Weekend Picks: Grant-Lee Phillips, Marcia Ball, Moon Taxi, Yonder Mountain String Band

If you want to catch a show this weekend before Snowmageddon '16 hits, and you've got some cash, head to The Tin Pan on Thursday night for New Orleans boogie-woogie piano player, Marcia Ball. I've seen Marcia a few times and she always puts on a fun show. Get a table near the wall so you can get up and dance. If you go, get there early if you want to get in. The Tin Pan web site says tickets will be available at the door but the advance tickets sold out. You may want to call The Tin Pan before heading over if you want to be sure. Show starts at 8, there is no opener and tix are $50. If you miss Marcia here, you can always head down to the New Orleans Jazz Fest this year and see her on the last day of the festival. Soooooo many good bands at this festival this year. Here's Marcia playing at the Kessler Theater in Dallas in December:



I'm going to keep the two Friday and Saturday listings short because I'm assuming that most of these shows will be postponed due to the impending snowy doom. The State Police are telling people not to drive and to stay home so do check the conditions and, of course, check with the venues before heading out.

Friday - Broadberry, Fear of Music: A Talking Heads Tribute with The Slank opening. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9, tix are $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

Saturday - Broadberry, People's Blues of Richmond with Atlas Road Crew opening. Doors at 8, show at 9, tix $10 advance, $15 at door.

Saturday - Carpenter Theatre, Jackson Browne. This is billed as "An Evening With Jackson Browne" which usually means no opener. This show is Sold Out, but if they have it, you might find some tickets if people bag out, and if they postpone it, you might find some tickets for the new date if people get refunds. Doors open at 7, show at 8.

You may have caught Moon Taxi at Friday Cheers last summer. Now, they'll be at The National on Tuesday night. Described as an indie alternative progressive jam band, when I saw them at Cheers, I just thought they wrote some catchy, upbeat songs and they didn't seem to jam too much at Cheers. Maybe they stretch out more when they have a longer time to play. Find out on Tuesday. I'm sure they'll play lots of stuff from their new album, Daybreaker, too. They'll also be at Coachella this year, where they'll kinda, sorta be opening for Guns n' Roses. OK, they are playing on the same day. But that counts, right? Tix are $18 in advance, $20 day of show. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 with now RVA band, The Congress. Here's Moon Taxi performing the reggae influenced "Who's To Say?" a month ago in Birmingham AL:



Next Wednesday (1/27), Americana/jam band, Yonder Mountain String Band, take the stage at The National. Tix are $25, no opener is listed, doors open at 7, show starts at 8. YMSB has been recording some new music so maybe they'll bust some of that out for ya. YMSB recently posted some free downloads of covers from our recent dear departed classic rockers Glenn Frey (Life in the Fast Lane) and David Bowie (Ziggy Stardust). Here's some of that "Life in the Fast Lane":



Ashland Coffee & Tea hosts singer-songwriters Grant-Lee Phillips and Steve Poltz on Wednesday (1/27). Show starts at 8, tix are $15 advance, $18 day of show. Rolling Stone recently listed Grant-Lee Phillips' upcoming album, "The Narrows", as one of the most anticipated country albums of 2016.  Here he is performing "Loaded Gun" which will be on that album:



That'll do it! Have a great weekend! Stay warm and safe, but get out and play in the snow a little.

In honor of Glenn Frey, here's a favorite of mine from his solo career, from those Miami Vice days, this is "Smuggler's Blues":

Glenn Frey - Smuggler`s Blues Video (1985) from MTVClassic1 on Vimeo.

Tony Jordan

Marcia Ball, Emmitt-Nershi Band, World Beer Fest, Skydog, Josh Ritter, Bonnaroo webcasts

Writing a little early this week since I'll be watching the Flyers tomorrow night, hoping that we can somehow win just two more games and bring the Cup back to Philly for the first time in 35 years.

Thursday night at Jumpin' at the VA Museum of Fine Art, Marcia Ball will play.  Marcia plays a mean New Orleans style piano and is a great blues singer.  Marcia is a four-time Grammy nominee including her last three albums, and a winner of eight Blues Music Awards.  I've seen her a few times and she puts on a fun show.  Gates open at 6 PM, music starts around 6:30. tix are $14 ($12 for members of VMFA).  Children 6 & under are free.  Here's Marcia and her band at The Granada in Dallas last month:


Also on Thursday, Josh Ritter and Mason Jennings will play at Groovin' in the Garden in Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.  Doors open at 5:30pm, music begins at 6pm, all ages are welcome, 10 and under are free.  Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day of show.  You'll like these guys if you like Dylan, Cash, Leonard Cohen, Gillian Welch, Townes Van Zandt, Elvis Costello, Ryan Adams and all those Americana singer-songwriter types. You must just check out this video for Josh's song, "The Curse".  The video was directed by Liam Hurley, the drummer from Josh's band, The Royal City Band.  Its a simple love story about the love between an archaeologist and her mummy.


Friday Cheers on Brown's Island brings us some bluegrass influenced jam music with Emmitt-Nershi Band.  Cheers is $2 to get in for everyone 13 and older.  The show will start at 6:30 with opener A Good Natured Riot.  Here's what the Cheers site says about Emmitt-Nershi Band:
"With Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon) on mandolin & vocals and Bill Nershi (the String Cheese Incident) on acoustic guitar and vocals, ENB delivers a dynamic blend of bluegrass, newgrass, country and Americana that is sure to excite fans of all those genres and more. Featuring special guests Jason Carter (Del McCoury Band), Keith Moseley (String Cheese Incident) and others!"  Here they are performing their song "Restless Wind" in Vail CO in Feburary this year:


Also on Friday, that little festival in Manchester TN, Bonnaroo, gets started with Dave Matthews Band • Kings of Leon • Stevie Wonder • Jay-Z • Conan O'Brien • Tenacious D • Weezer • The Flaming Lips performing Dark Side of the Moon featuring Stardeath and White Dwarfs • The Dead Weather • Damian Marley & Nas • Phoenix • Norah Jones • Michael Franti & Spearhead • John Fogerty • Regina Spektor • Jimmy Cliff • LCD Soundsystem • The Avett Brothers • Thievery Corporation • Rise Against • Tori Amos • The National • Zac Brown Band • Les Claypool • John Prine • The Black Keys • Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers • Jeff Beck and many more.  There will be two places to go on the Internet for coverage.  YouTube will be webcasting HERE.  NPR will be webcasting (audio only) HERE.  NPR will be going from 1 PM to 3AM Friday through Sunday.  YouTube hasn't posted their schedule yet but figure about the same as NPR.  Either way, there is sure to be a lot of great music from the 'roo this weekend.

Saturday on Brown's Island will be the World Beer Festival.  This is run by some serious beer folks.  There are two sessions, one from noon - 4 PM and then one from 6 PM - 10 PM.  Tix are $40 per session in advance, $50 day of event.  Ticket price includes festival program, one tasting cup and beer samples from over 80 world-class breweries.  Note that kids 12 and under are admitted free with an adult but no one between 13 - 20 will be admitted.  Live music will be provided by some pretty good local bands:
12-2pm: Barrelhouse Blues Band
2-4pm: The Atkinsons
6-8pm: Horsehead
8-10pm: The Dirty Truth

At the Capital Ale House Downtown on Saturday night, PINK JAMS presents an evening with Louisiana Territory & Gills and Wings doing a benefit for breast cancer.  Show starts at 9:00pm.  Tix are $10 advance and limited tickets may be available at door .

Also Saturday, Allman Brothers tribute band Skydog will be at Cary St. Cafe.  Skydog will start at 10 PM and there is a $7 cover charge. 

If you can't catch Skydog on Saturday night, bring the whole family down to Forest Hill Park on Sunday evening.  They'll be doing a FREE show from 5 PM - 8 PM. 

On Saturday, you've also got The Hotdamns playing at Wonderland.  There is a $5 cover at the door which goes to benefit the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation.  Doors open at 8 PM and show starts at 10 PM with openers Gina Dalmas (Norfolk VA), Kelley & The Cowboys (Mount Airy, NC) and The Ones To Blame (Gainesville FL).

That's all I got.  Have a great weekend!  GO FLYERS!  I'll leave you with some vintage Stones (can't embed it.  Go HERE.)

Tony Jordan