A few months ago I complained that few albums released this year had grabbed me; suddenly there came an avalanche of quality albums that compensated for my disappointment in sets by some favourite artists that I had looked forward to. I have not been able to get on with the Ben Folds and Nick Hornby collaboration, much as I am a Folds fan and as I like Hornby's books. Joshua Radin's album is decent enough, but it did not attract the affection I had for his debut album. Jenny Lewis' collaboration with Jonathan Rice bored me. Even the [...]
Filed under: Concerts and Tours , News , New Music , Exclusive For their sixth album, 'Keys to the Kingdom,' veteran blues-rockers the North Mississippi Allstars enlisted some legends of the genre. Mavis Staples , Ry Cooder , Spooner Oldham and Alvin Youngblood Hart are among the guests that help round out the record, which is due out Feb. 1. Guitarist Luther Dickinson tells Spinner that the 12 tracks were written over the last few [...]
17. Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues Justin Townes Earle had a bit of a rough 2010. First a freak injury caused a last-minute cancellation of his set at Newport Folk, then Earle found himself in the headlines when he was arrested after an alleged outburst in Indianapolis. However, 2010 also saw the release of the country-folk troubadour's third album, Harlem River Blues . Earle's music has always reflected [...]
In case you missed it, the nominees for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards were announced in Bieberiffic primetime special last week. While there were plenty of big names we don't care about nominated (see Eminem, Bruno Mars), a few Chicago are bands and musicians were nominated for the major award(?). Check out a fill list of Chicagoland Grammy nominees after the jump. Aaron Sledge : Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album Buddy Guy : Best Alternative Music Album Chicago [...]
Filed under: Concerts and Tours , News , Awards Sir Paul McCartney 's career was celebrated by some of rock's biggest names Sunday night as part of the 33rd annual Kennedy Center Honors. Macca was recognized alongside TV giant Oprah Winfrey, country legend Merle Haggard and others by President Obama at the event, which will air on US television on Dec. 28. McCartney was treated to a rendition of 'Hello, Goodbye' by No Doubt [...]
Chicago soul legend Mavis Staples performed at Park West last weekend. Here's a great video form Youtuber hmc1410 of her performing the traditional tune "Creep Along, Moses", which appears on her latest, Jeff Tweedy-produced record You Are Not Alone . The song starts around the three-minute mark, but be sure to watch Staples' enthusiastic introduction during which she gives props to Kerry Hogan and Terri Hemmert of WXRT who introduced her at the show. Check it out: [...]
[caption id="attachment_15132" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="Mavis Staples | Photo by Richard Giraldi"] Order Ofloxacin online no prescription , [/caption] Guhhh...we're still stuffed full of Tofurkey, but it's our Friday duty to bring you all our picks for top weekend shows. Japan, craiglist, ebay, overseas, paypal , In this BLACK FRIDAY edition of Weekend Diversions, we dish on Mavis Staples at Park West , order Ofloxacin from mexican pharmacy , Where can i find Ofloxacin online , Lawrence Peters Outfit at The Hideout , Gold Motel [...]
Everybody's favorite corduroy jacket wearer Jeff Tweedy penned this tune for the gospel legend's LP of the same name that came out in Sept. Mavis is one of the greatest singers ever period and she sounds fantastic on this track, Tweedy also produced. Mavis' ability to emote, her ability to just connect each tone, and wring it out, and just pry that feeling out of herself and out of the listener is really unparalleled. "I'll Take You There" and "Respect Yourself" are classic jams, but some of our favorite Staple Singers material is the group's more spare early spirituals [...]
Click image to download full album Sounds like: Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Betty LaVette, James Brown "Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - This Land Is Your Land" What's so good? Can we just take a second to appreciate how funky and fantastic Sharon Jones is? Anyone who attended the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival last month in San Francisco will tell you that Jones absolutely killed it. You had to skillfully weave through the [...]
Click image to download full album Sounds like: Sharon Jones, The Budos Band, Lee Fields & The Expressions "JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound - To Love Someone (That Dont Love You)" What's so good? The legendary Hideout in Chicago played host to a sweaty dance part in celebration of JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound's release of a new 73 single, " To Love Someone (That Don't Love You) /"Everything Will Be Fine ," a [...]
Her set featured: Wonderful Savior You Are Not Alone Losing You Wrote A Song For Everyone Stream the full playback here. Mavis Staples & Jeff Tweedy recently dropped by The Colbert Report . MP3: Mavis Staples - You Are Not Alone
The Chicago R&B legend is touring to support her new Jeff Tweedy-produced album. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for contests, MP3s, and links that don't make it onto the blog.
Keyboardist Zach Miller shares some of his influences. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for contests, MP3s, and links that don't make it onto the blog.
Mavis Staples restores sanity and/or fear at Stewart/Colbert rally Performs title track from new album 'You Are Not Alone' with Jeff Tweedy; closes rally with Staple singers classic "I'll Take You There" On October 30th in Washington DC soul/gospel legend Mavis Staples performed at Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert 's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear . Mavis Staples performed the title track from her unanimously praised new album 'You Are Not Alone' (Anti-) [...]
One of my most favorite times of the year happens at the end of every January: the Ann Arbor Folk Festival put on by The Ark . I start to get super excited about it generally in late October when the line-up starts to be announced starting with the main headliners and slowly filling out the bills with smaller more regional acts. The first night of the festival is generally full of artists who are expanding the traditional folk genre. Past Friday night acts have been Ben Folds, Jackie Greene, Jeff Tweedy, Rufus Wainwright, and Jay Ferrar & Ben [...]
Special guests were hinted at even before Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear hit Washington, DC on Saturday, but I doubt anyone could have predicted the spectacle that ultimately resulted. Um, like how The Roots, in what was surely their biggest gig to date, served as the rally's "house band." Or that "battle" between musical icons Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens) and Ozzy Osbourne, which heard "Peace Train" and "Crazy Train" mashed up for the first time ever. Plus, Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy teamed up for a wonderful rendition of [...]
Filed under: Concerts and Tours , News , Television , Politics as Usual On top of the expected political jokes, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert 's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear will have a pretty excellent music lineup. As the Christian Science Monitor reports (via Rolling Stone ), Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy , Sheryl Crow and the Roots have been confirmed to appear at Saturday's highly publicized [...]
Two days from now, Comedy Central geniuses Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will give their best Glenn Beck impression as they descend on the Nation's Capitol for the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. Shockingly, though, it wasn't until today that the the rally was officially approved by National Park Service (man... wouldn't that have sucked if they were denied?), so only now are we learning what the festivities will include (via The Daily Swarm ). As it relates to music, the rally will feature The Roots kicking things off at 12:00pm with a 40 minute performance. [...]
This year I won't be doing a Halloween mix. For those who m issed last year's mixes, take a look at Any Major Halloween Vol. 1 (creepy stuff) and Any Major Halloween Vol. 2 (less creepy stuff) . Meanwhile, fortify yourself wth some soul music. Of all the mixes that I compile for this blog, I think doing the soul covers is my favourite. For one thing, as I go through my collection of music, I get to listen to some gorgeous soul albums I [...]
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