Now a three-time Grammy winner, Levon Helm, former drummer of the Band, took the award for best Americana album last night, with his record Ramble at the Ryman.

Unfortunately, Helm was unable to attend the awards show due to an undisclosed "medical procedure" which also forced the postponement of his February 10th show at the Wellmont Theater in NJ. He's also sitting out of the next Midnight Ramble. His site reads: "Levon will be undergoing a medical procedure that will necessitate his absence from the February 25th Ramble. We wish him the best and we know he will have a speedy recovery. We'll continue with the normal Ramble schedule with special guests joining the band." We also wish him the best and a speedy recovery!" The last Ramble happened on 2/4 (they've been on a break since).

Things are looking good though because tickets are already on sale for a makeup NJ show taking place April 6 at The Wellmont Theatre. All tickets purchased for the canceled performance will also be honored at the show in April. Levon's next scheduled show is March 2nd in MA. All dates are listed below.

Opening for Helm at Wellmont, is Deer Tick, who will also be headlining their own NJ show at The Stone Pony on April 20 (tickets).

All Levon Helm, and all Deer Tick tour dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Grammy-winning Levon Helm recovering from a procedure, schedules new NJ show; Deer Tick too (dates)"

photos by Lori Baily, words by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Alejandro Escovedo - Silver Cloud (MP3)

Alejandro Escovedo & Tony Visconti @ Bowery Electric

Alejandro Escovedo played two NYC-area shows this past week. The gigs followed his appearance on David Letterman Wednesday night (video below), and both featured their own special guests.

At the Wednesday night (7/21) Bowery Electric show, the guests were appropriate considering the venue: the East Village bar attracted a host of neighborhood regulars - some better prepared than others (crib sheets littered the stage). The on-stage friends included Ivan Julian (of Richard Hell & the Voidoids), Garland Jeffreys, "Handsome" Dick Manitoba, Bowery Electric owner Jesse Malin, Amy Cook, Kristeen Young, Tony Visconti (who also turned up at Alejandro's City Winery shows), James Mastro, Nicholas Tremulis and Fiona McBain. Alejandro Escovedo's new record, Street Songs of Love, stood up through the diverse interpretations: from Kristeen Young's octave-jumping belting to Ivan Julian's snarling drawl. Though the show's tightest moment caught Alejandro locked in with his band, the Sensitive Boys, like on the show-opening "Always A Friend," from his previous album, Real Animal. For the encore, a swamped stage worked through the Rolling Stones' "Beast of Burden" and Mott the Hopple's "All the Young Dudes."

After the set, the band and friends hung around upstairs to catch themselves on Letterman. Our photographer Lori Baily hung around too, and her pictures from the entire show are below.

Two nights later (7/23), Alejandro invited a different guest up on stage for his show at New Jersey's Stone Pony. Bruce Springsteen joined for their Street Songs duet ("Faith"), an Alejandro song covered by the Boss in the past ("Always A Friend") and (like at Bowery Electric) "Beast of Burden."

Check out "Silver Cloud" from the new album, posted above. Videos from NJ & Letterman, and more pictures from NYC, below...

Continue reading "Alejandro Escovedo & special guests played Bowery Electric, Stone Pony (w/ the Boss) & Letterman (pics & video) "

words & photos by Bryan Bruchman

"We travel the world all year and then we always come home for Christmas, we're never away at this time of year, so it's about coming home to New Jersey for the holidays, getting back together with our family and friends,'' Bouncing Souls bassist Bryan Kienlen recently told Metromix Jersey Shore.

For many, this is the time of year when we surround ourselves with our loved ones, and it's no different for the Souls, Jersey punk icons who originally hailed from Basking Ridge before making their name on the New Brunswick punk scene and who now call the Jersey Shore home.

"My entire family's coming on the 26th, I'm sure some other band parents will be at some shows,'' Kienlen said. "(There will be) actual family and then like the Bouncing Souls family, and that extends all the way, that's everybody who goes to shows in Jersey and everybody around here in the metro area. This is home for us on a show level as well, it's like the home crowd, and so that's the vibe of the thing.'' [MyCentralJersey]

The Bouncing Souls kicked off their sold out, four night, holiday run at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ on Saturday night (12/26). I missed the first band, Detournement, but caught openers Blacklisted and Black Train Jack . Before the 20th anniversary-celebrating headliners began, the capacity crowd sang along in (loud) unison to Bruce Springsteen's "Born To Run," punctuated a few times through by a capella renditions of "Ole!" and "E.C.F.U." (neither of which was actually played by the band during their set).

It was a big and excited (but notably friendly and courteous) crowd, consisting mostly of longtime Souls fans and friends of the band. It served as a good start to the run of 2009 Home For The Holidays shows for the band who are entering their 3rd decade together (the final show, on Tuesday, features excellent openers Screaming Females and the afterparty will be DJ'ed by Souls song namesake, Lamar Vannoy!).

The show started early (7pm doors, first band at 7:30!) and was done before midnight. There was an afterparty down the street at Asbury Lanes that I'm going to bet was pretty awesome (The Measure (SA) were playing, so that's a good sign) but unfortunately I couldn't make it to that.

More pictures from the first of four shows (which continue tonight), including one of the fan-created setlist, below...

Continue reading "Bouncing Souls, Black Train Jack & Blacklisted @ the Stone Pony in NJ (night 1) - pics & setlist"

by BBG

The Bouncing Souls @ Webster Hall (more by Tim Griffin)

We're well on our way to making HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS the Jersey Shore's rockinest holiday tradition! This is our third year which marks the distinction between 'maybe we can pull this off' and 'a lifetime commitment'. We're happy to assemble a wild cast of our friends and comrades to entertain you and wish you well for the coming year. What's better than getting together with a couple hundred of your closest friends for the holidays and toasting each others' health? [The Bouncing Souls via press release]

The Bouncing Souls will play a four night residency at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ from Dec 26 - 30th as part of their 3rd annual Home For The Holidays series of shows. Each night features a different set of bands with:

• 12/26 getting Black Train Jack, Blacklisted, and Detournement
• 27th getting The Pietasters, a reunion of Worthless United, and Dave Hause
• 28th with their current tourmates Bayside, as well as P.O.S. & Static Radio NJ
• and on 12/30 with Chuck Ragan, Screaming Females, and The Night Brigade.

Tickets go on fan Pre-Sale this Wednesday, October 21st and Thursday October 22nd @ chunksaah.com, and then go on general sale on Friday, October 23rd.

Screaming Females continue to make NJ proud as they've also just announced a tour with the Arctic Monkeys.

Chuck Ragan was just in town over the weekend, bringing his Revival Tour to Gramercy Theatre on Saturday night.

Blacklisted are scheduled to play the Deathwish day party at Santos during CMJ.

The Bouncing Souls are currently on tour with Bayside and Broadway Calls, a tour which ends in early November. Full tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Bouncing Souls announce 2009 holiday shows @ The Stone Pony (openers include Pietasters, Black Train Jack, Blacklisted, Screaming Females...)"

Dear Fans and friends,

I've been meaning to catch you up on what' s been going on in Rapture world. First off, I'm sad to say that at the begining of April our buddy Mattie Safer decided to leave the band. We are sad to see him go but it seems it is the best for all of us. Since then Luke, Vito and I have been on a creative tear. We've been working out of our little Brooklyn make shift studio, writing, demoing and jamming. I'm pretty damn excited to share the fruits of our labor with you. But its still gonna be a minute before we hit the studio for real. On the other hand, I am very pleased to announce that the people of the great continent of Australia will be some of the first to hear some of our new material live, when we arrive late September for Parklife festival. In the meantime, keep an eye on this blog and another on your neighborhood dance party, who knows maybe we'll be spinnin'.

Lotsa Love,
The Rapture

That message, which we previously posted, was originally blogged by the Rapture on July 14th. The Australian dates they reference kick-off on September 26th, but those down under won't be the first people to hear the new material live. That honor goes to NJ (and Baltimore). The show is September 11th at the Stone Pony. Golden Filter opens. Tickets are on sale. All dates below...

Continue reading "The Rapture (minus Mattie) announce some shows (dates)"

Cold War Kids @ Rothbury Festival in July (more by Graeme Flegenheimer)

The Beach Rescue Concert featuring artists Joss Stone, Gavin DeGraw, Cold War Kids, and Mason Jennings is happening on Saturday, August 29th at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey from 6 to 10 p.m.

The concert is a celebration of Barefoot Wine & Surfrider Foundation's Beach Rescue Project, the 25th anniversary of Surfrider Foundation, and the 25 beach cleanups that took place across the country this summer.

RSVP is required for attendance. Tickets are limited and on a first come, first serve basis...

Beach Rescue Project has its last beach cleanup of the summer before the show from 2-4pm. Those who volunteer and are 21+ get complimentary VIP reception & treatment at the concert.Details and flyer below...

Continue reading "free Beach Rescue Concert in Asbury Park (RSVP)"

The Pretenders @ the Stone Pony Summerstage (relaxing)

"Fans going to the two New York metropolitan area Pretenders concerts -- August 9 at the Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, NJ [last night], and August 10 at the Central Park SummerStage in New York, NY [tonight] -- might want to [save their appetites] before they enter the venues.

Concert promoter Live Nation is supporting Chrissie Hynde's vegetarian initiatives by removing all meat products from the venues, as well as providing a special vegetarian BBQ for radio contest winners at the Central Park show. Hynde is a longtime and well-known vegetarian and PETA activist." [TicketNews]

Cat Power and Juliette Lewis are also on the bill.

I previously mentioned the big Mandela concert going down at MSG on July 18th. Well, that show was moved to Radio City Music Hall. Tickets are still on sale. The lineup includes Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, Whoopi Goldberg, Gloria Gaynor, Will.I.Am, Dave Stewart, Angelique Kidjo, Jesse McCartney, Josh Groban, Wyclef Jean, Queen Latifah, and Baaba Maal.

Another upcoming show at Radio City involves the music of Lord of the Rings.

Andrew Bird plays there tonight (6/18).

Tickets are currently on AmEx presale for the Boredoms show at Terminal 5.

Tickets are currently on AmEx presale for the Gossip show at Terminal 5.

Tickets are currently on AmEx presale for the Dirty Three show happening at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Malajube show at Mercury Lounge. There are also shows scheduled at Littlefield and Maxwell's.

Tickets are currently on AmEx presale for the Warlocks show at Bowery Ballroom.

The Smithereens are playing The Bell House in Brooklyn on June 26th (TICKETS), and The Stone Pony in Asbury Park on June 27th (TICKETS).

Ted Leo has been added as the opener for the State Radio show happening at The Stone Pony's Summerstage on July 10th. Tickets are on sale. Make that his third upcoming NJ show, plus he's playing one this summer in NYC too. Chris Leo is reading on Friday night.

Anvil are touring with, and opening for AC/DC at Giants Stadium on July 31st. In June Anvil played in a movie theater. Video of Anvil playing "School Love" in 1984, below...

The Pietasters and Catch 22 are opening for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones at The Stone Pony Summerstage on August 16th. Tickets are on sale.

No tickets necessary to see Thee Oh Sees at the Siren Festival.

Tickets are still on sale for the Black Crowes show Levon Helm is opening at Central Park Summerstage on September 2nd.,

The 7th annual Brian Setzer Orchestra "Christmas Rocks!" Extravaganza takes place at Hammerstein Ballroom on November 30th. Tickets are on sale. Video of the Stray Cats, Live at Fridays, below...

Doveman plays with members of The National at Le Poisson Rouge tonight (6/18). La Blogoteque video of Doveman below...

Continue reading "Stevie Wonder, Smithereens, Boredoms, Ted Leo, Anvil, Mighty Bosstones, Levon Helm, Gossip & other tix"