photos by Greg Cristman

Cheap Trick was amazing... the band barely let up; if there was a second or a pause they ripped into another song, played The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour as if they owned it. "She's Tight" which brought back images of the video from thirty years ago. "The Dream Police" which I would say is my favorite, and "I Want You to Want Me". Rickie Nilsson kept flipping guitar picks out into the audience and like a kid I wanted to get one. -[Train Writer]

Cheap Trick played The Paramount in Huntington, Long Island on December 8th, with support from Mickey Leigh's New Yorkestra (Mickey Leigh is Joey Ramone's brother). The band has two more dates set on their calendar before the clock strikes 2012, on December 28th at Buckhead Theater in Atlanta and on New Year's Eve in St. Petersburg, FL at Jannus Landing.

So far, no plans to have Cheap Trick perform at the, um Cheap Trick. As BV Chicago posted last month...

Cheap Trick, the Rockford band behind the '70s hits "Dream Police" and "I Want You to Want Me," announced that it will "curate" a museum and music venue in a former Buick dealership at 2245 S. Michigan in the emerging Record Row-Motor Row district.

Band manager David Frey said in a statement that Cheap Trick Chicago will be "a one-of-a-kind eatery, unique musical instrument museum, radio station, and performance space as well as rooftop and outdoor and event space in the future Music Row in Chicago."

...The announcement is a continuation of Fioretti's vision to link the historic Chess Records site, 2120 S. Michigan; the empty Vee-Jay and Brunswick Records site, 1449 S. Michigan, and vacant auto dealerships into an entertainment district that would blend history, recording studios, hotels and restaurants.

"I think we could put the Cheap Trick project together by next year," Fioretti said Wednesday. -[Chicago Sun Times]

More pictures and the setlist from The Paramount on December 8th and all tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Cheap Trick played the Paramount w/ Mickey Leigh's New Yorkestra (pics, setlist), opening Chicago venue"

On March, 31st Mickey Leigh posted the following to JoeyRamone.com wrote:

Post subject: Joey Ramone Birthday Bash 2011

As always, the first announcement of this event is posted for the most ardent of his fans right here, on Joey's website.

The birth and career of my brother is set to be celebrated once again, and I hope that many of you will be able to join me at the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash 2011. I want to keep it uplifting so I'm not going to start talking any timelines. I think all of us here are well aware of what this year marks. I always want this to be a special occasion, and something for us to be happy about so:
"Don't be sad, cause I'll be there" - as he would say it.
I know many of you are coming regardless, but I'm sure are still anxious to hear who some of the performers will be. I can't give you the whole line-up yet, but can tell you who I am sure will be coming at this point.

From the band the Ramones played with at The Roundhouse in 1977 (my last tour with them) - The Stranglers' singer/songwriter/guitarist Hugh Cornwell will be performing the classics that made that band legendary. Joining Hugh on drums is Elvis Ramone also, and far more- well known as Clem Burke of Blondie. On bass is Fish -more info on him later.

Black 47 -a revered NYC band Joey went to see frequently, and had even hoped to produce a record for.

Richard Lloyd- co-founder of Television, the band that paved the way for all others to play at CBGB.
Richie Ramone, Tommy Ramone, Holly Beth Vincent, Ed Stasium, Al Maddy, Andy Hilfiger, and many others (TBA.. including myself, will be performing songs from the upcoming Joey Ramone solo album.
Also on the bill is Sunday Masquerade.

Please keep in mind this is just a preliminary notice. More to come soon.

Tickets for the 11th annual event are on sale. Joey Ramone died 10 years ago today.

Continue reading "Joey Ramone died 10 years ago today, his next birthday party is at Irving Plaza in May (tix on sale)"

The Mountain Goats @ Webster Hall in November 2008 (more by Faith-Ann Young)

tonight in NYC
* The Loom, Kath Bloom @ Bruar Falls
* McCoy Tyner Trio w/ Gary Bartz @ Blue Note
* Mickey Leigh & Legs McNeil @ Barnes & Noble
* The Mountain Goats, Final Fantasy @ Webster Hall
* Kurt Vile, Small Black, DJ Rezound @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Over the Rhine, Lucy Wainwright Roche @ Highline Ballroom
* Dynasties, Darlings, Video Daughters, Equestrian @ Glasslands
* Russian Circles, Young Widows, The Phantom Family Halo @ Bowery Ballroom

I'm making an effort to post "What's Going "On" first thing each day. As it scrolls down the page, you can always find it by clicking the "What's Going on Today?" button in the homepage sidebar. If things come up throughout the day, they'll be added to the post or the comments (which of course everyone is always encouraged to do as well).

Kurt Vile plays a free set at tonight's Fader Bowl at Brooklyn Bowl, along with Small Black and DJ Rezound. Vile will be back in February as part of his tour with Fucked Up.

The Mountain Goats and Final Fantasy play Webster Hall tonight. Tomorrow it's the Bell House. Both are sold out. Tickets are still available for the Webster Hall show.

Final Fantasy also appears on Dinner With The Band tonight. Video of a new song played on the episode, below...

I Slept With Joey Ramone is a new book by Joey Ramone's brother Mickey Leigh and Legs McNeil who are both appearing at Barnes & Noble Tribeca (97 Warren St.) at 7pm today ("The evening will feature a Q&A, book signing and an intimate discussion with the authors. Plus: Witness a candid one-on-one interview between authors Mickey Leigh and Legs McNeil.").

The Loom appear at Bruar Falls tonight. If you miss them, you can also try and see them when they open the late Rural Alberta Advantage show at Mercury Lounge on January 9th.

Legendary pianist McCoy Tyner, who got his start in John Coltrane's band, bring his trio for three nights at Blue Note with alto saxist Gary Bartz.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Celebrating what would have been the 58th birthday of punk icon Joey Ramone, the annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash will take place Tuesday, May 19th at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza. Mickey Leigh, event organizer and brother of Joey Ramone, has announced that, as part of the 9th annual Bash, fans will be treated to a special advance sneak peek listen to rough mixes of never-before-heard Joey Ramone solo recordings. Various producers, including long-time Ramones producer Ed Stasium, are currently preparing tracks for a full album worth of material, slated for posthumous release at the end of the year.

This year's headliners are Fishbone and Supersuckers. The spectacular party will conclude with The Friends Of Joey featuring Richie Ramone, Handsome Dick Manitoba, Jean Beauvoir, Ivan Julian, George Tabb, Al Maddy and Mickey Leigh. Also appearing are Death and Rough Francis (both bands were the subject of a feature story in the New York Times on March 12), Uncle Monk (featuring Tommy Ramone), Bebe Buell, and Tom Clark & The High Action Boys. As the audience enters the venue they will once again be greeted by musician Tracy Thornton, playing Ramones songs on the steel drum. And, in what has become a Birthday Bash tradition, Sean O'Sullivan's Punk Pipers will round out the night on the bagpipes. The fete will be emceed by Matt Pinfield and Peter Aschner. Additional surprises are expected at the evening's events...Net proceeds from the Bash go to support the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research.

Tickets are on sale now. The annual event, organized by Joey's mom and brother, has been happening since 2001.

Videos from the 2008 party, below...

Continue reading "2009 Joey Ramone Birthday Bash lineup & new album info "

STATEMENT FROM MICKEY LEIGH:

"It has been brought to my attention that Linda Cummings, using the name "Ramone," has recently been in the media joining with the Palin family and the McCains to attempt to aid their campaign for the Presidency. As a President of Ramones Productions, and brother of Joey Ramone, I just want it to be clear that Linda Cummings does not represent the political views of the Ramones. Surely, as for Joey Ramone, the only Ramones song he would sing at a Republican campaign event would be 'Glad To See You Go!'

"I should add that when Johnny stated 'God Bless George Bush' at the 2002 Rock&Roll Hall of Fame awards, I realize now that he was on to something. Because if it were not for George Bush and his handling of our country the past 8 years, I doubt so many Americans, including so many highly regarded Republicans, would now be getting behind Barack Obama. So, yes, God bless George Bush for paving the way to Obama."

~ ~ Mickey Leigh