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I know these chicks have separate threads here, but now’s the time to laud the Chasing the Ghost tour, and the release of the EP Rehearsal Sessions alongside. Seven tracks strong, guitarist Robert Mache said it was cut the second time through; thus, the appropriate name. A few rough edges, but great stuff. I like the version of Amy’s “Stranger Me” better there than on her own album, or the way her band played it live. One Jimbo Mathus composition, the rest co-written or written by Amy (3) and Shannon (3). I didn’t know the latter has written with Greg Leisz! The songs are not new, but the versions are all intriguing and unique.
15 songs in the Desert yesterday afternoon, including 5 off the new EP. Three Wandering songs were played, Sentimental Blues; Love, Life and Money; and Kristofferson’s “Lovin’ Him was easier…” A rollicking cover of Steve Young’s “Lonesome,ornery, and Mean” from Shannon’s Coldwater record was a highlight. Three covers which have appeared on Amy’s records. OUtstanding.
Shannon told the story of Dr. John suggesting the obscure “Love, Life, and Money” for the Wandering record; some skeptics hooted around me, but she grew up in N.O. and Dr. John was in fact her mentor. Amy praised the “weed and sand” crowd and had a former collaborator (Furgo) sit in on fiddle, local guy. The two ladies proudly drove the gear van all the way from west TN to San Fran last week (Hardly Strictly B Fest), and Shannon said Amy was lots of fun, especially going through Kansas ??? Amy praised S as her “peer and friend”, noting they had both worked with the late Jim Dickinson years before they met one another.
Tony, what’s up?
P.S. Amy was introduced by a fest volunteer as “Amy Levine.” She recovered nicely, though I thought for a split second she had converted to Judaism. She’s still all Gentile, folks, best I can reckon.
The show is at 7. We should be in line by 6:30.
There is a joint 2 blocks east of McCabes on Pico called Upper West. Wanna meet there for dinner/drinks?
I will be there by 5:30 if not earlier.
Tony
A fine show tonight at McCabes. I will yield to the “fresh” interpretations of tonyg and paulfromlosangeles, as both know Amy’s and Shannon’s music less than I do. It was a pleasure being flanked in the first row by these estimable gentlemen. About one third of the setlist was different from the day before, a Lu stratagem. Take it away, boys.
You posted already? I just got home.
I was pleased as punch to attend this show. I had never before heard their music or seen them perform. First, a tasty dinner with fine Zinfandel wines with Mr. Stoger. Then a short walk to the music store where we were able to land 3 seats in front of the stage. Opening act Will Hutchinson entertained us with about 30 minutes of music, then helped take down all the chairs when the night was over. Double duty.
Speaking of chairs, I had never seen so few assembled at McCabes. They set up maybe 10 rows and put up a barrier behind them. No matter to us. We were treated to 90 minutes of excellent songs played by a great band and sung by 2 lovely ladies with fine voices. Stories were told about Memphis, North Mississippi, and various musicians from those parts. After the show, there was fine chatting with both ladies and their band. I left Mr. Stoger to drink through the night with them as I feel like sleeping before I go to work tomorrow and I was up at 6 to golf. Paul from Los Angeles slipped away quietly without fanfare.
As always, this website hits the road like no other. Safe journeys to Mr. Stoger and goodnight Paul wherever you are.
@tonyg wrote:
You posted already? I just got home.
I was pleased as punch to attend this show. I had never before heard their music or seen them perform. First, a tasty dinner with fine Zinfandel wines with Mr. Stoger. Then a short walk to the music store where we were able to land 3 seats in front of the stage. Opening act Will Hutchinson entertained us with about 30 minutes of music, then helped take down all the chairs when the night was over. Double duty.
Speaking of chairs, I had never seen so few assembled at McCabes. They set up maybe 10 rows and put up a barrier behind them. No matter to us. We were treated to 90 minutes of excellent songs played by a great band and sung by 2 lovely ladies with fine voices. Stories were told about Memphis, North Mississippi, and various musicians from those parts. After the show, there was fine chatting with both ladies and their band. I left Mr. Stoger to drink through the night with them as I feel like sleeping before I go to work tomorrow and I was up at 6 to golf. Paul from Los Angeles slipped away quietly without fanfare.
As always, this website hits the road like no other. Safe journeys to Mr. Stoger and goodnight Paul wherever you are.
Ha: that Travelodge of Santa Monica business center right across the street was wide open for use after the show, Tony. The “drink[ing] through the night” never materialized, as the band was staying back in Joshua Tree and thus getting a two-hour jump on their next leg, the Albuquerque show. I had no idea Hutchinson drew chair duty afterwards–would Matt Blake have done the same? I did meet a late-arriving guy with no ticket who had attended college with Shannon in PA but hadn’t seen her since. I coaxed him over after, and they got to talk, though I don’t think she remembered him. And I found out that the Chasing the Ghost show nearest me, listed for Oxford MS on Oct. 24, has been cancelled. The joint went out of business–reason enough, I suppose. Make-up show at Proud Larry’s on Dec. 21, Shannon’s “home club” anyway.
I did check Wikipedia on our two fine friends and read that Shannon was born in Long Island! So the accent was not a built-in. And I found out Amy is also an actress. So there.
Also I forgot to mention in my post I saw Kevin Nealon of SNL fame wandering around the store before the show but I did not see him in the music room. I did not bother him and he was kind enough to not bother me.
Let’s go with journal entries. I have decided to become obsessed with Shannon McNally and have ordered most of her CDs from Amazon. Amy later.
Stoger, perhaps you can enlighten me as to what band members were from which band. It seemed like the drummer, Shawn Zorn, was Amy’s drummer. What about the guitarist? We discussed his excellent polyester jacket after the show. A timeless wardrobe piece .
@tonyg wrote:
I have decided to become obsessed with Shannon McNally and have ordered most of her CDs from Amazon.
Good choice, tonyg – I have been obsessed with her for a while now… 😉
Tom
@tonyg wrote:
Let’s go with journal entries. I have decided to become obsessed with Shannon McNally and have ordered most of her CDs from Amazon. Amy later.
Stoger, perhaps you can enlighten me as to what band members were from which band. It seemed like the drummer, Shawn Zorn, was Amy’s drummer. What about the guitarist? We discussed his excellent polyester jacket after the show. A timeless wardrobe piece .
Not to be pedantic, but “Shawn” (spelled Sean) and guitarist Robert (he of the polyester threads) are both listed on the actual EP you purchased, full names. Sean is in fact Amy’s drummer, post-Paul Taylor, though Taylor was on the studio record Stranger Me. The Wandering drummer, female, was excellent too–have forgotten her name. Robert is new to me; he might have been in an incarnation of Shannon’s previous band, though I half expected this guy David from Amy’s band in that role. By the way, Shannon’s husband Wallace often plays drums for her, is in Miss. babysitting now I think.
I didn’t know Shannon grew up in New York either until that college mate of hers told me that Sunday night. And yes, Amy played Wanda Jackson in the Cash film Walk the Line, though she ended up on the cutting room floor for the most part. I saw her as co-lead in an independent Memphis movie called Woman’s Picture–a sequel to which has been filmed with her same character (Loretta) as the protagonist.
As for Saturday Night Live, I haven’t watched it since Garrett Morris and Lorraine Newman ruled.
Why read the CD info when you can just tell me? I have not taken it (theCD) out of my car CD player since I slipped it in there after the show. The Oxford show is still listed but if you say the joint is not there anymore that sounds like there will be no show to me.
Gearing up for Tim’s arrival tomorrow and our trip to the Hollywood Bowl tomorrow night so I will be getting into Neil Young mode for a while.
@tonyg wrote:
Why read the CD info when you can just tell me? I have not taken it (theCD) out of my car CD player since I slipped it in there after the show. The Oxford show is still listed but if you say the joint is not there anymore that sounds like there will be no show to me.
Gearing up for Tim’s arrival tomorrow and our trip to the Hollywood Bowl tomorrow night so I will be getting into Neil Young mode for a while.
Shannon and Amy at the High tone in Memphis on Dec. 29: you won’t see that listing publically posted yet (a la the definitely cancelled Oxford show), but perhaps a yuletide jaunt to west TN might be just the ticket, tony. Failing that, they are playing Proud Larry’s in Oxford Dec. 21. Hell, why not just run the winter holidays in the north-of-Delta region? I’ve seen McMurtry (with Shannon in the audience!) and also Chuck Prophet at the High Tone: mighty fine joint.
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