I spotted these fern fiddles on (fittingly) Fiddler's Choice Road in Merrimack County.
Some varieties of this fern are a great delicacy here-but they have to be boiled for at least 10 minutes (or steamed for 20 minutes) to get rid of the natural bitter taste.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Fiddlin' Around
All Tasty, All the Time
nola.com goes to JazzFest and wanders from food booth to food booth thru the entire Fairgrounds, and rates the dishes.
(Sound of stomach growling)
Doing a Train
"Germany’s latest hot tour attraction is a 12-kilometre long model railway set that winds its way through a world of miniature scuba divers, fire trucks and other dramatic scenes."
Scary Flying Story
from NOLA.com
"In response to complaints about a helicopter that flew over the Gentilly Stage during Robert Cray's set last Sunday, Jazz Fest producer-director Quint Davis issued the following statement:
"During Jazz Fest last Sunday, the helicopter that flew over the Fair Grounds was being used by an official Festival photographer to capture aerial shots of the event for future production purposes. Unfortunately, due to the low cloud ceiling that existed at the time the photographs were scheduled, the flyover was closer to the ground than usual.
"The Festival photographer was not aware that the flyover was as loud as it turned out to be, and communication with him during the flyover is difficult at best. Sincerest apologies to all who found the situation distracting. Such a low flyover for photography purposes will not happen again."
Let It Roll?
An early posting of the tracks for the new best-of George Harrison album is making waves...is it real, or is it Memorex?
Music on The Island
Early details of this summer's music on Governors Island in NY Harbor have started to emerge-folk, punk, and hippies!
The Last Gutter Ball?
As keikis my friends and I bowled plenty of frames at the Pali Lanes in Kailua during the 1960s. Sad to say, the venerable alley will close at the end of 2009.
Pali Lanes photo by Craig on Saddle Hill, April 30, 2003 (wow, 6 years ago today!)
Honoring a Stupid Music Original
86 year young Clint Cozart, who played with Bob Wills, will be inducted into a couple of Stupid Music Halls of Fame in Texas soon.
"A Very Fine Year"
Allen Toussaint hits the jackpot-new album, and his image on the 40th JazzFest poster.
Thursday Music Digest
http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?storyID=17778 Another Terry Adams sighting http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/apr/30/0430_jukebox/ Gourds channel Q http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/get-out-skye-captains/Content?oid=1566515 Van the Man takes "Astral Weeks" to Berkeley http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_12254658?source=rss And an update on this year's Detroit International Jazz Fest http://detnews.com/article/20090430/ENT04/904300316/1424/ENT04/Backers-and-music-lovers-hail-jazz-fest |
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Happy Ending
A teenaged hiker survives 3 nights lost on Mt. Washington. Dr. Ball would be proud of him.
Wednesday Music Digest
http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Lifestyle/Features/legendary%2Dguitar%2Djeff%2Dbeck%2D428/ Speaking of axes, Sonic Youth found one they had lost almost a decade ago http://artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,5289701,00.html NRBQ meets Brian Wilson? http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=25743 Bela Fleck's Heritage Tour http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE53S15220090429 Wednesday = Uncle Tom Gabbin' http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg/ |
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Let There Be Mele!
Mele is now on Mau'i.
That is, www.mele.com, the largest internet source of Hawai'ian music. Founder Auntie Maria has sold the business to Punahele, and the inventory moved from her garage on the Garden Isle to Upcountry on the Valley Isle.
The changeover began April 15th and was finally pau hana a couple of days ago.
Tuesday Music Digest
http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2009/04/from_professor_longhair_to_lil.html Early New Orleans R & B http://www.myneworleans.com/Blogs/The-Editors-Room/April-2009/Errol-Laborde-Top-5-from-New-Orleans-039-Early-R-ampB-Legacy/ Jimmy Thackery plays the RBQ http://www.tbnweekly.com/editorial/local_entertainment/concerts/content_articles/042709_leconcert-03.txt Bob Wills Day in Tulsa http://www.tulsaworld.com/lifestyle/article.aspx?subjectid=272&articleid=20090428_17_D6_Regina840219 And ZooTunes intros its 2009 lineup http://seattle.metblogs.com/2009/04/27/zootunes-line-up-announced/ |
Monday, April 27, 2009
R.I.P. John King
Famed ookelele player John King has left the building. John discovered the instrument when he lived in Hawai'i as a kid, but lived in Florida most of his life.
JazzFest Weekend 1 Report
Click the link.
UPDATE:
Tommy Stevenson of the Tuscaloosa News reports:
"Today's "moment" was definitely Masekela playing a sublime version of "Grazing" during which the dancers stage right, including your's truly, all swayed to the music like tall grass in a ripping wind.
Monday Music Digest
http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/12473/ Dan Hicks interview http://www.jambands.com/Features/content_2009_04_26.06.phtml The guitar as prized art:: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.neighbors26apr26,0,3241496.story Grady Tate plays Uptown http://www.jazz.com/jazz-blog/2009/4/26/grady-tate-in-harlem And Ragtime lives http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32673 |
Sunday, April 26, 2009
JazzFest Images
Tommy Stevenson of the Tuscaloosa News has some nice pictures of the early doings at JazzFest, as well as some great talk story!
Sunday Music Digest
http://newsok.com/exhibits-celebrate-states-role-in-rock-music-history/article/3364190 Take me back to Oklahoma! http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/articlepath.aspx?pg=lifestyle&articleid=20090426_67_G4_Vocali240527 Andy Warhol's album covers http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/arts/music/26kapl.html?ref=design Honoring VOA jazz announcer Willis Conover http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-25-voa19.cfm And Aerosmith will (finally) play in Mau'i http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/aerosmith_to_hold_maui_concert_under_settlement.html |
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Got Heat?
We had the annual late-April summer blast here on Saddle Hill today-we just barely missed cracking 90 degrees. 89.5 was as close as we came. As I post this, Laconia airport (500' lower than me and 8 miles east close to several lakes) still has 80 degrees, and I am currently at 76.
Of course, this is New Hampshire, so tomorrow and Monday our high will be 20 degrees colder, before shooting up to 81 Tuesday.
Then a massive chill... with Wednesday only getting to 63 degrees with a low near freezing. And by Thursday, our high temp will only be in the upper 50s, or 30 degrees colder than our high today.
I love it!
They Walked By Night!
From Thomas at Chromium Switch, a report from Rocky Rococco on last night's 40th Anniversary of Nick Danger show:
"Dear Friends, We were a solid, rip-roaring smash, with folks coming from as far away as Chicago, Miami, New Jersey and Germany to fill the beautiful 80-year old theater! We had so much fun working together again and the "new" material played so well that it seems certain we will seek more venues. Thanks for all your support - Philip" |
Kona Beer Comes to the "Far East"
No link or story with this post-the Redhook Brewery here in Portsmouth NH is now brewing several of Kona Bewing Company's micro brews for a limited time, including Long Board Lager and this great Wailua Wheat Beer With Passion Fruit.
Get 'em while you can!
Turn Down That Stupid Music! (Correction)
In the Stupid Music Digest I posted Friday, I left out the link for the Marshall Ford Swing Band story. Click on the post title.
Kiwis to the Rescue
New Zealand is going to help try and eradicate the Indian Mongoose, a major pest on 7 of the 8 major Hawaiian Islands.
Kaua'i is the only island without them-apparently a dock worker was bitten by one when unloading them at the docks over a century ago and threw it and its cage into the ocean.
Starkey on Vinyl
2 classic Ringo Starr albums are coming out on vinyl: "Ringo", his great debut, and his venture into big band music, "Sentimental Journey".
Release date TBA.
25 O'Clock!
A welcome reissue: the legendary album by The Dukes of Stratosfear, better known as the alter-ego of great British band XTC.
Saturday Music Digest
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20090425/NEWS/904259986/1002/NONE&parentprofile=1001 Mose comes to Portsmouth http://www.wirenh.com/Music/Music_-_general/Jazzmouth_2009_200904243527.html Nahaolike! http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090424/GETPUBLISHED/904230377/-1/sportsfront Lou Reed's infamous "Metal Machine Music" returns http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/04/24/lou-reed-brings-controversial-metal-machine-music-to-new-york/ And a review of Uncle Chickie and Johnny McLaughlin, Electric Guitarist, and their new band http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/25/arts/music/25core.html |
Friday, April 24, 2009
Turn Down That Stupid Music!
Highlights of this weekend's Bob Wills Weekend in Turkey
The South Plains Cowboys and The Texas Playboys will play
Friday night, April 24th, both bands for one price!
Western Swing Hall of Fame inductee, Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys play
Saturday night April 25th.
Saturday, April 25th is Bob Wills Day and events include a breakfast, parade, Old Fiddler's contest, FREE Texas Playboys afternoon concert, BBQ lunch, arts and crafts and much more.
All Stupid Music, All the Time
The Marshall Ford Swing Band features vocalist Emily Gimble, whose Grandpa Johnny fiddled around with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys It's Bob Wills Weekend in his hometown of Turkey, Texas http://www.myplainview.com/articles/2009/04/21/news/187135dh_xml.txt Billy Mata and The Texas Tradition Band keep Stupid Music alive and well http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2009/apr/24/on-stage---april-24/ And had he lived, today would have been #93 for Texas Playboy guitar legend Eldon Shamblin http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/entertainment/local_story_113111251.html |
New Orleans JazzFest Day 1
JazzFest in New Orleans kicks off in about 40 minutes at The Fairgrounds!
WWOZ will have some live broadcasts this weekend; click post title for details and how to listen. They have several different streaming formats available.
Today's highlight looks to be the Mahalia Jackson Tribute with Irma Thomas and Mavis Staples!
Friday Music Digest
http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_12209911 Robby Krieger sighting http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Lifestyle/Features/robby%2Dkrieger%2Dtalks%2Dsgs%2D422/ The New York Dolls "work" on Kaua'i... http://www.spinner.com/2009/04/23/new-york-dolls-retreat-to-hawaii-write-a-record/ Marcus Roberts, soul man? http://jazztimes.com/articles/24601-marcus-roberts-soul-man And the ageless Ravi Shankar soldiers on... http://www.newsleader.com/article/20090423/ENTERTAINMENT04/904230308/1040/ENTERTAINMENT |
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Newfound Lake Survey
Newfound Lake, located about 10 miles northwest from Saddle Hill as the crow flies, is one of the cleanest lakes in the world due to its great depth in relation to its size.
Please click on the post title to take a 2 minute survey on how to keep it clean.
Polar Bear Club Layover
I spotted these 2 migrating Canada Geese taking a dip (and honking away) near the inlet of Wickwas Pond here in Meredith this morning.
No sign of the loons yet, Norman...
Kailua 2009
Honolulu Magazine is out with their annual section dedicated to my old hale of Kailua. Lots of new stuff going on there...
A Mighty Wind
75 years ago on April 12, the world's highest wind speed was recorded 46 miles to the north of Saddle Hill on top of Mt. Washington.
Here's the story of the 3 men who witnessed the 231 MPH blast. One was Wendy Stephenson Senior, whose son (also named Wendell) taught many of us at New Hampton School in the 1960s and 1970s.
Thursday Music Digest
http://www.patriotledger.com/entertainment/x50626460/Boss-and-band-cover-a-lot-of-ground-in-Boston Guitar Fest time with Bill Shatner! http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004827.html Another sighting of the ageless ookelele player Bill Tapia http://www.times-standard.com/entertainment/ci_12207609 Opera's Looney Tunes http://www.montrealgazette.com/Entertainment/Opera+looney+tunes/1523780/story.html And Mas y Mas with Los! http://www.houstonpress.com/2009-04-23/music/m-aacute-s-y-m-aacute-s/ |
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
53 Weeks Later...
Just over 1 year after ground was broken on the "new" Randall Hall on the New Hampton School campus, basically all that is left to finish is the outside landscaping...the past few months have been spent wiring the interior of the building.
Some of the brick pavers will supposedly be from the original Randall Hall.
Note for our newbies, this saga is explained by clicking the post title.
New Stupid Music Poll
Ray Benson sez:
"Our friends over at KUT are having listeners email their top Texas tunes to the radio station. Vote for "Miles and Miles of Texas" by yours truly by emailing texasmusicmatters@kut.org and tell them why it is the best…then make sure you tune in to a very special edition of Texas Music Matters, Friday at Noon and again Sunday night at 6:00 p.m.
The deadline for emailing is this Friday!!
Chowing Down at JazzFest in New Orleans
Assorted musical types pick their faves for WWOZ...
Tricia “Teedy” Boutté, vocalist
"Chicken fricassee and spinach! I love it! I feel like it may be one of the only healthy things that I eat during the Festival. My second, not-so-healthy but oh-so-good, must-have dish is soft-shell crab po-boy. Best in the galaxy! Of course I have to wash this down with a strawberry lemonade."
"Where Were You Born?" "Lake Winnipesaukee!"
That was a memorable passage from an old 3 Stooges short, "No Census, No Feeling", where Census Taker Moe doesn't realize he is interviewing fellow Census-taker Curley, who is passing himself off as a chef. Moe than asks Curley how to spell "Winnipesaukee", at which point Curley changes it to Lake Erie.
Chump change compared to this spelling error for Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg
Earth Day Music Digest
http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/tampacalling/2009/03/05/interview-terry-adams-former-keyboardist-for-nrbq/ A youtube with Mr. Adams and original NRBQ guitarist Steve Fergie! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-aM7Sgll9I JazzFest A to Z http://offbeat.com/artman/publish/article_3648.shtml Dan Hicks flashback http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWZ8wjQE_bY&feature=PlayList&p=391C11B9BA7D36EA&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=4 And Uncle Tom's Gabbin' http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg/ |
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tuesday Music Digest
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=34300 A look at the first 20 years of JazzFest http://www.louisianaweekly.com/news.php?viewStory=1227 Sir Paul plays ookelele in Vegas http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/rock/2009-04-20-postcard-mccartney_N.htm Hard-headed woman listening to Stupid Music! http://offbeat.com/artman/publish/article_3644.shtml And a profile of Chicago jazz guitarist Howard Reich http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0421-jazzapr21,0,4257752.story |
Monday, April 20, 2009
Monday Music Digest
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iOGjrtpLcaMk0bepss7sgMuXGRvg Homer and Jethro meet Charles Mingus? http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20090419/NEWS/904179927/1019?Title=Coming-up-soon-at-the-Back-Room Daniel Ho wins a Hawai'ian music award: http://www.examiner.com/x-7007-Honolulu-Music-Examiner~y2009m4d18-Daniel-Ho-wins-Hawaii-Music-Award-for-Sunny-Spaces Bass legend Carole Kaye sighted http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=34278 And a wrapup of this past weekend's Green Fest in Washington D.C. http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2009/04/20/News/Eclectic.Crowd.Attends.Green.Festival-3717249.shtml |
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Here Comes The Son(s)
Beatles offspring are following in their Dads' footsteps.
Best example? Who/Oasis drummer Zak Starkey, of course.
Great Music Blog #5
This one has been around for several years, and is called "Funky16.com". Great stuff!
Sunday Music Digest
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/04/james-d-houston-rip.html A report on the huge Coachella music shindig http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/04/coachella-2009-day-2-begins-with-a-record-store-salute-and-a-plea-to-get-naked.html Q & A with Tanya Tucker http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE53H02O20090418 An early report on French Quarter Fest, including the erster eating contest http://blog.nola.com/living/2009/04/french_quarter_fest_draws_out.html And a love song written by a mobster is discovered http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=7371993&page=1 |
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Last Call For Nick Danger
Great ducats are apparently still available for next Friday's epic Nick Danger show in Monterey...click post title if you want tix.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Gord's Gold
I've been reading live concert reviews for ages, but this is one of the best I've read in a long time. It's a review of a show earlier this week by Gordon Lightfoot.
Having seen one of Gordo's shows he's spot-on.
Remembering Johnny LaRue
A lengthy appreciation of SCTV's John Candy.
And of course Candy did some great film work. My personal fave was "Cool Runnings", where he was the maniac coach of the Jamaican Olympic Bobsled Team.
Lens-Like!
Note the 3 white-tailed deer on the right...they are the official New Hampshire state animal, and can run 40 miles per hour and swim at almost 15 miles per hour. They can also jump over fences 9 feet high. |
Click the RSS feed at the bottom for the Mt. Washington Observatory Photo Journal for more great lenticular cloud shots.
Bowling in New Orleans
A New Orleans fixture for years has been the Mid-City Lanes , AKA the Rock-n-Bowl, where bowlers share a bowling alley with great musicians. The owner has moved the alley after landlord difficulties, and the new alley opened Wednesday night.
"Musical Cousins" Tour
Click on the title for today's USA Today story about the upcoming BonTaj Roulet tour featuring certified NRBQ fan Bonnie Raitt and former Kaua'i resident Taj Mahal.
French Quarter Festival Time
The warm-up for JazzFest is underway in New Orleans. WWOZ is streaming live concerts this afternoon and all weekend. Click the post title or the WWOZ link on the sidebar.
Under Construction
I am fooling around with the blog's background colors. I'll get there eventually!
Friday Music Digest
http://www.jazz.com/encyclopedia/2009/3/3/wills-bob-james-robert Jazz forward http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_12158510 Nat Hentoff http://www.jazz.com/jazz-blog/2009/4/16/nat-hentoff-at-the-constitutional-jazz-band-ball JazzMouth in NH http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090416/GJENTERTAINMENT_01/704169961 And the start of the Merrie Monarch Hula Fest in Hawai'i http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/517357.html |
Thursday, April 16, 2009
New Firesign Theatre Podcast
The Thom Hartmann Show has allowed the Firesign Theatre to put their interview from Wednesday up on Firesign Podcasting. Click post title
Remembering Harry Kalas
from ESPN
The casket containing the body of Hall of Fame Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas will be on view beginning at 8:45 a.m. Saturday at home plate at Citizens Bank Park.
Fans will be able to file past Kalas' casket and pay their respects for about four hours, after which there will a memorial service.
Kalas passed away Monday after collapsing in the broadcast booth before the Phillies' 9-8 victory over the Washington Nationals. He was 73.
The last time a baseball figure was honored this way at a major league ballpark was for Babe Ruth on Aug. 17, 1948, according to Tom Shieber, senior curator at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.
R.I.P. to "The General"
(Honolulu Star Bulletin photo)
Monday we lost Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas, who started his career in Hawai'i with the Hawai'i Islanders in the early 1960s before moving on to the big time on "The Mainland".
One day later, one of his peers, Les Keiter, died at age 89 at his home in Kailua.
Les had started in Hawai'i sports broadcasting in the late 1940s, moved to the Big City in 1954, and for the next few years did play by play for the New York football and baseball Giants, New York Knicks and New York Islanders. Later he called the classic Clay-Liston fight, as well as George Foreman's Gold Medal bout in the 1968 Olympics.
And then he returned to Hawai'i, where he succeeded Harry Kalas' replacement (Al Michaels) as the voice of the Islanders. He remained with the team until 1979. He was also Sports Director for KHON TV until his retirement in 1994.
Thursday Music Digest
http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/09/09041515451004 Celebrating Miles' "Kind of Blue" http://www.mercurynews.com/music/ci_12148122 Barbara Cook still has it! http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/arts/music/16cook.html An all-star cast of thousands playing this weekend in D.C. on the Mall http://www.relix.com/Features/Daily_News/The_Flaming_Lips,_moe.,_Los_Lobos_and_DJ_Spooky_to_Play_Green_Apple's_Free_National_Mall_Event_200904143853.html And Brah Hugh is coming to New England http://www.courant.com/entertainment/events/hc-riffs-col.artapr16,0,7758930.column |
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
George Gets a Star
Tuesday George Harrison got a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
This may seem unusual for a rock musician, but many people forget that George co-starred in two Beatles movies, wrote at least two movie soundtracks ("Wonderwall" and "Everest"), had his Bangla Desh benefit concert turned into one of the first major rock concert films, and co-owned a movie company, Handmade Films.
Sir Paul and some of the Wilburys were on hand. Click on the post title for a (small) picture and more details.
New Memorial on Kaua'i
Ground was broken Friday April 10th for a new Veterans' Memorial near Barking Sands. This will also include a viewing area where the public can watch missile tests.
4/15 Music Digest
http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg/ The Grateful Dead tour opener is streaming http://www.archive.org/details/thedead2009-04-12 A new George Harrison best-of coming soon http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/04/george-harrison.html Studying the blues at Berklee? http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090414/FEAT/90414026/1001/NEWS And Booker T. returns http://uk.reuters.com/article/chinaNews/idUKTRE53D5AV20090414 |
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Tuesday Music Digest
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6371553.html New Stupid Music from "The Hag" http://cdinsight.com/news.php?readmore=544 A legendary Chicago music venue returns to life http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0414-jazzapr14,0,5699548.story Levon Helm has a new album coming out http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?storyID=17537 And it's spring festival time http://www.time.com/time/travel/article/0,31542,1890825,00.html |
The Bird Was the Word
(ESPN photo)
Major League Baseball not only lost a great announcer Monday, but also said "Aloha" to one of its true originals, pitcher Mark Fidrych. Mark was a breath of fresh air in MLB in the 1970s.
Some of us actually got to see him pitch here in New Hampshire while he was still a student at Worcester Academy.
Monday, April 13, 2009
R.I.P. Harry Kalas
(Philadelphia Phillies photo)
Legendary Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas died Monday. He was 73.
"We lost our voice today," team president David Montgomery said.
I first heard Harry do play-by-play in 1963, when he was the radio voice of the old Hawai'i Islanders AAA team in the Pacific Coast League. He'd been stationed in the Islands and never left. Back in those days, they couldn't afford to do live broadcasts of away games, so Harry re-created them in the studio in Honolulu. He often joked that if he wanted to get out of work early he'd speed up the pitch count.
When Harry left the Islands to go to the Mainland, his replacement was a young pup named Al Michaels. The Islanders team eventually moved to the Mainland as well, and is now the AAA farm team of the Colorado Rockies.
Of course, Harry was also the second voice of NFL Films, and more recently also did ads for Campbell's Chunky Soup. The past few years he also did play-by-play for Animal Planet's "Puppy Bowl", which that channel ran head to head against the "real" Super Bowl.
And his final bow-he got to call the final out of the 2008 World Series victory by the Phillies.
Aloha Harry.
Ice-Out
"Ice-out" on Lake Winnipesaukee was declared by Dave Emerson of Emerson Aviation at 12 PM on Easter Sunday. The last floe to break up was here in Meredith on Meredith Bay; this slab finally was pushed underwater by heavy winds and broke up.
Sadly later Sunday afternoon those same heavy winds also fanned a huge fire at the southern end of the Big Lake in Alton Bay, destroying over 40 seasonal homes.
Global Warming
A woman from India eats 51 Ghost Chili peppers in one sitting. The Ghost variety has more than 1,000,000 Scoville units, making it the world's hottest pepper.
Monday Music Digest
http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=43889 A jumping flea fest on the Garden Isle http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2009/04/12/news/kauai_news/doc49e197d5354c2584224301.txt Cotton-eyed Stupid Music http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20090412/NEWS/904119956/1005?Title=SOUTHERN-LIGHTS-Cotton-eyed-confusion-surrounds-Joe Jazz in Brooklyn http://www.jazz.com/jazz-blog/2009/4/13/the-borough-where-jazz-lives And a preview of an upcoming jazz festival here in New Hampshire http://www.examiner.com/x-2747-Boston-Getaways-Examiner~y2009m4d11-Portsmouths-Jazzmouth-Festival-live-jazz-and-beat-poetry |
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter Sunday Music Digest
If it's real Easter music you're looking for today, I suggest one of my sidebar links, Lee's "Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear (Anywhere Else") blog.
UPDATE: Yes, Lee has some great stuff there!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/movies/12kehr.html?_r=1&ref=arts A new remake of a classic jazz album http://www.freep.com/article/20090412/ENT04/904120405 Bambu Sun http://cdinsight.com/news.php?readmore=260 Listening to "All Things Must Pass" in a pickup truck... http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/reverb/2009/04/ive_been_listening_to_all_thisbout.php And music festivals weather the economy http://uk.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUKTRE53A02020090411 |
Hawai'ian Palm Weaving in The Big Easy
Q: What's the biggest difference between Hawaii and New Orleans?
A: I tell people there are a lot of similarities. They're both very cultural places, the food is good, the music is good and the people are laid back. I'm very comfortable here.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
We Travel the Spaceways
ISS and Astronaut
Credit & Copyright: Ralf Vandebergh
Explanation: These two frames, taken with a video camera and a telescope, reveal remarkable details of the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting some 350 kilometers above planet Earth. Recorded during last month's visit by the crew of shuttle orbiter Discovery on mission STS-119, the pictures show extended solar arrays glinting in bright sunlight against a dark sky. They also likely capture the blurred image of a spacewalking astronaut during the mission's EVA-2 (Extravehicular Activity-2)! The astronaut is installing equipment along one of the station's truss assemblies. Astronomer Ralf Vandebergh, who often images the ISS during its favorable passes through Dutch skies, comments that no other bright ISS structures occupy the position indicated in the inset, and that a reflective, white-suited astronaut would be visible against the truss and correspond to the bright blur. Vandebergh notes that the timing and location further suggest the spacewalker is STS-119 astronaut Joseph Acaba.
Let It Snow...
"The road to the Big Island summits remains closed to the public...with park rangers reporting snow drifts as high as 5 feet. Periods of snow and rain will continue through Saturday."
Saturday Music Digest
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/arts/music/12play.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=Terry%20Adams&st=cse Texas musician Jay Boy Adams is headed out on tour with Steve Stills http://cdinsight.com/news.php?readmore=167 Afro-Peruvian jazz? http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=33714 Lonely Planet hits the road in search of the blues http://www.sltrib.com/travel/ci_12100437 And living New Orleans music history with Deacon John http://www.2theadvocate.com/entertainment/music/42758097.html |
Friday, April 10, 2009
We Travel The Hi-Fi Stereophonic Spaceways
April 9, 2009: NASA's twin STEREO probes are entering a mysterious region of space to look for remains of an ancient planet which once orbited the Sun not far from Earth. If they find anything, it could solve a major puzzle--the origin of the Moon.
"The name of the planet is Theia," says Mike Kaiser, STEREO project scientist at the Goddard Space Flight Center. "It's a hypothetical world. We've never actually seen it, but some researchers believe it existed 4.5 billion years ago—and that it collided with Earth to form the Moon."
Pearl!
The folks at Wolfgang's Vault have unearthed a rare 1979 live show by San Francisco punk rock band Pearl Harbor and the Explosions. As Spock would say, "fascinating..."
Lead vocalist Pearl E. Gates had previously been with The Tubes. After the original Explosions band broke up, she married Clash bass player Paul Simonon, and years later started a second edition of the band which still occasionally plays.
Good Friday Music Digest
http://sanfrancisco.decider.com/events/kate-wolf-memorial-music-festival,66926/ Roswell Rudd's Trombone Tribe http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102907913 Make jazz, not firewood http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/10/arts/music/10fly.html?ref=music Talking story with Hawaiian musician Eddie Palama http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090409/GETPUBLISHED/90409052/-1/sportsfront And the lineup for the Chicago Blues Festival is announced. http://chicago.about.com/b/2009/04/09/chicago-blues-fest-schedule-2009.htm |
Thursday, April 9, 2009
TARQ at Euclid
Nice music video from the most recent spin-off of NRBQ, the Terry Adams Rock and Roll Quartet!
Thursday Music Digest
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13526_3-10215847-27.html A jazz singer-teacher at Berklee http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/s_619799.html Music review: Andre Previn http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/arts/music/09prev.html Open door into the death cab http://www.examiner.com/x-6778-Seattle-Rock-Music-Examiner~y2009m4d8-Open-door-into-the-Death-Cab And an Elvis Convention comes to New Hampshire! http://www.newenglandelvisfest.com/ |
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Dick Picks On Rick
The second TV show Bob Newhart did (the one set in Vermont) had a classic episode where his character "Dick Loudon" got to play second banana on a late night teeve show called "Vermont Tonight".
The host was played by Dick, er, Bob's lifelong best friend Don Rickles. Don of course promptly turned Bob into his stooge, and it got so bad that he had a nightly segment of the show called "Pick On Dick".
The show had a surprise ending, which you will have to wait to see when the DVD comes out.
But I digress, click on the post title for a classic clip of Newhart and Rickles.
BTW most folks don't know that many of the opening credit shots for that "Vermont" Newhart show were in fact filmed right here in NH.
Fine Tunage
Sorry for the altered appearances, as I am tinkering with the sidebar.
Namely, adding many more links! Mainly comedy.
Sgt. Rutter's
Some interesting trivia about the famous Beatles album that came out in 1967. Includes a fascinating story about how the album had to be re-sequenced for 8 Track.
Origin of Song: Chicano Rock
A fascinating look at the history of "Chicano Rock", starting with Richie Valens, then exploring Sam the Sham, Augie Meyers and others, and on to the present day with NRBQ fans Los Lobos.
Wednesday Music Digest
http://antiquesandthearts.com/Antiques/AuctionWatch/2009-04-07__12-34-03.html Pianistic minimalism http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/arts/music/08keys.html?ref=arts Amazon to challenge iTunes with mp3 downloads http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/apr/08/amazon-itunes-music-downlads-mp3 A sale at Sheet Music Plus http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=33402 And Uncle Tom gabs away as usual http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg/ |
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Beatles' Material to Go Digital
Finally!
UPDATE: The re-issues will include all 12 albums that were specially mixed for MONO (those are the ones I have LOL).
UPDATE 2: Paulie and Starkey had so much fun playing together the other night at the TM show that Ringo will drum on Sir Macca's new album later this year.
Party Time Music in South Africa
In addition to last weekend's jazz festival in Cape Town, many of the jazz musicians showed up at the grand opening of a new resort there. Click post title for details.
Got Rain?
Posting will be reduced again for a couple of days-I have been dealing with major flooding issues here on the hill due to the snowmelt and Monday's rain storm.
Tuesday Music Digest
http://www.worldhum.com/travel-blog/item/ukulele-player-john-king-20090406/ Nelson Riddle, rare and jazzy http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0407-jazzapr07,0,7141344.story Gospel jazz guitar? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/arts/music/07scof.html More remembering Bud Shank http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=33348 And an interview with a Hank Williams historian http://www.theplanetweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1537&Itemid=48 |
Monday, April 6, 2009
Monday Music Digest
Ramblin' with Jack Elliott
http://www.examiner.com/x-1465-Music-Examiner~y2009m4d5-Ramblin-Jack-Elliott-bids-Pete-Seeger-happy-birthday
Brah Hugh's 70th birthday party
:http://tonight.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4924377&fSectionId=348&fSetId=251
Delbert sighting
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/events/nightlife/2009/04/13/090413goni_GOAT_nightlife
A jazz guitar primer
http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004787.html
And getting Dizzy in Texas
http://www.dailytoreador.com/home/news/2009/04/06/LaVida/Musicians.Bring.Down.The.House.At.42nd.Annual.Jazz.Blues.Festival-3697468.shtml
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Ice-Out
Here's a small New Hampshire pond I never knew existed until day before yesterday; it's in Merrimack County.
It doesn't even show up on the local maps so I will have to find out its name.
UPDATE: Likely name is Swett Pond...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Report
I caught the entire show on fuse tv, and except for Run-DMC and Metallica it was better than the typical R & R HOF show. A lot of that had to do with the fact that the venue was moved to Cleveland, at the Public Auditorium, and for the first time the general public was allowed entry.
And the inductees' quality was pretty good, too-Jeff Beck, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Wanda Jackson, Bobby Womack, Spooner Oldham, and the Sun Rhythm Section of bassist Bill Black and drummer D.J. Fontana.
Only disappointment: Beck was inducted this time for his solo work (he had previously been inducted as a Yardbird) but for some reason he did not play any of his classic "Blow by Blow" or "Wired" material. For shame, Jeff!
Click the post title for a review that's heavy on the Metallica angle; I am trying to find a better story and will change the link later.
Paul and Ringo Reunite
A review of last night's concert in New York, including a set list. Mike Love was also there, but kept his mouth shut.
R.I.P. Bud Shank
(AllAboutJazz Photo)
Bud was a legendary alto sax player who started with Charlie Barnett in the late 1940s. He then spent time with Stan Kenton's band, before discovering Brazilian music. He would later also record an album with Ravi Shankar.
Bud also did pop stuff; he recorded an entire album dedicated to The Lovin' Spoonful called "A Spoonful of Jazz", and he's the guy doing the flute solo on "California Dreaming" by The Mamas and The Papas.
Sunday Music Digest
Dave Brubeck in music and pictures
http://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/story/1751591.html
That old-time religion
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/42351832.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUeyD8_o8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Bill Frisell sighting
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/04/review-bill-frisells-disfarmer-project-at-skirball-center-.html
And a nice youtube video from guitarist Joel Patterson, featuring Scott Ligon on tasty B-3 organ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvU2A__p8d8
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Playing For Change
"Chef" over at the NOLA tunes blog has posted a great new video featuring many New Orleans musicians. Enjoy!
We Travel The Spaceways
(SpaceWeather photo)
Oscar Martin Mesonero of Salamanca, Spain, took this picture on April 1st, which shows the International Space Station transiting in front of the Moon.
"I recorded the transit using my 8-inch Celestron telescope and a Canon EOS 50D," says Mesonero. "The ISS was much brighter than the lunar background."
Click post title for a larger version of the pic.
The Return of Tom Rush
Fellow Merrimack County native Tom Rush, who now calls Wyoming home, has released his first new-material studio CD in 35 years. It's a good one.
Hawai'i Real Estate Bargain
Recently listed on the east side of O'ahu: the Kaiser Estate. This was the home of ship-builder Henry Kaiser, who started the Hawai'i Kai development in the 1950s and also built the Hawaiian Village Hotel in Waikiki, which was unusual at the time for having a geodesic dome. Henry was also the grandfather of musician Henry Kaiser.
When my family lived in Kailua in the 1960s we would drive by the Kaiser Estate when taking the long way home from Honolulu. In those days Henry had all of its buildings painted pink.
Asking price? $80 million. Click post title for a tour.
Saturday Music Digest
George Harrison gets a Star in Hollywood
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-04-03-george-harrison-star_N.htm
Preview of tonight's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction...
http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2009/04/03/entertainment/mj841210.txt
Remembering W.C. Handy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/03/AR2009040301310.html
J.J. Cale hits the road
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2008974674_nite03.html?cmpid=2628
And Santana does Vegas
http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/19085879/detail.html
Friday, April 3, 2009
Friday Music Digest
The Ballad of John and Yogi
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article2357735.ece
Allman Brothers guitarist Derek Trucks expands his horizons
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/s_618800.html
Stanford on iTunes U
http://itunes.stanford.edu/
4 guys, 4 guitars
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2009/04/four_guys_four_guitars_four_so.html
And some weekend jazz listings for the Big Apple
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/arts/music/03jazz.html
Thursday, April 2, 2009
More on mele.com
An update to the story of the sale of mele.com, based on Kaua'i. Auntie Maria as noted will stay where she is, just not sell music, and the website and business will move to the Valley Isle in a couple of weeks.
Please Stand By
Still on reduced power, as I am on Day 2 of a nasty cold.
As young sprouts in the 1950s, we always used to wonder what they meant by those 3 words shown above. We assumed that it meant we were supposed to stand next to the teevee until the picture came back.
Click on the post title for a look at test patterns from the ancient times.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
April Fool's Day Music Digest
An interview with the Music Department Chair at the University of Hawai'i
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/14599/
Jazz from West Virginia?
http://www.marshallparthenon.com/home/news/2009/04/01/News/Two-Music.Professors.Preparing.To.Showcase.West.Virginia.Jazz.Music-3690802.shtml
Pleading for more NEA money to fund music
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-arts1-2009apr01,0,7805824.story
A preview of this weekend's Cape Town Fest in South Africa...
http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2009-03-31-voa20.cfm
And Uncle Tom is Gabbin'
http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg/
Talking Tsunami
April Fool's Day 1946: a major earthquake in Alaska generates tsunami waves. Several hours later, 39-foot tall waves crashed into Hilo on the Big Island, causing major death and destruction.
What many don't know is that some tsunami waves-9 to be exact-hit Kailua Bay on Oahu. Here's that story...
Reduced Transmitter Output
My posts here over the next couple of days will be limited as I have inherited a nasty cold! Welcome to April...
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