Sunday, September 30, 2007

Know Your Limits...

Austin City Limits has announced the bands that will be participating in the upcoming 33rd season. You can always count on this PBS Powerhouse to deliver an amazing mix of performers representing a variety of genres. Established bands of note and rising stars...it's all there. Newly taped shows begin airing this week.
Oct. 6th Norah Jones
Oct. 13th The Decemberists/Explosions in the Sky
Oct. 20th Jimmy Reed Highway: Jimmie Vaughan and Friends
Oct. 27th Femi Kuti
Nov. 3rd Wilco
Nov. 10th Arcade Fire
Nov. 17th Brad Paisley/Dierks Bentley
Nov. 24th Van Morrison (Encore)
Dec. 1st Gretchen Wilson/Miranda Lambert (Encore)
Dec. 8th Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Encore)
Dec. 15th John Mayer
Dec. 22nd Lucinda Williams/Old Crow Medicine Show
Dec. 29th Bloc Party/Ghostland Observatory
Jan. 5th Crowded House/Grupo Fantasma
Jan. 12th Regina Spektor /Paolo Nutini
Jan. 19th Roky Erickson/Kings of Leon
Jan. 26th ACL PRESENTS: The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Foo's Gold...

Foo Fighters are back in the mix with a new release Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. They have announced some tour dates and more are expected soon. Here are links to two radio interviews that will interest the biggest of fans.




Foo Fighters HQ Radio Interview about New Release

The Foo Fighters on Radio 1

Video for 1st Single: The Pretender


Foo Fighters cover Arcade Fire: Keep the Car Running


Australian Interview (recent)

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Who'll Stop The Rain...

Just jumping on the bandwagon to cover Tay Zonday, the internet phenom. Over 9 million people have viewed his song on YouTube. All the attention has lead to guest appearances and parodies. And yes, that is his real voice. Where will the madness stop?

The Original

Mocked by John Mayer

Tay on Jimmy Kimmel

Mocked by Darth Vader

DJ Flipside Remix

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Bird Calls...

Guitarist, violinist, whistler extraordinaire Andrew Bird will be flying over to Kent State University for a performance on Saturday, October 6th at The Mac Center. Spread your wings and go see a true talent display his craft.

Andrew Bird: Take Away Show on LaBlogotheque


Andrew Bird: Imitosis

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Mic Test #33: Will Dailey...

Will Dailey:
Rock/Acoustic/Roots Music
*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.

Friday, September 21, 2007

It Ain't Easy Bein' Cheesy...

All you can do is set the trap and wait...well Modest Mouse finally took the bait and has announced more Fall Tourdates...including a late addition to the route in Detroit at the Masonic Temple Theatre on Saturday, December 1st. No time to breath easy though, tickets go an sale tomorrow, September 22nd at noon. It is unusual to see this innovative band tour so much, but no one is complaining...and they have captured their travels on a great Photo Blog on the own website.

Oct 31
Spokane, WA @ Big Easy Concert Hall
Nov 2 Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Ballroom
Nov 3 Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Events Center
Nov 5 Saskatoon, SK @Odeon Event Centre
Nov 6 Regina, SK @ Conexus Arts Centre
Nov 7 Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre
Nov 9 Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
Nov 10 Madison, WI @ Orpheum Theater
Nov 11 Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
Nov 12 Indy, IN @ Murat Egyptian Room
Nov 14 St. Louis, MO @ Pageant
Nov 15 Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
Nov 16 Norman, OK @ Lloyd Noble Center
Nov 17 Albuquerque, NM @ Kiva Auditorium
Nov 30 Kalamzaoo, MI @ MI State Theater
Dec 1 Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple Theatre
Dec 2 Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater
Dec 3 Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theater
Dec 10 San Diego, CA @ SOMA
Dec 11 Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater
Dec 12 El Paso, TX @ Abraham Chavez Theatre
Dec 15 New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues

MM singing Dashboard on Letterman

Classic Clips: Devo...

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Jose Hits The Road...

The subtle genius that is Jose Gonzalez has announced Fall tour dates, which is sure to delight fans of acoustic music in North America. His style is a delicate and deliberate finger-picking that has become his signature sound. Fans can stream the newest release, In Our Nature in it's entirety on his Myspace page.
September
27, 28 - New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater
29 - New York, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
30 - Boston, MA @ Paradise
October
1 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
2 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
4 - Chicago, IL @ Park West
5 - Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
7 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox
8, 9 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
10 - Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
12 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
13 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe
November
24 - Vancouver, British Columbia @ Richard's on Richards
26 - Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
29 - Austin, TX @ The Parish
30 - Columbus, OH @ The Wexner Center
December 2007
1 - Louisville, KY @ 930 Listening Room
2 - Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
3 - Bloomington, IN @ Buskirk-Chumley Theater
4 - Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
6 - Ottawa, Ontario @ Zaphod Beeblebrox
7 - Toronto, Ontario @ The Mod Club
8 - Montreal, Quebec @ Le National

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

One Love...

KRS-One brings his old school hip hop style to the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor this Saturday night (9/22). His thought provoking social commentary and lethal lyrics have allowed him to endure and stay true...even after all these years in the MC game. He controls the Mic and he will surely control the party this weekend. See you there.
Remember...
K-nowledge
R-eigns
S-upreme
O-ver
N-early
E-veryone

Monday, September 17, 2007

Take In The Trash...

Sunday was Trash pick-up day in Toledo...Heavy Trash, that is. Jon Spencer rolled into town (@ Frankie's Inner City) with his rock-a-billy side project last night and caused quite the ruckus. Backed by the members of Danish band, Power Solo, guitarist Matt Verta-Ray & Mr. Spencer delivered their high energy revival style blues. Ya hate to see a powerful show like that poorly attended, but that didn't stop these guys from tearing through their material. Heavy Trash is just the right amount of frantic, filthy fun...it may be starting to smell, but it ain't rotten yet. Who can rock?...THE TRASH CAN! (get it, the trash can...where does this stuff come from). Go see this band!
*Got some photos up on FLICKR
*Hope to post some video soon.
Dark Hair'd Rider

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Drummin' Up Some Laughs...

Comedian Rowan Atkinson keepin' the beat. Made me smile.

Every Rose Has It's Thorns...

As the midwest prepares for The Beastie Boys in Detroit next week for back-to-back shows at The Fillmore Detroit, watch this interview that MCA, Ad Rock & Mike D did with Charlie Rose on PBS. As expected, the trio don't take themselves too seriously and as a result Charlie has his hands full controlling the discussion.
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Monday, September 10, 2007

Mic Test #32: The Dead 60s...

The Dead 60s:
Dub/Punk/Ska
*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.

Feelin' Young Again...


Get your bags packed and prepare to hit the road this Fall with Mr. Neil Young. Fresh off a Farm Aid Weekend in New York, it seems that this rock n' roll horseman needs to keep on movin'.

10-18 Boise, ID @ Morrison Center
10-20 Spokane, WA @ INB Performing Arts Center
10-22 Portland, OR @ Keller Theater
10-23 Seattle, WA @ WaMu Center
10-27 Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre (Bridge School benefit)
10-28 Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre (Bridge School benefit)
10-30 Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theatre
11-05 Denver, CO @ Wells Fargo Theatre
11-08 Minneapolis, MO @ Northrop Auditorium
11-10 Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
11-12 Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
11-13 Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
11-15 Washington, DC @ Constitution Hall
11-18 St. Louis, MO @ Fox Theatre
11-26 Toronto, Ontario @ Massey Hall
11-27 Toronto, Ontario @ Massey Hall
12-02 Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
12-03 Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
12-05 Wallingford, CT @ Chevrolet Theatre
12-09 Philadelphia, PA @ Tower Theatre
12-12 New York, NY @ United Palace
12-13 New York, NY @ United Palace

Neil's new release, Chrome Dreams II, comes out on October 16th, but the CD/DVD that is really worth the gold is is Live at Massey Hall. This recent release dips into Neil's archives & captures an amazing solo performance from 1971 which showcases some of his folk origins. Piano, guitar, interesting banter between songs...this CD has it all.

Here is a clip of Ohio.

Zeppelin Set To Fly Again...


Stop by Led Zeppelin's official website and you will see their familiar ZOSO symbols along with a mysterious date 11/13/07. There has been so much speculation about what is going to happen on that date. One can only hope that the Rock Gods will deem it necessary to see the "greatest rock group of all time" re-unite to rock it like the good old days. But fans only need to be patient until September 12th, the date set for a press conference. This could be an announcement about a one-off tribute concert to the late Ahmet Ertegun, longtime Zep friend and record producer or maybe an announcement about a 2 CD "Best Of" release called Mothership. Rumors also include the participation of Jason Bonham on drums...possibly the only soul that can fill his father John's place backing Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.



Sunday, September 09, 2007

Slick Rick's Music Tricks & Picks...

Rick Rubin has been recognized as one of the most important producers in modern music. From his early days with Def Jam to his recently hailed work with Johnny Cash & U2, he shows no sign of slowing down. Check out this recent New York Times feature for more on the mind of music's newest guru.

Classic Clips: Run DMC...

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

From Asheville To Africa...

World Beat or Afro-Beat is always a to freshen up what you are listening to. So much good music from all over the world. Two groups that stand out are Vieux Farka Toure' and Toubab Krewe. Vieux is from Mali and TK is from Asheville, North Carolina but the kinship in their music is unmistakable...Jams to spread. Both groups will be making their way through the Midwest. VFT will be at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus on October 29th and Toubab Krewe will be playing The Ark in Ann Arbor on September 24th and the House of Blues in Cleveland on September 26th.

Vieux Farka Toure' jamming


Toubab Krewe