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Great Day for a Ballgame

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Dolores and DJB at Kauffman StadiumCheck one more off the list of MLB ballparks visited as I joined several friends and colleagues to take advantage of our work trip to Kansas City and catch the Royals at Kauffman Stadium on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. 

Barb, Dolores (pictured with DJB at left), Barb’s husband Rob, and Royce joined our hosts the Kempers for a great day at the ballpark.  Kauffman, built in 1973, is one of the earliest of the new modern baseball-only stadiums that helped turned Kansas City into a mecca for sports architects.  They just completed a major $250 million renovation before the start of this season.  The clean, modernist design has held up well and helped end the era of cookie-cutter multi-purpose stadiums.

With two architects and the rest preservationists in our group, we spent a lot of time talking about the architecture.   But we primarily spent the day having a great deal of fun.  From the beginning, the Royals have come up with some great activities that make you smile.  It was Kids Day at the ballpark and kids were in the mascot outfits that run the between-innings Ketchup, Mustard,  and Relish Race.   We sang along to songs with a sound system that didn’t burst your ear drums.  And we even got to see that rarest of plays that’s really fun – the successful suicide squeeze.  The Royals had four errors and still beat the Orioles.

Does it get any better than a sunny late spring day, knowledgeable fans/friends, a beautiful ballpark, and an entertaining baseball game?  The simple answer:  Nope.

More to come…

DJB

Majestic Kansas City

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The Majestic Steakhouse and Jazz ClubIn Kansas City for work, some colleagues and I went in search of some live jazz last evening.  Our host suggested The Majestic Steakhouse – just two blocks from our hotel.

The Majestic is located in the historic Fitzpatrick building (the name is still outlined in tile on the entranceway), a building with a colorful past.  Built in 1911 as a saloon and bordello, it became a popular speakeasy during prohibition – and that basement hideaway is now the home of the jazz club.

The Bram Wijnands trio (piano, drums, and sax/flute) was good – and made up of a couple of colorful characters. 

For many people, Kansas City is a real surprise in the heartland.  I had been in town before with a group of National Trust supporters and knew we were in for a treat.  We heard last night they are “down” to only 70 barbecue joints and they have about an equal number of jazz venues.

The Majestic and Kansas City – recommended!

More to come…

DJB

Searching and Finding More to Come…

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Farnsworth House Flooding in 2007So you went to Google, typed in a search term and found this blog called More to Come…  Here, dear readers, are the most popular terms that have brought visitors to this corner of the blogosphere.

Farnsworth House – Virtually every day I have at least one visitor seeking out information about this architectural icon.  Back in 2008, I wrote a post based on my day job where I updated friends and family on the flooding at the world famous Farnsworth House.  Since my employer – the National Trust for Historic Preservation – has owned the Farnsworth House (operated by our partners at Landmarks Illinois) it has had two major floods.  Seems those 100-year floods come more frequently than they use to!  If you want to read more about the flooding at the house – or just learn more about this architectural masterpiece – check out the PreservationNation.org site.

Good Places to Raise Children – Murfreesboro CourthouseSix months ago, Business Week magazine named my home town – Murfreesboro, Tennessee – as one of the top places to raise children.  While the town has succumbed to sprawl development, I think it remains a pretty special place.  So I wrote a post last November about why Murfreesboro was a great place for a kid like me.   I’m amazed at how often I’ll see a visitor looking for their special place.

Odessa Jorgensen – You guys that have typed this in (and I’ll bet most are guys) have just seen the fine young Alaskan band Bearfoot and want to know more about their lead singer and songwriter.  I heard them at Merlefest in 2009 and wrote about it that evening. 

Washington Nationals – Those who type this in know that I am an optimist.  You can’t be a long-suffering Nats fan – they’ve only been in DC for 3 or 4 years – but they sure do make it tough to keep your enthusiasm up for 162 games.  My only Nats game I’m made this year ended in a 10-10 suspended game and was a comedy of errors.  But then tonight, they tease you into thinking they can be a good team if they just had more pitching.  Dunn and Zimmerman hit solo dingers (Zim’s ensures that his hitting streak extends to 27 games), Austin Kearns gets a force out at home plate from medium right field, and they win 2-1 for their first 3-game winning streak and 5 out of their last 6.  Woo hoo!  But then you remember that the only president who has made it to the game this year are the four racing presidents, and reality returns.

So that’s what you’ve found at More to Come…a blog about baseball, roots music, and places that matter.  Root around a bit and see if you can find something of interest.

More to come…

DJB

Double Play with Liz Carroll and John Doyle: CD review

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John Doyle is — to my ear — about the best rhythm player in roots music today.  Ever since first hearing him as the original guitarist with the Irish super-band Solas, I’ve been taken with the mixture of power and musicianship in his playing.

In recent years, Doyle has been playing in a duo with Fiddler Liz Carroll, and they just released a new CD in March on Compass Records.   As promised last week, I’m highlighting several new releases from Compass in the hopes of encouraging others to take a look at this label’s varied offerings from a talented group of artists.

Double Play is the second release from the Carroll/Doyle duo.  The CD begins with a medley of two Carroll tunes, The Chandelier and Anne Lacey’s.  Liz Carroll is not content to simply play traditional tunes, but she’s quite a composer of new Irish music.  The interplay between the major key of The Chandelier and the minor tones of Anne Lacey’s makes for a great pairing.

Doyle’s singing is strong on tunes such as A Pound a Week Rise and makes for a nice change of pace.  Carrol and Doyle mix in laments, reels, and jigs and include the mandolin and bouzouki to bring different sounds and tones to the set.

The Carroll composition Nearby, Long Ago is a real treat.  This slow, meditative air is a perfect vehicle for her expressive playing backed by Doyle’s sensitive guitar accompaniment. 

All 13 tunes are strong, making for an impressive CD.  They head off into the sunset with a trio of tunes that Carroll composed:  Ruhin’ Dressing/The Quitter/Remove the Rug.  As you might expect, the last tune sounds like a fun dance tune.

I have attached a short video of Carroll and Doyle playing in Harrisonburg, Virginia.  Both the CD and the video are recommended.

More to come…

DJB

Different Views of Merlefest

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Jammin' at MerleFestMerleFest is so big, with 14 active stages over four days, that perspectives on the festival can differ widely.  Two regular bluegrass bloggers have posted entertaining and informative stories about their MerleFest experiences in 2009 that I encourage you to check out.

When I started More to Come…one of the first posts was about a show of the Lovell Sisters, and one of my first comments came from Dr. Tom Bibey.  Since then I’ve regularly checked out his Stories of the Bluegrass Road blog, and was pleased to see that he was posting from MerleFest.  This was the first year out of my four at MerleFest that I missed Mandomania, so I was glad to read Dr. Bibey’s update on this annual tradition:  the Creekside Stage filled with mandolin players all supported by one guitarist.  Check out Stories of the Bluegrass Road for a good read.

The most extensive reporting on MerleFest I’ve come across is from the alliterative Ted Lehmann’s Bluegrass, Books, and Brainstorms blog.  As you’d expect from a retired English teacher, Lehmann’s blog is well-written and thoughtful.  I found his Final Assessment of MerleFest 2009 to be fair and insightful.  Highly recommended for those who want to know more about how this festival works and why it is so much fun for any lover of Americana music.

One thing all three of us agreed upon…we all liked The Belleville Outfit from Austin, Texas.  Check out their sound on this video.  And remember…only 354 days until MerleFest 2010.

More to come…

DJB

Catch Some Acoustic Music during May in Washington

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Del McCoury BandThe Washington, DC area will be host to some terrific acoustic music acts during the month of May, ending with a stellar lineup at DelFest over the Memorial Day weekend.  With the coming of beautiful spring weather, this is a perfect time to hear some live music.

Regular readers know that I’m a big fan of the Monday Night Concerts of the Institute of Musical Traditions.  The 2008-2009 season wraps up in May, but not before a May 4th concert in celebration of Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday (I bet they’ll be some righteous sing-alongs) and the final DC-area concert of the Canadian band Tanglefoot on May 11th.   According to the IMT website, Tanglefoot is “Stan Rogers meets Van Halen.”

For some straight-ahead traditional bluegrass, check out the DC Bluegrass Union’s Spring Concert on May 9th with Dan Paisley & Southern Grass.

Bluegrass ExpressThen over the Memorial Day weekend, all bluegrass lovers in the Mid-Atlantic region will be heading to Cumberland, Maryland, for the second annual DelFest, hosted by the Del McCoury Band.  There’s a stellar line-up, including Old Crow Medicine Show, Leftover Salmon, Sam Bush, J.D. Crowe and the New South, Tim O’Brien, the Infamous Stringdusters, and Joe Craven.  If you really want to be authentic, take the Bluegrass Express train from DC to Cumberland for the festival!

Speaking of Tim O’Brien, he’ll be teaching masterclasses this summer at the DC Bluegrass Union Bluegrass & Old Time Camp, July 13-17th, in Westminster, Maryland.  O’Brien is a very talented multi-instrumentalist who can play any type of music and does it well.  Wish I could take a week off!

I love Del McCoury’s version of Richard Thompson’s 1952 Vincent Black Lightening, so I’ve added the video from a performance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.   Hope to see you around at some live music venues this month.

More to come…

DJB

Compass Records artists shine at MerleFest

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I know that when I travel to MerleFest, I’d better take along some spending money for CDs.  The MerleFest Mall includes what I’ve heard described as “the world’s best Americana music store” and I wouldn’t disagree.

This year’s store was sponsored by Compass Records, which was appropriate since so many of their artists were playing at the festival.  Compass is a label that over the past 10-12 years has grown to be one of the best in Americana and roots music.  Their website tells the background story:

“Co-founded in 1994 by musicians Alison Brown and Garry West, Compass is a new breed of roots-music label: eclectic, sophisticated, and artist-friendly. Called “one of the greatest independent labels of the last decade” by Billboard Magazine, Compass Records has provided a thriving haven of creativity for artists and a reliable beacon of quality for music fans. Its 2006 acquisition of the Green Linnet catalog and the 2008 acquisition of the seminal Mulligan Records label has made Compass the place to go for Celtic and roots music.“

Brown is one of the most innovative banjo players on the scene today, who just happens to have an undergraduate degree from Harvard and a MBA from UCLA.  She put that education to work in founding Compass Records, and has assembled one of the most creative group of artists of any independent label today.

Many of those artists were at MerleFest, and a number were promoting new CDs.  Missy Raines and the New Hip were my favorite act on Sunday (see photo above), and they included another Compass artist, Matt Flinner, on mandolin.  Bearfoot, a new young band from Alaska, was also all over MerleFest.

Over the next week or so, I’ll post reviews of a few of the new albums from Compass.  They deserve a listen.  But until then, check out this promo video from Alison Brown and her 2008 release The Company You Keep.  I like the line from her husband/business partner when he says, “Alison Brown music, to me, is where bluegrass music goes to play with its Celtic, jazz, and American folk song friends.”  That’s a perfect description.  Enjoy.

More to come…

DJB

MerleFest Day 4

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Missy Raines and Angel BandI’ve now arrived home and cut off my MerleFest wristband…so it is officially over.  (I’m sure the organizers are glad to know that’s what it takes.)

Sunday at MerleFest is a short day, ending at 6 p.m.  If you live 7 hours away, as I do, it ends even earlier unless you want to get home at 1 a.m.

Nonetheless, there were some good final day acts that I was able to work in before the heat and the prospect of the drive drove me out the front gate and headed north.

I arrived a little later than planned (must have been that early morning post), so I skipped Doc and the Nashville Bluegrass Band’s traditional gospel show and caught up with the Dixie Bee-Liners at the Hillside stage.  I’d seen them the day The Dixie Bee-Liners at Merlefestbefore as part of the New Generation Super Jam and wanted to see a full show.  They had a very entertaining set, with strong harmonies and interesting arrangements.   They are worth a look if they are traveling to your town.

Afterwards, I stopped by the Americana tent and caught the end of Happy Traum’s show.  While most people think of MerleFest as primarily a bluegrass festival, it really showcases all types of music including a strong strand of acoustic blues.  Traum sat on-stage with his guitar and took requests, picking such classics as Step It Up and Go.  Because of his Homespun Tapes series of instructional DVDs, Traum deserves a great deal of thanks from everyone who cares about acoustic and traditional music. 

Pete Wernick and The Gibson BrothersOn the Cabin Stage, Pete Wernick (a.k.a. Dr. Banjo) brought out The Gibson Brothers for a short but strong set.  These guys are exceptional singers in the brother duo tradition, and Wernick added a warm presence (no pun intended) as the MC and experienced performer.  I have a good friend in Staunton who went to high school with Wernick and even my friend – who is a physicist – calls him Dr. Banjo.  Wernick – a founder of Hot Rize – is a giant in the progressive bluegrass field, but in recent years he’s focused more on the traditional side of the music.  It was nice of him to use his time to showcase The Gibson Brothers.

Next came the highlight of the day for me.  I’ve written recently about Missy Raines and the New Hip’s performance in the Washington area.  But today she was even better.  The New Hip came out smoking and never let up.  They sounded just like a jazz quintet, with lots of great interplay and strong individual solos.  The addition of mandolin star Matt Flinner just made the band that much better.  This guy has serious chops.  Check out his new CD Music du Jour, as it is a strong work by his normal trio. 

Raines also called up Angel Band to help out with the vocals on Cold Hard Business (see photo at the top of the post), and did they ever take care of business!  After her show, I actually had four different people – three of them strangers – ask me if I’d heard Raines’ show…she was that good.

The Carolina Chocolate DropsFor me, the day ended with the Carolina Chocolate Drops.  These three musicians have a real love for the old-time string band music of the African American community, and it shows in their infectious set.  Truly, a great way to end my MerleFest 2009.

I just checked the MerleFest Forum board to see how others were viewing this year’s festival.  There were some complaints about the relatively weak line-up (I would agree to a point), and also some notes about the repetitive nature of many of the acts.  It wasn’t my strongest MerleFest, but I have a hard time complaining when I get to spend four days in the Carolina hills (even if it is hot as Hades) listening to great musicians play what they love.

More to come…

DJB

Bright morning stars

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Every day at breakfast before heading off to MerleFest, I’ve sat down and planned how I’m going to negotiate the day and the 14 stages.  This morning I had penciled in some old favorites, but when I arrived at the festival site I had a change of heart and decided to spend my morning listening to new bands.  You could call them the bright morning stars of the Americana music world.

Saturday is the longest day of the festival, so I’m just back into my hotel room after midnight and have downloaded my pictures.  Rather than write a long, involved review, I’m just going to hit some of the highlights of the day for me:

  • Hearing the young band Bearfoot from Alaska.  They sing beautifully and write interesting songs such as Drank Up All the Whiskey and Good in the Kitchen.  Angela Oudean is a promising young fiddler and Odessa Jorgensen is a fine songwriter and singer.
  • I love the energy of the New Generation Super Jam on the Watson (main) stage.  The SteelDrivers played great straight-ahead bluegrass.  Next Generation Super JamThe Belleville Outfit and The Dixie Bee-liners joined together for the spirited Bo Diddley number Mona, which included that most rare of bluegrass festival sightings – a drum solo.  Cadillac Sky had another entertaining set, singing songs you don’t normally hear at MerleFest (You Shook Me All Night Long).  And The Farewell Drifters offered good progressive bluegrass.  (Yesterday, the leader of the Drifters got off one of the festival’s best lines when he said they were going to play some old time music – for them – and then launched into Ticket to Ride.  That hurt.)
  • It wasn’t all new acts.  I did go back to the Creekside stage for more John Cowan (can you tell I like The Cow?).   What’s not to like – the band zipped through the catchy Carla’s Got a New Tattoo, flexed their instrumental chops on Tony Rice’s Gasology, and then turned the Creekside into a revival meeting with Sam Cooke’s Jesus Gave Me Water.  Just wait, you’ll find more Cowan a bit later in the day.John Cowan
  • Hearing Sam Bush sit in with The Greencards, who are still a new young band even though these two Australians and a Brit seem to have been around for a while, was a treat.
  • David Bromberg’s set at the Hillside stage was much better – in my mind – than the one I heard a couple of years ago when he returned to touring.  He was right on today, especially with the blues.  He showed those chops on The First Time My Woman Left Me – This Month .  On What a Wonderful World It Would Be, Bromberg updates the lyrics by adding “Ain’t nobody here knows what a slide rule is for.”  That got a laugh in our section of the hillside.  Finally, he brought on the Angel Band for a spirited version of Roger McGuinn’s Lost My Driving Wheel.

By 5 p.m. the entire Hillside Stage area was covered with thousands of people (a friend of mine estimated it at 10,000) for the highly anticipated Hillside Album Hour hosted by The Waybacks.  Guitarist James Nash knows every single rock guitar lick ever played, and I’m convinced the Album Hour was conceived so that Nash and Sam Bush could live their rock god fantasies and so everyone can hear John Cowan sing pure rock and roll. 

Emmylou, Ronnie Simpkins, and Sam Bush on the Watson Stage

The identity of the album is kept a secret until the opening chords ring off of Nash’s guitar.  During the sound check, he must have played five or six well-known licks, at one point stopping and saying, “Damn, that’s another record we can’t do.”  But soon enough the classic kick-off of Brown Sugar started the set, and the entire crowd was ready for the Stone’s Sticky Fingers.  Emmylou delighted the crowd by being the guest vocalist for Wild Horses, and while there wasn’t time to get through the entire album, these true guitar heroes rocked the Hillside Stage for a very satisfying hour of rock and roll history.

Tonight’s headliner at the Watson Stage was Emmylou Harris, and she didn’t disappoint.   Playing to a huge crowd, Harris and her three-piece acoustic Red Dirt Band touched on songs from throughout her career.  Poncho and Lefty, Red Dirt Girl, and Bright Morning Star (see the connection!) were all favorites.  Sam Bush joined Emmylou for the finale Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight and had the crowd wanting more.  Bromberg played the short Cabin Stage set to bridge the shows on the main stage, and then the Sam Bush Band was rocking…even on bluegrass numbers like Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms.  As I left, BeauSoleil had the dance tent hopping to a Cajun beat.

As the clock nears 2 a.m., I have to close this out.  There’s the Nashville Bluegrass Band/Doc Watson gospel sing in the morning, not to mention the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

More to come…

DJB

Image: Bearfoot at Merlefest 2009 (photo by DJB)