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The other day I found myself surfing Craigslist Nashville looking up apartment rents and job postings again. This is not to say I want to move tomorrow or even next year. I just go searching for something different every so often when I think I’ve lived in a place too long or feel like I need a change. Sometimes change comes easy like dyeing my hair or buying a new outfit. Sometimes change is slow like thinking I might want to relocate to a place I’ve never been to where I don’t know anyone. It’s the music that drives me. It’s what makes me get out of bed in the morning. It’s what goes through my head during the day when I forget to worry about the little things. Yesterday I sang “Shady Grove” in my head as I carried my tray through the office cafeteria. I dream of moving to Nashville and working for the record business. I picture myself promoting bands and getting better at the banjo.
I’m posting today because I haven’t posted in a long time. I’m posting today because I feel like writing. I’m posting today because sometimes when the little things start to pile up like misplacing your cell phone and forgetting your locker combination the only thing to do is laugh hysterically and listen to the music, and in the case of tonight, go to the gym and have dinner with a cool friend. As long as I l keep following the twang of the banjo and the shimmering mandolin I know I’ll be alright. It’s just a matter of following that sound.
There are several reasons not to miss Joy Kills Sorrow at Johnny D’s tonight at 8pm in Somerville. The least of which is you can purchase a copy of their first cd. If that isn’t enticting enough then maybe Heather Masse leaving the band to join the Wailin’ Jennys will get you there. This will be the last time Heather performs with Joy Kills Sorrow in Boston. I found out about Heather joining a new group and I can’t tell you how upset I was. It is truely a joy hearing Heather sing. At least she isn’t leaving the music world and I will have to start keeping track of the Wailin’ Jennys from now on. I’ll still follow Joy Kills Sorrow as well. The musicans in the band speak for themselves. On that note, I will tell you they are: ( and they just happen to be the rest of the reasons you should not miss this show)
Joe: (mandolin) Joe has shared the stage with some of finest musicans and bands around. These include: Bela Fleck, Earl Scruggs, Emmylou Harris, David Grisman and Northern Lights.
Matt Arcana (guitar) recently won the National Flatpicking Contest in Winfield, Kansas. He has also placed 1st at the Tennessee Fiddle Convention, and 2nd & 3rd at Rockygrass. He has been featured in Flatpicking Guitar Magazine. He has also released a solo CD. Matt endorses Rockbridge guitars.
Adam
Adam Larrabee (banjo, guitar, mandolin, composer). I’m not usually a fan of jazz/bluegrass fusion but I’ve heard Adam play and he is amazing. Adam also teaches jazz theory and composition at the New England Conservatory in Boston.
Bridget (bass)
Bridget Kearney’s trio “Sax Attack” was awarded Best Small Group by the Downbeat Student Music Awards in 2003. Her stellar songwriting abilities got her the Grand Prize and Lennon Award in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for a song entitled, “Sometimes When I’m Drunk and You’re Wearing My Favorite Shirt.”
Put all these musicans and singers on stage together and you’ve got a night that will make you want to jump out of your seats and dance. Heather’s voice is so powerful the audience falls silent the minute she opens her mouth. At least I do.
Did I mention that this is also a split bill with Annalivia, which contains many other fine musicans. Be there. All the cool bluegrass fans will.
Postscript: I got all of my bio information off of the Joy Kills Sorrow website so thanks to whoever wrote it.
Go Mark Erelli! I’ve been shouting the praises of Mark to anybody who hasn’t discovered him yet for a while. What makes Mark so powerful is that he isn’t afraid to say what he is thinking. Not only is he a song writer in the truest sense of the word- His songs tell stories that poignant, political, and real but he can sing as well. I never leave a Mark Erelli show feeling let down.
Right, This is supposed to be about his latest album which is all of these things. If you haven’t discovered Mark yet I highly recommend you check him out and if you already know how fantastic he is then tell more people.
I’ve threatened to write a more detailed profile of Mark here and I promise it will happen.
I just found out via the collective power of server lists that Mark Erelli is playing at Toad with an undisclosed but supposedly talented and reputable female singer. I was going to go English Country Dancing, but it looks like my love of music and divey bars is going to win. Maybe I could double dip and sneak out the bar early and dance. In the end it will all depend on the how the music at the bar makes me feel. I’ll let you know.
