Sounding Off

2007-11-26T12:52:00.000-05:00

THE SOLO LIFE

He's been on the national music scene for roughly 20 years, but only recently did Dan Wilson release his first solo album.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Wilson was a member of the band Trip Shakespeare. After that, he was the leader of Semisonic, best known for the 1998 hit "Closing Time."

In recent years, he's been writing songs with the likes Jewel, Mike Doughty and the Dixie Chicks. "Not Ready to Make Nice," one of six tunes he co-wrote for the Chicks' Taking the Long Way, won him a Grammy Award in the Song of the Year category.

Free Life (American Recordings), Wilson's solo debut, was released last month. The album, executive produced by Rick Rubin, is cut from the same pop-rock cloth as his previous efforts and features its share of guest artists, among them Sheryl Crow, Gary Louris and Benmont Tench.

Wilson has gigs tonight (Nov. 26) at the Music Hall of Willamsburg in Brooklyn, Tuesday (Nov. 27) at the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan, Wednesday (Nov. 28) at World Café Live in Philadelphia and Thursday (Nov. 29) at Maxwell's in Hoboken.

Wilson's official site is www.danwilsonmusic.com.

SOUNDING OFF ON NEW APP SITE

Around 2 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 27), the Asbury Park Press will unveil its new Web site.

Sounding Off will rock on, but not at this link. So in the future, please visit www.app.com, click on Entertainment and then scroll down until you see Blogs.

Another way would be to visit www.app.com, then put your cursor on Your Voices. Click on Blogs, then scroll down to the Entertainment/Living category, located on the left side of the screen.

2007-11-23T11:42:00.000-05:00

ICONIC IMAGERY

Just like the songs that accompany them, music videos have a way of making a lasting impression on pop culture.

The Fuse network has picked 10 such clips for its Videos That Rocked the World series, which debuts at 10 p.m. ET Monday (Nov. 26).

First up in the series is Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Fittingly, it features commentary from bassist Krist Novoselic (who says it was his idea for the video's cheerleaders to wear anarchy A's on their uniforms) and drummer Dave Grohl (who wanted the members of L7 to be the cheerleaders).

Also providing some interesting tidbits about the clip is director Samuel Bayer, who talks about the janitor being a central figure in the video. Late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain had been a janitor, says Bayer. The older man in work clothes featured throughout the clip was the janitor at Bayer's apartment complex.

The 30-minute look at the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video goes by fast, yet it provides a nice refresher for those who experienced the grunge movement as well as a decent introduction for those who missed that era of music.

For more information on Fuse's Videos That Rocked the World series, click here.

2007-11-19T13:14:00.000-05:00

NOW THEY'RE SITTING PRETTY

Things got a little complicated the last time The Beautiful Girls set their sights on the United States.

Last year, the Australian band's drummer, touring keyboardist and tour manager didn't have the correct visas and were stopped at the U.S./Canada border, thereby messing up a scheduled West Coast swing.

Everything is in order this fall, with the band touring America in support of a new album, Ziggurats, released last month in the United States via Controlled Substance Sound Labs.

There are traces of Police-style reggae rock throughout Ziggurats and some Midnight Oil-esque social commentary on the album, too. That's interesting because growing up, singer Mat McHugh kept his distance from those bands and many of their contemporaries. Only in recent years has he come to appreciate what they did.

"I grew up listening to my dad's records," McHugh tells Sounding Off. "Country and blues were all I heard for a long time, and I guess I thought that all the stuff that was on the radio in the ‘80s was kinda corny at the time. It was more about avoiding the status quo than it was a reflection of the bands themselves. It wasn't until recently that it dawned on me how powerful and interesting some of the bands from that era really are."

McHugh credits Mark Needham, who mixed Ziggurats, for the "hugeness" of the album.

"All of the songs had been arranged and somewhat mixed when we took them to him, but we wanted a big rock sound, and he knows exactly how to get that done," says McHugh. “He works out of a pretty amazing studio in the Hollywood hills and has a lot of cool gear, so it was a good place to hang out and mix a record."

The Beautiful Girls will be the headliners Tuesday (Nov. 20) at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park and the openers for Friday's (Nov. 23) bill at Terminal 5 in New York. For more information, visit www.stoneponyonline.com.

The official Beautiful Girls site is www.thebeautifulgirls.com.

2007-11-16T10:22:00.000-05:00

CARRY THAT TORCH

With the possible exception of Yellow Submarine, any Beatles album is a good introduction to the band.

For Rich Pagano, drummer/singer for the Beatles tribute group The Fab Faux, his was 1969's Abbey Road.

"Sonically, the album was their best," he tells Sounding Off. "Abbey Road has influenced me more than any other record, and as a drummer, I still bring a bit of this period of Ringo (Starr) to just about every session I do.

"To some, it may lose a point due to the fact that they weren't finishing songs at the songwriting stage (because of) the personal climate within the band," Pagano adds, "but what came out of that dark cloud was the brilliant medley on side two."

On Saturday (Nov. 17) at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, The Fab Faux will perform Abbey Road in its entirety. The five-piece band, known for its authentic performances of Beatles material, makes a point of being faithful to the long gap between "The End" (which concludes the second side medley) and "Her Majesty" (Abbey Road's final song).

"We hit the last note of 'The End' and hold it heavy until the acoustic guitar is brought out and handed to Frank (Agnello)," says Pagano. "At that point, we hit the big chord and he runs with it."

Showtimes on Saturday are 4 and 8 p.m. The State Theatre is at 15 Livingston Ave. Call (732) 246-7469 or visit www.statetheatrenj.org for more information.

The official Fab Faux site is www.thefabfaux.com.

BACH IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

Former Skid Row singer and Jersey Shore resident Sebastian Bach will head north Tuesday (Nov. 20) for an in-store appearance/autograph session at 8 p.m. at Vintage Vinyl, 51 Lafayette Road, in the Fords section of Woodbridge.

That's the same day his new solo album, Angel Down, will be released. It includes a version of Aerosmith’s "Back in the Saddle," featuring guest vocals by Axl Rose.

Visit www.vvinyl.com or call (732) 225-7717 for more information.

2007-11-14T14:43:00.000-05:00

THE BALLAD OF THE GOURDS

Every album has its centerpiece, and on Noble Creatures (Yep Roc), the latest from The Gourds, it's a ballad called "Promenade."

For a band not known for ballads, this is a big deal.

It all started when singer/songwriter/guitarist Kevin Russell, playing around with a ukulele chord book, stumbled upon a simple chord progression -- C major to E minor -- that led to the melody for "Promenade."

As for the song's lyrics, Russell says he made a point to go for "something a little different" -- in other words, sentimental.

"I don't usually write stuff like that for The Gourds," he tells Sounding Off.

Russell says his band mates immediately liked "Promemade," but controlling the song’s tempo took some effort.

"They didn't want to lay back," he recalls. "I kept having to hammer 'em, saying, 'No, you gotta let a lot of space happen there. It has to be quiet, open and slow.'

"We want these kids to slow dance to this song," he says with a laugh.

Humor and versatility play a big part in what The Gourds do. (Think of the Austin, Texas, quintet as a cross between NRBQ and The Band.)

So does trust.

"They're so polite to me and (singer/bassist) Jimmy (Smith) as writers, they pretty much give us carte blanche," Russell says of multi-instrumentalists Claude Bernard, Keith Langford and Max Johnston. "They don't really question us too much about what we choose for a record. They go along with what we want to do."

And for Russell, that meant including additional atypical material on Noble Creatures.

"Most of these songs I already had written," says Russell. "I've had a lot of those songs over the years where I just didn't do them with The Gourds because they didn't seem like Gourds songs. And so that became my theme for my part of the record: I'm going to do all those songs that I always wanted to do."

The Gourds will perform Thursday (Nov. 15) at Maxwell's in Hoboken, Friday (Nov. 16) at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia and Saturday (Nov. 17) at Hill Country in Manhattan.

For more information about the band, visit www.thegourds.com.

ATKINS AGAIN

With late-night TV shows in reruns due to the writers' strike, recent musical guests are enjoying encore airings.

On Friday (Nov. 16), look for a repeat of Nicole Atkins' Late Show With David Letterman performance that originally aired Oct. 30. The Jersey Shore-bred singer/songwriter's Neptune City album is available now on Columbia Records.

Slash also is featured in the same episode, talking about his recently released memoir.

2007-11-12T12:29:00.000-05:00

NEVER AGAIN FOR SOMEDAY NEVER

Six years together apparently is enough for the members of Someday Never.

The Monmouth County-based emo quartet will be calling it quits following a hometown show Friday (Nov. 16) at Marlboro's recreation center.

For the most part, the decision to end Someday Never was mutual, says the singer and guitarist known as DL -- and there were many reasons to disband.

"We've ended up in such a hole that we've been struggling to dig ourselves out of, and it’s only caused stress and letdowns," he tells Sounding Off. "Our trailer was stolen; our van broke down -- we were and still are completely broke.

"We've had numerous members quit, some we had to kick out due to personal issues . . . It's (been) a big vicious cycle," he adds. "We've tried so hard to get ourselves out there and really just had too many setbacks."

Essentially, Someday Never had run its course, according to DL.

"We didn't want to become one of those bands that never branches out beyond its hometown and ends up being 30 without any direction," he adds. "I'm only 22, but at the same time, I'm already 22. We decided that the best thing to do would be to end Someday Never and move on with our lives, musically and mentally."

During Friday's farewell show, look for Someday Never to perform an acoustic set and conduct a Q&A segment with the audience.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show. Admission is $12. Marlboro's rec center is at 1996 Recreation Way (off Wycrest Road). Call (732) 617-0100 for more information.

Someday Never's demise doesn't mean DL is giving up playing music.

"I've already got something in the works that I'm very excited about, and Ihope that everyone else is, too," he says. "Someday Never was not just a huge part of my life -- it was my life. And even though it had to come to an end, it definitely made me a smarter and better musician, as well as a smarter businessman in the aspect of creating something successful.

"This time, things will be done the right way -- with much better planning."

RADIOHEAD UPDATE

TBD Records/ATO Records Group will release the physical version of Radiohead's In Rainbows in the United States on Jan. 1, according to a press release issued today (Nov. 12) by Red Light Management.

TBD/ATO is focusing on "Bodysnatchers" and "Jigsaw Falling into Place" as the North American radio singles, according to the release.

JORMA JOINS FESTIVAL LINEUP

Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna veteran Jorma Kaukonen will be an artist in residence at the 2008 New York Guitar Festival, taking place Jan. 12 through Feb. 6.

The festival's lineup also includes G.E. Smith, Larry Campbell, Laura Cantrell and Teddy Thompson.

The free, opening-night concert at the World Financial Center's Winter Garden will be a tribute to Bob Dylan.

Visit www.newyorkguitarfestival.org for more information.

2007-11-08T13:19:00.000-05:00

THERE'S JOY TO BE FOUND

If Thrills singer Conor Deasy could relive his youth all over again, there would be a few things he’d do differently.

"I'd wear cooler clothes, to start," he says. "I would definitely have thrown out a few grunge records I picked up along the way."

As a teenager, one’s sense of identity is incredibly important, adds Deasy.

"Obviously, you're pinning it onto all kinds of reference points -- usually bands," he tells Sounding Off. "It's how young people like to define themselves. When you get older, maybe it becomes books or films, but there's something about youth and music that's so intertwined."

A youthful feel runs throughout the Irish rock quintet's latest album, Teenager, released Oct. 23 in the United States via Capitol Music Group.

"I was thinking more along the lines of a great Phil Spector or early Beatles track, like 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' -- really straight to the point and not cryptic for the sake of it, very much of the moment," explains Deasy. "But because it became one of those albums that took a while to make, it was unlikely that we were going to stay within such a narrow framework. So the theme became a little wider, and I think it also became an album about getting a bit older, and what (youth means) to a middle-aged person. There's quite a bit of melancholy on the album, as well as optimism."

Teenager could have been a double album, Deasy says, but in the end, the band members decided "to resist our temptation."

"Last Christmas, we were about to deliver the record to the label, and that would have meant that we would have been roughly on schedule and roughly within our budget," he explains. "But at the last minute, we decided to write some more songs. At the time, I thought maybe we were losing our minds a little bit. ... But really, 'The Midnight Choir,' 'This Year' and 'Restaurant,' which are all at the very top of the record, they all came together in that last stretch of creativity."

The Thrills will perform songs from Teenager on Friday (Nov. 9) at the Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. in Manhattan. Go to www.mercuryloungenyc.com for more information.

The official Thrills site is www.thethrills.com.

JUST A THOUGHT

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood recently announced they will play three shows together (Feb. 25, 26 and 28) at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.

This isn't just a random pairing, of course. Back in the day, Clapton and Winwood were members of Blind Faith.

Hey, Eric, here's something to chew on while you're in a reunion state of mind: Bobby Whitlock, your old mate from Derek and the Dominos, is alive and well in Austin, Texas. Care to consider doing a couple of shows with him in the near future?

XL MARKS THE SPOT

In Rainbows, the new Radiohead album, will have an international physical release Dec. 31.

Billboard.com reports that XL Recordings will issue CD and vinyl versions of the album that day outside of the United States. Label details regarding a physical U.S. release have not been finalized, according to the site.

2007-11-07T14:14:00.000-05:00

BOYS WILL BE BOYS

She heard the stories, and she saw the photos, too.

Curious to really know what The Doughboys were all about, Nancy Heyman decided to surprise husband Richard X. Heyman in 2000 by reuniting him with his band mates from the late 1960s.

"She lured me over to a club in the East Village under some pretense, and when I walked in, there were Myke (Scavone), Willy (Kirchofer) and Mike (Caruso) ready to take the stage," Richard tells Sounding Off. "We had such a good time that we've been playing together ever since."

The Doughboys released two singles on Bell Records in the 1960s, and the Central Jersey band shared concert stages with the likes of The Beach Boys and Neil Diamond. After The Doughboys split, they remained good friends and pursued other musical endeavors. (Skavone was the singer for the band Ram Jam, best known for the 1977 pop hit "Black Betty.")

When they finally reunited, The Doughboys decided to make up for lost time.

"It was only natural for us to want to record,” says Heyman, the band's drummer. "We had plenty of original material to choose from, but we also were interested in laying down some of the cover songs we started doing in the mid-'60s."

The result: Is It Now?, the first Doughboys album, recorded at the House of Vibes in Highland Park and available on Ram Records. The cover songs, taken from a 2003 session, feature the original lineup. Gar Francis, the replacement for Kirchofer, who died in 2005, later overdubbed guitar parts on the cover songs. Skavone, Francis and Heyman all contributed original material to the 12-song album.

The Doughboys will perform a record release party Friday (Nov. 9) at Crossroads, 78 North Ave. in Garwood. Call (908) 232-5666 or visit www.xxroads.com.

WORKING TOGETHER

Family Force 5 wants its music to mean something, says Chap Stique, a.k.a. Derek Mount, and the same goes for its merchandise.

Case in point: a series of special-edition T-shirts that's part of a FF5 partnership with Jedidiah Clothing and the Hope Collection. Five bucks from each shirt sold will benefit various humanitarian causes.

"There are plenty of organizations with whom we would love to work," says Mount, "but the Hope Collection seemed like a fantastic fit for us because they are associated with fine arts, and because they are particular about working with causes that actually achieve something."

These special shirts are being sold on the Atlanta-area rock/rap band's current Dance Rawr Dance tour, which makes a stop Friday (Nov. 9) at the Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. in Manhattan. Visit www.knittingfactory.com for more details.

FF5 has been performing a "greasy, ridiculous hip-hop song" called "Whatcha Gonna Do With It?" as an encore, says Mount.

"(We) wrote this tune for the 'Diamond Edition' of Business Up Front/Party in the Back," he explains, "but decided to keep it as a delicious treat to keep our fans happy between records."

Visit www.familyforce5.com/ for more about Family Force 5.

HAPPY 500TH

It began in December 2004, and at 8 p.m. ET Thursday (Nov. 8) on Fuse, Steven's Untitled Rock Show will celebrate its 500th episode with special guests the Foo Fighters.

"It's huge for us," says show host Steven. "We've interviewed them before, but never in our studio, so this is a huge deal. They're a band with such history, and they typify everything our show is about, so it's a good fit. That, and they're really good-looking."

For more about the show, visit www.myspace.com/surs.

2007-11-06T12:16:00.000-05:00

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT
Rock music can offer an escape, and Drowning Pool provided such an outlet in 2005 and 2006 for American troops via the band's USO performances in Iraq, Kuwait and South Korea.

"They didn't have to worry about shooting at someone or being shot at -- for two hours, they were back home," singer Ryan McCombs tells Sounding Off. "That, and just how thankful they were that we didn't just come in and play a show and leave. We stayed until everyone got whatever they wanted afterward."

The hard-rock band's support for U.S. troops continues. Drowning Pool has teamed with the nonprofit organization Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America for a campaign called This Is for the Soldiers (www.thisisforthesoldiers.org). The campaign's goal is to encourage Americans to back legislation for better mental health care for new war veterans.

Through this partnership, the band met Illinois Sen. and presidential candidate Barack Obama in September.

"When he saw us," recalls McCombs, "he came right up to us and was very interested to hear how the This Is for the Soldiers campaign was coming along, as he was already familiar with what we were doing. I think the best thing for me, though, was that he did not shy away from us due to our looks or careers. ... (Obama) was genuinely interested and concerned about our troops and their well-being."

Drowning Pool also is putting its money where its collective mouth is for the cause. One dollar from every ticket sold for shows on the band’s This Is for the Soldiers Tour is being donated to IAVA and the USO.

The tour's next stop is Wednesday (Nov. 7) at Starland Ballroom, 570 Jernee Mill Road in Sayreville. Tickets are $15 in advance, $17 day of show. For more information, call (732) 238-5500 or visit www.starlandballroom.com.

SXSW '08 UPDATE
Quit your procrastinating, Jersey Shore-area bands.

The final South by Southwest (SXSW) deadline for domestic artists is Friday (Nov. 9). If you're serious about trying to land a showcase spot in March during the annual music conference/festival in Austin, Texas, visit www.sxsw.com to fill out an online application (fee is $30) and upload the appropriate materials.

In other SXSW '08 news, Daryl Hall will be a featured speaker, and Sire Records president Seymour Stein will be an interview subject.

2007-11-05T12:44:00.000-05:00

HIP-HOP HISTORY

It needed to be done -- that's the explanation editor Johan Kugelberg gives for the idea behind Born in the Bronx (Rizzoli International Publications), his new book about the early days of rap/hip-hop.

"I am always fascinated by the prehistory of pop culture streams, (when) cultural movements are still marginal, where edges overlap and new ideas have a fertile breeding ground before the formula is instigated and the notion of the form predetermined," he tells Sounding Off.

Originally from Sweden, Kugelberg -- now in his 40s and living in New York -- says he was "always aware" of rap, but back in the 1970s, he was more into punk rock and skateboarding. (He remembers hearing Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa and The Sugarhill Gang at that time, but his first true rap connection was with Eric B and Rakim.)

Rap, unlike punk and skateboarding, was not self-documenting, Kugelberg writes in the book's introduction.

"Inner-city minority culture doesn't have the instinct to document itself -- it isn't about their place in posterity, it is about having fun and Saturday night," he says. "Therefore, the artifacts and ephemera of hip-hop's early history are scarce."

Through previously unpublished street fliers and the photography of Joe Conzo, Born in the Bronx provides a great visual history of rap's formative years.

"It is amazing to see an artist of such skill and maturity who was only in his late teens at the time," Kugelberg says of Conzo. "He should be an inspiration for any young aspiring documentary photographer: shoot your surroundings, what you know, the people you love, your own culture.”

Born in the Bronx arrives in stores Tuesday (Nov. 6).

2007-11-01T12:52:00.000-04:00

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Recording music is all about capturing a particular moment. And sometimes there are moments during an album's creation that seemingly happen by themselves.

Matt Pond can't exactly recall when it was decided that he would produce Last Light (Altitude Records), the new album by Pond and his band, Matt Pond PA.

"I never made a conscious decision to take the reins -- the reins were gently placed in my hands, perhaps as a practical joke while I was asleep," the singer tells Sounding Off.

Last Light, most of which was recorded in Bearsville, N.Y., features a variety of guests, among them singer Neko Case. She sings with Pond on the track "Taught to Look Away."

"I wrote 'Taught' as result of listening to Neko's last record," he recalls. "I don't think I've ever been as directly inspired by anyone's music.

"It was all a dream, the way it came together. And with someone of her talent -- there was no 'producing' necessary. She came in, nailed her parts, gave me a hug and was gone.

"The experience -- that experience -- made the whole record worth the struggle (that's) inherent to these albums we all make."

Pond and his band have gigs scheduled for Friday (Nov. 2) at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, Sunday (Nov. 4) at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia and Monday (Nov. 5) at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn.

For more on Matt Pond PA, visit www.mattpondpa.com.

2007-10-29T14:54:00.001-04:00

YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT

Here's something that doesn't happen often -- two rock-star guitarist autobiographies released on the same day.

On Tuesday (Oct. 30), Ronnie Wood's Ronnie (St. Martin's Press) and Slash's Slash (Harper Collins) arrive on shelves, but only one is really worth reading cover to cover.

Having played with the Jeff Beck Group, The Faces and The Rolling Stones, Wood certainly didn't lack for material. Ronnie, however, is a disappointment, short on depth and insight.

Like a Wood solo album, Ronnie does have its moments. There are worthwhile bits involving Rod Stewart (his Faces bandmate) and Jimi Hendrix (who was briefly a roommate of Wood's in England). Anyone looking for a unique, inside peek into the world of the Stones, either from a personality or musical perspective, will not be satisfied.

Slash (who wrote his book with former Rolling Stone writer Anthony Bozza) offers that and more about Guns N' Roses in his memoir. The Appetite for Destruction segments could be a separate book. During those passages, he recalls the joy of "finding that perfect Les Paul/Marshall combination where the depth of the guitar's tone and the crunch of the amp come together perfectly." And his memory of Martin Chambers' audition to replace ousted GNR drummer Steven Adler is funny.

As expected, there is plenty of debauchery in Slash's book -- many GNR tales involve drinking, drugs or strippers -- but he's not bragging, just reporting in detail what he and his GNR mates did (any many times somebody paid a price). Excess does indeed make for a good read.

A SHORE THING

Tuesday (Oct. 30) is a big day for singer/songwriter Nicole Atkins.

That's when the Jersey Shore-raised musician's first album for Columbia, Neptune City, arrives in stores. On top of that, she and her band, The Sea, are scheduled to perform on CBS' Late Show With David Letterman.

Her official site is www.nicoleatkins.com.

2007-10-26T14:05:00.000-04:00

APOLOGIES ACCEPTED

What probably should have happened last year when he was still with Sony finally occurred Oct. 16 via the independent route: the release of Justin King's first studio album with his three-piece band, The Apologies.

The Oregon-based King, a singer/songwriter loaded with guitar chops, had been working on what he called a "sonically diverse" album that was to be released on Sony's Epic imprint in summer 2006.

But Epic dismissed the A&R people who had signed King, leaving him and The Apologies "without a champion," he says. Then label execs told him they didn't hear a radio single on the album. More back-and-forth discussions about a single followed, leading to what King calls an amicable split from Sony that became official in March.

The self-released, 12-track album by King and the Apologies – which contains versions of songs previously intended for release on Epic -- is available via CDBaby.com.

King and his band will perform Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 27 and 28) at The Tank, 279 Church St. in Manhattan. Visit www.thetanknyc.org/music for more information.

Justin King’s official site is www.justinking.com.

2007-10-24T11:48:00.000-04:00

ALL RAPPED UP

Every year at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York, a select newcomer can be seen walking the red carpet with the notables and legends being honored that evening.

The 2007 newbie on display was rapper Lanz. This is how she looked in June when she arrived for the event at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

She looks and sounds a lot tougher in the video for her song "Grow Up" (available on the Interscope Records Web site) -- and chances are Lanz would take that as a compliment.

"I make truth music," she says in a statement. "I speak for the underdog who's been pushed around their whole life, and I show them how to shove back."

Lanz will do her thing tonight (Oct. 24) at Blender Theater at Gramercy, 127 E. 23rd St. in Manhattan. Call (212) 777-6800 or (212) 777-1224 for more information.

Her Young $ Restless album is due early next year via Interscope. Visit www.myspace.com/lanz or www.lanzmusic.com for more about Lanz.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

Mary J. Blige, Elton John, Beyonce and John Legend are among the artists scheduled to perform Dec. 2 in Los Angeles as part of the first-ever Movies Rock concert.

The event, to be televised Dec. 7 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, celebrates the relationship between music and movies.

Go to www.moviesrock2007.com for more information.

2007-10-22T14:17:00.000-04:00

GETTING HER ACT TOGETHER

Portraying Janis Joplin onstage for seven months in Love, Janis didn't just provide a steady gig for Dana Fuchs.

The singer/songwriter -- born in South Plainfield, raised in Florida and a New Yorker since 1999 -- learned a thing or two about vocal restraint and dynamics from the experience.

"When I first started singing," Fuchs tells Sounding Off, "I wanted to fill every bit of space and felt I had to club people over the head in order for them to hear me -- and I'm pretty loud. Janis had a way of making songs simmer. It was brooding and haunting -- mind-blowing. That style really spoke to me because my songs tend to be a bit on the darker side."

After Fuchs' Love, Janis stint, director Julie Taymor contacted the play's producers looking for a strong singer. One thing led to another, Fuchs recalls, and she landed the role of Sadie in the recently released film Across the Universe.

"Funny how the music door I'd been knocking on since coming to New York City and starting my band almost 10 years ago might just now be opened on the acting side of things," says Fuchs. "Especially since I decided upon arriving in New York City that I should focus only on the music, even though acting was something I had always had a true longing for and had done all through childhood and school."

Music is on the front burner these days. Dana Fuchs Live in NYC, recorded about a year ago at Manhattan's B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, is now available via iTunes. An official, tangible release is expected early next year, says Fuchs.

"I actually just finished a studio recording this summer that will come out next year," she adds, "but the live CD really shows who I am as a singer, writer and performer. I am all about live performance -- it's what has gotten me every great opportunity I've had thus far."

Fuchs' next gig is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 23) at Joe's Pub in Manhattan. For more information, go to www.joespub.com.

Visit www.danafuchs.com to learn more about Dana Fuchs.

2007-10-19T14:25:00.000-04:00

MAKING THINGS HAPPEN

Rockfour certainly seems to make the most of its U.S. visits.

The psychedelic-flavored pop/rock band from Tel Aviv, Israel, showcased during this year's South by Southwest (SXSW) music conference/festival in Austin, Texas, and according to the group, the performance played a role in Nic Harcourt giving Rockfour regular airplay on California's KCRW-FM.

That led to interest from record labels, among them Cooking Vinyl, which released the band's Memories of the Never Happened earlier this month.

The new album was recorded in San Diego; its predecessor, 2004's Nationwide, was made in Detroit. Recording and producing in America adds a different dimension to Rockfour's sound, say the band members, who add that American studios are constructed differently from those in Israel. (With that in mind, Rockfour is building a studio in Israel that the band says is inspired by the American studios it has used, as well as London's legendary Abbey Road Studios.)

Earlier this month, Rockfour began a string of U.S. tour dates. The itinerary includes gigs tonight (Oct. 19) at World Café Life in Philadelphia, Sunday (Oct. 21) at The Saint in Asbury Park and Tuesday (Oct. 23) at Mexicali Blues in Teaneck.

Visit www.rockfour.com for more on Rockfour.

THEY WILL BE THERE

Cat Power, My Morning Jacket and John Doe are among the artists scheduled to interpret Bob Dylan material Nov. 7 at New York's Beacon Theatre.

The benefit concert is a celebration of I'm Not There, the new movie about Dylan.

To purchase tickets, visit www.imnotthere.info or www.ticketmaster.com.

2007-10-17T11:50:00.000-04:00

IN THE BLOOD

The Everlys, the Allmans, the Gallaghers . . . rock 'n' roll has had its share of brother combos.

Singer siblings Paulie Z and David Z, the guitarist and bassist, respectively, for the Brooklyn-based rock band ZO2, identify more with a longtime unrelated rock tandem.

"Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons would be a 99.9 percent accurate description of our relationship," Paulie Z tells Sounding Off. "(I'm Paul and) David is Gene."

"I get women who look like Shannon Tweed,"cracks David Z, referring to Simmons’ longtime model/actress girlfriend.

In 2004, the brothers experienced the Stanley/Simmons dynamic up close and personal when their band toured with Kiss. Lately, ZO2 -- which is rounded out by drummer/singer Joey Cassata -- has been on the road supporting the recently released Ain't It Beautiful, the band's second album, issued on Riker Hill Records.

For the guitar tracks to "Get Up Now" and all of the new album’s bass tracks, ZO2 ventured to Central Jersey to record at Bound Brook’s Voodooland.

The band's next gig is set for Thursday (Oct. 18) at Sweeney's Saloon, 13639 Philmont Ave. in Philadelphia.

Visit www.myspace.com/sweeneysphilly for more about the show and check out www.zo2.com/ for more about ZO2.

BACH VISITS TRL

Jersey Shore-based Sebastian Bach will appear on MTV's TRL at 3:30 p.m. today (Oct. 17). He's set to perform "November 20," his new rap/rock song.

Coincidentally, Nov. 20 is when Angel Down, Bach's new solo album, arrives in stores.

2007-10-15T15:37:00.000-04:00

IT'S MARATHON TIME

In its 25-plus years, the CMJ Music Marathon in New York has presented sets by the Beastie Boys, Death Cab for Cutie, Feist, Lenny Kravitz, Nine Inch Nails and R.E.M., among many others.

This year's edition, running Tuesday through Saturday (Oct. 16-20) at venues in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Hoboken, features acts relatively fresh (British Sea Power, Illinois, The Primms, Voxtrot) and thoroughly familiar (Bouncing Souls, Christopher Cross, Coheed and Cambria, Meat Puppets), as well as artists well below the radar.

New Jersey's own Status Green also is among the scheduled performers.

Visit http://cmj.com/marathon/ for more information.

WHOLE LOTTA ZEPPELIN

Led Zeppelin fans have two reasons to look forward to Nov. 13.

That day, the band will release a two-disc compilation called Mothership. More importantly, Zeppelin's catalog will be available online.

"We are pleased that the complete Led Zeppelin catalog will now be available digitally," guitarist Jimmy Page today (Oct. 15) said in a statement. "The addition of the digital option will better enable fans to obtain our music in whichever manner that they prefer."

2007-10-11T12:26:00.000-04:00

RASPBERRIES REDUX

In-depth conversations about the history of power pop almost always include mentions of Big Star, Badfinger and The Raspberries.

Those bands pretty much established the genre's key ingredients in the early-to-mid-1970s -- catchy melodies and crisp harmonies, punchy guitars and muscular drums.

Of the Big Three, only The Raspberries have all of its original members alive and well -- and playing together, too.

In 2004, Eric Carmen, Dave Smalley, Jim Bonfanti and Wally Bryson reunited to perform that November at the opening of Cleveland's House of Blues.

That was followed by a New Year's Eve gig at the same venue, then a handful of tour dates across America in 2005. This past summer, the Ryko label released Live on the Sunset Strip, recorded in Los Angeles on Oct. 21, 2005.

The next two Raspberries concerts will be Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 13 and 14) at Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th St. in Manhattan. For tickets, go to www.highlineballroom.com.

For more about the band, visit www.raspberriesonline.com.

2007-10-08T10:04:00.001-04:00

BETTER OFF INDIE

It's quite common for a band to badmouth a major label once they've parted ways.

The Donnas aren't about to bash Atlantic Records, which released two solid but overlooked albums by the California punk band. (An option for a third Atlantic album was not exercised.)

"We had a great experience being on Atlantic," guitarist Allison Robertson, a.k.a. Donna R, tells Sounding Off. "We learned how a machine other than that of indie rock operates, and we were able to find out where we fit into the music industry through our time there. We have always been true to ourselves to the point of coming off as hard-headed at times, and I think being on a major label helped us transition from being stubborn in our operations to open-minded but confident in our gut feelings."

"I think everyone (at Atlantic) was working very hard," adds drummer Torry Castellano, a.k.a. Donna C, "but there was just too much work for too few people, and so it just felt like it wasn't the right place for us anymore."

Free to do whatever they wanted, The Donnas elected to go the indie route again -- but not Lookout! Records, the band's home prior to Atlantic.

Instead, the group formed its own imprint, Purple Feather.

"The idea of starting our own label began as kind of a joke," recalls singer Brett Anderson, a.k.a. Donna A. "We'd just be in the studio recording and talking about the business side, and someone would (say), 'We should just put it out ourselves.'

"After a while, that evolved to, 'Let's just put it out ourselves!' Between the chaotic state of the music industry, the independence and control bands can get from the Internet -- and our confidence in our managers -- it went from a pipe dream to a reality."

"In the end, Purple Feather Records offered us the best deal -- freedom," adds bassist Maya Ford, a.k.a. Donna F.

Bitchin', the first Donnas album on Purple Feather, was released last month.

"(It) was a blast to make, through and through," says Robertson. "We did it in (co-producer) Jay Ruston's home studio for the most part, and we had no hard deadline set, nor did we have any visitors or distractions. We were completely immersed in rock 'n' roll."

The band's tour supporting Bitchin' rolls into New York on Wednesday (Oct. 10) for a gig at the Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th St. Visit www.highlineballroom.com.

The official Donnas site is www.thedonnas.com.

2007-10-04T17:53:00.000-04:00

JUSTICE AND INDEPENDENCE '07

Fresh from his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination, John Mellencamp is back in the news.

First off, he's announced another batch of tour dates, keeping him on the road into December along with Los Lobos. The itinerary includes a Dec. 15 show at the Borgata in Atlantic City.

"These shows are all about the music and the songs -- that's the essence of what we'll be bringing," Mellencamp said in a statement. "The bands and I are really looking forward to getting out there and performing some new songs and, of course, a lot that are familiar to everybody. It'll be a fantastic experience for the audience and all of us."

Last but certainly not least, Mellencamp has posted a video on his official Web site and MySpace page for a new song called “Jena.” It's about Louisiana's controversial "Jena Six" case in which six black high school students were charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white student.

The grainy, black-and-white video mixes footage of Mellencamp and his band in the studio along with images pertaining to the Jena Six case and the 1960s civil rights movement.

As Mellencamp's musical hero Woody Guthrie once sang, "there's mean things a-happenin' in this world."

And music has the power to make things better.

2007-10-01T16:29:00.000-04:00

GIVE 'EM A HAND

Radiohead has had moments where its music was ahead of the pack.

The same can be said of the band's business sense.

In Rainbows, the new Radiohead album, will be available for download via the band's official site starting Oct. 10.

Those who visit the site to preorder the regular download of the album (a deluxe "discbox" version, available in December, has a fixed price) eventually will arrive at a screen that says "it's up to you" with regard to the price.

Sure, some people will abuse the opportunity and pay a puny sum. But fans with brains know not to take music for granted, and paying market value -- which these days seems to be at least 99 cents per song -- would be the fair thing to do.

TV LIFE AFTER DEATH

The Final 24 begins its second season at 11 p.m. ET on Oct. 17.

The Biography Channel series searches for clues leading up to a celebrity's demise. This season's music-centric episodes include Jim Morrison (Oct. 31), as well as Janis Joplin, Keith Moon and Tupac Shakur (airdates to come).

2007-09-28T16:17:00.000-04:00

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

With each passing year, the analysis intensifies with regard to how "rock" the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees are.

Let the debate begin over the potential class of 2008. The diverse list of nominees includes Madonna, John Mellencamp, The Beastie Boys, Donna Summer, The Dave Clark Five, The Ventures, Afrika Bambaataa, Leonard Cohen and Chic.

Mellencamp, the DC5 and The Ventures arguably are the most rock of the bunch, but they are anything but no-brainers for induction. For one thing, all three have been eligible for years, so there must be reasons why the voters have passed on them before.

It’s not hard to read between the lines. Mellencamp (above), despite several great albums and a boatload of hits, simply isn't held in the same regard by critics as his peers Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and Bob Seger.

That's unfortunate and unfair, and the DC5 holds a similar place in the pantheon of 1960s British Invasion artists.

As far as great instrumental bands go, The Ventures are right up there with Booker T. and the MG's, but outside of that group, the Rock Hall hasn't exactly welcomed nonvocal acts with open arms (sidemen and early influence distinctions excluded).

All of the '08 nominees have reached the masses and influenced other artists, rockers included. That justifies them making the list, but being voted in -- well, that's the hardest part.

2007-09-25T12:48:00.000-04:00

ONE GRITTY GAL

Coney Island High and The Continental have left Manhattan's rock club scene, but not Dirty Harry’s mind.

She recalls spending time at both venues during the 1990s checking out "loads of punk rock bands." Those experiences, plus reading "every book on Jim Morrison, Patti Smith and David Bowie that's out there," helped plant the seeds for the London-born, Los Angeles-based singer's own music career.

That career includes a guest stint on Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee's Tommyland: The Ride album, released in 2005. Through a mutual friend, Lee learned about Dirty Harry's The Trouble With Harry project, and he later arranged for her to visit California to sing on the song "Makin' Me Crazy."

Her latest effort is Songs from the Edge, which is available today (Sept. 25) both online and through A Wolf at Your Door Records. It features the catchy, sassy "Takes One to Know One," which can be heard on her MySpace page -- http://www.myspace.com/dirtyharryrocks.

"(It's a) visceral, honest trip through the abyss," she says of the album.

Dirty Harry has acoustic shows in Manhattan scheduled for Wednesday (Sept. 26) at D’Or, 204 W. 55th St., and Thursday (Sept. 27) at Snitch, 59 W. 21st St.

Visit www.dirtyharryrocks.com for more information.

SPRINGSTEEN SEMANTICS

Most bands rehearse in garages, basements, attics or studios, out of the public eye and usually with only the musicians in attendance.

Not Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The Boss and company prefer to do so in sizable venues -- and charge $100 per head.

That's a concert, not a rehearsal.

As someone who chooses his words ever so carefully on the rare occasion he's interviewed, Springsteen should know the definition of rehearsal.

So even though his two performances this week at Convention Hall in Asbury Park are open to the paying public, as well as his just-announced Friday appearance at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, they're deemed rehearsals by Team Springsteen.

Just because the proceeds are going to charity doesn't defend or justify the rehearsal tag. To a paying customer, a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks, no matter where the money is going.

Dubbing Springsteen's pre-tour performances as rehearsals is nothing new, and neither is Team Springsteen setting strict limits on media credentials and stating that such performances are not open for critical review.

There's a difference between a fan and a journalist, just like there's a difference between a rehearsal and a concert -- and a journalist worth his or her salt should not accept such conditions or the terminology being used to describe these Springsteen performances.

2007-09-21T14:44:00.000-04:00

REDGORILLA GROWS

It's not affiliated in any way with South by Southwest, but the RedGorilla Music Fest certainly benefits from the traffic that SXSW brings to Austin, Texas.

For its 2008 edition, set for March 12-15, RedGorilla plans to present more artists playing in more venues -- 250-plus acts showcasing in various clubs along Austin's busy Sixth Street. And like previous years, RedGorilla '08 will be free and open to the general public.

Artists interested in showcasing can apply through Feb. 1. Visit www.redgorillamusic.com for more information.

RIMSHOTS

* With regard to a new Nickelback album, singer Chad Kroeger tells Billboard.com that "no one's in a hurry to do anything."
That's right, Chad -- you and the boys should just chill. The world isn't yearning for any new watered-down grunge right now.

** Lee Greenwood refused to take the stage last weekend for a show in Denver honoring veterans, police and firefighters; according to Greenwood’s manager, the concert organizer only came up with $14,000 of the "God Bless the USA" singer's $20,000 fee.
So much for the old saying "The show must go on." And how many days would it take for one of those being honored to earn the disputed $6,000, let alone the $20,000 in question?

2007-09-19T11:42:00.000-04:00

KFOG KEEPS ON ROCKIN'

It all started Sept. 16, 1982, with "Rock This Town" by The Stray Cats.

Twenty-five years later, San Francisco-based KFOG is still rockin' -- and it's one of the best commercial FM rock stations in the country.

The industry refers to KFOG's eclectic format as Triple A, which stands for "adult album alternative." KFOG is a commercial station, though, so it rarely gets too indulgent or esoteric.

For example, morning host Dave Morey played songs today (Sept. 19) by the Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen, Luscious Jackson, Peter Bjorn and John, Ten Years After, Split Enz and the Kooks.

In most other radio markets, those songs and artists would be scattered across two or even three different FM stations.

KFOG's specialty shows include the "10 @ 10" (10 songs from one year, at 10 a.m. PT and 10 p.m. PT weekdays), "Acoustic Sunrise" (7 a.m. to noon PT Sundays) and "Acoustic Sunset" (6 to 8 p.m. PT Sundays).

Some radio station slogans are ridiculous and untrue -- KFOG's "World Class Rock" is not.

Listen online by visiting www.kfog.com.

2007-09-17T15:03:00.001-04:00

HE WAS ROCKIN' IN CRANFORD

Better late than never -- and he was much better than last September.

Chuck Berry, who hit the stage past his scheduled start time, fared much better Saturday (Sept. 15) in Cranford than he did a year ago in Bridgewater, running through a bunch of his hits during this year's Union County MusicFest at Nomahegan Park.

The still-lean Berry, 80, benefited greatly from the support of his regular backing band, which included daughter Ingrid on backing vocals and son Charles on guitar.

While performing "Sweet Little Sixteen," in which Berry names a number of U.S. locations, Berry included Cranford, much to the crowd's delight. But he wasn't the only performer to give a shout-out to the Garden State on Saturday afternoon.

During his band's set on the main stage, Smithereens singer (and Scotch Plains resident) Pat DiNizio (left) mentioned a handful of locales that are important to him and the group, including New Brunswick's Court Tavern and Scotch Plains' Scotchwood Diner.

Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger (below right), who grew up in Montclair, admitted that finding a rhyme for Cranford wasn't easy. Schlesinger and company tipped their proverbial caps to another Jersey town with a rendition of "Hackensack."

2007-09-13T16:00:00.000-04:00

BERRY GOOD OR BERRY BAD?

Chuck Berry owes New Jersey.

Not money or a favor of some sort -- just a quality performance.

Last September, Berry headlined a show at Commerce Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, then 79, was off his game, struggling on most every song, botching his trademark chunky guitar solos and chugging rhythm parts.

Berry, now 80, has a chance to redeem himself when he performs Saturday at the Union County MusicFest in Cranford’s Nomahegan Park.

Also on the bill are The Smithereens, Fountains of Wayne, Apples in Stereo and Live, among others.

The action is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Visit www.ucmusicfest.com for more information.

IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

Speaking of The Smithereens, the Jersey-bred band will release Christmas With The Smithereens via Koch Records on Oct. 9.

As singer Pat DiNizio describes it, the album "channels the ghost of Christmas past, and in the process, also pays tribute to and reinvents some of our absolute all-time favorite rock 'n' roll Christmas records."

He adds, "I don't think it has been done quite this way before, and hopefully it's an album you wouldn't mind listening to the other 11 months of the year."

In addition to covers of songs made famous by Chuck Berry and The Ramones, among others, Christmas With The Smithereens also includes original material: guitarist Jim Babjak's "Waking Up on Christmas Morning" and drummer Dennis Diken's "Christmas (I Remember)."

2007-09-07T13:28:00.000-04:00

THE BOSS REMEMBERS MAGOVERN

The leak is complete: MP3s of everything that will be on Magic, the new Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band studio album (due Oct. 2), are in circulation. ("Radio Nowhere" has since been officially released, and its video can be seen on Amazon.com.)

Among the standouts are "Livin' in the Future" and "Long Walk Home."

The best of the bunch, though, might be one that doesn't seem to be an official Magic track. According to Springsteen's official site, Magic is supposed to contain 11 songs, but there's another new Boss studio tune making the rounds.

It's called "Terry's Song," a sparse, country-ish ode (piano, acoustic guitar and harmonica) to late Springsteen confidant Frank "Terry" Magovern (above), who died July 30.

Here are some of the lyrics:

"Well, they built the Titanic to be one of a kind
but many ships have ruled the seas.
They built the Eiffel Tower to stand alone
they could build another if they please.

Taj Mahal, the pyramids of Egypt
are unique, I suppose.
When they built you, brother, they broke the mold."

Somewhere, Magovern is smiling.

2007-09-06T17:42:00.000-04:00

ALL TALK, PROBABLY NO ACTION

Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier they're not.

Kanye West (left) and 50 Cent have been talking trash about each other lately as a way to hype their respective new albums, both due in stores Tuesday (Sept. 11).

That day, the rap rivals are scheduled to perform on BET's 106 & Park. The network has even roped in ESPN's Stuart Scott for the occasion, with the sports announcer expected to give their statistical breakdowns a la a heavyweight fight.

Speaking of stats: According to a recent Associated Press story, 50 Cent has gone as far to say that he would retire if his Curtis album doesn't outsell West's Graduation in their first week of availability.

There's no word on whether West would do the same should 50 Cent's disc top his. Nevertheless, here's a suggestion (more like a wish): If Kenny Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates -- also due Tuesday -- outsells the West and 50 Cent discs, can both rappers please retire?

HONORING PAVAROTTI

The Metropolitan Opera will pay tribute to Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who died today (Sept. 6) at age 71, via its Metropolitan Opera Radio channel on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Today through Sept. 13, the station will air some of Pavarotti's top Met performances, starting at 9 p.m. ET each day.

2007-09-04T18:06:00.000-04:00

SIN CITY SHENANIGANS

Everybody knows that MTV doesn't air as many music videos as it did in the 1980s.

But that doesn't mean the MTV Video Music Awards is a thing of the past. The 2007 VMAs will air live from Las Vegas at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday (Sept. 9).

It promises to be different from past VMA shows. For one thing, it's supposed to air just once, so set your recording device of choice if you really want to see the action.

There's no mention of a host on MTV's Web site, but it seems that "living legend" Timbaland, also referred to by MTV as the "maestro" for the show, will in essence serve as host.

Scheduled performers include 50 Cent, Rihanna, Fall Out Boy and Nelly Furtado.

A source close to the network says Britney Spears plans to make an appearance, according to Tanner Stransky’s story in the Aug. 31 edition of Entertainment Weekly.

Should she show up, Spears can only hope that this Sin City adventure turns out better than her infamous visit to the Little White Wedding Chapel in early 2004.

2007-08-31T13:22:00.000-04:00

IT'S SHOWTIME FOR GUADAGNO

The late Terry Magovern carried a lot of clout, and not just on the East Coast within the Bruce Springsteen community.

Earlier this year, when producers of the Showtime/David Duchovny series Californication were looking to learn more about Matawan singer/songwriter Pat Guadagno, they called Magovern, who gave his OK.

Thanks in part to Magovern's seal of approval, Guadagno's cover of the Warren Zevon song "Don't Let Us Get Sick" will be featured in Californication near the end of the Sept. 17 episode, which will begin at 10:30 p.m.

Guadagno performs regularly along the Jersey Shore and is perhaps best known for organizing Bob Dylan birthday shows at such venues as Red Bank's Two River Theater Company.

He'll perform tonight (Aug. 31) at Windansea in Highlands and Monday (Sept. 3) at the Sugar Shack, also in Highlands.

HOLIDAY SOUNDS ON THE HORIZON

Labor Day weekend has arrived, and technically, there are a few weeks of summer left.

Nevertheless, the Christmas album push has already started.

Raul Malo, the former lead singer for the country-rock band The Mavericks, has recorded a batch of yuletide classics for Marshmallow World & Other Holiday Favorites. The album is due Sept. 25 via New Door Records/UMe, and Malo will support it with his Christmas Party Tour, which is scheduled to begin Nov. 28 in Ridgefield, Conn. Other stops include New York (Dec. 12) and Atlantic City (Dec. 14).

Then there's Relient K, which will release Let It Snow, Baby … Let It Reindeer on Oct. 23 via Capitol. The pop-punk band has added seven songs to 2003's Deck the Halls and Bruise Your Hand; among the new tunes is one called "I'm Gettin' Nuttin' for Christmas."

2007-08-29T15:01:00.000-04:00

TV TIME FOR ATKINS

It's not often that a choir performs on the Late Show With David Letterman.

To be more specific, a choir dressed in white featuring notable names from the rock 'n' roll community.

For her Letterman performance of "1 2 3 4" on Monday (Aug. 27), Canadian singer/songwriter Feist had vocal support from members of The National, New Pornographers and Broken Social Scene, as well as Jersey Shore-bred Nicole Atkins.

A clip of the performance is available via YouTube.

Atkins will return to the Letterman show on Oct. 30. But for that performance, she'll be in the spotlight as she promotes her album Neptune City (Columbia), due in stores that same day.

"The Way It Is," the first single from Neptune City, can be heard via her MySpace page.

2007-08-27T12:33:00.000-04:00

A SMART DECISION

A band worth its salt will opt for making an album over working on summer tans any day of the week.

Choosing a recording studio over the sun, The Brilliant Mistakes have spent recent months in a dark Bronx basement facility called Lincoln's Log Cabin with producer Lincoln Schleifer. In a recent e-mail, the musicians claimed their "lily-white skin" is a testament to their commitment "to make the best album of our questionable career."

Whether in conversation or with lyrics, the crafty New York power-pop band has a way with words. Musically and sonically, singer/bassist Erik Philbrook says his group has broadened its horizons this time around, using a variety of vintage keyboards and compressors.

"I'm really excited about 'Becoming,' " says Philbrook. "It has sort of a dreamy, stream-of-consciousness vibe to it. I had always imagined it as a very quiet, acoustic song. In the studio, Lincoln suggested using a drum effect he found on this vintage Hammond Aurora Classic organ. When we recorded the song, he cranked up this drum track, and we played to it to great effect. The recorded song now has this casual funk to it that I never expected.

Thematically, says Philbrook, there are a few "post-9/11 songs” on the new album, "but they weren't written necessarily in response to that event. I guess they just resonate differently in light of the world in the past few years. So, in that regard, they are about soldiering on, trying to live the life that's in front of you, and not letting the distress of our times keep you down."

The new Brilliant Mistakes album, the follow-up to 2003's Dumb Luck, should see the light of day in November via Aunt Mimi's Records, the band's own label. Meanwhile, listen for some new material at 9 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 30) when the group performs at The Living Room, 154 Ludlow St. in Manhattan. Call (212) 533-7235 for more information.

2007-08-24T12:56:00.000-04:00

IF YOU WANT BOTH (YOU GOT IT)

Some AC/DC fans prefer the Bon Scott era, while others gravitate toward the music made during the Brian Johnson years.

All parties should be pleased with Plug Me In, a DVD boxed set due Oct. 16 via Columbia Records that will feature performances from both singers, as well as interviews.

The first disc focuses on the Scott era, including a TV performance of "High Voltage" from October 1975. The second disc covers the Johnson years and features more than 20 performances.

A deluxe edition of Plug Me In will contain a third DVD of additional Scott and Johnson performances.

2007-08-23T12:48:00.000-04:00

SPRINGSTEEN'S ROCKING 'RADIO'

Attention all Bruce Springsteen fans who have wanted him to curb his folk tendencies -- your prayers have been answered.

"Radio Nowhere" -- a no-doubt-about-it rocker from Magic, his new album with the E Street Band -- has been leaked. There isn't much to it lyrically, but the tune has a steady backbeat, snarling guitars and a blast of sax courtesy of Clarence Clemons.

Magic is due Oct. 2.

2007-08-17T15:28:00.000-04:00

BACH IS BACK

In recent years, former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach has done some reality TV and Broadway work, plus had a recurring role on The Gilmore Girls and, of course, performed his share of concerts around the globe.

On Nov. 20, the longtime Jersey Shore resident will end an eight-year gap between solo albums with the release of Angel Down via Merovingian Music and Bach's own Get Off My Bach Productions.

Bach and his band recorded Angel Down this summer at Sound City Studios in Hollywood, Calif. He wrote or co-wrote nine of the album's 14 songs, including "(Love Is) A B----slap," the first radio track. Angel Down also includes Bach's take on the Aerosmith classic "Back in the Saddle."

The cover art for Angel Down is an original painting called "David's Watching," the last work done by Bach's father, David Bierk, who died in 2002. (Skid Row fans might recall that Bierk created the cover art featured on the band's Slave to the Grind album.)

"(Love Is) A B----slap," which already has been played on some terrestrial radio stations even though its official add date is Sept. 4, can be heard now via the Octane channel on Sirius Satellite Radio.

2007-08-14T13:26:00.000-04:00

ROCKING GOTHAM

It's only fitting to have a New York-based band play the first show at a new Manhattan concert venue.

That's what is scheduled to happen on Oct. 11, when The National (above) plays Terminal 5, a Bowery Presents venue at 610 W. 56th St. that Billboard.com says has a capacity of 3,000.

Other confirmed shows include The Shins (Oct. 23-24) and The Decemberists (Nov. 1-2).

Tickets for the National show go on sale Friday (Aug. 17); tickets for the Shins shows go on sale Saturday (Aug. 18). Go to www.bowerypresents.com for more information.

NO KIDDING AROUND

Its target audience is children, but there's a grown-up flavor to Nickelodeon's Yo Gabba Gabba!

The live-action music series, which will premiere Aug. 20 at 10:30 a.m. ET, will feature such guests as Mark Mothersbaugh, The Shins and Sugarland, as well as Mya, Biz Markie and Sean Kingston.

Visit www.nick.com for more information.

2007-08-07T13:27:00.000-04:00

ROKY TO THE RESCUE

Underdog, Bratz, I Know Who Killed Me -- in case there was any doubt, this cinematic crud proves that the dog days of summer movies are upon us.

For those with a rock 'n' roll movie jones to fill, the situation gets worse: Shine a Light, the Rolling Stones film directed by Martin Scorsese, is more than a month away from hitting the big screen.

Of course, there always are rentals to fill the void. As for recent rockin' home-viewing releases, You're Gonna Miss Me (Palm Pictures), a documentary that traces the ups and downs of singer/guitarist Roky Erickson, does the trick.

Erickson, while far from a household name, can be considered a contemporary of Brian Wilson in terms of musical talent and mental illness. As a member of the Austin, Texas, band The 13th Floor Elevators, Erickson had a flash of fame when "You're Gonna Miss Me" hit No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1966. (In 2000, the song was featured in the John Cusack film High Fidelity.)

He went on to make some great music after that (most notably as a solo artist and with The Aliens), but Erickson's struggles with mental illness, as well as prescription and psychedelic drugs, would dominate his life and career.

You're Gonna Miss Me traces the highs and lows, along with Erickson's dealings with his mother and siblings.

Thanks to his brother Sumner, Erickson is back on track and in recent years has returned to performing. His next U.S. gig is Aug. 24 in Seattle.

FIT FOR THE KING

Elvis Presley loved his peanut butter -- more precisely, his fried peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches.

If the King of Rock 'n' Roll were still alive (and not on a strict diet), most likely he would have enjoyed the new Reese's product that bears his name and likeness on the wrapper and features a thin layer of banana creme.

There are four collector-edition packages, and they contain game pieces that might be good for a number of prizes, among them a 1957 Cadillac Elvis Tribute Car and a trip for four to Presley's Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tenn.

ON THE TUBE

MyNetwork will air the World Music Awards 2007 on Wednesday night (Aug. 8); look for appearances by Beyonce, Nelly Furtado, Michael Jackson and others.

2007-08-03T15:17:00.000-04:00

WE'RE LEFT TO WONDER

Baltimore and Boston both are a reasonable car or train ride away from the Jersey Shore.

And unless Stevie Wonder adds concerts in or near the Garden State, those cities will be the closest his headlining tour comes to New Jersey.

Wonder announced Thursday that he will hit the road for the first time in more than a decade. The final two shows of the 13-date "A Wonder Summer's Night Tour" will be Sept. 16 at Baltimore's Pier Six Pavilion and Sept. 20 at Boston's Bank of America Pavilion. Tickets for at least some of the shows will be available starting Saturday (Aug. 4) via www.ticketmaster.com.

"I am looking forward to performing in these venues under the stars," Wonder said via a statement.

Hey, Stevie, please don't overlook Holmdel's PNC Bank Arts Center or Camden's Tweeter Center at the Waterfront -- they’re amphitheaters, too. And New York's Central Park isn't a bad outdoorsy place to play, either.

Speaking of New York, Wonder will perform at Radio City Music Hall on Sept. 18 as part of The Dream Concert, an all-star show to raise funds for the building of a Martin Luther King Jr. memorial at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Tickets for this show are available now; go to www.radiocity.com or www.ticketmaster.com for more information.

2007-07-31T15:31:00.000-04:00

KING-SIZE CHANGES PLANNED

If the managers of Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tenn., have their way, some king-size renovations will be made to the surrounding area.

Currently, there's a visitors center, souvenir stores and museums across from Graceland. But the plan is to replace that with an 80,000-square-foot, high-tech visitors center, which would be erected on the same side of the street as Graceland.

"To put that in perspective, that's about six or seven times the size of the mansion," Robert F.X. Sillerman, chairman for New York-based CKX, told The Associated Press.

No timeline has been set, Jack Soden of Elvis Presley Enterprises told the AP, yet he added, "We're probably looking at something in the neighborhood of a three-year process."

That said, the clock is ticking to check out the area around Graceland before it changes dramatically. It has a certain vibe to it, and there's even a degree of subtlety to the exhibits featuring Presley's planes and cars.

Whether that subtlety translates to an 80,000-square-foot, high-tech visitors center remains to be seen.

STAX ON PBS

In other Memphis-related news, PBS will premiere the documentary Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story on Wednesday night (Aug. 1).

Stax -- along with companion label Volt -- was the home to Otis Redding, plus Sam and Dave and Booker T. & the MG's, among others.

For more about Stax, visit www.soulsvilleusa.com.

COOL ARTISTS, COOL SOUNDTRACK

Speaking of documentaries, the soundtrack to Arctic Tale -- a National Geographic Films production featuring narration by Queen Latifah that's now in theaters -- features songs performed by Brian Wilson, Grant-Lee Phillips and The Shins, among others.

Look for it in stores now via Bulletproof Records (www.bulletproofrecords.com).

2007-07-24T15:52:00.001-04:00

THE FAB FEMALES

Cynthia, Yoko, May, Jane, Linda, Heather, Pattie, Olivia, Maureen and Barbara -- that doesn't have the same ring as John, Paul, George and Ringo, but they certainly are on a first-name basis in The Beatles' universe.

Those 10 women -- whose last names, respectively, are Powell, Ono, Pang, Asher, Eastman, Mills, Boyd, Arias, Cox and Bach, for those not in the know -- will be the subject of a new profile airing on Bio, a.k.a. the Biography channel. The Beatles' Women is set to premiere at 9 p.m. ET on Aug. 8.

That same week, the Biography channel will air episodes about Tina Turner (9 p.m. ET on Aug. 9) and Aretha Franklin (9 p.m. ET on Aug. 10).

A CLASSY MOVE

Throughout his career, Dwight Yoakam (left) has proudly carried on the twang-with-a-kick "Bakersfield sound" that country legend Buck Owens popularized in the 1960s.

Yoakam pays tribute to Owens, who died in March 2006 at age 76 in California, on his next album, appropriately titled Dwight Sings Buck, due Oct. 23 via New West.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Buck Owens American Music Foundation.

2007-07-23T12:46:00.000-04:00

LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

It's been said that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Well, an eye-catching music video might lead to something worth much more than that -- a recording contract.

The producers of Fox's American Idol are behind The Next Great American Band, and to be in the running, a group has to submit a video -- either via the TV series' own MySpace page or by mailing a DVD along with a completed application form.

There are eligibility requirements, of course.

For starters, each band should have at least two members and include "some form of musical instruments."

Also -- each member of a band that advances to the final round "must be able to demonstrate that he/she does not have (either alone or as a member of a group) a contract for talent representation (for example, a talent agent or manager), a music recording contract, a merchandising agreement, or any other contractual arrangement that would prohibit you, or any member of your band, from entering into a management contract, recording contract, talent contract and/or merchandising contract."

The deadline is July 31. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/americanband.

BECK/YARDBIRDS UPDATE

Jeff Beck's manager has told Billboard.com that the guitarist will not be touring this fall with The Yardbirds.

Still no confirmation or denial from Jimmy Page about his possible involvement.

2007-07-20T13:19:00.000-04:00

RUMOR OR REALITY?

In 2003, The Yardbirds released Birdland, a reunion album, so to speak, featuring original members Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty, plus such guest lead guitarists as Billy Gibbons, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Brian May.

Despite the star power, the album didn't set the world on fire.

If a report on Rolling Stone's Web site is to believed, two of the Yardbirds guitarists those big names essentially stood in for will be joining rhythm guitarist/bassist Dreja and drummer McCarty for a fall tour that certainly will be a hot ticket.

Word has it that Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck have agreed to a Yardbirds tour that will start in October. Meanwhile, there's no mention of this on the official Yardbirds site, which only lists concert dates through late August.

As for Eric Clapton, he reportedly does not plan to take part in the tour, and it's not known who would stand in for late lead singer Keith Relf.

Stay tuned.

2007-07-16T13:12:00.000-04:00

A&E GOES PRIVATE

Waking up at 9 a.m. on a Sunday is not very rock 'n' roll. Come to think of it, that's around the time when some hard-core rockers hit the sack after a night of debauchery.

No matter what your sleep pattern or lifestyle may be, setting an alarm clock -- or a TV recording device of choice -- for 9 a.m. Sundays might be worthwhile starting July 22. That's when A&E will premiere its Private Sessions series. Filmed in New York with host Lynn Hoffman, Private Sessions will feature exclusive artist interviews and performances.

Avril Lavigne (above) is the guest on July 22; upcoming acts include the Goo Goo Dolls (July 29), Toby Keith (Aug. 5), Blues Traveler (Aug. 12) and Meat Loaf (Aug. 19).

Nine other episodes are planned for production this year.

2007-07-13T13:34:00.000-04:00

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

With a recorded message from ex-Beach Boys guitarist Al Jardine, followed by the band's "Do It Again," New York's WCBS-FM (101.1) officially marked its return as an oldies station early Thursday afternoon.

Technically speaking, WCBS-FM says it is playing "New York’s Greatest Hits" -- and more specifically, hits from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Prior to its roughly two-year, DJ-free run as Jack FM, WCBS-FM did play some 1980s music. It was in the minority, and more often than not, the songs were from early in the decade.

That seems to be the case so far in the post-Jack FM era. For example, in one 10-song stretch this morning in the 9 o'clock hour, only two songs were from the 1980s: Billy Joel's "Allentown" (which hit its chart peak in 1983) and Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" (a Top 5 pop hit in 1985).

One gets the feeling it won't get much broader than that, as there seems to be fear shared by oldies/classic pop hits stations that some 1980s music sounds, well, too modern compared to everything else.

Furthermore, it's a shame that the "new old" WCBS-FM isn't making room for the doo-wop and early rock 'n' roll sounds from the mid-to-late 1950s. When the station was at its best, that music really set it apart from all others with similar formats.

That said, in order for WCBS-FM to stand out from the pack this time around, it needs to expand the limits in the other direction: If the station really is committed to playing 1980s music, then feature the various sounds and hit songs from the entire decade -- and by artists other than those who first hit it big in the 1960s and 1970s.

2007-07-12T13:58:00.000-04:00

OUT OF SIGHT

Calling all John Lennon fans with lots of money to burn.

Starting today, the frames of a pair of gold-rimmed "granny" sunglasses that Lennon wore during the last Beatles tour are up for auction. Bidding will continue through the end of this month, and the winning bid is expected to be in the $2 million range, according to the music memorabilia site 991.com.

As with most things Lennon-related, the story behind this particular pair of glasses is interesting. He reportedly gave them to translator Junishi Yore during the band's tour of Japan in 1966.

After Lennon's shooting death in 1980, Yore -- in accordance with Japanese folklore -- pushed out the lenses as a sign of respect. In a note from Yore that accompanies the up-for-auction frames, he writes that Lennon will "see us after death in Japan."

It remains to be seen how much money it will take to nab the frames.

For more information about the auction, visit www.991.com or e-mail lennon@991.com.

2007-07-09T13:37:00.000-04:00

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN

About two years ago, New York's WCBS-FM (101.1) pulled the plug on its longtime rock 'n' roll oldies format and became Jack FM, playing a DJ-free mix of hits akin to an iPod set on shuffle.

At 1:01 p.m. Thursday (July 12), a freshened-up version of the WCBS oldies format will return to the airwaves, along with veteran CBS air personalities Bob Shannon and Dan Taylor.

"Above all else, it is an honor to bring CBS-FM back to New York," said Jennifer Donohue, the station’s vice president and general manager, in a press release issued today. "Having been a longtime employee and personal fan of the station, I truly understand what an emotional moment it was when New Yorkers had to say goodbye to their favorite radio station."

In the WCBS-FM press release, the word "oldies" is noticeably absent, but the familiar slogan "The Greatest Hits of All Time" is used, and so is the phrase "signature sound." And by that, the station means a mix of music from the 1960s (Beatles, Beach Boys, the Motown sound) through the late 1980s (Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp).

It might be too much to ask for WCBS-FM to bring back the pre-Beatles portion of its programming -- in other words, classics from the likes of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and the other artists who ruled from the mid-1950s through the early 1960s.

But stranger things have happened -- namely, WCBS-FM's stunning switch to Jack FM in 2005, and now the decision to return to the way things were (for the most part).

2007-07-02T13:20:00.000-04:00

A FOURTH TO REMEMBER

John Fogerty has a new studio album due in late September, and according to the June 28 issue of Rolling Stone, it features some of his "most charged-up and swampy music" since his days leading Creedence Clearwater Revival.

The disc is called Revival, and it includes a track called "Creedence Song." So, at the very least, he's tipping his hat to his CCR days.

It's hard to imagine Fogerty doing something so innocuous 20 years ago. Back then, he pretty much kept his distance from all things Creedence due to a legal dispute with CCR label Fantasy Records over royalties and copyright ownership.

It didn't help matters when Fantasy sued Fogerty for plagiarizing himself, claiming that "The Old Man Down the Road," a song from Fogerty's solo album Centerfield, sounded too much like the CCR tune "Run Through the Jungle."

On July 4, 1987, in the nation's capital, Fogerty took his first step at embracing his past catalog, which he now performs regularly.

"I gave a special concert for veterans," he recalled two years ago for CMT.com, "and I started the show with the riff from 'The Old Man Down the Road' . . . and then I went into 'Born on the Bayou.' It was kind of mind-blowing. Everyone knew I wasn't playing my old songs. But this was kind of a gift to the veterans and kind of symbolic to me."

Ever since then, the line "I can remember the Fourth of July" in "Born on the Bayou" has had a deeper meaning.

2007-06-28T14:24:00.000-04:00

CONEY ISLAND ROCKS

Brooklyn's Coney Island is every bit as gritty as Asbury Park's waterfront.

Come to think of it, now that the redevelopment of Asbury Park's boardwalk region is under way, Coney Island has taken the lead in the grittiness department.

Its boardwalk planks are worn and wobbly. There's no shortage of past-their-prime buildings. Some of the weeds are so thick and high they could provide shade for small children.

And while it doesn't boast a live music venue on par with Asbury Park's Stone Pony or Wonder Bar, Coney Island rocks because it's like one big dive bar, dismissed by the highbrow crowd but embraced by the working class.

A lot of Coney Island's charm has to do with the assorted characters that roam the neighborhood -- and we're talking year-round, not just the summer months or during the Nathan's Famous hot-dog eating contest held every year on the Fourth of July. On top of that, the Cyclone and Wonder Wheel are fun rides and every bit as symbolic to New York as the Empire State Building and Radio City Music Hall.

Coney Island does offer some live music, but not a lot. Once a year, though, Coney Island literally rocks big-time when The Village Voice's annual Siren Music Festival takes place.

This year, the free, all-ages event is set for July 21, rain or shine. Scheduled performers include The New York Dolls, Voxtrot, Cursive, We Are Scientists and others.

Enjoy the sights and sounds that day. Visit www.villagevoice.com/siren/ for more information.

2007-06-22T14:28:00.000-04:00

DESOL REDEFINED

Sometimes all it takes to feel out a guitarist is to jam on some Led Zeppelin songs.

That's what deSol did when Kevin Ansell dropped by the band's rented house in Deal, N.J., where singer/guitarist Albie Monterrosa and company were writing songs for their second studio album.

"We had a great time, and he never really left our side," says Monterrosa (above).

Ansell, who has taken over for Renzo Staiano, isn't the only recent addition to the Jersey Shore-based Latin rock band. Ron Shields, who was deSol's original drummer, is back in the fold, replacing Jeremy Hoenig.

The latest lineup can be heard on "Sing It All Night," which was released to radio June 11 and topped Radio & Records' Triple A Most Added list in the trade publication's June 15 issue.

"On that song," says Ansell, "we were really going for a [Rolling] Stones-y thing. I was trying to be Keith Richards in that moment."

As for On My Way, the new deSol album (due Aug. 7 on the saZon label), both Monterrosa and Ansell say it's a departure from past band efforts -- meaning that not every song has a strong Latin flavor to it.

"We always give big respect to what we've done in the past," says Monterrosa, "but the new record was a big change for us."

"There are so many influences from one tune to the next," adds Ansell, "and even though it has a cohesive feel, I think there are elements of classic stuff built into the record."

The band's touring itinerary through July includes some Garden State gigs -- July 21 at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park and July 25 at Union County's Echo Lake Park on the Westfield/Mountainside border.

For more on deSol, visit www.desolmusic.com.

2007-06-19T12:21:00.001-04:00

LET SUMMER BEGIN

There are two types of summer songs: Those that become hits during the season and those that are about the season.

In honor of summer's official arrival Thursday (June 21), here's a list of top-notch tunes (in no particular order) that reference the time of year when the phrase "hazy, hot and humid" gets a workout from weather forecasters in the Northeast:

* "Summer in the City" -- The Lovin' Spoonful. Anyone who has worked in a major metropolis can relate to the line "Back of my neck gettin’ dirt and gritty."

* "Hot Fun in the Summertime" -- Sly and the Family Stone. The piano intro is a sound as synonymous with summer as the music that accompanies the neighborhood ice cream truck.

* "Dancing in the Street" -- Martha and the Vandellas. A law should be passed stating that this song must be played on every radio station nationwide at the exact moment summer begins.

* "Summer Breeze" -- Seals & Crofts. The cool harmonies alone will knock a few degrees off the thermometer.

* "School's Out" -- Alice Cooper. It always provides a feeling of sweet relief, regardless of one's age.

* "Summertime Blues" -- Eddie Cochran. Like the aforementioned Cooper tune, this one is rooted in youth but still strikes a chord in adulthood.

* "Summer Wind" -- Frank Sinatra. Goes nicely with sunglasses and an iced drink.

* "Summer" -- War. It's not always sand and surf: Stickball, open fire hydrants and old-timers feeding pigeons are staples of the season, too, as this song points out.

* "Surfin' USA" -- The Beach Boys. Who hasn't, at least once, wanted to be "gone for the summer/on safari to stay"?

* "The Boys of Summer" -- Don Henley. The revved-up cover version by The Ataris isn't bad, but there's no topping Henley’s original, which features seagull-sounding guitar sounds.

Honorable mention:

* "In the Summertime" -- Mungo Jerry.

* "Cruel Summer" -- Bananarama

* "Summer of '69" -- Bryan Adams

* "Suddenly Last Summer" -- The Motels

2007-06-13T13:01:00.000-04:00

EXPANDING THE BRAND

When it comes to music festivals, South by Southwest and Bonnaroo are in the upper echelon.

But neither one is resting on its laurels. Both are looking to reach a bigger audience -- via the silver screen and the small screen.

On Thursday (June 14), The Bravery, The Polyphonic Spree and others will perform as part of the South by Southwest Concert Series, premiering at movie theaters in the Boston, Nashville and Dallas/Fort Worth markets.

The SXSW concert series promises "the excitement of being there" and is expected to expand to more markets in the fall. For more information, visit www.thebiggerpicture.us/sxsw.html.

Comprehensive coverage of this year's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, taking place Friday through Sunday in Manchester, Tenn., will air on the Current TV network under the billing Current@Bonnaroo. Throughout the weekend, Douglas Caballero, host of The Current Fix, will roam the festival grounds and be joined by four production crews.

Current TV is available via Comcast and Time Warner Cable; visit www.current.tv for more information.

2007-06-11T14:59:00.000-04:00

ALWAYS IN TUNE

Sunday's episode of The Sopranos not only marked the finale of the HBO drama, but it also ended a great run of music usage in a TV series.

And just like the twist and turn of the story lines, you never knew what tune was coming next.

The series wasted no time setting the musical bar high. When Tony Soprano and his crew are seen outside Satriale's pork store in the first episode, the scene is paired with the Link Wray instrumental "Rumble." Wray's bristling guitar helped make it clear: These guys were not members of a social club.

The Sopranos featured familiar and obscure music, and not just rock 'n' roll. One episode closed with Corrado "Junior" Soprano (played by Dominic Chianese) singing an Italian opera.

From time to time, the Jersey-based show would work in a Garden State group, whether it be a legend (The Four Seasons) or a relative unknown (The Churchills).

Early in the finale, Tony and Paulie Walnuts are waiting to meet with someone when Paulie complains about how long they've been sitting in their vehicle.

Over the strains of "Denise," a 1963 hit by Randy and the Rainbows you'd be hard pressed to find these days on regular radio in the New York area, Tony says, "Enjoy the music."

Sopranos viewers did just that for the entire run of the show.

2007-06-07T09:42:00.000-04:00

KING OF HIS CASTLE

The relationship between an up-and-coming artist and a major label always is a fragile one.

Oregon-based Justin King -- a solid singer and songwriter, not to mention a dazzling guitarist -- can attest to that.

When Epic dismissed the A&R people who had signed him to the label, King and his band were left "without a champion."

And that, he adds, "is death for a new artist who hasn't already sold a lot of records."

Then another familiar scenario took place: Label honchos told him they didn't hear a radio single on what was to be King's first Epic album.

"I kept trying to write what I thought they wanted to hear," recalls King, "but I don't do my best writing under conditions like that."

After three rounds of "we don't hear a single," King says, "it became pretty clear that Epic was not where I belonged, so we agreed -- quite amicably -- to part company."

The split became official in March, but there's a happy ending to the story: Epic allowed King to take the in-progress album with him.

"That was quite nice of them, actually, because they had the right contractually to hold onto it and not let me put it out somewhere else without giving them a lot of money," he says.

The album -- now complete and featuring King's three-man band, The Apologies -- is due in August on a label to be determined (possibly King's own). Meanwhile, there's plenty of King material available online. His official site (www.justinking.com) sells (via iTunes) and streams his recent five-song EP, fall/rise. His MySpace page (www.myspace.com/justinkingband) features four tunes, including "Beauty Bar," a top-notch song from his short-lived Epic era.

King and his band have a handful of concert dates scheduled for this month and July. His only East Coast date booked during that time is Sunday (June 10) at the Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. in Manhattan. Go to www.mercuryloungenyc.com for more info about Sunday's gig.

2007-06-01T14:32:00.000-04:00

SUMMER OF LOVE REDUX

It was 40 years ago today (June 1) that The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released, and like other now-classic albums from 1967, it was part of the soundtrack to what's known as the Summer of Love.

The feel-good hippie vibe started in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district and spread around the world, and the same thing happened with the music that was embraced by the counterculture movement of that time.

Baby boomers jonesing for the good old days -- or anyone else who digs what went down musically in '67 -- might want to leave some room in their schedules during the next few months.

On June 16, VH1 Classic will air Monterey 40, a documentary about the Monterey International Pop Festival, which was held June 16-18, 1967, in Monterey, Calif. David Crosby, Pete Townshend and Michelle Phillips performed during the legendary event, and they're among the notables interviewed during Monterey 40.

Speaking of Monterey, there's the Monterey Summer of Love Festival, taking place July 28 and 29 on the exact site of the '67 festival. San Francisco Bay Area-bred groups Moby Grape, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Jefferson Starship are scheduled to perform. Visit http://sfsummeroflove.com/ for more details.

Then on Sept. 2, a Summer of Love 40th anniversary show will take place, appropriately enough, at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Among the scheduled performers representing "the spirit and energy" of summer '67 will be Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, Country Joe McDonald and Canned Heat. Visit www.2b1records.com/summeroflove40th for more information.

2007-05-30T15:47:00.000-04:00

A BIG PLUS

They cost more, yet sound better and are not limited to one portable device.

They're the thousands of songs free of digital-rights management (DRM) that Apple made available today (May 30) as part of its iTunes Plus launch.

We're talking songs by major artists -- including The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra and Norah Jones -- that can be played on an iPod or other digital devices, as well as computers.

The DRM-free tracks from iTunes Plus reportedly have better sound quality, and each one costs $1.29 -- roughly 30 cents more than what other online stores charge for copy-protected songs.

Every little step toward total digital compatibility is a good one.

2007-05-25T13:21:00.000-04:00

ROCKIN' ROAD TRIPS

Ah, Memorial Day weekend -- the unofficial start of summer. And for those who regularly travel the Garden State Parkway, the increase in traffic along the southbound lanes this morning was obvious.

Looking for summer road trip ideas? Try one with a music theme and use Led Zeppelin Crashed Here: The Rock and Roll Landmarks of North America (Santa Monica Press) as your guide.

In his new book, Chris Epting has gathered landmarks both obvious (famous recording studios and concert sites) and obscure (the Washington state hair salon where Nirvana's Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic rehearsed, the San Francisco restaurant where Metallica offered Jason Newsted the bassist job).

The "Don't Fear the Reaper" chapter lists the death sites of such legends as Duane Allman, Sam Cooke, Donny Hathaway and Johnny Thunders, among others. Fans who still like to leave the house when they buy music will find a bunch of respected stores in the "B-Sides" chapter.

Led Zeppelin Crashed Here is a fun read -- and intuitively organized, too. The appendix lists landmarks by state, so like a band planning to go on tour, you can get your itinerary in order long before you hit the road.

For more information, visit www.santamonicapress.com or www.chrisepting.com.

2007-05-23T14:57:00.000-04:00

THE REALITY OF THE BUSINESS

As another American Idol season comes to a close, the first Idol champ is trying to make the transition from recording artist to artist.

Kelly Clarkson, who co-wrote a few of the hit singles on her smash second album, Breakaway, ups the songwriting ante and goes the autobiographical route on My December, due June 26.

"The whole album is a story of the past two years, all the highs and lows," said Clarkson in the May 25 edition of Entertainment Weekly.

Guess what? The suits at RCA, her label, didn't care for it.

"They were like, 'It's just too negative,' " added Clarkson.

As her manager points out in the same EW story, record companies "get nervous" when top-selling acts such as Clarkson choose to "take risks and evolve."

But isn't that what artists should do? Absolutely.

RCA probably was expecting her to be, in the words of Idol judge Simon Cowell, "a puppet." Well, just like The Monkees did after tasting success on TV and on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Clarkson wants to take a step forward with her music.

In doing so, she may take a step backward, sales-wise.

Who needs reality TV when there's real drama such as this?

2007-05-18T14:43:00.001-04:00

WEST KNOWS BEST

Outside of his family, the people who probably knew Elvis Presley the best were the members of his entourage -- the guys known as the Memphis Mafia.

Sonny West was part of Presley's crew for 16 years, and he reflects on his days with the icon in his recently released book, Elvis: Still Taking Care of Business (Triumph Books).

There is plenty about Presley's appetite for women, food and prescription drugs, but the best parts are the stories involving other notable names.

West recalls that Presley was set to release a version of Chuck Berry's "Memphis" in May 1964. But Johnny Rivers, who listened to Presley's rendition over and over while visiting the King's Los Angeles-area house, beat Presley to the punch, issuing his version first.

That ruffled the King's feathers, remembers West, and Presley made it clear he didn't want Rivers coming around anymore. And a few weeks later, when Rivers did stop by, two members of the Memphis Mafia "called him a thief and every other name in the book," writes West, before ordering him to leave.

The legendary meeting between Presley and The Beatles in August 1965 gets its own chapter. And there are some funny bits in West's recollection of him and Presley meeting President Nixon and ordering a robe for Presley pal Muhammad Ali.

West says he's about to do an audio version of the book, and also on the horizon is a DVD of West's one-man show of Presley stories.

Visit www.sonnywest.com for updates.

2007-05-16T13:29:00.000-04:00

MUSIC IN THE MORNING

Just like with summer movies, the summer concerts presented by ABC's Good Morning America and NBC's Today begin long before the actual season does.

The two rival morning shows will go head to head with their respective concert series starting Friday (May 18). The GMA performances will be held in Bryant Park, while Today's will take place in Rockefeller Center.

Here's a look at their schedules into early July, along with recommendations and commentary:

May 18
GMA: Rascal Flatts
Today: All-American Rejects
The lowdown: Modern country trumps so-called modern rock, so tune in to see the dudes in Rascal Flatts (above).

May 25
GMA: Fergie
Today: Blondie with Lily Allen
The lowdown: Who isn't sick of Fergie by now? Watch the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act and the buzz-worthy British newcomer instead.

May 28
Today: Maroon 5

June 1
GMA: Daughtry
Today: Big & Rich
The lowdown: Take the listenable American Idol alum over the country buffoons.

June 8
GMA: Robin Thicke
Today: Rihanna
The lowdown: It's a push -- as in push the channel changer on the remote for CBS or another station.

June 15
GMA: Brad Paisley
Today: Enrique Iglesias
The lowdown: Eye candy for the ladies; noise pollution for those who dislike generic country and pop.

June 19
Today: Bon Jovi

June 22
GMA: Miley Cyrus
Today: Chicago and America
The lowdown: Fiscal thinking: By watching Today, you can save money and skip seeing these two acts when they hit the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel the next day.

June 29
GMA: Patti LaBelle
Today: Hilary Duff
The lowdown: Go with the lady behind "Lady Marmalade," for sure!

July 6
GMA: Norah Jones
Today: Fall Out Boy
The lowdown: Tough call, but FOB gets the nod because Jones' sleepy songs might send morning-show viewers back to bed.

2007-05-11T12:54:00.000-04:00

BOWZER'S BATTLE

From his days as the face and a main voice of Sha Na Na to the present, Jon Bauman -- better known as Bowzer -- has shown great admiration and respect for the golden age of rock 'n' roll.

His greatest tribute to that era may be his latest effort. As the chairman of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame's Truth in Music Committee, Bauman is behind the push for laws preventing bogus acts from presenting themselves as authentic members of those 1950s-'60s rock and doo-wop groups.

On Thursday (May 10), Tennessee passed the "Truth in Music" bill. It's already a law in several states, and the Truth in Music Committee expects the bill to pass in half the country by the end of this year.

On the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Web site, Bauman breaks down "Truth in Music" like this: "You need to have at least one member of the group that made the hit records in the group that's onstage that night, unless you have a darn good reason why you don’t.

"There are really only two of those darn good reasons -- that somehow the group has a valid, federally registered trademark for the group name, or that the show is clearly advertised as a tribute or a salute in a manner that is not so confusingly similar to the actual group name that it would tend to deceive the public.

" 'Truth in Music' is finally ending the impostor group nightmare in which consumers are duped out of their hard-earned entertainment dollars and the authentic pioneers whose music changed the world are cheated of their just remuneration and, what's worse, their applause."

Here's hoping Bauman's truth wins out in the end.

2007-05-08T10:48:00.000-04:00

THE MOTHER LODE

Just like every Sunday, the Best Buy newspaper circular for May 6 featured a page with new and recent CDs for sale.

What stood out were the six discs grouped together under the heading "Best Sellers for Mom." They included recent releases by Musiq Soulchild, John Mayer, Norah Jones (above), Celtic Woman, Il Divo and Beyonce.

The phrase Mom Music has been tossed around for years, and this holiday sales hook by a major retail chain only justifies its existence.

Is being dubbed Mom Music a compliment or an insult to musicians? There's no definite answer, but either way, sales are sales in the end, and moving product is just fine with artists and retailers.

And what exactly is Mom Music, anyway? Well, songs tend be melodic yet lyrically safe (forget about curse words and controversial subjects), feature no instrumental extremes (never loud, and no overplaying) and have modern-yet-still-traditional production qualities (i.e. relatively slick, with a crystal-clear mix).

Image-wise, Mom Music acts should look contemporary (small earrings and tattoos are OK, and so is clean, stylish long hair), skewing toward conservative (skintight and skimpy clothes are frowned upon).

That said, the list of Mom Music-makers isn't limited to the aforementioned artists. Here are some other current stars who fit into the category:

The Fray: Piano, sensitive vocals and hooky choruses are key Mom Music ingredients, and this band has all three.

Josh Groban: This pop/classical singer is a double threat: He appeals to mothers and grandmothers.

Mat Kearney: Sensitive singer/songwriters like Kearney make for the prototypical Mom Music artist.

Just about any Top 10 American Idol contestant from any season: Especially Clay Aiken and Carrie Underwood.

As for veteran Mom Music artists, let's not forget Sheryl Crow and Lenny Kravitz: Both kinda rock but don't ever push the envelope too far. That goes for their originals and their cover songs, which include boring interpretations of Cat Stevens and Guess Who material, respectively.

Have a happy Mother's Day, and please keep the stereo at a reasonable volume.

2007-05-04T15:45:00.000-04:00

ZEVON ROCKS ON

After Warren Zevon died in 2003, son Jordan went about sorting through his father's belongings.

Much to his surprise, he found a box in a piano case with dozens of reel-to-reel tapes, which contained recordings of more than 100 songs.

Among them were compositions that never saw the light of day -- that is, until Tuesday (May 1), when Preludes: Rare and Unreleased Recordings (featuring six never-before-heard songs) arrived in stores via Ammal/New West Records.

The 16-track Preludes would be worthwhile if only for the moving "Empty Hearted Town" and the Walker Brothers-esque "Going All the Way." But it also includes different versions of such signature songs as "Werewolves of London" and "Accidentally Like a Martyr," plus a second disc containing a Warren Zevon interview circa 2000 with Jody Denberg of KGSR-FM in Austin, Texas.

In addition to the box of tapes, Jordan Zevon also found plenty of previously unpublished photos. Some are featured in the booklet to Preludes as well as in the new book I'll Sleep When I’m Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon (Ecco/Harper Collins).

This memoir, much like Warren Zevon's music, is different from most others. Assembled by Crystal Zevon, the musician’s ex-wife, I’ll Sleep When I'm Dead is told in the words of such contemporaries/friends as Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne and Lindsey Buckingham, among others, in addition to family members.

2007-05-01T14:35:00.000-04:00

READY FOR TAKEOFF

When Bryce Avary wanted horns on Do You Feel, his new Rocket Summer album, co-producer Jim Wirt knew who to call -- the horn section that played on Stevie Wonder's classic "Sir Duke."

"It was such a no-brainer," recalls the Texas-based singer and multi-instrumentalist. "I sang them the parts and they played them."

Do You Feel (due in July via Island Records) is the first Rocket Summer album for the Island Def Jam Music Group. Making the move to a major record company, says Avary, "feels different, in a good way. It's been a nice experience to make a record comfortably where I didn't have to sleep on the floor in the studio isolation booth."

The Rocket Summer is among the scheduled acts for this weekend's Bamboozle festival at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford. Avary will be backed by his usual four-piece band, and just like he does in the studio, he'll hop around from instrument to instrument during the show.

The set will include one of the new horn-enhanced songs -- but sans the Wonder horn section. Avary already knows how he'll fill the instrumental gap in the tune.

"It has a sax solo," he says. "I play piano on that song, and then at [the sax part], I throw my guitar around and do a guitar solo."

Check out The Rocket Summer's MySpace page at www.myspace.com/therocketsummer.

2007-04-27T15:17:00.000-04:00

FESTIVAL FEVER

Couldn't make it to the Coachella festival this weekend in California? Are you doubtful for Tennessee’s Bonnaroo fest in June?

Fear not, Jersey-based music fan: Much closer to home, and featuring some of the same stars as Coachella and Bonnaroo, is another big-time event: the Virgin Festival, taking place Aug. 4 and 5 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Artists recently added to Baltimore's second-ever Virgin Festival include Modest Mouse (above), Cheap Trick, Amy Winehouse, Chris Cornell and TV on the Radio. The Virgin lineup also features The Police, Smashing Pumpkins, Spoon, Wu Tang Clan and Fountains of Wayne.

Tickets go on sale May 5. That also happens to be the opening of the two-day Bamboozle festival at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford.

The Jersey Shore's own Status Green is on the Bamboozle '07 bill, as well as fellow Garden State-bred bands My Chemical Romance and New Atlantic. Other acts include Taking Back Sunday, Boys Like Girls, Linkin Park and Cute Is What We Aim For.

2007-04-25T17:57:00.000-04:00

PICTURE THIS

Like other recent South by Southwest keynote speakers, Pete Townshend had something to plug during his appearance last month at the annual music conference/festival in Austin, Texas.

He referred to his venture then as the Method, and today (April 25) in London, he officially launched it as the Lifehouse Method.

In a nutshell, the project's Internet-based software creates music, allowing a user to "sit" for a musical portrait as if being painted. During the process, a sitter will be asked to provide a sound, a voice sample, an image and a rhythm. Once a portrait is complete, it can be downloaded.

A team of composers, which will include Townshend, occasionally will listen to these portraits and, according to the Lifehouse Method site, "select a few for further development/elaboration."

Registration begins Tuesday (May 1); members can sit for up to three free "portraits" until July 31.

BIG BUCKS RAISED IN THE BIG CITY

The Edge's 1975 Gibson Les Paul was sold for $240,000 on Saturday (April 21) as part of Music Rising's Icons of Music auction held in New York.

A guitar once owned by Jimi Hendrix netted $410,000. In total, the auction of instruments and music memorabilia raised $2.5 million.

2007-04-23T15:43:00.000-04:00

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS

Avril Lavigne, a trailblazer?

Well, not when it comes to her music. But according to Billboard, Lavigne will become the first music act to have an official artist page on Stardoll.com, featuring tour dates, promo photos, streaming songs and more.

Stardoll.com is, in its own words, a "paper doll dress-up community." Membership is free, and most of its users are girls and boys ages 7 to 17. The site is closing in on 7 million unique visitors each month worldwide.

Lavigne's artist page also will have her albums for sale, plus other merchandise. Given Stardoll.com's traffic, the site's target audience and the wealth of disposable income that's spent by tweens and teens, she's poised to expand her audience and increase her bank account.

And should both happen, other artists -- no matter how juvenile the Stardoll.com affiliation appears on paper -- certainly will follow her path.

2007-04-20T17:39:00.000-04:00

INSTRUMENTAL EFFORT

Since Hurricane Katrina, such New Orleans natives as Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr. and Terence Blanchard have, in one way or another, reminded the American public what the Big Easy has meant to this country's culture and music.

So has Ireland-raised guitarist Dave Evans, better known as The Edge (above). A key mission of his Music Rising campaign, which he co-founded in November 2005 with producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson guitar CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, is to replace musical instruments that were lost or destroyed in the Gulf Coast area by Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

On Saturday (April 21), Music Rising's Icons of Music Auction begins at New York's Hard Rock Café in Times Square. Among the roughly 200 pieces of equipment and memorabilia up for bid will be something from The Edge's own collection -- his trusty 1975 Gibson Les Paul, which the U2 guitarist has used both in the studio and on the road throughout the band's career.

If that doesn't show a commitment to a cause, then nothing does.

A little aside about commitment: Other than Austin, Texas, no other American city lives and breathes music as much as New Orleans. And with very few exceptions, just about every genre or era of music can be traced back or connected to New Orleans.

Bids for the Icons of Music Auction can be made online via www.juliensauctions.com.

2007-04-19T18:18:00.000-04:00

THE END LEADS TO A NEW BEGINNING

Despite the support of votefortheworst.com and Howard Stern, the vocally challenged Sanjaya Malakar was finally voted off American Idol.

Were those tears of sadness, relief or amazement that he shed on Wednesday night's show? Only he knows.

He also knows what the immediate future holds. The teen from Washington state will make an appearance next week on Live With Regis and Kelly, and because he was among the Top 10 finalists this season, he will be part of the upcoming Idol concert tour.

Malakar told The Associated Press that he's open to endorsements. He also has his eye on the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

"I just want the full entertainment business and career, I guess," he said.

Granted, his singing wasn't as bad as the infamous William "She Bangs" Hung from a few seasons ago, but Malakar's newfound fame and opportunities are just as unwarranted and insulting as what Hung experienced.

He's a prime candidate to end up on a future season of Surreal Life. But despite being voted off Idol, Malakar's bizarre and undeserved career as an entertainer is in pretty good shape.

2007-04-13T16:14:00.000-04:00

THE COST OF FREE

OK, Ozzfest fans: Did you really think the playing field was going to be even when it came to obtaining free tickets for this year's festival?

Billboard has reported that the initial pressing of Ozzy Osbourne's Black Rain, his first new studio album in six years, will come with a special code that can used to redeem two Ozzfest tickets via a special Web site, starting June 8.

That means those with the code have a shot at obtaining tickets four days prior to the general public.

Hey, two Ozzfest tickets for $12 -- give or take a few bucks, depending on what stores will be charging for the new Osbourne CD -- is still a bargain. But this arrangement isn't that much different from those ridiculous surcharges and processing fees that are tacked onto most concert ticket purchases. Even free comes with a price sometimes.

2007-04-09T15:17:00.000-04:00

BEST FOOT FORWARD

Time apparently has healed whatever wounds drummer Pete Best may have suffered when he was canned from The Beatles by the band's manager, Brian Epstein.

He and Paul McCartney have not spoken in more than four decades, but Best would like to see their silence come to an end.

"We're not getting any younger," the 65-year-old Best said in a story that ran Saturday (April 7) in London's Daily Mail. "We know what we've done, and we're not going to think any worse of each other if we had a chat now."

Best, reportedly fired from the band in August 1962 for no specific reason, should not have been the one to extend an olive branch. And as the lone survivor from Best's days with The Beatles, McCartney is the only one who can accept it and finally put the past to rest.

Nobody's expecting them to regroup and make an album together. An ice-breaking conversation, however, could turn out to be as sweet as any music they've ever made.

2007-04-06T16:02:00.000-04:00

ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTISTS WILL BE EVERYWHERE

Here's something that just might top the hilarity of the early season episodes of American Idol: Preliminary rounds in an Elvis Presley tribute competition.

In the months ahead, cities around the world will be holding preliminary rounds in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest. Elvis Presley Enterprises announced today (April 6) that the contest now includes more than 20 locations, among them Lake George, N.Y; Queensland, Australia; and Blackpool, England.

A man named Rich Vickers won the preliminary round held last month in Arnold, Mo. And wouldn't you know it -- he dresses just like the jewel-encrusted, jumpsuit-wearing version of Presley, not the stylish, sexy Elvis.

If anyone is able to pull off that early look, as well as sound and move like the King, then that person should be the winner.

MUSIC NEEDED FOR BRATZ

Geffen Records is in need of music to be used in the live-action movie Bratz (due in theaters Aug. 10) and its accompanying soundtrack (scheduled for a July 31 release).

Talent scouts at the label will be reviewing submissions through May 15. Interested musicians can go to www.bratzsoundtrack.com for more information.

2007-04-03T14:02:00.000-04:00

WHAT WAS HE THINKING?

Not every production job can be an album by Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan or Willie Nelson.

Don Was has been in the studio with those artists, but sprinkled throughout his long and mostly impressive resume as a producer are a few head-scratching choices.

One of them is Poison. Hey, a producer has to do what a producer has to do in terms of landing studio work, but publicly exaggerating the skills of a low-level metal band and serving as a shill should not be part of the gig.

Poison'd, an all-covers album due June 5, features nine songs produced by Was. Here's what he had to say about Poison in a press release that was issued today (April 3) via EMI America/Capitol:

"Poison is one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands in the world and, after 20 years, they can slam better than ever."

Wait, there's more:

"They're powerful musicians and very cool guys," Was added. "We had a lot of fun making this album, and I think you can hear it in the grooves -- it's got the jive and is truly alive! I urge everyone to listen to it!"

Sounds like Was is the one who has the jive, and he should know by now that choosing one's words is just as important as choosing projects.

2007-03-30T12:00:00.000-04:00

HAYNES HAS HIS HANDS FULL (SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW?)

There really is no such thing as downtime for guitarist Warren Haynes.

His main gigs are playing with the Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule, and that would be enough for most musicians to handle. But he's added to his workload with the relaunch of his Evil Teen record label.

On Wednesday (March 28), which was a night off from the annual Allman Brothers Band residency at New York's Beacon Theatre, Haynes publicly celebrated Evil Teen's return with a star-studded show at Irving Plaza. The performers that night included Gregg Allman, Edwin McCain and Kevn Kinney.

Haynes and the aforementioned musicians are featured on The Benefit Concert: Volume 2. Recorded in 2000, the two-disc set is the first Evil Teen release under its new distribution deal with RED. The Benefit Concert: Volume 1, recorded in 1999 and originally issued as Wintertime Blues, will be released Tuesday (April 3), featuring performances by Gov't Mule, Susan Tedeschi, The Derek Trucks Band and others.

For more information, visit www.evilteen.com.

SO LONG, SIN-E; HELLO FILLMORE

As one Manhattan concert venue gets set to close, another is about to have a new name and look.

Sin-e, perhaps best known as the place where the late Jeff Buckley honed his chops, will present its final show Sunday (April 1) -- and no, this is not an April Fools' Day joke.

The club opened in 1989 on St. Marks Place; the current Sin-E, at 150 Attorney St., opened in 2001. Its final bill features Hymns, Bow Thayer & the Perfect Train Wreck and Amanda Kravat.

Doors open at 8 p.m. Sunday; the show starts at 9 p.m. Cover charge is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Visit www.sin-e.com for more information.

Meanwhile, Live Nation is sprucing up Irving Plaza, which will open as Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza on April 11 with a show starring British upstart Lily Allen.

It's part of Live Nation's plan to establish a brand a la its House of Blues clubs across the country. Currently, there are Fillmore facilities in San Francisco and Denver. A Philadelphia Fillmore is scheduled to open in late April.

On April 11 at Irving Plaza, fans can expect to find repainted walls, refurbished chandeliers and better sightlines from the balcony area. Bathroom, sound and lighting upgrades are scheduled for the summer.

How these upgrades impact ticket prices remains to be seen.

2007-03-28T16:27:00.000-04:00

NO STRINGS ATTACHED

Free and legal: When it has to do with music, that combo has been hard to come by in the digital age.

But there's good news for guitarists, especially for those who can't read music. Musicnotes Inc., an Internet-based sheet music store, and the Harry Fox Agency, which represents more than 30,000 U.S. music publishers, announced a licensing agreement Tuesday (March 27) authorizing a relaunched version of the guitar tablature site www.MXTabs.net, which will offer free, licensed legal tabs.

Users will be encouraged to participate in the site's community to help improve the song catalog, says Musicnotes, and that includes creating tab transcriptions for tunes not popular enough to be published in traditional songbooks.

Of course, the music publishers have to benefit financially in some way from this agreement, and they do. Participating publishers will get a percentage of all advertising income that's generated via views or downloads of tablature of their tunes on the site.

The new MXTabs.net site is expected to launch this summer.

2007-03-26T14:48:00.000-04:00

McCARTNEY'S LIVING IN THE HEAR AND NOW

If you're starting a record label, signing a legend isn't such a bad idea.

Hear Music, a new label launched by the Starbucks coffee empire, announced last week that the first artist signed to its roster is none other than Paul McCartney.

"It's a new world now," McCartney said March 21 via satellite from London. "People are thinking of new ways to reach the people. For me, that's always been my aim."

The one-album deal allows McCartney to retain ownership of the master recording -- a big plus in the eyes of any musician. And McCartney's Hear Music CD, due in June, will be sold in Starbucks stores as well as music retailers.

The McCartney signing gives Hear Music instant recognition, but as for major success right off the bat -- well, that's not guaranteed. There's a reason why McCartney was a free agent to begin with: Sales of his recent Capitol studio CDs haven't been spectacular (i.e. a half-million or so in the United States).

Undoubtedly, Hear Music and McCartney are aware of those figures, and of slumping CD sales in general. But making Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company available in high-traffic Starbucks stores did wonders for that album, and as far as impulse-buy options go, a CD beats a scone any day of the week.

2007-03-23T15:25:00.000-04:00

NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL

A record label deal and TV exposure are great scores, but for most musicians, usually those things don't come as a package deal.

The Time Life label, best known for hawking its multi-artist compilations via infomercials, has signed a deal with Joan Osborne to release her new album, Breakfast in Bed, next month and promote its availability via TV spots.

"As an artist, you must be on the lookout for different opportunities," Osborne told Billboard. "We've all seen the Time Life ads on late-night TV. This is a great way to reach people who don't necessarily seek out new records."

In her heart of hearts, Osborne probably wishes the music industry was more like it was in 1995, when a major-label imprint released her breakthrough album, Relish, which contained "One of Us," a Top 5 pop hit in America.

But as she told Billboard, "the old business models are falling away," and she's 100 percent correct. The major labels don't operate the way they did when Osborne hit the scene (or even a few years ago), and the same goes for radio stations and MTV. So thinking outside the box is necessary.

It wouldn't be unusual if some cynical musicians -- and maybe some fans -- wrongly dismiss Osborne's Time Life deal out of hand, thinking it cheapens her music or reputation. But don't be surprised if what she's doing becomes as commonplace as artists licensing their songs for commercials. That had its share of detractors in the beginning, too.

2007-03-21T12:57:00.000-04:00

WILBURYS REISSUES HANDLED WITH CARE

Two long-overdue CD reissues will finally see the light of day on June 12.

That's when both Traveling Wilburys studio albums, which had been unavailable for more than a decade, will arrive in stores in four different configurations, Rhino Entertainment announced today (March 21).

Volume 1 and Volume 3 will be combined into one release for all four configurations. The standard package will contain bonus tracks, a bonus DVD of content and a 16-page book. The linen-bound deluxe edition set has the same CD and DVD material as the standard, as well as a bigger book, new liner notes and more.

For old-school fans, the vinyl edition comes with two vinyl albums, plus another vinyl 12-inch featuring bonus tracks, along with a collectible album-size book and more. Last but not least, there's the digital package, featuring downloadable editions of the two albums, plus bonus tracks, video content and an interactive booklet.

Bonus material has a magical way of making fans forgive the powers that be when certain albums have been kept out of print. And considering the Wilburys were none other than Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne, there ought to be plenty of interest in the extras.

2007-03-16T15:59:00.000-04:00

SXSW '07: 3/16 -- BOOKER T. RECALLS AL JACKSON

Trying to pinpoint the soul of the Stax sound is easy when you ask the organist and namesake member of Booker T. and the MG's, the house band for the legendary soul label.

During his SXSW interview Friday with Chicago-based journalists Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis, Booker T. Jones said that a major component to the Stax sound was drummer Al Jackson.

The soft-spoken and humble Jones described Jackson as both single-minded and open-minded -- a determined drummer who refused to allow the beat to be defined.

More than once, Jones referred to a time when, as a teen, he played bass with an obscenity-shouting Jackson.

As Jones explained, that was just Jackson's way of insisting that their music have an attitude and push the limit.

Jones' music career hasn't been limited to just one group or role. Diversity, he said, is "the spice of my life." And he has no intention of resting on his laurels.

"I'm very excited about my musical future," he said.

2007-03-16T10:44:00.000-04:00

SXSW '07: 3/15 -- CELEBRATING SOULSVILLE

Back in the day, Stax musicians and singers made sweaty, soulful music. So it was only appropriate for some folks outside Antone's early Thursday evening to have beads of perspiration on their foreheads as they waited to enter the club for the Stax 50 Revue.

Truth be told, the moisture really had more to do with the sun and warmth that blanketed Austin. But inside the venue, it remained hot, literally and figuratively, as Stax legends graced the stage for an event celebrating 50 years of the legendary record company.

Isaac Hayes shuffled slowly to the stage and said a few words before Booker T. and the MG's, the instrumental backbone to classic recordings by Sam and Dave, Otis Redding and others, did their thing. The greats always make it look easy, and that certainly was the case with these guys as they played a bunch of their own chart hits, including "Green Onions." They put on a clinic in dynamics and teamwork that ought to be bottled and distributed to every band, regardless of genre.

They clearly were in the moment and enjoyed what they doing, smiling and nodding with approval at each other when someone played a good run. At one point, bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn looked over at guitarist Steve Cropper, who was in the middle of a solo, and mouthed an expletive that, given the context, was undoubtedly a term of endearment.

2007-03-15T16:35:00.000-04:00

SXSW '07: 3/15 -- STEPHENS SHARES SOME BIG NEWS

He speaks softly and, when he's playing drums, holds some mean sticks.

But when Big Star's Jody Stephens is at SXSW, more often than not he's representing Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tenn., where he works as studio manager.

That's the case this year, yet he did have something big to say about his on-and-off band, which never achieved massive commercial success during its 1970s run but nevertheless helped set the standards for power pop.

The wiry Stephens politely paused Thursday from browsing in the trade room to say that Big Star is lining up shows for this summer and fall.

A festival gig in Norway already has been confirmed, he said, and the band also is targeting San Francisco and New York for concerts.

Regarding the possible New York show, he said, "Webster Hall might be a good place."

Should it happen, remember it was Stephens who provided the big tip.

2007-03-15T12:28:00.000-04:00

SXSW '07: 3/15 -- EMMYLOU ENTHRALLS

With her silvery mane and honey-sweet voice, no one looks or sounds like Emmylou Harris.

And although she's had a long and diverse career, her association with former Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers guitarist Gram Parsons remains a subject that always seems to come up.

In her Thursday morning SXSW interview with director Jonathan Demme, Harris credited Parsons for putting her on "a wonderful track that's brought me more than I could imagine."

She recalled being a 26-year-old single mother living in Washington, D.C., circa the early 1970s. She had just about given up on a music career, but through her baby sitter, she met Parsons, who was about to record a solo album and needed a harmony singer.

"I can't believe that wasn't destined to happen," she said.

Harris then played a wonderful version of "Love Hurts," an Everly Brothers song that she recorded with Parsons.

It's a cliche, but when it comes to Harris, some things really do get better with age.

2007-03-15T02:27:00.000-04:00

SXSW '07: 3/14 -- TOWNSHEND TALKS, THEN ROCKS

No matter what the forum is, Pete Townshend isn't shy -- and he doesn't send mixed signals, either.

The way he sees it, the death of bassist John Entwistle contributed to a different dynamic within The Who.

"The chemistry that we have today is a completely different one, but it's just as effective," he told Bill Flanagan during Wednesday's keynote address. "It's just different. I think it enabled us to make a new record. I think if John had been alive, it would have been much, much, much tougher to make [Endless Wire]."

Townshend also said that Who singer Roger Daltrey is "not interested" with such music industry changes as the technological methods in which music can be distributed.

"He just knows that he's lucky," he said. "He's a singer, he's got this big brand name, he's [in] a baby boomer band, a baby boomer audience -- and sometimes they bring their kids, so we get an extra 10 percent. ... He's happy with his position, and so he should be."

Townshend, however, is very much into technology, and he used the keynote conversation to discuss what he calls the Method. It's a Web site launching next month that will offer subscribers the chance to create their own unique composition by "sitting" for the Method software composer, a process he likened to sitting for a portrait painting.

"You come to the Web site, and we give you a piece of music, which is yours -- completely unique," he said. "In fact, we allow you to own a third of the copyright, so if Coca-Cola decides to use it for their next commercial, you might get rich."

Later Wednesday night, Townshend was an unscheduled guest at the Austin Music Awards. He strapped on a guitar and joined former Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan, an Austin resident, and his band for a tribute to the late Ronnie Lane. And while he didn't bust out his trademark windmill move, Townshend still played with abandon, moving around as though he owned the stage.

Also playing with a purpose at the awards show were singers and new Austin residents Bobby Whitlock, who is best known for his work with Derek and the Dominos, and his wife, CoCo Carmel. They performed a handful of tunes from the band's Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, including a moving version of "Bell Bottom Blues," with Carmel on saxophone and Whitlock on piano.

On the Day Stage on Wednesday afternoon, Robyn Hitchcock served as performer and interviewer, playing various cover songs that complemented producer Joe Boyd's answers and excerpts from his new book, White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s. Topics discussed included the 1965 Newport Jazz Festival (during which Bob Dylan famously "went electric") and Boyd's work with The Incredible String Band, Pink Floyd and Nick Drake.

2007-03-14T14:51:00.000-04:00

SXSW '07: 3/14 -- IT'S A SCENE, AND IT'S A MADHOUSE, TOO

What a difference a day makes.

Tuesday afternoon and into the evening, one could enter the Austin Convention Center and pick up credentials in less time than a typical Grateful Dead jam.

Not Wednesday. The lines for SXSW music badges are very long. Spotted near the pickup point was singer Michael Des Barres, who folks might remember for his role with the 1980s supergroup The Power Station. He looked as cool as can be in his tinted shades and blue scarf, but quickly showed his age by shaking his head, covering his ears and saying "Wow!" in reaction to an announcement over the PA system.

Not looking as dapper was former Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham, who seemed lost as he walked from one end of the upper floor to the other in his drab raincoat and tousled hair. He's scheduled to speak Saturday during the Monterey Pop panel.

On the performance side, the bass-less trio Say Hi to Your Mom played the convention center's Day Stage and featured a Pixies-ish sound that unfortunately was countered with a statuesque presence.

Pete Townshend is set to deliver the keynote tonight. Check back later for a recap, plus more performance highlights.

2007-03-13T22:21:00.000-04:00

SXSW '07: 3/13 -- THE CALM BEFORE THE MUSICAL STORM

In recent years, as the South by Southwest (SXSW) music conference/festival has scheduled a full slate of panels and performances on Wednesday, it makes more sense than ever to arrive in Austin, Texas, the day before.

The early birds who flew into Austin this afternoon featured an assortment of accents, aromas and attitudes, not to mention a rainbow of hair colors and all types of facial hair designs.

One guy near baggage claim was sporting an electric blue mohawk. Another guy was wearing a kilt -- and unfortunately, he didn't keep his legs closed as he sat and waited for his luggage.

One of the town's slogans is "Keep Austin Weird." That's never an issue during the music portion of SXSW.

With only a smattering of music events scheduled, as well as wet weather, tonight was a good time to get settled, plan the next four days and sift through the myriad items in the SXSW tote bag. (One is given to each music badge registrant.)

One CD came with a voodoo doll. Now that's clever marketing.

Tune in Wednesday for a recap of that day's events.

2007-03-12T13:20:00.000-04:00

RICHARDS THE RACONTEUR

In addition to being a great songwriter and rhythm guitarist, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones is a good talker.

If the subject is a musician he admires -- Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry or Muddy Waters, for example -- Richards will be off and running, punctuating his anecdotes, analysis and memories with a wicked cackle and hand gestures, all the while leaving a wavy trail of smoke from his ever-present cigarette.

Richards' storytelling skills ought to be on full display tonight (March 12) as he inducts the Ronettes into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He and Ronnie Spector have known each other for more than 40 years, so there are bound to be some tales worth telling. Maybe Richards has a funny gem or two about the Stones' 1964 U.K. tour with the Ronettes, during which Richards and Spector, as she recalls on her Web site, would get out of the van carrying both groups and approach a stranger's house for cup of tea when the fog was too thick.

They've remained friends and in touch ever since. These days, Richards and Spector have homes in Connecticut not too far from each other. Richards also has recorded and performed with Spector, and he's among the guests on her album Last of the Rock Stars, released last year overseas.

Should Richards get on a roll tonight, here's hoping the show's producers let him talk until he decides that he's finished.

VH1 Classic will air the ceremony tonight starting at 8:30 p.m.

2007-03-09T15:38:00.000-05:00

NOTABLE LOCALS, VOL. 3

The South by Southwest music conference/festival is right around the corner. With that in mind, here's a look at two sonically similar Jersey Shore-area bands that will be playing next week in Austin, Texas, at events surrounding SXSW.

ECHO SCREEN

This Brick pop-punk foursome (above) released its full-length debut, Euphoria, in November via Rock Out Records.

Two standout songs from the disc (the pumped-up rockers "This Letter Bomb" and "Everything After Bradford") can be heard on Echo Screen's MySpace page. In addition, there's "Autumn in Disguise," a relatively quiet track from An American Tale that shows the band isn't one-dimensional.

The band's tour itinerary includes three Texas dates, the first of which is a March 17 gig at Momo's in Austin.

Official site: www.echoscreennj.com

MySpace page: www.myspace.com/echoscreen

Upcoming Jersey shows:
April 13: First Presbyterian Church of Matawan -- Matawan

SOMEDAY NEVER

Hailing from Marlboro, Someday Never (above) blends emo-infused melodies with near-metallic guitar muscle. The exceptional "Let's Get Lit and Storm the Castle," one of seven songs on the band's 2006 EP, The Natural Trend of Breathing (All Records), is just as anthemic as the title suggests.

The band rolls through Austin on March 16 for a show at Nuno's.

MySpace page: www.myspace.com/somedaynever

Upcoming Jersey shows:
March 31: Somers Point Firehall --- Somers Point
April 5: Hamilton Street -- Bound Brook
April 7: Nine Ball Billiards -- Browns Mills
April 13: First Presbyterian Church of Matawan -- Matawan

2007-03-07T17:21:00.000-05:00

DEFINITIVE DEBATE

All lists are debatable, and that includes the Definitive 200.

It's described as "a list of 200 ranked albums that every music lover should own," as determined by music retailers.

What did or did not make the list -- developed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- is just as disturbing as where certain albums ranked.

The first jazz entry is Miles Davis' Kind of Blue at No. 34. The second jazz album on the list is John Coltrane's A Love Supreme at No. 78, then you have to go to the second half of the list to find the other two jazz entries: the Dave Brubeck Quartet's Time Out (No. 150) and George Benson's Breezin' (No. 177).

The first Elvis Presley album to make it is 2004's Elvis at Sun, which placed at No. 53. But for whatever reason, his landmark self-titled debut from 1956 checks in at No. 147.

There's only one Frank Sinatra album and nothing at all by George Jones, Hank Williams, Tony Bennett, James Brown, B.B. King, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Byrds, Ray Charles or Sly and the Family Stone, just to name a few.

Among the head-scratching inclusions: Jewel's Pieces of You (No. 64), Matchbox Twenty's Yourself or Someone Like You (No. 91), Nelly's Country Grammar (No. 94), Will Smith's Big Willie Style (No. 154) and Avril Lavigne's Let Go (No. 162).

For the record, the Top 10 (in order) is The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Led Zeppelin's fourth album, U2's The Joshua Tree, The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street, Carole King's Tapestry, Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited, The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds and Nirvana's Nevermind.

2007-03-05T14:25:00.000-05:00

A SECOND LOOK AT THREE DOG NIGHT

Those who watched Lost and American Idol last week heard songs associated with one of the most commercially successful -- and critically dismissed -- acts of the early-to-mid 1970s.

The tunes were "Shambala" and "Joy to the World," and both were huge hits for Three Dog Night. The group certainly was not on the same level as, say, The Rolling Stones or Creedence Clearwater Revival, but TDN definitely rocked a lot more than The Carpenters and Bread. And having three solid, soulful singers –- Chuck Negron, Cory Wells and Danny Hutton -- set the group apart from most everyone else at the time.

Three Dog Night dominated the AM airwaves during an era when such AM giants as New York’s WABC and WNBC played the biggest hits of the day, and when cars came factory equipped with AM radios. From 1970-75, the group scored 17 Top 40 Billboard pop hits, among them "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," "Never Been to Spain" and "The Show Must Go On." While the band wasn't a songwriting force, it did make the most of its outside material, written by such notables as Randy Newman, Hoyt Axton, Laura Nyro and John Hiatt.

America, another Three Dog Night contemporary in the 1970s, also was looked upon as lightweight and uncool during its commercial peak. Recently, the tide turned somewhat when Adam Schlesinger, Ryan Adams and James Iha teamed with the group for its new Here & Now album.

That kind of luck probably will not happen for Three Dog Night, but being connected to two of broadcast television's top shows isn't bad, either, and it just might lead to a different public perception. Meanwhile, even without a stamp of approval from hip musicians, there's no shame in admitting here and now that Negron, Wells, Hutton and company made some pretty good hits during their prime.

2007-03-02T16:31:00.000-05:00

LET'S CURB THE COVER ALBUMS

There's nothing wrong with padding an album with a choice cover song or two.

But releasing an entire album of cover songs? That smacks of laziness, and in recent years, some big names from various genres have opted to do a little coasting.

Among the stars who have taken the all-cover disc route are Smokey Robinson, Rod Stewart, Eddie Money, Mandy Moore, Barry Manilow, Rod Stewart, Alan Jackson, Joss Stone, John Pizzarelli and Ozzy Osbourne.

Poised to join that list is former Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry, whose all-Bob Dylan cover album, Dylanesque, is due in June.

This is not to say that these type of efforts are unlistenable. It's just that after one play, there's usually no point in revisiting them because rarely do the covers top the originals -- or, in the case of standards, the most famous versions. And in many instances, the covers are near carbon-copies of the originals -- same tempo, same arrangement, etc.

Rappers often get slammed for doing their thing over segments of music (both familiar and obscure) from existing recordings.

Artists who cherry-pick songs for an all-covers album -- they're taking a quick, easy and uncreative shortcut, too.

2007-02-28T14:47:00.000-05:00

CELEBRATING STAX

It's obvious that Motown Records -- and The Supremes in particular -- served as the inspiration for Dreamgirls.

And while there hasn't been a Broadway play-turned-hit movie based on Stax Records, the story of its rise, peak, fall and resurrection is perfectly suited for the stage and the big screen.

The Stax story also is tailor-made for a documentary. This summer, PBS will air a Stax doc in conjunction with the yearlong 50th anniversary celebration of the soul music company that was the home to Isaac Hayes (above), Booker T. and the MG's and The Staple Singers, among others.

March will be a big month for Stax, which went bankrupt in 1975 and was acquired in 2004 by the Concord Music Group. Stax 50, a two-disc, 50-song collection of major Stax singles, is due March 13 and will formally inaugurate Concord's relaunch of the label.

And on March 15, Hayes, Eddie Floyd and others are scheduled to perform during the SXSW music conference/festival in Austin, Texas, as part of the Stax 50 Revue.

More info about Stax can be found at www.concordmusicgroup.com.

2007-02-26T15:28:00.000-05:00

EMERSON HART'S NEW START

As far as famous Jersey Shore-bred musicians go, Emerson Hart usually doesn't come to mind right away.

But Hart, formerly the lead singer for the rock band Tonic (best known for the hit "If You Could Only See"), has roots in Atlantic Highlands. And on his upcoming solo album, Cigarettes and Gasoline, Hart reflects on memories both good and bad from his formative years in the Garden State.

As for the title, the Nashville, Tenn.-based Hart says on his Web site, "It refers to an olfactory sense from my childhood -- my dad smoking Marlboro reds and getting gas in Jersey; I remember sitting in the back of his Caddy, and the smell of that, and his arm up on the armrest and him smoking -- early memories for me.

"Also, working on boats as a kid in Jersey, going out on the water in the mornings, that boat smell -- and cigarettes."

As for the bad memories on the album, he addresses a big one -- the still-unresolved murder of his father, whose body was never found, when Hart was 10 years old.

"I had to address those issues before I moved on," says Hart, "so I had to forgive the people who killed my father and let that go. Also, learning how to come full circle with that, thinking about being a father myself someday."

Hart's solo debut is due June 19 on EMI/Manhattan Records. His concert itinerary includes a show Wednesday (Feb. 28) at the Village Underground in New York and a showcase gig March 16 during the South by Southwest music conference/festival in Austin, Texas.

2007-02-23T14:20:00.000-05:00

THE AXL AURA

So, the Guns N' Roses album Chinese Democracy has been pushed back once again.

A March 6 release date was announced late last year, but that was squashed Thursday (Feb. 22) via a post on the band's official site stating "there is no official release date."

For the fans who still care about GNR and remain curious about Chinese Democracy, which has been more than 10 years in the making, there is good news: According to the post, recording is finished and the album is in the mixing stage.

It's anyone's guess how long that will take.

Moody and unpredictable leader Axl Rose (above) is the only original member left in the band, and there's no doubt that he's the reason for Democracy's holdups. That has to be frustrating for everyone involved with the project, especially the current members of the band.

But leaving GNR doesn't necessarily shed one of the Axl-esque delays or long gaps between output. Ex-GNR guitarist Izzy Stradlin released his first solo album in 1992. His next one arrived in 1998. By Axl standards, that would appear to be a rush job. Anyway, Stradlin has been much more prolific since '98, and according to AllMusic.com, he has five full-length studio efforts to his credit -- one more than GNR.

Then there's Velvet Revolver, featuring former GNR members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum. The band's debut album, 2004's Contraband, was delayed a few times, and it would be fair to say that VR front man Scott Weiland's personal troubles were the reasons for the album's release being pushed back.

But maybe the GNR guys had yet to shed their previous singer's bad vibes. The Axl aura is a powerful thing, and nobody knows it better than his current bandmates.

2007-02-21T14:41:00.000-05:00

BEYONCE BURNOUT

Hey, was that Beyonce rubbing elbows backstage at Red Bank's Count Basie Theatre on Saturday following the Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Revue concert?

And was that Ms. Knowles and her entourage Monday afternoon mingling in the food court at Monmouth Mall in Eatontown?

The answer to both of these questions is no -- it just seems like Beyonce is everywhere. And while nothing in life is guaranteed, there's a really, really good chance the Dreamgirls star will be walking the red carpet Sunday night prior to the Academy Awards ceremony.

Seriously, though: The ubiquitous singer/actress -- and reigning Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover girl -- ought to spend some time out of the spotlight before she wears out her welcome.

She might want to follow Jennifer Lopez's attempt to scale down her presence in the public eye. Five years ago, that would have been a ridiculous statement to make because back then J.Lo was what Beyonce is right now. But Lopez began to tone it down around the time she married husband No. 3, Marc Anthony, who may or may not have been influential in her not being everywhere all the time.

Then again, Beyonce's man in recent years has been Jay-Z, who hasn't been the type to keep a low profile, ever. During his so-called retirement from rap music, not only did Jay-Z perform concerts and contribute to other artists' albums -- including Beyonce's -- he also appeared with her at awards shows and other high-profile events.

All things considered, maybe Beyonce visiting the Jersey Shore isn't that far-fetched. With a seemingly endless appetite for attention, experience as a swimsuit model and summer just a few months away, the conditions are pretty close to being perfect.

2007-02-19T13:12:00.000-05:00

FOXTON, BUCKLER JAM ON

As far as rhythm sections go, The Jam had a good one in bassist Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler.

In addition to being good, they were overshadowed by a strong front man in Paul Weller -- much like Creedence Clearwater Revival's solid rhythm foundation, bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford, took a back seat to John Fogerty.

Borrowing a recent page from the Cook/Clifford playbook, Foxton and Buckler are planning to hit the road to perform songs by their former band, using a modified moniker and with the support of other musicians.

Backed by singer/guitarist Russell Hastings and guitarist/keyboardist Dave Moore, the duo now billed as From the Jam: Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler will begin a 19-date U.K. tour May 2.

Buckler told Billboard.com that it will be "difficult to choose which [Jam] songs we would leave out," but he did say that "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" and "Start!" are among those in the set.

As for possibly taking the tour to America, Foxton said, "Let's see how the U.K. tour goes."

Ticket pre-sale for the U.K. shows is scheduled to begin Wednesday (Feb. 21) via www.livenation.co.uk.

2007-02-16T13:34:00.000-05:00

ASTBURY, CORNELL MOVE ON

With a lifetime achievement Grammy Award on Sunday (Feb. 11) and a 10-times-platinum RIAA certification on Wednesday (Feb. 14) for one of their hits collections, The Doors have had a really big week.

It hasn't been quite so good for Riders on the Storm, who are anchored by Doors alums Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger.

On Thursday (Feb. 15), ROTS singer Ian Astbury -- who essentially was filling Jim Morrison's shoes as he, Manzarek, Krieger and others toured in recent years playing Doors music -- announced that he's leaving to "relaunch" The Cult with guitarist Billy Duffy.

"I have decided to move on and focus on my own music and legacy," Astbury said in an e-mailed statement from Cult publicist Todd Brodginski.

Riders on the Storm will continue, and it's been reported that the band is looking at a short list of singers.

Chances are Chris Cornell isn't on that list. Cornell recently announced his split from Audioslave after three albums. In a statement that sounds like the end of a marriage and a band, he cited "irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences."

Cornell hasn't ruled out a Soundgarden reunion at some point in the future, but he says his immediate focus is his solo career. Carry On, Cornell's second solo disc, is due in May, with a tour expected to follow.

2007-02-14T17:30:00.000-05:00

POISON TELEVISION

Once upon a time, VH1 had a few good reality-type shows, among them Bands on the Run.

More recently, though, the cable network has been scraping the bottom of the barrel with such dreck as Flavor of Love and I Love New York.

Don't expect things to get any better in July. That's when VH1 will debut the 10-episode series Rock of Love With Bret Michaels, starring Poison's lead singer.

The gist, according to a press release, is that "a bevy of beauties" will vie to win the heart of "VH1's hottest eligible bachelor." They'll reside with Michaels in his "Los Angeles rock palace," all the while being "tested on their devotion to him and their love and understanding of all that is rock 'n' roll."

Sounds more like a sitcom than a reality show.

2007-02-12T11:18:00.000-05:00

GRADING THE GRAMMYS

Here are the grades for select performances that took place Sunday night during the 49th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles:

THE POLICE: The recently reunited trio looked good and sounded good, offering a slightly altered arrangement of "Roxanne" to open the show in fine fashion. Grade: A-

CORINNE BAILEY RAE, JOHN MAYER AND JOHN LEGEND: Three young solo artists playing together, and not once did they step on each other's toes. That's a minor miracle in this age of self-indulgence (see last entry). Grade: A

SHAKIRA AND WYCLEF JEAN: All the midriff-bearing, dancing and stage-show flash in the world can't cover up the fact that Shakira is a terrible singer, and "Hips Don't Lie" is a horrible song. Think about it: Would Dolly Parton ever stoop so low as to perform a song about her most famous physical attribute? Grade: F

GNARLS BARKLEY: Yawn -- this rendition of "Crazy" was boring and overdone, featuring an army of backing singers and musicians. Those pilot uniforms worn by Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo didn't help matters, either. Grade: D

CHRISTINA AGUILERA: Clueless as always, she suffocated "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" with her vocal acrobatics and theatrics during a tribute to James Brown. Someone really needs to give her a lesson in dynamics and pacing. Grade: F

2007-02-09T14:53:00.000-05:00

SXSW MIXES THINGS UP

The preliminary lineup for next month's South by Southwest (SXSW) music conference has been announced, and one thing that's obvious is the lack of stars and legends.

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

In recent years, it felt like performances by Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Norah Jones, The Black Crowes and The Pretenders, just to mention a few, overshadowed many of the up-and-coming artists who also were showcasing in Austin, Texas, during the music industry's unofficial spring break.

The initial list for this year does include such established vets as Cracker, Rickie Lee Jones, Steve Earle, The Stooges, Jello Biafra and the Hoodoo Gurus, but with all due respect, they don't carry the same clout as the names mentioned above.

The Jersey Shore is represented by the rock quintet Parlor Mob (based in Red Bank) and singer/songwriter Nicole Atkins (who grew up in the Neptune area).

Of course, there will be plenty of buzz-worthy acts (Lily Allen, VietNam) and solid Austin-based talent (Spoon, David Garza).

Then there are a few eyebrow-raising, out-of-place oddities, such as groupie legend Pamela Des Barres and American Idol winner Taylor Hicks.

Could SXSW organizers have a few superstars up their sleeves when they announce the next wave of '07 performers? Maybe, but if not, a mixed-bag lineup of emerging artists doesn't make the conference any less worthwhile.