John Cale Innovates and Rocks at the Showbox

John Cale Innovates and Rocks at the Showbox

John Cale.
John Cale.
John Cale.
John Cale and band.
John Cale.
John Cale.

One for the record books: John Cale, smiling. Kinda. (photo by Tony Kay)

(photo by Tony Kay)

John Cale at the guitar. (photo by Tony Kay)

Dusty, John Cale's lead guitarist, in action at the Showbox last week. (photo by Tony Kay)

(photo by Tony Kay)

(photo by Tony Kay)

John Cale. thumbnail
John Cale. thumbnail
John Cale. thumbnail
John Cale and band. thumbnail
John Cale. thumbnail
John Cale. thumbnail

[John Cale, founding member of the Velvet Underground and decades-long solo artist, played Showbox at the Market last Thursday, December 6th, accompanied by a three-piece backing band. Folk songwriter Cass McCombs opened.]

If you’re hitting your head against a wall because you couldn’t make the John Cale show, you might be wondering what it’s like to be in the same room as a legendary artist- one who not only started a band that pioneered the sounds of punk, but who also managed to carry on an influential solo career, successfully marrying pop and the avant-garde. From my perpective, seeing John Cale for the first time after years of listening avidly to his music was a long-awaited experience that induced perpetual goose-bumps, to say the least. Continue reading “John Cale Innovates and Rocks at the Showbox”

<em>Hedda Gabler</em> Shows Her Slip at Intiman’s Summer Festival

Hedda Gabler Shows Her Slip at Intiman’s Summer Festival

Director Andrew Russell has assembled a script, evidently based on various public domain translations, that removes the overt statements that can make Ibsen feel dated. This text is heated by barely veiled innuendo and tantalizing ambiguity that most of the cast plays smartly with choices that feel in the moment and nearly improvised. Continue reading Hedda Gabler Shows Her Slip at Intiman’s Summer Festival