Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles, dance......

By Butch Worrell
Nov. 9, 2013
Nashville, TN

 The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band opened their current tour with a show at the Franklin Theatre last night. This band has been playing since they were formed in Long Beach, CA in 1966.

Bright Light Social Hour with Black Taxi

Bright Light Social Hour (Austin) and Black Taxi (NYC) made a stop at Cosmic Charlies this past week. We decided to check these guys out on the way back from Asheville's Mountain Oasis Festival and found two great bands. BLSH is an up and coming band out of Austin, Texas who have been dazzling crowds at Austin City Limits Festival and SXSW. During SXSW, the band took home the award for Best Album at the Austin Music Awards. Both these bands delivered their own versions of Soul, Funk, Indie and Psychedelia playing styles.  I am certain you will be hearing more about both of these bands in the near future.

Images by Doug Siegel

City and Colour with Sleepy Sun

Dallas Green and his band played a near sold out performance this past week at Bogart's. Sleepy Sun opened up and did not disappoint as a prior opener for The Black Angels (a favorite band of mine). Jack Lawrence (Greenhornes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather) is currently on tour with City and Colour as their bassist. City and Colour clearly has a cult following as everyone in the audience seemed familiar with their material. Dallas is currently on tour in the Eastern United States.

Images by Doug Siegel

Scotty McCreery @ Viking Hall

 

Scotty McCreery stopped off at Viking Hall, located in Bristol, Tennessee on his Weekend Roadtrip Tour.

 

Grace Potter On Top

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

The ever-growing musical prowess of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals has become something that fans music fans of all types can appreciate.  That is why it is such a pleasure to see them return to the All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013 to host a Saturday night prime time slot on the Dragon Stage from 6:00 until 7:30.  Between Grace’s on stage charisma, voice, and beauty, she is the perfect leader for a band that has been building up quite a rock-star reputation over the past few years.  Grace Potter and the Nocturnals put on quite a spectacle for their loyal fans on that sunny evening at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio.  The highlight of their set that had everyone talking was their cover of The Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil” which featured a surprise sit-in from none other than Bob Weir, an original member of The Dead.  In return, Potter would sit in with Furthur, who played after The Nocturnals on the same stage, to collaborate on a rendition of the Grateful Dead classic, “Turn on Your Lovelight.”  

Ice Cube - Never Too Gangsta

Ice Cube - O'Shea Jackson

One of the founding fathers of gangsta rap, Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson) brought his brutally honest style back to The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC with WC (William Loshawn Calhoun, Jr.) and crew.  Ice Cube has been on the scene for over 25 years, since blowing music fans out of the water in 1987 with the infamous rap group N.W.A. alongside fellow rap legend, Dr. Dre.  When he left N.W.A and become a solo artist in 1989, Ice Cube secured his status as one of the most controversial lyricists of all time.  He has been accused of being overly violent, racist, and misogynistic.  On the other hand, he has been labeled as being one of the greatest story-telling MC’s of all time.  He has collaborated with an uncountable list of other talent along the way.  Ice Cube has also recognized success with his clothing line, as well as acting, and screenwriting.  He starred in the early nineties classic, Boys In Da Hood.  O'Shea Jackson also co-wrote and starred in the classic Friday movie series, as well as had starring roles in other blockbuster hits such as Anaconda, Three Kings, and Barbershop. 

Big Gigantic Performs at Bogarts

Big Gigantic is a high energy duo featuring Dominic Lalli and Jerermy Salken out of Boulder, Colorado. They have been described as instrumental livetronica blending jazz, hip hop, and several other genres. Dominic Lalli plays the saxophone and produces while Jeremy is on drums and vocals.

Images by Doug Siegel