Month: June 2010

A founding member of the Kinks, bassist Pete Quaife recently died from kidney failure. Forty-six years ago, the Kinks were part of the rising British Invasion, signed to Pye Records by noted record producer Shel Talmy. Quaife played bass on the band’s classic early singles, such as the breakthrough hit "You Really Got Me," "All Day and All of the Night," and the 1965 classic, "See My Friends," one of the earliest rock and roll songs to incorporate Indian musical influences. He also sang backup on the single "Waterloo Sunset" and was an early proponent of Rickenbacker 4000-series basses

Quaife was seriously injured in a 1966 car accident which resulted in him temporarily leaving the band. He rejoined later that year and worked with the Kinks on records such as Something Else By The Kinks and The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, the latter of which Quaife regarded as the best thing he ever recorded with the band. Tired of the ignominious in-fighting between the Davies brothers, however, Quaife left the band in 1969. He briefly worked in an unsuccessful country-rock band called Maple Oak before retiring from the music business entirely. Quaife later worked as a graphic artist and cartoonist, living in Canada and Denmark, but his role as a member of the Kinks during their early years remains an indelible image of ’60s British rock. – <strong>Pete Prown</strong>

<em>Harlem River Blues</em>, the third full-length from Justin Townes Earle, is schedled for release September 14.

Woody Guthrie once said, "Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple." On <em>Harlem River Blues</em>, Justin Townes Earle takes that lesson to heart, making a statement without making a wall of sound.

Compared to the much-lauded <em>Midnight at the Movies</em>, <em>Harlem River Blues</em> is more mature and increasingly nuanced, while still embracing the raw voice and clean sound of previous standout tracks like "Mama’s Eyes." Featuring guest appearances from Jason Isbell, Bryn Davies and Calexico’s Paul Niehaus, it’s rockin’ and reelin’ at times, sweet and slow at others – and it’s great. Like good fried chicken, a well-cut suit and a hand made guitar, there’s heaven to be found in the beautifully crafted simpler things.

Sporting some of those well-cut suits, Justin Townes Earle spent 2009 pounding the proverbial pavement, touring constantly and wowing audiences worldwide. That hard working earnestness has paid off, to say the least. Justin won the Best New and Emerging Artist at the 2009 Americana Music Awards. <em>at the Movies</em> was named one of the best records of last year by Amazon, got four stars in <em>Rolling Stone</em> and found a sweet spot in the blackened hearts of fans and critics alike. <em>GQ</em> magazine named him one of the 25 best dressed men in the world in 2010. He also appeared on HBO’s <em>Treme</em> with his dad, troubadour Steve Earle, on whose Grammy Award winning <em>Townes</em> record Justin also guests.

As versed in Mance Lipscomb as he is in M. Ward and sporting Marc Jacobs suspenders, Justin Townes Earle is a man beyond eras. With <em>Harlem River Blues</em>, a record that’s perfect for late Indian summer nights on either the front porch or fire escape, Justin’s found yet another way to be a timeless original.

Christie’s will host a sale featuring the collection from the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum on July 14 and 15 in association with High Noon Western Americana. The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum closed their doors last fall after over four decades of celebrating one of the most popular cowboys and cowgirls the world has ever known. The auction with no reserve will include over 300 iconic lots from suits by Nudie the Rodeo Tailor, saddles, personal photos, awards, the famous Nellybelle jeep from the 1950s TV Show, to arguably, the most famous horse of all time, Trigger. This historic sale will pay tribute to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans who will always remain renowned for their wholesome and caring treatment of their family, friends, and fans.

The final night of Megadeth’s historic month-long <em>Rust In Peace</em> 20th anniversary tour has been captured for the upcoming <em>Rust In Peace Live</em> Blu-ray, DVD and CD, due out September 7 on Shout! Factory. On March 31, 2010, at this incredibly special show at the legendary Hollywood Palladium, not far from where Dave Mustaine formed the band in 1983, Megadeth played their landmark, genre-defining 1990 <em>Rust In Peace</em> album in its entirety, in addition to other Megadeth favorites. <em>Rust In Peace Live</em> also marks the return of original bassist David Ellefson (Megadeth 1983-2002) to the iconic multi-platinum group after eight years. Ellefson (bass), joins Mustaine (lead vocals, guitar), Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar).

<em>Rust In Peace Live</em> features the entire <em>Rust In Peace</em> track listing, including all-time classics "Holy Wars…The Punishment Due" and "Hangar 18" along with bonus fan favorites from various other Megadeth releases such as "Symphony For Destruction," "Peace Sells," and "Skin O’ My Teeth."

Megadeth founder/frontman/guitarist Dave Mustaine explains, "We are pumped to be able to share the RIP Live concert with you all around the world. The anniversary and David Ellefson coming back was better than a facelift and a bottle of Viagra for old Vic."

The 80-minute <em>Rust In Peace Live</em> DVD (5.1 Dolby Surround 16:9 Widescreen) and Blu-ray (5.1 DTS Master Audio 1080p High Definition) were directed by Kerry Asmussen (Green Day, Jay-Z, Coachella). The DVD and Blu-ray will also include behind-the-scenes footage, including a rare glimpse of the band rehearsing in their dressing room as they prepare to take the stage.

<em>Rust In Peace</em> is considered one of the best metal albums of all time by fans and critics and debuted at #23 on the <em>Billboard</em> Top 200 Album Chart in the U.S. and #8 in the U.K. The album showcased a much tighter sound, with Mustaine’s writing style adopting a rhythmically complex progressive edge, prompting <em>All Music Guide</em> to cite <em>Rust In Peace</em> as "Megadeth’s strongest musical effort." The album received Grammy nominations in 1990 and 1991 for "Best Metal Performance." Emphasizing the massive impact of <em>Rust In Peace</em> in the July 2010 issue of<em> Guitar World</em>, writer Richard Bienstock calls it "one of the pinnacles of the first wave of thrash metal." He continues, "A defining quality of Megadeth’s sound-and the one that perhaps most sets them apart from their ‘Big Four’ thrash brethren, Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax-has always been the band’s fiery mix of speed-metal ferocity and progressive instrumental virtuosity…nowhere has this combination been displayed better than on <em>Rust In Peace</em>."

In response to suggestions from Martin Owners Club members, the new 00-15M offers an authentic blues-type guitar reminiscent of small bodied Martins of the 1930’s. Favored by legions of blues players, these mahogany bodied guitars have a warm tone and clear voice all their own. The 00-15M is further enhanced tonally by Martin’s A-frame Sitka bracing. A single ring wood rosette is used in keeping with the old 30s tradition. The genuine mahogany 14-fret neck has the classic solid headstock with vintage-style Gotoh tuners. Fingerboard and "belly" bridge are East Indian rosewood. Nut and compensated saddle are bone. This beautiful, soulful guitar is finished in satin lacquer over a rich dark-stained body. All you need to add the blues.

On his latest studio album, <em>Tomorrow’s Children</em> out July 27 on Appleseed Recordings, the indomitable Pete Seeger continues his life’s work of communication and inspiration to action. The new album is the first new studio recordings by the iconic folksinger and political activist since his 2008 Grammy-winning album <em>At 89</em>, and it’s like a joyful town picnic. It features 91-year-old Pete as a (global) village elder, assembling his neighbors to appreciate their past and present, to celebrate their triumphs against environmental threats, to swap old and new stories, to appreciate the natural glories surrounding them and to make sure that the following generations "carry it on."

When Beacon, NY, fourth-grade teacher Tery Udell began teaching her students about the Hudson River, class sessions became songfests, and where there are songs, there’s Pete Seeger. He became a regular visitor to the kids’ classroom in 2007. The classroom gatherings and performances inevitably led to a series of recordings by Pete, Clearwater educator and singer Dan Einbender, musician and CD co-producer (with Dan) David Bernz, the children (known as "The Rivertown Kids"), as well as adult musicians, high schoolers and even 14 grammar school percussion students. The 19 newly recorded songs on <em>Tomorrow’s Children</em>, testify to Seeger’s long-held credo, "Think globally, act locally."

Pete is on every track of the CD, singing, storytelling, playing banjo and 12-string guitar, but he shares the studio spotlight with all of his guests. Their voices, instruments and the songs they have adopted or adapted are woven into a colorful quilt depicting our nation’s history ("Take It from Dr. King," the tribute to Pete’s fellow civil rights warrior performed on the "Late Night with David Letterman" show; "I See Freedom," the true story of a runaway slave who settled in Beacon); the possibilities of an ecologically clean world (the newly co-written Seeger song "Solartopia" featuring guest vocalist Dar Williams), and the natural beauty worth preserving ("Down by the River," "The River that Flows Both Ways," and others).

Perhaps most importantly, <em>Tomorrow’s Children</em> contains songs of empowerment and cooperation adapted or written by the kids themselves such as "We Sing Out" ("…so our voices can be heard," with a melody borrowed from Tom Paxton), an updated version of the old gospel and union song, "We Shall Not Be Moved," and a set of new verses to Seeger’s Biblically-inspired standard, "Turn, Turn, Turn," added for the children by Pete’s wife of more than 60 years, Toshi.

Like the recent CFM IV 1955 D-28, the CFM IV 1955 D-18 commemorates the 55th birthday and ongoing contribution of Christian Frederick "Chris" Martin IV to the company that bears his name. But this is not just the mahogany version of the CFM IV D-28. Since its introduction in 1935, the D-18 has been one of the major stalwarts of the Martin line, and for many years outsold the more costly D-28. In 1955, the year of Chris Martin’s birth, Martin sold 1,103 D-18s versus 806 D-28s. Prized for its bright treble, crisp midrange and clear bass, the D-18 is a favorite of many bluegrass, folk and country musicians. Its strong, loud voice is meant to be heard and hold its own over banjoes, mandolins, steel guitars – and, yes, raucous rock n’ roll. It’s also excellent recording guitar offering exceptional balance and distinct articulation. Elvis Presley played a 1942 D-18 during his early career (it can be heard in on all of his Sun recordings, including the classic "That’s Alright Mama"). Hank Williams also played a D-18 that he rotated with his D-28 (Hank’s 1947 D-18 is now owned by the Martin company and is on permanent display in the Martin Museum). Oh, and you remember that great rockin’ guitar intro on Eddie Cochran’s "Summertime Blues"? That’s a D-18, too. In creating the CFM IV 1955 D-18, we carefully replicated D-18 specs in place during 1955. This includes Sitka top with non-scalloped top braces, small maple bridgeplate, elegant old style 18 rosette and tortoise body binding &amp; pickguard, cedar ribbons, cloth reinforcement strips, ebony bridge (with long bone saddle) and fingerboard, bone saddle, rounded headstock (from template wear) with old style C. F Martin &amp; Co. scroll decal and other authentic 1955-specific details.So choosing the D-18 as the other half of the CFM IV 1955 celebration set was a natural.

Special features including back and sides of rare quilted Mmogany (dark stain), adjustable 14-fret neck (with two-way truss rod), old style "waffleback" tuners, figured Madagascar rosewood back strip and head plate veneer (similar in look to the original Brazilian rosewood headplate), and a small paper label specially designed by Dick Boak and signed by C.F. Martin IV in numbered sequence. The guitar is finished in premium high-gloss polished lacquer.Only 55 of these superb instruments will be offered, delivered in our highest grade Cabernet plush, 5-ply, hard shell case. And if you already own the CFM IV 1955 D-28, the CFM IV 1955 D-18 will make a perfect matched set. The CFM IV 1955 D-18. Another extraordinary Martin collectable – 55 years in the making.

Buckcherry are taking their desire to help raise awareness for the tragedy in the Gulf Coast one step further: as of today, a new version of the track "Our World," from the forthcoming album <em>All Night Long</em>, will be available for purchase as an iTunes exclusive with all of the band proceeds from the sales to go to charities devoted to helping victims of the oil spill – both human and animal. To download the new version of "Our World," fans can visit: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/our-world-gulf-spill-awareness/id378504791.

Last week, the band posted the album version of "Our World" as a free download on buckcherry.com as their offering of support, but decided that they wanted to do more. "Our World" was originally written as an anthemic cry out to help right the social, environmental, economic and other wrongs of this world.

The band reworked the lyrics to represent their commitment to expose the BP disaster and to bring awareness and support to the crisis and its victims. The track was just rewritten and recorded for this unique and unfortunate situation. Please see below for the new lyrics to "Our World."

Buckcherry’s new album, <em>All Night Long</em> is set for an August 3rd release via original independent label, Eleven Seven Music. The title track has been called "The top down anthem" by <em>Billboard</em>. In their more than decade-long career, multi-platinum artists Buckcherry have established themselves as a definitive hard rock band with a massive presence at radio. Hits such as "Lit Up," "Crazy Bitch," and "Sorry" have propelled the band’s sales to more than 3 million albums worldwide and have garnered Buckcherry two Grammynominations.

For more information, visit buckcherry.com.

Organizers of the SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL have confirmed that THE SMASHING PUMPKINS will headline the street festival on Saturday, August 28, with a live performance on the legendary Strip, which is being closed to traffic for the second time in its history. The iconic band will wrap up the third annual SSMF, set to include a special tribute event for SLASH at House of Blues on August 26; live performances in The Roxy Theatre, the Whisky A Go-Go, Viper Room, Key Club, Cat Club and House of Blues on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights; plus more than 50 bands, two outdoor stages and a full day of music in the venues on Saturday, August 28.

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS–who have created one of the most acclaimed bodies of work in musical history and sold more than 30 million albums–are touring this summer in conjunction with their <em>TEARGARDEN BY KALEIDYSCOPE</em> project. It’s a collection of 44 songs being released online for free one at a time as well as in installments of specially packaged four-song EPs for sale in record stores. In late May, the Pumpkins released the project’s first EP <em>TEARGARDEN BY KALEIDYSCOPE VOL.1: SONGS FOR A SAILOR</em> (Martha’s Music/Rocket Science Ventures) to critical acclaim, with Jerry Shriver of <em>USA Today</em> hailing the music as "a delicious swirl of howling psychedelic rock and melodic ballads (5/25/10)." Look for leader Billy Corgan and his band mates–guitarist Jeff Schroeder, drummer Mike Byrne and new bassist Nicole Fiorentino–to hit the road for an array of intimate shows across the U.S. beginning July 6 in Cleveland, to be followed in August by two headline festival appearances in Tokyo and Osaka.

As in year’s past, the SSMF will honor a figure who is synonymous with The Sunset Strip for their contribution to the history of The Strip as well as the music industry. This year’s honoree: SLASH. Previous recipients of this honor have been Ozzy Osbourne (2009) and Sunset Strip club owners Lou Adler, Mario Maglieri and Elmer Valentine (2008).

Last year’s street fair drew 10,000 people to The Strip, which was closed between San Vicente Boulevard and Doheny Drive and filled with two full-scale stages, fans, food vendors and a VIP beer garden. "We are ecstatic to be able to bring this caliber of talent to the street and create what will undoubtedly become the ultimate end-of-summer music festival experience for our attendees," says SSMF Festival Managing Director Karmen Beck. Following the Smashing Pumpkins’ show, bands will continue to play into the night in venues within the street closure, all of which will be free of charge to SSMF attendees.Learn more at .sunsetstripmusicfestival.com.

Alfred Music Publishing, the leader in educational music publishing since 1922 and the exclusive print publisher of thousands of popular artists, is excited to announce the release of <em>Sue Foley: Guitar Woman</em>, the latest DVD from Alfred’s Artist Series.

Join award-winning guitarist Sue Foley as she shares her influences and teaches the techniques behind her unique blues sound. Sue Foley: Guitar Woman explores the history of women in blues music, told through Sue’s live performances and candid stories. Discover Texas blues, Piedmont blues, Hill Country blues, and even flamenco guitar, and find out about great female artists like Memphis Minnie, Jessie Mae Hemphill, and many others.

Learn how to play six of Sue’s songs, including "Goin’ Down the Road Again," "Two Trains," "Doggie Treats," "Let Me Drive," "New Used Car," and "Mediterranean Breakfast." Whether you want to play the blues or enjoy learning about the journey of the female guitarist in blues history, you’ll get it all in this video.