32 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 18-24, 2024 www.montereycountyweekly.com MUSIC The first sound you hear on Beyoncé’s genre-busting new release, Cowboy Carter, is Rhiannon Giddens’ fretless banjo intro to “Texas Hold ’Em.’” While she can’t talk about the details of how the collaboration came about, as befits life at such stratospheric levels, anyone who’s followed the roots music scene knows that Giddens, who plays the Golden State Theatre on April 22, is a superstar in her own right. Just last year, she and Michael Abel shared the Pulitzer Prize in Music for Omar, based on the autobiography of Omar ibn Saud, a West African man sold into slavery in South Carolina. She followed up with You’re The One, a Grammy-nominated album that is her first record featuring all original songs. Jason Isbell duets with her on “Yet To Be,” a love story between an Irish man and a Black woman during the Great Migration—which may have personal, as well as historical, meaning for Giddens, who lives in Limerick, Ireland, these days. And, oh yes, she’s succeeded Yo-Yo Ma as the artistic director of Silkroad, the ambitious international ensemble seeking to overcome global divisions. Giddens is also among the performers on My Black Country, a just-released album celebrating the work of neglected African-American songwriter Alice Randall. “The timing was really great to have Alice’s songs covered by artists who are active right now,” Giddens says. Her contribution is “The Ballad of Sally Anne,” a song about a lynching. But more work remains. The Cowboy Carter craze is “only one piece of the puzzle, unless we can turn this into systemic change,” she emphasizes. “It’s great to have exposure, but we need to deal with radio play. I’m always about the long game— will it change the narrative.” She has no time for the mini-controversies over whether Beyoncé is really country, let alone the updated version of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” “I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years, so I’m not surprised,” Giddens says. “We’ve lost the ability to talk with nuance. Country music is Black, and it’s also Indigenous, Mexican, white, poor people—it’s a melange. “It’s an honor to be part of this history, but it’s nothing new,” she adds. “Nina Simone was doing all of this— including opera—in the ’60s.” Rhiannon Giddens performs at 8pm Monday, April 22. Golden State Theatre, 471 Alvarado St., Monterey. $39-$79. 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com. EBRU YILDIZ String Things Rhiannon Giddens rides a wave of mainstream success with aplomb and determination. By Paul Wilner Rhiannon Giddens is a vocalist, fiddler and banjo player who recently won a Pulitzer Prize and collaborated with Beyoncé. She sees herself in the arc of music history. 720 BROADWAY AVE. SEASIDE Call 831-899-1762 to order DINE IN / TAKEOUT / DELIVERY Great Dough Great Pizza is Thin crust & Sourdough pizzas Salads & Calzones • Pasta • Subs Draft beer on tap • Wine • Dessert Serving handmade pizzas with fresh, quality ingredients At The Oven, we believe Youth Music Monterey County Auditions for Junior Youth & Honors Orchestras May 1st & May 8th after school with assigned times Sign up forms available at www.youthmusicmonterey.org Or call 831.375.1992 • August Auditions TBA www.youthmusicmonterey.org • 831-375-1992 Domenico’s on the Wharf features Cioppino-a house specialty, Boat to Table Wild Alaskan Salmon, Oysters Rockefeller are a sample of the many great menu choices. Also enjoy Fine Wines and Cocktails, Desserts and Great Service. A local favorite celebrating 43 yeARS on Old Fisherman’s Wharf. 50 Old FiSheRmAn’S WhARF mOnTeRey • 831-372-3655 www.domenicosmonterey.com Open Daily 11:30am to close Fresh Seafood, Italian Classics, Prime Steaks , with Beautiful Harbor Views.
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