Bad news. Unfortunately Hurricane Irene has put a damper, quite literally, on Silopanna Music Festival this weekend. The events have been cancelled, but it's most likely for the best as it certainly won't be a safe environment for a concert.
I was planning on featuring Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave tonight as they would have been one of the headlining bands. Even though the festival is cancelled, there's probably no more fitting song to feature than "Hurricane Season" off their debut album Backatown.
For all those in Hurricane Irene's path stay indoors, and stay safe. Until then, enjoy some Trombone Shorty!
Back in May I went to see Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave. in Richmond, Virginia. It was absolutely one of my favorite concerts of the year thus far. Sure I'm excited to see some bands I've never seen before at Silopanna this weekend (provided Hurricane Irene holds off), but I can't help but be pumped to see this band live again. They are incredible musicians. I'll stop there. There's more to come from Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave. tomorrow!
Here's Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave. performing the Louie Armstrong classic "On the Sunny Side of the Street", featuring an incredible note Trombone Shorty held for almost three minutes!
Matt & Kim are a punk/dance duo from New York City. I had the pleasure of seeing them perform at last year's Virgin Mobile Freefest, and they'll be playing the main stage at this weekend's Silopanna Music fest. You may have heard Matt & Kim's music without even knowing it. Their hit "Daylight" was featured on a number of commercials, television shows, and movies. It's a catch number too, so it's understandable that it's been used so much.
Here's Matt & Kim performing "Daylight" off 2009's studio release, Grand.
All these emergent bands playing soul and funk get me excited! There's something about that Motown sound that's intimate and emotional. No band, however, does it better than Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. They're right out of the 60's. Forming over a decade ago, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Their 2010 release I Learned the Hard Way was and still is immensely popular, hitting #2 on the independent albums chart and reaching #15 on Billboard's Top 200. I can't wait to see this band live, as they are well known for their live performances. It may be a show best enjoyed with the eyes closed, so I can imagine it taking place decades earlier.
Here's Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings performing "Let Them Knock" off 2007's 100 Days, 100 Nights.
Next Saturday is the Silopanna Music Festival in Anne Arundel, Maryland. I'm really looking forward to it, because it's been too long since I've taken in some live music. The festival will feature 20 bands on three stages. The bands range from popular local acts to national headliners. Over the course of the next week, I'll feature some of those bands leading up to the festival.
First up is a band I caught at Dave Matthews Band Caravan in late June. Fitz and the Tantrums come to us from Los Angeles. They play a brand of music that feels as though it came straight from the 70's- a soul-funk, can't help but dance style that has reeled in a strong following. Their 2009 EP Songs For a Breakup, Vol. 1 and their reputation for strong live performances caught the ears of fans and music critics alike. This led national tours supporting some of musics biggest names and appearances at some of music's finest festivals. In August of last year Fitz & the Tantrums released their first full length album, Pickin' Up the Pieces.
