This Week on Prairie Home Companion: Ry Cooder; Next Week: Pigs To Fly

If there's one Shore Fire client that I've always wanted to see live - but feared I never would - it's Ry Cooder. So it was my extreme pleasure to see him perform four songs from his new album 'My Name Is Buddy' this past weekend at a taping of Prairie Home Companion at Town Hall in NYC. Ry tore it up, acoustic style, abetted by the same group of top-drawer musicians who play on 'Buddy' - Mike Seeger on banjo, Roland White on mandolin, and Paddy Malony on various pipes. After hearing a couple songs, PHC host Garrison Keillor commented that 'Buddy' was "sure to go titanium."

Can't wait to see Ry again in May when he backs up Mavis Staples at the Apollo, this time on electric guitar!

Journalists' Juniors: Introducing Keaton & Parker Buckroyd

Meet Keaton (3) & Parker Buckroyd (13 months), daughters of Flaunt Magazine music editor Trent Buckroyd.



Trent is one proud Pop! Both girls have already inherited their father’s passion for music. Keaton loves Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang, a LA band. She also loves Ralph’s World. “We Are Ants” is a favorite or hers as is “Mommy Needs Coffee.” Keaton’s kind of a music snob-- other than select kids music, she really only listens to dub music from the ‘70s. She seems to prefer releases from both the Black Ark and Studio One catalogues. She’s jumped on the Arcade Fire hipster band wagon too. Parker, on the other hand, is just starting to walk and dance. She really just rocks side to side, but she only does it when her sister is dancing.



Q: Keaton’s Favorite Foods?
A: Just about anything. She loves pasta, hamburgers, pudding and pickles.

Q: And Parker?
A: Parker has just started to eat things that aren’t from a jar but she seems to dig pasta w/ sauce and quesadillas and Cheerios.

Q: Keaton’s Favorite Books?
A: Keaton is a Dora the Explorer freak so she loves to read Dora books. Loves Little Einstein's too. (Her dad says it’s so subversive, she has no idea she’s singing songs along to classical music!) She just started reading the Dr. Seuss books and likes Green Eggs and Ham and Are You My Mother the best. Even though, she’s really too big for it now she still likes to read Goodnight Moon before bed.

Q: Favorite LA family hang?
A: On weekends, you can usually find the Buckroyd family at the LA Zoo or the Aquarium in Long Beach. They haven’t attempted Disneyland yet but a visit is in the forecast for 2007. The Farmers market in Studio City on Sundays is a favorite too. The girls can ride ponies, swings, trains and get their faces painted “like a princess.” There’s a small petting zoo and the food is delicious. Keaton and Parker’s dad is a big fan of the strawberry agua frescas!

And the final SxSW Post

I think I first met Sarah Hepola at a Jamie Cullum show in Austin like 3 or 4 years ago when she was writing for the Dallas Observer. Since then she's moved to NYC and signed up for some new writing gigs. But she's still got a Texas sized knack for satire. This column cracked me up.

A guy walks into an El-P show....

.....and finds a riotous end of the world party. Backed by DJ Mr. Dibbs and a band dressed in matching military outfits and ski masks (whose members came from the Dap Kings, Antibalas and Pela, um, wow), El-P fronted the group with fake blood on his face and an orange jumpsuit a la the "Smithereens" video (see below), spitting frantic, dystopian ryhmes over dense, head-nodding, block-rocking beats at Bowery Ballroom. The group ripped through tracks from 'Fantatsic Damage' (a personal 5-miker) and the great new 'I'll Sleep When You're Dead.' While fellow Def Jukkies Aesop Rock, Cage and members of the Weathermen all graced the stage, my personal highlights were the anthemic "Tuned Mass Dampener" (you are NOT promised tomorrow) and "Stepfather Factory," which El dedicated to his mother and two sisters in attendance. If this is what the end of the world feels like, I'll be there for the apocalypse.

Souls Colide

Last night two soulful Shore Fire clients discovered each other. After Ruthie Foster's incredible sing-a-long show at Pete's Candy Store in Brooklyn (she sound checked with "Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting") she was hanging out talking to the crowd when Ryan Shaw appeared. Turns out Ryan was listening to Ruthie on his way to a WFUV taping yesterday morning and was astonished to find out that Ruthie was on WFUV just before him. The two chatted at the radio station and Ryan vowed to make it to Pete's Candy's Store to catch her live.

I smell a collaboration!

PS: Performing just before Ruthie was Lucy Wainwright Roche (yes of the talented Wainwright family) with a special appearance by Rufus. Rufus is currently in the studio with another client Phil Ramone putting the finishing touches on his live recording of the famed Judy Garland Carnegie Hall concert.

ALL OF THIS RIGHT IN MY VERY OWN BACKYARD!

Countdown to the Sopranos

Today Little Steven Van Zandt shot an eerie photo for an upcoming Blender feature. The fun story written by Rob Tannenbaum (not pictured) will cover Steven's radio show, new record label and of course The Sopranos. Only two and half weeks until the final 9 episodes begin airing.

You'll have to wait till the magazine hits stands to see the set up but here's a hint- Blender photo editor Rory Walsh makes a cameo.
Pictured left to right: photo assistant Will, photographer Michael Lewis, Blender Art Director Amelia Tubb, Rory, Little Steven, make-up artist Anthea King and second photo assistant Colin.

Culinary Institute of Shore Fire

We talk about food on this blog very frequently and last night not only did we all enjoy an amazing meal together but we also cooked it. With the help of the Institute of Culinary Education, we rolled up our sleeves and made a mushroom and onion tart, stripped bass and pumpkin bread pudding. Yum!

SXSW Day 4: No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn

“There’s something fabulous and torturous about SXSW.” - Dan Deluca

I awoke feeling pretty unfried for a SXSW Saturday morning. Went to breakfast with the Paste guys at the soon-to-be-homeless Austin institution Las Manitas, and paid my respects with a heaping plate of migas.

Then Carla and I went to a screening of the Nick Drake documentary ‘A Skin Too Few’ and attended a panel discussion on Drake afterwards where Joe Boyd (who discovered Drake and produced his first two albums) spoke. I’m a long time Drake fan, but have to admit it’s been some time since I put on his records. I thought the film and discussion were totally engrossing, and have since found myself in the throes of a full blown Drake obsession, re-reading Boyd’s book ‘White Bicycles’ as well as a definitive Mojo article on Drake by the late, lamented Ian MacDonald which appeared in the January 2000 issue. Nick Drake fans would do well to pick up a copy from eBay.

Future Clouds and Radar were everywhere in Austin this week, including a cool little East Austin coffee shop called Cafe Mundi. Carla and I caught their final - and most rockin’ - set of the conference there Saturday afternoon.

From there I made my annual pilgrimage to Austin vinyl shop Friends of Sound and scored some choice titles: Dave Dudley’s ‘The Pool Shark,’ Joe South’s ‘Walkin’ Shoes,’ and since I can never leave TX without a little Doug Sahm, a Sir Douglas live album from ‘83.

After being treated to dinner by the Yep Roc folks at tasty south Austin Mexican joint Curra’s Grill, I was fortified for one more night of live music. It started with a set of killer afro-beat/groove by the omnipresent Dap Kings (backing band for Sharon Jones and Amy Winehouse) this time rejiggered as The Budos Band.
From there Alexis and I capped off our SXSW with a scorching set by The Cliks. We snapped this photo with the band immediately afterwards. After hangin’ with the band for a while, I headed home and was in bed by 1:30am, for a 4:45 wake up call (ouch) to catch my homebound flight. See ya next year.

SXSW Day 3: Tightening Up

“I don’t get it. Everyone talks through these shows and then says how great the band was.” - Mary Weiss
Day 3 and the first order of business (after blogging, of course!) was Joe Boyd’s SXSW Q&A at the Convention Center, conducted by Ed Ward. Hearing Joe speak reminded me of a sketch I heard once on Tom Sharpling’s “Best Show on WFMU” about the hippest rock fan ever; a guy who had seen The Velvet Underground, MC5 and The Stooges when he was like 12 years old, and so on....Except with Joe, it’s not a goof. The man is a fount of incredible experiences, and he recounts them with grace. I can’t wait to see him speak again at Joe’s Pub on March 27.

After spending the rest of the afternoon with The Cliks for a couple interviews and a photo shoot, Nick Baily, Alexis Tedford and I joined the Velour folks for dinner at Green Mesquite. Nick has already expounded on the virtues of the 4 meat plate there, so I’ll just add that the fried okra is not to be missed either.

After a blazing set by The Last Town Chorus, Alexis and I joined them, and Mary Weiss for the Amy Winehouse show at La Zona Rosa. Amy has given props to The Shangri-Las in interviews, so I thought it was cool that Mary came out to see her.

Last stop of the evening was the mighty Ponderosa Stomp, where I caught all-too-short sets by deep soul guitar empress Barbara Lynn, and Mister Tighten Up himself, Archie Bell!

SxSW Addendum

Food observation: when presented with the option of a 2-meat, 3-meat, or 4-meat platter at an Austin BBQ joint, say aw hell and order the 4-meat. You'll be glad you did.

New York may be The Greatest City In The World™ but I think we still have a long way to go before we're competitive in the smoked meat department.

SXSW: Holy Sh-t!

Sadly I can't claim credit for that great headline, the honor goes to the Village Voice's Sound Of The City blog, though I have to say I share the feeling. I'm down here in Austin with Tom Morello, the political expert and thoughtful activist, deft songwriter and singer, and of course absurdly badass guitarist of Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave -- now making his solo acoustic debut as The Nightwatchman.


Tom's 'One Man Revolution' is breathtaking in its simplicity. Sparse and anchored by a lone nylon string guitar and Tom's low, earthy voice, it's as dark and gripping to me as Springsteen's Nebraska or Johnny Cash's later period Rick Rubin albums but with a storm the walls and turn over police cars point of view.

So anyways, after a long day of music and eating (highlight: watching Matt lustily await the arrival of a plate of fried pickles) I headed over to Tom's show at the Parish a little early and soon noticed the unusal sight of several of the worlds most formidable axe wielding monsters (figuratively speaking) hanging around backstage. I heard Tom say at one point that he's learned that acoustic guitar can have the same power as a wall of amplifiers, but I wasn't expecting such a startling demonstration as this:


Tom decided to kick off his solo acoustic debut by taking the stage with friends Slash, Perry Farell, Nuno Bettencourt and Wayne Kramer. And the line "We're going to kick this off with a bang." Once everyone's minds were suitably blown Tom cleared the stage and settled into a set of material from his new album.


After a few of the new songs (my fave of the night was "Road I Must Travel") Tom started inviting his friends back (including Les Claypool and Alexi Murdoch on the second go around) for a steadily escalating dose of mayhem that started with Kramer fronting on the stone classic "Kick Out The Jams" and finished up around 3am with a nearly 10 minute long punk rock take on "This Land Is Your Land" complete with the Guthrie verse that they never taught you in school.

I though Michael Endelman summed it up pretty well on the EW blog this morning:

In the middle of this chaotic mess was Morello, who, after being just-the-guitarist for so many years, is coming into his own as a frontman. He's got a booming, espresso-rich voice, a nice way with traditional Americana, and most of all, a genial, funny, stage presence that makes a big club feel like a small living room. "Have a nice weekend," he ended the show, "But you won't top that s---!" He might have been right.

And that was just Thursday night. It's going to be an interesting weekend...

SXSW Day 2: Roller Derby Rock & Roll

My first full day at SXSW yielded a few musical, culinary, and er, athletic surprises. Carla Parisi and I stopped by the New West party, where I didn’t see nearly as much of Buddy Miller’s set as I would’ve liked, but did manage to eat my first taco of the trip. Then I hoofed it up to the Emmylou Harris tribute at the Driskill where I ran into No Depression’s Grant Alden, Bob Mehr from the Commercial Appeal, Zac Crain from American Way, and a few other SXSW stalwarts.

The real revelation of the day came at Threadgill’s, where I had dinner with Molly Nagel from Sugar Hill, a good portion of the Harp Magazine masthead, Abby White from Performing Songwriter, Eric Danton from The Hartford Courant and a few others. See, I have a thing for fried pickles. Turns out Molly does too. We discussed our favorite fried pickle spots - hers: Rotiers in Nashville, mine: Parasol’s in New Orleans - and the ultimate fried pickle debate: chips vs. spears. Threadgill’s serves a fried spear, and while we both agreed that chips are vastly superior - the batter to pickle ratio is much higher with chips - we decided to give the spears a shot anyway. And I have to say, they were damn good: Piping hot, excellent texture and sour/salty balance, mmmmm. I almost ordered seconds.

ANYWAY. Several members of our dinner party then went to see our own Future Clouds and Radar play the Alejandro Escovedo evening at the Convention Center. As were were walked the cavernous hall in search of FCR, Carla and I came upon - and I have the pictures to prove it - a full on women’s roller derby tournament.

Undeterred, we continued on to the Future Clouds show and were rewarded with the most mind-blowing set I’ve seen them play. At one point they had 14 musicians onstage, including full horn and string sections. This is a band that belongs in a big room.

From there, Alexis Tedford and I spent the rest of the night at the Norton Records Showcase. Sam the Sham did his Wooly Booly best, The Reigning Sound totally smoked, and our own Mary Weiss slayed ‘em all. You can count on one hand the number of shows Mary has played since her group The Shangri-Las broke up in 1968, so anticipation was high. The new stuff sounded incredible and when the band played the opening notes of “Remember (Walking in the Sand)” the crowd flipped!

Back to the hotel by 3am, then up at 9 to do it all over again.

SXSW Day 1: Runnin' with the Devil

My SXSW '07 experience started with the best of omens. At 7am, I board my plane at La Guardia and spot Michael Anthony from Van Halen sitting in first class! At first glance I didn't recognize him without the Jack Daniels bass. He must've ditched it at curbside check-in.

From there, I hit a hurdle. My connecting flight was delayed, so I landed in Austin late. 3:45pm to be exact. And I was scheduled to be on a publicity panel at 4pm. My co-panelist, the immutable Andy Schwartz, was also late due to a delayed flight, so we hooked up in the airport and sped off to the Convention Center. We called ahead to tell the SXSW folks we were late. When we arrived, we were treated like actual important people, and whisked past the throngs of registrants in line for badges, directly to our panel, where our third co-panelist, former Houston Chronicle music critic Rick Mitchell, had been holding down the fort. Andy told some funny stories, I stayed late to answer extra questions, and everything worked out fine in the end.

Next up, the Shore Fire/eMusic "Drinks at the Driskill" do. We had, by a good measure, our best turnout to date. Highlights included meeting our good buddy Kevin O'Hare of the Springfield Republican, in town for his first-ever SXSW, and having my mind blown by Fred Mills when he told me he saw one of my favorite bands of all time, Eggs Over Easy, live in the 70s.

From there, Carla and I walked a couple blocks down Congress to catch Future Clouds and Radar blow the roof off The Light Bar. Actually, they played under a tarp, but you know what I mean.

I then popped into the Austin Music Awards to catch SXSW keynoter Pete Townshend sit in with Ian McLagan from the Faces, before walking over to Stubb's to see Lily Allen tell the audience she was quite drunk and insult the male anatomy of a staffer at the show's sponsor, the NME. Kids today!

L-R: Shore Fire's Carla Parisi, Robert Baird and Fred Mills at the Driskill
More Driskill action: Keith Spera, Tad Hendrickson, Kevin O'Hare, and Shore Fire's Nick Baily
Future Clouds & Radar's Robert Harrison rockin' the Light BarIan McLagan and Pete Townshend at the Austin Music Awards

The Good, The Bad and The Queen

The excitement in the crowd was contagious last night at Webster Hall for sold out performance by the unnamed supergroup. I was mesmerized from the first notes of “The Good, The Bad and The Queen,” their stellar album which they performed start to finish. Paul Simonon’s (The Clash) penetrating bass line, Damon Albarn’s (Blur, Gorillaz) magnificent vocals and virtuosic talent on the piano, the gratifying guitar work of Simon Tong (Verve, Blur, Gorillaz), Tony Allen’s (Fela Kuti’s band Africa 70) prowess on percussion and the soaring string section created a very ethereal atmosphere. Webster Hall was packed but being petite little ladies in a sea of men my friend Joey and I were able to squeeze our way up to the front to watch The Good, The Bad and The Queen up close in all their glory. Albarn donning a top hat looked stunning and sounded angelic. Simonon defined cool in his pork pie hat and proved to be an incredibly engaging performer lurching around the stage with his bass. It was speculated by many in the crowd that the band would perform Simonon’s “Guns Of Brixton” but they ended the night with the epic title and closing track of the album.



After the show we stuck around for the meet and greet. I shared a few words with Simon Tong and received a hug from Tony Allen in response to my enthusiastic praise of the show, the album and of course his dynamite drumming.

Eli Get's His Game Face On....

I got to go with my youngest, Eli, to his school's "Circus" day last week, where he got his tiger face painted on...

A note about Dan Gilgoff's New Book The Jesus Machine

We got this note from U.S. News & World Report's Dan Gilgoff about his new book The Jesus Machine, and we wanted to pass it on...we're looking forward to reading it.

"In the rash of Christian Right books out at the moment, mine is the only one to actually go inside the most powerful organization in the history of the movement, with exclusive Dobson interviews and extensive behind-the-scenes reporting from Focus's Colorado Springs headquarters. The Jesus Machine shows how Dobson's network spearheaded the Ohio get-out-the-vote effort that returned George W. Bush to the White House, successfully lobbied Congress to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case, and overcame fierce resistance from within the Christian Right to the idea of amending the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage--turning the amendment effort into the movement’s top priority.

If you're interested in learning more about the book, please check out the website: www.thejesusmachine.com. And please forward this email to anyone who might be interested."

Shore Fire at SXSW

The schedules, dates, gigs, panels et al are coming in for SXSW, and so here's what we've got:

If you're covering SXSW, check out these amazing Shore Fire acts, presenters and speakers. From international stars to local faves, there's a broad range of events from Shore Fire clients.


Ongoing at SXSW

SXSW favorites Martin and Jude Folkman of the Music Resource Group will return to the conference. The Music Resource Group produces the Independent Music Awards (IMA's) and publishes the Musician's Atlas, the most comprehensive and qualified networking directory for independent musicians and music business entrepreneurs. Be sure to stop by to taste their popular "cure for the music business" (Booth F-11, Austin Convention Center).


Wednesday, March 14

TuneCore, the new music delivery and distribution service, is changing the rules and model of the music business with its revolutionary low, flat fee service which does not take rights or revenue from the sale of the music. Here founder and CEO Jeff Price, also the President of SpinArt Records will speak on how independent musicians can use the growing number of web resources to jumpstart their careers as part of the "Working the Web: Resources for Musicians" panel (Austin Convention Center, 3pm). Late that night, TuneCore will join Gothamist.com, Austinist.com and GorillavsBear.net in sponsoring a showcase at the Mohawk, featuring TuneCore's own Loxsly as well as Architecture in Helsinki, Peter and the Wolf, Apes and Androids (Mohawk, 8pm)

Joe Boyd will appear with Robyn Hitchcock and Peter Buck (Convention Center Day Stage, 4pm).

The Cliks, Tommy Boy Entertainment's newest signing for their Silver Label, will bring their volatile, high energy rock to SXSW. Their US debut, 'Snakehouse' comes out April 24 (Brush Square Park, 4:20 pm).

The "sprawling orchestral art rock" (The New Yorker) of Future Clouds & Radar is the latest creation of Robert Harrison, best known as the leader of Austin cult-garage-heroes Cotton Mather. "Magnificent double disc debut," testifies Paste Magazine. "Flaming Lips / 13th Floor Elevators / ELO-inspired psychedelic pop gems. Move over, Robert Pollard." Look for it April 24 on The Star Apple Kingdom label. (Light Bar, 8pm)

Ruthie Foster performs at The Americana Music Association showcase. This Texas native with a powerhouse voice that swings from Aretha Franklin to Janis Joplin "will convert those hungry for some real, hot soul" (Los Angeles Times). Foster's new album 'The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster' gave her her first Billboard chart appearance and critics deemed it phenomenal indeed (The Parish, 11pm).


Thursday, March 15

Future Clouds & Radar (see above for description) will be performing at Headhunters at 1:30pm and opening for Alejandro Escovedo at Austin Music Hall (time tbd).

The Dallas Morning News proclaims Keite Young to be one of the "promising leaders of the new-school soul movement." On his debut album 'The Rise and Fall of Keite Young' (Hidden Beach), the singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist channels the musical passion and adventure of Al Green, Muddy Waters, Sly Stone and the Beatles to artfully create his own singular, dynamic space. He joins Mr. Blake's ("Smooth") SXSW Soul Showcase (Club One 15, 11pm).

Musician and activist Tom Morello's stark new album as The Nightwatchman, 'One Man Revolution,' (April 24, Epic Records) is a dark, urgent portrait of a world in turmoil, 13 songs of "bitterness and revenge." Morello, the Grammy Award-winning guitarist of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, compares war zones in the US and Iraq, proclaims that Jesus was black and pinpoints the sociopolitical struggles of the American leftist underground in the series of self-penned originals, singing and playing acoustic guitar for the first time on record (Hotel Café showcase, The Parish, 12:30 am).

Shangri-Las leader Mary Weiss' groundbreaking, defiant image -- at once tough and vulnerable -- would influence everyone from Deborah Harry to The Donnas, and go on to become one of the 1960s most elusive icons. After a 40-year absence she is back with her solo debut, 'Dangerous Game' (Norton Records). She'll make a rare appearance at the Norton Records showcase (Red Seven, 12:45 am).


Friday, March 16

Joe Boyd, whose short list of credits include stage-managing Dylan at Newport, producing Pink Floyd's first single and installing them in his UFO Club (the heart of psychedelic London in 1967), discovering/producing Nick Drake and arranging the brief but intense marriage between pop music and British folk by way of Fairport Convention and the Incredible String Band, is that rare producer/avatar who commands an artist's loyalty. He will read and talk about his memoir, White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s. The book is a best-seller in the UK and will be released in the US in April (Convention Center Theater, 1:45pm).

Tom Morello will take part in a panel discussion with Britt Daniel (Spoon), Matt Hales (Aqualung), Dave Faulkner (Hoodoo Gurus), Corey Rusk (Touch & Go Records), Lynn Barstow (KROX) and Karen Glauber (HITS Magazine). This lively, informative panel will train the light on some of the music world's most innovative artists, label owners and radio programmers, and how they've reinvented their careers to succeed in this brave new world (Austin Convention Center, Room 12, 2pm).

In addition to her television and film projects, Nellie McKay has been active in get out the vote efforts, the campaign to close Columbia University's primate laboratories and the attempt to ban carriage horses throughout the country. She recently won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Polly Peachum in the Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera and her recently released second album, 'Pretty Little Head,' has been praised for its "panoramic vision" (Los Angeles Times) and "dazzling range" (Entertainment Weekly). (7:45 pm, Exodus)

Take the distorted cry of a 1940s lap steel guitar paired with the hauntingly sweet voice and lyrics of Megan Hickey, and a revolving cast of crack backing musicians and you get The Last Town Chorus. The Brooklyn-based collective will perform songs off their new album 'Wire Waltz' (HackTone Records) (Parish II, 8pm).

SoundExchange the first digital performance rights organization designated by the U.S. government to collect royalties on behalf of recording artists and record labels, co-hosts a showcase with Paste Magazine at the Austin Music Hall Ballroom with performances by Danny Flowers, Brandi Carlile, Pigeon John, moe, and The Polyphonic Spree (Austin Convention Center, 8pm-2am). SoundExchange also throws a cocktail reception from 7-8pm at the Waller Creek Terrace Room in the Austin Convention Center (Waller Creek Terrace Room, 7pm).

The prolific singer/songwriter Emerson Hart will preview songs from his sublime solo debut 'Cigarettes and Gasoline' (due out June 19 on Manhattan Records) during the Back Porch Records SXSW Showcase (Cedar Street Courtyard, 11:30pm).

The Woggles signed to Little Steven Van Zandt' Wicked Cool Records label in November, 2006 and their Wicked Cool debut, 'Rock And Roll Backlash' is due out soon. A staple of the nationally syndicated radio show Little Steven's Underground Garage, The Woggles combine a splash of surf, a pinch of rhythm and blues, a few fistfuls of soul, a whole lotta 60's-inspired rock n' roll (Habana Calle 6, 1am).


Saturday, March 17

Joe Boyd - see above for description, A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake panel discussion (Convention Center Theater, 11am).

eMusic, the world's largest retailer of independent music, will be at SXSW with editor-in-chief Michael Azerrad taking part in the "Covering Music in New Media" panel, which also includes Shore Fire's own Nick Baily, on Saturday from Noon to 1:15pm, while VP of label relations Rob Wetstone will join the "Selling Music Digitally" panel, also on Saturday from 1:30 to 2:45pm. (Austin Convention Center).

Future Clouds & Radar - see above for description (Café Mundi, 3pm).

The Nightwatchman (Tom Morello) - see above for description (Central Presbyterian Church, 10pm).

The Cliks - see above for description, NXNE showcase (Momo's, 10:30 pm).

The Tragically Hip, one of Canada's most acclaimed rock bands for over two decades, are experiencing a renaissance with the phenomenal success of their outstanding new CD 'World Container' (out March 6 on Universal Fontana in the US). 'World Container' has generated an explosion of press acclaim, album sales and sold-out arena shows for its new direction and sound. The band is coming to SXSW during its already sold-out US headlining tour, which kicks off March 8 (Antone's, 12:45am).

Loudest Band Ever at the Living Room

The Shore Fire turned out in force last night to catch TX madcaps Future Clouds & Radar play the Living Room. Marilyn, Mark, Nick Loss-Eaton, Carla Parisi and I were all there. Two songs in, Carla leaned over to me and said, “This is so awesome, this is the loudest band I’ve ever seen at the Living Room.” Indeed, this six-piece collective which featured everything from tape loops to melodica - all in the service of Robert Harrison’s kaleidoscopic, impossibly catchy songs - wasn’t your standard Living Room fare.

Regrettably, I left my camera at home, so I can’t show you evidence of the snazzy bison-motif shirt Robert wore, or the fact that Alejandro Escovedo came out to see Future Clouds. Use your imagination.

And come see them tonight at Piano's (152 Ludlow) at 8pm!


Here's Shore Fire's Marilyn Laverty with Future Cloud & Radar's Robert Harrison.

Fresh Air, Brooklyn Stylee

Hey, tune in to Fresh Air on NPR today to hear Shore Fire client Mary Weiss talk about her first album in 40 years, ‘Dangerous Game’ (in stores today on Norton Records!), and her days as the leader of legendary NYC group The Shangri-Las. I attended the interview with Mary, pictured right, and got a kick out of hearing Brooklyn native Terry Gross recall seeing the Shangs perform on local TV like The Clay Cole Show on WPIX, and hearing legendary local DJs like WABC-FM’s “Babalu” Bob Lewis spin their records. Welcome back, Mary!

The world's most important six seconds of drum recording...

This was one of more fascinating things I've seen in awhile, a dissection of the infamous "Amen Break" and its influence on hip hop and electronic music:

Calling all A&R reps

Though I don't have any musical talent, I'm encouraging my 3 year old nephew Joseph Cammarata to hone his rock n' roll skills. I purchased a guitar/mic set for him last year and my parents bought him a drum set for Christmas.

Here's an exclusive look at "Rock n' Roll Freeze Dance" from The Cammarata Family Band- Joseph on guitar, Gabriella on vocals, Sophia on drums and a cameo by Mia Cammarata

Q: Where is the best baguette in the United States?

Last Friday I accompanied David Bromberg, the master practitioner of folk, blues, bluegrass and other musical genres, to his Leonard Lopate Show interview and performance on WNYC. David’s been getting incredible reviews for his first studio album in 17 years called ‘ Try Me One More Time.’ Topics of conversation between the two included why David dropped out of the music business in 1980; how he became the #1 expert in the world on violins made in the US; french bread; and David’s thriving violin shop in downtown Wilmington, DE (see above photo).

Oh, and by the way, the answer according to David Bromberg is: A: Chicago’s Hyde Park