Late Night Pick of the Night: Bono

We're going back to Comedy Central tonight for the Late Night Pick of the Night.  This time it's the Daily Show with John Stewart's turn.  Bono from U2 will be on.  Not sure if he'll perform anything.  But he's always interesting and I'll want to see if John will jibe him a little for the Spiderman musical debacle.  I saw a song from the Spiderman musical during the Macy's parade broadcast, you know, when they are killing time the first hour while they wait for the parade to reach Macy's so they show all the Broadway stuff.  It was pretty brutal.  The choreography was ridiculous and the costumes even more so.  The Green Goblin looked like a fat piece of broccoli.  Kraven the Hunter and Carnage looked like they were action figures for three-year-olds. 

The Wailers, Switchfoot, Bonobo, Cotton Jones, Diamond Center, Skydog, No BS! Brass Band

The Wailers get your musical week started Wednesday night at Kingdom.  Tix are $25.  Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers Duane Stephenson, Rollers Rights and The Offset.  Here's The Wailers a couple years ago in St. Petersburg, Russia of all places.  This is "So Much Things to Say":



Also, Wednesday night, at The National, pop-punk-ska band 311 will perform.  Tix are $40, doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with DJ Soulman, then 311 will play two full sets.  Not sure if DJ Soulman will play prior to and/or between 311 sets so I wouldn't get there late, just in case.  Here is a track from their 2009 album, "Uplifter" called "Hey You" (not the Pink Floyd song):



Thursday night, Cotton Jones & Diamond Center will be at The Camel.  Diamond Center, the heavy psychedelic band from Richmond, will open when the show starts at 8:30 (doors open at 7:30).  Cotton plays slightly psychedelic indie folk music.  Well, just listen.  Here's Cotton Jones doing "I Am the Changer" live on Michigan State University radio back in '09:



102.1 The X has their holiday show at The National on Thursday night with Switchfoot, Airborne Toxic Event, Drew Martin & The Limelights, & Against Grace.  Door open at 6:30, show starts at 7, tix are $20 in advance, $23 day of show.  Expect the music to sound like the stuff you typically hear on 102.1 The X.  Here's Switchfoot's latest, "Dark Horses":



At the Canal Club on Thursday, it's soulful chill out electronica night with Bonobo.  Reinhold and Mister Jennings of PLF will open.  Show starts at 9, tix are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.  Here's Bonobo with "The Keeper" featuring Andreya Triana:



Friday night, check out Allman Brothers tribute band Skydog at Cary St. Cafe.  They'll start around 10:30 PM.  I'm not sure about the cover charge but I'm sure it will be minimal.  Here's Skydog live in the studio recorded  in April doing "Ain't Wasting Time No More":



On Saturday night at The Camel, No BS! Brass Band will play with BadMan opening.  Show gets under way at 9:30.  Here's NO BS! playing what appears to be Halloween this year because I don't think they usually dress like that:



If you're in the mood for more brass and more bands be sure to catch the Christmas Parade starting at 10 PM on Saturday right down Broad St.

Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick of the Night: Tinariwen

Tonight we head to The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert for both biting and funny political commentary and the African desert blues band Tinariwen.  Colbert is on at 11:30 PM on Comedy Central and then repeats a lot over the next 24 hours.  Here's Tinariwen with Carlos Santana at the Montreaux Jazz Fest:

Late Night Pick of the Night: Das Racist

Hope you all had a splendid Thanksgiving weekend.  I caught "The Muppets" movie with the family on Sunday and it was excellent, with "Rainbow Connection" still bringing a lump to my throat after all these years.

Tonight, check out the experimental, satirical and funny rap band Das Racist (the name is tongue in cheek) on Conan at 11 PM on TBS. 

Late Night Pick of the Night: Paul Simon

It's Paul Simon week here in Richmond so check out Paul tonight on a repeat of Conan at 11 PM on TBS.  Matthew Broderick is on too. 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Paul Simon, Carbon Leaf, Poston Brown Project

As to be expected, at least in Richmond, it's a slow week for concerts the week of Thanksgiving.  But as with most Thanksgivings, people come back to visit their hometown and homeboys Carbon Leaf are no exception.  They'll do a show at The National on Friday night.  Tix are $15.  Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with openers Say Chance and Scars on 45.  Here's Carbon Leaf performing "The Sea" in Charlottesville earlier this month.



Also on Friday night, Poston Brown Project will perform at Cary St. Cafe.  Show starts at 10 and it's $7 to get in.  As they put it, "We play covers that you like to hear and like to get drunk to."  And they promise to play lots o' Dead since they'll be at Cary St. Cafe.  Here they are doing "Friend of the Devil" at Ashland Coffee & Tea in June:



On Tuesday night, the ageless and perpetually wonderful Paul Simon will be at the Landmark Theater.  The show starts at 7:30 PM.  Tix are $87 and $67 and if you didn't get 'em yet, they are down to "Partial View Seats".  Here's Paul performing "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" in 2000:



For your Thanksgiving weekend listening pleasure, here's 10 seconds from every hit song of the 70's.  This was my AM radio period so it was a nice walk down nostalgia lane for me.  I listened to 1976 - 1979 and was struck by a couple things.  I had forgotten how many hits Barbara Streisand had in that era.  The Bee Gees owned 1977 with seeemingly every other song being by them, written by then or produced by them.  Some people may dismiss disco (I dig it) but it brought a nice bit of funkiness to hit radio.  The absolute MOR whiteness of the 1976 hits was pretty bad.  HERE is the link.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!  I'll see you at "The Muppets" movie this weekend.  It's looking like "The Muppets" may be one of the best reviewed movies in the history of Rotten Tomatoes.  It currently has a 100% Tomatometer score with all 60 critics who have seen it loving it (an average score of 8.1 out of 10).

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick of the Night: Portugal. The Man

A night of repeats on the late night shows for Thanksgiving week.  We'll go with Portugal. The Man (yes, that's how you write it, though I guess he must differentiate himself from Portugal. The Country, especially for internet searches) on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35 AM on NBC and then on repeats the next day on FuseTV.  Also, appearing will be Nirvana producer and Garbage band member, Butch Vig.

Springsteen to tour in '12, Late Night Pick of the Night: M83

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will tour in 2012.  This has been confirmed on Bruce's official web site.  They announced four dates in Europe and said they will be announcing US dates soon. 

Sounds like there will be a new album too.  Interested to hear who will be playing sax instead of Clarence.  I would say “replacing” but no one can replace Clarence.

Tonight's Late Night Pick of the Night is electronica band M83 on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC at 12:35 AM.  Also interested to see the other guests, Jason Segel (talking Muppet movie), Deepak Chopra & Michele Bachmann.  Not sure if Jimmy will interview Ms. Bachmann but even if he did I wouldn't expect much fireworks.  I like Jimmy's humour but he's not the type of guy to ask hard-hitting questions.

Late Night Pick of the Night: Tom Morello w/Ben Harper, 40 Years of Black Sabbath

I usually don't do Leno because I'm not a fan, but the musical choices on late night TV are really slim tonight and this pairing should be a guitar extravaganza.  Tom Morello will be joined by Ben Harper tonight on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35 PM on NBC.

For your Friday viewing pleasure, here's a nice video retrospective of 40 Years of Black Sabbath and their many, many, many lead singer changes.  Click HERE.

Review: Manchester Orchestra, White Denim, Dear Hunter; Late Night Pick of the Night: Vince Gill

A quick review of last night's Manchester Orchestra, White Denim, Dear Hunter show at The National.  Dear Hunter came on first and definitely led the night in beard quality with lead singer Casey Crescenzo's Zach Galafanaikis appearance and bassist Nick Sollecito channeling JEB Stuart's beard.  Dear Hunter featured a relentless (but in a good way) triple guitar attack that gave their songs a psychedelic edge.  Think the last few minutes of The Beatles' "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" which they ended their set with.  I also heard elements of Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket & Smashing Pumpkins.  The keyboardist also added some swirling elements and interesting touches that added depth and variety to the songs.  I enjoyed these guys.

Next up was my find of the night, White Denim from Austin.  I loved these guys.  They had a maximum R&B/blues feel but it wasn't straight-forward blues.  It was the blues was filtered through punk and prog.  The songs were streteched out as if jamming but the sharp rhythm changes could definitely not have been unrehearsed.  However, the tempo changes didn't feel forced.  In my conversation after the show with the bassist, he said they were about 95% rehearsed and about 5% improv, primarily on the solos.  The rhythm section, bassist Steve Terebecki (who, with his thick black-framed glasses, looks like the 12 year old geek from every 80's pre-teen movie) and drummer Joshua Block locked in thunderously, calling to mind The Who at times.  The guitarists, James Petralli & Austin Jenkins, could play clean, classic rock style solos and also fuzzed up, distorted harsh Chicago blues.  Influences that I heard were White Stripes, early Steve Miller Band, Minutement, firehose and maybe even, moe., and they even locked in a groove with an African beat for a while.  I think I asked the bassist two or three times to come back to Richmond when they have a chance and if they do, you are all coming with me to see them.

Finally, the headliner, Manchester Orchestra, who, for me, was the most disappointing band on the bill.  Every tune seemed to follow the same soft/loud/soft/loud pattern with little variation.  While they did that well, the lack of any curve balls (except one humorous slower song which I beleive was about courting a Hollywood actress or perhaps stalking her) led to the show feeling repetitive.  The keyboardist had a second drum kit behind him that he played on occassion nd rather than adding some counterrhythms to the music, he played exactly the same thing as the main drummer, making it louder but not necessarily better.  The crowd was definitely into them the most, headbangin' when the loud parts of the songs came on, but there never seemd to be that explosion when the band and the crowd lock in.  I did enjoy the personable and funny lead singer Andy Hull who kept things light in between songs. 

Tonight's Late Night Pick of the Night is country singer-guitarist Vince Gill on Jimmy Kimmel on ABC at midnight.  Vince will be coming to Richmond soon (12/9 to be exact) for a Christmas concert with his wife, Amy Grant.

Late Night Pick of the Night: Michael Stipe, Kermit & Miss Piggy

Tonight on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Michael Stipe, formerly of REM, will surely discuss the REM breakup.  And also promote REM's new greatest hits album.  It will be interesting to see if he performs a song and whether it will be an REM song or something else.  Also, Kermit & Miss Piggy will be on to promote the much anticipated, at least in my house, new movie, "The Muppets".  And, if that was enough, we get to find out what the hell Martin Short has been up to, because he'll be on the show also.  Late Night is on NBC at 12:35 AM.

Manchester Orchestra, Dear Hunter, White Denim, Barstool Heroes, Peace Beast

Wednesday night at The National is Manchester Orchestra, The Dear Hunter & White Denim.  It's $19 to get in and show starts at 7:30 with White Denim (note that their site says they start at 7, I don't know who to believe! You're tearing me apart!), then Dear Hunter, then MO.  Get there early because all the bands are getting a nice critical buzz. All fall into that broad indie rock category. Comparable bands in parentheses. I haven’t seen any of them live before but just feel the need to see some new music so I think I'm going to the show even though it looks like I'll be flying solo.  Of the people I asked, had a couple doing Daddy duty while moms are away, a couple were still burned out from the Hank3 show on Sunday night, and one at band practice.  Anyway, here are the  influences/similar bands in parentheses if you want to know: Manchester Orchestra (Bright Eyes, Death Cab for Cutie, Nirvana, Weezer, Modest Mouse), The Dear Hunter (Sufjan Stevens but can get louder) & White Denim (Stooges, CCR, MC5, Stones, Yardbirds, Hendrix, White Stripes). If you are heading to the show or want to join me, let me know.  Let's do a video from all three bands.

This is the heavy video for Manchester Orchestra's latest.  It's called "Virgin" and both the video and the music remind somewhat of "Division Bell" era Pink Floyd.  I have no idea what the video means but it left me uneasy.  Which I believe was the intended effect.



Here's the Dear Hunter with "We've Got a Score to Settle" live:



And here's White Denim playing at my senior prom performing "Street Joy". OK, well it's not really my senior prom but it could have been with all the big hair, big shoulder pads/ruffles on the girls dresses' and cheesy mustaches on the guys.  I hope the band wears these tuxes tomorrow.



Big hip-hop show at The National on Thursday night with Curren$y / Method Man / Big KRIT / Smoke DZA / Fiend / The Pricks / Corner Boy P.  Tix are $25 in advance, $28 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8.  Here's Curren$y doing "Elevator Music" ("all we do is ride around and get high to it"):


 And here is some classic Wu-Tang Method Man:

Also Thursday night at The Camel, RVA band Peace Beast and Memphibians (from Jacksonville FL) will perform an early show.  Doors open at 6, show starts at 7.  It's only $3 to get in and you'll be outta there by 9.  Peace Beast is inspired by 60's garage rock.  The Memphibians have a slightly dischordant heavy psychedelic groove going on.  If you want to check out some tunes by the bands, click through on the link above to the event announcement on Facebook.

On Saturday night, you can get your outlaw country on with Barstool Heroes at The Republic.  This is again an early show, which is great news for those of us that like to sleep.  This is the Republic's 2nd anniversary show.  Barstool Heroes comes on at 7 and then DJ Amy Alderman will start at 10:30.  It's FREE to get in so money is no object.  Here's the band doing a Jerry Reed song at Cary St. Cafe earlier this year:



Well it gets late fast in these parts so I'm outta here.  Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick of the Night: Mastodon

Let's get heavy tonight with metal band Mastodon on Last Call with Carson Daly.  Last Call is on at 1:35 AM on NBC.  The Chicago Tribune recently said about Mastodon, "Sometime in the last few years, who knows exactly when, Mastodon became the greatest metal band in the world."

Late Night Pick of the Night: Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones are back with a new album, "Rocket Science" and a new/old member, Harold Levy, who left the band in 92, back on board on harmonica and piano.  Check 'em out tonight on Jimmy Fallon, also featuing Jane Lynch and Ron Howard.  That's on at 12:35 AM on NBC.

Also note that Bela Fleck & The Flecktones will be at University of Richmond on April 22 of next year.

Robert Randolph, Josh Ritter, Hank 3, Joe Bonamassa

Pedal steel guitar player extraordinaire Robert Randolph comes to The National on Friday night with his band, The Family Band.  Robert Randolph is the best guitar player I have seen since Stevie Ray Vaughan and I don't throw SRV's name around lightly.  Tix are $23.  Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener The Bush League.  Though Robert plays mostly original stuff, he still touches on the classics. Here he is with the Family Band doing Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile" at the North Sea Jazz Festival earlier this year:



Saturday night, singer/songwriter Josh Ritter will be at the University of Richmond Camp Concert Hall at the Booker Hall of Music at the Modlin Center for the Arts.  Damn, that's a mouthful.  Tix are sold out but if there are any left or some become available they will be $34 but there are discounts if you are a senior citizen, a kid under 12 or a U of R Employee or Student.  The show starts at 7:30 with opener Sarah Harmer.

Also Saturday at The National, you can check out the Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience.  Jason is, of course, the son of late Zep drummer John Bonahm, and Jason played drums for the Led Zep reunion show that took place a few years ago.  There was an interview with Jason in today's Times-Dispatch and you can check that out HERE.  Tix are $25, doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and it doesn't look like there is an opener.  Here they are doing one of my favorite Led Zep tunes, "Kashmir".  There was a month in high school where every day when I came home from school, the first thing I would do would be to run to my room and crank up "Kashmir" as loud as my little Sears stereo could go.  Note that they are not trying to look like Led Zep as the lead singer has considerably less hair than Robert Plant.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, my bald-headed friends.



At The Republic, local Americana band The Atkinsons will play.  Show starts at 7 with opener Eric Hunter and it's FREE to get in.  The Atkinsons have a new CD, "Mile Marker", out and I'm sure they'll play lots of cuts from it at the show so you can check it out.  Here's The Atkinsons performing "Eileen" at Ashland Coffee & Tea last December:



Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa will be at the Landmark Theater on Sunday night.  The show starts at 8 and there appears to be no opener.  Tix are $51 and $81.  I first saw Joe when he was with a band called Bloodline which featured Joe, drummer Erin Davis (son of Miles), rhythm guitarist Waylon Krieger (son of Robby from the Doors), and Berry Oakley Jr. (son of Berry Oakley from the Allman Brothers).  Joe was all of 17 years old at the time and though technically good, he didn't play with the band as much as play over the band, soloing without much thought for where he fit into things.  I recently saw him on a show on DirecTV and he has matured into a fine blues player, and though he was mostly solo on the show, I could see that he has learned how to play within himself and when to let it all hang out.  Here's Joe doing "So Many Roads" (not the Grateful Dead song) at the Blues Cazorla festival:



Alt-country artist Hank 3 (aka Hank Williams the 3rd) will show all sides of his musical personality when he performs at The National on Sunday night.  Tix are $15 in advance, $20 day of show.  Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and it'll be a whole mess o' Hank 3.  He'll play for 2.5 - 3 hours, starting with a Country set, followed by a louder, Hellbilly set, then finally a set with his new stoner metal / doom band Attention Deficit Domination.  Here's Hank performing in the country segment of the show on 11/8 in Charlotte:



That's the weekend!  Have a good one!

Tony Jordan

Asobi Seksu @ Camel, Late Night Pick of the Night: Feist

Japanese indie rockers Asobi Seksu come to the Camel tonight.  It's $10 to get in, doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with Canary Oh Canary, The Absent Center, and The Trillions.  Asobi Seksu will come on around 11 PM, rock n' roll time.  Asobi Seksu has been compared to some of the 90's shoegazing bands.  Here's their latest video for "Perfectly Crystal", which reminds of The Sundays or Happy Mondays:


Tonight's Late Night Pick of the Night is singer-songwriter Feist on Jimmy Kimmel at midnight on ABC.  Here's Feist performing "Comfort Me" at the Canadian Broadcasting Company 75th Anniversary Celebration last month:

Late Night Pick of the Night: Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie, along with Girl In a Coma (there's two band names that are depressing and oh so emo), will be on Last Call with Carson Daly tonight at 1:35 AM on NBC and repeats the next day on FuseTV. 

Late Night Pick of the Night: Wale

After a day off yesterday (I was sick), we're back with tonight's LNPOTN, critically acclaimed rapper from DC, Wale.  He'll be on Jimmy Kimmel tonight on ABC at midnight. 

Don't forget to vote today!

GWAR Guitarist Corey Smoot Dead, Late Night Pick of the Night: Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, David Lynch DJ Mix

In sad news, GWAR guitarist Corey Smoot aka Flattus Maximus was found dead yesterday on the band's tour bus.  HERE is the story from Rolling Stone.

Tonight's LNPOTN is former Drive-By Truckers guitarist/singer Jason Isbell and his band 400 Unit on Letterman tonight along with Bill Cosby.  Jason wrote some of my favorite DBT songs and he has a new album out "Here We Rest" that's getting some good press.

And for your Friday listening pleasure, HERE is a DJ Mix from director David Lynch, which is not as weird as I thought it would be, though it's quite enjoyable.

Fitz & The Tantrums, Chris Robinson, Ellersoul Records Revue

Things get under way this weekend on Friday night with a blues revue at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center.  The Ellersoul Records Revue will feature music from Marion James, Ivan Appelrouth, Terry Garland, Andy Poxon, Julius Pittman & The Revival, and Lil' Ronnie & The Grand Dukes.  It's $20 to get in, show starts at 8, there is a meet and greet starting at 7 and you'll get a free Ellersoul Revue CD.  You can check out all the bands on the Ellersoul Records site.

You can spend Saturday night with neo-soul/R&B band Fitz & The Tantrums.  They'll be at The National.  Tix are $18 in advance, $20 day of show.  Doors open at 7:30, show starts at 8:30 with opener Walk the Moon.  Here's Fitz & The Tantrums performing "Don't Gotta Work It Out" on Leno in September:



On Sunday night at Strange Matter, you've got a hard rock bill featuring Torche, Part Chimp, The Coathangers and Gritter will perform.  Doors open at 7:30, show starts at 8.  Tix are $12 in advance, $14 day of show.  Make sure you get in early enough to check out all-female garage/punk rockers, The Coathangers.  Here's Torche's oddly endearing video for "UFO" in which a mushy monster attacks LA.



And here's The Coathangers peforming "Sicker":



At Strange Matter on Monday night, Wino, Premonition 13, Gates of Slumber & Windhand will play on a psychedelic metal bill.  Doors open at 8, music starts at 9 and its $12 to get in.   Get there in time to see classic metal sounding (think Sabbath) Premonition 13.  BTW, Wino is the lead singer for Premonition 13.  Here's Premonition 13 doing "La Hechicera de la Jeringa".



On a poppier note, Goo Goo Dolls will be at The National on Monday night.  Tix are $30 in advance, $35 at the door.  Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener Ryan Star.  This is Goo Goo Dolls latest single, "All That You Are".  Yep, sounds like Goo Goo Dolls.

Also on Monday night, classic punk rockers Misfits headline a giant bill at Kingdom, at the site of the old Alley Katz.  Haven't been there yet but from the pictures it looks like they've fixed the place up.  It's $20 to get in on Monday.  Show starts at 5 PM and will go until midnight or so.  On the bill (in order of appearance) Good Mourning Dolly, Far Beyond the Valley, The Loathed, Cimmerian, Point Blank, Juicehead, then Misfits.  Here's Misfits latest, "The Devil's Rain".  It's a fan made video, but it works for me.


Finally, Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes brings the Chris Robinson Brotherhood to Canal Club on Tuesday night.  Tix are $18 in advance, $20 at the door.  Doors open at 7 and it looks like there will not be an opener because it's billed at "An Evening With....".  Here's the band doing "Tumbleweed in Eden" in July in Chicago.



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Best Music of October, Late Night Pick of the Night: Chickenfoot

Metacritic has listed the most critically acclaimed albums of October HERE.  Top rated album of the month?  Empros by instrumental metal band Russian Circles.  I was bummed to see the new Jane's Addiction album in worst reviewed albums of the month.  I'll still go see them on tour if they come close, though, just to see "Three Days" live again.

Tonight's LNPOTN is Chickenfoot on Jimmy Kimmel on ABC at midnight.  Chickenfoot is the "supergroup" made up of Michael Anthony & Sammy Hagar from Van Halen, Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers and Joe Satriani.  While I doubt the music is too deep, it may make for a good time.  They are definitely striking a nerve with their audience as their US tour of theater-size venues is sold out.

Late Night Pick of the Night: Paul Simon

Holy crap!  Conan two nights in a row after not showing up on LNPOTN for months.  Tonight, Conan has Paul Simon who has yet another great album out.  Paul will be at the Landmark on November 29.  There are still some Balcony tickets remaining for the show but get them soon.

Late Night Pick of the Night: Cobra Starship

Slim pickings tonight on late night tv.  We'll go with Cobra Starship on the Conan show at 11 PM on TBS.  One, because Cobra Starship is the best band out there tonight and, two, because we haven't checked out Conan lately.  Conan is not getting bands that are as good as when he was in NY.  After that crazy summer when he was out of work and was very funny on his tour and on the web, I thought and hoped that Conan would come back with the edge he seemed to regain that summer.  But it just didn't happen comedically or musically.  But I haven't watched him in a while so maybe he is getting his mojo back.