5/18/11 Playlist

1. For Your Precious Love-Otis Redding

2. Mannish Boy (Muddy Waters cover)-Erykah Badu

3. Who Knows Who?-Orgone

4. This Land Is Your Land-Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

5. Oughta Be A Woman-Sweet Honey In The Rock

6. Purple-Shuggie Otis

7. Don't Cry-Sam Cooke

8. Sincerely-The McGuire Sisters

9. I've Got That Feelin'-Darrell Banks

10. I Love You Baby-Moovers

11. Hard Time Killing Floor Blues-Chris Thomas King

12. Traveling Mama Blues-Joe Calicott

13. Sweet Appalachia-The Del McCoury Band

14. I've Just Seen a Face-The Dillards

15. As I Lay On The Prairie-Brian Harnety

16. Hello Goodbye-Barry Phillips

17. Lexington-Elephant Revival

18. Glencoe-Richard Thompson

19. Colorado Girl-Steve Earle

20. Art Isn't Real-Deer Tick

21. Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)-Justin Vernon

22. Spanish Pipedream-The Avett Brothers

23. Sold-Dan Mangan

24. Watchman-Peggy Sue

25. My Name Is Buddy-Ry Cooder

26. Showbiz Blues-Fleetwood Mac

27. Ooh La La-The Faces

28. She PLays Yo Yo With My Mind-Sonny & The Sunsets

29. Hard Line-Jill Barber

30. Bundles-Mariee Sioux

31. Hidden Track-Johnny Flynn

32. Your Only Doll (Dora)-Laura Marling

Eclectically yours,

Ashley

KCSB 91.9FM

Del McCoury Band Review

On Wednesday, May 12 I strolled into Campbell Hall with absolute certainty that I would enjoy this performance. Taking the stage was bluegrass legend, Del McCoury and his faithful band, an ensemble who in the music industry inspire not only respect, but high praise from musicians of all genres. Having collaborated with heavy hitters like Steve Earle, Phish, and Elvis Costello, Del McCoury demonstrates that bluegrass isn't just for those with an acquired taste: it's about presence, passion, and the musical marriage of sound old and new. Listening to the Del McCoury Band was almost like a throwback to the Carter Family: after 50 years of playing, Del McCoury has certainly made his performances a family affair. With his kind and loving sharing of the stage, he incorporated his band through the recognition of his son, Ron McCoury, playing the mandolin, his other son Rob McCoury on the banjo, and his other bandmates, fiddler Jason Carter and bass player Alan Batram. Del McCoury warmly engaged with the audience, taking requests and recounting old stories ranging from his early childhood love of Earl Scruggs to past festival interactions with Richard Thompson. Del McCoury's charm was completely enchanting and comfortable: soft spoken with a wide grin, his "aw shucks" attitude perfectly complemented the ol' time sound of Americana lore. Conjuring images of wide open land, unrequited small town love, and rugged Southern mountain living, bluegrass can be at times a mesmerizing combination of both lonesome and enlivening sound, with its roots heavily embedded in the collective American unconscious. It's the soundtrack to the mines, to the family, to the pastoral, and to the golden ages of simple yearning for pure heart and soul. My favorite moment of the performance was when bass player Alan Batram hesitatingly took the mic to sing "Sweet Appalachia." His smooth and effortless voice and style took the audience completely by surprise as he crooned his way through this timeless classic. The performance in its entirety was much like Batram's solo moment: it was a showcase of everyone's immense talent and musical dexterity infused with an easy collaborative relationship of familiarity and friendship. It wasn't a time for them to put on airs (which, with their talent, would have been understandable). It was a time to play what they love with the people they love the most. And perhaps that's why McCoury is still playing to large audiences after half a century: genuine passion, a reverence for the genre, and an endearing and humble disposition to boot. And hey, I'm sure his prodigious guitar playing probably doesn't hurt either.

5/4/2011 Playlist

1. Rock Me Baby-Otis Redding

2. Powerful Love-Chuck & Mac

3. I've Made Up My Mind-Josephine Taylor

4. Your Good Thing-Mable John

5. Rock My Soul-The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet

6. Wait a Minute-Eddie Ray

7. Are You Sure-The Staple Singers

8. Ooh Poo Pah Doo-Ike & Tina Turner

9. Land of a Thousand Dances-Wilson Pickett

10. Old No. 7-The Devil Makes Three

11. Drivin' Nails In My Coffin-Those Darlins

12. Vodka Before Breakfast-The Woodshedders

13. Crazy Train-The Waifs

14. I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow-Abalone Dots

15. So Sleepy-The Punch Brothers w/ Fiona Apple

16. Creepin' In (Exclusive Live Cut)-Dolly Parton w/ Norah Jones

17. Fire & Water (Live)-Alex Ebert & Jade Castrinos

18. Tickle Me Pink-Johnny Flynn

19. Two Tongues-Mariee Sioux

20. Man In the Box-Tunng

21. Spirited-Laura Gibson

22. Postcard from Mexico-Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch & Fats Kaplin

23. Carpenter-Huckleberry Flint

24. The Ghost of Tom Joad-Junip

25. Dimming the Day-Bonnie Raitt

26. River-Howlin' Woods

27. Hidden Track-Johnny Flynn

Hooray for May,

Ashley

91.9FM KCSB