Shuffle #54 (April 25, 2015)

New York’s A Lonely Town – The Tradewinds

Ordinary People – John Legend

Magic Bus – The Who

Superstition – Stevie Wonder

Cannonball – The Breeders

Smalltown Boy – Bronski Beat

Please Don’t Drive Me Away – Sam Cooke

A Little Bit Of Everything – Dawes

Back On The Chain Gang – The Pretenders

LP #16 James Hunter – People Gonna Talk (2006)

Many thanks to ex-Westatian Mark Gallagher, who first brought this guy to my attention 8 or 9 years ago.

 

Allmusic.com characterizes Hunter as an “English channeler of American soul from days of yore”, which is probably as apt a description as any. What it doesn’t capture is that Hunter manages to draw upon his influences while nevertheless creating a sound that is uniquely his own. As both the lead vocalist and only guitar player in his superb band – Hunter now bills the act as “The James Hunter Six” – his sound heavily features his two sax players to drive his melodies, with his alternately edgy or supremely lyrical guitar work mainly reserved for the bridges of the songs. He also writes superb songs, both uptempo and ballads; one of my favorite Hunter lyrics is from “Don’t Come Back”:

 

Never have revenge in mind

‘Cos an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind

But forgiveness is the business of some other diplomat

So baby don’t come back.

 

This is the best of the band’s albums, but the others are well worth owning. They’re also excellent live. And if you do pick up this CD, you’ll find that Hunter also has talent as a sketch artist, in addition to his gifts as a songwriter, singer, and guitarist. (OK, I’m more than a little jealous.)

 

Favorite tracks:

I’ll Walk Away

People Gonna Talk

Don’t Come Back

You Can’t Win

Kick It Around

Rosanne Cash – The River and the Thread in Concert, Strathmore, 4/17/2015

Promenade Center, Row A, Seats 115-116 – front row in the Promenade section, dead center (wonderful sound!)

 

Rosanne Cash and her excellent band (including her “taller half” John Leventhal) put on a wonderful show on what seemed to be an unofficial Westat Friday – we ran into several current and former Westatians after dinner and at the show. During the first set, Rosanne and crew performed the 11 songs from last year’s Grammy-winning The River and the Thread album in order, with arrangements that were faithful to the CD but did not follow it slavishly. I’m not always a big fan of between-songs chatter, but Cash’s background information about each song here was a welcome exception, as it added greatly to the audience’s understanding of the material.

 

After intermission, Rosanne and the band kept the crowd happy by performing other highlights from her career, including some tracks from 2009’s The List (“I’m Movin’ On”, “500 Miles”, “Long Black Veil”) and a few of her 1980’s chart-toppers (“Blue Moon With Heartache”, “Tennessee Flat Top Box”, “Seven Year Ache”).

April 19, 2015 – Nationals 4, Phillies 1 – Nationals Park

http://m.nationals.mlb.com/news/article/119249560/nationals-stephen-strasburg-strong-arms-phillies-for-his-first-win

 

Umpires: HP: Vic Carapazza. 1B: Larry Vanover. 2B: Ron Kulpa. 3B: Tom Woodring.

Weather: 68 degrees, cloudy.

Wind: 8 mph, In from RF.

T: 2:40.

Att: 36,631.

 

Highlights – a little chilly, but the rain held off until Sunday evening … return of Denard Span to action in his usual leadoff spot … strong outing by Strasburg, who didn’t allow a baserunner until the fifth inning … 4 two-out RBI hits by the Nats … Phillies run in the top of the eighth closes the margin to 3 runs, allowing Storen to pick up a save, producing free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches for all

April 18, 2015 – Phillies 5, Nationals 3 – Nationals Park

http://m.nationals.mlb.com/news/article/119048452/speed-of-ben-revere-helps-bring-end-to-phillies-skid

 

Umpires: HP: Brian Knight. 1B: Vic Carapazza. 2B: Larry Vanover. 3B: Ron Kulpa.

Weather: 77 degrees, sunny.

Wind: 3 mph, Out to RF.

T: 2:56 (:12 delay).

Att: 35,330.  [counting only humans, or “Pups in the Park” as well???]

Section 128, Row RR, Seats 13-14 – lower level, first base line, just beyond the “premium” seats, closer to the concourse than to the field, but therefore in the shade

 

Highlights – longest HR of Harper’s career so far … pinch-runner Ben Revere’s speed manufactures winning run for Phils in the 7^th after a leadoff walk to Ryan Howard … Phils bullpen blanks Nats over final 3 innings to preserve the lead

 

Other – two more misplays by Desmond result in 2 Philadelphia runs in the top of the 3^rd … Jordan Zimmermann walks 4 batters, 2 of whom score … HP umpire Brian Knight had to leave game in the top of the ninth after taking a Blake Treinen fastball directly in his face mask