I’ve always thought of the people who listen to “Alice’s Restaurant” every Thanksgiving as intemperate masochists. Arlo Guthrie’s signature song really doesn’t need to be heard more than once in a lifetime.
Then again, I’ve never been an Arlo fan. I’d succeeded in avoiding his concerts until Sunday. I cringed as I bought the ticket that would break my winning streak.
As is often the case, I had it all wrong.
Once I became acclimated to the nursing home odor that emanated from a few dozen members of the audience of more than 1,000 at Yardley Hall, I thoroughly enjoyed the concert.
Before Arlo and a tasteful band played his biggest hits, Sarah Lee Guthrie performed a charming opening set. Partly because Arlo implied that he was also sick of the song, I wasn’t even inclined to flee during “Alice’s Restaurant.” I may or may not have teared up during “Highway In the Wind,” a tribute to Arlo’s late wife Jackie.
Arlo dismissively characterized folk sing-alongs as “all that 'Kumbaya' stuff” near the end of his appearance. It was a trap. The sing-alongs that followed swelled my heart.
Even so, I won’t tolerate any suggestions that “Alice’s Restaurant” be cued up in my presence on Thanksgiving.
---
I reviewed the Kansas City debut of Chance the Rapper.
---
I reviewed Gregg Allman’s concert at a casino.
---
I wrote an extended preview about Passion Pit for Ink.
---
I write weekly music previews for The Kansas City Star.
---
I reviewed Ron Carlson’s Kind Folk at Plastic Sax.
---
The Popper made a Royals-centric remix of “I’m KC.”
---
Here’s the video for Tech N9ne’s “Roadkill.”
---
Here’s the video for Radkey’s “Glore.”
---
Smokin’ Joe Kubek has died.
---
I somehow missed the September release of John Scofield’s Past Present. It’s so good that I’m mourning the weeks that I could have spent listening to the funky collaboration with Joe Lovano, Larry Grenadier and Bill Stewart. RIYL: Grant Green, soul jazz, Charlie Hunter.
---
I endured BET’s “Hip-Hop Awards” broadcast last week. It was rough sledding. As usual, the cyphers provided the highlights. I loved seeing Casey Veggies and Vince Staples and was tickled by the efforts of Erick Sermon, Redman and Keith Murray, but the clear winner was the beat-boxing trio of Doug E. Fresh, Nicole Paris and Rahzel.
---
Here’s the trailer for the B.B. King/UGK mashup that the world needs now.
---
I’m just beginning to learn that the European jazz/prog releases I’ve written about in recent months aren’t anomalies. As the kids say, it’s a thing. My latest discovery is Samuel Hällkvist’s Variety of Live. Men affiliated with Pink Floyd and King Crimson are among the project’s participants. RIYL: Terje Rypdal, anti-swing, Soft Machine.
---
Joe Ely has an uncommon ability to conjure colorful Tex-Mex atmospheres. Too many of the songs on Panhandle Rambler, however, are clunky. RIYL: Jimmie Dale Gilmore, songs about Bob Wills, Butch Hancock. ”When the Nights Are Cold” is my favorite song on the album.
---
I was so tempted by Rhymesayers’ 20th Anniversary Concert that I checked on airfare to Minneapolis. It’s only $150....
---
Alegria de Viver, a new recording featuring the duet of Brazilian vocalist Leny Andrade and New York guitarist Ari Ben-Hur, might be perfect.
---
Marbin’s Aggressive Hippies is RIYL: Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, DIY jazz, Mahavishnu Orchestra.
(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)
