And now, some unexpected news.

The birth of Hip-Hop was apparently not in the playgrounds of Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn as previously thought, but rather in the serene pastures of Springfield, Ohio. Apparently lost cows were involved. Someone call Jeff Chang, quick...

Back to Boo!

Brooklyn Vegan is reporting that Amy Winehouse is the #1 Halloween Costume this year and I must agree. At a party over the weekend I ran into 3 other Winos. As a Halloween junkie (no pun intended) I've planned my costume for months now and even ordered temporary vintage tattoos online that are very similar to the talented singer's.

I think the dog is my favorite (check it out here).

Carole King Makes NYC Her 'Living Room'

Carole King was in town this week promoting her new DVD ‘Welcome To My Living Room,’ and it was a downright honor and pleasure spending time with her. Everywhere we went people stopped Carole to tell her how much her music meant to them.

The week kicked off on Tuesday with a performance on the Martha Stewart Show. In addition to performing “Up on the Roof" Carole was a good sport and sat in with Martha for a craft segment (see pic below). Later that evening Carole was honored with a Living Legend Award at Martha Stewart’s first annual Dreamers into Doers gala event.

And earlier this morning Carole played - count ‘em! - four songs on The Today Show. She was the first artist ever to perform in the 8, 9 and 10am hours on the show, and Meredith, Matt, Anne and the gang loved every minute of it. Here’s a pick of Mark Satlof (right) and I, with Carole backstage at the Today Show.

Peace, Love and Hillary....

"Peace, Love & Understanding" never gets old to me, the song and the sentiment. Last night (and what a thrilling, exciting night!) at Hillary Clinton’s 60th Birthday Party at the Beacon Theater, Elvis Costello just tore that song up backed by the Wallflowers, the first time I’d seen him in a triple-rock-guitar lineup. An electrified Elvis followed that with a manic two-chord garage rock workout on Pump It Up. But let's back up a second from these encore songs.

Costello, on an off-day from his tour opening for Bob Dylan, was the hand-picked headline music at Hillary's birthday, with the Wallflowers opening and Billy Crystal hosting and joking. Starting his set, E.C. bounded on stage with an acoustic guitar and launched into Red Shoes to loud cheers, and then proceeded with a passionate Either Side of the Same Town (one of my favorite of his recent songs), a staccato and propulsive Veronica, and an accusatory River in Reverse. He pulled out a song called, I think, Sulphur to Sugarcane, identified as an old political number (don't quote me), into Alison, and then, finally, an apropos, chilling reading of The Scarlet Tide*, a song that always brings a tear to my eye. The Clintons were among the first to jump up from their seats to lead a standing ovation and, later, were incredibly gracious and laudatory in their public remarks that followed the music. It was a great set which I was very happy to see, since I haven't made it to any of the current solo gigs.

Finally, at the close of the night, Costello and the Wallflowers sang Happy Birthday, with Elvis Costello putting on a wonderful Elvis Presley croon and inserting "Happy Birthday Mrs. President," an update of the famous Marilyn Monroe line.

Here's Costello and the Wallflowers with the crowd on their feet.

Billy Crystal and Hillary Clinton in the green room basement of the Beacon.

Yup. Me and Hill, after I gave her a birthday gift of Costello cds.

Bill and Hillary walked off at the end of the night, into a scrum in a small room just outside stage right. I was squeezed up against the wall as Hillary spoke with pit-bull Congressman Charlie Rangel (my representative) about tax reform (I think, it was hard to hear). When Bill joined them, after a moment, he looked over at me, reached out , and shook my hand...they say he never met a hand he didn't want to shake.

Here's Elvis and Jakob Dylan in the basement green room, getting ready for photos w/ the Clintons.

*The Scarlet Tide

Well I recall his parting words
Must I accept his fate
Or take myself far from this place
I thought I heard a black bell toll
A little bird did sing
Man has no choice
When he wants every thing

We'll rise above the scarlet tide
That trickles down through the mountain
And separates the widow from the bride

Man goes beyond his own decision
Gets caught up in the mechanism
Of swindlers who act like kings
And brokers who break everything
The dark of night was swiftly fading
Close to the dawn of day
Why would I want him just to lose him again

We'll rise above the scarlet tide
That trickles down through the mountain
And separates the widow from the bride

Raising Sand Party Launches LP Towards Big Debut

A packed party this past Monday night at the 1920s soaring-baroque-gorgeous Campbell Apartment in Grand Central Terminal kicked of an equally packed week for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss as they launched their new Rounder Records album Raising Sand towards a predicted number two chart debut next week. Activity for the week included several major radio tapings and appearances, a Today Show appearance and a Charlie Rose taping, while the week in print started with a terrific NY Times story by Jon Pareles and ended with an A- review in Time Magazine today, with tons in between and acres to come. The two amazing singers joined members of the press, radio and music industry at this one-of-a-kind event:


Shore Fire's Rob Krauser and Maggie Poulos, press wranglers for the night.

Rounder staffers w/ WFUV's tastemaker Rita Houston (in orange glasses). When Rita's there, you know you're at the right party or show.

Prominent WSJ and NPR freelancer Ashley Kahn with Global Rhythm's editor Tad Hendrickson.

Sirius Radio's Meredith Ochs with Rounder VP of PR Jen Sacca

BMG Columbia House's pr chief Paula Batson with music great Bob Neuwirth, both just back from an arts event in Berlin.

NY Daily News critic Jim Farber with cheerful freelancer Carol Cooper.

Song, Dance and Baseball

As you know if you read this blog regularly, we're a bunch of baseball fans in the office. Well, I'm the lone Red Sox fan so i'm enjoying this lates Sox performance. And by performance, I don't mean JD drew's grand slam or Hideki Okajima's unhittable relief outing last night; I mean music and dancing. Ses, these Red Sox have taken it upon themselves to show their extracurricular talents. Here's the bullpen pirate band (!?):



Bullpen percussion ensemble, if you're looking for a publicist, give me a call. I see a bright future for you. Still, that may be topped by the amazing dance pulled off by one Jonathon Papelbon when the sox clinched the division. (Nnote Jerry Remy mention in the broadcast, "He could use some pants"):



The Yankees would never allow this. Yet another reason I love my team.

Taj Mahal is a "Reefer Man"

Our clients Ropeadope Records and animator Erik Horvitz came up with this funny video for "Reefer Man." This version, from the forthcoming CD 'The Harlem Experiment,' features vocals by Taj Mahal and the clarinet of the Klezmatics' Don Byron.

See what happens when you inhale?

A Yep Rocin' CMJ

Liam Finn kept me busy last week, with three CMJ shows in three days. He kicked things off at a New Zealand music showcase Wednesday at The Delancey. Flight of the Conchords manager Murray Hewitt MC'd the show, and was so impressed he asked that "a cassette" of Liam's new album be sent over to his office. I'll get right on that, Murray.

Liam had jaws on the floor with his incredible one-man-band performance, involving intricate guitar and theremin loops paired with some totally off-the-rails drumming.

He then played the last two shows I'll ever see at Mo Pitkins, on Thursday and Friday. Godspeed, Mo. We'll miss you.

As luck would have it, another Shore Fire client - Brian Crosby, guitarist for Irish superstars Bell X1 - was in the audience on Friday. Here's a shot of Liam and Brian having a hang after the show.

YouTube Thursday...

A special humor version. Watch this first:



Then click here to figure out what the hell is going on.

Goodbye Hilly Kristal, I Hardly Knew You

I spent a fair amount of time at CBGB, mostly from 1982 to about 1992, regularly after that though less and less, but still, last night at the crowded memorial to Hilly Kristal, I was very surprised when the long time booker Louise walked by me and said, casually in passing without missing a beat, “Hi Mark.” Even at the time, I wasn't sure she ever knew my name. I guess that symbolized one of the overriding themes at the poignant and funny Bowery Ballroom event, organized by Louise, lifer-door man B.G., and Jane Friedman, the manager and publicist who’s one of the unsung guiding figures of the early CBGB era. One after another, the musicians, music industry figures, and even relatives told of how the club was like a home away from home -- living room, and the employees like a family, Hilly, a father figure. Incredible stories of his generosity and compassion emerged, along with repeated paraodies of his famously laconic speech and a running joke about his 45 on the jukebox, "Mud"...apparently a goofy country number about pigs. But, really, what I learned was the difference Hilly, one singular man, made on the music scene and the scenesters. Over and over musicians talked of how he just let them be, do what they wanted, nurtured them, gave them a literal stage to create. The time and place was right of course, but Hilly's insistence that bands play their original music -- another of the evening's refrains -- proved a crucial impetus to the emerging NY underground scene. Plus, he didn't have to pay any licensing/royalty fees!

The night had the feel of a high school reunion...a room full of wrinkles and belly rolls, bald hair, old rivalries, old flames. "Do I know that guy/ oh, there's so and so" glances. Except everyone wore black. Anyway, I won't ever forget those long late nights at CBGBs, memories only sharpened by the wonderful remembrance last night of Hilly Kristal.

Ivan Krall ends the night w/ a new song . Something like "Wasn't it Great"







BELOW FROM TOP
Tommy Ramone
Tish and Snooky
Brendan, a doorman
Producer Mike Thorne
Musician Genya Ravan
Punk mag pub John Holstrom
Vernon Reid
Cheetah Chrome
Richard Lloyd
Tina Weymouth
Bob Christgau
didn't catch his name
Jane Friedman
June Hony and Mark Satlof
Photog Bob Gruen
Georgio Gomelsky, NY Rocker Publisher Andy Schwartz, Ivan Julian
Trouser Press's Ira Robbins next to journo David Sprague
Richard Hell
Bob Singerman and Michael Hill

Ben Allison's Man Size Safe

One of Shore Fire's newest clients, jazz composer/arranger/ bandleader/ upright bass extraordinaire Ben Allison, stopped by the office last Friday with Pat Rustici, VP of Palmetto Records. Here's a shot of (left to right) Ben with Shore Fire's Rebecca Shapiro, Pat and me.

That evening Rebecca and I went to Jazz Standard to see Ben and his band "Man Size Safe." The group ran through a variety of colorful instrumentals including a few of Ben's original compositions and arrangements from his upcoming Palmetto release 'Little Things Run The World,' out in January. From Ben's hypnotic bass ostinatos and drummer Michael Sarin's incredible sense of dynamics to guitarist Steve Cardenas' melodic solos, the show revealed a band passionate about merging the boundaries between jazz and rock.

Here's a pic of Ben leaving the venue with Matt Balitsaris, president of Palmetto Records.


Oh yeah, if you're wondering where the "The" in "Jazz Standard" is hiding, just ask Ben.

By the Time We Got to Woodstock...

The jug band documentary Chasin' Gus' Ghost premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival on October 13th to a sold-out and very enthusiastic crowd at the Bearsville Theater. Director Todd Kwait, producer Carol Kwait and the crew from Woodstock's Nevessa Production were on hand, as were local heroes John Sebastian (of Lovin' Spoonful fame) and Bill Keith, two of the many well-known musicians featured in the film.

Todd and John were also on a "Music and Film" panel at the festival, telling sad and funny clearance stories (one performance in the movie was re-dubbed because of a Tennessee Williams rights issue, of all things).

Reviews so far have been terrific. DocumentaryFilms.net called it "delightful" and said, "Todd Kwait’s journey into the jug band world does many things well, but beyond all others it sets a mood in perfect symbiosis with the topic... The pacing is superb, the narrative is winsome, and the research tight." See it soon at a festival near you!

From left in photo below: Chris Andersen, Beki Brindle, Josh Telson, Paul Rishell, Todd Kwait, Annie Raines, John Sebastian and Carol Kwait.

And here are Todd, Carol, John and me.

It's a Kandy Kolored Krauser Birthday....

Following pizza Friday lunch today, we were psyched to celebrate Rob Krauser's birthday - over a week late but still in good cheer. The top picture is Rob contemplating his Sugar Sweet Sunshine pistachio cake. Lower East Siders know all about Sugar Sweet Sunshine, but you out-of-towners, definitely stop by on your next visit. Below that photo is the money shot. Happy Birthday Rob!

Phil Ramone at AES

This past Saturday at the Audio Engineering Society Convention (AES), our client Phil Ramone gave away and signed copies of his upcoming book Making Records: The Scenes Behind The Music (October 16, Hyperion) at the Recording Academy's booth. Crowds gathered and all the books were gone in less than an hour!

'S Wonderful

Last Saturday Diana Krall made a special appearance at the Union Square Barnes & Noble for an in-store signing. Jazz fans lined up to meet her and Diana graciously signed copies of her albums, the most popular being the latest release ‘The Very Best of Diana Krall.’ Despite a cold, Diana is completely stunning in person as I’m sure all of her fans would agree.




Our friends from Verve Records John Newcott, Paul Irvine and many others helped facilitate the event and make it a success. Thanks to all who attended!

Afterwards, I couldn’t help but rifle though the enormous selection of books – buyers beware the B&N flagship, they have everything (including my new coffee table book)!