Tag Archives: Chicago

SpotOn Radio, You’ll Want To Be Listening ;)

I just discovered SpotOn Radio from reading Spotify’s Blog. Pandora Internet Radio you’re on notice more than ever now, trust me. ;)

SpotOn Radio is an innovative Apple iPhone music app. SpotOn Radio is developed and supported by the dynamic duo known as Springworks and Rebel&Bird.

SpotON Radio is free, but you need a Spotify Premium membership to use it. I just so happens I have a Spotify Premium account. :)

SpotOn Radio provides personalized radio stations which springboard off Spotify’s streaming technology. It seamlessly integrates an online music service(Spotify) with the Echo Nest’s song recommendation and discovery engine.

What’s awesome about SpotOn Radio is that it adds value and dimension to my Spotify social music experience.  I recently cancelled my Pandora One account. I had  a twinge of regret breaking away from the music genome experience Pandora has patented.

My anxiety turned out to be a momentary concern. The Echo Nest Music API engine with 30 million songs in its database (and growing) gives SpotOn Radio a superior advantage over Pandora Internet Radio. 

The song by Chicago comes to mind here, “Only the beginning, only just the start….”

Keep your eyes and ears on SpotOn Radio and Echo Nest. The Semantic Web, Web 3.0 is in full-scale music interaction now. I think that’s so cool :)

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January 26, 2012 0 Comments Short URL , , , , , , , , , , Music, Internet Radio

Tower of Power

Thursday night my wife and I will attend our 30th concert of the year. We continue to happily do our part as loyal patrons of the arts. The concert features the double bill of Tower of Power with special guests Average White Band. An event that James Taylor would call a “churning urn of burning funk.”

The Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport, CT is the location for this event. This will be our third show at the Klein this season. It is also our sixth event with The Fairfield Theatre Company as member participants. FTC continues to offer engaging live music options for its patrons, which we are thankful to enjoy. :)

Tower of Power Proof

Tower of Power is another great product of the San Francisco Bay area from the late 60′s. Bands like The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Big Brother, Journey and others all helped to define the “San Francisco Sound.” Tower of Power has been a band I have wanted to see to complete that list (having seen all the others mentioned…).

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November 14, 2011 1 Comment Short URL , , , , , , , , , , Music, Funk, R&B, Soul

Tedeschi Trucks Band – Midnight in Harlem

This song gives me goosebumps and that eternal smile of a collective magic being performed in our midst. This video is part of the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festiva 2010l filmed live in Chicago on June 26th, 2010. Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks along with members of the later to become  Tedeschi Trucks Band stretch out nicely on this selection.

Mike Matteson you’ve penned a classic here ;)

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July 6, 2011 4 Comments Short URL , , , , , , , , Blues, Collaboration, Concert, Events, Funk, Music, Music Video, Rock and Roll, Singer, Songwriter

Buddy Guy Bluesman

Cover of "Damn Right I Got the Blues"

Cover of Damn Right I Got the Blues

Is it just me or is this winter giving you a major case of the blues too? Well Buddy Guy has a solid cure for the winter doldrums. Every January Buddy Guy takes up residence at his club,
 Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago. Wish I was in Chicago catching his act at his house ;)

Buddy Guy is 74 years young. He’s been making some great music these past few years. Buddy Guy’s legacy has produced a treasure trove of classic blues gems. Three major highlights I enjoy from Buddy’s treasure chest that I play often are A Man and the Blues (1968), Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues (1991) and Sweet Tea (2001).

He’s been a major influence on Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck and other guitar greats. He’s seminal to blues and rock and roll.

I’ve seen Buddy Guy several times live. He’s always an electrifying showman. The first time I saw Buddy Guy live was at The Salute to The Blues in 2003, where he played a rocking track with Angelique Kidjo and Vernon Reid, “Voodoo Child”. This number was performed at 3 a.m. in the morning, we were exhausted after 8 hours of concert and filming set changes. But this song launched us to our feet.

I next caught Buddy Guy at Toads Place in New Haven, Ct where John Mayer showed up unannounced. That was such a cool evening, standing at the edge of the stage watching them both play the blues with such earnest and mutual respect.

I then saw Buddy Guy just up the road apiece at Gathering of the Vibes in 2007, in Bridgeport, Ct. Here’s a Go Vibes video of Buddy Guy playing “Louisiana Blues.”

The last time  I saw  Buddy Guy live was at Madison Square Garden as Jeff Beck’s guest for the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Concert, October 30, 2009. Jeff Beck is so in awe of him.

Eric Clapton invited Buddy Guy to play at his Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2010 in Chicago. Buddy Guy has also appeared at the 2004 and 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival events.

Here is some video footage of Buddy Guy, Ron Wood and Jonny Lang together in 2010.

Buddy Guy’s latest recording is called Living Proof, a most appropriate title In an earlier post this week about B.B. King I featured the video of the collaboration between Buddy Guy and B.B. King, “Stay Around A Little Longer.” It is one of two guest star tracks on Living Proof. The other guest track features Carlos Santana and Buddy Guy on “Where The Blues Began”. The rest of Living Proof is solid and distinct.

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January 26, 2011 0 Comments Short URL , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Blues, Concert, Uncategorized

Willie Dixon – Daily Post 2011 Post #12

I received an e-mail from Willie Dixon’s grandson,  Alex Dixon about the launch of the new “Official” Willie Dixon Website. If you are a fan of the blues I urge you to browse over and take a look at the information Alex has created about his grandfather, the legendary “Godfather of the Blues” Willie Dixon.

You will find a rich set of content, starting with a biography and a timeline, lots of great pictures and videos.

I especially like this picture of  B.B. King, Willie Dixon and John Lee Hooker.

Soon to be added to the site will be the Willie Dixon store and the Willie Dixon fan club (I’m in!).

So take some time to discover more about the blues and one of its founding members, Willie Dixon.

Be sure to sign the Guestbook

Nice work Alex!!!!

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January 12, 2011 1 Comment Short URL , , , , , Blues