From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V13 #340 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Monday, December 17 2007 Volume 13 : Number 340 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: Best albums of 2007 [neal copperman ] Adrienne Pierce, Issa (aka Jane Siberry) at Joe's Pub [birdie ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 01:47:46 -0700 From: neal copperman Subject: Re: Best albums of 2007 Somewhat alarmingly, I again seemed to acquire over 500 CD's this year. And again, I have only listened to a fraction of them. I just saw the Joe Strummer movie and was amazed at how I could sing along with so many Clash songs. I'm not sure there is more then 2 or 3 CD's in the last year that I can sing along to any songs on! Anyway, of the lot, here are the ones that made the strongest impressions: ONDA - If You Can't Ride The Wave Then You're Gonna Go Unda - Fiamma Fumana (Omnium, 2006) http://www.fiamma.net I adored this hip Italian electro-folk-pop ensemble when I saw them in Newcastle a few years ago. I finally got a CD and it is as catchy and compelling as the live show. They were the runaway hit at our festival - !Globalquerque! - this year, and I listen to this CD all the time. (The other festival CD I listen to a lot is Baka Beyond's "East to West".) Siempra Hay Salida - Pistolera http://www.pistolera.net Latin alt-folklorica from NYC. Taking traditional Mexican music and giving it a touch of punk attitude and spirit. We presented them en route to SXSW and it was a great show! I also saw them open for a somewhat lackluster Ozomatli show (well, by Ozo standards, at least). Ruthie Foster - The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster (Blue Corn Music, 2006) This CD is a giant step for Ruthie. She's gone from being a folkie with a touch of gospel and soul to a full on blues/R&B/gospel diva. The record is big and funky, with real heart and soul, full of meaty songs and fantastic singing. Over The Rhine - The Trumpet Child Lots of praise lavished on this one - and totally well deserved. The Everybodyfields - Nothing is Okay http://www.theeverybodyfields.com One I haven't seen anything about, but one of my faves of the year. It sounds weirdly familiar, but I'm not sure why. Male and female leads trade off and intertwine. Haunting, sort of country feel that puts me in mind of Iron & Wine, Cowboy Junkies, Over The Rhine, Tarnation, Shivaree, Cat Power, Bright Eyes and more. Definitely worth checking out, even though I hate their name! I also saw a ridiculous 103 concerts this year. The best musical moment of the year was hands down Chirgilchin at the Revolutions International Theater Festival's Reptilian Lounge. Chirgilchin are a 4-piece throat singing ensemble from Tuva. I've seen them a half dozen times if you count workshops and stuff. (And no, a workshop didn't help make me even a marginal throat singer!) They were in town in early February for a show and workshop. I had convinced them to drop by the Reptilian Lounge, a late-night cabaret that was part of Tricklock's awesome international theater festival. It was the last night of the festival, and this was the closing event. At least 150 people were crammed into a small artspace (that probably was firecoded for much less). We zipped the band over right after their concert and they arrived just as the MC's were pumping up the crowd. They had everyone worked into a frenzy and the Tuvans were completely baffled and a little alarmed. They were clearly thinking "What are we doing here?" and "These people can't possibly like us!". After a rambling introduction that only added to the confusion and sounded like the start of another Lounge goofball skit, they walked out and took the floor. No mics. Just four musicians sitting in chairs. They played a piece that started with just igils (2-string horse head fiddle) for about 3 minutes. It started quiet and built slowly. The room was dead quiet as everyone looked on in wonder and puzzlement. Eventually, the vocals kicked in and no one had any idea what they were experiencing. i looked around the room and couldn't figure out what people were thinking. Everyone was sitting on the floor, motionless and quiet, heads cocked to the side, looking intent. I couldn't tell if they were bored, confused or totally into it. The song was a good 7 or so minutes long, and when it ended, the place erupted with wave after wave of applause and cheering and the first standing ovation in the 15 year history of the cabaret. It was as deafening as any show I have ever been to, and totally caught the Tuvans off guard. They actually had two more songs to play, which were both really good, but it was that first moment that held the most magic. It was truly something to behold, and probably one of the top musical experiences of my life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNOzIjtX8-o (small snippet of that night) The other most notable shows were: Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 - - Fela's son fronting Fela's band (in Spain). I never saw Fela and usually prefer people to establish their own sound, but to see an 18-piece band pull out 20-minute long afropop classics was stunning. Tan Dun's Ghost Opera - Del Sol Quartet with Wu Man I saw Wu Man do a solo recital last year and was really impressed. I adore the Kronos Quartet recording of Ghost Opera and was thrilled when I noticed this performance was happening in Santa Fe, with the hot young Del Sol and Wu Man on board (as well as percussionists who tore paper, beat rocks and played in water). One hour long and perfect in every way. More theatrical and compelling then the much longer, much more elaborate and much less satisfying Tan Dun opera Tea (which is why we got the show here at all). Kristen Hersh, The McCarricks, Dolorean Three strong bands and great sets, though it was the unexpected wonderfulness of The McCarricks that pushed this evening over the top. Erin McKeown (twice!, once with a strong Melissa Ferrick) Erin did an outrageously good house concert, and returned a few months later for a plugged in solo show with Melissa Ferrick. Mariana Sadowska Mariana channels whole villages when she sings. Unbelievable. Sherman Alexie As much a performer as any musician. Sherman's readings are better then any stand-up comic, and probably more improvised too. Just a notch down from those were: Tinariwen Taksim Trio (Turkey) Devendra Banhart Todd Snider/Eliza Gilkyson/Po' Girl - Thirsty Ear Festival Over the Rhine duo Rasputina/My Brightest Diamond/Leahadoris Toumani Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra - NM Jazz Fest The Iguanas Angelique Kidjo Niyaz Pistolera (twice, once with a so-so Ozomatli) Lyle Lovett (solo, in the round, with John Hiatt, Guy Clark and Joe Ely, though it was Lyle all the way) And, on the sentimental front: Rosanne Cash, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, English Beat (not togehter) neal np: carnival love - amy correia (who just did a great opening set for Marc Cohn a few days ago. She also plays in Marc's band.) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 10:20:02 -0800 From: birdie Subject: Adrienne Pierce, Issa (aka Jane Siberry) at Joe's Pub Adrienne Pierce opens for Issa aka Jane Siberry December, 21 and 22nd 2007 at Joe's Pub 7PM New York, New York Tix: www.telecharge.com www.adriennepierce.com www.myspace.com/adriennepierce www.issalight.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:05:53 -0500 From: Paul Blair Subject: Re: Adrienne Pierce, Issa (aka Jane Siberry) at Joe's Pub I'll be there on the Friday, and Karen Hester's coming too. Elysian Fields plays in the time slot right afterwards. - -Paul On Dec 16, 2007, at 1:20 PM, birdie wrote: > Adrienne Pierce > > opens for Issa aka Jane Siberry > > December, 21 and 22nd 2007 at Joe's Pub > > 7PM > > New York, New York > > Tix: > > www.telecharge.com > > > www.adriennepierce.com > www.myspace.com/adriennepierce > > www.issalight.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:03:15 -0500 From: JoAnn Whetsell Subject: anjuli dawn A long while back I received Anjuli Dawn's third album, Reason, to review for the Ectoguide. She's a solid singer, songwriter, and musician, and while I wouldn't say her music is extraordinarily original or unique, I would nonetheless recommend contemporary folk fans check her out. Websites: http://anjulidawn.com/ and http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=363 12961 Albums: While I Live (2000), If I Stand (2001), Reason (2004), and Give (2006) Style: Contemporary folk Comparisons: early Ani DiFranco, Edie Carey General comments: Anjuli Dawn is an earnest and pretty-voiced folk singer. Similar to Edie Carey (vocally and stylistically) and early Ani DiFranco (particularly her guitar work), her album Reason becomes more compelling with each listen. JoAnn _________________________________________________________________ im is proud to present Cause Effect, a series about real people making a difference. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/MTV/?source=text_Cause_Effect ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V13 #340 ***************************