Brian O'Donovan, host of A Celtic Sojourn, joined Jim Braude and Margery Eagan on Boston Public Radio for his monthly segment about great live, local music. In the first half, O'Donovan looked at participatory jams held around town. These sessions are opportunities for semi-professional and aspiring musicians to drop by, play stuff they're working on, learn new tunes, and hear fellow musicians.
Around town:
O'Donovan singled out two upcoming shows worth catching. The first featured singer-songwriter David Johnston. Johnston regularly performs outside Crema Cafe in Harvard Square, and his song "I Don't Want to Know" was recorded by Peter Wolf of J. Geils Band. Johnston will be performing at The Plough and the Stars on Sunday.
O'Donovan also recommended a show Saturday by Chrissie Hynde. Hynde made a name for herself in and out of The Pretenders, the band she's fronted since 1978. Hynde and The Pretenders are playing 7:30 PM on Saturday at the Orpheum.
Finally, in honor of the late Boston Mayor Tom Menino, O'Donovan pointed to a poignant moment during Boston Summer Arts in Copley Square. Menino was honored before the performance.
"We paid tribute to him from the stage — because he didn't have the strength to get up the steps — and the crowd, waiting for Angélique Kidjo — gave him a standing and sustained ovation. He was Boston's Neighborhood Mayor," O'Donovan said.
>> To hear the entire conversation with Brian O'Donovan, click the audio above.
