Apollo - Yanni

Over a 35 year career, Yanni has filled the world with his music all the while becoming recognized worldwide for his performances and concerts. He has come to Wolf Trap before but this was the first time I had seen him and it was truly a concert like I have never seen before. Yanni was born in Kalamata, Greece and first learned music at a very young age. He was originally taught music with a shorthand version of notation, a device he continues to use to this day. He went to the University of Minnesota to study psychology and joined the band Chameleon in 1977. He soon moved to LA to pursue a career in music and released his first independent album in 1980. During this time, he also started making music for movies and this was where he achieved his first success. He began his first world tour in 1987 and soon gained recognition for his appearances on public television and films. He had a rather unconventional rise to fame as he released his music independently and relied on concert films and public television to reach his audience. His albums Dare to Dream and In My Time were both nominated for Grammys and his career reached its pinnacle when he recorded his Live at the Acropolis album and concert film in 1993. The event was fully funded by Yanni himself and is the best selling concert film in history. He has performed in many iconic locations including the Forbidden City, the Taj Mahal, the Great Pyramids, After taking a brief hiatus in 1998, he has continued to release new music in this millennium his latest album came out in 2016. His sound is rooted in new age and instrumental experimentation but his recent album has a more electronic and upbeat feel. Outside of music, he has been a firm supporter of both NASA and the World Wildlife Fund. He even broadcasted one of his shows all the way to the International Space Station! Yanni has pushed musical boundaries his entire life and while has never had great chart success, his work stand up against even the biggest musical stars and few have the international recognition that he does. 

This concert had a lot of great moments and I ultimately liked it more than i thought I would (seems to be a common theme for this season!) His music is good but its the musicians he plays with that bring the concert to another level. His multinational band were phenomenal and each person dazzled the audience at some point. Yanni himself was comfortable in being more of a conductor but his distinctive keyboard riffs come out loud and clear. His quieter numbers have a haunting, melodic quality that I really like and his upbeat songs are catchy and downright danceable His only problem is he likes to talk a lot and sometime his melodramatic speeches go on for too long. He should leave more time for his music as that's what the 6000 people came to see. On the other hand, you can tell he still loves playing and at the 25th anniversary of his acropolis concert, the Greek star has no plans except to keep pumping the music everywhere he can. 

My favorite part of the show was when he played this song that had sort of a swing beat and featured the best drum solo I've ever seen! That drummer can really play and it was amazing to see him play along for almost 10 minutes. 

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC  

Yanni

Gesamtkunstwerk - The Best of Wagner's Ring

In the world of opera, very few have had as big an influence as Richard Wagner. The German composer wrote some of the finest works in operatic canon and of those, Der Ring des Nibelungen is undoubtedly the most complex and intricate. For Wagner, it was the culmination of his tireless pursuit of artistic connection and fusion. Born in Leipzig, Germany, Wagner grew up surrounded by the music of Beethoven and Mozart and this had a profound impact on his work. From an early age, he desired to become trained in both harmonic melodies and traditional musical composition. He wrote his first Opera, Die Feen, at age 20 but he struggled to make a living and lived in debt for much of his life. He was exiled to Switzerland for much of the 1850's do to his left wing politics and he continued to write operas until he returned to Germany in 1862. It was during this time that he began writing the first of the Ring Operas as well as Tristan and Isolde. Tristan and Isolde is considered the beginning of modern operatic work and the beginning of his Gesamtkunstwerk period. This was when he began to create works that combined various forms of art including music, poetry, lyrics, and visual representation. The Ring Operas was the culmination of this goal and was conceived over a period of 20 years.  The text was created first as a series of poems and they were published in 1853. The music came next but it was not until 1869 that he would finally write the music to all four dramas. The opening premiere for his work was delayed until 1876 because he wanted it to occur in his opera house build especially for his work. While it quickly gained notoriety for its storyline and music, it has only been done in full a handful of times due to the financial and time commitments required by opera companies. After he completed the Ring, he continued writing Operas until his death in 1883. Wagner is seen as one of the most important German composers ever and his work was instrumental in hastening a new era in opera.

I had heard of Wagner before but other than name recognition, I knew nothing about his work or his set of Ring operas. Of course, this show only contained a few of the operas numbers and merely had the singers and instruments sans the stage sets. Nevertheless, those elements were enough to exemplify Wagner's goal of combining different aspects of art into his work. The libretto is beautifully written and Wagner doesn't mince words. The music, however, is what really drew me in. Both emotional and triumphant, the NSO sounded great as always and the singers were all incredible. The story itself is really complicated but I'll summarize it as a mix of Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings. While opera isn't really my thing per say, I respect the discipline immensely and this seemed like a true example of high art. I enjoyed myself and am glad I discovered the work of Wagner!

My favorite part of the show was when the NSO performed the signature number from the opera; the Ride of the Valkyrie. A powerful horn sound is my guilty pleasure as a clarinet player and that song just resonates so well .

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Richard Wagner 

American Genius - Bernstein at 100: A Celebration

Since the United States is such a young country in respect to European and Asian nations, we are often left behind when it comes to discussions on great classical composers. We don't have a Beethoven, Mozart or Vivaldi. Luckily though, we do have Leonard Bernstein. Next month would have been his 100th birthday and Wolf Trap played host to a wonderful display of his work to pay homage to the great composer. Born in Massachusetts, Bernstein studied music at Harvard and later at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. In 1943, Bernstein conducted the New York Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time and would continue to lead the orchestra off an on for the rest of his life. He substituted as a conductor for various other orchestras and became known for his work with Young People's Concerts on CBS. This gave him national recognition as it introduced a new generation of people to classical music and was critically applauded. The 1950's also yielded perhaps his two most famous works, West Side Story and Candide. The musicals have remained incredibly popular but are but a small part of his vast compositions. He has been associated with may of the best orchestra in the world including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Orchestra, the London Symphony, and the Israel Symphony. He's also been credited with exposing Gustav Mahler to a larger audience as well as many American composers like George Gershwin, Charles Ives, and Aaron Copland. His repertoire is incredibly unique and he's often considered the most famous American composer of all time alongside Gershwin, John Philip Sousa and Brian Wilson.

I'd be remiss if I said I knew a lot about Leonard Bernstein before last night. As a musician, I've played selections from Candide and West Side Story but until writing this blog, I was unaware of his vast list of his work or his international reputation. This show did a lot to educate me and perfectly encapsulated the variety of styles that Bernstein employed. From the Doo Wop of West Side Story to the beautiful ballets, Bernstein did everything well and that showed in the performances. It helped that many iconic artists like George Takei and Misty Copeland were there to give their own interpretations of his work. But even they stepped aside and let the music control the evening. While this wasn't the best or most exciting show I've seen this summer, it was perhaps the most educational and I'm grateful that I was able to get such a great introduction to Bernstein's music. Under a full moon and a beautiful evening, I couldn't help but feel that this would've been one of his best birthdays yet.

My favorite part of the show was the clarinet solo! Bernstein composed Prelude, Fugue and Riffs for solo clarinet and I loved seeing my instrument gaining the spotlight!

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Leonard Bernstein 

Attention - Charlie Puth

As my time as an usher this season starts to come to an end, I've started to reflect on all the shows I've seen and which ones were the most memorable. My last four shows should be pretty tame so this one is  probably my last big show of the year. Luckily, amongst a throng of soaked teenage girls and slightly disgruntled parents, I was able to enjoy Charlie Puth's performance last night. Puth grew up in New Jersey and attended the Berklee College of Music where he studied music production and engineering. He's an accomplished piano player and has studied jazz since he was 11 years old. He gained his first pop exposure when he began releasing Youtube videos of his songs in 2010 and gained the attention of none other than Ellen DeGeneres. She signed him to her record label and he began writing songs for himself and other artists. He signed to a new label in 2015 and released his first major record, "Marvin Gaye" later that year. His first album, Nine Track Mind was released in 2016 and Voicenotes followed in 2018. Puth has co-written and produced almost every song he has released and his slick pop has found great success around the world. At only 26, Puth is still in the beginning of a promising career and his musical background will hopefully lead to great music in the future.

To say it was raining is an understatement. It was pouring when I got there and the sold out lawn were reduced to huddling under the theater overhang to avoid being soaked. Despite that, the lawn did eventually fill up and Puth's primary artist, teenage girls, came out in droves. His opener was Hailee Steinfeld who's also popular among that demographic. Another actress turned musical performer, Steinfeld has the talent but still needs to find her voice in the crowd of female pop-stars. That being said, she's still 21 and hasn't even released her first album yet so she has plenty of time to figure that out. Puth gave a clean and crisp performance that didn't have any surprises but gave the audience everything they wanted. Yes, that does mean he took his shirt off. On the musical end though, he has a unique and passionate voice and surprisingly, he's been able to translate his jazz background to the often constricting landscape of electronic pop. He does really seem to care about his fans and I was happy he left the long cultural monologue at home. I may criticize him as a light pop star, but Charlie Puth makes catchy music and there's nothing wrong with that. Plus he did go to Berklee and to be sure, they probably wouldn't even let me touch th instruments there so hats of to you Charlie!

My favorite part of the show is when he sang "How Long". It's just so damn catchy and I love it I can love pop music music ok!

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Charlie Puth 

Hailee Steinfeld 

 

Alabama Rock - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

If you're looking for a new band to get into, look no further than this one. I had never heard of Jason Isbell before yesterday but there's no doubt that he and his band were the best we've had at Wolf Trap this season. Everything gelled together and he gave an emotional and incredible performance I won't forget. Born in Green Hills, Alabama, Isbell spent his early years in various garage bands and attended the University of Memphis. In 2001, he joined the Drive By Truckers (who came to Wolf Trap about a month ago) where he contributed vocals,guitar and songwriting to the band. He left the group in 2007 and began releasing solo records which he continues to do now. In addition, he formed his own band, the 400 unit, in 2009. His last two albums, Something More Than Free and The Nashville Sound, have found great commercial and critical success and both took home the award for best Americana Album at the Grammy Awards. Isbell has cited Bob Dylan and Neil Young as his biggest influences and that can clearly be heard in his work. While his songs rock a little harder than Dylan or even Young, the thoughtful lyrics and his vocal style do hearken to the artists. Isbell has battled drug addiction and alcoholism in his life but an intervention led by his wife and friend Ryan Adams staged an intervention which has left him clean and sober. He is married to country violinist Amanda Shires and the two have collaborated on numerous records since their marriage in 2013.

As I listened to his music on the way to work, I realized that this could be a good show if they sound anything like their records. I was right on the nose and Jason Isbell gave an amazing concert that had me completely impressed. His opener was Hiss Golden Messenger who were great in their own right. Lead singer MC Taylor has a Dylanesque voice and their exceptionally crafted folk-rock songs held their own against any other band I've heard this season. Jason Isbell closed he show and he has a number of musical weapons at his disposal. First is of course his band. Guitarist Sadler Vaden may be the best rock guitarist we've had and the whole band has the ability to make slow and fast songs sound powerful and complete. Isbell has guitar chops in his own right and the interplay between the two musicians was one of the highlights for me. Jason also has an incredible voice that carries both emotion and power. Sometimes he belts like Springsteen and other times he lets his Neil Young influences come to the forefront but regardless of his tone, the lyrics are the main focus. Isbell's words often evoke harsh emotions but those hard times are usually rectified and Jason performs as a man who has come back from many low points in his life. At their core, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are a rock band but what differentiates them from other acts is their expert muscality and their southern roots/emotions that all coalesce together to form a unique sound. Groups like this give me hope that rock n roll isn't dead, you just need to know where to turn to. I now happen to know a band.

It was hard to pick a favorite part of this awesome show but when he opened his encore with Neil Young's "Ohio", I was forever sold to the band. Having seen both Neil Young and Crosby Stills and Nash do this song, I will go on records saying this was my favorite version and Isbell carried the song as if it was his own. That shows a true artist!

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit 

Hiss Golden Messenger 

Hip Hop Royalty - Queen Latifah and Common

Queen Latifah and Common are two artists whose fame and success has transcended their musical roots and garnered widespread fame. They have both won countless awards and are cultural icons both in the African American community and around the world. Common grew up in the Southside of Chicago and released his first rap album in 1992. His first couple albums were critically acclaimed but didn't sell too well and it wasn't till his 2000 release Like Water for Chocolate that he first tasted success. During this time, he was part of the music collective Soulquarians. While they weren't a group in the strict sense, they all collaborated on each other records and shared ideas and styles. The group stopped releasing records in 2003 but Common continued to increase his sales with his album Be. He then began a multiple album collaboration with Kanye West that yielded his biggest musical success. While traditionally seen as a hip-hop artist, he has introduced multiple styles into his music and his great songwriting has often bridged the gap between genres. In addition to his music career, he is a popular film star, with his biggest role being in the movie Selma. His involvement in that film also garnered him an Oscar and Golden Globe for best original song. Finally, he's an accomplished poet and was invited to the White House by Michelle Obama to share some of his work. Overall, he has received an Emmy, Grammy and Academy award for his work all the while being a strong advocate for racial equality and justice. Like Common, Queen Latifah has had a multifaceted career and has found success in nearly every venture she's done. Born in New Jersey, her early work took a feminist approach to hip-hop and deviated from the gangster rap of the era. Her first 4 albums were not huge sellers but she became a star in the hip-hop arena and scored a hit with her song "U.N.I.T.Y". Remarkably, she changed her style to jazz and pop-tunes in the mid 2000's and these albums found greater success than her 90's records. All the while, she became a household name due to her film and TV career. Her first major acting role was in the popular sitcom Living Single. She received widespread acclaim for her part in the 2002 film Chicago. Other big movies she has starred in include Hairspray, The Perfect Holiday and Life Support. She has received and Emmy, Grammy, SAG and Golden Globe award for her work and is one of the most recognizable women in the world.

With all their accolades and cultural forays, I wasn't sure what to expect from this concert. Prior to last night, I had only known Common from the Microsoft AI commercial on TV so safe to say I was pretty uneducated. He came on first and gave an overall good performance. He definitely has talent and his lyrics are superb but he did get a little preachy at times and I felt that he should've given more time to the music itself. The numbers often sounded like sketches and not fully hashed out tracks but his lyrics often tied it all together. Queen Latifah closed the show and her performance was elevated due to her multi-genre catalogue. Her hip-hop tunes were the most popular for the fans but her jazz tunes showed off her great voice and powerful stage presence. Her easy-going demeanor on stage was nice to see as it can be easy for stars of her calibre to appear detached and uninterested. This is all to say the music just isn't my forte and I only knew a single song the entire night. But regardless of the style, the starpower onstage was remarkable and both artists have a lot more to give than even the music they performed. Because, come on, there's only one Queen Latifah.

My favorite part of the show was when Queen Latifah performed "U.N.I.T.Y.". It's a perfect example of her uplifting feminist lyrics and her words of course resonate today just as they did 23 years ago!

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Queen Latifah 

Common 

80's Rewind - Boy George and the B52s

A lot of people, including me, love the music from the 1980's and last night was a prime example of that. With 6700 fans reminiscing about the MTV decade, three popular artists graced the stage and each has a very interesting backstory so I'll try and divert about equal time to each of them. Tom Bailey began his career as a member of the British band the Thompson Twins. Named after a Belgian comic, the group formed in 1977 and were led by Bailey as lead singer and instrumentalist. The band released a few records to minimal success and in 1982, the group decided to reduce to a trio and accept two new members. The famous lineup of Bailey, Joe Leeway and Alannah Currie gained worldwide success with their new wave pop sound. Along with fellow British star Boy George. they were a part of the 2nd British Invasion of the 1980's that took the US by storm. Songs like "Hold Me Now" and "Doctor! Doctor!" were hits on both sides of the Atlantic and the band even performed with Madonna at Live Aid in 1985. Leeway left the band in 1986 and although the duo continued, their success dwindled as the music landscape changed. For many years, Bailey refused to sing Thompson Twin songs and its been only recently that he has returned to the stage to recreate the hit sounds of the synth-pop band. A contemporary with the Thompson Twins, the B52s formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. Led by singers Cindy Wilson, Kate Pierson and Fred Schneider, they found underground success with their single "Rock Lobster" that quickly brought them to the forefront of new wave culture. With their crazy hairdos, flamboyant fashion, and dance/surf music, the B52s embraced their 80's lifestyle and were favorites of people from Michael Stipe to John Lennon. Guitarist Rick Wilson died of AIDS in 1985 and the band took a hiatus before changing styles and releasing their biggest record to date, Cosmic Thing. Supported by singles "Roam" and "Love Shack", the album brought them mainstream success and they continued to tour around the world. After their 1992 album Good Stuff, they would not release new music for 16 years but still appeared on stage. Wilson, Pierson and Schneider remain on the road and the band has sold over 15 million records worldwide. The last act in this show was Boy George and the Culture Club. Like the Thompson Twins, Boy George and the Culture Club were a British band who were part of the 2nd British Invasion. The and formed in 1982 and were met with immediate success when their first album singles all made the UK and US top 10. Their 2nd album, Colour By Numbers. was their commercial height and the song "Karma Chameleon" gave the band a #1 single. They won the 1984 Grammy Award for best new artist and were one of the preeminent British groups in the US. George's androgynous style and flashy wardrobe gained them increased popularity and although further albums were less successful, the band were still popular until they disbanded in 1986. After over 25 years of inactivity, the band reunited in 2014 and began touring and releasing music again.

This show could've gone both ways in terms of quality and happily it went the better of the two ways! Phillip Bailey's electronic music wasn't too flashy but his music still has a catchiness to it and he presented them quite well. The B52s are one of my favorite bands from that era and they did a great set. Although the Wilson's and Peirson's voices aren't as good anymore, they were never straight up crooners anyway and the band made up for any vocal difficulties. Boy George closed the stage and the it was his personality that really punctuated his set that may have been a little too long. Nonetheless, he supplied a couple great covers in there and his voice is still strong despite a hard lifestyle and 35 years of performing. Although some 80's music has aged quite badly, there's no doubt its influences are still felt today and to see these quintessential 80's stars take the stage was a joy for any music fan!

My favorite part of the show was when the B52s performed "Love Shack". It's of my favorite songs ever and it got everyone on their feet!

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Boy George 

B52s

Tom Bailey 

Millennial Pop - Halsey

Surrounded by fellow young people, this show once again had a different feel than the other shows we've had so far. While I was probably older than a lot of the mostly female audience at the show, I'm glad that the younger folk were getting their own show at Wolf Trap. In many ways, Halsey is emblematic of my generation and for many people, she is seen as an emblem of unique style and identity. Born Ashley Frangipane, Halsey first gained popularity on sites such as Youtube and Soundcloud where she posted her early covers and original songs. She performed acoustic shows around her home in New York City and released her debut album, Badlands, in 2015. It performed well on the charts and she was featured in the Calvin Harris song "Closer" which became a #1 record. She promoted the album and song by opening for bigger acts such as the Weekend and Imagine Dragons as well as going on tour herself in 2016. Her 2nd album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, was released in 2017 and features hit singles "Bad in Love" and "Now or Never". The album is a concept album based on the story of Romeo and Juliet and all the songs are written or co written by Halsey.  It hit #1 in the US charts and she has continued to build her popularity with this current world tour. Outside of the stage, she is seen as a fashion icon and as an activist for mental illness and suicide prevention. Perhaps just below the bar of worldwide stars, Halsey is nevertheless only 23 and in the early stage of a promising and successful career.

While I didn't really expect to like her music, I was pleasantly surprised by this show. Her opener was Jessie Reyes who has songwriting talent but lacks an appropriate stage presence or a solidified voice. Halsey had probably the most ornate stage sets I've seen at our theater and it featured pyrotechnics, hydrotechnics and dazzling light displays. Halsey herself is a gifted singer and performer and despite the lack of actual instruments on stage (electronic drums don't count), her set had a big sound and her songs really came to life. She wasn't afraid to get emotional on stage and I credit her with opening herself on stage to an audience of 7000 screaming people. The music itself is good but it's simply hard to differentiate the myriad of female pop artists these days. At her best though, Halsey induced a more personal touch to her numbers and that intimate quality is something I think is missing from uch of music these days. It's strange seeing someone my age already having so much fame and success but if it helps erase the unfair stereotypes on my generation, I'm all for it!

My favorite part of the show was when she sang a piano version of "Closer". I always thought it was a great song that deserved a less embellished treatment than the original recording and Halsey sang it with a quiet thoughtfulness and emotion. Great exemplification of her as an artist!

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Halsey

Jessie Reyes

Latin Fever - Juanes

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Wolf Trap becomes a different place when Latin American artists take the stage. No other fans are as energized and the palpable feeling of excitement might have made this my favorite concert of the season! Juanes grew up in Medellin, Colombia during the reign of Pablo Escobar and his first hand experience with the violence and poverty in his country has spurned his lifelong commitment to philanthropy and charity. In 1988, he formed the band Ekhymosis and recorded with them for over ten years. The band was harder rock than his solo material would be but it established him as a star in his home country while also allowing him to develop his guitar chops. He released his debut solo album, Fijate Bien, in 2000 and he won the Best New Artist award at the Latin Grammys. His album Mi Sangre found great success both at home and in the english speaking world and he "La Camisa Negra" has become his biggest hit so far. He's notable among Latin artists for writing virtually all his own material while also supplying keyboard and guitar work on his recordings. He has won 20 Latin Grammys and 2 Grammy awards so far in his career, with his last album coming out in 2015. Outside of his music, he has released an autobiography in 2013 where his life is told through narratives and stories. His chief social crusade has been for the victims of anti personnel landmines and he has received international recognition for this. He is one of the biggest stars in Latin America and has been a beloved figure in Colombia for over 20 years.

As a Hispanic person myself, these shows are always near and dear to my heart despite the fact that I don't even know Spanish and left Ecuador when I was only 4 months old. Even though I do have a disconnect with spanish culture, I love listening to the music and tonight was no exception. Juanes is a great performer and his set had a good mix of dance tunes and slower ballads. He surprised me with his guitar work and even took a couple solos during his performance. His band was simple but their sound filled the theater and it helped that nearly everyone was dancing and singing. I loved the energy and it was refreshing to see everyone having a good time without overdoing it with the wine and beer. Towards the end of his show, Jaunes expressed the desire to eventually write songs in english so people in the United States could understand. I say he should keep singing in the beautiful language that made him famous. Your true fans will always understand what you're saying.

My favorite part of the show was when he played his signature tune "La Camisa Negra". A great dance song, it highlighted the end of his show which was packed full of great uptempo numbers. The crowd was bouncing like I've never seen before and I was so happy everyone was enjoying themselves!

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Juanes

Dready in my Soul - Slightly Stoopid

Reggae is not a genre heard very often at Wolf Trap but it was in full force last night. With three performers and nearly 4 hours of music, we had a half day festival on our hands. The headliners were reggae legends Slightly Stoopid. The band formed on the beaches of San Diego, CA and were soon discovered by Sublime lead singer Bradley Nowell. Guitarist Mike Doughty and bassist Kyle MacDonald jammed together in high school and built a following in California while preparing their first record. They released their debut album in 1996 and while their early music was mostly just straight reggae and ska, they began to incorporate new styles in their later albums. With the addition of another drummer and a horn section, they further developed their sound and have released 8 albums in total. In fact, they just released an album today so go listen to it! The band has also started their own label where they have been releasing their own music while signing other up and coming acts as well. Their record sales might not be huge, but that's typical of an alternative act and they're no doubt big names on the reggae scene.

This show was hyped up a ton by just about everyone on the park. The tour came through last year when I wasn't working and the stories that emanated from it were about as crazy as it ever gets in our venue. Luckily, this show featured the same great music but not as much of the frenzied crowd. The first band to come on was Pepper. The Hawaiian trio didn't sound all that good on stage but their energy buoyed their set and their records are actually pretty good. The next act was Stick Figure and they were my favorite band of the night. They were firmly rooted in traditional reggae but they just sounded great and the vocals in particular were the best we had. Also they brought their dog Cocoa on the stage which automatically makes them awesome (hopefully the dog had earplugs!) Slightly Stoopid closed the show and the crowd went pretty berzerk. The band was unique among the three in that they used many different styles. Reggae, ska, hip-hop, rock and pop were all sampled in their set and they even did a great version of Tom Petty's "You Don't Know How it Feels". While no one in the band distinguished themselves individually, they were tight on stage and the horn section added a lot to their. Unfortunately, I was pretty busy with the patrons so couldn't dedicate as much time to listening as I normally do but the whole vibe of the show was just different than any other show this year. Reggae has that ability to really loosen you up and minus the excessive drinking, everyone was in high spirits. When I did spare a glance at the stage, it looked like a party up there with different people spittin lyrics and encouraging everyone to "feel the green". If that's not reggae than I don't know what is.

My favorite part of the show was when Slightly Stoopid played their song "2AM". Admittedly it was the only song of theirs I knew at the time but it's just a feel good song and really got the crowd going!

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Slightly Stoopid

Stick Figure

Pepper 

Wheels of Soul - Tedeschi Trucks Band

What better performance to follow a soft acoustic night than a loud raucous rock show? This was a long show full of great performances and headliners Tedeschi Trucks Band did not disappoint. The band formed in 2010 when singer-guitarist Susan Tedeschi and guitarist Derek Trucks combined their respective bands and started playing blues festivals around the US. Their first album, Revelator, reached the top 20 of the album charts and won a Grammy award for best Blues Album. They have released two more albums since then and have become one of the biggest concert draws due to their energetic performances. The band is made up of several talented musicians and their two drummer line-up combined with a horn section gives them an added punch when they're up on stage. Reminiscent of bands like the Allman Brothers and the Doobie Brothers, their straight up blues-rock has been a steady seller over the years and the band has been preparing a new album for release soon.

A near sold out crowd was very excited for this show and every artist had a little something to offer. the first group was the Marcus King Band and they were incredible. Led by 20 year old King, his voice and guitar virtuosity is astonishing and he was probably the most talented performer of the whole night. While his music was traditional, he played the blues like a seasoned veteran and he has great career lined up if he continues his act. The Drive by Truckers followed them and although they had a bigger sound, the music wasn't quite as powerful and versatile. Despite their name, the band is known for their liberal leaning attitude and lead singer Mike Cooley made sure his political voice was heard throughout their set. Tedeschi closed the night and it was quickly apparent how musically proficient this band was. Blues is a tough genre to play because its hard to stay true to the sound without sounding completely derivative. Tedeschi did a good job by combing traditional blues with an influx of soul and R&B. I've never been a fan of two drummers in one band but they actually pulled it off quite well by having more subdued percussion work. The band is quite a force live and despite a large group of musicians, they still accomodated brilliant guitar and vocal work. In the end, their songs did end up all sounding similar but the sound itself was enough to satisfy myself and their 7000 fans. I always enjoy seeing a good band kill it on stage and Tedeschi Trucks Band really pulled all the punches.

My favorite part of the night was when Tedeschi invited Marcus King back on stage to run through a couple songs. This guy really is the real deal and matched Derek Trucks note for note with his incredible guitar-playing. I hope someone big discovers him soon!

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC 

Tedeschi Trucks Band 

Drive By Truckers 

Marcus King Band 

Quiet Activists - Indigo Girls

Folk music has gone through many up and downs in the realm of popular music. First gaining traction in the early 1960's, it gave way to the rock n' roll of the 60's and 70's until it was resurrected by artists like the Indigo Girls. Members Amy Ray and Emily Saliers met each other in elementary school but didn't really come together as musical partners until they both transferred to Emory University. Playing in local college clubs, they released their first single in 1985 and were signed to a record label in 1988. Their 2nd album, Indigo Girls, brought them mainstream success and they joined the burgeoning folk-rock movement in the late 1980's along with Tracy Chapman and Suzanne Vega. Utterly contradictory to the layered pop sound of the era, the Indigo Girls continued to release popular albums and although they never truly had a hit single, much of their songs remain popular in folk circles. They have gone on to release 14 studio albums and have returned to releasing records independently. Ray has done 6 studio albums on her own and Saliers just released her solo debut in 2017.  Accompanying their well known music is their passion for social activism. In the 1990's they invited a Native American tribe to tour with them in support of Native rights and heritage. Both Ray and Saliers are lesbian and have been firm supporters of LGBTQ rights throughout their career. They have also fought for the abolition of the death penalty, environmental protection, and the rights of immigrants to the United States. They remain huge figures in the folk world and their outspoken personalities has inspired multiple generations of fans.

In a week that will be filled with loud shows and raucous crowds, the Indigo Girls music was a welcome break from electric performances. Their opener was the War and Treaty and they were the best opener we've had by a good margin. Led by a wounded warrior and his wife, their music harkend to the soul and R&B music of old and although they've only released one album, their future is very bright. The Indigo Girls have dabbled in various genres but remain folk at their core. Often just armed with their acoustic guitars and a violin, they went through some 20 songs that were both pleasant and simplistic. I personally like music that's a little harder-tinged but it's hard to ignore the expert songcraft and effortless melodies in their numbers. They're still great singers and years of performing together has led to seamless harmonies and a compatibility that only comes after hundreds of concerts. Saliers is perhaps the better musician but they are happy to share the limelight with each other. Embedded in their soft folk, however, are fiery passions and several of their songs offered scolding remarks on today's social climate. That dichotomy between happy folk and political statements might seem disjointed but it was all brought together in an emotional and touching way. Nearly 35 years after performing for the first time they've gone through the in and outs of fame; but  one thing has remained constant; their friendship.

My favorite part of the show was when they played their song "Closer to Fine". For a folk, song it brought the house down and closed a great performance!

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Indigo Girls 

War and Treaty 

Perfect Art - Ludovico Einaudi

Having seen almost 100 shows at Wolf Trap, I've seen just about every kind of artist I can think of. But occasionally, I'm still surprised and last night we had an incredible concert by a visionary composer and performer. Ludovico Einaudi was born in Turin, Italy and studied at the Milan Conservatory in his early years. At this point, his compositions were more by the book and he mainly focused on chamber orchestras and symphonies. In the 90's, he was gaining more exposure through his use of multimedia presentations and for being featured in many film soundtracks. His unique artistry was just in its infancy, however, and he explored world music, minimalist techniques, and the use of a variety of instruments. He has released a number of successful solo recordings while continuing to tour around the world. His 2009 release "Nightbook" was his first recording to feature electronic instruments and this has opened the door for an even more immersive quality to his work. More recently, he was featured in a Greenpeace promo where he played on an iceberg in the Arctic! Einaudi has since become one of the most famous classical composers in the world and his integration of a wide range of styles has pushed him to the forefront of ambient music.

Simply put, this concert was so cool! First off, it was such a simplistic stage set up. Einaudi and his piano were in the center and he was joined by 5-6 other incredible musicians. But there were hardly any lights on the musicians and the only time he spoke was when he introduced the performers at the end of the show. But no words were needed to display his passion and dexterity during his numbers. The music wasn't like anything I had really heard before. Most of the pieces were based on a simple motif but the music swelled and waned all the while the musicians maintained perfect synchronization with each other. This was perhaps the most impressive part because the variety of instruments would usually make for difficult transitions and cohesiveness. Sure, there were pianos, guitars, synthesizers, bass guitar and percussion; but they also used a thumb piano, and weird drum thing, and this metal sheet that they dipped in a fish tank. This all made for an immersive sonic experience that had me totally fixated on the sound. At one point, Einaudi did a 20 minute piano solo that never got louder than mezzo piano but was more expressive than 99% of the piano solos I've heard. There were about 2100 people in the audience but more than once I felt like I was alone in the theater. This type of music definitely might not appeal to everyone but to a musician like myself, it was heavenly!

I didn't really have a favorite part of the show but when all the musicians were locked in sync and following Einaudi's lead, they attained this perfect harmony that all performers aspire to.

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC 

Good Vibes Only - Barenaked Ladies

The weather has a big effect on my job and being on the lawn, I'm especially exposed to the heat the elements. This past show was almost 4 hours and the high was about 99 degrees. Needles to say it was very uncomfortable but luckily, there were some great artists who played a great show regardless of the temperature. Barenaked Ladies, believe it or not, have been around for 30 years! They formed in Ontario, Canada when guitarists Ed Robertson and Steve Page started jamming together. Their first couple tapes were only put out in Canada but the gained a following around Toronto as they did gigs around the city. They released their first album in 1992 and achieved their greatest success with their album Stunt. The song "One Week" went to #1 in the charts and their next couple albums sold well. Their pop sound juxtaposed the punk and grunge movement of the 90's but their comedic lyrics and laid back style endeared them to many people. They are also known for being pioneers in the computer age and for making their music accessible via the internet before many other artists did the same. Founding member Page left in 2009 but the band has gone on and their albums have continued to sell. Among other things, they are also known for composing and performing the theme song for the show "The Big Band Theory". Now in their late 40's, the band still has that fun loving attitude and a knack for making catchy tunes. 

Barenaked Ladies had two pretty famous openers. First up was KT Tunstall. She first came to prominence in the mid 2000's with the songs "Suddenly I See" and "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree".  Sincer her popular debut, the Scottish singer has released 4 more albums and she did a great 30 minute solo set that clearly showed her talent. Next up was Better Than Ezra, an alternative band that is also celebrating their 30 year anniversary. Hailing from New Orleans, the band has had a similar trajectory as Barenaked Ladies and they gave a good if a little routine show. By the time Barenaked Ladies came on, the sun had thankfully set and they were able to really get the crowd going. Now as fun as they are, they aren't the best live band in the world. Robertson's vocals aren't very strong and towards the end of the show, they did a medley of covers that I personally could've done without. But like a lot of pop bands, they rocked harder live than in the studio and their sing-along songs were perfect for this show. They're a good band but I think the thing I liked the best was they also seemed to best friends and genuinely funny. We've had a lot of more serious artists lately so it was nice to relax with a more laid back concert. They played all their hits and the sold out crowd of 7000 was loving it. If only it wasn't so damn hot.

My favorite part of the show was when they performed "If I Had a $1,000,000". It was already my favorite songs and its quintessential Barenaked Ladies! 

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC 

Barenaked Ladies 

Better Than Ezra

KT Tunstall 

The Queen of Country - Reba McEntire

One of the biggest stars to ever come to Wolf Trap, Reba McEntire has been a country icon for over 25 years and is beloved among her millions of fans who have loved her since she made her first record in 1977. Raised by ranchers in rural Oklahoma, she moved to Nashville in 1975 and released her first few albums on Mercury records. Her first few albums and singles sold only moderately well and she went through her first few years as an up and coming singer. She began to feel unsettled with her pop-country approach and signed with Nashville Records in 1984. With her songs embracing a more traditional style, she became a mainstay on the country charts and achieved 25 #1 hits, a number only matched by Dolly Parton. She was inducted into the Grand Old Opry in 1986 and has won many Grammy and country music awards for her records. Reba generally doesn't write her own material but her music was still unique and her voice enthralled a generation of country fans along with her rural origins. Although she did return to a more pop sound in the 90's and 2000's, this time the records sold very well and Reba was able to have crossover success as well. It was during this time that she also dabbled in film and Broadway while continuing her music career. She even starred in a sitcom, "Reba", which had a successful run from 2001-2006. She has sold almost 100 million records worldwide and at 63, still remains a force on the charts as well as in the country music business.

Without a doubt the busiest show of the year, 7000 fans showed up in 96 degree heat to watch an incredible show. I never really listened to any of McEntire's music but she's an incredible performer who still has a great voice and a welcoming personality. The audience loved every minute of it and Reba entertained them with songs and stories only a person with years of experience could. Her band brought great energy to even her slower songs and sometimes it was only her voice that served to remind me that it was country I was listening to. Perhaps the only downside to having so many hits is that it's impossible to play all of them in oneshow and she truncated some of them which I always think detracts from the song as a whole. But songs like "Fancy" and "Turn on the Radio" were definite highlights and her ability to delve into songs old and new served to her benefit. This was the best country music show I've ever seen (granted that's not many) and I am fully impressed by Reba and her incredibly successful career. 

My favorite part of the show was when she did an amazing cover of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot". It started out slow but then turned into a romp with great solos and Reba singing it as good as anyone I've heard.

Looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Reba McEntire