Hidden Track

It’s Tuesday, and I’m in England. But it’s time to break out the European Ouija board and channel my ‘cross-the-pond spirit for this edition of Pullin’ ‘Tubes. You can’t go wrong with Warren Zevon. Everything I’ve ever posted on my blogs from his catalog has always been greeted by a friendly pat on the ass […]

The Disco Biscuits just can’t get enough of Dirty Jerz as they have just added a third night to their February run at Sayreville’s Starland Ballroom: Due to very strong ticket sales for the upcoming run in New Jersey, the Starland Ballroom has invited the Biscuits to add a third night to the run! We […]

I don’t mean to step on Scotty’s toes and post a poor man’s B List, but I’m in favor of everyone spending a little less time working for a living and a little more time making and arguing over frivolous lists on the world wide web. Who says we’re living in an escapist culture? To […]

Once again it is the beginning of the work week. Rather than work check out this weekend’s best stories: An interview with moe.’s Al Schnier by Jambands’ Randy Ray A feature on the future of RAQ Gregg Allman looks back on the Allman Brothers’ first trip to Hawaii and tormenting a young Cameron Crowe (via […]

By the time you read this I’ll be aboard a British Airways flight to our former mercantile motherland for a week of soccer in Jolly Ol’ England. For five fixtures in seven days, three mates and I are headed across the pond for the junket of a lifetime. As always, the capable and hugable Scotty […]

Apparently Page McConnell hasn’t dropped off the face of the earth after all.

The former Phish keyboardist, Vida Blue leader and target of the chicks in the front row will be releasing an eponymous album on April 17th through Sony/BMG’s Legacy Recordings (hopefully Page will have better luck at a major label than his former bandmate Trey Anastasio). Rumor has it that a club tour will follow: It’ll be great to see the Chairman of The Boards and/or Henrietta back on the road.

Read on after the jump for more details on Page’s soon-to-be hit new album…

Men, suck in your gut and comb your sideburns: The lovely SuperDee is here. Our favorite female rock writer brought NOLA’s Rotary Downs to town last weekend, and she wants you to set your radio dial so you can hear them this weekend.

The city is built
To music, therefore never built at all,
And therefore built forever.
~Alfred Lord Tennyson

Can a rock ‘n roll band save a sunken city? Hurricane Katrina and her aftermath seized many souls from the beloved city of New Orleans. Its denizens have been spread all over the country, if they survived the storm.

Those who stayed behind or returned home after mandatory evacuation were faced with the daunting task of rebuilding a city below sea level. They not only have to construct physical homes and infrastructure, but they have to rejuvenate the unique spirit of this place that so many hold close to their hearts.

We all know how powerful music can be in its ability to affect social change and expedite healing. The history of New Orleans is so deeply rooted in its music that it only makes sense the rebuilding would start with the artists. Habitat for Humanity acknowledges this with its Musicians’ Village project to build houses for displaced musicians: Bring the music back, bring New Orleans back.

But it’s not only the sound of brass and blues that are bubbling back up in this aftermath. An unlikely sound from the Crescent City is emerging to do its part to revitalize the city’s music scene — indie rock. Rotary Downs is a band that is rising to this challenge. Read on about the band that just turned New York heads…

January may not be big on seeing live music, but it is by far the best month for news about seeing live music. Already this month we’ve digested tons of tour dates, festival lineup announcements, and plenty more. We’ll do our part to keep up that trend with the following links to occupy your time: […]

Our good friend Neddy likes good music, and he wants you good folks to like good music as well. So listen to him when he preachifies about The Bad Plus.

Sometimes it’s a match made in heaven. Destiny, if you will — the people, the places, the times: Tiger Woods at Augusta, the Grateful Dead at Winterland, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson at the Continental Congress, and The Bad Plus at the Village Vanguard. Yeah, you heard me.

I’ve seen the Bad Plus over a dozen times at various rooms and outdoor shows over the past three years, and it’s always been a treat. But nothing beats the magic of those three guys at the vaunted Village Vanguard: It is magic, nothing less. This week they’re celebrating their fifth week at the club, and the first set of the first night was the place I had to be…

Read on for more of Neddy’s review, especially if you’ve never heard ’em. In other words, get into new shit, you stubborn dipshits.

Earlier today we briefly published a news report from The Sun about Led Zeppelin’s plans to tour “this summer” that had been making the rounds. Turns out, that circulating story is actually older than Jimmy Page’s socks. That article comes from The Sun‘s October 14, 2002 edition, which obviously means it’s not current events. So unless it’s […]

Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, get ready for an influx tilted hats and pacifiers. The 10KLF Festival announced its first round of additions to the lineup today… Added to the festival today: The Disco Biscuits, Pnuma Trio, Keller Williams, New Riders of the Purple Sage, God Johnson, GypsyFoot, Bump, Mr. Blotto, The Burnin’ Smyrnans and The Heavy […]

Grateful Dead Hour host David Gans has posted some great photographs from his private collection. Some of his best work is from the Grateful Dead’s show at the Hollywood Bowl in 1972 and from The Last Waltz. Gans also shared this random shot from Phil Lesh’s kitchen in 1983: What the fuck is going on here? Click here to […]

For this week’s B List, we’re honored to introduce our friend Stuart Hartstone. Stuart has worked many festivals with “oo” at the end of the title for Superfly Productions, and most recently he has helped promote concerts and manage artists under the Hartstone Productions banner (along side his brother Jarrett).

“I’ve never been a fan of Top 10 lists when it comes to music — to me, the premise is kind of silly. I’ve always believed that art was in the eye of the beholder, so who’s to say one person’s art is better than someone else’s? But I also generally tend to disagree with most Top 10 lists. I don’t know who writes these things, but with the exception of The B List’s recent Top 10 Side Projects, I often come away feeling like the author has his head firmly affixed up his ass.

Well, that didn’t stop me from taking this opportunity to put together a Top 10 list of my own. I was listening to the Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers the other day, and Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’ came on. I’ve always loved that song, especially the intro. For lack of a better word, it’s just so badass. So it got me thinking: What other songs have similar badass intros like that one? You know, an intro that is just so good it makes you want to pump your fist in the air and yell ‘Yeah!’

So while I know some of you probably won’t agree with me on all of this — I’m still not 100% convinced I do — here without further ado is my Top 10 Badass Guitar Riff Song Intros. While you might not agree with all my choices, I think you will find that for the most part, the intros to these songs are pretty fuckin’ badass!”

Read on below for Stuart Hartstone’s guest edition of The B List…

While most music blogs are busy flickin’ the bean today to tawdry thoughts of Coachella (pre-sale today by the way), the hot-off-the-presses lineup for this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will likely fly under the radar.

Steely Dan, Van the Man, Dr. John, Allman Brothers Band, Norah Jones, ZZ Top, Bonnie Raiit, Ludacris, John Legend, Counting Crows, Rod Stewart (Faces reunion?!), New Edition, Allen Toussaint, George Benson, Jerry Lee Lewis and Harry Connick Jr. closing out the show? That’s just dyn-o-mite, and we haven’t even heard what’s in store for the night crew. Read on below for the full JazzFest lineup…

The reunion news just keeps flooding in to the Hidden Track corporate headquarters out here in sunny Mom’s Basement. Rumors began flying a few months back that David Lee Roth would soon reunite with the Van Halen brothers. But we’d been there before: In 1996, David Lee Roth appeared at the MTV Music Awards with […]

If your memory serves you well…I was going to confiscate your lace. [youtube]DT_UO3sTLsY[/youtube] That little number’s from Pittsburgh’s now-defunct Syria Mosque in November of the Year of Our Lord Nineteen-Hundred and Seventy. Oh, Danko.

Love God’s Way is a faith-based ministry that professes it’s goal is to spread God’s Love through teaching and healing. But I’ll confess, God touched me once, and that’s not the way I thought I’d be loved by Him. He “healed” like my Uncle Gary.

According to these likely repressed homosexters, “One of the most dangerous ways homosexuality invades family life is through popular music. Parents should keep careful watch over their children’s listening habits, especially in this Internet Age of MP3 piracy.” Did you think he meant “MP3 piracy” or “butt piracy?”

Read on after the jump for a full list of gay bands for which you should watch your back…quite literally, say our kind-hearted brothers at Love God’s Way.

Welcome to another edition of Grousing The Aisles. It’s been a busy week, with many terrific shows being offered up on the familiar torrent sites. I struggled to decide which shows made the cut, but in the end I decided on a glimpse into the future of rock with Circle Sound, as well as a look back on classic shows by The Band, Steely Dan, Queen and Widespread Panic. Check it out…

Circle Sound 1/19/07 DAUD (FLAC):

North Mississippi Allstars guitarist Luther Dickinson and Black Crowe Rich Robinson debuted their latest side project at the Bowery Ballroom this past Friday. The new band played a few of Robinson’s originals, one Crowes song and a heady mix of classic rock covers. Patti Smith even got in on the fun, singing a song with the band — it’s not everyday the Queen of NYC christens a new project.

I saw the North Mississippi Allstars a few times in the early part of this century and left unimpressed. As a friend said to me, “If these are the Allstars, I’d hate to see what the other bands in North Mississippi sound like.” Recently I saw the NMAS play a blistering set opening for Umphrey’s McGee in Chicago, and I came away from that night with a whole new respect for Luther Dickinson as a performer.

After listening to Circle Sound’s debut set, I think I’ve actually become a Dickinson fan. Luther throws his heart and soul into this project, both vocally and on the guitar, adding a killer compliment to Robinson’s soaring leads and harmonies. I have a feeling this band is going to not only play more gigs, but might just be the outlet both guitarists need to keep innovating southern rock.

Queen, Steely Dan, The Band and Widespread Panic shows after the jump…

Is it just me or does it seem like every band is getting back together this year? Is reuniting all about the money, or do these guys actually miss the camaraderie of the road? Hopefully it’s at least a slight mix of both — I’d hate to see bands like The Police, James, and Rage […]

This ain’t no party…this ain’t no disco…this ain’t no crap filler post… I can’t get enough Talking Heads. And if you’re like me, you’ll enjoy this brand new-to-YouTube clip of Byrne & Co. rocking British television on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1978. Take a look at Tina Weymouth laying it down and tell me […]