Dan Webster is stepping away from “Musical Notes” for the time being, so I’ll be covering his duties. They’re big shoes to fill, but I hope to do justice to his monthly guide to Harrisburg’s wealth of live music.
This month finds the city’s music scene taking on an air of Americana, with both established and upstart song-writers and musicians bringing their brands of traditional American folk music to Harrisburg’s stages. With the summer heat rolling in, now is the perfect time to get in touch with our nation’s musical roots and soak up the sounds of our nation’s ramblin’ troubadours.
GLENN JONES with author STEVE LOWENTHAL, 6/5, 7 P.M., MIDTOWN SCHOLAR, $8/$10
Glenn Jones first gained acclaim as the guitarist and principal composer for the experimental, post-rock band Cul de Sac. However, his current work takes him in a different direction. Always fascinated by the compositional opportunities made available by open tunings, his solo work features complex, finger-picked melodies rooted in primitive American folk traditions. Despite being instrumental, Jones’ performances are seemingly narrative, weaving stories through sound that are instantly recognizable even in their wordlessness. However, this particular show, presented by Moviate, will not be totally devoid of speech as Jones will be joined by Steve Lowenthal, who will be reading from his recent biography of guitarist and Jones collaborator, John Fahey, titled “Dance of Death.”
LUCINDA WILLIAMS, 6/10, 7:30 P.M., THE WHITAKER CENTER, $38.50/$48.50
The folk-rock and country songwriter Lucinda Williams released her first record, “Ramblin’,” in 1978; her most recent, “Blessed,” came out in 2011. Within this span of time, she garnered considerable attention, won three Grammy Awards, and collaborated with Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson and M. Ward, among countless others. Her songs represent the best that folky roots rock has to offer, that smoky moodiness that evokes memories of lost love and the darker secrets of the past. This show will especially appeal to those who have grown tired of the market-driven, focus-group approved, honky-tonk pop that Nashville keeps churning out these days.
DAVID MAYFIELD PARADE, 6/25, 8 P.M., THE ABBEY BAR, $8/$10
The David Mayfield Parade is traveling the trail blazed by bands such as the Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons, a new generation of alt-country rockers trying to reclaim their roots. Combining traditional Americana with a youthful, do-it-yourself aesthetic, Mayfield brings driving energy to songs of heartbreak and hard traveling, all sung with a voice that sounds old and seasoned. His most recent album, “Good Man Down,” was crowd-funded and released in 2013. It is fitting that this show takes place at a bar, as Mayfield’s sound conjures up images of late nights spent in dive bars with pitchers of beer, whiskey shots and the pain caused by the girl who got away.
Mentionables: MV & EE w/Banners and Floats, Little Amps Uptown, 6/1; Sam Moss, Midtown Scholar, 6/6; Bob Mould, HMAC, 6/12; Vinegar Creek Constituency w/The Vulcans, HMAC 6/20; Star Rover, The MakeSpace, 6/29
