Music

• Local Music Calendar - A new format for listing my music schedule. Still under construction, but a big improvement over the old way! This is the preferred version, since it has an easy-to-navigate format and includes both past and future shows.
• Local Music Schedule - The old format, but dynamically generated from the same data as the calendar version.
• Past Shows - This is another page I created primarily for my own use, but I figured I might as well open it up to the public. It's just a listing of shows I've been to, with some short comments and reviews thrown in. This is the script-generated version of the page.
• I've split my Music Links page into two separate pages. One for just artist links, the other fore everything else. The artist links page is now also generated by my javascript, so I have a script version and a no-script version.
• Artist Links Java & JavaScript version
• Venue Links Java & JavaScript version
• All Other Music Links
• Original Songs - I've decided to post some of my original music here. For the moment, it's just lyrics and chords (in html and chordpro formats), but I may eventually get around to putting some mp3s up...
• Top 10 People You Have To See Live - My picks of acts that everyone should make a point of catching when they come to town.
• Other People You Should Be Listening To - My picks for performers who should be getting heavy rotation on your CD player.
• Albums I'd Like to See Released on CD - I still have an extensive collection of vinyl from the good old days. These are some of the albums in my collection that have never, to my knowledge, made it to CD. Sadly, some of them probably never will...
• Best music venues in Philly - In my humble opinion.
• Best radio station in Philly - Likewise.
• My musings on the Grammy Awards (specifically, on the curse of the Best New Artist Grammy and the Best Polka Album Grammy)

• Terri Hendrix - There is enough pure, clean, positive energy in a Terri Hendrix show to shut down all the oil fields, if only you could find a way to bottle it. Terri is probably my favorite performer at the moment because her music is just plain fun. I'd classify her as folk, though I've seen her listed in various places as "alternative country", but I think she defies either category. Her two live CDs make a good attempt at capturing this on recording, but can't really do it justice.
• Fruit - This Australian band fronted by three dynamite women is definitely a must-see experience. Horn player / singer Mel Watson may be one of the most talented women in music. They really rock.
• Groovelily - Not your typical violin band. But then Valerie Vigoda's Viper Flying-V is not your typical violin. It's a 6-string electric violin that she can do more with than most rock guitarists can do with its big brother Gibson look-alike. Guaranteed that the audience will be on its feet.
• Natalie MacMaster - Now this is more traditional violin music, but if you can sit through a show by this Cape Breton fiddler without wanting to get up and dance, there is definitely something wrong with you. You'd better check your pulse. Natalie gives a truly high-energy, toe-tapping performance. The first time I saw her live - at the Newport Folk Festival in 2000 - she brought the crowd to it's feet and received the most enthusiastic applause that I saw that entire weekend.
• Buddy Guy - The veteran bluesman is also a polished showman. He really knows how to play an audience, teasing them with short snippets of different songs, venturing out into the audience (and even out of the building!) with his guitar, handing his guitar to a random kid to play a few licks. He also knows how to deliver hard rocking blues and screaming guitar leads.
• Diana Krall - When I was talking to a friend recently about this jazz singer/pianist, his reaction was, "I didn't know she played the piano." At first I was shocked, but on reflection I suppose it's not surprising if you're only familiar with her from the radio. Her recordings, especially those that get airplay, tend to focus on the vocals. But if you see her in concert, you get treated to some wonderful instrumental solos as she and her bandmates play off each other, in addition to her lovely voice.
• Susan Werner - Susan dishes up a witty mix of acoustic guitar folk and piano ballads, with a nice helping of sarcasm and tongue firmly in cheek. Susan's CDs are great, but the comic elements come across much better in person. It's all in the delivery. Her facial expressions and patter between songs really enhance the impact. Check out the videos on her website, and you'll get a small taste of what I mean.
• Jeff Lang - Australian folk singer & guitarist. This guy is awesome. I mean that literally. Watching him perform, you will be in awe, wondering how he produces such a variety of sounds from a single instrument. He'll be bouncing around the US in the next few months, and you should definitely make an effort to catch him if he bounces into a venue near you.
• Sue Foley - This Canadian blues singer/guitarist can really rock a room. Her music is great on CD, but to really experience the raw power of it, you have to be there live. High volume, high voltage, electric guitar blues at its best.
• Sarah Brightman - I debated with myself over whether to add this versatile singer to this list, and I decided to include her on the merits of the visual extravaganza of her shows. Sarah's shows are elaborately costumed, staged, and choreographed. And her voice is perfect. Everything is perfect. A little too perfect. That's the problem. Apart from the visual feast, there is little to distinguish the music from the recorded versions. And if you see one show on a particular tour, you needn't bother to catch another, because it will be identical, down to the scripted talk between songs. I guess coming from a musical theater background by way of opera, that is somewhat to be expected. Nevertheless, though I love Sarah's music, and her shows, I wish she would do something to individualize them and connect a little more with her audience in between the brilliant set pieces.

• Paul McCartney - He's still a must-see, but he's not touring at the moment. If he goes back out on the road, make sure you catch one of his shows. Why? Well, because he's Paul. If you need more reason than that, how about some of these:
  • He was half of the greatest songwriting team in rock history.
  • He was 1/4 of the greatest group in rock history.
  • He's one of the best singer-songwriters around (though he's rarely classified that way).
  • He's been writing and performing for 4 decades, and he can still sing his old songs in the original key, and make them feel as fresh as if they were written yesterday.
  See my review of his last concert if you want more.
• Dave Edmunds - A true guitar virtuoso. But also another guy who isn't on the road. And doesn't go on the road much. Still, worth seeing if you get the chance. When he recorded "Sabre Dance" with Love Sculpture back in the '60s, many people thought the recording had been sped up, because they didn't think it was possible for someone to play that fast. Three decades later, he can still play that fast. His latest CD, mostly instrumentals ranging from classical to country, is only available on his website and at shows, and should be required listening for any aspiring guitarist. When he came through here this winter with a solo, mostly acoustic show, it was a truly impressive display of fretwork.
• Bruce Springsteen - Not the must-see that he used to be, but still well worth catching live. As long as he has the E-Street Band with him. Avoid solo Springsteen.

Other People You Should Be Listening To

• The Beatles - Always. In all their forms. Group work, solo work. Watch their movies. They are, quite simply, the greatest.
• The late, great John Entwistle. His work with The Who, of course, but also his solo work. Out of the mainstream, and a little warped, but arguably the best rock bassist ever.
• The late, great, and largely unknown Eva Cassidy. A terrific singer who died way too young from cancer.
• Another late, great - Swisher - OK, maybe not quite great, but I'm plugging them for sentimental reasons. The lead singer of this local Philly band, Sara Weaver, died 2 years following a bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia. She was one of my wife's patients when she worked on Jefferson's BMT unit, and we did some fundraising for her and dedicated our (unfortunately less than stellar) participation in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. Musically, she had a good voice, and wrote some good lyrics, though the music is a little on the hard-edged post-punk/grunge side for some tastes.
• Michelle Malone - Atlanta based indie folk-rocker.
• Mem Shannon - New Orleans cab driver turned bluesman serves up blues in the style of B.B. King and Buddy Guy.
• Eric Bibb - Great blues tinged with gospel, folk, & soul.
• Susan Tedeschi - Rocking blues from up in New England.
• Colleen Sexton - Singer-songwriter from Boston.
• Shannon Curfman - This Midwestern prodigy produced an amazing first CD of hard-driving blues. She's now moved to the left coast, and her upcoming second album is supposedly going to be more rock.
• The Chromatics - OK, I admit I'm biased on this one, since one of the singers is a personal friend, but they really are great. Exquisite a cappella harmonies. The basically have a pop CD, a Christmas CD, and an astronomy CD. Hopefully they'll have some more soon!

Albums I'd Like to See Released on CD

• The Beatles US Catalog - I grew up with the original US releases, and it's still the way I expect to hear the songs played. Not only were the early songs packaged onto different albums in different order than the British releases, but some of the mixes were different, as well. And speaking of which, I'd prefer if they didn't re-master everything when they put it on CD. As much as I like the crisp quality of the new re-issues, the mix in some places is radically different than on the original LPs. And I miss the snippet of movie soundtrack music that opened Help on the US version of the soundtrack. I know the Beatles themselves preferred the British versions of their albums, but millions of fans are more familiar with the US versions. Also, whatever happened to the masters for Live at the Hollywood Bowl, which has yet to make a digital debut? I'm sure there's a market out there waiting...
• Dirty Looks by Dirty Looks - The New York based new wave power-pop trio that recorded on Stiff Records in the early '80s, not to be confused with the heavy metal band of the same name. If you search on CD-Now for "Dirty Looks" you'll get CD re-issues by the latter, but nothing by the former. It used to be that clicking on the review section at the bottom would, ironically, give you a glowing review of the former with a warning not to confuse them with the "mediocre" heavy metal band. Unfortunately, someone must have noticed the discrepancy, since the old review has disappeared and been replaced with one that was more flattering to the available merchandise. They also had a second LP, Turn It Up, which I saw in a store only once, and passed up for lack of pocket money. I've never been able to locate a copy since, so I'll add that to the list of re-issues I'd like to see. - 12/2/02 - One down! Stiff has put out 12 O'Clock High, which includes the full 1st album, plus 5 songs from the 2nd album, 2 B-sides, 5 unreleased tracks, and 1 live track. Available from The Turkey Zone. Buy it!
• G-Force by the Granati Bros - Another selection from the crest of new wave that has vanished into obscurity.
• Night Out and Another Breath by Ellen Foley. This '80s songstress, who sang the female lead on Meat Loaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" (the album version, not the video, which was Karla DeVito), has done backing vocals on tracks by Ian Hunter, Todd Rundgren, and Joe Jackson, and played the original defense attorney on Night Court, released three great solo albums. To date, only one, Spirit of St. Louis, is available on CD.
• The Holy Mackerel by The Holy Mackerel - This self-titled effort goes further back - to 1968. A short-lived folk group that featured Paul Williams and his brother, Mentor.
• A Little On the Windy Side by Paul Williams - Paul's 1979 LP got stuck in limbo when the record company folded a week after the album's release. His fan club has a campaign to get the record re-issued on CD.

Best Music Venues in Philly

• The Point in Bryn Mawr - The best venue by far. Small, intimate coffee house that serves healthy food. Smoke free, BYOB. Not a bad seat in the house.
• The Tin Angel in old city - This bar venue is long and narrow, and sometimes smoky. But they get a great selection of acts. There is almost always someone worth seeing.
• The Keswick Theater in Glenside - A great, old, mid-size theater. Another, similar venue is The Media Theater in Media, but they tend to have more actual theater, and fewer music acts.
• The Kimmel Center in center city - The new home of the Philadelphia Orchestra is great. As is their old home across the street, The Academy of Music (though you have to be careful not to be seated behind a pillar there).
• The Mann Music Center in Fairmount Park - Great outdoor venue when the weather's nice. If you're seated "inside" it's good in any weather.

Best Radio Station in Philly

• WXPN - No competition here. Not for music, anyway. The University of Pennsylvania radio station, 88.5 FM, plays the best mix of music of any local station. Home of the inter-nationally broadcast World Cafe, Gene Shay's Folk Show, and Johnny Meister's Blues Show. Even if you're not in their area, you can listen online (as long as you're not stuck behind a proxy server that block live streams).

• WRTI - Temple's station (90.1 FM) comes in second, at least at night. I gotta admit I was disappointed when they split their format to do classical during the day and jazz only at night, but I admit that it was necessary to fill the void when Philly lost it's classical station. Imagine - a major market like Philadelphia with no classical music! That's just another casualty of the corporatizing of American radio. Just try to find something that passes for variety out there. Don't get me started...
• WHYY - For talk, 91 FM beats the competition. They may not give you the world in 22 minutes, but they also don't give you 22 minutes of commercials per hour, and they actually give you news stories instead of news headlines.