Live Review: Cris Jacobs @ The Hamilton Live — 11/8/19

Posted on 11/11/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, Baltimore, Cris Jacobs, Maryland, soul, The Hamilton.

Chris Jacobs performs at Levon Helm Studios on Nov. 10, 2019. (Photo by Andrew Gardecki)

Baltimore’s own Cris Jacobs kicked off his set at The Hamilton Live recently with “Rooster Coop,” and there was indeed “something funky in the barnyard.” “Rooster Coop” perfectly captures the Cris Jacobs Band experience: it’s vaguely Americana, but with deep, funky R&B grooves. Cris is not the only artist to delve into “Americana soul,” as he calls it — Chris Stapleton’s style could be similarly characterized — but Cris also brings a jam band sensibility to the affair.

Live Review: Con Brio @ The Hamilton Live — 10/10/19

Posted on 10/14/2019 by mdxpc in Live Review and tagged California, Con Brio, funk, R&B, San Francisco, soul, The Hamilton, The Hamilton Live.

Con Brio performs at The Hamilton Live on Oct. 10, 2019. (Photo by Rashad Polk)

The stage at The Hamilton was recently host to one of the funkiest bands to come out of the San Francisco Bay area — Con Brio. While Con Brio can easily be compared to other legendary groups from the same area such as Sly and the Family Stone or Tower of Power, another group that comes to mind is Metallica. Though there isn’t too much in common on the surface, both bands seem to continually deliver on the promise of their respective band names.

Live Review: John Mayall @ The Hamilton Live — 8/22/19

Posted on 08/26/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged blues, England, John Mayhall, The Hamilton, The Hamilton Live.

John Mayall (Photo by David Gomez)

The Hamilton introduced John Mayall on Thursday evening as “the godfather of British Blues.” In his sixth decade as a professional musician, the 85-year-old Mayall still appears pretty spry, and he remained on his feet for his entire performance. John is just as well-preserved mentally, and he filled the transitions between songs with informative context and droll British wit.

Live Review: Amanda Shires @ The Hamilton Live — 8/17/19

Posted on 08/21/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Amanda Shires, Americana, Ari Strauss, folk, Nashville, Tennessee, The Hamilton, The Hamilton Live.

Amanda Shires performs at The Hamilton Live in DC on Aug. 17, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

A strong crowd turned out for Amanda Shires’s “music show,” as she put it, at The Hamilton recently. At the beginning of her set, the lights dimmed and Leonard Cohen’s “You Want It Darker” played as Amanda and her band took the stage. Amanda began with material from the critically acclaimed album she released last year, To the Sunset, slinging her electric guitar, appropriately enough, on “Break Out the Champagne.”

Snapshots: Bencoolen @ The Hamilton Live — 8/10/19

Posted on 08/14/2019 by Ari Strauss in Live Review, Local Spotlight and tagged Bencoolen, blues, DC, funk, rock, The Hamilton, The Hamilton Live.

Teddy Scott (left) and Paul Gregg (right) of Bencoolen perform at The Hamilton Live, Aug. 10, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss/ aristrauss.com)

DC-based Bencoolen performed an opening set at The Hamilton Live recently, delivering an energized 45-minute set to warm the crowd for the jazz/funk sextet Naughty Professor from New Orleans.

Live Review: Cosmic Honky Tonk Revue featuring Chuck Mead, Jim Lauderdale, and Jason Ringenberg @ The Hamilton Live — 7/23/19

Posted on 07/28/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged alt-country, Americana, Chuck Mead, country, Jason Ringenberg, Jim Lauderdale, Nashville, Tennessee, The Hamilton, The Hamilton Live.

Jim Lauderdale performs at MerleFest on April 27, 2019. (Photo by cp_thornton)

The Cosmic Honky Tonk Revue stopped at The Hamilton recently to showcase the talents of three major figures in alternative country and Americana music: Jason Ringenberg (Jason & The Scorchers), Chuck Mead (BR5-49), and Jim Lauderdale. “Cosmic Honky Tonk” was itself a play on legendary — and tragic — country-rocker Gram Parson’s “cosmic American music.”

Live Review: The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band @ The Hamilton Live — 7/21/19

Posted on 07/24/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged blues, country, Indiana, roots, The Hamilton, The Hamilton Live, The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band.

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band (photo courtesy the Big Damn Band)

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band put on an authentic blues performance at The Hamilton Live recently. The good Reverend and his wife, who plays the washboard, and his drummer are “real people playing real instruments.” The Reverend derided the use of taped tracks, which, he said, even some blues bands have come to practice. Not only is it phoney, “it still sounds like shit,” he said.

Live Review: Jimmie Vaughan @ The Hamilton Live — 7/20/19

Posted on 07/23/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Austin, blues, Chester Simpson, Jimmie Vaughan, Texas, The Hamilton, The Hamilton Live.

Jimmie Vaughan-7-20-19-126
Jimmie Vaughan performs at The Hamilton Live on July 20, 2019. (Photo by Chester Simpson)

“Worth the price of admission,” said the woman sitting next to Parklife DC photographer Chester Simpson after legendary Texas blues guitarist Jimmie Vaughan finished his solo on a piece by Slide Hampton.

Interview: Chuck Mead (@ The Hamilton Live, 7/23/19)

Posted on 07/19/2019 by Mark Engleson in Interview, Preview and tagged alt-country, Americana, Chuck Mead, country, Interview, Nashville, Tennessee, The Hamilton, The Hamilton Live.

Chuck Mead (Photo by Joshua Moon Wilkins)

In the ’90s through the mid ’00s, Chuck Mead led the (alt-)country band BR5-49, which placed several albums into the country charts, despite minimal radio airplay. Following the band’s hiatus, Chuck became the musical director for the Broadway show Million Dollar Quartet and its TV spin-off, Sun Records. Chuck has also released four solo records including, just this June, Close to Home.

This coming Tuesday, July 23, Chuck will appear in the Cosmic Honky Tonky Revue at The Hamilton Live with Jason Ringenberg and Jim Lauderdale. Mark Engleson of Parklife DC caught up with him before the show.

Preview: Cosmic Honky Tonk Revue featuring Chuck Mead, Jim Lauderdale, and Jason Ringenberg @ The Hamilton Live, 7/23/19

Posted on 07/18/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged alt-country, Americana, Jason & the Scorchers, Jason Ringenberg, Nashville, Tennessee, The Hamilton, The Hamilton Live.

Jason Ringenberg (Photo courtesy Michael J. Media Group LLC)

Can’t make it to Nashville’s Broadway to enjoy a good night of honk tonks? That’s OK because three very talented musicians — Chuck Mead, Jim Lauderdale, and Jason Ringenberg — are bringing their Cosmic Honky Tonk Revue to us in DC at The Hamilton Live on Tuesday, July 23!