About grnarrow

Setlist Architect/Art Scene Checker-Outer/Sound Feeler

Balkan Beat Box = OH YEAH!

With a group of musicians rotating around the Israel-born New Yorkers Ori Kaplan and Tamir Muskat, Balkan Beat Box plays Mediterranean-influenced music that incorporates traditions from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and New York electronica. Both men had plenty of experience playing in various eclectic bands before starting BBB: saxophonist Kaplan came to the U.S. to play jazz but soon fell into the underground, immigrant-driven scene, hooking up with Gogol Bordello and others, while percussionist Muskat played in Firewater for a while as well as flexing his production muscles (which he also uses with BBB) in projects with Gogol Bordello among others.

Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks

The High Noon Saloon was the spot for the Holidaze in Hicksville as Mr. Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks graced our Madison grounds with a true treat, as a matter of fact, this one goes down as a classic. Not only was it the season for holiday cheer as only Dan Hicks can share (I believe the one phrase in the show was lets get these Christmas songs out of the way, hey hey) , but it was also Mr. Hicks’ birthday. There was even a cake. Oh yeah there was a show. As expected except better, the show seemed to be more than a show, an experience. Folk swing is somewhat the style of the music, but man…..there was some kicked up blues riffs, so finely timed dance steps and a barrel, check that, a building filled with a humor so sincere to this night that you couldn’t go home without feeling connected. There were plenty of old classics to rejoice in….from I Scare Myself (which really blew the top off the place)and the nights closer of How can I Miss You When You Won’t go Away, but for me the stopper was the rendition of the Tom Waits song The Piano Has Been Drinking. While this show can be compared to others in the long and brilliant career of Dan Hicks, there was so many thrilled audience members that I would have sworn this was there first time witnessing the event that is Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks. I also noticed that while the room was filled up nicely, there was plenty of room for some younger ears, I really think that this music and the way it is presented to a crowd is something for the younger crowds to share in. Madison’s own Harmonious Wail and their Gypsy Swing music opened the show and was all that I have heard people say and more. Be sure to check them out also.

Listen to my first conversation with Dan here.

Listen to my second conversation with Dan here.

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Mr. Dan Hicks and MisterG 12/09/07

What I feel like hearing

Therapy- Winzenried
Dreamin’- G Love & the Special Sauce
Smoke 2 Joints- Sublime
Love my Guitar- Prince
JuJu in Those Strings- Eccodek
Baby Elephants-n-Thangs- Baby Elephants w/George Clinton
The Craft- Blackalicious
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Love and Happiness- Marc Broussard
Shoes- George Soule
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Who Cares What the Question is- Band of Bees
Sanctified- Mama’s Cookin’
Angelina- the Tony Tyler Trance
War- JJ Grey & Mofro
Broken Down Piece of Junk- Brian Setzer
Little White Lines- Shooter Jennings
Are You- Bob Seger
The Fat Man- Los Lobos
It’s All Over Now- Dirty Dozen Brass Band w/Dr. John
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Debbie’s Dance- Skeebo Knight
Get Down Tonite- Melvin Sparks
Thank You Nation 1814- Janet Jackson/DJ Reset
One Love Let’s Celebrate- Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party
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Solid- Soulive
Miami Blues- Akashic Record
Fellin’ Good- Bama and the Family
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Sun in Your Head- Dust Galaxy
Fading in C# Minor- Una
Cinnamon Girl- Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs
My AK-47- Hot Tuna (live)
Rebecca, Rebecca- Mojo:Saint (live)
Caress Me Baby- Omar Kent Dykes/Jimmie Vaughn/COTTON
Tell me Something I Don’t Know- Geoff Achison & the Souldiggers (live)
Suits me Fine- King Johnson
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Lost and Found- Al & the Transamericans
Tailspin- Moe
Soulshine- Gov’t Mule (live)
Fallujah Dub- Guvna Dub
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the Good, the Bad, the Ugly- the Dillingers

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HOPE THIS FIT…..your needs.

Youssou N’Dour in Madison

One of the most electrifying shows I have seen in a long time. Youssou N’Dour et le Super Etoile de Dakar brought West Africa, heck all cultures present together for an unforgettable night of dance, positive rhythms and shared spirit at the Wisconsin Union Theater. This was a few hours of community led by a powerful sermon by one of the most powerful voices on any continent. Carrying his storytelling and roots of Senegalese music, Youssou N’Dour does create a sound that is a force strong enough to combine all into one. The Griot Percussion mixed with Afro-Cuban arrangements is a sound that can flourish in any land, there is nostalgia in those songs and even I, who knows only a slight peek into the French dialect can feel it. It is a celebration.

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Charlie Hunter Trio’s Mistico

There is a slick feel to this latest release from Charlie Hunter’s Trio, like walking on a sidewalk that was shoveled too soon and a think layer of ice is still underneath. There you are mis-stepping and it feels so right. Allowing an unseen force to lead you on your way and doing so with a smile wrapped around your head. I haven’t yet discovered the land of Mistico, but I am certainly enjoying the surrounding sounds while trying to locate it. Then there are times like in track #2, “Speakers Bulit in”, where the moment of impact is eventual. As you spiral downwards you find yourself standing upright and all signs point up. Along with Charlie Hunter on 7 string guitar, Simon Lott handles the drumming duties and Erik Deutsch fingers the keys of the piano, Fender Rhodes and CasioTone. Together, this search party leads you and your ears towards unchartered sound spots, but please keep your minds open at all times, as this album features 10 tracks that will certainly challenge your memories to compare. Often times during the album as it plays the slippery sidewalk seems to lead to the ends of some world…..I’m sure this is to be continued.

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CH3 Mistico Concord Music Group

Lunar Orbit: KD3

The Karl Denson Trio’s newest album, Lunar Orbit is the vessel to take space and make it into your backyard. I have been swimming in this album up to my ears and keep finding new worm-holes to depart into. As the title track blasts off, you can buckle up or feel free to roam around the cabin area inside your mind, weightlessness is around you and time seems to be irrelevant once again, like when you were a child. The grooves are very rich with a star-like brightness that easily excite your senses like the first time you saw pictures of earth from the moon. Now that’s some deep grooves. Take a breath. There is an innovator’s spirit that flows from this album, like someone has witnesses the future and is setting it into sound. With Jake Najor on Drums, Anthony Smith on keys, Karl Denson’s sax/flutes explode in evolutionary exploration and is willing to take you as a passenger. Join me on a ride? Karl Denson’s career has taken many forms. From saxophone player for Lenny Kravitz to front man of The Greyboy All-Stars and his own Tiny Universe, Karl has constantly found ways to simultaneously expand his listeners’ minds while making them move their feet. His undeniable grooves and colossal saxophone solos have taken a new form in The Karl Denson Trio.

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Confusion at the Station

So well….Ummmm??? Someone said they needed a 2 hour fill-in but they must have wrote down the wrong day…who knows..I thank Nick for giving up his 7-8pm time-slot so I could bring you this:

And for those of you who were tuned in looking for 2 hours, join the club..I am sorry….ME TOO!

Refer Headed Woman- Cashman
Beer Soaked Couch Slug- John Lisi & Delta Funk
Yes We Can Can- Davis Coen
Celebrate your Youth- Keller Williams
Had Enough of Me- Darrin James Band
Do your Thing- Papa Mali
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White Rabbit- Patti Smith
Revolution- Sirsy
Knockin’- Luminescent Orchestrii
Memphis in the Meantime- Gregg Allman
Mountain to Climb- Floyd Miles/Gregg Allman
How Can I miss You When You Won’t go Away- Dan Hicks
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Torch- Honeytribe
Missing My Baby- G-Love
The Minx- the New Mastersounds

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Frozen Roads to Travel

So, here I am in my new home-slot until sometime in January. Sunday Mornings from 6-8am CST…The groove is gettin’ back on and the rust is wearing off quickly. Check in.

Bring me Back, the Mighty Underdogs
Think Back- Galactic w/Charli 2na
She Went Around- the Tao of Groove
Hey Brother- Zap Mama w/Michael Franti
Crabbuckit- K-Os
Queen Dub- Ticklah w/Rob Symeonn
Change my Ways- the Pietasters
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Time After Time- Jake Shimabukuro
Flight of the Bumblebee- LittleHorse
Take the 5th- the Brian Setzer Orchestra
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise- Bring Back Pluto
Joe Citizen- BD Lendz
Greet the Mind- Lotus (live)
Love will Sanctify the Devil’s Stomp- Green Light (live)
Mofongo Raincheck- Secretary
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Mississippi Rising- Floratone
Step on it- Tal Bergman/Ron DeJesus
Dingo Dog Sled- Karl Denson Trio
Baghdad Blues- the Microscopic Septet
Chinese Twilight Zone- the Microscopic Septet
Flugefrelsarinn- Kronos Quartet
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Keep on Looking- Sharon Jones & the Dapkings
Funky Helmet- the Poogie Bell Band
Balls- the Charlie Hunter Trio
Little Bag (in search of)- Chris Spies
A Style Called Crying Chic- Pop Levi
Happiness- A.K.A.C.O.D.
Revolution- Sirsy

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Evel Knievel…a daredevil passes

Evel Knievel, the red-white-and-blue-spangled motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over crazy obstacles including Greyhound buses, live sharks and Idaho’s Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died today. He was 69. Immortalized in the Washington’s Smithsonian Institution as “America’s Legendary Daredevil,” Knievel was best known for a failed 1974 attempt to jump Snake River Canyon on a rocket-powered cycle and a spectacular crash at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980. “I think he lived twenty years longer than most people would have” after so many injuries, said his son Kelly Knievel, 47. “I think he willed himself into an extra five or six years.” Though Knievel dropped off the pop culture radar in the ’80s, the image of the high-flying motorcyclist clad in patriotic, star-studded colors was never erased from public consciousness. He always had fans and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years.

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Sirsy….Revolution

When something is right, it is right. That;s how I feel about the 2-piece force d’rock known as Sirsy In there latest release Revolution on their own label SIRSRYMUSIC, there are signs of a band just about to make a bigger name for themselves. The start of this album is the title track Revolution and thus begins your interest in Sirsy. How do they make that much rock with this roll, just two you say?? There are personalities in this music, but even more importantly is that each song has it’s own face, it’s own expression. Sassy to the core and tender when needed, I think this could be the next band you fall in love with. Melanie and Rich have a live show that surpasses attempts at words, but merely needs to been taking in and you’ll be ready to join in the movement that is a Sirsy Revolution.

Track Listing:
1 Revolution
2 Sorry Me
3 Leftover Girl
4 Crazy
5 Waiting For Rain
6 Oh! Billy
7 Still
8 Mary Concetta
9 Mercury
10 Fireflies

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Desi still making headlines..

Friend of greenarrowradio, Desiree Bassett is still making a name for herself and as we know, she can play that git-tar. The 10th-grader at E.O. Smith High School in Storrs, CT, is gaining national recognition for her skills. The 15-year-old, who started playing when she was 3, was featured in Guitar Player magazine this past summer. “She’s a true artist in every sense of the word,” her father, Dan Bassett, said. Desiree’, who likes country music, jazz and blues, took guitar lessons from professors at the University of Connecticut, and she now gives lessons to others. She’s currently working on an album with her band, Desiree’ & the Time Machine. “I like to show off what I can do and show people how serious I am about my career,” the 15-year-old says. She played her first full-size guitar at 5, and she won a talent competition when she was 12. At 14, she played side stage at Ozzfest in Hartford. Now she’s 15, and has captured the attention of rock music legends Rik Emmett, Dicky Betts and Joe Satriani. Desiree’ has four major endorsements and her producer is bass player Doug Wimbish from Living Colour. Desiree’ is only the second person ever to sit in and play with Living Colour. The other? Carlos Santana. “Basically, I listen to a lot of music,” Desiree’ said. Satriani is her favorite guitarist, and her favorite singers are Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and Celine Dion. (We won’t hold that against her) Desiree’, however, doesn’t let music take up all her time. She also likes to make jewelry, draw, go fishing, swim and jump on her trampoline. She enjoys spending time with her 10-year-old sister, Jessica, and is currently working on her 69th anime/comedy video to post on YouTube with her others. After high school, Desiree’ hopes to go on tour. College is a possibility, and Desiree’s father said both Berklee College of Music in Boston and UConn have shown interest in her. For now, the family is focused on making sure she gets through high school at the same high standard she has established as an honor student. “[Playing guitar] is one of my favorite hobbies; it’s something I’m attached to,” Desiree’ said. “I’m going to keep practicing and focusing on my music and keep writing songs.”

As a guest on greenarrowradio several times, I am sure Desi will be just fine in whatever path she takes.

You can read the entire article published in the Hartford Courant here.

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Our friend Desiree!

A G-NU Home away from home

ahhh the sweet smell of radio. For the first time, I was fortunate to get on-air at my new home WSUM out of Madison. Here is the run down of my 2 hours of filling in….You all be the Twinkies…

Lazy Eyes- Chow Nasty
Hades Lady- Pop Levi
Ain’t got that Smile- Scrapomatic
Everybody Loves You- HAZMAT modine
Bad Weather- A.K.A.C.O.D
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Spinning Wheel- Cameron Mizell
Hot Tub- Cadillac Jones
Legalize It- MSMW
1021- Depth Quartet
Godzilla- Diego Garcia
Louisiana Sky- John Popper Project feat. DJ Logic
Infinity (remix)- Desdamona
Turntables on the Bayou- No Luck Club
One Hand Blizzard- DJ Kentaro
Life of the Mind- Club d’Elf
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Bruce Lee- Marcus Miller
I likes That- Skeebo Knight
Pimpasaurus Rex- Doug Johns
Courage- Vieux Farka Toure
Casina Y Epidecus- Mirtha Y Raul
Sultan Song- Rob Wasserman
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Something Went Right- George Soule
Love is the Answer for World Peace- Lipbone Redding

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Screaming Headless Torsos – Vinnie

Here is one of my all time favorite acts. Screaming Headless Torsos featuring David Fuczinski, Dean Bowman, Fima Ephron. Screaming Headless Torsos, brainchild of mad-scientist virtuoso guitarist David “Fuze” Fiuczynski, with riveting vocalist extraordinaire Dean Bowman, is an original and creative take on avant-funk-jazz rock. The Torsos intensely high energy, impassioned playing and transcendent musicianship has inspired fans, other musicians, and numbers of tribute bands all over the world, becoming a cult phenomena with their three CD’s and double live DVD…..A live show not to soon be forgotten.

Acoustics here are Great!

Bottoms Up!- Dan Hicks & the Acoustic Warriors (live)
Who are You?- Dan Hicks & the Acoustic Warriors (live)
We Don’t Run- Willie Nelson
Leavin’ Town- Pete Wernick & Flexigrass
Hartford’s Real- David Grisman/Sam Bush
Unpredictable Birds- Radim Zenkl
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Tundra Blues- Kito Peters
Desert of Love-David Gans
It’s Gonna Get Better- David Gans
Late Breaking News- Jorma Kaukonen
Sing a New Song- Eliza Lynn
Deep Gap- Alison Brown
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Cut Across Shorty- Rod Stewart/Ronnie Wood
Lines Around Your Eyes- Leftover Salmon/Lucinda Williams/J-El Sonnier
Mama You Sweet- Lucinda Williams
These Pages- Chris Pureka
Evermore- Ashleigh Flynn w/Sneakin’ Out
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Smoke Smoke Smoke (that Cigarette)- Tex Williams
1952 Vincent Black Lightning- Del McCoury Band
Silver Dagger- Dolly Parton
Evelyn is not Real- My Morning Jacket
Oxford Town- Bob Dylan
Ain’t Leavin’ your Love- Townes Van Zandt
Back to the Crossroads- Todd Snider
Down in the River to Pray- Alison Krauss
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Guys & Dolls & Bagels- Metropolitan Klezmer
NY Psycho Freylekhs- the Klezmatics
Iguazu- Ron Roco
Cha Cha Chihuahua- David Grisman Quintet
So What- Jerry Garcia/David Grisman/Tony Rice
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Black Mountain Blues- Nick Drake*
Blues Run the Game- Nick Drake*
House Gone up in Flames- the Nightwatchman
Devil’s Dream- Peter Prince
Squeaking for Satan- the Cubby Creatures
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Waste My Time- Pedro Arevalo & Friends
I’ll be the One- Warren Haynes (live at Bonnaroo ’04)
Gallow’s Pole- Jimmy Page/Robert Plant

* never before released

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strong economy and a healthy ecology

Ecolonomics is to demonstrate that creating a symbiotic relationship between a strong economy and a healthy ecology is the only formula for a sustainable future: develop non-polluting technologies that turn into viable ecolonomic businesses identity, research, demonstrate and promote clean and inexhaustible energy sources assist inventors of ecolonomic technologies obtain legal and other support implement ecolonomics curricula nationwide conduct ecolonomics courses and workshops via the Internet publsih literature for young people underscoring the interdependence of our ecology and economy produce ecolonomics public service announcements for radio and television stage dynamic media events demonstrating ecolonomic technologies. For more information head over to the Institute of Ecolonomics website here. Amongst the strategies of the Institute to achieve this are:

1. Develop non-polluting technologies that turn into viable ecolonomic/sustainable businesses.
2. Identify, research, demonstrate and promote clean and inexhaustible energy sources.
3. Assist inventors of Ecolonomic technologies in obtaining legal and other support.
4. Implement Ecolonomic curriculum nationally and internationally.

This movement is heading to thoughts and innovations that will hopefully assist in the sustainable nature of our economy and our environment and is often something I know I think about maybe even without realization. It’s worth taking a few moments to check it out..if you so desire.

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The Mighty Underdogs: The Prelude

From the moment the beat battle bell is rung this EP tips its cap to old school R&B and hip hop with raps that spit fresh retro fire and scratching that has the sniff jealous. The Gift of Gab, Lateef The Truth Speaker, and Headnodic as the new super-group: The Mighty Underdogs. The new EP entitled THE PRELUDE (featuring DJ Shadow, MF Doom, Ladybug Mecca, and Rashaan Ahmad from the Crown City Rockers). This release is independent through Giftstribution and will release an LP entitled “Dropping Science Fiction” in early 2008. Something to keep a look-out for. The stylings of this are off the charts. This is hip hop keeping it really real. Just set your ears on track #6 Bring Me Back and have yourself a flashback moment rivaled only in scenes from Wayne’s World. And of course, I am always a sucker for the voice of LadyBUG Mecca, it always sounds like she is just reciting a lullaby made to hush a city block…and that can’t be bad.

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Shall we Tango Tonight?

The answer is yes! Putumayo Presents: TANGO around the world. The energy driven by passion fuels this movement friendly album with songs representing that fire from countries around the globe. There is a style and elegance that all cultures and their music develop and I must say, they have captured the Tango beast within them and put forth a hip bending blend including pieces from Serbia, Norway,Senegal and Argentina and Brazil. The roots of Tango music stretch back to African rhythms and European parlor dances, the main influences are the milonga, a poetic song style developed in Uruguay, and the Cuban habanera, whose shuffling beat still forms the foundation of that instantly recognizable tango rhythm.
This album is a great introduction to celebrate the exploration of tango music’s influence around the globe.

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Taken but nor stirred.

Going to California- Jake Shimabukuro
Swingin’ Willie- the Brian Setzer Orchestra
Flight of the Bumblebee- Little Horse
A love Supreme- Carlos Santana
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History Repeating- Propellerheads w/Shirley Bassey
Energy Sucker- Lucious Jackson
Little Fluffy Clouds- the Orb
I see you Baby- Groove Armada/Fatboy Slim U.S. Guitar edit
Bring me Back- the Mighty Underdogs w/Raashan Ahmad
Lady Cabdriver- Prince
What What- Public Enemy
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Walk Between Raindrops- Donald Fagan
One Hand Blizzard- DJ Kentaro
Lucifer Sam- Zizlia
Give Up- Supreme Beings of Leisure
Makes You Ecstatic- the Tao of Groove
17 Birds Outside my Window- Suphala
Panorama- the Yoshida Brothers
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Casting Out the Nines- Dub Trio
Fozzy (Part 1)- the Pietasters
Master Plan- Willie Williams
See You When I Get There- Willie Williams
BellyFull- I Three & the Wailers (live ’82)
Wa Do Dem- Eek a Mouse (Live ’82)
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Superman Lover- Johnny “Guitar” Watson
Cinnamon Girl- Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs
E->Pro- Particle w/Blackalicious
Slow Cookin’- Lotus (live)

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