Unconfirmed rumors have the trendy new bistro soon to open its doors in downtown Southington featuring Johnny Gumbo's Sweet Louisiana Gumbo, described thusly:
"Like its namesake, this offering consists of nothing inherently good for you, yet its first-rate ingredients make it irresistible to the taste."
The Neville Brothers are returning to New Orleans next year to assume the role they held for more than a decade — the closing act of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. It will be the group's first hometown performance since Hurricane Katrina struck Aug. 29, 2005, flooding 80 percent of New Orleans and scattering the four brothers across the country. Art, 69, is the only one living in New Orleans since Katrina. Charles, 68, is living in the Northampton, Mass., area; Cyril, 59, is in Austin, Texas; and Aaron, 66, is in Nashville, Tenn. - complete article
Winehouse in the doghouse after 'atrocious' tour debut (AFP)
Troubled soul singer Amy Winehouse kicked off her 17-date tour with a shambolic performance that saw fuming fans booing and marching out, reports said Thursday. The concert at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, was a chance for the 24-year-old to get back to singing and put her woes behind her. Winehouse has had "health issues" -- widely reported to be drug and alcohol abuse -- and her party-loving husband Blake Fielder-Civil is being held on grievous bodily harm and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice charges.
But Wednesday's gig at the NIA, which can hold up to 13,000 people, was slammed by angry fans as a "disgrace" after she turned up late and stumbled about the stage. When punters started jeering, Winehouse snapped: "Let me tell you something. First of all, if you're booing, you're a mug for buying a ticket. "Second, to all those booing, just wait till my husband gets out of incarceration -- and I mean that." - complete article
Below is a YouTube clip of our girl singing "Valerie":
Cowboy tours country to find good news by CARL MANNING (AP)
FREDONIA, Kan. - When rancher Bill Inman decided to show there's more to America than the gloom-and-doom on the nightly news, he hopped on his horse and started riding. And riding, and riding. Some 1,700 miles later, he's burning through his family's life savings as he collects stories of hardworking, honest everyday people in rural America. The scenery in America is changing and I'm really proud we're taking a snapshot at slow motion of this time period, because 20 years from now it will be different," he said. Inman soaks it all in atop Blackie, a 16-year-old thoroughbred-quarter horse mix who's averaging 20-25 miles a day along backroads from Oregon to North Carolina. - complete article
The very latest in reality programming - Johnny Gumbo, friend/ festival co-ordinator/ Ph.D./ Rotarian/ Nascar aficionado/ snakecharmer/ philosopher/ rogue, is leaving Connecticut and is making his way to the Great Northwest in a sleek rented UHaul. Stay tuned for reports EXCLUSIVELY on johnnykmusic....
Episode #2 - Gumbo rolls into Indiana; citizens warned to approach with caution
jg and his trusty sidekick, Hattie the Parakeet, motored into Ft. Wayne, Indiana, on the second day of their cross country trek. He was stopping off to visit his sister and her family who always welcome him affectionately when he visits, nod their heads, and wonder "What is Crazy Uncle John up to now?".
With a big plate of biscuits and gravy under his belt and Johnny Cash on the CD, jg began his push further into the "Heartland" on Tuesday with high hopes of seeing "what this great land of ours is all about". He was not disappointed. Passing such memorable sights along the way such as the The National Bicycle Museum and the home of Charles Kettering, the inventor of the automobile self-starter, jg only wished he had more time to stop and take it all in. But the life of a cross country trucker is always driven by the clock and sentimentality takes a back seat. Maybe someday.
There was one moment of "high anxiety" on the day's trip. Uncharacteristically, jg found himself on a lone stretch of US 30 in western Ohio with a gas gauge approaching empty. He and Hattie (pictured at right) had been immersed in listening to a local CW radio station and had failed to perform the mandatory instrument cross check that all professional drivers do automatically. With no fuel stops in sight on the highway, he was forced to take a side road off the beaten path and ended up at a Marathon gas station (one of only two in town) in Van Wert, OH. The locals took him in, as well as his $100 gas bill, wished him well and sent him on his way.
jg and Hattie will stay in Ft. Wayne for a day, happily indulge his neice and nephew, and then head out on Thursday for a two day trip across the great abyss of Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska on the way to visit an aunt and uncle in Cheyenne, WY (yes, there are real cowboys there, and the sheep are really scared). 'Til then...."On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again....
New video of Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles(Binky, Mike Castellana, Robert Larry Dulaney) Halloween night in Nashville, with John Doe joining onstage for Come Back to Me. Catch SB&BS at the Bank Street Cafe in New London, CT on Dec 8th. - MySpace page
According to Eric Danton, Hartford Courant rock critic, Bruce Springsteen will be performing again in Hartford in early 2008. More details coming on Wednesday. Danton's column
The very latest in reality programming - Johnny Gumbo, friend/ festival co-ordinator/ Ph.D./ Rotarian/ Nascar aficionado/ snakecharmer/ philosopher/ rogue, is leaving Connecticut and is making his way to the Great Northwest in a sleek rented UHaul. Stay tuned for reports EXCLUSIVELY on johnnykmusic....
Episode #1 - After somewhat of a late start Monday morning, jg transgressed (not to be confused with transgendered- not that there's anything wrong with that) CT, NY, and all of PA without incident before settling in for the nite at a little roadside motel, aptly named the "Sleep Inn", outside the Tire Capital of the World, Akron, OH. He and his trucker buddies traded leads with their convoy stopping only once for gas ("Yes sir, that's right. $84 for a fill-up) and needed only 2 meals (breakfast: short stack, 2 scrambled, side sausage, OJ & coffee; dinner: chicken-fried steak with gravy, mashed pots, deep fried okra and cornbread). His traveling companion, Hattie the Parakeet, provided some harmony when jg would burst out in song to one of the several CD's played along the way (The Best of the Eagles, Vol. I, getting a double play) and seemed only slightly dazed at the end of the day's ride. Can she go the distance?
All in all a good start. And thanks to his packing buddies, Steve "Gotta stop for a smoke" Parsons, Ronnie "Let's pack it this way" Klein and Johnny "Just get it in the truck, gotta a Browns' game to go to" Kennedy, the load stayed put. One down, six to go. - Prologue
Rocket and the Muggs (here's a welcome home from the Detroit Free Press) were shown the door (no surprise, they had the weakest singers), but tonight's show was only one hour, with each band only doing Billy Joel covers, no originals. LAME! This eliminates the one element separating this from the other reality music shows. The karaoke format also plays to the pop bands, so Franklin Bridge's funk and Tres Bien's retro-British invasion style didn't translate well. On the other hand, Cliff Wagner overcame the problem with a great performance. The judges are getting weaker as the show progresses. This was VERY disappointing.
Clark Brothers (She's Got a Way)
Sixwire (She's Always a Woman)
Cliff Wagner & the Ole #7 (You May Be Right)
Franklin Bridge (Big Shot)
Tres Bien (Movin' Out)
Denver and the Mile High Orchestra (Tell Her About It)
Light of Doom (The Stranger)
Dot Dot Dot (Pressure)
Who should go next: DotDotDot/Light of Doom Who will: Denver&MHO/Cliff Wagner&Ole#7
"My bad," the Sawtelles email- After having been called on certain issues, the Sawtelles realize they gave some misleading information recently. They also now understand that a twelve-day lead-time does not cut it in the news and information world when fourteen days minimum is required of them. The free weekly papers of the world have a hard enough job to do without being misrepresented by the likes of us. Rock on.
During last night's UConn-Buffalo game, Bob Picozzi referenced Todd Rundgren to make a basketball point. Not to be outdone, Andy Katz offered that music discussions begin and end with Van (The Man) Morrison. Then, this morning, renown guitarist and sometimes baseball analyst Peter Gammons claimed he was becoming ill hearing Mike & Mike in the Morning's discussion of Abba.
Will Rocket get off the launching pad tonight on The Next Great American Band? Let's hope not. The eight surviving bands will play an original (their third so far) and a Billy Joel song.
When I saw you on 8th street You could make my life complete, baby Yeah, yeah, yeah You're my-my kind of a girl
And when I saw you by The jukebox, ow-ow You put a quarter in and played My favorite song too, baby Yeah, yeah, yeah You're my-my kind of a girl
I think we'd look pretty good together, Walking through a winter wonderland And this time I think it's forever I hope your parents understand When I saw you by the Peppermint Lounge You were lost but you've been found, baby Yeah, yeah, yeah You're my-my kind of a girl
Arrest in NYC ex-punk manager slaying (AP)
The personal assistant of Linda Stein, at the epicenter of the punk rock scene and later the "Realtor to the Stars," has been arrested in Stein's fatal bludgeoning at her Fifth Avenue apartment. Formal charges were pending against Natavia Lowery, said police spokesman Paul Browne. She "made statements implicating herself" in the killing, he said. Stein's daughter found her body the night of Oct. 30 face down in the living room of her $3 million apartment, where she lived alone. There were no signs of a break-in or robbery. An autopsy found that Stein, 62, died from blows to the head and neck.
Stein was a pioneer in New York's punk music scene, becoming a fixture at the legendary CBGB club in Manhattan and co-managing the influential punk band the Ramones. She was the ex-wife of Seymour Stein, the former president of Sire Records, the launching pad for the Ramones, Talking Heads and Madonna. Stein co-managed the Ramones during the band's heyday and is credited with bringing the group to England. She was dubbed a broker to the stars in the years after she quit rock 'n' roll for real estate, with celebrity friends and clients who included Madonna, Sting, Billy Joel, Steven Spielberg and Angelina Jolie. - additional story
As we strolled down the 17th fairway toward my tee shot nestled perilously close to the bunker (which I then pulled into the greenside bunker, blasted JUST out, chipped ten feet past the pin and sank a downhill putt for my bogie en route to a season-ending 77- yes, I shot The Strip), Keith asked what concerts were out there for us to consider. Let's see...
Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
Nov 11 (Sun) Marcia Ball/David Jacobs-Strain $22.50
Nov 12 (Mon) Marc Cohn/Amy Corriea $42.50
Dec 31 (Mon) Big Al's New Years featuring Al Anderson (2 shows) $75/$50 Calvin Theater, Northampton, MA
Mar 16 (Sun) Los Lobos/James Hunter Band $45/$35/$25 Cafe Nine
Vice Music is ecstatic to announce their newest signing, The Raveonettes. With three critically acclaimed releases under their belt and over 170,000 records sold in the US, the Danish rock duo will release Lust Lust Lust in early 2008, with a US tour to follow. The Raveonettes' Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo met in Copenhagen in 2001 and recorded their first EP, Whip it On. Soon after, Rolling Stone's David Fricke discovered them at Denmark's SPOT festival and his high praise gained the attention of major labels and magazines. Chain Gang of Love, the band's first full-length record, was released in 2003 and the follow up, Pretty in Black, in 2005.
The Raveonettes are recognized and praised for their signature blend of two part harmonies, lo-fi garage sound and 60s noir aesthetic. Comparisons have been drawn to everyone from the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Velvet Underground and Suicide to Buddy Holly, the Shangri-Las and Ronnie Spektor. In 2003, the Raveonettes' won a Danish Music Award when Whip It On was named "Best Album of the Year".
Please reply with all requests for interview, music, bio, and art.
(jk note: Is EVERYONE now being compared with the Shangrilas and Ronnie Spector??? JFK discovered these guys a few years ago. He and G-man caught their show at Southpaw in Brooklyn earlier this year. I'll get my questions together as quickly as possible for the interview)
Mandy's birthday bash featuring The Jellyshirts and The Sawtelles at 7pm tonight at Neverending Books on State Street in New Haven (near the flashing speed limit sign). Sawtelles are bringing brownies and rice+beans and heard Critelli is bringing the finest in brewskies and have on good authority other fine foods will be available. Bring a couple bucks donation for the store.
Amy Winehouse, assuming she can stay not dead, is ready to record her third album, the followup to the wonderful Back to Black. - article here
Those heartless heartland bastards apparently voted Brooklyn's The Hatch and The Likes of You off The Next Great American Band, leaving us to suffer through two songs by Rocket and Dot Dot Dot! The lead singer of The Hatch did not endear himself to middle America by offering, when asked how they felt about being axed, “I would like to say that America’s spoken, but I can’t really say that that’s really true. I think about three hundred people in Nebraska have spoken.” Graciously stated. He has a point. The ratings for this show suck, proving that it must be decent (although, with a Friday night timeslot, you really have to tape it and watch it later).
This week, the bands each played an original and an Elton John/Bernie Taupin song. Sixwire is giving the judges orgasms, but I just can't get into their style. Actually, Judge Johnny Goo Goo Doll is getting on my nerves, taking this mentoring thing WAY too seriously. AMAZING! Tres Bien was good again. The lead's voice is thin, but he deals well with it. Good, catchy retro-Yardbirds stuff. Franklin Bridge is baffling Dicko with overarranged performances. I think it is to deemphasize the lead's mediocre vocals. Very funky, love them. Cliff Wagner & Ole #7 made the cut and might have some shelf life after another solid performance, especially on Honky Cat. Another surprise, Denver and the Mile High Orchestra made a comeback with a very good performance as the LAST band to make it (they didn't say who the bottom vote-getters were). I was most disappointed with the Muggs, who may have sealed their fate with a brutally bad (they called it Muggsified) version of And That's Why They Call It the Blues and the judges killed them for the lack of good vocals (talk about a kick in the balls, Dicko told them the needed to become a foursome, "It's time to get a lead singer". OUCH!). Light of Doom was, of course, cute and will be on there forever. Dot Dot Dot is just annoying and Rocket's lead singer, Lauren Clark, just cannot sing. They try to sound and look hot, but she has one of the worst voices imaginable. wikipedia site - BuddyTV recap of show
My rankings after the second week:
The Clark Brothers (Country Comfort)
Franklin Bridge (Philadelphia Freedom)
Tres Bien (Love Lies Bleeding)
Sixwire (Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me)
Cliff Wagner & the Ole #7 (Honky Cat)
Denver & the Mile High Orchestra (I'm Still Standing)
The Muggs (I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues)
Light of Doom (Saturday Night's All Right For Fighting)
Dot Dot Dot (Your Song)
Rocket (Rocket Man)
Who should be voted off: Rocket/Dot Dot Dot Who will be voted off: The Muggs/Rocket
The Next Great American Band eliminates two (my guess Denver & the Mile High Orchestra/Cliff Wagner & the Old #7) of the twelve finalists tonight before the performances start. The remaining ten perform an original and a David Bowie song.
Well, I was wrong on all counts. The Likes of You and The Hatch were voted off, while everyone did Elton John/Bernie Taupin songs, not David Bowie. Boy, Rocket sucks.
Found this site a while back and put a link to it because this guy really knows his music. Each day, he posts ten tasty, eclectic songs from, I assume, his music collection. Check out his site here.
Cahl's Jukebox, 11-2-07 The daily mix: 1) Elvis Presley: "Burning Love" 2) Tony Joe White: "Old Man Willis" 3) Dion: "King of Hearts" 4) Mark Knopfler: "Boom, Like That" 5) Dave Alvin: "Abilene" 6) Alejandro Escovedo: "I Was Drunk" 7) Jim Lauderdale: "Divide and Conquer" 8) Lucero: "Coming Home" 9) Steve Earle: "Here I Am" 10) Billy Bragg: "Never Had No One Ever"
.....(or maybe it's just a vote for Sarah and the boys)
Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles have been nominated as part of the 2007 Boston Music Awards. You can vote for the band in the categories of - VOTE HERE!:
The Next Great American Band- 2nd week....Johnnykmusic's rankings after performances Friday night; each band performed a Bob Dylan song, then an original composition.:
Cliff Wagner & the Old #7 (Don't Think Twice, It's Alright)
Likes of You (Blowin' in the Wind)
Six Wire (Mr. Tambourine Man)
Dot Dot Dot (Like a Rolling Stone)
The Hatch (It's All Over Now, Baby Blue)
Denver & the Mile High Orchestra (Freight Train Blues)
Rocket (Knocking on Heaven's Door)
Light of Doom (All Along the Watchtower)
Hey, this show isn't bad (and I cite the bad ratings as proof of that)! Unlike much of the American Idol crap, these bands have been together for awhile, they must do their own originals, the judges are more informed, and there are no washed up celebrity mentors. A variety of styles are presented, although I could do without the cute, shirtless 13 year-old heavy metal band, Light of Doom. Unfortunately, they will be around for awhile, I fear. I was rooting for Denver & the Mile High Orchestra (with a young Danny Ainge out front), but they needed to knock some socks off and didn't at all. Cliff Wagner & the Old #7 (a very good bluegrass band)will be a casualty of its genre. Clark Brothers are great musicians and seem like they can do anything well. Philly's Franklin Bridge is, by far, the funkiest of the lot. I like retro-British invasion Tres Bien! (great stage presence/catchy tunes) and Detroit's The Muggs (guitar-based rock/blues). Tall, bald lead singer for Like of You has a great falcetto (not that there's anything WRONG with that!), but tries to show it off a bit too much. The all-chick punk band, Rocket, has been disappointing so far (lead singer's voice doesn't cut it). Nashville's Livewire is polished, tight and did a wonderful cover of Mr. Tambourine Man.
Who should be voted off - Light of Doom/Denver & the Mile High Orchestra Who will be voted off - Denver & the Mile High Orchestra/Cliff Wagner & the Old #7
CONCORD, N.H. - Republican John McCain contrasts images of Woodstock and his years as a Vietnam prisoner of war in a new television ad that pokes fun at Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The commercial, set to air on New Hampshire television Thursday, decries a proposal, since scrapped, to spend $1 million for a museum in Bethel, N.Y., site of the August 1969 rock festival. Clinton and her fellow New York senator, Chuck Schumer, had backed the plan. The ad highlights McCain's criticism of excessive Washington spending, reminds voters of the Arizona senator's decorated war record and shows off his humor. "A few days ago, Senator Clinton tried to spend $1 million on the Woodstock concert museum," McCain says in the ad, drawn from Sunday's debate on Fox News.
"Now my friends, I wasn't there. I'm sure it was a cultural and pharmaceutical event," he says as images of the crowd and dancing concertgoers are shown. Republican presidential rival Rudy Giuliani, his head thrown back, is shown laughing at the joke during the debate. - complete article
FRI 26th 6-9pm @ cj sparrow, rt 10 cheshire, for the happy hour slot. plenty of food and beverages to indulge in. SAT 27th: 9pm down in danbury at the ex- Hat City Ale House (The City Ale House), on main street. 3 bands, I assume we're on first. MON 29th: we're attending the beatnik halloween bash. I"ll have a new outift this year hoping it'll score the worst costume award. SAT Nov 3rd is Mandy's B'day Bash at Neverending Books, state street, near the flashing speed limit sign. all are welcome; bring something to eat or drink to share. Jellyshirts and Sawtelles are playing. you don't know Mandy? You prob have seen her out on the scene but just don't know her name. come out to help us all celebrate and put the face and name together. everyone else you know will be there so you should be there too. catch up with your friends and make new ones. eat. drink.
I had The Reet tape The Next Great American Band. It has some curiosity appeal, certainly more than American Idol. Enjoyed the variety of styles, the abbreviated performances, the judges' (Johnny Rzeznik, Sheila E. and Ian “Dicko” Dickson) reactions. The first show pared sixty bands down to twelve. Can do without the orchestrated drama of one band given a second chance, then let go anyway. - article. Next show has each band playing an original composition and a Dylan cover.
Here are the 12 finalists wikipedia page: * Cliff Wagner and the Ol’ #7 * The Clark Brothers * Denver and the Mile High Orchestra * Dot Dot Dot * Franklin Bridge * The Hatch * Light of Doom * The Likes of You * The Muggs * Rocket * Sixwire * Très bien!
From the tennessean.com - Holy cow. Dylan put on a stupendous show. He enunciated, he played guitar, he played keyboards, he interacted with his bandmates (including multi-instrumentalist Don Herron, who played for years across the alley from the Ryman at Robert’s Western World as a member of BR549), and his performance rang with humor and depth and musicality and all such good things. Jack White of the White Stripes showed up to help on a staggering, bluesy version of “Meet Me In The Morning,” and Elvis Costello played a surprise opening set. - complete review
Set List: “Leopard-Skin Pill Box Hat” “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” “Watching The River Flow” “You’re A Big Girl Now” “The Levee’s Gonna Break” “Spirit On The Water” “Desolation Row” “Working Man’s Blues #2” “Things Have Changed” “Most Likely You’ll Go Your Way and I’ll Go Mine” “Meet Me In The Morning” (with Jack White) “Highway 61 Revisited” “Nettie More” “Summer Days” “Masters of War” (encore) “Thunder on the Mountain” “Blowin’ in the Wind”
Country singer Danielle Peck was asked to sing the national anthem in Cleveland at the Indians/Red Sox playoff game, but Indians officials SWEAR they didn't know she was Josh Beckett's ex-girlfriend. Beckett was to pitch that night. - story
Lame interview at some hoedown, but here's Josh Beckett's ex-squeeze:
"I'm a-goin' home to Washington," Johnny Gumbo drawls as he strolls through downtown Southington one last time. "After all these years, I'm sick of the shit around here. Jesus, you can't even find a decent damn restaurant around," he growls, waving disgustedly at a noted Center Street eatery he is rumored to have frequented. "And then," he fumes, "if you ask a friend to freeload a truck for a mere six months or so, and who hasn't, he gives you a piece of CRAP! And they can stick that stupid Apple Harvest Festival up their ass, 'cause they ain't gonna have Johnny Gumbo to push around anymore. So, I've finally made up my mind. I'm goin' out West, where men are men and sheep are scared." Gumbo says that he's excited about his band's (The Johnny Gumbo Party Band) new album, which is getting rave reviews in obscure, pointless music blogs like the following:
Musicblogs-R-Us- After playing endless shows in the scumy coffee houses of Whocaresville, Washington in the 1960's, The Johnny Gumbo Party Band found themselves at the top of the the folk scene in 1969 with their debut album, This Thang Too Spicy For Ya?. The band's latest album, Western Horizons, hijacks Gumbo's poignant vocals with delicate finger-picked guitar to evoke simply stunning compositions. With standout tracks like "Accidents, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention," and "Intersections are overrated" dominating radio airwaves far and wide, The Johnny Gumbo Party Band is an essential addition to any music lover's library.
From Wolfgang's Vault, Meat Loaf @ the Bottom Line, New York, NY 11/29/1977 (late show) - concert here Mr. Loaf in a small setting before he hit the big time performing material from Bat Out of Hell, one of JK's all-time favorite albums (without apologies). Great songs of teen angst, great theatre. In addition, he does a version of Phil Spector's legendary non-hit, River Deep, Mountain High. Meat Loaf - vocals Steve Buslowe - bass Karla DeVito - vocals Rory Dodd - vocals Paul Glanz - keyboards Bob Kulick - guitar Bruce Kulick - guitar Joe Stefko - drums Jim Steinman - piano
Will there be gumbo in the state of Washington soon?
Is there really only one October? And, if so, is it important? Do Rocktober and Actober count?
Is anyone else really stoked about seeing FrankTV after seeing 450,000 promos for it?
Fionn Regan, who played with Lucinda Williams during her Town Hall gig, performs "Hunters Map" from the album The End of History on Late Night with Conan O'Brien tonight.
The Noisettes - pay attention. They will be appearing at Irving Plaza in NYC on Thursday with, among others, Fionn Regan.
I stumbled upon this article about a series on My Damn Channel; thought you might be interested.
Two years after breached levees caused flooding that devastated New Orleans, comedian/political satirist Harry Shearer and My Damn Channel return to the city after the networks and The President have gone. Shearer, who is a longtime New Orleans resident, debuts “Crescent City Stories,” a five-week series that features four local residents whose stories each tell a different side of post-Katrina New Orleans.
The Reet's friend, Louise, is going to the United Palace in NYC tonight to see Van Morrison for the second of three sold-out shows. Very jealous.
New York Times pop/rock listings: VAN MORRISON/BOBBY (BLUE) BLAND (Friday through Sunday) Through the years since he had hits with songs like “Brown-Eyed Girl” and “Moondance,” Van Morrison has lent his Irish soul to blues and Celtic music, country and R&B. Lately his live shows have been like visits to some suave late-1950s lounge where historical eras dissolve. Bobby (Blue) Bland, the longtime soul singer who’s opening the concerts, should keep him on his toes; despite some gaps in his voice, Mr. Bland can still ache and implore in ways that rival those of any singer alive. At 7 p.m., United Palace, 4140 Broadway, at 175th Street, Washington Heights, (212) 568-5260, theunitedpalace.com; $79 to $254. (Pareles)
Here is a YouTube clip of Van from The Last Waltz doing Radio with The Band:
Run for Your Life! It’s the 50 Worst Songs Ever! (Blender Magazine) Some have crap-tastic melodies. Others are wretchedly performed. And quite a few don’t make any sense whatsoever. Blender removes its earplugs to present the 50 tunes we love to hate. - complete listing
Here are top top (bottom?) ten: #10 PAUL McCARTNEY AND STEVIE WONDER “Ebony and Ivory” 1982 #9 MADONNA “American Life” 2003 #8 EDDIE MURPHY “Party All the Time” 1985 #7 BOBBY McFERRIN “Don’t Worry Be Happy” 1988 #6 HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS “The Heart Of Rock & Roll” 1984 #5 VANILLA ICE “Ice Ice Baby” 1990 #4 LIMPBIZKIT Rollin’” 2000 #3 WANG CHUNG “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” 1986 #2 BILLY RAY CYRUS “Achy Breaky Heart” 1992 #1 STARSHIP “We Built This City” 1985
johnnyk: Hey, I kinda liked Party All the Time, and Don't Worry was only painful after being played to death. It's the self-importance of some of the others that is so annoying. And where, by the way, is I Am, I Said?
Maybe Sting should start writing more instrumentals. The school teacher-turned-rock star topped Blender's list of the worst lyricists, thanks to lines that betray "mountainous pomposity (and) cloying spirituality," the music magazine said.
The survey, contained in the November issue that hits newsstands next week, placed Rush drummer Neil Peart at No. 2, Creed frontman Scott Stapp at No. 3, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher at No. 4, and soft-rocker Dan Fogelberg at No. 5. Want More Sonic Horrors? Blender assailed Sting for such alleged sins as name-dropping Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov in the Police tune "Don't Stand So Close to Me," quoting a Volvo bumper sticker ("If You Love Someone Set Them Free"), and co-opting the works of Chaucer, St. Augustine and Shakespeare. A spokeswoman for the English rocker, who is currently in Belgium on the Police's reunion world tour, did not respond to a request for comment.
Blender described Canadian rocker Peart's lyrics as "richly awful tapestries of fantasy and science," and said Gallagher "seemed incapable of following a metaphor through a single line, let alone a whole verse." Further down the ranks, Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant (No. 23) was derided for his Tolkienesque musings on Gollum and Mordor in "Ramble On." Carly Simon (No. 31) was mocked for rhyming "yacht," "apricot" and "gavotte" in "You're So Vain." Paul McCartney made No. 38, thanks in part to "Ebony and Ivory," his socially conscious duet with Stevie Wonder . - article
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I happened to google Farquahr and came across your wonderful area. I wanted to add something to your lyrics that were posted for "My eggs don't taste the same without you". In between the two sections you wrote out I remember:
No more good morning kiss No more I love you No more laughs how the dog bit the paper boy kid My wasn't that good news?
I haven't heard that song in about 40 years! Thanks for the memories. Rita in Chicago
My wife, a cousin (Purcell) to the McGowan boys, spent some of her early life in Branford and was especially close to Dennis who was her age. We had the privilege of attending a Farquahr concert at a pub in Essex back in '69. Dennis passed away a few years ago of cancer. One brother, Bobby, is still going strong, and we've visited with him a time or two in the past couple of years, most recently at a Purcell Family reunion in Branford this summer. Bobby is a great guy, and when we visited he was in the process of closing up the antique car restoration activities he and his brothers shared over the years. Standing in his "office" and trying to take in all the memorabilia which covered all possible surfaces in that room was pretty overwhelming and nostalgic. Somebody really should put a little friendly pressure on Bobby to chronicle The Fabulous Farquahrs!!
Is it much to demand I want a full house and a rock and roll band Pens that won't run out of ink And cool quiet and time to think
Shouldn't I have all of this, and Passionate kisses
Well, Lucinda had a full house and a great rock and roll band Thursday night at Town Hall in NYC to close out her bi-coastal sets of five complete-album shows. Since Lucinda Williams (self-titled, released in 1988) is Keith's favorite, and since it was the first chronologically of the albums she's covering (she is not doing Ramblin' or Happy Woman Blues), AND since she's doing them in reverse order, we get the last date of the tour. I think that is a GREAT thing because she should pull out all the stops.
The Metro North 3:35pm out of New Haven gets us into Grand Central before 5:30pm, which allows us plenty of time to walk the few blocks west to Tony's DiNapoli, located just a few doors from Town Hall, for dinner. We also have time to briefly check out the Casablanca, the hotel Sharie picked out for overnight, but instead opted to buy a 56" TV (it was cheaper!). Nice digs. Leisurely dinner of grilled shrimp, fetticini with artichokes and chicken saltimbocca shared amongst the foursome. The Reet befriends some guys over at the bar while checking out the Yankees/Indians, while we order some espresso and cappucino to finish off the meal. Johnny Damon homers to lead off the game; life is good. The Reet and I retire to a bar right next to Town Hall to watch the Yanks until showtime while Keith/Sharie go to the M&M's store.
OPPS! It's showtime! Keith comes rushing into the bar to get us because Lucinda has started the show without an opening set from Fionn Regan! We rush to our seats (orchestra right, row J) just as she completes the first cut, I Just Wanted To See You So Bad. Great seats! Lu has her regular guys, Doug Pettibone on guitar, David Sutton on Bass, Butch Norton on drums as well as Chet Lyster on hand for guitars/pedal steel. Before each song, Lucinda gives us some tidbits of background information, then launches into them, but often halts mid-song to change key or whatever. Charming at first ("LU, we love you anyway!" a fan cries adoringly), it becomes annoying after awhile, almost like we are being played a bit. But the songs sound great and the band is tight. Only the closing I Asked For Water (He Gave Me Gasoline) was suspect because Lu can't get the old voice to flutter at certain ranges needed for the song, despite backing help from Susan Marshall, a redheaded Memphis gal who is introduced as a backup singer for Cat Power). Nonetheless, great set! LW promises great fun and guests for the second set. Standing ovation.
Intermission allows us to dash next door only to find the Yanks down 11-3. Damn! In the lobby, I bought the concert CD (to be picked up after the show).
Back in our seats for the second set. Lucinda announces that the chap standing next to her, Fionn Regan from her Lost Highway label, would perform. Oh, ok. He's a "Dylan-esque singer-songwriter" (oh God, isn't EVERYONE?) from Ireland. The audience is bored; he leaves to polite applause after one song. Lucinda and the band wander back on stage and the audience energy level jumps. "I wanna thank this guy for ridin' over here on his bike to help me out tonight - DAVID BYRNE!" Byrne appears, looking very fit and cool, straps on a guitar and launches into Buck Naked (see video clip below). The Talking Heads icon sounds fabulous, the crowd goes wild and Williams is visibly giddy. Keith/Sharie were telling us of these odd-looking dudes, hookers and genderbending peeps hanging out front earlier, one with just butterfly wings on. Well, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome David Johansen! Sharie yells over, "Hey, that's one of those guys!" Not Mr. Butterfly, though. He duets a very cool Jailhouse Tears with LW and the band. Susan Marshall avoids Joplin cliches with her outstanding version of Big Brother & the Holding Company's Little Piece of My Heart and Jim Lauderdale takes time off from thanking Lucinda (endlessly) and does some very tasty alt-country. We are expecting lots of stuff from West, but get very little. No hard sell here, Lu has everyone up and singing along with the encore closer, Talking Heads' Take Me To the River. House lights up, that's it. LOVED IT.
Streak the few blocks to Grand Central and catch the 11:22 to New Haven. Tired. Very Satisfied.
Runaway Jim, responding to a post of 5/10/07, asks:
I'm not sure how active this blog is still or how much you're still getting info on the Farquahr, but I emailed you and I emailed John Wood (his address no longer works, unfortunately) trying to find more info. I grew up in Branford and remember seeing them a few times at the Branford Festival. A good friend of mine lived down the street from Danny MacGowan, a nephew of the MacGowan's. I'm looking to find some of their music in a format other than vinyl (CD would be ideal). Is there any way to get a copy of anything anymore or is it all lost in music history?
Saw a post somewhere with the work "Farquahr" and immediately thought of the band. It brings back memories of my youth (though I'm not that old at 28). I used to hang out with a kid when i was about 12-13 who lived down the street from one of the MacGowan's nephews. We used to listen to tapes of the band. The only song that really sticks out in my mind went something like "Stick with the dogs, they're man's best friend. You'll always get a little action." Do you have any information about the band or where I might be able to find some recordings (preferably CD if they exist) or somewhere I might be able to find the info? I grew up in Branford, spending most of my life there, though I'm in Providence, RI now. I remember the band would play occasionally at the Branford Festival on the town green. I remember an Italian song they sang with a guy dressed up like an Italian chef. They were tons of fun. I think I actually lived down the street from where they stored/worked on their antique cars.
Our ever-hip Governor Jody Rell has officially proclaimed October 2, 2007 to be Bruce Springsteen Day in Connecticut. The Boss (Bruce, not Jody) kicks off his Magic tour tonight at the luxurious Civic Center in downtown Hartford. Ran into Todd/Liz at Slider's on their journey to the concert. Will try to get a report while playing golf with Todd on Wednesday.
POST-SHOW: Bruce kills them in Hartford! Eric Danton review "...And then it happened, on “Night”: the Rock ’n’ Roll Moment. It’s that spark when an instant frozen in time seems to suddenly unspool, when the whole band locks in, turns a corner together and just takes off. Little Steven Van Zandt’s over sharing the microphone with Springsteen, Clemons plants himself like an anchor and pumps his lungs into that sax, bassist Gary Tallent bops in the back and drummer Max Weinberg holds it all together with no-frills rhythm."
A popular channel destination during commercials, pitching changes or just plain boredom has, in the past year, been The Tube Music Network. Although not a groundbreaking concept, its "...presentation (was) honest, intelligent and respectful of music and the people who love it." However, tonight, at channel 810, I was greeted with the news that The Tube had ceased operations. A trip to its website yields the following message:
Dear friend of THE TUBE Music Network,
We regret to inform you of the fate that has befallen The Tube Music Network. October 1, 2007 The Tube ceased its national broadcast.
Viewers, Artists, Music Companies, Investors, Business Partners, TV stations, Cable companies, Advertisers , Friends and our creative partners @Radical Media - your support of The Tube has always been highly valued and appreciated. The collective efforts of this team, fueled by the letters we received from viewers, sustained THE TUBE as it struggled through the financial limitations that ultimately contributed to its incapacitated state.
Thank you for inviting The Tube Music Network into your life.
Unconfirmed rumors have the trendy new bistro soon to open its doors in downtown Southington featuring Johnny Gumbo's Sweet Louisiana Gumbo, described thusly:
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