Sunday, October 21, 2007

Updated with downloadable video: Concert Review: Carter Albrecht Memorial at the Granada Theater

By Erin Rice

Updated 09:28 a.m., October 26, 2007

Those in attendance for the Carter Albrecht Memorial concert at The Granada Theater last night were treated to more than just a show. Though there were somber moments throughout, the evening was a celebration of Carter Albrecht's life as the Granada filled to near capacity with family, friends, and those who simply appreciate Dallas music.

The bands performing throughout the evening played a mix between their own original songs and covers of Carter's various songs throughout the years. Following Marcus Striplin and Sarah Jaffe, then Steven Collins and Deadman, Carter's father, Ken Albrecht took the stage to set the mood for the evening. Reminding the crowd that the night was a celebration of his son and of his passion in life, music, Ken thanked those who were instrumental in Carter's life and in putting the night together. He also talked about the Carter Albrecht Music Foundation, to which the proceeds from the evening went.

The Slack took the stage next, exploding into "2nd Hand Sunshine" after a taped piece of Carter playing "Moonlight Sonata" on the keys. They were later joined by Jennifer Nabb, after which then Rahim Quazi performed an original song before Salim Nourallah and The Noise took the stage for four tunes that included a rendition of a newer Carter song, "When You Were Younger." Between performances, the big screens would announce various bands and projects Carter had been involved in throughout the years, going back as early as The Cosmetics in the mid-nineties. After host Mike Rhyner's opening speech and later in the evening following Reed Easterwood and The Drams, there were testimonials from family and friends playing over pictures of Carter Albrecht, which would detail overall feelings about him, some recounting stories and memories that were dear to the person talking.

As the night progressed, and more people filled the Granada, Trey and Chris Carmichael took the stage, playing another of Carter's songs, "Last Night." They were immediately Followed by Sorta, who performed three Sparrows songs, "Rockin' Rock and Roll," "Rock & Roll Days," and "Jose Cuervo." Just around midnight the headlining act, the Old 97's, took the stage and played fourteen of their own songs, in addition to "Digging Deeper Holes," another of Carter's. After closing with Timebomb and disembarking the stage to an uproarious and appreciative crowd, Mike Ryner thanked everyone in attendance and reminded them that while the concert is over, The Carter Albrecht Music Foundation, honoring Carter's vision for Dallas music, is where we go from here.

Update: Updated with photo gallery. Photographs by Bill Ellison.

Tease photo on story from Sorta's MySpace site, taken by Bill Ellison

Related stories

• Pegasus News banner stolen by terrorists exclamation point (May 9, 2008)
• Old 97’s debut new song; Vintage KCRW performance available (Oct. 27, 2007)

See more stories in:

• Arts > Popular Music
• Charity

Comments

Mike Orren Staff

I'll echo that it was an amazing night. Really well put together and ran like clockwork. I was pleasantly surprised to see a local music crowd shut their yaps during the photo/voice tribute before Sorta went on. And from the smidge I saw peeking at the monitors in the iMedia truck, there's some great footage.

FYI for the Old 97's fans in the house: They did a new song off the album which they're recording right now. I didn't catch the title, but the chorus went something like "Who cares if the world is falling apart-- Do you want to dance with me?" Had a surf-rock vibe very similar to "Smokers."

"Old Familiar Steam" was the high point of the set for me -- It was called as an audible; appropriate to the occasion; and I thought Rhett and Murry knocked the harmonies out of the park in a way I hadn't heard before.

8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Megan Mead Verified

wonderful night with lots of familiar faces

8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Mike Orren Staff

Updates on video progress here:

http://www.pegasusnews.com/blogs/pega...

8 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Mike Orren Staff

OK. We finally have at least one version of every set ready for download:

http://www.pegasusnews.com/albrecht/

Over the weekend, we'll fill in the rest and some of the "medium" ones will become smaller in filesize.

We'll also post embeds of some of the individual songs. We've already done Jennifer Nabb and Chris Holt's great rendition of "Hallelujah."

Here's the tributes to Carter that silenced the crowd. The beginning of the first is intentionally silent.

Please post and share these embeds as you wish. The more people who see them, the more who will come share the larger performances and donate to the Foundation.

Speaking of which, I'm very pleased with the donations rolling in so far. And most are giving more than the recommended $5. Does a heart good...

8 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )