Archive for November 3rd, 2009
Have You Heard?
November 3rd, 2009
Posted in Uncategorized
Listen up Pink Floyd fans…Rumor has it that Roger Waters will be touring in 2010-11, performing The Wall in its entirety. Not a whole lot to this story just yet, but apparently six dates have been confirmed. Read about it here.
Listing the Best Albums of 2009 by Artist from A to Z: Ben Harper and Relentless7
November 3rd, 2009
Posted in Best of 2009
Ben Harper and Relentless7
White Lies for Dark Times
Released May 5th on Virgin Records
The Many Sounds and Styles of Ben Harper
From picking up the slide guitar in his grandparents’ music shop as a teen, to his collaboration with the Blind Boys of Alabama, it appears that Ben Harper has been everywhere and in between. Whether that be stripped-down acoustic folk music, alternative college radio rock, blues and soul, hard rock or even reggae, the music is constantly flowing out of Harper.
His latest project, Relentless7, does not feature his longtime backing band, the Innocent Criminals, rather, he is joined by three musicians he has known for the better part of the last decade. The story goes that, while Harper was touring in Texas some many years ago, one of the guys driving him around town was in his own band looking to make it. They passed along their demo, in which Harper instantly loved, and the rest was history. They met back up with Harper when he asked them to lay down some tracks on the two-disc, Both Sides of the Gun.
In 2007, Harper was joined onstage at Bonnaroo by John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) and Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson (The Roots, guitarist Kirk Douglas also sat in for a song) for what is known as SuperJam. I was fortunate enough to be in attendance, to witness the rare performance featuring these musicians who have made a name for themselves in their own right. That set featured nearly all Led Zeppelin covers (including a near thirty-minute “Dazed and Confused”) and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” It was simply mind-blowing. Harper has stated that the sound created that night, was a sound he was searching for in a band, which thus inspired the formation of Relentless7.
Enjoy the video below!
Listing the Best Albums of 2009 from A to Z: Bell X1
November 3rd, 2009
Posted in Best of 2009
Bell X1
Blue Lights on the Runway
Released February 20th (UK) and March 3 (US)
“One of Ireland’s greatest bands” – Paste Magazine
The roots of Irish indie-rock band Bell X1, can be traced back to the early nineties with the popular Irish band Juniper. Most of the members of Bell X1 got their start in that band, as did Damien Rice, the band’s former lead vocalist. Despite a number of differences, Rice parted ways with the other members, as both sides moved onto bigger and better things.
Paul Noonan stepped out from behind the drumkit to front Bell X1, although he occasionally still plays drums and percussion. The band also features David Geraghty on lead guitar, banjo and piano, and Dominic Philips on bass. The live incarnation features Tim O’ Donovan (drums), Marc Aubele (guitar, keys) and Rory Doyle (drums).
Bell X1 have released four albums, all which have reached the Top 30 on the Irish charts; the most recent two (Flock, Blue Lights) reached #1. They’ve also released fourteen singles, nine of which landed on the Top 200.
Have a listen to the first single off the new album, “The Great Defector”, the band’s biggest hit to date (#3 on Irish charts).
Dig It: David Byrne of Talking Heads fronting Arcade Fire
