THE BEAT
Chuck Brodsky, Hartland Folk Festival, Y'All, Joel Cage
by Seth Rogovoy(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., July 17, 1997) --
Chuck Brodsky: Storytelling songwriter
Listen to Chuck Brodksy's "Letters In the Dirt" (Red House), and you instantly know you're in the company of an old-fashioned, storytelling songwriter. A craftsman to the core, Brodsky is a master of characterization and narrative in the form of the three- or four-minute folk song. The album mixes songs based on historical fact ("The Ballad of Eddie Klepp," about the first white man to play ball in the Negro leagues), emotional invention ("Bill and Annie") and topical wit ("No More Mr. Nice Guy"), with such ease that the Philadelphia native who now calls North Carolina home comes across like a contemporary Tom Paxton (who himself appears on the album). Brodsky's songs have already become standards -- "Blow 'em Away," which appears on numerous compilation albums, was recorded by David Wilcox, who like Brodsky appears at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival next weekend. Brodsky headlines his own show this Sunday in the Stone Chapel Concert Series at St. Andrew's Chapel in the town of Washington, next to Bucksteep Manor, at 4. Ellis Paul- soundalike Mark Erelli warms up the crowd for Brodsky. For more information call 413-623-5438 or E-mail darkmoon@vgernet.net.Music at Milltown
Milltown Studios in North Adams presents back-to-back shows this weekend, beginning Friday night at 8:30 with Boston singer-songwriter Joel Cage. A longtime sideman for touring acts including Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Cage went out on his own a few years back, recording his solo debut CD, "Last Hard Road," which garnered him a 1996 Boston Music Award nomination for best new contemporary folk artist. Saturday night at 8:30 brings a change of pace with The Reverend Tor Band, led by guitarist Tor Krautter and featuring Dan Broad and Derrick Rodgers. When Krautter's CD, "In Search of Ecstasy," first came out, I called it "a tasty blues barbecue." You can also catch the Rev. at the Hard Hat in Dalton this Friday night, at the Barn at Bucksteep Manor in Washington on Sunday, July 27, and at the Old Egremont Club in South Egremont on July 30.Y'All: Country camp
Y'All is a duo of built-in contradictions. They play a brand of acoustic music that's been variously described as "white trash, front-porch country gospel" and "old-time country music for the 21st century," yet their first gig was at an open-mike night in the bowels of New York's Lower East Side. The son of an intinerant preacher, James Dean "Jay" Byrd performs wearing dresses given to him by his uncle Joe in Okey Dokey, Texas. In 1995, they released a holiday-themed recording called "Christmastime in the Trailerpark." Their signature tune is called "My Man, Our Horses and Me," and other favorites include "God Bless New York City (My Big Apple Pie)" and "(I Am the) Queen of the Rodeo." Their greatest goal is to star in ther own '70-style TV variety show, but they're already regulars on MTV. Catch them in their showcase slot, handpicked by headliners Salamander Crossing, at the Iron Horse in Northampton on Wednesday, July 23, at 7. Call 413-586-8686 for more info.Hartland Folk Festival: A new-folk distillery
Unlike many of its weekend-long cousins, the Hartland Folk Festival lasts only one day. But in the 12 hours or so of live music it offers, listeners get to hear a great sampling of the best in contemporary folk. This year's lineup is no exception, with names like Patty Larkin, Lucy Kaplansky, Peter Mulvey, Salamander Crossing and Jim Henry on the bill. Also appearing are Bruce Pratt, Harvey Reid, Geoff Bartley, Eddie From Ohio, Peter Keane, Debi Smith, Hugh Blumenfeld and Patrick McGinley. Hartland always has a small-town feel to it -- the festival is a benefit for the East Hartland Volunteer Fire Department featuring a pancake breakfast, homemade ice cream and the famous Hartland homemade pies. The 11th annual Hartland Folk Festival takes place this Saturday, July 19, from 9 am to 8:30 pm, at Berg Field on Route 20 in East Hartland, Conn. Call 860-653-5577 for more information.[This column originally appeared in the Berkshire Eagle on July 17, 1997. Copyright Seth Rogovoy 1997. All rights reserved.]
Seth Rogovoy
rogovoy@berkshire.net
music news, interviews, reviews, et al.
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