Cheeseburger in Paradise

Jimmy Buffett has taken over Don Ho's old venue in Waikiki...and to celebrate, he and the Coral Reefers will be playing the Waikiki Shell tonight, no doubt joined by Jake Shimabukuro.

Final February Music Digest

Axl Rose: Slash is a "cancer"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=36368

Green guitars

http://www.riverwired.com/blog/music-our-ears-green-guitars

An American band introduces jazz music to Vietnam

http://army.qdnd.vn/vietnam.Culture-Sports.cnews.22983.qdnd

A look at Raul Malo's new album

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/02/27/entertainment/e084313S77.DTL

And yet another appreciation of Snooks Eaglin

http://www.2theadvocate.com/opinion/40329097.html

Aloha, Snooks!

Legendary New Orleans guitarist Snooks Eaglin was laid to rest today in the Big Easy, after a traditional jazz funeral. Click on the post title for story and pictures.

Backstage Pass

A new book from rocker Joe Vitale, who during a long career has worked with 50% of The Beatles (John and Ringo), Neil Young, and a cast of thousands.

50 Reasons to Visit the 50th State

One reason is listed twice by mistake, but who cares?

Friday (Stupid) Music Digest

Mike Doucet and BeauSoleil pass the gumbo

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/26/AR2009022601095.html

Stupid Music comes to Galveston, the latest stop for "Ride With Bob"...

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=59ecc8191097f727

And more Stupid Music at iFest in Houston

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2009/02/lonesome_onry_and_mean_western.php

R.I.P. to Detroit jazz man Lyman Woodard

http://www.freep.com/article/20090226/ENT04/90226095

And our friends in Lowell have announced some of the shows in this year's music series at Boarding House Park!

http://www.bostonmusicspotlight.com/article.php?id=1940

I'd Like To Be...Under The Sea

Almost calimari?

Money DOES Grow on Trees

A lady in Pearl City Hawai'i finds a $5 bill...inside a coconut.

Life's a Beach?

Assuming Governors Island in NY harbor even opens this summer, the latest proposal is a beach in the parking lot behind Building 110, where I used to board my daily bus to go to Junior High in lower Manhattan. No swimming allowed!

The Rebirth of Big Pink

Latest on Waikiki's Royal Hawaiian Hotel...

Thursday Music Digest

Yet another great new band name-The Bad Plus

http://www.metroactive.com/metro/02.25.09/music-bad-plus-0908.html

Well-done fish and all that jazz

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-090225-food-jazz,0,2466440.story

Video from NRBQ's Spampinato Bros.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihDhnypw0a0

The 10th Cape Town Jazz Fest in London

http://www.redcarnationhotels.com/press-room/destination-news/19045947

And celebrating George Harrison's birthday with...ookeleles!

http://www.beatlesnews.com/blog/the-beatles/200902251608/ukulele-birthday-celebration-for-george-harrison.html

Blues Hall of Fame Class of 2009

An "august" class this time out-Reverend Gary Davis, Son Seals, Miss Irma Thomas, and former Kaua'i resident Taj Mahal. Here's a profile of "Hanapepe Dream"...

Hawaiian Steak

6 million cans a year!

Got Ferry?

The retired Massachusetts ferry destined for Governors Island sold Monday on eBay for $23,600. That's $476,400 less than the State of NY paid for it a couple of years ago.

Day-After-Fat Tuesday Music Digest

Buddy Holly, frozen in time....

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20090225/OSH04/90223074

Music for The Day After in New Orleans

http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2009/02/catch_irvin_mayfield_and_other.html

A new jazz fusion instrumental album...

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=30712

Pretty women playing ookeleles

http://www.boingboing.net/

And it's Wednesday, which means that Uncle Tom is gabbin'

http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg_article/uncle_toms_gabbin156/

Save An Island!

DISCLAIMER

Normally this is a politics-free blog, but this appeal (click on post title to sign the petition) involves sustaining funding for a true treasure, Governors Island.

Please help us!

Mahalo

"I Was Right About The Comet!"

Mysterious traveler...Comet Lulin! Visible right now in a sky near you (southeast sky)

Click on post title for a user manual.

Fat Tuesday Music Digest

Frenchman Street

http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2009/02/frenchmen_street_in_new_orlean.html

Bourbon Street

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hL7aZNCssidTM4QtZC_y7dqXTyfwD96HU84O0

Baton Rouge

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=9894091

Dr. John

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karen-daltonbeninato/notes-on-dr-john-and-mard_b_169369.html

And last but not least, the 8 best N'Awlins places to get an adult beverage

http://www.gourmet.com/winespiritsbeer/2009/02/eight-great-bars-in-new-orleans

Obligatory Tropical Island Post

Here's one of my college room-mates, Johnny Mac, on the beach at Molo'oa Bay on Kaua'i in 2003. John, his wife, father in law and I spent 8 days on the Garden Isle, and this was one of the highlights, as it's the exact beach where the pilot episode of "Gilligan's Island" was filmed-curiously enough, on Assassination Weekend 1963. At that time I was living about 120 miles to the east in Kailua.

John's wearing his official Little Buddy T-shirt. In the distance behind him is the platform where much of the "Gilligan" pilot episode was shot.

The majority of casual Garden Isle visitors have no idea where this beach is, as many of the best beaches on the island are off the beaten path, or unpublicized, or too overcrowded to bother with. We would have never known about this beach without having visited it on the Kaua'i Movie Tour.

Click post title for more Movie Tour info, and tell Marty from Lowell we said Aloha.

Bye Bye to Manny's

Back when my family lived on Governors Island in New York Harbor in the late 1960s, we would make weekend pilgrimages to lower Manhattan to "Radio Row", which was a densely packed area of surplus electronics and ham radio stores. Sadly Radio Row was razed to make room for the WTC Towers, which of course are now no longer there either.

We would also take the subway up to Times Square, as "Music Row" included some other electronics (and camera) stores. Music Row has since 1935 been anchored by Manny's Musical Instruments-which is about to call it quits.

Got Snow?

Another foot of global warming here on the hill...the jackpot was about 40 miles to our north, where Crawford Notch got 20 inches.

Things could get dicey later this week-we are supposed to get RAIN on Friday.

Lundi Gras Music Digest

A peek at the new U2 release

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2009/02/u2s-no-line-on-the-horizon-first-impressions.html

Blues for a new generation

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=286142&pub=1&div=Lifestyles

Essential (Fleetwood) Mac music

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0222-fleetwood-mac-side2feb22,0,4692395.story

Great songs about the Motor City

http://www.freep.com/article/20090222/ENT04/902220348

And the first studio album in 35 years from Little Old Tommy Rush from New Hampshire!

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2009/02/u2s-no-line-on-the-horizon-first-impressions.html

Kaua'i Helicopter Tour Photos

84 images!

Sunday Music Digest

A tour of the Taylor Guitars factory

http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=23510

Dick Dale sighting

http://www.examiner.com/x-1465-Music-Examiner~y2009m2d20-Dick-Dale-at-Guitar-Center

Interview with one of the owners of the House of Blues

http://www.patriotledger.com/entertainment/x309632171/Ackroyd-still-has-one-foot-in-the-blues

Chris Smither!

http://www.austin360.com/event/events2/etc/userEventDisplay.jspd?eventStatus=Approved&eventid=228120

And a look at the first women to record blues music

http://www.advocate-online.net/22009/WomensHerstory.php

Hit the Road

Yet another reminder that Oscar Voss has an ONO website dedicated to all of the roads and "Interstate" highways in the Aloha State. As usual, clicking on the post title should get you there.

Be sure to visit the "other Kaua'i" page, as he was kind enough to include a couple of shots I took in 2003, including one of the longest straightaways in the Islands.

Oscar is actively soliciting good quality Hawai'i road photos, so give him a hand!

Got Snow?

12 to 18 inches now on the way...

Short term /7 am Sunday morning through 6 PM Sunday/... significant winter storm to affect the County Warning Area sun and Sunday night...as energy dives into 500mb closed trough over the Great Lakes and begins to tilt it negative and close it off over eastern New England. This will allow for development of coastal low S of Long Island Sun morning. Models in good agreement on general scenario...but differ on exact track and timing. Agree with HPC assessment that a 12z Euro/GFS blend...slightly to skewed the less intense /and lower quantitative precipitation forecast/ Euro is the way to go...as it actually captures a nice consensus of many models and ensembles. Expecting precipitation to begin across southern New Hampshire and SW ME in the late morning...and across rest of the County Warning Area midday to early afternoon. Will likely see some rain mix in on the ME coast and seacoast New Hampshire...in fact...precipitation might start as rain...and could stay rain for a few hours on the coast from Casco Bay south into coastal New Hampshire. This will keep snowfall totals down in this area...enough to only put up an advisory in these areas. For the rest of the area...the track...and rapid intensification will lead to significant...and sometimes heavy snow. In the foothills and mountains...where southeast upslope flow will enhance snowfall...a foot to a foot and half of snow is likely in some spots by early Monday. Also...once the low passes late Sun night...will see west winds kick up...with gusts of 25-30 miles per hour expected after midnight...which could lead to some blowing and drifting of snow.

Rocky Discovers Kaua'i

A report from Firesign Theatre's Phil Proctor on his first visit to the Garden Isle. His conclusion? "We'll be back."

Samedi Gras Music Digest

Q & A with Ramsey Lewis

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/02/21/ramsey0221.html

Pop's perpetual Old Man is back on the road

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/21/arts/music/21cohe.html?hp

Top jazz releases of the past 7 days

http://uk.reuters.com/article/billboardCharts/idUKN2052591020090220

Stupid Music from Sister Wilene

http://www.record-eagle.com/features/local_story_051100217.html?keyword=topstory

And a look at Samedi Gras in LA

http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2009/02/new_orleans_mardi_gras_music_f.html

Friday Music Digest

A trumpet summit in Seattle:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2008764033_zmus20trumpet.html

The day the Muzak died

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123509874143929487.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

A new video from NRBQ's Terry Adams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUif-ngoOIE

Visiting western Louisiana for Mardi Gras

http://www.2theadvocate.com/entertainment/39871107.html

And a look at a New England band starting to make some national waves, Ernie and the Automatics.

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/online_downloads/ernie_and_the_automatics_low_expectations_streaming_on_ug_profiles.html

Hawai'i 1968

Poi-Boy Ron Jacobs has a new book out called "Obamaland", about the 1960s environment in Hawai'i that shaped our new President. Click on the post title for a review!

Nick Danger Sighting

"After months of inactivity, Austin finally posts two chapters of Beaver Teeth along with a lot of whining on the Blog of the Unknown."

Thursday Music Digest

Singing the Blues: SF Blues Fest cancelled after 30 years.

http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/music/2009/02/singing_the_blues_sf_blues_fes.html

A critic names his 5 favorite desert island albums:

http://www.timesnews.net/blogger.php?id=7856&postid=7264

Jazz mandolins in Maine

http://calendar.mainetoday.com/event.html?event_id=78466

Ann Hampton Calloway sighted

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/arts/music/19call.html

And opening night at the PDX Jazz Festival in Frasier-land!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2008756334_zmus18portland.html

Almost Time...

Maple syrup sap house, Gilmanton NH February 18, 2009

Note the large evaporator tubs out back!

Over The Hump

Regular readers of this blog may have noticed that the recorded snowfall amount on the right sidebar hasn't been updated for over 3 weeks.

That's because we have had no snowfall in the past 3 weeks.

However, it has been snowing nicely this eve, so we are about to go over a hundred inches. Film at 11.

R.I.P. Snooks Eaglin

(BluesAccesss.com photo, mahalo)

Sad news-one of my music heroes, New Orleans guitarist Snooks Eaglin, left the building after a battle with prostate cancer. I first encountered Snooks in 1988 on my voyage to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest, and I had lobbied the Lowell Folk Fest for years to get him up here, to no avail.

Snooks was a walking encyclopedia of American music, especially New Orleans music. Perhaps the latter was because he was right there...he started with a teenager named Allen Toussaint in the 1950s, and played gee-tar for just about every N'Awlins singer for years. He also wrote some of his own material, but was beloved for his great covers of others' tunes. He even did classical pieces on acoustic guitar.

Wednesday Music Digest

New high-life music from West Africa

http://dailyguideghana.com/newd/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2148&Itemid=245

Russian jazz meets Russian classical

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2008753964_zmus18crossover.html

A forum with Vanguard jazz legends

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/02/17/jazz-masters-bob-brookmeyer-and-dan-morgenstern-participate-two-forums-members-vanguard-jazz-orchestra/

A new marching band in the Big Easy

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/new_marching_band_for_budding.html

And talking story with Cyril Pahinui

http://www.hawaii.edu/cgi-bin/uhnews?20090212140006

Kaua'i-Made!

Classic 1970s band The New York Dolls have reunited with their old producer, Hanalei's Todd Rundgren, and their new album is due shortly. It was recorded at Todd's studio...

Tuesday Music Digest

Previewing the Melbourne Jazz Fest

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=30222

Another great new band name: Kill Van Kull

http://top40-charts.com/news/Metal-Hard-Rock/Kill-Van-Kull-The-Next-Step-In-The-Evolution-Of-Rock-&-Roll/46255.html

Attempting an ookelele world record

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090216/BREAKING01/90216071/-1

The best jazz guitar ever...

http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/content/view/3959/2/

And a reunited J. Geils Band will open the new House of Blues in Beantown....

http://news.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view/2009_02_16_J__Geils_Band_returns_to_kick-start_The_House_of_Blues/srvc=home&position=also

R.I.P. Louie Bellson

Louie was for many years married to Pearl Bailey. He was also a Vice President of the REMO Drum Head company, which makes the skins he played. They also make banjo heads.

Keeping Silent-Movie Music Alive

"Some people have their little tasks in life..."-Colonel Sherman T. Potter

Scary Flying Story

Remembering the 1956 ditching of a Pan Am airliner between Hawai'i and California. Includes 10 minutes of film taken by our Coast Guard friends!

The Incredible Shrinking Governors Island

More on the impending shutdown...

President's Day Music Digest

Jazz on the green in JA

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20090215T230000-0500_146289_OBS_ERNIE_RANGLIN__FOREIGN_ACTS_FOR_JAZZ_ON_THE_GREEN.asp

Is the jazz music world recession-proof?

http://www.jazz.com/jazz-blog/2009/2/15/is-the-jazz-world-recession-proof

Yet another great new band name-Abe Vigoda!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/02/album-review-ab.html

A New England guitar maker builds a West Coast network...

http://www.live-pr.com/en/new-england-guitar-builder-builds-west-r1048260322.htm

How to turn your iPhone into a guitar?

http://www.iphonestalk.com/turn-your-iphone-into-a-guitar-with-ishred/

And a pre-Mardi Gras throwdown in the Big Apple

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/events/nightlife/2009/02/23/090223goni_GOAT_nightlife

Scary Flying Story

46 years later, a re-enactment of Steve McQueen's famous motorcycle jump in "The Great Escape".

Sunday Music Digest

Phillip Glass' latest

http://www.mercurynews.com/music/ci_11700839

Saving a college radio station

http://www.tennessean.com/article/D4/20090215/NEWS01/902150323

Remembering the other musician killed in the Buffalo plane crash

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29196184/

Looking back at Gershwin

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-02-14-voa1.cfm

And how to protect your iTunes library

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=30033

Jorma Speaks

An interesting interview with the former Jefferson Airplane guitarist. But he doesn't answer the burning question-does he still go speed-skating in Scandinavia?

On The Road Again

Hawai'i Governor Lingle has released money to improve the wonderful road leading up into Koke'e on the Garden Island...

Saturday Music Digest

Taking a chisel to musical monuments

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/14/arts/music/14mile.html?ref=music

Miles and 'Trane + 50 years

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/14/arts/music/14mile.html

R.I.P. saxophonist Gerry Niewood, who was on the plane that crashed in Buffalo...

http://lohud.com/article/20090213/NEWS05/902130446/-1/newsfront

A Mardi Gras visit to Eunice Louisiana, home of late legendary Cajun musician Dennis McGee

http://www.thestar.com/Travel/article/585987

And your chance to win a Sponge Bob flying V ookelele!

http://www.toynewsmag.com/news/30875/COMPETITION-Win-SpongeBob-instruments

R.I.P. Corky Trinidad

Corky, the beloved longtime editorial cartoonist for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, lost a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 69, and started at the paper 40 years ago.

Samples of his 'toons can be seen here:

www.corkycartoon.com

Got Lava?

From our friends at Hawai'i Magazine, video of molten rock on the Big Island...

Wetlands Day at Kawainui

Guided tours of the swamp on Saturday!

Friday the 13th Music Digest!

Jon Hassell sighted

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-hassell13-2009feb13,0,6574440.story

Mingus!

http://www.mpnnow.com/news/x84118451/A-tribute-to-Mingus-among-us

Astral Project still tears it up

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0213-best-chicago-jazzfeb13,0,1271918.story

A man and his cheese

http://www.starbulletin.com/features/20090213_A_man_and_his_cheese.html

And Ookeleles and underpants in New Zealand...

http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/luggate/43124/ukuleles-and-underpants-add-festival039s-colour

Tornado on O'ahu?

One injury...

Thursday Music Digest

More on the Qatar Jazz Fest

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=272588&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

Classical music from...the Brubeck Brothers?

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/s_610861.html

Anger in Hawai'i over this year's Grammy award

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090212/COLUMNISTS02/902120326/1120

Aretha bails on JazzFest in New Orleans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7885214.stm

And Neil Young signs on to JazzFest in New Orleans

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2009-02-12-jazz-fest-young-franklin_N.htm?csp=34

Good Dog!

A 10 year young Sussex Spaniel is Top Dog...

Wednesday Music Digest

Jazz meets ballet in Ohio

http://www.thelantern.com/news/2009/02/11/Arts/Jazz-Moves.Take.2.Ballet.Is.Getting.A.Little.Jazzed.Up-3622683.shtml

A new music fest in Qatar

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=272386&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

Music review: "Where the World Ends"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/arts/music/11levi.html

'Iolani's virtuoso

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/20090211_Iolanis_virtuoso.html

And the eggheads at M.I.T. invent a new guitar!

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=213402573

Night of the Coqui Frogs in Hawai'i Kai

Invasive species.

"Wild Turkey Surprise!"

Just above Merrill Pond, whose headwaters are atop Saddle Hill...I actually managed to spook this turkey into taking flight a few seconds later. He ended up in a tree branch 40 feet up. Yes, they CAN fly!

We actually have some gourmet restaurants here in New Hampshire that prepare and serve these puppies, but I think I will pass.

Just Say Moe!

An old but still accurate restaurant review of one of our sammie shoppes.

February on Newfound

Newfound Lake with Mt. Cardigan overlooking, February 10 2009...

Pops!

A blogger's appreciation of Gabby Pahinui and his music.

Got Poi?

Taro production in Hawai'i is up. Most of the taro of course comes from the Garden Island.

Tuesday Music Digest

A new book traces jazz's West African roots

http://wiltonvillager.com/story/464813

Despite the economy, Festival Network keeps on going...

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/festivals-returning-despite-struggling-economy-1003939925.story

A New Hampshire high school band goes to Germany

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090209/COLUMNISTS14/302099953/-1/news

Review: "The Cradle Will Rock"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/arts/music/10crad.html

And a Stupid Music neophyte discovers The Tiffany Transcriptions!

http://www.avclub.com/articles/infinite-evenings-with-bob-wills,23596/

Good Dog!

A nice story...a rescued Border Collie will represent his breed at tonight's Westminster Dog Show.

The Road More Traveled

In praise of Connecticut's Mother Road, the Merritt Parkway.

Worst Grammy Award Snubs

Caution, foul language!

Local Guy Makes Good!

For the first time in the 30 year history of our Meredith Fishing Derby, the same fisherman won both first and second prizes. And he's a local to boot! For his trouble he won over $30,000 worth of goodies.

Monday Music Digest

R.I.P. jazz singer Blossom Dearie

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-blossom-dearie9-2009feb09,0,4427856.story

A look at a great radio station

http://www.dailyvidette.com/news/2009/02/09/Features/News-Blues.And.All.That.Jazz.At.Wglt.Radio-3618779.shtml

A chat with the NY Times classical music critic

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/business/media/09askthetimes.html

A challenge: record an album in 28 days!

http://www.rpmchallenge.com/

And Stupid Music at the Grammy Awards

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090208/TUNEIN/90208027/1005/ENTERTAINMENT

Grammy Awards Early Results

A partial list. Nice to see Mike Doucet and friends win the Louisiana title.

I'm My Own Grandma

Written by KGMB9 News - news@kgmb9.com

Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho won the 2009 Grammy award for Best Hawaiian Music Album. The pair collaborated to produce the album titled "Ikena."...It's the first time since the Hawaiian Grammy was introduced in 2005, that the award was not given to a slack key guitar compilation.

Assessing Coral Reef Health

Starting a Pacific coral reef disease network? Sounds like a good idea.

Sunday Music Digest

A timeless album called "Astral Weeks"

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0208-van-morrisonfeb08,0,1801963.story

Louisiana nominees for Grammies

http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2009/02/lil_wayne_leads_the_back_of_ne.html

Miles College and All That Jazz

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/02/dave-brubeck-an.html

No one stays young forever...

http://www.indypendent.org/2009/02/06/no-one-stays-young-forever-but-some-rock-on/

And a John Mooney sighting!

http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2009/02/music_in_new_orleans_for_sunda.html

2009 Fishing Derby Images

Got Fish?

Our town of Meredith, NH has hatched a new neighborhood on the bay. This weekend is our annual ice fishing derby...$60,000 worth of prizes this year.

The weather is being kind-after making us all freeze our arses off in December and January, the air temp has warmed up nicely.

Stupid Music Interview Unearthed

A 1978 KLAC interview with the Father of Stupid steel guitar, Leon McAullife, and Art Satherly, the legendary recording engineer. In mp3 format; right click the post title and save-as.

Saturday Music Digest

Glen Campbell, secret Monkee?

http://www.examiner.com/x-2232-SF-Country-Music-Examiner~y2009m2d6-Glen-Campbell-secret-Monkee

Etta James isn't happy:

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090206/ENT09/902060388

Don't forget the drummer

http://blogs.abc.net.au/articulate/2009/02/dont-forget-the.html

Grammy predictions from Creative Loafing...

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/vibes/2009/02/06/grammy-predictions/

And Mardi Gras comes to Vermont

http://news.alpinezone.com/48632/

Aloha to Dewey Martin

(PNW Bands blog photo)

Drummer Dewey Martin of the classic short-lived band Buffalo Springfield died January 31st of unknown causes. He was 68.

Some of the other members of that band included Richie Furay, who later went on to form Poco; bassist Jim Felder, who later joined the very first version of Blood, Sweat and Tears and then stayed with them thru their next incarnation, and last but not least a couple of guys named Steve Stills and Neil Young.

Niihau Fish Kill Triggers Consumer Warning

"The kill of near-shore fish over the past week in the normally pristine waters off Niihau has prompted an investigation led by both the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Health."

Friday Music Digest

Day-by-day schedule for JazzFest in New Orleans announced:

http://www.nojazzfest.com/

Benny Golson plays Monk!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/arts/music/06gols.html

Remembering the man behind the Chuck Brown music

http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/He-wrote-the-soundtrack-to.4953706.jp

Movies and music merge

http://www.wickedlocal.com/marlborough/fun/x1851004878/Movies-and-music-merge

And roots reggae in northern California

http://www.times-standard.com/entertainment/ci_11633563

All Greek To Me...

Google News Alert for: Niihau

夏威夷
京华网 - 北京,China
... 岛(Niihau)及卡胡拉戚岛(Kahoolawe)。 她又传统又很现代，保有夏威夷本土文化却又亮丽奇妙，如此奥妙的配合，常常吸引了每年来自各国数以百万计的观光客接踵而至。 ...

The Real McCoy

No, not the doctor on "Star Trek". A visit with a newly named Country Music Hall of Fame member named Charlie. He will be joined in this year's class by Barbara Mandrell and "Little Roy Halsey" from "The Beverly Hillbillies", better known as Roy Clark.

Got Ferry?

Coming to eBay: one slightly used ferryboat. Needs work!

Thursday Music Digest

Threadgill in Vermont

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/entertainment/ci_11633184

Grammy-tically correct?

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainmentfeatures/view/406947/1/.html

Behind the scenes at Monday's Buddy Holly show

http://www.kcci.com/news/18634825/detail.html

The Grammy powerhouse you've never heard of

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/05/unknown.grammy.categories/

And an Alison Krauss sighting...

http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=5436

Jazz In The Rockies

The 2009 Telluride Jazz Fest lineup includes our friends ReBirth Brass Band fron N'Orleans...

Punk Music in Hawai'i?

"I did not know that!"

Weds. Music Digest

And yet another great band moniker-Rupa and the April Fishes

http://events.sfgate.com/san-francisco-ca/events/show/85860946-rupa-and-the-april-fishes

Earshot Jazz Awards handed out in Seattle:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2008703675_zmus03earshotresults.html

A new "southern rock track pack" for Guitar Hero

http://www.examiner.com/r-6193963~Creedence_s__Commotion__coming_to_Guitar_Hero_World_Tour.html

Preview of the upcoming London Guitar Show

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113628

And a visit with one of my favorite funk bands, Galactic from New Orleans

http://www.pitch.com/2009-02-05/music/new-orleans-funk-band-galactic-skirts-the-hip-hop-frontier/

50 Years Later

A review of last night's epic concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Iowa, 50 years to the night after the music died.

Tuesday Music Digest

Swedish jazz in Beantown

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/02/02/the_sounds_of_music

R.I.P. sax great Hank Crawford

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/02/AR2009020202976.html

A review of "Willie and the Wheel"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/02/02/entertainment/e074200S29.DTL

Dent May and His Magnificent Ookelele

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/02/dent-may-his-magnificent-ukulele-the-good-feeling.html

And American roots musicians battle for the elusive Grammy Awars

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-02-02-voa56.cfm

Governors Island Shut Down

Gov. David Paterson put no funding for the island in his executive budget this year.

Monday Music Digest

The Golden Ear Awards

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2008695782_zmus02earshot.html

A new teenaged jazz singer from Down Under

http://www.dailymercury.com.au/story/2009/02/01/Charlotte-boumford-music-mackay-debut-album/

A poet pays tribute to "dead rock stars and dirty guitars"

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24994051-16947,00.html

Yet another great new band name-the Heartless Bastards?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/arts/music/01healy.html?_r=1&ref=arts

And Brian Wilson wows them in his hometown of LA

http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE51109120090202

Get Along, Little Dogies

A visit to the Parker Ranch on the Big Island of Hawai'i.

Honu!

How the turtle got its shell...

6 Years Ago Today...

US Apache Helicopter crews were on a training mission on the morning of February 1, 2003. Their gun-camera footage picks up the shuttle as it enters the atmosphere over Central Texas...click post title for video

We Travel the Spaceways

Auroral Corona Over Norway
Credit & Copyright: Frank Andreassen

Higher than highest communications tower, higher than highest mountain, higher than highest airplane, lies the realm of the aurora. Auroras rarely reach below 60 kilometers, and can range up to 1000 kilometers. Aurora light results from energetic electrons and protons striking molecules in the Earth's atmosphere. Frequently, when viewed from space, a complete aurora will appear as a circle around one of the Earth's magnetic poles. This particularly rare purple auroral corona occurred in 2004 high above Harstad, Norway.

Battle of the Beach

More on the erosion battle facing Kailua Beach.

Happy Birthday Don Everly

Today's Don Everly's 72nd birthday. Phil hit the big 7-0 last month. We saw them live in 2003 when they toured with Paul and Artie.

Sadly they have no official website; click the post title for a link to their fan club, "The Beehive"...

First up, a 1961 clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKn6h2x5IcY

Late 60s, on the Smothers Brothers show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKfJBfRrSX8&feature=related

From a couple of decades later, they do "Why Worry" with a couple of special guests, including the song's composer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rD6qiffsIA&feature=related

And here they do a tune by Sir Paul McCartney

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRb8_4dQkBM&feature=related

Sunday Music Digest

A new album imminent from NRBQ spin-off the Rip-It-Ups

http://www.theripitups.com/music.shtml

Another Top 10 List-this one is best jazz releases of 2008

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/02/01/top-10-jazz-records-of-2008/

Battle of the Bands at Berklee

http://www.connpost.com/ci_11591093?source=most_emailed

Remembering the great Voice of America jazz show host Willis Conover

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-01-31-voa1.cfm

And playing the boredom blues-a new theory as to the genesis of Stupid Music

http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2009/01/31/west_texas_music_icons/doc49848665ef614026065751.txt