Tuesday Tribute: Holiday Songs

I know it's not Tuesday, but it's the holiday season dammit, so grab some nog, curl up by the yule log and check out some of the spirit I'm about to cast your way. When you think of the holiday season, the one thing that many loathe is hearing the constant holiday cheese on every single radio station the minute Thanksgiving is over. While it's complete overkill year after year, there are a handfull of tunes that personally, I don't mind getting down to. As a matter of fact, I would have to say that Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas album is one of my favorite piano-jazz albums of all time and I have no shame in saying that I have listened to it in July many times. Just like everybody has a sweet-spot for the holiday season, everybody has a sweet-spot for certain holiday tunes, no matter how embarrassing they may be. Here are my picks, but I would love to hear yours, even if only to make me feel like less of a loser.

First up is the classic "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses. The same group that brought you the snide 80's classic "I Know What Boys Like," brings you one of Christmas' funkiest bass lines mixed with the nonchalant vocals of the now deceased Patty Donahue.



2009 has been a year of remembrance of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Keeping up with funky basslines, we go back to the times of the Jackson 5 (before they were exploiting Michael via reality show) for their rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming To Town." Many have done it, The Boss did a good one, but I'm partial to the Motown sounds of the Jackson 5.



Next up is the Mariah Carey classic that even the most hopeless singers croon along to in the car. I wish this song wasn't so damn catchy, because every year it hits a weak spot inside of me that compels me to put it on every playlist I make in the month of December.



James Brown passed away on Christmas a few years ago. I remember it clearly because my dad was basically depressed the whole day and it made for one of the more awkward Christmasses in memory. Regardless, his James Brown's Funky Christmas album is a classic and so is its first track "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto."



Last up is the legendary Vince Guaraldi and his unforgettable "Linus and Lucy." Before there was Ritalin, apparently the kiddies would dance there crazies out because these kids can really go. This is only a short clip from the movie, so I included another tune from the album, "Skating," featuring a very makeshift homemade video. Enjoy and Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Groundation 10th Annual Bob Marley Tribute Tour

I had heard of Groundation a few years ago, but not until I enrolled in college last year did I realize just what kind of following these guys have, especially on the west coast. A scene that some would argue was spearheaded by Sublime over 15 years ago and has since been upheld by bands such as Slightly Stoopid and SOJA has really taken off over the past few years. White-boy reggae has proved to be just as catchy, especially among the college-aged, party animal youth. It doesn't take a genius to realize the tremendous impact that Bob Marley's music has had on the same demographic, so it is only appropriate to think that Groundation doing Marley's music is a spectacular concoction. This winter, Groundation will embark on their 10th annual Bob Marley tribute tour. While the nine-piece collective is by no means hard on original material, they set aside a short tour every year to celebrate Marley's extremely influential catalog of music. If you anticipate hearing only a greatest hits set, think again. This traditional tour is meant to bring to life many of Bob Marley's deeper cuts that may not have been on regular rotation in his heyday. If you are a fan of either party involved, catch a date of Groundation's 2010 Bob Marley tribute tour.

Groundation 2010 Bob Marley Tribute Tour:
02/02/10 Tue Flamingo Cantina Austin, TX
02/04/10 Thu Howlin' Wolf New Orleans, LA
02/06/10 Sat The Plaza Theatre Orlando, FL
02/07/10 Sun Freebird Live Jacksonville Beach, FL
02/10/10 Wed The Pour House Charleston, SC
02/11/10 Thu Grey Eagle Asheville, NC
02/12/10 Fri Recher Theatre Towson, MD
02/13/10 Sat Sullivan Hall New York, NY
02/14/10 Sun Harpers Ferry Allston, MA
02/17/10 Wed Kinetic Playground Chicago, IL
02/19/10 Fri Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom Denver, CO
02/20/10 Sat Boulder Theater Boulder, CO
02/21/10 Sun Aggie Theatre Fort Collins, CO
02/23/10 Tue The Independent San Francisco, CA

groundation.com

The Shins' James Mercer and Danger Mouse Form Broken Bells

The Shins' frontman James Mercer and collaborative genius Danger Mouse have teamed up to form a new group called Broken Bells. The two first met face to face backstage at the 2004 Roskilde Festival in Copenhagen and decided to write some songs together. The two are planning to release their first self-titled full-length album on March 9th. Mercer will supply vocals, guitar, and bass, while Danger Mouse will be on drums, organ, synth, piano, and bass duties. Some songs will also feature a full string ensemble arranged by Daniele Luppi. Lets wait and see, Broken Bells could be 2010's Gnarls Barkley.

brokenbells.com

Jazz Fest Lineup and Dates Announced

New Orleans' premiere music festival is returning for its 41st year and the lineup already looks incredible. Jazz Fest has always had one of the largest and most diverse lineups, ranging from different styles of music to other various kinds of New Orleans culture and entertainment. It seems as though year after year the lineup seems to 1-up itself and this year is no different. Taking place April 23-25th and then April 29th-May 2nd, this year's headliners include, but are not limited to The Allman Brothers, Drake, Pearl Jam, P-Funk, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, and B.B. King. Discount packages and weekend passes are currently on sale at the Jazz Fest Website.

April 23rd-21st (1st Weekend)
Lionel Richie, Allman Brothers Band, My Morning Jacket, Anita Baker, Dr. John, Darius Rucker, The Black Crowes, Steel Pulse, Jonny Lang, Band of Horses, The Levon Helm Band, Drake, Keely Smith, Baaba Maal, George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic, Imagination Movers, Ledisi, King Sunny Ade & His African Beats, Better Than Ezra, Blind Boys of Alabama, Elvin Bishop, funky Meters, Sax for Stax featuring Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, and Jeff Lorber, Marcia Ball, Shawn Colvin, Pastor Smokie Norful, Terence Blanchard, Cowboy Mouth, The Campbell Brothers, Chocolate Milk, Sam Bush, The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars, Joe Lovano Us Five, Donald Harrison, Lena Prima, Tab Benoit, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Bonerama, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Deacon John, Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters, Davell Crawford and One Foot in the Blues with special guests Dr. John and Jon Cleary, The Bounce Extravaganza feat. Big Freedia, Sissy Nobby, Katie Redd, Magnolia Shorty, and DJ Poppa, Bob French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band 100 Year Anniversary Celebration, Jon Cleary: Piano, Bass & Drums, Irma Thomas’ Tribute to Mahalia Jackson, The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong feat. Wycliffe Gordon, James Andrews, and Victor Goines, Papa Grows Funk, Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience, Theresa Andersson, Jewel Brown with the Heritage Hall Jazz Band, Joe Krown Trio feat. Walter Washington & Russell Batiste, New Orleans Klezmer Allstars, The Radiators--Pre-War Blues, Wayne Toups & Zydecajun, Grayson Capps, Kenny Neal, Treme Brass Band, Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band feat. Thais Clark, Jeremy Davenport, Maurice Brown Effect, James Andrews & the Crescent City Allstars, Storyville Stompers Brass Band, Glen David Andrews, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Roddie Romero & the Hub City Allstars, Honey Island Swamp Band, OTRA, Leah Chase, Bill Summers & Jazalsa, Savoy Center of Eunice Saturday Cajun Jam, Mia X, Cheeky Blakk, and Ms. Tee, Wayne Toups & Zydecajun, Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, Rotary Downs, The New Orleans Bingo! Show, Little Freddie King Blues Band, Andrew Duhon & the Lonesome Crows, Rumba Buena, Spencer Bohren, Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes, Louisiana LeRoux with Tab Benoit, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, Red Stick Ramblers, Guitar Slim, Jr., Kipori Woods, Kim Carson Band, Ivoire Spectacle feat. Seguenon Kone, The Revealers, Shades of Praise, Lionel Ferbos & the Palm Court Jazz Band, Sammy Rimington, The Electrifying Crownseekers, Tribute to Juanita Brooks feat. Betty Shirley, Germaine Bazzle, and Leah Chase, The James Rivers Movement, Leo Jackson & the Melody Clouds, Susan Cowsill, David Egan, Panorama Jazz Band, George French & the Storyville Jazz Band, New Orleans Night Crawlers, Midnite Disturbers, Ninth Ward Navajo Mardi Gras Indians, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers’ Tribute to Rockin’ Dopsie, Sr., Frankie Ford, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Reggie Hall & the Twilighters, Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue, Mas Mamones, Lil’ Buck Sinegal Blues Band, Jesse McBride presents the Next Generation, Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Septet, Michael Ward, Bleu Orleans, Mahogany Brass Band, Untouchables, Furious Five, and Big Steppers Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Creole Wild West and Golden Star Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, Mark Braud’s New Orleans Jazz Giants, Gospel Soul Children, Blessed, Watson Memorial Teaching Ministries, Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble, Clive Wilson’s New Orleans Serenaders feat. Butch Thompson, N.O.C.C.A. Jazz Ensemble, Judy Spellman, Leroy Jones, Olympia Aid, New Look, and The First Division Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Golden Comanche, Golden Blade, and Wild Mohicans Mardi Gras Indians, Free Agents Brass Band, The Wiseguys, Jambalaya Cajun Band, Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys, D.L. Menard & the Louisiana Aces, The Revivalists, Rockie Charles, Robert “1 String” Gibson, Beth Patterson, Patrice Fisher & the Honduran Connection, Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Tommy Sancton Quintet, UNO Jazz Allstars, Smitty Dee’s Brass Band, Comanche Hunters, Semolian Warriors, and Black Feathers Mardi Gras Indians, Willis Prudhomme & Zydeco Express, Goldman Thibodeaux & the Lawtell Playboys, Marc Stone Band, Betsy McGovern & the Poor Clares, Alexis Marceaux, Julio y Cesar, Sonny Bourg & the Bayou Blues Band, Chris Clifton, Miss Sophie Lee, June Gardner, The Guitar Woodshed feat. Steve Masakowski, Todd Duke, and Jake Eckert, Mount Hermon BC Mass Choir, Tonia Scott & Anointed Voices, Resurrection Baptist Church Mass Choir of Schertz, TX, Brass Bass Ensemble, Jai Reed, Loyola University Jazz Ensemble, Real Untouchables Brass Band, Divine Ladies, Dumaine Gang, and Ladies of Unity Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Young Pinstripe Brass Band, Johnette Downing, Kat Walker Jazz Combo, Guardians of the Flame, Single Ladies, Keep N it Real, and Nine Times Men Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Voices of Distinction, Nineveh BC Mass Choir, Kevin Thompson & the Sensational Six, Red Hot Brass Band, Lindsay Mendez, God’s House Westbank Cathedral Choir, The Gospel Stars, Da Souljas Brass Band, Single Men, Family Ties, and Big Nine Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Delgado Community College Jazz Ensemble, Natasha Richard of Canada, Culu Children’s Traditional African Dance Ensemble, Jacquelyn Mayfield, Golden Voices Community Choir, John Lee & the Heralds of Christ, Greater Antioch Full Gospel Mass Choir, Black Mohawks, Seminoles, and Red, White & Blue Mardi Gras Indians, Archdiocese of New Orleans Mass Gospel Choir, The Bester Singers and the Dynamic Smooth Family Gospel Singers, New Orleans Young Traditional Brass Band with the Heel to Toe Steppers, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Mass Choir, Carrollton Hunters Mardi Gras Indians…

April 29th-May 2nd (2nd Weekend)
Pearl Jam, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Widespread Panic, The Neville Brothers, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Irma Thomas, Gipsy Kings, The Dead Weather, Elvis Costello & the Sugarcanes, Teena Marie, Allen Toussaint, Gov’t Mule, Average White Band, Jose Feliciano, Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, Maze feat. Frankie Beverly, Kirk Franklin, Wayne Shorter Quartet, Gil Scott Heron, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Clarence Carter, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band, Tye Tribbett, Juvenile & DJ Mannie Fresh, Take Six, Sugarfoot’s Ohio Players, Galactic, Stanley Clarke Band feat. Hiromi, Old Crow Medicine Show, Richie Havens, Marcus Miller, Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars, Pete Fountain, The Radiators, Blues Traveler, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Anders Osborne, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, Rebirth Brass Band, Sonny Landreth, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Martin Sexton, Bernard Allison, Ruthie Foster, Jimmy Johnson Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Cyril Neville & Tribe 13, Dee Dee Bridgewater – A Celebration of Lady Day, Ellis Marsalis, Buckwheat Zydeco, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Louis Prima, Jr., Henry Butler, The Roots of Music Marching Crusaders, Selvy Singers of Arkansas, Aaron Neville, Chris Thomas King, Dala, Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band, The Davell Crawford Singers, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, Inspirational Souls of Chicago, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, John Mooney & Bluesiana, subdudes, Iguanas, DJ Captain Charles, The Dixie Cups, Sherman Washington & the Zion Harmonizers, The Jon Batiste Band, Nicholas Payton, The Four Freshman, Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys, Russell Batiste & Friends feat. Jason Neville, Pine Leaf Boys, Eric Lindell, C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Shamarr Allen & the Underdawgs, Banu Gibson with Swing Out & Tap!, Tribute to Juanita Brooks feat. Wanda Rouzan, Barbara Shorts, and Topsy Chapman, John Boutté, Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Luther Kent, Astral Project, Germaine Bazzle, Soul Rebels, New Birth Brass Band, Big Chief Bo Dollis & the Wild Magnolias, Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole, PJ Morton, New Orleans Spiritualettes, The Johnson Extension, Orange Kellin’s New Orleans Deluxe Orchestra, Bobby Lonero’s Tribute to Louis Prima, Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Serenaders, The Allen Toussaint Jazzity Project, Charmaine Neville, MyNamesIsJohnMichael, Kirk Joseph’s Backyard Groove, Paul Sanchez & the Rolling Road Show, Bobby Lounge, Big Al Carson, Lynn Drury, Vivaz!, Nova NOLA feat. Sasha Masakowski, Topsy Chapman & Solid Harmony, Coco Robicheaux & the Swamp Monsters, Fredy Omar con su Banda, Loose Marbles, Heavenly Melodies, Betty Winn & One A-Chord, Kent Jordan, Shannon Powell’s Organ Combo feat. David Torkanowsky and Charlie Gabriel, Forgotten Souls, Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie, TBC Brass Band, Westbank Steppers, Valley of Silent Men, and Pigeon Town Steppers Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Apache Hunters, Wild Red Flame, and Mohawk Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, Jockimo’s Groove feat. War Chief Juan and Billy Iuso, Elysian Fieldz, Feufollet, Creole Zydeco Farmers, The Hadley J. Castille Family & the Sharecroppers Band, GROUPA – Nordic Folk Fusion, Tin Men, R. Scully Rough 7, Creole String Beans, Ernie Vincent & the Top Notes, Margie Perez, Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone & the XL Band, Kristin Diable, Jimmy Robinson, Kenny Bill Stinson & the ARK-LA-Mystics, Mem Shannon & the Membership, Bamboula 2000, Kora Konnection feat. Morikeba Kouyate of Senegal and Thierno Dioubate of Guinea, Papa Blue Viking Jazz Band of Sweden, Onward Brass Band, Dukes of Dixieland, Tim Laughlin, Val & the Love Alive Fellowship Choir, Jo “Cool” Davis, Zulu Male Ensemble, Phillip Manuel, Roderick Paulin, SUBR Jazzy Jags, Pinstripe Brass Band, Original Prince of Wales and Original Lady Buckjumpers Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, New Orleans Indian Rhythm Section, Fi Yi Yi & the Mandingo Warriors, 101 Runners, Evan Christopher & Tom McDermott, New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra, Pfister Sisters, Walter Payton with Snapbeans and Filé Gumbo, Brother Tyrone, Driskill Mountain Boys, Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots, Thomas “Big Hat” Fields, Mark Adam Miller, Benny Grunch & the Bunch, J. Monque’D Blues Band, Mia Borders, Lars Edegran & the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, Classie Ballou & the Family Band, John Rankin, Jonny Frishberg & Bayou DeVille, DJ Soul Sister, Zion Trinity, AsheSon, Los Po-Boy-Citos, Kumbuka African Drum & Dance Collective, Donnie Bolden, Jr. & the Spirit of Elijah, Ebenezer Mass Choir, Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band, Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, Voices of Peter Claver, Sean Johnson & the Wild Lotus Band, Mario Abney Quintet, Lady Rollers, Original C.T.C. Steppers, and Nine Times Ladies Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Baby Boyz Brass Band, Geronimo Hunters, 7th Ward Creole Hunters, and Young Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians, Lafayette Rhythm Devils, Joe Hall & the Cane Cutters, Eddie “ChopChops” Paris, Hot Club of New Orleans, Connie Jones & the Crescent City Jazz Band, Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Lady Jetsetters Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Ladies Sing the Blues feat. Gina Brown, Angela H. Bell, and Tereasa B., Julliard Jazz Ensemble, Craig Adams & Higher Dimensions of Praise, McDonogh #35 High School Gospel Choir, O. Perry Walker Charter High School Gospel Choir, Warren Storm, Willie Tee & Cypress, McMain High School Gospel Choir, Blodie’s Jazz Jam, Xavier University Jazz Band, Tulane University Jazz Ensemble, Pinettes Brass Band, Scene Boosters, Ole & Nu Style Fellas, and Secondline Jammers Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, New Wave Brass Band, Red Hawk, Black Seminoles, and Black Eagles Mardi Gras Indians, Dwight & Connie Fitch with the St. Raymond/St. Leo the Great Choir, N’Fungola Sibo West African Dance Company, Marisa y Mariachi Agave, Grupo Sensacion, Dee-1, Lucky 7, Franklin IV, Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra, Ray Abshire, Bonsoir, Catin, Dillard University Jazz Ensemble, Jamil Sharif & the Jazz Professors, Rocks of Harmony, Some Like it Hot, Kid Simmons’ Local International Allstars, The Wright Brothers, Tyronne Foster & the Arc Singers, St. Joseph the Worker Music Ministry, Heritage School of Music Band, New Generation, Undefeated Divas, and VIP Ladies Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Highsteppers Brass Band, Trouble Nation and Wild Apaches Mardi Gras Indians, David & Roselyn, Paulin Brothers Brass Band, Morning Star BC Mass Choir, Arthur Clayton & Purposely Anointed, Gloria Bell & the Revelation Gospel Singers, First Emmanuel Baptist Church Choir, White Cloud Hunters and Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indians, Tornado Brass Band, Lyle Henderson & Emmanuel, Pastor Terry Gullage & the Greater Mount Calvary Voices of Redemption Choir, Gospel Inspirations of Boutte, Ayla Miller, Original Four, Original Big 7, and Bon Temps Roulez Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Golden Sioux and Cherokee Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, Nashville Children’s Choir, Claudia Baumgartner, Saltimbanqui Puppet Theater of Mexico, Stephen Foster’s Foster Family Program, Hazel & the Delta Ramblers, N’Kafu African Dance presented by Young Audiences, O. Perry Walker Kuumba Players, Jazz Fest Residency Showcase feat. Seva Venet and KIDSmART…

Perry's Pick: The Gilded Splinters

One thing I love about Boston's music scene is its diversity. For such a small city, it covers a very wide spectrum of musical tastes and varieties. For example, if you were to hear any track by Somerville's own The Gilded Splinters, you may initially think you were south of the Mason-Dixon. With twangy leads and sludgy warm grooves, The Gilded Splinters are the northern flannel rock response to a typically southern style. The lead vocals of singer/songwriter Josh Buckley fall somewhere in the realm of Chris Robinson and Neil Young, reminiscent of Brian Harding of the New York band Hymns. The band achieves a sound that sounds like Exile on Main Street era Stones on Vicodin (in a good way). A bit more mellowed out and much less in your face, the band still gets a very full and intricate sound thanks to the keyboards of John Carbone and the lead riffs of Jonas Kahn. The Gilded Splinters struck gold a couple of years ago when producer JP Bowersock, famous for working with such artists as The Strokes and Ryan Adams, attended one of their gigs and decided to produce their debut full-length album January. Tracks such as "Lisa Jack" and "Haunted Child" are upbeat standouts from January and have helped make the band a household name around the Boston area. The Gilded Splinters' touring schedule has been rather thin as of late, but they are also currently in the studio working on the follow-up to January, which as of now is set to release on March 1st. Be sure to give The Gilded Splinters a listen because they are a band that is making music that matters.

myspace.com/thegildedsplinters
joshbuckley.com

Pearl Jam Announce 2010 European Dates

Pearl Jam has announced the first dates in their 2010 European tour. Pearl Jam has had a heavy schedule in 2009 and just recently played the final shows at the Spectrum in Philadelphia on Halloween. Their latest album Backspacer debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. The tour will kick off on June 22nd at Dublin's O2 Arena and will span a couple of weeks. They will be one of the headliners of London's Hard Rock Calling festival and they will have the closing slot at the Optimus Alive festival in Lisbon, Portugal. More 2010 dates are expected to be announced.

Pearl Jam 2010 European Dates:
22-June – Dublin, Ireland @ 02 Arena
23-June – Belfast, Ireland @ Odyssey Arena
25-June – London, England @ Hard Rock Calling Hyde Park
27-June – TBD
30-June – Berlin, Germany @ Wuhlheide
1-July – TBD
3-July – Arras, France @ Main Square Festival
4-July – Werchter, Belgium @ Rock Werchter Festival
6-July – TBD
9-July – TBD
10-July Oeiras, Portugal @ Optimus Alive Festival

pearljam.com

Air: First US Dates in 3 Years

Nicolas Godin and JB Dunckel, together known as French electro-pop duo Air, are returning to North America for their first North American dates in 3 years. Air just released their latest album, Love 2, in October and are preparing for a set of European dates before making their way to the US. The band will do this tour as a trio with the inclusion of Bat for Lashes and Badly Drawn Boy drummer Alex Thomas. Air took the music scene by storm in 1998 with the release of their debut album Moon Safari and has since headlined shows at Madison Square Garden among other large American venues. Opening for Air during this tour is Los Angeles multi-instrumentalist AM.

Air 2010 North American Dates:
03/13/10 Sat The Fillmore Miami Beach at The Jackie Gleason Theater Miami Beach, FL
03/14/10 Sun Hard Rock Live Orlando, FL
03/15/10 Mon Center Stage Atlanta, GA
03/17/10 Wed 9:30 Club Washington, DC
03/18/10 Thu Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA
03/19/10 Fri Terminal 5 New York, NY
03/20/10 Sat Berklee Performance Center Boston, MA
03/22/10 Mon Metropolis Montreal, QC
03/23/10 Tue Phoenix Concert Theatre Toronto, ON
03/24/10 Wed The Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL
03/26/10 Fri Fox Theater Oakland, CA
03/27/10 Sat 4th & B San Diego, CA
03/28/10 Sun Walt Disney Concert Hall Los Angeles, CA

aircheology.com

Tuesday Tribute: Pete Townshend

Pete Townshend is both a rock and roll pioneer and an icon for anyone who has ever played air guitar and really meant it. One of the founding members of The Who, Townshend is responsible for writing such songs as "My Generation," "I Can't Explain," and "Substitute." Known for his on stage theatrics, Townshend had a knack for smashing instruments and taking an attack-style approach to guitar, sometimes swinging his left arm around for his signature windmill style. Not only was he an incredible guitar player, but he was the principal songwriter in The Who. Townshend was responsible for creating Tommy, which may be the greatest "rock opera" of all time. He also wrote a second rock opera, Quadrophenia, which featured more experimental guitar styles. In the 1980's, Townshend had a mildly successful solo career with his most popular work being the 1980 tune "Let My Love Open The Door." Nowadays, Townshend still plays with The Who, who now round off their lineup with Pino Palladino and Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr's son) who replace John Entwhistle and Keith Moon. Some criticize Townshend for being too showy, but the fact is he is a pioneer. He may not have stacked up with Hendrix or Clapton as a soloist, but he wrote some of rock's greatest riffs that have only become sweeter with time. Today, we'll take a look at his impressive career.

The Who had countless memorable singles and one of the best is "Won't Get Fooled Again." It's odd to hear this tune stripped down because it's such a fist-pumper, but here's Townshend doing an acoustic version.



Not many people know that Townshend formed the one-hit-wonder group Thunderclap Newman. Townshend played bass on their single "Something In The Air." Not much of a video for it, but it plays the tune.



Here's a clip of Townshend doing an impromptu version of "The Seeker" with The Raconteurs. The rendition isn't too elaborate, but it is a good example of the influence that Townshend has had on Rock and Roll.



Lastly, we have some later Townshend with his hit "Let My Love Open the Door." This song has been used in commercials and movies alike and proved that Townshend could have a successful solo career as well.

Rivers Cuomo Hospitalized After Weezer Bus Crash

Rivers Cuomo, leadman for Weezer, was taken to the hospital today after one of the Weezer tourbuses crashed while leaving Albany early this morning. While Cuomo was the only member of Weezer on the bus, the vehicle was also carrying Cuomo's wife, his infant daughter, their nanny, and Cuomo's assistant. CNN reports, "The driver said the back end of the bus slid on ice, then went into the median and hit some reflective posts before crossing back over the highway, going over the guardrail and landing in a ditch." Cuomo was hospitalized after complaining of pain in his ribs, and Cuomo's assistant was also hospitalized with fractured ribs and back pain. The band has canceled all of their remaining December tour dates which include Boston, Washington DC, and Camden, NJ. Weezer's webmaster Karl Koch has posted the following message on the band's website.

Karl Koch writes:

Today at 7:18 AM EST, about 40 miles West of Albany on I-90, the weezer tour bus carrying Rivers and his family and assistants lost control as it hit a patch of black ice. The driver employed every ounce of skill he had in fighting to keep the bus upright, as the vehicle violently fishtailed over the highway. And while the bus did indeed go off the road, plunging about 8-10 vertical feet into a muddy ravine off to the right of the Thruway thus coming to a very abrupt stop, it did not flip or roll, despite having plowed right over a guardrail, flattening it. Kudos to the driver for somehow keeping things as level as they could be - surely this story would have been far more tragic if not for his actions.

Nonetheless the damage was severe, and everyone on the bus was either terrified or injured or both. The bus contained Rivers, his wife and daughter, their nanny, and Rivers' assistant Sarah. Both Sarah and Rivers' wife were pitched out of their upper level bunks onto the floor 5 feet below. Somehow Rivers' wife was uninjured, but Sarah sustained 2 fractured ribs and a fractured lower vertebrae. The baby daughter was in her crib unit and was fine, as was the nanny who was sleeping near the floor in her bunk at the time. However in the back lounge, Rivers was tossed around violently, waking up as he landed back on his mattress. He recalled not hitting anything, but later we learned that he must have, as he cracked 3 ribs and sustained some mostly minor but very painful internal damage, as well as hurting his lower leg somehow.

The interior of the bus was a chaotic mess with broken glass, smashed glasses and plates, food and clothing items strewn everywhere, as well as the refrigerator flying off the wall and many drawers coming right out of their slots, spewing their contents everywhere. On top of it the sliding interior doors were fused shut and the bus's electronics were ruined, so no one could get into the back lounge where Rivers lay immobile and unable to speak due to the pain in his ribcage. To top it off, the front door was jammed shut with 5 feet of heavy wet mud up pressed against it so there was no way to leave the bus.

Finally, using the jaws of life to remove a rear window bar, the local EMTs and firefighters got a ladder across the ravine to the rear bus window, where they could get to Rivers, eventually getting him and Sarah out on stretchers and into an ambulance. Meanwhile they dug frantically in the mud at the front of the bus, clearing the front door so everyone else could come out. To access the rest of the bus from Rivers' lounge, the fused sliding door was destroyed by the firefighters.

The other buses pulled up within 20 minutes of the accident, and already a long line of firetrucks and EMT vehicles were on the scene. I threw on my shoes and walked up just as the jaws of life were being turned on, catching a glimpse of Rivers lying inside on his back surrounded by EMTs. I couldnt believe what was happening in front of me, as Rivers lay so helpless, shivering in the center of the chaos, and meanwhile the sun was coming up and revealing an utterly beautiful light covering of snow on the surrounding trees. I dont know how to describe the wave of awfulness that gripped me as I watched, but adrenalin took over and the next thing I knew I was in the passenger seat of an ambulance transporting Rivers and Sarah to the hospital in Amsterdam, NY, about 10 miles from there. That adrenalin would sustain me all day, as everyone's did, from family to band to crew - everyone pitched in to help however they could all day as things unfolded.

Fast forward to now - Sarah was discharged, a 3-4 week period of extreme pain awaiting her as she heals from her injuries the only way possible, with time and gritted teeth. Rivers was transported to a larger area hospital where he remains under observation. He is resting about as comfortably as could be expected now, and we were relieved to hear that surgery is unlikely. Hopefully tomorrow the docs will have more info. You don't fool around with internal injury. Whatever happens, we forsee some gritted teeth in his future too.

We are sorry to say that the rest of the December Raditude Tour has been cancelled - when we can reschedule the dates we will, of course. I have no ticket or refund or whatever info at this time, but stay tuned to this site and the ticketing websites for more info. For now its a waiting game for all of us. Thanks for your kind thoughts and good wishes, we need them!

Perry's Pick: Drink Up Buttercup

Philadelphia seems to bare a regional weirdness. In the past few years, original bands like Dr. Dog and The Teeth have found success coming out of the Philadelphia area and the next one to make waves is Drink Up Buttercup. Psychedelic buzz rock is a good way to describe this band, who isn't exactly radio-friendly, but terribly catchy nonetheless. Drink Up Buttercup takes basic pop melodies and showers them with odd instrumentation and milky vocals. A more hole-in-the-wall Beatles sound, the band finds a good medium between the beautiful harmonies of Dr. Dog and the ferocious rants of Man Man. The choruses of songs like "Sosey and Dosey" and "Gods and Gentleman" are sure to rattle around in your brain long after your first listen. Despite occasionally nonsensical lyrics, Drink Up Buttercup brews up infectious hooks that resonate along with their complimenting catchy choruses. For a four-piece, the band gets an extremely full sound in the studio, which according to widespread critical praise, translates well in a live setting as well. Drink Up Buttercup was a big hit at this year's CMJ festival and left newly acqired fans highly anticipating a full length studio album. While the band is just getting on their feet, they have come out with a bang look extremely hopeful for 2010. Be sure to check out the singles that Drink Up Buttercup has released and don't miss them live if they come to your area.

drinkupbuttercup.com
myspace.com/drinkupbuttercupband

Grammy Noms Are In and They're......Not That Exciting

Wait, I guess I shouldn't say that, because for the first time in a while there are some pretty good names scattered among the nominees list. While year after year it angers me to see some of the more popular nominees get far too much credit (Black Eyed Peas, Lady GaGa, Kanye West---> the dude who made an ass of himself at the last big award show), when you take a look at the big picture, there are some names that deeper music lovers can appreciate. While I personally wasn't fond of their most recent album, it was more than enough to shoot Kings of Leon into super-stardom and in the mix for some of the biggest awards. Considering how much good music that those guys have made this past decade, I wish them the best of luck come February. Dave Matthews Band got a few sweet nominations including album of the year, so hopefully they can walk away with a few as well. Best New Artist has a few cool names including Zac Brown Band, Silversun Pickups, and MGMT, and the award will most likely go to the MGMT, which is very well deserved. While they didn't receive any big time nods, bands like Phish, Bela Fleck, Pearl Jam, and David Byrne & Brian Eno all got Grammy recognition this year. I know it's just a guilty pleasure, but when in doubt, I'm pulling for Beyonce's "Single Ladies" in any category it was nominated. You've heard my two cents, anybody have any input?

For a complete list of Grammy nominees, visit grammy.com

STS9 Winter Tour

Santa Cruz electronic group Sound Tribe Sector 9 have just announced a large set of nationwide dates for this winter which will be in support of the upcoming release of their newest full length album AD EXPLORATA. AD EXPLORATA will be available next Tuesday, December 8th, but the band just released "Oil & Water," the third and final single from the album, on iTunes and 1320 Records. Its good to see these guys loading up their touring schedule again. Last year, they did short tour where they only did PA sets which got mediocre reviews and it has been a while since these guys have been at it full swing. With electronic music quickly taking both the jam scene and the popular music scene by storm, STS9 should bring their A game this winter to stay on top.

STS9 Winter Dates:
12/29/09 Tue Gates Concert Hall Denver, CO
12/30/09 Wed Wells Fargo Theatre Denver, CO
12/31/09 Thu Wells Fargo Theatre Denver, CO
01/02/10 Sat Revolution Live Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/03/10 Sun Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/04/10 Mon Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/05/10 Tue Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/06/10 Wed Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/07/10 Thu Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
01/08/10 Fri Jam Cruise Fort Lauderdale, FL
02/11/10 Thu House of Blues San Diego, CA
02/12/10 Fri The Wiltern Los Angeles, CA
02/13/10 Sat Fox Theater Oakland, CA
02/14/10 Sun Grand Sierra Theatre (Reno Hilton) Reno, NV
02/18/10 Thu The Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR
02/19/10 Fri The Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR
02/20/10 Sat Showbox at the Market Seattle, WA
02/21/10 Sun Showbox at the Market Seattle, WA
02/22/10 Mon The Wilma Theatre Missoula, MT
02/25/10 Thu The Depot Salt Lake City, UT
02/26/10 Fri House of Blues Las Vegas, NV
02/27/10 Sat Marquee Theatre Tempe, AZ
02/28/10 Sun Rialto Theatre Tucson, AZ
03/03/10 Wed George's Majestic Fayetteville, AR
03/04/10 Thu Lyric Theatre Oxford, MS
03/05/10 Fri Cain's Ballroom Tulsa, OK
03/06/10 Sat House Of Blues Dallas, TX
03/07/10 Sun House of Blues New Orleans, LA
03/10/10 Wed The Music Farm Charleston, SC
03/11/10 Thu Amos' Southend Charlotte, NC
03/12/10 Fri The NorVa Norfolk, VA
03/13/10 Sat 9:30 Club Washington, DC
03/14/10 Sun 9:30 Club Washington, DC
03/17/10 Wed Mr. Small's Theatre Pittsburgh, PA
03/18/10 Thu Madison Theater Covington, KY
03/19/10 Fri The Pageant St. Louis, MO
03/20/10 Sat The Pageant St. Louis, MO

sts9.com

Tuesday Tribute: Beck

Beck Hansen, better known simply as Beck is recognized as one of the most creative and multi-dimensional artists of the past twenty years. Growing up in Los Angeles, Beck soaked in influences from the diverse music scene including hip-hop, punk, and latin music. After dropping out of high school and spending time in Europe and New York City, Beck met Chris Ballew, who would go on to form the Presidents of the United States of America, and the two performed regularly together. Beck was eventually picked up by independent label Bong Load Records and wrote his first big hit "Loser." "Loser" made its way up through the college rankings and eventually gained wide mainstream success. Beck signed with Geffen and became an instant 90's sensation. Beck's career is notable because of it's different creative stages. The absurd feelgoodness of Mellow Gold and Odelay as well as the more emotional Sea Change and the experimental Guero and Midnite Vultures have constantly kept Beck fans on their feet and anticipating his next move. He was made famous by his nonsensical white boy raps over funky sampled beats, but has gone on to write sophisticated folk melodies and well orchestrated funk grooves. Beck is an interesting character all around, being both an accomplished artist as well as an outspoken Scientologist. He is able to pull elements from his everyday life and translate them into song concepts as he did brilliantly for his 2002 album Sea Change which stems mainly from a breakup of a long time relationship. Despite the off-color approach of his initial jump on the music scene, Beck has been received very warmly by critics, having had two Rolling Stone Albums of the Year and been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards. With the turn of the decade, it is tough to tell how Beck may once again transform his styles, but today we can take a glance at the past and explore where he has gone thus far.

The first video this week is of Beck performing one of his biggest hits "Where Its At" on the short lived musical TV program Sessions at West 54th. The show, which was hosted by David Byrne, featured some really cool artists such as Phish, Beck, Ben Folds Five, and Keb Mo and a lot of the stuff is up on YouTube, so you should check it out. I love Beck's unusually funky stage presence.



Next up is Beck's later hit "Mixed Bizness" performed live on the show Farmclub in 2000. At this point in his touring career, Beck was using a full horn section and was getting a really solid sound. This tune is a great party starter as shown by the energy the crowd possesses.



When I first saw the video for "Loser" I thought either I was on drugs or the TV was on drugs. I have come to appreciate it as one of the best videos of all time to accompany one of the best songs of recent times. Rolling Stone named "Loser" song number 200 on its list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.



Last up is Beck performing "E-Pro," which is the first single off of his album Guero. This take is from Jools Holland's show and is a good example of how Beck has constantly morphed his musical styles and his live shows. This one features an oddly placed backup dancer/hype man/percussionist.



beck.com

Spoon Dates and Album Release Change

Many are anticipating the release of Spoon's new album Transference, which has now been moved up to January 19th on Merge Records. The first single off of the album, "Written In Reverse," will be available for digital download tomorrow December 1st. Additionally, a 7-inch vinyll will be available for the single on January 5th which will include the B-side "Mean Red Spider." Spoon has been highly regarded in the indie world since the 90's, but were put on the map after the success of their previous two albums, Gimme Fiction and Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Spoon also announced the first leg of their tour in support of their new album. Stops include Boston, San Diego, London, and Amsterdam.

Spoon 2010 Dates:
12/03/09 Thu Midland Theatre Kansas City, MO
12/04/09 Fri Orpheum Theatre Boston, MA
12/11/09 Fri The Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR
12/12/09 Sat RIMAC Arena San Diego, CA
12/31/09 Thu Riverside Theater Milwaukee, WI
02/14/10 Sun King Tuts Glasgow, GB
02/15/10 Mon Academy 3 Manchester, GB
02/16/10 Tue Electric Ballroom London, GB
02/18/10 Thu The Paradiso Amsterdam, NL
02/19/10 Fri Luxor Koln, GER
02/20/10 Sat FrannzClub Berlin, GER

spoontheband.com

Perry's Pick: Sydney Wayser

We're changing the pace a bit this week for Perry's Picks in order to cater to your lingering tryptophan hangovers and cozy holiday moods. Sydney Wayser, a Los Angeles native turned New Yorker, is a 22 year old multi-instrumentalist and brilliant vocalist who is making a name for herself with two full length albums already under her belt. Artistic and bright, Wayser's vocals are traceable to the colorful indifference of Fiona Apple or Mirah while maintaining a vibrant jubilance reminiscent of Regina Spektor or Leslie Feist. Wayser's French-American roots shine through beautifully in her relaxed Sunday morning jazz styles, incorporating upright bass and creative percussion into her full band sound. Her vocals are smoky and airy, but do not lack the soul of a Chan Marshall or Madeleine Peyroux. Her latest release, The Colorful, is exactly as it is titled, containing a wide spectrum of musical styles and an overall animated approach. Wayser does not only shine in the studio, but rather radiates the same attitude in her impressive live performances where she is accompanied by a three-piece rhythm section. While on the surface her unique vocals are an immediate draw, her songwriting is both playful and complex. Drawing influence from anything ranging from Woody Allen movies to Nick Drake albums to toys, Wayser's way with words shows her youthful but sophisticated grasp on life and her ability to translate her outlook to song. With a background that expands beyond just a pianist and vocalist, Wayser's choice of instrumentation is open-minded and shows her ability to work well with producer and bandmate Blaze McKenzie. Her name is spreading well throughout the New York and Los Angeles areas thanks to praise from critics from NPR music, Daytrotter, and Smoke Music. While Wayser is quickly gaining momentum, she is asking for assistance from fans to support her "Sydney Wayser's Lonely Hearts Club Van" fund. She is depending on fan donations to help fund a spring and summer tour and in order to gain such donations, she is offering various prizes and incentives. To check out the campaign, take a look at her kickstart page. Sydney Wayser is a clear talent that should appeal to a wide array of listeners, so be sure to pick up her latest album The Colorful and check her out on the road if you have a chance.


Bells

Sydney Wayser | MySpace Music Videos

sydneywayser.com
myspace.com/sydneywayser

Avett Brothers Spring Tour

Alternative folk trio the Avett Brothers are embarking on a massive Spring tour in support of their latest release I and Love and You. The album, which was produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, has received universal praise from critics and sold over 40,000 copies in its first week alone. Their tour will take them from the southeast out to the west coast for a total of 26 dates. The band also recently completed filming for their appearance on the PBS special Austin City Limits which will air January 23rd on PBS. Catch these guys on tour this spring and pick up a copy of I and Love and You which is in stores now.

Avett Brothers Spring Tour:
12/30/09 Wed Tennessee Theatre Knoxville, TN
12/31/09 Thu Asheville Civic Center Asheville, NC (w/ Langhorne Slim)
01/01/10 Fri Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA (w/ Langhorne Slim)
01/03/10 Sun Granada Theater Dallas, TX (w/ Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers)
02/24/10 Wed Ohio University Athens, OH (w/ The Low Anthem)
02/26/10 Fri The State Theater Ithaca, NY (w/ The Low Anthem)
02/27/10 Sat House Of Blues Cleveland, OH (w/ The Low Anthem)
02/28/10 Sun Murat Egyptian Room Indianapolis, IN (w/ The Low Anthem)
03/02/10 Tue Missouri Theatre Columbia, MO (w/ The Low Anthem)
03/03/10 Wed Rose State College Midwest City, OK (w/ The Low Anthem)
03/05/10 Fri First Avenue Minneapolis, MN (w/ The Low Anthem)
03/06/10 Sat Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee, WI (w/ The Low Anthem)
03/07/10 Sun House of Blues Chicago, IL (w/ The Low Anthem)
03/09/10 Tue Michigan Theatre Ann Arbor, MI (w/ The Low Anthem)
04/17/10 Sat Fox Theater Oakland, CA
04/18/10 Sun Grand Sierra Theatre (Reno Hilton) Reno, NV
04/20/10 Tue Boulder Theater Boulder, CO
04/21/10 Wed Boulder Theater Boulder, CO
04/23/10 Fri Rialto Theatre Tucson, AZ
04/24/10 Sat Mesa Arts Center - Ikeda Theater Mesa, AZ
04/25/10 Sun Stagecoach Music Festival (Empire Polo Fields) Indio, CA
04/27/10 Tue Crest Theater Sacramento, CA
04/28/10 Wed Arlington Theatre Santa Barbara, CA
04/29/10 Thu House of Blues San Diego, CA
05/02/10 Sun MerleFest Wilkesboro, NC
05/29/10 Sat DelFest Cumberland, MD

theavettbrothers.com

Tuesday Tribute: Spin Doctors

Emerging in the 1980's from New York City along with buddy John Popper (of Blues Traveler fame) were Chris Barron and Eric Schenkman who would go on to form one of the early 90's biggest sensations, the Spin Doctors. Bridging the gap between outstanding live jams and radio friendly pop, the Spin Doctors' bass-heavy sound and playful lyrics were blasted at every college party for a solid few years. While the band achieved tremendous success with hits like "Two Princes" and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong," people tend to overlook the amazing energy that this band put into their live performance. The funky slap bass of Mark White locked in with the solid drum grooves of Aaron Comess as well as the lead licks of Eric Schenkman and the stage presence of frontman Chris Barron in a live setting all played a significant part in attracting both neo-hippies as well as 90's pop rock fiends. The band took off after the release of their debut album, Pocket Full of Kryptonite in 1991 and then in 1992 they toured with Blues Traveler, Phish, and Widespread Panic as part of the first ever H.O.R.D.E. festival. As the band's popularity began to wane later in the 90's, Chris Barron suffered a vocal chord paralysis that left him unable to speak well, let alone sing. Despite given a 50/50 chance to ever sing again, he gained his voice back a year later and reunited with the Spin Doctors in the early 2000's. The band released a studio album in 2005 called Nice Talking To Me and they still play scattered gigs, but have never seen the radio or touring success that they had in the 90's. The Spin Doctors could be one of the more underrated bands of the past 20 years. With stations like VH1 criticizing the Spin Doctors' biggest hit "Two Princes" for being "awesomely bad," few people take the time to explore their deeper cuts which were responsible for giving them their notable live following. It is because of this that this week we go back and explore some of the Spin Doctors' material.

First up this week is a playful rendition of the party anthem "What Time is It?" live on David Letterman in 1993. Gotta love the stage presence of Chris Barron, and it seems as though Demi Moore enjoyed the performance too.



Up next is the band doing their bluesy tune "Cleopatra's Cat" live at Woodstock '94. The lead riff on this song is completely mean and it looks like the band drew a pretty decent crowd. Check out Mark White's rainbow bass, yikes!



The band gets a bit of help from Elmo and friends for a version of "Two Princes" on Sesame Street. This rendition is lyrically tweaked to emphasize the importance of sharing and cooperation. Nice!



Last up, the boys are paid a visit by the great Roger Daltrey for a version of The Who's "Substitute" on David Letterman. Daltrey still sounds pretty young in this recording and the Spins look like their having a blast.



spindoctors.com

Furthur Add Late Winter Dates

The latest side project to gain buzz within the Grateful Dead world is Furthur. Consisting of Bob Weir and Phil Lesh at the front and backed by Jeff Chimenti (Keys) and Jay Lane (drums) of RatDog, John Kadlecik (guitar) who just announced his departure from Dark Star Orchestra, and Joe Russo (drums) who is known best for being half of the Benevento/Russo Duo. The collective came together over the summer after The Dead had completed their Spring and Summer dates and were met with a terrific reception at the eight shows they played earlier this fall around the country. It seems as though Furthur could be the future of Dead reincarnations seeing as they have charted a very impressive tour for late this winter.

Furthur 2010 Dates:
February 5 Miami, FL Bayfront Park Amphitheatre
February 6 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live
February 8 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
February 9 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
February 10 Charlotte, NC Bojangles Coliseum
February 12 Hampton, VA Hampton Coliseum
February 13 Faifax, VA Patriot Ctr, George Mason Univ.
February 14 Ithaca, NY Barton Hall, Cornell University
February 15 Lehigh Univ. Bethlehem, PA Stabler Arena
February 17 Buffalo, NY Shea’s Performing Arts Center
February 18 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
February 19 Amherst, MA Mullins Center, Univ of Mass
February 20 Utica, NY Utica Auditorium
February 22 Newark, DE Bob Carpenter Ctr, Univ of Delaware
February 23 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
February 24 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
February 26 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
February 27 Atlantic City, NJ Trump Taj Mahal, Estess Arena
March 2 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
March 3 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
March 8 Portland, OR Portland Memorial Coliseum

further.net

moe. Winter Tour

2010 marks moe.'s 20th anniversary and the boys are kicking it off with a short celebratory tour. After playing in Warrren Haynes' 2009 Christmas Jam on December 12th, moe. will spend January playing 7 shows around the northeast. moe. have also announced that their annual winter festival, Snoe.down, will take place March 26th through 28th in Rutland, Vermont at Spartan Arena and and at the Killington Ski Resort in Killington, Vermont. A limited number of early bird tickets are on sale now for an overwhelmingly reasonable price of 69$. Early bird VIP passes are also on sale now for only 135$. This is one of the better priced festivals you will find, so if you think you want to go, don't wait to make your purchase. For more information, visit snoedown.com

moe. Winter Dates
12/12- Christmas Jam- Asheville, NC
1/22- Roseland Ballroom- New York, NY
1/23- Roseland Ballroom- New York, NY
1/27- Sherman Theatre- Stroudsberg, PA
1/28- Harro East Ballroom- Rochester, NY
1/29- House of Blues- Boston, MA
1/30- State Theatre- Ithaca, NY
3/26- Spartan Arena- Rutland, VT
3/27- Killington Ski Resort- Killington, VT*
3/27- Spartan Arena- Rutland, VT

*Outdoor Afternoon Show. More acts to be announced for Snoe.down 2010.

moe.org

Perry's Pick: Jesse Dee

One of the musical highlights of this decade has been the resurgence of vintage soul singers in popular music. Names like Amy Winehouse, Sharon Jones, and Raphael Saadiq were all able to bring music fans back to yesteryear with their throwback hits and killer backing bands. The latest talent to dip his pen in the nostalgic ink is Boston's own Jesse Dee. Following in the footsteps of fellow Boston golden boy Eli "Paperboy" Reed, Jesse Dee's feel-good vibe and soulful swagger are dragging even the most flat-footed folks out on the dance floor. With a voice that is traceable to R&B classics such as Sam Cooke, Arthur Conley, and Al Green, Jesse Dee does an exceptional job modernizing his sound just enough so that it constantly sounds fresh and doesn't feel as though he is simply milking the nostalgia factor. His slick set of pipes are finely complimented by his greasy G. Love guitar licks and his very solid backing backing band. Live, he is backed simply by 3 other musicians, but is able to produce a full and explosive sound. In the studio, Jessie Dee is assisted by a large collective of horn players, backup singers, percussionists, and other various talents. His latest release, Bittersweet Batch, has turned heads both locally and internationally. He does a great Marvin Gaye on cuts like "Yet To Come," while the simplicity of acoustic guitar in "Slow Down" helps to add shine to his already polished vocals. Jessie Dee is achieving quick success and rapidly gaining a heavy fanbase worldwide. He has opened for the likes of Al Green and Etta James and is currently up for a Boston Music Award for R&B Act of the Year. Jesse Dee also just released a holiday tune called "Underneath The Christmas Tree" which is sure to liven the spirits this season. Be sure to pick up Jesse Dee's Bittersweet Batch and if you have the chance, don't miss seeing him live as well.



myspace.com/jessedee

2010 Festival Update

Since my last report, there have been a few more big date announcements in the festival world. Perhaps summer's most popular festival, Bonnaroo, will take place June 10th-13th back in Manchester, Tennessee. Bonnaroo has drastically grown since its formation in 2002. Some say this growth has been for the better, while others complain about commercialization, over-attendance, and a diversification of lineup choices. Regardless, Bonnaroo 2009 saw headliners such as Phish, Bruce Springsteen, and the Beastie Boys, so they must be doing something right. A holiday ticket presale begins next Friday, November 27th and tickets start at 209.50$. To purchase tickets, visit bonnaroo.com. Also recently announced are the dates for the 2010 Wanee Festival. This year's Allman Brothers classic will take place April 16th and 17th in the Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida. Taking place at one of the Nation's most beautiful outdoor music settings, the Allman's usually do a great job scrapping up a solid lineup for this festival season kickoff. For more information on this event, visit Wanee's very cool website at waneefestival.com. Lastly, the dates of Gathering of the Vibes 2010 were just announced. The festival will once again take place in Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT and this year's dates are July 29th to August 1st. The festival was created in honor of Jerry Garcia, so it is only appropriate that Gathering of the Vibes 2010 is celebrated the weekend of Jerry's birthday. Early bird tickets go on sale next Friday, November 27th. For more information, visit the Vibes website at gatheringofthevibes.com. Keep checking up for more festival updates and lineup announcements.

Akron/Family Winter Dates

Brooklyn indie rockers Akron/Family have just added a bunch of winter dates that will take them all over the southeast. The band is currently finishing up a leg of international dates that brought them across Europe and Australia. Akron/Family has been working hard since the release of their latest album Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free, which helped put their unique brand of hippie folk on the radar. The band is revered for their interactive and energetic live show, so catch them on the road while they're still playing for modestly sized crowds.

Akron/Family Winter Dates:
02/17/10 Wed Artistika Cafe Greensboro, NC
02/18/10 Thu 40 Watt Club Athens, GA
02/19/10 Fri The Backbooth Orlando, FL
02/20/10 Sat Club Downunder Tallahassee, FL
02/21/10 Sun One Eyed Jacks New Orleans, LA
02/23/10 Tue Walter's On Washington Houston, TX
02/24/10 Wed The Parish Austin, TX
02/25/10 Thu Granada Theater Dallas, TX
02/26/10 Fri Hi Tone Memphis, TN
02/27/10 Sat Exit/In Nashville, TN
02/28/10 Sun Pilot Light Knoxville, TN
03/03/10 Wed Music Hall Of Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY

akronfamily.com

Tuesday Tribute: Dr. John

New Orleans music is one based on deep rooted tradition. Having played a huge part in the spread and popularity of jazz, funk, and zydeco music, New Orleans is one of the music capitals of the world. One of the biggest names and most venerated musicians from the bayou is Mac Rebennack, better known as Dr. John. One of the most recognizable voices in modern music, Dr. John has had an eventful solo career and has been a part of many successful collaborations. Dr. John's 1968 debut album, Gris Gris, is considered one of the all-time greats and sounded very original in an era when psychedelic rock and guitar-gods ruled the airwaves. Sparked by the popularity of the single "Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya," the album was heavily influenced by Creole culture and proved that Dr. John was an experimental composer from the get-go. Although he was rarely in the forefront of American music, he once again achieved notoriety in the 1970's for his work covering popular New Orleans standards such as "Iko Iko" and for funkier, horn-driven originals such as "Right Place Wrong Time." Dr. John gained the respect of many artists in the music world such as The Meters, Allen Toussaint, and The Band, who featured Dr. John in their famous final show, The Last Waltz. Another person whom Dr. John had an influence on was Jim Henson, who fashioned his character Dr. Teeth after Dr. John. Dr. John has continued to record and perform to the present day. Much of his recent work has benefited the victims of Hurricane Katrina and helped to rebuild New Orleans both physically and in character. Dr. John is an incredible musician and personality who embodies the New Orleans spirit, so this week, we send a tribute out to him.

The first video this week is of the Doctor playing "Such a Night." This is the same tune that he plays with the band on The Last Waltz, but this version features some help from Jools Holland and his horn section as well as Eric Clapton. You get a good sense of just how respected he is when Clapton doesn't even step out for a solo.



The next video is pure gold. Etta James sits in with Dr. John for a version of her tune "I'd Rather Go Blind (Blind Girl)." Etta absolutely rips it up on this one and Dr. John doesn't do a bad job making it a duet either.



Here's one of Dr. John doing "Iko Iko" with an impressive line-up that includes Ringo Starr, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Clarence Clemons. Dr. John is sporting some nice Mardi Gras apparel for this tune.



Last up is Dr. John pairing up with Johnny Winter for a take of "Talk To Your Daughter." Both of them step out for solos and they also give a little time for the blues harp player to lay down some licks.



drjohn.org

Hot Chip Tour

British electrogeeks Hot Chip are gearing up for the release of the new studio album One Life Stand on February 9th. In support of the new album, the band has announced a series of shows both in Europe and in North America. Hot Chip's last album, Made In The Dark, was regarded as one of 2008's best albums and helped spark a fire of praise from what was previously a small buzz. Opening for Hot Chip for their North American dates are fellow Brits, The xx. Check out Hot Chip's new album One Life Stand on February 9th and keep your eyes out for possible additional US dates.

Hot Chip Tour:
02-12 Glasgow, Scotland - Academy
02-13 Edinburgh, Scotland - Picture House
02-15 Nottingham, England - Academy
02-16 Leeds, England - Academy
02-18 Newcastle, England - O2 Academy
02-19 Manchester, England - Academy
02-20 Birmingham, England - O2 Academy
02-22 Bournemouth, England - O2 Academy
02-23 Bristol, England - O2 Academy
02-24 Norwich, England - O2 Academy
02-26 London, England - O2 Brixton Academy
02-27 London, England - O2 Brixton Academy
04-16 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater *
04-19 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre *
04-20 Toronto, Ontario - Koolhaus *
04-22 New York, NY - Terminal 5 *
04-24 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club *

*With The xx

hotchip.co.uk

Perry's Pick: Township

Psychedelics, mullet-rock, hair-metal, and southern twang are four very different terms that you might use to describe Township. Hailing from Boston Rock City, these four dudes could be the manliest rockers to represent The Bean in a long time. Township definitely have a nostalgic appeal, but it hard to pin their sound to a specific decade. They possess the in-your-face inventiveness of The Who, the southern seventies scream of The Faces, and the sweaty glamor of Jane's Addiction, while adding their own modernized feel. Drawing similarities to other local sounds, Township trip over to the psychedelic realm of Apollo Sunshine while maintaining the burliness of Boston brethren Bang Camaro. Their latest self-titled released contains track after track of edgy rawk thats driven by fuzzy bass grooves and husky, stomping drum beats. Face-melters is the description that best fits the fiery guitar solos that help complete the puzzle. Bearded and mustached, the Township personality reeks of manliness, especially with song titles like "Beaver Fever" and "Summer of Dudes." The buzz around Township is quickly leaking outside of the northeast, hinting that the boys might be on-deck to be Boston's next rock representatives. Critics have lauded both Township's studio work as well as their live performance, exaggerating the fact that the whole Township package is soaked in originality. Be sure to check out their latest release, Township, and for a full experience, get out and see these guys live.



thefamilytownship.com
myspace.com/thefamilytownship

The Who to Perform Super Bowl Halftime Show

In the list of most American things, football ranks up towards the very top along with apple pie and obesity. The Super Bowl is perhaps America's biggest sporting event, so big in fact that it practically has its own holiday. This coming Super Bowl Sunday gear up for the classic, fist pounding rock of The Who. With a whole catalog of hits, its tough to tell what these guys may squeeze into the 3 or 4 song set that is typically allotted. "My Generation"? "Pinball Wizard"? "Baba O'Reilly"? I guess we'll have to wait and see. This year's Super Bowl will be played on February 7th in Miami, FL.

thewho.com

Greyboy Allstars December Run

The venerable west coast funkateers known as the Greyboy Allstars are gearing up for a series of dates this December that will lead up to a New Year's Eve show in Denver at the Ogden Theatre. Lately, the band hasn't maintained the loaded touring schedule that they have in years past due to many successful side projects. Saxophonist Karl Denson has been very busy with his solo band Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. Check out their latest album Brother's Keeper, it's one of the year's best jazz-funk releases. Guitarist Elgin Park was busy scoring Judd Apatow's latest film Funny People while Robert Walter and drummer Aaron Redfield have produced and performed on albums by other bands and artists. The upcoming mini-tour will bring the Greyboy Allstars over to the east coast for series of dates and then back to the west coast by the end of the month. If any east-coasters are unfamiliar with these guys, a good east coast comparison is Lettuce, but with a bit more sax and B3. Basically, the Greyboy Allstars know how to start a party, so if you're starting to cool off to this chilly east coast weather, come out for a show and watch these guys bring the heat.

Greyboy Allstars December Tour
12/15- The Asylum- Portland, ME
12/16- The Paradise Rock Club- Boston, MA
12/17- Toad's Place- New Haven, CT
12/18- 9:30 Club- Washington, DC
12/19- Fillmore NY at Irving Plaza- New York, NY
12/20- World Cafe Live- Philadelphia, PA
12/23- Belly Up Tavern- Solana Beach, CA
12/31- Ogden Theatre- Denver, CO

greyboyallstars.com

Yonder Mountain String Band Cabin Fever Tour 2010

Yonder Mountain String Band announced their annual Cabin Fever Tour which will take them all throughout the Midwest and Southeast. The band will do New Year's Eve at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver and cap off the tour with a series of sets at Jam in the Dam 2010 in Melkweg, Amsterdam. Yonder is perhaps today's most popular touring bluegrass bands. They do a great job of modernizing the somewhat fading genre by doing interesting cover selections and keeping their live shows upbeat and in-your-face. Check these guys out if they come to a venue near you.

Yonder Mountain String Band Tour:
12/29/2009 Theatre Boulder,CO
12/30/09 Wed The Fillmore Auditorium Denver, CO
12/31/09 Thu The Fillmore Auditorium Denver, CO
1/26/2010 George’s Majestic Lounge Fayetteville,AR
1/28/2010 House of Blues New Orleans,LA
1/29/2010 Tabernacle Atlanta,GA
1/30/2010 War Memorial Auditorium Nashville,TN
1/31/2010 WorkPlay Soundstage Theatre Birmingham,AL
2/3/2010 Orange Peel Asheville,NC
2/4/2010 Orange Peel Asheville,NC
2/5/2010 Music Farm Charleston,SC
2/6/2010 Tennessee Theatre Knoxville,TN
2/10/2010 The Social Orlando,FL
2/11/2010 Freebird Live Jacksonville Beach,FL
2/12/2010 Revolution Live Ft. Lauderdale,FL
2/13/2010 The Ritz Ybor TAMPA,FL
2/14/2010 Soul Kitchen Mobile,AL
2/17/2010 Headliners Music Hall Louisville,KY
2/18/2010 Lifestyle Communities Pavilion Columbus,OH
2/19/2010 The Pageant St. Louis,MO
2/20/2010 The Pageant St. Louis,MO
2/21/2010 Cain’s Ballroom Tulsa,OK
03/21/10 Jam In The Dam, Melkweg Amsterdam, NL
03/22/10 Jam In The Dam, Melkweg Amsterdam, NL
03/23/10 Jam In The Dam, Melkweg Amsterdam, NL

yondermountain.com

Tuesday Tribute: Steve Winwood

Steve Winwood could possibly be Rock n Roll's greatest legend that not enough people know a lot about. Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, and Blind Faith are just a few of the collectives that Winwood has masterminded as he has gradually earned the utmost respect in the music business. When Winwood was only 15, he entered the music business playing the Hammond B3 and blowing people away with his spectacular voice as the lead singer for the Spencer Davis Group. Hits such as "Gimme Some Loving" and "I'm a Man" got his name on the map early before he left the group to be a founding member of the groundbreaking group Traffic. Traffic is seen by many to be rock's first jam-band because of Winwood's ability to lock in a groove with Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason, and Chris Wood while leaving ample room for improvisation. Winwood also stretched out his repertoire to the guitar, which can be heard on such Traffic hits as "Dear Mr. Fantasy." Around this time, Winwood met up with guitar-master Eric Clapton and the two formed supergroup Blind Faith along with Ginger Baker and Ric Grech. The project was short-lived, but their self-titled album is still considered a classic. One of Winwood's best qualities is his ability to "get with the times." Once Traffic split up, Winwood had a successful solo career throughout the 80's with hits that included "Higher Love," "Valerie," and "Back in the High Life Again." Winwood continues to release albums quite proficiently and has toured throughout the current decade. Winwood was included in Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2007 and he is currently touring with Clapton all around the world. Steve Winwood may never receive the individual attention he deserves, but behind the godly praise that guys like Clapton, Hendrix, and Jimmy Paige receive, Winwood is a Rock God in his own right. This Tuesday, who honor Steve Winwood's greatness.

The first video this week is from way back in 1967 when Winwood was still tickling the ivories for the Spencer Davis Group. Winwood's vocals in this clip are absolutely mind-blowing; it's no wonder this song is such a classic. If I could recommend an album, the Traffic album "Live at the Canteen" features great takes of this tune as well as "Medicated Goo," "Dear Mr. Fantasy," and others.



Next up is a nice live take of Traffic doing "Light Up or Leave Me Alone." Jim Capaldi sings this one, but Winwood steps up on the axe for a few solos. The whole band looks like they might have "lit up" before this tune.



80's Winwood was perhaps most famous for the upbeat "Higher Love." But another great tune, while totally soaked up in 80's cheesieness, is "Back in the High Life Again." Here's the official music video for the song.



While a bit shaky on the video quality, the final video shows Winwood being joined by Eric Clapton on stage for "Dear Mr. Fantasy" in 2009. The two clearly show-off their unfathomable chops, but check out Clapton's drummer, Abe Laborial Jr., tear up the kit as well.



stevewinwood.com

2010 Festival Updates

Festival season 2010 is a long way from now, but it never hurts to start your vacation planning a little earlier than usual. The festival that seems to be at the top of today's news is the Sasquatch! Music Festival that takes place annually at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington. Organizers have announced that the festival will once again take place on Memorial Day Weekend and while no lineup announcements have been made, Pitchfork reports that Pavement will be one of the 2010 headliners. Special 3-day early-bird tickets are already for sale for Sasquatch! on their website. Lollapalooza, Chicago's big summer classic, will be returning to Grant Park on August 6-8 2010. Early bird tickets have already sold out for Lolla '10, but organizers would like to hear from you as to who you would like to see play next year's festival. As it reads on the website:

"Tell us who you’d put on next year's Lollapalooza lineup, happening August 6-8, 2010. Give us your Top 5 artists — monster headliners to bands we’ve never even heard of -- from rock to avant-garde, indie to hip-hop, and all the sounds in between. Speak up by November 10. We’ll collect all of your ideas, then see what we can make happen."

Thats not much time to act, but if you're thinking about attending, its worth a submission. Just visit their website to do so. Below are a few more dates announced for other popular summer festivals.

Wakarusa
-June 3-6, 2010, Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, AK
-wakarusa.com

Mountain Jam
-June 4-6, 2010, Hunter Mountain in Hunter, NY
-mountainjam.com

Jam in the Dam
-March 21st-23rd, 2010, Melkweg in Amsterdam, NL
-jaminthedam.com

Desert Rocks Music Festival
-June 10th-13th, 2010, Moab, UT
-desertrocks.com

Check back because more will be announced as we approach summer of 2010.

Perry's Pick: Mondo Gecko

Massachusetts' latest contribution to the jam scene is a five-piece funk rock outfit called Mondo Gecko. With a strong emphasis on live improvisation, the group features driving lead guitar similar to Umphrey's McGee contrasted with the funkier clavinet and keyboard lines reminiscent of Phish's Page McConnell. Also similar to Phish is Mondo Gecko's grassroots approach of playing local venues, building upon a dedicated fanbase, and involving friends and family with street team, merchandise, and touring assistance. The group has played all over the northeast and it would not be surprising if they started to tour nationally within a short period of time. Musically, Mondo Gecko is not restricted by a single genre, but rather fuses elements of rock, jazz, funk, and reggae among other musical styles to make for a live experience that covers all cylinders. Each member is well-seasoned, having played in other local groups previous to Mondo Gecko, so they all bring a unique personal style to solos as well as to the band's sound as a whole. Their story-like songwriting nicely compliments the full instrumental groove that backs them. The glue of the group is the interlocking groove of bassist Andrew Walley and drummer Aaron Morey, who together provide a catapult for guitarists Brad Garone and Luke Stratton to contribute explosive solos or share in the groove with funky rhythm licks. Weaving in and out of the guitar is keyboardist Eric McEwen who lends a whole different perspective, taking many different tones and lending a unique attitude to every song. Mondo Gecko are still getting on their feet, but thanks to a constantly loaded gigging schedule, their name is spreading like wildfire throughout the jam community. Their open taping policy has created plenty of opportunity for new listeners to hop aboard, but to get the full experience, you must get out and see these guys live.

Here's a taste of some live Mondo Gecko with the 2-part tale of "Poncho."





mondogecko.com

myspace.com/mondogeckomusic