Ryan Montbleau Band Fall Tour

Singer-songwriter Ryan Montbleau and his band are kicking off their fall tour tonight in Pittsburgh. The Massachusetts native leads one of America's hardest working bands, as they are constantly gigging and making themselves heard. Montbleau's soulful voice stands at the forefront of the band's music which ranges from folk rock to soul to the occasional hint of bluegrass. Montbleau's band consists of some of New England's most seasoned musicians and they are known to jam out hard during live performances. Lend your support to such a fine and hardworking group of musicians and go see they as they hit the road for a massive tour this fall.

Ryan Montbleau Band Fall Tour:
9/30- Thunderbird Cafe- Pittsburgh, PA
10/1- CIRCUS- Columbus, OH
10/2- Canal Street Tavern- Dayton, OH
10/3- A Concert To Remember- Cincinnati, OH, w/ Jon Justice and Phillip Frenchette
10/6- The Brown Bear- Elkhart Lake, WI
10/7- High Noon Saloon- Madison, WI
10/8- Miramar Theatre- Milwaukee, WI
10/9- Beat Kitchen- Chicago, IL
10/10- 400 Bar- Minneapolis, MN
10/11- The Aquarium- Fargo, ND
10/12- Latitude 44- Sioux Falls, SD
10/14- The Railyard Ale House- Billings, MT
10/15- The Filling Station- Bozeman, MT
10/16- John's Alley- Moscow, ID
10/17- Chop Suey- Seattle, WA
10/18- Mississippi Studios- Portland, OR
10/20- Humboldt Brews- Arcata, CA
10/21- Red Devil Lounge- San Francisco, CA
10/22- Moe's Alley- Santa Cruz, CA
10/23- The Mint- Los Angeles, CA
10/24- Winston's- San Diego, CA
10/27- Downstairs- Park City, UT
10/28- The State Room- Salt Lake City, UT
10/29- Steve's Guitars- Carbondale, CO
10/30- Avogadro's Number- Fort Collins, CO
10/31- Owsley's Golden Road- Denver, CO
11/2- Crosstown Station- Kansas City, MO
11/4- George's Majestic Lounge- Fayetteville, AR
11/5- The Blue Door- Oklahoma City, OK
11/6- NYLO Piano at Legacy- Plano, TX
11/7- Momo's- Austin, TX
11/8- McGonigel's Mucky Duck- Houston, TX
11/12- The Plaza Theatre- Orlando, FL, w/ Zach Deputy
11/13- Bear Creek Music Festival- Live Oak, FL
11/17- Neighborhood Theatre- Charlotte, NC, w/ Kyle Hollingsworth Band
11/18- The Pour House- Raleigh, NC, w/ Kyle Hollingsworth Band
11/19- The Pour House- Charleston, SC, w/ Kyle Hollingsworth Band
11/20- The Garage at Biltmore- Asheville, NC w/ Kyle Hollingsworth Band
11/22- Smith's Olde Bar- Atlanta, GA
11/24- IOTA Club and Cafe- Arlington, VA
11/25- Rams Head Live!- Baltimore, MD w/ The Bridge
12/3- Higher Ground- Burlington, VT
12/4- Pearl Street Nightclub- Northampton, MA
12/5- Paradise Rock Club- Boston, MA
12/10- Bowery Ballroom- New York, NY
12/11- Bearsville Theatre- Woodstock, NY
12/30 & 31- Fairfield Theatre Company- Fairfield, CT
1/3- Jam Cruise- Ft. Lauderdale, FL

www.ryanmontbleauband.com/

Tuesday Tribute: Blind Melon

This week's Tuesday Tribute goes to a band that not many people see beyond just one song. Blind Melon was formed in 1989 and quickly rose to fame after the release of their debut self titled album in 1992. In a time when the grunge sounds of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden ruled the radio waves, Blind Melon's most unique attribute was the unforgettable voice of lead singer Shannon Hoon. Hoon's voice could possibly be described as lying somewhere between Janis Joplin and Axl rose, but many would agree it was one of the defining voices of 90's. While a bit heavier than jambands like Phish or Widespread Panic, Blind Melon was also known to drift into improvisational segments in their live performances. The release of single "No Rain" saw Blind Melon at their highest peak of popularity, but the band was able to push no further after the tragic death of Hoon in 1995. The remaining members of Blind Melon were quiet for years after Hoon's death until 2006 when they decided to reunite with a new lead singer. Fan reception was anything but warm as the reunited group decided to keep the name Blind Melon, but regardless of some hostility by many Hoon loyals, the band continues to gig today.

The first video I'll share today is the video of the 1993 single "Tones of Home." With a bass heavy feel and in-your-face lyrics, this song was one that shoved Blind Melon into the same realm as the grunge counterparts of their day. Nonetheless, it is a catchy tune and it wonderfully highlights Hoon's terrific vocals.



The next video is of a very groovy cover that the band did of Schoolhouse Rocks' "Three is The Magic Number." The song is complete with jazz flute fills, sound bytes of the Schoolhouse Rock narrator, and a great deal of arithmetic. The cover fits perfectly with the original animation.



Next up is a clip of Blind Melon performing the tune "Soup" live at Woodstock '94. Hoon had just gotten out of drug rehab at the time of this performance, but didn't tell his bandmates that he took acid before their set. As you can see, he is in his own world as the rowdy crowd of thousands push and shove each other to this beautiful song.



Lastly, I bring you the tune that defined this band in their short lifespan. "No Rain" was a track that brought the band great success in the 90's and continues to flourish today as it has been used in numerous soundtracks, commercials, and television shows since its release over 15 years ago. While Shannon Hoon struggled throughout his final years on earth, "No Rain" was a testament to carefree happiness and optimism. It is good to see him smile in this acoustic take.



www.myspace.com/blindmelon

Thom Yorke and Flea Team Up

Thom Yorke seems to be one of the most frequent appearing names in music news these days, but this time the news is sure to grab attention. With the steady release of new solo material over the past year or so, the Radiohead frontman posted on Radiohead's blog that he has formed a new solo band to perform this material. Joining Yorke in this band is Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Beck/REM drummer Joey Waronker, percussionist Mauro Refosco, and Red Hot Chili Peppers bass-wizard Flea. Personally, I'm psyched to see how Flea funk-rock slap riffs will fit in with Yorke's dark, heavier songwriting, but regardless, this is going to be an interesting project. The group only has two gigs lined up at the moment and they are October 4th and 5th at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. Lets keep our fingers crossed for some more dates in the future!

www.myspace.com/thomyorkemusic

Phish: Halloween Hints?

Just posted today on Phish's website is a gallery of album covers which could possibly act to narrow down which album will be covered on Halloween. For those who are unfamiliar with Phish's Halloween tradition, every Halloween Phish performs a "costume" set where they cover an entire album by an artist or band whom they are inspired by. While many have speculated as to which album they will play during their costume set at Halloween weekend's Festival 8, there have been no hints given by the band until now. Among the numerous albums displayed on their website are some that could've been predicted such as Thriller (in memory of Michael Jackson), Exile on Main St. (Phish frequently covers "Loving Cup" from this Stones classic), and Fear of Music (they also commonly pull out a funky cover of "Cities" from this Talking Heads album), but the plethora of covers also shows some that come as a complete surprise like MGMT's Oracular Spectacular, Beastie Boys' Hello Nasty, and the White Stripes' Get Behind Me Satan. Seeing as how the website says Phish will play the "last record left alive," I'm sure they will sporadically take albums away leaving one in the end for all Phishheads to enjoy. Take a peek at the gallery for yourself at phish.com. Phish will perform this costume set at Festival 8 which will take place 10/30-11/1 at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, CA.

Attention College Students: DJ Dangerous Dave and PhiStock

Fall is a busy time for college students, but its crucial to leave room for the most important thing: The music. For all students in the Boston area, I have a couple things to give you a heads-up about. The first being Wentworth's #1 radio show, DJ Dangerous Dave's "Through The Wire." Dangerous Dave (Dave Robb) is back at it for year number three as the shows host and plans to bring the show to the next level this year by featuring guest hosts and perhaps even organizing concerts by schoolyear's end. For those unfamiliar with the show, it airs Tuesday and Thursday nights from 8-9PM (ignore the times on the picture) and features a wide array of music as well as insightful chatter about today's on-goings and going-ons. You can stream Dave's show by visiting http://wire.wit.edu/




Next I would like to make everybody aware of a special event occurring this Saturday at the BU beach at Boston University. PhiStock, presented by BU's Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, will be happening this Saturday, October 3rd, from 1-4PM. The event, which will feature music, arts, and guest speakers, will benefit the Sharsheret Breast Cancer Organization as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month. As for music, the lineup is as follows:
Chorderoy (www.myspace.com/chorderoymusic)
Terry and the Sall Shakers
Dear Havanah (www.dearhavanah.com)
The Imps

Other activities will include a tie dye station, spin art, hemp and beads, dart art, and a hippie dress up booth. Tickets are 7$ in advance (at the GSU link, Sept. 28th-Oct. 2nd) and 8$ at the door. Outdoor concert season is winding down people, so what better way to spend a nice fall day than listening to some great tunes, supporting a terrific charity, and hangin' with the fine young ladies of AEPhi.

Perry's Pick: Ha Ha Tonka

This week's Perry's Pick goes to a band called Ha Ha Tonka from the Ozark region of Springfield, Missouri. Named after the popular Missouri State Park, these boys definitely carry a heavy southern influence, but blend it well with a northern indie flavor. While their songs touch upon dark themes, the force that lifts these songs up and gains immediate attention is the voice of lead singer Brian Roberts. Sounding very similar to Caleb Followill of the Kings of Leon, Roberts isn't the only one emulates this band, as many of their tracks have the same feel as tunes off of the Kings' first couple albums. While Roberts takes the forefront vocally, he leaves room for harmonies from the rest of the band and big hooks from lead guitarist Brett Anderson. With masterful care to detail in the studio, their latest release Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South features many indie footstompers that start off soft and acoustic and crescendo into booming anthems by the end. The band has been lauded by Rolling Stone, SPIN Magazine and Jambase just to name a few and are sure to turn heads with the release of their new album and a large string of shows this fall. Having toured with the likes of the Old 97's and the Meat Puppets as well as landing spots at Lollopalooza and the Sundance Film Festival, look for Ha Ha Tonka to be on the rise in the coming year. Friday kicked off Ha Ha Tonka's massive fall tour which will take them all over the states. Be sure to check them out on tour and pick up their latest album Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South. Watch the video below to get a taste of what went into the making of Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South.



http://www.hahatonkamusic.com/

Review: Assembly of Dust at The Paradise Rock Club 9/24/09

Reid Genauer has been around awhile. From his days in the 90's as a founding member of popular New England jamband Strangefolk, to his musical hiatus as an Ivy-League scholar, to being the storyteller at the forefront of his current operation, Assembly of Dust, Reid has soaked up his various life experiences and squeezed them into meticulously written songs that float in the same realm as artists such as Crosby, Stills, and Nash or Jerry Garcia. Thursday night at The Paradise in Boston, Reid and Assembly of Dust showed up toting a handful of classic material as well as new tunes off of their latest release, Some Assembly Required. The album itself features guest artists on every track including Phish's bass master Mike Gordon, Vermont's country girl Grace Potter, and Woodstock legend Richie Havens.

Before AOD hit the stage, they were supported first by singer/songwriter Nathan Moore who some might know as The Slip's fourth member when they play under the name Surprise Me Mr. Davis. After Moore, the Emmit Nershi Band hit the stage. Featuring String Cheese Incident's Bill Nershi and Leftover Salmon's Drew Emmitt, the band blazed through a fine set of foot-stomping bluegrass filled with fast-fingered banjo and mandolin solos. Just after 11, Assembly of Dust made their way to the stage in front of an extremely age-diverse crowd, all of whom had packed in with the sole intention of hearing a classic Assembly of Dust set.

Reaching far back into his repertoire, Reid pulled out the Strangefolk classic "Valhalla" to kick off the set and as folks bounced to the upbeat chorus, it was clear that lead guitarist Adam Terrell was in for an all-star night. Terrell blistered through a tremendous solo in the middle of the tune and had the crowd hooked. Toning it down, but staying vintage, the band broke out into another Strangefolk hit, "Mama." Sounding a bit softer stacked up against the voluminous opener, the tune served to once again loosen up the crowd with Genauer singing, "Put on a smile, let your hair gently down."

The next highlight of the set came with the guitar-heavy hand-clapper "Pedal Down" off of the new album. While the studio recording features help from Zach and Andrew Gabbard of the Buffalo Killers, the song translated extremely well live. With the crowd still in motion, Reid and the boys kicked it with "Tavern Walker," another fast tune from Assembly of Dust's older catalog. The song alternates between a bouncy rock riff in the verses and a bluegrass shuffle in the chorus. Strutting his stuff on this tune was bassist John LeCeese who reminded me of a certain Phish bassist with his Modulus bass and goofy head nod. After the slow but rich "Cold Coffee," AOD stuck with the bluegrass for "Telling Sue," which was a highlight off of their 2006 release Recollection. With Terrell still on fire, the band moved to the powerful "Songs We Sing" which showcased Reid's mighty vocal chords and took the crowd a bit higher with a lengthy solo.

At this point in the set, three quarters of the band left the stage, leaving Reid and his guitar up for some stripped down tunes. Leading off with "Shame," Reid was then joined back up by his bandmates, but sticking with the acoustic theme, the four of them played a stripped version of "Bootlegger's Advice." As Reid struck the first notes of fan-favorite "Roads" the crowd recognized it right away and went nuts. With Reid's powerful vocals still in the forefront, the tune brought the meaning of acoustic to a different level. The crowd was overjoyed with this selection, belting out each lyric along with its creator, Mr. Genauer. Plugging back in to finish up the set, AOD played a few more tunes which included "All That I Am Now," the leadoff track of Some Assembly Required, which features the genius of Richie Havens in the studio version. To cap off the set, the boys threw at us the Strangefolk classic "Westerly." While the band seemed to be on different pages to begin the tune, they were reeled back in once again by another one of Terrell's beastly guitar solos. Capping of the set with great energy, the band opened this tune up, giving Terrell the opportunity to improvise and build up.

Wading back to the stage amongst a sea of "A-O-D!" chants (initiated by me- you're welcome), the band whipped out the roaring anthem "Man With a Plan." This time it was drummer Andy Herrick who showed his guns, tapping triplets on the ride during the song's build-up at the end. The tune brought to memory former member Nate Wilson, who no longer plays with the band. There was a clear void in the tune that left me itching for Wilson's additions, but at the same time, I was amazed at how the band made out with just four members. As the band left the stage again, the rowdy applause continued from dedicated fans who were determined to stick around. Unable to resist, Genauer was hooked back on stage for a solo version of "Second Song." It was a sweet end to an unforgettable night. Assembly of Dust worked their magic for another fantastic set, transforming a normal Thursday night into an early weekend. As the boys truck on to their next tour dates, I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to catch them while you can.

Set I: Valhalla, Mama, Sidestep Blue, Pedal Down, Tavern Walker, Cold Coffee, Telling Sue, Borrowed Feet, Songs We Sing, Shame*, Bootlegger's Advice^, Roads^, Truck Farm, All That I Am Now, Westerly
Encore I: Man With A Plan
Encore II: Second Song*

*Reid Solo Acoustic
^Full Band Acoustic






http://www.aodust.com/

HYMNS Fall Tour

New York folk rockers HYMNS are gearing up for a fall tour in support of their summer release Appaloosa. Despite forming in New York, HYMNS' music is clearly southern influenced, sounding like a mesh between Neil Young and Pavement. Combining basic indie rock with southern country twang, HYMNS is the best of both worlds for rock fans. Diving into the folk realm, HYMNS also draws comparisons to the various Gram Parsons outfits as well as early Wilco. Write ups from SPIN magazine as well as Rolling Stone are just a few of many sources praising HYMNS' unique sound. This fall, they will hit the road for a series of solo dates as well as dates with Daniel Johnston and others.

HYMNS Fall Tour:
10/2- Austin City Limits Festival- Austin, TX, w/ Daniel Johnston
10/3- Limelight- San Antonio, TX
10/4- East Side Showroom- Austin, TX
10/5- City Tavern- Dallas, TX
10/7- The Moon Bar- Ft. Worth, TX
10/8- The Cavern- Dallas, TX, w/The Soft Pack
10/9- Hailey's- Denton, TX
10/13- Union Hall- Brooklyn, NY, w/Ladybug Transistor and Parson Red Heads
10/22- Regency Ballroom- San Francisco, CA, w/ Daniel Johnston
10/23- Canes- San Diego, CA, w/ Daniel Johnston
10/24- Music Box @ Henry Fonda Theatre- Los Angeles, CA, w/ Daniel Johnston
10/25- Casey's- Los Angeles, CA, w/ Parson Red Heads and The Street & Babe Shadow
11/3- Snug Harbor, Charlotte, NC, w/ Nicole Atkins
11/4- Snug Harbor, Charlotte, NC, w/ Nicole Atkins
11/6- Rock & Roll Hotel, Washington, DC, w/ Nicole Atkins

Check out the video for "Streets Alone" from 2007's Travel In Herds:


hymnsband.com

Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music is Awesome! and MGMT Appearance

Everyone's favorite Ritalin-induced, hipster-cred, Nickelodeon show, Yo Gabba Gabba!, is known to showcase various indie bands. Despite targeting an audience of 3-5 years old, Yo Gabba Gabba! has attracted audiences of all ages because of its artistic weirdness and its ability to get artists like The Shins and The Aggrolites to sing songs about not giving up and the importance of eating bananas. Yo Gabba Gabba! is set to release a soundtrack of the show properly entitled Music is Awesome! The album is set to release on October 20th, but until then, let this video of MGMT satiate your appetite. MGMT were rumored to be on season 2 of Yo Gabba Gabba!, but no proof was found until some hipster with a lot of free time posted this online under the tag "Russian Rugrats." The tune is called "Art is Everywhere" and is painfully catchy and extraordinarily weird. Enjoy!

Phish Reveals Festival 8 Schedule: First Ever All Acoustic Set

Since their announcement of Festival 8 in August, Phish have given few details and hints towards the upcoming Halloween weekend Festival in Indio, CA. Fans of Phish know that Halloween is a special time where Phish dedicates an entire set as a "Costume Set," where they cover an entire album of another artist or band whom they are inspired by. While the band has not revealed yet what album they are costuming, they did announce today that they will be playing their first ever all acoustic set. Throughout the 3-day festival, they will be be playing 8 sets and this special acoustic set will lie at the crack of noon on the last day (Sunday 11/1). For all those folks who plan to party hard at the festival on Halloween night, you may have a tough wakeup the next morning, but it will all be worth it to hear this special set. Phish have also included that "coffee and donuts will be served."

phish.com

Choose moe.'s Halloween Setlist

Jamband vets moe. are once again thinking outside the box to benefit the experiences of concert-goers everywhere. Halloween ranks up there with New Years Eve and the 4th of July as one of the most treasured and anticipated concert dates of the year, so for this year, moe. has decided to let their fans choose the setlist. On the long list of tunes to choose from is a large portion of moe. originals and fan-favorites as well as covers that range from the open-minded "Tempted" by Squeeze and "Riki Tiki Tavi" by Donovan, to the standard choices of "Dark Star" by the Grateful Dead and "Stash" by Phish, to the downright strange "We Got The Party" by Miley Cyrus and "Movin' Right Along" from the soundtrack to the Muppet Movie. To vote for the setlist, go to the newly refurbished jambands.com and cast your vote before October 6th.

moe.org

Tuesday Tribute: Prince

This week's Tuesday Tribute goes to a man who you may know by name, or you may know by sign. He's won Grammys, he's won Academy Awards, he's performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, and he's still one of the best entertainers in the world. Having a career that has held strong in four decades now, Prince is known for his theatric live performances, as well as his on-screen rock operas such as the acclaimed Purple Rain and the lesser known, but in my opinion, equally as strong Sign O' The Times. Finding most success with his band the Revolution, Prince introduced and featured the insanely talented Sheila E as his drummer. Despite constant comparisons to Michael Jackson and many risque career moves, there is no denying his supreme versatility as a musician and his overwhelming power as an entertainer. With that said, I hope to portray Prince's unbelievable coolness through my internet video finds.

The first video is the opening scene of Sign O The Times where Prince performs his tune of the same name. People criticize the 80's for their music and their style, but Prince makes both of these things look better than ever. My favorite part is his call and response with the crowd at the beginning of the song where he hits a note that few other males in the world have the ability of hitting.



Check out this clip of the king of soul James Brown and the King of Pop Michael Jackson calling Prince up the stage early on in Prince's career. Michael keeps it short and sweet and James Brown has no clue who Prince is, but when Prince hits the stage, he attempts to steal the show but is so cool that he only gives the crowd one note on the mic. The quality is iffy, but the video is kind of funny.




The next video is of Prince performing his later hit "Kiss" on the Ellen DeGeneres show. With a "Soul Man" intro, Prince uses the highest of his many pitches to crank out one of his sexiest tunes.


Lastly, I bring you some of the new-millennium Prince with his tune "Black Sweat." Off of 2006's 3121, "Black Sweat" is Prince's response to the the crunk hip-hop of the early 2000's. My favorite line is "You'll be screaming like a white lady when I count to three." Clearly, he hasn't lost his touch

prince - black sweat
Uploaded by eikichi. - See the latest featured music videos.

Prince has no official website, so here is his online fan page: http://prince.org/

The Concert Buzz Now on Twitter and New URL

The Concert Buzz has been living and growing now for just a few mere weeks, but reader responses have already been both abundant and helpful. I (Perry), am taking more and more strides to make this website convenient, accessible, and attractive. My ultimate goal is to attract new followers every day, so in hopes of accomplishing this, I have added two new features to The Concert Buzz. First, you can now access The Concert Buzz through the domain name www.theconcertbuzz.com. In the near future, I hope to change the blog completely to its new domain name, but still being a novice to the world wide web, I am having trouble doing this (any advice would be appreciated). Secondly, The Concert Buzz has also just joined Twitter! While I am also still learning correct Twitter technique, I encourage all readers who have Twitter to become a follower there as well at twitter.com/theconcertbuzz. Thanks for the support thus far and be sure to tell friends, family, and any other music fan you might know. Keep checking up on the site for future news, reviews, and other music happenings. 

Perry's Picks: Family of the Year

Welcome to another new feature of my website: Perry's Picks. The purpose of this segment is to prop a band that is on the rise in hopes that you will further check them out and support them in their quest for success. For those who have read my work in the past, you may remember my Perry's Picks blog and also my Perry's Picks Facebook group. Now that my focus has turned solely to this blog, I wanted to continue this tradition every Sunday on The Concert Buzz. 

With that said, my first Perry's Pick goes to a brand new group out of Los Angeles called Family of the Year. Formed less than a year ago, Family of the Year is already receiving heavy press, booking prime gigs, and are set to digitally release their first EP, Where's The Sun, this Tuesday. Originally forming under the name Bogie Ogreton and the Yogurt Drops, the group came to be when brothers Joe and Sebastian Keefe, formerly of the bands Unbusted and the Billionaires, met Vanessa Long at a bar in LA just after the Billionaires had split up. After Joe and Vanessa went on a songwriting binge together, the two decided to form another band and James Buckey, Christina Schroeter, and Brent Freaney were thrown into the mix. Musically, the band draws a variety of influences that stem from geographic backgrounds. Having grown up in Wales, the Keefe brothers also spent many more recent years in the island of Martha's Vineyard. Freaney and Buckey both grew up in the south, while Long and Schroeter reside in California, where Family of the Year is now based. Taking advantage of this mixed group, Family of the Year displays colorful "Pet Sounds" harmonies on tracks such as "Lets Go Down" and "Summer Girl." Vocally, each member plays a key role while instrumentally, they are quite versatile, using lap steel and keyboards to brighten and familiarize their sound. Despite forming early in 2009, the group already has a wide range of material, from the trippy, new-wave influenced "Psyche or Like Scope" to "Castoff," which highlights Long's voice and is reminiscent of tunes from groups like the New Pornographers or Broken Social Scene. Family of the Year has also recorded playful covers of Kid Rock's "Bawitaba" and James Taylor's "Shower the People." The group is releasing their EP on their own label, Washashore Records, and are also managed by Whitesmith Entertainment in Brooklyn, NY. This fall, Family of the Year will be coming to the east coast for a series of gigs in Boston and New York, including a headlining spot at the Whitesmith Showcase at this year's CMJ festival and a gig opening for Ben Folds at Boston's Symphony Hall. Check them out on tour this fall and be sure to pick up their new EP, Where's the Sun, this Tuesday. Also, if you would like to further financially support the band, they have set up a fundraiser where you can purchase a postcard that the band has designed and they will write a personalized note to you from the road and will scan it on their website before sending it to you. You can purchase a postcard or just visit the Family of the Year website at www.familyoftheyear.net or you can listen to some tunes at myspace.com/familyoftheyear.

Family of the Year Fall 2009 Dates

9/16 Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory 
9/17 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall 
9/18 San Luis Obispo, CA @ Downtown Brewing Co.
9/27 Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory
10/01 Cambridge, MA @ TT the Bear's
10/02 Boston, MA @ Symphony Hall (supporting Ben Folds)
10/12 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
10/18 Vienna, VA @ Jammin' Java
10/20 New York, NY @ Whitesmith Entertainment/CASH CMJ Party @ Crash Mansion
10/21 New York, NY @ Whitesmith Entertainment/Indaba CMJ Showcase @ The Living Room

Dead Trees Tour w/ Rosewood Thieves

Following news about Pavement's reunion show (which has been confirmed, tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10am), I was reminded to check up on former Boston band and current Portland band the Dead Trees. Drawing a thick influence from Stephen Malkmus, the Dead Trees have just returned home from an international tour with Little Joy in support of their latest release, King of Rosa. I remember seeing the Dead Trees back when they were called Furvis and since those days years ago, they have grown to be one of the best up and coming indie bands in the country. The songwriting of lead man Michael Cummings has become more and more sophisticated as time has passed and their move to Portland clearly has had a positive effect on their creativity which is easily noticed on their latest release. Drummer Noah Rubin continues to be a madman on the kit while Matt Borg has discovered new distortions and effects to further heighten his lead guitar playing. Bassist Todd Dahlhoff has been sharing time between the Trees and Fabrizio Moretti's (The Strokes) newest outfit Little Joy. Things are definitely coming together for the former Bostonians who will embark once again on a nationwide tour with New York's Rosewood Thieves. Catch them on tour and pick up King of Rosa or 2004's EP Fort Music. Also, check out the music video for Loretta, where the boys do their best impression of the opening credits to "The Adventures of Pete and Pete."

Dead Trees Fall Tour
9/23- Club Cafe- Pittsburgh, PA, w/Rosewood Thieves
9/24- Oldfield's On High- Columbus, OH, w/Rosewood Thieves
9/25- Cedar's Lounge- Youngstown, OH, w/Rosewood Thieves
9/26- Casa Cantina- Athens, OH
9/27- Radio Radio- Indianapolis, IN, w/Rosewood Thieves
9/28- The Firebird- St. Louis, MO
9/29- Vaudeville Mews- Des Moines, IA, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/1- Hi Dive- Denver, CO w/Rosewood Thieves
10/2- The Listening Room- Park City, UT
10/3- Terrapin Station- Boise, ID, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/4- The BLVD- Spokane, WA
10/6- El Corazon- Seattle, WA, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/7- Doug Fir Lounge- Portland, OR, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/8- Sam Bond's Garage- Eugene, WA, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/9- Bottom of the Hill- San Francisco, CA, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/10- Bootleg Theatre- Los Angeles, CA, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/11- Detroit Bar- Costa Mesa, CA, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/12- Modified Arts- Phoenix, AZ, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/16- Stubbs Jr.- Austin, TX, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/17- The Prophet Bar- Dallas, TX, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/19- The Drunken Unicorn- Atlanta, GA, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/20- Tasty World- Athens, GA, w/Rosewood Thieves
10/21- Local 506- Chapel Hill, NC, w/Rosewood Thieves



http://www.thedeadtrees.com/

Pavement Reunion in 2010 (?)

Ever since Pavement broke up in 1999, it seems as though it has become an annual tradition for a Pavement reunion buzz to initiate only to be shot down as just a rumor. Today, however, it has been confirmed by numerous sources such a Pitchfork, that a Pavement reunion show has been scheduled for September 21st, 2010. The show will be a benefit concert at the Central Park Summer Stage and while no more details have been released, it seems as though these plans are legitimate. One could only hope for a tour and perhaps an album to accompany this one show, but this is a step in the right direction.

For those not familiar with Pavement's music, they are thought of by many as pioneers of indie music. Their albums Slanted and Enchanted and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain achieved little commercial success in the 90's but they have been considered two of the most important albums of the decade and have only grown in popularity since Pavement has disbanded. Since the breakup, lead singer Stephen Malkmus has kept himself busy with his solo band Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks while bassist Mark Ibold has been playing with Sonic Youth. Guitarist Scott Kannberg is preparing to release his first solo album under the name Spiral Stairs and Bob Nastanovich is playing drums for the Silver Jews. While this reunion isn't for another year, it is something to celebrate and look forward to.

Tuesday Tribute: Ween

Welcome to a new segment on my blog: Tuesday Tribute. The purpose of this segment is to praise a band that has been around for a while that you may or may not know. I will give some background and perspective on the band and then go digging through Youtube and see what gems I can come up with. If you have any tribute suggestions, please feel free to place a comment in the comment section or contact me another way.

For the first official Tuesday Tribute, I would like to venerate the only band that makes me feel like more of a nerd when I talk about them than Phish does: Ween. Formed in 1984 by Gene Ween and Dean Ween (Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo respectively), Ween has remained at the top of the college rock scene since the release of their 1992 breakout album Pure Guava which contained the single "Push th' Little Daisies." Lying somewhere between Weird Al Yankovic and Pearl Jam, it is tough to categorize Ween's music, but it is very clear that Ween fans "get it." Often obscene and retarded in their humor, Ween's music has the ability to shift from incredibly zany lyrics and vocals one song, to a more poignant, indie rock tune the next song. Seeing Ween merely for their humor, many overlook the unbelievable musicians that make up the band. Sure, there are the often ridiculous tones of lead singer Gener, but Deaner ranks up there with today's best and most experimental guitar players. There is a reason why these two are supported by rhythm guitar master Dave Dreiwitz and Glenn McClellan. Also rounding out the lineup is drummer Claude Coleman Jr. who unfortunately suffered a devastating car crash in 2002 which hospitalized him for 35 days and erased many of his basic motor skills. Luckily, after years of rehabilitation, Coleman is back with the band and better than ever. Ween has been covered by many of of today's top bands including (you guessed it), Phish. If you ever have the opportunity to see Ween, it may be one of the weirder experiences you ever have, but if nothing else, it will definitely make you smile.

The first video is of Ween performing "Exactly Where I'm At" on the Late Show with David Letterman. From 2000's White Pepper, this track is a bit more deep than some of their whackier well-known tunes, but features some great distorted guitar work from Deaner towards the end.



Grab a pint, because the next song is Ween's popular Irish drinking song "The Blarney Stone." Known to be a popular encore, this tune's graphic lyrics and accordion keyboard-effects make the Ween crowd go nuts and sway in happiness. This particular take is off of Ween's "Live in Chicago" DVD.



The next tune, "Transdermal Celebration" was featured on the 2003 album Quebec. This video was filmed live at this year's Outside Lands Festival in San Fransisco which took place just a few weeks ago. While Gener looks a bit out of shape, his weird stage presence and unique voice still hold strong.



Lastly, I bring you what was perhaps Ween's greatest hit: "Roses Are Free." Off of 1994's Chocolate & Cheese, it's dark chord progression is masked beautifully by the weird keyboard effects and zany vocals. My favorite line still lies in the third verse with, "Throw a pumpkin at the tree, unless you think that pumpkin holds your destiny." This version was performed live at the 2000 Bizarre Festival



http://ween.com/

Drug Rug Fall Tour

One of the big releases of this summer was the sophomore album by Boston hipsters Drug Rug. Signed to Black and Greene records, a label founded by Apollo Sunshine drummer Jeremy Black as well as David Greene, Drug Rug sparked a frenzy with their first, self-titled album and now once again with their follow up, Paint the Fence Invisible. Known for their use of vintage recording equipment as well as the love songs that lead duo Sarah Cronin and Tommy Allen write for each other, Drug Rug has risen from their former local band status to a nationwide indie sensation. Their latest release shows a heavy Beatles influence circa Rubber Soul as well as a maturation in songwriting and pop-harmonies. This fall, Drug Rug will embark on a nationwide tour with fellow indie superstars Portugal. The Man.

Drug Rug Fall Tour
9/16- Union Ltd. -Vancouver, w/Portugal. The Man
9/17- Chop Suey -Seattle, WA, w/Portugal. The Man
9/18- WOW Hall -Eugene, OR, w/Portugal. The Man
9/19- NXNW Festival: Backspace -Portland, OR
9/22- Harlow's Nightclub- Sacramento, CA, w/Portugal. The Man
9/23- The Independent- San Francisco, CA, w/Portugal. The Man
9/25- The Troubadour- West Hollywood, CA, w/Portugal. The Man
9/26- The Glass House- Pomona, CA, w/Portugal. The Man
9/28- Belly Up Tavern- Solana Beach, CA
9/29- The Clubhouse- Tempe, AZ, w/Portugal. The Man
10/1- Santa Fe Brewing Company- Santa Fe, NM, w/Portugal. The Man
10/2 & 3- B Side Lounge- Boulder, CO, w/Portugal. The Man
10/6- The Bottleneck- Lawrence, KS, w/Portugal. The Man
10/7- The Picador- Iowa City, IA, w/Portugal. The Man
10/8- Majestic Theatre- Madison, WI, w/Portugal. The Man
10/9- Turner Hall- Milwaukee, WI, w/Portugal. The Man
10/10 & 11- Schuba's Tavern- Chicago, IL, w/Portugal. The Man
10/13- The Magic Bag- Ferndale, MI, w/Portugal. The Man
10/14- The Horseshoe Tavern- Toronto, ON, w/Portugal. The Man
10/16- Maxwell's- Hoboken, NJ, w/Portugal. The Man
10/18- The Paradise Rock Club- Boston, MA, w/Portugal. The Man and Hockey
10/20- Higher Ground- South Burlington, VT, w/Portugal. The Man
10/21- Pearl Street Downstairs- Northampton, MA, w/Portugal. The Man
10/22- Johnny Brenda's- Philadelphia, PA, w/Portugal. The Man


For songs to stream and tour date info, visit myspace.com/drugrugdude

Jim Carroll Passes Away

New-wave musician and writer Jim Carroll passed away on Friday in his New York apartment. According to ex-wife Rosemary Carroll, the cause of death was a heart attack. Carroll was 60 years old.

Known best for his 1978 memoir The Basketball Diaries, Carroll and his band also provided the soundtrack for the movie of the same name that starred Leonardo DiCaprio. Included in this soundtrack were hits "People Who Died" and "Catholic Boy." Carroll will remain in music history for years to come. Below is the video for his 1980 cult classic "People Who Died" (please excuse the foolish introduction).

Trey Anastasio Rocks Carnegie Hall

When was the last time you put on patchouli oil and patchwork for a night out with the New York Philharmonic? Hopefully your answer to this question is never, but this past Saturday evening, boundaries were broken as a diverse crowd packed Carnegie Hall to hear Phish frontman Trey Anastasio play two sets of original compositions with the New York Philharmonic. While I was unfortunately not in attendance, the reviews of this show were phenomenal across the board. Included in the set were Phish classics such as "You Enjoy Myself," "Guyute," and "The Divided Sky," and also new tunes like "Let Me Lie," and the 23-minute multi-movement "Time Turns Elastic." The experience was said to be amazing by many in the crowd and by the look on Trey's face (see video below), it was clear he was overwhelmed with joy. Click here to read the New York Times review of the show. Below is a video snippet of "You Enjoy Myself." The video quality is mediocre, but the crowd's reaction when Trey hits the high notes (see about 4:35) gives you a good sense of what it was like.



Trey Anastasio and the New York Philharmonic: 9/12/09
Set I: First Tube, The Inlaw Josie Wales, Brian and Robert, The Divided Sky, Water In The Sky, Pebbles and Marbles, Guyute
Set II: Time Turns Elastic, Let Me Lie, You Enjoy Myself
Encore: If I Could

On another, more negative note, it was reported by many sources that the amount of nitrous gas dealers camped outside the venue was both very heavy and very clear. Any who have gone to a number of shows or festivals in the past few years are probably aware that these nitrous dealers have become more and more common at music gatherings as of recent. While many enjoy using this substance despite its numerous health hazards, most would agree that these vendors are detrimental to the live music experience and the community of fans as a whole. The sale of this gas is causing police officers to teem concert parking lots and many believe (although nothing is confirmed), that a murder at this summer's Gathering of the Vibes festival was a result of foul play over nitrous. Personally, to hear about these dealers running nitrous operations outside of Carnegie Hall, one of the most beautiful, historic, and respected venues in the world, while Trey Anastasio is inside trying to crush stereotypes by performing to a diverse crowd of people is one of those moments that makes me question, "What has the world come to?"
Thats just my two cents, but I'd be interested to hear yours.

U-Melt Announces Fall Tour

Since forming in 2003 at Phish's It festival, U-Melt has continued to rise in the ranks of our nation's jambands. Regulars of the summer festival circuit and constant small venue tourers, U-Melt also has one of the most hectic tour schedules on the scene today. Having personally seen them only twice, both experiences have been quite worth it, and although they feature some of the most atrocious vocals of any touring band, when they lock up in a groove, it's something special. It is clear that all four members of U-Melt are extremely seasoned musicians who have enough experience playing as a band that they are able to build off of each other and create an ultimate progressive groove experience. This fall they will be hitting venues all over the northeast, which will eventually lead them to a post-moe. Halloween late-night gig. If you love great improvisational music from highly experienced musicians, I recommend you catch a show.

U-Melt Fall Tour:

09/18/09 Fri Higher Ground (Showcase Lounge) Burlington, VT
09/19/09 Sat Wormtown Music Festival Greenfield, MA
09/24/09 Thu Iron Horse Music Hall Northampton, MA
09/25/09 Fri Calling Planet Earth Music Festival Charlestown, RI
09/26/09 Sat Port City Music Hall Portland, ME
10/02/09 Fri Castaways Ithaca, NY
10/03/09 Sat Nietzsche's Buffalo, NY
10/15/09 Thu The 8X10 Baltimore, MD
10/16/09 Fri North Star Philadelphia, PA
10/17/09 Sat Sullivan Hall New York, NY
10/23/09 Fri Middle East Upstairs Cambridge, MA
10/24/09 Sat The Wheelhouse Narragansett, RI
10/30/09 Fri The Westcott Theater Syracuse, NY
10/31/09 Sat Red Square Albany, NY (late night post-moe.)

U-Melt Covering Fatboy Slim's "Praise You

http://umelt.com

Courtney Love "Outraged" about Guitar Hero Cobain Cartoon

 

The latest version of Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero 5, features a Kurt Cobain avatar that players can unlock and play with. Many complaints about the character being distasteful are being directed towards the singer's widow, Courtney Love, for licensing the character. Now that Love is once again being cornered by Nirvana fans, she has decided to outlash via Twitter at Activision, the makers of Guitar Hero 5, writing, "FOR THE RECORD I DID NOT APPROVE KURTS AVATAR FOR GUYITARHERO5. i think Kurt would despise this game alone let alone this avatar," and "WE are going to sue the shit out of ACtivision we being the Trust the Estate the LLC the various LLCs Cobain Enterprises." Activision responded to Love's outlandish remarks claiming "Guitar Hero secured the necessary licensing rights from the Cobain estate in a written agreement signed by Courtney Love to use Kurt Cobain's likeness as a fully playable character in Guitar Hero® 5." Courtney responded once again to this statement, writing on her Twitter, "activision is fulllof shit they have a a contcrct called a deal memo that said upon approvale they could use an avatar i approved i .," and added,  "i never inteneded to aPPROVE this shit, they are doing a recall you can be sure o fthat. waita ew hours maybe tomorrow press and etc." Later, Nirvana members Krist Novselic and Dave Grohl put things in perspective by releasing the following statement:

This is a statement regarding Nirvana, Guitar Hero and the likeness of the late Kurt Cobain.

We want people to know that we are dismayed and very disappointed in the way a facsimile of Kurt is used in the Guitar Hero game. The name and likeness of Kurt Cobain are the sole property of his estate - we have no control whatsoever in that area.

While we were aware of Kurt's image being used with two Nirvana songs, we didn't know players have the ability to unlock the character. This feature allows the character to be used with any kind of song the player wants. We urge Activision to do the right thing in "re-locking" Kurt's character so that this won't continue in the future.

It's hard to watch an image of Kurt pantomiming other artists' music alongside cartoon characters. Kurt Cobain wrote songs that hold a lot of meaning to people all over the world. We feel he deserves better.

Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl

Assembly of Dust Fall Tour with the Emmitt-Nershi Band

Reid Genauer is today's greatest songsmith that not enough people know about. Spanning back to his days with New England jamband Strangefolk and continuing today with his newest outfit Assembly of Dust, Genauer carries an impressive catalogue of tunes and the respect of many in the music industry. This statement holds true on Assembly of Dust's latest release Some Assembly Required, where the band is joined by a special guest for every track. These guests range from folk pioneer Richie Havens to Phish bass virtuoso Mike Gordon and Jerry Garcia's pal David Grisman to dobro master Jerry Douglas. Assembly of Dust is easily one of today's top touring bands, and despite losing keyboard player Nate Wilson to a solo project (check out the Nate Wilson Group), the band continues to showcase Genauer's vocal power while leaving ample space for guitarist Adam Terrell to work his magic in the solo sections. The tour will begin with Reid Gennauer performing three solo shows with Mike Gordon and continue on to a series of full band dates, many of which will include the Emmitt-Nershi Band featuring Drew Emmitt of Leftover Salmon and Bill Nershi of String Cheese Incident. If I make one request to my readers for the rest of the year, it is to see Assembly of Dust on this tour because they are a band not to be missed. 

Assembly of Dust Tour Dates:

09/10/09 Thu Port City Music Hall Portland, ME (Reid Genauer Solo w/ Mike Gordon)
09/11/09 Fri Bearsville Theater Woodstock, NY (Reid Genauer Solo w/ Mike Gordon)
09/12/09 Sat The State Theatre Falls Church, VA (Reid Genauer Solo w/ Mike Gordon)
09/18/09 Fri Revolution Hall Troy, NY (w/ Nautilus) 
09/19/09 Sat Higher Ground Burlington, VT (w/ The Brew)
09/24/09 Thu Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band & Nathan Moore)
09/25/09 Fri Port City Music Hall Portland, ME (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band)
09/26/09 Sat Calling Planet Earth Festival Charleston, RI (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band)
09/30/09 Wed Bowery Ballroom New York, NY (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band)
10/01/09 Thu River Street Jazz Cafe Wilkes Barre, PA 
10/02/09 Fri The Note West Chester, PA (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band & Nathan Moore)
10/03/09 Sat Recher Theatre Towson, MD (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band)
10/16/09 Fri Bluebird Theater Denver, CO (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band)
10/17/09 Sat Boulder Theater Boulder, CO (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band)
10/18/09 Sun Fort Lewis College Durango, CO (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band)
10/21/09 Wed The Mint Los Angeles, CA (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band)
10/22/09 Thu The Independent San Francisco, CA (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band)
10/23/09 Fri The Red Fox Tavern Eureka, CA (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band)
10/24/09 Sat Mississippi Studios Portland, OR (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band)
10/25/09 Sun Tractor Tavern Seattle, WA (w/ Emmitt-Nershi Band)

http://www.aodust.com/

Review: Phish- Joy

In 1983, four shaggy dudes from Vermont decided to form a jamband based around a series of characters from the head of their lead singer. Since then, Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Page McConnell, and Jon Fishman, collectively known as Phish have been the root of worship for a mass of followers. Today, Joy, Phish's eleventh studio album and their first in five years was released. While Phish has been criticized by many longtime "Phans" for becoming too poppy on their previous few albums, most rely on their marathon-like live shows to fill their Phish appetites. While many will probably claim that Joy is no different and that it is too overproduced to rank up with classics such as Junta and Rift, the fact of the matter is, in many ways, this album is extremely experimental. 

Reuniting with Billy Breathes producer Steve Lillywhite, Phish's grand return to the studio has shown a tremendous maturation in their songwriting as well as a great care to detail in the instrumentation and overall sound of the record. The album starts of with Anastasio belting, "Happy, happy, oh my friend," in the single "Backwards Down the Number Line." Serving as a true declaration that they are back, this tune matches the pop appeal of the Farmhouse classic "Heavy Things," but clocks in at over five and a half minutes to provide ample space for Anastasio to give a classic "Trey" solo. It is clear that Joy spits up many of the feelings, experiences, and events that occurred in the five years the band took off. "Kill Devil Falls" shows Trey's commitment to both sobriety and his bandmates, singing "I've learned my lesson" and "This time will be different,"while the title track , "Joy" is passionately written for Anastsio's sister, who unfortunately passed away from cancer this past year. While "Joy" lacks the punch and solo-space of other tracks, its chord structure and beautiful lyrics create a bittersweet and emotional listening experience that adds a whole different angle to the album as a whole. "Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan" has a "Character Zero"-esque spark and a chorus exclaiming "Got a blank space where my mind should be," that is sure to calculate very well live while "Ocelot" has a hook that will definitely rattle around in your head until you're sick of it. Mike Gordon's songwriting contribution, "Sugar Shack" is a nice attempt, but lacks the goopy bass and zany lyrics that are expected of Gordo, sounding more like a track off of his latest solo album, The Green Sparrow. Another track that doesn't quite match the energy of the rest of the album is the final track, "Twenty Years Later." Page McConnell provides a playful interlude with "I Been Around," which takes phans back to the days of "Lawn Boy." Then there's Trey's grand composition, "Time Turns Elastic." This song lacks the immediate draw of some of the the album's earlier tracks, but ranks towards the top when given multiple listens. Lasting over 13 minutes, Trey composed this song to be performed for the first time by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. "The Divided Sky" and "You Enjoy Myself" are two other Phish songs that are often recognized as compositions, but what separates "Time Turns Elastic" from the other two is that the lyrics extend throughout the whole song. The various instrumental sections of the song are matched beautifully by their vocal counterparts, equating to thirteen minutes and thirty seconds of musical bliss. 

Joy will get a mixed reception to begin with, but the album as a whole ranks up there with many of their other studio albums and is a perfect representation of where Phish is in their musical journey. The album is extremely lyrically sophisticated and shines a spotlight on Trey Anastasio, whose personal struggles can finally be laid to rest with the album's release. Trey can wear this album like a badge of honor as he and his bandmates continue in their musical travels and their reconnected friendships. As for us listeners, it is clear that Phish is back and with a new collection of tunes and experiences to share with us all. 

phish.com

9/9/09: Beatle-Mania All Over Again

Tommorow, September 9th, 2009, will be another memorable day for the greatest rock band of all-time. Digitally remastered versions of all 12 of the Beatles' studio albums will hit stores tommorow after nearly a 22 year wait. While the album artwork and track listings will all remain the same, each remastered album will feature a booklet featuring new liner notes and rare photos of the band. For a limited time, each album will also be embedded with a brief documentary about the making of the album. A box set entitled The Beatles in Mono featuring 10 discs will also be released. Tomorrow also marks the release of The Beatles: Rock Band, a version of the popular video game featuring a catalogue of Beatles songs. The game consists of 45 Beatles songs as well as controllers fashioned after the Beatles' original instruments. The game was made possible by discussions initiated by George Harrison's son Dhani, and by enhanced audio by Giles Martin, son of Beatles producer George Martin. The game has also been lauded by Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Lastly, and far less importantly, on shelves now is the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly which features a list of the best and worst Beatles songs. I don't know who in the world has the right to be naming the worst Beatles songs of all time, but it is definitely an interesting way of looking at the greatest band of all time. So in light of yet another resurgence of Beatle-mania, here is a rough countdown of my 5 least favorite Beatles songs.

5. "Yellow Submarine"

4. "Happiness is a Warm Gun"

3. "All Together Now"

2. "Wild Honey Pie"

1. "Revolution #9"

....Just my 2 cents

Beatles Remasters:

Please Please Me
With the Beatles
A Hard Day’s Night
Beatles for Sale
Help! 
Rubber Soul
Revolver
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Magical Mystery Tour
The Beatles (The White Album)
Abbey Road
Let It Be
Past Masters
Yellow Submarine

Stream "Joy" in its Entirety

Phish's new album, Joy, is set to release this Tuesday, September 8th. Those of you like me who cannot wait to hear these tracks are in luck because you can hear the entire album for free on Phish's myspace page. So far, my personal favorites are "Backwards Down the Number Line" and "Ocelot," but thats simply due to familiarity. Every track that I've heard thus far is great and no matter what some stuck-up Phish snobs might complain to you about, the boys are back, both live and in the studio. Joy will be officially released this Tuesday, but there is also an opportunity on Phish's website to pre-order the CD, the vinyl, or the special Joy Box which contains Joy, a whole separate album entitled Party Time, a DVD containing live footage from various dates of Phish's recent summer tour, a collection of posters, and other special features. All pre-orders from the Phish site include a download code for the album the day that it releases so that you do not have to wait for it to be shipped. 2 MORE DAYS!!!!!

http://phish.com/

Jay-Z Announces Fall Tour

HOVA, Jiggaman, Iceberg Slim. Whatever name you may know him by, Jay-Z has been at the top of the rap game for over a decade now, and when he hits the road, its big news. Known as one of the best live shows in the rap/hip-hop world, Jay-Z's catalogue of greatest hits is enough to fill a lengthy set and keep show-goers "bouncin'" the whole time. Personally, Jay-Z is my favorite rapper because he appeals to just about everyone. Whether it be connecting with the more "underground" rap fans by having the Roots as his backup band for his "MTV UnPlugged" special, or throwing a curveball at a mass of Phish fans by sitting in with the band in Brooklyn during their 2004 summer tour.  Jay-Z has done it all in his career and is out on the road once again this fall. Prices may be steep, but HOVA is hitting many stops along the way, allowing any and all to join the party.

Jay-Z Fall Tour Dates:

09-08 Chicago, IL - House of Blues
09-11 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden 
09-12 Manchester, England - Lancashire County Cricket Club *
09-16 Glasgow, Scotland - Hampden Park National Stadium *
09-17 London, England - Roundhouse 
09-18 London, England - Wembley Stadium *
09-19 London, England - Wembley Stadium *
10-09 University Park, PA - Bryce Jordan Center 
10-10 Highland Heights, KY - The Bank of Kentucky Center 
10-13 Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place 
10-14 Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome 
10-15 Kelowna, British Columbia - Prospera Place 
10-16 Vancouver, British Columbia - General Motors Place 
10-17 Seattle, WA - Key Arena 
10-24 Providence, RI - Dunkin Donuts Center 
10-25 Amherst, MA - Mullins Center 
10-27 Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena 
10-28 Columbus, OH - Value City Arena Ohio State 
10-29 London, Ontario - John Labatt Centre 
10-30 Montreal, Quebec - Centre Bell Centre 
10-31 Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre 
11-01 Ottawa, Ontario - Scotiabank Place 
11-12 Champaign, IL - University of Illinois, Assembly Hall 
11-19 Albuquerque, NM - Tingley Coliseum 
11-20 El Paso, TX - Don Haskins Center 
11-22 Austin, TX - Frank Erwin Center Arena 

* with Coldplay

http://www.jay-z.com/