Author: jdacy

What happens when two of the most reviled ( in some quarters) instruments collide manned by master musicians?
Magic. Rhiannon Givvens and Francesco Turrisi together at the DAKOTA in Mpls last night left all a bit speechless .
Highlight of the night was a high energy Banjo Acvirdion dual that ended in a very satisfying draw.
Then there was the tambourine solo. Francesco could probably make a number 10 tin can sound wonderful.
And of course Rhiannon can sing.

< First time I saw Slaid was at a tiny coffeehouse in St Paul. 100 people if that, backed up by Scrappy Judd Newcombe, the Gingko was the perfect venue for the first Slaid show. Nothing fancy. Two guitars underneath the poetry of working class, drinking class, white collar class folks sung in the distinctive Maine meets Austin accent. Flash forward a few years and we are in Maine with a couple of Slaid newbies. An old barn restored and refurbished as a concert/dinner venue. Beautiful food beautiful venue . A big step up from the Gingko. But it was again Slaid and Scrappy. Again poetry of people just trying to get by. “Primer Grey” . Troubled youth looking for belonging. “Black T Shirt” . Current political climate “Drunken Barbers Hand”. And a classic no amplification stroll through the house. “The Old Guard”. This still ranks in the top ten shows ever. How could it not. Slaid Scrappy the venue . And being with two of our favorite people. Two years later. Sitting at work and checked personal email (don’t tell HR or IT) and DAKOTA newsletter pops up. New show announcement. Slaid on November 5. Tickets on sale 9/27 9:00 AM 9/27 in the garage at 9:00 AM before heading to Work dialed up the number. Got tickets Mezzanine center. Same seats we saw Robie Fulks perfect November 5 . 6:15. Shown to our table with the Bauer’s in tow. Jim and I played a lot of Slaid in our mutual Dimestore Watch days. Settled in and noticed an accordion on stage . Hmmm Could this mean Ollie Steck was the Scrappy for this show? Ollie Steck played Accordion Coronet and Harmonica on the live Album "Sorrow and Smoke" from a long time ago. Good sign and perhaps an omen that we will get a rendition of Breakfast In Hell. And on they come. And yes. It is in fact Slaid with Ollie. This is going to be good, Starts with the classics: “My Drinking Days Are Over. “ “Broke Down” then on to a couple of more recent ones. “Primer Grey”. Drunken Barber” . “Black T Shirt” . Then on to a bit lighter fare. “Love You More Than I Love TEXAS” . Then he hit us with another couple that no long married couples could not possibly hear without at least getting a bit misty eyed. “So Good To Me”. “To Be Held And Hold”. A song he wrote for his wife Karen. Boom. Then back to social and political commentary. “It’s A Beautiful Thing”. Written during the Clinton Administration. Some things never change. And so it went. Ollie on Accordion. Ollie on Coronet. Ollie on Grand Piano. Ollie on Harmonica. Adding just the right underpinning. And then Breakfast In Hell....”in the melting snows of Ontario whet the wind will make you shiver”.. could have gone gone home then. But more. Some really old songs. Some fine yodeling . Great stories. Everything you would expect. And Ollie Steck .

Welcome to Writing Around The Music. The intent is to share thoughts, comments, and opinions on live music performance. Mine and others. Short snippets. Longer form criticism. Playlists. More later.