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Friday, March 18, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
News / Jeff Hahne Band sells its name, now called BuyStock.net Band
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 12:26 PM
A trio from Seattle was looking to raise money to record an album... so they decided to sell the name of their band. The group, now called BuyStock.net Band, got $251,100 for the naming rights. Way to go... so, now you're rich and your band name sucks.
I have a question — what happens if you break up? Do you keep the money or have to pay it back?
They've released one song so far — it's not bad, but too bad you had to figure out a unique way to be discovered ... one that will leave the group more memorable for a stupid decision/band name than for the talent you may have.
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Interviews / News Chatting with Al Jarreau
Posted By Carlton Hargro on Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 3:51 PM
Singer Al Jarreau is one of only a handful of jazz artists who has managed to successfully reach a mass audience while still staying true to his musical roots. Serious jazz heads know him for tunes like his groundbreaking rendition of “Take Five” — while more mainstream music fans know him as the dude who sang the theme song for the old Moonlighting TV show. However you know Jarreau, be sure to check him out when he stops through Charlotte on March 20 (show information at the bottom of this artcile); he promises to put on a genre-bending show full of hits, both big and small (yes, even “Moonlighting”). We caught up with Al last week via telephone and chatted with him about his multifaceted career.
Creative Loafing: I was online a few weeks ago checking out performance videos of you online and found you doing your version of “Take Five” in 1976 (See video below). So far it’s been viewed more than 1,000,000 times. Do you have any particular recollections of that performance?
Al Jarreau: Well, a couple of things. It’s Al Jarreau just working on the scene, and it’s Al Jarreau doing some very unusual music for a singer at that time — and perhaps any time. I mean “Take Five” is a very special piece of music that takes a kind of special approach and understanding and ability to get comfortable with this rather unusually written, eclectic piece of music. I tell the story today on stage that whenever I see Dave Brubeck I tell him: “I know you wrote that song, but I’ve been doing it as long as you have — and I feel like you owe me some money!” (Laughs) Which is not the truth. But the truth is, I might have played that song as much as he has.
The way you were singing that song, it was kind of like you were mixing — similar to a hip-hop DJ, which came years later. It’s kind of interesting that you did that before hip-hop existed.
Isn’t that interesting? (Laughs) Al doing that stuff 20 years before it became the thing to do. Isn’t that interesting? Hello folks! Do I have to turn the spotlight on myself and drum roll? Gotdamn! Was Al a forerunner? Yeah he was … way out there. Ahead of the pack! (Laughs)
It’s funny to think that back in the day — with songs like “Moonlighting” and such — you were a pop star yourself. What do you think of the current state of pop music?
Oh my … man. I don’t recognize this sector of the universe! I don’t know what I would do coming along these days with my brand of music. I mean, the Esperanza Spladings are rarities; still, it’s encouraging to find that there are some young people who are seeing through to the real deal … seeing through the kind of haze of other stuff that can be “music.” Yeah, it’s a really different time. I just tell young people these days: “Just do it cause you love it.” … That’s been my approach.
So what do you have coming up?
George Duke and I have a little CD coming from 1965. In 1965, we played at a place called the Half Note [in San Francisco]. George was a student at the conservatory, and I was a social worker living in San Francisco and singing nights. We recorded on one or two nights. We just went through those tapes, and there’s some stuff there that we think is important for people to hear — Al Jarreau and the George Duke Trio 1965, doing some music that they’ve never heard me or George ever do. That’s coming toward the end of the month. And I’m gearing up for a big summer tour. And we’re working on a new studio record … brand-new material. We’re just really grinning about that. Ohhh wait till you hear this!
Show info: $38.50-$75.50. 7 p.m. Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St. 704-372-1000. www.carolinatix.org.
Videos / News Worst song this week — Rebecca Black
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Just got sent the latest viral music video and now my ears are bleeding. Seriously, this could be one of the worst songs I've heard in a while. It's pop, it's simple and the lyrics are, also, some of the worst I've heard in a while.
I hate to give this girl any more attention, as the YouTube video has more than 5.5 million hits, but the record company should be aware it's because most people are noting how awful it is and it's not because there's a shred of talent here.
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If the song was performed by Bob Dylan, it might sound like this:
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Lyrics:
7am, waking up in the morning
Gotta be fresh, gotta go downstairs
Gotta have my bowl, gotta have cereal
Seein’ everything, the time is goin’
Tickin’ on and on, everybody’s rushin’
Gotta get down to the bus stop
Gotta catch my bus, I see my friends (My friends)
Kickin’ in the front seat
Sittin’ in the back seat
Gotta make my mind up
Which seat can I take?
It’s Friday, Friday
Gotta get down on Friday
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the weekend, weekend
Friday, Friday
Gettin’ down on Friday
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the weekend
Partyin’, partyin’ (Yeah)
Partyin’, partyin’ (Yeah)
Fun, fun, fun, fun
Lookin’ forward to the weekend
7:45, we’re drivin’ on the highway
Cruisin’ so fast, I want time to fly
Fun, fun, think about fun
You know what it is
I got this, you got this
My friend is by my right
I got this, you got this
Now you know it
Kickin’ in the front seat
Sittin’ in the back seat
Gotta make my mind up
Which seat can I take?
[Chorus]
It’s Friday, Friday
Gotta get down on Friday
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the weekend, weekend
Friday, Friday
New Releases / News This week's new releases (3/15/2011)
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 8:16 AM
Here's a quick rundown of some of what's new in stores this week:
Travis Barker Give the Drummer Some
Black Joe Lewis Scandalous
The Fleshtones Brooklyn Sound Solution
Steve Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers Rare Bird Alert
J Mascis Several Shades of Why
Mastodon Live at the Aragon
New York Dolls Dancing Backward in High Heels
Rise Against Endgame
Monday, March 14, 2011
New Releases / Videos / News Video: Childish Gambino's "Freaks and Geeks"
Posted By Mike McCray on Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 12:43 PM
If the face looks familiar, it's actor, writer and comedian Donald Glover. If the name doesn't, he raps under the name Childish Gambino. As far as the video, there's no joking here, it's the song "Freaks and Geeks" from his latest release, EP.
Just dope, enjoy!
CD Reviews / New Releases / News Mixtape review: Childish Gambino's EP
Posted By Mike McCray on Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 12:43 PM
The Deal: Rapper, actor, comedian finds some time between stand-up and his NBC show Community to release some new music.
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Frank Ocean tops Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll
Annual critics list creates requisite buzz
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Scowl Brow Singer Robby Hale Burns Cross, Posts Pic to Facebook 3
Charlotte musician sparks anger on local music scene
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Checking out Chengdu
