Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Knoxville

After four fun-filled and glorious days at the 2022 Big Ears Festival, I finally drove back home to Atlanta yesterday. My cats, who presumed I must have died or something, were very happy to see me return (even though I left them with plenty of food and water).

Here are some street views of Knoxville taken during my visit.








Monday, March 28, 2022

Big Ears - Day Four


Here's my quick recap of the artists I saw at Big Ears on Sunday, the last day of the Knoxville festival. 


Stephen Gosling, solo piano, performing John Zorn's 18 Studies from the Later Sketchbook of J.M.W. Turner at the Bijou Theater. 


Singer-songwriter Andy Schauf at the fabulous Tennessee Theater.


Clarinetist Evan Ziporyn playing multi-tracked bass clarinet interpretations at the Old City Performing Arts Center of works by Philip Glass (the long-lost 1968 composition Best Out of Three), Jimi Hendrix (Woodstock Improvisation), Joni Mitchell (Woodstock), and others.


The Bang On A Can All-Stars performing Terry Riley's Autodreamographical Tales at the Tennessee Theater.


And finally, the climax to the day and probably the whole festival: a set at the Bijou by John Zorn's New Electric Masada featuring Zorn on alto, and (left to tight) guitarists Julian Lage and Bill Frisell, drummer Ches Smith, bassist Trevor Dunn, and percussionist Kenny Grohowski.  Not visible in this picture (but very audible during the set) are keyboardists John Medeski and Brian Marsella, and drummer Kenny Wollesen.

I get to drive back home today with several new songs in my heart.

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Big Ears - Day 3

 


A quick rundown of the artists I saw yesterday at the third day of the Big Ears festival:


The day started with an 11:00 am performance by Mary Lattimore (background, on harp) and William Tyler (front, on guitar) at the fabulous Tennessee Theater performing Electric Appalachia to a screening of documentary footage of Appalachian history and the Tennessee River Authority.

After Electric Appalachia, I saw Petra Hayden perform a set of songs at the Bijou Theater written for her by composer John Zorn and accompanied by a band including jazz guitarist Julian Lage, but a sign at the door said no photography at the request of the artist.  Strangely, I complied with the request, even though people on both sides of me were just clicking away with their phones..


Next up was Meredith Monk and her vocal ensemble, accompanied by the Bang on a Can All Stars back at the Tennessee Theater.


After Monk, I went over to St. John's Cathedral for a meditative, minimalist organ performance by Sarah Davachi.


Next, it was uptown so to speak to The Standard to see guitarist Marc Ribot perform a set of improvisations with legendary jazz drummer Andrew Cyrille.


Also at The Standard and perhaps the highlight of the day was a joyous, raucous performance by Jaimie Branch's Fly or Die. One other spectator near me expressed disappointment that during one song she called Ted Cruz a "racist motherfucking baby."


The final set of the day (for me) was back at The Bijou for the Danish rock band Efterklang. I remembered them as a kind of moody, post-rockish band from the 2010s, but they've apparently reinvented and reinvigorated themselves as a sunny, psychedelic art-rock band.  It was quite a surprise - a pleasant one - and they had about the whole audience up on their feet and dancing by the end of their set.

That's it for Day 3.  I'm off now for the fourth and final day of Big Ears 2022.  /Damn, it;s nice to have music back again. 








Saturday, March 26, 2022

Big Ears - Day 2


I'm still in Knoxville, still at Big Ears. Here's a quick rundown of the artists I saw yesterday.


Tomeka Reid and Ches Smith of the Craig Taborn Trio at the Bijou Theater.


Claaire Rousay at Knoxville's Old City Performing Arts Center.


Jeff Parker at The Standard.


L'Rain, also at The Standard.


The Patti Smith Band at the fabulous Tennessee Theater.

Kim Gordon, also at the Tennessee Theater.

I'll probably post some mor detailed descriptions of the sets sometime in the near future, but right now I've got to run.  First set of this Saturday starts in less than an hour.

Friday, March 25, 2022

Return to Big Ears

On my first  trip since the pandemic began, hell, my first time doing anything since the pandemic began, I drove to Knoxville, Tennessee yesterday for the 2022 Big Ears Festival, the festival's first offering since March 2019.


The first set that I caught last night, and my first time at a show since February 2020, was the improvisational duo 75 Dollar Bill, performing as a 9-piece band (guitar, sax, two violins, two basses, and three percussionists) at The Standard. 


Another large outfit, Damon Locks' Black Monument Ensemble, was next at the outdoor Tennessee Amphitheater.


Nest up was Austrian electronic music producer Fennesz at St. John's Cathedral.


And finally, Minnesota's Low performed the headlining set at The Mill & Mine.

For those curious about such things, proof of vaccination was required to obtain a wristband for admittance, and I wore a mask at the 75 Dollar Bill set at The Standard and at Low's set at The Mill & Mine. I didn't wear a mask at the outdoor Tennessee Amphitheater for Damon Locks.  I didn't wear a mask at Fennesz's set at St. John's Cathedral either because I figured the covids wouldn't dare infect me in a church.  

I'll be in Knoxville for the next three days for the festival.