Archive: 2010

On Tuesday night the Foo Fighters played a “secret” show in Tarzana, CA, where the band showcased a number of songs from their new album that hits stores sometime next year. The 500 or so fans in attendance received an unexpected treat as Foo Fighters‘ front man Dave Grohl staged an impromptu Nirvana reunion as […]

Webcaster iClips will present a free live broadcast of the Flaming Lips’ New Year’s Eve concert in Oklahoma City that you can watch on either RollingStone.com or iClips.net. The psychedlic rockers will play all of The Soft Bulletin as part of their performance on the 31st. Then, on January 1st, iClips will broadcast a show […]

‘Tis The Season for jamband reunions. Don’t get confused, the inclusion of From Good Homes and Miracle Orchestra does not mean we set the time machine for Last Week’s Sauce 2000 like did earlier this year, these bands played shows last week. We lead off with a selection of Beatles songs from The Black Crowes’ farewell-for-now Fillmore Run. We sprinkle in some Shoegaze courtesy of God Speed You Black Emperor!, mix in the fusion sounds of Kung Fu and a slice of a San Francisco superjam featuring Will Bernard and Marco Benevento. Getting on a plane? Going for a long car ride? Take this 75 minutes of music with you by clicking below for all the audio in this week’s piece.

You can download all of this week’s audio in one easy to listen to MP3 that we call the Last Week’s Sauce Podcast, click here to download.

[Thanks to tonedeaf for this week’s photo]

The Black Crowes – You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away, Yer Blues, I Wanna Be Your Man
Date & Venue: 2010-12-14 – The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
Taper & Show Download: Fillmore Crowe

As ScottyB recapped, the Black Crowes paid tribute to their influences in the encore slots of their six shows at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Only two of the shows have shown up on bt.etree.org, this encore is from Tuesday night’s Beatles tribute. No tape yet of the run-closing Rolling Stones segment.

A portion of The Band tribute encore from Friday:

READ ON for tracks from From Good Homes, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Kung Fu, Marco Benevento & Will Bernard and Miracle Orchestra…

Words: Eric Wyman

For 13 nights in December of 1995, Phish played perfectly. Years of hard work put them in a position to call their own shots and a barnstorming exercise throughout the month of December turned into what in my mind is the single greatest short run the band has every had. More on that later.

Phish – Albany YEM

During that month I was a sophomore at the University of Connecticut and firmly ensconced in the ultimate laissez faire semester when Phish scheduled what amounted to basically an entire month touring venues all within driving distance. While I didn’t leave my studies completely, there certainly was the opportunity to hop in a car any night and just go. There was something sublime about throwing caution to the wind and seeing Phish without regard for repercussion. I planned my schedule and charted what seemed to be a fairly doable agenda given the impending finals crunch.

(It should be noted that I probably failed at least half of those finals)

While I am quick to point out the December run, it should be noted that the band had already played 41 shows on the Fall/Winter tour. Places like Chandler, Cedar Rapids, Missoula and West Palm Beach (bonus points if you can identify all of those states).

• Type II Cast: A December To Remember

Coincidentally, it was the first of December when the band setup in Hershey, PA and played one of the finest versions of Mike’s Song ever. Had it been one day earlier, my story would just be awkward…so I am grateful for that. That improvisation launched a run that saw “best of” efforts in nearly every show and real “best of” version contenders in almost half of them. New Haven (Tweezer), Amherst (Gin), Niagra (Melt), Albany (YEM), Binghamton (Timber), etc. And after four more shows over the holidays in 1995, capped by the sublime effort in Madison Square Garden on 12/31, the band would never be the same.

READ ON for more of Eric’s take on Phish in December ’95…

2010 has been super kind to Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, who ended last night’s episode of The Late Show by laying down a smokin’ version of Paris (Ooh La La) off the band’s self-titled album. Take a look… Grace Potter – Paris (Ooh La La) [via The Audio Perv]

Welcome to back Strange Brew, where each month we’ll take a close look at a new or notable brew, or just one we think you should be drinking...

The holiday season may arguably be my favorite time of the year for beer drinking, as each year I look forward to the release of would could possibly be one of my all-time favorite beers, Anchor Brewing Company’s Christmas Ale. Since 1975, the San Francisco-based brewery has celebrated the season with the release of their annual Christmas Ale, which from year to year tastes familiar, but is in fact “distinctive and unique” each and every year.

Founded all the way back in 1896, Anchor Brewing has been credited with helping to jump start the craft beer revolution in the United States thanks in no small part to Fritz Maytag, who purchased the struggling brewery in 1965, and is considered the father of modern microbreweries. Anchor produces five year-round, and four seasonal offerings, but initially built its reputation around its signature beer Anchor Steam, named for a  a brewing style that was distinct to Northern California and even more specifically to the city of San Francisco, that dates back to the 1800s.

Why You Should Drink It?: The 36th edition of their Christmas Ale pours a deep dark ruby red, with a thin light tan head. There is something about this beer that when you go in for your first sip you get the smells and tastes of Christmas – it’s sweet, pine-y and smoky all in one. Upfront, you immediately get chocolate and cherry flavors mixed with the subtly spiciness of clove and cinnamon. Christmas Ale finishes with dry hoppy pine notes and a distinct lingering smokiness. This “winter warmer” is perfect for drinking in front of the fireplace during the colder months, but can also be aged with different flavors emerging as the flavors mellow.

READ ON for more of this month’s Strange Brew…

Weezer's Memories Tour stops at the Orpheum on Boston on December 14th and 15th, 2010.

We continue our look back at the year that was by listing 10 Music-Related Trends We Loved in 2010. Let’s hope all of these trends continue in 2011.

1. When Musicians Stop Being Polite And Start Getting Real

Phil Lesh on the message boards, Josh Clark doing whatever it is that he does, etc. We don’t think engaging your fanbase on the message boards is a WISE decision, but boy does it make for great fodder for us bloggers.

2. Bands Get More Revenue, Fans Get More Music

Gov’t Mule and the String Cheese Incident were among the bands we cover who started archival series in 2010.  SCI’s Rhythm of the Road Vol. 1 kicked ass and Mule’s Mulennium brought back fond memories of that group’s power trio days. Most acts keep an archive of old recordings, so why not give the fans what they want by selling some of the gems in their vaults? Let’s have more of where these came from please.

• Year In Review: Ten Great Musicians We Lost in 2010, 10 Best Archival Releases of 2010, Best Concert DVDs of 2010

READ ON for eight more music trends we loved in 2010…

[Last Chance to Enter!] With New Year’s Day falling on a Saturday this year, there’s an extra night to rock out over New Year’s Weekend. Brooklyn Bowl takes advantage of the three-day weekend with a full slate of concerts, fried chicken and bowling. The action starts with a sold-out Drive-By Truckers show on Thursday, December […]

Today, we’re going to continue a segment started in 2006 called the Four Questions. If you’re a long-time Hidden Track reader who has never commented before, we hope that you’ll participate in this thread. Sure it ain’t Passover, but we’ve got four questions for you anyway… 1. What was your single favorite musical experience of 2010? […]

You’ve gotta love when a band comprised of three guitarists, a bassist, and a drummer – none of whom really do much singing – tackles Mariah Carey’s, Always Be My Baby. The harmonizing guitar army, Fang Island, put quite a spin on the catchy, tire-swing jam during their encore at Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory last April. […]

While working at a deli during college, somebody once gave me a great piece of advice. We were screwing around and trying to devise ideas for tasty new sandwiches when this particular gentleman said, “Just make what tastes good to you. If you like it, other people will too.”

In retrospect, it’s a pretty obvious statement, but it really stuck with me as over the years I’ve come to realize that it applies to many other art forms beyond that of crafting a delicious sandwich, not the least of which is music. Sure, different people have different tastes, but by and large, if something is of high quality, it’s logical that it will likely be perceived that way by a broader group. So, with that little mantra in mind, I wanted to point to a specific personal musical preference (and equally obvious observation) as it pertains to Harry Hood.

Harry Hood jams tend to be significantly better with heavy distortion on Trey’s guitar.

I mentioned this in passing a while back (under R in our Summer Tour A to Z piece), but today I wanted to put a little meat on the bones so-to-speak. In the 3.0 era of Phish, it’s no secret that Harry Hood is one song that has been a little slower to make its full return to grace. Upon coming off the shelf post-breakup in 2009, the band initially fumbled for a period of time in getting the composed parts down, but they quickly resolved that issue. Yet, to this day – save for a few exceptions  like the Greek Theater, Thompson Boling Arena, and MSG I – the jams haven’t quite reached that “lift off” level. You know the ones where you’re in your car and get lost in the song, only to look down at the speedometer and realize your driving 95 miles per hour and missed the exit five miles back?

READ ON for a few examples of the Harry Hood X-Factor…

Fairfield Theater Company has developed a great reputation for bringing amazing acts to the heart of Southern Connecticut, and Ryan Montbleau Band’s appearance at StageOne on Sunday December 5th in Downtown Fairfield was no exception.

Commercially overloaded freak-out pop rock is what Automagik offer up on their debut self titled album.  The all night party vibe that props up tunes like “Hide and Seek” and “Brain Freeze”, make the chaos head bobbing-jump around fun.  Nonsensical lyrics, I won’t even go into “Boogieman”, and all-out good times remind of Cage The Elephant, The Darkness and Weezer. The tracks won’t stick with you for long, but will probably fuel Four Loco like madness while they do. 

Welcome to another installment of A Memory of Music. Each month, we show you a different side of the scene, so join us for a trip down memory lane for December 2010 and remember to click on the photos for full resolution images. For the month of December it ‘twas the season of Santa Clauses and holiday parties. From Brooklyn to San Francisco, and a few places in between, the bands dressed in their finest to spread the cheer.

[Ryan Stasik, photo by Tim Hara]

December in Chicago is all about Umphrey’s McGee.  Several weeks before their 3-day New Years Eve run, guitarists Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger treated their fans to an intimate acoustic show with lots of guest sit-ins playing both UM songs and a wide range of covers. This year marked the 8th Annual Holiday Show, which benefits the USTORM Foundation. Those who came early were treated to an Umphrey’s Garage Sale where fans could buy vintage merchandise at a discount and a few lucky girls and boys could enjoy a picture with Santa Ryan Stasik.

[Robert Fripp, photo by Jeremy Gordon]

In the spirit of giving, legendary King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp played four free shows on Dec 3^rd and 4^th in the Winter Garden of the World Financial Center in Lower Manhattan. The shows were billed as Soundscapes. For those fortunate enough to attend, Robert suggested they may be the last of the “Frippertronics” pieces and possibly his final public performances. READ ON for more incredible images from December…

The Zappa Family Trust are celebrating what would’ve been Frank’s 70th birthday by releasing a new  Anything Anytime Anywhere For No Reason At All, Again Also (or AAAFNRAAAA) compilation on iTunes.

This mix tape of sorts, which is the third in a series of Birthday Bundles, starts out with a cover of Willie The Pimp performed by Ahmet Zappa with DMC (Run DMC), Talib Kweli and Mix Master Mike. Ahmet also takes the lead on his dad’s Bobby Brown, which is the second track on the mix. Frank himself also is featured on a number of the tracks including live takes on Treacherous Cretins, City of Tiny Lites, My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama, Jumbo Go Away and Stairway to Heaven.

Filling out AAAFNRAAAA 2010 is a cover of The Torture Never Stops by Robert Trujillo of Metallica and his wife Chloe, Macy Gray’s version of Your Mouth, multi-instrumentalist Holland Greco’s take on Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance and live cuts from Zappa Plays Zappa. The Frank Zappa AAAFNRAAAA Birthday Bundle is available at iTunes for $11.99.

READ ON for a full track list including personnel on each song…

2010 was a big year for 7 Walkers as the band, which features Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead on drums, Papa Mali on guitar, George Porter Jr. on bass and multi-instrumentalist Matt Hubbard, set off on multiple successful tours and put out a critically acclaimed self-titled debut album.

[All photos by Rob Chapman]

7 Walkers’ latest tour came to a close on Sunday at City Winery in New York, where photog Rob Chapman was on hand to capture the action. READ ON for a gallery of Rob’s photos from 7 Walkers at City Winery…

People like to discount Wikipedia for being a source of misinformation, but I’ll tell ‘ya, a quick read of the page for Ain’t No Sunshine nets you some pretty damn good factoids on this 1971 Bill Withers classic. 1) Produced by Booker T. 2) Donald “Duck” Dunn plays the bass 3) Withers was working at a factory making toilet seats when he wrote the song. Okay, #3 they claim to have a source for from Rolling Stone but the link is broken, but I *want* to believe them. I’m sure it’s true. Anyway, literally hundreds of people have covered Ain’t No Sunshine, a search of allmusic.com brings you 1,456 results. What we’ve got below is 10 renditions we think are worth a listen.

The Contestants:

This same Buddy Guy album (Bring ‘Em In) appeared two weeks ago in the I Put A Spell On You Cover Wars. Carlos Santana joined Guy on that cover while Tracy Chapman joins him on this one. This cover features an early key change, multiple vocalists, horns – the whole nine yards.

READ ON for the audio and video of nine more Ain’t No Sunshine covers…

[Originally Published: May 11, 2010]

“I might choose not to risk my life for an uncertain cause. I might think that freedom won by death is not worth having. In fact…”

Yeah. I know. If you think I’m forgetting about writing about Heath Ledger, who stars in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus as a truly fucked-up passenger on board the Quadruple-Faced Traveling Circus, you just need to tune in to the next edition of Hidden Flick, which will cross the line between the living and the dead—focusing on his final surreal role on the large cinema screen. An extraordinarily gifted actor gone too soon…lost to the sands of time…faraday…far, far away.

Ahhh…but we’re here for a special purpose, aren’t we? This is season four where everything gets weird. Hidden underneath it all, the three-seasoned layers of cinematic strange bliss is that feeling that something else is going on here—that a pursuit of the next film to see, that one little thing that will be so very interesting to a handful of heady peeps, is somehow not the point. The Cosmic Trickster at Play? Not content to talk about just one obscure gem, we are introducing a new concept: the hidden actor in our game. This special edition of Hidden Flick will focus on the work of an actor who first began his career peaking on a 1992 Subaru commercial, segued into a promising career as a lesser actor in major and indie works, before going superfuckingnova as Daniel Faraday in television’s LOST. Yes, this week is all about our Hidden Actor, Jeremy Davies.

Hang on. The film reel is spun…just like punk, ‘cept it’s cinematic.

READ ON for more on this week’s Hidden Actor, Jeremy Davies…

Cancer sucks for any number of reasons, but we’re reminded of one of those reasons today as Frank Zappa should be alive and enjoying his 70th birthday. Instead, the one-of-a-kind composer/musician passed away in 1993 at the way too young age of 52 after battling prostate cancer. This morning let’s remember Frank at his best, […]