"The 27 Club, also occasionally known as the Forever 27 Club or Club 27, is a name for a group of influential rock music artists who died at the age of 27. The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll details the history of the phenomenon. The impetus for the club's creation were the deaths of Brian Jones, Jim Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Kurt Cobain, who died in 1994, was later added by some. With the exception of Joplin, there is controversy surrounding their deaths. According to the book Heavier Than Heaven, when Cobain died, his sister claimed that as a kid he would talk about how he wanted to join the 27 Club. On the fifteenth anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death, National Public Radio's Robert Smith said, "The deaths of these rock stars at the age of 27 really changed the way we look at rock music." [Wikipedia]

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Dave Alexander of the Stooges, Pete de Freitas of Echo & the Bunnymen, Sean Patrick McCabe of Ink & Dagger, Kristen Pfaff of Hole, Mia Zapata, D. Boon of the Minutemen, and other notable musicians have also passed away at 27.

by Ryan Barkan

Super Bowl XLV (45): Dallas Cowboys vs...oh wait....The Green Bay Packers vs the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dallas' brand new, state of the art, big ass stadium. The Packers won, bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to small town America and less sales back to Wiz Khalifa. I wonder if Jerry Jones was faking all of those smiles? Enough of the sports talk. This feature is the return of the long lost "Week In Music Licensing" post.

The real winner tonight - Detroit. A town that has been down on its luck, due for something inspiring to happen. Well here you go. Laura R. Charron tweeted that "#Detroit area agrees that #Chrysler200 had THE BEST commercial." Decide for yourself:

Continue reading "music & commercials of Super Bowl XLV (Eminem, Jon Spencer, Ozzy, Bieber, Bowie, RAC, Kenny G & more)"

by Ryan Barkan

Tracy Morgan & Stevie Wonder (picture via Hipster Runoff)

Super Bowl XLIV (44) took place Sunday night in Florida between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. The Saints semi-upset the Colts to win the big game for the first time in the franchise's history. This post is a special edition of the long lost "Week In Music Licensing" post and as such, that's the last you will hear about the game. Grizzly Bear, Arcade Fire, many videos and more below...

Continue reading "music & commercials of Super Bowl XLIV (Grizzly Bear, Arcade Fire, The Who, Mini Kiss, The Heavy & more) "

Former Television (current Rocket from the Tombs and frequent Matthew Sweet) guitarist Richard Lloyd and his band The Sufimonkeys will be touring this month [April] and next - dates below. The Sufimonkeys features Television drummer Billy Ficca and bassist Keith Hartel.

[As briefly mentioned before,] Parasol Records will be releasing a new album of Jimi Hendrix covers by Richard entitled The Jamie Neverts Story. Though the Hendrix covers CD won't be officially released until September 2009 Richard will have finished CDs available for purchase at these shows.

As mentioned above, Lloyd will be joined by Television member Billy Ficca. The two were scheduled to play together - AS TELEVISION - at Central Park Summerstage in 2007, but sadly, Lloyd missed that date which would have also been his last with the band. Television are recording a new album, but with Jimmy Ripp instead filling in on guitar (as he did that day at Summerstage).

Lloyd's connection to Hendrix (besides the cover album described above) is documented quite strangely (And without sources) in Lloyd's Wikipedia entry...

In his middle teens he met a scrawny black kid from Brooklyn named Velvert Turner who had the audacity to claim to know Jimi Hendrix. Lloyd was the only one of a group of friends who believed him on first sight and it turned out to be true; in fact, Jimi considered Velvert his "little brother", and took him on as his protégé, inviting him to various clubs and teaching him guitar from Jimi's apartment on W 12th St. As Velvert and Richard Lloyd were best friends, Velvert asked for permission to teach Lloyd what he was learning, and so Lloyd and Velvert began practicing together under the teaching auspice of Hendrix, and frequently attended his shows as well as those of other well-known acts such as Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart, The Allman Brothers Band, Grateful Dead etc.

Continue reading "Television's Richard Lloyd - touring w/ Billy Ficca (Sufimonkeys dates), releasing Hendrix cover CD"

Gang Gang Dance @ the Studio (more by Gabi Porter)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Jim Gaffigan @ Town Hall
* Dr. Lonnie Smith @ Iridium
* Slick Rick @ Highline Ballroom
* Harry Connick Jr. @ City Center
* Little Dragon @ (le) poisson rouge
* Mr. Brownstone & Satanicide @ Irving Plaza
* Phosphorescent & Virgin Forest @ Bell House
* El Ten Eleven & Abigail Warchild @ 92yTribeca
* Gang Gang Dance, Marnie Stern & Zs @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Amazing Baby, Suckers, Tigercity & Kristina Lieberson @ Mercury Lounge

Rakim's show at Southpaw tonight was cancelled, but he is playing Knitting Factory on December 19th.

Chicks on Speed's show at Highline Ballroom tonight was cancelled, but they are DJing at Le Royale on Saturday.

Little Dragon share a country, a record label, and band members with Jose Gonzalez. They're currently on a tour of the United States that includes a show at Le Poisson Rouge tonight.

Jimi Hendrix's birthday was yesterday. He was born in 1942. He died September 18, 1970 at age 27. BB King's is having a tribute tonight.

Happy Buy Nothing Day. Dance Your Debt Away at Union Square at 3pm.

Some videos for Black Friday below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday? (Black Friday / Buy Nothing Day)"

Mitch Mitchell (right)

today in NYC
* AC/DC @ MSG
* The Budos Band @ SOB's
* Hank IV & Los Llamarada @ Maxwell's
* Butch Walker & Jesse Malin @ Gramercy Theatre
* Jolie Holland & Herman Dune @ Highline Ballroom
* Alejandro Escovedo & Amy Cook @ Bowery Ballroom
* No Neck Blues Band & Electroputas @ Santos Party House
* Little Joy, The Dead Trees & Blonde Acid Cult @ Mercury Lounge
* Spank Rock, Busy Bee, Grand Master Caz, Grand Wizard Theodore, Double Trouble, NinjaSonik @ Danbro Brewery Warehouse

Also, according to Cake Shop's website, Jens Lekman is DJing there tonight. Other recent Jens appearances include the "singing DJ" performance at our CMJ show, a "DJ" appearance right after that at the Bell House, and a straight up singing appearance at the Living Room two days ago.

Ol' Dirty Bastard died today in 2004.

RIP, Mitch Mitchell

Another great drummer, Jimmy Carl Black, passed away earlier this month.

Mitch Mitchell drumming in the videos below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday? (Mitch Mitchell, RIP)"

Mike Devlin put together this list....

Continue reading "a list of the "Top 10 musical geniuses""