Going to see Emmylou Harris at the Meyerhoff tonight?
I am. I've never seen her before, and I'm pumped.
Personal confession: I have choked back tears listening to her song "Red Dirt Girl." I am from a place like Meridian, and know men and women who are very much like the main character in the song.
This song makes me very sad, and I've had to turn it off on several occasions because I can't bear to hear it. But when I listen to it all the way through, I feel better.
God, what a song:
And the stars might fall on Alabama
But one of these days I'm going to swing
my hammer down
Away from this red dirt town
I'm gonna make a joyful sound.
And and and, tonight's show is in support of the Mammojam Music Festival, which raises support and awareness of breast cancer detection and treatment. Get your tickets here. But wait, there's more ...
If you recall, I hosted a special Mammojam edition of Baltimore Unsigned. It was a free show, and we had about 125 people show up. Here's a video from that show, of the Grilled Lincolns doing Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On."
(Stock photo of Ms. Harris)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
I saw this show earlier this month in Harrisburg, with four participants. (There are only three tonight, with Shawn Colvin absent). It was a very relaxed type of show, with each person in turn picking a song, talking about it a little bit and then performing, with the other two maybe joining in.
I enjoyed it a lot -- but don't expect a big polished production!
Posted by: Jeff Smith | February 19, 2009 3:18 PM
Sam,
Emmylou will be incredible. You're in for a really memorable show.
I've seen her twice (in support of Red Dirt Girl with Buddy Miller on guitar, and at a SXSW showcase). I'm looking forward to hearing some songs with Patty Griffin on backing vocals, since they sing back up on each other's CDs.
I had the pleasure of hearing Emmylou Harris speak as part of her SXSW showcase two years ago. I was floored to hear she has never taken formal singing lessons. Several people in the audience gasped. I certainly did.
Her performance and discussion was one of the highlights of the trip.
Thanks for posting The Grilled Lincolns video, too. Jeremy really outdoes himself on this song. Can you tell he was a Jazz Vocal major at Berklee?
Posted by: Courtney B. | February 19, 2009 3:25 PM
sam,
can you see if you can cop some NASCAR tix from out front the Sin-phone-ee h'all?
Posted by: redman | February 19, 2009 4:30 PM
Did she and Mark Knopfler go out last to support their album? It was terrific. Please let us know how the show was Sam.
Posted by: Sturmy | February 19, 2009 5:19 PM
I hope you enjoyed the show. I'm sure it was amazing. I totally know what you mean about having to turn a song off. Recently I was listening to The Wind by Warren Zevon (which I own and have listened to many a time), and when "Keep Me In Your Heart" came on, I had to stop listening for a while. Just the theme of the song and knowing that Zevon was ill when he recorded it reminded me of a good friend who passed away recently, and it was just too much to listen to.
Posted by: mikawendy | February 20, 2009 1:16 AM
Sam,
i bet it was an amazing concert.
Are you going to be posting a review?
thanks,
russ
Posted by: russ | February 20, 2009 2:22 PM
Russ,
Yes I am. Gimme an hour or so and it will be up.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | February 20, 2009 2:23 PM