NPR to offer webcast of Newport music festivals

From the AP:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Music fans unable to attend the Newport folk and jazz festivals will be able to listen to some of the concerts online.

NPR Music, part of National Public Radio, plans to stream select performances from both festivals. The webcasts also will be archived and available on-demand.

Current schedule:

* Sat., Aug. 9
* 11:30 a.m.: TBA
* 1:00 p.m.: TBA

* Sun., Aug. 10
* 11:30 a.m.: Guillermo Klein & Los Guachos
* 1:00 p.m.: George Wein All-Stars: With Esperanza Spalding, Anat Cohen, Howard Alden, Jimmy Cobb
* 4:05 p.m.: Herbie Hancock

Read more >>

NPR's announcement >>

Panic on the streets of London

First noted this in Maureen Dowd's Wednesday column.

During his world tour, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama visited with British Conservative Party leader David Cameron. The Brit didn't come empty handed.

We'll let WalesOnline pick up the story:

As the senator swept through Parliament’s gates, it emerged he was given a box of CDs of music by some of Mr Cameron’s favourite British bands, including The Smiths, Radiohead, Gorillaz and Lily Allen.

Are we ready for a world where heads of state exchange Meat is Murder and The Queen is Dead?

Jack White, Alicia Keys on deck for next 007 movie theme song

I'm sure this has some promise — seeing as how everything Jack White does is greatness. Alicia Keys, while very easy on the eyes, is an accomplished piano player with a beautiful voice.

The song is called "Another Way to Die," and was penned and produced by White. He also plays drums on the track and Keys will be on vocals.

The soundtrack for the film, Quantum of Solace, hits stores Oct. 28. The movie will be in theaters on Nov. 7.

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Upcoming live music at Brothers Bar in J'ville

JULY

24 THURSDAY MCPHERSON STRUTS $5

25 FRIDAY FUZE BOX $5

25 FRIDAY *IN PELHAM'S PARK- SAM HUNT* FREE!

26 SATURDAY OCTOBER JENKINS $5

31 THURSDAY KEYS OF APOLLO / DYSIAST $5

AUGUST

7 THURSDAY BOOMBOX $5

8 FRIDAY GET OUT N' PUSH $5

8 FRIDAY *IN PELHAM'S PARK- JAY SHELL Of Kneckdown* FREE!

9 SATURDAY GET OUT N' PUSH $5

22 FRIDAY UNVEIL $5

28 THURSDAY MCPHERSON STRUTS $5

29 FRIDAY KEYTON $5

SEPTEMBER

6 SATURDAY SOUTHERN HARMONY $5

11 THURSDAY FLY BY RADIO $10/12

13 SATURDAY KNECKDOWN $6/8

18 THURSDAY BRANTLEY GILBERT $8/10 - $2 Discount w/ Student ID!

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Brothers Bar

Phish set to release DVD of 1997 live show

The Vermont jam legends, on the heels of rumors of a possible reunion, is going to release a new live DVD.

According to Phish's Web site:

On July 22, 1997, Phish performed the second show of their U.S. summer tour at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh, NC through a torrent of rain, thunder and lightning related to Hurricane Danny. Rather than cancel the gig, the band played on with the music mirroring the peaks in the storm's intensity. 1997 was a particularly fertile period in the band's creativity onstage, as exemplified at Walnut Creek. Phish's own JEMP Records is proud to offer the complete Walnut Creek show on DVD, in stores everywhere August 5. Phish's first full concert DVD since 2006's acclaimed Live In Brooklyn set, Walnut Creek features more than 2 hours of 5-camera footage in 5.1 Dolby Surround or optional stereo sound on two DVDs.

Read more >>

Phish's youtube channel has a few clips from the upcoming DVD.

2008 VH1 Rock Honors Award Show

Be sure to check out VH1's salute to the Who. Hell, Tivo it!

According their Web site, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Flaming Lips, Incubus and Tenacious D will all celebrate the band with performances. The Who will play as well!

It airs tonight at 8 Central.

Click here for more >>

Tenacious D album in the works

The band is "one-and-a-half songs" into next album

DETROIT (Billboard) — The irreverent rock duo Tenacious D, featuring actor Jack Black, have begun work on a new album — just don't hold your breath waiting for it.

The project marks the follow-up to the 2006 film project "The Pick of Destiny," which bombed at the box office.

"We probably only have one to one and a half songs right now, and we probably need 12 to 15," Black's bandmate Kyle Gass told Billboard.com. "It might take the rest of our lives, but I think it'll be worth waiting for."

Read more >>

Tenacious D Official Site

Top musical acts, from state to state to state

So, name the top band from Alabama -- ever.

Or the top solo act from Alabama -- ever, again.

Now, try to do the same for Florida.

Or Georgia.

Or Tennessee. (Can't pick Elvis.)

Or Mississippi. (Can't pick Elvis, either.)

Or any other state.

This afternoon, Star Editor Bob Davis turned me on to the Web site of the Boston Phoenix, which has produced a quite comprehensive list of the top acts from each of the 50 states. To paraphrase Bob, this is an argument waiting to happen. It's also an addictive exercise -- you can't stop clicking on state after state, just to see which acts they picked. Trust me; I've clicked on about 30 states thus far, and I can't stop.

Click here for the goods.

Coldplay and Crue making waves in the charts

NEW YORK (Billboard) — British rock band Coldplay ruled the U.S. pop chart for a second week Wednesday, while veteran bad boys Motley Crue debuted at No. 4 with the original lineup's first album in 11 years. Click here for article >>

Coldplay
Motley Crue
Billboard's top albums

Dead veterans happy to rock again for Obama

DETROIT (Billboard) — Barack Obama's presidential run might pay dividends for Deadheads this year.

Three of the Grateful Dead's surviving members — Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart — reunited for a February fundraiser for the Democratic contender in San Francisco, and Hart says it could happen again.

"We're not making plans, but I think we stand at the ready to be of service," Hart told Billboard.com. "We're all deeply into this, into Barack Obama and the thought of taking this country back in some shape or form, what's left of it — it's probably one thing we can all agree on! So, you bet, I would spend a night with my brothers for that any time, any place."

Click here for more >>

Source: Gary Graff/Reuters/Billboard