House of Blues Boston, May 18 2013

It’s clear that Josh Ritter has a special place in his heart for Boston. This was a hometown show for band members Zack Hickman, Austin Nevins, and Sam Kassirer. Ritter brought his A-game and gave the Boston fans a lot to cheer for.

Starting with the gorgeous and haunting “Idaho,” Ritter literally got down on his knees and serenaded the crowd. He continued by playing songs from his large catalog, including old favorites like “Kathleen” and “Snow is Gone.” Since this tour was promoted to support his new “Beast in its Tracks” album (see review here), I was excited and pleased to hear so many new songs. Standouts were “Hopeful”, “Joy to you Baby”, and “Nightmares.”  Ritter was very open about the album being influenced by his recent divorce but also flashed his signature grin exuded happiness like usual.

It was particularly exciting for me to go in front of the barricade to take photos and look back on the large crowd. I saw a sea of faces, mesmerized by great music. Thanks for giving Boston something to smile about, Josh!

Photos by Suzanne Davis McMahon

]]> http://twangville.com/14904/josh-ritter-is-boston-strong/feed/ 0 http://twangville.com/13663/josh-ritter-the-beast-in-its-tracks/ http://twangville.com/13663/josh-ritter-the-beast-in-its-tracks/#comments Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:57:00 +0000 Suzanne McMahon http://twangville.com/?p=13663

There’s a new Josh Ritter in town. No more “Bright smiles and dark eyes” and “I’ll be the one to drive you back home, Kathleen.” Now there are lyrics like these: “Nightmares have their dreams as well, / when they sleep they go to hell / and they drink their fill on lakes of blood… I followed one back down to hell/ and I spent some time down there myself.” According to a note written on Ritter’s website, “I wrote and recorded this record in the 18 months after my marriage had fallen apart. All heartbreak is awful – my broken heart wasn’t unique. But writing these songs was helping me get through the night and I didn’t have the strength to care or question.” The album clearly tells the story of broken-hearted anguish and subsequent moving on. It feels much more personal than any previous album and provides insight into Ritter’s recent struggles and the therapeutic benefit of songwriting.

“A Certain Light” is a stripped down lullaby.  It compares old lovers to new ones. “My new lover is really kind, / the kind of lover that one rarely finds / and I’m happy for the first time in a long time… / And she only looks like you in a certain kind of light, / when she holds her head just right.” While his new lady may be a bit uncomfortable with the comparison, this beautiful image shines over a simple melody. On “Hopeful”, Ritter sings about his new partner being hopeful for his happiness and “coming out of the dark clouds.” Redemption and moving on are clear themes throughout the album. We hear some fiery lyrics in the song “New Lover”: “But if you’re sad and lonesome and you’ve got nobody true, / I’d be lying if I said that didn’t make me happy too.” I wonder if ex-wife Dawn Landes has heard that song yet… It’s refreshing to listen to lyrics that demonstrate the vindictive anger that so many of us have once felt but never had the guts to say out loud. The album becomes more upbeat and positive with “In Your Arms Awhile,” which had me tapping my feet and nodding. The mood continues with “Joy to You Baby” (a standout song) and the slower “Lights.”

I must confess, this album has been on repeat in my car for weeks. I hope that Ritter will be back to his smiling, happy self soon. Even with its melancholia, “The Beast In Its Tracks” is a strong release that will help many deal with their own heartbreak.

Audio Download: Josh Ritter, “New Lover”

Photo by Suzanne Davis McMahon

I am crazy lucky that I get to show up at concerts and take photos of musicians. Here are some of my favorite shoots from 2012, all around Boston. Happy new year!

Love Canon @ Club Passim, January 2012 (See my review of their second album here)

Mojo Kick @ Hard Rock Cafe, January 2012 (Check out their rock music here)

Trampled by Turtles @ The Paradise, April 2012 (review here)

The Bottle Rockets @ The Center for the Arts in Natick, May 2012 (review here)

Justin Townes Earle @ The Somerville Theater, May 2012 (review here)

Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires @ Wadsworth Atheneum (Hartford, CT), June 2012 (review here)

Barnstar! @ Club Passim, June 2012 (review here)

The Stray Birds @ Club Passim, October 2012 (review here)

Mark Erelli @ Temple Isaiah, December 2012 (review here)

Click here for more Twangville Best of 2012 coverage.

Let me start out by saying that I played the crap out of the first Love Canon album, so I was pretty excited when I heard that Volume 2 was coming. It’s the perfect thing to put on in any social situation- everyone knows and loves 80′s songs. Every time I told a friend what I was going to put on, they would say, “You’re putting on what? I’m sure the original song is so much better” and then would shut up after the music started playing. “Oh wow… this is pretty awesome,” they would then admit. This happened countless times. Love Canon’s version of “Boys of Summer” is a tune that I put on every single playlist, I can’t stop listening to it.

So let me get to Volume 2. The album starts with that unmistakable riff from “Money for Nothing” but damn, they make it sound so much more awesome by infusing it with bluegrass twang. You wouldn’t think that a male voice could pull off “Physical”, but lead singer Jesse Harper sounds great (and the guy has a serious range!). The lyrics are still hilarious, maybe even more so with banjos and mandolins behind them. In each song, Love Canon breaks into an impressive instrumental break that reminds us that they are indeed a talented bluegrass band. During “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” you suddenly find yourself listening to a Celtic- sounding jig. “Centerfold” is one of my favorites on the album. When I listened initially, I wasn’t sure what tune it was. When they broke into that familiar opening riff (with fiddles!), I found myself smiling and humming. The rest of the album remains strong, with “Whip It!” being another very amusing standout. The idea of this band is brilliant and in reality it’s even better. I once heard Jesse say at a live show that the band was started as a joke- I’m glad that they are taking it seriously enough to keep giving us music.

The only question that remains is… when is Volume 3 coming?

Photo by Suzanne McMahon

The Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford CT: April 2012

Post by Suzanne D. McMahon (Suzanne Davis Photography)

There aren’t many musicians that I would drive 2 hours each way on a Friday night to see (especially since my alarm goes off at 5:30am every morning!). When I saw that Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell were playing an acoustic show together, I was more than willing to make the trip. This was an incredibly special show for many reasons. Amanda announced via Twitter that this would be her first time performing her songs alone on stage. I’ve listened to her latest album “Carrying Lightning” many times before but the songs took on new meaning with just a single instrument behind them. The show was in a small auditorium and I was able to shoot right up at the stage, from the aisles, from the back, etc. which gave me the ability to capture many different angles. Amanda is lovely and a great model to photograph! I especially enjoyed meeting her after the show and hope that she returns to the East Coast again soon.

The Music Hall, Portsmouth NH: December 2011

Post by Suzanne D. McMahon (Suzanne Davis Photography)

It’s hard for me to begin trying to describe in words what this experience was like for me. I have been listening to Gill & Dave’s music for a long time and it has brought me comfort during some difficult experiences in my life. Listening to them croon through my headphones is soothing but seeing them live is a completely different thing, it’s mesmerizing. Before the show, I met with the tour manager and was given access to a small balcony up on the side of the stage. This does not usually happen and I was very excited. Being in that balcony, where no one else was allowed to go, I felt very up close and personal with the musicians. I am very proud of this shoot and think it was one of the most intimate that I’ve had at a concert.

Photos taken with a Canon Rebel SLR using 50mm f/1.4 and 70-200mm lenses.

Levon Helm Band

Life is Good Music Festival in Canton, MA: September 2011

Post by Suzanne D. McMahon (Suzanne Davis Photography)

 I feel so incredibly lucky that I had the opportunity to photograph Levon Helm at the Life is Good music festival last year. It was hard to believe that I was standing in a photo pit with thousands of people behind me, just a few feet away from this legend. Due to his voice being impacted by throat cancer, Levon did not sing much (just one verse of “The Weight”) but he dazzled the crowd with his smile and presence. This was certainly an unforgettable experience.

The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA: March 2010

Post by Suzanne D. McMahon (Suzanne Davis Photography)

One thing I can say about Justin Townes Earle: the man knows how to dress. I’ve seen him play quite a few times now and his outfits are always impeccable, which makes him even more fun to photograph. How many musicians perform wearing bow ties these days? Also worth mentioning is the music of course!

Photos taken with a Canon Rebel SLR using 50mm f/1.4 and 70-200mm lenses.

]]> http://twangville.com/10467/photos-that-rock-justin-townes-earle/feed/ 2 http://twangville.com/9893/photos-that-rock-the-avett-brothers/ http://twangville.com/9893/photos-that-rock-the-avett-brothers/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:30:38 +0000 Suzanne McMahon http://twangville.com/?p=9893 The Avett Brothers

 Life is Good Festival in Canton, MA: September 2011

Before the Life is Good festival, I was a very casual Avett Brothers fan. I really enjoyed the album “I and Love and You” but hadn’t heard much else. It was very exciting to be standing in front of the barricade, right up at the stage on a lawn filled with thousands of people, waiting for them to come on and perform. Seth, Scott, and their band exploded onto the stage with “Go to Sleep” from their album “Emotionalism” and I was instantly hooked. I snapped away with my camera, standing directly under them and enjoying their energy. I’ve now gone from a casual fan to a real one! Photos taken with a Canon Rebel SLR using 50mm f/1.4 and 70-200mm lenses.

I love a good rock & roll band. Marah are a sweaty, raw, energetic rock band and I’ve been lucky enough to see them play live many times (my favorite time was at “The Tree House”, a residential living room in Tacoma Park, MD). The core of the group is Dave Bielanko, Serge Bielanko, and Christine Smith. The band has had many members come and go throughout the years but the albums have remained pretty consistent.  I’m going to take you through their catalog to pick out my favorite songs  and I have ranked each album as well.

Let’s Cut the Crap and Hook Up Later On Tonight (1998): A stellar first album. You should listen to it all the way through but here are my favorites. Rank #2

Fever

Phantom Eyes (My absolute favorite Marah song ever. This song made me want to hear everything else they have ever recorded). Also, one of my photographs is shown during this video!

Firecracker

Boat

Limb

Kids in Philly (2000): Love this record. It was fun to go to Philly and see some of the places that they sing about. Rank #3

Faraway You

Point Breeze (another favorite- listen to this song and tell me you didn’t want to dance!)

Round Eye Blues

Barstool Boys

Float Away with the Friday Night Gods (2002): Rank #9

Soul

Leaving

20,000 Streets Under the Sky (2004): Rank #5

Freedom Park

Going Thru the Motions

Tame the Tiger

Pizzeria (Serge Bielanko’s ode to pizza parlors)

Float Away Deconstructed (2005): The band decided to release “deconstructed” versions of the songs from the album “Float Away with the Friday Night Gods.” These versions are far superior in my opinion! Rank #8

Float Away (acoustic demo)

Revolution (demo)

People of the Underground (demo)

Crying on an Airplane (acoustic demo)

A Christmas Kind of Town (2005): The perfect rock & roll Christmas album! I play it every year along with Bob Dylan’s “Christmas in the Heart.” Rank #6

New York is a Christmas Kind of Town

Christmas with the Snow

Holly Jolly Christmas

Baby it’s Cold Outside

If You Didn’t Laugh… You’d Cry (2005): My favorite Marah album. It is fantastic. Listen to it now! Rank #1

The Closer (it’s okay… you can start dancing like I do every time I hear it)

City of Dreams

Sooner or Later (Serge’s best song ever)

The Demon of White Sadness

Walt Whitman Bridge (most well-known Marah song)

Angels of Destruction (2008): Rank #4

Coughing Up Blood

Old Time Tickin’ Away

Santos De Madera (this video was shot at the “Tree House” concert that I mentioned earlier- amazing show)

Songbirds

Life is a Problem (2010): Rank #7

Valley Farm Song

Life is a Problem

Put ‘em in the Graveyard

BONUS:

Kids in Amsterdam (2004)- excellent studio versions of songs from “Kids in Philly”

Sooner or Later in Spain (2006)- CD and DVD of live concerts in Spain

Now go find some Marah to listen to!!