Tru dat...

Just finished season two of The Wire.

Just because you need a little James Brown every now and then...

Dan, very cool. Did you get those funky genes from the old man?...

At Howlin' Wolf in NOLA on May 5th (for a C-note)...

Down on the Bayou III with JoJo Hermann and His Mardi Gras Band with George Porter Jr., Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas, Walter "Wolfman" Washington , Taylor Hicks, Col. Bruce Hampton, John "Papa" Gros, 101 Runners feat Monk Boudreaux , Anders Osborne, Wild Magnolias, Pimps of Joytime, Russell Batiste, Big Sam Williams, , Bonerama, DJ Logic, Christine Ohlman, Alfred "Uganda" Roberts and 7 Walkers (Papa Mali, George Porter, Jr., Bill Kreutzmann, Matt Hubbard) / more special guests to be announced (here)

Louisiana Music Factory in-store concerts during Jazz Fest...

Rest in peace, Phoebe Snow...

By the way, The Reet and I LOVE the Roches, having seen them in the early 90's at Town Hall in NYC and somewhere up near Williams College.  Kind of lost track of them over the years, but reminded via the Pheobe Snow/Linda Ronstadt song introduction above.  Enjoy:

New tee shirt purchase...

Hey, who wouldn't be ecstatic about 1st place "Best Bathroom"!...

Dear Friends-

I’m pleased to share some very exciting news! Thanks to YOU, Infinity Music Hall & Bistro was voted Best Concert Venue in the Hartford Advocate Best of Hartford Readers' Poll 2011! We also took home the 1st place award for Best Bathroom and 2nd place for Best Live Music Club, Best Jazz Club, Best Blues Club, Best Place to Dine Before a Show, and Best Local Chef Dan Fortin!

Results for Infinity Music Hall & Bistro:

1st place (click below to see the write-ups:
Best concert venue
Best bathroom

2nd place:
Best place to dine before a show
Best local chef
Best blues club
Best jazz club
Best live music club

We want to offer our most heartfelt thanks to you, the active, involved patrons who voted for us! We're honored and humbled that you took the time to fill out your ballots for Infinity. You have our commitment that we will work every day to live up to your loyalty and to exceed your expectations!

With gratitude,
Dan Hincks
Owner
Infinity Music Hall & Bistro

HAPPY EASTER!
 

Happy Easter Saturday!...

We are hosting our family Easter celebration a day early this year at the suggestion of several attendees (travel, etc.).  That got me thinking, what if, since we've already 'broken the seal' on celebrating holidays on days other than THE holiday, we held an annual HOLIDAY FESTIVAL incorporating all the holidays into a three or four day FEST for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter.  Hell (if you will pardon the exclamation), we can throw in 4th of July and Labor Day, too!  Hire some bands, exchange presents, shoot off fireworks!  Just thinkin' outside the box.

Saturday morning trail mix:

Good Morning, Good Morning (The Beatles) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Movin' Me On (Elaine Elias) Jazziz-January, 2005

Minneapolis (Lucinda Williams) World Without Tears
Deep Water (Bonnie Raitt) Souls Alike
Babies Makin' Babies (Sly & the Family Stone) The Essential...
Killing Lies (The Stroke) First Impressions of Earth
It Means A Lot (Keith Richards) Talk Is Cheap
Certain Things (Gil Scott-Heron) I'm New Here
This Old House (Loretta Lynn) Van Lear Rose

Rare Earth Day...

(Wikipedia- so it must be true) - Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label (which was named after the band), who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members. (The Rustix were signed before them and were an all white act, but did not have any hits.)

The group formed in 1960 as "The Sunliners" and changed their name to "Rare Earth" in 1968. After recording an unsuccessful debut album "Dream/Answers" on the Verve label in 1968, they were signed to Motown in 1969. The band was the first act signed to a new Motown imprint that would be dedicated to white rock acts. The record company didn't have a name for the new label yet and the band jokingly suggested Motown call the label "Rare Earth." To the band's surprise, Motown decided to do just that.

The main personnel in the group included Gil Bridges (saxophone, flute and vocals ), Peter Rivera a.k.a. Peter Hoorelbeke (lead vocals and drums), John Persh a.k.a. John Parrish (bass guitar, trombone and vocals), Rod Richards (born Rod Cox, guitar, vocals) and Kenny James (born Ken Folcik, keyboards).  During 1969 the group contributed music to the movie "Generation" that starred David Janssen and Kim Darby. But a proposed accompanying soundtrack album was canceled after the movie bombed at the box office and many of the songs ended up on the band's next album, Ecology, in 1970.  Rare Earth had a number of Top 40 hits in the 1970-1971 period, including covers of The Temptations' "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (which was used in the documentary video It's Time) and "Get Ready". The cover of "Get Ready" was their biggest hit, peaking at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, a more successful performance than the original. This disc sold over one million copies, and received a Gold record awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America. The group gained a bit of notoriety when it was mentioned dismissively in the lyrics to Gil Scott-Heron's 1970 poem, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," which included the line, "The theme song [to the revolution] will not be written by Jim Webb, Francis Scott Key, nor sung by Glen Campbell, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, Engelbert Humperdinck, or the Rare Earth."

Tonight at Cafe Nine. Will there be Pool Hall Studs in attendance?...

Cafe Nine Jazz Series presents:

Early show @ 8 PM- $8

Ameranouche • Ameranouche features two French acoustic gypsy jazz guitars and upright bass; a two-time winner of Best of New Hampshire awards as well as being veterans of the famed Newport Jazz Festival. The group tours nationally, year-round and has released two albums, largely of original music inspired by legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. National Lampoon director Kevin Wheatley calls Ameranouche “the new sound of America.” "After hearing these folks sail through a melodious tune with such love, musicality, and signature, jaw-dropping velocity, you’ll be hard pressed not to agree."

Late show @ 10 PM-  $5

Jonathan Fisher Quartet • The Jonathan Fisher Quartet brings fresh jazz sounds to New Haven. Jonathan Fisher is a pianist from Boston studying biochemistry at Yale. The quartet tonight will play original, grooving jazz alongside bebop classics from the '50s and beyond.

Everybody had a hard year 

Everybody had a good time 

Everybody had a wet dream 

Everybody saw the sunshine 

Oh yeah, (oh yeah) oh yeah, oh yeah 

Although New York City has a happy myriad of concert halls, few can compete in distinctiveness with Bargemusic. Bargemusic is located at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge at the Fulton Ferry Landing. It is literally a boat that has been converted into an elegant performance space. Seating approximately 170, artists perform in front of large window panels which provide a spectacular view of Manhattan's skyline. The President and Artistic Director of Bargemusic is world-renowned violinist Mark Peskanov, an artist who enjoys a stellar career performing with most of the major orchestras of the world. Mr. Peskanov has a warm, friendly and avuncular personality and it is not unusual for him to personally greet concert-goers as they come on board the ship. He often interlaces his performances with humorous and informative anecdotes about the pieces being played which give his concerts a particularly spontaneous, spirited quality. His friendly banter with the audience can also put the novice concert-goer at ease and removes any stereotype that chamber music recitals can be stuffy or some Bargemusic presents over 200 concerts a year and offers varied and adventurous programs. In addition to classical chamber music, the venue also schedules numerous jazz concerts. The venue has also emerged as a major forum for new music through its "Here and Now" series which features compositions by contemporary composers. All of the concerts - whether jazz, contemporary, or classical - feature world-class musicians. (TheNewYorkGrapevine)

April 21 • Thursday, 8pm

Lisa Moore, piano

Phillip Glass Mad Rush

Charles Ives Three Page Sonata

Gyorgy Ligeti Musica Ricercata nos.VII, VIII, XI and Piano Etudes (from book 1) Fanfares, Arc en Ciel, Autumn in Warsaw

Robert Schumann selections from Waldscenen: Eintritt, Einsame Blumen, Verrufene Stelle, Vogel als Prophet, Abschied

John Adams China Gates

Tamar Muskal Fur Elisa (world premiere)

Martin Bresnick The Dream of the Lost Traveler

April 22 • Friday, 8pm & April 24 • Sunday, 3pm

Mark Peskanov, violin

Nick Cords, viola

Edward Arron, cello

Gilles Vonsattel, piano

$35 ($30 senior, $15 student)

Mozart Piano Quartet in G minor, K.478

Beethoven Variations from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro (K. 492) for cello and piano

Mozart Duo for violin and viola No.1 in G major, K.423

Mozart Piano quartet in E flat major, K.493

April 23 • Saturday, 8pm

Daniel Magdal, Tenor

Soheil Nasseri, piano

$35 ($30 senior, $15 student)

The Complete Lieder of Beethoven

(1st Installment, including complete Goethe Lieder for male voice)

Last night at City Winery in NYC...

Shelby Lynne: Not Nashville--- nuanced (cliffviewpilot.com)

IN TUNE: Shelby Lynne isn't cut out for cookie-cutter country, for which an adoring throng at City Winery was ever-so-grateful. More Bonnie Raitt or Norah Jones than Faith Hill, Lynne culls her brand of American roots music from Austin, New Orleans, and other points south of pop-craved Nashville. It did a number on her, that town, before she bolted for Palm Springs in 1998. But her transformation and renewal yielded a straight-up artist whose intimate, faith-fueled, 90-minute set will be tough to shake. (more) 

Are you filed......or extended?

Van the Penis...

Reports: Van Morrison had 'love child' with Texan (AP)

It's a marvelous night for a moondance

DUBLIN – Newspapers have published evidence they say proves that singer Van Morrison fathered a child out of wedlock with one of his U.S. tour promoters.  Morrison flatly denied knowing the Texas mother, GiGi Lee, when his website published an announcement on Dec. 29, 2009, of the birth of "little Van."  The 65-year-old singer instructed his Irish publicist to say he didn't even know the purported mother, identified incorrectly as "his wife GiGi." Then he won a court injunction barring two British newspapers that had identified her from publishing any of their evidence.  That injunction was overturned last week. The two Sunday newspapers, The Mail on Sunday and News of the World, published front-page exposes detailing Morrison's connections to Lee and the baby boy.

I don't want to work...

Saturday is Record Store Day...

I remember my very first purchases when my aunt took me to a record store somewhere on Center Street in Southington way back when I was in grammar school:  Singin' the Blues by Guy Mitchell and Jim Dandy by Laverne Baker.  Record stores were places to pass time scouting out the cut-out bins for perceived little-known gems. Lunch hours in the 70's, 80's and early 90's often found me finding a store in whatever town I happened to be working - Cutler's Records, Record Express, Al Franklin's Musical World, Integrity 'N Music and any little no-name place I happened upon.  Bought more than a few stinkers in my day, but that's the small price you pay (literally, often just a buck) for adventure!  But I'm not wallowing in despair here, but rather touting Saturday's celebration of the Independent record store - it's RECORD STORE DAY!  I still go to Integrity over on the Silas Deane for great jazz and to Turn It Up in Northampton when I'm in the area, but the trips are much less frequent.   A tip of the hat to the Sawtelles, who will be celebrating Record Store Day by performing at Gerosa Records over in Brookfield.  It's worth a trip.  Go, Jim Dandy!


Jack White hails Record Store Day, new releases (AP)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Music fans across the country are celebrating Record Store Day.  Fans in Nashville started lining up outside Jack White's record store shortly after midnight Friday, vying for special releases. White tells The Associated Press that even though record stores are closing all over the place, vinyl sales are growing.  Labels big and small released more than 300 items exclusive to Record Store Day this year, the fourth year of the celebration meant to draw fans to their local independent record store. That's nearly twice as many as last year.  White contributed two 7-inch rereleases of The White Stripes' first singles. Other special releases included Ryan Adams' double 7-inch, the Nirvana "Hoarmoaning" EP rerelease and the test-pressing of Big Star's "Third" for days.

Great recommendation by the silky-smooth jump shooting Dave H (who seldom ventured inside the 3-point line)...

Music critics worldwide from publications such as Billboard, Downbeat, Blues Revue, Living Blues, Blues Access, Southland Blues, etc. have been touting her recording and performing virtues for nearly two decades, and with the release of her new disc, along with a near non-stop international touring schedule, Janiva Magness is proving to be a major player on the modern blues music scene. (more)

Mr. Speaker, truth doesn't make a noise....

One week to go. It's gonna be a looooong Monday.....

Saturday afternoon watchin' the Yanks pound the Sox mix...

Wild Man From Borneo (Kinky Friedman) Kinky Friedman

Goin' Down Geneva (Van Morrison) Back On Top

Don't Miss You At All (Norah Jones) Feels Like Home

Without A Friend Like You (Maria Muldaur) Louisiana Love Call

Cuarto Rojo (The Iguanas) Super Ball

Malted Milk Blues (Lucinda Williams) Ramblin'

What Goes Around Comes Around (Manhattan Transfer) The Offbeat of Avenues

Faces Of the Children (Leon Russell) Anything Can Happen

Brahms Piano Trio In C Minor, 2nd Movement (Amelia Piano Trio) Live

Talkin' About My Love (James Hunter) People Gonna Talk

Soft Winds (Kenney Burrell Trio) Live At the Village Vanguard

Body And Soul (Ella Fitzgerald) Something To Live For

Lily, Rosemary & the Jack of Hearts (Bob Dylan) Blood On the Tracks

A Sunday Kind of Love (Ben Sidran) That's Life I Guess

Blueberry Hill (Elton John) Goin' Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino

Tenth Avenue Freezeout (Bruce Springsteen) Born To Run

You gotz to keep the devil down in the hole.....

When you walk through the garden, you gotta watch your back
well I beg your pardon, walk the straight and narrow track
if you walk with Jesus, he's gonna save your soul
you gotta keep the devil,way down in the hole

By Tom Waits

Yes, it's Friday, Friday. Are you kickin' it with YOUR friends?...

Robbie keepin' it real?...

Robbie Robertson, the creative force behind The Band (and the one who broke it up, finishing with the epic concert movie The Last Waltz), has a new album out, How To Become Clairvoyant, a collaboration with Eric Clapton.  I bought his first album after be broke with The Band - it sucked, so I'm not all that optimistic about this one.

Indeed, Robertson and Scorsese lived as housemates on scenic Mulholland Drive for two years after their wives had thrown them out. They passed the time watching old movies, listening to music and doing massive amounts of drugs.(article)

But, Robbie, the rug - LOSE IT!

New Ray Davies duets album - See My Friends....

Is it THAT obvious I want to see her at Infinity? What do you say, Reet?...

No, it wasn't pretty, but either are you!...

MUSH, YOU HUSKIES!

Johnny Gumbo wants a little action on the side....

Sunday morning email from The Gumbo to JK & the Pool Hall Studs:

OK, guys, a little side bet - I'll take Butler.  I win, you guys each buy me an A"bet"a; you win, I buy each of you one.

JK response:  That's pretty clever, G, considering it's coming from you, but won't we be awash in Abitas from kicking some Pool Hall Stud ass?  Jes sayin'.

Bob Dylan's (no, not the cat of the same name from Bay Ridge) New York....

In the Sunday Hartford Courant

As the rocker turns 70, you can follow his footsteps on your own walking tour of Manhattan 

NEW YORK—Here's a wake-up call for baby boomers: Bob Dylan, once an icon of youthful rebellion, will turn 70 in May. The times they most certainly have changed since he first arrived in Manhattan from Minnesota on a snowy day in January 1961.  Dylan performed and stayed at various places throughout Manhattan in his long career, from small coffeehouses to Carnegie Hall to Madison Square Garden. But it was in Greenwich Village, with its plethora of folk clubs, bars and coffeehouses, that he spent most of his time, especially in the early years when he was being hailed (much to his chagrin) as the spokesman of his generation.  Moving among his old haunts, you can create your own walking tour in one of Manhattan's legendary neighborhoods.

MacDougal and Bleecker streets

Some of the venues where he played and the buildings associated with him during his Village heyday are gone, but there are enough physical reminders of him still here for a Dylan enthusiast to spend hours searching for the ghosts of Dylan past.  A good place to start is at the corner of MacDougal and Bleecker streets. From this starting point, Dylan pilgrims have numerous options. It was on MacDougal where Dylan played his first coffeehouse gig at Cafe Wha? (115 MacDougal) before performing at the subterranean Gaslight Cafe (soon to open again as an artists' hangout called 116, at 116 MacDougal). In the height of the folk boom, Washington Square Park, a short hike from MacDougal, hosted Sunday afternoon gatherings where Dylan and others would come to listen to music.  Several of the coffeehouses that were around when Dylan first came to the Village are still here too, such as cozy and laid-back Caffe Reggio (119 MacDougal). In nice weather it's the perfect place to sit outside, nursing a cappuccino while watching the Village scenery play out.  The old Village movie theater, the Waverly (323 Avenue of the Americas/Sixth Avenue), has been reconfigured into an upscale art house and renamed the IFC Center. There Dylan used to watch Kirk Douglas in "Lonely Are the Brave" and Andy Griffith in "A Face in the Crowd" (two of his favorite movies).  (more)

June Sawyers is the author of the forthcoming book "Bob Dylan New York," out May 11. ctc-travel@tribune.com


Academics to dissect Bob Dylan at NY conference - read

LET'S GO HUSKIES!

(Hey, Jimmy, it's Nate, can I borrow two-fiddy?)

The hot & talented Shelby Lynne comes to Infinity Hall...

Shelby Lynne | Infinity Hall on Saturday, April 16

(From Infinity website) Shelby Lynne was destined to be a singer. Born a singer. She was raised in rural Alabama by musical parents who stressed individuality and the importance of standing apart from others. A terrible student, but avid reader, she loved the written lyric and a beautiful melody. Around the house she was surrounded by country music from the past, Hank Williams, Dottie West, Waylon Jennings, as well as old 45's that belonged to her parents stacked high with most all Everly Brothers, Beatles, Elvis. It was the old pop music that really turned her soul on. The harmonies that came so naturally to her from such an early age stemmed from her mother, a naturally gifted singer, who guided the diamond in the rough talent on rides to school on freezing Alabama mornings with her younger sister Allison. They sang three part harmonies to pass the time, which brought the threesome so close in life, and in music. The Mills Brothers, Ink Spots, Kay Starr, Everly's and anything that needed a harmony – this was the car in which to find it. 

From the New York Times...

★ Jessica Lea Mayfield (Friday) A singer and songwriter from Kent, Ohio, Ms. Mayfield’s first record was produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. She shares Mr. Auerbach’s affinity for the blues; her songs are tough, rhythmic, and compelling. “I know how you work, I am just like you,” she sings in “Our Hearts Are Wrong,” her voice plaintive and unapologetic. With Daniel Martin Moore. At 9 p.m., Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street, near the Bowery, Lower East Side , (800) 745-3000, boweryballroom.com; $15. (Petrusich)