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New Additions to the Catalog:

The Burnin' Smyrnans - Travel Along CD - Florida's finest funk and jam journeymen are back with their second album! Travel Along moves between rock, fusion, reggae, jazz, funk, and even more styles, creating an expansive, rewarding trip through this up-and-coming band's world. $14.00

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Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Lil Tae Rides Again CD/LP - Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey re-awakens with Lil Tae Rides Again, their most idiosyncratic album yet. The new recording - the band's fourth on Hyena Records and first studio effort in three years - will surprise even those predisposed to JFJO's mercurial nature. Electronic music eccentric Tae Meyulks was called upon to produce. He and JFJO tracked, arranged, mixed and mastered the album at his Tulsa studio over the course of 2007. Additionally during this period, founding members Brian Haas and Reed Mathis amicably parted ways with longtime drummer Jason Smart, filling the slot with 22-year old Josh Raymer. The 11 tracks on Lil Tae Rides Again find the Tulsa-based trio sculpting ambient soundscapes characterized by dreamlike atmospherics, minimalist melodies and subliminally diametrical themes. CD $11.98; LP Vinyl $16.98

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The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder - John, Paul, Tom and Ringo (2 DVDs) - On April 25, 1975, John Lennon gave what was to be his last televised interview. As he spoke with Tom Snyder on The Tomorrow Show, no one suspected he was about to take an extended hiatus from public life. And no one could have predicted that Tom would rebroadcast the interview 5 years later - in memoriam, the day after Lennon's tragic death. This interview with John Lennon that re-aired on December 9, 1980 is one of three conversations Tom had with former members of The Beatles. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were enjoying solo career at the times of their interviews, and their comments provide further insight into the effects of Beatlemania on their lives. $22.00

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Yohimbe Brothers - Freedom Now DVD - With Yohimbe Brothers, guitarist Vernon Reid (ex-Living Colour) joins forces with his New York buddy DJ Logic to create a fusion sound at the crossroads of funk, rap, psychedelic and Latino rhythms. This film, shot during a Banlieues Bleues 2005 concert, experiments with the image/sound relationship using a VJ technique in postproduction that consists of recreating the conditions of live multicam to treat each track with specific graphics, colorization, double exposure, distortions or typographic images. The first-ever Yohimbe Brothers DVD can be experienced as an exploration of the particular resonances between image and sound in the tradition of the great psychedelic trips of the 1960's and 70's. $19.99

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Woods Tea Company - The Passage CD - This is the 9th release of a Woods Tea Co. recording. In the fall of 2003 the Woods Tea Co. released a DVD titled "An Evening With The Woods Tea Co from the Vergennes Opera House." It was the last release of the Rusty, Mike, Howard & Chip quartet. At the beginning of 2006, plans were made to produce a new studio recording and some initial tracks were completed. In July 2006, Chip was hit by a truck while on his motorcycle near his home in New Hampshire and died in October. We managed during the next 10 months to sustain our schedule with numerous guest artists. On August 15, 2007 Rusty died of a sudden heart attack. Our founder and leader was taken from us and the process of grieving and surviving began again. It would have been easy to postpone this recording; instead we've used this project to focus on the future and allow the spirits of our late comrades to guide us. Chip appears on two tracks (Saratoga and December's Child). $14.00

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Jackie Greene - Giving Up the Ghost CD - You may have seen this up-and-coming performer with Phil Lesh and Friends recently! Named "The Prince of Americana" by the New York Times, Jackie Greene is steeped in country, blues, jazz, rock and folk traditions, defying easy categorization. Performing live with a guitar and a harmonica rack, Greene has accelerated past initial cries of the new Dylan and has managed to forge a unique musical vision. With four distinctive albums under his belt, Greene's Giving Up The Ghost is an energetic showcase of folk, blues and rock that he has taken to another level. Produced by Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), Giving Up the Ghost also features collaborations with Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan), Mic Gillette (Tower of Power), Dave Hidalgo (Los Lobos), Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead), Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello) and others. $14.00

Also Available from Jackie Greene:
Broken Hearts, Dusty Roads DVD  $11.99
The DIG Years 2001-2005 CD  $16.99
American Myth CD  $16.99
Gone Wanderin' CD $15.99/LP $19.99
Rusty Nails CD  $15.99

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Annuals - Wet Zoo EP - This void-filling EP should get fans of this up-and-coming North Carolina band by until the next full-length! If you liked their first disc, you'll be super excited for the new album once you hear these tracks! All the emotional, celebratory, and heartbreaking elements are intact in this deeper sound. Features 3 new Annuals tracks, plus 2 tracks from their pop-rocking alter-ego, Sunfold (all the band members are the same)! $5.99

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The Gibson Brothers - Iron & Diamonds CD - With Iron & Diamonds, Eric and Leigh have taken their rightful place on the American jukebox. The Gibsons have made a conscious effort to co-write most of the songs on this album. By using their own band and a single microphone for their duet vocals, you hear exactly what you hear in a live show: a tight ensemble that plays to the song, toneful and nuanced lead and duet harmonies, and songs that can move you to tears or to the dance floor. $15.99

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We have also rounded out our Boards of Canada collection now that WARP has switched distribution:

Trans-Canada Highway EP  $9.99
The Campfire Headphase CD  $14.99
Geogaddi CD  $14.99
Music Has The Right To Children CD  $14.99
Twoism CD  $14.99
In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country EP  $6.99

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Due to a manufacturing error, the vinyl release of DeVotchKa's A Mad And Faithful Telling has been moved to June 18. We apologize for any inconvenience, and you may still pre-order the album.

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Recent Releases You May Have Missed:

SOJA - Get Wiser Live DVD
The Wood Brothers - Loaded CD
South Austin Jug Band - Strange Invitation CD
Various Artists - Funky Kidz CD
American Babies CD
The Black Keys - Attack & Release CD/Vinyl LP
Ani DiFranco - Live At Babeville DVD
Unwed Sailor - Little Wars CD
Steel Pulse - Door of No Return DVD
Some Things Should Never Be Digital T-Shirt

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New Releases Coming Soon:

April 15 - The Dixie Bee-Liners - Ripe CD (pre-order)
Yonder Mountain String Band - Mountain Tracks Vol. 5 (2 CDs) (pre-order)
Widespread Panic - Free Somehow Vinyl LP (pre-order)
Robert Walter - Cure All CD (pre-order)

April 22 - Tea Leaf Green - Seeds Box Set (pre-order)
Flight of the Conchords CD (pre-order)
Wetlands Preserved: The Story of an Activist Rock Club DVD (pre-order)

April 29 - Global Noize CD (DJ Logic, Denson, Popper, Worrell, Billy Martin, etc)
Bombadil - A Buzz, A Buzz CD
Portishead - Third CD
Zappa Plays Zappa - Live Multi-DVD/CD sets
Jamie Lidell - Jim CD

May 6 - The Brakes - Tale of Two Cities CD
The Brew - Back to the Woods CD (pre-order)

May 13 - Electric Apricot - Quest For Festeroo DVD

May 20 - John McLaughlin - Meeting of the Minds DVD
John McLaughlin - Floating Point CD

May 27 - moe. - Warts and All Vol. 6 (3 CDs)
Ozric Tentacles - Sunrise Festival CD/DVD

June 10 - Railroad Earth - Amen Corner CD

July 22 - Dr. Dog - Fate CD/LP

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Latest News and Reviews:

Caribou - Cat's Cradle show review
Lotus - Higher Ground show review
Belated ECHO Project Photo Gallery
Umphrey's & STS9 Tour

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Top 25 Sellers For March 2008:

1- Bonerama - Bringing It Home
2- Grace Potter - Original Soul
3- Entrain - Just A Matter of Time
4- Derek Trucks Band - Live at Georgia Theatre
5- Ryan Montbleau - Patience On Friday
6- Various Artists - Home Grown 7
7- Xavier Rudd - Good Spirit DVD
8- Allman Brothers Band - Jazz Fest 2007
9- SOJA - Peace In A Time Of War
10- Various Artists - Home Grown 5
11- The Black Crowes - Warpaint
12- Phish - The White Tape
13- Ryan Montbleau Band - One Fine Color
14- Peter Rowan - Crucial Country
15- Xavier Rudd - Good Spirit CD
16- moe. - Sticks and Stones
17- New Monsoon - V
18- ekoostik Hookah - Under Full Sail: It All Comes Together
19- The Disco Biscuits - Trance Fusion Radio 1
20- Donna the Buffalo - self-titled
21- Laura Reed and Deep Pocket - Soul:Music
22- The New Mastersounds - Live at La Cova
23- Sound Tribe Sector Nine - Artifact
24- Bassnectar - Mesmerizing the Ultra
25- The Disco Biscuits - Progressions DVD

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Staff Picks:

Bryan: Ani DiFranco - Live at Babeville DVD
Lee: Various Artists - Funky Kidz
Robie: The Wood Brothers - Loaded
Sherry: The Burnin' Smyrnans - Travel Along
Trevor: The Burnin' Smyrnans - Travel Along

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Upcoming Festivals:

Shakori Hills - 4/17 - 4/20 - Silk Hope, NC - http://www.shakorihills.org 
Camp Jam - 4/18 - 4/20 - Lacochee, FL - http://www.campjamfestival.com 
McDowell Mountain Fest - 4/25 - 4/26 - Scottsdale, AZ - http://www.mmmf.net

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Video of the Week:

Percy Hill Live at Rochester Opera House Rochester, NH. 9/22/02

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Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Bryan Rodgers http://www.homegrownmusic.net
http://www.myspace.com/hgmn

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Interview by: Chris Robie

Photos by:John Ewing, Adam McCullough, and Michael Weintrob

HGMN: What is your role with Sullivan Hall?

J: I wear a lot of hats with Sullivan Hall.  Primarily, I work with the concert promoters, CEG Inc, who exclusively book Sullivan Hall.  My role ranges from being one of three who research, listen and book new local and touring acts with promoting our confirmed shows through print, media, Internet and guerilla marketing.  Basically, it's my goal to book great bands and make sure people know about the shows. On top of the back end work, I also work the door at the club and run the shows.  To work at the venue, you must make sure bands know what it is they need to do and put on a smooth, successful show...while dealing with fans, press and managers there for the bands.  You have to maintain order and keep everyone informed so the show moves on time.  You over see the whole production of the show.

HGMN: I used to book for a club in Atlanta and I pretty much did the same thing. I think working the door was the most stress for me.  Do you work the club every show or do you alternate with someone else?

J: I am one of 3 consistent people who work the door.  Each person represents CEG. and on occasion there are 2 of us working the door on larger adv. sale events.  It's not really stressful but you definitely deal with some obnoxious people.  You learn how to handle them and if you can't, security there has their way with them. We have certain rules and standards that are important for us to stick to so that allows less wiggle room and less stress for certain things.

HGMN: What do you love most about your job and what do you dislike most about your job?

J: I love my job on those nights where the music really works together and all the bands have put in efforts toward promotion, to their fans and most important, their show.  When people come up to me and tell me they love the band or that they had a great night.  I love seeing people interacting and getting really excited about hearing a new band.  I love getting an EPK and really being surprised by how good the music is and feeling like I can offer a band a great opportunity.  I love hearing new bands that play well and have a great vibe. The overall love is of the music and being a person who aids in the efforts of putting together a great show is the main factor in loving the job.

    What I dislike most, is the unprofessionalism many bands do have in their emails and personally at their show.  There is never a reason to feel greater or deserving of a particular show.  How you act directly relates to the overall memory of your band.  One thing that is the golden advice for anyone to know in this business is simply to be kind to anyone you're working with directly.  Many people in this business do wear many hats and you never know when you'll be dealing with them again.  Bad blood in this industry remains.  There are bands that have screwed the club over in the past and on shear principle, have severed their business relationship with us. There isn't too much to hate.  I suppose it can be difficult to be monetarily successful.  Many people work for small commission or payment to do what they love.  Though there are plenty of ways to make a nice living.

 
HGMN: I've heard many good things about Sullivan Hall. What's it like?

J: Sullivan Hall truly has an intimate feel for both the artist and the fan. CEG is a company that has over a decade of experience in booking and managing bands, promoting shows, working with artists and being live music fans.  We are all friends with lots of bands and managers.  When Lion's Den was set to be redone (Sullivan Hall is in the same space as the former Lion's Den), we really took time in creating the best experience for the artist based on the concerns and needs from bands we know.  The stage is 20'x20', we installed a brand new Meyer PA system and the last addition was the intelligent lighting that REALLY creates the ambiance seen rarely in smaller venues.  So the sound is crisp, the sightlines are great and it's a really positive music experience.

HGMN: What's your typical crowd like?

J: It really depends on the shows; it ranges from 18-60's.  More music lovers, than hipsters.  We have dancers, hippies, and Wall Street types.  Many mid-20 something.  I find that the majority of people who show up for our headliner acts, really love the smaller music venue vibe and the music.  Plenty of 50+ ladies dance with the employees at the club. We get those people who are those out and about New York City people. (does that make sense?)

HGMN: I lived in Manhattan for 6 months. I know what you mean. Do your shows compete with any of the other local venues in your area?

J: In general, we compete with clubs of similar capacity and similar booking choices.  We are 1 block north of Bleecker Street where you know you're guaranteed live music any day you pass by.  We are trying to appeal to the live music fan who will get used to the level of shows Sullivan Hall presents.   There will always be high competition in this city.  But I think that we're already creating our niche fan bases by the music we book.  We do a lot of shows with bands from New Orleans on a constant basis.  Anders Osborne, Trombone Shorty, Bonerama and Big Sam's Funky Nation have all been repeat shows (since Lion's Den) and I always see many familiar faces.  Same goes for our reggae shows with SOJA and Dub is a Weapon.


HGMN: You had Marco Benevento take up temporary residency there and he brought along a lot of special guests. What was that all about?

J: It started with Marco playing the Lion's Den back in Aug. 2007 after the first of the club renovations with Garaj A Benevento (Stanton Moore, Mike Dillon, Skerik and Benevento) and loving the venue.  We proposed a residency that would coincide with the opening of Sullivan Hall.  Many special guests were simply a part of this because Marco had relationships with them.  I think he really wanted an opportunity to bring everyone together.  Now that Tonic closed and with the release of "Invisible Baby", it was a situation that lent itself to both parties.  The residency was killer and each week was something new.  The residency was a great opportunity for musicians to check out the new space and for us to really establish the club to live music fans in the city.  Marco Benevento is coming back April 11th/12th with Eric Kranso, Briggan Krauss and Bobby Previte for a 2 night run.  The key is making the artists feel comfortable and putting on great shows to work with them again.  Marco's a great guy and a sick performer.


HGMN: I saw some pic's of Warren Haynes & Kaki King on the venue's website. Were they some of the special guests involved? Did they just come in and play because Marco invited them? How did that work exactly?

J: Well Kaki King was a confirmed guest the 4 week of the residency.  Ivan Neville sat in with him that same week.  And Warren Haynes came because he shares the same agent as Neville.  So Haynes was a surprise.  We got a call the day before letting us know he was coming down.

HGMN: Tea Leaf Green performed for your grand opening. Was that planned?

J: It was planned, yes.  CEG has been working with Tea Leaf Green for many years now and developing the band in the NYC market.  From 2 sold out shows at The Knitting Factory to playing at Irving Plaza, the band has an established working relationship with CEG and are friends of ours.  The show was only confirm a few weeks before, but Mike and Howie, the owners and partners, of CEG noticed their tour dates were in New York and free on Jan. 1st. There were advertising restrictions since the band was performing with Gov't Mule at The Beacon that Sat. before, so we had 2 days to get the word out and sell tickets.  Ultimately selling out the night.

HGMN: What's the most outrageous band rider you ever received?

J: Nothing crazy...many of the artists prefer Organic foods...not cold water...or lots of whiskey.
 
HGMN: Do you have anything special planned for the near future?

J: Oh yes.  I mentioned Marco Benevento's back, but Fri. April 4th, Big Sam's Funky Nation are having their album release party and we finally have wireless at the club so radiojohnson.net is setting up to stream the whole show live!  We're really excited about this new ability.  This will open up a new way for people to learn about the club and offer bands/artists a way to work out live feeds during their shows. Over the next few months, a lot has been confirmed.  During Green Apple Music Festival (4/17-4/20) we have Charlie Hunter Trio, The Heavy Pets, The Frontier Brothers, Anders Osborne and Sullivan Hall is hosting the Official Wrap Party of Green Apple with Surprise Me Mr. Davis featuring The Slip and Nathan Moore with special guest The Low Anthem and Jonah Smith. I think Sullivan Hall's line-up mixed with the vibe of Greenwich Village and the intimacy of the venue size will really offer itself to be one of the leading small music venues in New York.  The club is run and operated by music fans and we have a killer stream team who aid in the success and awareness of the shows.  We're excited for what will come.

Show Listings: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/event/EventListings?pl=cegsulliavn&orgId=211...
Official venue web site: www.sullivanhallnyc.com