New England Music Scrapbook Newsletter
Alan Lewis, Editor

Our Corner of the Rock 'n' Roll Life

May 10, 2008
Issue 2008:274
.

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We've got Thrills, chills, Dirty Water
. . What more do you need?
When the big beat hits ya
Comin' from your transistor
. . Like the T at full speed
When the big beat hits ya...

"Boston Lullaby," Dudick/Naihersey.
. . Copyright c. 1980 by Camaraderie Music, BMI.
. . All rights reserved. Used with permission.

:

:

BRATTLEBORO, VT, May 10 - Busy. The New England popular music circuit
continues to steam right along. By the end of the day on Wednesday, I
already had more items from news e-mails than I have time to excerpt
and compile by the point when this issue goes out to you. The large
amount of material being sent to us is daunting, but this sure beats
all to pieces the slow, slower, slowest last seven or eight months of
2007. At least as far as news flow goes, the recession is over and
the recovery is strong.

Believing that variety is quite important to most of our readers, I
first gathered together material from acts that seldom if ever have
been represented in these pages, along with acts that have
out-of-the-ordinary items, such as a first new album in ten years.
After that, I included material more or less on a first come, first
served basis.

My apologies to acts that easily could have been included in this
issue but just didn't get in. I will try to use the remaining
material, that is not already out of date, in our next issue.

<> THIS WEEK'S PRESS RELEASES INCLUDE

> a recently updated press release regarding the big Roots on the
River: Fred Eaglesmith Weekend festival coming up in Vermont

> a press release about the forthcoming Trey Anastasio record release,
"Original Boardwalk Style"

> an announcement of good size of the reopening, by Ken Casey of the
Dropkick Murphys, of McGreevy's Third Base Saloon.

The Boston city directories that are readily available online jump
from 1905 to 1925, and it looks quite likely that the original
McGreevy Saloon mostly flourished sometime between these years. It
makes sense, since the Red Sox did not go back a lot before 1905, and
Prohibition must have thrown McGreevy's out at the plate before 1925.
Still, the DKM team of sports historians says McGreevy's joined the
rotation by 1894. Anyway, what I found is that people named McGreevy
were not at all numerous in old Boston city directories, so one
McGreevy who was listed was quite likely related to another. The
second-earliest Boston McGreevy I found, Charles McGreevy, was a
carpenter at the Boston Theatre. Woo woo! The word, "carpenter," in
this context can easily give the wrong idea. For instance, a member
of the properties department - "props" dept. - would have been called
a "stage carpenter." So it looks as though "Nuf Ced" McGreevy, of the
3rd Base Saloon, was not the first Bostonian of his line to be
involved somehow in the entertainment business.

As for "Nuf Ced," his-self, here is the earliest Boston Daily Globe
article preview I found in a quick exact-phrase search of the Globe's
historical archive on "nuf ced":

BOSTON CHAMPIONS CAPTURE THE PENNANT
New York is Beaten in the Great Contest After Making a
Gallant Fight. Champions Win First Game by a Score of
3 to 2, and Lose the Second, 1 to 0, 10 Innings.
BOSTON WINS AGAIN. Collins and His Boys, With Dineen
in the Box, Take the First Game in New York--Lose the
Second. FINAL STANDING. Plenty of Confidence. That
Ninth Inning. What the Victory Proves. Story of the
First Game. "NUF-CED" McGREEVY AND JERRY WATSON
LEADING THE CHEERING OF THE ROOTERS Sharp Second Game.
"ROYAL ROOTERS" MARCHING UP 165TH STREET TO THE
GROUNDS. CLOSE WITH DOUBLE BILL. Washington and
Philadelphia Break Even on the Day's Play. SECOND
GAME.
Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922) - Boston, Mass.
Date: Oct 11, 1904
Start Page: 1
Pages: 2
Text Word Count: 3712
Abstract (Document Summary)

NEW YORK, Oct 10--The greatest victory ever won in
outdoor sport was that of the Boston champions today
when they defeated the New York Highlanders before a
tremendous crowd of enthusiastic lovers of baseball.

Pretty neat, huh?!

<> There's lots more New England popular music news. And this week,
strictly speaking, we are not out of time. But an unusually large
amount of what is already in this issue is time-sensitive. So it
seems to be lots more important to go with timeliness rather than
completeness.

<> As my e-friend Luanne would say,

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

- - -

EDDY ARNOLD
Make the World Go Away

<> Those were great days when Eddy Arnold records were playing on
America's jukeboxes. I used to cover one of his hits, myself:
"Anytime." The loss of Eddy Arnold is a real loss, and we were
saddened to learn of his passing.

Eddy Arnold became known for a very smooth kind of country pop; but
over a long career, he turned out a lot of different sounds: something
for everyone. So if "Bouquet of Roses" was not your style, you could
switch to "Cattle Call."

The alphabetical order of one part of our record collection goes like
this: Eddy Arnold, Banjo Dan and the Mid-Night Plowboys, The Carter
Family, Carlene Carter, Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash, The Charles River
Valley Boys, and on and on, working its way toward John Lincoln
Wright, Tammy Wynette, and Trisha Yearwood, with a tidal wave of Hank
Williams in between. I wonder what Eddy Arnold would think of batting
lead-off for this lineup.

Eddy Arnold sang "You Don't Know Me" countless times; but we think we
did know him, and we liked what we heard.

Anytime you're feelin' lonely
Anytime you're feelin' blue
Anytime you feel downhearted
That will prove your love for me is true...

- - -

GREETINGS FROM AREA CODE 207 VOLUME 7

<> Maine has a VERY big event coming up: the release event for the
local music various artists collection, "Greetings From Area Code 207
Vol. 7." GFAC207 is a wonderful series, each of the releases is of
very high quality, and the southern Maine popular music community is a
big winner all around. Area Code 207 is very well served.

We will run fuller details from Charley Gaylord's announcement later:
probably next issue. But for now, here is the inbox heading for the
GFAC207 Vol. 7 e-mail:

Charlie Gaylord GFAC Volume 7 CD Release Party - May 22nd at The
Empire Dine and Dance Fri May 09, 2008

It is too late to catch the show, I know; but at least this little bit
tells us that the release is official and in the books, and we are now
living in the Volume 7 Era.

- - -

REGENT THEATRE
Mother's Day Weekend and Beyond
Including Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters
in the "Beyond" Category

A RECENT MAILING FROM the Regent Theatre in Arlington, Massachusetts
announced shows for this Mother's Day Weekend: Beatlemania Again on
Saturday and Quartet San Francisco on Sunday.

Scrolling down the page as far as we could, our eyes lit on this very
special concert, featuring Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters:

Saturday, June 28 at 8pm
Orchestra (Front) $37.50 Orchestra (Rear) and Balcony, $27.50
Exclusive Boston-Area Performance!
RONNIE EARL And The Broadcasters

<> In April of 2007 Ronnie Earl recorded a CD and DVD live at Well
Spring Studios in Acton, Massachusetts. The CD was released in early
2008 and has received rave reviews in both Guitar Player magazine and
Living Blues. Ronnie is currently playing a limited schedule of
appearances in New England so this is a rare opportunity to catch this
truly an amazing guitarist / musician.

SOURCE: Regent Theatre, "Mother's Day Weekend and Beyond," May 8, 2008.

FYI: LATELY THERE HAS BEEN a technical problem with Regent Theatre
mailings, along with e-mails from several acts, such that the text
runs right past the body of the e-mail, right over whatever normally
follows the e-mail's contents, and right off the screen. - Ed.

- - -

DAVID JOHNSTON AND DIGNEY FIGNUS

<> Good golly, Digney Fignus has a CD-release party this very day.
Can you believe it?

Back in the days when MTV really was music television and the channel
did as much as anyone or anything to break new wave rock, Boston's
Digney Fignus had an MTV video of "The Girl With the Curious Hand."
(Thanks to a Friend of Maria [FoM] who was a Digney Fignus insider, we
have this recording on CD.) Them were the days, "Girl With the
Curious Hand" was terrific, and now Digney Fignus is back with a
CD-release to throw a party over.

David Johnston, fresh off a plum night opening for Ronnie Earl, also
gets the honors of sparking the audience at this truly remarkable
event. He was kind enough to send us the following details:

Tomorrow Saturday May 10
Digney Fignus cd release party
At the Precinct formerly known as Toast
70 Union Square (next to the Independent)
9pm solo show
dAVIDjOHNSTON
followed at 10pm by Digney Fignus
$5 cover
kitchen open 'til 10pm
SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC

SOURCE: David Johnston, "Precinct/Toast Saturday May 10," May 9, 2008.

David Johnston has gotten a couple really great bookings really close
together and he must be flying high.

- - -

MARK CUTLER AND THE MEN OF GREAT COURAGE
CD-Release Party
Saturday, May 10
At the Liberty Elm
Providence, Rhode Island

SO I GO TO ALL THE TROUBLE of signing up for the Mark Cutler e-mail
mailing list and I learn about his CD-release event from Kip McCloud!
Figures. Here is the news she sent:

<> "Just in case you missed out on the rockin' CD release
show of Mark Cutler & the Men of Great Courage at
Nickanees last month, you will now have an opportunity
for the reprise!

THIS SAT. 5/10

'YOUR ROOTS ARE SHOWING'

at THE LIBERTY ELM

presents

MARK CUTLER & THE MEN OF GREAT COURAGE
encore CD release show!

with hosts
LUCKY 57

and special Worcester guests
THE BEES KNEES

$6 at the door
BYO
Limited seating
Plenty of parking

Doors open at 8pm
Music from 9pm - Midnight

"DON'T MISS IT THIS TIME AROUND!"

SOURCE: Lucky 57, "This Saturday, May 10, Your Roots Are Showing
Presents Mark Cutler's Encore CD Release Show," May 7, 2008.

- - -

JOHNNY CARLEVALE AND HIS BAND OF ALL-STARS
At Jake's Bar and Grille in Providence

JOHNNY CARLEVALE AND HIS BAND OF ALL-STARS was puffed up with three
bookings for this month, and one of them - the second, I think - is today.

<> "This Saturday (May 10th), Johnny Carlevale & His Band Of All-Stars
will be at Jake's Bar & Grille - 373 Richmond Street - Providence -
Rhode Island w/country artist and Starday Records officianato Nate
Gibson & The Gashouse Gang. Nate's opening up the show followed by
Johnny Carlevale and His Band of All-Stars. We hope to see ya' there."

SOURCE: The Broken Rhythm Boys, "This Saturday, May 10, Johnny
Carlevale and His Band of All Stars," May 5, 2008.

I USED TO HAVE SOME STARDAY VINYL and I may possibly even have a CD.
It seems to me that one vinyl LP was by the first national star of
Canadian country music, yodeling Wilf Carter, and one album was
definitely by a gifted New Hampshire/Massachusetts singer and yodeler,
Kenny Roberts. - Ed.

- - -

HECTOR ON STILTS
New CD Nearing Completion

<> "New HoS CD almost done. Keep your ears peeled."

SOURCE: Hector on Stilts Mailing, May 9, 2008.

I DID NOT PERFECTLY FOLLOW, in the main part of the HoS mailing,
whether the band is performing as Hector on Stilts IN ADDITION TO
playing as the Freakwent Flyahs. But here are some details from the
Hector on Stilts mailing. Newsletter readers, who are looking to know
more, may want to check the HoS website or call the telephone number
they provided (below).

DETAILS:

SAT. MAY 10
Dreamaway Lodge
1342 County Road
Becket, MA
9 PM
all-ages
tel: 413-623-8725

In case you don't know, the band, Hector on Stilts, is based in the
Berkshires of western Massachusetts or at least in the long shadows of
the Berkshires. - Ed.

- - -

GRETA GERTLER
"Casting Lines" Series

"What is the 'CASTING LINES' Project?:

<> "Greta initially started off her musical career as a
songwriter wanting to write songs for other artists, and more recently
has been exploring a more theatrical direction in her songwriting.
Greta has been casting lines/issuing requests towards singers that she
loves, to collaborate and connect with them. This is a new live
project featuring these dfferent guest vocalists each week, performing
an original Gertler tune with Greta & her band. Greta will also sing
quite a few herself."

Please visit:

http://www.GretaGertler.net

http://www.myspace.com/gretagertlermusic

Source: Greta, "Banjo Jim's: Casting Lines Part 3," April 28, 2008.

This is the latest "Casting Lines" listing we have:

MAY 12 - CLARE MULDAUR and others to be announced

IRONICALLY, EXCERPTING AND COMPILING this information from a recent
Greta Gertler mailing came up in my "to do" list, while her latest
album, "Edible Restaurant (Appetizer Edition)," was playing on my
stereo. "Edible Restaurant" has a lock on being shuffled over to my
stack of CDs for repeat playings. My immediate reaction - of course,
subject to change - is that this sounds a bit like some cross between
"Surf's Up"-era Beach Boys and the 1970s pioneering theatrical rock
ensemble, Orchestra Luna, perhaps seasoned with a dash of Rose
Polenzani gone classic rock and country-pop.

Noam Weinstein highly recommends Greta Gertler's music, and it is easy
to understand why. - Ed.

- - -

ROSE POLENZANI
Session PolenzanAmericana and the
"When the River Meets the Sea" CD

"ROSE POLENZANI with SESSION AMERICANA
Local CD Release Show at Club Passim, May 14!

:::::::::::::

<> "Come hear it live and buy the new Rose Polenzani record, 'When the
River Meets the Sea,' Recorded Live in Studio with Session Americana!

Wednesday, May 14, 8pm
Club Passim,
47 Palmer St.
Cambridge, MA

Tickets: Reg: $15.00
Member: $13.00

with special guests Rose Cousins, Jennifer Kimball and Dan Kellar!

"Visit

http://www.clubpassim.org/passimcalendar/viewEvent2.php?evt=1207071484

to make reservations for this show.

"This show will be a special celebration of the
Rose and Session record, 'When the River Meets the Sea,' which is back
from the manufacturers and will be on sale at the show!"

SOURCE: Rose Polenzani, "Rose Polenzani, Session Americana, and Rose
Cousins at Club Passim May 14," May 6, 2008.

Rose PolenzanAmericana: The Band

- - -

RACHAEL SAGE
"Chandelier" CD

HERE ARE A COUPLE EXCERPTS from the latest Rachael Sage mailing,
along with an equally couple listings of Northeast CD-release shows.

<> "There's been so much excitement lately at MPress Records we just
couldn't wait another month to send a new newsletter! From
pre-release airplay on BBC Radio to a slew of upcoming tour dates and
even some early reviews, we've got lots of buzz happening around
'Chandelier,' Rachael's brand new album (in U.S. stores June 10th)."

"BBC2 SUPPORTS RACHAEL'S FIRST UK SINGLE!

<> "Bob Harris, from BBC2 Radio in the UK, has added Rachael's song,
'Angel In My View,' to his program. Check out Bob's entire playlist,
including Rachael. If you're in the UK, please contact your favorite
radio station/program and ask them to play 'Angel in My View,' which
is at radio now! This is uncharted territory for us - literally and
figuratively speaking - and we truly appreciate your support in
helping expose her music to brand new listeners!"

Thu. May 15 Joe's Pub, 9:30 pm (CD RELEASE PARTY!) * NYC

Wed. June 11 World Cafe Live, 8:00 pm (CD RELEASE PARTY!) *
Philadelphia, PA

SOURCE: Rachael Sage Mailing, May 3, 2008.

- - -

RANI ARBO AND DAISY MAYHEM
In Philadelphia

<> Rani Arbo asked people on the Daisy Mayhem mailing list to put out
the word about two special shows set for this month. One of these
concerts has happened by now, but the second is in Philadelphia, the
former early capital of these United States. Here are details of the
Philadelphia tour stop as they were supplied to us.

May 18 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Book Festival, 1:00
Children's show

May 18 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Tin Angel, 7:30

SOURCE: Rani Arbo, "Daisy Mayhem May News," May 1, 2008.

I DO BELIEVE IT IS THE TIN ANGEL GIG that Rani Arbo especially wanted
us to tell you all about. - Ed.

- - -

LORI McKENNA TOUR
News From Russell Chudnofsky

<> "Lori McKenna will be playing throughout the spring and summer.
Most shows are all ages. Tickets can be purchased through
www.lorimckenna.com

"Here are some shows I'll be playing on with Lori:

May 18 Campanelli Stadium (Shaws Center) in Brockton, MA. Day show (it
may start at 3). This is a Habitat for Humanity Benefit. TICKETS ARE
RUNNING OUT FOR THIS ONE

June 5th Bellows Falls Opera House, Bellows Falls, VT

June 7 Flamig Farm, West Simsbury CT.

June 27 Frist Center for the Arts, Nashville, TN. Free (I think!)
outdoor show."

SOURCE: Russell Chudnofsky Mailing, May 4, 2008.

- - -

WHILE I WORKED ON COMPILING this newsletter issue, the NEMS stereo
had the honor of playing these record releases:

Salvatore Baglio, "Memory Theatre"

Greta Gertler and the Extroverts, "Edible Restaurant (Appetizer Edition)"

Mars, "Mars EP"

Rubblebucket Orchestra, "Rose's Dream"

Fine records, every last one of them. I am in a bit of a bind right
now, when it comes to listening to the CDs we are sent. The best
time, by far, for me to listen to these recordings is while I am
working on compiling the newsletter; but in recent weeks and months, I
have been working on the newsletter in the middle of the night ... in
an apartment building. Not the best time and place for playing
records. So while I am definitely getting caught up, I am not
catching up very fast.

<> As to which of these records is wildest, it is no contest. "Memory
Theatre" by Salvatore Baglio easily wins the prize.

Baglio has gone on a psychedelic trip, so to speak, and with striking
results. Beach Boys and Beatles psychedelic influences are evident -
particularly the Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks collaborations; and
like the Beatles and Beach Boys, Baglio has produced an excellent
variety of sounds. From just one playing, it also seemed as though he
was cleverly quoting passages from familiar recordings. One is a riff
from a Ricki Lee Jones cut, a second I couldn't quite place, and a
third, on the "Memory Theatre" final track, reminds me of "Reason To
Believe" from Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska" album.

I got interrupted not more than a minute or two before the end of
"Memory Theatre," the first time through, and I have not been able to
get back to it since. What I would like to do next time I play the
disc is listen to the effects, which Baglio employs quite expertly, to
see whether they produce common threads that run through the album and
unify it or, on another hand, if they vary considerably from one
distinct track to the next.

If it is possible for one's ears to be kept on their toes, the ever
surprising "Memory Theatre" is an album to do it. "Memory Theatre" is
a fine and fitting followup to the wild and wonderful
"Superheterodyne" (CD, Vinyl Frontier, 2005).

<> Starting around 1964 or 1965, I attended a lot of dances that
featured live garage-pop rock bands. Some of those bands were strong
with enthusiasm but didn't exactly have the gift for music.
Unfortunately, in recent years and even decades, far too many
garage-rock revivalists have fallen in love with the most frayed
tatters from the incompetent fringe of mid-1960s rock 'n' roll.

Mars, quite to the contrary, has apparently preferred to get the main
idea: rehearsed, radio single-inspired rock, played with a
post-British Invasion garage spirit by band members keeping an eye out
for potential love interests on the dance floor.

We need a full-length release from Mars; but in the meantime, "Mars
EP" will keep us highly satisfied for short hops.

- - -

MIKE AND THE RAVENS

Not long after writing the item above about garage rock, we received a
mailing about a genuine 1960s Champlain Valley garage-rock band, Mike
and the Ravens.

<> "Eddie Shaw of the Monks reviews the first album by Mike & The
Ravens, 45 years after they recorded their last 45!

"Go to: http://www.zohomusic.com/artists.php?a=52"

SOURCE: Will Shade, "Mike and the Ravens NOW!" May 8, 2008.

- - -

<> LAST ISSUE, IN MY LAST-MINUTE HASTE, I copied an e-mail's subject
line which gave some details of a production of "Cinderella" scheduled
for that morning. It wasn't until too late to do anything about it
that I noticed the name of the venue - the Regent Theatre - didn't
copy. Sorry!

:

:

BRIEF ITEMS :
.


JOSH RITTER AND JOHN DRAGONETTI
What a Team

"Rumors: The Off-Broadway Remix by Jackdrag

<> "Well THIS just has to be heard. If you recall what Jackdrag (John
Dragonetti, one half of the band The Submarines) did to Josh's 'Other
Side' and 'Come and Find Me' a few years ago, you know that I mean it.

"Dragonetti dove deep into the dark belly of the song, and has emerged
with a twist on the tune that will have you ... well, it does
different things to different people."

SOURCE: Josh Ritter Mailing, May 5, 2008.
.


SARAH BORGES AND THE BROKEN SINGLES
Hi Ho, Hi Ho
It's Off to Europe They Go

<> "Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles are about to embark on their
first European tour since the release of 'Diamonds in the Dark' in
just a few short days. We're so very excited, and we'd love to have
your help in spreading the word. In return for telling all of your
overseas friends about our shows we, SBBS, promise to come home with
great stories, new songs and lots of great video footage from the tour
to share."

SOURCE: Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, "Euro Tour Call to
Action," May 5, 2008.
.


THE LOVE DOGS
At the New Swing City

THE LOVE DOGS' MAILING for May has TLD show listings for several new
venues, in addition to a few others which are new to this band. The
next new nightspot coming up on the Love Dogs' events calendar is the
New Swing City, which takes the place of a popular earlier room, Swing
City. Here is the listing, as sent to us by the chief Love Dog.

"Fri 5/16 **NEW VENUE**
"The NEW Swing City - Somerville, Massachusetts

http://swingcityboston.com/index.shtml

<> "Our new friend Olaf has picked up where DJ Mez left
off and moved Swing City to a new location. The same swingin' vibe in
swanky new digs."

SOURCE: The Love Dogs, "Love Dogs in May," April 30, 2008.
.


THE RADIO KINGS
Followup to a 1990s Classic

<> "The Radio Kings make a stop at Toad this week fresh off recording
the basic tracks for their first record in 10 years."

www.myspace.com/theradiokings
www.myspace.com/michaeldinallo
www.myspace.com/briantempleton

SOURCE: Michael Dinallo, "The Radio Kings at Toad Thursday," May 5, 2008.

THERE ARE SEVERAL 1990S ALBUMS that I did not buy but it would be
really great if I had. The Radio Kings' album is a prime example.
Comments, by my hero Steve Morse, make the record seem like a
must-have item.

The album by Blue Streak, a band which was represented in last issue,
would be another important example. The fact that we here do not have
the Blue Streak CD in our collection leaves a very big hole in it.

And then there is "Suicide at the Wishing Well" by The Swinging
Steaks. I thought I had that recording pretty much covered when I got
"Southside of the Sky" ... that is, until I actually heard the
SSteaks' "Wising Well." THEN ... I knew I should have bought the disc.

Here is hoping the rejuvenated Radio Kings produce a match for their
1990s artistic success.
.


JOSH BROOKS
The "El Dorado" Disc

<> Vermont roots singer-songwriter Josh Brooks, following a topical
reference to Economic Stimulus checks, said soon he will be "pressing
copies of my new album, 'El Dorado.' We'll be wrapping up the mixing
and mastering over the next few weeks, and I hope to have the album in
my hands by mid-June and your hands by July. So the next time you
hear from me, look for 'new album' in the subject heading!

"Thanks to everyone who made it out to the Vergennes Lions Club
benefit last weekend. It was a great show, Patty Casey was phenomenal
(as always), and we raised a lot of money for a good cause."

SOURCE: Josh Brooks, "Of Monkeys, Pancakes and More," May 4, 2008.

THIS OUGHT TO BE THING WELL WORTH fans spending their Economic
Stimulus money on. - Ed.
.


BOSTON BABYDOLLS
An Interesting Question

In the latest mailing, the Boston Babydolls asked an interesting question.

<> "Does anyone read our blog? Just curious."

It would be interesting to learn whether they asked the same question
IN their blog. Then the 'Dolls went on to say, "You can catch all the
deathless prose on MySpace or LiveJournal and yes, we post stuff there
we don't send to you."

SOURCE: Boston Babydolls, "Some Quickies with The Boston Babydolls,"
May 7, 2008.

WEBLOGS OR BLOGS ARE SO NUMEROUS these days that the overwhelming
majority of them must have really small readerships. Competition for
reader time is doubtless extremely stiff. We get several blogs called
to our attention every week, and, some weeks, notes about blogs are
particularly multitudinous. I don't read blogs. None. The last one
I read, several years ago, was a type of genealogy posting written by
a man who is descended from a woman who he personally believes was
married to President Abraham Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth. And
I read that one mostly because it turned up in a Google hitlist.
.


YAHOO NEWS HAD SOME REMARKABLE headlines this week, and it would be
hard to know which one or ones to choose from among them. But for
plain old simple amazingness, the following headline would be tough to
beat:

. . Data from Columbia disk drives
. . survived the shuttle accident

Gee, lots of computer drives can't even survive their users. These
ones fall from the sky and come out okay.

Sad to say, two headlines about relatively good economic news died
almost instantly. There does not seem to be a lot of editorial
interest these days in reporting good news about the economy.

One of the headlines I have in mind said the number of jobless claims
has dropped more than expected. Another headline said that worker
productivity is up more than expected.

end BRIEF ITEMS

:

:

GREGORY DOUGLASS
Long-Playing Album in the Works

"UPDATES FROM THE STUDIO :: FULL-LENGTH ALBUM #7...

"As I mentioned, I've been busy writing and recording
lots of new material for the my seventh full-length
studio album all winter long. It's been a very
productive and musically inspiring winter, but a
tedious one as well... It's nice to see signs of
spring way up here in the north! As I gear up for the
spring tour, I'll be putting these new songs on hold
until I get back.

"I'm thrilled to announce that there is a new game plan
for the summer when I introduce my good friend Syd to
the album project as my co-producer in crime! I've
created a nice foundation for all these new songs but
I'm ready to swallow my pride and acknowledge my
strengths/weaknesses within the recording process.
Along with being an accomplished singer/songwriting
virtuoso in his own right, he is also a fine producer
and is just the man for the job : ) Check Syd out at:
http://www.sydband.com On a side note, he recently
recorded an amazing cover version of my song "Sail The
Sea" and it's available on his latest release, "The
Way We Found It," the perfect solution for upcoming
spring & summer playlist needs I might add...

"I'm still aiming for a Spring, 2009 release for this
album; I'm not sure what to call it yet but there will
be plenty of winter-induced, introspective landscapes
involved, along with a few more playfully brooding,
cabaret numbers."

SOURCE: "Gregory Douglass Newsletter, May 2008," May 4, 2008.

- - -

ROOTS ON THE RIVER
The Fred Eaglesmith Weekend

PRESS RELEASE FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ROOTS ON THE RIVER FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 9TH YEAR OF STELLAR ROOTS MUSIC
AND ENTERTAINMENT

FESTIVAL TO TAKE PLACE IN BELLOWS FALLS, VERMONT JUNE 5-8, 2008
FEATURING FRED EAGLESMITH, LORI MCKENNA, MARY GAUTHIER, STEVE FORBERT
AND MANY MORE

The Roots On The River Festival/Fred Eaglesmith Weekend is one of
Western New England's favorite summer festivals. Featuring world-class
roots music, free ample parking, terrific food and drink at reasonable
prices, children's activities, great festival merchandise, a musical
equipment swap tent, and the best fans anywhere, Roots on the River is
an unbeatable four days of music and entertainment.

THURSDAY, JUNE 5: Kicking off the weekend will be LORI MCKENNA in a
full-blown concert production at the beautifully restored 553 seat
Bellows Falls Opera House. MARK ERELLI will open the show. The Opera
House boasts outstanding acoustics and lighting system, along with the
most comfortable theatre seating in New England. The concert will be
preceded by a Deluxe Reception for those Deluxe Weekend Ticket holders.

FRIDAY, JUNE 6: The Festival will host an Open Mic show at Boccelli's
On the Canal from 12 noon until 2:00pm. Details will be posted on the
website, www.rootsontheriver.com, as they are updated.

At 4:00 PM the music moves to the Bellows Falls Farmers' Market,
across the canal from Boccelli's. THE LONESOME BROTHERS and THE
CLAYTON SABINE BAND will be performing at the free Market concert.

Then, on to The Big Tent at the Festival's Main Venue behind the
Everyday Inn for the Friday night show. This show will open with THE
LONESOME BROTHERS, followed by THE BOTTLE ROCKETS from Festus,
Missouri, who will play the Festival during their 15th Anniversary
concert tour. And for their first performance of the weekend, FRED
EAGLESMITH & THE FLYING SQUIRRELS. Fred will be performing many of
his songs from the just released "Tinderbox."

SATURDAY, JUNE 7: DAY LONG LINE- UP at the Big Tent. Kicking off the
day will be GEORGE'S BACK POCKET, featuring George Nostrand, Bellows
Falls' native son. Also, ROGER MARIN, SARAH BORGES AND THE BROKEN
SINGLES, THE STARLINE RHYTHM BOYS, EILEN JEWELL, ROBBIE FULKS, STEVE
FORBERT, and FRED EAGLESMITH & THE FLYING SQUIRRELS.

SUNDAY, JUNE 8: Rockingham Meeting House, the 200+ year old landmark
and oldest continuously operating public building in Vermont. With no
electricity, no running water and incredible acoustics designed to
amplify the 18th century preachers it was built to accommodate, we
welcome back long-time Festival favorite, MARY GAUTHIER. She returns
after a two year absence to focus her concise, poetic lyrics on the
midnight hours of desperate souls and confirms that she's among the
best singer-songwriters of her generation, especially when it comes to
illustrating ramblers, derelicts and anyone who struggles with demons
in the night. FRED EAGLESMITH & THE FLYING SQUIRRELS will round out
the weekend with their third Festival concert to close out the
afternoon.

Individual tickets, including kid's specially priced Saturday tickets,
along with weekend ticket packages and a limited number of Deluxe
Weekend ticket packages now available online at www.rootsontheriver.com.

CHILDREN'S TENT/ACTIVITIES: A Children's tent will be open from 12
noon to 6 PM on Saturday, June 7. Kids 5 and under will need an adult
to supervise them.
Activities to include face painting, musical entertainment, drawing,
painting, mask making, field games, story telling and more.

FREE BUS SERVICE: Bus service will run from several locations in
Bellows Falls to Saxtons River, Chester, Springfield (Plaza and the
Holiday Inn) to the main festival site and to the other venues.
Service will start from the late morning each day to after the last
act performs on Friday and Saturday. There is no charge for the bus
service.

FOOD VENDORS: The following vendors will be selling food during the
festival: Athens Pizza, Boccelli's On The Canal, Brent Lisai's Famous
BBQ, Curtis' All-American Restaurant, Harvest Moon Catering, Maplewing
Breakfast Grill, PK's Irish Pub, RJ's Famous, and Smokin' Bowls.

Regular Tickets available at these outlets starting May 1, 2008:

* Bull's Eye Music, Bellows Falls, VT
* Village Square Books, Bellows Falls, VT
* Boccelli's On The Canal, Bellows Falls VT
* Fat Franks, Bellows Falls, VT
* Northampton Box Office, Northampton, MA
* Music Matters, West Lebanon, NH
* Toadstool Books, Keene, NH
* Brattleboro Books, Brattleboro, VT
* Misty Valley Books, Chester, VT

TICKET PRICES:

June 5: $20 adv./$22 at the door
June 6: Bocelli's Open mic is free/ Lonesome Brothers performance at
Farmer's market is free/ Big tent performance is $20 adv./$22 at the door
June 7: $40 adv./$42 at the door. Kids 6-14 are $10 at the gate.
Children 5 and under are FREE.
June 8: $25 adv./$27 at the door.

FULL WEEKEND TICKETS: $99

DELUXE PACKAGE A: $130
Includes:
Full weekend ticket
Best of House Thursday Night
Guaranteed, reserved seating at Everyday Inn Festival Grounds
Best of House @ Meeting House
Goody Bag
Late Night Taxi
Parting soiree
Merchant Bingo

DELUXE PACKAGE B: $145
Same as Deluxe A, plus opening reception on Thursday night.

Deluxe packages are only available online.

ARTIST WEBSITES:

http://www.lorimckenna.com
http://www.markerelli.com
http://www.myspace.com/claytonsabine
http://www.lonesomebrothers.com/
http://www.fredeaglesmith.com/
http://www.bottlerocketsmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/georgebygeorge (George's Back Pocket)
http://rogermarin.com/
http://www.starlinerhythmboys.com/
http://www.sarahborges.com/
http://www.eilenjewell.com
http://robbiefulks.com/
http://www.steveforbert.com/
http://www.marygauthier.com/

More information available by calling 802.463.9595, or on-line at
http://www.rootsontheriver.com

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TREY ANASTASIO
"Original Boardwalk Style" CD

ORIGINAL BOARDWALK STYLE SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 10TH RELEASE ON RUBBER
JUNGLE RECORDS

SEVEN BELOW ARTS ANNOUNCES 2008 BARN RESIDENCIES

ORIGINAL BOARDWALK STYLE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER
CD, DIGITAL & SPECIAL 180-GRAM VINYL EDITIONS AVAILABLE

Original Boardwalk Style, a live album from Trey Anastasio and the
Undectet, will be released on June 10th on Trey's own Rubber Jungle
Records. Proceeds from the sale of the album will benefit the Seven
Below Arts Initiative, established by Trey in 2006 to foster artistic
development and support arts education in the state of Vermont.

The album was recorded at the House of Blues in Atlantic City, NJ on
December 30th and 31st of 2006, coming at the end of the band's
holiday tour. The two shows marked the culmination of a long year of
touring and growth as what began as a six-piece sextet in the
beginning of the year had progressed into a full-force eleven member
Undectet.

The raw energy of a well-oiled band at the top of its game permeated
the set as the composer/vocalist/guitarist led The Undectet -
comprised of Tony Hall (bass, vocals), Ray Paczkowski (keyboards),
Jeff Sipe (drums), Christina Durfee (vocals, synthesizer), Jennifer
Hartswick (vocals, trumpet), Peter Apfelbaum (saxophone, flute),
Russell Remington (saxophone, flute), Jeff Cressman (trombone), Dave
Grippo (saxophone) and Cyro Baptista (percussion) - through
electrifying big band arrangements of his classic songs, replete with
big horns and dazzling Brazilian percussive stylings.

Original Boardwalk Style features over 75 minutes of music, remixed
from the multitrack masters by Trey and Ben Collette at Rubber Jungle
Studios and mastered by Fred Kevorkian at Kevorkian Mastering. In
addition to CD and digital download formats, the album will be
available as a double-gatefold, audiophile grade 180-gram LP Vinyl
pressing.

The album is now available for pre-order as CD and Vinyl Trey's online
store as well as digital audio downloads (in both MP3 and FLAC
formats) at LivePhish.com. All pre-orders will automatically be
entered to win a professionally printed photo - signed by Trey and
esteemed photographer Jeff Kravitz - of the band on stage at the House
of Blues. Color corrected by Jennifer Brown, it will be framed in barn
board crafted by Lars Fisk, a creative contributor to The Barn's
Artist-in-Residence program. Ten runners-up will receive autographed
copies of the vinyl.

ORIGINAL BOARDWALK STYLE - Live In Atlantic City

1. Drifting
2. Plasma
3. Shine
4. Alive Again
5. Mud City
6. Simple Twist Up Dave
7. Tuesday
8. Money, Love and Change
9. Mr. Completely
Exclusive Digital Bonus Track
10. First Tube

SEVEN BELOW ARTS ANNOUNCES SUMMER 2008 BARN RESIDENCIES

The Seven Below Arts Initiative, in partnership with Burlington City
Arts is pleased to announce the artists selected for the Seven Below
Artist-in-Residence Program (Seven Below A.I.R.). Six artists were
selected for two different summer sessions, the first session being
from May 31st to July 27th, and the second from August 2nd to
September 27th. The Seven Below A.I.R. invites artists to work on
projects at a site located outside of Burlington, Vermont. The
residencies are designed to provide artists with a quiet, inspiring,
and supportive environment for individual and/or collaborative work.

The six chosen residents were selected from a diverse range of
applicants from all over the country. They are joined by new Seven
Below Studio Manager and working resident R. Elliott Katz from Cabot,
Vermont. A sculptor, Elliott is currently working on a series of cast
concrete sculptures for his upcoming show, "Cultivate," with the
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in June 2008.

Session one begins with Charmaine Wheatley and Haisi Hu, both from New
York City. Charmaine Wheatley depicts everything from sunsets to
eavesdropped conversations in watercolors, and will work on a
Burlington area-based comic book during her residency. Haisi Hu, a
native of China, works with narrative videos by using animated
puppets, toys and mannequins. She creates armatures for her characters
and elaborated sets. The New York State Council for the Arts supported
her last feature-length video, "Once Upon A Lifetime."

The second summer residency session, beginning August 2nd, will
support artists Meghan Gordon, Thordis Adalsteindottir and David
Herbert from New York City, and Matt Bollinger from Gladstone,
Missouri. Meghan Gordon received her BFA in Painting from Rhode Island
School of Design. Her work explores the world of period rooms and
their relationship to painting. Thordis Adalsteindottir and David
Herbert are a collaborative team whose work comments on the history of
the clergy working with artists and architects to communicate to a
broader audience. They will construct a church fully furnished with
stained glass windows, to be displayed on the second or third floor of
a parking lift in lower Manhattan. Matt Bollinger received his BFA in
painting and creative writing from the Kansas City Art Institute and
his MFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. His
paintings and drawings depict fictional social groups who congregate
at music shows, in art collectives, or at karaoke bars. Within these
contexts he attempts to examine specific characters in relation to the
group. Informed by his interest in film melodrama, horror movies, and
experimental music, the resulting narratives are like dream-versions
of real events, which make emotional, as opposed to logical, sense.

The Seven Below Arts Initiative was established to foster artistic
development and support arts education in the state of Vermont.
Residents will be asked to share their artistic process with the local
community. This may involve a public talk, an educational activity for
youth, or a professional workshop, to be determined by the resident
and program coordinator. For more information on the Seven Below Arts
Initiative, please visit the Non-Profit Page at Trey.com.

The Seven Below Artist-in-Residence Program is an important part of
Burlington City Arts, which is dedicated to the promotion of
excellence, experimentation, and education in all forms of
contemporary art. For more information about gallery exhibitions,
special events, classes and workshops, please call 802.865.7166 or
visit http://www.burlingtoncityarts.com.

SOURCE: Trey Update At Trey Dot Com, "'Original Boardwalk Style' Set
for June 10th Release on Rubber Jungle Records," May 5, 2008.

- - -

KEN CASEY OF THE DROPKICK MURPHYS
Has Opened ... or Re-Opened
McGreevy's 3rd Base Saloon

As announced a few weeks ago DKM are opening a new bar in Boston
called McGreevy's at 911 Boylston St. We know some of you came in on
marathon Monday for a sneak preview but this Thursday May 8th at
5.00pm the doors will officially open for good.

The bar will be open daily for lunch, dinner and all around good times
until 2.00am every night.

We are in the process of launching the McGreevy's website and Myspace
page and will be notifying everyone early next week when they are
ready. Please be sure to sign up for our mailing list or become a
McGreevy's Myspace friend because we won't be mailing out information
about the bar via the DKM website for much longer.

Thanks for you time and for everyone that has stopped by the bar
already we hope to see you all there soon!

Websites:
http://www.mcgreevysboston.com (still under construction)
http://www.myspace.com/mcgreevysboston >
http://going.com/mcgreevysboston

MCGREEVY'S 3RD BASE SALOON - "AMERICA'S FIRST SPORTS BAR" AND "THE
BIRTHPLACE OF RED SOX NATION"

In 1894, "Nuf Ced" McGreevy opened his "3rd Base Saloon" in Boston.
By the turn of the century, it was the place to be for ball players,
politicians, gamblers, Tin-Pan Alley stars and die-hard fans known as
the "Royal Rooters." "Nuf Ced" was "King of the Rooters" and "3rd
Base" was the center of the sporting and political worlds. It was
America's first baseball museum, with every inch of wall space
decorated with historic pictures from Nuf Ced's own collection and
memorabilia he got from friends like Cy Young; the light fixtures were
made from bats used by Red Sox stars; the painted portrait of McGreevy
hanging above the bar looked down upon customers like Babe Ruth,
boxing champ John L. Sullivan, "Royal Rooters" like Mayor "Honey Fitz"
Fitzgerald (JFK's granddad) and "Sport" Sullivan—the Boston gambler
infamous for masterminding the fix of the 1919 World Series.

McGreevy presided over all arguments between fans ending the battles
by pounding his fist on the bar exclaiming, "Nuf-Ced"! McGreevy's was
America's first documented sports theme bar and "Nuf Ced" was the
game's most celebrated fan. "Nuf Ced" and his Rooters cheered on the
Red Sox singing the fight song "Tessie" for their first World Series
win in 1903 and continuing the tradition for world titles at Fenway
in 1912, '15, '16 and `18. Looking back, there's no doubt
"McGreevy's' was the birthplace of "Red Sox Nation."

Today, history repeats itself in a new golden age for Red Sox fans.
In 2004, the Dropkick Murphys revived the ghost of McGreevy by singing
his name in their revival and rewriting of the Sox fight song
"Tessie." Performing inside Fenway and bringing good luck with
dramatic wins every time they played, the Dropkicks carried on the
"Royal Rooter" tradition as they cheered on the Sox to their first
world title since 1918.

During the playoffs of 2007, the story of "Nuf Ced" made it to the big
screen in the award-winning film "Rooters: The Birth of Red Sox
Nation." It featured the Dropkicks 2004 story and a replica of
"McGreevy's 3rd Base Saloon" built as a movie set. Soon after the
film's premiere, the band helped the Sox win another World Series and
Jonathan Papelbon danced a jig to the Dropkick's new hit as they led
the victory parade—just like the "Rooters" had done a century ago.

In 2008, Dropkick's, Ken Casey, teamed up with producer and historian
Peter Nash to officially reopen "McGreevy's 3rd Base" at 911 Boylston
St. Eighty-eight years after Prohibition, "Nuf Ced" lives on in a
replica of his original bar featuring a baseball museum dedicated to
Boston's history. The collection features originals and reproductions
of McGreevy's pictures on the walls. Nuf Ced's own grand-niece can be
found pouring drinks behind an original 19th century back bar. The
new McGreevy's even has on display the original glass portrait of the
founder that greeted the likes of the Bambino and George M. Cohan.
Like a modern day McGreevy, Ken Casey even got closer Papelbon to
pitch in some game bats of Sox sluggers to make into new light
fixtures for the bar. Back then and now, McGreevy's is a place where
players and fans go to blow off steam after a big win. It's a place
where every picture on the wall tells a story about Boston's baseball
legacy and the characters who defined an era. Babe Ruth, mobsters,
big-shot bosses and the founding fathers of Red Sox Nation made the
scene back in the day. Today it's Papelbon, punk-rockers, Boston's
movers-and-shakers and a legion of Red Sox Rooters, young and old, who
call "McGreevy's 3rd Base," their "last stop before home" - Nuf Ced

SOURCE: Dropkick Murphys, "McGreevy's Bar Official Opening Tomorrow,"
May 7, 2008.

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NEMSnews

New England Music Scrapbook
Brattleboro, Vermont

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main point of an item of this sort is that an act has a new record.
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Issue 2008:274

Published no less often than monthly.
We're guessing eventually we'll settle
into an every-other-week schedule.

Copyright © 2008 by the New England Music Scrapbook. All rights reserved.

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