Gigantic Turkey Sub

SNL's Digital Shorts have been hit or miss this season, but when they're good they're quite brilliant. I've been quoting this one since Saturday night....



And oh yeah Arcade Fire also performed and did their best imitation of Pete Townsend - watch here and here.

Music Video Mondays

I guess I'm a little late on getting something up about Peter, Bjorn and John - who seemed to be the hot blog band of the last few months - so here they are with "Young Folks", so you can decide for yourself if they're worth the hype. ....

Ain't No Place I'd Rather Be

I took the plunge and bought a ticket to this year's Bonnaroo - I'm both excited and terrified by the idea of the whole thing since I've never been a festival guy. I counted about 40 plus bands on this initial line-up that I'm a fan of or would want to check out, so kind of figured if I didn't go this year then it was never going to happen - only 110 days and counting. More thoughts on this later and hopefully I'll do a 'Roo preview to get people familiarized with who's who.

Pool Parties To Return

While I didn't make it any of the official Pool Parties last summer at McCarren Pool - did see a couple of shows there though and loved the place - I'm really excited about the fact that they will be returning again. Here's some info....

We will be producing nine consecutive FREE Sunday concerts at The McCarren Park Pool bordering Williamsburg and Greenpoint Brooklyn. Get ready to slip 'n' slide, get stung in the dodgeball pit, get fat on burgers and beer, and listen to some of our favorite bands in the the summer sun.

JELLYNYC's 2007 POoL PARTIES will take place on the following dates...

June 24
July 1
July 8
July 15
July 22
July 29
August 5
August 12
August 19

JELLYNYC will also be co-producing three other dates at the McCarren Park Pool, including a benefit for the Open Space Alliance (OSA) on June 10 (ticket cost will be no higher than $15), a FREE show on June 21st celebrating the first annual Make Music New York Festival, as well as a FREE event with our dear friends The Brooklyn Brewery in mid September--Brooklyn's own Roctoberfest. For those of you who don't know, in Germany Octoberfest starts in September.

Hopefully this year I'll get out there and catch a few of them - they had some pretty eclectic line-ups each week.

Happy Fat Tuesday

A little late on wishing everyone a happy Fat Tuesday - but in honor of it I'm going to offer you up this great New Orleans inspired video combo. First up here's Dr. John, The Meters and Professor Longhair doing "Big Chief"....



And this pretty creepy video of Dr. John as The Night Tripper (this is a must watch).....

FestivalMania

A bunch of festival line-up announcements have been rolling in and I'm feeling lazy so I'm just going to list them with the artists....

Sasquath
The Gorge Ampitheatre, George, WA
May 26-27, 2007

Saturday, May 26th:
Bjork
The Arcade Fire
Manu Chao Radio Bemba Sound System
M.I.A.
Citizen Cope
Neko Case
The Hold Steady
Grizzly Bear
Ghostland Observatory
Electrelane
Two Gallants
The Slip
Loney, Dear
Aqueduct
The Thermals
Viva Voce
The Blow
Gabriel Teodros

Sunday, May 27th:
Beastie Boys
Interpol
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Spoon
Bad Brains
Ozomatli
Dandy Warhols
The Black Angels
Mirah
Tokyo Police Club
Money Mark
St. Vincent
Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter
Smoosh
Common Market
Helio Sequence
Minus The Bear

***More acts to be announced!***

Mountain Jam
June 1-3, 2007
Hunter Mountain, NY

Gov't Mule
Umphrey's McGee
Michael Franti and Spearhead
Robert Randolph and The Family Band
New Orleans Social Club
Ozomatli
North Mississippi Allstars
Tea Leaf Green
New Monsoon
Backyard Tire Fire

***More acts to be announced!***

Stagecoach
May 5th-6th, 2007
Indigo, CA

• Abigail Washburn with the Sparrow Quartet Featuring Ben Sollee, Casey Driessen and Bela Fleck
• Alan Jackson
• Alejandro Escovedo
• Baxter Black
• Brooks and Dunn
• Carolyn Dawn Johnson
• Chris Hillman and Herb Peterson
• Cowboy Celtic
• Cowboy Nation
• David Serby
• Don Edwards
• Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver
• Drive By Truckers
• Earl Scruggs
• Emmylou Harris
• Eric Church
• Garrison Keillor
• Gary Allan
• George Strait
• Grascals
• Jamie O'Neal
• Jason Aldean
• Jason Michael Carroll
• John Cowan Band
• Junior Brown
• Kenny Chesney
• Kris Kristofferson
• Lucinda Williams
• Marty Stuart
• Miranda Lambert
• Neko Case
• Nickel Creek
• Old 97's
• Old School Freight Train
• Pat Green
• Railbenders
• Ramblin Jack Elliott
• Raul Malo
• Red Steagall
• Richie Furay
• Ricky Skaggs
• Riders In The Sky
• Robert Earl Keen
• Roger Alan Wade
• Sara Evans
• Sons of the San Joaquin
• Sugarland
• The Del McCoury Band
• The Flatlanders featuring Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock
• Waddie Mitchell
• Wille Nelson
• Yonder Mountain String Band

snoe.down
March 23rd - 25th, 2007
Lack Placid, NY

moe.
Disco Biscuits
Little Feat
Brailian Girls
The Slip
Tea Leaf Green
Vorcza
Moot Boot Lover's Peter Prince
Sam Kiniger Band
Gordon Stone Band
Brothers Past
The Brew
Lucy Vincent
Kate Gaffney
The Casual Fiasco
David Cain and the Neighborhood Band
Hot Day At The Zoo

I'm sure they are more out there, but honestly I can't keep up with all of them anymore.

I Love Tuesdays

Here are the purchases for the week....

Elvis Perkins - Ash Wednesday

JJ Grey & Mofro - Country Ghetto

Chairman of the Boards - EPK

I really can't wait until the new Page McConnell album hits in mid-April and for the tour to follow - here's hoping that I can hit more the one night on the tour. Check out this EPK about the album....

Music Video Mondays

Back from a few days in D.C. where I saw the first triple-double in GW hoops history and ran into Ernie and his family walking into the Barnes & Noble in Georgetown. I guess with the nostalgia feel to the weekend the title of the is song is pretty appropriate. Here's one of my favorite bands Dr. Dog with "My Old Ways".....

iConcertCal

Wanted to give a quick shout to the folks over at LMB for pointing out this pretty cool program called iConcertCal - here's their brief write-up about it.....

iConcertCal

If you’re a live music junkie and use iTunes but you have not downloaded the iTunes plugin iConcertCal, do yourself a favor and go grab it.

I just recently downloaded and started using iConcertCal. It's free, easy to install (on Mac or PC), and does one key thing that iTunes has not yet done: it connects your digital music library to the concert listings in the world around you.

What this means is that when you load iConcertCal, it will scan the artist's in your music collection and present you with a calendar of when those bands are playing in your area (through the “Visualizer” function). If you're interested in a particular concert, you can click the link in the sidebar (screenshot here). It's a nifty plug-in, and is not unlike most other Apple-related applications: it's simple and easy to use.

However, it is not yet linked to all that much of the Internet world out there. The concert links either hit listings on Pollstar.com (which is pretty weak) or goes to the venue websites themselves, which, as we all know, tend to run the gamut of somewhat useful to completely useless.

That said, this is a step in the right direction for live music fans, and is even better because it taps into the enormous market of people who use iTunes. Also, it is clear that the folks behind iConcertCal have bigger ideas and are seeking out ways to further improve the plugin. They’ve already released version 1.1, which adds the following: 1) a search radius feature -- for those of us not afraid of traveling any distance for a band’s tour; 2) the ability to refine your search by making a playlist; 3) the addition of “opening bands” and other acts; 4) the ability to search for bands not in your collection...and of course, it includes the requisite fixes for bugs in the original version.

iConcertCal also recently joined forces with our friends over at Jambase.com, who graciously (and wisely) allowed the access to the mass Jambase database of concert listings. But I have a question for the iConcertCal folks…how about a way to link this iConcertCal to my personal calendar either on my system or in an online calendar app like Google Calendar? How about a way to have these links hit on one or several ticketing options? Maybe we’ll get these, and other features, in a future version.

7 Indictment Charges For Trey

On the heels of the feel good time I had last week at Ernie's appearance at the 92nd St. Y comes some potential bad news for him. The Burlington Free Press is reporting that he will be indicted on 3 felony counts and an additional 4 misdemeanors - which according to the articles means "he could face up to 14 years in prison if convicted and sentenced to the maximum on all counts. All the charges, though, carry minimum sentences that involve no incarceration and permit a range of several years on the upper end."

Read the whole article here.

God Johnson To Cover The Beatles Tonight

I have to admit I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff and if I was in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area tonight I'd probably be headed to The Cabooze to see God Johnson who will be covering The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonley Hearts Club Band.

Don't really know much about these guys, other then one of the guys that used to be in The Big Wu is in the band. But the folks over at HT seem to dig them - plus they do some interesting covers including Phish's Lizards.

Give them a listen....

2007-01-06 - God Johnson - Papa Charlies - Lusten Mountain - Lusten, MN

Happy Valentine's Day

Looking for that last minute gift to give that special someone or just some great tunes to listen to today- well the folks over at I Am Fuel, Your Are Friends, The Late Greats and Some Velvet Blog have teamed up to offer you 30 Great Love Songs For Valentine's Day. Some great choices between the three of them, but the whole thing is worth checking out just for M. Ward's brilliant cover of Pete Townshend's synth-tastic song - My Love Opens The Door To Your Heart - give it a listen here.


Check out their choices here, here and here.

Bonnaroo Line-Up Rumors Confirmed

Hidden Track is reporting that the line-up going around was indeed for real - they recieved the official press release around 8 PM tonight. Pollstar has the confirmation as well - read about it here.

Unfortunately this kind of took the fun out waiting for the official announcement, but I'll sleep fine tonight. I'm quite impressed with this initial line-up it's pretty much what my Ipod looks like when it's on shuffle. I've never been down to Manchester, but I think this might have to be the year.

Here's the official line-up so far.....

The Police, Tool, Widespread Panic, The White Stripes, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Wilco, The Flaming Lips, Manu Chao, The String Cheese Incident, Franz Ferdinand, Bob Weir & Ratdog, Damien Rice, Ween, Gov't Mule, Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers, The Decemberists, Kings of Leon, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Wolfmother, Regina Spektor, Galactic, The Black Keys, DJ Shadow, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Spoon, Keller Williams (WMD's), Sasha & John Digweed, STS9, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Hold Steady, North Mississippi Allstars, Fountains Of Wayne, Hot Tuna, Feist, Hot Chip, Lily Allen, John Butler Trio, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, Aesop Rock, The Richard Thompson Band, Dierks Bentley, Xavier Rudd, Gogol Bordelo, Junior Brown, Tortoise, T-Bone Burnett, Mavis Staples, Clutch, Cold War Kids, Dr. Dog, Paolo Nutini, Brazilian Girls, RX Bandits, The Nightwatchman, The Slip, Girl Talk, Railroad Earth, Martha Wainwright, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Annuals, Tea Leaf Green, Sam Roberts Band, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Charlie Louvin, Sonya Kitchell, Mute Math, Apollo Sunshine, Uncle Earl, James Blood Ulmer, The National, The Little Ones, Ryan Shaw

Comedians:
Lewis Black & Friends
Dave Attell
David Cross

Tickets for the 2007 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival go on sale Friday, February 23, 2007 at 12:00 PM EST through Bonnaroo's Official Website.

Bonnaroo Line-Up Leak??

This is making it's way around the interwebs right now.....

Here's a better look at the artists listed....

The Police • Tool • Widespread Panic • The White Stripes • Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals • Flaming Lips • Wilco • Manu Chao • The String Cheese Incident • Franz Ferdinand • Bob Weir & Ratdog • Damien Rice • Ween • The Roots • Gov’t Mule • Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers • The Decemberists • Kings of Leon • Spearhead • Wolfmother • Regina Spektor • The Black Keys • DJ Shadow • Gillian Welch & David Rawlings • Spoon • Keller Williams • Sasha & Digweed • STS9 • Old Crow Medicine Show • The Hold Steady • Galactic • Lily Allen • North Mississippi Allstars • Fountains Of Wayne • Hot Tuna • Feist • Hot Chip • John Butler Trio • Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys • Aesop Rock • The Richard Thompson Band • Xavier Rudd • Tortoise • T-Bone Burnett • Mavis Staples • Clutch • Cold War Kids • Paolo Nutini • Brazilian Girls • RX Bandits • The Slip • Girl Talk • Railroad Earth • Martha Wainright • Rodrigo y Gabriela • Annuals • Tea Leaf Green • Sam Roberts Band • Elvis Perkins in Dearland • Charlie Louven • Sonya Kitchell • Apollo Sunshine • Ryan Shaw • Uncle Earl • The National • The Little Ones •

This is like a who's who of indie and jam - if half of it is true I'll be buying a ticket. The official announcement comes tomorrow, so we'll see what the real deal is.

The Police World Tour

Ok so here are the dates so far, with more to be announced.....

5/28/07 GM Place Vancouver, BC (Onsale: Saturday, Feb. 17)
6/06/07 Key Arena Seattle, WA (Onsale: TBA)
6/09/07 Pepsi Arena Denver, CO (Onsale: TBA)
6/15/07 MGM Grand Las Vegas, NV (Onsale: TBA)
6/16/07 Bonnaroo Manchester, TN (Onsale: TBA)
6/18/07 US Airways Arena Phoenix, AZ (Onsale: TBA)
6/26/07 American Airlines Arena Dallas, TX (Onsale: TBA)
6/30/07 New Orleans Arena New Orleans, LA (Onsale: TBA)
7/02/07 Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO (Onsale: TBA)
7/22/07 Air Canada Centre Toronto, ON (Onsale: Feb. 17)
7/25/07 Bell Centre Montreal, PQ (Onsale: Feb. 17)
7/28/07 Fenway Park Boston, MA (Onsale: Feb. 20)
8/1,3/07 Madison Square Garden New York, NY (Onsale: Feb. 20)

The will be a special pre-sale through Best Buy for through their Reward Zone program - read about it here.

You can also find out about everything about the tour here and download your very own copy of their performance last night here (thanks to the guys at HT for it).

Music Video Mondays

It's going to be all about The Police today. Billboard has the exclusive that they will in fact headline Bonnaroo this year - the official full tour announcement at 2 PM (EST) today, so stay tuned. So in honor of all that, here they are with "Synchronicity II".....

Bloggy Goodness

Got nothing today, but here's what other people have going on...

Live Music Blog has the scoop on some confirmed shows for the 2nd installment of the Green Apple Music Fest - which hits three cities at once this year: New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Check it out here.

Over at Aqurium Drunkard he revists Neko Case's Blacklisted album declaring it her esstential and offers some MP3s off of it for your consideration - head here.

Stereogum has the world premiere of the new Grizzly Bear video "Knife" - watch the weirdness here.

The Broken West seem to be popping up on a lot of blogs lately and Muzzle of Bees thinks their album will be on a lot of "best-of" lists come year end - read his thoughts here.

Appranatly no one is blogging about the band Stabilo and The Late Greats thinks people should be - find out more about them here.

Some might say it's a bit early for a favorite songs of '07 list, but Yeti Don't Dance has one - check it out here.

And finally Rob Ronanea is declaring the Angel Orensanz Foundation the best place to see a show in NYC - find out why here.

The Poet Of The Pastime

Pitchers and catchers don't report for another week or so, so I guess that means it's the slow time of year for baseball writers. Check out why you don't go to the MLB website for musings on music with this article Is Dylan The Poet Of The Pastime?

I do suggest heading here and finding the download of Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour dedicated to baseball - it's a great listen.

The New Guitar Gods

Leave it to the folks over at Rolling Stone to give us what is sure to be another hotly debated list on the internets with their new cover story - The New Guitar Gods. Here's the cover....

Yup that's John Mayer in the middle of a Derek Trucks / John Frusciante sandwich. Head here to see a video from the cover shoot where Derek talks about his signature move The Brown Note.

The actual list isn't up yet, but as soon as I see it somewhere I'll post here and we'll let the discussion begin.

HeadPhones Jam

For those of you - like me - that haven't taken the time to go and download the Headphones Jam starting today at 2 PM (EST) you can hear it for phree (yeah sorry about that) over at Live Phish Radio.



Here's some info on just what the Headphones Jam is (via LivePhish)....

The Headphones Jam (also referred to as "Monitor Jam") was recorded near the beginning of the Undermind sessions after Producer Tchad Blake arrived in Vermont and before the band began tracking most of the songs. It was mixed on the fly in The Barn and named because it was recorded while the monitors (in this case headphones) settings were dialed in for the session. Two tracks from the Headphones Jam were used for the Undermind album: "Maggie's Revenge" and "Tiny" (an Undermind iTunes bonus track). A third segment of the jam was played on a 2004 From the Archives radio show on The Bunny. The rest of the complete jam had never been heard outside the band until the Barn Tour Contest in 2006.

The Jam was presented in November 2006 to the winner of the Phish / Sirius "Live In Brooklyn" Barn Tour Contest along with a guided tour of The Barn and autographed copy of "Live in Brooklyn". The contest winner was given the option to hold onto the contest track or share it with the rest of the community. The winner decided to make this jam available to the public and asked LivePhish.com to help distribute it with the request that proceeds be donated to a designated charity. In that sense, it follows in the charitable tradition of other LivePhish.com efforts like "New Orleans Relief" and support of the Mockingbird Foundation.

Happy Birthday Bob

Couldn't let this day pass without mentioning that today would have been Bob Marley's 62nd birthday. Happy Birthday Bob! Enjoy this great live version of Stir It Up.....

FreeFest

Big news for those of you out there that are fans of mosh pits, headbanging, and all things Ozzy. The Prince of Darkness announced today that tickets for all 25 dates on this summer's installment of Ozzfest will be free - yes you read that right gratis, zero dollars, nada, nothing, zilch. Why do I have the feeling that this is going to bite them in the ass somehow. Seems like a few thousand metal fans dressed in black, drinking all day in 90 plus degree sun with free tickets could lead to some sort of metal-induced incident.

Read about it here.

Levon Helm Band

Quick shout out to Ace to pointing out that the one and only Levon Helm will be playing the Beacon Theater on St. Patrick's Day. We might as well just dub it Classic Rock Month there with a three-night Ratdog run and the Allmans 13 show run - it's shaping up to be a hell of a month. Tickets for the show will go on-sale this Friday at 9 AM, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital.



Also on the bill are Ollabelle and the Alexis J. Suter Band along with these other folks who I assume are apart or will be apart of Levon's band - Steven Bernstein, Larry Campbell, Little Sammy Davis, Amy Helm, Howard Johnson, Erik Lawrence, Tom "Bone" Malone, Mike Merritt, Brian Mitchell, Jimmy Vivino and Teresa Williams.

Here's a show from The Band from the day after I was born (via Dimeadozen)....

The Band - 1976-07-16 Carter Baron Amphitheatre, Washington DC

I Love Tuesdays

Here's the purchases for the week....

Apples In Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder

Gary Jules - Gary Jules

Music Video Mondays

It's not often that I get to post music videos by jambands, so that's why today I'm offering up not one, but two. First here's Gov't Mule with "Million Miles From Yesterday"....



And here's the John Popper Project with "Lapdance"......

Super Sunday

Ok we all know that most people tuning into the Super Bowl today aren't actually watching for the action on the field, but for some the best commercials you're going to see all year. Well thanks to the fine folks over at Rock Daily you can take a walk down memory lane and watch their 25 Best Super Bowl Commericals Ever - enjoy.

Here's just a random old commercial with everyone's favorite party animal....

The Covers Project

I'm not usually one for pimping cd compilations that are sold at Starbucks - though I seem to be addicted to their coffee - but they are teaming up with the folks at KCRW to put out a CD called "Sounds Electic: The Covers Project". Check out this tracklist....

Girls In Hawaii - "Out On The Weekend" (Neil Young)
Sia - "I Go To Sleep" (The Kinks)
The Magic Numbers - "Crazy In Love" (Beyonce)
Damien Rice - "Creep" (Radiohead)
Nikka Costa - "I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl" (Nina Simone)
Dido - "Fire And Ice" (James Taylor)
Paul Weller - "Wishing On A Star" (Rose Royce/Junior Walker)
Rufus Wainwright w. Chris Stills - "Harvest" (Neil Young)
R.E.M. - "Gentle On My Mind" (John Hartford/Glen Campbell)
Gary Jules - "Mad World" (Tears for Fears)
The Flaming Lips - "Knives Out" (Radiohead)
Robert Plant - "Black Dog"
Missy Higgins - "Moses" (Patty Griffin)
M. Ward - "Let's Dance" (David Bowie)
k.d. lang - "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen)

Not too shabby. The album hits Starbucks locations starting March 13th - read the full article here.

From The Inbox

Been getting some emails lately asking to post some band info and MP3s for download here on HFTB. Since I'm here to inform you and spread the music I figured why not. So here's what's been filling up my inbox of late....

Dearborn
BIO:
Dearborn is a high energy rock band who is currently gearing up for their 2007 sophomore release "Always In Disguise". Chicago's premier rock band has fans and critics on the edge of their stereos in anticipation. The band recieved the 2004 Chicago Music Award for Rock Album of the Year for their debut release, "Prepare To Qualify", and this past year were up against rock greats Billy Corgan, Wilco, The Pony's and Umphrey's McGee as a nominee for 2004 and 2005's Best Rock Entertainer Award.

ALBUM INFO:
Always in Disguise is an album that embraces high energy alternative rock music pulling from every generation of rock and roll since the mid-70’s to current times and everything in between. Most often compared to mid-90’s alternative music with a little bit of an 80’s feel. Dearborn is unapologetic about their style, and it helps make their music more appealing. It is radio friendly and catchy but still in touch with what is real and now. The album speaks for itself as the band has gracefully honed in on their sound.

Always In Disguise (MP3)

Mew

To call Mew 'sort of surreal', of course, is like saying Bill Gates is 'reasonably well off'. If the sprawling, soaring bliss-rock of their breakthrough third album Frengers (2003) - particularly the ecstatically icy space ballets She Came Home For Christmas and NME Single Of The Week Comforting Sounds - projected a sense of glacial fairy tale wonderment (the sort of thing The Brothers Grimm might have written after a month on the road with Hope Of The States) then their fourth record 'Mew. and the Glass Handed Kites' is an even greater leap into the unknown. Redefining the concept of an 'album' - and, indeed, of a 'concept album' -and the Glass Handed Kites is an eccentric 60 minute rock headfuck, flinging musical ideas, distorted nightmare images and heartbreak choruses at the listener with what at first seems to be a random ferocity. One minute we're sailing towards Valhalla on 'Chinaberry Tree''s crusade-rock stomp, the next we're being asked "Why are you looking grave?" by J Mascis over a My Bloody Valentine throb, the next we're in the middle of an ethereal ballad about hiding foxes. Initially it sounds like ten bands playing ten different albums at the same time, which we're tuned in and out of by some insane studio engineer; repeated listening, however, reveals a remarkably unified work that picks up the experimental baton of 'Kid A' and 'Amnesiac' and drenches it in Mew's unique other-worldy glisten.

Mew is a band originationg from Copenhagen, Denmark and has been making their way through the music scene by touring with great bands like Kasbian and Bloc Party. Their peculiar yet intriguing sound has distinguished them as a truly brilliant band. Already, Mew has achieved notoriety and success with their new album "Mew and the Glass Handed Kites," placing #2 in Entertainment Weekly's Must List.

Check them out on MySpace - here.

The Makes Nice

Following his exit from Bay Area rock heavyweights The Fucking Champs and Drunk Horse, Josh Smith (guitar, vocals) set out to strips things down in search of the perfect synthesis of pop melody and rock muscle. Enter Aaron Burnham (bass, vocals) and Jack Matthews (drums). What was originally intended as an instrumental R&B outfit evolved into a refurbished vintage project. Drawing from freakbeat influences (i.e. The Creation, Small Faces, et al.) The Makes Nice brings Smith's impeccable musicianship and traditional power trio rollicking to catchy, sing-along pure pop. Where many vintage-based acts leave listeners nostalgic for the old days, The Makes Nice draws from old styles with an entirely new angle. For its first release, the band called on Phil Manely, best know for his stellar guitar playing with Trans Am, to lend his engineering prowess.

Candy Wrapper (MP3)

California Sun (MP3)

The Safes

A literal "band of brothers," the all sibling trio The Safes is one of the hottest bands in the reputable Chicago rock scene. The rock/powerpop/soul threesome recieved much praise for its two previous efforts and has traversed the country playing for eager crowds. Well, Well, Well The Safes latest and strongest record builds on that solid foundation. With a sound that embodies the adage "old, new, borrowed and blue", The Safes are sure to get your feet tapping. The O'Malley brothers' family chemistry is easily discernible upon first listen and contributes volumes to this brilliantly cohesive music (think Kinks). With the release of Well, Well, Well and the great reputation of their lauded live show, The Safes stands poised to emerge from the Chicago market as a national force.

Phonebook Full of Phonies (MP3)

Fairy Tale Tomorrow (MP3)

I'll try and make this a regular series based on the amount of submissions I get.

Band Tees

You say your New Year's resolution was to give more to charity? Well here's a great way to do and even get something in return. Head on over to the Yellow Bird Project where you can buy t-shirts designed by your favorite indie-rockers, with 100% of the sales going directly to charity. Right now you can pick up a shirt designed by Rilo Kiley, Devandra Banhart, CYHSY, Wolfmother, Joseph Arthur and more.



Here's some info on the YBP from their website....

Yellow Bird Project is a Montreal-based, non-profit initiative. We collaborate with musicians in designing a T-shirt, we print and sell them on our website, and all of the money we make goes to charity. Which charity? Each of the artists gets to choose their own. We have three fundamental aims:

1) To make money for charities directly through T-shirt sales.

2) To raise awareness for charity organizations through artists’ endorsement.

3) To raise the profile of the artists we like.

We have specifically approached individuals that we think are creative and conscientious enough to make a difference.

It's a great way to give back if you ask me.

It's Official Police To Perform At The Grammys

So the internets are buzzing this morning about the announcement that The Police will be kick-off the Grammys telecast in just a few short weeks. I wouldn't be a good music blogger if I didn't provide you with the info (via NY Times)....

The Police, who leapt from the British punk scene to become one of the world’s biggest rock acts before breaking up in 1984, will reunite for a performance to kick off the 49th Grammy Awards on Feb. 11.

The scheduled performance by the band members, who last played together when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, is likely to heighten speculation that the Police will soon mount a full tour. The group would join a growing list of reunited acts expected to perform this year, including Van Halen and Rage Against the Machine.

The Police — known for “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle” and other hits — have won five Grammy trophies, but have never performed on the annual telecast. The prime-time Sunday performance on CBS, televised live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, would come 30 years after the release of the band’s first single, “Fall Out.”

This month Sting alluded to a Police reunion when he told the Television Critics Association that all the former members were talking. “We started 30 years ago, so it would be nice to do something to celebrate,” Sting was quoted as saying. “We don’t quite know what, but we’re talking about it.”

Oddly enough, the band’s reunion — announced by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which awards the Grammys — comes not long after perhaps the most public analysis of its breakup. Stewart Copeland, the Police’s co-founder and drummer, made a splash at last year’s Sundance Film Festival with a film, “Everyone Stares,” a first-person account of the band’s rise to prominence and subsequent disintegration.

After the band splintered amid internal tension in 1984, the Police’s singer, Sting, pursued a successful solo career, meandering from the band’s reggae-influenced rock and experimenting with other forms of world music. Sting has also become a reliable concert box-office draw in his own right. His 2004 tour with Annie Lennox, for example, rang up box office sales of more than $50 million and ranked as one of the 10 best-selling tours of the year, according to the trade magazine Pollstar.

Last year Sting’s first classical album, “Songs From the Labyrinth,” featuring music written by the 16th-century composer John Dowland, topped the classical album sales chart for 2006. His reunited band now joins a lineup of performers for this year’s Grammy telecast that includes Mary J. Blige, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Dixie Chicks and Gnarls Barkley, among others.

So there you have it two years in a row the Grammys pull huge comebacks - last year with a pretty scary looking Sly Stone - and now this. Good work in trying to make your award show relevant again, but I have a feeling about 2 minutes after The Police are done performing the ratings will take a pretty huge drop.

I Love Tuesdays

Here are the purchases for the week....

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder

Norah Jones - Not Too Late

Various Artists - Endless Highway: The Music of The Band

Lilly Allen - Alright, Still

Cat Power At Hiro Ballroom

Was a bit disappointed when Cat Power announced a show at the Hiro Ballroom for Super Bowl Sunday - though I'm sure a lot of girls where happy about that, considering it's sold out. Luckily she's added a second show next Monday night at the same venue. Tickets are on-sale now - buy them here.

I've heard mixed things about her live show, but loved The Greatest and pretty excited to check her out as well as the venue. Here's a couple of live shows for you downloading pleasure....

Cat Power And The Memphis Rhythm Band - 2006-06-16 - That Tent - Bonnaroo Music Festival - Manchester,TN

Cat Power And The Memphis Rhythm Band - 2006-11-18 - 40 Watt Club - Athens, GA

Music Video Mondays

Don't really have any words to explain this video, but take four minutes out of your day to watch it's truly classic and quite bizzare. Here's Devo with "Jocko Homo".....



If you only know Devo for "Whip It", do yourself a favor and go and pick up a copy of Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - it's quirky art rock in the vien of the Talking Heads.

Concert Time

Off to see M. Ward tonight playing a rare solo show at Town Hall. Caught him around this time last year out a Warsaw and Jim James showed up and sat in for a few songs - quite the night. If you haven't heard Post-War - Matt's stellar album from last year- take a listen to this live version Poison Cup from a performance for KCRW and I promise you'll be hooked too.

Here's a recent live show for downloading pleasure (via Dimeadozen)...

M. Ward - 2007-01-05 - The Metro, Sydney - Australia

Play It Leo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's some news from the Phish camp that doesn't involve a certain red-headed guitarist. The Chairman of the Boards has just inked a deal with Legacy Recordings for the April 17th release of his solo debut!!! Here's a promo video for the album....



Here's the full article with tracklisting. Hopefully some tourdates will follow, it's been awhile since we've seen Page out on the road and I for one have missed him.

Here's his set from last year's moe.down that features all the material from the new album, it's a great live set and worth the download...

Page McConnell with Jon Fishman, Adam Zimmon, Jared Slomoff & Rob O'Dea - 2006-09-01 - moe.down 7 - Snow Ridge Ski Area - Turin, NY

Music Video Mondays...Thursday Edition

When you find out that everyone favorite '80s teen villian Billy Zapka directed a music video that was an ode to the Karate Kid I couldn't wait till Monday to post it. So without further ado here's No More King's with "Sweep The Leg"- it's pure genius....

Announcementmania

My internet has been down most of the day and there was a bunch of announcements made, so rather then bore you with a bunch of posts on each here's a full list....

Van Halen Reuniting with Diamond Dave for 40 Date Summer Amphitheater Tour

Bonnaroo Line-Up Announcement on February 14th

Jazz Fest Line-Up Announced

The Police Rehearsing For Their Summer Tour In Vancouver - Dates To Be Announced Next Month

And finally this just caught my eye.....

Nirvana At SXSW? Police At Bonnaroo? Behind The Bogus Festival Line-Ups

Bloggy Goodness

Super Dee was at the Knit this weekend to catch Rotary Downs - check out her review and some video of the performance here.

I Guess I'm Floating loves Andrew Bird and has two versions of a track off his new album - which hits streets on March 20th - for your downloading pleasure. Check that out here.

Over at You Ain't No Picasso you can grab a new Bright Eyes B-side called "Tourist Trap" off his upcoming EP Four Winds - here.

Mondays are a must over at I Am Fuel, You Are Friends that's when Heather puts up her weekly Monday Music Roundup - this weeks features tunes from Cake, Ohio Players and The Put Outs.

The new Norah Jones new album Not Too Late comes out next week, but Fresh Bread has a couple of track off it if you just can't wait till then - head here.

Finally if you're not going over to Hidden Track on a regular basis you're really missing out, check out any of these weekly features and you'll see why - Grousing The Aisles, Pullin' Tubes and The 'B' List.

I Love Tuesdays

Here are the purchases for the week....

The Grateful Dead - Live At The Cow Palace: New Years Eve 1976

moe. - The Conch

The Shins - Wincing the Night Away

The Affair - Yes Yes To You

Music Video Mondays

Their new album hits stores tomorrow and you're going to want to own it - so put in on your "To Do" list - here's The Shins with "Phantom Limb"....



And if you're in NYC tonight head over to the Virgin Megastore in Union Square for a free in-store performace tonight at midnight.

Coachella Line-Up

Here's the full Coachella line-up, thanks to Justin from LMB for the info....

!!!
Jacks Mannequin
Air
Jarvis Cocker
Amos Lee
Jose Gonzales
Amy Winehouse
Julieta Venegas
Anathallo
Junior Boys
Andrew Bird
Justice
Arcade Fire (The)
Kaiser Chiefs
Arctic Monkeys
Kings of Leon
Avett Brothers
Klaxons
Benny Benassy
Kokono No. 1
Bjork
LCD Soundsystem
Black Keys
Lily Allen
Blonde Redhead
Lupe Fiasco
Bojones
Manu Chao
Brazilian Girls
Mika
Brother Ali
Mike Relm
Busdriver
MSTRKRFT
Circa Survive
New Pornographers
Coco Rosie
Nickel Creek
Comedians of Comedy
Nightwatchman
Cornelius
Noisettes
Coup (The)
Of Montreal
Cribs (The)
Ozomatli
Crowded House
Paul Van Dyk
CSS
Peaches
Damien Rice
Peeping Tom
Decemberists
Peter, Bjorn & John
Digitalism
Pharaohe Monche
DJ Heather
Placebo
DJ Shadow
Pop Levi
Erol Alkan
Rage Against The Machine
Evil Nine
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Explosions in the Sky
Regina Spektor
Fair to Midland
Richie Hawtin
Faithless
Rodrigo Y Gabriella
Feeling (The)
Roky Erickson and the Explosives
Felix Da Housecat
Roots
Fountains of Wayne
Rufus Wainwright
Frames (The)
Satellite Party
Fratellis
Silversun Pickups
Ghostface Killah
Sonic Youth
Gillian Welch
Soulwax
Girl Talk
Spank Rock
Gogol Bordello
Sparklehorse
Gotan Project
Stephen Marley feat Jr. Gong
Grizzly Bear
Tapes 'n Tapes
Happy Mondays
The Fields
Hot Chip
The Good, The Bad and The Queen
The Kooks
Travis
The Rapture
VNV Nation
Tiesto
We Are Scientists
Tilly and the Wall
Willie Nelson
Tokyo Police Club
Yeva

Rage To Headline Coachella

With all the Bonnaroo stuff I've been posting on here lately I've negelected the other big music festival out there Coachella. Well today came the official announcement (that had been rumored for the last couple of days) that Rage Against The Machine will be reuniting for the first time in seven years to headline the fest. The world could have used some politically charged anthems from Rage over the last few years, but I'm sure lots will be pretty psyched to see these guys on stage again. Read about it here (which includes a list of other performers).

Tickets go on-sale this Saturday.

Music Video Mondays

Is there any other more appropriate video to post today then this 1985 classic? You guessed it, here's the Chicago Bears with "The Super Bowl Shuffle".....



Try to get up something a little more tolerable later.

More Bonnaroo Confirmations

Here's a few more confirmed acts headed to the 'Roo....

The Hold Steady - confirmed here
Fountains of Wayne - confirmed here
Charlie Louvin - confirmed here

Bonnarumors

Bonnaroo line-up rumors seem to be a hot topic these days. I usually wouldn't post something from a message board, but saw this over on The Hold Steady's message boards and just thought it was an interesting line-up - please keep in mind the source though.....

Sources close to the Manchester Times have recieved confirmation that The Police, Bob Dylan, and Pearl Jam have been confirmed to headline the 2007 Bonnaroo Music Festival. The lineup also includes Tom Waits, Willie Nelson, Umphrey's McGee, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, The Black Crowes, Ryan Adams, My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire, Keller Williams Band, Hot Chip, America, TV on the Radio, Fountains of Wayne, Modest Mouse, Les Claypool, The Shins, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Toots and the Maytals, The Roots, The Decemberists, Of Montreal, Cat Power, Ozomatli, Perpetual Groove, Band of Horses, John Butler Trio, Nickel Creek, Medeski Martin and Wood, Lily Allen, Neko Case, Keiren Hedben (Four Tet) & Steve Reid, The Hold Steady, Earl Scuggs, Charlie Louvin, Man Man, Grizzly Bear, Konono #1, The Slip, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Uncle Earl, Annuals, Beirut, M. Ward, Cold War Kids, and Girl Talk. Superfly Productions plans to officially announce the lineup on January 31st.

My guess is a fair amount of these will actually be in Manchester this year. But as for their headliner guess - The Police reunion isn't even confirmed and doubt this would be a stop on their tour. Bob Dylan played a few years ago and wasn't a headliner - so what would make him one this year? Out of the three Pearl Jam seems to be the one that's getting the most truth attached to it. Mostly likely this is just someone's wish list, but I guess we'll have to sit tight and see.

Number Two From The Vault

Clearly Neil Young realized that he shouldn't have kept all that great stuff in his vault locked up for so long. Billboard reported today that the second installment of his vault series will be hitting stores on March 13th. This time around it will be a solo gig from January 19, 1971 that took place at Massey Hall in Toronto - read about it here.

Not sure if this is going to be the early or late show, but here are the setlists from that night (they're both pretty similiar)....

Early Show:
On The Way Home / Tell Me Why / Old Man / Journey Through The Past / Cowgirl In The Sand / Love In Mind / Helpless / Love In Mind / A Man Needs A Maid>Heart Of Gold / Don't Let It Bring You Down / There's A World / Bad Fog Of Loneliness / I Am A Child / The Needle And The Damage Done / Ohio / See The Sky About To Rain / Dance, Dance, Dance

Late Show:
On The Way Home / Tell Me Why / Old Man / Journey Through The Past / Helpless / Love In Mind / A Man Needs A Maid>Heart Of Gold / Cowgirl In The Sand / Don't Let It Bring You Down / There's A World / Bad Fog Of Loneliness / The Needle And The Damage Done / Ohio / See The Sky About To Rain / Down By The River / Dance, Dance, Dance / I Am A Child

No Direction, Period

After months and months of work my friends over at The Post Show are finally makes their triumphant return to the internets on SuperDeluxe. Check out this newly posted short....



Seriously everyone out should check there stuff out, watch the old stuff here and their new stuff here. Welcome back guys!

Pimp My Band

Just wanted to give a quick shout out for my friends in The Affair - they are the Artist of the Day over at Spin. Head here give them a listen (free MP3 for download off their new album) and vote for them a few hundred times you can also leave some positive feedback about them here.

If you like what you hear they've got their debut album coming out next week called Yes Yes To You - which you can buy here. They'll be playing their record release party at Mercury Lounge on January 26th (on at 8:30) and then will be heading out for their first ever west coast tour in February - check out the dates here.

I Love Tuesdays

Here's the lone purchase for the week....

The Autumn Defense - S/T

Music Video Mondays

I go back and forth on how much I actually like Regina Spektor (I think I do just in small doses), but decide for yourself - here she is with "Fidelity".....

Rumor Mill - Keller Williams Band??

Is Keller Williams ready to lose the loops and actually let other people play instruments on-stage with him on a full-time basis? Well Keller hinted to the fact that he will be hitting the festival circuit this summer and for a possible fall tour with a full band during his appearance on Sirius's Jam-On. He didn't give away any names yet, but he alluded that the people he's been talking to will be familiar to his fans.

The current hot rumor had been that he would be taking over for Bill Nershi - but according to the lasted issue of Relix that arrived in my mailbox today he's quoted saying the following....

"I can't really let myself think like that, especially being in touch with the band and knowing they're not really thinking that. There might be a tour over the next couple of years where we might go and try something out but there's definitely no plans for me taking Billy's slot, that's for sure."

In the meantime Keller is currently on the road - head here for the dates. He also has a new album coming out on Feburary 9th called Dreams that features the likes of Bela Fleck, Bob Weir, SCI, Steve Kimock and more.

American Beauty Project

If you're in New York next weekend you might want to consider going to check the American Beauty Project - who will be performing Workingman's Dead and American Beauty on consecutive nights for FREE in the World Financial Center. Here's the press release (via Jambase)...

Two of the Grateful Dead's greatest albums, American Beauty and Workingman's Dead, both recorded in 1970, will each be honored with its own evening when Arts>World Financial Center presents The American Beauty Project free in the World Financial Center Winter Garden, 220 Vesey Street.

Workingman's Dead, which was recorded in March 1970, will be honored Saturday, January 20 at 8:00 p.m. by a distinctive roster of singer-songwriters, bands and instrumentalists when each performs one of the tracks on the classic album.

The next night, Sunday, January 21 at 8:00 p.m., another group of singers and musicians will perform cuts from American Beauty, which was recorded in August and September 1970.

Performing their own arrangements of the Workingman's Dead and American Beauty songs are Jorma Kaukonen (Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane), Jay Farrar (Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo, Gob Iron), Ollabelle, Toshi Reagon, The Holmes Brothers, Sex Mob, Espers, Jen Chapin, Dar Williams, The Klezmatics, Tim O'Reagan (The Jayhawks), Mark Eitzel (American Music Club), Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan, Phil Lesh & Friends), Teresa Williams, Rob Barraco, Dan Zanes, Railroad Earth, Catherine Russell, Jim Lauderdale, John Leventhal, Brandon Ross, Andy Statman, Tony Trischka and more names to be announced in the weeks ahead.

Putting together The American Beauty Project to celebrate 35th anniversary of these two landmark Grateful Dead albums is Artistic Director and Producer David Spelman, who was responsible for similar tributes to Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. At last year's Nebraska Project honoring Springsteen, The Boss himself spent the evening standing unnoticed with the crowd before jumping on stage for the finale.

"Both Workingman's Dead and American Beauty were ranked on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, 258 and 262, respectively," said Mr. Spelman. "Each was extremely innovative at the time for their fusion of bluegrass, rock, folk and country music."

Workingman's Dead, the band's fourth studio album, was recorded in March 1970, and was voted by readers of Rolling Stone as the best album of 1970, in front of Crosby, Stills and Nash's Déjà Vu and Van Morrison's Moondance.

American Beauty was recorded between August and September of 1970 and was released in November of the same year. It included instant radio favorites such as "Truckin'," "Sugar Magnolia" and "Friend of the Devil."

"The acoustic sound and folk/country tunes of Workingman's Dead would come as quite a shock to many fans, and to the critics as a harbinger of some sort of conscious movement (along with The Band, Dylan and the Byrds) toward country," wrote Grateful Dead biographer Dennis McNally in his program notes for the event. Mr. McNally went on to add that "as usual with the Grateful Dead, the album's origins were serendipitous and synchronistic, involving no plan or program. Instead, their swerve to include country songs in their work began quite accidentally when their lyricist Robert Hunter moved in with the Garcia family in January 1969... In March 1970, they went into the studio to record Workingman's Dead. Hugely in debt to their record company, they were forced to be simple and economize, thinking consciously of Buck Owens' Bakersfield sound. The simplicity served the music perfectly, and the result was a classic, although not the departure many thought it was. They'd enlarged their vision, not changed it."

The set list for The American Beauty Project is as follows:

Workingman's Dead - Saturday, January 20 at 8:00 p.m.:

Uncle John's Band - Ollabelle with Larry Campbell
High Time - The Holmes Brothers
Dire Wolf - Larry Campbell with Teresa Williams and Rob Barraco
New Speedway Boogie - Catherine Russell
Cumberland Blues - The Klezmatics
Black Peter - Jim Lauderdale with John Leventhal, Brandon Ross and friends
Easy Wind - Tim O'Reagan (the Jayhawks)
Casey Jones - Railroad Earth
Plus instrumental interludes by: Tony Trischka and Andy Statman

American Beauty - Sunday, January 21 at 8:00 p.m.:

Box Of Rain - Toshi Reagon
Friend Of The Devil - Mark Eitzel
Sugar Magnolia - Jim Lauderdale and friends
Operator - Jorma Kaukonen and friends
Candyman - Jay Farrar (Son Volt)
Ripple - Dar Williams and Dan Zanes
Brokedown Palace - Ollabelle with Larry Campbell
Till The Morning Comes - Espers
Attics Of My Life - Larry Campbell with Teresa Williams and Rob Barraco
Plus instrumental interludes by: Andy Statman, Tony Trischka, and Sex Mob

HOST:
John Schaefer is the host of WNYC's innovative music talk show "Soundcheck," which features live performances and interviews with a variety of guests. Since 1982, Schaefer has also hosted and produced the popular new music radio program "New Sounds," hailed as "The #1 radio show for the Global Village" by Billboard magazine. He has been heard regularly on the BBC, the ABC (Australia), Taipei Public Radio, and Radio New Zealand. Schaefer's writings include "New Sounds: A Listener's Guide to New Music" (Harper & Row, NY, 1987; Virgin Books, London, 1990); a biography of composer La Monte Young (in Sound and Light, Bucknell University Press, 1996); and "Songlines: The Voice in World Music" (Cambridge Companion to Singing, Cambridge University Press, UK, 2000). In May 2006, New York Magazine cited Schaefer as one of "the people whose ideas, power, and sheer will are changing New York" in its Influentials issue. First Dead show attended: He's pretty sure it was in 1977... or 1978... possibly at New York's Palladium... he just can't remember all the details.

All events are free! No tickets required. Seating is first come, first served. For information, call (212) 945-0505 or visit www.worldfinancialcenter.com.

The American Beauty Project MySpace page: www.myspace.com/americanbeautyproject.

If I'm not out of town I'll most likely try and check this out - should be fun.

Dispatch's Garden Party

Couple of days late on this, but a funny thing happened to late 90s/early 00s college favs Dispatch when they decided to reunite for a concert to benefit Zimbabwe. First they get asked to play the Word's Most Famous Arena, then they sell out the show in 30 minutes via a MySpace pre-sale, then add a second show that also sells out via pre-sale. They have now added a THIRD show that goes on-sale next Saturday (1/20) at 9 AM.

Pretty damn impressive for a band that hadn't played a full concert together since 2004 for their farewell show - which was estimated to have drawn over 100,000 people - and for a band that hadn't really toured much in the last few years of their career (from '02 - '04 played a total of ten shows).

Read about it all here and here.

Here's some music to check out....

Dispatch - 2004-07-31 - The Hatch Shell - Boston, MA

Dispatch - 2000-06-09 - Wetlands - New York, NY

Dispatch - 1998-09-26 - Hamilton College - Clinton, NY

I Love Tuesdays...Wednesday Edition

Been a slow few weeks in the world of new releases, but finally there was something worth buying this week - also picked up an album that was on a bunch of Best Of's from '06....

Neko Case - Live From Austin, Texas

Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies

Bright Eyes Tour

HFTB fav Bright Eyes is hitting the road for a brief tour in support of his EP Four Winds out on March 6th and to most likely preview music off his upcoming full length Cassedega which hits stores on April 6th. Here's the dates so far....

02-25 Chicago, IL - Metro
02-27 Toronto, Ontario - Opera House
02-28 Somerville, MA - Somerville Theatre
03-02 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
03-03 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
03-05 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
03-07 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey
03-08 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey
03-09 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
03-10 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
03-11 Seattle, WA - Showbox

No on sale info yet, but definitely pysched to catch Connor in a small venue like the Bowery.

Music Video Mondays

It's rainy and gloomy today (oh and there's that gas smell too), but this song always manages to put me in a good mood - here's Ben Lee with "Catch My Disease".....

The Police To Reunite?

Ok I've avoided posting about this for a couple of days, but it looking more and more likely that The Police reunion is going to happen. Check out this article from Billboard....

Rumors are swirling that the Police will reunite for 2007 dates in England and the United States, which would be the legendary trio's first since disbanding in 1986. Sources tell Billboard.com the reports are legitimate but would not publicly comment until final details are nearer to completion.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of "Roxanne," the single that broke the Police in the United States. "Discussions have been underway as to how this will be commemorated," reads a post on Sting's Web site attributed to an A&M spokesperson. "While we can confirm that there will indeed be something special done to mark the occasion, the depth of the band's involvement still remains undetermined."

Sources say in addition to DVD releases, A&M is planning another multi-disc collection in the vein of 1993's "Message in a Box," which featured the band's complete studio recordings and a handful of rarities.

A Police reunion has been the concert industry's dream for two decades, as it is believed the band could play stadiums internationally should it choose to reunite. But besides an impromptu set at Sting's 1992 wedding to Trudie Styler, the Police's only other post-breakup performance was in celebration of its 2003 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

And while Sting has repeatedly expressed reluctance at reuniting, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers have kept the flame alive. This summer, Summers told Billboard he was certain the group could have continued on past its 1983 commercial peak with "Synchronicity."

"The more rational approach would have been, 'OK, Sting, go make a solo record, and let's get back together in two or three years,'" he said. "I'm certain we could have done that. Of course we could have. We were definitely not in a creative dry space. We could have easily carried on, and we could probably still be there. That wasn't to be our fate. It went in another way. I regret we never paid it off with a last tour. We snuck out the back door, which is what we were told to do, until it just became too frustrating to lie about it."

"I'm very keen on it," Copeland told Billboard.com of a potential reunion, the day after the Rock Hall induction. "But I absolutely understand why it's not going to happen and I'm down with that. It was really great to be the Police for 15 minutes. If you can think of some other award we can go get or some other good reason, give me a call, and I'll try it out!"

In 2001, Copeland excitedly told Billboard about "one piece of unreleased Police product" which he hoped would eventually see the light of day.

"One of the times when they were working on the box set or something like that, they convened the three of us on the phone. Sting and Andy were in Italy; Andy was visiting Sting at the time, and I was on a DSL line in L.A.," he recalled. "And we went down all the song titles from all of our albums. Song title: 'Can't Stand Losing You.' And we each just talked about the track and argued and shouted and screamed. There was laughter and tears. It was very cathartic. It was almost like a therapy session. It was hysterical. It was so much fun."

"We were really going at it with all the language, straight for the jugular, refighting the battles, laughing hysterically while we put the stiletto exactly where we stuck it last time," he continued. "The engineer said it was like watching a concert. They were in Italy and it's like after dinner, and I'm here in L.A. at 10 in the morning. I'm getting more and more caffeinated as they're getting drunker and drunker."

"It seems like we're in contact all the time, but actually, years go by," Copeland said of his ongoing relationship with Summers and Sting. "It's sort of like whenever we see each other, it's like we saw each other five minutes ago. We don't have any sensation of time going by. We don't pick up the phone every week, but when we do, we pick up from where we left off."

So it looks like it's going to be a big year for fans of '80s rock bands between this and the Genesis tour - though I'd be way more inclined to drop my $80+ on The Police. Now if the Talking Heads would only get back together then I'd really be excited.

Driving Through New York On A Horse With No Name

Well the Ernie Arrest got a bit more interesting today as WNYT in Albany got an exclusive scoop that along with the prescription pain killers our favorite red-head also had herion on him too. Check out the story here and watch the video - thanks to the guys over at Hidden Track for the link.

With the nods to his arrest in recent setlists (busting out Almuni Blues twice and Makisupa) should we be excepting a cover of this VU classic? Too soon??

Here's his recent New Year's run....

Trey Anastasio - 2006-12-28 - Orpheum Theatre - Boston, MA

Trey Anastasio - 2006-12-29 - Palace Theater - Albany, NY

Trey Anastasio - 2006-12-30 - House of Blues - Atlantic City, NJ

Trey Anastasio - 2006-12-31 - House of Blues - Atlantic City, NJ

Lucky Number 13

On Sale this Saturday at 9 AM - here.

More Bonnaroo Confirmations?

So we already know that the Cold War Kids will be in Manchester this year, but it looks like a couple more acts have leaked that they will be headed there too. First up John Butler Trio will be back - confirmed here. And Brooklyn Vegan is reporting that new blog darling Lilly Allen has hopes of being there too.

Got any others?

Update: Uncle Earl (an all-female bluegrass band) is headed there too.

Music Video Mondays

Ok so this is a bit cliche and this will be the only time this band will be featured here, but here's U2 with "New Year's Day"....



Happy New Year!