My mom told me once that we were all born into this world with a special talent that’s unique to us. Well I’m sure glad excellence in handfarting isn’t my skill, but I can still appreciate the HandFartMaster.
This gentleman has shared his “Handmonica” talents with the world through covers posted on his YouTube channel. Let’s start with HFM’s take on Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd…
Now how about Mumford and Sons’ oh so solemn The Cave…
A few years back it seemed as you couldn’t find a festival that didn’t have Jack Johnson’s name at the top of the bill. The former pro-surfer turned rocker will hit the road again this summer for his own solo headlining tour in support of his fifth studio album To The Sea
If you’re not into a night with the laid back rocker, than maybe you’ll want to hit one of these recently announced tours…
Finally, after announcing a one-off appearance that this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, legendary folk act Simon & Garfunkel have decided to use that gig as the kick off to a short North American tour. The old elementary school friends will hit the road for a three week run, where they will play in a number of cities that they’ve never visited before – which includes stops in Fargo, St. Paul and newly crowned “City of Rock” Madison. The shows will feature the usual mix of Simon & Garfunkel classics, along with a dose of material from the pair’s respective solo careers.
When the lineup for this year’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival came out a few weeks back there was a big TBA spot among the listings for the first weekend. Rumored acts supposedly filling that spot ranged from The Who to Phish to Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, but last night we found out that Simon and Garfunkel have been added to the Jazz Fest lineup.
This will be Paul and Art’s only U.S. performance in 2010.
Let’s take a quick look at six other stories of interest…
Finally, I was honored to be asked my opinion on the best of 2009 and 2010 predictions for Jambands.com’s annual Auld Lang Syne feature. Check out my answers along with those of two of my favorite people – Jake Cinninger of Umphrey’s McGee and Mr. Hidden Flick himself, Randy Ray.
Most of our readers will probably be in Indio on October 29th and 30th, but if you won’t be seeing Phish at their first festival since Coventry, you should think about heading to the Big Apple for one of the most ridiculous lineups ever assembled. Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, U2, Paul Simon, Metallica, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Friends and Simon and Garfunkel will all perform at Madison Square Garden over the course of those two days for a benefit to create a permanent endowment for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
[Paul Simon & Bruce Springsteen @ MSG in 1987]
The concerts will be taped for a special on HBO to air in November and will be produced/directed by Joel Gallen who puts together the Rock Hall induction ceremonies each year. Tickets will go on sale to AmEx cardholders on July 27th before the rest of us schlubs get a shot on August 3 at 9AM. The prices for ducats range from $79 all the way up to $2,504.50.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Simon & Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Friends, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder will perform on October 29th, while Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Metallica and U2 will take the stage on October 30th. There’s been promises of guests and collaborators so this lineup may only be the beginning. Which night would you rather see?
A few months back, our very own Ryan Dembinsky headed over to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame’s New York City Annex for a great profile on the relatively new outpost. On May 12 the Annex will debut its second feature exhibit – John Lennon: The New York City Years, which will focus on the former Beatle’s time in the Big Apple. According to the press release “the show will feature numerous Lennon artifacts – including items representing his inimitable fashion statements – as well as iconic photographs, legendary instruments, original handwritten lyrics and artwork”.
The folks at the museum have also announced that they will be extending their hours of operation during the exhibit’s stay. The Annex will now be open until 10 PM during the week and until midnight on the weekends.
Finally, have you ever had the urge to own your very own rock club? Well, that dream could come true as Live Nation is currently looking for someone to take over the lease at the soon to be former Blender Theater at Gramercy. The 600 person bi-level space is “centrally located near all major subway and transportation hubs, has 186 fixed loge seats, lowerl level lounge with LCD TVs and an existing liquor license” – sounds good to us, so who wants to help raise some cash for the Hidden Track Theater?
When the names Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr both appeared on the bill for the last night’s Change Begins Within benefit at Radio City Music Hall those who had plunked down money for the all-star bill – that included Ben Harper, MMJ’s Jim James, Eddie Vedder, Donovan and Sheryl Crow – were hoping that the former band mates would share the stage together for a tune or two. While the stellar night seemed to included a number of musical highlights, it wasn’t until almost the very end of the night during McCartney’s hit-laden set that that moment that everyone had anticipated finally happened when McCartney brought out Starr out by join him on vocals for With a Little Help From My Friends by introducing him as Billy Shears.
Starr remained on-stage moving to behind the drums for a take on Cosmically Conscious, a rarity written during The Beatles trip to India and the show closing all-star sing-along of I Saw Her Standing There.
Finally a few weeks back we reported that original Woodstock promotor Michael Lang was looking to honor the 40th annivesary of the fest with a pair of free concerts in New York and Germany. The latest rumor to circulating around the one-day free concert finds it landing in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park’s Long Meadow. Lang who has been in talks with the city’s parks department, is also still looking to lockdown between $8 to 10 million in sponsorship funding, which he would need to do by month’s end to pull off the event – which he is hoping to attract original Woodstock acts along with contemporary bands that have embraced the fests vibe like Phish and Dave Matthews Band.
