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 By Andy Argyrakis |
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Weekend Report: Emmylou outdoors, Murphy tours solo
Friday, June 13, 2008 Though the Morton Arboretum is generally regarded for its breathtaking nature hikes, the venue portion of the park is quickly becoming the Ravinia of DuPage Country thanks to an impressive summer concert series. Country-centered troubadour Emmylou Harris kicks off the season on the heels of Tuesday's CD release All I Intended To Be (Nonesuch), which marks her first solo project since 2003's acclaimed Stumble Into Grace. Outside of current cuts, expect the celebrated singer/songwriter to dust off a few oldies from last year's box set Songbird: Rare Tracks and Forgotten Gems (Rhino) all in her signature, silky style. (Bet your life - Saturday at Morton Arboretum- Naperville, IL: www.mortonarb.org). After winning the Academy Award for "Best Original Song" in February, The Swell Season (otherwise known as Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) had no trouble lighting up the concert trail. The front man for The Frames and Czech newcomer are sure to sing the smash single "Falling Slowly," plus songs from the *Once* soundtrack (which also earned a pair of Grammy nominations). Despite the pair's talent, the tour appears to be cashing in on the craze of the famed film's score and it remains to be seen how much wind will remain  in this collaboration's sails after the
hype dies down. (Worth a shot - Sunday, Tuesday and
Wednesday at Chicago Theatre- Chicago, IL; Monday at
Overture Center For The Arts- Madison, WI:
www.ticketmaster.com).Despite Bauhaus' relatively recent run of concerts with Nine Inch Nails and the release of Go Away White (its first new CD since 1983), the band couldn't stick around long enough to tour in support of the project. It's a shame really, especially since members have been equally vague about the reasons for splitting, but at least front man Peter Murphy is hitting the road to keep the group's gothic legacy alive. Though there's no telling exactly what will make up the set list, it's plausible to hear solo selections mixed with those aforementioned new tunes and the best of Bauhaus. (Bet your life - Tuesday at House of Blues- Chicago, IL: www.ticketmaster.com). |
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Street Week: It's a woman's world this week
Monday, June 9, 2008 She might not have sounded all that special on a recent tour supporting Matchbox Twenty, but 90s angst poster child Alanis Morissette is attempting a reinvention on Flavors of Entanglement (Warner Brothers). The project comes under the production helm of Guy Sigsworth (Bjork, Imogen Heap) and marks the singer/songwriter's first studio set in four years. "I often write in retrospect, but this was written in real time," she says of the disc (which is said to merge Eastern percussion, strings and electronica). "This record helped me through some fragile moments. Every song was like a life raft." Though currently on tour in support of her latest studio CD Detours (A&M), Sheryl Crow is flashing back a few years to deliver a DVD simply titled Live (Koch Vision), which was originally a "Soundstage" television special in 2004. The set list features staples like "All I Wanna Do," "Soak Up the Sun," "If It Makes You Happy" and "Steve McQueen."  Yet the
runaway highlight isn't a sunny original, but rather a
stirring cover of Nick Lowe's staple "(What's So Funny
ÔBout) Peace, Love And Understanding."The reigning godmother of classic country Emmylou Harris drops All I Intended To Be on Nonesuch (her first solo CD following two collaborative projects with Mark Knopfler), while celebrated troubadour Martha Wainwright turns in I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too (Zoe). But fellas need not fear a shortage of male stars thanks to Jakob Dylan's Seeing Things (Sony), My Morning Jacket's Evil Urge (ATO) and Walter Becker's Circus Money (Mailboat). Rap/hip-hop collective N.E.R.D. also releases Seeing Sounds (Interscope) as label mates The Fratellis hope critical lightening will strike twice on its sophomore CD Here We Stand. |
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