FINDING ARI....

Daniel Lawrence solo guitar at Porter square

2011-07-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

Daniel Lawrence is one of my favorite instrumental guitar players busking on the T. This morning I got to hear him playing a classical piece while I impatiently waited on the train. He always seems to have bit of gruffness in his demeanor. Maybe it's the concentration required for playing this wonderful music while the noise and chaos of a subway platform that are always in the background. I find that it creates a bit of an edge to his playing, I can hear a bit of the roughness in his beard and the softness of his sweater in the music. Check it our for yourself here:
http://www.myspace.com/troubadordan

You can read more about him at this blog

http://impromptumusicboston.blogspot.com/2009/04/former-berkeley-student-and-classical.html

Crystal Bright & the Silver Hands

2011-07-10T18:24:00.000-07:00

These folks were making wonderful music in Harvard Square this evening. Beautiful songs on the square with Spanish and a wonderful accordion. The best part was the singer's voice it was ethereal and surprisingly clear going through the busker amp, with tango rhythms.

I hung out and listened a great deal, I was hoping that they were local so that my wife and I could go out dancing at some point, but I will likely have to wait as they are from North Carolina. I am unsure why they were here in Cambridge. I wish I would have asked.

http://www.reverbnation.com/crystalbright

Trumpet Player at Porter 04-03-09

2009-04-04T21:20:00.001-07:00

04-03-09_0802
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass

So friday I'm on my way to work. I am walking down the escalator and hear a trumpet playing So What by Miles Davis. I admit I felt a bit annoyed hearing a trumpet first thing in the morning. As I walked by I had to stop when I realized that a lady had her baby there and this might be the first time that the child was hearing this music. I stopped, watched and took a picture. This fellow always seems to be passionately enjoying his playing and this was no exception. The baby loved it, wasn't crying and was paying direct attention to So What and I felt a little silly for being annoyed. It is a great tune and he was playing it well and with passion.

The train came and I jumped on without making any further notes, so if you know the musician's name please post. I will update this post as soon as possible.

bryan mcpherson

2008-07-11T20:37:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by SonicGrass

So I stepped onto the subway platform walked past the young man playing a beautiful worn guitar with vigor. He was strumming a C to G two chord song, all the while holding onto the D and the G on the first and second string giving the song some and underlying tension. The lyrics were stumbling out as if the could not get out fast enough like ideas coming out of subway trains and down the steps. He ran through a litany of troubles that left my mind as I stepped away but the impression remains of Boston stories sieved through poetry and a worn guitar.

You can find out more about him here:

http://bryanmcpherson.com/

The First Sign of Spring

2008-04-10T17:53:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day it was up around 70 degrees today. So I was walking in the park listening to two folks playing bagpipes. Do you call them Bagpipers? Bagpipes are so loud that they had to space themselves a good 100 feet away from each other to keep from bleeding in and causing Bagpipe feedback. Odin only knows what would happen.

Nothing like a hipster playing the bagpipes, to march us into springtime in Boston.

Corner Lounge Paintings missing in Knoxville TN!

2008-03-11T20:02:00.000-07:00

The Corner Lounge Paintings taken after 7 pm Sunday, March 10, and before 9 am Monday.

Please send me an email if you have any information regarding these paintings.

sonicgrass@gmail.com

The paintings are wanted back by the previous owners of the Corner Lounge.

Cambridge Blues

2006-09-08T18:45:00.000-07:00

CambridgeBlues
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

David Johnston played a relaxed set this evening in front of the candy store at Harvard Square, I played a couple games of chess on my phone (I beat the phone once) and relaxed to his easy finger picking blues. He has a real nice tone coming out of his hollow body guitar, he plays it left handed, I didn't notice until he had to reach up to turn a knob. I enjoyed his bass runs doubled by the voice the most; it reminded me of Morphine at times, a bit edgier in the voice. It makes me believe that there is a Cambridge blues sound the weary high rent blues. Reading from his CD Baby site I realize that he has played with Dana Colley in a band called One Thin Dime. Dana Colley went on to play in Morphine.

He had an easy way with the crowd like we were just sitting in someone's living room, attentive to the lazy applause like the evening. The songs were comfortable, like an old jacket I lost sometime ago, a weary weathered memory. I've heard him and enjoyed his playing before, but my mood, the weather and his playing seemed to fit this summer evening.

So cheers to David Johnston and the Cambridge Blues.

David Johnston's CD

Street Guitar Player 09-02-06_Knoxville TN

2006-09-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

09-02-06_Knoxville
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

I was visiting my family, hometown, old love, Knoxville TN and came across this fellow singing the song My Cabin in Tennessee. Knoxville has a long history of street musicians, however in the recent past it has fell out of favor until recently. So this fellow is a part of what I hope is resurgence in Knoxville Musicians getting together and playing music in the streets.

You can find some of the old music here:

http://lynnpoint.com/st_james/songs.htm

Bagpipes

2006-08-26T17:33:00.000-07:00

Bagpipes
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

Bagpipes in Harvard Square...

People Listening to Jazz in the Pit

2006-08-19T19:07:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

Keep it on the good foot... I'm looking at that gorgeous foot because well at this point there was a funky jazz band playing in the pit. There were also Bagpipes playing in front of Au Bon Pain. Of course at six o’clock on a Friday night we all need a battle of the buskers with bagpipes.

Ambient Flute

2006-08-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

08-14-06_flute
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

An Ambient Flute at the Harvard Subway station. She has at least three pedals, one of them being a delay; she creates low harmonies and then plays melodies across the top. More details to come...

Thomas Jefferson's Glass Armonica

2006-08-09T19:55:00.000-07:00

08-06-06_1526
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

One of the great things about street musicians in Harvard Square is that you get all sorts of exotic instruments; this however would be the place to play Thomas Jefferson's Glass Armonica. Apparently these were popular enough at one point in the history of America to be banned, according to our street Armonica player due the instrument's music causing nervous disorders and marital disputes.

There are other articles about the great healing effects of this instrument. I did benefit from the music.

Fiddler

2006-04-16T16:01:00.000-07:00

Fiddler
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

This lady was playing a good version of Shady Grove in the Harvard Square station. Stomping her foot for a beat. Notice the guy in the background is showing his muscles for the camera. I had not noticed this when I took the photograph.

Well, coffee grows on white oak trees . The river flows with brandy . The rocks on the hill's all covered with gold . And the girls are sweeter than candy.

Bagpipes

2006-04-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

Bagpipes
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

I found a fellow playing the Bagpipes on Friday outside of the Harvard Coop in Harvard Square. The Bagpipes, as a street perfomer's instrument, I would imagine are found in few cities on this continent. I noticed a few things. One that it was hard to get close enough to give the fellow any money. Two he didn't have to take a break in between tunes due to the bag being able to hold the warbling drone while he took a breather. I was impressed nonetheless with being able to hear Bagpipes at the beginning of my Easter Weekend. I didn’t however give him any money mainly because I didn’t want to weather the sonic assault to do so.

Gifrants and Paulo Duo

2006-04-01T19:57:00.000-08:00

Gifrants and Paulo play a Duo
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

Gifrants and Paulo have been playing together at the Harvard square T stop, every now and then, for the last few weeks. It makes for a beautiful duo. When Gifrants is singing Paulo plays the cello like a bass, lightly slapping it. Then, for the real, treat he takes a solo. The sonorous cello against the Haition rythyms that Gifrants uses makes for a sultry exotic sound that is so seductive it's hard not to shut your eyes and let your hips drift. They are both excellent musicians but the two together become somthing else. Cellos have been trendy ever since the Velvet Underground used them, but this duo is better than the trend. I've heard Paulo on more than one occasion playing the Bach Cello suite's or improvising against the squeal of the subway. So maybe this is a more succesful due to the skill of the players involved. I hope that they record this venture.

Violin, Banjo at Park St .

2006-02-11T05:28:00.000-08:00

violinbanjo
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

I've seen these fellows a couple of times now. They play old time music, do a good job and seem to pull in a good bit of cash. The banjo player had to put his foot on the money to keep it from flying away as the train came in.

The first time I seen them a Large fellow who I've seen heckle quite a few subway musicians. He was shuffling aroung being intimidating, and making statements like "No f*&@$ing Yodeling". The banjo player stepped forward and got in the heckler's face and told him to get the f*&k out or he would call the police. The Heckler argued his case, Banjo player went to get the Police. The Heckler stepped on the next train and left.

I've seen this fellow Heckle a few subway musicians and this was the first time I had seen someone stand up to him.

I guess if you got the guts to play a banjo, your ready for about anything.

MORNING CELLO 01-20-06

2006-01-21T10:11:00.000-08:00

MORNING CELLO 01-20-06
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

Paulo was playing in Harvard Square Friday morning. I think that it's the same fellow who has been playing there every now and then for the last year or two. The Cello played in the subway is beautiful, it interacts sonically with the screeching subways, in a way that creates a wonderful dissonance. I could have sworn that he was playing a piece from the dirty three, it may not have been the dirty three but it had that quality. He was making rhythmic chords that would develop into melodies. It was a wonderful way to start a weekend. If I knew for sure he was going to be in the subway station every friday. I would stop by the bank in order to tip him appropriatly. You can find his contact information on the Street Artist and Advocates website. http://communityartsadvocates.org/saalist.html

Accordian Player

2005-12-05T19:46:00.000-08:00

Accordian Player
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

An accordian player at Harvard, he has a gypsy quality to his playing...

Mary lou lord

2005-11-26T02:03:00.000-08:00

Mary lou lord
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

I got to see Mary Lou Lord on my way hame friday night after work. She has such a sweet voice, I'm coming to her music sort of late, however she seems to be a slow starter. She had release in the 90's with Sony and is now on Rubric records. I feel blessed to have such talent in the subway on my way home, it's very inspirational.

Blind Banjo Player

2005-11-14T19:11:00.000-08:00

blind banjo player
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

Ok so I love the banjo, so I'm an attentive audience for anyone playing the banjo. I've heard this fellow play Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Old Joe Clark, The Beverly Hillbillies, and one or two that I don't recognize. He plays at a medium tempo and low enough volume to make for a wonderful Monday morning banjo. In Boston who would expect such a strong Bluegrass community. Every Teusday night there is a bluegrass jam at the CanTab in Central square.

See yoins there...

Eleanor

2005-11-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

Eleanor
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

I've been listening to Eleanor all summer at Harvard. That name seems like it should belong to an older person, my Mother in Law is named Eleanor, a beautiful name. One Saturday in October I heard her play at Park st. I enjoyed hearing her quiet innocent voice, with a hint of sadness seeming seeping in. Unpolished subtle expressions, with slight syncopation on the guitar. She brought smiles to many a face that day.

Edgar Allen Poe should have penned a song for her.

You can find a video of her playing in Harvard at the headsoff blogspot. There is a link to it in the links section.

Exotic Instrument

2005-11-03T19:20:00.000-08:00

Exotic Instrument
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

The array of exotic instruments that one encounters in the subway adds to the rich tonal expression of the screeching subway. This fellow was playing Thursday night at the Harvard stop, I gave him a quarter, all I had on me at the time. The instrument stealing the show looked like some sort of evolved banjo, with harp like tendencies. A harp with twang to it, you can hear the skin of some sort of beast in every note. I love that it has a pickup so that it can be played through a guitar amp, roots with lots of growth.

I only heard one piece and it was very melodic with a slight twang, I could have hung around all night, I was tired however and continued on my way. There were some young men listening to the music making emotive faces to the music and laughing. The music doing it’s job of facilitating life and living, animating our shared experience in time.

P.S. Notice the microphone, I think that is just to add range to the harp.

Hipster Bluegrass

2005-11-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

11-01-05_1941.jpg
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

These boys were playing tonight in Harvard Square.

Hipster-Bluegrass, they were having a good time apparantly they have been playing there all day.

Gonzalo Silva

2005-10-18T20:59:00.000-07:00

Gonzalo Silva was playing tonight at Harvard Square; he has a nice voice, and manages to successfully use his bass as a solo instrument. He uses a lo fi amp that seems very light with one 6" speaker seems to fit his playing style. He sorta sounds like an old radio, were you can make out the lyrics and the bass.

I noticed he will also be playing at Nov 26th at Club Passim. His website has a great deal of information about busking in Boston and in New York. Is a must if you are researching busking or just trying to Find Gonzalo Silva.

http://www.gonzalosilva.com/busker/index.html

Ukulele

2005-10-18T20:32:00.000-07:00

Ukele Player
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

This fellow lifted my evening a bit, he was playing at Park St with just a Ukuele around 7:30. He wasn't miked, so you had to get in close to hear him.

A week ends, and fall begins.

2005-10-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

I haven't seen much music on the streets lately. The transition from summer to fall is upon us, this entire summer has been a bit of a transition. A lot of street performers are no longer playing the streets. The Opera singer that sang in Harvard square was not here this summer. Ari also seems to have quit playing the street, although I hope that she occasionally will grace the street with her guitar. This also means that people are moving on into the clubs, as the subway is a transitory experience it also makes sense that the musicians move on as well. The last time I saw Bob Sundstrom the banjo player, he stated that he would not be playing the subway for awhile due to gigs that he has.

This image was posted from the third life website

I did see two young men who call themselves The Third Life playing at Park St. They were singing in harmony with nice guitar parts. One of them would play a bass run, meanwhile the other would compliment that with a jangley response There Harmonies sound great for the subway, the crowd loved them, actually clapping which is a rare underground occurance. I'm not a huge fan of this style of music, to happy, and bouncy for my taste, but my taste was the minority on the Red Line tonight. I would like to say thanks for playing.

This image was posted from the third life website

http://www.thethirdlife.com/pages/7/index.htm

Gifrants Subway Musician

2005-10-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

Gifrants subway musician
Originally uploaded by SonicGrass.

Well its one minute until Friday and I have to get some sleep but thought that I would add a few quick photos, of the musicians I hope to see, as the nights stretches through the day, and the evening falls into the night.

In the morning I would like to hear a bit of Gifrants, who plays his own version of Haitian Pop music. Coming home I would love to catch Ari, or Bob Sundstrom the banjo player at Park Street.

I hope to see this young lady Friday Night at the Harvard Square stop.

Her name is Jamie Mclaughlin, she uses something like a red beat box (is it a Roland?), microphone and a subway amp to make subway trip hop. She sings along with the psyche-beats that she generates and they fit well into the subway until the train comes screeching through the tunnel.

She used to have dread locks now she has a Mohawk, I like the Mohawk and the music.

ARI

2005-10-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

This is Ari. Let me know if you get a chance to hear her play.

The image is a collage I made from images from her performance at the Midway Cafe, I didn't make it, but my friend David took some pictures. The thing I like best about Ari's playing is her use of harmony on the guitar, she capo's of in all sorts of ways. One of my favorite pieces she puts the Capo on the ninth fret, and then sings over that (F) I think.

Also feel free to post if you are a street and or subway musician and would just like to post where you are going to be playing.