Concert Suggestions for Fall 2019

The first time I saw Steve Forbert was the only time I went to CBGB’s, only because back in the day I wasn’t much of a punkster (my loss). When Forbert first came to NY though, Hilly Kristal was booking more folky acts. By 1980, Forbert was already somewhat of a star, playing clubs all over the country, and owner of somewhat of a hit single, and he did a nostalgic gig there. Well, it’s almost 40 years later and Forbert is still gigging. He’ll be at the Towne Crier in Beacon, NY on Saturday, September 28, and then back a bit closer to the Turning Point in Piermont, NY on the 24th. He’s got a book out and I’m guessing he’ll be telling stories from them between songs.

It’s possible you’ve never heard of Jimmy Webb, but for sure you’ve heard the songs he’s written. “MacArthur Park,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Worst That Could Happen,” “Galveston,” “Up, Up And Away,” “All I Know,” and “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” – all number one hits for Glen Campbell, Art Garfunkel and others. He actually sings and plays piano pretty well himself. And you can imagine, he’s got some of the great- est stories – as a teenager he befriended Frank Sinatra as he sold him songs. I’ve seen him a bunch of times, and he attracts fans such as Judy Collins and Billy Joel, both of whom I watched while watching him.

He will be making an appearance at Daryl’s House in Pawling, NY, on Route 22, Saturday night October 26. By the way, in case you weren’t aware, the Daryl stands for the clubs owner, Daryl Hall.

Briana Murphy wrote about the Slavic Soul Party for the Star-Revue back in February. She said: What else is there to say about the band that has played at Barbès in Park Slope, Brooklyn almost every Tuesday for almost 15 years? They have established themselves as an institution in the neighborhood and the number of veteran audience members often vastly outnumbers the first-timers. Musicians are added throughout the night (and the band’s lineup has been subject to rotations and adjustments over the years), but the group is primarily comprised of trumpets, drums, an accordion, a tuba, and a saxo- phone.

Even those fairly unfamiliar with the general genre of Balkan brass will recognize and appreciate the dance-worthy elements that have been sampled in Billboard-topping dance anthems like Jason Derulo’s “Talk Dirty” and Fifth Harmony’s “Worth It.” Though the comparison is doubtless rather insulting to fans of Balkan brass and Slavic Soul Party! specifically, the overarching idea is simple – their music generates movement.

Slavic Soul Party is traveling from Barbes’ pretty small stage to the pretty big stage at Manhattan’s Symphony Space on Thursday, November 14, located at 2537 Broadway, at 95th Street.

Who doesn’t know about Lucinda Williams? Her father was an Arkansas poet chosen by Bill Clinton to read one of his poems at his second inauguration. By that time, Lucinda had already paid her dues first as a folk singer, and then lead- ing a tight band touring behind her highly crafted bluesy songs.

The first time I saw her was back in the 1990’s when she stood before the audience, just her and a guitar, doing some great songs from Lucinda Wil- liams and Sweet Old World, but before her breakout album, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.

I actually went to that show to see the opening act, Nashville’s Mark Germino, who was great, but also became a Lucinda fan, despite her somewhat surly stage patter. It’s the songs. Just like pitching, you can’t beat good songs.

Car Wheels is now 20 years old, and she’ll be celebrating it on September 20 at Port Chester’s Capital Theater, and the next night, September 21, in Princeton at the McCarter Theater, both great places to see shows, if you can get a decent seat.

I never watched the TV series Brooklyn Bridge, so I never heard of Jenny Lewis when she was an actress. Her band Rilo Kiley rings a bell, but I couldn’t name you a song. I’m sure I’ve seen the Watson Twins once, but I don’t remember a third singer.

But over the summer I heard a song on WFUV that blew my socks off, and as I am older man I can afford pretty decent socks. Red Bull and Hennessy is the third song on her album On the Line, released earlier this year. Every song on that album is unbe- lievably well written and the music is tremendous (Jim Keltner, Ringo, and Benmont Tench are on the album).

To me, it’s a recording that could have come out 40 years ago, and probably 40 years from now.

Do yourself a favor and get the album and go see her at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn on October 24th. I’ve already got my ticket….