2007 Twilight Concert Series Lineup
July 5 Robert Earl Keen | Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles
Robert Earl Keen
Singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen is a Houston native whose lyrical and cinematic wordplay is legendary in finding a diverse audience from traditional country music fans to folk music fans, alt-country fans and the college radio crowd. Although Keen is mostly known for his upbeat songs, his wry lyrical finesse and bluesy social commentary places him in a category of one. Keen has mastered the technique of country thumbing and the southern twang, while staying true to his rock roots through such influences as the Beatles, Cream, and Marvin Gaye. Keen is a Texas icon and maintains his individuality through southern lit songs bursting with poetic magnetism. Artist homepage.
Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles
Sarah Borges, Boston based singer/songwriter, fuses her passion for rooted country music with her love of hard edged rock. With her band of four years, the Broken Singles, Borges has been making a name for herself in both the rock and country scene through such acclaimed albums as her 2005 debut, Silver City, and the upcoming June release of Diamonds in the Dark. With influences from Dolly Parton to Sid Vicious, and a band that feels like a true collaboration as well as a family, the sound of Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles recognizes music of the past through the melancholy feel of classic country with the gritty attitude of alt-rock. Artist homepage.
July 12 Galactic | JJ Grey and MOFRO
Galactic
Galactic, a New Orleans-based jazz-funk-rock ensemble, has made a unique name for themselves in the live concert scene. Comprised of Robert Mercurio (bass), Stanton Moore (drums), Ben Ellman (saxophonist), Rich Vogel (hammond organist) and Theryl DeClouet (vocals), they are an organic powerhouse with contemporary capacity. Galactic has played with the Allman Brothers Band, The Roots, Widespread Panic and Jurassic 5, and have maintained a strong and loyal fan base both in and out of the jam community. With the fusion of free jazz, country blues, world music, hard rock and funk and their technical expertise, Galactic arrives at a balance with a transcendental and retrospective sound that drives audiences to dance. Artist homepage.
JJ Grey & MOFRO
JJ Grey & MOFRO are a down home roots band radiating funky and melodic rock and soul. To the surprise of many and the delight of even more, much of the band's music repertoire spotlights environmental issues facing the wildlife and ecology of their home state. From Jacksonville, Florida the band is composed of JJ Grey (vocals, guitar, harmonica, and keyboards), Daryl Hance (guitar), George Sluppick (drums) and Adam Scone (organ). In response to their new album, 2007’s Country Ghetto, MOFRO switched it up a bit and began performing under the name JJ Grey & MOFRO. With influences such as Muddy Waters, Van Morrison and Sly & The Family Stone, MOFRO’s music reflects the 1960s through organ and horn sections, with an added “swamp-funk.” Grey’s smoky vocals and blistering rock n’ roll grit evokes a soulful sound like the best of Motown or The Memphis Beat. Artist homepage.
July 19 Yo La Tengo | The Fiery Furnaces
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo is a trio of husband/wife duo Georgia Hubley and Ira Kaplan, along with bassist James McNew. Yo La Tengo, translates to “I’ve got it” in Spanish, and really does the trio justice in its literal translation. The brilliant sound of Yo La Tengo is as complex as its members, ranging from folk, garage-punk, free jazz and electronica.
Yo La Tengo’s musical repertoire is extensive, with songs as complex and exquisite as a full orchestra, as intricate and improvisational as a jazz combo and as hard as thrashing will allow. This trio brings it to the stage, with awe-inspiring breadth and depth. Artist homepage.
The Fiery Furnaces
The brother-sister duo known as The Fiery Furnaces make adventurously twisted, strangely playful music that requires both dancing shoes and an open mind. Growing up in a musical home, Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger pursued a musical career as The Fiery Furnaces, and have toured and performed with French Kicks, Sleater-Kinney, Spoon, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Franz Ferdinand and the Shins. They have also recorded 5 albums, including 2006’s Bitter Tea which features their own grandmother. The sound of The Fiery Furnaces swirls garage rock with folk, adds a splash of clever wordplay and dissonance, while folding in a variety of musical and personal influences. Artist Homepage
July 26 moe. | Dr. Dog
moe.
With countless danceable songs and just as many devoted fans, moe. is an American jam band that delivers beautiful melodies through streaming rock improvisations. moe. has been a staple at music festivals across the nation, including Bonnaroo, 10,000 Lakes and has also performed at Woodstock ’99, with the Allman Brothers and The Who. The current lineup includes: Rob Derhak (bass, vocals), Al Schnier (guitar, vocals, keyboard), Chuck Garvey (guitar, vocals), Vinnie Amico (drums), and Jim Loughlin (percussion). Their latest studio album, “The Couch”, was awarded 4 out of 5 stars from Rolling Stone, and 3.5 out of 4 stars from Paste. The Buffalo News calls “The Conch” “A Masterpiece”. moe. audiences catch the jam spirit and dance all night long. Artist Website
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog is a five-piece band from the Philadelphia area with five albums already under their belt. As critic Ken Tucker notes, Dr. Dog has an “intentionally ragged sound . . . with delicate harmonies, illustrating their belief that tuneful music is a virtue in itself.” Band members include Thanks (Frank McElroy) on multi-string guitar, full-grip chords, and harmonies, Triumph (Juston Stens) on trapset and harmonies, Taxi (Scott McMicken) on woof+mud distortion, solo guitar and voice, Tables (Toby Leaman) on finger bass and vocals, and Text (Zach Miller) on organ. Following on their already released albums, Dr. Dog has a new one in the mix. This 60s pop/contemporary band has played with such indie favorites as Architecture in Helsinki, My Morning Jacket, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and The Strokes. The wryness and wit of Dr. Dog’s lyrics combine with a distinctly modern sound for a performance that satisfies the audience on every level. Artist Website
August 2 Peter Bjorn and John | Apostle of Hustle
Peter Bjorn and John
Peter Bjorn and John is a band at the forefront of great pop wave coming from Sweden. Members Peter Morén on vocals, guitar, and harmonica; Björn Yttling on vocals, bass and keyboards; and John Eriksson on drums, percussion and vocals have quickly become favorites in the indie post-punk pop scene. The playful, catchy and frantic sound of PB&J blends classic ‘60s pop with dynamic punk, resulting in a rough around the edges sound. The infectious and danceable single “Young Folks,” featuring the guest vocals of Viktoria Bergsman of The Concretes, brought the band much exposure both in and out of the indie crowd scene. The pure enjoyment of listening to PB&J is undeniable, and their music reflects an experimental intellectual approach that often comes with the intimacy of a trio. With 2 previous albums under their belt, and the 2007 chart-topping release of Writer’s Block, Peter Bjorn and John have grown into a band that holds its own around the world. Artist homepage.
Apostle of Hustle
Take everything good about the “indie super group” Broken Social Scene, including guitarist Andrew Whiteman, mix in a little Latin feel along with Julian Brown and Dean Stone and Apostle of Hustle is born. After visiting family in Cuba, where Whiteman learned to play the tres, a Cuban guitar, he used his time off from touring with Broken Social Scene to create Apostle of Hustle and their 2004 debut Folkloric Feel. With their follow up album, 2007’s National Anthem of Nowhere, the band gave this project their full attention, and their commitment is tangible on each track. Based in Toronto, Apostle of Hustle will bring their brilliant post-rock/experimental sound to delight the Twilight audience. Artist homepage.
August 9 David Grisman Quintet | Sam Bush
David Grisman Quintet
David Grisman is not just a master mandolinist of world renown; he is also a composer, bandleader, teacher and record producer. While making a name for himself in the contemporary music world, Grisman pioneered the unique genre of “dawg” music, a style heavily influenced by swing, bluegrass, Latin, gypsy and jazz. Grisman has influenced generations of musicians through his musical explorations over the last 40 years. This ambition and musical focus have allowed him to produce and collaborate with such legendary artists as Béla Fleck, The Grateful Dead, Emmylou Harris, and James Taylor. Artist homepage.
Sam Bush
If the name Sam Bush doesn’t ring a bell, maybe his title, the “King of Newgrass” will. Bush, the creator and leader of the Newgrass musical movement, has been captivating audiences and listeners for decades. This Kentucky-bred prodigy is best known for his extraordinary work on the mandolin, and was the leader of the legendary bluegrass band New Grass Revival, which featured the talented banjoist Béla Fleck. The Twilight Concert Series welcomes Sam Bush back for the 20th Anniversary season. Artist homepage.
August 16 Michael Franti | Charlie Hunter Trio
Charlie Hunter Trio
Charlie Hunter is known both for his unique fusion of jazz and rock and for his distinctive guitar playing where he plays lead guitar on the top strings and bass guitar on the bottom strings simultaneously. Hunter has an incredible 17 albums to his credit and has worked with and recorded with numerous artists including Les Claypool, D’angelo, Mos Def, Norah Jones, John Mayer, Miles Perkins and many more. After 1993 when Hunter left the political rap group Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, where he worked with Michael Franti, he moved toward more jazz-oriented music. For Hunter, exposing others not only to his music, but jazz in general, is what gives him real joy. It is through this passion that he wants to inspire future generations to reconnect with the pure American artform that is jazz. Artist homepage.
Michael Franti
Over the many years that Michael Franti has been making socially conscious music, his musicianship and his political outreach have matured. Through musical projects like the drum’n’bass/industrial duo Beatnigs, the jazz-influenced rap group Disposable Heroes of Hihoprisy, and likely his most popular endeavor, the soulful funk-rock fusion Spearhead, Michael Franti has become a voice for social justice and musical dynamism. In a very exciting reunion, Franti will share the show with his former bandmate of Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Charlie Hunter. From tours with U2 and many others, to recordings with social critic, novelist, and spoken word performer William S. Burroughs, Michael Franti has built his credibility as a protest musician and has inspired both his fans and other musicians. Franti’s music is an articulate and beautiful call to action on the injustices of the world, ranging from homelessness, to the prison system, to corporate globalization, and to the world AIDS epidemic. Artist homepage.
August 23 Calexico | French Kicks
Calexico
Calexico is a collective of Tucson musicians focused around John Convertino (drums and percussion) and Joey Burns (guitars and vocals). Other members include Paul Niehau (steel guitar), Jacob Valenzuela (keyboards, trumpet and vibraphone), Martin Wenk (accordion, guitar, synthesizers, trumpet and vibraphone), and Volker Zander (standup bass). The musical style of Calexico has been heavily influenced by Portuguese Fado, 50s Jazz, gypsy music, 60s surf music and pop elements. More than a Southwestern novelty, Calexico was asked to join acclaimed bands Wilco and Iron & Wine on their tours. Calexico has successfully been able forge an eclectic identity that is both reflective of their Southwestern roots and an expression of their individuality. Artist homepage.
French Kicks
The New York based French Kicks are a band of bold experimentation, maintaining subtly that has positioned them in the music scene as accessible and intriguing. With 3 albums to the young group’s credit, and an ever expanding audience, French Kicks exert a legitimate musical influence. Consisting of Nick Stumpf (lead vocals and keyboard), Josh Wise (vocals and guitar), Lawrence Stumpf (bass), Aaron Thurston (drums) and Kush El Amin (guitar, keyboard and percussion), French Kicks marry the playfulness of alt-pop with the aggression of post-punk. It is the energy and weight of their musical style that resonates with listeners and keeps them continuously engaged. Artist homepage.