The Jarvis Lounge

It’s been many months since I last blogged, so now I’m playing catch up. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting about Bottlerock, Make Music Pasadena, Outside Lands, Long Beach Buskerfest, and the upcoming Kaaboo festival in Del Mar. For now, just some music notes and pics.

Sturgill Simpson

Sturgill Simpson is one of my favorite country artists, part of this growing effort of outsiders to actually write and perform real country music, and not the pop stuff that is processed in Nashville. He recently took to social media to express his opinion on the ACM naming an award after Nashville outcast, Merle Haggard. Here’s a link: https://www.facebook.com/sturgillsimpsonmusic/posts/1294328383933460:0

In the article he also favorably mentions Jason Isbell, another favorite of mine that I’m catching in two weeks at Kaaboo. Margo Price, another discovery this year, who I watched (and met) earlier this year at Hotel Cafe, also posted an article along the same lines: http://www.nashvillescene.com/music/nashville-cream/article/20832365/2016-cma-awards-nominations-margo-and-sturgill-snubbed-stapleton-up-for-top-prize

Margo (pictured below, at Hotel Cafe earlier this year), Jason, and Sturgill are three great country singer/songwriters, who are blazing ahead regardless of who Nashville decides to anoint. Check them all out if you get a chance.

 

Dawes

Fingerprints Music here in Long Beach, is again hosting Dawes, to celebrate their new record release. Having just seen them open for Alabama Shakes three weeks ago, I can vouch for them being in their usual amazing form. This is a free set, with a signing, when you purchase their new album. Maybe I’ll see you there! Here’s a link to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/955067637955660/

Long Beach Buskerfest

Like I said at the top, I’m going to devote a full blog to Buskerfest this coming week. This was my fourth year going, and I had a great time watching the growing local talent in the Long Beach area. Joseph Arthur also performed a set, that found him having to adapt to the power going on and off. He was in fine form, though, assuming Lotus position, bringing his acoustic guitar, a cover of “When Doves Cry,” and his own set of songs. Here are some pics I took from his set: