Hello Everybody.
So Rocktober more than lived up to its billing with a bunch of sensational shows.
I topped off the month with a quick visit to Chicago Oct. 29 to see the final date of the Bob Dylan/Elvis Costello/Amos Lee tour. The show earlier in October at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti was excellent, but I was hoping that Bob and Elvis would sing a song together that night, and it did not happen. I figured the final show of the tour might be the time where Bob and Elvis would have to sing a duet, and I was not disappointed. During the first song of the encore Elvis and Amos Lee both joined Bob and his band for a stirring, emotional version of I Shall Be Released – what a moment! It made my overnight drive back to Ann Arbor worth it.
I couldn’t make it to recent Spoon or Pinback shows but I did see much of Wilco’s show at the Fox, where the band was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. Speaking of the Fox, I’l be back there on November 10 to see Neil Young and his band to play what looks like the last truly major concert of 2007. Look for my review of the show in the Detroit Free Press, and of course I’ll talk about it on Ann Arbor’s 107one and play lots of Neil’s music on Fine Tuning (Sundays from 4-6pm).
I’ll be emceeing two free, live performances this month at the Liberty St. Borders in Ann Arbor – start time is 12:30 p.m. for the John Butler Trio on Wed., Nov. 14 and Tegan & Sara on Tue., Nov. 27. Both artists will sign CDs bought at Borders immediately after their performances.
Hope to see you there, or else at the remaining live broadcasts 6-10 a.m. Fridays at Espresso Royale coffee shops in A2. This Friday, Nov. 9 (my birthday!) I’ll be joined by the award-winning singer-songwriter Billy King at the Espresso Royale at 2871 Carpenter Road at Packard, then I’ll be live on Nov. 16 at the Espresso Royale on 2264 S. Main, Nov. 30 at the shop on 2603 Plymouth, and our final stop will at 214 S. Main on Dec. 14.
Best,
Martin
