Just purchased: Steve Cropper's Dedicated- a Salute to the 5 Royales...

Track Listing

1. Thirty Second Lover - with Steve Winwood
2. Don't Be Ashamed - with Bettye LaVette and Willie Jones
3. Baby Don't Do It - with B.B King and Shemekia Copeland
4. Dedicated to the One I Love - with Lucinda Williams and Dan Penn
5. My Sugar Sugar - with John Popper
6. Right Around the Corner - with Delbert McClinton
7. Help Me Somebody - Steve Cropper instrumental
8. I Do - with Brian May
9. Messin' Up - with Sharon Jones
10. Say It - with Bettye LaVette
11. The Slummer the Slum - with Buddy Miller
12. Someone Made You For Me - with Dan Penn
13. Think - Steve Cropper instrumental
14. Come On & Save Me - with Dylan Leblanc and Sharon Jones
15. When I Get Like This - with Lucinda Williams

Steve Cropper - playitsteve.com

All Music Guide 
It begins with an excellent rendition of "Thirty Second Lover" featuring Winwood, but, fine as it is, it's a teaser for what's to come. LaVette and Willie Jones tear up "Don't Be Ashamed." On "Dedicated to the One I Love," Williams literally sends shivers up and down the spine as she uses her gauzy, slow, emotive voice to wrench every ounce of emotion from the verses -- with Penn adding another dimension to them on the bridge. Speaking of Penn, an excellent but reluctant lead singer, his reading of "Someone Made You for Me" is one of the most unexpectedly endearing performances on the set. McClinton's "Right Around the Corner" puts these rhythm & blues in the heart of honky tonk country. The back-to-back readings of "Messin' Up" by Jones and "Say It" by LaVette come close to stealing the show -- but Williams still holds on with the title track and her searingly naked "When I Get Like This" as the closer. Cropper also takes a couple of economical but stinging instrumental breaks on "Help Me Somebody" and "Think" that reveal the depth of Pauling's genius as well as his own. Given what a mixed bag tribute albums usually are, Dedicated is not only a surprise for its consistency, but a shining example of what they can -- and should -- be. (complete review)

"I loved the B-52's, a pint of ale, and a good lobster. Bon Appetit!" (Julia Child)...

R 'n R Hall of Fame nominee pick of the day...

The Cure - Friday I'm in Love

The Sox....can anyone say "tee times"?.....

A Nation in Ruins - (the sad, sad story)

Hands, touching hands, reaching out
Touching me, touching you
Oh, sweet Caroline
Good times never seem so good (so good, so good, so good)
I've been inclined to believe it never would

What would Ted 'Fucking' Williams say today?  I can't believe it's OVA!!!!!!

I know, it's only rock 'n roll...

The 2012 class of nominees has been announced:

1. Heart (Nancy & big sister Ann Wilson - ooooooooooo, barracuda!)
2. Rufus with Chaka Khan (it's so fun to say Chaka Khan!)
3. Eric B & Rakim
4. Guns 'N Roses (do they get in despite that last crappy album? will Axl Rose and Slash kiss?)
5. Donna Summer (who doesn't like Bad Girls?)
6. The Cure (Friday I'm in love)
7. Laura Nyro (my favorite, but is she anyone else's?)
8. War (what is it good for, Eric Burden?)
9. Beastie Boys (at least they'll fight for our right to PARTY!)
10. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts ( The Runaways are going, WTF?)
11. The Spinners (they're not in yet?)
12. Donovan (when I say we'll be cool I think that you know what I mean)
13. Freddie King (The Fred don't give a damn, died in 1976)
14. Red Hot Chilli Peppers
15. The Small Faces/The Faces (hey, these were two separate bands!  Gus, where do you stand on this important issue?)

Left out:

• The B-52's  (at least deserve a nomination...Love Shack, Baby!)
• Chicago (yeah, they really sucked after awhile, but first two albums were classic)
• The Dead Kennedys (not a punk aficionado, but great name)
• Westie Punks ( a travesty; they were arcade-rock way before Springsteen)
• The Pool Hall Studs (a travesty also; they just are)
• Johnny Gumbo Party Band (no one can party like the Gumbo can....and live to tell about it)
• The Cars (see below)
• Dick Dale (still going strong, King of the Surf Guitar)
• Gram Parsons  (should be considered from an influence perspective)
• Jethro Tull  (still eyeing little girls with bad intent....just as you are)
• Linda Ronstadt  (ex-Stone Pony has a pretty impressive resume)
• Marvelettes  (one of the best girl groups of the 60s)
• Peter, Paul & Mary  (hey, it's not really just rock, so these guys deserve in too)
• Randy Newman  (short people got no reason to live)
• Steve Miller Band  (are you kidding me?....i'm a joker, i'm a smoker...go ahead, sing along)
• Yes  (no.....)

The Cars' lead singer, Ric Ocasek, was recently on the Colbert Report and was asked about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

Stephen Colbert: Why aren't you guys in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Is it because you used steroids? Did you juice?

Ric Ocasek: You know I really don't know. I don't know if I want to be in it.
Stephen: Really?
Ric: But if I did want to be in it, I don't know why we're not in it.
Stephen: There's no award I wouldn't accept. Can I have it if they give it to you? Can I have yours?
Ric: Well, yeah. I'll bring it in and you can put it up there.

Laura Nyro singing Dr. John's Mama Roux:

I love El Lay!....

Sly Stone homeless in Los Angeles (Christian Science Monitor)
Yes, Sly Stone, the famous lead singer for the funkadelic R&B band Sly & the Family Stone, is living in a white van Los Angeles.  The singer, songwriter, and record producer, soared to success in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The multi-racial, multi-gender band become one of the most influential of its era. The band's first big hit was "Dance to the Music" and that was followed by "Everyday People" in 1969. But Stone and his band reportedly became heavy illegal drug users after their success, and the band eventually broke up.  Stone is now living and composing on a laptop out of a camper van parked in front of a house in Crenshaw, the New York Post reports. The Post says that a retired couple allows the 68-year-old to shower in their house and feed Stone once a day.

Some have described Stone's slide as a morality tale about abuse of illegal substances and financial mismanagement.  Stone told the Post: “I like my small camper,” he says, his voice raspy with age and years of hard living. “I just do not want to return to a fixed home. I cannot stand being in one place. I must keep moving.”  Four years ago, Stone was living in a Napa Valley mansion. - (the whole enchilada)

Sly & The Family Stone - I Want To Take You Higher
Clip from the documentary "Woodstock - Three Days Of Peace"

What goes up, must come down...

No, not a Viagra antidote, but a Friday night concert by Blood, Sweat  Tears at the Wolf Den with The Reet, Keith and Sharie, chosen over Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys at Cafe Nine and a jazz night at Firehouse 12.  Rush hour traffic screws up our plans to get there early, but it's pouring out, there is no worry of a big crowd.  Very wrong, when we arrive after an over-priced stop at Johnny Rocket's (I know, not the healthiest of choices), the line is unbelievable!  What the hell is going on, we'll never get in?  Off to the bordering bar to get a place on the rail, next to a middle-aged guy with long curly blond hair down his back and his blocky transgender-looking girlfriend.  Reet is off to play video poker.  We note that Stephen Stills and Leon Russell will each be playing The Den in the next couple months.

(from Wikipedia, so it must be true)- Blood, Sweat & Tears (also known as "BS&T") is an American music group, originally formed in 1967 in New York City. Since its beginnings in 1967, the band has gone through numerous iterations with varying personnel and has encompassed a multitude of musical styles. What the band is most known for, from its start, is the fusing of rock, blues, pop music, horn arrangements and jazz improvisation into a hybrid that came to be known as "jazz-rock". Unlike "jazz fusion" bands, which tend toward virtuostic displays of instrumental facility and some experimentation with electric instruments, the songs of Blood, Sweat & Tears merged the stylings of rock, pop and R&B/soul music with big band, while also adding elements of 20th Century Classical and small combo jazz traditions.

After an hour standing (Sharie and the GF are elbowing for position), the band is finally introduced.   Lots of pretty old guys, but no David Clayton-Thomas, replaced by a younger lead singer with a very weird combjob.  Call me cynical, but I'm not a fan of groups that have no original members, it's not a baseball team, an analogy the band makes in its promotion.  The large crowd is enthusiastic as they run though a bunch of the hits, but, while the backing musicians are quite good, I'm finding the new lead singer, Jason Page, annoying, a theatrical entertainer with a high-pitched voice as opposed to the more soulful Clayton-Thomas.

Some of the offerings:
Spinning Wheel
Laura Nyro's When I Die
God Bless the Child
Carol King's Hi-De-Ho

Lucretia MacEvil
Lonesome Susie

For the encore they do Talking Heads' Burning Down the House and finish with a nice version of the classic You Make Me So Very Happy.  They seem to have made the crowd very happy.  Fun night.  And Sharie and GF became fast friends!

It's late September and I really should be back at school.  You are invited to vote in the Autumn songs poll to the right.  Comments are welcomed below.

Troubadour Chris D reporting from Paris...

Renown novelist-singer-songwriter-raconteur Chris D recently tripped across the pond to sample the Continent's cultural offerings with longtime friend Jan.  His exclusive notes for johnnykmusic follow (caution: Msr. Chris sprinkles his reporting with French phrases and, as you know, those French have a different word for EVERYTHING!).

Hi John,

        

Your European reporter checking in.  Jan and I went to two jazz clubs in Paris last week.  Here are the reports (photos attached):

Msr. Lendower (on piano) and Msr. Olivier de Colombel

Sat Sept 17  Cafe Universel (rue St. Jacques, near Montparnasse), a tiny jazz club that hosts young jazz musicians and pays them out of the tip jar, was home to Pianiste/compositeur Vincent Lendower.  The night was advertised on-line as a jazz quartet, but Msr. Lendower's sister, the vocalist, and the bassist did not make it.  The resulting duo was Msr. Lendower on piano and Msr. Olivier de Colombel, who played a good alto sax, an adequate wooden Indian flute, and a mediocre guitar (not all at the same time).  Original compositions, improvisational and meandering, around a basic melody.  The duo have played together intermittently and did take a trip to India from whence the Indian flute evolved.  Cafe Universel might hold  50 patrons, 25 of whom have sightlines to the tiny "stage."  The Cafe has been operating for over ten years, having established a tiny but insistent footprint in the jazz scene in Paris.  The bartenders were a young man and woman from Ireland, the man having just arrived from two years of teaching English in Japan.  Jan enjoyed her Cosmo while I had the pleasure of tasty Mojitos.

Sun Sept 18 we found a long-established club, le Caveau de la Huchette (on rue de la Huchette) in St. Germain-des-Pres, on the Rive Gauche.  Le Caveau has hosted continuous jazz acts since the 1940s, every night of the week, tous les jours. Upstairs is a long bar; downstairs (in the cave, le caveau) is a small stage, a moderate dance floor, and seating for about 80 enthusiasts.  Patrick Cabon brought his trio to le Caveau.  Msr. Cabon plays piano with great talent, and the theme of the night was the music of Oscar Peterson (beautiful music, though I have to admit I cannot verify that Msr. Cabon stayed faithful to the Peterson cannon).  Msr. Cabon was accompanied by a talented bassist (on the standup bass, of course), and a drummer, who plied sticks and brushes effectively.  Show started at 10:30; Jan and I left at 12:00, though the show  was still steaming.  Some very smooth dancing couples working the lindy and swing.  Jan had imbibed Cosmos across the street as we awaited the 10:00 opening; I tried Mai-Tais.  Moderate cover ($12.00).  Great evening.  

  

One last item:  saw the poster for Raphael Saadiq, who will be playing at Olympia, a concert hall on rue Haussman, near our hotel, Amarante Beau Manoir, just off the square in front of Madeleine, an old sizable church.  Unfortunately, Msr. Saadiq won't be in Paris until November.  Maybe we'll be back.

  
Go Browns.  Chris

Wet, but hardly wild (golf cancelled), Thursday...

Pat Boone is still alive?  Why?
President Barack Obama may have released his birth certificate this spring to debunk rumors that he was born outside the United States, but old school crooner Pat Boone maintains that our nation’s leader originated in Africa and has shown the world “a photo-shopped fraud.” (more, if you care)

R.E.M. was still together?  Why?
“We have decided to call it a day as a band,” the band said. “To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening.” (more, if you care)

But those were some seriously good muffins, man!
"We found the Department (of Justice) spent $16 on each of the 250 muffins served at an August 2009 legal conference in Washington," said a DOJ Office of Inspector General report released on Tuesday.  The DOJ also spent nearly $600,000 for event planning services for five conferences, the document said.  (more, if you care)

One of a kind- Doug Sahm...

(From Wikipedia, so it must be true) - In 1965, prompted by record producer Huey Meaux, Sahm formed the Sir Douglas Quintet with childhood friend Augie Meyers. They chose the group's name in an effort to make the band seem British to benefit from the British invasion. This image had its problems, particularly Sahm's Texas accent and that two fifths of the band were Hispanic. Some early publicity photos were shot in silhouette to hide this fact.

The band had a top 20 US hit with the 12-bar blues "She's About a Mover" and a lesser hit with "The Rains Came," the former also reaching the Top Twenty in the UK Singles Chart. The band broke up after a bust for marijuana possession in Corpus Christi, Texas. Sahm moved to San Francisco and formed the Honkey Blues Band, then later re-formed the Sir Douglas Quintet with a new lineup. Eventually Augie Meyers rejoined the quintet and they released the successful single and album "Mendocino". The record contained the song "At the Crossroads" with the Sahm line "You just can't live in Texas if you don't have a lot of soul".

Bob Dylan stated, "Look, for me right now there are three groups: Butterfield, The Byrds and the Sir Douglas Quintet." - (more)

Okay, Red Sox fans, repeat after me: "LET'S GO YANKEES!"...

Was this some kind of white supremacist bass players convention gone terribly wrong??? - Thousands of white bass turn up dead in Arkansas River (story)

Today's tidbit:  On Sunday, my beloved Browns (1-1) take on the hapless Miami Dolphins (0-2).  This will be the 3rd week in a row they play a team with no wins.

Happy Birthday, JFK (the offspring, not the  Prez)


Congrats to "The Closer"- Mariano Rivera

Ten reasons to leave hubby and run off with the band, Journey...

1. You have horrible music taste
2. Foreigner wasn't touring
3. Crashing White House dinners is sooooo yesterday
4. You caught Hubby watching Taylor Swift videos 
5. You think being bonked by the band makes you tres cool.
6. They told you they just like drunk teen babes and you Don't Stop Believin'  you can still compete
   
7. You have all their albums....and tell people!
8. You adore bands with revolving lead singers
9. You really have horrible music taste
10. Big hair on guys makes your panties damp

Monday morning blues...

Cleveland rocks Colts 27-19 (how the hell did we give up that last TD?)...

Happy 71st birthday, Frankie Avalon...

 

(From Wikipedia, so it must be true)- As a teenager he played with Bobby Rydell in Rocco and the Saints. In 1959, "Venus" (5 weeks #1) and "Why" went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. "Why" was the last #1 of the 1950s. Avalon had 31 charted U.S. Billboard singles from 1958 to late 1962, including "Just Ask Your Heart" (U.S. #7), "I'll Wait For You" (U.S. #15), "Bobby Sox to Stockings" (U.S. #8), and "A Boy Without a Girl" (U.S. #10). Most of his hits were written and/or produced by Bob Marcucci, head of Chancellor Records. Teamed frequently with Annette Funicello, Avalon starred in a number of popular "beach" comedy movies during the 1960s. The wholesome and romantic coupling of "Frankie and Annette" in summer movies such as Beach Party and Beach Blanket Bingo became iconic figures in American films during that era. Avalon also had straight dramatic parts in the John Wayne historical western film, The Alamo, as well as the science-fiction story, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) with Barbara Eden. Materializing as a character called Teen Angel, his performance of "Beauty School Dropout" in the hit 1978 film of the musical Grease introduced Avalon to a new generation of viewers.

Booker T. Jones with Drive-By Truckers in New Orleans...

Bodies & Souls....

John Coltrane - Body and Soul
Diana Krall - Body and Soul
Ella Fitzgerald - Body and Soul
Coleman Hawkins - Body and Soul
Benny Goodman Trio - Body and Soul
Stan Getz Quintet - Body and Soul
Henry Red Allen - Body and Soul
Ruth Etting - Body and Soul
Esperanza Spaulding - Body and Soul
Louis Armstrong - Body and Soul 
Mel Torme - Body and Soul
Anat Cohen (live at 2010 Litchfield Jazz Festival) - Body and Soul 

Thirsty Thursday...

She may have made some bad choices, but this might be the worst!

Reality TV star reportedly in Tenn with rock band Journey 
FRONT ROYAL, Va. (AP) — While her husband says she's missing, White House gate crasher and "Real Housewives of D.C." cast member Michaele Salahi has reportedly been with the band Journey in Tennessee. Salahi's husband, Tareq, reported to Virginia authorities that she was missing and said he believed she'd been abducted. But a deputy spoke with Michaele Salahi and she assured him she left with a friend. The Salahis burst onto the scene in 2009 when they crashed a White House state dinner. (and, NO, I am not going to post a Journey vid!)

September Sawtelles

16 fri: javapalooza, main st middletown 7:30. the newlyweds zoe and rob will be in attendance!
18 sun: simsbury arts and crafts festival. 1-2p. http://www.jaminmark.com/eventinfo/events/33018.html
23 fri: west end farmers' market 3:30-5:30 corner of so. whitney and farmington ave near mo's midtown/CVS hartford
24 sat: new canaan farmers' market 10a-12p.
25 sun: ct blues society solo/duo blues challenge. pine loft, berlin tpk berlin. event starts at 6p. we're the second act at 6:40p and they run a tight ship time-wise. we'll deliver 25 mins of our brand of blues... songs about guns, death, religion, and betrayal. THEM'S the blues! free and all ages.
30 fri: triple-bill at the buttonwood tree, main st middletown, down the bridge end of town same side as eli cannon's. frank critelli and al raebuck round out this awesome nite of music in a GREAT listening room w/amazing acoustics.

go to http://thesawtelles.com for all of our upcoming shows. we've got a huge uke fest, a couple of benefits, a new tattoo, an anniversary, farmers' markets and a coffeehouse in oct.

To be released today...

The track and video of “Body and Soul,” recorded by Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennett on March 23, 2011 at Abbey Road Studios, is released in its entirety today to commemorate Amy’s birthday. “Body and Soul,” became the final recording Amy ever made before her passing on July 23rd of this year and September 14 marks what would have been her 28th birthday. - (story)

Preview clip:

Monday, Monday, can't trust that day...

Curt Schilling, where are you now, we've got bleeding SOX in Beantown!!!!!

However, still recovering here from yet another shot to the gut from the Brownies.

Poor Cyndi Lauper joined a select group by screwing up the National Anthem at Sunday's U.S. Open - here

Great day for a corn-fritter fry, hey buddy?...

Mediocre golf on a splendid Saturday morn (a brief pause while I crinch at Come Saturday Morning by the Sandpipers suddenly running through my brain), then a drive up I84/Mass Pike to Framingham for Peter's annual corn fritter fry postponed from an earlier date blocked by Hurricane Irene.

Listened to a discussion of the related bands Dispatch and State Radio amongst Chris, Aiden and Ron, Chris mentioning offhand that he taught member Chad Urmston (who also goes by Chad Stokes, his middle name) in high school, which completely surprised/impressed Aiden.

(From Wikipedia)- Dispatch is an American indie/roots band. The band consists of Brad Corrigan (vocals, drums, guitar, percussion, and harmonica), Pete Francis Heimbold (vocals, bass and guitar), and Chad Urmston (vocals, guitar, bass, and percussion).  The band, which is based in the Boston area, was originally active from 1996 until 2002. The members then announced a hiatus, which would ultimately last for almost a decade; during this period, the band came together for reunion concerts in Boston (2004), New York City (2007) and Washington, D.C. (2009). The hiatus ended in the beginning of 2011, when the band announced a national tour. In May of the same year, Dispatch released an EP containing six new songs, their first all-new release since 2000.

State Radio is an alternative rock band from Sherborn, Massachusetts, consisting of Chad Urmston (lead vocals, guitar), Chuck Fay (bass) and Mike Najarian (drums). The band's first full-length album, Us Against the Crown, was released in December 2005, their second, Year of the Crow in September 2007, and their most recent album, Let it Go, in September 2009.

Streaming Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue's For True...

 

Trombone Shorty - For True by knitstitchmedia

Utterances from the Great Northleft....

Sorry, boys. The good ole PNW is lookin’ pretty mellow this past year for weather. The rain we get just keeps things green. Granted, summer didn’t really get here until late July but mid to upper 70’s and full sun since then. Jus’ sayin’ - Johnny Gumbo, philosopher, dandy, poet and occasional asshole.

Happy 75th birthday, Buddy Holly....

It's raining and raining and...

WTF, Larry (Curb reference)!  Was that For What It's Worth as background music to a Direct TV ad???  Way to rail against corporate greed, Stephen Stills!

Brother Joe and Nancy stopped by for dinner on Sunday and Bro Joe helped himself to some johnnykmusic from my iTunes.  Didn't say which ones.  Nancy and I shared a Red Guitar, not for an old fashioned strum-along (I know you have visions of a rowdy Jumpin' Jack Flash), but rather a wine that is a rich and smooth celebration of the Spanish lifestyle.  Cheers!

   

This Friday, Ronnie Spector will perform the only performance this year of her 'Beyond the Beehive' show at the Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, CT. It's Ronnie's story in word, picture and song as she takes you on a journey from Spanish Harlem to the Peppermint Lounge to Beverly Hills to CBGB's when  she goes 'Beyond the Beehive'.

Wardell Quezergue Sr., the bandleader, producer, composer, arranger and educator whose contributions to a plethora of New Orleans rhythm & blues classics earned him the moniker "the Creole Beethoven," died Tuesday morning at East Jefferson Hospital of congestive heart failure. He was 81.  His credits include Jean Knight's smash "Mr. Big Stuff," the Dixie Cups' "Iko Iko" and "Chapel of Love," Professor Longhair's recording of "Big Chief," Robert Parker's "Barefootin,'" King Floyd's "Groove Me," Dorothy Moore's "Misty Blue" and Dr. John's landmark 1992 album "Goin' Back to New Orleans." (more)

Jesus is coming, again....

Jesus Christ, Superstar (do you think you're what they say you are?)
Jesus Shuttlesworth (he of the sweet jumper)
Jesus Alou (brother of Felipe and Matty)
Jesus Montero (newest NY Yankee legend!)



(Per Wikipedia, so it must be true)- Jesus Christ Superstar is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971. The musical is based very loosely on the Gospels' account of the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem, and ending with the crucifixion. It highlights political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus. The resurrection is not included. It therefore largely follows the form of a traditional passion play.

The work's depiction offers a free interpretation of the psychology of Jesus and the other characters. A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas, who is depicted as a tragic figure who is dissatisfied with the direction in which Jesus steers his disciples. Twentieth-century attitudes and sensibilities as well as contemporary slang pervade the lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events. Stage and film productions accordingly feature many intentional anachronisms.

Labor Day trail mix...

Some rails-to-trails philosophy noted

Don't Make No Sense (Tab Benoit) Power of the Ponchartrain
Poinciana (Gary Burton & Friends) Departure
Street Blues (Ornette Coleman) Jazziz On Disc
Sunrise (Norah Jones) Feels Like Home
Roller Derby (Leon Russell) Carney
Things Ain't What They Used To Be (Dr. John) Duke Elegant
You'd Run Too (The Sawtelles) Dime Museum
Whiskey Woman (Flamin' Groovies) Yesterday's Numbers
Bach Trio Sonata (Amelia Piano Trio) "Live"
Jambalaya (Lucinda Williams) Ramblin'
Quatre Parishe (Dr. John) Nawlinz: Dis Dat or D'othr
You're Sweet (Rob Stone & the C-Notes) No Worries
Long Black Train (D. Smith Blues Band) Playing in the Dark

Coming to Cafe Nine 12/3/11...

Lake Street Dive is releasing a live album and concert film! The album and video will be available exclusively as an online download at lakestreetdive.com, starting on August 24, 2011.  The footage was shot this spring on one magical night at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA. The band was in great form, finishing up a month-long tour in front of a hometown crowd.

Those French, they have a different word for EVERYTHING!...

Scarlett Johansson & Lulu Gainsbourg sing "Bonnie and Clyde"

Saturday, laboring...

Tom Russell news:
The new record Mesabi is ready for shipment from Village Records.  Guests include: Lucinda Williams, Calexico, Augie Meyers, Van Dyke Parks.  Bonus Tracks include: Bob Dylan's  A Hard RainGonna Fall with Lucinda and Calexico plus songs from Monte Hellman's Road To Nowhere.  Also available on Tom: The film Don't Look Down" with Nanci Griffith, Emmylou Harris, Calexico and others.

Christine Ohlman:
Just signed on for UP FROM THE BAYOU Wed. Oct. 5 Canal Room NYC w/Ivan Neville & Tony Hall (Dumpstaphunk), Dave Malone & Camile Baudoin (Radiators), Adam Dietch (Lettuce) to benefit The New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation. The Canal Room 285 West Broadway (corner Canal) 212.941.8100. General admission (music only) $60; VIP tix $100 (includes dinner & drinks-check web site) Advance tix: www.jamsf.com

Be my baby, Phil:

From DBT Facebook...

NEW ORLEANS UPDATE: Attention fans in (and headed to) New Orleans LA, the shows are still ON! Your safety is of course very important to us and we will be keeping a close eye on the weather. We will update you if anything changes but as of now the band is planing on playing. If for some reason your travel plans are changing due to tropical storm Lee refunds will be available at point of purchase. We hope to see you all Saturday and Sunday night at Tipitinas.

2011 Rhythm & Roots Festival this weekend...

Gumbo and I frequented this cool little roots festival at Ninigret Park in Charlestown RI on several occasions (one year Gumbo ventured out on his own, then visited the PHS late at night in Newport- long story) and last year Keith, Sharie, Barry and friends sampled it.   Worth the trip, but we're home-based this year.  Of interest:  Delbert McClinton, Richard Thompson, Marcia Ball, Steve Earle w/ Alison Moorer.

R&R 2011 Final Schedule

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 (Festival gates open at 4:00 pm)
MAIN STAGE

5:00                  SWAMP CABBAGE                          

6:00                  SARAH & THE TALLBOYS                                                                                       7:15                  HARPER & THE MIDWEST KIND

8:30                  HOST BAND — RED STICK RAMBLERS                      

9:45                  MARCIA BALL       

REDHOOK DANCE STAGE

5:00                  HOST BAND — RED STICK RAMBLERS 

7:15                  COREY LEDET & HIS ZYDECO BAND     

9:45                  CURLEY TAYLOR & ZYDECO TROUBLE                   

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3  (Festival gates open at 11:00 am)

MAIN STAGE
Noon                 SWAMP CABBAGE                  
1:00                  HOST BAND — RED STICK RAMBLERS 
2:15                  HARPER & THE MIDWEST KIND                                                                       
3:30                  CURLEY TAYLOR  &  ZYDECO TROUBLE       
4:45                  RICHARD THOMPSON     
6:15                  STEVE RILEY & THE MAMOU PLAYBOYS                      
7:30                  RAUL MALO BAND                                              
9:15                  STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES & DUCHESSES with ALISON MOORER

WMVY RADIO WORKSHOP STAGE
Noon                FRANK & POULLARD — CREOLE ACCORDION
1:00                 MAGNOLIA — TWENTY YEARS AND COUNTING
2:00                 GUITAR STYLES — JUSTUS, PARKS & BROUSSARD        
3:00                 OCCIDENTAL GYPSY JAZZ
4:00                 FIDDLE STYLES — GREELEY, SAVOY, YOUNG, POULLARD       
5:00                 HARPER — AUSSIE BLUES & DIDGEREDOO TOO   
6:00                 SARAH & THE TALL BOYS — COMING HOME

REDHOOK DANCE STAGE
Noon                ZYDECO DANCE INSTRUCTION  
12:30               RIVER CITY SLIM & the ZYDECO  HOGS 
1:45                 CAJUN DANCE INSTRUCTION    
2:15                 JESSE LEGE, JOEL SAVOY & BAYOU BREW      
3:30                 POULLARD, FRANK & FRIENDS
5:30                 COREY LEDET & HIS ZYDECO BAND    
7:30                 HOST BAND — RED STICK RAMBLERS 
10:00               CURLEY TAYLOR & ZYDECO TROUBLE      

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 (Festival gates open at 11:00 am) 

MAIN STAGE
Noon                GREELYSAVOYDUO          
1:00                 SARAH & THE TALLBOYS           
2:15                 COREY LEDET & ZYDECO TROUBLE                                          
3:30                 NATION BEAT            
4:45                 MITCH WOODS & HIS ROCKET 88s                                                    
6:15                 STEVE RILEY & THE MOMOU PLAYBOYS           
7:45                 7 WALKERS           
9:30                 DELBERT McCLINTON      

WMVY RADIO  WORKSHOP STAGE
Noon                POULLARD & FRANK — CREOLE FIDDLE
1:00                 OCCIDENTAL GYPSY JAZZ          
2:00                 MAGNOLIA w/ SPECIAL GUEST ED POULLARD        
3:00                 “LES JEUNES CAJUNS” — 2011 CAJUN KIDS ACADEMY GRADUATION GIG
3:30                 TURN UP THE FIDDLE!! — GREELEY, SAVOY, YOUNG, WIMMER       
4:30                 ACCORDION STYLES — RILEY, LEDET, LEGE
5:30                 SARAH & THE TALL BOYS — COMING HOME     

REDHOOK DANCE STAGE
Noon                ZYDECO DANCE INSTRUCTION  
12:30               RIVER CITY SLIM & THE ZYDECO  HOGS 
1:45                 CAJUN DANCE INSTRUCTION    
2:15                 JESSE LEGE, JOEL SAVOY & BAYOU BREW     
3:30                 ED POULLARD, PRESTON FRANK & FRIENDS   
5:30                 HOST BAND — RED STICK RAMBLERS 
7:30                 COREY LEDET & HIS ZYDECO BAND      
10:00               STEVE RILEY & THE MAMOU PLAYBOYS     

Jesus (Montero) is coming tonight!...

Norah Jones' version of Wilco's Jesus, Etc.