SeattleC

As a casual fan of CH I have to say I was blown away by their show last night in Vancouver. Solid 2-hour set. Particularly enjoyed "Distant Sun" "Private Universe" and "It's Only Natural" as well as beautiful versions of "Fall At Your Feet" and "Isolation" (featuring Sharon). I have to agree, these guys are incredible live.

So glad you appreciated it! I really do think they are right in there with Wilco for the quality of their live shows. How about the smoking amp on the first song? Spinal Tap would've been impressed.

I had more fun at the Seattle show, because of being on my feet grooving right up front by Neil Finn, but the sound quality and the variety of the set list from Seattle also made Vancouver special. The Queen Elizabeth is a nice theatre, and it was a longer show.

Here's a pic of Neil Finn from the Vancouver show:

This may have already been shared, but if not:

Tweedy and McCaughey: The Family Gardener

http://www.yeproc.com/news.php?articleId=6910

Go Mariners!

.......and don't come back.

The Swell Season are good people:

 

 

Indeed they are. They are the real deal.

By the way, Glen's bringing the Frames back to Seattle on tour in November, and I assume elsewhere, but I haven't checked the schedule.

I totally say fuck him, after watching Glen Hansard and crew dealing with it on Saturday evening.

Glen was in a moment of funk about it between songs, and I yelled out (politely I hope) : Look at the moon! because there was a beautiful moon rising over his shoulder. He said 'where?', and several voices in unison yelled out right there, pointing over his right shoulder. Then he changed the next song on the setlist and played 'The Moon'. I was actually just trying to cheer them up, and didn't realize that it would evolve the way that it did. It was an incredibly beautiful rendition of that song.

At the risk of repeating myself from the festival thread, a couple of moving moments in the set attached.

I can help you out, as I just got the deluxe edition. PM me with an email.

The Swell Season posted another message on its Facebook page Saturday before a concert in Washington state.

"Making and performing music is what the band has always done in good times and in bad," it read. "Our hope is that in this communal experience tonight we can somehow help our own grieving process after what we just witnessed. The show will most certainly be different than any other we have ever played."

"We wish to continue to be sensitive to family and friends of this individual and hope that in performing it is not viewed as a selfish act," the message continues. "We have not come to this decision lightly. We continue to have them at the forefront of our minds and hearts.?"

As I posted in another thread (No Depression Fest), I was at the show on Saturday referenced above, 2 days later, and I give them credit for not having stage fright of a different kind. You could tell it profoundly affected them, and there were several references to the event in the course of the set.

What a cruel way to take your own life. Besides the violence to himself, he brought violence and horror to so many other people, as well as the end of what would have been a great show, I expect, based on seeing them live here on Saturday. Nobody who saw this will ever forget it, and more than a few nightmares will be had. I'd like to thank them for not cancelling the few remaining west coast dates.

Sorry you missed it. Plan on next year!

Here's a link to my photos of the entire festival:

http://www.nodepress...rofile/SeattleC

Yesterday was the 2nd annual No Depression festival - Marymoor Park, Redmond, Washington. Bands were the Maldives, Sera Cahoone, and the Cave Singers (all Seattle based), Chuck Prophet, Alejandro Escavedo, Lucinda Williams, and the Swell Season. All of the bands were fantastic, and the festival is really well run - short breaks between bands, great food and microbrews, lovely forested setting. This followed on the heels of an amazing 1st annual show headlined by Iron and Wine and Gillian Welch/David Rawlings.

No Depression indeed: I didn't really go to see the Swell Season, but I was very impressed with their performance, especially given the circumstances. It was a very emotional, moving set. It is clear that they were profoundly affected by the on stage suicide at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga,CA two nights earlier, and I think the interaction with the wonderful crowd was cathartic for them. A beautiful moon was behind them (just like at the Wilco show 3 years ago at the same venue), and they held the crowd's complete attention with the closing performance of the festival. I wouldn't have thought of the Swell Season as alt country, but I changed my mind for some of their songs with the full band.

Someone else started a thread about 'an interesting way to go', but I also would like to draw attention to this festival. Look for the 3rd annual, next August, and come on to Seattle!

(this should've been posted in 'After the Show', but too late now!)

www.nodepression.com

The Swell Season, a pop/rock duo, has reflected on the incident on its web site and social networking sites.

"The band, crew and all involved with them are shocked and saddened by the death that occurred at last night's show," the songwriting duo said on its Twitter page Friday.

The Swell Season posted another message on its Facebook page Saturday before a concert in Washington state.

"Making and performing music is what the band has always done in good times and in bad," it read. "Our hope is that in this communal experience tonight we can somehow help our own grieving process after what we just witnessed. The show will most certainly be different than any other we have ever played."

"We wish to continue to be sensitive to family and friends of this individual and hope that in performing it is not viewed as a selfish act," the message continues. "We have not come to this decision lightly. We continue to have them at the forefront of our minds and hearts.?"

Who's not listening, not me....

Thanks for the link to Glastonbury - that was amazing, although every time I see footage from that festival, I'm amazed by how big it is, and how hard it must be to get close enough to see anything. My only trip to Glastonbury was a much quieter event.

I've seen Ray perform 3 times in recent years. If you are a fan, don't miss him. You'll get your money's worth, and then some.

Would everyone agree John Wayne Gacy is the creepiest song ever written? Maybe a good poll topic. Hmmm?

It is an extremely creepy song, but well done. His voice is amazing on it. I have it turned off on itunes though, as I can't handle it in the random mix.

Just got "Intriguer" on Friday and wish I hadn't waited so long. Takes about 3 or 4 listens but after that I just didn't want to stop playing it. As always, Neil Finn spoils us with exquisite melodies: this time they just take a tad longer to surface. His voice only seems to get better and more expansive. At first I was slightly put off by the number of slower and mid-paced songs but that shouldn't be put you off if you give the album enough time. It's an interesting album: definitely Crowded House but without quite sounding like any of their other albums. The production is lovely: very subtle but clear and allowing different things to become apparent with each listen. Looking forward to seeing them in Seattle at the end of August. I wonder what chance that the Chicago audience might see Jeff Tweedy join them onstage when they play there.

And will we get the often occurring Eddie Vedder visit on stage with Neil in Seattle?

Nice to hear you like Intriguer. I'll see you at the winery! I just saw Jackson Browne and David Lindley there on Saturday, and it was really amazing. I hadn't listened to Jackson Browne much over the last several years, but it rekindled my interest. I'm surprised by how well his music (and frankly, Jackson himself) has aged. And the other star of the show, David Lindley, has always been a favorite of mine.

We are in for a treat with CH later in the month.

Roy Rogers - Elton John

Back of A Car - Big Star

Them Belly Full - Bob Marley

Blue Head Flame - The Walkabouts

Sally Was A legend - Robyn Hitchcock

Money - Richard Thompson

Tiger Tattoos - Laura Veirs

Letter to Bowie Knife - Calexico

Tumbling Dice - The Rolling Stones

Travelling Mood - Dr. John

From Neil Young's website:

lower photo - L.A. Johnson BEN KEITH

On the full moon, the Thunder moon, the world lost one of the greatest musicians of all time. Ben was 73 years old the night he died on Broken Arrow Ranch in California, his happy home for the last years of his life. Ben played with Patsy Cline, Faron Young, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Ian Tyson and many other music greats. A great American, the quiet giant, he moved gently through the world, with kindness and grace.

My wife Pegi was lucky to share his last performance a few weeks back in San Francisco, where Ben was playing in her band, supporting her and lending his spirit to her every word as she sang her songs for us.

Of course, in Nashville Ben Keith is legendary, one of the last of the original country greats, the man behind the song. No one will ever fill his shoes. He has countless friends and admirers. They all miss him as much as I do. I will miss him every time I look to my side, remembering him, my brother and fellow traveler.

Thankfully, Ben's masterful playing can be seen and heard in two Johnathon Demme pictures: "Heart of Gold" and "Trunk Show," as well as countless great recordings over the last 50 years. We are so fortunate to have these as memories and lasting documents of his greatness and grace. He started out on a homemade steel guitar he fashioned himself from a piece of wood and left over parts. He loved his music and his life and cherished his many friends and soul mates.

He leaves behind his wonderful daughter Heidi, and his grandchildren who he loved so much, DJ, Rachel, James, Meredith, Aubrey, Fletcher and Caroline.

May he rest in Peace.

Neil Young

This is sad, unexpected news. I just saw him play only a few weeks ago with Pegi Young, and he was looking happy. That steel guitar was sounding really good in the tiny venue. RIP Ben.

I've attached a photo of Ben playing in Seattle with Pegi Young on June 13, 2010

The only other band as good as Wilco live, IMHO!

Neil Finn indulgent? That's never been my impression in the many live shows I've seen him play with CH or solo. CH still plays 'Don't Dream It's Over' sometimes, like at the Isle of Wight Festival earlier this year.

He played it in both of the last two shows I saw in 2007, but it's ok if it's a pass later in August when I see them.

Neil also breaks out I Got You once in awhile live, which I've been lucky to witness. Now that I'd like to see again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDAPTiWVQHI

I have several friends who have seen recent Crowded House shows on the East Coast, and it sounds like they are really better than ever as a reformed band. The 'new' band (really just the addition of Matt Sherrod as drummer (he's great!) was already very good in 2007, so I'm highly anticipating the upcoming Seattle/Vancouver shows.

Here's another pointless, stupid poll I thought of because I'm bored...

 

I think I'm going to have to pick Summerteeth, because they have enough members now to pull of what was done in crazy overdub sessions by Tweedy and Bennett - a more "organic" approach to the album. I would, however, expect much better things out of "I'm Always in Love" than what they've done with it live. And maybe replace some of the extra keys/organs with more guitar fills...

Summerteeth came instantly into my head. Why is that, I'm wondering? It has the strength behind it to make a good remake, although I love the original. It's a real 'band' album, whereas, Being There is more Tweedy driven, and you can't touch YHT, that would be a travesty. AM, meh.... AGIB - don't try again, it's too one of a kind, and close enough to the current lineup.

All I know right now is I'm bumming.....I was looking forward to an outdoor spectacle in our Sounders/Seahawks stadium.....

Not looking forward to a show in 2011, as I don't want to be another year older yet, but I'll keep the tickets.

I still can't get to sleep. Can't get them out of my head. It's a wonderful feeling.

Did Jeff do his Count Tweedy thing ?

welch-rawlings

 

their interplay is subtle but precise. gillian is never just hacking away. it's always in synch and with little notes here and there. great stuff.

 

 

good choice!

Robyn Hitchcock/Kimberly Rew

That's hard to argue with....

Tweedy/Farrar

Robyn Hitchcock/Peter Buck

Dylan/Robbie Robertson

I am feeling all the cliched bullshit wasted life stuff.

 

Revel in your youth.

I hope you don't look as bad as your avatar

I have a dreaded milestone birthday this year as well, and it ain't 30 (or the next one)

Liam finn didn't really do anything except play d, c and g and fuck up the chorus lyrics...

 

Hey, even I can do that!

Seems a bit fishy, but if it is real, could be the best Wilco setlist i have ever seen (maybe excluding a few of the evening with shows).

With the added bonus of Liam Finn on California Stars! That is a setlist for the ages....

Nice....Bert is definitely a legend and rarely performs in the US....maybe not even in the UK. He is one of the all time great guitarists and not young either. Don't miss him for sure, particularly at those prices.

 

LouieB

I'll third that on Bert Jansch. As a long time fan of his work with the Pentangle and with John Renbourn, I finally got to see him a couple of years ago. I can't believe he's opening for Neil. He is truly a mostly unappreciated legend.