2007

Who says God is dead? The Canadian indie rock outfit followed up its recent announcement of five February dates at Manhattan’s Judson Memorial Church by playing a semi-secret show last

Welcome to the end of another working week. As usual on Fridays we try to keep you entertained with the following links: Apple Computers and The Beatles’ Apple Corps may

Back in November I posted a B List plugging 13 of my favorite instrumentals. This week, we revisit that concept — here are 13 more great ones to debate. I tried to be a little more obscure with this list, so check out these nuggets:

1. Groove Holmes – The Beastie Boys: This great Beasties tribute to acid-jazz legend Richard “Groove” Holmes was featured on 1992’s Check Your Head.

2. Freeway Jam – Jeff Beck: Jeff Beck solos over Max Middleton’s funky keyboards on one of the best tracks from 1975’s Blow By Blow.

3. Moti Mo – Medeski, Martin, and Wood: I get chills every time I hear MMW’s arrangement of this King Sunny Ade track. Chris Wood lays down a solid bass line, allowing John Medeski, Billy Martin and the horns a chance to build the theme to multiple climaxes. Just like a woman.

4. Star Wars Theme Song – Meco: Also Sprach Zarathrustra wasn’t the only symphonic song to get the disco treatment in the late ’70s. Meco Menardo, a famous music producer, attended the Star Wars premiere and was so impressed he rushed into the studio to make a dance version of John Williams’ theme song.

5. The Happy Organ – Dave “Baby” Cortez : Cortez entered a studio in 1959 to record a song called “The Cat and the Dog.” He was struggling with his voice and decided to just jam out with his band on an old standard called Shortin’ Bread. The recording engineer pressed record as Cortez turned the song into one of the first funky grooves. The rest is history: The improvised song that was recorded in one take hit number one upon its release.

Read on for eight additional instrumental classics from The Commodores, Santana, Joe Satriani, Tea Leaf Green and more…

I’m off to Miami for two days of beach-free work, but as always you’re left in the capable and sensitive hands of Scotty B. He’ll have his usual Thursday edition

This week’s edition takes a look at bands as they hit their strides and delivered their best performances. Sure, determining when a band has reached its peak is totally subjective, but in this case I’m right, and there is no other correct answer.

The Police 4/7/79 FM (FLAC)

Talk around the Internets are heating up about a possible Police reunion tour this summer. In order to help you prepare, check out this incredible show from a Outlandos D’Amour tour stop in Bahston. Not many people had heard of The Police in 1979, and you can feel the energy as the band tries and succeeds in winning over the audience. By the end of the show the crowd goes nuts anytime Summers starts a solo, Copeland plays a luscious fill, or Sting steps to the mic.

Highlights of this show captured from WBCN radio include a jammed-out So Lonely and a desperate-sounding Roxanne. I’m a little confused as to why Born In The 50’s is performed twice, but I guess their repertoire was small at the time. I’m putting together my dream Police reunion setlist as we speak.

Read on for more peakariffic downloads from the likes of Alice in Chains, Jane’s Addiction, Jerry Garcia Band and Keller Willams…