Year's End Musings...

As we're ready to kiss 2010 goodbye, we all need to give our thoughts to the twelve months we're leaving. Bittersweet year, professionally and personally but when it comes to music, it's probably been the best year of my life. I caught more shows this year than any other and while my collecting habits have become a bit safe and parochial (thank my age and the economy for that), I've ultimately been happy with what I've been listening to.

As for the best releases I've acquired this year, this is it. Actually, THIS IS IT:

1. Truth & Salvage Co. - the greatest band to come around in a decade. The nicest guys to be in the greatest band. The band that saved rock and roll for me. Twelve songs that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Not only is the album of superlative quality, my experience with this band makes this album truly personal. These songs have become a part of me. The whole kit and kaboodle, these guys and their music and this album have made rock and roll real again and accessable and visceral; how do I simply say it? I LOVE THIS BAND. As I told the drummer Smitty, the Truth and Salvage Co. are an old friend I'm meeting for the first time. God bless these guys.

2. Bruce Springsteen - The Promise/Darkness On the Edge of Town remastered package. I wish my trash was this perfect. While the DVDs and whole box just arrived for Christmas, the two-disc set of out-takes are sublime. I don't care whether they've been 'tampered with' or not; these 21 songs are just what this Bruce fan needed - soul, with horns and love and passion, especially in a time of fear, angst and anger. Thank you, Boss, for giving us some love. Yes, do note that Bruce was topped by another band. See #1.

3. Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Preservation. Majestic album with the band accompanied by legendary performers. As I've said, when I die, I want these guys taking me out. And to think, I caught these guys in Antioch in March, giving us this music like it was the most important message we'd ever heard. And it was.

4. Delaney and Bonnie and Friends - On Tour box set. From 1969, the greatest band in the world no one still has listened to. Four cds of magic, with Eric Clapton and his future Dominos pushing the greatest soul/blues/gospel/rock in the world. THIS is the band I want to be in.

5. John Mellencamp - No Better Than This. If for nothing else other than the opening song, "Save Some Time To Dream". You know music's good when you play it for your friends and they cry.

6. The Black Crowes - Croweology.
7. Crazy Heart - Soundtrack.
8. Bob Dylan - Widmark Demos and live 1963
9. The Drive By Truckers - The Big To-Do
10. Oh goodness, I'm really at #10. I'm torn, not for including a 'token' woman' but because these three albums are equally good, staid and inconsequential this year; let's just call it a tie: Sheryl Crow - 100 Miles From Memphis; She & Him - Vol. II; Tift Merritt - See You On the Moon.

Of course, there are plenty of amazing records I came across this year that were birthed prior to 2010 but only came my way these last twelve months. Many are noteworthy:

The Band - Rock of Ages
The Clancy Brothers - Live at Carnegie Hall
Bobby Charles - epon.
John Phillips - The Wolfking of L.A.
Judy Collins - Who Knows Where the Time Goes - probably the three greatest finds of the year. One due to loss, one due to upgrade and another due to pluck; subtle and perfect.
Arlo Guthrie - Hobo's Lullaby, Washington County - nowhere near perfect and yet so sincere. Something I pray could end up my epitaph.
Richie Havens - six total, my favorite probably being Something Else Again or Live - I can listen to him for hours and be taken away to a time that I missed, never lived through and that never existed. So captured in time and yet timeless.
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
Swell Season - Strict Joy
A Tribute to Woody Guthrie
Big Star - first two albums. God rest Alex Chilton.
Pete Seeger - Greatest Hits. Apologies.
Anat Cohen - Live at the Village Vanguard
Billie Holliday - Complete Decca Recordings, 1944-1950
Red Garland - Quintet, Trio
Miles Davis - many, many pre-1957 Quintet lineups

I know I'm missing so much. That's my life. That's life. I'm glad I was able to resurrect my 'blog this year, though with major inconsistencies. I think I either realized or learned something about politics - they don't mean as much to me. Sad, I know, but what matters is what is in front of me - my family, my music. If 2011 is as half as good as this year, next year will be pretty amazing.

Their Final Flight

While my own review of last night's performance will come, we'll have to just read Jambands.com's review. Yeah, it was that good.

http://www.jambands.com/features/2010/12/20/the-last-time-the-black-crowes-last-stand

John

Today shouldn't be any easier or harder than the previous anniversaries. Not focusing on the monolithic "30" but the fact that I still miss and hurt. It is still painful. I found a clip on Youtube of the Monday Night Football game that I was watching when Howard Cosell broke the news to the nation. My memory was correct that the Miami Dolphins were playing; I don't know why I couldn't remember the New England Patriots as their opponents.
I just wish that even in some minute, possible way that he'd be able to know just how much so many of us appreciated and still miss him.

Why Aren't We Hearing This From the White House?

And why Robert Reich continues to inspire here.

I hate thinking it, much less printing it, but I'm ready to take my Obama sticker off the back of my car. Rolling over on tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans? Break another campaign promise? Want my support? You're losing it, sir. Rapidly.

Oakland and Sacramento

One week later, and now I can give a short but decent review of a phenomenal weekend. T&S swept through northern California and delivered two amazing performances. Very well could be the two best performances I've seen by them. Not sure whether it's the familiarity of the songs in the extended sets, the band's hot performances or a little of both but these two shows left each respective audience screaming for more. They were wildly different, as every non-album song played differed each night. The boys came out hot both nights and were met with appreciative audiences. In Oakland, Tim mentioned how excited they were that the audience was singing right along with the band nearly every song. Very laid-back pace, no rushing the songs and Scott continues to impress me as a guitarist. What has most impressed me is how these guys deliver such strong harmonies and keep these important songs clutter-free, something most bands lack the ability to do.

The New Parish gig was pushed back late - way late. I arrived at nine and the first act hadn't even started yet. T&S hit the stage at ten to midnight and wrapped up a little after quarter to one in the morning. I wish I knew the title of the Skynyrd cover; it was great to hear a song by such an over-played band that was fresh and unknown and fitting right along with the rest of the setlist. Great call. The set:

Friday, December 3, 2010
The New Parish - Oakland, CA

Hail Hail
Call Back
Brothers, Sons and Daughters
Island - Tim's voice is so strong, this one sailed. Joe's driving bass drove this.
Jump the Ship
Heart Like a Wheel
Middle Island Creek - Incredible. The first song from their 'Basement Tapes'!
Old Piano
101
Welcome to L.A.
Giant
Skynyrd song
She Really Does It For Me
Summertime
See Her
Rise Up
E: Pure Mountain Angel
LGP - with a John Bonham-like drum solo by Smitty.

Great venue. I'd love to know what this building housed before. Lots of red brick, nooks and crannies. Fantastic sound and intimate; dark wood paneling but very little seating. Joined the guys upstairs and had the privilege of looking over the setlist and giving my two cents about what should be played. Middle Island Creek and Summertime were my two choices. Told Scott and Bill how Rise Up has come to be the strongest song of the set. A true powerhouse.

Ah, the next night. Brought Mike and Ana and was afraid I'd talked the guys up too much from previous shows. Mike had joined me in Modesto and wasn't knocked out though open to another shot. Ana was with me at the beginning with our FUBAR attempt last January at the Boom Boom Room which led to this year's wild ride with these guys. She was with me at the Fox and joked that I was off 'playing groupie' when I met them for the first time in April.


Saturday, December 4, 2010
Harlow's - Sacramento, CA

Hail Hail
101
Brothers, Sons and Daughters
Them Jeans
Shady River - now we're talking. What's this?
Jump the Ship
Atoms - forgot about this one!
Old Piano
Call Back
Welcome to L.A. - Walker, keep playing the accordian. It adds so much.
Charm City - Excellent. The second album's practically ready!
Heart Like a Wheel
Envy
Our Love
Alligator - The crowd pleaser of the night with band and audience interaction.
She Really Does It For Me
The Shape I'm In - Ah, The Band.
See Her
Rise Up
E: Pure Mountain Angel - I'll make it back home alive. Thanks, Walker.
Cowboy Song

Worries all for naught. Mike and Ana talked about the show for the next two hours and loved every minute of it. This show was amazing. An hour and forty minutes. I'm surprised Harlow's was still standing at the end of this one. What I loved was the look from Tim when we both knew the magic that was happening behind him. Even with the non-album songs, the audience went wild with the interplay, the soloing, THOSE harmonies. Scott even stumbled over his guitar cable when singing; his mic stand collapsed and he sailed right over to Tim's mic. While it was comical, it was also authentic; just how many times has Bruce stumbled over his stuff in his missionary-like zeal to deliver his rock and roll sermon? Scott was sheepish afterwards but it was a genuine 'pint of blood on the stage' moment. Afterwards was great, with lots of stories and introductions and laughs. A nice finale to 2010. Eleven shows in twelve calendar months. Will I have another year like this one? Not with any other rock and roll band. Thank God it was the Truth & Salvage Co.