MusicViews - Music as a Bloodstream

I could feel the love coming from the packed house of bluegrass fans, as well as from music students and their families in attendance. Erica and two of her band-mates, Steve Roy and Matt Shipman, teach music lessons at The 317 Main Community Music Center in Yarmouth. more

...sorta like a Buddhist monk gone cowgirl -- the songs spiraling into the night, like prayer beads from a sagebrush mala. I was riveted and enthralled. more

From their opening notes, and their body language, I could see they have unique musical styles that are joined together with love and humility to create the miracle of Winterbloom. Where should I begin? First, each one of them is beautiful. more

I realized that her songs are not “one time listens”. They are poetry, and they contain messages within messages, like Matryoshka Russian Dolls. more

She had an atmosphere of purity that evoked a feeling of the prairie grass and the plains, the bitter winters and broad summer sun. She shone as she spoke and sang, and looked trustworthy. more

It astounds me how some folks that are tiny in stature can have such immense presence. Ms. Mitchell is a petite little fireball, confident as Annie Oakley, taking aim with her guitar. more

This is an album to listen to with a glass of wine in front of a warm fire, or as background music for a gathering of close friends. more

This band is an amalgamation of individuals who steeped themselves in various genres, and like a fine restaurant, have a musical kitchen stocked with rare wines, exotic spices, tempting delicacies, and feasts for the ears. more

Fish and Bird’s songs were not predictable or ordinary by any means. Similarly to Joy Kills Sorrow, they look like a bluegrass or traditional folk band at first glance, but their style is more of a fusion of genres. more

The band was comprised of award winning musicians, each one a stand-alone genius in their own right. The musical upshot was dazzling. more

Jimmy Robinson’s excellent 2012 CD is aptly named Guitarworks. His guitar playing stands out like mountains on the moon; brave, bold, prominent. more

Then she played some thunderous chords on the guitar, and from the bottom of her being came forth a voice directly from the female side of God – the incarnation of the phrase, “And it was Good”. more

That's why people stopped for help at haunted houses in the olden days. Thank you, Verizon Wireless. Because of you, I won't be starring in a sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show tonight. more

Luke brings to mind a little bit of Margaritaville combined with JD Souther. more

It was a night of total immersion in the world of reels, jigs and airs. I thought I was a big fan of Celtic music, but I realized that once I was among these connoisseurs of the genre, I was in over my head. more

Her voice was a bit huskier than Alison Krauss, but rivaled her in sweetness and emotional expressiveness. more

The thirty five (yes that’s right, count ‘em folks, thirty five!) bands and eight venues worked a staggered schedule. The first performers of the day were a mid-coast Maine jazz band, called Gypsy Caravan. more

They finished with a spirit filled version of "Travelin Shoes."... Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem made it their own and their version makes one almost look forward to death! more

Max's guitar fingerpicking technique is very bright and clear and his voice is as unabashed as a bird. The songs sound like they popped into his head and he began to play them simultaneously - almost the way a bard or minstrel might have... more

That man’s bones are made of music! Wearing a red shirt, jeans and cap, he picked up his twelve-string guitar and with finger picks and slide, commenced to play it like an otter in a waterfall. more