Rage to Reunite

Seminal 90's band, Rage Against the Machine is reuniting for a special one off concert at this years Coachella Festival is Death Valley, California. Rage, the band that has been created for creating rap-rock (and the only act to be good at it), stormed onto the scene in the early 90's with their self titled debut and marched their way to the minds and fists of everyone angry with the system. The band saw much success in 1996 with their Grammy winning sophomore record Evil Empire. By the end of the century however, the machine after four albums winded down and the band broke up. Since the break-up guitarist Tom Morello, Bassist Tim Commorford, and Drummer Brad Wilk joined forces with Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and formed Audioslave. Lead singer and emcee Zach De La Rocha has been living his life these days as Boo Radily. Since the fall of Rage, he retreated to New Orleans to work on a solo record that was being produced by Trent Reznor. This record seems to be the Chinese Democracy of De La Rocha's career because nothing much has come of it. The most anyone has herd or seen or Zach was a guest vocal appearance Roni Size/Represents 2002 album In The Mode and on the Fahrenheit 911 soundtrack. This is a welcomed reunion of at a time the only band that mattered. Rage much like punk acts before them; MC5, The Clash, The Avengers took charge of issues and politics when no one was saying anything. Combining the attitude of punk and fusing it with the sound of furry of a modern Led Zeppelin and the soul and funk of Afrika Bambatta Rage was a no holds barred act that took no prisoners. If there was ever a time we needed them back with our current State of the Union, it is now. A Special thanks to the organizers of Coachella for this gift. The festival runs April 27-29 and tickets go on Sale Saturday at noon.

A full Coachella line-up will be posted soon.....

Joseph Arthur-Live on Letterman

One of my favorite artists from last year, Joseph Arthur performs the single "Slide Away" on "The Late Show with David Letterman," from a Fall 2006 taping. Enjoy!

Underrated Classic- Radiohead "The Bends"

This will be a new feature to the blog, each month I will hand select a record that I think is an underrated or overlooked classic from some of today's biggest artists. This is not to say that what is already classic from these musicians is not not worthy, because it most certainly is, but this is just some insight on deeper discs and cuts one may have overlooked.

In order to start this section off, this month we will look at Radiohead's sophomore disc 1995's The Bends.

The album unlike what the English greats are known for, Kid A, Hail to the Thief and Ok Computer, is a moody acoustic rock record that is the perfect segue on what is to come from the musical geniuses. The record kicks off with "Planet Telex" a gripping and captivating track that sets the tone and mood on what is to come. The album is a full on decrescendo closing with a slower tune, the magnificent, romantic and intense "Street Spirit (Fade Out)." The claim to fame to the record where the singles "High and Dry," and "Fake Plastic Trees," yet the best tracks are the cuts many outside of the bands fan base are unfamiliar with "My Iron Lung," and "Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was." These tracks prove that Radiohead is a rock band, unlike what many people want to label them as, indie, electro, ambient. They still stay true to their rock roots and those tracks solidify that idea. The album celebrating its 12th anniversary this year, is a true underrated classic, if you have not already get a copy of The Bends and see what you have been missing all these years.

Wish I Was Here...

Oasis guitarist, principle songwriter and sometimes front man Noel Gallagher joined Coldplay for a special version of the Oasis tune "Live Forever." Two of some of my favorite British bands of all time on one stage, really wish I was at this show.

Tickets already Dispatched

According to pollstar.com this morning, Tickets for the July 14 Dispatch Reunion concert are already SOLD OUT. Much to no surprise, the only thing surprising is it was only a Myspace Internet ticket Pre-Sale. Rumor has it a second show will be added July 13, hopefully this one opens up to the rest of us non Myspace users.

Dispatch to Dispatch

The most downloaded unknown band in the history of the Internet, Boston's very own Dispatch will be reuniting for one more show. Back in the summer of 2004 I had two options the day Dispatch would play their final show together. One option was to go up to Boston and see them, or go to Giants Stadium, and watch Italy's A.C. Milan play England's Manchester United from three rows behind the goal. I went with option B, the soccer game, full knowing for some reason this would not be the last time to see Dispatch. That fall I had booked Pete Francis to play at Quinnipiac, for a QAQ sponsored concert to promote his solo work and "the last Dispatch" DVD. Pete was great to work with and hundreds of fans flocked to the show. The success of the band is not too shabby considering they have only been played on college radio, the net and live shows. They have never been on MTV, never on a major tour, nor signed to a record label, but have had the support of OAR, Dave Matthews Band and Rusted Root and Napster founder Shawn Fanning, in fact, when Fanning testified in front of Congress in 2000, Dispatch sat behind him. Their last show in 2004 drew in close to 11,000 people from around the world, the city of Boston had no idea how this happened. People from Italy, Portugal, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia trekked to Bean town to see the unknown band play together. Now back for the first time in three years, Dispatch will reunite at the Worlds most Famous Area, New York's own Madison Square Garden for a show to raise awareness for the atrocities in Zimbabwe. The show is slated to take place July 14, start making arragments because I would not be surprised if the show sells out in record minutes.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

Today this years inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced. Those making the cut were pioneers of art rock R.E.M., Patti Smith (took them long enough pick her), Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, 1960s girl group the Ronettes and dysfunctional Van Halen. I am really happy to see R.E.M. get in this year, they are undoubtedly one of the best live acts I have ever seen. Unfortunately their new material is less than up-to-par, however in the early 80's they created a sound so orginal it would influence an influx of bands to come. You can hear the genius of R.E.M. is some of today's acts like The Shins, Pavement, Arcade Fire and Coldplay. With the other inductees to each their own, finally Patti Smith is making her way into the Hall of Fame. However, the only disappointment I have with the inductees is Van Halen, who I have no idea how they can revive an award without a singer, remember at the ceremony, the bands have to perform, who will fill in Diamond Dave, Van Hagger or the young and terrible Gary Sharon's shoes? To see Van Halen take the prestigious award over a certain punk band that got overlooked and has been overlooked Iggy Pop and the Stooges. Iggy and the Stooges were overlooked again this year and I cant seem to justify it. What Iggy and the Stooges and done for the punk movement in the early 1970's is unmatched. They were one of the first U.S. punk bands to produce a sound so unmatched and unrendered, especially from where they come from, the Midwest is a true statement all in its own. I feel for you Iggy, but then again as an ageing punk, maybe joining the establishment is the best thing for you and what you set out on your course in music.

A Video You Cannot Refuse

This vintage promo spot for The Joshua Tree, shows legendary band, U2, at their most unserious during their most serious time as musicians. This is an obvious precursor as to what will come with the band for years to come, Bono dressing up as his alter-ego's "The Fly," and "Macphisto" for the ZOOTV tour and poking fun at themselves on the PopMart Tour years later. Enjoy Ire lands gift to the world as they attempt to act like your typical Guido (yes my worlds have collided). Bono does however, pose a striking similarity to DeNero's young Vito Corleone in Godfather part 2.

The Police- Back on Patrol?

I have just found this article on Yahoo that I would like to share:

Police reunion rumors reaching fever pitch
By Jonathan Cohen
Rumors are swirling that the Police will reunite for 2007 dates in England and the United States, which would be the rock trio's first since disbanding in 1986.
Sources told Billboard.com the reports -- in the British press -- were legitimate, but they would not publicly comment until final details are nearer to completion.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of "Roxanne," the single that broke the Police in the United States. In a statement issued last month, A&M Records said, "It is our intention to mark the anniversary by doing something special with the band's catalog of songs. Needless to say, everyone is hopeful the band will support our plans and while early discussions have taken place, nothing has been decided."
Sources say in addition to DVD releases, A&M is planning another multi-disc collection in the vein of 1993's "Message in a Box," which featured the band's complete studio recordings and a handful of rarities.
A Police reunion has been the concert industry's dream for two decades, as it is believed the band could play stadiums internationally should it choose to reunite. But besides an impromptu set at Sting's 1992 wedding to Trudie Styler, the Police's only other post-breakup performance was in celebration of its 2003 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
And while Sting has repeatedly expressed reluctance at reuniting, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers have kept the flame alive. This summer, Summers told Billboard he was certain the group could have continued past its 1983 commercial peak with "Synchronicity."
"The more rational approach would have been, 'OK, Sting, go make a solo record, and let's get back together in two or three years,"' he said. "I'm certain we could have done that. Of course we could have. We were definitely not in a creative dry space. We could have easily carried on, and we could probably still be there. That wasn't to be our fate. It went in another way. I regret we never paid it off with a last tour."

My take: A Police reunion would probably be the ultimate of all reunions. As mentioned in the article, Andy Summers and Stuart Copeland were put on hold so that Sting could pursue more adventurous material as a solo artist. Copeland and Summers still probably think the band never broke up and are waiting on the main bass player himself. Sting left to pursue a solo career, a career that has obviously blossomed and has led him to experiment with everything from rock, electronica, adult contemporary and of course 15th Century Victorian classical. The man is a music genius, he has done everything he set out for as a solo artist, hell at his age he still practices the good old Karma-Sudra. So a reunion to the band that made his name in the industry is well worth it, in fact he does Police tracks during his live shows. It wasn't a bad break-up like the Beatles, no one passed away like in Led Zeppelin, he just left and they waited. Copeland and Summers have jammed Police tunes with everyone from Incubus (Who are probably just as excited to this rumor as I am) to countless others. What you need to remember is The Police were the first pop-punk band to make it big, if you only know them for their big hits (Roxanne, Message in a Bottle and of course the P.Diddy, or is it just Diddy now, sampled Every Breathe You Take), you are seriously missing out on some great music.

Here are some deep Key Tracks to listen to:
Born in the 50's
Do-Do-Do-Da-Da-Da
Synchronicity 1 and 2
Murder By Numbers
Walking on the Moon

A Wilhelm Scream Acoustic

Trevor, Guitarist and Principle songwriter for the New Bedford, Mass. thrash punk band A Wilhelm Scream does a fantastic, slower, acoustic version of their song "Me Vs. Morrissey in the Pretentious Cage Match," from their 2005 album Ruiner.