Friday, June 27, 2008

Spam, A Lot of Spam, Big Payback, Modest Mouse

Sorry again about the Bruce ticket price mix-up. I think I was thinking of U2 who made the GA tickets less expensive. Anyway, I'll still be trying to get Bruce GA tix today because despite the price, if I didn't get tix and I knew he was ten minutes away from my house, I'd be bummed about not being there.

Tonight at Brown's Island is the last Friday Cheers of the year. I didn't do so well with Cheers this year. There were 5 I wanted to see and I made one. Canceled on two because of weather (threat of thunderstorms, which never came, and severe heat, which would have been too much for the three year old) and the other two were canceled because of the shifting whims of the three-year old, who I had to take if I wanted to go, because of my other concerts this year. Hopefully, next year will be better.

Anyway, tonight's act is the Spam AllStars. Show starts at 6:30 and it is FREE. According to the Friday Cheers press release, "
DJ Le Spam and the Spam Allstars blend improvisational electronic elements and turntables with
Latin, funk, hip-hop and dub to create a sound that is unique — an electronic descarga." So there you go.

Speaking of Spam, I just saw that the Monty Python's Spamalot musical will be coming to the Landmark Theater for eight shows in November. I have heard nothing but good things about that show and as a big Holy Grail fan, that will be worth going to see.

James Brown tribute band, The Big Payback, play Toad's Place on Saturday night as a benefit for the Alumni Associations of VA Colleges. Doors open at 7:30 and the opener is the Steve Carter Connextion.

If you feel like heading out to C'ville on Sunday, Modest Mouse and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band will be playing at Charlottesville Pavilion. Since those two have collaborated on Modest Mouse's albums, I'm sure they'll play together. Show starts at 7 PM and tix are $35.

Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Bruce ticket price update

I just got word (confirmed with Coliseum box office) that the $66 seats for Bruce are the nosebleeds. General Admission and all reserved except the nosebleeds are $96.

Sorry I was confused. It was wishful thinking perhaps.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Springsteen back in Richmond!

In case you missed the announcement on Saturday, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are coming back to Richmond (http://www.richmondcoliseum.net/event_details.asp?id=133) on Monday, August 18. Tix are $66 for General Admission on the floor, $96 for Reserved. They go on sale Friday at 10 AM.

Anyone up for getting general admission? I think I am going to do that this time. The advantages to GA:
1. $30 cheaper
2. You have a chance to get into “the pit” area in front of the stage. Prior to 5 PM on the day of the show, you go pick up a wristband. Then at 5:15 they announce the starting wristband number. You line up in that order and if you are in the first group of people you get to go into the pit. For full details, check out how it worked in Dallas (see the left sidebar): http://www.americanairlinescenter.com/events-and-tickets/event_details.php?eid=614.
3. You don’t have to worry about being stuck in the second level with lame-o’s who want to sit down the whole night.

Cons to GA:
1. Need to get a wristband before 5 PM and if you are in the pit, you’ll have to enter the arena early.
2. If you want to get close and aren’t in the pit, you need to get in early. I’m not that concerned about this.
3. You’ll need to stand the whole night. I stand for the whole show anyway, so this doesn’t bother me.
4. A little further to go, and risk losing spot on floor, if need to go to bathroom or get beer.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Weezer - "Pork & Beans" video

If you have watched any YouTube over the past four years, you'll recognize some of the people in this video. Zach will be very excited to see the Numa Numa guy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI&feature=related

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Jason Isbell, The Bridge, Unknown Hinson, Sarah Borges and more!

The weekend is nearly upon us. At Friday Cheers this week, Jason Isbell, formerly of the Drive-By Truckers, is in town. Show starts at 6:30 with opener Mozely Rose and is FREE! By now you all know of my love for all things Truckers, and in his stint with the Truckers (2001-2007), Jason wrote some of my favorite DBT songs ("Outfit", "Danko/Manuel", "Never Gonna Change", "Goddamn Lonely Love", "Daylight"). His romantic and personal songs fit in well as a contrast to Patterson Hood's tales of Southern blue-collar angst and Mike Cooley's dark humor. Hope to see you at this one.

Baltimore's The Bridge play The Canal Club on Friday night. Show time is 9:30 and tix are $8. I got a free promo CD they gave out at All Good last year and it was pretty good, upbeat blues funk rock.

Unknown Hinson plays The Canal Club on Saturday night. He plays weird, humorous, psychobilly, cow punk. Show time is at 9:30 and tix are $14. He looks scary so this could be a groovy show.

Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles play at Ashland Coffee & Tea on Friday night. Tix are $25 and show starts at 8. They play upbeat alt-country.

The National play The National on Sunday night. That's not a misprint. The band The National is at The National Theater. Doors open at 7 PM, opener is Centro-Matic, and tix are $20. The National (band) have been getting a buzz about them. Here they are on Letterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBujZr20O6M. They kind of remind of Coldplay mixed with The Band but with more twang.

Daniel Johnston plays at The National on Monday. Doors open at 7 and tix are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Daniel Johnston was featured in the Sundance Film Festival Award Winning Film, The Devil and Daniel Johnston. Daniel Johnston is a manic-depressive singer/songwriter/artist who creates odd, low-fi music. He has gained a cult audience including Kurt Cobain, Sonic Youth, David Bowie, Tom Waits, Beck and The Flaming Lips.

The oh so lovely and oh so talented Emmylou Harris is at the Charlottesville Pavilion on Monday night. Doors open at 6, tickets range from $27 - $67 and the show is a benefit for Live Arts youth programs.

Finally, on Wednesday night at Innsbrook is Keller Williams and Yonder Mountain String Band. Gates open at 6 and tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate, with $35 snooty Gold Circle seats available. I'm sure Keller and YMSB will play together. I'm not sure if Keller will be doing his one-man band thing where he uses loops to play with himself (pun intended). I'm not a fan of the one-man band thing. Its interesting for about 20 minutes. However, I do like Keller when he is with a band. And YMSB is a fun, progressive and traditional bluegrass band.

That's it. I'm out. Have a great weekend. Hope to see you at Cheers.

Tony Jordan

Gogol Bordello tonight at Toad's

Tonight (Thursday) Gogol Bordello plays at Toad's Place. Doors open at 8, tix are $20 and the opener is Dusty Rhodes & The River Band. I didn't know much about these guys until I caught them on the Bonnaroo webcast this past weekend. They put on a crazy, manic show that looks like a lot of fun. They describe their music as gypsy punk which is a pretty good description. They incorporate violin and percussion into the music and have dancers who also play extra percussion. The lead singer looks like a drunk Frank Zappa who whips the crowd up in between swigs from his wine bottle. Here's a clip from their appearance on Letterman last July: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWYTyfQe-o8.

Tony Jordan

Monday, June 16, 2008

Phil & Blues Traveler at Innsbrook

Phil Lesh, bassist from the Grateful Dead, pulls into Innsbrook tomorrow night with his latest Phil & Friends line-up. This version of Phil & Friends features young (I'm talkin' early 20s) bluesman Jackie Greene (he's been dubbed the "Prince of Americana" by the NY Times) on guitar and vocals; Steve Molitz from jamtronica band Particle on keys; Larry Campbell who has toured with Dylan, Levon Helm, KD Lang and Roseanne Cash will be on guitar, fiddle, and pedal steel; and keeping the beat will be John Molo who has been the one constant in P&F for many years. This version of P&F has been together since last summer so they have had time to gel and the reviews have been very good. Gates open at 5:30 and tickets are $20 at the gate for GA. Gold Circle is sold out. You'll want to get there early because there is no opening artist. According to the Innsbrook web site, Phil Lesh and Friends will go on between 6pm and 6:30pm and play for about 3 hours.

On Wednesday at Innsbrook, Blues Traveler and Americana band The Avett Brothers will play. Gates open at 6 and tix are $15 in advance, $20 at the gate, and $30 for Gold Circle.

I'm going to unplug the computer now because the lightning is getting nasty. See you at Phil & Friends.

Tony Jordan

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

moe., Dirty Dozen, Fireworks!, Adventure!, Robert Randolph & more

This great week of music starts out with one of my favorite bands from the last 10 years, moe. moe. will be playing at Innsbrook on Wednesday. Tickets are $20 at the gate for general admission and $35 for stupid Gold Circle. Gates are going to open at 5:30 with opener Disco Biscuits starting at 5:45. moe. come on at 7.



If you have ever been a fan of moe. or have ever wanted to check them out, you may want to go see them now. After this summer tour, they are going to take a break until some time in 2009. Hopefully, it will only be a one year break and not a break like The Police took (24 years). moe.'s albums are consistently high-rated because they know how to write a song as well as jam, with their latest "Sticks & Stones" getting 3 1/2 stars in Rolling Stone. They can go from blues to country to electronica to hard rock within the space of a few songs. The guitar duo of Chuck Garvey and Al Schnier was named as one of the 20 New Guitar Gods in Rolling Stone a couple years back.

Hope you can go. I'll be there. Let me know if you're going or look for me. I'll be the guy in the dark blue moe. shirt with the guitar-playing monkey on the front.

Thursday night, more great guitar as pedal steel expert Robert Randolph comes into The National with his Revival show. Show starts at 8 with opener Eli Paperboy Reed & The True Loves. Tickets are $23. The Revival show features his normal band, The Family Band, with some special guests. There will be some new stuff played, some old stuff played, and they'll interpret some gospel standards as Robert gets in touch with his gospel roots.

Saturday night at The National, more great guitar as long time Allman Brother Dickey Betts & Great Southern ramble into town. Show starts at 8 with opener The Dirty Truth and tickets are $22.

Friday at Friday Cheers on Brown's Island, its not great guitar but great....sousaphone? Its the raucous, joyous New Orleans funk of Dirty Dozen Brass Band. As always the show is FREE! and starts at 6:30 with opener Southside Funk. I'm hoping to hit this one up. Dirty Dozen takes the classic brass band line-up and updates it with funk, jazz and rock. Not only have they made great music on their own, but they have also recorded with Elvis Costello, Widespread Panic, Modest Mouse (who they are touring with this summer), Dr. John, Dizzy Gillespie, Branford Marsalis, Norah Jones, Black Crowes, and the aforementioned Robert Randolph. This show should be a lot of fun and if its hot and sticky it will be that much easier to pretend you are in New Orleans.

Also on Friday, new bluegrass band The Waybacks (who recently covered all of "Led Zeppelin II" at Merlefest) will be playing a benefit for the VCU Massey Cancer Center at the Science Museum of VA (where I took Zach to see "Kung Fu Panda" on the IMAX last weekend. Good flick for kids and adults alike.). Music begins at 7 with opener Danny Barnes and tix are $20.

As if that weren't enough on Friday, legendary blues man Taj Mahal plays at Toad's Place. Doors open at 7:30 and tix are $25 for general admission, $37.50 for (blah!) Gold Circle.

When you aren't out seeing live music live, you can tune into the Bonnaroo webcast at the AT&T Blue Room this weekend. The exact schedule hasn't been announced yet, but they will be starting the webcast at 1:30 PM on Friday. At Bonnaroo this year is Pearl Jam, Metallica, Jack Johnson (why is this guy headlining all these festivals this year? His music is pleasant but kind of dull and I can't see him keeping 50,000 people enraptured.), Widespread Panic, Kanye West, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Phil Lesh & Friends, My Morning Jacket, The Raconteurs, Willie Nelson, Death Cab for Cutie, and much much more.

On Saturday at Brown's Island will be the FREE James River Adventure Games featuring athletes competing in seven different outdoor sports events and tons of stuff to see and do. Events start at 9 AM and go until 3:30. Then at 6:30 PM there is a free concert with The Coal Men & DJ Williams Projekt and then at 9:30, FIREWORKS! We went to this fireworks display a couple years ago and it was excellent.

Why Richmond doesn't do fireworks on the James for July 4th is a mystery to me. It would draw people to the riverside, downtown and to Brown's Island from both side of the river and provide a true community event. Instead, you either have to pay for the Braves game or brave the side streets and traffic surrounding the Diamond (though I guess we won't have to worry about that after this year) or get to the Carillon by about 6 PM because you can't see those fireworks unless you are right there. With the Braves leaving, this would be an excellent time to start a new Richmond tradition. Richmond, are you listening.

Anyway, put some music into your life this weekend either live or on the web. I hope to see you at either moe., Friday Cheers, the Adventure Games or the fireworks this weekend.

Tony Jordan

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Dr. Dog & Wakarusa

At Friday Cheers this week, indie rock act Dr. Dog plays. Show starts at 6:30, the opener is The Palominos (get there early if you can and check them out) and as always the show is FREE. You might dig the Dog if you like Spoon, The Band or The Beatles. Dr. Dog is playing at a lot of the major summer festivals and has been getting a good buzz. Here's a video for the song, Alaska: http://www.singingfool.com/player.asp?customerid=11319&src=AMG&PUBLISHEDID=471386. And they are from Philly, so they must be cool.

The Wakarusa Festival in Kansas will be webcasting on www.iclips.net starting on 6/6. They still haven't posted the schedule yet, so check it out around noon and see what they've got. Some of the artists playing the fest include the Flaming Lips, Emmylou Harris, Ben Folds, STS9, Zappa Plays Zappa, Mickey Hart Band w/Steve Kimock & George Porter Jr., Leftover Salmon, David Grisman Quintet, Dumpstaphunk, Dr. Dog, The Avett Brothers, Brett Dennen, and many more. These webcasts are great for finding new music and seeing who can bring it live.

Have a great weekend and stay cool!

Tony Jordan

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Wailers, Wednesday on the Water

Tonight at Innsbrook, The Wailers (featuring original bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett) will play. Tix are $15 and there will be no gold circle (yay!). Doors open at 6 PM. I saw the Wailers a couple years ago and they were pretty good. If the weather holds up, it should be a good show. Just to compare the weather to Jamaica, the temp here should feel like 82 at 9 PM (but no rain). In Kingston, Jamaica, they'll have thunderstorms and 87 degrees. So don't complain about the weather, its even better than Jamica.

Also, tonight, Toad's Place, starts a month long FREE series on their patio overlooking the canal. Its called Wednesdays on the Water and will feature acoustic music. It starts at 8 PM each Wednesday. Here's the lineup:
June 4th: Scolaro and The Mason Brothers
June 11th: Jason Horst and Travis Elliott
June 18th: tba
June 25th: Aimee Bayles and Prabir

More on the weekend later.

Tony Jordan

Monday, June 2, 2008

Worst Album Covers Ever

These are some truly disturbing and strange album covers. Someone spent a lot of time digging through cut-out bins, yard sales and flea markets.
Enjoy: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/music/concerts/sfl-worst-album-ugc,0,2313874.ugcphotogallery.

Thanks to Sarah N. for providing this link.

Tony Jordan