Grateful Dead’s Europe ’72 Box Set Sold Out
When last week’s announcement that Rhino would be putting out a $450 limited edition release featuring all of the Grateful Dead’s legendary Europe ’72 tour came down, there was a question as to whether all 7,200 box sets would sell out. Well, not only was every single Europe ’72: The Complete Recordings box set snatched up […]
Interview: Al James of Dolorean
Beyond the obvious associations of flux capacitors, 1.21 gigawatts & lightning, there’s a new distinction we need to make regarding the DeLorean. Doc & Marty have inspired a pair of great bands to name themselves after their stylish time machine: the one spelled “Delorean” is the Spanish dance-rock band, and the other, the focus of today’s interview, spelled Dolorean, is a fantastic Americana-folk group led by Al James out of Portland.
[Photo by Sarah Jurado]
After releasing three albums in just five years prior to 2007’s You Can’t Win, Dolorean took the last four years as a reprieve, having come to the realization that they needed to slow it down. The constant studio output and subsequent touring grew exhausting, so they decided to put the music on their own time-line, and in doing so, put forth one of the first great records of 2011 called The Unfazed.
The Unfazed works as a quasi-concept album about acknowledging life’s anxieties without getting too bent out of shape; rolling with the punches. It’s entirely apropos in that the album’s mantra serves as a direct parallel to both the band’s hiatus and the album itself, as a living embodiment of being “unfazed.” By accepting the stresses, regaining control of the process and doing it at their own speed, Dolorean gave the music time to grow around the easy feelings and in essence, created a perpetual spiral, whereby this idea of The Unfazed flowed through into the music and the music in turn now embodies the idea of being Unfazed.
Hidden Track: So, let’s begin with this idea of “The Unfazed” that permeates the new album. I gather that this is saying something to the effect of “The Unfazed” are people who can sort of deal with bullshit and go about their lives without being too affected by the annoying burdens?
Al James: In some ways it’s about not dealing with the bullshit, but the flip side of that. It is accepting it, embracing it and not being surprised by it. It’s about not being caught off guard when things go completely off the rails (because the usually will) and just maintaining perspective. Living unfazed is a position of empathy and understanding.
HT: It’s probably not a great example, but that idea made me think of Bernie Madoff for some reason. The guy never showed an ounce of emotion in the face of blunder that probably caused more stress than any human could normally endure. So, who are some other people that come to mind when you think of The Unfazed?
READ ON for more of Ryan’s chat with Al James…
Pullin’ ‘Tubes: Wanda’s Revival
I know we’ve pondered this question here before, but we’re honestly not quite sure where Jack White finds the time to work on all the projects that he’s involved with these days. Between playing with the stable of bands at his disposal and running his own record label, he somehow found a few hours left […]
Video: She & Him – Don’t Look Back
There is no denying the unbelievable adorableness of She & Him’s doey-eyed lead singer Zooey Deschanel – check out her blog which completely reinforces that statement. Sure, we’re huge fans of M. Ward too, but it’s the actress/singer who is the star of the show in the indie-pop duo. The pair, who’s sophomore album Volume […]
Televised Tune: On the Tube This Week
Sam Beam, better known as Iron & Wine, will bring his soothing sound to Conan on Monday night. At the complete opposite end of the musical spectrum, Motorhead will stop by Conan on Wednesday night. Monday, January 24 [All times EST] Lenny Kravitz: Live at V Fest 2008 [Palladia 5PM] Arcade Fire: Friday Night’s Alright […]
W+TWP: The New York Hustler Ensemble
Winter’s comin’ and I’ve got a debut…and what a night it was. Months in the making, Wyllys and the New York Hustler Ensemble made their first appearance ever at Sullivan Hall on December 30th as part of the Phish After Party series thrown by CEG. The gig blew all of our expectations out of the water and we can’t wait to do it again. We already have three more gigs in the books but that’s for another article.
[Photo by Laura Wainer]
I figured my column here on HT would be a great place to give the public insight as to how the project came together, our method of writing/rehearsing, and what we plan to do in the future. If you, the reader, thinks this reeks of shameless self promotion, you’re right. But who better to interview me than myself. ENJOY.
About two years ago I began collecting Nu Disco and Re Edit records when I lived in Chicago. My DJ partner Lax Class had turned me onto the genre and I slowly became obsessed with it. The style seemed to be what Dubstep is to Drum and Bass; a slower, funkier and more psychedelic version of its predecessor. I loved the tunes but couldn’t figure out how people were suppose to dance to it. It was a drastic tempo change from House but still had the 4-on-the-floor groove. The more I listened, I started to identify the main components of each record. Indigenous instruments and soulful vocals were on almost all of the tunes. I figured if I really wanted to play this style out in the clubs I would need to magnify these human attributes, and what better magnifiying glass than actual humans.
READ ON for more on The Hustlas’ debut performance…
H.O.R.D.E. to Return in 2012?
Next summer will mark 20 years since the H.O.R.D.E. Festival helped bring Phish, Widespread Panic, the Spin Doctors, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, the Aquarium Rescue Unit and Blues Traveler into the national consciousness during the Summer of 1992. What’s the best way to celebrate? By bringing H.O.R.D.E. back for the first time since 1998 and […]
F4tF: The Chicago Hot Dog Trip, Pt. 1
In April 2009, I took a trip to Chicago with a couple of friends. Our goal was to “research and visit” a few of Chicago’s best hot dog joints to see what the fuss was all about. It was a 24 hour festival of tasting, eating, enjoying and laughing. We also happened to check out a couple of non hot dog places along the way. Here is the story (in words and pictures) of that trip. Thankfully one of the people I was with was a Chicago native which made getting around a lot easier.
We flew into O’Hare airport and our first destination was Gene & Jude’s.
In 1946 Gene Mormino (Hot Dog Gene) started a hot dog stand at Polk & Western Streets in Chicago with his partner Jude DeSantis. Gene lost his first hot dog stand in a card game in 1949. In 1950 they moved operations to their current location in River Grove, Illinois. Today it is owned and run by Joe Mormino, Gene’s son. They were inducted into the Vienna Beef Hot Dog Hall of Fame on May 1, 2006.
We decided that we were going to try basically the same thing at every hot dog place, a couple of Chicago dogs “dragged through the garden,” which means topping them with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, neon-green pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers and a dash of celery salt.
READ ON for more about Jon’s trip to Chicago…
Picture Show: Gregg Allman @ Bowery
Gregg Allman Band @ Bowery Ballroom, January 18
Please welcome photographer Marc Millman to the Hidden Track family. Marc was a busy man on Tuesday, when he attended Gregg Allman’s show at the Bowery Ballroom and then headed down to Brooklyn Bowl for the Soul to Soul II benefit. Here’s his take and shots from the Gregg show. He’ll be back with some thoughts and photos from Soul to Soul II next week…
Tuesday night was one of those nights when you could just tell good things were going to happen. Monday had been bitterly cold. And Tuesday it was pissing rain SIDEWAYS all day.
[All photos by Marc Millman]
But when Ron Delsner walked onto the stage of the Bowery Ballroom at 9:10PM, you just knew things were going to be special. Ron told the audience of how he first made Gregg’s acquaintance thought the notorious booking agent Jon Podell. And then, the Midnight Rider and his six-piece band took the stage.
From the opening strains of Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’ off of the Allman’s second album, Idlewild South, through the final strains of a very different sounding Statesboro Blues 16 songs later, Gregg put on a show to please just about everyone in the crowd. The notable exception was a lack of material representing the Laid Back album (including any version of Midnight Rider). But on a night when the legendary performer was celebrating the release of his new T-Bone Burnett produced solo album, Low Country Blues, the choices and arrangements were great. And when you add in a crack band featuring Bruce Katz on keys, Jay Collins on Sax and Scott Sharrard on guitar. What more could you ask for?
- Marc’s Incredible Videos From Gregg @ the Bowery: Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’, I’m No Angel, Just Like A Woman, Dreams, Dreams Pt. 2, Whipping Post, Melissa
Well then, I am glad you asked! How about Gregg’s old friend from South Florida, Floyd Miles on vocals & percussion, a tight rhythm section of Steve Potts on drums and Jerry Jemmott on bass…and some guy on guitar as a special guest. Seems he goes by the name WARREN HAYNES!
READ ON for more from Marc on the Gregg show…
Wanee Festival 2011: The Lineup
The Wanee Festival returns to the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL on April 14th – 16th, boasting a lineup that mixes old favorites and a slew of unexpected newcomers to the long-running event. Of course, festival hosts the Allman Brothers Band will headline aided by last year’s co-headliner, Widespread Panic. Festival […]