern, it has been recommended that the 45% food sales
requirement be lowered, but only to 40% or $1,500 per seat of capacity per
year. it needs to lowered further or many places will be closed.
please come testify on dec 4 (location tba, ask the liquor board) that people
who support nightlife are the majority and the liquor board and the council
should protect their interests against the small minority of citizens who
routinely protest all liquor licenses and aspire to control the city's
commerical corridors as if they were their own living rooms rather than vital
public resources. oddly, despite a couple handfuls of the same protestors
coming in over and over constantly repeating the refrain 1,000s of nightlife
consumers are bothering me, the council and the board seem to forget this is
a democractic society and there are 1,000s of us that like to go out at
night, even if the sidewalks get crowded and even if a couple 100 people
would rather we stayed home. if you work at a restaraunt please encourage
the owner to contact me (Chris at the Velvet Lounge)
regarding the new laws and regulations and our trade association: dc licensed
beverage association."
Thank you Chris. I hope posting this here helps. And remember consumers DECEMBER 4 - TESTIFY that small business and LEGITIMATE business at night is RIGHT and good for a city!!!!! AMEN
Tuesday, November 05, 2002
Hi groupie friends-thanks for checking in. I hope to post soon. It will be like going 0-60 mph, as I attempt to make some mention of all the shows I saw in the past month. I hope to post some content from another groupiegirl who was out there seeing shows in the month of October while I spent all my odd hours in helping set up 'remembering pleasure' a curated visual art exhibition at Art-O-Matic (located on the 2nd floor in a space called Cheverly 8 {tell your friends}) that includes a sexy sculpture by me. Seriously check out my club of the month link-its ART-O-MATIC I am talking about. They have some really really good bands on the schedule. I mean a very real schedule of competitive bands-BANDS EVERY DAY the building in open. If Art-O-Matic keeps this up it will be like a biennial winter version of Ft. Reno.
Thank you to the musicians that have talked to me about reading this journal, it is really appreciated, only wish I could do more and pay less, oh well. You may note I have been playing technically with this page. I am functional in technology, but it's not my strong point. Does anyone know of a free web based personal calender that I could set up as a link on the groupiegirldc page? Please contact me if you do. bye!
Thank you to the musicians that have talked to me about reading this journal, it is really appreciated, only wish I could do more and pay less, oh well. You may note I have been playing technically with this page. I am functional in technology, but it's not my strong point. Does anyone know of a free web based personal calender that I could set up as a link on the groupiegirldc page? Please contact me if you do. bye!