Hidden Track

We tend to stay away from politics at HT, but with the presidential election rapidly approaching we thought it was finally time to jump into the fray. Let’s welcome Jennifer Kirk who will provide a weekly column discussing politics and music. Here’s Jennifer’s first column, which is about her experience with HeadCount:

Since 2004, I have been involved with HeadCount. HeadCount is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that’s primary purpose is to register voters that are involved with the live music community. HeadCount staffs volunteers at concerts and festivals across the country. HeadCount is endorsed by many artists including: Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, Ratdog, Gov’t Mule, Foo Fighters, and many, many more. So I thought it would be a good idea to share some of my HeadCount experiences as a volunteer as well as address issues surrounding music and politics.

Teams of HeadCount volunteers in several major cities across the country register concertgoers before, during and after shows. Recently, the Drive-By Truckers made a pit stop in Nashville to promote their new release Brighter Than Creation’s Dark. The HeadCount volunteers arrived to the venue an hour prior to doors opening in order to set up our table and organize our clipboards, voter registration forms and other supplies. HeadCount was allowed to have four volunteers for the show, so some of us staffed the table while others signed people up outside the venue. We were also allowed the opportunity to take turns watching some of the rock show.

There is a reason that I have been involved with HeadCount so long — passion. Not the passion I possess (though it is required to work the long shifts at Bonnaroo in June) but the passion and excitement that I see in the faces of the people that we register. It’s an exciting feeling to empower these people to make their voices heard; not just in Tennessee but all across the country.

Read on for more of the debut edition of Land of Confusion…

The Grateful Dead and The Band came together in the summer of 1973 to play a magnificent run of shows at Watkins Glen and Jersey City. Now, 35 years later GD bassist Phil Lesh and The Band’s drummer/vocalist Levon Helm are teaming up for seven shows during Lesh’s lengthy summer tour. Larry Campbell will do his best Warren Haynes imitation by playing with both bands.

• Robert Plant hints at future Led Zeppelin one-off gigs
• Stream the Rolling Stones’ Shine A Light soundtrack
• Billy Joel’s The Stranger gets the reissue treatment
• Dean Ween shares photos of his recent fishing trips
• Juliana Hatfield rants against MTV’s The Hills
• ESPN’s Wright Thompson can’t get enough of Panic
• Jimmy Herring sits for the Jambands’ reader interview

We leave you with the latest episode of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals’ This Is video podcast series. Read on after the jump to see Grace play Sneakin’ Sally with The Meters on Jam Cruise and a whole lot more…

We don’t cover too much comedy around these parts, but when I saw that the sketch comedy troupe Kids In The Hall were heading out on a rather lengthy tour – their first in over six years – I figured it was worth a mention here. If you’re not familiar with their comic stylings, take […]

We thought we’d celebrate the ninth anniversary of the Disco Biscuits monumental tour closer in Pittsburgh with some music. Before you check out the recording, DaveO provides some background on what some consider the best show the Biscuits ever played. Let’s set the HT time machine for 1999… 03/27/99 Graffiti, Pittsburgh, PA Set I: Run […]

Ever wonder what the rest of the Jackson 5 is up to these days, besides waiting for that reunion tour. Well the New York Post has the skinny on the whereabouts of Randy, Jackie, Jermaine and Tito – I guess those royalty check from their Saturday morning cartoon ran out long ago. Where’s Janet when […]

After a long winter we’ve finally made it to the cusp of the 2008 baseball season. The Red Sox and A’s just finished kicking things off in Tokyo, while the rest of the teams finally play real games on Sunday and Monday. It’s time to play ball!

We thought we’d begin our baseball coverage by asking U-Melt’s Rob Salzer, who’s a huge Mets fan, to list his ten favorite Metropolitans of all-time.

Let’s see what he came up with:

1. Keith Hernandez
2. Dwight Gooden
3. Mike Piazza
4. Jose Reyes
5. David Wright
6. David Cone
7. Edgardo Alfonzo
8. Sid Fernandez
9. Ron Darling
10. Darryl Strawberry

Be sure to read on for Rob’s thoughts on the acquisition of Johan Santana…

The Allman Brothers Band announced today that they are postponing their annual run of 15 shows at New York City’s Beacon Theatre set for May 5-24, with rescheduled dates TBA. In addition, they have also canceled their upcoming performances at the Wanee Festival that they host every year in Florida (set for April 11-12, Wanee […]

Axl Rose entered the studio to record Chinese Democracy in 1994, and fourteen years later we don’t even have a release date. It turns out the good people at Dr. Pepper are as frustrated as we are by the lack of any new Guns N’ Roses material. They’ve upped the ante by announcing that they […]

One of the few disappointments during my trip to Langerado was that I didn’t run into Mike Greenhaus and Benjy Eisen. It turns out were busy recording the latest batch of Cold Turkey podcasts for Relix. So far they’ve released five episodes featuring Dr. Dog, New Mastersounds, Matt Pond PA, Matisyahu/311, and Bassnectar. And that’s […]

Saying there are an abundance of music festivals these days is like saying Britney Spears kind of lost it for a while there…it’s a major understatement.

It seems like every day there is a new festival with a new name and a new promoter in a different part of the world. The annual staples – Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, New Orleans’ JazzFest, Lollapalooza – are being challenged by newer festivals with slick names that can draw big name acts to sites near major cities making travel in and out easier than ever. Nothing ruins a festival experience faster than poor organization in terms of getting fans in and out.

It used to be one or two musical festivals a year would dot the landscape of the concert scene. But this year, it’s looked more like an urban jungle with festivals popping up everywhere. This isn’t a bad thing as more festivals means more chances for fans to see more music they probably wouldn’t pay to see on its own. At a festival, you can check out multiple bands throughout any given day and skip the bands you don’t want to see. Read on for more…