• Folk,  Video

    Memorial Day

    Happy Memorial Day weekend. Take a few moments, reflect, and think about all of those who have sacrificed their lives for this country. And think about all of those overseas, who put their lives on the line day after day – while we get to be with our family and friends, barbecue, and drink beer.

    Here, John Prine is interviewed by Bobby Bare, talking about and singing “Sam Stone”. John was 38 at the time, which puts this at 1984.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=206XaNxQ5LQ]

    Here’s Bruce singing “Shut Out the Light” in Paris, 1985.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAqbN9HO68A]

  • Punk

    The Ramones in London: the spark that lit the fire

    The British punk explosion of 1976-77 can pretty easily be traced to one night in London: July 4th, 1976. That was the night the Ramones came to town. It was their UK debut, opening for the Flamin’ Groovies at the Roundhouse in Camden.

    In attendance were current and future members of the Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Buzzcocks, and the Damned, among countless others I’m sure. The quality is pretty bad, but it’s still amazing to listen in on such an important night in music history. A 35 minute set that shaped the future of music. Pretty sweet.

    The Ramones
    Live at the Roundhouse, London
    July 4th, 1976

    Intro / Sound Issues
    Loudmouth
    Beat On The Brat
    Blitzkrieg Bop
    I Remember You
    Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
    Glad To See You Go
    Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment
    53rd & 3rd
    I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
    Havana Affair
    Listen To My Heart
    California Sun
    Judy Is A Punk
    I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You
    Today Your Love Tomorrow The World

  • Scarlett Johansson
    Giveaway

    Givin’ It Away: ScarJo’s New CD

    Hmm, I must think of creative way to give away a brand-new copy of Scarlett Johansson’s new album, Anywhere I Lay My Head (looking at this picture, I have a very vivid idea of where I’d like to lay my head, but that’s neither here nor there). The album hit stores today (May 20). You scan still stream several of the tunes here.

    We have a creative bunch hanging around here. We’ve done haikus, and we’ve done limericks. For this contest, I think we’ll open it up to some freestyle poetry slammin’. In the Comments section, hit us with a haiku, or hit us with a limerick, or impress us with some obscure poetic stylings. Keep it simple, or get into it, it’s up to you.

    The topic? Why, Scarlett, of course. You can wax poetic about her films, her music career, her decision to dive into the Tom Waits song book, and/or, of course, her beauty. All I ask is that you keep it clean. If you’re going to bust a haiku about Scarlett’s elevator encounter with Benicio Del Toro, well, you’re just gonna have to keep it classy. Because we all know elevator sex is classy.

    One submission per person. I’ll pick a winner later in the week.

    Good luck!

    Scarlett’s Official Web Site

    Click to buy the album…

    Anywhere I Lay My Head

  • Style Council live in Chippenham
    BritPop,  Rock,  Soul

    A Weekend with Ye Olde Style Council

    We’re just over a month away from Paul Weller’s new album 22 Dreams (on Yep Roc), which I really look forward to hearing. I thought I’d take a trip back to his great blue-eyed British soul band of the 80’s, The Style Council. Wanting to incorporate R&B, soul, and jazz into his songwriting, Weller had walked away from his pioneering, mod-revival band The Jam in 1982 at their peak and formed the Style Council in 1983. The Style Council sort of fizzled out by the end of the decade, but Weller has continued on with a strong solo career as the Mod Godfather of the British music scene.

    This is the kind of show that accompanies a nice sunny day, a cool breeze, and a nice lemonade (preferably spiked) on the front porch. No daytime front porch action for me, by the way. High of 102 on Sunday, and 106 on Monday. And heeere we go. Another summer in the Sonoran Desert.

    JamBonus → Oh, also, a blog synergy bonus: Steve at Maybe We Ain’t That Young Anymore has a sweet Jam show from 1980.

    Enjoy!

    The Style Council
    March 10th, 1984
    Goldiggers, Chippenham, UK

    Intro – Pete Drummond (BBC)
    Meeting Over Yonder
    My Ever Changing Moods
    Speak Like A Child
    The Whole Point Of No Return
    Le Depart
    The Paris Match
    Party Chambers
    Money Go Round
    Headstart For Happiness
    Hanging On To A Memory
    Dropping Bombs On The White House
    Long Hot Summer

  • Jonny and Josh album cover
    Acoustic

    New Tunes: Jonny and Josh – Just Can’t Forget

    I don’t cruise MySpace too much, but on one of my quick treks bouncing from page to page this week, catching up on some old friends, I came across a really great tune someone had streaming on their profile. It’s one of those songs that creeps up on you, and by a couple minutes in, you’re asking yourself, “Who is this?”

    The song is “Just Can’t Forget” by Colorado duo Jonny and Josh. Based in Boulder, they spend their time playing for people up and down the Front Range. The song is a haunting, touching tune about that old standby, a love lost. The vocals have that rough edge I like – I hear Eddie Vedder and, may I say, Everlast – in a good way.

    So take a listen, and check out their MySpace for some other quality tunes. These guys are unsigned, but if they keep churning out music like this, it won’t be for too much longer.

    Jonny and Josh – Just Can’t Forget

    Buy Stone Crack here on Amazon.

    Website: Jonny and Josh’s MySpace page

  • Jam

    This Land Is Your Land – Vintage Dead and Lobos

    Jumpin’ back to 1989, here’s Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir singing “This Land is Your Land” with the boys from a band I get more and more obsessed with by the day: David Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas, and Steve Berlin from Los Lobos…

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM18HENqNbk 336 278]

  • Pop,  Rock

    New Tunes: Junior Pantherz

    My completely random dip into the Inbox tonight yielded a pretty catchy tune. The group is Junior Pantherz, and though the name elicits images of a junior varsity high school basketball team, or a football team of little kids – you know, the kind that Snoop Dogg coaches – you can’t deny a good pop song when you hear one.

    The Pantherz hail from the great white north, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Their 6th album, Rejoice, Remain, will be released on May 27th (though it’s currently available on iTunes). The band is made up of Terry Mattson (guitars/vocals), S.J. Kardash (bass/vocals), Maygen Kardash (keys, trumpet, vocals) and last but definitely not least, Arnold Van Lambalgen II on drums. The best drummer name since Bun E. Carlos, if you ask me.

    Junior PantherzOn and Off (mp3)

    Buy Rejoice, Remain on Junior Pantherz - Rejoice, Remain

    Website: Junior Pantherz.com

  • Rock

    Incoming: Tom Waits hits Phoenix

    glitter and doom

    If the ticket gods allow, I’ll be seeing Tom Waits live for the very first time next month, right here in Phoenix. For some reason – and I’m not complaining – Tom has chosen our sleepy little town to kick off his Glitter and Doom Tour for not one, but two nights at the Orpheum Theater. The theater holds a grand total of 1,364 people, so I’m expecting a bit of a challenge when tickets go on sale at noon this Friday on LiveNation (evil overlord of conglomeration).

    I have to select one of the two nights. So what do you think people? Do I opt for the opening show of the tour on Tuesday, June 17th? Or show #2 the next night? I’m leaning toward opening night, just for the complete spontaneity and un-predictability of it all.

    * * *

    Tom Waits – Picture in a Frame (mp3) – from VH-1’s Storytellers. Original comes from Mule Variations.

    * * *

    Here’s Tom’s entertaining “press conference” last week to announce the tour.

    Tour Dates:

    06-17 Phoenix, AZ – Orpheum
    06-18 Phoenix, AZ – Orpheum
    06-20 El Paso, TX – Plaza Theatre
    06-22 Houston, TX – Jones Hall
    06-23 Dallas, TX – Palladium
    06-25 Tulsa, OK – Brady Theatre
    06-26 St. Louis, MO – Fox Theatre
    06-28 Columbus, OH – Ohio Theatre
    06-29 Knoxville, TN – Civic Theatre
    07-01 Jacksonville, FL – Moran Theatre
    07-02 Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre
    07-03 Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theatre
    07-05 Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre

    Links: Tom Waits.com