Andrew Bird Video: Fitz & The Dizzyspells...

Andrew Bird with Mucca Pazza - "Fitz & The Dizzyspells”

One Love for Playing For Change...

Giving voice to an extraordinary effort to inspire peace through music and to connect diverse musicians worldwide, including those in conflict regions, Hear Music today announced the April 28 release of Playing For Change – Songs Around the World. The special CD/DVD package, available at participating Starbucks company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada and at traditional retail worldwide, contains a ten-song audio CD as well as a seven-track DVD, which features five of the songs performed live. The DVD also includes a trailer for the forthcoming PFC documentary and information on the PFC Foundation.

Grammy winning producer/engineer Mark Johnson and his Playing For Change team traveled for a decade with a single minded passion to connect the world though music. Their ambitious journey took them from post-apartheid South Africa, through the ancient sites of the Middle East, to the remote beauty of the Himalayas and beyond. Using innovative mobile technology, the PFC crew filmed and recorded more than 100 musicians, largely outdoors, in parks, plazas and promenades, in doorways, on cobblestone streets and amid hilly pueblos. Each captured performance created a new mix in which essentially the artists are all performing together, albeit hundreds or thousands of miles apart. In a recent interview with PFC founder Johnson, PBS’ Bill Moyers called Playing For Change a remarkable example of “the simple yet transformative power of music...to touch something in each of us.”

Some of the magical moments include Ireland’s Omagh Community Youth Choir singing“Love Rescue Me,” written by U2 and Bob Dylan, and American street musicians Roger Ridley and Grandpa Elliott harmonizing with Clarence Bekker from the Netherlands amid an assembly of artists from Russia, Spain, Venezuela, France and Brazil on the Ben E. King/Leiber & Stoller classic “Stand By Me,” the video of which has already become a YouTube sensation with over seven million views.

Also included is an exhilarating version of the Marley classic “War/No More Trouble”. The track (and video) includes musicians from The Congo, Israel, India, Ireland, South Africa, the U.S., Zimbabwe and Ghana, along with U2’s Bono and Bob Marley. Marley’s “One Love” proved to be an irresistible choice for the producers as well, enlisting American Keb’ Mo’ to sing with performers from India, Israel, Nepal, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

This unparalleled international collaboration of vocalists and musicians are also heard on versions of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin’ Bout A Revolution” and Peter Gabriel’s “Biko”.

The relationship between Playing for Change and Hear Music was facilitated by legendary television producer Norman Lear, co-owner of Concord Music Group, which formed the Hear Music label with Starbucks in March 2007.

“With Playing for Change, Mark Johnson and his team have created a movement that transcends language, border and culture, one that brings people together to a common purpose: peace,” states Lear. “We are thrilled to have this opportunity, along with our Starbucks partners, to bring this special project to the people.”

A five-city Playing For Change – Songs Around the World tour featuring some of the musicians on the CD and DVD will kick off at this year’s SXSW music conference in Austin, Texas on Friday March 20th. Other confirmed dates are:

March 23rd ~ Knitting Factory in Los Angeles
March 24th ~ Slims in San Francisco
March 25th ~ The Showbox at the Market in Seattle
March 31st ~ Highline Ballroom in New York

Playing For Change Official Site
Playing For Change on YouTube
Playing For Change on Facebook
Playing For Change on Myspace

Go Get it on Amazon.

The Magnificence of U2...

Mike Doughty New Video: Put It Down...

It's a Bird, It's a Plane ~ It's U2 over London...

U2 played a surprise gig on London's Regent Street tonight to launch new album No Line On The Horizon. The band played on top of a rooftop to fans below on the street. Check out www.powerfulpeanuts.com to see the first videos that surfaced on YouTube.

Pitchfork Music Festival 2009 Confirms Dates...

As read on Pitchfork's website:
Drum roll: The fourth annual Pitchfork Music Festival will take place in Chicago July 17th -19th. So cancel that "screw the recession" European vacation ASAP-- it's not worth it. The Pitchfork Music Festival, on the other hand, is definitely worth it. Not like we're biased or anything. The three-day fest will once again take place at Chicago's lovely Union Park, so get ready to gawk at the coolest sunglasses you've ever seen while soaking in the finest music known to man...on earth...and in space. It will be mega.

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 13th.

Your Daily Allowance of U2 Videos...

While you wait for the new album...

The Avett Brothers Aren't the Boss of Me...

In recent years, it has become evident that Bruce Springsteen´s influence has broadened outside of the mainstream rock community. Musicians of all genres have and will continue to draw inspiration from his music. The Boss's people sat down with a number of up-and-coming artists to get their take on Bruce and how he has influenced them.
Check out the site.

Breathe Then Relax with U2...

U2 just launched a brand new website...pretty tight...check it.

Imagine Meeting the Walrus...

In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace. 38 years later, Jerry has produced a film about it. Using the original interview recording as the soundtrack, director Josh Raskin has woven a visual narrative which tenderly romances Lennon's every word in a cascading flood of multipronged animation. Raskin marries the terrifyingly genius pen work of James Braithwaite with masterful digital illustration by Alex Kurina, resulting in a spell-binding vessel for Lennon's boundless wit, and timeless message.

Z is for Ziggy...

Tuff Gong Worldwide will release Ziggy Marley’s third solo album, Family Time, on May 5th. Marley produced the album with legendary producer Don Was. The album will feature a variety of family and friends including Rita Marley (Ziggy’s mother), Cedella Marley (sister), Judah Marley (daughter), Paul Simon, Jack Johnson, Willie Nelson, Toots Hibberts, Elizabeth Mitchell, Laurie Berkner, Paula Fuga and two stories narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis.

“Growing up music was an important part of my childhood,” Marley says. “I see it being just as important in my children and all children’s growth and development. Music helps children to grow with open minds and open hearts and this is my message. This record represents my daily family life and is inspired by my three-year-old daughter Judah and baby Gideon. It was a joy to make and opened up new avenues in my creativity. Family Time is for all families and especially the world family.”

Ziggy has contributed to a variety of children’s programming including Nick Jr.’s “Dora the Explorer,” the PBS children’s show “Arthur,” and Shark Tale, in which he delved into acting, playing the character of Bernie the Jamaican jellyfish as well as re-recording his father’s “Three Little Birds” with Sean Paul and his brother Stephen Marley for the soundtrack. In addition to his skills as a singer, songwriter and producer, Marley founded U.R.G.E. (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment), a non-profit organization that benefits a wide range of charitable children's causes in Jamaica, and other developing nations. More recently he has lent his support to the Fashion Against Aids, Little Kids Rock and Youth AIDS campaign. Proceeds from the sale of this album will benefit Chepstowe Basic School in Port Antonio, JA.

Mic Test #63: Tortured Soul...

Tortured Soul:
House/Electronica/Soul
*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.

Did You Miss Me (MP3)

Morrissey's Years of Refusal Out Now...

After nearly 30 years in the biz, the legendary Morrissey can still churn out genuinely good music while impressing fans and critics across the board. His ninth solo album released this past week has been receiving heaps of praise for its incredible consistency and no-holds-barred panache. Here’s a glimpse of what’s being said about the new record, Years of Refusal:

"This is Morrissey's most venomous, score-settling album, and in a perverse way that makes it his most engaging." – PITCHFORK

“Years of Refusal is Morrissey’s leanest, meanest, loudest record since 1992’s Your Arsenal.” – POP MATTERS

“Years of Refusal proves to be a succinct, creative, witty example of Morrissey’s musical longevity and fascinating allure.” – 411 MANIA





Morrissey's US Tour Dates:

February
28 Boca Raton, FL - Mizner Park

March
1 Orlando, FL - Hard Rock live
3 Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theater
4 St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Landing
6 Myrtle Beach. SC - House of Blues
7 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
9 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
11 Durham, NC - Durham Performing Arts Center
13 Richmond, VA - The National
14 Washington, DC - Warner Theater
16 Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theater
17 Pittsburgh, PA - Carnegie Music Hall
19 Buffalo, NY - University of Buffalo Center for the Arts
21 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
22 Philadelphia, PA - Acadmy of Music
25 New York, NY - Webster Hall
26 New York, NY - Carnegie Hall
28 Mashantucket, CT - Foxwoods
29 Boston, MA - House of Blues
31 Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theater

April
1 Columbus, OH - Palace Theater
3 Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
4 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
6 Minneapolis, MN - State Theater
7 Kansas City, MO - Midland Theater
8 St. Louis, MO - Pageant Theater
10 Dallas, TX - Palladium Ballroom
11 Houston, TX - Jesse H. Jones Hall
12 Austin, TX - Bass Concert Hall
14 El Paso, TX - Chavez Theater
15 Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater

17 Indio, CA - Coachella Festival

New U2: Streaming Audio...

U2 is streaming their new album, No Line on the Horizon, on their Myspace Page a week ahead of the official release. Go give it a listen.

The BBC has also set up a Micro-Site to mark the album release.

Ward Off Those Winter Blues...

M. Ward on Letterman (2/17/09)


To mark the February 17th release of his new record, Hold Time, singer-guitarist M. Ward gives a special solo performance. Hear selections from the new album, recorded live from the studios of WNYC in New York. The acoustic performance includes an interview with M. Ward as he takes questions from listeners, WNYC's Alana Harper and All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.

Listen to the performance & the interview.

Springsteen Wrestles with Your Soul...

Bruce Springsteen
"The Wrestler"
2009 Golden Globe Winner for Best Original Song

Late Night with Dan Auerbach...

Dan Auerbach, exactly one half of The Black Keys, appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien to sample his goods from his new solo effort, Keep It Hid.

Athens (OH) in the Spring with Wilco...

Behold Wilco fans...the band has announced a few more tour dates this spring. If you play it smart, you can use your tax refund to catch them at Ohio University in Athens. With any luck, they will be near your ears in one of the following cities:

Apr 14th Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater
Apr 15th Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater
Apr 16th Bloomington, IN Indiana University @ University Auditorium
Apr 17th Athens, OH @ Templeton-Blackburn (Ohio University)
Apr 18th Knoxville, TN @ Historic Tennessee Theatre

They will also be at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (4/25), Bonnaroo (6/11 - 6/14) & the 10,000 Lakes Festival (7/22 - 7/25).

Alexi Murdoch Ann Arbor Tour Stop...

Orange Sky


According to the Blind Pig (Ann Arbor) website, Alexi Murdoch will be playing there on April 16th. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, February 18th.

Check out Alexi on Myspace.

Official Site

Mic Test #62: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour...

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour:
Psychedlic/Pop/Alternative
*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.

Clapton & Winwood to Tour Summer 2009...

From Billboard.com:

On the heels of their early 2008 run at New York's Madison Square Garden, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood are taking their show on the road.

The former Blind Faith bandmates will play arenas beginning June 10 in East Rutherford, N.J., and have dates booked through June 30 in Los Angeles.

Clapton and Winwood had only performed together a handful of tmies before playing at Clapton's 2007 Crossroads Festival outside Chicago, which inspired them to team up for the Madison Square Garden shows.

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood's tour dates:

June 10: East Rutherford, N.J. (Izod Center)
June 12: Philadelphia (Wachovia Center)
June 13: Washington, D.C. (Verizon Center)
June 15: Columbus, Ohio (Schottenstein Center)
June 18: St Paul, Minn. (Xcel Energy Center)
June 20: Omaha, Neb. (Qwest Center)
June 21: Denver (Pepsi Center)
June 23: Dallas (American Airlines Center)
June 24: Houston, Texas (Toyota Center)
June 26: Glendale, Ariz. (Jobing.com Arena)
June 27: Las Vegas (MGM Grand Arena)
June 29: Oakland, Calif. (Oracle Arena)
June 30: Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl)

Wilco: Ashes of American Flags DVD Trailer...

Nonesuch Records releases Wilco’s new concert DVD, Ashes of American Flags, on Saturday, April 18, at independent retailers nationwide as part of national Record Store Day. The DVD will also be available on that day here at nonesuch.com. A broader release through iTunes, Amazon.com, and chain retail outlets will follow on April 28.

Ashes of American Flags is produced and directed by Christoph Green and Fugazi’s Brendan Canty and shot in five quintessentially American venues: Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK; Tipitina’s in New Orleans, LA; The Mobile Civic Center in Mobile, AL; The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN; and the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. Mixing live concert footage with band interviews, it takes the viewer behind the scenes of Wilco’s 2008 US tour capturing both the expansive experience of rolling across America in a tour bus and the intimacy that happens night after night between the members of Wilco and the music they make, and between the band and their fans who come to experience it with them.

“It is really interesting to me how the experience of watching the live performances changes when the songs are given geographical, personal and historical contexts," said Christoph Green. " We wanted to make a tour film that would deepen and change the viewer’s relationship with the music.”

“Ashes was captured completely on the fly with a terrifying lack of planning, so everything you see in this film is real," adds Brendan Canty. "The musicianship and their combined will to elevate each song to new heights every night is real. Their appreciation of one another is real, and at the core of the film is their increasingly brilliant body of songs. I can only hope the film conveys the feeling of utter joy, beauty and triumph I feel after I see them play. “

Track Listing
1 Ashes of American Flags
2 Side with the Seeds
3 Handshake Drugs
4 The Late Greats
5 Kingpin
6 Wishful Thinking
7 Impossible Germany
8 Via Chicago
9 A Shot in the Arm
10 Monday
11 You Are My Face
12 Heavy Metal Drummer
13 War on War

Get Your Beasties Chat On...

Saw this recorded Video iChat of the Beastie Boys on Mic to Mic...features them talking about Paul's Boutique...but thought I would post it for your RDVA (Recommended Daily Video Allowance).


Beastie Boys talk Paul's Boutique 20 Year Anniversary Reissue from ian rogers on Vimeo.

Video: Beirut on Letterman...

U2 Ready to Be Heard...

Get On Your Boots


U2 Works on their new Album


U2 on the 2009 Grammys (2/8/09)


No LIne on the Horizon Album Preview Clips

Happy Birthday, Bob Marley...

Robert Nesta Marley born February 6th, 1945.



“One good thing about music, when it hits- you feel no pain”

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!”

When Love Comes to Town...

Just a quick mention that G. Love & Special Sauce are about to go on tour again. A Cleveland date was recently added to the gigs. Check out G.'s Myspace page to see if GLaSS is coming to a town near you. This tour will roll on without the upright bass skills of one of the founding members, Jimmy Jazz Prescott. Jimmy will be replaced by Timo Shanko.

Free Beastie Audio Commentary (MP3)...

If you are still celebrating the fact that the Beastie Boys released Paul's Boutique 20 years ago, you gotta head to their mini-site that addresses everything PB. Hit up said site & check the upper right hand corner...under News. It is here that you will find the gold you are looking for...a FREE download ~ a 53 minute full length album commentary by Mike D, Adrock & MCA (general banter & hilarity). Supply your e-mail & they will zap a link to you so you can grab the track. The site is loaded down with little discoverable wonders...you can even upload your own image & story about how Paul's Boutique changed your life forever.

Gotta Get Some Gomez (Free MP3)...

Gomez is back! Head to their website www.gomeztheband.com to get a FREE MP3 of Airstream Driver in exchange for your e-mail address.

Gomez will be back in the U.S. of A. this March to kick off a three week run of dates. The band will kick off the tour at the SXSW Music Festival then head up the east coast to play a very special CD Release show on March 31 at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. About half of the dates are double bills with their good friend Josh Ritter (performing with a full band). On those shows, Gomez will play last. Please check the GIGS page for full details including pre-sale tickets which are available beginning NOW.

Gomez will also return for their third performance to the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival this June in Manchester, TN alongside bands such as Beastie Boys, Ben Harper, Wilco, and David Byrne. Tickets for Bonnaroo will go onsale this Saturday February 7th at 12pm EST. Check bonnaroo.com for more information.

Fleet Foxes Video (& Making Of): Mykonos...

Mykonos from Grandchildren on Vimeo.


Mykonos making of from Grandchildren on Vimeo.

Classic Clips: Rufus Thomas (Wattstax)...

Chillin' with the Beastie Boys...

While you are waiting to see the Beastie Boys in the summer heat at Bonnaroo 2009, warm your soul with news of a remaster of Paul's Boutique to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of that fresh & forward release.

Here is what the Beasties sent in the mail:
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Paul's Boutique we have digitally re-mastered and reissued the record. The reissue comes in five versions offering everything from a digital-only package with 320kbps MP3 downloads to an exclusive limited-edition V.I.P. Type package that includes a CD, 180-gram vinyl, a Paul's Boutique t-shirt and a never seen before poster that's 8 ft wide.

They even created a mini site for the whole shebang. Don't forget to turn up the volume nob on the site...it makes all the good stuff happen & the site comes alive!

Bonnaroo 2009 Lineup (& Contest) Confirmed...

The Initial Line-Up for Bonnaroo 2009 has been announced...looks like they've outdone themselves again:

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Phish (2 Shows), Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, David Byrne, Wilco, Al Green, Snoop Dogg, Elvis Costello (solo), Erykah Badu, Paul Oakenfold, Ben Harper and Relentless7, The Mars Volta, TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Gov’t Mule, Andrew Bird, Merle Haggard, MGMT, moe., The Decemberists, Girl Talk, Bon Iver, Béla Fleck & Toumani Diabate, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Galactic, The Del McCoury Band, of Montreal, Allen Toussaint, Coheed and Cambria, Booker T & the DBTs, David Grisman Quintet, Lucinda Williams, Animal Collective, Gomez, Neko Case, Down, Jenny Lewis, Santogold, Robert Earl Keen, Citizen Cope, Femi Kuti and the Positive Force, The Ting Tings, Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Kaki King, Grizzly Bear, King Sunny Adé, Okkervil River, St. Vincent, Zac Brown Band, Raphael Saadiq, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Crystal Castles, Tift Merritt, Brett Dennen, Mike Farris and the Roseland Rhythm Revue, Toubab Krewe, People Under the Stairs, Alejandro Escovedo, Vieux Farka Touré, Elvis Perkins In Dearland, Cherryholmes, Yeasayer, Todd Snider, Chairlift, Portugal. The Man., The SteelDrivers, Midnite, The Knux, The Low Anthem, Delta Spirit, A.A. Bondy, The Lovell Sisters, Alberta Cross

And check out this great offering from the good people of Bonnaroo-Land.
We are pleased to announce a stellar new contest in honor of this week's Lineup announcement and the release of the 2009 Lineup video made by our friends at Ghost Robot. The contest is super easy to enter, and anyone who adds the official Bonnaroo Lineup Video to one or more of their webpages (e.g. Facebook, MySpace etc.) will be automatically entered to win VIP tickets, Regular Tickets, Merch and more to the 2009 festival!

For information on how to add the Lineup video to your page(s), visit the official Bonnaroo 2009 Lineup Preview Video page and look for the 'Share' option. Once you have posted The Bonnaroo Lineup Video to your page, send us an email at lineupcontest@bonnaroo.com with a link to your page. We will be randomly checking these links throughout the week, and we will be picking winners at random (only people who have successfully posted the video to their webpage can win!).

The contest starts on February 2nd and will end on March 2nd.

Video: Jeff Tweedy @ Ann Arbor Folk Festival...

Here is some video of Jeff Tweedy's solo acoustic performance at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival (1/30/09)
Doing my best to get some of this video up on the world wide web. The audio turned out strong...please forgive a shaky hand as I started each video. I have a few more coming after these...thanks for bearing with me. Enjoy.

Intro, Someone Else's Song (no PA) & One By One


Solitaire (new song)


I Am Trying To Break Your Heart


I Wanna Be Your Dog (Stooges cover) & The Ruling Class


Jesus, Etc.

Return Flight ~ Of the Conchords...

If you missed Flight of the Conchords last time they came to the Midwest, not to worry. This spring, the New Zealanders are making another go in support of their upcoming sophomore release (yet untitled). Internet presale starts today & General Public tickets go on sale this Friday for the Detroit show at Fox Theatre.

April 2009
6 - Tampa, FL - Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
7 - Coral Gables, FL - University of Miami BankUnited Center
8 - Orlando, FL - UCF Arena
10 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
11 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre
12 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
13 - Washington, DC - Constitution Hall
14 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
17 - Boston, MA - Agganis Arena
18 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
19 - Kent, OH - Kent State University
21, 22 - Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall
24 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre
25 - Bloomington, IN - IU Auditorium
26 - Madison, WI - Overture Center for the Arts
28 - Chicago, IL - Arie Crown
30 - St. Louis, MO - Fox Theatre

May 2009
2 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theatre
3 - Minneapolis, MN - Northrop Auditorium
5 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theatre
6 - Houston, TX - Jones Hall
7 - Austin, TX - Bass Concert Hall
10 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts
11, 12 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
14 - Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
16 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
17 - Salt Lake City, UT - Abravanel Hall
19 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre
20 - San Diego, CA - RIMAC Arena
23 - Santa Barbara, CA - County Bowl
23 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint
24 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
25 - Berkeley, CA - Berkeley Community Theatre