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You don't hear music this rootsy and soulful enough anymore. Ry's guitar playing was restrained and tasteful. I'd have liked to see him stretch out a bit more. His backing musicians, including son Joachim on drums, laid a solid foundation. The sax player added some avant garde spice to the stew. The backup singers, the Hamiltones, were simply awesome. Joachim's quirky opening set was enjoyable, too.
I never thought I would get a chance to see Ry Cooder - I didn't know what to expect as he has played so many styles. He had a relatively small combo (including an awesome bass saxophonist) with lots of space between the instruments. Just great stuff, and Emmylou Harris was as good as I've seen her. Highly recommended.
Great show! Ry in fine voice. Arlo Guthrie, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Cash covers to name a few. Blues, old-timey, ballads, protest, spirituals - great song choices. Excellent band and when is the last time you saw a bass sax? Good backup vocals - Hamiltones(?) If Cooder comes back do not miss it.
Ry Cooder proved again that he is a master guitar player and his band was just great. Joachim Cooder opened the show and played really create and ethereal music. I thoroughly enjoyed this evening.
Smooth movement from vocals and instruments through a variety of themed songs, ballads and protests. Has as mature take on his previous wanderings that has aged like a fine wine. I enjoyed it very much, it certainly could have been longer. Unfortunately the venue was hot and stuffy with no air circulation. Many sweaty complaining people.
Fabulous Ry Cooder & ensemble concert. Cooder is better than ever, no mean feat at his age. The Hamiltones were an unexpected treat, we're fans now. The Neptune crew was so helpful. My wife is in a wheelchair and they went out of their way to move us to a better location. Great folks.
Wonderful to see Ry again and Joaquim too - and the back-up singers were great!! I liked that he went back to more of his old stuff and wasn't with Ricky Skaggs again. Didn't like that concert. Ry is one of my favorite musicians ever. I'd LOVE to see/hear him play with Taj Mahal again - great old days there!!
I love Ry Cooder as he has soul, feeling, whatever. He sings gospel but not with the self righteous attitude I associate with the christian right. In fact he sings about the money grubbing christians.
EmmyLou & her band were low-key & rockin', heart-felt & sometimes political, but overall a moving, interesting show covering her own music, artists like Lucinda Williams & Dion's "Abraham, Martin & John". One of best moments was band's acapella tune. Ry Cooder & his band alternated solos, acoustic & bluesy numbers, heavy on alto sax (and a jazzy undertone). Many of Cooder's tunes were faith-driven. Venue was spectacular, especially on such a stormy, sloppy evening! Mann's staff exceptional from parking lot to the amphitheatre. EmmyLou & Cooder provided a peaceful, musical evening.
Ry Cooder brought his most recent release "The Prodigal Son" to a temporarily submarine Mann Music Center on July 3rd and if you weren't there, you truly missed out. Accompanied by the very talented Hamiltones, Cooder took the audience on a primal journey through songs, new and old, that told an unflinching tale about American desperation and the diminishing prospects of the American dream. The music was simple and direct, unforced and laid back. New songs and new arrangements of old songs that married the Gospel -inspired vocals of the Hamiltones with the earthy Blues and slide guitar of Cooder into a melange that was at once exotic and hauntingly familiar. Also, there was a bass saxophone. If you have the opportunity to attend a concert on this tour, you owe it to yourself to do just that.
Just getting the chance to see him these days is remarkable.. Sound quality was so much better than his co-bill so I think there was real attention to detail there. And then there is the fact that he is an American original with no one else out there like him.
WHat an amazing artist and amazing performance. Ry Cooder was / is / has been / continues to be THE master of slide guitar. His band was having fun, full of energy and talent. The Hamiltones were perfect. Yet another talented group of musicians that Mr. Cooder has placed in front of us. The evening ROCKED despite the heat and humidity.
Ry Cooder's concert showcased his latest album, Prodigal Son. I love the new album and was right at home with his setlist; however if you were not familiar with it, you might not have enjoyed the show quite as much as my husband and I did. Emmylou Harris opened and she and her band were excellent! (Too say she opened is a little unfair as she is a headliner and music legend in her own right.) Anyway, Ry's singing and guitar playing were excellent and he was backed up by the Hamiltones who are fantastic for the harmonies! His band included his son, Joachim on drums and all excelled. Ry encored with Johnny Cash's "Get Rhythm" and a rousing version of "Little Sister." I was sorry he omitted his new song, "Shrinking Man," which is a metaphor for getting older. A great show at the Mann Music Center on Tuesday night!
Both artists gave us an unforgettable evening!!!!!
Emmy Lou was as great as she has always been,girl you look good!Ry Cooder ,I have been waiting to see you since 1982 ,I could have heard all your songs and not minded the hard seat.I wondered why his set was so far back.Normally sets are moved up after the first act.His band was excellent and the Hamiltones were tremendous.I have not sat in the second row in a long time,did not disappoint.
Ry Cooder with his band and the amazing gospel-tinted Hamiltonians, all put together forms one of the all time great experiences: amazing harmonies, and the stellar guitar, mando-playing genius of Cooder's arrangements and playing: always just enough notes; always the right amount of notes. See why Rolling Stone has placed Cooder in the top 100 Guitar Players in music.
Since the early seventies the guitar stylings of Ry have been a joy. Finding his skill on other artists work. His consistently delightful extensive solo works. And one of the most moving things I have ever heard, bringing together the Bonivista Social Club. Working with musicians like Taj Mahall Randy Newman. And the instrumental movie soundtracks. And there was Ry on stage, appearing comfortable, casually dressed with a beautiful tie. All his guitars within reach and the master sings and plays tunes familiar and from his new LP. His son Joachim opened the show playing an “not sure what that was” but was entertained. Backing musicians were all excellent. Ry Cooder’s music/musinship and extroidanary skill with the guitar is one of my most treasured experiences. And on my great hi-fi I will continue to play his LP/CD’s. JB
Pretty disappointing to see one of the major talents of the age put on a ho hum whatever goes show starring (mostly) everbody but the name preformer. Lot of people, lot of waiting around, lot of noise, not much memorable music, harsh sound mix - won't do it again
Was not that familiar with Ty Cooder's work but I really liked his performance. Great voice and guitar work. Backup group "The Hamiltones" were excellent. Backup band was tight.
Been waiting to hear Ry in concert for 40 years. Bought tickets five months before the show. His guitar playing is among the best ever; where are the current generation of kids who can play like him? Great band and background singers, played a few gems from his 37 albums!! ,along with a few new tunes. But then things really got bogged down with him playing politics. You try to get away for an evening of enjoyment, escape the daily crap that goes as news these days, pay the $200 it takes to get decent seats, and it's like the TV is still on. What is it with musicians who have to act like politicians?? Unfortunately, his actions and lyrics ruined the performance for my wife and I, and we got up and left before he was done playing. I guess musicians and politicians are really the same, all just playing to their base. On top of all this, on the way out of the theater, we got harassed by some panhandlers. Absolutely pitiful what is allowed to go on in our cities these days. The experience has left a very sour taste for me to go through the hassle of seeing live performances anymore. Probably best to break out the old vinyl, crank up the sound system, and enjoy Ry's craft and expertise that way.
