what we need is music

New Music/CD Releases - January 06, 2009

2009-01-02T20:09:00.000-05:00

3 weeks running and nothing significant to choose from...

Erin McCarley - Love, Save the Empty
Glasvegas - Glasvegas
The Gourds - Haymaker!
Neil Sedaka - Waking Up Is Hard to Do
Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Communion

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a listing of stores

Over the Rhine: 20th Anniversary Celebration - The Taft Theatre/Cincinnati 12.19-21-2008

2008-12-28T18:52:00.005-05:00

friday, december 19th - reunion of the original over the rhine (karin bergquist, linfird detweiler, brian kelley, ric hordinski)

there is so much to say about this band, this weekend, this show, their fans (my friends) that i know i won't do justice to it all.

first of all, what a brilliant, wonderful, and rocking evening of music. i think many "lesser" bands, that hadn't played together in over 12 years might have played it "safe" on this kind of "one-off" reunion gig.

OtR, did not play it safe. in fact, they stepped out.

they covered the bases with the tunes that were "expected" (ie: "required") by long time fans, but surprised many with the inclusion of; "conjectures, daddy, i painted..., a gospel number." in an evening of highlights, for me the standouts were; how does it feel (w/reprise), june, like a radio, and the incredible second set ending "if i'm drowning" with the classic one-by-one stage exits.

the band sounded excellent, it was hard to believe that they had not played together in front of an audience for well over a decade. there was a great vibe on stage, lots of smiling, laughing, great stories.

i'm not expecting for this to happen again anytime soon, but if it does, i sure as hell planning on being there.

SET ONE
Eyes Wide Open
How Does It Feel?
How Does It Feel? (Reprise)
Within Without (with Kim Taylor)
Like a Radio
Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander
June (with Kim Taylor, Jake, Kenny Hutson, and Julie Lee)
Circle of Quiet (with Kim and Julie)
Daddy Untwisted (with Kim and Julie)

SET TWO
Paul and Virginia (L&K with Jake, Kenny, Mickey, Kim, and Julie)
Poughkeepsie (same minus Mickey)
Mary's Waltz (L, K, Paul Patterson)
Silent Night (Duet) (L, K, Paul, Julie)
Faithfully Dangerous (with Jake)
A Gospel Number (with Jake, Kim, Juli)
All I Need Is Everything (with Jake, Kim, and Paul)
If I'm Drowning

ENCORE NUMBER ONE
My Love Is a Fever
I Painted My Name (with Kim and Julie)

ENCORE NUMBER TWO
Latter Days (L & K)
What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding? (with Jake)

saturday, december 20th

set one:
-born
-waste
-all i ever get
-white horse
-here it is
-world can wait
-message from jack
-if nothing else
-roll
-trumpet
-kiddin'

set two:
-ohio
-pro day
-bpd
-happy birthday to kim and kenny
-darlin'
-snow angel
-pull through
-northpole man
-tom
-when i go
++
-c&p
-changes come
++
-hush
-new redemption song

*the setlist shows bpd as the set opener and ohio as the second song, wonder if she just changed her mind?

great damn night of music.

and...Sunday, December 21, 2008
St. Elizabeth Church - Norwood, OH

I Want You to be My Love
Long Lost Brother
Suitcase
Anything At All
We're Gonna Pull Through
Bothered
[Kim Taylor] Days Like This *
[Julie Lee w/Jake & Kenny] Does the Road Wind Uphill **
Paul and Virginia
Poughkeepsie
Goodbye Charles
[Q and A]
Hush Now
Jack's Valentine
Cruel and Pretty

Karin Bergquist - vocals, guitar
Linford Detweiler - piano, guitar, vocals, bell
Kenny Hutson - guitar, dobro, mandolin, pedal steel
Jake Bradley - upright bass
Mickey Grimm - drums, percussion
Kim Taylor - vocals, guitar
Julie Lee - vocals, guitar
Nick Radina - congas

This show was the last of 3 concerts staged as part of Over the Rhine's 20th Anniversary and Christmas celebration.

this was truly a wonderful weekend of music, friendship and fun.

my year in music [concerts 2008]

2008-12-28T18:49:00.000-05:00

my year in music, 34 shows, 6 states…

02.10 - cat power @ the vic (chicago)
02.23 - over the rhine w/ben sollee @ the bomhard theatre (louisville)
03.07 - tift merritt @ ear x-tacy (louisville)
03.11 - grace potter and the nocturnals @ headliner’s (louisville)
03.14 - over the rhine @ the ryman (nashville)
03.27 - cowboy junkies w/mary gauthier @ the clifton center (louisville)
04.17 - kathleen edwards @ headliner’s (louisville)
04.25 - over the rhine (w/julie lee) @ canal street tavern (dayton)
04.26 - over the rhine (w/julie lee) @ canal street tavern (dayton)
05.25 - over the rhine / ohio: in concert (cincinnati)
05.30 - over the rhine w/mary gauthier @ the variety playhouse (atlanta)
06.11 - alejandro escovedo (w/ben sollee) @ headliner’s (louisville)
06.13 - ellery @ the rudyard kipling (louisville)
06.14 - over the rhine @ the rapp granary (new harmony, IN)
07.05 - tom waits @ the fox theatre (atlanta)
07.18 - missy higgins @ ear x-tacy (louisville)
07.18 - missy higgins w/teneia sanders @ the phoenix hill tavern (louisville)
07.23 - over the rhine @ the fraze pavilion (dayton)
07.31 - wild sweet orange @ ear x-tacy (louisville)
09.13 - tift merritt @ the original highlands street fair (louisville)
10.04 - mieka pauley @ perkfection (jeffersonville, IN)
10.09 - eilen jewell @ the player’s pub (bloomington)
10.11 - over the rhine @ elk creek winery (owenton, KY)
10.12 - louisville songwriter’s showcase w/johnny berry, mickey clark, danny
flanigan, john gage, tim krekel, teneia sanders, leigh ann yost @ the
bomhard theatre (louisville)
10.12 - the watson twins @ the bomhard theatre (louisville)
10.21 - david byrne @ the palace theatre (louisville)
11.15 - john prine @ indiana university auditorium (bloomington)
11.23 – ralph stanley @ the CEA’s emery theatre (cincinnati)
12.11 – ben sollee, neva geoffrey, daniel martin moore @ the dame (lexington)
12.12 - over the rhine @ the bomhard theatre (louisville)
12.14 - grace potter @ the 20th century (cincinnati)
12.19 – over the rhine @ the taft theater (cincinnati)
12.20 – over the rhine @ the taft theater (cincinnati)
12.19 – over the rhine @ st. elizabeth’s (norwood/cincinnati)

top 5 non-OtR
07.05 - tom waits @ the fox theatre (atlanta)
10.21 - david byrne @ the palace theatre (louisville)
02.10 - cat power @ the vic (chicago)
11.15 - john prine @ indiana university auditorium (bloomington)
06.11 - alejandro escovedo (w/ben sollee) @ headliner’s (louisville)

top 3 OtR
12.19 – over the rhine @ the taft theater (cincinnati)
05.25 - over the rhine / ohio: in concert (cincinnati)
06.14 - over the rhine @ the rapp granary (new harmony, IN)

New Music/CD Releases - December 30, 2008

2008-12-26T21:17:00.001-05:00

none, nada, zip, zilch.

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a listing of stores

WFPK Winter Fundraiser - From the Jayhawks: Gary Louris & Mark Olson

2008-12-17T10:24:00.001-05:00

WFPK Winter Fundraiser - From the Jayhawks: Gary Louris & Mark Olson

91.9 WFPK is proud to present Gary Louris and Mark Olson at Phoenix Hill Tavern on Sunday, February 15th at 8pm. This is a rare opportunity to catch Jayhawks frontmen Gary Louris and Mark Olson as they reunite in Louisville for the first time in more than ten years to benefit 91.9 WFPK.

Louris and Olson last shared a Louisville stage at Phoenix Hill Tavern in 1995. It is fitting that the two return to Phoenix Hill’s Saloon stage in support of their new collaboration “Ready for the Flood”.

Tickets for An Evening with Gary Louris and Mark Olson go on sale Saturday, December 20th at 10am at www.ticketweb.com, and ear X-tacy. Tickets will be available here at 619 South Fourth Street and at Phoenix Hill Tavern beginning Monday, December 22nd. Tickets are $15.00 (plus applicable service fees when purchased at www.ticketweb.com or ear X-tacy). Patrons must be 21 years old to attend.

For more information on 91.9 WFPK, please visit www.wfpk.org . For information on this event or for artist interviews, please contact Billy Hardison at bhardison@louisvillepublicmedia.org or (502) 814-6518.

Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

2008-12-16T23:35:00.004-05:00

1. This Tornado Loves You
2. The Next Time You Say Forever
3. People Got A Lotta Nerve
4. Polar Nettles
5. Vengeance Is Sleeping
6. Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth
7. Middle Cyclone
8. Fever
9. Magpie To The Morning
10. I'm An Animal
11. Prison Girls
12. Don't Forget Me
13. The Pharaohs
14. Red Tide
15. Marais La Nuit

Neko Case: Middle Cyclone

Neko Case will follow up 2006's "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood," the best-selling album of her career, with "Middle Cyclone," due March 3 via Anti-.

New Music/CD Releases - December 23, 2008

2008-12-16T18:55:00.003-05:00

BILL'S PICK OF THE WEEK
Well, like last week, there isn’t one. Looks like a good week to go back and catch up on a release you may have missed earlier…

21 December Tuesday
Fear The State - Against The Ropes
Savage - Savage Island
Sterling Simms - Yours, Mine & The Truth
Stephanie Smith - Not Afraid
Various Artists - Slumdog Millionaire [Soundtrack]

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a listing of stores

Grace Potter and The Nocturnals @ The 20th Century/Cincinnati (12.13.2008)

2008-12-15T23:31:00.005-05:00

oh. my. god.

what a show this girl and her band puts on. they are excellent musicians, a consumate high energy rock & roll/blues band and more than anything else, they absolutely love what they do, and that fun just flows off the stage and into the crowd. amazing.

this was my second experience of grace, and it isn't just a show, it is an experience. she spent most of the night behind her hammond b-3, coming out from behind it to play electric guitar on 4 or 5 numbers, but it didn't matter where she was, she totally controlled the joint. and what a voice, in my opinion, there is no female doin' the blues better than her right now.

on top of her originals, towards the end of the show they paid some respect to their obvious influence and kicked into a cover of "paint it black" that would make mick and the boys jealous in their heyday. in my opinion, the student surpassed the teacher. and they sent us home with another cover, a brilliant and rousing finale of zepplin's "your time is gonna come," doing plant, page, jones and bonham proud.

set list:
Watching you
(Feedback into)
Aint no time
Treat me right
Be my husband
Ah Mary
Mastermind
Apologies
Gate
Joey
Sweet Hands
Sugar
Paint it
Paris
Nothing But the Water
(Band ends)
Stop the Bus
Your time

the nocturnals are:
Grace Potter - Vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Scott Tournet - lead guitar
Bryan Dondero - electric bass
Matt Burr - drums

go see this band if you get the opportunity.

New Music/CD Releases - December 16, 2008

2008-12-13T19:24:00.002-05:00

BILL'S PICK OF THE WEEK
Well, looking at the list below, There isn’t one. Looks like a good week to go back and catch up on a release you may have missed earlier…

16 December Tuesday
All-American Rejects - When The World Comes Down
Brooks & Dunn - Playlist
Dave Matthews Band - Live at Mile High Music Festival
Dave Matthews Band - Live Trax Vol. 13
The Dream - Love vs. Money
Fall Out Boy - Folie a Deux
Ghostface Killah - Ghostdeini The Great
Jamie Foxx - Intuition
Keyshia Cole - A Different Me
Piles - Da REAList
Saliva - Cinco Diablo
Soulja Boy - iSouljaboytellem

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a listing of stores

Over the Rhine (w/Jim Bianco) @ The Bomhard Theatre (Louisville, KY), December 12, 2008

2008-12-13T17:18:00.008-05:00

a beautiful show last night @ the bomhard theatre in the kentucky center for the performing arts. a theatre worthy of what happens on it's stage, great sightlines throughout and amazing acoustically, and juicy worked it to perfection., the sound was pristine.

the band was in great spirits and having a lot of fun, coming off a successful west coast swing and getting in a week's rest before yesterday's shows here. the wonderful and lighthearted "WFPK live lunch" got the day started off right and the followed it up with a full-throttled gig @ the bomhard last night. the show had a great feel from the start, when a couple of songs in, karin announced that they were dedicating the "whole show" to patrick and sara (some local fans). as she said "they know why" and that was good enough for her, so i'll leave it at that too.

also, since karin's birthday is today, and in an effort to surprise her...between "northpole man" and "don't wait for tom" on the setlist, linford snuck in a surprise happy birthday wish for karin, the band and audience sang happy birthday to her and i was privledged to take her cake out to her on stage to blow out the candles. (that stage, the lights, all the people, is a scary place)

the set was at times; quiet then rockin', spiritual and bluesy, funny followed by emotional. they hit all of the bases, and hit it out of the park. by far, the best show OtR show i've seen this year...and i've seen a few really (really) good ones.

jim bianco, who opened on the recent west coast leg opened and did a nice job. nice music and a very funny guy...seemed he was "enjoying" being in the heart of "bourbon" country. a lot.

"darlin' christmas is coming" on WFPK Live Lunch earlier in the day

Ben Sollee w/Neva Geoffrey & Daniel Martin Moore @ The Dame (12.11.2008)

2008-12-13T16:49:00.003-05:00

excellent night of music @ the (new) dame. i really enjoyed neva geoffrey, i liked daniel martin moore but his set never seemed to catch much fire and the audience was rude and never seemed to get involved which really made it tough to connect with him and his music.

ben, on the otherhand was completely amazing and had the audience in the palm of his hand from the opening note of "how to see the sun rise".

more later...

Over the Rhine - WFPK "Live Lunch" - Friday 12.12.2008 @ Noon

2008-12-10T15:50:00.005-05:00

once again, louisville's most excellent public broadcasting radio station WFPK will be featuring OtR on it's LIVE LUNCH broadcast.

they will be playing a live set @ noon ('til 1:00) on WFPK 91.9FM or you can stream it for FREE @ wfpk.org

look for me on the radio, for i shall be there.

then they play @ the lovely kentucky center for the performing arts, bomhard theatre @ 8:00 on friday evening.

The Best of 2008 - CD's

2008-12-10T10:02:00.006-05:00

here is my list, in alphabetical order...

alejandro escovedo – “real animal”
ben sollee – “learning to bend”
bob dylan – “tell tale signs - rare and unreleased 1989-2006”
carrie rodriguez – “she ain’t me”
cat power – “jukebox/dark end of the street"
cowboy junkies – “trinity revisited”
david byrne & brian eno – “everything that happens will happen today”
johnny cash - “johnny cash at folsom prison: legacy edition”
kathleen edwards – “asking for flowers”
kris delmhorst – “shotgun singer”
over the rhine - “live from nowhere volume 3”
ray lamontagne - “gossip in the grain”
rodney crowell – “sex and gasoline”
ryan adams and the cardinals - "cardinology"
shelby lynne – “just a little lovin’ "
teddy thompson – “a piece of what you need”
tift merritt – “another country”
the waifs - "sundirtwater"

*and i'm combining cat power's "dark end of the street" [ep] with "jukebox." they are out of the same sessions and it is just like an extension of that project.

and here is "Rolling Stone's" top 50 albums of 2008:

1 | TV on the Radio: Dear Science
2 | Bob Dylan: Tell Tale Signs — The Bootleg Series Vol. 8
3 | Lil Wayne: Tha Carter III
4 | My Morning Jacket: Evil Urges
5 | John Mellencamp: Life, Death, Love and Freedom
6 | Santogold: Santogold
7 | Coldplay: Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
8 | Beck: Modern Guilt
9 | Metallica: Death Magnetic
10 | Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend
11 | Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes
12 | Guns n' Roses: Chinese Democracy
13 | Blitzen Trapper: Furr
14 | Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: Cardinology
15 | The Black Keys: Attack & Release
16 | Randy Newman: Harps and Angels
17 | B.B. King: One Kind Favor
18 | Lucinda Williams: Little Honey
19 | Erykah Badu: New Amerykah: Part 1 (4th World War)
20 | Kings of Leon: Only by the Night
21 | Kaiser Chiefs: Off With Their Heads
22 | Jackson Browne: Time the Conquerer
23 | Conor Oberst: Conor Oberst
24 | Girl Talk: Feed the Animals
25 | The Magnetic Fields: Distortion
26 | Mudcrutch: Mudcrutch
27 | Brian Wilson: That Lucky Old Sun
28 | The Knux: Remind Me in Three Days...
29 | Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago
30 | Duffy: Rockferry
31 | MGMT: Oracular Spectacular
32 | Jamey Johnson: The Lonesome Song
33 | Ne-Yo: Year of the Gentleman
34 | Stephen Malkmus: Real Emotional Trash
35 | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
36 | The Hold Steady: Stay Positive
37 | Nine Inch Nails: The Slip
38 | Ra Ra Riot: The Rhumb Line
39 | Taylor Swift: Fearless
40 | Jonas Brothers: A Little Bit Longer
41 | AC/DC: Black Ice
42 | David Byrne and Brian Eno: Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
43 | Nas: Untitled
44 | The Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely
45 | Be Your Own Pet: Get Awkward
46 | The Academy Is...: Fast Times at Barrington High
47 | Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping
48 | Raphael Saadiq: The Way I See It
49 | Hot Chip: Made in the Dark
50 | No Age: Nouns

U2's "No Line on the Horizon" gets Feb. 23 release date

2008-12-09T20:26:00.000-05:00

U2's "No Line on the Horizon" gets Feb. 23 release date
By Loren Lankford on December 9, 2008 [from pastemagazine.com]

We've been steadily giving you information on the new U2 album, No Line on the Horizon, as it has become available. Up until now, the release date for the 2009 disc has been unknown. Now, via pre-ordering info on HMV, we can tell you that the Bono-fronted band will release its 12th record (possibly produced by will.i.am?!?) on Feb. 23.

The Edge recently told Mojo that the album "[is] a record of two halves. One half is songs that came virtually fully-formed out of sessions we did with Brian and Danny—stuff we've only played once or maybe twice and that's it: just the raw moment of creation. Then the other half is material we've kicked around a while and went through the usual cycle of versions and incarnations."

Free Holiday Music from Ellery & Ric Hordinski

2008-12-09T19:16:00.010-05:00

Free Holiday Music from Ellery & Ric Hordinski

Cincinnati based husband and wife duo, Ellery is once again giving away their holiday EP for free. It’s titled December Days. Last year’s was a 3 song EP. This year they have added an additional track, a new collaboration with Ric Hordinski called “We Can Dream Tonight.”

Free Download - Ellery December Days

Also, Ric Hordinski (guitar virtuoso from Cincinnati, founding member of Over the Rhine & Monk) is having his annual holiday show with special guests, Ellery on Dec 12th @ Ric’s Monastery Studio in Cincinnati.

Ric and drummer Brian Kelley will also reunite with Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler (Over the Rhine) for one night only, Friday December 19th, for the first time in over 12 years @ the Taft Theatre in Cincinnati.

for more info:
Ellery

Monk (Ric Hordinski)

Over the Rhine

[REVISION] New Music/CD Releases - December 9, 2008

2008-12-09T15:41:00.001-05:00

FYI - this is only available on limited edition 10" vinyl and on i-tunes.

and it is excellent.

BILL'S PICK OF THE WEEK
CAT POWER - DARK END OF THE STREET (EP)
1. Dark End Of The Street
2. Fortunate Son
3. Ye Auld Triangle
4. I've Been Loving You Too Long
5. Who Knows Where The Time Goes
6. It Ain't Fair

28 years on...

2008-12-08T14:37:00.002-05:00

and it still stings like the day it happened.

John Winston Ono Lennon: 9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980

peace john.

2 weeks of fine music coming up...

2008-12-07T16:59:00.005-05:00

to wrap up the year, i've got a couple of good weeks of fine music coming up.

dec 11 - thurs @ the dame (lexington): ben sollee, daniel martin moore, neva geoffrey
dec 12 - fri @ the bomhard (louisville): over the rhine
dec 14 - sun @ the 20th century (cincinnati): grace potter and the nocturnals
dec 19 - fri @ the taft theatre (cincinnati): over the rhine 20th anniversary celebration (the first 10 years w/ric hordinski & brian kelley)
dec 20 - sat @ the taft theatre (cincinnati): over the rhine 20th anniversary celebration (the second 10 years)
dec 21 - sun @ st. elizabeth (norwood/cincinnati) - over the rhine sunday soiree

wrapping up the year with my 132nd live OtR show.

Dar Williams - Free Downloads

2008-12-05T21:15:00.006-05:00

Hello all, I was just permission to share these live recordings from Dar Williams' Ann Arbor show at The Ark on September 17. Feel free to just listen and/or download and share -- consider it an early Christmas gift from Dar!

I like that they capture Dar's live essence and personality, her song intros & commentary and everything...she puts on a great, fun show.

Live tracks from The Ark in Ann Arbor, September 17, 2008:

"IT'S ALRIGHT"

"BUZZER"

"EASY WAY"

enjoy.

New Music/CD Releases - December 9, 2008

2008-12-05T19:01:00.007-05:00

BILL'S PICK OF THE WEEK
CAT POWER - DARK END OF THE STREET (EP)
1. Dark End Of The Street
2. Fortunate Son
3. Ye Auld Triangle
4. I've Been Loving You Too Long
5. Who Knows Where The Time Goes
6. It Ain't Fair

It's no surprise that when Cat Power (aka: Chan Marshall), my second favorite artist currently making music, releases something new that it would be at the top of my list. I've heard half this EP; Dark End of the Street, Fortunate Son, I've Been Loving You..., and they are fantastic. This six-song EP contains mostly unreleased recordings from the "Jukebox" sessions. In keeping with the "Jukebox" theme, all the songs here are covers: "Auld Triangle", "Dark End Of The Street", "Who Knows Where The Time Goes", "Fortunate Son", "I've Been Loving You Too Long", and "It Ain't Fair".

9 December Tuesday
Alexander Achavoy - Voy
Avant - Avant
Ken Block - Drift
Brandy - Human
Busta Rhymes - B.O.M.B.
Cat Power - Dark End of the Street
Charlie Louvin – Murder Ballads
Common - Universal Mind Control
Jeffree Star - Cupcakes Taste
Justice - A Cross The Universe
Maroon 5 – Call and Response
Music Soulchild On My Radio
Omara Portuondo - Gracias
Rush - Retrospective 3
Stereophonics Word Gets Around (US release of '97 album)
Stereophonics Performance and Cocktails (US release of '99 album)
Stereophonics Just Enough Education to Perform (US release of '01 album)
Stereophonics You Gotta Go There to Come Back (US release of '03 album)
Stereophonics Language. Sex. Violence. Other? (US release of '05 album)
Take That - Circus
Thrice - Live at the House of Blues (CD/DVD)

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a listing of stores

Odetta: 1930-2008

2008-12-03T16:45:00.001-05:00

Odetta: 1930-2008
By Henry Freedland [from pastemagazine.com]

Folksinger, blueswoman and civil rights activist Odetta died from heart disease yesterday in Manhattan. She was 77.

Manager Douglas Yeager spoke of her legacy in a statement. "May Odetta's luminous spirit and volcanic voice from the heavens live on for the ages," he said. "Her voice will never die."

Indeed it won't. Her soulful musicianship had a vital strength that inspired further generations of luminaries. Bob Dylan cited her first record as the his initial turn-on to folk singing. And Rosa Parks, when asked after the the Montgomery, Ala. bus boycott what music was important to her, said "all the songs Odetta sings."

Born Odetta Holmes on Dec. 31, 1930, she moved from Alabama to Los Angeles to study classical music and theater before joining the coffeehouse and nightclub scene in San Francisco. Later she used her commanding voice to become the spiritual soundtrack for the civil rights movement, marching with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and performing for President John F. Kennedy.

She had been hoping to sing at Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20. Perhaps she would have used the same tune as at the March on Washington in 1963. “O freedom, O freedom, O freedom over me," it goes. "And before I’d be a slave, I’d be buried in my grave, And go home to my Lord and be free.”

Neko Case: New Album Due In March

2008-12-02T13:26:00.000-05:00

December 02, 2008 11:04 AM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Neko Case will follow up 2006's "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood," the best-selling album of her career, with "Middle Cyclone," due March 3 via Anti-.

The 15-track collection boasts guest appearances from the Band's Garth Hudson, fellow Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah Harmer, M. Ward and members of Case's primary band the New Pornographers, Calexico, Los Lobos, Giant Sand, the Lilys and the Sadies.

"Middle Cyclone" was produced by Case and Darryl Neudorf and put to tape in Tucson, Ariz., Brooklyn, N.Y., Toronto and Vermont. The album's 12 originals are augmented by covers of Harry Nilsson's "Don't Forget Me" and Sparks' "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth."

"Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" brought Case to a new level of commercial visibility, having sold 194,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Here is the track listing for "Middle Cyclone"
"This Tornado Loves You"
"The Next Time You Say Forever"
"People Got a Lotta Nerve"
"Polar Nettles"
"Vengeance Is Sleeping"
"Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth"
"Middle Cyclone"
"Fever"
"Magpie to the Morning"
"I'm An Animal"
"Prison Girls"
"Don't Forget Me"
"The Pharaohs"
"Red Tide"
"Marais La Nuit"

Bonnaroo 2009 Dates & Ticket Info Announced

2008-12-02T13:18:00.002-05:00

Dates announced for Bonnaroo 2009
This year you can pay for your ticket in five installments

The dates have been announced for Bonnaroo 2009, taking place once again in Manchester, TN.

The festival will run June 11-14 next year on the 700-acre farm 60 miles southeast of Nashville, TN.

Pre-sale tickets for the festival will be made available from this Thursday (December 4) to December 31, and will be specially priced during this period.

As the economic recession has limited spending for many this year, during the holiday presale, tickets will be available for five payments of $50.00 plus applicable fees through the festival’s payment plan.

Last year’s headliners were Pearl Jam, Metallica and Kanye West. West’s performance was clouded in controversy as fans became irate, having been forced to wait almost two hours for him to appear onstage.

Exclusive Early Listen of Neil Young's Sugar Mountain [from NPR]

2008-12-01T12:31:00.005-05:00

Exclusive First Listen to Neil Young's Sugar Mountain

Neil Young was just a few days shy of his 23rd birthday when he took the stage at the Canterbury House in Ann Arbor, Mich., for what would become a legendary performance. It was 1968, and Young was about to release his self-titled debut solo album. His old band, Buffalo Springfield, had split up six months earlier, and few people even knew who Young was. But to his own surprise, and to the surprise of the Canterbury House, Young drew a sold-out audience.

Neil Young was horribly nervous before the performance and had to be coaxed from his hotel room by his manager Elliot Roberts and the minister of Canterbury House, Dan Burke. Burke tells NPR Music he remembers Neil Young huddled in Young's hotel room bed, too scared to perform. He told Burke no one would want to hear the Buffalo Springfield tunes or his new tunes. Young was afraid he didn't have enough material. But he was eventually persuaded to take the small stage.

"You really blew our minds," an astonished emcee said while introducing the performance. "We only expected a lot less people than showed up. I think you are a lot wiser than we were."

Despite the packed house, it was an intimate performance, as Young treated his audience to a cozy set of material most had never heard before, though some were Buffalo Springfield tracks. Studio versions of some of the songs, like "Birds" and "The Old Laughing Lady," would appear later on various Neil Young solo albums.

Few people outside of those in attendance that night would have known about the Ann Arbor performance if it weren't for a 1970 single Young released called "The Loner." The B-side of that 45 was "Sugar Mountain" — which, according to a note printed on the disc, was recorded live at the Canterbury House. Neil Young fans speculated that a recording of the entire concert must exist somewhere, and eagerly awaited its release.

The live recording of "Sugar Mountain" reappeared as a B-side to the "Cinnamon Girl" single in 1970, and again in 1977 on the double disc Decade, a compilation of Neil Young hits. But the rest of the concert recorded in Ann Arbor remained a mystery.

Now, 40 years later, Neil Young and Reprise Records are finally releasing the long-awaited Canterbury House performance as part of the Archives Performance Series, Young's effort to release box-set editions of past live concerts. Live at the Fillmore East was released in 2006, with Live at Massey Hall 1971 following a year later.

New Music/CD Releases - December 2, 2008 [Revised]

2008-11-30T20:03:00.002-05:00

i know you'll all be out early tuesday morning blowing all of your cd money and picking up britt's new record, so i won't bother with a "bill's pick" this week.

hope everyone had a great thanksgiving.

December 2nd
Akon - Freedom
Britney Spears – Circus
Carly & Lucy Simon - Sing Songs for Children
Chico Buarque - Essencial
Connie Talbot - Connies Christmas Album
Duffy - Rockferry (Deluxe Edition)
Kylie Minogue - X (2008 Tour Edition) (Incl. Bonus Tracks and Bonus DVD)
Neil Young – Sugar Mountain Live 1968
Panic! At the Disco - Live in Chicago (CD/DVD)
Scarface - Emeritus
Tina Arena - Songs Of Love & Loss 2
Trevor Tanner- Eaten By The Sea

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a listing of stores

Cincinnati Entertainment Awards @ The Emery Theatre (11.23.2008)

2008-11-24T22:04:00.016-05:00

seems that at the end of the day, they, just like us, are geeky fans of great music too. =)

kim taylor - the cincinnati entertainment awards "singer/songwriter of the year" / ralph stanley - the newest member of the CEA "hall of fame" / karin bergquist - presenter, past CEA "hall of fame" inductee and "2007's music ambassador to the city" (photo taken w/karin's i phone, i believe)

i was invited by karin bergquist and linford detweiler of over the rhine to attend the cincinnati entertainment awards last night at the emery theatre in over the rhine. the emery, much like the over the rhine neighborhood seems to be under perpetual renovation. but it was great to see the old place get some much needed love and attention. hopefully, someday soon it will be a fully functioning venue once again (with heat and running water).

the show was a blast, opened by a band assembled to honor the late james brown and king records and led by the legendary bass player, bootsy collins. that they were dead on, the singer had brown's vocals and stage presence nailed, and the 12 pc band with a full horn section and back up singers were amazing. a helluva way to kick off the show. the "headliner" and hall of fame inductee, closing out the evening was the legendary country/bluegrass singer, ralph stanley and the clinch mountain boys.

bootsy and company brought down the house with a stunning tribute to JB to kick the night off and stanley was the absolute personification of professionalism and dignity. at 81 years old and 42 years on the road and just out of the hospital the day before with vocal problems, he and his "clinch mountain boys" gave a courageous and classy performance to close the evening out. he struggled but gave it his best, which was more than good enough for everyone there. it was a honor to see this man perform.

karin and linford both presented and it was a pleasure to watch as karin got to present her friend, kim taylor (or kim-FUCKING!-taylor, as she announced it) the singer/songwriter of the year award. linford said while presenting the electronica/experimental music award to: "chick pimp, coke dealer at a bar" (which i think he just enjoyed saying), "you've got to love and be proud to be from a city that puts on a show that opens with a bootsy collins tribute to james brown and closes with ralph stanley..."

despite there being no heat in the theatre, no running water (ie:port a potties in the alley outside) and sound & technical problems galore...ther was a great vibe in the goint and it was a great night (even though you can't find a damn thing to eat in downtown cincinnati on a sunday night).

performers: Bootsy Collins, Ralph Stanley, Eclipse, The Seedy Seeds, and The Sundresses

the winners:
BEST LIVE ACT
Foxy Shazam

BEST MUSICAL AMBASSADOR
Bootsy Collins

BLUEGRASS
Rumpke Mountain Boys

BLUES
Sonny Moorman Group

COUNTRY
The Turkeys

EXPERIMENTAL/ELECTRONIC
Chick Pimp, Coke Dealer at a Bar

FOLK/AMERICANA
Jake Speed & the Freddies

HARD ROCK/METAL
Foxy Shazam

HIP HOP
Eclipse

INDIE/ALTERNATIVE
The Seedy Seeds

JAZZ
Faux Frenchmen

PUNK/POST PUNK/HARDCORE
Knife the Symphony

R&B/FUNK
Daughters and Sons

ROCK
500 Miles to Memphis

SINGER/SONGWRITER
Kim Taylor

WORLD MUSIC/REGGAE
Super-Massive

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Daniel Martin Moore

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Barkinghaus, The Sundresses

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Seabird

New Music/CD Releases - November 25 and December 2, 2008

2008-11-21T21:11:00.006-05:00

since next week is thanksgiving and i will be out of town, with limited time and internet access, i am going to post next next two weeks of new releases.

enjoy. and a happy thanksgiving to all.

BILL'S PICK OF THE WEEK

Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
1. Home
2. My Big Nurse
3. I Feel My Stuff
4. Everything That Happens
5. Life Is Long
6. The River
7. Strange Overtones
8. Wanted For Life
9. One Fine Day
10. Poor Boy
11. The Lighthouse

November 25th
Barry Manilow - The Greatest Songs Of The Eighties
Coldplay – Prosepekt’s March (EP)
Cynic - Traced In Air
David Byrne - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Deathcab for Cutie – ‘Airplanes’ (Deluxe)
Feist – Reminder (Deluxe)
Good Charlotte – Remixes
Jeremy Camp - Speaking Loud
Kanye West - 808 & Heartbreak
The Killers - Day & Age
Linkin Park - Road To Revolution Live At Milton Keynes (CD/DVD)
Ludacris - Theater of the Mind
Monica Naranjo- Tarantula
Ministry – Wicked Soundtrack
Neil Young – Canterbury House 1968
Paramore - The Final Riot!
Paul Van Dyk - Hands on In Between
REM – Murmur (Deluxe)
Rivers Cuomo - Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo
Scott Weiland - Happy In Galoshes
Sheryl Crow - Home For Christmas
Supersuckers – Get It Together
Tom Jones - 24 Hours
Trace Adkins – X (TEN)
White Zombie - Let Sleeping Corpses Lie

December 2nd
Akon - Freedom
Britney Spears – Circus
Carly Simon - Sing Songs for Children
Chico Buarque - Label: Import
Connie Talbot - Connies Christmas Album
Duffy - Rockferry (Deluxe Edition)
Neil Young – Sugar Mountain Live 1968
Panic! At the Disco - Live in Chicago (CD/DVD)
Trevor Tanner- Eaten By The Sea

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a listing of stores

Paul McCartney to release unheard 14-minute Beatles song?

2008-11-17T13:33:00.003-05:00

Macca confirms 'Carnival Of Light' exists
[from NME]

Paul McCartney has confirmed that the mythical Beatles song 'Carnival Of Light' exists, and has suggested it may soon see a release.

The experimental 14-minute song was recorded in 1967 for an electronic music festival, but was never released.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Front Row, McCartney said: "The time has come for it to get its moment.

"I like it because it's The Beatles free, going off piste. I said all I want you to do is just wander around all the stuff, bang it, shout, play it, it doesn't need to make any sense. Hit a drum then wander on to the piano, hit a few notes, just wander around. So that's what we did and then put a bit of an echo on it. It's very free."

According to BBC News, McCartney pushed for the song to be included on The Beatles' 'Anthology' releases in the mid-'90s, but it was vetoed by the rest of the band.

McCartney Seeks Release Of Beatles Jam
November 17, 2008 , 1:00 PM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y. [from billboard]

Paul McCartney is itching to release the most experimental track the Beatles ever put to tape -- but he'll need the permission of Ringo Starr and the estates of George Harrison and John Lennon to do it.

McCartney told BBC Radio 4 of "Carnival of Light," a 14-minute piece recorded in early 1967, "the time has come for it to get its moment" and that it shows the Beatles "going off piste."

"I said it would be great to put this on because it would show we were working with really avant-garde stuff," he said of the recording, which has never been bootlegged.

"Carnival of Light" was recorded for the electronic music festival the Million Volt Light and Sound Rave and received its only public play there in early '67. McCartney tried to include it on the Beatles' "Anthology" in the late '90s but was vetoed by Harrison.

"I said all I want you to do is just wander around all the stuff, bang it, shout, play it, it doesn't need to make any sense," McCartney said of the music. "Hit a drum then wander on to the piano, hit a few notes, just wander around. So that's what we did and then put a bit of an echo on it. It's very free."

A handful of Beatles experts have heard the song, the master tape of which McCartney purports to have.

Author Mark Lewisohn says the song features "distorted, hypnotic drum and organ sounds, a distorted lead guitar, the sound of a church organ, various effects (water gargling was one) and, perhaps most intimidating of all, John Lennon and McCartney screaming dementedly and bawling aloud random phrases like 'Are you alright?' and 'Barcelona!'," while Barry Miles has described it as similar to the Frank Zappa song "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet."

John Prine @ Indiana University Auditorium/Bloomington (11.15.2008)

2008-11-16T16:11:00.011-05:00

In Over the Rhine’s song, “If A song Could Be President,” they give a shout out to their musical heroes and inspirations, they refer to John Prine as someone who can make you “laugh and cry.” Last night in Bloomington, I saw John Prine and as always, he didn't short us on highlights, all worthy of a tear or a laugh, or at times, both in the same song.

He performed such stunners as; Paradise (aka Muhlenberg County), All The Best, Lake Marie, That's the Way That the World Goes 'Round, Sam Stone and probably his most recognizable song (made famous by Bonnie Raitt) Angel From Montgomery along with other classics from his deep, deep catalog. The only thing missing was two of my favorites; Souvenirs and Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore, but I'm not complaining, we did get the rarely played Blue Umbrella, which was requested (and dedicated to) someone who sent him an e-mail just before he left the hotel. she simply signed it as “Mom from Indiana.” For most of the show he was (as usual) accompanied by guitarist Jason Wilber and bassist Dave Jaques, both were impeccable and neither played an extraneous note. The middle third of the show was a beautiful acoustic solo set.

Most everyone in the IU Auditorium was intimately familiar with the music, it was clearly “his audience,” but it never felt like a "nostalgia" act, his music is timeless; they keep revealing secrets, you hear something new no matter how many times you've heard them.

Jeffery Lee Puckett (a Louisville music critic) wrote about Prine: “Prine's secret has never been complicated. He's a good listener and a keen observer, but, more important, he can tell a story. His best songs are constructed exquisitely and delivered with absolute certainty; you couldn't change a line or detail without the rest of the song suffering. When you hear a classic Prine song, you know that you're hearing the truth. It's usually a universal truth told through specific stories, as when loneliness, desire and the human need to connect becomes "Donald and Lydia," and it's often a truth you feel as much as hear.”

What a show last night. Just amazing. Awesome.

It is just sheer joy to watch this man perform.

setlist:
1. Spanish Pipedream 2. Picture Show 3. Six O'Clock News 4. Far From Me 5. Grandpa Was A Carpenter 6. Fish And Whistle 7. Glory Of True Love 8. All The Best 9. Angel From Montgomery (w/false start) 10. Long Monday (solo) 11. Bottomless Lake (solo) 12. Blue Umbrella (solo) 13. Dear Abby (solo) 14. That's The Way That The World Goes 'Round (solo) 15. Sam Stone (starts off solo then band returns) 16. Bear Creek* 17. That's Alright By Me* 18. She Is My Everything* 19. Ain't Hurting Nobody* 20. Hello In There* (John flubs the first line) 21. Lake Marie* Encore 22. Storm Windows* 23. Paradise* John Prine: acoustic & electric guitars Jason Wilber: electric guitar, mandolin, harmonica Dave Jacques: electric & double bass *w/Pat McLaughlin on acoustic guitar or mandolin

Jimi Hendrix Drummer Mitch Mitchell Dies

2008-11-13T22:59:00.001-05:00

Jimi Hendrix Drummer Mitch Mitchell Dies
November 12, 2008 , 6:05 PM ET

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell was found dead early this morning (Nov. 12) in a Portland, Ore., hotel room, according to representatives for the Hendrix estate. He was 62.

After completing the Experience Hendrix tour in Portland with one-time bandmate Billy Cox and a host of notable musicians on Nov. 7, Mitchell was spending some down time in the city before returning to his native England. He likely died of natural causes, according to the Multnomah County Medical Examiner's office.

"We're all devastated to hear of Mitch's passing," says Experience Hendrix CEO Janie Hendrix. "He was a wonderful man, a brilliant musician and a true friend. His role in shaping the sound of the Jimi Hendrix Experience cannot be underestimated."

Mitchell joined the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1966, and with late bassist Noel Redding, staffed the formidable rhythm section supporting Hendrix's era-defining guitar work. He remained with Hendrix through the Experience's first breakup in mid-1969, playing with him during the artist's iconic Woodstock performance.

By year's end, Hendrix had formed Band Of Gypsys with bassist Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles, although that band split in early 1970, giving way to a brief reunion of the original Experience. Hendrix died on Sept. 18, 1970, before his future plans could be made clear.

Afterward, Mitchell helped producer Eddie Kramer assemble the albums "Cry of Love" and "Rainbow Bridge," featuring unfinished Hendrix material. He played occasional gigs with Terry Reid, Jeff Bruce and Jeff Beck, but he rarely recorded as his career went on.

Mitchell artist got his start in show business as a child actor on the TV series "Jennings At School." He is survived by his mother, his wife, a daughter and two grandchildren.

MITCH MITCHELL Drum Solo Sweden, January 9, 1969

John Lennon, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Mitch Mitchell

New Music/CD Releases - November 18, 2008

2008-11-13T21:01:00.000-05:00

BILL'S PICK OF THE WEEK

Safe Trip Home
Disc: 1
1. don't believe in love
2. quiet times
3. never want to say it's love
4. grafton street
5. it comes and it goes
6. look no further
7. us 2 little gods
8. the day before the day
9. let's do the things we normally do
10. burnin love
See all 11 tracks on this disc

(Available w/Deluxe Edition) Disc: 2
1. for one day (bonus track)
2. summer (bonus track)
3. northern skies (rollo mix) (bonus track)
4. Making of 'Safe Trip Home' (CD enhancement)

* i posted this as my pick of the week on 11.04, apparently i had the release date incorrect.

New Music/CD Releases - November 18, 2008
Belle And Sebastian - The BBC Sessions
Beyonce Knowles - I Am... Sasha Fierce
Black Keys – Live (DVD)
Blake Shelton - Startin' Fires
Bring Me the Horizon - Suicide Season
David Cook - David Cook
Dead Can Dance – Catalog Reissues
Dido – Safe Trip Home
Femi Kuti – Day By Day
Foo Fighters – Live At Wembly (DVD)
Il Divo – the Promise
Lee Brice - Picture of Me
Mudvayne – The New Game
Nickelback - Dark Horse
Ricardo Arjona - Quinto Piso
Shontelle - Shontelligence
Wu-Tang Clan – The History Of
Zac Brown Band - The Foundation

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a listing of stores

Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood to reform Faces

2008-11-12T20:38:00.005-05:00

well, maybe robert won't play with jimmy. but apparently ronnie and rod have kissed and made up. they were an amazing band back in their day but, i'm not getting my hopes to high about this reunion. ronnie can still rock it, but rod...well he sucks and has for a long, long time. and those recent attempts at being a torch singer were beyond forgiveness. hell, i woulda bought regis's album over rod's.

Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood to reform Faces
Band members announce they are hitting the studio soon
Nov 12, 2008

The Faces are set to reunite for rehearsals with a view to a full reformation.

Frontman Rod Stewart told Raysgigs.com that all the original members aside from late bassist Ronnie Lane, who died in 1997, were set to reconvene on Monday (November 17) to run through their old hits.

The singer, who spoke at the Claridges Bar 10th Anniversary Party said the band, which includes current Rolling Stones' guitarist Ronnie Wood, will use Stewart's touring bassist to fill in for Lane.

The Faces split up in 1975 after Wood began playing with The Rolling Stones.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Faces Gearing Up For Reunion?
November 12, 2008
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Could the Faces be rising again after a 30-plus year split?

According to RayGigs.com, original members Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones, along with Stewart touring bassist replacing the late Ronnie Laine, will have a rehearsal next Monday (Nov. 17) "just to check if they can remember the songs."

If the musicians are pleased with the results, the Faces may return to live duty next year, although a source in the Stewart camp tells Billboard, "nothing is definitive yet."

There have been a handful of near-Faces reunions since the band split in 1975, including at a 1986 Stewart concert at London's Wembley Stadium. The surviving members have performed together in various incomplete incarnations in recent years, including Wood and McLagan with Stewart at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in 2004.

"It'd be great to put the band together for charity [or] a one-off event," Stewart told Billboard in 2006. "Ronnie is always up for it. So's Ian and Kenney. We'd just need to find ourselves a bass player."

New Music/CD Releases - November 11, 2008

2008-11-07T20:42:00.007-05:00

BILL'S PICK OF THE WEEK

Mudcrutch Live! (EP)
1. The Wrong Thing To Do
2. Bootleg Flyer
3. High School Confidential
4. Crystal River

New Music/CD Releases - November 11, 2008
Barbara Cook - Rainbow Round My Shoulder
David Archuleta - David Archuleta
Butch Walker – Sycamore Meadows
The Bronx – The Bronx III
Deborah Cox - The Promise
Enya - And Winter Came...
Flaming Lips – Xmas on Mars (DVD)
Il Divo - The Promise
Kevin Costner & Modern West - Untold Truths
Live – Live (CD/DVD)
Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch Extended Play Live EP
New Order – Collectors Edition (2 CDs)
Patti LuPone - Patti Lupone at Les Mouches
The Postmarks – By The Numbers
Q-Tip - The Renaissance
Seal - Soul
The Smiths – The Very Best of
T PAIN - Thr33 Ringz
Taylor Swift - Fearless
Tracy Chapman - Our Bright Future
Ween – Cat’s Cradle (1992)

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a listing of stores

Ben Sollee - "A Few Honest Words" (Obama Remix)

2008-11-06T20:31:00.006-05:00

ben sollee has uploaded a great remix of his "a few honest words" (from the excellent album "learning to bend." the song effectively turns a song originally of protest into a song of celebration. give it a listen @ ben sollee - myspace

check out more about ben and his music his website: bensollee.com

ben is currently on tour with kim taylor

Nov 6 2008 8:00P - The 5 Spot Atlanta, Georgia
Nov 7 2008 8:00P - Nighlight Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Nov 8 2008 8:00P - Iota Washington, Washington DC
Nov 11 2008 8:00P - The Bell House Brooklyn, New York
Nov 12 2008 8:00P - Mercury Lounge New York, New York
Nov 13 2008 8:00P - Great Scott Boston, Massachusetts
Nov 14 2008 8:00P - World Cafe Live Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 15 2008 8:00P - Club Café Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Nov 17 2008 8:00P - Schuba’s Chicago, Illinois
Nov 18 2008 8:00P - 400 Club Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nov 21 2008 8:00P - The Helm Gallery Tacoma, Washington
Nov 22 2008 8:00P - Balcony Bar At The Hawthorne Theatre Portland, Oregon
Nov 24 2008 8:00P - Cafe Du Nord San Francisco, California
Nov 25 2008 8:00P - Hotel Cafe Los Angeles, California
Dec 11 2008 9:00P - The Dame Lexington, Kentucky

"HOPE OVER FEAR" 11.04.2008

2008-11-05T20:36:00.006-05:00

to celebrate a wonderful and inspiring day in the history of our country, the election of barack obama as the president of the united states, i have decided to skip a music related post and post the text from "president-elect, barack obama's" (man, that felt good to write) acceptance speech last night instead.

Barack Obama - Grant Park, Chicago - 11.04.2008

OBAMA: Hello, Chicago.
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.

We are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.
A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Senator McCain.

Senator McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.
I congratulate him; I congratulate Governor Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton ... and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years ... the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady ... Michelle Obama.

Sasha and Malia ... I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us ...to the new White House.
And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.
And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe ... the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best — the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.

To my chief strategist David Axelrod ... who's been a partner with me every step of the way.

To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics ... you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.

It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy ... who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.

It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.

This is your victory.

And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me.

You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime — two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.

There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.

There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.

I promise you, we as a people will get there.

AUDIENCE: Yes we can! Yes we can! Yes we can!

OBAMA: There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.

But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.

This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.

It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.

Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.

In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.

Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

To those — to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons — because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America — the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

AUDIENCE: Yes we can.

OBAMA: When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

AUDIENCE: Yes we can.

OBAMA: She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that We Shall Overcome. Yes we can.

AUDIENCE: Yes we can.

OBAMA: A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.
Yes we can.

AUDIENCE: Yes we can.

OBAMA: America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves — if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.
This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

Tuesday, November 4th

2008-11-02T22:01:00.004-05:00

please... take the time, whatever is required and VOTE!

it seems that every four years, the election is billed as "the most important election of our lifetime," this one actually may be. don't take it lightly. GO VOTE!

Over The Rhine Turns Twenty + New Video For "Desperate For Love"

2008-10-31T21:35:00.016-04:00

*clicking on the picture above will take you to OtR's online ticket page, in many cases ordering directly from them will save you the TicketBastard (tm) fees.

Over The Rhine Turns Twenty
Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 6:11AM
If fans bump into husband and wife Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler shopping for china, its not to mark their wedding anniversary.

The pair is actually preparing to celebrate their twentieth year together as Over The Rhine.

The duo will mark the occasion with a five part tour, the first leg of which kicks off November 7 at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., and will hit Athens, Ga.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Madison, Wis.

The second run of shows covers the West Coast, launching with a pair of shows November 29-30 at The Triple Door in Seattle and moving on to Portland, Ore., Klamath Falls, Ore.; San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Part three of the anniversary trek will see Over The Rhine playing shows in Louisville, KY. on December 11 and Chicago on December 12.

The journey will culminate with a trio of shows in Cincinnati. A December 19 show at the Taft Theatre will cover music from the band's first decade, with a December 20 show at the same venue featuring tunes from the second.

Finally, Bergquist and Detweiler will throw an afternoon soiree at the city's St. Elizabeth's Cathedral December 21, featuring wine, festive food, conversation and a special acoustic performance.

And how does the couple feel about two decades as Over The Rhine? A little overwhelmed.

"Almost 20 years, it's just sort of hard to take in," Detweiler said on the band's web site. "There are days when we feel utterly blessed and charmed."

"That this labor of love could continue for 20 years, that our audiences still continue to grow, that this music continues to get spread around by people who are often in the process of becoming life-long friends - it all smacks of the miraculous."

and
over the rhine has completed a very cool animated video for "desperate for love" from their lastest studio release, "the trumpet child." click on the link below and give it a peek.

Happy Halloween from Bruce Springsteen: "A Night With The Jersey Devil" (Video & Free mp3 download)

2008-10-31T08:37:00.006-04:00

click here to see the video.

Free Download: "A Night With The Jersey Devil"

New Music/CD Releases - November 4, 2008

2008-10-30T22:05:00.007-04:00

BILL'S PICK OF THE WEEK

Safe Trip Home
Disc: 1
1. don't believe in love
2. quiet times
3. never want to say it's love
4. grafton street
5. it comes and it goes
6. look no further
7. us 2 little gods
8. the day before the day
9. let's do the things we normally do
10. burnin love
See all 11 tracks on this disc

(Available w/Deluxe Edition) Disc: 2
1. for one day (bonus track)
2. summer (bonus track)
3. northern skies (rollo mix) (bonus track)
4. Making of 'Safe Trip Home' (CD enhancement)

New Music/CD Releases - November 4, 2008
AC/DC - Black Ice
Andrea Bocelli - Incanto
Boys Like Girls - Live (DVD)
Brad Paisley – Play
Cafe Tacuba – Sino
Coralie Clement - Toystore
Dido - Safe Trip Home
Fall Out Boy - Folie à Deux
George Lynch - Let the Truth Be Known
Harry Connick, Jr. - What A Night! A Christmas Album
Honey Honey - First Rodeo
Jeff Dunham - Don't Come Home for Christmas
Led Zeppelin - 12 Mini LP Replica CD Boxed Set
Little Joy – Little Joy
Mavis Staples – Live
Micah Stampley – Ransomed
Q tip – Renaissance
Randy Owen - One on One
Royce Da 5'9 - The Album
Sarah Brightman - A Winter Symphony
Shiny Toy Guns - Season of Poison
The Skeletons - Money
Tenacious D - Master Works (2 DVD)
We Insist! - Oh! Things Are So Corruptible

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a listing of stores

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - "Live on Letterman" (10.29)

2008-10-30T17:18:00.004-04:00

fix it

cobwebs

David Byrne's Tour Diary: Louisville, KY 10.20.2008

2008-10-29T20:21:00.010-04:00

apparently david and band spent the day wandering around louisville and my neighborhood (or very close too it anyway), his tour diary offers a pretty cool look into his visit to town.

10.20.2008: Louisville

We’re staying at 21c, a combo museum and hotel here in downtown Louisville. The ground and lower floors are given over to curated shows of contemporary art, much of it from the collection of the owner, Steve Wilson and his wife.

I was given Wilson’s contact by Stefan Sagmeister, who designed the package for the various physical manifestations of my current album, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, as well as many of my past CDs. My palatial room (for which I was generously comped) features a whole wall of photos of Thai Ladyboys (sex changes), a series of photos of a woman undressing in front of a variety of men, and a muscular Chinese man in his underpants holding up the top of the picture frame. I guess some of these pieces were deemed not quite appropriate for the lobby.

(That’s not Kurt, by the way)

Well, I wasn’t going to make much use of this luxurious apartment all by myself, so I invited all the band and crew to stop by for mint juleps after they had their dinners. Jenni volunteered Steven to bartend, and with the huge patio there was plenty of room for all of us plus local musician/actor Will Oldham and some of his pals. It’s not really his kind of scene, I imagine, this hotel, but it was nice to meet.

During the day a few of us biked to the massive Cave Hill cemetery, which is so big it has a lake with a fountain, ducks and swans. Colonel Sanders is buried there, but we missed his gravesite. We moved on, through a neighborhood of large houses, to nearby Cherokee Park, “built” by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park and quite a few other urban parks, and we stopped for some homemade applesauce at a picnic table.

Apparently, Elizabeth found happiness at our picnic table.

Others biked in the opposite direction and came across blocks of burnt out buildings.

Led Zeppelin to tour with Robert Plant replacement

2008-10-28T19:40:00.006-04:00

while led zeppelin was never one of my favorites back in the day, i did always respect what they did, even though it wasn't my "thing" at the time. there is no doubt that few ever played pure rock and roll better, these boys could rock with the best ever to play the game.

i can't imagine anything anything billed as "led zeppelin" without both plant and page involved. maybe the boys just got jealous of robert's tecent success with allison krauss.

from NME:
Led Zeppelin to tour with Robert Plant replacement
Oct 28, 2008

Led Zeppelin will tour with a replacement for founding singer Robert Plant, bassist John Paul Jones has confirmed.

Earlier this month it was reported that the rock legends were rehearsing with singer Myles Kennedy after Plant refused to consider touring with the band.

Jones has now told BBC Radio Devon that the band are trying out "a couple" of alternative singers for a proposed tour.

"We want to do it," he explained. "It's sounding great and we want to get on and get out there."

The bassist added that he and his bandmates were not after a Plant soundalike.

"It's got to be right," Jones said. "There's no point in just finding another Robert. You could get that out of a tribute band, but we don't want to be our own tribute band. There would be a record and a tour, but everyone has to be on board."

There has been speculation about the possibility of a full Led Zeppelin tour since they played a reunion show on December 10 last year at the London O2 Arena.

Robert Plant ruled himself out of a tour by releasing a statement last month saying he would not be part of any such plans.
------
and from rolling stone:
Led Zeppelin To Tour, Record Without Plant?
October 28, 2008

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
The non-singing members of Led Zeppelin apparently aren't waiting around for Robert Plant to sign off on a reunion tour and/or album. In an interview with BBC Radio, bassist John Paul Jones said he and guitarist Jimmy Page and drummer Jason Bonham "are trying out a couple of singers."

"We want to do it," he said. "It's sounding great and we want to get on and get out there." But he cautioned Plant sound-a-likes were not the goal, and that "it's got to be right. There's no point in just finding another Robert. You could get that out of a tribute band, but we don't want to be our own tribute band."

With Plant, Zeppelin reunited for a well-received one-off concert last December in London. But Plant, who has been touring with Alison Krauss for most of 2008, recently said he has no plans to work with the band again.

In recent months, Page, Jones and Bonham have logged rehearsal time together in the hopes Plant would agree to tour. Rumors have also circulated that Alter Bridge vocalist Myles Kennedy is in the running to step in for Plant.

On Nov. 4, Rhino will release a 10-disc boxed set featuring Led Zeppelin's nine studio albums plus the rarities album "Coda" in mini-LP replica sleeves with artwork from the original U.K. vinyl releases.

New Music/CD Releases - October 28, 2008

2008-10-25T18:38:00.007-04:00

BILL'S PICK OF THE WEEK

1 Born Into A Light
2 Cobwebs
3 Crossed Out Name
4 Evergreen
5 Fix It
6 Go Easy
7 Let Us Down Easy
8 Like Yesterday
9 Magick
10 Natural Ghost
11 Sink Ships
12 Stop

a new release from ryan adams, one of my favorites, is always something i look forward to, and this is no exception. i'll be in ear x-tacy on tuesday...

Bloc Party - Intimacy
Boz Scaggs - Speak Low
Brian McKnight - I'll Be Home for Christmas
Celtic Woman - The Greatest Journey: Essential Collection
The Cure - 4:13 Dream
Hank Williams - Unreleased Recordings
Hunter S. Thompson - The Gonzo Tapes
John Legend - Evolver
Jesse Malin - On Your Sleeve
Kaiser Chiefs - Off With Their Heads
Lady Gaga - The Fame
Lordi - Deadache
M83 - Digital Shades
Marillion - Vol. 1 Happiness Is the Road: Essence
Marillion - Vol. 2 Happiness Is the Road: the Hard Shoulder
Pink - Funhouse
Queen - The Cosmos Rocks
Rodrigo y Gabriala - Live In Japan
Ryan Adams - Cardinology
Sara Bareielles - Live (DVD)
Shawn Mullins - Live at the Variety
Snow Patrol - A Hundred Million Suns
Susan Tedeschi - Back to the River
Toby Keith - That Don't Make Me A Bad Guy (personal commentary - UGH!)
Tom Petty - DVD (2 Disc)
Twilight – Soundtrack

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a list of stores

"heaven...heaven is a place...where david byrne plays for 2+ hours" or, david byrne @ the palace theatre/louisville, ky (10.21.2008)

2008-10-23T13:47:00.007-04:00

oh. my. lord.

i had predicted earlier that hands down, tom waits @ the fox would be, with out a doubt, the best show i saw this year. i now retract that.

i just saw david byrne turn in a two + hour abso-fucking-lutely amazing show of both musical and visual beauty. honestly, immediately afterwards, i didn't have words to describe it, it was still soaking into my mind, my body and my soul. i wouldn't say it was "better" than tom, but it was every damn bit as good...and that's saying a lot.

wow!

what a truly amazing incredible night of music. i have been a long time talking heads fan and love david byrne's solo work, this was my first time seeing him live, i can only hope it is not the last.

below is a review from the louisville courier-journal...

Byrne burns down the Palace
Jeffrey Lee Puckett, The Courier-Journal (Louisville KY), 21 October 2008 [Link]

To look at him, you would never think that David Byrne is a stone-cold rhythm machine, what with his gray hair and eccentric, professorial demeanor. When he took the stage last night at the Louisville Palace, dressed entirely in white and giving a halting thesis about the show we were about to see, Byrne seemed almost timid.

That changed with the first downstroke of “Strange Overtones” and rarely faltered through the raging conclusion of “Burning Down the House.” Byrne was a James Brown carved out of ivory and animated by nervous tics, leading a relentless band through a series of relentless songs, and he earned a sustained, almost ecstatic ovation.

The show was all about motion, in the music and on the stage.

Most songs were built on the polyrhythms of Afropop, expanding the sound Byrne created with Talking Heads and creating huge grooves that seemed effortless, almost weightless. Three dancers played a major role, another common aspect of live African music, and were occasionally joined by Byrne and three back-up singers.

It was almost an interactive live art installation as the dancers roamed the stage with choreography that carefully mimicked chaos, crossing in front of Byrne, catching him in a trust fall and once breaking the fourth wall to teach the singers how to dance.

Byrne’s dancing was completely charming; he sometimes looked as if he were being controlled by a puppeteer with palsy, but would suddenly bust a supremely graceful move.

The show was based on past and present collaborations between Byrne and musician/producer Brian Eno, with several songs from the new album, “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.” They were hit and miss, ranging from the very strong (“One Fine Day,” “Strange Overtones”) to the mediocre (“Life is Long,” “The River”).

Not surprisingly, it was the Talking Heads songs that went over best, and with good reason. “Houses In Motion,” “Life During Wartime,” “Once In A Lifetime” and “Burning Down the House” were all less sterile than the original versions, with an aggressive, even ferocious, edge. “Burning Down the House” was particularly thrilling and had the crowd wired.

“Consider it burnt,” a friend said, which is as accurate and succint a review as you’ll find.

Strange Overtones
I Zimbra
One Fine Day
Help Me Somebody
Houses in Motion
My Big Nurse
My Big Hands
Heaven
Never Thought
The River
Crosseyed & Painless
Life is Long
Once in Lifetime
Life During Wartime
I Feel My Stuff
Encore 1:
Take Me to the River
The Great Curve
Air
Encore 2:
Burning Down the House
Encore 3:
Everything that Happens
Home

mieka pauley - "run" live @ the pleasant perk (cincinnati)

2008-10-21T11:02:00.004-04:00

boston based singer/songwriter, mieka pauley recently performed a great set at "perkfection," a local coffee house in jeffersonville. this video was shot the night before at "the pleasant perk" (a coffee shop owned by singer/songwriter kim taylor) in cincinnati. enjoy.

Mieka Pauley - Run from Cincy Steve on Vimeo.
Mieka Pauley performs "Run" at Pleasant Perk in Cincinnati, OH. The song Run is on Mieka's current release titled Elijah Drop Your Gun.

"Kentucky Homefront" & "Roots & Boots" @ The Bomhard (10.19.2008)

2008-10-19T14:29:00.002-04:00

ok, i’m a little behind on this. sorry…

last saturday evening i attended a great 2 for 1 type music event. WFPK sponsored (technically) back to back shows at the bomhard (partially to celebrate the kentucky center for the arts 25th anniversary), the shows were a part of the stations excellent series; “kentucky homefront” and “roots and boots,” both featuring american roots music.

the first show was “kentucky homefront” which was celebrating and featuring louisville singer songriters (in order of performance); john gage (also the shows founder and host), danny flanigan, teneia sanders, mickey clark, tim krekel, leigh ann yost and johnny berry. the show was in the traditional “in the round” format, with the artists sharing the stage and songs, with each performer doing two original songs.

already being a big fan of tim krekel and teneia sanders and familiar w/leigh ann yost and danny flannigan, i was mostly looking forward to seeing them. and i certainly not disappointed, all were great as i expected. i had no knowedge or reference point with mickey clark or johnny berry but really enjoyed their music and performances and look forward to seeing them again, hopefully in the near future. i got to talk to mickey clark for a while after the show and found him to be open, kind, generous and appreciative man. i look forward to hearing more from him and seeing him perform again.

my favorite thing about the show was just the sheer joy and pleasure that these performers had sharing their gifts with the (very appreciative) audience. it was infectious. it was very loose and improvised set with them jumping in on harmony vocals, joining in on guitar, sort of an acoustic jam and it worked perfectly. tim krekel was by far the highlight providing some outstanding guitar on most every song but all performances were excellent.

we are fortunate here in louisville to have a station like WFPK to give us the opportunity to have this music heard, both on radio and live. we are also fortunate to have this quality of local music in our own back yard. the talent and dedication of this music and these musicians needs and deserves our support.

next up the “roots and boots” segment featuring the LA based, but originally from louisville critics darlings... “the watson twins.”

first, let me say, i enjoyed the show, but in my opinion, it paled in comparison to the first show. the “twins” were good, but far from what i expected based on the raves they are receiving in reviews and national music magazines. it might have helped had i been more familiar with their music, etc but in kind…i heard nothing that made me want to rush down to their merch table and pick up a CD either, which is often the case when i see a band live. they had a nice tight band, but no player that i would consider exceptional. their lyrics/songs were nice, but no song, line or lyric struck me as prolific or outstanding. and Iifound their stage presence and banter to be awkward and a little distracting. to sum it up, in my opinion, they were “good” nothing more, nothing less…just “good.”

New Music/CD Releases - October 21, 2008

2008-10-17T22:17:00.004-04:00

BILL'S PICK OF THE WEEK

Waylon Jennings - Waylon Forever
1. Jack of Diamonds
2. Outlaw Shit
3. Ain't Livin Long Like This
4. Are You Ready For The Country?
5. Lonesome On'ry and Mean
6. Waymore's Blues
7. White Room
8. I Found The Body

2008 release of Grammy Award Winner and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Waylon Jennings' final recording Waylon Forever on Vagrant Records. The eight-song collection of cover songs and originals feature the vocals of Waylon Jennings backed by his son Shooter Jennings and the .357's.

AC/DC – Black Ice
Anastacia - Heavy Rotation
Aterciopelados - Rio (Dig)
Azymuth - Butterfly
Brett Dennen - Hope for the Hopeless (Dig)
Electric Ice - Flashy
Escape The Fate - This War Is Ours
Hank Williams III - Damn Right, Rebel Proud
Kany Garcia - Cualquier Dia
Kenny Chesney - Lucky Old Sun
Kiss - Ikons [4 CD Set]
Lee Ann Womack - Call Me Crazy
Leon Jackson - Right Now
Lou Reed – Berlin (Live)
Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
Oren Lavie - The Opposite Side of the Sea
Rosemary Clooney - On The Air
Sugababes - Catfights & Spotlights
Waylon Jennings - Waylon Forever

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a list of stores

Over the Rhine @ Elk Creek Vineyards/Owenton, KY (10.11.2008)

2008-10-12T23:14:00.002-04:00

i will be posting a full review in the next day or two. thanks for your patience.

what a beautiful place and a beautiful night. just perfect.

and it seems somebody dusted off a copy of "films for radio" recently...

born
i don't wanna waste
i'm on a roll
trouble
i want you u2b my love
the world can wait
if nothing else
i radio heaven
who'm i kiddin'
poughkeepsie
thank you my angel
pro daydreamer
bpd
when i go
tom
prez
-encore-
cruel and pretty
new redemption song
latter days (K&L)

lineup: karin, linford, jake, mickey & kenny

more & pics later

Don't Vote

2008-10-10T22:35:00.001-04:00

New Music/CD Releases - October 14, 2008

2008-10-10T21:53:00.006-04:00

BILL'S PICK(S) OF THE WEEK

This two CD set deluxe edition of At Folsom Prison includes the DVD Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison, the first documentary film to consider Cash's finest day. Produced by award-winning director Bestor Cram and Cash biographer Michael Streissguth, the documentary follows the country star through the gates of the dark prison to reveal a moment flush with ramifications. Featuring exclusive interviews with those who accompanied Cash at Folsom Prison, friends and family, and inmates who witnessed the show, the documentary examines Cash through the lens of January 13, 1968. New footage filmed inside Folsom Prison.

Disc: 1
1. Opening announcements from Hugh Cherry (Live)
2. Blue Suede Shoes (Live)
3. This Ole House (Live)
4. Announcements and Johnny Cash intro from Hugh Cherry
5. Folsom Prison Blues
6. Busted (Live)
7. Dark As A Dungeon (Live)
8. I Still Miss Someone (Live)
9. Cocaine Blues (Live)
10. 25 Minutes To Go (Live)
11. I'm Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail (Live)
12. Orange Blossom Special (Live)
13. The Long Black Veil (Live)
14. Send A Picture Of Mother (Live)
15. The Wall (Live)
16. Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog (Live)
17. Flushed From The Bathroom Of Your Heart (Live)
18. Joe Bean (Live)
19. Jackson (Live)
20. I Got A Woman (with June Carter) (Live)
21. The Legend Of John Henry's Hammer (Live)
22. June's Poem (Live)
23. Green, Green Grass Of Home (Live)
24. Greystone Chapel (Live)
25. Closing Theme and announcements
Disc: 2
1. The Old Spinning Wheel (Live)
2. Opening announcements from Hugh Cherry
3. Matchbox (Live)
4. Blue Suede Shoes (Live)
5. You Can't Have Your Kate And Edith, Too (Live)
6. Flowers On The Wall (Live)
7. How Great Thou Art (Live)
8. Announcements and Johnny Cash intro from Hugh Cherry (Live)
9. Folsom Prison Blues (Live)
10. Busted (Live)
11. Dark As A Dungeon (Live)
12. Cocaine Blues (Live)
13. 25 Minutes To Go (Live)
14. Orange Blossom Special (Live)
15. The Legend Of John Henry's Hammer (Live)
16. Give My Love To Rose (Live with June Carter)
17. Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog (Live)
18. Flushed From The Bathroom Of Your Heart (Live)
19. Joe Bean (Live)
20. Jackson (Live with June Carter)
21. Long-Legged Guitar Pickin' Man (Live)
22. I Got Stripes (Live)
23. Green, Green Grass Of Home (Live)
24. Greystone Chapel (Live)
25. Greystone Chapel (Live)
26. Hugh Cherry introduces Johnny's father and closing announcements (Live)

Ray LaMontagne - Gossip In The Grain
1 A Falling Through
2 Gossip In The Grain
3 Henry Nearly Killed Me
4 Hey Me, Hey Mama
5 I Still Care For You
6 Let It Be Me
7 Meg White
8 Sarah
9 Winter Birds
10 You Are The Best Thing

New Music/CD Releases - October 14, 2008
Al Jarreau – Christmas
Billy Currington – Little Bit of Everything
Buena Vista Social Club – At Carnegie Hall
Coko - A Coko Christmas
Copeland - You Are My Sunshine
The Cure - 4-13 Dream
David Bowie - iSelect
Holly Golightly – Dirt Don’t Hurt
Hotel Café – Winter Songs
I’m From Barcelona – How Killed Harry Houdini
JD Souther – If the World Was You
Johnny Cash – At Folsom Prison (Legacy Edition)
Keane - Perfect Symmetry
Lucinda Williams - Little Honey
Los Lonely Boys – Christmas Spirit
Mary Mary - The Sound
Nikka Costa - Pebble to a Pearl
Powderfinger – Dream Days
Queen - The Cosmos Rocks
Ray LaMontagne - Gossip In The Grain
Secret Machines – Secret Machines
Sex Pistols – Live (DVD)
Sixpence None The Richer – The Dawn of Grace
Sonic Syndicate – Love and Other Disasters
Tony Bennett – A Swinging Christmas
Yo-Yo Ma – Songs of Joy and Peace

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a list of stores

Eilen Jewell @ Player's Pub/Bloomington, IN (10.10.08)

2008-10-10T20:07:00.001-04:00

it's gonna be a good couple of days...

2008-10-07T23:28:00.004-04:00

Oct 9th - Eilen Jewell @ Player's Pub/Bloomington, IN

Oct 11th - Over the Rhine - Elk Creek Vinyards/Owenton, KY

Oct 12th - The Watson Twins @ The Bomhard Theatre-Kentucky Center for the Arts/Louisville, KY

Oct 21st - David Byrne @ The Palace/Louisville, KY

and i'll be at all of them. =)

Dar Williams - Promised Land (and a FREE listen of "It's Alright")

2008-10-06T20:11:00.007-04:00

i've been a fan of dar williams since i stumbled across her one night in NYC. i was walking rowards times square, passed towne hall and saw a poster with her name on the box office door for her show that same night.

i had heard her name before but was unfamiliar with her music. by chance, i stuck my head in the door and asked "got any tickets for tonight left?" the guy behind the desk replied, "it just so happens that the promoter just turned in a few on the front row...want one?" so i bought it, front row center, on the aisle. she was touring "beauty of the rain," which is still my favorite release of her's and i've been a fan since.

besides being a great singer songwriter, she also puts on a very nice show, very engaging, funny and a relaxed stage personna.

her newest release is "promised land"

click here and you can have a listen to "it’s alright/mp3” or you can watch a video @ “it’s alright/video”

below is a brief bio and tour dates (i'll be @ the louisville show):

Dar is a singer, songwriter, storyteller, mother, environmentalist and so much more. She's also an absolute delight to see live and she’s currently on tour. Check out the dates below.

In addition to Dar’s signature insightful, melodic story-songs, Promised Land also includes two covers: Fountains of Wayne’s “Troubled Times” (“I’m a sucker for a tragic protagonist conveyed through what seems like a really pleasant pop song,” Williams says) and “Midnight Radio” from the stage musical and film Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

DAR WILLIAMS ON TOUR
October 14 - Boulder Theater - Boulder, Colorado *
October 15 - Holladay United Church of Christ - Holladay, Utah
October 17 - Moore Theatre - Seattle, Washington #
October 18 - The John G Shedd Institue for the Arts - Eugene, Oregon#
October 19 - Aladdin Theater - Portland, Oregon #
October 20 - Rio Theatre - Santa Cruz, California #
October 22 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, California#
October 23 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, California #
October 24 - Club Congress - Tucson, Arizona #
October 25 - Orpheum Theatre - Flagstaff, Arizona #
October 28 - House of Blues - Dallas, Texas #
October 30 - Texas Union Ballroom, University of Texas - Austin, Texas #
November 1 - Eddie's Attic - Decatur, Georgia (7:00pm)
November 1 - Eddie's Attic - Decatur, Georgia (9:30pm)
November 2 - Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, North Carolina
November 3 - The Orange Peel - Asheville, North Carolina
November 6 - Gravity Lounge - Charlottesville, Virginia
November 7 - The Birchmere - Alexandria, Virginia
November 8 - The Birchmere - Alexandria, Virginia
November 18 - Spalding Auditorium, Dartmouth College/Hopkins Center - Hanover, New Hampshire
November 21 - Blueberry Hill - St. Louis, Missouri
November 22- 3rd and Lindsley - Nashville, Tennessee
November 23 - Clifton Center - Louisville, Kentucky
December 6 - Toad's Place - New Haven, Connecticut
December 12 - Bearsville Theater - Woodstock, New York
December 13 - Narrows Center for the Arts - Fall River, Massachusetts
December 14 - The Opera House - Skowhegan, Maine
December 26 - The Iron Horse - Northampton, Massachusetts (7:00pm)
December 26 - The Iron Horse - Northampton, Massachusetts (9:30pm)
December 27 - Southpaw - Brooklyn, NY

* w/Jayme Stone
# w/ Shawn Mullins
w/ Lucy Wainwright

Mieka Pauley @ Perkfection/Jeffersonville, IN (10.03.2008)

2008-10-04T23:56:00.003-04:00

last night, boston based singer/songwriter mieka pauley played and intimate, informal set at local coffee house, perkfection just across the river in jeffersonville, indiana.

the show was opened by a local artist rachel stump, who delivered a nice, very engaging set of originals peppered with a couple of patty griffin and brandi carlisle covers.

mieka played and all acoustic set, a little over an hour, mostly selections from her excellent new cd, "elijah drop your gun." the show was well attended for an intimate coffee house type show, the place was full, the crowd quiet, attentive and supportive. mieka was in a great mood and quite hilarious (apparently a bartender at a place she visited pre-show, just down the street was quite "generous" with some shots when he learned she was a performer and about playing down the street in a few minutes) and was in great voice and was a much better, more stylized guitarist than i remembered from prevous time that i had seen her.

a great, very enjoyable night, both in music and good vibes.

Cat Power: New Covers EP 'Dark End Of The Street' is due out in December

2008-10-03T20:15:00.006-04:00

Cat Power has announced that she will release an EP of cover songs this December.

'Dark End Of The Street' is due out in the US on December 9 and features Chan Marshall singing covers of songs by The Pogues, Aretha Franklin, Credence Clearwater Revivial and James Carr.

The songs were recorded during the 2008 'Jukebox' sessions.

The EP tracklisting is:
'The Auld Triangle' - The Pogues
'Dark End of the Street' - James Carr
'Who Knows Where The Time Goes' - Sandy Denny/Fairport Convention
'Fortunate Son' - Creedence Clearwater Revival
'I've Been Loving You Too Long To Stop Now' - Otis Redding
'It Ain't Fair' - Aretha Franklin

New Music/CD Releases - October 07, 2008

2008-10-03T20:09:00.000-04:00

BILL'S PICK OF THE WEEK

Rachael Yamagata - Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart (2 CD)
1 Accident
2 Brown Eyes
3 Don't
4 Duet
5 Elephants
6 Elephants (instrumental)
7 Faster
8 Horizon
9 Little Life
10 Over And Over
11 Pause The Tragic Ending
12 Sidedish Friend
13 Sunday Afternoon
14 What If I Leave

New Music/CD Releases - October 07, 2008
Annuals - Such Fun
Antony And The Johnsons - Another World
Aqualung - Words & Music
Deerhoof – Offend Maggie
Department Eagles – In Ear Park
Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Volume 8
Elliott Yamin – My Kind of Holiday
The Clash – Shea Stadium
Crystal Antlers – EP
Japanese Motors - Japanese Motors
Johnny Cash – Christmas Special (DVD)
Jolie Holland - Living and the Dead
Jon McLaughlin - OK Now
Lambchop – Oh(Ohio)
Land of Talk – Some Are Lakes
The Little Ones – Morning Tide
Michelle Williams - Unexpected
Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul
Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping (Dig)
Pretenders - Break Up the Concrete
Rachael Yamagata - Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart (2 CD)
Rasmus - Black Roses
Rosebud – Life Like
Sarah Mclachlan – Closer: Best of
Streets - Everything Is Borrowed
Wu-Tang – Soundtracks from Shaolin

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a list of stores

::yawn::

2008-09-27T18:28:00.004-04:00

Best Buy Snags Guns N' Roses Album Exclusive
September 26, 2008

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Best Buy is set to be the exclusive retailer for Guns N' Roses decade-plus-in-the-making new album "Chinese Democracy" before year's end, sources close to the situation tell Billboard. Some details of the deal are still being worked out, including the release date.

The news brings a semblance of closure to the bizarre history of "Democracy," which Guns N' Roses has been working on since the mid-1990s. Since then, every original member of the once mighty group has left besides vocalist Axl Rose, and millions of dollars have been spent working on the new material.

"Democracy" was most recently on the Interscope release schedule in March 2007. The endless delays encountered by the project reached comic levels this spring, when soft drink manufacturer Dr Pepper offered to send a free can of the beverage to "everyone in America" (excluding ex-GNR members Slash and Buckethead) if "Chinese Democracy" were to arrive anytime during the calendar year 2008.

In June, nine purported "mastered, finished" tracks from the album were leaked online, prompting an FBI investigation into their source. A sign "Chinese Democracy" was perhaps finally nearing release came in July, when the band agreed to debut new track "Shackler's Revenge" in the video game "Rock Band 2," which hit stores earlier this month.

Guns N' Roses is now managed by Irving Azoff's Front Line Management, and Azoff is a well-known proponent of issuing albums exclusively through retailers. He released the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" through Wal-Mart in 2007, much to the chagrin of other merchants, but the album was a runaway hit, having sold 3.1 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

i mean really, does anyone actually care about this fool and his music anymore? (personally, i thought that were one of, if not the most over-rated act in the history of pop music)

and i hate these big, upfront payoff, exclusive deals w/big retailers. hedging your best are you axl?

Jeff Tweedy - Addresses People Talking During Concert

2008-09-27T08:56:00.002-04:00

and speaking of mr. tweedy...this is wonderful...

for the life of me, i do not understand these inconsiderate idiots that plunk down the price of a ticket and then go to a show and run their mouth for two solid hours and ruin the experience for everyone around them.

way to go jeff, wish more artists would do the same.

Wilco offers free song if you promise to vote

2008-09-25T20:14:00.002-04:00

photo courtesy Richie Wireman

Wilco offers free song if you promise to vote
By Jeremy Medina [from Paste.com]

With the Nov. 4 presidential election looming and slowly becoming a reality (after what feels like an eternity of campaigning), Wilco has decided to take it upon itself to rally people to vote.

Through their website, Jeff Tweedy (above) and company are offering a free download of a cover of the 1967 Bob Dylan song "I Shall Be Released," recorded with Fleet Foxes live on tour in Bend, Ore. All one has to do is simply enter a name and e-mail address and click the button "I pledge to vote," and a download link is sent via e-mail.

"Such tumultuous times," the band says on the site. "And in the spirit of giveaways that seem to be sweeping the nation, we've got something free for you. No it's not a pile of cash (sorry) but rather an audio postcard of sorts from a summer's night in Oregon with our friends the Fleet Foxes & a lovely Bob Dylan tune. All we ask is you check the 'I pledge to vote in the 2008 Election' button below."

Notice how they never even mention either candidate. How diplomatic of them. Head here to give Wilco your pledge, and here to register to vote.

Cash recording to be released with new documentary

2008-09-24T22:16:00.000-04:00

Cash recording to be released with new documentary

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An unreleased recitation by Johnny Cash will be available as part of a new documentary examining Cash's views on America. In "I Am The Nation," the deep-voiced singer personifies the country with references to important events and people in American history.

The recording was discovered in Cash's personal belongings after his death. It will be released as part of "Johnny Cash's America," a documentary airing Oct. 23 on the Biography Channel. The companion DVD/CD package on Legacy Recordings will be available Oct. 28.

The documentary features interviews with Bob Dylan; Al Gore; Snoop Dogg; Sheryl Crow; Steve Earle; Kris Kristofferson; Loretta Lynn; Merle Haggard; U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander; Tim Robbins; Vince Gill; Cash; his sister, Joanne; and his children, John Carter Cash and Cindy Cash.

In the film, Cash, who was outspoken on social issues, discusses the political process and the two parties.

"The whole film and soundtrack are poignant for what's going on in the political climate right now," said Charlie Dougiello, a spokesman for the project.

New Music/CD Releases - September 30, 2008

2008-09-24T21:49:00.003-04:00

Bill's Pick of the Week

Gemma Hayes - The Hollow of Morning
1 At Constant Speed
2 Chasing Dragons
3 Don't Forget
4 Home
5 In Over My Head
6 January 14th
7 Out of Your Hands
8 Sad 'Ol Song
9 This Is What You Do
10 Under a Canopy

Releases for Tuesday, September 30th
Anberlin - New Surrender
Ani Difranco - Red Letter Year
Ben Folds - Way to Normal
Dream Theatre - Chaos In Motion (CD/DVD)
Echo & The Bunnymen - Songs to Learn and Sing
Enigma - Seven Lives Many Faces (2 CDs)
Faith Hill - Joy To The World
Gemma Hayes - The Hollow of Morning
Grateful Dead - Live Egypt 1978 (CD/DVD)
Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger
James Morrison - Songs for You, Truths for Me
James Taylor - Covers
Jennifer Hudson - Spotlight
Jesus & The Mary Chain - Rarities (4 CD Boxed Set)
Joseph Arthur - Temporary People
Joshua Radin - Simple Times
Kellie Pickler - Kellie Pickler
Laura Fygi - Rendez-Vous
Mary Chapin Carpenter - Come Darkness Come Light: Twelve Songs Christmas
Matt Belsante - White Christmas
Melissa Etheridge - A New Thought For Christmas
Robin Thicke - Something Else
T.I. - Paper Trail
Taj Mahal - Maestro
Tom Morello - The Fabled City
Travis - Ode to J. Smith
U2 - Red Rocks (DVD)

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a list of stores

Ben Sollee

2008-09-24T14:29:00.005-04:00

i just stumbled across these videos of ben. a couple of my favorites of his, one original and a beautiful cover of sam cooke's "a change is gonna come." in this political season, just seemed appropriate to post them.

i'll dedicate these to john mccain...

ben sollee - "a few honest words"

ben sollee - "a change is gonna come"

Coming to a memory card near you...

2008-09-22T23:08:00.000-04:00

Four Major Labels Make Deal To Release Memory Card Albums; Weezer, Elvis Among the First Wave

The slow segue from CD to MP3 took a giant step forward today when it was announced that SanDisk had reached a deal with all four major labels to begin selling memory card albums of both new acts and classic artists. The one-gig Micro SD cards will make their first appearance in Best Buys and Wal-Marts in time for the holiday season. Each memory card will contain the album in all its 320kbps and DRM-free glory. The music industry, trying to fight off rapidly decreasing annual CD sales, hopes the memory card’s immediate accessibility with cell phones, computers and MP3 players will result in a revenue renaissance. The initial batch of micro carded albums will feature 29 artists, including Weezer, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo and Elvis Presley. This doesn’t mark the first time the major labels have experimented with memory cards: last year, UMG celebrated the anniversary of Bob Marley’s Exodus by releasing a limited edition USB stick, while EMI got revenge for Radiohead’s exodus from the label by releasing a memory stick with the band’s entire non-In Rainbows discography. This new round of memory stick albums will sell for between $7 and $10 apiece — much cheaper than the standard price of the antiquated CD.

Lucinda Williams to release digital EP of protest songs

2008-09-19T14:39:00.004-04:00

photo by Danny Clinch

Lucinda Williams to release digital EP of protest songs
By Josh Jackson on September 16, 2008 [from paste online]

When Lucinda Williams fans pick up the Louisiana native’s 10th LP Little Honey on Oct. 14, they might be surprised by the closing track, a cover of AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way To the Top (If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll).” But the bigger surprise might come two weeks later on the digital-only EP of protest songs Lu in ’08—a live cover of Thievery Corporation’s collaboration with The Flaming Lips, “March of the Hate Machine (Into the Sun)."

Along with covers of Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War” and Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” she also recorded a live version of a new song she’s written called “Bone of Contention.” “That’s a pretty angry one,” Williams says from her home in Studio City, Calif. “I recorded it in the studio, but I decided I didn’t want to put it on [Little Honey]. I didn’t quite like the version we recorded. But we were playing at Summerfest, and I went out for the encore and just blasted out an acoustic version of it. It really went over well, so we captured it on tape.”

Protest songs don’t come naturally for Williams, who appeared at #22 on Paste’s list of the 100 Best Living Songwriters. “I’ve found protest songs or topical songs to be the most challenging types of songs for me,” she says. “I find myself having a hard time not sounding either too in-your-face angry or too sugar-coated sappy, like ‘OK, everybody get together.’ It’s just so hard to do.”

Judging by the chorus she sang over the phone, she definitely didn’t err on the side of sappy. “It’s kind of written in a bluesy, almost like a ZZ-Top-ish or a Tony Jo White swampy bluesy thing,” she says. “I’m really concerned about this upcoming election. Actually, I’m just terrified about the possibility of a McCain/Palin victory.”

tift merritt – the original highlands music and art fair/louisville, ky (09.13.2008)

2008-09-18T19:34:00.021-04:00

last saturday night, tift merritt, one of my personal favorite artists played a free show about five miles from my front door. oes it get any better than that?

the fair was @ the intersection of bardstown road & baxter avenue in the original highlands neighborhood. a great old neighborhood full of shotgun houses, local bars, funky used clothing stores and inhabited by old hippie types, bikers, students, artists and young professionals starting families…in other words, a great mix of people and nice place to hang out.

there was a full day of local music highlighted by the likes of peter searcy, brigid kaelin and others, tift was the headliner closing out the evening. and my god, she rocked.

first, it was the night before the aftermath of ike hit lousiville, bringing in 80 MPH winds, much destruction and cooler weather. it was still around 85 degrees @ 8PM when tift took the stage. about 4 or 5 songs into the show after tift had strapped on her electric, she said “it’s hot” and just decided to leave it on for the rest of the show and rock the huge crowd filling the street and sidewalks of baxter avenue. i usually avoid street festivals knowing that the crowd will generally be rude, loud, drunk and unfamiliar with the music. basically, there to party not listen…not the case saturday night, she had the crowd in the palm of her hand, quiet and behaved during the music and loud and appreciative in between, along with more than a few “i love you tift” shouts coming from the audience. most getting a blushing “i love you too” responses back from tift.

i got to talk to her for a few minutes afterwards, she was sweet, charming and gracious as always. when i told her that i’d seen her six or seven times and while she blew me away the first time… i swore that she got better and better every time i’ve seen her since. that got an “awww, you’re so sweet, thank you so much” followed by a nice hug.

the show was amazing. so was the hug.

Medeski Martin & Wood - The Radiolarian Series - Free Download of "Free Go Lily"

2008-09-18T19:34:00.007-04:00

Free Download of "Free Go Lily"

Medeski Martin & Wood have never been your typical band. Creativity has led their career and their music always stays unique. Now, the restlessly inventive improvising trio Medeski Martin & Wood are set to embark on an ingenious new experiment dubbed The Radiolarian Series.

The Radiolarian Series - named after a type of single-celled organism with dazzlingly intricate exoskeletons - is designed to subvert the age-old music industry cycle of write/record/tour. The trio, consisting of keyboardist John Medeski, drummer Billy Martin, and bassist Chris Wood, will convene for brief writing retreats, perform only that new material on tour, record the material immediately after getting off the road, and release it as an album on their own Indirecto label.

The process will be repeated three times, resulting in three albums - the first of which,
Radiolarians I, will be in stores on September 30th. Check out "Free Go Lily", the first single from Radiolarians I, via the link above.

Medeski Martin & Wood On Tour

09.16.08 - Teatro Oriente - Santiago De Chile
09.18.08 - Bourbon St. - Sao Paulo
09.19.08 - Canecao - Rio de Janeiro
09.20.08 - SESC Vila Mariana - Sao Paulo
09.21.08 - SESC Vila Mariana - Sao Paulo
09.23.08 - Teatro Gran Rex - Buenos Aires
09.28.08 - Bearsville Theatre - Bearsville, NY
10.31.08 - The Garden Hall - Yebisu, Tokyo
11.01.08 - The Garden Hall - Yebisu, Tokyo
11.12.08 - Moore Theatre - Seattle, WA
11.13.08 - Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC
11.14.08 - Aladdin Theatre - Portland, OR
11.15.08 - McDonald Theatre - Eugene, OR
11.16.08 - Van Duzer Theatre - Arcata, CA
11.18.08 - McNears Mystic Theatre - Petaluma, CA
11.19.08 - Rio Theatre - Santa Cruz, CA
11.20.08 - Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
11.21.08 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
11.22.08 - John Ascuaga's Nugget - Sparks, NV

New Music/CD Releases - September 23, 2008

2008-09-18T19:34:00.006-04:00

Bill's Pick of the Week

Artist: Jenny Lewis
Album: Acid Tongue
1 Acid Tongue
2 Bad Man's World
3 Black Sand
4 Carpetbaggers
5 Godspeed
6 Jack Killed Mom
7 Next Messiah
8 Pretty Bird
9 See Fernando
10 Sing a Song for Them
11 Trying My Best to Love You

23 September - Tuesday

Artist: Mogwai
Album: Hawk Is Howling

Artist: Blitzen Trapper
Album: Furr

Artist: Jazmine Sullivan
Album: Fearless

Artist: Plain White T's
Album: Big Bad World

Artist: Maino
Album: If Tomorrow Comes

Artist: Demi Lovato
Album: Don't Forget

Artist: David Gilmour
Album: Live in Gdansk

Artist: Bette Midler
Album: Jackpot

Artist: Kings of Leon
Album: Only By The Night

Artist: Ledisi
Album: It's Christmas

Artist: Old Crow Medicine Show
Album: Tennessee Pusher

Artist: Jackson Browne
Album: Time the Conqueror

Artist: Lenka
Album: Lenka

Artist: TV on the Radio
Album: Dear Science

Artist: Fourplay
Album: Energy

Artist: Everlast
Album: Love, War, and the Ghost of Whitey Ford

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a list of stores

New Music/CD Releases - September 16, 2008

2008-09-13T14:01:00.002-04:00

Bill's Pick of the Week

Kasey Chambers - Rattlin' Bones
1 Adeline
2 Devil's Inside My Head
3 House That Never Was
4 Jackson Hole
5 Monkey on a Wire
6 No One Hurts Up Here
7 Once in a While
8 One More
9 Rattlin' Bones
10 Sleeping Cold
11 Sweetest Waste of
12 Wildflower
13 Woe Is Mine
14 Your Day Will Come

16 September - Tuesday
Al Stewart - Sparks of Ancient Light
All that Remains - Overcome Live (CD/DVD )
Annie Lennox - The Annie Lennox Collection
Avenged Sevenfold - Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough Live CD/DVD
The Ben Taylor Band - The Legend Of Kung Folk Part 1 (The Killing Bite)
Beth Rowley - Little Dreamer
Blessid Union of Souls - Close To The Edge
Brass bed - Midnight Matinee
Darius Rucker - Learn to Live
Faith Hill - Joy to the World X-mas album
George Clinton - George Clinton and Some Gangsters of Love
James - Hey - Ma
Jem - Down to Earth
Kasey Chambers - Rattlin' Bones
Keller Williams - Live
Kristy Lee Cook - Why Wait (Snys)
Matt Wertz - Under Summer Sun
Lindsey Buckingham - Gift of Screws
Loreena Mckennitt - The Journey Begins [4 CD]
Nelly - Brass Knuckles
Ne-Yo - Year of the Gentleman
Punchline - Just Say Yes
Pussycat Dolls - Doll Domination
Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It
Tanya Tagaq - Auk~Blood
Unwritten Law - Live & Lawless Live (cd/dvd)

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a list of stores

sorry...

2008-09-12T20:46:00.000-04:00

things have been slow 'round here as of late.

it's been crazy busy at work in the real world + my computer seems to have been attacked by a really bad assed virus which has caused me to purchase a new one. lots of data was lost and i'm just getting the new one up and running as we speak.

our patience is appreciated. hope to be back u and running over the weekend.

best.

bill

New Music/CD Releases - September 9th

2008-09-06T20:57:00.001-04:00

9 September - Tuesday

Brian "Head" Welch - Save Me From Myself (former Korn guitarist)
The Broken West - Now Or Heaven
Calexico - Carried To Dust
Catie Curtis - Sweet Life
Chad Vangaalen - Soft Airplane
Dar Williams - Promised Land
The Dark Romantics - Heartbreaker
Daughtry - Daughtry [Deluxed Edition CD/DVD]
Eric Benet - Love & Life
Fujiya & Miyagi - Lightbulbs
Gym Class Heroes - The Quilt
Hal Ketchum - Father Time
I'm Not Jim - You Are All My People
Iced Earth - The Crusible Of Man (Something Wicked Part II)
Jessica Simpson - Do You Know
Joan Baez - Day After Tomorrow
Joan Osborne - Little Wild One
Kardinal Offishall - Not 4 Sale
LL Cool J - Exit 13
Loreena McKennitt - The Journey Begins [Box Set]
Magic Slim & the Teardrops - Midnight Blues
Meiko - Meiko
Metallica - Death Magnetic [Released September 12]
Mitch Hedberg - Do You Believe In Gosh?
Michael Franti - All Rebel Rockers
Natalie Cole - Still Unforgettable
Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
Patty Loveless - Sleepless Nights
People In Planes - Beyond The Horizon
RKM & Ken-Y - The Royalty/La Realeza
The Sound of Animals Fighting The Ocean and the Sun
The Subways - All or Nothing

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a list of stores

Over the Rhine - Upcoming Tour Plans & 20th Anniversary "Reunion" Plans

2008-09-02T21:51:00.003-04:00

as anyone who know me and has read this blog often knows that over the rhine is my favorite band and i also feel lucky to consider them my friends. this year they are celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band.

over the rhine has gone through many changes over the years, the original foursome; karin bergquist, linford detweiler, brian kelley and ric hordenski formed in 1989. in the fall/winter of 1996, ric left the band and brian followed soon after, karin and linford continued on with the name over the rhine.

after ric and brian's departure karin and linford performed as over the rhine using several different configurations; as a duo, tro including jack henderson and as full band with with several different bass players and drummers and terri templeton on backing vocals.

the taft show this year will feature the first reunion of the original foursome in 13 years (btw, this is a reunion, they are not reuniting permanently) along with several other variations with former and current members of the band. friday night will consist of music from the first 10 years, saturday night will feature the second 10 years.

below is a letter from linford to their fans filling them in on the details. enjoy, his letters a really a fun read...

Greetings dear listeners,

This first day of September feels like a new beginning. Here we are hunkered down on our little farm in Southern Ohio. What will happen next?

Some of you no doubt heard that we cancelled our recent trip to Colorado because of a health setback. We missed you. But there’s no place as welcome as home when it comes to recovery, and we continue to learn about the importance of rest, and slowing down, and recognizing the need for a break. Maybe we’re still waiting for our souls to completely catch up with our bodies. Sometimes our bodies make the decisions for us.

Yes, The Trumpet Child=2 0chapter is winding down. It’s been a full year with thousands of miles covered, hundreds of interviews given, and so many memorable evenings of music with all of you who we continue to think of as our extended musical family. Some highlights that come immediately to mind: our recent appearance at The Newport Folk Festival. (Standing side stage and watching Levon Helm sing and play The Weight is something we’ll never forget.) Playing to amazing outdoor crowds at some beautiful summer sheds this summer was a whole lot of fun for us. (We hope the trend continues!) And we had a fantastic time leading another songwriting workshop this past August in Santa Fe with 16 people who taught us so much. (We listened to songs, but we talked about life.) We could go on.

Yes, now we’re out here under a familiar Ohio sky, a few familiar trees. Many of the hundreds of birds that nest here on the farm are getting ready to fly South. Elroy and I watched in disbelief as a few dozen cedar waxwings flew down on both sides of the path all around us yesterday and began eating ink berries. The male indigo buntings are starting to fade, their blue a little less miraculous everyday. We’re still picking plenty of late-coming ripe tomatoes out of the garden, both yellow and red. (I’m still convinced that cupping a hand beneath a plump, vine-ripened tomato in summer is a par ticular pleasure that the church must have forgotten to forbid.) But the golden rod is yellowing, and will soon announce in earnest that ready or not, fall is coming. You can hear it out here in the night orchestras of insects: Sing like your life depends on it, it won’t last forever.

One significant mile marker which makes our own heads spin is the impending 20th Anniversary of Over the Rhine. We recorded our first demos in the Spring of 1989. Those songs eventually became the record, Till We Have Faces, and now almost 20 years later, it’s just sort of hard to take it all in. There are days when we feel utterly blessed, charmed. That this labor of love could continue for 20 years, that our audience still continues to grow, that this music continues to get spread around hand to hand by people who are often in the process of becoming life long friends – it all smacks of the miraculous.

But then there are days when we feel like we’re auditioning for a starring role in the book of Ecclesiastes. Did any of it matter at all? Did we accomplish anything even remotely unique, or worthwhile, or useful? We know the work did matter to us and to others. We know the music at times played a life-giving role in some of our stories. We know some folks listened to the songs during their last few days on earth. But some days are a drawn veil: we just can’t seem to access the meaning in any of it.

I know it’s a cliché, and this paragraph will be wasted on the young, but now, looking back from this vantage point, 20 years seems like a snap of the fingers, gone. I’m sure this has something to do with the fact that we buried my father this Spring. But there are days now when we pan back on a chapter that’s ending, and the overwhelming feeling is, We had so little time. The years vanished. Take care what you hang a life on.

So we hope to live in the present. There’s a goldfinch sitting on her new nest on the other side of the locust grove even though summertime is running out. There’s a thick, cream-colored mug of fresh coffee on the desk. We’re still here. There’s still time. I’ll bet good money the September moon will rise with her full-lipped face and drench us in her sacred light.

When we least expect it, in our hearts we’ll come to find, a tiny, insubstantial spark of hope.

So what kind of beautiful ruckus will we make in the next 20 years? How will that look? How should we join in, play our small part in the everywhere, always going on song? Good questions. We’ll have to find out. But first we’re going to have a little fun.

Join us if you dare.

***

Over the Rhine in Concert (Please see OvertheRhine.com for details. All concerts below will feature full band performances.)

OCTOBER
October 11, Elk Creek Vineyards, Owenton, KY. Pour me a glass of wine, talk deep into the night, who knows what we’ll find… Join Over the Rhine at a fabulous winery during the prettiest month of the year for an outdoor concert under October skies. It’s a short drive from Cincinnati, and we’d love to make this an annual tradition. Don’t miss this very special evening – a first for us. (Yes, we’ll think of this as the unofficial kick-off of our 20th Anniversary festivities. We’ll lift a glass of something good together.)

NOVEMBER
November 7, Guilford College, Greensboro, NC
November 8, Melting Point, Athens, GA
November 9, Visulite Theatre, Charlotte, NC (We thought we’d check in again on our friends in the Southeast before the year got completely away.)

November 15, Majestic Theatre, Madison, WI (Lookin’ forward to returning to this lovely, historic venue…)

WEST COAST CHRISTMAS TOUR
November 29, The Triple Door, Seattle, WA
November 30, The Triple Door, Seattle, WA
December 1, Aladdin Theatre, Portland, OR
December 2, Ross Ragland Theater, Klamath Falls, OR
December 4, The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
December 6, The Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA (We promised we’d head West and find all y’all this December…)

MIDWEST CHRISTMAS DATES
December 12 - Louisville / Bomhard Theatre (Friday) [*revised/corrected]
December 13 - Chicago / Double Door (Saturday) [*revised/corrected]

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF HEARTACHE: A Special 20th Anniversary Holiday Celebration of the Music of Over the Rhine:

December 19, The Taft Theatre, Cincinnati, OH: An evening with Over the Rhine. featuring music from decade one.

December 20, The Taft Theatre, Cincinnati, OH: An evening with Over the Rhine, featuring music from decade two.

Here’s the skinny folks. The first night, we are going to delve deeply into the early recordings which include Till We Have Faces, Patience, Eve, Good Dog Bad Dog, and our first Christmas record, The Darkest Night of the Year. We will enlist the help of various musicians and guests for this first evening, but are very excited to announce that Ric Hordinski and Brian Kelley will be joining us to revisit many of the early songs which launched our career.

The second night will focus on songs from the last ten years, drawn from the recordings Films For Radio, OHIO, Drunkard’s Prayer, The Trumpet Child, and our most recent Christmas record, Snow Angels . Again, look for various guests and key contributors to Over the Rhine’s recordings as the night unfolds.

Sound like a party? Yes it does. (Discounted tix for those attending both nights are available at OvertheRhine.com.)

And we will bring the year to a close once again at St. Elizabeth’s in Norwood, Ohio, with our Sunday Soiree, on December 21st at 3pm. God willing, we’ll bask in the afterglow of a two night stand, another amazing year, share some wine and refreshments, and conjure up some acoustic music in this ragged, sacred old cathedral. More info and tickets will be made available soon at OvertheRhine.com.

We’ve got some other 20th Celebration plans up our sleeves for 2009, including Cayamo Cruise in February of 2009 with Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, John Hiatt, Buddy Miller and others.

And we’re working on our first round of deluxe Over the Rhine songbooks. Finally.

Well, we hope you can share the above with us. It’s no fun at all without you. Thanks again for being part of this ongoi ng adventure.

All the good stuff your way,

Linford and Karin

New Music/CD Releases (September 2, 2008)

2008-08-30T22:48:00.001-04:00

September 2nd
Amie Mieriello – I Come Around
Apollo Sunshine - Shall Noise Upon
Brian Wilson - That Lucky Old Sun
Brad Paisley - Play
The Chemical Brothers - Brotherhood
Chris Tomlin - Hello Love
Deitrick Haddon - Revealed
Donnie Klang - Just A Rolling Stone
Extreme Brutal Terror - Voice Of Demon
Giant Sand - provisions
Hollywood Undead - Swan Songs
Jefferson Airplane - At The Family Dog Ballroom
Jefferson Starship - Jefferson's Tree of Liberty
New Kids on the Block - The Block
Nick Lowe – Best of Nick Lowe
Olivia Newton - John & Friends Celebration in Song
Rodney Crowell - Sex and Gasoline
Sonya Kitchell - This Storm
Terrence Howard - Shine Through It
Tha Pumpsta - Bass Black Treble White
Underoath - Lost in the Sound of Separation
Young Jeezy - The Recession

DVD
Norah Jones – Live In Austin

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

click here for a list of exclusives available @ indie stores and for a list of stores

michael jackson @ 50

2008-08-30T20:50:00.003-04:00

it's hard to believe that michael jackson, little michael, the amazing front man of the jackson five, later to become one of the biggest stars in the history of music is hitting the big 5-0! little, afro'ed, spin dancing, moonwalking michael...fifty?

he is one of the very few that can be named in breath of the greatest names in pop music, the circle of; sinatra, elvis and the beatles. he had an amazing career, then he seemingly lost control of himself, his career, his life and apparently, his mind.

i saw him perform live twice, once "solo" durng the "thriller" tour (i took my neice to the old atlanta stadium, sold out 50k+) and years later @ a "jackson's reunion tour" (i was given seats in ted turner's box @ the omni in atlanta). and while michael's or the jackson's music was never my style, these were two truly amazing and entertaining nights. he definitely knew how to put on a show and entertain a crowd, a big crowd.

to me, while nothing excuses his recent behavior and/or many of the actions and/or accusations made against him in recent years, his is truly a tragic story. and while i don't feel sorry for him, i do feel sad for him.

As he turns 50, is this what Michael Jackson should really look like?

By J Randy Taraborrelli

A middle-aged man wearing pyjamas is being pushed in a wheelchair down a sidewalk by an assistant. He is gaunt and frail-looking. His skin seems to be peeling. His fingernails are a sickening shade of yellow-brown.

Beneath a red Marines baseball cap a surgical mask is visible, covering the bottom half of his face. A pair of large sunglasses shield the top.

Three children walk ahead - two boys and a girl. All seem happy and look adorable in colourful clothing. Their baseball caps do not seem a deliberate attempt to shield their faces.

Enlarge

Enlarge

What could have been: An experts' image of Jackson (left) and how he looks today after surgery (right)

'Slow down,' the man commands in a hoarse whisper, but the children ignore him and quickly cross the street to stand in front of a bookshop.

When the man in the wheelchair finally catches up, one of the children dutifully holds the door open as he is wheeled inside.

'Thank you,' he mutters weakly. All seems calm, but then - just as the children are about to follow the man into the shop - a stranger approaches the smallest of them.

'Was that…?' she begins to ask. The boy is about to answer, when a large man steps between them.

'No. That was not,' he says, taking the boy by the hand and rushing him inside. But, just before the door swings closed, the young boy turns to his inquisitor, smiles broadly and mouths just two words: Michael Jackson.
Enlarge

Gaunt: The one-time King of Pop, here in Las Vegas last night at a Planet Hollywood party, cuts a frail figure these days

Welcome to the very sad world of Wacko Jacko. The scene I've just described is typical of what goes on in his life almost every day in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he now resides.

As a journalist who has reported more on Jackson in the past 30 years than anyone else - including having written three best-selling books about him - I can't help but be deeply saddened by the way his life has turned out.

After all, I was the journalist who penned an article entitled 'Michael Jackson Turns 16' back in 1974 when his future looked bright.

I also wrote Michael Jackson Turns 21 when he reached that milestone. And then there was Michael Turns 25. 'He's the kid who has it all,' I wrote at the time.

In fact, I covered all the important birthdays, always with optimism because he was one of the most positive entertainers I'd ever known.

From the time he was a teenager, Michael Jackson believed he would sell more records than anyone else - and, of course, he did.

He also knew he would have the biggest-grossing concert tours in history. But all of that is now in the past.

Today, he spends his time wandering around Las Vegas with a gaggle of bodyguards and his three precocious children, Prince Michael I (11), Paris (ten) and Prince Michael II (six).

He is almost always in a wheelchair, wearing a bizarre outfit and so frail he appears to be at death's door.

Meanwhile, his record-breaking career seems a thing of the past. From all accounts, he is not motivated to do anything. He has no real plans for the future and is deeply in debt.

So, with the passing of his 50th birthday, how did it all come to this?

Those who knew Jackson before the 2005 child-molestation trial - in which he was acquitted - place the blame firmly at its door.

Emotionally devastated, he has been unable to bounce back, suffering almost as much as if the verdict had been a guilty one.

I remember the day of his acquittal. I sat behind Michael in the Santa Monica courtroom - as I had every day for months - and listened as each charge was dismissed.

King of pop: Jackson during his HIStory tour in the 1990s. He has now lost his desire to perform.

When he stood up to leave, he didn't seem to know what was going on or even that he had been found not guilty.

He was a shell of the person I had known over the years. He was disoriented - his eyes vacant, his face expressionless - the result of obvious drug abuse.

I knew then that he would never be the same. The testimony had been so damning, I was certain that a man as private as Jackson would never recover.

After all, Michael Jackson had been carefully constructing an image for himself since the age of ten - a time when most kids are building tree houses.

He later fancied himself as a new-age Peter Pan and tried to recapture his lost childhood in any way he could - not least through his famous Neverland ranch with all of its amusement park rides, zoo and its bucolic grounds bustling with happy children.

Looking back, Neverland - which he bought in 1988 - was the worst thing ever to happen to Michael Jackson.

It allowed him too much solitude and gave him the chance to isolate himself from his friends and family, and from common sense.

He surrounded himself with children, animals and a false reality - so much so that he never learned how to cope in the real world. He never wanted to grow up, and his managers encouraged these eccentricities when they should have encouraged therapy.

They allowed him to live an excessive life and spend money like there was no tomorrow.

Thriller: The album remains the biggest-selling of all time

Alone in his madness, he became gradually weirder, and no one seemed to care.

During the Eighties, when he started to experiment with plastic surgery - an obvious cry for help - there was nobody to slow him down and not even his family seemed to help him.

But by then, it was almost impossible to get through to Michael in his increasingly isolated state.

Then in the early Nineties, Jackson's world was shattered when Jordan Chandler accused him of molestation at Neverland Ranch.

Jackson agreed a $20million pay-off with the Chandler family and the police charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Jackson's image, however, had been shaken.

Almost exactly ten years later, the star was accused by another boy, Gavin Arvizo, of the same offence - only this time the case went to trial.

There was lurid testimony of inappropriate sleep-overs with children and tales of plying them with wine and making sexual advances toward them.

One whole week was devoted to the pornography found at Neverland. It didn't matter that Jackson was found not guilty. He was ruined - not just his reputation, but his self-esteem, too.

'Anyone who thinks he is just going to bounce back after such public humiliation doesn't know Michael Jackson,' his former manager Frank Dileo told me.

In the past, he has relied on his talent. 'I can always fall back on what God gave me,' he said in 1987.

'People can say what they want about me and make all the jokes they want. But they know that when I make records, they're going to be the best.'

That used to be true - no one made records like him. Thriller, released in 1982, remains the biggest-selling album of all time with 100 million sales, and Jackson still has an audience - if he wants it.

Recently, he had a deal to do 30 concerts at the O2 arena in London. The promoters were prepared to pay him a staggering $1million a show.

Initially, Jackson seemed enthusiastic, but in a subsequent meeting the singer sat staring at his business representatives as if he didn't care one way or the other.

Then he got up, shook their hands and that was the end of it. The lucrative deal - and Jackson could have really done with the money - was off.

Currently, there is another offer for a series of shows in Las Vegas, but Jackson has not moved forward with that either.

He doesn't seem to want to work - the fire he once had to be the biggest and best is all but extinguished.

In Jackson's defence, the standards of excellence he set himself so many years ago are so high that they're practically impossible for him to meet.

More than ten years ago, he told me: 'When I go on stage, people expect a lot. They want the dancing, they want the spins, and all. But I don't know how much longer I can do it. I don't know when it'll just not be possible.'

He has arthritic-like trouble with his knees, his ankles and his fingers joints - hence the wheelchair.

The self-confidence of the old Michael Jackson has disappeared, and with it his drive.

In addition, Jackson believes that the masses of fans who once flocked to his concerts won't be there for him today. He fears they have been turned against him by the trial.

At a recent meeting with a promoter in Las Vegas, he expressed amazement at the success of the recent re-release of Thriller.

'I'm really shocked,' he said. 'I can't believe people actually bought it. I heard it sold more than three million copies. Can you believe it?'

To commemorate his 50th birthday, a CD called King Of Pop is being released worldwide.

It is a compilation of Jackson's best 18 songs, as chosen by British fans via the internet.

Jackson was recently guest vocalist on a song called Hold My Hand by U.S. recording artist Akon.

He sounds great and it suggests that his voice is still there. But touring still seems out of the question.

Despite being in financial dire straits, he is thought to have bought a house in the upper-middle class suburb of Poughkeepsie, New York, for $1million.

When asked about it, Jackson replied enigmatically: 'I think someone in my organisation bought that for me. I don't know - sounds nice, though. I'll bet the kids would love it.'

And what of Neverland Ranch? Abandoned by Jackson, who was in default on the $25million loan, it had been scheduled for foreclosure, but at the last minute was purchased by an investment group called Colony Capital LLC.

'Neverland? Why, I don't know anything at all about Neverland,' Jackson said recently. 'That's someone else's problem now, I think. But I'm not sure.'

So what for the future? Jackson is due to reunite with his brothers on September 4 when the family act is honoured by BMI publishing company in Beverly Hills, but on his 30th birthday in 1988, he told me that he could never envisage working with his family again after the Victory tour of 1984.

'I don't live in the past,' he said. 'I think everyone should move on from the Jackson Five, I really do.'

Jackson has talked to only one or two family members since the trial ended. He hasn't talked to his sister, Janet, in at least three years. He rarely speaks to his mum. Never his father.

As for money, he has got The Beatles' back-catalogue, of course. But in reality it's all on paper and is viewed as money put aside for his children.

In truth, if Jackson could easily get his hands on it, he would probably spend it all. For Jackson, it seems, his children are the only source of hope and - by all accounts - he's at his best when being a dad.

Paris and Prince Michael I were born to Jackson's second wife, 49-year-old Debbie Rowe - the products of artificial insemination (Rowe will not say whether Jackson's sperm was used, or someone else's).

Both are stunning looking with high cheekbones and deep-set features.

'I turned out two pretty good-looking kids,' Rowe says of them.

When Rowe couldn't bear another child, Jackson became distraught. 'He was upset about that,' she now says. 'He couldn't understand it.'

Jackson went elsewhere for a third baby and the identity of Prince Michael II's mother remains a secret to this day.

Michael sees a lot of his youthful self in his children, especially in Prince Michael II (nicknamed Blanket).

All three have musical ability but he thinks Blanket is going to be the next star in the family.

It's what he hangs on to, the chance that he'll be able to relive the glory days through one of his children.

But for a man who is so obsessed with youth, so intent on remaining a child, many fear his birthday will be a day of reckoning for Michael Jackson. He has no plans to celebrate, other than in some small, private way with his children.

And this time there'll be no big interview with me - or anyone - to commemorate the occasion.

He has even begun to regret having plastic surgery and spends much of his time staring at his reflection in the mirror.

'I don't know what I was thinking back then,' he recently said. 'Everyone makes mistakes when they're young, I guess. But I still look OK, don't I? I mean, for 40?'

When reminded that, in fact, he was about to turn 50, Jackson gave a sad, half smile.

'It all went by so fast, didn't it? I wish I could do it all over again, I really do.'

But for Michael Jackson, it seems, the time for a comeback has passed. 'I'm tired,' he said last week. 'I've got nothing left to give. I just want to be left alone. Is that so bad?'

© J. Randy Taraborrelli, 2008

I Love Pandora

2008-08-27T15:48:00.004-04:00

Keep the music on! Grab the widget. Support Pandora. Make a difference.

Pandora is a cool Internet Radio service.
Millions of people enjoy it.
They might not make it.
Show your support.
Keep the music on!
Add this widget to your page.

Rachael Yamagata-Sneak peek of "ELEPHANTS" from her new CD

2008-08-26T19:26:00.004-04:00

i saw rachael open for ryan adams a few years ago and was blown away by her performance and have been a big fan of her's since. i'm really looking forward to this.

enjoy the sneak peek...

LISTEN TO THE SONG "ELEPHANTS" FROM ELEPHANTS

ELEPHANTS - TRACK LISTING
1) Elephants
2) What If I Leave
3) Little Life
4) Sunday Afternoon
5) Elephants Instrumental
6) Duet
7) Over and Over
8) Brown Eyes
9) Horizon

LISTEN TO THE SONG "SIDEDISH FRIEND" FROM TEETH SINKING INTO HEART

TEETH SINKING INTO HEART - TRACK LISTING
1) Sidedish Friend
2) Accident
3) Faster
4) Pause The Tragic Ending
5) Don't

A RECORD IN TWO PARTS: ELEPHANTS...TEETH SINKING INTO HEART
IN STORES OCTOBER 7, 2008
Three years after she began to appear on the public’s radar with her self-titled debut EP and full-length album Happenstance, Rachael Yamagata will release A Record in Two Parts: Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart through Warner Bros. Records on October 7, 2008.

“I didn’t set out to make a two part album,” Yamagata says. “We just followed the songs’ lyrical lead and built them up with textures and sounds that served the story. The beautiful ones were darker and worked with lush arrangements. We used the sounds of rain, tree branches falling on the roof — whatever kept the mood true to this haunted studio in the first stormy days of spring. The second part became more anthemic, like a reclaiming of personal power. There’s something raw about it. To me it sounds weathered, but not broken or cynical.”

Taken together, the two halves present a complete timeline of the emotions that revolve around complicated relationships and the accompanying fallout. “Elephants is much more intimate,” Yamagata says. “It’s about being willing to take a risk even if it’s not going to end up well. Teeth is like rediscovering your backbone after you’ve gone through the loss.

RACHAEL YAMAGATA ON TOUR
September 20 - Asbury Park, NJ - The Wonder Bar
September 21 - Pittsburgh, PA - Diesel
September 22 - Washington DC - Birchmere
September 24 - Philadelphia - Johnny Brenda’s
September 25 - New York, NY - Joe's Pub (two shows that night) – SOLD OUT
September 29 - Boston, MA - Café 939 @ Berklee College of Music
October 1 - Chicago, IL - Lakeshore
October 2 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line
October 4 - Seattle, WA - Chop Suey
October 5 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
October 6 - San Francisco, CA - Café Du Nord
October 7 - Los Angeles, CA - Largo at the Coronet

For more info, updated tour dates and more music, please visit:
www.rachaelyamagata.com
www.myspace.com/rachaelyamagata

watch an album preview @

New Music/CD Releases (August 26th, 2008)

2008-08-23T12:24:00.000-04:00

August 26th, 2008
BB King - One Kind Favor
Backyard Tire Fire – Places We Lived
Blues Traveler North - Hollywood Shootout
Cordero De - Donde Eres
David Nail - I'm About To Come Alive
DecembeRadio - Satisfied
Delta Spirit - Ode To Sunshine
Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown
Earshot - The Silver Lining
The Game - L.A.X.
Golden Animals _ free Your Mind Win A Pony
JJ Grey & Mofro Orange Blossoms
Jimmy Wayne - Do You Believe Me Now
Little Feat - Join The Band
Lil’ Ed/Blues Imperials – Full Tilt
Matthew Sweet - Sunshine Lies
Missy Elliott - Block Party
Motorhead – Motorizer
Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone
Solange Knowles - Sol-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams
Valencia - We All Need A Reason To Believe
The Veronicas – Hook Me Up
The Verve - Forth

DVD
Poison – Live
Fantomas/Melvins – Live in London

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

Paste Magazine: 22 up-and-coming artists you ignore at your own peril!

2008-08-20T23:52:00.001-04:00

many congrats to louisville local ben sollee for being featured in the latest issue of paste magazine as one of the top 22 emerging artists. i've taken the time to listen to quite a few of these artists and based on what i've heard so far there are some really good suggestions there, it seems like a list well worth taking some time to check out...

22 up-and-coming artists you ignore at your own peril!
By Paste Staff

Ben Sollee
Hometown: Louisville, Ky. (via Lexington, Ky.)
Album: Learning to Bend
Why He's Worth Watching: As one-fourth of Abigail Washburn’s Sparrow Quartet, Sollee applies his classical cello training to the freshly broken ground of Chinese- and folk-tinged bluegrass. On his debut solo LP, he wields his instrument in slightly more familiar singer/songwriter territory, but to no less delightful an end. Whether gently fingerpicked or dramatically sawed, Solee’s deft stringwork adds an uncommon dimension to his songs about life and love.
For Fans Of: Andrew Bird, Otis Taylor, Jamie Cullum
Acceptance Speech: “There are tales of a young man from the hills of Kentucky who built himself a monastery of red clay, and who speaks through a wooden box. They call him ‘Kentucky Buddha.’ He seeks expression through music and finds wealth in giving. One of his aides is Paste magazine, who he thanks for their warm support of his expressions.”

Wild Sweet Orange
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
Album: We Have Cause to Be Uneasy
Why They're Worth Watching: Songs about feeling restless, desperate, nervous and scared rarely go down so easy. This is movie-soundtrack indie pop, made of smartly emotive lyrics and mellow melodies, and sprinkled with tasteful bouts of rock. Finally, something to be excited about for those who haven’t recovered from the Jump, Little Children breakup.
For Fans Of: Bright Eyes, Copeland, Coldplay
Acceptance Speech: “Thank you very much, Paste, for pointing out our little rock band. Thank you for letting our name show up in people’s houses and coffee shops. Maybe Wild Sweet Orange could even be lucky enough to have someone actually spill some coffee on this exact page. How amazing would we feel to be that close to someone?”

Mugison
Hometown: Ísafjörður, Iceland
Album: Mugiboogie
Why He's Worth Watching: Mugison likely embodies the person Led Zeppelin envisioned when writing “Immigrant Song.” One moment, this man from the land of the ice and snow is sounding the hammer of the gods, alternating between an infernal howl (much like Robert Plant’s) and a guttural heavy-metal groan, the next, he’s crooning to twanging guitar over eerie strings. He’s a shape-shifter and a funnyman, and Mugiboogie builds on his four previous genre-transcending works.
For Fans Of: Tom Waits, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Led Zeppelin
Acceptance Speech: “When I was 14 years old, I was voted the best-looking guy in school, but after the ceremony I found out that some of the girls in the school were running a campaign behind my back. The campaign was called ‘Vote the Freak.’ I also found out they did this to piss off the guy who’d won it three years in a row—they had some unfinished business with him. Is this something similar?”

Katie Herzig
Hometown: Nashville (via Fort Collins, Colo.)
Album: Apple Tree
Why She's Worth Watching: Herzig set herself up for failure when she declared, “If it gets any sweeter than this, I don’t want to know,” on her 2006 LP, Weightless. Her latest, Apple Tree, pushes her now-signature style—brightly textured acoustic pop that’s clever yet sincere, sunny but grounded—to exquisite new heights. It’s Herzig’s most accomplished work to date (and the sweetest—but don’t tell her that).
For Fans Of: Shawn Colvin, The Weepies, Jewel
Acceptance Speech: “Thank you, Paste! I owe it all to the cherry and apple Lara Bars that keep me alive on the road, my MacBook (aka music-making factory/life partner), Oprah, my present and future exes—both real and imaginary—and the letter ‘O.’ Because, without it, there’d be no ‘Oooohs’ to sing.”

The Dodos
Hometown: San Francisco
Album: Visiter
Why They're Worth Watching: Blending West African Ewe drumming and bluesy, finger-picked guitar into toe-tapping folk-pop, The Dodos mix intricate musical knowledge with a pleasantly familiar twang. The duo’s refreshingly pared-down songs mingle drummer Logan Kroeber’s energetic rhythms with singer/guitarist Meric Long’s genuine vocal emotion—a combination nearly as rare as the band’s moniker would suggest.
For Fans Of: Animal Collective, Akron/Family, Babatunde Olatunji
Acceptance Speech: “What a pleasure to be gracing the yellowed pages of Paste. Although we don’t know who comprises the rest of the list, we’re honored to be a part of what is doubtless a beefy crop of bands. We’re just gonna keep doing what we’ve been doing—touring and making records—and maybe we’ll see you somewhere in between.”

Amy Macdonald
Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland
Album: This Is The Life
Why She's Worth Watching: This Libertines-by-way-of Kate Nash singer/songwriter makes waves with her booming contralto and propensity for jangly acoustic pop—talents she’s honed since her first gig at age 15. Macdonald’s infectious guitar hooks and sublime harmonies position her at the top of a genre replete with copycats. Her 2007 debut, This Is The Life, went double platinum in the U.K.
For Fans Of: KT Tunstall, Leona Lewis, Aimee Mann
Acceptance Speech: “Thanks to my family for their support and Sarah Erasmus and Pete Wilkinson, my managers—Pete u legend! Thank you, Paste, for your intelligence and astounding good taste in recognizing the music of a Glaswegian girl like me. You obviously know how to let your hair down and have a good time like us Scots!”

Slow Runner
Hometown: Charleston, S.C.
Album: Mermaids
Why They're Worth Watching: Sonic atmosphere—elegant, corroded and larking all about—is not merely ornamental for these Southern troubadours; it emanates from the deepest recesses of their scrupulously orchestrated compositions. Somewhere on a delicate pivot point between pop balladry and resolute anthemics, Slow Runner is the rare band that can mourn and bewail, then hope and ramble on, all with one hand on the blip-and-bloop button for good measure.
For Fans Of: Grizzly Bear, Clem Snide, John Vanderslice
Acceptance Speech: “How did we end up on this list, you might ask? HGH and camel steroids? Sure, that’s part of it. But hard work, that’s part of it, too. And by hard work, I don’t mean actual work. I mean sitting around thinking about things that are awesome, like unicorns and fireworks and free love. That’s the stuff that fuels great bands. Great bands like SLOW RUNNER.”

White Rabbits
Hometown: New York (via Columbia, Mo.)
Album: Fort Nightly
Why They're Worth Watching: Two drummers give this six-piece of erstwhile Missourians more frenetic bounce than their namesake, and though they play with the studied synchronicity you’d expect from a band with concert garb that involves sweaters and button-downs, Greg Roberts and Stephen Patterson’s double-team choruses routinely unfold into impassioned, full-band shout-alongs. “He’s not impressed,” they claim on fan favorite “The Plot,” but we are.
For Fans Of: The Walkmen, Cold War Kids, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Acceptance Speech: “Although we would love to be here in person, our busy schedule kept us from appearing personally in this information box. Thank you for your award. Here’s to a good 2009.”

Langhorne Slim
Hometown: Langhorne, Pa.
Album: Langhorne Slim
Why He's Worth Watching: Hold on to your pork-pie hats, y’all—Langhorne Slim’s eponymous second LP swaggers like a jug-band strapped to the back of a rickety jalopy lurching down a muddy country road. The lycanthrope howls of his early songs are unleashed here only sparingly, leaving Slim sounding steady and sure on these new classics, even as he sings, “I felt restless, and I felt soft / Didn’t know anymore who I was ripping off.”
For Fans Of: The Avett Brothers, Josh Ritter, mid-’60s Dylan
Acceptance Speech: “Thank you for including us in your magazine. I’m not sure what you will be writing about, but I hope it is incredibly positive, and that fame, fortune and a possible appearance on Ellen will come as a result. I already liked your magazine and can safely say I like it even more knowing that it likes us. Don’t change, have a good summer and I love you, Mom.”

Liam Finn
Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
Album: I’ll Be Lightning
Why He's Worth Watching: The lush musicality of Finn’s debut—on which he plays nearly every instrument himself—feels downright demure compared to his frantic live performances, in which he quite literally throws himself between bass, guitar and drums, conjuring less of Lightning’s sensitive-folkie vibe and more of another feral, bushy-browed percussionist—a certain pink-and-orange Muppet.
For Fans Of: Elliott Smith, Iron & Wine, Ben Folds
Acceptance Speech: “I am mighty honoured to be considered as a Best of What’s Next. If you were to ask me what was to come next, I would answer, ‘Sexual healing all over the ceiling? Step off, step off, don’t you come near ’round here. I ain’t about to be your toy boy, middle-aged woman!’ Maybe it’s the beard?”

Wale
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Album: The Mixtape About Nothing
Why He's Worth Watching: This young MC has rapped over Justice (on “W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.”), created a mixtape inspired by Seinfeld (called The Mixtape About Nothing, natch), sold out shows in multiple U.S. cities and signed a production deal with Mark Ronson’s Allido Records. Though he hasn’t yet released a proper LP, his future is already looking bright.
For Fans Of: Kanye West, Rhymefest, Common
Acceptance Speech: “I’d like to thank Allido Records for taking a chance on a knucklehead from DC. I’d also like to thank Con Ed for shutting off my power while I was out of town thus forcing me to write this acceptance speech from my Blackberry rather than my Mac Book Pro. Oh and thanks to PinkBerry for providing me with a cold, tasty sanctuary in this awful July heat in NYC. If they don’t have a PinkBerry in your area yet, I suggest opening a franchise. It’s dairy gold.”

The Everybodyfields
Hometown: Johnson City and Knoxville, Tenn.
Album: Nothing Is Okay
Why They're Worth Watching: Sam Quinn and Jill Andrews form the core of one of today’s greatest young country bands. Like the South itself, The Everybodyfields deftly straddle old and new, bitter and sweet, desperation and transcendence with an arresting command. And no contrast is more stark—or beautiful—than the two voices: Andrews’ smooth, clear alto and Quinn’s ambling croon.
For Fans Of: Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Emmylou Harris, The Band
Acceptance Speech: “Hot dog. If you had told me a year ago that living in an irrepressible coma of self-loathing and depression would in turn give an otherwise legitimate publication an inkling that this band would be something to watch—man, I would have been surprised. Hot dog.”

Islands
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Album: Arm’s Way
Why They're Worth Watching: Sprung from the loins of hipster-beloved band The Unicorns, Islands cut to the chase, opening for Beck at one of their first shows. Taking near-theatrical turns, the band’s sprawling indie pop skips from genre to genre, trying on arena rock and neo-psychedelia while following ringleader Nick Thorburn’s whims.
For Fans Of: The Flaming Lips, Of Montreal, The Apples in Stereo
Acceptance Speech: “On behalf of Nick and his messy men, I (the boil on his forehead) would like to acknowledge the aforementioned acknowledgment of Paste magazine bestowed upon a gracefully willful and potently potential ensemble. I’ll be lanced and long forgotten, but Islands is forever, and getting better.”

Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele
Hometown: Taylor, Miss.
Album: Meet Me In The Garden 7-inch EP
Why He's Worth Watching: Magnificent or not, this combination could easily prove more gimmicky than the sum of its parts, but somehow the strange brew works. Part backwoods lounge singer, part town troubadour and part spurned John Hughes nerd, Dent May is joined at just the right times by a hand-clapping, “ooh wah wah”-ing band and a dose of synthesizer that’d wilt Tiny Tim’s tulips. After two EPs, a proper full-length is in the works.
For Fans Of: Jens Lekman, Beirut, Caetano Veloso  
Acceptance Speech: “Thanks, Paste magazine, for including me in your list of the 25 Hottest Ukulele Hunks of the New Millenium. Finally, the hundreds, nay, thousands of hours I poured into my craft as a young lad have paid off. And to the ladies along the way who opted instead for the muscled rockers with bad goatees, look at me now!”

Johnny Flynn
Hometown: London
Album: A Larum
Why He's Worth Watching: At 25, Johnny Flynn is already contemplating the benefits of death, but when he sings, “Pray for the people inside your head / They won’t be there when you’re dead” on “Tickle Me Pink,” there’s a bit of disappointment mixed with his relief. His debut A Larum—with its spry guitar, healthy sighs of accordion and fiddle, and rollicking drumlines—would be a lovely way to shuffle off this mortal coil, but here’s hoping he lingers for a while.
For Fans Of: Fionn Regan, John Fahey, The Chieftains
Acceptance Speech: “Well, thank you for this honorable mention, Mr. Paste. It’s been quite a year and this has really capped it off, or, as we say here in Britain, ‘Put the turkey on the Christmas table.’ And what a turkey. What a Christmas table. You might think the two are synonymous, but without a turkey, a Christmas table is nothing. You have given me that turkey.”

Right Away, Great Captain!
Hometown: Atlanta
Album: The Eventually Home
Why They're Worth Watching: Drawing lyrics from diary entries of a fictitious 17th-century sailor, Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull and his collaborators carve themselves a poignant hole between the worlds of music and literature, where the solitude of the sea proves beautiful, haunting and human. Imagine if Hemingway had created The Old Man and the Sea as a three-album musical project set to an acoustic guitar, and you’ll get the idea.
For Fans Of: Page France, The Mountain Goats, The Weakerthans
Acceptance Speech: “I guess I can’t say I was ‘surprised’ when I got the news—after several chart-topping hits and selling thousands of records in Manchester Orchestra, I figured it was just a matter of time before this project skyrocketed straight to the top as well. But, sincerely—thank you, Paste, for all you do for me and my friends.”

Brooke Waggoner
Hometown: Nashville
Album: Fresh Pair of Eyes EP
Why She's Worth Watching: In a music world overpopulated with acoustic guitars, warbling voices and tinkling piano keys, Brooke Waggoner and her cache of mesmerizing tunes stand out. With her serenely sweet voice, she plays the piano like a Little Richard/Rachmaninov hybrid and can arrange the bejesus out of a seemingly simple melody. We dare you to think of her as just another girl with a piano.
For Fans Of: Regina Spektor, Tender Forever, Ben Folds
Acceptance Speech: “They’re in my sleep. My dreams. My midnights. My mornings and afternoons. My weekends. My errands. Songs. They’re now in the world and no longer contained in the privacy of my living room. I feel a sense of responsibility with that. Don’t wanna waste people’s time. What used to be written strictly for me is now meant for others and that’s not a cop out. I’m grateful for your attention and time.”

Alela Diane
Hometown: Portland, Ore. (via Nevada City, Calif.)
Album: Pirate’s Gospel
Why She's Worth Watching: Two years ago, 23-year-old Alela Diane Menig and her debut album of simple, aching tunes slipped nearly unnoticed from the dusty bowels of Nevada City. Though often compared to Devendra Banhart, the freakiest part of Menig’s folk is how it emerged so fully-formed, as startling as a sudden glint of gold in a miner’s sieve. A rumored late-2008 follow-up should showcase the further ripening of this beautiful old soul.
For Fans Of: Cat Power, Nick Drake, Karen Dalton
Acceptance Speech: “I kindly thank you folks for thinking I am promising and all, but how did you find me? I have been hiding out in the cool waters of the emerald river, tucked away in the pines, far away from the lands where magazines are written. You must have a little spy that rides a trout or something!”

Los Campesinos!
Hometown: Cardiff, Wales
Album: Hold On Now, Youngster…
Why They're Worth Watching: The seven lads and lasses of this enthusiastically punctuated twee-punk outfit bounce with giddy abandon from xylophone-tinkled confessionals to sugar-rushed choruses about coffee breath, the Dewey Decimal system and translating goosebumps into Braille—all in brilliant defiance of their debut LP’s titular admonishment.
For Fans Of: Belle & Sebastian, The Go! Team, Broken Social Scene
Acceptance Speech: “We’re less the next big thing and more like the last old thing. In fact, we are like sooooo 2006 it’s ridiculous. We are much like a pair of well-worn pink cycling shorts; pretty cool to like if you are 11 but just a passing fancy before you move on to more fashionable tastes.”

Black Kids
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.
Album: Partie Traumatic
Why They're Worth Watching: The last rock star to emerge from Jacksonville—Actionville, to those of us who know it well—was a certain gaffe-prone rap-metal frontman with a backwards baseball cap. So, hurrah for Black Kids! They make super-fun dance rock with an endearingly nostalgic edge, they have one of the best-named tracks of 2008 (“I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You”) and, as far as we know, they’re not doing it all for the nookie.
For Fans Of: The Strokes, Hot Hot Heat, Michael Jackson
Acceptance Speech: “Take your pick: arrogant/arrogant or self-deprecating/arrogant. With the most profoundly feigned humility, we five twentysomethings from the lower-middle-class, Jacksonville, Fla., neighborhood of Arlington do accept this distinction most graciously bestowed upon us by Paste magazine (the most prescient, perspicacious, preeminent arts publication around, if our selection is any indication). Thanks!”

Samantha Crain
Hometown: Shawnee, Okla.
Album: The Confiscation EP
Why She's Worth Watching: In a genre often pinned to formulaic sounds and themes, Samantha Crain is re-stitching the seams of Americana to fit her singular artistic vision. The 21-year-old songwriter—recently signed to tasteful North Carolina label Ramseur, which also houses The Avett Brothers and fellow Best of What’s Next-ers Everybodyfields—paints mystical, poetic slipstreams of words onto a canvas of haunting echo-chamber lap steel, earthy acoustic guitars, and loose-change tambourine, delivering her graceful songs with a gorgeous, quivering voice.
For Fans Of: Joanna Newsom, Andrew Bird, Mary Gauthier
Acceptance Speech: “Thank you! We can hardly conjugate verbs right now. We want to thank all the people at Paste who looked deep within their Magic 8 Balls before giving us this honor and—to all the other bands out there—we just want you to know how super-pumped your jealousy makes us feel right now! Thank you!”

Joshua James
Hometown: Provo, Utah (via Lincoln, Neb.)
Album: The Sun Is Always Brighter
Why He's Worth Watching: Joshua James matches each of his radio-friendly pop tunes (“Another silly love song could make me sick / About a heartbroke emo rocker and his messed up chick”) with some real gut punchers (“Every time you wake / It haunts you once again / My daddy ain’t comin’ home”), and his raspy-voiced delivery and delicate, pedal steel-laden arrangements complement both extremes.
For Fans Of: Brett Dennen, Ron Sexsmith, Ray LaMontagne
Acceptance Speech: “I would like to thank the Paste Academy of Cultural Significance for this great honor. It is with considerable pride and consternation that I humbly accept this award. To be included with such an accomplished and enlightened group of artists affords me an entirely new appreciation for the expression ‘mutual admiration society.'"

Neil Young Announces Tour w/Wilco, Death Cab Supporting

2008-08-19T22:49:00.001-04:00

it's been reported that tickets will top out in the $175 (+ fees) for this tour.

neil, love you man… but sheeh, two bills for a guy that once boycotted a rock ‘n roll HOF dinner because he felt the tickets were overpriced?

Neil Young Drafts Wilco, Death Cab For Tour
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y. | August 19, 2008

Neil Young has snared two of alternative rock's biggest bands to open for his fall North American tour. Death Cab For Cutie will open the first portion, beginning Oct. 14 in Minneapolis, while Wilco jumps aboard Nov. 29 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Los Angeles trio Everest will support on all dates.

Young wraps a European tour Saturday (Aug. 23) in Coburg, Germany, and will appear as usual with Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and others Sept. 20 outside Boston for the annual Farm Aid benefit. Yet to be announced are the dates for his annual Bridge School Benefit, traditionally held in late October.

As reported yesterday, Wilco is expected to spend the time before the Young dates to continue work on its seventh album, due next spring.

Death Cab For Cutie finishes an Australian run Friday in Brisbane and starts a short North American headlining run Oct. 3 in Boston.

Here are Neil Young's fall tour dates:
Oct. 14: St. Paul, Minn. (Xcel Energy Center, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Oct. 16: Winnipeg, Manitoba (MTS Centre, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Oct. 18: Regina, Saskatchewan (Brandt Centre, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Oct. 19: Calgary, Alberta (Pengrowth Saddledome, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Oct. 21: Everett, Wash. (Comcast Arena, no opener specified)
Oct. 22: Vancouver (GM Place, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Oct. 29: San Diego (Cox Arena, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Oct. 30: Los Angeles (Forum, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Nov. 1: Reno, Nev. (Events Center, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Nov. 4: Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Nov. 5: Omaha, Neb. (Qwest Center, w/ Death Cab For Cutie)
Nov. 29: Halifax, Nova Scotia (Metro Centre, w/ Wilco)
Dec. 1: Montreal (Bell Centre, w/ Wilco)
Dec. 2: Ottawa, Ontario (Scotia Bank Place, w/ Wilco)
Dec. 4: Toronto (Air Canada Centre, w/ Wilco)
Dec. 7: Auburn Hills, Mich. (Palace of Auburn Hills, w/ Wilco)
Dec. 9: Chicago (Allstate Center, no opener specified)
Dec. 12: Philadelphia (Wachovia Spectrum, w/ Wilco)
Dec. 15: New York (Madison Square Garden, w/ Wilco)

Rosanne Cash Calls Out Country Clown John Rich

2008-08-19T22:40:00.001-04:00

good for rosanne! in my opinion, these clowns, "big and rich" (give me a break) pretty much sum up everything that is wrong with music today in one act. totally talentless hacks big on flash, glitz and "style" while completely lacking any talent or substance. idiots and fools.

and for this idiot and fool to invoke and use the name of johnny cash in this manner is disgusting.

fuck you john rich. and the trained music video horse you rode in on.

Cash To Rich: Use Of Father's Name Is 'Appalling'
Ken Tucker, Nashville | August 19, 2008

Rosanne Cash is tired of people using her late father's name to further their own political agenda.

"It is appalling to me that people still want to invoke my father's name, five years after his death, to ascribe beliefs, ideals, values and loyalties to him that cannot possibly be determined, and to try to further their own agendas by doing so," Cash said in a statement on her Web site.

The statement was released after country star John Rich invoked the name of Johnny Cash at a recent Florida rally for presidential candidate John McCain. According to media reports, Rich told the crowd, "Somebody's got to walk the line in the country. They've got to walk it unapologetically. And I'm sure Johnny Cash would have been a John McCain supporter if he was still around."

Rich then sang Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line."

"I knew my father pretty well, at least better than some of those who entitle themselves to his legacy and his supposed ideals," Rosanne Cash said in the statement, "and even I would not presume to say publicly what I 'know' he thought or felt. This is especially dangerous in the case of political affiliation.

"It is unfair and presumptuous to use him to bolster any platform," she continued. "I would ask that my father not be co-opted in this election for either side, since he is clearly not here to defend or state his own allegiance."

New Music/CD Releases (August 19th, 2008)

2008-08-16T10:32:00.001-04:00

August 19
The Academy Is... - Fast Times At Barrington High
Amy MacDonald - This Is The Life
Black Stone Cherry - Folklore and Superstition
Chris Knight - Heart Of Stone
Crystal Shawanda - Dawn Of A New Day
The Dandy Warhols - Earth To The Dandy Warhols
David Byrne - Big Love: Hymnal
David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (digital release)
Deitrick Haddon - Revealed
Donavon Frankenreiter - Pass It Around
Donnie Klang - Come Into My World
Evelyn "Champagne" King - Open Book
Family Force 5 - Dance Or Die
Fiery Furnaces - Remember (Live CD)
George Jones - Burn Your Playhouse Down: The Unreleased Duets
Glen Campbell - Meet Glen Campbell
Goo Goo Dolls - Greatest Hits Vol. 2
GZA/Genius - Pro Tools
Hotel Lights - Firecracker People
Human Highway - Moody Motorcycle
Ice Cube - Raw Footage
Jeff Hanson - Madam Owl
Joe Bonamassa - Live From Nowhere In Particular [2 CDs]
John Pizzarelli - With A Song In My Heart
Juliana Hatfield - How To Walk Away
Karina - First Love
Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim
Lykke Li - Youth Novels
Loudon Wainwright III - Recovery
Sandra Boynton - Blue Moo
Shwayze - Shwayze
Staind - The Illusion Of Progress
Stereolab - Chemical Chords
The Stills - Oceans Will Rise
Toadies - No Deliverance
Todd Snider - Peace Queer
Uh Huh Her Common Reaction
The Walkmen - You And Me

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

Over the Rhine announces "Special 20th Anniversary Celebration!" & Christmas tour dates

2008-08-16T10:14:00.001-04:00

cincinnati based "over the rhine" has announced their annual christmas tour plans culminating with a two date, 20th anniversary celebration @ the taft theatre in cincinnati. looks like it's going to be a fun run of shows...

Sat, 2008-11-29 Seattle, WA - Triple Door
Sun, 2008-11-30 Seattle, WA - Triple Door !
Mon, 2008-12-01 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
Tue, 2008-12-02 Klamath Falls, OR - Ross Ragland Theater - On Sale Now!
Thu, 2008-12-04 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
Sat, 2008-12-06 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
Fri, 2008-12-12 Louisville, KY - Bomhard Theater - On Sale Now!
Sat, 2008-12-13 Chicago, IL - Double Door
Fri, 2008-12-19 Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theater
Special 20th Anniversary Celebration!
Sat, 2008-12-20 Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theater
Special 20th Anniversary Celebration!
Sun, 2008-12-21 Norwood (Cincinnati), OH - St. Elizabeth's

obviously, of special note are the first ever west coast christmas tour dates and the two "special 20th anniversary celebration!" dates @ the taft on 12-19 & 20, which should be a very special weekend.

as far as ticket info, only the ross ragland theater and bomhard theater tickets are on sale now and more info will be released in the near future. stay tuned for more info.

GNR's 'Democracy' To Be Retail Exclusive?

2008-08-15T12:25:00.004-04:00

::yawn::

seriously, does anybody care about this idiot and what he does anymore?

GNR's 'Democracy' To Be Retail Exclusive?
August 15, 2008
Ed Christman, N.Y.

The June leak of nine allegedly "mastered, finished" tracks from Guns N' Roses' long-delayed "Chinese Democracy" spurred a renewed round of chatter about whether the Axl Rose-led band will finally release the 14-years-in-the-making album.

But some concrete signs are finally emerging that the album's release could be imminent. That's because, according to sources, negotiations are underway for "Chinese Democracy" to come out as an exclusive at one of the big boxes -- either Wal-Mart or Best Buy.

Negotiations are also ongoing to have conventional record company distribution, another source says.

Guns N' Roses is now managed by Irving Azoff's Front Line Management, and Azoff is a well-known proponent of issuing albums exclusively through retailers. He released the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" through Wal-Mart, much to the chagrin of other merchants.

Most recently, it became known that AC/DC's next album will come out exclusively through Wal-Mart. Merchants were particularly incensed that the deal was apparently struck with the blessing of Columbia.

It's unclear who initiated the Guns N' Roses exclusive negotiations -- Front Line or Interscope, the band's label.

Representatives at Front Line and Interscope with knowledge of the situation couldn't be reached for comment by deadline. A Wal-Mart representative says the chain couldn't confirm this fall's exclusives. Best Buy representatives couldn't be reached for comment by deadline.

and on a similiar note, while everone whines about the "dying" industry and the laments about the troubled independent record stores, they continue to go the way of garth...

Genesis Links With Wal-Mart For Reunion Tour DVD
May 22, 2008 , 11:00 AM ET
Gary Graff, Detroit

Genesis deemed its 2007 reunion tour worthy of a three-disc DVD set because, according to Phil Collins, "we thought something like this, which may never happen again, was worth documenting just in case something good happened."

"When In Rome 2007," due out next month on Rhino and exclusively through Wal-Mart, certainly gives Genesis fans plenty of opportunities to remember the tour.

It features the entire July 14 show shot by director David Mallet before 500,000 fans at Rome's Circus Massimo. A nearly two-hour documentary, "Come Rain or Shine," by director Anthony Mathile, chronicles the tour -- which played 47 dates in Europe and North America -- from conception to finish. Extras include photo galleries and additional interviews with Collins, guitarist Mike Rutherford and keyboardist Tony Banks.

But even as "When in Rome 2007" rolls out, Collins tells Billboard.com the trio is fairly convinced that something like last year's tour will, in fact, never happen again.

"Nothing's planned, anyway," says Collins, who has maintained that he wants to focus on his family and no longer wants to tour. "It's a question of whether there's anything musically, rather than touring, to do. Then there's still possibilities, but we're not discussing it really seriously yet. Rutherford adds, "We're all peddling quite slowly at the moment. I like that phrase."

There remains a possibility of doing a reunion performance of "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" with Peter Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett, but Collins says that will be "for something special" like a one-off performance rather than a full touring production. Genesis is also considering making archival shows available to fans on its Web site, but Rutherford says the group is proceeding cautiously on that front, too. "You don't want to perceived as trying to flog stuff," he explains.

As for selling "When in Rome 2007" via Wal-Mart, Banks says the company offered a scenario that made sense to Genesis for this project.

"The feeling is that in the States, our records -- we've put out the various box sets and the live album ('Live Over Europe 2007') and everything. They've done OK, but not perhaps as well as we might have hoped," he explains. "We're really proud of this (DVD) and we don't want it to be forgotten about. Wal-Mart puts 100,000 of this DVD out there and feels like it can sell that many, which I think will be an awful lot better than the last few things we've done. You have to look at it that way."

Genesis will be releasing its third box set collection of its original studio albums -- 1970's "Trespass" through 1974's "The Lamb..." -- but there's no word on whether that will be an exclusive retail release as well.

your collection isn't going to suffer if you are missing and overblown egomanianc's vanity peice or a past-it's-prime art pop band's nostalgia tour cash-in video on your shelf... the only way to stop this is to not support it, if you play along, you are implicitly supporting it. so "just say NO!"...boycott this bullshit!

source: billboard

[follow-up] Isaac Hayes’ Cause of Death Ruled a Stroke

2008-08-13T23:38:00.001-04:00

The cause of death of soul singer Isaac Hayes has been ruled a stroke, according to the family’s physician. However, no autopsy has been performed, and both the medical examiner and the Memphis health department have filed an official cause of death or issued a death certificate. The family initially believed an unspecified “medical condition” was to blame for Hayes’ death.

source: rolling stone

Katie Reider Updates / Benefits

2008-08-13T22:51:00.003-04:00

from Lauren Fernandes who operates:

website: 500,000 hits in 365 for Katie Reider
facebook: 500,000 hits in 365 for Katie Reider
myspace: 500,000 hits in 365 for Katie Reider

Hi!

I hope everyone is doing well. I just wanted to give everyone a heads up that a couple benefits will be held for Katie Reider over the next few weeks. These events will be posted on our myspace site and facebook site as they come about.

All proceeds go directly to Katie's family, hope you can come out and celebrate her music!

If it's possible to have these events filmed for our archive we'd greatly appreciate!

KATIE REIDER BENEFIT INFORMATION

Saturday August 16th, 2008 - 8pm at Below Zero Lounge in Cincinnati Ohio.

THE KATIE REIDER FAMILY Benefit with KAREN REIDER AND ROB REIDER is this Saturday August 16th, 2008 - 8pm at Below Zero Lounge in Cincinnati Ohio.

Come early or come late whatever works for you!
$5 CASH

Hear Katie's music by the musicians who loved her and her music.
.... Katie would love that we celebrate her with music!

More info and a list of upcoming BENEFITS scheduled for Katie Reider are posted on our facebook site

Another News story was also done last Saturday in New York City with Karen Reider.

Last Saturday NYC's local morning news show in NYC re-ran Katie's News story and did an in studio piece with Karen Reider.

Here's a link. Enjoy! (fyi - there is an advertisement that plays before the story airs)

http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=115904@wcbs.dayport.com

Thank you to EVERYONE for all the support - it has been wonderful.

Since May 23rd, 2008 we've reached 59,500 people who have helped keep katie's voice alive!

Till next time

Johnny Cash 'Folsom Prison' Box Loaded With Unreleased Tracks

2008-08-12T15:53:00.008-04:00

"Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison" was a ground breaking, historical piece of work for its time (1968), cash had a hard time convincing the executives at columbia to record/release this album, it was considered to be a career risk and was not a popular concept with his label. cash eventually won and it worked, the inmates for their part had a great deal of respect for cash personally and for his music and throughout the album johnny seems to empathize with the plight of the prisoners.

on the original release, the song order was changed songs were cut, probably to make it fit on a single LP/album. The CD release from 2000 still does not contain the entire concert and added tracks from the concert that day.

in 2003, the album was ranked number 88 on rolling stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. in 2003, it was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the library of congress to be added to the national recording registry. in 2006, it ranked #3 on CMT's 40 greatest albums in country music.

apparently johnny was right and the suits at columbia were wrong. it will be great to see and hear this the way the man in black intended it to be.

Johnny Cash 'Folsom Prison' CD/DVD Box Loaded With Unreleased Tracks
August 12, 2008
Mitchell Peters, L.A.

A new three-disc CD/DVD box set that features unreleased material from Johnny Cash's legendary 1968 concerts at Folsom State Prison in California will be released Oct. 14 via Columbia/Legacy.

Disc one of the forthcoming "Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison: Legacy Edition" features Cash's entire 65-minute first concert, with seven previously unreleased tracks, including "Blue Suede Shoes," "This Ole House," "I'm Here To Get My Baby Out of Jail," "I Got A Woman" and "June's Poems," among others.

Disc two contains the entire 75-minute second show, with 24 previously unreleased songs, including duets with his wife June Carter Cash and others.

The DVD component of "Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison: Legacy Edition" reveals footage from inside Folsom Prison, and contains interviews from country acts as Merle Haggard, Rosanne Cash and Marty Stuart, as well as former Folsom Prison inmates who witnessed the legendary concerts. The DVD also features unpublished photographs by Jim Marshall.

Additionally, the new box set includes a 4,000-word essay by Cash biographer Michael Streissguth, who penned such books as "Johnny Cash: The Biography" and "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison: The Making of the Masterpiece." The booklet will also feature liner notes written by Cash and Steve Earle in 1999.

Originally released in 1968, "Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison" peaked at No. 13 on The Billboard 200, and spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart.

Metallica Announce U.S. Tour Dates, Completion of “Death Magnetic”

2008-08-12T08:37:00.001-04:00

definitely not my "thing" but i try to be fair and post all significant music news and events...

In addition to debuting the new song “Cyanide” at Ozzfest this weekend (see above), Metallica revealed they’ve completed mixing Death Magnetic and announced the first leg of their North American tour, which starts October 21st in Glendale, Arizona. The tour will circle the West and Midwest of the U.S. and Canada during the latter portion of 2008 before moving eastward in January 2009, with the leg culminating with a January 31st show in Newark, New Jersey. Check out all the dates after the jump.

October 21 - Glendale, AZ @ Jobing Arena
October 23 - Albquerque, NM @ Tingley Coliseum
October 25 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
October 26 - Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
November 1 - Portland, OR @ Rose Quarter
November 3 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Energy Solutions Arena
November 4 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
November 6 - Omaha, NE @ Qwest Center
November 8 - Moline, IL @ iWireless Center
November 9 - Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
November 17 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
November 18 - Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
November 20 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
November 22 - Little Rock, AR @ Alltel Arena
November 23 - New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena
December 1 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
December 2 - Vancouver, BC @ GM Place
December 4 - Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome
December 7 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
December 12 - Ontario, CA @ Citizens Bank Arena
December 13 - Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center
December 15 - San Diego, CA @ Cox Arena
December 17 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
December 20 - Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
January 12 - Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Center
January 13 - Detroit, MI @ Joe Louis Arena
January 15 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
January 17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center
January 18 - Boston, MA TD @ Banknorth Center
January 26 - Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena
January 29 - Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
January 31 - Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center

[Addendum] New Music/CD Releases (August 12th, 2008)

2008-08-11T23:34:00.005-04:00

i apparently missed this on the original post for this weeks releases. click on the album cover and follow the links to listen to a couple of songs from the cd. it's a very interesting collaboration between inara and legendary arranger van dyke parks with an intimate, jazzy feel.

while she sounds nothing like her father lowell, whom i was a huge fan of, she is a very interesting talent in her own right.

Inara George
Everloving Records is proud to present An Invitation, the latest release from Inara George. An Invitation is an intimate collaboration between Inara and legendary arranger Van Dyke Parks. The result is a lush, elegant, fully orchestrated song cycle, a catalog of experiences equally inspired by the sophistication of Frank Sinatra and the storied, cinematic wonder of Richard Sherman's oeuvre. Not that this was Inara and Van Dyke’s first introduction. Inara’s father, Little Feat frontman Lowell George, and Van Dyke were great friends and collaborators. And when Inara was born in 1974 in Baltimore, Maryland (where her family had come for her birth while Little Feat recorded Feats Don’t Fail Me Now) Van Dyke was there to welcome her into the world. And even after the death of her father in 1979, Inara and Van Dyke continued to stay in touch throughout the years. As Inara began to forge her way into a musical career, Van Dyke was always close at hand to offer sage advice and encouragement. And for both, there was a real desire for some kind of collaboration. In the past few years Inara has found her stride as a member of the band The Bird and the Bee (on Blue Note Records) and with the release of her first solo album, All Rise, (on Everloving Records). Both projects caught the attention of critics worldwide. And as Inara geared up to make her second solo record, an opportunity emerged for her and Van Dyke to finally make something together. In 2002, Inara introduced Van Dyke to Mike Andrews, producer of All Rise and An Invitation. Mike had admired Van Dyke’s work with The Beach Boys, Harry Nilsson, The Byrds, and Joanna Newsom (just to name a few), and had always hoped to engage his arranging abilities in some capacity for Inara’s next record. But then Inara asked, ”What if we have him do the entire thing?” They asked, and Van Dyke accepted. And after months of preparation, the orchestra was recorded in a daring and excitement filled two-day live session at LA's historic Sunset Sound studios. "There are different characters in each piece, but it all feels like a connected event," says Van Dyke. "There are certainly different scenes on the record, and that's what I like. And I think that takes real talent, as a writer, to fictionalize a reality the way Inara has done." An Invitation begins with an overture, echoing the sun-dappled landscapes of Aaron Copeland, filtered through the widescreen lens of Van Dyke's neoclassicist sensibility. Inara's voice enters in the second track, "Right As Wrong," on a cloud of hushed strings, and carries the record through a series of vignettes that contrast the smoky poise of Chet Baker and Kurt Weill with the wide-eyed optimism of Leonard Bernstein. Throughout the record, Van Dyke's cerebral (psychedelic, even) arrangements twist the music into multiple directions at once, a swirling canvas suspended over the sonic mantelpiece of Inara's songs, bewitching and perplexing, a truly organic achievement among friends in an era of artificial pleasures. "There was more love going through the glass with Inara and Van Dyke than any other record I've worked on," says producer Mike Andrews. "It was a family love. Very real."

Tift Merritt - Towne Crier Cafe/Pawling, NY (08.09.2008)

2008-08-11T13:39:00.005-04:00

submitted and written by keith bergendorff

below is a review of tift's recent show. besides being an avid music fan and concert-goer, keith is a friend and fellow lover of music + great reviewer and taper. keith has kindly included a link to his excellent recording of this show, feel free to download and enjoy.

many thanks to keith for sharing his words and recording. and thanks to tift for being "taper friendly" and allowing recordings of her shows. these recordings are for personal use only, feel free to share and trade, but please, respect the artists and tapers wishes and under no circumstances should they be sold or money change hands for these recordings.

I drove up to the Towne Crier Café in Pawling NY from Long Island (about 90 miles) last night to see Tift, having missed her appearance at the Mercury Lounge in NYC some months back because I had to be out of town. I picked up my friend Arlene (who lives in Manhattan) at the Pawling train station at 7:01 and we headed over to the venue to have dinner before the 9:00 show. There was already a pretty good crowd seated near the stage when we arrived at 7:10, but we got a table with a good view about 20 feet from the stage a little left of center.

I had never heard opener Jess Klein, and I gotta say she was absolutely phenomenal! With a plaintive sultry voice and formidable technique on a guitar that's nearly as big as she is, she had the audience absolutely transfixed (myself included). I actually had to loosen loosen my collar during her spine-tingling performance of Willie Dixon's The Same Thing, during which you could have heard a pin drop.

Tift and the boys came on a little after 10:00 and opened with Morning Is My Destination with Tift at the piano. It was a very spirited show, as I've come to expect from Tift by now (I think this was show #8 for me). This was the first time I've seen the band with Scott McCall and I thought he did a really fabulous job on lead. They performed Supposed to Make You Happy unmiked with Jay and Scott turning in beautiful harmonies, and also went off mike for brief but lovely interludes during Keep Me Happy, Broken, Something To Me and When I Cross Over. Tift performed Good Hearted Man solo on the piano (after encouraging the staff to silence the register noisily pumping out the dinner receipts) and they closed with a rousing performance of When I Cross Over. Mille Tendresses was the encore.

By the time the show was over it was about 10 minutes before Arlene's last train back to NYC. I had brought my copy of Another Country for Tift to sign, but a long line had already formed to talk to her when I came out of the men's room and I really couldn't wait. So I just stopped alongside the line across from her and Zeke on our way to the front door and called out "Tift! I have to catch a train, but -- I LOVE YOU!" She flashed me that big smile of hers and reached out her arm through the people standing in front of her, and I squeezed her hand and waved. "Don't miss your train!" she laughed. It was a good moment.

I could say a lot more about the show but a recording is worth a thousand words (and then some), so you can download hi-fi mp3s from this link:

http://kbergend.tripod.com/tm2008-08-09.zip

The house mix wasn't quite as good as other times I've seen Tift perform and there's a bit of clipping during the very loudest parts of the show, but for the most part it sounds pretty nice. I boosted the gain a little on Supposed To Make You Happy to make it more audible. Enjoy!

01 Morning Is My Destination
02 Hopes Too High
03 Stray Paper
04 I Know What I'm Looking For Now
05 Another Country
06 Supposed To Make You Happy (unmiked)
07 Tell Me Something True
08 Keep You Happy
09 My Heart Is Free
10 Ain't Looking Closely
11 Broken
12 Tender Branch
13 Something To Me
14 Good Hearted Man
15 When I Cross Over
[encore]
16 Mille Tendresses

AT943c > Marantz PMD620 @24/44.1
cardreader > USB > Audition 3.0/Ozone 3 > CD Wave > Apple mp3 encoder @192kbps
Editing: gain adjustments, EQ, compression < 120 Hz, MBIT+ dither to 16 bits

also, i checked out jess klein's website(s), the opener for tift that keith mentioned in his review and whoa! do yourself a favor, pop over and give this girl a listen.

jess klein (go to the album page and you can have a free listen)

jess klein - myspace

isaac hayes (1942-2008)

2008-08-10T22:39:00.004-04:00

i met isaac several times, he was a photo hobbiest and loved taking pictures and he used to hang out at a camera store i worked at in downtown atlanta (where he lived at the time). there were several of us that he got to know fairly well and he would often come in with pictures that he had taken and ask for critiques of his work and suggestions on how to be better, etc. he was actually a pretty talented photographer too.

several years later after i had moved on, i was running a couple of video/electronics stores and officed out of a store in buckhead. one night he called (he didn't "name drop" but from "the voice" i was pretty sure it was him) and said he was having some problems with a video camera and needed some help. i told him that we were about to close but if he would come on over, i'd try to help him figure it out. as he got there we had already locked up and i opened up and let him in, when he walked in, he looked at me and said "bill...?" he remembered me and i hadn't seen him for 2 or 3 years. i stuck around about 45 minutes after we closed and got his camera working and we chatted and talked, mostly about photography and music.

the next day, he went out of his way and stopped by the store right before we closed and walked in with a case of heineken and said "where's your car?" and said he just wanted to say thanks for me staying late to help him out with the camera. he continued to stop by on a pretty regular basis after that.

he was truly a kind, gentle and sweet man. wow, how sad.

More than 'Shaft': Hayes was goldmine of influence
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY – 1 hour ago

With its riveting orchestration, definitive guitar play and signature sensual baritone vocals, Isaac Hayes' theme song for the 1971 movie "Shaft" not only became one of pop music's iconic songs, but also the defining work of Hayes' career.

Yet the "Theme from Shaft," which would earn both Grammys and an Oscar, was just a snippet of the groundbreaking music for which Hayes — who died Sunday at age 65 — was responsible.

He penned soul classics like "Hold On I'm Comin'" for Sam & Dave, helped usher in the era of disco and was a goldmine for countless hip-hop and R&B artists who used his illustrious arrangements as the focal point for their songs decades later.

"Isaac Hayes embodies everything that's soul music," Collin Stanback, an A&R executive at Stax, told The Associated Press on Sunday. "When you think of soul music you think of Isaac Hayes — the expression ... the sound and the creativity that goes along with it."

His influence also extended beyond music. His trademarked bald head, full beard and muscular frame, often adorned with a multitude of gold chains, made him a fashion trendsetter at a time when most of his contemporaries were sporting blowout Afros. He was also a symbol of black pride, and an activist for civil rights.

The Rev. Al Sharpton called Hayes a "creative genius" and added, "even in his later years he never hesitated to appear for a cause or endorse something that he felt was for the good of mankind. He will be sorely missed."

Hayes also acted in movies including "Tough Guys," "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka" and "Hustle & Flow." He had recently completed the movie "Soul Men," in which he played himself; the film also starred Samuel Jackson and Bernie Mac, who died on Saturday after a bout with pneumonia. And a new generation of fans discovered the man behind "Shaft" when, in 1997, he became the voice of Chef on the Comedy Central show "South Park."

Hayes, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., after collapsing Sunday afternoon near a treadmill in his home nearby.

Steve Shular, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, said authorities received a 911 call after Hayes' wife and young son and his wife's cousin returned home from the grocery store and found him collapsed in a downstairs bedroom. A sheriff's deputy administered CPR until paramedics arrived.

Stanback said he was shocked to learn of the death of the singer, who was about to start work on a new record for Stax, the label Hayes helped make legendary.

In an industry filled with colorful and dynamic figures, Hayes was a standout on several levels, from his smooth baritone to his flamboyant style: It was almost as if he was made to be a musical god.

But Hayes spent the early part of his career firmly in the musical background. A self-taught musician from Covington, Tenn., he made a name for himself playing with various bands around Memphis. In 1964, he was hired by Stax Records to be a backup pianist, working as a session musician for Otis Redding and others. He also played saxophone.

He began writing songs, establishing a songwriting partnership with David Porter, and in the 1960s they wrote classic hits for Sam and Dave such as "Hold On, I'm Coming," "Soul Man," and "When Something is Wrong With My Baby." They also wrote for other Stax artists including Carla Thomas.

Hayes' work as a composer helped him secure a deal as a solo artist. His first album, "Presenting Isaac Hayes," was a poor seller, the result of an impromptu jam session. But after getting creative control, he delivered his next album, "Hot Buttered Soul" in 1969, and it made him a star.

Hayes offered something completely different to the musical world. In an era of straightened hair or Afros, Hayes was bald: "His look was just so profound," Stanback said. "He was like a superhero."

Whereas other soul crooners showed their passion through wails, Hayes delivery was calm, cool — almost subdued. He prefaced songs with "raps," and they ran longer than typical standard of three minutes: One song, a cover of Glen Campbell's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," ran 18 minutes.

"(Radio) jocks would play it at night," Hayes recalled of his songs in a 1999 Associated Press interview. "They could go to the bathroom, they could get a sandwich, or whatever."

Next came "Theme From Shaft," a No. 1 hit from the blaxploitation film "Shaft" starring Richard Roundtree.

"That was like the shot heard round the world," Hayes said in the 1999 interview.

At the Oscar ceremony in 1972, Hayes performed the song wearing an eye-popping amount of gold and received a standing ovation. TV Guide later chose it as No. 18 in its list of television's 25 most memorable moments. He won an Academy Award for the song and was nominated for another one for the score. The song and score also won him two Grammys.

In 1972, he won another Grammy for his album "Black Moses" and earned a nickname he reluctantly embraced. He was also part of the historic "Wattstax" concert in riot-ravaged Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles.

Besides "Shaft," Hayes composed film scores for "Tough Guys" and "Truck Turner." He also did the song "Two Cool Guys" on the "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America" movie soundtrack in 1996.

Additionally, he was the voice of Nickelodeon's "Nick at Nite" and had radio shows in New York City (1996 to 2002) and then in Memphis.

Though his last big hits on the charts ended in the 1980s, Hayes' presence in contemporary music continued as his songs were sampled on numerous hits by rap and R&B performers, ranging from Ashanti to Public Enemy to Jay-Z.

"The rappers have gone in and created a lot of hit music based upon my influence," he said. "And they'll tell you if you ask."

Stanback said: "A lot of artists owe Isaac his career because a lot of music was based on his foundation."

He garnered another audience and cult following with his work on "South Park." A school cook, Chef was in many ways the voice of reason in the otherwise outrageous animated social commentary, unwittingly imparting pearls of wisdom on the schoolboys who often came to him with their dilemmas; this, in spite of the fact that his foremost devotion was — true to Hayes' music and persona — being a ladies' man.

In the 1999 interview, Hayes described the character as "a person that speaks his mind; he's sensitive enough to care for children; he's wise enough to not be put into the 'wack' category like everybody else in town — and he l-o-o-o-o-ves the ladies."

But Hayes angrily quit the show in 2006 after an episode mocked his Scientology religion. "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs of others begins," he said.

Co-creator creators Matt Stone responded that Hayes "has no problem — and he's cashed plenty of checks — with our show making fun of Christians." A subsequent episode of the show seemingly killed off the Chef character.

Hayes remained active in entertainment, even as he became a senior citizen. His Web site listed upcoming appearances and he was making plans for his Stax album. Stanback said it was to include Hayes' work on vintage tracks that he had left unfinished over the years.

"We were actually getting ready to schedule a trip to Memphis to talk to Isaac," he said.

Stanback called his death a tragedy.

"Isaac Hayes was a wonderful human begin and his spirit will live long in the form of his music," he said.

a couple of great free shows in louisville...

2008-08-10T21:46:00.000-04:00

apparently....

pollstar has teddy thompson listed as the headlining performer for october 27th's waterfront wednesday. while it is not listed on teddy's site or wfpk's site, wfpk lists vhs or beta as the headliner for the show so i'm not sure if there is a cancellation or schedule change for some reason. vhs or beta's website does not list them in louisville on the 27th and shows them playing in puerto rico on the 28th, which could be tough to pull off if they played late here on the 27th. pollstar tends to be very accurate, i'm sure hoping it is correct.

already announced is the phenomenal local talent, ben sollee opening the show @ 6:00PM, followed by seepeoples @ 7:30, here's hoping teddy is the closer @ 9:00PM (btw, nothing against vhs or beta).

also, tift merritt has just released several new tour dates (posted below), one of those will include a free set @ the original highlands art & music festival on saturday night, september 13th @ 8:00 PM

the full schedule for the festival is:
12-1p.m. - Leigh Ann Yost (East Stage)
12-1 p.m. - John Gage (West Stage)
1-2p.m. - Louisville School of Rock (East Stage)
2-3p.m. - Shannon Lawson (West Stage)
3-4p.m. - The Ladybirds (East Stage)
4-5p.m. - Brigid Kaelin Band (West Stage)
5-6p.m. - Danny Flanigan and the Rain Chorus (East Stage)
6-7p.m. - Peter Searcy (West Stage)
8-9:15p.m. - Tift Merritt (East Stage)
9:30-11p.m. - Love Jones (West Stage)

tift merritt
August 2008
22 Aug: Isle of Palms, SC @ Windjammer
23 Aug: Raleigh, NC @ NC Museum of Art
24 Aug: Wilmington, NC @ Greenfield Amphitheater
27 Aug: San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
28 Aug: Saratoga, CA @ The Mountain Winery
31 Aug: Aspen, CO @ Snowmass Town Park
September 2008
04 Sep: Charlotte, NC @ Visulite
05 Sep: Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle
06 Sep: Atlanta, GA @ Variety
07 Sep: Birmingham, AL @ Workplay
09 Sep: Chattanooga, TN @ Rhythm & Brews
11 Sep: St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill
12 Sep: Newport, KY (Cincinnati, OH) @ Southgate House
13 Sep: Louisville, KY @ Original Highlands Art & Music Festival
19 Sep: Norfolk, VA @ Discovery Indie Series/Attucks Theatre
26 Sep: Jackson Hole, WY @ Center for the Arts/Jackson Hole Music Experience
27 Sep: Boise, ID @ The Bouquet
29 Sep: Seattle, WA @ The Triple Door
30 Sep: Bend, OR @ The Annex

New Music/CD Releases (August 12th, 2008)

2008-08-09T14:19:00.003-04:00

August 12
East Village Opera Company - Old School
Extreme - Saudades De Rock
Fred Eaglesmith - Tinderbox
Irma Thomas - Simply Grand
The Jonas Brothers - A Little Bit Longer
Michelle Williams - Unexpected
Over the Rhine - Live From Nowhere Volume 3
T.I. - The Paper Trail
Yung Berg - Look What You Made Me

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.

Over the Rhine - Live From Nowhere (Volume 3)

2008-08-07T22:02:00.017-04:00

every year during late november and early december, over the rhine does a series of dates throughout the northeast and midwest that have become known by their fans as the christmas tour. the tour culminates a week or two before christmas at cincinnati's beautiful "taft theatre." for the past couple of years they have followed the taft show (on saturday night) with a sunday late afternoon/early evening informal and intimate gathering of music, friendship, wine and cheese by candlelight at a beautiful yet tired, worn and previously abandoned church in their old neighborhood of norwood. recently the church, st. elizabeth's (aka: st. e's) has been reclaimed, rejuvinated and in is in the process of restoration by many of karin and linford's friends from the neighborhood, it's new life seems to be serving and suiting both it and the community well.

the "taft weekend" has become the big event of the year for OtR and their fans with people travelling in from all over the country and the world (seriously) for these shows. along with the music there are group dinners, late night drinks and early morning breakfasts and coffee. over the years it has become a great gathering of friends and like minded people who really enjoy sharing their time, interests, stories and their lives together. it is really an amazing, inspiring and life affirming couple of days.

three years ago, OtR had the idea of capturing some of the more special moments from these shows, at times mixing in a couple of previously unreleased studio gems and putting out limited edition, "fan" only series titled "live from nowhere" (named after their ohio farm, "nowhere farm"). volume one sold out quickly and has become very rare, with copies on e-bay auctions fetching in the $75-100 range. volume two is getting hard to track down but a limited number are still available... if you look hard enough. and after several unavoidable delays and a setback due to the unexpected passing of linford's father, volume three started hitting mailboxes today.

the players on volume three are the current touring band; karin bergquist (vocals, guitar, piano), linford detweiler (piano, acoustic guitar, electric bass, vocals), jake bradley (upright bass, electric bass, lead guitar), mickey grimm (drumkit)and violinist, paul patterson (from the cincinnati symphony orchestra) guesting on a couple of tracks. the setlist, this time culled exclusively from live shows, was mixed & produced by david "too damn juicy" foreman. dave is a master behind the soundboard and always maxes out OtR's sound, regardless of the venue and these mixes come directly from his 4 track masters and his production on this disc is simply amazing.
track listing
1. Motherless Child
2. Angel Band
3. Hush Now (with Fantasia Cadenza)
4. Trouble
5. Nothing Is Innocent
6. I'm On A Roll
7. Don't Wait For Tom
8. Drunkard's Prayer
9. Who'm I Kiddin' But Me
10. Northpole Man
11. Snow Angel
12. Latter Days

'nuff said.

do yourself a favor...

live from nowhere - volume three can be ordered directly from the band @: overtherhine.com - featured products

and volume one and volume two are also available directly from the band via download @ overtherhine.com - downloads

on a personal note, i am proud to have been fortunate enough to have my photographs featured in each of the live from nowhere releases. it's very rewarding to have your work used by artists that you respect both personally and professionally. here are the pics from this year.

The Clash's Shea Stadium Gig Heading To CD

2008-08-06T20:56:00.000-04:00

The Clash's Shea Stadium Gig Heading To CD
Billboard - Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Long bootlegged and sought after by collectors, the Clash's Oct. 13, 1982, performance at New York's Shea Stadium will finally see official release Oct. 7 via Legacy.

The gig found the Clash opening for the Who on the latter band's "farewell" tour, and features a wealth of favorites, from "London Calling" and "Police on My Back" to "The Magnificent Seven" and "Clampdown."

The band, which at the time was touring in support of its recent album "Combat Rock," also offered up the singles from that effort, "Should I Stay or Should I Go" and "Rock the Casbah." According to Legacy, late guitarist Joe Strummer found the Shea tapes while preparing to move into a new house.

In other Clash news, a new biography culled from extensive band interviews, "The Clash by the Clash," will be released Nov. 4 via Grand Central Books.

"Live at Shea Stadium":
Kosmo Vinyl Introduction
"London Calling"
"Police on My Back"
"Guns Of Brixton"
"Tommy Gun"
"The Magnificent Seven"
"Armagideon Time"
"The Magnificent Seven" (return)
"Rock the Casbah"
"Train in Vain"
"Career Opportunities"
"Spanish Bombs"
"Clampdown"
"English Civil War"
"Should I Stay or Should I Go"
"I Fought the Law"

Ray Lamontagne - "Gossip in the Grain" Tour Dates

2008-08-05T23:17:00.002-04:00

Ray Lamontagne has just released tour dates supporting his new album, "Gossip in the Grain," out October 14th.

Tue, 09/30/08 Murat Theatre Indianapolis, IN
Wed, 10/01/08 The Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL
Sat, 10/04/08 State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
Tue, 10/07/08 The Danforth Music Hall Theatre Toronto, ON
Thu, 10/09/08 Opera House Boston, MA
Fri, 10/10/08 Opera House Boston, MA
Sat, 10/11/08 Radio City Music Hall New York, NY
Mon, 10/13/08 Keswick Theatre Glenside, PA
Tue, 10/14/08 Music Center at Strathmore N. Bethesda, MD
Thu, 10/16/08 Progress Energy Center Meymandi Concert Hall Raleigh, NC
Sat, 10/18/08 The Tabernacle Atlanta, GA
Sun, 10/19/08 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
Tue, 10/21/08 Uptown Theater Kansas City, MO
Thu, 10/23/08 Verizon Wireless Theater Houston, TX
Fri, 10/24/08 Majestic Theatre Dallas Dallas, TX
Mon, 10/27/08 Macky Auditorium Boulder, CO
Thu, 10/30/08 The Wiltern Los Angeles, CA
Sat, 11/01/08 Spreckels Theatre San Diego, CA
Mon, 11/03/08 Paramount Theatre-Oakland Oakland, CA
Wed, 11/05/08 Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland, OR
Sat, 11/08/08 Vogue Theatre Vancouver, BC
Sun, 11/09/08 McCaw Hall Seattle, WA

"Gossip in the Grain" tracklist
1. You Are The Best Thing
2. Let It Be Me
3. Sarah
4. I Still Care For You
5. Winter Birds
6. Meg White
7. Hey Me, Hey Mama
8. Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s A Shame)
9. A Falling Through
10. Gossip In The Grain

Rage Against the Machine Schedule Show Near Republican Convention

2008-08-05T22:37:00.001-04:00

i'm not really a fan of the band's music, and i would never agree with, endorse or advocate violence, but i've got to say, i love this...

Following their near-riot-inducing performance at this weekend’s Rage Against the Machine Schedule Show Near Republican Convention Lollapalooza, Rage Against the Machine have scheduled another concert they probably hope has similar results. The band announced that they’ll perform in Minneapolis’ Target Center on September 3rd, which is significant because that’s the same week the Republican National Convention rolls into the Twin City of St. Paul. In 2000, the band played an outdoor show in Los Angeles during the Democratic National Convention, and that show ended with police using tear gas and pepper spray. In the announcement of the Minneapolis show, Rage made no mention of the political overtones their show will carry, but Tom Morello has already revealed he will play a union rally with Steve Earle in St. Paul on September 1st, the first day of the RNC. Protest isn’t free, though: tickets for Rage’s show in Prince’s hometown are $60 and go on sale Saturday.

David Byrne - “Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno” Tour

2008-08-04T23:45:00.003-04:00

David Byrne | New York, New York | December 2003
photo by Michael Wilson

this should be pretty amazing. i'm hoping to be @ the louisville or indy (or both) shows.

09-16 Bethlehem, PA - Zoellner Arts Center
09-17 Baltimore, MD - Lyric
09-18 Newport News, VA - Ferguson Center for the Arts
09-20 Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Amphitheatre
09-21 Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
09-22 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
09-23 Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre
09-25 Austin, TX - Paramount
09-26 Austin, TX - Zilker Park (Austin City Limits Festival)
09-28 Albuquerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium
09-30 Phoenix, AZ - Orpheum Theatre
10-02 San Diego, CA - Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
10-03 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
10-04 Santa Barbara, CA - Arlington Theatre
10-06 San Francisco, CA - Davies Symphony Hall
10-08 Santa Rosa, CA - Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
10-11 Park City, UT - Eccles Center for the Performing Arts
10-12 Denver, CO - Buell Theater
10-14 Minneapolis, MN - State Theater
10-15 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
10-17 Omaha, NE - Kiewit Concert Hall
10-18 St. Louis, MO - Fox Theatre
10-19 Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theatre
10-21 Louisville, KY - Palace Theater
10-23 Cleveland, OH - Allen Theatre
10-24 Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theater
10-25 Indianapolis, IN - Clowes Memorial Hall
10-26 Chicago, IL - Civic Opera House
10-29 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall
10-30 Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
10-31 Boston, MA - Wang Center
11-01 Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata
11-03 Red Bank, NJ - Count Basie Theatre
11-05 Albany, NY - Empire State Plaza
11-07 Pittsburgh, PA - Carnegie Music Hall
11-08 Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre

*Brian Eno is not a part of the tour.

tour diary - over the rhine @ newport

2008-08-04T13:05:00.003-04:00

i thought this was pretty cool and worth sharing. i got this note from karin bergquist (from over the rhine) about their playing newport yesterday...

Hey All.

My friend, Brian, asked for glimpse of what we experienced at the Newport Folk Festival yesterday. This is just me shining a tiny little light on it, but I thought I'd start with the best and the last and let you all share in a very beautiful memory...
---
You mean besides the fact that we just played the freakin' Newport Folk Festival?!

Well for starters... Levon Helm- I asked Linford if it was ok that I still had a crush on Levon and thankfully he said yeah, it was ok. Levon sounded better than ever. Solid deep warm grooves. Swampy and soulfully southern. His voice slightly more grainy and weathered, even more endearing. His smile- a million dollar smile full of joy. Absolutely infectious. He surrounded himself with fellow musicians that complemented his style and sensibilities and shared the spotlight with his daughter among other vocalists, guitar, keys, violin, upright bass and horns. It seemed to be more about creating a space where others could share in the joy of music. There was no sense of Ego with Levon Helm. It was more about the music and the celebration of life - like a precious gift or a secret that he was now privy to.

I had a strange sad feeling come over me that this could be the last time I might see Levon Helm perform live. And then his smile lit up the stage and I was caught up again in the revelry that was exuding from him and could not help but to live in the moment. What a high.

They ended the set joined by David Rawlings & Gillian Welch and others as The Weight rang out over the lawn and across the bay.

More soon. I gotta get some sleep - we have a double header in NYC tomorrow. And I'm lovin' every minute of this.

Peace.
K

newport folk festival - free streaming from NPR

2008-08-02T22:38:00.003-04:00

archived streams of the following shows are available @

Jim James At The Newport Folk Festival
August 2, 2008

The solo sets of Jim James have become somewhat of a hushed spectacle, the kind that leaves a person spellbound for days afterward. Performing with just an acoustic guitar and a little help from M. Ward, the bearded singer practically hypnotized his audience with his stunning voice.

She & Him At The Newport Folk Festival
August 2, 2008

Technical difficulties didn't deter M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel from plugging on ahead, even if that meant plugging in an electric guitar instead of an acoustic guitar. And then Newport's infamous rain came down... hard. But that didn't stop them either with special guest appearances from Jim James and Becky Stark.

Steve Earle At The Newport Folk Festival
August 2, 2008

Right from the beginning, Steve Earle called out the spirit of Woody Guthrie, realizing that we need him now more than ever. Out of all the artists at the Newport Folk Festival, Earle's invocation is the most appropriate — he would have fit in best at the festival's inception.

Jakob Dyan At The Newport Folk Festival
August 2, 2008

With a small backing band, Jakob Dylan came to the Newport Folk Festival not only with songs from his debut album, Seeing Things, but with music from the entire Wallflowers catalog.

On Sunday sets by: Gillian Welch, Trey Anastasio, Calexico & Brandi Carlisle will be streamed live and archived for later availability.

all streams are available @

what's on god's i-pod?

2008-08-02T13:14:00.012-04:00

in concert, linford detweiler of over the rhine, while introducing the title song from their new record "the trumpet child" often brings up the rhetorical question that he wonders "what's on god's i-pod?" you would think, being god and all, that he's got a spiffy 160g that would hold a lot of music.

i think it's a fun and interting question...

i'd guess there would be some classical; bach, beethoven, schubert, and the likes, but i have little knowledge of classical so i'll move on.

i'm sure there would be some miles, coltrane, and mingus. the beatles would have to be there. along with the redemptive music of johnny cash and the carter family and the pain and lonliness of hank williams. there is little doubt to me that he would include the consciousness of woody guthrie & pete seeger and their more modern counterparts; dylan, marley and springsteen. the soul of marvin, aretha & ella and the blues of robert johnson, bb and muddy would also seem appropriate. i once heard the voice of tom waits described as "the sound of god clearing his throat" and can't imagine his words, passion and humor would be skipped. i would also like to think that every once and a while, he'd like to rock it a little with the likes of the clash and maybe jam a little with the grateful dead. and of course, the soundtracks for "woodstock" and "the last waltz" would have to be among the first things he downloaded.

i've not even started on "current" music, but i'd have to think if i created something as beautiful as the voices of karin bergquist (over the rhine), chan marshall (cat power), margo timmins (cowboy junkies), ryan adams, patty griffin i'd sure be listening to them on a regular basis with a smile on my face and the accomplishment of a job well done.

and i'm sure i missed some obvious choices...your thoughts? drop them in the comments. i'd love to hear...

*also, this is meant to be a lighthearted music discussion, not a religious debate. so depending on your religious beliefs, feel free to answer the question as "if there is a god, what would be on his/her i-pod?"

New Music/CD Releases (August 5th, 2008)

2008-08-01T22:05:00.008-04:00

August 5
The Airborne Toxic Event - The Airborne Toxic Event
Amy Ray - Didn't It Feel Kinder
Black Light Burns - Cover Your Heart & the Anvil Pants Ody
Brazilian Girls - New York City
Carrie Rodriguez - She Ain't Me
Carla Bruni - Comme Si de Rien N'Etait
Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst
Darker My Love - 2
Ernie Halter - Starting Over
Heidi Newfield - What Am I Waiting For
Hawthorne Heights - Fragile Future
Jamey Johnson - That Lonesome Song
Keanthony - A Hustlaz Story
Keith Anderson - C'mon
Kid Sister - Koko B. Ware
Lewis Black - Anticipation
Lloyd - Lessons In Love
Mike Gordon - The Green Sparrow
Nappy Roots - The Humdinger
Ne-Yo - Year Of The Gentleman
Pater Bradley Adams - Leavetaking
Randy Newman - Harps and Angels
Santana - Multi-Dimensional Warrior
Trapt - Only Through The Pain
Soundtrack - Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2

dvd

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song

w/Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Paxton, Natalie Maines, Arlo Guthrie

Pete Seeger reads The Wall Street Journal! That's perhaps the most startling revelation in Jim Brown's (The Weavers: Wasn't That a Time) wonderful documentary that etches an indelible portrait of an American icon and a global treasure. As a solo performer and as a member of the Weavers, Seeger introduced America to its musical heritage and was instrumental in ushering in the folk music revival in the 1960s. Branded as an "evil Commie" for his leftist beliefs, he is hailed here as an "absolute patriot" and "a living testament to the First Amendment." Seeger didn't call out politicians or presidents. He called out backward policies, unjust laws, and divisive attitudes. Songs that he popularized, or were covered by others, such as "We Shall Overcome," "The Hammer Song," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone," and "Turn, Turn, Turn," became Civil Rights and anti-war anthems. Music, he eloquently states in The Power of Song, should not be used just to forget one's troubles, but to also help to understand and to do something about your troubles. Whether singing work songs at union rallies or Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" to schoolchildren, Seeger used folk music as a uniter. The Power of Song is a profile in courage. In dramatic archival footage, he is seen defying the House Un-American Activities Committee. Seeger, never in it for the money, recalls how he quit the phenomenally popular Weavers when the other members agreed to do a cigarette commercial. Seeger was green before green was cool. At 88, he lives in the log cabin that he built and continues to work the land; chopping wood and hauling water. This film also chronicles his successful campaign to clean up the polluted Hudson River.

The Power of Song" is more than a great life story. It's also a great love story. Toshi, his wife of more than 60 years, emerges as an extraordinary woman who has greatly sacrificed to allow Seeger to take his music and message around the world (at one point she jokes that she wished her husband chased women instead of causes so she could leave him). Seeger says his singing voice is gone, but his spirit is undimmed (one clip captures him standing on the roadside with a handful of war protesters). Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, Mary Travers, and family members are among those who pay tribute, but Seeger's own plain-spoken words and the concert footage and performance clips--by turns joyous and profoundly moving--take full measure of the man as a musicologist, iconoclast, and "social artist." One admirer says of Seeger that he stood for justice and had powerful enemies. That makes him sound like a superhero. In his own gentle way, perhaps he was.

and remember, whenever possible buy your music directly from the artist(s) or your local independent record store. both could become endangered without your support.