by Klaus Kinski

Doug Gillard @ Irving Plaza NYE (more by Chris Gersbeck)

I got heavily obsessed with Guided By Voices after the demise of the "classic '93 - '96 line-up" which featured Robert Pollard, Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Kevin Fennell, and Greg Demos (a line-up that reunited in 2010 and has been blazing a sweaty, beer soaked trail across the US since) (this past weekend's Sasquatch Festival included).

I've now seen the classic line-up twice thanks to the reunion, but prior to that my live experience was always delivered by Robert Pollard, Nate Farley, Doug Gillard, Kevin March, Tim Tobias and, later on, Chris Slusarenko. I often had to be rolled out of those shows in a wheelbarrow, and memories of those shows are muddied and schizophrenic, but two things I always took away from a GBV experience was A) that I had had the time of my life and B) that lead guitarist Doug Gillard was, and is, easily one of the most agile guitar gods in rock 'n roll. I mean, forget about shredding and other wanky guitar-athleticism bullshit. What Doug brings to the table is a prodigal level of rock-solid, rock guitar purity and proficiency. Doug is an absolute master of his craft, and you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone out there these days who can get such a thunderous onslaught from his Les Paul and his amps. So it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to find that your man Klaus has been following Doug's solo career with great interest and it is because of non-GBV-related Gillard news that I write to you fine people today.

On Saturday June 4th, Doug will be part of an ensemble of musicians paying tribute to Captain Beefheart at Bowery Poetry Club.

Gary Lucas (Beefheart alumni, Jeff Buckley), Nona Hendryx (Labelle, Talking Heads), Nina Persson (The Cardigans), Nathan Larson (Shudder To Think), Cynthia Sley (Bush Tetras), Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices), Eric Slick (Dr. Dog), & Weasel Walter (Behold The Arctopus), will be joined by musicians from the rock, jazz, metal, progressive, blues, experimental, & classical worlds to perform faithful and interpretive versions of songs from Beefheart's entire catalog, from his 1966 debut "Safe As Milk" to his final record "Ice Cream For Crow", released in 1982.

Captain Beefheart died on December 17, 2010 from complications from multiple sclerosis, so it's fitting that ALL PROCEEDS from this show (a reasonable $10) will go directly to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society. If you can't make it to the show, watch the live stream. And consider donating to the MS Society.

Besides the MS/Beefheart show, there are many more opportunities to catch Doug live. Speaking of beef, on Saturday June 11th, get your non-vegan ass to the Big Apple BBQ in Madison Square Park at 1:00pm on Saturday June 11th. While you're feasting on various forms of carrion with gristle and BBQ sauce dribbling from your lips (editor's note: Klaus!), the band Bambi Kino will be performing. Bambi Kino features Mark Rozzo (Maplewood), Ira Elliot (Nada Surf), Doug Gillard (Ex Guided By Voices), Erik Paparazzi (Cat Power) and were formed to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles' first concerts in Hamburg Germany. Back in those days, the Beatles were essentially a cover band themselves, and Bambi Kino's setlist is culled from the Beatles' set list from back in those days. So it's like a cover band covering a cover band who were doing their own versions of the whole blues thing. And it's free! More about who's playing the Big Apple BBQ, HERE.

You can also catch Doug when he goes on tour with Tommy Keene and Sally Crewe and the Sudden Moves. Doug recently wrote and recorded songs on Sally's upcoming 5-song EP "Transmit/Receive". Tommy is touring in support of his new LP, and Doug Gillard will have a new vinyl 7" he'll be promoting. The tour lands at the Rock Shop on September 10th, 2011. Complete tour dates below.

Oh, and before I forget... Doug is recording tons of guitar for the upcoming Nada Surf LP, which is due out in Fall of 2011. Look out for that as well as a tour in support of said LP. Nada Surf's Matthew Caws joined Doug on stage at Irving Plaza on New Years Eve when he opened for GBV.

Catch Guided By Voices, Wavves, and Surfer Blood during the Northside Festival on June 18th, yo.

Catch Bush Tetras (Cynthia Sley is also playing the Beefheart show) at Le Poisson Rouge on Friday, June 10th.

Gary Lucas's other upcoming shows include a July 3rd appearance at Iridium Jazz Club and a July 9th show at the Rubin Museum of Art.

Doug tour dates and the Beefheart flyer below...

Continue reading "Doug Gillard is doing stuff (Captain Beefheart show w/ Gary Lucas, Beatles band, Tommy Keene tour, Nada Surf LP)"

Alejandro Escovedo at City Winery (more by Chris La Putt)

Alejandro Escovedo is spending the days leading up to Christmas on the road. He'll be in Norfolk, CT tonight (12/15) as part of a string of dates that will lead him to The Rubin Museum of Art on Friday (12/17). Tickets are still available. From there Escovedo will head to north to Woodstock to play a sold out show at Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble on 12/18, and hopefully Helm will be in attendance:

Levon Helm, the longtime Woodstock resident, former drummer for The Band and two-time Grammy winner, has been hospitalized but is expected to make a full recovery.

Helm's manager, Barbara O'Brien, told the sold-out crowd at Saturday night's (12/12) Midnight Ramble house concert at Levon Helm Studios that the 70-year-old Arkansas native has been hospitalized in New York City. The show went on, with Levon Helm Studios Chief Engineer Justin Guip filling in on drums. Guip often sits in on a few tunes at each Ramble, the Saturday night shows Helm holds at his home studio several times a month.

"Levon came down with a little bit of a cold this week and because he's got COPD, a little bit of a cold to you and me is a lot more serious for him," O' Brien said. "...We took him to the hospital today. He's going to be fine. He's in the city. He's with his specialist, but he's not going to be here tonight....He is so upset that he can't be here." [Poughkeepsie Journal]

Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope Levon gets well soon!

On a related or should I say relative note, Alejandro Escovedo's neice Sheila E will be in NYC the day after Escovedo (on 12/18 while he is upstate) to play with her old friend Prince at the sold-out Madison Square Garden. Prince kicks off his NYC area run tonight (12/15) at the Izod Center in NJ. Tickets are still available.

Alejandro Escovedo dates and some videos below.

Continue reading "Alejandro Escovedo on tour, Levon Helm hospitalized but ok"

Below is a proper review of Thursday night's show to go along with Ryan Muir's pictures....

Continue reading "Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers in NYC - a review "

photos by Ryan Muir

"Comedian, actor, author, and banjo player Steve Martin releases his first musical recording since 1978's number 1 hit "King Tut." This is no novelty record though. It's some of the best banjo music to come down the pike in a long time. The Crow features able assistance from some of Steve's pals, including Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Tim O'Brien and Mary Black. Martin wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on this album, creating a new body of work that will stand alongside the classics for years to come" [Rounder Records]

Somewhat surreal to say seriously, but Steve Martin completed his 3-show run in support of his new album at the Rubin Museum of Art last night (5/28) - he played one show on Wednesday, and then two on Thursday (early and late). These pictures are from the final show (the pictures where he's not wearing a jacket were taken during soundcheck - like the one above).

"A Tentative Evening of Bluegrass with Steve Martin performing with the Steep Canyon Rangers" is how the mostly-instrumental show was billed. When singing came, it was by the Rangers at first, and then from Steve on two songs towards the end - "Late for School" and "Orange Blossom". Everyone on stage seemed to be having fun. The band played two of their own songs in the middle of the set, and Steve played one song solo, and one with just the fiddle player. A guest banjo player appeared at one point, and white sashes were given to Steve and the band "as a monk tradition where you give the guests a token to make their troubles go away (or something like that)". Steve introduced most of his songs with short explanations, had a good rapprt with the band, and he was generally funny throughout the night - making jokes about tuning on stage, and the the "changing temperature" of the room. Ryan also said they were great, and the sound in the room was amazing.

"The Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) is home to a comprehensive collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions."

More pictures below...

Continue reading "Steve Martin & banjo @ the Rubin Museum of Art, NYC - pics"

Rubin Museum of Art and The Bowery Presents
A Tentative Evening of Bluegrass with Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers
Tickets can be purchased at 212.620.5000 ext. 344 or on line at www.rmanyc.org. Tickets include admission to the Museum's galleries before the show.

Venue: Rubin Museum of Art
Dates: Wed 5/27 & Thu 5/28
Notes: all ages, Doors 9:15 PM / Show 9:30 PM, $50

Online tickets sales begin Friday, April 17th at 10:00 a.m.
Phone sales begin Friday, April 17th at 11:00 a.m.

Bluegrass is all the rage. A Ramone is doing it. Same with the frontman of Led Zeppelin. So why not Steve Martin? Actually he's been doing it for a long time. Check out the videos below...

Continue reading "Steve Martin plays the banjo - A Tentative Evening of Bluegrass (tickets on sale Friday)"

Spend an evening of funky, folky, fantastic fun with Nellie McKay and other young and emerging artists to benefit the New York Civil Liberties Union and honor the long-standing link between music and social change.

Starring Nellie McKay, "Voices" brings together established and up-and-coming artists to celebrate, protect, and practice the principle of free expression - a cornerstone of civil liberties......

.....Also performances by Jenny Bruce, Clinton Curtis, Megan, Fogarty, Rachael Sage, Liana Stampur and Lucy Woodward.

All Nellie McKay dates (8 in the NYC area included) below...

Continue reading "Nellie McKay - 'for Change' and other 2008 Tour Dates"