It’s been a while since we’ve had a self-congratulatory ego strokin’ post on HT, but we can’t help our excitement over being named one of WNEW’s Best Music Blogs. We grew up listening to WNEW, and learned so much about the music we cover today from that station, so this honor is especially sweet for us.
I’m getting extremely psyched to see She & Him at the Newport Folk Festival on Saturday afternoon, especially after seeing these clips of the lovely Zooey Deschanel and rootsy singer-songwriter M. Ward performing for MTV Canada last week.
That sense of a mission, a group adventure where having fun with legions of your friends, traveling hundreds, and sometimes thousands of miles, despite the occasional challenge, is apparent within the first notes of a rousing Runaway Jim.
The band charges into the energetic heart of the song with nary a tune up note, seamlessly segueing into My Soul. The comically appropriate new song, Water in the Sky appears both literally and figuratively as a thunderstorm for the ages is about to present one of those “occasional challenges” that the band would overcome and use to their advantage, and, in the process, solidify their place as America’s best live band as the 1990s drew to a close.
The Vermont Phab Phour used the apocalyptic atmospheric disturbances like a weirdly ethereal stage prop in this week’s Hidden Flick, Phish – Walnut Creek. The DVD, hidden away in the corners of the vast vault for 11 years, finally hits the streets in August and it’s a beautiful document of the band during one of their peak eras. I wasn’t sure what to expect, looking back at this show from July 22, 1997 at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh, North Carolina, or whether the film would live up to the usual Phish standards. Fortunately, what is so amazing is that it takes you back and the show plays like a surreal wayback machine to that heady period of time. All initial concern is quickly wiped away. READ ON for more of Hidden Flick…
We sent Jeremy Gordon and Carla Danca into the world of Camp Bisco. Luckily, they came back unscathed and filed this report from Mariaville…
The reviews for Camp Bisco 7 are in and what a fantastic success. From Brownstein’s proclamation of “Best Camp Bisco Ever” to ILCC’s owner Frank Potter acknowledging the fabulous vibe of the event. The three day festival’s 2nd year at the Mariaville, NY site went smoothly for all…well maybe not for all.
Whether fans were enjoying bands like The Bridge, local favorites Jimkata or DJs MSTRKRFT and Ralph Lawson, many left the weekend shaking their heads, eager to hear more. The festival hosted a wide variety of sounds with the progressive sounds of U-Melt, trance DJ Prometheus, next generation jamband RAQ and indie- fence straddlers !!! (Chk Chk Chk). READ ON for more from Jeremy and Carla…
When the first leg of Beck’s tour was announced we were disappointed to see that he wasn’t making it east of Chicago. Luckily, the folk/dance/punk/pop/rock troubadour has finally added his first public NYC date since way back in October of 2006. Both Ace and I caught the bug at those shows, so I can’t wait for Beck and his new band to take the stage at the United Palace Theater on October 9.
Brooklyn Vegan shares full details about the presale, including the news that electronic-rock favorites MGMT will open in NYC:
Beck & MGMT are playing United Palace in NYC on Thursday October 9th. A presale (PASSWORD = modern) starts Friday August 1st at 10:30am. Tickets are $49
Beck’s touring in support of his mighty fine new album, Modern Guilt, which he co-produced with Danger Mouse. For a taste of the new album check out the videos for Orphans and Gamma Ray. We’ll see you on the 9th!
Umphrey’s McGee has once again topped the voting of Cover Wars by capturing a majority of the votes in last week’s Nirvana edition. Of note is that every artist earned at least one vote - which doesn’t happen frequently. This week we’re moving back to the glory days of Classic Rock, more specifically 1967 and Jimi Hendrix’s second studio album Axis: Bold as Love.
Spanish Castle Magic’s lyrics are inspired by a dance club that Jimi would frequent in his high school days called, wait for it…The Spanish Castle. Whether you’ve been a long-time Hendrix fan or just like the song because it was on Guitar Hero, hopefully you’ll enjoy at least one of the versions included this week as we’ve got a smattering of artists including: Other all-time guitar greats, alternative rockers and more…
(You must login/register with IMEEM to hear these tracks in their entirety.)
READ ON for more information and versions we could only supply via YouTube…
Having recently finished an enterprise feature for another publication on the glut of national music festivals and what role that glut creates for regional festivals with a lot more personality, I’m more excited this year for the Gathering of the Vibes than I have been in quite some time. As the man said, “He’d have to be one charming motherfuckin pig”…er, sorry, “Personality goes a long way.”
Compared to the Roo- and Coachella-sized behemoths, and a lot of the sexy new kids with names both playful and official-sounding—Rothbury might be a bit of both, and allegedly, it was quite the time—the Vibes is a creakier, more elegant dinosaur. A glorious, humble triceratops of a festival, yes, secure in its size, pleasant in its modest ambition and its abilities, not ostentatious, and kindly manageable.
And damn isn’t it great to have it back in New England proper (it returned in 2007 after several years of renovation to Bridgeport’s Seaside Park and a few years at various upstate New York locales)? For this born/bred New Englander, it’s not only in a New England/Tri-State area happy medium, but it fills a still-felt void left by the big Phish festivals of yore and especially the can’t-believe-it’s-been-five-years-now departed Berkshire Mountain Music Festival (1997-2003). (For Berkfest alums from those heady days, monsoon conditions and all, have a scoop of nostalgia on the house) READ ON for more about what you can expect at GOTV ‘08…
On September 23rd, the Followill brothers and their cousin Matt - better known collectively as the Kings Of Leon will release the fourth album Only By The Night. The record will be their second in as many years and as part of the promotion the band is currently offering up the first track off the album - Crawl - as a free download for one week only. Simply right click on the link below and it’s all yours, enjoy…
For those looking for the quick lowdown the song is definitely a continuation of the sound from Because Of The Time - crunchy guitar riffs that bring a big arena rock sound to Caleb’s large emotive vocals. The band will appear at next weekend’s All Points West Festival before heading across the pond for some U.K. dates.
Jelly NYC, the folks that put on the wildly popular Pool Parties at Brooklyn’s McCarren Pool, can’t seem to catch a break this summer. Either it’s been stiflingly hot out or there have been severe thunderstorms that have rolled through town - two reasons that have kept me away from the free festivities.
Yesterday, I had planned to head to Williamsburg to check out electro-psych rockers MGMT, but more rain kept me inside instead - though from the looks of it, it didn’t keep anyone else away. So I thought we’d check out one from the much buzzed about band of formerPhish Heads, here’s the promotional video for Electric Feel…
Is it me or does this also remind you of Men Without Hats video for The Safety Dance, except with the guitar playing bear from the Country Bear Jamboree?
The final summer of Pool Parties (at least at its current site) continue this Sunday with The Black Lips set to headline, but we’ve got our eye’s set on August 10 when HT faves The Felice Brothers will play host. Let’s hope for good weather.
Now that we’re in the thick of the summer, it’s time to kick back with some good old rock and roll. This week’s Stormy Monday begins with The Stones doing a nice You Can’t Always Get What You Want back in 1989 in Philly, followed by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band getting down on Come to Poppa. That one comes from my very first rock concert back in August of 1986 at SPAC. Ah the memories.
Staying in the same frame of mind, the new school of Gov’t Mule offers a hard hitting Going Out West with Dave Schools on bass, followed by The Doors with a ripping Peace Frog Jam > Blue Sunday from 1968. To close, Mr. Anastasio covers Wind Cries Mary and Ooh Child from his first (and best) solo tour back in ‘99 at The Palace Theater. It’s even better than Freedom Rock, so turn it up!
The summer concert season reaches its crescendo this upcoming weekend when three of the longest running festivals in the nation take place. Out in Chicago the promoters of Lollapalooza defended themselves from accusations that their radius clauses are killing the local music scene. Meanwhile, the schedule for the Newport Folk Festival came out, and there are plenty of maddening conflicts. For those of us unable to attend next weekend’s other major festie, the Gathering of the Vibes in Bridgeport, CT, you can follow the action on iClips.
We’ll have plenty of news, reviews and photos from all three festivals.
Let’s see what else is goin’ on as we gear up for another busy week:
It’s been at least two weeks since we’ve heard any Led Zeppelin reunion tour rumors, so we thought we’d share the latest. Gigwise reports that the reason the band hasn’t moved forward is due to a rift between Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Come on guys, bury the hatchet and let’s get it on before you’re too old.
