In Other News: Coverfolk on Tour
(featuring Sam Amdion, Peter Siegel, and a possible Mammals reunion!)
Some odd confluence of touring schedules is bringing some amazing music, including a lengthy Sam Amidon set and several multi-generational performances at the Clearwater Folk Festival, to the greater Northeast region over the weekend. Whether you’re in the NYC area or the wilds of upper New England, if you’ve got the wheels and the time to attend, either or all of the below come heavily recommended.
Notice arrived just today that Sam Amdion will be performing in his hometown of Brattleboro, VT this Friday evening at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center in a last-minute show sandwiched between NYC gigs. Sam has moved on to bigger pastures since he struck it big with the delicate, deconstructed, mystical-meets-oldtimey folk of 2008 release All Is Well, which we featured way back in November of 2007, but hometown shows of any type are notoriously special, and the scale here is nothing to sneeze at, especially when it features one of the most talented and noteworthy reimaginers of traditional folk canon on the scene today.
The best part? Friday’s show, which features accompaniment from experimental multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily — who has previously played with the likes of Laurie Anderson, John Zorn, and Tom Waits — nets you three hours of music for three bucks. And, of course, since Sam’s parents, and his percussionist brother Stephen, of new Signature Sounds signees The Sweetback Sisters, both run folk-ready, there’s always the possibility that a special guest or two might show up on stage.
I’ve nothing new from Sam, but our older feature is long out of date; here’s some still-fond favorites well worth reposting.
- Sam Amidon: Wedding Dress (trad.)
- Sam Amidon: O, Death (trad.)
(from All Is Well, 2007)
- Sam Amidon: Louis Collins (orig. Mississippi John Hurt)
(from But This Chicken Proved Falsehearted, 2005)
- Sam Amidon: Head Over Heels (orig. Tears for Fears)
(from Jamais Vu, circa 2006)
- Sam Amidon: Kedron (trad.)
(from Help Me to Sing: Songs of The Sacred Harp, 2008)
Bonus points: it appears Brattleboro is the place to be this Friday. Friend Peter Siegel, who we’ve featured here recently for his kicking cover of traditional folk tune The Golden Vanity, will ALSO be playing a show with his new stringband Housetop, inaugurating a new venue just up the street from BMAC. Details are on Peter’s website; see if you can make it to both shows.
- Peter Siegel: Power and Glory (orig. Phil Ochs)
- Peter Siegel: L&N Rag (trad.)
(from The Show, 2004)
In equally immediate news, for those in the NYC area, I see that the line-up for this weekend’s Clearwater Festival includes festival founder and primary patron Pete Seeger, his grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, plus Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, Jay’s daughter Ruthy, and her husband Mike Merenda.
With the exception of Mike and Ruthy, who play as a married duo, and who we have featured here several times, the acts are all billed separately. But those in the know may notice that Ruth, Mike, and Tao make up a majority of the founding members of now-defunct folk-rock stringband quintet The Mammals, and knowing how festival stage-sharing tends to work, I’d say there’s a good bet that there will be a mini-reunion somewhere around the festival grounds this Saturday or Sunday. Here’s a bonus hint: watch the workshop stage, which is known for featuring a Pete Seeger sing-a-long and hootenanny on the last afternoon of the fest.
- The Mammals: Chan Chan (orig. Compay Segundo)
(from Rock That Babe, 2004)
- The Mammals: Fall on my Knees (trad.)
- The Mammals: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning (orig. Richard Thompson)
(from Evolver, 2002)
- The Mammals: Satisfied Mind (arr. Bob Dylan)
(from Born Live, 2001)
Bonus indiefolk note: Though built on the backs of the Seeger generation, Clearwater is casting a wide net this year, hoping to attract those of us who are equally enamored of the newest generation of indiefolk. In addition to the aforementioned families, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Dr. Dog, A.C. Newman, and Elvis Perkins in Dearland will all be performing, too. Kidfolk fans should absolutely make it to see Cover Lay Down favorite Elizabeth Mitchell in the ever-popular kid’s tent; neo-trad fans will not want to miss the Old Crow Medicine Show, and roots/blues fans should catch Alejandro Escovedo and Susan Tedeschi sets on the main stage.
Heck, I was going to mow the lawn, but just listing the names is pushing me to drive across state lines come Saturday morning. Perhaps I’ll see you there. In the meantime, here’s a pair of select bonus cuts to whet your New York whistle.
- Elizabeth Mitchell: Winter’s Come and Gone (orig. Gillian Welch)
(from You Are My Little Bird, 2006) - Old Crow Medicine Show: Wagon Wheel (arr. Bob Dylan)
(from O.C.M.S., 2004)
Cover Lay Down posts new coverfolk features on Wednesdays, Sundays, and the occasional otherday.
Category: Festival Coverfolk, Uncategorized
June 17th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Here’s hoping for a non-rainy weekend for the Clearwater fest!
June 18th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Sounds great! Have a wonderful time!
I was sorry that I couldn’t make it see Danny Schmidt, but
if you’re interested in coming to a house show in Central Mass July 10/11 let me know - so far we have 14 acts lined up with performers coming from GA to NH. I can send you a list.
Cheers
June 19th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Thank you for “Chan Chan.” That is far and away my favorite Mammals song, but I haven’t had a copy of it for a few years now.
Now if I could just understand what the heck they’re singing about…
June 19th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
It’s actually quite obscene. Here’s a relatively liberal translation:
Liberal English Translation
The love I have for you
I cannot deny
My mouth is watering
I just can’t help myself.
When Juanika and Chan Chan
Sifted sand together on the beach
How her bottom shook and
Chan Chan was arroused.
Clean the dry sugar cane leaves
from the path
So I can get to that trunk
I want to sit down.
I’m going from Alto Cerdo to Marcane
Then from Cueto, I,m going to Mayari.
March 24th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
[...] Five more Sam Amidon covers, from Tears for Fears to Mississippi John Hurt. [...]