Primus

New Releases:

Lotus - Lotus CD - Lotus' new self-titled album moves in a decidedly more electronic direction than their last two releases (2008's Hammerstrike, 2009's Oil on Glass/Feather on Wood). Analog synthesizers, manipulated sounds, dub effects and heavy bass are balanced by horns and string arrangements in addition to Lotus's standard guitar/bass/drums instrumentation. Grooves range from slinky funk and gritty hall-time on the first half of the album to the beautiful and expansive closing track Orchids. Although hits and pieces of vocals are used throughout, the only song to feature singing is The Surf. And while it may he the closest thing to a pop song the band has ever released, the melodic guitar hooks and ecstatic synth are pure Lotus.

Similar to their music, the recording process for the album looked in multiple directions at once. It began using traditional recording methods tracking live to analog tape, but shifted to modern techniques for editing and mixing to expand into a musical space filled with uniquely crafted sounds. The band road tested and tweaked these tracks for the better part of two years. The result is an album worthy of the self-titled status - the band's singular sound and spirit runs through every track.

Primus - Green Naugahyde CD - Influential alternative rock icons Primus are back with their first album of brand new music since 1999's Antipap. The new album is entitled Green Naugahyde. Primus will be hitting the road in support of the new album - headlining their own shows, festivals (Hangout, Bonnaroo, All Good Festival) and playing legendary venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre on August 3rd with old friends The Flaming Lips.

Primus formed in the late '80s in Northern California, releasing their first album, Suck On This, in 1989. They Signed to Caroline Records and released the now-classic Frizzle Fry in 1990. As part of the alternative rock explosion of the '90s, the band signed to Interscope and gave the world some of the biggest records of the decade, including Sailing The Seas Of Cheese, Pork Soda, Tales From The Punchbowl and The Brown Album, had several Billboard top 10 debuts, garnered a Grammy nomination and wrote the internationally loved and enduring theme song for 'South Park'.

Umphrey's McGee - Death By Stereo CD - Chicago-based Umphrey's McGee returns this fall with a new studio album, Death By Stereo, available on 9/13 via ATO Records. Over the past 13 years, the group has built a rabid fan base through endless touring and more than 120 shows a year. They have released 11 albums, nearly every live show for 6+ years and sold more than 1.5 million digital tracks. Death By Stereo is the much-anticipated followup album to their critically-acclaimed 2009 studio release Mantis, which was praised in top outlets like Rolling Stone, The New York Times and The Washington Post. Mantis included a groundbreaking pre-order campaign, which sold over 8000 units in the first week and debuted at #62 on the Billboard chart.

Death By Stereo is a hybrid of what makes Umphrey's McGee so appealing to a wide spectrum of music fans. Filled with a healthy combination of focused, hard-hitting rock songs & head bobbing, groove-driven tracks, the record has something for everybody. The new album features a smattering of road-tested fan favorites as well as some of the slickest, unreleased compositions the band has released to date.

Umphrey's McGee's constantly evolving sound channels a wide spectrum of influences while still preselVing their distinct voice through crafty songwriting. With a massive repertoire of originals and note-perlect covers, their live shows are like flipping through the presets on your radio dial. Their A.DD. approach to ''progressive improvisation'' utilizes a set of Zappa-inspired hand signals allowing them to orchestrate their melodic creations on the fly.

Mofro - Brighter Days CD/DVD - Brighter Days is Grey's first-ever live CD/DVD. The two-disc set includes a full-length movie and a long-awaited live album. Directed by filmmaker/musician Spookie Daly (whose work has been aired on MTV Networks, Much Music and Fuse), the film intersperses riveting concert footage with the stunning beauty of Grey's north Florida home, the inspiration for so much of his music. The film also follows Grey and company into the studio and features band interviews along with insightful commentary from Grey and others, recalling the format of classic "rockumentaries." 78-minutes of stellar performances from the film are captured on the accompanying CD.

Shot on January 22, 2011 at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, Georgia in stunning HD and boasting 5.1 surround sound, Brighter Days finds JJ (vocals, guitar and harmonica) and his band -- Andrew Trube on lap steel and electric guitar, Anthony Farrell on organ and piano, Art Edmaiston on saxophone, Dennis Marion on trumpet, Todd Smallie on bass and Anthony Cole on drums -- giving everything they have. Singing and telling stories with preacher-like conviction, JJ breaks down the wall between the audience and the performer.

Trombone Shorty - For True CD - 2011 album from the Grammy nominee Troy Andrews AKA Trombone Shorty. Produced by Galactic's Ben ElIman, For True, features Andrews' band, Orleans Avenue, as well as a string of legendary performers with whom he recently shared the stage, including Jeff Beck, Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz, Ledisi, Warren Haynes, Ivan and Cyril Neville, The Rebirth Brass Band and more. Troy wrote or co-wrote all 14 tracks on the new album including co-writes with Ledisi, Kid Rock, the legendary Lamont Dozier and others.

JAZZ FEST LIVE 2011 CDs!

All professionally recorded at the 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Ellis Marsalis - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Galactic - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

George Porter Jr & the Runnin' Pardners - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Honey Island Swamp Band - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Hot 8 Brass Band - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

The Iguanas - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

James Andrews - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Jumpin' Johnny Sansone - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Joe Krown Trio - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Luther Kent & Trickbag - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Shannon McNally - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

John Mooney & Bluesiana - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

mynameisjohnmichael - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

The Neville Brothers - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 (2 CDs)

The Radiators - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 (2 CDs)

Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

The Subdudes - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Tommy Malone & Mystik Drone - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Walter "Wolfman' Washington & the Roadmasters - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Coming Soon:

Big Daddy Love - Let It Grow CD - Essentially organic in both disposition and composition, Big Daddy Love is a five-piece band with a unique and natural blend of rock, roots and grass that they call 'Appalachian Rock.' Above the mix, the lead vocals and acoustic guitar accompaniment of their principal songwriter, Daniel Justin Smith, command the listener's attention and call for the harmonies that arise in response. Twin leads of Stratocaster riffs and soaring Allman-esque slide guitar on the one hand, and electric and acoustic 5-string Scruggs / Fleck style banjo on the other-- like a typical Southern rock line-up, just replacing the second guitar with the banjo-- punctuate and emphasize what Smith delivers. These contrasting voices are anchored by a rhythm section that is equally at home in a groove or driving the bus with country, swing, funk or straight ahead rock. Live, with the lights on and the volume up, Big Daddy Love stretches the music out with top notch picking and ripping, delivering a stompin' good time rich with authentic Carolina soul. On Let It Grow, Big Daddy Love's signature Appalachian Rock sound is further refined in a collection of songs that seamlessly pick up where their critically acclaimed debut To The Mountain left off. With their "on the sleeve," sincere sentiments and first rate musicianship, Big Daddy Love may well be the antidote to the ongoing erosion of the roots sound, despite being-- in many ways-- a blue collar rock band with Appalachian flavor.

Last Week:

Three Legged Fox - Always Anyway CD - Named as one of The Pier's "Most Anticipated Albums of 2011" this self-produced album will unveil 12 brand new tracks, and is two years in the making, showcasing the band's unique brand of reggae mixed with alternative rock sounds.

The band shares, "We knew from the word 'go' that we wanted to go really big on this one. We wanted big sounds, accessible songs, and an overall modern approach. We felt as though we had already done the raw, stripped down thing twice; and we had done the whole reggae horns, arrangement type of thing with the last album. It was within us to understand that we're not a traditional American reggae band; we're an alternative rock, reggae band. Ultimately, realizing what we are, and what we aren't made it much easier and a lot of fun making this new album."

With over 350 shows played nationally under their belts, Three Legged Fox has shared the stage with notable artists such as Rebelution, SOJA, The Black Seeds, Barrington Levy, and The Wailers, to name a few. Following the album release, Three Legged Fox plans on touring to promote the album in major cities nationwide.

Cope - See CD - Cope started as a family band with two brothers and a cousin from a musical family out of Akron, Ohio. More than a decade later the Stadelman brothers along with multi-instrumentalist Juanjamon and Virginia raised drummer and vocalist Dave Gerulat have evolved into a family full of friends, fans, dancers and music-heads across the U.S., joined together by fun loving good times and some serious psychedelic southern-fried funk-rockin jazz-reggae electro-grass music.

Gaining notoriety as the "Undisputed Jam Kings of Tampa Bay" (Mark Warren - Skipper's Smokehouse Talent Agency), great bands all over the country are signing up to open for the jam-quartet at the famous Skipper's Smokehouse in their home base of Tampa, FL. With the release of their latest CD titled "See", Cope has been spreading and reaching outward from the far south to perform with and for many bands and fans in an attempt to reach musical nirvana and promote the fellowship of musicians and music enthusiasts everywhere.

"Check out that little cutie with a nice behind you better shake it girl, shake it good, cause Cope's comin to ya neighborhood." -Shake Anything (from "See" CD)

Theivery Corporation - Live at the 9:30 Club DVD - In January of 2010, Thievery Corporation thrilled fans when they sold out 5 consecutive nights at local DC venue, 9:30 Club. The shows were filmed with vintage anamorphic lenses that created flaws and subtle characteristics (including creating flares as the light hits the lens), and have an otherworldly and abstract visual quality. The result is an intimate account of the band and a dazzling recording of one of the world's most unique musical stage-shows.

With over 1.2 million albums sold in the U.S. across 15 years of making music, Thievery Corporation released their sixth studio album titled Culture of Fear earlier this summer. The album has been perched at #1 on the CMJ Electronic Music Charts for the past two months. The Washington Post called the album "solid," while Paste Magazine said Culture of Fear was a "true cultural melting pot of sounds." Thievery Corporation continues to blend musical styles in their trademark fashion; space-rock jams lead to hip-hop inspired grooves, airy down-temp trances and dub-reggae infused vibes throughout the journey.

Over the years, Thievery Corporation has become known for the carnival-esque atmosphere of their live shows, during which they bring out a 15-member live band of musicians and vocalists. The group has sold out shows at such famed venues as the Hollywood Bowl, London's 02 Shepherds Bush Empire, and the Theatro Vrahon Melina Merkouri in Athens, Greece, among many others.

JAZZ FEST LIVE 2011 CDs!

All professionally recorded at the 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Anders Osborne, John Fohl, and Johnny Sansone - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Arlo Guthrie - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 (2 CDs)- A very special performance from folk legend, Arlo Guthrie. Of course, his witty remarks and amusing anecdotes remain in tact on this two-disc show. This set was mixed by Arlo's son (and keyboardist for the band), Abe Guthrie.

Allen Toussaint - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Alvin Youngblood Hart's Muscle Theory - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Bonerama - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

John Boutte - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Big Sam's Funky Nation - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Cowboy Mouth - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Kristin Diable - Live at Jazz Fest 2011 CD

Upcoming Events:

Sept 15-18 Pink Moon Festival - Rock Camp, WV

Sept 23-25 H Blast! - Reidsville NC

*Sept 22-24 Blackwater - Live Oak, FL

Oct 6-9 Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - Pittsboro, NC

* Oct 20-23 Magnolia Festival - Live Oak, FL

*Look for the Home Grown Music Booth at this event!

Video of the Week:

Lotus - Live at Red Rocks

Thanks for reading! Treat yourself to some good music this week.
Lee Crumpton

New Additions:

Daptone Gold CD/2LP - Daptone compilation featuring rarities, classics and previously unreleased tracks from Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, The Budos Band, Binky Griptite, Lee Fields, Antibalas and many more in gold digipak packaging. Liner notes by Douglas Wolk. CD $11.98 2LP $19.98

The Black Crowes - Cabin Fever DVD - Cabin Fever was an innovative recording session where Before The Frost... Until The Freeze was recorded over a series of five nights at Levon Helm Studios. The sessions were filmed in front of an intimate live audience and allows the viewer into the recording studio with the band. Songwriting sessions are revealed and lots of never before seen banter and behind the scenes footage is shown.

Chris Robinson had this to say about the Cabin Fever sessions: "I think we fulfilled a musical commitment to continue on the golden road of artistic independence. Approaching 20 years into our careers, we still are ambitious enough to push ourselves to create something unique that we have never done before." $14.98

String Cheese Incident - Trick or Treat BOX SET - This nine-disc box set was culled from a variety of epic SCI "Hulaween" shows from 1998-2004. This exclusive box set offers seven of SCI's famous Halloween cover sets in their entirety, including String Cheese performing songs by such artists as the Beatles, Beastie Boys, KC & The Sunshine Band, Phish, and many others. Includes: Rare, collectible 12"x12" print feat. brand new cover art from Michael Everett (signed and numbered), 6 special commemorative mini-posters from the 1998-2004 Hulaween shows, Personalized liner notes from the band, Photo booklet by famed rock photographer C. Taylor Crothers, "Best Of Trick or Treat" Double CD, "Best Of Trick or Treat" Double Vinyl (including digital download card), Bonus content from additional "Hulaween" shows. $125

Gov't Mule - By A Thread LP - Gov t Mule wildly creative and fearsomely talented rock band lauded by Rolling Stone for Successfully bringing the classic power-trio sound of Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience into the 21st Century has completed work on By A Thread - their first studio album in 3 years.

Recorded largely at Willie Nelson's Pedernales Studio in 2009, the album s origins are apparent from the first track, Broke Down On The Brazos, named after the nearby river, with a deep Texas stomp for the backbeat and featuring the trademark guitar-work of ZZ Top founder Billy Gibbons. $17.98

Primus - Fizzle Fry LP - The classic Primus album "Frizzle Fry" re-mastered and re-released on Vinyl! Hear such classics as "Too Many Puppies", "Mr. Knowitall" and "John the Fisherman" the way they should be heard. $18.98

Les Claypool - Purple Onion LP - Purple Onion has sold over 17,000 units on CD and now is finally available on vinyl! Featuring fan favorites "D's Diner" and "Cosmic Highway" tis is unmistakably one of Claypool's masterpieces. Featuring guests Warren Haynes, Norwood Fisher & more. $18.98

Of Whales & Woe LP- Les's 2006 studio release "Of Whales and Woe" featured musicians Paulo Baldi (drums), Mike Dillion (percussion), Skerik (sax), and Gabby La La (sitar). This album is filled with quirky gems including the theme to the wildly popular animated series "Robot Chicken". $18.98

Live at the 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival CDs! Click artist to hear samples and learn more.

Ivan Neville's Dumpstafunk $16

Galactic $16

The Radiators (2 CDs) $24.99

Pete Seeger $16

Johnny Winter $16

Papa Grows Funk $17

The Meter Men $17 featuring: Leo Nocentelli - guitar & vocals, George Porter Jr. - bass & vocals, Zigaboo Modeliste - drums & vocals

Doc Watson $17

Allen Toussaint $17

Otra! $17

Voices of St. Peter Claver $17

John Mooney $17

Amanda Shaw $17

Pine Leaf Boys $17

Coming Soon:

December 1 - Manu Chao - Baionarena (2CD+DVD)
The Flaming Lips - Embryonic (2LP+CD)

December 8 - Medeski Martin & Wood - Radiolarians: The Evolutionary Set (5CD+2LP+DVD)

Last Week:

The New Mastersounds - Ten Years On CD - Ten Years On presents an impressive range of grooves and styles along with the familiar vintage-sounding production, courtesy of guitarist and bandleader Eddie Roberts. The album has guests aplenty, some of them sending in their performances by email from distant shores. Dan "JD73" Goldman plays Rhodes on Dusty Groove, lending it a distinctly Headhuntersish sound. Seattle-based sax experimentalist Skerik adds dark, lush textures to the eight-minute soundtrack opus OOOM. Fellow Leeds luminary Sam Bell brings the percussion to Eddie's Benson-eque disco-jazz on Cielo while Madrid-based Chip Wickham toots a mean flute on Chocolate Chip. The vocal contribution on the record comes from Grace Potter who joins the band on a funked-up cover version of her own tune Nothing But the Water (II). $15

Corinne West - The Promise CD - The music of Corinne West doesnt really fit in any genre box. Depending on the listener, Corinnes music might get called roots, Americana, or even progressive folk. There are echoes of rural towns, honky-tonks, roads traveled, and roads less traveled. Listen more closely and there are traces of Appalachia and Ireland, the Opry and the Apollo, and somehow the pure elements of a starry night. It is elegant new sexy acoustic jazz-rock-folk. It is west coast acoustic-soul music. By any name, her music is absolutely compelling both in the strength of her writing and the expressive power of her voice. The Promise has provocative lyrics, great accompaniment, and singing that quickens the heart. At the center of it all is Corinnes voice. She sounds like honey, smoke and sunrise. Its a voice you want to hear closely - theres integrity in it and each time you press ''play'' you have placed yourself in the best seat in the house. Corinne West tours North America and the UK continuously performing 200+ dates annually. $13.98

Peter Rowan - Texican Badman CD- While credited solely to Peter Rowan, Texican Badman could safely be called a Peter Rowan/Jerry Garcia album supported David Grisman, Flaco Jiminez, John Kahn and fellow Grateful Dead member Bill Kreutzman among others. Garcias familiar guitar is all over this release. Grisman and Rowan had been members of Bill Monroes Bluegrass Boys in the mid-sixties before forming rock band Earth Opera. Rowan then moved on to Seatrain before forming Old & In The Way with Garcia, Kahn and Vassar Clements. Writer of Panama Red for the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Rowan continues to tour constantly to this day. $14.98

Upcoming Events:

December 4-6 - Rock the Resort - Kerhonkson, NY

April 15-17, 2010 - Wanee Music Festival - Live Oak, FL

April 22-25, 2010 - Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - Pittsboro, NC

Video of the Week:

Papa Grows Funk perform "Fish Eyed Fool" at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!
Lee Crumpton