Patty Griffin Releasing New Studio Album Feb 6th
ATO Records has announced the release of the fifth studio album by Grammy nominated singer/ songwriter great Patty Griffin. Entitled, "Children Running Through," the album will be released on February 6th. On the road for a mini tour at the end of January and into February, the highlight will be on release day when she […]
Arbouretum: Rites of Uncovering
Arbouretum's Rites of Uncovering is an adventurous experiment built upon the organic musical tendencies of David Heumann; tendencies which contrast the more architectural and linear constructions often found in modern indie music.
Dispatch Add 3rd ‘Benefit’ Night To MSG Reunion
By overwhelming demand, Dispatch has added a third night to "Dispatch:Zimbabwe," a benefit concert being held at Madison Square Garden.Originally created as a one-night event to take place on July 14, 2007,tickets sold out within 30 minutes via an exclusive Myspace.compre-sale. In order to accommodate fans, July 13th was addedimmediately. In less than 24 hours, […]
Monday’s Hors d’Oeuvres
Welcome to another short week — as usual, we’ll kick it off with some links to interesting shit from around the information superhighway: Billboard posts a look ahead at Robert Plant’s 2007, which includes recording with Allison Krauss and a Honeydrippers reunion Here’s a cool preview of this weekend’s American Beauty Project R.I.P. Michael Brecker and Alice Coltrane […]
The Week That Was
What a difference a week makes…Last Sunday, eight NFL teams thought they had a realistic chance to win the Super Bowl, Suzanne Somers still owned a fire-free Malibu beach house and Jack Bauer sat in a Chinese prison. Today, not so much. But strangely, our precious world of live music sat fairly idle. Here’s just […]
Grammy Winning Jazz Saxophonist Michael Brecker Dies
Michael Brecker, a versatile and influential tenor saxophonist who won 11 Grammys over a career that spanned more than three decades, died Saturday. He was 57. Brecker died in a hospital in New York of leukemia, according to his longtime friend and manager, Darryl Pitt. In recent years, the saxophonist had struggled with myelodysplastic syndrome, […]
Sunday’s Fundamental Reading: Byrne’s Pulse
I spotted David Byrne in the hipster crowd at South Street Seaport in August ’05. Awaiting Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s gratis summer showcase, the former Talking Head was just a man in the throng, alone, standing there in a canary-yellow collared shirt, scarfing down a thick slice of Pizzeria Uno’s finest. And, really, how […]
MC Skat Kat’s Her Sponsor
You take two steps forward, I take two steps back We come together…to smoke…a little crack [youtube]Zt5-wn3fvlw[/youtube] Straight up now tell me, did you really have a full frontal lobotomy? Either Paula Abdul just got the Randall McMurphy treatment or she’s tanked like Namath. We’re no prudes, but if you’re gonna go on national television to represent a seemingly […]
NYE: Gently Down the Streams
The good people over at SugarMegs want you to stream away…at home, in the office, on the terlet, wherever. So make it your beeswax to hop on this growing-but-already-comprehensive list of New Year’s shows they have available. So get your ass on over there and beg those kinky files for naughty aural sex…
Friday’s Leftovers
Congrats, folks, you’ve made it through the first full work week in what seems like months. And if you’re lucky like me you have off on Monday for Martin Luther King’s birthday: I love that guy. To keep you occupied, here are Friday’s Leftovers: Turn Up The Good delivers us an mp3 of Pearl Jam’s version of Love Reign […]
Matisyahu: Avalon, Boston, MA
Seeing the energy of the show was “through-the-roof,” Matisyahu and his Hanukkah extravaganza gave Boston a performance at the Avalon Ballroom that was more than worthy of a cliché “two thumbs up.”
The Lordz: The Brooklyn Way
The Lordz have appeared on the last three Warped Tours and continue to bring their brand of punk rock/hip hop to the public by means of collaborations with other artists or on their own. They believe in their skate punk/rap sound and have found a niche that welcomes their synthesis of two often-polarized genres.
Bill Callahan Retires Smog Moniker
Bill Callahan has retired his longtime Smog moniker and will release his next album under his own name. "Woke on a Whaleheart" is due April 17 via Drag City; a single, "Diamond Dancer,’ arrives March 20, backed by the non-album B-side "Taken." The nine-track "Woke on a Whaleheart" is enriched by contributions from former Royal […]
Austinist Scoops SXSW Lineup
The fine folks over at Austinist have done some world-class spelunking through the hellish depths of the cyberweb, and they’ve compiled an initial list of bands supposedly playing this year’s SXSW festival in March. I’d lie and say it looks like a “totally tubular and bodacious lineup,” but you’d see right through that charade. I only recognize about six […]
The B List: Double Your Pleasure
This week’s edition of The B List takes a look at the 10 best songs that feature double-lead guitar harmonies. Rock artists in the ’60s perfected the use of vocal harmonies, but as the ’70s began, bands started to use their instruments to provide distinct harmonies. The Allman Brothers Band was the first to use the double-lead technique in songs such as Hotlanta, Les Brers, and In Memory of Elizabeth Reed. Other bands quickly followed the Allmans’ trailblazing, and soon artists from many different genres employed the double lead. So check out the list, and make sure to watch the accompanying YouTube video for each entry.
10. Bodhisattva — Steely Dan: When I came up with the idea for this list, my partner Ace Cowboy was thrilled Bodhisattva made the cut. In fact he called the Dan’s masterpiece “one of the most underrated songs in music history.” The guitar interplay on the album is terrific, and any tune with lyrics like “Can you show me, The shine of your Japan, The sparkle of your china” is okay by us.
[Video: In 2002 Toto began playing Bodhisattva with terrific success — check out this video from a recent show]
9. Miss Tinkle’s Overture — Umphrey’s McGee: In September 2004, my friend decided to throw on the studio version of Miss Tinkle’s Overture from Anchor Drops. I hadn’t heard the album — or anything the band had done since 2001 for that matter — and my ears immediately perked up. I’m a huge fan of the double-lead, and it was terrific to see a new band create such incredible harmonies.
[Video: Langerado late-night show from Ft. Lauderdale’s Revolution]
8. Rebubula — moe.: Written by bass player Rob Derhak in 1994, Rebubula has since become the most popular piece in the band’s repertoire. It’s no wonder the song is popular with its quirky lyrics and incredible double-lead guitar harmonies. One of the most important features of a double-lead guitar riff is a great bassline to play underneath, and Derhak’s slap line really accentuates what guitarists Chuck Garvey and Al Schnier play throughout the song. For years the song was a staple of the band’s set, playing it nearly every night. More recently the band has shown some restraint, hitting it every third show or so. I must admit, I wouldn’t mind hearing Rebubula at every show.
[Video: Footage from moe.’s set at Vegoose]
Read on for the rest of Scotty’s double-lead favorites from Television, Iron Maiden, the Allmans, Skynyrd as The B List continues…
Morning Listening: Faces
We’ve discussed at length ’round this here rag just how many bands are considering reunion plans in 2007. Speculation continues to surround The Police about a potential reformation this summer, Van Halen may get the old band back together for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and all eyes are focused on Stephen Malkmus for the […]
My Morning Jacket/Elvis Perkins In Dearland: Marquee Theater, Tempe, AZ – 1/3/2007
Has My Morning Jacket ever evoked a negative word from anyone? From a revered late night Bonnaroo performance, to countless year end best of lists for 2005’s Z, to the accolades for 2006's live Okonokos, the Kentucky rockers can’t fathom a “this sucks” from anyone.
Dispatch Reunites – First Indie Band To Sell Out MSG
After three years, Dispatch reunite for benefit show "Dispatch: Zimbabwe" a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City on July 14, 2007. All of the proceeds from "Dispatch: Zimbabwe" will go towards fighting disease, famine, and social injustice in Zimbabwe. Tickets for "Dispatch: Zimbabwe" went on an exclusive Myspace.com pre-sale Wednesday, January 10th […]
Snoe.down 2007: Do You Believe in Miracles?
No! This festival on the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics ain’t exactly cheap (starting at $81 for the full monty), so I take it nobody’s gonna be kicking down a ducat gratis. Buy your own ticket, Michaels, no miracles for you this time. Snoe.down ’07, the all ages, weekend winter music festival hosted by indie-jam rockers moe., returns to […]