Christmas Show at Capitol Center for the Arts - featuring local guitar legend Myron Kibbee

       
   
   

      Rocking Horse Studio in Pittsfield, NH put on a Christmas show at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, NH recently.  First off, I want to apologize for any of the performers that I don't mention here.  I forgot to bring my little notebook to jot down what I saw, so I am doing this from memory.  Some of you may have seen a version of this show on WMUR's "Chronicle" show last year.  The show was nominated for an Emmy.  It was rebroadcast this year.  This Rocking Horse Studio has quite a stable of talented musicians (see how I linked horse and stable? can't teach that).
 

Myron playing at my friend's wedding

   
     I first heard of this place from the super cool and super talented guitarist, Myron Kibbee.  He plays on a lot of the recordings that take place there.  He also was onstage most of this night providing fantastic guitar work on a variety of songs.  On a side note, I am nearly related to Mr. Kibbee.  He is my good friend's brother in law.

     Some of the performers that I saw were Dusty Gray Band, Rachel Vogelzang, Pat and the Hats, Chris Peters, Delanie Pickering, The Connection, Steve Blunt, The Four Legged Faithful, Seth Wonkka, Gina Alibrio, Mike Dunbar and Hannah Michaud.

     I am not a huge Christmas music fan, but I enjoyed nearly every song I heard this night.  The arrangements and talent of the performers seemed to bring new life into most of these traditional Holiday tunes.
 
     Next, I will mention some of the songs that have stuck in my murky memory banks.  "Merry Christmas Baby" performed by Delanie Pickering, featured some soulful vocals and bluesy guitar work.  "Christmas Wrapping" by the Waitresses was performed by Michelle Coombes and Brittany Laine (the female singer from Pat and Hats) on vocals and backed by Pat and the Hats and other folks.  Pat and the Hats stayed on stage to perform a a sizzling version of "Father Christmas" by the Kinks.

     Chris Peters did a beautiful original song entitled "Christmas Angels" which hit me right in my single-guy heart.  I happened to meet him after the show and he gave me a couple of things that I am told you can download this song with.  He also gave me a copy of his latest full-length CD.  Chris was very kind and generous and a great representative of what the night was all about.

     One last song I would like to mention was the playful version of "Baby It's Cold Outside" performed by Mike Dunbar and Hannah Michaud.  I have included a video of this song and you can see the fun they had performing this classic.  Hannah also had the nicest Christmas sweater at the show.

             
     Special mention should go to Brian Coombes, who apparently is the head honcho at Rocking Horse and without him this great night would not have happened. If this show comes around again next year, you should buy your tickets fast. The event sold out this year.  Bring your family, a loved one, a friend, or just bring me.  whatever, just go.  Happy Holidays!
       

             

A Musical Weekend (Part One - Friday)

          I had the pleasure of seeing two of my favorite local bands in the same weekend, a few weeks ago. On the Friday night, I saw Erin Harpe and the Delta Swingers in Lowell, MA and on the Saturday night ,I saw Pat and the Hats in Warner, NH.  Both bands have been featured in this world famous blog previously, so I am not going to rehash all of praise I have already tossed on them. Instead, I am going to try and share the fun you can have with the local music scene within sixty miles of Nashua, NH.

The Friday night show took place at the Back Page in Lowell, MA.  I have a limited knowledge of traveling around Lowell, but my traveling partner, Abbi, allegedly had a GPS-type feature on her fancy phone. This alleviated any fears I had of getting lost in Lowell and not getting good seats for the show and quite a number of other catastrophes I envisioned.  The only trouble with this GPS thing was that any time we reached a part of the trip where we needed to make a decision on which way to turn, Abbi or the phone would lose contact with our GPS instruction deliverer. I heard the word "recalculating" quite often.
This GPS service raised some concerns right from the start, as the woman's voice guiding us, sounded like it came from someone with the flu. I seriously felt like I was going to catch something from her. Anyhow, we overcame that somehow and arrived at our destination on time. I would never be able to retrace the route we took to get there however.
After parking the car, we walked by a group of youths that all must have been battling glaucoma, as they seemed to be sharing their medicinal marijuana to combat their affliction.
Next, we walked by a finely dressed middle-aged couple sharing a bottle of wine in a bag near a dumpster outside a sushi palace. This already had the makings of a good night.

     The bar opened at 7pm and we arrived at roughly 7:03pm.  We walked in and the place was empty, except for a bartender who was setting up her cash register for the night. The bartender asked what we were doing there so early. I told her we were there to see the band and she responded with "you know the music doesn't start until 9pm."  I told her I was aware of that, but wanted to be sure that we got good seats. She said "it doesn't get crowded here until 10:30pm."  None of what she said helped me with my friend Abbi, who skipped dinner to fit into my strict time constraints. I scanned the empty bar and picked the perfect seats and settled in for a fun-filled evening.

They had a nice selection of beers and fancy martinis to help us kill a couple of hours.  As far as food goes, they have what would best be described as a "limited" menu. The only other negative that I found was that no matter what I tried I could not lock the men's room door. It was a one man at a time setup, but there was no way for me to prevent the door from being flung open when I was in there.  I was quite jittery during my visits there. I am not sure if the other male patrons had the same problem, but I really had no idea who to ask and if I even should ask.

     Eventually, the band came on and we enjoyed their music and the celebration of their their new CD release, entitled "Love Whip Blues."

A local radio station also broadcast the show. Our bartender wasn't lying either, there was a good crowd there by 10:30pm     The entire night would have went off without a hitch, if I did not make a colossal social gaffe when saying goodbye to the one and only, Erin Harpe.
I gave her a hello hug like a normal human would.  We talked about the new CD and that the band sounded great, and the crowd was good, and then I ran out of things to say. So... I hugged her again.  It was way too soon since the initial hug and was awkward for both of us. I am afraid in the future, I will have to enjoy the band from a distance. It is a shame because I think we were on our way to becoming friends. I think I was just starstruck from the excitement of the radio broadcast and the CD release party. I was done in by the double-hug. Embarrassing.

Asleep at the Blog and Asleep at the Wheel

Me & The Bride

          So I missed an entire month of blogging.  I am not sure if anyone noticed, but it's true.  There are three reasons for this lengthy break.
   The first reason is that my birthday was at the end of September. Any of you that know me, know I need to celebrate my birthday until everyone around me is sick of hearing about it.
   The second reason is that my friends Abbi and Matt got married in early October and you know how time consuming other people's weddings can be.
   The third and final reason was due to a personal change in my acknowledgement of Columbus Day.  I made the switch over to Indigenous People Day, rather than the traditional Columbus Day and I found that gave me a deeper meaning of the Holiday.  In fact, during a celebration toast to Indigenous People Day, a nearby Micmac Indian came over and gave me a hug for my thoughtful cheer. It did not take long for this change to impact my life. Okay, let's get to a recent show that I took in.

Asleep at the Wheel

I saw the band Asleep at the Wheel at one of my favorite places, the Bull Run in Shirley, MA.  These folks play a brand of music called Western Swing.  I would think Country should be part of that description as well, but I do not name my own musical categories yet.  There cannot be too many Western Swing bands still around, although I do not really have verification of that fact.  Apparently they are carrying on in the tradition of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, who were big in the 1940's with this Western swing thing.

Katie Holmes

     Ray Benson is the leader of the band and has been in charge since the band started in 1970.  They have won nine Grammys and recorded a total of over 25 studio and live albums.  I have seen the band a few times over the years and was surprised to see they changed up their lineup recently. They added Emily Gimble on piano and vocals and she can really belt out a tune. Also new is Katie Holmes on fiddle and vocals and she is talented and perpetually smiling. Gone is stalwart fiddle player, Jason Roberts, who has his own band now.

The man to watch perform however, is Eddie Rivers on the steel guitar and occasional saxophone. He is a captivating performer on his steel guitar. Second to that would have to be singer Ray Benson's ball-juggling that ends with him catching the last ball in his cowboy hat.  You cannot put a price in that type of entertainment.


                   

     Perhaps their most famous song is their rendition of "Get Your Kicks (On Route 66). "  An interesting little fact about their history with that song is that they have recorded and released different versions of that song four times in four different decades.  That's pretty cool. A couple of other songs that they perform in their concert that you may have heard are "Don't Fence Me In" and "Hot Rod Lincoln."  "Miles and Miles of Texas" and "Big Balls in Cowtown" are a couple of other Asleep classics.  The show always ends with "Happy Trails to You".

I would recommend seeing Asleep at the Wheel if no other reason than to checkout their unique style and fabulous musicianship.

   

                    

Paul Thorn Should Be Pricking Everybody!

       

Paul Thorn should be known by the entire United States, but I don't think he is.  My brother, Steve, introduced me to his music and I am darn happy that he did.  I immediately added this to the list of reasons why I love my brother.  Paul's musical styles bounce around quite a bit.  I know he is a member of that Singer/Songwriter category and he also does well in that wide-ranging Americana genre that the rootsy hipsters enjoy nowadays.  He throws in some Blues, Rock, and Gospel as well.  I have never been part of a Revival, but I think his shows have a piece of that in them as well.  He might play a bit of Swamp Rock too, as I was pretty swampy at the end of this show.  That may have been caused by the high temperature inside however.

                    
Mr. Thorn has a great way of connecting to his audience through his songs and storytelling.  He speaks and acts in a genuine and heartfelt manner.  He also makes sure to go throughout the crowd, hugging folks and posing for pictures and such during the show.  After the show, he is always available for autographs and photos as well.  I have included a picture of Paul with my super cool niece, Heather.

    Paul returned to the Bull Run in Shirley, MA earlier in the month, after a successful appearance there last year.  He even remembered meeting my niece from his last visit.  To give you an example of how he connects with his audience, he noticed my young niece standing up in the crowd and said "I see some people brought their children with them.  That's good because some of my fans are dying off and we need to replace them!" Paul got a good laugh from the audience for that one and provided a special memory for my family.
   
The audience received a little Paul Thorn bonus on this night, as the scheduled opening act did not appear.  Paul did an acoustic set  to get the night rolling.   This provided me with a great opportunity to focus on his lyrics and not be distracted by how talented his band is when they are plugged in and rocking out.  Bill Hinds is one bad man on the guitar.  Michael Graham AKA Dr. Love, is a dynamo on keyboards.  He can Boogie Woogie, Barrelhouse, or Chopstick the hell out of those keys!  The bass player has similar hair to the late Robin Williams, which provided me with an odd feeling of reassurance and sadness.

     I almost forgot to mention that there was a special guest appearance by Al Kooper.  He joined Paul for a song during the acoustic set.  Al Kooper is not to be confused with Alice Cooper, with the snakes and "School's Out" fame.  This Al Kooper was one of the original members of Blood, Sweat, and Tears. He also discovered a band named Lynyrd Skynyrd.  He has done a bunch of other things too.  Google him.  Learn something.  Someday I won't be around to teach you all of this.

     Another interesting tidbit about Mr. Thorn is that he was a professional boxer from 1985 to 1988.  In fact, he fought Roberto Duran in 1988 (yes, that Roberto Duran) in Atlantic City.  Duran's record was 82-7 at the time and Thorn's was 9-1-1.   Paul lost in the 6th round due to a cut that couldn't be closed.  It is an experience he speaks fondly of.  I included some of the fight here.

 

 If all of this doesn't make you want to check him out, then I don't know what will. His recorded music is excellent as well.  Buy a CD or download whatever people download on their mysterious gadgets.  These guys have developed quite a following and I think tickets will go fast next time they come around.  Don't miss out!

 

Chris Isaak - More Than Just A Wicked Game

 

 Chris Isaak made his annual visit to the Club Casino in Hampton Beach, NH a couple of Fridays ago.

Lori & I from Chris Isaak 2012

 I have lost track of how many times I have seen him in concert.  I know this was my fourth time with Lori, my other Chris Isaak fanatic and great friend.

The first time that I saw him was performing outside of a radio station in Portland, Maine when his giant hit "Wicked Game" first hit the airwaves.  I am fairly certain he still plays the same guitar that he was playing that afternoon.  Lots of people only know him from his song "Wicked Game," which was a national Top 10 hit back in 1991.  It also had one of the greatest videos of all-time featuring model Helena Christensen and filmed in black and white on a beach.  Needless to say that video will be included here in this blog and will easily be the best part of this entry.


 

 I think some people think a Chris Isaak show would be filled with lots of love songs and old women throwing underwear at the stage.  And they would be right.  Just kidding, there are a few love songs and limited underwear being thrown.  Chris is a fabulous showman and entertains throughout the night.

A few things you can expect to enjoy at most of his shows are:
 
     1. A song sung while walking throughout the audience giving hugs and posing for pictures with his loving fans. (all of the Reserved Seating was sold out for this show and most of the General Admission area was filled too)
 
     2. He will make you laugh loudly with his between song banter
 
     3. He and the band will throw in a little acoustic break in the middle of the show and sit in a circle and zip through some great songs. This part looks like the band is immensely enjoying themselves.
   
     4. Chris will wear some outlandish suits! I believe his mother used to make his suits. I am not sure if that is still the case, but let's assume it is.

His last cd was released in 2011 and was entitled "Beyond the Sun." This disc was a tribute to the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.  Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbision, all recorded there when they were first starting out.  Their songs, as well as many other famous artists are covered here by Chris on this superb 2-cd set.  I had the good fortune to be able to visit Sun Studios.  It isn't in the nicest part of Memphis and the day I was there, the historical marker that should have been out front, was in the lobby because someone tried to pull it out of the ground the night before with a truck and chains.  The tour of the place was perfect for me. You walk in the studio and then never move from there!  The studio has been kept in its original condition with the same ceiling tiles and floor that you see in all of the famous early pictures of the artists that recorded there.  The tour folks tell you stories about the artists and the recording sessions and play you samples of the music.  It is one of the coolest musical places that I have ever been in.

     So back to Chris Isaak, he is a whole lot more than a "One Hit Wonder" and you should get out and see him.  You will not regret it!

Racky Thomas Stirs the Strange Brew Tavern

       

   
     I have seen Racky Thomas numerous times over the years, as he is a regular on the Strange Brew rotation.  One thing is for certain, there could be 5 people or 105 people in the place, and Racky is going to give it his all and entertain you.  Although he may be small in stature, he has a huge stage presence.  His vocals and harmonica playing are top notch.  He always has a tight band with him as well.
They do a great job getting crowd participation as well, through either dancing or clapping along to their infectious beats.
Racky mixes original tunes and cover songs in his show and though the songs sound old, they seem brand new at the same time.  You should go see him for no other reason than to hear his version of "Not Fade Away" by Buddy Holly.  Man, he delivers this song straight to your bread basket and knocks the wind out of you!  My musical life hasn't been the same since I heard him do this song. Sadly, I could not find a video of it. I did find a couple of other good tunes however.
                       

            I am going into a sidebar here to talk about an audience member from this night.  So this guy comes in with what looked like a fishing tackle box and what may or may not have been an easel (turns out it was a mini-easel).  He proceeded to setup shop near my table.  Inside his tackle box were a bunch of tubes of paint.  He began to paint using only his fingers, no brushes.  I believe in the Art world that is called "finger-painting."  His subject was the band, but I really couldn't tell that until about 45 minutes into the painting.  Long story short, the painting turned out to be a masterpiece and is pictured somewhere in this blog.  My friend Bowler Aimee, who you heard about in the Barnful Of Blues entry, bought the painting from him.  I don't want to talk money, but it was double figures.



          During one of the band's breaks I got into a conversation with this genius of the paint tubes.  He told me a great story about visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY as a youth. He came over to me because he noticed the super cool Reggie Jackson shirt that I was wearing. Now I can't type that whole story here, or I might as well make this a blog about mysterious finger painters of New Hampshire.  He already got as much ink as Racky.

          Anyhow, go see Racky at the Strange Brew or wherever else he pops up. He will make it well worth your while.
                   

The Pat and the Hats Band are the Cat's Pajamas!

     

      I know what all of the cool kids in NH are doing now.  They are following the Pat and the Hats band all over the state.  I had read quite a bit about them, but had not seen them until recently.  My friend Gorden and I took a trip to my second home, the Strange Brew in Manchester, NH to check this band out for ourselves.  Between the two of us, we have roughly 90 years of listening to all sorts of music.  Surprisingly, we both still have decent hearing.  I reserved some prime real estate right in front of the stage, so we could capture the whole experience.  Good thing I did because this band has quite a following. The front of the stage area was packed with their fans.  I don't know if their followers are called "Hatties," but quite a few of them were sporting hats.  Gorden and I were surrounded by thousands of these young adults, or maybe twenty of them.  It was hard to count with all of them moving around.  It seemed kind of funny to me that the only person there that night that was close to our age was the owner of the place.  It is times like these when I realize that I am still cutting edge.

     The leader of the band is Patrik Gochez.  He sings, writes the songs, plays guitar and piano, then cashes you out, calls a cab for you if needed, and then looks for more to do.  He does it all.  The Hats cannot be discredited however.  They are all ultra-talented and make this band top-notch.  The poor guys in the band may get overshadowed by their charismatic frontman.  These guys put on a fantastic show and were exciting to watch.  I guess you could call them Alternative-Pop if that is a category?  They can play many styles and would be hard to pigeonhole into one category (I don't get to use "pigeonhole"enough in my writing).
   
     After their first set, I went up to the "Merch table" (that's what I called it to fit in with the hipsters) and scooped up the band's first CD which just came out in June 2014.  Patrik released a solo CD in 2012.  The name of the disc is "fake it 'till you make a hit."  They didn't use capital letters in the title, so neither did I.  The songs on the disc are phenomenal.  I have not heard song variety like this since the Beatles released "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" back in 1967.  Ironically, that album was also released in the month of June.  Coincidence, or a musical milestone that will be discussed by future generations?

Okay, hold on, let me calm down.  The Beatles stuff may have been over the top, but I was trying to show that these guys are good.  You should check them out for yourself.  If you go to their website you can see a list of where they will be performing.  There were no high-quality videos of the band to share, but if you scroll down to bottom of their website you can hear some songs by clicking on the Play arrow on little Soundcloud thing.   Hopefully that makes more sense when you get to website.
                                                       http://www.patandthehats.com/