Jurassic Dave

Go over to Jurassic 5's MySpace Site to check out their latest collaboration with Dave Matthews on the track "Work It Out." Think old-school Jurassic 5, but with Dave singing the hook...

It Definitely Ain't Starbucks

Go ahead. Open up your own KISS Coffeehouse. It'd be worth it just to be able to come up with punny KISS-related names for the various coffee drinks on the menu. Any suggestions?

thanks to CC for the tip

Joseph Arthur Single

For those Joseph Arthur fans out there, he's got a new single, "Last Train to Ithaca," available on his website for free download here. It's typical Arthur, very moody and atmospheric, with multi-tracked vocals. But I'm still waiting for another song to rival his rocking track "Exhausted."

Metal Month

Metal Month on VH1 is almost over, and it will be capped off by the VH1 Rock Honors on 5/31. And this'll include live performances by KISS, Queen, Def Leppard, and Judas Priest.

MP3: Breaking The Law - Judas Priest

Rolling Thunder Pics, Pt. II

one bike, one flag

it's yellow

a solitary rider

Rolling Thunder Pics, Pt. I

pulling back out on the highway

waving on the bikers

one particular bike

Sometimes the Truth...

I just couldn't resist posting a quote from this little news release from Billboard regarding Sting's upcoming album...

Sting plans to release a new album in October -- a disc full of 16th century music performed on the lute. According to his Web site, the as-yet untitled set will be issued on the classical label Deutsche Grammophon.

I wonder if Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull will be a guest performer! Sometimes the truth is just stranger than fiction.

A Case of the Fridays

Unfortunately, my vacation is finished, and I’m back at work. But at least it’s Friday, right? And so we start the day off with “Modern Swinger” by The Pink Spiders. It’s a rocking good time w/ a mouthful of a catchy chorus and a bunch of backing vocals. Take a listen.

Next up is “Yesterday,” a track by the Virginia Beach-based band, The Influence. It features some standout lead vocals with catchy vocal arrangements and harmonies. And it gets more and more funky as it goes on. If you like what you hear, they’ll be playing at Jammin Java Wednesday, May 31st.

MP3: Modern Swinger – The Pink Spiders
MP3: Yesterday – The Influence

Slowhand Heads West

It looks like Eric Clapton will indeed be touring North America this fall, hitting cities such as Philly, New York, and DC. Of course, I'm betting it'll be mucho dinero for a ticket...

MP3: Cryin' (live 1978) - Eric Clapton

Because One Wasn't Enough...

Good news, folks! I just found out that there's going to be a sequel to "Jackass: The Movie!" Go here and get a little more insight on "Jackass 2" from Johnny Knoxville.

Bob On Air

Now I don't have XM, but based on this article, it sounds like Bob Dylan's XM radio show is providing some quirky little goodness on the satellite airwaves. And he even played some LL Cool J! What more can you ask for!

Make It So!

Yeah, I know it happened last Wednesday night, but I was out of the country (kind of), and I just found out...Izzy Stradlin joined "Guns N' Roses" for three songs at their Hammerstein Ballroom show! I had to tell somebody! Now let's get Slash off his duff....er....let's get Slash and Duff and make a reunion tour happen!

What?

Certain friends of mine are fond of eating dried meat. You know, jerky. It's practically an American tradition, as this interesting jerky article might have you believe. But Tofurkey Jurky? Guess I shouldn't knock it 'til I've tried it, but I'm a bit skeptical....

Pearl Jam Makes A Video

Check out Pearl Jam's new video for "Life Wasted" here for free until May 24th. Pearl Jam videos don't happen too often...

VH in Crystal City?

I just got a flyer in the mail, and it turns out there's going to be some sort of free music festival called Crystal City Rocks in Crystal City (Arlington, VA) on Sunday, June 4th, at 2100 Crystal Drive, from 1:00-5:00.

And Vertical Horizon (along with local band Kenin) will be playing there at 2:45. Not bad for a free concert that I can walk to...

Say You, Say WHAT?

Apparently, Lionel Richie is HUGE in Iraq. Actually, he's huge in the whole Arab world. I have no explanation for that.

thanks to Pete for the tip

Bob Schneider

When CC and I were in a restaurant in St. John this past week, I heard some music that I was liking coming out of the stereo in the bar. So I asked our waiter if he might be able to find out who the artist was. He kindly went back and found out that it was Bob Schneider, a musician unfamiliar to me.

So when I got home, I checked out Bob Schneider's MySpace site (I recommend "King of the World"), and I streamed his new CD at his regular website, and I'm really digging it!

MetroMusicScene/Six Points Happy Hour

The May MetroMusicScene/Six Points Happy Hour will take place this Monday, May 22nd at the Black Cat around 7:00 pm.

The happy hour will immediately precede the Pharmacy Prophets/Demivolt show backstage.

Guess Who's Back, Pt. II

even in St. John, people talk on cell phones at the beach

i liked this yellow staircase

bus stop graffiti

flowers/blue building

the required Trunk Bay photograph

Guess Who's Back?

We got back from St. John last night - I'm of the "picture is worth a thousand words" school, so don't worry, there won't be any sort of drawn-out summary - just some pics...

the view off the back balcony of the villa

the villa sign

we made quite a few reptilian friends there

Away On Vacation

My vacation is finally here! So that means no posting for about 9 days - but I'll be back with a new age, new pictures, and sand in my luggage.

The Hickories

Just one for today - and it's “Lost In Pennsylvania” by The Hickories. This slice of alt-country is full of beautiful swirling female harmonies and jangly guitars. If you like what you hear, they’ll be at opening for Lizzie West at IOTA next Thursday, May 18th. Or you can go be their friend at MySpace.

MP3: Lost In Pennsylvania – The Hickories

Dustin Shey

I'm really liking the music I've been listening to by Dustin Shey over at MySpace. He's got strong breathy vocals that draw you into his often-times grandiose-sounding songs. And they're catchy, to boot.

MP3: 5th Avenue - Dustin Shey

About Teen Spirit

Apparently, I never knew the complete story behind the titular phrase of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (from October 2005 Blender)...

The title was coined by Kathleen Hanna (now Le Tigre’s singer), who had scrawled kurt smells like teen spirit on Kurt Cobain’s bedroom wall. “Earlier on,” he explained, “we were kinda having this discussion on … teen revolution and stuff like that, and I took that as a compliment, I thought that she was saying that I was a person who could inspire … And it turns out she just meant that I smelt like the deodorant. I didn’t even know that deodorant existed until after the song was written.”

Face It

a few "faces"

Still Fighting It

Yeah, I play the piano, but I haven't listened to much Ben Folds. So I just borrowed Rockin' The Suburbs from the library a couple weeks back. And I'm liking it.

MP3: Still Fighting It - Ben Folds

Roger Speaks Of His Dark Side

Former Pink Floyd bassist and lyricist Roger Waters will be going on tour this summer. And he's planning on performing Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety during some of the shows. Here he answers some questions about one of the greatest albums of all time.

Axl Update

It's Metal Month, kids! And what would Metal Month be without an Axl Rose update?

Former Skid Row frontman (and fellow Botox afficionado), Sebastian Bach gave Axl a call while co-hosting the Eddie Trunk radio show, and invited him to drop by and chat. And so he did.

Keep in mind, of course, anything uttered by Axl must be taken with a grain of salt. Supposedly the new GnR album is coming out this fall, and the tour will feature a new lead guitarist to replace Buckethead. And there were implications made that Izzy and/or Slash may make an appearance on the tour.

The Break

Damn, last night's episode of Prison Break was some riveting television!

The Notwist

The Notwist are from Germany. But no, their songs are not in German. Anyway, they put out some strangely haunting and warm electronic music, incorporating a vast array of sounds and instruments - though the bleeps and blips do get a tad loud sometimes. Here's a haunting track from their album, Neon Golden.

MP3: Pick Up The Phone - The Notwist

Busta

I'm really liking this Busta Rhymes jam - and try as I might, I can't get that hypnotic hook out of my head!

MP3: Touch It (Diplo Mix) - Busta Rhymes

Car Show Pics

self-pic in BMW M6 hood

BMW 2002

Porsche reflections

old Benz

The Lotus

I went to a car show this weekend - the 2006 Deutsche Marque Concours d' Elegance - my personal favorite was the 2005 Lotus Elise (below)...

the emblem

rear detail

back view

front corner