From Pitchfork.com: Thurston, MacKaye, Watt in Record Store Documentary Also: Glenn Branca, Noam Chomsky, members of Talking Heads, Of Montreal, Black Keys Did you know that corporations tend to disregard the interests of small businesses, that people want to buy fewer physical copies of musical artifacts when they can get them on the internet for free, or that Fugazi frontman Ian MacKaye tends to interview for documentaries in kitchens while wearing a hoodie and a black beanie? If any of these things catches you by surprise, then a forthcoming documentary called I Need That Record! The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store will probably be very informative for you. The movie, directed by Brendan Toller, explores the reasons why independently owned record shops are getting scarcer through interviews with MacKaye, Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Mike Watt (Minutemen), Patrick Carney (The Black Keys), Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers), Glenn Branca, Chris Frantz (Talking Heads), Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), Bryan Poole (Of Montreal), writer Legs McNeil, smart dude Noam Chomsky, and plenty of music business folk across the U.S. The rough cut of I Need That Record! premieres May 3 at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, but the final cut and theatrical/DVD release are still forthcoming. I Need That Record! Blog

Can't say I've ever heard of a "sombersault" before. Is that like doing a cartwheel when you're sad?

When it comes to the pioneers of "country rock" I'd sooner take groups like Poco, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Bird, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Goose Creek Symphony, Pure Prairie League, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, etc. over corporate crap like the fucking Eagles. Even the early Eagles records (which I don't mind so much) still don't even come close to holding a candle to artists like Gram Parsons. It's long overdue to add to my CD collection but the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Will the Circle Be Unbroken is a must for any fan of that type of music. It received the remastered treatment on the occasion of it's 30th anniversary back in 2002.

Yep, that's the scene depicted on the cover artwork. If that doesn't bring a tear to your eye you don't have a heart. If you haven't seen it yet, I very highly recommend the Townes documentary Be Here To Love Me.

I don't believe any of those things, I just don't think it's any more of a detriment to society than rock n' roll or any other form of music. Look back to the early days of rock n' roll and how the establishment tried to have it banned, burned records, wouldn't allow Elvis to be shown from the waist up on TV, etc. That's the same sort of unwarranted reaction rap and hip hop have been subject to. A lot of people put down rap because some of the artists sing about the mistreatment of women and "bling". Well, rock n' roll has also always been about those very same subjects. The very earliest rock n' roll was hardly anything but singing about girls and cars. It was also considered extremely violent and many thought it would lead to the downfall of society so the powers that be tried to have it banished from the airwaves. Sound familiar? I understand what the Cos is up to but it won't work anymore than Pat Boone and his ilk trying to clean up rock n' roll for mass consumption back in the formative days of rock n' roll.

From Blabbermouth.net GUNS N' ROSES Will Not Be Appearing In Any Reality TV Show GUNS N' ROSES has dismissed as false a recent Internet report that a TV network has proposed an idea for a reality series involving the group's frontman Axl Rose. In an official statement released via the group's web site, longtime Rose associate Del James writes, "Despite rumors floating around the Internet, GUNS N' ROSES will not be appearing on any reality TV program to promote their forthcoming album, 'Chinese Democracy', or for any other reason. "The reality TV rumors started a little while ago and have taken on an Internet life of their own, but there is no truth to any of this." A report at AllYourTV.com recently stated that a "major music-oriented television channel" had proposed an idea for a reality series revolving around Rose. Sources close to the project told the web site that the show would focus on the reclusive singer's efforts to complete and release the long-delayed GUNS N' ROSES album, "Chinese Democracy". The series would reportedly follow Rose and the other members of the current GUNS lineup through behind-the-scenes rehearsal and studio footage as well as interviews. Sources at Rose's label, Geffen Records, reportedly said that a finished version of "Chinese Democracy" has been delivered to the company. Rose and the label, however, are still reportedly haggling over money and rights issues. Rose recently announced that he and GN'R had signed with powerhouse managers Irving Azoff and Andy Gould, leading to speculation that the arrival of "Chinese Democracy" was imminent.

From Billboard.com Judas Priest Greg Prato, N.Y. Over two years in the making, Judas Priest will finally unveil its 16th studio album, "Nostradamus," June 17 via Epic in North America and a day earlier internationally. A double-disc set that tells the story of the 16th century prophet, Michel de Nostredame (whose name is often 'Latinized' as Nostradamus), the release is Priest's first-ever concept album, and was recorded throughout 2006 and 2007 at Old Smithy Studio in the U.K. "Making 'Nostradamus' was a new experience for us in Judas Priest, insomuch as this was going to be a conceptual writing and recording event," Priest singer Rob Halford tells Billboard.com. "His life is well-documented, so for us it was all about taking the significant episodes he went through, and then with the right emotion, create music and lyrics that would convey them." On the album, Halford, guitarists K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis spread their stylistic wings, experimenting with symphonic orchestration and choirs. Three configurations of "Nostradamus," which was produced by Downing and Tipton, will be issued. The most common will be a regular jewel-cased double CD, but there will also be a "CD deluxe hardbound version," which features a 48-page booklet, while a "super deluxe version" will include three vinyl records (in addition to the CD deluxe packaging, plus a poster). While there have been some European dates announced in support of "Nostradamus" (the chief one being a performance as part of this year's Download Festival in England, which also features Kiss and Motorhead, among others), there will soon be an announcement about Priest's plans for a U.S. tour. In the meantime, Halford dropped a hint as to what's in store for the group's later headline dates. "As we recorded and listened to the music, and much like a lot of Priest songs, you cannot help but see images in your mind. We constantly thought about special effects and visual elements that will connect musically that we want to use onstage when we will perform all of 'Nostradamus' live," he says. "Again, like every song we compose, the transition from studio to concert is one we think about and make sure we can deliver the goods." Here is the track list for "Nostradamus": Dawn of Creation "PROPHECY" Awakening "REVELATIONS" The Four Horsemen "WAR" Sands of Time "PESTILENCE AND PLAGUE" "DEATH" Peace "CONQUEST" "LOST LOVE" "PERSECUTION" Solitude "EXILED" "ALONE" Shadows In the Flame "VISIONS" Hope "NEW BEGINNINGS" Calm Before the Storm "NOSTRADAMUS" "FUTURE OF MANKIND"

Not really a "purchase" per se, I won this off of WGWG in Boiling Springs, NC last weekend. http://www.gardner-webb.edu/oms/wgwg/underwriting.html

Thurston, MacKaye, Watt in Record Store Documentary Also: Glenn Branca, Noam Chomsky, members of Talking Heads, Of Montreal, Black Keys Did you know that corporations tend to disregard the interests of small businesses, that people want to buy fewer physical copies of musical artifacts when they can get them on the internet for free, or that Fugazi frontman Ian MacKaye tends to interview for documentaries in kitchens while wearing a hoodie and a black beanie? If any of these things catches you by surprise, then a forthcoming documentary called I Need That Record! The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store will probably be very informative for you. The movie, directed by Brendan Toller, explores the reasons why independently owned record shops are getting scarcer through interviews with MacKaye, Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Mike Watt (Minutemen), Patrick Carney (The Black Keys), Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers), Glenn Branca, Chris Frantz (Talking Heads), Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), Bryan Poole (Of Montreal), writer Legs McNeil, smart dude Noam Chomsky, and plenty of music business folk across the U.S. The rough cut of I Need That Record! premieres May 3 at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, but the final cut and theatrical/DVD release are still forthcoming.

I didn't ever know there was an attempt by the Fat Albert cartoon to make funk less popular. If so, why? I don't think it had any affect on it's popularity whatsoever. Neither will this hip hop album, nor should it. Do you think rock n' roll, country and other forms of music should also be sanitized for the masses? What about movies and video games?

So Parliment Funkadelic and other pioneers of the genre owe their success to Fat Albert? I think not. I also don't agree with what Pat Boone and similar artists tried to do to rock n' roll by cleaning it up for mass consumption. Rock n' roll's true essence was just fine like it was, same thing for rap and hip hop. Trying to water it down isn't going to benefit anyone.

With all due respect to Bill Cosby, I liken it to Pat Boone (and others) attempts to sanitize rock n' roll for the masses by absolutely massacring classics like Little Richard's Tutti Frutti.

Y'ALL: We are thrilled to announce another leg of THE HOME FRONT WORLD TOUR 2008 February and March went so great and seemed to gain intensity with each show. Everyone is getting some rest (except maybe Brad) and gearing up to make May our best tour yet. BRIGHTER THAN CREATION'S DARK is still moving towards being our best selling and most acclaimed album yet. Word is that it will be coming out on vinyl (180gm) in the very near future and Late Night with Conan O'Brien will be re-broadcasting our appearance on May 29th. Now we're ready to go ahead and announce shows for June. As always check with our website for updates and the latest info. Order tickets early because most shows have been selling out this year. Stay tuned for announcements of support and future dates and as always See You at the Rock Show. Patterson Hood Drive-By Truckers Sun June 15 - Bellvue CO - Mishawaka Tue June 17 - Santa Fe NM - Santa Fe Brewing Company Wed June 18 - Flagstaff AZ - Orpheum Theatre Thu June 19 - Tuscon AZ - Rialto Theatre Fri June 20 - Solana Beach CA - Belly Up Tue June 24 - Sacramento, CA - Empire Room Wed June 25 - Bend OR - Midtown Ballroom Thu June 26 - Spokaneo, WA - Big Easy Fr June 27 - Vancouver BC - Biltmore Cabaret Sat June 28 - Calgary ALB - Sledd Island Festival Sun June 29 - Edmonton ALB - Starlite Tue July 1 - Winnipeg, MB - The Garrick Wed July 2 - Minneapolis MN - First Avenue Nightclub Thu July 03 - Milwaukee WI - Summerfest Fri July 04 - Rothbury, MI - Rothbury Festival Sat July 5 - Des Moines IA - Western Gateway Park --------------------------------------------------- Y'ALL: Please to announce that I'm out doing a short solo run this weekend, beginning tonight in Athens at The Fabulous 40 Watt Club. As anyone who has seen my solo endeavors knows, it pretty much changes each time. This time I'm taking John Neff to play some guitar and pedal steel and David Barbe is coming along to play bass. If I'm not mistaken, this may be the first time Barbe has toured since Sugar in 1994. New to my lineup this time, I'm taking Jay Gonzales to play keyboards. Jay is a veteran of many different great Athens bands and we collaborated for the first time last year when we did the Springsteen Tribute Show in Athens. He is an amazing musician and a super cool guy so it ought to be a lot of fun all around. Hopefully I'll have a surprise guest or two popping up along the way this weekend also. As it is with The Truckers, I don't really use a set list on my solo sets, but I'm aiming this show towards songs from my two solo albums (Killers and Stars and the unreleased Murdering Oscar) as well as DBT songs that haven't been receiving much live play of late. I also just wrote a new one and hope to whip it out for a little road testing. This is a short little run, as DBT is hitting the road again in about two weeks. These may be about the only solo shows I play this year, so come out if you're in the area and we'll do our best to entertain. See you there. Patterson Hood

While Robert Randolph may throw in the occasional cover or two, they're far from a cover band. And to me, there's a huge difference between "jammy" and "jamming". As a huge Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers fan I have a certain tolerance for "jammy" but when it devolves into wankery or noodling, they lose me. Same for the Black Crowes, Widespread Panic and any other artist that has been saddled with the "jamband" label.

I'm not sure any other artists can say this but the fee for R.E.M.'s fanclub is $10 and it hasn't gone up since the fanclub began back in the early 80s. In recent years being a member has given us pre-sale concert sales privileges where you can have access to the first 5-6 rows. I have been extremely lucky in obtaining front row seats for the last several tours. Few other artists look after their fans like that, they're far more interested in getting more money out of them instead.

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog has an album? Who knew?

I very seriously doubt Bill Cosby will make "rap go away forever" and furthermore, why should he? As I've said many, many times on this board I'm not a fan of rap but I'm also not so musically ignorant as to say it's "not music" or other such comments that are full of shit. I may not be a fan of it but it's not like I'm being forced to listen to it either. It's a very valid form of music that will continue for a very, very long time to come.

I'm not sure if it's the same artist but I saw someone featured on MTV's The Week In Rock several years ago (you know, back when MTV actually included music as part of their programming) that did the same thing. He also did portraits of Jim Morrison, Janis and others. During a setbreak at Woodstock '94 he came on with a Doors song blasting over the sound system and did a portrait of Morrison. Someone came up to me during this time and with a totally straight face asked, "is that the Doors playing down there?"

They recently played in my area and were charging $30 a ticket to see 'em. I love the Marshall Tucker Band but there's no way in hell I'm paying that much to see a facsimile of what once was. Same thing for Blackfoot (there is no Blackfoot without Rickey Medlocke) and Molly Hatchet (who toured for the longest time with no original members, I think they have one now).

I remember MTV's Martha Quinn once describing Jim Dandy Mangum as a cross between The Beverly Hillbillies' Jethro Bodine and David Lee Roth. She hit the nail on the head with that one.

Pour House--Saturday 2:30 doors 3:30-4:30 Patty Hurst Shifter 4:45-5:30 Glory Fountain 5:45-6:30 Tandy 6:30-7:00 Alex talks/raffle 7:00-7:45 Tres Chicas 7:45-8:00 raffle 8:00-8:45 Chris Mills 8:45-9:00 raffle 9:00-9:45 BJ Barham 9:45-10:15 Alex talks/set change/raffle 10:15-11:00 Quarry Hill 11:00-11:15 raffle 11:15-12:00 Chip Robinson and Heavy Beat Outfit 12:15-1:15 The Silos 1:15-? All Star Whatever/Irish wake/throwdown/take your pants off Sadlack's--Sunday 2:45-3:30 Joe Swank & the Zen Pirates 3:35-4:20 Kenny Roby 4:35-5:20 Lou Ford 5:50-6:35 Chip Robinson & Heavy Beat Outfit 6:50-7:35 Cartridge Family

They're actually still around and just released a new album called Funplex.

Apparently not. I've heard some people say what they played wasn't "music" and that they have no place in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. I'm not a fan of the Ramones or punk rock myself but I firmly believe they most definitely deserve a place in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. Thank goodness for bands like the Sex Pistols and the Ramones for coming along when they did and returning rock n' roll to it's primitive roots. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be many folks out there that can appreciate groups like them, yet not be a fan of that type of music. I know of lots of artists that are like that to me, I can see and readily acknowledge their contributions to music but I may not necessarily be a fan.

Maybe because "Classic Rock" radio only plays something like two of their songs and that's the only tunes anyone knows them by? Who knows but I'm glad to have seen them a couple of times. The first time in their prime when Foghat Live! was still knew. The second when they were trying to fit into the New Wave scene with Zig Zag Walk. Both shows were great but I'll take the first one over the second any day of the week. With all due respect, they should have called it quits when "Lonesome" Dave died. Without him there is no Foghat. I'm sure they qualify but personally I never saw them (other than on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert).

Even though Robert Randolph and the Family Band can be a little too jammy for my tastes, it's cool to see such good players as him and slide guitarist Sonny Landreth being mentioned here. So many think there's no good musicians out there today and that there's no players left with any sort of technical prowess. Both Robert and Sonny are a huge fuck you to that statement. There's probably not two better musicians out there today. Robert Randolph Sonny Landreth