Live on Stage - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Live on Stage
October 23, 2011
Culture Center Theater
Charleston, WV
Showtime: 7 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes prior to
showtime.
Advance tickets are $15 (plus applicable fees) /Door $25
Tickets for this performances available online, 800-594-TIXX
(8499) and Taylor Books in Downtown Charleston.
Blitzen Trapper
Matthew Sweet
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
James McMurtry
Dawes
This live performance will be distributed as a radio program by NPR Music in
December 2011. Check your local listings for broadcast times.
Guests, ticket prices and dates may change without notice.
October 23, 2011
Mountain Stage®
1
Setting the Stage
James McMurtry - The son of novelist Larry McMurtry, James McMurtry was born into a storytelling tradition. After winning one of the songwriting awards
at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival in 1987, his
1989 John Mellencamp-produced debut brought
him to the forefront of the Texas singer-songwriter
scene. Since then, McMurtry has established a singular style and voice.
Dawes – The California-based roots rocking Dawes
consists of brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith
- whose father Lenny was the lead singer for the
legendary Tower of Power - Wylie Weber and Tay
Strathairn. Formed in the Los Angeles suburb of
North Hills, this young group quickly became a favorite or critics, fans and the veteran musicians who
influenced its music. After connecting with producer
Jonathan Wilson, the group began sitting in on
informal jam sessions at Wilson’s house with Bright
Eyes’ Conor Oberst, the Heartbreakers’ Benmont
Tench, and the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson. These
sessions, as well as influences like Wilco and Band
of Horses, informed the group’s 2009 debut, “North
Hills.”
In his regular column for “Entertainment Weekly,”
author and music fan Stephen King called McMurtry
“the truest, fiercest songwriter of his generation.”
Released in 2005, “Childish Things” featured the
stinging commentary “We Can’t Make It Here,” which
won “Best Song” at the fifth annual Americana Music
Association Honors and Awards. Always outspoken,
“Just Us Kids” featured politically-charged tracks
like “Cheney’s Toy” and “God Bless America (Pat
MacDonald Must Die).” In 2009, he released “Live in
Europe,” with backing provided by Ian McLagan and
Jon Dee Graham.
The current release is titled “Here We Rest.”
Blitzen Trapper - Formed in Portland in 2000 by
songwriter Eric Earley, Blitzen Trapper has slowly
amassed both a large following and a resumé that
includes playing most of the country’s major festivals. The band has toured with the likes of Iron and
Wine and Wilco and, in 2007, was named in Pitchfork
magazine’s list of “Best
New Music.” The group
appeared on Late Night
with Jimmy Fallon, was
featured in an episode
of the Travel Channel’s
Anthony Bourdain: No
Reservations, and nu-
The band’s new recording, “Nothing Is Wrong,”
again features Tench as well as Jackson Browne who has since invited the band to both support
and back him on a European tour. In addition, after
Goldsmith contributed vocals to Robbie Robertson’s “How To Become Clairvoyant” release, the legendary guitarist/songwriter asked Dawes to serve
as his backing combo for a number of promotional
performances.
2 Jason Isbell and
the 400 Unit - Hailing from Greenhill,
AL, (not far from
famed music mecca
Muscle Shoals)
Jason Isbell came
into prominence
as a member of
Athens, GA’s new
breed Southern
rockers, Drive by
Truckers. A member
of the group for six years, he struck out on his own
in 2007. With more than 400 shows under their collective belts, Isbell and the 400 Unit are a band that
can move effortlessly from ferocious rock to subtle,
acoustic-based Americana. In addition, Isbell has
guested on albums by Justin Townes Earle, Middle
Brother, Abby Owens and Coy Bowles.
October 23, 2011
October 23, 2011
merous BT songs have appeared in television shows,
commercials and movies.
Blitzen Trapper’s latest recording is “American Goldwing,” its third full-length release for the Sup Pop
label.
Matthew Sweet - After cutting his teeth as the
guitarist with Athens, GA’s Oh-OK and Lloyd Cole,
Nebraska native Matthew Sweet emerged as one
of the leading voices of the ‘90s power pop revival.
After recording a demo with Don Dixon in the
mid-‘80s, Sweet signed with Columbia Records and
released his debut, “Inside” on which he played
almost all of the instruments. Sweet began with the
traditional pop songcraft of bands like The Beatles,
The Beach Boys and The Byrds, and added post-punk
guitars and flourishes of country-rock gleaned from
Big Star and Neil Young. His breakthrough release,
1991’s “Girlfriend” - largely inspired by the demise
of his marriage - quickly became a critical and commercial favorite as well as a touchstone for
a decade of power pop artists. His 1995
release, “100% Fun,” reached gold status.
In 2011, Sweet celebrated the 20th anniversary of the release of “Girlfriend” by playing shows on which he played the entire
album. He also released his first CD of
original material since 2008.
3
Upcoming Live Shows
October 30 at 7 p.m.
Culture Center Theater,
Charleston, WV
National Sponsors
Hubert Sumlin & The Nighthawks
The Milk Carton Kids
Chandler Travis Three-O
Lucy Wainwright Roche
Sara Siskind
November 6 at 7 p.m.
Culture Center Theater,
Charleston, WV
Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers
Fitz and the Tantrums
The Sweetback Sisters
Bearfoot
Katie Costello
Additional support
provided by
November 13 at 7 p.m.
WVU Creative Arts Center,
Morgantown, WV
Booker T. Jones
Jill Sobule
Lake Street Drive
Local support provided by:
The Greater Kanawha
Valley Foundation
State of West Virginia
November 20 at 7 p.m.
Culture Center Theater,
Charleston, WV
Will Hoge
December 4 at 7 p.m.
Culture Center Theater,
Charleston, WV
Noam Pikelny & Friends featuring
Gabe Witcher, Chris Eldrige and
Mark Schatz
April Verch
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Stage®.
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is a production of
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Broadcasting and
distributed by NPR.
Photo Credits:
Unless otherwise noted all
photos are from the artists’
Web sites or press kits.
Visit our website for ticket prices and other details.
4 October 23, 2011