Steve Forbert may be back with a new album, but my sentimental favorite of the late 70s new Dylans was Willie Nile, who is still out there touring. (He made his way to England at least once in the last few years.) I’d love to do a series of EPB posts on all of the …
The last year has been a sad one in music. Amy Winehouse, Bert Jansch, Andrea True, Keef Hartley, Don Cornelius, Whitney Houston, Ronnie Montrose, Dick Clark, Levon Helm, Donald Dunn, Adam “MCA” Yauch, Donna Summer and now Robin Gibb have passed away. It is truly sad to lose these great talents, but sadder yet is …
In recent seasons, American Idol has gone for a down-home kinda of singer. Also they haven’t had a female winner since Jordan Sparks in 2007. So, no, Jessica Sanchez will not be your next American Idol. All recent winners have been, IMO, quirky: David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze and Scotty McCreery. With Joshua out …
For me and countless others, Donna Summer will always be the Queen of Disco. Her reign was unique and absolute. She exemplified everything good about an era that was known better for its hedonistic ways. I first heard Donna Summer when she was still in Germany working with her mentor, Giogio Morodor. At that point, …
[Your comments are appreciated, what are some other great moments from Nick Lowe’s career? Please join in below.] For my money, “Bring the Family” by John Hiatt (1987) is Nick Lowe’s production highlight. Lowe’s production of this record (like most of his productions) perfectly suits Hiatt’s songs and arrangements. Only the barest production tricks and …
[Update 4/19/2012 – On his website, the family of Levon Helm has announced, “Levon Helm passed peacefully this afternoon. He was surrounded by family, friends and band mates and will be remembered by all he touched as a brilliant musician and a beautiful soul.” The material below was posted earlier in the week, prior to …
“I put out a song about the way things are called ‘Troubled Land’ to give folks the news like Woody Guthrie used to do with his music,” John Mellencamp said in a statement on a political blog. Woody Guthrie? Really? Ironically, that’s the sense I felt about this song when I first heard it. “Troubled …
Every year, we are bombarded by “Best Of” lists including my own submitted here on the East Portland Blog. However in hindsight, as much as the best of the 2011 albums (sorry, I still call them that) made me very happy and satisfied, I need to warn you of the bottom-of-the-barrel, waste of plastic, what-were-they-thinking…Crap …
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake Alternative Singer/Songwriter Matana Roberts – Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens de couleur libres Avant-Garde Jazz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-Hpu9Llpw8 Steven Wilson – Grace for Drowning Progressive Rock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrwSEhBnJ-A Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues Indie Folk Kate Bush – 50 Words for Snow Art Rock St. Vincent – Strange Mercy Art Rock Haken …
January 14 – Arab Spring: Toppling of Tunisian Government marked the beginning of the Arab Spring. The Arab Spring otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world against oppressive regimes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p9NJVgqgW8 March 11 – A 9.1-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the east of …
Thus far, they’ve been snubbed. Legendary progressive rock band Rush has never been nominated for the Rock’n Roll Hall of Fame. Here are 18 reasons why they should be included in that great museum in Cleveland: 1. Mike Swanson – They’re Canadian. 😀 Seriously though, not only does Rush rock, but they have had an …
The Flirtations had it all… the excitement, the gorgeous mod pop styles, great harmonies, and hot pop songs and arrangements. Everything but a hit record, but a fateful UK trip would change all that. Originally calling themselves the Gypsies, sisters Shirley, Betty and Ernestine Pearce, and Viola Billups, hailed from South Carolina. Starting in 1964, …
FAIRPORT CONVENTION was formed in 1967 by Richard Thompson (guitar & vocals), Simon Nicol (guitar & vocals, viola), Ashley Hutchings (bass), Judy Dyble (vocals) and Martin Lamble (drums). Ian Matthews (vocals & guitar). Fairport Convention played a mixture of Folk-Rock influenced by British-Folk, American-Folk-Rock, Blues, Country, Cajun and American songwriters like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, …
This just in from Eduard P. Gomez: “Chris Clark was one of the small group of white women signed to Motown in it’s heyday. While not very sucessful here, she made a splash in the UK, especially with the Northern Soul crowd.” *****************************************************************