Tift Merritt

Yeah, I saw that they were coming. Had a mis communication with a friend and did not get tickets. It sold out in less than a day. I think I’ll still be able to get in but we’ll see. Funny, after just saying that Tift doesn’t get to Mpls much…. Thanks for the heads up.

Vinyl,

Not sure if you are on board with Amos, however, this tour looks intriguing. A rare newsletter was sent out today with details of upcoming shows. Apparently, this will be a more acoustic, initimate type show. I hope it adds to the decision to stick around after Tift.

Newsletter:

” It’s been a while since I’ve come around to play shows, and I appreciate those of you who have already bought tickets to this upcoming tour.

The past few years I have toured with a full band, and I wanted to change it up a little this time, so I am coming with two talented multi-instrumentalists who will help create some color and texture to what will be somewhat of a solo show. The last time that I did an extensive tour without a full band was 2004, touring with Norah Jones, so it will be great to get back to you all and talk a bit about where some of the tunes came from, and how they’ve traveled with me. I’m also excited to try out some new material that I will be recording in May, so it will be good to hear what you all think of these new songs that I’ve been living with for the past year.

I appreciate your continued support and am grateful to be playing music every night to people who care.”

Thank you.
Amos

Here is a tune from an Austin City Limits segment he did several years ago, complete with subtitles. One English version was up for a long time but it looks like someone took it down.

A tearstained version of “Colors.” Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv7Q8UWGO5g

THANK YOU, lwj. I LOVE this Amos find of yours on KCRW as much as I loved Lu’s performance of same station. I must check their archives more in depth when I get the chance. I am still chugging on the painting & wallpapering and what not.

My other 2 top 5 artists are independents. Stoll Vaughan and Mike Younger. I met Stoll as opener on Mellencamp tour in 2005. He is the reason I found the Americana scene and public radio. I was Stoll’s biggest cheerleader on that tour, so much to the point I think he got sick of me. Apparently, that has passed because I have seen him 3 times since last October and it was a long run in between times as he moved to LA several years ago. There were 3 people in the bar last October at the one gig he played, including myself, and he was so happy to see me he just kept playing for me even though he was opener. He even went as far as professing from the stage he loved me (as a fan). That was a first. This past Friday night he invited myself and another mellenbud friend of mine to come to a gig that was in his hometown, playing in front of mostly family and friends. I arrived late, just as he started the first song, however, he didn’t know I was there. He mentioned how he opened up for Mellencamp and had some great fans he met and he didn’t know if we were there which cued me to shout I was there. Afterwards, he gave me a big hug and told me he loved me again. It’s nice when artists recognize and appreciate their fans, as does Lu. It’s quite refreshing, really.

WOW! I just went in search of a high quality vid of Stoll and discovered WNKU just recently posted his appearance from 2007. I was at this taping, AND, of all places I chose to sit, I am on camera every flipping time they pan to the show’s host during question and answer session.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obvK46r3Od8

Next up is Mike Younger. Love this guy too. He is getting ready to release a record. I met him through a radio promoter I befriended through Stoll. I ‘m anxious to see where he is going with his 3rd release. His first one was acoustic, released by a label that eventually went belly up, produced by Rodney Crowell. His second one was where I met him. Has heavy influences of New Orleans where he lived for five years, a majority of that on the streets. That record was produced by Rob Clark (Neil Young.) I believe his upcoming release was produced by Rob as well. Mike moves me much like Lu and Amos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9LLxGJFs-Y&feature=PlayList&p=2A06046C0F745F2B&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=6

@LWjetta wrote:

Maybe our moderator can give us the info on submitting polls.
Again, thanks for your report.
lwj

It appears poll creation has not been enabled on this forum…

Tom

@LWjetta wrote:

I see the “Poll creation” tab on the lower left of the screen if I was to start a new topic but haven’t tried it in view of your answer.
Can you get the “Energizer Bunny” WebMasta to energize(enable it?)
Thanks.
lwj

Oh, OK – my bad. I had read that FAQ as well and looked for the tab when posting a reply to an existing topic. When I didn’t see it then, I thought it had be disabled based on the “if you cannot see it…” portion of the FAQ answer (I suppose I just skipped over the “when posting a new topic…” part. 😳 )

But, it turns out you can indeed create a poll, but only as a new topic. So, “poll away!” 😉

Tom

I saw Tift last night, opening for Amos. The show sold out right after doors opened with the remaining 10 – 12 tickets . Somehow I missed your prior post, lwj. Thanks for the links.

Tift was very well received by the crowd. She has that Willie N. thing going on with her guitar, worn with 2 holes . She’s extremely talented, but for some reason, I just didn’t connect with her. Every song she sang sounded the same and the lyrics just did not resonate with me. She did do one cool thing t finish her set, where she asked the room to listen to her, stepped away from the mike, and sang. You could hear a pin drop. I’m not sure if the back of the room heard her, but her voice was absolutely beautiful.

She does have a new record coming out June 1 (I believe).

Amos is amazing. He is my “male Lucinda,” if that makes any sense.

Tift’s new album See You On The Moon will be released next Tuesday, but you can hear it here until then.