Category Archives: All Interviews

Tom Rush is a gifted musician and performer, whose shows offer a musical celebration…a journey into the tradition and spectrum of what music has been, can be, and will become. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. His shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, the sweet melancholy of ballads and the passion of gritty blues. Rush’s impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the ’60s and the renaissance of the ’80s and ’90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, “Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences.” Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences. Rush has long championed emerging artists. His early recordings introduced the world to the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor, and in more recent years his Club 47 concerts have brought artists such as Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences when they were just beginning to build their own reputations. Tom will be singing, playing, and story telling October 6th at the Riverside in Danielson. This is a must see event.

Take a listen HERE to our conversation.

Havens first rose to fame in the Greenwich Village folk music scene that also fostered Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. In 1967 Havens became one of several Village-based artists signed to Verve Records & released several albums to mostly local notice. In 1969, Havens opened the Woodstock Festival. His performance received continuous ovations and kept playing encores until he ran out of songs. Finally, he decided to improvise a version of “Motherless Child” to which he added a verse with the word “Freedom” repeated over and over; this song was featured in the Woodstock film fastly becoming an international hit. He followed up this success with the 1971 release of Alarm Clock, which featured a popular rendition of George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun“. Often noted for his guitar skill; some of his recordings feature a drum sound which is actually his foot tapping on the floor. His guitar playing makes extensive use of open tunings and an unconventional thumb-fretting style. John Lennon said about Richie Havens during an interview for Rolling Stone in 1971: “He plays a pretty funky guitar.” Still maintaining his status as a folk icon, as he continues a busy schedule touring the globe with fiery performances. Connecticut welcomes Richie to the Strawberry Park Folk Festival in Preston, CT on September, 15th.

Listen to what Richie has to say here, and go see him play.

Who else but Little Steven can bring a Rolling Rock and Roll Show, that’ll simply blow your minds and eyes and Thirsty Earholes Away. Coming on Sept 19th to Foxwoods Casino, get yourselves ready for a show that beats ’em all. The Zombies, The Mooney Suzuki’s, The Woogles, and even The Downbeat 5. The show will return once a month with a new lineup. Tickets are a reasonable as can be, like this show was made for college students. So c’mon UCONN, lets fill the Foxwoods Casino up with Huskies. A little history lesson first: You may know Steve from The Sopranos (he plays Silvio Dante) or as the longtime guitarist from Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. Now you can get to know him as the coolest DJ in the country, a proud throwback to the late-night hipster jocks of long-gone 1960s and ‘70s FM radio. He is an acclaimed record producer for artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Artists United Against Apartheid, Darlene Love, Lone Justice, Gary U.S. Bonds, and the Arc Angels. A gifted songwriter, he has written songs for artists including Jimmy Cliff, Southside Johnny, Gary U.S. Bonds, Brian Setzer, and Darlene Love. In addition, Steven is a well-known musician in his own right, performing as a founding member of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band as well as w ith his own band Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. He has worked to further human rights since the early 1980’s, spearheading the hugely successful anti-apartheid Sun City project, and establishing the Solidarity Foundation in 1985 to support the sovereignty of indigenous peoples. He has been honored twice by the United Nations for his human rights achievements, and received the International Documentary Association Award for his film The Making of Sun City. Little Steven’s Underground Garage, which debuted on April 7, 2002, continues to garner rave reviews from journalists and listeners alike. The program launched with 20 affiliates and has grown to an unprecedented 140 affiliates in 200 markets across the United States and Canada. It can locally be heard on 104.7 WMOS / New London Sunday nights at 10pm,
99.1 WPLR / New Haven on Sunday mornings at 8am.

LISTEN TO STEVIE TELL YOU ABOUT THE SHOW IN HIS OWN WORDS.

New Riders Steel Pedal Guitar man and I chat promoting the upcoming show at the Riverside Club in Danielson, CT. Check them out here.

Listen to our “R” Rated Conversation here.

As one of the New Riders of the Purple Sage (replacing Jerry Garcia in 1971), Cage has sold over 4 million records. As an independent recording specialist, he has performed on over 10 gold & platinum records.
For Bob Dylan:
* “Blood On The Tracks”
* “Biograph”
* “Official Bootleg Tapes”
NRPS:
* “Panama Red”
* “Powerglide”
* “Home, Home On The Road”
* “Gypsy Cowboy”
Also:
* Recorded w/Grateful Dead members Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart & GD lyricist Robert Hunter (“Tales Of The Rum Runners”), * 4 multi-platinum albums w/Anne Murray and the partnerships and success go on. Check out more online

Melvin Sparks is the Essential Guitar Player! He’s The Master Of The Groove! The Acid-Jazz Pioneer! The Originator of Soul Jazz, Old School Acid Jazz & BarbecueFunk(FUNKJAZZ). Sparks recorded seven albums of his own and played on over 100 other albums. As a session man for Blue Note and Prestige Records, Sparks laid his signature guitar work on many other musician’s albums without ever being in spotlight. It was during this time that Melvin defined the jazz-guitar sound of a generation. Melvin Sparks is still a much sought-after studio player, both new and old talents seek him out now more than ever. He continues to perform with the greats of this genre such as Leon Spencer Jr., Mike Clark and Idris Mohammed and is now breaking out his legendary guitar wizardry with many younger bands and artists such as Galactic, The Greyboy Allstars, Karl Denson’s Tiny Univers, Derek Trucks and Robert Walter’s 20th Congress. Melvin is geared up to show us all what he does better than anyone else. Groove hard and in the pocket. Melvin Sparks has perhaps the most inspiring and soul-energizing guitar chops on this planet or another. He is admired by many performers, and audiences old and young alike, but continues to be a hidden treasure for music fans worldwide. He is Soul-Jazzy and Funky to the core!

Listen to Melvin Sparks and I talk about his shows here.

Galactic was born in the early ’90s, after two Washington DC punks – guitarist Jeff Raines and bassist Robert Mercurio – relocated to New Orleans and found themselves intoxicated by the sounds of the scene that nurtured The Meters, Professor Longhair, the Neville Brothers and Dr. John. Galactic has created a far-reaching canon informed by ongoing influence from a wide range of genres, including hip-hop, blues, pop, and electronica. Now, with six albums and countless landmark live shows to its credit, now, once again headed to new territory—for now, as an instrumental powerhouse. While the band has always embraced stylistic changes and relished its musical adventures, its instrumental chops have never wavered. On the road and in its own New Orleans studio, Galactic continues to reinvent itself, inspiring its ever-growing fan base with ongoing artistic evolution, synthesizing the most thrilling elements of vintage and contemporary styles to keep the party rolling. Galactic will be at Toad’s Place Friday July 21.

Listen to Jeff talk about Katrina and music.

With their second album, Over and Over, The 88 refute the myth that art and the three-and-a-half-minute pop song can’t get along. While the new record shares the same rollicking spirit as its predecessor, Kind of Light, it also marks a sonic leap forward for the Los Angeles-based quintet. Once word of The 88’s irrepressible harmonies and hopping pianos – not to mention Slettedahl’s warm, saturated strains – began to spread among club-goers, Light slowly found its way to radio DJs and rock critics. The band became a staple on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, a clearinghouse for rising indie rock outfits, world music composers and underground acts hoping to cross over into the mainstream. Ultimately, 12 of the album’s 13 cuts made the spin list at NPR’s flagship station, opening the floodgates to movie and television offers. Today, the group’s TV resume includes segments on NBC’s Extra and ABC’s The Jimmy Kimmel Show, though it’s arguably their appearance on Fox’s hit series The O.C., whose soundtrack sales have now topped 300,000 copies, that put the troupe on their younger fans’ radar. Then, last year, the live track ‘Coming Home,’ which makes its studio debut on Over and Over, landed a plum spot in the Ben Affleck comedy Surviving Christmas (2004). Meantime, amid all the fanfare, The 88 quietly earned themselves a nod as L.A. Weekly’s Best Pop/Rock outfit in the city.

I had the chance to speak with Keith Slettedahl, singer/guitarist of the band. If you haven’t check The 88 out as of yet, you must not want to have any fun.

Listen to our chat here.