Gradin.com » concert

Lost and Found: 1 Grecian ‘Stache

Olaf — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:07:19 +0000

All of you will surely recognize the man on the left. His biblical image comes at you in all of its hair and puffy-shirtness like a thunder clap. Yanni stands as the hairiest, women-loving man I know [of]…though Hugh Jackman must be at the top of this game too! And on his right is the much subdued version of the eighties visage, also Yanni. When did this happen? No ‘stache to whisper its childhood stories to concert viewers. No curly locks of Grecian do to reveal the arcane secrets of musical composition. It’s a transitive state of Yanni’s image much in the same way we all saw Metallica shed their fettered styles of 80′s heavy metal.

So Yanni will be coming to Duluth in April at the Gwinnett thingy (Arena, perhaps?). I know most of my known world will simply abuse me verbally for going to a Yanni concert (which will actually be my third or fourth), but I couldn’t give a crap. If you’ve never seen one of these concerts, you really don’t know what you’re missing. It’s a phenomenal appreciation of the musical arts, internationally complete. I suppose many of you only like your music for its pop artist front [wo]man, but I really enjoy the instrumental musicality of it all. I would compare what Yanni conducts on his stages to that of the Cirque du Soleil band (on a small scale) and Dream Theater / Liquid Tension Experiment. You could draw comparisons with Phish and Wide Spread Panic. All of these bands have two things in common: they’re killer jam bands and composed of some very talented musicians.

A Night of Amazing Celtic Music!

Olaf — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:59:13 +0000

My wife and an old high school friend of ours, Colin Blackledge, have put together a most remarkable double-event concert this Friday off the downtown square in Gainesville. Seven Nations and Emerald Rose will be performing in the small pizza bar venue that is the Monkey Barrel. For $15.00, you can get in to see these great acts as they jam Celtic-rock style! If you want to give up some information in advance, you can avoid the line and get priority entry to the event. Just call (770) 287-0970 and let them know you are interested in the Friday concert with Seven Nations and Emerald Rose.

Friday, October 26th
The Monkey Barrel
115 Washington St.
Gainesville, GA 30501

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Seven Nations is a five-man Celtic rock band that features bagpipes and fiddle. Their style is a fusion of traditional and original music. 7N has toured the world playing the Winter Olympics, Irish/Scottish Highland Games and Festivals, as well as traditional concert venues.

Emerald Rose is a four-man Celtic folk-rock band with a rich, traditional world fusion sound with influences randing from the Chieftains to Jethro Tull. Blending amazing vocals and driving guitars and bass, their music ranges from traditional jigs and reels to original folk rock and pop.

Dan Zanes Concert

Olaf — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 03:35:44 +0000

Saturday was our big day for the Dan Zanes concert followed by yummy food at the Varsity in Atlanta. Hard to top that! Balthazar didn’t get quite as much out of the concert as we had hoped; he was tired and hungry. But he did get to hear his favorite song, Catch that Train!, before losing all interest in the set. The concert was crazy. I’ve never been to a family concert like this, so it was really strange to see all these kids congregated in a mosh pit at the front of the theater. There were other kids running amuck through the isle ways and parents acting up just as much as their children. Dan Zanes and 4 of his musical crew were really great. I have huge respect for the drummer. He rocks on a tiny little drum set and has such great animation while he plays. I’m jealous of his apparent knack of left/right brain activity. I think if we better prepare ourselves for the event next time he comes through, Balthazar will have a really great time at the concert. Hell, I might be able to get him into the mosh pit for some 4-year-old bashing.

Dan Zanes

Olaf — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:20:28 +0000

Dan Zanes is my new favorite artist. His musical philosophy parallels my own and a CD can move through a bevy of instruments, styles, and nationalities. I have one of his later CD’s, “Catch that Train!” I’m actually not exactly sure if I truly own the CD because I purchased it (digitally) from AllofMP3.com and as Russian copyright legalities go, it remains to be seen whether or not I spent my $2.50 on anything at all. Having listened to this album over and over in my car, I can now say I would gladly buy the CD. In fact, I plan on attending the Zanes concert at Georgia Tech in December. Not only is the Zanes band musically excellent, it’s actually seemingly very caring about the audience it caters to. On DanZanes.com you’ll find lyrics and chord progressions for most, if not all, of his albums. I really enjoy Zanes’ encouragement to get together with friends and family to play music – your own or someone else’s. Much of his works are inspired, if not completely derived from popular folk pieces from the past. I don’t believe I had ever heard any Del Fuego in the late eighties, but it was one of Zanes’ successful earlier bands. I’ll have to make an effort to catch the last CD in print available by the group. Regardless of whether or not you have children, you’ll probably find enjoyment in Dan Zanes’ family-oriented discography. He’s a bit of a cross between Tom Petty and Norman Blake. Several of his scores are entirely spanish, or at least spenglish. On “Catch That Train,” there’s one piece from a Zulu traditional tune, “Pigogo.” His “friends & family” include such people as Sheryl Crowe, Bob Weir, and Suzanne Vega. Among the help they’ve provided him in his career, some albums incorporate their collaboration as well.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker’s 30th Year

webmaster — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 13:11:04 +0000

We attended the Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker’s 30th anniversary concert in Atlanta this past Friday. What a cool concert! The band put together some new renditions of some old songs – many from the Full Moon Fever album. My favorites included grandiose piano solos in place of some of the guitar solos we all know so well. As a bonus, Stevie Nicks came out at one point and continued to sing three or four songs with Tom Petty. They didn’t do “The Apartment Song,” but I never really thought they would. It’s my personal favorite with the two of them, but seemingly no one else’s. He also never does “Wildflowers,” though I would very much like to hear it live. We went to the concert with Isi and Missy, whom we also enjoyed dinner with in Atlanta. A good evening of music and friends, despite any threat of impending rain.