W♥M

Matthew Sweet at Turf Club, St Paul (16 Feb 2024)

02/16 Matthew Sweet with Abe Partridge at Turf Club Matthew Sweet Setlist The Ugly Truth I Wanted to Tell You Byrdgirl Time Capsule Someone to Pull the Trigger Divine Intervention Winona Devil With the Green Eyes Stars Explode You Don't Love Me We're the Same If Time Permits I've Been Waiting Evangeline -- Encore -- Girlfriend Sick of Myself Abe Partridge Setlist Fake It 'Til You Make It Ride Willie Ride Colours Abe Partridge's 403d Freakout Gnashville with a G Alabama Astronauts Read More Matthew Sweet Anyway, currently, Matthew Sweet is back with a new album, after a six-year hiatus, called Tomorrow Forever (Honeycomb Hideout, through Sony’s RED Distribution). The new 17-song album will be … Abe Partridge Abe Partridge to open. Matthew Sweet Tour Dates: January 12-15 - South Walton, FL - 30A Songwriters Festival February 9 - Kansas City, MO - Madrid Theatre …

Alt-rock trailblazer Matthew Sweet is currently on a small Midwest tour, his first live shows in nearly four-year. The sold-out show at the Turf Club, in St Paul, last night was met with mostly older, but enthusiastic, fans, in anticipation of hearing their favorite Matthew Sweet songs live again.

Sweet has a great live band, which he personally assembled. The biggest names here are drummer Debbi Peterson, from The Bangles and bassist Paul Chastain from Velvet Crush. Guitarist John Mormon and “new kid” acoustic/backup vocals Adrian Carter, makes up the rest of the full band.

Matthew Sweet ticketstub (20 Feb 2001)

As I previously mentioned, when I saw Sweet at First Avenue on February 20, 2001, that “my very first concert was for Matthew Sweet, during his "Girlfriend" Tour in 1992. I saw him in Fresno, California, and I believe the venue was the Cadillac Club (I’m almost certain, but I could be wrong).”

If you’re not familiar with Sweet, he started in various bands, like The Specs, The Dialtones, Community Trolls (with Michael Stipe), Oh-OK, The Buzz of Delight, but it wasn’t until he went solo did his career took off.

Of course, still being in high school, I didn’t really discover Matthew Sweet until he was already signed with Zoo Entertainment (A&M Records), and the song “Girlfriend”, the title track from his 1991 album, was played on MTV’s 120 Minutes.

So, I’ve always had a soft spot for Matthew Sweet, and I have always loved his pop/rock songs with those ‘sweet’ harmonies.

As you can see from the setlist, he did play a lot of songs from that 90s time period that made him famous, including the intro track “The Ugly Truth”, the difficult to play live “Time Capsule” (this was a big hit at the time), the depressing-but-harmonic “Someone to Pull the Trigger”, “Devil With the Green Eyes” and well-known songs “I've Been Waiting” & “Evangeline.” Of course, he saved his biggest hit song for the encore.

Note, if you look at the photo of the setlist, it shows “Stars Explode” on the encore. That song was played earlier in the set…

Matthew Sweet also spent a lot of time talking about his inspiration for his cat artwork (which he titles “Midsommar” named after the a24 film - which I agreed that it’s one of my favorite horror film). The story, from start to finish, is long… which I will spare you the details. Let’s just say that he’s incredible proud of the artwork and even tattooed it on his arm and ordered not one, but two, custom drumhead kit art.

While the Midsommar album artwork and various vector art merchandise were produced, the new album has not been recorded. Any funds fans purchased on this tour will likely go into recording the upcoming album.

And speaking of recording studios, he did have a funny story about recording In Reverse (when they’re about to play “If Time Permits”), he invited Brian Wilson, who lived nearby, to sit in to hear them record that album. Wilson showed up and sat in the back, listening to recording of one of their songs. When it was over, Wilson, animated as he was, jumped up off his seat and yelled, “I love it! I F***** LOVE IT!!” Sweet seemed really happy that the In Reverse album was Brian Wilson approved.

Based on the strong fanbase, I’m certain Matthew Sweet will return when his new album is finally recorded. While we wait, in the meantime, Matthew Sweet has released an archival live record album Live at Grant Park Chicago July 1993. The source is taken from Metro Mobile Recording for Chicago radio station WXRT, but was remixed from the original DAT source by engineer Brian Kehew … so you’re going to hear the best audio quality from this live recording. You can purchase the album here.

Opening up the show was Alabama’s musician and podcaster Abe Partridge. If you like lyrics (and funny and clever lines), you’ll like Partridge, who comes off as American funnyman, who happens to play music with his steel guitarist. He was really grateful for the opportunity to open for Sweet, because he said he hadn’t been to many of these venues on this tour.

My favorite song on his set was “Abe Partridge's 403d Freakout”, which has a long breakdown about what if Albert Einstein had switch places with John Lennon. In this timeline, Einstein would marry a girl from Hiroshima, while Lennon would work on developing the atomic bomb.

Matthew Sweet and Abe Partridge’s last Midwest show is tonight (Feb 17), at the Waiting Room, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Abe Partridge

Matthew Sweet

Abe Partridge Adrian Carter and Paul Chastain (Velvet Crush) Debbi Peterson (The Bangles) Matthew Sweet

Matthew Sweet

Matthew Sweet at Turf Club, St Paul (16 Feb 2024)

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Christmas 2023: All Over by Xmas

Read More Ladytron I love Ladytron, I felt that 604 and Light & Magic were the album of choice in the 2000… unfortunately I suppose my music taste changed or something because I was not that impressed with their later ...

Ladytron
ladytron.com

One of my favorite electroclash band Ladytron is releasing a Christmas song called “All Over By Xmas” on Friday, December 1st, 2023, on Cooking Vinyl.

I’ve gotten a chance to listen to it, at first it kind of has that T.Rex’s “Christmas Bop” vibe, but leaning a little more electronic.

You know me, I do love Ladytron, but not sure if I like this song. It’s a little repetitive with its “all over by Christmas” lyric that starts every line of the song.

Example of lyrics:

Yes it will be all over, all over by Christmas you told me.
All over, all over, it won't be our last Christmas.
All over by Christmas, this December is where we shall meet.
All over by Christmas, over our town, all over our street.

P.S. Ladytron toured the USA in November 2023 (their first since 2020 and without Reuben Wu), but unfortunately the limited dates did not extend to Minneapolis. Their next date is at Manchester on 26 January 2024. Hope to see them soon.

Read More Landon Conrath Minneapolis indie-pop artist Landon Conrath will close out the year with a headline show at the 7th Street Entry on December 30. We will be covering the show. ... Oliver Hazard Oliver Hazard is an indie-folk band from Waterville, OH whose sound is self-described as a “ramshackle of uprooted folk-stomp,” though band member Mike Belazis says he would … Rosie Darling Not happy with just playing their hits, the two insists on playing new collaborations, such as “Never Be the Same”, featuring Rosie Darling. They also played quite a few new 2019 tunes … Bre Kennedy Singer, songwriter, and producer Bre Kennedy is touring in support of her sophomore album Scream Over Everything. The record comes out November 10 on Nettwerk Records. … Humbird Humbird opened the evening with Siri Undlin on lead vocal and guitar and Pat Keen on upright bass. Undlin said it was a little weird to be playing at the Fine Line for she is currently on the …

Nettwerk
nettwerk.com

Like previous years, Nettwerk is back with a new holiday collection, Sleigh… now under the banner The Holiday Place.

The new compilation consists of newly recorded covers and originals Christmas/Holiday songs, everyone from Landon Conrath covering a Billy Squier MTV 80’s classic to Oliver Hazard’s take on “Winter Wonderland” to Bre Kennedy’s “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” (originally by John Lennon), and Rosie Darling’s “Mistletoe” (originally by Justin Bieber).

Track List:

1. Christmas Is the Time to Say “I Love You” - Landon Conrath
2. Next Year - Lucy Gaffney
3. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Portair
4. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Woodes
5. Greensleeves - Humbird
6. O Holy Night - Flower Face
7. Wonderful Christmas Time - Beta Radio
8. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - Bre Kennedy
9. We'll Be Alright - dee holt
10. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Bestfriend
11. Christmas Time Is Here - Braxton Cook
12. Mistletoe - Rosie Darling
13. Christmas Is a White Valentine's - Freyr
14. Winter Wonderland - Oliver Hazard
15. The Christmas You Deserve - Tom Speight
16. God Rest Ye Merry Billionaires - Martin Kerr
17. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm - Rose Cousins
18. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - The East Pointers
19. My Best Christmas - The Collection
20. Space Christmastime Continuum - Beta Radio
21. Silver and Gold [Study Mix] - Fletcher Reed & Mree
22. Rudolph Red - PANTōNE VU

The Holiday Hustle Club
instagram.com

Athens, Georgia-based jazz combo, The Holiday Hustle Club, led by songwriter, vocalist and jazz pianist, Bart King, will be releasing Snow Day! on December 8, 2023.

Track listing:

1. Snow Day! (feat. Claire Campbell)
2. Secret Santa (feat. Betsy Franck)
3. Jolly Old St. Nicholas
4. My Favorite Holiday Song
5. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Kimberly Dawn
officialkimberlydawn.com

County music singer-songwriter Kimberly Dawn released Wishin' For Christmas, a mix of original and classic Christmas songs.

The new single from the holiday album is titled “Ho Ho Holdin’ You” which you can watch the video on YouTube.

It’s a fun little number, as she cheese it up singing, “Baby it’s always Christmas when I’m ho ho holdin’ you.”

Downtown Patriots
downtownpatriots.com

Danny Watts started the Downtown Patriots project in 2011, and his latest “Christmas is Here” will be dropping December 1st, 2023, via Maisola Records.

Watts adds more details, “This was written in the winter of 2022, Christmas Is Here, is a sanity check about the capitalist pursuit of what Christmas has become and really it should be about the ones we love. It’s a song for anyone who loves festive music!”

Read more Christmas.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Pause for the Cause: Benefit Concerts

OCTOBER 29- MICHAEL FRANTI – Lawrence, KS

Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Presents: Michael Franti on 8th & Mass Street at 8th and Mass St. on Oct 29, 2021 6:30 PM (etix.com)

Now in its tenth year, The Belgian Waffle Ride (BWR) takes place in Lawrence, KS for the first time, benefiting the Steve Tilford Foundation, named for the multi-award winning mountain biking legend, and its kickoff concert has moved outside to 8^th and Mass. downtown under the stars featuring the Michael Franti Trio and Maria the Mexican.

The BWR provides professional and amateur cyclists the opportunity to ride over up to a 111.11-mile route throughout the northeast region of Kansas and yes, there will be waffles, Belgian ales, and frites available along with a silent auction, vendor fair, and related weekend activities.

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NOVEMBER 8 – STAND UP FOR HEROES– New York City

Home - Bob Woodruff Foundation

Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart, Jim Gaffigan, Nikki Glaser and many others are set to perform at the 15^th annual Stand Up for Heroes benefit event, which supports the Bob Woodruff Foundation’s efforts to help wounded service members, veterans and their families, at Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Also appearing on the bill are comic and musical performances by Nate Bargatze, Grace Gaustad, Sing Harlem, Donnell Rawlings, and more. Springsteen appears almost every year, and has even auctioned off a motorcycle and dinner featuring his “mom’s lasagna.”

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NOVEMBER 12- TIPPING POINT FEAT. CHAKA KHAN –New Orleans

Giving to Tulane - Tipping Point 2021

The fifth annual Tipping Point benefit concert, presented by Tulane University returns to The Fillmore New Orleans on Nov. 12, headlined by the legendary eight-time GrammyⓇ winner singer, songwriter Chaka Khan and also features numerous other artists including Marcus King, Trombone Shorty, Son Little, Jackie Greene and George Porter Jr.

Chaka Khan remains one of our live favorites and we caught her in concert, most recently in 2018 and again in 2019 alongside Michael McDonald. Proceeds from the concert will fund scholarships that will enable qualified students to attend Tulane University regardless of their economic background.

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DECEMBER 1- WORLD AIDS DAY CONCERT –Los Angeles

AHF Presents: World AIDS Day - The LA Revival - The LA Forum

Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson headline a Free AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) concert at The Forum in Los Angeles on December 1^st, hosted by entertainer Randy Rainbow.

The concert will be produced with longtime AHF partner, multi-EmmyⓇ and TonyⓇ award winner Debbie Allen and also feature a performance by young students from her Debbie Allen Dance Academy.

Both headlining women are truly vocally gifted and hearing their range live is an exceptional experience– we were lucky enough to see Hudson at a previous benefit concert in 2018.

Sen. Bernie Sanders will also be honored with AHF’s Lifetime Achievement Award. “Forty years ago, AIDS was first recognized by the CDC, and 40 years later we have lost millions of lives. I'm committed to continue to do my part in bringing awareness to HIV/AIDS, and I encourage you to do the same." Sanders said.

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DECEMBER 10 – JOHN LENNON TRIBUTE CONCERT –New York City

The Annual John Lennon Tribute

Singer Ani DiFranco is the honoree and will perform at the 41st annual John Lennon Tribute concert in December in New York City at the Peter Jay Sharpe Theater. Run by the nonprofit Theatre Within, the show benefits a songwriting program free to public schools and workshops for people with cancer and their family members.

Ani DiFranco is a longtime indie trailblazing artist that has forged her own way musically and in the business of music, that has many parallels to Lennon’s own spirit of musical independence. Other artists scheduled to appear include Bettye Lavette, Joan Osborne, KT Tunstall, and Nona Hendryx.

===

DECEMBER 13- JOHN HENRY’S FRIENDS BENEFIT –New York City

Steve Earle & The Dukes with Bruce Springsteen & More at The Town Hall (citywinery.com)

Just announced, Steve Earle’s seventh annual John Henry’s Friends Benefit Concert is coming to New York City’s Town Hall on December 13th. Presented with City Winery, the event features a lineup with Steve Earle & the Dukes as headliners as well as Bruce Springsteen, Rosanne Cash, Willie Nile, the Mastersons, and Matt Savage.

The concert will raise funds for the Keswell School benefiting children and young adults with autism. The educational program is close-to-home for Earle, whose son John Henry attends as a student.

“The John Henry’s Friends concerts are obviously a labor of love for myself as well as an expression of the generosity of all the performers who have suited up and showed up over the years,” Earle said of the event. “I’m especially grateful for this year’s new friends, my neighbor Willie Nile, my old friend Rosanne Cash and my hero Bruce Springsteen.”

Live Aid Benefit Concert (1985, Philadelphia)

 

john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Julian Lennon: Through The Picture Window (Apple iOS app review)

Julian Lennon: Through The Picture Window Music From Another Room Ltd Details This official Julian Lennon App uses cutting edge technology to bring you a fully interactive, high quality media experience. Filmed by award winning film-maker Dick Carruthers [Oasis, Led Zeppelin, The Killers, Aerosmith], the documentary is a feature length, in-depth look at the story behind EVERYTHING CHANGES, examining the history, influences and the creative process itself. The lush and stylised film is packed full of fascinating imagery and exclusive interview footage featuring the likes of Bono, Steven Tyler, and of course, Julian himself. The interactive viewing mode of the documentary with animated butterflies tempts the user to explore the songs, videos and other content His latest album 'Everything Changes' is another collection of powerful and sophisticated adult pop which includes 'Someday'; the superb collaboration with Steven Tyler, who comments “you can't hide from a good song... it just blew me away.” 'Through The Picture Window' showcases and examines Julian's work and relationships: what motivates and informs them; and in doing so, frames a revealing portrait of Julian Lennon the Artist: the inside truth about his music, his philanthropy, and his new-found love of photography. Read More John Lennon Howard Smith, is making his original recordings available now for the first time in 40 years (since it was originally aired). This upcoming collection focus on the Beatles, featuring five interviews with John Lennon & Yoko Ono …

It has to be tough to be Julian Lennon. Any music released by "the other Lennon" will be ultimately compared to his father John Lennon. While Julian's debut album Valotte were slammed by some critics as sounding too much like his father, but it was also what made the music so good.

Since 1984, Lennon would find himself dipping his feet in video documentary, writing, and even photography. You will find many of these aspect of Julian's visual, art, and music, on his DVD release for Through The Picture Window (December 2013), which, in many ways, was a vast improvement over the original 2011 album Everything Changes.

The contents of the DVD has been transformed and reworked as an Apple iOS / Kindle / Android / Windows application, called Julian Lennon: Through The Picture Window which is available now. And yes, this release includes the two additional bonus tracks, "Someday" (featuring Steven Tyler from Aerosmith) and "In Between".

After watching all the music video and rather length documentary (80 mins), I found myself understanding Julian Lennon more; he seems to always under his father's shadows. The "Through The Picture Window" documentary film did a good job capturing in keeping my attention through candid footage of Lennon's life and interviews with Steven Tyler and Bono. The story behind the relationship between Julian Lennon and Tyler and Bono are interesting and well worth watching to the film to find out for yourself.

As for Everything Changes, every song has been filmed and created as a music video. The videos are varied enough that it felt these were put together with different directors and visions. Every video (including the acoustic tracks) on Everything Changes are unique to the song, which is a relief because in the past, I've seen some bad video albums which looked the same videos/animations.

The video compression looks fine, it's by no means in high definition, but it is passable for the small screen of my iPad. Audio sounds great to my ears. Look, the audience is not for the high end video and audiophiles, so the app will be fine for many fans.

Before I address some of the glitches in the Julian Lennon: Through The Picture Window app, I want to stress that they are minor complaints and should no way discourage you from getting the app. If you play any video from Everything Changes, it will automatically play the next consecutive track. Unfortunately, sometime the next track does not play its audio. This happened three times. To fix this, just go back to the main screen and restart the video and it will play correctly.

Julian Lennon: Through The Picture Window (Size Comparison)

The other problem I had (and this is really a tiny complaint), is that the app itself is about 900mb, which is quite large. Compare that size to some other games and maps I own and you get the idea where it stands. I understand that this has much to do with the videos (so you can view it offline), but I had to delete a few applications just to install Julian Lennon: Through The Picture Window. I think most users won't have this problem installing because they are not an app hoarder, like myself.

For fans looking to experience the album Everything Changes on a whole new and interactive level on their Apple, Android, Windows, or Kindle Fire, they will find a lot to like with the Julian Lennon: Through The Picture Window app. The app is available now for only about $11.99 (this price includes all three Julian Lennon videos: Through The Picture Window, Everything Changes, and Everything Changes Acoustic.)

PROS Available on all major platforms Three-in-one: Everything Changes, Everything Changes Acoustic, and full documentary of Through The Picture Window Will work offline Able to switch between regular & acoustic songs Ability to jump out (and jump in) of documentary via a butterfly link Various bonus/hidden features: full Bono interview, photographs (wallpaper), etc. Intuitive control and icons

CONS App size is nearly 900mb, so make sure you have enough disc space Audio sometime will not play correctly Hidden features may be hard to access due to touch-screen (you just have to touch everywhere!) No virtual volume control - instead, you must use the physical volume buttons on your iPad or Android device.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Beatles Now

Read More The Beatles The Beatles. Really, a giant of rock giants. Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Apple Records/EMI recently re-released all of the Beatles albums re-mastered this past 9/9/09 ..…

THE BEATLES
thebeatles.com

The Beatles' second film, Help!, is released on Blu-Ray and digitally on iTunes today (June 25). The digitally restored film and 5.1 soundtrack features iTunes Extras including a 30-minute documentary about making of the film - plus an appreciation by Martin Scorsese.

If you are a fan, like I am, you'll want to add this classic to your collection, along with 2012's Blu-Ray releases of Yellow Submarine and Magical Mystery Tour.

I am assuming you get all the bonus features of the iTunes version as you do with the Blu-Ray, so here is a listing of what's included:

• “The Beatles in Help!” – a 30-minute documentary about the making of the film with Richard Lester, the cast and crew, including exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of The Beatles on-set.
• “A Missing Scene” – a film outtake, featuring Wendy Richard
• “The Restoration of Help!” – an in-depth look at the restoration process
• “Memories of Help!” – the cast and crew reminisce
• 1965 Theatrical Trailers – two original U.S. trailers and one original Spanish trailer
• 1965 U.S. Radio Spots (hidden in menus)

Read More Yoko Ono Didn't Kim & Thurston called it quits? They're still on good terms as they've teamed up with Yoko Ono to release YOKOKIMTHURSTON, coming out September 25th, 2012, via Chimera Music ..…

THE SMITH TAPES
thesmithtapes.com

Columnist of the Village Voice "Scenes" and radio personality Howard Smith, is making his original recordings available now for the first time in 40 years (since it was originally aired). This upcoming collection focus on the Beatles, featuring five interviews with John Lennon & Yoko Ono between 1969 to 1972 and George Harrison in 1970.

The Smith Tapes— Collection 7 – John & Yoko & George

Paul is Dead Nov. 1969 / 12min.
As the rumor gains momentum, Smith phones Sandi Morse, the National Director of the Beatles’ fan club to ask her about what’s going on. A distraught Morse is overwhelmed by the frenzy surrounding the rumor and her failed attempts to quell it.

Dave Morrell Jan. 1972 / 27min.
Smith interviews the teenaged, rare recordings collector about the afternoon he spent trading memorabilia with John Lennon. Morrell then plays early rare Beatles’ recordings on the air.

John & Yoko’s Bed-In May 29, 1969 / 36min.
Smith speaks on the phone with John & Yoko, who are in their suite at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal for the second of their two Bed-Ins. Among other things, they discuss selling Peace as a commodity, the Activist Movement, and Lennon’s denial of being, nor intention of being, a leader.

John & Yoko at Hawkin’s Ranch Dec. 17, 1969 / 1hour 58min.
Smith traveled to Ronnie Hawkin’s Ranch outside of Toronto to interview John & Yoko. While eating shrimp tempura, they discuss the ins and outs of recording with the Beatles, the band’s uncertain future, Woodstock vs. Altamont, the impact of the Youth Movement.

George Harrison May1, 1970 / 37min.
Just before beginning work on his first solo album, All Things Must Pass, Harrison speaks with Smith about the Beatles breakup, why he thinks they ought to keep recording albums together and his own evolution as a songwriter.

John & Yoko at the Regency Hotel Dec. 12, 1970 / 1hour 27min.
Smith interviews John & Yoko the day after the Plastic Ono Band album release while they are in the midst of shooting 2 art films. They discuss the emotional process of their music, their time in Janov therapy, how about they handle fame, and whether the Beatles will ever get back together.

John & Yoko at the St. Regis Sept. 9, 1971 / 1hour 11min.
Smith interviews John & Yoko on the day Lennon’s album Imagine is released. They discuss Ono’s upcoming retrospective, Paul’s, George’s and Ringo’s individual albums, the media’s criticisms of their relationship, John’s “working class” nature, and future plans.

John & Yoko at Home Jan. 23, 1972 / 1hour 18min.
Smith drops by John & Yoko’s West Village apartment on the day of a WPLJ Beatles marathon. Heard at times in the background, the songs inspire and direct the conversation. They discuss the experience of being a Beatles and their break up, being a Beatle wife, the experience of stage fright and emotional rollercoaster of performing, breakthroughs acquired in Janov therapy, and meeting Black Panthers.

AP Photo/Christie's, Mike Mitchell Read More Henry Grossman This 13-pound book, features over 1,000 photographs of The Beatles and their families and friends, all shot by Henry Grossman. Many of these photographs have never bee ..…

DAFA
davidanthonyfineart.com

"The Beatles are Coming to Taos" is the name of a photographic exhibit at the David Anthony Fine Art (DAFA) in Taos, New Mexico.

The exhibit is happening in the month of August (Aug. 2–30), with an emphasis on Mike Mitchell's photographs of the Beatles during their 1964 performance in Washington, DC (two days after their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show).

With the limitation of photographic technology back in that time period, Mitchell was forced to use his instinct in capturing the Beatles without flash and not knowing if any of his photos would turn out without developing the negatives.

Many of the stills used in "The Beatles Illuminated: the Discovered Works of Mike Mitchell" will be featured at the DAFA exhibit.

Details below:

The Annual DAFA Photography Invitational will host an opening reception on August 2, 2013, and the show will run through August 30, 2013. On August 3, Mike Mitchell will give a free talk and take questions in the Arthur Bell Auditorium at the Harwood Museum of Art. David Anthony Fine Art is located at 132 Kit Carson Road, Taos, NM.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Give Peace a Chance

All we are saying is give peace a chance

- John Lennon

THE LISTEN FOR LIFE ALL-STAR BAND
listenforlife.org

Present or former band members with Toto, Asia, Eric Clapton, Guns N’ Roses, Dave Matthews Band, Carole King, Sergio Mendes, Lionel Richie, and many others, are forming a new all-star band to promote world peace through music. Beginning with three concerts in Southern California this month (September), in celebration of U.N. International Peace Day, the band will soon launch into a world tour.

The band, billed as The Listen for Life All-Star Band, features a large cast: Bobby Kimball (voice), Teddy Andreadis (keys,harmonica), Butch Taylor (keys), James East (bass), Ant Glynne (guitar) Joe Manno (drums), Andy Andrus (guitar), Ukulele Ray (ukulele, duh). In addition to the "Blues/Rock Band", other players includes: Van-Anh Vanessa Vo) [Vietnam], Ashwin Batish (sitar) and Keshav Batish (tabla) [India], Winnie Wong (guzheng) [China], Naser Musa (oud) [Palestine], Rumen Sali Shopov (tambura) [Bulgaria], Diana Rowan (harp) [Celtic/Eastern Europe], Ricardo Garcia (voice) [Latino], Donna Stoering (piano) [Western Classical], and Jehnean Washington (voice, flute) [Native American].

Founder of Listen for Life, Donna Stoering had this to comment about the international cast: "We are launching the all-star global concert tour in the Los Angeles area because of its music industry roots, and the springboard the area has offered to many legendary performers who believe music can bridge global discord."

The Listen for Life Musicfests is taking place at Mission Viejo, California (09/21), The Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood, California (09/27), and Ramona Bowl amphitheatre in Hemet, California (09/29).

MISSION OF BURMA
missionofburma.com

Mission of Burma is post-punk band from Boston. They took their name from a plaque on the New York City diplomatic building, which was meant as a peaceful mission to help the people of Burma, also known as Myanmar.

Anyway, if you thought Mission of Burma broke up… they did in 1983, due to singer/guitarist Roger Miller's development of tinnitus. The band reformed in 2002 and continues to put out records. Their sixth studio album, Unsound, came out this year in July via Fire Records. Check out their video for "Semi-Pesudo-Sort-of Plan" on Pitchfork.tv.

They are wrapping up their tour through the Midwest:

09.26 Shank Hall (Milwaukee, WI)
09.27 400 Bar (Minneapolis, MN)
09.28 High Noon Saloon (Madison, WI)
09.29 Lincoln Hall (Chicago, IL)

100 THOUSAND POETS FOR CHANGE
www.100tpc.org

September 29, 2012 marks the second annual global event for "100 Thousand Poets for Change," which trying to bring awareness to environmental, social, and political change within the framework of peace and sustainability. Although it's called 100,000 Poets, the event features musicians, dancers, mimes, painters and photographers from around the world.

So check this out, they said that more than 200 hundred bands (Los Angeles, New Orleans and Detroit to Serbia, Nigeria and Italy) will be performing on September 29th.

Here's what else to expect:

• 25 different events in the San Francisco Bay Area, the birthplace of 100 Thousand Poets for Change, including poetry readings by Beat Legend Michael McClure, former US Poet Laureate Robert Hass and other major poets at the famed Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival
• In New Orleans, 15 live bands will perform to raise funds for the APEX Youth Center and Homegrown Harvest Music and Arts Festival
• In Hollywood, Florida, Global Vibes will host an event called, “War Destroys Children’s Lives” at two venues and feature over 15 “Bands for Change”
• Peace On Streets, R.O.A.D., Tasker Elite and SHARP will host performance artists, poets, musicians, hip hop artists and various youth and parent groups who will perform and lead workshops throughout Philadelphia to bring awareness to the ongoing problem of street violence in their city
• Wordstock, a 3-day festival at the Bamboo Arts and Celebration Center in De Leon Springs, FL will include poetry slams, concerts, and an art exhibition focusing on images of war and peace
• The Occupy Wall Street Poetry group kicks off a weekend of events in New York City with a poetry reading at the famous St. Mark’s Poetry Project
• In Jamaica, a week long Street Dub Vibe series called “Tell the Children the Truth” will include concerts, spoken word performances, art exhibits, lectures and workshops to bring attention to the damaging culture of secrecy and denial surrounding the abuse, poverty and illiteracy impacting the nation’s children and destroying their future.
• Poetry and peace gatherings are planned in the strife-torn cities of Kabul and Jalalabad, Afghanistan
• In Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt, poets, musicians and mime artists, in response to violence in the world and the major changes taking place in the Arab World, will perform in public spaces and theaters and explore new ways to communicate their concerns, and their roles as artists, in influencing the future of their country
• In Volos, Greece, there will be 5 days of poetry and music events, including an exhibition of photography looking at the new phenomenon of homelessness in Greece
• An event in Blackpool, England will celebrate activist poets and writers of past generations through a special performance of Bullets and Daffodils, a play about the life of peace poet Wilfred Owen

EMMANUEL JAL
wewantpeace2012.org

Former child soldier, but now full time peace activist and musician Emmanuel Jal's latest album is called See Me Mama.

Earlier this month, Jal issued a personal statement via his manager, that he was badly beaten by police in the South Sudanese capital of Juba. The description read:

At approximately 9:30pm, Emmanuel was en route to the Gatwich guesthouse in the outskirts of Juba when he was stopped by police and robbed of his mobile phone. Determined not to use or respond in violence, he was repeatedly beaten by 5 police and national security officers until he eventually lost consciousness.

Emmanuel Jal still believes in peace and won't back down on his upcoming "We Want Peace" concerts on 20 & 21 September 2012 for International Peace Day. As for the beating that he suffered, Jal had this to say, "I am in South Sudan to highlight peace and have come to speak and perform at the "We Want Peace" business gala and concert on International Peace Day. Two days after arriving in my home country I was attacked by members of Juba's police and national security. This is an ironic and sad situation that will not deter my path for freedom, equality and justice. I am swollen, but recovering, and thank all the fans and supporters for their well wishes."

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Puffy AmiYumi - Teen Titans Theme

Trivia

Puffy's cover to Nice (2003) is based on John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Bed-In for Peace.

 

 

Puffy AmiYumi - Teen Titans Theme

Puffy AmiYumi

Okay, so I've started this video page over at Stage6: W♥M. The quality is so much better than youtube. I've only uploaded a few videos, including T.Rex and Belle & Sebastian.

Anyway, today's video is for Christopher: it's both theme song and it's Jpop.

Since I was already a big fan of Marv Wolfman and George Perez's Teen Titans, so I was really excited for the cartoon series that they were developing in 2003. Because the show was deeply inspired by Japanese animation (or simply japanimation or anime), the show's creators sought after Puffy AmiYumi to do their theme song.

I remember reading an interview with one of the show's creator in a fanzine that he also based the music and song in the style of "Secret Agent Man". It's funny because Johnny Rivers' "Secret Agent Man", which is the theme song to Danger Man (aka Secret Agent) also lifted the music from James Bond 007. (For a Spanish version of Secret Agent Man, see The Plugz - Hombre Secreto.)

Anyway, Puffy's relationship to Sam Register through Teen Titans, lead them to starring in their own television show called "Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi". The show only lasted 39 episodes.

If you watch the video to the "Teen Titans Theme", you'll notice a surprise guest star: Guitar Wolf! He does what he does best, looking cool and stuff. When he turns his back to you, if you press pause, you can read the back of his jacket:

 

To Seiji,
You are a true rocker,

Love,
Joan Jett

Who knew Guitar Wolf was such a fanboy :).

 

See full-sized video at stage6.divx.com

Related Entry:: Guitar Wolf - Black Rock'n'roll

�July 06, 2007 2:33 AM� vu [email protected] puffyamiyumi.com

Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur

Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur

I thought I'd dedicate this post to one of the campaigns I support, the Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur.

Before you stop reading I have no intention of lecturing you on the situation in Darfur. So you can read on safe in the knowledge I won't be mentioning the state-run genocide that has destroyed one country and risks dragging neighbouring countries into the conflict. You certainly won't learn anything about the two million people forced into refugee camps. Nor will I bring up the estimated 200,000 people who have died in the genocide. And so you can sleep peacefully at night, I won't even wax lyrical about the awful abuse of women and the use of rape as a tool of war. This is a music review site after all.

Darfur pops in and out of the UK media and I assume it gets a mention in the USA so you'll all be well-versed in the matter. However, if you want to know more about the situation then I suggest a good starting point is the BBC Q&A.

Regardless of your opinions on mixing politics and music, this album is full of little treasures combining the songwriting genius of John Lennon with the vocal stylings of some of my favourite contemporary artists including Regina Spektor, The Flaming Lips, Postal Service, Jack Johnson, Snow Patrol, U2, REM and Christina Aguilera. Ok so I am not a fan of Aguilera.

My personal favourites include the smooth and sexy sound of Youssou N'Dour singing "Jealous Guy" and a rather funky rendition by Aerosmith with Sierra Leone Refuge All-Stars of "Give Peace a Chance".

Recently a truck load of albums with a similar setup to this one have been released sans the political campaign. The list includes albums covering the songs of the likes of Joni Mitchell, the Beach Boys, Leonard Cohen and Daniel Johnston. All of them featured some musical gems and some all out failures.

With that in mind, this album is surprisingly good. It is designed to cater to the masses but that doesn't stop it containing some interesting takes on the back catalogue of John Lennon. Even if you couldn't give a damn about Darfur, this album is still a great purchase. Even better for those of you looking to gain some redemption for a life timing of sinning then this is guaranteed to give you some instant good karma (Sorry, I couldn't resist).

Seriously though, the situation in Dafur is fucked up and completely preventable. If you do one thing today, check out the Instant Karma website for advice on how you can help with the campaign - Ryan

Instant Karma