Well, Phish Fans, Mr. Miner over at the Phish Thoughts blog has uncovered “The Victor Disc“. This is a studio session from 2002 that was never released (save for a few tracks that filtered out some time ago.) Now it’s out there for all to grab.
Head over there to read his write-up and grab it for yourself!
The Wrens are a great band from New Jersey that seems adverse to regular LP releases. By “regular” I mean more than once in five years. After 20 years they’ve released just four full-length albums with the last, The Meadowlands, coming out in 2003. Music magazine, Magnet, has decided to have some fun with The Wrens and their prolific silence and, late last year, began running a regular feature on their website know as “Wrens Watch“. There, they occasionally interview the Wrens’ Charles Bissell. It’s more than a little funny albeit not quite safe for work.
One of the nice bonus items that you’ll find there is a clip from the now-ongoing recording sessions for The Wrens’ next album. (Seriously. They’re really recording one.) You’ll find that in the January 26th entry. It’s a rough track but shows promise of new music that those of us who have been wearing out our copies of Meadowlands have been longing to receive.
Also, be sure to check out the updated website for The Wrens and read about their new single!
Seriously.
A new single.
Did I not mention that earlier? It’s called “Pulled Fences”, it was recorded at Abbey Road, and it’s available on iTunes.
There’s a bit of a story as to how the song came about but I’ll leave it to the band to explain (via their blog):
“So years upon years ago, we swore to a pointlessly bold dare that if we ever got on the Tonight Show or Letterman, we would have to make up a song on the spot – no rehearsal, no cheating, no pre-air band huddle. This is back when Carson still hosted (Johnny not Daly) and for some reason, was our measure at the time for having ‘made it’.
“As if Johnny would have waved us over to the couch to sit next to George Gobel and be congratulated on our gumption.
“Cut to almost twenty years later, we’re invited to perform a few songs for something called the WorldSpace Sessions at Abbey Road.”
They’re also threatening to perform at SXSW next month so… watch for that!
I’ll leave you with a fan-produced video for the song, “Boys You Won’t”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZU3ywyEqq8[/youtube]
Here at rowjimmy.com, as we’ve pressed into the new year, I’ve continued to maintain my high standards of neglect. So, today, I’m going to fill you in on a slew old music news as well as a couple of current items.
“Why old news?”
C’mon, it’s not as if anyone is reading this to get the latest scoop.
So, what’s new?
Phish Summer Tour:
06/04 – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY
06/05 – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY
06/06 – Comcast Center – Mansfield, MA
06/07 – Susquehanna Bank Center – Camden, NJ
06/09 – Asheville Civic Center – Asheville, NC
06/16 – Fox Theatre – St. Louis, MO
06/18 – Post Gazette Pavilion – Burgettstown, PA
06/19 – Verizon Wireless Music Center – Noblesville, IN
06/20 – Alpine Valley – East Troy, WI
06/21 – Alpine Valley – East Troy, WI
Pretty cool little run if you live on the East Coast. The Asheville show is pretty small (fewer than 8000) but the St. Louis show is crazy small (approx. 5000.) Good luck to those trying to get into that one.
If those dates don’t suit you, do not despair. Word is that West Coast dates are pending for late Summer. Also, watch for the Bonnaroo line-up to be announced on Feb. 3.
Edit to add: Red Rocks, too!
The lottery for Phish Ticketing is open now. Click here to get in on the action.
‘The Dead’ will be hitting the road this Spring on what’s become a somewhat controversial tour. The so-called “core-four” (Lesh, Weir, Kreutzman, Hart) have hired Warren Haynes to sling the lead guitar and Ratdog’s keyboardist to fill out the stage, replicating the favorably reviewed line-up from the recent Barack Obama fundraiser.
The controversy arises from the ticket prices. While not “Rolling Stones” high, tickets for this tour are nearly double what Phish is charging for their shows. Add to that the outrageous “VIP” bundles that sell “premium” seats along with special entrances, posters and a private cash bar for nearly $500 per person. The pre-sale has already begun and tickets ARE selling but, I’m afraid that you won’t see me at the local shows.
Instead, I’m planning to catch Keller Williams whose Winter > Spring solo tour gets underway this week. I taped his annual Xmas SPCA Benefit last month am had a great time. You can stream and download the show here.
Check out Keller’s website for more music, tourdates, tickets and more: http://www.kellerwilliams.net.
Speaking of taping, I’ve had the pleasure of taping several local bands in my neighborhood venue over the past few weeks. Prize Money, from the Charlottesville area, and Seven Minutes, from Richmond, played a hot rock show at The Loft in Fredericksburg, VA. The following week, local reggae band, The Transmitters made the walls sweat as they, accompanied by a three-piece horn section, danced through two great sets of original reggae laced with a couple of old favorites. I’ll see about posting streams from each show up here soon.
Lastly, I just got word that The Decemberists are offering a free mp3 of a song from their upcoming album, The Hazards Of Love. The song is entitled, “The Rake” and is available at http://www.decemberists.com. Also, be sure to check out their singer/songwriter, Colin Meloy, this afternoon on World Cafe on XPN (http://xpn.org)
It’s that time of year again when we share with you what didn’t suck about 2008. This list is a subjective list of favorites rather than some attempt to objectively detail the supposed “Best”. As an objective reviewer, I get bored so allow me to tell you about ten great records that will continue to get some play as we go into 2009. after which I’ll mention a few additional good records and some stinkers, too!
(Listed in alphabetical order.)
This one, I reviewed at length earlier this year. It is still one of my favorite Beck albums and a highlight of the year. Read the full review here: http://www.rowjimmy.com/archives/136
This record slays me. Largely acoustic, it is passionate, smart, and heartbreaking. Recommended for rainy days in a window seat…
I was aware of Deerhunter but had never heard their work until (I think it may have been) NPR’s All Songs Considered that turned me on to this album. Part of me thinks that this may be as close as we’ll ever get to a followup to My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless. The guitars wash in waves over the listener in just the right way. The songs fade and give way to one another in a mindful succession that insists (but does not require) a straight-through listen. When the title track, “Microcastle”, kicks in after two minutes, I challenge you to sit still and unaffected. The inclusion of an entire second album is a wonderful bonus.
Building on the late works of The Beatles and the early works of The Band, Dr. Dog has created a stunning album of ear-catching melodies and striking lyrics. Explorations of spirituality, romance, and the weight of time fill this record along with some terrific playing and singing. This is one of those records that I can listen to again and again and I have been doing exactly that since I first came across it.
The original lineup of Jane’s Addiction (Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, rj.com number-one drummer Stephen Perkins, and original bassist Eric Avery) played on Thursday night in LA.
Setlist:
Up The Beach
Trip Away
Whores
1%
Ain’t No Right
Pigs In Zen
Ted… Just Admit It
Oceansize
Had A Dad
Been Caught Stealing
Straight up old school.
If you were never a fan of Jane’s Addiction, you still have time to learn about one of the most powerful bands to rise up out of the 1980s. Try to imagine a blend of psychedelic surf, punk, metal and a bit of glam (they are an LA band, after all) and you’ll find that your mind cannot conceive of anything greater than Jane’s Addiction. They’d hade “reunion” tours and even an album but all left Eric Avery behind. He may not be the best bass player of his generation but there is much to be said for the synergy between these players. Flea, as capable as he may be, could not properly fill that gap.
Hopefully, this one-off gig turns into more gigs and a tour and a hot night in a club near you (and me!)
Read the recap from Dave Navarro here.
Check out a couple of videos too:
Ted… Just Admit It
Ocean size
More videos here.