Okay Vegas, here we go again. Tonight at Brooklyn Bowl is going to be a great show. I know, Thursday night, right before MDW and you’re resting up, saving money, etc. but do yourself a favor and scoop up a ticket to this show, you won’t be disappointed.
Fun Fact: Alejandro Rose-Garcia aka Shakey Graves was an actor on the TV show ‘Friday Night Lights’
Hope to see you there tonight! Now check out this video of Shakey Graves performing “Dearly Departed” live from the Pandora House at SXSW.
Sad day in music to hear that Ben E. King has passed away. Most will know him or rather his voice from his songs “Stand By Me” and “Spanish Harlem” as well as his time in The Drifters. My Father shared with me THIS great piece from the New York Times on Mr. King. Give a read, the music industry lost another legend.
Here’s the deal. My friend Charles Ressler is putting it all on the line tonight for his performance, BRAVE, at 8 p.m. at The Smith Center. There are still some tickets available and I hope you come out tonight for what will be a phenomenal show. Add on that the show benefits three charities near and dear to Charles: I Have a Dream Foundation of Southern Nevada, Opportunity Village and the Las Vegas Philharmonic and there are many, many reasons you should join me and many others at 8 p.m.
What’s it about:
Songs, Stories & Surprises weave a tale of courage, intrepidity, & a daring approach to living life. Love, aspirations, fear, loss, magic, possibility, compassion, empathy, will all be explored through music, stories, & a few surprises illustrating the remarkable resilience of the human spirit. See the show critics have called “nothing short of jaw-dropping,” “a spectacular and moving autobiographical, vocal performance unlike anything you’ve seen,” “A courageous performance that leaves you thinking if someone could stand up & pour it out like that, strutting, dancing & sharing pieces of himself, maybe the rest of us could too.” A show that will benefit some of the most important Organizations in Las Vegas.
Need more reason to come this evening? Click the links below to see previews:
Be BRAVE. See you there.
The looooooong anticipated film about N.W.A. doesn’t hit the big screen until August but released today, the trailer for Straight Outta Compton. You can read up all about the film from MTV, HERE but in short, the film revolves around the rise and fall of the Compton, California rap group N.W.A, and members Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella. Shout out to Paul Giamatti who plays the role of Jerry Heller, manager of N.W.A. Can’t wait for this to come out!
Fresh off the news that Mumford & Sons’ new album, Wilder Mind, is due out May 4, the fellas have even more exciting news to share! One of my favorite “tours” in recent years has been Mumford & Sons’ Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers and it’s back! Not only is it back but just look at these lineups, stacked with a ridiculous amount of great artists. Plus stoked to see Blake Mills on here. He’s in the spotlight right now for producing the Alabama Shakes sophomore effort and has a storied music career already but give a listen to his solo stuff, I think you’ll dig it.
Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers:
Seaside Heights, New Jersey, USA
June 5th + 6th – Mumford & Sons, The Flaming Lips, Alabama Shakes, The Vaccines, The Maccabees, Dawes, The Very Best, Jenny Lewis, Little May, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills + more TBA
Waverly, Iowa, USA
June 19th + 20th – Mumford & Sons, The Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, Dawes, Jenny Lewis, The Maccabees, The Very Best, Rubblebucket, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills + more TBA
Aviemore, Scotland, UK
July 31st + August 1st – Mumford & Sons, Primal Scream, Simian Mobile Disco, Ben Howard, Lianne La Havas, The Maccabees, Jack Garratt, Honeyblood + more TBA
Walla Walla, Washington, USA
August 14th + 15th – Mumford & Sons, Foo Fighters, The Flaming Lips, The Vaccines, Dawes, Jenny Lewis, TuneYards, James Vincent McMorrow, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills + more TBA
Salida, Colorado, USA
August 21st + 22nd – Mumford & Sons, The Flaming Lips, Dawes,
Jenny Lewis, The Vaccines, TuneYards, James Vincent McMorrow, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills + more TBA
I haven’t written on one these in a while. Feels good to get back into the swing of things on DoYouHearTheMusic.com. And in this case, time to bring back “Five For Friday” and get you coasting into the weekend with some music.
Music fans unite! July 3-5 Soldier Field, Chicago, be there. The four remaining members of the Grateful Dead (Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann) will get the band back together with a little help from some mighty talented friends including Trey Anastasio sitting on guitar and Bruce Hornsby and Jeff Chimenti on keys. It was July 9, 1995 the scene of what would be Jerry Garcia’s final show before passing and fitting that they return to that very place for these final three shows. Read more HERE from Billboard.
For me, it was June 19, 1995, Giants Stadium. My one and only Grateful Dead show. Bob Dylan opened. That memory has been with me ever since and at every The Dead, Furthur, Phil & Friends, Ratdog, Bob Weir, Dark Star Orchestra, Mickey Hart Band show I’ve attended since. I just hope I’m lucky enough to make it back for these final three shows.
Taking a break from music for a moment.
Back in 2003 I spent the summer following graduation in Los Angeles working a couple internships, one being with Samuel Goldwyn Films (we’re talking Mystic Pizza, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty). Little did I know this was going to be my entry into the wonderful world of entertainment. As I learned of the passing of Samuel Goldwyn Jr. I couldn’t help be think back to that summer and reading through potential scripts for the company to purchase, attending actor’s studio nights (okay only once) and screening movies. It wasn’t the longest internship but it provided me with a whole heap on knowledge in a short time that I’ve carried with me to this day. The entertainment industry lost a great one as did Samuel Goldwyn Films. Luckily for Samuel Goldwyn Films, it’s in the best hands with Myer Gottlieb as president, and I should know as he took a chance on a young 21 year old me. RIP Samuel Goldwyn Jr.
What a year it was for me in music. So good that I don’t want this year to end but excited to see what 2015 has in store. Below (in alphabetical order) are albums I was digging in 2014. I couldn’t limit myself to a number and I know I missed some too but here it is. What were some of yours from 2014?
††† (Crosses) – †††
Alt-J – This Is All Yours
Alvvays – Alvvays
Asgeir – In The Silence (US Release)
ASTR – Varsity (EP)
James Bay – Hold Back The River (EP)
Bleachers – Strange Desire
Benjamin Booker – Benjamin Booker
BØRNS – Candy (EP)
Broods – Evergreen
Catfish and The Bottlemen – The Balcony
Caribou – Our Love
Chromeo – White Women
Cloud Nothings – Here and Nowhere Else
Chet Faker – Built On Glass
Eric Church – The Outsiders
CRUISR – All Over (EP)
D’Angelo – Black Messiah
Madi Diaz – Phantom
First Aid Kit – Stay Gold
FKA Twigs – LP1
Flight Facilities – Down To Earth
Future Islands – Singles
G-Eazy – These Things Happen
Galantis – Galantis (EP)
The Gaslight Anthem – Get Hurt
Glass Animals – Zaba
Goat – Commune
Great Good Fine Ok – Body Diamond (EP)
The Griswolds – Be Impressive
Holychild – Mindspeak (EP)
Hozier – Hozier
Hurray For The Riff Raff – Small Town Heroes
In The Valley Below – The Belt
John Butler Trio – Flesh & Blood
Vance Joy – Dream Your Life Away
Jungle – Jungle
King Tuff – Black Moon Spell
The Kooks – Listen
Ray LaMontagne – Supernova
Jenny Lewis – The Voyager
Like Swimming – Structures
Los Colognes – Working Together
Manchester Orchestra – Hope
George Maple – Vacant Space
J. Mascis – Tied To A Star
Milky Chance – Sadnecessary (US release)
Blake Mills – Heigh Ho
MisterWives – Reflections (EP)
MØ – No Mythologies To Follow
Mystery Skulls – Forever
O.A.R. – The Rockville LP
Phantogram – Voices
Port Isla – In The Long Run (EP)
The Preatures – Blue Planet Eyes
Priory – Weekend (EP)
RAC – Strangers
Real Estate – Atlas
Royal Blood – Royal Blood
Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels 2
Sturgill Simpson – Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour
Spoon – They Want My Soul
St. Paul & The Broken Bones – Half The City
St. Vincent – St. Vincent
Sylvan Esso – Sylvan Esso
Todd Terje – It’s Album Time
Twin Peaks – Wild Onion
Tycho – Awake
Vacationer – Relief
The War On Drugs – Lost In The Dream
Warm Soda – Young Reckless Hearts
Warpaint – Warpaint
Ryn Weaver – Promises (EP)
Jack White – Lazaretto
Young Rising Sons – The High (EP)
Zac Brown Band – The Grohl Sessions Vol.1
Sadly another supremely talented one has left us for a place much better. RIP Joe Cocker, you will be missed. The legendary singer passed away on December 22 at the age of 70 having lost his battle with lung cancer. While the song “With A Little Help From My Friends” was originally a Beatles song, Cocker’s rendition made him a household name worldwide but for me, he was part of my childhood as the song was the theme song for “The Wonder Years.” His voice was iconic, his songs are legendary and he will definitely be missed. We’ve lost many amazing talents in 2014, but their music will continue to fill our ears with joy and happiness.
Do You Hear The Music? 