Guest blooger here for this concert.  This is Wendy and I first heard Peter Bradley Adams music on the TV show “Summerland.”  It was when he was in a duo called Eastmountainsouth.  I continued to follow Peter’s music career, and I am thrilled we were able to get him to come to Trinity Backstage.  A few of my favorite songs are Unreconciled, For You, Full Moon Song and Los Angeles.  I appreciate songs that tell a story and Peter’s songs often make me laugh…and make me cry.

In November 2008, Adams was named by Wall Street Journal as one of the “21st-century writers whose songs are worth exploring.” and as “ [having] a way with melody and lyrics…and ready to be seen and heard.”.

We can’t say enough about how we love Michael Lille. I have had the pleasure of playing and writing with him for YEARS– he has been my band more than once in the 20 years I have known him– all by himself. He is that good. He is  an AMAZING player, writer, singer, and performer– I can think of few artists I would rather see and hear than Michael. We wrote “Wherever You Walk” together, which may be my very favorite of my songs. Just so you have a little bio information and not just me going on and on, here you go…

“This modern-day Renaissance man has certainly been busy lately. But what affords him the most satisfaction among all his life experiences is recording and performing, and upon listening to his third and latest release, Never Home to Stay, it’s easy to see (and hear) why. The record is an auditory delight that combines Michael’s penchant for melding heartfelt lyrics about love, loss, self-examination and the lure and romance of the open road with a cool, breezy, Southern California-style, country-folk-rock groove.”    Performing Songwriter Magazine

Well, John Batdorf was a complete success on Saturday night. Playing to a completely full house, John was the consummate pro from the very first notes. His guitar playing was superb, his songs really accessible and crowd pleasing and his patter was wonderful– he was funny, warm and completely entertaining. He ended the night on a perfect note (pardon the pun)– and after two standing ovations–by playing, “Ruby Tuesday” from his Rolling Stones tribute CD, and the audience, all 130 people, sang right along with him in many harmonies. It was terrific. I love when that happens!

John Batdorf’s Website

Annie Gallup and Peter Gallway individually and as Hat Check Girl, Put on a wonderful show in July–we had a great crowd and the smooth, groov-y, jazzy, lyrical magic of these two seasoned gifted artists won the day.  Peter’s fine guitar playing was a perfect backdrop for Annie’s amazing lyrically unique songs and Annie on slide guitar, augmented Peter’s electric tunes, which were delivered with the deep soul for which Peter is well known.  The tunes they wrote together (Tenderness and Casey’s Nervous Corner being my favorites) sounded perfect and were performed masterfully.  I have always been a huge fan of each of these great artists separately, so I was really happy to hear songs like “Yes Yes Yes” from Peter and “Blacktop Boardwalk” from Annie.  I sure had fun.

“… We are in the presence of two very fine songwriters here. The writing is all the more powerful for its subtlety, and the musical settings only enhance the effect… something like the solo work of either Daniel Lanois or Robbie Robertson. Gallup and Gallway between them play six different kinds of guitars, and these guitars sing or hum along with the vocals, or they play intricate rhythmic patterns. Music this finely crafted can sometimes sound emotionless, but the effect here is intimate, and filled with simmering passion.” Oliver di Place

Hat Check Girl Website

Nothing could have prepared me for the show legendary Bryan Bowers put on. He is legendary for a reason. I have never seen anyone as in command of an instrument as he– and it’s the autoharp!! He writes and selects songs that are so perfect for his incomparable skills..the journey he took all of us on, I feel certain, is not to be repeated by anyone. I felt as if we were shown a brief window to a kind of music and instrumental mastery that will be gone from the earth with his passing. May he live long and in good health!