Last night's (and tonight's) show at Iridium Jazz Club was billed as "Jeff Beck invites you to a Very Special Evening - A Celebration of Les Paul with the Imelda May Band". The best way to describe it would be "The Imelda May Band played covers with the amazing Jeff Beck as their guitarist, a really awesome saxophone player and a couple of special guests". The show was being filmed by PBS for a special that is set to air around Christmas (and is being released on DVD).

Before the show started, they quickly filmed Jeff handing a plaque to Les Paul's son. The plaque will hang in the venue, which is where Les played every Monday night up until his recent death. Today, June 9th, would have been his 95th birthday.

The Irish Imelda May's band included her husband Darrel Higham who may have sang more songs than anyone all night, a drummer and an upright bassist. And there was a 3-piece horn section that included the crowd-pleasing Leo Green on sax. The setlist covered lots of standards ranging from Moon River to Rock Around the Clock. People clapped every time Jeff did a short solo in one of the songs. People made other weird crowd noises every time he switched guitars. Everyone was itching for him to jam out a little more. The NY Times says...

"Roughly speaking, Mr. Beck's long and passionate set was divided into three parts. The opening section, beginning with Elvis Presley's "Baby, Let's Play House" was pure rockabilly and allowed Mr. Beck to acknowledge some of the influences he absorbed after his initial exposure to Les Paul: Scotty Moore and Cliff Gallup in particular, but also with occasional Link Wray, Duane Eddy and Roy Buchanan flourishes thrown in. That part of the show also included a tune associated with Mr. Beck's own repertory, a reading of Johnny Burnette's "Train Kept A Rollin'" that was truer to the song's origins than the Yardbirds hit versions and other later recordings by Aerosmith and others.

After Imelda May took the stage, the show soon switched over to renditions of Les Paul's greatest hits, with Mr. Beck replicating some of the original solos, notoriously tricky, especially when not overdubbed, and transforming others by adopting a more stinging tone. In addition to "How High the Moon," he tackled "Vaya con Dios," "Mockingbird Hill," "Bye Bye Blues," "Tiger Rag" and, most challenging of all, "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise."" [NY Times]

The first guest of the Gibson-sponsored night was Gary U.S. Bonds (whose credits include touring with the Beatles... as headliner). He sang one song with the band. It was his hit "New Orleans" and it was arguably the biggest highlight of the night. Jeff Beck introduced him by saying something like, "when I found out he was playing around the corner, I had to get him on this show." You can catch Gary TONIGHT (6/9) at BB King's (billed as "GARY U.S. BONDS - BIRTHDAY SHOW with Special Guests"). Happy Birthday Les. Happy Birthday Gary.

The second guest, who fit right in with the rockabilly theme Imelda May and band have going on, was Stray Cat Brian Setzer who performed "Twenty Flight Rock" with Jeff and band. He also then returned a couple of songs later to play guitar on "Shake Rattle & Roll".

The biggest guest of the evening, David Bowie, never left his seat in the audience (well, while the show was happening anyway).

They do it again tonight, with even bigger special guests rumored (member of the Rolling Stones among them). A video from last night below...

Continue reading "Jeff Beck, Imelda May & some friends honored Les Paul @ Iridium Jazz Club (Gary U.S. Bonds plays BB Kings tonight) "

"A Celebration Of Les Paul"

Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck is playing invite-only shows at Iridium Jazz Club in NYC on June 8th and June 9th. The intimate gigs, where Jeff will be joined by the Imelda May Band, will pay tribute to fellow legendary guitarist Les Paul who performed at the club regularly right up until his death last year.

I have two pairs of tickets to give away to the June 8th show, courtesy of Iridium and Gibson Guitar. Details on winning them, and video of Les and Jeff jamming, below...

Continue reading "Jeff Beck celebrating Les Paul @ Iridium Jazz Club (win tix) "

Eclectic rocker Neil Young, who has made no secret of his disdain for the Grammys, finally won a coveted trophy on Sunday for the first time in a career spanning almost 50 years.

Fittingly, the Canadian singer/songwriter was honored for a long-delayed boxed set collecting more than 120 tracks from his early days.

"Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972)" won the Grammy for best art direction on a boxed or special limited-edition package. Young, 64, shared the award with fellow art directors Gary Burden and Jenice Heo.

"Thanks a lot, everybody," Young said as he accepted his statuette.

He also competed for best solo rock vocal Grammy but lost to Bruce Springsteen, whose career total rose to 20.

On Friday he was honored by the music industry at its annual MusiCares charity fundraiser in recognition of his annual concerts for the Bridge School for disabled children.

The 10-disc "Archives" boxed set has been in the works for years, with Young frequently delaying its release so that technology could catch up with his vision. It boasts studio and live tracks, demos, outtakes and other rarities, as well as videos and the first digital release of his directing debut, "Journey Through the Past."

Fans have the choice of three configurations: CD, DVD and Blu-ray -- the most expensive at more than $200. [Reuters]

Kings of Leon won three. MGMT won none. Loudon Wainwright, Steve Earle, Levon Helm, Steve Martin (bluegrass), and Michael J Fox all won Grammys. Phoenix won for best Alternative Music Album. David Byrne & Brian Eno's CD won for 'Recording Package'. Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Les Paul and Michael Jackson were honored. Stephen Colbert won in the comedy category which came later in the show than his iPad bit. Video of that with the full list of winners below...

Continue reading "full list of 2010 Grammy Award Winners (Phoenix, Stephen Colbert, Kings of Leon, David Byrne, Leonard Cohen & more) "

Chicha Libre

Jim Campilongo

today in NYC
* Whiplash @ UCB
* Chicha Libre @ Barbes
* Jim Campilongo @ Living Room
* Sam Amidon @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Rev. Vince Anderson @ Union Pool
* Johnny Butler, Peter Evans Sextet @ Zebulon
* Les Paul Guitar Trio w/ José Feliciano @ Iridium
* Emilyn Brodsky, Noah Britton, PAPS, Sing with Voices @ Silent Barn
* Julian Lynch, Pop. 1280, Big Troubles, Queening, Henry Hynes @ Bruar Falls
* Babies, German Measles, Nude Beach, Neato Fleets, Sandworms @ Death By Audio

Jim Campilongo plays the Living Room every Monday night.

Chicha Libre plays Barbes every Monday night.

Reverend Vince Anderson is at Union Pool every Monday night.

Les Paul used to play Iridium Jazz Club every Monday night. Now his slot is filled by the Les Paul Guitar Trio and tribute shows in his honor.

Whiplash is at UCB every Monday night. Tonight's free show has Jim Norton (The Tonight Show), Amy Schumer (Last Comic Standing), Anthony Jeselnick (Late Night w/Jimmy Fallon), Dave Hill (The Dave Hill Explosion), Tom McCaffrey, & Jesse Popp.

Check out Dave Hill's End of 2009 Interview.

Pianos usually has comedy every Monday too ("This is It"), but they are currently closed for renovation.

Vivian Girls/Woods side-project the Babies play three shows in three days. The first is tonight with German Measles, Nude Beach, Neato Fleets and Sandworms at Death By Audio.

The Death By Audio show is a Nude Beach LP release party.

The show at Silent Barn tonight is both free and an features a set by a band called ACLU Benefit.

Follow @BVticketsONsale for even more notice of show tickets going on sale.

My Brightest Diamond has a show coming up at Bowery Ballroom which is on sale.

Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beth Orton have shows coming up at The Bell House.

Aziz Ansari has live shows, a CD, and a DVD in his future.

ALL has live shows in their future, but not this month anymore.

Handsome Furs have just one show scheduled at the moment, and it's here in the NYC-area.

Ed Banger is throwing a big party at Terminal 5 in February.

A Storm of Light played the show with Coalesce and Coliseum at Europa on 12/30. Pictures HERE. A video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

"Les Paul, the guitarist and inventor who changed the course of music with the electric guitar and multitrack recording and had a string of hits, many with wife Mary Ford, died on Thursday. He was 94.

According to Gibson Guitar, Paul died of complications from pneumonia at White Plains Hospital. His family and friends were by his side.

As an inventor, Paul helped bring about the rise of rock 'n' roll and multitrack recording, which enables artists to record different instruments at different times, sing harmony with themselves, and then carefully balance the "tracks" in the finished recording." [AP]

Les continued to perform right up until the end! Almost every Monday at Iridium Jazz Club right here in NYC (where "You Never Know who will show up"). RIP Les!
Videos below...

Continue reading "Les Paul, RIP "

Efterklang @ Mercury Lounge - March 28, 2009 (Efterklang - photoblog)

A Hawk and a Hacksaw @ SXSW 2009 (Efterklang - photoblog)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Whiplash @ UCB
* Les Paul @ Iridium
* Garotas Suecas @ Zebulon
* The Roots @ Highline Ballroom
* Jamie Stewart (of Xiu Xiu) @ Monkey Town
* Mates of State, Black Kids @ Webster Hall
* The Rakes, The Dig, Sean Bones @ Bowery Ballroom
* James Yuill, The Answering Machine @ Mercury Lounge

"This is a charity auction for 2 tickets to see Dark Was The Night - Live at Radio City Music Hall on May 3, 2009. Besides getting the VIP treatment, you will also receive what we are calling THE JOSH FREESE COMMEMORATIVE BONUS PRIZE PACK of extras and goodies to enhance your overall winning bid experience." [ebay]

Videos of Les Paul playing at Iridium below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

Les Paul

disco dreidel @ Webster hall (Rahav Segev for The New York Times)

"Matisyahu deployed what may be the only large, mirrored, rotating dreidel in show business -- a Jewish answer to a disco ball -- at Webster Hall on Sunday night, the first night of Hanukkah." [NY Times]

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Les Paul @ Iridium
* Matisyahu @ Rockwood Music Hall (don't ask me)
* Bird Show (Ben Vida) & White/Light @ Cake Shop

If Matisyahu interests you at all, this recent interview/article at The Jewish Daily Forward is pretty interesting. Matisyahu recently completed his 8-show Hanukkah run at Music Hall of Williamsburg and Webster Hall. Rockwood Music Hall is significantly smaller than those venues. Rockwood Music Hall is significantly smaller than pretty much any other venue.

Mono have a NYC show coming up.

Crystal Castles played Music Hall of Williamsburg on New Years Eve.

Talibam! was playing at midnight on New Years Eve @ Surreal Estate. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will pay tribute to the "father of the electric guitar" this fall.

Les Paul will be honored at the annual American Music Masters series, a weeklong event that begins Nov. 10, Rock Hall officials said Tuesday. A tribute concert -- artists will be named later -- is scheduled Nov. 15 at Cleveland's State Theater.

Paul, 93, is hoping to attend, said Rock Hall President and CEO Terry Stewart. [AP]

See Les Paul live every Monday night.

Les Paul @ Iridium Jazz Club - August 4, 2008

I don't usually say much about the legendary Les Paul on this site, but the above pictures (by Fresh Bread) inspired me. Les is 93 years old! Les performs two shows every Monday night at NYC's Iridium Jazz Club on Broadway and 51st St.