I saw the band “Explosions in the Sky” at St. Andrew’s Hall this week and was impressed that this quartet from Odessa, Texas could sell out the place playing instrumental music. Apologies to those already familiar with the band, but I’ve just recently stumbled across them. Apparently they’ve been making their mark on the indie and jamband scene for the last few years and I’ve overlooked them. Their music is a strange blend of ambient sounds and sonic guitar playing. Somewhat akin to the extended instrumental passages of King Crimson with a dose of U2 (with Bono turned off). EITS’s latest CD is the wonderful titled “All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone.” They’re also responsible for the soundtrack to the high school football documentary, “Friday Night Lights.” Worth a listen at www.explosionsinthesky.com or better still, catch them live next time they’re in the neighborhood.

“As technology has grown more sophisticated, the ways in which artists make money have grown more old-fashioned.  The value of songs falls, and the value seeing an artist sing them rises, because that experience can’t really be reproduced. It’s funny that, in an era of file-sharing and iPod-stealing, the old troubadour may have the most lucrative gig of all.”

James Surwiecki
The New Yorker, May 16, 2005

The Wednesdees (featuring Monroe’s own Jacob Longton) will be playing a show at The Berkley Front this Friday. The show starts at 9 and it’s just $5 to get in.

3087 W. 12 Mile Rd, Berkley, Michigan

(DJ)

Ozzy and brethern will be stopping by Clarkston this summer after all to unveil Ozzfest ‘07 on August 26. Tickets are free and instructions for obtaining them will be available online June 12 at www.ozzfest.com and www.livenation.com. Be sure to hide the bats.

JD

Rumor has it that Paul McCartney will be releasing a new album for coffee conglomerate, Starbucks, on their new music label “Hear Music.”. Apparently dissatisfied with the lack of promotion he was getting from EMI, Heather Mills soon to be ex-husband decided to make the switch after forty years to a label willing to give a latte more respect to a former Beatle. Expect a formal announcement soon and hold the sugar.

JD

Several of Jerry Garcia’s guitars (custom-made by Doug Irwin and Travis Bean), tie-dyed speaker covers from the famous “Wall of Sound,” an original Garcia pen & ink drawing of Hot Tuna plus a framed ticket stub from the last show that Jerry every played with the band (7/9/95, Soldier’s Field, Chicago) before ascending to that “Great Gig in the Sky” are all part of a Grateful Dead memorabilia auction at Bonham’s and Butterfield auction house in San Francisco on May 8.

The collection is part of the estate of the late Lawrence “Ram Rod” Shurtliff who was the Dead’s truck driver, road crew chief and eventually the president of their corporate identity who died late last year. Keep on truckin’.

Boston lead singer, Brad Delp, was found dead in his home at the age of 55, according to an AP report.

Acording to the story there is no sign of foul play at this time, although an incident report will not be filed until Monday.

I caught a bit of something gross this morning, so the advertising world lost me for today. While I am home I have a chance to catch up on some e-mails of great import.

Enjoy this gem from YouTube my friend sent me this morning. Fascinating.

(DJ)

Music lovers are often movie lovers. What’s better than movies about music? Nothing.

Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt- I caught this on Sundance a few months ago. Any fan of Van Zandt can tell that he was a bit depressed. This moving portrait fills in some of the gaps and explains the suffering that he had to go through.

Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns- From arthouse to playhouse They Might Be Giants have been entertaining fans of all ages for the past two decades. This film features cameos from other famous New Yorkers reading spoken word versions of TMBG classics. It’s surprisingly inciteful and well-paced.

DIG!-Explores the love/hate relationship between the indiest of indie rockers Brian Jonestown Massacre and the somewhat less indie-credible The Dandy Warhols. It’s full of sniping and snobbery. As guilty a pleasure as you will find in this genre.

There are others not mentioned. As always feel free to toss in your two cents.

(DJ)

The new commercial for a popular video game features “Breed” from Nirvana’s “Nevermind.”

I’ve been weighing the pros and cons for the past week or so, and I think in the end, I’m against it. Not that it matters what I think.

I’m against it for two reasons. 1) I think Kurt wouldn’t have done it. 2) I’m afraid Courtney Love is profiting from it. If I’m wrong on either count I will withdraw my objection, but I’m pretty sure I’m right on both.

(I wrote another paragraph describing my feelings for and suspicions about Kurt Cobain’s widow, but I have chosen not to post it for fear she would sue/kill me.)

(DJ)