Without the Sugarcanes, Elvis Costello fits only slightly better at a bluegrass festival than David Byrne. But adding Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan and Jim Lauderdale ups his bluegrass street-cred exponentially.
Promoting his new album, Secrets, Profane and Sugarcane he played the main stage in Town Park on Friday evening in what he dubbed the “cathedral of mountains.”
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Another not-so-bluegrass artist, Jenny Lewis, had a slew of fans singing along at her early evening set Friday on the main stage.
With help from her band and a special guest appearance by Elvis Costello, she ran through songs from both of her solo albums, a tribute to Emmylou Harris and a new tune.
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After what seems like forever, the 36th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival is only a month away. And we’re so excited we can hardly stand it.
Honestly, we turn into giddy little children every time we think about it.
And why are we jumping up and down? It has a lot to do with the fact that there’s just nothing quite like the atmosphere in Telluride’s Town Park during the four days of the bluegrass festival.
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It’s that time of year again and the music portion of SXSW kicks off tomorrow.
Even without a badge, there’s loads of free or nearly free shows to enjoy if you’re in Austin this week. KGSR has shows at Auditorium Shores on Lady Bird Lake, and the morning broadcast from the lobby of the Four Seasons.
Numerous artists are playing side shows around the city and there’s the annual Million Musician March for Peace on the 21st.
But, if you’re sitting out for this year’s festivities there’s still plenty to be excited about in the musical world.
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As the year draws to a close, it’s time to look back at the best music of 2008.
In no particular order these albums have become favorites as a whole, not just for their individual singles or for a handful of tracks.
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The sophomore album from Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue is reminiscent of the ’70s from the beginning.
The yellow sleeve with the repetitive design lists the tracks and varied guests on the back foregoing lengthy liner notes. Inside there are four Polaroid style photos and the classic Warner Brothers label graces the disc.
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Of the handful of dates that Jenny Lewis is playing on her Acid Tongue tour, two happened to be in Colorado.
Without Rilo Kiley but with support from opening acts Whispertown 2000 and Jonathan Wilson, she showed off a different side of her talents.
The new songs are a little less country than those on Rabbit Fur Coat, but the sunflower on her guitar strap and then channeling Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris during the encore proved she hasn’t strayed too far from the homegrown sound.
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With Nik Frietas and the Spinto Band as openers, Rilo Kiley played Denver’s Ogden Theater Monday night, their second Colorado show on this leg of the Under the Blacklight tour (the first being the night before at the Black Sheep in Colorado Springs.)
Pierre and Jason sat in with Nik, the Spinto Band jumped around and played kazoos.
Nik was a little Paul McCartney-esque and the Spinto Band seemed Talking Heads inspired but both were quite good.
In the break between the Spinto band and RK, they kept playing the beginning clapping part of Silver Lining, faking everyone out.
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