Thursday, September 29, 2016

Late Night TV Pick: Blood Orange

Atmospheric indie/soul pop/rocker Blood Orange is on The Daily Show tonight (11 PM, Comedy Central). Blood Orange is the solo project of Devonte Hayes from NYC. From his 2013 album, "Cupid Deluxe", here's "Chamakay":



John Prine was on The Late Show last night and did a couple tunes including one with the host.




Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Late Night TV Pick: John Prine

Legendary folk artist John Prine is on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert tonight (CBS, 11:35 PM). His new album, "For Better or Worse" comes out Friday. It's an album of duets with ladies. Those ladies include Miranda Lambert. Kacey Musgraves, Lee Ann Womack, Iris DeMent, Alison Krauss, Susan Tedeschi and more. Perhaps one of them will join John tonight. Here's John's "It's a Big Old Goofy World":




Weekend Picks: Gov't Mule, moe., Ron Holloway Band, Fall BRAzaar, Marty Stuart, Bush League, Skydog, Full Moon Fever, Long Strange Night

The weekend starts on Thursday, as all good weekends do, with a Southern blues rock extravaganza at Innsbrook. Warren Haynes led band Gov't Mule is the headliner with Blackberry Smoke opening. You'll want to get in to see both bands as Blackberry Smoke looks like they stepped out of 1979 and they've got a great sound that's equal parts Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Georgia Satellites and Rolling Stones. Gov't Mule has a repertoire of more than 1000 songs and Warren Haynes says, "Each night, we put together our set list by consulting our history. We see what we played last time we came to town, and then play a show that is completely different." Gates open at 5, music starts around 5:45. Tix are $25 for GA Lawn, $35 & $49 for Gold Circle. Gov't Mule just put out an archival release of the first demos they made back in 1994. Here they are playing ZZ Top's "Just Got Paid":



There is an official Gov't Mule Afterparty at The Camel with The Ron Holloway Band and Evolution of the Groove. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9, tix are $10 advance, $12 day of show. There may be some special guests (though I can't guarantee that). You see, Ron Holloway is the sax player in the Warren Haynes Band. Last week in Fredericksburg, Warren sat in with The Ron Holloway Band (along with Trongone Band's Andrew Trongone). And we all know that Warren will play with anyone at any time. Even if Warren doesn't show up, The Ron Holloway Band is a great band and some of the Trongone Band members may show up, since Ron often plays with them. Ron also played with Little Feat at their tour stop in DC last week. And to bring all of it together, here's Warren Haynes with The Ron Holloway Band in Fredericksburg doing Little Feat's "Spanish Moon":



Classic country artist Marty Stuart is at The Beacon Theater in Hopewell Thursday night. Doors open at 6:30, show starts sometime thereafter (strangely, they don't say on their web site or on the ticket site) with special guests Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley. Tix range from $22 to $70. Here's Marty with Paul Shaffer doing "Freight Train Boogie":



Friday night, blues band The Bush League is at Poe's Pub. Show starts at 9:30. No cover charge is listed but if there is one, should be around $5. Here's the band a couple weeks ago at The Big Bluesy Music Festival in Jamestown:



After a week of rain, the weather will be absolutely beautiful on Saturday so head out to the Fall BRAzaar 2016 at Steel Horse Harley Davidson in Midlothian. The BRAzaar is "A fun FREE day of live music, information for breast cancer patients and caregivers, children's activities, and LOTS of vendors! Also, the fabulous MISS-ter BRAzaar Pageant! All proceeds benefit Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation!" I know there will be four bands there to provide music all day, too. It'll run from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Classic rock/blues/Grateful Dead cover band Long Strange Night will be at Cary Street Cafe from 2 to 6 PM Saturday. Don't cost nothin' to get in. The band will have some special guests join them along the way. Here's the band's set at The Lynchburg Music Festival in May:



Full Moon Fever brings the Tom Petty covers to The Broadberry on Saturday night. I saw them July 4th at Hardywood and had a grand ol' time. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with Andrew Leahey & the Homestead. Here's Tom Petty with The Traveling Wilburys, the superest of super groups:



The Allman Brothers tribute band, Skydog, closes out this year's Music in the Park series at Forest Hill Park with a performance from 5 - 7 PM. It's FREE! Got a spare 5 hours? Here's the Allman Brothers Band 40th Anniversary show in 2009. Enjoy!



Tuesday night, jam band moe. is at The National. Tix are $19.50 advance, $23 day of show. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 with openers Blind and Dirty. moe is now one of the grandaddy jam bands on the scene believe it or not. It seems like only yesterday I first saw them in a field at Lehigh University. From moe.down on 8/10/2013, here's the second set:



That'll do it. I may see you at Gov't Mule/Blackberry Smoke, Ron Holloway Band, Fall BRAzaar, Skydog, and moe. I'll leave you with a funny moment from last Saturday's Global Citizen Fest. Chris Martin of Coldplay had to come out and stall for time because Rhianna wasn't ready to go yet. So he did a fine cover of Prince's "Raspberry Beret". Make sure you stick around for his improvised last verse.



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Friday, September 23, 2016

Late Night Pick: Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen will be on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert tonight (11:35 PM, CBS). He'll be talking about his new autobiography, "Born to Run", which comes out on 9/27. Hopefully, he'll play a couple tunes, too. You can read the complete forward to the book HERE. And here's Bruce with the Seeger Sessions Band doing "Pay Me My Money Down":



Here's Bon Iver on the Tonight Show last week:

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Weekend Picks: Standing Rock benefit, George Thorogood, Little River Band, Greensky Bluegrass, Felice Brothers, The Congress, Perpetual Groove, Trongone Band

This weekend starts with some fun for something serious. On Thursday, there is a fundraiser for the #NoDAPL movement to show support for the movement at Standing Rock which is peacefully demonstrating to stop the construction of a massive oil pipeline. This will be a fundraiser for the Sacred Stone Camp and collecting supplies that are listed as needs on the website. They are currently preparing for winter so provisions and warm weather gear is needed. The event will be held at the Hofenheimer Bldg from 6 PM - 11 PM. It's free to get in but the donation bucket will be passed around all night so please be generous. There will also be a raffle. And there will be bands. Here's the lineup:
LOFT (indoor) 
6pm Cole Sullivan
7pm SwampTrees
8pm head upstairs for Antiphons and Lobo Marino 
10pm Rattlemouth 
ROOFTOP (outdoor)
6-8pm DJ OlNuBi and DJ Negrita spinning latin and disco boogie hits
8pm Antiphons solo set
9pm- Lobo Marino
10pm- Head downstairs for Rattlemouth
 Here's some Rattlemouth:




The Congress will be at The Broadberry Thursday night to celebrate the release of their new album, "The Game". Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with Major & the Monbacks opening. Tix are $12 advance, $15 day of show. After this show, The Congress head to DC, Brooklyn, then out west and out of the country to conquer the world. This is "Farewell" from that upcoming album. Love the harmonies!



70's smooth rock band Little River Band will be kicking off The State Fair of Virginia on Friday. The show starts at 7 PM and is included with your admission to the fair. So load up on fried oreos, twinkies, turkey legs, pork bar-b-q and candy apples, then sit back and enjoy LRB's bevy of mellow hits. When I saw they were playing, "Lonesome Loser" immediately got stuck in my head and I walked around all day singing it. Now it's time for you to get it stuck in your head. You know you want to. Just click PLAY. "Have you heard about the...."




Local fun from psychedelic rock bands at The Camel on Friday night with Imaginary Sons, Clair Morgan, M.H. & His Orchestra, and Pete Curry. Tix are $6 advance, $8 day of show. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9. Here's Imaginary Sons in Jan. 2015:



Saturday, yours truly will be doing the 80's music show, Songs from the Big Hair, on WRIR-FM in Richmond from 3 - 5 PM. It'll be an 80's dance party as I'll be whipping out my 12".....singles. Yes, it was the age of short shorts on guys and big hair on girls. Tune in at 97.3 FM in the Richmond area or at wrir.org/listen.



It will be a dance party of a different kind at The National Saturday night when jam band Perpetual Groove take the stage. Tix are $19.50 advance, $23 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with McLovins. P Groove has a new EP, "Familiar Stare" out so you may hear some hits off of that. Here they are performing "Out Here":




The Trongone Band is at The Broadberry Saturday night. Tix are $12 advance, $15 day of show. Doors open at 9 and the show starts at 9 with opener Maradeen out of Nashville. The Trongones will have some new tunes, special guests and surprises for the show. It'll be a grand ol' time! Guitarist Andrew Trongone recently jammed with The Ron Holloway Band and Warren Haynes. Here's the results:



Blues man George Thorogood and the Destroyers are at Pocahontas State Park on Sunday evening. Gates open at 5:30 and the show opens with One Way Ryde. Tix are $25 for GA, $37 for Gold Circle. Growing up in the Philly area, George was our hometown boy and I saw him many times back in the day in venues big and small. His version of "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" from the closing night of the Bijou Theater in Philly in the late 70's ('79?) that was broadcast live on WMMR is still one of the greatest version of that songs ever and I still listen to that cassette and love it. It will be a sad day when that tape finally breaks. He's always a fun time and has a great rapport with the audience. Bring your drinkin' shoes because I think every one of his songs mentions alcohol in some way. Here's George doing the acoustic blues at radio station KOKZ in Iowa a few days ago playing some tunes and also a good interview about his influences and start.



Americana band The Felice Brothers are at The Camel Wednesday night (9/28). Tix are $15. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener Aaron Lee Tasjan. Here's The Felice Brothers performing live in June:



Newgrass band Greensky Bluegrass is at The National Wednesday. They take the traditional bluegrass instrumentation but put a new spin on it venturing into jam band, jazz, blues, rock and country. Definitely not your grandaddy's bluegrass. Tix are $18 advance, $23 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. No opener is listed. You can check out a live stream of their new album, "Shouted, Written Down & Quoted" here on Pandora Premieres. Here they are playing "Burn Them" in an gorgeous setting near Telluride CO:



That'll do it. I hope to see you at the Standing Rock benefit on Thursday and the Trongone Band show on Saturday. This song popped up on my iPod today and it's still one of my all-time favorite Prince songs. It breaks my heart to think I'll never get to see him play live again.


Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Late Night Pick: Bon Iver

Indie folk singer/songwriter Bon Iver will be on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight (NBC, 11:35 PM). Bon Iver has a new album, "22, A Million" coming out on September 30, so I suspect we'll be hearing a selection from that. From 2011, this is "Holocene":




Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Weekend Picks: Mountain Goats, Peals, Built to Spill, Willie Nelson, Amos Lee, Lumineers, Ben Folds, Alice In Chains, Popa Chubby, Unknown Hinson, Fear of Music

There is no reason not to start your weekend on Wednesday. After all, it's hump day (as that damn camel will you) so it's all down hill once you get to Wednesday evening. There's a really good blues show at The Tin Pan on Wednesday with NY blues man Popa Chubby in the house. You may remember Popa from the hit he had back in the 90's "Sweet Goddess of Love & Beer". He plays hard blues influenced by people like Richard Hell (whose band, The Voidoids Popa was once in), The Stooges, Buddy Guy, Motorhead, Muddy Waters, Hendrix, Robert Johnson, Ramones, Sex Pistols, Cream and Led Zep. Here's Popa a couple months ago doing "Sweet Goddess" and "Further on Up the Road":




Mellow, soulful singer-songwriter Amos Lee is at The National Wednesday night. General Admission the floor is $33, reserved in the balcony is $43. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener Lauren Talese. You can listen to a Spotify playlist curated by Amos of songs that inspired his new album, "Spirit" HERE. It includes tracks from Wayne Shorter, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Hall & Oates, Al Green, D'Angelo and more. From that album, here's "Vaporize":



Thursday night, American icon Willie Nelson is at Innsbrook After Hours. Gates open at 5, show starts at 6 with opener Aaron Lewis. Tix range from $30 for GA to $45 and $65 for Gold Circle. Here's a track from Willie's new album, "For the Good Times: A Tribute to Ray Price":



Unknown Hinson bring his humorous horror rockabilly (humorhorrorbilly?) to The Broadberry Thursday night. Tix are $20 advance, $23 day of show. Doors open at 7, music starts at 8 PM with opener Chrome Daddy Disco. Here's Unknown with "Venus Bound":




At Gallery5 Thursday night, Future Islands’ William Cashion and Bruce Willen of Double Dagger join together to become Peals. Tix are $12. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers Moss of Aura and Energy 2000. Peals will be celebrating the release of their new album, "Honey". From that album, here's "Become Younger":


Peals "Become Younger" from Friends Records on Vimeo.

The Lumineers are at Classic Amphitheater at Richmond International Raceway on Friday night. Why they don't use that Amphitheater to pull more acts, I do not know. I wish they would pull some of the stuff that the Charlottesville Pavilion gets. Anyway, doors open at 6, show starts at 7. Borns and Rayland Baxter open and make sure you get in early to see them. If you want a preview of the show, their show on Thursday from Cary NC will be webcast live for free HERE. It will start at 8:55 PM. And here's their brand new (just came out today) video for "Angela":



Talking Heads tribute band Fear of Music is at The Broadberry Friday night. Tix are $12 advance, $15 at the door. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with Dalton Dash. Here's one I had never seen before tonight. This is the official video for "Crosseyed & Painless" featuring some early breakdancing.



Ben Folds is at The National on Saturday night. This is a solo tour with just Ben and a piano. Tix are $29.50 advance, $33 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and no opener is listed. Here's Ben's "Capable of Anything":



Monday night, Alice in Chains is at the Altria Theater. Tix range from $59.50 to $75. Show starts at 8 and no opener is listed. Of course, original members Layne Staley (died in 2002) and Mike Starr (who I had a beer with once and unfortunately passed away in 2011) won't be there. But original members, guitarist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Inez (replaced Mike Starr in 1993) along with "new" singer William DuVall (with the band for 10 years now) will perform the old hits along with songs from their later albums with the current lineup. Here's one of my favorite Alice tunes, "Would?":




Whimsical, lyrical folk rock band The Mountain Goats are at The National Monday night. Tix are $20 advance, $23 day of show. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30. No opener is listed, but I believe Oh Pep! may be opening. You can get a free sampler of Mountain Goats and Oh Pep! songs HERE. Last year, The Mountain Goats put out an album of songs about professional wrestling called "Beat the Champ". From that album, this is the excellent song, "The Legend of Chavo Guerrero":




It's a fine emo indie rock show at The National on Tuesday night with good bands from top to bottom. Tix are $19.50 in advance, $25 day of show to see Built to Spill, Hop Along and Alex G. Doors will open at 6:30 and Alex G kicks things off at 7:30. You might dig Built to Spill if you like Dinosaur Jr., Flaming Lips, Sebadoh, Modest Mouse, Ben Folds, Beck, or Wilco. Here's Built to Spill's full show from the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in SF in 2014:



I'll see you out at the Popa Chubby show on Wednesday night. I'll leave you with a little more Willie, performing with the late, great Ray Charles. This one made me smile.



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: Tame Impala

Check out psychedelic rock band Tame Impala on Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight (ABC, 11:35 PM). You might dig Tame Impala if you like Syd Barrett, Cream, Can, Claypool Lennon Delirium, or White Denim. From 2010, this is "Solitude Is Bliss":



Here's DIIV on Last Call with Carson Daly last week:

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Weekend Picks: Purity Ring, Richmond Bluegrass Festival, Car Seat Headrest, Beach Slang, KISS, Titus Andronicus, Long Arms, Big Payback

Friday night finds indie-electro-future pop band Purity Ring at The National. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 with Ki:Theory. Tix are $29.50 but that will also get you into Wizard World Comic Con for free on Saturday. You might dig Purity Ring if you like Bjork, Lykke Li, or Grimes. Here's "bodyache":



Over at Richmond Coliseum on Friday is a little band called KISS. Get there for the fire-breathing, blood spitting, laser shooting, flash potting spectacle that only KISS can provide. Tix range from $25 to $125. Show starts at 8 with openers The Dead Daisies. If you can't get enough KISS, they've just published the first issue of KISS Magazine. Here they are back in '75 on The Midnight Special performing "Black Diamond":




At The Camel Friday night, it's an RVA showcase with indiepunkrockcountryfolktwangpop band Long Arms, Toward Space and Prabir Mehta. Just $7 to get in.  Doors at 8, show at 9. Here's Long Arms getting mellow a couple years ago. But they rock too. Head to the Camel and see for yourself.




Saturday, it's the Richmond Bluegrass Festival 2016 at Hardywood. It's FREE and runs from 2 - 10 PM. The bands will play in this order:

Bring some shade because the music will be outdoors. There will be a bunch of food trucks there to provide yummy vittles, too. Here's The Hot Seats a few years ago doing "Hell & Scissors":




Philly indie punk rock band Beach Slang rolls up to The Camel Saturday night. Beach Slang is fresh back from playing a lot of the big European festivals. Their show at The Camel may be a little smaller but they are gonna own the place and hit you hard in the gut and the heart. Tix are $13 advance, $15 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers Positive No and The Kneads. Beach Slang's new video, "Atom Bomb", just came out today. It's fresh.





It's another free evening concert in Forest Hill Park as part of the summer/fall Music in the Park series. This time, we're gonna get on up with The Big Payback: A Tribute to James Brown. It'll start at 5 and go to 7 and it's FREE. Here's the band a few weeks with the lovely and talented Sam Reed sitting in:



NJ punk rock band Titus Andronicus is at The Camel on Sunday night. Tix are $15. Doors at 7, show at 8, A Giant Dog opens. From last year's "The Most Lamentable Strategy", this is "Dimed Out":



Band with a big buzz Car Seat Headrest drives into The National Monday night. Tix are just $13 advance, $15 day of show. Doors at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 with openers The Lemon Twigs and Gold Connections. They've been selling out a lot of shows on this tour so don't sleep on tickets. They made their TV debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert a couple weeks ago. Here it is:



That'll do it. I'll see you at the Purity Ring show Friday, Big Payback on Sunday and maybe the Bluegrass Fest on Saturday.

Today (9/8) would have been Ron "Pigpen" McKernan's 71st birthday. He was a founding member of the Grateful Dead and also the first member of the band to pass away on 3/8/73. In honor of his birthday, here's a little "Next Time You See Me":



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick: DIIV

Check out Brooklyn shoegaze indie rock band DIIV on Last Call with Carson Daly (1:35 AM, NBC). From their debut album, Oshin, this is "Wait":