BEST of 2009

TOAST’s FAVORITE ALBUMS of 2009

10) DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS – The Fine Print (a Collection of Oddities and Rarities 2001-2008)

Unsure of whether I can technically list this as an “album,” since it’s a collection of leftovers, but holy crap, if these are leftovers – bring on the next “real” album, you guys (Update: New album “The Big To-Do” due 3/16/10)! After listening to the unearthed Jason Isbell track “TVA,” originally recorded for “The Dirty South,” I’m sure I’ll miss his presence all the more in the future (he’s no longer with the band). This track is a mini-rock opera in itself. I also enjoy the alternate takes on “Uncle Frank” and “Goode’s Field Road,” their cover of Tom Petty’s “Rebels” plays better than the original IMO, and Patterson Hood’s “George Jones Talkin’ Cell Phone Blues” and “Mrs. Claus’ Kimono” are delightful, showcasing Hood's quite twisted sense of humor. A great collection from one of the best-sounding live bands around.

09) SAM BUSH – Circles Around Me

The elder statesman of Newgrass returns with another solid collection of originals, traditionals, and covers. Guests like Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer and (original Bluegrass Boy) Del McCoury don’t hurt, but it’s Bush’s virtuoso picking which wins the day. So many good songs here, but my favorites are “The Ballad of Stringbean & Estelle,” “Blue Mountain,” and “Souvenir Bottles.”

08) THE FELICE BROTHERS – Yonder is the Clock

These upstarts from upstate New York continue to concoct a brew which shifts between sounding like The Band on an acid bender and a genre I will call folk punk. Nothing on this disc is as memorable as “Whiskey in My Whiskey,” from their self-titled 2008 release, but “Penn Station,” “Chicken Wire,” and especially “Run Chicken Run” come mighty close. For quieter moods, try “Cooperstown.”

07) JEFF BUJAK – Alive Like the Spine

Electronica isn’t my favorite genre, but Bujak has put together an extremely listenable album here. The titles take some work remembering – not only because many of them are instrumentals, but also because I’m not sure some of these words are actually words. I’m especially fond of “Nomadd,” “Yogoque,” which is the most likely to get airplay outside my show since it has lyrics (but is also unlikely to get airplay because it’s over 8 minutes long and has a title few could guess at pronouncing – Bujak told me it’s YO-go-cue, BTW), and “Prodigium,” which incorporates a great JFK sample.

06) THEM CROOKED VULTURES

Probably not for everyone. Super-retro heavy psychedelia from Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, and the one-and-only John Paul Jones. Most of my favorites are on what would’ve been “side B” in the old vinyl days: titles like “Scumbag Blues,” “Caligulove,” and “Spinning in Daffodils” may imply a tongue-in-cheek approach and maybe history will prove this album a one-off novelty. Endure the lengthy “Bandoliers” and the lengthier “Warsaw or the First Breath You Take After You Give Up” before passing final judgement.

05) SHEMEKIA COPELAND – Never Going Back

The first thing that impressed me was the personnel: John Medeski, Chris Wood, Ike Stubblefield, Kofi Burbrudge, among others. But Copeland’s voice is the real star, pulling everything together into a heady blues/jazz/gospel fusion. Try “Never Going Back to Memphis,” “Limousine,” or “Dirty Water” on for size and tell me, with a straight face, that blues is a dead genre.

04) CASEY DREISSEN – Oog

How Driessen takes a style of music that pre-dates my own grandparents and somehow makes something progressive out of it is a mystery indeed. He may piss off the bluegrass traditionalists in the process, but I hope he keeps these coming. Guitarist Darrell Scott impresses even as a hired studio gun. “Uncontinental Breakfast” and “Lunar Cages” both flirt with being “world music” and remind me of some of Béla Fleck’s more experimental fancies, but my favorite is Driessen’s take on “Conversation with Death,” with the knockout “The Day Before Halloween” chaser.

03) ASSEMBLY of DUST – Some Assembly Required

This album’s biggest strength may also be its greatest weakness. Though it boasts an incredible roster of guest artists, it lacks a certain aesthetic cohesion and, therefore, doesn’t rank as highly as it might have. As an assemblage of sparkling singles, rather than a proper album, it definitely works. Personal favorites include “All That I Am Now” with Richie Havens, “Arc of the Sun” with Mike Gordon (of Phish), and “High Brow” with Al Schnier (of moe.).

02) OUTFORMATION – Fastburn

Sam Holt really knocks this one out of the park. Some of my favorite songs of 2009 are here, including my absolute favorite song this year: “Faded Memory.” You can call it simplistic, by-the-book, rock songcraft, but its hooks still make me smile after multiple spins. The jaunty instrumental “Eleventeen” is another favorite, as is the title track, “Fastburn.” This album is proof that simple doesn’t necessarily equal boring.

01) SON VOLT – American Central Dust


Jay Farrar outdoes Jeff Tweedy in the Uncle Tupelo derby this year. I would call this a true return to form for Son Volt, except I’ve never heard them sound this good. “Sultana” alone is worth the purchase price – this sprawling, heartbreaking epic is a perfect vehicle for Farrar’s talents. “When the Wheels Don’t Move” recalls a saying from the birth of union labor and fits perfectly among these folky gems. Also great are “Down to the Wire,” “Exiles,” and “Jukebox of Steel.” This is not only the best album of 2009, but the best album of Son Volt’s career.

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TOAST’s FAVORITE SINGLES of 2009

These may or may not have been officially designated singles by their respective labels, and a lot of my favorite “singles” are already included on my favorite albums. These are songs which I feel deserve recognition even though the album from which they’re taken might not’ve made the “best of” list as a whole. That being said, some of them actually were singles.

10) PAOLO NUTINI – 10/10
His album “Sunny Side Up” kicks off with this lively, 2 Tone-ish number and rambles through varying degrees of Mowtown-era soul, early Van Morrison, and nouveau swing. He’s got a unique voice and I expect we’ll be hearing more from this Scotsman in the future.

09) BLOODKIN – The Viper
One of the dirty south’s best-kept secrets, and “Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again” may be their best album to date. This track almost hurts to listen to, in a really, really good way.

08) NATHAN MOORE – Hard Times
I imagine all folk singers go their entire lives without being able to say, “yup, just like Dylan woulda done.” Congrats, Nathan. Bring the new Surprise Me Mr. Davis lineup to Santa Fe sometime!

07) EILEN JEWELL – Shakin’ All Over
From outta left field, this oft-covered 1960 gem gets the surfabilly treatment via Jewell’s old-timey flavor. The whole “Sea of Tears” album is pretty good, but this track really stands out.

06) THE SOUL of JOHN BLACK – I Knew a Lady
Simply the single most memorable funk song of the year. I was singing it to myself for days after the first listen. Why this guy’s so underrated is beyond me.

05) One eskimO – Kandi
Hypnotic, tender, yearning. Like U2 in the old days but with a more minimalist approach. Many of my friends actively HATE this song.

04) WILCO – You Never Know
Jeff Tweedy continues to try his hand at being the new Beatles, this time focusing mostly on George. Wilco (the Album) is another solid effort, just not as solid as SBS or YHF.

03) RODRIGO y GABRIELA – Buster Voodoo
One of the most memorable instrumentals ever. The porn-guitar break is awesome.

02) DAVY KNOWLES & BACK DOOR SLAM – Coming Up for Air
Seventies guitar-rock is back – courtesy of a British twenty-something.

I should also mention that thirty-something Joe Bonamassa, whom I've only recently discovered, has also added some tasty riffs to the 70s guitar-rock "lictionary."

01) CAGE the ELEPHANT – Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked
Three minutes of perfect, crunchy, post-millenial angst. Can’t wait to see these guys live.

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TOAST’s BEST of 2009 – SPECIAL CATEGORIES

BEST WIDELY-CIRCULATED LIVE PERFORMANCE –
PHISH – Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO (7/30 – 8/2/09)

Especially the “Boogie on Reggae Woman > Morrison Jam #3” from 8/2 – Quite possibly the perfect jam.

BEST UNCIRCULATED LIVE PERFORMANCE –
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW / THE FELICE BROTHERS / CHUCK MEAD –
Santa Fe Brewing Company, Santa Fe, NM (9/22/09)

Even members of the bands seemed to agree with me on this one, though no one was taping – sadly.

BEST LIVE ARCHIVAL REISSUE –
TOM PETTY & the HEARTBREAKERS – The Live Anthology

Beats SCI’s “Trick or Treat” box set (which reminded me why I fell in love with String Cheese Incident in the first place) by reminding me why I fell in love with rock’n’roll in the first place.

BEST LIVE DVD RELEASE –
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW – Live at the Orange Peel and Tennessee Theatre

I popped it in to “check it out” while making dinner, and ended up glued to it straight through. Raucous, feel-good, old-timey charm with an undercurrent of cynical, almost sinister, worldliness. Like a subversive tent revival.

BEST LOCAL RELEASE –
The GumboProject – roux EP

Despite my distaste for bands who insist on unusual capital letters (or lack thereof) as some kind of grammatical fashion statement, my only real problem with this disc is it’s only an EP! More, please!

BEST SUPERGROUP –
Forget MOSTERS of FOLK – gimme THEM CROOKED VULTURES!!!

Don’t get me wrong, I love Jim James, and the M.O.F. is a great listen, but the FOO FIGHTERS / LED ZEPPELIN / QUEENS of the STONE AGE combo wreaks Godzilla-like havoc by making lo-fi retro rock somehow modern. Agreed, the M.O.F. also accomplished this, but TCV made it HEAVY (^_^)

BEST DISC to PLAY while FALLING ASLEEP –
IRON & WINE – Around the Well (disc 1)

This is no insult, but a high honor in my book. One of my favorite Neil Young albums makes this category as well. Honest.

BEST SONG NO ONE OUTSIDE SANTA FE HAS HEARD YET –
JOHN COURAGE – Stuck in Encinitas

A nearly-perfect rock’n’roll record. Hopefully available in 2010 from Frogville Records!

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I asked a few contributors to the show what their favorites of 2009 were, and many of their replies were new to me, which just goes to show how much great music is out there. Keep diggin' for treasure y'all, and keep the "best of" lists comin' (^_^) TOAST

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ANONYMOUS / NM Guitarist

BOOKER T. JONES – Potato Hole
PELICAN – What We All Come to Need
VINYL – Fogshack Music Volume Two
PIGMENT – Pigment

CHRISTOPHER ROBIE / Homegrown Music Network

MEMORY TAPES – Seek Magic
BIBIO – Ambivalence Avenue
THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS – Ten Years On
MYKA 9 – 1969
BLAKROC

# # #

SAD NEWS

Folk-rocker Vic Chesnutt dies in Geogia at 45

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 1 hour ago

ATHENS, Ga. — Vic Chesnutt, the folk-rocker whose sometimes dark reflections on life were influenced in part by a car wreck that left him paralyzed, has died. He was 45.

Family friend Christina Stuckey, who answered the phone at Chesnutt's home, confirmed the death to The Associated Press. Chesnutt's record label, Constellation Records, said in a statement on its website that Chesnutt died on Christmas Day, Friday.

The brief statement says "Vic transformed our sense of what true character, grace and determination are all about."

Chesnutt worked with such notable artists as R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe and guitarist Guy Picciotto of the punk band Fugazi.

Chesnutt said in a biography posted on his MySpace page that he came to "a whole new understanding of music" after the 1983 car crash.

He recently had toured with his Vic Chesnutt band, a "supergroup" of sorts featuring members of Canadian bands Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Thee Silver Mt. Zion Orchestra, as well as Picciotto.

"This is a truly incredible braintrust, with all these people - we've got some of the smartest and most sensitive punk rockers out there," he told the Athens Banner-Herald for a story in October.

The rocker released two albums in the past year, including "At the Cut."

However, Chesnutt had recently struggled with a lawsuit filed by a Georgia hospital after he racked up surgery bills totalling some $70,000, the Athens newspaper reported. He said he couldn't afford more than hospitalization insurance and couldn't keep up with the payments.

The problems baffled his Canadian bandmates, Chesnutt said.

"There's nowhere else in the world that I'd be facing the situation I'm in right now. They cannot understand what kind of society would inflict that on their population," he said. "It's terrifying."

Unlike Canada and other developed industrialized countries, the United States does not provide universal health care coverage. Most Americans obtain their health insurance through their employers, but a self-employed musician like Chesnutt with pre-existing medical conditions would have difficulty obtaining an affordable health insurance policy.

Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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The Canadian Press

TnJ 099 (12/17/09)

No broadcast next week (12/24/09), but keep your eyes on the blog and your ears on the radio (or the webstream) for Toast-n-Jam's Best of 2009 lists (^_^) TOAST

-HOUR ONE-

SAM BUSH – Blue Mountain (2009 Circles Around Me)
MAX ALLEN BAND – Gridlock (2009 Ending Sun) homegrownmusic.net
ERIC McFADDEN TRIO – Hey Bulldog (2003 Diamonds to Coal) ericmcfadden.com
DUMPSTAPHUNK – Stinky (2007 Listen Hear EP)
LUBRIPHONIC – Say Something Good (2008 Soul Solution) homegrownmusic.net
The GumboProject – Rubick’s Cube (2009 roux EP) gumboproject.com
moe. – Moth (2008 Dr. Stan’s Prescription, Vol. 1, 3/17/95 Garton’s, Vail, CO) moe.org
GOV’T MULE – Broke Down on the Brazos (2009 By a Thread) mule.net

-HOUR TWO-

DEREK and the DOMINOS – Got to Get Better in a Little While (1994 Live at the Fillmore, c. 1970)
DAVY KNOWLES & BACK DOOR SLAM – Hear Me Lord (2009 Coming Up for Air)
EILEN JEWELL – Fading Memory (2009 Sea of Tears) eilenjewell.com
THE HOT CLUB of SANTA FE – Jitterbug Waltz (2008 Musique de la Ville Différente)
ASSEMBLY of DUST featuring RICHIE HAVENS – All That I Am Now (2009 Some Assembly Required) assemblyofdust.com
SLY & the FAMILY STONE – Love City (2009 the Woodstock Experience, c. 1969)
AFROSKULL – Spyplane (2009 To Obscurity and Beyond) afroskull.com

# # #

TnJ 098 (12/10/09)

Special thanks to David Avery, Kevin Morris, and Matt Hogan for helping set up the interviews with Bill Nershi and Kyle Hollingsworth (both of String Cheese Incident fame, of course), and to Bill and Kyle for being their thoughtful, effervescent selves.

If you missed the interviews, I’ve posted them for playback on kbac.com

-HOUR ONE-

Interview > BILL NERSHI (12/09/09 KBAC studios, SF, NM)
EMMITT-NERSHI BAND – These Days (2009 New Country Blues) scifidelity.com
Interview > KYLE HOLLINGSWORTH (12/9/09 KBAC studios, SF, NM)
KYLE HOLLINGSWORTH – Piece of Mine (2009 Then There’s Now) scifidelity.com
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Exodus > Under African Skies (2009 Trick or Treat, 10/31/99 Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA) scifidelity.com

-HOUR TWO-

THE DOORS – Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) > Backdoor Man > Love Hides > Five to One (1970 Absolutely Live)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Goin’ Out West (6/28/08 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO) livewidespreadpanic.com
MGMT – The Handshake (2008 Oracular Spectacular)
THE POLYPHONIC SPREE – Section 19 (When the Fool Becomes a King) (2004 Together We’re Heavy)
JERRY JOSEPH & the JACKMORMONS – Ten Killer Fairies (2002 Conscious Contact)
ROUND MOUNTAIN – Let Somebody Know You (2009 Windward) roundmountainmusic.com
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – Revival (1992 An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band…First Set)

# # #

OH, X-MAS CHEESE, OH, X-MAS CHEESE...

Interviews with Bill Nershi and Kyle Hollingsworth (both of String Cheese Incident fame) this Thursday night! Look in the column on the right for links to the live stream or the uploaded podcast after the fact (^_^) TOAST!

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TnJ 097 (12/3/09)

-HOUR ONE-

KARL DENSON’s TINY UNIVERSE – Shake It Out (2009 Brother’s Keeper)
GARAGE à TROIS – Fat Redneck Gangster (2009 Power Patriot)
ADAM STERN – Bear Up the Stair (2009 Twang Shui)
J.J. CALE / ERIC CLAPTON – Dead End Road (2006 the Road to Escondido)
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – If You’re Ever in Oklahoma (12/31/99 Nederland, CO)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Travelin’ Light (1998 Light Fuse, Get Away)
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS – Uncle Frank (alternate version) (2009 The Fine Print)
ALLEN THOMPSON – Virginia (2009 26 Years)

-HOUR TWO-

ANDY HALL – Deep Elem Blues (2008 Sound of the Slide Guitar)
SOLOMON BURKE f/ BEN HARPER – A Minute to Rest and a Second to Pray (2008 Like a Fire)
JIM WEIDER’s PROJECT PERCOLATOR – Dreamline (2009 Pulse)
TV on the RADIO – Golden Age (2008 Dear Science)
UMPHREY’s McGEE – Turn & Dub (Michael G Easy Star All-Stars remix) (2009 Turn & Dub EP)
GOGOL BORDELLO – Start Wearing Purple (2005 Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike)
THE FELICE BROTHERS – Memphis Flu (2009 Yonder Is the Clock)
LEFTOVER SALMON w/ JOHN BELL, JEFF AUSTIN, PETE SEARS, and JOHN COWAN – Nobody’s Fault But Mine (9/9/00 Planet Salmon, Lyons, CO) jambase.com

# # #

TnJ 096 (11/26/09)

THANKSGIVING SPECIAL – EXTRA HELPINGS

I’m thankful for Ira Gordon (KBAC) and Hutton Broadcasting. They believed in this show from the beginning and continue to let it roll!

I’m thankful for all who turn on and tune in, as well as past co-hosts, guest toasts, and everyone who’s shared the love and donated shows to the library. I couldn’t do it without you. God bless (^_^)

-HOUR ONE-

GRATEFUL DEAD – Brown-Eyed Woman (1972 Europe ’72)
JERRY GARCIA BAND – That’s What Love Will Make You Do (3/8/80 the Stone, San Francisco, CA)
AFROSKULL – Redemption (2009 To Obscurity and Beyond)
AFROSKULL – Dance of the Wild Koba (2/4/05 Parkside Lounge, NYC) archive.org
JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – Are You Experienced? (1967 Are You Experienced?)
JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – Red House (1987 Live at Winterland, c. 1968)

-HOUR TWO-

UMPHREY’s McGEE - #5 (3/6/07 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO)
UMPHREY’s McGEE – Nemo (12/30/04 the Riviera, Chicago, IL)
LEFTOVER SALMON – Up On the Hill Where We Do the Boogie (2/16/98 JR’s Dickson Street Ballroom, Fayetville, AR) jambase.com
LEFTOVER SALMON – River’s Rising (7/14/96 Great American Music Festival, Winter Park, CO) jambase.com
PHISH – Wilson (2009 the Clifford Ball box set, 8/17/96 Plattsburgh, NY)
PHISH – Boogie On Reggae Woman > Morrison Jam #3 (8/2/09 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO)
PAPA GROWS FUNK – Stanky (2007 Mr. Patterson’s Hat)
PAPA GROWS FUNK – Rat a Tang Tang (2003 Shakin’)

# # #

TnJ SPECIAL 11/26/09

Tune in this Thanksgiving for a special EXTRA HELPINGS edition of Toast-n-Jam.

Extra toasty. Extra jammy. Guaranteed (^_^)

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TnJ 095 (11/19/09)

-HOUR ONE-

THE HOUR GLASS – B.B. King Medley: Sweet Little Angel / It’s My Own Fault / How Blue Can You Get? (1972 Duane Allman: An Anthology, c. 1968)
DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND w/ DR. JOHN – It’a All Over Now (1989 Voodoo)
JJ GREY & MOFRO – Tragic (2009 Country Ghetto)
FUNKTION – Full Time Servant (2009 Funk Prelude)
FOUR FINGER FIVE – Get It Together (2007 Four Finger Five)
NEW RIDERS of the PURPLE SAGE w/ PROFESSOR LOUIE – Let It Grow (9/30/06 Shawnee Cave Amphitheater, Murphysboro, IL)
BLOODKIN – The Viper (2009 Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again)

-HOUR TWO-

BEN HARPER & the INNOCENT CRIMINALS – With My Own Two Hands (2003 Live at the Hollywood Bowl EP)
DISCO BISCUITS – Wet (2006 the Wind at Four to Fly)
ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA – Cosmik Debris (2008 Zappa Plays Zappa DVD)
KYLE HOLLINGSWORTH – Too Young (2009 Then There’s Now) scifidelity.com
THE BRIDGE – Poison Wine (2008 Blind Man’s Hill)
PAOLO NUTINI – 10/10 (2009 Sunny Side Up)
EMMITT-NERSHI BAND – Surfing the Red Sea (2009 New Country Blues) scifidelity.com
JACK & JORMA, the original acoustic HOT TUNA– Good Shepherd (6/20/01 the Big Easy, Boise, ID)

# # #

This entire audio stream is posted @ kbac.com CLICK HERE to listen - Enjoy (^_^)

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TnJ 094 (11/12/09)

-HOUR ONE-

NEIL YOUNG – Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) (12/10/1989 Muziektheater Stopera, Amsterdam, Netherlands)
NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE – Powderfinger (2/28/04 Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, NM)
CROSS CANADIAN RAGWEED – Train to Birmingham (2009 Happiness and All the Other Things)
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – Four Walls of Raiford (2004 Under the Influence, Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute)
RANDALL BRAMBLETT – Visions (2008 Now It’s Tomorrow)
GOV’T MULE – Railroad Boy > Monday Mourning Meltdown (2009 By a Thread)

-HOUR TWO-

WIDESPREAD PANIC – Bowlegged Woman > Worry (7/22/03 Paolo Soleri Amphitheatre, Santa Fe, NM)
GOSHEN – To Begin Again (2007 Lioness)
MEDESKI, MARTIN & WOOD – Strance of the Spirit Red Gator (1996 Shack-Man)
THE SOUL of JOHN BLACK – Betty Jean (2009 Black John)
GUMBO PROJECT – Old Man and the River (2009 Roux EP)
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW – Fall on My Knees (2003 Live)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Wharf Rat (2007 Live at the Cow Palace, 12/31/76)

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CHRIS on ALTO SAX w/ PAPA GROWS FUNK

10/16/09 Santa Fe Brewing Company




I am nowhere near as good as this guy - Jason Mingledorff




Finally, all those years of marching band are about to pay off!








These guys are great -
everyone should own at least one of their CDs






Seriously fun sitting in with these guys -
but altogether nerve-wracking...




SOLO TIME (^_^)




THX, guys!!!




Photos by Jay A. Johnson

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TnJ 093 (11/5/09)

-HOUR ONE-

moe. – Lost Along the Way (2008 Warts and All, Vol. 6, 1/28/07 Lawrence, KS) moe.org
MARK STUART & the BASTARD SONS – Best Thing (2009 Bend in the Road)
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS – TVA (2009 the Fine Print, c. 2003)
LEFTOVER SALMON – Dance on Your Head (10/19/94 Charleston, SC)
LUBRIPHONIC – Mixin’ in the Kitchen (2008 Soul Solution, 1/10/08 Chicago, IL) homegrownmusic.net
SOULIVE – Tabasco (2000 Turn It Out)
PROFESSOR LOUIE & the CROWMATIX – Night Time in the Switching Yard (2009 Whispering Pines)
JOHN COURAGE – Stuck in Encinitas (2009 Lovers Without a Care) coming soon from Frogville Records

-HOUR TWO-

PHISH – Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley > Taste (2008 Live Phish, 12/30/97 Madison Square Garden, NYC)
RODRIGO y GABRIELA – 11:11 (2009 11:11)
CHUCK MEAD – Gun Metal Gray (2009 Journeyman’s Wager)
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS – Hoxeyville (2006 Tuesday Letter)
REBEL ALLIANCE JAM – Franklin’s Tower (8/16/08 Yarmony Grass, Copper Mountain, CO) festivalink.net
KINGS of LEON – Closer (2009 Only by the Night)

# # #

TnJ 092 (10/29/09)

-HOUR ONE-

PIGMENT – John Henry (2008 Pigment) pigmentjam.com
TAARKA – A Whole New You (7/18/09 Horning’s Hideout, North Plains, OR)
ELEPHANT REVIVAL – Scottish Reggae (1/17/08 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO)
EASY STAR ALL-STARS – Time (2003 Dub Side of the Moon)
BEN HARPER – Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) (1997 the Will to Live, bonus live EP)
THE BAD PLUS joined by WENDY LEWIS – Feeling Yourself Disintegrate (2009 For All I Care)
WIDESPREAD PANIC f / IVAN NEVILLE – Slippin’ into Darkness (6/27/08 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO) livewidespreadpanic.com

-HOUR TWO-

STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – The Wedge > Get Down Tonight (2009 Trick or Treat, 10/21/00 Portland, ME)
BONERAMA – Turn on Your Love Light (2009 Hard Times EP) boneramamusic.com
UMPHREY’s McGEE – Don’t Do It (12/31/04 The Riviera, Chicago, IL)
LEVON HELM BAND – Atlantic City (4/26/08 Merlefest) festivalink.net
MARK STUART & the BASTARD SONS – I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal (2009 Bend in the Road)
JJ GREY – Tupelo Honey (2009 the Choice Cuts – vinyl only, Alligator Records)

# # #

TnJ 091 (10/22/09)

-HOUR ONE-

JIMI HENDRIX – Stone Free (1999 Live at the Fillmore East, c.1969)
GOV’T MULE – Steppin’ Lightly (2009 By a Thread)
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – Life In the City (7/1/07 Taos, NM) festivalink.net
CADILLAC JONES – Late Night with Merle Epstein (2009 Rhythm Method) homegrownmusic.net
ZACH DEPUTY – Paramus (2009 Sunshine) homegrownmusic.net
moe. – Wind It Up (2006 the Conch) moe.org
BOB MARLEY & the WAILERS – Stir It Up (1978 Babylon by Bus)

-HOUR TWO-

THE MOTET – Nemesis (2009 Dig Deep) themotet.com
FRANK ZAPPA – Village of the Sun (9/3/78 Ludwigspark Stadium, Saarbrücken, Germany)
RODRIGO y GABRIELA – Ixtapa (2006 Rodrigo y Gabriela) rodgab.com
NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE – Slip Away (1997 Year of the Horse)
HOLLIS BROWN – Don’t Wanna Miss You (2009 Hollis Brown) hollisbrown.com
SAM BUSH – Circles Around Me (2009 Circles Around Me) sugarhillrecords.com
THE INCREDIBLE SANDWICH – Bluebird 1 > Bluebird 2 (2009 The Incredible Sandwich EP) muletrainrecords.com

# # #

BLACK CROWES CANCELED

The news just in from the promoter today - no Black Crowes show tonight. Those who used plastic to purchase tix will be automatically refunded, other holders should approach point of purchase for refunds. No further details avail at this time. Alas!

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TnJ 090 (10/15/09)

-HOUR ONE-

BLACK CROWES – Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution (2009 Warpaint Live)
BLACK CROWES – Nonfiction (8/12/06 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO)
JACK JOHNSON – Bubble Toes (2009 En Concert)
BLOODKIN – Rhododendron (2009 Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again)
KELLER WILLIAMS – Twinkle (2007 Dream)
Interview – John Gros part 1 (10/13/09 KBAC, pre-recorded)
PAPA GROWS FUNK – Pass It! (2006 Live at the Leaf)

-HOUR TWO-

Interview – John Gros part 2 (10/13/09 KBAC, pre-recorded)
PAPA GROWS FUNK – Walkin’ In Our Own Shoes (2007 Mr. Patterson’s Hat)
KARL DENSON’s TINY UNIVERSE – Mighty Rebel (2009 Brother’s Keeper)
LOTUS – 72 Hrs Awake (2009 Feather On Wood EP)
TOUBAB KREWE – Lamine’s Tune (2008 Live at the Orange Peel)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Surprise Valley (6/11/05 Bonnaroo)
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More (2007 The Benefit Concert, Vol. 2, 12/21/00 Asheville, NC)

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TnJ 089 (10/8/09)

-HOUR ONE-

LITTLE FEAT – Don’t Bogart That Joint (1978 Waiting for Columbus)
LITTLE FEAT w / CRAIG FULLER and VINCE GILL – Spanish Moon (2008 Join the Band)
LITTLE FEAT – Rock and Roll Doctor (1981 Hoy-Hoy!, c. 1974)
LITTLE FEAT – All That You Dream (1978 Waiting for Columbus)
MONSTERS of FOLK – Losin Yo Head (2009 Monsters of Folk)
EMORY QUINN – Blue Gone (2008 the Road Company)
SAM BUSH – Junior Heywood (2009 Circles Around Me)
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! > Hot in Herre (2009 Trick or Treat, 10/31/03 Las Vegas, NV)

-HOUR TWO-

PAPA GROWS FUNK – Gorillafaceugmopotamus! (2007 Mr. Patterson’s Hat)
STEEZ – Saz > Bass Theme > Duderfunk (2009 Creepfunk Crusade)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Playing in the Band (1974/2005 the Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack)

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HALLOWEEN MASQUERADE REQUESTS

In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, T-n-J is planning another harvest of Halloween "masquerade" covers for the broadcast on 10/29/09. You know, bands masquerading as other bands - cover songs (^_^)

If there's a song you'd like to hear covered, please leave a comment.

Check out Phish's Festival 8 album cover countdown. It's ghoulish.

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CONCERT REVIEW - MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD at PUMPKIN FESTIVAL day 1, Santa Fe, NM

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD setlist 10/3/09 Santa Fe Horse Park

This is corrected compared to what the actual printed setlist says…

A Little Bit of Riddim
Hello Bonjour
We Don’t Stop
Rude Boys Back in Town
All I Want Is You (w/Tainted Love tease)
East to the West *
Everyone Deserves Music
(You Got to Walk and) Don’t Look Back (w/Casey Jones tease)
Sometimes (Electric)
Anytime You Want Me
Never Too Late
Yell Fire * (w/Smells like Teen Spirit tease **)
Sound of Sunshine *
I Got Love for You

E:

Everybody Ona Move (w/Billie Jean tease)
Hey World (Remote Control version)
Hey World (Don’t Give Up version w/new arrangement, new lyrics)
Say Hey (I Love You) ***

* with guest Robert Mirabal
** with Mirabal and audience members Erica and Denny
*** with Mirabal and lots of kids from the audience

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Michael Franti has God-like powers. I’m not just referring to his notorious ability to connect with an audience like the tractor beam connected with the Millenium Falcon in “Star Wars,” nor am I referring to the way he somehow manages to be political and positive at the same time – I’m talking about being able to deliver a performance which proves he has those powers and more while sweating out a fever of 104 degrees.

Michael Franti & Spearhead have been in their current configuration (minus Cherine Anderson) for some 15 years, but they’re now amidst an audience growth spurt with the release of their first, bona-fide, across-the-board, hit single – “Say Hey (I Love You)”. This is a roundabout way of saying there were a lot more “norms” in the crowd than usual, but also just a lot more people, period.

All the hoopsters (that particular brand of show regular first seen, by me, at String Cheese shows in the early 00’s) had started congregating on the grass. One already sunburned hippy-shaker managed to balance a glass of beer on her head while hula hooping in a very heavy, warm-looking, presumably homemade, patchwork halter top dress. These typical Franti-show-free-spirit-types mingled with the vaguely “Colorado-jock-and-their-perfect-family-with-2.5-children” types, and a few thousand varying degrees of us grooved along somewhere in between.

I had been in line for one of the ridiculously small number of port-a-johns about 30 minutes when the first drum-and-bass driven notes of “A Little Bit of Riddim” came thumping across the Santa Fe Horse Park. One of my favorites from their most recent release, “All Rebel Rockers,” its siren’s call nearly pulled me away from the queue, but I resigned myself to missing the first couple of songs in the interest of finally urinating. Nearby Apsen beckoned me to relieve myself in a more primitive fashion, but I was on the clock and reluctant to be branded as uncivilized.

“Hello Bonjour” came on, another personal favorite from 2006’s “Yell Fire.” That gal with the 2.5 children had certainly been in the plastic toilet a long time. “We Don’t Stop,” from Everyone Deserves Music (2003) may or may not have been great, or even played for that matter. I was now delirious with how close and yet so far I was from civilized relief.

Ah! At last! And “Rude Boys Back in Town” provided the soundtrack for my return the concert area. First though, I decided to take a load off and watch people pass by. I’d been standing or walking for about 5 hours straight and the row of hay bales looked comfy enough. Though I was now right at the center of the festival grounds (which also included vast expanses of kid’s activities, food and craft vendors, and carnival rides), the bustling crowd of earlier appeared to have vanished. They apparently couldn’t resist Spearhead’s call to positive, beat-driven revolution, and I supposed I shouldn’t either – so much for giving my dogs a rest.

During “All I Want Is You,” it seemed from a distance that Franti descended from the stage and was absorbed by the crowd, song still playing. He interpolated quotes from the terminally 80’s club hit “Tainted Love” which miraculously meshed with the former’s acoustic dub structure.

He returned to the stage without missing a beat, and welcomed Taos Pueblo flautist Robert Mirabal to the stage for a particularly delicate reading of “East to the West.”

A rousing “Everyone Deserves Music” followed, and I had finally made my way close enough to the front to really see what was happening: they had the audience – hippy hoopster and Colorado jock alike – totally caught in their tractor beam. Everyone was completely bewitched by Franti’s charms, and well they might be, for his charms are legendary. Young parents bore small children atop their shoulders; some were thoughtful enough to stuff makeshift napkin earplugs into their children’s ears. The children were also bewitched – clapping when asked to clap, hands in the air like they just didn’t care, singing along with songs to which they couldn’t possibly know the words. Thankfully, Franti leans less on the expletive-laden raps these days.

In the midst of an otherwise faithful rendering of Motown’s “Don’t Look Back” via Peter Tosh’s “Bush Doctor” (1978), Franti quoted “Casey Jones” with more happiness and conviction than I ever heard The Grateful Dead themselves muster in concert. I’m assuming Sly & Robbie turned him on to “Don’t Look Back” while he was recording with them in Jamaica, or perhaps they just helped show him how it was played, since they were also part of Peter Tosh’s band way back when. At any rate, I was glad that, if he was going to do an actual reggae cover, that it wasn’t a Bob Marley tune. Not because Bob Marley doesn’t have the most archetypal and broad reggae catalog in history, just that I’ve been sick of most of Bob’s material for years. I know, Rasta heresy.

I was glad to hear the electric version of “Sometimes” again. Originally arranged this way on the 2001 recording “Stay Human,” I’ve seen him perform this since in the acoustic “Songs from the Front Porch” arrangement more often than not. It’s a great song either way; I just prefer the one with a beat.

By contrast, I was perfectly happy with the next number, a beautiful acoustic sing-a-long called “Anytime You Want Me” according to the setlist, which I’m guessing is a new Franti original since I can’t Google up any responses from the lyrics.

“Never Too Late” reminded me that Franti’s never afraid to reveal that he has emotions and that it’s okay for us to have them too. At some point during the show when I broke away from looking at the stage, I saw two teenage boys (presumably not gay from the way they were dressed) put their arms around each other and sing something which involved the repetition of the word “love.” This was a welcome change for me, accustomed to seeing teenage boys mimic the thuggery they see in mass media, or some other form of alienated, bruised-but-tough guy. The entire audience was joyful – full to bursting, actually.

The title track from “Yell Fire” always get my blood pumping, and I remember thinking if anyone’s not sold yet, they surely will be now. Though, I really couldn’t imagine someone so determined to remain mired in their own cynicism they hadn’t been won over at this point, because I’m usually that person, and I was in. Mirabal guested on didgeridoo, which added an interesting new dimension to a song I already knew backwards-and-forwards. Then Franti pointed out a couple of audience members for security to let onstage – their names were Erica and Denny and I’m assuming they were picked at random since Franti had to ask their names – and they were given guitars and busted out with the riff from Nirvana’s angst anthem “Smells Like Teen Spirit!” All that rocking took the chill off the fact that the sun was setting on an already crisp fall day.

Franti introduced the next song – another acoustic number called “Sound of Sunshine” – by pointing out the blazing sunset (average by Santa Fe standards) and stated plainly that “the sunset can cure a lot of bullshit.” This was the only vulgar term I heard him utter all day, and I wondered if this sunset could go so far as to cure his fever, which he hadn’t remotely let on he was suffering through.

He prefaced the last song the same way he had almost exactly one year ago at Paolo Soleri, by telling us he’d written it for his then 21 year-old son when Cappy departed San Francisco for NYC on a Greyhound bus. The song was “I Got Love for You,” from “All Rebel Rockers,” and it really is a pretty song, at least the way it appears on the record. I don’t know if this is a typical reggae affectation, but I have seen Toots and the Maytals do it often: take a nice slow song (or a nice fast one) and, once you get a nice groove going, send it into double time and totally ruin the audience’s ability to keep up. Then, back to normal time just long enough to get the audience back into it, then, for no apparent reason, back into double time. Repeat until everyone, including the band, is totally exhausted. Despite all this annoyance, I remember thinking how blessed Cappy was to have a father who’d write such a heartfelt ditty for him to listen to while he was thousands of miles from home.

After the world’s shortest encore break (during which I presume Franti realized if he sat down now, he wasn’t getting back up without medical assistance), came a spot-on reading of “Everybody Ona Move” (no double time shenanigans) with a sprinkling of synth from Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” toward the end, like the toy surprise at the bottom of a Cracker Jack.

The “Remote Control version” of “Hey World” followed. Franti changed one lyric from the album version, and I thought it was a good change: before reprising the chorus, he would say “You’ve got to let go BEFORE IT TAKES ALL YOUR SOUL.”

Next was the “Don’t Give Up version” of “Hey World,” which began much like the recorded version. After about one verse and one chorus though, Franti stopped the song dead in its tracks, and told us he and the band had totally re-written the song the night before and we would be the first to hear it in public. WOW! If anyone has a recording of this PLEASE post it somewhere. Maybe, if we’re lucky, the band will release it as a bonus single or something. I tried to write down all the new lyrics, but simply couldn’t, and I don’t know enough about music theory to say what had changed about the arrangement, but this version of that song was a whole different ball game. They made a good song great and I sincerely hope I get to hear it again someday.

Finally, Franti instructed security to let the front-of-crowd children (he called them "all the little pumpkins") on stage. One presented him with a brown paper sack full of New Mexico green chilé (packed with vitamin C, y’all), which Michael said should help cure his cold. He announced that Spearhead was currently enjoying their first run in the top 10 of the nationwide charts with “Say Hey (I Love You)” (which means all you ingrates who complained about the $30 ticket price should be ready to pony up $60 next time), and I’ll be damned if those 2 dozen-or-so "little pumpkins" didn’t know just about all the words. Franti even passed his microphone to a couple of them during the “song about a boy and a girl” part, and this one boy totally nailed the words and the rhythm perfectly. The kids all bounced happily and sang along on stage while we all bounced happily and sang along in the audience. It was the kind of moment which seemed right at home in a Spearhead show but which, somehow, had never happened before and, sadly, probably never will again. I doubt most Spearhead shows take place at a kid-friendly pumpkin festival.

I did manage to write down some of the changed lyrics to “Hey World (Don’t Give Up),” and I now notice they seem to sum up the whole Spearhead vibe and are good words to go out on. They are: “Don’t let nobody tell you that it couldn’t be done | Don’t let nobody tell you that it shouldn’t be sung…” and what should be writ large and shouted from the mountaintops, a trio of perfectly distilled Spearhead-isms: “Don’t ever give up,” “Everything is possible,” and “Keep on believin’.” Coming from anyone else they would sound trite or childish. Coming from Michael Franti and Spearhead they sound sincere and powerful, almost holy.

God bless you, Michael, and get well soon.

~ Chris “Toast” Diestler

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Chris’ interview with Michael Franti – Hear HERE

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TnJ 088 (10/1/09)

-HOUR ONE-

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – Yes I Will (11/26/04 the Fillmore, San Francisco, CA)
LEVON HELM BAND – Going Back to Memphis (4/26/08 Merlefest) festivalink.net
RED ROOSTER – The Places In Between (2009 Walk)
CROSS CANADIAN RAGWEED – Bluebonnets (2009 Happiness and All the Other Things)
NEW RIDERS of the PURPLE SAGE – Barracuda Moon (2009 Where I Come From)
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN and DOUBLE TROUBLE – Testify > Mary Had a Little Lamb (1999 Texas Flood [Legacy Edition], 9/23/83 the Palace, Hollywood, CA)
TREY ANASTASIO BAND – Mr. Completely (8/6/05 Jones Beach Amphitheater, Wantaugh, NY)

-HOUR TWO-

OYSTERHEAD – The Owner of the World (2001 the Grand Pecking Order)
LES CLAYPOOL FROG BRIGADE – Cosmic Highway (2002 Purple Onion)
BONERAMA – When the Levee Breaks (2009 Hard Times EP)
STEVE KIMOCK’s CRAZY ENGINE – Night Train (live, c. 2009, promotional e-release)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Two Step (8/9/08 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI)
BIG HOUSE – I Know You Rider (2008 Never Ending Train)
MICHAEL FRANTI – People in the Middle (2000 Live at the Baobab, c.1999)

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