Let the countdown begin…
September 30, 2008
Patience my pretties… patience.
Phish — March 6-8 at Hampton!
September 30, 2008
We are waiting for official confirmation, but Merry Swankster is saying this thing’s legit:
According to a well connected Merry Swankster source, Phish will announce later today a three night run of reunion shows at Virginia’s UFO shaped Hampton Coliseum next March. Hampton Coliseum was also the site of the 2002/2003 hiatus breaking tour that saw the band perform a triumphant MSG New Years show followed by a trio of Hampton dates.
Hampton was also the site of the November 1998 shows that would eventually be released in box set form commemorating a weekend of legendary, but typical hijinks from the free spirited band. Highlighted by a series of off-beat covers, the shows included Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll, Pt. 2″, Ween’s “Roses Are Free”, Beasties’ “Sabotage”, Chumbawumba’s “Tubthumping”, and “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” by Will Smith.
We’ve heard that this one is true! Who’s in? See ya on tour!
MSD Spotlight: Desmond Dekker
September 30, 2008
Jamaican ska and reggae pioneer, Desmond Dekker, had one of the first international Jamaican hits with “Israelites” in 1968-1969. Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres in 1941 and growing up in Kingston, working as a tailor and a welder, performing called to young Desmond. He auditioned for Derrick Morgan in 1961, an early ska/reggae performer in the rocksteady, skinhead style and a local celebrity, who was impressed and supported Desmond. He started recording in 1963 at Leslie Kong’s (an early influential Chinese-Jamaican producer) recording studio. Desmond was backed in this period by the Cherrypies (later known as The Maytals) who were to soon back Toots Hibbert and Desmond was to move on to the Four Aces as his backing band. Their early output was polite and respectful with titles like: “Honour Your Mother And Father”, “Parents” and “Get Up Edina”.
Performing “The Israelites” and “It Mek” in 1970 at Wembley:
Desmond started performing in the “rudeboy” style, this and a more aggressive approach to music helped to usher in a very successful period in Desmond’s life. Recording “007 (Shanty Town)”(1968), “It Mek”(1969) and “You Can Get It If You Really Want” (1971) within a four year period coupled with heavy touring made Desmond one of the most sought after international recording stars.
The mid-1970′s weren’t as kind to Desmond. He continued a relentless touring schedule, but couldn’t match his earlier chart success. This, coupled with the death of Leslie Kong, his career sputtered and stalled. Desmond’s career limped on, yet he couldn’t catch a break. He declared bankruptcy in 1984. The 90′s were a little kinder to Desmond and recorded some of his old hits with The Specials and performed at countless reggae festivals. Sadly, Desmond passed in 2006 as he was preparing to headline a world music festival in Prague. Rest in peace, Desmond.
43 Years Ago Today…
September 30, 2008
Donovan performed his first release, “Catch The Wind” on Shindig.
Joe’s Garage Musical Opens In L.A.
September 30, 2008
From Rolling Stone:
Almost 30 years since the original release of Frank Zappa’s unrealized stage play Joe’s Garage, director Pat Towne has brought the Rolling Stone-dubbed “unproducible” musical to Hollywood’s Open Fist Theatre. Joe’s Garage imagines a world where music is banned — the plot follows its protagonist as he discovers the obscene powers of rock & roll, the lazy appeal of religion and the benefits of a nice yellow apron when having sex with a robot (Joe dons that ass-less costume for the bulk of the show).
The show debuted Friday during the first presidential debate, and the irony wasn’t lost on Zappa’s widow, Gail, who says the current political climate was no small factor in finally bringing the show to life. “[Joe’s Garage] is made for people who love this country and love the Constitution,” she told Rolling Stone after the premiere, which she attended with a crew that included daughter Diva. “It’s just so relevant… these are desperate times and people are trying to convince themselves that information is knowledge, and it’s not.” Continue Reading…
Happy Birthday — Trey Anastasio (9/30)
September 29, 2008
Ernest Guiseppe Anastasio III or The Bad Lieutenant or Big Red or just Trey turns 44 today. Besides being an amazing musician, Trey is a pretty good guy and we are once again so very eager to see what he does next, be it another solo venture or getting Phish back together. Whatever it is, Trey we wish you a very happy birthday and are thankful that you are happy, healthy and the creative juices are flowing.
Here’s his recent Newport set for download and his recent Time Turns Elastic in Nashville for download.
And for some vintage Phish, here’s Reba from 10/31/1994:
Y.E.M. from 4/4/98:
And the bluegrass sessions from ’94:
Fleet Foxes — The Independent (LMB) & Article (DT)
September 29, 2008
Live Music Blog has the skinny on this recent show at The Independent. We at Musical Stew really dig this band. And a little more info offered up by Daytrotter:
Prepare to not know where you are. Prepare to be completely yanked out of the casing, borders and firmament of your bones and prints. You will find yourself naked in the middle of a barren woods, or with a light covering of bedclothes flapping in the frosty, kick of a wind, looking sideways and likeways in all directions, rubbing the sleepy fog from your eyes and wondering what had just happened – how you got between a peaceful night in and a twisted version of your own personal bit of fantastic, perplexed carnivalesque solemnity. You’ll not be frightened. Continue Reading…
White Winter Hymnal:
Trey Anastasio — Nashville, TN (9/27/2008)
September 29, 2008
Time Turns Elastic performed by Trey and Orchestra Nashville.
Set One
Disc One
1. Intro
2. XL (Scearce)
3. Divided Sky (Anastasio)*
4. Break
5. Concertino (Hart)**
6. Break
7. Orient and Occident (Part)
8. Break
9. Le Tombeau de Couperin (Ravel)
Set Two
Disc Two
1. Intro
2. Time Turns Elastic (Anastasio) ^
3. Break
4. Let Me Lie (Anastasio/Hart) **^
5. Outro
Show Notes:
*Trey on electric guitar
**Trey on acoustic guitar
^Trey on electric guitar and vocals
Bob Dylan — Stream “Tell Tale Signs” at NPR.com
September 29, 2008
Robert Plant — Zep with me ain’t happenin’
September 29, 2008
Robert Plant has issued the following statement on his website in regards to the remaining dates on his tour with Allison Krauss and the rumored Zep reunion:
After those dates (Krauss & Plant tour dates, editor), Robert has no intention whatsoever of touring with anyone for at least the next two years. Contrary to a spate of recent reports, Robert Plant will not be touring or recording with Led Zeppelin. Anyone buying tickets online to any such event will be buying bogus tickets.
“It‘s both frustrating and ridiculous for this story to continue to
rear its head when all the musicians that surround the story are keen to get on with their individual projects and move forward,” Robert Plant said.“I wish Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham nothing but success with any future projects,” he added.
We at Musical Stew sincerely hope that Zeppelin doesn’t tour with another singer, because it just wouldn’t be Zeppelin without Percy. And please don’t let them tour with David Coverdale.
Here’s Zeppelin playing “Kashmir” at the 2007 reunion:
