YOUR Chance to Experience Eric Clapton in London!

ERNIE BALL TO SEND 15 GUITARISTS 

ON A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME TRIP TO 

EXPERIENCE CLAPTON - UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Grand Prize Includes VIP Access to His Private Rehearsal, Backstage Meet-and-Greet with The Master, Tickets to London's Royal Albert Hall Performance and Free Flight/Hotel Package

Ernie Ball also Launches Eric Clapton Golden Pick Contest Offering over $100,000 in Instant-Win Prizes - Exclusively Through 

Guitar Center, the World's Largest Music Instrument Retailer 

Coachella, CA, January 25, 2011 -- Ernie Ball Inc., the world's premier string, accessory and instrument manufacturer and creators of the iconic Slinky® guitar string, today announced Ernie Ball Presents Experience Clapton and the Ernie Ball Eric Clapton Golden Pick, giving Ernie Ball customers nationwide a rare opportunity to meet Eric Clapton in London or win one of thousands of exciting prizes instantly. Fifteen grand prize winners will get unparalleled access to Eric Clapton's private rehearsal, an exclusive meet and greet and a ticket to see Clapton live at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The London show is the climax of Clapton's UK tour in support of his 19th studio album, Clapton. 

Each and every pack of Ernie Ball electric and acoustic guitar strings purchased at Guitar Center between February 1st and April 30th will give a guitarist the chance to win one of the 15 grand prizes to Experience Clapton in London, simply by visiting www.ernieball.com/ericclapton and entering the unique code provided inside the package. Select packs will also include one of 5 color-coded, instant-winning Eric Clapton guitar picks. Each pick is redeemable for one of thousands of exclusive prizes including free Music Man guitars, VIP trips to the 2012 winter NAMM show and Guitar Center gift cards, depending on the pick's color.

"Eric Clapton has been playing Ernie Ball strings for nearly 50 years," said Brian Ball of Ernie Ball. "He is a true guitar legend and a close friend of the Ernie Ball family. We're thrilled that Ernie Ball and Eric are able to provide our loyal customers with an unparalleled opportunity to experience one of the world's great guitarists, Eric Clapton, like never before."

15 Experience Clapton Grand Prize Packages Include:

Round-Trip Flight & Hotel Accommodations To London, England. · Once in A Lifetime Access to Attend Eric's Private Rehearsal. · Meet & Greet with Eric Clapton at the Royal Albert Hall. · A Ticket to Clapton's Royal Albert Hall Concert. Eric Clapton Picks and Prizes Include:

Golden Pick - Round-Trip Airfare to Anaheim, CA for the 2012 Winter NAMM Show (10 winners). · Silver Pick - Custom Ernie Ball Music Man Guitar of your choice (10 winners). · Red Pick - $100 Guitar Center Gift Cards (150 winners). · Black Pick - Limited Edition Eric Clapton Lithograph (150 winners). · White Pick - Free Pack of Ernie Ball Guitar Strings (1,500 winners). 

This offer is available exclusively at one of 215 Guitar Center locations in the United States. Experience Clapton codes can be submitted online at www.ernieball.com/ericclapton. Fifteen winners will be selected at random following the promotional period of February 1st to April 30th, 2011.

# # #

About Ernie Ball

In 1962, veteran player and teacher Ernie Ball created Slinkys®, the iconic light gauge electric guitar strings widely revered by hundreds of guitar greats including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, The Edge and John Mayer. In addition to hand crafting high-end Music Man® guitars and basses, Ernie Ball Inc. offers state-of-the-art instrument accessories that are carried in more than 6,000 stores in the U.S. and 110 countries worldwide. The family-run company maintains its founder's dedication to preserving the musician's playing experience and delivering superior sound quality through the development of new products, such as the revolutionary Element Shield Packaging which hermetically seals guitar strings keeping each set as fresh as the day they were made. The company also fosters artist development through musician-focused programs such as the Golden Pick promotion featuring Slash and Eric Clapton, and the world's largest and longest running Battle of the Bands, where unsigned bands compete each year for the chance to win a $15,000 Guitar Center shopping spree and more.

About Guitar Center

Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates 215 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's Website at www.guitarcenter.com.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF JAPAN, US, AND UK. RESIDENTS OF JAPAN MUST BE 20 YEARS OR OLDER, US AND UK 14 YEARS OR OLDER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Competition ends 31 March 2011. Electric strings game inserts must be registered online by 1 April 2011. Alternate method game inserts must be registered online by 25 April 2011. For Official Rules, alternate method of entry, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit www.ernieball.com/ericclapton.

--
John Jones
www.DreamSeats4Less.com
770-715-0049 - phone
866-397-4729 - toll free
309-414-8717 - fax

"Oh, Wisconsin!" - Locksley's Home State and Packer Pride w/ mp3 for Charity

 LOCKSLEY UNVEIL "OH, WISCONSIN!"
IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR BELOVED HOME STATE
 
AVAILABLE AT BANDCAMP WITH DONATIONS GOING TO BENEFIT WISCONSIN BASED CHARITIES INCLUDING THE FOUNDATION FOR MADISON, WI PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 
Wisconsin born and bred, Locksley are always proud to let people know about their home state. They let that pride show through with the song "Oh, Wisconsin!" a tribute to the state and a rally cry for all Packers fans excited to see Green Bay in the Superbowl, be they young or old, big or small, or prefer their cheese curds fried or squeaky (un-fried for the uncheesucated). It's something all Sconnies near and far can get behind, especially when considering donations made on Band Camp will go directly to Wisconsin based charities including the Foundation for Madison, WI Public Schools (www.fmps.org) among others.
 
"Oh, Wisconsin!" is available to stream, download for free, or receive via a donation of your choice via Locksley at BandCamp.com
http://locksley.bandcamp.com/track/oh-wisconsin


 
Suppose you haven't had the pleasure of living in or visiting the badger state, or don't consider yourself a Packers fan? Well there's still a lot to love about the song "Oh, Wisconsin!" which is at its heart a story many can relate to.  "Oh, Wisconsin!" is about growing up in small town America with dreams of big city lights, and missing home after you've left.
 
Fittingly, Locksley are a Madison, WI band who now call New York City home. Over the past few years they've built up a devoted fan base on the strength of their hook filled straightforward rock 'n' roll and dedication to perfecting their live act. This summer they will release their new album featuring the single "The Whip" which last week was unexpectedly picked up by select Top 40 stations.

http://www.locksley.com

Ethereal Rock Choir Scala & Kolacny Brothers Escalate US Breakthrough, Debut Album, Tour

Ethereal Rock Choir Scala & Kolacny Brothers Escalate US Breakthrough With Debut Album, Tour

Winning over the hearts of critics at the LA Times, NPR, USA Today, Billboard, MTV.com, AOL Spinner and Stereogum, all-female Belgian rock choir sensations Scala & Kolacny Brothers continue their US breakthrough with the release of their full length self-titled debut and a North American tour this spring.  The album, out March 15 on ATCO, features imaginative reinterpretations of songs from Radiohead, Kings of Leon, Depeche Mode, Nirvana and others, as well as the three haunting original compositions by Scala & Kolacny Brothers.  
 
After a performance at SXSW, Scala & Kolacny Brothers will kick of their North American tour April 7 in Vancouver, BC.  The group will hit major cities across the US and Canada, playing renowned rock venues, such as New York's Webster Hall and Los Angeles' El Rey Theater, while also debuting at Coachella on April 15.
 
Led by pianist/composer Steven Kolacny and his brother, conductor Stijn Kolacny, Scala & Kolacny Brothers "brilliantly haunting" (EW) version of Radiohead's "Creep" underscored the trailer for 'The Social Network' to great acclaim (viewed by 4-million-plus on YouTube alone), and the group has continued to build buzz and fans stateside ever since.  The LA Times praises their "sweet songbird attack," and USA Today raves that their takes on rock classics "Creep" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" are "even more haunting than the originals."

Watch a  live performance of Scala & Kolacny Brothers original "Self-fulfilling Prophecy" here:
http://www.scalachoir.com/en/index.htm

'Scala & Kolacny Brothers' track listing:
Nothing Else Matters [Metallica]
Solsbury Hill [Peter Gabriel]
Champagne Supernova [Oasis]
Ironic [Alanis Morissette]
With Or Without You [U2]
Everlong [Foo Fighters]
I Feel You [Depeche Mode]
Use Somebody [Kings of Leon]
Our Last Fight [Scala & Kolacny Brothers original]
Seashell [Scala & Kolacny Brothers original]
Masquerade (of Fools) [Scala & Kolacny Brothers original]
Creep (Live) [Radiohead]
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Live) [Nirvana]
 
Scala & Kolacny Brothers North American Tour Dates
Fri-Mar-18        Austin, TX            Stubbs BBQ (SXSW)
Thu-Apr-7         Vancouver, BC         Commodore Ballroom
Fri-Apr-8         Seattle, WA             The Showbox Sodo
Sat-Apr-9         Portland, OR         Roseland Theatre
Mon-Apr-11     San Francisco, CA         The Independent
Tue-Apr-12         San Francisco, CA         The Independent
Thu-Apr-14         Los Angeles, CA         El Rey Theatre
Fri-Apr-15         Indio, CA             Coachella
Wed-Apr-20     Boulder, CO            Boulder Theatre
Fri-Apr-22         Minneapolis, MN         First Avenue
Sat-Apr-23         Chicago, IL             Park West
Mon-Apr-25     Washington, DC         9:30 Club
Tue-Apr-26         Philadelphia, PA         The Trocadero
Wed-Apr-27     Boston, MA             House of Blues
Thu-Apr-28         New York, NY         Webster Hall
Sat-Apr-30         Toronto, ON             The Opera House
Sun-May-1         Montreal, QC         Club Soda
 
http://www.scalachoir.com/en/index.htm 

http://www.shorefire.com/clients/scala

For more information on Scala & Kolacny Brothers, please contact Rebecca Shapiro [rshapiro@shorefire.com], Rob Krauser [rkrauser@shorefire.com] or Jon Bleicher [jbleicher@shorefire.com] at Shore Fire Media, 718.522.7171.

Rachel Platten signs with Rock Ridge Music; new album coming in April!

RACHEL PLATTEN SIGNS WITH ROCK RIDGE MUSIC

 

New Album "Be Here" Coming In April

 

New York City-based musician Rachel Platten has signed with Rock Ridge Music and plans to release an album, entitled "Be Here," on April 26, 2011.  With music that the New York Post says "blends sweet delicateness with pluck,"  Platten has just embarked on an extensive tour (sponsored by Ecosystem Life) leading up to the release of her record (see tour dates below).  Says Platten of the signing:  "I really think I've found my ideal partner. I love how innovative Rock Ridge is, and how much they believe in what I have already created. It's amazing to have such mutual trust, and I can't wait to get the record out to the world."

 

Says Rock Ridge Music CEO Tom Derr of the signing:  "Rachel fits the Rock Ridge world like a glove. Our combined hard work will prove successful."

 

Platten, who blends catchy piano hooks with her unmistakably soulful, and uplifting voice, creates music that boasts elegantly crafted, deeply melodic, intelligent songwriting, resounding with echoes of the Beatles and Carole King, Alanis Morissette and Regina Spektor:  her music is infectious, raw, and powerful.  Selling out clubs along her rigorous tour schedule, Platten infuses a unique love and passion into each and every one of her performances.

Boston born and raised, Platten was classically trained on the piano from a young age and started performing while in college and studying abroad in Trinidad.  At the urging of co-workers at the record label where she was interning, she began writing her own songs and became a background singer in a Soca band (with her first performance being in front of 100,000+ fans at Trinidad's annual Soca Monarch Finals). She was instantly hooked, and felt that she'd found her true calling in songwriting and performing.  Naming influences such as Toots & The Maytals (who she was asked to tour with in 2006), Elton John, Carole King, Billy Joel, Lauryn Hill, and The Beach Boys, Platten attempts to do what she feels these artists do so beautifully - infuse often weighty, serious subject matter with light and melodic intelligence that lifts the listener up and is instantly catchy.

 

RACHEL PLATTEN TOUR SCHEDULE:

2/1/2011          Decatur, GA                Eddie's Attic

2/2/2011          Nashville, TN              12th & Porter

2/15/2011        Boston, MA                 Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Science

2/16/2011        Worcester, MA            Assumption College

2/17/2011        Williamsport, PA         Lycoming College

2/18/2011        Lewisburgh, PA           Bucknell University

2/19/2011        Baltimore, MD             Ramshead Live

2/23/2011        Bangor, ME                 Husson University

2/24/2011        Dudley, MA                 Nichols College

2/25/2011        Willimantic, CT            Eastern CT State University

2/26/2011        Farmington, ME          University of Maine

2/28/2011        Farmington, ME          University of Maine

3/1/2011          Presque Isle, ME        University of Maine at Presque Isle

3/2/2011          Newton, MA                Lasell College

3/3/2011          Northampton, MA       Smith College

3/4/2011          Hamden, CT               Quinnipiac University

3/5/2011          North Adams, MA       Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts

3/24/2011        Newton, MA                Boston College

3/25/2011        Boston, MA                 Simmons College

3/28/2011        Hooksett, NH              Southern New Hampshire University

3/29/2011        North Easton, MA       Stonehill College

3/30/2011        Plattsburgh, NY           SUNY Plattsburg

3/31/2011        Huntsville, AL              Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center

4/1/2011          Bennington, VT           Southern Vermont College

4/3/2011          New London, NH        Colby-Sawyer College

4/5/2011          Springfield, MA           Springfield College

4/7/2011          Manchester, NH         Saint Anselm College

4/8/2011          Paxton, MA                 Anna Maria College

 

www.rachelplattenmusic.com

www.myspace.com/rachelp

www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Platten/6346584785

www.twitter.com/rachelplatten

Miami Horror Returns to North America for Tour and Performances at SXSW 2011

Melbourne-based psych-electronic group Miami Horror have announced their return to North America for a coast to coast tour, making stops in Canada, Mexico and SXSW along the way. The four-piece embarked on a successful first tour of the states this past fall behind their debut album, Illumination, which is available on iTunes in the US. The Australian release features a 2CD limited edition, including a bonus album of Miami Horror remixed by YACHT, Shazam, and Fred Falke amongst others.

While the band began as just one synthesizer-obsessed producer huddled over a laptop, Miami Horror has since become fleshed out into a full live band, playing unmissable sets at Australia's biggest festivals, not to mention some A-list support slot call ups for everyone from Phoenix, Friendly Fires and La Roux to a hand-picked hook up from Lily Allen.  

Named one of the most blogged about artists by The Independent (UK),  their remix of Gorillaz' "Empire Ants" most recently topped the Hype Machine charts.  Be sure to see what all the buzz is about when they return stateside this Spring!

MIAMI HORROR TOUR DATES:
 
Mar 6 - The Snow Ball Music Experience - Vail, CO
Mar 9 - Ghostbar - Las Vegas, NV (DJ set)
Mar 10 - Mezzanine - San Francisco, CA
Mar 12 - Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA
Mar 13 - 35 Conferette - Denton, TX
Mar 15 - Never Say Never Music & Arts Festival - McAllen, TX
Mar 16-18 - SXSW - Austin, TX
Mar 19 - Caradura - Mexico City, MX
Mar 25 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
Mar 26 - U Street Music Hall - Washington DC
Mar 29 - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
Apr 1 - Mod Club - Toronto, ON
Apr 2 - Le Belmont - Montreal, QC

For more information, please visit:
http://www.miamihorror.com
http://www.myspace.com/miamihorror

The Airborne Toxic Event Returns With New Single "Changing" On Jan 31; New Album 'All At Once' To Be Released On April 26

ALL AT ONCE NEW ALBUM IN STORES APRIL 26th,

PRODUCED BY DAVE SARDY

Follow-up to self-titled debut album of 2008, with breakthrough singles and videos, "Sometime Around Midnight" and "Wishing Well"

Unique European residency in February: Mondays in Amsterdam (Paradiso); Tuesdays in Berlin (White Trash); and Fridays in Paris - full-scale U.S. & Euro tours to follow

 

                (February 1, 2011- New York, NY) With loyal fanbase followings on every continent around the world, Island Records group the Airborne Toxic Eventis set to release its first new single in nearly two years - as "Changing" goes to Alternative radio on January 31st and is available at all digital partners today!   Produced by Dave Sardy (credits: Oasis, Band of Horses, the Ting Tings, Twisted Wheel), "Changing" is the first single pick from the Airborne Toxic Event's long-awaited new album, ALL AT ONCE, in stores April 26th.
 
                In advance of the album release, the Airborne Toxic Event will play an unprecedented trio of European residencies in February.  Throughout the month, they will perform every Monday at Paradiso in Amsterdam, every Tuesday at White Trash in Berlin, and every Friday at a different venue in Paris (while also touring extensively throughout the three countries and the UK during the month). 
 
                Since its release in 2008, The Airborne Toxic Event, the band's self-titled debut album has sold over 200,000 copies in the U.S., and over 300,000 copies internationally.  Named "Debut Album of the Year" by the Boston Herald, the record spent 53 weeks on the BillboardHeatseekers chart, with eight of those weeks logged at #1.  The album's breakthrough single "Sometime Around Midnight" rose to #4 on the BillboardModern Rock chart, and was named Alternative Song Of The Year at iTunes.  The next single, "Wishing Well," broke the Top 20 at Alternative radio.  The songs received major airplay internationally on BBC Radio 1 in the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Austria, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, and South East Asia.
 
                The Airborne Toxic Event - Mikel Jollett(vocals, guitar, keyboards), Steven Chen(guitar, keyboards), Anna Bulbrook(viola, keyboards, tambourine, backing vocals), Noah Harmon (bass, backing vocals), and Daren Taylor (drums) - have earned their reputation as an aggressive touring band, known for playing more than 350 dates in support of their debut album release, supporting Kings of Leon, Franz Ferdinand, the Ting Tings, and many others.
 
                The Airborne Toxic Event is certainly no stranger to grand musical gestures like the European residency.  They were the only modern music artists to perform at the esteemed Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles during its 2009 fall season.  The result was the concert-documentary film All I Ever Wanted, released September 2010, and chosen as an official selection to the Raindance Film Festival. The band also performed with The Colorado Symphony last month. Full-scale U.S. and European tours will follow this spring, with dates to be announced February 15th.
 
                The Airborne Toxic Event is also familiar to television viewers, having debuted on NBC'sLast Call with Carson Daly, and appeared on CBS's The Late Show with David Letterman, NBC'sThe Tonight Showwith Jay Leno, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the old NBC Late Night with Conan O'Brien.  They headlined a one-hour concert special on DirecTV.  VH1 designated them a "You Oughta Know" artist, later peaked at #4 on VH1's Top 20 countdown.  They have also received A-list rotation on MTV2.  For further information go to www.TheAirborneToxicEvent.com

The Black Angels Confirm New Tour Dates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   BLACK ANGELS ANNOUNCE SPRING HEADLINE TOUR   Blue Horizon is pleased to announce that The Black Angels will be heading out on a headlining tour this spring in support of their latest release, Phosphene Dream. The tour will kick off at One Eyed Jacks in New Orleans, LA, on March 31st and conclude with a home state stop in Dallas, TX, at The Loft on May 21st.  In between these dates, they will also be performing at their third annual Austin Psych Fest, which will take place April 29-May 1st. It is no secret that the band loves to tour, and their stunning live shows illustrate their dedication. NPR attended a performance at Seattle's Triple Door late last year and proclaimed, "The group tore the roof off and let its razor blade leads and wailing organ-synth rain down.  Leader Alex Maas barked with a ferociousness that sunk into the skin." The Black Angels will also spend the month of February touring throughout Europe, further proving they have no plans to slow down anytime soon.   Phosphene Dream marks a huge leap forward for The Black Angels.  It was produced and mixed by Dave Sardy (Oasis, Wolfmother) in Los Angeles, a far stretch from the cozy Austin studios that delivered their first two records.  This new one presents a fresh take on the neo-Psychedelic movement they've been at the forefront of for years.   The Black Angels spent the past Fall on the road with Black Mountain in support of this new release, which Rolling Stone praised, claiming: "there are smartly layered riffs and echo-slathered melodies, and the Angels brighten up on tracks like 'Telephone,' a 119-second nugget that would have fit in on an early Kinks album." Filter agreed, calling Phosphene Dream"face-melting," while the BBC declared, "rock album of the year, if anyone's counting."      Black Angels US Tour Dates:   3/31- New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks * 4/01 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade* 4/02 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle * 4/03 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club * 4/05 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church * 4/06 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls Theatre * 4/08 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom * 4/09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg * 4/10 - Northampton, MA - Pearl Street * 4/11 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club * 4/12 - Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa * 4/14 - Toronto, ONT - Lee's Palace * 4/15 - Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop * 4/16 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick * 4/17 - Newport, KY - Southgate House * 4/18 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall * 4/20 - Madison, WI - The High Noon Saloon* 4/21 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom * 4/22 - St. Louis, MO - Old Rock House * 4/23 - Lawrence, KS - The Bottleneck* 4/9-5/03 - Austin, TX - Austin Psych Fest 5/05 - Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre # 5/06 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge # 5/07 - Boise, ID - Neurolux # 5/09 - Vancouver, BC - Venue # 5/10 - Seattle, WA - Showbox at the Market # 5/11 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom# 5/13 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's # 5/14 - Pomona, CA - The Fox Theater (Supporting The Kills) 5/15 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre # 5/16 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern # 5/18 - Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room # 5/20 - Oklahoma City, OK - ACM Performance Lab# 5/21 - Dallas, TX - The Loft #   *with Suuns #with Sleepy Sun   http://www.theblackangels.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theblackangels.tx http://twitter.com/_theblackangels http://www.myspace.com/theblackangels

Truth & Salvage Co NASHVILLE 1-29-11 (FULL SHOW)

Truth & Salvage Co ENVY OF ANY MAN 1-27-11

Truth & Salvage Co SO SAD 1-22-11

Diamond Doves Release Debut, Announce Tour with Felice Brothers news

Diamond Doves are excited to announce the release of their debut songs "Club Night,"  "Hey Lady" and "Is There Any Hope?". The digital release is in conjunction with the start of their March residency at The Rock Shop in Brooklyn, and their upcoming tour dates, playing in support of good friends The Felice Brothers.

Diamond Doves was formed in 2010 by longtime friends and musical collaborators Nick Kinsey, Brigham Brough and Wyndham Garnett. They met as kids and began a friendship and musical partnership that eventually brought them around the world playing and recording with Elvis Perkins, known collectively as Elvis Perkins in Dearland. Apart from their experience with Elvis, the three have performed as "Dearland Horns," (Wyndham on trombone, Brigham on saxophone and Nick on clarinet) and have played with many of todays most celebrated bands including My Morning Jacket, Bon Iver, Dr. Dog, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Okkervil River, and others.

The sound of Diamond Doves is the meeting of their three distinct vocal, instrumental and compositional personalities. With a seemingly endless instrumental palette and a penchant for genre-hopping, Diamond Doves draw from a wide range of influences both foreign and domestic, new and old. Their sound at times recalls the mass and drive of Funkadelic, the studio experimentation of Os Mutantes and the democratic ethos of The Band, yet it clearly owes a lot to the pop-craft of contemporaries like Animal Collective, The Walkmen and Kanye West.

Apart from their experience with Elvis Perkins In Dearland, all three Diamond Doves have carved out individual creative paths; Brigham owns and runs Smith Hill Studios in Providence RI where he has recorded bands including Deer Tick and Tallahassee. After a lengthy tenure in the Hudson Valley, Wyndham and Nick recently returned home to NYC, and have been active in the music scene. Wyndham records and performs original music as Little Wolf, and as a drummer, Nick has recorded and performed with the likes of AA Bondy, Felice Brothers, Marco Benevento and others.

http://www.myspace.com/diamonddoves

The Cringe Plan New एल्बम

New York City-based rock quartet The Cringe has inked a label deal with Rock Ridge Music, who will release the band’s forthcoming fourth album in the fall. Says band lead singer John Cusimano of the signing: “We’ve wanted a label that is going to put the same amount of care and thought into the release of the record as we put into making it. We are all genuinely thrilled to have signed to Rock Ridge, who represent the very best of what the post-digital music business ought to be, and we’ve already begun strategizing with them on launching a successful and, we hope, notable record release.”

Says Rock Ridge Music President Jason Spiewak of the signing: “We’re proud to have added The Cringe to the roster at Rock Ridge! The Cringe put on an incredible live show, and any time you have an opportunity to sign a band that connects so well to their audience you have to go for it. The band are truly hitting their stride creatively and we could not have started our working relationship at a more opportune time.”

The Cringe is currently hard at work on their fourth album, a process which has proven to be the band’s most collaborative, full-band effort to date on the songwriting side of things. Recording is taking place for the first time at Cusimano’s home studio in upstate New York in the woods 200 miles north of Manhattan (previous releases were recorded at commercial studios in New York City). “In addition to allowing us to ice skate on a frozen pond between takes,” says Cusimano, “it’s given us plenty of time to wield an audio scalpel on these new tunes, flesh out and tweak arrangements, and engage in healthy, even heated debate over how to make the songs as rich, rocking and substantive as possible.” Joining the band again in the engineer seat is Steve Hardy (Vertical Horizon, The Upwelling), with the band self-producing the effort.

In the midst of the recording process, The Cringe plans to head down to Austin, TX, during South By Southwest and are confirmed to play several unofficial sets during the course of the music festival. In addition to performing at Rachael Ray’s annual Feedback Party at Stubbs on Saturday, March 19th, the band is also slated to appear at the 12th annual Heart of Texas Rockfest outdoor stage (at 5th and Colorado) and the Music Gorilla Fest. The band plans also to hit the road very soon with dates across the U.S. to field-test the new songs further in front of audiences.

The Cringe has been bringing their music to fans across the country since 2004, and their forthcoming album is the follow-up to last year’s “Play Thing.” The New York City band (lead singer John Cusimano, lead guitarist James Rotondi [ex-Air, Mr. Bungle], bassist Jonny Matias [ex-Crash Moderns] and drummer Shawn Pelton [“Saturday Night Live” Band, Bruce Springsteen]) have been lauded both for their incendiary performances and top-flight musicianship: “Cusimano’s infectious and insightful songwriting is the foundation for the band’s dynamic mix of artful, harmonic power pop and raw, aggressive punk garage-band energy,” said All Music Guide of their music. Electronic Musiciancalls their sound “smart, poppy rock,” while The Pulse Magazine says the band “blaze[s] forth with a sense of rock that hearkens back to the days when combining genres was fresh and exciting.”

www.thecringe.com
www.twitter.com/thecringe
www.facebook.com/thecringe
www.myspace.com/thecringe

New Year's Eve 2010 - Where You Going?

Which show are you going to?

Widespread Panic - Denver, CO
Phish - New York, NY
Truth & Salvage Co - Seaside, FL
Rose Hill Drive - Boulder, CO
Perpetual Groove - Atlanta, GA
Of Montreal - Athens, GA
Usher - Miami, FL
BB King - Atlantic City, NJ
Old Crow Medicine Show - Nashville, TN
Corey Smith - Myrtle Beach, SC
moe. - Boston, MA
Avett Brothers - Asheville, NC
Furthur - San Francisco, CA

Others??

Five for Five - A Quick Tour Review

Five nights, five shows. Which was the best? See Fred's favorites below.

November 18 - November 22, a Five Night Tour

1. The Black Crowes 11-20-10 The Tabernacle, Atlanta - Luther Dickinson reigns supreme; Rich Robinson nails Fearless and Oh Sweet Nuthin'.

2. Another One for Woody 11-22-10 Roseland Ballroom, New York City - Wishin' Wood was still here.

3. The Black Crowes 11-19-10 The Tabernacle, Atlanta - A slow start, until My Morning Song.

4. Roger Waters 11-18-10 Phillips Arena, Atlanta - The Wall Live, great theatre, though a bit lacking for one looking for supreme musicianship.

5. Furthur 11-21-10 Madison Square Garden, New York City - Pink Floyd's Time was money, until the vocals kicked in; but all in all, some good, clean fun.

EMERSON LAKE & PALMER TO RELEASE 4-CD BOX SET OF REMASTERED LIVE RARITIES AND BOOTLEGS

A new 4-CD box set celebrating progressive rock’s most prolific supergroup, Emerson Lake & Palmer, will be released by Shout! Factory on July 27. A Time And A Place is the definitive ELP bootleg collection, bringing together 4 CDs of prime unreleased material from 1970 to 1998. These fully authorized, remastered live performances were taken from the best-possible soundboard recordings (discs 1 through 3) and audience tapes (disc 4). The set also includes a collectible poster and liner notes by Jim Allen.

A Time And A Place brings together a select body of performances captured before worldwide audiences during the band’s career. From the group’s raw and unrestrained sound of the early ’70s, their rearrangements of compositions by internationally renowned composers, to their timeless conceptual pieces such as “Tarkus,” “Karn Evil 9” and “Pirates,” ELP have always been a band to push hard against musical boundaries.

With Keith Emerson on keyboards, Greg Lake on bass and vocals and Carl Palmer on drums, ELP broadened the audience for progressive rock. The band released a series of landmark albums in the 1970s, and several more in the 90s after a 14 year hiatus.

Other ELP releases available on Shout! Factory: the comprehensive two-CD anthology The Essential Emerson Lake & Palmer, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Tarkus, Pictures at an Exhibition, Trilogy, Come And See The Show: The Best Of Emerson Lake & Palmer, Brain Salad Surgery, Works Volume 1 and Volume 2, Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends, Emerson Lake & Palmer In Concert, and the DVD Live At The Royal Albert Hall.

DISC ONE: The Early ’70s



1. The Barbarian

Recorded at the Isle of Wight Festival, Isle Of Wight, UK on August 29, 1970


2. Take A Pebble

Recorded at Beat Club, Bremen, Germany on November 26, 1970


3. Ballad Of Blue

Recorded at the Lyceum Ballroom, London, UK on December 9, 1970


4. High Level Fugue

Recorded at the Lyceum Ballroom, London, UK on December 9, 1970


5. Hoedown

Recorded at the Mar Y Sol Festival, Veja Baja, San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 2, 1972


6. Still… You Turn Me On

Recorded at the Civic Center, Tulsa, OK on March 7, 1974


7. Lucky Man

Recorded at the Civic Center, Tulsa, OK on March 7, 1974


8. Karn Evil 9 (1st, 2nd & 3rd Impressions)

Recorded at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA on February 2, 1974



DISC TWO: The Late ’70s



1. Peter Gunn Theme

Recorded at the Coliseum, Wheeling, WV on November 18, 1977


2. Pictures At An Exhibition

Recorded at the Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN on November 20, 1977, Late Show


3. Tiger In A Spotlight

Recorded at the Coliseum, Wheeling, WV on November 18, 1977


4. Maple Leaf Rag

Recorded at the Coliseum, Wheeling, WV on November 18, 1977


5. Tank

Recorded at the Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY on February 9, 1978


6. Drum Solo

Recorded at the Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY on February 9, 1978


7. The Enemy God Dances With The Black Spirits

Recorded at the Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY on February 9, 1978


8. Watching Over You

Recorded at the Coliseum, Wheeling, WV on November 18, 1977


9. Pirates

Recorded at the Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN on November 20, 1977, Late Show


10. Tarkus

Recorded at the Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY on February 9, 1978


11. Show Me The Way To Go Home

Recorded at the Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN on November 20, 1977, Late Show




DISC THREE: The ’90s



1. Knife Edge

Recorded at the Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles, CA on March 17, 1993


2. Paper Blood

Recorded at the Obras Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 5, 1993


3. Black Moon

Recorded at the Waterloo Village Concert Field, Stanhope, NJ on July 31, 1992


4. Creole Dance

Recorded at the Estadio, Santiago, Chile on April 1, 1993


5. From The Beginning

Recorded at the Spodek, Katowice, Poland on June 22, 1997


6. Honky Tonk Train Blues

Recorded at the Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA on September 25, 1997


7. Affairs Of The Heart

Recorded at the Waterloo Village Concert Field, Stanhope, NJ on July 31, 1992


8. Touch And Go

Recorded at the Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles, CA on March 17, 1993


9. A Time And A Place

Recorded at the Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, VA on August 1, 1998


10. Bitches Crystal

Recorded at the Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA on September 25, 1997


11. Instrumental Jam

Recorded at the Obras Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 5, 1993


12. Fanfare For The Common Man – America - Rondo

Recorded at the Obras Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 5, 1993



DISC FOUR: This Boot’s For You – A Fan’s View



1. Introduction

Recorded at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA on July 19, 1971


2. The Endless Enigma

Recorded at the Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA on July 28, 1972


3. Abaddon’s Bolero

Recorded at the Town Hall, Louisville, KY on April 21, 1972


4. Jeremy Bender – The Sheriff

Recorded at the Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany on April 24, 1973


5. Toccata (includes Drum Solo)

Recorded at Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwingshaven, Germany on April 10, 1973


6. Jerusalem

Recorded at the Henry Lewit Arena, Wichita, KS on March 26, 1974


7. Nutrocker

Recorded at the Boston Gardens, Boston, MA on July 12, 1977


8. C’est La Vie

Recorded at the Boston Gardens, Boston, MA on July 12, 1977


9. Piano Concerto #1 3rd Movement

Recorded at the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, Des Moines, IA on June 12, 1977


10. Closer To Believing

Recorded at the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, Des Moines, IA on June 12, 1977


11. Close To Home

Recorded at the Warfield Theater, San Francisco, CA on March 14, 1993


12. I Believe In Father Christmas

Recorded at the Beacon Theater, New York, NY on November 17, 1993

Truth & Salvage Co. harks back to 70s So Cal

To read my latest full feature story, visit http://www.honesttune.com/content/view/2389/49/

Truth & Salvage Co. is the best new band I've heard in quite some time, and their soon to be released CD is hands down the best new release so far this year.

BLACK CROWES “SAY GOODNIGHT TO THE BAD GUYS” 2010 TOUR WILL KICK OFF AUGUST 13

To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of their 1990 debut multi platinum release “Shake Your Money Maker,” The Black Crowes will release their first ever double album of all acoustic material on August 3, 2010.

After touring in 2009, The Black Crowes spent time at the Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles, recording over 20 songs from their 20 year history. The band arranged acoustic versions of many of their best loved songs and the band’s catalogue picks.

The double album, Croweology, will be sold at the cost of a single album as a “Thank You” to their fans for 20 years of support. Also to be released on vinyl, the project was produced by Paul Stacey and will be released on The Black Crowes label, Silver Arrow, through Megaforce Records.

In late summer, The Black Crowes will kick off their “Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys” 2010 Tour which will feature three hour performance sets in most markets. The shows are being billed as “Acoustic Hor D’oeuvres followed by an Electric Reception With The Black Crowes,” and will consist of a full hour and a half acoustic set followed by a full hour and a half electric set, except where noted below *.

The tour will begin on August 13 in Milwaukee and is presently scheduled to conclude with the band’s annual multi-night stand at the Fillmore in San Francisco on December 19, 2010.

Following their 2010 “Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys” Tour the band has planned a lengthy hiatus.

Chris Robinson had this to say, “With a smile so wide you can count my teeth and with a heart so full of love that it is spilling over the rim, I offer a humble and simple thank you. Thank you for your time, your imaginations, your heartaches and joy. Thank you for 20 years of cosmic rock n roll. 20 years of keeping it weird. 20 years of chasing horizons and before the band that dares dream out loud puts it down for a while, we are proud to give you our Croweology. This year the music is only for you as we celebrate what has been, what is now and whatever will be”.

Rich Robinson said, “At this milestone in our career, I feel very fortunate that I have had the opportunity to spend my life making music. It’s been 20 years since we started out on this journey. I would like to extend my deep gratitude to all of our fans who have been there with us along the way. We would not have gotten here without your support. Every night I stand on the stage I feel great pride and respect for what we share with our fans. After this tour we are going to take some much needed time to spend with our families. But for now, we are very much looking forward to a great year of touring. I look forward to seeing all your familiar faces again on the road. See you soon.”

Steve Gorman added, “20 Years Gone - To look back over the past twenty years …there are so many thoughts, feelings, and memories of all shapes and sizes that it's tough to process it all. Lots of ups and downs, lots of everything. One can easily get lost in the labyrinth of those many experiences. However, there is one constant - and that's an overwhelming sense of gratitude to all of you that have supported us for the past twenty years. Our tour this year serves as a very large THANK YOU to all in attendance. Whether you have seen us one time, ten times, a hundred times, or more, it goes without saying that we wouldn't be here without you. The lives that we all lead, and the opportunities that we have been presented with, all trace directly back to your support. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! And after this tour, we'll be taking a nice, long, much needed break. We are all in agreement (no, seriously, we are!) that this is the right time to spend time with our families, friends, outside musical and non musical projects and of course, our personal lives. So, we're going out swinging with all we got. Let's all join hands and share the ride!”

VIP PACKAGING –
The Black Crowes have partnered with CID Entertainment to offer their fans some special ticketing package options for the 20th Anniversary Tour. The packages will include a variety of perks including VIP entrance, premier seat locations, limited edition posters and other merchandise, a Limited edition "Musical Merch Pack", pre-parties, post-parties and more. We'll also be offering "Share the Ride" Travel Packages in select cities including hotel accommodations and shuttle transportation to make it real easy for you to join us and share the ride.

Go to http://www.cidentertainment.com/theblackcrowes2010 for more information.

INDEFINITE HIATUS TO FOLLOW TOUR

Allman Brothers Band United Palace Updates

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Set 1
Don't Want You No More
Not My Cross To Bear
Leave My Blues At Home
Midnight Rider
Forty Four Blues
End Of The Line
Egypt
The Same Thing
Revival
Monday, March 15, 2010

Set 1
Instrumental
Can't Lose What You Never Had
Don't Trouble Me No More
Come & Go Blues
Rockin' Horse>
Gambler's Roll
Only You Know and I Know>
Les Bres in A Minor
Statesboro Blues
Black Hearted Woman

Set 2
Instrumental
The Weight
Every Hungry Woman
Jessica>
Will the Circle Be Unbroken (instrumental)>
Bass solo>
Drums>
Jessica

Encore
You Don't Love Me

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Set 1
Done Somebody Wrong
Ain't Wasting Time
Stand Back
Hoochie Coochie Man
Heart of Stone
New Instrumental (Derek)
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
Whipping Post

Set 2
Little Martha>
Blue Sky>
Dreams>
No One To Run With
The Sky is Crying> *
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed> *
Bass > Drums> +
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed> *

Encore
One Way Out

* w/ Bruce Katz on keyboards
+ w/ Oteil on drums

Friday, March 12, 2010
Don't Want You No More >
It's Not My Cross To Bear
You Don't Love Me
Midnight Rider
Who's Been Talking
Trouble No More
Blind Willie McTell
Egypt
I Walk On Gilded Splinters
Woman Across The River

Set 2
Comin' Home *
Lost Lover Blues *
Revival
All My Friends
Leave My Blues at Home
Mountain Jam >
Smokestack Lightnin' >
Mountain Jam

Encore
Southbound *

* w/ Susan Tedeschi guitar and vocals


Thursday, March 11, 2010

Just Wanna Be - Your Only One

Set 1
Don’t Keep Me Wonderin'
Hot 'Lanta
Statesboro Blues
That's What Love Can Make You Do
No One Left to Run With (Derek plays Lord of Thunder)
Desdamona
Every Hungry Woman
And It Stoned Me
Kind of Bird

** set of loss and regret

Set 2
Melissa (Gregg acoustic)
Heart of the City(Ain't No Love)
Come and Go Blues
Rockin' Horse (DEREK!!!!)>
Black Hearted Woman>
Bass>
Drums w/Oteil
Jessica

Encore
Preachin' Blues - Warren & Derek duo
One Way Out

Jack Johnson to Release New Studio Album, "To The Sea," on June 1st, on Brushfire Records

Hawaiian-born singer-songwriter Jack Johnson will release his new album, entitled "To The Sea," on June 1st, 2010, on his own label, Brushfire Records. The first single from the album, "You And Your Heart," will be released to radio in early April.

"To The Sea," Johnson's fifth studio release, was co-produced by Johnson, his bandmates bassist Merlo Podlewski, keyboardist Zach Gill, and drummer Adam Topol, and Johnson's longtime engineer Robert Carranza. "To The Sea" was recorded at Johnson's two solar-powered studios: The Mango Tree in Hawaii and the Solar Powered Plastic Plant in Los Angeles. Johnson has sold more than 18 million albums worldwide, and over 9 million in the United States alone. His last album, "Sleep Through The Static" debuted at #1 and remained there for 3 weeks.

Johnson, who will embark on a world tour in support of "To The Sea," has announced dates for his upcoming summer tour in the US, which begins July 9th in Hartford CT and ends on the West Coast with two nights at the Santa Barbara Bowl on October 13th and 14th. Highlights include stops at Madison Square Garden, Jack's first headline appearance at the Hollywood Bowl, and two nights at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. Tickets will go on sale to the public on April 10th. Visit www.jackjohnsonmusic.com for news and details about special ticket pre-sales.

For Johnson's "To The Sea" tour, his production team, with the support of Reverb and MusicMatters, will continue to pave the way in green touring practices and community engagement. Greening actions include fueling tour vehicles with sustainable biodiesel, offering eco-friendly tour merchandise, and promoting ride share programs. In addition, venues and fans are encouraged to reduce waste, recycle, use water refill stations and offset carbon emissions. Visit www.jackjohnsonmusic.com/greening for all tour greening details.

Johnson's tour will also collaborate with over 150 hand-chosen community groups around the world as part of Johnson's All At Once Community. This year's All At Once campaign will focus on supporting non-profit groups and engaging fans in the realms of plastic waste reduction and sustainable local food systems. As in 2008, Jack Johnson will donate 100% of his tour profits to charity. Visit www.AllAtOnce.org for additional information.

US Tour dates are as follows:
7/9 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
7/10 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center
7/11 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
7/13 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
7/14 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
7/16 Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach Amphitheater
7/17 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
7/19 Toronto, ONT Molson Amphitheatre
7/20 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
7/21 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
7/23 Noblesville, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
7/24 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre
7/25 Somerset, WI River's Edge
8/13 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
8/16 Bonner Springs, KS Sandstone Amphitheater
8/17 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center
8/18 The Woodlands, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
8/20 Atlanta, GA Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood
8/21 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
8/22 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte
8/24 Orlando, FL Amway Arena
8/25 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
8/26 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
10/1 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place
10/2 George, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre
10/3 Ridgefield, WA The Amphitheater at Clark County
10/5 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre - Berkeley
10/6 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre - Berkeley
10/8 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
10/9 Chula Vista, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
10/10 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Wireless Pavilion
10/12 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
10/13 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl
10/14 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl

DIERKS BENTLEY TO TOUR BACKED BY THE TRAVELIN’ MCCOURYS AND SPECIAL GUEST HAYES CARLL

As a prelude to the release of his bluegrass and acoustic roots inspired new album by the same name, singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley will kick off his UP ON THE RIDGE TOUR in Portland, OR on April 21. Tickets for the run of 24 shows in 30 days go on sale this Fri., March 19. Each show will be highlighted by the scorching acoustic musicianship of Bentley’s backing band the Travelin’ McCourys and Texas based singer/songwriter Hayes Carll in the opening slot.

The UP ON THE RIDGE tour will hit venues ranging from small rock clubs to major bluegrass festivals across the country as Bentley previews new music from the upcoming album, due this summer, and reworks his biggest hits with surprising new arrangements for the run.

Much more than just a bluegrass concept album, the new disc features Bentley working with some of the finest acoustic musicians in the world, including the Del McCoury Band and Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers. The disc also features a number of vocal and instrumental contributions ranging from Alison Krauss and Miranda Lambert to Tim O’Brien and Sam Bush. Working with an award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Jon Randall Stewart and world-class recording engineer Gary Paczosa, Bentley has crafted an album with rooted familiarity as well as big surprises.

“The only way I know to explain what this new album is to all the fans is to just get out on the road and play it for them,” he adds. “I’ve been rehearsing and working on set lists already… every show is going to be different and really special. There aren’t any better acoustic musicians in the world than the Travelin’ McCourys, period. And I’ve been a big fan of Hayes for a long time. It’ll be a total blast…I’m already plotting and planning on how to fit more dates into the schedule!”

With Ron McCoury on mandolin, Rob McCoury on banjo, Jason Carter on fiddle and Alan Bartram on bass, the Travelin’ McCourys are the latest incarnation of the most awarded band in the history of bluegrass -The Del McCoury Band. Known for their individual prowess on their instruments and their rapidly expanding reputation as collaborators, the Travelin’ McCourys are twenty-first century musical pilgrims and adventurers.

After a debut indie release and an acclaimed self-released sophomore album, singer/songwriter Hayes Carll found a home at Lost Highway. TROUBLE IN MIND, Carll’s Lost Highway debut released in April 2008, features a collection of songs that blend some of the finest elements of folk, country and rock with brainy, quirky lyrics. Since the release, Carll has toured almost non-stop, both with his band and solo. As a result of Carll’s patience and hard work, TROUBLE IN MIND was the #1 R&R Americana Album of 2008 and the #1 Country album at Amazon for 2008. TROUBLE IN MIND has received consistently high-praise in the press, including glorious reviews on three different NPR programs. Fans can expect a new album later this year.

UP ON THE RIDGE Tour Dates:

4/21 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
4/22 Boulder, CO Boulder Theater
4/23 Colorado Springs, CO Arnold Hall Ballroom
4/24 Austin, TX The Parish
4/28 Athens, GA 40 Watt Club
4/29 Greenville, SC Blind Horse Saloon
4/30 Wilkesboro, NC Merlefest
5/2 Knoxville, TN Bijou Theatre
5/3 Charlottesville, VA Jefferson Theatre
5/4 Athens, OH Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Mem Auditorium
5/5 New York, NY Highline Ballroom
5/6 Foxborough, MA Showcase Live!
5/7 Portsmouth, NH The Music Hall
5/8 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground Ballroom
5/9 Northampton, MA Calvin Theatre & Performing Arts Center
5/11 Portland, ME Port City Music Hall
5/12 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of the Living Arts
5/13 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Smalls Theatre
5/17 State College, PA State Theatre
5/18 Richmond, VA The National
5/19 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live
5/20 Washington, DC 6th & I Historic Synagogue (on sale March 26)
5/21 Charlotte, NC Coyote Joe’s
5/22 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium (on sale April 2)

Visit www.dierks.com for pre-sale info and for more on the upcoming album.

Pearl Jam Announces Spring Tour Dates, Band of Horses to Open

Pearl Jam announced today that they will play 11 Midwest and East Coast tour dates in May of 2010. The tour kicks-off on May 3rd at Sprint Center in Kansas City and wraps on May 21st at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Pearl Jam's U.S. tour follows the band's previously announced headlining appearance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation Festival on May 1st. Band of Horses will open all shows except the May 20th Madison Square Garden engagement, where The Black Keys will open.

May 1 - New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Jazz Festival
May 3 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
May 4 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
May 6 - Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
May 7 - Noblesville, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
May 9 - Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
May 10 - Buffalo, NY @ HSBC Arena
May 13 - Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
May 15 - Hartford, CT @ XL Center
May 17 - Boston, MA @ TD Garden
May 18 - TBD @ TBD
May 20 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
May 21 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

The Pre-Sale Scoop:



The Ten Club ticket pre-sales begin Monday, March 15th at 9 AM Pacific Time. Ten Club is offering pre-sale tickets to active members only. You must be a currently active member as of March 10th to qualify for the pre-sale. Sorry, registering and purchasing a membership now will not make you eligible for this pre-sale. Ten Club pre-sale tickets are available online only at https://www.pearljam.com/max with a Visa or Mastercard. No phone, mail, or email orders.



Ten Club tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. We will stagger ticket sales to control web traffic, so please pay attention to the corresponding pre-sale dates and times listed above as they are not in order of show. Pre-sale tickets are first-come, first-serve, while supplies last. Pre-sales for any available tickets will remain open until Thursday, March 18th at 5pm PST. Confirmations will not be sent until the pre-sale has ended. In the meantime you may view your order confirmation number in your online order history.

For wheelchair accessible seating, please contact us at 1-800-724-8038 before making a ticket purchase.

NEW PRE-SALE RULE!!!!!!! Once you have a pair of tickets in your shopping cart you must complete the check out process within 10 minutes of placing them in your shopping cart, otherwise you run the risk of those tickets being dumped back into stock and going to the next member in line.



Pre-Sale Tips:

- Test out logging in to your account in the days leading up to the pre-sale. Use this time to update old address info, add a billing address to your profile if you are using someone else's card to purchase the tickets, visit the goods page so you know the location of where you'll want to navigate when the pre-sale time arrives. For those of you extremely new to the world of online shopping, we suggest purchasing a $1 sticker to familiarize yourself with the website purchasing procedure.

- On the sale day, login to your account minutes before the specified pre-sale cuts down on the time it takes to navigate to the tickets page from the home page.

- DO NOT LOGIN USING MULTIPLE COMPUTERS!!!!! This creates a bottle neck of web traffic which can result in site failure and loss of ticket order. We can not stress this one enough.

- "Temporarily Out of Stock" means that all available tickets have been placed into shopping carts. In this situation, the best thing to do is to keep refreshing the page. Should a member decide not to complete the transaction, or should the transactions time out after 10 minutes, that pair of tickets will go back into stock and the "buy" button will reappear on that ticket page. The first person to hit the "buy" button will be able to place the tickets in their cart and complete the transaction.

- "Sold Out" means that all tickets that have been placed in carts have been purchased and the ticket sale is officially over.

- To better serve our fans: Tickets@tenclub.net and the Ten Club phone line receive an overwhelming number of inquiries during the ticket sales. Please be courteous to your fellow members and only email or call with extremely time sensitive questions pertaining to the pre-sale at hand. Hold all other questions and comments until after the pre-sales have ended.

- Confirming your ticket order went through? The phone lines get busy, so you may look this up yourself by viewing your ticket order and confirmation number in your online order history.

- Always remember to Just Breathe :)

By opting to purchase tickets, you agree to all Ten Club policies:

* All ticket sales are final. No refunds, transfers or exchanges.
* Two (2) tickets per show. No single tickets.
* Tickets are not mailed in advance. Tickets are distributed at the venue on the day of the show.
* The fan club member must collect the tickets with a valid photo identification.
* Ten Club tickets are for reserved seating and allocated by membership seniority, with the exception of rows 1-2 and rows 9-10 which will be used for random allocation.
* Seat location is not revealed in advance of the show.
* Reselling of Ten Club tickets will result in cancellation of ticket purchase and revocation of all future ticket benefits.
*

Click here http://www.pearljam.com/ten-club/tickets for information on the official rules, policies, and procedures for purchasing tickets from the Ten Club. We highly recommend that you read these details before purchasing tickets to a show so you are aware of how the ticketing system will work for you!

Questions about Ten Club tickets can be directed to tickets@tenclub.net or by calling 1-800-724-8038. Your patience is appreciated.

Public Ticket Sale: Public tickets for the Columbus, Noblesville, Hartford, Boston and Bristow shows go on sale Friday, March 19th. The remaining shows go on sale Saturday, March 20th.

Allman Brothers Band DON'T KEEP ME WONDERING 3-9-10 Jimmy Fallon Show

Former Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Mike Estes and his Band Skinny Molly to Appear on 'Huckabee'

For a southern rock group whose band members formerly played with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet, you may not think they’d be passionate about politics. But it’s exactly that passion that landed the band Skinny Molly on the Fox News show ‘Huckabee’ this Saturday night.

Mike Estes, a former Skynyrd guitarist, created a song called ‘Mr. President’ as a musical commentary of the current political landscape in Washington. In the song, Estes writes “I think it's true you're outta touch sir/with all due respect/It's you who works for us Mr. President.”

The Nashville-based band will perform on the set of ‘Huckabee’ Saturday night (8pm EST/7pm CST) alongside host and former presidential candidate Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Justin Herndon of The Publicity Agency (http://www.thepublicityagency.com), the PR firm that landed the band on ‘Huckabee,’ says Estes will donate his writing royalties from the sale of ‘Mr. President’ (available on iTunes and on the band’s website: http://www.skinnymollyrocks.com) through April 15 to the ‘Wanna Play Fund’ – the same charity that Gov. Huckabee is a national spokesperson for and one Estes strongly believes in.

The Wanna Play Fund (http://www.wannaplaymusic.com) seeks public donations to support programs and activities that strengthen music education in schools and provide opportunities for people of all ages to learn to play music.

Skinny Molly just returned from an extensive European tour over 28 days that included stops in England, Spain, Belgium and Holland. The band is scheduled to return to Europe this fall.

T-Bone Burnett's Songbook

Legendary music producer T-Bone Burnett was telling people at the New Yorker festival last weekend that he has signed a book deal with Simon & Schuster. He is expected to tap lots of his old charges - from Bob Dylan to Elvis Costello - to contribute to the songbook. "The gist [of the book] is top artists submit music they have never performed and will never perform - so the only way the buyer of the book can hear it is if they perform it themselves," said one knowledgeable source. T-Bone's last big hit was the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss "Raising Sand" collaboration. Burnett also scored multiple Grammy awards with the soundtrack for "O Brother, Where Art Thou."

WIDESPEAD PANIC to Unleash DIRTY SIDE DOWN On ATO RECORDS MAY 25TH

Dirty Side Down, the 11th studio album from Widespread Panic
is set for a May 25th release on ATO Records. Dirty Side Down is comprised of
12 songs that incorporate Panic’s unique blend of rock, jazz and blues inspired
textures into songs flowing with melody, rhythm and emotion.

After 24 years, Widespread Panic remain one of America’s best live bands, and
most successful touring acts. Aside from their legendary live shows, they
continue to raise the bar in their genre through their songwriting, and Dirty Side
Down is a prime example. Band members John Bell (vocals/guitar), John
Herman (keyboards/vocals), Jimmy Herring (lead guitar), Todd Nance
(drums/vocals), Domingo Ortiz (percussion) and Dave Schools (bass/vocals)
combine their efforts by writing, or co-writing, 10 of the album’s 12 tracks.
Songs, such as the dark, multi-layered opener “Saint Ex”, the boogie blues of
“Jaded Tourist” or the laid back Southern nature of “When You Comin” home
showcase Widespread Panic’s dynamic range as songwriters and musicians.

One of the highlights of Dirty Side Down is the hauntingly beautiful cover of “This
Cruel Thing” written by the late Vic Chesnutt, whose songs the band has
recorded and performed for years. Widespread Panic has previously
collaborated with Chesnutt on two albums under the name Brute. "I guess
Widespread Panic and Vic aren't quite done with each other yet.", says Panic
lead singer John Bell.

Dirty Side Down was produced John Keane along with Widespread Panic. Keane
also engineered, mixed and mastered the album, as well as contributed pedal
steel and acoustic guitar.

Allman Brothers Band Prepares for 8 Shows at New York’s United Palace

Two days before kicking off a eight-night run of shows at the United Palace Theatre in New York City, the Allman Brothers Band warmed up by treating Jimmy Fallon's Late Night show audience to a fine rendition of WHIPPING POST.

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Patty Griffin: Downtown Church

Long renown as one of Americana music's most esteemed artists, Patty Griffin has sold over a million records, was named "Artist of the Year" by the Americana Music Association, and has been the recipient of multiple Grammy nominations. Her latest release, Downtown Church, is a Gospel-inspired collection produced by longtime friend Buddy Miller and recorded live at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville. Griffin is joined by a host of famous friends, including Emmylou Harris, Jim Lauderdale, Shawn Colvin, Mike Farris, and the McCrary Sisters, while Miller leads a band that includes his Raising Sand Review band mates Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Dennis Crouch (bass) and Jay Bellerose (drums).

This stunning group of musicians delivers a near flawless performance on Downtown Church, a disc filled with traditional covers such as “If I Had My Way" (known to Grateful Dead fans as “Samson & Delilah”), “We Shall All Be Reunited,” and the Hank Williams classic “House of Gold.” While the band works seamlessly through songs we’ve known our entire life, Griffin is at her powerful, passionate best when telling her own stories ("Wade in the Water" and "Waiting for My Child") with the mournful, yet uplifting voice that is uniquely her own.

Pot Culture: The A-Z Guide

Written by Steve Bloom, a former editor at High Times , and Shirley Halperin, a senior writer at Entertainment Weekly and former contributor to High Times and Rolling Stone, Pot Culture: The A-Z Guide is the new bible of all things 4:20. With a foreword written by the ultimate celebrity stoner, Tommy Chong, Pot Culture is already an overwhelming success, with pre-order sales prompting a second run of the book as soon as it was released.

Pot Culture is a compilation of more than 500 people, places, words and slang phrases (from “Acapulco Gold” to “zooted”), as well as a “how-to guide, an atlas, a book of manners, a cultural manifesto, a cookbook, and a cross-referenced history lesson on the world of weed.” The book includes top 10 lists such as classic stoner TV and stoner capitals of the world, hundreds of maps, charts, and photos, as well as quotes and photos of dozens of celebrities, including Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, Dave Chappelle, Bob Marley, and Willie Nelson.

The origin of 420 is revealed in one of the books HIGH-lights. Another interesting 420 fact is unveiled about Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.″ While the songs chorus is blatantly stoner friendly, did you ever realize that if you multiply 12 by 35, you get 420?

Perhaps the most comprehensive literary work of its kind, Pot Culture is very interesting read from beginning to end, and seems destined to become an integral part of stoner culture, the definitive encyclopedia of pot.

ALO Doing What They Do

The core of the Animal Liberation Orchestra (more commonly known as ALO) began performing together at the age of 12, while still attending junior high in Saratoga, CA. After tasting early success, Zach Gill (kKeyboards/Vocalsvocals), Steve Adams (Bass Guitarguitar/Vvocals), and Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz (Guitarsguitar/Ppercussion/Vvocals) knew they wanted more.

“We had our first gig at a local talent show,” Lebowitz recalls. “We won and it ended up being pretty awesome, so we thought, “’we should do that some more.’”

After several names changes and multiple attempts to find the right drummer, the band eventually evolved in to the Animal Liberation Orchestra, a nine-piece ensemble, complete with a brass section. ALO earned a reputation as a band known for an its enthusiastic live performance, and soon started drawing a great deal of attention in the Santa Barbara area. Later, when Gill, Adams and Lebowitz decided to return home to Saratoga, they dropped the brass section, and reemerged as a stripped down quartet, again featuring another a rotating casts of drummers. Finally, in 2002, the core trio reunited with college friend David Brogan, and the current version of ALO was solidified.

Lebowitz speaks with the utmost of respect for the man that rounded out his band’s roster. “Dave’s a guy that operates in the same way we do, so he really fit and settled in right away. One of the things about band is everyone is expected to write and contribute to our material. We spend a lot of our rehearsal time we spent writing, and some drummers just sit there and wait to play their parts. Dave also plays keyboards and guitar, and is constantly bringing new ideas to our songs. We love him.”
Zach Gill attended college with the popular singer-songwriter, Jack Johnson at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has spent time recently touring playing keyboards with Johnson's band. In addition to signing ALO to his Brushfire label and taking the band on tour as his opening act in 2005, Johnson often turns up unannounced at ALO shows to play his music with ALO as his backup band, using his celebrity to help promote ALO to a much wider audience.
“Back in the day,” Lebowitz recalls, “when we were in college and trying to build a fan base in our town, one of the things we would do is have Jack sit in with us. After his band had broken up, he still wanted to play his songs, so he would come and sit in with our band and we’d play a couple of his songs during a set. It was always really fun because we always liked working with him, but we were our own band and we wanted to do our own material too. We always talked doing something sometime in the future.”

In 2009, Johnson invited the band to his studio on the in Hawaii islands, where ALO spent three weeks recording with Johnson at the controls as producer. The result, Man of the World, is an album that many will consider the best work of ALO’s career.
Lebowitz says, “When we started talking about what everybody wanted to do (onfor the next album), Jack called and asked us out to his studio in Hawaii. That was great because it was his home turf. We really enjoyed writing there. We just spent three weeks recording all day. That gave us time to get things in tune and to spend time writing new music as well. It’s great to see something that’s been on the back burner for years (recording with Johnson) finally come out.”

While the songs on Man of the World still feature the laid-back California vibes for which ALO is known, the album also shows the growth of a band that continues its quest to redefine itself with each new project. As Lebowitz puts it, “It’s the next phase for ALO. Each time we do an album, we are redefining our approach, at least from the fan’s perspective. This new collection of music shows were we are right now, sort of a marker of this point in time. I feel like all albums are that way.

“One of the things that I really liked about our albums in the past is that have been a collection of several different ways of recording. We all write to some extent, some more than others, and in the past our albums each of us usually brought songs to the sessions that were mostly completed. Other times we go into a room and just start playing and then the music really comes out as a collaborative effort. This album by far has the most collaboration that we have ever had. That feels really good because it really captures the unique way the band sounds as a collective.”

Pushed to name his favorite track on Man of the World, Lebowitz is at first hesitant. Later, he concedes a special fondness for the album’s opening track, “Suspended.”

“I knew the moment we recorded that tune that the way that one came was very interesting. Within the collaborative writing process, there’s a million ways to things. ‘Suspended’ came about in a way that we never really done before. Prior to recording, we were doing preproduction and just jamming. We stumbled across this groove and had the tape running and catching everything that came out. Afterwards, when we pulled out the tapes, we all really liked this one. It was literally just a shell of a piece of music, then late one night in the studio, about half way through recording process when we were starting to get a feel for what the album was going to be like, we thought of an arrangement really quick, hit record on the machine, and played the song through. A couple of days later, some melody and lyrics got written. In some ways, this is the most pure piece of music we’ve ever done - just a band playing and some vocals, Nno editing, no overdubs. It’s pure in the sense that it was just as new a piece of music to us at the time we were playing it as it is going to be to the people hearing it for the first time. As a band, you usually work out the kinks first, but sometimes it is cool to have a pure piece of music and to just play it.


“From my perspective, because it’s something we’ve never done before, the way it caome out was just very organic and real. When it was done, we thought, ‘Let’s start the album off with this,’ because this is ALO, no bells and whistles or anything like that.”

Knowing what ALO is now, the next logical question seems to be, “What exactly is an Animal Liberation Orchestra?”

As Lebowitz tells it, “We were in college and we were shuffling through names like all the young bands do, and everyone was throwing ideas out. We thought it was funny, we were at a college and there were all these organizations going on. So we thought, “’What is our band about?” ?’ Our band is really about people getting out and having a good time, letting yourself be free, liberating your inner animal. So we called it the Animal Liberation Orchestra and in a sense, there is a lot of truth to that. That is what we we’re about, but we also thought it was funny just kind of a like parody. At a college, there’s all sorts of programs out there, and we figured this will be ours - the Animal Liberation Orchestra, come out and let you know and your inner animal out.”

When asked what the future holds in store for his band, Lebowitz speaks with much excitement. “I see us doing a lot more of what we’ve been doing all along - writing songs together, making albums, and playing shows. I’m really excited about touring to see what these songs turn in to. I would love to see a live album happen one day, not just a live show, but an actual album of choice cuts from the tour. I feel like with the last album we did it in a similar way where most the tunes hadn’t been road tested before.

“Now we’ve got like a couple of albums worth of that with this stuff and it would be fun to do a live album because a lot of those tunes on the last album really grew in different ways as they were tested on the road. I know the new songs will too, it’s inevitable with folks like us like to tinker with their songs. They will only grow from here, so I can see a really cool live album that would be like the next generation of all these songs.

“Besides that, we are just going to keep writing more songs, playing more gigs, and doing what we do.”

GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS ANNOUNCE TRACK LISTING FOR SELF-TITLED THIRD ALBUM

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, the emerging Vermont-based band’s third album for Hollywood Records, will be released on June 8. Produced by Mark Batson (Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jay-Z, Dave Matthews Band), this captivating new recording showcases the Vermont-based band’s new five-piece configuration, in which singer and Hammond B3 player Potter, lead guitarist Scott Tournet and drummer Matt Burr are joined by bassist Catherine Popper (Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Hem) and rhythm guitarist Benny Yurco, “This record is the first time it’s really been us — the first time we’ve all found each other and ourselves,” says Potter. Adds Burr, “Every record you make, you always say, ‘This is the one.’ But with this lineup we’ve cracked the code.” The track listing for the 13-track disc is as follows:

Track listing for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals:

1. “Paris”

2.“Oasis”

3. “Medicine”

4. “Goodbye Kiss”

5. “Tiny Light”

6. “Colors”

7. “Only Love”

8. “Money”

9. “One Short Night”

10. “Low Road”

11. “That Phone”

12. “Hot Summer Night”

13. “Things I Never Needed”

The first single off the album is the musically powerful and thematically resonant “Tiny Light,” one of six Potter-Batson co-writes. During its course, the track builds from a simmer to a boil and then somehow hits an even more scorching level of intensity during an extended instrumental outro.

“It’s a song about hope during the hard times we’ve been going through,” Grace explains. “One line is ‘What will come of all our pride / This house of stone has crumbled from the inside.’ It has a dramatic minor-key melody, but it opens up into a chorus that takes you to this really soaring place. As much as I loved it when we wrote it, I resisted recording it at first. But in the end I couldn’t pass it up. The chorus goes, ‘I see a tiny light / Like a flashbulb sparkle in the night / I see a tiny light / Telling everyone to hold on tight.’ It makes you wonder; it makes you look in the mirror — and I love songs like that.”

According to Potter, the producer employed one of his signature radical moves to get the optimum take: “Normally, a band and producer would fuss and poke and prod for days on a song like this, but once we got the arrangement right, Batson just brought in a belly dancer with a 15-foot python snake to perform in the studio. That seemed to light a fire under everyone's asses and we nailed it on the spot.”

The video for “Tiny Light” is being shot in L.A. this month, with Paul Minor (Muse, The Editors, Queens of The Stone Age) directing.

Additionally, GPN’s electrifying take of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" appears on the Buena Vista Records release Almost Alice, a companion release to Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, hitting March 2, three days before the film’s release.

The band will showcase its new lineup and songs at SXSW, where they’ll play Antone’s March 18 as part of the Americana Music Association showcase. Potter will also perform on a string of Lilith Fair dates this summer. More details as they emerge.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals marks a quantum leap for the band, as Batson vividly captures a group of exceptional young players in the very act of becoming themselves. From the languorous “Oasis” to the deep-grooved, serrated rockers like “Medicine,” “Paris” and “Only Love,” the new model Grace Potter and the Nocturnals positively swagger. Not only that, but the hooks are humongous, from Potter’s voice as she belts, teases and soars to Tournet’s uncoiling guitar riffs, positively lethal in their aggressiveness. Potter and her cohorts are equally captivating at the other end of the dynamic and thematic spectrum, on songs like the zeitgeist-capturing widescreen ballad “Colors.”

Tour Dates for GPN are as follows:

March 11



North Adams, MA



Mass MoCa

March 12



Ridgefield, CT



Ridgefield Playhouse

March 13



Sugarloaf, ME



Sugarloaf Ski Resort

March 18



Austin, TX



Antone’s – SXSW

March 21



Aspen, CO



Snowmass Mountain

March 27



Jackson Hole, WY



Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

April 25



Phoenix, AZ



McDowell Mountain Music Festival

May 14



Richmond, VA



Browns Island

More dates to be announced.

# # #

www.gracepotter.com

WORLD'S COLLIDE - The end of a 21 year chase

When Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, our nation experienced a devastation the likes of which we've never seen, wiping out thousands of homes, taking thousands of lives, and virtually wiping out the rich cultural heritage that is New Orleans. In this time of crisis, the world's musical community has come together like no other time in our history, staging numerous benefit concerts that have raised tens of millions of dollars. As a result, numerous moments that fans could have never anticipated have unfolded before our eyes.



For me, the most memorable moment occurred October 5 in Chicago, when Robert Plant joined Pearl Jam for a show at the House of Blues. Plant and the Strange Sensations opened the evening before Pearl Jam took the stage, performing on the most intimate stage the band had graced in years. While anticipation in the crowd was high, little did anyone know just how magical this night would be by evening's end.

Plant returned to the stage for the final five songs, starting with "Going to California," "Little Sister," and "Money." He and Eddie Vedder harmonized beautifully, trading vocal leads as smoothly as Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks swap guitar licks. After digging down to the roots of their youth, performing Elvis, then the Beatles, the two reached even deeper, into the Led Zeppelin catalogue, pulling out a song that had never been performed live - "Fool in the Rain."

This is the song that literally changed my path in life when I first heard it in 1984. At that very moment, I left behind years of pop fandom (the previous year, I had traveled 250 miles to see the Jackson Five) and discovered the wild world of rock-n-roll. I'd searched for a live version of "Fool in the Rain" for years, only to learn that no member of Zeppelin has ever performed the song live.

I never dreamed that one day Plant would sing this one, let alone sing it with Pearl Jam, a band whose music was introduced to me by Dave Schools just after their debut CD. Dave said the band reminded him of Led Zeppelin (our mutual favorite band). He loaned me his copy of "Ten" and I've loved it ever since, so much so that I would rate the CD as one of my ten (non-Zeppelin) favorite discs of all time.

Listening to the show close with a dead-on version of "Thank You," I was taken back in time. When I realized it was in fact 2005, I felt a circle has just been completed. Zeppelin brought me to rock-n-roll, then I found a band I affectionately call Panic. Hanging at Dave's house, talking about our Zeppelin bootleg collections, telling tales of standing in front of the mirror doing his best Jimmy Page impersonation, I found Pearl Jam. I always trusted Dave's musical advice and, as usual, his comments that Pearl Jam was "the closest thing to Zeppelin" he'd ever heard, I found a new outlet for my wild rock-n-roll side. And now, 21 years after my search for a live "Fool in the Rain" began, Vedder convinces Plant to finally perform the song live.

In the span of five and a half minutes, my 21 year search was no more. In the end, I was left with one thought - there's nothing better than an honest tune live.

First published - Honest Tune magazine, October 2005. Reprinted August 20, 2009 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIR ROBERT!