Touring + Tourism

Props to Australian indie rock outfit Youth Group for showing the Towson/Baltimore area some love last weekend. Though the closest they performed was at The Black Cat in D.C., they took an overnight detour to catch the Orioles at Camden Yards and visit The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum on North Avenue. Then it was off to the gig (via a trip to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum) to deliver up songs from their latest album, Casino Twilight Dogs, including their the-words-are-all-the-same-but-the-tune-is-totally-different cover of “Forever Young.”

Guest Blogger Drew's Amazing Experience

Something remarkable happened to WTMD listener Drew the other night and we asked to tell us about it...Here's Drew....

Last week my friend Adam and I scored tickets to see Robert Randolph & the Family Band at the Recher Theatre in Maryland. It was an invite-only show, sponsored by Jack Daniels. So we headed to Towson on a chilly evening with our friends Julie and Phil in tow.

We arrived early and got right in the front row of the crowd for the show. Midway through, Robert strapped on a guitar and then looked out into the audience and pointed at his guitar. He glanced in my direction and I must’ve given some sort of gesture that indicated “oh please, pick me”, because he gave me the nod.

I hopped up on stage, and their roadie handed me a Gibson Les Paul guitar. I shook hands with Robert and asked him what key they were playing in. He yelled back “A!” and then we were off and rolling. I have been playing guitar for 9 years and performing publicly for over a year, but of course nothing prepared me for that experience. To be sitting in with Robert and his band, just like Eric Clapton has...well, it was surreal.

For 3 incredible minutes, I wasn't a programmer analyst in the healthcare industry; I was a rockstar. I can barely remember what I played up there, but the crowd seemed to enjoy it. At the end, Robert introduced me at the mic and I took a bow, and then practically floated off the stage. An unforgettable evening.

Thanks to Jim C. for the photo of Drew on Stage with Robert

I Want To Go To The Brit Awards Next Year

About the only good thing about the impending storm this weekend was I got a chance to watch the Brit 2007 Awards on BBC America. I'm a sucker for awards show from the Oscars on down to the People Choice Awards. But I got to tell you...the Brits Rock!

The sets were so incredibly well designed and colorful. The host, Russel Brand, was a stitch! It was taped at Erols Court.

Scissor Sisters opened the show strung up like puppets dancing as they played 'Don't Feel Like Dancing' and Joss Stone presented James Morrison with the Best Male Brit Award (he was in good company with Paolo Nutini, Thom Yorke, Lemar and Jarvis Cocker). Snow Patrol gave an amazing performance. And if you like 60's Nancy Sinatra like sets, then you have to see Amy Winehouse's performance of Rehab. Click here to see it.

I'll try not to give too much away, but I checked the BBC America Schedule and the show repeats over the weekend and once on Monday at 1 pm. So be quick and set your DVR! or click here to see some other great video performances from the show.

Oh--The show was taped in February..How did I miss Robbie Williams going into rehab!

The Amazing Paddy McAloon

Perhaps the best songwriter you never heard before is a guy from Newcastle, England ranked by his peers in the same pantheon with Elvis Costello and Cole Porter. No kidding!
When Fountains of Wayne were in a few weeks ago, Adam, Chris and I talked about our mutual affection for frontman Paddy McAloon and his band PreFab Sprout.
Hardly known in the US, save for a few diehards like me, Paddy created some of the dreamiest, wittiest allegories of sweet pop songs…ever! The Sprouts turned out brilliant records I will never tire of. The last original Prefab Sprout record came out in 2001, but any future plans were put on hold given the sad news that Paddy was suffering from a rare form of hearing loss. Word is, he’s on the mend. Until Paddy, the Comeback, if you want to hear absolutley brilliant songwriting packaged in, ironically sugar coated romantic gems…check out two of the best albums of the 80’s and 90’s, respectively….TWO WHEELS GOOD (originally, STEVE MCQUEEN, but dropped here in the States for legal reasons) and the concept album, the Elvis-inspired JORDON THE COMEBACK. From TWO WHEELS, enjoy this video of Johnny Johnny.

Truely A Solo Artist!

Since the release of his new self-titled album, I have been privately obsessed with Ben Kweller.
The songs are instantly recongnizable and I have been caught singing them to myself.

Kweller also took it upon himself to do this solo album completely alone!
Playing all the instruments and rockin' out!

Now it seems that he's also an aspiring videographer.
Just watch this video of Ben Kweller's Grandma, Bubbie, for the song
'Penny on the Train Track.'

Robots Love Spoon

On their website Marek Michalowski and Hideki Kozima write, "BeatBots is a project to develop technologies and methodologies for human-robot interaction that incorporate the rhythmic properties of human interactive behavior."

Translation: these guys have created a robot that dances to Spoon. Dances crazy-good, in fact.

(For your convenience here's the YouTube clip, though the dancing is slightly smoother at the above site. Also, these BeatBots should not be confused with Beatbots, an online zine produced by Baltimore & Washington-area pop culture enthusiasts.)

Rock Room Service

Fascinating lineup at The Rock & Roll Hotel last night that nicely managed to span much of the indie spectrum. Locals Junior League kicked off with folky, banjo-driven rock. Eric Elbogen’s band Say Hi To Your Mom followed up with witty, fuzzy tunes, especially from Impeccable Blahs, Elbogen’s concept album about vampires. +/- played really complicated mathy songs, with a lot of 5/4 and 7/8 beats. And headliners Bishop Allen rocked enthusiastically. For a taste, you can check out Junior League's adorable slide show or catch this clip of another Bishop Allen performance.

No More "Waiting For a Miracle" in DC

It was a soul-stirring Friday night at the Washington National Cathedral- the inaugural show for the Musician's Project- a live music showcase that aims to bridge the gap between spiritual life and popular music. You couldn't ask for a better ambassador for that goal than Bruce Cockburn! I had a feeling the Cathedral's acoustics would provide the perfect chime for one of the fastest, most melodic guitar virtuosos of our time, but I had no idea how profound lyrics to songs like WONDERING WHERE THE LIONS ARE, DUST AND DIESEL and BEAUTIFUL CREATURES (off his new one, "Life Short, Call Now") would carry in the church. People were moved to tears during the latter. For a night, the Cathedral became the Church of social justice, peace and protection of all things precious. It just seemed being in this beautiful, historic setting in the Center of Power of the Western World and listening to a man who has, over his long career, become sort-of a musical journalist and champion for the Third World was the right juxtaposition. They announced the next show (though, it's still not "official" yet). Looks like Sheryl Crow will be the next to rock the church...on Earth Day! Stay tuned for details

Backwards Music Video

Is it me or is the internet becoming the only place music videos are seen?

I happened to catch this one by MuteMath for their single "Typical"



also here is The Hold Steady's latest video "Stuck Between Stations"

Having a Great Life

People often debate the commercialization of music, but I’m a big fan of the musicalization of commercials. I’m psyched when I hear a song I love (The Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights”), am reminded of a song I’d forgotten (Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky”), or am woken up to an artist I didn’t know before (Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon”).

Perhaps Goat (Andrew Rosen) falls into one of those categories for you. The title track to his 1998 Great Life album has been popping up in recent car commercials. So if you’ve been singing along to those upbeat lyrics (Start having a…great life / It’s about living with inspiration) you can find more about him at his website or his MySpace page.

PS: Meanwhile, on the humor front, what if the Beatles were Irish?

Damnwells Documentary

Attention Damnwells fans - Golden Days, a documentary on the Damnwells has been selected to be featured at the Phoenix Film Festival this April from the 12th - 19th.

If you've ever wondered what it's like to be in a rock band - without all the glamor...this is the documentary you'll want to see. Here's a quote from lead-singer Alex Dezen about the film:

“It almost seems a little too coincidental that right at the moment Chris showed up, the band's career went into a tailspin. In the months that immediately followed the production of Air Stereo my girlfriend left me, everyone moved out of Brooklyn, the drummer's wife had a baby, and the band was released from our deal with Epic Records”

Here's a sample clip from the documentary:

and their new video for "I Am a Leaver"

Virgin Festival

An expanded, two-day Virgin Festival returns to Pimlico Race Course August 4-5. The Police, Smashing Pumpkins and Beastie Boys will headline.

Here's a link with some more details.

I've Found My Summer Record!

We got an advance copy of Traffic and Weather from Fountains of Wayne the other day.

WOW this is the record I'll be listening to all summer long. Deliciously juvenile, Traffic and Weather details the love, lust and infatuation on the highways, at the airports and any other mode of travel you might imagine.

Remember your first car? '92 Subaru is all about the teenage pride of your first tricked out, impress the gang symbol of America. This song alone took me back to my teenage days and my '76 Grand Prix SJ with Burgundy Velour Buckets, a 440-Four Barrel, and 8-Track and Moon Roof.

Musically, you'll find every Modern Rock cliche delightfully mixed into a frenzy of energy that's gonna get you moving, chanting, and feeling dang good all summer long. I'm already lobbying Mike to make Traffic and Weather a CD of the Week. You all just got to hear this record! Its hits the stores on April 3rd and you should pre-order this one or get on a waiting list somewhere because the sooner you get it, the sooner your summer will begin!

There's more info about the band at their website.

Rest in Peace: Brad Delp

Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus

While I was channel surfing last night I stumbled upon something called "Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus" on MPT. The name pretty much describes it all. The Rolling Stones along with a slew of other artists performed in a replica circus tent. The performance took place in December of 1968 and included performances by Jethro Tull, The Who, Taj Mahal, The Stones, and a band I had never heard of called "Dirty Mac." This supergroup consisted of Eric Clapton on lead guitar, John Lennon on lead vocals and guitar, Keith Richards on bass, and Mitch Mitchell on drums.

Some notable things to mention about the show:

1. It was the last public performance Brian Jones made with the Stones.
2. It was the first time John Lennon had played publicly without any of the other Beatles.
3. Tommy Iommi, guitarist from Black Sabbath, played with Jethro Tull as he was part of the band for a few weeks.
4. The performance wasn't released until the mid 90's. The Stone said that they didn't release the footage because they were exhausted and it showed. Others say that The Who upstaged them and that The Stones didn't want people to see that.

I'm glad I caught it as I thought it was great and a lot of fun seeing these legends when they were in their 20's. I hope you check out the performance Dirty Mac put on of "Yer Blues"