(no subject)
Last night I went to see Vashti Bunyan play at the Echo, a small nightclub/bar on Sunset Blvd. in the middle of Echo Park,not very far from where I'd lived when I first moved back to L.A. on my own, 20 years ago! The neighborhood hasn't changed much, still predominantly Mexican with a touch of bohemianism to it, pretty much like I remember although gentrification has been making inroads into it.
But back to Vashti Bunyan. First some background: Ms. Bunyan started off in the early to mid 60s as one of hundreds of "girl singers" of the time. She was managed by Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham who had her record her minor hit "Somethings Just Stick In Your Mind" (which was originally intended for Marianne Faithful) This is when she developed her wispy breathless singing style that she became known for. Shortly after this she recorded a few more singles, becoming increasingly folk oriented. A heartbreaking affair inspired three songs including the beautiful "Winter is Blue" (She said at the show last night that she'd recently met the guy who broke her heart and saw what a lucky escape she'd made. I know how that feels lol.) She met another and fell in love during the late 60s and had decided to leave London at the time. This leads to a fascinating part of the story as she and her boyfriend (and two dogs) spent a year and a half trekking across the countryside of England and Scotland to the Outer Hebrides in a horse drawn brightly painted Gypsy wagon. I remember reading an interview with her a few months ago where she talks about this and it sounds like such a fascinating adventure. Along the way she stayed at some land owned by her grandfather, returned briefly to London and recorded the album JUST ANOTHER DIAMOND DAY, which was based on the first half of the journey. The album didn't do very well at first but has recently gained attention since then. (Several UK magazines have included it on their "Top 100" albums lists) I personally recommend the album greatly. (The album also features playing by Dave Swarbick and SImon Nicol from one of my all time favorite bands, Fairport Convention)
This year she released her follow up album, LOOKOAFTERING,36 years later after her children had grown up and left home, giving her a flash of inspiration. She has seperated from the man she traveled with since then and lives in the city again (London I think, I'm not sure. One of her children lives in Los ANgeles I know.)
She did a great show. The years have been very kind to her as well as she is probably lovlier now than she was in her younger mod/hippie days. She had a great band with her too, guitarist banjo, a girl on keyboards and flute (and African finger piano) a cellist a fiddler and Ms. Bunyan herself on guitar and singing. She did a good selection of her two albums and sounded great. The place was packed too (I'm sure she's surprised that she had so many fans in the U.S.) There were a lot of hippie types there and it was a pretty mellow crowd. (One girl showed up carrying a guitar on her back and brought her dog with her! Such a sweet doggie too and very well behaved considering the crowd. He did bark once during the set to the amusement of Vashti and the crowd) Shes touring the U.S. and parts of Canada and is worth seeing if you get a chance to.
The opening act, Nobody and the Mystic Chords of Memory were pretty good too. They played this kind of psychelic folk rock with some really spacy effects. I'm going to look for their CD at Amoeba. (They had it for sale at the show but I'd already bought Vashti's latest CD there and wanted to save my money for beer. lol sorry guys!)
Well that was actually a good weekend for once. ANd speaking of concerts, I'm going to have to try and get my ticket for Bob Dylan at the Forum next month. (it's a long bus ride from Hollywood I know, but it's BOB DYLAN!) and also the Damned at the House of Blues in November so I'll have some more concerts to write about later on.
(So far this year: Faun Fables at the Troubadour last April, Acid Mothers Temple at Knitting Factory last May, Nina Hagen at House of Blues last July and Vashti Bunyan at the Echo last night.)
But back to Vashti Bunyan. First some background: Ms. Bunyan started off in the early to mid 60s as one of hundreds of "girl singers" of the time. She was managed by Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham who had her record her minor hit "Somethings Just Stick In Your Mind" (which was originally intended for Marianne Faithful) This is when she developed her wispy breathless singing style that she became known for. Shortly after this she recorded a few more singles, becoming increasingly folk oriented. A heartbreaking affair inspired three songs including the beautiful "Winter is Blue" (She said at the show last night that she'd recently met the guy who broke her heart and saw what a lucky escape she'd made. I know how that feels lol.) She met another and fell in love during the late 60s and had decided to leave London at the time. This leads to a fascinating part of the story as she and her boyfriend (and two dogs) spent a year and a half trekking across the countryside of England and Scotland to the Outer Hebrides in a horse drawn brightly painted Gypsy wagon. I remember reading an interview with her a few months ago where she talks about this and it sounds like such a fascinating adventure. Along the way she stayed at some land owned by her grandfather, returned briefly to London and recorded the album JUST ANOTHER DIAMOND DAY, which was based on the first half of the journey. The album didn't do very well at first but has recently gained attention since then. (Several UK magazines have included it on their "Top 100" albums lists) I personally recommend the album greatly. (The album also features playing by Dave Swarbick and SImon Nicol from one of my all time favorite bands, Fairport Convention)
This year she released her follow up album, LOOKOAFTERING,36 years later after her children had grown up and left home, giving her a flash of inspiration. She has seperated from the man she traveled with since then and lives in the city again (London I think, I'm not sure. One of her children lives in Los ANgeles I know.)
She did a great show. The years have been very kind to her as well as she is probably lovlier now than she was in her younger mod/hippie days. She had a great band with her too, guitarist banjo, a girl on keyboards and flute (and African finger piano) a cellist a fiddler and Ms. Bunyan herself on guitar and singing. She did a good selection of her two albums and sounded great. The place was packed too (I'm sure she's surprised that she had so many fans in the U.S.) There were a lot of hippie types there and it was a pretty mellow crowd. (One girl showed up carrying a guitar on her back and brought her dog with her! Such a sweet doggie too and very well behaved considering the crowd. He did bark once during the set to the amusement of Vashti and the crowd) Shes touring the U.S. and parts of Canada and is worth seeing if you get a chance to.
The opening act, Nobody and the Mystic Chords of Memory were pretty good too. They played this kind of psychelic folk rock with some really spacy effects. I'm going to look for their CD at Amoeba. (They had it for sale at the show but I'd already bought Vashti's latest CD there and wanted to save my money for beer. lol sorry guys!)
Well that was actually a good weekend for once. ANd speaking of concerts, I'm going to have to try and get my ticket for Bob Dylan at the Forum next month. (it's a long bus ride from Hollywood I know, but it's BOB DYLAN!) and also the Damned at the House of Blues in November so I'll have some more concerts to write about later on.
(So far this year: Faun Fables at the Troubadour last April, Acid Mothers Temple at Knitting Factory last May, Nina Hagen at House of Blues last July and Vashti Bunyan at the Echo last night.)