Shana Tova! Dig those Phish boys rockin’ “Avenu Malkenu” at 4:03 in…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP0UF_r3dkY&hl=en&fs=1]
And it looks like it’s going to be an extra sweet one as it has been confirmed (and grandiosely covered at Hidden Track) that ‘The Phish’ from Vermont will be reuniting and have a first show booked in March 2009 at Hampton Coliseum…unless you’re one of those grouches that hates Phish or the kind that can’t separate the music from the scene. Happy New Year to all of us Jews and the Jew in all of us!
On what U.S. album did “I Feel Fine” appear?
So how much bullshit is this new Led Zeppelin reunion report, by Jess Rogers at The Sun, on a scale of 1 to Coda?
Led Zeppelin 1 = It’s on! It’s 100% true story.
Houses of the Holy = 50-50. Maybs
Coda = No chance! Total bullshit.
Rate the likelihood of this newest Zep reunion rumour below… (I’m going with IV, or ZOSO, or Runes, or what have you)…
What do the Hollies’ “Bus Stop” and the Yardbirds’ “For Your Love” have in common?
…I mean, at Warsaw in Greenpoint, Brooklyn on Sunday, the 28th. Kick out the jams with some kielbasa and beer! The first one in July was a blast. Here are the details. And here is a nice video…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svo-t7YeVuU&hl=en&fs=1]
…now how ’bout you! This video is geniusly hilarious…and for fucking real…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgHHX9R4Qtk&hl=en&fs=1]
As I’ve told you before…don’t be an asshole, vote for Obama. And convince your grandparents in those scary little red states that keep trying to drag our country further into the shitter (like the one I grew up in). It’s that simple. C’mon people, have you heard of crossroads before!
Check out The Great Schlep’s website.
Let’s all keep Sir Paul in our thoughts and prayers today as he has his gig in Tel Aviv, Israel tonight and has received recent death threats from Palestinian extremists saying that he would not be safe while in the Middle East. Paul has said that he just does what he feels is right and did not cancel the show, claiming that he has many close friends who support Israel and that he is bringing to the Middle East a “message of peace”. Read more here.
From BBC News:
“If he values his life Mr McCartney must not come to Israel,” Muslim cleric Omar Bakri, who has been banned from the UK, was quoted by the British Sunday Express newspaper as saying.
“He will not be safe there. The sacrifice operatives will be waiting for him.”
But the veteran musician has dismissed both the threat and the boycott calls.
“Most people understand that I’m quite apolitical and that my message is a global one and that it is a peaceful one,” Sir Paul said ahead of his concert.
I’ll tell you what. All I’m saying is that Paul better remain safe over there, or I foresee the start of the third World War.
What a great show last night at the Ballroom, where the sound is always perfect! We got there towards the end of the opener, Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, and were pleasantly surprised to hear a top-notch folk-psych outfit who could be Steeleye Span folky one minute and the next, launch into some scorching jams led by electric guitar maestro, Phil Wandscher. Jesse’s voice is beautiful and hauntingly mesmerizing, and completely set apart from the vocal style that a lot of ‘alternative’-ish female singers are latching onto these days. Dig their songs on MySpace!
And then it was on to the main event, Black Mountain, who started strong and never let up. Here’s the setlist…
…and that’s about the best picture I got, since the band likes to keep the stage nice and dark. They are named Black Mountain, after all! These guys pound you with heavy riff-filled sound that you can’t help but bang your head to…kinda like Black Sabbath, but more trippily-psychedelic, and with killer proggy keyboards. They have a female singer with a ‘bleating vibrato’ (a la Roger Chapman…anyone?) and the guitarist also sings. And the band is at their best when the two are singing together, like in the third song of the night, “Wucan”, a song that puts me in a willing trance every time I hear it. Check out their video for the song…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8upxRhff7cE&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1]
…is that not amazing? And it was 11 times the badassedness live at Bowery Ballroom last night. There was nary a dull moment. Other highlights for me besides “Wucan” were “Druganaut” and “Stormy High”. Check this band out if they come to your town!
I love that there are now bands like this out there playing to indie-rock audiences and reminding them how good a guitar solo can sound. It seems like the guitar had become just an instrument to make cutesy little jangly sounds on for so many indie-rock bands, as it somehow became unhip to have songs with guitar solos. Why is this? Did all the sensitive guys think of a guitar solo as an extension of their penis, which of course they would never want to admit to having? Or maybe their lyrics were so deep that a guitar solo would only water down their dire message to the world. Well, I’m happy to say that I’d rather wallow in the guitar-centric new pool of talented psych-rock bands such as Black Mountain, Dungen, Howlin Rain, Wooden Shjips, Earthless, and Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter.
Check out Black Mountain music on MySpace and, if you dig ‘em, pick up In The Future, an album that I nominated for one of the best albums of 2008 at mid-year.
What group was originally known as The Stalk Forrest Group and The Soft White Underbelly?
Win It Before You Can Buy It…right here, right now!
Recorded in Todd’s current home state of Hawaii, ‘Arena’ is yet another notable addition to Rundgren’s remarkable career as a performer, songwriter, and producer. The album showcases his unique songwriting style and sonically captures the essence and energy of arena rock with bombastic, guitar-driven tunes like ‘Mountaintop’, ‘Strike’ and ‘Mad’, while the anthemic song ‘Mercenary’, transports you to a stadium with its epic chorus, with ‘How Do You Like Me Now?’ resounding to every seat in the house.
To enter to win Todd’s new rockin’ Arena album via a digital download card (all the jams without all the unsightly plastic), just leave a comment below with your favorite Todd song, and we’ll let you know via email if you’ve won.
Cheers and Good Luck!
UPDATE (as of Thursday 9/25): Hey all, thanks for playing. The winners have been chosen and contacted, so the contest here is closed. BUT, if you still want a chance to win, head on over to the Nights With Alice Cooper blog and enter there. Many more will be given away!
*thanks to Hi Fi Recordings
“Yours Is No Disgrace” (1970)
I love this. Unless your neck is clothed in kerchiefs made of million dollar bills…or you have a red pointy little tail and horns…you should be voting for Obama. These guys get it.
…and still no Alice Cooper!
The nominations for the 2009 Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame have been announced:
- Metallica
- Iggy & The Stooges
- Run DMC
- Jeff Beck
- Chic
- Wanda Jackson
- Bobby Womack
- Little Anthony & The Imperials
- War
No artist/band who debuted in 1984 (the 25 year mark for eligibility) made the cut. Arguably, the most expected nomination of a band to have debuted in 1984 would’ve been Bon Jovi, but they failed to make the cut.
No word yet on when these nominations will be voted on to determine the 2009 inductees.
But the Rock Hall is kinda bullshit anyway, isn’t it? What do you’s guys think? And who’s your favorite of the nominees? I’m going with Beck!
What New Wave band recorded “A Town Called Malice”?
Here’s the new video for “Rock and Roll Train”…back to the winning formula. I’ll buy the album…oh wait, I have to go to a Wal-Mart for that?! Never mind. I’ll just dig the free promo from work!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHMfjVi4JNE&hl=en&fs=1]
Well, I hate to say I told you so, but it looks like my being ‘precious’ about Yes and not really accepting their new direction to replace Jon Anderson with Yes tribute band singer, Benoit David, is now proven to be the way Jon sees things too. Just moments ago Jon Anderson posted this blog post to his MySpace friends…
“Not Yes”
September 18, 2008
Disappointed, and very Disrespected
Disappointed that, with the exception of one phone call from Alan, none of the guys have been in touch since my illness, just to find out how I am doing, and how we will foresee the future for YES. And disappointed that they were not willing to wait till 2009 when I’m fully recovered.
And I feel very disrespected, having spent most of this year creating songs and constant ideas for the band, spending time with Roger Dean creating a stage design, also working with VH1 and Sirius and XM Radio to help promote the welfare of YES.
Getting sick was not “on my radar”, and I thank my own angel Janeee and my family for helping me through this difficult time, and the many well wishers, friends and fans alike, for understanding that ”things happen”.
Of course I wish the guys all the best in their ‘solo’ work, but I just wish this could have been done in a more gentlemanly fashion. After all YES is a precious musical band.
This is not YES on tour…
I send best wishes to one and all,
Jon Anderson
September 2008
So I’m with Jon on this one and I won’t be supporting the ‘Not Yes’ band that will be touring for the actual Yes’ 40th Anniversary. But I will see Jon when he tours solo when he makes his full recovery in 2009. Sorry Benoit…I hope you have a blast and make some nice ducats, but unfortunately your rise to fame isn’t coming up completely roses.
Best wishes, Jon… see you in 2009!
Hey all,
Our Election Day is growing ever closer (just about 7 weeks!), so you may start to see an occasional political post amongst the music here at NewmRadio. Don’t worry…democracy and rock & roll go hand in hand. I also have never felt so politically strong about something in my whole life as I do about Barack Obama and his policies of change, hope and positivity. I think that he is the candidate who has the best chance at reversing some of the things that have happened over the past 8 years…like our declining economy, our entrenchment in an unjust war, further degradation of the middle class, slashed environmental programs, slashed social programs, extreme corporate crony-ism, negativity, fear, lies, and the way our country is viewed by the rest of the world.
And never have I seen a campaign run by the people the way the Obama campaign is. Because of the way that this campaign has made me feel personally involved and empowered and excited for change, it is the first time that I have ever actually donated money to a presidential campaign and felt it my duty to help inform others. So as one of my little ways of helping Obama…and our country…win in November, I share some simple Obama facts that really display the difference of McCain and Obama’s economic plans and who they will effect most. All of this is available on the Obama Tax Cut website too, if you need to send something to your families and loved ones who might be ‘on the bubble’.
And here’s a great video of Obama talking about how we can start to heal our troubled economy.
Cheers to all of us, America, and our future!
Mike
Barack Obama will cut taxes for over 95% of American families.
(even though more than half of Americans think he’ll raise their taxes)
What’s your Obama Tax cut? Find out HERE!
Please E-mail your friends and family about ObamaTaxCut.com so that they can learn about what Obama’s tax policies mean for them. All numbers are from the independent, non-partisan Tax Policy Center. Obviously, you’ll note that filling out your taxes is a lot more complicated than just listing your income, filing status, and number of children — these are estimates based upon the stated policies of the candidates and average deductions claimed by folks in similar economic conditions. Luckily, Obama promises to simplify the filing process. The number reported above is the estimated difference between income taxes paid under current law and the taxes under the Obama plan.
How do we calculate your Obama Tax Cut?
Your Obama Tax Cut is calculated simply by summing the change in Individual Income Tax and Corporate Tax (yes, lots of people pay corporate tax) reported in the following tables compiled by the Tax Policy Center:
If you want to explain the differences between the bottom-line effect of the Obama and McCain tax plans to your friends and family with simple numbers, these are the key points:
- Obama will cut taxes for 95% of Americans
- McCain will tax 80% of Americans more than Obama
- Obama will only increase taxes for the top 1% of incomes; and this isn’t really an increase: he’s simply going to let the Bush tax cuts expire
Here’s a helpful chart to show your friends and family based on the same data I use (original image from the Washington Post):
ObamaTaxCut.com is a project of AlchemyToday.com and has no relation to the Obama campaign or any other organization whatsoever.
ROIR Records has just re-released some excellent live and historic Skatalites music on CD, LP, and digital download, which was previously only available on cassette. Stretching Out, from 1983, is historically significant because it is from the year when the band had just reconciled the differences that had driven their 2-year career apart in 1965. Peter Tosh’s manager, Herbie Miller tracked them all down to play at the 1983 Jamaica Sunplash. Prior to the big gig, the band got together for some rehearsal nightclub gigs at Miller’s Blue Monk Jazz Gallery in Kingston before a crowd of local fans, friends, and fellow musicians. There were no restrictions on the length of their sets, no barriers on soloing, and no boundaries in general…which led to a stretched out, spontaneously joyful Ska reunion.
You can feel the small-room vibe of the club in the recordings and you can almost smell the ganja smoke and feel the heat and the sweat created by those in attendance, who were most likely moved by the endless backbeat skank to dance the night away. The Skatalites are a large group of players (9 of them, with 3 guests) whose playing is as smooth as cocoa butter over the 2 hours. There never seems to be any confusion as to who is soloing and when the band comes back in; this is a group of musicians who fully support each other. And the results make it all sound so easy, as the best musicians do. The band cooks its way through classics like “Guns of Navarone”, “Confucius”, and “Lee Harvey Oswald” and flow like melting moonlight over stretched out numbers like “Black Sunday” and “Ska Ba”.
The Skatalites horn blowers are stunning throughout. They were clearly inspired by the bebop players (like John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker) and the musical freedom and boundary-bursting those players pioneered. And the Skatalites, in turn, helped pioneer the sound that would later morph into rock steady and reggae. Unfortunately, all but one (Lester Sterling-alto sax, who still blows with the band) of that original horn section has joined that big band in the sky, with the passing of Johnny “Dizzy” Moore in August of this year. But the music certainly lives on and the live music on Stretching Out is just about as lively as it gets!
And be sure to check out this review published on Blog Critics and leave me some nice comments there
I won’t name names, but this was just someone’s status update on Facebook…
_____________ is hoping that everyone is getting their power back on. A waterless hurricane in Ohio??? Will this be blamed on Bush too? : ).
Duuuuuurrrrrrrrrrr! Makes me ashamed they’re in my friends list, but I feel better that they’re more an acquaintance than anything. (To the tune of ‘Hound Dog’, if I may…) ‘You ain’t never hated Bush, then you ain’t no friend of mine.’
I was just listening to the Pink Fairies’ What A Bunch of Sweeties album and noticed that it was from good old 1972…the year I was born. It reminded me that 1972 was a great year for rock albums and that I hadn’t hosted a nice Sh*t L*st in quite a while, so off ya go. I’m gonna list some of the greats (besides myself) that came from 1972, and hopefully we’ll get to see some greats from YOUR birth year!
Steely Dan – Can’t Buy a Thrill
Yes – Fragile (although it was late ’71 in the UK)
Rolling Stones – Exile On Main Street
Captain Beyond – Captain Beyond
…Lord! I could go on and on, but I will stop now and let you list yours! Here’s a couple resources you can use (Just change the year here…and here). Post ‘em below!
