Welcome To The Dancing Tree Newsletter
HGMN Founder Lee Crumpton will receive the coveted "Grahamy Jammy" this Wednesday, May 7, at the Jammy Awards in New York City! Given each year for "service to the industry," the award is certainly well deserved after nearly 15 years of bringing good music to the masses. We are all excited for this honor and Lee is psyched to attend the event! Check out more info on this year's Jammy Awards at http://www.jammys.com!
Harmonized Records will be releasing Roots of Creation's Live Vol. 1 on June 24, and we are offering a couple of specials for the first batch of preorders: The first 25 pre-orders get a limited edition, one of a kind, hand screen printed poster on recycled paper autographed by the band. These are already going incredibly fast, so get yours now! The poster can be seen at the pre-order link below. In addition, ALL pre-orders receive a link to download an exclusive unreleased bonus track! Pre-order now!
New Additions to the Catalog:
The Brew - Back to the Woods CD - "The latest candidate for 'I-knew-them-when' status is The Brew" says The Boston Globe. Fresh off a Jammy nomination, the band is turning ears...but check them out for yourself and you'll fall in love with The Brew's intoxicating style of rock and roll!
Back to the Woods, their second release, impresses with fine songwriting and nuanced, thoughtful playing, alternately blowing your hair back and gently addressing your ears.
$12.00
Thousands of One - Soul Force CD - In the spirit of the funk movement, this album is "the message" of Thousands of One - it speaks of ending racism, growing food, and finding unity. Turning heads with intense lyrics dosed with incendiary politics, spiritual tenacity, wit and dope phrasing, the soul and voice of Jhakeem Haltom is bolstered by a rocking and raw band cutting cunningly original music that pays tribute to the roots of soul, funk and reggae. The explorations that are presented in this album show no boundaries.
$12.00
Lettuce - Rage! CD - Rage! features members of Soulive teaming up with luminaries like Rashawn Ross (Dave Matthews Band), Adam Deitch (John Scofield), and Sam Kininger to create an album that is a tribute to the funk that resides within us all. Mixing their original funk/jazz gems with standbys like "Express Yourself" and
Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up," Lettuce creates a soulful exploration of all things funky. Adam Deitch - drums; Adam Smirnoff - rhythm guitar; Eric Krasno - lead guitar; Erick Coomes - bass; Neal Evans - keyboards; Rashawn Ross - trumpet; Ryan Zoidis - alto sax; Sam Kininger - tenor sax
$14.98
John McLaughlin - Floating Point CD - John has already said that
Floating Point 'may be the best record I ever made.' That's really saying something when you consider McLaughlin's prolific and trailblazing career. The guitarist and composer has appeared on some of the most important jazz-rock and world music albums in the last 40 years. For
Floating Point, which was recorded in India, McLaughlin used several of the best Indian musicians in the world. McLaughlin calls these players the 'young lions' of India. With a line-up like that, you would expect a very Indian experience. But, McLaughlin says not necessarily so. 'The music is for the most part 'Jazz-Fusion' if a label has to be put on it. But with the musicians involved in this project, it has also a 'world' kind of atmosphere.'
$16.00
John McLaughlin - Meeting of the Minds: The Making of Floating Point DVD
- For the first time, an intimate view of what happens at a John McLaughlin recording session, filmed over a period of 5 days during the making of John's new record
Floating Point. For this 'meeting of the minds' John invited some of the most outstanding instrumentalists including Indian vocalist Shankar Mahadevan. Through the interviews of all musicians, you will get to know how they approach John's compositions. In addition, there is an extra audio track with John commenting on the entire recording. This movie lifts the curtain on the making of music
today. $25.00
Russian Circles - Station CD - Metal trimmings, minimal jazz primers, and cryptic riffs that hit out of nowhere with the pummeling impact of a comet. Their music weaves up an intense and cinematic-yet-soothing clobbering that cannot be pigeonholed. Their lengthy lumbering layers of chiseled post rock and feathery psychedelic infusions have both revved and enticed listeners into mental orgasms the world over.
$15.00
The Brakes - Tale of Two Cities CD - The Brakes are a Philadelphia-based band of twenty-somethings intent on staking a claim to the rich lineage of American rock music. Their debut full-length album,
Tale Of Two Cities, is a 12-track collection recorded live during a dual city residency in April and May 2007. The band would head up the New Jersey Turnpike every Tuesday to set up shop at The Knitting Factory in New York City, while getting cozy with hometown fans every Thursday at MilkBoy in Philadelphia. Each show was recorded and the best performances from both cities were assembled. On standout versions of songs like "Into The Ground," "Big Money," and "Boat Trip," The Brakes distinguish themselves with equal parts smart indie-pop songwriting and razor sharp musicianship.
$11.98
Barenaked Ladies - Snacktime CD - Multi-platinum recording artist Barenaked Ladies released
Snacktime, a collection of 24 original children's songs, through their imprint label Desperation Records. "Our collective kids now outnumber the band more than 2 to 1," explains vocalist/guitarist Ed Robertson. "We set out to make a record that would be entertaining for them...not strictly a children's record, but a record that children would really enjoy. Our kids are into all kinds of music. Making the focus about what our kids like was a truly liberating process and fun for the whole band."
$13.99
James McMurtry - Just Us Kids CD - The further James McMurtry gets from the big leagues of the music business, the better it seems to be for his music. Now recording for a renegade start-up label, McMurtry has cut what may well be his best and most consistently interesting album to date -
Just Us Kids, a dozen songs clearly informed by the disillusion over the ongoing war in Iraq. While the war is rarely mentioned by name, there's no disguising the source behind the bitter, mordant wit of "Cheney's Toy" and "God Bless America," just as "Hurricane Party" captures the devastation of Katrina without belaboring what we've all seen on the news. McMurtry also produced Just Us Kids, and the spare, funky growl of this rootsy rock & roll is a perfect match for the tone of these songs, a sound that's thoroughly American while conjuring the dark clouds gathering on the horizon.
Just Us Kids is an album very much of its time that also speaks to the larger ideas of life in America in an uncertain age, and it's brave, smart, and pithy music that captures James McMurtry at the top of his game.
$16.00Also Available from James McMurtry: Live in Aught-Three CD $17.00
Childish Things CD $17.00
More titles coming soon!
The Mantras - How Many? CD - This sophomore effort from the Greensboro, NC quintet spans the gauntlet, from catchy blues rockers to mind bending instrumentals. The Mantras are a five piece ensemble with dueling guitars, full band vocals, and a driving rhythm section. They are reshaping the live performance experience by shocking their crowd with theatrics, raw humor, and powerful improv jams transitioning from song to song with unbeatable synchronicity. Constantly collaborating with like minded bands and creating music on a daily basis, The Mantras craft a uniquely elevated, in-your-face funky, rhythmic, and explosive experience.
$12.00
Katie Pearlman - Dreaming Again CD - Katie is a singer/songwriter/drummer/guitarist who is exploring all of the possibilities of her infectious, funky music. With Katie, things never stay in one place - her talents and ideas are always reinventing themselves, so the one thing to be sure of is that the future is a work in progress. What seems to be a recurring theme with Katie is her inner search for truth and understanding of herself and the world she’s part of. This search is now being explored through writing and performing music as well as looking to find her place and voice in the world at large. These searches are evident in her songs. The lyrical and emotional content tend to resonate with many people, and her growing audience seems to find reflections of their own searching and struggles in her work.
$12.00
Geoff Achison & The Souldiggers - Souldiggin' CD - Geoff Achison has a reputation as a guitarist’s guitarist. Having taught himself to play in the isolation of rural Australia, he has developed a blues/funk style all his own that can be delicate one moment and explosive the next. Unaware of how the sounds he was hearing on his limited record collection were produced, he invented some of his own techniques - without the aid of pedals or gadgets. As a result, watching this guy wrench sounds from his simple set-up can be something of a spectacle. Geoff also possesses a soulful voice that has evoked favorable comparisons to Joe Cocker or Warren Haynes. An award winning songwriter to boot, Geoff’s live set features an infectious mix of catchy original tunes, improvised jamming and inspired versions of blues & soul classics. As heard here, the live show is a dizzying experience!
$14.00Also available from Geoff Achison:Little Big Men CD $14.00
StraddleDaddy - Moxie on Fire CD - StraddleDaddy is a 6 member Moxie rock outfit from Middletown CT. Years of evolution have created a high-energy, fire-breathing monster of funk. Blazing through a repertoire of over 60 original tunes and dozens of covers, StraddleDaddy just stole your heart - You'll find it on the dancefloor. The release of StraddleDaddy's second full length studio album,
Moxie on Fire, and the integration of a new beat-boxing badass bass player have made them one of the bands to watch around the northeast.
$12.00Also available from StraddleDaddy:
Surveys From A Fish Bowl CD $12.00
The Attic - In the Red CD - The Attic, a four piece from the biggest little state in the country, Rhode Island, hatched in January of 2005. The band's progression towards its raw and fearless sound has taken shape with the integration of newfound ambition and maturity gained through the recording process. The Attic is best described as an improvisational rock band with unique talent. The music is original in its delivery and the sound, while nothing short of positive, has an undeniably sinister edge in contrast to the generalized happy-go-lucky sound of the jam band scene.
$12.00
Vinyl Additions:
Dr. Dog - We All Belong LP Vinyl -
As a band inspired by artists like the Beatles, The Band, The Zombies,
and the revolutionary sound of 1960's and 70s pop, it would be easy
for a band as talented as Dr. Dog to come across as fake. Thankfully,
the sounds they coaxed out of an 8-track recorder on their first
release are proven to be genuine on We All Belong - heartfelt,
honest songs that have a timeless quality built in, and production
that allows the cracks and crevices to be explored. We All Belong
is a retro-sounding album that carries none of the burden of such a
description. $14.00
Recent Releases You May Have Missed:
Taj Weekes and Adowa - Deidem CD
The Giving Tree Band - Unified Folk Theory (2 CDs)
Turbo Pro Project - Daydream CD
Moly - Post Crisis Reflection Agenda CD
Zappa Plays Zappa - 2 DVD set or Deluxe 5-disc set
Global Noize CD
The Roots - Rising Down CD/LP
Jamie Lidell - Jim CD
Bombadil - A Buzz, A Buzz CD
Portishead - Third CD
Pete Francis - Iron Sea & The Cavalry CD
New Releases Coming Soon:
May 13 - Electric Apricot - Quest For Festeroo DVD (pre-order)
Chuck Leavell - Live in Germany: Green Leaves & Blue Notes CD
May 20 - The National - A Skin, A Night DVD + The Virginia EP (pre-order)
Sonny Landreth - From the Reach CD
May 27 - moe. - Warts and All Vol. 6 (3 CDs) (pre-order)
Ozric Tentacles - Sunrise Festival CD/DVD (pre-order)
June 3 - Tea Leaf Green - Taught to Be Proud (re-release)
June 10 - Railroad Earth - Amen Corner CD
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges CD/LP
Robert Walter - Cure All CD (moved from April) (pre-order)
The Infamous Stringdusters CD (pre-order)
June 24 - Scrapomatic - Sidewalk Caesars CD
July - Sound Tribe Sector Nine - Peaceblaster CD
July 22 - Dr. Dog - Fate CD/LP
Latest News and Reviews:
Bombadil Interview
Monolith Festival Announced
STS9 Tour & Album
Top 25 for April 2008:
1- Grace Potter - Original Soul
2- SOJA - Get Wiser
3- Slightly Stoopid - Jazz Fest 2005
4- SOJA - Get Wiser DVD
5- Allman Brothers Band - Jazz Fest 2007
6- G. Love and Special Sauce - Jazz Fest 2005
7- The New Deal - Live: Late Night CD
8- SOJA - Peace in a Time of War
9- The Brew - Back to the Woods
10- Spearhead - Live in Alaska
11- Derek Trucks Band - Live at Georgia Theatre
12- Woods Tea Company - The Passage
13- Ryan Montbleau Band - Patience on Friday
14- New Monsoon - V
15- MO2 - DSD
16- The Earth Will Swallow You DVD
17- Jam Cam Chronicles - Wanee 2007 DVD
18- Laura Reed & Deep Pocket - Soul:Music
19- The Slip - Aliveacoustic
20- Various Artists - Funky Kids
21- Bonerama - Bringing it Home
22- The Burnin' Smyrnans - Travel Along
23- Phish - The White Tape
24- The Ragbirds - Wanderlove
25- Yonder Mountain String Band - Mountain Tracks Vol. 5
Staff Picks:
Bryan: Moly - Post Crisis Reflection Agenda
Lee: The Brew - Back to the Woods
Robie: Unwed Sailor - Little Wars
Sherry: Taj Weekes & Adowa - Deidem
Trevor: YMSB - Mountain Tracks Vol. 5
Upcoming Festivals:
The Day Celebration - 5/9 - 5/10 - Buckhead, GA - http://thedaycelebration.com
Joshua Tree - 5/16 - 5/18 - Joshua Tree, CA - http://joshuatreemusicfestival.com
Mayflowers Fest - 5/16 - 5/18 - Garrettsville, OH - http://www.nlqp.com
Desert Rocks - 5/22 - 5/25 - Moab, UT - http://www.desertrocks.org
*Asheville Music Jamboree - 5/23 - 5/25 - Asheville, NC - http://www.amjam.net
DelFest - 5/23 - 5/25 - Cumberland, MD - http://www.delfest.com
Summer Camp - 5/23 - 5/25 - Chillicothe, IL - http://www.summercampfestival.com
Sasquatch Festival - 5/24 - 5/26 - George, WA - http://sasquatchfestival.com
Mountain Jam - 5/30 - 6/1 - Hunter, NY - http://www.mountainjam.com
Crawfish Fest - 5/30 - 6/1 - Augusta, NJ - http://www.crawfishfest.com
Summer Kick-Off - 5/30 - 6/1 - Garrettsville, OH - http://www.nlqp.com
*look for the HGMN Store at this event!
Video of the Week:
The Brew live on 4/13/07!
Thanks for reading, and have a great week!
Bryan Rodgers http://www.homegrownmusic.net
http://www.myspace.com/hgmn
