Near Long Island, Moultonboro NH. Barely visible as a tiny white speck above and to the left of the lonely pine tree is Mt. Cardigan, which is some 30 miles west.
Believe it or not, this is not the smallest island on Lake Winnipesaukee. But it's darned close.
Craig on Saddle Hill photo, March 21 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Bonsai Island
Aloha, Auntie Maria
Auntie Maria has sold the mele.com Hawaiian music retail site and it will move from its current Kaua'i address to Mau'i.
In her own words:
"MELE.COM has been sold -- I'm leaving retailing, but will still be active in the island music industry as a voting member of the Hawai`i Academy of Recording Arts, and with my two radio shows....The website will close on April 15 as the transfer of ownership is made to my friend, Fred Krauss on Maui. He will reopen the site as quickly as possible -- so you can continue to depend on
MELE.COM as your one-stop shop for island music!"
A Match Made in Heaven
Details on this year's 15th annual R.C. Cola and Moon Pie Festival in Tennessee...
A Tasty New Stupid Music Release
Germany's Bear Family has done it again, this time with a great new release featuring the best of steel guitarist Leon McAuliffe's work from the late 1940s and early 1950s, after he had left Brother Bob and the Texas Playboys. It's called "Tulsa Straight Ahead".
Leon even covers the 50s doo-wop classic "Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)".
Tuesday Music Digest
An interview with Butch Trucks
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/72279-the-music-thats-all-its-about-an-interview-with-butch-trucks/
A review of that new Dylan tune I mentioned yesterday. Apparently it's still available online.
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/03/30/bob-dylan-unveils-together-through-life-opener-beyond-here-lies-nothin/
Booker T's new band-the Drive-By Truckers!
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/booker-t-s-new-band-the-drive-by-truckers-1003957138.story
Blue Note Records' Magnificent 7
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20090331_Magnificent_7__Tour__album_revisit_legendary_Blue_Note_s_jazz_classics.html
And singing to save the music
http://www.mpnnow.com/news/x1818257389/Singing-to-save-the-music
Hot Stuff!
Yet another band has popped up to celebrate the Gypsy music of Django-The Hot Club of Hulaville. Located in Hawai'i, of course.
Monday, March 30, 2009
New Dylan Music
Today Bob released a single from his upcoming new album called "Beyond Here Lies Nothin'" as a free MP3 download. Click the post title to get started.
But hurry, it's available as a free download for today only. It's a 6.95 mb Zip file.
Oh, the song is GREAT, by the way! Features David Hidalgo from Los Lobos on accordion and Mike Campbell from the Heartbreakers on guitar!
Monday Music Digest
Prince (remember him?) plays 3 shows in one night in LA
http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/03/prince-prince-p.html
(Keith) Urban Renewal
http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2009-03-29-urbans-renewal_N.htm
Jazz in New Orleans: a 2009 status report
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32349
Jazz review: Eric Friedlander's Broken Arm Trio
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/arts/music/30barb.html
And fresh thoughts on new music
http://www.freep.com/article/20090329/ENT04/903290334/1039/ENT/Fresh+thoughts+on+new+music
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Hole In The Wall
Sandwich Notch, NH...this pass, though nowhere near as spectacular as its larger counterparts, has an equally fascinating history, available by clicking the post title.
Photo by Craig on Saddle Hill, sometime in March 2009.
We Travel the Spaceways
Greatest Hits of the Hubble Space Telescope!
Here's a 1990 shot of the Cat's Eye Nebula. Click the post title for more images.
Coco Palms, Chapter 9,437
A community group has formed on Kaua'i with hopes of purchasing the shuttered resort, best-known as a filming location for Elvis' "Blue Hawaii".
Sunday Music Digest
An interview with Beatles film co-star Victor Spinetti
http://www.examiner.com/x-2082-Beatles-Examiner~y2009m3d27-Victor-Spinetti-on-the-Beatles-Taylor-and-Burton-and-that-AHDN-sweater
A record store owner makes a pilgrimage to Clear Lake Iowa
http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/mar/29/0329_hollytrip/
R.I.P. to folklorist Archie Green
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-archie-green29-2009mar29,0,7892010.story
Bela Fleck sighted
http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=131618
And another roundup of new releases
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/03/29/critics_picks___pop_music
Saturday, March 28, 2009
More Music
A roundup of recent music from the Hawaiian Islands. Actually one of the new releases is by the Canadian Jake Shimabukuro...
Saturday Music Digest
A review of Bobby Dylan's latest
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/03/snap-judgment-b.html
Remembering the late Lou Rawls
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/leadertimes/s_618091.html
Stupid Music with The Flatlanders
http://www.austin360.com/music/content/music/stories/2009/03/032809flatlanders2002.html
An interview with Phoebe Snow, who even mentions how "Poetry Man" has been covered by Na Leo from Kailua!
http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/all-snow.6820710mar28,0,756696.story
And Face to Face with Ian McLagan
http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?storyID=17301
Friday, March 27, 2009
Himalayan Cloud Generator, Eastern US Version
Looking north from Moultonboro Neck...on the left is the Whiteface Range, but the major point of interest is that puff of white in the middle, which is Big George-aka Mt. Washington.
Sap Season Update
I previously showed some pictures of the "traditional" New Hampsha maple syrup sap gathering paraphenalia, namely the metal buckets.
Here's the next evolution, plastic tubing attached to several maples at the same time, all draining into a central container. In this case, a brand new plastic garbage can is fine.
Winona Road, Meredith NH March 27th.
On Location
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the epic film "South Pacific", part of which was filmed on the very spot where I took this picture in 2003.
R.I.P. Larry Glick
(WBZ Photo)
Larry was the Dean of overnight Boston talk radio from 1967 until 1987. WBZ's clear-channel signal reaches 40 states after dark, so he had a wide audience. Sad to say, I never did win a Glick University T-Shirt.
Aloha, "Commander".
Friday Music Digest
R.I.P. to singer Dan Seals
http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1607787/dan-seals-singer-of-bop-love-on-arrival-dies-at-61.jhtml
Caribbean jazz with a touch of class
http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,97469.html
A ragtime festival starts today in Minnesota
http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/view/133618/60/
A preview of JazzBoston's JazzWeek '09
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=32675
And yet another great musical name, Kitten on the Keys
http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=10375
Thursday, March 26, 2009
A 23 Minute Tour
In "Howard's New Life" (1967), a later episode of "The Andy Griffith Show", Howard Sprague sees a tropic isle on a teevee travelogue show, and decides to chuck it all and move to an island in the Caribbean.
He winds up on the fictional island of "St. Benedict", which is only accessible by boat from Trinidad, and soon meets the island's friendly store-owner (played by the great Harry Dean Stanton, left).
Turns out that Harry's store is full of derelict Howards who moved to the same island before Howie did, and are now reduced to building ships in bottles. Click post title for imdb info.
"Wanna buy a ship?"
Live Semi-Firesign Alert
Rocky will be performing live the next two weekends:
"They Killed Him Dead" and "Flame City" at the Stories From the Golden Age Theatre in Holllllywood.
Saving a Music Venue
Anyone (like Craig from Saddle Hill) who's been to Ojai California has probably seen the "Libbey Bowl", an outdoor music venue similar to but much smaller than some other La-La Land shells. Here's the latest on the efforts to save it.
Sunlight In Vermont
My insane mountain-climbing cousin Boyd finally completed his project to summit all of the New Hampshire 4,000 foot tall mountains in winter. This has been done many times by gweebs in the summer months, but it takes a little more patience to do it when the weather is cold.
His last summit was Mt. Washington, aka "Big George". He took this nice shot of sunset over the Green Mountains of Vermont at his campsite above timberline.
Thursday Music Digest
The hazards of guitar picking
http://www.mndaily.com/2009/03/26/hazards-guitar-picking
A preview of this year's French Quarter Festival in N'Orleans
http://offbeat.com/artman/publish/article_3590.shtml
And some tasty N.O. music is coming to New Hampshire tonight
http://www.newhampshire.com/calendar/details.aspx?eventDate=3/26/2009&eventID=15664
A look ahead to the annual Festival Internationale de Jazz de Montreal
http://top40-charts.com/news/Jazz/Festival-International-De-Jazz-De-Montreal-Celebrates-30-Years/47192.html
And the first winners of the new Baker Artist Awards
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bal-baker-awards-0325,0,1156911.story
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Slack Is Back
Guitar that is. These guys reguarly show up on my annual Christmas music CDs. Pity they are only to tour out West.
Wednesday Music Digest
R.I.P. to Motown "Funk Brother" Uriel Jones, who drummed on many of the classics in the 1960s.
http://detnews.com/article/20090325/ENT04/903250400/1424/ENT04/Hard-rockin++drummer+was+key+Funk+Brother
The lineup for this year's Rochester (NY) Jazz Fest is announced:
http://rochestercitynewspaper.com/entertainment/guides/2009/03/JAZZ-FEST-09-Line-up-announced/
Benny Goodman rides again!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123792358139028827.html
Frank Zappa does Letterman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EptH-RyYElQ&feature=related
And it's Wednesday-which means Uncle Tom is gabbin'
http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg/
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday Music Digest
Trumpet Magic
http://www.boston.com/ae/events/articles/2009/03/24/trumpet_magic
Sacred jazz
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32072
Another roundup of new music and music video releases
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/03/24/cdrev0324.html
Musical quilts
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=29796
And R.I.P. to Nashville music legend Ted Jarrett
http://www.whnt.com/news/sns-ap-tn--obit-tedjarrett,0,6116858.story
Monday, March 23, 2009
Doing A Train
A rather large HO railroad layout.
More people need hobbies like these, keeps the riff-raff out.
Aloha to "Bloody Sock"
Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, who brought us our first World Series title in over 80 years, is calling it quits.
From his blog (click post title for the entire text):
"This party has officially ended. After being blessed to experience 23 years of playing professional baseball in front of the world’s best fans in so many different places, it is with zero regrets that I am making my retirement official."
We're #1
For the first time, a new study shows the safest state in the US is...New Hampshire. Maine is #2, North Dakota #3, Vermont #4, and South Dakota #5.
"New Hampshire is ranked No. 1 for the first time thanks to impressively low crime across the board. It boasts the nation's lowest murder rate and second-lowest aggravated assault and burglary rates."
Rankings in Crime (out of 50 states)
(1 = Worst, 50 = Best)
Assault: 49
Burglary: 49
Murder: 50
Motor Vehicle Theft: 47
Rape: 39
Robbery: 43
Winter's Last Gasp
What's likely the final Arctic air blast of the season is sitting over us this morning. 3 hours ago it was down to 14 degrees, and now it is a balmy 18. It's 4 degrees "warmer" at the Laconia Airport just a few miles to my east, but that's 500 feet lower in elevation and not near the top of a hill.
Monday Music Digest
Balloting's underway for Country Music Entertainer of the Year.
http://www.cmt.com/news/hot-dish/1607462/hot-dish-five-good-choices-for-acms-entertainer-of-the-year.jhtml
Don't fear the reverb!
http://www.examiner.com/x-1621-Orange-County-Music-Examiner~y2009m3d22-The-Eliminators-dont-fear-the-reverb
The Victorian party city
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1103958_the_victorian_party_city
Music on the South China Sea:
http://www.scena.org/blog/2009/03/traditional-thai-to-contemporary-jazz.html
And a profile of jazz guitarist Julian Lage
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32007
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Sunday Music Digest
Musical diversity in Africa
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-newafrica22-2009mar22,0,7877086.story
Classical jazz
http://www.jacksonville.com/community/my_nassau_sun/2009-03-21/story/his_passion_is_classical_jazz
Cajun musician and author Ann Savoy has a new band
http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2009/03/ann_savoys_sleepless_knights_a.html
A round-up of new releases
http://www.freep.com/article/20090322/ENT04/903220338/1039/ENT/New+music+from+Indigo+Girls++Amadou+&++Mariam++more
And a concert review of the Allman Brothers Band...who had a guest guitarist with them.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/21/arts/music/21allm.html?_r=1
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Big Wave
A review of the new deluxe DVD release of the Disney film "Lilo and Stitch", which was set on the south side of Kaua'i. In brief, it's highly recommended.
Remembering "The Texas Tornado"
A review of this week's star-studded tribute at SXSW to the late Doug Sahm (who was known to play Stupid Music himself on occasion).
Saturday Music Digest
Another wunnerful band name, Bitch and The Exciting Conclusion
http://www.toledofreepress.com/2009/03/20/bitch-is-back-with-exciting-new-band/
Dent May and His Magnificent Ookelele play SXSW
http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/music/entries/2009/03/20/sxsw_review_dent_may_and_his_m.html
More on the passing of New Orleans' Eddie Bo
http://themusicsover.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/eddie-bo/
Layoffs at Gibson Guitar
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2009/03/16/daily40.html
And a mandolin workshop
http://www.cybergrass.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=6091
Friday, March 20, 2009
We Travel The Spaceways
Florida music/photography blogger Ernie (Not Bert) has some nice new shots up of his efforts to photog the Space Shuttle launch the other night.
He's also got some great bird shots, as usual!
Ludwig Brings Back Ringo's 1964 Drums
This classic 4-drum 3-cymbal drum kit was well-known from The Beatles' debut on US TV, on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.
The first 100 sets will feature Ludwig's 100th Anniversary badge on each drum. Recommended price is $4285, stands not included.
R.I.P. New Orleans Pianist Eddie Bo
One of the last of the classic N.O. pianists has left the building...
Saturday With The Sons
For you folks on the island of Kaua'i. the Makaha Sons will play a free outdoor concert Saturday at 1 PM in Po'ipu, at Prince Kuhio Park.
Speaking of The Sons, they have already penciled in Saturday, September 26th for their annual benefit concert here in New Hampshire...
First Day of Spring Music Digest
A guitar Mad Scientist!
http://www.mpnnow.com/news/x1331533596/RIT-Professor-Mad-scientist-on-guitar
A preview of Pete Seeger's 90th birthday bash:
http://www.seeger90.com/
Those Darlin's play SXSW
http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/music/entries/2009/03/19/sxsw_review_those_darlins.html
Fiddlin' around with Stupid Music fiddler Leon Gibbs
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/mar/20/at-88-leon-gibbs-still-fiddling-round/
And a preview of the upcoming tour of Uncle Chickie and Johnny McLaughlin, Electric Guitarist...
http://www.modbee.com/scene/story/636954.html
Thursday, March 19, 2009
All You Need Is...An Independent Download
Latest on the never ending saga of making the Fab 4's music available online. As Son of George Dhani Harrison says about him and the others: "We're losing money every day."
New Hampshire Rock Star Convicted
Hmmm, never even knew she lived around here...Ossipee's about 20 miles east of Saddle Hill as the crow flies, and has long been little-known for anything other than being a waypoint on the road to Maine-but now the town is gaining favor due to some excellent resaturants.
Mount Ossipee, which looms over the town, is New Hampshire's version of Haleakala but with vegetation. It's an ancient collapsed volcanic crater.
OSSIPEE, N.H. (AP) — Rock icon and former Playboy Bunny Dale Bozzio has been convicted of animal cruelty in Ossipee.
Click the post title for the news story. Sorry, no pictures.
No Sign of "Little Jerry"
Sad to say, one thing has remained unchanged in Hawai'i since I lived there over 40 years ago-the idiots still have cock fights. Looks like they broke up a major ring on the Garden Isle...
Thursday Music Digest
Jazz Fathers and Sons
http://www.newburyportnews.com/pulife/local_story_077225221.html?keyword=secondarystory
A new DVD from Sun Ra
http://www.antimusic.com/news/09/march/16Sun_Ra_Arkestra_DVD.shtml
Forgotten Stupid Music artist Hank Penny
http://www.the9513.com/forgotten-artists-hank-penny-1918-1992/
Ivan Neville sighting
http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/mar/19/0319_jukebox/
And a preview of this weekend's Kamehameha Song Fest in Hawai'i
http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/15200/40/
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tasty Food
Just added some "Great Vittles" links on the right sidebar; these are a few more local eateries here in central NH.
Sal's Pizza is out of MA and has a great variety of tasty pies. Their "single slice" of pizza weighs nearly a pound.
Mike Love's LemonGrass is an outstanding Pan-Asian/Pacific Fusion place that opened in 2006. Sad to say, Mike himself left the building last year, but his idea rolls on.
Newick's was long a Seacoast-only clam shack, now it's got a new location in Concord. They also let you eat free on your birthday!
New Weather Gadget
I've added a new searchable weather link near the bottom of the page, just before the RSS links.
50 Years Ago Today...
On this day in 1959, President Eisenhower signed the Act of Congress making Hawai'i the 50th State. However, today's "anniversary" will go widely unnoticed...
Wednesday Music Digest
6 new guitar CDs
http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Lifestyle/Features/6%2Dnew%2Dguitar%2Dcds%2D317/
A 10-foot-tall Les Paul?
http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Lifestyle/ArtistsAndEvents/Stories/Miami%2DGuitarTown%2DPreviews%2D317/
A review of the Tampa Bay Blues Festival
http://www.tampabay.com/features/music/article984807.ece
A legendary Detroit jazz club tries to stay open
http://www.freep.com/article/20090318/ENT04/903180307/Famed+jazz+club+sings+the+blues
And it's Wednesday in Kaneohe, which means Uncle Tom is Gabbin'
http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg/
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Mud Fighter
Here's what our Meredith road crew uses to rake our gravel roads in this part of town. These are only used during Mud Season, as the rake tines break up the clumps of mud so it can better drain.
Up In Smoke
New Hampshire's world-famous match factory, DD Bean, was shut down last week by....a FIRE.
Hawai'i SuperFerry Grounded
The State Supreme Court has ruled that the waiver of an Environmental Impact Study was unconstitutional.
St. Patrick's Day Music Digest
Lá Fhéile Phádraig sona dhaoibh!
Another great band name-Death Cab for Cutie.
http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/music/articles/2009/03/16/20090316deathcab.html
Remembering the "Texas Tornado", Doug Sahm:
http://www.austin360.com/music/content/music/stories/2009/03/0317sahm.html
Jazzman Dred Scott returns
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/16/DDM116G5QU.DTL
Music in Hanoi
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/2009/03/836397/
And another Q & A with guitarist Jim Hall, who was also featured yesterday!
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32278
Monday, March 16, 2009
Monday Music Digest
A new history of Stupid Music
http://hnn.us/articles/60972.html
Jim Hall, the elegant guitarist
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32155
Samba time!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/arts/music/16fest.html?ref=arts
A preview of SXSW
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/6312141.html
And Gumbo Nation
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32241
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Return to Uncle Chickie!
The 2 CD live album of Return to Forever's 2008 reunion tour comes out Tuesday! Includes bonus material, including an appearance by Sir George Martin.
We Travel The Spaceways
Yale has contracted to use the twin telescopes on Mauna Kea to look for something.
Sunday Music Digest
Playing ookelele with Arthur Godfrey
http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=107058
A chat with jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove
http://www.greenwichtime.com/ci_11916437
Music and a meal!
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009/032009/03142009/452231
W.C. Handy lives
http://www.latimes.com/features/books/la-ca-wc-handy15-2009mar15,0,5553377.story
And so does Bessie Smith
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/nyregion/new-jersey/15playnj.html?_r=1&ref=music
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Weekend at Arb's
Here's another local gem.
Arbutus Hill Pond is a mile from Saddle Hill, and is accessed from the other side.
Saturday Music Digest
The conductor of the Honolulu Pops celebrates his 10th anniversary with the band:
http://www.starbulletin.com/features/20090314_wood_craft.html
The Manhattan School of Music's Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=31699
The Korean Beat!
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/031309/ent_408686180.shtml
A rebound in New Orleans music
http://in.reuters.com/article/hollywood/idINTRE52D0BL20090314
And the Best Music on Youtube, volume 51
http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-best-of-youtube-51-200092
Friday, March 13, 2009
Tick...Tick...Tick...
Time is running out in the battle of the budget over Governors Isle in NY Harbor. The GI Commission approved a $12 million budget yesterday, but of course they don't have the money.
Friday the 13th Music Digest
Wow, two months in a row with the 13th falling on a Friday?
A preview of the 15th South African Music Awards
http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=958778
Jazz meets Puerto Rican folk music
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-zenon13-2009mar13,0,2204227.story
R.I.P. to a jazz legend, Concord Music's Hal Gaba
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-hal-gaba13-2009mar13,0,313946.story
John Cruz at SXSW
http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/music/entries/2009/03/12/behind_the_sxsw_buzz_john_cruz.html
And a chat with Dhani Harrison
http://uk.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUKTRE52B0XE20090312
Thursday, March 12, 2009
C + K
Legendary Hawai'i duo Henry Kapono Kaaihue and Cecilio Rodriguez will get the Hawai'ian Academy of Recording Artists Lifetime Achievement Award this weekend.
Island Images
Stumbled across this wild blog today created by a classical pianist who lives in NY City. One of the pages is images he shot on a visit to my old hometown of Governors Island in New York Harbor, including a haunting photo he took of the front-door name plate of our family's "home building", Building 111. We were A2.
Q! Q! Q!
The assorted fans of NRBQ who also play musical instruments have over the years had several fly-by-the-seats-of-their-pants musical jam sessions, especially associated with reunion shows by the band. This year will see the Mother of All such jams.
Thursday Music Digest
John Zorn's "radical Jewish music"
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/11/DDGL16CQPI.DTL
The latest web music sensation, Kutiman!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/11/AR2009031102986.html
A new "women of jazz" release features world jazz ladies
http://www.voanews.com/english/Entertainment/2009-03-10-voa49.cfm
Sweetness and the blues
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/opinion/12thu4.html?_r=1
And a Bonnie Raitt sighting
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-bonnieraitt_0311gd.ART.State.Edition1.4a63c40.html
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Smart Dog!
A stray Border Collie in Texas named "Hopper" becomes the first dog in history to recover a piece of a meteorite...
That Time of Year Part 2
Mud season in New Hampshire is also maple syrup season. Most producers no longer use the traditional sap buckets like these, seen just below Saddle Hill on Upper New Hampton Road, but instead use blue plastic tubing with multiple taps leading to a common container.
It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup.
That Time of Year Part 1
My road is under "pass at own risk" status for the first time in many years-that's how bad the mud is. We've already had a couple of vehicles get stuck. This is just below Saddle Hill...
Guitar Fest!
From Guitar World Magazine, the 10 worst-dressed rock guitarists. Yes, pictures included.
Hawai'i Goes SXSW
Honolulu Weekly has a nice preview of the 5 Hawaiian bands who will be at the annual SXSW Festival in Austin Texas.
Wednesday Music Digest
And another great band name-The Bad Plus
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2008837443_zmus11badplus.html
R.I.P. to Philly music promo man Ralph Mercado
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20090310_ap_salsapromoterralphmercadodeadat57.html
Black music at Carnegie Hall
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hTWoS3FQU1z_4J2oH8AuDAU9APoAD96RDOV01
New Hawaiian music from Canada
http://www.thestar.com/Travel/article/599695
And Wednesday means Uncle Tom Moffatt is gabbin' in Kaneohe
http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg/
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Chef is in Da House!
I got an e-mail from "Chef Otis" in New Orleans yesterday, who has a great blog dedicated to New Orleans music. We are going to do a link swap, so click on this post title or in the links on the right pane to get to the Pelican State.
JazzFest Art
Click on the post title to see this year's 2009 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival posters, which are on sale now.
The "keynote" poster features N.O. musical dean Allen Toussaint, the Congo Square poster features Trombone Shorty, and the How-Ah-Yah shirt this year features pianos!
The basic poster is $69; these typically show a nice value appreciation in a few years, even in a slow economy.
Tuesday Music Digest
6 slow kings of the 6-string guitar
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2008832124_zarts09slowguitar.html
The return of the Vermont jam band Phish:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1606564/20090309/phish.jhtml
Meet the new dukes of ook
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2009/mar/09/new-ukulele-champions
Yet another great band title-Ken Field and the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32021
And a Louisiana librarian keeps the Cajun culture alive
http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20090309/ARTICLES/903091968?Title=Thibodaux-librarian-helps-preserve-Cajun-culture
Monday, March 9, 2009
Yahoo!
Pepsi has announced it will be releasing limited "throwback" editions of Mountain Dew and Pepsi itself. These will be available for 8 weeks nationally beginning sometime next month. These will both be sweetened by natural sugar, not high fructose corn syrup.
Pepsi will also start marketing Pepsi Natural, a high end premium cola, but only in limited areas.
"Big Pink" Re-Opens
A report from Hawai'i Magazine on Saturday's gala re-opening of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Includes a slide show of all the fun.
Stormy Monday Music Digest
The first of our famous March snowstorms is blasting us this morning. In March of 2001 we got 7 FEET of the stuff.
A free-spirited drummer
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32048
High art without the snootiness
http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=3546
Music review: "Sacred Concerts" in the Big Apple
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/arts/music/09sacr.html
Jelly Roll!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2009/mar/09/jelly-roll-morton-red-hot-peppers
And longtime NRBQ e-mail lister Paul Cirincione has a new musical entry at "Paul's Vault".
http://www.paulsvault.net/
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Sitting On Top of the World
Went snow shoe exploring this weekend. Report:
The post title's an old song that Bob Wills re-arranged and make swing, but this is the more or less "true summit" of Saddle Hill. This shelter was designed and built about 40 years ago and despite some weathering on the lower levels it's held up fairly well. A Polish guy whose name I can't remember is credited as the designer and builder on the plaque attached to the shelter.
It sleeps 2 people comfortably, 3 with crowding. I replenished the shelter larder with 2 boxes of dry chicky noodle soup base. One of these years I will actually try and sleep there.
Bobcat tracks in the snow observed, also snow flea infestations, as well as ski trails by left behind two CC skiers who kindly signed the visitors log at the shelter.
The December 2008 ice storm had minimal impact, but did knock down one tree at the outlook viewpoint, which is good, not bad.
Hole In The Wall
Pileated Woodpecker results on Saddle Hill, circa March 2009
The Pileated is the hugest one we have around here-size of a crow.
Winter Meltdown
Major melting going on here on Saddle Hill. And the road is a sea of mud. Luckily the temp will drop below freezing later today after being above the 32 degree mark since early Saturday.
Sunday Music Digest
Ridin' on the City of New Orleans....
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/travel/stories/2009/03/08/anntrain.ART_ART_03-08-09_F1_3PD3GRV.html?sid=101
The magical sounds of Brasil
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/03/08/the_magical_sounds_of_brazil
Corky Siegel sighting
http://www.jazzpolice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8180&Itemid=116
A look at the spring season of SF Jazz
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/07/PK3L1650EN.DTL
And learn how to play jazz guitar!
http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/content/view/4151/2/
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Saturday Music Digest
A music fest in Koke'e
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090306/BREAKING01/90306098/-1
A new interview with NRBQ's Terry Adams
http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/tampacalling/2009/03/05/interview-terry-adams-former-keyboardist-for-nrbq/
Day-after birthday salutations for Mr. Wills
http://newstreamz.com/2009/03/06/the-weekend-happy-birthday-bob-wills
A chat with Tony Bennett
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20090306/LIFESTYLES0101/903050391/-1/lifestylesfront
And music as therapy in Cajun Louisiana
http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=9964282
Friday, March 6, 2009
Guitar Fest!
The Honolulu Sar-Bulletin reviews the new greatest hits album from slack-key great Reverend Dennis Kamakahi. Includes mp3 samples.
Friday Music Digest
More Stupid Music Weekend festivities
http://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/features/local_story_064115548.html
Marsalis meets Monk
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/40792642.html?elr=KArks:DCiUo3PD:3D_V_qD3L:c7cQKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
In the Mood in Yuma
http://www.yumasun.com/articles/swing_48392___article.html/band_yuma.html
Ookelele players wanted in Britain
http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/leisure/Ukulele-players-wanted/article-742021-detail/article.html
And R.I.P. to the great Piedmont blues guitarist John Cephas, who many of us saw at the Lowell Fest about a decade ago with his longtime partner Phil Wiggins.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29515975/
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Got Snow?
And I thought we had a lot of snow. Saskatoon blows us out of the water. Click the post title for pics.
Last Stop, Barking Sands
The Kaua'i Bus is starting on-call bus service to the Pacific Missile Test Range on the far southwest part of the Garden Isle. Only for anyone authorized to go on-base, of course.
Kaua'i pre-Barking Sands roadway photo by Craig on Saddle Hill, circa May 2003...
Thursday Music Digest
NRBQ fan Bobby Dylan will release a new album next month:-guesting will be Los Lobos' David Hidalgo on Louisiana Air Compressor:
http://www.nme.com/news/bob-dylan/43231
Looking at the San Francisco Jazz Collective
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=776254&category=ARTS
Painted on Water, yet another great new band name!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29508877/
Boney James sighted
http://www.voanews.com/english/Entertainment/2009-03-03-voa40.cfm
And Dave Edmunds rips it up...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpqYU3Nzbts
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Wednesday Music Digest
Bolero time
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/03/prweb2205924.htm
A roundup of new releases
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/03/03/new-reviews-u2-neko-case-the-prodigy-wild-light-and-more/
Music to cook by
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/allyoucaneat/2009/03/03/music_to_cook_by_ill_take_pizz.html
George Wein seeking to take back control of Newport festivals?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/arts/music/04wein.html
And yes, a Stupid Music story!
http://www.jazz.com/jazz-blog/2009/2/11/bob-wills-tiffany-one
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Tommy!
Happy Birthday to original NRBQ drummer Tom "The Time Bomb" Staley, who left the band to raise a family but still sits in with assorted Q's from time to time in this century. Tom is also a major Weather Report fan, as he long ago had the chance to play with their tragic bassist Jaco Pastorious.
Here's Tom at the NRBQ 35th Anniversary show, photo courtesy of his website. Of course Gumby and I were up in the balcony for this show, so didn't get quite this close.
Jake on Tour!
Hawai'i's ookelele shredmaster Jake Shimabukuro kicks off a US tour this Saturday to support his new live album, which goes national in mid-April. Click on post title for tour dates, and click on the "news" section of Jake's website for more on the new album.
Hawai'i Astronomer Honored
The director of the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy is getting the highest award for astronomy in Germany.
The Night the Music Lived
A full report of the 50th anniversary concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Iowa...and yes, there is a Stupid Music element, as Bob Wills producer Tommy Allsup was a member of Holly's band that night, and lost his seat on the ill-fated plane to Richie Valens in a coin toss. Tommy finished this year's show with a guitar solo on "Not Fade Away".
Tuesday Music Digest
All Stupid Music today. I hit the jackpot.
"A Ride With Bob" hits South Texas
http://www.galveston.com/calendarofevents/event3270/
A preview of this weekend's Bob Wills Birthday Concert at Cain's Ballroom
http://www.tulsaworld.com/spot/article.aspx?subjectid=269&articleid=20090303_270_D3_LeonRa127940
A new Stupid Music album by Justin Towne Earle
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/03/album-review-ju.html
As well as a Stupid Music tribute by Mat Kearney
http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2009-03-02-pick-of-the-week-kearney_N.htm
And Chris Isaak does Stupid Music on his new CD as well.
http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/ny-etdrops6045509feb24a,0,3584016.story
Monday, March 2, 2009
Hanapepe Dream
A look at the funky little Kaua'i village that was the model for the town in "Lilo and Stitch", as well as the title of a recent album by former resident Taj Mahal.
Photo of Hanapepe's Main Street by Craig on Saddle Hill, circa May 2003.
We Travel the Spaceways
About 30 miles south of Saddle Hill is the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium, which is dedicated to the memory of Concord's "Teacher in Space", who perished in 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff.
This Friday, the new McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center opens. "Shepard" of course is New Hampshire's Alan Shepard, who was the first American in space (and also the first spaceman to hit a golf ball on the moon).
The newly expanded museum will include changing exhibits, and also includes a full scale mockup of Shepard's rocket!
Monday Music Digest
A family of country music legends
http://www.tdtnews.com/story/2009/03/02/56149/
Who will be at the Playboy Jazz Fest this year?
http://eurweb.com/story/eur51316.cfm
King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford's autobiography is out:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32054
A look at the upcoming Sonoma County Bluegrass and Folk Festival
http://www.cybergrass.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=6016
And more on the lost Beatles track that recently surfaced...
http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2009/03/should-the-beat.html
Sunday, March 1, 2009
A Neophyte Discovers Kailua
"I'll never stay on Oahu," I used to say to myself with conviction. But after a week's stay on Oahu, I can't say that anymore."
Got Snow?
A Winter Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning for east central and southeast New Hampshire and for all of western Maine except the mountains. Snowfall of 6 or more inches is expected in these areas with some areas seeing as much as 12 to 14 inches of snow.
March 1st Music Digest
Assorted new releases
http://www.freep.com/article/20090301/ENT04/903010336/1039/New+music+from+U2++Neko+Case++Matt+Jones+and+more
The First Annual Disney Jazz Fest
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32056
Remembering MJQ's John Lewis
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-02-28-voa1.cfm
Happy anniversary to a Guam ookelele store
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6343:jbs-ukulele-hut-celebrates-2nd-anniversary&catid=34:guam&Itemid=141
And a review of the first night at Jimmy Buffett's new Honolulu restaurant
http://www.starbulletin.com/columnists/woodcraft/20090228_wood_craft.html
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