There some who hold tight to the belief that there is no Allman Brothers without Duane and insist the band be called "The Allman Brother Band". They have been through many personnel changes through the years besides losing Berry and Duane. Dickey was a definitely a huge loss but from what I understand he's had some pretty deep problems that apparently couldn't be reconciled. He was apparently invited to the recent Beacon run (which was done in honor of Duane) but didn't reply so at least the olive branch was extended. I didn't think they would be the same without Dickey either but caught them last year on a bill that also included Mofro and the Drive-By Truckers and the Allmans blew me away. They still have it. That is something that is very rare for a band that's been around as long as they have. I'm a huge Skynyrd fan but go to one of their shows and what you basically have is a nostalgia act. The Allmans aren't like that. They still sound just as vital and fresh as they ever have, if not more so. There are some that will even go as far as to say Derek is better than Duane. I'd love to see Dickey back in the band but if there's bad blood there then it's probably for the best that they don't play together.

I've never assigned God-like status to Led Zeppelin or any artist for that matter. And I don't think anyone has ever accused Zeppelin of being from Heaven. What I was referring to are those that seem to only be interested in new music if the artist in question bares some sort of musical resemblance to Led Zeppelin. It's as though they're totally unaccepting of any new music unless it sounds like it came from the 60s or 70s. I just always found that kind of odd, especially considering how many different musical styles Zeppelin embraced and the various musical endeavors they've been involved in since Zeppelin's demise. Plant gets ragged on for working with Alison Krauss yet John Paul Jones has also worked with many people from the country/bluegrass field from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings to Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek. Page has even delved into rap with Puff Daddy. The band is definitely more open to a wide variety of music than many of their fans seem to be. It's just always seemed rather contradictory to me. It reminds me of the saying that those who choose to live in the past are doomed to repeat it. Rock n' roll didn't end in 1980 but talking with some music fans you'd definitely get that impression.

I don't think either Def Leppard or Bon Jovi have gone country. If anything, country has more to do with 70s style rock n' roll these days than the other way around. I'm not sure what the deal with Def Leppard is but I know Bon Jovi has done some country/acoustic tinged stuff before as well as working with Sugarland. Bret Michaels also did a country record. Hell, even Darius Rucker and Jewel have released albums aimed at the country market in recent months. Somewhere, Hank Williams, Sr. and Ernest Tubb are rolling over in their graves.

Maybe I missed something here but this is about Duane attending a Zeppelin show. I didn't see anything in there about the Allmans sharing a bill with them.

R.E.M.'s first record remembered by its production team Mitch Easter, left, takes questions at the Garage in Winston-Salem during a discussion about the band R.E.M.’s first album. Easter and Don Dixon (center) produced the historic album. Far right, Rolling Stone magazine’s Parke Puterbaugh was the event moderator. (photo by Quentin L. Richardson) By Jordan Green Talent and drive are critical for a great band to develop a strong body of work, but a third element often overlooked and just as important is having the right people around at the right time to offer support. Such is the case arguably with REM, whose first full-length album, Murmur, is considered one of the great rock records of all time. It was produced by Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, who have left an indelible mark on the North Carolina music scene over the last 40 years through their work with bands such as Easter’s Let’s Active and Dixon’s Arrogance. REM had recorded its first single, “Radio Free Europe,” and it's Chronic Town EP with Easter at his Drive-In Studios in Winston-Salem, which was actually his parents’ garage. When IRS Records signed REM, the label insisted that the band’s first full-length be recorded on a 24-track machine, which Easter’s home studio did not have. So the band and the two producers — Dixon now in tow — decamped for Charlotte’s Reflection Sound Studios, a professional facility used to record NASCAR promos and by televangelist Jim Baker’s Praise the Lord Ministries. Click here to read the rest of the article.

Nope, not you. This is a friend I know from another board. I'm sure she somehow means well but you know what they say about the best of intentions. As for rednecks, they're not just from the South.

There were reports of an album where he wanted to use a different one of his guitars on each track (or something like that) but once the 02 show came up all those stories suddenly wen to the backburner.

Mighty bold statement for someone that readily admits they have not even heard of the Killers. I don't necessarily think they'll go on to be as well regarded as Zeppelin but what the majority of us seemed to get from the article was not a desire to take Zeppelin's place in history but instead it was a commentary on how many seem so unaccepting of anything aside from the tried and true.

Not being able to find a couple of thumb drives I first noticed missing late last week. I feel almost certain I stashed 'em away somewhere so they wouldn't get lost when I was moving stuff. Since they haven't turned up I'm now convinced I must have lost them somewhere. Thankfully, nearly everything on them is backed up. Still, I would love to find them.

If all else fails it never hurts to take matters into your own hands.

461 Ocean Boulevard is one I still need to pick up. When I do it will most likely be the deluxe edition. The first disc includes five bonus tracks, the second is a compilation of live recordings from two Clapton concerts held at the Hammersmith Odeon on December 4th and 5th, 1974. Disc 1 1. Motherless Children 2. Give Me Strength 3. Willie And The Hand Jive 4. Get Ready 5. I Shot The Sheriff 6. I Can't Hold Out 7. Please Be With Me 8. Let It Grow 9. Steady Rollin' Man 10. Mainline Florida 11. Walkin' Down The Road 12. Ain't That Lovin You 13. Meet Me (Down At The Bottom) 14. Eric After Hours Blues 15. B Minor Jam Disc 2 1. Smile 2. Let It Grow 3. Can't Find My Way Home 4. I Shot The Sheriff 5. Tell The Truth 6. The Sky Is Crying / Have You Ever Loved A Woman / Rambling On My Mind 7. Little Wing 8. Singin' The Blues 9. Badge 10. Layla 11. Let It Rain

In the old days, the Drive-By Truckers would perform with a tapestry of Steve McQueen onstage behind them. If so inclined, you can watch a clip of them performing the song at the 40 Watt in Athens, GA earlier this year . Guitarist Mike Cooley and Steve McQueen

I don't know how it would play into a collaboration with McCartney and Ringo but Dylan's recent records (at least the last four Time Out of Mind - Together Through Life) are pretty good stuff. Maybe not up there with the peak of his early work but still remarkably well done for someone this far along in his career. It's testament to the fact that the latest installment in his Bootleg series (Tell Tale Signs) stands up to that, especially considering the collection is comprised mainly of outtakes and live recordings from 1989-2006. It only adds to the intrigue that McCartney has done some of his best work in recent years (the Firemen) outside of his usual comfort zone. A collaboration between the three has the potential for greatness or it could be an utter trainwreck. Either way, it's going to be interesting to see what materializes (if anything).

Yesterday I caught part of The Rosebuds set at the Band Together benefit in Raleigh. I have been hearing about them for years but have never actually heard any of their music or seen them in concert until yesterday. I loved what little bit I heard and can't wait until I have an opportunity to see them live again. Unfortunately that is this coming Wednesday in Durham, the same night Steve Earle is playing the ArtsCenter in Carrboro. Last night I saw The Trousers and Oepdius Dick at Slim's in Raleigh. The Trousers don't play out much so I try to see one of their shows whenever I can. You also have to be sure to be on time as they play a 30 minute set and then they're done. They are very blistering and straightforward. They get right to the rock without a whole lot (if any) stage banter. It was my first time seeing Oedpius Dick and I didn't know what to expect. My first impression is they're a cross between fellow locals The Countdown Quartet (who were sort of an offshoot of Squirrel Nut Zippers) and Frank Zappa. Strange but very humorous lyrics, danceable and at times, they employed horns. They did fairly rearranged versions of songs by Three Dog Night (Mama Told Me Not To Come) and Britney Spears in addition to their original material.

From Raleigh News & Observer music writer David Menconi's On the Beat blog: Steve Earle: From stage to page If you've got tickets to Steve Earle's soldout Wednesday night show at Carrboro ArtsCenter, you'll doubtless hear even more Townes Van Zandt songs than usual -- seeing as how Earle's new album is a tribute to his late great mentor. By then, it's even possible that Earle will have finished the first draft of his novel, "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." When I interviewed Earle last week, he was singing the deadline blues. "I promised my editor I'd hand her a draft today," Earle said, laughing a bit. "Not gonna happen. She'll track me down in a couple of days and find out it will probably be late next week. I've got a few more things to do on it, so I'll try to get some work done on the bus. I'm almost there." To read more, plus an interview with Steve, click here.

I plan to set the hype aside and see the movie soon.

I wouldn't even go by this list as for what hope there is for the future. As for the music periods you mention (84-88 and 95-present), my opinion would be vastly different. Some of my very favorite music comes from that period of the 80s (and the 80s in general) such as R.E.M., Guadalcanal Diary, the Replacements, the Cure, 10,000 Maniacs, Drivin' n' Cryin', the Blasters, Los Lobos, the list just goes on and on. Same for artists from '95 to the present. Of course it all depends on what your tastes are and how deep you want to dig for the music you like. I've never really had to go that far out of my way to find music that interests me but one thing is for sure, it's not all right there on the surface, nor should it have to be. That's part of the whole beauty of being a music fan, at least to me.

The Trousers Straight up rock in the mode of Zep and kinda jammy a la Cream but also very original. Courtesy of the Mann's World blog you can check out some clips of them playing live here. The T's Very punky with a bit of a pop edge.

30 years ago this summer, this was my view for six weeks: Bridge over the Rio Grande Gorge, Taos, NM North view of the Rio Grande Gorge Upon our arrival at the closed down State Park that was our home for the next six weeks back in June of '79 we noticed the public restrooms were closed. Since we were residents there tourists and other passersby would often ask us why they were closed. "Due to hippie season", of course.

Good to know they came off better in concert as their two records really did sound quite polished. I remember searching high and low for this back in the day. A Radioactive (Vocal / Special Extended Remix) (5:52) Written By - Rodgers* B1 City Sirens (4:27) Written By - Edwards* / Page* B2 Live In Peace (5:10) Written By - Rodgers*

Reminds me of a comment a "friend" of mine recently made: "It must be the South, because I swear since I've moved here, I've become more stupid than my usual self." Then go the fuck back up North.

Product Description Shortly after being released from jail, Dodger Cole sees her family's still bulldozed to make way for yet another Super-Great Mart she vows to take back the South and leads her small gang on a moonshine fueled rampage of revenge to send modern day carpetbaggers to hell. I still haven't seen The Thrillbillys movie. I went to the premiere in Raleigh years ago but arrived too late to catch the screening. I did see the musical performances from Used Carlotta and The Shiners though. The movie stars Wes Freed who is probably best known these days for the artwork he does for the Drive-By Truckers' album covers. The soundtrack (pictured below) isn't too bad either. It includes tunes from Wes, the Truckers, Trailer Bride, Angry Johnny & the Killbillies and others.

I believe there's at least one fan of the The Decemberists on here that would appreciate it. I'm still pretty unfamiliar with most of their work but I did enjoy Colin Meloy's contribution to the last full length Minus Five record.

Are you referring to Ean Evans?