My View of Life on the Dock
Gracie Curran & The High Falutin’ Band with Roomful of Blues Horns and Bruce Bears on keys. If that wasn’t enough hear “Proof of Love” with the original arrangements LIVE for the First Time Ever.
Ok, so if you still are not convinced Lydia Warren Band will start the evening off (see video below, she knows how to sing and play that guitar).
Get your tickets NOW !!!!! Its gonna be HOT! Both Gracie & Lydia performed at last year’s Gloucester Blues Festival.
Thursday, February 20th through Saturday, February 22nd, 10am to 5pm.
Sunday, February 23rd, 8am to 10am. Preview will be held at both the Cabot Cinema Theatre and the Larcom Theatre.
Scam phone calls are up.
Today I got a call from a guy who told me there was a problem with my computer (yeah, right) and while I was letting him talk, I got a call on the other line, so I told him I had to go, picked up the other line and guess what? Another guy from the same company, eSupport Live. So I decided to play along and see what happened. He told me that I had unwanted files on my computer and he would help me get rid of them right now. He was about to ask me to give him remote access to my computer when I said, I’ve gotta go; can I call you back? Sure, he said and gave me his number 888-514-1650. He told me his name was Alvin Brown, uh huh — with a very thick Indian (dot-not-feather – as Joey would say) accent.
A couple of minutes later I called back. 888-514-1650 actually works. I asked for Alvin Brown and explained that we had been cut off and I was calling him back. They put me on hold for about 90 seconds and finally someone (with a very different voice) said, Hello. Alvin? I asked. Yes. Alvin Brown? Yes, sir, can I get your information please?
That’s when I hung up. I found their website here. The English is worse than those bad assembly instructions you get with products made in China.
Most likely these people are criminals, trying to hack into your computer to steal your identity, money, whatever. See a news story about such people here.
I know most FOBs have lots of time on their hands — because since joining the GMG Google+ Community, I get tons of emails a day from them — so I figure why not spend a little time and have some fun SCAMMING THE SCAMMER!
All you have to do is call and pretend you got their number from the website or a friend. Ask for Alvin Brown and see what happens. Or start asking for other people — Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, George Washington, Jimi Hendrix — what ever you can think of. The longer you keep them on the phone, the more you’ve cost them. Just don’t give them any real info about yourself.
If you don’t want them calling you back, just block your caller id by hitting *67 before you call. If we can get hundreds of people calling every day, maybe they’ll give up and stop calling us.
Vickie reminded me of this very funny guy who has a special treat for telemarketers. Check it out:
This just in from Heidi Dallin:
Gloucester Stage Recognized by Boston Critics
Theatre Receives 15 Nominations for 2013 Season from the
Independent Reviewers of New England
The Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) recently announced the IRNE award nominations for the 2013 calendar year. Gloucester Stage received a total of 15 nominations for the 2013 season. The musical Spring Awakening received 9 nominations, Driving Miss Daisy received 4 nominations and Israel Horovitz’s Gloucester play, North Shore Fish received 2 nominations. According to GSC Artistic Director and Best Director nominee Eric C. Engel, “GSC is very proud of the actors, designers and directors whose work has garnered these endorsements. And we’re very grateful to the press who find their way to so many theaters throughout the year.”
Gloucester Stage received fifteen 2014 IRNE nominations for their 2013 season. The 9 nominations for Spring Awakening include: Best Musical, Best Ensemble, Best Director of a Musical: Eric C. Engel, Best Actress in a Musical: Melody Madarasz, Best Actor in a Musical: Phil Tayler, Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Amelia Broome, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Ross Mumford, Best Music Director: Catherine Stornetta and Best Choreography: Jodi Leigh Allen. North Shore Fish garnered nominations for Best Director of a Play: Robert Walsh and Best Actress in Play: Aimee Doherty. The 4 nominations for Driving Miss Daisy include Best Play, Best Director of a Play: Benny Sato Ambush, Best Actress in a Play: Lindsay Crouse and Best Actor in a Play: Johnny Lee Davenport. Mr. Ambush won the 2013 IRNE Award for Best Director of a Play for GSC’s 2012 acclaimed production of Master Harold … and the Boys.
These two tease each other like brother and sister!
Aurelia Nelson and Henri Smith have loads of fun on this show and it truly comes across. Henri starts off singing, Aurelia accuses him of not knowing the words to songs, all the while hidden meanings to New Orleans favorites are revealed. Plus you’ll get a hint of some special music planned for his upcoming concert featuring Grammy Award winners Charles Neville & Amadee Castenell.
Listen here and join in the fun!
[audio http://media61.podbean.com/pb/94979baeffa712be4408db6953dc303c/53038f25/data1/blogs23/22124/uploads/CurtainUp02162014.mp3]
(MMM) featuring meditation leader Laurie Ure and balladeer Gerry Ryan at Gloucester UU Church, 02/23/14
BASICS:
Meditation and Music in a candle-lit setting
February 23rd, 2014 at 7:30pm
Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Unitarian Church
Corner of Middle and Church Streets, on the green
Free-Will Offering and Everyone is Welcome
Social Gathering Afterwards with Light Refreshments
EVENT DESCRIPTION:
The Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church is pleased to announce the eighth in a monthly series called Music & Meditation in the Meetinghouse (MMM) that offers Cape Ann residents and visitors a unique combination of beautiful music and relaxing meditation. It is held in the candle-lit sanctuary of the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, Gloucester’s oldest standing church.
The January event features meditation leader Laurie Ure and balladeer Gerry Ryan. There will be a collation with light refreshments afterwards in the church’s Entrance House, giving participants the opportunity to meet the leaders and each other in a convivial atmosphere. The Sanctuary is accessible for persons with disabilities via the side entrance at 10 Church Street. This is a non-religious event, a free-will offering is requested, and everyone is welcome. Continue reading “Music & Meditation with Laurie Ure and balladeer Gerry Ryan on 2/23/14”
SUNDAY (2/16) at 9AM, Aurelia Nelson hosts Henri Smith on her show, “Curtain Up”. Get all the details on New England’s newest tradition: Mardi Gras Concert with Charles Neville of the Neville Brothers and Henri’s 8 piece band. It will be a blast! And…we finally find out what the words are to the song “Jambalaya”! Plus, just try saying N’awlens..not New Or-leens!
This March, Rockport Music presents performances by the Americana trio Red Molly, folk singer Crystal Bowersox and the Irish Baroque Orchestra with internationally renowned baroque violinist Monica Huggett.
On Friday, March 7 at 8 pm, the Irish Baroque Orchestra (IBO) led by internationally known Baroque violinist and Artistic Director Monica Huggett will perform a program of “Ireland’s Golden Age,” a fascinating snapshot of the musical scene in 18th century Dublin, when composers from all over Europe converged on the city seeking inspiration and patronage. Ensemble-in-residence at the National Concert Hall Dublin, the IBO perform only on Baroque instruments or modern replicas and seeks to re-create the original performance styles of the Baroque period. Known internationally as one of the foremost Baroque violinists and conductors of our time, Monica Huggett has been a tireless champion of Baroque music for the last three decades. She also serves as artistic director of the Portland Baroque Orchestra and was the inaugural artistic director of The Juilliard School’s Historical Performance Program. Her expertise in the musical and social history of the Baroque Era is unparalleled among performing musicians and the Irish Times hails that, “the IBO’s playing…was utterly delectable” and that “Huggett showed a fondness for driving into music with a sense of edginess, of danger, of adrenaline-fuelled excitement.” IBO’s “Golden Age” program includes works by Handel, Vivaldi, Geminiani, Pasquali, Turlough Carolan and many more. Tickets: $39-$58
On Saturday, March 15 at 8 pm, Americana trio Red Molly, known for their gorgeous three-part harmonies blending bluegrass with a touch of western swing, will bring audiences to their feet with crisp musicianship and warm, engaging stage presence. The band consists of Laurie MacAllister (bass, banjo), Abbie Gardner (dobro, banjo), and Molly Venter (guitar). This past year, the ladies were invited to open for music legend Willie Nelson and they performed at the venerable RockyGrass festival in Colorado. Their new CD Light in the Sky spent 20 weeks on the Americana Music Association’s Top 40 radio chart and charted as Folk DJ’s #3 Top Album of 2012. The Boston Globe hails the group’s, “tick-tight arrangements, crystalline vocals and caramel harmonies” (The Boston Globe). Tickets: $18-$32
Crystal Bowersox performs at the Shalin Liu Performance Center on Friday, March 28 at 8 pm. While best known as a beloved American Idol finalist, Crystal has since proven to be more than simply a gifted singer with soul and dreadlocks. She’s blossomed into a widely respected and strikingly independent artist and songwriter. Since her season on American Idol, Bowersox has released two new records, the most recent being the country/soul accented All That for This in 2013, which opened to widespread critical acclaim and boasted a guest duet with Jakob Dylan. This past fall, she branched out into Broadway, playing the lead role in Always, Patsy Cline. Combining her powerful and dynamic vocals with her remarkably mature songwriting, Bowersox is described as, “bluesy and soulful, with a voice incapable of artifice…” (The Washington Post). Tickets: $25-$39 (Special VIP Meet & Greet $89 including Tier 1 ticket)
Here’s your chance to get tickets to see Gracie Curran & The High Falutin’ Band at The Larcom Theatre on Saturday, April 5th.
Tickets went on sale today and start at only $15.00
“A five-alarm stew of blues, gospel and soul that burns in your gut like the first time you heard Aretha Franklin…” – Alternate Roots Magazine
With appearances at The Gloucester Blues Festival, New England Blues Festival, and The Boston Freedom Rally with more than 50,000 attendees, Gracie Curran & the High Falutin’ Band are about to break into much larger venues.
This may be your last chance to see them in an intimate setting at Beverly’s Larcom Theatre, where you can expect to be infused with their amazing energy and stunningly soulful sound. Here she is at the Gloucester Blues Fest last August:
Every month, when the new issue of The Noise comes out, I’m grateful for the forces that brought T-Max to Gloucester and for his perspective on local Music. This month, he chose to feature a Massachusetts band with a unique sound, so we can all enjoy watching their star rise together: Darlingside. See the article here … and check out this video!
Recent events should make it fairly clear that the war on drugs is a dismal failure. Debate rages (as it should) about what might work and today it seems fitting to look at how creative people help in profound and very personal ways.
Now, you might assume that creative people tend to be more susceptible to addiction than the rest of us — think Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Philip Seymour Hoffman … the list goes on. But creative people may also offer the best solution to the problem by expressing their personal experiences through their art in a way that touches us deeply and gives those of us who might fall into addiction something to hold on to.
One of my favorite young artists, Tristen, who’s appearing at Brighton Music Hall tonight with Jeremy Messersmith, has a wonderful song with a catchy tune and simple, profound lyrics that express, through pop music bliss, her resolve not to feed her friend’s habit while continuing to love and care for him — Here’s the chorus.
I will never falter, I will never fear
For I’ve seen the demons love can conquer disappear
Watch her video
Closer to home, local rising star, Chelsea Berry’s song You Me and Mary shows us how drugs can ruin a relationship. Listen here:
Oliver Stone, in his cautionary movie The Doors, demonstrates how drugs and excess killed one of rock music’s most creative geniuses. This is the best anti-drug experience you could ever give your kids. Make them sit through the whole thing before they’re 12.
If recent events aren’t enough to convince you the war on drugs is folly, watch Steven Soderbergh’s brilliant film Traffic. As Roger Ebert says in his 4-star praise of this extraordinarily creative film, “This war is not winnable on the present terms, and takes a greater toll in human lives than the drugs themselves.” Watch this trailer:
Well, anybody who thinks Cape Ann’s music scene is only hot during tourist season should look at this weekend’s lineup (see full weekend music schedule here).
That’s the good news. The bad news is that you just can’t see every good show this weekend. You’re gonna have to choose. Maybe I can help. It just so happens that I’ve recently interviewed two people who are performing this weekend at Shalin Liu.
Here’s my interview with Brian Gore, whose International Guitar Night performs tonight at 8PM.
And here’s my interview with Kendrick Oliver, director of the New Life Jazz Orchestra, who’s performing tomorrow at 8PM.
And don’t forget Mark Berger & Ride with dramatic photographs from out west as the backdrop for this Old Sloop concert tomorrow.
And it’s Crazy Moon’s final weekend at Rocky Neck Art Colony.
Plus some of Cape Ann’s favorites all over town, including Linda Amero, Charlee Bianchini & Dave Brown, Runaround, Dan King, Michael O’Leary, Mari Martin, Allen Estes & Orville Giddings — and there’s the Community Sing-a-long in Celebration of Pete Seeger at the Lanesville Community Center tonight. WOW! Is your head spinning? Click here for some help choosing.
Win Two FREE tickets to see Charles Neville with Henri Smith on March 7th for a Mardi Gras Concert at Larcom Theatre. Just comment on this post with your funniest Valentine Story! We’ll pick a winner on Sunday! It’s a better chance than the lotto…go for it!
CAPE ANN SYMPHONY BENEFIT
Cape Ann Symphony Presents Fundraising Concert
Featuring Cape Ann Big Band
at Shalin Liu Performance Center
Mother/Daughter Duo Wendy & Brittany Betts
Perform at Post Concert Reception
Continue reading “Cape Ann Symphony Benefit Concert at Shalin Liu – 2/22”
Earlier this week I interviewed Kendrick Oliver, director of the New Life Jazz Orchestra and Laura Heinrichs of the Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestras (NMYO).
Kendrick is bringing his high-energy orchestra to Rockport’s Shalin Liu Performance Center this Saturday, February 8th at 8:oo p.m.
This concert will benefit the students of the NYMO, including their scholarship fund.
Kendrick talks about how he came to be the director of New Life Jazz Orchestra, which was not what he had planned to do when he attended Berklee College of Music and gives us a preview of the excellent music we will hear on Saturday — plus you get to hear some of that music in the interview too.
Listen here:
The Az One Trio returns in a festive service at Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, on Sunday, February 9th, Commemorating African-American History in Gloucester with special speaker Lise Breen. Continue reading “Join Az One Trio & Lise Breen in a Special event Commemorating African-American History”
The music is western-themed, and it will be performed by a five-piece band. The drummer is a photographer by day, and he’s taken some beautiful pictures of dramatic scenes in the west. Photos are going to be projected as a sort of backdrop for the band.
Check out their video:
John Steiger said: ” Gordon Baird takes us on a wondrous journey to mysterious places, his imagination is contagious.”
Robert Crandall: ” A creative one man songfest in the best tradition of seafaring story telling. Enjoy. “
Grace Schraft: ” Everyone there was amazed. It was brilliant. I loved it.”
Come and see what all the talk was about with the return of CRAZY MOON, Gordon Baird’s original musical, also starring John Hyde and Kathleen Brown.
8 Shows Thurs. Jan. 30 ~ Sun. Feb. 9
The show is very exciting and fun and runs only an hour and fifteen minutes – (so even a guy can enjoy it.)
Curtain is at 8 pm (thu-fri-sat) and 5 pm (Sun) at The Rocky Neck Cultural Center on 6 Wonson St…All opening night ticket proceeds (Thurs, 1/30) go to benefit the Gloucester Writer’s Center.
Tickets for all shows are $15, 2/$25 ~ kids $5 and can be bought at the door at showtime. Free parking in the town lot a block from the theater. Gordon@rampartsfarm.com for info or rezzies.
Sign-up for our Concert Club and get pre-sale notifications 
here:
Good Morning Gloucester 