Sylvain Acher and Frenchaxe in Hamilton, Ohio

Sometimes, you read about a local band for a long time, but you don't get to see them perform.   For me, it's health/gravity issues that keep me home too much, so when I do venture out, I hope it's worth it.

Folks, I'm here to tell you that  French Axe was indeed, worth it as I was enchanted with their style.

   We first sat towards the back, but when people sat in front of us, we could not see and it was a really great turn out.   It wasn't until my friend and I stood up that we spotted the drummer!  We  knew we heard him but it was a mystery.  

Sylvain Acher and  French Axe were  fantastic! Sylvain was endearing with his accent and we enjoyed his brief stories, with hand gesturing, between songs, as well as his astute musicianship on the guitar and singing.  We wished we understood French--  as he sings in his home language, but good music always transcends the language.

Fellow accordionist and keyboard player Rob Allgeyer added to this quartet, as did stand up bass player Eric Sayer, and drummer/percussionist Mark Milliron.

**Click on any photo to enlarge it**

I took way too  many photos, as usual,  and it was easiest to see Sylvain. I got up and moved around the best I could without being annoying or distracting (I hope!) but I could’ve photographed these guys all night. I enjoyed watching the drummer (a fan of drum brushes)  the accordionist/keyboard player was fun to watch and an upright bass player? Well, that is always a treat.

 The music was at times, Parisian, Caribbean,  Brazilian....then other world flavors were mixed into this special musical recipe that is Frenchaxe

 

Visit their website for some biographies on the band, band contacts, CD and video information. Frenchaxe

Here is an interview online with Sylvain from last year at WVXU
 http://wvxu.org/post/sylvain-archer-shop-owner-and-musician

Here is a lovely video medley of some their songs. I LOVE This! Go to youtube if this doesn't work on your tablet!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFgzmhOn-Vs&noredirect=1




 If you do facebook here is  the link to Frenchaxe so go like their page. Right now!

Enjoy the pictures and feel free to leave a comment. *waves hello* ~~Sophia
P.S. I Moderate comments before they appear to control the riff raff.

Vernon McIntyre's Appalachian Grass at Miami Downtown

A spur of the moment, last minute outing led me to a great band!  I'd left the bird watching 55-300 mm Zoom lens on the Nikon so my photos look like that of a stalker. Sorry about that. I had to hunt for a parking spot and when I got inside, it was a packed house and mostly, standing room only. Until I spotted a few chairs in the front row. Why are people shy about sitting close to the band? I love to watch their hands work.

Vernon McIntyre's Band, Appalachian Grass, was in Miami Downtown Hamilton.   I do not remember all the band member's names but  I provide a link at the end of this post.

 The band sounded awesome,  dressed sharp, were perfectly tuned --and stayed that way-- had fabulous tight harmonies, and played songs in rapid succession.  No easy feat.  Yet, Vernon found time to give a brief intro to each song they played, which I always appreciate.

I told a friend of mine who was there, "This band is so tight, they do not stop on a dime, they stop  on a toothpick!."  Remember that word, toothpick, ok?

That's Vernon on  guitar

Robert Campbell on banjo

Mike Elliott on Mandolin

Kitty McIntyre plays a fabulous fiddle and keeps herself busy, playing at the end of the group, and dancing up to  the mic to sing harmony, then back again. Her "Orange Blossom Special" was phenomenal, rapid firing fiddlin', but she slowed it down to  gently play a poignant solo on "Ashokan Farewell."

Then there was her violin trick set.  She told a story of how her bow broke one night at a bluegrass festival, so she thought of alternatives ways to play.  The mandolin player held the mic during this part so  I did not get a direct shot in places.  Kitty played with the bow behind her back, between her knees,  and between her toes, with violin on the floor. She demonstrated  using a men's comb, a chopstick and even a toothpick (!) to play real notes, not just make noise!

Playing with the bow behind her back

Bow between her knees. *Click on any photo to see it full sized but remember they do look grainy due to film speed and no flash.

Sorry I did not get a photo of the entire band, or of the bass player, and that the photographs are so close up  (.hazard of leaving on the zoom lens on) I refuse to use flash without permission of a band so I used high ISO settings, thus pictures are grainy. I had to tweak the contrast and saturation to make the pictures light enough.  Depending upon your monitor settings, mileage may vary on how well you view these pictures.

Tammy Powers on bass (sorry her face is hidden. I shall correct this w correct lens next time!)

The McIntyre's have a website if you need music lessons or work done on musical instruments or if you want to just keep up with the band schedule.  Click here

P.S. Kitty and Vernon will be playing with the Retread Band, Sunday, October 13th, at the Waynesville, Ohio Sauerkraut Festival at  12 Noon.

Ok, one more of Kitty holding the bow between her toes, under her long skirt.