Good show
by ctut on 6/14/10Wild Bills - DuluthBand was good, facility was crowded, but wasn't and issue.
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Many veteran bands trade on nostalgia, on replication of past glories, and on recycled emotions from younger, more carefree days.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band trades on a mix of reimagined classics and compelling newer works. The group formed in 1966 as a Long Beach, California jug band, scored its first charting single in 1967, and embarked on a self-propelled ride through folk, country, rock 'n' roll, pop, bluegrass, and the amalgam now known as "Americana." The first major hit came in 1971 with the epic "Mr. Bojangles," which, along with insistent support from banjo master Earl Scruggs, opened doors in Nashville. Behind those doors were Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff, Doc Watson, Mother Maybelle Carter, Jimmy Martin, and others who would collaborate on a multi-artist, multi-generational, three-disc 1972 masterpiece: Will the Circle Be Unbroken went triple Platinum, spawned two later volumes, and wound up in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Was this a cutting-edge combo or a group of revivalists? Was the goal rebellion or musical piety? Yes, to all these things. In the 1980s, the Dirt Band reeled off 15 straight Top 10 country hits, including chart-toppers "Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)," "Modern Day Romance," and "Fishin' in the Dark (co-written by Jim Photoglo, who would join the band in the second decade of the new century). 1989 brought a second Circle album, this one featuring singer-songwriter talents including John Prine, Rosanne Cash, and John Hiatt and garnering two Grammy awards for the band (it later won another, for a collaboration with Earl Scruggs and other fine folks). Circle II also won the Country Music Association's Album of the Year prize. Circle III was released in 2003, featuring collaborations with Johnny Cash, Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, and more.
Throughout the group's lifetime, personnel has changed, with each change resulting in positive steps forward, new ways of playing the old songs, and renewed enthusiasm for writing and recording fresh material. The latest Dirt Band lineup is expanded to six members for the first time since 1968. Today's group consists of founding member Jeff Hanna, harp master Jimmie Fadden (who joined in 1966), and soulful-voiced Bob Carpenter, who has more than 40 years of service in the ensemble. Those veterans are now joined by singer-songwriter-bass man Jim Photoglo, fiddle and mandolin wizard Ross Holmes, and Hanna's son, the preternaturally talented singer and guitarist Jaime Hanna.
Blood harmony, thrilling instrumental flights, undeniable stage chemistry...these things are part of each Dirt Band show, just as they are part of Dirt Does Dylan, the first recording from the reconfigured, six-strong group. Produced by Ray Kennedy and Jeff Hanna, it's a remarkable ride through some of the most impactful songs of the past century, penned by Bob Dylan and taken for a blue highway spin by a great American band, with help from genius-level contemporary artists like Jason Isbell and The War and Treaty.
A Dirt Band show is unlike any other. For legions of fans, it's less about the memories than the moment, crisp as an Autumn apple and rich as a royal flush.
Band was good, facility was crowded, but wasn't and issue.
The band was great. I audience was subdued. It was a quiet night at WIld Bills, but the band was really good. This is a band that an older crowd would love. I danced all night.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band came on the stage strong and did not disappoint. With a mix of new and old tunes, they kept the audience guessing. Great mix of old country, new country and blue grass. Wild Bills is a great venue. Had not been there in years and this experience would definitely have me going back to see more band concerts.
Over the multiple decades that have come and gone since the early California release of one of music's BEST and strongest bands to ever delight the hearts, minds, and attitudes of numerous generations----The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I saw them then and I saw them yesterday---age matures and betters wine, memories, and The Dirt. Boy, better than ever. The crowd was captivated and wooed as once in a early hippie-dom--HAZE---it occurred again in a open multi-aged venue of Duluth, Georgia (Wild Bill's)...a suburb of Atlanta, GA. Go Dirt Go!
These guys have beeen around a really long time and still playing like they did in their earlier years.
Show was really good. Go see them!! Banjo player was awesome.
The crowd was a huge dissapointment, but the show was top notch. I grew up listening to these guys and they have not lost a lick. If you know their music, you will not be dissapointed. If you like country, rock, and/or bluegrass, but don't know The Dirt, go see them and you'll have a good time. I hope that the crowd is bigger for other stops in their tour. This act deserves it.
I can't believe how good this group really is. They are a class act very inspiring and a joy to listen to. Can you believe that they have been on stage since 1966, What an incredible tribute to devotion and dedication to one true love and one occupation.
They were humble. They were funny. Their instrumentation, vocals, harmonies, lyrics were awesome! Ya gotta see to believe!
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, formed nearly 45 years ago in southern California, enthralled the crowd last night at the Birchmere. Drawing on many of their numerous hits, they played a mixture of rock and roll, bluegrass, blues, country, and country rock. Perhaps as no other band could, they engaged the audience with their harmony vocals, multi-instrumental talents, and clean, but poignant humor. A good time was had by all!
This is the third time that I have seen them and this was absolutely the best show yet. The way they showcased Jimmy and John was awesome.
It's an OK band . The best songs they had were "Speed of life" and "Mr. Bojangles". They took brakes leaving the stage in turns and letting each other have their individual acts. The Drum player was quite good and a character. He played the drums and the harmonica at the same time and played quite well. When he had his solo turn he played did not have a specific theme. The banjo player that played two more cord instruments was quite amazing in his solo. It's a band that could do a lot better. They have a clean-cut and are dress semi-formal informal way without looking like hippies or rugged. It was fun although I'm not sure that I would go to another function their repertoire is not very extensive.
I was unprepared for the virtuosity of each musician! From the excellent banjo picking, to an unparalleled harmonica solo portraying a whole train and it's journey, the show was outstanding. They cleverly avoided the let down of an intermission, yet allowed each member a breather off stage, so that the hour and a half show seemed to last all night, in a good way. With a range of voices from sweet to gutsy-blues, they created and portrayed a depth of emotion in each piece. I'm so glad we heard them live!
this is the third time in four years we've seen the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. They just get better and better -- last night's show was truly amazing! They're so versatile in their music, their instruments, everything. Really superb performers!
This show was promoting their new album, released in September called "Speed of Life." Many songs from the set came from this album, including the title track along with "Resurrection", and "Tulsa Sounds Like Trouble to Me." This last song featured one of the most incredible harmonica solos by Jimmy Fadden, the NGDB's combo drummer/harmonicist! Hey, I've played drums before, but to do that, throw in some great harmonica licks, and vocals--just incredible. And, let's not sell short Jim McEuen, Bobby Carpenter, or Jeff Hannah. The band also threw in some chestnuts like "Dance Little Jeanie", and a few tunes from their landmark "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" volumes. As a bluegrass fan, this is where the band really shines; those albums are timeless treasures! But, if you like country or swing, the band does those well too. They really defy classification into one genre. As I write this, I'm not sure why I didn't give this 5 stars. I guess I wasn't blown away as I was at a very few concerts; so a 5-star is an elitist platteau that this show didn't quite reach for me.
That's real music, get them back to the Ark ASAP. Sounded fantastic,crowd loved every minute.
What a treat! Never did I think that after years of listening to this band during my college years would I hear the N.G.D.B. play Mr. Bojangles LIVE. All band members are incredibly talented. The Ark in Ann Arbor is a very special venue for performers and audience alike. It was meaningful to see and hear the gratitude of the band members for such an incredible crowd on a Monday night.
40 years together and they sound as good as on their cds. I knew more songs than I thought I would and was totally taken in by those I didn't. Each is a talented musician and make it look so easy. The Ark is a wonderful venue. You are so up close and personal with the artists, they feel like old friends by the end. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole evening!
A great concert! We would love to see them at the Ark again!