Saturday, April 11, 2009

Robbie Robertson to offer free downloads after frustration w/ Capitol & Geffen.


Robbie Robertson & his son Sebastian will be offering free downloads on Robbie's official Myspace page. The downloads will apparently be of Robbie's solo music as Capitol & Geffen will not allow the free downloads of Robbie-related music they have their hands on.

Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters pull off from Willie Nelson live Canadian dates.


The Canadians are not warming up to Billy Bob's radio interview from earlier in the week & he & The Boxmasters have briefly left the tour w/ Willie Nelson for the remaining Canadian dates. They will rejoin the tour soon when it hits CT.

Friday, April 10, 2009

"Dungeon & Dragons" co-creator passes away.


The second of the amazing game Dungeons & Dragons, Dave Arneson, passed away yesterday @ 61. The other co-creator, Gary Gygax, passed away March '08. They created the game in '74. Although we were not big participants in this game, we did have a brief stint w/ it back in junior high & it is quite an imaginary world Arneson & Gygax created.

Billy Bob Thornton's unfortunate interview.


It’s unfortunate that many listeners of Jian Ghomeshi's Canadian radio show will have a poor impression of Billy Bob Thornton. We met he & the rest of The Boxmasters @ Levon Helm’s late Aug ‘08 Midnight Ramble & they we all great, including Billy Bob. He even made his way around his security team to shake our hands & say hi when we called for him as he was walking off the stage. Someone must have gotten under his skin prior to the interview.

Here's a link to the video of that interview from our friend Matt's great Addicted to Vinyl blog:

Remembering Stuart Sutcliffe today...


The Lost Beatle sadly passed away in '62 @ the age of 21.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Remembering Phil Ochs today...


The folk / protest singer sadly passed away in '76 on this day.

Happy b'day Gene Parsons!


The Byrds & Flying Burrito Bros. member turns 65 today.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Neil Young's new album "Fork in the Road" out in stores beginning today.


Bob Dylan / The Band exhibition in Cleveland, OH.


Recent press release from frmr Bob Dylan / The Band photographer & road mgr William Scheele:

Press Release
Spring 2009

KOKOON ARTS GALLERY
1305 West 80th
Street, Cleveland, OH

William Scheele
216-832-8212

Look Out Cleveland:Bob Dylan & The Band 1969-1976
Photographs, Prints & Memorabiliafrom William Scheele
April 17th through July 4th, 2009

Special Openings onFriday, April 17th from 5:30-9 pm andSaturday, April 18th from 1-5 pm

Kokoon Arts Gallery is proud to present an exhibition of photographs, prints and memorabilia documenting the music business experience of William Scheele from 1969 through 1976. During this period he was closely associated with The Band, Bob Dylan, and other musicians of the time. This show marks the 40th anniversary of The Band's first concerts in San Francisco, when Bill joined his friend Jon Taplin as Albert s management team for The Band.
This exhibition contains different elements and images from Bill Graham's experience from 1969 through 1976, including major events like the Woodstock Festival, the Concert for Bangla Desh, Watkins Glen, and Bob Dylan & The Band's Before the Flood tour. As Equipment/ Stage Manager during these years, Bill's memorabilia includes stage set-up diagrams, song set lists, tour itineraries, and promotional materials. Bill began taking photographs at the 1973 Watkins Glen & Roosevelt Stadium shows, the 1974 tour featuring Bob Dylan & The Band, and 1975's SNACK concert in San Francisco.

Kokoon Arts Gallery

Open Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays or by Appointment

Reference.... www.wgsproductions.com

Helmland pics.



A couple of Levon Helm Helmland pics posted by fans on a Levon Helm facebook page. One pic is of his residence / studio on Plochmann Lane in Woodstock, NY & the other pic is of Amy Helm (woman on the right w/ glasses) holding her son Levon (less than 1-yr old) w/ a friend. Amy is a wonderful person (& beautiful vocalist & mandolin player) to speak w/ as we did so following a late Aug. '09 Midnight Ramble. This pic was taken less than 1-mth after we met her. Her husband & father to Little Levon, Jay Collins, is a great guy & amazing blues/jazz/rock vocalist & sax player.

Bob Dylan is offering an interactive approach while listening to a new tune before release.


Check out this link, listen to his new Beyond Here Lies Nothin', type in your lyrical thoughts & a montage w/ you thoughts & a Dylan pic appear:


Dylan's new album hits stores April 28th.

"Rock for MS" online auction.


Cool pics & memorabilia are up for auction, including items from Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Bob Marley & Carlos Santana, to support multiple sclerosis help.

Happy b'day to Mick Abrahams!


The Jethro Tull guitarist turns 66 today.

Happy b'day to the late Billie Holiday!


Billie Holiday would have turned 94 today. She sadly passed away in '59.

Happy b'day to the late Spencer Dryden!


The Jefferson Airplane drummer would have turned 71 today. He passed away in '05 due to colon cancer.

Opus 40 presented a wonderful Masters thesis on history & preservation.

We absolutely love this Harvey Fite West Saugerties, NY stone monument operated by Tad Richards. It is a thing of beauty. We took this pic late summer '08.

Recently, a Masters student Kim Barker prepared a thesis on Opus 40's sculptoral landscape history & preservation. You can check out the 98-pg thesis on Tad's Opus 40 website. If you have not visited this wonderful site, it is definitely a Bucket List item. Famed Woodstock, NY photog Elliott Landy snapped '90s pics @ Opus 40 of the reunited The Band.

Eric Clapton updates from his website.


Check out live tunes & updates on Eric Clapton's collaboration w/ Steve Winwood:

www.ericclapton.com

Monday, April 6, 2009

Chris Bergson Band's "facebook" page.


Bob Dylan's "I Feel a Change Comin' On" first listen.


Link to his new tune:

Remembering Bob "The Bear" Hite today...


The Canned Heat member passed away from a heart attack 28-yrs ago.

Happy b'day Merle Haggard!


Merle turns 72 today. He was supposedly in the audience @ Johnny Cash's famous San Quentin prison performance.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Remembering Dr. King this wkd....


Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. left us 41-yrs ago @ the age of 39. His impact will never be forgotten.