Phosphorescent & Willie Nelson @ Farm Aid 2009 (Ebet Roberts, Farm Aid)

Neil Young - "Stop Factory Farms" @ Farm Aid 2009 (Matt Edson, Farm Aid)

Farm Aid finally planted its deep seeds in St. Louis for the first time Sunday, with the big benefit event unfolding all day at a sold-out Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.

It was a long day of messages -- just say "no" to factory farming and "yes" to family farming. The point couldn't be stressed enough, it seemed, whether via the interactive Homegrown Village area, the concessions, the PA system on the concourse and the performers from the stage.

"We want our farms back," said rock icon Neil Young at the top of his set. Later, he said: "I hope you're enjoying Farm Aid. We'd enjoy it more if you'd give us some money."

But it was the music, not the messages necessarily, that packed the joint, the wall-to-wall rock and country music. And Farm Aid overflowed with it, culminating in headliners Willie Nelson, Young, Dave Matthews and John Mellencamp, all Farm Aid board members. [St Louis Dispatch]

Wilco and Phosphorescent were also on Sunday's bill. As you can see above, Phos even shared a stage with his hero Willie (who he made a tribute album for). If you want to watch the whole event, it seems to just be continually streaming at Farm Aid's website. A few YouTubes from Neil Young's set below...

Continue reading "Farm Aid 2009: Willie Nelson played w/ Phosphorescent, Neil Young & more - pics, video, stream"

Phosphorescent @ Prospect Park in June (more by Tim Griffin)

Phosphorescent and Tune Yards team up for a show at Music Hall of Williamsburg this Saturday (September 5th). Mike Bones is also on the bill. Tickets are still on sale.

After that, Phosphorescent has two weeks of tour dates in October that include a stop at Farm Aid in St. Louis, Mo on October 4th which is kind of awesome, but not surprising since Matthew Houck (Mr. Phos) has become friendly with Farm Aid president Willie Nelson ever since Willie became a fan of Matthew's tribute album. Also on the bill of Farm Aid this year: John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds with Jamey Johnson, Jason Mraz, and Wilco. Rumor is that (very prolific) Willie and Phos may even have something else in the works.

Tune Yards (Merrill Garbus), whose debut, BiRd-BrAiNs, was re-released in August on 4AD, is heading to Europe for a set of shows, some of which are with Dirty Projectors (who have their own NYC/N.A. dates coming up). She'll be back in North America and playing shows in October. Her scheduled gigs include a Tuesday, October 6th show at Union Hall with Dragons of Zynth. Tickets are on sale now.

All tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Phosphorescent touring, playing Farm Aid (like Wilco) & MHOW (w/ Tune Yards who has more dates scheduled too) "

Neil Young @ Farm Aid @ Randall's Island, NYC - Sept 9, 2007

photo by Michael Gruen

As seems tradition for his Farm Aid sets, Young dipped into his revered late-'70s acoustic album "Comes a Time," bookending his brief set with "Human Highway" and "Four Strong Winds." Nelson and his longtime harmonica player Mickey Raphael joined for the latter, as well as "Homegrown." Other highlights included a slowed take on "Everyone Knows This is Nowhere" and "Heart of Gold." [Billboard]

Fresh off yesterday's Farm Aid show, Neil Young went ahead and announced some tour dates that include two NYC shows at the United Palace Theater in December. Neil's tour coincides with a new album called Chrome Dreams II - out October 18th on Reprise Records. According to a press release,

Chrome Dreams II is a stunning collection of eight new and two classic Young songs. Recorded last summer in Northern California, musicians include Ben Keith (pedal steel guitar, dobro and other instruments), Ralph Molina (drums) and Rick Rosas (bass), who will be performing with Young on the tour.

More photos, tour dates, and info on getting a copy of the CD for free with ticket purchase, below....

Continue reading "Neil Young - 2007 Tour Dates, new album & Farm Aid pics"

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Police are investigating reports a 15-year-old was sexually assaulted Tuesday at Saratoga Performing Arts Center during a Dave Matthews Band concert, marking the second time in two years that security during the popular band's visit has been questioned.

The concert promoter, Live Nation, and SPAC, which is inside Saratoga Spa State Park, are working with authorities to figure out what happened at the concert att by more than 25,000. [timesunion]

And speaking of Dave Matthews, here's the latest news on Farm Aid:

On Sunday, September 9 at Randall’s Island in New York City, Gregg Allman will perform a special acoustic set with Willie Nelson and Dave Matthews, Farm Aid announced today. The unique musical collaboration will add to the stellar lineup at Farm Aid 2007: A HOMEGROWN Festival, the organization’s first New York concert event.

Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Gregg Allman, The Allman Brothers Band, Counting Crows, Matisyahu, Guster, The Derek Trucks Band, Warren Haynes, Supersuckers, The Ditty Bops and Montgomery Gentry are scheduled to perform at Farm Aid 2007: A HOMEGROWN Festival. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds and The Allman Brothers Band are scheduled to play full festival sets.

Tickets are on sale. And speaking of beards, Shooter Jennings is playing Bowery Ballroom, and ZZ Top just added a 2nd show at NYC's Beacon Theatre in September. All tour dates below....

Continue reading "Man assaults girl @ Dave Matthews concert, Farm Aid updates, Shooter Jennings & ZZ Top Tour Dates"

Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp joined New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and a host of local farmers today (June 11) amid the Union Square Green Market to announce a Sept. 9 date for the annual Farm Aid benefit at Randall's Island. As usual, the artists will be joined by fellow Farm Aid board members Neil Young and Dave Matthews at the event.

"This will be the first Farm Aid that provides 100% homegrown food at the concert," Mellencamp said proudly. Acknowledging the organic market just a few hundred feet away, Nelson said, "This is a great example of what can be done in the big cities." [Billboard]