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There's a joke in Nashville that goes like this. Somebody is telling a story, and the story includes a famous person, though only because including the famous person might make the story more interesting. "I was at this party the other night talking to (famous person)," the storyteller may say. At this point, you, the listener, interrupt the storyteller to point to the floor around his feet and say, nonchalantly, "Oh, hey, be careful, you dropped a name." He'll look down, confused and annoyed that you've interrupted his great story. "What?" "A name...you dropped a name," you repeat. It embarasses the storyteller, makes you look witty, and entertains everyone else. It's especially good when you're in a group. Plus, it usually puts an end to the boring story the person was about to tell and forces him to get to the point. I bring this up because I'm about to drop a name. Several years ago, I was working on a benefit event in the Colorado Rockies that included Kenny Loggins. "Oh, hey, be careful..."  I was a jack of all trades at this event, doing PR, marketing, design, audio, etcetera, and somehow wound up being Loggins' personal assistant for a few days - picking him up at the airport, getting him checked in, making his appointments and getting him where he needed to be. I also had the reputation of being a bit like Macgyver at the event, prepared for anything. So when Loggins, Suzy Bogguss, Lari White and Chuck Cannon -- yes, I know, it's getting crowded around my feet -- got into a spontanteous jam in the lobby and somebody said, "I wish we had a recorder to capture this, " well, of course, I had a digital recorder in my hotel room. And when, while driving Loggins back to the airport, he started developing an allergic reaction to the lotion in his hotel room and wondered allowed if he could pick up some wet cleansing cloths somewhere, I pulled over. I had some in my bag.
So where am I going with this? Getting to know Loggins was nice. I knew his big hits, and his work with Loggins and Messina, but I can't say I really thought much about him much before that event. My wife is a fan, and I think a little jealous that I was giving Loggins face wipes. But it didn't really phase me. Now here's the thing: Loggins was fantastic. When he performed, it was a revelation. When someone's been out of the public eye for awhile, it's easy to forget just how talented they are. Loggins is an amazingly powerful and nuanced singer, great performer and oustanding songwriter. Hearing and seeing him perform "Celebrate Me Home" was a stellar moment. So, if for some reason, like me before that event, you haven't thought about Kenny Loggins much lately, the excellent new music series Legends & Lyrics, shot right here in Nashville, offers a great opportunity to get reaquainted. On Saturday, May 16, Loggins will be joined by Richard Marx and new Nashvillians 3 Doors Down on the show, taped at the Masonic Lodge downtown last year. Also coming to the series this month, which takes over the 10:00 p.m. timeslot on Saturdays, pushing Austin City Limits to 11:00, are Kris Kristofferson, Patty Griffin and Randy Owen on May 9 and Regie Hamm, Mindy Smith and Leigh Nash on May 23. I could have easily started this whole newsletter talking about Kris Kristofferson or Patty Griffin, but really, do I need to? Legends & Lyrics is locally produced, and the closest thing we've got to a new Nashville music show. Let's give it our support. Tucked in at the end of the month, summer pledge gets off to a great start with American Masters' "Neil Young: Don't Be Denied." The Swell Season, Aimee Mann and The Hold Steady (rescheduled from last month) on Live From the Artists Den; an inside look at Tony Winner In the Heights on Great Performances; the Memorial Day concert...it's another great month of music programming on NPT. Be careful out there. It's Nashville. People drop names.
Friday, May 1, 2009 11:00-12:00 midnight - Live from the Artists Den: The Hold Steady.
Described by Billboard as “Brooklyn’s working class heroes,” the Hold Steady has since released four gritty, observational albums, each of which have gained wider critical and popular acclaim, culminating with 2008’s, Stay Positive (Vagrant Records), which earned them the designation by Maxim as “the best band in America.” Recorded in lower Manhattan at the Old Emigrant Savings Bank Building, built in 1908 and designated a New York City landmark. Saturday, May 2, 2009 10:00-11:00 - Austin City Limits: Alejandro Escovedo.
Few contemporary artists inspire the degree of rapturous critical praise as Alejandro Escovedo, without the accompanying fame and fortune. Back in form after a near-death battle with Hepatitis C, Escovedo performs songs from The Boxing Mirror - praised by Billboard as "a masterwork from one of the genuine lights in rock music." Sunday, May 3, 2009 9:30-10:00 - From the Top at Carnegie Hall Special Edition: Music Is Where the Heart Is.
Seventeen-year-old pianist Ronald Joseph performs the second movement “Mardi Gras” from “The Enchanted Garden” by Richard Danielpour. Thirteen-year-old Nikki Yanofsky from Hampstead, Quebec, performs “Old McDonald Had a Farm” accompanied by Geoff Lang on drums, Rob Fahie on bass and John Sadowy on piano. Host Christopher O’Riley then accompanies 17-year-old violinist Allyson Tomsky from Brooklyn, New York, as she performs the first movement Allegro ben ritmato e deciso from Gershwin’s Three Preludes to round out the episode.  Friday, May 8, 2009
11:00 -12:00 midnight - Live from the Artists Den: Patty Griffin.
Originally from Maine, and now a resident of Austin, Texas, Patty Griffin has had a tremendous influence across all genres of music. After her sparse and acoustic 1996 debut, Living With Ghosts, artists began covering Griffin’s songs immediately. Among them the Dixie Chicks, Bette Midler and Emmylou Harris. Recorded in 2007 at the Angel Orensanz Center just after the release of Children Running Through. Griffin is joined by legendary keyboardist Ian McLagan (Small Faces, The Rolling Stones) who appeared for this night only and a five-piece string section. Saturday, May 9, 2009 10:00-11:00 - Legends & Lyrics: Kris Kristofferson, Patty Griffin, Randy Owen.
This episode highlights stars from the country music genre. Kris Kristofferson performs “Best of All Possible Worlds,” “Here Comes That Rainbow Again” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” Patty Griffin performs “Top of the World, “No Bad News” and “Up to the Mountain.” Randy Owen performs “Tennessee River,” “Feels So Right” and “Mountain Music.” 11:00-12:00 midnight - Austin City Limits: Lyle Lovett & Friends: Songwriters Special.
Acclaimed tunesmiths all, Lyle Lovett and his friends Guy Clark, John Hiatt and Joe Ely pool their talents for this special episode of AUSTIN CITY LIMITS. Sunday, May 10, 2009 9:30-10:00 From the Top at Carnegie Hall Special Edition: Rhythm and Strings.
The 16-year-old marimba player Joshua Jones of Chicago, Illinois, finds rhythm all around him, sometimes even while doing his household chores. The 12-year-old violinist Anna Lee, from Queens, New York, gives a performance of Pablo de Saraste’s “Ziguenerweisen” (“Gypsy Airs”), Op. 20, No. 1, and also appears as one-third of the Maggiore Trio — the final performers on this episode -- which performs the third movement, Presto (“Gypsy Rondo”), from Haydn’s Piano Trio in G Minor. Friday, May 15, 2009 11:00-12:00 midnight - Live from the Artists Den: The Swell Season.
The Swell Season is a musical project fronted by Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard (of popular rock band The Frames) and Czech singer and pianist Markéta Irglová, best known for their breakthrough lead roles in the hit indie musical Once, which won them an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008. Recorded at the Good Shepherd Center Chapel in Seattle.  Saturday, May 16, 2009
10:00-11:00: Legends & Lyrics: Kenny Loggins, Richard Marx, 3 Doors Down.
This episode highlights stars from the rock music genre. Kenny Loggins performs “Convinction,” “This Is It” and “I’m Alright.” Richard Marx performs “Right Here Waiting,” Through My Veins” and “Don’t Mean Nothing.” 3 Doors Down performs “My World,” “Your Arms Feel Like Home” and “It’s Not My Time.” 11:00-12:00 midnight - Austin City Limits: My Morning Jacket.
Kentucky’s indie rock heroes My Morning Jacket return to the ACL stage to showcase its album Evil Urges. Tuesday, May 19, 2009 7:00-8:00 - NOVA: Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives.
Mark Oliver Everett — better known as E, the lead singer of the EELS — travels across America to learn about the father he never knew — Hugh Everett III, one of America’s top quantum physicists. Thursday, May 21, 2009 8:00-10:30 Live from Lincoln Center: New York City Ballet’s ‘Romeo and Juliet.’
The New York City Ballet presents Peter Martins' interpretation of Prokofiev's beloved ballet Romeo and Juliet, from the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center. Friday, May 22, 2009 11:00-12:00 midnight - Live from the Artists Den: Aimee Mann.
Aimee Mann’s successful solo career has spanned across several critically acclaimed albums, including the massively popular soundtrack for the film Magnolia, which garnered her an Academy Award nomination for Best Song in 2000. Time magazine has said of her, “Mann has the same skill that great tunesmiths like McCartney and Neil Young have: the knack for writing simple, beautiful, instantly engaging songs.” Recorded at the former Los Angeles Archdiocese cathedral Vibiana, it's a rare, intimate set by Aimee Mann with a stripped-down, trio line-up. songs inclue “Save Me” and “Goodbye Caroline” and a first look somgs from the album, @#%&*! Smilers. Saturday, May 23, 2009 10:00-11:00 - Legends & Lyrics: Regie Hamm, Mindy Smith, Leigh Nash.
This episode highlights the singer-songwriters representing the alternative rock music genre. Regie Hamm performs “Not Today,” American Dreams” and “The Time of My Life.” Mindy Smith performs “Out Loud,” Raggedy Ann” and “Ahead of Myself.” Leigh Nash performs “Between the Lines,” “Blue” and “Just a Little.” 11:00 - 12:00 midnight - Austin City Limits: The Dixie Chicks.
After a few years spent enjoying their family lives and weathering controversy, Texas' mighty Dixie Chicks return to the AUSTIN CITY LIMITS stage with old favorites and new classics from their defiant, triumphant new album Taking the Long Way.  Sunday, May 24, 2009
7:00-8:30 - National Memorial Day Concert
The annual Memorial Day concert from the National Mall features a mix of dramatic readings, documentary footage and live musical performances, along with an all-star line-up of dignitaries, actors and musical artists. Wednesday, May 27, 2009 7:00-8:00 Great Performances: Lights Up: “In the Heights” on Broadway.
This behind-the-scenes program follows the cast and creative team of the Tony Award-winning musical, In the Heights. Friday, May 29, 2009 11:00-12:00 midnight - Live from the Artists Den: Crowded House.
One of the most beloved pop-rock bands of the ’80s and ’90s, Crowded House formed in Australia before achieving global success with their massive 1987 hit, “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” The group went on to produce five albums that won them a devoted following across the globe.The magnificent Masonic Hall Grand Lodge was the dramatic setting for a dramatic event: the first Crowded House concert in New York since the legendary band reformed after more than a decade apart. Saturday, May 30, 2009 7:00-9:00 - Big Band Years
The biggest songs that got us through World War II. 9:00-11:00 - Great Performances: Stevie Wonder: Live at Last.
Wonder delivers his hits in a tour-de-force performance at London's 02 Arena. Sunday, May 31, 2009 7:00-8:30 - Josh Groban, An Evening in New York City: A Soundstage Special Event.
Josh Groban performs favorites from his best-selling albums in an intimate theatre setting in this SOUNDSTAGE special event. Taped at Rose Hall at "Jazz at Lincoln Center" in New York City, this stunning performance includes "Alla Luce del Sole," "You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)" and “February Song.” The show features special guest appearances by acclaimed jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and trumpeter Chris Botti. 8:30-10:30 American Masters: Neil Young: Don't Be Denied
Neil Young has granted rare and unprecedented access for this documentary in which he traces his musical journey in his own words. The film, made from three hours of interviews shot in New York and California, uses previously unseen performance footage from the singer’s own extensive archives. It also features cohorts Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Nils Lofgren and James Taylor. From Young’s early transcontinental American quest for recognition, through the first flush of success with Buffalo Springfield to the bi-polar opposites of mega-stardom with Crosby, Stills and Nash and the soulful rock of Crazy Horse, his career has enjoyed many guises. The film takes Young through his rise in the 60s, his solo artist period in the 70s, his 80s embrace of the New Wave and Devo collaboration and ends with Young still refusing to be denied, pursuing a more eclectic musical approach but also touring in the U.S. with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and teaming on occasion with Crazy Horse
As always, you can check the NPT schedule at wnpt.net. Until next month, Joe Pagetta
Media Relations Manager |
