• Video

    Rihanna in Lemon

    I’m always interested in what Pharrell’s up to, especially when it comes to N.E.R.D. He’s always super creative with the beats and grooves, so anything that comes along is worth my attention.

    A few weeks back, I saw some buzz on social media about N.E.R.D.’s new tune “Lemon,” in particular the Jimmy Kimmel performance. Before watching the performance, I dialed up “Lemon” to kick back and listen to the track. The opening part: “Cool,” I thought, “this is nice, but why the…” THEN, 44 seconds in, I understood. From the 44 second to 1:42 mark, things change.

    First off, the GROOVE – just what I love to hear from Pharrell and his N.E.R.D. buddies; but secondly and most importantly, RIHANNA takes over this shit, and unleashes a street-laced rap/rhyme that completely threw me for a loop. It’s power, it’s magic. And I can’t enough of it.

    Respect.

    (P.S. As for the Kimmel performance, it features the dancer from the video below, but Ri-Ri wasn’t on hand to spit her verse, unfortunately. Yes, I’m a 47 year old white man who just said the words “Ri-Ri wasn’t on hand to spit her verse.” Go figure.)

  • Video

    Brandi Carlile – “Oh Dear”

    Oh dear. A rush of goosebumps, the welling of tears in the eyes. That moment when you become aware of a special connection between you and a song, and all external noises and worries go quiet. That moment when every ounce of focus – heart, soul and mind – is between you and the song, and you have the sublime pleasure of reveling in its beauty.

    This a capella performance of “Oh Dear” by Brandi Carlile and her band worked that magic on me when I watched this ACL performance sometime last year. Everything about it is perfect to me: all the harmony parts, the placement of each character in the group, Brandi’s animated expressions… and – her VOICE. Oh dear oh dear. The pristine falsetto, the inflections, and the purity.

    This simply knocked me out.

    (ACL has wiped this video clean from the internet. I’ll get it back up if I find it!)

  • Video

    Alice Cooper’s Elvis Story on That Metal Show

    I’m not a huge metalhead, but it’s hard not to get sucked into That Metal Show when I come across it on VH-1 Classic (which is often the case on weekday mornings before work). Hosts Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson are crazy about metal – and with their lively discussions, album & artist list rankings, and the variety of guests they bring into the studio for interviews – it’s hard not to get caught up in their passion for the music.

    Last week, Alice Cooper dropped by the show for an interview, and he told the best Elvis Presley story involving Vegas, Linda Lovelace, Chubby Checker, and a loaded snub-nosed .38. It’s a great interview all around, but if you want to skip straight to the Elvis story, go to 20:35.

    Get More:
    That Metal Show

  • Video

    Deer Tick’s New Video for “Main Street” [NSFW?]

    If there’s one thing that’s true about Deer Tick frontman John McCauley, it’s “what you see is what you get.” The man is completely unfiltered and open, which is quite evident in Deer Tick’s brand new “uncensored” video for “Main Street,” their first single off Divine Providence. I see the term “uncensored,” and I’m immediately on booby alert. But ah, the joke’s on me, because what I found instead was the peein’ pecker of Mr. John. Amid a cacophony of exploding fireworks, a select few of the giant DEER TICK letters in the background fall away to reveal – eh – something else.

    If there’s a point to the video other than explosions, urinating, and wrecking instruments, I’m not sure what it is. But the slow motion cinematography is impressive and pretty damn entertaining. There doesn’t always have to be a point, after all.

    If you haven’t picked up Divine Providence yet, today’s a good day – you can pick it up for
    $3.99 on Amazon.

  • Rock,  Video

    My Morning Jacket – Smokin’ From Shootin’ at ACL

    Here’s My Morning Jacket performing “Smokin From Shootin” at last weekend’s ACL Festival. MMJ have just announced a set of tour dates with both Band of Horses and Delta Spirit – basically my wet dream of a show. But alas, Phoenix, Arizona is once again not on the radar. So I’ll need to live through amazing live HD clips like this. Gotta love the age we’re living in when anyone anywhere can share the live experience… it ain’t the real thing, but it’s as close as you can get.

    Update: The ACL clip is gone, but check out this Live on Letterman performance:

  • Video

    Grace Potter stops into Live From Daryl’s House

    Grace Potter and Daryl Hall

    I’ve had the opportunity to check out the sexy & sultry (and immensely talented) Grace Potter live a number of times over the past years. So I’m excited to see that she’s stopped into Daryl Hall’s Amenia, NY home for the latest installment of the great web series Live From Daryl’s House.

    Observations…

    • I didn’t know it until I heard it from Daryl, but the drummer for the Nocturnals, Matt Burr, is Grace’s boyfriend. I always wondered who the target of Grace’s amorous and lustful ways was. Well played, Matt.
    • The dinner scene is probably my favorite non-music portion. Laid back dinner conversation among musicians. For the viewers, it’s like being a fly on the wall – getting to eavesdrop on intimate musician talk. I’d watch an entire show made up musicians sitting around a dinner table swapping stories. Now there’s an idea.
    • Of Grace’s songs, “Things I Never Needed” is my favorite of this episode. Great harmonies with Daryl, nice mellow vibe. Pretty song.
    • Grace and Matt chose “Room to Breathe” from Hall & Oates’ 1976 album Bigger Than Both Of Us. Not only did they get me to check out the entertaining album cover (which they talk about), but I’ve queued it up on Rdio. “Rich Girl” was the big hit from the record, actually their very first #1 single on Billboard’s Hot 100 (their first of six).
    • I am now in the mood for some gazpacho.

  • Video

    Big Audio Dynamite at Coachella

    Nice surprise a few weeks ago during Coachella’s webcast to stumble across Big Audio Dynamite‘s set. I missed their first go ’round back in the mid 80’s, but developed an appreciation for their albums over the years since. It was 1991’s The Globe (with the retooled lineup of Big Audio Dynamite II) that woke me up and made me dig back into their earlier incarnation.

    As you see, the boys have aged right along with the rest of us, but how sweet is it to see former Clash-man Mick Jones on stage in 2011, having a ball? Word is they’ll schedule more dates in the U.S. later this year. Keep an eye out…

    Big Audio Dynamite’s Site
    B.A.D. on Amazon

    Here’s B.A.D.’s entire April 16th set at Coachella…

    Medicine Show
    Beyond the Pale
    A Party
    V Thirteen
    BAD
    E=MC2
    The Battle of All Saints Road
    The Bottom Line
    Rush

  • Video

    “Glory Days” – from London Calling: Live in Hyde Park [Boss Time]

    Only a few weeks until Bruce’s latest live DVD hits stores. London Calling: Live In Hyde Park captures Bruce and the E Street Band’s June 28th, 2009 performance at London’s Hard Rock Calling Festival – and judging by this preview clip of “Glory Days”, the quality (both video and audio) will be top-notch baby. Check it out…

    Pre-Order: London Calling: Live in Hyde Park (2 DVD)

    London Calling: Live In Hyde Park will be available everywhere on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on June 22, 2010.

    London Calling: Live In Hyde Park Tracklisting:
    London Calling
    Badlands
    Night
    She’s The One
    Outlaw Pete
    Out In The Street
    Working On A Dream
    Seeds
    Johnny 99
    Youngstown
    Good Lovin’
    Bobby Jean
    Trapped
    No Surrender
    Waiting On A Sunny Day
    Promised Land
    Racing In The Street
    Radio Nowhere
    Lonesome Day
    The Rising
    Born To Run
    Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
    Hard Times (Come Again No More)
    Jungleland
    American Land
    Glory Days
    Dancing In The Dark
    Credits (Raise Your Hand)

    BONUS MATERIAL:
    The River: Glastonbury Festival, 2009
    Wrecking Ball: Giants Stadium, 2009

  • Video

    Live from Daryl’s House: T-Bone’s Last Performance

    It’s been almost 2 months since the world lost Tom “T-Bone” Wolk from a heart attack at the age of 58. It’ll be an odd feeling to watch Daryl Hall go forward without T-Bone at his side.

    The latest episode of Live From Daryl’s House is bittersweet, to put it mildly. It marks the final time that Daryl Hall and John Oates played with their longtime pal and music director. It takes place at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival early this year. Joining Daryl, John and T-Bone are Maxi Priest and gray-dreadlocked Billy Ocean.

    As usual with this great series, the behind the scenes footage between songs is just as enjoyable as the music (as is Shanique, the bartender at Memorabilia bar).

    But it’s hard not to feel a helpless sadness as you watch T-Bone, so full of life and good humor at the time, knowing what was soon to come. At the same time, it’s a blessing to have footage like this, documenting his passion for music and life.

    Maybe it’ll all make sense some day. For now though, it sure doesn’t. RIP T-Bone.

    Watch Episode 29 of Live From Daryl’s House, featuring John Oates, Maxi Priest, and Billy Ocean