Way back when I really started this blog in the fall, and again when it really started to get on a roll in the spring, I really intended to use it not only as an expression of all those things in which I had an active interest, but to also express my opinions about things that I passively enjoyed as well. One of those things that I have a very passionate passive (is that possible, well, yes it has to be, I can only appreciate it, as I have zero talent in this direction) is music. This summer thus far I have probably attended more musical events of one nature or another then I have since my days when I was running around on campus in and around Transy. Yet, short of a blog or two about Willie and some swing dancing, I have probably failed to mention music in this blog much at all. It is not with intent that I have been so lax and I have a few notes here and there about various artist. Anyway, starting this eve I intend to work back through the highlights of the artists that I have heard this summer and have enjoyed the most.
Most of my music listening this summer has been in the same general tier that most of my jousting has been done in the past. That is the tier where it is a dream, but probably doesn’t pay the bills. In other words, they are playing festivals and coffee houses but in most cases probably still have a day job. Often time I am guessing they play the gig hoping to sell a few CD’s, because the bulk of what they are getting paid covers their expenses, especially gas (with jousting it was gas and insurance, but you get the idea).
So moving right along, the lady that just finished up here this eve at Common Grounds here in Lexington calls herself Diesel. Don’t let the name fool you, she definitely has a very sweet sound and very sweet look to boot. I looked through her bio on her site and I could find nothing that really indicated the origin of the name, but maybe it is a stance of toughness that comes from the obvious burnout that she was facing at some point in her musical career. Anyway I got hear late, but I am glad she came back on the “stage” for a few songs to round out the 10:00pm hour. She does a mostly solo show a capella and she rocks. The lyrics range from the deep, full of imagery and thought, to the whimiscal and comical. Songs of love and love lost and ponies and the one about the time bomb of the biological clock about had me spilling my coffee and rolling in the floor (especially when put in context of my earlier post about adoption this morning). She has a great deal of talent and voice that was just meant to be a capella, as it really needs very little to bring out the best it has offer. I have a hard time putting her in a category with anyone else, but as I have recently listened to a Bette Midler CD from the 90’s, there a few upbeat, very uptempo songs that are almost a capello that have a similar style and feeling to them (One More Round in particular comes to mind).
So I have not really come up with a rating style, but I have been listening to music most of the summer and have been thinking I should purchase a few CD’s from some of the various artists. If putting your money where your mouth is a way to vote, then Diesel wins. Of all the various artists tha that I have heard this summer, I am planning to purchase a CD or two from her releases first, probably this week. Oh, and of course it doesn’t hurt that she is super cute and rides horses either (notice, how despite probably a much better picture on her website home page, I found the one that has her on a horse in the biography pages).
So the other group, well, I think it was a group, that played was Bronwyn Davies-Mason. I say that I think, as I was sitting in the other room on a couch (much more comfortable) and got here late. Honestly, this is the folks that from my preview I was actually casually here to see. I suspect that she is the main star and he is the husband, but I do not know for sure. She plays violin, or do we call it fiddle, and sings and is the obvious main attraction. Some searching found an album by her solo with the name Bronwyn Davies and a facebook account you can’t see without being a freind. I liked the music and it was entertaining. Maybe the problem was my getting here late and lack of focus - not to mention having heard a bit much of that general style of music lately. I will listen some more over on facebook and the like and reserve a final judgement.
As a point of information, I think you are likely to see these two together in other places. I did not get the full picture, but I think they both reside in Nashville now and are maybe roommates or at least are travelling for gigs together or something like that. It was quiet a shock, a good one mind you, when I was sitting here with my coffee and chatting online and we went from the violin to a capella with a bell as the sole accompaniment.
