My Year in Music

2009 is coming to a close. It has been a pretty good year. Having had a number of opportunities to attend some really good concerts, I thought I would do a collection of the ones I had taken photos of. 2009 started out in a big way with a trip up to Snoqualmie on January 14. One of my all time favorites, #2 on my top ten.

Kathleen Edwards. She is From Canada. A singer Song writer who has a bit of a Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Tom Petty, all rolled into one Sound. i first saw Kathleen Edwards at the Tractor Tavern, a great venue in Ballard, WA.

Two weeks later I was off to Portland Oregon to the fabulous Wonder Ball Room. What a place this is. Adele was the headliner. Opening for Adele was James Morrison. Now this was just the week before  the 51st Grammy awards Feb. 8th 2009. We all knew that Adele was nominated for  four of those awards. It was a great show. Her Voice, her band is amazing. The Following week, She received two grammy awards. Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocalist for “Chasing Pavements.

Next up was Monday the 6th of April. Appearing at the “Tractor Tavern” in Ballard was Justin Townes Earl. This was the second time I caught “Mr JTE” at “The Tractor”. Accompanied by Mr Cory Younts,  Justin Townes Earle’s moustached sidekick, “Charlie,” on stage and a master multi-instrumentalist. Cory, you rock dude!

The next show was a fantastic Birthday gift courtesy of my Girl gone domestic. On July 1st we were off to the Woodland Park Zoo. We being, my daughter Gena, her best friend Maria, and   my youngest grand daughter Evelyn, for our own version of “Three Girls and their Buddy” Please see my  July 1st post.

“Three Girls and their Buddy”. Patty Griffin, Emmy Lou Harris, Shawn Colvin, and Buddy Miller.

A Great day, Great Birthday present, my Grand daughters first concert.

I happened to stumble on the “2009″ Ballard SeaFoodFest, as I went to Rudy’s Barber shop on Sunday July 26th. I decided to stick around because, as luck would have it coming up on the Main stage at 4:15 was a kind of Northwest own version of Emmy Lou Harris. From Ballard.  ”Zoe Muth and the Lost Rollers”. Country Western at it’s finest. I bought her new CD. Trust me on this one folks, she has the voice.  I can’t wait to see Zoe  again.

For my daughters birthday it was off to the Show Box Sodo September 19th.    First stop, Von’s for dinner. The headliner at the Show Box Sodo, Paolo Nutini. What a great show. His band, very talented and spectacular. We had a great night out on downtown Seattle, cab rides and all! We seem to have started a tradition I hope . Last Year She took me to see “The Wailin Jennys” at the Triple Door , and for  her Birthday we saw  Ray Lamontagne at McCaw Hall.

Last for this year, and most certainly not the least, a big show at the

Paramount theatre. Now this was a last minute gig on November 5th, and I only had one hour to drive to Freemont to secure my ticket, on the night of the show. Again as luck would have it, I was on Vacation this week. I got the listing off craigslist. The ticket was in the 20th row, center section, face value. The down side was I had no camera to take. My Nikons are to big to hide. It was up to the iPhone. What a show. I gotta put David Gray up there close to my top ten in Live performances. Yes “2009″  the Music was good! 

The World Of OutLaws @ Skagit Speedway

More Three Girls and their Buddy July 1st 2009

Three Girls and their Buddy

My Daughter Gena, her Friend Maria, Grand daughter Evelyn, and I . Red Mill Burgers, Great Music, Patty Griffin, EmmyLou Harris, Shawn Colvin, and Buddy Miller. Perfect weather, at the zoo, big Crowd. Great Photos! Serious Pie, Simply Wonderful. Thank You Gena Girl!!

Three Girls and their Buddy

My Father, Emmy Lou, and Patty

It seems only fitting. Some how, some way, as I ponder Fathers day, and looking ahead to July 1st I should write about somethings. I am anticipating seeing Patty Griffin, Emmy Lou Harris, Shawn Colvin, and Buddy Miller in Concert together. My Father was a Singer, Musician, Entertainer. I grew up around show biz. Not on such a professional level as the people mentioned, but somewhat. I owe my photography interest and what little ability I have in picture taking to my Father. He was a Great photographer. Forty years worth.  Music is really what I am looking at here.

My taste, appreciation, my interest in music, I owe to my Father. My Father was a big time Emmy Lou Harris fan. My Father went to a lot of concerts, at many a different venues.

I attended some of those. He may have seen Emmylou Harris once at Zoo Tunes with one of my sisters. My Father Passed away in 1999. I started listening to Patty in late 2000, as I recall. I pulled ” Mary ”  from itunes.  Living with Ghost and Flaming Red  were Patty’s released material prior to that year.  I list Patty as my number one music choice. My oldest daughter, Gena is a big fan. My wonderful daughter  purchased my ticket for my Birthday back in April. So we have our own version of  ” Three girls and their buddy ” going to the show. My daughter, her daughter, My grand daughter Evelyn, and, Gena’s dear friend Maria make up the three girls. My daughter’s married name is Miller. I being the buddy. My Father, My Daughter, Emmy, and Patty. Fathers Day, The upcoming Concert. I ponder all these things. I can thank my Dad, My Daughter, and Patty. The influence my Father has goes thru my life. It is still going strong.

Patty Griffin, is Gonna Be @ Zoo Tunes 2009