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New Releases:
 Rodrigo y Gabriela - Live in France CD - Rodrigo y Gabriela are riding high on the global success of their Hans Zimmer collaboration on Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides; which has recently just enjoyed the biggest global opening weekend in the history of the movies.
Summer's here and the time is right for Rod & Gab's first love: wowing crowds in the big fields across Europe & North America. To coincide with their tour dates, ATO Records is set to release Live In France, recorded at various venues around the Fifth Republic on the 11:11 world tour.
It's a very different live document to 2008's Live In Japan, which marked the end of Rod & Gab's seated performances. Their live shows are constantly evolving and the 11:11 tour mixed deft acoustic dexterity with an electrifying shred-fest of white hot duelling guitars. No chairs then, but plenty of FX pedal hopping and feet on the monitors rocking. The album captures this fusion framed by rapturous receptions from their fanatical legion of French followers.
 Abstract Logix Live: The New Universe Music Festival 2010 (2 CDs) - On November 20 and 21, 2010, maverick record label Abstract Logix hosted a series of spectacular performances, featuring an array of artists who handily defy genre categorization in favor of unbridled expression. The first New Universe Festival was a die-hard music lover's dream, defined by artists who seamlessly mingle compositional ingenuity and improvisational grace and fervor. This coming September, Abstract Logix will also release a 2 DVD set, featuring a generous selection of festival performances and bonus material (additional performances, interviews, and more), filmed in high-definition throughout the event.
Among the featured musicians were pioneering guitarist John McLaughlin and his current band the 4th Dimension with special guest, world music legend tabla maestro Zakir Hussain; Widespread Panic guitar hero Jimmy Herring with his electric band; Return to Forever Drummer Lenny White; the all-star quartet Human Element (keyboardist Scott Kinsey, bassist Matt Garrison, percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan; fearless guitarist and improviser Wayne Krantz appearing with the amazing Anthony Jackson on bass; visionary Indian composer and drummer Ranjit Barot; and emerging guitar visionary Alex Machacek.
''I feel honored to participate,'' says festival headliner John McLaughlin, while on tour promoting his Grammy-nominated album To the One. ''My life has been dedicated to my instrument and music, and I continue to devote myself to music in order to be worthy of such a privilege. You will hear the kind of complicity that exists between us all this is a very special element, and frankly essential for making good music.''
Jimmy Herring very succinctly put it, ''This is real music played by real people, happening in real time. We're up there listening and reacting to one another, and people genuinely respond to the risks we take. This is human music in a mechanized age.'
 John Butler Trio - Live at Red Rocks (2 CD/DVD) - On June 4, 2010, the internationally acclaimed John Butler Trio played the largest headlining concert of its career at the majestic Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO, joined by Native American dancers and an electrified crowd. The concert instantly became a career benchmark and will receive a gorgeous 3-disc live DVD/CD box set release as 'The John Butler Trio: Live At Red Rocks' on ATO Records July 19.
The 3-disc box set package features two audio CDs with live versions of songs from Butler's three studio albums and one 140-minute full-length DVD that includes the entire, uninterrupted concert, behind the scenes footage and the official video for 'Revolution,' the epic opening track from Butler's 'April Rising' (2010.)
'Live at Red Rocks' highlights Butler's prodigious guitar skills, powerful songwriting and the transcendental live performance he delivers with Byron Luiters (bass) and Nicky Bomba (drums.) It showcases the innovative, rhythmically complex, diverse and playful sound that has garnered the JBT a devoted fan base worldwide.
 Rev Payton's Big Damn Band - Payton on Patton CD - A lot of folks will tell you that Robert Johnson was the King of the Delta Blues. But for god's sake don't say it in front of Reverend Peyton.
The guitar-wielding leader of The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band has no problem praising Johnson and his incredible body of work. "But there's only one King of the Delta Blues, and his name was Charley Patton," Peyton said. "I'll go toe-to-toe with anyone who says different." This summer Peyton and his band will release a powerful tribute to their hero in the form of Peyton on Patton. The 13-track CD will exclusively feature songs written and recorded by Patton during his brief recording career, which came to an end upon his premature death in 1934. Peyton on Patton will be released July 19 by SideOneDummy Records.
During his lifetime and for nearly a quarter of a century afterward, Charley Patton was regarded almost universally as the preeminent Delta bluesman. He spent his formative years at Dockery Plantation near Ruleville, Mississippi, where he influenced future blues and gospel stars including the aforementioned Robert Johnson, as well as Son House, Willie Brown, Pops Staples, John Lee Hooker and Howlin' Wolf. His flamboyant performance style was widely emulated and his songs frequently covered. During a five-year period, Patton recorded nearly 60 songs for Paramount Records.
The new CD Peyton on Patton features a number of Patton's best-loved blues songs including "A Spoonful Blues," "Mississippi Boweavil Blues" and "Tom Rushen Blues," as well as Patton-penned spirituals like "Jesus Is A Dying Bed Maker," "Prayer of Death, Part 1" and "You're Gonna Need Someone (When You Come to Die)". The CD also includes three radically different versions of "Some of These Days I'll Be Gone" featuring varying instrumentation and recorded in different keys and arrangements.
Coming Soon:
 Johnny Winter - Live at Rockpalast 1979 DVD - Johnny Winter live on Germany's famous Rockpalast TV show in 1979. Straight up blues like only Johnny can deliver, lean and mean. Johnny and the band also blaze through some killer covers like the Rolling Stones' "Jumping Jack Flash" and "Suzie Q."
 Moksha - Here to Go CD - Las Vegas rock outfit Moksha, who finds a common musical stance with bands like Phish, Pink Floyd and The Grateful Dead, among others, release their second album. "Here to Go" was produced independently by Moksha Music Limited and four-time Grammy Award winner James 'Bonzai' Caruso, with Peter Apfelbaum doing the horn arrangements.
"Here to Go' is Moksha's first endeavor with new band member, Sam Lemos as lead vocal, adding another level to Moksha's mastery of instrumental jam music. It fuses all the musical genres that influence each of the band members, into a sound uniquely their own.
"Starswarm", "Here to Go" and "Bubbles" Take a rocket blast, straight into a deep space, psychedelic funk, rock utopia, back down to earth with melodic pop, and back again into hyperspace with a rip-roaring instrumental.
"Real Show", "Into Thin Air", and "Fruit of Tulum", stay closer to earth with Reggae, World Music, and Spanish Instrumentals, that keeps the energy moving and the horns and vocals shining. "Leg up" is a sweet melodic country inspired ballad. The cornerstone of the album
"The Measure of all things" is a beautiful and mercurial song that delves into the depths of the mythic realm and the heights of keyboard solo heaven.
The remaining songs switch between explosive funk with soaring vocals and classic horns, to good solid rock that pushes until it eventually comes apart at the seams
With their music circling the world, then to space and back, Moksha is "Here to Go"
Last Week:
 Turbine - Blue Light City CD - Working closely with producer John Davis, who recorded The Black Keys' Grammy winning song Tighten Up off their recent album, Brothers, Turbine puts forth an album that guitarist Jeremy Hilliard describes as, "By far, the best our music has ever been presented."
Blue Light City is laced with subtle intricacies that listeners might glance over without even noticing. The music is dotted with odd time signatures, unorthodox structures, and innovative applications to the instruments. Yet, what makes Blue Light City such a stellar listen is despite the nearly endless complexities in the music, the album barrels along in nonstop fun. The songs are catchier than ever without jeopardizing the band's musical training and respect for sophistication.
Turbine has quickly gained a devoted audience who have come to expect the unexpected. Chosen by Relix Magazine as "Artists on the Verge", they can scratch like a DJ with their harmonicas, turn an electric guitar into a silver fiddle, and sing three-part harmonies over wild, high-energy sci-fi rock soundscapes.
Hailing from New York City, Turbine has graced the stage at almost every major festival across the country including Bonnaroo, Wakarusa, 10K Lakes, Gathering of the Vibes, and Telluride Bluegrass just to name a few. They have also been fortunate enough to perform with many influential bands including the Del McCoury Band, the Benevento-Russo Duo, and moe. With Blue Light City, the band hopes to take the next step and reach that level of notoriety for themselves.
 Toubab Krewe - TK2 CD - Asheville, NC's Toubab Krewe takes the African guitar sound pioneered by Ali Farka Toure and others to strange and wonderful new places on their Nat Geo Music debut, TK2. Formed in 2005, Toubab Krewe has tenaciously honed their craft through relentless touring and a fierce dedication to carving out something they can truly call their own. The fruits of this hard work can be heard on the scintillating TK2. What Justin Perkins (Kora, Kamelngoni, guitar, percussion), Teal Brown (drums, congas), Drew Heller (guitar, piano, fiddle), David Pransky (bass, guitar), and Luke Quaranta (Djembe, percussion) have wrought on TK2 reflects the many miles and musical journeys that have transpired since their studio debut five years ago.
 Beatlejam - Live at BB Kings CD - Live show from band made founded by Gov't Mule's Matt Abts, along with Slick Aguilar (Jefferson Starship), Johnny Neel (Allman Bros), Vince Welnick (Grateful Dead)and Berry Oakley (Allman Bros). Recorded at B.B. King's in NYC, 2002. Features the band doing all Beatles covers, inlcudes: Come Together, Get Back, A Day in the Life, Taxman, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, and others. 10 tracks
 New Riders of the Purple Sage - Setlist: Very Best of NRPS CD - For all of the music fans out there who know that you haven t truly experienced an artist until you ve experienced them LIVE. That s why we created the Setlist Series. We've fished through hundreds of live tracks from all different shows and eras - not just the hits, but the life-changing songs, fan favorites, and gems from the vault - and put them together to make the quintessential live collection from your favorite artists. Because the perfect Setlist is more than great songs... it's songs that are great Live. Every Setlist track has been beautifully remastered, with a sound quality that feels just like you re sitting in the front row. ...So take your seat, settle in, crank it up and get ready for a live concert experience you ll never forget. Enjoy the show!
 Toots & the Maytals - Pressure Drop - the Golden Tracks (2 CDs) - This record contains some of Toots & The Maytals more popular songs on side A, then on side B it has different mixes of the songs. For instance, there is an instrumental version of 54-46 and pressure drop, a ska version of pressure drop, a dub version of 54-46 and a house mix of pressure drop. There are even more on the BONUS CD!
 Jackass Flats - Rusty Feeling CD - Nearly a decade ago, Jackass Flats began their journey as a bluegrass band chasing the scene up and down the east coast: country festivals in the middle of nowhere, bars, dives, late nights, busking in the cities, life in a van--these things will leave you with stories to tell and that's exactly what Jackass Flats did; releasing two acclaimed albums of original songwriting: "Purgatory Mountain" and "Greetings From Jackass Flats". The boys kept the old van, but soon found themselves playing the region's premiere stages and festivals.
As Jackass Flats closes in on a decade of existence, they've expanded their line up to include drums, keys, and pedal steel--propelling their sound from string band to "full tilt Americana juggernaut". With so many instruments at their disposal, the typical set finds the band everywhere from bluegrass, rockabilly, honky tonk, country, western swing, all with the energy and edge that has made the Jackass Flats show a must see.
In June of 2011 the boys released their album, "Rusty Feeling." The album was recorded and produced by Bobby Read (Bruce Hornsby Band, Keller Williams). An album whose songs range from raucous and rowdy bluegrass, to the textured and melodic sounds of progressive (non-nashville) country.
Upcoming Events:
July 21-24 Gathering Of The Vibes - Bridgeport, CT
July 21-24 Northwest String Summit Music Festival - North Plains, OR
July 28-30 The Big Up 2011 - Ghent NY
*July 28-31 Floyd Fest - Floyd VA
Aug 5-8 Sparks on the Ridge - Walkill NY
Aug 12-14 Midwest Reggae Festival - Garretsville OH
Aug 26-28 Summerdance - Garretsville OH
Aug 26-28 NedFest - Nederland CO
Aug 27-29 Music on the Mountaintop - Boone NC
*Look for the Home Grown Music Booth at this event!
Video of the Week:
This is some never before seen footage of Moksha, Brian Stoltz, and DJ Logic performing Freefall as their finale, at Project NOISE.
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Last weeks video of the week had an incorrect link. It should be:
BIG Something - Vibrations All Around - Live from Farm Party III -June 25, 2011
Thanks for reading! Treat yourself to some good music this week.
Lee Crumpton |
