Tag: “Bobby Keys”

Celebrating Bobby Keys

 in Nashville music, Reviews

By Ken Paulson

(This article first appeared in May 2011 on Sun209. Bobby Keys passed away this week.)

There was a moment in Bobby Keys’ show at the Mercy Lounge when it dawned on everyone just how pivotal a player in rock history he is. Sure, we knew of his long association with the Rolling Stones and his short, but fruitful association with Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen, but then he told a sweet story about hearing his saxophone on the radio for the first time, and how he wished his girlfriend had been there to hear it. And then he played “The Wanderer.”
It was an apt reminder that throughout the first three decades of rock ‘n’ roll, Key’s sax was at the heart of both AM and FM radio, including such songs as “Brown Sugar,” “Whatever Gets You Through the Night” and Bitch”, as well as albums by George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Warren Zevon, Nilsson, Eric Clapton, Faces and dozens more.
Keys’ playing is still vibrant, and he’s joined by a terrific band that includes Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites) on lead vocals and Michael Webb (Poco) on keyboards.
This isn’t an oldies show; it’s a loose and lively celebration of an iconic career, and it does the man justice.

Preview: Americana Music Festival 2011 in Nashville

 in Americana Music Festival

The 2011 Americana Music Festival lights up Nashville this
week, bringing a remarkably diverse and talented range of artists to the city’s venues.
And of course, it also prompts the question: “What is
Americana music?”
Peter Cooper of the Tennessean took a stab at it in 2003:

American music is “country music that is too rooted and true for contemporary country radio programmers. Twangy music that draws from blues, folk and rock forms. Music with smart and
literary lyrics that can be more layered and “difficult” than most
radio fare. Or maybe it would be simpler to say that what they mean is ‘Johnny Cash Music.’

Not bad. That description holds up well today. The biggest change over the years has been a broadening of the genre by the Americana Music Association and radio programmers, inviting more alternative folk performers and storied rock artists into the tent.
That means you’ll see country legend Connie Smith at 9 p.m.
at the Rutledge and emerging folk duo The Civil Wars at the Cannery Ballroom two hours later. You’ll hear the rootsy Knoxville band the Black Lillies one night, and Bobby Keys, saxophonist for the Rolling Stones the next.

Among the performers scheduled for the Americana Music
Festival, which runs from Oct. 12-15:

– The Jayhawks
– North Mississippi AllStars
– Elizabeth Cook
– Keb’ Mo’
-The Bottle Rockets
– Foster and Lloyd
– John Oates
– Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison
– Marty Stuart
– Blind Boys of Alabama
– Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
– Hayes Carll

The highlight of the week is the Americana Americana Honors and Awards Show, scheduled for the Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 13. The show recognizes the best in Americana music and always features stellar performances. This year the show will be broadcast live
for the first time on Nashville Public Television. An edited version will be featured on Nov. 19 on Austin City Limits.

Ticket information for the week’s showcases available at the Americana Music Association website.
You’ll find schedules for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday on Sun209.