Rock and Roll Report Podcast #63: More Loud Rock Fun and a Tribute to Greg Shaw
October 28, 2009 by Mark Boudreau · 1 Comment
This week on the Rock and Roll Report Podcast I again play music from bands that have yet to be played on the show. I don’t know why I make a big deal of this all the time as there are so many amazing bands that I should never technically repeat but let this be a lesson to you all that rock and roll is far from dead but living and breathing under your very own collective noses!
On this week’s show I also play some tracks from Bomp Records’ excellent tribute to the late great Greg Shaw CD He Put the Bomp in Bomp: Greg Shaw as I wax nostalgic a bit on the passing of the legendary founding of Mojo Navigator Rock and Roll News, Bomp! magazine, Bomp! Records and too numerous articles, liner notes and production credits to his name. Greg Shaw inspired directly or indirectly every one of us who started a fanzine or website or blog or podcast dedicated to rock and roll and it was fun playing some of these songs in tribute to the man who I consider an important influence on my rock and roll upbringing.
Gary Pig Gold wonders WHO PUT THE BOMP? Why, GREG SHAW, Of Course!
October 16, 2009 by Gary Pig Gold · 1 Comment
Personally speaking, I can solidly claim that the very first record ever released on the Bomp! label, the Flamin’ Groovies’ 1974 seven-incher “You Tore Me Down,” actually caused the sonic earth to move beneath me in ways matched only by, I kid you not, you-know-who on The Ed Sullivan Show, my first discovery of Elvis’ Sun sessions, and my pal John’s bringing the first Ramones record home to our innocent little Canadian turntables via the Bowery, very very late one long-lost Friday ago.
Yessir, that little Groovies record, and the joyous singles (and albums) (and magazines) Bomp faithfully sent my way throughout the Ford and Carter administrations – while those less fortunate amongst us were stuck listening to the Cars and pondering the fate of J.R., just to put things in their improper hysterical perspective – duly inspired this here Rock and Roll Report-er to start my own fanzine. Then my own band. Then even my own record label! You could say, then, that “You Tore Me Down” single-in-handedly spared me from a life of University study and squarely set me down the road to where I type today.
And then, when Bomp founder / mastermind / domo-major Greg Shaw Himself actually blew my way in early 1978, his raw, unbridled enthusiasm instantly swept aloft all of us riding the then-new Toronto punk wave, in turn inspiring such things as, oh, off the top of my once-buzz-cut scalp, Teenage Head (the band), SCTV (the television show), and possibly even Maggie and Ronnie (the weekend that almost brought down a Canadian Prime Minister, via that guy in the once-Rolling Stones).
So! Just who was this Greg Shaw fella then, you might well be asking?
The Rock and Roll Report Chats with the Rock and Roll Geek Michael Butler About Rock and Roll, Podcasting and the Ass of Rock!
September 29, 2008 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
Michael Butler is a rock and roller at heart. From playing bass in a number of very cool bands to recording his Rock and Roll Geek Podcast to his work on the Podsafe Music Network he is the perfect person to talk about what podcasting is all about and the benefits it offers musicians. Michael was kind enough to answer a bunch of questions for us and this is what went down.
Book Review: Bomp! Saving The World One Record At A Time
December 13, 2007 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
“The point of a music revolution is not to replace today’s pop stars with a new slate; it is to kick out the jams! Riot in the streets! Do it now! Etc. It’s all about direct engagement, and the result of all that activity should be a better time for all, a party that will keep everyone coming back to do it some more. This is what rock & roll at its best can provide – leading to the idea that perhaps rock & roll itself should be seen not as a genre, not as a mere noun or even a verb, but also as a process.”
Greg Shaw
Prophetic words from a man that embodied rock and roll, with all of its contradictions and complexities, pure and simple. I have actually quoted these words on this very blog before and it always gives me solace to read them in this day and age of niches and genres and sub-genres. That it was uttered by Greg Shaw, a poster boy for independent rock and roll if there ever was one makes it that much more poignant.
Cue up the Pan Flutes! The 40th Anniversary of the “Summer of Love” is Here
May 28, 2007 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
Well I see that ’60s “Summer of Love” icon Wavy Gravy will be heading up the Wavy Gravy Summer of Love Revival on June 2, 2007 at the San Geronimo Valley Cultural Center. This will not be the only event celebrating that pivotal summer but the irony is that for the people who were actually there, in a lot of ways the “Summer of Love” did not in fact occur in the summer of1967. No, the San Francisco scene that was so nurturing for some many creative people for the most part was ending in 1967 when the mass media discovered the burgeoning counter-culture bohemian community centered around the Haight-Ashbury district of that city by the bay. For a lot of people, 1966 was indeed the pivotal year on which a revolution seemed to be occurring that would change everything.
The problem I have always had with the whole “Summer of Love” myth is that the media and by extension the history books have put the emphasis on the wrong parts of that whole ’60s experiment. While thousands of stoned out youths proclaimed peace and love to all and sundry there were very real attempts to create a true alternative culture but those who actually tried to work at it are sadly forgotten. We hear all about the music and the free love and drugs (which are in a lot of respects the true legacy of the whole hippie experience with unwanted pregnancies and sad drug addicted youths the primary result) but we don’t often hear about people like the Thelin brothers.
Ron and Jay Thelin were true believers in “the dream.” As original members of the Diggers and owners of the Psychedellic Shoppe, they both believed in building a true alternative community, but the difference between them and so many others that staggered around the streets of the “Hashbury” is that they actually worked at creating something as opposed to leaching off of others. So to did people like Big Tom Donahue when he took radio stations KMPX and later KSAN and turned them into purveyors of avant-garde rock and roll audio or Greg Shaw with his groundbreaking Mojo-Navigator Rock & Roll News or Chet Helms who, despite an obvious lack of business acumen built of the Family Dog into something memorable. All of these people (and you can toss in Bill Graham and Jann Wenner for good measure) knew that in order to create something you had to work at it. And sometimes that involved making hard decision but if you wanted your community to thrive you had to make them to make things work.
What always drives me crazy when people look back at this era is they tend to either focus on the completely negative (drugs anyone?) or they go to the other extreme and declare that San Fran in 1967 was some sort of utopia which it assuredly was not! Aside from the music, which was great mainly because of the sense of adventure that permeated the scene, the cadre of people who truly believed in what they were trying to create was slowly coming to the realization that maybe it was a lot harder to drop out completely and that there may have been some aspects of straight society that might come in handy regardless of the values you held. Things like commitment, loyalty and integrity. There were a multitude of people operating in the background and on the periphery of the “Summer of Love” that made the whole thing tick. Unfortunately, unless you really dig down deep into your ’60s history book, you tend not to hear so much about them. Although it was a late ’90s slogan for Apple Computer, a lot of these people tended to “think different” and there is a lesson in there for all of us if we stop getting side-tracked by the love burger and “hippie hop” aspect of the era. Building something that is an alternative to today is no easy task. But giving up in striving to do so is something we should never do. And that should be the ultimate lesson we take from the Summer of Love.
That being said, I have been having a blast going through some incredible documentaries, films and TV shows from the era courtesy of The Video Beat so expect my very own look at The Summer of Love this June. This should be fun!
Later.
Mark
The Indie News Beat for the Week of March 5,2007
March 7, 2007 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
INDIE NEWS BEAT 
March 5, 2006 Edition
* MPress Records To Host Official SXSW ‘07 Party
* Her Calling (America) Available For Radio Airplay
* Music & Entertainment Job Fair – March 9 – 11, 2007
* Sky Slope Music Takes Off!
* "Little Nashville" Lead Singer Performs At Home Of Grand Ole Opry
* Acoustic Fuel Features Karlex’s Single "I’ve Got News For You…"
* Amy Speace Signs Up To The MusicDish Network
* MusicDish Takes Its First Dip Into SXSW
* Kobo Town Plays In Support Of Canadian Friends Of Sudan And Burma
* Haitian-American Singer Karlex Signs Up To MusicDish Network
MPress Records To Host Official SXSW ‘07 Party
MPress Records will host an Official Party at this year’s South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas on Saturday March 17, 2007 to promote their latest release New Arrivals: Volume Two (NAV2). The event will take place at the Copa Bar and Grill (located at 217 Congress Avenue in downtown Austin) from noon until 5pm and will be open to the public. MpressFest 2007 is sponsored by Artists Against Hunger and Poverty, Music Dish, and OnlineGigs.com. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
The showcase will feature performers whose music can be heard in the New Arrivals series. Among those performing will be StarbucksTM Emerging Artist Mieka Pauley, GrammyFest® Winner Gregory Douglass, and Hotel Café Tour performer Jim Bianco. Notable indie pioneers Melissa Ferrick and Anne Heaton add to the diverse and talented roster, along with Independent Music Award Winner and MPress founder Rachael Sage.
Like its predecessor, New Arrivals: Vol. One, 100% of the proceeds from sales of New Arrivals: Volume Two (NAV2) will benefit another worthy organization, World Hunger Year (http://www.worldhungeryear.org/). Sales from New Arrivals: Volume One (NAV1) continue to benefit Gulf Coast Hurricane Relief, following the devastation of the region by Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. New Arrivals: Volume Two (NAV2) will be available in stores nationwide May 1, 2007.
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Her Calling (America) Available For Radio Airplay
"This is a new mix that features some of my great player friends" says Denzien. "We wanted to put this out as a single in advance of the new CD release". "Exit 21 has had some great reviews so we thought people would like the remix".
On the upcoming CD (working title: AirDate – an anagram for the actual title) Denzien is joined by Drummer – Anton Fig (Paul Shaffer – Late Night with David Letterman); Guitarist – Allen James; Bass – Kjell Benner; Drummer – Chuck Treece (McRad, Bad Brains, Urge Overkill, the Mosquitos, King Britt, Buck-O-Nine, Res and G. Love, Huffamoose); Backing Vocals – FRUiT, Lyra Project, Debra Lee. Rick Denzien is also Co-Producing several songs with Grammy Nominated David Ivory (The Roots) in the slot-1 studio along with Emmy winning Drummer – Daoud Shaw (Van Morrison, Saturday Night Live)
The new CD features 12 new songs in Denzien’s rock / acoustic style. What is the scheduled airdate for AirDate? "We are in the studio now" , says Denzien. "Rik Tinory (Arrowsmith Pump) called me up one day and I learned from him that it took a year of solid recording everyday to produce "Pump" – good things take time".
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Music & Entertainment Job Fair – March 9 – 11, 2007
Women in Music National Network is hosting a "Virtual Job Fair" for the Music and Entertainment industries, March 9-11, 2007.
Job seekers are invited to participate in this cutting-edge event specifically designed for men and women interested in music & entertainment related careers.
The Music and Entertainment Job Fair is an Internet event using a technology platform that provides all the features and benefits of a traditional job fair. Virtual 3D booths will present hundreds of job openings and company profiles.
This 3-day job fair is a one-of-a-kind virtual event that creates new opportunities for those who are looking for a wide variety of music & entertainment employment.
The M&E Job Fair will provide attendees with job opportunities in various segments of the Music & Entertainment industry‹jobs that may not be widely advertised or jobs that you may not of known existed in music & entertainment.
The Music & Entertainment job fair takes place entirely on the Internet, which means no travel expense and you can discover new employment options, with a variety of different companies; all in a relaxed environment — the comfort of your home or office.
Participants will be able to:
· View Company Profiles
· See Current Openings & Job Descriptions
· Submit Resumes
· Enter Drawing to Win Prizes
To register for the job fair go to: http://www.womeninmusic.com/JobFair_Attend.htm
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Sky Slope Music, a new indie label, began as a support team for the community of talented, eclectic, aspiring musical artists, predominantly based in Brooklyn. It has progressed into a record label, tailored to nurture the independent spirit of groove based pop, neo-soul and jazz. For the launch, Sky Slope will showcase two Brooklyn favorites. Beyondo is a funky/jazzy band led by trumpeter/vocalist Eric Biondo. Also a member of Antibalas and Volney Litmus, he blends pop sensibilities with jazz inspired rhythms and a wry sense of humor. Thought keeps the groove going with blaxploitation horns, Funkadelic inspired guitar and strong lyrics.
Friday, March 2nd, 9:00 PM
Rose Live, 345 Grand Street between Havemeyer/Marcy Aves.
Brooklyn, NY
718-599-0069
Cover: $5
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"Little Nashville" Lead Singer Performs At Home Of Grand Ole Opry On National TV
J Juliano, lead singer of Little Nashville, a popular children’s group performing music with today’s "hot" Country sound, has proved beyond a doubt that he appeals to adult listeners as much as to children by standing toe-to-toe with adult Country’s best aspiring artists in the recent Colgate Country Showdown.
J Juliano made his way through a field of over 60,000 contestants to compete against four other adult acts for the National Title in the 25th Anniversary Colgate Country Showdown at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on January 25, 2007. His outstanding performance in the competition will be nationally televised on stations such as ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and GAC (Great American Country) during the months of March, April, and early May.
The Colgate Country Showdown, billed as America’s Largest Country Music Talent Search, is as well known in country music circles as American Idol is in pop music circles. Virtually every major country music entertainer of the past 25 years has participated in the Showdown.
Because the Showdown is an adult-focused competition, the songs Juliano chose for the competition were not Little Nashville songs. However, the professionalism and fun, high-energy spirit he brought to the stage was exactly the same level of performance you¹d see at a Little Nashville show. His polished stage presence and Juliano’s excellent guitar skills had many audience members staunchly rooting for him and standing in their seats.
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Acoustic Fuel Features Karlex’s Single "I’ve Got News For You…"
The role of music in promoting well-being, whether physical or emotional, has been widely documented and resulted in a new breed of websites. Acoustic Fuel, offering "Music Therapy for relaxation, meditation, inspiration and more," has selected MusicDish Network artist Karlex‘ single "I’ve Got News For You…" as their ‘Daily ReFill – In Celebration of Black History Month.’ Karlex had been previously invited to perform the song by Phillipe Lefait on France 2’s prestigious ‘Live Acoustic’ TV show.
The track is from Karlex’ debut album "Ghetto Fabulous" was released in France in September 2006 and will be available in the Netherlands in March. The album has been making waves from the start, having been selected by "Arte TV" as an October Event and Album Of The Week by "Radio Africa No 1." The album’s first music video "Farewell Angel" has been receiving regular play on the "Europe 2" cable channel.
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Amy Speace Signs Up To The MusicDish Network
MusicDish LLC, an artist development firm and magazine publisher, announced the addition of New York-based country/folk artist Amy Speace to its MusicDish Network roster. MusicDish will provide full online marketing and management support as well as seeking booking and business opportunities in the Canadian music market.
MusicDish founder Eric de Fontenay initially met Amy and her management team Grassy Hill Entertainment at Dewey Beach Music Festival in 2005 and has been following her career ever since she released and gained critical acclaim for her album "Songs For Bright Street."
"It’s ironic that it would take two years and halfway across the world at MIDEM in Cannes, France for us to decide to work together," noted Eric de Fontenay. "It was well worth the wait, though, she is one of the most exciting indie folk singers on the scene."
Amy’s "Songs For Bright Street" has been attracting lots of attention, spending 3 months in the Top 10 of Folk Radio Charts and 10 weeks in the Top 10 of Roots Americana Charts (both in the summer of 2006). The album was chosen as one of Indie-Music.com’s Top 25 Indie Releases. Amy was recently nominated "Emerging Artist of the Year" for the 2007 Folk Alliance Awards and has been asked to open for Little Feat, Heartland, Phil Vassar, John Corbett Roger McGuinn, John Gorka, Peter Mulvey, Tracy Grammer, Sloan Wainright and Steve Forbert.
She’s also won considerable critical acclaim. The Village Voice (NYC) observed that Speace is "taking her Americana away from twangy contemplation toward tangy confrontation" and noted that she’s "not another of those breathy would-be child poets, but a real singing writer of songs." Time Out New York stated, "Amy Speace plays sweet, twangy folk music with a clear voice and an innocent vulnerability." The Nashville Scene noted that she "balances wry humor with open-hearted honesty" and renowned Nashville critic Robert K. Oermann, writing in Music Row, dubbed her a "new star."
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MusicDish Takes Its First Dip Into SXSW
MusicDish LLC, a leading music magazine publisher and artist development firm, is making its presence felt at Austin’s South by Southwest Conference for the first time in celebration of it’s 10th anniversary in the industry. MusicDish gift bags will be distributed at the showcases, featuring an array of goodies such as MusicDish’s "MIDEM 2007" sampler, Grassy Hill Entertainment sampler, free software from MusicWorld3D, and much more.
MusicDish is sponsoring the First Annual MPress Records Official SXSW Showcase, taking place on Saturday March 17th at the Copa Bar and Grill from 12 noon – 5pm. The show will feature a variety of independent artists who appear on MPress Records’ latest release "New Arrivals Vol. 2" from which all proceeds will benefit Artists Against Hunger and Poverty and World Hunger Year.
MusicDish is also sponsoring GoGirlsMusic.com’s 7th annual "Invasion of the GoGirls" being held March 15-18, 2007 at Trophy¹s Bar and other Austin area venues. Supporting Hep C Aware, dedicated to raising awareness of hepatitis C, the showcases will coincide with the conference and feature the best emerging GoGirls talent.
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Kobo Town To Perform Special Show In Support Of Canadian Friends Of Sudan And Burma
Toronto-based roots-calypso act, Kobo Town will perform a special concert in support of Canadian Friends of Sudan and Burma at Barrymore’s Music Hall on Saturday March 10th in Ottawa, Ontario. Jokko and the Souljazz Orchestra will also be performing. Admission is $15.
"It’s important for us to participate in this event to help raise funds and more importantly, awareness of the corruption and injustice affecting the people living in these regions," comments Kobo Town front-man Drew Gonsalves.
Gonsalves speaks from far more than an observational standpoint. He named his band after the vibrant and turbulent neighborhood in old Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, where both he and calypso were born. Kobo Town strives to recover the social conscience, satirical storytelling and strong acoustic/organic rhythms that characterized Trinidadian music in the past. For members of the eight-piece outfit, the name suggests an origin as well as a destination.
Kobo Town produced and self-released their debut album Independence in November 2006. Drawing heavily upon the sounds of traditional calypso, roots reggae and dub poetry, the album is a collection of stories which offer a running commentary on a wide variety of social and political themes including domestic violence, homelessness, globalization, the war on Iraq, and the various frustrations and betrayals of the post-colonial era. Independence was co-produced by Lyndon Livingstone (David Rudder, Andre Tanker, Mighty Scrunter) and Drew Gonsalves at the Razorshop in Maraval, Trinidad.
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Haitian-American Singer Karlex Signs Up To MusicDish Network
MusicDish, LLC, a music magazine publisher and artist marketing/development firm, announced the addition of Haitian American singer/songwriter Karlex to its MusicDish Network roster. Karlex, who is currently based in the south of France, soulfully fuses the vibes of his native island with funky guitar sounds and heavy bass, in a unique blend called Afro Groove. MusicDish founder Eric de Fontenay and Karlex, who had first met in September 2006, struck the deal in the Press Club of the Palais des Festivals on the closing day of MIDEM 2007 in Cannes, France.
MusicDish will provide full online management support, including brand development and marketing, as well as seeking licensing and business opportunities for his album "Ghetto Fabulous". Released in France in September 2006, "Ghetto Fabulous" will be released in Benelux in February 2007, followed by a six city tour in the Netherlands in April. He is also currently seeking distribution in the North American market.
The album has been making waves from the start, having been selected by "Arte TV" as an October Event and by "Radio Africa No 1" as Album Of The Week leading up to the release. Karlex was invited by Phillipe Lefait on France 2’s ‘Live Acoustic’ to play his song "I’ve Got News For You…", while the album’s first music video "Farewell Angel" has been receiving regular play on the "Europe 2" cable channel.
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Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright © MusicDish LLC 2007 – Republished with Permission
THE NORTH BY NORTHEAST MUSIC & FILM FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE (NXNE) IS OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS ARE YOU READY TO SHOWCASE TO THE WORLD
November 27, 2006 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
TORONTO – November 21, 2006 – North by North East (NXNE) is Canada’s best live music event dedicated to exposing the best in new music and music movies. Each year NXNE showcases over 450 live acts from across Canada and around the world, at thirty-five venues in downtown Toronto. It’s one heck of a music party. The NXNE Film Festival offers a unique program of music related feature films, documentaries and shorts where music is the star. Each year hundreds of music professionals from Canada and around the world flock to NXNE to discover their new favourite bands, network, catch up with old friends and have a few cold beverages in what historically is always a wonderful hot weekend in Toronto.
Do you feel that’s its about time the world heard you? Submissions are open so please visit www.nxne.com to submit your music through SonicBids. If you submit before December 31 the fee is only $25.00 Canadian and after December 31 it is $35.00. The Deadline for all entries is January 12, 2007. No mail-in submissions will be accepted.
To submit a film, documentary, short or animated short you must go through Withoutabox. No mail-in submissions will be accepted. Submissions start November 1st and close January 12, 2007. $15 Canadian for shorts under forty-five minutes $25 for features over forty-five minutes. Themes or subjects of films must somehow be applicable to the music industry as in documentaries about artists or genres; or films where music is the subject.
The Bomp Store is now live!
November 27, 2006 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
I don’t normally like to publicize something like a record label’s brand new online store but Bomp Records holds a special place in my heart. As one of the greatest indie labels of all time and the creation of the late great Greg Shaw, Bomp continues to amaze me and Suzi Shaw has managed to keep the mailorder biz growing to become one of the prime places to buy cool rock and roll. Now Bomp is pleased to announce that their brand new Bomp Store is live and accepting your business. Check it out. There are some incredibly cool records just waiting for a place to be played loud.
Later.
The Indie News Beat for the week of October 31, 2006
October 31, 2006 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
INDIE NEWS BEAT
October 31, 2006 Edition
* The New 2007 Edition Of The Indie Bible Has Been Released
* Little Nashville Aims For The Big Time
* New Stoneman CD Release
* New Organisation For MIDEM Classique & Jazz
* Charlie Peacock And Bob Hutchins Partner To Launch Premium Digital Content
* The Majestic Twelve Are New Artists You Need To Know Now According To MSNBC.com
* AirPlay Direct Celebrates One-Year Anniversary
* Author Reveals How To Use Video Clips To Promote Indie Music
* ReverbNation.com Sets The Stage For A Music Revolution
The New 2007 Edition Of The Indie Bible Has Been Released
David Wimble, musician and founder of The Indie Bible, announced the release of the 2007 edition of the ever-popular music industry resource. Listing over 4200 publications that will review artists’ music and 3500 radio stations that will play their songs, the 8th edition of The Indie Bible has become an indispensable tool for recording artists looking to take the DIY route to success.
“The first edition was a photocopied spiral bound book with a plain white cover,” reminisced David Wimble, Publisher. “Even though its appearance was unimpressive, the feedback was amazing! Now in its 8th Edition, The Indie Bible continues to grow! It still remains as the only resource totally dedicated to those artists that have recorded a CD or demo.”
The Indie Bible has 330 pages of valuable contacts and informative articles:
- 4200 Publications that will REVIEW your music!
- 3500 Radio Stations that will PLAY your songs!
- 600 Labels & Distributors looking to SIGN artists!
- 500 Websites where you can UPLOAD your music!
- 50 articles that will help your career
* Listings with email, web url and physical address, phone and fax
* Worldwide listings in US, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, etc.
* Sorted by genre and location for precise targeting
* Local and international press
John Foxworthy of GarageRadio.com has called The Indie Bible “a 330-page collection of the most useful resources on the planet and presented in an easy-to-follow format … quite possibly the most valuable piece of literature to occupy any recording artist’s library.”
David Wimble is a Singer/Songwriter from Ottawa, Canada. His band, Big Meteor, put out their first CD in 2000. The CD, titled “Wild River,” received rave reviews from around the world. “Wild River” features a wide blend of music ranging from Acoustic Rock to Blues to Old Time Country. To date, songs from the “Wild River” CD have been used in one made-for-TV movie and 50 television shows on networks such as NBC, A&E, MTV and VH1.
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Little Nashville Aims For The Big Time
J Juliano and Adrienne Grove, the Illinois State Winners, from Chicago walked away with the Midwest Regional title and an all-expense paid trip to the National Final of the 25th Annual Colgate Country Showdown in Nashville, Tennessee. The Midwest Regional was held at Royal River Casino in Flandreau, South Dakota. The six other acts who competed in this Regional won their local and state competitions were Bryan Popp & the River Divide WDMP Dodgeville, WI; Shawn Mayer KODY North Platte, NE; Christina Thomas KZPK St. Cloud, MN; Greg Amundson KKWS Wadena, MN; Jennifer Thompson KBXB Sikeston, MO and Carrie Joy KYLS Farmington, MO.
Before winning the Illinois State Final, Juliano and Grove won their local competition sponsored by WUSN of Chicago, IL. As an award-winning songwriter/vocalist/multi-instrumentalist, Juliano began guitar at just 5 years old. In 1998 he opened for Toby Keith in Chicago and realized his love of the Windy City. He began performing throughout the Southeast and Midwest, sharing the stage with Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Diamond Rio and Sawyer Brown, to name a few. When Juliano and his wife learned they were expecting their first child, he began “Little Nashville” country music for kids that teaches important lessons and values with a bit of rock at the same time.
“Little Nashville” went from the studio to the road, bringing Adrienne Grove into the mix. The singer/actress began belting out The Star-Spangled Banner also at a young age 3. The Southwestern University graduate received a Bachelor¹s Degree in Music Education, and plays the guitar, flute and piano. She has performed with Starlight Theater, Park Ridge Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Savoy-aires and several others. Since joining forces in “Little Nashville,” Grove and Juliano have performed in front of thousands together. They have opened for Josh Gracin and have been honored with the title of Best Children¹s Act of 2006 by the On the Waterfront Festival in Rockford. Displaying their songwriting talents in Saturday¹s competition they performed an original piece, Dry County, Charlie Daniels¹ The Devil Went Down to Georgia.
In January, Juliano and Grove will compete in the National Final at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The five regional winners from across the country will receive an all expense-paid trip to the National Final to compete for $100,000 and the coveted National Title of Best New Act in Country Music. The National Final will be televised nationally in March and April 2006.
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Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Stoneman has released his second R&B/Hip-Hop solo CD titled “Stoneman Avenue.” This CD includes this years first place winning song in the Unisong International Songwriting Contest “Danger!!” (Reggae/World Category). Once again all music and vocals on the Stoneman Avenue CD are written and produced by the multiple award winning songwriter known worldwide as Stoneman. Currently available for purchase at the Stoneman Avenue website, Stoneman’s CD will soon have worldwide distribution and will be available at all retail chains shortly.
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New Organisation For MIDEM Classique & Jazz
MIDEM announces the appointment of Christophe Capacci as Artistic Director for Midem Classique & Jazz. Capacci will be responsible for programming the artists and musicians to perform in the classic and jazz concerts during MIDEM.
Christophe Capacci is Artistic Consultant for Jérôme Deschamps at the Theatre National de l’Opéra Comique in Paris, a role he will continue in addition to his newly acquired position for MIDEM.
Capacci takes over from Hervé Corre de Valmalète who has held the position of Artistic Director for Midem Classique & Jazz since 1990 with distinction. Hervé Corre de Valmalète asked to be released from his position as Artistic Director of Midem Classique & Jazz to give more time to his artist-management activities at Concerts de Valmalète in Paris and TransArt UK in Great Britain. He will also continue to produce and head-up the artistic direction for the live music festivals Flâneries Musicales de Reims and TransClassiques and run the record label TransArt Live.
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Charlie Peacock And Bob Hutchins Partner To Launch Premium Digital Content
Grammy winning record producer Charlie Peacock and Internet marketing veteran Bob Hutchins announced their partnership in a new online company, Premium Digital Content (PDC). PDC will uniquely combine entertainment with the four primary consumer technology categories: HOME, PC, HANDHELD DEVICE, and CAR each one corresponding to four branded and highly optimized “WatchListen” websites.
The PDC approach will enable millions of consumers to discover, use, and enjoy entertainment and technology at home, on the go, and in the car.
“I can’t think of a more natural partnership than this one with Charlie Peacock, a musician and entertainment executive who has always been a leader in new technology and entertainment,” said Bob Hutchins, President/Owner of BuzzPlant, a multipurpose Internet marketing firm. “Connecting consumers with amazing entertainment as well as tech products and services for their home, PC, handheld device, and car is a mission we both strongly believe in.”
“I see the home, PC, handheld device, and car–all of them as dynamic and ultimately inter-related delivery systems for entertainment. Bob Hutchins has the marketing skill to make this connection for online consumers early on, securing PDC’s future, as online sales and digital delivery continue to radically alter consumer behavior and needs,” said PDC partner Charlie Peacock.
“Billions of people rise every day looking for entertainment, information, products and services related to their home, PC, handheld, and car. We live in a time of phenomenal opportunity to reach entertainment and technology lovers anywhere and everywhere,” said Hutchins.
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The Majestic Twelve Are New Artists You Need To Know Now According To MSNBC.com
Wilmington, North Carolina rock band and resident pains in the arses, The Majestic Twelve, were recently acknowledged on MSNBC.com in an independent study of reader feedback about America’s favorite indie acts.
A loyal fan remarked that the Twelve are “one of the hardest working bands around today. They take the idea of DIY (Do It Yourself), and they completely embrace it. Plus, their music is very catchy and fits well on your iPod.”
“We’re honored to be mentioned as a favorite indie band, despite the fact that people need to stop talking about indie vs major labels, and start talking about true independence,” comments frontman Kenyata Sullivan. “We’re humbled by it, and it means a lot. We’re gonna keep working hard and trying not to suck.”
The Majestic Twelve hovers among the top 100 unsigned bands in the country at the moment. Critically lauded by tastemakers like Blender.com and CMJ along with blogosphere writers like Fake Jazz and Culture Bully, The Majestic Twelve’s underground hit album, Schizophrenology has been downloaded over 12,000 times since releasing independently for free in July. Schizophrenology is co-produced by Sullivan and Jerry Kee (Superchunk, Ryan Adams).
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AirPlay Direct Celebrates One-Year Anniversary
AirPlay Direct is an easy to use digital music promotion system that was developed to streamline label and artist promotion activities for today’s music industry. AirPlay Direct’s free services replace the unnecessary time and expense of putting together and sending out costly traditional artist packages and press kits via “snail mail.”
In just one year, AirPlay Direct has experienced exponential growth to become a global leader in digital music delivery services directly to radio stations, saving independent artists over $1,000,000 in postage and material costs to date. To celebrate, AirPlay Direct is offering a contest to artists that create a free account in the next six weeks‹a winner will be chosen every two weeks to receive an AirPlay Direct prize package that includes a “Featured Artist” spot on the web site, free marquee banner ads on the site and 15 “broadcast-quality” track uploads, a package valued at over $1,500.
AirPlay Direct offers two free digital content delivery services: digital music and Digital Promo Kits directly to radio professionals. AirPlay Direct’s securely delivers broadcast-quality music files from thousands of independent artists and record labels directly to radio programmers around the world. Artists can access free, real-time tracking reports to see which stations are downloading their songs, alleviating the need for sending costly promotional packages. The best part? This service is 100% free to artists, labels, and radio programmers.
Digital Promo Kits can be emailed to any music industry professional around the world. This concept may sound familiar, but AirPlay Direct takes it one step further in offering links to three broadcast- quality songs along with a visually appealing layout. But what makes AirPlay Direct truly different? The entire package is free! AirPlay Direct empowers artists to promote their music without the cost and effort associated with physical press kits.
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Author Reveals How To Use Video Clips To Promote Indie Music On YouTube, Google, Yahoo & More
No doubt about it. Video is huge on the Internet. Over the past six months alone, video has exploded online. YouTube alone now delivers about 100 million videos a day to its users. And much of it is music.
“It’s like 1981 all over again,” says Bob Baker, author of a new special report called “How to Use Video to Promote Your Music Online.” He’s referring to the year that MTV hit the cable airwaves and changed the way music was marketed at the time. “Only it’s better, because now — 25 years later — everyone has equal access to the ‘airwaves,’” he adds.
Baker cites the recent treadmill video from the band Ok Go as one example. “It was a simple but creative concept that spread like crazy online and primed music fans for the band’s debut CD release,” Baker says.
Or how about the regular video clips published by indie artist Terra Naomi? During a two-month period in 2006, webcam music videos she produced in her apartment were viewed 2.5 million times on YouTube. Because of this exposure, Naomi sold 2,000 copies of her new CD in eight days.
“Don’t kid yourself,” Baker implores. “Online music video promotion is hot — and getting hotter! That’s why I created this short, info-packed report: To help independent artists create, promote and profit from online video.”
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ReverbNation.com Sets The Stage For A Music Revolution
Music’s “working class” is about to see the value of its creative equity grow exponentially, empowered by groundbreaking networking and music-discovery tools for performers, fans, venues and yes, even record labels and the entertainment industry all available free on www.ReverbNation.com.
The artist-centric, online music community, which went live in September, will celebrate its official launch at the CMJ (College Music Journal) Music Marathon in New York City, Oct. 31 Nov. 4. In addition to exhibiting at the festival’s trade show at Lincoln Center, ReverbNation.com will host its inaugural artist showcase party at the downtown rock venue Crash Mansion on Thursday, Nov. 2. The Web site is currently inviting artists in all music categories to register as members.
Combining the power of viral networking with next-generation marketing tools, ReverbNation.com is a true music community designed solely to help musicians succeed. With faster, more intelligent ways to connect artists with fans, venues, labels and other artists, ReverbNation.com offers the richest experience available on the Internet for musicians seeking new markets and new paths to popular success.
“We serve the artist’s needs first, unlike other sites that are more focused on the social aspect of viral networking,” said Jed Carlson, chief marketing officer and co-founder of ReverbNation.com. “By giving them ways to immediately expand the marketplace for their music, we’re opening doors that used to take years to get through.”
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Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright © MusicDish LLC 2006 – Republished with Permission
Now on DVD, Stoned recounts final years and days of Rolling Stones’ founder Brian Jones
August 18, 2006 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
Title: Stoned-The Original Rolling Stone
Rated:R
My 5-star scale rating: 3-1/2 stars (1/2 just for hair and costume work)
The theatrical release of this movie was so limited, I thought it was worth reviewing for its DVD release. It recounts the rise and eventual fall of Brian Jones (played by Ian Gregory), founder of the Rolling Stones and the driving force behind their early blues sound. In the days filled with the giant cult personalities like Lennon and Hendrix, none was bigger than Brian Jones, who could be considered the father of the modern "rock star" image. Jones died tragically at age 27 shortly after having been booted from the Stones. Like so many other precocious artists before and after Jones, the emotionally dependent, paranoid genius turned to drugs and other eccentric indulgences. The portrayals of Keith Richards (Ben Whishaw) and Mick Jagger (Luke De Woolfson) are far from the caricatures that may have become the current Richards and Jagger, but thanks in-part to great hairstyling and costumes they pull them off believably. The movie’s chronology bounces around but focuses on the last 3 months of Jones life, when a builder by the name of Frank Thorogood (Paddy Considine) was hired to work on Jones’ home having just completed work on Keith Richards home.
According to the film, Jones eventually begins to rely on Thorogood for other duties as well; cooking, chauffeuring, cricket opponent, sympathetic ear. In exchange, Frank gets ordered around by Jones at all hours of the night, made to make changes again and again on the same wall at Jones’ home, stiffed for his building wages and stiffed by Jones’ girlfriend. Perhaps because Jones had so little control over the rest of his life, he enjoyed the opportunity to control someone else’s, which ironically may have led to his death, originally ruled as "death by misadventure". In 1993 however, Thorogood supposedly made a deathbed confession. Since the only two people who really know what happened, Jones and Thorogood, are now dead, we’ll probably never know for certain. The final scene proposes an interesting encounter between the deceased Jones and Tom Keylock, the tour manager responsible for hiring Thorogood. In it, Jones thanks him for making him a martyr. Indeed, if Jones had lived longer as he was, debilitated by drug use, unable to write new music of his own, he may well have died after his star had faded out and his popularity long past its peak. Dying while still in the white-hot lights of rock stardom guaranteed his place on the tragically long list of performers who departed far too early but will live on as cult icons of theirs and future generations.
If you’re looking for a movie about the Rolling Stones, this isn’t it. This is definitely about Jones. Interestingly and noticeably absent are any Rolling Stones songs. Whether done intentionally in tribute to Jones or due to licensing issues, the soundtrack contains no actual Rolling Stones performances. It also has no songs with writing credits going to any of the Rolling Stones, neither "Nanker Phelge", the collective group name for which Jones would have received partial song writing credit, nor Richards or Jagger, the Glimmer Twins or any other Rolling Stones’ members. It does contain several covers of Robert Johnson songs, including Stop Breaking Down by the White Stripes. Parents be cautioned, it also contains a fair amount of sexual content-it is a movie about the late 1960’s music scene after all. Except for a few deleted scenes, the DVD has no bonus features.
