Highgate

Monday

Events!

Tonight!
The First ever Seamonster's Summer Outdoor Movie Night!
Come one come all, starting at dusk (8pm'ish)

BYO muchies, wine, mixed drinks, comfy seats, blankets, but not BYOB-- cause there's plenty good beer for free! (And bring xtra containers for take out beer!) ps come by any time for take out beer!

1236-B North Avenue
Burlington
(google map)

Passed the DMV, IMMEDIATELY before the light at St. Mark's church (Heineberg and Shore roads). It works best to come to the door marked "B" in the back.

You don't have to be a Seamonster to Attend!
Hope to see you all there!

--------------
Box Show Update:
What a lovely evening last night was; the rain washed away alot of the heat and humidity, and dinner with Eva, Margot and their father Harvey was delicious, i hadn't eaten at the Tratoria Delia since i worked there, and the food was better than i remembered (probably cause i didn't have to pay... thanks Harvey!) We made our way down the street to the box and ran into the usual cast of characters, all people i really like to see at shows and none of the ones i don't. The Seamonster's represented, even Michelle who just can't get enough of this town was there. Mr. Rea, rose and her company of fellows, SP and Toby, and many more - big thanks to Eric and Amanda for always being excellent hosts, and Greg for organizing the event.

The Music was exactly what the doctor ordered, languid and thoughtfull in places, forcefull and frantic in others, and always expertly played. The big suprise for me was not by way of playing, though i had never heard Glen Jones outside of Cul de Sac, and his "ode' to a cemetary" (or whatever it was) was gloriously dark - but the fact that James Blackshaw, who i had no info about except that i love his playing, looks like he's my age, or younger, just a kid - i guess, but he plays with as much confidence and emotional depth as you'd expect from someone three times his age.

The beauty of the night was that it felt less like a performance and more like a bunch of friends relaxing into a summer's evening, listening to each other play. People were layed out, with their hands behind their heads looking up at the ceiling, others reclined in their chairs, everyone payed close attention.

Ethan Covey reviewed Blackshaw's new album over at Dusted Magazine, if you havn't heard Blackshaw, and have any interest in checking out the style i'd suggest reading this review, picking up his new album (the cuts i've heard are lovely.) then, perhaps Jack Rose's "Kensington Blues" that came out last year, and though Ben Chasney's new one is killer, it's not for beginners, with industrial strength drones, and disonance, so i'd say get his (six organs of admittance) "Compathia", or last years "School of the Flower". Then, i guess maybe, some John Fahey, what the hell.

Covey on Blackshaw:

"On Sunshrine, he embellishes his six- and 12-string work with harmonium, farfisa, bells, bowed-symbols and a variety of other noisemakers. On the title track, he eases the listener into an appropriately Zen state with a chorus of bells and soft percussion before building in a series of increasingly intricate melodies on guitar. While obviously well-versed in the techniques of his aforementioned predecessors, Blackshaw’s particular style is one of light, shimmering runs; he never ventures into the harsh, darker territories frequented by many of his contemporaries."

James Blackshaw: Sunshrine review (dusted)

Contact info
james blackshaw (from london)
http://www.jamesblackshaw.com
http://www.myspace.com/jamesblackshaw

jesse sparhawk (from NYC)
http://www.myspace.com/jessesparhawk

glenn jones (from boston)
http://www.billtmiller.com/glennjones
http://www.myspace.com/culdesactheband

greg davis (member of the national beard registry)
http://www.autumnrecords.net

bk_keywords: Imaginational Anthem, The Bicycle Thief

4 comments:

the le duo said...

well said- i would have liked to have been able to stay for the last two performers, but alas, nite-nite. greg was killer as usual, and jesse was quite good. acoustic music for a change- might not be able to watch the movie tonight, but i'll probably stop by to scumbag me some free hooch

jb

Anonymous said...

Blackshaw is terrific, but my misanthropy was at a crucially dangerous level, so I split after Sparhawk. I didn't think he was so great, actually. His last number was strong, and there was another one in there I liked as well. But to me, it seems like he needs a little more time to figure out where he wants to take his skills. Unusual chords and agile fingerpicking are nice things to have at one's disposal, but they can't beat strong composition and emotion.

But, that's just me. And obviously, I'm not fit for human consumption.

Anonymous said...

But yeah, Greg was nice.

gd said...

i think i enjoyed glenn's set the best.
it had the most realness to me. he's been into this stuff for a long time and its good to see him finally get some credit. he really is one of the few links between fahey / basho / lang and the new school of guitarists.

i agree with casey about jesse's set. his playing confidence isnt there. he needs to lay down more solid stuff. but his harmonic language was really refreshing to me because so much of the new guitar stuff is just modal noodling on one chord forever. i really enoyed the patterns and symmetry and shapes in jesse's set. but all that harmonic movement made it hard to really settle into his pieces and listen. i think he needs to develop his melodic language a bit more.

and james was super. he really spins a thick tapestry weave of guitar sparkles. very very hypnotic. the thing about james' playing is that i wish he would settle in a little more like glenn does into a bit of a slower groove. it seems like he's always pushing the tempos a little too hard to show off his great teachnique. i also wish james would move into some different harmonic territory now and then instead of staying so modal. also i think he could do great things with a small band (with bells, harmonium, etc).

thanks for coming out...
it was a great last show to have at the BOX.
i guess the new board of directors there (haha!) dont want to have shows anymore.