Category Archives: Concert Reviews

Artist Profiles, Concert Reviews, Music, Music Countdowns, Pop Music, Radio, Retro Rock, Woodstock

John Fogerty at 80: Still Rockin’ All Over the World

John Fogerty performing at the Salem Civic Center on 11/1/25. Photo courtesy of Sammy Oakey.

In 1975, John Fogerty was 30 years old and wrote the song “Rockin’ All Over the World.” Now in 2025, the former singer-songwriter, guitarist and front man for Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) is 80 and still performing rock concerts.

Earlier this month on November 1st, I had the pleasure of attending one of Fogerty’s concerts at the Salem Civic Center in Virginia with my wife Priscilla, daughter Amy and friend David Hollandsworth.

Photo of the record sleeve of my Double-A-sided 45-rpm “Up Around the Bend” and “Run Through the Jungle” that I bought in May 1970. These two songs were hits, and I still own the record here in 2025.

With this latest article, I will be giving a concert review of Fogerty’s Salem show and sharing short video clips of songs that I recorded.  I also have included reviews from some of my family, friends and other acquaintances who went to see the former CCR frontman on 11/1/25.

Fogerty is touring this fall to support his new 2025 solo album, “Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years” that was released in August.  This 20-track LP features re-recordings of music that was written for his former CCR band during the years of 1968 to 1972.

The new album is also referred to as “John’s Version” in which Fogerty took a page out of Taylor Swift’s playbook with the re-recording of new versions of previously written catalog songs, (Taylor’s Version).

The backstory of how “Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years” came about is interesting.  Fogerty’s journey to reclaim his own music that was full of trials, toils and tribulations.

From David Hollandsworth’s music library: Photo of his various CCR vinyl albums collected from around the world.

 When CCR signed a revision of their two-year-old recording contract with Fantasy Records in 1969, Fogerty lost music publishing, songwriting, master recording rights, and copyright ownership for the songs that he had written.

After CCR broke up in 1972, Fogerty refused to play his own songs for many years. After a 50-year struggle, with multiple lawsuits to re-gain control over his music, Fogerty finally was able to purchase a majority stake in the publishing rights to his songs from Concord Records in 2023.

John Fogerty performing at the Salem Civic Center on 11/1/25. Photo courtesy of Sammy Oakey.

During his Salem, Virginia concert, Fogerty credited his wife Julie with helping to gain control of the CCR era of music that he penned. The former lead singer of CCR was genuinely happy to sing and play his beloved songs to the crowd in attendance.

Below is a video clip of Fogerty being interviewed on the Dan Patrick Show on August 22, 2025, the day “Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years” was released.  During this video, Fogerty shares about getting his music back and how his song “Centerfield” was written.

Another recent TV appearance that Fogerty made was on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In the video clip below, the artist shares about getting his songwriting catalog back and other topics with the famed night time talk show host and comedian.

I became a CCR fan in 1969 and just after my birthday that year, I bought my first CCR record: the Double-A-Sided 45-rpm “Bad Moon Rising” and “Lodi” single. Later in ’69, I purchased another double-sided smash single: “Fortunate Son” and “Down on the Corner.”

Photo of my Double-A-Sided 45-rpm “Bad Moon Rising” and “Lodi” single that I purchased back in the summer of ’69 and that I still own here in 2025.

My parents also helped me to add CCR albums to my record collection.  They gifted me “Green River” for Christmas in 1969 and “Cosmos Factory” at holiday time the following year.  After Paul McCartney announced the Beatles had broken up in April ’70, CCR became my favorite rock band.

DJ Dave’s second vinyl copy of “Cosmo’s Factory.” This album was given to me by my daughters as a Father’s Day gift in 2017. Also in the photo is my dog Penny Lane who is admiring the legendary CCR LP.

Ever since my teen years, I have always loved the songs John Fogerty wrote and recorded with CCR, as well as his Blue Ridge Rangers project and music from when the singer-songwriter became a solo artist.

Seeing Fogerty performing live on stage was thrilling.  This was my second show by the former CCR lead singer:  My wife, Priscilla, and I first saw him at the historic Wolf Trap National Park Amphitheater in Vienna, Virginia during 2014.

Photo of the record sleeve of the Double-A-sided 45 rpm “Who’ll Stop the Rain” and “Travelin’ Band” single that I bought during the winter of 1970 and I still own the record here in 2025.

At the Salem show I attended, 19 songs were performed: 14 Creedence Clearwater Revival songs, 4 Fogerty solo tunes and one selection from the Golliwogs, which was the name of Fogerty’s band from 1964 to 1967 before the group changed their name to CCR. The entire listing of songs can be found here at Setlist FM Dot Com.

Video that I recorded of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” by John Fogerty during his Salem Civic Center concert on 11/1/25.

As a side note: While I realize that Fogerty wouldn’t perform every single top 40 hit that he had made with CCR, during his 2025 tour, below are 5 songs I wished had been part of the setlist:

  • Run Through the Jungle
  • Commotion
  • Sweet Hitch-Hiker
  • Long as I Can See the Light
  • Hey Tonight
Photo of my record sleeve of the Double-A-Sided 45 rpm “Fortunate Son” and “Down on the Corner” single that I bought during the fall of 1969 and I still own the record here in 2025.

Before John took the stage in a flannel shirt and blue jeans, the band Hearty Har opened the show with a 30-minute set.  The two main members of this group are Shane and Tyler Fogerty, who are the sons of John and Julie Fogerty.

Video that I recorded of “Old Man Down the Road” by John Fogerty during his Salem Civic Center concert on 11/1/25.

As for John’s own band, it’s a family affair: Tyler and Shane Fogerty also play in their father’s ensemble. Also in attendance at this show was John’s wife, Julie Fogerty. She was on stage right while the band played, taking photos and recording videos throughout the performance.

Other members of Fogerty’s band included drummer Richard Millsap, bass guitarist Jesse Wilson, keyboardist Doug Lamothe, along with sax player Rob Stone.

John Fogerty performing at the Salem Civic Center on 11/1/25. Photo courtesy of Sammy Oakey.

Before I share my review on Fogerty’s Salem show, I am including comments below from my daughter, some friends and other acquaintances who also attended the show.

Photo of my 2nd vinyl copy of “Cosmo’s Factory” that I received as a Father’s Day gift in 2017. This is my favorite CCR album of all-time.

Amy Woodson:

“Teach your kids the classics! Growing up, my Dad played for me and my sisters a cornucopia of hits from years gone by. The songs of legends like John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival accompanied road trips, practice pick-ups, and Saturday morning shenanigans. All three of us liked to tease him and insist there was a “bathroom on the right” instead of a “Bad Moon Rising.”

For me, seeing John Fogerty live harkens back to the feeling of childhood wonderment and hearing a great tune for the first time. No song represents those emotions better than “Lookin’ Out my Backdoor,” my favorite moment of the concert. There’s something about the interplay of guitar, lyrics, and Fogerty’s nonpareil tone that stirs up my happiest imaginations. “Bother me tomorrow, today, I’ll buy no sorrows!”

Video that I recorded of “Who’ll Stop the Rain” by John Fogerty during his Salem Civic Center concert on 11/1/25.

David Hollandsworth:

“It was the summer of 1970. I had just finished 7th grade and we had recently moved to the city of Monterey, Mexico, where there was an AM pop station called XERJ that played American top 40 music. Each afternoon they had a 30-minute show featuring the most popular rock band in the world at the time – CCR.

It was there that I was introduced to CCR and would sit by the radio every afternoon. They became my favorite band. They still are. The first two CCR records I ever bought were two, 7” 33 rpm EPs with four songs each. 4 song EPs with nice picture sleeves were common in Mexico. “Cosmos Factory” had just been released that July so I bought it along with “Willy and the Poor Boys” – my first LPs! Sadly, I never got to see CCR in their heyday.”

From David Hollandsworth’s music library: Photo with one of the first CCR 33 rpm EPs that he bought in 1970.

  Hollandsworth continues, “Fast forward 55 years, I was finally able to see the mastermind behind all their songs. Of all places, Fogerty came to Salem, just 10 minutes from my house! There was no way I was going to miss that! At 80 years of age, I was shocked at his energy level and how he moved around the stage like he was 30 years younger!  His voice was perhaps a little less full than in 1970 but he was still fantastic. The guy can still play a mean guitar, too! It was fun seeing him playing alongside his two sons while his wife was off to the side of the stage taking videos.

 I also noticed the many times he changed to a different guitar for different songs. It’s hard to pick a favorite song that he did that night but the crowd really responded to “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”, his most played song on Spotify. I loved the jams on “Keep on Chooglin’” and “The Old Man Down the Road” with he and his son, Shane, trading guitar solos. Looked like they were having a blast! So, yeah, it took 55 years, but I was satisfied to finally see one of my musical heroes from the past. He gave us 90 minutes of pure classic rock magic! Keep on chooglin’, John!”

From David Hollandsworth’s music library: Photo with one of the first CCR 33 rpm EPs that he bought in 1970.

Sammy Oakey:

“While I’m more of an average fan of CCR than an avid one, I know an icon when I see one, and John Fogerty’s visit to the Roanoke Valley would be an ideal time to view this rocker. He certainly didn’t disappoint, as his voice, stage banter, and movements all bellied a man half his age. Mixing up his Creedence material with his solo numbers, Fogerty had the crowd in the palm of his hand for his 90 minutes onstage. His band, which included two of his sons, were white hot and electrified the rock faithful who knew most of the lyrics of his songs. I personally enjoyed his solo material the best, and especially loved “Centerfield” (complete with a combination baseball bat/guitar!) and “Rock ‘n Roll Girls” (with a sizzling sax solo!).”

Video that I recorded of “Born on the Bayou” by John Fogerty during his Salem Civic Center concert on 11/1/25.

 Oakey continues, “Fogerty commented several times about how grateful he was to his wife for helping him regain the rights to his songs as well as finding and purchasing a guitar he had played in CCR over 55 years ago. He truly seems to be at a good place in his life, and he shared that with the Fogerty faithful who showed up. I came to the show expecting to see an aging rocker attempt to keep his career alive. I left the Salem Civic Center realizing that John Fogerty is one of those musicians who truly get better with age.

John Fogerty performing at the Salem Civic Center on 11/1/25. Photo courtesy of Sammy Oakey.

Ashley McGinnis Duffy:  Roanoke, Virginia  

I grew up listening to John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival with my dad, so their music has always been a big part of my life. I bought tickets for my dad’s birthday this year, and the concert was absolutely amazing. We loved every minute of it and especially enjoyed hearing the stories behind how some of the songs were written. My favorite song of the night was Fortunate Son. It’s one of my dad’s all-time favorites, and hearing it live together was a moment I’ll never forget.

Robert McGinnis:  Roanoke, Virginia

CCR is the best band that I’ve ever listen to. I like all of Fogerty’s songs. It was one of the best concerts I’ve ever attended. My favorite song is Fortunate Son.

John Fogerty performing at the Salem Civic Center on 11/1/25. Photo courtesy of Sammy Oakey.

Transitioning from comments by others to my own review, it was a magical night for me being at Fogerty’s show.

Before Fogerty’s entrance on stage, there was a superb video clip shown that highlighted the singer-songwriter’s musical career, chronicling the Creedence Clearwater Revival years and his solo career.  This clip was an outstanding way to start the show.

One of the things that I admired about John Fogerty that night was his genuine expressions of gratitude to the audience, giving appreciation to his fans for their dedication sticking with the artist, through trials and tribulations.

Video that I recorded of “Proud Mary” by John Fogerty during his Salem Civic Center concert on 11/1/25.

During other breaks between songs, Fogerty gave recognition and respect to his sons Shane and Tyler for being trusted musicians in his band. The former CCR singer-songwriter truly seemed extremely happy talking about his two adult sons to the audience.

John Fogerty also acknowledged his wife, Julie multiple times with praise. He credited her as his soul mate, a solid rock in their marriage of 34 years and the driving force behind helping John be successful retrieving all the songs he wrote as a member of CCR.

“Bad Moon Rising opened up the show while “Fortunate Son” was the last song before the two-song encore.  “Travelin’ Band” and “Proud Mary” capped a perfect ending to this excellent performance.

Video that I recorded of “Up Around the Bend” by John Fogerty during his Salem Civic Center concert on 11/1/25.

The CCR leader was full of high-energy, had a vibrant stage presence and provided excellent guitar playing. He ripped ripped through his CCR and solo hits with passion. His connection with the audience was genuine, as he played memorable guitar riffs and danced all around the stage like a person half his age.

I found it remarkable that Fogerty’s vocals were still strong as when he was cracking out hits with CCR in the 60s and 70s. His distinctive tenor voice was clear, rich, resonant and powerful, singing songs about sorrow, pain, anger, joy and other emotional topics.

Photo of my record sleeve of the Double-A-sided 45 rpm “Lookin’ Out My Backdoor” and “Long As I Can See the Light” single that I bought in the summer of 1970 and that I still own here in 2025.

In my humble opinion, Fogerty has written some of the greatest songs ever recorded. I loved hearing the singer-songwriter perform some of my favorite lines from his CCR penned odes.

  • “I went down Virginia, seekin’ shelter from the storm”
  • “Oh lord, I’m stuck in Lodi again”
  • “I can still hear my ol’ hound dog barkin’, chasin’ down a hoodoo there, born on the bayou”
  •  “Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis, pumped a lot of ‘pane down in New Orleans”
  •  “737 coming out of the sky, won’t you take me down to Memphis on a midnight ride?”
Video that I made of “Travelin’ Band” by John Fogerty during his Salem Civic Center concert 11/1/25.

Hearing Fogerty’s songs in concert reminded me on how his style of music blended rock, pop, blues, folk and country together. Some music historians label the CCR sound “Swamp Rock” or “Roots Rock.” Fogerty wrote about common everyday American experiences in realistic terms.

While I won’t comment on all 19 songs performed in Salem, I will share my top favorite songs played by Fogerty’s band:  5 CCR tracks and 1 solo hit.

Video that I recorded of “Centerfield” by John Fogerty during his Salem Civic Center concert on 11/1/25.

My favorite solo John Fogerty song of all-time is “Centerfield.”  I rate this legendary sports anthem as the third best top 40 single of 1985. In 2010, Fogerty became the only musician ever to be celebrated at a National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony when “Centerfield” was honored.

John Fogerty performing at the Salem Civic Center on 11/1/25. Photo courtesy of Sammy Oakey.

Obviously, I loved many of the CCR songs played at the show.  But I am only going to comment on my top 5 favorite CCR Fogerty songs of all-time that were performed at the show.

Another photo of DJ Dave posing with my favorite CCR LP: “Cosmo’s Factory.” This was taken in July 2020 during the 50th anniversary of this legendary album release.

5.  Lodi

“If I only had a dollar, For ev’ry song I’ve sung, Ev’ry time I’ve had to play, While people sat there drunk, You know, I’d catch the next train, Back to where I live, Oh Lord, I’m stuck in Lodi again”

Lyrics describe a struggling musician whose career has landed him playing gigs in the town of Lodi, California. After playing in local bars in that town, the musician is stuck in Lodi and doesn’t have enough money to leave that place behind.

I rate the song “Lodi” among the best county rock songs from the 60s and 70s.

Video that I made of “Lodi” by John Fogerty during his Salem Civic Center concert on 11/1/25.

4.  Bad Moon Rising

“I see the bad moon a-rising, I see trouble on the way, I see earthquakes and lightning, I see bad times today, Don’t go around tonight, Well, it’s bound to take your life, There’s a bad moon on the rise.”

I could have sworn that I heard Fogerty sing, “There’s a bathroom on the right” during one of the chorus’ on “Bad Moon Rising.”  I consider this song as one of the 10 best singles from back in the summer of ’69.

Video that I recorded of “Bad Moon Rising” by John Fogerty during his Salem Civic Center concert 11/1/25.

3.  Green River

“I can hear the bullfrog callin’ me, aw, Wonder if my rope’s still hangin’ to the tree, aw, Love to kick my feet way down the shallow water, Shoofly, dragonfly, get back to mother, Pick up a flat rock, skip it across Green River.”

Fogerty’s up-tempo rocker was played by CCR at Woodstock in August 1969. I place it as my favorite song that CCR performed at the peace & love music festival over 56 years ago.

Video that I made of “Green River” by John Fogerty during his Salem Civic Center concert 11/1/25.

2.  Lookin’ Out My Backdoor

“Forward troubles Illinois, lock the front door, oh, boy, Look at all the happy creatures dancin’ on the lawn, Bother me tomorrow, today, I’ll buy no sorrows, Doo, doo, doo, lookin’ out my back door.”

My second favorite CCR song is “Lookin’ Out My Backdoor.” And this track is on my top-rated Fogerty/CCR album of all-time: “Cosmo’s Factory.”  It is among my favorite singles of 1970.

Video that I made of “Lookin’ Out My Backdoor” by John Fogerty during his Salem Civic Center concert on 11/1/25.
  1.  Fortunate Son

“Yeah-yeah, some folks inherit star-spangled eyes, Hoo, they send you down to war, Lord, And when you ask ’em, “How much should we give?”, Hoo, they only answer, “More, more, more, more”, It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no military son, son, Lord, It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate one.”

My 45-rpm single of “Fortunate Son” and “Down on the Corner” that I bought in the fall of 1969 and still own this record here in 2025.

“Fortunate Son” is my favorite CCR track of all-time. This 1969 anthem became a rallying cry against the Vietnam War and individuals from affluent backgrounds. It is now considered John Fogerty’s signature song.

The first time I heard this song on WROV Roanoke in the fall of 1969, I immediately loved Fogerty’s protest anthem.  Soon thereafter, I went to Sears and bought the Double-A-Sided 45-rpm single of “Fortunate Son” and “Down on the Corner.”

Video I made of “Fortunate Son” by John Fogerty at his Salem Civic Center concert on 11/1/25.

On a music blog article that I published last December, I rated “Fortunate Son” as the number 1 best protest and social justice anthem from the 60s and 70s.  For me, “Fortunate Son” is the cream of the crop with Fogerty’s written songs.

I rate “Fortunate Son” as the #1 best protest and social justice anthem from the 60s and 70s.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience to have the opportunity to see Fogerty in concert. His Legacy tour will be continuing into 2026. I would highly recommend going to see the 1993 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee in concert if you have an opportunity.

John Fogerty performing at the Salem Civic Center on 11/1/25. Photo courtesy of Sammy Oakey.

If you were at the Salem November 1, concert like myself, or any other Fogerty 2025 Legacy concerts during the past few months, I would encourage you to share a brief analysis on the show you attended. And for those who are fans of CCR, I welcome your comment on Fogerty’s music.

Without a doubt, I was thrilled to see Fogerty performing most of his CCR hits and selected solo songs. I will forever cherish the opportunity that I had to witness John Fogerty, who is still superbly performing his music at age 80. It was most excellent.  Rock on!

To subscribe to my blog via email, please click the “Follow” button in the menu above.

Standard
Concert Reviews, Music, Music Countdowns, Pop Music, Rock Music, Woodstock

Woodstock Iconic Performances: Back in the Summer of ’69

A couple of weeks ago was the 56th anniversary of the legendary Woodstock Music and Art Fair. This event was held at Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, New York from August 15 to 18 in 1969.

Woodstock, as it is commonly referred to here in the 21st century, was a musical extravaganza that was billed by its promoters as “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music.”

32 musical artists performed at Woodstock with attendance estimated around 450,000 individuals strong. This outdoor event is considered by many historians as one of the most important musical happenings during the 20th century.

DJ Dave at the site of Woodstock 1969 at Bethel, New York. July 14, 2024.

Last summer, my wife Priscilla and I traveled to New York state and made a pilgrimage to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which is located at the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival.

The Bethel Woods complex features an amphitheater, a performing arts center and a museum. For anyone interested in learning more about the Woodstock music event, I strongly encourage a visit to this outstanding site.

Further Information on the historic 1969 festival can also be found on the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and the Woodstock Ventures websites.

For my music blog article this month, I will be counting down what I consider to be the 10 best musical artists and bands who performed and defined the historic Woodstock music festival during August 1969.

The top ten performances that I have selected are all personal favorites that I deem to be culturally, historically, aesthetically significant, meaningful or relevant.  These musical acts still sound good to me 56 years later.

Please note: my article is not a definitive ranking of all 32 artists and bands that performed at Woodstock. For a more thorough accounting of this historic event, I would encourage you to search the Internet.

Obviously, there were more outstanding musical performances at Woodstock besides those listed on my countdown. Below are some worthy artists and bands that didn’t make my top ten tabulation. These performers are not ranked, but placed in a random order.

  • Canned Heat
  • Joan Baez
  • Blood Sweat & Tears
  • Richie Havens
  • Arlo Guthrie
  • Melanie
  • Mountain
  • Grateful Dead
  • Ten Years After
  • Country Joe and the Fish
  • Johnny Winter
  • Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band

Before starting my countdown, I want to highlight three miscellaneous songs on the topic of Woodstock. One composition was performed during the festival itself, while the other two songs were written after Woodstock took place.

The first song I am sharing was actually played at Woodstock by the rock band Mountain but was un-named during the group’s performance. Subsequently, that song was titled “For Yasgur’s Farm” after the historic concert venue site in Bethel.

Another performer at Woodstock was pop rock folk singer-songwriter Melanie. After her festival gig, she was inspired to write the song “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain).”  This anthem describes what Melanie felt on stage at Woodstock, as she looked out upon a sea people in the audience during a pouring rain storm.

One artist who wasn’t at the August 1969 festival was Joni Mitchell.  She was motivated to write the song “Woodstock” after hearing an account of the peace and love gathering from her boyfriend at the time Graham Nash.

Mitchell recorded her version of “Woodstock” shortly after the August 1969 event happened and it immediately became the anthem for peace, love and the counterculture movement.

Crosby Stills Nash & Young covered the anthem in early 1970 and it was a major hit for the successful musical supergroup.

A second rendition of “Woodstock” by Matthews Southern Comfort became an international hit for the British country rock folk band during 1970 and 1971.

Without further ado, my Top 10 countdown of best Woodstock performances begins:

10. “Piece of My Heart”. Janis Joplin

  • Second Favorite Song Performed: “Ball & Chain”

Singer-songwriter Joplin left Big Brother and the Holding Company earlier in 1969. Then formed a new backup group, the Kozmic Blues Band prior to Woodstock event. 

9. “I Want to Take You Higher” Sly & the Family Stone

  • Second Favorite Song Performed: “Stand”

The soul/funk band played 8 songs, with 4 coming from Sly & the Family Stone’s landmark summer of 1969 “Stand!” album.

8. “Evil Ways” Santana  

  • Second Favorite Song Performed: “Soul Sacrifice”  

Latin rock band Santana gained national prominence following their gig. The group’s self-titled debut album was released just days after their Bethel performance.

7. “The Weight” The Band

  • Second Favorite Song Performed: “I Shall Be Released”

The Band played mostly songs from their 1968 debut release “Music from Big Pink” album. Bob Dylan’s former band did not disappoint that day in Bethel.

6. “White Rabbit”. Jefferson Airplane

  • Second Favorite Song Performed: “Somebody to Love”

Psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane soared during their Sunday morning appearance. They played many crowd favorites from the summer of love 1967 “Surrealistic Pillow” album as well as songs from a then upcoming LP, “Volunteers.” (Released November 1969).

5. “See Me Feel Me” The Who

  • Second Favorite Song Performed: “I’m Free”

The Who played a whopping 21 songs. From early hits like “My Generation” and “I Can’t Explain” to performing most of the rock opera “Tommy”, the British band’s set list was well received by those in attendance.

4. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” Crosby Stills & Nash

  • Second Favorite Song Performed: “Marrakesh Express

This was only the 2nd concert ever performed by the supergroup. Neil Young actually was at Woodstock and joined CS&Y on some songs but he refused to be filmed for this event. Consequently, Young’s name is left off the official Woodstock billing.

3. “Born on the Bayou” Creedence Clearwater Revival

  • Second Favorite Song Performed: “Green River”

1969 was a prolific year for John Fogerty’s band. Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) released 3 albums and had 5 singles at peak at #3 or higher in the U.S. Their Woodstock gig added to the band’s outstanding year. Their Woodstock set list contained 8 Fogerty written songs including the popular “Proud Mary” and “Bad Moon Rising” hits.

2. “With a Little Help from My Friends” Joe Cocker

  • Second Favorite Song Performed: “Feelin’ Alright”

One of the crown jewels of Woodstock is Joe Cocker’s rendition of the Beatles song, “With a Little Help from My Friends.”  I consider the soulful vocals by Cocker to be the second-best cover song from the 60s and 70s.

  1. “The Star-Spangled Banner” Jimi Hendrix
  • Second Favorite Song by Artist: “Purple Haze”

Without a doubt, my #1 best performance of Woodstock is by Jimi Hendrix. The legendary guitarist’s solo performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was absolutely brilliant and ground-breaking.

Many music historians consider Hendrix’s innovative guitar rendition of the U.S. National Anthem as a defining moment for the Woodstock music festival.  This musical highlight is the most iconic performance to take place 56 years ago in Bethel, New York.

That wraps up my countdown of what I consider to be the best performances at Woodstock in August 1969.

I realize that my listing of songs in this category was written from my point of view and is subjective. My countdown of top performances is based completely upon my personal humble opinions.

If you were creating a similar listing of outstanding Woodstock performances, your tabulation may be totally different from my selections. There are no right or wrong answers. I welcome your thoughts.

Here is hoping that you will listen to and/or watch YouTube videos of Woodstock performances after you have read this music blog message.

I still have fond memories of music that was performed at Woodstock from back in the summer of ’69.  The music still sounds excellent here in 2025.  Rock on!

I leave you with edited lyrics of “Woodstock” written by Joni Mitchell below:

Well, I came upon a child of God, He was walking along the road, And I asked him, “Tell me, where are you going?”

And this he told me, Said, “I’m going down to Yasgur’s Farm, Gonna join in a rock ‘n’ roll band, Got to get back to the land, Set my soul free”

By the time we got to Woodstock, We were half a million strong, And everywhere was a song, And a celebration

And I dreamed I saw the bomber jet planes, Riding shotgun in the sky, Turning into butterflies, Above our nation

We are stardust, we are golden, We are billion-year-old carbon, And we’ve got to get ourselves, Back to the garden

To subscribe to my blog via email, please click the “Follow” button in the menu above.

Standard
Concert Reviews, Music, Pop Music, Retro Rock, Rock Music

Live Aid Top Performances:  London & Philadelphia 1985

Earlier this month was the 40th anniversary of Live Aid which was a two-venue benefit concert and music-based fundraising initiative held on July 13, 1985.

The Live Aid musical happening was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London, England and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This event was organized by Irish singer-songwriter Bob Geldof, lead singer of the Boomtown Rats band, along with Scottish singer-songwriter and record producer James “Midge” Ure.

Geldof and Ure conceived the dual concert extravaganza after they co-wrote and collaborated together on a successful fund-raising charity single, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” recorded by Band Aid in 1984.

More than 70 artists and bands performed over 16 hours of live music across the London and Philadelphia concerts.  For a complete listing of performing acts and ultimate info about dual charity shows, please access this Live Aid webpage.

For this article, I will be counting down what I consider to be the ten best artists and bands performing at Live Aid.

The top ten performances that I have selected are all personal favorites that I deem to be culturally, historically, aesthetically significant, meaningful or relevant.  These songs still sound good to me 40 years later.

Please note: my article is not a definitive ranking of all 70 artists that performed at the Live Aid venues in July 1985. For a more thorough accounting of this historic event, I would encourage you to search the Internet for that information.

Before I start my countdown, I will be highlighting two anthems that were performed at the end of each trans-continental shows.

At the end of the London segment, “Do They Know It’s Christmas” by Band Aid closed the U.K. concert.

And on the American side, “We Are the World” from USA for Africa was the Philadelphia finale, which ended the entire event.

Obviously, there were more outstanding musical performances at Live Aid besides those listed on my countdown. Below are some worthy artists and bands that didn’t make my top ten tabulation. Those performers are not ranked and place in a random order.

  • Crosby Stills & Nash
  • Elton John (with George Michael)
  • Led Zeppelin
  • Hall & Oates
  • The Pretenders
  • Simple Minds
  • Bryan Adams  
  • The Beach Boys
  • Crosby Stills Nash & Young
  • REO Speedwagon  
  • The Four Tops
  • Santana
  • Sade
  • Joan Baez

Without further ado, my Top 10 countdown of best Live Aid performances begin:

10.   The Who

Songs Performed:

  • “My Generation”
  • “Pinball Wizard”
  • “Love, Reign o’er Me”
  • “Won’t Get Fooled Again”

My favorite of the set list: “Won’t Get Fooled Again”

British Invasion band the Who performed 4 of their biggest and most renowned songs in London. “Pinball Wizard” from the “Tommy” rock opera and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” from the “Who’s Next” album were the highlights by this influential 20th century band.

9.     The Cars  

Song Performed:

  • “You Might Think”
  • “Drive”
  • “Just What I Needed”
  • “Heartbeat City”

My favorite of the set list: “Just What I Needed”

New Wave and power pop rock band the Cars were at the height of their popularity in 1985 when they performed at Live Aid. Leaders of the band, Benjamin Orr and Ric Ocasek, gave a spirited performance on fan favorites like “You Might Think”, “Drive” and “Just What I Needed.”

8.     Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Songs Performed:

  • “American Girl”
  • “The Waiting”
  • “Rebels”
  • “Refugee”

My favorite of the set list: “Refugee”

Along with his band the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty fired off four superb power pop rock songs with the raising of funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. “American Girl” and “The Waiting” were both superb, while Petty’s 1980 hit “Refugee” ended the exceptional set on a high note.

7.     Eric Clapton & Phil Collins

Songs Performed:

  • “White Room”
  • “She’s Waiting”
  • “Layla”

My favorite of the set list: “Layla”

Arguably, “Layla” is one of the greatest classic rock songs of all time.  With “Slow Hand” Eric Clapton shredding his guitar, Phil Collins on drums and Chris Stainton playing keyboards, it was an outstanding rendition of the song written by Clapton. The opening selection of “White Room” was also memorable.

6.     David Bowie

Songs Performed:

  • “TVC 15”
  • “Rebel Rebel”
  • “Modern Love”
  • “Heroes”

My favorite of the set list: “Modern Love”

David Bowie and his band played 4 up-tempo songs during his set. “Modern Love” was a rousing number with outstanding saxophone playing while the lyrics of “Heroes” fit nicely with the message and purpose of the benefit concert: “Oh, we can be heroes, just for one day.”

5.     Mick Jagger & Tina Turner

Songs Performed:

  • “Lonely at the Top”
  • “Just Another Night”
  • “Miss You”
  • “State of Shock” (w/ Tina Turner)
  • “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)” (with Tina Turner)

My favorite of the set list: “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)” (with Tina Turner)

Mick Jaggar sang 3 songs before Tina Turner joined him on stage as the pair performed “State of Shock” and “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It).”

During this racy two-song duet, Jagger stripped off his shirt for a mid-song costume change and then dramatically ripped off Turner’s skirt. The singer’s fun and flirty chemistry electrified the audience in London.

4.     Paul McCartney  

Song Performed: “Let It Be” (w/ David Bowie, Bob Geldof, Alison Moyet and Pete Townshend)       

The beginning of “Let It Be” was sparse: Just Sir Paul playing a piano and singing solo. McCartney didn’t want any other vocalists or instruments to accompany his performance.

 At some point during McCartney’s performance, his microphone stopped working. The crowd started singing the chorus of “Let It Be” and then fellow artists Bowie, Geldof, Moyet and Townshend joined McCartney on the stage for a powerful ending of this classic Beatles ode.

3.    U2

Songs Performed:

  • “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
  • “Bad”

My favorite of the set list: “Sunday Bloody Sunday”

U2 was an up-and-coming band in 1985 and their appearance helped the Irish band achieve a new level of stardom after their two-song set.

Kicking off the performance was the anti-war anthem “Sunday Bloody Sunday” with front man Bono giving a fiery, passionate vocal delivery.  Following the U2 signature song was a 12-minute rendition of “Bad” that was a crowd favorite in London.

2.   Dire Straits & Sting

Songs Performed:

  • “Money for Nothing” (with Sting)
  • “Sultans of Swing”

My favorite of the set list: “Money for Nothing”

British band Dire Straits (DS) performed only two songs and both selections were superb. “Sultans of Swing” is my favorite DS song of all-time:  I love the guitar riffs and vocals by Mark Knopfler on this signature song by the British band.

My absolute top performance of the day by DS was “Money for Nothing.”  Joining the band on stage was Sting and his singing of “I want my MTV” reverberated throughout Wembley Stadium as DS rocked the house with their #1 summer of 1985 smash hit.

  1.  Queen

Songs Performed:

  • “Bohemian Rhapsody”
  • “Radio Ga Ga”
  • “Hammer to Fall”
  • “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”
  • “We Will Rock You”
  • “We Are the Champions”

My favorite of the set list:  “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Many music historians proclaim that Queen’s Wembley Stadium set is the greatest live rock musical performance of all-time.  The 21-minute set was actually one continuous medley of popular short snippets of some of the British band’s most beloved songs.

This was Freddie Mercury’s shining moment, along with guitarist Brian May, bassist Jon Deacon and Roger Taylor on drums.  Queen’s musical presentation is my #1 best performance during Live Aid in 1985.

That wraps up my countdown of what I consider to be the best performances at Live Aid 1985.

I realize that my listing of songs in this category was written from my point of view and is subjective. My countdown of top performances is based completely upon my personal humble opinions.

If you were creating a similar listing of outstanding Live Aid performances during 1985, your tabulation may be totally different from my selections. There are no right or wrong answers. I welcome your thoughts.

Here is hoping that you will listen to and/or watch YouTube videos of Live Aid performances after you have read this music blog message.

I still have fond memories of music that was performed at Live Aid in July 1985.  And much of the music played 40 years ago still sounds great 40 years later. Rock on!

To subscribe to my blog via email, please click the “Follow” button in the menu above.

Standard
Music, Virginia Artists, Concert Reviews, Artist Profiles, Pop Music, Contemporary Christian Music, American Idol

Jeslynn Gelaine Music: All My Life I’ve Been a Dreamer

17-year-old Roanoke, Virginia native Jeslynn Gelaine has always been a dreamer.  And one of her dreams became reality just 4 days ago when the singer-songwriter’s debut professional music recording “Calm Me Down” was released as a single.

All photos and videos in this article were provided courtesy of Jeslynn Gelaine unless otherwise noted.

The music artist’s full name is Jeslynn Gelaine Reynolds, and she elected to drop the surname Reynolds at the beginning of her budding musical career.

I asked Reynolds about the significance on using her middle name as a music artist. She responded, “Jeslynn Gelaine is my way of paying tribute to my mom and Mimi, two talented singers who shared a middle name. Following my Mimi’s passing in August 2022, I’m passionate about honoring and carrying her legacy through Gelaine.”

Singing has always been a huge part of Gelaine’s life.  Her mom, Rebecca Reynolds, shared with me that, “Jeslynn has been singing since she could talk and also began singing harmony at age three.” 

Gelaine also traveled on the road and sang with her parents Adam & Rebecca Reynolds in full time evangelical ministry for 7 ½ years when Jeslynn was between the ages of 3 and 10.

In 2018, the Reynolds family settled in the Roanoke Valley and began ministry with Wake the World Church (WTW) in Salem, Virginia. Adam Reynolds is lead pastor while Rebecca Reynolds is minister and worship leader at the church.

Adam and Rebecca Reynolds are also accomplished gospel music singer-songwriters. Their daughter Jeslynn has also been a worship leader with WTW for the past 7 years.

In August, Jeslynn will be starting her senior year in high school as a homeschooled student. I asked Gelaine if she had any plans after she graduates from high school and she replied,” I’m unsure about college, but I have a peace about music. I trust God’s plan and believe he wants me to use my gift full-time.”

Another dream came true for the music artist when she was 15 years old. Jeslynn’s hope of singing on the American Idol reality TV show started almost two years ago.

 In August 2023, Gelaine auditioned virtually in front of producers for a chance to be on American Idol (AI). Her audition was successful that day and Jeslynn was set for the next round of qualification.

On to Nashville in November 2023, Jeslynn went for her audition in front of American Idol’s main judges:  Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Katy Perry. Gelaine selected, “Still Rolling Stones” by Lauren Daigle to sing for her audition.

Jeslynn had another winning performance and received an American Idol “Golden Ticket.”  That meant that Gelaine would be one of just 150 singers going to Hollywood out of over 6,000 other contestants and she would actually be performing on the main AI show.

During Hollywood week, Jeslynn sang “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing” by Stevie Wonder. She again auditioned in front of the main AI judges Richie, Bryan and Perry.

Before singing the Motown song, Jeslynn addressed the judges with the following quote: “I want to be the next American Idol because I can say that I have truly just dedicated my whole life to music and songwriting. And this means everything to me, and I know this is what God has called me to do and that is why I’m singing on this stage today.”

 While Gelaine didn’t move on in the competition, she received high praise from the judges. After the performance, Katy Perry gave exceptional credit to the Roanoke singer, providing encouragement to Jeslynn who was just 15 at the time of this audition.

I first learned about Gelaine just after the AI “Hollywood Week” episode aired in the spring of 2024. WSLS TV channel 10 Roanoke featured the sensational singer with a news story outlining her musical story and the big dreams she’s accomplished. That feature can be viewed here via WSLS 10.

Around 13 months later, I had the opportunity to meet Jeslynn and her parents Adam and Rebecca Reynolds when Gelaine was performing in concert with the Strawberry Festival at Elmwood Park in Downtown Roanoke. The singer was the headlining artist for this event.

Accompanying Gelaine at her May 3rd Roanoke concert were 4 band members and a background vocalist. Personnel members and instruments played are listed below:

  • Bryan Davis-Piano
  • Eddy Sanders-Bass
  • Tonio Williams-Drums
  • Roger Graves Jr.-Guitar
  • Rebecca Reynolds-Background Vocalist

An unfortunate thing happened on that first Saturday in May 2025:  A big rain storm with thunder and lightning hit downtown Roanoke around 20 minutes into Jeslynn’s show. The Strawberry Festival administrators stopped the concert after just 3 and a half songs were performed.

Obviously, Jeslynn was deeply disappointed about the rain storm and abrupt ending of her concert: she had to make lemonade out of lemons.  Of the songs that Gelaine sang that afternoon, I made short video clips from two of her songs.

This first clip above is an original song Jeslynn wrote called “Song Outta Me”.

The second video I made is of her recently released single, “Calm Me Down.”  

The genesis for the lyrics of “Calm Me Down” came from Jeslynn when she attended a Songhouse summer camp in 2024. Gelaine shares co-writing credit with 4 other individuals who collaborated with her last summer at this music event.

Released just 4 days ago, “Calm Me Down” is available on all streaming platforms and can be purchased via Apple and Amazon music services. The link for Jeslynn’s YouTube channel is here.

On Tuesday July 8, 2025, Gelaine was interviewed on the WDBJ Roanoke TV program called 7@four by the station’s host Melissa Gaona. The WDBJ7 TV conversation video follows:

After Gaona completed her interview with Jeslynn, the Roanoke singer-songwriter sang her debut single “Calm Me Down” on the WDBJ7 TV show. Gelaine’s performance is found below.

After meeting Jeslynn at her Strawberry Festival concert, I sent her questions via email to answer for this article. She and I also utilized Microsoft’s Messenger online text communication for clarification.  My questions and her answers are found below.

DJ Dave:  How do you describe the genre or genres of music that you sing?  My guess would be a combination of pop and country.

Jeslynn: “Well, I’m going to be honest…lol! I don’t necessarily put my music in a “box” or genre as of now. I just write about life and put lyrics and whatever melody comes in my heart to it. I call my music my musical diary! I dabble in a lot of different sounds.”

DJ Dave:  I have gathered from listening to your written songs that you attempt to express your feelings about a subject, in a real and honest way.  And at the same time, you want to convey something positive to the listener of your songs?  Is that accurate?    

Jeslynn: “I want to give people something to relate to when they listen to my music. If they’ve experienced what I’ve experienced whether that be an emotion, an experience, etc. I want them to not feel alone and feel like they can have an anthem. I don’t just write about sad experiences. I also want listeners to just have something to “jam” too and feel happy about.

 I also want them to know by my Christian songs that there is hope through Jesus and they don’t have time to stay there in that negative emotion. Jesus is the only way I’ve healed through life’s tough obstacles.”

DJ Dave: When I met you after your Strawberry Festival concert, I asked you about the quote at the top of your social media pages, “All my life I’ve been a dreamer.” Can you briefly describe the significance behind this meaningful statement?

Jeslynn: That quote is from my song “Dreamer”, which is about overcoming fear and chasing dreams. Ironically, I wrote it two weeks before my first American Idol audition which marked a significant step in my career.

DJ Dave: I like your quote, “Songwriting is a therapeutic outlet for you and medicine for your soul.”  Please give me more insight into this meaning?

Jeslynn: My songs are a musical diary, allowing others to relate and feel less alone in life’s journeys. I pray God’s gift to me can also be a gift to others through lyrics.

DJ Dave: With your duties as worship leader with Wake the World church, what are ways that you prepare your own heart before leading folks during a Sunday morning service?

Jeslynn: My mom and I seek the Holy Spirit’s leading when choosing songs for Sunday. I also prioritize daily Bible study and prayer as I prepare my heart.

DJ Dave: Your mom, Rebecca, shared with me that you started singing as soon as you learned to talk and began singing harmony at age 3. At what point in your life did you decide that you wanted to be a singer and utilize the talents God has given you for Christian service?

Jeslynn: Music has been my lifelong passion and has never really been a question for me. After being part of American Idol and SongHouseCo, I feel even more confident that music is what I’m supposed to do.

DJ Dave: What are your dreams, goals and aspirations in relation to singing and music as you become an adult next year?

Jeslynn: I aspire to release more original music, put out an album, and perform at the Grand Ole Opry, and award shows. Ultimately, I just want what God has for me.

When I saw Jeslynn at her rain shorten Roanoke concert last month, I was impressed by her powerful vocals. I also realized that her songwriting is complex, challenging and provoking, but also upbeat, inspirational and encouraging.

From my perspective, Jeslynn has a bright future in her chosen musical profession.  Her enthusiasm and passion to foster empowerment through music is outstanding.

I also appreciate Jeslynn’s desire to be a positive witness with her Christian faith and a willingness to tackle hard topics as a songwriter. As a Christian believer myself, I find Gelaine’s outlook to be refreshing.

Obviously, no one knows what the future holds in store for this young Virginia singer. I am confident that Jeslynn Gelaine’s music career will go in a favorable direction as she continues to seek God’s guidance for her life. Rock on!

To subscribe to my blog via email, please click the “Follow” button in the menu above.

Standard
Artist Profiles, Concert Reviews, Music, Virginia Artists

The Brothers Young: Virginia’s Accomplished Bluegrass Duo

Blane and Ayden Young at the Floyd Country Store October 19, 2024. Photo by DJ Dave

Exactly 4 years ago on October 31, I published a music blog on the Brothers Young. Now with 4 additional years of musical experience, I am updating info on the outstanding classical bluegrass sibling duo based out of Roanoke, Virginia.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to catch the Brothers Young (TBY) in concert at the Floyd Country Store (FCC).  Located in Floyd, Virginia, this is a venue that regularly features live musical groups, bands and performers, primarily with the genres of bluegrass, folk and old-time country music.

Short video of Don Reno cover, “Follow the Leader” by TBY on 10/19/24. Clip recorded by DJ Dave

Accompanying the Brothers Young on the FCC stage were Steve Farmer on bass and Stefan Kraft playing guitar. These fellows regularly play with TBY at concerts in and around the Virginia locations.

As I watched TBY play their classic bluegrass set, I saw firsthand superb musicianship and professional excellency from the Roanoke musical brothers.

Short video of Osborne Brothers cover, “Rocky Top” by TBY on 10/19/24. Clip recorded by DJ Dave.

The Brothers Young are 18-year-old Ayden who plays banjo while 14-year-old Blane plays mandolin for their group.  TBY are also multiple instrumentalist: Both are pianists while Blane is also a drummer.

Blane and Ayden Young. Photo courtesy of Melissa Young.

The musical partnership of TBY started in August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic under the direction of their parents Melissa and Chad Young. Obviously, with Ayden & Blane still in their teen years, they have received strong parental support with all aspects of TBY musical endeavors.

Since TBY was founded, the fellows have played numerous gigs in and around the Roanoke Valley, as well as many other Blue Ridge Mountain towns in Virginia. The Brothers Young have also performed concerts in North Carolina and Kentucky.

 Below are just a few concert venues that TBY has performed since 2020:

•          Merlefest

•          Bristol Rhythm & Roots

•          The Floyd Country Store

•          Biltmore (Antler Hill Stage)

•          Woodsong Kids (Lexington, KY)

•          Rassawek Autumn Festival

•          WPAQ’s Merry-Go-Round

•          Virginia Museum of Transportation

•          Milepost Music – Peaks of Otter

•          Autumn Leaves Festival

Ayden and Blane also play music monthly at various local Roanoke Valley locations. Melissa Young says “her sons regularly perform at around 20+ Roanoke & Salem retirement communities, partnering with activities directors for those facilities. The residents love the classic bluegrass music and the boys!”

The Brothers Young have recorded the following music during the past 4 years:

  • Two singles with award-winning, traditional bluegrass group the Junior Sisk Band.
  • One track recorded on a gospel bluegrass album “Come Home” by Bent Mountain.
  • One full-length bluegrass album, “B is for Bluegrass.”
  • One Christmas music album, “Christmas in the Hills”, featuring piano favorites and bluegrass songs.

With the financial help of parents Chad and Melissa Young, Ayden created a home studio where he has recorded, mixed and mastered two TBY albums (CDs).  Ayden says, “It is convenient to have a studio in my own home and it has helped me to learn more about the recording process.”

Christian faith is important to TBY.  Ayden plays banjo for the worship team at Church of the Holy Spirit (CHS) an Anglican parish in southwest Roanoke County.  I am a member of the CHS congregation and I have witnessed the entire Young family serving our church body over the past few years.

Here is a quote by Ayden on being a Christian and playing music. ”Being a musician, I often have to tell myself that all of the talents and all of the opportunities we’ve had, have come from the Lord and not from ourselves. Here is a perfect verse that helps me remind myself that all the glory must not go to me, but to God.”   Psalm 115:1 “Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to Your Name be the glory, because of Your steadfast Love and Faithfulness.”

Stefan Kraft, Blane Young, Ayden Young & Steve Farmer. Courtesy of Melissa Young.

One of the musical mentors of TBY is Bishop Quigg Lawrence, who is senior pastor at Church of the Holy Spirit. Lawrence was executive producer and lyrical creator for a gospel bluegrass album released in 2021: “Come Home” by Bent Mountain.

I asked Bishop Lawrence to provide comments about his involvement with TBY on spiritual and musical supervision over the past 4 years: “What a privilege to watch two boys from Roanoke grow up playing traditional bluegrass. Ayden and Blane are some of the best kids I know. They are humble, hardworking, disciplined, funny, and just likable. I would be happy to call them my sons!”

Lawrence continues, “When I recorded a bluegrass album in 2020, the boys were on it. Ayden was older 14 years old and crushed two banjo songs. Blane was a tender ten and mainly added mando chops. Still, I was amazed at how they both entered the studio and started playing well with pro-players.”

“I went to Galax and saw them perform in 2021. Their band was #1 in the Youth Band Category. If memory serves me correctly, Ayden placed 2nd in Youth Banjo. This past year, 2024, Ayden placed 3rd in ADULT banjo, and Blane placed 2nd in youth mandolin. Many full time, well-known pro players never placed that high!”

As I mentioned above, I saw TBY perform in concert recently and I asked Blane and Ayden to answer this question:  Musically, what are attributes that you admire most about your brother? Their responses are below:

Blane:  “First off, he is an amazing banjo player!  One of the things I love about playing with my brother is that he helps the band start the songs on the right timing.  He is a good leader of the band. He encourages me after nobody laughs at my jokes. And mainly I enjoy it because I get to work with my brother.”

Blane and Ayden Young. Courtesy of Melissa Young.

Ayden:  “My brother has been gifted with nearly perfect rhythm. Whether it’s on the jazz drum kit or the mandolin, he holds down those chops! His ability to improvise and add some taste to the mix we’re going for is unchallenged.”

“The thing that impresses me the most is the fact that Blane has the perfect people person charisma. He will approach anyone and everyone and be completely interested in the conversation he’s having.”

In addition to TBY playing classic bluegrass, the siblings have also formed a jazz group called “610 Jazz.”  With this other musical venture, Ayden plays piano while Blane is on a drum kit. Both brothers enjoy the variety of performing jazz as a side project.

For those who are on the social media site Facebook, here is the link for the official Brothers Young page. Another excellent site is TBY YouTube channel.

As I spoke with Ayden and Blane at a home-schooling event in Roanoke County last Saturday, I ask them what can folks expect from the Brothers Young band in the future?

  • TBY would like to record a new album of bluegrass in 2025.
  • The siblings plan of continuing performing classic bluegrass music with as many venues as possible.
  • Blane and Ayden look forward to sharing their God given talents to everyone who attends one of their concerts.
  • Play more music with their “610 Jazz” group.

The consensus among the Brothers Young on future bluegrass career plans are unclear at this time.  Ayden graduated from high school in June. He is now teaching private banjo and piano music lessons, while also playing with other Roanoke area musicians in various recording sessions. Blane just started his 8th grade year with schooling.

Blane and Ayden are exploring various paths they may take in the future with career opportunities. Both fellows are also steadfast with their desire to be guided by God as they finish their teenage years.

Stefan Kraft, Blane Young, Ayden Young & Steve Farmer. Courtesy of Melissa Young.

Without a doubt, the TBY have grown musically over the past 4 years and these guys have matured in positive directions. I am encouraged to see the dedication and loyalty that Ayden and Blane show as they endeavor to hone their craft of playing bluegrass music together.

The Brothers Young performing at Floyd Country Store on October 19, 2024. Photo courtesy of Melissa Young.

Obviously, we do not know what the future has in store for the bluegrass teens. I am confident the Brothers Young of Roanoke will continue to be a positive force within the local Southwestern Virginia community. Rock on!

 To subscribe to my blog via email, please click the “Follow” button in the menu.

Standard
Concert Reviews, Music, Retro Rock, Symphony, Virginia Artists

David Stewart Wiley: Magnificent Musical Maestro

Maestro David Stewart Wiley. Photo by Richard Boyd

Oxford Languages defines the word maestro as: “a distinguished musician, especially a conductor of classical music, a great or distinguished figure in any sphere.”  I maintain this definition accurately describes the musical world of David Stewart Wiley.

David Stewart Wiley (DSW) is the Music Director and Conductor for the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (RSO) and has served in that capacity since 1996. However, his sphere of influence goes way beyond Roanoke and southwestern Virginia.

Video I recorded of Jeans ‘n Classics and RSO of “Another Brick in the Wall Part II” by Pink Floyd in concert on June 16, 2023.

Raised in Massachusetts, DSW has conducted symphonies in over a dozen major U.S. cities and as well as in the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa.

Wiley is also an accomplished solo pianist, performing with numerous orchestras, chamber ensembles and operas across the United States, China, Russia and multiple European countries.

In addition to his RSO duties, Wiley also serves as Music Director & Conductor of Orchestra Long Island in New York and is Artistic Director of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Music Festival based in Floyd.

Maestro David Stewart Wiley. Photo by Richard Boyd

For the purpose of this music blog message, I will be concentrating on Wiley’s artistic leadership at the helm of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.

Conductor Wiley and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. Photo from RSO website.

I had the chance to interview Wiley via telephone just after he completed his last RSO concert of the 2022-2023 season and a two-day mini music festival in Floyd, Virginia.

Maestro Wiley holds both a Doctor and Master of Music in Conducting from Indiana University, as well as a degree in Piano Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. DSW also has a degree in Religion from Tufts University.

Music has always been a part of Wiley’s life as he performed his first piano concerto with a professional orchestra at age 10 in Boston, Massachusetts. DSW credits his parents and various music teachers for helping him gain a firm foundation within the world of music performance.

Dr. Wiley had composed three piano concerti and recorded numerous CDs with both his written original compositions as well as renditions of renowned classical music masterpieces.

According to Wiley, since he became the music director of RSO in 1996: “RSO has experienced continued artistic growth, program innovation and expansion, and increased financial stability.”

One innovation that Wiley has implemented is a management program within a symphony orchestra setting called “Conducting Change” which was developed by DSW.

Another hallmark of Conductor Wiley is his dedication for RSO to be involved with public service activities and partnering with schools, civic and other arts organizations.

Below are just a few of David’s achievements directing and leading RSO in the area of community involvement:

  • Collaborates with WVTF public radio to broadcast many RSO concerts.
  • RSO has produced a live TV broadcast of a RSO show.
  • Bringing classical music to youth in minority communities.
  • RSO & Wiley received a prestigious Distinguished Music Educator Award from Yale University for its partnership with city schools.
  • DSW named Roanoke’s “Citizen of the Year” for his outstanding service and outreach.
  • Wiley honored by the NAACP as Citizen of the Year in the Arts for his service.

Maestro David Stewart Wiley. Photo by Richard Boyd

Arguably, one of Wiley’s crowning success stories with RSO is his development of the pops concert series. Around 20 years ago, DSW partnered with a Canadian group of rock musicians called Jeans ‘n Classics to create a different type of musical experience for RSO patrons.

During the 20th century, playing pop/rock music in classical music orchestras was almost unheard of in North America. Jeans ‘n Classics was created 23 years ago and is made up of world class pop/rock musicians.

Music Director Wiley and RSO became one of the first orchestras in the U.S. in the early 2000s to partner with Jeans ‘n Classics to combine pop/rock music with traditional instrumentation in an orchestra setting. RSO performs at least two of these pops shows during a concert season and has expanded from three to four programs in recent years.

Video I recorded of Jeans ‘n Classics and RSO of “Eclipse” by Pink Floyd in concert on June 16, 2023.

The latest pops concert happened last month: it featured Jeans ‘n Classics and the RSO combining to perform Pink Floyd’s landmark LP “The Dark Side of the Moon” in its entirety, in honor of  its 50th anniversary. This was an outstanding performance.

My wife, Priscilla, and I have enjoyed many of the RSO pops concerts over the past few years. Three months ago, we loved hearing Jim Curry who performs the music of John Denver with a superb RSO collaboration.

Jim Curry, David Stewart Wiley & some RSO musicians in concert during April 2023. Photo courtesy of Sammy Oakey.

Our favorite RSO pops concert was a Beatles tribute band performing the music of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” during the 50th anniversary of this legendary album.

Other excellent RSO pops shows that I have witnessed were concerts featuring music from the following artists: Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin and the Police.

Before I leave the topic of wonderful pops concerts, perhaps my all-time favorite show was when British R&B pop singer-songwriter Billy Ocean himself performed with RSO in 2016.  Ocean’s top-notch vocals and the RSO musicians provided a sterling evening for the audience.

Video I recorded of Jeans ‘n Classics & RSO of “Money” by Pink Floyd in concert on June 16, 2023.

As I mentioned above, I spoke with David Stewart Wiley during a phone conversation late last month.  I presented four questions to DSW on what he considers the important aspects of career and life experiences with RSO. The questions and answers are found below:

DJ Dave:  The COVID-19 pandemic was problematic for organizations like RSO. Under your direction, what steps did you take to guide RSO out of the abyss and back into regular normal operations?

DSW:  Our RSO Executive Director David Crane along with our board, staff, musicians and committed donors were a huge part of our organization’s ability to weather the storm as the symphony during the pandemic. Long time friends/donors and corporate sponsors of RSO were a lifeline during those lean times.

Online presentations of music became a reality for a time, and RSO made educational programs and past concerts available via the Internet to local colleges, public and private schools, and patrons.  Outdoor concerts like “Symphony Under the Stars” at Elmwood Park gave RSO a chance to play live music again in 2021.

Video I recorded of Jeans ‘n Classics and RSO performing “Brain Damage” by Pink Floyd in concert on June 16th, 2023.

DJ Dave:  As I have learned about your leadership with RSO, I know that you value education. Can you share about RSO’s focus teaching music to elementary through high school students in southwestern Virginia?

DSW:  Our energetic Community Engagement & Education Director for RSO, Hannah Cox, provides outstanding guidance and support for our education ensembles.

The Roanoke Youth Symphony, among other RSO groups, continues its 60+ year tradition of providing vital experiences for our region’s youth.

Through the excellent administration skills of Cox, RSO continues to reach numerous school children in our area from elementary through high school, college students, and includes retirees with our “Wellness Arts” program.

Video I recorded of Jeans ‘n Classics & RSO performing “Us and Them” by Pink Floyd in concert on June 16, 2023.

DJ Dave:  An outstanding achievement that you have implemented is working with organizations and civic clubs in our area.  What are strategies that you employ when deciding what groups to partner with for RSO community services?

DSW: RSO staff members and I work with civic and private organizations, schools, colleges and other arts groups, as we collaboratively fulfill our mission of artistic excellence and accessibility: for we believe great music is for everybody.

DJ Dave:  For your upcoming 27th year at the helm as leader, music director and conductor of RSO, what are some main goals that you wish to attain during the 2023-2024 RSO concert season?

DSW:  Growth and artistic excellence for musical programs and expanding new outreach opportunities in our community are among our goals.  Also, increasing RSO’s significant presence throughout our regionand finding new ways to market RSO to a wider audience.

Maestro David Stewart Wiley. Photo by Richard Boyd

One of the many joys for Wiley every summer is an event called “Symphony Under the Stars” where RSO plays a free concert at Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke. Usually held in late August, this show kicks off the upcoming RSO concert season on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at 7:30 PM. More info at www.rso.com.

Concert master Wiley explained to me his four goals for this outdoor concert:  making great music, having the music be accessible and wide-ranging from classics to film scores, showing a welcoming spirit, and celebrating community in a fun and relaxed environment.

During these Elmwood Park shows, RSO play a variety of music: from classic music masterworks to patriotic favorites, film scores, premieres, and even features dancers and singers. My wife and I have attended a several of these shows and are always pleased to hear excellent music being played outside in downtown Roanoke on warm August evenings.

Video I recorded of Jeans ‘n Classics & RSO performing “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd in concert on June 16, 2023.

A favorite highlight for me I have experienced during Symphony Under the Stars: Conductor Wiley has used a light saber sword as a baton when RSO plays John Williams’ “Star Wars” movie theme song. 

Maestro Wiley wants to cordially invite anyone living in the Roanoke area to attend the free RSO Symphony Under the Stars concert on Saturday August 26th, 7:30 pm at Elmwood Park, downtown Roanoke.  If you attend, I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed.

Scene by RSO “Symphony Under the Stars” concert in 2015. Photo from RSO website.

After completing my phone conversation with Wiley, a few things became evident to me.  The leader of RSO is compassionate, dedicated and has a servant’s heart. He has been proud to serve the Roanoke community since 1996 as Music Director and Conductor with RSO.

Those of us who live in the Roanoke Valley and southwestern Virginia are truly fortunate to have a magnificent musical maestro in our mist. Without a doubt, David Stewart Wiley is a treasure for our community. Rock on!

To subscribe to my blog via email, please click the “Follow” button in the menu above.

Standard
Artist Profiles, Concert Reviews, Music, Podcasts, Retro Rock, Virginia Artists

Chris Keaton with the Kings: Roanoke’s Quintessential Band

Earlier this year, vocalist Terry Brown of Roanoke’s legendary band the Kings temporarily stepped down due to some health issues. Finding a stand-in substitute could have posed a problem for long-time Kings leader Larry Wheeling.

In finding a fill-in pinch hitter, Wheeling didn’t have to call Ghostbusters.  Instead, he found Roanoke native Chris Keaton to sing and play saxophone for the Kings while Brown is convalescing from his illness.

The Kings were founded in 1965 by Perry Caligan, who still acts as the business owner of the band. Current leader and manager of the Kings is Larry Wheeling, who joined the Roanoke based group during 1969.

Larry Wheeling and Perry Caligan at Elmwood Park in July 2018.

Over four years ago, I featured the Kings on a music blog message and attended one of the band’s concerts in downtown Roanoke.  Here is the link for The Kings Rocking Roanoke Since 1965: https://woodsonrva.com/2018/07/11/the-kings-rocking-roanoke-since-1965/

The Kings in concert in downtown Roanoke on July 5, 2018.

While Terry Brown recovers from his health issues, the Kings have been fortunate to secure the services of Chris Keaton. I had the opportunity to interview Keaton last month, just before he and the Kings had a concert at Roanoke’s Black Dog Salvage.

Chris Keaton was born in Roanoke, Virginia and grew up in the town of Vinton.  After graduating from William Byrd High School, Keaton spent a year at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond. Chris then following in the footsteps of Bob Dylan left college life to pursue a career in music.

During the mid 70s, Keaton played saxophone and toured with pop/rock bands ranging from Gary U.S. Bonds to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. He also had gigs with Jay & the Techniques during this time period.

A few bands that Keaton was a member of during the 70s and 80s were High & Mighty, Dazzle Boys and Band of Oz.  Interestingly, Chris also had two separate stints performing as a member of the Kings during his younger years.

An album from the Kings: 1989. Chris Keaton co-produced this LP with Brian Wheeling. Band members (L-R), Bruce Wall, David Ferguson, Randy Wheeling, Chris Keaton, Kent Martin, Larry Wheeling and Brian Wheeling.

In 1993, Keaton moved to Nashville, Tennessee and became a business partner with another Roanoke native Tommy Holcomb. Eventually, Holcomb moved back to Roanoke while Keaton stayed in the “Music City” to venture into a new career path.

Since the mid 90s, Keaton’s career has become multifaceted.  His official bio states: “Chris is a Nashville-based entertainment industry executive, award winning music publisher, artist management consultant and a 2016 Inductee in the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.”

When I interviewed Chris last month, 3 words stood out to me that describe Keaton’s current profession: connector, influencer and encourager. Keaton utilizes various forms of social media during his day-to-day activities.

One social media avenue Keaton uses is podcasting. He describes his “Random Acts” podcast, “of kindness, stories, a song or two, seeds of hope and love, and the randomness of it all through the eyes of Chris Keaton.”

Another fascinating venture of Keaton’s work is with the fashion industry.  For a number of years, Chris has been a member of Macy’s Style Crew as a “brand influencer.” As a result of his Macy’s gig, Keaton published a book in 2020 called “Dapper.”

Published at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, “Dapper” was written by Keaton and the text is supported by photographer Keith Charles.  The book conveys, “Serious tips on being a dapper gentleman tempered with a dash of humor.”

Two years ago, Keaton was a guest on Larry Dowdy Mic Side podcast and talked about his book “Dapper” along with some of his past musical performing career.

Versatility and Chris Keaton go hand-in hand as he has been a long-time voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammy Awards) and is a reviewer for an Internet country music site.

2016 was a memorable year for Keaton as he was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Working with the beach music group Band of Oz, Keaton composed an award-winning rendition of the song, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” for his induction.

Considering all of the activities that Keaton has been involved with during the past few years, the influencer hasn’t performed many in-person concerts. However, that changed a few months ago when Larry Wheeling asked Chris to play with the Kings on a temporary basis.

Chris Keaton singing a cover of the Time’s song, “Jungle Love” with the Kings. First Fridays downtown Roanoke in September 2022.

The current 2022 lineup of the Kings:

Terry Brown–Vocals

Mike Feamster –Drums

Brian Jones– Bass

Chris Loder–Guitar

Melody Irby — Vocals & Keyboards

Alan Walker— Sax

Randy Wheeling–Trumpet & Trombone

Larry Wheeling —–Trumpet

Chris Keaton—- Vocals & Sax

Chris Keaton singing a cover version of Wilson Pickett’s song, “Mustang Sally” with the Kings. Black Dog Salvage Roanoke on October 15, 2022.

With Keaton temporarily performing with the Kings, he plays saxophone and shares lead vocal duties with Melody Irby.  The brass section of the band is superb.

Chris Keaton singing cover of Justin Timberlake’s song, “Can’t Fight this Feeling” with the Kings. Black Dog Salvage Roanoke on Octotber 15, 2022.

Musically, the Kings are a pop/rock band and have a large following in central and southwestern Virginia.  The band plays a wide variety of cover tunes, ranging from the 60s through songs from the past ten years.

The Kings are Roanoke’s quintessential band and have been fortunate to secure the services of Keaton on a temporary basis. Providing his vocal talents and excellent saxophone skills, make him a perfect fit with the Kings.

My assessment of Keaton can be summed up as “renaissance man.”  He flows within a wide mixture of diverse areas, bringing his talents and knowledge for positive results.

Without a doubt, Chris Keaton is helping to make the world a better place by being an encourager, spreading peace, love and tranquility to everyone on his path in life.

To subscribe to my blog via email, please click the “Follow” button in the menu above.

Standard
Artist Profiles, Concert Reviews, Music

Sara Niemietz in Twenty Twenty

Without any doubt, musician and singer-songwriter Sara Niemietz has made lemonade out of lemons during the year 2020. In a year where the COVID-19 pandemic reeked-havoc, music artists across America had to come up with new ways to make their music happen.

Obviously, Niemietz wasn’t the only person to have their world turn upside down, as all live concerts and performances ceased to occur. Despite the gloomy world outlook, Sara created new and different ways to bring music to her fans, with various online presentations.

So who is Sara Niemietz?  Born in Chicago Illinois, Niemietz started her career as a child actress, performing in theatre productions, television shows, film roles and multiple musical performances. To read more about Sara’s many non-musical accomplishments, please go to her official website:    https://www.saraniemietz.com/

Snuffy Walden and Sara Niemietz. Photo by Jeff Xander Photography

Now as an adult, Sara has focused exclusively on being a musician, singing and writing music. During the past decade, Niemietz has collaborated with W.G. Snuffy Walden, who is a musician and a composer. Walden has accompanied Sara on various music projects. Some are cover versions of songs, while other tunes are original compositions.

The other big activity for Niemietz is being involved with Scott Bradlee’s, Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ) group. PMJ is known for taking popular 21st century contemporary songs and rearranging those songs into a different musical style. Many of the PMJ songs are performed in 1920’s jazz or swing format.

For anyone interested in reading more about Sara’s musical accomplishments prior to 2020, I had the opportunity to write her musical story on DJ Dave’s Musical Musings during April 2019.  You can view Sara Niemietz: Born For the Stage here:  https://woodsonrva.com/2019/04/12/sara-niemietz-born-for-the-stage/

Photo of Sara Niemietz by Jeff Xander Photography

With this latest music blog message on Niemietz, I communicated with Sara multiple times via email about her musical activities over the past 9 months.

At the start of 2020, things looked promising for Niemietz.  Plans to record a live album actually took place during February.  Sara also had scheduled concert tours to take place in the spring and summer.  However, Coronavirus changed all plans starting in mid-March.

 As Scottish Poet Robert Burns once wrote, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”  All live concerts, shows and performances came to a screeching halt.

Sara Niemietz: Photo by Julien Garros

I asked Sara about her quarantine and social/distancing engagements when lockdowns started happening in her home state of California. She outlined to me about the wide range of new ventures she participated in, which differed from normal musical activities prior to COVID-19 pandemic days.

Over the course of the next 9 months, Niemietz utilized many new functions to keep active with her music fans on social media.  Sara coped and survived during the Coronavirus crisis by implementing fresh alternatives to live concerts:

  •  Live virtual mini concerts

Although Niemietz regularly performed mini concerts virtually prior to COVID-19, she ramped up the number of these online interactions on social media platforms.  The vast majority of the mini concerts were in the comfort of her own home: With Sara playing a variety of instruments (guitar, bass, keyboard and kazoo).

  • Sixty Second Sara videos

Early on during the Coronavirus outbreak, Niemietz created short videos that lasted around 60 seconds.  Some of the videos Sara generated were original compositions while other performances utilized cover versions of popular existing songs.

  •  Saraband

With a computer, sound board, musical instruments and various other audio equipment, Niemietz “cloned” herself and created “Saraband.”  The  Saraband video for the Smokey Robinson cover song, “You’ve Really Got a Hold of Me” is absolutely brilliant.

  •  Weekly Wacky Wednesday

Like clockwork, every Wednesday afternoon during the COVID-19 pandemic, Niemietz holds a weekly virtual live stream on social media. With these Internet performances, Sara performs a wide variety of songs and she encourages major interaction with her fans during these weekly sessions.

  • Saranade Podcast

At the beginning of November 2020, Niemietz produced her first podcast called Saranade.  Her debut message featured the song, “Don’t Walk Me Home” which is the third song on Sara’s new, “twentytwenty” live album.  I personally enjoyed listening to the first podcast: Niemietz did an excellent job imparting information and mixing in her music, for a pleasing balance of verbal communication and musical harmony.

Saranade Podcast audio link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1455049/6151573-episode-1-don-t-walk-me-home-the-411-on-twentytwenty

Sound engineer during the recording sessions of Sara’s “Twentytwenty” album.

Another major project that Niemietz worked on during the summer months was putting together a new live album which came to be called “twentytwenty.”  Sara, Snuffy Walden and a group of hand-picked musicians, performed two Santa Monica, California concerts in front of live audiences, during late February. The plan was to release a live album from these two shows, around the beginning of the summer. 

Just a couple of weeks after recording the February concerts, COVID-19 pandemic raged in America.  Once again, Niemietz had to switch gears with music endeavors and postpone the release date of her new “twentytwenty” album until October. 

Sara, Snuffy, musicians and singers during “twentytwenty” album recording sessions.

Before I give my overview of the new “twentytwenty” album, I want to share some of my email conversations that I had with Niemietz and her responses to my questions on how she dealt with the Coronavirus shutdown as a musician.

DJ Dave:    Please share anything related about the two concerts during late February that resulted in the “twentytwenty” album?

Sara:  It was a supreme joy to play with my friends, knowing this night would be captured forever! With that in mind, one could think the pressure would be high, but there was such a lovely, relaxed atmosphere in the room. The audience were close friends and select fans, so we could feel the love from the stage!

DJ Dave:   Can you tell me about the process of taking the live concert tapes and making them into the final product of a new album?

Sara:  It certainly helped keep us occupied during COVID lockdown! There was a lot of excel sheet making and note taking on my end, as Snuffy and I listened to the shows and decided which takes from which nights we’d use. It was like living the show all over again! Many times, in fact. A first for me, we could not all be in the room during the mixing process. Snuffy, George Landress (our mixing engineer for a decade), and I passed many files back and forth. Plenty of FaceTimes later, we got it all finished!

DJ Dave:   Do you have any comments about the recording of individual songs on the “twentytwenty” album?

Sara:  Our goal on this album was to capture a moment in time. Snuffy and I have been playing shows together for a decade and we wanted to capture the magic of a live show – really document this moment – and share it with listeners. I love studio recording and that environment is my second home, but there is something about playing live that is very hard to capture unless you’re there… in the room… with people… on a stage!

DJ Dave:  Describe being an independent musician/singer/songwriter without a major record label contract?

Sara:  Yes indeed! I am in it for the long haul. Nothing against all of the different paths musicians take to get their songs out there, but the indie path has been good to me. Miraculously, the album landed on the Top 100 Albums list on Billboard, which is very rare for an indie. It is really thanks to those that listen. I know everyone says “I have the best fans… yada yada…” but seriously – these friends of mine are the best and I am so grateful for their support. I feel weird saying “fans” because I just feel like we are all a bunch of wacky music lovers hanging out together.

Snuffy Walden and Sara Niemietz. Photo by Jeff Xander Photography

The day before “twentytwenty” was released on October 16, Sara and her musical partner Snuffy Walden, held a live stream virtual concert to promote her new album.  Joining Niemietz and Walden at this show were Jonathan Richards, Martin Diller, Andrew Kesler, Alex Nester, Mollie Weaver, Mihi Nihil, MWO and Kiya Schafer.

Most of the band members who played with Sara and Snuffy during the October 15th album premier concert, were also part of the two February shows, which culminated in Sara’s newest LP, “twentytwenty.”  The album was recorded live at Apogee Studio, Santa Monica, California, and all songs were produced by Niemietz and Walden.

From the “twentytwenty”  liner notes, here are the artists and musicians who performed on the live compilation album:

  • Guitar – W.G. Snuffy Walden
  • Guitar – Sara Niemietz
  • Piano – Andrew Kesler
  • Drums – Martin Diller
  • Bass – Jonathan Richards
  • Vocals- Sara Niemietz
  • Background Vocals – Alex Nester
  • Background Vocals – Mollie Weaver

There are 17 songs on the “twentytwenty” album.  Five of the selections are cover versions, while the other twelve songs on the live set are originals.   Niemietz is credited with writing or co-writing all 12 of the original songs:  Sara also shares co-writing credits with Snuffy Walden, along with a handful of other musical artists, on the outstanding compositions.

Here is the song order listing for the “twentytwenty” live recording:

  • Smile
  • I Smile
  • Don’t Walk Me Home
  • Made to Last
  • Monroe
  • Let Me Be
  • The Nearness of You
  • Go With the Flow
  • All Your Love
  • Feet Don’t Touch the Floor
  • Calling You
  • Hear Me Now
  • Out of Order
  • Shine
  • Waiting On the Day
  • On Ten
  • Stand By Me
My personal CD copy of “twentytwenty” autographed by Sara

Instrumentally, Sara and her band play a wide variety musical genres on the “twentytwenty.”    The musicians flow seamlessly combining pop, rock, jazz, blues, folk and country throughout the course of any given song. 

As I have listened repeatedly to the new live album, I have been impressed with the quality of musicianship with the band.  The live performances of existing songs from Sara’s musical catalog, brings new energy and freshness to many of the beloved tunes that Niemietz has recorded from past studio albums.

Of course, the main attraction of ‘twentytwenty” is the voice of Sara Niemietz.  Adjectives like exceptional, spectacular, incredible and impressive all come to my mind when I try to convey Sara’s accomplished vocal range. Niemietz expresses vocal excellence throughout her new live album set.

While there are many marvelous songs on Sara’s new album, I will be highlighting just a few of the sensational tunes with my review. I would encourage you to purchase a copy of “twentytwenty” so that you can discover and enjoy the full range of songs that Niemietz released last month.

Photo of Sara Niemietz by Jeff Xander Photography

When I survey the setlist of Sara’s new album, I am struck by a possibly unintentional foreshadowing of dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic.  The first two songs that Niemietz and her band played in late February, just a few weeks before COVID-19 consumed America, were “Smile” and “I Smile.”

  • Smile: Written by Charlie Chaplin, John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons (1936/1954)

“Smile, though your heart is aching, Smile, even though it’s breaking,

When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by

If you smile through your fear and sorrow, Smile and maybe tomorrow,

You’ll see the sun come shining through for you.”

  • I Smile: Written by Kirk Franklin, James Harris, Terry Lewis and Frederick Tackett (2011)

“Today’s a new day, but there is no sunshine, Nothing but clouds, and it’s dark in my heart,

And it feels like a cold night, Today’s a new day, where are my blue skies

Where is the love and the joy that you promised me, Tell me it’s alright,

I almost gave up, but a power that I can’t explain, Fell from heaven like a shower

I smile, even though I hurt see I smile,  I know God is working so I smile, Even though I’ve been here for a while, I smile, smile.”

There is an overriding theme with the above two songs and with many other tunes that Niemietz recorded for the new album:  When times are bad and bleak, don’t give up.  Smile.  Things will get better. This affirming message from Sara is powerful and is encouraging for me as I navigate through these final troubled months of 2020.

  • Monroe

Perhaps the most melodic song on the new live album is “Monroe.”  This tender ballad features Sara on acoustic guitar and outstanding standup bass playing from Jonathan Richards.  Niemietz provides superb emotional outpouring with her heavenly vocals on this wonderful tune. This selection is my current favorite on “twentytwenty.”

  • Made To Last

Snuffy Walden is an excellent guitarist and his guitar presentation on “Made to Last” is absolutely transcendent.  I appreciate Walden’s world-class guitar licks and the interplay of the other musicians with Sara’s stellar vocal range.  The tune has an infectious rhythmic section and is a hot rocking, flame throwing masterpiece.

  • On Ten

One of the encore songs for Sara during her February concerts is the lively, “On Ten.”  Musically, the song is a crown jewel:  A combination of rock, pop, jazz, blues and old school funk.  The band is in hyper-drive as they lay down fast-paced, up tempo grooves on this unforgettable musical treat.  Sara and the musicians are joyful performing this celebratory delight.

I highly recommend Sara’s live set compilation. For those who do not yet own a copy of the new album, here is the link to order this outstanding performance from Niemietz and her band.  Available in different formats:  Vinyl, DVD, CD and Digital Download:   https://www.saraniemietz.com/music

With anyone who is new to Sara’s music, her “twentytwenty” album is an excellent introduction and overview of the music Niemietz has recorded over the past 10 years.  No matter if you have been a fan for years or just learning about Sara’s music for the first time:  The “twentytwenty”  live set should be considered a priority, for adding to all personal music libraries.

Photo of Sara Niemietz by Jeff Xander Photography

The year of 2020 has been extremely hard, unpredictable and sometimes down right depressing for those around the world.  This is especially true for music artists.  With live concerts not being an option during COVID-19 pandemic, performers like Sara has turned negative situations into positive outcomes.

I imagine that Sara will be singing a cover of Wet Willie’s 1974 hit, “Keep on Smilin” into the year 2021.

“Keep on smilin’ through the rain, laughin’ at the pain

Rollin with the changes til the sun comes out again

Keep on smilin’ through the rain, laughin’ at the pain

Rollin’ with the changes, singin’ this refrain”

Turning lemons into lemonade is what Sara Niemietz has done throughout the year of 2020.  I am confident that she will continue the same course of action until Coronavirus has subsided in our world.  Keep on smiling, Sara!  Rock on!

To subscribe to my blog via email, please click the “Follow” button in the menu above.

Standard
Concert Reviews, Music, Retro Rock

Ringo Starr: With a Little Help From My Friends

 

What would you think if I sang out of tune?

Would you stand up and walk out on me?

Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song

And I’ll try not to sing out of key

 

Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,

Yes I get by with a little help from my friends,

With a little help from my friends

 

Imagine being 79 years old, headlining a rock concert tour and playing songs that were popular last century: Would you need a little help from your friends to pull off a successful concert tour? Most folks would probably say “yes” in answering that question.

Richard Starkey, professionally known as Ringo Starr, wasn’t afraid to ask for some help on his latest concert tour. In fact, Ringo’s All Starr Band provided a great deal of help to the drummer who first rose to superstardom as a member of the Beatles.

On Tuesday August 13th, Ringo and His All Starr Band came to Roanoke, Virginia, performing at the Berglund Center. For those who attended the show, Ringo and his band put on an excellent performance.

Founded 30 years ago, Ringo’s All Starr Band is actually a rock supergroup. Its members are all renowned musicians and instrumentalists who played in other prominent bands prior to joining Ringo’s rock group. Here are the current members of the All Starr Band and the former bands and artists associated with each member:

Ringo Starr – vocals, drums, piano (Beatles)

Colin Hay – guitar, vocals (Men at Work)

Hamish Stuart – bass, guitar, vocals (Average White Band, Paul McCartney)

Gregg Bissonette – drums, backing vocals (David Lee Roth)

Steve Lukather – guitars, vocals (Toto)

Gregg Rolie – organ, vocals (Santana, Journey)

Warren Ham – saxophone, keyboards, percussion, vocals (Kansas, AD, Toto)

Ringo Starr at Roanoke Concert 8/13/19 Photo by Sammy Oakey

The setlist for Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band consisted of 24 songs. Ringo performed 12 songs, while Gregg Rolie, Steve Lukather, Hamish Stuart and Colin Hay performed three songs each.

Ringo’s Setlist

  1. Matchbox (Beatles)
  2. It Don’t Come Easy (Solo)
  3. What Goes On (Beatles)
  4. Boys (Beatles)
  5. Don’t Pass Me By (Beatles)
  6. Yellow Submarine (Beatles)
  7. You’re Sixteen (Solo)
  8. Anthem (Solo)
  9. I Wanna be Your Man (Beatles)
  10. Photograph (Solo)
  11. Act Naturally (Beatles)
  12. With a Little Help From My Friends (Beatles)

(Give Peace a Chance: Chorus)

Gregg Rollie’s Setlist

  1. Evil Ways (Santana)
  2. Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen (Santana)
  3. Oye Como Va (Santana)

Steve Lukather’s Setlist

  1. Rosanna (Toto)
  2. Africa (Toto)
  3. Hold the Line (Toto)

Hamish Stuart’s Setlist

  1. Pick Up the Pieces (Average White Band)
  2. Cut the Cake (Average White Band)
  3. Work to Do (Isley Brothers/Average White band)

Colin Hay’s Setlist

  1. Down Under (Men at Work)
  2. Overkill (Men at Work)
  3. Who Can It Be Now (Men at Work)

Although Ringo had played at other venues in Virginia, this was the first time the Beatles’ drummer performed a show in Roanoke. It was also the first time that my wife Priscilla and I had ever attended a show with Ringo and His All Starr Band.

Just after Priscilla and I parked our car at the Berglund Center lot, we ran into my friend Dave Delaney, and then Dave introduced me to his friend Randy Lohr.

As the four of us waited in line to gain entry into the concert venue, I asked Delaney and Lohr if they could submit their comments to me after the show. Both agreed to share their thoughts with me and I am going to be sharing their comments below. I will also be sharing comments from some other friends and acquaintances that also attended the concert.

Priscilla and David Woodson before Ringo concert. Photo by Alice Webber

Before I share the comments on Ringo’s show, I am going to reveal the most common thread among every single person submitting their thoughts to me: Everyone said they were extremely disappointed and could not understand why there was no encore at the end of the concert.

The last song of the evening was “With a Little Help from My Friends,” along with the chorus of “Give Peace a Chance.” There was no encore and fans were not happy. Surely, Ringo and His All Starr Band could have performed songs like, “Back Off Boogaloo,” “The No No Song,” or “Goodnight Vienna” for encore songs? The lack of an encore was a major letdown for the crowd at the end of the evening.

Here now are thoughts and comments about Ringo’s show from those who attended the concert.

Dave Delaney (Roanoke, Virginia):

“The whole All-Starr Band was great as always, with Colin Hay from Men at Work as the surprise standout, such a distinctive voice! Even if he is a little bit stiff on stage. Steve Lukather on guitar is as impressive as ever. If there were any disappointments, it was that Ringo didn’t make any mention of being in “The Star City of the South” – how could you not say something about that?

“The Average White Band songs were fun to hear, but kind of fell flat in terms of featuring Hamish Stuart (which is the point of doing the “All Starr” songs). It could have been any cover band or this band covering any song. Other big surprise: apparently low attendance! I saw large sections of seats with no one in them. Based on the enthusiasm we get for “1964 The Tribute” every year, I would have thought there were a lot more Beatle/Ringo fans in Roanoke and the surrounding area.”

Randy Lohr (Richmond, Virginia):

“Ringo, in this setting, was the gracious host who was willing to give up the chance to play more of his songs so that his fellow artists could perform their big hits and entertain the crowd with them. It was like a great mix-tape of curated classic rock from the late ‘60s to the early ‘80s, ranging from the jam rock of Santana to the Brit funk of Average White Band, from the pop rock of Toto to the quirky new wave of Men At Work. Each of the “All Starrs” – Greg Rolie, Hamish Stuart, Steve Lukather, and Colin Hay – had an obvious blast playing back-up roles for each other, I think in deference to the ultimate back-up player in the house, Ringo himself!

“The concert started promptly at 7:30 (fitting for a musician whose job is to set the time!) and ended almost exactly two hours later at 9:30, with a rousing rendition of “With A Little Help From My Friends” (got a little goose-bumpy again as Ringo sang those first lines – so perfect) and then a pseudo-encore of “Give Peace A Chance,” for which Ringo ran back on stage to help finish, flashing his signature peace sign, and wishing us all well.”

Ringo Starr Roanoke Concert 8/13/19 Photo by Sammy Oakey

Sammy Oakey (Roanoke, Virginia):

“Any 79 year old who ends their two-hour concert by doing jumping jacks on stage has my respect, not that Richard Starkey lacked that before his recent Roanoke concert on August 13th. The current collection of All Starr Band members truly complement Ringo’s style and music, and the entire concert was enjoyable for the many generations that attended.

“While I love the songs that Ringo selected to sing, they’re the same numbers that he has been performing for several decades now, and I yearn for a few of his more obscure nuggets. “Only You”, “Octopus’ Garden”, and “”Goodnight Vienna” would surely be great additions to his show.

“Ringo looked and sounded great! While it was a blast to see him front and center at the microphone, it was equally exciting to see him climb up on his drum kit and play along to the other band members’ songs. He looked SO at ease on drums, and the years melted away with each beat of his drums. Having Greg Bissonette on the other drum kit was a great idea, as his stellar percussion and superb stage presence make him a true unsung hero.

“Instrumentalist Warren Ham also added a great deal to the show, with his various instrumental skills as well as some high vocals during “Africa”. While I enjoyed Steve Luthaker, Greg Rawley, and Colin Hay, I’d say my favorite band member (after Sir Ringo, of course!) was Hamish Stuart. The former Average White Band (and Paul McCartney band) member was more than stellar on his numbers, showing that he has lost none of his funk from the 70’s. “

Anne Fox (Roanoke, Virginia):

“I’ve loved Ringo since elementary school and would have gone to see him even if he just stood on stage and smiled. I found him funny and engaging and enjoyed all of his songs, esp. “Yellow Submarine” and “A Little Help From My Friends”. But the best treats of the evening came from his All Star Band, my favorites were from Santana and Toto. “Hold the Line” was great! From where we were sitting, the dialogue was difficult to understand. All in all, I had a delightful time and LOVED seeing Ringo!”

Ringo Starr Roanoke Concert 8/13/19 Photo By David Woodson

Alice Webber (Salem, Virginia):

“I was super excited about seeing Ringo. Probably my last chance to see a Beatle. I wish he had sung a few more Beatles songs. “Octopus’s Garden” would have been nice instead of “You’re 16” (which makes me cringe every time I hear it.) But overall it was really special to see him, he was a great showman, great with the audience, and you could tell he enjoyed the men he shared the stage with. What I didn’t expect (because I did no research) was the caliber of his All Starr band! Hearing “Africa,” “Down Under,” “Evil Ways” and the others was a wonderful surprise. The whole night was GREAT! Loved it!”

Stevie Holcomb (Roanoke, Virginia)

“Great concert, of course he has a way to let his All Stars have their moment without making you wish there were more Beatles songs. Having seen him before, I knew what to expect. It is nice to hear Santana and Average White Band song’s sprinkled through. Still, he did a few favorites and thankfully, didn’t do Liverpool 8 (even though he DID do Anthem, which may be just as bad, Ringo is not a great lyricist) which is plumb awful.”

Michelle Lionberger (Roanoke, Virginia):

“As an elder statesmen in the world of rock, Ringo still has it. Not only did he give a fantastic performance himself, he also put together a truly all star band featuring some outstanding musicians.”

Chuck Lionberger (Roanoke, Virginia):

“This was a fun concert. Ringo was awesome, of course and I equally enjoyed singing-a-long with Men At Work, Toto and Santana songs. It was like being transported back to high school. Not only was there incredible vocal talent but also amazing musical performances. These guys can play and sing along.”

Ringo Starr Roanoke Concert 8/13/19 Photo by Sammy Oakey

Nancy Helms Childress (Vinton, Virginia):

“I thought the concert was very well organized; letting Ringo sing with the other musicians taking turns singing their big hits. That was a great format. I was truly mesmerized watching the dual drummers, perfectly in sync! Amazing! Sometimes when Ringo was on the drums, I imagined John, Paul and George being on the stage with him. What a thrill that would have been! I have seen Paul McCartney in concert and now I have seen Ringo and I feel I am truly one of the lucky ones! I would go again to either or both if the opportunity ever comes up!”

Gayle Deel (Roanoke, Virginia):

“Ringo was in great form both physically and vocally, singing several of his signature songs, along with Yellow Submarine, which enthused all the Beatle fans.

This was special for me as I took my two sons, both drummers, to see him for the first time. Although they did note Ringo’s drum was not miked, only a true musician would notice that detail. The music of Santana, Average White Band. Toto and Men at Work brought back so many memories and was spot on.

“Ringo spoke and performed to the audience like he was playing in our living rooms. At one point he mentioned his “first” band: I know we all thought he was going to say The Beatles, but he gave a shout out to his original band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. Starr also mentioned his Beatle mates and ended his show with John’s “Give Peace a Chance,” with Ringo’s signature line, “peace and love” with the two finger V. I left in chills.”

 

Steve Lukather Roanoke Concert 8/13/19. Photo by Sammy Oakey

Thanks to everyone who submitted their comments for this Ringo Starr concert review.

Before I end this message, I will be sharing my favorite song by each of the four singing members of the All Starr Band and on the “Starr” of the concert, Ringo!

Gregg Rolie: “Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen”

Although I loved “Evil Ways,” a song that Rollie sang at Woodstock 50 years ago as lead singer of Santana, it was actually “Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen” that was musically pleasing to me. Rollie’s organ, Steve Lukather’s guitar and the rest of the All Starr Band bought out one of the best overall musical performances of the entire evening.

Steve Lukather: “Africa”

The All Starr Band played one of the greatest Yacht Rock songs of all time: Toto’s biggest hit “Africa.” Their version extended Colin Hay’s guitar and Warren Ham’s saxophone, which complimented Lukather’s guitar and vocals in an excellent way. The crowd seemed to resonate with the tune during this performance.

Hamish Stuart: “Pick Up the Pieces”

This song has always been a favorite tune for me. I had the opportunity to meet Stuart when the Average White Band played a concert in Roanoke in 1975, while I worked for radio station WROV. Every member of the All Starr Band contributed to the success of this tune, with superb musicianship on the stage. It was a true meshing of instrumental talent on this selection.

Colin Hay: “Overkill”

With terrific songs like “Down Under” and “Who Can It Be Now,” it was extremely hard for me to pick “Overkill” as my favorite song. I loved all three of the Men at Work songs, but Hay’s best vocals of the night came when he performed “Overkill.” Collectively, the All Starr Band had wonderful blending of guitars, keyboards and saxophone. I maintain it was the best overall performance that evening by the band.

Ringo Starr: “It Don’t Come Easy”

Easily my favorite Ringo song of the night was “It Don’t Come Easy,” which was co-written by George Harrison and became Ringo’s first solo hit single during the summer of 1971. I enjoyed hearing Warren Ham’s saxophone and Steve Lukather’s guitar on one of the most musically demanding Ringo tunes. I appreciated the All Starr Band’s playing on this timeless classic.

Ringo Starr Roanoke Concert 8/13/19 Photo by Sammy Oakey

It may sound like a cliché but Ringo has paid his dues. As the Roanoke Times music writer Tad Dickens stated in his review of Starr’s concert, “The Beatles drummer, who turned 79 last month, is an energetic and groove-oriented onstage presence, 30 years removed from rehab, and 30 years into leading his own All Starr Band.”

Ringo has paid his dues and he can now sing the blues. He did so with His All Starr Band in Roanoke on August 13th, 2019. Rock on, Ringo Starr!

It don’t come easy,

You know it don’t come easy.

 

Got to pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues,

And you know it don’t come easy.

 

You don’t have to shout or leap about,

You can even play them easy.

 

Forget about the past and all your sorrows,

The future won’t last,

It will soon be over tomorrow.

 

I don’t ask for much, I only want your trust,

And you know it don’t come easy.

 

To subscribe to my blog via email, please click the “Follow” button in the menu above. I am looking forward reading your comments on my latest blog message.

 

 

Standard
Artist Profiles, Concert Reviews, Music

Oshima Brothers: A Maine Treasure

The state of Maine is known for its rocky coastline, lighthouses, lobster, moose, blueberries, Acadia National Park and LL Bean.

Rarely does anyone outside of the Pine Tree State ever think about Maine’s music scene. I predict that will be changing when those outside of New England learn about the Oshima Brothers.

The Oshima Brothers are a musical duo composed of two siblings, older brother Sean, 24, and Jaime, 21. The brothers were born and raised in a rural area near the Maine state capital of Augusta, and now call the mid-coast town of Belfast, Maine their home.

Sean and Jamie have been playing music together as siblings since they were young boys. Their parents are also musicians.

Mom Toki and Dad John regularly played music during contra dances across the state of Maine and gave their sons an appreciation for music by playing multiple instruments. Music has always been the focus for the entire Oshima family.

So you may be wondering: What type of music do the brothers Oshima play? Here is a quote from the Oshima Brothers official website:

“…[T]he brothers have honed a harmony-rich blend of contemporary folk and acoustic pop. On stage, Sean and Jamie create a surprisingly full sound with dynamic vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, octave bass, loops, and percussion.”

Brothers Jamie and Sean both have distinct roles within their band and harmoniously blend individual strengths together to create the unique sound of their musical partnership.

Sean Oshima

Sean is the chief songwriter, business manager, and public relations director and handles all communications for the duo. He plays rhythm guitar, harmonica, and cajón at shows, along with vocal duties. Sean has an exceptional falsetto vocal range.

Jamie Oshima

Jamie is the music maestro, producer, recording/audio engineer and filmmaker for the band. He plays multiple instruments including the electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, mandolin, banjo, and fiddle while also recording songs and videos at the Oshima Brothers home studio. Jamie also shares vocal responsibilities with his brother.

I first came to be familiar with the Oshima Brothers band the day before they came to Roanoke, Virginia for a concert. My sister, Kathryn Larson, who lives in New Gloucester, Maine, has actually known Jamie and Sean since they were young boys.

Kathryn is a contra dance caller throughout the state of Maine and the Oshima Brothers, along with their parents John and Toki, have played at many contra dances over the years where Kathryn is the caller.

With Kathryn’s connection, I met Sean and Jamie three hours before their concert at The Spot on Kirk in downtown Roanoke on Monday January 14th. The Oshima Brothers were the opening band for singer-songwriter Caitlin Canty, as both were part of a 13-stop tour that was sponsored by the Americana Music Association.

During my interview with Jamie and Sean, I found out that they formed their band in 2015 and released the self-titled, “Oshima Brothers” album during 2016. They also have a 5-song EP called, “Under the Same Stars” that is currently not released to buy online but was available for purchase for those who attended their concert in Roanoke that evening.

Sean and Jamie Oshima

To get to know the Oshima Brothers better, here are some of the questions I asked Sean and Jaime about their band:

What artists influenced you when you were growing up?

Sean: We have been obsessed with The Beatles forever. We also listened to Jackson 5, Gillian Welch, Jack Johnson. Funk, reggae, traditional fiddle tunes, old country duets.

What type of artists do you listen to in 2019?

Sean: We love all types of music from groovy pop to smooth jazz. We listen to Ray Charles, John Mayer, Tom Misch, The Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver and on and on and on forever.

What is the one thing you most admire about your brother?

Sean: His clear focus. He’s obsessed with all things music. I admire the eagerness with which he dives into musical projects, new recordings, new videos. Jamie’s patience and relentlessness is amazing.

Jamie: I admire Sean’s ability to match his sock color to the occasion, mood, and atmosphere of an event, and his outfit. I don’t know, but he might have 100 pairs of socks. I also like his poetry. It’s pretty good.

Describe the type of music you play?

Sean: It’s sort of like indie-folk-pop. A little mix of everything. It can be groovy and dreamy and smooth and chill and acoustic and electric all at the same time. Rich with harmonies and bass and big drums then stark and sweet with acoustic guitar.

Oshima Brothers equipment

For their Roanoke concert, the Oshima Brothers performed 8 songs. Here is the setlist:

Nine Mile Kite

Ellie

Letter

Hearts As Full As The Moon

Broken

How Deep Is Your Love

These Cold Nights

Calling Your Name

Before Sean and Jamie opened their show, I gave each brother a bottle of Poland Spring water as a welcome to Roanoke and to help them have a pleasant reminder of their beloved home state of Maine.

The opening selection of “Nine Mile Kite” started out with Jaime and Sean wonderfully singing a capella before finishing their song with playing of instruments. An excellent tune to begin their show.

Wonderful harmonies were part of every Oshima Brothers song that was played at the Roanoke show. The concert was a good mix of up-tempo tunes and pleasing slow ballad grooves.

One of the highlights of the evening was the performance of a brand new single, “Ellie” which Sean said that Portland Maine Triple A radio station, WCLZ 98.9 FM is now playing and how it was thrilling hearing their song receiving air play in their home state. With the right radio exposure, I believe “Ellie” could become a hit with a wider audience.

Halfway through the set, Jamie broke out his fiddle for the toe-tapping song, “Broken” which was a crowd favorite. Two other songs that were highlights for the band were “These Cold Nights” and “Hearts as Full as the Moon.” There is a freshness with the Oshima Brothers’ music, with no two songs sounding alike.

Seven of the eight songs performed that evening were original tunes by the brothers. The one cover song they played, “How Deep Is Your Love” by the Bees Gees was superb. The falsetto vocal range and harmony of Sean and Jamie equally matched the singing by the Brothers Gibbs on their number 1 song from 1977.

Jamie and Sean’s songs are well crafted. Their harmonies are smooth and flow together beautifully, no matter which song they are performing. I especially enjoy the chord progressions on many of the tunes played by the brothers.

After the Oshima Brothers performed, Caitlin Canty took the stage with her acoustic guitar, laying down excellent tunes with folk, country and introspective storytelling. Accompanying Canty at this concert was Miss Tess, who did an outstanding job playing her upright bass.

Caitlin Canty and Miss Tess. Photo by Jamie Oshima

Since Caitlin toured with the Oshima Brothers on this 13-day January journey, I asked her if she could share some comments about the brothers and their music. Here are Caitlin’s thoughts to me via email at Caitlin Canty’s official website:

“The post-show chatter from the audience was always positive about OB [Oshima Brothers] – my favorite eavesdropped comment was, ‘they are a breath of fresh air.’ They are sweet and hardworking people and I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more good music from them in the years to come.”

Sean and Jamie Oshima

I absolutely agree with Caitlin’s assessment on the Oshima Brothers: I am confident that Sean and Jamie’s music will become popular to a wider audience and we will be blessed to hear much more new music from the brothers in the future. The Oshima Brothers are a Maine Treasure!

To subscribe to my blog via email, please click the “Follow” button in the menu above.

Standard