Saturday, July 18, 2009

Musician & producer John Simon joins Levon Helm tonight.


John Simon will be the opening act for this evening's Levon Helm Midnight Ramble. John is a great man as we met him almost one year ago. He has deep musical roots as both a performer & producer with The Band, Janis Joplin & many others. Tonight is a special night & we wish we could be there.

Happy b'day Jon Taplin!


Happy b'day to former road manager for The Band & Bob Dylan, Jon Taplin. Jon was also a producer for The Band's famed rock doc The Last Waltz. He is now a professor in CA. Check out his blog:

Friday, July 17, 2009

Happy b'day Spencer Davis!


Spencer Davis turns 70 today.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Remembering Julia "Judy" Lennon today...


It was on this day in '58 that John Lennon's mother passed away from injuries sustained during an automobile accident @ the age of 44.

Happy b'day to the late Woody Gutherie!


The famed folk artist would have turned 97 yesterday. He passed away in '67.

Woodstock '69 photog's revised & autographed "Woodstock Vision" photo book now available.


Thanks to Rick Danko's (The Band) frmr publicist Carol Caffin for the heads up on famed Woodstock '69 official photog & Woodstock, NY area resident Elliott Landy's revised photo book Woodstock Vision. We just ordered our copy of his autographed book. Landy has always had a talented eye & is a very wonderful & warm person.

Jim Weider July dates.


From Jim Weider's online newsletter:

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS!!!!!
the Berkeley Cafe show july 19th is cancelled and moved to the Pour House Music Hall in Raleigh NC at 5PM july 19th
Check out The review of "PULSE "is up on Jambands.com http://www.jambands.com/CDReviews/content_2009_07_13.01.phtm
l
  JIM WEIDER'S PRoJECT PERCoLAToR
Rams Head On Stage
Date: July 16, 2009
Time: 7:30pm
33 West Street,
Annapolis, MD 21401
ProJECT PERCoLAToR , featuring Jim Weider -Guitar,Rodney Holmes -drums ,Mitch Stein - guitar , and Steve Lucas -bass will be performing the new CD "PULSE" and more ! also opening the show is Janiva Magness Website is: tickets.ramsheadonstage.com.
Phone : 410.268.4545
Link to event:
http://tickets.ramsheadonstage.com/eventperformances.asp?
evt=38&c=1&pg=5
Doors are at 7pm, show is at 7:30pm.
(Tapers welcome as the club allows)
JIM WEIDERS PRoJECT PERCOLATOR
Double Door Inn
Date: July 17, 2009
Time: 9:00pm
1218 Charlottetowne Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28204
ProJECT PERCoLAToR , featuring Jim Weider -Guitar, Rodney Holmes -Drums ,Mitch Stein - guitar , Steve Lucas -Bass will be performing the new CD "PULSE" and more ! (Tapers welcome as the club allows http://www.blogger.com/www.doubledoorinn.com
704) 376-1446
JIM WEIDERS PRoJECT PERCOLATOR
THE BLIND TIGER
Date: July 18, 2009
Time: 9:00pm
2115 Walker Ave
Greensboro, NC 27403
ProJECT PERCoLAToR , featuring Jim Weider -Guitar, Rodney Holmes -Drums ,Mitch Stein - guitar , Steve Lucas -Bass will be performing the new CD "PULSE" and more ! (Tapers welcome as the club allows http://www.blogger.com/www.theblindtiger.com
tel#(336) 272-9888
JIM WEIDER'S PRoJECT PERCoLAToR
The Pour House Music Hall
Date: July 19, 2009
Time: 5:00pm
224 S. Blount St.
Raleigh NC 27601
ProJECT PERCoLAToR , featuring Jim Weider -Guitar, Rodney Holmes -Drums ,Mitch Stein - guitar , Steve Lucas -Bass will be performing the new CD "PULSE" and more ! (Tapers welcome as the club allows 4:00pm doors / 5pm show CD Release Summer Sweat Down Matinee Tickets 919-821-1120 http://www.blogger.com/www.the-pour-house.com

Monday, July 13, 2009

Little Sammy Davis joins Levon Helm & his band.


Thanks goes out to Butch Dener for his review of this past wkd's Midnight Ramble, featuring a return by the little big man Little Sammy Davis following a late '08 stroke. Great to hear he's back in the saddle.


Man,,, Little Sammy Davis returned to The Ramble last night with a vengence.Fred Scribner, his long time friend & partner in the Blues, brought THE MAN up to the Barn & they did 25 minutes before Arlen Roth scorched the place.Sammy's recent stroke was evident but he still wailed on his harp & vocals. noticibly softer & slower, Sammy proved that LESS IS MORE !!!!his soft harp proved very effective in his phrasing & intonation,,, it really worked with his style of the Blues. Fred is a master on his acoustic blues style & knows Little Sammy so well he cushioned him ,, supported him & let him shine where & when he could !! a Triumphant return of the Man & he showed what Levon & I learned the hard way,,,, MUSIC IS THE HEALER !!!!& the BLUES heals the best !!!Welcome Home Little Sammy - ( KUDOS to Fred Scribner for bringing Sammy & helping his rehab with music ! )Oh Yeah,, the rest of the evening was exceptional with Jimmy Weider's duel with Larry on Chest Fever - SCORCHINGLY HOT !!!Larry's duels with the horns of Howard Johnson, Erik Lawrence & Clark Gayton on Deep Elum with Weider along for the killer ride was memorable,,as well as Weegie & Erik on Teresa & Amy's poignant It Makes No Difference - WOWOWOWOWEEEEEE !!!!Amy's " Everybody Loves A Winner " is fast becoming classic !Long Black Veil, too by Teresa with that amazing band behind her,, supporting her delicately strong lyrics,- amazing !!!ATTICS OF MY LIFE !!!! just Teresa, Amy & Larry - Levon & everyone else stepping off & just floating with those HARMONIES !!! WOW im telling ya,, words cant do this version justice,,,, AMAZING !!!off to JFK airport with two Italian musicians that want to go back home.nasty traffic with the MUTTS in town, today @ CitiField - OY !!!

bd

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Levon Helm's version of the Dead's "Tennessee Jed."


A great opening tune for Levon Helm & his band's new album Electric Dirt. Both Levon & his musical partner in crime & fellow Grammy winner Larry Campbell, have an association w/ the Grateful Dead who made the song a Dead staple on its live 1972 Europe album (lyrics by Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter). Helm & The Band frequently joined forces w/ the Dead on big concert bills - Woodstock '69, Festival Express & Watkins Glen. Campbell has performed w/ the Dead & Phil Lesh.


For Electric Dirt, Helm & band prove a five-plus-minute rendition that is wonderful in vocals & instrumentals (especially the drumming varied pace). Here are the lyrics:


Cold iron shackles, ball and chain,

Listen to the whistle of the evenin' train.

You know you bound to wind up dead,

If you don't head back to Tennessee Jed.


Rich man step on my poor head,

When you get back you better butter my bread.

Well, do you know it's like I said,

You better head back to Tennessee Jed.


Tennessee, Tennessee, there ain't no place I'd rather be,

Baby won't you carry me back to Tennessee.


Drink all day and rock all night,

The law come to get you if you don't walk right

Got a letter this morning, baby all it read,

You better head back to Tennessee Jed.


I dropped four flights and cracked my spine,

Honey, come quick with the iodine,Catch a few winks, baby, under the bed

Then you head back to Tennessee Jed.


Tennessee, Tennessee, there ain't no place I'd rather be,

Baby won't you carry me back to Tennessee.


I run into Charlie Fog,

Blacked my eye and he kicked my dog,

My doggie turned to me and he said,

Let's head back to Tennessee Jed.

I woke up a feelin' mean,

Went down to play the slot machine,

The wheels turned around, and the letters read,

You better head back to Tennessee Jed.


Tennessee, Tennessee, there ain't no place I'd rather be,

Baby won't you carry me back to Tennessee.


Here's a link to the guitar tab page & an early '90s video of the Dead performing the beautiful tune: