He ain't heavy....

On Saturday night, April 1st (no foolin'), Phil Guy, brother of blues legend Buddy Guy, will perform at a party to celebrate the release of his new CD, He's My Blues Brother, at our favorite Hartford nightspot Blackeyed Sally's. Eric Danton, Courant music critic, has a nice piece on the man:

It's a cloying title - "He's My Blues Brother" - but an interesting story: Phil Guy, younger brother of blues legend Buddy Guy, has released his latest album on Black-eyed Records. If the name sounds familiar, it should: James Varano, owner of Black-eyed Sally's restaurant in Hartford, created the label specifically to put out Guy's new album, which features contributions on vocals and guitar from brother Buddy.

Those contributions to the title track looked for a while as if they might be a problem. Varano says Buddy Guy was particular about what label could release the album, and ultimately, none of the usual suspects - including Phil Guy's label, JSP - met with his satisfaction. So Varano started thinking maybe he could find a way to put out "He's My Blues Brother." complete article

Not to be outdone by its big sister publication, The Hartford Advocate also has a piece on Phil Guy:

Phil Guy has one of the most envious careers in the blues. He has toured Africa and ridden the storied Festival Express across Canada as part of the band of his older brother, blues guitarist Buddy Guy. Phil has recorded on many of Buddy´s records, recorded his own CDs, and played most blues festivals around the country, including the local Black-eyed & Blues Fest. But he´s never recorded for an American label. After nearly 50 years in music, that´s about to change.

His newest record, He´s My Blues Brother , is about to be released on his first American label, Black-eyed Records, started by Black-eyed Sally´s owner, James Varano. Coincidentally, this will also be the first release on that hometown label. - complete article

Band on the run.....

Important news from Adam Housman - If you are in Boston tonight, be among the very first to hear the band the critics are having orgasms over - THE SHIPWRECKS - at the Abbey Lounge

Do you like music? Do you like rock and roll that is sped up and distorted to a point that it is thrilling? Do you like the music of The Shipwrecks? Do you "not know The Shipwrecks and not go out on weeknights?" Can you name at least two "Golden Girls?" If you answered yes to most of these, you are in luck - all your favorite Shipwrecks songs are available this week in one comprehensive format at the Abbey Lounge in Cambridge! You'll be treated to old standards like... HEY FOLKS! These fans can't be wrong: "I'm not positive what the name of the band is and I play guitar in the band." - David Keegan "Guitars like hairspray through a tiki torch, bass like an interception return down the sidelines, drums like a race riot and vocals like a failed attempt to hail a cab. All in all, I could see it being entertaining...if you had been drinking."- Britt Russell, Half and Half "I saw them play the Wonderland Ballroom in Revere, Massachusetts, and on a scale of one to five - five's the better end - I scored them thus: 3 for presentation, 2 for the hair, 2 for the outfits, 3 for the love song, 2 for eye contact, 3 for "boyish" quality, 5 for the ripping guitars, 6 for irritability, 3 for dynamism, 4 for not sounding familiar, 3 for plot development, 5 for uncertainty."- Gene Shalit, Good Morning America "I was listening to these guys when I died."- Sam Kinison And hey folks - this is RISK FREE music! Join now and any costs incurred due to physical or emotional hardship will be 100% GAURANTEED REIMBURSED pending proper documentation. So what are you waiting for? JOIN NOW - Wednesday March 29th at 11PM at the Abbey Lounge in Cambridge! Short walk from Central Square T station to Inman Square, or 83 bus right to the doorstep - and you're entertained for a solid half hour - AND you will leave TOTALLY DRUNK! You don't think the spring gods are watching? You're only storing faith in early spring to reap the providence of the fantastic summer that you deserve! So what the eff are you waiting for?! Come on down! The Shipwrecks, This Wednesday 3/29 11PM

oops, we missed them......will keep you posted!

A dinosaur Victrola, listening to Buck Owens.....

Buck Owens has died at age 76. Owens was revered by many young rock guitarists such as Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler, with whom he recorded an album; CCR gives a nod to him in Good lookin' out my back door; and the Beatles recorded his country hit Act Naturally with Ringo on lead. Owens also was co-host, with Roy Clark, on Hee Haw, the country rip-off of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in.

I play an eclectic mix of tunes in the office and love to hear the comments of clients/colleagues about them. Today, Marybeth asked about It's Gonna Take a Miracle, an old Laura Nyro & Labelle CD I was playing. One of my favorites, it's Ms. Nyro with Patti Labelle's backing vocals on a bunch of old Motown tunes. I burned her a copy. Great stuff.

Everyone is going nuts worrying about creepy crawlers on MySpace.com, but how can you knock it if Lucinda has a page there! The site was originally supposed to be a format for musicians to see and be seen. Some of Lucinda's MySpace friends are Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello, George Strait. Even Cafe Nine now has a MySpace site!

Love's a game, you're in it, and you were so proud of it......

So I'm talking taxes with my 8am appointment when, from the waiting room radio, I vaguely hear an interview with Al Anderson, former member of CT's legendary Wildweeds and equally legendary bar band NRBQ and now a formidable songwriter/performer in Nashville. Try as I might, I couldn't catch much of it without completely ignoring him, so I missed out. But, not to worry, for good old NPR (I listen until 3pm until artier-than-thou Faith Middleton comes on) has the interview on its website.

Hear here. I proudly own two of Big Al's CDs, his most recent After Hours and the decade-earlier Pay Before You Pump.

Bought The Little Willies, Norah Jones & friends' country project hatched as an informal get together to play Willie Nelson songs in a bar in NYC. The gig got so popular that they decided to do the album. First take is positive. All About Jazz review

Top 'O the Mornin' To You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would like to wish all the very best on the day everyone gets to be IRISH! The next Black & Tan is on me, cheers! Van Morrison The Chieftains U2 Sinead O'Connor The Cranberries Declan Patrick MacManus (Who? Why, Elvis Costello, of course!) James Galway Yes, they were one-hit wonders (Dexys Midnight Runners), and this song is grossly overplayed, but I love it:

Come on Eileen

Poor old Johnny Ray
Sounded sad upon the radio
He moved a million hearts in mono
Our mothers cried and sang along and who'd blame them
Now you're grown, so grown, now I must say more than ever
Go toora loora toora loo rye aye
And we can sing just like our fathers

Come on Eileen, well I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
With you in that dress my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty
Ah come on Eileen

These people round here wear beaten down eyes
Sunk in smoke dried faces
They're so resigned to what their fate is
But not us, no not us
We are far too young and clever
Eileen I'll sing this tune forever

Come on Eileen well I swear (what he means)
Ah come on, let's take off everything
That pretty red dress Eileen (tell him yes)
Ah come on Eileen

March Maestros - the #1 seeds.....and their music

UCONN - Connecticut isn't exactly Motown when you're talkin' music, but it has had its moments. Some would pick Gene Pitney, The Rockville Rocket, or the Five Satins of In the Still of the Night fame, but my money is on Al Anderson and the Wildweeds!

Duke - Well, we could go with Gene Chandler's Duke of Earl, or maybe the Nashville Teens' Tobacco Road, but I'm going with a sleeper pick with Stevie Wonder's Sir Duke.

Villanova - Home of the original Bandstand, Philly soul!!!!! (Meeeeeee aaaand Mrs. Jones, we got a thing goin' on....). Which brings suddenly (and unpleasantly) to mind Elton John's stupid song for the team tennis franchise, Philadelphia Freedom (I loooooooove you, yes I do!).

Memphis - Long-distance information, get me Memphis, Tennessee. Help me find a party who tried to get in touch with me. Are you kidding? The King! (pre-Vegas, of course). And, yes, I KNOW that Chuck Berry sang that song, but I needed the tie-in.

Thank-you very much.

Monday I've got Friday on my mind....

Sorry about the dirth of posts in recent days, but it IS tax season so I have certain responsibilities.....speaking of "gonna happen in the city" (Easybeats, 1968), JK/GK took in the first two rounds of the Big East tourney in NYC, but diappointed me greatly in being too tired from the grueling eight game tour of duty to take in some music at the clubs...

Cruising through the Yahoo! music section and noticed the Top Video was I'm 'N Luv Wit a Stripper featuring Mike Jones by T-Pain. I'll have to view it because it's probably a great song.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival just announced that Bruce Springsteen will be appearing on the first weekend of this year's festival. Alas, the boys are attending the second weekend. Still holding out hope that Lake Charles native Lucinda Williams will be added. She last appeared there in 2003.

Replacing that La's CD that was stuck in JK's car CD player....

The latest grab:

Old Enough Lou Ann Barton
The La's The La's
Essence Lucinda Williams
Greatest Hits Mose Allison

Yanni, we always knew you were an animal....

It's time for Yanni to face the music. (e!online)

The new age warbler was arrested at his Manalapan, Florida, home early Friday after an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend of nearly two years. Yanni, born John Yanni Christopher, faces a domestic battery charge stemming from the altercation.

According to the police report, the fight broke out when the Grammy-winning singer-keyboardist ordered his girlfriend to leave his Palm Beach-area home late Thursday night. Silvia Barthes, 33, said she was in the process of packing her things when Yanni threw all her clothes out of the closet. According to the police report, Yanni then grabbed her arms, shook her, threw her on the bed and jumped on top of her. - complete report

Sunday

Hoping all enjoyed Fat Tuesday as well as I did, entertained by Guitar George Baker and the George Baker Experience at Anthony Jack's.

Liking the two Mary Lou Lord CDs more and more.

Teddy Geiger (from Love Monkey), the Radiators coming to Webster Theater