October 2008
7 posts
September 2008
16 posts
Dylan: the earliest and the latest
An interesting tidbit via Uncle Joe’s Update Archives (a one-stop shop for all your update archive needs): it was 47 years ago today that Bob Dylan participated in his first recording session, playing harmonica for Carolyn Hester. What record Bob played on is a little tough to track down. Carolyn’s Wikipedia page (which must be right) indicates that she invited Bob to play on her...
video rewind
As noted yesterday, Jakob Dylan was indeed joined by Norah Jones for a performance of “War Is Kind” on Conan last night/this morning. I would post the video here, but NBC prevents video from their programs from being posted on video-sharing sites (unless it is so popular that it gets people talking about their programs). So, if you can handle the one commercial:one click ratio they...
if the doors of perception were cleansed.....
Thanks to the good people over at WZLX, I attended a show by Riders On The Storm last night. For the unaware among you, Riders On The Storm consists of the two remaining members of The Doors who have not died or been kicked out.
The show took place at Showcase Live in the new Patriot Place in Foxboro. As the venue website’s frankensteined photos/artist renderings tell you, it was planned...
back to the country
Farm Aid was held in my backyard this weekend (well, Mansfield: my backyard 45 minutes south). The show has been breaking out of its midwest-only itinerary in recent years, making it to New York City last year and to New England for the first time this year. The lineup included personal favorites like Neil Young, Steve Earle, and Jakob Dylan but too many clunkers like Kenny Chesney, John...
records not to skip
There has been a lot of record release news popping up all over, so I figured I’d put some of it down here.
-Well-documented is the October 7 release of Bob Dylan’s Tell Tale Signs.
-Coming out next week is Jenny Lewis’s second solo release, Acid Tongue. The record is streaming on her site as well as on MySpace. Interesting that she, like her band Rilo Kiley, has made the...
the fact remains
Sunday night, I saw my first show at the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square, usually an independent movie house (at which I first saw Yellow Submarine a while back). The show started at 9:30pm with opening act Hayden, a Canadian singer-songwriter for whom comparisons to Neil Young he probably finds both inevitable and grating. He performed with fellow Candians and lablemates Cuff The Duke as his...
Hall of Awful
Back in 1996, the Baseball Writers of America, the organization responsible for voting on nominees for the Baseball Hall of Fame, collectively decided that not one eligible player was worthy of induction. Phil Niekro? Toss your knuckleball somewhere else. Tony Perez? The Big Red Machine has been shut off. Don Sutton? Ain’t not’in’. Of course, Niekro, Sutton, and Bruce...
a blog about a blog about an article about a...
I haven’t read too much about the big fall film releases yet (though I plan to plow through the Boston Globe’s Fall Movie Preview this week). There is, however, one film that has been on my radar for quite a while now, since the script was being written: Synecdoche, New York, the directorial debut of lauded screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. The film was scheduled to be directed by Spike Jonze, but...
peaceful like a hurricane
So, the first night of Viva la Vinal was a success, even if the second night has had to be postponed due to inclement weather. A good crowd turned out: a mix of parents with their kids enjoying the setting and people there just to sit and enjoy the music.
I arrived in time to hear Rex Complex covering the Stanley Brothers’ “Stone Walls And Steel Bars,” which is not a bad way to...
the harmonica around my neck, I blew it for you,...
A few weeks ago, Hohner announced that they would be releasing a set of Bob Dylan Signature Harmonicas; each harmonica will be stamped with Bob’s signature and will come in a box embossed with Bob’s “Eye” logo. Though I have never heard of this treatment from a harmonica company, it certainly seems well in line with the Artist Series guitars of everyone from Elvis Costello...
more from Falcon Ridge
The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse in Franklin, MA has posted photos of this year’s Emerging Artist Showcase performers. As I happen to have been one of those performers, you can see me here and here.
In related news, fellow Showcase performer Abi Tapia (who can be seen here) has an interesting post on her blog regarding the collision of art, politics, and commerce. I would be shaken if I...
Friday plans
Trying to plan your Friday evening? Easy: Viva la Vinal over in Union Square. The full schedule, as provided by the festival organizers, can be found below. Need to round out the evening? I’d point you to Jimbo’s and recommend you get home in time to hear Steve Earle pay tribute to Warren Zevon on Letterman.
Viva la Vinal 2008 Schedule Friday, September 5th
4:00pm- Chris Wilhelm...
acony bell wringing
Interesting news out of Nashville (assuming that’s home base). Acony Records, the label owned and operated by Gillian Welch (who was, heretofore, the label’s only artist) has announced the signing of their second artist, Whispertown 2000. I know nothing of this band except that they have sat for months among Gillian and David’s “Top Friends.” I would love to see...
