June 2015

A struggle in sound

Eddie June 4, 2015 No Comments

Lion Songs

Writer Banning Eyre tells the story of his longtime friend Zimbabwe-born musical legend Thomas Mapfumo and his fight against the corrupt government that led to his eventual, self-imposed exile. (Mapfumo now resides with his family in Eugene, Oregon). Lion Songs: Thomas Mapfumo and the Music That Made Zimbabwe (Duke University Press, $34.95) chronicles how Mapfumo founded chimurenga, or “struggle music,” an uplifting style of music characterized by odd, oft-repeating guitar and bass phrasing against a similar juxtaposing drum beat. His lyrical content, however, was what helped land him in jail and made authorities consider him a threat.

(SN&R)

Singer-songwriter, socialist activist

Eddie June 4, 2015 No Comments

Some artists were always destined to be hidden in the annals of music history. Some, however, come to public light through the hard work and perseverance of people who they influenced. Such is the case of Joe Hill, who will be honored this Friday by folk great John McCutcheon in a show appropriately dubbed Joe Hill’s Last Will. For the uninitiated, Joe Hill was an American activist and songwriter who wrote songs about worker’s rights, immigration, war, religion, home life and everything in between. This show was adapted from a play written by Si Kahn that debuted in 2011 and is now finally memorialized on record as John McCutcheon’s 37th release. McCutcheon, who realized he could do pretty much anything at this point in his career, chose wisely this time, and the fruits of his labor of love for Hill’s music is wholly and utterly evident and there for all to reap. Joe Hill’s Last Will, 8 p.m. Friday; $25. Palms Playhouse, 13 Main Street in Winters; www.folkmusic.com.

(SN&R)