folk, Jazz, Music Calendar, Rock'n Roll

The wonderful Nanci Griffith was born in 1953 – Happy birthday

Nanci Griffith 1

I got to know Nanci Griffith through the seminal music paper Beat (norwegian music magazine), this music magazine has been extremely important in my musical upbringing. They made it ok to say that you loved country music. This was a big step for us rock/punk youth. Anyway, they praised Nanci Griffith very early and we listened and we agreed, this was very special indeed.

Her voice, her way of singing, especially other peoples’ songs, it was and is beautiful. My first entry into her world was John Prine’s The Speed of The Sound of Loneliness, it is still the best song in her catalogue. Hell, it would be the best song in almost anybody’s catalogue!

Speed of the sound of Loneliness (with John Prine who wrote this masterpiece):

Nanci Griffith, (born Nanci Caroline Griffith, July 6, 1953, Seguin, Texas) is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter based in Austin, Texas.

Allmusic:  Straddling the fine line between folk and country music, Nanci Griffith has become as well-known for her brilliant, confessional songwriting as her beautiful voice. A self-styled “folkabilly” singer, Griffith began as a kindergarten teacher and occasional folksinger. The country scene took her to heart in the mid-’80s, giving her a reputation as a quality songwriter through hit covers of Griffith’s songs by Kathy Mattea and Suzy Bogguss. Finding no luck with commercial country radio however, Griffith recorded several pop-oriented albums and then returned to her folk roots by the mid-’90s.

Another wonderful cover version, Tecumseh Valley (with a wonderful intro):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lets include a fantastic Dylan interpretation, Boots of Spanish leather:

 Happy birthday, Nanci!

Other July-06:
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Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan other, Bob Dylan video

Bob Dylan – The Never Ending Narrative 1990 – 2006 (Videos)

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bob-dylan-the-never-ending-narrative-1990-2006-dvd

  • DVD Release Date: April 19, 2011
  • Run Time: 105 minutes
Had anyone suggested during the 1980s that Bob Dylan would re-invent himself yet again during the decades that followed, to once more become the music-world’s most respected artist, while achieving number one albums along the way, they may well have been met with a wry smile, if not outright derision. But somehow Dylan pulled it off and after a lengthy period of lacklustre music and performances he again became the most important icon of the rock age. This documentary film follows the career and music of Bob Dylan from the aftermath of his stunning 1989 comeback album Oh Mercy and follows his story up to 2006’s masterpiece, Modern Times. Featuring a wealth of archive material, performance footage, exclusive and classic interviews, contributions from many close confidantes plus writers and Dylan experts Johnny Rogan, Derek Barker, Clinton Heylin and Nigel Williamson, along with location film, news reports and some of the finest music recorded during the last 20 years.
~amazon.com

 

This is #4 in a great series of DVD’s:

  • Bob Dylan: 1941-1966 – Tales From A Golden Age
  • Bob Dylan: 1966-1978 – After the Crash
  • Bob Dylan: 1978 – 1989 – Both Ends of the Rainbow
  • Bob Dylan: The Never Ending Narrative 1990 – 2006

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Blues, Country, Festival, Live, Rock

Vikedal Roots Music Festival 11-14 July

plakat

Next week I’m visiting a local festival, Vikedal Roots Music Festival. It is the 15th year anniversary for this gem of a festival and they have some really great acts on their program.

It is located in Vikedal a beautiful little place here in the western part of Norway. They are setting up several stages and have concerts in the church, the harbour and in a big festival tent.

vikedal 2

We are talking about 23 concerts in 3 days, all of them firmly placed in the roots oriented music scene. Sometimes it’s roots-rock other times more folksy stuff.

The festival has given us some very good concerts through the years, and we have a long and loving relationship with this little, but great festival.

We here at Johannasvisions will try to see as many shows as we can, and we have chosen some favorites from this years

Here are our three must see artists at Vikedal Roots Music Festival 2013:

1. Ida Jenshus (with band)

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Ida Jenshus is always a safe bet, she and her band delivers on all shows, and she has a terrific band. Her latest release is less straight country and more into the Daniel Lanois /Emmylou Harris sound scape. We love it!

Here’s a concert taped for the Norwegian Broadcast Company (NRK). 22 minutes of great music with Ida Jenshus and her band:

 Place/Time: The Harbour, Thursday 11th July at 21:30

Our next choice is the up and coming “prairie-rock”-band, Yuma Sun.

2. Yuma Sun

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We have seen Yuma Sun in concert a few times, and they’re getting better with each show. They’ve toured extensively the last year and we are really looking forward to hear an even tighter band. As I write this they are playing at The Hove Festival, one of Norway’s biggest festivals.

Yuma Sun – Another Day:

In between all the gigs they are recording their second album. Hopefully we will get a release this fall.

Place/Time: The Harbour, Thursday 11th July at 23:30
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Music Calendar, Soul

Today: Bill Withers is 75

Bill Withers

I feel that it is healthier to look out at the world through a window than through a mirror. Otherwise, all you see is yourself and whatever is behind you.
~Bill Withers

Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone, It’s not warm when she’s away, Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone, And she’s always gone too long, Anytime she goes away.
~Bill Withers (Ain’t No Sunshine)

Ain’t No Sunshine (Live 1971):

Wikipedia:

Birth name William Harrison Withers, Jr.
Born July 4, 1938 (age 75)
Slab Fork, West Virginia, U.S.
Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres Soul, smooth soul, R&B, blues
Occupations Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments Vocals, guitar, keyboards
Years active 1967–1985
Labels Sussex Records
Columbia Records
Website billwithersmusic.com

William Harrison “Bill” Withers, Jr. (born July 4, 1938) is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. He recorded a number of hits such as “Lean on Me”, “Ain’t No Sunshine”, “Use Me”, “Just the Two of Us”, “Lovely Day”, and “Grandma’s Hands”. His life was the subject of the 2009 documentary film Still Bill.

Bill Withers

Here is a lovely interview from 2007:

Lean on Me (Live 1973):

Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow

But if we are wise
We know that there’s
Always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on

Album of the day:

Still Bill (1972)

Bill Withers still bill

Bill Withers came into his own on his third album, Still Bill. Released in 1972, the record is a remarkable summation of a number of contemporary styles: the smooth soul coming out of Philly, smoky, late-night funk via Bobby Womack, bluesy Southern soul, and ’70s singer/songwriterism. It’s rich, subtly layered music, but its best attribute is that it comes on easy, never sounding labored or overworked. In fact, it takes several spins of the album to realize just how versatile Withers is on Still Bill, to hear how he makes intricate, funky rhythms sound as effortless and simple as the album’s best-known song, the gospel-tinged inspirational anthem “Lean on Me.” That’s the genius behind Withers’ music: it’s warm and easily accessible, but it has a depth and complexity that reveals itself over numerous plays — and, given the sound and feel of the music, from the lush arrangements to his comforting voice, it’s easy to want to play this again and again. …..
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine (allmusic.com)

Other July 4:

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Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan Concerts, Bob Dylan video

Bob Dylan – Early Roman Kings – Different Live Versions (Audio & Video)

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bob dylan keyboard

 

All the early Roman kings
In their sharkskin suits
Bow ties and buttons
High top boots
Drivin’ the spikes in
Blazin’ the rails
Nailed in their coffins
In top hats and tails
Fly away, little bird
Fly away, flap your wings
Fly by night
Like the early Roman kings

Early Roman Kings is one of four songs he performed live each night on the “2013 US Spring Tour” (23 performances).  It’s live debut was @ Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul, Minnesota on 7 November 2012. And it was played 7 times during this “US & Canada fall tour”.

In this post I have collected videos & Audio clips. There are some really great performances here!

2012 US & Canada Fall Tour

Band:

  • Bob Dylan (vocal, guitar, grand piano & keyboard)
  • Stu Kimball (guitar)
  • Charlie Sexton (guitar)
  • Donnie Herron (violin, mandolin, steel guitar)
  • Tony Garnier (bass)
  • George Receli (drums & percussion)

2012-11-07 – St. Paul, Minnesota:

2012-11-19 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

2012-11-21 – Brooklyn, New York:

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