Not only is Dave Grohl one of today's rock superstars, he is also one of the best stage banterers...always some hard driving music & just as funny lines coming from this frontman's mouth. Someone at the Austin City Limits Festival captured a funny exchange this past weekend. They closed the festival and proceeded to a Monday taping session of Austin City Limits (PBS) to be aired at a later date...can't wait for that one. The word is this band is planning on taking an extended break from the road...Too bad for all of us. I love the energy this band brings to the stage.
On the heels of Noel Gallagher's Canadian bum rush, Oasis has announced a dozen gigs that will take place in December. They will be touring in support of their upcoming album, Dig Out Your Soul (the first U.S. tour in 3 years). Ryan Adams will open the north american dates. Could we see version of Wonderwall that includes the whole lot? Or maybe they can all compete to see who can be the most dramatic rock star with an attitude.
Oasis~Ryan Adams Tour Dates
Dec. 3 Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena Dec. 4 Los Angeles @ Staples Center Dec. 6 Las Vegas @ The Pearl Dec. 8 Denver @ Broomfield Events Center Dec. 10 Minneapolis @ Target Center Dec. 12 Chicago @ Allstate Arena Dec. 13 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills Dec. 15 London, Ontario @ LaBatt Centre Dec. 17 New York @ Madison Square Garden Dec. 19 Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Center Dec. 20 Fairfax, VA @ Patriot Center
Mumford and Sons: Folk/Bluegrass/Afro-beat *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.
For R.E.M. fans, this popped up on their site a few weeks ago:
For the past year, Matthew Perpetua, host of popsongs.wordpress.com, has written his interpretation of virtually every song in the R.E.M. canon prior to March 2007. It was a formidable project which concluded on September 9th with Matt's interpretation, appropriately enough, of "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)." Though Perpetua promised his readers that he would eventually tackle the meaning of tracks from ACCELERATE at some point in 2009 after giving them time to gestate, he looked to be done with popsongs for now.
But lo and behold, a day after signing off, Matthew received a note that Michael was interested in answering questions from fans about the songs and lyrics. As of today, Matthew has posted the third of Michael's ongoing series of answers. It's fascinating stuff, no doubt, and if you've ever wondered about Michael's lyrics, now is your opportunity not only to read what he has had to say but to submit a question yourself.
To read the first, second, and third installments of Michael's responses,please click here.
If you are prone to spending hours on your favorite band's Myspace pages, try Bon Iver's Myspace Page. You'll find a FREE EP (MP3 Download) and an interesting interview with Justin Vernon on an exclusive online music site called The Myspace Transmissions. Amazing artist.
Cory Chisel is a soulful, Wisconsin based artist that deserves your attention. He recently released an EP called Cabin Ghosts and he will be on tour soon with his band, The Wandering Sons beginning in October. Cory is on the brink of breaking big & delivering his honest, heartfelt style to the masses. The band's loves of music and blending styles is apparent as they offer their layered rock 'n roll.
Cory Chisel Tour Dates (Fall 2008): Oct 2 Appleton, WI @ Cranky Pats Oct 8 Indianapolis, IN @ Birdy's Oct 9 Bloomington, IN @ Bluebird Oct 10 Kent, OH @ Kent Stage Oct 12 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar Oct 13 Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall Oct 15 Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater Oct 16 Des Moines, IA @ Peoples Oct 17 Chicago, IL @ Schubas Oct 18 Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club Oct 19 Columbus, OH @ The Basement Oct 22 New York City, NY @ Bowery Ballroom Oct 25 Charlottesville, VA @ Gravity Lounge Oct 26 Nashville, TN @ Third and Lindsley Nov 26 Rockford, IL @ NEW AMERICAN THEATER
The Notorious B.I.G. biopic is expected to drop on January 16th, 2009...and now, the trailer can be seen. To learn more about the project, check out Fox Searchlight's website.
Now, The National has stepped up to the plate to pledge support for Barack Obama by playing a FREE concert in Cincinnati's Fountain Square on October 16th. And if that isn't enough to get you fired up, Dayton's homegrown rockers, The Breeders will make the trip down I-75 to play the gig too. Either way, Obama can say he got the "National" vote. The band had this to say about their efforts:
You are invited to join The National and their fellow Ohioans The Breeders at a rally in support of Barack Obama and Joe Biden to be held on October 16th at Fountain Square in Cincinnati, Ohio (Located at the corner of Fifth & Vine Streets, downtown).
The rally will be held from 5-8 pm and will feature performances by The National & The Breeders and speeches to inspire Hope and incite Change. The show will be free to all. Ohio residents can vote early beginning on September 30th, so we’ve lined up charter buses to take registered Hamilton County voters to the polls on the night of the event.
Is there something poetic and obvious to say about the Smashing Pumpkins heading out on their 20th Anniversary Tour right after Halloween?...not on this blog there isn't (but the timing makes sense...right?). Is there a funny line about "leftover" pumpkins in November...not on this blog there isn't. But let it be known that this is going to happen...and we will see how "leftover" the whole thing feels. Apparently, they will be alternating playlists for performances with multiple show. So, for all the SP fans trying to recapture the magic after all these years...here are the dates (props for starting the ride right here in the Buckeye State):
11/1 Cleveland, OH - Palace Theatre 11/3 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall ("Black Sunshine") 11/4 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall ("White Crosses") 11/6 New York, NY - United Palace Theatre ("Black Sunshine") 11/7 New York, NY - United Palace Theatre ("White Crosses") 11/8 Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata 11/11 Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall ("Black Sunshine") 11/12 Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall ("White Crosses") 11/14 Boston, MA - Wang Center ("Black Sunshine") 11/15 Boston, MA - Wang Center ("White Crosses") 11/16 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena 11/18 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre ("Black Sunshine") 11/19 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre ("White Crosses") 11/21 Chicago, IL - Auditorium Theatre ("Black Sunshine") 11/22 Chicago, IL - Auditorium Theatre ("White Crosses") 11/26 St. Louis, MO - Fox Theatre 11/30 San Diego, CA - RIMAC Arena 12/02 Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre ("Black Sunshine")
The band also has a DVD, If All Goes Wrong, that will be available on November 11th.
OK, so now that the post title got your attention....Here is a random conversation with The Black Keys...on blindness, nods, laughter, offensive material, White Castle & trans fats...no time to explain, just watch the damn video. Rockers can laugh too!
On October 18, Grammy-nominated artist Matisyahu will begin an extensive fall tour across North America, including stops in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The tour coincides with the release of his upcoming EP, Shattered (Epic Records, October 21). The four-song EP features tracks from his new full-length album, Light (early 2009). Matisyahu will guide fans through songs from this forthcoming album during listening parties after each show on the fall tour. Matisyahu Tour Dates Oct. 18 Milwaukee, WI @ The Eagles Club Oct. 19 Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre Oct. 22 Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Center Oct. 23 Detroit, MI @ Fillmore Detroit Oct. 25 Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre Oct. 26 Johnson City, NY @ Magic City Music Hall Oct. 28 Providence, RI @ Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel Oct. 29 Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre Oct. 30 Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory Nov. 1 Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head Live Nov. 2 Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theatre Nov. 3 Washington, D.C. @ Sixth and I Historic Synagogue Nov. 4 Blacksburg, VA @ Virginia Tech University—Burruss Hall Nov. 6 Norfolk, VA @ Norva Theater Nov. 8 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse Nov. 9 New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues Nov. 10 Houston, TX @ House of Blues Nov. 11 Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre Nov. 13 Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom Nov. 15 Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre Nov. 17 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues Nov. 18 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia Nov. 19 Chico, CA @ Bell Memorial Union Auditorium Nov. 20 Anaheim, CA @ Grove of Anaheim Nov. 22 Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues Nov. 23 San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre Nov. 24 Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst Nov. 26 Park City, UT @ Harry O’s Nov. 29 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre Nov. 30 Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre Dec. 6 Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall Dec. 7 Nashville, TN @ Cannery Dec. 9 Columbia, MO @ Blue Note Dec. 11 Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s Dec. 14 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues Dec. 16 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre Dec. 17 Montreal, QC @ Metropolis Dec. 18 Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
Wilco is a band that wants you to recognize & exercise your ability to vote in this great country. They are asking friends & fans to "pledge" to vote in the upcoming election...in exchange, those who fill out a form will be sent a free MP3 (live) of Wilco & Fleet Foxes singing Dylan's I Shall Be Released via e-mail. How easy is that? Follow this link and get the job done.
Noah and the Whale: Folk/Folk Rock/Indie *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.
Lat week marked the beginning of David Byrne's latest tour to bring his newest release to the world. The reviews are starting to pop up along with some YouTube clips. Here is a link to a solid interview that Pitchfork did with the man of the hour. Tonight he will be playing the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville...that should be a great one.
Once in a Lifetime (9/20/08)
Like Humans Do (live at Union Chapel)...from his last tour
If Break Dancing gets you up on your feet, maybe you need to know about a movie that came out this year called Planet B-Boy. The DVD comes out November 11th, but there are still some screening scheduled around the U.S.
This Fall the BACARDI Live Tour, an innovative performance of today's hottest DJs, will make its way across the United States featuring turntable greats such as: Mix Master Mike, DJ Z-Trip, DJ JS-1, DJ A_Dog, and DJ Troublemaker.
The BACARDI Live Tour is making the rounds with Mix Master Mike. By fusing together artists and consumers, the tour is customized to a regional audience to create a dynamic and unforgettable performance. The music experience extends far beyond the traditional club scene, this unique tour series will be an experience to remember.
Star-studded talent set to hit the DJ booth includes Mix Master Mike, one of the premier scratch artists of the day, from the Beastie Boys; DJ JS-1, who has worked with some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop; DJ A_Dog, who has been rockin' the turntables for more than eight years, and legendary remix/mash-up DJ from Hollyrock, DJ Troublemaker.
The Live Tour will visit the following cities: Sept. 18 St. Cloud, MN Sept. 20 Minneapolis, MN Sept. 25 West Lafayette, IN Sept. 27 West Lafayette, IN Oct. 2 Bloomington, IL Oct. 4 Champaign, IL Oct. 9 Columbus, OH Oct. 11 Cleveland, OH Oct. 16 College Park, MD Oct. 18 College Park, MD Oct. 23 State College, PA Oct. 25 State College, PA Oct. 30 Morgantown, WV Nov. 1 Morgantown, WV Nov. 6 Dallas, TX Nov. 8 Austin, TX
The BACARDI Live Tour is an exclusive event for adults ages 21 and over only. For more information, please visit www.bacardi.com
Say what you want about Oasis, but they have participated in an innovative way to introduce the public to some new, unreleased material. They worked with many NYC street musicians including Dagmar, an underground rock duo that busks in the subways of New York & Boston. Both bands got together recently to rehearse the songs...and then...wham!...off to the subway Dagmar went...and by the miracle of YouTube...we can all see the goods. Love this idea.
Oasis working with NYC Street Musicians
The Shock of the Lightning (Dagmar rehearsal w/ Oasis)
13th Annual American Music Masters Series honors Les Paul
Each year the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s American Music Masters series celebrates an artist whose career has had a significant influence on the birth and ongoing evolution of rock and roll. The artists selected as American Music Masters are icons in the history of rock and roll whose remarkable lives and artistry have influenced popular music in the United States and beyond. Join us for a class that honors the 2008 American Music Master, Les Paul, a name that will forever be connected to the electric guitar.
A tribute concert will take place on Saturday November 15, at 8 pm at Playhouse Square’s State Theater. Participating artists will be announced in the coming months. Tickets for the tribute concert are $30, $40 and $50. Tickets for the tribute concert go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, September 24 at the Playhouse Square box office (216) 241-6000. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum members will be able to purchase tickets beginning Monday, September 8, at 10 a.m., by calling (216) 515-1939.
Donavon Frankenreiter and his band will be out on the "Pass It Around Tour" beginning October 8th in Atlanta, GA. Along for the ride will be Sara Watkins who will be supporting the guys on all of the shows. Sara is a founding member of the Grammy Award winning contemporary bluegrass band Nickel Creek. They will be at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor on October 27th.
African American Family Magazine’s Distinguished Speaker Series is proud to present Detroit Rocks the Vote on Wednesday September 17, 2008 at the Fillmore Theatre in Detroit. “Detroit Rocks the Vote”, is an event built around a concert with featured speaker Chuck D from Public Enemy, who will speak about the importance of having your voice heard no matter your party preference, during the upcoming Presidential election.
John Rockwood is a Toledo homeboy & friend with a love for music, the blues, & rock photography. In some ways, his life mirrors parts of Almost Famous. Here is a great video that captures some of his story & his photos. You can see his amazing vintage work at Backstage Gallery. We are lucky to have a great rock n roll historian living in our midst. If you see him out, do yourself a favor and ask him about his early day in the hallways of the Toledo Sports Arena.
The critically acclaimed Experience Hendrix Tour returns this October and November with a 19-date nationwide tour that kicks-off October 15th in Hampton Beach, NH. The 2008 Experience Hendrix Tour follows on the heels of successful mini tours in 2004 and 2007; this time featuring an expanded natiownide tour schedule and artist line-up the features the likes Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf), Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson, Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Gales, Mato Nanji (Indigenous), Chris Layton (Double Trouble) and special guests at selected locations including Cesar Rojas and David Hidalgo (Los Lobos), Bernard Allison, Robby Krieger (The Doors) and many more.
Oct 15 Hampton Beach, NH — Casino Ballroom Oct 16 Albany, NY — Palace Theater Oct 17 Providence, RI — Providence Performing Arts Center Oct 18 Boston, MA — Orpheum Theatre Oct 19 Waterbury, CT — Palace Theatre Oct 21 New York, NY — Hammerstein Ballroom Oct 22 New York, NY — United Palace Theatre Oct 23 Philadelphia, PA — Tower Theater Oct 25 Detroit, MI — Fox Theatre Oct 26 Chicago, IL — The Chicago Theatre Oct 27 Louisville, KY — Whitney Hall Kentucky Performing Arts Center Oct 29 Omaha, NE — Orpheum Theatre Oct 30 Denver, CO — Paramount Theatre Nov 1 Las Vegas, NV — The Pearl at The Palms Nov 2 Los Angeles, CA — Greek Theatre Nov 3 San Francisco, CA — Nob Hill Masonic Center Nov 5 Spokane, WA — INB Performing Arts Center Nov 6 Seattle, WA — Paramount Theater Nov 7 Portland, OR — Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
One fan has a strange way of showing his love for Oasis at the Virgin Festival in Toronto last weekend. Noel Gallagher gets bum-rushed during Morning Glory. Kinda crazy.
U2.com has the latest when it comes to rumors of the band's next release. Here is some of what Bono had to say...
'We’ve hit a rich songwriting vein and we don’t want to stop.' Bono has been talking to U2.Com about how the songs are shaping up for the new record and plans for 2009 to be their year.
‘This is our chance for us to defy gravity once again, ‘ explains Bono, calling in from a break in recording sessions in the south of France. ‘ We have what it takes, we have the songs, new rhythms and a guitar player who is not ready to re-enter earth's atmosphere until he's taken a slice of the moon! 'It's been fun, it's been maddening... there have been injuries and recoveries, no babies born that I know of, but this one is nearly ready for the new year of 2009.'
The band have been writing and recording the follow-up to ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’ since last year, and the feeling is that they’ve hit a creative groove so there are no plans to stop. Everyone, he says, is excited about where the recording is taking them.
‘When we set out on this record it was Larry who came up with the plan not to have a plan. He put up this idea that wouldn’t it be great just to make music for its own sake, not for the purpose of a live show or on album but just to see what we’re capable of…’
It’s an idea that’s paid off. Following sessions in Morocco, in Dublin and through the summer in France, the band have written ‘fifty or sixty’ tracks. And counting.
‘We’ve hit a rich songwriting vein,’ he explains. ‘It gets a bit dark down here but looks like we've found diamonds not coal. I thought a while back we might have the album wrapped by now, but why come up above ground now if there's more priceless stuff to be found?
For now, they’re keeping a promise they made to themselves when they started writing: ‘We said to each other that if we got to the great place then we wouldn’t stop…’
So the writing and recording continues and while they now know what shape most of the album will take, they're not leaving the studio just yet.
‘We know we have to emerge soon but we also know that people don’t want another U2 album unless it is our best ever album. It has to be our most innovative, our most challenging … or what’s the point ?’
They have no doubts that it will be as important a release for U2 as any. ‘It’s a brand new chapter for us, and everyone we’ve played the tracks to has said that musically it feels like another departure.
‘The last two records were very personal, with a kind of three piece at their heart, the primary colours of rock - bass, guitars and drum. But what we’re about now is of the same order as the transition that took us from The Joshua Tree to Achtung Baby.’
He also mentions that the recording in Morocco was the first time the band have worked in a studio open to the sky: ‘On that track you can hear the sound of a swallows nest close to the building - it’s beautiful.’
Longtime collaborators Danny Lanois and Brian Eno have joined the band at different times, and, more recently, Steve Lillywhite – usually a tell-tale sign that a record is nearly done. ‘Steve has that ear for a top line melody and a good hook.’
But while Bono is itching to get the music out he says it’s going to be early 2009 when we first get to hear the songs.
‘I’m always the one who underestimates how easy it is to simply 'put out the songs now', if it was just up to me they’d be out already! But early next year people will be able to start hearing what we’ve been doing. We want 2009 to be our year, so we’re going to start making an impression very early on …’
Where the Streets Have No Name (Live from Slane Castle)
Conor Oberst (That's Bright Eyes to you) & the Mystic Valley Band are coming to the Royal Oak Music Theatre on Sunday, November 2nd. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 5th.
Led Zeppelin's Mothership Box Set is available now. Here is a Making Of video showing the printing/pressing process. Some people see things as they are and ask why...and some people see things as they could be and say...How did they do that? Or something like that. Well, now you know. Get on the Mothership.
Cold War Kids are back with a new album, Loyalty To Loyalty, due out on September 23rd. They are also scheduled to play Newport Music Hall in Columbus on October 12th. Second Album Teaser
Le Loup: Indie/Experimental/Progressive *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.
