TimmyB

Happy Birthday,

I hope you have a great day that goes way beyond your wildest expectations.

That's just great! The saddest day in recent memory on an NBA court and someone is trying to make money off it. Though I shouldn't be surprised.

from www.rollingstone.com

U2 Play Surprise NYC Show

U2 take flatbed down Broadway to free show in Brooklyn

U2 shot a video for "All Because of You," the second single from their new album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, playing the song live aboard a flatbed cruising from the Upper West Side down Broadway yesterday in New York. The traveling show culminated in an hour-long free concert in Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges in the late afternoon, packed with new songs and a few older hits. The performance was filmed for the December 8th MTV special mtvJAMMED: U2.

U2 spent the day playing the new single, beginning with their first morning pit stop in front of Columbia University uptown. Helicopters flew overhead, taking aerial shots of the band, and the truck stopped traffic wherever it went. By the time the group could be seen crossing the Manhattan Bridge -- announcing, "Here we come!" -- a crowd of thousands had gathered in the park, hearing of the free show by word of mouth or through fan sites.

The ecstatic audience was treated to new songs -- including the concert opener, the album's debut single "Vertigo" -- as well as older hits "Beautiful Day" and "I Will Follow." Frontman Bono added Brooklyn references to the lyrics, at one point asking, to loud cheers, "Why does this feel like a hometown concert?"

"Vertigo" is currently at Number Three on the charts and is available as streaming audio -- along with the other ten album tracks -- at both U2's and MTV's Web sites.

ALEX MAR

(Posted Nov 23, 2004)

BEG FOR BLUES: Pop-leaning jamband Blues Traveler has a nice trove of free MP3s on its official Web site. www.bluestraveler.com

In addition to three entire concert recordings from 1990, 1998 and 2004, the band is offering MP3s of four studio recordings created "solely for free online distribution to fans." The quartet -- "The Traveler Suite," "Sun and the Storm," "12 Swords" and "The Path" -- was originally intended to be part of a concept album that the band never finished.

I'm going to see Wilco/The Flaming Lips/Sleater-Kinney perform at Madison Square Gardens in New York City.

I was also hoping to go see Benevento/Russo with Mike Gordon after the MSG gig, but unfortunately it is sold out.

Does anybody know anybody that has any extras for the Duo with Gordon at BB King Blues Bar & Grill?

NEIL YOUNG GREATEST HITS (Reprise Records)

CD+DVD COMBO-PAK

ORIGINAL MASTER MIXES IN SUPER-SATURATED DVD-STEREO FOR THE HIGHEST QUALITY AUDIO AVAILABLE ON DVD

Released today, Tuesday November 23, 2004.

Last week the CD copy of the GREATEST HITS was released without the BONUS DVD.

I know a lot of people were knocking Neil Young and/or his record company Reprise Records for releasing this HITS package, when we have all been waiting patiently for Young's Archives to be released.

If you have a good stereo system that is hooked up to a DVD player and you love Neil Young you have to get this. The sound is absolutely amazing. And I hear there are a couple of videos of "Rockin' in the Free World" and "Harvest Moon" as well.

I picked up my copy at the Sunrise Records in Burlington for $15.99+tx. This is an obvious pricing mistake, as Future Shop has it for $21.99+tx and Cheapies in Hamilton has it for $29.99+tx, so if you want it go to a Sunrise today before they figure it out and get it for cheap.

U2//HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB (Universal Music)

Double album CD/DVD

CD:11 new songs featuring the hit single Vertigo

DVD: A Documentary & 5 video performance from U2 HQ

Released today, Tuesday November 23, 2004.

I picked up a copy after work at Future Shop for $13.99+tx with the Bonus DVD.

What does everybody think? I only had one listen this past weekend while I was at a friend who had an advanced copy. We were talking a lot so I really don't have a firm opinion yet. When I do I'll post it here.

Until then any thoughts?

Happy 50th Birthday Bruce,

I loved your show at the Glenn Gould Studio this past summer and I am looking forward to your return trip to the Toronto area.

May you have many, many more years of health and happiness.

from www.billboard.com

This Day In Music For November 23, 2004.

1954 - Bruce Hornsby is born in Williamsburg, Va. His biggest hit is the No. 1 song "The Way It Is" in 1986.

Edited By Jonathan Cohen. November 22, 2004, 7:20 PM ET

U2 'Bombs' Brooklyn With Surprise Show

Fresh from taping "Saturday Night Live" here over the weekend, U2 stuck around New York today (Nov. 22) to usher in its new Interscope album, "How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," in typically grand fashion. The Irish rock act drove through Manhattan performing on a flatbed truck as stunned passerby looked on, culminating in an hour-plus free concert on the Brooklyn side of the East River for thousands of lucky fans.

Highlights from the gig will air Dec. 8 on MTV, while other footage from the day will be used in a video for the power-chord laden album track "All Because of You."

The group kicked things off at dusk with the new album's first single, "Vertigo," which has spent four weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. Frontman Bono proclaimed "All Because of You" to be "a love song to the Who," and saluted the band's paraplegic childhood friend Christopher Nolan prior to the emotive "Miracle Drug."

Before "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own," Bono paid tribute to his late father Bob, who he recalled "conducting the stereo with my mom's knitting needles." With a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline behind it, the group then stormed through "City of Blinding Lights," one of the best tracks on the new album.

Bono handled guitar duties while the Edge played piano on "Original of the Species," which got a huge roar from the crowd beforehand. "How do you know this sh*t?," the vocalist wryly asked the crowd, a reference to the unknown fate of the CD of unfinished new tracks that went missing this summer.

The folksy "She's a Mystery to Me," penned by U2 around the time of "The Joshua Tree" but eventually recorded by Roy Orbison, was followed by thunderous renditions of "Beautiful Day" and the classic "I Will Follow," which found the audience shouting along with every word. The encore sported an even older item, U2's first single, "Out of Control," plus a second pass at "Vertigo."

"How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" will be released tomorrow in North America. Along with a standard CD, it will also be available on vinyl, as well as two CD editions with a bonus DVD featuring footage of U2 in the studio plus performances of three songs. The deluxe version will house the CD and DVD in a 48-page hardbound book.

U2 will kick off a world tour March 1 in Miami.

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

I'm into it. I would love to see Dickey Betts again, specifically in the Allman Brothers Band, but if that can't happen I'd go to see Betts solo as well.

Producer-Songwriter Terry Melcher Dies

Sun Nov 21, 8:55 AM ET Entertainment - AP Music

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Terry Melcher, a record producer and songwriter who aided the careers of Ry Cooder (news), the Byrds and the Beach Boys, has died, his publicist announced Saturday. He was 62.

AP Photo

Melcher, the son of actress Doris Day (news), died Friday night at his Beverly Hills home after a long battle with melanoma.

Melcher co-wrote the hit song "Kokomo" for the Beach Boys. The song was used in the movie "Cocktail" and was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1988 for best original song. He also performed on the Beach Boys album "Pet Sounds."

In the early 1960s, Melcher began singing as a solo act and later paired with future Beach Boy Bruce Johnston to form the group Bruce & Terry. The pair had several hits, then went on to form the Rip Chords, which recorded the 1964 hit "Hey, Little Cobra."

In the mid-1960s, Melcher joined Columbia Records as a producer. Working with the Byrds, he produced their top-selling version of Bob Dylan (news)'s "Mr. Tambourine Man" and other hits, including "Turn, Turn, Turn."

Melcher also produced hit songs for Paul Revere and the Raiders and worked with Gram Parsons, the Mamas and the Papas, and Ry Cooder.

He served as the executive producer of his mother's CBS show, "The Doris Day Show," from 1968 to 1972 and co-produced her mid-1980s show, "Doris Day's Best Friends."

Melcher also helped run his mother's charitable activities, including the Doris Day Animal Foundation.

In 1969, his name became linked with the grisly Charles Manson murders.

Melcher once rented the home where actress Sharon Tate and a group of her friends were murdered by Manson followers. Rumors circulated that Melcher, who knew Manson, was the real target because he had turned Manson down for a record contract.

Los Angeles police discounted the rumors. Melcher had since moved to Malibu, and police established that Manson knew of his new address.

May you rest in peace Terry.

Today I will be listening to The Beach Boys, The Byrds and Gram Parsons in tribute to this creative man.

Go Argos Go!

I thought the Tragically Hip just put on an amazing performance at the half time show at the Grey Cup in Ottawa.

They have lost me a little bit more each time they've released an album sing "Day for Night" a decade ago.

Though I have seen them several times since. The last time I witnessed them was to bring in the New Year at Copps Coliseum a couple of years ago. It was a great show and I remember enjoying it so much because they performed so many old songs.

I have yet to pick up their newest effort "In Between Evolution" but if that opening song they performed at the Grey Cup today is any indication of what this album is like I just might get it soon. What was the name of that song?

"Courage" was great as well.

It's a pretty interesting list. And I'm always glad to see both of my favorites Bob Dylan (12 of his plus 2 cover his songs) and Neil Young (4 of his and 1 where he's in the band) doing well.

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/6596661/500songs

Robert Plant

2 RE-MASTERED GEMS BY MEDESKI MARTIN & WOOD

Alas, they have arrived! 2 newly re-mastered albums: Farmer's Reserve and Notes From The Underground are now available on line and in retail stores near you. Both records have been repackaged in digipack format under the direction of the band. Notes From The Underground includes a new bonus track (previously unreleased) from the original 1991 sessions produced by Medeski Martin and Wood. Farmer's Reserve is the most intimate and pristine experimental-sound-journey direct from the Shack in Hawaii. Independently owned and released through the band's imprint label Indirecto.

Also they will be performing Toronto, ON soon. Here's the info:

Saturday, December 4, 2004

Kool Haus

Toronto, ON

Info: 416.870.8000 and http://www.theguvernment.com

Doors: 8:00 pm

Support: Tarantula, www.tarantulamusic.com

MMW Showtime: 11:00 pm

Available: MMW Ticketing

www.mmw.net

I enjoy AC/DC, Kiss and The Grateful Dead, so there's hope for him yet.

Get him a live disc set that you really enjoy as that's what the Dead were all about.

I love all U2.....................

So, we were sitting aroud Myrnas, and thought "Let check out SNL". In all honesty, I cant remember the last time I saw a live one, but as soon as we heard U2 were on, that was that.

They SMOKED it!!!!!!

"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"

What a great song. I am buying this new album, guaranteed.

TimmyB, I'll go see them with you. I have always wanted to, knowing they put on a kick-ass show and loving their music, yo.

Hey Booche, Hopefully U2 will be performing at the Skydome again so we all can attend the show. I'm not a big fan of the venue, but when a band of U2's stature sells out two shows at the Air Canada Centre in less than an hour I think they should perform a venue that nearly all of their fans in the area can see them at.

I was told the fourth song U2 performed on SNL as the show ended was the new song "All Because of You."

I hope that the band in question doesn't think they are going places in the rock world either.

if you're talking about The Musical Box, i'd say that an almost sold-out show at Massey Hall means they are already there!

and like The Grateful Dead or Rod Stewart, members of DSO are involved in their own (original) side bands.

ie: The Mix

I agree with what you said about the Musical Box. As I believe I mentioned before the Musical Box is not only authorized by Genesis, they've also had Steve Hackett of Genesis perform with them.

And nearly selling out Massey Hall says a lot as well.

I know Rod The Mod wrote some of his own songs. And IMO some of them are great. For the most part though the majority of the material on his albums are not his own.

I guess what I'm trying to say is there's no hard and fast rule to making it in popular music. I don't need to get into how many artists don't deserve the recognition they receive and how many don't get their due.

When it comes to The Musical Box, they deserve a lot of credit by recreating something by another group that doesn't exist anymore. Doing what they do with the original groups permission. And finally performing it so well you almost can't tell that it's not actually Genesis on stage.

Of course, Velvet may have meant exactly what he said in the first place.

I don't get too offended by a band in say, Napannee, belting out covers of Helix or Red Rider. It's fun, but just don't take them too seriously and in turn, I hope that the band in question doesn't think they are going places in the rock world either.

Joe Cocker and Rod Stewart went places and they for the most part perform covers.

I think Velvet may have been making a distinction between bar-bands vs bands that do covers and recreations for a living. There is a big difference.

I don't know how many times I witnessed a bar band and the performed a cover from a band that I enjoy. It makes me think maybe I should listen a little harder to this band or give them more of a chance as they love what I love. Especially if the cover they perform comes from an obscure artist or an obscure song from a bigger artist.

On November 20, 1974 I was five days away from being five months old.

So... how does it feel being almost 30?

I'm actually 30 years 4 months and 26 days old right now and it feels alright. Your math needs work Jaimoe.

i am a BIG fan of Dark Star Orchestra for many of the same reasons you mentioned above in regards to The Musical Box.

I missed over 20 years of live Grateful Dead shows, and to have DSO recreate the music as awesome as they do is such a treat for me.

They too have the ok by most of the Dead family.

Bobby, Billy, Donna-Jean, Vince, Tom Constanten and others have all sat in with DSO at their shows.

Mountain Girl, Betty Cantor-Jackson, and Jerylin Lee Brandelius all LOVE dark star and come out to all the shows in the Bay area.

and yet i have read on this board that "cover bands do the music industry a disservice" ... I belive it was velvet i'm quoting

ah well, to each there own.

Well Velvet's wrong.

that sounds wicked to me.

(although some folk consider this a disservice to the music industry).

hey TimmyB, have you seen DSO yet ? ::

Why would anybody see the Musical Box as a disservice? The show last night celebrated to the day the opening of "The Lamb Lies Down On Broardway Tour." On November 20, 1974 I was five days away from being five months old. Obviously that the Musical Box is my only means of seeing this show and actually remembering it.

That the Musical Box go out and recreate the tour note for note (which is what progressive rock bands always do so please don't argue with that statement that it's against the spirit of rock and roll.) and also recreate the stage production down to every detail.

Also The Musical Box are authorized by the members of Genesis. They were given the 1,500 plus slides used in the three screen slide show in the original tour. So obviously The Musical Box are giving some of their earnings to Genesis.

Peter Gabriel, Mike Rutherford and Steve Hackett have all attended Musical Box concerts. And Hackett has even joined the Musical Box on stage!

And no I have not seen DSO live. Though if I had the opportunity I'm sure I would attend a DSO show.