THE BEAT
Cormac McCarthy, Lisa McCormick, Karan Casey
by Seth Rogovoy(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., March 6, 1997)
Spotlight -- Cormac McCarthy
Singer-songwriter Cormac McCarthy once said of his hometown in southwestern New Hampshire, "It's where they would have filmed `Deliverance,' only nobody plays the banjo." The comment is typical of the facetious wit that McCarthy laces throughout his shows, and for which he is almost as famous as his songs -- carefully-drawn, tender portraits of small New England towns and their inhabitants.McCarthy, who now lives in Maine, is well-versed in the ups-and-downs of New England milltown life, having done time in the mills throughout high school, college and afterwards. So it is only appropriate that he is bringing his edgy tales of blue-collar life to North Adams this Sunday, March 9, when he performs at Milltown Studios at 6 in the Music on Main Street series. Call 662-5770 for more info.
Spotlight -- Lisa McCormick
Lisa McCormick is a fast-rising star on the new-folk scene. She recently headlined at the venerable Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and garnered a rave review from the Albany weekly Metroland. She has done numerous public radio shows, including "World Cafe" and "Acoustic Cafe," and is a finalist for the Best New Folk Artist award given by the National Association of Independent Record Distributors (NAIRD).McCormick's moment in the spotlight is being powered in large part by her new CD, "Right Now" (Rising Records). Produced by folk-rock veteran Jonathan Edwards, the collection of a dozen original tunes suggests that the Brattleboro, Vt.-area resident, who looks at life from a rural-bohemian, 30-something point of view, is an edgy cross between Dar Williams and Chrissie Hynde. Local audiences will get the chance to check her out up close and personal this Sunday, March 9, at Milltown Studios in North Adams at 6, when McCormick warms up the crowd for fellow New Englander Cormac McCarthy.
Spotlight -- Karan Casey
While Solas -- the Irish-American ensemble performing tomorrow night at 8 at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown -- might best be known for its instrumental wizardry, and chiefly that of acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Seamus Egan, the band also boasts the strikingly beautiful vocals of Karan Casey. While Casey sings five songs on the group's eponymous debut album, the full measure of her vocal talent and interpretive range can now be heard on "Songlines" (Shanachie), her lovely solo debut, featuring 11 traditional and traditionally-flavored Irish songs. Produced by her Solas bandmate Egan, the album also features accompaniment by other Solas members as well as other top names in traditional Irish music. But mostly it is a showcase for Casey's vocal art, which blends the pristine, aching, sinuous lines of her native Ireland with a personally stylized, interpretive approach that betrays her background in jazz.
Backstage bits
The Birch Tree Music series at Berkshire Community College has been put on hold in the wake of the death of its co-founder and chief organizer, Michelle Klopfenstein. Those involved with Birch Tree hope to re-start the series later in the year....What a coup to have last week's John Gorka show -- the Clark Art Institute's very first contemporary-folk concert -- be a standing- room-only sellout. A few years back, the Northern Berkshire Council of the Arts struggled to fill just the downstairs section of that same auditorium when it presented shows there by the likes of Gorka, Cheryl Wheeler, Bill Morrissey, Patty Larkin and Greg Brown. Some of the credit has got to devolve to Jordi Herold, the Iron Horse founder and regional promoter who the Clark hired as a consultant to book and market the series. But couldn't they have done a better job with the program? The blurb for tomorrow night's show by Irish supergroup Solas -- another expected sellout -- begins, "Irish bands come in many sizes." Yes, and see Seamus run. Run, Seamus, run....
Speaking of the Irish, the Irish soul band that appeared in the movie "The Commitments" is not allowed to call itself by that name, even though that's what it was called in the movie. In any event, THAT band will help revelers celebrate St. Patrick's Day at the Studio in downtown Pittsfield on March 17. No word on when or if Spinal Tap is coming, but look for The Suits on March 21 and Kinky Friedman on April 10....
Just over the border in Pownal, Vt., locals are expecting the return of Lollapalooza this summer to the Green Mountain Race Track, as well as a visit by the Furthur [sic] Festival -- the travelling caravan of what remains of the Grateful Dead. While nothing has been officially announced, Lollapalooza '97 is thought to include Korn and Tool, and perhaps Snoop Doggy Dogg and Foxy Brown. Other artists whose names have been bandied about include The Prodigy, Foo Fighters, Dr. Dre, Blur, Morrissey, Built to Spill and David Bowie, who may even be the headliner. In addition to Bob Weir's Ratdog and Mickey Hart's Planet Drum, the Furthur Festival will probably include Bruce Hornsby and Los Lobos. And look for Neil Young to head up the HORDE tour, though not at Green Mountain....
That's great news about the "In the Fiddler's House" tour headlined by Itzhak Perlman coming to Tanglewood this summer on July 31. The all-star klezmer show features top acts in the genre, both traditional and progressive, including the Klezmatics, Brave Old World, the Klezmer Conservatory Band and the Andy Statman Klezmer Orchestra.
As far as Tanglewood's other pop offerings, it looks like James Taylor has now graduated to perennial status from his previous biannual perch. Apparently what Tea Party Concerts -- the Boston- based promoter that books the pop shows at Tanglewood -- lacks in originality, it makes up for in commercial savvy. That is to say, you can't argue with JT when he's a guaranteed box-office smash.
But what happened to the Labor Day weekend jazz festival? This August's version is down to four concerts from last year's seven, and while it has been a while since we've seen Sonny Rollins and Chick Corea in these parts, we're plenty used to Dave Brubeck and Randy Weston. And what of the plethora of exciting musicians on the scene under the age of 50, none of whom are included in this year's lineup? As of now Gary Burton, at 54, is the youngest on the program. So much for investing in the future of jazz.
[This column originally appeared in the Berkshire Eagle on March 6, 1997. Copyright Seth Rogovoy 1997. All rights reserved.]
Seth Rogovoy
rogovoy@berkshire.net
music news, interviews, reviews, et al.
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