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Blottopia 2010

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Submitted by June(0)Mon, 08/16/2010 - 11:05pm

“There is no decoder ring or secret handshakes required.”  -Mike Bloger

Blottopia is the Midwest local band festival of longtime loyalists.  The heartland paints a portrait of the Fox River, fine accommodations, and family reunions for all ages.  This year being the 11th annual, boasts the biggest Blottopia ever.  While they did not release official attendance numbers, estimates range from 1500 to 2000 people with weekend passes.

The family reunion spills from onstage to the dance floor made of some of the softest grass available.  The lush Fox River valley provides a forgiving floor inside Vasa Park, otherwise known as Scandinavian Park.  The quaint camping ground comes complete with empty barns, very nice restrooms, playgrounds, and 25 acres of open space and oak trees’ shade.  The line-up this year included: Hoss, Robert James & the Cough, Green Sugar, Little Chris, Wyatt, Barefoot Fred, Snuckafoo, Ekoostic Hookah, and of course the notorious Mr. Blotto.

The Saturday lineup was sounding like Widespread Panic, a little like Phish, some southern rock, orchestral philharmonic white striped fun.  Little Chris can’t be more than 15 years old and he wailed out some bass plucking finger strumming guitar.  His version of “circles” was in the stylings of Keller Williams.  I look forward to seeing him progress.  After the live music ended Saturday night, Little Chris set up shop to keep on playing acoustic with a drum circle.  He’s got a lot of material waiting to be transformed.

Green Sugar was pure rock and roll.  Just short of an hour long set, they started and finished with a drummer that was high energy the entire time.  Does Pat, the drummer for Green Sugar consume nothing but pure sugar?  He’s a live wire that connected with the audience bolstering the back row to the front man that clearly feels comfortable on stage.

Wholesome traditional Ekoostic Hookah took the stage just before the big Blotto show commenced.  It was a different әkoostic Hookah from what I had seen in the past, no dreadlocks, no percussion guy smiling so hard I thought his face would cramp afterwards, but still a solid set.  The players may have changed, but the game is still the same for this Midwest best longtime playing band.

Mr. Blotto Sets:

Friday, 7/30

Set I

Intro Jam>That's What I Said

Almost Anywhere

Deal

Southern Woman

Rastaman Vibrations

Same Old Blues Again

Peggy-O

Raining in My Room

Triolet

Set II

Cabbages & Kings>Already Gone

Solomon's Gold

Shakedown Street>Samson & Delilah

Mama Grady

Dirty Woman Blooze

Sail Away, Virginia

Encore

Echoes (Side 2 of Meddle by Pink Floyd)

--

Saturday, July 31

Set I

Can't Go Back Anymore

I Don't Work on Sunday

After It Rains

Keeping It Up

Quinn the Eskimo > Rap

Clampdown World

The Wedge> Scarlet Begonias>Fire on the Mountain>Dancehall Toasting

Set II

Long Way to the Bottom>

>Meddle's* Spoken Word.

Time in Texas

Sister Rosie>Jam

Movie Star

Encore

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
With a Little Help From My Friends
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Getting Better
Fixing a Hole
She’s Leaving Home
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
Within You Without You
When I’m Sixty-Four
Lovely Rita
Good Morning, Good Morning
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
A Day in the Life

Vitamins, Scotch, & Cigarettes (a Capella vocal trio)

Friday night only Blotto took the stage for 2 full sets and a fantastic Echoes (Pink Floyd) encore.  Saturday night began about 6:30 pm and raged on until midnight when it was all said and done.  The extensive versatility of this band was clearly demonstrated with guest spots from Meddle Bloger doing spoken word in the second set to the infamous 3rd set.  Blottopia’s tradition is do an entire album as the 3rd and final set.  This year was a spot-on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.  Paul Bolger showcased his sitar skills and the crowd returned the love exponentially.  Who doesn’t love the Beatles?

In response to the crowd’s demands for more, Mr. Blotto couldn’t deny.  They have a strict noise policy they respect inside Scandinavian Park, but still managed to bend the rules for one more tune.  They did a cappella trio entitled, Vitamins, Scotch and Cigarettes. When asked about this little ditty, bassist Mike Bolger responded, “Vitamins, Scotch, and Cigarettes is an a cappella thing that Paul, Dave Allen (our former keyboard player-who is an avid Beatle Freak who we brought back for Saturday only) and I came up with a while ago. It's an original based on our drummer Alan's statement on the bus one day when asked if he needed to eat. He said that he didn't need food. Just vitamins. And scotch. And cigarettes.  We used to encore with it from time to time, but haven't done it recently.  It seemed appropriate to close the weekend with it.”

While considering how to describe this band - Mr. Blotto - words escape me.  It’s that band that everyone knows.  It’s that band that everyone from just about a 200 miles radius from Chicagoland area has a story about.  They have had all sorts of collaborations and musical masterpieces from the past 20 years and yet, are virtually unknown on the national scene.  Mr. Blotto is their own band. They put on their own UNsponsored music fests 3 times a year, Blottopia, Blottumnal Equinox Fest in the fall, and Hotel Blotto in the winter.  They take over an entire hotel for a weekend.  They associate with the “Industry of Cool” without falling down the black hole.  Is that what makes Blottopia so special?  The secret is that there is no secret, just a deceivingly good time filled with the usual suspects and the family you have come to count on. I will be back again to investigate further.

Check out more of June's photos from Blottopia 2010!

Chris Massey's The Nue Jazz Project Upcoming Appearances

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Submitted by press(5)
Member
Sat, 06/05/2010 - 3:20am

Chris Massey is following his ambition of making a name for himself as a new breed of young talented player in the world of jazz. Growing up in small town Uniontown, Ohio where he picked up his first pair of drumsticks a the age of 9 he took his first steps into his musical career as a Jazz Performance major at Youngstown State University in 2000.

Among performing with such modern legends such as Donald Harrison Jr., Joe Lovano, Dave Holland and members of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra Chris is also an accomplished composer and arranger. Gaining inspiration from notable drummer-composers such as Brian Blade and Jeff "Tain" Watts; Chris has began composing his first works in early 2001. Chris also has been teaching lessons of all age varieties from the skill ranges of beginner to advanced college for over a decade.


Chris above all else is a modern drummer taught in the old tradition of swing; his ethos is to "put his sound" underneath a player and let the fire start to spread. He is currently residing in the New York City area and performing with/leading his modern jazz group "The Nue Jazz Project". He has performed in many venues across the city such as Smoke, Cleopatra's Needle, Smalls, Fat Cat, 55bar, The Garage, The Iridium and many others. He currently finished recording his debut album entitled "Vibrainium" due to be released in Fall 2010


Upcoming Shows:

June 5th 6:15-10:15pm The Garage NYC, NY (99 7th ave south at Christopher St.) http://www.garagerest.com/
June 16th 8pm-9pm The Shrine NYC, NY (2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard) http://www.shrinenyc.com/
June 27th 8pm-10pm The 5C Cultural Center (68 Ave. C) (Nue Jazz Trio) http://5cculturalcenter.org/
July 3rd 6:15-10:15 The Garage NYC, NY (99 7th ave south at Christopher St.) http://www.garagerest.com/
July 11th 8pm-9:15pm The Blue Owl NYC, NY (196 2nd Avenue/13th st) http://www.blueowlnyc.com/
July 22nd 9pm-11:30pm Puppets Jazz Bar Brooklyn, NY (481 5th Ave) (Internet Distribution Release Party) http://www.puppetsjazz.com/
Aug 7th 6:15-10:15pm The Garage NYC, NY (99 7th ave south at Christopher St.) http://www.garagerest.com/

Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants: Debut Self-Titled Album Out 7/13/10

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Submitted by mike(256)
Contributor
Wed, 05/19/2010 - 9:54pm

Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants is a new project from Shiflett, already known as the lead guitarist for Foo Fighters and the frontman for Jackson United. Steeped in his love for classic country artists (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings), rockabilly (Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran), and deep-rooted rock bands (The Rolling Stones, The Replacements), this new album is packed with soulful pedal steel- and twang guitar-accented songs. The album highlights his talent and versatility not only as a skillful guitarist, but also as a songwriter. These infectious Americana-laced rock songs are some of the best he's penned, from the chiming keys and buoyant, ringing guitars of "Get Along" to the pedal steel- and mandolin-lined heartache of "Bandaged," and from the spry, Old 97s-ian "Baby, Let It Out" to the rueful country swing of "Death March."

Shiflett wrote the songs on Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants over the course of 2008-9, inspiration first striking when a friend asked him to perform at Orange County's punk-rockabilly Hootenanny festival in 2008. After re-immersing himself in his Americana and old country music collection to prepare a short set - and then playing a brief acoustic tour with friend Joey Cape of Lagwagon - he began writing what eventually became the new album. Recorded at the Foo Fighters' Studio 606 in Los Angeles, CA, this past December and January, the core band on Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants is Shiflett (vocals, guitar), 606 house engineer John Lousteau (drums, in addition to engineering), and Derek Silverman (keyboards). The album's additional instrumentation was performed by an array of fine musicians, including Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello and The Imposters, Jenny Lewis, John Hiatt) on bass, Greg Leisz (Wilco, Lucinda Williams, Whiskeytown) on pedal steel, Stevie Blacke (Beck, Weezer, Colbie Caillat) on violin and mandolin, and Audra Mae on backing vocals.

Track listing for Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants:

  1. Helsinki
  2. Get Along
  3. Bandaged
  4. God Damn
  5. Burning Lights (Joe Strummer cover)
  6. An Atheist's Player
  7. Not Going Down Alone
  8. Baby, Let It Out
  9. Death March

Summer touring news for Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants will be announced soon.

Dierks Bentley Shares Details about UP ON THE RIDGE

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Submitted by mike(256)
Contributor
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 3:36am

Multi-platinum singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley will release his artistically daring, acoustic new album UP ON THE RIDGE on June 8, 2010.  His fifth Capitol Nashville studio project is steeped in the bluegrass and roots music that moved Bentley to become a country musician in the first place.  The lead single and title track, inspired by time spent on a plot of land in rural Tennessee, will be released to country radio on April 12.

“I fell in love with this kind of music the first time I walked into the Station Inn with a fake I.D. at 19 years old … these guys, who were my age, were playing their instruments so hard it knocked your head back.   After that, I never missed a Tuesday night there in almost eight years,” explains Bentley.  “Without the whole bluegrass community taking me in, I would have had no place to start from.  It is my foundation.”

To preview a short film on the making of UP ON THE RIDGE, click here.
Produced by Jon Randall Stewart and engineered by Gary Paczosa, UP ON THE RIDGE is a document of an artist who’s using some well-earned freedom to write in a fresh vein and cook up collaborations with the musicians who fascinate him the most.  Dozens of talents have contributed in some way to this project.  Besides the five co-written by Bentley himself, the songs come from such varied sources as Bob Dylan, U2 and Kris Kristofferson. The monumental Kristofferson is here as a guest vocalist as well, along with a slate of today’s best traditional country singers, including Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson and Miranda Lambert.  And then there are the players, recruited from the top echelons of bluegrass and acoustic music. Among them: Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers, the Del McCoury Band, the legendary Sam Bush, dobro player Rob Ickes, guitarist Bryan Sutton, fiddler Stuart Duncan, and mandolinist Ronnie McCoury.

UP ON THE RIDGE TRACK LIST:
1. Up On The Ridge
(Written by Angelo Petraglia, Dierks Bentley, Background Vocals by Alison Krauss)
2. Fallin’ For You
(Written by Shawn Camp, Paul Kennerly, Background Vocals by Chris Stapleton)
3. Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) (with The Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile)
(Written by Bob Dylan)
4. Rovin’ Gambler (with The Punch Brothers)
(Written by Jon Randall Stewart, Dierks Bentley)
5. Draw Me A Map
(Written by Jon Randall Stewart, Dierks Bentley, Background Vocals by Alison Krauss)
6. Bad Angel (Featuring Miranda Lambert, Jamey Johnson)
(Written by Verlon Thompson, Suzi Ragsdale)
7. Fiddlin’ Around
(Written by John Scott Sherrill, Shawn Camp, Jeff Austin, Background Vocals by Vince Gill)
8. You’re Dead to Me
(Written by Tim O’Brien, Jon Randall Stewart, Dierks Bentley, Background vocals by Tim O’Brien)
9. Pride (In The Name Of Love) (with The Punch Brothers featuring Del McCoury)
(Written by Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Dave Evans, Paul David Hewson)
10. Love Grows Wild
(Written by Julie Miller, Buddy Miller)
11. Bottle to The Bottom (featuring Kris Kristofferson)
(Written by Kris Kristofferson)
12. Down In The Mine
(Written by Jon Randall Stewart, Dierks Bentley, Background vocals by Sonya Isaacs)
Bentley will hit the road for a run of 24 shows in 30 days previewing the new music for fans across the country as part of his UP ON THE RIDGE tour. For a full list of tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.

CB-3 with Steve Kimock Tour

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Submitted by press(5)
Member
Thu, 02/11/2010 - 4:51am

Joining together for their first multi-night West Coast tour and performing under the guise of CB-3 (Chris Berry Trio) featuring Steve Kimock, the "Afropop Superstar" (SF Chronicle, 2008) Chris Berry has arranged his most interesting collaboration yet.

Featuring Steve Kimock alongside the rhythm section of the Grammy Nominated Brazillian Girls, comes an explosive cross-cultural musical experience for all. The 10-day tour which launches on February 24th will maneuver along the west coast including dates in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Eugene and Portland Oregon. You don't want to miss this!

Tour Dates:

Feb 24 Moe's Alley- Santa Cruz CA
Feb 25 Montbleu Resort (Bleu Room)- Lake Tahoe
Feb 26 Yoshi's- San Francisco CA
Feb 27 Yoshi's- San Francisco CA
Feb 28 Mystic Theater- Petaluma CA
Mar 1 Ukiah Brewing Co- Ukiah, CA
Mar 2 Red Fox Tavern - Eureka CA
Mar 4 W.O.W Hall- Eugene OR
Mar 5 Mt. Tabor Theater Portland OR
Mar 6 Domino Room- Bend OR

Earl Greyhound To Release Sophomore LP "Suspicious Package"

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Submitted by Tell All Your F...(0)Thu, 01/28/2010 - 2:03am

EARL GREYHOUND is pleased to announce the release of Suspicious Package, a blistering rock inferno spun out of the Brooklyn trio’s inspired and innovative rock-n-roll imagination machine.  Suspicious Package was recorded at Red Bull Studios in Santa Monica, under the nimble and keen producerly auspices of Dave Schiffman (Mars Volta, Red Hot Chili Peppers, System of a Down).

Earl Greyhound formed in 2002 with the collaboration of songwriters Matt Whyte and Kamara Thomas, who began performing regularly as a duo in NYC. All the while, they were crafting the unique sound and songs that would form the foundation for a colossal rock band. Their influences swept from the strident English three-and four-pieces of the 70’s, to the dark pop and heavy grunge grooves of the 90’s, to the transcendental, noisy acid sounds of modern rock.

In 2005, EG recorded their first album, Soft Targets, but they also hit their first snag when drummer Chris Bear left to pursue his fortunes with the band Grizzly Bear. Reluctant to release the album without a permanent drummer, Matt and Kamara vowed to play relentlessly until their dream drummer found them. Guitar player Kirk Douglass (The Roots) witnessed a show and brought his friend and Gold Crowns band mate Ricc Sheridan to the next few gigs. Ricc says, “I awoke from a dream one night, and I knew this was my band.” A few weeks later, a rockneck-inducing jam confirmed that the band had found its soul mate, and they hit the ground running.  Soft Targets and EG’s wrecking ball of a live show earned them oodles of fans and critical acclaim from The New Yorker, SPIN, Rolling Stone, Brooklyn Vegan and Pitchfork, among others. The next three years were spent touring the US, Canada and Japan as well as opening for Gov’t Mule, Chris Cornell and Saul Williams.


Suspicious Package is Earl Greyhound’s sophomore release. The album marks a turning point in the band’s maturation since the benefit of Mr. Sheridan’s full creative collaboration. Listeners will notice a marked expansion into the higher reaches of the sonic territories. Heavy, dark, groovy and grand—Suspicious Package is a reminder that though ROCK is still only a four-letter word, it can still pack a load of splendor.

US TOUR

Jan 30 - Brooklyn Bowl - Brooklyn, NY
Mar 23 - Harro East Theatre & Ballroom w/ Coheed and Cambrial - Rochester, NY
Mar 24 - The Westcott Theater w/ Coheed and Cambria - Syracuse, NY
Mar 25 - Northern Lights w/ Cohee d and Cambria - Clifton Park, NY
Mar 26 - Higher Ground w/ Coheed and Cambria - South Burlington, VT
Mar 28 - Port City Music Hall w/ Coheed and Cambria - Portland, ME
Mar 29 Webster Theater w/ Cohee d and Cambria - Hartford, CT
Mar 30 Hardware Bar w/ Coheed a nd Cambria - Scranton, PA
Mar 31 - Music Hall of Williamsbu rg w/ Coheed and Cambria - Brooklyn, New York
Jun 4 - Wakarusa Festival - Ozark, ArkansasJun 5 - Wakarusa Festival - Ozark, Arkansas

Chris Berry brings CB3 from Zimbabwe to the West Coast

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Submitted by Tsunami Publicity(0)Mon, 01/18/2010 - 11:18pm

What happens when you put African grooves born in the ghettos of Zimbabwe with the ground breaking guitar work of San Francisco’s scene and combine it with New York City’s urban electronica? The west coast is about to find out.

Joining together for their first multi-night tour, and performing under the guise of CB-3, Chris Berry has arranged his most interesting collaboration yet. Featuring San Francisco’s own Steve Kimock alongside the rhythm section of the Brazillian Girls comes an explosive cross-cultural musical experience for music lovers of all types - CB-3 (Chris Berry Trio) Featuring Steve Kimock. The 10-day tour will maneuver along the west coast including dates in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Eugene and Portland Oregon.

Music first touched the Grammy award winning Chris Berry as a teen living in the heart of Zimbabwe where he carefully learned the indigenous rhythms of Africa on the sacred Mbira (African Thumb Piano). His ability to speak out against the tyranny of the Zimbabwean regime through the art of music won him overnight success across the country and in the World Music market, bringing his music around the globe. Since then, he has performed on the stages of the 2000 Olympics, the Sydney Opera house and the nations largest festivals across the United States with his project Panjea. 2010 finds the “Afropop Superstar” (SF Chronicle) a multi-instrumentalist with grace on Mbira, the hand drum, as well as a gifted singer-songwriter whose voice is often compared to Sting.

Together with CB3, Berry combines his unique intercultural perspective with the nations highest caliber of musicians, each known for their genre bending talent, for an intimate musical experience. The project features “Guitar Monk” Steve Kimock who was recently hailed on CNN.com as an “unknown legend,” as well as Aaron Johnston (drums) & Jesse Murphy (bass) from the Grammy award nominated Brazilian Girls.

Collectively, CB-3 (Chris Berry Trio) Featuring Steve Kimock has the ability to bring together three decades of music history tightly fitted into one anthology adorned with cutting-edge improvisational guitar, hip-hop and elements of modern electronica. Show goers can expect both a dance ready experience as well as an intimate view into music provoked by both the past and present.

For more information about CB3 or for ticket information check out: Chris Berry Trio | Panjea | Kimock

TOUR DATES
2/24 Moe's Alley - Santa Cruz, CA
2/25 Montbleu Resort Casino - Lake Tahoe, NV
2/26 Yoshi's - San Francisco, CA
2/27 Yoshi's - San Francisco, CA
2/28 Mystic Theater - Petaluma, CA
3/1 Point Arena Theater - Point Arena, CA
3/2 Red Fox Tavern - Eureka, CA
3/4 W.O.W. Hall - Eugene, OR
3/5 Mt. Tabor Theatre - Portland, OR
3/6 Domino Room - Bend, OR

Chris Berry Trio with Steve Kimock

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Submitted by press(5)
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Thu, 12/24/2009 - 1:48am

CB-3 (Chris Berry Trio) featuring Steve Kimock will tour West coast style for a great run beginning end of February. Inspiring Kimock guitar with the positive vocals of Chris Berry, authentic African rhythms, electronic loops, the umbira and driving rhythm section make for some uplifting music, which also features the rhythm section of Jesse Murphy and Aaron Johnston from the Grammy-Nominated Brazilian Girls.

Feb 24 Moe's Alley- Santa Cruz CA
Feb 25 Montbleu Resort Casino, Bleu Room,- Lake Tahoe NV
Feb 26 Yoshi's- San Francisco CA
Feb 27 Yoshi's- San Francisco CA
Feb 28 Mystic Theater- Petaluma CA
Mar 1 Point Arena Theater,- Point Arena CA
Mar 2 Red Fox Tavern - Eureka CA
Mar 4 W.O.W Hall- Eugene OR
Mar 5 Mt. Tabor Theater, Portland OR
Mar 6 Domino Room,- Bend OR

Chris Berry's music got its start in the Ghettos of Zimbabwe where his platinum selling albums featured fusions of Funk, Dance Hall Reggae and African Rhythms. CB-3's Sound is a mix of the modern and the ancient. Old rhythms from the motherland are played through heavy electronics and otherworldly effects. The electric Mbira developed by Chris Berry, is the only one of its kind and creates a unique and distinctive sound that characterizes CB-3's original sound. The result is a dubbed out very dancey version of CB-3's mother-band, Panjea.

Bill Kreutzmann & Chris Berry celebrate NYE in Hawaii

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Submitted by madison(0)Mon, 12/14/2009 - 7:59pm

On December 31st they will play a very intimate show with Michael Kang and Patrice Blanchard on the island of Kaua'i. Only a lucky 200 people get to have a Champagne toast with the band to welcome in 2010.

Show details are as follows:

Thursday, December 31st @ 10:00pm (Doors @ 8:00pm)
TAPAZ LOUNGE in Kapaa on the island of Kaua'i
Tickets are presale $50 / $60 at the door (Champagne toast and Pupus included)
Ages 21+ Limited tickets available at www.dovepresents.com
For more information call (808) 635-5556

For New Year's Day, the party moves to Maui at the Pauwela Cannery.

Show details are as follows:

Friday, January 1st @ 8:00 pm Maui (doors at 7:30 PM)
Voyage East 375 West Kuiaha- Haiku  Maui
Tickets are presale $35 / $40 at the door
Ages 21+ Limited tickets available
Online tickets at www.dovepresents.com
For more information please call (808) 635-5556

On the 2nd, catch up with the celebration at the Big Island town of Pahoa - at the historic Akebono Theater. Chris Berry really wanted to play for his new neighborhood in Hawaii and it will be a exciting finish to his first Hawaiian island tour.

Show details are as follows:

Saturday, January 2nd @ 7:30 PM (Doors at 7:00 PM)
Akebono Theater Located on Highway 130 in Pahoa Big Island, HI 96778
Tickets are presale $25 / $30 at the door
Ages 21+ limited tickets available
Online tickets at www.dovepresents.com
More info at 808-635-5556

ALL SHOWS produced by DOVE PRESENTS and www.freshjamradio.com

Chris Darrow was California's rock Zelig - Reissued 70's LP

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Mon, 12/15/2008 - 10:22am
Chris Darrow- for the Grateful Web

Chris Darrow may not be a household name — yet. But throughout the history of Southern California country-rock, folk, surf, psychedelic and world music, he has cast a welcome presence. His trail-blazing, country-rock-leaning pair of solo albums, Chris Darrow (1973) and Under My Own Disguise (1974), soon will be released by Everloving Records, the home of Inara George & Van Dyke Parks, Cornelius and Herman Dune . The Darrow collection, titled Chris Darrow/Under My Own Disguise, will be available as a deluxe two-CD, two-LP (180 gram vinyl) with a 48-page 12" x 12" photo book. Street date is March 3, 2009.
 
The music will also be available through digital retailers without all the fancy stuff.
 
The Chris Darrow story begins with Kaleidoscope, a late '60s L.A.-based band cited by Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page as his "favorite band of all time." Elektra Records founder Jac Holzman wrote in his book Follow the Music that the first Kaleidoscope album, Side Trips, is his favorite album of all time. Why this cult mania? Kaleidoscope was the first to blend country, rock, folk, blues, psychedelic and world music and have been called the first "world beat" band. They were also precursors to the Flying Burrito Brothers. Singer/songwriter/guitarist David Lindley was also a member.
 
But the Chris Darrow story did not end with Kaleidoscope's dissolution. He joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and then followed the band's Jeff Hanna into the Corvettes on Dot Records. The Corvettes (sans Chris) went on to become Linda Ronstadt's band. Later the Dirt band reformed with Bernie Leadon, who soon became a Flying Burrito Brother. (Is this saga Southern California enough for you?) Darrow later recorded and toured with Hoyt Axton, John Stewart, James Taylor, Sonny & Cher, Gene Vincent, John Fahey and Helen Reddy. As the Chris Darrow reputation continued to develop, he crafted a pair of legendary solo albums for the United Artists label: Chris Darrow and Under My Own Disguise.
 
The story goes on and on — Darrow went on to record with Nesmith, Kaleidoscope briefly reunited, he recorded with Chris D's Divine Horsemen, formed an unlikely working relationship with colorful producer Kim Fowley and an even less likely collaboration with the Surf Punks' Dennis Dragon. As Darrow continued his 40-year (so far) career in the music business, a new generation of artists discovered him.
 
Ben Harper, who grew up in Darrow's long-time roost of Claremont, Calif., covered the song "Whipping Boy" from Chris Darrow. The Dust Brothers later remixed it. Mudhoney's Steve Turner has come to idolize Darrow, writing: "It's these solo albums that keep finding their way onto the turntable around my house They have slowly, through the years, wound up in the hands of the right people. People like you and me. And that's no accident."
 
Likewise, many authors have cited Darrow's contribution to the development of Southern California rock.  He is invoked in such volumes as Barney Hoskyns' Waiting for the Sun and Hotel California, Chuck Crisafulli's Are You Ready for the Country, Richie Unterberger's Wayfaring Strangers: Overlooked Innovators and Eccentric Visionaries of '60s Rock.

Enter Everloving Records, the esoteric label from L.A.'s Loz Feliz, known for its relationship with the Claremont musical community that begat both Darrow and Ben Harper. The LA Weekly's Randall Roberts described Everloving as "globetrotting this year, putting out thrilling music by Germans, French, Japanese and Angelenos. The label since 2003 has delivered hot music action from wherever it arrives. They cherry-pick choice little records from across the globe and deliver them stateside."
 
Everloving Records is noted for their innovative packaging. The Darrow package is an objet d'art. But how will the label create widespread demand for a double album reissue by an artist from the '60s and '70s whom — if you're under a certain age — you've likely never heard of til moments ago? Glad you asked. That's where you come in.