Back in 2010, I got caught up watching the second season of NBC’s The Sing Off—the American Idol for a cappella groups. Not really one for shows of this type, I got hooked by seeing Ben Folds serve as one of the judges and Nashville singer-songwriter Jeremy Lister front Street Corner Symphony. Street Corner […]
Asbury Park, NJ has a long history with rock music with plenty of it happening in the Boardwalk’s historic Convention Hall. The list of greats who played there includes The Rolling Stones, The Who, Pink Floyd and even Led Zeppelin who played there one night instead of Woodstock. The 3,600-seat venue still stands today hosting […]
Since moving to Music City, I have missed opportunities to hear some of my favorite recording artists such as John Hiatt, Steve Earle, and Ben Folds speak as a part of Vanderbilt’s Blair Conversations Series. This time around, my schedule worked out to see the legendary Peter Frampton in a session moderated by Jen Gunderman. […]
Back in the pre-punk mid-70s, I was a huge country-rock fan, and Poco was my favorite good-time band. I still went to see them play at every opportunity I could even though their leader, founder, and my draw to the band, Richie Furay, had recently left the band. This night’s show was at the Capitol […]
Without a doubt, The Long Players are one of the best entertainments that Music City has to offer. Getting ready to celebrate ten years together, these guys have now recreated over 60 different classic records live using some of the best singers the city has to offer. Their session-quality musicianship and attention to detail have […]
The comfortably-plush Franklin Theatre continues to consistently offer the best in local and national musical talent. Recently, Dobro master Jerry Douglas, a Nashville local, came down to Franklin for back-to-back shows. This first night was a “Christmas Show” with his Jerry Douglas Band. On the following night, Douglas performed in his “Earls of Leicester” bluegrass […]
Nearing the end of their first U.S. tour, Elvis Costello & the Attractions made their New York City debut at its premier music club, The Bottom Line. After two nights there and a private show in the city on the following night, the tour ended with a Friday night show in Jersey at Asbury Park’s […]
Less than a month ago, New York City based singer-songwriter James Maddock played a weeknight early show at The Basement. This night, Coney Island born and bred Garland Jeffreys followed suit. To connect some dots: Maddock produced Jeffrey’s latest effort, Truth Serum, and Nashville’s Thirty Tigers, who happen to office upstairs from the venue, marketed […]
When time allows, I make a concerted effort to prepare for my upcoming concerts. My usual M.O. entails going into completist mode about the artist I will be seeing and filling my travelling iPod with as much of their recorded work as possible. The process normally involves used CD purchases from Amazon which I find […]
Sometimes wishes do come true. One lazy Sunday afternoon, I hit the couch plopping down my vinyl copy of Television’s 1978 LP, Adventure. The enticing sounds of the twin guitars of Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd made me regret that I never saw them perform live at CBGBs in the late 70s. In those early […]
Music City Mike 