Question of Balance

One of my favorite albums from my youth is the Moody Blues album, A Question of Balance, released in 1970. Though it was their fifth album, it was the first time that The Moody Blues used political strife as a basis for songwriting. The song "Question", dealt with the controversy resulting from the ongoing Vietnam War. The album reached #1 in the UK and #3 in the U.S.



A couple of years ago I was able to attend a Moody Blues concert at the Brady Theater in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was fortunate to be able to get seats in the third row. Being that close to the stage made for great photo opportunities.





The Moodies put on a great show. I thoroughly enjoyed the concert. The band payed songs from every phase of their career, from the 60's through the 90's. One of my favorite lines was from Graeme Edge when he was talking about having turned 70. He said, "the great thing about turning 70 is that I've lived through the 60's twice".



The song "Question" was a real crowd favorite, and everyone seemed to know the words.

Why do we never get an answer
When we're knocking at the door?
With a thousand million questions
About hate and death and war.

Cause when we stop and look around us
There is nothing that we need.
In a world of persecution
That is burning in it's greed.

Why do we never get an answer
When we're knocking at the door?
Because the truth is hard to swallow
That's what the war of love is for.









If I ever have another chance to see the Moody Blues in concert I will definitely go again. It was the most fun I have ever had at a concert.




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Blend

B is for Blend.  Recently the group Blend was in concert here in my hometown at the Ouachita Little Theater.    Blend started at John A. Logan College in 2005 for a talent show and ended up winning it. From there, they decided to pursue it as a career.  The real strength of Blend lies in their ability to entertain crowds of all ages with songs which most everyone has heard at one point or another.  On top of their classic doo-wop routine they are also a deeply spiritual group and love to share their gospel music as well.

I really enjoyed the concert.  Blend is an acappela group, they use no instruments or pre-recorded music.  What you get is just some guys singing and having a good time.  They put on a very entertaining show and kept the audience involved, often coming down off of the stage and singing in the audience.

Some of the songs on their setlist included, Chain Gang, Duke of Earl, Pretty Women, Come Go With Me, Get a Job, Book of Love and Blue Moon.

If Blend ever comes back to Mena I will plan on going to see them again.

The ABC Wednesday Meme is a fun way to see some great blogs.

3 Penny Acre CD Release Concert

 

Sunday we attended the 3 Penny Acre CD Release Concert for their new album, Rag and Bone.  3 Penny Acre is an awesome Folk Americana band from Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Over the last few years, they have been my favorite band. Their name comes from the fact that the price of the Louisiana Purchase was three cents an acre. 3 Penny Acre is Bayard Blain, Bernice Hembree, and Bryan Hembree. They are all wonderful musicians, vocalists and songwriters.

Rag and Bone is their third album following the self titled 2008 release and Highway 71 released in 2010.  Highway 71 debuted on the folk radio charts at #3, including the title track “Highway 71” as the #1 song, and held that position for two months. Highway 71 runs through Mena, and my shop is located on the highway. When we first moved to Arkansas in 1981, Highway 71 still had one lane bridges and there was a popular bumper sticker that stated, Please pray for me; I drive Highway 71.

I first heard 3 Penny Acre when they came to Mena, Arkansas and gave a concert at The Ouachita Little Theater. I was curious about them because Bernice Hembree grew up here in Mena. I was blown away by how talented they were. I attend their concerts whenever it is possible. The CD Release Concert was something really special. They not only played the songs off of the new album but lots of old favorites. As the music flowed, it was obvious to the audience that the band was having a great time.

Here is a video I recorded at the concert of Bayard Blain singing his song, "Cowbird".  As someone who enjoys birdwatching, I got a kick out of the song.  

At the concert I took a series of sepia toned photos.  Here are some of the better shots.

After the concert we enjoyed visiting with Bernice and Bryan. We also visited some people from Mena who made the trip to Fayetteville for the concert.  On the long drive back home to Mena we listened to the new album until it felt like an old friend.

If you enjoy Folk or Americana music and appreciate insightful songwiting be sure to check out 3 Penny Acre.

Shreveport House Concert

Last Sunday we attended a concert at the Shreveport House Concert Series at Fairfield Studios.  My son-in-law took us to the concert for my birthday.  The Shreveport House Concerts feature original live music, performed in a warm, intimate setting.  The artists we saw were James LeBlanc and Angela Hacker.

James LeBlanc was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. He picked up the guitar at the mere age of three years old, inspired by his father, James Sr., who played guitar on a daily basis around the LeBlanc household.  Throughout his teen years James started writing songs and playing in several bands. 

James moved to Muscle Shoals, Alabama where he signed his first publishing deal with Fame Music.  James first hit single was released by Travis Tritt. The song was entitled “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde. He also wrote the title cut on Jason Aldean's album, Relentless. His songs have been recorded by artists such as Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Thompson Square, Gary Allan, Sara Evans, and Martina McBride.  To close out the concert he sang "Where You Are" which was recorded by Rascal Flatts as the first song on their Feels Like Today album.

Angela Hacker first gained fame through winning Nashville Star, a country version of American Idol. She was born in 1978 in Muscle Shoals, AL. When she was 13, she entered a singing contest at her school and claims that she "hasn't quit since." She struggled with her singing career, but got an audition on the fifth season of Nashville Star. She was selected to be one of the show's ten finalists. On the finale of the show, she won against her younger brother, Zac Hacker.

Angela is a gifted songwriter in her own right, but she says her passion is for singing.  She did an awesome version of the song, "People Get Ready".



I really enjoyed the intimate setting of the concert.  It really was like listening to friends make music.  After the concert we were able to visit with James and Angela.  It was a special evening and a really great birthday present.

F is for Flautist

The ABC Wednesday Meme is a great way to see some great blogs. This week the letter is "F". F is for Flautist; Or is it F is for Flutist? The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of vicious dispute among players of the instrument. "Flutist" is the earlier term in the English language, dating from at least 1603, while "flautist" is not recorded before 1860.



The first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary  lists fluter as dating from circa 1400 and Fowler's Modern English Usage states that "there seems no good reason" why flautist should have prevailed over fluter or flutist. However, according to Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, flautist is the preferred term in British English, and while both terms are used in American English, flutist is "by far the more common choice."

James Galway summed up the way he feels about "flautist," saying, "I am a flute player not a flautist. I don't have a flaut and I've never flauted."



I've never seen James Galway though I have a number of his CD's.  Even though I have never seen James Galway perform, I have had the privilege of hearing top quality flute music.  A few years ago we had a concert at our church by Philip Kim and Katherine Lin.  Philip and his family attended our church a number of years ago.  I hadn't seen him for some time.  When he was a little boy he idolized my daughter and would follow her around wherever she would go.  Philip spent a few month living in Mena after he graduated from college in 2009.  While he was here he put on a concert.  It was amazing to have such quality classical music in our little church.

I asked Philip and Katherine if they would let me film them playing, and they graciously agreed.  If you enjoy quality classical music be sure to check out these videos.







I'm sure that you will agree that Philip is an accomplished flutist. Or is he an accomplished flautist?