30 Days Out, June 2020 #1: TAUK, Ben Folds, Vancouver Electronic Ensemble, John Prine Tribute
In recent weeks I’ve conducted interviews with a number of professions whose businesses involve servicing the music community in various ways. A consensus seems to be forming – and this isn’t likely to come as any surprise to you, I suspect – that widespread live concerts aren’t likely to return until 2021. Festivals and small venue residencies are a possibility (and only a possibility) for late summer and early fall. But that all remains dependent on a whole host of variables, none of which we have much or any influence upon.
So in the meantime, I’m here to tell you about some upcoming and notable livestream concerts. The goal of “30 Days Out” is to alert readers/concertgoers to shows in and around Asheville – my beloved hometown for 20 years as of June 2 – but for the duration of this pandemic, I’ll widen my focus to feature sows that you can watch wherever you are, so long as you have an internet connection.
Unless otherwise noted: All times EDT, all shows live, viewing is free.
Artist: TAUK
Venue: Facebook
Date: Tuesday, June 2, 7 p.m.
The New York State-based prog/fusion band is screening shows from its filmed archives. A show recorded around this time last year at the Rex Theater in Pittsburgh is the current offering. Running just over an hour, the first set has already been posted. The second set goes online June 2. The band encourages viewers to donate to the Rex Theater’s Staff Relief Fund (gofundme link).
Artist: Ben Folds
Venue: YouTube
Date: Saturday, June 6, 7 p.m.
Folds continues his weekly series of livestream performances, “Saturday Apartment Requests.” He’s great with a band, of course, but he’s also superb on his own, a quality that can’t be taken for granted in this era of social distancing.
Artist: Vancouver Electronic Ensemble
Venue: YouTube
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 3 p.m.
As part of a curated collection of livestreams under the banner “The Social Distancing Festival,” this weekly performance presents a boundary-pushing Vancouver Electronic Ensemble’s “One Page Score Project.” Each livestream features the live premiere of two new scores. The provocative promo for the series poses the musical question, “Ever wondered what a picture could sound like?”
Artist: Picture Show: A Tribute Celebrating John Prine
Venue: Facebook
Date: Thursday, June 11, 7:30 p.m.
One of the most notable casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic, acclaimed and influential singer-songwriter John Prine left us in April. This tribute even is presented by his family and will feature “musicians, actors and friends remembering our beloved JP.”
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.