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Aimsel Ponti

Well hello there good people out in musicville. Please pardon my lack of posts lately, I've been a busy kid. I'm going to tell you what I've been up to not to brag (OK, maybe a little to brag) but to inspire you to get out and see some live music, even if it means a road trip. Here's my recent past and near future schedule of shows. Once I finish this post, I'll be crawling under my desk for a nap.

It all started on Thursday, September 20 with Canadian indie-pop band STARS youarestars.com at Port City Music Hall. Fantastic.

Next it was David Byrne & St. Vincent at one of my favorite spots, The Orpheum Theatre in Boston on September 23. WOW, what a show that was. The pair just released the collaborative album "Love this Giant". The live show featured an 8-piece horn section who performed an avant-garde kind of march around the stage. youtube.com/watch

The very next night, September 24, was also spent in Boston. This time the venue was the TD Garden.  Two words: Peter Gabriel (from the 9th row!). I'm still reeling with the kind of afterglow that only a musician like Gabriel could leave me with. The show was part of an on-going celebration of his famous "SO" album. Gabriel, along with the same band he toured with back when that album was released in 1986, played the entire album along with a mess of other tunes like "Shock the Monkey," "Solsbury Hill" and a personal favorite "Family Snapshot." The tickets weren't cheap but they were worth every penny. youtube.com/watch

Three days later, on September 27, it was back to The State Theatre for a dazzling show by The Tedeschi Trucks Band. Awesome. youtube.com/watch

On Thursday, October 4, I ventured to Jonathan's in Ogunquit for a triple play of musical brilliance in the form of Maia Sharp, Garrison Starr and AG, not to mention Sharp's virtuosoguitarist Linda Taylor. Songs were swapped and it all sounded fantastic.

Four days later it was again back to The State Theatre on Monday October 8 for an enthralling performance by Regina Spektor. youtube.com/watch

On a local note, I am very excited about this Saturday's (October 13) show at Asylum WEBSITE
"Portland's League of Extraordinary Women" starts at 8 p.m. and the cover is $7 (also, be at least 21). Check out this line-up: Dilly Dilly, Sontiago, Kristina Kentigian, Lady Essence, Anna Lombard. Amy Allen, Darien Brahms and Kenya Hall. Can I get an Amen? This is going to be EPIC. portlandasylum.com

Also, star your calendar for Saturday, October 20 at 8 p.m.
Samuel James' CD release show happens at The  Space Gallery space538.org The cover is $8 and just be at least 18. "And For The Dark Road Ahead" is James' new album and it is some of his best work.

youtube.com/watch

Guess what? I'm not done with The State Theatre. See you on Monday, October 15 for MORRISSEY (look for my review on October 16 in the Press Herald) and on Wednesday, October 24 for Brandi Carlile.youtube.com/watch

Then of course there's the road trip to Boston on December 4 to see Rachael Yamagata at  The Paradise. More on that in the coming weeks.

Naptime...
 

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Aimsel Ponti has been obsessed with - and inspired by- music since she listened to Monkees records borrowed from the town library when she was six years old. She's a huge fan of the local music scene and interviews an act every week for "Making Noise" which runs in the Press Herald GO section. You'll also find her out and about absorbing live music like a sponge and roaming around local record shops and flea markets.

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