I have been to more concerts than I can count. I have seen the band Phish over 100 times alone, not to mention the other bands I have seen live (hundreds of them). I have a very wide ranges of tastes when it comes to music anywhere from rock to punk to classical to show tunes to reggae to jazz to folk to...well you name it and I probably listen to it in some form or another.
If you are into things like Lynyrd Skynyrd and AC/DC then you might want to check out some Allman Brothers stuff. An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band (both first and second sets) is a great place to jump in. The energy in these discs is great.
For quieter stuff have you checked out
Alison Krauss and Union Station? She is considered bluegrass (except by some bluegrass aficionados), but regardless of what pigeonhole you put her in, her music is amazing. Check out Alison Krauss + Union Station
Live - 2 CD Set (2002). You will be blown away if you like a beautiful singing voice with amazing song writing and musicianship that is phenomenal. You may also want to check out her CD called Raising Sand. This was a project that she did with Robert Plant (yes the same of Led Zeppelin fame) that was quiet outside of her normal stuff. This CD is absolutely amazing. To hear two such amazing musicians who have such different musical backgrounds come together and play something that is not normal to either of their styles and make it work the way they do is just magical.
My current favorite is
Iron and Wine. It is very mellow stuff, but mind blowingly beautiful. It is because of Iron and Wine that I have gotten up the nerve to try to learn how to play guitar again. If you are into deep lyrics then Iron and Wine is for you. Here is a sample of lyrics:
Love Song of the Buzzard
In the failing light of the afternoon
Lucy in the shade of the dogwood blooms
Yesterday the solace of a poison fish
Tomorrow i'll be kissing on her blood red lips
And no one is the saviour they would like to be
The lovesong of the buzzard in the dogwood tree
With a train of horses laughing through the traffic line
And the cradles unimaginative sense of time
Springtime and the promise of an open fist
A tattoo of a flower on a broken wrist
Lucy tells me jokingly to wipe her brow
With a pocket map to heaven and the sun goes down
Similar in feel, but much different in sound is
The Tallest Man On Earth. This is some great folksy stuff, very reminiscent of Bob Dylan (another great that should be on everyone's iPod). The songwriting skill of this man is evident the second you hear his stuff.
Medeski Martin & Wood is a jazz trio who will redefine what you know as jazz. They are not your dads jazz trio. They go way out there expanding the boundaries like you would not believe. If you think you did not like jazz before then give these guys a shot and if you already liked jazz then MMW will make you see it in a whole new light. They range from very mellow ambient stuff to in your face rockin hard emotional stuff and everywhere in between. The first album I ever heard by MMW and my favorite is called Shack Man. I have to confess that the first time I head this album I hated it with a passion. I could not understand how anyone could like music like that. At the time I refused to even call it music. I took the CD and put it away and didn't touch it for another 2 or 3 years. Something made me pull it out again and try once more though and thank G-d I did because all of a sudden I "got it" and now if I were going to be stranded on a desert island and had the chance to pick a few CDs to take with me this one would be on the short list every time. It is the perfect summer album for driving down the highway with the sun beating down on you. Musical perfection!
Another great album to check out with MMW is called A Go Go. This is actually a
John Scofield album with MMW doing the backup. This album would also be on my short list for the island. This is one that you will be grooving to the second you put it in. I could not recommend is album more. It is simply amazing.
My music list would not be complete without listing Phish and the Grateful Dead. I am listing them her together even though there music is absolutely nothing alike. While they both share similar influences (although they have their own individual influences as well) what they come up with is nothing alike to each other. Both are incredible though if you give them a chance. Don't let pre-conceived notions get in the way of experiencing great new music. I can not count the times people who have never
really listened to either band just don't give them a chance because they think you need to be high to like there stuff. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Grateful dead have some amazing lyrics and some of the most hauntingly beautiful tunes ever recorded. Phish's lyrics won't win any poetry contests, but they are fun, but the music will endure because it is some of the most amazing notes to ever hit humans ears. My favorite song in the world is Harry Hood by Phish. The best version ever is from 12/31/93 NYE Worcester Centrum, MA. If I ever had to describe with the words beautiful, bliss, elation, gorgeous, and luscious meant to someone who did not speak English I would put on that version of that song. Without knowing the language they would know what those words meant. If you are unable to find a live copy of that show (very easy to do and I can help you if you want. It is free and legal to download), then you can always buy Phish's album called A Live One. It has a version of Harry Hood on it that is great. Like the MMW album Shack Man, the version of Harry Hood on A Live One took me a number of listening before I "got it", but once I did it hit me over the head like a sledgehammer. Put this song on and turn the volume up as loud as it will go, then turn it up even louder. You will lose a year off your hearing, but it will be worth it.
I could go on and on. I have over a terabyte of music at home with over 400 artists and I add to that list constantly. If you think I am passionate about food, well you have not seen me around music