Bo Diddley..Bo Knows how he feels.

This conversation will prove that. Bo Diddley knows how to rock and roll, he knows how to entertain an audience, but I learned that he also likes to talk about the things that are going on. Who better than Bo to talk about how things look from a perspective he has gained just weeks short of his 78th Birthday. Bo Diddley will be at the Mohegan Sun on Sunday December 17th. If you have never had the opportunity to see him live, this is a great time to catch him as he’ll mention in this chat, he is workin’ on some new stuff, always adding new ingredients to his musical pie.

HEAR BO DIDDLEY’s THOUGHTS HERE.

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11-25 Melvin Sparks Hangin’ out.

Not only was Melvin hanging out and chatting about a couple of projects, he is also going to be at the Main Pub in Manchester on Dec 2. This is a mix of our chats on Thursday and Saturday with a couple of hints of some groove. If you have never seen Melvin live, you’ve got to go and check this out. See you there.

LISTEN TO OUR CHATS HERE.

The Show looked like this. I think I got caught up in the Thanksgiving sentiment as I went back to some roots that have obviously branched out over the years. It went like this:

Listen to me, Pat Boyack
Too old is Getting Younger everyday, Watermelon Slim
She’s Gone, Hound Dog Taylor
Instrument of Pleasure, Jeff Chaz
Samson and Delilah, Blind Gary Davis
Something you got, BB King/Koko Taylor
Little by Little, BB King/Lowell Fulson
2:19, John Hammond
‘Til the Money Runs out, John Hammond
Big Black Mariah, John Hammond
Cold Cold Ground, Tom Waits
Mama Roux, Dr. John
Goin’ back to N.O., Dr. John/Neville Brothers
Home Movies, the Jamie McLean band
Get out of my Life, Jerry Garcia Band
Georgia on my Mind, Willie Pooch
Little Bag (in search of), Chris Spies
Groove on Up, Melvin Sparks
***Melvin Sparks Conversation***
She’s a Bad Mama Jama, Melvin Sparks
House Party, Javon Jackson
Freak, Sugarbitch
Chingiz, Banco De Gaia
Boys-n-Berry, the Cubby Creatures
DIY, Ext Clov
You’re my Girl, Neil Young
Baby I love you, Aretha Franklin
Stray Cat Blues, the Rolling Stones
Highway Song, Hot Tuna
Midnight Blues, the Allman Brothers
Baghdad Blues, the Microscopic Septet
Dirty Drawers, Vassar Clements
Green Onions, Vassar Clements
Little Miss Strange, Jimi Hendrix
Make me Know it, Elvis
Dirty Dirty Feeling, Elvis
Such a Night, Elvis
Evangeline, Jerry Garcia Band

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What are you doing November 18th?

Why don’t you head on down to the Main Pub in Manchester CT and catch the Jamie McLean Band, that’s right the Jamie McLean formerly of Dirty Dozen Brass Band. While the Dirty Dozen groove is infectious & timeless, the sideman guitar slinger slot holds it’s limitations. Having always been a songwriter, singer and front man, Jamie began to focus on his roots and in the early part of 2004 he formed his own group the Jamie McLean Band. Over the past year and a half Jamie’s songwriting, filled with catchy hooks, beautiful lyrics and scorching guitar work has mingled with the soulful gumbo of the deep south and while The Jamie McLean Band is based in New York City, the influences of southern rock, blues, R&B and funk is unmistakable. Jamie McLean Band will be touring in support of This Time Around throughout the year. We are fortunate to get them on November 18th. Look for their entertaining and energized sets throughout the Northeast and across the country this year both on their own and supporting national artists.

CLICK HERE FOR JAMIE AND G TALKING ABOUT THE BAND.

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Always a work in progress: Tom Rush

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.

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Music Innovator, Mr. Richie Havens

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’sHere 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.

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Let’s talk with Little Steven….Yeah, REALLY!!

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.

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Buddy Cage of New Riders & the Purple Sage

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.bcage.jpg

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…talk to me Melvin.

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.

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Galactic’s Jeff Raines talks shop.

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.

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Welcome to the world of the 88.

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.

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The chase down of Derek Trucks.

Well it isn’t as wild as it sounds. I have been attempting to have a conversation w/Derek since early March. His manager Blake and I have been working around each other’s schedule’s: I got put off because of Conan O’Brien…geez!! Finally, we get a chance and the phone lines are acting up in Storrs due to the inclement weather….So, you could be listening to just the sound of airwave fuzz or I actaully did beat down mother nature and make it happen.

Check out what the Derek Trucks Band is up to, including bracing themselves for some work with Mr. Eric Clapton.

The Derek Trucks Band has been a work in progress for over 10 years, blending jazz, rock, blues, Latin, Eastern Indian, and other world music into the sound that now defines the DTB. The band’s mission has been to assemble a group of musicians that share a passion for improvisation and musical exploration, and to develop a united musical vision by performing with this core group of players for an extended period of time. The focus of the band is on the art form itself, despite the current trend of image-driven music on the scene today. The DTB aims to create progressive roots music in an effort to move the art form forward and re establish substance over hype.

Listen to our conversation here.

Check out the Derek Trucks Band’s new CD SONGLINES

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thanks Blake

Our time w/ Jeff Knowlton

As previosly posted..On the BASH your BOSS day, Jeff Knowlton of the band the Break Mission out of Boston was in studio playing his electric/acoustic guitar. He belted out some solo stuff and some of the bands tracks off of their self titled album.

Listen to our time spent here.

Yeah, the recording device records my mic far louder than the other mics…Maybe I have a superiority complex? It will get fixed.

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get to know Tony Tyler’s Trance…

Listen to our chat right here just hours before his cd release party.

The Tony Tyler Trance was formed in October 1999 by father and son founding members, Stan and Tony Tyler Killingsworth. They first played together when Tony, at the age of seven, took up drums and percussion with Stan’s band, Crossfire. At age twelve, Tony switched to guitar and keyboards, paving the way for the formation of The Tony Tyler Trance. In 2000, T.K. Blues (soon to be renamed The Tony Tyler Trance) was engaged as the house band at a club in Milledgeville Ga. During this time Tony and Stan were approached by the manager of the nationally broadcast Nickelodeon Networks teenaged band , East of August. This band, young as they were, featured two members that appeared on the 2000 Grammy Awards. In mid-2001, Tony was invited to be guitarist and lead vocalists for yet another teenaged band being formed by a former manager of the rock band Areosmith. Tony traveled with the group, eventually named Hippiegrabber, to New York, Boston, and Los Angeles for rehearsals, recordings, and a video shoot. This project attracted serious attention from several record companies, following which a contract was extended. After careful deliberation, Tony decided that finishing High School was to be his first course of action. In 2001, Tony and Stan secured WILLIAM PERKINS as manager for the Tony Tyler Trance. His road management with the ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND as well as managing the solo careers of STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN and GREGG ALLMAN in the 1980’s allows Mr. Perkins to bring vast experience and knowledge in the promotion of The Tony Tyler Trance. His professional relationship with CHUCK LEAVELL, keyboardist with the ROLLING STONES, has led Mr. Leavell to express keen interests in developing and producing a future recording project with the Tony Tyler Trance. This project would be contingent upon the time constraints imposed by Leavell’s duties with the Rolling Stones and their upcoming tour. Rounding out the Tony Tyler Trance are Michael Hurwitz, who also began playing at a very early age in his dad’s band and applies considerable talent and experience to his position as bassist, and Adam Brimacomb on rhythm guitar.

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Pedro Arevalo…a real cool cat.

At 18 years old, Pedro was doing session work and production in styles as diverse as jazz, funk, reggae and hip-hop. His days were filled with teaching as many as 60 students per week. In 1996, the 20 year old multi-instrumentalist received a performance scholarship to the acclaimed Berklee College of Music. Between the years of 1997 & 2001, Pedro completed his musical studies in Boston, MA, while performing with two popular West African band leaders, Djeli Balla Tounkara and his band “Mande Foli” & master drummer Sidi “Joh” Camara & his band “Jamajigi”, as well as his African drum and dance ballet “Troupe Sewa”. many came to notice his proficiency on a variety of instruments including the: Dobro, Contrabass, Steel Pan, Hawaiian Guitar, the West African Ngoni, the Moroccan Sintir, the Puerto Rican Cuatro, and of course, Bass and Guitar. Pedro incorporates many of these instruments in such musical styles as Jazz, Delta Blues, Salsa, Reggae, Calypso, Country, Rock, Folk & Ragtime. During this time Pedro caught the ear of Rock N Roll Hall of Fame member and Grammy winning veteran, Dickey Betts, founding member of the The Allman Brothers Band. Betts asked Pedro to join his solo project, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, as full time bass player. Pedro has filmed a DVD entitled “Back Where It All Begins” with Betts and Great Southern, at The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, appeared on The Carson Daily Show as well as touring extensively with Dickey Betts & Great Southern, exciting thousands with his musical ability. While home on breaks Pedro recorded his solo album entitled, “Pedro Arevalo & Friends,” released in September, 2005, with pre orders of the project reaching impressive numbers. The album features guest appearances by Dickey Betts, Mike Kach, T.C. Carr, Duane Betts and many others. The album is an interesting mix of Blues, Country, and Rock n Roll. With plans to tour in support of the album, Pedro continues to write, perform, and produce his eclectic mix of music.

Listen to our conversation right here.

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Devon Allman Conversation

Listen Here

Join me in learning about a new band. Honeytribe. HONEYTRIBE’s music is feel based. Although featuring Devon Allman as the front man (yes from that Allman family), this band is an ensemble cast all the way. Devon has been busy lately, touring the planet, working on new material for the new Honeytribe album, and also being featured on a top ten hit in Europe with guitar monster, Javier Vargas. After several European tours and a video on MTV Europe, it’s been quite a year for the soul singer / blues guitarist and if you can catch him this year, you will see an artist on the threshold of greatness. The synergy of this band on stage is something to behold. Shifting from killer old blues songs to their own material, this is a band that will make you go “WOW!” while you watch them. From a straight up knock you in the teeth blues feel to a very girl-friendly island feel; this band has something for all feel-based music lovers. If you join any Tribe in today’s twisted world …make sure it’s HONEYTRIBE.

Listen to what Devon says about their new album, and find out what his worst job was.

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David Fiuczynski fretless guitar visionary

Although he has been involved in many musical projects, the album with the most legs seems to be his work with John Medeski, Lunar Crush. He is associate professor of guitar at Berklee School of Music, as well as a jazz “FUZE”ion guitar visionary.
In 1994 David, in collaboration with keyboardist John Medeski of Medeski Martin & Wood, woke up the sleeping jazz fusion world with a landmark CD, Lunar Crush chosen by Guitar Player’s 30th Anniversary Edition as a “Disc of Destiny” – in Guitar Player’s estimation, one of the most influential albums of the last thirty years. A funky, freaky party, Lunar Crush was a wild 90’s tribute to Tony William’s groundbreaking early-fusion band “Lifetime”. Fuze’s signature palette of otherworldly guitar sounds and enormous chops received astonished accolades from critics and fans alike and landed him on the cover of Guitar Player as a trailblazer who could “change the way you play!” In 1994 David became the original guitar player in Meshell NdegéOcello’s debut band and is prominently featured on her first two Grammy-nominated CD’s.

check him out online at http://www.torsos.com/

listen to our talk here.

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Moe’s Al Schnier talks from NYC

Something we didn’t talk about is: September 1 – 3, 2006
Snow Ridge Ski Area
Turin, NY The Seventh Annual moe.down will be held September 1-3 at the Snow Ridge Ski area in Turin, NY. moe.down is an annual party for moe. and its fans. The band will perform a total of six sets throughout the weekend. Past moe.down performers include Flaming Lips, They Might Be Giants, Matisyahu, MMW, Ani DiFranco, Blues Traveler, Leo Kottke, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Nellie McKay, Cracker Van Beethoven, David Grisman, and Les Claypool.

Listen to what we talked about here.

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J.J. from Mofro tellin it like it is!

A backwoods country boy surfer whose surfing jaunts took him around the world long before music did, Mofro’s JJ Grey embraces the title of “redneck” yet defies any of the negative stereotypes it evokes. He’s a multi-instrumentalist (voice, guitar, piano, harmonica, bass and drums) or as he says “I play just good enough to pull off a song or two.” As a lyricist and songwriter he is primarily a storyteller, trying in his own way to carry on the oral tradition. J.J. still resides on his grandparent’s old chicken farm where he and his family continue the tradition by farming organic vegetables.

Listen to our conversation here.

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A conversation with Jordan Zevon

What a nice guy. We spoke of upcoming “in the studio” time, tours and a little bit about DAD. Take a listen to the conversation and you will learn a lot about Jordan including his work with Notorious B.I.G…I know, I am as suprised as you. I hope to keep in contact with Jordan and perhaps try to get him and whomever he gets onboard for the upcoming tour, to visit this area. Until then visit him here at his website.

Listen to Jordan Zevon here.

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Gang of Four’s Dave Allen

We had a bad connection, as I believe Mr. Allen was at work on his cell. Either way, I certainly appreciate the time he took to chat and as always, he is a musician looking out for the others. We learn thru this interview that a re-mix of Return the Gift will be out in May.

take a listen here

Relevant artists: Gang of Four,Dave Allen & The Elastic Purejoy,Shriekback,Glassjaw,squall

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www.pampelmoose.com
http://www.gangoffour.co.uk/