Live Review: Cash Charms at The Vets
Ken Abrams, GoLocalProv Music Critic
Live Review: Cash Charms at The Vets
Sunday night at The Vets, Rosanne Cash wove a captivating story about America. Technically, it was a story about the South, but as she noted “we don’t typically know who we are as Americans until we know the South, that deep, dark, mystical, dense, Faulknerian, Howlin Wolf South.”
The River and the Thread
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn 2014, Cash released The River and the Thread, her musical narrative about the South. Her efforts won the 2015 Grammy award for Best Americana Album and garnered widespread acclaim from critics who declared it her best album, a testament to her roots in the region. She covered the album completely Sunday night, “something I’ve always wanted to do,” Cash noted. Her focus was on the Mississippi Delta - from Memphis, where she was born, through the state of Mississippi, to New Orleans. It was a special experience for those assembled, an evening that was more than just a concert.
First set highlights included the opener “A Feather’s Not a Bird,” a swampy slow rocker about a road trip through the Delta.
“It's never any highway when you're looking for the past
The land becomes a memory and it happens way too fast”
“Sunken Lands” tells the story of her grandmother Carrie Cash, “who was married to a man who was unkind” and struggled to raise her family on (literally) sunken Arkansas farmland.
“Five cans of paint in the empty fields/The dust reveals
The children cry, the work never ends
There's not a single friend
Who will hold her hand in the sunken lands?”
“The Long Way Home” is self-reflective southern blues that has the songwriter confronting her past.
“You thought you left it all behind/You thought you’d up and gone
When all you did was figure out/How to take the long way home”
When the Master Calls the Role” is a love song positioned deep in the Civil War. It’s not overtly political, but more soldier’s story:
“Oh my darling Marianne/The march to war is calling
Somewhere far across these southern lands/The bands of brothers falling”
Her crack band led by husband/collaborator John Leventhal featured great slide guitar work throughout the evening from Kevin Barry. The final song on the album “Money Road” gave the band a chance to stretch out a bit – it was the most energized tune in the first set. Money Road itself is a crossroads of sorts - near the place where blues legend Robert Johnson is buried, and past the grocery where Emmett Till, “a lonesome boy in a foreign land,” committed “a fatal error,” that led to his lynching. You can also find the infamous Tallahatchie Bridge nearby – see second set.
The River and the Thread reminds us that the South is an enthralling yet complicated place – the cotton fields of Mississippi are indeed vast and beautiful, yet they also connect to a troubled history and a legacy of slavery. Rosanne Cash understands the legacy and has created an evocative soundtrack of the region.
Second Set – The Hits and More
Cash ramped up the tempo after a short break. The second set consisted of some fan favorites and several from The List, an album based on an actual list of classics shared by her father. “Blue Moon With Heartache,” “Long Black Veil,” and “Tennessee Flat Top Box,” were among the crowd favorites. She covered “Robert Zimmerman” twice – first “Girl from North Country,” a song Dylan once recorded with her father and then “Farewell Angelina,” for the first encore.
The 1967 Bobbie Genty classic “Ode to Billy Joe,” was absolutely stunning, Cash’s version rivaling the original recording. Cash and the band closed with one of her biggest hits, “Seven Year Ache,” and wrapped up the encore with the Hedy West cover “500 Miles.”
As an artist, Cash will never escape the influence of her father, a larger than life figure who transcended music to become an American icon. However, she’s a gifted singer, with an angelic voice and is arguably a better songwriter; in many ways, she’s a better musician. Clearly, she inherited her capacity for storytelling from her father, and for that alone, the music world is grateful.
Rosanne Cash appeared in Providence as part of the FirstWorks RI Artistic Icons Series.
Ken Abrams reviews roots, rock and more for GoLocal. E-Mail him here. Photos by Rick Farrell, Mojo Photography.
25 Must See Spring & Summer Concerts in New England - 2016
April 10
The Avett Brothers & Brandi Carlile at DCU Center
Worcester, Ma
The Avett Brothers will perform at the DCU Center on Sunday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. This is their only New England stop.
In 2009, the Avett Brothers made the big time with the album I and Love and You which landed at #16 on the Billboard Top 200 and was called one of the top 10 albums of the year by Time.
Their second album, The Carpenter hit $4 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, the highest to date.
The Avett Brothers are now touring after releasing their 9th studio album and will have special guest Brandi Carlile with them.
Photo: Wikipedia
April 10
Rosanne Cash at The Vets
Providence, RI
Rosanne Cash, daughter of the legendary Johnny Cash, comes to The Vets for a 6:30 p.m. show. Cash will play songs off her Grammy Award winning album The River & The Thread.
The concert will be a multimedia performance of her Grammy Award winning album and will take fans on a journey through Sun Record Studio in Memphis, the Civil Rights-era in Mississippi Delta, the grave site of bluesman Robert Johnson, and a visit to her father, Johnny Cash's, birthplace in Arkansas.
April 12
Chick Corea & Bela Fleck at Hanover Theatre
Worcester, Ma
Chick Corea & Bela Fleck will meet in a duet of piano and banjo. The Grammy-winning duet combine Corea and Fleck's classic tunes with the music from their Grammy-winning album The Enchantment and their latest release together called Two.
The show is set for April 12 at 7:30 p.m. at The Hanover Theatre.
Chick Corea has won 22 Grammy Awards and has been around the world for decades and continues to impress anyone that goes to a show.
Bela Fleck will be returning to the Music Worcester stage as the banjo player.
April 14
Diana Ross at Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC)
Providence, RI
Music legend Diana Ross is coming to the Providence Performing Arts Center on Thursday, April 14 for a 7:30 p.m. show
Ross is known for songs such as "Stop! In The Name of Love," "Where Did Our Love Go," and "You Keep Me Hangin On.
The songs "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "You Can't Hurry Love" are among The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll. '
To date, Ross has totaled 31 top ten singles and 14 top ten albums selling more than 100 million units around the globe.
With the release of "Endless Love" in 1981, Ross became the first female artist in music history to place six singles at top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
PHOTO: Zach Tomlinson/flickr
May 21
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo at Twin River
Lincoln, RI
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo play their 35th Anniversary Tour at Twin River on Saturday, May 21 with the show set to begin at 8 p.m.
Benatar is considered the leading female rock vocalist of the 80s with songs like "Love is a Battlefield," "Hit me With Your Best Shot" and "Invincible."
May 27-28
Boston Calling
Boston, Ma
Boston Calling, the first New England music festival of the season kicks off in downtown Boston on the weekend of May 27 and 28. The festival features performances from Elle King, The Front Bottoms and Robyn.
June 3
Beyonce at Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
One of the best entertainers in the business today, Beyonce is coming to Gillette Stadium on June 3 as part of the Formation World Tour. The show is set to begin at 6 p.m.
In her 19 year career, Beyonce has sold over 100 million records as a solo artist and another 60 million with Destiny's Child, who broke up in 2005.
In 2013 and 2014, Time listed Beyonce as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world and in 2015, Forbes listed her as the most powerful female musician of the year.
Beyonce is known for songs such as "Crazy in Love," "Baby Boy," "Irreplaceable" and of course "Single Ladies."
PHOTO: Wikipedia
June 10
Dave Matthews Band at Xfinity Center
Mansfield, MA
Dave Matthews Band was formed in 1991 and has since sold well over 30 million records worldwide.
The band has six albums debut at number one including 2012's Away From the world and 2009's Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.
Dave Matthews Band is known for songs such as "The Space Between," "Everyday" and "I Did It" as well as "Where Are You Going."
June 11
Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band at DCU Center
Worcester, MA
Former Beatle Ringo Starr brings his All-Star Band to the DCU Center. His band includes Todd Rundgren and Greg Rolie (Santana and Journey), Steve Lukather (Toto), Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Greg Bissonette (ELO) and Warren Ham.
Ringo Starr started his career with the Beatles in the 1960's and helped the band become arguably the greatest of all time with 27 number one hits.
Ringo's hits with the Beatles include "With a Little Help From My Friends," "Don't Pass Me by," "Octopus' Garden" and "Yellow Submarine."
Ringo has gone on to have a successful solo career as a singer-songwriter, drummer, collaborator and actor.
Ringo's solo hits include songs such as "You're Sixteen," "It Don't Come Easy" and "Photograph."
Photo Eva Rinaldi/flickr
June 17
Peter Frampton at Twin River
Lincoln, RI
Peter Frampton really became an international start when he released his album Frampton Comes Alive and watched is sell over 6 million copies in the United States.
Frampton is known for songs such as "Show Me the Way," "Baby I Love Your Way," "Do You Feel Like we do" and "I'm in You."
June 22
Boyz II Men at Twin River
Lincoln, RI
The legendary band Boyz II Men will perform at Twin River on June 22 as they come off their most recent album release, Collide, in 2014.
Boyz II Men are only the third band in history to replace themselves as #1 on the Billboard charts and they did that when "On Bended Knee" took the top spot away from "I'll Make Love to You."
The other two bands The Beatles and Elvis Presley.
Photo: Wikipedia
June 22
Janet Jackson at The Dunkin' Donuts Center
Providence, RI
Janet Jackson brings her "Unbreakable World Tour" to Providence on Wednesday, June 22 2016 at 8 p.m.
Janet Jackson is an multi award winning songwriter and the winner of the NAACP Best Sporting Actor award. Jackson is a six time Grammy Award Winner along with dozens of American Music Awards.
July 2
Sting & Peter Gabriel at DCU Center
Worcester, Ma
Sting and Peter Gabriel, two music icons, will perform at the DCU Center on Saturday, July 2 at 8 p.m.
The show comes as part of their "Rock, Paper, Scissors" tour that will visit select cities in June and July.
Sting
Sting was born in Newcastle, England before moving to London in 1977 to form The Police with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers.
The band released five studio albums, won six Grammy Awards and two Brits. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
Since 1989, Sting has released 14 solo albums and won an additional 10 Grammy Awards, two Brits, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, three Oscar nominations, Billboard Magazine's Century Award, and MusiCares 2004 Person of the Year.
Sting has sold nearly 100 million albums throughout his career with The Police and as a solo artist.
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel broke into prominence with the band Genesis which he co-founded while at school.
After leaving the band in 1975, Gabriel's career includes 11 studio albums and numerous live albums.
Gabriel has won multiple Grammy Awards and created the Real World Records label.
PHOTO: Wikipedia
July 3
Bob Dylan & Mavis Staples at Foxwoods
Connecticut
Music legend Bob Dylan is set to play at Foxwoods on July 3 along side lifelong friend, and nearly wife, Mavis Staples.
Staples admitted in 2008 that her and Dylan "were good friends" and that Dylan had asked her father for her hand in marriage.
Bob Dylan has been a huge influence in pop music and culture with a recording career that is spans 50 years and a variety of different music styles from folk, blues, and country to gospel and rock and roll.
Dylan has soled over 100 million records and has won 11 Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award. Dylan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hal of Fame, Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 202, Dylan received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama.
Mavis Staples
Stables is a rhythm and blues and gospel singer who has recorded and performed with her family's band The Staple Singers, as well as performing solo.
July 15 & 16
Dead & Company at Fenway Park
Boston, Ma
Dead and Company will perform at Fenway Park for two nights and of course feature the surviving members of the Grateful Dead. Initially, they were only going to do one show at Madison Square Garden but decided to expand the tour shortly after that.
Ticket info for both concerts are listed below.
The band consists of former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmannn and they team up with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti.
Tickets
PHOTO: Wikipedia
July 19
Guns N' Roses at Gillette Stadium
Their back!
Guns N' Roses reunite for a reunion tour titled 'Not in This Lifetime" and will play shows in 20 stadiums across North America this summer and Gillette Stadium is one of those places on July 19. This is a MUST SEE.
Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan will all be there.
The band has sold over 100 million record worldwide, including shipments of 45 million in the United States. Of the 100 million, approximately 30 million come from their debut album Appetite for Destruction and the song "Sweet Child O Mine" which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Tickets for the show go on sale April 8 at 10 a.m. at LiveNation.com
Photo: Wikipedia
July 22 - 24
Newport Folk Festival
Newport, RI
Norah Jones kicks off her week in Newport by headlining the Newport Folk Festival. She will play the festival on the 23.
Jones has won 9 Grammy Awards and was ranked 60th on the Billboard magazine's artists of the 2000-2009 decade chart. In her career, Jones has sold over 50 million albums worldwide.
PHOTO: Larry Philpot, Wikipedia
July 30
Coldplay at Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, Ma
Coldplay, fresh off their Super Bowl appearance, comes into Gillette Stadium on July 30 as part of their A Head of Full Dreams Tour.
This is the first world tour for the group since 2011/2012.
Coldplay was formed in 1996 by lead singer Chris Martin but did not get their name until 1998.
Two years later the group reached worldwide fame with the release of their single Yellow prior to their debut album Parachutes, which was released the following year.
Their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head, is arguably their greatest album, winning multiple awards and featuring songs such as "The Scientist," "In My Place" and "Clocks."
Coldplay has sold over 80 million records worldwide and have won 62 awards out of 209 nominations. In 2009, Rolling Stone named the group the fourth best artist of the 2000s.
PHOTO: Wikipedia
July 29-31
Newport Jazz Festival
Newport, RI
After another big year last year, the Newport Jazz Festival is ready to go again this summer, with the headliner for this show also being Norah Jones.
Jones will play the Newport Jazz Festival on the 30th. This performance will come just a week after she plays the Newport Folk Festival.
Other performers include Grammy-winning vocalist Gregory Porter and saxophonist Kamasi Washington, 22-time Grammy-winning jazz composer Chick Corea and much more.
August 3
James Taylor With Jackson Browne at Fenway Park
Boston, Ma
Boston's own James Taylor will perform at Fenway Park along with Jackson Brown on August 3rd.
James Taylor is a five time Grammy Award winner from Boston, Massachusetts.
Taylor is known for songs such as "Carolina in My Mind," "Sweet Baby James" and 'You've Got a Friend."
August 5 & 7
Pearl Jam at Fenway Park
Boston, Ma
Pearl Jam is bringing their music to Fenway Park for two shows, the first on August 5 and the second on August 7. Tickets for both shows are listed below.
Pearl Jam made the big time after releasing their debut album, ten, in 1991. Since the band formed in 1990, it has concussed of Eddie Vedder on lead vocals, Mike McCready on lead guitar, Stone Gossard on rhythm guitar and Jeff Ament on bass.
Pearl jam has sold nearly 32 million records in the United States and an estimated 60 million worldwide.
Tickets:
PHOTO: EMR/flickr
August 18
Billy Joel at Fenway Park
Boston, Ma
The Piano Man himself Billy Joel brings his legendary music to Fenway Park on August 18. This concert is a MUST see.
Billy Joel released his first hit song, arguably still his biggest hit, Piano Man in 1973 an since has become the 6th best selling recording artist and the third best selling solo artist in the United States.
Joel was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and then the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 2013, Joel received the Kennedy Center Honors, the countries highest honor for influencing American culture through the arts.
PHOTO: Jeaneem/flickr
August 20 & 21
Zac Brown Band at Fenway Park
Boston, Ma
The Zac Brown Band is coming to Fenway Park for two shows on August 20 and 21. Ticket listings for both concerts are below.
To date, the band has released 4 studio albums, three of which have been in collaboration with Atlantic Records, as well as two live albums, on greatest hits album and two extended plays.
They have have also had 16 singles hit the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, with 8 go them reaching number one.
The group is known for the songs Chicken Fried, Toes, Highway 20 Ride and Free, amongst others.
Tickets
August 26 & 27
Kenny Chesney at Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
Kenny Chesney has already performed at Gillette Stadium more times than any other artist and has broke 9 attendance records on last summers Big Revival Tour. Chesney will be adding to her performances at Gillette when he plays two more on August 26 and 27, both starting at 5 p.m.
Chesney will be joined by Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt and Old Dominion for the shows.
In his career, Chesney has recorded 20 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA, produced over 40 top 10 singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Ariplay Charts, 28 of which have reached #1.
He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and has received 6 Academy of Country Music awards.
August 27
Black Sabbath: The End at Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, Connecticut
Black Sabbath will play Mohegan Sun Arena on August 27 as part of their farewell tour titled "The End."
Black Sabbath are considered pioneers of heavy metal music, ranked as the greatest metal band of all time by MTV and number 85 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Black Sabbath ha sold over 70 million records worldwide and were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
The band is known for songs such as "Paranoid," and "Ironman,"
