4/16/10 - Maybe you've heard her on the soundtrack of Grey's Anatomy. Or maybe you've never heard of her at all. Although Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Patty Griffin has been at the heart of the Austin and Nashville music scenes for over 15 years, she's still one of the best-kept secrets in these parts.
Griffin's songs have been covered by Emmylou Harris, Reba McEntire and the Dixie Chicks, and she often shares the stage with the likes of John Prine, Shawn Colvin and Willie Nelson. Ranging from the introspective ("Mary" or "Rain") to the exuberant ("One Big Love" or "Heavenly Day"), her songs often seem to ride on a deep spiritual undercurrent.
In fact, her recently-released Downtown Church album is devoted entirely to gospel music. And that's exactly what she brought into town last Sunday night, with a rabble-rousing revival meeting right here inside the jam-packed Belly Up.
She declared her intentions from the outset, with the bluesy, organ-powered "Standing" (which is what the crowd did all night) and "Wade in the Water," with some thumping stand-up bass from Frank Swart.
Halfway through the set, she offered up one of her best creations, "Heavenly Day," which she confessed wasn't really the kind of "love song" people thought it was.
"So many people tell me this is the song they dance to at their wedding," said Griffin. "It's like the only 'legitimate' love song that I've ever written. A pretty good friend of mine sang it at his sister's wedding two weeks ago, and I had to tell him the truth -- which is that I wrong this song for my dog. read more...
For What it's Worth: Stephen Stills at the Belly Up
3/24/10 - It was my own fault. I knew the Stephen Stills show would be standing room only, and we'd have to get there early for a good spot. But the place was already packed, so I ended up standing behind a 7-foot dude in a black t-shirt that said "Freedom." For two hours.
Now I'm thinking maybe that was a blessing in disguise. (Because let's face it, Stephen is no longer the handsome young prince he was in Buffalo Springfield).
So with nothing much to look at, I closed my eyes and let my ears take over. And what I heard was one of the greatest voices of my generation -- the very same voice I knew so well, singing the same songs that struck such a chord in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Yes, it was the graveled throat of a salty old singer, but he hit all the highs and lows with very few compromises, other than adjusting the key on some tunes.
After seeing Stills in concert a few days earlier, Orange County Register critic Ben Wener questioned whether the show was even worth the price of admission, saying the legendary performer sounded like "a recovering stroke patient." (Actually the 65-year-old is a recovering prostate cancer patient.)
As for his command of the lyrics, I never heard a lapse during the Belly Up show, but Stills did poke fun at himself as he embarked on a long Bob Dylan song:
"This one requires some concentration ... It has, like eleven-ty seven verses, and I forgot most of them in the 80s." read more...
The Shells at the Belly Up
3/1/10 - As a young girl, I listened to the Partridge Family. I can admit that now because I'm SO much older -- and because, well, teenage girls deserve their own flavor of musical candy just like the rest of us.
When I saw The Shells at the Belly Up yesterday, I thought of two things: Pixy Stix and Dixie Chicks. This trio served up sugar and spice, and everything thrice. read more...
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