Review of Saturday's Speaking Clock Revue Show

[walktall2010]

Note: I strongly recommend that anyone who likes well-crafted, mature music pick up a copy of Elton John and Leon Russell's "The Union," which comes out Tuesday. It's fantastic.

All-stars’ concert for T Bone is well-done

By Jim Sullivan / Music Review

I first saw T Bone Burnett in 1975 when he was 27 and one of the less-known musicians on Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue tour. A sterling cast of stars surrounded him.

The idea took hold.

Saturday at a nearly sold-out Wang Theatre, Burnett - who’s risen to fame over the past three decades as a producer for a slew of artists - was surrounded by another crop of stars: Elton John, Elvis Costello, John Mellencamp, Gregg Allman and many more. They’re all artists he’s produced. They and more than 20 other musicians made up the Speaking Clock Revue, a modern day jamboree that made its debut in Boston. (There’s another gig in New York on Wednesday.)

It was a two-set show, with a mix of country, blues, bluegrass, gospel and roots-rock. Many folks played songs Burnett had produced. There were no real “hits,” unless you count Allman’s “Midnight Rider.” That wasn’t the idea. This was all about sharing - and subtly promoting a cause. Burnett said he’d been inspired by the documentary “Waiting for ‘Superman,’ ” and the money raised was to fund music education in schools.

Costello began the night with “Brilliant Mistake.” Throughout, he and Burnett traded the role of the nattily attired witty emcee, with Costello calling Burnett his “older, taller, smarter brother.” Burnett, a beaming presence, played only a bit of guitar and sang backup.

The three-hour show was sharply paced and star-powered, but there was no star-tripping. Stellar moments came from 83-year-old country singer Ralph Stanley, New Pornographers’ singer Neko Case and bluegrass quintet the Punch Brothers.

Guitar ace Marc Ribot helmed the multi-piece backing band and drummer Jim Keltner anchored it.

There were highlights scattered everywhere, but certainly Mellencamp’s four new songs were up there. The heartland rocker has stripped away the fist-pumping arena rock and roughened up his sound, almost like Tom Waits. He got the night’s first standing ovation for “Save Some Time to Dream,” a call-out to a younger generation. Dream, but realize sorrow and failure come to us all.

Actor Jeff Bridges stepped into his Bad Blake “Crazy Heart” role with two country-rock tunes. Allman, the gracious recent recipient of a liver transplant, thanked his donor and sang three gritty blues rockers from an upcoming CD, “Low Country Blues.”

The climax came at the end when two grand pianos were wheeled on for John and Leon Russell, the two having recorded a new CD, “The Union“ (out Tuesday). John called bearded, white-haired, sunglassed Russell - who used a cane and never spoke or looked at the crowd - his idol. The two swapped vocal and piano leads on six songs that hit rock-gospel-soul heights. One of the best was a poignant Civil War song, “Gone to Shiloh,” with Allman joining on vocals. John and Russell closed the evening with genuine grit and fire.

http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view/20101017all-stars_concert_for_t_bone_is_well-done/srvc=home&position=recent

[walktall2010]

Another review, from the Boston Globe:

Speaking Clock runs on electricity
Burnett’s Revue is packed with star power

By James Reed
Globe Staff / October 18, 2010

Performances aside — and they were uniformly inspired — there was an undeniable charm to Saturday night’s Speaking Clock Revue at the Citi Wang Theatre. Nowhere else could you watch 83-year-old bluegrass patriarch Ralph Stanley amble past Elton John, who was busy squeezing John Mellencamp’s shoulder and embracing up-and-comers the Secret Sisters and Karen Elson at the end of the show.

Or witness Elvis Costello and T Bone Burnett, guitars in hand, rushing out of the wings to join actor Jeff Bridges on songs from the film “Crazy Heart.’’ Oh, and yes, that was Neko Case sidling up to sing harmony with Gregg Allman on “Midnight Rider,’’ an Allman Brothers Band classic he hasn’t performed since his liver transplant in June.

Such was the electricity that the benefit concert brought to life with an incredible roster of musicians who were as dynamic as one could have predicted. The three-hour-plus revue, which moves to New York’s Beacon Theatre on Wednesday, was the brainchild of Burnett, the producer who enlisted an array of musicians he has worked with, and a few he simply admires.

The ground rules were simple: With a few exceptions, most everyone played only songs they’ve recorded with Burnett, ensuring the evening was fresh and unique. Burnett’s presence felt like it often comes across on record — minimal but essential. He briefly plugged the new documentary “Waiting for ‘Superman,’ ’’ which looks at the need for education reform in public schools, but indicated early on that everyone was here for the music.

The first act was smartly curated to intersperse rising acts with legendary ones, meaning if you didn’t like the virtuosic bluegrass quintet Punch Brothers (but how could you not?), Mellencamp was just a few songs away.

Costello served as an amiable host, kicking the show off with “Brilliant Mistake,’’ flanked by Elson and the Secret Sisters clustered around a microphone. Led by mandolinist Chris Thile, Punch Brothers were in fine rhythmic form — particularly on a raucous take on Jimmie Rodgers’s “The Brakeman’s Blues’’ — and later added some texture to other performers’ sets.

Meanwhile, Costello was right about the Secret Sisters in his introduction: They certainly did turn the crowd on its ear with their intertwined harmonies, never so beautiful as on a soaring rendition of Bill Monroe’s “The One I Love Is Gone.’’ British-born Elson was more ethereal, a vision of spooky Americana rendered right out of a Coen brothers film — floor-length white dress, flame-red hair, and a voice that could have used some color of its own.

Case, the evening’s other fiery songstress, was awestruck by her surroundings. “I’m trying to act cool right now,’’ she said as she surveyed the stage, noting the sheer talent of the house band, whose members have played on various Burnett productions. Case figured it was probably “just the greatest band ever,’’ from drummers Jim Keltner and Jay Bellerose, to guitarist Marc Ribot (always a force, especially during Allman’s cover of Muddy Waters’s “I Can’t Be Satisfied’’), among others.

The last of a breed, Stanley got the respect he deserved as he sang unvarnished folk songs and gospel with a guitarist and bassist, winning over the crowd with his simplicity and sincerity.

Even as the audience rooted for him, Allman was visibly nervous in his set, a bit shaky but poignant as he previewed country-blues songs from his forthcoming solo album on Rounder Records. Mellencamp, on the other hand, burrowed into his bone-dry latest recordings with Burnett, coming off like a grizzled rocker. He’s now writing some of the best songs of his career — and performed with the confidence that comes from such a feat.

In the headlining spot, John and Leon Russell debuted songs from their new album together, “The Union,’’ to be released tomorrow. Mutual admiration aside, they couldn’t have been more different, from John’s shiny grand piano to Russell’s modest baby grand. Russell, stoic and silent, came alive only when he was singing and playing; John was humble and straightforward as he introduced the songs.

While bold, their six-song set often felt out of step with the rest of the show, built on the notion that you can’t have too much of a good thing. That left songs such as “Gone to Shiloh’’ (with a cameo by Allman) and “Monkey Suit’’ overstuffed, featuring the full house band, a horn section, four powerhouse soul sisters wailing behind them, plus the dueling pianos. The ear simply didn’t know where to tune in.

And the eyes didn’t know where to focus, either, when the entire lineup materialized at the end of the night. As hugs and handshakes were exchanged onstage, the standing ovation quickly gave way to shrugged shoulders. Bets that the entire gang would perform together — “Will the Circle Be Unbroken’’ was a common guess — were soon called off.

Still, it was hard to quibble with the history that had just been made. To tweak Burnett’s opening remarks: Never mind all that — here was some music.

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/10/18/speaking_clock_revue_rings_the_bell/

[walktall2010]

One more:

Legends Bring Down The Wang

By Brennan Carley

The audience skewed older, but the energy never abated at T-Bone Burnett's Speaking Clock Revue this past Saturday night. The Wang Theatre played host to rock icons like Elton John, John Mellencamp, and Elvis Costello, all gathered to support the new documentary Waiting for Superman, a movie about five children and their parents' struggles to get them into good schools. All of the musicians put an emphasis on the importance of revitalizing the public school system, and as Jeff Bridges put it best, "Tonight's about the kids. Let's hear some music!"

Music producer Burnett's master plan was to put together a two-city benefit concert, with a house band consisting of the players featured on a number of Burnett's recordings. Joining for the majority of the night, the bluegrass quintet Punch Brothers put a fresh spin on country music. Their harmonizing and thumping banjos on songs like "Rye Whiskey" served as a palate cleanser of sorts between the big name acts. A down-south kind of Mumford and Sons, they played off the energy of every vocalist they accompanied, stomping around the stage in a cool, yet bouncy manner. It was clear that the band was just happy to be invited, but the impression they made is sure to be a lasting one.

Next to take the stage was Karen Elson, a pale skinned, red haired model turned singer who more than held her own in the cavernous theater. Elson went right into "The Ghost Who Walks," a haunting, dazzling track that heavily features an old-fashioned organ. The generally older audience at first didn't know what to make of Elson, as her star shines far less brightly than the majority of the headliners, but by the time she wailed her way through "The Truth is in the Dirt on the Ground," the building erupted in applause. She graced the stage with her presence several more times, ably assisting Costello with the help of The Secret Sisters, an enchanting new band that just released its first, self-titled album. The two sisters' voices were clear and angelic, blending together in a beautiful, melodious way. Ending their two-song number with the bluesy "The One I Love is Gone," the sisters proved that they belonged in the presence of all the greats onstage.

"This next artist used to have three names," chuckled our MC, Elvis Costello, as he introduced one of America's greatest rockers, Mellencamp. Disappointingly, the singer skipped over hits like "Pink Houses" and "Jack and Diane" in favor of newer, more acoustic numbers, like the chill-inducing "Save Some Time to Dream" and "Longest Days." His voice is still that fascinating blend of smoky and soulful, and the passion he brought to the stage was unmatched by any other performer. After Mellencamp's short set, T-Bone himself took to the stage to introduce his good friend Jeff Bridges, Oscar winning actor and star of movies such as The Big Lebowski and the Burnett-scored Crazy Heart. His two songs were good, but unmemorable in a field of incredible talent.

The special guest at the Boston edition of the Revue was Neko Case, one of the members of the band The New Pornographers and a brilliantly talented songstress. She performed several of her own songs in addition to assisting Greg Allman on his hit, "Midnight Rider." Allman has been through it all in the past year, and he began his set by thanking God "and the man who gave me a liver just a few months back." He was unusually reserved and restrained, perhaps nervous about straining himself after his surgery, but his voice sounded better than ever.

The only standing ovation of the night was awarded to Ralph Stanley, "America's oldest and best country singer" as Costello so eloquently phrased it. At 83 years old, Stanley emerged in a sparkly silver suit and sweetly sang his way through "Girl from the Greenbriar Shore" and his biggest hit, "O Death," from the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? The applause and ovation the audience gave the legend as he walked off stage was both a sign of respect and a response to the goose-bumps everyone had long after Stanley's songs ended.

While Leon Russell hobbled onto the stage, Elton John strode confidently toward his piano to the sound of rapturous applause. The two musical legends effortlessly ran through five songs off their new collaborative album, The Union. John's pipes are not as nuanced as they used to be, but he still managed to command the stage. Like Mellencamp, John ignored the hits and instead performed only numbers off his new CD, but the audience didn't seem to mind. Instead, people seemed thrilled just to have the chance to hear Sir Elton live. Sure, the 6-year-old in me died a little when I realized I wouldn't be hearing "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" but then the two pianists began to play "Gone to Shiloh" as Greg Allman reemerged to harmonize with the men. It was a truly special moment, with Russell's gruff and honky-tonk voice meshing against all odds with John's poppy and Allman's soulful ones. I would be amiss if I didn't mention the backup singers exclusively for John and Russell's set. It was a privilege to see John cede the vocals to the four women for a section of "Hey Ahab," giving them the chance to show off their spine-tingling voices.

When all the artists assembled on stage at the end of the show, I have to say I was expecting a group number. The opportunity was there, but it never came to fruition. It was the only real disappointment in a night otherwise filled with breathtaking performances and collaborations.

http://www.bcheights.com/arts/legends-bring-down-the-wang-1.1711776

[sugarmarie_1980]

The video footage from this show on Youtube is amazing. JM really went into detail about the premise of the song in great length. It was mesmerizing listening to it all over again...the story and the song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq_6K5UU_ko

[littlesusie39]

i never get tired of that story about grandma! Thanks for the link Cindy