Thursday, June 30, 2011

Late Night Pick of the Night: Florence & The Machine

Watch Florence and the Machine on Carson Daly tonight.  It looks like they are the only guest so you should get about 20 minutes worth of music from them.  Last Call with Carson Daly is on NBC at 1:35 AM.

Rock The Boat, Fireworks on the James, Dark Star Orchestra, more Clarence tributes

The July 4 weekend is typically slow here in Richmond but there are a few shows worth highlighting. 

You can listen to a webcast (audio only) from the High Sierra Music Festival taking place in Quincy CA this weekend.  The webcast is on Fat Music Radio and here is the lineup.  Note that times are Pacific Time so add three hours for Eastern Time.  But I don't need to tell you that.  You guys are pretty darn smart.

CURRENT FAT MUSIC RADIO BROADCAST SCHEDULE (2011, PDT)

Thursday-June 30th
Noon to 1:15pm – Ma Muse (Vaudeville Tent Stage)
2.30 to 3:45pm – Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers (Grandstand Stage)
4:30 to 6:00pm – Infamous Stringdusters (Grandstand Stage)
6:45 to 8:15pm – Dr. Dog (Grandstand Stage)
9:30 to 11:00pm – Materialized featuring Scott Law (Big Meadow Stage)
11:30pm to 1:00am – Chris Robinson Brotherhood (Vaudeville Tent Stage)

Friday-July 1st
11:30 to 12:30pm – Mia Dyson (Big Meadow Stage)
1:00 to 2:15pm – Sweetback Sisters (Meadow Stage)
2:30 to 4:00pm – Travelin’ McCourys (Grandstand Stage)
4:30 to 6:00pm – Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk (Grandstand Stage)
6:45 to 8:15pm – TBA
9:15 to 10:45pm – Head for the Hills (Vaudeville Tent Stage)
11:30 to 1:30am – Infamous Stringdusters (Vaudeville Tent Stage)
1:30am to 4:00am – Dr. Dog (High Sierra Music Hall Stage)

Saturday-July 2nd
12:30 to 1:45pm – Dawes (Grandstand Stage)
2:30 to 4:00pm – Danny Barnes (Grandstand Stage)
4:15 to 5:30pm – Elephant Revival (Vaudeville Tent Stage: Delayed RE-play from 2:pm)
5:30 to 6:45pm – TBA
7:00 to 9:00pm – TBA
9:00 to 11:00pm – Warren Haynes (Granstand Stage)
11:30 to 1:30am – Spanish Bombs featuring Chuck Prophet (Vaudeville Tent Stage)
1:30 to 4:00am – Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk (Funkn’ Jam House)

Sunday-July 3rd
Noon to 1:30pm – Ruthie Foster (Vaudeville Tent Stage: Delayed RE-play from 10:30am)
2:30 to 4:00pm – Bill Frisell’s Beautiful Dreamers (Grandstand Stage)
4:30 to 6:00pm – Los Amigos Invisibles (Grandstand Stage)
6:45 to 8:15pm – Rebelution (Grandstand Stage)
9:00 to 11:00pm – Ween (Grandstand Stage)


On Sunday, the Tobacco Company is having their 2nd Annual Rock the Boat Party with yacht rock cover band, 3 Sheets to the Wind.  The show starts at 3 PM and cover charge is $5.

After you get funky like a white man at that party, you can head down to Brown's Island because Richmond is FINALLY having fireworks along the river.  I've been bitching about the city doing this since my wife & I and a friend walked the 1.2 miles from Tobacco Row to Brown's Island on 4th of July to see the fireworks from the Carillon.  After all, they are only 2.5 miles apart.  The walk up was fine as we were still buzzing from the margaritas but we suspected we had made a bad move when we got to Brown's Island and found it deserted.  When the fireworks finally started, we were able to see about 1/3 of them behind the Lee Bridge.  A definite disappointment and the walk home, with the margarita buzz worn off, sucked.  While they will still have the fireworks down at the Carillon on July 4, the Brown's Island location should be easier to get to and provide greater visibility from more of Richmond.

Here is the link to the web site about the Fireworks on the James: http://www.fireworksonthejames.com/index.html.  The site has directions and parking info.  Brown's Island will open at 6.  Entertainment (performances by SPARC (School of Performing Arts in the Richmond Community), the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Richmond Ballet's "Minds in Motion.") will start at 7:30.  Fireworks start around 9:30. 

Next Wednesday, at The National , Grateful Dead cover band Dark Star Orchestra will bring their trip to Richmond.  Doors open at 7, show starts at 8.  Tix are $20 in advance and $25 day of show.  Here they are doing "I Know You Rider" at the 2010 All Good Festival:


Finally some more Clarence Clemons news.  The Backstreets web site has collected links to all the tributes and such HERE.  Today, Bruce posted the eulogy he delivered at Clarence's memorial service on his site HERE.  Bruce tells Clarence's story, warts and all, and you'll laugh, you'll cry and you might understand a little about their friendship.  Here's my favorite part:
"How big was the Big Man? Too fucking big to die. And that's just the facts. You can put it on his grave stone, you can tattoo it over your heart. Accept it... it's the New World.


Clarence doesn't leave the E Street Band when he dies. He leaves when we die.

So, I'll miss my friend, his sax, the force of nature his sound was, his glory, his foolishness, his accomplishments, his face, his hands, his humor, his skin, his noise, his confusion, his power, his peace. But his love and his story, the story that he gave me, that he whispered in my ear, that he allowed me to tell... and that he gave to you... is gonna carry on. I'm no mystic, but the undertow, the mystery and power of Clarence and my friendship leads me to believe we must have stood together in other, older times, along other rivers, in other cities, in other fields, doing our modest version of god's work... work that's still unfinished. So I won't say goodbye to my brother, I'll simply say, see you in the next life, further on up the road, where we will once again pick up that work, and get it done.

Big Man, thank you for your kindness, your strength, your dedication, your work, your story. Thanks for the miracle... and for letting a little white boy slip through the side door of the Temple of Soul."

Finally, here is a great video tribute to the Big Man. "A video put together by Who Do I Think I Am? (a recent documentary about Clarence's trip to China) director Nick Mead. Nick tells Backstreets: "We spent a lot of time together on the road, filming everything we could, here's a little tribute. Cut together to Clarence's favorite track off The Promise, which he played over and over when I was with him a few weeks before the sadness."

DO I HAVE TO SAY HIS NAME...? from James Roddy on Vimeo.

It's late so I'm hittin' the sack.  I'll see you at the Fireworks on the James this weekend.  Have a Happy & Safe 4th of July weekend and God Bless America!


Tony Jordan

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Monday, June 27, 2011

Clarence Clemons tribute in Salon

Thanks to Paul C. for sending this to me. 

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/06/19/clarence_clemons

At the beginning of the Salon article, the author mentions the same show my wife & I were at which is the show I mentioned at the beginning of my humble tribute here on the blog.  I still get goose bumps remembering when Clarence walked out on stage and the roar from the audience drowned out the band.  Was cool to see a video of that again.

Late Night Pick of the Night: Dawes

Tonight's Late Night Pick of the Night is LA folk-rock band Dawes on Letterman tonight at 11:35 PM on CBS.  Dawes will be opening for Allison Krauss & Union Station at the Charlottesville Pavilion on 7/30.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Late Night Pick of the Night: Friendly Fires, Sharon Jones & Dap-Kings at Friday Cheers

Survived by Cub Scout Camp/T-ball practice all day outside yesterday.  Luckily it was not too hot but I am still pretty tired today. 

Tonight's Late Night Pick of the Night is indie dance trio Friendly Fires on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC at midnight.

Don't forget Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings tonight at Friday Cheers.  Wish I could go but I have yet another t-ball all-stars practice to assistant coach.  Chris Bopst of the Richmond Times-Dispatch also says you should go see them.  Read his article on them from yesterday's Weekend section HERE.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Umphrey's McGee, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Robin Trower, Bayou Boogaloo

This probably won't be a long one as I must sleep because I am chaperoning at Cub Scout Day Camp tomorrow, then going from there to coaching at t-ball practice so I'll be outside for about 12 hours tomorrow in the 90 degree heat rounding up six-year-olds.  Hopefully, I can hold up.

It will probably also be a shorter blog because we have hit the end of the spring concert season in Richmond.  Now the tents will get put away and everyone (bands included) stays indoors until September. 

Thursday night at Maymont, Groovin' in the Garden brings jam band Umphrey's McGee to Richmond.  Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate.  Doors open at 5:30, music starts around 6.  The Groovin' site says there is an opening guest TBA.  The Umphrey's site makes no mention of an opener.  UMG is a jam band and usually plays two sets so you may want to get there early just in case its just them.  Here they playing "Much Obliged - Bridgeless" at their annual end-of-year run in Chicago in Dec. 2010:


There is an official Umphrey's afterparty at City Dogs with Tiny Boxes.  This is a free show.  It'll start at 10:30 and feature two sets by Tiny Boxes.  Umphrey's keyboardist Joel Cummins plays with Tiny Boxes and here is how their web site describes the band:
"Tiny Boxes is an uncompromising rock group aiming for a sound somewhere between The Band of Gypsys and Jeff Beck. The band was founded by Bon Lozaga whose enduring commitment to fusion and prog-rock has won him a loyal global following. Soaring melodies, epic solos, and funk-infused rhythms have been central to his approach since his days in Gong during the band’s classic late- ’70s Expresso II period—playing alongside Allan Holdsworth—through to Gongzilla and now with Tiny Boxes.


Tiny Boxes has recently ventured into jamband and songwriting territory, with the help from members of moe. and Umphrey’s McGee. Members of both bands frequently guest at TB"s live shows. Lozaga’s forthcoming solo album titled "Tiny Boxes", released under the name Bon, continues those jamband relationships, with the inclusion of Umphrey’s McGee keyboardist Joel Cummins and Kofi Burbridge from the Derek Trucks Band.

Tiny Boxes is rounded out by a group of seasoned musicians; Leo Kishore (Barefoot Manner, Funkuponya) on Bass, Kyle Poehling (Rebus, Modern Robot) on Drums, and multi-instrumentalist Matt Williams (The Ocean, Asheville Jazz All-Stars) on Violin, Guitar, and Mandolin."

Here's Tiny Boxes performing their song "Haniface" live in Raleigh on June 10, 2011:


On Friday night for the last Friday Cheers of the year, its the soul powerhouse Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings.  Tix are $10 for this one.  Show starts at 6:30 with opener New Belgians.  Here is Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings when they were on Austin City Limits in 2008.

Watch the full episode. See more Austin City Limits.

Guitar great Robin Trower will be at The National on Friday night.  Tix are $26.50 and doors open at 7:00 and showtime is 7:30.   Things get underway with opener 3Borne.  Robin Trower still playing and playing well as he was recently nominated for the 2011 British Blues Awards for Best Guitarist.  Here's one of my favorite Robin Trower tunes (thanks to my K-Tel "The Rock Album"), this is "Too Rolling Stoned" as Robin performed it in 2008:


If you're up for some travel to Norfolk, they have a nice lineup for their annual Bayou Boogaloo Festival.  The fest takes place Friday: Noon - 10pm, Saturday: Noon - 10 pm, Sunday: Noon - 6pm at Town Point Park,  in Downtown Norfolk.  Click HERE for a lineup that includes Cowboy Mouth, Rusted Root, Anders Osborne and the Funky Meters.  Tix are only $10 a day or $20 for the whole weekend.

That's it for this week because I've got a long day tomorrow.  Have a great weekend!
 
Tony Jordan

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Late Night Pick of the Night: Thurston Moore & Bob Mould

Two 80's-90's alternative rock gods are on Jimmy Fallon tonight.  Thurston Moore (of Sonic Youth) and Bob Mould (of Husker Du) have both had solo stuff out too, Bob more than Thurston.  If they play together, this could be something special.  Jimmy Fallon is on at 12:35 AM on NBC.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Late Night Pick of the Night: Drive-By Truckers

Back from a day off to recover from the Phish show on Sunday.  More on that in the big blog tomorrow night.

Tonight's Late Night Pick was pretty easy.  Drive-By Truckers will be on David Letterman on CBS at 11:35 PM tonight performing "Everybody Needs Love".

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Clarence Clemons - 1942 - 2011

Clarence Clemons, saxophonist for the E Street Band, passed away tonight at 7:00 PM.  Click HERE to read the statement on Bruce Springsteen's web site.

I'm at a loss as to whether the E Street Band even exists now.  Clarence was such a strong, positive force on stage.  He made the band Cool.  And I say that with a capital C.  While Bruce would be running around, dancing, shirt off, hair mussed, sweating, Clarence would be dressed sharp, commanding the stage with a sax solo, dancing while playing tambourine or maracas, smiling that big smile, laughing that big laugh.  Everything about Clarence was big, he was "THE BIG MAN"!  At my first Bruce concert, at the Philly Spectrum in 1984, Born In The USA tour, the moment everything clicked for me with Bruce was during Clarence's solo during "Jungleland" with Clarence playing that beautiful, beautiful solo and Bruce came around behind the stage where my seats were, and looked right up at me. 

One of my other great Bruce moments was when he was at the end of the "Human Touch" tour with the "other band".  It was one of the last shows of the tour, a benefit for the Central Jersey Food Bank at the Meadowlands arena.  I had great floor seats and Bruce had been playing for over three hours.  Little Steve had joined the band onstage during the previous song and we felt that something special was happening.  The band busted into "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" (I'm getting goosebumps right now reliving this memory), Bruce got to the line "the change was made up town and the Big Man joined the band" and out from the middle of the stage walked Clarence, blowing that sax part and the arena ERUPTED!  The Big Man was back!  Bruce was once again complete! 

He was a superhero with a sax, the master of soul, the king of world, master of the universe.....CLARENCE CLEMONS.  A Bruce Springsteen show will never be the same.

I'll leave you with the story Bruce used to tell during the intro to the slow version of the "E Street Shuffle" that told of his first meeting with Clarence: “There I was in Asbury Park (crowd cheers) on a dark, rainy night, right, it was raining, a hurricane just came in, I’m walking down the street at three in the morning…had my jacket bundled up around me…way down the end of the street walking through the monsoon, I seen this big figure…so I crossed to the other side…when I crossed to the other side, he crossed to the other side…so I crossed back to the other side and now it was coming into shape, dressed in white, walking with a cane, a big guy, walking like there was no rain and the wind wasn’t blowing, just walking like it was a beautiful summer day…and me, I’m hiding in the shadows walking down the street till the guy’s getting closer, so I’m gonna figure I’m gonna duck into this doorway…and wait till he passes by…so I duck into the doorway, I stood in the doorway like this and sure enough I hear them footsteps coming closer and closer…and right where I’m standing, he turns and faces off on me, right…so…I did the normal thing: I was cool, I threw all my money on the ground (laughs from the crowd) threw off my jacket…didn’t move…all he did was he reached out his arm, right…and I was scared (?)…slowly I turn (laughs from the crowd) step by step (crowd cheers) until… sparks fly on E Street…”

Friday, June 17, 2011

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Reviews of Spider-Man musical, Late Night Pick of the Night

Metacritic has a nice collection of reviews of the Spider-Man musical with the music by U2.  They also compare the reviews from the earlier version with the reviews from the newer version.  Sounds like they made it better when they went back and re-jiggered it, but now its only mediocre at best.  Certainly not worth spending a few hundred bucks for tickets.  Here's the link: http://www.metacritic.com/feature/spider-man-turn-off-the-dark-reviews

Tonight's Late Night Pick of the Night is Battles on Jimmy Fallon at 12:35 AM on NBC.

North Mississippi Allstars Duo, David Grisman Sextet, Phish, Rock at the Mosque

Thursday night's Groovin' in the Garden at MAYMONT will feature the North Mississippi All-Stars Duo and the Felice Brothers.  Tix are $18 in advance, $23 at the gate.  Gates open at 5:30, show starts with the Felice Brothers around 6:30.  North Mississippi All-Stars Duo is brothers Luther Dickinson (guitar, formerly of Black Crowes) and Cody Dickinson (drums, percussion).  I wasn't sure how these guys would sound but I watched their performance on the Mountain Jam webcast and they were great.  Even though its just two guys they were really able to get a variety of different sounds on each song, often through the use of different instruments including Luther on a homemade guitar at one point and Cody playing the electric washboard.  Here's a nice segment from their show in NYC on 6/6/11:


Friday Cheers brings us the great David Grisman Sextet with local act The Hot Seats opening.  Tix are $5 at the gate and things get under way at Brown's Island at 6:30.  Here's what the Cheers site says about David Grisman, if you don't already know; "For nearly half a century, mandolinist/composer/bandleader/producer David Grisman has been a guiding force in the evolving world of acoustic music. His musical range is wide and deep — embracing many styles, genres and traditions.
An acoustic pioneer and innovator, David forged a unique personal artistic path, skillfully combining elements of the great American music/art forms — jazz and bluegrass with many international flavors and sensibilities to create his own distinctive idiom — “Dawg” music (the nickname given him by Jerry Garcia). In doing so, he’s inspired new generations of acoustic string musicians, while creating his own niche in contemporary music."
Here's the David Grisman Sextet with a couple guys from Punch Brothers joining them in NYC in April:


Sunday, I am off to see Phish at nTelos Pavilion in Portsmouth (not to be confused with nTelos Pavilion in Charlottesville.  Wait, that is confusing).  This is probably the smallest venue on the tour (7500 seats) and is the last show of this leg, before their Super Ball IX festival.  The show is sold out but if you're going, showtime is 7:30.  And if you're going, give me a call.  Maybe we can meet up.  Here is Phish doing "The Curtain With" in Camden NJ on 6/10/11 and its quite snazzy.  The last, oh, seven minutes or so feature some amazing guitar work by Trey Anastasio and band interplay:

Phish - 6/10/11 "The Curtain With" from Phish on Vimeo.

A few loose ends.  Wyatt sent along this cool site that tells the history of a number of rock shows in the 60's at The Mosque aka The Landmark Theater here in Richmond.  Lots of pics of newspaper ads and reviews.  I love the quote from the review of The Who playing there in '68: "As a display of the kind of music much of the younger generation enjoys more than any other, last night's program showed at least one thing: there is a definite style and direction to this hard rock music, and the groups who performed at the Mosque are serious about it.  If it weren't all so loud, though, the older generation might dig it more."  Here's the link: http://www.scottymoore.net/mosque.html.

Neil Young has a new album out called "A Treasure" which captures live performances with his country band, The International Harvesters, on their 1986 tour.  It got 4 out of 5 stars from Rolling Stone and you can listen to the whole album HERE.  Thanks to Joan for passing that one along.

I had to go back to May to find the last time we checked in with Moviefone's Best Music Scenes In Movies list.  This is #38 from the great Woody Allen film "Annie Hall".  I watched "Annie Hall" again recently and was reminded of what a great, heartbreaking movie it is and why it turned Diane Keaton into a star.  Her depiction of Annie is complex and subtle and she's beautiful, poignant, vulnerable and sexy, and you can't help but fall in love with her.  And she can sing:


In the Paste Magazine 25 Best Music Videos of 2010 we are up to (down to?) #3 and its good to see that we may complete this list before they come out with their 25 Best Music Videos of 2011.  I just heard this song again today and its the happiest blow-off song ever, now ain't that some s**t.  The song is fantastic and the video makes it better.  I still crack up when Cee-Lo is crying "Whyyyyy?  Whyyyy?".  Yes, turn up your speakers and dance, or turn them down and put on your headphones if you're at work or the kids are around, it's Cee-Lo Green's "F**k You".


And here's Prince's "Raspberry Beret" just because it reminds of this time of year:

Raspberry Beret - Prince by abelflexes

Don't forget to check back every weekday.  I'm trying to add new posts every day.  When I do post, I lget people know on Facebook.  I don't send emails out every day to my email list because I don't want to inundate those on the email list.

Have a great weekend! See you at the Phish show!

Tony Jordan

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Boss Update on Clarence, Late Night Pick of the Night: Cee-Lo Green

Bruce Springsteen put out the first official update on Clarence Clemons' condition after his stroke and things are encouraging: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bruce-springsteen-on-clarence-clemons-initial-signs-are-encouraging-20110614

When Cee-Lo Green was last seen, he was pissing off people at a couple festivals by showing up late.  Perhaps he'll be on time for tonight's Lopez Tonight which is on TBS at midnight.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Grateful Dead Archivist David Lemieux Talks Massive ‘Europe ’72′ Box Set, Possible Future Releases

Lengthy interview with Grateful Dead Archivist David Lemieux talking about the creation of the massive (72 CDs!) box set chronicling the Dead's Europe '72 tour.  May mostly be of interest to Deadheads or those with an interest in what to took engineering-wise to get the music from the tapes to the CDs.
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/grateful-dead-archivist-david-lemieux-talks-europe-72-box-set/

Foo Fighters Tour Rider Rocks

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/foo-fighters-2011-tour-rider-872903
If you don't know what tour riders are, they are the instructions bands send to the promoter to make sure they get the food they want, stage set-up, etc. This one is freakin' brilliant. If you want to find another good one, check out the one for Iggy Pop on Smoking Gun.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/backstage/arena-rock/iggy-pop

Late Night Pick of the Night: Lauryn Hill

Tonight's Late Night Pick is Lauryn Hill on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:35 AM on NBC.  Ms. Hill hasn't made a studio album since 1998's groundbreaking, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" so I don't know if she has something new or not.  I wouldn't expect a new album any time soon as she just announced that she is pregnant with her sixth child.  Which explains what she has been doing since 1998.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Clarence Clemons Has Stroke, Late Night Pick of the Night: Black Joe Lewis

Had a great time at the Drive-By Truckers show on Friday night.  If you missed 'em, you better catch 'em next time.

Some sad news this morn.  E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons has had a stroke.  Throw on "Jungleland" and keep the Big Man in your thoughts today.  Here is the full story from Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/clarence-clemons-has-suffered-a-stroke-20110612.

Tonight's Late Night Pick of the Night is retro-soul outfit Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears on Letterman at 11:35 PM on CBS.

Here's some Black Joe Lewis:


And here's some "Jungleland":

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Late Night Pick of the Night: Neil Peart

It's drum solo week on Letterman and you won't see a better drum solo than one from tonight's guest, Rush's Neil Peart. 

I am not a huge fan of drum solos.  Usually I find them boring time-killers so the rest of the band can smoke a doob and I use the time to go pee and get a beer (see last November's Black Crowes show).  There are only a few that come to mind as being worthwhile, one being the Grateful Dead's nightly drum duet with Bill Kreutzman and Mickey Hart, though they had so many weird types of percussion, looping, surround sound and a killer light show that it was not a standard drum solo and more of a sonic landscape.  Neil Peart is probably the only other drum solo that I won't miss.  Interesting and rhythmically intricate, it's not one to miss.  And if you've seen the Rush documentary, you know that he is a student of drumming to this day.  So check out Neil tonight on Letterman.

I was also pleased to see that when I Google "Rush" the band's web site comes up higher than Rush Limbaugh.  There is hope for this world yet.

Drive-By Truckers, moe., Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Robbin Thompson, Radiators

Bonnaroo starts on Thursday around noon.  According to the Bonnaroo website, there will be a live Bonnaroo webcast at www.vevo.com/bonnaroo, however, when I go there now there is no schedule.  They are promising Arcade Fire, Widespread Panic, My Morning Jacket, The Strokes, Mumford & Sons, Florence + the Machine, and more.  I'll post a schedule when I get it.

If you were planning on going to the Groovin' in the Garden Del McCoury Band & The Preservation Hall Jazz Band show at Maymont on Thursday, you can just forget it, mister.  Per the Groovin' web site, "Due to circumstances beyond our control, this concert has been cancelled.  No replacement show has been substituted."  It's a bummer 'cause that sounded like a pretty cool show.


Friday Cheers!  Drive-By Truckers!  This show is just the Truckers, no opener, so the band will come on around 7 and play until around 9:30.  And I say the more Truckers, the merrier.  Its $10 to get in.  You all know my undying love for the Truckers.  Their fabulous three-headed songwriting monster: Patterson Hood, the dark, blue-collar tales of gothic South.  Mike Cooley, the jaded, sarcastic con man, always just on the wrong side of luck.  Shonna Tucker, the newest songwriter, the tough cookie with a broken heart.  With the rest of the band made up of John Neff (guitar, pedal steel), Brad Morgan (drums), and Jay Gonzalez (keys), they'll make you cry with a sad country song, then groove you by tapping into the Muscle Shoals sound that is literally in their DNA (Patterson's dad was a member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section), then hit you upside the head with rock n' roll so fierce it'll knock the wind out of you.  Join me on the island on Friday and revel in the sound of the Drive-By Truckers.  Here's the band doing "Mercy Buckets":

And if you can't get enough Truckers, the docuumentary about them "The Secret to a Happy Ending" will make it's TV premiere on the Documentary Channel on Saturday night at 8 PM and then it's repeated at 11 or 11:30 PM.  Check your local listings.

Now my dilemma on Friday night is that one of my other favorite bands from the last 10 years, jam band moe. is playing at The National
Tix are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.  The doors open at 8:30 and the show starts at 9:30 with opener The Shack Band.  Because the show was starting late, I could easily make it from DBT to moe. without missing any of moe.  And I entertained this idea for a while today.  And if Plan 9 sold tickets for the shows at The National, I would have used the Plan 9 gift certificate I got for my birthday to buy tickets to moe. and done both shows.  But alas, Plan 9 doesn't sell tickets for The National and with Phish coming up on 6/19, I can't swing the $ for all the shows, so I will have to pass on moe. until they return.  Here's moe. doing "Queen of Everything":

 



Robbin Thompson will be at Ashland Coffee & Tea on Friday night.  Tix are $15 in advance and $20 day of show.  Here's what the AC&T site says about Robbin, "Virginia’s own – Richmond music legend, studio wizard, and promoter of world music… Robbin Thompson is a Virginia-based songwriter and has been recording albums since 1976. He’s been in bands with Bruce Springsteen, co-written songs with Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles, won the American Song Festival twice, and written tons of music for commercials and films. Truly a Virginia legend, join Robbin for an evening of your favorite original compositions!"

Saturday guitarist extrodinaire Derek Trucks and his lovely and talented blues singin' wife Susan Tedeschi bring their Trucks Tedeschi Band to The NationalTix are $30 (GA) to $50 (seats) in advance and the doors open at 7 with the show starting at 8.  No opener is listed so I would get there on time, just in case there isn't one.  Was a little surprised to see that they are going to have reserve seats for the show.  Thought people would dig dancing at this show and the seats will certainly put a damper on that.  Here's the video for "Bound For Glory" from their new album:


Someone sent in a comment on the Late Night Pick of the Night blog yesterday about the Radiators and their 33 year career which comes to a close this weekend.  I'll miss them.  If you are so inclined you can watch a webcast of any or all of their last three shows on iclips.net for $60 for all three shows or a single show for $25.  The commenter also asked about similar bands to the Rads which might fill the hole.  I would direct one to The Subdudes which feature the brother of the Radiators Dave Malone, Tommy.  Also, check out Anders Osborne who I saw open and play with The Radiators a number of times in the early 90's.  If you are into the funkier side of New Orleans music, check out Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk or GalacticHope that helps.  God Bless The Radiators!  Let's reach way back to the early 80's, 1984 to be exact, for this Rads clip, "Red Dress":


I'm gonna call it a night here.  Gotta rest up for Friday.  See you at the Truckers show!  And if anyone wants to give me a free ticket to moe., I'll be there too.


Tony Jordan

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Late Night Pick of the Night: Roy Haynes

Tonight on Letterman, check out classic jazz drummer Roy Haynes.  Also, see Jon Cryer try to explain what the hell happened to Charlie Sheen.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Late Night Pick of the Night: My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket continue their media assault on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight at 12:35 AM on NBC.  MMJ sounded good at Mountain Jam this weekend and if you missed the concert they webcast on YouTube you can see highlights here: http://www.youtube.com/user/MyMorningJacketVEVO.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Late Night Pick of the Night: Foster The People

Watch psychedelic poppers Foster the People on Last Call with Carson Daly tonight at 1:35 AM on NBC.

Pete Townshend: Quadrophenia box set coming

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pete-townshend-announces-quadrophenia-box-set-20110602

This can only be good because Quadrophenia is my favorite Who album.  He also says Mick Jagger does NOT have a "tiny todger".

Mountain Jam webcast, The Monkees, Corey Smith, Food Festivals

The webcast from Mountain Jam from Hunter Mountain, NY starts at noon today and runs through the weekend.  Here's the link: http://www.iclips.net/watch/mountain-jam-2011 and here is the schedule including Richmond's own Carbon Leaf.  Times are Eastern time:
Friday
12:00 - Timbre Coup

12:45 - Voodelic
1:30 - Carbon Leaf
2:30 - Toubab Krewe
3:30 - Tim Reynolds & TR3
4:30 - Electric Hot Tuna
6:00 - Soulive
7:15 - Bela Fleck & The Original Flecktones
9:30 - Warren Haynes Band
1:00 - Lotus

Saturday
11:45 - Leroy Justice
12:30 - Ryan Montbleau Band
1:15 - Zach Deputy (full band)
2:15 - Mavis Staples
4:30 - The Avett Brothers
5:45 - North Mississippi Allstars Duo
6:45 - Michael Franti & Spearhead
9:00 - Gov't Mule
1:00 - Umphrey's McGee (ft. John Oates)

Sunday
12:00 - The Wlyos
12:45 - Civil Twilight
1:30 - Dawes
2:30 - Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
5:15 - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
7:30 - My Morning Jacket

Here in town on Friday night at Friday Cheers is Corey Smith (ha, I first typed Hart.  Maybe I should wear my sunglasses tonight.) with David Shultz and the Skyline opening.  Its $5 to get in and things start at 6:30.  I don't know much about Corey so here is what the Cheers site says: "For Corey Smith, one of the best things about making music has always been getting the chance to hang out and have a good time with his friends. And it’s still that way, nearly 10 years after his early days of playing the bars around Athens, GA. The big difference now? Well, it seems these days Corey just has a lot more friends to hang with. The crowds at his sold-out live performances frequently number in the thousands — quite a change from the times when he never dreamed of much beyond playing for a handful of his college buddies. But, thanks to his astonishing gift for crafting addictive, soulful songs and the high-energy reputation of his shows, Corey Smith is one of modern country’s hottest young artists, a quintessentially indie performer with a dedicated following most Nashville-fueled hat racks would trade their flashy limos for."
Here he is performing "Maybe Next Year":
 


Wednesday at Innsbrook, hey, hey it's The Monkees!  Yes, Davy, Mickey and Peter (Mike is sitting this one out again) will be in town to rock you 60's pop style.  General admission tickets are $17.50 advance, $20 gate, Gold Circle Seating $40, Skybox $75.  Gates open at 6.  There is no opener listed and this is billed as "An Evening With The Monkees" which usually indicates no opener.  I saw the Monkees (sans Mike) when they made their MTV-fueled comeback back in 1986.  My friend, Chris, & I took a Friday off from school and drove up to Great Adventure amusement park to ride the rides all day and then check out the band there that night.  We also went on the drive through safari both because it was fun and so that we could smoke some weed without dealing with park security.  It was on the safari that we came around a curve and came across an ostrich pounding on the back of the another ostrich.  The one on top got up, wait, what is that hanging off his belly, oh my lord, is that, yes it is.  We had just witnessed ostrich sex.  Not a pretty sight.  And though the Monkees were good, I unfortunately remember more about the ostrich sex than the Monkees no matter how hard I have tried to get it out of my mind.  Here are The Monkees doing their song, "Ostrich Sex", er, "Pleasant Valley Sunday":


I'm a little short on time this week so I'll direct to the Richmond Times-Dispatch site for a story about the various food/drink festivals this weekend including the Greek Fest, Broad Appetit, and Beer, Bourbon & BBQ fest: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/lifestyles/2011/jun/02/tdweek08-weekend-jam-packed-with-festivals-ar-1079480/

and also Chris Bopst's article (enjoying his columns in the T-D and his always eclectic taste in music) on some of the underground music coming to town this week: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/2011/jun/02/tdweek05-the-hear-amp-now-show-picks-this-week-go--ar-1079473/

Hopefully back to normal next week.  Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Toots & the Maytals, NO BS! Brass Band, Best Albums of May, Lykke Li

This will be a short one about tonight's gigs.  My wife is out of town at a conference.  Throw in my six-year-old's t-ball playoff game last night that lasted 2.5 hours (!) in the heat and then rounding him and the three-year-old into bed and I was exhausted last night.  No playoff game tonight so things should be a little more normal and I should get to the rest of the weekend.

Tonight at Groovin' in the Garden at MAYMONT will be reggae legend Toots & the Maytals.  It may not quite be feelin' like you're in Jamaica, mon, tonight but at least it will be a bit cooler and Maymont should look as lovely as always.  The Transmitters will open and things get under way at 6 PM with the gates opening at 5:30 PM.  Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate.  Here's some classic Toots & The Maytals from Winterland in SF in '75:


Later on tonight, check out NO BS! Brass Band at Balliceaux.  The show starts at 10 PM and its FREE.  Here they are doing their song "2 The Day" filmed around Richmond:


Your Late Night Pick of the Night is Lykke Li on Jimmy Kimmel on ABC at midnight or a little later depending on how late the NBA Finals game runs.  Go Mavs!

Finally, if you are wondering what the most critcally acclaimed albums of last month were, here you go: http://features.metacritic.com/features/2011/may-best-new-music-2011/

Tony Jordan