Pandora, Last.fm, iTunes...Favtape?

I've been a longtime user of Pandora, and love the ease with which I can discover new artists that correlate directly with my favorites. And of course, iTunes is great as it allows us to download our favorite music and listen to it at random, or within specific personally designed playlists from any location in the world via portable Mp3 players.

The downsides to both however is that you can't control the order of songs streamed on Pandora, and it costs 99 cents per download from iTunes' catalogue, forcing your friends to pay for the music if you want to digitally share a particularly intriguing playlist. These frustrations started me on a quest to find an application that offers the best of both worlds, and Favtape.com was the last stop on my cyber tour. Check out this article from TechCrunch for a full explanation of this "mix-tape sharing" service, which, from the outset, could perhaps be flawless and devoid of the licensing issues that plagued Muxtape, Favtape's predecessor and initial model for future mix-tape creation and playlist sharing applications?

However, it still remains to be seen whether Favtape's reliance on Seeqpod's indexing capabilities will be its ultimate downfall. Keep in mind that even though you can pull as many songs as you want from the Seeqpod index, at no point are you able to archive these songs on your machine's hard drive, or claim them as your own. They are housed and can be accessed only through favtape's website. What do you think...is this truly Muxtape on steroids...or just another Napster type phenomenon doomed for failure?

-GB

ATP New York Festival Wrap-Up (From my Buddy Jay who Never Blogs but Thought this was an Appropriate Time to Share)

I myself did not make it to the inaugural East Coast incarnation of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival (ATP is basically a reciprocal music festival to Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, etc, minus the corporate feel and a proclivity for post-rock, avant-garde, and underground hip hop), but wanted to pay some homage to the droolfest this 3 day lineup triggered amongst the early to late 30 something crowd...like my buddy Jay! Don't get me wrong, I make this statement with absolutely no degree of sarcasm or irreverance...I for one am huge fans of Built to Spill, Yo La Tengo, and My Bloody Valentine.

The primary indicators that this was indeed a very nichy, out-of-the box festival was its size - 2,700 people, it's location - indoors at a fairly defunct Dirty Dancing style resort that harkens back to the Clinton era, and it's target demographic - close to 3/4 male in the 30 - 40 year old age range. If anyone out there attended, it's probably safe to say that you didn't see any Dave Matthews Band or Fleetwood Mac t-shirts on the premises.

Since I wasn't there, I'll now proceed to shut up and direct you to Dr. Jay Erter's blog youremindmeofatvshow.blogspot.com. For additional insight into the festival atmosphere, Pitchfork Media also offers a very comprehensive review.

Enjoy!

Graham

The Barns at Wolf Trap Fall 2008 Schedule

Sorry for my brief hiatus from blogging, but I just returned from a week of R&R...which mostly consisted of hanging out in Columbus, Ohio during a 3 day blackout. Good times.

Thought I'd jump right in and provide some details for our fall Barns schedule which is 100% booked and currently on-sale. Unfortunately, one of the season's best shows was cancelled due to a scooter injury sustained by Nashville based rock artist Will Hoge, but we hope to see him back on the schedule for the spring, supported by the alt-country quartet, The Everybodyfields.

Take a look and buy a ticket!

The Iguanas - Hailing from New Orleans, this quartet fuses an eclectic combination of roots rock, New Orleans R&B, Latin & Caribbean rhythms with sophisticated song arrangement and lyrical content. Last at Wolf Trap in 2006, the band returns in support of their latest release, Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart.

Sat. Oct. 11
7:30 PM
$20.00
Rock
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Saffire- The Uppity Blues Women - With their infectious brand of acoustic blues, this trio of musicians has scored legions of fans through 6 studio albums and one live release filled with soulful originals and expert interpretations of classic blues tunes. Currently touring behind Deluxe Edition, featuring over 75 minutes of material hand-picked by the band.

Sun. Oct. 12
7:30 PM
$25.00
Blues
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Riders in the Sky - Known as one of the hardest working bands on the scene today, this quartet of musicians have over 5000 live appearances under their belt, offering a collection of cowboy/western song covers, original works and comedy.

Wed. Oct. 15
8:00 PM
$30.00
Country
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Eroica Trio - Recognized as one of the world's the most sought after chamber-music groups, the Eroica Trio brings harmony among three pianos showcasing technical virtuosity, irresistible enthusiasm and sensual elegance all resulting in a multiple list of Grammy nominations. The Eroica Trio performs the Beethoven Triple Concerto more frequently than any other trio in the world, having appeared with renowned symphonies such as Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco, Mostly Mozart Orchestra, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Houston and Seattle.

Fri. Oct. 17
8:00 PM
$35.00
Classically trained piano trio
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Jon Carroll - Recording Artist, Producer, and Grammy Award winning songwriter, Jon Carroll returns to Wolf Trap since his last fall 2006 performance. Recently touring in support of his most recent album, Love Returns, Carroll was also a recent recipient of the 2006 Washington Area Music award (Wammie) winner 2006 for Best Instrumentalist in the Pop/ Rock genre.

Sat. Oct. 18
7:30 PM
$20.00
Pop/Rock
The Barns at Wolf Trap

The Flying Karamazov Brothers - This troupe of juggling entertainers began on the streets of Santa Cruz, California soon transforming into a internationally acclaimed comdedic troupe. Made popular by their wide range of performances with old and new elements from their repertoire, including performances with support from city orchestras.

Tues. Oct. 21 and Wednesday Oct. 22
8:00 PM
$35.00
Comedy, Theater, Music and Juggling
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Los Straitjackets/Laika & The Cosmonaults - This instrumental surf band combines a variety of old fashion rock and roll with various melodies often times including Spanish lyrics. The Los Straitjackets have a unique wardrobe with Aztec looking face masks paired up with black clothing creating their own distinctive stage presence. The group is currently touring in support of their 2007 release Rock en Español Vol. 1.

Thurs. Oct. 23
8:00 PM
$18.00
Rock
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Magpie

Fri. Oct. 24
8:00 PM
$18.00
Folk
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Chris Smither - This American singer/ songwriter, and guitarist has received fame for his folk/blues influenced music. Smither’s originals draw from deep blues inspiration, traditional folk tunes and modern poetry.

Fri. Oct. 31
8:00 PM
$22.00
Folk/Blues
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Christine Lavin - Singer/ Songwriter, popular for her politically influenced folk music and radical track titles, has recorded and released 17 solo albums of original material, and has produced more than eight compilation albums featuring the work of other singers and songwriters.

Sat. Nov. 1
8:00PM
$20.00
Contemporary Folk
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Elisa - Italian superstar makes her Wolf Trap debut in support of her July 15 U.S. debut album titled Dancing. Her tunes are Italian inspired but the majority are sung in English. Likened to Tori Amos, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Alanis Morisette.

Tues. Nov. 4
8:00 PM
$20.00
Rock/Italian pop
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Battlefield Band - Inspired by the rich heritage of Celtic music, Battlefield Band combines the vibrancy of today's Scottish cultural scene with a mix of old traditional sounds and lyrics that fuse ancient and modern instruments including bagpipes, fiddle, synthesizer, guitar, flutes, bodhran and accordion.

Wed. Nov. 5
8:00 PM
$22.00
Scottish Folk/ Celtic
The Barns at Wolf Trap

James Cotton - Last at the Barns in the spring of 1998, Grammy Award winning artist James Cotton showcases his multi-level blues dexterity and skills on the harmonica. Cotton is currently celebrating his 64th year in the entertainment business with a much anticipated return to The Barns stage.

Thurs. Nov. 6
8:00 PM
$25.00
Blues
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Jeremy Denk - Known for both his technical virtuosity and expressiveness, pianist Jeremy Denk combines note-perfect precision and control with an ability to recreate well-known music from scratch. Denk brings Beethoven’s Hammerklavier and Ives’s Concord sonatas to Wolf Trap's Discovery Series for the first time.

Fri. Nov. 7
8:00 PM
$35
Chamber Music/Piano
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Melissa Manchester - Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, actress, and composer, Melissa Manchester is known for her classic sultry vocals and wholesome lyrics. Manchester is the first artist to have two movie themes nominated (The Promise and Ice Castles) for an Academy Award. She won the 1982 Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance with her Billboard No. 5 hit, “You Should Hear How She Talks About You,” from her Hey Ricky LP.

Sat. Nov. 8
7:30 PM
$35.00
Adult Contemporary
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Chad & Jeremy - British pop icons return to the Barns showcasing their wistful folk lyrics and serene guitar skills with their Top 20 American hit “Yesterday’s Gone,” and Billboard’s Top 5 hit “Summer Song.”

Sun. Nov. 9
7:30 PM
$25.00
Folk/ Rock
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Duncan Sheik with Lauren Pritchard - Alternative singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik debuts at The Barns featuring an evening of his original pop hits, and selections from the Broadway musical Spring Awakening, for which he composed the Tony Award-winning score. Sheik is joined by Broadway actress Lauren Pritchard, an original cast member in Spring Awakening.

Wed. Nov. 12
8:00 PM
$30.00
Musical
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Richard Shindell/Ollabelle - Illustrative songwriter Richard Shindell showcases his poetic and clever folk music, ranging in topics from spirituality to politics. Alongside Shindell is Americana group Ollabelle, known for constantly recreating and transforming their music with a unique blend of blues, bluegrass, and gospel.

Thurs. Nov. 13
8:00 PM
$20.00
Musical
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Livingston Taylor - Taylor’s mellow style, warm charm and thoughtful eloquence defines his presence as one of the most respected musicians in the folk-pop world. Taylor’s most recent album, There You Are Again is a star-studded affair featuring siblings James and Kate, Vince Gill on electric guitar, and many other special guests.

Fri. Nov. 14 and Sat. Nov. 15
8:00 PM
$22.00
Folk Rock
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Loudon Wainwright III - After a ten year hiatus from The Barns, folk singer/songwriter Loudon Wainwright III returns in support of his recent album Recovery, showcasing his humorous and nakedly honest autobiographical songs.

Wed. Nov. 19
8:00 PM
$22.00
Folk
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Ari Hest/ Luke Brindley Band - Folk/rock artist Ari Hest makes his Wolf Trap debut alongside critically acclaimed local pop/rock act Luke Brindley Band. Having recently parted ways with his major label, Hest recently unleashed an independent project involving the release of one new song on his website each week for 52 weeks. Fans will have the opportunity to vote on the best 12 songs for inclusion on his forthcoming 2009 album. Luke Brindley returns to the Barns in support of his Five Songs EP released this past June.

Thurs. Nov. 20
8:00 PM
$16.00
Folk
The Barns at Wolf Trap

A Tribute to Warren Zevon - This tribute to one of America's most influential rock artists celebrates Zevon’s brilliant mind and his creative contributions to rock music, with performances by an eclectic mix of local artists including Jon Carroll, John Jennings, Patty Reese and The Cravin’ Dogs.

Fri. Nov. 21
8:00 PM
$20.00
The Barns at Wolf Trap

The Grandsons - Called “the hardest working band in D.C.” by The Washington Post, the roots rock quartet known as the Grandsons combine New Orleans rhythm and blues, rockabilly, swing, and country two-steps for a sound all their own. The Grandsons celebrated their 20th anniversary with their latest release, Live at The Barns: The Legendary Wolf Trap Recordings, Volume Two. Recorded from their 2006 Barns performance, the album captures the band’s trademark horn-powered rhythms and festive concert atmosphere.

Fri. Nov. 28
8:00 PM
$16.00
Rhythm & Blues
The Barns at Wolf Trap

John Eaton - Popular jazz pianist and one of the leading interpreters of American music presents Indiana on our Minds—An Evening of Music by Cole Porter and Hoagy Carmichael. This performance features a journey through the timelessly classic songs of Hoosier-born and uniquely different Porter and Carmichael, including "Night and Day," "Begin the Beguine," "Stardust," and "Georgia on My Mind." Eaton has performed at various venues from small local jazz clubs to command performances at the White House. Eaton has been working with Wolf Trap Recordings on an extensive American Popular Song series, having recently released his third volume titled John Eaton presents the American Popular Song, Volume III Blowin' in the Wind - The '60s Music Revolution.

Sat. Nov. 29
7:30 PM
$25.00
Piano/Jazz
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Schooner Fare - Popular for their captivating harmonies and high energy stage presence, Schooner Fare combines their talents on six-string guitars, twelve-string guitars and banjos creating original and traditional maritime and topical songs that have been applauded by such folk music icons as the Kingston Trio, the Limeliters, the Clancy Brothers, and Tom Paxton.

Thurs. Dec. 4 and Fri. Dec. 5
8:00 PM
$25.00
Celtic/British folk
The Barns at Wolf Trap

Looking Ahead to Summer 2009 and Reflections on 2008...

As is every year in September, The Filene Center will go into hibernation until May, with the exception of the International Children's Festival this weekend, the Wolf Trap Ball on the 20th, and the Holiday Sing-A-Long on December 7. In the blink of an eye, 90 concerts are already part of the Filene Center's enduring 38 year history. In the wake of our summer season, we hope you enjoyed our program options and are pleased that 2008 came in as our highest grossing season in Wolf Trap's existence Indeed, it was a summer rich with diverse talent from our debut presentation of Les Miserables, to folk-legend James Taylor, to pop-piano virtuoso Ben Folds.

Despite a successful season, I wanted to give you all the opportunity to chime in with your overall opinions of our 2008 programming, and offer your preferences for shows you would like to see for 2009. Booking is handled by our programming office, so I will certainly pass on your feedback.

I'll start...I'd love to see (in no particular order):

Wilco - opened for Natalie Merchant in 2000, but keeping my fingers crossed for an eventual headlining performance

My Morning Jacket

Rilo Kiley

Ryan Adams

The Shins

Modest Mouse

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones - has performed at the Filene Center multiple times, but I've never seen them here and am also a huge fan of saxophonist Jeff Coffin, who incidentally replaced Leroi Moore on this summer's Dave Matthews Band tour after Moore tragically passed away from complications stemming from an ATV accident.

R.E.M.

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

The Avett Brothers - has played the Barns, but I think they're ready for the big stage :)

Spoon

While I'm on the topic of suggesting shows, you should all take 10-15 minutes to peruse http://www.eventful.com/. It gives you the opportunity to DEMAND events in your city. Careful though, it's easy to get lost in there for hours at a time :)

Have a great weekend,

Graham

My Morning Jacket (Sandwiched Between Wild Sweet Orange and Dr. Dog)

Not a bad three days of music this past Wednesday - Friday. Now I realize I could be saying this about our season ending run of Les Mis at Wolf Trap…but I actually was at three other venues, two in Charlottesville, and one in Arlington.

Wednesday evening after work I travelled to C-ville to catch the co-bill of rising indie pop talents What Made Milwaukee Famous and Wild Sweet Orange, the former of which was fairly underwhelming despite a 2007 appearance on PBS program Austin City Limits, four studio records under their belt, and recent lineup additions with a new guitarist and drummer. I was particularly enthused to see this new incarnation of WMMF perform selections from their 2006 LP Trying to Never Catch Up (was really hoping for "idecide" and "Hellodrama" and got one of them) but found myself continuously distracted by the keyboardist's dedication to Cars style synth riffs, which in my opinion, wholly detracted from the brilliance of Michael Kingcaid's voice and otherwise tightly constructed songwriting and instrumentation. Still, I couldn't help but groove along to pop gems "Sweet Lady", "Hellodrama", and "Cheap Wine."

For a band comprised of predominantly early 20-somethings year olds with limited touring experience, and only ONE record under their belt, Birmingham, Alabama bred rock-outfit Wild Sweet Orange were very, very impressive. Considering that by the time they took the stage the venue's audience had dwindled to about 35 people, I expected front man Preston Lovinggood and company to perform a lackluster set, only to be proven dead wrong by a provocative live show to match the title of their debut record We Have Cause to be Uneasy. The band's therapeutic sound seems to instantly transport you to small town Southern life where you are seeing the world through the eyes a post high school, pre-college teenager, searching the streets for a sense of meaning, direction, and purpose. I think these guys are gonna make it big. Check out this recent performance of "Ten Dead Dogs" on Letterman.



My Morning Jacket descended upon the Charlottesville Pavilion on Friday night, and I opted out of their more local D.A.R. Constitution Hall performance for C-ville as a VERY excited spectator from about 20 yards away. I just can't bring myself to see this band in a seated venue when a short (beautiful) 2 hr. drive offers the opportunity to rock out general admission style with no space constraints or ushers with flashlights disrupting some good old fashioned crowd surfing. Someone this morning asked me of an adjective to describe their live show and these are a few that come to mind...incendiary, facemelting, lifechanging, scorching. I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of their 2008 release Evil Urges, but hearing the tracks live is a completely different experience. I was even able to find some value in the overproduced, gimmicky tune "Highly Suspicious", as it channeled a Prince/Black Sabbath combination which made me want to throw up devil horns. Highlights were "Laylow", "Magheeta", "Golden", "Dondante" and "Off the Record". Now I brought a point and shoot to document this experience, but it was quickly shoved into my pocket after my buddy Ben introduced me to his friend and photographer extraordinare Pepper Watkins who captured some amazing shots. Check them out on his Flickr page. I promise you'll be impressed.

Rounding out this triumvirate of shows was Dr. Dog at Iota in Arlington. What a treat it was to see these guys in 200 person capacity club. For those of you who aren’t familiar with their sound, they’re often compared to the Beatles, The Band, and occasionally the Beach Boys. They're pretty under the radar, but after the release of two critically heralded LPs in We All Belong (2007) and 2008's Fate, multiple appearances on Letterman and Conan, bookings at summer festivals (Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Lebowski Fest (!), and unmatched collective talent in vocal harmonies, song arrangement, and instrumentation amongst their indie rock/pop/americana peers, these guys are rapidly amassing a dedicated fan base. As my buddy Ben put it during Friday's set "It's obvious that these guys have been doing this for a long time." Very true, but actually an interesting quote considering not one band member looks over the age of 31-32. I guess they're just that good. See for yourself in this video for their song "Hang on" off Fate, which, incidentally should be your next purchase on iTunes, local record store..WHEREVER! Just get it!

On the Fence about a Les Miserables Ticket Purchase? Look no further than Nelson Pressley's Review...

I can perhaps hold my own with posting adequate concert reviews, but I'm not going to pretend that my journalistic skills are up to snuff when it comes to subjectively reviewing live theater.

Given this admission of defeat, if you're considering traveling to Wolf Trap this week to absorb Atlanta's Theatre of the Stars' brand new stage adaptation of Les Miz, completely authorized by the legendary Cameron MacKinstosh, I humbly defer you to this comprehensive review by the Washington Post's own Nelson Pressley.

Opening night was this past Friday, but the show makes its home on the Filene Center stage until Sunday, September 7, with matinee performances on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are still available for all shows with perfect weather in store for tonight, tomorrow and Thursday, so we hope to see you out to help us usher in the final performances of our 2008 summer season.