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.