I’ve been pretty active on the concert front this year. From small shows to medium shows, I’ve seen lots of great and underappreciated acts as well as established acts hitting their stride. Some surprisingly good and others expected to be good. Definitely feel lucky to have enjoyed so much quality live and twangy music this year.
1. Session Americana
I have seen this band play numerous times, the first one in the spring with high expectations. The shows are by turns hilarious, heartbreaking, and musically irresistible. The band contains many talented singers, songwriters, and instrumentalist. The best part is that their home base is basically a converted basement / bar (The Lizard Lounge). Each show is like a party with a group of friends. That’s how this band makes you feel. They’re not a band that fits neatly into any one category but their variety make each show fun and interesting. I was floored when I saw them the first time and I keep coming back for more.
2. Jason Isbell / Amanda Shires / Joe Fletcher
When it comes to 2013’s, it’s hard to have a better year that Jason Isbell did. First he married a stellar fiddler and songwriter Amanda Shires. Then he released the album of a lifetime, a masterpiece singer/songwriter composition Southeastern. Going to this concert was like a cathartic experience. The whole audience knew all of the tunes. The silence of the crowd when Isbell delivered “Elephant” could only be described as a religious reverence. Throw in Amanda Shires and Joe Fletcher and you have a festival quality lineup to say the least.
3. Josh Ritter
It seems like a lifetime ago, but Josh Ritter always delivers a great show. Even when he’s gone through a divorce, it’s difficult to put into words how buoyant a performer can be. Ritter has phenomenal songs and has changed lots throughout the years. His shows are such joyous places to share that I don’t miss him when he’s in town.
4. Barnstar
I love me some bluegrass and I’ll be darned if I can’t find it live. Throw in quality songwiting and surprisingly Boston has a stellar offering in Barnstar. They played a fantastic show at the first annual free Outside the Box festival on Boston Common. While the songs are strong, the musicianship moves just like a bluegrass band should.
5. Twangville Showcase
While I am a bit biased, it’s hard to top the rock of Sarah Borges, the roost of Session Americana, and the spare songs of Joe Fletcher. The acts were great and happened to play in the lovely basement venue of the Lizard Lounge. The only problem was that I only got a taste of each act.
6. David Wax Museum
Another great Boston band, I continue to be impressed by how unique the band sounds. While David Wax Museum seems almost theoretical and “world music,” actually they fit quite well on the twangville roster. The song composition is quite strong and rootsy while it has a unique rural Mexican feel. It’s like Mexican/American roots music.
7. Slaid Cleaves
He was one of the best discoveries of the year. Cleaves is such a strong writer. His songs seem both all country and yet poetry at the same time. Seeing it live gives you a sense of how polished a musician he is. But the emotions and power of the songs came out at Club Passim while Cleaves was “Still Fighting the War.” It’s a protest record in the strongest sense.
8. Travis
Seeing this show was like an old friend that showed up out of nowhere. I hadn’t listened to the records in literally years. Yet the show felt like I was in my late teens. Fran Healey and the boys sounded pretty much like they did back in the day. Their recent records are not as strong, yet the live show was heavy on the old stuff and made a big venue feel intimate.
9. Tom McBride
When I wandered into the Lizard Lounge one March evening, I was pretty stunned at Tom McBride. The guy has quite a set of blue-eyed soul pipes. And he can write some great tunes to boot. He has managed to keep the pop sensibility in his country tunes and it was the biggest surprise of the year!
10. Hem
The countrypolitan band is back. It’s a show you don’t jump around for, you sit and you listen. Almost like a classical music show, Hem delivered spot on vocals, musicianship and new compositions. The band does not disappoint.
About the author: Jeff is a teacher in the Boston area. When not buried correcting papers, Jeff can be found plucking various stringed instruments and listening to all types of americana music.