Who are You Going to See?

[TubeLover]

I had the opportunity to see Graham Nash the other night, in fifth row center seats, in a reasonably intimate music venue. Great show. His voice has held up incredibly well for a 77 year old (where has the time gone?). He played for nearly two hours, and played a nice selection of songs. One of the greatest contributors to rock music over his long career, it was very compelling seeing him perform these timeless songs that he wrote from about fifty feet away. When the entire audience (by themselves) sang every chorus of "Teach Your Children" and "Our House" it was indeed moving in a way it never is with lesser performers. 

 

JC

[Superdad]

1 hour ago, TubeLover said:

I had the opportunity to see Graham Nash the other night, in fifth row center seats, in a reasonably intimate music venue. Great show. His voice has held up incredibly well for a 77 year old (where has the time gone?). He played for nearly two hours, and played a nice selection of songs.

 

Wow, that’s great.  I would really enjoy seeing him.  Too bad his tour does not bring him out west (or perhaps it did and I already missed him).

 

For anyone that knows Graham Nash mainly from his collaborations with Crosby—and of course with Stills and Young—I highly encourage you to check out his very first solo album, “Songs for Beginners” from 1971.  It has some incredibly strong songwriting and holds up surprisingly well.  Terrific ensemble playing, including Jerry Garcia, David Lindley, Rita Coolidge, Bobby Keys, Dave Mason, and Phil Lesh!

Doug Sax even did the mastering.

 

[Songs for Beginners was actually the second album I ever bought—at 11 years old in 1973.  The first LP I bought that same year was The Mothers of Invention “We’re Only in it for the Money,” and The Beatles “Abby Road.”  From then on I always had a part time job to support my record and hi-fi habits.  In fact, aside from bicycle stores and the beach, most all my other teen time was spent hanging out either at record stores or making a pest of myself at hi-fi shops—until one finally hired me.

Sorry for the OT.  Just remembering first records took me down memory lane...]

[firedog]

2 hours ago, Superdad said:

 

Wow, that’s great.  I would really enjoy seeing him.  Too bad his tour does not bring him out west (or perhaps it did and I already missed him).

 

For anyone that knows Graham Nash mainly from his collaborations with Crosby—and of course with Stills and Young—I highly encourage you to check out his very first solo album, “Songs for Beginners” from 1971.  It has some incredibly strong songwriting and holds up surprisingly well.  Terrific ensemble playing, including Jerry Garcia, David Lindley, Rita Coolidge, Bobby Keys, Dave Mason, and Phil Lesh!

Doug Sax even did the mastering.

 

[Songs for Beginners was actually the second album I ever bought—at 11 years old in 1973.  The first LP I bought that same year was The Mothers of Invention “We’re Only in it for the Money,” and The Beatles “Abby Road.”  From then on I always had a part time job to support my record and hi-fi habits.  In fact, aside from bicycle stores and the beach, most all my other teen time was spent hanging out either at record stores or making a pest of myself at hi-fi shops—until one finally hired me.

Sorry for the OT.  Just remembering first records took me down memory lane...]

For anyone interested in "Songs for Beginners". Yes, really good album and a real time capsule of the end of the hippie era.

But, as far as SQ: I've got the original LP of Songs for Beginners and a later digital version. I listen to a needle drop of the LP and have a 2005 CD. There's also a 2008 remaster and there may be other versions. They can sound very different.

The original LP doesn't have great SQ - it has that sound of an LP that was sort of done quickly - not a lot of dynamics or a quiet background.  A little bit muddy. The digital versions sound very different. They sound like complete do overs, whether they are called a remaster or a remix. 
The 2005 CD is significantly louder. Not headache inducing, but very noticeably different. I don't know if they actually went back to the tracks and remixed it, or if they just used a lot of EQ and compression, but: it's louder, the sound is more out front, the bass and drums are much more prominent. It's not "makes my head hurt" loud, but it is very noticeably louder, you can hear some of the instruments more clearly,  and it sounds much more like the sound of a mix for a "rock" album than the original, that had a sort of "folkie" feel to it. Just sounds really different.

Don't get me wrong, I like it fine, but is just a really different sound.

The 2008 version is just much more of the above - I wouldn't recommend it. It sounds like a very exaggerated attempt to give the album a "modern" sound. Stay away form that one. 

[TubeLover]

Completely agree on "Songs For Beginners as an excellent piece of musiuc. I personally feel it is by far his best solos effort. Thanks for the SQ breakdown of the variations of this recording that have been available, Firedog. 

 

It's hard to imagine any fans of Graham Nash, David Crosby, or CSN/CSNY wouldn't be aware, but the Graham Nash David Crosby album by those two is, again, in my personal opinion, , possibly the best recording by any of the CSN triumvirate outside of their work as a group. Consistently excellent songs, beautifully performed and still timeless.

 

[TubeLover]

One further thought, with apologies for diverting a bit from the point of this discussion. Granted, I resurrected it from near death, so some leeway seems only fair. Not to mention, discussion of good music should never be restricted. 

 

I would also highly recommend the live album by Crosby and Nash, "Another Stoney Evening" as a must listen for fans. Superb versions of a number of songs, including Southbound Train, Strangers Room and Guinevere are included, as well as a quite well recorded intimate evening with these two legends.

 

 

 

[Jud]

John Mellencamp tonight.  I think his latest album is really fine.

 

Last fun for awhile, as our dog is having surgery and it's a 12-week recovery.

[Superdad]

1 hour ago, Jud said:

John Mellencamp tonight.  I think his latest album is really fine.

 

Last fun for awhile, as our dog is having surgery and it's a 12-week recovery.

 

Enjoy the concert Jud.  And I hope your pooch recovers well. 

[TubeLover]

5 hours ago, Jud said:

John Mellencamp tonight.  I think his latest album is really fine.

 

Last fun for awhile, as our dog is having surgery and it's a 12-week recovery.

 

Jud, agreed on the latest Mellencamp being excellent. Best wishes for your dog and his recovery.

 

JC

[AudioDoctor]

On 4/30/2019 at 6:57 PM, Jud said:

John Mellencamp tonight.  I think his latest album is really fine.

 

Last fun for awhile, as our dog is having surgery and it's a 12-week recovery.

 

I hope your dog recovers quickly and well!

[rando]

You missed your chance to make the Dad joke that hopefully it can play the piano afterwards.  

[AMR/iFi audio]

To get back on track, who's going to see Rammstein in Germany? The 12th of June in Dresden is where we'll be.

[mansr]

And not a loudspeaker in sight. As it should be.

[Musicophile]

Saw Janine Jansen and Herbert Blomstedt play Brahms in Zurich last night. Fantastic.

 

https://musicophilesblog.com/2019/06/29/janine-jansen-and-herbert-blomstedt-for-a-magnificent-brahms-performance-at-the-tonhalle-maag-june-28-2019/

[DuckToller]

Tomorrow 21:30 h,

Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra

@ our local Chateau de Cangé in an free open air event.

Like his films a lot and Wikipedia's genre categories says Garage rock, world music & gypsy punk. 😎

Can't see what could be worse with that than my new neighbor playing Spice Girls much too loud (while I'm writing) 🤢😱 

Cheers, Tom

 

[watercourse]

Whoops, recently saw Flutes of Three Nations (China, Japan, and Korea) on June 9th, which was a great display of mutual respect among musicians, as well as great traditional music.

 

Also saw Fabian Almazan Trio here in Portland at the Old Church on June 21. Finally got a chance to see two of my favorite musicians live (Linda May Han Oh and Fabian Almazan, what simpatico) and get their autographs!

 

Two days before that show, was lucky to watch The Comet is Coming put on an awesome show at Doug Fir Lounge - if you haven't seen a show at Doug Fir, do it. The sound is fantastic. King Shabaka... nuff said.

[AMR/iFi audio]

Hopefully Wardruna in November.

[watercourse]

Monophonics on Aug 9 at the Aladdin. I have a work trip I’m returning from that day so wish me travel luck on getting there on time!

 

Connie Han Trio on Aug 13 at Lan Su Garden. Bringing my leathers... not.

[Musicophile]

Igor Levit playing Beethoven sonatas at the Lucerne festival. 

 

Should give a good taste of his full Beethoven cycle to be released on record shortly (can’t wait). 

[watercourse]

Saw Kamasi Washington and Herbie Hancock last night's sold out show at the Oregon Zoo. Two stellar acts, and left very impressed with the venue - even though it's outdoors and we were in general admission seating on the lawn, the sound quality far surpassed Roseland Theater's or Crystal Ballroom's (as two similar-sized examples here in PDX). It was my first time seeing a show there and probably won't be my last.

We saw Kamasi last year at the Roseland Theater where the band played for over two hours - I think my ears are still ringing from it. He's matured, tightened up the song performances, and more clearly communicates the breadth of subjects he's got in his bag. The highlight from last night's set was Fists of Fury, which was transformed with a g-thang groove, with Herbie joining the band during the last chorus. (Subtext: Tarantino should listen to this song and rethink his portrayal of Bruce Lee, proud boys stay home and be proud).

Herbie started off his set saying that things were going to get weird (heh heh, we're in a zoo in Portland, so...). Herbie's band included Lionel Loueke, Vinnie Colaiuta, James Genus, and Terrace Martin. Only the rhythm section didn't sing/play vocoder/talkbox - Lionel during solos (and an amazing bass drop), Terrace mostly during bridges and additional ambience, and Herbie building melodies with vocals. Short but sweet, the set ended with an encore performance of Chameleon, and the audience got their backfields in motion when Kamasi's band joined them onstage.

Last thoughts: LA jazz lives! We missed this year's Portland not Portlandia punk extravaganza to see this show, but it was worth it!

[watercourse]

Black Pumas coming through PDX on 10/19 at the Wonder Ballroom. Their album got me through weeks of windshield time driving through the Southwest this past July - highly recommended if you need awesome road trip music, I got hoarse singing along.

[Musicophile]

Unfortunately not in person, but I didn't want to miss this historic moment, so I renewed my Digital Concert Hall subscription to be watching Petrenko's official debut at the BPO tonight live:

 

https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/concert/52428

[barrows]

King Crimson, Sunday 9/8 at the Paramount Theater in Denver.  Yes, this is the last day of the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest!  Somehow my girlfriend and I are going to have pack up the demo room and get to the concert in time...  At Crimson shows they close the doors to the theater once the music starts, and will not let anyone in until the intermission to avoid disturbances in the music performance.

[ted_b]

Almost bought tix cuz my buddy is in town but we’re going to Mark Knopfler at Red Rocks following night. Enjoy. I love KC. Saw their Three Of A Perfect Pair tour from 2nd row back in the day. 

[Johnseye]

Going to see Mark Knopfler in Chicago on 9/1

Will see the full Beethoven cycle this year at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as well as Yuja Wang

[barrows]

Hey Ted,

 

Have you seen the "big band" version?  I will tell you in many ways it is the "best" version of KC ever (OK I did not see the 70s band... but have seen every version since '81).  I am sure you can still pick up a ticket... And they usually play nearly 3 hours of music.