5 Live Music Musts - Best of 2014
Friday, December 26, 2014
Ken Abrams, GoLocalProv Music Critic
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Deer Tick Rocked Newport Folk in August
This week we present some of the best of “5 Live Music Musts.” Read on for the Top 5 concerts we reviewed this year. Suffice to say, 2014 rocked!
The Newport Festivals
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We sometimes take them for granted here in Rhode Island, but its important to remember the Newport Folk and Jazz festivals are among the preeminent music events in the world. Major artists regularly go out of their way to play Newport. This year, the list of performers was outstanding as always– Jack White, Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples, and RI’s own Deer Tick among others. A Folk Festival highlight was Hozier, singing “Take Me to Church” with help from the Berklee College Gospel Choir, just before the song went viral and became a #2 hit on Billboard. GoLocal was there with pictures and reviews. Click here for Folk and here for Jazz.
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Hozier at the Newport Folk Festival
The Boss at Mohegan
In an abbreviated US tour, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played two nights at Mohegan Sun in May. His shows are always special, and the second night in Connecticut closed the High Hopes tour, the last official show in the US in 2014. We have high hopes that the Boss will return to the area in 2015, with perhaps a stopover in Rhode Island. Click here for some fond memories of the May 17 show.
Jackson Browne at PPAC
In August, singer-songwriter Jackson Browne held spellbound those in attendence at the Providence Performing Arts Center. Alternating between piano and guitar, Browne played a solo show consisting of songs spanning his entire career and kept fans entertained with the stories behind them. Check out Rick Farrell's photos and our review here.
Queen at Mohegan Sun
Having never seen Queen live before, I was quite impressed when they landed at Mohegan Sun in July. Behind Brian May’s driving guitar, Adam Lambert proved he was more than capable on lead vocal, and although no one can replace the late Freddie Mercury, Lambert clearly ruled Mohegan. It was a great night of music from classic rock royalty. For more, check my review of the July show here.
Gregg Allman at Newport Yachting Center
OK, I'll admit it. One of the highlights of the year for me came when Gregg Allman referred to me as "brother" in an interview. (Granted, the interview was via e-mail, but still...) The leader of the now retired Allman Brothers Band brought his own band to the Newport Yachting Center in August. It was a soulful show of Blues standards and Allman Brothers classics. Once again, GoLocal's Rick Farrell got some great shots of the show including guest harpist James Montgomery. Read our interview here and click here for the review of the show.
Thanks for following “5 Live” in 2014. We return next week with new previews of upcoming area concerts.
Related Slideshow: Top 5 Winter Concerts
If you think winter means a break in the concert season, think again. Some really big names are headed to the area over the next few months. GoLocal Music Critic Ken Abrams picks the Top 5 Winter concerts in this slide show.
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Fleetwood Mac at the Dunk
Fleetwood Mac, one of the original super groups of the 70s, returns to the area with a show at the Dunkin Donuts Center on January 28. The band totally killed it at two sellout shows this fall in Boston and we expect the same from the legendary group when they play the Dunk. Of course, the highlight for many fans will be the return of Christine McVie, who had been on hiatus since 1997. Check our review of the Boston show here for a little of what you can expect. Meanwhile, don’t stop thinking about this show.
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Indigo Girls at PPAC
The Indigo Girls were in the forefront of the folk-rock revival in the 1980s. They’ve continued to develop artistically with fresh harmonies and ever relevant lyrics. With over 14 million albums sold, they’re the only duo to have Billboard Top 40 titles in the 80’s, 90’s, 00’s and 10’s. We’re looking forward to seeing how their usually stripped down sound plays when they are joined by the RI Philharmonic Orchestra at the Providence Performing Arts Center. The show is Friday the 13th of February, but we guarantee good fortune!
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Nick Lowe at The Narrows
The absolute coolest holiday show around comes to the Narrows Center on Wednesday December 17 as Nick Lowe brings his “Quality Holiday Review” to Fall River. Along for the ride and backing Lowe will be Los Straitjackets, known for their Mexican wrestling masks and jammin’ guitar chops. Lowe is a well known producer and songwriter having penned hits like “Cruel to be Kind” and “What’s So Funny ‘bout Peace, Love, and Understanding.” Don’t miss this show next week at the Narrows Center.
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George Clinton at Lupo's
The spectacle that is George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic is our funkiest pick for the Winter concert season. Clinton has been touring with a diverse group of musicians since the late 60s. He’s a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (the largest band ever inducted) and is coming to Lupo's on Friday February 20. They're even bringing along a new release – First You Gotta Shake the Gate. Good times are guaranteed for this one.
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Mardi Gras Ball at Rhodes
Laissez les bon temps rouler! Boogie down to Rhodes on the Pawtuxet on February 28 for the 23rd Annual Cajun and Mardi Gras Ball. The biggest party of the season is always a sell out and this year should be no different with headliners Beau Soleil with Michael Doucet and Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. Can’t wait another six months till Rhythm and Roots? Then don’t miss the Mardi Gras Ball.
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Honorable Mention I
Did we mention that it’s a really busy winter concert season? The Dunkin Donuts Center has a rock show with Linkin Park, Rise Against, and Of Mice and Men on January 24. Another legend, Mr. Neil Diamond, will shake up the Dunk on March 10. Mother Falcon returns to the Columbus Theatre on January 11 and Uncle Tupelo co-founder Jay Farrar is there on February 8. And catch rocker George Thorogood at Cranston's Park Theatre on March 8.
(Pictured: Neil Diamond)
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Honorable Mention II
Acclaimed Indie artist St. Vincent, who’s 2014 album made numerous “Best Of the Year” lists is coming to Lupos on Sunday March 7th. Dianna Krall is at PPAC on March 4, on her “Wallflower” tour where she will re-interpret classic rock tunes. Other highlights include legendary party rockers NRBQ, who arrive at the Narrows Center for a pre-New Years Eve show on Tuesday December 30. The Narrows Center also has a Winter Blues Festival over MLK weekend with artists including Selwyn Birchwood, Yound Neil and the Vipers and Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds.
(Pictured: St. Vincent)
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Coffeehouse Highlights
Common Fence Music in Portsmouth has its popular "Gathering of Fiddlers and Fishermen" on January 24 hosted by John Fuzek. You can also find folk-rocker Patty Larkin there on February 7. Stone Soup in Pawtucket has Marc Douglas Berardo with Tracie Potochnik and Steve Allain on February 7 and Roots performers Atwater-Donnelly visit on March 7. And Sandywoods has a Celtic holiday concert with Matt and Shannon Heaton on December 20.
(Pictured: Patty Larkin)
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