Looked for a minute like we’d be counting crows for the rest of the day, seeing as power outage temporarily sidelined WTJU‘s Rock Marathon. But the brief gap presented a good opportunity to consider some of the great stuff that’s happening in town this weekend—a huge music weekend.
Two solid local songwriters release solid new EPs tonight at The Southern: Sam Wilson crafts understated, nature-conscious country with a softer edge than his other band, Sons of Bill, on a new disc called Late Nights and Lonely Hearts. Wilson is joined tonight by Carl Anderson, of Carl and Carleigh, whose 20 Something Blues blends a wise-beyond-his-years lyricism with a timeless instrumentation.
Sam Wilson’s "So Many Times"
Carl Anderson’s "Jacket"
Tonight at the Paramount, I’m shocked to see that the Booker T. Jones and Bettye LaVette show has not yet sold out. Booker T. and the M.G.s formed as the Stax house band, laying the groundwork from some of the best soul recordings of the 20th century ("Dock of the Bay," "Soul Man"), stumbling on their first and only hit "Green Onions" when the house engineer decide to record part of the group’s session.
He plays tonight with Bettye LaVette, who seemed to sneak through the back door onto the stage the Kennedy Center Honors only to steal the show with a rendition of The Who’s "Love Reign O’er Me." Last year became LaVette’s year, when a collection of British rock classics, Interpretations, occasioned an appearance on the Tonight Show and a profile in the New Yorker.
Booker T. recorded a version of "Hey Ya" on his most recent record Potato Hole, backed by the Drive-By Truckers.
Saturday night is going to be special at the Jefferson Theater, with the Bang on a Can All-Stars playing a free—yes, free!—concert as part of a three-day UVA residency. The rock-meets-chamber music ensemble has collaborated with folks like Lukas Ligeti and Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, casually presenting new classical works with conservatory-approved precision. Did I mention their performance tomorrow is free? Vusi Mahlasela, who I wrote about in this week’s Feedback column, is there Sunday.
Bang on a Can All-Stars and Thurston Moore’s "Stroking Piece"
What’re you up to this weekend?