Psych-pop band Big Light will release Animals In Bloom, its first studio album, on March 2. The band will celebrate Animals In Bloom‘s release with a performance at San Francisco’s The Independent on March 4. The band will also play a California shows with The Mothers Hips, including stops in Santa Cruz (1/29-30) and Petaluma (2/5). Big Light’s next headlining show will take place at Berkeley, CA’s Starry Plough on January 21 (from jambands.com)
On March 8 Jimi Hendrix's estate will release a new album featuring a slew of unheard studio material. Tracks featured on 'Valleys Of Neptune', which is produced by Hendrix's stepsister Janie, along with John McDermott and Eddie Kramer, include covers of Cream's 'Sunshine Of Your Love' and Elmore James' 'Bleeding Heart'.
The original version of The Jimi Hendrix Experience rendition of 'Hear My Train A Comin'', along with alternate cuts of 'Ships Passing Through The Night' and 'Lullaby For The Summer' are also included on the album, which was recorded at several studios in London and the US between 1968 and 1970.
Janie Hendrix said that the album offers a "deep insight into [Jimi's] mastery of the recording process and demonstrates the fact that he was as unparalleled a recording innovator as he was a guitarist."
The tracklisting for 'Valleys of Neptune' is:
'Stone Free' 'Valleys Of Neptune' 'Bleeding Heart' 'Hear My Train A Comin’' 'Mr. Bad Luck' 'Sunshine Of Your Love' 'Lover Man' 'Ships Passing Through The Night' 'Fire' 'Red House' 'Lullaby For The Summer' 'Crying Blue Rain'
Looking for a great Valentine's Day date? Take your special someone to hear the soaring, angelical voice of My Morning Jacket's leading man, Jim James for this Hallmark created holiday. The performance will take place at Louisville’s Rathskeller and will also feature Boosty Ann. Cocktail attire is encouraged and everyone in attendance will receive a special Valentine’s Day rose courtesy of Jim James. Look at that, you don't even need to buy your significant other a present!
In other Jim James news, My Morning Jacket is currently working on a new studio album, while James' side supergroup Monsters of Folk is once again reported to be working on a follow up to 2009s debut album as well.
Soul legend Mavis Staples is currently working on a new album, and has enlisted the help of Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy as her producer. According to Billboard, Tweedy and Staples are working together at Wilco's Chicago studio, the Wilco Loft. And they've recruited a couple of other high-wattage singers to join the sessions: Nora O'Connor and Kelly Hogan, who have worked with Neko Case. The album should come out on Anti- this year. If any one has seen The Last Waltz, and I recommend everyone watch it at least once, Mavis Staples & The Staples Singers join The Band on their classic "The Weight".
It seems that virtually every March the legendary blues-rock band The Allman Brothers have taken a nice and lengthy residency at one of NYC finest concert venues, the Beacon Theater. Not all traditions last however, and seeing as how Cirque du Soleil's new show "Banana Shpeel" will be housed at the Beacon, the Allmans were forced to find a new home for their annual March run. After much deliberation, the group ultimately settled on the controversial United Palace, which is infamous for its echoey acoustics. To this fact, Gregg Allman stated “with our sound system, we’ll make our own damn acoustics.” That being said, the band will likely return to the Beacon in 2011, and we all know just how good they sound in that joint. Here's a nice video of the Allmans playing the Dead's "Sugaree" with Phil Lesh and Bob Weir
Guess what! More Phish news for all you fans out there. Well kind of, Trey Anastasio, lead guitarist and singer for Phish will be embarking on a solo tour in February. This tour will feature the classic TAB with the addition of a three piece horn section. For this run of shows Anastasio will be backed by Classic TAB members Tony Markellis on bass, Russ Lawton on drums and Ray Paczkowski on keyboards as well as a three-piece horn section featuring Jennifer Hartswick, Russ Remington and Natalie Cressman.
The Tour Dates:
02/08/2010 Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville VA 02/09/2010 9:30 Club, Washington DC 02/11/2010 Electric Factory, Philadelphia PA 02/12/2010 House Of Blues, Boston MA 02/13/2010 Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford CT 02/14/2010 Count Basie Theater, Red Bank NJ 02/16/2010 Terminal 5, New York NY 02/18/2010 Pabst Theater, Milwaukee WI 02/19/2010 The Riviera, Chicago IL 02/20/2010 State Theatre, Minneapolis MN 02/21/2010 Uptown Theatre, Kansas City KS 02/23/2010 The Pageant, St. Louis MO 02/25/2010 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville TN 02/26/2010 The Fillmore, Charlotte NC 02/27/2010 The Tabernacle, Atlanta GA 02/28/2010 Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville TN
Here's a larger version of the TAB playing "Push On 'Till The Day" at Bonnaroo a few years back
Set 1: AC/DC Bag[1], 46 Days, Water in the Sky, Bathtub Gin, Punch You In the Eye, The Moma Dance, Guyute, Swept Away > Steep, Demand > Seven Below, Lawn Boy, Julius
Set 2: Rock and Roll > Piper, Simple > Theme From the Bottom, Shine a Light, Ghost[1] -> NO2, Suzy Greenberg
Set 3: Party Time > Auld Lang Syne > Down with Disease, Fluffhead, Joy, The Squirming Coil, You Enjoy Myself
Encore: Blue Moon[2], Loving Cup
[1] Auld Lang Syne tease [2] Phish debut
Bag and Ghost contained Auld Lang Syne teases. Swept Away and Steep were played for the first time since July 1, 2000 (145 shows). Demand was played for the first time since November 14, 1996 (392 shows). N02 was played for the first time since July 13, 1999 (219 shows). Blue Moon was a Phish debut and was played while Trey thanked the entire crew. From the staff at phish.net, a very happy 10th anniversary to the Big Cypress celebration and a Happy New Year to all!
