Furthur Summer Tour

Grateful Dead side project/supergroup Furthur is extending their nationwide tour into the summer, building off of the announcement of their headlining sets at this summer's first annual Nateva Festival in Oxford, Maine. Furthur has sold out every date thus far in their winter tour and have received much praise for their resemblance to Jerry-era Dead. Furthur consists of Grateful Dead originals Phil Lesh (bass) and Bob Weir (guitar, vocals), as well as Dark Star Orchestra's John Kadlicek (lead guitar, vocals), RatDog's Jeff Chimenti (keys) and Jay Lane (drums), and Joe Russo (drums). These guys are supposed to be the real deal, so if you didn't catch them on winter tour, get out and see them this summer.

Furthur Summer 2010 Dates:
02/26/10 Fri Mohegan Sun Casino Uncasville, CT
02/27/10 Sat Mark G Etess Arena Atlantic City, NJ
03/02/10 Tue Auditorium Theatre Chicago, IL
03/03/10 Wed Auditorium Theatre Chicago, IL
03/05/10 Fri 1st Bank Center (Formerly The Odeum) Broomfield, CO
03/06/10 Sat 1st Bank Center (Formerly The Odeum) Broomfield, CO
03/08/10 Mon Portland Memorial Coliseum Portland, OR
03/12/10 Fri Bill Graham Civic Auditorium San Francisco, CA
06/25/10 Fri Highland Bowl Rochester, NY
06/26/10 Sat MCU Park Brooklyn, NY
06/27/10 Sun MCU Park Brooklyn, NY
06/29/10 Tue Penn's Peak Jim Thorpe, PA
06/30/10 Wed LeLacheur Park Lowell, MA
07/03/10 Sat Gelston Castle Estate Mohawk, NY
07/04/10 Sun Nateva Music & Camping Festival Oxford, ME
07/05/10 Mon The Green at Shelburne Museum Shelburne, VT
07/08/10 Thu Artpark Lewiston, NY
07/09/10 Fri All Good Festival @ Marvin's Mountaintop Masontown, WV
07/10/10 Sat Mann Center for the Performing Arts Philadelphia, PA


furthur.net

John Butler Trio Summer Dates

It's been a while since the states have seen a sizable tour from Australia's finest jammers the John Butler Trio. The trio will be hitting the road across the USA early this summer in support of their upcoming album April Uprising which will be in stores in the US on April 6th. Supporting the trio will be neo-jazz virtuosos Medeski Martin & Wood for a portion of the tour and Dispatch side-project State Radio for the rest of the dates. For those not familiar with John Butler's music, it is very socially and politically conscious, but thanks to the astounding musicianship of all three players, their sound is full and energetic. Butler is a 12-string guitar wizard and if you don't believe me, check out this fully improvised tune "The Ocean" below.

May 20 San Diego, CA—House of Blues
May 21 Los Angeles, CA—House of Blues
May 26-27 Portland, OR—Crystal Ballroom
May 28 Seattle, WA—Moore Theater
May 29 Vancouver, BC—Commodore Ballroom
June 4 Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheater (with State Radio and MMW)
June 5 Kansas City, MO—Crossroads
June 6 Ozark, AR—Wakarusa Festival
June 9 Des Moines, IA—Simon Estes Amphitheater
June 10 Minneapolis, MN—First Avenue
June 11 Chicago, IL—Riviera Theater
June 13 Manchester, TN—Bonnaroo
June 15 New York, NY—Central Park Summerstage (with State Radio)
June 17 Philadelphia, PA—Penn’s Landing (with State Radio)
June 18 Boston, MA—Bank of America Pavilion (with State Radio)



johnbutlertrio.com

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Spring Tour

Perhaps the funkiest, most soulful collective in the world right now is Daptone Records. The biggest name off of the label, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, is spearheaded by 53 year-old soul-sister Sharon Jones, who up until finding success with the Dap-Kings just a short time ago, worked as a corrections officer at Rikers Island. Sharon and the Dap-Kings hit it big a few years ago when they released 100 Days, 100 Nights and The Dap-Kings went on tour as Amy Winehouse's backing band. Personally, I think Sharon Jones has 10 times more soul than Winehouse and I am anxious for the release of their upcoming album I Learned The Hard Way on April 6th. In support of their upcoming release, the band will be doing a large spring tour around the United States. I beg you, if you have one ounce of soul in you, get out and see this band live. They are one of the tightest shows on the road these days and they really get a classic soul sound that gets even the biggest stiff in the house moving.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings 2010 Dates:
3/26/2010 Friday - Snoe Down Festival - Rutland, VT
4/10/2010 Saturday - Astra - Berlin, Germany
4/13/2010 Tuesday - Trabendo - Paris, France
4/14/2010 Wednesday - Koko's - London, UK
4/15/2010 Thursday - Paradiso - Amsterdam, NL
4/17/2010 Saturday - Wanee Music Festival - Live Oak, FL
4/22/2010 Thursday - Festival International de Louisiane - Lafayette, LA
4/23/2010 Friday - The Howlin Wolf - New Orleans, LA
4/24/2010 Saturday - Double Decker Festival - Oxford, MS
4/30/2010 Friday - The Apollo Theater - New York, NY
5/1/2010 Saturday - The Apollo Theater - New York, NY
5/6/2010 Thursday - Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden - Richmond, VA
5/7/2010 Friday - Ram's Head Onstage - Annapolis, MD
5/8/2010 Saturday - Jefferson Theater - Charlottesville, VA
5/9/2010 Sunday - The NorVa - Norfolk, VA
5/11/2010 Tuesday - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC
5/12/2010 Wednesday - Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
5/13/2010 Thursday - Center Stage Atlanta - Atlanta, GA
5/14/2010 Friday - Cannery Ballroom - Nashville, TN
5/15/2010 Saturday - Nelsonville Music Festival - Nelsonville, OH
5/17/2010 Monday - The Southgate House - Newport, KY
5/18/2010 Tuesday - Majestic Theatre - Detroit, MI
5/21/2010 Friday - Vic Theatre - Chicago, IL
5/22/2010 Saturday - Pabst Theater - Milwaukee, WI
5/23/2010 Sunday - The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN
5/25/2010 Tuesday - The Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
5/26/2010 Wednesday - Le National - Montreal, QC
5/27/2010 Thursday - House of Blues - Boston, MA
5/28/2010 Friday - New England Dodge Music Center - Hartford, CT
5/29/2010 Saturday - New England Dodge Music Center - Hartford, CT
6/20/2010 Sunday - The Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC
6/21/2010 Monday - Showbox Sodo - Seattle, WA
6/22/2010 Tuesday - Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR
6/25/2010 Friday - Warfield Theatre - San Francisco, CA
6/26/2010 Saturday - The Wiltern - Los Angeles, CA
6/27/2010 Sunday - Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA

daptonerecords.com/sharonjonesandthedapkings.html

The Buzz Looks at 'Roo 2010: Worth It?

Yesterday, the Bonnaroo 2010 lineup was released (check it here, y'all) in a really pain-in-the-ass fashion. The Bonnaroo website revealed a band every few minutes throughout a 9-hour span just so that everyone would become that much more impatient. First of all, I apologize for my bluff lineup that was posted a few days ago, but I had fun looking at it, didn't you? Now that we know the real deal, I thought I'd throw out a Pro/Con list to see if 2010 will be a good year for 'Roo goers everywhere.

PROS:
- Diversity: This lineup sticks with the Bonnaroo trend of covering all styles A to Z. DMB to Jay-Z, Zac Brown to Jimmy Cliff, and everything in between. If you're a music lover, there is at least something here for you.
-Below the tip of the Iceberg: Sure, the headliners here appeal to a large audience, but if you look further down the list, that's where this lineup can really come alive. Edward Sharpe, Dr. Dog, Trombone Shorty, Hot Rize, the options are endless and the small tents will be rockin'.
-There's gotta be more to it: Dave, Kings, Stevie, and Jay-Z aren't the headliners, are they? There's gotta be another huge name announced. Coming off of 2 nights of Phish and The Boss last year, there's no way they're gonna make fans settle for those headliners this year. Keep your eyes out for additions in the near future.
-Stevie Wonder is there: Any lineup with Stevie is a good lineup. The man is a legend and still puts on an incredible, soulful show. It's incredibly hard to dislike Stevie and I'm sure his set will be the bombdotcom.
-Experience Matters- Bonnaroo has been happening since 2002. They've seen what has worked, they've seen what hasn't worked, and they've refined themselves year after year. Bonnaroo has become more of a full experience every time it happens (There's a fuckin' Whole Foods Tent there now!).

CONS:
- Size: Bonnaroo has become a calamity of sorts in terms of size. It can definitely accommodate that many but I'm going to break this one down into two sub-points to make my case:
1. Inconvenience: You drive great distances to get there, because lets face it, how many music festival fans are there in Tennessee? Then after that many hours of driving, you have to wait hours upon hours in line just to get in. Once you get in, you find a campsite way too close to somebody else that's way too far from all of the stages. Theres just so many people there it is hard to maneuver.
2. Clash of Personalities: You may be wanting to scream at me, "Hey Perry, you dumb shit, your favorite band, Phish puts on festivals this big, so why are you hatin' on the 'Roo?" Well indeed Phish have thrown festivals of equal if not greater proportions, however, not all have worked. Coventry, in 2004, was a disaster and 30,000 people had to be turned away. The other many were successful, however, because everyone was there with the same mission: to see Phish play. Bonnaroo has a large and diverse lineup, attracting a large and diverse crowd which is both a blessing and a curse. Some can deal with the crowd, others have gotten sick of the college party-boys, hipster know-it-alls, nitrous-sucking wookies, and quiet older folks (not to stereotype or anything).
- Wait, wasn't this a jamband festival?: The 'Roo started in 2002 in honor of Michael Houser, the late guitarist for Widespread Panic. The concept was to have a jamband festival. Not purely a jamband festival, but one chock full of improvisational music. Believe me, I love music of all kinds, but I count no more than eight "jambands" on this list. Bonnaroo is becoming more of a Tennessee Coachella or Lollapalooza than anything.
- It's expensive: 260 bucks is a lotta cash. There is definitely great bang for your buck, but same with every other festival out there.
-It's in Tennesee- Tennesee is a long drive for many, and it is South of the Mason Dixon. I love the heat, but it gets HOT in Tennessee in June. Also, I've heard many police horror stories surrounding Bonnaroo. The minute you enter 'Roo territory with an out-of-state license plate, you are shark bait, so don't try anything too sneaky, kids!

Conclusion:
Great lineup, not gonna go. Bonnaroo hasn't run its course, not even close, but it isn't the same as it once was. There are many festivals out there today that are a bit smaller and have terrific lineups that will definitely have cool sit-ins and more of an artistically communal atmosphere. Lotsa folks seem to be going to Bonnaroo these days just to say they've gone to Bonnaroo, but if you're in it for the music, check out some other festies like Summer Camp, Wakarusa, All Good, Mountain Jam, Wannee, or even this year's NOLA Jazz Fest. If you are going, I wish you a grand time (it'll be hard not to), and I hope you are able to tell me off!

You can see the full 2010 Bonnaroo lineup and buy tickets here.

Tuesday Tribute: Steely Dan

Formed in 1967 by lead members Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, Steely Dan would become one of the most successful bands of the 1970's and continue on to make music throughout subsequent decades as well. Fagen and Becker met at Bard college in New York where they both played in various bands together (one of which featured Chevy Chase on drums). By 1972, Steely Dan's full lineup was formed and their first hit album Can't Buy a Thrill was released. "Do It Again," "Reelin' In The Years," and "Dirty Work" were just three of the singles that gained popularity for Steely Dan off of the album. The mid-seventies saw Steely Dan putting the utmost importance on studio work and song-craft. Albums such as Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied, and Aja all produced hits, yet the band stayed off the road for the most part, despite amazing musicians such as Skunk Baxter and Michael McDonald joining the group. After the success of 1978's Gaucho, Steely Dan was forced to call it quits after several law suits, personal issues, and band member departures. In their years off, Steely Dan members were able to clean up and keep writing, while Steely Dan fans both new and old were able to marinate on the groups successful 70's catalog, making the band only more popular. By the mid-nineties, Fagen and Becker decided to reform. While the band had been apart for over a decade, they were by no means a nostalgia act. In 2000, Steely Dan's album Two Against Nature controversially won four Grammy's including Album of the Year over Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP. Also, Steely Dan has gained popularity as a live band in recent years, touring just about every year and proving their infused live jazz styles to people across the country. Steely Dan was undoubtedly one of the most successful and prolific bands of the 1970's, but once again, never seem to get mentioned among the heavy-hitters of the mid-to-late sixties. They were very different from your typical rock n' roll; some consider them a breath of fresh air, others consider them cheesy yacht-rock. Regardless, Steely Dan possess unbelievable songwriting talent and will be honored this week with a few videos for your enjoyment.

First up is a roaring version of "Reelin' In The Years" from Midnight Special in 1973. I love how they didn't slow the pace one bit, and how Bill Cosby is the one who introduces them.



"Black Cow" was one of Steely Dan's biggest hits off of Aja. Here is them doing a live version of it in 2003, not too long after Tatyana Ali ripped it off for her one and only hit "Daydreaming."



Check out this version on "Kid Charlemagne" from a Vh1 special. The bass player absolutely tears it up on this one, and the drummer ain't too shabby either. Donald Fagen almost makes the keytar look cool on this one, almost.



Lastly, perhaps my favorite Steely Dan song, is one of their slower ones, "Dirty Work." Although Fagen doesn't sing it, its got a great horn part and a great hook.

Bonnaroo Lineup Leak?

Here's the latest on the Bonnaroo lineup. Is it real? Judge for yourself.

Gogol Bordello World Tour

This spring, gypsy-punks Gogol Bordello are cruising around the world in support of their upcoming fifth studio album Transcontinental Hustle. Known for their on-stage energy and their accordion-riddled mosh frenzy, Gogol Bordello is one of the most interesting live performances out there right now. Don't think of them as just a gimmick though. Gogol Bordello has been lauded by critics across the board including Robert Christgau who gave their 2004 album SUPER TARANTA! an A+. Keep your eyes out for Transcontinental Hustle, which is produced by Rick Rubin, and get out and see these guys on tour.

Gogol Bordello 2010 Dates:
02/26/10 Fri Carnegie Hall New York, NY
03/28/10 Sun West Coast Blues 'n' Roots Perth, AU
03/30/10 Tue Billboard Melbourne, AU
03/31/10 Wed The Metro Melbourne, AU
04/02/10 Fri The Hi-Fi Brisbane, AU
04/04/10 Sun East Coast Blues & Roots Music Fest Byron Bay, AU
04/05/10 Mon East Coast Blues & Roots Music Fest Byron Bay, AU
04/18/10 Sun Metropolis Montreal, QC
04/20/10 Tue The Sound Academy Toronto, ON
04/21/10 Wed Royal Oak Music Theatre Royal Oak, MI
04/23/10 Fri Congress Theater Chicago, IL
04/24/10 Sat First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
04/25/10 Sun First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
04/28/10 Wed House of Blues Boston, MA
04/29/10 Thu Rams Head Live Baltimore, MD
04/30/10 Fri Rams Head Live Baltimore, MD
05/01/10 Sat Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA
05/07/10 Fri Hammersmith Apollo London, GB
05/08/10 Sat Manchester Academy Manchester, GB
05/09/10 Sun Glasgow Academy Glasgow, GB
05/10/10 Mon University of East Anglia (UEA) Norwich, GB
05/11/10 Tue Birmingham Academy Birmingham, GB
05/15/10 Sat Long'l'rock Festival Longirod, SWI
05/16/10 Sun Tollhaus Karlsruhe Karlsruhe, GER
05/18/10 Tue Elysee Montmarte Paris, FRA
05/19/10 Wed Bikini Toulouse, FRA
05/21/10 Fri La Riviera Madrid, ES
05/22/10 Sat Razzmatazz Barcelona, ES
05/24/10 Mon Estragon Bologna, IT
05/25/10 Tue Alcatraz Milan, IT
05/26/10 Wed X-tra Limmathaus Zürich, SWI
05/27/10 Thu Gasometer Vienna, AUS
06/01/10 Tue The Paradiso Amsterdam, NL
06/02/10 Wed Docks Hamburg, GER
06/03/10 Thu Astra Berlin, GER
06/04/10 Fri Rock IM Park Nuremburg, GER
06/06/10 Sun Rock Am Ring Festival Nuremberg, GER

gogolbordello.com

Bonnaroo Updates and Speculation

Next Tuesday, February 9th will be the official announcement of the Bonnaroo 2010 line-up, however some artists have already blown their cover and others have garnered much speculation. The Flaming Lips will perform a late-night set this year in which they will cover Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety as they did for their New Year's Eve show this past year. Also, LiveDaily reports, Paul Simon will be one of the headliners at this years Bonnaroo. As for the other headliners, many suspect that Paul McCartney will fill one void, while the other is a bit of a tossup (Pavement? Furthur? Jay-Z?).
Many jam fans are banking on a solid lineup for Bonnaroo this year due to the cancellations of Rothbury and 10,000 Lakes Festival. I have a voice in the back of my head telling me not to hold out for the 'Roo though. My phavorite Vermont band will be announcing their summer tour in the next week or so, and I wouldn't be surprised if they will be doing a New England festival like they traditionally do. So Bonnaroo, you may have some competition this summer because Phish has the history of attracting mammoth sized crowds to their New England festivals. Just thought I'd give you a heads up!

Tuesday Tribute: Lou Reed

Squeaking onto the music scene in the mid-sixties as a founding member of cult garage-rock heroes the Velvet Underground, Lou Reed was music's answer to Andy Warhol in Greenwich Village. Responsible for writing most of the Velvet Underground's songs, Reed put an artsy spin on a rotation of simple power-chords to become one of modern-rock's go-to influences. While the Velvet Underground didn't achieve tremendous mainstream success while active, they have become one of the most legendary American rock bands of all time with their two most famous albums The Velvet Underground and Nico and Loaded. After his time with the Velvet Underground, Reed pushed on in the 1970's with hits like "Walk on the Wild Side," and his famous Rock & Roll Animal band which helped him put on a monstrous live show. After being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, Reed dedicated much of his time to helping out other artists. Efforts include a two-disc set called The Raven which features many other artists and actors, a recording with The Killers' Brandon Flowers, and contributions to the upcoming Gorrilaz album. During the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, Lou Reed got up on stage and stated, "MTV should be playing more rock & roll!" That rebellious act alone is enough for us to explore his expansive career this Tuesday.

First up is a solo take of the Velvet Underground hit "Heroin," which was used as part of some documentary. Not bad for a two chord song.



Next is the best version of "Sweet Jane" ever recorded. On Lou's 1974 live album Rock n' Roll Animal, his Rock n' Roll Animal band consisted of some of the best musicians of the time including Prakash John on bass and the duo of Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter on guitars. The intro is just face-melting.



Continuing on we've got a very eccentric live take of "Rock & Roll" from Paris in 1974. This version also features many of the Rock n' Roll Animal band, but sort of ditches the whole rock thing and gives a more organ-heavy funky feel.



Last up is Lou's most famous solo hit and perhaps the most famous song written about a transvestite groupie. "Walk on the Wild Side" was revisited again in the early 90's when A Tribe Called Quest sampled it for their hit "Can I Kick It?" This live cut from 1982 features a really different perspective of the song thanks to a fretless bass player.

Perry's Pick: The Candles

Josh Lattanzi has always been part of a supporting cast. Whether it be touring and recording as a part of Ben Kweller's band or gigging with the likes of Albert Hammond Jr. or The Lemonheads, Lattanzi has been heard for years, but not sufficiently recognized. Now, with some free time on his hands, Lattanzi is the mastermind behind The Candles, a folk-rock outfit from New York City. Poppy hooks compliment heartfelt lyrics and twangy guitar licks that give The Candles a feel-good west coast vibe. Tunes like "Here or Gone" and "Let Me Down Easy" have the potential to be radio friendly but also stick to their roots by being drenched in organ and slide guitar, giving the final product a southern rock feel comparable to Ryan Adams or the Wallflowers. The Candles are currently amidst a winter tour supporting Evan Dando of the Lemonheads and are anticipating an official release in 2010. These guys are sure to serve up a slice of Americana that will resonate for summer days to come, so if you like what you hear on their site (they're currently offering a free download), be sure to catch them live and keep your eyes peeled for an album in the near future.

myspace.com/thecandlesband