whatbreesees

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

SPACE Gallery, Portland, Maine

My concert buddy Monica and I saw the fabulous Martin Sexton a few nights ago. After the show, she asked me how I’d liked Kaki King—a show she’d recommended to me. She inspired me to get writing! Thanks, M!

I’d been a little on the fence about going to a show on a Tuesday, but Monica had encouraged me to go and my friends Kevin and Hedda were planning to be there, too. It was drizzling as I stood outside SPACE Gallery. I got there early because I’d inexplicably never seen Lady Lamb the Beekeeper live before and wanted a good spot. Like a lot of Mainers, I’d known Aly for years because she worked at Bart & Greg’s DVD Explosion in Brunswick. She talked at length about that job and her songwriting in this Maine magazine feature. I’m embarrassed to think about how many times I returned a truly bad romantic comedy to her now that she’s a big deal on the music scene, even showing up in Rolling Stone magazine. Like you, I am so happy for her. After seeing her live show, I realized just how well deserved her accolades and success are.

The room was packed as LLB took the stage. She opened with “Up In The Rafters,” which is an incredible a cappella piece. You could have heard a pin drop through the whole song, and essentially through her entire set. I especially like the line, “”I want to know you like the clock knows the hour.” I loved “Bird Balloons.” It was musically interesting and layered. The lyrics were honest and compelling—“This is my loss of love/my loss of limb/You were my friend/and now/I’m a ghost and you all know it.”

LLB told us that “Milk Duds” was one of her first songs. She wrote it at her first apartment in Bath, Maine during “that time in your life when you’re young and waste money on candy.” What I loved about Aly’s set was how thrilled she was to be on stage. She told us again and again how happy she was to be home. She called out people in the audience she knew by name and was genuinely happy they’d come to the show. You all know how much I love friendly banter from performers and hearing what songs are about. LLB made me so happy on both counts, and I loved her songs to boot.

She was beaming when she said, “Even without my glasses, I can see that everyone I love is here.” She announced that she’d be back again from Brooklyn to release her studio album at SPACE Gallery. The show will be March 2, and Xenia Rubinos and Cuddle Magic will join her. Check out Sam Pfeifle’s review of Lady Lamb the Beekeeper’s first studio album Ripely Pine in The Portland Phoenix. Also check out Hilly Town’s pictures from the evening.

LLB pointed out Dilly Dilly in the front row and told us she’d sung harmony vocals on the upcoming album on “Little Brother.” I thought Dilly Dilly might hop up on stage and sing with her, but maybe that’s for the next show. LLB thanked everyone at SPACE profusely. She said that SPACE is her favorite venue in the world—where she got her start. She was really happy to be there with us at the end of her first US/Canadian tour. You wouldn’t have been able to tell at all that this was her 30^th or so show of a tour because her energy was so warm and upbeat.  She thanked us again and closed her six-song set with “Crane Your Neck.” The crowd was incredibly attentive the entire set. I realized when she took her leave just how mesmerized I’d been by her performance. I was not alone.

There was a brief intermission during which half of the crowd left SPACE and Kaki King’s touring manager set up the stage. This was definitely a LLB audience. I was excited to hear Kaki King live. My friend Greg had introduced her to me a while ago on a mix CD. I realize now that I was wholly unprepared. It’s probably better that I didn’t know more about Kaki King’s music, because I would have skipped the show and missed Lady Lamb the Beekeeper’s lovely set. Here’s what totally threw me—Kaki King played beautiful song after beautiful song on lots of different guitars, but didn’t sing at all. I am drawn to lyrics. I was lost.

She bantered with the audience well at first and I appreciated it. She is quite petite, so when she sat down to play she asked all of the short people to move to the front if they were interested and for everyone to check behind them to see if someone shorter was behind them with an obstructed view. I thought it was a really considerate and awesome move!

She played four guitar-only songs in a row. They were lovely, but I realized soon that I was bored. I am not a guitar solo girl. At rock shows, the wailing guitar solos are the things I wait through to get to the lyrics. If that is odd, I can live with it. I am a folk girl at heart. I love a good sing a long. Kaki King gave a shout out to her guitar tech and LLB. She played a lot of new songs from her new album, Glow. It would be impossible for me to tell them apart to tell you what she played, though. She said it was the first time she’s ever liked her music. I am really happy for her. I know a lot of people are on board, too, but it’s not for me—live anyhow. I think I’d find her album perfect for relaxing after a long day on the car ride home or as background while I grade students’ work during my prep period.

I liked “Cargo Cult.” She said she’d become interested in Cargo Cult (a religious practice of amassing material through magic and religious ritual says Wikipedia) which is the theme for 2013’s Burning Man. I Googled it. I am confused. I liked the song, though.

KK stomped for percussion, played a variety of beautiful guitars, and chatted a little with the audience. My notes from the show are essentially a count of how many instrumental songs in a row she played. I eventually got to eight. Kevin and Hedda left before then—they’re not night owls like me and they weren’t compelled either. I waited another song or two and decided I was just not into the music enough to stay. I can’t remember the last time I’ve left a show early. I think the only time I’ve ever done it was in Boston when I had to catch the T late at night or be stranded. The last of KK’s songs I heard was one that she wrote in a NYU dorm room. I clocked out at 10:23 and was pretty excited to think I’d be home by 11:15 after a show on a school night. I think you should always check out music for yourself and make up your own mind, but without lyrics, Kaki King’s songs felt more like lovely background music to me.

xo,

bree

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Port City Music Hall, Portland, Maine

I find that I start to feel a little over-concerted towards the end of the year. I hadn’t seen a show since Halloween in a deliberate concert break, and I was so excited to see Brooklyn’s Spirit Family Reunion in early December. I caught their last couple of songs at the Newport Folk Festival last summer, and they were energetic and powerful and the crowd was totally into it. Here’s the recording of their set at Newport Folk Festival. I was determined to see them live at some point. I’d seen Trampled By Turtles twice—once by chance in Skagway, Alaska, which is a magical place, and again last year in Portland at Port City Music Hall. They also played last summer’s Newport Folk Festival. Check out their live set from the Paste Ruins at the Festival here. They are incredibly upbeat and talented musicians, and I enjoyed their exuberant energy both times I saw them. I thought this evening of music fell a bit flat, though. Maybe it was just me, because I’d gotten some troubling news from a dear friend earlier in the day, but also because I’d built my expectations for the show up too much in the first place.

Paste Magazine’s description of Spirit Family Reunion on their website is spot on. Spirit Family Reunion plays “homegrown American music to stomp, clap, shake and holler with. Ever since they started singing together on the street corners, farmer’s markets and subway stations of New York City, their songs have rung-out in a pure and timeless way. When Spirit Family Reunion gather to sing, there is communion.” SFR plays with warm and friendly energy, traditional American instruments, and genuine, raspy vocals that impress. I preferred their set, actually.

I found my way to PCMH after dinner at the new-ish Kushiya Benkay on Congress Street with Hedda, my friend from high school, and her husband, Kevin. I saw a young woman standing alone reading a book in the second row, saw space next to her, and went for it. Amanda (who works at the awesome Café Miranda in Rockland) was reading (and recommended) Tom Robbins’ Skinny Legs and All. I ended up in a great pocket of fun and considerate young people and even saw Julie, who I’d met at an Audra Mae/Matt Nathanson show back in January. It was nice to have people to chat with—Hedda and Kevin were planning to come, but the show sold out before they got their tickets.

Spirit Family Reunion opened with “Leave Your Troubles At The Gate,” and I quite liked “To All My Friends And Relations.” I love the timeless instruments they play—banjo, washboard, fiddle, guitar, upright bass, and drum. Their voices are powerful and homegrown—perfect in their imperfections. It would be hard not to like them or to keep from stomping along. I don’t know the names of many of their songs, but I loved the one about walking with eyes open wide. They didn’t banter much with us (and I love banter), but the guitarist said how nice it was to come back to Maine “where my boots are made!” He held up his foot to show us his Bean boot, and I’m sure half the crowd (myself included) had on the same pair.

I LOVED “On That Day.” “Woody Guthrie” was great, and the fiddler took the lead vocals on “Green Rocky Road.” Woah. His voice is inspiring. Their banjo player has a completely unique power folk voice, too. Their sound is interesting and gospel and folk all at once. Check out their NPR Tiny Desk Concert and this Boston Globe feature.

They played a quiet slow song after “Green Rocky Road” that I really liked. There was a pretty line in it, something like “you said that the freight train made a sound like my name.” They ended their set with a sing-a-long—“I’ll Find A Way.” It felt pretty good to sing along with the lyrics “don’t worry about me/I’ll find a way.” I think SPR is very much worth seeing live. There’s something organic about them that makes them extremely likeable.

The amply plaided crowd was really pumped for Duluth’s Trampled By Turtles. I liked “Victory,” “Sorry” (which was so energetic), and I loved “Widower’s Heart.” Amanda had moved up to the barricade just in front of me in a lucky move and offered me her spot when she took off early on her two-hour ride home to Rockland. I was pumped. There’s nothing like the front row.

TBT played “Valley” and the crowd favorite was definitely “Alone.” I should amend the word “played.” TBT shreds—they rock, they give their music all they’ve got. There is a lot of energy during the songs. I was hoping for some energy between the songs, though. I can’t remember anyone in the band saying much at all during their set and I found that kind of cold and disappointing in juxtaposition to their upbeat, super high energy songs.

They slowed their set down with “Beautiful” and brought it right back up again (and beyond) with “Wait So Long” which was the other crowd favorite of the night and is probably TBT’s best-known song. The guys had been lined up across the stage all night with their stringed instruments—Dave Simonett on guitar, Erik Berry on mandolin, Tim Saxhaug on bass, Ryan Young on fiddle, and Dave Carroll on banjo. They created a wall of sound. They left the stage and the audience was frenzied. They had left it all on stage—if they’d talked to us at all, I would have thought it was a phenomenal and well-rounded show.

TBT takes pictures of all of the crowds they play for. Here we are!

The audience was not going anywhere. They were pumped and so ready for an encore. TBT’s mandolin player Erik Berry took the stage alone and played a Christmas song for us as the beginning of the encore. The rest of the guys joined him for three more songs, and they closed with the lovely “Midnight On The Interstate” from their newest album, Stars and Satellites. Here are the lyrics:

“Late night

Midnight on the interstate

And I didn’t feel so great

Until I saw the city

And I was younger

And open like a child

Man, it’s been a while

Since I felt that way

More and more I hesitate

‘Cause I don’t know

Happy Birthday

You didn’t want to celebrate

And I was an hour late

And you fell apart

Mostly sober

Sometimes I change my mind

And I don’t have the time

No, we never do

Love and love and nothing else

It’s all I need”

I think it was wise for TBT to play a slow song at the end of the night. It was certainly the best way to calm down a very appreciative crowd and prepare us to say goodnight. They’ve been together for a decade now, so they have a solid idea of how to please a crowd. I said goodnight to the people around me as I took my leave for my own midnight drive on the interstate.

xo,

bree

Happy 2013, All! I’ve been working on this project for just shy of a full year, and it’s been quite a ride. I diligently tried to see fewer concerts this year so that I’d appreciate the ones I did see more. I ended up seeing 45 shows. When I think back over the year, the best shows readily jumped out at me. Sometimes the best show has to do with more than just the quality of the musical performance, though. I really respond to storytelling and audience interaction. The people I’m surrounded by at a show make a huge difference, too—whether they are enthusiastic and attentive or drunk and annoying can make or break a show regardless of the talent of the people on stage. So, here are my top five concert experiences of 2012. Below that list there’s a list of some great artists I saw in 2012 also deserving of your attention.

Let’s end with the top show of the year.

#5. Newport Folk Festival. I had the chance to see some amazing performances from the first and second row back in July. Highlights were City and Colour (!), Blind Pilot, First Aid Kit, Of Monsters and Men, Gary Clark Jr., and Tallest Man on Earth. I think it might be cheating to call a two-day music festival my #5 favorite “show” of the year, but I’m my own boss!

One of my favorite jams of 2012 is Blind Pilot’s “We Are The Tide.” It’s super upbeat. I heard it on the radio this morning on my way to work and was totally seen car dancing.

#4. Sarah Jarosz with Lera Lynn. Erin and I drove to the fabulous Tupelo Music Hall in New Hampshire back in March to see bluegrass virtuoso Sarah Jarosz from the second row. She is an impressive talent and obviously a humble person, too. I fell in love with Lera Lynn, Sarah’s show opener, too. Both women are on the rise and will be household names at some point. The post I wrote about their show was my most searched and most read of 2012.

#3. Darlingside and Tricky Britches. Darlingside invited me to their show (I’m always happy to get those invitations) at my beloved One Longfellow Square (I’m a member!) back in September and I was blown away! I’d never seen either band before, although I’d heard great things about both. I was so impressed by the energy of Tricky Britches and the insane musicianship of Darlingside.

#2. Glen Hansard. I saw Glen and The Frames open for Damien Rice back in 2004 and fell in love. It’s still the best show I have ever seen. This show in September at Berklee School of Music in Boston (a great place to see a show) was overwhelming good. I decided to go at the last minute (thanks to my concert buddy, Bob), and was able to snag third row seats just the night before. Being that close to someone whose music I love was incredible. He plays with such passion and power. When he asked a woman from the front row to sing “Falling Slowly” with him, I lost it. I totally cried.

Drumroll, please!

The number one show I saw in 2012 was:

Brandi Carlile.

Oh my goodness. I love Brandi Carlile and the twins. I’ve seen her seven times, but this was Brandi at her very best. I was front row center. The proximity to the stage did it for me. She and Phil and Tim were in my personal space for parts of the show—I was completely overwhelmed. They sounded incredible and the energy in the room was electric. I ended up positioned in the middle of a delightful and considerate bunch of show goers, too. This was one of those shows where the stars just aligned beautifully.

I want to mention some other bands that were totally worth seeing in 2012, though. In no particular order:

• I want to give an honorable mention for “super entertaining show” to Eric Hutchinson. He really put on a great show—part music and part stand up comedy. I really enjoyed myself.
• One of my favorite bands is Milo Greene. I saw them again in late October from the front row with Brooklyn’s super talented Lucius. Please, please check out both bands. [Maddie! We met at this show!]
• I was really impressed with Lost In The Trees and Poor Moon. Sophie and I went at the last minute back in April and had a great night at SPACE in Portland.
• Company of Thieves puts on a great live show full of passion and humility. I also had the great fortune of meeting Zac Clark of Zac Clark and The Young Volcanoes at this show at Café 939 at Berklee in Boston back in February.
• I am a huge fan of my dear friend and talented singer songwriter Max Garcia Conover. I saw him back in April at Frontier in Brunswick (a venue I really like) with Morris and the East Coast, who I really, really liked a lot.
• Audra Mae rocks. I saw her open for Matt Nathanson in January. She is a total rock star and a great gal, too!
• I’m a big fan of Maine’s own anna & the diggs. Lead singer Anna is a friend of this blog and I appreciate their talent and support.
• Finally, Shovels & Rope are making an incredibly well deserved name for themselves. The power duo opened for Jack White and The Lumineers this year (among many, many others). They put on an incredibly fun show! I saw them back in March and would see them again in a heartbeat.

Thank you all so much for joining me on the first year of this journey. I had no idea what this would turn into, but it’s become a big part of my life. I’ve met a ton of awesome people along the way, and there’s been so much good music. Looking forward to some great shows and finding some new great bands in 2013! Let’s see a show together!

xo,

bree

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

State Theatre, Portland, Maine

I thought my dear friend Shaun would be writing this post. I was so sure, in fact, that I didn’t take notes at the show—it was a bit liberating, actually. But I guess that visiting assistant professors at prestigious New England liberal arts colleges are very, very busy because I haven’t seen the email I expected summarizing our night out on the town show up in my inbox. Ahem. I’d like to say a special thank you to the fabulous Nicholas Beaudoin who shared some of his pictures from nearer to the stage with me to share with you.

I was thrilled to buy a ticket for this show because I passionately believe in marriage equality and fun. donated all of the show’s proceeds to Mainers United for Marriage. From the Mainers United for Marriage website, “’More than anything else, we want to use our voice to make a difference. Maine has a big opportunity in this election, and we want people to be aware of the power they have. It’s an incredibly important, historic election, and we want to make sure people, especially people our age, know what’s at stake,’ said fun. lead singer Andrew Dost.” Ian Grady, Deputy Communications Director for Mainers United for Marriage followed up in an email to supporters, “fun. asked how they could help us win marriage in Maine and this Halloween concert to benefit Mainers United for Marriage was born. It’s incredible and we’re beyond grateful for the band’s support.” The show sold out quickly, and I was excited that Shaun and I got our tickets in time. I should also mention that I’m elated that Mainers voted to support marriage equality less than a week after this show and marriages for same sex couples will begin in Maine on December 29^th!!!!!!

fun.’s Nate Ruess, Jack Antonoff, and Andrew Dost are equally passionate about equal rights and recently started The Ally Coalition as a way to raise awareness, support, and community around these issues. Jack wrote to those of us on fun.’s mailing list, “AC is a place where we as allies can make our statements and make them clear, together. we can use social media to make sure our friends and family hear our words, see our videos and read our posts. this is vital because this is how the conversation gets started. this is how change happens. this how people who are afraid of this issue can be guided in the right direction towards a future in which no innocent people are treated as second class citizens.” Check out their interview about this tour and the creation of The Ally Coalition.

Shaun and I had a leisurely dinner at nearby Local Sprouts and then got in line for the show just as doors opened at the State Theatre. We got the sense that we were by far the oldest people there. As we walked past the front of the line, two seniors from Mt. Ararat shouted out my name—Nicholas and Zack had been in line for hours already because they wanted to be near the front. I applauded their zeal, but Shaun and I correctly strategized that if we found a spot in the bar, we’d have a lot of room and a great view of the stage.

I don’t remember much about Brooklyn’s Miniature Tigers’ opening set. Their sound wasn’t really my thing. During the change up in between sets, Shaun and I played a game we invented for this Halloween show called “Are They In Costume?” We weren’t always sure. We saw a lot of scantily clad young women in kitten gear and also some simply scantily clad young women. The line between Halloween costume and Wednesday night concert attire was definitely blurred. I LOVED the guy dressed in a Post-it Note suit like the cover of Office Space and got a kick out of the woman dressed up in a Kennebunk Zumba leotard.

fun.’s crew dropped off a red couch and a sign that said “Central Perk” just as fun. took the stage. All six of them were dressed as a different character from Friends, and they opened with the show’s theme song, “I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrants. They started and ended their show with the song, in fact. Someone took a video. I’ll be completely honest—by this night I had heard “We Are Young” and “Some Nights” on the radio too many times. When I heard either, I switched stations immediately. I didn’t seem to be able to get away from either song. This show changed that, though. I was so incredibly impressed with fun.’s talent and Nate’s insanely gifted vocals that I loved hearing both songs live and have started listening to them again on the radio from time to time.

Someone kindly posted an approximate set list for the night on setlist.fm:

One Foot

Why Am I The One

All Alone

At Least I’m Not as Sad (As I Used to Be)

All The Pretty Girls

Walking The Dog

It Gets Better

The Gambler

Barlights

Carry On

We Are Young

You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Rolling Stones cover)

Encore:

Some Nights

Stars

“Why Am I The One” was a favorite of mine. I loved hearing “The Gambler.” It’s the first fun. song I ever heard and my friends Megan and Adam danced to it as their first song at their wedding last summer. I also really love “Carry On.” I was completely impressed with fun.’s stage presence and energy. They worked the stage tirelessly and Nate’s voice impressed from start to finish. Shaun and I started making a list of songs we’d like to hear him cover—classics like Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Journey. He has such power in his voice. A few people who knew I went to the show asked me afterwards if fun. was any good live. Since they use some audio effects and auto tuning on their album, I guess some people think it means that fun. can’t sing. That’s absolutely not the case. Everyone at the show can back me up on that.

I laughed during their cover of “Smelly Cat” from Friends and thought it was adorable how the band stuck to the theme all night. They covered us in confetti and sweat and high notes and messages about how honored they were to be in Maine supporting marriage equality. fun. bridged the gap between stage and audience and made us feel part of something special. They got the crowded incredibly worked up towards the end of their set, wrapping it with “We Are Young,” “Carry On,” and the Rolling Stone’s “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” We heartily asked for an encore and they continued to impress with “Some Nights” and “Stars.”

With one final round of “I’ll Be There for You,” fun. took their leave and Shaun and I (and the tired preteens sitting near us just below the bar snuggled with their moms well after bedtime) left the State pretty early on a school night, energized by the music and impressed by the performance. fun. does not disappoint! I have a feeling they’ll come back to Maine, too. We have a lot to celebrate! I so appreciate what fun. did to contribute to helping Mainers earn marriage equality. I always respect people who use their talents to help others. Thanks, fun.! See you soon!?!

xo,

bree

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Brighton Music Hall, Allston, Massachusetts

*I took a deliberate concert break for the entire month of November. I always want to make sure that I see shows because I want to and not because I feel that I have to. I am back in the swing of seeing live music, and recently started piecing together my concert calendar through May 2013. I deliberately won’t be seeing 52 shows this year (although it will be close), and I’m glad for that.*

I watched The Civil Wars on Austin City Limits recently, about two nights before their ominous and vague message to fans that they were going separate ways for at least a while. I was heartbroken—they are pure magic. When I found out they were coming to Berklee last fall, I was lucky to get a third road seat for their show. I got there after a stressful drive from Maine on a Friday afternoon and settled into my seat just in time to see their opening act, L.A.’s Milo Greene. I was floored—an instant fan. I was so impressed with their musicianship—four guitarists/pianists/vocalists and a drummer. There was no lead singer. They gracefully danced across the stage, switching instruments and belting out perfect harmonies. They were selling a three song EP after the show, which I scooped up for $5 and listened to the whole way home. I think I left it in my CD player for a solid month and listened to it every single day. It has “1957,” “Silent Way,” and “Don’t You Give Up On Me” on it. It’s so so good—mesmerizing, haunting, and hopeful all at once.

Milo Greene announced a show in Boston in July (supporting their first full length album, Milo Greene) the same night I already had tickets for the Newport Folk Festival. I was bummed. When I found out they were coming back to Boston in October, I was psyched. I bought my ticket in their presale and when it came, there was a very serious announcement with the ticket from Artist Arena that I needed to be there before 7:30 and form a separate line because we’d get early entry. Cool. You know I like being up front. I had dinner and drinks in JP with my fabulous friend Tricia and made it over to Allston around 7:15. It was a ghost town outside Brighton Music Hall. I was the line.

I saw band members walk to and from their tour van, I heard a great sound check, and I got to talk to their sweet tour manager from Mexico who apologized when he heard I’d gotten some wacky information about early entrance to the show. Since there was literally no one else around, I really wasn’t worried about the confusion. I saw a girl in plaid check inside and then walk by a few times, glancing at the door. On her third pass, I asked her, “Hey, want to join me in line?” Maddie was awesome. She is a first year at Emerson College and a serious Milo Greene mega fan. She grew up in northern California and went to the summer arts camp where Milo Greene member Andrew Heringer worked. When he walked by us, she said hi to him and he spent the next 20 minutes chatting with us while a college group set up for an interview with the band under the marquee. Andrew was down to earth and a completely normal guy. I’m glad we had time to talk. I’m always nervous about meeting musicians because if they’re not nice, it ruins the music for me. He solidified my love for Milo Greene. He sang along to Lucius, whose sound check we could hear from outside, and is an obviously big fan of their music. It got me pumped to see them, too.

My concert friend Bob was shocked I’d never seen a show at Brighton Music Hall (it’s strange, I know), so when I asked him where to park and where I should snag a spot inside for the best view, he sent me a thorough reply and a personalized map of the venue with suggestions for where I would want to stand for the show. He rocks. Maddie and I went in together and had no competition for spots up front for quite a while. We found a spot we liked just to the right of center stage and set up camp and put our stuff to rest on the stage—just how I like it! We chatted for a while about how excited we both were for the show, right up until Lucius took the stage.

Brooklyn’s Lucius rocks. They came out in costume—the ladies in sort of futuristic white dresses and shoes, and the guys in matching white dress shirts, red suspenders, and white dress shoes. They established their unity before singing a note. They are incredibly percussive and have strong harmonies. They were a good fit for Milo Greene musically. I’d say Lucius is a bit edgier and Milo Greene a bit more folky. All of the member of Lucius played percussion and sang and/or played another instrument basically the whole set. There was a lot going on onstage and I really liked their sound. They talked about how their van and all of their equipment had been stolen earlier in the year when they’d last played Boston, but how their fans contributed via Pledge Music to help them replace everything. I’m glad they decided to come back to Boston—my goodness!

They invited Boston’s You Won’t up for “Turn It Around.” They played tambourine and additional drums (SO much percussion!) and sang some, too. They are currently on tour together supporting Pearl And The Beard (who I missed last night because I saw Trampled By Turtles and Spirit Family Reunion). Three of the members of Lucius unplugged for their final song—a cover of “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” by Buddy Holly. They played in the center of a delighted crowd fully willing to listen attentively late at night on a drunken pre-Halloween weekend. I was impressed that Lucius tried it out and how well it worked. I’d see them again in a heartbeat. I talked to them briefly after the show and bought their four-song EP that I have listened to hundreds of times at this point. It’s fantastic.

I love Milo Greene’s new self-titled album, but I think their strength is in their live show. It is amazing to see how they constantly and seamlessly hand instruments back and forth—all such talented musicians—and how even though they all sing and there’s clearly no lead singer, their sound has power and is full and strong. Drummer Curtis Marrero is the only one tied to one instrument—Robbie Arnett, Graham Fink, Andrew Heringer, and Marlana Sheetz—are all over the stage and play everything. It’s impressive and makes for a dynamic show.

Here’s their set list from the night:

Moddison (Intro)

Staging Point

Wooden Antlers

Don’t You Give Up On Me

Silent Way

What’s The Matter

Son My Son

Chicago (Sufjan Stevens cover)

Autumn Tree

Polaroid

Perfectly Aligned

Take A Step

Cutty Love


A Shot in the Arm (Wilco cover)

1957

My favorite song on Milo Greene is “Son My Son.” I love the line “just remember the weight of your world’s only resting on me.” MG played it right before a phenomenal cover of Sufjan Stevens’ “Chicago” that Lucius joined them for. They brought it down right after that with lovely “Autumn Tree.” Their set was short and they played their entire album. I hope that even though they’ve been busy on the road, they’re working on their next songs. I was sad they wrapped so soon—it was so good that it felt like mere moments—but we asked for an encore and they happily obliged.

MG was very complimentary of Boston and seemed genuinely appreciative of the crowd. They promised to come back more often. They gave a lot of shout outs to people in hilarious Halloween costumes, including a guy in a moose ensemble who I snapped a close up  picture of. They played a two-song encore—Wilco’s “A Shot in the Arm” and ended with “1957,” which is the awesome and dynamic single they’re currently playing on the late night talk show circuit.

I’d LOVE to see Milo Greene come to Portland, Maine. I’d like for more of my friends to know about them. 98.9 WCLZ in Portland has been playing “1957” for a bit now, and I am confident that this band is going to be huge. Check them out, and check out Moddison, the film that they made to accompany their album. These are some creative, talented people deserving of your attention.

MG, I heart you.

xo,

bree

Thursday, October 25, 2012

One Longfellow Square, Portland, Maine

Robin Hilton from All Songs Considered on NPR Music asked a few days ago on their Facebook page, “Question Of The Day: Top Five Bands That Should Be Way Bigger Than They Are?” I added Lake Street Dive to their growing list of artists who should definitely already be famous. Tom Rota from One Longfellow Square and I have been in touch from time to time for years about acts I’d like to see come to Portland, and he mentioned about a year ago that I wouldn’t want to miss Lake Street Dive. I am so glad that I listened to him and made my way to OLS to see them last December. I was blown away by their talent—Rachael’s vocals are nearly unmatched in the music biz today, the harmonies were tight, the songs were playful and catchy with jazz influence, and they interacted comfortably with each other and the audience. It was a phenomenal show. I was really excited when I saw they were coming back to One Longfellow Square—even if it meant that my concert calendar got packed with four shows in four consecutive days.

I had a leisurely and much needed girls’ dinner at The Merry Table with my friends Courtney and Sophie before the show. I was so happy to have time to catch up with them that I didn’t even rush out to catch the opening act. Courtney dropped me off outside OLS instead and I struggled to find a spot in the packed house, but managed to find a seat in the third row. It was a sold out show for LSD (I realize LSD is also a drug, but in this post I’m referring to the band)! I’m glad that the word is out! I only caught the last two songs that Laura Cortese played. She was solo on fiddle (can stomping in your cool boots count as percussion, though?) and had a folky vibe.

Laura Cortese

Lake Street Dive took the stage after a short break. They are crazy talented. Rachael Price, Mike Calabrese, Bridget Kearney, and Mike Olson met years ago as classmates at Boston’s New England Conservatory and have been together for a few years. I’ve listened to Lake Street Dive many times during my morning commute to get my energy up for my kiddos. It’s so good and does the trick. They opened with “You Go Down Smooth” and then played a song about drummer Mike Calabrese’s feelings, “Miss Disregard.” The opening of the song is cheeky—“I’m done with you/I’m totally done with you/I’m completely and utterly done with you.” Sometimes we wish, right?

Lake Street Dive’s Rachael Price

I love that lead singer Rachael introduced most of the songs by telling us which band member wrote them. I liked learning that everyone in the group is a writer. Bassist Bridget’s new song, “Lonely Woman,” about a woman trying to keep busy after a break up by taking night classes and making sculptures was moving. You might recognize Bridget’s name from Joy Kills Sorrow, but she’s made the move to work full time with Lake Street Dive. Rachael told us that they’re recording their new album in Parsonsfield, Maine in a barnwith no cell reception or WiFi, so the sound will be inherently Maine-inspired. You can get LSD’s most recent EP Fun Machine from Signature Sounds. The description of Lake Street Dive posted there is just spot on and so perfect that I had to share:

“Classic soul, R&B, jazz, and British invasion form the backdrop for the quirky and irreverent brand of pop that Lake Street Dive is known for. Combine this with the unstoppable joy of their live shows and near viral collection of YouTube videos, and you get the sum of the Lake Street Dive equation: pure pop music fun. Knock-your-socks-off vocals and virtuosic instrumentation top it all off. This Brooklyn based quartet is garnering a growing fan base in and beyond their native East Coast. Incorporating the unlikely elements of upright bass and jazz-inflected trumpet along with the more traditional rock staples of drums and electric guitar, Lake Street Dive are equally at home in a jazz club, a dive bar or a festival stage.”

Love Rachael’s face in this one! Try getting a picture of Bridget who is constantly in motion! There’s Mike Olson, too.

As a single girl, I LOVED and completely appreciated their song with the lyric “If you’re married, wear a wedding band!” There was a lot of laughing in the crowd during that one. They played another of drummer Mike’s songs (“What About Me?”) that Rachael told us he’s written “from a woman’s perspective.” Apparently he does that from time to time. I think he’s pretty observant, actually!

Drummer Mike Calabrese and Rachael

Kevin Bacon has recently helped spread the word about the fabulousness of Lake Street Dive. He tweeted a link to their video for “I Want You Back” with the comment “This is amazing! Gives me chills!” You can’t pay for better advertising! The video has gotten over 350,000 hits in the last two weeks alone. Rachael said that Ryan Seacrest tweeted about them after that as well. They played it for us and then we had a little intermission. I turned around and met a bunch of great people who’d driven from Fryeburg for the show. They were great to talk to and were really interested in music and the concerts I’ve seen.

One degree from Kevin Bacon?! Impressive!

After the break, LSD opened their second set with a song by their guitarist/trumpeter Mike Olson about “an unfortunate woman” that featured Bridget with a KILLER bass solo. Woah. I loved their cover of “Faith,” and “Neighbor Song” was up next. It’s one of my favorite LSD songs, and I love the lyrics “In this city all the humans live in layers/I got people down the hall and down the stairs/We all move in and out and live our lives in stacks and rows and pairs/And try to find someone with whom we can share it.” You know those black and white movies of women in uniform singing songs like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” in clubs during WWII? I can picture this band there so easily. They have a timelessness about them that makes it easy for a diverse audience to relate to them.

I like “Don’t Make Me Hold Your Hand” a lot, and enjoyed another song drummer Mike wrote from a female perspective about having a crush on a guy in a band. He can really sing, by the way. Everyone in LSD can, for that matter, and their harmonies are spot on. There was less storytelling at this show than at the last one, but they barely took a pause between songs and really packed in the music. Rachael acknowledged the lack of banter and said she was at her “quota of awkward.” I liked Mike O’s new song “Use Me Up”—and the new songs they played made me look forward to hearing the album they’re recording right now.

I love this shot! I had to get up and walk to the back of the room to fit all of LSD into one frame.

They wrapped up their set with one of my favorites, “Hello? Goodbye!” I think it’s easy to relate—“I should tell my mind to stop remembering/I should make my fingers stop their trembling/And when I pass your doorway I should just walk right by/When you say hello, I’ll say goodbye.” LSD was kind to us and seemed sincerely grateful we’d come out. We stomped and cheered for an encore and they obliged with “Got Me Fooled.” Drummer Mike joked that we should sing along because it’s a song about Rachael’s feelings and singing it makes her feel vulnerable. I don’t think many people did sing along—Lake Street Dive is so good that I didn’t want to interfere with their impeccable sound. Another great LSD show! If they’re in your neck of the woods, do yourself a favor and get out to see them!

xo,

bree

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

State Theatre, Portland, Maine

This was my seventh Brandi Carlile show. I love her. I was front and center. She sang inches away from me. She and the guys in the band were all smiles and every one of them made definite eye contact with me throughout the night—Tim even raised his eyebrows and smiled at me. I’m ready to call it—this was my favorite Brandi show and in my top ten of all shows I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen over 300 concerts, so. . .

I want to give a birthday shout out to my dear friend Kim, who I first saw Brandi with on December 3, 2005, opening for Ray LaMontagne at Berklee College of Music. She stole that show and Kim and I were instant fans. I got home a couple of days later and emailed 98.9 WCLZ to tell them about her and within a couple of weeks “What Can I Say?” was in their “New Music File.”

I saw Brandi from the front row at Berklee last November with my effervescent friend Tricia, and it was like having a sing along in Brandi’s living room. She was solo, and she played an incredible cover on piano of Damien Rice’s “Cannonball” that I remember like it was yesterday. The time before that, I saw Brandi at the Life is Good Festival, the only set of the day I made it to after someone broke into my car and made a huge mess that my friend Dave sweetly supported me in dealing with, including making a makeshift shower curtain window for the car ride back to Maine. Life wasn’t super good that day, I guess.

Friends asked if I wanted to join them for dinner before the show and I said no. I knew I’d need to get to the State early to earn my spot front and center. I was honestly a bit drained from having gone to see Bully on a field trip with my whole school earlier in the day. My face hurt from crying (I recommend that you see it, though), and I was hoping to rebound for the show. I couldn’t find a parking spot for a while, and by the time I got my ticket at will call, the line for the show wrapped around the block. I was so bummed. A lovely woman, Annie, from Martha’s Vineyard, who was bringing two sweet little boys, Forest and Jack, to the show, distracted me. I suggested they try for a balcony seat so that the boys would have a good view of the stage. I hope they found a good spot and enjoyed the show.

My fears were gone when I got inside, though. It seemed pretty empty on the floor. Were people there early to ensure good balcony seats? I can’t imagine, but there was plenty of room on the floor. I found a spot in the center behind two women. I met a group of fantastic young women, one of whom lives in Gardiner—small world—and we chatted for a long time. One of them was a huge Blitzen Trapper fan, so I encouraged her to write them a love note and lent her my pen. (They got the note later, by the way).

There was a shift in the crowd and I found myself standing next to the woman who’d been in front of me—so just behind one very short woman. What luck! An unobstructed view of the stage! I couldn’t believe it! Heather’s mom had gone to sit down, so there was room for me. It was her birthday present from her mom and she was a super concert buddy. This night was magical, and it had something to do with my surroundings. It’s been a long time since I was surrounded by such consistently lovely people at a show. The woman in front of me in the front row had arrived at 4:30. I’d gotten there significantly later, so was tickled about my luck. I believe in concert karma, and have since paid this forward. One of the crew members came up to us to let us know that Brandi and the guys would use the little platform we were standing at later in the show. We were pumped.

I liked Portland, Oregon’s folky rock band Blitzen Trapper. I am only vaguely familiar with their music thanks to my music aficionado friend, Greg, and I was happy to see them live. I had a hard time hearing them clearly during their set, though. Their lead singer looks a lot like my friend Alex, and I loved his harmonies with the pianist. I was glad to hear “Furr” and “Lady On The Water” live. I would have liked to hear “Heaven and Earth.” Check out “My Home Town” courtesy of Sleepover Shows.

Brandi’s set up went quickly and someone from the crew came out on stage and put the needle to a record on a player set up in the center of the stage. It set the scene for a crazy good, building, powerful introduction. We were pumped when Brandi, The Twins, and the rest of the band took the stage. There was an electric energy in the room that night.

Here’s the set list for the night:

“Raise Hell”

“Dreams”

“Closer to You”

“Before It Breaks”

“100”

“What Can I Say”

“Caroline” was in there somewhere

“Keep Your Heart Young”

“Hiding My Heart”

“Looking Out”

“Again Today”

“Jolene”

“Dying Day”

“The Story”

“Nothing Compares 2 U”

“Pride And Joy”

“That Wasn’t Me”

“Hallelujah”

Brandi always encourages the audience to sing a long. I was lucky to be standing with lovely people and some of them (Heather included) could REALLY sing. I was overwhelmingly happy. So many pieces aligned to make this show magical, beautiful, intimate, and unforgettable.

Brandi and The Twins got on the platform directly in front of me and belted out my favorite of their songs—“What Can I Say”—completely unplugged. Someone got it on video! I was overwhelmed. I had to lean way back while taking some pictures of this too good to be true moment to try to fit them all in the frame. It didn’t work, but I love the photos anyhow. We sang along on the chorus and you could hear a pin drop during the verses. What command of the room! Oh my goodness. Phil even gave me a high five as he left the platform! The smile on my face was so big for so much of the show (but especially at that moment) that the women around me joked with me about my abundant displays of joy.

I love the message of “Keep Your Heart Young”—“Don’t trade in your tic tac box/For a ball on the end of the chain/And don’t go spending Grandpa’s pennies/Buying into the game/You gotta keep your heart young/Don’t go growing old before your time has come.” It manages to be both an important and still light hearted song. I loved hearing the secret song on The Story, “Hiding My Heart.” Brandi told us that Adele covered it (apparently I live under a rock, because I missed that) and that it inspired them to start playing it because she’d done it so beautifully.

Brandi founded the Looking Out Foundation in 2008 to support humanitarian work through music. She chooses a local non-profit in each town they play, invites that group to set up a table at the show, and encourages the audience to support the organization. I was really excited to hear Brandi offer her support and ask us to reach out to Good Shepherd Food Bank, which has provided food to Mainers since 1981. They do crucial work and have done so for over thirty years.

Brandi told us the story of a day early in their career spent in Tuscon, Arizona in their tour van with broken air conditioning—waiting out the day before their gig in a car wash to stay cool. There was a notorious sidewalk preacher yelling into his bullhorn about the end of the world, scaring the college kids on their way to the show. It inspired the song, “Looking Out.” I love knowing where songs come from, and I listened to the song more carefully with that story in mind. Here are some of the lyrics: “I went out looking for the answers/And never left my town/I’m no good at understanding/But I’m good at standing ground/And when I asked a corner preacher/I couldn’t hear him for my youth/Some people get religion/Some people get the truth.” And luckily the song has a happier ending than the end of the world—“And when you feel like giving in/Or the coming of the end/Like your heart could break in two/Someone loves you.”

I loved their rockin’ cover of “Jolene” and “The Story” was the perfect powerhouse song to end their set with. We’d been a rock solid audience, and Brandi and the guys came back for a three-song encore. I was FLOORED/blown away/moved by their cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U.” “Pride And Joy” was great. Brandi moved over to the piano to close the night with “That Wasn’t Me,” a song about addition and redemption. It was a soulful, lovely way to end the night. I really do think we impressed Brandi and the guys with our enthusiasm, but I was still surprised when Brandi came out solo to play a hauntingly beautiful version of “Hallelujah” for us. She gave a shout out to 98.9 WCLZ and dedicated the song to Ethan. I imagine WCLZ’s programming director Ethan Minton was over the moon!

Brandi was extraordinarily complimentary of us as an audience and of Portland in general. She echoed a shout out from an audience member encouraging us to support YES on 1, and humbly and appreciatively thanked us for a wonderful evening as she left the stage. Congratulations are in order to Brandi on her recent marriage to her wife Catherine Shepherd in Boston! I encourage everyone in Maine to get out to vote YES on 1 in a week. It is crucial that we support equality whenever the opportunity arises. Here is Brandi’s interview with the Portland Press Herald that addresses marriage equality at length.

What an amazing night. I would have loved to hear “That Year” and to sing in parts with The Twins and Brandi on “Turpentine,” but I ultimately wouldn’t have changed a thing. It took a few days to really start articulating how magical this evening of music was, but a few days later, I found the words. All 1,783 of them. Thank you so much to Blitzen Trapper, Brandi, Tim, Phil, and the hardworking and talented guys in Brandi’s band! Come back to Maine anytime!

xo,

bree

Monday, October 15, 2012

Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine

I found out that Frank Warren, creator of the fascinating blog PostSecret.com, was coming to speak at University of Maine Augusta because I randomly saw a flyer hanging on the community bulletin board at the Hannaford in Gardiner. What a lucky find! I am so excited I got to attend Frank’s only appearance in New England! Here’s an article about the event in the Kennebec Journal.

My friend Clare and I made our way to UMA early so we could get good seats. I was surprised and disappointed that there were VIP seats for friends of UMA and then the rest of us had to sit far away from the stage. I was lucky that I had my glasses with me to sharpen things, but they don’t really do the trick because I have an eye injury. Boo.

There were postcards on each of our seats when we arrived addressed to Frank’s house in Germantown, Maryland. The gist of Frank’s project is that he started handing out these postcards in 2004 in Washington DC inviting people to “anonymously contribute a secret to a group art project. Your secret can be a regret, fear, betrayal, desire, confession or childhood humiliation. Reveal anything—as long as it is true and you have never shared it with anyone before.” Now Frank has over 500,000 postcards at his house and more than a million people read his blog every week. And Frank has created a space where people can share and also reach out to help or for help—especially via the National Hopeline Network.

Clare and I chatted with our neighbors in the front row of the bleachers. People had driven from all over (a row of folks Frank recognized from Panera earlier in the day even drove five hours) for his talk. The lights dimmed and local restaurant owner and suicide prevention advocate Laura Benedict introduced Frank. I still have a lot of feelings I’m working through about the following hour and a half. I didn’t realize that, actually, until a few nights ago when Clare and I had dinner at Gardiner’s famous A1 Diner and we ended up having a long talk about that night. There’s a lot I could say, but I also don’t want to share other people’s secrets. Instead, if you watch Frank Warren’s TED talk, you’d have a basic understanding of the presentation we saw. Here’s another cool video of people sharing their secrets, too.

Frank told us the history of PostSecret.com, showed us the secrets that his publisher banned from his books (there are five Post Secret books now), told us some of his favorite stories from his eight years of the project, and revealed his secret to us. I think Frank gave us three major take home messages that night. One, the secrets we keep are really keeping us. If we don’t let them out they can consume us. Two, our secrets can either be walls or bridges. If we keep them to ourselves they are obviously walls. If we share them, our secrets can build bridges with others. Third, Frank said that he would go through all the failures in his life again because they led him to where he is now. I “get” the first two messages of the night, but as a perfectionist, the third is hard for me. I would definitely go back and change some things if I could.

Part of Frank’s presentation included a funny story about The All-American Rejects, who used a sampling of postcards sent to Frank in their 2005 music video, “Dirty Little Secret.” The most touching part of his presentation for me was the story of someone who sent a postcard that he posted on his blog (he posts new secrets for every Sunday) saying that they never delete voicemails because it might be the last time they hear a loved one’s voice. It created a lot of discussion on the blog, and Frank played a sampling of people’s saved voicemails that they emailed to him. Something about hearing a recording of a now deceased grandparent singing their grandchild “Happy Birthday” really affected me. I am glad I packed some tissues. I needed them

The last thing that happened floored me. Frank invited people to take the microphone and share a secret with all of us. I was shocked and so impressed and moved by the many brave, brave people who shared secrets of such magnitude with a room full of nearly 500 strangers. I won’t repeat any of those secrets here except to say they ranged from secrets about playing The Oregon Trail to suicide attempts to rape to leaving home and forging a completely new identity to get away. I was floored.

Frank closed the powerful night and encouraged us to share our secrets so that we can be freed of the weight of them. I bought his most recent book, Post Secret: Confessions on Life, Death, and God, and waited a while in line to have him sign it. When I had a brief moment to say something to him, I told him that I’d mentioned going to his talk with my advisory group at the high school where I teach and they were interested in his project and that I hoped we’d keep looking at it together in the future. I’m hoping to make checking out PostSecret.com’s weekly updates a tradition with my kiddos since we’ll be together every morning for four years. I think it will build bridges instead of walls. It’s funny now as I’m editing this a day after writing that because some of the kids in my advisory group and I just read PostSecret.com together this morning.

Here are a couple postcards from the new book that I really like. I picked a lighter one and a heavier one so you can see how varied the postcards in the book are.

What a night. If Frank Warren is coming to speak anywhere near you, get there.

xo,

bree

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Water Street, Gardiner, Maine

Gardiner’s third annual Swine and Stein Oktoberfest was a big success. It rained last year, which was unfortunate, but people were back and ready for a good time this year. If you’ve never been to Swine and Stein, it’s a great time with something for everyone—a local beer tent, plenty of food vendors that specialize in local pork, live music, and games for kids. There are usually some animals to pet, and this year I was tickled that there were adorable goats and pigs. I think they like me more because they know I don’t eat them, but I digress. Here’s Bo the boxer checking them out.

I got to S&S early in the day so that I could hear Portland’s favorite bluegrassy duo, North of Nashville. I’d been asked by Gardiner Main Street, who worked so hard to organize and run this event, to help with the press release for the event. This is what I wrote about North of Nashville:

North of Nashville is certainly Portland’s hardest-working and most energetic country/bluegrass duo. Jay Basiner and Andrew Martelle, both members of popular Portland band This Way are taking it to the streets and bars with their high-octane music. They are famous for their epic sets rich with guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and harmonica. Be prepared to get up and dance during their set.

They didn’t disappoint! I sat on a hay bale with my Gritty’s Halloween Ale and enjoyed their upbeat set. Jay and Andrew are both so talented, and play out so often that they know how to keep a crowd engaged and entertained. Swine and Stein was their first of three gigs that day, actually.

Jay told us that his grandfather worked on the railroad, and growing up around him informed his songwriting. He played “City of New Orleans,” which everyone knew and was happy to hear. They did a bluegrass version of “The Letter,” a song about a letter Abe Lincoln wrote to the country after the Civil War. Their version was called “Common Country.” I’m always impressed that Jay can sing, play guitar, and play foot percussion at the same time. I remember being impressed by that early in the year when I saw This Way play, too.

They played a Springsteen song and the title track from This Way’s newest album, The Story of Simon Pure (which is in rotation on 98.9 WCLZ). Jay and Andrew were kind to us and I appreciated knowing a bit about the songs they played, too. They were chilly under a tent in the shade on a cold day, but they still played their hearts out with winter hats and/or fingerless gloves on. They wrapped their set with my favorite This Way song about playing music for a living, “Take It All (Or Leave it All Behind).” Definitely check out North of Nashville and their full band, This Way. They are talented, high energy, and fun.

I was chilly, too, and also needed to catch up with some friends, so I took some time off from being fully present at the music tent. I got to hear Poke Chop and The Other White Meat from a distance. They had a bluesy sound and people really seemed to like them. The Oktoberfest German Band played two sets and I loved seeing old men in lederhosen playing clarinets and brass instruments. They sounded great and were adorable and set an appropriate tone for the day.

The sun went down and it got cold. I was sad that anna & the diggs played last because a lot of people were Oktoberfested out by then and missed their set. I did a quick rally of local friends to get as many people to the stage as possible. I’d seen them at Slates in Hallowell back in April and was abundantly impressed. I wrote a glowing review of the show and Anna and I have been in touch a bit since then. It was really nice when I saw her that she remembered me and took the time to introduce to me to all of the guys in the band. That kind of warmth is nice to see from talented musicians!

Anna and the boys sounded great. Everyone who stayed for their set had a blast and was impressed. I’d told one of my colleagues who lives in town that I’d recommended anna & the diggs for the lineup and his friend sought me out to tell me that I have the best taste in music ever. I do have good taste in music if I say so myself, but what he was really saying is that he loved anna & the diggs. There’s nothing not to love.

Here’s what I wrote about anna & the diggs for the Swine and Stein press release:

anna & the diggs is comprised of former members of Portland’s popular Americana group Gypsy Tailwind who have delved into soul, rock, and R&B. Lead singer Anna Lombard won “Best Female Vocalist” in this year’s Portland Phoenix music poll and it was more than well deserved. This headlining set is sure to please. anna & the diggs are insanely talented and are not to be missed!

anna & the diggs sounded great as always. I liked “River Girl,” the title track of the EP they released this summer. I really love “We Were Younger Then” about being in love with someone for a long time. Check out anna & the diggs on Private Stage to get a good taste of their sound. They wrapped their set with “Mercedes Benz.” We were an appreciative, if small audience. One thing we learned is that we need to put the headlining bands a bit earlier in the lineup so no one misses them!

Anna and the guys (Max, Colin, Chris, and Ben) graciously stayed around to say hello to their new fans while they packed up so they could head to their next gig of the night—Asylum’s League of Extraordinary Women. You’ve really got to work to make it in the music biz, I guess! Thanks for fitting us into your day, anna & the diggs!

xo,

bree