A couple of weeks before a Morrissey gig, a thirty-something friend had defined Mozza as “a post-Punk Dylan”.
Though a recent convert, I’m a great admirer of Morrissey (and The Smiths). I went to see Mozza solo at his enthralling recent London Roundhouse gig with the challenging Dylan comparison in mind – it had had me ruminating for days.
Morrissey, ex-front man of English post-Punk indie pioneers The Smiths and a solo artist for over twenty years, is certainly the nearest musician there is to a Dylan for a younger generation.
Like Dylan, Morrissey’s main strength is as a writer: he’s a superior pop lyricist to anyone of his generation. Like Dylan, Morrissey is revered by a large, loyal fanbase. Like Dylan, Morrissey/Smiths had a profound impact on the direction of popular music. And, like Dylan, Morrissey has a charismatic stage presence.
But comparisons stop there.
Dylan has far more depth and breadth than the Mozz. His writing and music draws on far more sources than Morrissey’s. Both his artistic canvas and his palette are far richer than Mozza’s.
In a nutshell, Dylan is a great artist with universal resonance: he explores what it is to be human. Morrissey is a great entertainer with a narrower focus: he explores what it is to be Morrissey.
Gerry Smith
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Palestrina portrayed
Giovanni Palestrina is one of the great sacred writers. His masses, from his mid-16thC tenure in the Vatican, are one of the high points of Western culture.
Missa Papae Marcelli of 1567, using six voices, and Missa Brevis are the best-known. Even if you don’t know them by name, you’ll almost certainly recognise the melodies as they’re commonly used as scene-setters, denoting “Renaissance/High Church”, on television.
Though few classical music listeners would rank Palestrina in their top five composers, many great musicians, better known than Palestrina, would beg to differ - he has always enjoyed a high reputation among later composers, who could wonder at his exemplary craft.
And his reputation as a great cult composer among the listening public has been growing, slowly but inexorably: 450 years after his peak, Palestrina could well be a coming man.
The second part of BBC Four TV’s Sacred Music was a revealing tribute to the glory of Palestrina’s music. You can catch a repeat, back-to-back with the first programme, on BBC Four on Sunday, 1900-2100.
And in a fortnight, the richly shot series reaches the Main Man – Johann Sebastian Bach.
Great art. Wonderful arts television. Highly recommended music for grown-ups.
Gerry Smith
Missa Papae Marcelli of 1567, using six voices, and Missa Brevis are the best-known. Even if you don’t know them by name, you’ll almost certainly recognise the melodies as they’re commonly used as scene-setters, denoting “Renaissance/High Church”, on television.
Though few classical music listeners would rank Palestrina in their top five composers, many great musicians, better known than Palestrina, would beg to differ - he has always enjoyed a high reputation among later composers, who could wonder at his exemplary craft.
And his reputation as a great cult composer among the listening public has been growing, slowly but inexorably: 450 years after his peak, Palestrina could well be a coming man.
The second part of BBC Four TV’s Sacred Music was a revealing tribute to the glory of Palestrina’s music. You can catch a repeat, back-to-back with the first programme, on BBC Four on Sunday, 1900-2100.
And in a fortnight, the richly shot series reaches the Main Man – Johann Sebastian Bach.
Great art. Wonderful arts television. Highly recommended music for grown-ups.
Gerry Smith
Thursday, March 27, 2008
New Dylan and Stones books @ bargain prices
Thanks to Peter Bonor:
“Zavvi in London’s Oxford St (former Virgin Megastore) had the new Flametree paperback edition of Highway 61 Revisited (Legendary Sessions) by Colin Irwin at £5 (down from about £12) a couple of weeks ago.
“They also had piles of the companion volume by Alan Clayson on the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet.”
“Zavvi in London’s Oxford St (former Virgin Megastore) had the new Flametree paperback edition of Highway 61 Revisited (Legendary Sessions) by Colin Irwin at £5 (down from about £12) a couple of weeks ago.
“They also had piles of the companion volume by Alan Clayson on the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet.”
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Morrissey, Beck and Bjork playing in English fields
Asked to list my top 5 rockpop favourites who are not ravaged by age, I’d have to include Morrissey, Beck and Bjork.
And all three are booked to play gigs in English fields, albeit rather posh fields, in the same July weekend this summer.
Mozza and Beck headline the Friday (4 July) at the O2 Wireless Festival in London’s Hyde Park, while Bjork is booked for the 5 July one-day Knebworth Festival, 35 miles up the A1.
Hmmm … difficult … seen Morrissey recently … could miss him … ; Beck isn’t touring theatres, by the looks of it, so would it be worth risking the weather, the drunken karaoke, the tedious chips-on-both-shoulders ex-colonials waving flags promoting their silly little countries? … probably not …; better try booking Bjork on her Anglo tour instead.
Three keynote younger poprockers for grown-ups. Pity about the venues: open-air gigs aren’t about music - they’re for adolescents, of all ages.
Gerry Smith
And all three are booked to play gigs in English fields, albeit rather posh fields, in the same July weekend this summer.
Mozza and Beck headline the Friday (4 July) at the O2 Wireless Festival in London’s Hyde Park, while Bjork is booked for the 5 July one-day Knebworth Festival, 35 miles up the A1.
Hmmm … difficult … seen Morrissey recently … could miss him … ; Beck isn’t touring theatres, by the looks of it, so would it be worth risking the weather, the drunken karaoke, the tedious chips-on-both-shoulders ex-colonials waving flags promoting their silly little countries? … probably not …; better try booking Bjork on her Anglo tour instead.
Three keynote younger poprockers for grown-ups. Pity about the venues: open-air gigs aren’t about music - they’re for adolescents, of all ages.
Gerry Smith
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
FREE! Music for grown-ups on air in the next seven days
Over the next seven days, I hope to catch/record these tempting TV/radio broadcasts:
Wed/Th - nothing
Fri 28 March
2000 Sacred Music (2/4) – BBC Four
2230 Dizzy Gillespie, Jazz Library – BBC Radio 3
Sat 29 March
2000 Buddy Holly, Icons Revisited (1/10), BBC Radio 2
Mon 31 March
2045 Manuel de Falla, Composer Of The Week – BBC Radio 3
(1/5, continues Tues-Fri)
2230 Karita Mattila (Finnish soprano), Artist Focus - BBC Radio 3
(1/4, continues Tues-Thurs)
2300 Maths And Music - BBC Radio 3, (1/4, continues Tues-Thurs)
Gerry Smith
Wed/Th - nothing
Fri 28 March
2000 Sacred Music (2/4) – BBC Four
2230 Dizzy Gillespie, Jazz Library – BBC Radio 3
Sat 29 March
2000 Buddy Holly, Icons Revisited (1/10), BBC Radio 2
Mon 31 March
2045 Manuel de Falla, Composer Of The Week – BBC Radio 3
(1/5, continues Tues-Fri)
2230 Karita Mattila (Finnish soprano), Artist Focus - BBC Radio 3
(1/4, continues Tues-Thurs)
2300 Maths And Music - BBC Radio 3, (1/4, continues Tues-Thurs)
Gerry Smith
Monday, March 24, 2008
Ornette Coleman, Billy Cobham and Philip Glass at outstanding Adelaide Festival
Thanks to Andrew Robertson:
“Adelaide has been the place to be in March 2008 with the Adelaide Festival of Arts, Adelaide Fringe and Womadelaide all on at the same time!
“By way of brief background, the Festival is biennial and probably likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future whereas both the Fringe and Womad converted to annual events a couple of years ago and despite some fears of overkill, have continued to grow in size and popularity.
“This year’s Festival has been outstanding, with the strongest music program I can recall – we’ve seen not one, but two rolled gold jazz legends, the Australian premiere of the opera Ainadamar (Fountain of Tears) and The Book of Longing, a wonderful collaboration between Leonard Cohen and Philip Glass.
“The Fringe program included Ron Sexsmith who I unfortunately had to miss due to work commitments and fascinating presentation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, which comprised two versions of the same work – one by a classical pianist who played it as written, followed by “improvisations on the same work” by an Australian jazz pianist and composer called Paul Grabowski (who I understand has an international reputation so some readers may know of him).
“On the jazz front, we had Ornette Coleman with his extraordinary band, then Billy Cobham and Colin Towns presenting a Celebration of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, two very special concerts indeed.
“Ornette Coleman’s band comprised a drummer (his son), double bass, two electric basses and him. Hardly a traditional combination but then, what about Ornette Coleman was traditional?
“The double bass was played more like a cello, mostly with a bow, and was more like a “lead” than “rhythm” instrument. Ornette played primarily saxophone, but also some trumpet and violin in what could only be described as a virtuoso performance. Watching him shuffle onto the stage looking like an old man (except for the psychedelic suit!) my expectations weren’t high – I wasn’t sure he’d even have the strength to blow a note. But with instrument in hand he transformed and became the music. The standing ovation he received confirmed that the audience knew it had seen something the likes of which we wouldn’t see again.
“Billy Cobham was also amazing. The band was not called the Mahavishnu Orchestra but the program was called a Celebration of which I thought was appropriately respectful. All pieces but one were John McLaughlin compositions, including Birds of Fire. The band included Guy Barker who I saw playing with Georgie Fame at Ronnie Scott’s a few years ago, and I think he has also played with Van the Man.
“This concert was with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the integration of the orchestra and the jazz ensemble was faultless. Indeed, last year I saw Herbie Hancock with the ASO doing a setlist that was centred around the Gershwin’s World album however although it was a great concert, I left thinking the orchestra hadn’t been really necessary because the orchestra and the band had seemed to play separately.
“Not so with Billy Cobham and Colin Towns who as the conductor seemed to pull it all together. The band included a trombonist called Marshall Gilkes who was a revelation – I grew respect for the trombone which I had previously thought of as secondary to the trumpet and sax.
“The star of the show, of course, was Billy Cobham – his endless energy and awesome power, his infectious smile and of course, his drumming. And anyone who’s played with Miles has to be worth seeing!
“Hard to choose, but perhaps The Book of Longing was the highlight, if I had to pick one. An eight piece ensemble including Philip Glass on piano, plus four vocalists (tenor, soprano, baritone, mezzo soprano) really made the poetry come to life. There were some recorded pieces of Leonard Cohen reading, but mostly the poetry had been set to music and sung. The arrangements were simple but beautiful, so they didn’t overpower the poetry. Visually the performance was supported by projections of Leonard Cohen’s art. Magical.
“So Adelaide may well be down under, but from time to time we feel like we are the centre of the universe!
“Best wishes from Andrew in Adelaide.”
“Adelaide has been the place to be in March 2008 with the Adelaide Festival of Arts, Adelaide Fringe and Womadelaide all on at the same time!
“By way of brief background, the Festival is biennial and probably likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future whereas both the Fringe and Womad converted to annual events a couple of years ago and despite some fears of overkill, have continued to grow in size and popularity.
“This year’s Festival has been outstanding, with the strongest music program I can recall – we’ve seen not one, but two rolled gold jazz legends, the Australian premiere of the opera Ainadamar (Fountain of Tears) and The Book of Longing, a wonderful collaboration between Leonard Cohen and Philip Glass.
“The Fringe program included Ron Sexsmith who I unfortunately had to miss due to work commitments and fascinating presentation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, which comprised two versions of the same work – one by a classical pianist who played it as written, followed by “improvisations on the same work” by an Australian jazz pianist and composer called Paul Grabowski (who I understand has an international reputation so some readers may know of him).
“On the jazz front, we had Ornette Coleman with his extraordinary band, then Billy Cobham and Colin Towns presenting a Celebration of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, two very special concerts indeed.
“Ornette Coleman’s band comprised a drummer (his son), double bass, two electric basses and him. Hardly a traditional combination but then, what about Ornette Coleman was traditional?
“The double bass was played more like a cello, mostly with a bow, and was more like a “lead” than “rhythm” instrument. Ornette played primarily saxophone, but also some trumpet and violin in what could only be described as a virtuoso performance. Watching him shuffle onto the stage looking like an old man (except for the psychedelic suit!) my expectations weren’t high – I wasn’t sure he’d even have the strength to blow a note. But with instrument in hand he transformed and became the music. The standing ovation he received confirmed that the audience knew it had seen something the likes of which we wouldn’t see again.
“Billy Cobham was also amazing. The band was not called the Mahavishnu Orchestra but the program was called a Celebration of which I thought was appropriately respectful. All pieces but one were John McLaughlin compositions, including Birds of Fire. The band included Guy Barker who I saw playing with Georgie Fame at Ronnie Scott’s a few years ago, and I think he has also played with Van the Man.
“This concert was with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the integration of the orchestra and the jazz ensemble was faultless. Indeed, last year I saw Herbie Hancock with the ASO doing a setlist that was centred around the Gershwin’s World album however although it was a great concert, I left thinking the orchestra hadn’t been really necessary because the orchestra and the band had seemed to play separately.
“Not so with Billy Cobham and Colin Towns who as the conductor seemed to pull it all together. The band included a trombonist called Marshall Gilkes who was a revelation – I grew respect for the trombone which I had previously thought of as secondary to the trumpet and sax.
“The star of the show, of course, was Billy Cobham – his endless energy and awesome power, his infectious smile and of course, his drumming. And anyone who’s played with Miles has to be worth seeing!
“Hard to choose, but perhaps The Book of Longing was the highlight, if I had to pick one. An eight piece ensemble including Philip Glass on piano, plus four vocalists (tenor, soprano, baritone, mezzo soprano) really made the poetry come to life. There were some recorded pieces of Leonard Cohen reading, but mostly the poetry had been set to music and sung. The arrangements were simple but beautiful, so they didn’t overpower the poetry. Visually the performance was supported by projections of Leonard Cohen’s art. Magical.
“So Adelaide may well be down under, but from time to time we feel like we are the centre of the universe!
“Best wishes from Andrew in Adelaide.”
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
FREE! Music for grown-ups on air in the next seven days
Over the next seven days, I hope to catch/record these tempting TV/radio broadcasts:
Wed 19 March:
2045 Schoenberg, Composer Of The Week (3/5) – BBC Radio 3
(Plus programme 4 on Thurs, 5 on Fri)
Good Friday 21 March:
1830 Bach’s St John Passion - BBC Radio 3
2000 Sacred Music (1/4) – BBC Four (repeated Sat 1900)
2230 Anita O’Day, Jazz Library – BBC Radio 3
Sun 23 March:
2030 Sacred Music - live concert – BBC Four
Monday 24 March:
2230 Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour (Instruments) - BBC Radio 2
Gerry Smith
Wed 19 March:
2045 Schoenberg, Composer Of The Week (3/5) – BBC Radio 3
(Plus programme 4 on Thurs, 5 on Fri)
Good Friday 21 March:
1830 Bach’s St John Passion - BBC Radio 3
2000 Sacred Music (1/4) – BBC Four (repeated Sat 1900)
2230 Anita O’Day, Jazz Library – BBC Radio 3
Sun 23 March:
2030 Sacred Music - live concert – BBC Four
Monday 24 March:
2230 Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour (Instruments) - BBC Radio 2
Gerry Smith
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Shine A Light, the new Rolling Stones film & album: encore
The Rolling Stones are the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band – and self-promo specialists - in the world. No doubt about that. Whenever new Stones product is about to hit the streets, boy do you know about it!
With a few weeks to the launch of Shine A Light, the new film/double live album, the Stones are everywhere once again – in the mag racks (on the covers of current issues of both major heritage rock monthlies, UNCUT and MOJO); on the radio; in newspaper and magazine website advertising; and, I’d bet my life on it, TV/radio programmes, ads and interviews will be lined up ready to roll nearer the release dates.
Some people disdain the Stones’s strong commercial impulse. I applaud it - great musicians, great self-promoters; rich men, satisfied customers.
Gerry Smith
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EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
Shine A Light, the new live Rolling Stones 2CD, recorded at the Beacon, New York City in late 2006, is set for UK release on Monday 7 April. (Tracklist below.)
It’s followed on Friday 11 April by the nationwide UK release of the film of the same name, directed by Martin Scorsese. And preceded on Wednesday 2 April by the film’s UK premiere – in London, but also to be shown in 100 cinemas nationwide: tickets cost £12.50.
Album tracks:
Jumping Jack Flash
Shattered
She Was Hot
All Down The Line
Loving Cup (with Jack White)
As Tears Go By
Some Girls
Just My Imagination
Faraway Eyes
Champagne And Reefer
Tumbling Dice
You Got The Silver
Connection
Sympathy For The Devil
Live With Me
Start Me Up
Brown Sugar
Satisfaction
Paint It, Black
Little T and A
I’m Free
Shine A Light
I’ll be passing on the CD and the cinema show, but waiting to buy the DVD in about three months – unless it’s as ludicrously overpriced as the last two Stones concert DVDs - Forty Licks and The Biggest Bang – which, combined, cost a cool £100 – about £75 too much - when I last looked in HMV!
Gerry Smith
With a few weeks to the launch of Shine A Light, the new film/double live album, the Stones are everywhere once again – in the mag racks (on the covers of current issues of both major heritage rock monthlies, UNCUT and MOJO); on the radio; in newspaper and magazine website advertising; and, I’d bet my life on it, TV/radio programmes, ads and interviews will be lined up ready to roll nearer the release dates.
Some people disdain the Stones’s strong commercial impulse. I applaud it - great musicians, great self-promoters; rich men, satisfied customers.
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
Shine A Light, the new live Rolling Stones 2CD, recorded at the Beacon, New York City in late 2006, is set for UK release on Monday 7 April. (Tracklist below.)
It’s followed on Friday 11 April by the nationwide UK release of the film of the same name, directed by Martin Scorsese. And preceded on Wednesday 2 April by the film’s UK premiere – in London, but also to be shown in 100 cinemas nationwide: tickets cost £12.50.
Album tracks:
Jumping Jack Flash
Shattered
She Was Hot
All Down The Line
Loving Cup (with Jack White)
As Tears Go By
Some Girls
Just My Imagination
Faraway Eyes
Champagne And Reefer
Tumbling Dice
You Got The Silver
Connection
Sympathy For The Devil
Live With Me
Start Me Up
Brown Sugar
Satisfaction
Paint It, Black
Little T and A
I’m Free
Shine A Light
I’ll be passing on the CD and the cinema show, but waiting to buy the DVD in about three months – unless it’s as ludicrously overpriced as the last two Stones concert DVDs - Forty Licks and The Biggest Bang – which, combined, cost a cool £100 – about £75 too much - when I last looked in HMV!
Gerry Smith
Monday, March 17, 2008
Sacred music – BBC Four’s promising new series
BBC Four, the TV channel for grown-ups, continues its exciting programming of high quality music with a promising new four-part series on sacred music, starting on Good Friday.
Sounds like Musical Heaven to me … not to be missed …
This is what they’re saying about it:
“Taking the viewer on a pilgrimage spanning six centuries … performed by the award-winning choir 'The Sixteen' conducted by Harry Christophers …
“In the opening programme 'The Gothic Revolution' begins at St Paul’s Cathedral … travels to Paris to discover how, at the close of the twelfth century, plainsong (chant) became polyphony (music of ‘many voices’) – the birth of harmony in the west.
“The next stop in the series is Italy. In 'Palestrina and the Popes' … links between the papal intrigues of Renaissance Rome and the music of the enigmatic Palestrina, 'The Prince of Music'. Palestrina’s work is considered by many to be unsurpassed in its spiritual perfection, but running underneath it is the turbulent story of the counter-reformation, which would have a dramatic impact on the composer’s life and music …
“ episode three 'Tallis, Byrd and the Tudors' … the effect of Henry VIII’s break with the Pope and the subsequent tumultuous history of the founding of the Protestant Church in England through the careers of two professional church musicians who were also superlative choral composers …
“ … Germany where Luther’s Protestant Reformation led to a musical revolution and ultimately to the glorious works of Johann Sebastian Bach …
“A 90-minute celebratory concert accompanies the documentaries with music from the series for Easter Sunday performed by Harry Christophers and 'The Sixteen', specially recorded at LSO St Luke’s in London.”
Gerry Smith
Sounds like Musical Heaven to me … not to be missed …
This is what they’re saying about it:
“Taking the viewer on a pilgrimage spanning six centuries … performed by the award-winning choir 'The Sixteen' conducted by Harry Christophers …
“In the opening programme 'The Gothic Revolution' begins at St Paul’s Cathedral … travels to Paris to discover how, at the close of the twelfth century, plainsong (chant) became polyphony (music of ‘many voices’) – the birth of harmony in the west.
“The next stop in the series is Italy. In 'Palestrina and the Popes' … links between the papal intrigues of Renaissance Rome and the music of the enigmatic Palestrina, 'The Prince of Music'. Palestrina’s work is considered by many to be unsurpassed in its spiritual perfection, but running underneath it is the turbulent story of the counter-reformation, which would have a dramatic impact on the composer’s life and music …
“ episode three 'Tallis, Byrd and the Tudors' … the effect of Henry VIII’s break with the Pope and the subsequent tumultuous history of the founding of the Protestant Church in England through the careers of two professional church musicians who were also superlative choral composers …
“ … Germany where Luther’s Protestant Reformation led to a musical revolution and ultimately to the glorious works of Johann Sebastian Bach …
“A 90-minute celebratory concert accompanies the documentaries with music from the series for Easter Sunday performed by Harry Christophers and 'The Sixteen', specially recorded at LSO St Luke’s in London.”
Gerry Smith
Friday, March 14, 2008
Leonard Cohen European tour
Have you booked yet? Better hurry up!
Booking for London O2 and Manchester Opera House opened this morning. The Manchester option on Ticketmaster didn’t let me buy, so I booked for London O2, very reluctantly – far too big, far too expensive … .
I wouldn’t have booked this venue at these prices for anyone else, not even St Bob … industrialised fun … blah … blah …, but I’ve never seen Lenny; I’ll just have to train myself to look forward to it.
Gerry Smith
Booking for London O2 and Manchester Opera House opened this morning. The Manchester option on Ticketmaster didn’t let me buy, so I booked for London O2, very reluctantly – far too big, far too expensive … .
I wouldn’t have booked this venue at these prices for anyone else, not even St Bob … industrialised fun … blah … blah …, but I’ve never seen Lenny; I’ll just have to train myself to look forward to it.
Gerry Smith
Bob v Neil and 30th Anniversary Concert
Thanks to Martin Cowan:
“Further to the recent discussion about Bob versus Neil, readers may be interested in following this link:
www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/dylan.htm
“And further to comments about the Dylan audience booing Sinead O'Connor, I seem to remember from John Bauldie's coverage of the event at the time that the audience was made up of record company suits, showbiz types and corporate guests - I believe it likely there were very few ‘real’ Dylan fans present ... “
“Further to the recent discussion about Bob versus Neil, readers may be interested in following this link:
www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/dylan.htm
“And further to comments about the Dylan audience booing Sinead O'Connor, I seem to remember from John Bauldie's coverage of the event at the time that the audience was made up of record company suits, showbiz types and corporate guests - I believe it likely there were very few ‘real’ Dylan fans present ... “
Thursday, March 13, 2008
OPERA ROUND-UP: Strauss’s Salome, Natalie Dessay, and a Mozzafest
Recent opera highlights for grown-ups:
* David McVicar’s new London production of Strauss’s Salome (Royal Opera House) demanded respect, but it failed to engage fully. It had some compelling sub-Wagnerian sounds from the pit, but the principals didn’t really fire my imagination. Occasionally inspired, mostly disappointing.
* Natalie Dessay’s star continues to rise. Following her triumph in last year’s La Fille du Regiment in London – one of the most exciting performances I’ve seen, in any musical genre, in recent years - the French soprano has released some outstanding new product, including Bellini’s La Sonnambula and a must-have compilation, Airs d'Opéras Italiens
Airs d'Opéras Italiens - tracklist
Verdi La Traviata
E strano!... Ah, forse è lui - Follie! Follie... Sempre libera
Bellini I puritani
O rendetemi la speme - Qui la voce sua soave - Vien diletto
Donizetti Maria Stuarda
Allenta il piè, Regina - Oh nube che lieve - Nella pace del mesto riposo
Verdi Rigoletto
Gualtier Maldé... Caro nome
Bellini I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Eccomi in lieta vesta - Oh! quante volte
Donizetti Lucia di Lammermoor
Eccola... Il dolce suono - Ardon gli incensi -
S’avanza Enrico - Spargi d’amaro pianto
* Mostly Mozart, the Barbican’s welcome annual mid-summer Mozzafest, bravely pitched against The Proms season on the other side of London, runs this year from 10 July to 2 August, and booking is now open.
Highlights include Cosi Fan Tutte, by Garsington Opera, La Clemenza di Tito, starring Alice Coote, and Mozart’s Requiem.
The programme is well worth a look:
www.barbican.org.uk
Gerry Smith
* David McVicar’s new London production of Strauss’s Salome (Royal Opera House) demanded respect, but it failed to engage fully. It had some compelling sub-Wagnerian sounds from the pit, but the principals didn’t really fire my imagination. Occasionally inspired, mostly disappointing.
* Natalie Dessay’s star continues to rise. Following her triumph in last year’s La Fille du Regiment in London – one of the most exciting performances I’ve seen, in any musical genre, in recent years - the French soprano has released some outstanding new product, including Bellini’s La Sonnambula and a must-have compilation, Airs d'Opéras Italiens
Airs d'Opéras Italiens - tracklist
Verdi La Traviata
E strano!... Ah, forse è lui - Follie! Follie... Sempre libera
Bellini I puritani
O rendetemi la speme - Qui la voce sua soave - Vien diletto
Donizetti Maria Stuarda
Allenta il piè, Regina - Oh nube che lieve - Nella pace del mesto riposo
Verdi Rigoletto
Gualtier Maldé... Caro nome
Bellini I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Eccomi in lieta vesta - Oh! quante volte
Donizetti Lucia di Lammermoor
Eccola... Il dolce suono - Ardon gli incensi -
S’avanza Enrico - Spargi d’amaro pianto
* Mostly Mozart, the Barbican’s welcome annual mid-summer Mozzafest, bravely pitched against The Proms season on the other side of London, runs this year from 10 July to 2 August, and booking is now open.
Highlights include Cosi Fan Tutte, by Garsington Opera, La Clemenza di Tito, starring Alice Coote, and Mozart’s Requiem.
The programme is well worth a look:
www.barbican.org.uk
Gerry Smith
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Keep It Simple - more on the new Van Morrison CD
Promoting Keep It Simple, the new Van the Man album released in England next Monday (17 March), Lost Highway Records are hosting “good quality, non-pirated, preview tracks - full versions of ‘That's Entrainment’ and ‘Behind The Ritual’”:
www.losthighwayrecords.com
And, for the next few days, you can hear Morrison’s interview with bluesman Paul Jones from his Monday BBC Radio 2 show:
www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio2_aod.shtml?radio2/paul_jones
After an unpromising, solipsistic start – “the album addresses the propaganda about myself” (oooh, noooooooh, I groaned - not that stuff again …), the interview found Morrison in jovial, generous mode.
Result? An unusually compelling listen, and an intro to what could well be Morrison’s best album since The Healing Game.
Gerry Smith
www.losthighwayrecords.com
And, for the next few days, you can hear Morrison’s interview with bluesman Paul Jones from his Monday BBC Radio 2 show:
www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio2_aod.shtml?radio2/paul_jones
After an unpromising, solipsistic start – “the album addresses the propaganda about myself” (oooh, noooooooh, I groaned - not that stuff again …), the interview found Morrison in jovial, generous mode.
Result? An unusually compelling listen, and an intro to what could well be Morrison’s best album since The Healing Game.
Gerry Smith
Yes - Neil Young IS upstaging Dylan
Thanks to Dave Dingle:
“Neil Young upstaging Bob? You better believe it!
“Having seen Bob over 100 times (an amateur compared to some, I know), I was struck last week by Neil doing a full one hour acoustic set, the like of which we haven’t seen from Bob since the 1960s, and a storming electric set ... active, prowling the stage, playing his own lead …
“I was left with the feeling that going to see Neil was an altogether more satisfying experience than Bob in recent years, stuck behind the piano, or even doing his few guitar songs.
“Sad to say, my conclusion is that Bob will never undergo the kind of renaissance that Neil obviously has!”
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EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
Neil Young upstaging Dylan?
Neil Young’s current London shows, with long setlists drawn from across his catalogue, have been getting rave reviews.
According to Martin Cowan:
“Interesting to compare Neil Young's 23/24 song sets from his current tour with the 17 that Dylan serves up these days.
“I have been pondering lately on Dylan set lists (further to my last email) and concluded that if he cut short some of the instrumental "noodling", he could play a few more songs and perhaps be a little more generous with that superlative song book. Just a thought.”
Here’s a sample of Young’s ever-changing setlist, from 8 March at Hammersmith Apollo, courtesy of Bad News Beat:
01. From Hank To Hendrix
02. Ambulance Blues
03. Sad Movies
04. A Man Needs A Maid
05. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (grand piano)
06. On The Way Home (grand piano)
07. Harvest
08. Journey Through The Past (upright piano)
09. Love In Mind (upright piano)
10. Mellow My Mind
11. Love Art Blues
12. Love Is A Rose
13. Heart Of Gold
14. Old Man
---
15. Mr. Soul
16. Dirty Old Man
17. Spirit Road
18. Down By The River
19. Hey Hey, My My
20. Too Far Gone
21. Oh, Lonesome Me
22. Winterlong
23. Powderfinger
24. No Hidden Path
---
25. Roll Another Number
Gerry Smith
“Neil Young upstaging Bob? You better believe it!
“Having seen Bob over 100 times (an amateur compared to some, I know), I was struck last week by Neil doing a full one hour acoustic set, the like of which we haven’t seen from Bob since the 1960s, and a storming electric set ... active, prowling the stage, playing his own lead …
“I was left with the feeling that going to see Neil was an altogether more satisfying experience than Bob in recent years, stuck behind the piano, or even doing his few guitar songs.
“Sad to say, my conclusion is that Bob will never undergo the kind of renaissance that Neil obviously has!”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
Neil Young upstaging Dylan?
Neil Young’s current London shows, with long setlists drawn from across his catalogue, have been getting rave reviews.
According to Martin Cowan:
“Interesting to compare Neil Young's 23/24 song sets from his current tour with the 17 that Dylan serves up these days.
“I have been pondering lately on Dylan set lists (further to my last email) and concluded that if he cut short some of the instrumental "noodling", he could play a few more songs and perhaps be a little more generous with that superlative song book. Just a thought.”
Here’s a sample of Young’s ever-changing setlist, from 8 March at Hammersmith Apollo, courtesy of Bad News Beat:
01. From Hank To Hendrix
02. Ambulance Blues
03. Sad Movies
04. A Man Needs A Maid
05. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (grand piano)
06. On The Way Home (grand piano)
07. Harvest
08. Journey Through The Past (upright piano)
09. Love In Mind (upright piano)
10. Mellow My Mind
11. Love Art Blues
12. Love Is A Rose
13. Heart Of Gold
14. Old Man
---
15. Mr. Soul
16. Dirty Old Man
17. Spirit Road
18. Down By The River
19. Hey Hey, My My
20. Too Far Gone
21. Oh, Lonesome Me
22. Winterlong
23. Powderfinger
24. No Hidden Path
---
25. Roll Another Number
Gerry Smith
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
This Week's Music for Grown-Ups on Radio/TV
Your exclusive listening/watching guide … thanks to compiler Mike Ollier:
Radio For Grown-Ups
Fri BBCR6 21.00 ~ 22.00
* Theme Time With Bob Dylan: Texas
Carter Family, Ernest Tubb and Jimmie Rodgers. And no show about Texas would be complete without one of my favourites ~ the late, great Doug Sahm and also Ry Cooder & Freddie Fender with Across The Borderline. Great stuff.
Fri BBCR3 22.30 ~ 23.30
* Jazz Library: Oscar Peterson
Tinkling the ivories.
Fri BBCR3 23.30 ~ 01.00
* Jazz On 3
A broadcast for some un-broadcast stuff that wasn't deemed good enough for broadcast, so it wasn't. And now it is. Oscar, Ella and Django are featured in another listeners' pick.
Sat BBCR2 20.00 ~ 21.00
* Live And Exclusive: Van Morrison
Van da Man showcases his new album, 'Keep It Simple.'
TV For Grown-Ups
Fri BBC4 19.30 ~ 20.00
* Transatlantic Sessions
Repeat
Fri BBC4 20.00 ~ 21.00
* Tin Sandwich, anyone?
The history of the harmonica ~ Larry Adler, Sonny Terry, Stevie Wonder, Brendan Power and lots of others look at the story of the 'umble gob iron. Believe me, if you had to stand next to a harp player on stage blowing the bloody thing into your lugs ("waaaaahhhh") you wouldn't be amused and would certainly give this prog a miss, no matter how many good reviews it had (which it has).
Fri BBC4 21.00 ~ 22.00
* The Chieftains
Ooo look, it must be nearly Paddy's Day ~ they're wheelin' out the Irish stuff (see next prog also).
Fri BBC4 22.00 ~ 23.35
* Folk Hibernia
The revival of Irish folk.
Still, it's better than Sport Relief ~ I'll give them money if the guarantee they keep Patrick Keilty off my screen.
Radio For Grown-Ups
Fri BBCR6 21.00 ~ 22.00
* Theme Time With Bob Dylan: Texas
Carter Family, Ernest Tubb and Jimmie Rodgers. And no show about Texas would be complete without one of my favourites ~ the late, great Doug Sahm and also Ry Cooder & Freddie Fender with Across The Borderline. Great stuff.
Fri BBCR3 22.30 ~ 23.30
* Jazz Library: Oscar Peterson
Tinkling the ivories.
Fri BBCR3 23.30 ~ 01.00
* Jazz On 3
A broadcast for some un-broadcast stuff that wasn't deemed good enough for broadcast, so it wasn't. And now it is. Oscar, Ella and Django are featured in another listeners' pick.
Sat BBCR2 20.00 ~ 21.00
* Live And Exclusive: Van Morrison
Van da Man showcases his new album, 'Keep It Simple.'
TV For Grown-Ups
Fri BBC4 19.30 ~ 20.00
* Transatlantic Sessions
Repeat
Fri BBC4 20.00 ~ 21.00
* Tin Sandwich, anyone?
The history of the harmonica ~ Larry Adler, Sonny Terry, Stevie Wonder, Brendan Power and lots of others look at the story of the 'umble gob iron. Believe me, if you had to stand next to a harp player on stage blowing the bloody thing into your lugs ("waaaaahhhh") you wouldn't be amused and would certainly give this prog a miss, no matter how many good reviews it had (which it has).
Fri BBC4 21.00 ~ 22.00
* The Chieftains
Ooo look, it must be nearly Paddy's Day ~ they're wheelin' out the Irish stuff (see next prog also).
Fri BBC4 22.00 ~ 23.35
* Folk Hibernia
The revival of Irish folk.
Still, it's better than Sport Relief ~ I'll give them money if the guarantee they keep Patrick Keilty off my screen.
Leonard Cohen tour dates
The Leonard Cohen tour dates, announced this morning, are disappointing if you’re English: a choice of Manchester – I’d rather visit Baghdad – and London’s cavernous O2 Arena – ditto. Looks like Montreux or Nice for me!
http://www.leonardcohenforum.com
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
EARLIER, RELATED ARTICLES:
Leonard Cohen European tour 2008 (You heard it here first #2)
In mid-2007, like a voice in the wilderness, Music for Grown-Ups was confidently speculating that Leonard Cohen would tour Europe this summer, after years without live shows.
Well, blow, me: Leonard’s 2008 European tour dates are set to be announced early next week!
Watch this space …
XXXXXXXXX
Leonard Cohen live - looking a bit more likely
Earlier speculation about possible Leonard Cohen London shows (see below) looks a bit more accurate with the news that Lenny is appearing in a free pre-show “conversation” with Philip Glass at The Barbican at 6pm on Sat 20 0ctober.
The show itself is a performance of Glass’s treatment of Book Of Longing, Cohen’s new volume of poetry, set for voices and instruments (but not, note, Leonard himself).
Leonard Cohen? Free? What?
Well, there’s a snag – you need a ticket for the main gig to get in to the pre-show talk. And the main gig is, er, sold out. It was already sold out in the new Barbican programme - which arrived today. I wonder where it was first advertised?
XXXXXXXXX
Leonard Cohen set to tour?
Leonard Cohen’s portrait on the cover of new issue of The Word, following loads and loads of recent UK press, makes me think that we’re about to see Leonard touring England - after such a long break.
He can’t surely be doing the press rounds in support of the slightly expanded reissues of the first three albums, or Anjani, his companion’s, new album of Leonard material. There simply has to be a bigger picture.
I’ve never seen Lenny live, but, then, who has? He hasn’t toured – anywhere - in 14 years…
If, like many grown-ups, you’re excited by the interface where pop culture (rock) meets high culture (literature), Lenny is certainly your man.
Watch this space…
Gerry Smith
http://www.leonardcohenforum.com
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
EARLIER, RELATED ARTICLES:
Leonard Cohen European tour 2008 (You heard it here first #2)
In mid-2007, like a voice in the wilderness, Music for Grown-Ups was confidently speculating that Leonard Cohen would tour Europe this summer, after years without live shows.
Well, blow, me: Leonard’s 2008 European tour dates are set to be announced early next week!
Watch this space …
XXXXXXXXX
Leonard Cohen live - looking a bit more likely
Earlier speculation about possible Leonard Cohen London shows (see below) looks a bit more accurate with the news that Lenny is appearing in a free pre-show “conversation” with Philip Glass at The Barbican at 6pm on Sat 20 0ctober.
The show itself is a performance of Glass’s treatment of Book Of Longing, Cohen’s new volume of poetry, set for voices and instruments (but not, note, Leonard himself).
Leonard Cohen? Free? What?
Well, there’s a snag – you need a ticket for the main gig to get in to the pre-show talk. And the main gig is, er, sold out. It was already sold out in the new Barbican programme - which arrived today. I wonder where it was first advertised?
XXXXXXXXX
Leonard Cohen set to tour?
Leonard Cohen’s portrait on the cover of new issue of The Word, following loads and loads of recent UK press, makes me think that we’re about to see Leonard touring England - after such a long break.
He can’t surely be doing the press rounds in support of the slightly expanded reissues of the first three albums, or Anjani, his companion’s, new album of Leonard material. There simply has to be a bigger picture.
I’ve never seen Lenny live, but, then, who has? He hasn’t toured – anywhere - in 14 years…
If, like many grown-ups, you’re excited by the interface where pop culture (rock) meets high culture (literature), Lenny is certainly your man.
Watch this space…
Gerry Smith
Neil Young upstaging Dylan?
Neil Young’s current London shows, with long setlists drawn from across his catalogue, have been getting rave reviews.
And, according to Martin Cowan:
“Interesting to compare Neil Young's 23/24 song sets from his current tour with the 17 that Dylan serves up these days.
“I have been pondering lately on Dylan set lists (further to my last email) and concluded that if he cut short some of the instrumental "noodling", he could play a few more songs and perhaps be a little more generous with that superlative song book. Just a thought.”
Here’s a sample of Young’s ever-changing setlist, from 8 March at Hammersmith Apollo, courtesy of Bad News Beat:
01. From Hank To Hendrix
02. Ambulance Blues
03. Sad Movies
04. A Man Needs A Maid
05. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (grand piano)
06. On The Way Home (grand piano)
07. Harvest
08. Journey Through The Past (upright piano)
09. Love In Mind (upright piano)
10. Mellow My Mind
11. Love Art Blues
12. Love Is A Rose
13. Heart Of Gold
14. Old Man
---
15. Mr. Soul
16. Dirty Old Man
17. Spirit Road
18. Down By The River
19. Hey Hey, My My
20. Too Far Gone
21. Oh, Lonesome Me
22. Winterlong
23. Powderfinger
24. No Hidden Path
---
25. Roll Another Number
Gerry Smith
And, according to Martin Cowan:
“Interesting to compare Neil Young's 23/24 song sets from his current tour with the 17 that Dylan serves up these days.
“I have been pondering lately on Dylan set lists (further to my last email) and concluded that if he cut short some of the instrumental "noodling", he could play a few more songs and perhaps be a little more generous with that superlative song book. Just a thought.”
Here’s a sample of Young’s ever-changing setlist, from 8 March at Hammersmith Apollo, courtesy of Bad News Beat:
01. From Hank To Hendrix
02. Ambulance Blues
03. Sad Movies
04. A Man Needs A Maid
05. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (grand piano)
06. On The Way Home (grand piano)
07. Harvest
08. Journey Through The Past (upright piano)
09. Love In Mind (upright piano)
10. Mellow My Mind
11. Love Art Blues
12. Love Is A Rose
13. Heart Of Gold
14. Old Man
---
15. Mr. Soul
16. Dirty Old Man
17. Spirit Road
18. Down By The River
19. Hey Hey, My My
20. Too Far Gone
21. Oh, Lonesome Me
22. Winterlong
23. Powderfinger
24. No Hidden Path
---
25. Roll Another Number
Gerry Smith
Monday, March 10, 2008
Van Morrison on radio promoting Keep It Simple, the new album
In advance of next Monday’s (17 March) UK release of the new Van Morrison album, Keep It Simple, Van The Man is busy in promo mode.
You can catch him tonight on BBC Radio 2 at 1900-2000 on the Paul Jones blues show, with, we are told, five live songs and an interview.
Then, on Saturday (15 March), Radio 2’s Music Club (2000-2100) has a concert presenting the new album, recently recorded in London - Van Morrison Live & Exclusive.
Here’s hoping Morrison has re-ignited the spark which made him one of the top poprock writer/performers for grown-ups for almost 40 years from the early 1960s.
Gerry Smith
You can catch him tonight on BBC Radio 2 at 1900-2000 on the Paul Jones blues show, with, we are told, five live songs and an interview.
Then, on Saturday (15 March), Radio 2’s Music Club (2000-2100) has a concert presenting the new album, recently recorded in London - Van Morrison Live & Exclusive.
Here’s hoping Morrison has re-ignited the spark which made him one of the top poprock writer/performers for grown-ups for almost 40 years from the early 1960s.
Gerry Smith
Friday, March 07, 2008
Shine A Light - new 2CD and concert film from the Rolling Stones
Shine A Light, the new live Rolling Stones 2CD, recorded at the Beacon, New York City in late 2006, is set for UK release on Monday 7 April. (Tracklist below.)
It’s followed on Friday 11 April by the nationwide UK release of the film of the same name, directed by Martin Scorsese. And preceded on Wednesday 2 April by the film’s UK premiere – in London, but also to be shown in 100 cinemas nationwide: tickets cost £12.50.
Album tracks:
Jumping Jack Flash
Shattered
She Was Hot
All Down The Line
Loving Cup (with Jack White)
As Tears Go By
Some Girls
Just My Imagination
Faraway Eyes
Champagne And Reefer
Tumbling Dice
You Got The Silver
Connection
Sympathy For The Devil
Live With Me
Start Me Up
Brown Sugar
Satisfaction
Paint It, Black
Little T and A
I’m Free
Shine A Light
I’ll be passing on the CD and the cinema show, but waiting to buy the DVD in about three months – unless it’s as ludicrously overpriced as the last two Stones concert DVDs - Forty Licks and The Biggest Bang – which, combined, cost a cool £100 – about £75 too much - when I last looked in HMV!
Gerry Smith
It’s followed on Friday 11 April by the nationwide UK release of the film of the same name, directed by Martin Scorsese. And preceded on Wednesday 2 April by the film’s UK premiere – in London, but also to be shown in 100 cinemas nationwide: tickets cost £12.50.
Album tracks:
Jumping Jack Flash
Shattered
She Was Hot
All Down The Line
Loving Cup (with Jack White)
As Tears Go By
Some Girls
Just My Imagination
Faraway Eyes
Champagne And Reefer
Tumbling Dice
You Got The Silver
Connection
Sympathy For The Devil
Live With Me
Start Me Up
Brown Sugar
Satisfaction
Paint It, Black
Little T and A
I’m Free
Shine A Light
I’ll be passing on the CD and the cinema show, but waiting to buy the DVD in about three months – unless it’s as ludicrously overpriced as the last two Stones concert DVDs - Forty Licks and The Biggest Bang – which, combined, cost a cool £100 – about £75 too much - when I last looked in HMV!
Gerry Smith
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Leonard Cohen European tour 2008 (You heard it here first #2)
In mid-2007, like a voice in the wilderness, Music for Grown-Ups was confidently speculating that Leonard Cohen would tour Europe this summer, after years without live shows.
Well, blow, me: Leonard’s 2008 European tour dates are set to be announced early next week!
Watch this space …
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
EARLIER, RELATED ARTICLES:
Leonard Cohen live - looking a bit more likely
Earlier speculation about possible Leonard Cohen London shows (see below) looks a bit more accurate with the news that Lenny is appearing in a free pre-show “conversation” with Philip Glass at The Barbican at 6pm on Sat 20 0ctober.
The show itself is a performance of Glass’s treatment of Book Of Longing, Cohen’s new volume of poetry, set for voices and instruments (but not, note, Leonard himself).
Leonard Cohen? Free? What?
Well, there’s a snag – you need a ticket for the main gig to get in to the pre-show talk. And the main gig is, er, sold out. It was already sold out in the new Barbican programme - which arrived today. I wonder where it was first advertised?
XXXXXXXXX
Leonard Cohen set to tour?
Leonard Cohen’s portrait on the cover of new issue of The Word, following loads and loads of recent UK press, makes me think that we’re about to see Leonard touring England - after such a long break.
He can’t surely be doing the press rounds in support of the slightly expanded reissues of the first three albums, or Anjani, his companion’s, new album of Leonard material. There simply has to be a bigger picture.
I’ve never seen Lenny live, but, then, who has? He hasn’t toured – anywhere - in 14 years…
If, like many grown-ups, you’re excited by the interface where pop culture (rock) meets high culture (literature), Lenny is certainly your man.
Watch this space…
Gerry Smith
Well, blow, me: Leonard’s 2008 European tour dates are set to be announced early next week!
Watch this space …
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
EARLIER, RELATED ARTICLES:
Leonard Cohen live - looking a bit more likely
Earlier speculation about possible Leonard Cohen London shows (see below) looks a bit more accurate with the news that Lenny is appearing in a free pre-show “conversation” with Philip Glass at The Barbican at 6pm on Sat 20 0ctober.
The show itself is a performance of Glass’s treatment of Book Of Longing, Cohen’s new volume of poetry, set for voices and instruments (but not, note, Leonard himself).
Leonard Cohen? Free? What?
Well, there’s a snag – you need a ticket for the main gig to get in to the pre-show talk. And the main gig is, er, sold out. It was already sold out in the new Barbican programme - which arrived today. I wonder where it was first advertised?
XXXXXXXXX
Leonard Cohen set to tour?
Leonard Cohen’s portrait on the cover of new issue of The Word, following loads and loads of recent UK press, makes me think that we’re about to see Leonard touring England - after such a long break.
He can’t surely be doing the press rounds in support of the slightly expanded reissues of the first three albums, or Anjani, his companion’s, new album of Leonard material. There simply has to be a bigger picture.
I’ve never seen Lenny live, but, then, who has? He hasn’t toured – anywhere - in 14 years…
If, like many grown-ups, you’re excited by the interface where pop culture (rock) meets high culture (literature), Lenny is certainly your man.
Watch this space…
Gerry Smith
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Rock gigs with unacceptable ticket prices
It’s a pleasure to see Music for Grown-Ups favourite Neil Young receiving plaudits for his current European tour promoting Chrome Dreams II.
Young’s setlists, a career-spanning trawl through one of rock’s premier songbooks, plus three or four tracks from the new album, and the show format, a solo acoustic half, followed by an electric set with a small band, made we wish I’d booked for this week’s London shows.
Until, that is, I remembered why I didn’t book in the first place – the ticket prices: £75 or £55, plus all the usual add-ons, plus transport, and you’re looking at £175 for two for a couple of hours of pleasure. No thanks: greedy consumerism gone bananas.
There’s a trend towards US-style prices, especially for American artists. Like Young, Springsteen’s upcoming shows are priced beyond what I think he’s worth. And they’re not alone.
You can still book for most vital home-based poprockers (except the Stones/Led Zep et al) – Morrissey to Van The Man - for about £35, but if you’re price-sensitive, forget American touring bands. They’ll charge what the market will bear – and good luck to them - but I won’t be booking.
Gerry Smith
Young’s setlists, a career-spanning trawl through one of rock’s premier songbooks, plus three or four tracks from the new album, and the show format, a solo acoustic half, followed by an electric set with a small band, made we wish I’d booked for this week’s London shows.
Until, that is, I remembered why I didn’t book in the first place – the ticket prices: £75 or £55, plus all the usual add-ons, plus transport, and you’re looking at £175 for two for a couple of hours of pleasure. No thanks: greedy consumerism gone bananas.
There’s a trend towards US-style prices, especially for American artists. Like Young, Springsteen’s upcoming shows are priced beyond what I think he’s worth. And they’re not alone.
You can still book for most vital home-based poprockers (except the Stones/Led Zep et al) – Morrissey to Van The Man - for about £35, but if you’re price-sensitive, forget American touring bands. They’ll charge what the market will bear – and good luck to them - but I won’t be booking.
Gerry Smith
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
This Week's Music for Grown-Ups on Radio/TV
Your exclusive listening/watching guide … thanks to compiler Mike Ollier:
Radio For Grown-Ups
Fri BBCR6 21.00 ~ 22.00
* Theme Time With Bob Dylan: Colour
Charles Mingus, Ella Mae Morse, Joni Mitchell and Screamin Jay Hawkins
Fri BBCR3 22.30 ~ 23.30
* Jazz Library: Eric Dolphy
The man who matched Mingus and Coltrane is profiled
Fri BBCR3 23.30 ~ 01.00
* Jazz On 3
The Gannets, the jazz offshoot from rock band The Guillemots
Sat BBCR2 20.00 ~ 21.00
* Mark Lamarr's Redneck Music (4/4)
Texas soul and Western Swing in the last of Mark's entertaining series.
TV For Grown-Ups
Fri BBC4 19.30 ~ 20.00
* Transatlantic Sessions
Repeat for the sessions recorded at Strathgarry House
Fri BBC4 21.00 ~ 22.00
* What's Going On?
The life and tragic death of Marvin Gaye
Fri BBC4 22.00 ~ 23.00
* Motor City's Burning
Detroit's impact on music ~ from John Lee Hooker to Tamla and on through to Iggy and The Stooges and lots of interesting points in between.
Fri BBC4 23.00 ~ 23.45
* John Lee Hooker and Friends
Fri/Sat BBC4 00.45 ~01.35
* Iggy Pop & the Stooges At Glastonbury
This year's incendiary live set which featured some great garage/punk rock and a stage invasion. Unmissable if you missed it first time round.
Sat BBC4 20.30 ~ 21.30
* Soul Deep ~ The Story of Black Popular Music
Looking at Motown and its legacy, a repeat of the acclaimed series, but the real prize is on at midnight…
Sat BBC4 00.00 ~ 01.45
* Standing In The Shadows of Motown
Absolutely superb doc looking at the work of the in-house band at Tamla, The Funk Brothers. They've played on a huge amount of records, able to play any style and, with James Jamerson, virtually inventing modern bass playing.
Radio For Grown-Ups
Fri BBCR6 21.00 ~ 22.00
* Theme Time With Bob Dylan: Colour
Charles Mingus, Ella Mae Morse, Joni Mitchell and Screamin Jay Hawkins
Fri BBCR3 22.30 ~ 23.30
* Jazz Library: Eric Dolphy
The man who matched Mingus and Coltrane is profiled
Fri BBCR3 23.30 ~ 01.00
* Jazz On 3
The Gannets, the jazz offshoot from rock band The Guillemots
Sat BBCR2 20.00 ~ 21.00
* Mark Lamarr's Redneck Music (4/4)
Texas soul and Western Swing in the last of Mark's entertaining series.
TV For Grown-Ups
Fri BBC4 19.30 ~ 20.00
* Transatlantic Sessions
Repeat for the sessions recorded at Strathgarry House
Fri BBC4 21.00 ~ 22.00
* What's Going On?
The life and tragic death of Marvin Gaye
Fri BBC4 22.00 ~ 23.00
* Motor City's Burning
Detroit's impact on music ~ from John Lee Hooker to Tamla and on through to Iggy and The Stooges and lots of interesting points in between.
Fri BBC4 23.00 ~ 23.45
* John Lee Hooker and Friends
Fri/Sat BBC4 00.45 ~01.35
* Iggy Pop & the Stooges At Glastonbury
This year's incendiary live set which featured some great garage/punk rock and a stage invasion. Unmissable if you missed it first time round.
Sat BBC4 20.30 ~ 21.30
* Soul Deep ~ The Story of Black Popular Music
Looking at Motown and its legacy, a repeat of the acclaimed series, but the real prize is on at midnight…
Sat BBC4 00.00 ~ 01.45
* Standing In The Shadows of Motown
Absolutely superb doc looking at the work of the in-house band at Tamla, The Funk Brothers. They've played on a huge amount of records, able to play any style and, with James Jamerson, virtually inventing modern bass playing.
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