Phil Lesh and Bob Weir Are United Again For Impromptu Show
For the first since the Further Festival from a few years ago,
Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh and Bob Weir joined each other on stage
with Phil's "Friends" at Mill Valley's Sweetwater on Sunday night
(6/10). The friends included Jimmy Herring on guitar, John Molo on
drums, and Rob Barraco on keyboards.
This appeared to be a healing experience for both Lesh and Weir as
they have been estranged in recent years.
I had the opportunity of seeing Spinal Tap in San Francisco earlier
that evening and zooming back to the county in time to catch their
second set at Sweetwater.
Digging into old favorites like "The Eleven" and "Viola Lee Blues,"
the capacity crowd danced till 2 AM in 90+ degrees and 100% humidity.
Slide guitarist and vocalist Warren Haynes (Allman Bros./Gov't Mule)
joined the band after arriving from the airport just in time for
their 3rd set.
Phil Lesh and Bob Weir will each be touring with their bands this
summer and we can expect to have more joint efforts like this one in
the process.
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SPINAL TAP TURNS IT UP TO ELEVEN IN SAN FRANCISCO
Everyone's favorite heavy metal band came to San Francisco Sunday
night (6/10) and performed at The Warfield Theatre. The Tap performed
many of their hits and even delved into their psychedelic period from
1967 which was very fitting for this town.
Between Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls, these guys
rocked! They can really play their instruments as they proved on
songs like "Stonehenge," "Break Like The Wind," and "Big Bottom." To
top off their set, guitar wiz Joe Satriani joined them for 2 songs.
It's not often that you go to a concert with the intention of
laughing at the band, but with their wigs, theatrics, and light show
aside, the music was big fun and the crowd loved every minute of it.
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DAVE MASON
Veteran rocker Dave Mason has signed with Pyramid Records. The deal,
according to the news release, includes the creation of a digital
production from a Dave Mason Band tour performance, which will be
released on CD and DVD.
Mason, who founded the legendary band Traffic, spent two years in the
early 1990s touring with Fleetwood Mac. Since 1996, he's been on the
road with his own band, which has included former Three Dog Night
bassist Rich Campbell and Traffic bandmate Jim Capaldi. This month,
the band -- which also features Bobby Scumaci on keyboard and Greg
Babcock on drums -- will be touring throughout North America.
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KEB' MO'
Keb' Mo's fifth album is now on store shelves.
"Big Wide Grin," which was released last Tuesday, includes a mix of
new songs as well as some of the Los Angeles-born singer/songwriter's
personal favorites. He recently performed "Everybody Be Yoself" from
the album on PBS's "Sesame Street."
"Big Wide Grin" comes out just months after the release of "The Door"
in October 2000. That CD has remained on the Billboard blues album
charts since it hit record stores.
***************************************************************************
PAUL MCCARTNEY
Paul McCartney's girlfriend reportedly has lost a lawsuit against a
British tabloid.
MSNBC reports former model Heather Mills threatened to sue The Sun
over an article the publication was considering running about a house
she was buying, saying it would present a security threat. The
newspaper dropped the article but Mills sued anyway.
A British High Court recently ruled against the lawsuit and ordered
Mills to pay The Sun's $40,000 legal bills. Mills is said to be
considering an appeal of the decision.
***************************************************************************
Joel might see 'The Lights Go Up On Broadway'
The music of Billy Joel might be heading to Broadway in a new show
that will incorporate his songs with the original choreography by
ballet great Twyla Tharp. A spokesperson for Joel told Launch, "The
project is still in the discussion stages and they are experimenting
using her Tharp's choreography to his Joel's music." We were also
told that the music used in the show would be Joel's existing pop
songs and that he would not be writing any new material for the
production. A New York workshop is being assembled for a month-long
run starting Aug. 20, and prospective castmembers are being asked to
sing several Joel songs, including "She's Got A Way," according to
Fox News, which also reported that several Broadway heavyweights are
attached to the project, including producers James Nederlander and
Emanuel Azenberg, and musical conductor Stuart Malina of the
Greensboro, N.C. and Harrisburg, Pa. symphony orchestras.
***************************************************************************
NINE HUNDRED NIGHTS
The Story OfŠ
Big Brother and the Holding Company
with Janis Joplin
Available For The First Time Ever On June 26, A Film About A Band
That Evolved Out Of The San Francisco Rock Scene And Into The
Forefront Of The Psychedelic Music Moment
DVD Boasts Never-Before-Seen Interview Outtakes, Rare Audio
Recordings, Band Commentary, Full-Length Performances, Psychedelic
Treats And Will Be Supported By Radio Promotions In the Top 20
Markets And Online Promotions
LONG BEACH, CA - A rare and insightful look at Big Brother and the
Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin, one of the pivotal
psychedelic rock bands from the '60s, Nine Hundred Nights debuts on
DVD and VHS on June 26 from Pioneer Entertainment. Narrated by Rip
Torn, Nine Hundred Nights "IS" the untold story of Big Brother and
the Holding Company in their own words, beginning with their
formation in 1965 in the Haight Ashbury section of San Francisco to
their success with Janis Joplin at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.
With Sam Andrew and James Gurley on guitar, Peter Albin on bass,
David Getz on drums and the passionate and powerful Janis Joplin, Big
Brother and the Holding Company created a sound no one had ever
heard; a freak-rock approach that invoked the group's blues roots and
the times in which they lived.
Nine Hundred Nights features D.A. Pennebaker's rarely-seen live
Generation Club footage of "Piece of My Heart" and "Comin' Home," the
band's break-out performance of "Ball and Chain" and the unreleased
"Combination of the Two" from "Monterey Pop". In addition, the
documentary includes commentary by Nick Gravenites, Lenny Kaye and
Ellen Willis, the Cheap Thrills recording session of "Summertime," as
well as rehearsal and full-length studio performances of "Down On
Me," "Blow My Mind," "Hall of the Mountain King" and "Light is Faster
than Sound."
Available for the first time ever, the Nine Hundred Nights DVD boasts
full-length performances, never-before-seen interview outtakes, rare
audio recordings, band commentary and full-motion interactive menus.
Priced at $24.98, the DVD also features a photo gallery, complete
discography, additional full-length performances, time line and
special psychedelic treats including motion menus and interview
outtakes. Available on VHS for $19.98, Nine Hundred Nights will be
supported with classic rock radio promotions in the top 20 markets
and online promotions.
Nine Hundred Nights is a co-production of Multiprises, LLC in
association with Pioneer Entertainment (USA) Inc., directed by
Michael Burlingame, produced by Toby Byron.
Credits
Available Albums:
1967 Big Brother & the Holding Company Mainstream/Sony
1968 Cheap Thrills Sony
1970 Be a Brother Sony
1971 How Hard It Is Sony
1984 Cheaper Thrills [Live] Evangeline/Acadia
1998 Live at Winterland '68 Sony/Legacy
1996 Can't Go Home Again LegendR
Compilations, Boxsets:
1973 Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits Sony
1981 Fairwell Song (Janis Joplin) Sony
1993 Janis (Janis Joplin) Sony
1997 Do What You Love Cheap Thrills Records
1999 Box of Pearls (Janis Joplin) Sony
Videos:
Petulia (BBHC makes appearance) Warner Brothers
Ball & Chain Rhino
Monterey Pop Rhino
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UNKNOWN COMIC BACK ON THE BOARDS
Twenty years ago a comedian who performed with a bag over his head
became all the rage on "The Gong Show." Now Murray Langston, the
former computer expert for Universal Studio turned comedian turned
improv club owner, is back in the limelight and back at Universal.
Langston has joined former "boss" Chuck Barris -- creator of "The
Newlywed Game," "The Dating Game" and the "Gong Show" -- in taping
tributes for the Game Show Network in honor of the 25th anniversary
of "Gong." The tapings were done on the popular City Walk, part of
the Universal Studios Hollywood complex. By the way, the flamboyant
Barris just received an honorary doctorate from Drexel University in
his hometown of Philadelphia.
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Source: 2001 Punmaster's MusicWire punmaster.com |
