From: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org (jangle-poets-digest) To: jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Subject: jangle-poets-digest V9 #116 Reply-To: jangle-poets@smoe.org Sender: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk jangle-poets-digest Tuesday, December 11 2007 Volume 09 : Number 116 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [JP] Beth DeSombre CD Release [Nieldsforever@aol.com] [JP] SISTER SHOWS - Nields, Strangelings [Nieldsforever@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2007 21:22:08 EST From: Nieldsforever@aol.com Subject: [JP] Beth DeSombre CD Release The more I learn about Beth DeSombre, the more intrigued I become. I first met Beth at a Dave Carter Tribute concert, part of the Notlob Concert Series, 8/12/07 in Jamaica Plain, where Dave Carter's music was played and reflected upon by a number of performers including Beth, Chris Thompson, Adam Sweeney, Eric McDonald, Ryan Fitzsimmons, and Dana Price. Monday night at 7:30, Beth, who is a professor of political science at Wellesley College, is doing a CD release show for her debut album Crooked Highways at the Wellesley Campus pub known as Punch's Alley. The cachet of her supporting cast on Crooked Highways is most impressive: Dave Chalfant (of the Nields), Tracy Grammer, Jim Henry, Pete & Maura Kennedy, and Eric Lee (of the Strangelings). I'm expecting a really interesting evening of great music. Beth DeSombre CD Release Monday, December 10, 7:30 PM Punch's Alley, Wang Campus Center, Wellesley College 106 Central Street, Wellesley MA Free Bruce Check out the Kennedys' Official Home Page: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/ Fab photos, the Official tour diary, dashboard Buddha haiku, groovy merchandise...what more could you ask for? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2007 23:05:45 EST From: Nieldsforever@aol.com Subject: [JP] SISTER SHOWS - Nields, Strangelings Nerissa Nields surprised me with the concept that every song on N&K's new album Sister Holler has a sibling -- this was in the context of a song intro at Saturday night's show, when she said (right between "Eloise" and "Give Me a Clean Heart") that these two songs were "sibling songs." Sibling songs -- The Power of Two! Was it just a coincidence of Jungian synchronicity, that I picked this weekend's Nields show at the Living Room in NYC to make my first-ever pilgrimage to the site of the World Trade Center, once the site of Twin Towers? This capsule review, then, is a Tale of Two Cities (Boston and New York), of Twin Venues (Passim and the Living Room), and of Sister Shows -- featuring the sisters C&M Thompson with the Strangelings (Friday night) and N&K Nields with their Crackerjack Band (Saturday night). ================================================ The Strangelings 12/7/07 Club Passim, Cambridge MA This was a Throwback Strangelings show, featuring original members P&M Kennedy and C&M Thompson, along with newest Strangelings member Eric Lee on fiddle. Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson had a CD Release show for their new Hungrytown album elsewhere, and so were unable to take part in Friday night's special holiday Strangelings show at Passim. Bedsit Poets did a really intriguing and eye-opening set, opening for the Strangelings. The Strangelings setup for this show, from the audience's point of view, was (from left to right) Meredith Thompson Knight on vocals, flute, and congas; Maura Kennedy on vocals, guitar, and percussion; Chris Thompson Lively on vocals, guitar, and percussion; Eric Lee on fiddle; and Pete Kennedy on electric sitar, vocals, and percussion. Nuah Harvest Moon Tanglewood Tree ***O Come O Come Emmanuel (3 soprano harmony, SSS) Hard Way to Learn (Meredith lead vocal) Wildest Sea Season of the Witch A-Soalin' Matty Groves ***Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (3 soprano harmony, SSS) Didn't It Rain Wayfaring Stranger Reels Scarborough Fair White Bird ***Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming (3 soprano harmony, SSS) The Coo Coo ***Go Tell It on the Mountain (3 soprano harmony, SSS) (encore) More details to follow in later posts. ================================================= N&K Nields Crackerjack Band 12/8/07 Living Room, NYC This Nields show was a "Sister Show" of the Strangelings 12/7/07 show. The Living Room was in new digs on Ludlow Street from the last time I saw the Maggies there, years ago. The previous setup was a small streetcorner venue that really was a lot like a living room. This was a mid-block arrangement, not far from the previous address, and now with more space in a deeper room, with a sister venue Googie's Lounge upstairs. This new Living Room reminded me a lot of the Tin Angel -- and, truth be told, of Club Passim. That's why I said that this would be a tale of two cities, and of twin venues. Only, this "Sister Show" featured sisters Nerissa & Katryna Nields, with their Crackerjack Band -- Dave Chalfant (electric and acoustic guitars), Dave Hower (drums and percussion), and Paul Kochansky (electric and standup bass) -- occasionally joined by Adam Sweeney (banjo), who also opened for TN. When I'm Here This Train The Endless Day Abington Sea Fair Christmas Carol Eloise Give Me a Clean Heart The Right Road That's My Ship The Soldier at Your Door (w/ Old Man story) The Shortest Day Easy People The Enemy Called Pants Ain't That Good News Gotta Get Over Greta (encore) Was there any way I could miss a "Sister Show" of such rare vintage -- Full Band Nields? That was a rhetorical question -- of course there was no way. And thanks to Mother Nature for cooperating -- the predicted snow turning to rain came the day before, and it was clear sailing for me both to and from Boston -- and clear sailing in NYC as well, not only for me, but also for the hundreds and hundreds of reveling, merry-making Santa Clauses all dressed up in Santa suits, who were making such a jolly scene on Ludlow Street right outside the club, Santacon Santas, I was told. It was great winter weather indeed, for "Tripping the Light Fantastic" on "The Sidewalks of New York." Much more to follow. Bruce Check out the Kennedys' Official Home Page: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/ Fab photos, the Official tour diary, dashboard Buddha haiku, groovy merchandise...what more could you ask for? ------------------------------ End of jangle-poets-digest V9 #116 **********************************