Archive: 2010

John Popper, the iconoclastic frontman of Blues Traveler has signed with 429 Records where he’ll debut a brand new project, JOHN POPPER AND THE DUSKRAY TROUBADOURS.  The result of a month-long recording session in the mountains of New Mexico, John Popper’s Duskray project is much less a solo endeavor as opposed to a fully realized […]

Continuing on the path to preview their entire new record for fans, The Dears are embarking on a series of webcasts that will premiere songs from their new album, Degeneration Street, as well as showcase classic tracks, band favorites and unreleased material. Remember gathering with friends around the stereo to catch a particular DJ’s radio […]

Earlier this year, a casting call leaked for a “secret” collaborative project between indie-rock darlings Arcade Fire and director Spike Jonze – later described by Win Butler as “a science-fiction B-movie companion piece” for their album The Suburbs, which came out in early August. Now, the curtain has been pulled back on this mysterious project […]

That favorite holiday weekend is coming up, so sit back and celebrate with Volume VII in the Stormy Mondays Acoustic Mix series. Far and beyond the jammiest version to date, this one opens with Mike Gordon and Trey Anastasio giving a different and fun reading of Wilson, followed by Warren Haynes delivering a wicked cover […]

Kicking off this month’s edition of our look at the month in photographs are a couple shots from Halloween. The first one is an amusing photo of Bill Nershi of the String Cheese Incident, face to face with his pint size replica at the Hampton Coliseum on Hulaween. Apparently an enterprising photographer snuck the little guy up on stage, giving everyone a good laugh. You can check out tapes from the evening on the archive and livecheese.com

[Bill Nershi w/ Barefoot Billy, photo by Chris Monaghan]

A review of the last few weeks wouldn’t be complete without a nod to Phish’s triumphant three night celebration in Atlantic City. Whether it was the Zeppelin and Little Feat covers, the outrageous costumes by the fans, the late night shows or all night parties at the Tropicana, a great time was had by all. Perhaps too good a time in one case.

[Phish at the Shore, photo by Seth Eisenstein]

READ ON for more of this month’s A Memory of Music…

Last year, MSG Entertainment and the Allman Brothers Band each got a look at life without each other and they both didn’t like what they saw. The partnership between the organization that runs the Beacon Theatre and the Hall of Fame jammers is officially “on again” after this morning’s press conference to announce the return […]

The Jimmy Herring Band @ Highline Ballroom – November 15

When Jimmy Herring picks up a guitar and starts in on one of those astoundingly rich improvisational flights, it’s tough to get enough. He’s the type of player, be it with Panic or in any other context, for whom warmth and brilliance are as characteristic as technique and intensity – an always-dazzling display, but not a straight clinic, and never cold. He can sparkle, he can wail, he can bring ferocious energy, he can play with comfortable restraint and an ear for dynamics, and, like his good buddy Derek Trucks, he can consistently confound expectations for what should happen during a guitar solo. You’re drawn in and mesmerized and helpless to resist.

That’s one of the reasons that this much-welcome Jimmy Herring Band tour has been a success, and the Highline Ballroom show, nearly sold out, was two hours of expansive, psychedelic bliss. Another reason, though, is that Herring has taken an inherently indulgent format – the guitar wizard who puts together a solo band focused on all-instrumental jazz-rock – and hasn’t just left it as an excuse for a pick-up jam. We know he can play. We’ve learned he’s a strong bandleader: mindful of group dynamics, and knowing when to pour it on and when to get out of his own way.

Herring is the group’s center of attention and it’s his improvisations that drive the show, but he’s created something so much richer than a set of instrumentals with excuses for guitar heroics. Every selection at the Highline, whether a Herring original or a worked-over chestnut from the Meters, Jeff Beck, Zeppelin, the Beatles or elsewhere, felt meaningful and turned out, with a band that burrowed deep inside and fleshed out as many improvisational possibilities within as they could.

READ ON for more on the Jimmy Herring Band…

With their foray into the world of rock operas now past them, literary-folk-prog act The Decemberists will return to a simpler sound with their next studio effort – The King Is Dead. The album, due out early next year, finds the Portland-based act joined by folkie Gillian Welch on seven tracks as well as REM guitarist Peter Buck for three.

Last week, The Decemberists stopped by Conan to perform the album’s first single, Down By The Water, with Welch. READ ON…

Russian-born singer/songwriter Regina Spektor and her glorious voice will visit Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday night to promote her new concert film Live in London. This is the first concert video release for Spektor, who also contributed two gems – Us and Hero – to the (500) Days of Summer Soundtrack in 2009. Monday, November 22 […]

The Heavy performing at the Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis MN 11.12.10.