musicmattersman

RIP Big Man

2011-06-19T23:49:00.003-04:00

Not too long ago, I wrote about attending a screening and meeting both Clarence and Bruce. It really was an amazing experience for me. To be in the presence of both of them at the same time brought me to tears literally. I thought I would cry today at The Stone Pony. I didn't.
I danced, I sang, I celebrated, I reminisced. I am left speechless and silent for now. To try to give words to this day, to this feeling would put it out there for commentary. Unwelcome for sure. Ironically, I publicly acknowledge and reference this death and this day. However privately, I want to think, I want to remember, I want to be in this moment. It is all I have. Now.

Cake, Music Hall of Williamsburg

2011-04-20T01:49:00.003-04:00

While my friends were dutifully attending or hosting Seder meals, I was eating a veggie hot dog and drinking a Lovin' Cup brew at The Lovin' Cup in Williamsburg. Not my best pre gaming times but time was short, I was in a hurry. Cake was about to go on...no opener!
For the lucky 500 or so of us (that is my very unofficial guess at capacity for the venue) who got to see Cake in such an "intimate" setting, we did not want to miss a minute. Cake came at us right out of the box. While they did make us wait in the semi darkness with very bad dramatic music playing, they started with a string of favorites in the first few songs many of which encouraged the camp fire sing a long participation we have all come to know and love.
My personal favorite came when I got to ponder the question aloud with the lyrics "How do you afford (that) rock and roll lifestyle?". A lone t shirt was thrown into the eager crowd right after that song. Did anyone realize he was just singing about buying t shirts and the threw one out?
No worries, we all had a civil rest time to ponder this and many other pressing questions posed by Cake lyrics. After a quick bathroom break, unless you are a dude and needed to stand on the long line, we were back on the dance floor. There we enjoyed choral sing alongs and tree trivia. One lucky guy walked away with a tree after answering the question "What is parchment made out of?" since he was quiet and did not attempt to use the smart phone, he was deemed worthy to answer the question. The answer is of course SHEEP SKIN. Hopefully Cake switches up the q for the T5 show. Not all of us are tree worthy.

Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clemons 4/2/11

2011-04-03T20:12:00.009-04:00

Where does the story begin? Was it when I was a young teenager holding my copy of "Greetings From Asbury Park", night after night? Or a 20 something rockin it at one of the countless concerts? I know where, if push came to shove I could end my story. I "met" Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clemons at an after party last night.
After years of trying to orchestrate a close up chance to see the boss, maybe even see him play, it happened....and all by accident. It was meant to be. Last night was the night.
So maybe the story can have a shorter timeline. Let me go back to the afternoon. A spur of the moment decision to go to Asbury Park happened around 4 pm. I thought I might walk the boardwalk instead of going to the gym. Plan set in motion was sidetracked upon discovering the film festival.
The nice volunteer asked me if I know Clarence Clemons. I think she was an angel. In my head I thought of course and immediately could have engaged in a lengthy conversation about my Springsteen adoration and my teenage crush on The Big Man as well as my being moved to an alternate state of being at the sound of a sax...especially his, so I simply say yes. She tells me about his movie and says he will be there and get here early it is very popular with the locals she says.
What do you do with time to kill? Have a beer in The Wonder Bar of course. There my Springsteen Spidey sense went up. People were just a little too interested in buying tix to a doo wop band. They knew something.

Would Bruce go to the movie? Would he go to The Wonder Bar? Would he go to both? I had to decide where I would go. I knew I was going to see him tonight. I felt it. Like a bad script, as I got in my car to drive down here, THUNDER ROAD came on the radio as I drove down the parkway. I was feeling it. I did not want to blow it. How many times did I just miss him? Too many damn it. Not this time, fate brought me here. I was going to listen, be aware, discern.
I went with the movie choice. As I was sitting in the movie, I heard a photographer behind me get a call. He leaned over to his friend and said Bruce is at The Wonder Bar but I stayed put. I watched the movie, got to ask Clarence a question, made it to the after-party and there it came....my face to face with BRUCE.

He was not on stage, not holding a guitar, he was just coming into the party to take some pics with Clarence. While I did miss the chance to see him play, I got something much, much better. I was in the presence of both Bruce and Clarence outside the traditional stage jam. All I could do was babble and cry. I was overwhelmed. I still am,
Now the story can continue. One day, when I least expect it, Bruce will walk into a bar in AP and grab his guitar and sing. And if I am very, very blessed, Clarence will be in town that day too.

Lady GaGa Atlantic City

2011-02-20T21:34:00.005-05:00

"She was the source of all my insecurities; she has no ass," Lady GaGa growled as she ripped the head off a Barbie last night in Atlantic City.

Mine too. Except Lady GaGa grew up to be able to flaunt her amazing Barbie like body. Suffice it to say, I did not. But that is ok because all the little monsters who put their claws up were in it together last night. Mother Monster would encourage us to put our claws up and be proud of who we are and not let anyone label us. Although ironically, we were the anti-freaks so to speak. Lady GaGa proclaimed "All the freaks are outside and I've locked the F#@King door!
Traditional wisdom would say indeed the freaks were out last night and in fact were on the inside of the door. I sported my perhaps not age appropriate glitter blue nail polish and zipper themed outfit. Fellow little monsters wore dresses that perchance did not suit their body types.GaGa welcomed us all with a special pied piper calling.
The lure of GaGa for many may be in her not so unique ability to speak to the outsiders. The world tells the not so perfect, the not so traditional, the not so politically correct folk that they don't belong. They may in turn seek refuge and they find it. Often that place is music and with the others who feel the pain and equally feel the pleasure.
The musician, in this case Lady GaGa, is like a mother. Telling us it is ok, she loves us just the way we are because she knows...
"We were born this way"

Presale Password Elvis Costello

2011-01-19T11:11:00.001-05:00

Elvis and The Imposters will be taking the stage for the 10th Anniversary of the Rochester International Jazz Festival.

6/17/11 - Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre (Rochester, NY)

The presale will begin tomorrow, 1/19/10 at 3pm EST at the site below:

http://tixx1.artistarena.com/elviscostello

Username: elvis
Password: costello

Tim Fite and O'Death at The Bell House

2011-01-16T09:37:00.008-05:00

At the risk of losing my hipster status (by the way you can gladly take it), I must confess I have never been to the The Bell House. There exists no line in the sand or "I don't go to that part of Brooklyn" philosophy behind it. I just have never been there, plain and simple.
One of the only artists that could take me out of my comfort zone on so many levels is Tim Fite. He indeed forced me to go to The Bell House. I was disappointed that Sexy Leroy was via satellite however. Sexy Leroy is of course Tim's DJ of sorts. Yet the show went on to great success. Audience participation was encouraged. We all held up our hands in unison to indicate that we all make one big mistake as one of his well known songs exclaim. I did miss Sexy Leroy jumping out into the audience and Tim did not leave the stage to replicate the Sexy Leroy experience at all.
If physical contact with the audience was on your agenda as a show goer, you just had to hold on till O'Death took the stage. Very early on in the set the mosh pit began. As mosh pits often do, it grew. No one was hurt, it was all in good fun. It was hot and smelly. Some band members started to disrobe. Shirts flew off and the energy fueled an encore. The above pictured set list may or may not include the encore. I was too busy moshing to pay attention.

Sting PR/Concert Contest

2010-12-09T06:34:00.000-05:00

" Win Tickets To A Special Performance In Moscow

On 14 December, Sting, accompanied by an orchestra, will record a TV special in Moscow to broadcast on New Year's Eve on Channel One.

We have secured ten audience seats for Sting fans to attend the taping.

To get your name in Sting.com's prize draw for one of these tickets, all you have to do is tell us:

The name of the Moscow venue that Sting performed at on September 15, 2010 during the Symphonicity tour.

Email your answer to daveandwendy@sting.com no later than midnight on 9 December and please remember to include your name and postal address in your email for your entry to be valid, and... no multiple entries please!

The first 10 names drawn after the closing date will each win a ticket to the show. Winners will be notified on 10 December.

Good luck!

AND PLEASE...
Consider carefully whether you can actually be in Moscow on the afternoon of on December 14 before entering. This contest is for a ticket only - no hotel or travel costs are included, all of which need to be met by you if you win. "

Kenny Chesney's Presale Password

2010-12-07T14:56:00.001-05:00

I thought I would send out info that I will no way use. Just shakin' it up people. Trying to recover from the carving......:)
Kenny Chesney's Goin' Coastal Tour featuring Zac Brown Band

Saturday August 13 at 4:30 PM
New Meadowlands Stadium

PRESALE STARTS: Tues. 12/7 at 10 AM
ENDS: Fri. 12/10 at 11:59 PM
CODE: ACCESS
Public Onsale: Sat. 12/11 at 10 AM

The New Meadowlands date marks Chesney's first ever stadium show in the New York-New Jersey area. The show will star Chesney, the four-time CMA and four-time ACM Entertainer of the Year, and Zac Brown Band, GRAMMY's "Best New Artist" in 2010 whose latest album 'You Get What You Give' debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, with special guests Billy Currington and Uncle Kracker.

To My Friends

2010-12-05T14:03:00.004-05:00

Thank you to anyone who knows and loves me..... I never asked to be a turkey on the table but got to be one. I wonder if www.brooklynvegan.com quoted my review because he liked it or not? I can't worry about it and will go on writing my musical musings for the pure love of it all.

I go to an inordinate amount of shows and just started this blog as a sort of personal journal as well as a place to share with those who cared.

In my most ironic tone
I present a really bad poem:

If you don't care
Look away
If you do
Please stay
Either way
I'll keep writing
No need for fighting
Love being free
Just to be me
Whatever that looks like
I'll define as I go
What next, I don't know!

Badly Drawn Boy-Le Poisson Rouge

2010-12-04T08:51:00.010-05:00

Photo Cred: Cult Jam

Not a frequenter of the East Village as the LES is my playground, I ventured to Bleeker Street to the sit down and listen venue once known as The Village East. (Correction:Village Gate) Badly Drawn Boy and/or his advisors made an awesome choice in booking him there. While it is never fun to sit with six other strangers while popping tater tots, the semi quite audience allowed an intimate exchange between artist and audience.
One table mate commented at the start of the show "I hope this picks up". Agreeably the show got off to a slow start with his admission that he missed his 10 year old daughter and was tired of gigging. He fiddled with his guitars and monitor and engaged with the audience. At one point early into the show, a local man named Lawrence approached the stage and was told jokingly to F off.
The show did in fact pick up and in fact went on for an hour and a half. Were it not for the confines of G-d knows what that steers the end point of these shows, the Badly Drawn Boy show would have kept going. What a perfect closure awaited. With a little reflection to when he was 14 and a song changed his life, we all knew what was about to come. What we may not have seen coming was the overwhelming sense of oneness with the artist. One did not need to be a jersey shore teenager in angst to have been effected in the past or last night by "Thunder Road". I left with a little a tear in my eye and holding back a flood. Those new found friends at my table shared in the emotion. Were it not for lights on, get out gestures...we could have wallowed in our nostalgia for some time.

Brandon Flowers- Stone Pony

2010-12-04T08:27:00.006-05:00

Photo Cred: Cult Jam
The mismatched artist and venue combination of BRANDON FLOWERS and The Stone Pony provided a great treat for anyone in attendance. Seeing a show in the pony is always a great musical journey. Seeing a national act is a bonus. Seeing Bruce Springsteen would be even better. Alas, there was no sign of the boss. If he was there, he was incognito. He was there in spirit so to speak. Brandon Flowers did play one Springsteen song mixed in amongst both Killer and solo work. All of those who braved the winter jersey shore breeze and had the good fortune to have a ticket, left with an amazing musical memory.

PRESALE The Radiators

2010-11-30T20:57:00.001-05:00

Press Release

Presale tickets for The Radiators are now available for their last show in NYC. To ensure that their fans get the best concert experience possible, they chose to provide you with the first opportunity to buy tickets! On top of that, The Radiators have put together a VIP Event package to make for a memorable send-off from NYC. Don't miss out on this awesome show... get your presale tickets today!

VIP Event Tickets are $50 each and include:
- A General Admission Ticket
- A Limited Edition poster from The Radiators only available through this presale

Buy Tickets Here: http://tixx1.artistarena.com/theradiators/

Date Listed Below:

June 3rd, 2011
The Best Buy Theatre
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

Amy Winehouse: Amy's Lioness Web Store opens for business Brazil shows on sale now

2010-11-28T08:45:00.000-05:00

Amy Winehouse: Amy's Lioness Web Store opens for business Brazil shows on sale now

River City Extension

2010-11-26T15:04:00.006-05:00

Photo Cred: The Cult Jam

River City Extension might be a common name for the NPR listener and/or a real jersey shore kid. This local band came on home the night before Thanksgiving to ROCK the pony!
The Stone Pony has been home to many a local band but that pre-Thanksgiving jamboree is always well attended with support of local fans for local bands. Nicole Atkins put on a mesmerizing show one of those recent pre-Thanksgiving shows. She was in fact in the audience that night there to support River City Extension I hope.
The band is involved in what appears to be an exhausting leg of openers. If you want to think, feel, dance, and groove.....catch them, support them! They deserve it and you will experience the power of real, raw music. Just dance people.
Upcoming Shows
Nov 27 2010 8:00P
Mercury Lounge w/Matt Skiba (sold out/acoustic) New York, NY
Dec 7 2010 6:30P
Webster Hall w/Dashboard Confessional (Sold Out) New York, NY Find Tickets
Dec 11 2010 6:30P
Paradise w/Dashboard Confessional Boston, MA Find Tickets
Jan 21 2011 7:30P
Warehouse Live w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train Houston, Texas
Jan 22 2011 8:30P
Emo's w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train Austin, TX
Jan 23 2011 7:00P
The Loft w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train Dallas, TX
Jan 25 2011 7:30P
Clubhouse w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train Tempe, AZ
Jan 26 2011 6:00P
House of Blues w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train San Diego, CA
Jan 27 2011 7:00P
Troubadour w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train West Hollywood, CA
Jan 28 2011 7:30P
The Glass House w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train Pomona, CA
Jan 29 2011 7:30P
Slim's w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train San Francisco, CA
Jan 30 2011 7:00P
Bottom of the Hill w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train San Francisco, California
Feb 1 2011 7:00P
Hawthorne Theater w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train Portland, Oregon
Feb 2 2011 7:00P
Neumo's w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train Seattle, WA
Feb 3 2011 7:00P
Knitting Factory w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train Boise, ID
Feb 4 2011 7:30P
Club Sound w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train Salt Lake City, UT
Feb 5 2011 8:00P
Marquis Theater w/The Get Up Kids, Steel Train Denver, CO

Pre Order Avant

2010-11-24T06:24:00.002-05:00

Avant
The Letter
New Album Out December 2010
Pre-Order Now

Singer and songwriter Avant will release his sixth studio album The Letter in December.

The album will be available as exclusive fan packs at AvantOfficial.com on December 7.

It will be available exclusively on December 7 at Target & iTunes . And it will be available everywhere else on December 21.

"A letter is what you write to people to tell them what's going on in your life," says Avant. "This album is a letter from me to my fans of what's going on in my life, what's going through my head and my struggles as a man."

Pre-Order exclusive fan packs, including the Super Deluxe "Avant Experience" VIP Fan Pack, at AvantOfficial.com.

The Letter is also available for pre-order at iTunes.

Jeni and Billy "Panting for Heaven" Sacred Harp #384

2010-11-22T20:38:00.000-05:00

Jeni and Billy

2010-11-22T00:29:00.004-05:00

Shape music...ever heard of it? Sacred harp music....strike a chord? Real music maniacs would do themselves some good by doing a google search on this.

In the day of MAC invasion, the basics are not only forgotten but also degraded by some. If you really love music...real music that is story based, sound rich, and spirit filled....venture into good old American folk music.

While this would not be my first choice in listening pleasure, I am glad I remain open to exploration. One intimate evening with these two in concert and you'll be lulled by the decieptively simple music.

Third Cortez

2010-04-04T23:44:00.005-04:00

Why does everything sound better with a British accent? I can tell you what I never want to hear...even in said lovely accent.."Morrissey is ok". Whaaaaat? This from a Manchester band? No homage to the master? I'll forgive them this transgrssion as my brief chat with the young brits allowed me to get a bit o info about their band.

But alas I have not experienced the sound live. I must say I can't speak of the music as they were booked rather early at Arlene's grocery. So sorry boys! All I have to go on is the well spoken words of the band themselves as the basis of my little shout out here. I understand these boys crossed the pond to do the NY thing. Let's get out and support their effort. They will be in Brooklyn. Who doesn't love Brooklyn? Who can resist the British?

Trash Bar April 12th. BROOKLYN!

www.myspace.com/thirdcortez

Launch Party Invite...It All Changed In an Instant

2009-12-28T06:44:00.002-05:00

"Launch Party for It All Changed in an Instant - More Six Word Memoirs
Start: Tue, 01/05/2010 - 7:30pm
End: Tue, 01/05/2010 - 9:00pm
Timezone: Etc/GMT-5
The editors of the New York Times bestseller Not Quite What I Was Planning are back with its much-anticipated sequel, It All Changed in an Instant. With contributions from acclaimed authors like Malcolm Gladwell, Frank McCourt, Wally Lamb, Isabel Allende, Junot Diaz, Amy Tan, and James Frey, and celebrities like Sarah Silverman, Suze Orman, Marlee Matlin, Neil Patrick Harris, Ann Coulter, and Chelsea Handler, It All Changed in an Instant presents a thousand more glimpses of humanity, six words at a time. In the vein of the popular Post Secret books, It All Changed in an Instant, in the words of Vanity Fair, “will thrill minimalists and inspire maximalists.”

Join us for a launch event with Larry Smith, Rachel Fershleiser and contributors to the book. We will also be hosting our own six-word memoir contest - come up with a six-word memoir related to the topic of writing and you might win a prize! Send your entries to kelly@wordbrooklyn.com

Location:
WORD
126 Franklin St.
Brooklyn, New York 11222-2002"

It All Changed In an Instant

2009-12-13T07:36:00.004-05:00

For me, poetry is music without an audible beat. I love to read and write poetry...not as much as I love music but a close second. Check out the NEW 6 word memoir book and follow the link to try your hand at this. It can be fun to say the least.

www.smithmag.net

FREE Advance Music Peek :Matt Von Roderick

2009-10-02T18:01:00.007-04:00

While I am eager for Matt's return to the East Coast to play, my left coast friends are in for a night of amazing music. Matt is playing the DaKota Music Lounge this Tuesday.

Everyone, east or west, is welcome to the free peek....see the press release below for details.

Enjoy the music everyone, everywhere.

For Immediate Release:

FROM NEWYORK’S CUTTING EDGE TO LOS ANGELES COOL:
MATT VON RODERICK TO SHOWCASE SONGS FROM UPCOMING ALBUM
TUESDAY OCTOBER 6, 8:00PM AT SANTAMONICA’S DAKOTAMUSIC LOUNGE

Jazz singer/trumpeter Matt Von Roderick is rolling out a revolution in his sound at his Los Angeles
showcase performance Tuesday October 6, 8:00pm at Santa Monica’s Dakota Music Lounge (formerly
Temple Bar).

The album is slated for a Spring 2010 release through Jaggo Records, distributed by Universal Music Group.

Currently based in Los Angeles, Matt possesses a rare combination of commercial and progressive
aesthetics, having toured internationally, recorded and/or collaborated with (such )diverse artists.

His work as a performer has been featured on NBC's Saturday Night Live, the nationally
syndicated presidential race coverage on MSNBC, and as both soloist and composer at Lincoln Center and
the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Dakota Music Lounge is considered by many to be among the best sounding venues in Los Angeles.

Dakota Music Lounge is located at 1026 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, California 90401. Cover charge
is $5.00 at the door. Doors open at 7:00pm.

Listeners can get an advance-music peak at tracks from Matt Von Roderick’s upcoming album by visiting
www.myspace.com/mattvonroderick -- including the Lou Reed/Beck-influenced “Believe”, the intimate “A
Girl Like That” and the “punk-jazz” rocker, “Cash Money”.
###
For additional information, please contact:
Chris Martin
Jaggo Records, LLC
10061 Riverside

Matt Von Roderick /Carina Round

2009-06-27T11:28:00.009-04:00

Why are those two artists in the same by-line? For no other reason than my personal anecdote that follows. Although as an aside, they would make a heck of a "cute" couple.
An evening planned to see the fabulous Carina Round afforded me a chance encounter with Matt from Matt Von Rodereick. I did get to hear Carina rock it while Matt was one hour late....hence our chance encounter.
Having introduced himself as a Jazz musician, I am pretty sure my friend had minimalized my ability to engage with him as she said something like "she does not know anything about Jazz". Or did she minimalize my Grandmother's relationship with her Jazz musician friend? Or her ethnicity? Or am I oversensitive and did she not do any of that? To be fair, I really do not know a lot about Jazz and despite Grandma's relationship, my knowledge never grew in the area, so it is an honest assessment. I believe I in turn referred to her political party in a knee jerk reaction but I may be wrong...what came first the chicken or the egg? Who cares...back to the music.
I bring this to light for the sake of a continued "bee in my bonnet". What is the value of pure adherence to a category/label/name? Is anything pure? These really are not questions for debate. They are not a means to an end. They do not need to be addressed at the start of a Yale debate club event which leaves one with points. Either you win or you lose.
These questions rather should leave one with more questions. Keep digging, keep searching, keep growing. Keep your mind open to ideas and especially to music. I've found it to have enriched my life greatly.
All this to say, thank G-d, with labels aside, we chatted about music in general and his music more specifically. After listening to his sample, I must say to anyone out there who hangs on to categories for dear life to guide them through life: You are doing yourself a disservice.
I would have missed out on experiencing this amazing new sound if the Jazz wall was put up. I hesitate to give this music a name. I don't dare do it a disservice. It speaks for itself. Give it a listen, you will be glad you did.
www.myspace.com/mattvonroderick

Aunte Ange

2009-06-09T22:45:00.002-04:00

Check it out..................

We have just entered the song Fall from Apathia into the Toyota Rock the Space competition. If you have the time and desire, please visit the link below and spread the word. We need all the help we can get. The winner gets the opportunity for a record deal, so it's definitely an amazing opportunity for us. We truly appreciate any help.

www.adsupport.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=rockthespace.fan&sproutid=AgCH9F4FB4w8P0li

With Gratitude and Love

-Aunt Ange

Peter Bjorn and John Setlist Webster Hall

2009-04-30T19:56:00.003-04:00

As for the setlist below, I can not really vouch for the acuracy or lack there of.
Perchance one of my peeps out there can correct if wrong...............

Setlist:

Just the Past
Starts to Melt
It Beats Me Every Time
Amsterdam
It Don't Move Me
Lay It Down
Living Thing
Young Folks
Let's Call It Off
Objects Of My Affection
Stay This Way
Nothing To Worry About
Up Against the Wall

Encore...it was late, I was sleepy...Did I hear some Joy Division mix????

FREE Conor Oberest Concert

2009-04-26T14:47:00.001-04:00

Details Below;

07.04.09

New York, NY The Lawn @ Battery Park US

Admission: FREE. w/ Jenny Lewis