Apparently, Sammy believes this. Which explains a lot. I believe the aliens told him, “Drink lots of tequila”. Maybe the aliens are giant agave worms from Alpha Centauri. All I know is between this and the drunk EVH stories, I really want to read his new book.
http://io9.com/#!5784143/van-halens-sammy-hagar-was-abducted-by-aliens
Monday, March 21, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Torche, Post Teen, Worn In Red @ Strange Matter
See the story below for some shows announced for Innsbrook this summer.
This weekend, head to Strange Matter on Friday night for Torche, Post Teen, Worn In Red, and The Catalyst. Doors open at 9, tix are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Torche falls under the stoner metal category and they've been getting some good reviews. And stoner metal doesn't mean ponderous and depressing as evidenced by this video for "Across the Shields":
That's about it this week. I guess the clubs are expecting everyone to be nursing hangovers from St. Patty's Day all weekend. Let's hit up the next video on the 25 Best Music Videos of 2010 from Paste Magazine. Tonight its Yeasayer with 'O.N.E.". I did kind of dig the 80's disco vibe of the song but I didn't think the video was all that great since it too has an 80's disco kind of vibe that was best left in the 80's. There is a cool payoff moment about 3:27 in but that's a long way to go for a 10 second effect. You be the judge.
On to the other list we are following, the Moviefone Best Music Scenes in Movies list. This one is a classic from a classic rock movie, "Sid & Nancy", the story of Sid Vicious (played by Gary Oldman) and his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen ("Siiiiiiiiiiid!"). This is the final scene with Sid putting his own punk twist on the crooner classic, "My Way". Hard to believe Gary Oldman would one day play Commissioner Gordon in the latest Batman flicks when watching this. He really channels Sid as the true wasted f**k-up he was.
That's it. Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day! Where's my green beer?
Tony Jordan
This weekend, head to Strange Matter on Friday night for Torche, Post Teen, Worn In Red, and The Catalyst. Doors open at 9, tix are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Torche falls under the stoner metal category and they've been getting some good reviews. And stoner metal doesn't mean ponderous and depressing as evidenced by this video for "Across the Shields":
That's about it this week. I guess the clubs are expecting everyone to be nursing hangovers from St. Patty's Day all weekend. Let's hit up the next video on the 25 Best Music Videos of 2010 from Paste Magazine. Tonight its Yeasayer with 'O.N.E.". I did kind of dig the 80's disco vibe of the song but I didn't think the video was all that great since it too has an 80's disco kind of vibe that was best left in the 80's. There is a cool payoff moment about 3:27 in but that's a long way to go for a 10 second effect. You be the judge.
On to the other list we are following, the Moviefone Best Music Scenes in Movies list. This one is a classic from a classic rock movie, "Sid & Nancy", the story of Sid Vicious (played by Gary Oldman) and his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen ("Siiiiiiiiiiid!"). This is the final scene with Sid putting his own punk twist on the crooner classic, "My Way". Hard to believe Gary Oldman would one day play Commissioner Gordon in the latest Batman flicks when watching this. He really channels Sid as the true wasted f**k-up he was.
That's it. Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day! Where's my green beer?
Tony Jordan
First Innsbrook shows announced
Innsbrook After Hours announced their first few shows and it is their usual line-up of classic rock and country artists. So far, here's what we've got:
Thursday, 4/28- Lynyrd Skynyrd or more accurately the one guy left (Gary Rossington) from the original band with a bunch of other guys who play Lynyrnd Skynyrd music including material from their last album "God & Guns" that will be sure to excite the Sarah Palin/Tea Party crowd. Do they play "Saturday Night Special" too and aren't those two songs contradictory?
Wednesday, 5/4- Stone Temple Pilots - if Scott Weiland doesn't end up on rehab again. Or perhaps hope he doesn't and then maybe you'll get to see one of his classic meltdowns at Innsbrook.
Wednesday, 6/1 - Travis Tritt
Wednesday, 6/8 - The Monkees (Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork) - as far as classic rock reunuions go, three out of four ain't bad. That's a better orignial member percentage than Skynyrd.
Wednesday, 7/20 - Elvis Costello & The Imposters
For ticket info go HERE.
Thursday, 4/28- Lynyrd Skynyrd or more accurately the one guy left (Gary Rossington) from the original band with a bunch of other guys who play Lynyrnd Skynyrd music including material from their last album "God & Guns" that will be sure to excite the Sarah Palin/Tea Party crowd. Do they play "Saturday Night Special" too and aren't those two songs contradictory?
Wednesday, 5/4- Stone Temple Pilots - if Scott Weiland doesn't end up on rehab again. Or perhaps hope he doesn't and then maybe you'll get to see one of his classic meltdowns at Innsbrook.
Wednesday, 6/1 - Travis Tritt
Wednesday, 6/8 - The Monkees (Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork) - as far as classic rock reunuions go, three out of four ain't bad. That's a better orignial member percentage than Skynyrd.
Wednesday, 7/20 - Elvis Costello & The Imposters
For ticket info go HERE.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tix on sale for Neil Young at the Landmark
I forgot to mention in my blog last night that tix for Neil Young at the Landmark Theater go on sale Friday at 10 AM. Neil will be solo, playing both acoustic and electric. Opener will be Bert Jansch.
Tickets are available at the Landmark Theater Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets including Stony Point Fashion Park, Regency Square Mall and participating Martin's and Macy's, charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. Here is the breakdown of ticket prices:
ORCHESTRA PIT
US $200.00 Ticket + US $17.60 Fees = US $217.60
ORCHESTRA
US $55 - US $200.00
US $55.00 Ticket + US $11.60 Fees = US $66.60
US $200.00 Ticket + US $17.60 Fees = US $217.60
BOX ROW A-G (1-7 ROWS)
US $150.00 Ticket + US $16.35 Fees = US $166.35
GRAND TIER (FIRST LEVEL ABOVE THE FLOOR)
US $125.00 Ticket + US $15.70 Fees = US $140.70
BALCONY (SECOND LEVEL ABOVE THE FLOOR)
US $55.00 Ticket + US $11.60 Fees = US $66.60
I love Neil and he is one of the all-time greats but at these prices I'll have to pass this one by. Maybe I can win some tickets.
Here is the press blurb on the Landmark Theater site:
"Legendary rocker Neil Young will cover songs from his current acclaimed album, Le Noise, as well as classic tracks performed in both electric and acoustic settings. Young recently won his second-ever Grammy Award for “Best Rock Song” for “Angry World” — a track off Le Noise, which was also nominated for “Best Rock Album.”
The eight-song Le Noise, among Young’s most critically-embraced albums, is a collaboration between the acclaimed rock icon and musician, songwriter, and multiple Grammy Award-winning producer Daniel Lanois, known for his work with U2, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, The Neville Brothers and many others. Le Noise was released by Reprise Records on September 28th, 2010."
Tickets are available at the Landmark Theater Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets including Stony Point Fashion Park, Regency Square Mall and participating Martin's and Macy's, charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. Here is the breakdown of ticket prices:
ORCHESTRA PIT
US $200.00 Ticket + US $17.60 Fees = US $217.60
ORCHESTRA
US $55 - US $200.00
US $55.00 Ticket + US $11.60 Fees = US $66.60
US $200.00 Ticket + US $17.60 Fees = US $217.60
BOX ROW A-G (1-7 ROWS)
US $150.00 Ticket + US $16.35 Fees = US $166.35
GRAND TIER (FIRST LEVEL ABOVE THE FLOOR)
US $125.00 Ticket + US $15.70 Fees = US $140.70
BALCONY (SECOND LEVEL ABOVE THE FLOOR)
US $55.00 Ticket + US $11.60 Fees = US $66.60
I love Neil and he is one of the all-time greats but at these prices I'll have to pass this one by. Maybe I can win some tickets.
Here is the press blurb on the Landmark Theater site:
"Legendary rocker Neil Young will cover songs from his current acclaimed album, Le Noise, as well as classic tracks performed in both electric and acoustic settings. Young recently won his second-ever Grammy Award for “Best Rock Song” for “Angry World” — a track off Le Noise, which was also nominated for “Best Rock Album.”
The eight-song Le Noise, among Young’s most critically-embraced albums, is a collaboration between the acclaimed rock icon and musician, songwriter, and multiple Grammy Award-winning producer Daniel Lanois, known for his work with U2, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, The Neville Brothers and many others. Le Noise was released by Reprise Records on September 28th, 2010."
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Shamrock the Block, Vetiver, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion
Want to start this week with excerpts from Sammy Hagar's new autobiography printed in Rolling Stone (click HERE). On their last tour together in Van Halen in 2004, Eddie Van Halen apparently turned into a crazy, raving, lunatic alcoholic. When you read some of these excerpts, its amazing that EVH didn't kill himself or someone else. Hopefully, the dude is better now.
In some sad news, Mike Starr, the original bass player for Alice in Chains, died of unknown causes at the age of 44 (click HERE for full story). Back in my radio days in the early 90s, I hung out with Mike for about an hour backstage at the Ozzy/Alice In Chains/Motorhead show. I can't say I knew him well but he seemed like a real down to earth, cool guy in that short time, with no rock star diva b.s. Though they don't know how he died, at least until they do tests, he did have drug issues and was recently on Celebrity Rehab on some station or another. Its sad to see drugs kill a band that was very originial and led the way for the Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Here's one for Mike:
On to this week here in Richmond. Saturday from noon to 6 PM on what looks to be a nice day weather-wise, Shamrock the Block takes place down in Shockoe Bottom. Its FREE to get in. They say they have expanded the kids area this year to entice more families to come down. Band lineup is made up of local bands. Here is the schedule:
12:00p - 12:45p Uisce Beatha (celtic rock/pub music)
1:00p - 2:00p Highway Saints (rock)
2:15p - 3:15p Trongone Band (classic rock covers)
3:45p - 4:45p Age of Excess (80's hair covers)
5:00p - 6:00p Bayside (new rock)
You'll find a good indie folky/Americana show at The Camel on Saturday night w/ Vetiver, Sarah Lee Guthrie (daughter of Arlo, granddaughter of Woody) & Johnny Irion, and the Mason Brothers. Tix are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Show starts at 8, doors at 7. You might dig these bands if you like Joanna Newsom, Grateful Dead, Townes Van Zandt, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Black Crowes, Gram Parsons or Neil Young. They should all be mixing and matching together. Here are Sarah Lee & Johnny backed by Vetiver on the Last Call with Carson Daly show. BTW, the Carson Daly show has been having some really great music on the show. I do hate the jumpy camera work on the show, especially during the interviews, but he is really good about having new bands on the show. Anyway, here's the clip:
That's about it this week. A little slim but as the weather gets warmer those bands start to tour and things will pick up.
Here is the next clip from Paste Magazine's 25 Best Music Videos of 2010. This video answers a question I am sure we have all asked ourselves, "What if Hot Chip were a boy band (they're not) and a weird messiah-like alien showed up at their concert and they challenged the alien to a dance-off?" I don't know what it means but the boy band gets what they deserve.
In our next continuing list, Moviefone has listed the 50 Best Music Scenes in Movies. Here are their two rules for the list:
"No musicals allowed!
As much as we like 'The Sound of Music' and 'An American in Paris,' the musical numbers in those films are a completely different breed of animal than, say, the parade scene from 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off.' Both have their places, but this list is all about the latter.
No "scored" scenes!
We love a good soundtrack as much as anyone, but for this list we considered only those scenes in which the music -- whether emanating from an onscreen band, a boombox, a disco's sound system, the mouths of the characters, etc. -- is part of the action. (Film nerds refer to scenes like this as being "diegetic." Non-nerds, you just learned something.) This explains, for instance, the absence of movies with killer, primarily non-diegetic soundtracks, such as 'Rushmore' and 'The Graduate.'"
I'm not going to do all 50 because some I just may not like. But as a movie fan I always like when good music plays an integral part in a movie. I just (finally) watched "Inglourious Basterds" and loved the use of Bowie's "Cat People". Musically and lyrically, it was perfect. In the Moviefone list they also include one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies "Boogie Nights", the "drug deal gone bad" scene.
We begin tonight with #49, one of the last good moments for our heroes in "The Deer Hunter" before war tears their lives apart. And really, any scene with Christopher Walken dancing has got to be good:
(Had trouble embedding the video so click HERE to view it.)
And on that note, I'm outta here. Have a great weekend!
Tony Jordan
In some sad news, Mike Starr, the original bass player for Alice in Chains, died of unknown causes at the age of 44 (click HERE for full story). Back in my radio days in the early 90s, I hung out with Mike for about an hour backstage at the Ozzy/Alice In Chains/Motorhead show. I can't say I knew him well but he seemed like a real down to earth, cool guy in that short time, with no rock star diva b.s. Though they don't know how he died, at least until they do tests, he did have drug issues and was recently on Celebrity Rehab on some station or another. Its sad to see drugs kill a band that was very originial and led the way for the Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Here's one for Mike:
On to this week here in Richmond. Saturday from noon to 6 PM on what looks to be a nice day weather-wise, Shamrock the Block takes place down in Shockoe Bottom. Its FREE to get in. They say they have expanded the kids area this year to entice more families to come down. Band lineup is made up of local bands. Here is the schedule:
12:00p - 12:45p Uisce Beatha (celtic rock/pub music)
1:00p - 2:00p Highway Saints (rock)
2:15p - 3:15p Trongone Band (classic rock covers)
3:45p - 4:45p Age of Excess (80's hair covers)
5:00p - 6:00p Bayside (new rock)
You'll find a good indie folky/Americana show at The Camel on Saturday night w/ Vetiver, Sarah Lee Guthrie (daughter of Arlo, granddaughter of Woody) & Johnny Irion, and the Mason Brothers. Tix are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Show starts at 8, doors at 7. You might dig these bands if you like Joanna Newsom, Grateful Dead, Townes Van Zandt, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Black Crowes, Gram Parsons or Neil Young. They should all be mixing and matching together. Here are Sarah Lee & Johnny backed by Vetiver on the Last Call with Carson Daly show. BTW, the Carson Daly show has been having some really great music on the show. I do hate the jumpy camera work on the show, especially during the interviews, but he is really good about having new bands on the show. Anyway, here's the clip:
That's about it this week. A little slim but as the weather gets warmer those bands start to tour and things will pick up.
Here is the next clip from Paste Magazine's 25 Best Music Videos of 2010. This video answers a question I am sure we have all asked ourselves, "What if Hot Chip were a boy band (they're not) and a weird messiah-like alien showed up at their concert and they challenged the alien to a dance-off?" I don't know what it means but the boy band gets what they deserve.
In our next continuing list, Moviefone has listed the 50 Best Music Scenes in Movies. Here are their two rules for the list:
"No musicals allowed!
As much as we like 'The Sound of Music' and 'An American in Paris,' the musical numbers in those films are a completely different breed of animal than, say, the parade scene from 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off.' Both have their places, but this list is all about the latter.
No "scored" scenes!
We love a good soundtrack as much as anyone, but for this list we considered only those scenes in which the music -- whether emanating from an onscreen band, a boombox, a disco's sound system, the mouths of the characters, etc. -- is part of the action. (Film nerds refer to scenes like this as being "diegetic." Non-nerds, you just learned something.) This explains, for instance, the absence of movies with killer, primarily non-diegetic soundtracks, such as 'Rushmore' and 'The Graduate.'"
I'm not going to do all 50 because some I just may not like. But as a movie fan I always like when good music plays an integral part in a movie. I just (finally) watched "Inglourious Basterds" and loved the use of Bowie's "Cat People". Musically and lyrically, it was perfect. In the Moviefone list they also include one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies "Boogie Nights", the "drug deal gone bad" scene.
We begin tonight with #49, one of the last good moments for our heroes in "The Deer Hunter" before war tears their lives apart. And really, any scene with Christopher Walken dancing has got to be good:
(Had trouble embedding the video so click HERE to view it.)
And on that note, I'm outta here. Have a great weekend!
Tony Jordan
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Friday Cheers '11 schedule, Yarn, Dark Star Orchestra, Bright Eyes, Ty Segall
The Friday Cheers schedule was announced today and I'm really digging it. Here is the full lineup. Remember it will cost you $5 or $10 to get in this year, depending on the show, but I think that should be worth it as they got some good quality acts and it should cut down on the number of people who feel the need to talk up near the band. We will, of course, cover each band in depth when we get to that week.
5/6 - Carbon Leaf w/Lights East - $5
5/13 & 14 - Dominion Riverrock fest with the air dog event, mud run, kayak jumps, freestyle mountain biking and a couple bands and all FREE, I believe
--5/13 - Perpetual Groove w/Big Gigantic and Josati
--5/14 - music all day with headliner Yonder Mountain String Band, People's Blues of Richmond, William Walter & Tucker Rogers, Psychobilly Cadillac, and The Bush League.
5/20 - Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue w/Glows In The Dark - $5
5/27 - RVA Music Night featuring Three Sheets to the Wind, NO BS! Brass Band and Long Arms - $5
6/3 - Corey Smith with David Shultz and the Skyline - $5
6/10 - Drive-By Truckers - $10 (editors note: HELL YEAH!)
6/17 - The David Grisman Sextet with The Hot Seats - $5
6/24 - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings with The New Belgians - $10
I think I've got six definite see bands on that list (Carbon Leaf, Perpetual Groove, YMSB, DBT, Grisman, Sharon Jones) and two quite possibly's (Trombone Shorty & RVA Music Night). So you should see me on the Island quite a bit.
Let's put our dreams of shorts, t-shirts, and drinking beer under the warm, late spring sun aside for now and get back to what is going on this weekend where at least it is starting to warm up a bit. Wednesday night at Ashland Coffee & Tea, Yarn will regale you with Americana-ish tales of traveling, dirt and knitting. Here is what the Ashland Coffee & Tea site says: "Yarn’s music — just like the band’s namesake — aims to be simple, functional and fun. Since Yarn released its debut album in 2007, the band has been puddle-jumping from one career highlight to the next, from charting on the Americana Music Association’s Top 40 to performing live on National Public Radio’s Mountain Stage to making an appearance on the Grammy ballot. Along the way, Yarn picked up its share of acolytes, including Edie Brickell, banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka and Caitlin Cary of Whiskeytown fame, all of whom made cameos on the band’s 2008 sophomore release, Empty Pockets."
The show starts at 7 with openers Andy Friedman & Caleb Stine. Tix are $12 in advance, $17 at the door. Here's Yarn doing their tune "Schenectady":
Friday night, Grateful Dead cover band, Dark Star Orchestra comes to The National. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and there is no opener listed. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 day of show. Here's DSO doing "China Cat Sunflower" at All Good Festival last year:
If you go see DSO or even if you don't head over to Cary St Cafe to see Skydog's Dark Star Orchestra After Party. Show starts at 10 and cover is $5 with your DSO stub. I think it might by $5 without a DSO stub but Skydog's Facebook page doesn't really say nor does the Cary St. Cafe site. Skydog is our local Allman Brothers tribute band. It would be really cool if they could coordinate with DSO and recreate the 6/10/73 RFK Stadium show with the Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead with DSO doing the Dead's set, Skydog doing the Allman's set and then DSO joining Skydog at Cary St. Cafe to recreate the legendary third set with members of both the Allmans & Dead. Skydog, make it happen.
Sunday night, Bright Eyes aka Conor Oberst comes to The National. The show is SOLD OUT but if tix do pop-up they'll be $25 in advance, $28 at the door. Doors open at 7 PM, show starts at 8 PM with opener Cursive. Here's Bright Eyes performing "Jejune Stars" on Letterman last week:
On Monday night, a dude that has been getting a lot of critical acclaim lately, Ty Segall, will be at Strange Matter. The show starts at 7 PM with openers Super Vacations and Bermuda Triangles. Neither Ty's MySpace page nor the Strange Matter site say how much the show will cost but I would figure no more than $12. Ty's MySpace page lists him as Folk/Garage/Psychedelic which is as good a description as any. If you like the "Nuggets" compilations, you'll like this. Here is Ty with his video for "Cents":
Wanted to share this video with you because Honey Badger don't give a f**k. (Language NSFW):
Finally, let's move forward with our Paste Magazine 25 best music videos of 2010. This week, we feature Jonsi (who is the new Bjork) and his video "Go Do". It features the androgynous Jonsi dressed like a bird, acting kind of like a bird and hanging out with birds and apparently a big fan of the movie "Birdy". He also can't seem to get his suitcase open and is losing patience with that. There is some fine cinematography or as I like to put it "purty pictues" and I do like the song.
Jónsi - Go Do from Jónsi on Vimeo.
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend!
Tony Jordan
5/6 - Carbon Leaf w/Lights East - $5
5/13 & 14 - Dominion Riverrock fest with the air dog event, mud run, kayak jumps, freestyle mountain biking and a couple bands and all FREE, I believe
--5/13 - Perpetual Groove w/Big Gigantic and Josati
--5/14 - music all day with headliner Yonder Mountain String Band, People's Blues of Richmond, William Walter & Tucker Rogers, Psychobilly Cadillac, and The Bush League.
5/20 - Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue w/Glows In The Dark - $5
5/27 - RVA Music Night featuring Three Sheets to the Wind, NO BS! Brass Band and Long Arms - $5
6/3 - Corey Smith with David Shultz and the Skyline - $5
6/10 - Drive-By Truckers - $10 (editors note: HELL YEAH!)
6/17 - The David Grisman Sextet with The Hot Seats - $5
6/24 - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings with The New Belgians - $10
I think I've got six definite see bands on that list (Carbon Leaf, Perpetual Groove, YMSB, DBT, Grisman, Sharon Jones) and two quite possibly's (Trombone Shorty & RVA Music Night). So you should see me on the Island quite a bit.
Let's put our dreams of shorts, t-shirts, and drinking beer under the warm, late spring sun aside for now and get back to what is going on this weekend where at least it is starting to warm up a bit. Wednesday night at Ashland Coffee & Tea, Yarn will regale you with Americana-ish tales of traveling, dirt and knitting. Here is what the Ashland Coffee & Tea site says: "Yarn’s music — just like the band’s namesake — aims to be simple, functional and fun. Since Yarn released its debut album in 2007, the band has been puddle-jumping from one career highlight to the next, from charting on the Americana Music Association’s Top 40 to performing live on National Public Radio’s Mountain Stage to making an appearance on the Grammy ballot. Along the way, Yarn picked up its share of acolytes, including Edie Brickell, banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka and Caitlin Cary of Whiskeytown fame, all of whom made cameos on the band’s 2008 sophomore release, Empty Pockets."
The show starts at 7 with openers Andy Friedman & Caleb Stine. Tix are $12 in advance, $17 at the door. Here's Yarn doing their tune "Schenectady":
Friday night, Grateful Dead cover band, Dark Star Orchestra comes to The National. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and there is no opener listed. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 day of show. Here's DSO doing "China Cat Sunflower" at All Good Festival last year:
If you go see DSO or even if you don't head over to Cary St Cafe to see Skydog's Dark Star Orchestra After Party. Show starts at 10 and cover is $5 with your DSO stub. I think it might by $5 without a DSO stub but Skydog's Facebook page doesn't really say nor does the Cary St. Cafe site. Skydog is our local Allman Brothers tribute band. It would be really cool if they could coordinate with DSO and recreate the 6/10/73 RFK Stadium show with the Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead with DSO doing the Dead's set, Skydog doing the Allman's set and then DSO joining Skydog at Cary St. Cafe to recreate the legendary third set with members of both the Allmans & Dead. Skydog, make it happen.
Sunday night, Bright Eyes aka Conor Oberst comes to The National. The show is SOLD OUT but if tix do pop-up they'll be $25 in advance, $28 at the door. Doors open at 7 PM, show starts at 8 PM with opener Cursive. Here's Bright Eyes performing "Jejune Stars" on Letterman last week:
On Monday night, a dude that has been getting a lot of critical acclaim lately, Ty Segall, will be at Strange Matter. The show starts at 7 PM with openers Super Vacations and Bermuda Triangles. Neither Ty's MySpace page nor the Strange Matter site say how much the show will cost but I would figure no more than $12. Ty's MySpace page lists him as Folk/Garage/Psychedelic which is as good a description as any. If you like the "Nuggets" compilations, you'll like this. Here is Ty with his video for "Cents":
Wanted to share this video with you because Honey Badger don't give a f**k. (Language NSFW):
Finally, let's move forward with our Paste Magazine 25 best music videos of 2010. This week, we feature Jonsi (who is the new Bjork) and his video "Go Do". It features the androgynous Jonsi dressed like a bird, acting kind of like a bird and hanging out with birds and apparently a big fan of the movie "Birdy". He also can't seem to get his suitcase open and is losing patience with that. There is some fine cinematography or as I like to put it "purty pictues" and I do like the song.
Jónsi - Go Do from Jónsi on Vimeo.
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend!
Tony Jordan
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday Fun: Lego album covers quiz
Here's some Friday Fun for you: Try to guess all the album covers depicted here in Legos. Answers are at the end. Click the picture to move to the next cover.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8296237/Lego-album-covers-quiz.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8296237/Lego-album-covers-quiz.html
Thursday, February 24, 2011
John Mellencamp, GWAR, Leon Russell, Marathon Bluegrass Jam, Puddleduck
The newly single and dating Meg Ryan (will she be in town?) John Mellencamp will be here on Thursday night at the Landmark Theater. Good tix are still available which is not surprising when tix run from $44.50 for the balcony to $128 for orchestra. You do get a free download of JM's new album, the T-Bone Burnett produced (that guy is everywhere) "No Better Than This", which is getting very good reviews, the best for a Mellencamp album in this decade (though all his albums have been good). The show starts at 7 PM and opens with a short film, "It's About You" which profiles the making of the new album. Then Mr. Mellencamp will perform a mix of old and new songs in a more than two hour show. Here's JM playing "Easter Eve" from his latest album at Radio City Music Hall on 2/19/11:
On a completely different note, GWAR brings their horror rock to The National on Friday night. Tix are $18.50 in advance and $21 at the door. Doors open at 7 and show starts at 8 with openers Cannabis Corpse and Mensrea. If you don't know much about GWAR this video should help you out. Heavy metal, awesome costumes and gor-gor rises and attacks:
After the mayhem of GWAR, you can chill out the next day, Saturday, with the Marathon Bluegrass Jam at Grandpa Eddie's Alabama Ribs & BBQ. The jam runs from noon until midnight and is a 12 hour non-stop bluegrass jam to benefit the Fisher House - an organization that lodges families of American soldiers recuperating at McGuire Veterans Hospital. The bands particpating are East of Afton, Churchyard Grass, Leather Britches, Highway 249, Copper Ridge, Shockoe Bottom Boys, The Cary Street Ramblers and Shelton's Mill. Musicians of all levels are invited to come and jam with the bands. There is no cover charge for participating jamming musicians or the spectators but you better damn well give a donation.
Saturday night at Alley Katz, (Alley Katz, please stop that bang and music that comes on when you first go to your site. It always makes my jump, I have to hurriedly turn down my volume, you've had it for 10 years now, and its just really f'in annoying) Puddleduck and opener Hazeltones will perform for your pleasure from 9 PM until 2 AM. Tix are 8 in advance, $10 at the door. Puddleduck play "funkin' southern rock", mostly original, though they've been known to cover Phish, Floyd, and Allman Brothers. Here they are performing "Carolina" a couple years ago at Alley Katz:
Sunday afternoon, you can enjoy great beer and fine music at Legend Brewery's 17th Anniversary Party. The party Starts at 3 PM and goes till 9 PM. Admission is $20 at the door and will include 3 live bands and 3 tickets for food and refreshments. Music by: Cyrus McCormick and the Reapers (50s & 60s rock n' roll), The Remnants (classic rock & R&B), Wade Reynolds and The Greater Richmond Pipes & Drums. Guests under 21, $12 & Children under 12 are $5.
Tuesday night, Leon Russell, superstar of the 70's who is enjoying a comeback right now thanks to his new album with old friend Elton John, will be at The Hat Factory. Tix are $20 in advance for standing, $30 in advance for seating. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener TBA. Leon will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June along with John Bettis ("Human Nature", "Crazy For You", "Slow Hand"), Garth Brooks, Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly ("Like a Virgin", "True Colors", "I Touch Myself"), and New Orleans great Allen Touissant ("Working in the Coalmine", "Ride Your Pony", "Sneaking Sally Through The Alley"). Leon wrote such songs as "This Masquerade", "Delta Lady", and "Tight Rope". Here's Leon performing his current hit with Elton, "If It Wasn't For Bad":
And as a bonus my favorite Leon performance, "Jumpin' Jack Flash/Young Blood" from the Concert for Bangladesh.
In our continuing review of the 25 Best Music Videos of 2010 as chosen by Paste Magazine, this week we check out Nick Cave's band Grinderman and their video "Heathen Child". This is one seriously f'd up video with Nick and the band as Gods of War who have the ability to fart nuclear explosions, werewolves, voodoo and a little dog who conducts the band. I have no idea if the video is supposed to "mean" something other than being a nightmarish, yet sometimes humorous, collection of images. Its pretty cool.
I'm outta here. Have a great weekend!
Tony Jordan
On a completely different note, GWAR brings their horror rock to The National on Friday night. Tix are $18.50 in advance and $21 at the door. Doors open at 7 and show starts at 8 with openers Cannabis Corpse and Mensrea. If you don't know much about GWAR this video should help you out. Heavy metal, awesome costumes and gor-gor rises and attacks:
After the mayhem of GWAR, you can chill out the next day, Saturday, with the Marathon Bluegrass Jam at Grandpa Eddie's Alabama Ribs & BBQ. The jam runs from noon until midnight and is a 12 hour non-stop bluegrass jam to benefit the Fisher House - an organization that lodges families of American soldiers recuperating at McGuire Veterans Hospital. The bands particpating are East of Afton, Churchyard Grass, Leather Britches, Highway 249, Copper Ridge, Shockoe Bottom Boys, The Cary Street Ramblers and Shelton's Mill. Musicians of all levels are invited to come and jam with the bands. There is no cover charge for participating jamming musicians or the spectators but you better damn well give a donation.
Saturday night at Alley Katz, (Alley Katz, please stop that bang and music that comes on when you first go to your site. It always makes my jump, I have to hurriedly turn down my volume, you've had it for 10 years now, and its just really f'in annoying) Puddleduck and opener Hazeltones will perform for your pleasure from 9 PM until 2 AM. Tix are 8 in advance, $10 at the door. Puddleduck play "funkin' southern rock", mostly original, though they've been known to cover Phish, Floyd, and Allman Brothers. Here they are performing "Carolina" a couple years ago at Alley Katz:
Sunday afternoon, you can enjoy great beer and fine music at Legend Brewery's 17th Anniversary Party. The party Starts at 3 PM and goes till 9 PM. Admission is $20 at the door and will include 3 live bands and 3 tickets for food and refreshments. Music by: Cyrus McCormick and the Reapers (50s & 60s rock n' roll), The Remnants (classic rock & R&B), Wade Reynolds and The Greater Richmond Pipes & Drums. Guests under 21, $12 & Children under 12 are $5.
Tuesday night, Leon Russell, superstar of the 70's who is enjoying a comeback right now thanks to his new album with old friend Elton John, will be at The Hat Factory. Tix are $20 in advance for standing, $30 in advance for seating. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with opener TBA. Leon will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June along with John Bettis ("Human Nature", "Crazy For You", "Slow Hand"), Garth Brooks, Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly ("Like a Virgin", "True Colors", "I Touch Myself"), and New Orleans great Allen Touissant ("Working in the Coalmine", "Ride Your Pony", "Sneaking Sally Through The Alley"). Leon wrote such songs as "This Masquerade", "Delta Lady", and "Tight Rope". Here's Leon performing his current hit with Elton, "If It Wasn't For Bad":
And as a bonus my favorite Leon performance, "Jumpin' Jack Flash/Young Blood" from the Concert for Bangladesh.
In our continuing review of the 25 Best Music Videos of 2010 as chosen by Paste Magazine, this week we check out Nick Cave's band Grinderman and their video "Heathen Child". This is one seriously f'd up video with Nick and the band as Gods of War who have the ability to fart nuclear explosions, werewolves, voodoo and a little dog who conducts the band. I have no idea if the video is supposed to "mean" something other than being a nightmarish, yet sometimes humorous, collection of images. Its pretty cool.
I'm outta here. Have a great weekend!
Tony Jordan
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Friday Cheers=$5, Umphrey's McGee, Lotus, Crossroads from Richmond to Nashville
Saw THIS ARTICLE in the Times-Dispatch on Saturday (OK, actually Mike L. brought it to my attention) about the admission cost of Friday Cheers going up to $5 this year and maybe even $10 for select shows. A bit of a gamble by Cheers. On the one hand, this will allow them to book better acts which is a plus. This may also eliminate some of the crowd that would just come down to drink and talk which sometimes socialized to the point that it distracted from the music. On the other hand, that crowd that was coming down just to drink was buying a lot of those oh-so-profitable $5 beers ($4.50 profit?) so Cheers is taking a gamble that the better acts will pull in more people at the higher admission and offset, if not surpass, what they were making on the socializers.
This change may have been in response to last year when the first couple Cheers I attended (Grace Potter/Robert Randolph @ Dominion Riverrock (5/14 & 15) and Railroad Earth (5/21)) were packed. By the time, I got to the last two with Deer Tick (6/18) and The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker (6/25), the combination of the novelty of Cheers wearing off, the heat and lesser-known bands let to very sparsely attended Cheers. So perhaps if they load the best-known bands at the end of the Cheers season and book better bands in general, they'll keep steady attendence despite the weather. I know $5 is still cheap enough for me to go take a chance on a band that has a good reputation that I may not necessarily be familiar with. So far the only bands confirmed for Cheers this year (thanks to Pollstar) is New Orleans band Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue on 5/20, who should be a lot of fun and definitely worth your $5, and Corey Smith on 6/3, who I don't know too much about but seems to fall into that amiable, acoustic Jack Johnson category that makes me go "meh".
Onto this weekend in Richmond. Yacht rock superstars Three Sheets to the Wind will be doing their regular gig at The Republic on Thursday night. The show starts at 10 PM and its FREE. Ok, maybe superstars is too strong a word but if you likes you some Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Kenny Loggins and the like, this band is for you. They'll be debuting two new yacht rock tunes at this show which is called the Love Boat Luau.
At The National on Friday night, The Velvet Marias, The Venture Rays and The Word Brown will perform for your pleasure and also to benefit Commonwealth Parenting, whose mission "is to build a stronger community by teaching proactive parenting skills to parents and caregivers in central Virginia through quality education, communication, and support". Per their web site, "The Velvet Marias play classic country from Patsy Cline to Steve Earle, rock covers from Buddy Holly to the Band, and deep R&B cuts from Dr. John to Sly Stone, and back again.
Their original songs are hook oriented snapshots that tell a story while everyone sings along."
Here's Velvet Marias doing Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues":
Also on Friday night, The Hot Seats (formerly known as Special Ed & The Shortbus) will be at Poe's Pub (which has its own theme song on their web site). The show starts at 10 PM and its $5 to get in. Here they are playing their brand of bluegrass at the Music City Roots show on Groundhog Day this year:
On Saturday night at The Canal Club there will be a whole bunch of Richmond Americana with the "Crossroads from Richmond to Nashville" show featuring Barrelhouse, Allen Thompson Band, The Atkinsons, and Relacksachian. Doors open at 8, tix are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Here are the Atkinsons performing "Her Mind's On Other Things" at Ashland Coffee & Tea in December:
On Saturday night at The National , Lotus will play with doors opening at 8 and the show starting at 9 with opener Daedelus. Tix are $20 in advance, $22 day of show. Lotus is an up and coming jamtronica band. Here's a sample of Lotus playing "Blacklight Sunflare" at Roseland Ballroom in NYC in August:
Through the Mirror Episode 10 from LotusVibes on Vimeo.
Sunday at The National, Umphrey's McGee will jam your face off starting at 7:00 (doors) with opener Zach Deputy hitting the stage at 8. Tix are $20. You'll dig the Umph, who lean more toward the prog-rock side of jam bandia, if you like Phish, Zappa, moe., Yes, Dream Theater, or Genesis (pre-Invisible Touch). Here they are performing "Much Obliged - Bridgeless" on 12/29/10:
Out next installment in the 25 Best Music Videos of 2010 as chosen by Paste Magazine leads us this week to the David Crowder Band's "SMS [Shine]". Paste says that "With a LITE-BRITE board and 700,000 pegs, this self-made video took 2,150 man hours from 83 of the band’s friends." All I know is I was never able to make anything quite this heartbreaking with my Lite-Brite. But then again I didn't have 83 friends to help me.
All the big summer festivals are beginning to announce their lineups. Coachella and Sasquatch festivals out on the West Coast sold out in one day each. Here is the lineup for Coachella. Sort of. Look closely.
This change may have been in response to last year when the first couple Cheers I attended (Grace Potter/Robert Randolph @ Dominion Riverrock (5/14 & 15) and Railroad Earth (5/21)) were packed. By the time, I got to the last two with Deer Tick (6/18) and The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker (6/25), the combination of the novelty of Cheers wearing off, the heat and lesser-known bands let to very sparsely attended Cheers. So perhaps if they load the best-known bands at the end of the Cheers season and book better bands in general, they'll keep steady attendence despite the weather. I know $5 is still cheap enough for me to go take a chance on a band that has a good reputation that I may not necessarily be familiar with. So far the only bands confirmed for Cheers this year (thanks to Pollstar) is New Orleans band Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue on 5/20, who should be a lot of fun and definitely worth your $5, and Corey Smith on 6/3, who I don't know too much about but seems to fall into that amiable, acoustic Jack Johnson category that makes me go "meh".
At The National on Friday night, The Velvet Marias, The Venture Rays and The Word Brown will perform for your pleasure and also to benefit Commonwealth Parenting, whose mission "is to build a stronger community by teaching proactive parenting skills to parents and caregivers in central Virginia through quality education, communication, and support". Per their web site, "The Velvet Marias play classic country from Patsy Cline to Steve Earle, rock covers from Buddy Holly to the Band, and deep R&B cuts from Dr. John to Sly Stone, and back again.
Their original songs are hook oriented snapshots that tell a story while everyone sings along."
Here's Velvet Marias doing Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues":
Also on Friday night, The Hot Seats (formerly known as Special Ed & The Shortbus) will be at Poe's Pub (which has its own theme song on their web site). The show starts at 10 PM and its $5 to get in. Here they are playing their brand of bluegrass at the Music City Roots show on Groundhog Day this year:
On Saturday night at The Canal Club there will be a whole bunch of Richmond Americana with the "Crossroads from Richmond to Nashville" show featuring Barrelhouse, Allen Thompson Band, The Atkinsons, and Relacksachian. Doors open at 8, tix are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Here are the Atkinsons performing "Her Mind's On Other Things" at Ashland Coffee & Tea in December:
On Saturday night at The National , Lotus will play with doors opening at 8 and the show starting at 9 with opener Daedelus. Tix are $20 in advance, $22 day of show. Lotus is an up and coming jamtronica band. Here's a sample of Lotus playing "Blacklight Sunflare" at Roseland Ballroom in NYC in August:
Through the Mirror Episode 10 from LotusVibes on Vimeo.
Sunday at The National, Umphrey's McGee will jam your face off starting at 7:00 (doors) with opener Zach Deputy hitting the stage at 8. Tix are $20. You'll dig the Umph, who lean more toward the prog-rock side of jam bandia, if you like Phish, Zappa, moe., Yes, Dream Theater, or Genesis (pre-Invisible Touch). Here they are performing "Much Obliged - Bridgeless" on 12/29/10:
Out next installment in the 25 Best Music Videos of 2010 as chosen by Paste Magazine leads us this week to the David Crowder Band's "SMS [Shine]". Paste says that "With a LITE-BRITE board and 700,000 pegs, this self-made video took 2,150 man hours from 83 of the band’s friends." All I know is I was never able to make anything quite this heartbreaking with my Lite-Brite. But then again I didn't have 83 friends to help me.
All the big summer festivals are beginning to announce their lineups. Coachella and Sasquatch festivals out on the West Coast sold out in one day each. Here is the lineup for Coachella. Sort of. Look closely.
That's it. I'm outta here. Have a great weekend.
Tony Jordan
Friday, February 11, 2011
Of Montreal coming to The National
Tickets are on sale now for Of Montreal at The National on Friday, April 22. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
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