Musical Moments of 2023: Catching up, Concert-wise

The last concert of the year, ending just two hours before midnight on December 31, found the Santa Barbara Symphony rocking out to close out 2023, a far cry from its usual New Year’s Eve pop concert fare as guest conductor/host Andrew Lipke led the chamber-sized orchestra-plus (with electric bass, drum kit, and Lipke’s own guitars). Although his extended chats with the audience felt a bit like the first week of a high school music appreciation course, Lipke – who arranged much of the material himself – put together a thoughtful program that displayed how time and its progression resonate in and around music. Meanwhile, his acoustic one-shot “Resolution Song” (supposedly crafted from audience input), was laugh-inducing rhyming fun, while the former Led Zeppelin cover band member absolutely shredded on Pink Floyd’s “Money.” Let’s make it an annual thing. 

The Symphony’s New Year’s Eve concert somehow wasn’t their rocking-est show at the Granada this year, as the orchestra also teamed with Montecito-based Doublewide Kings and several special guests in November for a rousing two hours of music by Celtic rock icon Van Morrison, a first for both organizations. Gotta imagine that experience elevated the ensemble for the energy required by the NYE engagement. More, please.

Meanwhile, the Morrison tribute wasn’t even the trippiest time for The Kings in 2023, as back in September the fearsome foursome plus guest guitarist Jackson Gillies and fiddler Phil Salazar were deep into their closing set on the soccer field at Elings Park when a freak thunderstorm hit. With water coming down and lightning flashing, the show was cut short, but not before the boys whose specialty is ‘60s and ‘70s rock finished the final song, festival style, a flashback to Woodstock (not that I was there, mind you). 

The summer shower was merely the closing quirk of the concert, as earlier the environmentally-conscious acoustic bluegrass band Salty Strings, which features cello in place of fiddle, had repeatedly marveled at playing a plugged-in show when the sound board suddenly went silent. So instead, they climbed down from the stage to revert to their usual oeuvre of playing with no amplification at all, which is how they honed their chops over regular appearances at the cliff at the Douglas Family Preserve (née Wilcox Property). The audience gathered round festival style for two acoustic wonders, including the Strings’ jaunty cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.” Can’t wait till they’re all back in town again.

The Irony and the Ecstasy for Fogerty, Kudos and Candles for Parsons

Former Creedence Clearwater Revival founder John Fogerty was one of the clear highlights of the fall’s One805 benefit bash, cranking out a few of his greatest hits just a few months after finally reclaiming the publishing rights to his old catalog. It brought back those good ol’ anti-war memories to hear the jubilant singer-guitarist belt out the lyrics to “Fortunate Son” in front of a huge crowd. The second verse had a little extra oomph given that it took place at Kevin Costner’s Padaro Lane spread for an audience that had paid a minimum of $350 for tickets to the show: 

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand

Lord, don’t they help themselves?

But when the taxman come to the door

Lord, the house lookin’ like a rummage sale

It ain’t me, it ain’t me

I ain’t no millionaire’s son

It ain’t me, it ain’t me

I ain’t no fortunate one 

But there was also no little irony, as the Creedence captain is worth north of $100 million these days, which means his son Shane, who joined him on guitar, can’t make the same claim. 

The just-ended year also gave us a second rock concert benefit, this one a similarly-structured but much more intimate affair at the Lobero to celebrate British giant Alan Parsons on his 75th birthday. Local heroes lauding the legend included Michael McDonald, whose “I Keep Forgettin’” still packs an emotional pop wallop even as it takes on a different meaning, and Al Stewart, whose fun rendition of “Year of the Cat” was the night’s crowd-pleaser. Good stuff for a good cause: One805, the nonprofit that provides smartly-targeted funding and programs for the First Responders of Santa Barbara County. 

In music-related dance events, I thought I’d seen the performance of the year back in May when Mark Morris Dance Group performed “The Look of Love” with its Burt Bacharach-via-Ethan Iverson soundtrack played live. But then Turn It Out with Tiler Peck & Friends came to town in October and blew everyone away – mind, body, and soul – with its depth of scope, breadth of talent, and sheer exuberance. Sorry Swifties, for me it’s Tiler not Taylor.