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Monday, December 19, 2011
News Memorial service for Rodney Lanier ends with style
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Dec 19, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Rodney Lanier would have loved it. The 44-year-old musician who died suddenly on Dec. 9 while battling cancer was given a spirited send-out over the weekend.
On Saturday night at the Evening Muse, the Aqualads and a bunch of local musicians performed cover songs and holiday classics as a benefit for the Lanier Trust to help with funeral expenses. Mark Lynch, Snagglepuss, Bruce Hazel, Shawn Lynch, Alex Kastanas, Benji Hughes and the Houston Brothers participated. Rodney's band Sea of Cortez also played a brief set.
On Sunday, hundreds gathered at The Chop Shop for a memorial service. Along with a slideshow, some film clips and plenty of toasts, stories and speeches, Sunshone Still and Sea of Cortez performed. Sunshone Still thundered to a close as emotions peaked, while Sea of Cortez took a more solemn approach to close out the evening. Lanier will be remembered as much for his musical contributions as for his warm personality and smile, while countless local musicians, friends and family gathered for fellowship in remembrance.
The weekend events were capped off by a New Orleans style processional from The Chop Shop to The Evening Muse, as fire trucks led the way and helped to stop traffic. What started as a melancholy march quickly erupted into a sparkler-infused dance down North Davidson Street.
Credit goes out to all of the musicians, friends, family and venues who put all of the events together, including Joe Kuhlmann, Don Koster, Gregg McCraw and those closest to him in the last few months.
Here's a brief video clip of the processional down North Davidson Street last night:
More videos below...
Videos Brody & Choch's "Pool Day Hooray" video
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Dec 19, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Charlotte hip-hop duo Brody & Choch released a video for their song "Pool Day Hooray." Known for their upbeat live performances, the video includes a look at some of the group's performance at this year's CMJ Festival in N.Y.C. The music has an old-school vibe in the tradition of A Tribe Called Quest. Coming up, they've got a show scheduled at the Neighborhood Theatre on Feb. 23 with Shinobi Ninja and Soul Khan.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
CD Reviews / DVD Review CD/DVD review: Peter Gabriel's New Blood
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Peter Gabriel
New Blood CD/DVD
Real World; Release date: Oct. 2011
All too often, artists are offering reissues, remasterings, re-releases and anniversary editions of albums that might add a few B-sides but little else in the way of anything substantial. When I first heard that Peter Gabriel would be reworking some of his music, I didn't expect much as my initial thoughts were of remastered songs in some sort of greatest hits format. New Blood completely destroys any of those ideas.
Instead of taking the easy way out, Gabriel has re-imagined his music in the purest sense of the word. New Blood, a 14 track CD was released in October and followed by New Blood Live in London, a concert DVD of 22 songs in the same presentation.
On both, Gabriel is backed by an orchestra that brings new life to his music without the presence of a guitar, bass or drumkit. The orchestra enables not only new depth in the artistic vision of Gabriel, but intricate layering when appropriate.
Book Review Book review: Dead Letters
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Dead Letters: The Very Best Grateful Dead Fan Mail
By Paul Grushkin
Voyageur Press; 208 pages; $29.99
1989. 6 a.m. I'm sitting in my brother's maroon Volvo — the one with Grateful Dead stickers all over the back of it — listening to a Dead cassette tape with him and a friend while we freeze our asses off. We're waiting in a parking lot behind Jack's Music in Red Bank, N.J., until 9 a.m. when the ticket window opens so that we can buy tickets for the next Grateful Dead tour.
That's the way it was in the "old days." You want tickets? Get your ass up really early on a Saturday morning and camp out in line. It's either that or try your luck by phone calling into Ticketmaster with thousands of other people. Thankfully, Jack's usually sent someone out at 8 a.m. to give people wristbands so they didn't have to wait for the last hour and to relieve the stress of where they were in line.
Of course, the Grateful Dead did offer another option — ordering by mail. Try your luck at getting tickets in advance of the public on sale date by mailing in a check or money order. When Deadheads would send in mail, they wouldn't just send a plain 'ol envelope, they designed the hell out of 'em in hopes of being one of the fortunate enough to get picked. Grushkin's new book, Dead Letters, captures some of the best.
News Tribute, memorial for Rodney Lanier this weekend
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 11:39 AM
NoDa will be in a state of sad rememberance and joy-filled tribute this weekend as Rodney Lanier is remembered at two events. Lanier, 44, died while battling esophageal cancer earlier this month. He contributed to countless artists while also a member of Sea of Cortez and Jolene.
On Saturday night, The Aqualads and a number of local musicians — Benji Hughes, Mike Hendrix, Scott Weaver, Hope Nicholls, The Houstons and Mark Lynch among them — will perform a number of holiday tunes while promoting a CD they joined forces for. Originally planned as a benefit event, the show will still go on and help Lanier's family pay for any outstanding medical bills and funeral costs. Admission is $15. Admission and a CD is $20.
An Oso Grande Christmas from Chris Walldorf on Vimeo.
On Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Chop Shop, a memorial service will be held with music and storytelling in an effort to remember all of the great things about Lanier and his musical contributions. After the service, there will be a processional to the Evening Muse.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Videos Eliot Bronson pays tribute to Rodney Lanier
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 12:22 PM
Atlanta musician Eliot Bronson pays tribute to Charlotte musician Rodney Lanier with a song called, "Milwaukee." Lanier (Sea of Cortez, Jolene) died suddenly last week in the midst of a battle with esophageal cancer. Check it out:
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