Sign of the times

Prince Nelson Rogers; R. I. P.

Quote for the day (Secular Royalty Division)

There are people who are unhappy with everything. - Prince




The Prince is dead---long live the Prince . . . .

We could be heroes, just for one day . . . . .

David Bowie was something both of and beyond pop culture. Boundaries seemed to mean nothing to him. R.I.P. to the Thin White Duke.

Stevie Ray blows me away!!!

Thanks, Weird Al

This is just so silly that it is cool! Weird Al is an fuckin' INSTITUTION!!!

"Fever" by Red Molly

Oh my! A song by a group named for a lyric from one of my favorite songs!

"Waiting for the next accident . . . "

Quote for the Day (Aging Moptop Division)

"Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young." Paul McCartney

Clothesline Revival - Calling Trains - Train Trilogy Pt 3

Crystal Method peforming "Difference (Feat. Frankie Perez)" Live on KCRW

Yeah, these guys can make these noises live, too! I've loved their themes for "Bones" and "Almost Human", but this proves they can rock the house . . . . .

R. I. P. Pete Seeger

Pete definitely fought the good fight. Rest easy, sir . . . . .

Tracy Grammer at Little River Inn-January 16, 2014

Tracy Grammer at Little River Inn-January 16, 2014, a set on Flickr. (Click on the thumbnails to enlarge)

Tracy Grammer appeared at Little River Inn on January 16, 2014, as a part of the Mendocino Stories and Music concert series. She first came to the Mendocino Coast with her partner and amazing song writer Dave Carter over a decade ago. He passed away in 2002, and Tracy carries the torch of his tuneful and poetic creations.

She performed quite a few of them beautifully, and covered a couple of Townes Van Zandt songs as well. But she really shined with the two compositions of her own she sang; "Hole" and "The Verdant Mile." She said she will be writing more of her own songs in the upcoming year, and if the ones she played here are any indication, they will be wonderful additions to her repertoire. The audience at the Little River Inn was utterly charmed by this performer.

Gwyneth Moreland and David Hayes at Little River Inn December 28, 2013

Gwyneth Moreland and David Hayes at Little River Inn December 28, 2013, a set on Flickr. (Click on the thumbnails for larger versions.)

Local talents singer/songwriter Gwyneth Moreland and bassist David Hayes played a great concert to a packed house at Little River Inn's Abalone Room last Saturday, December 28th.

David has played with a wide range of musicians over the years, including Van Morrison, The Rowan Brothers, Jesse Colin Young, and many more. His playing has a jazz influenced fluidity that can be the foundation of the music or come front and center to carry the ball home. It was a perfect compliment to Gwyneth's performance.

Gwyneth was a real revelation. As one audience member remarked, she "owned the stage", playing heart-felt versions of her compositions from a number of CDs she has released over the years, and displaying an easy rapport will her audience.  Her guitar playing (on a guitar made for her by her brother, Morgan Daniel and fellow member of bluegrass group Foxglove) was understated but precise, never showboating but instead serving the emotions of the songs.

The songs themselves were beautiful, bringing an aura of folk and country to originals and delivering traditional songs with earnest and genuine authenticity. Both with chestnuts such as "I'm So Lonesome I Could Die" and "Jack-A-Row" and originals such as "Pine Box Sailor" and "Screaming at Trains", she held the Abalone Room listeners under her spell. Her voice is perfectly suited to this body of work, and while comparisons have been made to the likes of Gillian Welch and Iris Dement,  her style is her own, and she grabbed the audience from the first sweet notes.

This duo is a real treasure, and if you get the chance to see them they are well worth your time and effort. Their recordings, available through their web sites, are also recommended, giving you a glimpse of their wonderful talent.

"Carol of the Brains" — A Zombie Christmas parody by Not Literally Productions

Ah, Xmas. Lights and carols and . . . zombies?



(Via Not Literally Productions)

Rob Ickes and Jim Hurst in Concert at the Little River Inn; December 12, 2013

Rob Ickes and Jim Hurst in Concert at the Little River Inn; December 12, 2013, a set on Flickr. Click the pictures to see a larger version.

Dobro virtuoso Rob Ickes and amazing singer'guitarist Jim Hurst played a generous set of wide ranging tunes at the Little River Inn in Little River, CA. Along with some of their own songs, they covered everyone from George Jones to Miles Davis, Bill Monroe to Wilson Pickett, ending up with a bit of Elvis. These guys are the real deal, taking the influences of Mike Auldridge, Chet Atkins, and Jerry Reed and making a musical stew that is all their own.

A packed house in the Inn's Abalone Room was bobbing their heads and singing the chorus on "Sally" (" . . . Ride, Sally, Ride . . . "), and was totally enthralled by this incredible duo's ample talent. On the North Coast, an act like this is a real treasure, and those who got a chance to see them perform definitely got a treat.