get so tickled when musicians that I’ve seen and loved before come to town again. Right now I’m nearly beside myself with glee because my old friends, The New Familiars, are going to be coming back to the Loft on the 8^th of August. These boys from the Carolina hills deal in a bluesy, groovy, funky, jam-bandy brand of neo-traditional bluegrass. They deliver their tunes with a wink and a nod and an open invitation to dance.

I saw The New Familiars at The Loft just over a year ago, and since then they’ve firmly held their position at the top of my life-list of all-time-favorite live shows. These guys have the kind of chemistry up on stage that you only see from road-tested touring acts. They’ve got mad instrumental skills and their vocal harmonizing seems effortlessly natural. For the most part they are acoustic but aren’t afraid to buck folk-Americana tradition and plug those guitars in from time to time.

My favorite song of theirs is ‘Got This Disease’ from their EP entitled ‘The Storm’. ‘Got This Disease’ is a harmonica and slide guitar heavy, foot-stomping jam my dancing boots seem to find irresistible. Other original tunes in their playlist, like the spritely and tongue-in-cheek romp, ‘Walkin’ The Whiskey Blues’ (in which the love-lost singer describes himself as ‘laughing at a joke that I’ve played on myself’) are tucked in between covers that range from Greatful Dead tunes to old bluegrass standards and clever takes on familiar Top 40 pop tunes.

While I hesitate to gush, I’d like to reiterate that I am really, really excited that The New Familiars are bringing their party back to Columbus. Not only are they one of the most professional bands I have seen, they are by far one of the most fun. Check them out on MySpace and then meet me down at The Loft on Saturday to see them do their stuff and to show them how much Columbus loves our live music.

The Nashville Portraits Party, sponsored by The Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and introduced by Lisa Lane of Georgia Music Magazine wowed the crowd at The Loft on May 15^th.

The night kicked off with a scintillating blend of jazzy blues by Toni Price. As she walked her petite, gold sparkled, mini-dressed self through the crowd and onto the stage, the mood was set. And, lest there be any doubt of what to expect, when she sat to perform, the hemline went up, not down. Spotlight on, arm slowly coiling toward the ceiling as sultry renditions of Tumbleweed, Like the Sun, Maybe There’s Something in the Water, I’ve Got a Heart But It Don’t Work Like It Should to the sizzling Crying Wolf—You Know You Ain’t Walking Out That Door. This Nashville Portrait was fine, fine art. Price was accompanied by the highly acclaimed songwriter/guitarist Guill Owens who wrote several of the songs she performed.

Read the rest of this entry »

The instant buzz around town for the music scene on the 29^th was “Pass the word: Marshall Ruffin will open and stay to perform with Peggy Jenkins and The Bizness at The Loft tonight.”

Word travels fast when music on that rarified level is being offered and the packed crowd was indication of just how well Facebook, MySpace and word on the street can spread.

Marshall opened his set the way he always performs. In his highly-trained depth and style, he graces the stage in a straight-forward, focused way. His talent notwithstanding—which is huge—his obvious love for good music along with perfecting his uncommon sounds with ease and devotion, comes through every time. His vocal range is full, wide and sweet. He can communicate a bluesy spiritual with the same ease, purity, integrity and intensity that come through with his more complicated original songs. Let’s face it: he’s an amalgamation of all the good qualities of the great artists with no apparent downside at all. Add to that the fact that he’s angelic eye candy and it’s all win/win.

Read the rest of this entry »

I have mixed feelings about Stevie Nicks’ latest album ‘The Soundstage Sessions’.  No doubt her long-time fans will appreciate this collection of standards recorded in front of a live audience.  These most recent renditions of old hits are arranged and harmonized very similarly to the originals.  Tracks like ‘Landslide’ – first recorded by Fleetwood Mac in 1975 – and ‘Stand Back’ – released on a solo album in 1983 – are barely distinguishable from the originals.
Read the rest of this entry »

Big Head Todd and The Monsters
All The Love You Need

I’ve been a fan of Big Head Todd and The Monsters since I first heard their 1994 release ‘Sister Sweetly’, so when I found their newest release ‘All The Love You Need’ in my stack of cd’s for review I threw myself a little party.  This disc does indeed not disappoint.  This collection of eleven original tracks is infused with the kind of groovy, funky, bluesy, mellow, jam-bandy attitude I’ve come to expect from these boys from Boulder, CO.
Read the rest of this entry »