Melissa Ferrick: Grammy nominee to show talents on Monroe stage
Published 2:15 pm Thursday, July 31, 2008
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick takes the stage Wednesday at Eddie’s Trackside Bar &Grill in Monroe. Her ability to mix genres, passion, complicated riffs and emotionally charged content has created a faithful following.
Ferrick already could play violin, piano, trumpet and bass before attending Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music. But it was at Berklee that she taught herself to play the guitar and walked away from formal education, choosing to become a singer-songwriter.
Thirteen albums since 1993 were interspersed between major and independent labels and some personal challenges before she started her own label (Right on Records) in 2000. Her new album, “Goodbye Youth,” is set for a September release.
Nancy Quense &Jerry Middaugh: The Folk Song Series at the Everett Public Library wraps up a five-concert slate with performances by guitar and banjo players Quense and Middaugh. The latter has a laid-back style to Appalachian ballads and old-timey songs. He’s played with several old-time string bands, bluegrass groups and other folk-music ensembles.
Quense offers the contrast with both voice and instruments; she interprets traditional songs and ballads. They’re a great blend when it comes time for duets and sing-a-longs.
Blue King Brown: Don’t let the inexpensive tickets fool you; you’ll more than get your money’s worth. Head south to hear my favorite band-of-the-moment, a fast-rising Australian urban roots band that toured with Santana and is capable of getting you in the groove with a few percussive shakes. While Nataloa Pa’apa’a is definitely the frontwoman, everyone gets a chance to shine.
The band has dedicated its “Stand Up” CD to the strength and courage of people who stand up on a daily basis against the injustices of the world. It’s socially conscious music packaged in an urban roots mix of dub, hip hop, Afro beat, Latin and soul influences.
Slightly Stoopid: The groove rock-reggae jam band performs music from its new CD, “Slightly Not Stoned Enough to Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid,” on its Tailgate Tour and shares stage time with Pepper and Sly &Robbie. Several years ago, Slightly Stoopid turned down three major labels to stay independent, a decision that’s resulted in a half-million-plus album sales and sold-out concerts.
Crooked Still: Two thumbs up for the “Still Crooked” album that showcases the band’s ability to lose a major player, pick up two new ones to form a quintet and continue to be a first-class combination able to cross old-time, folk, bluegrass and world music genres without missing a beat.
Smokey Robinson: No matter how many of Robinson’s hit song titles one can remember from his songwriting, solo and The Miracles career, some are bound to be left off the list. The King of Motown recorded 37 Top-40 hits. He wrote “My Guy” for the Mary Wells’ hit and “Don’t Mess with Bill” for The Marvelettes, and was the primary songwriter for The Temptations for several years.
Out and about: Locally, big-band jazz will flow from The Moodswings (3 p.m. Sunday, Edmonds City Park), and Carrie Akre delivers alternative pop (7 p.m. Wednesday, Animal Acres Park, Lake Forest Park) … Country band Sawyer Brown has had three chart-topping singles (today, The Skagit, Bow) … Musician-turned-attorney Adam Marsland, former Cockeyed Ghost frontman, returns to the road (today, Skylark, Seattle) …
Expect Celtic-, folk- and punk-inspired rock from Amadan (Monday, High Dive) … Pianist/composer and major influence on Miles Davis, Ahmad Jamal is touring with his first new recording in three years (Thursday through Aug. 10, Jazz Alley) … Sultry contemporary saxman Marion Meadows continues to showcase his and keyboardist Michael Broening’s songcraft at the KWJZ Music Festival (Saturday and Sunday, Chateau Ste. Michelle) that features The Crusaders, Wayman Tisdale, Meadows, Nils, Chris Botti, Boney James, Janita and Aaron Brooks …
The Django Reinhardt Festival will be full of hot swing with the masters (Tuesday and Wednesday, Jazz Alley) … Trumpet and flugelhorn master Hugh Masekela brings his legendary Afro-pop style, often integrated into other genres (Monday, Jazz Alley) … Young Jessica Lea Mayfield brings bass, guitar and banjo to classic country and indie rock (Monday, Triple Door) … The Hush Sound, led by frontwoman Greta Salpeter, and The Cab, whose debut CD “Whisper War” debuted at the top of the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, will light up El Corazon (today) … Steve Miller Band performs with Joe Cocker (Saturday, The Gorge).
