AMERICANA…
What IS Americana…Really?
Well, WIKI Says:
Americana is contemporary music that incorporates elements of various American roots music styles, including country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass and blues, resulting in a distinctive roots-oriented sound.
Ok.
That sounds…Interesting…sort of…
The Americana fest held at Lincoln Center out-of-doors on Saturday, August 9 was a real treat. If you are true fan of music, someone who actually has the patience to sit and listen to a lyric, to become enveloped the Nuance of old fashioned storytelling mixed with honest singing then you are someone who would’ve really
enjoyed Saturday night’s show featuring Roseanne Cash, The Lone Bellow,Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller.
The evening started off with the Jim Lauderdale/ Buddy Miller duo. Both Lauderdale and Miller are multiple Grammy winners and legends in the fields of country,Blues, Bluegrass… Americana.
There’s that word again…
The duo are touring in support of Lauderdale’s recent release (his 26th), I’m A Song. Long time colleagues and friends Lauderdale and Miller’s stage rapport was relaxed and easy-going-the perfect backdrop to the jaw-dropping beauty of Lauderdale’s songwriting mastery. Miller seemed comfortable in his supporting role as lead guitarist, providing tasty licks throughout Lauderdale’s songs. Well, how could he not-every song was a gem.
Next up was the Brooklyn-based vocal trio The lone Bellow. Playing songs from their self-titled debut album, as well as a few selections from their forthcoming album, The lone Bellow had the audience in the palm of their hands. With a tight rhythm section, imaginative vocal arrangements and spectacular songwriting I can’t say enough about them. As far as the Americana scene is concerned The Lone Bellow are certainly the ones to watch.
As the daughter of the man who said “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die”, Roseanne Cash has done well for herself in creating own legend. Playing songs from her recent release “The River and The Thread” (in sequence!), and backed by a top-notch band led by her producer/Guitarist/Husband John Leventhal, Ms.Cash gave an intimate and insightful performance, weaving stories of her family history and her travels through the Mississippi Delta.
These stories are at the heart of her latest release.When introducing the song “Money Road” (this is where Emmet Till was murdered, sparking the civil rights movement in the early 60s),Ms Cash commented on the power of the Delta:”From Robert Johnson’s grave, to the Tallahatchie River, from Money Road, to William Faulkner’s house-The Mississippi Delta represents the best and worst of who we are as Americans.”
Americana…?
Well said Ms.Cash, well said.
(Tomas Doncker is the owner of True Groove Records. His next release will be “Funky World: A True Groove Club/Dub/Dance Compilation” September 9th, 2014.)