Glad to hear you're liking it. I'm lukewarm on some of Patterson's tunes on that record (which come off much better live, especially Puttin' People on the Moon) but absolutely love Lookout Mountain, Goddamn Lonely Love, Danko/Manuel, and Cooley's contributions.

Across the country, college-town record shops are biting the dust BY JUSTIN POPE Associated Press CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — You need a college, of course, but that’s not the only ingredient in a good college town. You need quirky bookstores. Coffee shops — preferably not all chains. A diner. An artsy cinema. A dive bar. There’s one other thing you need, and it’s getting harder to find: a local record store. The kind of place with poster-covered walls, tattoo-covered customers, and an indie-rock aficionado at the cash register, somebody in a retro T-shirt who helps you navigate the store’s eclectic inventory. A few years ago on just one block of Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street, the main drag in what’s been called America’s ideal college town, four or five such places catered both to locals and University of North Carolina students. But with the demise of Schoolkids Records, the last one is gone. Schoolkids had planned to gut it out through March, but couldn’t even make through its final week and shut down Saturday. It’s just the latest victim in an industry hit by rising college-town rents, big-box retailers, high CD prices, and — most importantly — a new generation of college students for whom music has become an entirely online, intangible hobby they often don’t have to pay for. You can read the remainder of the article here.

Did Schoolkids close because it refused to adapt? Do the evolution by Andrew Ritchey If you talk music landmarks in Chapel Hill, Schoolkids Records challenges only Cat's Cradle for the top spot. Since 1974, Schoolkids has supplied the college town with records, cassettes and CDs, but, last week, the storefront was empty and the stock was boxed away in a Raleigh warehouse. As he dismantled shelves, manager Ric Culross put it best when he put it simply: "It's a very sad store right now." After more than three decades as a leading music store in Chapel Hill, signs on the windows of Schoolkids Records announce the store's close. Photo by Jeremy M. Lange Schoolkids' sales have dwindled considerably over the last decade. In 1998, Culross says Buena Vista Social Club's self-titled album was the Chapel Hill location's top-selling record, selling 760 copies. In 2007, The Shins' Wincing the Night Away earned that top spot but sold less than half that number. The music industry's slumping sales are systemic and well-documented, and record stores continue to close: Rhino Records in Los Angeles closed in 2005, the same year The Guardian reported the Virgin Mega Stores chain had lost 260 million British pounds in the previous two years. The stores began closing in 2006. As many as 20 Schoolkids Records outlets once dotted college towns along the East Coast. Now, they remain only in Raleigh and Athens, Ga. But some industry experts argue that independent record stores could survive and even flourish. Achieving this success, though, may mean overhauling a decades-old model, either by expanding inventory to include non-music product lines or reducing inventory to serve only niche markets. So did Schoolkids close because it refused do either of these? You can read the rest of the article here.

Click here.

April 16 (17,18,20) – Drive By Truckers (3 pm ET) OUTLAW COUNTRY / 63 Jeremy Tepper Get in gear with this very special episode of HammerDown Radio, as DJ RigRocker welcomes the Drive-By Truckers to the SIRIUS Studios. It’s a solid hour of live music, including acoustic performances of tracks from Brighter Than Creation’s Dark and unreleased material, as well as selections from extended family members Betty Lavette and Spooner Oldham. Rebroadcast Thurs., Apr. 17th @ 12 am ET; Fri., Apr. 18th @ 10 am ET; Sun., Apr. 20th @ 8 am ET. -------------------------------- Patterson Hood Guest DJs on E Street Radio (Sirius) Fri 4/11 4:00 pm ET Patterson Hood of the Drive By Truckers gets to share his love of all things Springsteen with an hour as guest DJ. You'll hear how he tricked his parents and snuck out to see his first Bruce show – a small act of teenage defiance that changed his entire life. Rebroadcast: Sat., Apr. 12th @ 12 am & 8 am ET.

From NME.com: Charlie Daniels condemns the game featuring his song Charlie Daniels, writer of the song 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia', has slammed the makers of 'Guitar Hero III' after the song was used in the game. He has publicly stated that he would have refused permission for the song to be used if he had the power, claiming that the "very essence" of the song had been "violated". Daniels, who wrote the song in 1979 while a member of The Charlie Daniels Band, lost the rights to the song in a past settlement. He explained on his blog: "The song, 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia', which I wrote, is supposed to be a lighthearted novelty about a fiddling contest between a country boy and the devil and the devil always loses. "I would never grant permission for some company to create a video game version of a song I wrote in which the devil wins a contest." Expressing his upset at the devil character who challenges players in the game, he added: "I'm sorely disappointed with the company who owns the copyright for not policing the situation. As it is they have allowed these people to violate the very essence of the song. "At this time I don't know if I have any legal recourse, probably not, but I wanted you folks to know that I vehemently disagree with what has been done to a piece of my work. "And I would like to pass along a little advice to parents of young children. This game looks innocent enough but if you have a child who is playing it, take the time to sit with him or her while they're playing along and take a serious look at the images on the screen." 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia' was Daniels' biggest hit, charting at Number Three in the US singles chart. It has since been covered by the likes of Primus, The Levellers and Jerry Reed, and Rednex. The song has had an impact outside of the world of music, too, with comedian Jim Davidson performing it as part of a comedy tour in 2002 and WWE wrestler The Rock singing it on US TV in 2003. You can hear the song as it appears in Guitar Hero III by clicking below. Guitar Hero III "The Devil Went Down To Georgia"

From Billboard.com: http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/articl...t_id=1003787295 U2 Returns To Studio, Preps Early Reissues Jonathan Cohen, N.Y. After an Easter break, U2 is back in the studio in Dublin to work on its next album with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. "Everyone [is] still hoping the new album will be out this year," reads a post on U2.com. The as-yet-untitled disc will be followed by a 2009 tour, U2's first since recently cementing a 12-year deal with Live Nation Artists. In other U2 news, Universal has set a July 22 release for remastered, expanded editions of the band's first three albums: "Boy" (1980), "October" (1981) and "War" (1983). Guitarist the Edge is overseeing the reissues, which will include the original album on a single-disc, 180-gram vinyl and in a two-CD package featuring B-sides, rare tracks and live material. The reissue program began last fall with "The Joshua Tree," which featured a previously unreleased video for "Red Hill Mining Town" and a host of other rarities.

I'm still a huge fan of Charlie Daniels' early work but I'm not much on him changing the lyrics to his old songs in concert due to his newfound Christianity or am I none too fond of some of his political views.

I don't know about Van Halen and Aerosmith "owning the 80s". I guess it's up to everyone's individual perspectives but Van Halen sort of lost it towards the end with David Lee Roth and their return with Sammy Hagar didn't do a whole lot for me. I like some of it but for the most part their Hagar era stuff pales in comparison to the Diamond Dave material. In regards to Aerosmith, with very few exceptions their "comeback" records don't even begin to hold a candle to their early records. Still a very kickass live band though. I don't know, I guess when I think about the 80s I have a tendency to think more of the artists that grew out of the post punk movement such as R.E.M. and U2 and not so much of bands like Aerosmith and Van Halen. It was also a very good time for reggae (despite the passing of Marley) and Stevie Ray Vaughan helped kickstart a blues revival that was much needed during a time when "hair" bands were ruling the roost.

Oh, I'm sure he does and believe you me, I've heard enough of his music to form an opinion, I just don't care for the majority of what I've heard whether it be his "lighter" side or his "whiskey bent and hellbound" side, it's mostly just not my cup of tea. I like Hank, Sr. and Hank III much better. In regards to his Rocky Mt accident, you should check out the Yayhoos' song Monkey With A Gun if you've never heard it.

I would have loved to have seen Waylon and Neil on the same bill. Thankfully I did see Waylon (one of my absolute favorites) once. He played out in the woods at a place called Hugo outside of Kinston, NC back in the 80s. I think the Super Grit Cowboy Band or some other local act (maybe Sutter's Gold Streak?) were also on the bill. Just before Waylon came out The Crickets took the stage and then Waylon joined them. It was during The Crickets' set that I learned one of them was the composer of The Mary Tyler Moore Show theme as they played it that day. Waylon only turned in an hour set but it was the only time I ever saw him in concert so I can't bitch too much.

Swede is right, they're independent stores. Still, some are chains like The Record Exchange and Schoolkids (of which there's only two left) but you'll find the staff to usually be much more knowledgeable in these type of stores than you're likely to encounter in places like Best Buy or Circuit Shitty where the music clerks don't seem to know their asses from a hole in the ground. I don't think there's such a thing as "indie" music but there are artists that record for independent labels. "Indie" can also be used as sort of a catch all phrase to describe music made by artists in the "alternative" vein. In fact, it pretty much replaced that term a number of years ago but like the word alternative, it largely lost all meaning pretty quickly.

I certainly get the Skynyrd influence on Hank, Jr.'s music and even like a tune or two but overall I prefer his Daddy's music. Same for Hank III. Hank, Jr. just comes off a little too cartoony for me to ever take seriously. Give me Hank, Sr. or Hank III any day of the week.

Just the one, at least that I'm aware of. What, you got some Air Supply hidden away in your collection? I know I have at least one 45 by Elton John and one by the Bee Gees in mine.

If the surviving members are "abusing" the name Queen then so are Led Zeppelin by going under that name with Jason Bonham, Little Feat without Lowell George, AC/DC without Bon Scott, the Allman Brothers Band without Duane Allman, Foghat without "Lonesome" Dave, Lynyrd Skynyrd without Ronnie Van Zant and every other band on the planet that decided to carry on without key members.

My how time flies, Johnny looks so fucking young there. I also saw this tour. Pretty sure it was the same year. Blackfoot were touring in support of Maruader, Def Leppard had just released High n' Dry and also on the bill were the Johnny Van Zant Band who were touring behind their second record, Round Two. Yet another tour I attended except it was 1987 in Charlotte. I probably saw the reunited Skynyrd at least 4 or 5 times after that as well, including the tours for their 1991 album and The Last Rebel. Unfortunately I never did see them with the lineup that included Hughie from the Outlaws and Rickey Medlocke. Some other Southern Rock shows I've seen over the years: Blackfoot (2x) The first time was at the show mentioned up, the second was at Roadies in Goldsboro in support of their Siogo album when Ken Hensley from Uriah Heep was part of the line up. This was their last ever show with Charlie Hargett. Rossington With Skynyrd on the Tribute Tour .38 Special (w/ Skynyrd and Charlie Daniels) Ed King had injured his finger in a fight with Johnny Van Zant during their European tour so they had Greg Martin from the Kentucky Headhunters filling in on slide guitar The Allman Brothers Band (4x) Several different lineups from the Dickey years up until Derek Trucks this past summer. Gregg Allman Band The Outlaws (2x) First time was on a bill with Foghat and Derringer in the mid to late 70s. Foghat was listed as the headlining band and were the most well known at the time but the Outlaws closed. The second time they were on a bill with Van Halen, Boston and Poco in 1979 at June Jam at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. Van Halen was the headliner but the Outlaws closed. The Marshall Tucker Band Saw them in the late 90s on a bill with local band Nantucket at Atlantic Beach, NC. At this time there were only two or three original members of the band left but it still wasn't a bad show. Still a far cry from the original Marshall Tucker Band with Toy Caldwell though. Molly Hatchet (3x) I saw them several times over the years but never in the early years. However, every time I did see them it was with Danny Joe Brown. Doc Holiday I'm not sure how many times I saw these guys but I know I caught a few of their shows at Roadies and saw 'em at least once at Plantation Music Park outside of Trenton, NC back in the early 80s on a bill with the Super Grit Cowboy Band and Molly Hatchet. Unfortunately Molly Hatchet only got one song in before the heavens opened up and drenched us with rain which ended the show right then and there. ZZ Top (w/Ted Nugent and Kenny Wayne Shepherd) Tres Hombres was one of the first albums I ever owned but I never saw them in concert until just a few years ago when they were touring in support of Mescalero. Atlanta Rhythm Section I was never a huge fan but they played Roadies in Goldsboro, NC quite often so I went most every time they played. They were not only an impressive studio band but one hell of a live band to boot. If you ever get a chance to see the Drive-By Truckers Patterson Hood has a hell of a story to tell about Paul Goddard as a lead-in to their song Road Cases. Not sure I'd classify these as Southern Rock in the classic sense but for the sake of the thread: Drivin' n' Cryin' (4x) On a bill with Skynyrd, also saw 'em in a club back when Fly Me Courageous was new) and opening for R.E.M. on the Green World Tour in Chapel Hill. Kevn Kinney (of Drivin' n' Cryin') As part of the Tres Tangled Truckers II line up (Kevn [sun Tangled Angel Revival], Caitlin Cary [Tres Chicas] & Jason Isbell [Drive-By Truckers] at the Pour House in Raleigh a couple of years ago. Mother's Finest (6x) One of the best live shows I've ever seen, hands down. Probably saw them a half dozen times a club in Goldsboro, NC called Roadies. Nantucket I've seen them more times than I care to remember. Since they were a NC band and I grew up in NC I had ample opportunity to see them and did, many, many times. Oddly enough my first ever show was when they were on a bill with Cheap Trick (who opened) and AC/DC in Fayetteville, NC. Nantucket were riding high on the success of their first album on Epic and were at the top of their game. I would never see them in such a huge venue again. Black Crowes (3-4x) I first saw them on the tour for Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. In the years since I've seen them on both the HORDE and Furthur Festival tours. Widespread Panic (3-4x) First show as at the now defunct Attic in Greenville, NC. I saw 'em on the HORDE at least a couple times in the years following. Drive-By Truckers I lost count of how many times I've seen them a very long time ago. First show was at Honky Tonk Arama at the Local 506 in Chapel Hill back in 2000. A photo of that show graces the back of their now out of print live album, Alabama Ass Whuppin'.

When we left around midnight they were still playing Whippin' Post.

Women and Children First totally slipped my mind, probably my favorite Van Halen album. As for the 80s, there was lots of good stuff then: U2, R.E.M. the Itals, Waylon, Willie, the Blasters, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, the Cure, the Replacements, the Long Ryders, Lone Justice, Guadalcanal Diary, Los Lobos, the Alarm, 10,000 Maniacs and tons more. Can't say that I agree that the 90s (or any one particular music decade for that matter) sucked as there were lots of good artists then too: Pearl Jam, Fury in the Slaughterhouse, John Prine, P.J. Harvey, Smashing Pumpkins, Cry of Love, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies, World Party, U2, Soundgarden, the Men, 10,000 Maniacs, Widespread Panic and many, many others.

I'm going with The Legend of Wooley Swamp but you're right, 1980 had some mighty slim pickin's... http://www.tophitsonline.com/polls/1980s/b...pollresults.htm

http://www.gooseonthelake.com

Since this thread has come this far and I don't think this album has been mentioned yet, I'm gonna go ahead and throw it out there: The Truckers may not be for everybody but this record tells the story of Skynyrd's tragic tale with a bit of mythmaking thrown in....

Anyone that recently signed up (like myself) at the Plant/Krauss website would have been fucked when it came time to buy tix because they never sent out a pre-sale password. Yes, I got through thanks to a very kind soul here but that doesn't excuse whoever is responsible at the Plant/Krauss site from not sending out the presale password as promised.

I have a stub from this same tour, in fact it was my first concert (my first big one anyway). The Allmans played in Savannah, GA with their roadies as the opening act.