Barrence Whitfield and the Savages

i had the pleasure of stepping into the time machine on Saturday 9/7. I used to see Barrence and the original Savages when I was in my 20's. I once saw him walk up a wall, amongst other mind boggling moves back in the early 80's. It had been about 12 years since i last saw him on stage or off. He hasn't changed much in that time. He hasn't lost any strength in his voice, though he isn't quite as wild physically on stage as he once was. He still holds the audience in the palm of his hand from the first note, with his self effacing demeanor in between songs, and his possessed singing, shouting and screaming during each song. He becomes the song, massaging it gently and then going full throttle as called for. Now reunited with original Savages Peter Greenberg and Phil Lenker along with Tom Quatrull and Andy Jody, they are a force to be reckoned with.

Downbeat 5 @ the Middle East 9/7/2013

it's been far too long since last posting. i actually got out and did some shooting last saturday night. a killer quadruple bill of Muck & the Mires (finally got to see them after all these years), the Downbeat 5 (must've been a decade since i last saw them), Jittery Jack (fine rockabilly band) and local living legend Barrence Whitfield & the Savages (reunited with Peter Greenberg on guitar and Phil Lenker on bass).

Anyway, Downbeat 5 is co-fronted by the talented, lovely JJ Rassler and Jennifer D'Angora. She's also lovely and talented. They rocked the house. They're on Facebook if you want to know more about them.

next: Barrence

Wayne "the train" Hancock

i've been a fan of wayne hancock+ for a long time. Amongst Americana aficionados, Wayne's first album "Thunderstorms and Neon Signs" is considered a classic. Wayne's sound is a throwback to Hank, Lefty, Carl Smith+, Faron Young+, Moon Mullican+, a touch of Bob Wills+ and other country singers from the 40's into the early 60's.

last night i had the opportunity to see Wayne at the Middle East in Cambridge. the last time i saw him was in the late 90's at SxSW.

he's playing with a stand up bassist and a really talented guitarist, i wasn't able to catch their names. Wayne on acoustic rhythm guitar and vox.

the man has stuck with his retro formula through the years, but manages to make it sound entirely original, not a clone of those who blazed the trail he's on.