New England Music Scrapbook Newsletter
Alan Lewis, Editor

Our Corner of the Rock 'n' Roll Life

March 28, 2009
Issue 2009:320
.

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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, March 28 - Some of the covers of albums we have received lately
are very well done. "Life Goes On" by Linq looks very good up close; but it
looks even better from a distance, which is really saying something for a
compact disc which is, after all, quite small. Most CD covers, I think, can
only be appreciated up close. "Life Goes On" has been on top of our main CD
stack, off and on, for quite a while, and I have seen it from many different
angles and in about every degree of light. It always looks good.

Naomi Sommers' latest disc, her best, "Gentle as the Sun," has a
romantic-appearing cover that looks decent in brightness and gains and keeps
gaining as the lights dim.

The forthcoming album of Debra Cowan, "Fond Desire Farewell," is more notable
for its rich production by a major folk-rock star, drummer Dave Mattacks. But
there is real serenity in the timeless front illustration. "Fond Desire
Farewell," incidentally, is one disc to watch for. Even before we received our
advance copy, Cowan had a great plug from Linda Thompson, who said, "This is my
kind of folk album." Given the source, this is a priceless endorsement. And it
is easy to see what Linda Thompson means: "Fond Desire Farewell" builds on a
classic 1970s folk-rock sound. A lot of people are going to love this record.

The cover of "Notes From Elsewhere" by Peter Mulvey works wonders with very
little color. This record goes back a good deal farther, release date-wise, but
it happens to be the top record in the stack physically closest to me. The
front illustration of Mulvey's "Notes From Elsewhere" would be tough to beat.

The eponymous Hungrytown album jacket has a warm, homey look: interesting for a
couple people who live much of the time in a vehicle on the road. Be it ever so
humble, there's no place like Hungrytown's Blue Meanie.

There is little if anything NOT to like about Patty Larkin's latest, "Watch the
Sky," and it would be easy to imagine the clouds, on the airy front, in motion
or to imagine us flying through them. "Watch the Sky" would be a career album
for a new artist and it would be a career milestone for anyone.

The last two album covers by Banjo Dan (band and solo) are real beauties,
featuring vivid, deep colors.

The illustration on front of "Featuring Perky" by The Weisstronauts is wonderful
at capturing a place and moment. At first glance, this cover might seem just
pretty good; but it is one I come back to, appreciatively, again and again.

It is great to see an extra effort going into cover art. If we were to go
through our stacks of CDs, no doubt we would find other recent gems.
.


TRUST ME, THIS ISSUE . . was compiled and edited in a major hurry. Here's
hoping it came out okay.


WE HAVE LOTS MORE NEWS . . . but time has run out, and I believe everything left
can keep for next issue or later.
.


READ WHAT INTERESTS YOU, . . scroll right past whatever doesn't.
.


YAHOO NEWS HEADLINE
Friday-Saturday Overnight

Chilly temperatures slow rise of swollen Red River (AP)

WITH LUCK, THIS WILL . . prove to be the hopeful sign it looks like at the
moment. - Ed.
.


RECORD RELEASES THIS WEEK
Listed by Newbury Comics
Excerpted by Us

A lot of really promising records were issued this week. Boston's Sarah Borges,
by way of expertly-planned alphabetical order positioning, leads the way.

Dig out your credit cards. Ready, set, GO!

CD New Releases Available Tuesday, March 24th

BORGES, SARAH-Stars Are Out-$9.99
<> The "Stars Are Out" is out. Finally! Best of luck to Sarah Borges and the
Broken Singles.

COHEED AND CAMBRIA-Neverender (4 CD/4 DVD)-$89.99
<> "'Neverender' may seem like a steep price tag, which may deter the casual
fan, but at nine discs (4 CDs and 5 DVDs), it looks to be a real treat for any
serious Coheed and Cambria fan. I'm more on the fence myself, because I'm not
quite that dedicated. However, Coheed and Cambria are definitely a band that
can appeal to pop culture and still have enough artistic merit to appreciate the
musicianship. Just try not to laugh when you read the lyrics." SOURCE: Stephen
Lewis, E-Mail Message, March 25, 2009.

DECEMBERISTS-Hazards Of Love-$7.99
<> Of this week's record releases, we have seen most hopeful curiosity expressed
about this CD by the Decembrists.

GALES, ERIC-Layin' Down The Blues-$9.99
<> Is this Eric Gales the same person as jazz guitarist Eric Gale? Because of
the letter "S" at the end of the surname, I am thinking not. But I don't know.

HICKS, DAN & THE HOT LICKS-Tangled Tales-$9.99
<> Promotional materials for this album make it sound really boring. It will
probably turn out to be the pick of the week: the band, Dan Hicks and the Hot
Licks, certainly has a big, happy following. But the written matter, so far, has
been uninspiring.

INDIGO GIRLS-Poseidon And The Bitter Bug (Deluxe)-$16.99
INDIGO GIRLS-Poseidon And The Bitter Bitter Bug-$12.88
<> A good variety of music fans like these gals. It is always great to see a
group artfully cut across genre lines.

MARSALIS, WYNTON-He And She-$12.88
MCBRIDE, MARTINA-Shine-$15.99

PAPA ROACH-Metamorphosis-$9.99
<> "Papa Roach is still pretty well known. They got heavy exposer with tracks
from their first record, such as 'Last Resort,' 'Broken Home,' and 'Angels and
Insects.' The current theme to WWE Monday Night Raw is by them, though I prefer
the Union Underground's 'Across the Nation.' 'Lifeline,' from the new album, is
now a downloadable song for the Rock Band series. Released the same day was the
song, 'Last Resort.'" SOURCE: Stephen Lewis, E-Mail Message, March 25, 2009.

PEARL JAM-Ten (Collector's Box)-$135.99
PEARL JAM-Ten (Legacy Edition)-$13.88
PEARL JAM-Ten (Deluxe Edition)-$29.99
<> "This Pearl Jam re-issue of 'Ten' is being cross-promoted with Rock Band but
also is well-hyped on its own. Including like four different versions (maybe
more), some featuring some pretty cool stuff." SOURCE: Stephen Lewis, E-Mail
Message, March 25, 2009.

RADIOHEAD-Pablo Honey (2 CD)-$17.99
RADIOHEAD-Bends (2 CD)-$17.99
RADIOHEAD-Ok Computer (2 CD)-$17.99
RADIOHEAD-Ok Computer (2 CD/DVD)-$24.99
TYPE O NEGATIVE-Slow, Deep And Hard (Remaster)-$16.99
U2 TRIBUTE-Celtic Tribute To U2-$8.99
VARIOUS ARTISTS-CLASSIC PROTEST SONGS-$8.99

VARIOUS ARTISTS-PUTUMAYO PRESENTS-Salsa-$9.99
<> There are a lot of music fans who are not going to need to see anything more
than the word, "Putumayo," to know that they will want to pick up a copy of this
CD.

VARIOUS ARTISTS-TRIB. DOUG SAHM-Keep Your Soul-$15.99

VINES-Melodia-$11.88
<> "I've got the last three albums by the Vines. They're part of that
alt-rock/rock revival deal, and they're fairly good. They seem to stay fairly
true to the roots of modern rock and have a couple of Beatles-ish tracks."
SOURCE: Stephen Lewis, E-Mail Message, March 25, 2009.

YEAH YEAH YEAHS-Zero-$2.99
"'Zero' is a single from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' upcoming album, 'It's
Blitz!' Dropping in April." SOURCE: Stephen Lewis, E-Mail Message, March 25,
2009.
<>
Featured DVD New Release Available Saturday, March 24th

Quantum Of Solace $24.99 2-DVD set

SOURCE: Newbury Comics, "March 23 Newbury Comics Coupons and New Releases,"
March 23, 2009.

:: wynton marsalis, martina mcbride ::
.


PRESS RELEASES THIS WEEK

<> DJ Hero: Music rhythm game, heavy on the rhythm. We have other material from
press releases here and there in this issue, including an item from this same
release.

<> Meliah Rage Founder Teams Up With Metal Church Singer.

= = =
= = =

URBAN CARAVAN
Listening Room at Right Turn
Arlington, Massachusetts
Saturday, March 28, 2009

<> "Beginning next week, URBAN CARAVAN starts a series of gigs in various
locales that will last into mid-May. Yikes, that's a lotta chances to see this
very talented troupe in musical action.

: : : First show: SATURDAY, MARCH 28 at 8pm
: : : The Listening Room at RIGHT TURN
: : : 299 Broadway
: : : Arlington [Massachusetts]

"With Salvatore Baglio, Bird Mancini, Jon Macey and Steve Gilligan, T. Max,
Glenn Williams, and Mr. Curt and Marty White."

SOURCE: Curt Naihersey, "Urban Caravan Gets Rolling, Thunderously!" March 20,
2009.

= = =
= = =

MOUNT SNOW REGGAE FESTIVAL
Saturday, March 28, 2009

<> We got word of tonight's Mount Snow Reggae Festival too late to post advance
word of it; and, in fact, we only learned of the fest because Pressure Cooker is
one of the acts. But this sounds like a great event, and we at least make note
of it here.

= = =
= = =

We repeat...

THE LOVE DOGS FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY PARTY
Saturday, March 28 2009
At Johnny D's
Somerville, Massachusetts

617 776-2004

http://www.johnnyds.com/

These details supplied by the LDogs.

= = =
= = =

ROCK BAND
Downloadable Content
for the Week of
Monday, March 30, 2009

Hey gang!

<> Here's the DLC for the week of 3/31. Some great classic rock anthems, some
sweet tracks from up and comers that played the Rock Band Showcase at SXSW, and
some bubblegum fun songs to round out the week. Check it out!

Journey - Don't Stop Believing
Pat Benatar - Heartbreaker
Glasvegas - Geraldine
Von Bondies - C'mon C'mon
SpongeBob SquarePants - I Can't Keep My Eyes Off of You
SpongeBob SquarePants - The Best Day Ever
SpongeBob SquarePants - Where's Gary?

All songs are masters.

The Journey, Pat Benatar, Glasvegas, and Von Bondies singles are $1.99 (160
Microsoft Points) per track. The SpongeBob SquarePants singles are $0.99 (80
Microsoft Points) a piece, or $2.99 (240 Microsoft Points) for the 3 song
SpongeBob SquarePants Pack 01.

Release dates:
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360) Thursday, April 2,
2009 (PlayStation®Store)

= = =
= = =

JAMIE MASEFIELD
Mandolin Workshop
At River Tree Arts
Kennebunk, Maine
Saturday, April 4, 2009

<> "This spring mandolin players will have two opportunities to work with Jamie
on their mando chops. On Saturday, April 4 he will lead a daylong workshop (9am
to 4pm) in Kennebunk, Maine at River Tree Arts. Everyone will have a chance to
listen, play and discuss as well as one on one focus with Jamie. All levels are
welcome. Later ... the week of June 8 through 11 Jamie is looking forward to
being the mandolin instructor at Django in June, New England's premier Gypsy
jazz music camp celebrating the sounds of Django Reinhart. This takes place at
Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. As part of the weeklong event,
Mamavig (Jamie with Frank Vignola, guitar and Gary Mazzaroppi, upright bass)
will perform a concert on Thursday, June 11 that is also open to the public and
not to be missed. There will be lots of amazing musicians from around the world
there. Jamie's looking forward to talking about jazz and theory but also things
like tone, practicing tips, time and ways of looking at improvising."

SOURCE: The Jazz Mandolin Project, "Jamie Teaches Mandolin," March 24, 2009.

= = =
= = =

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAXOPHONE QUARTET
At The Lily Pad
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Sunday, April 5, 2009

<> "I'm really excited about this rare reunion of Your Neighborhood Saxophone
Quartet: one of my favorite groups I've ever played with! If you've never been
there, The Lily pad is a groovy little club ... poetry and free jazz hangout.

"Please join us!

Sunday, April 5th, 2009
9 PM

"Your Neighborhood Saxophone Quartet

: : : Allan Chase - alto and soprano sax
: : : Cercie Miller - alto and soprano sax
: : : Joel Springer - tenor sax
: : : Tom Hall - baritone sax

"A rare reunion of one of Boston's leading improvisation ensembles of the
1980s and 1990s. Formed in 1980, YNSQ are veterans who recorded one LP and
five CDs, made countless appearances around New England and New York,
toured the Midwest, and made 11 European tours including appearances at
major jazz and new music festivals, concert halls, and clubs. They will
draw on their book of nearly 200 original compositions and arrangements,
plus new pieces.

: : : The Lily Pad
: : : 1353 Cambridge Street
: : : (Inman Square, across from the S&S)
: : : Cambridge, Massachusetts

"More info including directions, see

See http://www.lily-pad.net/

"Suggested donation $10"

SOURCE: Cercie Miller, "Cercie With YNSQ Sunday April 5," March 24, 2009.

= = =
= = =

THE DRIVE
At the Beachcomber
Quincy, Massachusetts
June 20, 2009

We have lately received this in our e-mail:

<> "Mark your calendar's.

"THE DRIVE will be appearing at the Beachcomber in Quincy on June 20th."
.


:

:

BRIEF ITEMS :
: : : : :
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JOSH RITTER, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Ritter Covers "The River"

"New Video: Josh Covers Springsteen Classic for BruceSpringsteen.net

<> "Now featured on Bruce's official website is new, never seen before video of
Josh performing a cover of Springsteen's 'The River,' recorded exclusively for
Bruce's Hangin' Out on E Street video series. You can watch the performance, as
well as an interview segment....

"We were all beyond flattered that Josh was asked to contribute to this series,
in which young artists inspired by the music of Bruce Springsteen talk on camera
about his influence and perform one of The Boss's songs."

SOURCE: Josh Ritter (News), "Spring Tour Starts, Josh Covers Springsteen in New
Video," March 20, 2009.
.


REBECCA PADULA AND RIK PALIERI
Rik and Bec on a Concert Trek

<> "I've got a couple of different musical projects going at the moment and
one of them is a traditional folk, blues and roots music duo with Rik
Palieri. Check him out at

http://www.banjo.net/

if you haven't heard him or come on out to one of our upcoming 'Rik and Bec'
shows."

SOURCE: Contact At RebeccaPadula Dot Com, "April Shows," March 26, 2009.
.


JOHNNY CASH

<> There are a lot of reasons to revere Johnny Cash: great singles such as "I
Walk the Line" and "Big River," his "Bitter Tears" album. But if I had to pick
just one, it would be his late-1960s television show. He had many great guests
who you would otherwise never see on national television.

Just in from Paul "Hank" Preston is a forwarded message with these Johnny Cash
YouTube links. These are likely to be of a good deal of interest.

Johnny Cash talking about himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy4Zo-Zj71k&feature=related

And this - Johnny Cash doing Elvis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYctbbWWzzo&feature=related
.


GUITAR HERO: MOTLEY CRUE

A rumor is afoot of a forthcoming game, Guitar Hero: Motley Crue.

http://kotaku.com/5176153/guitar-hero-motley-crue

As far as we are aware, this has not been confirmed. You be the judge. We only
know it as a rumor.
.


YAHOO MUSIC NEWS HEADLINE
Friday-Saturday Overnight

Metallica plans "family reunion" at Hall of Fame Reuters - Fri Mar 27, 10:01 PM
ET

AUSTIN, Texas (Billboard) - Metallica is using its upcoming Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame induction to stage what drummer Lars Ulrich calls "a sort of family
reunion."
.


YAHOO MUSIC NEWS HEADLINE
Friday-Saturday Overnight

Devoted music fans pay top dollar for deluxe sets Reuters - Fri Mar 27, 9:39 PM
ET

NEW YORK (Billboard) - During the past two years, one 29-year-old Bay Area music
fan reckons she's spent about $200 on music.
.


YAHOO NEWS HEADLINE
Tuesday-Wednesday Overnight

Uriel Jones, Motown drummer who played with Temptations, dies

PLAYING WITH THE TEMPTATIONS . . puts a person in pretty exalted company. - Ed.
.


YAHOO MUSIC NEWS HEADLINE
Friday-Saturday Overnight

Rihanna Police Photo as...Art?! E! Online - Fri Mar 27, 2:26 PM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Rihanna's beatdown by Chris Brown not only caused
headlines, now it's inspiring art.

I KNOW NOTHING OF THE NEWS STORY . . behind this story, but the illustration
which accompanied this headline and lead-in has an intriguing high psychedelic
era look. It would be interesting to see the illustration at full size.

A mugshot of Carlene Carter once ran on the cover of a tabloid, no doubt
intended to give an impression of how far she had fallen. It worked. Yet there
was something endearing about CC smiling, or at least trying to smile, for a
police camera.

Carlene Carter is been one of my personal favorites since her debut album back
in the late 1970s. - Ed.
.


YAHOO NEWS HEADLINE
Friday Afternoon

Consumer spending up for second straight month (AP)

THERE ARE NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT . . this is good news. - Ed.
.


end BRIEF ITEMS

:

:


.
MELIAH RAGE
Meliah Rage Founder Teams Up With Metal Church Singer

Meliah Rage Founder Anthony Nichols to Collaborate with
Metal Church Singer Ronny Munroe

Boston, MA. March, 2009—Meliah Rage has announced that founding member Anthony
Nichols has composed the music for three tracks on the upcoming solo record
being released by Metal Church front man Ronny Munroe.

Nichols and Munroe developed a relationship when their two bands toured together
in 2007. "After the 07 tour, I asked Ronny to make a guest appearance on the
next Meliah Rage record," reported Nichols. "We flew him out last year and he
sang on the song Last Rites, which will be on Meliah Rage's upcoming record
"Masquerade" (due out spring, 2009). "That experience turned out to be highly
positive, and lead Munroe to ask me about contributing some music for his solo
project," added Nichols. Munroe selected three of Nichols' compositions, which
have been titled Across The Sea Of Souls, Deafening Hypocrisy, and What You Call
Hell, I Call Home. "I have always liked Tony's writing, since the early days and
after touring with Meliah and becoming good friends, I decided to ask him if he
wanted to write a couple tracks for me," Munroe explained. "Tony delivered as
usual! Thanks Big T."

"It's always inspirational to have another artist invite you to participate in
any project—I think the first two Metal Church records are all-time metal
classics, so when asked to write some music for Ronny's solo project I was quite
honored!" said Nichols. Ronny Munroe's solo record is titled "The Fire Within"
and will be released on Rat Pack Records. It is being co-produced by Metal
Church guitar legend Kurdt Vanderhoof and Ronny Munroe. (www.meliahrage.com)

SOURCE: Mike James, "Meliah Rage Founder Teams Up With Metal Church Singer,"
March 26, 2009.

= = =
= = =

DJ HERO
Music Rhythm Game
Heavy on the Rhythm

[I]n the news, details on DJ Hero, which will have another peripheral to buy: a
turntable. And also, I have to wonder if maybe Activision has jumped the shark
here:

http://kotaku.com/5049108/first-dj-hero-details-turntable-controller-mash+ups-gu\
itar-co+op

Recent Activision acquisition FreeStyleGames is hard at work on DJ Hero, a music
rhythm game that will let gamers scratch to the beat of popular mash-ups with a
laptop turntable peripheral, informed sources tell us today.

The game, which has been in development for nearly two years, is expected to hit
shelves next summer and will likely include the ability to use Guitar Hero
guitars for versus mode face-offs.

The controller, key to the game's success, has been through nearly a half-dozen
iterations.

In the latest form, the device looks a lot like a simplified DJ Deck. There is a
platter for scratching which will act like the strum toggle on a Guitar Hero
guitar. Above the platter are three buttons for sampling. The controller also
includes a cross fader and a sound effects dial which will act like the whammy
bar in Guitar Hero.

Instead of flowing the musical notes down a guitar neck, DJ Hero will flow the
music down and around a virtual record in a half arc. Either left top to middle
bottom if you are left handed, or right top to middle bottom if you are right
handed.

To play you will have to either hold a sample button and scratch, just hold a
button or just scratch as the neon icons flow around the virtual vinyl.

Currently the wireless controller has grooves molded into the bottom so it will
sit comfortably in a player's lap, though the team is also looking into legs for
the deck so gamers can play while standing up.

The game in its current form features all mash-ups, think Beyonce Vs Jimi
Hendrix, 50 cent Vs Beastie Boys. If they can nail the interface and get
licensing for the music this could be a mammoth hit. Then again I love mash-ups.

*That's not a picture of the controller.
.


:

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NEMSnews

New England Music Scrapbook
Brattleboro, Vermont

E-MAIL us via:
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Please do NOT click the Reply button. Clicking Reply sends your message to
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<> If you have friends who would be interested in any of the items in this
issue, please forward this newsletter to them. Thanks! We believe this is one
of the main ways we pick up readers.
.


<> As a rule, we do not post SHOW LISTINGS. The reason is quite simple. Though
our name is the NEW ENGLAND Music Scrapbook, probably an easy majority of our
readers are based outside the six New England states. The great majority of
show listings would be of no interest at all to the great majority of our
readers.

We make exceptions when show listings are part of an item of more general
interest. CD-release events are great examples. For us, the main point of an
item of this sort is that an act has a new record. The show being announced is
of secondary interest to us - if that - as far as the contents of our newsletter
goes.

In the very few, truly exceptional instances where we post show listings...
.

... Shows can be canceled, sold out, or even moved to another date or location.
We recommend checking the Web, calling ahead or otherwise confirming details.
.


To SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter:
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E-MAIL us via:
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(Please do NOT click the Reply button.)

NEWSLETTER's Yahoo Groups Home Page:
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General CONTACT Information:
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:

:

Issue 2009:320

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

Copyright © 2009 by the New England Music Scrapbook. All rights reserved.

: : :