During the 28th annual Oopstock, we spontaneously performed this version of Nanci Griffith’s song “Love at the Five and Dime” as a memorial. Nanci died the day before we performed this song.
Thanks for the music, Nanci.
Nancy Griffith memorial
August 24, 2021
music, party concert, fiddle, gary mcgraw, gem, music, nanci griffith, NH, oopstock, video Leave a comment
Eighth Blackbird at the National Gallery of Art
February 23, 2020
art, music, photography, plants Andy Akiho, art, art museum, baba, composers, concert, contemporary music, David Lang, dc, eighth blackbird, emily, emily shepardson, Fjóla Evans, gem, Holly Harrison, Jonathan Bailey Holland, Julius Eastman, Lisa Kaplan, national gallery, national gallery of art, Nina Shekhar, original music, Viet Cuong, washington dc Leave a comment
National Gallery of Art
What a place to see one of my all time favorite contemporary music groups. Eighth Blackbird played the National Gallery 2.16.20, and the show was free. As always, the group featured brand new music from living composers, including: Nina Shekhar, Fjóla Evans, Andy Akiho, Holly Harrison, David Lang, Viet Cuong, Jonathan Bailey Holland, and Julius Eastman. This show included some ringers in for violin, flute, and clarinet.
Lisa Kaplan, fearless leader and director of eighth blackbird
My favorite set was the second, and my favorite piece was Viet Cuoug’s Electric Aroma (2017),
The most precious thing in the museum was Cora, of course.
Cora does contemporary
The setting (no pictures or recording during the show)
After the concert, there were a few minutes for art.
Then it was out and on the metro for cocktails and dinner at Baba.
Sundown on the mall
Smithsonian sculpture
Wholly Emily
Baba’s bar
john doe krisin hersh grant-lee phillips pittsburgh
February 11, 2020
music, photography alisa, club cafe, concert, exiles, gem, grant-lee phillips, greg, john doe, krisin hersh, music, original music, photography, pittsburgh, rm, the exiles, video Leave a comment
There were three of them. The setting was intimate at Club Cafe. Negronis were available. Seating was not.
Ye olde van carpool crew
Krisin opened up with an interesting guitar song that involved intentionally bending chords on an acoustic. After that song, all bets were off WRT tuning. Who needs tuning for an intimate acoustic set? EVERYONE. EVERYONE MUST TUNE.
(please tune)
Grant-lee joined in and tuning became mandatory. This also allowed for some breathing. Grant-lee is charismatic and fun to watch but about as deep as a puddle.
Duo to go
Picture picture for Em
John Doe was fantastic. Thank the stars for a poet singer like him.
John Doe
Hells yes on a great Pittsburgh Sunday night. So good to see Alisa and Greg!!
Moon Hooch at the Bright Box
January 29, 2020
music band, bright box, live music, moon hooch, saxophone, Virginia, winchester Leave a comment
The kids they danced and shook their bones. There is no way to see Moon Hooch without dancing. And sweating. Through your clothes. YES.
The best part about seeing Moon Hooch perform at the Bright Box is the sheer intimacy of being 2 feet from the performance. Invigorating. Life affirming. Danceable. Fun.
We’re sad that James Muschler has moved on, but Moon Hooch still rocks the house.
Grace Potter at the Anthem: Rock and Roll, Baby
January 27, 2020
music, photography, who knows anthem, concert, dc, grace potter, live music, original music, show, the anthem, video, washington dc Leave a comment
Great show. Lots of dancing and joy.
Though this was the second encore, the solo version of Release was the most powerful song of the set. Yes please. Need some of this.
Rock and roll ending.
The Dead Bambis in Japan
November 30, 2019
art, dance, music dead bambis, japan, live music, music, photography, Rock and Roll, tokyo, video 1 Comment
Best bass ever
Rock and Roll baby
Bitter Liberals 1.4.20
November 19, 2019
music bitter liberals, bright box, live music, tickets Leave a comment
WILCO C’ville Life -or- love is everywhere?!
November 12, 2019
music, photography bill and em, charlottesville, gem, music, pavillion, photography, travel, video, wilco 1 Comment
Yep. Thank goodness. Just in the nick of time. Bill and Em to the rescue.
Wilco, cville
box of wilco
before
tiny
Hinge
fin. commencer. we die to live another day.
House Concert in Fort Thomas with Ritt and Wilder Deitz (cincinnati)
October 22, 2019
music baby grand piano, cincinnati, fiddle, fort thomas, gem, house concert, kentucky, live music, music, original music, photography, ritt deitz, tessa killen, wilder deitz Leave a comment
Here are some pictures taken by Tessa Killen during a magical evening performance in the house concert series known as Parlor and Patio held in greater Cincinnati. The location and sound are ideal for an intimate evening—impressive attention to detail, warm and inviting hosts, and post show music (not to mention bourbon).
Ritt Deitz
More about the musicians, Ritt and Wilder Deitz and me.
Wilder Deitz on the actual wooden baby grand piano
Gary McGraw on the fiddle
In the action
House Concert in Bloomington with Ritt and Wilder Deitz
October 19, 2019
music, photography bloomingtion, gem, house concert, music, original music, photography, ritt, ritt deitz, video, wilder 1 Comment
Yes please. Music with an old friend from the college days spurred into action by the seredipitous planet of ours. I was slated to be in Bloomington for a Dean’s Advisory Council meeting of the Luddy School of Informatics. Then a post card arrived with a request to “alert the Bloomington troops” scrawled across the front announcing a house concert on the very same day.
So a sideman on the fiddle was added to the bill. What a magical evening. Intimate, energetic, and filled with love.
Sound check in the light of day
A scrumptious spread
Concert at dusk.
Ritt Deitz
Set 1
Wilder Deitz
Ritt and Wilder
Back to the Eastside You Go
Ritt and Wilder
I swear I played the fiddle too.
