Kristen Ford: Music Ingrained

https://cincymusic.com/blog/2017/10/kristen-ford-music-engrained



I had the sheer joy and pleasure of writing this piece on someone i think folks should know a lot more of. That someone is Kristen Ford. She, on most all of her previous records, was a one woman show, but on her new release she had a band join her. Plus, she is just an interesting person. Hope you dig the conversation we had.

Tom Petty

Tom Petty: Enough Said

by: Moose Gronholm

              Within the worldwide songbook there are artists who have written songs that you never forget. From Elvis to Beyonce and everything in between and all around, but there is one artist who doesn't necessarily stand out nor is flashy enough to garner much attention, and that person is Tom Petty. There are more than forty songs that he has written that as soon as the first note is played you scratch your head and say to yourself "i know this song." And then there are thirty nine others that you sing along too as loud as you want in the comforts of your car or shower, or at home in general. You grew up with these songs. Maybe after breaking up with a significant other these songs helped you through some dark moments. Or, maybe driving cross country or driving in general one of these songs came on and you turned it up as loud as it could go because it was good tune. Within the lexicon of life Tom Petty has a song about it. The songs never went over your head, but dealt with complex issues. Hard moments in life spelled out through a regular person's pen. If Bob Dylan is Shakespeare with a guitar then Tom Petty is like William Carlos Williams. And, we are only talking lyrically. Add in the musicianship of the Heartbreakers and you have the recipe for greatness. They seemingly fused rock with reggae at points, both in Tom's delivery of the lyrics to the melody driving the song. At the end of the day though they were a rock band, and they put together a vault of music that we can listen to with reverence. 

             Tom Petty is gone from our lives, but the archive of songs that he has left us is vast. From the mid 70's to the present, over 40 years of songs and albums, and a cameo appearance in The Postman. The first super group comprised of himself, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne also known as The Traveling Wilburys. Tom Petty, at least for me, has been part of my life since i was kid. There was a greatest hits album and Wildflowers which i listened too and I wasn't quite sure if i liked it, but i knew that there was something to this that i did like. And with music videos all the rage back then it really set in motion my joy of and for him. As I have grown older, and grown into a person who enjoys the lyrics and story within those lyrics more than the music, Tom Petty has grown on me like a flower that has finally bloomed or like a whisky that finally becomes of age. 

His passing while, untimely as it is, but is there any time that it isn't? While he has passed let's revel and bask in his music like lizards in the sun. I know i will. 

Lilly Hiatt: Trinity Lane

https://cincymusic.com/blog/2017/10/lilly-hiatt-trinity-lane


I had the absolute pleasure reviewing Lilly Hiatt's new record "Trinity Lane." I truly believe she is onto some great things. This record is as honest as any country-ish record out there now, or at least i believe so. If you are into that kind of sound or just honest songwriting I highly recommend this album. I do not compare artists to other artists as i feel that takes away from the artist you trying to make the comparison for, and puts too much weight on their shoulders to be something they are not. What i will say, is what i said two sentences previous is that: if you like honest songwriting with a country-fied sound you will like this.

She will be at the Southgate House this evening: October 6th, and if you are in the area it is definitley worth going to. Just follow the link above.