Live Review: Amythst Kiah @ Strathmore Music Center — 9/30/21

Posted on 10/04/2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged alt-country, Americana, Amythyst Kiah, Nashville, Strathmore, Strathmore Music Center, Tennessee.

Amythyst Kiah (Photo by Sandlin Gaither)

I first saw Amythyst Kiah perform when she opened for Valerie June at The Birchmere in 2017. Since then, I’ve also seen her open for Yola, just before the pandemic hit, and for Brandi Carlile at Wolf Trap last month.

Her performance Thursday evening at Strathmore Music Center’s patio stage series was my first opportunity to see her headline a show, and it was also the first time I’ve gotten to see her play with a band. Here, she was backed up by a bassist and a drummer in a spare but effective format.

Live Review: Old Crow Medicine Show @ Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts — 9/25/21

Posted on 09/29/2021 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged Americana, bluegrass, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Nashville, Old Crow Medicine Show, Tennessee.

Old Crow Medicine Show performs at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts on Sept. 25, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)

Every once in a while, a community — heck, maybe even an entire town or city — needs a reminder to loosen up, that life is too short to avoid good times, and that sometimes simply making the effort to have fun can actually be a reward itself.

Whether it knew it or not, the City of Annapolis has been in need of a dose of laughs, song, and dance, and that is what it was gifted this past weekend in the form of a phenomenally entertaining performance put on by Old Crow Medicine Show, the string-heavy posse that has become famous for its rapid-fire old-time melodies and through 23-plus year has never skipped a beat in overcoming changes in personnel, evolving in sound and appearance to give a contemporary twist to its live shows and recordings.

Live Review: Soccer Mommy @ 9:30 Club — 9/19/21

Posted on 09/24/2021 by Will Colbert in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, lo-fi, Nashville, Soccer Mommy, Tennessee.

If you didn’t know better, Soccer Mommy, the stage name for singer-songwriter Sophia (Sophie) Allison, may bring about visions of minivans, orange slices, and participation trophies. Suburban tedium at its best. That couldn’t be further from the truth. During a recent show at 9:30 Club, Sophie and her indie rock band performed a set that was far from pedestrian.

Live Review: Elizabeth Cook with Waylon Payne @ Union Stage — 8/14/21

Posted on 08/18/2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, country, Elizabeth Cook, Nashville, Tennessee, Union Stage.

Elizabeth Cook (Photo courtesy the artist)

Elizabeth Cook and Waylon Payne had two of my favorite albums released last year — Aftermath and The Queer, The Harlot, the Pusher and Me — so I was extremely excited about Saturday evening’s show at the Union Stage. Payne opened the show with a 45-minute solo acoustic set, and Cook headlined with her full band, Gravy.

Preview: Hayley Fahey @ Pearl Street Warehouse – 8/15/21

Posted on 08/12/2021 by Mark Caicedo in Preview and tagged Americana, Hayley Fahey, Nashville, Pearl Street Warehouse, Tennessee.

Hayley Fahey (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

This Sunday, Aug. 15, DC native Hayley Fahey’s return to Pearl Street Warehouse promises to be a celebration in all respects: a return to her old stomping grounds, the joy of live, in-person music, and most significantly, the release of Hayley’s new EP.

Live Review: The War and Treaty @ Wolf Trap — 7/29/21

Posted on 08/05/2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged blues, Casey Vock, gospel, Nashville, soul, Tennessee, The War and Treaty, Wolf Trap.

The War and Treaty - Wolf Trap - 07.29.21 - CVock 2 — ***The War and Treaty perform at Wolf Trap on July 29, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)***

For the War and Treaty — the duo of Michael Trotter and Tanya Blount-Trotter — last week’s appearance at Wolf Trap was a homecoming. Tanya is a DC native, and friends and family of both Michael and Tanya appeared throughout the show. Tanya’s eighth grade band teacher played the trombone in their horn section, Michael’s mother came on stage for a song, and Tanya’s brother sang, too.

The War and Treaty has a Motown spirit, a country soul, and a classic rock ‘n’ roll heart. On July 29, their performance was full of high energy and infectious joy, and it got loud. There was plenty of crowd engagement, with Michael getting the crowd to sing and clap along. He formally greeted the audience by saying, “Welcome to the Church of the War and Treaty, formerly known as Wolf Trap.”

Live Review: Hawktail @ Rams Head on Stage — 7/26/21

Posted on 08/02/2021 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged bluegrass, folk, Hawktail, Nashville, Rams Head On Stage, Tennessee.

Hawktail performs at Rams Head on Stage on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)

While the pandemic might have been a blockade to the life and career of many musicians, it could very well have provided opportunity and inspiration for others to dig in with their colleagues to create special music that might provide an appropriate backdrop to these weirdest of times.

An instrumental outfit featuring Brittany Haas on violin, Paul Kowert on bass, Jordan Tice on guitar, and Dominick Leslie on mandolin, Hawktail visited Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis the evening of July 26 to deliver two captivating sets of powerful, intricately composed music that speaks to the group’s increasingly strong connection despite the challenges of the past year and half.

Preview: The War and Treaty @ Wolf Trap, 7/29/21

Posted on 07/27/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged blues, gospel, Nashville, soul, Tennessee, The War and Treaty, Wolf Trap.

The War and Treaty (Photo courtesy Red Light Management)

Since forming in 2014, The War and Treaty have amassed a following as eclectic as their sound itself, a bluesy but joyful fusion of Southern soul, gospel, country, and rock-and-roll.

Known for a live show nearly revival-like in intensity, the husband-and-wife team of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount-Trotter bring that exhilarating energy to Wolf Trap on Thursday, July 29!

Preview: Steve Earle & The Dukes @ The Birchmere, 7/20 + 7/21/21

Posted on 07/16/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Americana, country, Nashville, Steve Earle, Steve Earle and The Dukes, Tennessee, The Birchmere.

Steve Earle (Photo courtesy New West Records)

Steve Earle & The Dukes pay tribute to Steve’s late son, Justin Townes Earle (J.T.), who passed away on Aug. 20, 2020, in Nashville with their new album J.T. The album was released digitally on what would have been Justin’s 39th birthday on Jan. 4, via New West Records.

On July 20 and 21, Steve Earle & The Dukes perform two nights of shows at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Va. (Buy tix for the first night OR buy tix for second night.)

Live Review: The Wood Brothers @ Frederick Fairgrounds — 6/6/21

Posted on 06/08/2021 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged folk, Frederick Fairgrounds, Nashville, roots, Tennessee, The Wood Brothers.

WoodBros40 — ***The Wood Brothers heat things up at the Frederick Fairgrounds on June 6, 2021. (Photo by David LaMason)***

One thing you can say about The Wood Brothers, they sure know how to put on a show. And it was a celebration that seemed to signal good things to come.

It goes, really, without saying, but it’s been a tough year. For many in attendance at the Frederick Fairgrounds Sunday evening, this was the first time seeing a live performance since the winter of 2020 — a long thaw indeed! But as Oliver (guitar/vocals) and Chris Wood (bass/harmonica/vocals) and multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix hit the stage things started heating up. That’s both figurative and literal as the summer heat kept drive-in attendees going back for some much needed refreshments from their cars.