Mic Test #24: Jake Troth...

Jake Troth:
Acoustic/Electronica/Pop
*Note: The music featured in the Mic Test is typically new to me, too. Just throwing out some info. about bands that seem to be offering something exciting. Enjoy.

Listen Up People...

This is a fascinating social experiment that my prove that we are all moving just a little too fast...cell phones, subway schedules, iPods, laptops...so many gadgets and circumstances vying for our attention. Are we losing our ability to appreciate the simple pleasures in life? By the looks of this video, we are so caught up in our own little worlds that we fail to recognize the amazing things going on three feet away. World renowned violinist, Joshua Bell and The Washington Post set up an experiment in the DC Metro to see if anyone was paying attention as they went about their business during rush hour. Would commuters notice one of the world's most talented musicians if he was right next to them playing? What happened is really astounding. Read the Washington Post article.

Some White Stripes Heading Your Way...

Get a whiff of this!...it smells like some good old rock 'n roll. Not to worry...the more appealing White Stripes that we all know and love will soon be coming to a town near you. Meg & Jack have announced some initial tour dates in the U.S. to support their upcoming release, Icky Thump (June 19th)

July 2007 (more dates TBA)
22 Portland, ME - Cumberland Civic Center
23 Boston, MA - Agganis Arena
24 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
25 Wallingford, CT - Chevrolet Theater
27 Wilmington, DE - Grand Opera House
28 Fairfax, VA - Patriot Center
29 North Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
30 Birmingham, AL - Sloss Furnaces
31 Southaven, MS - Snowden Grove Park Amphitheater

Listen to new White Stripes: Icky Thump

What Did He Just Say...

Rock 'n Roll doesn't have to be all serious...I caught this on I Am Fuel, You Are Friends, a great music blog I check regularly. Have a good laugh. It's so true...music lyrics aren't always easy to pin down. I hope this isn't the last we've heard from The Misheard Lyrics Guy. (This post is dedicated to a friend back in high school who thought Billy Idol's, Eyes Without a Face was How's About a Date...ouch!)

Keep Your Motor Runnin' Detroit...

In these difficult economic times, Detroit is a city that keeps playing through the pain. The Pistons and The Red Wings are doing their part to stay in the hunt...and I gotta say, the music scene is as vibrant and strong as ever. There is always a steady flow of good music coming through, so keep an eye on that. In the meantime there are some festivals that are starting to take shape that you need to know about. Lineups are starting to be announced for the following:

Movement 2007: Detroit's Electronic Music Festival
May 26th, 27th & 28th
Highlights include Moodymann featuring Pitch Black City, Model 500, Jeff Mills, Booka Shade,Octave One, King Britt & many more

Detroit Festival of the Arts (FREE)
June 8th, 9th & 10th
Highlights include Balkan Beat Box

Comerica Cityfest (FREE)
July 4th thru 8th
Highlights include Femi Kuti, Spoon, Yo La Tengo, Lupe Fiasco, The Wailers, Ryan Shaw & many more

Dylan News Blowin' in the Wind...

Looks like Mr. Bob Dylan himself will be rolling (like a stone, no less) into Toledo, OH (my hometown) for a gig on July 12th. If you have seen Bob Dylan before, you know it could be a memorable evening or something of a trainwreck...feeling lucky? He will be performing at the beautiful Toledo Zoo Amphitheater...which begs the question, will he dedicate a special version of I Shall Be Released to the animals at the zoo? Kind of appropriate, don't ya think?

Live from New York, It's Bjork...

Bjork's long-awaited new music as performed on Saturday Night Live (4/21/07).

A Patty Griffin Free-for-All...

Patty Griffin has performed steadily in Ann Arbor since the arrival of her debut album, Living with Ghosts in 1996. As she pulls into Ann Arbor this Thursday (4/26) there will be a little added bonus for fans. Patty will be performing for FREE at Borders Bookstore across the street from Michigan Theater. Her in-store performance begins an 12:30 p.m. and will likely feature songs from her new CD, Children Running Through. A free performance is inviting since most would probably pay $100 to see her live. A simple, pure voice of an angel that must be heard to be fully believed.

Phat Lips Just Gettin' Bigger...

In the fall of 2006, The Flaming Lips played a show in their hometown of Oklahoma City. Luckily, that memorable evening was captured for release on DVD. The DVD called U.F.O.s at the Zoo will be available this July. It will include concert footage with all of the typical Lip's antics, a giant U.F.O. built especially for the show as well as a look backstage.

As if that is not enough to look forward to...lead singer Wayne Coyne recently revealed that the Flaming Lips work will be presented on Broadway. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots was a critical success for the band in 2002 (and one of my personal favorites) and lends it self perfectly for interpretation. No word on when the curtain will rise on this production.

This is what Coyne had to say about the concept:
"There's the real world and then there's this fantastical world. This girl, the Yoshimi character, is dying of something. And these two guys are battling to come visit her in the hospital. And as one of the boyfriends envisions trying to save the girl, he enters this other dimension where Yoshimi is this Japanese warrior and the pink robots are an incarnation of her disease. It's almost like the disease has to win in order for her soul to survive. Or something like that."

U.F.O.s at the Zoo Trailer (amazing...wish I could've been there)

Mic Test #23: The National...

The National:
Indie/Rock/Gothic
*Note: The music featured in the Mic Test is typically new to me, too. Just throwing out some info. about bands that seem to be offering something exciting. Enjoy.

Modest Rouse...

Here is some video I captured of Josh Rouse last Tuesday at The Magic Bag in Ferndale (Detroit area). Rouse takes a fresh approach to "pop" music that removes the sugar and replaces it with great lyrics and solid instrumentation. His band didn't disappoint...especially his bass player who plays steady the whole show. Love the groove of this band. This song is Quiet Town, a mellow tune that seems to honor Rouse's love for his life in Spain. Josh has laid back approach on stage, delivering song after song with the determination you might see from a musician trying to record a new album. But he also took some time to have some fun to knock the Ferndale Police, who were apparently questioning the location of his tour bus earlier in the day. I can't say for sure, but I wouldn't describe this band as a neighborhood threat. However, they do threaten to make significant pop music.

Classic Clips: Talking Heads...

MMJ & Children First...

Looks like those violin lessons are going to pay off for some lucky Chicago area kids. According to the My Morning Jacket website, My Morning Jacket is going to play Lollapalooza 2007 with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Great idea...too cool...amazing band...a memorable first will surely take place! Cello sales are probably going to skyrocket as a result. You gotta love the fresh energy this band is bringin' to rock 'n roll.

Mic Test #22: Laura Veirs...

Laura Veirs:
Indie/Alternative/Folk Rock
*Note: The music featured in the Mic Test is typically new to me, too. Just throwing out some info. about bands that seem to be offering something exciting. Enjoy.

First the Internet, Now Live Earth...

Al Gore has really outdone himself this time. While he is still riding off the success of "inventing the internet", he brings the Rock and Roll World together for a good cause. Global Warming is a complex subject, but as we have seen time and time again, it may take some music to change the planet.

Live Earth is starting to take shape. Here is the latest (including the names of headlining acts). Organizers announced eighteen of the headliners who will perform at the U.S. leg of the 7-continent, 24-hour Live Earth concerts on 7/7/07. The concert will be held at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Tickets for the show go on sale Monday, April 16 at 10 a.m. EDT. The global concert on will begin in Sydney and continue across all 7 continents, concluding with the U.S. show.

The U.S. show will feature live on stage:
AFI
AKON
ALICIA KEYS
BON JOVI
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
FALL OUT BOY
JOHN MAYER
KANYE WEST
KELLY CLARKSON
KT TUNSTALL
LUDACRIS
MELISSA ETHERIDGE
RIHANNA
ROGER WATERS
SHERYL CROW
SMASHING PUMPKINS
THE POLICE

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. EDT on Monday, April 16 and will be available at livenation.com/liveearth or by calling Ticketmaster at (212) 307-7171. All ticket information is available at LiveEarth.MSN.com. All proceeds will benefit the Alliance for Climate Protection and other international NGOs.

Live Earth is a monumental music event that will bring together more than 2 billion people to combat the climate crisis. Live Earth’s 24 hours of music across 7 continents will deliver a call to action and the solutions needed to answer the call. Live Earth marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign led by The Alliance for Climate Protection to move individuals, corporations and governments to take action.
The following artists will perform at the London leg of Live Earth at Wembley Stadium:

BEASTIE BOYS
BLACK EYED PEAS
BLOC PARTY
CORINNE BAILEY RAE
DAMIEN RICE
DAVID GRAY
DURAN DURAN
FOO FIGHTERS
GENESIS
JAMES BLUNT
JOHN LEGEND
KEANE
MADONNA
PAOLO NUTINI
RAZORLIGHT
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
SNOW PATROL

Lollapalooza 2007 Lineup Full of Flavors...

And just like that, the Lollapalooza Lineup for 2007 dropped out of the sky and into our laps. Hope your hungry for music, cuz you can chew on this for a while.

Here's the list:
Pearl Jam, Daft Punk, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Muse, Iggy & the Stooges, Modest Mouse, Interpol, My Morning Jacket, Satellite Party, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Snow Patrol, the Roots, Patti Smith, Kings of Leon, the Black Keys, Regina Spektor, Spoon, Lupe Fiasco, TV on the Radio, Pete Yorn, G. Love & Special Sauce, Paolo Nutini, Amy Winehouse, LCD Soundsystem, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Silverchair, Femi Kuti, Yo La Tengo, the Hold Steady, Jack's Mannequin, Stephen Marley, Sound Tribe Sector 9, M.I.A., Slightly Stoopid, Blonde Redhead, Sparklehorse, Sean Lennon, !!!, Blue October, Son Volt, Motion City Soundtrack, Polyphonic Spree, Peter Bjorn & John, Silversun Pickups, CSS, the Rapture, the Wailers, Roky Erickson, Tapes n Tapes, Heartless Bastards, the View, the Cribs, the Fratellis, Ghostland Observatory, Tokyo Police Club, Rhymefest, Soulive, Cold War Kids, Annuals, Fields, Electric Six, Jim Noir, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Sam Roberts Band, Black Angels, Charlie Musselwhite, Aqueduct, Juliette & the Licks, Dios, Viva Voce, David Vandervelde, Los Campesinos!, Chin Up Chin Up, Ryan Shaw, Colour Revolt, Satin Peaches, Illinois, Arckid, Mickey Avalon, The 1900s, Bang Bang Bang, Bound Stems, High Class Elite, Carey Ott, Matt Roan.

They Say It's Your Birthday...

The Lone Microphone is 1 year old today...but who's counting? (I'm serious, who is counting?...anyone?)...ha! Hope somebody somewhere enjoys all this music mess...it's been fun for me. Time flies!

Wave Your Global Hands in the Air...

And wave 'em like ya just don't care, and if you wanna read about the impact of Hip-Hop somebody scream "Hell Yeah." Whether you love rap and hip-hop culture or you hate it, you can't ignore the impact of the art form. And not that it ever needed to be recognized or legitimized, as a matter of fact, it dares you to disrespect it...but even National Geographic has stepped up to give major props to a culture that has taken a grip on the globe. If you are interested in a little Hip-Hop 101, read this article by James McBride, an impressive recap of hip-hop's evolution.

Here are some videos that highlight the early days:
Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Rock


Sugar Hill Gang, Rapper's Delight


Biggie Smalls freestylin' at age 17

Ann Arbor Summer Festival Powers On...

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival season on the Mainstage has been announced. As always, this series presents a wide cross section of great musical talent...very impressive.

Here are some of the highlights that can be seen at The Power Center for Performing Arts starting in mid June:
6/19 Cesaria Evora & Seu Jorge
6/28 Lyle Lovett & his Large Band (@ Hill Auditorium)
7/1 Mountain Stage Radio Show
7/5 Buddy Guy & Ryan Shaw

Mic Test #21: The Western States Motel...

The Western States Motel:
Indie/Rock/Acoustic
*Note: The music featured in the Mic Test is typically new to me, too. Just throwing out some info. about bands that seem to be offering something exciting. Enjoy.

You Do The Math...

A new "How Did They Do That" type video from Mute Math...good stuff.