Blog | Music: Mixed Media Online

Live From Stony Brook

The University Café Acoustic Series, hosted by Charlie Backfish at Stony Brook University, is going out with a bang this spring, before it returns in the fall. James Maddock, formerly of the band Wood, will appear on Sunday, April 21st at 2 PM. Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby, in the most eclectic bill of the series, happens on Sunday, May 5th at 7 PM. The series closes out on Saturday, May 11th at 8 PM with Bob Dylan’s 72nd Birthday Celebration with The Kennedys, Rod MacDonald, Russ Seeger, Steve Kaplan, Bill Herman, Brian Kachejian and additional guests. Backfish is the host of Sunday Street, which is broadcast on WUSB (90.1) every Sunday morning from 9 AM until 11:30 AM.

Long Island: Music Row

The Kennedys, Russ Seeger and Bill Herman are coming off the success of two albums. Herman is the co-owner with Tom Crawford of Long Island-based Paradiddle Records. In the past year, the label released two of its most successful albums: The Kennedys-produced Trouble In The Fields: An Artists’ Tribute to Nanci Griffith, featuring the likes of Jerry Jeff Walker, John Stewart, Julie Gold and Carolyn Hester, among others, and the latest solo album from Russ Seeger, Live In Peace. The Griffith tribute is the label’s most high-profile and successful release to date and the Seeger album is the best solo album of his distinguished career.

Paradiddle will also be releasing the second release from Butchers Blind, Destination Blues. The album is destined to launch the band nationally and prove further that Paradiddle is emerging as one of the most important independent American labels on the scene today.

New Kid Back in Town?

Even though spring is barely here, the summer concert season is starting to take shape. One of the hottest rumors is the Eagles summer reunion tour will include a former member of the group added to the lineup of Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit. Don Henley, who will release a solo album prior to the tour, hinted it may be original member Bernie Leadon. A review of the latest Joe Walsh album is included in the March Mixed Media Playlist. Two other Eagles recently released solo albums. Glenn Frey croons standards on After Hours (Hip-O) and former Eagle Don Felder, like Walsh, also puts on a rock guitar clinic with Road to Forever (Forever Road). 

Crescent City Serenade

Music guaranteed to chase away the cold winds of March is the 4-CD box set 50th Anniversary Collection from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on Legacy. The box includes the classics of this great New Orleans institution, as well as previously unreleased material. The guests include a broad range of musicians, such as Tom Waits, Andrew Bird and Pete Seeger.

Trench Town Rock

Another box guaranteed to turn the cold late winter/early spring into summer is Reggae Golden Jubilee from VP Records. The four-CD box is one of the most comprehensive overviews of the history of reggae music. The 100-song selection was chosen by Jamaica’s former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga. It marks the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence. The limited-edition box includes a 64-page booklet.

Carry On

A DVD/2-CD set that will conjure up images of summer is 2012 from Crosby, Stills and Nash on CSN Records. Filmed in California in 2012, this is the trio’s first concert film in 20 years. The set includes bonus material including an interview with all three members, as well as interviews on the road with the band and crew.

When the invitation to the Led Zeppelin press conference inauspiciously arrived in my e-mail in-box, it almost seemed like a joke, or spam. The three surviving members of Led Zeppelin—Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones—and Jason Bonham, son of the band’s late drummer John, all in the same room seemed too good to be true. In fact, it was true and when my e-mail confirmation arrived with a date, a time and a place precisely detailed, I simply printed it out and began the short countdown.

The press conference and film screening took place at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, wisely on a Tuesday, when the museum is closed. The event started off with a screening of a new film entitled Celebration Day (the title taken from a song on III) recently released on Swan Song/Atlantic in nine different vinyl/CD/DVD/Blu-ray configurations. The film, masterfully directed by Dick Carruthers, a veteran of U.K. music documentaries and concert films, is beautifully photographed and captures the band at the height of its musical powers.

The film is taken from the band’s 2007 reunion tribute concert for Atlantic Records’ founder Amhet Ertegun at the O2 Arena in London. While the band briefly appeared at its Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 1995, performed at the Atlantic Records anniversary concert in 1988 and at Live Aid in 1985, this is by far its best post-breakup performance.

The jaded crowd of record company honchos and New York rock radio veterans and journalists hooted, hollered and clapped as if they were seeing the band live back in the day at the Fillmore East. Carol Miller, the veteran New York rock DJ, whose new memoir Up All Night (Ecco) in many parts details her love affair with the band and time spent with Robert Plant in particular, attended the O2 show and the press conference. On her nightly show on Q 104.3, she does her “Get the Led Out” segment. After seeing the film, she said, “I liked Celebration Day more than The Song Remains the Same,” the group’s 1976 concert film. Eddie Kramer, who worked behind the boards on four of the group’s studio albums, engineered most of Jimi Hendrix’s albums and worked with the Beatles, Traffic, Derek & the Dominos and Humble Pie, has not seen the film. However, in terms of the group calling it a day, he said, “It’s about bloody time. They’ve said it all. They know what they’re doing.”

The press conference itself was both a classic rock love-fest and a contentious boxing match between the group and a few members of the press. There were also plenty of moments of levity. When asked how it felt looking at the group’s original concert film The Song Remains the Same, Plant said, “I used to be better looking than this.” He also asked, “Whatever happened to the blond chick?” On a more serious note, Plant fondly recalled his time with Ahmet Ertegun, when the band recorded for Atlantic. “Ahmet was a vinyl junkie,” Plant began. In regard to being signed to the label, he said, “It didn’t matter what happened after that because everybody hated you. Ahmet became quite attached to us. He liked the after-show relaxations that we had.”

As for the tribute concert for Ahmet, Plant indicated that initial talks for the show included a possible appearance by the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton reforming Cream. Plant recalled “wonderful times, talking (with Ahmet) about everyone from Coltrane and the Modern Jazz Quartet to Ratt and White Lion,” with Plant making a face that clearly indicated his disdain for such heavy-metal posers as the latter two groups.

The question that seemed to cause the most consternation was whether the group would head out on the road for a full-scale tour. Plant in particular tried to skirt the issue, or not even answer at all, and instead merely stared off into space with a blank look on his face. After side-stepping the question, he said vaguely, “We were thinking about all sorts of things but we couldn’t remember what they were.” It’s interesting that no one asked about whether the group would do any new recordings. Miller surmised why there are no further shows. “Jimmy Page has been on a mission for years to get Zeppelin to perform again,” she stated. As for Plant, she said, “Robert Plant doesn’t want to tour. He wants to establish himself as a musicologist and get into these art forms of music.” Kramer talked about working with Page to get the group’s sound down on tape in the studio. He recalled when he was working on the group’s second album, II, at A&R Studios in New York and mixing the album in two days over a weekend. “He’s thinking so far ahead down the road, it’s like a fantastic chess game that has all these musical pieces attached to it,” he stated. The group’s third album, III, was recorded at Mick Jagger’s home Stargroves in England, using the Rolling Stones’ mobile recording gear. Kramer remembers “sounds coming together quickly and tracking the guitars outside on the lawn.” It was there that parts of the group’s later release Physical Graffiti were also recorded.

In regard to the quality of the benefit concert experience, Plant said, “We were propelled by Jason: By his enthusiasm and his dark glasses.” He went on to poke fun at Bonham due to his extensive Led Zeppelin bootleg collection and finally said, “He knows more about us than we do!”

In recalling the concert, Plant said, “We were just hanging on for dear life. We were so happy that we were getting it right and enjoying it. There were moments where we just took off.” Perhaps addressing the continued questions about whether they would tour, Page added, “The responsibility of doing that four nights a week for the rest of time is a mistake.” Plant then added something about inane questions from syndicated outlets. While Plant appeared perhaps a bit too touchy on the issue, his frustration was understandable. Some of the attendees acted as if they were covering a “celebrity” event and had no real clue exactly who these guys really are in the history of rock. The other elephant in the room concerned whether Plant’s work with Alison Krauss and his Band of Joy projects had anything to do with derailing any full-scale touring or recording. In regard to their playing together again, Miller surprisingly said, “Whether they will play together again, I would say possibly yes. Plant is prone to change his mind a lot. “As for whether they would record again, she doubts it due to the economics of the music business today and said, “They would have to want to do it.”

When asked a question about vinyl records, Page said, “Well, it’s a matter of taste really, isn’t it? Personally, I never let go of vinyl all the way through, even when CDs came on the scene. What I would recommend to you is that you don’t listen to Led Zeppelin on MP3s.”

In recalling John Bonham, Plant spoke affectionately about Bonzo’s great singing voice. He recalled that when the group was just starting to form, Bonham said to him, “You’re not very good. Just go out there and look good.” Plant said, “And he was right.”

Kramer said of the band’s legacy that it was the “hardest hitting and heaviest rock and roll band of the past 40 years.”

Looking back on the group’s early albums, Plant said, “There were no rules back then.” Page added, “We made the album and gave it to the record company and the record company would put it out and there was no interference.”

Cutting Room Sandy Benefit

Ricky Byrd and Rockers in Recovery present an all-star concert for hurricane Sandy. The concert is on January 25th at The Cutting Room in New York City at 8 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales, merchandise, and auction items will be donated to The Graybeards (a non-profit Rockaway Beach-based organization), West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department, and The Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department.

The concert will feature the Rockers in Recovery All-Star Band with special guests, including Long Island’s own Billy J. Kramer, Gary US Bonds, Ian Hunter, Michael Des Barres, LaLa Brooks, Gene Cornish, Simon Kirke, Handsome Dick Manitoba, Ross The Boss, Peppy Castro, Mark Bosch and the Capris. The Rockers in Recovery All-Star Band is made up of Musical Director Ricky Byrd, Liberty DeVitto, Richie Supa, Kasim Sulton, Christine Ohlman, and Mark Stein.

The Cutting Room is located at 44 East 32nd Street. Tickets are $50 for general admission. VIP meet-and-greet packages are also available for $150.

Elvis Goes to the Movies

The following night on January 26th is another worthy benefit that also includes great music. The legendary Elvis Show returns to the Boulton Center in Bay Shore at 8 PM. This year’s show is being billed as “Elvis At The Movies” and will feature songs from the soundtracks of movies Elvis starred in over the years.

As in the past, the concert will benefit rockCANroll with proceeds going to local food banks, soup kitchens, safe homes and shelters.

Musicians performing include The NYRMA All-Stars featuring Steve Prisco, Tom Ryan, Howie Silverman, Mick Hargreaves, Stephan DiRaffelle, Chris James, Dave Wise, Annie Mark, Gary Dawson, Peter Crugnale and Jeff McLary, along with Mark Mancini, Michelle Sivori and Jessica Upham. Guest vocalists include Bill Walsh, Bobby Volkman, Karen Hudson, Monica Passin, Eric Crugnale, Pete Mancini, Tom Gould, John McGraw, Mike Drance, Claudia Jacobs, Jon Geffner, Tom Cioricari, Paul Schmitz, Jenna Silverman, Raecine Coles, Mary Lamont, Terry Day, Andrew Fortier, Tom Pfeifer and more to be announced.

The Boulton Center is located at 37 West Main Street, Bay Shore, NY. Tickets are $20.

There was a time when a person’s musical tastes were defined by whether he or she liked the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. Here at the Mixed Media online blog, we love both. Here are some Beatles and Stones related reissues and releases.

Here they are, the Beatles!

Beatles Wax for Sale

All of the Beatles’ British albums on Parlaphone, along with the Past Masters release, are now available on vinyl for the first time, through EMI in America. All of the original packaging is included and the albums are pressed on heavyweight 180g vinyl. The albums were mostly mastered from the 2009 stereo digital re-masters. Some purists are not happy with this method, particularly in the case of the Beatles albums that they were originally mastered in England in mono. This issue has been debated since the very first Beatles albums were reissued on CD in stereo in the 1980s and due to space will not be debated here. While I doubt I could honestly recommend all of these releases over the original vinyl albums, it’s great to be able to purchase such vinyl albums as the White Album with all the packaging. It certainly is nice to have brand-new vinyl albums complete with all the packaging, minus the wear and pops and clicks of the old albums.

Roll Up for the Mystery Trip

The Beatles’ controversial film Magical Mystery Tour (EMI) has been reissued in a glorious box set that may once and for all bury any lingering criticism the film has received since it was released in 1967. The deluxe collector’s edition includes the film on DVD and Blu-ray. There are also lots of extra special features including a director’s commentary by Paul McCartney, a documentary on the making of the film, a music video of Traffic performing the title song of the film “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” (who knows why this is included, but who’s complaining!) and many more excellent bonus features. If that’s not enough, the package comes with the original vinyl double, disc of the soundtrack EP in mono and a 65-page collector’s book.

Act Naturally

Two new videos from Eagle will thrill Beatles fans. Produced by George Martin, originally aired on the BBC is now available on Blu-ray. This glorious documentary is a fitting tribute to the erudite British producer. The documentary also reveals that Martin was more than just the Beatles’ producer although certainly that alone would be enough. Martin worked with Peter Sellers, America, Jeff Beck and countless others. He also launched one of the greatest studios in British music history: AIR studios. The life and work of George Martin has always been a key part of the success and personal appeal of the Beatles and their world. Other than James Bond himself, no figure from the world of British 60s popular culture was classier than George Martin.

Paul McCartney’s recent foray into the American popular songbook has now been captured on a highly entertaining documentary, Live Kisses. The DVD chronicles the making of McCartney’s Kisses on The Bottom album released in 2012. Filmed almost exclusively at the legendary Capitol Studios in Hollywood, the film celebrates McCartney’s album and the historic sessions that took place at the iconic studio located in the famed circular Capitol Tower. There are performances, videos, interviews and loads of bonus material also included.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are celebrating their 50th anniversary and many Stones-related releases have come out this year. Easily the best release and perhaps the best reissue of the year is Charlie is my Darling, Ireland 1965 (ABKCO). The title refers to a film that Andrew Loog Oldham, the group’s manager at the time, produced that was directed by Peter Whitehead. The stark, black- and-white film was a screen test of sorts to launch the group’s film career. It turned out to be a cinema-verite, behind-the-scenes glimpse of the band just as they were about to explode around the world. The live performances are riveting and add greatly to the group’s live filmography. The super deluxe box-set package includes the film in Blu-ray and DVD versions. There are also a soundtrack CD, a CD with unreleased live recordings from the tour (!), a 10” vinyl LP of live recordings from the tour and many more bonus materials. There have been some excellent Stones reissues of late, but this package is truly special.

Grrr!

Grrr! from Universal, released in various configurations, is a career retrospective that is most notable for including two new excellent Stones songs. While many have been buying best-of Stones collections since the 1960s, this set may be the last such release of consequence since it contains what will probably be the group’s final recordings together.

Face of the Stones

Two new videos from the group’s Ron Wood era are worth searching out. Muddy Waters/The Rolling Stones/Checkerboard Lounge/Live Chicago 1981 (Eagle) captures various members of the Rolling Stones at the famous Chicago club with a host of blues legends, most notably Muddy Waters. To see the Stones in such an intimate setting jamming on old blues songs with the icons of the genre is a thrill. The Rolling Stones Under Review 1975-1983 The Ronnie Wood Years (Pt. 1), distributed by MVD, covers the years when Wood first joined the group and reflects the best studio recordings he made with the group.