Song o' the Week - August 29, 2010

Originating in South Florida, the Gabe Dixon Band have made New York City their home for almost a decade. Since forming they have released three full-length studio albums and one live album. They have also turned quite a few heads, getting airplay on NBC promo spots and landing a song on the soundtrack of the Sandra Bullock film "The Proposal". Frontman Gabe Dixon has even served as studio keyboardist to Sir Paul McCartney, which led to a sit-in spot with McCartney during the Concert for New York City following the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.

What began as a three-piece "piano rock" band has evolved to a much larger, swinging sound including horns, multiple back-up vocalists, and varieties of stringed instruments. The selection I offer you today is from their 2008 self-titled release...

"Til You're Gone" by the Gabe Dixon Band

Listen to "Til You're Gone" here: http://www.rhapsody.com/gabe-dixon-band/the-gabe-dixon-band/till-youre-gone


...enjoy!!

Big Balls

One of the great things about living downtown in Greensboro was having a baseball stadium two blocks from my front door. It is a beautiful facility, the tickets are cheap, and they typically have great promotions. I found myself taking a lot of pictures of this stadium and its grounds while living there. This one is a sculpture that sits outside one of the gates. The baseballs are about five feet tall and seem to be made of pure concrete.

Center City Spouts

The downtown district of Greensboro, North Carolina has undergone dramatic changes over the last ten years or so. New businesses, public spaces, high-rise condominiums, a downtown baseball stadium, greenways, public wi-fi access... all adding up to a revitalized center city. Once an area of town to be avoided, downtown Greensboro is now a hub of activity boasting tons of new restaurants and bars, shops, museums, and seasonal, free outdoor entertainment and festivals.

I lived there, downtown, for two years while some of this revitalization was going on. Despite everything I had heard about Greensboro prior to moving there ("Greensboring" was a popular moniker at one time), it has proven to be one of my favorite places to live. A city with activities and events accessible to all walks of life, all tastes. A city of college students, young professionals, and growing families. A city of genuine people, talented musicians, insightful artists, and world-class athletes. A city of innovative restaurants and rustic diners, posh night clubs and unapologetic dive bars, rocking music halls and refined theaters. A city to which I would return in a heartbeat.

Before I left Greensboro in 2008, I was able to compile a collection of images that I would like to share with you. An attempt to capture some of the quirks and hidden gems in a town that I grew to love. Here is the first of the series...



...part of the fountain that sits in the middle of a new Center City park. Located in the heart of downtown, the park regularly hosts weekday lunch-breakers, sun bathing students, evening concert goers, and picnicing families.

Song o' the Week - August 16, 2010

It's a sound that makes you wanna light up a cigarette, throw back a couple of rot-gut whiskies, and kick an alligator in the groin. "Swamp Funk 'n' Blues" is about the best way to describe the vibe that oozes out of a J.J. Grey & Mofro record. Hailing from the Florida backwoods, just outside of Jacksonville, the group released their first album Blackwater in 2001. Three full-length records later, J.J. Grey & Mofro will be unveiling their next project, Georgia Warhorse, on August 24th. This week however, I wanted to get everybody ramped up for the new record by choosing a cut from their 2008 release Orange Blossom...


"On Fire" by J.J. Grey & Mofro
Listen to "On Fire" here: http://www.rhapsody.com/jj-grey-mofro/orange-blossoms/on-fire

Enjoy!

Song o' the Week - August 9, 2010

I was first exposed to blues musician Taj Mahal by the Elizabeth City, NC based groove rock band Gutaranstein. Their cover of the thumping, foot-stomping romp "Ain't That A Lotta Love" was my first taste of the growling veteran's blues prowess. This, of course , led to my discovery of other recordings by Taj Mahal, including a live session with his Phantom Blues Band and an appearance in The Rolling Stones' "Rock N Roll Circus". A tried and true bluesman, Taj Mahal has also dipped into waters outside his own genre, recording traditional Caribbean songs and teaming up with performers from a more mainstream vein. This week, I bring you a track from one of Taj Mahal's more recent releases in which he had recruited Ben Harper to help bridge the generational gap with subsequently outstanding results (not that Ben needed any coaxing, I'm sure)...


"Dust Me Down" by Taj Mahal with Ben Harper

Song(s) o' the Week - August 2, 2010

Jerome John Garcia (August 1, 1942 - August 9, 1995) was an unassuming and reluctant Legend. With nowhere near the unbridled mainstream fanfare of his contemporaries Bob Dylan and John Lennon, his mark was just as indelible on music lovers around the World. Jerry Garcia is most identified with The Grateful Dead, but it should be noted that his contributions as an artist simply begin there. His side projects are plentiful: Old & In The Way, The Jerry Garcia Band, the Garcia/Grisman duo, New Riders of the Purple Sage, the Saunders/Garcia band, Legion of Mary, in addition to serving as a session player on numerous other albums. This week I will offer a handful of selections which may just introduce a side of Jerry you've never known. Whether this is new musical territory for you or you're well-versed en la musique de Jerry, raise your glasses with me and honor a humble man, a towering giant, Jerry Garcia...


"Althea" by The Grateful Dead
Listen to "Althea" here: http://www.rhapsody.com/the-grateful-dead/go-to-heaven/althea

"Jenny Jenkins" by Jerry Garcia & David Grisman
Listen to "Jenny Jenkins" here: http://www.rhapsody.com/jerry-garcia/not-for-kids-only/jenny-jenkins

"That's Alright" by Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders
Listen to "That's Alright" here: http://www.rhapsody.com/album/well-matched-the-best-of-merl-saunders-jerry-garcia/thats-alright

"The Hobo Song" by Old & In The Way
Listen to "The Hobo Song" here: http://www.rhapsody.com/old-in-the-way/breakdown/the-hobo-song


Enjoy!