Late Night Pick of the Night: Black Keys, GWAR reviews "War Horse", RIP Ralph McDonald, More free Xmas mashups

Tonight's Late Night Pick of the Night is a repeat of The Black Keys on The Colbert Report.  Colbert is on at 11:30 PM on Comedy Central, then rebroadcast throughout the next day.

GWAR is now branching out to do movie reviews.  Here Oderus Urungus and Balsac the Jaws of Death review the new Steven Spielberg movie "War Horse".

Songwriter ("Just the Two of Us", "Where is the Love?") and percussionist Ralph MacDonald has passed away at the age of 67.  Read his obit HERE.  This guy played on a whole lot of major albums in the 70s, including "Saturday Night Fever", Bowie's "Young Americans", and with George Benson, Jimmy Buffett, Harry Belafonte, Bee Gees, Billy Joel and many others.  Read his full discography HERE and prepare to be impressed.  As far as solo work, he is probably best known for "Calypso Breakdown" from "Saturday Night Fever"


Finally, Juan Rapido of Radio Valencia in San Francisco has turned me onto some more Christmas mashups.  HERE is a link to dj BC's "Santastic" series.

The Congress, Furthur, People's Blues of Richmond, Keller Williams, New Year's Eve

We are going to cover up through New Year's Eve because (1) there isn't a lot going on in the clubs what with that Christmas thing happening and (2) we've got family coming in next week so I don't know if I'll get to this because I'll be (a) entertaining guests, (b) getting drunk, or (c) a & b.

Friday night (12/23), The Congress, DJ Williams Projekt, and Murphy's Kids will be at The National.  BTW, The National brightened up their web site and I like it.  The show starts at 7 and tix are $15.  The Congress have a real classic rock sound.  Think The Band, James Gang, and the Black Crowes, Here is The Congress doing "Reisen" at their show in Denver in October:

If you are at home on Friday night and you likes you some Grateful Dead, check out the rebroadcast of the Furthur show from June on the TRI Studios website.  It will run at 7 PM ET and then again at 10 PM ET.  Here's the setlist.  One Set: Playin’ In The Band > Crazy Fingers > Jack Straw, Brown-Eyed Women, Big Bad Blues, The Wheel > Unbroken Chain> The Other One> Uncle Johns Band > Lady With A Fan > Terrapin Station > Terrapin Transit > At a Siding > Terrapin Flyer > Terrapin Refrain, Black Peter, Mountain Song > I Know You Rider

Post-Christmas, you can check out People's Blues of Richmond and THINK! at The Camel on Monday (12/26).  The bands will play alternating sets starting at 10 PM and it's $5 to get in.  The band also says that the first one to vomit gets a free shot on the band.  You'll dig these guys if you like drinkin', Led Zep, Canned Heat, or Col. Bruce Hampton. Here's PBR doing "Nihilist Blues":



On Thursday (12/29), Keller Williams is doing two shows at The National.  The first show is a Kids show at 2:30 PM.  Get there early to get in the interactive drum circle and bang away with Keller.  Keller has innocent, funny lyrics in his "adult" songs and always like audience participation so I can see his talents lending themselves well to kids songs and shows.  Tix are $17.  I may try and hit this one up with the kids, depending on what they want to do and what visiting relatives and their kids want to do.  Here's a little video about Keller and his kids show:



Then, Keller does a show with the electro-funk band Pimps of Joytime later that night.  Doors open at 8, show starts at 9.  Tix are $18 in advance and $21 at the door.  No opener so get there on time.  There is going to be three sets, one set of K-Dubalicious (reggae), one set of The Pimps Of Joytime followed by a loopy dance set by Keller.  I couldn't find any videos of Keller with Pimps of Joytime so I figured I'd get one of the Pimps videos and then you can just imagine Keller playing with them.  I think you can hear that they'll fit well together.



Keller records on the SCI Fidelity label and you can download a free SCI Fidelity sampler featuring Keller, String Cheese Incident, Lotus, EOTO, Emmitt-Nershi Band, and Younger Brother HERE.

Got a few shows on New Year's Eve.

There is the 4th Annual Rhythm & Roots Party with Jackass Flats, A Good Natured Riot and the Green Boys at The Camel.  This is where you'll go if you want bluegrass and Americana.  It'll start at 8 PM and tix are $20.

Then you've got your Three Sheets to the Wind show at The National.  This is where you'll go if you want to ring in the new year like it was 1979 with the smooth, yacht rock sounds of Three Sheets, and Members Only, the 80's cover band.  Tix are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.  Show starts at 8.

If you want the Dead, check out King Solomon's Marbles, the Grateful Dead cover band at Cary St. Cafe.  Show will start at 10 PM and cover is $10 which includes party favors and a midnight toast.

For those of you who still need dinner ideas for the holidays, let's consult the Vegan Black Metal Chef and his recipe for Holiday Hell Roast.  Thanks to Justin for showing me this one.



I'll check in with a Late Night Pick of the Night tomorrow and then you probably won't hear from me until next year.

Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Joyous Winter Solstice, and a Happy and Rockin' New Year!

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick of the Night: Kylesa

Tonight, have your mind blown by heavy psychedelic band Kylesa on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35 AM on NBC.  Carson will be showing two Kylesa songs from their show at the Troubadour in LA this past September.

Late Night Pick of the Night: Mariachi El Bronx

Tonight, check out updated mariachi music from Mariachi El Bronx on Letterman at 11:35 PM on CBS. I saw these guys on one of the festival webcasts and while they wear the mariachi costumes, they are definitely not your average mariachi band that you find flitting from table to table in fancier Mexican restaurants.  They inject the mariachi with some punk attitude.

Late Night Pick of the Night: Mastodon, Beach Boys reunion tour

Tonight's Late Night Pick is heavy metal band, Mastodon, on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35 AM on NBC and then repeats the next day on FuseTV.  Their latest album "The Hunter" was metal magazine Kerrang's top album of the year for 2011.

Also, the Beach Boys announced they will do a 50 show reunion tour for their 50th anniversary.  That's all of them together including Brian Wilson.  This tour intrigues me for a few reasons.  One, after years of acrimony and lawsuits, will they be able to stand each other for 50 shows?  Two, will they sound good and will the new music they are promising be any good?  Three, where will they set ticket prices and what demand will there be?  They haven't announced the dates yet, but it's a 50 date international tour so I wouldn't expect to see them at Innsbrook this year.

Late Night Pick of the Night: Gary Clark Jr.

Been hearing a lot about blues guitarist Gary Clark Jr. from people that have seen and it's all been good.  The Washington Post declared he is poised to be a breakout star in 2012.   Check him out tonight on Letterman at 11:35 PM on CBS.

Gary will be on NPR today live at noon.  Here's the info: "Friday the 16th, Gary Clark Jr will be performing as part of the WXPN Free at Noon concert series. Tune in to the live broadcast at 12pm ET on WXPN Philadelphia at 88.5, your local NPR station that carries World Cafe or listen online at NPR.org!"  If you miss it, they usually archive those on NPR.org so you should be able to find it there.

Late Night Pick of the Night: Dawes, FloydFest 2012 lineup

Folk-rockers Dawes will be on Conan tonight at 11 PM on TBS.  Dawes just announced that they'll be playing FloydFest here in Virginia in 2012.  FloydFest will go down this year July 26 - 29.  Looks like a pretty good lineup for FloydFest in 2012.  Besides Dawes, they've got Allison Krauss & Union Station, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Brandi Carlilie, Leftover Salmon, Bruce Hornsby, Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush, Galactic, Gary Clark Jr., Toubab Krewe, Anders Osborne, Hoots & Hellmouth, and more.  Anyone want to go?

Atlas Sound, Woods, Diamond Center, Hamaganza, Jason Mraz, Susan Greenbaum,

If you are going to go out and see some music, this is the weekend to do it because after this weekend, things appear to dry up for at least the next month.  All our little rock n' roll friends go home to their families, wish for new guitars from Santa, play New Year's Eve shows everywhere but Richmond, and then settle in for a long winter's nap, emerging from hibernation sometime in the spring to play a few gigs to get their shit together before they play all the summer festivals.

We begin on Thursday night at The National with Atlas Sound, the solo project for Deerhunter front man, Bradford Cox.  Tix are just $15, doors open at 7 and the show starts at 8 with openers Frank Broyles and then, Carnivores.  You'll probably dig Atlas Sound if you like spacey, experimental rock like Sigur Ros, Velvet Underground, Bjork, Brian Eno, Leonard Cohen, and Suicide.  Here's Atlas Sound with "Quick Canal":

On Friday night, the big show (and you know it's a big show because I'll be going, said the humble narrator) is Woods, MMoss, and The Diamond Center at Strange Matter.  It's $10 to get in, doors open at 9:30, show starts at 10 with The Diamond Center and make sure you get there in time to see them.  Woods has a good critical buzz and is low-fi indie folk-pop. Think Grateful Dead, Kinks, Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst). I would classify Mmoss & Diamond Center as heavier, psychedelic garage rock. Think electrified folk, early Dead, Airplane and Pink Floyd; Velvet Underground; Neko Case; Nick Cave; Sonic Youth.  Here's Woods, "To Clean":


and here's The Diamond Center, "20 Twin":



If you are in a giving mood on Friday, No BS! Brass Band will be having their 3rd Annual Food & Coat Drive at The Camel.  Bring 2 canned food items for a $2 discount on the cover charge which is $7.  Show starts at 9 PM.  Here's the band playing "I Ain't Even Gonna Call Ya" in Birmingham AL in 2010:

Also, Friday night the annual Hamaganza begins.  You'll find Hamaganza at Balliceaux for the Opening Night Show on Friday night (starts at 9 PM) and then the Main Event show will be at Capital Ale House downtown on Saturday (starts at 9 PM).  As always, the festivities are led by the Richmond's favorite large transvestite, Dirtwoman.  If you've never been to one of these, expect the unexpected.  You may see rock bands, jugglers, whistlers, city council members,  you just never know.  It's free admission if you bring a ham or you can give a suggested donation of $10 at the door.  Money and ham all go to the Central VA Food Bank.

Monday night, hometown boy Jason Mraz will perform a special acoustic show at the Carpenter Theater to benefit SPARC, the School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community, which I believe he was a member of when he was young.  Tickets run $35, $100 (VIP), and $150 (Gold Circle).  A little pricey but this is a benefit so the money is going to a good place.  Jason and Toca Rivera (who will perform with him on Monday) have been travelling the world, performing and filming the journey.  Here's a little glimpse of their visit to Manila, Phillipines where they helped out a charity that fights human exploitation and  human trafficking.  Keep up the good works, Jason!



Finally, Susan Greenbaum will be doing an acoustic show at Ashland Coffee & Tea on Wednesday night.  The Ashland Coffee & Tea site is not working as I write this so check it later or check Susan's Facebook page laer to see the time and cover charge.  I would guess 7 PM for the start and if that's too early, well, then have an extra coffee or tea while you wait.  Cover charge, I'll go $10 or less.  Don't hold me to that though.  Here's Susan at the Carpenter Center in November of this year:



I'm outta here.  See you at the Woods, MMoss, Diamond Center show on Friday night.  Let me know if you are going.

Tony Jordan

Late Night Pick of the Night: Deer Tick

Deer Tick (good band, horrible band name) will be on Conan tonight.  Wait, I just got an image of a giant deer tick attached to Conan and getting bloated with his late night TV host blood.  Gross.  Anyway, Conan is on at 11 PM on TBS.

Free Xmas Music, Late Night Pick of the Night: Wild Flag

Some FREE Christmas music to download:

 - Check out DJ Riko's latest Merry Mixmas Christmas mashup along with all the ones he made going back to 2002.  That's here: http://www.djriko.com/mixmases.htm
 - Paste Magazine has 40 new Christmas tracks from bands like Deer Tick, Fitz & The Tantrums, Polyphonic Spree, She & Him, Woods, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Shelby Lynne, moe., Keb Mo, and more.  You can stream it or download it in 2 easy chunks HERE.

Tonight on David Letterman, check out my latest favorite band, Wild Flag.  Dave's on CBS at 11:35 PM.  Wild Flag's debut album is making all sorts of top albums of 2011 lists. 

Late Night Pick of the Night: Manchester Orchestra

Somewhat slim pickings tonight so we'll go with a repeat of Last Call with Carson Daly with Manchester Orchestra.  Last Call is on NBC at 1:35 AM and then repeated on FuseTV a few times the next day.  If you are a Man O fan you may want to send them you singing along with the chorus of their song "Virgins".  They will then mix all the submissions into one big mighty chorus behind them.  Check the link to their site above for details.

Late Night Pick of the Night: M83

Watch electronic pop artist M83 on Last Call with Carson Daly tonight at 1:35 AM on NBC.  You can also catch repeats a few times the next day on FuseTV.

Delbert McClinton, Ghost of Pop Fest, The Atkinsons, No BS! Brass Band, Gene Gene the Dancing Machine

We are easing toward the holidays or rushing depending on what you are doing at the moment.  Friday night, The Atkinsons will be at Poe's Pub.  Show starts at 9 and cover is $5.  I feel obligated to mention that because (1) The Atkinsons are a fine local Americana band and (2) I didn't contribute as much $ as I usually do to Poe's this NFL season.  Since I moved here in 2000, Poe's has been my place to go to see the Eagles when the game is not carried over our local airwaves.  We get enough Eagles games on TV that for the $25 it costs me in beer and food to go to Poe's for a game it still comes out cheaper than buying the NFL ticket on the satellite.  But the Eagles haven't been any good this year so I haven't had the urge to blow $25and a Sunday afternoon and have my blood pressure rise watching them suck mightily.  So Poe's, I'll be back next year.  In the meantime, go check out some music there.  Here's the Atkinsons performing "No Ordinary Home" at WRIR Studios in May:

Also on Friday night, No BS! Brass Band will be at Balliceaux.  It's free to get in and the show starts at 10:30.  Saw the band on the Richmond Flying Squirrels float during the Christmas Parade and even though we were all the way at the end of the parade, they were still rockin'.  Here is their latest video for "Dr. Wily" in which they keep Richmond safe from robots:



Blues man Delbert McClinton will be at The National on Saturday night.  Tix range from $20 (general admission) to $30 (reserved).  Door open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener Barrelhouse.  Had to use this clip only because I don't think Delbert will have the Solid Gold dancers with him on Saturday night.  Delbert seems slightly uncomfortable with the whole Solid Gold format.

Also on Saturday night, the Ghost of Pop Festival will go down at Gallery 5.  It's only $5 to get in, the show starts at 7:30 and you'll see Richmond bands My Old Ways, Young Adult Fiction, The Trillions, Goldrush, Kid Is Qual, and The Druthers.  For descriptions of the bands, check out Andrew Cothern's The Richmond Playlist blog on the River City Rapids site since that's where I found out about the show.

It's too early for Christmas music at least for me.  I can't start listening to that until about a week before Christmas or I'll get sooooo tired of it.  So let's have the only man cooler than Santa Claus...who's that?  Oh my God....can it be?    YES!  That must be Gene......Gene.....The Dancing Machine!!!



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Best Debut Albums of 2011, Dobie Gray Drifts Away (RIP), Late Night Pick of the Night: Chevelle

Metacritic has a list of the Top Critically Rated Debut Albums of 2011.  A little something for all music fans in there.  I can personally attest to the fun that is the Wild Flag album, which I have been grooving on lately. 

Dobie Gray of "Drift Away" and "The In-Crowd" fame passed away at 71 on 12/6.  I didn't know that his stage came from Sonny Bono and was inspired by one of my favorite sitcoms of all-time, "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis".  Read the full obit HERE.

Finally, check out alternative metal band Chevelle tonight on Jimmy Kimmel at midnight on ABC.

Late Night Pick of the Night: Black Keys, Shonna leaves Drive-By Truckers, RIP Hubert Sumlin

Toinight's late night pick is The Black Keys who will be on the Colbet Report tonight at 11:30 PM on Comedy Central and then repeated a few times over the next 24 hours.  I'm sure the Black Keys will play something from their new, critically acclaimed album "El Camino".  They did a fine job on Saturday Night Live last week.

In Drive-By Truckers news, bassist Shonna Tucker has left the band.  She had been in DBT for the last eight years.  Click HERE for notes from her and band leader, Patterson Hood.  Shonna was starting to come into her own in DBT, taking lead vocals and lead writing credits on a few songs on the last few albums.  Perhaps she wanted to do more of that and decided to strike out on her own.  I'll miss her bass playing, harmonies and her cute butt.

One of the top 100 guitarists of all time in a recent Rolling Stone poll of musicians has passed away.  Hubert Sumlin, who played with Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters and influenced Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards and many others, died at 80 years old on Sunday.  Read the obit in Rolling Stone HERE.

Late Night Pick of the Night: Ryan Adams, Ryan Adams webcast, The Angriest Guitar Player Ever

Tonight alt-country troubadour Ryan Adams will be on Letterman at 11:35 PM on CBS.  Also, on Jonah Hill, talking about the new movie "The Sitter", and the very sexy Kristen Johnston.   There will also be a Ryan Adams concert webcast live from Letterman's Ed Sullivan Theater starting tonight at 8 PM.  Click the Letterman link above to get there.

Here is the Angriest Guitar Player in the World, courtesy of my friend, Tony Schott.  If you are in the South Jersey area, be on the lookout for the Tony Schott Band.  He plays much better than this guy.  BTW, beware if you watch this at work.  There is much cursing, though it's in a British accent so just tell people you are watching the latest BBC documentary and that it's OK because you are getting some culture:

Late Night Pick of the Night: Shelby Lynne, Mojo Magazine Top 50 Albums of 2011

Tonight, Americana singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne will be on the Tavis Smiley show on PBS.  Check your local listings for the time because it varies. 

Also, Mojo Magazine released it's list of Top 50 Albums of 2011 today.  I was happy to see my new favorite White Denim come in at #6 for their album "D".  And my old favorite, Drive-By Truckers (who may be coming to The National soon) also made the list for "Go-Go Boots".

Late Night Pick of the Night: Cee-Lo Green, Best New Music of November

Tonight watch 2011 Soul Train Music Awards Best Male R&B/Soul Artist Cee-Lo Green, whose "F**k You" song gets chickened up in the latest Muppets movie.  He'll be on Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35 AM on NBC, then repeated a few times the next day on FuseTV.  As an added bonus, indie country rockers Delta Spirit will also be on the show.

Check out the most critically acclaimed music of the last month on Metacritic's Best New Music of November article.  Best of November: Sepalcure by Sepalcure.  Metacritic is also collecting and compling the Music Critics Top 10 Lists HERE.  With six magazines/web sites reporting so far, the current leader is Let England Shake by PJ Harvey.