This week saw the reissue of Paul and Linda McCartney‘s album, RAM, originally released on May 21, 1971. It speaks to the period of Paul and Linda’s life when they spent a simple, happy time together on their farm on the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland.

As I listen to the original twelve tracks many warm feelings come flooding back to me. Rosemary played this recording all the time when we were dating in 1971. It was an 8-track favorite in the Chevrolet Monte Carlo audio system.

Reel forward to 2012 where you now have the 24 Bit 96 kHz High Resolution digital edition which contains 8 bonus tracks plus 2 digital only tracks.

For the ultimate collector you also have the prized deluxe box set edition.

Sir Paul McCartney and the MPL Communications Ltd. team have performed a stellar job in unarchiving and packaging the McCartney catalog. RAM makes a fine addition to the deluxe box set series as Sir Paul explains:

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Waging Heavy Peace is the title of the Neil Young autobiography due later this year (October 2, 2012)

Neil Young is scheduled to appear at BookExpo America in New York City on June 6th at the Special Events Hall at the Javits Center. He will be interviewed at lunch time that day by poetess, author, singer/songwriter Patti Smith. Many people don’t know that Patti Smith first got her start in the music industry as a music journalist for CBS Records. Her deep affection for Neil Young and his music should make this an insightful discussion.

I find this public appearance to be sympatico in that both artists have a new recording coming out the day before June 5th. Patti Smith does a Neil Young recording on her next album Banga. I wrote about the synergy between Patti Smith and Neil Young last month on this blog, click the link in Related articles to review that post.

“A Conversation with Neil Young and Patti Smith” is free to all convention attendees.  Seating will be provided on a first come, first served basis.  Lunch will not be provided but guests are free to bring their own lunch. For more information about BEA, please visit www.bookexpoamerica.com and connect with BEA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. Best Brown Bag Luch Ever!

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The day started on a high note and has been playing strong ever since. I was waiting for the morning coffee to kick in as The Howard Stern Show began its Rock Day over the Sirius/XM wireless radio. I quickly learned that Slash was coming into the studio to talk to Howard Stern to promote his new CD, Apocalyptic Love (5/22). His interview was as compelling as it was intimate. I’m listening to the replay of the interview as I write this post. Amazing musical career. I especially like his vocalist Myles Kennedy, their juxtaposition is striking

Slash’s interview was followed by Gregg Allman‘s in-studio appearance and interview in support of his new autobiography, My Cross to Bear. 

Today was also the release date of the Tedeschi Trucks Band Live double CD, Everybody’s Talkin. I have my copy in my hot little hands and I can’t wait to start listening to it on the Bose Sound System after the Gregg Allman interview.

I am eager to relive some of the live tracks that were recorded at the Tedeschi Trucks Band’s concert we attended last year on October 29th in Bridgeport, CT along with all the other tracks. I have also downloaded the extra track, “Simple Song / Take You Higher”.

Here is the video of Everybody’s Talkin filmed at The Klein in Bridgeport, Ct.

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1) Neil Young & CrazyHorse – Americana

2) Patti Smith – Banga

3) The Beach Boys – That’s Why God Made The Radio (Ordered)

4) Joe Walsh – Analog Man

This will be Joe’s first solo studio recording in 20 years. The 10-track album was produced by Jeff Lynne and Joe Walsh with Tommy Lee James co-writing some of the tracks. “Lucky That Way,” one of Walsh’s favorites off the album, speaks to the extraordinary life he’s lived, even through the hurdles, and features Ringo Starr, his real life brother-in-law, on drums. The song ironically serves as a mature sequel to Walsh’s famed “Life’s Been Good” and for Walsh, life is just that.

Watch this video of Joe Walsh where he explains in inimitable rambling style, “Life’s Been Good” before he performs at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, California.

I stayed up last night to watch the season ending SNL with Mick Jagger as the host. He did an admirable job in that role. I especially liked his self-parody at the karaoke bar. His poignant rendition of “Satisfaction” closed out that bit with flair.

My other favorite sketch was The Californians which is a hysterical bit about the California fixation with driving  directions intermixed with soap opera drama. Jagger as the Dad was very funny, especially with those over sized glasses and the posing in the mirror scenes.

The musical highlight for me was Mick Jagger performing with The Foo Fighters (who just three hours earlier were playing the Bamboozle Festival in Asbury Park, NJ.). They performed “19th Nervous Breakdown” which segued into “It’s Only Rock n Roll(And I Like It)”. This is the point of the night that Mick Jagger truly hit his stride  The transition to “It’s Only Rock N Roll” was awesome. Jagger then sang and moved as only he can in an amazing combined way. He was so “on” I was totally mesmerized.

Mick Jagger also performed with Arcade Fire and Jeff Beck, which were good song segments but nothing was as powerful and captivating as The Foo Fighters live segment.

The send off for Kristen Wiig was very touching and emotional.

There are a couple of radio interviews that Carlos Santana has done in conjunction with Shape Shifter that are very insightful and informative that you will want to hear.

The first radio interview took place with Native America Calling on April 26, 2012.  The download of that show, “A Tribute To Tribal Nations” can be heard here: http://www.nativeamericacalling.com/ram/2012/apr/042612.m3u

Native America Calling is a live call-in program linking public radio stations, the Internet and listeners together in a thought-provoking national conversation about issues specific to Native communities. Each program engages noted guests and experts with callers throughout the United States and is designed to improve the quality of life for Native Americans. Native America Calling is heard on 52 stations in the United States and in Canada by approximately 500,000 listeners each week.

The second Santana Shape Shifter radio interview took place on Wednesday May 16, 2012 on Rockline.

You can replay the Rockline Show here: http://www.rocklineradio.com/replay/replay.php

Enjoy and Viva Santana!

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I received an e-mail from the Neil Young mailing list today that provides a Web page with the links for all 11 Americana song art works.

This is my favorite song art so far

The third video for Americana, “Clementine”  made its exclusive premiere today on AOL‘s the Boot.

http://www.theboot.com/2012/05/18/neil-young-and-crazy-horse-clementine-video/

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Neil Young has resurged my audiophile interest with his focused strategy to bring high resolution audio to music listeners. I support his initiative, happily denoting he has achieved the high resolution audio goal he set out to accomplish with his next recording, Americana. This recording will be available on BluRay and 180 Grade Vinyl where you will hear 100% of the audio.

On the Bluray product you can hear all of the nuances of the CrazyHorse sound exactly as recorded by John Hanlon at Audio Casablanca Studio. If you want the best, now you have a choice. The Americana Bluray also contains 12 videos of the Americana songs, with an alternate version of “Clementine,” plus documentary footage of the Americana choir as it was being recorded at East West Studios in LA. (Be advised the BluRay edition is not available until July 10th vs. the other products released on June 5th)

If you want to be part of Neil Young & CrazyHorse Americana history on June 5th, 2012 pre-order the high resolution audio recording 180G 2 LP vinyl + lyric book edition.

It’s important to note that in order to get the full benefit of 100% audio you will need a high resolution audio playback unit. This will mean a high fidelity turntable, receiver and speakers or a Sony Home Audio (Home Theater) system.

Americana is a work of art on other levels too. Shepard Fairey, prominent street artist has teamed up with Neil Young to create the artwork for the rocker’s new album with CrazyHorse, Americana.

Fairey isn’t just tagging the cover, he’s creating an original painting for each track on the album. The artwork will be for sale at a one-day private exhibition at Santa Monica’s Perry Rubenstein Gallery on June 1 and is expected to be on display for the masses in upcoming music videos and the staging of Young’s “Americana” tour.

Written in the 1800s based on an old Negro spiritual, this song refers to the second coming of Jesus, and “she” is the chariot Jesus is coming on. Some interpret this as the end of the world. Others have said that “she” refers to union organizer Mary Harris “Mother” Jones going to promote formation of labor unions in the Appalachian coal-mining camps. The Americana arrangement continues the folk process with a new melody, a new title and a combination of lyric sources. – Neil Young (Americana Liner Notes)

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I begin with the Santana album by Fillmore West poster artist Lee Conklin, my favorite album cover of all 36 Santana album covers.

I was further blown away by the art of Mati Klarwein whose art became the cover for the second Santana album, Abraxas.

We then jump ahead in time to my favorite of all the visual artists, Michael Rios who has designed five Santana album covers, but is best known for the art for Supernatural.

I am very taken with the artwork by Rudy Gutierrez that became the cover for Shaman.

The cover art of Shape Shifter was created by famed Comanche artist Rance Hood.  Rance Hood is one of the few Native American artists who still paints in the manner which echoes the traditional Indian culture and spirituality of the past.  His themes are mystical, spiritual, developing his work through the customs and religious practices which were passed down to him.

It’s such a treat to finally have Shape Shifter available after all these years of anticipation.

I will be publishing a more comprehensive album review along with other thoughts and interpretations later this week.

Here is the back cover of the Shape Shifter CD which lists the tracks and provides Carlos’s heartfelt message that we should all honor and respect the indigenous people of all nations.

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I was researching The Beach Boys on the Web this past week when I happened upon the Portal: The Beach Boys from wikipedia. It’s a central clearing house of knowledge and information about America’s greatest rock and roll group.

My only issue with Portal: The Beach Boys is that in the wikipedia Music Portal, The Beach Boys are not a sub-category, rather their information section is considered a Page. I’d like to see their content elevated to a sub-category level in the future

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Mohegan Sun Casino Arena

May 12, 2012

My music dream came true last night. I finally got to see The Beach Boys live in concert with Brian Wilson. It was the most entertaining and comprehensive concert I ever saw. The love in the room was genuine between artist and fans. The warm harmonies of The Beach Boys melted in my soul all night.

The evening was split into two parts, Beach Boys the early days and post 1965. The concert was inter-woven around several musical themes, beach music, doo-wop, cars, Pet Sounds, and of course the hits.

There were also six songs that were completely new to me, which I loved hearing. I love when a music artist reaches deeper into their catalog and features songs they believe strongly in performing for their audience.

Mike Love made a special point to thank and appreciate the Mohegan Sun audience for being the first concert date to sell out for the tour. You couldn’t help but feel that this energized and further validated The Beach Boys tour plans.

Brian Wilson sat at a beautiful white grand piano. His presence was commanding and respectful. I watched him intently all night long. I enjoyed seeing him wave to the audience and blow them a kiss at one point. His happiness could be felt strongly throughout the evening.

The second set started with The Beach Boys standing around Brian Wilson on piano singing their rich harmonies, “Add Some Music To Your Day“. The feeling of The Beach Boys commiserating in the studio came across as I reflected on countless studio session photographs I have seen over the decades. The closeness they all warmly share was the  perfect way to begin the second part of the show

You could feel the love and sentiment for Dennis Wilson and Carl Wilson as they were included in the evening’s music vision. I was struck by the Dennis Wilson video segment. The inclusion of Dennis Wilson singing “Forever” as the group joined in gave me goosebumps. I especially liked how last night’s show came full circle for us as the live concert footage of Dennis Wilson was filmed the last (and only other) time we saw The Beach Boys live in Central Park in July of 1971. This formed a magic connection with The Beach Boys across space and time.

It was especially poignant that Brian Wilson was watching his brother Carl sing “God Only Knows. The sentiment in his face spoke of his heart for Carl. I really love the religious aspect of The Beach Boys. Their music is a vessel of God to us. It was loving to share Carl Wilson with a live appearance and the video memories as part of the evening.

If I had to choose one song of the 45 songs they played for us that was the most memorable the one I am still hearing in my heart would be “Heroes and Villians” from The Smile Sessions. The lush studio recording techniques were recreated admirably. I was spellbound throughout the song.

They fit the new single from the forthcoming new studio album, “That’s Why God Made The Radio” in perfectly. It matches and accents their sound magnificently. Here is a YouTube Video a fan shared of that point of the show.

They played The Beach Boys song I wanted to hear most as the first of the three song encore, “Kokomo” and it sounded grand.

We left feeling very satisfied and fulfilled by this momentous night of music by America’s greatest rock and roll group, The Beach Boys.

The Beach Boys’ Set List

Part 1 – 22 Songs

“Do it Again,” “Catch a Wave,” “Hawaii,” “Don’t Back Down,” “Surfin’ Safari,” “Surfer Girl,” “Please Let Me Wonder,” “You’re So Good to Me,” “Wendy,” “Marcella,” “Then I Kissed Her,” “Why Do Fools Fall in Love,” “When I Grow Up (To be a Man),” “Cotton Fields,” “Be True To Your School,” “Disney Girls,” “Don’t Worry Baby,” “Little Honda,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “409,” “Shut Down,” “I Get Around”

Part 2 – 20 songs 

“Add Some Music to Your Day,” “California Dreamin’,” “Sloop John B,” “Wouldn’t It be Nice,” “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times,” “Forever,” “Sail on, Sailor,” “Heroes and Villains,” “In My Room,” “All This is That,” “This Whole World,” “God Only Knows,” “That’s Why God Made the Radio,” “California Girls,” “All Summer Long,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” “Rock and Roll Music,” “Do You Wanna Dance?” “Barbara Ann,” “Surfin’ USA ,”

Encore – 3 songs

“ Kokomo ,” “Good Vibrations,” “Fun Fun, Fun.” 

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Larry Marano/Getty Images

This is the song I am most eager to hear of the 40+ songs they will perform tonight. I believe it is set listed as an encore song.

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I have listened to Bob Marley with renewed hope and purpose the past few days. He reaches deep inside my consciousness. I keep hearing his lyrics as he’s urges me to answer my convictions, to “Strive for More”.

Open Your Eyes, Look Within

Are You Satisfied (With The Life You’re Living)?

Exodus – Copyright Universal Music Group 2012

I am jazzed for the documentary Marley and the extended soundtrack.

One Love and Jah Rastafari, Bob Marley, you live on!

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The main building of the School of Visual Arts on East 23rd Street in Manhattan, New York City. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Laurie Anderson continues to break through to new plateaus in the artistic landscape where art meets technology defined by minimalism and expression.

I recall that in the early 80s I was just beginning my 30 year technology career as a programmer/analyst. I was looking for new musical horizons and intellectual influences. Laurie Anderson hit the music scene with “O Superman” and her début recording, Big Science. My music psyche gained a new dimensional level with the sounds and textures she created on our behalf

I am impassioned to learn that Laurie Anderson was  the commencement speaker for the School of Visual Arts Class of 2012  which took place at Radio City Music Hall today. It wasn’t that long ago that our son, Matthew graduated from SVA(2008) as a graphics design major. His commencement was also held at Radio City Music Hall.

Her companion project is an art exhibition coördinated with the School of Visual Arts and Vito Schnabel. This will be the first exhibition of the Laurie Anderson’s paintings in New York. On display will be a new series of paintings that bring the scale of the theater onto the canvas. I hope we can get down to NYC to see her visual art on display.

BOAT
MAY 12 – JUNE 23, 2012
126 LEROY ST NEW YORK, NY 10014

Painting is like improvising in music. Making these big gestures feels like playing the violin. So many of my projects lately have become screen based or extremely theoretical. I wanted the physicality and scale of painting. Making paintings is the closest I’ve come to making songs. Even though they take up a lot of room I love them as unwieldy things. Much of my work comes from the theater world where sets are enormous. In fact, these paintings seem a bit on the small side.

Boat is based on the art project when Laurie Anderson stayed in A Room for London, a one-bedroom installation above the River Thames, from 24 – 25 March 2012. On the last night of her residency, she made a new sound piece, a radio show streamed live from the Room.

This week also brings another significant recognition of Anderson’s work: she has been named the first-ever distinguished artist-in-residence at EMPAC, the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. The residency provides Anderson with access to space, technology, and support for creative experimentation and brings her into ongoing dialogue with students and faculty at Rensselaer.

Laurie Anderson first came to EMPAC as a resident artist in 2009 to complete work on Delusion, a complex series of stories about longing, memory, and identity commissioned by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. Elements of the piece are featured in Anderson’s latest album,Homeland, released on Nonesuch Records in June 2010. At EMPAC, Anderson was able to try new ideas and integrate the diverse, multidisciplinary elements of the work, including music, visuals, altered voices, and electronic puppetry. Based on the success of the extensive working relationship between Anderson and EMPAC, founding Time-Based Arts Curator Kathleen Forde and Director Johannes Goebel proposed this new opportunity.

“It’s such a great honor to be the first distinguished artist-in-residence,” says Anderson. “Working with the crack technical and production teams and having access to EMPAC’s spectacular spaces and resources is such a dream. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity.”

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Thank You Sandi Bachom for filming this segment and adding to our memories of this historic event.

The Occupy This Album Record Release Party was a two and one-half hour celebration of the Occupy movement. Music and art now establishes an important voice for Occupy.

We witnessed a diverse cavalcade of artists with unique performing styles and textures. Reflecting today on who we saw and heard, as several performances were striking and novel.

First artist we got our groove on with was Taj Weekes & Adowa, funky reggae party, alright.  A little later we caught the legendary David Amram for the first time. His music is timeless and he is a wonderful multi-instrumentalist.

I was happy to see my Facebook friend Dylan Chambers, with his Dad, Lester Chambers of Chambers Brothers fame perform together.

Nanci Griffith did a fun song for us entitled, “Hell No (I’m Not Alright)”.

A band by the name of Ace Reporter rocked my socks off. Great energy.

Matt Pless played twice for us last night.

Much credit goes to Jason Samel, founder and executive director at Music for Occupy. We are grateful recipients of free tickets for last night’s event.

Jason, I placed our pre-order this morning, can’t wait to get the Occupy This Album 4 CD set.

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God willing, we’ll be attending the Occupy This Album Record Release Party tonight at the City Winery at 155 Varrick St in NYC, doors open at 7PM, where we will hear live music by DJ Logic, Michael Moore, Immortal Technique, Nanci Griffith, David Amram, Richard Barone, My Pet Dragon, Matt Pless, Ace Reporter, Chroma, Fear Nuttin Band, George Martinez and The Global Block Collective, Jennie Arnau, Rejectionist Frong, Greg Smith and Broken English, Los Cintron, and a couple of surprise guests. (We wonder who they will be appearing and performing for us, this is always the fun part, anticipating who will show up as surprise guests…).

We will see the début singing performance of Michael Moore tonight. He will be performing his Bob Dylan track, “The Times They Are A Changing”. There will be lots of new artists for us to get to know and enjoy. Let’s all support this very important cause.

Artists on the album include:

Ani DiFranco, UNKLE, David Amram, Joan Baez, Tom Chapin, Willie Nelson, Rain Phoenix, Patti Smith, Anti Flag, Girls Against Boys, Garland Jeffreys, New Party Systems Featuring Kyp Malone, Yoko Ono, Amanda Palmer, Dar Williams, The Mammals Featuring Pete Seeger, David Crosby & Graham Nash, George Martinez & The Global Block Collective, Jackson Browne, Yo La Tengo, The Guthrie Family, Matt Pless, Filmmaker Michael Moore, Mogwai and More!

The event will be hosted by the DJ’s of Occupational Hazards on WBAI 99.5 FM, John Murdock and Joey Gay!

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Should be a rocking time with classic hits from America’s greatest group. Here is a snapshot of the concert poster I took on my iPhone from the Mohegan Sun Electronic Poster Board.

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We watched the HBO Special last night, the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The show was taped at the Cleveland Public Hall in Cleveland, Ohio on April 14th. It was a very entertaining and well-coordinated event. I like that it was held in a huge arena in Cleveland because it allowed many more fans to attend than the annual event at the Waldorf-Astoria ballroom permits.

I wanted to watch this event primarily out of respect for Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys who had passed away on Friday. It was a sharp contrast to just see the two Beastie Boys approach the podium and accept their induction award. They read a message from Adam, MCA who was too ill to attend. It really reached my heart what he wrote for them both. So sad to lose MCA as we did.

Highlights of the event:

• John Mellencamp inducting Donovan. I loved the enthusiasm John Mellencamp expressed for Donovan. Mellencamp brought with him to the podium his personal copy of Donovan’s vinyl album, Fairytale which I dug seeing him do. Donovan’s induction has been way over due.
• Bette Midler inducting Laura Nyro. Her love and genuine emotion for Laura Nyro’s music affect epitomized how Laura Nyro won my heart as a music fan. So glad to see Laura Nyro finally recognized for her talent.

• The Guns and Roses music segment hit it perfectly. “Sweet Child of Mine” with Slash playing those chords and notes on his Gibson Goldtop guitar really did it for me. Axl Rose’s decision not to attend and accept his award was truly his blunder.
• I was moved to see the members of various groups like The Miracles, The Flames, Bill Haley and the Comets, Gene Vincent’s Blue Caps on the same stage, acknowledging their awards and admiration of their fans. You could so feel the love and mutual respect for these pioneers of music.
• Flea’s acceptance speech was my favorite acknowledgement of the night.The Red Hot Chili Peppers live music segment was the performance highlight of the evening. They played my favorite song, “By The Way”. Their energy levels are amazing.

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Occupy Wall Street (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Occupy This Album, a 4 disc compilation of music by, for, and inspired by, the Occupy Wall Street movement and the 99% available May 15th, 2012. Preorder this bundle now to receive the following: Occupy This Album CD and a MFO Shirt. 

We’ll be attending the Occupy This Album Record Release Party and Concert at the City Winery in New York City. It will be featuring Nanci Griffith, Michael Moore, Richard Barone and more on 5/8/12.

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Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez, Pat Metheny, Ben Williams

Pat Metheny is actively working a new jazz quartet called the Unity Band. The band consists of Chris Potter on saxophone (saw him play live with Herbie Hancock), who exudes an excellent phrasing and presence. The Unity Band features one of my favorite accent drummers, Antonio Sanchez who I have seen live twice with Pat Metheny. Antonio is a phenomenal drummer who draws me further in with his percussive stylings. Ben Williams on bass is the new musician to my ears. I am eager to hear his interplay and contributions with the Unity Band.

They have a new recording Unity Band available on June 12th from Nonesuch Records. The only way that you can hear the Unity Band right now is to pre-order the Unity Band CD. You will receive an instant download of the opening track, “New Year” and an autographed print from the album art which is suitable for framing.

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We’re going to take a chance on the Queen Extravaganza event. I like what I am reading and seeing about this Queen Tribute Show. It’s rare when original members of a rock superstar group go to this length to arrange for this level of extravaganza. Never having seen Queen when they performed together, back in the day, its nice to have this opportunity to witness this event. Plus the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT is just a stones throw away so we must attend

The pairing of Roger Taylor and Brian May with American Idol proves to be a striking combination. If this segment is just a hint at the 2 hour, 40 song tribute show, then we’re in for a fascinating entertainment experience.

Two of Queen’s original band mates and songwriters—legendary guitarist Brian May and iconic drummer Roger Taylor—are the masterminds behind The Queen Extravaganza. Roger Taylor, Queen’s drummer is the show’s producer and music director.

To guarantee that the touring show matches the fabled design and excitement of Queen at its live best, Taylor has enlisted a heavyweight production team headed by stage designer Mark Fisher. Fisher has been responsible for some of the most memorable rock concerts ever staged, including The Wall for Pink Floyd and every Rolling Stones show since 1989.

“The Queen Extravaganza will not be like a traditional tribute show,” says Taylor. “It is a brand new show specially designed to enable these new fans, together with fans of old, to celebrate the music of Queen in a heart-stopping event. It’s going to be very spectacular, it’s going to be very visual, there are going to be some shocks and some tremendous surprises. It will be a rock celebration in the Royal tradition.”

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Copyright 2012 Wolfgang's Vault, Photograph by Joe Sia

Reel it forward 42 years as Santana starts their next two-year Las Vegas engagement tonight, May 2nd at the House of Blues, Mandalay Bay. An Intimate Evening With Santana, Greatest Hits Live, Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Wishing Team Santana much success as they kick off an exciting series of concerts in their new, intimate,  interactive venue. We look forward to seeing the live representation of this set and stage design utilized on the Shape Shift Tour 2012 at the Comcast Theater in Hartford, Ct. on July 28th!

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Santana and The Allman Brothers Band will be co-headlining a six date East Coast tour this summer. They have a tour stop in Connecticut at the Comcast Theatre, Hartford, Ct. on Saturday July 28, 2012. Imagine the guitar wizardry of Carlos Santana, Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks all on the same stage on one night. We’ll all be shape shifting for sure.

Speaking of Shape Shifter, the date draws closer for the May 15 release of Shape Shifter the recording. Here is the video, inside the making of Shape Shifter.

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International Jazz Day Objectives:

• Jazz breaks down barriers and creates opportunities for mutual understanding and tolerance;
• Jazz is a vector of freedom of expression;
• Jazz is a symbol of unity and peace;
• Jazz reduces tensions between individuals, groups, and communities;
• Jazz fosters gender equality;
• Jazz reinforces the role youth play for social change;
• Jazz encourages artistic innovation, improvisation, new forms of expression, and inclusion of traditional music forms into new ones;
• Jazz stimulates intercultural dialogue and empowers young people from marginalized societies.

International Jazz Day itself will begin with a sunrise concert from Congo Square in New Orleans and end with a sunset concert at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York. Both concerts will be streamed live, the sunrise concert at 8am EDT, the sunset at 7:30pm EDT. Herbie Hancock is scheduled to appear at both and once again he will be joined by a galaxy of jazz stars from around the world—names like Terence Blanchard, Ellis Marsalis and Dianne Reeves in New Orleans, Candido, Robert Cray, Tony Bennett and Chaka Khan in New York. Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Quincy Jones are scheduled as co-hosts at the sunset concert.

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My membership in The Rock Poster Society has kept me in direct touch with famous rock poster artists and their monumental work. Yesterday I got to see the Fillmore East Rock Art Poster guru, David Edward Byrd.

The event began with a Rock Art Poster Fair that featured various poster sellers and several of the poster artists themselves. The centerpiece of the Rock Art Poster Fair was to witness the artist proofs of David Edward Byrd before we attended the exhibition and the talk by David Edward Byrd and Arnold Skolnick. I was blown away to see the artist proofs of David’s Jimi Hendrix Fillmore East posters. I intend to buy one of those proofs from his Web site this year.

I can’t decide between these two images below. The final poster feature The Jimi Hendrix Experience and is the final artwork. The first poster was David’s original poster, which I like the colors and lightning bolt effect of he chose for Jimi. Decisions, decisions…

We then went downstairs to see the Byrd/Skolnick, A Tale of Two Posters exhibit. The exhibition did great justice to both art icons. I learned how much more David Edward Byrd has accomplished beyond my understanding of him as the Fillmore East poster artist. He has made a major contribution to Broadway, Television and Film with classic posters and art for Godspell, Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Harry Potter. David Edward Byrd’s work is in a word, magnificent.

Arnold Skolnick educated us about his art contributions for nook covers, photography and painting. Yes he is the creator of the Woodstock poster that we all know and love, but he has an amazing dimensional ability with his art that is impressive.

We especially loved his photography book Love Songs.

The next event was a talk that featured both artists. Their discussion was informative, lively, revealing, filling us with laughter and respect. It was a great chance to learn more about them, their art and the stories behind famous posters and famous people like Bill Graham.

We had a lovely time at this event. The exhibition was well curated. The talk was very informative. Thank you Bethel Woods Center for the Arts for a fantastic weekend.

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• Rock Art Poster Fair – Woodstock Museum (musicofourheart.me)

Words and Songs Written By Jim Steinman. This is third best selling album of all time at 42 million albums.

What’s your favorite track on the album?

Mine is “Paradise By The Dashboard Lights” featuring the famous love duel between Meat Loaf and Ellen Foley. Listen for Todd Rundgren on guitar, Roy Bittan (E. Street Band) and Edgar Winter on saxophone.

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• Meat Loaf – Mad, Mad World Summer Tour (musicofourheart.me)

No Connecticut tour dates yet. I visualize him stopping in to play the MGM Grand Venue at Foxwoods but that’s just my guess…

The new album sounds great, I listened to it last night while I walked the treadmill. I liked the track “Our Love and Our Souls” which features Meat Loaf and Patti Russo together.

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New Album Info: Other album tracks include “Shelter” and “The Private Life of Bill and Sue”, both midtempo songs written by Wilson. He says the album will be all Beach Boys — no covers, no guests.

“Beaches in Mind”, “Spring Vacation” and “Daybreak Over the Ocean”, the last written by Love, are among the 12 to 15 songs being considered for the album, with some possibly ending up on a commemorative package, Love says. “Everybody’s got a lead on at least some of the songs.”

Wilson wrote “a suite that I’m just going to guess must be seven minutes long. There are beautiful strings on it,” Johnston says. “You can mix up your singles with your longer art pieces. We’re the Beach Boys. We can do that.”

The album is “very lush, very PetSound-ing,” Jardine says. It may give a welcome contrast to current trends, he says. “Melodies and harmonies are not so popular today in mainstream American radio. Some kind of void is being filled that maybe people really need now.”

The first single from their forthcoming (June 5) studio album (of the same name) “That’s Why God Made The Radio” is available now on Apple iTunes and Amazon for digital download.

You can sing along with the visual lyrics with this lyric video.

You can learn more about the making of “That’s Why God Made The Radio” by watching the single sizzle reel video.

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• The Beach Boys Launch New Single and Announce New Album Details: ‘That’s Why God Made The Radio’ to be Released June 5 by Capitol/EMI (sys-con.com)
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He is one of the twin guitar leads in The Allman Brothers Band, which has a healthy touring schedule each year that includes a month at the Beacon Theater in New York City.

He also has the Warren Haynes Band that has been touring in support of The Man in Motion album.

Warren also will be performing with the Phil Lesh Quintet (Phil, Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, John Molo and Rob Barraco) at Phil’s Club, Terrapin Crossroads 4/26 – 4/29/12 in San Rafael, California.

Warren Haynes then switches back into Gov’t. Mule mode for 2012. Gov’t. Mule has announced various 2012 tour dates, most notably playing their annual Mountain Jam event in Hunter, NY and their annual New Years event at the Beacon Theater in NYC. Gov’t. Mule is co-headlining dates with moe in our market in Hartford

He has been touring this year with the Warren Haynes Band. Its fitting that they record on Stax Volt records because they are reviving the classic 60′s soul sound complete with horns, backup vocalists and a Hammond B3 organ.

Stax Volt Records released yesterday, the Warren Hayes Band, Live At The Moody Theater on 2 CDs and 1 DVD. Its an awesome package

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