Hey now, everybody!
The Michael Franti & Spearhead show on Friday night at The National was quite excellent. Not only did we get a show that had the whole crowd jumping ("I wanna see you jumpinnnnnn!) and dancing but we got:
- a wedding proposal during a song (she said yes) and the couple slow dancing on stage during a song.
- a ten year old kid who took over on the mic for Michael while the kids friends rocked out on stage. Michael got them some guitars (not plugged in) and had the kids doing metal rock star poses. It was funnier than it sounds.
- Courtney John and Cherine Anderson, the openers, joining the band often throughout the set. Cherine especially was a great addition to the band with her amazing voice and enthusiasm. Her duet with Michael on Nobody Right Nobody Wrong was a definite highlight.
- A nice cover of Jimmy Cliff's "Don't Look Back" segueing into the Dead's "Casey Jones".
- I can't remember the song (sorry) but there was a point in the show where the band went into a drum/bass dance groove, the lights went crazy and the crowd went absolutely ballistic dancing. Totally intense.
- Speaking of the bass, Carl Young was bringin' the bass deep and loudy loudy all night.
Onto this week's highlights:
At the National on Wednesday night, electronica jam band Disco Biscuits take over. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8, tix are $25. This band is starting to get big. They have recently announced that they'll be headlining at Red Rocks in Denver, Red Rocks being Mecca for all jam bands. I would love to see a show out there someday.
A little band called Phish is coming back after four years off. They'll be playing three sold out shows at nearby Hampton Coliseum Friday - Sunday.
Closer to home and not sold out, you can get some of that lingering Mardi Gras feeling with Buckwheat Zydeco (perhaps one of the greatest band names ever) at the Capital Ale House Downtown on Saturday night. Doors open at 8 PM. There are few better ways to spend a Saturday night than with great beer and a great zydeco band, especially with the warmer weather expected this weekend. Here's what the Ale House web site says about BZ:
"As Buckwheat Zydeco looks forward to celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2009, the band can also look back with pride on an amazing three decades for Louisiana's barnstorming musical ambassadors.
The well-known leader of Buckwheat Zydeco is the first zydeco artist signed to a major record label, the first zydeco artist to perform on a national television show, the first zydeco artist to release a children's album, the first zydeco artist to launch his own record label, and the first zydeco artist to win an Emmy award. Now the Bayou's barnstorming bandleader is back with Jackpot!, his first studio disc since the acclaimed, Trouble, in 1997. The album is Dural's fourth for Tomorrow Recordings (distributed by Alternative Distribution Alliance), the label he and longtime manager and collaborator Ted Fox co-founded in 1998."
Unknown Hinson will play at the Canal Club on Saturday. Show time is at 9 PM and tix are $16.50. Here's what his web site says: "Looking somewhat like Dracula's nasty little brother who spent some hard years drinking and working as a carnival barker for a second-rate freak show, Unknown Hinson translates that vibe to his style of country and western-tinged psychobilly. Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, this red-necked crooner gained regional popularity with a self-produced television show in 1992 and soon was touring nationwide, wowing audiences with his outrageous and campy, white-trash persona and freewheeling, sleazy tone. "
Richmond band The Palominos are having a CD Release party at The National on Saturday night. You can listen to the new CD by going to their web site (linked above). Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. Also playing will be Farm Vegas, Exebelle and The Rusted Cavalcade, and Buff Shaggy. Tix are available for just $10 and The Palominos want you to buy directly from them. Why? "The benefits of buying a ticket from us are many:
1. This show will more than likely sell out. Getting them early ensures that you aren't left out in the cold.
2. Buying from the band helps the band by letting the venue know that we have many great fans that are willing to come out and support us, which will help us be invited back for more shows.
3. If you buy a ticket from us we will GIVE you a copy of the new cd free of charge.
4. Pre-sale tickets are only $10. The day of the show they will not be that price [they'll be $13]nor will you get a copy of "Egos".
So plan on getting a ticket from us. We look forward to seeing ya'll at the show. Thanks again for the support. "
Just for fun, here is the Indian George Michael:
Enjoy the weather this weekend. We are going from frigid snow to 70 degrees in four days. Gotta love Richmond weather.
Tony Jordan
Finally caught Unknown Hinson in October. Great show! The vampire cowboy persona is a hoot and while his songs often have goofy lyrics, he's a very capable guitar player. He covered a couple Hendrix tunes and really did them justice.
ReplyDeleteAlso worth mentioning that he's the voice of Early Cuyler on Adult Swim's Squidbillies.