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Steven Tyler and Wyclef Jean are Giving…

23 Aug

Steven Tyler, the flamboyant lead singer of Aerosmith, will be seeing a lot of Cryin’ soon. Reports from Aerosmith bassist, Tom Hamilton, state that Tyler, and his magnificent rock voice, will be occupying one of the open seats on the ever-changing panel of American Idol judges. The music has stopped and Tyler has fought his way onto a seat in front of some fantastic soda subliminal messaging.

"It was horrible, but, this coke product is amazing"

“Steven is doing American Idol. The ink is dry on that,” Hamilton told the Newark Star-Ledger . “Steven is someone who absolutely lives to be in front of an audience, and the people closest to him know how witty and entertaining he can be. I don’t know if American Idol will be rock ‘n’ roll enough for him, but it is an opportunity for millions of people to see another side of Steven Tyler.”

Let me predict this now. American Idol, watch out. I know Tyler looks and probably is an exceptionally nice guy, but I bet you he is hard on contestants. The man has tremendous talent. He knows music. And, he will not put Abdul fluff on bad performances. Plus, if a rocker stinks, Tyler will certainly let him hear it. I don’t watch Idol…anymore…but, I am sort of interested in seeing how this turns out. Steven Tyler will be giving advice and – if Fox is lucky – better ratings for their struggling show.

Link: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/192587

In other giving news…Wyclef Jean is not giving up in his longing to run for president in his native Haiti. After receiving a flat-out no, no, no from the country’s elections board Friday night, Jean has said he will send a lawyer to to a Haitian court today to appeal with the national electoral dispute office. Jean claims to have his paperwork in check and is certainly genuine about his presidential aspirations.

Look, I just can’t say no if his status is correct. Obviously, the elections board does not think so, but, if the court overturns their decision and tells Jean he can run for president, then who am I to say that it’s terrible. Heck, I just don’t know. Sean Penn may think that the man is facetious, but, only the citizens of Haiti will have a say. And, if Jean can prove that he is not just riding a disaster and hot air then good for him. His running is the joy of Democracy and if he gets the go ahead to run his race I wish him luck.

Link: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/08/22/entertainment-cb-haiti-elections-jean_7868711.html

Unconventional Covers

19 Aug

A lot of linkage going on this week. Today, I was doing some searching on fark.com and ran into this:

That’s right, a Gregorian Monks chant cover of “Comfortably Numb.” The Pink Floyd epic is haunting, but, this is just damn near ghoulish. It’s scary. It also got me thinking. There are many unconventional covers out there. That sparked a search for some of the coolest, most atypical and somewhat esoteric covers of rock standards. First, let’s start with Andy McKee’s great guitar cover of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”

Now, that’s just a cool piece of music. Next up, a choir version of “Smells like Teen Spirit.”

And, last, but certainly not least, a little “Umbrella” by Biffy Clyro. Enjoy!

Feel free to add some of your own choices for unconventional covers in the comments section below.

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“In the Air Tonight”

17 Aug

Great interview with 59-year-old Phil Collins from Spinner today. When Collins was 14 he began his professional training at Barbara Speake Stage School in London. He played the artful dodger in a London production of “Oliver” and he even served as an extra in The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night.” Obviously, music attracted him more (specifically drums) than acting and after answering a classified ad for a drummer, “sensitive to acoustic music,” he won an audition and became the new drummer for Genesis. And, we know where he went from there. Yes, eventually into the ears of Mike Tyson.

Here are my favorite two questions from John Sellers’ interview:

1.) Who would win in a battle of singing drummers — you or Don Henley?
Well, like Don Henley, I can sing from behind the drums, but it just looks so shitty. That’s why you don’t get many singing drummers now. And, you know, I never wanted to be a singer. When Peter left Genesis and we couldn’t find another singer, I drew the short straw. So, in many ways, my career happened by accident. I just wanted to be a drummer.

Comment: I guess it’s a good thing that Peter Gabriel left. Collins has a great voice that would have been rather untapped if it wasn’t for Gabriel’s departure.

2.) Are you ever amazed that you got to play drums with Led Zeppelin?
It wasn’t amazing to be there, I have to say. They weren’t very good. And I was made to feel a little uncomfortable by the dribbling Jimmy Page. If I could have walked off, I would have — but then we’d be talking about why Phil Collins walked off from Led Zeppelin. So I just stayed there and bit my tongue.

Comment: Yeah, I know Phil, Zeppelin is just not very good. Most Overrated Band Ever to take a line from comic book guy. I prefer not to get completely into my stance on Zeppelin (at least not now), but, I am not their biggest fan.

Check out the rest of the interview: http://www.spin.com/articles/tough-questions-phil-collins

Runnin’ Down A Dream

16 Aug

During my search for blog content, I occasionally come across a wonderful story that just gives me goosebumps. It is generally an ode to a fallen rocker, or a fantastic profile on an obscure musician. But, this morning, an article from the Washington Post caught my eye. It was written by a 14-year-old named Griffin Black, of Virginia, and told his amazing story about his love for one particular guitar.

This "Red Dog" guitar...well, one that looks and feels very much like it

I'll trade you my lunch money for it

Music Court writer Josh Lampert and I often watch Youtube videos of famous guitarists playing their trademark guitars. Whether it’s Jimi Hendrix’s Fender 60’s Reverse Headstock Stratocaster or B.B. King’s black Gibson, Lucille, Josh and I like to stare at these guitars and go wow…I want that. Well, we don’t need Hendrix’s guitar because we both strum the guitar with our right hand, but still, that does not mean I would not take the guitar. These are the guitars of our idols and no one knows more about guitar idolatry than Griffin Black.

Black, a proud classic rock fan, is a blooming guitarist with a keen ear and skilled manufacturing skills. A Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fan, and, more specifically, a huge fan of guitarist Mike Campbell, Black found himself watching Youtube videos of past performances. Oh, don’t we all. In watching these videos, he came across a package of Mike Campbell guitar bits and fell in love with, “a brilliant red ’60s Fender Telecaster around his neck.” That guitar was Campbell’s “Red Dog”

And, persistent Griffin decided he would not just settle with saying cool guitar. He would build his own and over a three month span that is what he did. And, what is the natural step after making a famous guitar. Have its originator sign it. So, with help from his Dad, he tracked down the band’s manager and impressed Campbell so much that the Heartbreaker’s guitarist invited them for a backstage visit before a show. And, you’ll never believe what happened next.

It is a great article depicting a 14-year-old’s success story and it definitely proves that classic rock is alive and well among the youth of the nation. Hey, like I say, there will always be interest in good music.

Check out the article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/13/AR2010081306140.html?hpid=artslot&sid=ST2010081306555

TomPetty.com: http://www.tompetty.com/news/title/runnin-down-a-dream-mike-campbell-meets-14-year-old-griffin-black

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David Gray and Ray LaMontagne: Hard-Workin’ and Tourin’

15 Aug

When you think of the top folk singer-songwriter’s producing music today, David Gray and Ray LaMontagne appear on the list. And, when you add the hard working sentiment, there are not many current artists who can beat them.

Gray and LaMontagne begin their joint 16-city Summer/Fall tour tonight in Columbia, MD and both release their new albums the following day. Hard working? David Gray is technically still on his Draw The Line tour celebrating the album he released last September. Tomorrow, he will release a double album entitled Foundling and it’s all new material. This is a musician who has a song entitled, “Life in Slow Motion.” Yeah, Gray, somehow it don’t feel real.

And, don’t forget about Ray LaMontagne.

Lamontagne (second from the left) --- courtesy of the artist

LaMontagne’s God Willin’ And The Creek Don’t Rise, named after the Benjamin Hawkins phrase (http://ngeorgia.com/ang/God_Willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise), was recorded in only two weeks at LaMontagne’s sylvan home in western Massachusetts. It’s not rushing…sometimes a recording session is just efficient. Well, with LaMontagne’s newly formed Pariah Dogs consisting of Jay Bellarose on drums, Jennifer Condos on bass, Patrick Warren on keys, Eric Heywood on guitar and Greg Leisz on steel guitar, it is hard not to make good music.

God Willin’ is LaMontagne’s fourth studio album and is the first one he has produced by himself. The sound? Calm folk/country, mixed with little portions of LaMontagne’s trademark swing (the first song “Repo Man” is loud). If you like LaMontagne’s soul (music type of soul) this should be in line with expectations.

Review of the album: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128986999

David Gray

Like I said above, Foundling, is a double album. Why he is producing so much music? “A very fertile recording session,” said Gray. Seriously, dude, like rabbits. “These are some of the most dynamic recordings I’ve ever done,” he says. This is all good news for David Gray fans. His brand of folk-rock is infectious and, does not receive any where close to the commercial success it should. Get ready. This release will be good.

Review: http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2010-08-15-david-gray_N.htm

The Tour

Below I will post the full list of dates. I hope to possibly go and see them on the 19th but I will see how that goes. If you do have the opportunity to see them, go. This is a productive combination of musicians.

August 2010
15 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
17 – Mansfield, MA – Bank of America Pavilion
19 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon @ Jones Beach
20 – Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center
22 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry
25 – Chicago, IL – Millennium Park
26 – Rochester, MI – Meadow Brook Theatre
29 – Council Bluffs, IA – Stir Cover @ Harrah’s Council Bluffs
30 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
31 – Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe Opera House

September 2010
1 – Phoenix, AZ – Dodge Theatre
3 – Las Vegas, NV – The Pearl
4 – Valley Center, CA – Harrahs Rincon
5 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
8 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
10 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre

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