Rudy "Tutti" Grayzell

"In the late '50s, Rudy "Tutti" Grayzell went to Los Angeles and then on to Las Vegas and Seattle. He settled in Portland for a long time before coming back to San Antonio for a few months. He's now based in Pacific Grove, Calif. In August, Grayzell worked Lincoln Center in New York City, where he sang Judy during a salute to Sun Records.

Walker also introduced a 17-year-old Grayzell to Elvis Presley. Grayzell and his band were playing a supermarket opening in San Antonio. Presley stopped by the gig. Presley was impressed with Grayzell and asked the youngster from South San to go on the road as his opening act.

"Elvis gave me my nickname, Rudy 'Tutti,' after I added Little Richard's Tutti Frutti to my set," Grayzell said. "Elvis was a beautiful human being. I knew from the first time I saw him in that grocery store parking lot that he was going to be a big star." [MySanAntonio]

Rudy plays Brooklyn Bowl tonight (12/7) with Lustre Kings (maybe you caught him at Lincoln Center this summer). More dates and a video of him performing at Lincoln Center, below...

Continue reading "Rockabilly hall of famer Rudy Tutti Grayzell in Brooklyn tonight, playing other cities too (dates)"

It happens only once in a blue moon -- and scientists say a blue moon is exactly what we'll see in the skies this New Year's Eve.

Don't expect an azure glow over our lunar satellite, however. The term "blue moon" simply refers to the second full moon in a calendar month, something that hasn't happened on a New Year's Eve for nearly 20 years, NASA says.

"December 1990 ended with a blue moon, and many New Year's Eve parties were themed by the event," said Professor Philip Hiscock of the department of folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland, in Canada. "It was a lot of fun."

Most months have just one full moon, because the 29.5-day cycle of the moon matches up pretty well with the length of calendar months. Occasionally, there will be two full moons in a month, something that happens about every 2½ years, NASA says.

But a blue moon on December 31 is rare.

Elvis Presley crooned about it when he sang the old Rodgers and Hart song "Blue Moon," in which he stood alone without a dream in his heart or a love of his own.

He struck a more hopeful tone in another tune, singing about his love returning to his arms "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again." He also covered Bill Monroe's bluegrass classic, "Blue Moon of Kentucky." [CNN]

A selection of blue moon videos & songs below....

Continue reading "it's a Blue Moon this New Years Eve (so here are some videos & NYC show reminders) "

by Ryan Barkan

Miller Chili or mojitos anyone?

Phone wars 2009 - Verizon vs. AT&T. It is always a battle when these two giants square off with their :60 second spots in tow to prove which company provides the best cellular service and coverage. In recent years, Verizon has enlisted the likes of AC/DC and The Killers. Included in the deal with the Aussie rockers was the right to exclusively offer the band's music digitally. On the other side, AT&T has hammered home their phone offerings and 5-bar messages with a spot including a track from Lupe Fiasco featuring Jill Scott, "Daydreamin", one with Mates Of State, and an Amos Lee commercial, among others. Both have recently gone to the licensing well again to soundtrack new technology and coverage, but with different strategies.

Verizon's new "Hub" decided to go the synergy route, using one of the most popular mainstream tunes of the last year, Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours", in multiple spots showcasing the company's new phone technology.

AT&T meanwhile went with different tunes for each of the new 5-bar spots, matching songs with each commercial's creative direction. In "Backpackers", the sentimental "Falling in Love in a Coffeeshop" by Landon Pigg tells the story of two lovers who met on a brief European backpacking trip. However, because of the quality of the service and technology, they not only can stay in touch with great coverage but end up together again with a touching beachfront reunion. Another boxing themed spot brings to mind Rocky with "Gonna Fly Now." Eighties rockers Journey power this commercial for the symphony. Lastly, an inspirational spot based on Venice, CA, store Tom's Shoes. The store has one premise -- each pair of shoes bought equals one free pair for a child in need. The commercial uses an instrumental version of James Blunt's "Same Mistake." Watch that spot here.

Other Notable Commercial Licensing News:

An instant classic commercial from Heineken -- the beer company celebrates responsible drinking (title is called "Let A Stranger Drive You Home") with the help from Biz Markie's "Just A Friend". Watch the spot below.

Beer maker Miller went with San Fran's The Dodos as the music for their new Miller Chill commercial. Watch it below.

"Daylight," a track by Matt & Kim, provides the vibe in a new commercial for Bacardi Mojitos. See it below.

continued below...

Continue reading "This week in Music Licensing (De La Soul, the Dodos, Passion Pit, Black Lips, Matt & Kim, Mates of State & more...) "

Steve Earle @ Judson Church (more by Chris La Putt)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Cat Power @ Union Pool
* Toubab Krewe @ SOB's
* Debbie Harry @ Bowery Ballroom
* Stripped Stories @ UCB Theatre
* Steve Earle & Allison Moorer @ City Winery
* The Depreciation Guild @ The Bell House
* Head Automatica & Radio 4 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Christina Courtin & Gabriel Kahane @ (le) poisson rouge
* Barkuna, Imaginary Weapons & Wild Yaks @ Glasslands ^^
* Janeane Garofalo, Paul F. Tompkins, David Cross, Kristen Schaal @ 92YTribeca
* Greg Johnson, Baron Vaughn, Roger Hailes & the State's Kevin Allison @ Sound Fix

^^ Hektor from Twi the Humble Feather is in Imaginary Weapons.

Bill Graham was born today in 1931.

Elvis Presley was born today in 1935.

Bodies of Water's new video for "Under the Pines" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Super Furry Animals fans, New Years Eve, London (cred)

* Thurston Moore and friends play Knitting Factory
* Hymns are having a residency at Pianos
* Natalie Merchant plays Hiro Ballroom
* Kate Nash plays the Virgin Megastore
* New Hampshire is having a primary
* Happy Birthday Elvis

What else?

Happy veterans day. The key to who is in the pictures above, and a list of other musicians that served in the military (in some capacity at least), below....

Continue reading "Musicians that served in the military"

As someone who:

• missed Daft Punk's show in Coney Island
• missed Muse's show at MSG (not a huge Muse fan, but people keep saying you HAVE to see them live)
• missed Rage Against the Machine at Coachella and Rock the Bells (honestly not dying to see them again, but kind of want to too)
• has seen the reunited Iggy Pop & The Stooges, and think they're awesome, and would love to see them perform their classic album Fun House from start to finish (like they did in London in 2005)
• likes to see shows by artists like M.I.A., Ghostface, Mastodon, Blonde Redhead, and Gogol Bordello
• likes to roll in Sin City and play the nickel slots 'till the sun comes up...

P.S. This Thursday August 16th is the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death.