Steve Earle (more by Tim Griffin)

today in NYC
* Whiplash @ UCB
* Liam Finn @ The Rock Shop
* New Music Observatory @ The Stone
* Herculaneum, Tomas Fujiwara @ Zebulon
* Steve Earle, Allison Moorer @ City Winery
* Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ B.B. King Blues Club
* Jessica Pomerantz, Daniel Wayne @ Mercury Lounge
* Hot Tub w/ Kurt Braunohler & friends @ Littlefield
* Diehard, Saturday Night Duets, Pre War @ Cake Shop
* Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir @ Union Pool
* David Wax Museum, Parkington Sisters, Bhi Bhiman @ Joe's Pub
* The Klezmatics, Lunasa, Les Chauds Lapins @ Highline Ballroom
* Dan Neustadt performs The Lemonhead's "Its a Shame About Ray" @ Knitting Factory
* Byron Westbrook, Phill Niblock, Michael Vincent Waller, Elizabeth Hoffman @ Pianos
* Opponents, Yellow Crystal Star, Rust Worship, Long Distance Poison @ Death By Audio

Steve Earle is in residency at City Winery.

Daniel Kitson is at Whiplash tonight and returns to St. Ann's tomorrow.

Chris Gethard, who has a book coming out tomorrow, plays Hot Tub and Whiplash tonight. Watch him talk shit about Anne Rice in a video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

Josh Ritter at BookPeople in Austin in October (more by Tim Griffin)

Singer/songwriters Josh Ritter, John Wesley Harding (aka Wesley Stace), and Steve Earle are also authors, and all three of them put out novels this year. They'll be teaming up for "a night of talk and songs" at the Celeste Bartos Forum of The New York Public Library on Tuesday (12/6). Tickets for the event are on sale now.

Josh Ritter made a promotional appearance for his novel, which is titled Bright's Passage, in Austin this past October. As you can see above, it was also an event that included some music. Pictures and full recap, including a part where Josh says Wesley was one of his writing inspirations, HERE.

Ritter has also been added to the bill of the previously mentioned WFUV show, which is happening on 12/5 with Dawes, Mavis Staples and The Head And The Heart at Beacon Theater. Tickets are still available.

Dawes played Occupy Wall Street today and according to Rough Trade, they put out the 48th best album of 2011. They also have two more shows at Maxwell's after the Beacon show (12/6 and 12/7), but both are now sold out.

Steve Earle recently announced a residency at City Winery with Allison Moorer taking place from January 9 to February 6. Tickets for all five shows are still on sale.

All dates below...

Continue reading "Josh Ritter added to WFUV Holiday show @ Beacon Theater, appearing @ NYPL w/ Steve Earle & Wesley Stace"

by Andrew Sacher

Mountain Goats at Bowery Ballroom in March (more by Ryan Barkan)

Michael Dorf's (founder of Knitting Factory) series of tribute concerts to benefit music education programs for underprivileged youth (which last paid tribute to Neil Young in February) will continue on March 13, 2012 at Carnegie Hall, when 21 different artists will perform the 21 songs from The Rolling Stones' massive document of the early part of their long withstanding career, Hot Rocks 1964-1971. The compilation was released at the tail end of 1971, and was filled with the bluesy cuts that they used to leave their stamp on popular music (though notably includes no tracks from the psychedelic trip they took on Their Satanic Majesties Request in 1967) before putting together the colossal double album Exile On Main St. a few months later.

So far the artists that will be participating in the show include The Mountain Goats, Glen Hansard, Steve Earle, Rosanne Cash, Rich Robinson, and Carolina Chocolate Drops. More TBA soon. Tickets for the show are on sale now.

Meanwhile, Steve Earle will be kicking off a residency at Michael Dorf's venue City Winery with Allison Moorer and friends in January. The residency will take place every monday over the five week period of January 9 through February 6. Tickets for all five shows are on sale now. The Carnegie Hall show in March won't be the first time Steve has covered the Stones. He's been known to cover "Dead Flowers" at his shows. You can listen to a version recorded live in Calgary that appeared on the deluxe edition of his 1988 album Copperhead Road below.

The Mountain Goats, who also play at the Stones tribute, will be sticking around after the Carnegie Hall show to play NYC's Ecstatic Music Festival later that month. They'll be performing material with vocal quartet Anonymous 4 that frontman John Darnielle wrote for his new project Transcendental Youth, with arrangements by Owen Pallett. They play on March 24 at Merkin Concert Hall. Tickets for the show are still on sale. John Darnielle also just announced a bunch more 2012 dates, all of which are listed below.

All Mountain Goats & Steve Earle dates and the above-mentioned song stream, below...

Continue reading "a Rolling Stones tribute @ Carnegie Hall, Steve Earle & Allison Moorer residency, and more Mountain Goats dates"

Steve Earle in Austin in July (more by Tim Griffin)

In the NY Post:

You might recognize roots singer Steve Earle from his turn on the Big Easy HBO series "Treme." Or you might have seen him around town, walking or on the F train.

Born in Virginia, raised in Texas and settled in Nashville, Earle made New York City home a few years back. Reflecting on a pair of hometown shows -- Town Hall on Tuesday and the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Wednesday -- Earle says, "Your guest list ends up looking like the extras from 'The Ten Commandments,' there's the usual stress of a hometown gig. But I love to play New York City, it's home." He adds, "You have to work a little bit harder. It's like playing baseball in New York."

Earle would like to take the subway to his gigs, but was still discussing it with his wife, singer Allison Moorer, who shares the bill with him and his band the Dukes (and Duchesses).

Tickets are still on sale for both Town Hall and Music Hall of Williamsburg. All dates are listed HERE. Welcome home Steve & Allison (for a few days anyway).

photos by Tim Griffin

Globe and Mail: What chapter are you in now?

Steve Earle: Maybe it's the third one. This is my 14th studio album. The last five years, since I moved to New York, I feel at home for the first time in my life. I'm 56. It takes living in a place where I can see any movie or see live theatre or see great works of art, and have hundreds of choices in those areas. I need that stimulation now to write.

Continue reading "Steve Earle @ Austin's Paramount Theater (pics)"

Cro-Mags @ Chaos in Tejas (more by Tim Griffin)

today in NYC
* Soulstorm @ The Stone
* Midsummer Night Swing
* The Feelies @ Maxwell's
* Chia's Dance Party @ Barbes
* Canada Day @ Joe's Pub
* 4th Street Niteowls @ Barbes
* Rooftop Films w/ Hospitality
* Thousands, The Twees @ Mercury Lounge
* The So So Glos, Night Manager @ The Suffolk
* Memory Tapes, New Moods @ Mercury Lounge
* Janka Nabay, Little Shalimar @ The Rock Shop
* Nobunny, TV Ghost, Shellshag @ Knitting Factory
* Michael Attias's Clinamen Orchestra @ The Stone
* Lower Dens, Dirty Beaches @ South Street Seaport
* The Thermals, Big Troubles, EULA @ The Bell House
* The Barrens, Buenos Diaz, Only Son @ Cameo Gallery
* Pinche Gringo, The Jigglers, Madam Robot @ The Gutter
* The El Pasos, Minetta Creek Bluegrass @ Sycamore
* Hussle Club, The Dangerous Boys Club, Bootblacks @ Coco 66
* Blind Melon, The Nico Blues @ Hiro Ballroom at the Maritime Hotel
* Savoya, Mountain Cult, Indian Rebound, Strange Rivals @ Cake Shop
* Cheater Slicks, The Unholy Two, LiveFastDie, Organs @ Union Pool
* Soft Black, Lost Boy?, The Everybody Knows, Porches, Krill @ Silent Barn
* Steel Pulse, Natural Expression Rhythm Band @ Prospect Park Bandshell
* Ceremony, Veins, Give, Zero Progress, Hounds of Hate @ 538 Johnson Ave
* Dinowalrus, Total Slacker, Soft Black, Life Size Maps @ Monster Island Basement
* Body Language, Celestial Shore, Aislyn, D. Gookin, Kids & Explosions @ Glasslands
* Beauty Feast, Sam Buck Rosen, New Beings (members of Delicate Steve) @ Zebulon
* You Bred Raptors?, Cinema, Cinema, 3D Mystery, thatwasthen, Blue Bird @ Fontana's
* American Sun, Twitchers, Easter Vomit, The Beets, Clap, Fagettes @ Shea Stadium
* Amanda Lepore, Cherie Lily, DJ Andrew WK, Jonte Moaning, Kayvon Zand & more @ Santos Party House
* Cro-Mags, Wisdom in Chains, Death Threat, Razorblade Handgrenade @ Bowery Ballroom
* Puro Instinct, Selebrities, Slowdance, Care Bears On Fire, Yvette @ Pianos
Rejectionist Front, ROMA, Pretty Blonde, Mister Gio, Jason Yudoff & The New Hotness, La Sara @ Highline Ballroom
* Badfish (Sublime Tribute), Tragedy: All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees, Yellow Dubmarine: Recreating the music of the Beatles reggae style @ Brooklyn Bowl

Check out This Week in Indie.

See what's happening on the Fourth of July.

Beyonce played Central Park early this morning.

Beyonce celebrated the start of the Fourth of July Weekend with a divalicious performance on 'Good Morning America' for the news program's weekly Summer Concert Series. We didn't think anyone could come close to Lady Gaga's show-stopping, Memorial Day Weekend performance, but Beyonce's performance was right up there with the Mother Monster's.

Bey took the stage at around 8:15 with her wild mane of curls that's she's been pumping lately and a lemon yellow, crocheted mini accessorized with statement earrings and rings. She was greeted by thousands of screams that caused her to take a pause before she started dancing her a- off to 'Run the World (Girls).' Who needs coffee when you've got a wake up cup of Beyonce and her percussive single to jar you from a sound sleep?

The stage was decked out in a black-and-white diamond pattern that looked like something out of 'Alice in Wonderland,' but even the busy backdrop couldn't compete with Beyonce or her laser-focus. Much like her Glastonbury performance and her record release show on London, the Queen B smiled ear-to-ear throughout her whole performance; performing is obviously her favorite thing in the world. She ended the song with a salute.

During the interview segment with Robin Roberts, Bey proclaimed, "I feel so so good," acknowledging the super fans who were there for 24 hours. She talk about stepping off the stage and into the audience, saying, "I learned how to appreciate what I worked hard for. It's hard to see when you are moving so fast." She talked about the musical gumbo that is '4,' saying she wanted to bring bridges and chords back to the radio and to not make radio songs. She also beamed about her upcoming role in the remake of 'A Star Is Born,' which will be directed by Clint Eastwood. Lastly, she declared that her message is always one of female empowerment, saying, "I want to write and sing songs that we as women want to hear. Sometimes it's hard to realize how amazing we are." [PopCrush]

if you missed New Moods opening for Sean Bones last night, catch them this evening with Memory Tapes.

Jennifer Walshe and Nick Hallett @ Issue Project Room is cancelled.

KEXP posted four videos from Steve Earle's visit to their studio. Check those out below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

photos by Ryan Barkan

Steve Earle kicked off his summer tour on June 9th in Seattle and played the Crystal Ballroom in Portland one night later. The pictures in this post are from that show.

It's Steve's first full band tour in many years. That band, "the Dukes (and Duchesses)", includes his wife Allison Moorer who he sings duets with and who plays some of her own material half way through the long show.

"The show comes to an end after about two-and-a-half hours, until the artists return for the first of two encores. Earle and the Dukes (and Duchesses) open the first encore with the title track of the newly released album and novel, "I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive," a cover of the last song released by Hank Williams before he died.

The first encore ends with Earle's popular "Guitar Town," which re-energizes the crowd and sparks a second encore. Once Earle and crew return to the stage again, he slowly picks his guitar while praising President Obama, chastising republican Supreme Court justices and saying "I ain't no Democrat y'all. I'm well to the left of that."

This leads into the singalong "Come back Woody Guthrie" tune before three more songs close out the set.

Three hours after taking the stage to start the concert, the 56-year-old Steve Earle is still full of passion for singing and performing. It's clear he belongs above the crowd, not with them." [Oregon Music News]

Since we last spoke Steve has also added a bunch of dates. All of them with more pictures from Oregon, below...

Continue reading "Steve Earle now on tour (updated dates), played Crystal Ballroom in Portland (pics)"

As previously talked about,

"The long-anticipated brainchild of producer-composer Danger Mouse and Italian composer Daniele Luppi, Rome benefits from a bit of context. More than five years in the making, the project assembles many of the surviving performers of classic '60s and '70s Ennio Morricone scores -- and, in half a dozen memorable cases, pairs them up with the vocals of Norah Jones or The White Stripes' Jack White."
[stream the whole new album @ NPR]

"I did a project with Bob Dylan: he put together 20 or 25 people to finish writing Hank Williams songs that only had lyrics and didn't have music ... I had to write music for Hank Williams' lyrics," White said. "I looked through all the piles of lyrics, and one of 'em just kept speaking to me. Sometimes you think it's gonna be really hard to find my spot, and then it picks it for you. You don't even have to choose it; it just picks it for you."

Continue reading "Danger Mouse+Daniele Luppi+Ennio Morricone+Jack White+Norah Jones = 'Rome' (listen) ++++ Jack White & Bob Dylan & Steve Earle pay tribute to Hank Williams too"

James Blake @ SXSW 2011 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

today in NYC
* Reggie Watts Radio Play
* Peter Garland @ The Stone
* Big Terrific @ Cameo Gallery
* Paul Simon @ Beacon Theatre
* Mandingo Ambassadors @ Barbes
* The Growlers, Ba Babes @ Maxwell's
* Vaz, Dead Rider, Bbigpigg @ Cake Shop
* The Steven Lugerner Septet @ Barbes
* James Blake DJ set @ Tammany Hall
* Yo La Tengo, The Baxx Sisis @ The Bell House
* James Blake, Active Child @ Bowery Ballroom
* Phosphorescent, Family Band @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Brenn, The Stationary Set @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Chris Thile, Michael Daves @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Deftones, Dillinger Escape Plan @ Starland Ballroom
* Velnias, Ruin Lust, Lonesummer, Ithi @ The Acheron
* Sleigh Bells, CSS, Mr. Dream, Seagull @ Webster Hall
* Princeton, High Highs, NewVillager, Ivana XL @ Glasslands
* Drop the Lime, Cubic Zirconia @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Malajube, Deleted Scenes, Pretty & Nice, Bozmo @ The Rock Shop
* Destruction, Heathen, Warbeast, No Remission @ Highline Ballroom
* Manchester Orchestra, Cage The Elephant, O'Brother @ Terminal 5
* New York Funk Exchange Rocks Off Concert Cruise on The Halfmoon
* Kill to Kill, Gross Relations, Raccoon Fighter, The Horehound @ Don Pedro
* D. Charles Speer & The Helix, Zachary Cale Band, Gray Goods @ Union Pool
* Robot Princess, Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players, Meshach Jackson @ Pianos
* Dinosaur Feathers, The Armchairs, Ball of Flame Shoot Fire, Horses Mouth @ DBA
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Generationals, People Get Ready, Phil & The Osophers @ Mercury Lounge
* MATA fest w/ Corey Dargel, Angleica Negron, Dither, Cantori NY, Chris Danforth and the Danforths, Florent Ghys @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Prince Rama, Pikachu-Makoto (members of mems Acid Mothers Temple, Afrirampo), Quiet Hooves, Bubbly Mommy Gun, Mugu Guymen @ Monster Island Basement

James Blake is here.

Paul McCartney's son James McCartney is not here (or just not feeling well) (Rockwood Music Hall show cancelled).

Someone billed as "McQueen & Hall & Oates" is playing Rockwood tonight though. I'm not sure who it is, but if this tweet was meant to be a hint, than don't get your hopes up I guess. That said, I have no idea.

Oh and tickets are back on sale for the Chris Thile shows happening at Rockwood tonight and tomorrow.

We're giving away tix for the Ben Sollee shows happening at Rockwood tomorrow and the next day, via Facebook.

check out This Week in Indie

We're giving away tix on Facebook to tonight's Drop the Lime gig.

We're also giving away tix to the upcoming School of Seven Bells, Sun Airway, White Lies show at Terminal 5 on Facebook.

Floor appeared on Fox TV's Red Eye. Video below...

Steve Earle performed a song from his new album live on SiriusXM. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

Tickets are now on sale for the Steve Earle shows at Town Hall and Music Hall of Williamsburg (the Town Hall show went on sale at 11).

Tickets are now on sale for the Swans show at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Swans were also just added to ATP NJ which also has tickets on sale including a new "Portishead 3 Day Pass."

Tickets went on sale today for Animal Collective, Grace Potter, Cut Copy, and Dylan Fest

Cymbals Eat Guitars have a show scheduled at Glasslands on May 20th with Yellow Dogs and Mirror Mirror. Tickets are on sale.

Tinariwen returns to NYC this summer. Tickets go on sale Saturday for a July 20th show at Highline Ballroom.

Did you miss getting tickets to Murder by Death's boat show? They added a 2nd happening the same day. Tickets for that one are on sale.

Tickets are now on sale for the Kid Cudi show at Williamsburg Waterfront.

Glasvegas are touring in support of a new album. Tickets are on sale now for a May 23rd show at Bowery Ballroom. All tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Steve Earle, Swans, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Glasvegas, Murder by Death, Tinariwen, Kid Cudi, ATP & other tix"

Steve Earle at Beacon (more by Matthew Eisman)

Steve Earle will head out with his electric band, The Dukes (and Duchesses) featuring Alison Moorer, for a string of tour dates in support of his new LP/novel I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive. Kicking off in June, the dates include NYC twice: 9/12 at Music Hall of Williamsburg and 9/13 at Town Hall. Town Hall tickets go on sale on Friday 4/22 at 11AM, while MHoW tickets go on AmEx presale on 4/20 before going on general sale on Friday. All tour dates are listed below.

I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive the album is due in 4/26, but the novel is due on 5/12 and "imagines the troubled life of Doc Ebersole as he is haunted by the ghost of his former patient and friend, Hank Williams". Earle is currently offering the first chapter from his new book as well as a download of the new song "Waitin' On The Sky" if you "like" him on Facebook.

More imminently, Steve Earle and Alison Moorer will also appear at the Beacon Theater on May 27th in celebration of Wavy Gravy's 75th birthday alongside Ani DiFranco, Jackson Browne, Dr.John, and many others. Tickets are still available.

Steve released a limited edition 7" on Record Store Day. Did you pick one up?

The A-Side is Earle's version of the Hank Williams song that is the title of both Earle's new studio album and debut novel, I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive. The song was the last single released during Hank Williams' lifetime in December of 1952. The B-Side is Earle's celebrated original "This City" which has garnered both Emmy and Grammy Award nominations as it was written for HBO's Original Series Treme (in which Earle appears as a cast member). "This City" also closes Earle's T Bone Burnett-produced new album released by New West Records on April 26th. The 7 inch single is a hand-numbered edition of 2,600 copies on translucent red vinyl with black swirl. The cover of "I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive" will be available digitally as a bonus track, and is exclusive in physical form to this 7 inch release.

Continue reading "Steve Earle releasing an LP & novel, touring (dates) "

photos by Matthew Eisman

At the Beacon Theatre [on Friday, 11/26], Levon was hoarse--at times he seemed to barely be able to talk. However, his band picked up the vocals, with him giving most of his energy to playing the drums and mandolin. At this stage in his career, all Levon Helm has to do is turn and smile at the audience to get a huge reception. He has that much charisma.

The [Bob] Dylan legacy was rich at Friday's concert. Levon was Dylan's oldest former sideman. Larry Campbell, Dylan's former lead guitarist, now plays and sings with Levon. Brian Mitchell, who played keyboard and accordion at the Beacon, can be heard throughout Bob Dylan's version of "Return To Me"... The connections of the music and people go on and on.

Opening and then playing frequently during Levon's set was Steve Earle, a prolific rock and country singer, songwriter and producer. Earle was simply fantastic, especially in a tribute to New Orleans that included This City and Mardi Gras. At Saturday's show, Earle will be replaced by Bettye Lavette. She has some big shoes to fill.-[Frank Beacham's Journal]

"With just acoustic guitar and a little later a a bouzouki, Earle was an objective lesson on how to construct and perform a wow of a show. Steve, looking like a homeless Santa Claus, opened with sure shot "I Feel Alright" and continued with the manifest destiny sneer "You Know The Rest" and two songs later dug deep deep into his back catalogue and pulled out "Someday"." [rock nyc]

Continue reading "Levon Helm played Beacon Theatre w/ Steve Earle (pics)"

Waylon (a fictional character played by Justin's dad)

Mr. [Justin Townes] Earle said he began using hard drugs at age 12, while sharing a house with his father, singer-songwriter Steve Earle, who's had his own bouts with addiction and jail time. Though he admitted he's reluctant to take his father's advice, Mr. Earle said they occasionally go to 12-step meetings together.

"It takes a lot for someone with the substance abuse issues I have to stay away from such things," said Mr. Earle, who added that he was consuming a half-gallon of vodka a day, cocktail by cocktail. "If you hang around the barber shop long enough, you're going to get a haircut. I'd just gotten to a point with my drinking that it required a medical detox. Alcoholics and junkies tend to become stupid when it comes to that. We need giant catastrophes to hip us to the fact that we're f----- up."

Back on his feet, Mr. Earle will embark from his East Village apartment on Thanksgiving for his first concerts since September, with shows in Nashville this weekend, followed by a Dec. 18 rain date at New York's Webster Hall. [Wall Street Journal]

Steve Earle opens for Levon Helm at Beacon Theater on 11/26.

All Justin dates below...

Continue reading "Justin Townes Earle talks about his addiction, embarking on rescheduled tour (dates) "

The gradual return of Levon Helm to singing and performing since undergoing throat cancer surgery in 1998 had a tremendous payoff Sunday night (8/15) at the Greek Theater, where the Band's drummer and Southern spirit responded to an admiring crowd with a dazzling two-hour concert.

Helm's presence -- at 70, he's still a ferocious drummer -- was cheered as much as the top-notch music-making; this show was a celebration of a creative life, of multiple strains of American music and of one man's determined will to soldier through adversity.

Sunday's show at the Greek [in Los Angeles] is the farthest west Helm and his 10-piece band band, led by guitarist Larry Campbell, have traveled since Helm returned to performing a little more than six years ago. In early 2004, he converted his Woodstock, NY, barn into a concert venue for the so-called "Midnight Ramble," asking, essentially, for fans to come to him, where they would be treated to an informal musical gathering with his band and esteemed guests. -[Soundspike]

Those in the mood for a road trip can head to Woodstock to check out Levon Helm at one of his Midnight Ramble sessions. Taking place fairly often (sometimes weekly), the space will also host Steve Earle (10/9, 10/23) and My Morning Jacket (10/16, before they play Terminal Five x5) in the coming months.

Full tour dates and some vids of the man at Midnight Ramble are below...

Continue reading "Levon Helm schedules more shows (openers & ramble guests include Steve Earle and Bettye Lavette)"

On September 14th, Justin Townes Earle will put out Harlem River Blues, his third record, on Bloodshot Records. About the NY-centric title, the Nashville-transplant told Paste, "I drove over the Harlem River one time and it was just the most desolate-looking thing I'd ever seen...it's just the nastiest body of water you've ever seen in your life. And I guess it just kind of inspired me a little bit."

Earle co-produced it with friend Skylar Wilson, and it's got guest spots by Jason Isbell, Calexico's Paul Niehaus, Old Crow Medicine Show's Ketch Secor and dad Steve Earle.

Justin Townes Earle will play a Gone to Governors show, along with Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band and Dawn Landes & the Hounds on August 8th (one day after Local Natives play there). That free NYC show is at 8pm (doors at 6pm) but Governors Island is open all day (ferrys start at 10am).

Justin was on the recent CD celebrating John Prine, who has his own Island show a month later.

The NYC show is part of Justin Townes Earle's larger tour, which has dates ploted out through October (much of which are with Jessica Lea Mayfield). All tour dates (including Newport Folk Fest) and live videos (plus an informative 'What's In My Bag?' segment) are below...

Continue reading "Justin Townes Earle - new album & 2010 tour dates"

Pete Seeger @ Clearwater Festival 2009 (more by Chris La Putt)

Clearwater Festival, the annual benefit for the Hudson River environmental group of the same name, will be happening this year at Croton-on-Hudson's Croton Point Park on June 19th & 20th. Pete Seeger, the non-profit's founder, plays every year - joining him this year will be Steve Earle, Rhett Miller, Joan Osborne, Buckwheat Zydeco, Felice Bros and more. More of the initial lineup is below. Tickets to the fest are on sale (and currently almost half the door price). Pictures from last year's day one are HERE and day two are HERE.

A bit farther Upstate in Hunter, NY, the three-day Mountain Jam will be happening June 4th-6th. The lineup for that includes Gov't Mule, Levon Helm & Friends, Drive-By Truckers, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Avett Brothers, Dr. Dog, Les Claypool, Jay Farrar (of Son Volt), These United States, Justin Townes Earle (note dad, playing above) and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger Band (the same, except grandpa). The full current lineup is below, and tickets are on sale.

Later this summer (in July), Camp Bisco will be in Mariaville, NY.

Lineups so far for both fests are below...

Continue reading "Mountain Jam (6/4-6) the Clearwater Festival (6/19-20) have announced initial 2010 NY concert lineups & tickets "

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]

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

David Byrne w/ Dirty Projectors @ Bowery Ballroom

I have, after many years, finished the Here Lies Love CD project - at least this iteration of it. It will come out [February 23rd] on Nonesuch. It's a collaboration with Fatboy Slim, an upbeat series of songs sung each one by a different singer. The songs are about Imelda Marcos and Estrella Cumpas, the woman who raised her. The package includes 2 CDs (22 songs), a DVD with videos of 6 of those songs, and a 100-page book that explains it all. Singers include Florence Welch (of Florence + The Machine), Sia, Santigold, Nellie McKay, Sharon Jones, St. Vincent, Róisín Murphy and many more (even me on 1 and 1/2)... I am pretty excited about this, but who knows, it might just make people crazy.

We'll see. There will be more concrete news, with links and music, in early January.

In the meantime, I have decided to rebrand myself, inspired by Philip Morris changing their name to Altria, Blackwater to Xe, and the train I'm riding on right now that calls itself Acela - none of which mean anything, but they are cleverly evocative. When I decide on the magic word, you'll be the first to know.

-David Byrne

Here Lies Love premiered in March 2006 Australia, and Byrne brought the song cycle to Carnegie Hall as part of the venue's Perspectives Series in February 2007. As a stage show, the songs fit into a four act narrative, laid out in detail on Byrne's website. Those at either performance got a first look at the then-in-progress work...

Here Lies Love takes the form of a series of fairly traditional pop songs (verse-chorus-verse) played in a variety of styles (disco, rock, funk, latin, ballad) by Byrne and a small group of colleagues. Augmenting the core of guitar, bass and drums, is a percussionist and a keyboard player. The vocals are shared by Dana Diaz-Tutaan (Imelda), Ganda Suthivarakom (Estrella), and Byrne, who represents the 'voice' of other key players in Imelda's life. The stage itself is unadorned, although behind the band a small screen plays news clips and home movies of Imelda's life.

As already mentioned, the songs themselves are simple pop tunes, leaning heavily on the disco and dance genres, and could fit neatly onto any number of Byrne's solo albums. They are tuneful enough, and skillfully played, but I wonder about the connection of the music to Imelda's life. Would it have been possible to blend some traditional Filipino sounds and flavours into the music of Here Lies Love (although, admittedly, Imelda was a fan of Western dance music)? [Tidy Boy]

More Here Lies Love info and a video on the performance are below...

Continue reading "David Byrne rebranding, releasing an album w/ Fatboy Slim & lots of guests, giving a free lecture in Brooklyn "

photos by Chris La Putt

A very pregnant Allison Moorer joined Steve Earle for a few songs during her husband's two-hour acoustic show Friday night at the Society for Ethical Culture off Central Park West, a block from Lincoln Center.

The gig came during a brief respite back in their adoptive hometown, between legs of a tour promoting Earle's new album of compositions by his hero, the late Townes Van Zandt, whose songs he's now teaching to legions of new cultists.

Arguably America's greatest living songwriter laughed as he noted that "Townes" has become one of his best sellers, "which in a way is discouraging cause I didn't write any of the songs on it." [Borough 6]

Continue reading "Steve Earle & David Broza @ the New York Society For Ethical Culture in Manhattan - pics & setlist"

Beast @ CMJ 2009 (more by Chris La Putt)

Lady Gaga was nominated five times. Considering her rocket to fame over the last year, many were expecting more for her. But at least the contests are going to be really interesting: Beyoncé, [Taylor] Swift and Lady Gaga are going head to head in three of the most important categories: album, record and song of the year. Will one of them sweep, or will the lady vote be split?

One of the usual complaints about the Grammys is that it over-rewards older, established, familiar acts at the expense of newer, fresher ones. MGMT, the Brooklyn synth-rock duo, was nominated for best new artist, a big coup although not unexpected. But some of the shoulda-been names that have been circulated and Tweeted: Grizzly Bear, another acclaimed Brooklyn group; Regina Spektor, a young New York songwriter who started in the underground and has found some mainstream popularity; Diane Birch, a young soul-style singer, just the revivalist type the Grammys usually adore; and the Decemberists, an alt-folk-rock band from Portland, Ore., that released an ambitious concept album this year. [NY Times]

One surprise (for me anyway) came this year in the video category. Montreal's Beast were nominated for "Mr. Hurricane". That video with a list of some of the other nominees, below...

Continue reading "Beast's 'Mr. Hurricane' video & other 2009 Grammy nominees "

Steve Earle @ Carnegie Hall (more by Tim Griffin)

Steve Earle, who recently made a NYC appearance at the New Yorker Fest, is currently on a tour of Europe with Rhett Miller. In December he'll be back home for a headlining show at the Concert Hall in NYC where he'll "be performing songs from his latest album, which is a tribute to Townes Van Zandt, as well as music from his own repertoire." Tickets for the NYC show are now on pre-sale and go on general sale Saturday. All dates below...

Continue reading "Steve Earle - 2009 Tour Dates (The Concert Hall) "

Neko Case @ the 2009 Newport Folk Festival (more by Jim Brueckner)

"During the weekend of October 16th through October 18th, The New Yorker will present its tenth annual Festival, a three-day series of events that brings together some of the world's most talented and distinguished people in the fields of literature, art, film, music, humor, business, food, politics, design, and science....

...Pop-music offerings will include interviews with and performances by Neko Case, Bon Iver, Steve Earle, and Loudon Wainwright III; a pub-rock reunion with Ian Hunter, of Mott the Hoople, and Graham Parker, of Graham Parker and the Rumour; and a panel discussion about the music industry with Jace Clayton, Josh Deutsch, Melvin Gibbs, Danny Goldberg, and Livia Tortella. In addition, a special Brooklyn Playlist concert at Brooklyn's Bell House, curated by Sasha Frere-Jones and Kelefa Sanneh, will feature Dirty Projectors, House of Ladosha, Jubilee, and Liturgy."

After meeting his biological father for the first time, GE powerhouse Jack Donaghy discovered his dad, professor Milton Greene, needed a kidney. Not being a potential organ donor himself, Mr. Donaghy turned to some very affluent friends in the entertainment world. This partnership created the phenomenon, "Kidney Now!' -- a benefit concert featuring some of the most recognizable names in the music industry. With the help of this song, Milton Green just might find the kidney match he needs and Jack Donaghy may be granted the gift of a father he never knew.

Continue reading "30 Rock 'Kidney Now' w/ Elvis Costello, Beastie Boys, Moby, Talib Kweli, Norah Jones, Steve Earle, Rhett Miller (video) "

To my ears, Steve Earle covering Townes Van Zandt is a perfect pairing, and Earle's new album Townes is the rare covers record that captures the songwriting's spirit without ever feeling the need for duplicating the original songs. Right now, Amazon is offering the entire album as a download for $2.99.

There aren't many other discs I have already heard that I can recommend, but the Dexateens' Singlewide was a pleasant surprise. Hanne Hukkelberg's Blood from a Stone, The Josh Reichmann Oracle Band's Crazy Power, Salim Nourallah's Constellation, and The Wooden Birds' Magnolia are also among the week's highlights.

Among the week's reissues, only the two remastered Saint Etienne import albums, Continental and Foxbase Alpha (both with bonus discs) are on my shopping list.

What new music can you recommend this week? What's on your shopping list? Did I miss any releases?

Continue reading "Largehearted Boy's Interesting CD Releases This Week"

Justin Townes Earle went into the same business as his father. Steve Earle, the acclaimed singer and songwriter, passed on a lifetime's worth of advice about music and rebellion.

Justin says his father wasn't easy to rebel against.

"I could have become a Republican," he says. "That would've really pissed him off."

Instead, says his dad, Justin took up golf. Steve says Justin would hit golf balls in the front yard, just to irritate him.

But Justin says that no one in his family -- on either his mother's or his father's side -- discouraged him from playing music. He was in trouble a lot when he was young, but Steve Earle says he recognized his son's behavior.

"I knew what this looked like," he says. "I couldn't do anything else." [NPR]

Justin Townes Earle's next NYC gig is at Beacon Theatre on May 15th. He's opening for John Prine. But you can also catch him tonight (5/1) at Maxwell's in Hoboken. All dates below...

Continue reading "Justin Townes Earle - 2009 Tour Dates (Maxwell's tonight)"