It is another surprise from Taylor Hicks when we are no longer caught off guard by surprises.
Taylor Hicks disconnects the cords, turns down the amps, and strips away the gloss when he performs an acoustic concert at the Magic Bag in Ferndale, Michigan, June 22nd. Joining him will be old band mate, Brian Less, on keyboards and current Music Director of the Shadow Tour concerts, Josh Smith on guitar. With Taylor on guitar and harmonica, that’s a formidable band on any stage.
Acoustic shows gained popularity in the 90s when MTV Unplugged featured artists performing their music without the high production values and amplified instruments. It was often not new music, but their hits presented in a bare bones rendition. Fans wanted to know if the music of singers like Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton would stand up without all of the electronic frills. For many of music’s legends, it did. Eric Clapton’s Unplugged album in 1992 sold 10 million and he won a grammy for “Tears in Heaven” from that album.
We’ve seen an unplugged Taylor Hicks before. The first I was privileged to enjoy was in 2007 in Birmingham where he came back for the encore and sang the heart-rending “Birmingham” and “My Home’s in Alabama.” Another stirring moment was in New Orleans that year when he sang “Louisiana.” At Millersville he sat on the stool and sang “Here Comes the Sun.” These are rare times for the Taylor motion machine that wears a soaked jacket after the third or fourth song. Yet, the man and his guitar on a dark stage with the sound of pure Taylor voice are no less captivating. You are taken away by music in its purest sense.
Ferndale has a memorable evening coming. Taylor has said that he may sing “Maybe You Should” –a moment for which many of us have waited. Could we also hear “Indiscriminate Act of Kindness,” or completely new music on the set list? Has Taylor been planning this all along? Saving these acoustic gems for a change up in the intimate club shows that he says he prefers. He has always said, “The best is yet to come.” And it just keeps coming…and changing!
Is The Magic Bag a “magic bag of tricks” for Taylor—a new vibe for a show that already packs the house and brings it down. On this night in Ferndale, you can expect that Taylor Hicks will have that house in the palm of his hand.
If you go to this one, take your heart in hand. You will need to hold on to it.
Taylor Hicks disconnects the cords, turns down the amps, and strips away the gloss when he performs an acoustic concert at the Magic Bag in Ferndale, Michigan, June 22nd. Joining him will be old band mate, Brian Less, on keyboards and current Music Director of the Shadow Tour concerts, Josh Smith on guitar. With Taylor on guitar and harmonica, that’s a formidable band on any stage.
Acoustic shows gained popularity in the 90s when MTV Unplugged featured artists performing their music without the high production values and amplified instruments. It was often not new music, but their hits presented in a bare bones rendition. Fans wanted to know if the music of singers like Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton would stand up without all of the electronic frills. For many of music’s legends, it did. Eric Clapton’s Unplugged album in 1992 sold 10 million and he won a grammy for “Tears in Heaven” from that album.
We’ve seen an unplugged Taylor Hicks before. The first I was privileged to enjoy was in 2007 in Birmingham where he came back for the encore and sang the heart-rending “Birmingham” and “My Home’s in Alabama.” Another stirring moment was in New Orleans that year when he sang “Louisiana.” At Millersville he sat on the stool and sang “Here Comes the Sun.” These are rare times for the Taylor motion machine that wears a soaked jacket after the third or fourth song. Yet, the man and his guitar on a dark stage with the sound of pure Taylor voice are no less captivating. You are taken away by music in its purest sense.
Ferndale has a memorable evening coming. Taylor has said that he may sing “Maybe You Should” –a moment for which many of us have waited. Could we also hear “Indiscriminate Act of Kindness,” or completely new music on the set list? Has Taylor been planning this all along? Saving these acoustic gems for a change up in the intimate club shows that he says he prefers. He has always said, “The best is yet to come.” And it just keeps coming…and changing!
Is The Magic Bag a “magic bag of tricks” for Taylor—a new vibe for a show that already packs the house and brings it down. On this night in Ferndale, you can expect that Taylor Hicks will have that house in the palm of his hand.
If you go to this one, take your heart in hand. You will need to hold on to it.
Thanks to RagsQueen for the photo from The Triple Door, Seattle. Used with permission. Please do not repost.
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5 comments:
How I would love to attend this show. I'm sure it's going to be special. I wonder if he'll do Indiscriminate Act of Kindness.
Whether Taylor appears at The Magic Bag or any other venue where he displays his bagful of musical tricks, the performance is always MAGIC. !!
Way before the 90's and the resurgence of Bob Dylan, the 60's coffee houses were the places to be to hear newcomers and old regulars playing the guitar and/or harmonica while sitting on a "bar" stool before small audiences who were engrossed in every note. It also reminds me of the San Francisco "beat generation" readings where passion was the most important ingredient and the performers "voice" was the ultimate instrument.
Those lucky enough to be in attendence on the 22nd are in for a bagful of goodies , compliments of Mr. Hicks, Mr. Less and Mr. Smith.
Looking forward to special evening myself with the master magician of music! You're right, no matter the venue, Taylor Hicks always pulls his own 'rabbits out of the hat'! Could "Indiscriminate Acts of Kindness" or "Maybe You Should" be just one of those rabbits? I would love to hear those 'bunnies'!
Thanks for your comments. I wish I could be there. The "pure Taylor voice" is better than any band sound any day. And I love the killer bands he has put together.
This will be one for the vault!
Oh, I wish I could be there. And that is the best picture that I have seen from the Triple Door. Taylor is so handsome. And his voice. There are just no words......... I love this man and his music.
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