Random Scribbles #5 and 6 - Justin Townes Earle and jug music

[Ty]

It's been an intense last couple of weeks. Lots of music and many thoughts. So let's start with the first week of June.
June 4th, The Kent Stage put on an "alley" show - literally smack in between their building and the building next door. It felt very random but very comfortable, almost as if we were on someone's balcony in the city jamming and having a few beers.
The alley show (which featured local musicians Jim Snively, Tom Evanchuck and The Speedbumps) was used to kick-off the evening's at large show which featured Justin Townes Earle.
That man is damn good. Imagine Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Dwight Yoakam and the nervous energy of Jerry Lee Lewis bundled into this Ichabod Crane look-a-like. Dressed like a 40's preacher, boots stomping and adam's apple bobbing; JTE put on a fabulous show. I have not seen a folk musician with that energy level since Richie Havens. What made the whole night even sweeter, was that emerging folk phenom Tom Evanchuck was asked to open the evening and instead of performing for 20 minutes (as most Kent Stage openers do), he was never told to stop and thus played a 45 minute set. I didn't write too many notes for that evening, I was rather spellbound by the evening's performance. However, here are a few random scribbles.

Glory, glory hallelujah
Let the chords strike a verse and the verse extract the words
as the voices ring out and shout out their demons
We'll clap our hands, stomp our feet and cry out so loud
Till the heavens and hells wonder what we're so damn happy about

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#6 Takes you to Rochester, NY and a little venue called The House of Hamez - further known as The Mez. I followed Tom Evanchuck for two nights at this venue while he played with a well-traveled songwriter named Maynard (sorry no myspace available) and then taking turns with New York's finest jug band - The Ruckus Juice Jug Stompers. The jug stompers started the evening with a 45 minute set, closing just as another rush of people were coming through the door. Before anyone could express disappointment, Tom Evanchuck hit the stage and by the middle of his second song, the crowd was silent.
After a 45 minute set, which included an encore, Ruckus Juice came back to the stage for another 40 minutes, inviting Tom and myself for our own rendition of Old Crow Medicine Show's "Wagon Wheel," and an old time favorite "Cocaine Habit." It was a great night to be a folk musician. As a result of the great weekend, Evanchuck received some great Rochester press, courtesy of the Rochester City News .
There weren't any scribbles for those two days; just a smile of enjoyment and euphoria. It makes me incredibly happy to be involved with folk music.