Wendy Woo brought her The Immigrant album
release tour to The Gold Room in CO Springs on April 13...
Posted
April 14, 2019
and last updated April 16, 2019 by:
Chuck Miller
 Loveland,
Colorado based singer-songwriter Wendy Woo released her latest
solo album The Immigrant recently and held an album
release party at The Gold Room in downtown Colorado Springs
on April 13. The event featured Woo solo, singing
accompanied with acoustic guitar and occasionally electric
piano. There was no opening act. She played all of her new
songs, some of her older fan favorites, and a few covers. She
also provided some context for many of the songs and engaged
with the audience frequently between songs.
The two-set show started a little after 8 PM
with Woo playing the new album's title song "The Immigrant"
followed by the second album song 'Dust Off the Piano." Then
Woo moved to piano for "Vic's Coffee" the fourth album song
which she said was about going to high school prom in
Boulder. The new songs and the whole show was received well
by the intimate audience of loyal Woo fans.
Hearing the songs played live before
listening to the CD was instructive. I usually think hearing
an artist play live is better than listening to their studio
albums. I can tell a lot about an artist by observing how
they play to a live audience, especially with new material, which
fans have not heard yet. Woo handled this impeccably at this
show I think partly because the new material is so good.
For me, the songs sounded great live without
the various guests artists and additional instrumentation
used on the studio release. Playing live, Woo draws you in
while exposing herself in a way that keeps you involved and
attentive. That was the case at The Gold Room on Saturday
night.
She even came out between sets to sign CDs and chat with her
fans.
After the show, I listened to the album. The
album is gorgeous, well played and expertly produced. I love
the new material and the decision to use understated
instrumentation, and the production choice of utilizing
select guest musicians on some songs was spot on. I can see
many of these songs making their way into rotation with the
full band in the future. Standout album tracks are "Dust Off
the Piano," "Plane To China," "The Weather," and "This Little
Town," which was co-written with her husband Charles Snyder.
She included Stevie Nicks' iconic "Landslide"
on the album. We've all heard covers of this song throughout the years. Woo really made it her own here. It felt
perfect in the context of an autobiographical album like
this. There really isn't a dull moment on The Immigrant.
I'd recommend it to anyone who likes strong
singer-songwriter music with thoughtful lyrics and great
instrumental back-up. This one will be in heavy rotation on
my music player for a while.
I made a recording and took some photos which
can be accessed by following the links below.
Wendy Woo (solo) ~ 2019-04-13 The Gold Room, Colorado
Springs, CO
Wendy Woo
- 2019-04-13
Visit Wendy Woo's official web site:
WendyWoo.com
Wendy Woo on Facebook:
The
Wendy Woo Band
Tedeschi Trucks Band's latest release Signs is a
beautifully deep recording and their best album to
date...
Posted
March
22, 2019 and last
updated March 22, 2019 by:
Chuck Miller
Tedeschi Trucks Band's fourth album Signs is easily
the best album they have produced together and the best new
album I've heard so far this year. Signs sounds warm,
inviting, intimate, and organic perhaps owing to the decision
to record it live at the married couple's Jacksonville, FL,
home studio. You can feel the collaborative band presence on every gorgeous track.
The band endured heartbreaking loss while making this
record. Derek Trucks' uncle, Butch Trucks, a
founding member of the Allman Brothers Band committed
suicide and Tedeschi/Trucks' mentor, musician Col.
Bruce Hampton (Ret.), whom the album is dedicated to also
passed away while they were busy recording Signs. Those losses
are felt often throughout the music presented here. Then
tragically, the band's gifted
keyboardist and flute player Kofi Burbridge died
on February 15, the very day the album was released to the
public. Nevertheless, I don't hear Signs as a
requiem. There is joy to be heard in these blues.
Derek
Truck's singular electric guitar riffs get the recording started
with "Signs, High Times." Soon after, the band joins and
band leader Susan Tedeschi belts out, "Here I am - I did it
to myself - But I still don't know what I'm here for,"
vocalist Mike Mattison adds, "Floating on my back - Hoping I
end up dry" with Tedeschi continuing, "I got it right - Oh,
to put you in my sights - But I don't have the fight to rage
on - Something tells me," and back-up singer Mike Rivers
testifies, "That maybe you're the one worth saving." The
spiritually joyous opener gets things cooking quickly. I
knew I was going to love this album less than one minute
into my first hearing.
The somewhat funky (in a
good, 1970's sort of way) "I'm Gonna Be There" continues the
musical goodness with Tedeschi and back-up singers
delivering heartfelt vocals while Trucks wails on electric
guitar in sympathy with them. The musical effect is
reminiscent of Eric Clapton and Duane Allman's playing on
the Layla (and other assorted Love Songs) album. "When Will
I Begin" returns us to the band's soulful blues with lyrics that allude to
the album's cover art and set the tone for the rest of the
46-minute long blues/soul tome.
"Walk Through This Life"
references 1940's era jazz, which is easy on my rock and
roll ears, immediately followed by
"Strengthen What Remains," which is more contemplative and
features a bit of orchestration and a spattering of Kofi
Burbridge's ethereal flute playing. I enjoy the song's simplicity,
which comes from minimal instrumentation and Tedeschi's
understated vocals.
Burbridge's solo piano
twinkling begins and finishes "Still Your Mind," which conjures
"Layla" again for me. It's my favorite track on
the album. It contains everything I want in a Tedeschi Trucks Band
song: Truck's wailing guitar, Tedeschi's soothing vocals, and
the expert backing of their 12-piece band.
"Hard Case" is the most
pop-oriented song on the 11-track album. I imagine this will
be an excellent concert tune for the group. The whole band
is actively participating, and I can see audience members
getting out of their seats to dance to this one.
The eighth song, "Shame,"
starts out frenzied, reminiscent of the Allman Brothers Band
hit "Whipping Post" and moves between mellow and energetic a
few times before ending on a tranquil choral note. "Shame" will demonstrate to a live audience how dynamically
Tedeschi Trucks Band can play.
I've been listening to some of Bonnie Raitt's albums
recently, and "All The World" reminds me of some of her
songs. It's natural to draw similarities between Tedeschi
and Raitt. Both are accomplished musicians, and both
women sing the blues. Occasionally on the earlier
TTB albums, I found Tedeschi's voice a tad bit too edgy, which is
something I never hear when listening to Raitt's voice on
her recordings. But, generally, I prefer Tedeschi's guitar
playing over Raitt's because it sounds sweeter to me. Nonetheless, on this
album Tedeschi's voice sounds great.
"They Don't
Shine" sounds like unneeded filler to me on this album. It's
not bad, so it doesn't bring the album down. But, it just doesn't
match the highest level of the other songs or present
anything interesting musically for me.
The greatest albums, and Signs is certainly a great album,
end on a high note and that's true here, with the the last
song, "The Ending." It's
presented with only Tedeschi softly singing and playing
acoustic guitar with gentle, occasional guitar accompaniment
by her husband Derek. Distilling the grand power of a 12-piece band down to its two principles is enthralling. This
aptly titled finale accomplishes that. I revel in the nuance
of Tedeschi's plaintively wailing the lyrics which end the album:
"His guitar is laughing and filling the room - Everybody's
smiling while he's singing his blues - It's hard to
understand but I think he understood - Yes, he knew - Yes, he
knew, oh, he knew - The ending."
The Beat goes pre-Valentine's with Stompin' George Eldon
and his band at the Gold Room in CO Springs...
Posted
February 16, 2019 and
last updated February 16, 2019 by:
Chuck Miller
  KCOS
Digital Media brought Stompin' George Eldon and his
four-piece band to The Gold Room in Colorado Springs on
February 13 for The Beat Goes On global internet
radio show. Hosts Mark White and Lisa Carns interviewed
Eldon and the band and entertained the intimate but lively
group of music fans between songs.
The show started at 7
PM with the band playing their originals "The Stars Have
Amnesia," "Barefoot (Ol' Time Happy)," and "Rainbow Song."
The sound in the venue was great. The band played well,
though I felt like the radio show format sometimes slowed
their momentum. But, of course the hosts made it fun, and it
was great to hear Eldon interviewed in depth about his songs
and tell some interesting stories. I left feeling like I
knew Eldon and his music much better than I had before.
Early highlights included hearing the new instrumental "The
Cabana Song" and the confessional host chat after the song
"Naked in the Graveyard." Of course, Chrys Bocast
did her best to feed the hungry crowd during "Saltine
Cracker."
There was also a Valentine's Day themed haunted house
giveaway by My Bloody Valentine. That got host Lisa Carns
out into the audience asking couples how long they'd been
together. One lucky couple won free admission to the
HellScream Haunted House on North Hancock Ave. After that,
the band launched into the audience participation song, one
of my favorites, "Johnny Depp." "Stoned Brown Girl" was also
performed impeccably later in the set.
I've wanted to record Eldon since I first saw the band play
at Mother Muff's in Old Colorado City last year. Hearing
them play all originals for the whole night was a rare
treat. The event ended at 9 PM with a strange
and inspired pairing of the chorus of Buck Owen's classic "PFFT You Were Gone" with the original "Talk
Some More Shit" which left the crowd wanting more. That
certainly ended the set on a high note.
The two hour long professionally produced video show was broadcast live and is
archived
on
YouTube and on the
KCOS Digital Media web site if you'd like to check it
out. I enjoyed watching it and think it will be worth your
effort to see if you're interested in the band.
Links to my audio recording and some photos I took during
the event are below.
Stompin' George Eldon ~ 2019-02-13 The Gold Room, Colorado
Springs, CO
Stompin' George Eldon
- 2019-02-13
Colorado Springs tribute to Bob Dylan at Stargazer's
Theatre & Event Center on Friday, January 18...
Posted
January 19, 2019 and
last updated February 2, 2019 by:
Chuck Miller
 Stargazer's
Theatre & Events Center hosted the Colorado Springs tribute
to Bob Dylan on Friday, January 18. The music started a
little after
7 PM with Lindsay & Jeremy Facknitz who kicked the night off
with a transcendent rendition of "Boots Of Spanish Leather."
This was my first time seeing this talented duo, and they
were easily my favorite act of the night. Lindsay's voice is
clear, bright, and chill-inducing at times. Jeremy's guitar
accompaniment was spot on and set the standard for the rest
of the performers. On this song Lindsey reminded me of
Natalie Maines, the lead singer for the Dixie Chicks.
Other first set highlights were Mike Judge's rendition of "I
Shall Be Released" and Craig Walter's powerful takes on
"Queen Jane Approximately" and "It's All Over Now, Baby
Blue."
I was there primarily to see Chuck Snow's performance. I
planned on splitting after
his portion of the show, but I enjoyed the other
bands so
much, I stayed for the rest of the night. Unfortunately,
each group only played four songs. As a consequence, they
were all turning over the stage at about the time they
started getting warmed up. Fittingly, I thoroughly enjoyed
Snow and his four-piece band's rendition of "You Ain't Goin'
Nowhere," which ended the first set with the crowd wanting
more.
Chris and Deb Mitguard got the second set started right with
"I Am A Lonesome Hobo" from John Wesley Harding.
Jason Miller's renditions of "Shelter From the Storm," "The
Man In Me," and "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go"
were appreciated by me and the eager Bob Dylan fans. Miller
only played three songs, but they were some of my favorites
of the second set.
One of Dylan's most popular tunes "Blowin' In the Wind" was
performed impeccably by K. J. Braithwaite, who also offered
up the crowd favorite "Mr. Tambourine Man." Braithwaite's
focus and command of the material was impressive. He was
aptly rewarded with some of the most enthusiastic audience
response of the night.
 Stargazer's
Theatre owners John and Cindy Hooton finished the individual
live band performances with stirring readings of "All I
Really Want To Do," "Shooting Star" and two others. I'd
never seen them perform together. I thought they were very
good. John Hooton's finger-picking guitar licks held up well
against some of the more seasoned musician's work.
A video taped rendition of "Chimes Of Freedom" by Anglum,
Mock & Greene who couldn't make it to the live show played
on the screen above the stage as the night's performers
gathered together for the all-star last song of the night. A
very disjointed but still fun version of "Like A Rolling
Stone" capped the tribute at around 10:45 and sent the
joyous Dylan fans out into the cold Colorado night.
I recorded the whole event, but I currently only have
permission from Chuck Snow and John and Cindy Hooton to
share their performances. That
recording and some photos I took of each group can be
accessed by following the links below.
John & Cindy Hooton ~ 2019-01-18 Stargazer's Theatre, Colorado
Springs, CO
Chuck Snow ~ 2019-01-18 Stargazer's Theatre, Colorado
Springs, CO
John & Cindy Hooton
- 2019-01-18
K. J. Braithwaite
- 2019-01-18
Jason Miller
- 2019-01-18
The Mitguards
- 2019-01-18
Chuck
Snow - 2019-01-18
Craig
Walter - 2019-01-18
Mike Judge
- 2019-01-18
Lindsay & Jeremy Facknitz - 2019-01-18
Reflecting on why I like to make live music recordings and looking forward to
doing more of that in 2019...
Posted and updated by:
Chuck Miller January
1, 2019
 I
usually like to bring in the New Year while listening to
live music. I can't actually remember the last New Year's
Eve that I wasn't at a show or watching a pay-per-view event
at home on the couch. I just didn't feel the need to
get another live show in before 2018 ended. As luck would
have it though, just before I went to bed last night I saw a
Late Show with Steven Colbert re-run that featured Jeff
Tweedy from Wilco singing "Let's Go Rain" from his new solo
album WARM. That was a pleasant surprise and
fitting end to 2018.
Looking back, I had a satisfying year, musically. I heard
and recorded some new bands and attended concerts performed
by old favorites. The older I get, the more I appreciate live
music. The quality of live sound now plays a large role in
that for me. PA systems, even in small clubs, sound much
better than they did when I was young. I heard plenty of
poorly mixed performances when I first started going to
concerts. That was a turn-off. Now, I expect to be able to hear the words the
singers are singing and also hear all the instruments clearly.
These days, even small bands doing their own sound from the stage
can achieve that. Stompin' George Eldon's band does that every
time I see them. That's part of what makes a band worth
recording -- good sound! When I started to hear really good sound at
concerts, especially from the Grateful Dead in the 1980's,
that's when I got interested in making recordings. That's
what led me here.
When I buy a concert ticket or pay a cover charge to see a
band play these days, I expect to hear high quality sound.
That was the case with my
last concert in 2018, which was the December 29 Cracker and
Camper Van Beethoven double bill at the Soiled Dove
Underground in Denver. I've seen both bands many times. I
love their music. Both bands played very well, of course.
But they also sounded great! It was easy to make a quality
recording. You can read my review and listen to the recordings I made
by following the link
here if you're interested.
I'm looking forward to 2019. So far, I have tickets and plan
to see moe., Big Head Todd and the Monsters, and
Toad the Wet Sprocket at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. I'd love to
see Wilco this year. I haven't made a personally
satisfactory recording of them yet. Hopefully they'll play
somewhere in Colorado, and I'll get the opportunity. Closer to
home, there is a Bob Dylan tribute this month featuring
among others, some friends of mine at Stargazer's Theatre
and Event Center. Woodshed Red, a band I recently discovered
and really like, is
playing at that same venue in February. I'll record that
performance. I want to record Stompin' George Eldon's band soon,
too. They are
so unique. I want to expose them to more people.
I also want
to record some more diverse music in 2019. I see a lot of
jam bands, mainly because they tend to be more open to being
recorded. Contact me by email
here if you know
of a great local band I haven't covered yet. After all,
that's part of my mission: to highlight and expose people to
good live local music.
Well, those are some of my wishes for the coming year. I'm
excited after learning about some of the events that have
been announced already. If 2019 is anything like 2018 was,
I'll be happy and busy making recordings and sharing them
here with you. Cheers.
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