Gold Star 2.17

Wow see what happens when you go out of the country then to Disney World...you get out of the habit. Plus I've got that new time suck Facebook. Which I am enjoying quite a bit.

Robyn Hitchcock - Goodnight Oslo
He has been making CDs since 1979. This one he teams up once again with 3/5s of Touring REM also known as Venus 3. This cd wouldn't change your mind about him. If you like him this cd will make you happy. If you've never heard of him this cd is a good introduction.

Morrisey - Years of Refusal
Damn the man amazes. Years of Greatness.

M Ward - Hold Time
He makes timeless music but this is not even close to his best. His worst is better than most of what is out there though.

also check out
...and you will know us by the trail of dead, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Asobi Seksu and Cranes. All strong just not Gold Star strong. Download the few songs you dig

More later and sooner
Bro



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Now playing: Carla Bruni - Le temps perdu
via FoxyTunes

I don't think I want to twitter but after reading this I may have to start.

From: Amanda Palmer
Subject: re-Please Drop Me

my label-dropping game has become very fun. please pray for me.

it’s a lesson in how the future of music is working -
fans are literally (and i mean that….literally) lining up at the signing table after shows and HANDING me cash, saying "thank you".

i had to EXPLAIN to the so-called "head of digital media" of roadrunner australia WHAT TWITTER WAS. and his brush-off that "it hasn’t caught on here yet" was ABSURD because the next day i twittered that i was doing an impromptu gathering in a public park and 12 hours later, 150 underage fans - who couldn’t attend the show - showed up to get their records signed.

no manager knew! i didn’t even warn or tell her! no agents! no security! no venue! we were in a fucking public park!
life is becoming awesome.

also interesting: i brought a troupe of back-up actors/dancers on the tour (we were only playing 300-1000 seaters) and had no money to pay them, so we passed the hat into the crowd every night. each performer walked from each show with about $200 in cash. the fans TOOK CARE OF THEM. they brought us dinner every night, gave us places to sleep. (i couldn’t afford to put up that many people in hotels). all sans label, all using email and twitter. the fans followed the adventure. they LOVED HELPING.

so?
the times they are a-changing fucking dramatically, when pong-twittering with trent reznor means way more to your fan-base/business than whether or not the record is in fucking stores (and in my case, it ain’t in fucking stores).

twitter is EVERYTHING that you explain in your rants: it is a MAINLINE insta-connection with the fans. there is ZERO middleman.
my fans hung out with me all day on twitter today while i unpacked weird tour shit, fan art, gifts and paraphernalia that usually just ends up in my closet or in the trash and took pictures of it for them.

xa

Plamer's Site

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Now playing: Cage the Elephant - Ain't No Rest for the Wicked
via FoxyTunes

Lee Woodruff new book

Just got this email and thought I'd share.

> Dear Friends:
>

>
> "Perfectly Imperfect" will be published April 21. Just in time for Mother's
> Day. It's a memoir-ish book with chapters about life as a mother, daughter,
> wife, sister, friend, and even an aging gal. There is something for everyone
> (even men) on the pages.
>
> You can order the book in advance on these websites: www.amazon.com
> <http://www.amazon.com/> , www.bn.com <http://www.bn.com/> ,
> www.borders.com
> <http://www.borders.com/> , or www.indiebound.com
> <http://www.indiebound.com/> .
>
> And of course-- its always great to patronize your local book store! The
> book is available as an audio-book, read by yours truly.
>
> I've also created a website-- so you can read more about the book at
> www.leewoodruff.com <http://www.leewoodruff.com/>
>
> And, yes, I am finally on Facebook!
>
> I'll also be touring and may be in your neck of the woods or maybe you have
> friends that might like to attend one of my book readings. I have attached
> the schedule below. Please feel free to forward this email on to your
> friends. And remember.....Books are an inexpensive Mothers Day gift and a
> cheap thrill!
> Order now!
>
>
>
> Events for Perfectly Imperfect
>
>
>
> Friday, April 24
> New York City
> Barnes & Noble/Lincoln Square
> 7:30pm
> 1972 Broadway @ 66th St.
>
> Talk & Signing
>
>
> Monday, April 28
> Kansas City, KS
> Books & Boutiques Luncheon
> 11:30am
>
> Luncheon/Talk/Signing
> A Benefit for St. Lukes Hospital
> Overland Park
> Convention Center
> 6000 College Blvd., Overland, KS
>
> www.booksandboutiques.org
>
> **Ticketed Event
>
>
>
> Wednesday, April 29
> Chicago, IL
> Union League Club
> 11:30am
> 65 W. Jackson Blvd.
> Lunch/In Conversation
>
> **Members Only Event
>
>
>
> Anderson's Bookshop
> 7:00pm
> 123 W. Jefferson Ave.
> Naperville, IL 60540
>
> Talk/Signing
>
>
> Thursday, April 30
>
> Detroit, MI
> Borders
> 7:00pm
> 34300 Woodward
> Birmingham, MI 48009
>
> Talk/Signing
>
>
> Tuesday, May 5
> Washington, DC
> Politics & Prose
> 7:00pm
> 50115 Connecticut Ave. NW
>
> Talk & Signing
>
>
> Thursday, May 7
> Dallas, TX
> Authors at the Adolphus Series
> 12:00pm
> Adolphus Hotel
> 1321 Commerce St.
>
> Talk/Lunch/Signing
>
> **Ticketed Event: $65
>
> Contact: sleonard@adolphus.com or 214-651-3520
>
>
>
> Legacy Books
> 7:30pm
> 7300 Dallas Parkway
> Plano, TX 75024
>
> Talk/Signing
>
>
> Monday, May 11
> Los Angeles, CA
> Vroman's Bookstore
> 7:00pm
> 695 E. Colorado Blvd.
> Pasadena, CA 91101
>
> Talk/Signing
>
>
>
> Wednesday, May 13
> San Francisco, CA
> Book Passage
> 7:00pm
> 51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
> Corte Madera, CA 94925
>
> Talk/Signing
>
>
>
> Thursday, May 14
> Seattle, WA
> Third Place Books
> 7:00pm
> 17171 Bothell Way, NE
> Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
>
> Talk/Signing
>
>
>
> Monday, May 18
> Boston, MA
> Brookline Booksmith
> 7:00pm
> 279 Harvard St.
> Brookline, MA 02446
>
> Talk/Signing
>
>
>
> Wednesday, June 3
> Rye, NY
> Rye Library
> 7:00pm
> Community Meeting Room
> 1061 Boston Post Rd.
>
>
> Talk/Signing
>
>
> Thursday, August 20
> Bay Head, NJ
> Bay Head Yacht Club
> Time TBD
> 111 Metcalfe St.
>
> Talk/Signing
>
> **Members Only Event

CDs of gold for 02.10.09

hey I finally got up a new Link o Fun. I think it's a good one. I really wanted to post Eddie Vedder doing the karaoke thing at the Best Western during baseball fantasy week but it's already taken down. I bet if you google it you might be able to find it somewhere. Yellow Cub Marines indeed.

On to the tunes.

Lily Allen - It's not Me, It's You
Nice anti Seinfeld title. Dance-y rock from the UK you already know her or maybe of her but man oh man is she huge overseas. It is a bit more than pure sugar.

Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
Another smashing Bluesy monster of a cd from this Ohio dude. He is best known from the Black Keys. On this one he plays pretty much every noise. It is glorious.

Van Morrison - Astral Weeks: Live at the Hollywood Bowl
No overdubs just a classic album live and in full color.

Also out
The 20th anniversary of Paul's Boutique by The Beastie Boys. Nothing added just remastered but a great reminder of the times. Probably the last great "Stolen Sound" cd because after this CD came out - the lawyers came out and after anyone that sampled anything. They had moved out to LA and this was their NYC love letter. For stay-at-home producers check out the bonus cd of Ben Folds "Stems and Seeds". Jorma Kaukonen has a new one too. Miranda Lee Richards turns in a good, soft alt-pop record.

More later
Bro


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Now playing: David Gilmour - Blue Light
via FoxyTunes

New cds from last week

First off thanks for coming out to the NEXT charity concert series. I will have a complete review of the show soon. It was almost a complete disaster luckily saved by the glorious Evan Toth. Thanks man.

Anyway. On to the tunes.

The Heartless Bastards - The Mountain
Indie punk rock with a tinge of country from Austin via Ohio. 3 main members (but only one leftover from their first two cds) and a bunch of friends make glorious noise.

Ben Kweller - Changing Horses
Boy kid rock genius goes full out country and it sounds great.

Also check out:
The jazz trio The Bad Plus and their latest rock covers. The Fray release another cd of the same cd. Play it safe. Don't mess with a winning streak guys. Nice job. Now for the fans of loud, fuzzy, and heartfelt indie noise pop check out the Pains of Being Pure of Heart. Jim White has a great live ep out too.

More later
Bro


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Now playing: Ben Harper - Temporary Remedy
via FoxyTunes

Way super late Gold Star CDs

It's not like I have a good excuse for being so late. No Super Hoopla but a ton of snow. Does that count? Since I brought up the Super Bowl I guess I want AZ to win.

On to the tunes

Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream
Obviously drinking the happy Obama kool aid because he sounds joyful and hopeful on this cd. Great cd but where's my old Bruce? Plus I'm not really happy he did the whole buy this Greatest Hits only at Walmart thing. Dude you use to rip on people that did that and I wouldn't even get into the fact that most of Bruce's old songs boldly went against everything that Walmart is.

Louis Armstrong - Satchmo at the Pasadena
Great re-issue of a live show but sadly not the whole show but oh so worth it.

Mark Olsen/ Gary Louris - Ready for the flood
This is a forever cd. One you'll listen to again and again for the rest of your life. It will be a cd that years later you'll be cleaning out your collection and find it and put it on and just sigh that great music is still made.

Franz Ferdinand - Tonight
A slight return to glory. Get the party started.

The Bird and the Bee - Ray Guns are not just the Future
Edgier then say your normal Grey's Anatomy song but ready for major consumption.

Paul McCartney - Live at Ameba
Like the Satchmo cd not the complete live show. This ep has 4 of the 20 songs Sir Paul performed. He sounds great on this cd. er EP.

Also check out:
More covers from Pat DiNizio. This time he takes on Buddy Holly. Loney Dear is back with more out of left field electric campfire songs. Hey look at this another Strokes side project Nickel Eye. Duncan Sheik has a new collection of non-Broadway tunes out too and check out the re-issues of the Volcano Suns. Raising from the ashes of The Babyshambles is Roses Kings Castles with super slow-mo gentle grooves.

More later
Bro



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Now playing: Pogues - Lorca's Novena
via FoxyTunes

Claudia does the answer thing

Real name: Claudia

Where I live: White Plains, NY


Occupation: Postal Clerk (please, no jokes!)


Favorite movie: Memento

Favorite book: To Kill A Mockingbird

Favorite album: White Album

Three famous people I'd like to meet: Scott Stevens, Mike Peluso, Paul McCartney

One famous person I actually met: Deborah Harry at SNL

Best concert experience: 4 nights in a row seeing Springsteen at Brenden Byrne Arena when it first opened. There was a lottery for the tickets, and I couldn't believe I got tickets for 4 nights! Most luck I ever had
.
Coolest pop-culture item I own: a photograph of Marilyn Monroe that I have never seen anywhere else

And what movie prop would like to own: Marilyn's outfit from Bus Stop

Gold Star CDs for 01.20.09

I told you things would heat up quickly this year. This week there are 3 cds that have a wonderful chance at being in a lot of top ten lists for 2009. Yes I am serious.

Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
Even if you don't like whistling or the violin this cd is just too beautiful. He is also releasing this a double disc with the second cd being all instrumental. He is calling the second cd Useless Creatures. Glorious.

AC Newman - Get Guilty
If there were any justice at all in the world Mr Newman would be beyond famous. He is our McCartney. Treat yourself to his back catalog and his bands too. Especially The New Pornographers.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
I will be the first to say I never really "got" them. I guess I'm just to mainstream but this cd is approachable. I think I may need another listen or two. Critical darlings yes. More welcoming tunes sure but not quite the jump TV on the Radio made last year. Maybe next time but of course like I said I need another listen or two.

Also check out:
Put this group in the same category, for me at least, as Animal Collective. Antony and the Johnsons. I never "got" this either but it might make you happy. Worth checking out. I have a feeling this will be in quite a few top tens at the end of the year but not my list. Bon Iver has new tunes too. Good just not strong. We can also include in that category the North Mississippi All Stars. They will get the party started if you include them on a party CD. Matt and Kim are almost gold but not quite. Also fun when thrown on that party CD. The 1900s clean house and for a "hold me over" it is quite beautiful. Reel Big Fish have a fun covers cd out. Just get the few songs that make you smile.

Enjoy it all
More later
Bro


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Now playing: Morphine - Early to Bed
via FoxyTunes

NEXT Charity Concert - The first one

If you came out to the show thank you so very much. If you didn't get out to the show you really, truly missed a fantastic show. Please think about making it out to one of these monthly shows. It should be easy to remember now as it's every First Friday of the month. So the next show is Friday Feb 6th. See you there...hell even if you don't like the music support a great cause and play pool instead.

PHOTOs up now and live mp3s up soon.

So Ten Feet Deep opened. They were the first band to play in this series and what a brilliant start. The crowd was so into it that they did an encore. How sweet is that for an opening band? They closed with a fantastic AC/DC song. Hopefully we will see these fine, young and talented fellows again soon.

And speaking of young and talented Jukebox the Ghost came down from Philadelphia and rocked the house. If you didn't see them last Friday let me tell you that you must put them on your "the next time they are in town I need to go see them" list. Brilliant live show. They also did a cover. A Beatles cover that blew me away. Of course I ran out of space on the hard drive but I already told them I need a copy of that tune to play on NEXT. They promised they would sent it to me soon.

Thank you to both the bands and all the fans that came out. Please come next month. Bring friends and help out a great cause with some great music at a teeny tiny price too. It will feel good.

Feb 6th The Rosewood Thieves and a teaser for next month opening act Evan Toth at Rock Island Sound.



More later
Bro

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Now playing: Jason Isbell - Seven Mile Island
via FoxyTunes

Gold star CDs for 01.13

Slowish start to 2009 but things will heat up quickly. PJ celebrating the release of Ten with 4 deluxe editions. New U2 in March and next week Andrew Bird. That is soon what about now (or really yesterday)?

On to the tunes


Derek Trucks Band - Already Free
Family and Friends blend blues, rock and jazz into one great cd.

Also check:
Former Love dude Arthur Lee's self titled second solo cd is sadly not as good as it should or could have been but don't be afraid to search it out. It's been out of print for about 3 decades until this remastered re-release.

More later
Bro


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Now playing: Asylum Street Spankers - Stick Magnetic Ribbons On Your SUV (Live)
via FoxyTunes

The Week of Live Music

I love Joe's Pub. Anytime I can get there makes me happy. It's a small (quite tiny) room with good sound and not a bad view in the room. Plus I love the "train ambiance".

I finally got back to Joe's Pub to watch Neil Nathan. I was thinking acoustic night of mellow musing...wow was I wrong. I mean there were mellow musings but he brought with him a full stage. Sax player, Lap guitarist, drummer, percussionist, guitar player and back up singer. They rocked that joint. He is probably best know for this cover of ELO in the Californication series. I have to wait for the DVD but I heard the scene was great.

Also met a guy working on this Lemmy Documentary

warning quite a bit of the naughty words.


So then tonight
Bacon Brothers Peak Performance

Then Wednesday night to Brooklyn to catch some Jazz by Mamady Kouyat

Not quite done...will be back.
Bro



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Now playing: Morphine - Cure for Pain
via FoxyTunes

Response to my Funeral Songs by a NEXT listener

Hey Chris,

As my extended vacation comes to a close, I'm feeling a strong sense of loss and sadness. Almost like somebody has died. So......I figured I would capture the moment and put together my first effort at songs for my funeral.

I went for aptly titled, contemplative songs. Not necessarily my favorite 15 songs of all time, and it is not like I'm the most reverent or tasteful person out there, but there are reasons you can't play a song like "Hot for Teacher" at a funeral. And these 15 songs......well I would be happy to hear them anytime.

15) Under the Milky Way - The Church. Such a great song, and it says "small person in a big beautiful universe" with a perfect, haunting sound. And come on.......The Church? This one is a natural.

14) Pictures Of You - The Cure. The ultimate movie montage song.......seems to fit with the general idea of reflection for this occasion.

13) Beautiful World - Colin Hay. Colin found serenity, and wrote this pretty little song. Hearing him tell his story, just before performing this one, is a memorable experience.

12) Watching the Wheels - John Lennon. OK. I almost went with "In My Life" or even "Imagine" because you used this song in your first mix. But I checked with the Library of Congress, and they have no record of any application for a copyright on your song list. So I stole it. Because it is near to perfect.

11) Jesus, Etc. - Wilco. First The Church, and now Jesus? What's next......angels? Well, this is a themed list of songs, after all. Let alone this is the most popular song from one of the great albums of my lifetime.

10) What I Am - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians. Did you ever have a song that you loved for the melody, and later loved for the lyric?

09) How It Ends - DeVotchKa. First heard this song in Little Miss Sunshine......which coincidentally is going to be one of the 15 movies shown at my funeral. Sure, its going to take a while, but I've arranged for an open bar.

08) Mystify - INXS. Two albums that I would consider classics came out when I was in high school. Kick is one of them. And Mystify is a good choice for this occasion. "Need You Tonight" would have been a bit creepy.

07) Everyday I Write The Book - Elvis Costello & The Attractions. What's so funny about peace, love, and understanding that Elvis hit a lot of home runs in his prime. This one went out of the park.

06) If I Were an Angel - Marc Cohn. With this title, you knew this was a matter of time, no? A song from the comeback kid, one of our great songwriters.

05) Celluloid Heroes - The Kinks. One of Ray's many hymns for the everyman. The frailties, the aspirations, the fleeting triumphs.......sometimes you forget this guy is the rock star who wrote "You Really Got Me."

04) Where the Streets Have No Name - U2. The other great album from my high school years. I love the build in this song. And the sentiment.

03) What It Is - Mark Knopfler. There just has to be some Knopfler guitar at my funeral. In fact, his playing is so ethereal, I think he might give lessons to the angels.

02) The Body of an American - The Pogues. If it is good enough for Jimmy McNulty's "funeral" it is good enough for me. And since Shane has been flirting with death for a couple of decades now, he ought to know how to write a good funeral song.

01) Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley. I was unsure of what song to use to wrap things up at my funeral. Mostly because the details on the destination are a bit fuzzy. It was either going to be Buster Pointdexter's "Hot, Hot, Hot" or this classic. But I'm an optimist, so I went with Buckley. Maybe I'll see you at the pearly gates.

Thanks for sharing and I know I'll be showing up for the tunes...and did you mention open bar?

More later
Bro



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Now playing: The Shins - Turn On Me (Clint Mansell Remix)
via FoxyTunes

Opening Band Live and Acoustic

You should already know about the NEXT Charity Concert Series and that Jukebox the Ghost is the first band on January 10th. Now please welcome the opening band. Ten Feet Deep.



Please come and support a great cause by listening to great music. Oh and bring friends. Lots of friends. Purchase your tickets in advance and print them at home for only $5. This truly is a win-win situation. You help out the kids and you get high class music without driving to Brooklyn.



More later
Bro


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Now playing: Peter Murphy - Cuts You Up
via FoxyTunes