Year-end tributes are nothing new, except the fact that we have never published a list before at Do You Believe in Magic. The idea came to me when I hear the news of Christine McVie’s passing this past November. I started to think about who else passed away this past year. I recall hearing similar news about Commander Cody’s passing. When I discovered he died in 2021, I thought that I should dig into this further. So, in chronological order here are artists we lost this year.

JANUARY

On the 20, we lost comedian Louis Anderson at 68…a very funny man.

Also on the 20^th, Meatloaf, born Marvin Lee Aday, left the stage for the last time at 74. Best known for Bat Out of Hell, Bat out of Hell II and Bat Out of Hel III,  he sold more than 100 million albums in his career.

January 30, Ronnie Spector, lead singer in the 60’s girl group the Ronettes, passed away at 78. She was married to record producer, Phil Spector, from 1968 to 1974.

 Also on the same day, Hargus “Pig” Robbins died too at 83. He was a session keyboardist for numerous country artists as well as Bob Dylan.

FEBRUARY

Ian MacDonald multi-instrumentalist and founding member of King Crimson and Foreigner, passed away at 75 on the 9^th.

MARCH

Bobbie Nelson, Willie’s sister and piano player in the Nelson Family band, was 91 when she left the stage for the last time, on the 10^th. Aside from her excellent tickling of the ivories, she was known to braid Willie’s ponytails.

Traci Braxton, star of the reality program Braxton Family Values and sister of Toni Braxton, died at 50 on the 12th.

Taylor Hawkins, drummer of the Foo Fighters and a founding member, passed away on the 25^th at 50.

APRIL

Roland White, who played mandolin on many bluegrass albums, died on the 1^st at 87.

Joe Messina, a Motown guitarist passed away on the 4^th at 93

Bobby Rydell, teen idol and the famed singer of Wild One and Volare  from the 60’s, left the stage for the last time, at 80 on the 5^th. He also acted on TV’s Happy Days and in the Star Wars movies.On April 30, at age 79, we lost Naomi Judd. She was the mother of Ashley and Wynonna and had a long singing carrier, and a difficult life, as one half of the Judds.

MAY

Country artist and music impresario Mickey Gilley died on the 7^th at 86. He  had 17 Number One Country hits but was best known as the owner of the Honky Tonk that bears his name and the inspiration for the movie Urban Cowboy.

Bob Neuwirth, who wrote the Janis Joplin hit “Mercedes Benz” and was bob Dylan’s Road manager for many years, passed away on the 18^th at 82.

Alan White, drummer of the progressive rock band YES and the Plastic Ono band died on the 26^th at 72.

JUNE

Jim Seals, one half of the soft rock duo Seals and Croft, dies at 80 on the 8^th.

Brett Tuggle keyboardist for Fleetwood Mac and David Lee Roth, passed away on the 19^th at 70

AUGUST

Olivia Newton-John, well known singer and actress, left the stage on the 8^th at the age of 73.

Lamont Dozier, a member of the song writing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland that shaped the Motown sound in the 60’s, died on the 22nd at age 81.

SEPTEMBER

Ramsey Lewis, jazz pianist and composer, recorded over 80 albums before passing away at 87 on the 12^th.

John Hartman, a co-founder and original drummer for the Doobie Brothers band, dies on the 22^nd at 82.

Pharoah Sanders, influential jazz saxophonist, died on the 24^th at 81.

Coolio (Leon Ivey, Jr.) a West Coast rapper passed away on the 28^th at 59. He was the father of 10.

OCTOBER

Loretta Lynn- She was a Coal Miner’s daughter who rose to the highest level of fame in Country Music. A true Hall of Famer, she passed on the 4^th at 90

Jerry Lee Lewis, an original bad boy of early Rock, a great piano player and a questionable human being, left the stage for the last time on the 28^th. He was 87.

NOVEMBER

Aaron Carter, younger brother of Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys), put out his first album at 9 which sold a million copies. He passed away on the 5^th at the age of 34.

Jeff Cook, a founding and lifelong member of the country super group Alabama, passed away on the 7^th at 73. He was a talented multi-instrumentalist.

Dan McCafferty, lead singer and songwriter of the Scottish band Nazareth, was 76 when he died on the 8^th.

Leo Anthony Gallagher, famously known as Gallagher, a comedian, dies on November 11 at the age of 76. He was very popular in the 80’s and was best known for smashing watermelons with a sledge hammer on stage and all over his audience.

Christine McVie, British singer and keyboardist with Fleetwood Mac, was 79 when she passed away on the 30^th. She joined the band in 1970 and helped craft the sound that made they one of the biggest bands in the rock world.

DECEMBER

Kim Simmons, front man for the British Blues Rock band, Savoy Brown, died at the age 75.

Dino Danelli, drummer for the Young Rascals/Rascals, left the stage on  December 15 at 78. 

Ian Tyson, of the 60s duo Ian and Sylvia, passed away on Dec. 29 at 89. Aside from his hits alongside his wife Sylvia Tyson he was the composer of Four Strong Winds. The song was covered by Neil Young, Johnny Cash, John Denver and many others. He reinvented himself in the 70s and beyond as a Rancher and Cowboy artist.

The famous and the unknown who made their mark in the entertainment business and will live on in our memory. If you know of an artist that we have overlooked,let me know. Only the Pope is infallible, or so it is said.

#louieanderson #meatloaf #ronniespector # hargusrobbins #ianmacdonald #bobbienelson #tracybraxton #taylorhawkins #foofightersb #rolandwhite #jimmessina #bobbyrydell #naomijudd #thejudds #mickeygilley #urbancowboy #bobneuwirth #alanwhite #jimseals #sealsandcroft #bretttuggle #olivianewtonjohn #lamontdozier #holland-dozier-holland #ramseylewis #johnhartman #doobiebrothers #pharoesanders #coolio #leoniveyjr # lorettalynn #jerryleelewis #aaroncarter #jeffcook #alabama

#danmccafferty #doobiebrothers #gallagher #christinemcvie #fleetwoodmac #savoybrow #kimsimmons #dinodanelli #therascals #youngrascals #ianthomas #ianandsylvia #iantyson

People tend to go to concerts for a few good reasons: often, it’s wanting to see a favorite artist perform live so you could hear their music, experience their live performance and create cherished memories. For others, it’s an opportunity to experience a new artist and see for yourself what the hype is all about. Balancing those reasons lead me to a seat near the stage most every time.

2022 has been the turning point year in the recovery from the Virus.  The restrictions that came with the ability to enjoy a live show are gone and not likely to return soon. Our musical experiences these last three years have largely been influenced by where we live and who governs us. For me, living in coastal South Carolina, the doors have been open since late May 2020, albeit outdoors for at least a year.

The floodgates are open and it seems like every artist and band are hitting the stage nightly. Since the new year began, I have experienced many great performances in different styles of music. Thinking back on the year, it was evident that many artists who have entertained us for years are still out there giving memorable performances. But what stood out to me is that even as they age, these artists still bring it, such as:

*Little Feat with several members in their 70’s including Billy Payne at 73 and Fred Tackett at 77

*Alan Parsons project with Alan at 74

*George Porter/New Orleans bass player at 75

* Graham Nash, who turned 80 this year

*Bob Dylan at 81

*Comedian Lewis Black at 74

*Blues singer Mavis Staples at 83

*Sir Paul McCartney who turned 80 in June

*The Turtles’ Mark Volman (75), Gary Puckett (79), the Association, the Buckingham, The Vogues and the Cowsills. Most in these groups were in their 70’s

*Herb Alpert the elder stateman is 87 and wife/singer Lani Ham is 77

*Folk singer Judy Collins is 83

*Roger Waters, a surly 79 years old

*Carlos Santana is 75

*Willie Nelson, the Patriarch of Country music, is 89

* Jim Messina, 75

* Stevie Nicks is 74

*Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s founding member Jeff Hanna is 75 and Jimmie Fadden is 74

These artists have nothing left to prove yet most of them played as if they were auditioning for a slot on a big tour. Maybe that’s a reason I felt compelled to document these artists and recognize that they are still bringing it night in and night out. It’s amazing to witness the energy and the expertise by which they create memories.

I have experienced some dinosaurs give regrettable performances. Someone needs to tell them when they no longer have it. As it is with some athletes, they fail to notice fast enough when the lights go out. However, they are the exception-not the rule- for most who are on tour and coming to your town. We are fortunate to have the ability to see these talented artists available to create more musical memories.

I see this trend continuing as long as there are artists wanting to perform. I recall a Roger Daltry tour about 10 years ago that he titled,” the Use it or Lose It” tour. That was the advice from one of his doctors when asked about maintaining his amazing voice.  It’s sane advice and I am happy to report that many are following his advice.

Tell me, which dinosaur not on my list that you saw and enjoyed their performance in 2022!

#dinosaurrock #littlefeat #fredtackett #billypayne #alanparsons #grahamnash #bobdylan #georgeporterjr #lewisblack #mavisstaples #sirpaul #paulmccartney #markvolman #garypuckett #theturtles #theassociation #thecowsills #buckinghams #thevogues #herbalpert #laniham #judycollins #rogerwaters #carlossantana #willienelson #stevienicks #jimmessian #NGDB #jeffhanna #jimmyfadden

Bucket lists are the dreams that are birthed on a lazy day. Your mind wanders to fulfilling those dreams by laying out a plan. It might be visiting cities around the country or even the globe. It could be attending the championship games of major league sports or visiting the Halls of Fame of those major American professional sports. For me, it was to create a list of living artists who I have never had the chance to see before, and see them! Should you have such a Bucket list, please share it here!

Nine years ago, I was reflecting about artists who I still haven’t had the good fortune to see live. I eventually came up with seven artists that fit the bill and I began my journey to see them all.  Here’s how it all unfolded for me:

1)First up was James Taylor in Charleston at the No. Charleston (SC) Coliseum late in 2014. I recollected that he gave a perfectly good performance but I left the show without a desire to see him again. I’m happy to report that I saw him a year ago and the show was more upbeat and enjoyable.

2)Next was Steve Winwood who I got to see open for Steely Dan at the Amphitheatre in Charlotte, NC in July of 2016. His voice and organ playing was still first rate, even after fifty years performing live.

3)A few weeks later it was Dave Matthews in Charleston, performing at the No. Charleston Coliseum. Being the middle of a southern summer, Dave remarked how much he enjoyed playing indoors for a change! He throws a great party and is surrounded by a tight band.

4)Two years went by and I traveled to Scranton, Pa. in September to see Van Morrison as part of Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music festival. He was proceeded on stage that night by the Tedeschi-Trucks band, who I have enjoyed seeing several times. Van sang and played sax with passion and conviction. It was a great double bill.

5) A month later, I was fortunate to catch the Foo Fighters at the Carolina Coliseum, October, 2018 in Columbia, SC. The band delivers a three-hour, high-energy performance all night. That was just about the LOUDEST sound I have ever experienced.

Now I was down to two artists from my original list, Paul McCartney and either Roger Waters or David Gilmore of Pink Floyd fame.

6) It took nearly four years, but I finally got to see Paul McCartney last May and wrote about the experience at this blog.  I missed his previous tour in 2019 and wondered if I would get another chance. After all, Paul turned 80 in June,2022. He performed 35 tunes in just under three hours of non-stop hits and rarities. It was more than I was expecting!

7) It was April of 2021, on a tip from a friend, that I learned about tickets to Roger Waters next tour that were going on sale (again!). I was able to procure two seats for his show in Atlanta.  Sixteen months later, on August 20,2022. I saw the last of the Magnificent Seven.  In more than fifty years of concert going, I have never bought tickets for a show that far in advance. Roger and band delivered great renditions of Pink Floyd music with a heavy dose of his political leanings.

Over the years, I racked my brain for any other artists who I have not had the opportunity to see live. There were some whom I was saddened to have learned of their passing before seeing them. John Prine was such an artist. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2020, a COVID casualty and of the first celebrities to succumb to the virus.

I added three recently: John Fogerty (77 yrs. Old) of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame, Jeff Lynne (74) of the Electric Light Orchestra and the Traveling Willburys fame and Tom Waits, a 72-year-old gravelly voiced songwriter who rarely tours and generally only hits the largest of cities. In fact, he has not toured since 2008. He recently announced that he would perform at Neil Young’s Bridge concert this October in California, an annual event curated by Neil for the school where his special needs son attended.

It remains uncertain whether my path will cross with any of these three but I will make the effort if they will tour somewhere nearby! Now, if given the challenge, what would your bucket lists of artists include? Tell us here! Like/Subscribe and receive an email each time a new post is published! Never miss an issue…

#JamesTaylor #SteveWinwood #DaveMatthews #VanMorrison #FooFighters #PaulMccartney #RogerWaters #BucketList #DoYouBelieveinMagic #JohnFogerty  #JeffLynne #TomWaits

Several years ago, I created a bucket list of artists whom I really wanted to see in concert while both of us still roamed this earth! My list consisted of Van Morrison, James Taylor, Steve Winwood, the Foo Fighters, Roger Waters, David Gilmore, Dave Matthews and Paul McCartney. Good fortune followed me as I methodically eliminated most of the list by traveling to see these elusive artists. Before Saturday night, the list shrunk to two. Come Sunday morning, I was down to one.

Traveling to the campus of Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC with my son, we were armed with two floor seats for Paul McCartney that evening. Nearly fifty years after first seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, I was about to experience that era and the decades that came after with an evening of Paul McCartney’s music.

A few months ago, it was announced that Paul would embark on a 13-city tour of the States with the “Got Back” tour. Looking at the list, I honed in on the closest show to home, Wake Forest Univ. in Winston-Salem, NC. Only four hours away and on a Saturday night, that was the goal. I was in the Ticketmaster site on the designated sales day at the right time and I was able to choose seats on the field about three quarters of the way back from the stage.

Next was choosing who would I take with the extra ticket? I put it to my two adult children to decide and my son got the nod. So, on Saturday, May 21, we headed out on the road for the concert site in No. Carolina. We tailgated through two rain storms which forced us to abandon our seats in the flatbed of his Toyota Tacoma for the shelter of the cab. When we decided to make our way into the stadium, the size of the crowd was daunting. We somehow found a fast-moving line and we were in the stadium and on the field in plenty of time to explore the surroundings. I observed that the Merch booth was busier than all of the beverage stations combined. They had to have made a mint that night as the line on the field was hundreds long from pre-show through encore.

Likely due to the earlier rain, the show didn’t begin until 8:30, When it did begin, Paul went back to the 60’s with Can’t buy me Love and weaved his way with Wings and Beatle tunes. The complete set list can be found at www.setlist.fm/setlist/paul-mccartney/2022/truist-field-at-wake-forest-winston-salem-nc-4bb70bf2.html.

Along with many favorites songs and a few lesser-known tunes came a touching moment when, through the power of today’s technology, he sang I Got a Feeling with a video image of John Lennon from a live session they performed while still known as the Beatles. Peter Jackson, a filmmaker who has worked with Paul, told him that he had been able to isolate John’s vocals from all other vocals and instruments from that live recording. What ensued was a duet, as live as possible, of Paul and John singing together. It was an emotional moment and Paul acknowledged that as a special moment in his career-singing along with his friend and bandmate, together again. Then Paul pulled out a ukulele, a gift from George Harrison, and played George’s hit, Something, to the crowd’s delight. The pyrotechnics accompanying Live and Let Die was entertaining and well done as was the video that accompanied Helter Skelter, during the encore.  Paul concluded with Let it Be before coming back to encore with the aforementioned, I Got a Feeling, Birthday, Helter Skelter, Golden Slumbers, Carry that Weight and The End, from the Abbey Road album.

Paul Mc Cartney, nearly 80-years old, had nothing to prove that night or any other night of his tour. However, nearly three hours later, he leaves you not wanting for anything more. Certainly, we all have our favorites and maybe he didn’t play one or two of yours but he played enough of those tunes to leave the thirty to forty thousand fans satisfied.

From my original Bucket list, all that is left is Roger Waters, for whom I have tickets to see this August in Atlanta. Cha Ching!

#GotBack #PaulMcCartney #Wings #theBeatles #Wake Forest #Winston-Salem

On a recent Friday/Saturday in March, the delayed Charleston Bluegrass Festival made its reappearance at the Woodlands (woodlandsnaturereserve.com), near Charleston, SC. The Woodlands is a 6000-acre wilderness wonderland that’s great for camping, kayaking and concert going. The Bluegrass Fest was making its eighth appearance since the first effort in 2013. In fact, this weekend marked the second time the festival was held here, the other being 2019. Previous bluegrass festivals were held at the Seewee Outpost and at Awendaw Green, north of Charleston. One major difference between then and now is the size and available facilities of those venues and the Woodlands.  The Woodlands provide festivals with many advantages from the rustic surroundings to the two-stage setting which allowed them to keep the show moving on time. There was an adequate number of purveyors offering everything from food and beverage, clothing and jewelry and the essentials one needs when camping. The infrastructure had to be built from scratch to assist the bands and organizers in putting on these onetime events.

CAROLINA DRIVE with the family Blevins! Boonie, Lauren and Dad

This year’s festival began on Friday afternoon at 4PM with a shortened slate of artists. The crowd was small but eager to hear some live music in a very pastoral setting. The festivities began with local talents Southern Flavor band followed by New Ghost Town. Ghost Town’s set was cut short by a powerful cell of weather which brought vertical rain and winds for about twenty minutes. A big thanks to the people who were manning the beer tent. They accommodated the small crowd who sought shelter, including yours truly. Once the rain stopped, the show resumed with Richmond, Virginia’s Wilson Springs Hotel and culminated with Asheville’s Town Mountain. Each band was fun to hear and offered a nice variety of styles. Town Mountain, formed in 2005, earned the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Band of the Year in 2013 and have been reaching for the stars ever since.

GREENSKY BLUEGRASS AND YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND FESTIVAL HEADLINERS

On Saturday, ten acts would grace both stages from Noon till 11pm. The organizers spent time shuffling between stages, checking in with the staff putting on the show and the artists performing on the stages. At one point when the main stage was quiet, I stopped Eddie White, festival organizer and proprietor of Awendaw Green. I expressed my thanks for what he is doing to bring live music to life here in Charleston, and the Bluegrass Festival in particular. In a separate conversation, Eddie spoke about the birth and growth of the festival. He and Perry Darby breathed life into the early festivals in Awendaw. SC. Over the years they involved many Charleston based bands in the festival. This year represents a major shift in talent along with the different styles of Bluegrass. Eddie partnered up with Ean Wolf and George Clausen, partners in Friends with Benefits, to produce the show. In addition to the bands that played on Friday, Saturday brought Randy Steele and his High Cold Wind band from Chattanooga, TN and Larry Keel from Appalachia. Then Colorado’s Yonder Mountain String band followed and led to headliner Greensky Bluegrass, a band originally from Michigan. They represent the largest field of regional and national touring artists to perform at this festival since its inception.

Saturday began with the downhome bluegrass sound of Dallas Baker and friends. Fellow Lowcountry artist Carolina Drive with Boonie Bevins, featuring her sister, Lauren Bevins Cahill followed on the big stage.  Fiddles, mandolin, banjos, bass and wooden guitars blended together as the music wafted over the crowd and across the nearby lake. Traditional style bluegrass continued with the aforementioned Randy Steele along with Wolfpen Branch and Pierce Edens. Yonder Mountain and Greensky  Bluegrass sandwiched Larry Keel’s flat picking mountain music with their Jam Grass style.

In the end, the weather held off until the last 45 minutes of the show but the light rain was bearable and the bands were sheltered. Many who were camping just had to retreat to their weekend homes. On their way back, they were offered some late-night unplugged bluegrass as the loadout began.

 In a conversation with Eddie White after the weekend, he admitted there are logistic hurdles to overcome as well as behind the scenes matters that would make the job of putting on such a festival an easier task. He understands that the property’s owners have big plans for this place, hopefully including some infrastructure so that at each festival the organizers aren’t recreating the wheel. He envisions the possibility of having a spring and fall festival and believes that some alterations can be made, whether it is a Friday/Saturday, Saturday and Sunday or even a three-day festival.

If I were putting on such a festival, I believe that there are incentives which could drive the traffic. If Friday is to be a shorter day, perhaps a BOGO or a reduced price compared to the main day would draw more people out on a work day. Perhaps a headliner the likes of Yonder Mountain or Greensky Bluegrass on a Friday night would bring out a bigger crowd. Better yet, slide out to a Saturday/Sunday festival with both days starting at Noon but with a shorter slate of artists on Sunday ending by 8 or 9 pm the last day. Just my two cents!

#longmayyourun #charlestonbluegrassfestival #woodlandsnaturepreserve #awendawgreen #dallasbaker #carolinadrive #booniebevins #southernflavorband #newghosttown #wilsonspringshotel #townmountain #randysteele #highcoldwindband #pierceedens #wolfpenbranch #yondermountainstringband #larrykeel #greenskybluegrass thewoodlandsnaturepreserve

The influence of politics in music has a long history which predates rock and roll. For at least the last 100 years, it’s been part of the fabric of modern song for some artists.  Many of the artists and their songs can stir something inside you like a call to action. It’s been said we live in divisive times and while that is true, it was also true of much of the sixties and seventies, just to compare.

In early March, I attended shows of two artists whose messages could not be more different. On a Saturday evening, I worked the Aaron Lewis, “Frayed at Both Ends,” acoustic show and the following Tuesday night it was an intimate evening with Graham Nash. If you’re not familiar with either of them, stick with me for a few.

While it’s not unusual for artists to mingle in different genres, Aaron may be the most successful of the hard rock acts to balance two very different sounds. His politics are evident in his country songs and he’s very conservative in his beliefs. His audience that night was a blend of bikers, metalheads and self-proclaimed rednecks. His current hit song, “Am I the Only One? ( https://youtu.be/iQmCIdUBwtc) was released last July 4. It is a song protesting America’s leadership and left-wing activists. His audience was very much in his corner that evening as he played a variety of his country songs. During the show, I recall him delivering his opinion on Lindsay Graham and separately, President Joe Biden. In my opinion, the audience was more riled up than he was; that possibly was due to the large whisky and ice drinks that were readily at hand on stage as were his cigarettes. Several people attempted to get the crowd to chant, “Let’s Go Brandon,” without success. I observed several men sporting t-shirts with the same saying on the front and at least one t-shirt with the image of President Donald Trump in the setting. From my viewpoint, the crowd was loud but reserved in their actions. While several attendees had to be removed for intoxication, in my observation that is par for the course at a rock or country show.

Three days later, we experienced an intimate evening of story and song with Graham Nash, of the seminal rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. For those who were born too late to have an appreciation of their status in rock royalty, they formed in 1969 and made their big splash at Woodstock. They are also members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Graham was inducted with CSNY and with The Hollies. Throughout his career, Graham has written and sang many war protest songs. He is an unabashed liberal and has expressed his political views throughout his career. At the beginning of his show, he told the audience that he was shaking up his setlist due to the war in Ukraine. Graham took a strong stand in support of Ukraine, a message that was well-received. He started the show with Find the Cost of Freedom, Military Madness, I Used to be a King, and Wasted Along the Way before dedicating Bus Stop, a Hollies classic, to former bandmate Allan Clarke. He and Allen, childhood friends, are working on an album together. The setlist from this point on was a mixture of hits from his solo career as well as CSNY tunes along with some interesting covers. In his second set, he played Chicago, another protest song that chronicled the 1968 Democratic National Convention fiasco.

Aside from the words and songs that reflected how many in the audience were feeling regarding the Ukraine conflict, Graham was subdued in relation to the political zeal that I have seen him exhibit over the years.  He complimented the audience on the SC state flag, which brought cheers from the crowd. His other remark was to, “Thank God for Jim Clyburn.” This remark was the acknowledgment that Mr. Clyburn’s endorsement of Joe Biden helped propel him to his party’s nomination and his election as President. 

Reflecting on these two performers and their shows, several questions came to mind. Aaron and Graham are thirty years apart in age. Has Graham mellowed so much that he has lost some of his fire while Aaron is in his prime and a man on a mission?  Do their audiences come for the message one delivers while the other’s fans come regardless of the message he delivers? Have their roles reversed over the years? Graham was rallying his audience against the government over the years and now Aaron is doing the same but from the other side of the political aisle. The more things change, the more things stay the same.

#aaronlewis #grahamnash #charlestonmusichall #doyoubelievinmagic

For the last seven years, I have been blessed to see, on average, a show per week. This has allowed me to experience a great variety of genres and bands. Being associated with the Charleston Music Hall opens the door for many great performances. However, only five of my Top Twenty this year were shows produced by the Music Hall. Six of my best concert experiences were out of the state of South Carolina; six others occurred at the Charleston Pourhouse. Variety is the spice of life!

Every concert experience differs for a plethora of reasons. However, they all share the burden of producing a concert experience that lodges in your brain, remembering the show long after the night is in your taillights. My reviews of the shows are meant to encourage my audience to see these artists when they perform near you. Reading a good concert review encourages me to check out the artist when they come somewhere near me. Just as you are more inclined to eat at a restaurant that you have heard good things about, I believe the same can be said for concerts. I hope you enjoy the reviews and I look forward to getting your feedback. In chronological order, here’s my Top Twenty shows of 2021.

First up was Billy Strings at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, Florida, on March 21. This was my first road trip since Covid started wreaking havoc on our ability to see live music. Billy Strings is a force to be reckoned with; his power bluegrass outfit delivers a strong performance, weaving his original tunes with a broad variety of covers. He makes a joyous noise on his acoustic guitar and his supporting band, including banjo, mandolin, and bass compliment him well. I refer you to my blog post titled, “The Next Generation of Guitar Gods,” (August 6, 2021) for more on Billy and other young emerging artists.

The next show was held in the back lot of the Charleston Pourhouse on April 25 and featured The Infamous Stringdusters live under the giant oaks. The outdoor setting, pods of four friends, was amazing and accentuated the great jam grass sound of the Stringdusters. A highlight of the show was their choices of cover tunes. They are one of the leading artists influencing today’s Jam Grass music scene.

On May 27, we were back at the Pourhouse for one of the first indoor shows since they loosened the regulations that made reserved tables and pods obsolete. A friend, Brian Reed, recommended we check out this young guitar player, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer. I was blown away by his performance. Imagine blending the energy of a young Eddie Van Halen with the soulful picking of Carlos Santana, and you get Taz! I recommend reading, “The Next Generation of Guitar Gods,” (August 6,2021) for more on this amazing young talent.

The Pourhouse was again the scene as we were there for the Midnight North Band, featuring Graham Lesh and Elliott Peck, on June 4. The quartet, purveyors of Americana music, were touring in support of their current album, There’s Always a Story. Making a guest appearance for the final four tunes was proud dad, Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead. Read about what made it a special night in the post titled, “Catching Lightning in a Bottle: My Chance Encounter with Phil Lesh,” (June 8, 2021).

Next up was a trimmed-down Tedeschi-Trucks Band in an outdoor show at the Bend in North Charleston on June 25. This was the second of a two-night stand, along the Ashley River, and the last show presented by the Charleston Music Hall at the Bend. The six-piece band delivered a smoking performance from beginning to end. Derrick’s mastery on the slide guitar melds so well with Susan Tedeschi’s smoky blues voice. The band, whether the version we saw that night or their full twelve-piece band, carries on the truest rendition of Southern Rock and Blues found anywhere in this country.

Fourth of July fireworks were in the air, literally and figuratively, for Shred is Dead, once again at the Pourhouse. Marcus Rezak’s and his support band put on a great performance of the Dead’s songbook dominated by the fury of shredding guitars in the likes of Zack Wyld or Dweezel Zappa’s guitar mastery. I’ve seen the Dead’s music interpreted in many styles, but shredding the guitar was a first and certainly won’t be my last.

A week later I made the pilgrimage to Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado and saw The Avett Brothers with Langhorne Slim on Sunday the 11^th and the String Cheese Incident on the 18^th at this venerable amphitheater. Red Rocks has been operating since 1941 in its present form. The natural acoustics that these rocks provide and the aesthetic majesty of this formation made it a bucket list venue for me. Both shows were memorable for many reasons and the performances reflected the majesty of the mountains which awaited us! I highly recommend making Red Rocks a bucket list venue for you, too.

After returning to SC, I got to enjoy Leftover Salmon on the beach at the Windjammer on the Isle of Palms. No, I am not referring to a restaurant entrée but the Godfathers of the Jam Grass scene. These seasoned musicians pleased the crowd with the electrified string band music. They also paid tribute to at least a half dozen of their influences by covering their tunes. See these guys if they come to your town!

August 16^th saw us venturing to Raleigh, NC and the Walnut Creek Amphitheater for Dead and Company’s summer tour opener. I’ve been a Deadhead since 1974. If they’re willing to play, I am willing to come out and support the music I love. John Mayer has taken this band to a whole new level playing their iconic songbook. Bob Weir, Billy Kreutzman, and Micky Hart continue their legacy for more than 50 years since they broke on the scene in San Francisco.

Labor Day weekend I was back at the Pourhouse for the eclectic Everyone Orchestra and an evening of improvisational music. This is not a band for all to see but they speak to my love of free form music. Matt Butler brings together a varied group of rock musicians from a number of bands whose schedule allows them to spend a weekend playing for the love of live music. He calls it summer camp for musicians. I’ve seen this troupe come to town on four separate occasions and the lineup is different each time. The sextet featured members from four different bands who tour the country on a regular basis.

On September 19, we were treated to an evening of the acoustic guitar mastery of Tommy Emmanuel. Chet Atkins called Tommy a Certified Guitar Player, a label that places Tommy in a small group of elite guitarists. Tommy is a master acoustic guitarist and delivers a dazzling performance of his tunes and the songs he loves. I whole-heartly recommend that you check out his performances on YouTube and buy tickets the next time he comes to your town.

A week later, the Marcus King Band played to a standing-room-only crowd of 1200 fans at the Charleston Music Hall. Marcus was one of the subjects of my blog, “The Next Generation of Guitar Gods,”from August 6 of 2021. He is in his mid-twenties and the future of Southern Rock and Blues for a new generation of fans. An SC native from Greenville, he has a soulful, raspy voice that blends well with his ability to bend the string of his electric guitar making a beautiful sound. His high energy performance was capped by a trio of Marshall Tucker classics, a nod to his SC Southern rock godfathers.

On October 7, the Black Jacket Symphony delivered the complete performance of Pink Floyd’s, The Wall at the Music Hall. BJS’s model is to bring together a group of musicians who can recreate a classic rock album and tour to support it. The troupe has played on average three performances each year at the Hall, playing the music of classic bands like Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Queen, and the Beatles. The band played the double album in its entirety and did it justice. I believe it’s more than thirty years since I sat and took in the Wall in one sitting. You owe it to yourself to take in the BJS’s performance soon…or put the Pink Floyd album on your turntable and recall the mastery of this classic album.

Three nights later, Blue Note records saxophone master Dave MacMurray brought a sextet to the Pourhouse and delivered a jazzy performance of Grateful Dead tunes. Inspired by jazz greats Ornette Coleman and Branford Marsalis’ love of the Grateful Dead, he delivered two solid hours honoring their music as jazz standards. Just when I think that I have heard every possible style embracing the Grateful Dead’s music, along comes Dave McMurray to blow my mind. Give a listen to his album, Grateful Dedications, wherever you stream music.

The next night, October 11, a group of us found ourselves in Charlotte, NC for the fall tour opener for Dead and Company. Two sets, two and a half hours of Dead tunes, and cover tunes from some of their favorite influences are the recipe for a fun evening. The music is a reflection

of the mastery of these fine musicians and their love of the Grateful Dead. Build it and they will come.

On October 20 I had the opportunity to experience Melissa Ethridge for the first time in concert. She brought her quartet to the Music Hall and gave a passionate performance of her music. Her fans are rabid and for good reason. She is a soulful singer and a darn good guitarist. If you’ve read this far, you owe it to yourself to see why she is loved and admired by fans worldwide.

We were invited to a friend’s vacation home in the eastern Tennessee mountains outside of Pigeon Forge for a weekend gathering in early November. After we said “yes” our host informed us of a concert by Eric Church to be held on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. So, of course, we bought tickets! Once on the campus, we found our way to the 20,000-seat basketball arena that plays host to the men’s and women’s programs and found our seats in the upper region. What we got was a three-hour performance by a rocker who loves country music. His support band includes guitar masters Driver Williams and Jeff Cease and Joanna Cotton as his singing sidekick. I wholeheartedly recommend seeing his tour. If you are a rock fan and don’t consider yourself a country music fan, you too may be a convert.

On November 17, it was back to an arena, the North Charleston Coliseum, for the James Taylor & Jackson Browne tour. I’ve seen both in the last decade and really enjoyed their shows. But I wasn’t hoping to see them again, thinking they didn’t have much new to offer. My daughter, who has seen both of them with me, was excited that they were playing together so we bought tickets. Both artists put on spirited performances of songs old and new along with a few covers of other artists’ tunes. James Taylor was the headliner and played two tunes together with Jackson at the end of his opening set. For his set, James and his bandmates had five backup singers including one of his sons. I was concerned that I would get the same string of hits that he has been playing for years; but I was pleasantly surprised that he mixed up his setlist with nuggets from several other artists. The pairing of two iconic singer/songwriters touring together was well received and may be a good idea for other classic musicians to emulate.

My last show was a band whose name was familiar, Breaking Benjamin, but whom I had no recollection of their style of music. The show was at the Music Hall where I worked as an usher. BB is a rock band from Pennsylvania, founded by Benjamin Burnley, who have been performing together since 1999. To me, their music was in the same style as bands like the Foo Fighters post-grunge hard rock. On this night, it was an “acoustic” performance. The three acoustic guitars were amplified and they gave a loud, energetic performance from their six studio albums and a couple of tunes by others. I have to say that I left the show a fan and would look forward to an electrifying performance in the future.

Thanks for taking the time to read the entire recollection. I am living proof that you can find great live music without breaking the bank. Charleston, SC has come a long way in the last twenty years to grow a live music scene and draw national acts to our little hamlet by the ocean. What were some of your memorable performances from 2021? Let us know by adding your comments below.

#doyoubelieveinmagic #LoveYouLive #BillyStrings #theInfamousStringdusters #BrandonTazNeiderour #MidnightNorth #TedeschiTrucksband #ShredisDead #AvettBrothers #LanghorneSlim #theStringCheeseIncident #LeftoverSalmon #DeadandCompany #EveryoneOrchestra #MattButler #TommyEmanuel #MarcusKing #BlackJacketSymphony #DaveMcMurray #MelissaEthridge #EricChurch #JamesTaylor #JacksonBrowne #BreakingBenjamin

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This blog’s title may deceive you a bit as to the substance of and message in this post. I encourage you to spend a few short moments to read this before the holidays overwhelm you.

David Bowie sang about it on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. You may have read about a performer whose music you enjoyed and whom you admired having taken his or her life. With the death of Neal Casals this past September, I began to do a little research on what is becoming an all too common occurrence in the world of Rock and Roll.

As a fan of rock and roll, we are all too familiar with the untimely deaths of musicians by drug overdoses. The 27 Club is an eerie collection of rock musicians who died at the age of 27. This includes Jim Morrison, Mama Cass Elliott, Jimi and Janice as well as Amy Winehouse. But their deaths were considered accidental, not a deliberate attempt to end their life.

When you think of famous musicians who died by suicide, Kurt Cobain probably comes to mind. The Nirvana frontman killed himself in 1994 at the age of 27. News of his death shook the music world as it occurred with Nirvana on the top of the Rock world. One of the first musicians I recall who may have committed suicide was Sid Vicious, bassist of the Sex Pistols. He lost his life in 1979 at the age of 21 with his band being the face of the Punk music scene. Richard Manuel of The Band took his life in 1986; he was just a month shy of his 43^rd birthday. His was a well-documented, troubled life. He departed this world years after the Last Waltz but during a period when the band reunited without Robbie Robertson. Tommy Boyce, one half of the songwriting team of Boyce and Hart (The Monkees), took his life in 1994 at the age of 55. Michael Hutchence was the frontman of INXS (pronounced In Excess), the Australian rockers. He took his life at the age of 37 in 1997. INXS sold more than 60 million records at the time of his death, a huge success during his time. who were riding high on the record charts until he took his life in 1997. There is some dispute as to whether his death was accidental but has not been proven.

In 2012, Ronnie Montrose, of the band of the same name, took his life in March at the age of 64.His first album, called Montrose, was considered America’s answer to Led Zepplin (NationalRockReview.com) He was suffering from prostrate cancer and was also being treated for clinical depression. Bob Welch, an original member of Fleetwood Mac and also well known for his solo career, ended his life in the same manner that June. Keith Emerson, of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, committed suicide in March of 2016. All three  had reportably been suffering ongoing medical issues. Butch Trucks, one of the founding drummers of the Allman Brothers band,was 69 when he  took his life in January 2017. It had been noted that he was despondent due to his financial situation.

Chris Cornell, the lead singer of Soundgarden and Audioslave, was found dead in his hotel room, hours after a performance at the Fox Theatre in Detroit on May 17, 2017. He was 52. Cornell’s close friend, Linkin Park’s and Stone Temple Pilots’ lead singer Chester Bennington, took his own life at his California home on July 20, 2017, in the same manner as Cornell. Chester was 41 at the time of his deat

This past September, Neal Casals, guitarist and singer/songwriter for such bands as Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Hard Working Americans and Circles around the Sun, took his life two days after performing at the Jam Band festival, Lock’n in Virginia.He was 50 at the time of his death. It was his death that motivated me to do the research for the article. It was while doing this research that I learned more of the history of suicide amongst rock stars.

The deaths of so many rock artists may not be unusual as a percentage of people who take their life by suicide. It might be more than normal due to the eccentricities that many artists indulged themselves in over their careers. It may even be a smaller percentage of deaths than drug overdoses are responsible for. I was not looking to see if the numbers leaned one way or another.

As fans of these artists, we probably didn’t know that these artists were having mental or physical problems which led them to making the decision to end their lives. We were surprised and saddened to learn the news of their untimely deaths. What I discovered was that those close to the artists have known of the struggles they were having, yet were unable or unsuccessful in stopping them from ending their lives.

The Holiday season can be a difficult time for many in our circle of family and friends. Many don’t have family that they want to share the holidays with or friends who include them in their festivities. The holiday season (Thanksgiving through New Year’s day) can be very depressing and lonely for some we know.

Social media has been known to accentuate and exaggerate the wonderful side of our lives. Most of us know that life is not as good as the posts make it appear! Or do we? Social media with all of its apps has exploded the chasm of how many measure the value of their lives…

 Friends may struggle to make sense of their lives compared to what they see posted on social media. What can you do? To begin with, I urge you to be extra observant of those in your lives. If you see something, say something! (Where have I heard that before?). Engage those who may be acting different than their usual selves. Talk to them or connect them with people who are qualified to help. Invite a friend to a holiday gathering or a meal. Don’t leave it up to someone else, as there may not be someone else to take up the gauntlet. Imagine how you would feel if you ignored a signal/sign from someone you know and subsequentially learned that they made the irreversible decision in their life.

During the holidays, most of us are in a giving mood and our financial generosity makes a positive influence in the lives of people we don’t know and will likely never meet. Yet, we get a good feeling when we make a purchase for an Angel tree or donate to a charity. These are examples of people doing the right thing for others. Whether it is with your time or your money, just imagine how much better you will feel this holiday season when you make a positive effect in the lives of someone you know. Please “Share” this with your circle of friends and family if you feel so moved.

#SeeSomethingSaySomething  #RockandRollSuicide #KurtCobain #SidVicious #RichardManual #TommyBoyce #MichaelHutchence #RonnieMontrose #BobWelch #Keith Emerson #ButchTrucks #ChrisCornell #ChesterBennington #NealCasals #HolidayDepression

It’s November 18, 1971, in Brooklyn, NY. I am a high school junior, who along with friends, gets on a D train express to Manhattan for the forty-minute ride to 34^th Street in midtown Manhattan. At our ages, the train is the usual form of transportation on our travels to New York City. When we reach our destination, we scale the stairs to 34^th street. There, between 6^th and 7^th avenue, stands Madison Square Garden, the most famous concert venue in America. We are there to see Alvin Lee and Ten Years After. it’s to be my first concert event ever. What a time it was! Riding the popularity of his Woodstock performance, Alvin Lee and the band put on quite a show. Lee was one of the fastest guitarists of his day and he proved it that night. In those first few months after losing my concert virginity, I was fortunate enough to see the likes of the Beach Boys at Carnegie Hall, 60’s folk stars Brewer and Shipley, the Allman Brothers, Jefferson Airplane, George Carlin, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, the Kinks, Kenny Loggins and Jethro Tull. Thus began a journey that has brought me to more than six hundred shows to date. Little did I know what would transpire over the years. Great artists, fabulous venues, and memorable experiences were there for the taking. And take I did!

Do you recall how you feel when you are getting ready for a concert? The time leading up to the show brings fresh energy and an adrenaline rush. Then comes the performance and the experiences we have attending these shows. For many, it’s a better experience than going to a professional sporting event or a Broadway-style show.

Sometimes you catch lightning in a bottle and see an exceptional performance. Often you catch a great show from the artists who take the stage. Rarely have I ever walked out on a disappointing concert.       

Concert experiences are best shared with others whenever possible. Everyone wants to have a good time with their friends and family. There have been scientific studies which have concluded that frequent concert-goers (6 shows a year on average) are happier, healthier, and live longer than the general public. For me, there’s no place I’d rather be than at a concert, indoors and outside!

This blog, Do You Believe In Magic, derives it’s title from a Lovin’ Spoonful song by the same name. The lyrics go like this; “Do you believe in magic in a young girl’s heart?, How the music can free her whenever it starts, And it’s magic if the music is groovy, It makes you feel happy like an old-time movie, I’ll tell you about the magic and it’ll free your soul, But it’s like trying to tell a stranger ‘bout rock ‘n’ roll,” (1965). These words ring true even to this day! Whether I’m working at a concert or attending as a patron, It brings me great joy seeing pre-teens with their parents, getting an early start on their lifelong concert experience.

It’s been fifty years since I experienced Alvin Lee at MSG and I can’t wait for my next show! For the first forty-four years attending concerts, I averaged nearly seven concerts each year. Since that fateful day in 2015 when I began working at the Charleston Music Hall, I have averaged a show each week, every week for the last six years. Mind you, I probably attended forty percent of all of those shows as a paying customer at venues all over the country. The last six years have brought a cornucopia of musical styles and sounds. I love almost every kind of music and I have seen eight of my ten bucket list artists along with visiting several bucket list venues (the Ryman Auditorium and Red Rocks). You can find a recap of the first five hundred shows in (July 13, 2019) at DoYouBelieveInMagic.blog.

To celebrate this pinnacle in my music lovin’ life, several shows have come together from across the musical spectrum. It begins with the Indie rocker Shakey Graves followed the next night by funk jam band Galactic at the Charleston Music Hall on November 9 and 10^th, followed by country superstar Eric Church in the Thompson-Bolling Arena on the Univ. of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, TN on the 12^th,. Then I will be attending the Jackson Brown/James Taylor show at the North Charleston Coliseum in S. Carolina on the 17th. I’m thankful to have made it this far and hope to have the health to attend concerts for many more years to come. If they keep playing, I’ll keep going to the shows. 

#themusicneverstopped #letthegoodtimesroll #listentothemusic #doyoubelieveinmagic

I was thinking about the last year’s music scene and how lucky I was to take in as many shows (over 40) that I saw since Charleston (SC) reopened the end of May, 2020. The pandemic allowed me to experience three extraordinary young guitarists in three different settings. The main theme that they all shared was how well they played their instrument and how the crowd reacted.

I’m speaking about Marcus King, Billy Strings and Brandon “Taz” Niederauer. If anyone’s name is new to you, it won’t be for long. If you’re not familiar, read on for a few minutes and then go stream some of their songs.

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My first opportunity to witness one of these guitar masters was outdoors at the Bend in N. Charleston when we saw the Marcus King trio preform a powerful mix and blues and rock along with some countryfied barn music. In the true power trio format, Marcus carried the band with a blistering guitar that is reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix, ZZ Top and the Allman Brothers band. Marcus is from Greenville, SC and turned 25 this past March. He has put out two albums to date, the first with Warren Haynes producing and 2020’s  El Dorado. El Dorado was produced and co-written by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. The album garnered him a Grammy nomination as Americana music.  

Marcus’s music harkens one back to the heyday of the southern rock sound, especially the bluesiness of the Allman Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Elvin Bishop. I first saw him in 2018 as he co-headlined a show at the Charleston Pourhouse with Eric Krasno. At the age of 22, he commanded the stage with his bluesy voice and killer guitar licks. You can tell then that he was going to carry the sounds of southern rock into a new era. Here is Marcus, solo, performing in a famous shop called “Norman’s Rare Guitars” in 2015 at the tender, young age of 18! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRpOqZqlHRY)

Billy Strings is a 28-year-old acoustic guitar wiz, drawing out sounds that have rarely been heard by this instrument. His is a bluegrass band, featuring Jarrad Walker on mandolin, Royal Masat on stand-up bass and Billy Failing on banjo. What emerges is a sound that covers the spectrum of new grass bands in today’s music scene. Billy has magic fingers that shows him prying out sounds that one doesn’t expect from an amped up acoustic guitar. Whether he is performing an original bluegrass tune in all its glory or covering any number of musical influences, the sounds he makes are to be seen AND heard.

Billy began playing bluegrass at the age of four and accompanied his dad with rhythm guitar in bluegrass settings. As a pre-teen, he received an electric guitar and amp and discovered Jimi Hendrix. He continued to improve his guitar skills on any number of stringed instruments which lead his aunt to give the moniker of Billy “Strings” after the ease which he moved from one instrument to another.  The nickname was earned and justified.

As an 18-year-old, he began his professional career and at 23 moved from his native Michigan to Nashville. His first roommate was Molly Tuttle. They found themselves on a street full of musicians, coming and going on tour. After bouncing around in different arrangements, he fortunately assembled his current quartet in 2018. In 2019, the International Bluegrass Music Association named Billy Strings the Guitar Player of the Year. Billy is a master on the acoustic guitar and makes it sound like no one else I have heard.

The future looked bright so they headed out on tour for the next year and then Covid hit and the brakes were on their career. Fortunately, they used the time to write and produce an album that they took on the road this year. In March of this year, Billy received a Grammy for Best Bluegrass album with Home. This was his second album and he was being congratulated from all corners of the musical universe. The world is now his oyster. If Billy is within driving distance, make the effort to catch the magic and let me know what you think!

Here’s a video of Billy and Molly Tuttle performing “Sitting on top of the world” at the Grey Fox festival in 2019. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJzz-Nuo-QQ)

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The last of the trio of new guitar gods is 18-year-old Brandon “Taz” Niederhauer from Long Island, NY. In his brief life he has played on stage with no less than Gregg Allman, Derrick Trucks, Warren Haynes, Buddy Guy, Slash, Dweezil Zappa, George Clinton, Gary Clark, and many more. He’s been onstage with Widespread Panic, String Cheese Incident, Tedeschi Trucks band, Umphrey’s McGee, the Scorpions and the Revivalists, just to name a few.

At the age of 12, he appeared on Broadway in “School of Rock” in the role of “Zack”. At 14, he played the part of Virgil Overstreet in Spike Lee’s Netflix series, “She’s Gotta Have It”. He has many other film and television credits to his name at such a young age. Through this all, he found the time to get an education and play with the who’s who of Rock. A few months back, he was booked for three sellout performances in a club in Charleston called the Pourhouse. When we saw him that night, it was like seeing a combination of a young Eddie Van Halen and an equally energetic Carlos Santana. His mastery of the electric guitar combined with his youth and passion makes “Taz” an artist that you can’t afford to miss. He can hold his own with the best of them without being intimidated. Catch his act the next time that he plays in your town and then tell me if you’re not impressed!

Watch this clip of Taz performing Hendrix’s, “Voodoo Child” during halftime at a NY Knicks game at age 13!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUvwdwz5ONs

#marcusking #billystrings #tazniederhauer #thebend #charlestonpourhoouse

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