LAYDEN THE BAND

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AL

Local artist Ronald Presley & thrash metal band The Cut Throat Conspiracy will be playing at the High Note this Saturday featuring Prime Mover and Return Fire. Ronald is the last male Presley to still be in rock. He is currently featured in the October Birmingham Magazine. See also

They will return to play Halloween Night at the High Note before taking time off to record their album "Holiday at Hell's Forge". Graceland still has no comments on our local metal-headed Presley.

www.myspace.com/thecutthroatconspiracy

Come See The Original Idols Live Show ! Featuring

Bay City Rollermania (The Tribute) which is made up entirely of former touring members of the Bay City Rollers. If you remember the Bay City Rollers the sound,the plaid, its here !!!!!

The lineup includes Awesome!!! Lead vocalist Kyle Vincent, Joe Stefanelli who joined the BCR in 1990 on rhythm guitar and vocals, Rick Thibodeau(Bo Donaldson &The Heywoods) on bass and vocals, George Preston lead guitar and vocals, Billy Haarbauer (Bo Donaldson &The Heywoods) on drums and vocals and Tommy Cosentino is the keyboardist/vocalist/musical director. Can I say more !!!

Rockin!!!!

Don't Miss !! Caravan of Stars 16
October 18, 2008 6:30pm

Carl Perkins Civic Center - Jackson, Tennessee

Alan O'Day #1 Hit “Undercover Angel”

Wrote “Rock and Roll Heaven” & “Angie Baby”

Bertie Higgins “Key Largo” “Casablanca”

“Just Another Day in Paradise”

Billy Joe Royal “Down in the Boondocks” “Hush”

“I Knew You When” “Cherry Hill Park”

Billy Swan  #1 Hit “I Can Help”

Wrote “Lover Please”

Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods

#1 “Billy Don't Be a Hero”

“Who Do You Think You Are”

Larry Hoppen (lead singer of Orleans)

“Still The One” “Dance With Me”

“Love Takes Time”

Pat Upton (lead singer of Spiral Staircase)

“More Today Than Yesterday”

Question Mark , lead singer of Question Mark & the Mysterians…had the 1966 #1 Hit “96 Tears”

Roy Head , “Treat Her Right”

Caravan of Stars 16 Ticket Information:

$50.00 V.I.P . ticket purchase includes guaranteed seating in the first
October 18, 2008
KOOL 103 Radio
Carl Perkins Civic Center
Jackson, Tennessee
For more info :
http://www.kool103.com/koolmain2.htm

For the week ending September 20, 1969, "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies began its' 4-week run as the Top 100 disc on the Billboard charts.


And, as Billboard magazine is also celebrating its' 50th anniversary of the Top 100, their new anniversary issue is dated September 20, 2008; The Archies figure prominently in this special issue as one of the biggest all-time recordings and as the #1 record of 1969.


(You can order this special issue now online at billboard.
com)

So, gang, Happy 39th and congratulations on being featured in Billboard's anniversary tribute, too!

There, will be an all new Archie's Christmas CD Coming out September 30, 2008.Christmas versions of classic songs for the holidays.
Songs like Here Comes Santa Claus, Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
and Jingle Bell Rock.
Betty & Veronica will singing many leads along with Archie of course.
It will be available on Itunes and Amazon.com

Pre-order your copy NOW !!!

The Archie Band Members Include :

Band Members Archie Andrews - Lead Guitar, Vocals
Reggie Mantle - Bass Guitar
Jughead Jones - Drums
Betty Cooper - Vocals, Tambourine, Percussion, Guitar
Veronica Lodge - Vocals, Organ, Keyboard
Hot Dog - mascot

with

Danielle van Zyl - Vocals
Kelly-Lynn - Vocals
Ron Dante - Vocals
Ted Perlman - Programmer, Keys, Guitar
Scott Erickson - Programmer, Keys
Tim Pierce - Guitar
Bo Donaldson - Keyboards
George Eisaman - Guitar
Rick Thibodeau - Bass
Billy Haarbauer - Drums

WOW what a AWESOME LINE-UP !!!!!

Listen to, 2 of Alan O'Day's NEW "I Hear Voices" MP3's. On That's Music.org !!
http://www.thatsmusic.org/artists/alan_oday.shtml#he
ar_voices

Go out and buy the CD !! The album is available through http://www.alanoday.com/ as well as other outlets and shortly on ITunes

You will LOVE IT !!!!

Alan O'Day new CD "I Hear Voices" will be available September 15th 2008 ! through alanoday.com as well as other outlets and shortly on ITunes. Please check out myspace.com/alanoday where audio clips and other info will be posted.And in a few weeks,the title song "I Hear Voices"will have its own video on YOUTUBE.

You will love this CD!! its a collection of 14 songs written &co-produced by Alan O'Day and Denny Martin. Songs that move around from funk to retro to spiritual.

Song's that will make you laugh and also make you shed a tear !  

Free blues music, 3-6 p.m.

September 21, 2008 3:00 pm
Come out to Phelan Park! 
Mo Blues will be here, all the way from Argentina.

Bring your lawn chair and cooler.  Family-friendly
The park is located across from Dreamland BBQ at the corner of 14th Avenue and 15th Street South. 

Presented with the support of The Five Points Neighborhood Association

As a guitar player, I will miss Jerry Reed. I knew him from Okeefe High School. He would come over to the house and we would play some. At that time he was way ahead of me on the guitar and I learned a lot from him. Even then in school he was doing skits on stage in the auditorium and making everyone laugh with his Red Skelton bit of comedy. I have more stories of him when we were in Atlanta. Later...M>>>

Jerry Reed will continue to provide countless hours of entertainment for me and millions of americans through his films and song.   I have always enjoyed his humor and one of a kind guitar picking.  Thank you Jerry for sharing your talent with the world and I hope everyone will give you the recognition you deserve for the many hours you put into your craft of entertaining people.  I wish I could have known you personally.   R I P Jerry   (sounds like one of his song titles) 

Here is what wikipedia had about him...........

Jerry Reed Hubbard (March 20, 1937 – August 31, 2008), known professionally as Jerry Reed, was an American country music singer, country guitarist, session musician, songwriter, and actor who appeared in over a dozen films. As a singer, he may be best known for "Amos Moses", and "When You're Hot, You're Hot", for which he received the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1972 and "East Bound and Down", the theme song to the first Smokey and the Bandit movie in which he portrayed the "Snowman", Cledus Snow.

  Biography

 Early life

Reed was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the second child of Robert and Cynthia Hubbard. Reed's grandparents lived in Rockmart, Ga. and he would visit them from there from time to time. He was quoted as a small child, while running around strumming his guitar, "I am gonna be a star. I'm gonna go to Nashville and be a star." Reed's parents separated four months after his birth, and he and his sister spent seven years in foster homes or orphanages. Reed was reunited with his mother and stepfather in 1944. Music and impromptu performances helped ease the stressful times the new family was under.

By high school, (O'Keefe High School, Atlanta, Georgia)[citation needed] Reed was already writing and singing music, having picked up the guitar as a child. At age 18, he was signed by publisher and record producer Bill Lowery to cut his first record, "If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creeks Don't Rise." At Capitol Records, he recorded both country and rockabilly singles to little notice, until label mate Gene Vincent covered his "Crazy Legs" in 1958. By 1958, Lowery signed Reed to his National Recording Corporation, and he recorded for NRC as both artist and as a member of the staff band, which included other NRC artists Joe South and Ray Stevens.

Reed married Priscilla "Prissy" Mitchell in 1959. They have two daughters, Charlotte Elaine "Lottie" Reed Stewart, and Seidina Ann Reed Hinesley, born April 2, 1960.

 Career

After a two-year stint in the military, Reed moved to Nashville in 1961 to continue his songwriting career, which had continued to gather steam while he was in the armed forces, thanks to Brenda Lee's 1960 cover of his "That's All You Got to Do." He also became a popular session and tour guitarist. In 1962, he scored some success with the singles "Goodnight Irene" and "Hully Gully Guitar," which found their way to Chet Atkins, who produced Reed's 1965 "If I Don't Live Up to It."

 "Guitar Man"

In 1967, Reed notched his first official country chart hit with "Guitar Man," which Elvis Presley soon covered. Presley had come to Nashville to record in 1967, and one of the songs he was working on was "Guitar Man," which Reed had written and recorded. "I was out on the Cumberland River fishing, and I got a call from Felton Jarvis (then Presley's producer). He said, 'Elvis is down here. We've been trying to cut 'Guitar Man' all day long. He wants it to sound like it sounded on your album.' I finally told him, 'Well, if you want it to sound like that, you're going have to get me in there to play guitar, because these guys (you're using in the studio) are straight pickers. I pick with my fingers and tune that guitar up all weird kind of ways.'"[1]

Jarvis hired Reed to play on the session. "I hit that intro, and [Elvis's] face lit up and here we went. Then after he got through that, he cut [my] "U.S. Male" at the same session. I was toppin' cotton, son." Reed also played the guitar for Elvis Presley's "Too Much Monkey Business" (1968), recorded in the same session. After Presley recorded another of Reed's songs, "U.S. Male," the songwriter recorded an Elvis tribute, "Tupelo Mississippi Flash," which proved to be his first Top 20 hit. Reed's guitar style can also be heard on other Elvis tunes including "Big Boss Man".

Elvis also recorded two other Reed tunes; "A Thing Called Love" in 1971 and "Talk About The Good Times" in 1973 for a total of four.

 1970s

After releasing the 1970 crossover hit "Amos Moses," a hybrid of rock, country, and Cajun styles, which reached #8 on the U.S. Pop charts, Reed teamed with Atkins for the duet LP Me & Jerry. During the 1970 television season, he was a regular on the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and in 1971 he issued his biggest hit, the chart-topper "When You're Hot, You're Hot," which was also the title track of his first solo album and reached #9 on the Pop charts.

A second collaboration with Atkins, Me & Chet, followed in 1972, as did a series of Top 40 singles, which alternated between frenetic, straightforward country offerings and more pop-flavored, countrypolitan material. A year later, he scored his second number one single with "Lord, Mr. Ford" (written by Dick Feller), from the album of the same name.

Atkins, who frequently produced Reed's music, remarked that he had to encourage Reed to put instrumental numbers on his own albums, as Reed always considered himself more of a songwriter than a player. Atkins, however, thought Reed was a better fingerstyle player than he himself was; Reed, according to Atkins, helped him work out the fingerpicking for one of Atkins' biggest hits, "Yakety Axe."

Reed was featured in animated form in a December 9, 1972 episode of Hanna-Barbera's The New Scooby-Doo Movies, "The Phantom of the Country Music Hall" (prod. #61-10). He sang and played the song "Pretty Mary Sunlite." That song is played throughout the episode as Scooby and the gang search for Reed's missing guitar.

In the mid-1970s, Reed's recording career began to take a back seat to his acting aspirations. In 1974, he co-starred with his close friend Burt Reynolds in the film W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings. While he continued to record throughout the decade, his greatest visibility was as a motion picture star, almost always in tandem with headliner Reynolds; after 1976's Gator, Reed appeared in 1978's High Ballin and 1979's Hot Stuff. He also co-starred in all three of the Smokey and the Bandit films; the first, which premiered in 1977, landed Reed a Number 2 hit with the soundtrack's "East Bound and Down."

Reed also took a stab at hosting a TV variety show, filming two episodes of The Jerry Reed Show in 1976.[citation needed] The show featured music performances and interview segments, but did not contain the comedy skits that usually were a part of variety shows of the '70s. Guests included Tammy Wynette, Ray Stevens, and Burt Reynolds.[citation needed]

In 1978, he appeared as himself in the television show Alice.

In 1979, he released a record comprised of both vocal and instrumental selections titled, appropriately enough, Half & Half. It was followed one year later by Jerry Reed Sings Jim Croce, a tribute to the late singer/songwriter. He starred in a TV movie in that year entitled The Concrete Cowboys.

 1980s and 1990s

In 1982, Reed's career as a singles artist was revitalized by the chart-topping hit "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)," followed by "The Bird," which peaked at Number 2. His last chart hit, "I'm a Slave," appeared in 1983. That same year, he co-starred with Robin Williams and Walter Matthau in the Michael Ritchie comedy The Survivors. Reed guest-starred in the October 13, 1983 episode of Mama's Family, "The Return of Leonard Oates" (Episode 13, Season 2), as Naomi Harper's ex-husband Leonard Oates.

After an unsuccessful 1986 LP, Lookin' at You, Reed focused on touring until 1992, when he and Atkins reunited for the album Sneakin' Around before he again returned to the road.

Reed had a role as a Commander/Huey Pilot for Danny Glover's character in the 1988 movie Bat*21 starring Gene Hackman. He also acted as executive producer on this film.[citation needed]

Reed starred in the 1998 Adam Sandler film, The Waterboy, as Red Beaulieu, the movie's chief antagonist and the head coach for the University of Louisiana Cougars football team.

He teamed up with country superstars Waylon Jennings, Mel Tillis, and Bobby Bare in the group Old Dogs. They recorded one album, in 1998, entitled Old Dogs, with songs written by Shel Silverstein. (Reed sang lead on "Young Man's Job" and "Elvis Has Left The Building," the latter possibly in deference to Elvis' helping launch his career.)

In 1998, the American rock band Primus covered the Reed song "Amos Moses" on the EP entitled Rhinoplasty.

 2000s

In October 2004, "Amos Moses" was featured on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack, playing on fictional radio station K-ROSE.[citation needed] His latest recording was released in 2006, named Let's Git It On.[citation needed] In 2007, UK band Alabama 3 (Known as A3 in the USA) covered his hit "Amos Moses" on their album M.O.R.

Reed has appeared as a guest on the fishing television series Bill Dance Outdoors. In one memorable appearance, Reed caught a particularly big largemouth bass and planned to have it preserved and mounted by a taxidermist. Dance objected to this plan, and freed the fish when Jerry wasn't looking. Reed became enraged when he discovered what had happened, and chased Dance off the boat and to shore. This incident was also mentioned in one of Jeff Foxworthy's standup comedy routines. He also did guest appearences on the Bill Dance Fishing show.

Reed appeared as a character in the Red Sovine-based comedy fiction blog "Tales From the Truckstop".

In 2008, the Youtube sensation Red State Update parodied the song "When You're Hot, You're Hot" in their feud with Democratic Senator Joe Biden of Delaware with the song "Fightin' Joe Biden".

 Death

Reed died at the age of 71 in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 31, 2008, of complications from emphysema.[2] The Associated Press wire service and CNN, however, reported the date of his death as September

And on the eighth day, He created My Morning Jacket.

Not going to wax poetic about the band once again, but it sure was good to see them play the other night in Atlanta. I never understood what would make someone even remotely want to quit everything and follow a band, until My Morning Jacket came along. Can't wait to watch the future unfold for this incredible group. The sky is, without a doubt, the limit.

"We are the innovators. They are the imitators." – My Morning Jacket "Wordless Chorus"

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend. Here is the playlist.

Reg's Coffee House 8/24/08 Playlist
Live 100.5 FM Birmingham WWMM
Sundays 10AM-2PM
www.regscoffeehouse.com


Dave Matthews Band – Everyday

Rogue Wave – Lake Michigan

/Passenger. – Wicked Man's Rest

David Byrne and Brian Eno – Strange Overtones

Glen Campbell – Times Like These

Tift Merritt – Broken

Teddy Thompson – The Things I Do

Lucinda Williams – Real Love

Coldplay – Lost (acoustic)

Pierre de Reeder – I'll Be Around

Kate Taylor – Empty Eyes

Todd Snider – Mission Accomplished (Because You Gotta Have Faith)

Matthew Perryman Jones – When It Falls Apart

She & Him – Sentimental Heart

The Bridges – Pieces

Ray LaMontagne – You Are The Best Thing

Ray LaMontagne – Let It Be Me

The Whispertown 2000 – 103

Everest – Rebels In The Roses

Matt Duke – Sex And Reruns

Ani Difranco – Alla This

Jonatha Brooke and Glen Phillips – Sweetest Angel

Matthew Sweet – Byrdgirl

Kaiser Cartel – Season Song

Joan Osborne – Sweeter Than The Rest

Indigenous – Make A Change

Katie Herzig – Hologram

Okkervil River – Lost Coastlines

Aimee Mann – Red Vines

Aimee Miriello – I Came Around

Ryan Adams And The Cardinals – Down In A Hole

Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes

Donavon Frankenreiter – Someone's Something

The Pretenders – Boots Of Chinese Plastic

Bon Iver – Flume

Ben Folds Featuring Regina Spektor – You Don't Know Me

Gemma Hayes – Out Of Our Hands

Michael Franti And Spearhead – Hey World (Don't Give Up Version)

Annuals – Confessor

Amanda Palmer – Leeds United

Eric Hutchinson – You Don't Have To Believe Me

Delta Spirit – Streetwalker

Kasey Chambers And Shane Nicholson – Rattlin' Bones

Val Emmich – Get On With It

Brooke Waggoner – Tender Mending

Conor Oberst – Sausalito

My Morning Jacket – Two Halves

Dr. Dog – The Rabbit, The Bat and The Reindeer

Graham Colton – What Ever Breaks My Heart

Peace,
Reg

There as a jazz musician and singer from Gadsden on the show a few days ago. Can anyone tell me where the club is that they perform? THANKS!

I heard a song today on one of the more popular Birmingham radio stations that troubled me. The title of the song was " I kissed a girl today, and I liked it!"  What disturbed me greatly was that a woman was singing this song! Now I was born and raised in the south and have a conservative attitude about most things political, but I must ask my fellow bloggers and my blog readers a question about it. Am I just showing my age and becoming like my parents criticizing the music of the age, or do you agree that songs such as this are just artists pushing the envelope further to make a name for themselves, or simply trying to push their own sexual agenda? The lyrics to the song went on to describe how the singer was CONFUSED and EXPERIMENTING and even describes tasting CHERRY LIPSTICK from the girls lips. TO me it sounded almost borderline pedophilia. Not to mention just plain weird. It sounded to me like more of the in your face Homosexual brainwashing of our youth. Like go ahead and do what I did, try it out, you might like it too! Well, I for one think it is sick and irresponsible! So let me hear your comments! AM I homophobe? Too old for the crowd now? Or am I just plain old right?

How I wish I was on my way to Boulder, CO, for the R&R AAA Summit ( http://www.radioandrecords.com/Conventions/Tripleasummi
t.asp ) right now. Unfortunately, I could not justify the expense this year so I'll be taking the year off from what is always one of the best music conferences of the year. It is one of the few events I go to in the industry where music lovers share their knowledge about and revel in the wonderment of music. It's almost a shame to call it a conference, maybe that's why they call it a summit. To all my friends who are arriving in Boulder right now, I will miss you but I hope you have yet another incredible time filled with memorable experiences. See you in 2009.

Thanks so much to unsigned Nashville, TN, singer-songwriter Ford Turrell ( www.fordturrell.com or www.myspace.com/fordturrellmusic ) for stopping by the Reg's Coffee House studios to perform a few songs live before playing in town that night as part of Small Stages ( www.smallstages.com / http://www.myspace.com/smallstages ). I've been spinning Ford on the show for going on two years now since I first got my hands on his EP. Since then, he has put out a full length record, been touring around the Southeast and continues to grow his following. There's nothing I love more than watching an artist develop and that is exactly what is going on with Ford Turrell. The new songs he played on the show this past Sunday showed an amazing amount of growth and got me even more excited about this talented up and comer. Add to it that his band consisted of Beau Stapleton on guitar ( http://www.myspace.com/computervsbanjo ) and Bryn Davies on bass ( http://www.myspace.com/basslady ) and it was one of the better in-studios I have done in a while. I'm looking forward to seeing where Turrell's career goes from here as he has all the tools to go places in our crazy, mixed-up business.

Reg's Coffee House 8/3/08 Playlist
Birmingham 100.5 FM
Sundays 10AM-2PM
www.regscoffeehouse.com

Carrie Rodriguez – She Ain't Me

Matthew Perryman Jones – Save You

The Hold Steady – Lord, I'm Disgusted

Chris Knight – Crooked Road

Griffin House – Better Than Love

Bob Dylan – Dreamin' Of You

Death Cab For Cutie – Your New Twin Sized Bed

Okkervil River – Lost Coastlines

Joan Osborne – Sweeter Than The Rest

Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillat – Lucky

Dar Williams – It's Alright

Dr. Dog – The Ark

O.A.R. – Shattered (Turn The Car Around)

Big Blue Ball – Whole Thing

Katie Herzig – Hologram

Alexa Wilkinson – Lions

Ray Lamontagne – Let It Be Me

Wild Sweet Orange – Ten Dead Dogs

Aimee Mann – Guys Like Me

Stoll Vaughan – Alright

Cory Chisel – See It My Way (live)

My Morning Jacket – Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt. 1

Coldplay – Cemeteries Of London

Matt Nathanson – Come On Get Higher (acoustic)

Sigur Ros – Vid Spilum Endalaust

Meiko – Boys With Girlfriends

Everest – Rebels In The Roses

The Kooks – Do You Wanna

Bon Iver – Skinny Love

Conor Oberst – Get Well Cards

Lenka – The Show

Erin McCarley – Pony (Go On)

/Passenger. – Night Vision Binoculars

Brendan James – Green

Delta Spirit – Trashcan

Michael Franti & Spearhead – Say Hey (I Love You)

Donavon Frankenreiter – Life Love And Laughter

Ford Turrell – Coming Down (Reg's Coffee House Live)

Ford Turrell – Listen To Your Heartbeat (Reg's Coffee House Live)

Ford Turrell – Broken (Reg's Coffee House Live)

Ford Turrell – All The Roses (Reg's Coffee House Live)

Computer vs. Banjo – Guitar Needs A Sinner's Touch

Sara Bareilles – Bottle It Up

Andy Davis – Brown Eyes

Peace,
Reg

Please check out !!Our new That's Music Promotions and Entertainment Message Board !Right now we have 4 Artists listed,but hope to have more Artists join soon !!

Check out !!!the Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods,Ron Dante,Alan O'Day,and 1910 Fruitgum Company !Message Boards.Don't forget to Register !!!!!

http://cybermessageboard. fatcow. com/thatsmusic/index. php?sid=fa17dfb5d657fe2eeffbabca9a6a22f6

Don't Forget to check out our New onlineStore !

http://www. thatsmusic. org/store/store. shtml

David: You know how I know you're gay?
Cal: How?
David: You like Coldplay.

- The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

 

And just like that, Coldplay hating became the cool thing to do.

 

Remember the first time you heard “Yellow”. Don’t lie. You know you were mesmerized by it. You couldn’t get enough of it. It was intoxicating. Fast forward a few years and suddenly, after the band escalated to the top of the music world, you just couldn’t wait to make a snarky comment about them. Funny thing is, right after you did it, you ran home and listened to them on your iPod. C’mon, you know you did. Coldplay is your dirty little secret, your guilty pleasure, and no matter how hip you try to be, you can’t deny their music.

 

Coldplay isn’t the coolest band in the world. Face it, they’ve never tried or claimed to be. What Coldplay does is finds the perfect balance between commercial and “left of center” music. This is what makes them so solid, their ability to please the masses while appeasing the “P” is for Precious crowd.

 

Don’t dismiss “Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends” or you will miss out on some of the band’s finest work to date. The record quickly engages you and takes you on a moving journey.  “Cemetaries Of London” has the feel of a classic song from The Church. “Lost” and “Yes” are grandiose tracks that will fill a stadium up to the rim until it overflows musical goodness. “42”  and “Death And All His Friends” have a structure to them that reminds me of why I love My Morning Jacket so much and the way “42” transitions into “Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love” is absolutely brilliant making for almost 11 minutes of sheer listening joy. “Violet Hill” has quickly become one of my favorite Coldplay tracks with its attacking guitars, driving beats, and call to arms “If You Love Me Won’t You Let Me Know!”. And “Strawberry Hill” would have fit nicely smack dab in the middle of “The Joshua Tree” with its elegance and grace.

 

So make fun of them if you like and don’t feel guilty knowing that deep down inside, you secretly adore this band.

 

One last note, tomorrow is Independence Day, do something good for your community and yourself. Go grab lunch or dinner at a local independent restaurant (believe it or not, there are better Italian meals out there than the ones served at The Olive Garden), pick up some music at your local independent music retailer (NO, Best Buy is not a music retailer unless dishwashers, refrigerators and washer/dryers now come complete with CD or MP3 players in them), get a new shirt or dress at a local clothier, grab drinks at your favorite local pub and celebrate what this country was built upon, the TRUE INDEPENDENT SPIRIT. Happy Independence Day my friend!

 

Here is this week’s playlist. Enjoy.

 

 

Reg's Coffee House 6/29/08 Playlist

WYSF – Birmingham 94.5 FM

Sundays 10AM-1PM www.regscoffeehouse.com

 

Brendan James – All I Can See

Dr. Dog – The Ark

The Watson Twins – How Am I To Be

Mason Jennings – Something About Your Love

Steve Winwood – Dirty City

Feist – I Feel It All

Jim White – Jailbird

John Mellencamp – Longest Days

Josh Radin featuring Ingrid Michaelson – Sky

Colin Meloy – The Engine Driver (live/acoustic)

Radiohead – No Surprises

Tift Merritt – Morning Is My Destination

Delta Spirit – Streetwalker

Nada Surf – Weightless

Donavon Frankenreiter – Come With Me

Big Blue Ball – Whole Thing

John Mayer – Free Fallin’ (live/acoustic)

Emmylou Harris – All That You Have Is Your Soul

The Black Keys – Psychotic Girl

Peter Bradley Adams – Los Angeles

Jen Foster – Closer To Nowhere

Kaiser Cartel – Season Song

Matt Duke – Sex And Reruns

Jim Boggia – Nothing’s Changed

Alejandro Escovedo – Slow Down

Theresa Anderson – Birds Fly Away

Coldplay – Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love

Nicole Atkins – The Way It Is

Old 97’s – Ride

Sonya Kitchell – Here To There

G. Love & Special Sauce – Peace, Love And Happiness

Mudcrutch – The Wrong Thing To Do

Wild Sweet Orange – An Atlas To Follow

Paper Route – Are We All Forgotten

Wolf Parade – Language City

My Morning Jacket – Aluminum Park

Joan As Police Woman – To Be Loved

Hayes Carll – Broken Poet’s Dream

O.A.R. – Shattered (Turn The Car Around)

Sigur Ros – Gobbledigook

Amie Mireiello – I Came Around

The Hold Steady – Sequestered In Memphis

Sitting in Radio City Music Hall last Friday night, watching Jim James of My Morning Jacket ascend the side stair to the balcony seats, my mind wandered back in time. I remembered my friend and the band’s agent, Scott Clayton, beating me over the head incessantly, trying to make me hear what he heard and see the potential of this band. Next, I was in the Mercury Lounge years later, packed in tight, when the light bulb came on and I was transported to a happy place that I still go to when I need to be reminded why I love music so much. Then there was the time that Jim James was kind enough to play the 10th Anniversary of Reg’s Coffee House. And, all the other performances by My Morning Jacket I was so lucky to attend. It was a wonderful trip through the past 7 years that was abruptly ended by the band crashing into another epic tune, my hair flinging around wildly and the crowd meting down at an epic pace.



This was what it was all about. This is what is supposed to happen when a band follows its vision, makes its art, works its ass off, and proves itself every time it steps on the stage. This is the part of the music business that is pure and can’t be taken away. It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of this night. The perfect milestone for a band that is far from reaching its precipice. The kind of evening that makes believers out of cynics and fanatics out of fans.



Speaking of cynics, NO! My ridiculous appearance on Late Night With Conan O’Brien was not planned. I was not a plant. The band was totally unaware of my being in the audience. I took my girlfriend so we could have some NYC fun and support my favorite band. Imagine my surprise, and the band’s, when I was picked to come out of the audience and meet the band in a skit. What was I supposed to do, say “No thanks, I already know them.”? Hell no, I put on my best acting face and faked the whole thing as did everyone else in the skit except Conan and James Lipmann who were clueless that the band and I have known each other for years. Anyway, I hope everyone got a laugh out of the skit and yes, I washed my hands. Haha.



Here is the playlist.



Reg's Coffee House 6/22/08 Playlist

WYSF – Birmingham 94.5 FM

Sundays 10AM-1PM
www.regscoffeehouse.com


Death Cab For Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart

Kathleen Edwards – Asking For Flowers

Jessie Baylin – See How I Run

Ron Sexsmith – Brandy Alexander

Old 97’s – No Baby I

Ryan Bingham – The Other Side

Solomon Burke featuring Ben Harper – A Minute To Rest And A Second To Pray

The Notwist – The Devil, You And Me

Courtney Jaye – Sweet Ride

Neilson Hubbard – I Love Your Muscles

James Hunter – The Hard Way

Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet – It Ain’t Easy

Darcie Miner – Come Pick Me Up

Spiritualized – Soul On Fire

Amie Miriello – I Came Around

Josh Rouse – 1 2 3

Sigur Ros – Gobbledigook

Duffy – Serious

Amy McDonald – Mr. Rock & Roll

Dennis Wilson – River Song

My Morning Jacket – Thank You Too!

Wild Sweet Orange – Ten Dead Dogs

G. Love And Special Sauce – Peace, Love And Happiness

Anna Ternheim – Bridges

Priscilla Ahn – Dream

Amos Lee – Street Corner Preacher

Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma

Computer vs. Banjo – Guitars Need A Sinner’s Touch

David Ford – State Of The Union

David Ford – Decimate

Hayes Carll – I Got A Gig

Steve Reynolds – Save Your Best

Brendan James – Early April Morning

Dr. Dog – The Breeze

Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes

Ed Harcourt – Whirlwind In D Minor

Jason Mraz – Live High

Jackie Greene – Uphill Mountain

Albert Hammond Jr. – GfC

Greg Laswell – That It Moves

/Passenger. – Night Vision Binoculars

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal

The Hold Steady – Sequestered In Memphis

Matt Duke – Sex And Reruns

Alejandro Escovedo – Always A Friend

Meant to send this email out last week before I left town for vacation but I didn’t get a chance to so you are getting it now. When I last left you, I was enthusiastically writing about the upcoming City Stages festival in Downtown Birmingham. And while the festival didn’t turn out exactly how everyone wanted it to, there was something inherently right about it. The talent level of the artists was impeccable, the vibe on the city streets was palpable and energizing and the city was, well, alive. In my heart of hearts, I wish Downtown Birmingham had that kind of vibe every weekend. It is a beautiful city with a lot of good things going for it that should be celebrated as often as possible.



Fast forward two weeks. Crowds were smaller than projected (no need to make excuses, it is what it is) and the haters of course come out of the woodwork, bitching and moaning at every chance they get. Do the lift a finger to help? Do they volunteer hundreds of hours of their time to help put on an event that makes their city better and helps it move forward? Do they work at a highly discounted rate because they love this city and want to be a part of its “Cultural Crown Jewel” as The Birmingham News has called it? No, they BLEEP, and moan, and point fingers and spew negativity.



There’s no arguing that City Stages has made mistakes in its past. I have been a part of some of them and have watched some of them go down from afar but I can say without a doubt that none of these mistakes have been for egomaniacal reasons, as part of a money making scandal or out of sheer stupidity. The City Stages team, from the bottom up, does what it does for the love of BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. If you say they don’t, then I know just how out of touch with reality you are. Why do these hundreds of volunteers embrace the festival? Why do they spend countless hours sweating and toiling for an event? Why the hell do they do anything at all? I’ve said for years, it is because of their love for this community, but Sunday, June 15, Micheal Franti provided the clearest evidence I have ever heard about why City Stages is important and why it must remain a part of the landscape of Birmingham.



Franti had been at his brother’s wedding in Martha’s Vineyard the day before. He flew to Boston, then to Chicago, where he learned his flight had been cancelled. The airline devised a way to get him to Birmingham for his 8PM set by flying him through Washington, DC, and then to our fair city. Problem is, the flight wouldn’t land until 7:40PM. So here they are with 20 minutes to get him to the stage. No worries. A car is waiting on him as he de-planes (Sorry they sent a Mini Cooper Michael, the driver must not have know you were a giant) and get this, he got a police escort to the venue and was on stage right after 8 as planned. Big deal, you say? What does that prove?



Here’s what it proves you sniveling little naysayers. As Franti led the mass of people in the front of the stage bouncing, swaying, dancing, celebrating, he stopped and said, “I never thought I would see the day that I got a police escort. That was my first. And who would believe it would have been in Birmingham, Alabama?”



That was my moment of clarity. That put it all into perspective. That should make all the whiny negative cancers shut up. In one ride from the airport to the venue, many of the prejudices about my hometown, the city that I love and fight for, disappeared in the mind of a man who travels the world fighting injustices at every chance he gets. If I was doing City Stages marketing or selling a sponsorship, this would be the tale I told as often as possible.



For those of you who never leave this town and think going on a trip means crossing the state line into Mississippi or Georgia to buy a lottery ticket or into the Florida panhandle to hit the beach I have some news for you. A lot of folks in this country and world still think that Birmingham is stuck in the late ‘60s and nothing has changed. The look on peoples’ faces sometime in other cities when I proudly proclaim I am from Birmingham, AL, is somewhere between shock and disgust. The fact that I have to defend where I live because of the hateful crimes of my cities forefathers still to this day is downright ridiculous.



But then I hear Ben Harper speak about how much he loves Birmingham and then Franti takes notice of how far this town has come and I know immediately why there is a City Stages. Do you really think golf tournaments at country clubs change the image of this town? Sure they are good for the economic impact but they don’t show how this town has changed and how much can be done when people from all walks of life come together to celebrate where we are as a city now.



City Stages isn’t perfect. Of course it needs to figure out how to make money and flourish. But at the same time, it is perfect in a way that no other event in this town will ever be. It is a perfect example of how music connects people of all walks of life and allows them to share a common bond and celebrate what their home is capable of when they put away their prejudices and strive for peace and harmony.



With that off of my chest, here are my Top 10 moments from City Stages 2008:



1) The Flaming Lips taking City Stages to places it has never been before. Truly a landmark performance in this town. It was the band’s first time here since they played The Nick in 1987.

2) Ben Harper puts on his second mind blowing set in the past year in Birmingham. Almost completely different set, same result, a mass of people were taken to another stratosphere by Ben and his Innocent Criminals with what will go down as one of my Top 10 sets in the history of this festival right up there with The Flaming Lips.

3) Diana Ross showing why there will never be another Diva like her. At the end of the set, all that mattered was that she was Diana Ross and she was FABULOUS!

4) The Carolina Chocolate Drops and there down home goodness. What a refreshing act they were to watch and these kids had some wise things to say during their set as well

5) Ingrid Michaelson showing that it’s not all about the BLEEP and ass. A female can actually sell music and grow an inspired fan base from being talented, intellectual, cute, down to earth and engaging. Big thanks to Ingrid and her band for stopping by the studio the next morning and performing live on the show. We’ve been trying to put that together for two years and it was worth the wait. To all of you radio folks out there that think “The Way I Am” is all that she will ever be about, open your freaking ears and eyes. Ingrid is the poster child for what radio should be.

6) Michael Franti and Spearhead taking everyone higher. Pure energy!

7) The Homegrown Stage (locals only) provided me a chance to see several acts that I haven’t been able to see live yet and proved to me, once again, that the music scene in Birmingham is alive and well.

8) The Atomic Dog is one of the finest culinary creations ever pulled out of a deep fryer. A corndog cut open, stuffed with slaw and topped with that hot Thai sauce with the rooster on bottle. While my taste buds applaud you, my digestive tract hates you.

9) Marc Broussard, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Griffin House, Will Hoge, Ford Turrell and all the other artists and singer-songwriters who are keeping music alive and plugging away to make a name for themselves. I love to see you all play in front of a larger group of folks who never have had the chance to hear your music and see them walk away with a big smile on their faces.

10) Galactic with Chali Tuna funked me up!



I could go on but you get the picture. It was a wonderful weekend of music (almost made me forget I was once again missing Bonnaroo) and while things didn’t turn out the way organizers had hoped financially, the mission of providing the city of Birmingham with something it could be proud of and hang its hat on culturally was accomplished. Here’s the play list.



Reg's Coffee House 6/15/08 Playlist

WYSF – Birmingham 94.5 FM

Sundays 10AM-1PM
www.regscoffeehouse.com


Greg Laswell – How The Day Sounds

Brendan James – Hero’s Song

Amos Lee – Baby I Want You

Mason Jennings – Something About Your Love

Aimee Mann – Freeway

Jason Mraz Featuring Colby Caillat – Lucky

Computer vs. Banjo – Guitars Need A Sinners Touch

Josh Rouse – 123

Dennis Wilson – River Song

The Watson Twins – Just Like Heaven

John Hiatt – Old Days

Albert Hammond, Jr. – GfC

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal

Joshua James – The New Love Song

Michael Franti & Spearhead – Everyone Deserves Music

Dr. Dog – The Breeze

Chuck Prophet – You’ve Got Me Where You Want Me

Jackie Greene – I Don’t Live In A Dream

The Flaming Lips – Free Radicals

Ed Harcourt – Visit From The Dead Dog

The Notwist – Boneless

Death Cab For Cutie – Your New Twin Size Bed

Alejandro Escovedo – Sister Lost Soul

David Ford – I Don’t Care What You Call Me

Steve Reynolds – Set Your Sights

Dead Confederate – Wrecking Ball

Matt Duke – Sex And Reruns

Jen Foster – Closer To Nowhere

Ryan Bingham – Take It Easy Mama

G. Love And Special Sauce – Peace, Love And Happiness

My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges

Sigur Ros – Gobbledigook

/Passenger. – Night Vision Binoculars

Jakob Dylan – Something Good This Way Comes

Wild Sweet Orange – Either/Or

Black Kids – I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Girlfriend How To Dance With You

Ingrid Michaelson – Breakable (Reg’s Coffee House Live)

Ingrid Michaelson – The Way I Am (Reg’s Coffee House Live)

The Flaming Lips – Do You Realize?

Ingrid Michaelson – Be OK (Reg’s Coffee House Live)

Ingrid Michaelson – Far Away (Reg’s Coffee House Live)

Ingrid Michaelson – Masochist (Reg’s Coffee House Live)

Michael Franti And Spearhead – Hello, Bonjour





Peace,

Reg

There is not enough facts about what power our music history is playing in our lives and the lives of our family music is a great tool in teaching and the key to easy learning and understanding life