Classic old-time music

Last night Toronto musician Ken Whiteley played right here on the Sunshine Coast and man was it ever a great show! He was accompanied on stand-up bass by Gabriola Island's own Dinah D., who's been with him for his entire tour of B.C. this month. Anyone who loves roots music would have loved this show. The man's a guitar and mandolin virtuoso, a damn fine singer and a hell of an entertainer too. It was quite the performance.

The past couple of years have been an absolute Bobsend for all of us Dylan fans. Not only did we get The Bob's great autobiography, "Chronicles Vol 1", but there was also "Bob Dylan: The Essential Interviews", an excellent collection of sometimes-hilarious and often-bizarre Q&A sessions spanning a 40 year period. Then there was the fantastic Martin Scorsese-directed documentary "No Direction Home" with its terrific double-CD soundtrack. Then last year, in late August, Bob gave us "Modern Times", the third album in his modern trilogy of revitalized greatness. And, finally, for the past year and a half now there's been his fascinating weekly radio show, "The Theme Time Radio Hour". We're talking about a whole bloody Bob Renaissance here people. The guy's as productive, creative and full of talent now as he's been at any other time in his career, save the early to mid-60s.

Ok, so about 34 hours ago I wrote you about my great anticipation and excitement concerning the imminent release of Bob Dylan's new CD "Modern Times" and I sent along that 5-out-of-5-stars review/rave from Rolling Stone Magazine. Well, yesterday I picked up the CD while out running around for the day. Unbelievably, it wasn't until later that evening that I got home and finally was able to listen to the bloody thing. I sat down for my first two listens together with a couple of nice cold Pilsner Urquells (the original Pilsner from the city of Pilsen in the Czech Republic). The perfect combination: A brand new Bob CD and a couple of cold beers... and my son, Kaishan, dancing all around the room to the sound of the new music.

Yesterday, I went out and bought the new Bruce Springsteen album, "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions", and now, after 4 or 5 listens all the way through, I have to report - though I could have reported the same thing after just one listen - that this is a fantastic album!! If, for you, it's all about Britney, Ashlee Simpson, N Sync and their like then you might as well stop reading right here, but if you're into real music then it's time to pay attention. You've already read the rave review from Rolling Stone magazine that I sent out yesterday, but here's a quick little rave of my own: