Two From Tuesday

Notes From The New Release Show

Two bands from last night's show I thought needed another mention:

Well, let’s get things kicked off with a new disc from John Ralston. John was forced into a solo career when his former band, Legends Of The Rodeo, met their demise because of a Label Split. John ended up with no contract, no label and no outlet for his music. His luck changed upon meeting a production engineer, Michael Seamen, and they began working together in Seaman’s Tennessee home studio. The end product is the album SORRY VAMPIRE. It’s a lush collection of finely penned tunes including the one I played last night, “I Guess I Wasted My Summer Now.”

Let’s keep things moving here with the first full-length release from the Dutch Band, Racoon. The CD is titled ANOTHER DAY and was released in Europe last year and they are searching for new life here in the states. They struck a distribution deal with the Red Eye label; they handle Paul Weller, and have a transatlantic tour scheduled with the Lemonheads starting this December. It’s a pleasant little album and has the Gin Blossoms written all over it, in a good way. I ended up playing the quasi-title track “Lose Another Day.”

See you next Tuesday - TK

U2 Surrender All at Red Rocks

Last night's awful Ravens game in Pittsburgh was matched equally only by the awful weather. It was pouring sheets of rain and fog shrouded Heinz Field. But, trying to look at the glass half full despite the pitiful outcome for my favorite football team, last night's weather coupled with a rabid crowd got me to thinking about my favorite live album of all time, UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY.

Fog and a cold rain enveloped Red Rocks Amphitheater on June 5, 1983, the day four Irish lads took the stage amidst lighted torches and an eager crowd, and blasted out one of the most passionate performances ever recorded in rock and roll history. In fact Rolling Stone named U2's Red Rock performance as one of the "50 Moments That Changed Rock and Roll."

Though, only two of the songs taped at Red Rocks actually made the album, the video of the show captured U2 at the cusp of being something way more than four guys banging on instruments. Plus, it gave us the Bono Mullet.