Archive: 2008

We’ve moved one step closer to a reunion of The Kinks, as the Davies brothers have started to write new songs in preparation for a possible World Tour the BBC reports. Guitarist Dave Davies, who suffered a stroke in 2004, seems to be on the mend according to singer and brother Ray Davies. [youtube]4WsmSgBRUe4[/youtube] The […]

Prog-jammers Umphrey’s McGee gave the crowd at San Francisco’s Warfield Theater a night they’ll never forget on Halloween when the Chicago-based sextet presented their first Halloween Monster Mashup. The gents mashed up a number of classic and modern covers and originals including a brilliant pairing of their own Phil’s Farm with the White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army, Pink Floyd’s Money and Led Zeppelin’s How Many More Times.

[All Photos by Mike Sherry]

HT Contributor Mike Sherry took a slew of terrific shots of this memorable evening. Let’s start by looking at the band’s mashed up costumes…

Jake Cinninger = Beezelbub Dylan

READ ON for more of Mike Sherry’s photos from UM’s Halloween gig…

• UMLive.Net = 10/31/2008 Warfield Theater
• Live Music Archive = 10/31/2008 Warfield Theater
• Previously on HT = Halloween Setlists From Around The Country, Umphrey’s McGee Conquers the Northeast and Ryan Stasik’s Pirates

While the dawn of the internet age has benefited the music fan in more ways than we can count on two hands, there’s one thing missing from the good old days: the countdown. For years, the highlight of the day used to be racing home from school to plow three Coke Classics and gear up to see if Patience would maintain the number one position on Dial MTV or if Skid Row would overtake GnR. Somewhere between then and now, album reviews became omnipotent, but highlighting the great individual songs – the hit single if you will – faded away. Besides, Adam Curry was the man.

So anyway, it’s with that in mind that we decided to churn out the HT Occasional Countdown – a top ten of sorts consisting of some of the best new songs across a variety of HT friendly bands. There’s no real basis upon what makes the list, besides what gets the most play on our respective iPods, but hopefully you will enjoy the selections.

10) Johnny Flynn & the Sussex Wit – Wayne Rooney from A Larum

There’s no way a song dedicated to one of footy’s top-selling Wallbangers doesn’t crack the top ten.

9) Lotus – Bellwhether from Hammerstrike

It’s about time somebody responded to the ubiquitous request for some more freaking cowbell.

READ ON for more of the first HT Occasional Countdown…

Was it just me or did the air smell a little sweeter when you woke up this morning? We’ll see if President-elect Obama actually changes anything, but I feel good about where we’re heading. It’s also nice to see that a candidate backed by rock stars won. the Inaugural Ball circuit is gonna be killer. […]

The Bassnectar Halloween show held at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC.

We’ve seen some terrific shows thus far this fall, and one of the best was Page McConnell tearing it up with PBS at B.B. King’s on September 26. [Photo by Jeremy Gordon] For those of you who missed catching this funktastic quartet on their brief Northeast run, and for those of you who saw one […]

Lee “Scratch” Perry is known for his role as the legendary Jamaican producer who helped usher in the genre of dub music over 40 years ago.  Featuring experimental and spacey bass-laden effects on lyric-less versions of reggae classics, a new genre grew and was popularized by the storied producer.  Having created and worked on countless albums with every dub artist imaginable, the storied Grammy winning icon is back with his 54th studio album, Repentance.

Jefferson County commissioners have rejected plans to move the annual Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival from Clinton State Park in Lawrence, Kan., to a site at the nearby Circle S Ranch. Commissioners, who turned down a similar proposal last year, voiced concern over infrastructure issues and said nearby residents were strongly opposed to the plan. […]

One of hip-hop’s most acclaimed talents, Count Bass D, celebrates the release of L7, the DJ/MC’s fourth album: a work many agree is an instant classic.  L7, which streets on October 7, joins a short list of impressive 2008 releases for 1320 Records – an ascending label owned and operated by electronic madmen STS9.  Earlier […]

Even as we speak, sonic powerhouse Great Northern are hard at work in the studio, putting the final touches on the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2007 Trading Twilight for Daylight, released on "cool guy LA indie label" Eenie Meenie Records. Produced by Michael Patterson (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Beck, Ladytron, Puff Daddy ) and […]