SOTD: "Black" - St. Vincent

Thought this was interesting, St. Vincent covering Pearl Jam's "Black" at Bowery Ballroom about a week ago (skip to about 2:50 in the video).

90s Nostalgia

For some reason I've been on a big 90s kick lately, going back and listening to a lot of stuff I was into in high school and college. Sometimes it's nice revisiting the past and getting nostalgic. So many of these songs take me to specific places, memories with friends, some great times back then. Thought I'd share a handful of songs, maybe from some lesser known bands to an extent. If you know these, chances are you haven't heard them in a long time. Something for a Sunday night before the week kicks off again.

Candlebox: "Cover Me". Off their debut album, "You" and "Far Behind" were the real popular tracks but this was always one of my favorite and a song I still listen to quite often. My buddy Joe and I saw these guys with the Flaming Lips in high school at the New Haven Coliseum (terrible venue by the way). Strange combination of bands for sure and funny that the Lips actually opened up!




Live: "White, Discussion". Live's "Throwing Copper" is not only one of my favorite albums of the 90s but also one of my favorite all time, still listen to it a lot. This version is actually from MTV Unplugged, absolutely love this performance.




Blues Traveler: "Mountains Win Again" . Funny Blues Traveler story....my freshman year in college I was sitting in my dorm room one night when the phone rang.... I answered and on the other end of the guy asking if Mark was there. Mark was my roommate and we shared a phone line but he wasn't around when I picked up the call. When I asked who was calling, the guy said "John Popper" (who is the lead singer of Blues Traveler"). Of course I gave him shit for a minute because I figured it was a buddy screwing with us but after a couple minutes I realized it actually was him.

Mark had written him a letter basically telling him how big a fan of the band he was and how much their music meant to him, etc. I said that I'd run out and find him (this was pre cell phone so not as easy as today) and ran to the dorm next door where I told him the story. A bunch of us went back to the room and sure enough John called back right when he said he would. Long story short, Blues Traveler was playing the Tower Theater in Philly a couple nights later and John had us as guests with free tickets and we got to hang with the band after the show. Truly an awesome experience. Every time I hear this song, I think of that night.





Dig: "Believe". Never saw these guys. No idea what ever became of them. Love this tune.




Possum Dixon: "Watch The Girl Destroy Me". Pretty sure my buddy Tom found this one, definitely think of driving around in his car when this one comes on.




The Refreshments: "Mekong". My buddy Chris and I love this album, used to listen to it all the time.




Charlatans: "Can't Get Out Of Bed". This song was actually pretty big for awhile. My buddy Joe and I used to hang at this record shop called "Secret Sounds" in Bridgeport, CT. We were there all the time, got to know the owner and other staff real well and they played a lot of cool stuff. This song always reminds me of hanging out in there just searching through the used cd bins.




The Samples: "Weight of the World". Easily one of my favorite bands ever, and one of the biggest influences on my love of music. I have so many great memories of seeing The Samples in concert, both in high school and road trips in college. Amazing that the Dave Matthews Band use to open for these guys! So many amazing songs, hard to even pick just one.




Villanova Junction: "Saturday Morning Feel". Always nostalgic listening to this album. These were high school buddies of mine.....Joe Beleznay, Tim Procaccini, Rich Wolf and John Mayer. The vocals sure sound different but you can hear some of John's early guitar work in these songs. Joe's a really talented singer, tremendous voice (which you'll hear in the harmonies).

SOTD: "Alone" - Trampled By Turtles

I saw Trampled By Turtles last year at the Newport Folk Festival and thought they were excellent. Here's the band's latest single, "Alone" which will be on their upcoming album "Stars and Satellites" , due out April 10th. They've also released some upcoming tour dates which you'll find listed below.

Alone by TrampledbyTurtles



April
11 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
12 - Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theatre
13 - Chicago, IL @ The Metro
14 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre
15 - Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
17 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
18 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
19 - Syracuse, NY @ The Wescott Theatre
20 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
21 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
22 - Charlottesville, VA @ The Jefferson Theater
24 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
25 - Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre
26 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
27 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
28 - Cincinnati, OH @ The Taft Theatre

May
16 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre
19 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
21 - San Diego, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
22 - Los Angeles, CA @ Music Box
24 - Yosemite, CA @ Strawberry Festival
25 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
26 - Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre

June
15 - Bayfield, WI @ Big Top Chautauqua

July
27 - Lyons, CO @ RockyGrass Festival

Eddie Vedder US Solo Tour

Eddie Vedder has announced a 13-city U.S. solo tour, starting in Las Vegas, NV on April 11th and ending in Orlando, FL on May 16th. Dates and venues below, tickets go on sale February 3rd to the public. You can find more info at the Pearl Jam website HERE.

April 11 Las Vegas, NV The Pearl
April 13 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theater
April 16 Albuquerque, NM Kiva Auditorium
April 19 Tulsa, OK Brady Theater
April 22 Houston, TX Jones Hall For The Performing Arts
April 25 San Antonio, TX Lila Cockrell Theatre
April 27 Austin, TX Bass Concert Hall
April 30 Dallas, TX Music Hall At Fair Park
May 3 New Orleans Jazz Fest, LA New Orleans Jazz Festival
May 8 Jacksonville, FL Moran Theater
May 10 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
May 13 Ft Lauderdale, FL Broward Center For The Performing Arts
May 16 Orlando, FL Bob Carr Performing Arts Center

SOTD: "Rainy Day" - Young Hines

Young Hines will make his SXSW debut and tour with Brendan Benson in May. The first track off his new album is "Rainy Day," which you can stream below. If you like this one, download HERE.

Young Hines - Rainy Day by Evanschl

SOTD: "Home Again" - Michael Kiwanuka

My buddy Wayne sent me this one earlier in the week, real good tune...

Christopher Paul Stelling: New Video & US Tour

Christopher Paul Stelling has announced some upcoming US tour dates in advance of his debut album "Songs of Praise & Scorn" due out Feb. 21st. I saw CPS perform last year at the Mercury Lounge in an opening slot for William Elliot Whitmore and thought he was excellent, this is an album I'm really looking forward to.



Stelling has also set up a pre-order for the album via his bandcamp page- fans who pre-order the CD or vinyl version of the record will get an immediate digital download of the album. Songs of Praise & Scorn was recorded, mostly live, this past summer above a working funeral home in Louisville, KY.

Watch CPS Perform “Solar Flares” Live At The Indaba Loft below



Upcoming CPS Tour Dates
1/19 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge (w/ Jonathan Wilson)
2/18 – New York, NY – Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 (Record Release Show)
2/20 – Richmond, VA – The Camel
2/21 - Charlottesville, VA - The Garage
2/22 – Lexington, KY – Al’s Bar
2/24 – Memphis, TN – Folk Alliance (Memphis Room, 7:30pm)
2/26 – Orlando, FL – McRaney’s Tavern
2/27 - Daytona Beach, FL - Tir Na Nog
2/28 – Miami, FL – Bardot
2/29 – Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits
3/01 – Tampa, FL – Rock The Park (6:45pm)
3/01 - Sarasota, FL - Cock and Bull (9pm)
3/02 – Savannah, GA – Sentient Bean
3/04 – Greensboro, NC – The Green Bean
3/05 - Asheville, NC - 474 Haywood
3/07 – Chapel Hill, NC – Nightlight
3/08 – Birmingham, AL – Samford University
3/09 – Nashville, TN – TBD
3/10 – Knoxville, TN – Preservation Pub
3/11 – Johnson City, TN – Acoustic Coffeehouse
3/14-18 - Austin, TX – SXSW

Craig Finn: New Track & Tour Dates

Craig Finn (of The Hold Steady) has just premiered "New Friend Jesus," another new track from his debut album 'Clear Heart Full Eyes" which you can listen to below.

Craig Finn - New Friend Jesus

The album is now available to pre-order HERE. The first 500 to pre-order the CD will receive a limited edition bandana.

In addition to his headlining U.S. tour starting February 1, Finn has confirmed a European tour supporting The Felice Brothers starting on March 13. See below for all upcoming dates.

Craig Finn 2012 Tour Dates:
2/01 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada*
2/02 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory*
2/03 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown*
2/04 - Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club* SOLD OUT
2/06 - Iowa City, IA @ The Mill*
2/07 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle*
2/08 - Detroit, MI @ The Lager House*
2/09 - Columbus, OH @ The Basement*
2/10 - St Louis, MO @ Off Broadway*
2/11 - Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar*
2/13 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge*
2/19 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah*
2/20 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour*
2/21 - San Francisco, CA @ Noise Pop at Bottom of the Hill
2/23 - Portland, OR @ The Doug Fir Lounge*
2/24 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile*
2/27 - Ringwood, NJ Live @ Drew's House
2/28 - Allston, MA @ Great Scott$
2/29 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge (Early Show)$ SOLD OUT
2/29 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge (Late Show)$ SOLD OUT
3/01 - Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's$
3/02 - Washington, DC @ Rock N Roll Hotel$
3/03 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506$
3/05 - Atlanta, GA @Earl$
3/13 - London, UK @ MacBeth ^ SOLD OUT
3/14 - Birmingham, UK @ HMV Institute ^
3/15 - Dublin, Ireland @ Academy ^
3/16 - Belfast, Northern Ireland - Spring & Airbrake ^
3/17 - Glasgow, Scotland - ABC ^
3/18 - Manchester, UK @ Academy 2 ^
3/20 - London, UK @ Koko ^ SOLD OUT
3/22 - Brussels, Belgium @ AB Box ^
3/23 - Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje ^
3/24 - Gronigen, Netherlands @ Oosterpoort ^
3/26 - Berlin, Germany @ Postbahnhof ^
3/27 - Utrecht, Netherlands @ Tivoli ^

* - w/ Mount Moriah
$ - w/ Marcellus Hall
^ - w/ The Felice Brothers

SOTD: "My Home" - Nneka

The Joy Formidable 2012 Tour Dates

Some upcoming tour dates from The Joy Formidable....

The Joy Formidable Tour Dates

Mar 12 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent *
Mar 13 - San Francisico, CA @ The Independent *
Mar 14 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Music Box *
Mar 17 - Denver, CO @ The Bluebird Theatre *
Mar 19 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café *^
Mar 20 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre *^
Mar 22 - Bloomington, IN @ The Bluebird *^
Mar 23 - Cincinnati, OH @ 20th Century Theatre *^
Mar 24 - Atlanta, GA @ Masqureade *^
Mar 25 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel *^
Mar 26 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club *^
Mar 28 - New York City, NY @ Terminal 5 *
Mar 29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *^
Mar 31 - Montreal, QC @ Cabaret Mile-End *^
Apr 02 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace *^

* with A Place To Bury Strangers
^ with Exitmusic

http://www.thejoyformidable.com/

Rodrigo y Gabriela and C.U.B.A. Tour

From ATO Records......

ATO Records is excited to announce Rodrigo y Gabriela's spring 2012 tour dates in support of their soon to be released album Area 52 (January 24th). Area 52 contains nine of Rod and Gab's favorite songs from their own catalogue re-arranged and recorded in Havana with legendary producer Peter Asher and a 13-piece Cuban orchestra comprised of some of the country's finest young players. This spring, Rodrigo y Gabriela will be bringing the band C.U.B.A. on the road in order to showcase the thrilling and dynamic hybrid of metal, latin and jazz featured on the album in a live setting. It will mark the first time in their careers that Rodrigo y Gabriela have toured and performed with a backing band. In addition to the coming tour, Rodrigo y Gabriela were recently confirmed to perform on the upcoming 38th season of the long running tv series Austin City Limits.

Trailer for Area 52:




Upcoming Tour Dates Below:




Ticket pre-sales start Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 10am venue time.
Public on-sales start Friday, January 20, 2012.

www.rodgab.com

APRIL
03 - Seattle, WA - The Paramount Theatre
04 - Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
05 - Oakland, CA - The Fox Theatre
07 - Hollywood, CA - Hollywood Palladium
10 - Broomfield, CO - 1STBANK Center
12 - Chicago, IL - The Chicago Theatre
13 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater
14 - Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
16 - Toronto, CA - Massey Hall
20 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
21 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre
23 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
25 - Washington, DC - Warner Theatre
26 - Charlottesville, VA - Charlottesville Pavilion
28 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle

MAY
01 - Miami, FL - The Fillmore
04 - New Orleans, LA - Jazz Fest
05 - Austin, TX - Stubb's

Coachella 2012 Lineup

Coachella's 2012 lineup was just announced, and it is SICK. Headliners: Black Keys, Radiohead, Dre & Snoop..... are you kidding me?!?!! So very bummed that I won't be there but to all my friends going, hope you have an AMAZING time.

The Head & The Heart: Austin City Limits

In September of 2011, The Head & The Heart recorded a performance for Austin City Limits at the Moody Theater in Austin, Tx.

The episode will premiere this Saturday, January 7th at around 11:00 p.m. ET/PT on PBS! Make sure to check your local listings for an exact time near you and check http://www.acltv.com/ for all other information.

The episode will be available to stream online starting at midnight on Sunday, January 8th at http://video.pbs.org/program/austin-city-limits/

Some previews....

Behind the Scenes

The Head & The Heart at ACL: Behind the Scenes from Jonathan Jackson on Vimeo.

Song Clip- Down In The Valley

The Head and the Heart "Down in the Valley" from Austin City Limits on Vimeo.

SOTD: "The Sparrow & The Wolf" - James Vincent McMorrow

James Vincent McMorrow put out a beautiful album last year, titled "Early In The Morning". I was surfing around last night when I found this great version of one of my favorite songs off the album. Tremendous stuff, really digging his sound.

Frank Ocean @ Bowery Ballroom 11/28/11

A few weeks back I went to check out Frank Ocean at the Bowery Ballroom with some friends. Frank was solo on stage, mostly singing tracks off his album "Nostalgia, Ultra". I wrote about him in my Favorite 50 songs of 2011 but I was really impressed with the show. He's got a strong voice and even though he had backing tracks for the song, there was no band, he was literally a one-man show on stage. Highlights for me were definitely "Novacane", "Swim Good" and "Dust". I look forward to seeing Frank perform again soon, hopefully in 2012.

I wanted to share some pictures a friend of mine took at the show because they're really good. Take a look below and check out his website Ike Love Jones right HERE for some other great shots.