Guitar, fiddle duo to appear at MDI venue

NORTHEAST HARBOR – Guitar and fiddle duo Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez will bring their Texas sound to Neighborhood House this weekend.

The July 20 appearance of Taylor and Rodriguez is the latest in the ongoing musical acts brought to Maine by the Austin-Acadia Connection. Promoters Lee Haynes and Dee Karnofsky make annual trips to Austin, Texas, seeking acts with a hankering for a taste of Maine.

Taylor and Rodriguez are their latest find. The duo couples songwriter Taylor, who has had songs on the hit parade for five decades, with Rodriguez, a classically-trained fiddler, who has made a name for herself since her winning performance at Austin’s South by Southwest Music Festival in 2001.

It was at the festival that Taylor heard Rodriguez and invited her to accompany him on gigs in Texas and his upcoming tour in Europe. During that tour, Taylor coaxed Rodriguez to sing a few numbers, and they’ve been alternating vocals ever since.

Taylor first hit it big back in the 1960s, with the rock anthem “Wild Thing,” which was a No. 1 hit for the Troggs. He also is the author of “Angel of the Morning,” which has been performed by Merilee Rush, Juice Newton and, most recently, Shaggy, whose chart-topping version earned Taylor the status of having a span of No. 1 hits in almost 50 years.

Taylor, born James Wesley Voight, is the brother of actor Jon Voight, and besides having a successful musical career, also managed to support himself as a professional blackjack player, according to biographical information provided by his Austin-based promoter, Texas Music Group.

Rodriguez was raised in a musical family in Austin, and is the daughter of noted Texas singer-songwriter David Rodriguez. She began playing the violin at age 5, and played in orchestras and chamber groups through high school. She also played fiddle in Austin clubs with her father and another Texas legend, Don Walser. In a city full of fiddlers, Rodriguez stood out as a youngster. She attended Oberlin Conservatory of Music, as well as Berklee College of Music. After graduating from Berklee, she recorded with Patty Griffin and played with Lyle Lovett.

Since hooking up, Taylor and Rodriguez have released their debut album “Let’s Leave This Town,” a country-folk collection of songs on which veteran and newcomer shine.

With a back-up band of notable Texas musicians, “Let’s Leave This Town” offers a fine mix of song craft, tight music and moving vocals. Taylor on guitar and Rodriguez on fiddle will be accompanied this weekend by a lead guitar player and stand-up bass.

The Taylor and Rodriguez show begins at 8 p.m. and the doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15, with children under the age of 12 admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at the Grasshopper Shops, in Ellsworth and Bangor, the Music Bar at Bar Harbor or at the door. For information, call 288-4740 or 288-4365