Adam Taylor To Play Milwaukee Summerfest

One of my favorite musicians, Adam Taylor, is playing Milwaukee's Summerfest 2009. The festival which bills itself as The World's Largest Music Festival runs from June 25 - July 5. This mega festival comprises of 11 days, 11 stages and is hosting a who's who of music acts.

Taylor is playing on July 5 as part of the U.S. Cellular Emerging Artists Series. There is going to be an Emerging Artists Series Compilation CD that will be given out at the festival and some other events and promotions. They're asking people to vote for their favorite artist and the 11 artists with the most votes will be on the compilation.

Go HERE, check out all of the artists and vote for your favorite; you're allowed to vote once per day. Since I live in a democracy, I can't tell you who to vote for. If I could, I'd say vote for Adam Taylor! He of course, is my pick.

If you're going to the festival, go catch Taylor's show. If you're not going to the festival but you're in the area, go just to see him! We all know how much I like his live performances ... well, you do if you've read my past postings! He puts on an incredible show and is amazingly talented. Catch him before he turns legendary and you have to max out your credit card to see him.

adamtaylormusic.com
www.myspace.com/adamtaylormusic
www.summerfest.com

Hockey Set To Unleash Mind Chaos In August

Portland band Hockey will release their album Mind Chaos on August 24 in the UK and a day later, August 25 in the US. Hockey's sound is a fun mix of unabashed somewhat funky danceable pop-rock. There's plenty of opportunity to check them out for yourselves. They're on the road this summer, mostly across the pond, playing a slew of dates. But, they're hitting a few festival dates on this side of the pond too. They'll be playing the Sasquatch Music Festival in Quincy, WA on May 24; Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN on June 11 and Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL on August 7.

Hockey is offering up a couple of remixes for download. Download "Learn To Lose" (Labrinth Remix) HERE and "Learn To Lose" (Filthy Duke Remix) HERE.

Listen to the first single from Mind Chaos, "Too Fake" ... catchy song that I can't get out of my head!

Or, you can watch the "Too Fake" video by clicking the image.

www.myspace.com/hockey
www.hockeyband.co.uk

Ray Charles' Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music, Volumes 1 & 2 To Be Reissued

There is good news for Ray Charles fans. Charles' Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music and it's follow-up, Volume 2 will be reissued in one expanded 24-song CD titled, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volumes 1 & 2, on June 2 via Concord Records.

Many people were shocked when Charles released Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. But it wasn't that big of a stretch for Charles who grew up listening to radio broadcasts of The Grand Ole Opry. These works have sense become legendary converting non-country music listeners into listeners and changing the way many people perceived country music. I'd wager these records are in the collections of anyone who considers themselves major music fans. But, if they're not or perhaps you need a brand new shiny one, now's your chance to pick it up in a handy remastered CD. If I'm not mistaken, Volume 2 has never been released on CD before so that right there is a big deal of sorts. The disc will also feature the original liner notes by Rick Ward and Charles' longtime recording supervisor Sid Feller as well as new notes written by musicologist Bill Dahl.

To listen to “You Are My Sunshine” from Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volumes 1 & 2, with QuickTime, click the image. Click "HERE" to listen with Windows Media Player.

Track Listing

• Bye Bye Love
• You Don’t Know Me
• Half as Much
• I Love You So Much It Hurts
• Just a Little Lovin’
• Born to Lose
• Worried Mind
• It Makes No Difference Now
• You Win Again
• Careless Love
• I Can’t Stop Loving You
• Hey, Good Lookin’
• You Are My Sunshine
• No Letter Today
• Someday (You’ll Want Me to Want You)
• Don’t Tell Me Your Troubles
• Midnight
• Oh, Lonesome Me
• Take These Chains from My Heart
• Your Cheating Heart
• I’ll Never Stand in Your Way
• Making Believe
• Teardrops in My Heart
• Hang Your Head in Shame

Janid At Club Blvd Tonight

Electronica songstress Janid will celebrate the release of her third CD Twisted and kick off her Asylum-J Tour tonight, May 19 at Club Blvd. Also on the bill are Benny Ninja and Appolonia Cruz and DJ sets by Tony Rocca and DJ Chip Chop. It all kicks off at 7:00PM.

Have a listen to the title track "Twisted."

www.janidworld.com
www.myspace.com/janidmusic

Ash's Return of White Rabbit

Ash will release 26 new songs in 12 months titled A - Z Singles Collection. Starting in October, every two weeks for the next twelve months they release one single. The single will be available on 7" vinyl and digital download. All 26 songs, starting with "A" and ending at "Z" will be released on Atomic Heart records, Ash's own record label. They will be available through shops as well as the band's website by subscription.

To start things off, a bonus single, "Return of White Rabbit," has been released. It can be downloaded for free HERE or using the handy little widget below, starting today, May 18. A limited 7" inch will be available starting June 8. This bonus song isn't one of the 26 upcoming songs.

www.ash-official.com

Around New York ... May 18 - May 24, 2009

Upcoming shows in the New York area ...

May 18 -- Maya Azucena at Blue Note
www.bluenote.net
May 18 -- The Dirty Dozen Brass Band at Highline Ballroom
www.highlineballroom.com
May 19 -- Mikal Evans (pictured) at Spike Hill
www.spikehill.com
May 19 -- Joey Ramone's Birthday Party at Irving Plaza
www.irvingplaza.com
May 19 -- Southern Culture On The Skids / Los Straightjackets at Bowery Ballroom
www.boweryballroom.com


May 19 -- Saxon at at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
www.bbkingblues.com
May 20 -- Elvis Perkins In Dearland at The Bell House
www.thebellhouseny.com
May 20 -- Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers / Ford & Fitzroy at Pianos
www.pianosnyc.com
May 20 -- Nick Howard / Will Dailey / April Smith & The Great Picture Show at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com
May 20 -- The K's / The Spectacles / Love Camp 7 at Southpaw
www.spsounds.com
May 20 -- St. Vincent (pictured) at Webster Hall
www.websterhall.com
May 23 -- Oleta Adams at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
www.bbkingblues.com
May 24 -- Imani Coppola at The Living Room
www.livingroomny.com


May 24 -- Brit & The Cavalry at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com
May 24 -- The Bangles at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
www.bbkingblues.com

The BellRays Rock The Delancey

The BellRays: May 9 @ The Delancey, New York, NY

Last week, I went 'round to The Delancey. It's located conveniently, not far from Mercury Lounge, where I had spent the earlier part of my evening. I dashed over to The Delancey just in time to catch the last song by local band Sister Anne whom I hadn't heard before. The song I did hear, I liked. I'm going to have to check out their stuff.

I had a reason for my Saturday night dashing about. The BellRays were in town and were set to hit the stage at 11:30. If you don't know who they are, you should check them out. They're a great rock, punk and soul band. The band, Lisa Kekaula (vocals), Bob Vennum (guitar), Justin Andres (bass) and Stefan Litrownik(?) (drums) took the stage and all I can say is, DAMN! You just have to see them live to get a full picture of how bad ass they are. Kekaula is hands down one of the best female rock singers out there. Hearing her on record vs. hearing her live is like comparing an ice cube to an iceberg ... they're both cold but to witness one, the iceberg, up close and in person or in this case Kekaula, is breathtaking.

Their set was a whirlwind of sweaty take no prisoners rock 'n' roll. Other than the drummer needing a bit more punch to his playing, the band provided the perfect foundation for Kekaula to do her thing. It was over far too quickly. I could have listened to them for another hour. If The BellRays are playing anywhere near you, GO! They do a killer show that needs to be witnessed.

The photos ...

The setlist ...

www.thebellrays.com
www.myspace.com/thebellrays

Vanessa Williams Set To Release New Record, The Real Thing

Singer and actress Vanessa Williams will release her new record, The Real Thing, on June 2. This release, Williams' thirteenth, marks her debut on Concord Records and her first studio record since 2005's Everlasting Love. Williams who stars in "Ugly Betty" as the bitch you love to hate, Wilhelmina Slater, stepped back into the recording studio with a hand-picked batch of songs. The album's theme: relationships. Each song relates to the stages of modern-day love affairs as seen from a female point of view. The songs, two new works written for the CD by Babyface (“Loving You” and “Just Friends”), Bill Withers “Hello Like Before,” Stevie Wonder's “The Real Thing” and Bebel Gilberto’s “Close To You” are among the tracks that cover the many facets of Williams' musical stylings.

Williams said, "After playing a power-hungry character like Wilhelmina Slater on “Ugly Betty” on a soundstage for three seasons, it was a pleasure to step back into the recording studio and be myself behind the microphone. The familiarity and comfort of making music is always a joy to come home to." It sounds like Williams is happy to be back ... musically, that is.

To listen to the first single from The Real Thing, "Breathless," with QuickTime, click the image. Click HERE to listen with Windows Media Player.

Track Listing

• Breathless
• Hello Like Before
• Loving You
• The Real Thing
• Lazy Afternoon
• Just Friends
• I Fell In
• Close To You
• October Sky
• Come On Strong
• If There Were No Song

vanessawilliams.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Vanessa-L-Williams/77404979988
www.myspace.com/vanessawilliamspage

Fuse To Air Live Dave Matthews Band Show June 1

On June 1, the Dave Matthews Band will be doing a show at The Beacon Theatre in New York. The 2 1/2 hour show will air live on Fuse, commercial-free, starting at 9:00 PM ET. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the bands Bama Works Fund which supports charitable programs in the Charlottesville, VA area. The next day, their eighth studio effort, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King will be released.

To get you ready for the big live broadcast, Fuse will be airing seven days of original Dave Matthews Band programming beginning on May 30. During that time, a four-part original documentary "Dave Matthews Band: The Road to Big Whiskey" will air in support of the new album release. That's a whole lot of DMB. I believe some would call it fan heaven.

For more information about "Fuse Presents Dave Matthews Band: Live from the Beacon Theatre," go HERE.

www.davematthewsband.com
Fuse.tv/dmb

Video: Better Than Ezra - Absolutely Still

Better Than Ezra, Kevin Griffin (vocals, guitar), Tom Drummond (bass) and Michael Jerome (drums) released their new album Paper Empire this past Tuesday. For those in the New York area, Better Than Ezra are on the road and will be at Irving Plaza on June 19.

Watch the video for "Absolutely Still" below and download the single HERE.

www.betterthanezra.com
www.myspace.com/betterthanezra