The Music Court

Yesterday at the Golden Globes awards show, George Clooney announced to the Associated Press that more than 40 celebrities will attend the “Hope For Haiti” benefit scheduled for January 22. It is being hosted by Clooney and Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean. It will be broadcast on more than a dozen networks and will feature performances by Bono, Sting and Alicia Keys to name a few. It is certainly a big event for a necessary cause…so watch it and please donate whatever you can to help the struggling Haitians!

Article: http://www.billboard.com/#/news/bono-sting-timberlake-to-perform-on-haiti-1004059789.story

I am still rather shocked that the New York Jets pulled off a major upset last night. All can be said to celebrate the victory and to look forward to next week’s match-up, but to avoid many words, I will simply ask you. Are you ready for some football?

Recently, I interviewed Mickey Raphael, the long-time harmonica player for the Willie Nelson Band. After a great interview I found out that Willie Nelson is a big fan of the video game Wii Golf. I imagine that after practice the 76-year old musician is probably good at the game. The same cannot be said for the 69-year old Ringo Starr and his attempts at “The Beatles:Rock Band.” To be fair, he kind of made the real songs, but if Southpark has taught me anything, real musicians don’t hold a candle to those video game superstars. Ringo revealed that the game was for the “young folk” and that he was “c**p at it.” Paul McCartney similarly has had trouble with the music game. Yet, Paul has the right idea. When asked to play he stated that “I was in the band the first time around,” which is just hilarious and obviously true.

Check out the article: http://www.music-news.com/ShowNews.asp?nCID=0&H=Ringo-Starr-can%E2%80%99t-play-%E2%80%98The-Beatles:-Rock-Band%E2%80%99-computer-game&nItemID=31819

Coldplay! What is with you and plagiarism. You are like a slacking English major with a computer (Not Me…I Promise). Now, an unknown musician who claims you stole “Clocks,” “Yellow,” and “Trouble” from his catalogue of music (around 4000 songs recorded since 1976). The performer, Sammie Lee Smith, has just received his fifteen-minutes of fame. Of course, I am sure if this is true then it is just about the music because he has obviously not had much success over his long music career. Smith is requesting that Coldplay stops playing his songs and he probably wants a large sum of money. I wish I had audio but I cannot find any of his music for the life of me leading me to believe that if somehow this is true there will be a quick settlement. Otherwise, this will be shoved under the rug and never heard from again.

Check out the article: http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/01/15/coldplay-garner-themselves-another-plagiarism-lawsuit/

CD Releases

“Valleys of Neptune” by Jimi Hendrix

A few weeks ago I mentioned that Jimi Hendrix had some unreleased recordings that would be posthumously released come the new year. Today, I have a date and a name. An unearthed song “Valleys of Neptune” (pretty awesome name) leads the pack of 12 tracks recorded at Hendrix’s last recording sessions. On February 2nd Valleys of Neptune, also the name of the album, will be released. The album will include covers of “Sunshine of Your Love” and “Bleeding Heart” as well as recorded versions of Are You Experienced songs. The album will certainly be good because, come on, it is Hendrix. So, consider this preview a very early notification!

“Y Not” by Ringo Starr

When Ringo Starr decides he wants to make an album he calls up his high-profile list of musician friends. Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Van Dyke Parks (the indelible studio musician), Ben Harper, Joss Stone, Edgar Winter, Billy Squier and even Richard Marx (who recorded one of the corniest songs of all time “Right Here Waiting” and yes you have heard of it). Each one of these musicians had their hand on this album, their voice, instrument or influence. Paul McCartney notably went in for one song and ended up doing a whole slew in similar fashion to tests in a doctor’s office. The album is released tomorrow, January 12 and I seriously suggest you take a listen

Buy it tomorrow: http://www.amazon.com/Y-Not-Ringo-Starr/dp/B002WBYDJE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1263224963&sr=8-1

Congrats to Alabama who has just won the National Championship of College Football. In celebration of their victory I thought I would post two songs having to do with victory. Queen’s “We are the Champions” and Muse’s new hit “Uprising” which has lead singer Matt Bellamy belting out that “We will be victorious” in a pretty kick a** chorus, if you do not mind me saying. There is no better way to celebrate with music; especially with youtube videos. A little info that you might not know about Muse before I post the two videos for your listening pleasure. Matt Bellamy’s father George was the rhythm guitarist for the instrumental rock band The Tornado’s. You may be thinking, “So, big dead,” but The Tornados released one of the biggest instrumental hits with “Telstar” which I guarentee you will recognize. I am so sure that I will give you a link to look it up now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ybCjf6ras. Did you listen to it? Sound a little like Muse. I believe the old apotheghm is the apple does not far fall from the tree. That could not be closer to the truth.

Soundgarden, the Seattle based grunge band featuring singer Chris Cornell, is set to return in 2010 after a 13 year hiatus. The band has sold eight million records in the United States and this is most likely due to the fact that they are from Seattle, the breeding ground of musicians. Now, seriously, this is big news for fans of the rock band which will return for several concerts that they are currently planning. The confirmed line-up back is Chris Cornell, guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd, and drummer Matt Cameron. To remember this band here is a useful video and the article link: http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2010/01/03/soundgarden_to_return_in_2011

Also, a small piece of news out of the world of the Chili Peppers. Josh Klinghoffer, the 30-year-old L.A. based guitarist who has worked with PJ Harvey and Gnarls Barkley, has confirmed that he has been chosen to replace John Frusciante as a permanent pepper.

http://www.spinner.com/2010/01/04/josh-klinghoffer-says-hes-a-red-hot-chili-pepper/