New England Music Scrapbook Newsletter
Alan Lewis, Editor

Our Corner of the Rock 'n' Roll Life

August 2, 2008
Issue 2008:286
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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.

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BRATTLEBORO, VT, August 2 - It has been another busy week. This is
highly unusual behavior for summertime.

We received far more last-minute items than we can handle, so a fair
amount that normally would get in here did not make it this time.
.


NEW RELEASES LISTED BY NEWBURY COMICS

<> As per our recent usual, here is a scattering of items from the
much larger new releases list mailed earlier this week by Newbury Comics.

I am not sure whether this is a measure of how out of it I am or how
out of it are the people who release major label records, but I know
nothing about the great majority of acts on these new releases lists.
Here are a few, featuring some variety, that I think may be of reader
interest:

CARLIN, GEORGE-It's Bad For Ya-$12.88
CROPPER, STEVE/CAVALIERE, FELIX-Nudge It Up A Notch-$12.88
HAVENS, RICHIE-Nobody Left To Crown-$11.88
SCARS ON BROADWAY-Scars On Broadway (Digipack)-$11.88
SCARS ON BROADWAY-Scars On Broadway-$9.99
(Scars on Broadway has a track newly on Rock Band)
SOULFLY-Conquer (CD/DVD)-$19.99
SOULFLY-Conquer-$12.88
SPRINGFIELD, RICK-Venus In Overdrive-$11.88
WINTER, JOHNNY-Live Bootleg Series Vol. 3-$11.88

SOURCE: Newbury Comics, "July 28 Newbury Comics Coupons and New
Releases," July 28, 2008.

Which recent Boston rock outfit idolized Rick Springfield? The band,
Waltham? I am drawing a blank.
.


PRESS RELEASES THIS WEEK

<> Darien Brahms' forthcoming album, "Number Four," on Cornmeal
Records. Maine's Darien Brahms is a fine songwriter and versatile
performer, with an expressive voice and an attractive guitar style.
She does not issue new albums often, so the upcoming record release is
an important event for the New England music community.

<> The Americana Music Association honors new and emerging artists.
We actually received two press releases from the Americana Music
Association, but the other release, announcing their performer lineup,
arrived too late to be included here. Maybe we can post it later if
it is still timely.

<> Richie Havens, "Nobody Left To Crown" New CD, Press Release. As
Richie Havens became more popular in the mid-1960s, well before
Woodstock, some of the clubs where he got started could no longer
afford to book him. There was a venue in Massachusetts he really
liked, but by that time he was getting more money per show than they
could afford to pay. So Havens played that club for a reduced fee.
It was this sort of thing that endeared him to Johnny Carson, who I
remember hearing talk about it once on the "Tonight" show. Otherwise,
my own main Richie Havens experience is that I once stood next-in-line
behind him at a motel in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This is not a big
claim to fame, but it was great to look at the back of his head for a
few minutes.

<> The East Village Opera Company Takes a Walk on the Wild Side. With
every breath they take, would be my guess. These folks, probably much
more than they know, are in the tradition of Buckley's Serenaders, a
Boston entertainment family whose career high lasted through several
years on Broadway in New York City. The East Village Opera Company,
no doubt, is well worth a listen. Get the basic idea from the group's
contribution to our press release section, below.

- - -
- - -

CASTING CALL FOR VERMONT HIPPIES
"Calling All Hippies" by Susan Green
in the Burlington (VT) Free Press

<> Our local crime fiction writer, Archer Mayor, once had one of his
characters say that it was hard to be a hippie in the 1980s. Yet I
recall another writer who said he (or she) did not know when the last
living hippie would be sighted, but he did know where it would would
be: Brattleboro, Vermont.

Yes, hippiedom had less trouble than one might imagine hanging on in
this corner of Vermont. And of course lately there has been a new
generation of hippies, many of whom understand this town to be their
spiritual home.

Well worth reading is my friend Susan Green's July 31, 2008 Burlington
Free Press article, "Calling All Hippies: Vermont Nonconformists Cast
as Extras in New Ang Lee Film About Woodstock."

Susan is a well-known Burlington, Vermont freelance film critic and
Flick Chick. She is also the subject of my all-time favorite Willie
Alexander song, "Everybody Knows," which he originally recorded for
Capitol Records with The Lost, a Boston band with Vermont origins.

- - -
- - -

ARLINGTON CHILDREN'S THEATER
"West Side Story"

<> The world's greatest love story takes to the streets with the
Arlington Children's Theater production of "West Side Story".
Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is transported to modern-day New York
City, as two young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between
warring street gangs, the "American" Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks.
Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice
is one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical
dramas of our time.

http://act.arlington.ma.us/

Based on a Conception of JEROME ROBBINS
Book by ARTHUR LAURENTS
Music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM

Entire Original Production Directed and Choreographed by JEROME ROBBINS

Friday 8/1 - Saturday 8/9
Reserved seats: $15.00 (includes $1.50 restoration fee)

Fri 8/1 . . 7 PM
Sat 8/2 . . 7 PM
Sun 8/3 . . 2 PM
Tue 8/5 . . 7 PM
Wed 8/6 . . 7 PM
Thu 8/7 . . 7 PM
Fri 8/8 . . 7 PM
Sat 8/9 . . 2 PM

Tickets and More Info:

http://www.RegentTheatre.com/

or 781-646-4849

SOURCE: Regent Theatre Events, "Starts Tonight! Arlington Children's
Theater's 'West Side Story,'" August 1, 2008.

- - -
- - -

STONE COYOTES
Iron Horse Music Hall
Northampton, Massachusetts
Saturday, August 2, 2008

<> "Just one show so far this summer as we start work on a new album.
Thanks for the great response to 'VIII'! XM has been championing it
for several months now - You can hear it on both XCountry 12 and Deep
Tracks 40. And many other stations and podcasters have fanned the
flame as well.

"We will be opening for Southern Culture on the Skids August 2.
Details on our site's Calendar page.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 7 PM (we go on promptly at 7)
THE IRON HORSE
NORTHAMPTON, MA

http://www.stonecoyotes.com/

SOURCE: The Stone Coyotes, "New England Show, News," July 26, 2008.

- - -
- - -

WINTERPILLS
"Central Chambers" CD

<> "The new album is finished. The release date will be October 14th,
2008. It's titled 'Central Chambers.' Here's the track listing:

1. . . everything
2. . . take away the words
3. . . beesting
4. . . burning hearts
5. . . secret blue thread
6. . . gentleman farmer
7. . . we'll bring you down
8. . . you don't love me yet
9. . . wire
10.. . what makes me blind?
11.. . weary heart
12.. . immortal

We are quite thrilled.
. . . . .

"Saturday Aug. 2, we play a festival in Blue Hill, Maine, with Juana
Molina, Josh Ritter, Erin Mckeown, and many other folks (its a 3 day
fest, we are on day 2). It's called the Shangri-La Music and Arts
Festival at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds in Blue Hill. We are slated to
play at 5:30 pm that day."

http://sha-la.com/

http://www.winterpills.com/

http://www.myspace.com/winterpills

SOURCE: Winterpills, "Winterpills Announce Album Release Date," July
26, 2008.

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- - -

JEDDO STARS
Band of Ex-Charms

I wouldn't mind being a member of a rock 'n' roll ensemble called Band
of Ex-Charms, especially if we could trick Ellie Vee into making a
cameo appearance.

Here is a REAL band of ex-Charms.

<> "Ex-members of The Charms (Ellie Vee, Joe Wizda, Mark Nigro) and
Pete Caldes on drums are Jeddo Stars.

"Debut show Tuesday, August 5, with The Duke Spirit at TT The Bears in
Cambridge, Massachusetts.

"Appearing with JS: special guests Georgia, Orpha, and Alana."

SOURCE: Jeddo Stars, "Jeddo Stars With The Duke Spirit at TT the Bears
August 5," July 31, 2008.

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- - -

WEISSTRONAUTS
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Toad
Porter Square
Cambridge, Massachusetts

<> "Wednesday August 6, 2008 (a week from tonight, that is) Toad,
Porter Square, Cambridge [Massachusetts]. We'll play a few sets
starting around 10pm. Special lineup! Pete Sutton will be filling in
on bass for the vacationing Kevin Quinn. And we may have another
surprise guest or two! You'll just have to come by and find out. No
cover charge at Toad; a lovely place, really. Great to see music, and
many quality ales on tap."

http://www.toadcambridge.com/

http://www.weisstronauts.com/

SOURCE: Pete Weiss, "Weisstronauts Next Wednesday at Toad," July 30, 2008.

- - -
- - -

TREY ANASTASIO (ex-Phish)
Music Hall of Williamsburg
Brooklyn, New York
August 7, 2008

<> "Trey will play an intimate show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg
in Brooklyn, New York on August 7 with classic TAB members Russ
Lawton, Tony Markellis and Ray Paczkowski."

http://trey.com/

SOURCE: TreyUpdate At Trey Dot Com, "Trey To Play Intimate Show in
Brooklyn on August 7," July 22, 2008.

- - -
- - -

EILEN JEWELL
News and an Upcoming Plough & Stars Show

<> "June and July offered Eilen and the band major struggle and many a
sweet victory as we cris-crossed the continent not once but twice in
as many months. Thanks so much to the fans who came to support us.
We have shared many great thrills this year. The rest of 2008 will
take us all around the northeast, back to the UK, throughout the
Southeast, Midwest, and Alberta! Not to mention...the band heads into
the studio in September."

. . . Eilen Jewell Band
. . . Plough & Stars
. . . Cambridge, Massachusetts
. . . Friday, August 8

SOURCE: Eilen Jewell Mailing List, "Sacred Shakers in Rosendale, Great
Barrington, New EJ Shows, and More," July 31, 2008.

- - -
- - -

PAULA KELLEY
Nobody Else Will Ever Do

Speaking of her new record release, PK of the Paula Kelley Orchestra said,

<> "Next thing you'll want to do is pick up your own copy of the
["Airports"] EP, and what better place to do that than at The Good
Hurt on Saturday August 9th? We're pulling together a massive Paula
Kelley Orchestra for this show AND the show marks the final night of
the esteemed International Pop Overthrow Festival, so you really don't
want to miss it.

. . . The Good Hurt
. . . 12249 Venice Blvd
. . . West Los Angeles, California
. . . Saturday, August 9
. . . PKO at 9:45 pm"

http://www.goodhurt.net/

SOURCE: Paula Kelley, "Presenting: The Airports EP and the Paula
Kelley Orchestra Live," July 28, 2008.

- - -
- - -

DON WHITE AND DIERDRE FLINT
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Center for the Arts in Natick
Natick, Massachusetts

<> "Saturday August 9th . . The Center for the Arts in Natick, 14
Summer Street, Natick, Massachusetts. This is a split night with
Deirdre Flint.

http://www.deirdreflint.com/

Deidre is one of the funniest people who ever performed at the
Festival of Funny Songwriters that I did for fourteen years at the
Somerville Theatre. She is currently touring with The Four Bitchin'
Babes. There will not be a Funny Songwriters Festival this year (or
in the foreseeable future). So if you're interested in a night of
music and laughter, this one is for you. TCAN is air conditioned.
This is going to be a great night. 508-647-0097"

SOURCE: Don White, "News," July 25, 2008.

- - -
- - -

BANJO DAN AND THE MID-NITE PLOWBOYS
Bluegrass Festival on Vermont's West Coast

Lake Champlain Bluegrass Festival
Alburgh, Vermont
August 9 and August 10, 2008

<> "August 9 and 10: Lake Champlain Bluegrass Festival, Alburgh, VT.
One of the best bluegrass festivals in New England, headlined this
year by none other than Del McCoury. If you get to one festival this
summer, make it Lake Champlain."

http://www.lakechamplainmusic.com/

SOURCE: Dan Lindner, "Banjo Dan Update," July 29, 2008.

- - -
- - -

ELLIS PAUL AND COMPANY
Nonce Band With a Familiar-Sounding Name

. . . Boston Harbor Music Cruise
. . . Friday, August 15, 2008

<> "[J]ust want to do a quick reminder about the Boston Boat Cruise
coming up, I will be backed by a band and we are appropriately named
'Ellis Paul and Mary' (aka Matt Hebert aka Haunt)

http://www.myspace.com/hauntmusic

"Good fun to be had this night for sure!

"Friday, August 15th, 2008 8:00 PM
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Harbor Long Wharf
Long Wharf/Boston Harbor
Boston, MA
617-244-5301
$30.00
www.rockandbluescruise.com
Performing with a band
Ages 21 and over"

http://www.rockandbluescruise.com/

. . . Rock
. . . . . . and
. . . . . . . . . Blues
. . . . . . . . . . . . Concert
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cruise

SOURCE: Ellis Paul, "Thanks for Your Amazing Response," July 22, 2008.

DON'T LET ELLIS PAUL AND MARY . . get away without doing "The Times
They Are a-Changin'." - Ed.

- - -
- - -

ROCK BAND
Downloadable Content for July 29, 2008

Scars on Broadway - They Say
$1.99 (160 MS points)
[Scars on Broadway is also on this week's New Releases list.]

Staind - This Is It
$1.99 (160 MS Points)

Testament - Electric Crown
$1.99 (160 MS Points)

The New No 2 - Yomp
99¢ (80 MS Points)

All tracks are masters.

SOURCE: Stephen Lewis, E-Mail Message, July 25, 2008.


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BRIEF ITEMS :
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TRACY GRAMMER AND JIM HENRY

Do these two EVER have a tale to tell about thunderbolts being hurled
at them during the Falcon Ridge festival. If you hear Tracy Grammer
and Jim Henry live, demand that they retell it. Meanwhile, here are
their tales about a couple new releases:

<> "The WHEN I GO songbook is now available. It's our most complete
songbook yet, with guitar, vocal, violin and mandolin parts included
for all the songs. Inspected and tested by Jim Henry, the WIG
songbook is now available here and at live shows. Look for the FLOWER
OF AVALON songbook to be released within the next couple of months.

"Jim Henry releases KING OF HEARTS. This new EP features four Jim
Henry originals - 'Up to Me,' 'Broken Man,' 'Get to You,' and 'Melody
of You' - plus a blistering version of Richard Thompson's '1952
Vincent Black Lightning.' JH shows off his guitar and mandolin chops
in the fast-paced Irish fiddle tune, '28th of January,' and offers
listeners a brand new take on 'Home on the Range,' featuring surprise
guest artists."

SOURCE: Tracy Grammer, "Tracy Grammer Music August/September 2008
Newsletter," July 30, 2008.
.


THE WEISSTRONAUTS
I Fell in to a Blazing Ring of Mods

<> The Weisstronauts band has a video of "Ring Mod," also known as
"Modsavasana." Somehow, though, I have managed to lose track of the
latest Weisstro-mailing on this topic. Here is the video's direct Web
address from an earlier mailing:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=15U7A4LE_Tk

If for some reason this link should no longer work, likely more
up-to-date information would be available at the Weisstronauts' own
website:

http://www.weisstronauts.com/
.


SARA COX
(Of the Great Maine Band, The Coming Grass)

After speaking of two shows that, by now, are already past, Sara Cox said,

<> "Then it's back to Maine ... to break ground on my fourth CD.
Always fun, always a challenge. I'm looking forward to this one
especially because I'll be recording with my good pal and excellent
musician, Jon Nolan."

http://www.jonnolan.net/

http://www.saracox.net/
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BANG CAMARO
Tour-Kick-Off Release, Documentary,
"Night Lies" Single

<> "We've been hard at work in the Camaro lair writing and recording
new material. Rob McLain, our documentary guy, is also putting
together a short film about the process. We are planning to release
all of this mid-September to kick off our tour. So, get ready for the
return of Camaro Thursdays and the next generation of rock songs. Oh
yeah, our new song, 'Night Lies,' is also going to be in that little
game known as Rock Band 2. We can't wait!"

SOURCE: Bryn Bennett of Bang Camaro, "Want To Be a Rock Star for a
Night?" August 1, 2008.
.


DAVID MALLETT
"Prairie Home Companion" Appearance
Available as Listening Matter Online

In case you missed our earlier posting...

<> "Listen to David on Garrison Keillor's 'Prairie Home Companion' on
http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2008/05/03/

SOURCE: NLightsMgt At AOL Dot Com, "David Mallett's Itinerary," July
31, 2008.
.


DWIGHT RICHTER AND NICOLE NELSON
Duo Album in the Works

<> "[T]he album recording process has been beyond what we could have
hoped for thus far. (I SO want to spill all of the details to you ...
but I'm trying to maintain some semblance of mystery so that you
actually are surprised when you finally hear it!)"

SOURCE: Nicole Nelson, "Tomorrow Night and More," July 31, 2008.
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NEKO CASE
Symphony for Eight Upright Pianos
Opus 378,659

Pete Weiss' periodic newsletter is among the gems of New England's
popular music community. The following item copied from the
PW/Verdant Studio newsletter, having to do with Neko Case, is a bit
out of the ordinary, and it sounds intriguing. - Ed.

<> "NEKO CASE: . . At her northern Vermont retreat, Neko collected
eight upright pianos (in varying states of repair), set them up in a
row in her barn, and conducted a piano symphony of sorts, with her
compatriots playing all the pianos simultaneously, overdubbing to
tracks previously recorded with Craig Schumacher at Wavelab in Tucson,
Arizona. I travelled up north to witness these remarkable proceedings
and to provide some of my vintage keyboards (Farfisa organ, Yamaha
SK15 synth, and Moog Rogue) for Garth Hudson (ex-The Band) to play.
What I heard sounded really cool, dramatic, and spooky; keep an ear
out for Neko's next release."

http://www.nekocase.com/

SOURCE: Pete Weiss, "Pete Weiss/Verdant Newsletter No. 24," July 20, 2008.
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TRAIN KEPT A ROLLIN' QUERY: ANSWERED

Brian of the Weekly Band E-Mail sent a reply to our "Train Kept a
Rollin'" query that brought back a lot of great memories and also
included surprises. First, when he mentioned The Yardbirds' recording
of the song, I thought, "Of course!"

Tiny Bradshaw first recorded "Train Kept a Rollin'" in 1951, so I
imagine it was on the Atlantic label. Bradshaw was one of Atlantic's
early artists. The Bangor Public Library had terrific 1960s Atlantic
compilations on vinyl, so I could have easily heard the Bradshaw
performance while I was still living in Maine, my native state.

Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio recorded "Train Kept a
Rollin'" in 1956.

And there was more to Brian's response, for which we thank him heartily.

We passed Brian's message along to the person who made the original
inquiry.
.

end BRIEF ITEMS

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THE WEEPIES
Video Contest Winner Announced

"THE WEEPIES HIDEAWAY VIDEO CHALLENGE

<> "Congratulations to Michael Warner who won the Weepies Hideaway
Video Challenge! Michael's video will be used as the official video
for The Weepies first single, 'Hideaway.' Michael also won $10,000
and more, courtesy of The Weepies. You can see The Weepies brand new
video for 'Hideaway' featured on today's Imeem home page.
. . . . .

"Thanks again to everyone else who entered and participated!"

SOURCE: Nettwerk Music Group, "The Weepies Announce 'Hideaway' Video
Challenge Winner," July 31, 2008.

- - -
- - -

DARIEN BRAHMS
"Number Four" CD
Press Release

<> Cornmeal Records is proud to announce the August 18th, 2008 release
of "Number 4", the new album by Darien Brahms. Brahms, one of the most
popular performers on the vibrant Portland Maine music scene, is
releasing her second CD on Cornmeal and her first since 2003's
acclaimed "Green Valentine". Drawing on the wide variety of influences
and styles that have made her a local legend in New England, Brahms
returns after a 5 year hiatus with her most powerful work to date.
From the swampy rock opener of "Cream Machine" to the plaintive
album-closer "Donna", Brahms, who recorded and produced the album in
her Portland home with only the assistance of long time collaborator
Paul Chamberlain, has never sounded better.

A six-time winner of the "Best Female Vocalist and Best Performer"
award in her hometown of Portland, Brahms' distinctive style combined
with her high energy live performances have landed her opening slots
for the likes of The Violent Femmes, Townes Van Zandt, Daniel Lanois
and Ben Harper. She released her first full length solo CD "Hello,
Hello To The People" in 1992 and her second, "Little Bundle Of Sugar"
(which featured the guitar of Marc Ribot), was released in 2000. In
between, she fronted two rock bands and was the principle songwriter
and front woman for the hugely successful Latin-jazz lounge quartet,
The Munjoy Hill Society, who released their own CD in 2000 to critical
acclaim. More recently she has contributed three tracks to the
"Greetings From Area Code 207" benefit CD series, a track to the
national compilation, "Calling All Kings And Queens" (on Mr. Lady
Records) and also recorded with her honky-tonk alter ego, Darien
Brahms and Her Calico Chaps, featuring members of Diesel Doug and The
Long Haul Truckers and The Coming Grass.

"Number 4" will be available at all Bull Moose stores, bullmoose.com,
Borders Books and Music in South Portland, ITunes, cdbaby.com and at
darienbrahms.com

CD Release Party is September 6, 2008 at Space Gallery, Portland ME

What the critics are saying about Darien Brahms

"Green Valentine….is, in a word, breathtaking."
-Ben Monaghan/Portland Press Herald

"It was chilling when Darien Brahms got up there solo. Everybody in
the place was talking, but by the end of her set the place was hanging
on every single note."
-Sam Pfeifle/The Portland Phoenix

"Teenage kicks are always great, but so are fully grown subversive
rock and rollers and Darien Brahms is one of those…her sound is an odd
but grabbing mix of sophistication and raw edges. Her voice is deep
and soulful, her melodies are skillfully crafted"
-Brett Milano/Boston Phoenix

"Darien Brahms is in many ways Portland's perfect pop poster child.
She is one of the area's most charismatic, hardest working and
versatile performers"
–Pete Hodgin/The Portland Phoenix

"Her songs combine the melodic temperament of Jackie DeShannon and the
guitar hooks of Steve Cropper"
-Jessamin Swearingen/New York's Insider

Brahms is a definitive rock and roller who's flattered by the
comparison in style and swagger to Joe Strummer"
-Andrew Strickman/The Boston Tab

Cornmeal Records, founded in 2000 by Charlie Gaylord, is the home of
the "Greetings From Area Code 207" benefit CD series. GFAC 207 Volumes
1-7 have raised over $100,000 for the non-profit St Lawrence Arts
Center (stlawrencearts.org). For more info, go to cornmealrecords.com
or email cgaylord@....

photo credit: Nathan Eldridge

Charlie Gaylord
Cornmeal Records
23 Canterbury Circle
Kennebunk ME 04043
www.cornmealrecords.com
207-294-1575 cell
207-967-3996 office

SOURCE: Charlie Gaylord, "Cornmeal Records/Darien Brahms 'Number 4'
Press Release," August 1, 2008.

- - -
- - -

AMERICANA HONORS & AWARDS NEW/EMERGING ARTIST NOMINEES
COMPRISE ROOTS MUSIC TORCHBEARERS
Ryan Bingham, Justin Townes Earle, The SteelDrivers and Mike Farris
Populate Invigorating List

<> NASHVILLE, July 29, 2008 - The Americana genre houses a mighty
share of music's most provocative new artists, and each year, the
Americana Music Association delivers due recognition to these
auspicious newcomers with nominations in the New/Emerging Artist
category. All four of this year's nominees will perform live at the
Americana Honors & Awards ceremony September 18, during which the
winner shall also be named. The New/Emerging class of 2008 features a
nomadic storyteller, a vintage-inspired original, a virtuosic dream
team, and a soul-saving singer's singer.

Autobiographical tales stemming from wistful wandering propelled
troubadour Ryan Bingham's gritty swagger to new heights on his 2007
debut for Lost Highway, Mescalito; American Songwriter praised the
album, calling it "compelling listening to the highest sense," while
Texas Music Magazine compared the 26 year-old storyteller to Tom Waits.

http://www.myspace.com/ryanbingham

Justin Townes Earle faced high expectations seemingly without breaking
a sweat: The son of roots rock royalty Steve Earle and the namesake of
legend Townes Van Zandt, the younger Earle's 2008 release The Good
Life introduces a disarmingly sincere songwriter whose
vintage-inspired honky tonk prompted praise from Pitchfork, The New
York Times and more.

http://www.myspace.com/justintownesearle

Individually, the members of The SteelDrivers have garnered Grammy
nominations and penned country chart-toppers, but together, the
soul-dipped bluegrassers form one of the most inspiring roots music
troupes to emerge in years; their debut album released in early 2008
helped word spread, clearing a path for cross-country touring and a
gig on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

http://www.myspace.com/thesteeldrivers

The buzz surrounding gospel/soul synergist Mike Farris may now
officially be dubbed a deafening roar: The former frontman of the
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies, Farris' 2007 release Salvation In Lights
and Stax-inspired live throw-downs prompted widespread endorsements
from trusted sources including Buddy Miller, who proclaimed, "Mike
Farris has enough heart, soul, and power to light up a city."

http://www.myspace.com/mikefarrismusic

The 9th Annual Americana Festival and Conference will offer seminars,
panels and networking opportunities at the Nashville Convention Center
by day, while each evening brings stacked Americana showcases. Legend
Levon Helm will officially jump start the festivities Wednesday,
September 17 with his Ramble at the Ryman, and the capstone of the
festival will take the form of the annual Americana Music Association
Honors and Awards, scheduled for September 18 at the historic Ryman
Auditorium. Hosted by Jim Lauderdale and featuring a band led by
Buddy Miller, the ceremony will toast winners in six member-voted
categories and also bestow Lifetime Achievement Awards on John Hiatt,
Jason and the Scorchers and longtime Austin City Limits producer Terry
Lickona in the categories of Songwriting, Performance and Executive,
respectively. The AMA will also present the unique "Spirit of
Americana" Free Speech award to Joan Baez.

Tickets are now available for the Levon Helm Ramble at the Ryman and
the Americana Honors & Awards show at Ticketmaster and the Ryman box
office for $65 or $45 and $45, respectively.

Showcase wristbands granting admission to all four evenings of live
music showcases are also available for only $35 via

http://www.americanamusic.org/

and Grimey's New and Preloved Music (1604 8th Ave. South, Nashville).
Registration for the Americana Music Festival and Conference is $350
for AMA members and $450 for non-members until August 13. Fees will
increase after that date.

For the latest additions to showcase lineups, ticket purchasing and
more information about the Americana Music Festival and Conference,
please visit

http://www.americanamusic.org/

About the Americana Music Association

The Americana Music Association is a professional trade organization
whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana
music and to promote public awareness of the genre to support the
creative and economic viability of professionals in this field.
Dedicated to building and promoting the Americana genre and the
individuals who participate in that industry, the Americana Music
Association works closely with artists, labels, radio stations,
retailers, print media, festivals, agents, publishers and more to help
organize and build the infrastructure necessary for the Americana
genre to achieve success both creatively and financially.

SOURCE: Lisa Shively, "Americana Honors New/Emerging Artist Nominees,"
July 29, 2008.

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RICHIE HAVENS
"Nobody Left To Crown" CD

For Immediate Release
July 29, 2008

RICHIE HAVENS' NEW ALBUM,
NOBODY LEFT TO CROWN,
RELEASED TODAY ON VERVE RECORDS

RICHIE HAVENS ON TOUR
THIS SUMMER AND FALL

<> A sense of timelessness rings throughout Richie Havens' latest
release, "Nobody Left to Crown," as though the passing years have only
strengthened the meaning of his soul-filled folk rock. "Nobody Left
to Crown," released to the US on Verve Records on July 29th, attests
that Richie Havens has never been more relevant, necessary even, than
he is today.

Gifted with one of the most recognizable voices in popular music,
Richie Havens has a soulful singing style that remains as unique and
ageless as when he first emerged from the Greenwich Village folk scene
in the early 1960s. It's a voice that has inspired and electrified
audiences from the Woodstock Music & Arts Fair in 1969, to the Clinton
Presidential Inauguration in 1993 - coming full circle with the 30th
Woodstock Anniversary celebration, "A Day In The Garden", in 1999.
Richie Havens is not a man to easily abandon his hopes for a better
world. "We are at the dawn of major change", he declares with a broad
smile. Nobody Left to Crown is his heartfelt and unwavering
contribution to these fine aspirations.

For over three decades, Richie has used his music to convey messages
of brotherhood and personal freedom. With more than twenty-five albums
released and a touring schedule that would kill many a younger man, he
continues to view his calling as a higher one. As he told The Denver
Post, "I really sing songs that move me. I'm not in show business;
I'm in the communications business. That's what it's about for me."

Richie Havens tours this summer and fall in support of Nobody Left To
Crown. His current list of tour dates is as follows:

The current list of confirmed tour dates is as follows:

July 30 Sporting Monte Carlo - Salle Des Etoiles Monaco
August 02 Newport Folk Festival Newport RI
August 03 Sleeping Bear Dunegrass and Blues Empire MI
August 07 Brooklyn Academy of Music Metrotech Plaza Brooklyn NY
August 08 Reach Performing Arts Center Deer Isle ME
August 09 L. L. Bean Summer Concert Series Freeport ME
August 10 Nashua River Valley Folk Festival Lancaster MA
August 25-26 Mohegan Sun Casino Uncasville CT
August 29-31 Rhythm Festival 2008 Clapham, Bedfordshire, UK
September 05 The Ohio Theater Cleveland OH
September 06 Beverly Arts Center of Chicago Chicago IL
September 07 The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center Covington
KY
September 13 Tupelo Music Hall Londonderry NH
September 15 Kentucky Theater Lexington KY
September 19 Le Poisson Rouge New York NY
September 20 Events Center at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Bethel
NY
September 26 Infinity Hall Norfolk CT
September 27 Jonathan's Ogunquit ME
September 28 Higher Ground S. Burlington VT
November 21 The Sellersville Theater Sellersville PA
November 22 Patchogue Theater Patchogue NY
November 28-29 Stone Mountain Arts Center Brownfield ME
December 05 Sun Music Hall Charlotte NC
December 06 The Orange Peel Asheville NC
December 07 The Community Church Concert Series Chapel Hill NC
December 11 Rhythm & Brews Chattanooga TN
December 13 WorkPlay Theatre Birmingham AL
December 20 Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts Boston MA

2009
January 16 One World Theater Austin TX
January 17 Historic Central School Lake Charles LA
January 23 Anthology San Diego CA
January 24 The Palmdale Playhouse Palmdale CA
February 06 The Firehouse Coffeehouse Littleton MA
February 07 Veritas Auditorium Chicopee MA
February 08 Carol Autorino Center / Hoffman Auditorium West Hartford CT
February 20 Kirkland Performance Center Kirkland WA
February 28 Mariner Theatre Homer AK
March 1 Alaska Center for the Performing Anchorage AK
April 17 Macomb Center for the Performing Arts Clinton Township MI
April 18 Jasper Community Arts Jasper IN
April 23 Thrasher Opera House Green Lake WI
April 24 Stoughton Opera House Stoughton WI
April 25 ECC Blizzard Theatre Elgin IL
May 15 Metropolitan Museum of Art New York NY
May 16 Algonquin Arts Manasquan NJ

More dates to be announced.

http://www.richiehavens.com/

SOURCE: Madison House Publicity, "Today Richie Havens' 'Nobody Left To
Crown' Is Released on Verve Records," July 29, 2008.

- - -
- - -

East Village Opera Company Takes "Walk" on the Wild Side

<> For the East Village Opera Company (EVOC), no opera, oratorio, or
aria is too sacred, which is how they can take Handel's masterpiece
"Semele" and turn it into a jaunty, towering soul number on their new
album 'Olde School' (Decca/ August 12). In the hands of EVOC,
"Semele," which debuted 32 years before America declared independence,
turns into a swaggering anthem that "evokes late 60's Motown - a funky
and fat backbeat with horns, Hammond organ, and bluesy guitars," says
EVOC co-founder Peter Kiesewalter.

Listen for yourself here:

http://www.myspace.com/eastvillageoperacompany

East Village Opera Company have won renown for their inspired
re-imaginations of famous opera arias as arena-rock songs that keep
all the drama and beauty of the originals. The Wall Street Journal
sums it up best: "The band rocks hard, and deranges the opera stuff
with savvy skill."

East Village Opera Company headlines a free August 14th Lincoln Center
Out of Doors Show at the bandshell at Damrosch Park, followed by a
major national tour kicking off in September.

http://www.shorefire.com/clients/eastvillageoperacompany

http://www.eastvillageoperacompany.com/

http://www.myspace.com/eastvillageoperacompany

http://www.deccaclassics.com/

SOURCE: Rebecca Shapiro, "East Village Opera Company Takes 'Walk' on
the Wild Side," August 1, 2008.

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NEMSnews

New England Music Scrapbook
Brattleboro, Vermont

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<> As a rule, we do not post SHOW LISTINGS. The reason is quite
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We make exceptions when show listings are part of an item of more
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Issue 2008:286

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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