Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies

Subject: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: michaelr
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 09:28 PM

Mark Knopfler and his band just began their massive tour in support of his latest album "Get Lucky", and the show offers some nice surprises. Firstly, the band includes folk/bluegrass eminence Tim O'Brien (Hot Rize, Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers) and wind wizard Michael McGoldrick (Lunasa, Capercaillie, Kate Rusby Band). I gather these two will be part of the American leg of the tour only, while the fabulous John McCusker will fill in the Euro dates.

Secondly, there was an abundance of double-course instruments among the 30 plus necks I counted on the stage. McGoldrick, when not playing flute or low whistle, picked two lovely Sobell ten-string citterns. O'Brien, in addition to playing fiddle, mandolin and banjo, held forth on a couple of archtop guitar-bodied OMs (or perhaps mandocellos, I'm not sure). And long-time Knopfler rhythm guitarist Richard Bennett switched it up with a Flatiron OM and a large-bodied (blarge?) zouk.

The set list was culled mainly from Knopfler's solo work, with only four Dire Straits songs in evidence ("Sultans of Swing", "Romeo and Juliet", "Brothers in Arms" and "Telegraph Road"). While there was certainly no shortage of Mark's trademark wailing fingerpicked electric guitar, the folkiness (country blues, skiffle, and occasional Celtic influences) of his solo work suited this lineup perfectly, and vice versa. Knopfler played his National and a Mrtin acoustic on several songs, and one of the two keyboardists occasionally picked up an accordion, while the other doubled on acoustic guitar.

It was a very satisfying concert. The tour goes on until the end of July. Dates can be found here: http://www.markknopfler.com/tour/gl_northamerica.aspx

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: pdq
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 10:02 PM

Nice to see Richard Bennett mentioned.

He is one of the top Nashville session guitarists and sings in a Country-oriented style, rather than Folk, but he is sincere, making him a natural for Folk-oriented music.

The group Auldridge-Bennett-Gaudreau straddles the line between Folk and Country perfectly and allows Auldridge to do the baritone support and Gaudreau the high harmony where both fit best. Their record "This Old Town" is a gem.

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: michaelr
Date: 15 Apr 10 - 10:39 PM

Would that be Dobro player Mike Auldridge?

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: open mike
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 01:31 AM

i figured out the OM is Octave Mandolin...
sounds like a wonderful show...glad you got to go, Michael!!

Mark picked the cream of the crop to join him!


here are 2 albums by Auldridge-Bennett-Gaudreau
http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=2363
http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=68

http://www.mikeauldridge.com/

Tim O'Brien has produced a c.d. with a young Irish group...Grada
http://www.mongrelm.com/artist_page.php?aid=A742
http://compassrecords.com/grada
and here is his report from on the road...see the road
http://www.timobrien.net/

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 03:21 AM

John Monteleone built a guitar for Mark Knopfler and Mark penned a very fine tribute song to John.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 05:05 AM

I downloaded his Oakland concert on 2010/04/13 this morning from Dime, it looks very interesting.

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 05:53 AM

http://www.archive.org/serve/MarkKnopfler2009-09-09HurlinghamClubLondonUK/MarkKnopfler2009-09-09HurlinghamClubLondonUK.wma

This is an interesting question and answer session with Mark Knopfler with performance at the Hurlingham Club in London last September.

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: deepdoc1
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 08:40 AM

I think the bluegrass Richard Bennett (Bennett-Auldridge-Gaudreau) is a different RB than the Mark Knopfler sideman...both superb musicians. The bluegrass Bennett reminds me very much of Tony Rice in picking and vocals. The Knopfler sideman Bennett is a most excellent player. Saw him with Knopfler and Emmylou Harris on PBS, can't remember the name of the tour.

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: pdq
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 10:53 AM

My mistake. The guitar player with Knopfler is one Richard Rodney Bennett, born Mar 29, 1936 in Broadstairs, Kent, England.

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: michaelr
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 03:52 PM

Bonzo, what is Dime? Can you provide a link, please?

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 05:09 PM

http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=299422

You have to create an account before downloading.

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: pdq
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 07:10 PM

OK, sorry in advance for posting this since he isn't really part of the Knopler touring band, but there has never been a chance to give this under-rated mandolin master a plug before, so please check out this CD by...

                                                                  Jimmy Gaudreau

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: deepdoc1
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 07:22 PM

I also volunteer for a spanking...Jimmy Gaudreau was great in the regrettably short-lived Chesapeake group. I now fade to darkness.

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 08:18 PM

After 11 minutes of talking I gave up.

Russ (permanent GUEST)

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 08:48 PM

I think I'm going to grow to like this Get Lucky album as much as I like the wonderful "Knotting Hillbillies" album.
This is really good stuff.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: michaelr
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 11:16 PM

Joe, in my opinion MK's best "solo" work is on Ragpicker's Dream -- have you heard it? I reviewed it here when it came out; my guess is you'd like it.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 11:26 PM

Thanks for the tip, Michael. One of the advantages of Spotify is immediate gratification. I had heard of Ragpicker's Dream, but NOW I can listen to it. And yes, it's a wonderful recording.
Of course, I've always liked Mark Knopfler - and even if I didn't like a particular recording, he has always expanded my musical horizons. For me, he's right up there with Ry Cooder. What an extraordinary musician!

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 11:49 PM

My Rog and I LOVE MK and all of his work, but I agree re' Ragpicker's Dream. Still absolutely love all of it.

Subject: RE: Review: Mark Knopfler tours with folkies
From: GUEST,Mark DID NOT show up in Oakland
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 06:25 PM

Mark DID NOT show up in Oakland.
It was the worst concert I'd been to in years!
Including the last four visits by Knopfler.
You could see his lack of interest in his eyes and the bands interactions.
Lip sync would have been better than Mark missing his mark time after time, not only his vocals but his guitar work as well.