[contextly_auto_sidebar] WHAT happens when you take two of the best exemplars of stage patter in modern music, set them up in historic halls with old acoustic guitars, and let them unleash a set built on classic American train songs? An oddly satisfying, even at times thrilling, grownup show that made the railroad tradition seem like a central part of the American journey. Bragg is, of … [Read more...]
Archives for 2016
The bizarre wonder of The Iceland Concert
[contextly_auto_sidebar] About a week ago I went to see a cryptically named sort-of opera called "The Iceland Concert" at the John Anson Ford Amphitheater. I went mostly because of a vague interest in Scandinavian culture, because I was curious about the renovation of one of my favorite LA theaters, and because I trust the taste of the publicist. It didn't hurt that the success of groups like … [Read more...]
August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey” at the Taper
[contextly_auto_sidebar] LAST night I caught "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" -- one of the historically earliest of August Wilson's cycle of plays about black life in the 20th century -- at the Mark Taper Forum. This production, directed by Phylicia Rashad (best known for her role on "The Cosby Show"), has been justly celebrated already, so I will just introduce it and add a few details. Despite … [Read more...]
Happy 80th to Steve Reich
A FEW years back I spent an hour or so with Steve Reich before a concert of his work. Here is the story I wrote about the pioneering minimalist, who marks his 80th birthday today. I was struck by how down to earth Reich was, also how deep his love of Bartok seemed to be. Reich's "Different Trains" and "Music for 18 Musicians" are two of my all-time favorite pieces. Seeing the latter at Walt … [Read more...]
Kraftwerk at the Hollywood Bowl
[contextly_auto_sidebar] KRAUTROCK has rarely been my cup of ale; the only German rock band I've ever loved is Neu!, and it took years of listening to Stereolab to adjust my metabolism to the repetitive, minimal, technophile grooves. But I've heard so many good things about the shows Kraftwerk -- who all but invented the genre, and scored its first big U.S. hit with "Autobahn" -- performed at … [Read more...]
Guillermo Del Toro at LACMA
[contextly_auto_sidebar] I MUST admit to being the kind of museum-goer instinctively suspicious of exhibits about popular culture. I say this as someone who loves pop culture and spends most of his life there. But these exhibits can be ways of pandering in an attempt to draw new audiences. I'm all in favor of the new audiences, but turned off by the pandering. But I had high hopes for the … [Read more...]