Blogging isn’t quite dead, but Lord, it seems like it’s been on the ropes. This blog has been mostly dormant, but with the Christmas season, it seems like a good time to bring it back around.
We get tons of updates about all kinds of shows, events and whatnot and really, there’s just not enough space to give them room. Besides, there’s virtually no interest in giving me a column, a place in print to wax poetic or ramble on about what I like, don’t like or find interesting, and we all need something to draw our attention away from Facebook.
“Mountain Stage’s” 30th anniversary celebration concluded last night. The show was a little bumpy, but the show got did. A story about backstage at the show should come out this Sunday.
Meanwhile, the radio show has already posted stuff on their website for upcoming dates.
As usual, I’m aware of about 25 percent of who the acts are, but I’ll get up to speed as soon as I can. I do know Bettye LaVette. I interviewed her back in 2010, when she was in town for Blues, Brews and BBQ. I remember her as being kind of prickly and very no-nonsense about what she did.
Here’s an excerpt:
Recording isn’t fun. It’s a chore she prefers to get over with as quickly as possible.
“When I worked with Drive-By Truckers a while back, they were used to a process,” she said.
The process included setting the right mood and having the right mindset. They lit candles and wanted to make recording an experience.
LaVette says she made them blow the candles out because they were making her sick and told them, “Come on, let’s do these songs.”
They could get drunk or whatever, afterward, back at the hotel.
“Either you can sing the damned song or you can’t,” she said.
I know Wesley Stace/John Wesley Harding and actually started listening to him when I was in college. Truthfully, that wasn’t good taste, just pure accident because I liked the video for his song, “Kill the messenger.”
No idea where the video went to, but the song is still around.
I’ve also heard of Lake Street Dive from XM radio and know John Gorka by reputation. He’s one of those guys other folk musicians talk about when they talk about people they listen to. I’m sure I’ve probably heard his stuff, but I’m not a really heavy folk listener (also not a huge fan of disco or the mopey screaming stuff, except on those days when I am).
I’ll get back to you on him.
Anyway, that’s all for now. More later.