An assist from Dave H?????.....

Dave passes (and this from a hoopster whose next pass might be his first) along this suggestion for our listening pleasure:

JK,  Shockingly, you missed a choice nugget in your music picks. Check out the new acoustic cd by J.D. Souther called “Natural History,” especially “I’ll Be Here at Closing Time” and “Go Ahead and Rain.” It has an intimate, small club feel and I like his voice better now that it’s a little battered and worn. I didn’t really care for him when he was writing hits for others like the Eagles, etc.    Dave H.

Dave, I may have been one of the only fans of his 70s supergroup, The Souther, Hillman, Furay Band, where Souther teamed up with ex-Birds Chris Hillman and ex-Buffalo Springfield/Poco Richie Furay.  Bought BOTH albums and still play the first one, Trouble in Paradise, occasionally.  Thanks for the heads up, I'll try it.

J.D. Souther at the FTC Theater in Fairfield last June:

New music purchases...

It's late January.  I've gone through all the music received at Christmas at least once and I'm itching to get some new stuff.  Here's what I've come up with so far:

• Tank Full of Blues (Dion)- This guy is no washed-up oldies act.  If you can get past his sometimes overbearing religious rants (went from sex/drugs/rockandroll to Born Again Christian back to his Roman Catholic roots), he's a very good blues artist.
• For the Good Times (The Little Willies)- An all-covers second album (Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, etc) for this Norah Jones side project.  Good stuff.
• Is That You in the Blue (Dex Romweber Duo)- For some reason, I didn't pick up a copy a few months ago when we saw him at Cafe Nine, but I've got it now and I'm wearing it out.  Love this album of frenetic rockabilly and ballads!

Here's what's on my radar:

• Let It Burn (Ruthie Foster) - New Ruthie out today!  Plans are to see her in NYC at the City Winery in March with the Pool Hall Studs.
• Chimes of Freedom (Various Artists)- Not sure about this mega-project of Bob Dylan covers for Amnesty International; 
• Wild Flag (Wild Flag)-  Portlandia's Carrie Brownstein fronts this new all-chick band; the album was #2 on Hartford Courant music critic Eric Danton's top ten albums of 2011.

Can I get a damn rebound?....

I just went through a stressful football season with the Cleveland Browns, but I thought the UConn Huskies would ease the pain.  Not happening, they cannot close out games.  Keith is exhausted from having to stand over a half-hour at the start of the 2nd half waiting for the Huskies to score!

Tweeted by LowCutConnie:

"SXSW is a big monied industry circle jerk with its head up its own BS'ing blogoshere. I might feel differently if they hadn't rejected us." 

Those tasteless bastards!

Sunday pre-game trail mix...

Every Night of the Week (Lou Ann Barton) Old Enough
Never Tell Your Mother She's Out of Tune (Ellen McIlwaine)  Up From the Skies
He Thinks He'll Keep Her (Mary Chapin Carpenter) Come On Come On
I Hear a Call (Emmylou Harris) Cowgirl's Prayer
Your One And Only Man (Otis Redding) The Very Best Of...
Hurricane On China Lake (Marcia Ball) So Many Rivers
Cry Me a River (The Three Sounds) Standards
Sing, Sing, Sing (Benny Goodman) The Harry James Years
No Drawers (Marva Wright) Blues Queen of New Orleans
Trouble Blues (John Lee Hooker) 20 Great Hits
Your Mind Is On Vacation (Van Morrison & Georgie Fame) How Long Has This Been Going On.
 Bluesology (Milt Jackson) Early Modern
Little Angel, Little Brother (Lucinda Williams) Sweet Old World
Lonely Boys (Black Keys) El Camino
There She Goes (The La's) The La's
Phenomenal Woman (Ruthie Foster) The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster
Calling On the Angels (Blackie & the Rodeo Kings) Kings of Love

From Cafe Nine...

2Nite! All new Jam Session hosted by Queen of the Blues Roxy Perry! Roxy's Traveling Roadhouse debuts tonight 8-11:30. ALL players welcome!

Baby, we were born to die...

photo: Nicole Nodland

For a couple months, I kept stumbling upon her hype.  Lana Del Ray, what's up with this?  I tried a couple vids (Video Games) and came away thinking I'm just not getting it (which CAN happen, you know!).  Kind of hipster-retro Leslie Gore. When I saw her two songs on SNL (Video Games Blue Jeans), I still didn't get it.  Though hesitant, emotionless, monotoned, she wasn't terrible.  Why the hate, Brian Williams ( "..one of worst outings in SNL history.")?  She's not evil, merely not good.
Articles:  Stereogum  Sasha Frere-Jones

What were you born for?

• Born To Die
• Born To Run
• Born Under a Bad Sign
• Born Free
• Born To Be Wild 
• Bjorn Borg 
• Bjorn Ulvaeus

Heard while picking up breakfast sandwiches at Fancy Bagels this morning- great song!...

Here comes Johnny playin' oldies goldies...woooo whoooo, woooo whooo...

On Neil Diamond's birthday, the lineups are set for Jazz Fest 2012...

Well, the hope for the Black Keys playing this year's New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has vanished with today's announcement that Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band are added to the first weekend and Eddie Vedder will do an acoustic set on Thursday of the second (our) weekend.  It's all good, though.

The daily schedules have been announced.  Early favorites to catch are:

• Thursday (May 3)-  Esperanza Spaulding, Florence & the Machine, Eddie Vedder, Mia Borders, James Cotton, Little Freddie King, Rosie Ledet, The Iguanas, 
• Friday (May 4)- Grace Potter, Zac Brown Band, Theresa Andersson, Wayne Toups, Ingrid Lucia, Mavis Staples
• Saturday (May 5)-The Eagles, Levon Helm w/ Mavis Staples, Allen Toussaint, Steve Earle, Anders Osborne, Malone Brothers, Lost Bayou Ramblers
• Sunday (May 6)- Bonnie Raitt, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Funky Meters, Asleep at the Wheel, Mem Shannon, Rockin' Dopsie Jr, Neville Bros (pass on the Foo Fighters)

Saturday nights are made for fighting...

Thanks to Trish for sending out a reminder that today is JR's (the character formerly known as Johnny Gumbo) 85th BIRTHDAY, I think!  Birthday Song

Zero Tolerance (those intolerant bastards) play their final show ever tonight at the Downtown Cafe in Bristol.  Will the world be a kinder place without them?  Did Scott K and Jon S go to Northampton to catch Big Head Todd & the Monsters at the Calvin Theater last night?

Joe Biden covering all bases with his San Francisco Giants to go to the Super Bowl prediction.  Smooth, Joe.  Rooting for the Jersey Jiants, just so Keith won't destroy his house.  By the way, season ticket holders Keith and Vin are doing a mediocre job with the UConn Huskies this season.  Rumor has it that they are the reason that Ryan Boatright can't play.

For you hipper-than-thou cafe society types (and you know who you are, Barry 'n Mark), a very cool offering in Hartford tonight at Japanalia Eiko (formerly Cafe Eiko), 11 Whitney Street, with Born to be Blue, a performance by blues singer Ed Reed.  Cost is $25/person for general seating (byob), $40/person for stage side table seating with complimentary beverages.  Show starts at eight.  (Htfd Courant article)

Sarah Borges posts:
We did it!! Thanks to all of your fabulous support we raised $15,325. That's MORE than my original goal of $15,000, and the donations are still coming in. I am so happy and grateful. Thanks to all of your support my new record, Radio Sweetheart, will be released in 2012. Keep checking back here for updates on its progress. All of the donation rewards other than the new cd (t-shirts, stickers and the like) will begin going out shortly.

In other news, two great shows this month opening for the Ryan Montbleau band, one at the Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, NH on January 21st and another at the Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY on January 28th. Check the shows page for details. Thank you thank you THANK YOU!

Johnnykmusic comment:  Congrats to Sarah, who accomplished her goal with minimum help from us.  We tried to do a house concert with Trish, but it fell through.  I did buy the new CD, actually bought it for Peter for a Christmas present and forgot to tell him.  So, Peter, you get Radio Sweetheart when it comes out and, I think, Sarah will sing you a voicemail message.  Radio Sweetheart was an early, very cool Elvis Costello song.

The ultimate At Last, Etta James passes at 73...

From Bonnie Raitt: To me, Etta James stands as one of the greatest singers of all time… any genre, any era. The sheer power and depth of emotion, phrasing and nuance in her voice set her so far above the rest, and have since she first started out. Her perseverance, ferocity and vulnerability have been as inspirational to me as her monumental talent. I bow to you, my dear friend and soul Sister…now and for always. Love, Bonnie 

An Appreciation: Etta James (LA Times)

Johnny Otis, mentor to Etta James, checks out at 90...

Leading a band in the late 1940s that combined the high musical standards of big-band jazz with the raw urgency of gospel music and the blues, Mr. Otis played a key role in creating a new sound for a new audience of young urban blacks, a sound that within a few years would form the foundation of rock ’n’ roll.  With his uncanny ear for talent, he helped steer a long list of performers to stardom, among them Etta James, Jackie Wilson, Esther Phillips and Big Mama Thornton — whose hit recording of “Hound Dog,” made in 1952, four years before Elvis Presley’s, was produced by Mr. Otis and featured him on drums. Read More

  Johnny Otis in the 1950s

Johnny Otis in 1970 with son Shuggy Otis and Roy Buchanan

From basketball scribe Pat Forde...

Buzzer beater

When hungry in the Final Four city of New Orleans (39), The Minutes recommends a visit to a rollicking restaurant that always has a long line for service for a good reason – the food is great. Get the chargrilled oysters at Acme Oyster House (40), chase them with an Abita Turbodog beer and thank The Minutes later. There are a million great places to dine in NOLA, but this is a low-maintenance way to eat like a king.  Read More

(JK comment) Make it two more Abitas, and let those two tall ugly gents buy them, they just got their asses kicked at pool - again (beer bottle click):

Let's get ready to ramble...

It's not easy to replace a legend, but thankfully we do not have to.  We do, however, need to replace Johnny Gumbo (who, we must admit, had his legendary moments), so an American Idol-type search was commissioned to find someone to be our 4th at the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.  Thousands were interviewed, thousands declined, until we bribed Peter into joining the group.  He agreed, with one proviso - that he not be required to do a face plant in front of our hotel on his first night in Nola.  We reluctantly agreed.

Introductions to the Pool Hall Studs have been made (no need to tell Peter about Mark because Mark, a/k/a The Big Me, does that so well himself); flight and lodging are not yet nailed down.  Sadly, one major event will be missing this year just as it was reaching its tipping point - Piano Shirt Friday.  Oh well.

I know everyone is posting Abraham, Martin & John, but I hate that song...

On April 4, 1968 the bus carrying the Quinnipiac Braves (there's irony in there somewhere) baseball team was en route from Hampton Institute to Maryland State (now Maryland-Eastern Shore) on their annual Spring southern trip. We (included in the 'we' are Johnny K, Gene Z, Steve the Bod, The Gool, etc.) would play primarily all-black colleges on the trip, and we would sometimes end up hanging out with the other team at night. On this date, as we pulled into the Maryland State campus, the bus was stopped by campus police, who informed us that Martin Luther King had been killed in Memphis and things were getting a bit testy on campus. Needless to say, we never played that game, although we did spend the night in our barracks on campus, awaking the next morning to the sounds of a student march passing right in front of us. It was eerie, but everyone was cool.

Arcade Fire's performance on Austin City limits...

Missed these guys at Jazz Fest.  My bad.

Watch Arcade Fire on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

Will it be Big Blue or Blew?...

How cool and/or corny were the late 60s/early 70s bands and their related album covers?  Here is a site I stumbled upon that shows you -  redtelephone66.com, a Psychedelic music blog specializing in mostly obscure and out of print albums from the 1960s and 1970s.

Example: 

Repairs- Repairs (1972)

Repairs were a Connecticut group consisting of Peter McCann (vocals-keyboards-guitars-string arrangements), Sukie Honeycutt (vocals-keyboards-percussion), Larry Treadwell (vocals-keyboards-guitars-accordion-harmonica-percussion), Mike Foley (vocals-bass-guitar) and T.Ace Holleran (drums-percussion) with addional instrumentation by Bob Bonefant, Barry Marshall, Michael Kaman (woodwind-horns) and David McCann (fiddle).

This is actually Repairs second album, produced by ex Rolling Stones producer Andrew Oldham. Oldham also produced the group’s first album, “Already A Household Word” in 1971 (see above post). The album is an exceptional collection of originals covering a variety of genres including folk, rock and progressive efforts with alternate male and female lead vocals.  Oldham’s production makes for a well polished recording (you’re sure to enjoy this one!!!)  After leaving the Mowest label, the group recorded a third album, “Live” on the independent Kuckuck label in 1974. (Max Collodie)

The dream of the 90s is alive in Portland...

Jimmy Fallon as Tim Tebow/David Bowie: Tebowie!..

Freaky Friday the 13th...

Westie Punks
The Legendary Gussy Tapes, Vol I

Received an email from music legend/Westie Punk Gussy P (yes, he of the Gussy Tapes) in response to last week's Throwback Thursday.  "We had the Buddy Knox 'Party Doll' 45, as well as Charlie Vinson's 'You Butterfly.'  Only you and I care about these things."  So true, Gussy, but then again, we are the only ones who matter (Charlie Gracie, btw).  Rumor has it that, in light of the recent Wildweeds reunion at the Iron Horse in Northampton, the Westie Punks are rehearsing for a similar gig at Jimmy's of Savin Rock.  I will keep you old WP fanatics abreast of the situation.

From the Courant's jazz critic, Owen McNally:  
Trumpeter Nick DiMaria leads his quartet Saturday, Jan. 14, at 2 p.m. in the admission free jazz series at Ed Krech's Integrity 'n Music, 506 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield. He's joined by pianist Andrew Kosiba, bassist Andrew Zwart and drummer Mike Dick. Information: 860-563-4005.

Looking for a break before the Giants game on Sunday afternoon?   At 3 PM, the 2nd week of the Hartford Public Library's 2012 Baby Grand Jazz Series features the UMOJA Quintet. Then, on your way home, you can stop at the Pine Loft (see below) to catch The Sawtelles set before settling in for Big Blue.

Jessica Latshaw (subway chick) has her song Ain't My Friend recorded and available on iTunes.

Sawtelles announce some January dates...

Our favorite Plantsville band, The Sawtelles, is like Stacey's mom, they got it goin' on:

"we've got a bunch of gigs coming up in the next coupla weeks.  we hope your new year is swell so far!  there should be a flier attached for sunday."

Jan 15 (Sun)- at the Pine Loft, Berlin Tpke

Shaka starts at 2PM for 20-25 minutes
Paco goes on at 2:30 for 30 minutes
Mike Crandall at 3:15 for for 30 minutes
The Sawtelles at 4pm for 30 minutes and 
Peter Menta at 4:45 then open jam with shaka again and players that want to jam!!

(this is a fundraiser for the ct blues society solo/duo winner Bill Shakka, $10/1 or $15/2 cover.)

Jan 20 (Fri)-  Typhoon Thai Restaurant, Main St, Middletown.  6pm  (byob!)

Jan 21 (Sat)-  we're hosting at Neverending Books, State St, New Haven 7pm.  Guests include PBR (pete's brunelli and riccio, doing a non-rehearsed drum/bass musical experience), Electric Dawn (fr. Shrinnirs), and possibly a Sawtelles set.

Jan 24 (Tue)- Elm Bar, New Haven-  triple-bill w/ Sawtelles, Lys Guillorn (P on drums) and Baby G. How awesome is that??

Jan 28 (Sat)-  Javapalooza, Main St, Middletown, 7:30-9:30 pm.

Coachella gets Black Keys...

Wild Flag on Jimmy Fallon...

Hartford Public Library's 2012 Sunday Baby Grand Jazz Series...

(Htfd Courant)- With a generous anonymous benefactor stepping forward to pick up the tab for the entire season, The Hartford Public Library's "Baby Grand Jazz Piano Series 2012" launches the first of its 16 free, weekly Sunday concerts Sunday, Jan. 8, at 3 p.m. with a much-anticipated encore performance by the noted, Japanese-born pianist Eri Yamamoto. While the popular free matinee series' official motto for 2012 is "The Best Things in Life Are Free," its theme song, thanks to the Secret Santa-like donor who came up with $7,400, might just as well be "Everything's Coming up Roses."  Read More

Eri Yamamoto opens free jazz series
at Hartford Public Library Sunday,

>>Jan. 15, saxophonist Yunie Mojica
>>Jan. 22, trumpeter Larry Gareau
>>Jan. 29, vibraphonist Ed Fast
>>Feb. 5, Taino Pacheco
>>Feb. 12, guitarist Sinan Bakir
>>Feb. 19, Goza Brazilian Jazz
>>Feb. 26, trumpeter Ricky Alfonso.
>>March 4, pianist Jeff Wieselberg
>>March 11, Artists Collective
>>March 18, pianist Warren Byrd
>>March 25, Too Human
>>April 1, pianist Noah Baerman
>>April 8, Easter Sunday, no concert
>>April 15, saxophonist George Blackman
>> April 22, saxophonist Kris Allen
>>April 29, pianist Emery Smith.
Information: http://www.hplct.org and 860-695-6300.

I want a Sunday kind of love, a love that lasts past Saturday night...

Hoop Dreams
Oh fer Jersey, boys...Huskies lose to Seton Hall and Rutgers.  Blame it on Roscoe.  Meanwhile, QU Bobcats (really Braves) oh fer NYC, losing to St. Francis and LIU.  Blame it on Gene Z.  Returning up Route 10 after the Bobcats' loss, got stuck behind this car with a big NY Yankees decal on the back window.  It was SO annoying, we couldn't pass it - I kinda felt like the Red Sox!

Jessica Latshaw (subway chick) via Facebook:   "It's all settled, then. Going into the studio tomorrow. Laying 'ain't my friend' down so that my magician friends can put it on itunes and my super kind and supportive friends can buy it. WHOA (and spread the word)!"

Interesting piece on 60s soul/funk singer Betty Harris (produced by Allen Toussaint), who, it turns out, has been living right here in Middletown CT all these years.  After not performing professionally for many years because she lost control of her career, she has refocused with her own band and has started performing again.  We missed her last night at Trinity-On-Main in New Britain.  Htfd Advocate article
Cry To Me   (awesomely excellent)
I'm Evil Tonight
What Did I Do Wrong     
What a Sad Feeling  

Crisp, clear Sunday morning trail music: Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Girls).....excellent album, gave it to G-Man for Xmas:
How Can I Say I Love You 
My Ma       

The Tony Award-winning musical Memphis coming to The Bushnell January 10-15.  (Htfd Courant story)

Tom Ardolino, longtime drummer for NRBQ, passed away on Friday.  This is a clip from the Agora Ballroom in West Hartford, CT that was televised on "Friday Night Concert" in 1986.

America's bowlers paying last respects to legend Don Carter...

And you know who you are.  Newly retired brother Joe is one.  I expect to pay tribute by kicking the Pool Hall Studs' asses at Rock 'N Bowl (again) at Jazz Fest (Mark travels with his own ball!).

(From Wikipedia, so it must be true) - Don Carter  (July 29, 1926 – January 5, 2012) was a right-handed American professional bowler. Born in St.Louis, Missouri, Learning the game while working a childhood job as a pinsetter, Carter went on to become one of the legends of ten-pin bowling and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) in 1958. He was 6-time bowler of the year.

New Carolina Chocolate Drops on the horizon...

On Leaving Eden, the Carolina Chocolate Drops follow their Grammy-winning album Genuine Negro Jig with a record of original compositions, covers, and traditional songs produced by Buddy Miller (Emmylou Harris, Robert Plant, Patty Griffin, Solomon Burke). Pre-orders include an instant download of the track "Country Girl"; the first 300 CDs ordered will be signed by the band. Release date is 2/29/12.

Track Listing:
1. Riro's House
2. Kerr's Negro Jig
3. Ruby, Are You Mad at Your Man?
4. Boodle-De-Bum-Bum
5. Country Girl
6. Run Mountain
7. Leaving Eden
8. Read 'Em John
9. Mahalla
10. West End Blues
11. Po' Black Sheep
12. I Truly Understand That You Love Another Man
13. No Man's Mama
14. Briggs' Corn Shucking Jig / Camptown Hornpipe
15. Pretty Bird

CCD tour dates include stops at The Calvin in Northampton, MA and Infinity Hall in Norfolk, CT.

NYC impromptu subway serenade (thanks to Kay for the heads up)...

Description from youtube: 

Okay- what you are about to watch is a true New York experience.  What originally started out as a typical nyc subway ride turned into an awesome performance by two people who have never met before.  I captured the whole thing on video.  The singer continued with another great song after the entire subway car demanded an encore. Her name is Jessica Latshaw- make sure to check out her music.

Okay, so johnnykmusic took the bait and looked up Jessica Latshaw. Who knows whether or not this whole thing was staged (and she could have given the bongo guy a bit more love), but it's pretty cool anyway.   Here is a version of the same song performed (without bongo accompaniment) at Cabaret For a Cause on 8/14/11.  Apparently she is a dancer/singer who has done some Broadway, too.  She's definitely trying hard to hit that tipping point and, to that end, she's got Rob Thomas tweeting her up now.  She will be appearing at the Local 269 Bar in NYC on Jan 14 (Sat).  Facebook Twitter

UPDATE:  Her BLOG explanation of what happened. 

Here's something she posted back in June (she's on piano this time).

Throwback Thursday...

Totally tasteless, but funny from Twitter (whatcha got?):
#describeyoursexlifewithamovietitle
#ReplaceAMovieTitleWithHoe

Portlandia's Fred Armisen (SNL) and Carrie Brownstein (Wild Flag) doing Push It...

There is a lengthy article in the 1/2/12 New Yorker about Carrie Brownstein and her relationship with Armsen in Portlandia and her music career as an indie guitarist in Sleater-Kinney and Wild Flag (whose self-titled album was #2 on the Courant's Eric Danton's 2011 Top 10 list).

End of The Duke and The King?...

(RTTNews) - Mumford and Sons will be collaborating with Simone Felice on the latter's upcoming album. The members of the band will be making a guest appearance on the album's lead single "You & I Belong." Mumford and Sons' Ben Lovett is also co-producing the album and was instrumental in helping Felice select recording locations — including a barn near Felice's woodland home, a church in London and an abandoned high school near New York's Hudson River - to match the gospel overtones of the record.  Felice's debut solo album is slated for release on April 2.  The album by the former drummer, writer and vocalist of the Felice Brothers and creator of folk group the Duke and the King features 10 tracks and a guest appearance from a girls' choir from his hometown in upstate New York.

LJF back to Goshen in 2012...

The Litchfield Jazz Festival returns to its past stomping grounds at the Goshen Fairgrounds August 10-12, 2012. And, we have some exciting new features for you!!

Our Friday evening Gala will now be a Jazz Party & Live Auction. The party will be held in our beautiful, new Sunset Lounge, followed by music of the Four Freshmen and 2012 Grammy nominee Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks. We've got a quick and fabulous live auction and a great on-line auction with jazz collectable memorabilia, fine dining, trips and more. We'll even have dancing by professional ballroom dancers and YOU! Dancing with the stars under the stars. Can't beat that!!!

Join us for the rest of the weekend under blue skies (we don't allow rain!). Choose the Mainstage tent or the lawn and help us celebrate the 17th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival. Enjoy the breezes, the sunsets, and, as always, the glorious music.

It's never sunny in Cleveland...

Brownies v. Steelers in the season ender:

• Brownies drive to the 4 yd line on Senica Wallace scramble (although he fumbles, but ruled down- whew!)
• Okay, let's do this, need 4 yards.  Got four on first play, but in the wrong direction.  Settle for field goal.  3-0 Brownies.
• Get ball back with just over 2 minutes to go in half.  Driving.  Settle for Dawson 45 yd field goal with 45 seconds in half.  6-0 Brownies.
• The inevitable.  Give up field goal after holding Steelers at the one yard line with 4 seconds.  6-3 Brownies at the half.  You know where this is going, don't you.

• Steelers open 2nd half with drive.  Settle for field goal.  Tied at 6.  No prob, right?
• Wallace gets picked off at Browns' 24.  Shit.Touchdown.  Steelers 13-6.  We suck.
• Phil Dawson kicks 49 yd field goal in wind.  Brownies close to 13-9 near end of 3rd quarter. 
• Brownies recover fumble at midfield and get 15 more for facemask!!!!  Nothing.
• It's raining, it's snowing.
• Brownies get ball back on own 25 with 1:46 left (no time outs); comeback time!
• Drive inside the Steeler 40 with 25 seconds left.  Inside the 25 with 5 seconds.
• Wallace lobs a pass to Little in the end zone!!!!!!!
• It's never sunny in Cleveland.

Sure beats ringing it in with Dick Clark...

Drive By Truckers perform Green Onions with Booker T at midnight, December 31, 2011 at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC.

New Year's morning trail mix...

All the Way Down (Etta James) Burnin' Down the House
Don't Make No Sense (Tad Benoit) The Power of the Ponchartrain
Stop And Think It Over (Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles) Diamonds In the Dark
Alison (Elvis Costello & the Attractions) My Aim Is True
Afternoon in Paris (Kenny Burrell Trio) Live at the Village Vanguard
Cathy's Clown (Everly Brothers) Golden hits of the 60's
Thunder Road (Bruce Springsteen) Born to Run
Ten Cent Pistol (Black Keys) Brothers
Amusement Parks USA (Beach Boys) Today! Summer Days & Summer Nights
Blue Monk (Thelonious Monk Quartet) At Carnegie Hall
Even Angels (Shelby Lynne) Revelation Road
Girls Beware (Sonny & the Sunsets) Hit After Hit
Brother (Gil Scott-Heron) The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Black Crow (Diana Krall) The Girl In the Other Room
The Back Door Wolf (Howlin' Wolf) The Back Door Wolf
Tangled And Black (Bonnie Raitt) Luck of the Draw
Baby, Let Me Take You Home (The Animals) The Complete Animals
Wade In the Water (Ellen McIIlwaine) Up From the Skies
4th Time Around (Bob Dylan) Blonde On Blonde