The Sadies

"The Sadies are already well known as 'musician's musicians'--famous for playing with well-known musicians, namely, Neko Case, Jenny Lewis and punk-monolith John Doe. Now, the band has announced that they will be joined onstage during their July 23 show at the Bowery Ballroom by an absolute legend--one whose distinct organ playing helped define one of the world's most treasured bands--Garth Hudson of The Band."

It's been special guest week at Bowery Ballroom. Amanda Palmer made a surprise appearance on stage with Steel Train last night, and David Byrne joined Crowded House on stage the night before that. Amanda joined Steel Train on "Behavior" and also performed Radiohead's Creep. Videos below

Garth and Maud Hudson and Chicken Snake are the openers at tonight's Sadies show. Tickets are still available and probably will be at the door. All Sadies dates below...

Continue reading "Amanda Palmer played w/ Steel Train @ Bowery Ballroom last night, Garth Hudson plays w/ The Sadies (dates) "

Monday July 7, 2008 @ The Living Room

Songs Of The Band featuring Steve Rosenthal, Chris Bergson, Jim Boggia, Lee Feldman, Jesse Harris, Charlie Burnham, Kieran McGee, Common Rotation, Milton, Richard Julian, Joy Askew, Noam Weinstein, Chris Lee, Mamie Minch, Jonah Smith, Ken Webb, Hope DeBates, Jim Allen, Eric Feigenbaum, Orba Squara, Smokey Hormel, Jenny Scheinman, Scott Sharrard, Bari Koral, Rod Alonzo, Dina Regine, Dave Phelps, Sam Barron, Mike Erb, Daru Oda, Sasha Dobson, Greta Gertler, Debbie Deane, Sheri Miller, Jan Bell, Emilie Cardinaux, Chrissi Poland, Ben Carroll, Leif Arntzen, Jon Dryden, and more!! ($10 all night, buy now)

This lineup includes many Living Room regulars including 2/3 of Sloppy Joannes, a grammy winner, an artist known for an iPod commercial jingle, and a violinist who often plays shows at Barbes in Park Slope.

As previously announced, Levon Helm is playing two shows at NYC's Beacon Theatre in March. Now you can add to that a February 15th show at The Electric Factory in Philly, and one the next day at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park. I was also told that he is expected to make an appearance at BB King's this Thursday.

Levon Helm's new CD sounds like a time capsule. Close your eyes while listening to his first solo studio album in 25 years and try to convince yourself it's not the work of a 1930s-era singer.

Helm, famous for his work with The Band, manages to sound old and new at the same time by returning to his rural roots in Dirt Farmer. Of its 13 songs, five are traditional while the other eight are covers of songs by Steve Earle, A.P. Carter and others. The newer songs mix perfectly with the old, thanks in large part to the production work done by multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell and Amy Helm, Levon's daughter.

Helm would sound great even if he wasn't making his first recording since doctors told him in 1998 that throat cancer would end his singing career. Here, he sounds relaxed and at home with the music he loves. [Associated Press]

The NYC shows are March 7th & 8th. Tickets on sale Friday.