I'm familiar with John Trudell. Years ago, I think Dylan mentioned AKA Graffiti Man in one of those Rolling Stone year-end polls. Trusting Dylan's taste in music I tracked it down. I liked some of it well enough but I was never really able to get into the whole spoken word thing. Even so, when I saw his Johnny Damas and Me record in the cut out bin quite a while back I snatched it up. I don't think I've ever even listened to it though.

Doing country isn't anything new for Elvis. In addition to his Almost Blue album he's also done duets with Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, George Jones and many others. He's playing here tomorrow and I'd love to see him but it's out of the question right now.

Sound of the City: London 1964-73 (aka Rock City) I had never seen this until it aired on VH1 Classic last night. It's not something I'd go out of my way to track down but it did have it's moments. Not to mention, it appears it's never been released on DVD (or maybe even VHS, I'm not sure). This review (circa 1981) from the New York Times pretty much sums it up.

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.

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

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.

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.

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*

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?

I'm really looking forward to Patterson Hood's second solo album that's out later this month, the Austin City Limits CD/DVD in July and The Fine Print collection that's due this fall. The best thing though is a live Truckers show. Hopefully you'll get to one of those before too very long as well. I've only listened to it a couple of times through so far and haven't exactly been taken with it myself. I'm not so sure I'd put in the "grower" category but the Tex-Mex style is a bit of a different feel for him. One thing I was really looking forward to was the participation of Robert Hunter in the songwriting dept. but so far it's been hard to tell his stamp is on the songs at all.

Neil Young Don't Be Denied A resolutely private artist who seldom looks back, Neil Young has never before unfolded his career on camera. With unprecedented access to one of the world’s renowned music legends, American Masters presents Neil Young: Don’t Be Denied premiering nationally Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings). The film explores how Young’s unbending dedication to the muse has created an awe-inspiring body of work and bruised a few egos along the way. Watch a preview and read more about the special by clicking here.

Yeah, it is odd they were able to tour with other singers (as well as other personnel) in the past under the name of Black Sabbath but there was seemingly no problem with it.

Ozzy Osbourne Suing Tony Iommi For Black Sabbath Name Photo: Walter/WireImage Lawyers representing Ozzy Osbourne have filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office against the heavy metal icon’s Black Sabbath bandmate, Tony Iommi, claiming the man responsible for some of the genre’s most memorable riffs illegally assumed sole ownership of the Black Sabbath name. (Update: read Ozzy’s full statement on the suit here.) According to the New York Post, Osbourne’s suit seeks a 50 percent stake in the “Black Sabbath” trademark. Furthermore, the filing claims Osbourne is entitled to a portion of the profits Iommi has generated through use of the band name, and suggests it was Osbourne’s “signature lead vocals” that helped propel the band’s “extraordinary success.” The suit also points out that Sabbath’s popularity took a nosedive during Ozzy’s absence during 1980 and 1996, when former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio took over behind the mike stand. Click here to read the remainder of the article.

That's just his username, I don't see anything in there where he said Floyd could have learned from Jethro Tull.

I think it's really hard to go wrong with most any of his albums but there is a bit of a discernable difference in the pre & post-prison eras of his music. I'm a fan of it all but find I tend to enjoy the post-prison stuff a good deal more. Strange thing is, a lot of folks seem to think he dropped off the planet after Copperhead Road while the truth is, he continues to make good music to this day. I think a lot of that has to do with Classic Rock radio not playing anything past that album. He also got off to a rough and rocky start with Country music radio which led to him being blacklisted. Some of my recommendations: First album he released after he got out of prison. MTV Unplugged was all the rage at the time and this is sort of his answer (or more accurately, fuck you) to that. I think it's some of his very best work, especially the cover of Jimmy Cliff's Many Rivers To Cross with Emmylou Harris chiming in on harmony vocals. One of the many things I adore about this record is it's diversity. There's everything here from bluegrass to punk rock and most everything in between. It also features some damn fine songwriting.

I think so. The music scene here actually goes back quite a ways which you can read about on this blog. Growing up and living most of my life in more rural areas of the state I didn't always have access to so much great live local music so I feel very fortunate to be in the Triangle area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) these days. Previously I always found myself having to travel a pretty fair distance to hear music whether it be a local artist, national touring acts or up and coming artists. Now, I'm right in the center of it.

I think that's just as true today as it's ever been, it's not just confined to artists from the past. Today, when I hear a new artist I may not know who it is simply because I'm not familiar with their music but then again that's always been true of any artist I'm new to whether it be the present or 30 years ago. I just don't think the sameness thing is anything new. Any time an artist has been successful, there's tons more waiting in the wings chomping at the bit to capitalize on that same sound. And for some that would be an insult but in AC/DC's case it may well be the ultimate compliment. What they do, they do well.

Yes, we do. Believe it or not, those three shows just barely scratch the surface. The National were also playing in town last night as well as Bonnie "Prince" Billy who was in Carrboro. I feel fortunate that there's usually no shortage of music to hear. I just hate it when there's so much going on at one time that it makes it impossible to catch it all. Thankfully that only seems to happen once in a great while.

I'm referring not just to the genres and subgenres I mentioned previously but also broader musical categories such as rock n' roll, country, jazz, reggae, folk, bluegrass and so forth. They're all labels used to describe music. Yes, you can but I would also categorize both as being rock n' roll music. I think that has always been true and is not just unique to today's music.

Busy night last night but unfortunately I only caught the last 7 or 8 songs of the Gourds' set due to night classes. A little Gourds is better than no Gourds at all. The Gourds Thursday, May 28th The Berkeley Cafe Raleigh, NC The Names Thursday, May 28th Tir Na Nog Raleigh, NC Bloodkin Thursday, May 28th The Pour House Music Hall Raleigh, NC

In regards to terms like emo, thrash, hardcore, punk, screamo, etc. I agree somewhat about labeling music but it's also a necessary evil so there can be a way to describe music to others. ...and as the late, great Townes Van Zandt once said, "there's two kinds of songs. The blues and Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah."

I'm not sure what you mean by "heady" in this context as I've always understood it to be a good thing. As for AC/DC's music not being refined, I think that's always been the point and it's probably what they do best. I'm far from their biggest fan but if I want to listen to something that just flat out rocks, I reach for an AC/DC record. While I'd never mistake an AC/DC song for one by Led Zeppelin (or vice versa), I believe Zeppelin definitely have some tunes that would fall into the brash, raw and bawdy category that AC/DC seems to specialize in.

I didn't realize it until recently but local (NC) artist Parthenon Huxley (aka "P. Hux" and "Rick Rock") worked with Sass Jordan on her first record (Racine). He also has tons of other of credentials to his name including fronting The Orchestra which includes former members of the Electric Light Orchestra. When I first heard of Sass, she was described to me as "what the Black Crowes would sound like if they were fronted by a chick" which is pretty much the case for the first clip below. The second one comes from the album mentioned above, Rats. "High Road Easy"