March 2007

Last week we expressed sadness at Rodrigo Y Gabriela’s last-second cancellation at Langerado and SXSW. It seems the government won’t let Mr. Sanchez into the country because he shares the same name as an already barred foreigner.

An estimated one million to three million illegal immigrants cross our southern border every year, and yet this guy gets fucked trying to do it right? C’mon!

A renowned Mexican guitarist, member of the ATO Recording artists Rodrigo Y Gabriela, has been hold up here for over two weeks since the United States Embassy declined to renew his P-1 Entertainer Visa. This unexpected situation has led to the cancellation of half a dozen U.S. shows on Rodrigo Y Gabriela’s current tour, and put in jeopardy many other major concerts and promotional appearances.

Now we’re even sadder: On the heels of the duo’s Langerado and SXSW pullouts, this week’s NYC Webster Hall and Philadelphia Electric Factory gigs have also been postponed for about a month. And if the rest of the calendar stays intact, this sets up an April 15th show in Portland, Oregon the night before the Webster Hall appearance. I hope these two aren’t totally exhausted come showtime…

• Click here to watch the duo’s incredible performance on Letterman
• Read on for a full updated schedule of Rod Y Gab’s tour dates

On a typically raucous St. Patrick’s Day evening in New York City, the Levon Helm Band showed us why nostalgia isn’t always a pejorative term.

Saturday night’s festivities — the second of a two-night return to the public eye — was nostalgia at its absolute finest, the very best intention for the word. Levon and sometimes as many as 15 friends formed a tight ensemble that played fantastic versions of Band songs I’ve been in love with forfuckingever. And on certain glances, you could easily forget you weren’t watching 1970s Levon: the same unique monkeydrumming style, the same bone-rattling southern drawl.

Whatever everyone paid for tickets, we all received far more than we ever bargained. In addition to his supremely talented backing big-band, Levon trotted out an all-star lineup of sit-in performers like Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Little Sammy Davis, Warren Haynes, and eventually, an unplanned cameo during a second encore from his former Bandmate Garth Hudson. Garth?! Are you fucking kidding me? I paid $100 for that ticket, and I feel like I got off insanely light.

Read on for some photos and YouTube videos of this incredible evening of music…

Since every blogger and their mother is at SXSW covering 3,000 bands you’ve never heard of, we figured we’d give you a SXSW-free edition of Hors: How a band can reach

We’re celebrating our six-month anniversary this week, even though I have no clue what the official launch date was. Whatever, I love cake. And party hats. This mighta been the

Everyone I know that’s attended the High Sierra Music Festival over the past few years swears to everything holy that it’s the greatest thing since bread sliced by width. I’ve never been out there, but I’m tempted to find out.

High Sierra announced its no-frills, no-Coachella-influenced lineup today, and the initial announcement includes Yonder Mountain String Band, Leftover Salmon, Les Claypool, Galactic, Del McCoury Band, Soulive, Mavis Staples, Tea Leaf Green, ALO, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, JJ Grey & MOFRO, Hot Buttered Rum, The New Mastersounds, Bobby Previte’s Coalition of the Willing, Toubab Krewe, Outformation and Ryan Montbleau Band. Pretty solid. Tickets are on sale.

Read on below for the entire High Sierra lineup…

J.J. Cale joined Eric Clapton and his band for a number of songs at Clapton’s concert in San Diego last night. Cale, who wrote such Clapton hits as Cocaine and After Midnight, joined the band for those songs and Anyway the Wind Blows, Don’t Cry Sister Cry, It’s Easy, and Who Am I Telling You. Derek, JJ, and Eric? It doesn’t get more badass than those three trading licks.

Cale has always been a hero to Clapton, and the two recently collaborated to release The Road To Escondido. For those of us that missed this epic sit-in last night don’t fret: The show was recorded for an upcoming DVD release.

Clapton’s tour rolls on, but Derek Trucks will be sitting out a few gigs in order to play with the Allman Brothers Band at the upcoming Beacon Theater run.

Thanks to Nedly from the Eric Clapton forum for the photos. Read on for the remaining dates on Clapton’s March and April tour…