Monday, July 10, 2006
The Winnipeg Folk festival
I went to the Folk Festival this past weekend - it was good. While I usually dig on the day stages and don't pay so much mind to the evening stuff, this year was different. I liked the evening stuff - sitting in my chair and relaxing, I was even called an "old codger" by one colleague (herself almost 20 years my senior).
Things I liked this year:
- Steve Earle - as feisty as ever. I like how he conitunes to READ NEWSPAPERS and to be aware of the world around him. I also like the "what the fuck is your problem" face he makes whenever someone yells out "Copperhead Road" as they invariably do. I really like seeing him solo, because songs like "My Old Friend The Blues" and "Rich Man's War" sound best that way. "Tanneytown" sounds good however it's played.
- Alejandro Escovedo - he doesn't play castanets, but he works without a net. After a prolonged illness, it's great t see him back despite the fact that he and his band were apparently involved in a car accident somewhere between town and the festival site. Despite that scare, he rocked the town right upside down.
- Neko Case - never sounded better. Her band just gets better and better: the core of Jon Rauhouse and Tom V. ray on steel/banjo and upright bass respectively, plus more recent additions Paul Rigby on guitar and Barry Mirochnik on drums all made a perfect place for Neko and the velvet-voiced Kelly Hogan to belt out everything you want to hear (except my fave, "Thrice All American"). Note to Neko - "The Tigers Have Spoken" is one of the saddest songs ever, and it makes me think about how much I like my dog.
- The Refugee All Stars of Sierra Leone - turning misery into joy. I had read of these guys before seeing them, but knew nothing of their music. More reggae than I expected, but lots of fun.
- Richard Thompson - Vincent Black Lightning 1952. Say no more.
On the day stages, I managed to see some great stuff as well, including one of my favourite bands Son Volt, spoken word artists TOFU, wierdo genius That 1 Guy, bluegrass daredevils Crooked Still, Texan swingers the South Austin Jug Band, and oh my lord, the Grande Mothers - Roy Estrada & Don Preston, original members of the Mothers of Invention, along with later-addition Napoleon Murphy Brock. played nothing but Zappa tunes - including "Let's make the Water Turn Black" from my favourite album, "We're Only IN It For The Money." THAT was a treat.
