Discordian Society

New Additions:

Avett Brothers - Live Vol 3 DVD - This electric performance was recorded on August 8, 2009 at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC. A special thrill for the band after seeing artists like Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Queen and Bob Dylan grace this same stage. Live, Volume 3 will feature material culled from their decade-long career including their most recent, critically acclaimed album I and Love and You. Live, Volume 3 showcases the amazing live performances that have helped The Avett Brothers build a legion of loyal fans; growing exponentially with each release, performance and appearance. Live, Volume 3 DVD is comprised of highlights from the Bojangles Coliseum, shot in HD and mixed by Ryan Hewitt, the engineer/mixer of I and Love and You. Additionally, the DVD includes documentary-style episodes, interspersed with interviews from the band and fans in attendance.

Widespread Panic - Johnson City 2001 (3 CDs) -With the official Widespread Panic Archives release of Johnson City 2001 that night's performance continues to take us everywhere....with old tunes, new tunes, borrowed tunes, blue tunes...and even a "Happy Birthday" for Todd. Straight from the "L.a." opener, this show just wasn't in a hurry. And to quickly prove it, "Ain't No Use," "Impossible," and "Worry" all realized their opportunity to stretch the body and mind before the band gave everyone a chance to catch their breath with a rare rendition of the previously unreleased "New Blue." A nice run to the end of the first set included a "Stop Go" reminding us that even though the set was almost over, everything was going to be alright. After instantly finding the 2nd set groove with "Weak Brain", the relatively new "Old Neighborhood" and the always-welcome "Trouble" continued to exhibit the night's patience. From that point, this show just didn't stop or disappoint....with creatively inspired renditions of "Love Tractor," "Pigeons" and "Airplane," and even an all-out, bass-driven "Astronomy Domine" jam from the drums. Mikey put his idyllic touch on the evening with "The Waker" before the band finished up the second set with "She Caught the Katy," a tune normally reserved for sound checks. The first of the night's two encores was certainly fit for a Tuesday with "Gimme" before they finally sent everyone off into that cold Tennessee night with nothing but a "Chunk of Coal" and, of course, a smile on everybody's face.

Frank Zappa - The Torture Never Stops DVD - Frank Zappa's New York Halloween 1981 concerts were filmed Live at The Palladium. This 'thing' entitled "The Torture Never Stops" was created in its entirety by FZ from the original concert production and intended by the Artist as one of 3 Television Specials. This is the longest version of the three - the others, "You Are What You Is" and "Dumb All Over", having actually aired. Halloween was Frank Zappa's favorite holiday, and New York was the site of Frank Zappa Halloween concerts for years! The billion and a half airings by MTV of the concerts (non-edited) followed on closely from the release of the double album "You Are What You Is" in September of that year on Frank Zappa's own recently founded and thoroughly independent label, Barking Pumpkin. Much of the set list is drawn from that work. All Frank Zappa shows were unique experiences with Zappa on guitar and baton, leading his band on flights of improvisation and drawing ever more intense performances from them. "The Torture Never Stops" cements Zappa's reputation as one of the most innovative and challenging composers and performers of the 20th century.

Discordian Society - Primordial Soup CD - The Discordian Society, is an eclectic combination of funk, jazz and rock, with influences that range from Zappa and John Zorn, to Jaco Pastorius and Les Claypool. Dave "Davz Not Here" Annarelli started the Discordian Society in the spring of 2001. Dave set out to make his own path with his own music and a different philosophy based in genre bending, originality, and a drive to sound as different as possible. In 2010 Discordian Society releases the long awaited "Primordial Soup". It has garnered excellent reviews and is slowly working its way up the charts. With the success of "Primordial Soup", regional and national touring, and rave reviews of their live performance, Dave's Discordian Society has etched a place in the musical landscape in which lovers of all genres can find a scenic view. With the recent announcement of a 3rd album slated for 2011, Discordian Society is quickly finding itself on the radar as a band to be watched.

Coming Soon:

December 7 - Phish - Alpine Valley 2010 (2DVD/2CD)

Last Week:

The New Mastersounds - Masterology CD - Sundazed Music has assembled Masterology: The Pioneers of New British Funk, which collects a career-spanning selection of highlights from the New Mastersounds' catalog, along with a scintillating smattering of rarities. Distilling the band's widescreen sonic vision into a massively impressive package, it's a monumental testament to the New Mastersounds' seminal body of work. The CD features 19 tracks drawn from the quartet's history, It's a killer celebration of the New Mastersounds' international funk uprising!

Superfrog - Call From the Moon CD -Superfrog is the fiery 6 piece you must see to believe. Their groovetastic, jammy soundscapes are twisted into a rock and roll reggae sandwich sporting an original, rhythmic and bouncy sound. The delightfully soundgasmic music flows through them like some sort of intangible astral conduit. Certainly a band that is this fun, diverse, adventurous and fresh should be heard as often as possible.

On "Call From the Moon" Superfrog continues to reveal the essence of jam within a framework of ROCK. This feat has been causing people all over the Northeast to jump out of their seats and into the air many times over. Their high powered live show is always an intense experience where the only thing shaking harder than the stage is the floor under the fans.

The Nucleus - Quicksand CD - Ten years in and with numerous national tours and albums, the Nucleus has settled into its groove as an adventurous and versatile Rock and Roll band. Based in Northern California but having spent considerable time throughout the country, they have amassed a wealth of experience and influences that continues to shape their sound.

The Nucleus' latest release, Quicksand, catches the band at the peak of its studio production and songwriting strengths. With a concise seven songs, the album is dense and propulsive while taking the listener on an unmistakable journey. The opening track "Truckstop" has the feel of a classic southern-rock anthem with its gritty guitar riffs, funky roadhouse piano and memorable chorus. The piano driven "Water into Wine" takes a more modern turn with its polyrhythmic dance-influenced beat, hypnotic chords and pertinent lyrics. Nomore Anything is an existential rocker with rich atmospherics and punchy choruses that evolves into a fiery rave-up.

A solid listen throughout, Quicksand is an intriguing snapshot of a decade-old band telling its story and of the world we are all trying to survive in.

John Scofield - New Morning: The Paris Concert DVD - John Scofield is considered one of the most important and influential jazz guitarists and composers since he arrived on the scene in the mid seventies. A masterful improviser at the peak of his creative art, Scofield revisits today compositions & interpretations richly combining post-bop, funk edged jazz, and R&B influences. The New Morning is deeply honored to welcome this 2010 performance by John Scofield (backed by master drummer Bill Stewart, bassist Ben Street and pianist Michael Eckroth) to its series of DVDs dedicated to the great musicians of the Sons of Miles generation. A veteran alum, John toured & recorded with Miles for nearly four years in the eighties.

Upcoming Events:

December 11 - 22nd Annual Chrismas Jam - Asheville, NC (sold out)

Video of the Week:

The Avett Brothers - Kick Drum Heart - from the Live Vol 3 DVD

Have a great week!
Lee Crumpton