|
Post by fogcitygal on Dec 2, 2004 2:38:10 GMT -5
Any reviews in yet from the opening night concert in Evansville?
|
|
|
Post by Candice on Dec 3, 2004 7:57:24 GMT -5
Found this article this morning. Enjoy!
Encore! Encore! Encore! for Krauss, Union Station By REBECCA COUDRET, Courier & Press staff writer December 3, 2004
Alison Krauss may have played larger cities, in larger venues, but she couldn't have played to a more appreciative crowd than the 2,336 who welcomed her to The Centre Wednesday night.
The stage was simply set, carefully, intricately lighted; some wispy, billowy curtains were draped lazily in the background, picking up colors with each song. Even before the band appeared, the set-up of the instruments onstage was impressive - guitars, Dobro, banjos, fiddle - nearly a dozen were lined up, waiting for some of the best musical practitioners in the business to make magic.
Advertisement
And they certainly made it happen. For two solid hours, Alison Krauss & Union Station sang and played and joked around with the audience - and the crowd ate it up.
The sextet took the stage about 15 minutes late because - well, it was a fashion thing. Krauss planned to wear a skirt, but didn't have a slip, and "just in case there was a light behind me - well ..." and as her voice trailed off, she just grinned. The audience loved it.
She professed to being a bit nervous; Wednesday's show was the band's "first in a long time," and Evansville was the first stop on its new tour. Krauss said she was afraid she'd forget some words to the group's newer songs, and even though there were a couple of giggling goofs midway through the evening, no one cared. From the opening "Restless" to the closing "Living Prayer," she and her ultra-talented band grabbed each fan's attention and kept it. Toyed with it. Teased it. And pleased it.
Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Dan Tyminski, Ron Block, Barry Bales and Larry Atamanuik artfully displayed songs from "Lonely Runs Both Ways," which was released last week; they slipped in some fan-favorites, then tossed in a couple of new ones again before building to a three-song encore that was breathtaking.
Throughout the evening, the music was impressive: the instrumental "Unionhouse Branch" and Tyminski's "Rain, Please Go Away"; the audience-pleasing "Every Time You Say Goodbye" from the '90s and "Bright Sunny South" from 2002; the passion-filled "Gravity" and "Pastures of Plenty" from the new CD, "Forget About It" and "Man of Constant Sorrow" from that two-year-old, live CD.
With "The Lucky One," things were a little upbeat, and the bluegrass rendition of The Foundations' old "Baby, Now That I've Found You" was just plain fun, as was "Atlanta," a song that had a lot of audience appeal. Krauss has a versatile voice that blends beautifully with the male voices in Union Station, and the four- and five-part harmonies were flawless. Likewise, the instrumental intricacies were amazing. Fast-paced and furious, they punctuated the upbeat tunes with impressive strength and energy. And when the music slowed down to ballad pace, the stringed instruments wailed. Krauss even laughed before beginning "It Don't Matter Now," saying, "This might be a good song to do now - a sad, depressing number to go along with the sad, depressing songs we've picked out for the rest of the evening!"
Krauss' fans will remember the evening for the music, of course, but also for how personable she was onstage. She even joked after a couple of ballads, "We don't ever want anyone to leave one of our shows feelin' good!"
Fans also will remember how generous she was in sharing the spotlight with her bandmates. Douglas' instrumental solo midway through the show was jaw-droppingly precise; it was hard to believe one man and one instrument could fill every inch of that auditorium, but he did.
My favorite of the evening was "When You Say Nothing At All." Favorite - until the encores. They did three songs, but it was the way they sang those three songs that left the crowd breathless.
After a standing, thundering ovation for "Atlanta," they came back out - first Krauss alone, then Tyminski joining her in an a cappella "Ain True Love" that had goosebumpy harmony; it really was amazing. The second encore is one Krauss and the band know they always will have to sing, but instead of enduring it, they gave their all to "Down to the River to Pray." What a moment it was, with four magnificent voices gathered together on the left-hand side of the darkened stage, a spotlight shining on their intimate harmonies.
That was followed by "A Living Prayer," which Block admitted came about after he sought creative help from above ("I just looked up and said, 'If you want a gospel song on this new album ...'"). The six huddled together to offer this stirring song, and from the depths of the male harmonies, Krauss' long, strong, pure voice soared. It really was a special moment, and the perfect way to end the evening.
|
|
|
Post by fogcitygal on Dec 3, 2004 20:37:38 GMT -5
Great review! Sure wish I was there.
|
|
|
Post by Kimberly on Dec 6, 2004 11:51:31 GMT -5
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! I SAW THE AKUS CONCERT LAST NIGHT! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! It was awesome! They opened it with "Restless!" They didn't play all of the songs on the new album, because they threw in a lot of old favorites like "Forget About It," "ETYSG," "WYSNAA," "Man of Constant Sorrow," "Oh, Atlanta!!!!!!!!!!" and more! The biggest surprise to me was that they did a REALLY OLD song, "Dark Skies" from "I've Got That Old Feeling." It was amazing! I love the old songs! Ron did one of his songs off his album, not the one on LRBW. The encore consisted of "You will be my ain true love," and "Down to the River to Pray," and "A Living Prayer." Alison talked about Larry's haircut, Dan's voiceover, Ron's nervousness (so funny!), Jerry being the best Dobro player in the world, and of course Barry's huntin'. It was funny because Alison had trouble talking the whole night! She kept saying things wrong, like you know how you "flub up" when you talk?-- that's what she kept doing! She was so funny! Unfortunately I didn't get to meet Alison or Union Station because there was such TIGHT security at the Mizzou Arena. I did meet Candice from this BB though, and we each got our pic taken with Larry and one of the crew guys. So, that was cool. I really wish I could have seen Alison after the show, but I guess there will just be sometimes that you can't meet her. I mean, the tour busses were positioned in such a way that we could only see the crew guys' bus, and the back, oh, 5-6 feet of the other busses because it was around the building. There was a cop car blocking people from driving (or walking) down the road to that area. So much for wanting to get autographs by the busses. I know I didn't say everything, but Candice can fill in other things about the show that she remembers too!
|
|
|
Post by Doug on Dec 6, 2004 14:38:30 GMT -5
Kimberly, How many people were there? Was it a sellout??? How long did they sing What song got the biggest reaction?? I know you are probably studying for finals, but when you can take a break can you give some more detail. I would sure appreciate it. Doug
|
|
|
Post by Kimberly on Dec 6, 2004 15:52:35 GMT -5
Yeah, finals are next week. Actually, I'm so tired today from having to get up SUPER early this morning to drive back to school. I've gotta take a nap in a bit! I didn't look at my watch when it was over... I don't know how long it lasted. We were in the Univ. of MO arena, so it was not a sellout. The floor seats were filled (seats on the court) and the first level of tiered seating was a little over 1/2 filled all the way around. It was a very nice crowd. I'd say that Man of Constant Sorrow got the biggest reaction because everyone knows that song. Sorry, but it's not a personal favorite of mine. As a true AKUS fan who knows all their music, "Dark Skies" was the biggest reaction outta me! I was also very pleased with "Oh, Atlanta," and throughout the show, I whispered to my mom, "Oh, Atlanta!" because I wanted them to play it. It's our personal "live" favorite.
|
|
|
Post by Doug on Dec 6, 2004 17:17:03 GMT -5
Thanks Kimberly...It sounds exciting. I'll have to wait till January for my turn to go.
Good luck with your finals.
Doug
|
|
|
Post by Kimberly on Dec 6, 2004 17:28:27 GMT -5
Thanks Doug!
|
|
|
Post by fogcitygal on Dec 6, 2004 23:17:07 GMT -5
Wow, Kimberly, sounded like a fabulous concert! Lucky girl. And good luck on your finals....
|
|
|
Post by Doug on Dec 8, 2004 9:50:26 GMT -5
Did anyone or is anyone going to the concert last night or tonight in Louisville? If so let me know if they videoed the concert. From the very first when they announced the dates of the concert and they showed that they would play two nights in a row in Louisville, I have been thinking that they were going to do a DVD of the concert those nights like they did the LIVE DVD-having two chances to get a good take of each song. It seems like they would do it somewhere other than Louisville this time, but then again, they probably feel comfortable with the lighting and facilities, and they can probably be certain that they will have great crowds both nights so it does make sense. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but thought I'd check if anyone saw either of the performances or had the same theory.
Doug
|
|
|
Post by Kimberly on Dec 8, 2004 17:43:54 GMT -5
I have been thinking that they were going to do a DVD of the concert those nights like they did the LIVE DVD-having two chances to get a good take of each song. Good thinking, Doug. Man I wish that is the case! I truly don't know though. It sure would be fantastic!
|
|
jakub
Junior Member
Posts: 57
|
Post by jakub on Dec 9, 2004 11:32:17 GMT -5
That would be great to add another DVD of AKUS. Not sure if they're going to do it or not, but they are doing two concerts in Knoxville, too!! ;D Can't wait 'til January 21!
|
|
jakub
Junior Member
Posts: 57
|
Post by jakub on Dec 9, 2004 14:35:10 GMT -5
Hi Kimberly....I was just curious to know if at the concert, they were selling t-shirts of the LRBW tour or anything like that? Thanks, Jen
|
|
|
Post by fogcitygal on Dec 9, 2004 17:31:33 GMT -5
From Louisville Courier-Journal :
Alison Krauss + Union Station avoid sameness with hits and humor ------------------------------------------------------------------------ By Jeffrey Lee Puckett • December 9, 2004 jpuckett@courier-journal.com
Part of the appeal of seeing Alison Krauss + Union Station in concert is the back-of-the-bus banter instigated by Krauss, who might be the goofiest bandleader in bluegrass.
The in-jokes, pop-culture references and her ongoing teasing of bassist Barry Bales' love of turkey hunting are the modern equivalent of the scripted stage patter that has been a bluegrass tradition for decades.
But Krauss and Union Station quote movie lines instead of shill flour, which is the perfect analogy for the music they make; they might use the same instruments as the Stanley Brothers, but what they do with them is often entirely different.
Tuesday night at the Louisville Palace, the first of two consecutive performances, pure bluegrass was a rarity — an instrumental or two fit the description, as did guitarist/singer Dan Tyminski's turns at the microphone.
The bulk of the show, however, was dedicated to the style of music that has made Krauss' reputation: a mix of bluegrass, folk and pop that doesn't lean too heavily on any one of its elements.
No one does it better because no one else does it, and Tuesday's sold-out crowd was given a typically seamless performance.
The things that plague Krauss' records — chiefly a sameness of sound and tempo — are leavened in concert by the band's personalities and an always-generous selection of hits. There were still too many interchangeable heartache songs, but at least they came with jokes.
Highlights included "When You Say Nothing at All," "Oh, Atlanta," "The Lucky One" and "Now That I've Found You," all stalwarts of Krauss' live show. Tyminski delivered a powerful version of Woody Guthrie's "Pastures of Plenty," with a spare arrangement that complemented the stark, prideful lyrics. A brief solo set by dobro master Jerry Douglas included a dazzling take on Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing."
Krauss' encores are some of the best in the business, and this one included a Civil War ballad sung a cappella by her and Tyminski and yet another stunning version of "Down to the River to Pray," with Krauss, Tyminski, Bales and guitarist Ron Block harmonizing. Krauss' voice, which at times borders on fragile, was gorgeous and commanding. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Kimberly on Dec 9, 2004 18:00:13 GMT -5
Hi Kimberly....I was just curious to know if at the concert, they were selling t-shirts of the LRBW tour or anything like that? Thanks, Jen I didn't look, but Candice said that they were selling stuff, but none of it is new. I guess they don't have any LRBW t-shirts or anything. Hopefully they will, because I want one!
|
|