September 18, 2008

For the third of our three-part interview feature on Little Feat’s Join The Band, we spoke with co-producer Mac McAnally. Mac’s best known as the lead guitar player in Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, but he’s one of the best utility guys in the game capable of writing, producing, engineering and playing a large number of instruments. After getting to know Mac while recording Buffett’s License to Chill, Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne asked McAnally to co-produce Join The Band.

Scott Bernstein: How did you get involved with Join The Band?

Mac McAnally: The real answer is a lifetime of prayer. I’m a lifetime fan. I’ve been a fan of Little Feat forever. Back in Mississippi, when I was growing up, I used to take their records and I’d listen to just the left side and listened to the just the right side and tried to figure out what they were doing. They’ve always been heroes of mine. It was actually Jimmy Buffett, he and Billy Payne were the driving force behind getting this thing done. When it came out that this was going to happen and I got an opportunity to work, it was a resume thing for me. If I was writing up my lifetime, saying I got to work with those guys would be high up in the first paragraph. I’m a big fan.

READ ON for much more with Mac McAnally…

We’ve finally got onsale information for the Dead and Allman Brothers’ Change Rocks benefit concert for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at Noon through Ticketmaster.com.

For this week’s B List, I have compiled my Top 10 favorite television commercials that have benefited from the use of music by some of my favorite artists. Some of these spots were more controversial than others. In case you missed it, just last week Jack White issued a terse statement expressing disappointment that the Bond theme he wrote for Quantum of Solace debuted in a Coke commercial instead of the movie.

And some of these have ruffled some fan feathers as well…but in the modern era of music – where hardly anyone purchases albums, and touring acts are forced to put $4 per gallon gas in their vans and even more expensive fuel into their buses and trucks – who can blame bands for making a few bucks on TV? Plus, it’s just cool to hear good music during commercial breaks.

For an interesting read, check out Kevin Barnes and his piece: Selling Out Isn’t Possible

1) Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight (Cadbury Milk)

READ ON for nine more commercials that have great soundtracks…

As luck would have it, my buddy Zoomer came up with tickets to the first of two sold out show at The Roseland featuring The Raconteurs.

I had seen them at Bonnaroo this past June. The area in front of the main (What) stage was jam packed all the way to the sound booth; I’d guess at least twenty five thousand strong. This situation was not conducive to getting up close and personal with the band. So, my brother Ed and I chose to sit in the June sunshine, make some new friends and blatantly use The Raconteurs as the soundtrack for that portion of our afternoon. It worked out well because we wound up getting into the pit up front for the next two acts on the main stage that Friday night; Chris Rock and Metallica. We were well rested and ready to rock.

But back to last night. Seeing The Raconteurs in a venue that maxes out at 1,400 was much more about the band than the Bonnaroo experience. Zoomer and I met up on Burnside Street a block from the Roseland. A homeless man from the mission around the corner seemed to be having an argument with the dinner tray he carried as he paced up and down the street. Apparently, the chocolate cake on the tray disagreed with his entree and he was trying to get them to settle down. Making sure the truck was locked, we flipped the guy a five and went into the club. As is my habit, I staked out a spot up front and waited for the show to start.

READ ON for more of AJ’s Raconteurs @ The Roseland review…

Welcome back to the second installment of our two part Tour Diary put together by the members of The Brew. Yesterday, bassist Joe Plante told us all about the band’s adventures at moe.down. Now, Joe’s brother – keyboardist Chris Plante – shares his experience from the road…

[All photos by Ashley Plante]

September 5, 2008

Stone Church, New Market NH

Legendary venue facing foreclosure. This should be illegal. So many great bands have played here, so much great music, it seems like a cardinal sin to let this happen, hopefully in the coming weeks we will learn that some saint out there didn’t let that go down. [Editor’s Note – Success!]

We have been playing this place for a few years now, maybe about 15 times total and after selling out our last play there in a blizzard, we decided it was time for a two night run (our first proper two night run I might add).

We have a couple great opening acts slated for the two night run, and up first is a band that we are very fond of, The Han Solos. Now close your eyes…wait leave them open you will need to read these instructions…

READ ON for more of The Brew’s Tour Diary…

Normally, we don’t tend to give much space to hardcore acts around these parts, but yesterday an interesting music video was making it way around the internets that featured the