Friday, October 31, 2014

Happy Halloween from the Showbiz Kids!!






Thursday, October 30, 2014

Allman Brothers Say Goodbye With Epic Three-Set Beacon Theatre Show


After 45 years, millions of albums sold and countless miles, the Allman Brothers Band played its final show Tuesday night, delivering a lengthy triple-set concert that ended after midnight and found the group nodding to their storied history while welcoming the spirit of dearly departed co-founder Duane Allman.

Read More @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Allman Brothers Say Goodbye With Epic Three-Set Beacon Theatre Show 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Allman Brothers Band Bring The Heat to The Beacon (jambands.com)




The Allman Brothers Band returned to the Beacon Theatre for the third show of their six-night farewell run yesterday. As was the case on Wednesday, guitarist Derek Trucks once again took up Duane Allman’s long-lost (and recently rediscovered) 1957 Goldtop Les Paul for a number of tunes. 
Read more @ jambands.com


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

WIlco Ryman Review (Music Times)


Wilco used the second and final night of their Ryman residency to give hardcore fans the show of a lifetime.
"Who here is unfamiliar with Wilco and our records?" frontman Jeff Tweedy asked, before allowing a slight pause. "This is not the show for you." 



Monday, October 27, 2014

Jack Bruce, Legendary Cream Bassist, Dies (UCR)


Jack Bruce, whose bass and vocals powered the enormously influential Cream, has died at the age of 71. 

Earlier today (Oct. 25), a message on Bruce’s website was posted that read, “It is with great sadness that we, Jack’s family, announce the passing of our beloved Jack: husband, father, granddad, and all round legend. The world of music will be a poorer place without him, but he lives on in his music and forever in our hearts.” The Guardian says that liver disease was the cause of death.



Read More @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Jack Bruce, Legendary Cream Bassist, Dies 

Sunday, October 26, 2014

On the turntable this Sunday...The Colour and the Shape


The Colour and the Shape is the second studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters. Produced by Gil Norton, it was released through Capitol Records and the group's own Roswell Records on May 20, 1997. The record is the debut of the Foo Fighters as a group, as the band's previous record, Foo Fighters (1995), was primarily recorded by frontman Dave Grohl and friend Barrett Jones as a demo. After the project ballooned and became an international success, the group convened for pre-production in the fall of 1996 and brought in producer Norton to establish a pop sensibility for the tracks. The band strived to create a full-fledged rock record, although the music press predicted another grunge offshoot. 

Primarily inspired by Grohl's divorce from photographer Jennifer Youngblood in 1996, the lyricism on the record is substantially more introspective and the music more developed. The album's tracklisting was designed to resemble a therapy session, splitting the album between up-tempo tracks and ballads, reflecting conflicting emotions. Early sessions at Washington farm studio Bear Creek were poor and led the band to discard most of the recordings. The band regrouped without drummer William Goldsmith in early 1997 to record a second time at Hollywood's Grandmaster Recordings, with Grohl sitting in on drums instead. Goldsmith was offended and disgruntled that most of his material was re-recorded and left the band shortly thereafter.

Main singles "Monkey Wrench", "Everlong" and "My Hero" peaked within the top ten on United States rock radio, and the album charted at number three in the United Kingdom. Critics found the album a significant American rock release of the era, and it is now viewed as a seminal modern rock album. It was nominated for Grammy Award in 1998 for Best Rock Album. The Colour and the Shape is the Foo Fighters' biggest U.S. seller, having sold over two million copies according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The album was remastered and reissued in 2007 with several bonus tracks, celebrating its tenth anniversary.


Saturday, October 25, 2014

Led Zeppelin, ‘IV’ and ‘Houses of the Holy’ Deluxe Editions – Ultimate Classic Rock Album Reviews


The second wave of reissues in Led Zeppelin‘s overhaul of their classic catalog pretty much follows the path set by the first: remastered versions of the original albums on one disc, and alternate takes and mixes (along with the occasional rare cut) on the other.

Read More: Led Zeppelin, 'IV' and 'Houses of the Holy' Deluxe Editions - Album Reviews

Friday, October 24, 2014

Jack White to Discuss Paramount Records at Yale University (jambands.com)

Jack White will participate in a round table discussion at Yale University on October 28 entitled “Exploring the rise and fall of Paramount Records.” The panel will “present an evening of musical exploration and conversation, unpacking the label’s rich history.” 

Read more @ jambands.com

Thursday, October 23, 2014

You Think You Know Billy Idol? (Ultimate Classic Rock)


We know he can keep the beat well enough to dance with himself, and he’s also a good person to ask when trying to decide whether it’s a nice day to have a white wedding. But if you think you know everything about Billy Idol, you might find a few surprises in this edition of You Think You Know Classic Rock?

Read More: You Think You Know Billy Idol?

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Eric Clapton Announces 70th Birthday Run at Royal Albert Hall (jambands.com)


Eric Clapton will celebrate his 70th birthday with a four-night stand at London’s famed Royal Albert Hall. The concerts, which mark the 50th anniversary of Clapton’s first appearance at the iconic venue, will take place May 14, 15, 17 and 18—almost two months after the guitarist celebrates his birthday on March 30. 

Read more @ jambands.com

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Hear Foo Fighters Channel Dio's 'Holy Diver' (UCR)



Now that cover of ‘War Pigs’ sorta makes sense.

After months of teasing, Foo Fighters have finally released the first song from their upcoming album, ‘Sonic Highways.’ It’s called ’Something From Nothing,’ and it sounds a little like a song by Black Sabbath vet Ronnie James Dio: ‘Holy Diver.’



Monday, October 20, 2014

30 Years Ago: Talking Heads Release Their Electrifying Live Album, ‘Stop Making Sense’ (Ultimate Classic Rock)


From the start, Talking Heads never did things the way they were supposed to. So why should their live album play by the usual rules? Their 1977 debut, ‘Talking Heads: 77,’ wrapped art-rock in a New Wave bubble, and by the time the ’80s rolled around they expanded into world-hopping funk that was as much about expanding the brain as it was about moving the feet. 




Sunday, October 19, 2014

On the turntable this Sunday...Ain't Life Grand



Ain't Life Grand is the fourth studio album by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. The band held a CD release party at Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta on August 28, 1994. It was first released to the public by Capricorn Records and Warner Bros. Records on September 6, 1994. It would later be re-released in 2001 by Zomba Music Group

On July 3, 2014 the band announced that Ain't Life Grand would be reissued on Vinyl in August, 2014.The reissue will be distributed via ThinkIndie distribution and sold only at participating independent record stores.

The band got minor airplay for their cover of Bloodkin's "Can't Get High," as well as their own "Airplane." They also performed the song Ain't Life Grand at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA for Good Morning America.

The band begun rehearsing for the album by recording pre-recording sessions at John Keane's home studio like their first album, Space Wrangler. They were so pleased with the results that they decided to use the sessions for Ain't Life Grand instead of going into the studio on a future date with their producer Johnny Sandlin.

The album reached a peak position of #84 on the Billboard 200 chart.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Saturday, October 18, 2014

Ryan Adams Adds December Tour Dates (jambands.com)


Ryan Adams has confirmed another batch of tour dates as the guitarist supports his latest, self-titled release. The singer-songwriter will make a series of stops along the Southwest and West Coast in December, most notably a four-night run in Tulsa, Albuquerque, Tempe, AZ and Pomona, CA that will feature special guest Jenny Lewis. 

Read more @ jambands.com

Friday, October 17, 2014

Lou Reed and Stevie Ray Vaughan Among Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees (UCR)


Lou Reed and Stevie Ray Vaughan are among the nominees announced for possible induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Sting, War and Bill Withers are also among the nominees.



Read More @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Lou Reed and Stevie Ray Vaughan Among Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees 

Thursday, October 16, 2014

John Bell Says Widespread Panic "Plucking Away" At New Studio Material (jambands.com)



In a new interview with the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Widespread Panic’s John Bell says the band is “plucking away” at new studio material. “Well, we are just doing our road work right now and we’re plucking away at some new studio stuff, some new songs to go into the studio with,” Bell told the publication. 

Read more @ jambands.com

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The Who Announce Massive 50th Anniversary Tour for 2015 (UCR)


Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend will play a two-leg, 38-concert 2015 North American tour in celebration of the Who‘s 50th anniversary. Seventeen initial stops are set for the spring, followed by another 21 shows across the U.S. and Canada. 


Read More @ Ultimate Classic Rock: The Who Announce Massive 50th Anniversary Tour for 2015


Monday, October 13, 2014

20 Years Ago: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Reunite for the Daring, Genre-Bending 'No Quarter' (Ultimate Classic Rock)


Any Led Zeppelin fan expecting Robert Plant and Jimmy Page‘s long-awaited reunion to include John Paul Jones must have been stunned to find them working instead with street musicians in Marrakech, Morocco. Such were the otherworldly aims of ‘No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded,’ which arrived on Oct. 12, 1994. 


Sunday, October 12, 2014

On the turntable this Sunday...The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway


The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (often shortened to The Lamb) is a double concept album recorded and released in 1974 by the British progressive rock band Genesis. It was their sixth studio album, and the last to feature original singer and frontman Peter Gabriel

The album tells the surreal story of a half Puerto Rican juvenile delinquent named Rael living in New York City, who is swept underground to face bizarre creatures and nightmarish dangers to rescue his brother John.  Several of the story's occurrences and places were derived from Peter Gabriel's dreams, and the protagonist's name is a play on his surname (Rael=Gabriel). In reference to the live performance of "it" (where Gabriel appears onstage with an identically dressed mannequin), Phil Collins remarked that the entire concept was about split personality. In this context, Rael would believe he is looking for John but is actually looking for a missing part of himself. The individual songs also make satirical allusions to mythology, the sexual revolution, advertising, and consumerism. The title track, "The Carpet Crawlers", and "In the Cage" were live favourites for the band. Both "In the Cage" and "The Carpet Crawlers" were included in 2007's Turn It On Again: The Tour, with "The Carpet Crawlers" performed as the closing number.

Background

Following their Selling England by the Pound tour, the band went on retreat to Headley Grange to write and develop their next album. Used previously by Bad Company and Led Zeppelin, this was where the band hoped living together away from other distractions would help inspire creativity and develop unity between the members. The house, however, was in poor condition and infested by rats. Several band members had difficulty sleeping, believing the house was haunted.
Peter Gabriel was absent from the album's writing and rehearsal sessions due to personal problems – his first wife was having difficulties with her first pregnancy. For this reason, most of the music was written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford, with some contribution from Steve Hackett. Gabriel, for his part, insisted on writing the story and all the lyrics himself, which caused friction, in particular because Rutherford had originally suggested another project for the band, an album based on Antoine de Saint ExupĂ©ry's The Little Prince. Banks and Rutherford composed lyrics for "The Light Dies Down on Broadway", as Gabriel could not come up with a linking piece between "Ravine" and "Riding the Scree". In addition, when Gabriel put lyrics to a piece of music written by one of the other band members (such as Banks' "The Lamia" and Hackett's "Here Comes the Supernatural Anaesthetist") the composer would often insist on adjusting the lyrics to better fit the music, an action Gabriel did not take kindly to.
"Fly on a Windshield" originally came about through a band improvisation, sparked by an idea from Mike Rutherford. Keyboardist Tony Banks said, "We used a lot of moods (on the album), at times things were little more than improvisations on an idea. For instance, Mike would say, 'Pharaohs going down the Nile', and he would just play two chords and instantly the rest of us would conjure up that particular mood. That one ended up on the album as 'Fly on a Windshield'." Gabriel's then-wife Jill noted that he wrote the main melody for "The Carpet Crawlers", of which he is especially proud. Tracks like "Anyway" and "Lilywhite Lilith" were developed from earlier unused 1969 compositions ("Frustration" and "The Light" respectively) which were likely to have been group efforts.
During pre-production, Gabriel was contacted by filmmaker William Friedkin (at the time enjoying success with The Exorcist), about a possible film project after Friedkin read Gabriel's short story on the sleeve of the Genesis Live album. Despite his bandmates' disapproval, Gabriel left them to work on some early script drafts. However, the project came to nothing (Friedkin instead working with Tangerine Dream to score his next film, Sorcerer), and Gabriel returned to the band. One of the influences Peter Gabriel had was the movie El Topo ("The Mole") by Chilean director Alejandro Jodorowsky. This film, which depicts a spiritual journey, maintains a cult following.


Saturday, October 11, 2014

Questlove, Chaka Khan, Charles Bradley and More to Pay Tribute to Herbie Hancock (jambands.com)


Quincy Jones’ Jazz Foundation of America will honor Herbie Hancock at the 13th annual ‘A Great Night In Harlem’ benefit show on October 24. The event will be held at New York City’s Apollo Theatre. Scheduled performers and presenters include Bruce Willis, Chaka Khan, Charles Bradley, Questlove, and more. 

Read more @ jambands.com

Friday, October 10, 2014

The Black Crowes Might Not Work Together Again (UCR)


Although next year marks the 25th anniversary of their debut album, the Black Crowes do not have any plans to celebrate the occasion. Even worse for Crowes fans, drummer Steve Gorman says that he thinks the group’s current hiatus may be permanent.

Read More @ Ultimate Classic Rock: The Black Crowes Might Not Work Together Again

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Trey Anastasio Band Confirm Tour, New Album (jambands.com)


Trey Anastasio Band will embark on a fall tour beginning November 28 in Chicago and stretching through mid-December with notable stops in Washington, DC as well as a two-night run at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. 

Read more @ jambands.com

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Jimmy Page Inching Closer to Forming New Band (UCR)

Jimmy Page has expressed frustration that Led Zeppelin haven’t mounted a reunion tour, but he sounds like he’s getting closer to starting his own group again. In fact, it could happen as soon as next year. 


Read More @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Jimmy Page Inching Closer to Forming New Band 

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Jack White's Epic Bonnaroo Set Packaged for Third Man Vault Release (Rolling Stone)


Jack White delivered a thunderous, career-spanning set at this year's Bonnaroo Festival, and now Third Man Records is making that epic, nearly three-hour performance available as the 22nd edition of the label's Vault subscription service. According to a press release, the package will include three vinyl LPs (white, blue and black) available in a "soft-touch, telescoping box, topped off with a lenticular television on the cover." The audio was mixed by Third Man's Grammy-winning in-house engineer Vance Powell.

Read more @ Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jack-whites-epic-bonnaroo-set-packaged-for-third-man-vault-release-20141003#ixzz3F6DJuzdJ

Sunday, October 5, 2014

On the turntable this Sunday...Chicago VI



Chicago VI is the fifth studio album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1973.

After recording all of Chicago's first five albums (including the live album Chicago at Carnegie Hall) in New York City, producer James William Guercio had his own Caribou Studios built in Nederland, Colorado during 1972, finished in time for the band to record their sixth album the following February. It would remain their recording base for the next four years.

Robert Lamm authored half of the album's tracks, including his response to some of Chicago's negative reviewers in "Critics' Choice", and James Pankow wrote the album's two hits, "Just You 'N' Me" (#4) and "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" (#10). The latter was co-composed with Peter Cetera, who also wrote the country-influenced "In Terms Of Two".

Released in June 1973, Chicago VI was another commercial success, spending five weeks at #1 in the US. The band would not chart in the UK at all until 1976's Chicago X.
On August 23, 1989, just before 7:00pm local time, "Just You 'N' Me" was the last song played on WLS before switching to an all-talk format.


The album was mixed and released in both stereo and quadraphonic. The original U.S. CD release (Columbia CK #32400) was mastered for CD by Joe Gastwirt. In 2002, Chicago VI was remastered and reissued by Rhino Records, with two bonus tracks: a Terry Kath demo called "Beyond All Our Sorrows", and a recording of Al Green's "Tired Of Being Alone", taken from the 1973 TV special, "Chicago In The Rockies". In 2013, the audiophile reissue company Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab remastered Chicago VI and released it on Hybrid SACD which can be played on both CD players and SACD players.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Phil Collins: 'I Am Not Ready to Return to the Full Concert Stage' (UCR)

After Phil Collins announced last month that he would be participating in a charity concert, speculation started to spread that he was testing the waters for a full-scale comeback tour. But the singer has quashed those hopes with an announcement he released last week... 


Friday, October 3, 2014

André 3000 Rolling Stone Interview


AndrĂ© 3000 first discovered Jimi Hendrix in the late Nineties, when he heard the guitarist's cover of "All Along the Watchtower" in a movie. "Those solos are excellent, man!" says the rapper and singer, who was best known at the time as Outkast's trippier half. "I didn't even know Bob Dylan wrote it at that point. Then I started digging into Jimi's catalog." More than a decade later, AndrĂ© has given a powerful starring performance in the Hendrix biopic Jimi: All Is by My Side, entering wide release this month. 



Thursday, October 2, 2014

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

After 'Innocence': U2 Look Ahead to Tour, New LP 'Songs of Experience' (Rolling Stone)


In late 2010, U2 began recording a new album with producer Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton during downtime from their 360° world tour. They had little idea they were kicking off a four-year process, far and away the longest they'd ever spent on a single album.