Archive: 2009

We’re saddened this Christmas Day by the news that singer Vic Chesnutt passed away at the age of 45 in Athens. For more on Chesnutt’s life and legacy, be sure to read the New York Times’ obit. We’d like to pay tribute to Vic by posting this video of Independence Day that Chesnutt and his […]

The New York Times confirmed on Friday that singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt has indeed passed away at the age of 45, following a brief coma that was the result of an overdose on muscle relaxers earlier this week. Family spokesperson, Jem Cohen, did not specify if the overdose was intentional but Chesnutt, a paraplegic who often […]

As anticipation builds for their Epitaph Records/Heart & Skull debut, seminal punk rockers Alkaline Trio have announced plans for a US headlining tour with indie rock band Cursive, in support of their forthcoming studio album, This Addiction, which is due out February 23. Alkaline Trio Tour Dates: Feb 16 – Pomona, CA – Glass House (Ticketmaster.com) […]

December 21th – Sugar Hill Records announces the signing of the Portland, OR based group Black Prairie.  The band is comprised of three moonlighting members of The Decemberists – Chris Funk (Dobro, Weissenborn, bazouki, vocals), Jenny Conlee (accordion/vocals) and Nate Query (bass/cello), plus Portland acoustic music mavens Analisa Tornfelt on fiddle/vocals and John Neufeld on […]

This week’s episode of Spectacle with Elvis Costello features legendary performers Nick Lowe, Levon Helm, Richard Thompson and Allen Toussaint participating in an all-star jam for the ages. You can catch an airing at 9PM on Sundance this Sunday. [Photo via Bumpershine] Friday, December 25 [all times Eastern] Jimmy Kimmel: Band of Skulls [ABC Midnight] […]

With everyone probably counting down the minutes till the long weekend which will either include opening some Christmas presents or chowing down on some Chinese food followed by at least one movie this weekend, we wanted to wish everyone Happy Holidays from all of us here at Hidden Track.

To keep everyone in the holiday spirit I’ve pulled together a batch of Christmas related links that would even get Santa to bring something to this Jew on Christmas, enjoy…

• List Time: Best Hip Hop Christmas Songs
• Check out BRCM’s month-long celebration of vintage Xmas tunes
• Cover Alert: Neko Case tackles Tom Waits
• Soundtrack Saturday features the music of Scrooged
• Free Download: Jason Lytle’s instrumental Christmas album
• Fuel Friends kicks down their annual Christmas Mix
• Rage Against The Machine claims the Xmas #1 in the UK
• No surprise – Kayne West voted 2009’s Scrooge
• Popdose has been celebrating the 25 Days Of Mellowmas

Finally, Christmas came a bit early for those who bought Julian Casablancas solo debut Phrazes For The Young when it hit stores in late October as The Strokes front man included a cover of the SNL song I Wish It Was Christmas Today as a bonus track on the album. During his recent appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Casablancas was backed by not only The Roots, but Fallon and Horatio Sanz – who both sang on the original version. Check out the video of the performance after the jump…

Our friends The Hue will be celebrating the New Year’s by opening three shows in the Midwest for Zappa tribute band Project/Object on January 1-3. To make it an even sweeter deal, former Zappa band members Ray White and Ike Willis will be fronting Project/Object at each show. The run starts in Chicago on January […]

The pride of Buffalo, moe., released a fine Christmas album in 2002 called Seasons Greetings From moe. that still gets play on my trusty iPod. moe. recently busted out Together at Christmas for Warren Haynes’ Xmas Jam… moe. – Together at Christmas

Before Beatlemania grabbed hold of Europe followed by America, The Beatles honed their skills in small clubs around the German city of Hamburg in the early ’60s. Blog Stoned has shared a reel-to-reel recording of The Beatles’ Hamburg Days from New Year’s Eve 1962 that previously made the rounds under “The Star Club” name. The […]

Driving home from college Friday night my mind was fixed on one thing: making it to Matisyahu’s Festival of Light concert that was taking place in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday night.  Bad weather was surging throughout the east coast and emergency snow reports were forcing people to run for cover.  After waiting several months and enduring a long final exams week, the weekend finally came to go see Matisyahu at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in New York City.  Once I departed 30th Street Station, the only thing standing in the path was Mother Nature.    

Ten years ago tonight, God Street Wine finished an exceptional three-night stand at the the Wetlands Preserve in New York City that marked the end of the line for the band as a going concern. Both the current band and former band members contributed to the action which led to more substitutions than your typical basketball game. GSW also welcomed a number of guests including longtime friends John Popper and Oteil Burbridge.

Each of the three shows were recorded for the 2000 release Good to the Last Drop which unfortunately suffers from sound issues. Audience recordings of the 21st and 22nd are available on the Live Music Archive and give a nice feel for how much love was projected at the band each night.

The first show started with an acoustic set from Lo, Aaron and Dan, who were joined by Bevo and Tomo for the final two songs of the set on 23rd. The absolute last song GSW played on the 23rd was an emotional Into The Mystic that sent everyone home with tears in their eyes. Hopefully one day soundboards of all three shows will surface because they all contain magical moments. READ ON for the setlists from all three shows…

Last Week’s Sauce features recordings of shows from the previous week.

[Thanks to archivalaudio for this week’s photo]

Artist & Title: Boston Horns – Crosstown Traffic
Date & Venue: 2009-12-18 Strange Brew Tavern, Manchester NH
Taper & Show Download: corey the groundhog

Don’t see a lot of tapes for the Boston Horns show up on the Live Music Archive, so I was psyched to see this pop up this week. Their drummer, Peter MacLean, is an old friend of mine and can be seen all around Boston playing in various groups. The Boston Horns next play January 16th at Ryle’s Jazz Club in Cambridge.

READ ON for a track from Brock Butler’s new record, Garaj Mahal, Greyboy Allstars, and a great sit-in with Yonrico Scott and Friends…

If you enjoy reading about the music biz, there’s no doubt you’ve come across the writing of Bob Lefsetz. Bob speaks his mind often on every aspect of the industry for the Lefsetz Letter – a newsletter and blog. Even if you don’t agree with everything Lefsetz writes, you’ve got to appreciate the way he […]

Leave it to  Jim James to take a song exclusively associated with the  fictional cartoon band The Chipmunks and reinterpret it into something all his own. Back in 2007 the MMJ front man played The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) during his set at the Kidzapalooza Stage at Lollapolooza – if this doesn’t put […]

Living in Denver or Boulder provides one with a constant stream of live music options. People trade off most of those shows, however, when living in the Rockies. When shows do come through the area, travel is usually required.

Seeing the String Cheese Incident’s Kyle Hollingsworth in a tiny, intimate venue was easily worth the travel time and surpassed the expectations of almost everyone in attendance. Touring in support of his new album, Then There’s Now, The Kyle Hollingsworth Band came to Three20South in Breckenridge on their way back home to Boulder for an incredible evening of jazzy/funky, fusion.

The evening opened up with Ft. Collins’ Euforquestra. The reggae/funk jamband seemed to hold the interest of some of those in attendance although the music leaned towards the generic side, and at times grew quite stale. The set closed off with the title track of their new album, Soup, a nonsensical song used as a jam vehicle. The problem is that this doesn’t really work out too well when your jams all pretty much sound the same and the musical chops are average at best. While the music was fun and quirky at times, it was more or less relieving when the set was finished.

The headliner, on the other hand, was simply superb. With a top-notch band featuring Dave Watts (drums) and Garret Sayers (Bass) of The Motet, Kyle Hollingsworth was set to throw down an eclectic mix of covers, originals and Cheese songs for the near-capacity crowd. The show opened with an instrumental version of The Beatles’ Taxman. The up-tempo and extremely funky rendition of this timeless song set the tone for the night and the energy level was maintained the entire time. The highlight of the set came with Galactic sandwiching Zuco 103’s Peregrino. The 30-minute jam went all over the place musically and featured sit-ins from several members of Euforquestra before closing out the set.

READ ON for more of Jason’s thoughts & photos on the Kyle Band…

Glitterglu Productions is proud to announce the debut performance of  Holy Kimoto, a brand new supergroup featuring jam heavy hitters Steve Kimock,Kyle Hollingsworth (String Cheese Incident), and Michael Travis and Jason Hann (EOTO, String Cheese Incident).  This very special event takes place on January 8 at the White Room in Miami, FL.  The evening promises […]

Dead Confederate just wrapped up their 2009 tour through Europe with Alberta Cross and finished in the United Kingdom with J Mascis and the fog in support of their release Wrecking Ball across the pond.  They are now offering a free download of a new Live LP, DIRTY AMMO at www.dirtyammo.com.  The material was recorded […]

Two additional performances are the extent of the bonus material on Cabin Fever, but then, like the music itself, this item is executed perfectly succinctly  right down to the stylized cover art and DVD package design. The Black Crowes have set the stage to celebrate their twentieth anniversary in 2010 at the absolute apex of their career.

Formed in 2004, Rochester, New York-based Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad has garnered a large grass roots following courtesy of itseclectic blend of roots reggae, dub, and afrobeat Giant Panda recently release a new album LIVE UP this past fall. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad has shared the stage with reggae greats Toots And The Maytals, The Wailers, Lee Scratch Perry, Steel Pulse, Israel Vibration, Yellowman, Culture, The Meditations, Don Carlos, Morgan Heritage, Mad Professor, and Edi Fitzroy. They’ve been joined on stage by members of Thievery Corporation, G. Love & Special Sauce, and Brazilian Girl.   Melissa Brodeur recently tossed a few quickies the band's way.

Have you ever asked either yourself or somebody else why they stomach the time-bandit commutes and exorbitant rents to live in New York City? Well, get a load of this random New York City moment.

[Photo from The Music Slut’s Fanfarlo review]

Just before Fanfarlo took to the Webster Hall stage on Friday night, they opened the show with a crowd pleasing something extra – something BIG. The show commenced with a man being harnessed in a straitjacket and hoisted upside-down via the lighting rig, high above the stage. The band came on stage to wild applause and tore into probably their best song The Walls are Coming Down while the magician wriggled an amazing escape before the song closed to thunderous applause.

Now here’s where the funny New York saga comes into to play. As my wife and I watched this magician’s face turn tomato-red and the arteries bulge from his forehead as he struggled to escape, she says “Oh my God, that’s our friend with the parrot from our building. We totally know him.” At first, we couldn’t believe it, but she was right. This magician actually lives in our building and I confirmed it in the elevator the following day. He regularly sits out front on the stoop with a giant white parrot and chats amicably with all of the neighbors. So, in the spirit of surprise, we decided to conduct a quick chat later that day regarding the awesome feat.

READ ON for more from Ryan on Fanfarlo at Webster Hall…