Review: Dianne Reeves & Chico Pinheiro
The first time I saw Dianne Reeves — at her initial visit to the Savannah Music Festival , also at the Lucas — I had never before witnessed A) a voice of such range and power that it could fill every nook and cranny of a room as if in a liquid state; and B)…
Review: Chris Thile & the Punch Brothers
During their 2009 Savannah Music Festival performance, the Punch Brothers reached deep into their considerable bag of tricks and produced one seriously unexpected rabbit: The Beatles’ “Martha My Dear.” This time, they played “Paperback Writer.” Five-part harmony and that old, familiar riff played on acoustic guitar and banjo. Yow. A string band that’s strongly rooted…
Review: Sex, Violins & Tales of the Baroque
For years I’ve been telling people that classical music has real rhythm and syncopation, and that much of it has roots in folk music and hence is very approachable by anyone. It’s a losing battle, of course, but sometimes in life you have to keep fighting that battle regardless. Proof positive was Friday night’s sublimely…
Source Code, Insidious, Sucker Punch
SOURCE CODE **1/2 Has Duncan Jones already sold out? It’s hard to say, but Source Code, his sophomore effort as director, can only be considered a disappointment given his knock-it-out-of-the-park debut. 2009’s Moon, which missed my 10 Best list that year by one spot, was a dazzling achievement, the sort of heady sci-fi extravaganza one…
Review: Avett Bros @ Johnny Mercer Theatre
CELLOS ARE GREAT. I have no problem with cellos. But sometimes there’s just no replacing a steel guitar. It was during this realization, about halfway through their concert at the Johnny Mercer Theatre Wednesday night, when I had a minor epiphany of sorts: As a musical act, the Avett Brothers — for all their twee,…
Review: Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Zakir Hussain
What a treat to see and hear three master musicians, each at the top of his game, playing together as one. Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Zakir Hussain – on banjo, double bass and tabla, respectively – brought a packed Lucas Theatre audience to its feet time and again over the course of a 2…
Looking ahead
The Savannah Economic Development Authority’s new President and CEO Steve Weathers has only been in town about four months, but he’s already got a clear vision of what needs to be done to build on the area’s economic success. Last week Weathers spoke at the critical issues forum hosted by local law firm Hunter Maclean,…
SMF: Daniel Hope
As associate artistic director of the Savannah Music Festival, Daniel Hope is busy enough. But considering he’s also one of the most active performers in the festival, that means he’s officially crazy-busy. Not too busy, however, to have a chat with us about some unique programming coming up in the festival. The idea for “Sex,…
Newsbriefs
LNG Resolution The issue of Southern LNG’s interest in trucking shipments of liquefied natural gas through the streets of Savannah was a big part of the City Council agenda last week. Council members voted unanimously to pass a formal resolution “urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to perform a full environmental impact analysis for…
A killer thriller
Two wily, articulate men in a drawing room, attempting to out-maneuver one another through tart words and dubious deeds. Blackout. A scream. A murder. A mystery. The very blueprint for Sleuth, Anthony Shaffer’s hit play from 1970, one of the most devious (and popular) theatrical thrillers in recent memory. In fact, in all the intervening…
SMF: John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey
The New York Times refers to John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey “the Nick and Nora of cabaret.” High praise indeed, as that famous couple (of Thin Man movies fame) provided the template for high–energy spousal cooperation and creativity. To be called Nick and Nora means that you are, in fact, the very best at what…
Skate or die
The Savannah Derby Devils’ fifth year kicks off this weekend with a big change – the team will showdown against their rivals from Charleston at the Civic Center, rather than their longtime home at Supergoose. “The whole thing is a big deal,” says Derby Devil member Ira Fuse. “We worked a long time for it.”…
SMF: ‘Death Cell Memoirs of an Extraterrestrial’
Marc Neikrug’s Death Cell Memoirs of an Extraterrestrial (written for violin, piano, clarinet and actor) will receive its world premiere April 5 at a Savannah Music Festival concert at the Lucas Theatre. SMF Associate Director Daniel Hope will play violin, with Simon Crawford–Phillips on the piano, and Patrick Messina handling the clarinet. “It’s a piece…
The Last Waltz Ensemble
THE LAST WALTZ ENSEMBLE At 10 p.m. Saturday, April 2 Loco’s Grill & Pub, 301 W. Broughton St. $8 This six–member, Atlanta–based band devotes itself to music written by and/or performed by Bob Dylan and the Band. Sometimes, it’s just Dylan tunes. Sometimes, it’s just Band tunes. Sometimes, it’s something else entirely. The LWE looks…
When Irish eyes are crying
An officer was on patrol near City Market on Saturday night of the St. Patrick’s Day festivities when he saw a woman attack a man nearby. It was shortly after 2 in the morning when the officer saw a short woman in a blue and white dress sprint up the street jump on a man’s…
SMF: Band of Horses
A self–deprecating sense of humor is just one of the refreshing things about Band of Horses founder and frontman Ben Bridwell, who brings his group to the Johnny Mercer Theatre this week for a Savannah Music Festival show. There’s also this: He writes catchy, memorable songs that still manage to evoke deep–dream vistas, color misty…
Life by Chocolate
Folk art is the umbrella term used to encapsulate the spectrum of creativity by outsider artists. It’s a rich tradition in Georgia, from the visionary works of Summerville’s Howard Finster to the intricate carvings of Savannah’s Ulysses Davis — to name just two of the many self–taught artists who’ve created legacies for themselves by virtue…
SMF: More picks for Week 2
DIANNE REEVES At 8 p.m. Saturday, April 2, Lucas Theatre One of America’s favorite jazz vocalists, a four-time Grammy winner, returns to the SMF after a two-year absence. Before silky-voiced Reeves and her band take the stage, there’ll be a set from Brazilian guitarist Chico Pinhiero, whose group includes samba vocalist Luciana Alves. Pinhiero will…
Mark your calendar: Molly Hatchet
Another big name in rock ‘n’ roll from the late ’70s/early ’80s is coming to town It’ll probably be a great show. But before we get to Molly Hatchet’s April 9 gig at Coach’s Corner, let’s review a few facts. Musicians get old and die. They retire. They go off on their own. They have,…
Young (wine) guns
One of my favorite things about what I do is the people I meet, especially the winemakers and vineyard owners. And as sure as the azaleas bloom, spring brings winemakers to Savannah in droves. They are here because of the High Museum Wine Show and Auction, the major East Coast wine shows and, generally to…
Good mall eatin’
Dillinger’s Steaks and Seafood brings a mom–and–pop feel to what is typically a venue overrun by hyper–themed restaurants – the mall. In this case, Oglethorpe Mall. Those of you with mallphobia will be glad to know it has a private entrance just off the parking lot near the food court entrance. There are plenty of…
Police action
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. There are two kinds of people in this world: those who think police officers should have unlimited authority, and those who think police powers should be limited. If that sounds strange to you, I would agree. It’s a strange thing to say. But in 20 years…
