Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Summer Concerts 1: Tracy Chapman
I have to admit that i tend to forget about Tracy Chapman. Every couple of years I receive a new cd from her, listen a couple times, fall in love with her songwriting, give it a few spins on radio and then just forget. I do, however, remember how amazing she was to see perform live and snatched a ticket for her current tour.
Tracy is a powerful performer. She has a quiet strength. She is soft spoken but sings with a big voice produced effortlessly. It is truely as if the music is just passing through her. It isn't something that can be understood in a youtube clip but experienced in person. She brings a calming energy to her performances that is palpable to those in the audience. Her band was great, highlighted on a James Brown style rendition of "Give me One Reason", but she she showed her versatility performing a couple songs solo, including one on a strum stick, whipped out her bongos and even sat down to jam on a cajun box drum.
Seeing her at the Calvin Theater (august 1st) reminded me of all the songs I had forgotten: "Fast Car" "Talkin bout a Revolution" "Baby Can I Hold You" "Smoke & Ashes" "Crossroads". I had so loved her 2005 cd Where You Live and its commentary on American politics, but had forgotten the politics of her earlier music. As a songwriter she is equal parts lover and fighter.
Even as I'm writing this I'm reminding myself of other beautifully written songs by Ms. Chapman: "Never Yours" "New Beginning" "Change". This time I hope I don't forget.
For her complete list of tour dates this summer visit www.tracychapman.com. And even though its not the same, here are some clips.
The Lover
The Fighter
And I almost forgot to mention the thrill I had seeing newcomer Gaby Moreno open the show! Originally from Guatemala, she now resides in LA, has won songwriting awards and received praise from KCRW. She blew me away.
Tracy is a powerful performer. She has a quiet strength. She is soft spoken but sings with a big voice produced effortlessly. It is truely as if the music is just passing through her. It isn't something that can be understood in a youtube clip but experienced in person. She brings a calming energy to her performances that is palpable to those in the audience. Her band was great, highlighted on a James Brown style rendition of "Give me One Reason", but she she showed her versatility performing a couple songs solo, including one on a strum stick, whipped out her bongos and even sat down to jam on a cajun box drum.
Seeing her at the Calvin Theater (august 1st) reminded me of all the songs I had forgotten: "Fast Car" "Talkin bout a Revolution" "Baby Can I Hold You" "Smoke & Ashes" "Crossroads". I had so loved her 2005 cd Where You Live and its commentary on American politics, but had forgotten the politics of her earlier music. As a songwriter she is equal parts lover and fighter.
Even as I'm writing this I'm reminding myself of other beautifully written songs by Ms. Chapman: "Never Yours" "New Beginning" "Change". This time I hope I don't forget.
For her complete list of tour dates this summer visit www.tracychapman.com. And even though its not the same, here are some clips.
The Lover
The Fighter
And I almost forgot to mention the thrill I had seeing newcomer Gaby Moreno open the show! Originally from Guatemala, she now resides in LA, has won songwriting awards and received praise from KCRW. She blew me away.
Monday, May 11, 2009
15 year anniversary!
WNHU’s Wild Woman Radio (thats us!) celebrates its 15th anniversary with a special party/concert at Café Nine on Saturday, May 23rd featuring electro-rock band Lovewhip, New Haven’s Joanie Loves Tchotchokes and dj bixby (aka Sarah Cornelius of Wild Woman Radio). Tickets will be $6 at the door.
Wild Woman Radio was sprouted on WNHU to give a voice to the talented female musicians who are under represented on commercial radio and who offer an alternative to the Barbie-like pop singers created by the major record labels. The program has witnessed the positive upswings in the 1990’s, including the buzz of the politically charged riotgrrrl movement and the overwhelming support and success of the Lilith Fair Tour, and continued to support those artists during the ensuing backlash that immediately followed. One only has to view the Alternative music chart (Radio & Records top 40 alternative currently has 2 female fronted bands listed) to understand why this program is still as relevant today as it was when it began. The first seven or eight years of the show’s history was spearheaded by Helen Sherman, who retired from radio in 2001 and passed the torch to Sarah Cornelius. Other djs involved over the years include Pam Smith (currently hosting Amazon Radio on WPKN), Sharon Walsh, Robin Goldberg, Julie Loomis, Christine Malash and Meredith Tarr. Over the last five years, Wild Woman Radio as also supported female artists in presenting a concert series in New Haven and has hosted The Dresden Dolls, Kristin Hersh, Bitch, The Butchies, Awry (now My Brightest Diamond), Heloise & the Savoir Faire, Quitzow, Mieka Pauly, Patti Rothberg and more.
PERFOMING AT THE EVENT
LOVEWHIP:
Part of Boston’s underground but up-and-coming electro scene, Lovewhip is much more than just a band. They are an electro dance rock phenomenon. Living up to the name Lovewhip, they create a live show with the passionate vocals and dance moves of the “soulful electro-rock diva” (says the Boston Phoenix) Erin Harpe a.k.a. Empress Erin, she also rips out screaming electric guitar riffs as she taunts and teases the crowd. Building on influences as diverse as Blondie, Beck, Sean Paul, Missy Elliot, the B52’s and the Cars, Lovewhip has created a sound all their own. www.lovewhip.net
Lovewhip "Gimme That"
JOANIE LOVES TCHOTCHKES:
New Haven music scene veteran Kriss Santala fronts this great garage rock trio, bringing out the punk many previous fans hadn’t seen from her (having been involved in some quite softer singer/songwrtier projects). The band has been recording this spring and should have their first disc out soon.
DJ BIXBY:
DJ Bixby, aka Sarah Cornelius, is the current host of Wild Woman Radio and as a live dj spins danceable female centric music including electro, post punk, underground hip hop, 80’s alternative, etc.
Wild Woman Radio was sprouted on WNHU to give a voice to the talented female musicians who are under represented on commercial radio and who offer an alternative to the Barbie-like pop singers created by the major record labels. The program has witnessed the positive upswings in the 1990’s, including the buzz of the politically charged riotgrrrl movement and the overwhelming support and success of the Lilith Fair Tour, and continued to support those artists during the ensuing backlash that immediately followed. One only has to view the Alternative music chart (Radio & Records top 40 alternative currently has 2 female fronted bands listed) to understand why this program is still as relevant today as it was when it began. The first seven or eight years of the show’s history was spearheaded by Helen Sherman, who retired from radio in 2001 and passed the torch to Sarah Cornelius. Other djs involved over the years include Pam Smith (currently hosting Amazon Radio on WPKN), Sharon Walsh, Robin Goldberg, Julie Loomis, Christine Malash and Meredith Tarr. Over the last five years, Wild Woman Radio as also supported female artists in presenting a concert series in New Haven and has hosted The Dresden Dolls, Kristin Hersh, Bitch, The Butchies, Awry (now My Brightest Diamond), Heloise & the Savoir Faire, Quitzow, Mieka Pauly, Patti Rothberg and more.
PERFOMING AT THE EVENT
LOVEWHIP:
Part of Boston’s underground but up-and-coming electro scene, Lovewhip is much more than just a band. They are an electro dance rock phenomenon. Living up to the name Lovewhip, they create a live show with the passionate vocals and dance moves of the “soulful electro-rock diva” (says the Boston Phoenix) Erin Harpe a.k.a. Empress Erin, she also rips out screaming electric guitar riffs as she taunts and teases the crowd. Building on influences as diverse as Blondie, Beck, Sean Paul, Missy Elliot, the B52’s and the Cars, Lovewhip has created a sound all their own. www.lovewhip.net
Lovewhip "Gimme That"
JOANIE LOVES TCHOTCHKES:
New Haven music scene veteran Kriss Santala fronts this great garage rock trio, bringing out the punk many previous fans hadn’t seen from her (having been involved in some quite softer singer/songwrtier projects). The band has been recording this spring and should have their first disc out soon.
DJ BIXBY:
DJ Bixby, aka Sarah Cornelius, is the current host of Wild Woman Radio and as a live dj spins danceable female centric music including electro, post punk, underground hip hop, 80’s alternative, etc.
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