Ween has added a bunch of June tour dates to their schedule — the dates start in Hartford on June 8th and run until the band’s appearance at Bonnaroo. I
Our resident Hidden Track blogger, Scott Bernstein, catches up with Page McConnell as his solo debut hits the record store shelves. McConnell started work on the album two years ago, and he’s now finally ready to head out on the road. The two had a chance to talk about the album, his touring and recording bands, as well as his thoughts on leaving Phish behind.
Not too long after the break-up of the popular rock band Phish, members of the (temporarily?) defunct group started to play live shows and record music individually. Trey Anastasio and Jon Fishman began recording music right away with various musicians, and Mike Gordon entered the studio with Leo Kottke.
Page McConnell was in a state of flux at the time and didn’t know quite what to do. Nearly a year elapsed, and McConnell started recording some songs he had written in the basement of his Vermont home. Page wasn’t sure what he was going to do with the music that he recorded at first, but as time went on it was clear he had enough cohesive material for a full-length album.
Today, McConnell released his first true solo album — cleverly titled Page McConnell — which features many autobiographical songs about the crossroads he approached after leaving the band he’d been a part of for 19 years. McConnell started work on the album two years ago, and he’s now finally ready to head out on the road to support the music into which he poured his heart and soul.
I recently had the chance to talk with Page about the album, his touring and recording bands, as well as his thoughts on leaving Phish behind. Read on for Scott’s insightful interview with the Chairman of the Boards…
Summer tour dates are flooding the Hidden Track Headquarters at a furious pace. Blues Traveler started adding dates after a long layoff. Squeeze returns to the road following a longer layoff, touring the first time in nine years for a string of 11 U.S. dates. George Clinton and P-Funk will play a number of festivals this summer, including a spot at Gathering of the Vibes. And, finally, the Drive-By Truckers aren’t letting Jason Isbell’s departure stop them from adding more shows. But there’s plenty of other linkage to peruse, so let’s do it to it:
And make sure to read on after the jump for a sampling of setlists from this weekend, including the Wanee Festival down in Florida…
Mike Gordon has yet to be found. Ever since his buddy Trey informed us of Gordo’s supposed one-year hiatus from playing during his interview at the Y, Cactus has been
Rush has been kicking ass for over 30 years, and this year the band returns with a new album and a full-length summer tour. These guys always keep their fans
As we entered the 1980s, there weren’t many places for rock bands to play on late-night television. Johnny Carson was more likely to have Paul Anka or Wayne Newton appear than Elvis Costello or Van Halen. But when NBC gave David Letterman the slot following The Tonight Show in 1982, things quickly began to change. Early on, Letterman established himself as a champion of up-and-coming acts. And as Letterman’s show got bigger, his bookings got bigger too.
Through the years, nearly every major act has performed on either Late Night with David Letterman or The Late Show with David Letterman. Many of these performances have been taken off YouTube by the networks (damn you, Viacom!), but at least 20 great clips remain. You’ll notice Paul Shaffer trying to get in on each and everyone of these performances.
Without further ado, read on after the jump for this week’s must-watch (seriously) B List, as we present 20 amazing Letterman appearances…
I like to listen to all types of music, but sometimes I just want some good ol’ rock and roll music. This week’s Grousing The Aisles takes a look at four bands that, for the most part, play straight-up, guitar-driven rock. We start off with a tasty Little Feat show before we check in on Perpetual Groove, a Rolling Stones compilation from ’78 and a ridiculous Police show from ’79. It’s all waiting for you:
Little Feat 9/1/88 FM (MP3, FLAC, STREAM):
Little Feat called it quits after Lowell George’s untimely death in 1979. But then less than a decade later, a new generation of fans started discovering the band’s music. So naturally they decided to get back together, and they added vocalist/songwriter Craig Fuller to the mix just before they entered the studio to record some new music. The revamped Feat released Let It Roll, a rare, great album of tunes from a band that just experienced a nine-year layoff.
After touring for a few months, Little Feat was on fire heading into this show from San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium. The setlist is chock full of Little Feat classics, with a few songs from Let It Roll getting some love as well. It’s almost eerie how well Fuller sang Lowell George’s songs — check out Spanish Moon for a fine example of his style. The rest of the band sounded great, including Paul Barrere’s fine guitar work on Time Loves A Hero. Other highlights include Rock and Roll Doctor, which was dedicated to Lowell, and the Dixie Chicken at the end of the set. Thanks to the wonders of the Live Music Archive, you can stream or download this crispy sounding show. Read on for plenty more Grousing…
Tea Leaf Green’s Scott Rager grew up in Southern California a true blue Dodgers fan. Before TLG’s recent Irving Plaza show, I sat down with Scotty to talk about his thoughts on the upcoming season and the progression of his band:
Bernstein: How closely are you able to follow the Dodgers from the road?
Rager: As soon as we check into our hotel, I’m definitely checking the scores. I watch them on TV when I can, but even up in San Francisco we don’t get too many games. When I’m home in LA I try to make it to a game. My father has season tickets, so I get to see a few [games] at Dodgers Stadium.
SB: Do you ever get to see any baseball games at interesting stadiums when you are on the road?
SR: Yeah, I’ve made it Wrigley twice and Jacobs Field twice. I try to hit other stadiums when I can.
SB: Some people have predicted that the Dodgers are going to win it all. What do you think of the Dodgers chances this year?
SR: I think it’s kinda up in the air. Their pitching staff is questionable, as far as staying healthy. Penny is always hurt, Schmidt is a big question mark, and Derek Lowe has hardly lived up to his contract. I think the biggest problem is going to be their [lack of] power. I like Furcal and Pierre at the top of the lineup. Those guys are pretty quick.
Read on for more of the Dual Scotty Interview on the ballclub and the band…
Les Claypool and his Fancy Band are embarking on a major tour beginning in May and wrapping up in July. Up-and-coming rock duo Two Gallants will open most of the shows. The
