It's still not too late. Considering they just finished a world tour I expect it will be a while before they tour again but they have already started writing new material for the followup to Accelerate. If anyone doubts their prowess as a live band be sure the check the clip below that was uploaded to YouTube by REMhq.com at the end of their most recent tour.

Not necessarily, I just wasn't sure who you were referring to. I also wasn't sure what you meant by "the chord king". By this, do you mean Buck plays chords as opposed to notes? I know he doesn't take a lot of solos but I've always admired that about him. It also struck me as a bit odd that you're fan of R.E.M. yet consider Buck to be a "lame guitarist". In case you've never heard them, he takes pretty wicked solos during live versions of She Just Wants To Be and Country Feedback. The Monster era movie they released was Roadmovie. It's cool that you got to see R.E.M. while Bill Berry was still with them but I'd say that was probably my least favorite tour since they were playing all of their tunes with the amps set to 11. It worked well for the Monster material but not for some of the quieter stuff. I also wouldn't rule out ever seeing them again just because you haven't been taken with the newer records (if indeed that's the reason). I'm not so fond of the post-Bill Berry era myself but those songs work much better in concert since they're forced to play them as a five piece rock band (six when Ken Stringfellow of the Posies was with them). Having seen every tour since Pagentry in '86 I can say without question they haven't played with as much vigor since the 80s. The fact the newer songs worked better live finally dawned on them so they made Accelerate with exactly that notion in mind. This last tour was also full of lots of their lesser played older material as well as at least one song (Ignoreland) that had never even been played live. For my money, they're still one of the best live bands out there. They'll never be the same without Bill Berry but Accelerate was definitely a step in the right direction. Buck even threatened to walk if they made another record like Around the Sun. I liked Around the Sun better than some of my fellow R.E.M. fans but it was quite obvious (especially to Buck) that they were capable of much better.

Been watching a lot of Turner Classic Movies as of late....

Nothing against their studio craft but have you ever heard any of their 80s era live shows or seen Tourfilm? Who is "the chord king", Peter Buck?

The latest installment in Dylan's Bootleg Series, Telltale Signs is full of outtakes, alternate takes, previously unheard live cuts, etc. all culled from the period of 1989-2006. I'm amazed at just how good the songs are, particularly the rearranged versions of tunes like Diginity. It just goes to show what an outstanding talent he still is and that everything that ends up on the cutting room floor doesn't necessarily belong there. As for collections like that, of course you're going to get some songs that don't always live up to that artists' usual standards but sometimes you get some real gems as well as a glimpse into their creative process. Those tunes provide an invaluable insight, at least to me.

I'd love to attend but can't really afford it. I entered the ticket giveaway anyhow.

A few years back when talk of a Replacements reunion was running high Paul Westerberg wanted to play the exact same dates Buddy Holly did on his final tour but it never came to fruition due to obligations bandmate Tommy Stinson had with G n' R at the time.

No Depression's website has a great writeup on the recent deluxe edition of Murmur which you can read at the link below: R.E.M.'s Still Echoing Murmur Coming on March 11th there is going to be a tribute to R.E.M. at Carnegie Hall. More info at the links below, including a way to enter to win a pair of tickets courtesy of the fine folks at Paste magazine. Paste magazine ticket giveaway The Music of R.E.M. at Carnegie Hall

The Gourds w/ Ramsay Midwood Friday, January 23rd Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC Great turnout as well as a wonderful opening set from Ramsay who was joined onstage by all of the Gourds except for Kevin Russell.

The Crowes already did something like that, they toured with Oasis.

Your story reminds me of my last Ryan Adams concert a couple of years ago in Charleston, SC. For one it was a strange scene since Riverdance or sort of play/musical was going on in close proximity to the venue where Ryan was playing so you had ball gowns and tuxes mixed in with rock n' roll concertgoers. Upon entering the venue where Ryan was playing there were drunk teenagers (mostly girls) that couldn't hold their liquor. One actually had to be carted in in a wheelchair since she was so shitfaced she was unable to walk. There was also a drunk girl seated next to us that was completely out of it during the entire concert. When it was all over she was still in her seat passed out. I guess security had to do something with her. I know everyone likes to get their drink on on occasion but some of that was just plain pitiful to see. "I think I'll get so wasted that I don't remember any of the concert and remain passed out throughout the entirety of it".

Then, there's this from Ian's website: http://www.macspages.com/faces.htm The rehearsals were a lot of fun, everybody was in fine form, and things are looking good for a gig or two next year, but these things take time to work out and I'm just going to wait until there's something solid to report, so I'm not getting excited just yet. ............I'm holding my breath

I would place all blame for "toying" on the press and not on any of the surviving Faces. We've all seen how they twist things about the surviving members of Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead as well as others. I don't see this as being any different especially when the source is NME.

Stewart, Flea Refute Faces Reunion Reports

The other day on TCM: Last night on VH1 Classic:

I need to expand my collection as well. I think all I have is a comp from Rhino on CD and Give The People What They Want on vinyl. I read recently where they have a box set out but the review (from Uncut) didn't speak too favorably of it.

I usually pick up new albums by the Old 97s on the day of release but after being less than impressed by their last one, Drag It Up, I wasn't exactly in a hurry to buy their new one when it came out last year. When I saw the deluxe edition on sale along with a free promo copy of the greatest hits collection Hit By A Train through their website I decided to snatch them up.

They announced last spring they were disbanding for at least a year. I think in the business that's referred to as a "hiatus". I seriously doubt we've heard the last of 'em.

Extended trailer for Do It Again, a still in progress documentary about the Kinks.

Not everyone here believes Zep is the best live band of all time. I'd definitely put them up there (along with The Who) though.

The latest.

The Gourds w/ Ramsay Midwood Friday, January 23rd Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC

As do I but I was referring to artists making country music these days that is more country than what gets played on the radio. This is ten years old now but it still features a lot of very good artists:

I wish I could find the version Stipe did with the Indigo Girls at an Earth Day concert in D.C. back in the late 80s but alas, not every clip has made it to YouTube.