I Haven't Posted in So Long . . .

that I forgot my password. Pathetic. I haven't had the time to see too much music out there this summer, but here's a quick wrap-up of what I have seen.

July 27th, I went with many Perintonites to the Perinton Park Summer Fest celebration. It's mostly for families with small children; but, happily, it offers one of my favorite bands in town, the Bill Welch Band, every year. Bill Welch on vocals, keyboard, and guitar is a soulful musician who leads this band in new directions all the time. They get funkier and funkier with Bill Tiberio playing sax, Gene Rogalski on guitar, Mike Keefe on bass, Fred Welch on drums. This day, Tina Albright took time out from her schedule to join them for a few tunes--always a delight. They indulged me in my two requests--Phat (a jazzy, funky tune that they should get into a recording studio and lay down) and Why Don't You Ask (one of my all-time favorite tunes of any performer, any genre, anywhere).

August 9th, I saw a version of the Bill Tiberio Group at the Corn Hill Gazebo. This variation included Tiberio, Tony Castronova on guitar and vocals, Mike Keefe on bass, and Fred Welch on drums. The group cooked on tunes I've never heard Bill do before. It would have been most enjoyable had I not had to leave and come back twice and then, ultimately, leave early.

August 16th saw me at Nickel Creek at the Harro East Ballroom. I was really psyched about this show because I saw them last year at the Water Street and they were amazing. Apparently, this is their "farewell for now" tour. Sad. They are so young with such a good sound between them--despite the sucky sound system at the Harro East. I was in the balcony and had a hard time understanding any words to tunes that I didn't know. Fiona Apple joined them. She's something else altogether. Nice voice. Strange songs. And dancing . . . did you ever see that episode of Seinfeld in which Elaine dances? Well, let's just say that Elaine and Fiona could be sisters! The one tune she did that I loved was Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight." It was lovely.

We heard most of the tunes I know including Sarah Watkin's "Anthony" and Thiel's "Set Me Up With One of Your Friends" both of which I consider added bonuses. We left before the end because it was hot and the audience was one of the rudest I've encountered once again. Talk, talk, talking constantly throughout the performance. And the tickets were not cheap, so it kind of pissed me off. Alot. What's wrong with audiences these days? This was not a coffee shop, a bar, a festival--this was a concert. So shut up, already, and listen. That's what I wanted to say; instead, we just left.

I've been giving thought to whether I should keep this blog going or not. I was recently asked where there was live music played around town--i.e. where are the venues? And I almost said, "there freakin' aren't any." But I did keep it together and list a few. But I had to lament the passing of the Clarissa Room, Milestones, the Montage as it used to be, etc. Most of the musician friends I have tell me that the majority of the gigs on their schedules are private parties. Bummer for me. Bummer for all of us.

So, I'm thinking that if I continue to post, I might review CDs that I hear, in addition to live music. I did just receive, finally, Andreas Petterson's CD of Gershwin tunes that he played at the Reformation Lutheran Church at the RIJF this past June. It's a lovely recording--worth the wait. At Greg Bell's suggestion, I recently purchased Bill Frisell's Good Dog, Happy Man but I haven't had time to get into it, yet. I took my son back to college last weekend and listened to some mixes he put together--a very cool and diverse set of tunes that I enjoyed very much. Except the Radiohead--not a big fan. Robert Randolph; Smokey Robinson; Modeski, Martin and Wood; Marvin Gaye, Phish, some French and Spanish musicians, and much more. He's got a great ear; and I'm keeping those discs--sorry, Drew!

That's all for now. Hopefully, it won't be so long before I hear some live music worth posting about.

yours in music,
Tracy