This week on Greetings from Area Code 207

This week I interview Laurie Jones, an Ellsworth-based singer songwriter. We will talk about her new CD and listen to a few tracks.

Finally, an 80's band reunion that SHOULD happen!

Hugely popular in Australia, where the Sydney-based Gurus recently reworked their 1987 hit "What's My Scene?" into a football anthem "What's My Team?" for the Australian Rugby League, the niche-repellent rockers are remembered by a substantial underground, post-college audience in these parts for the cheeky non-compliance and hip irony in their songs such as "Bittersweet," "Like Wow – Wipeout," "My Girl," "I Want You Back" and "I Was A Kamikaze Pilot."

Snow Patrol in Boston

Is it weird to create a song that will be played at people’s weddings 20 years from now?

The English Beat in....

Lebanon, NH!!!

Songs From Jeff Buckley-new CD

Jeff Buckley never had any actual hits in his lifetime, at least in the traditional chart and Top Forty-airplay sense. Before his tragically early death at age thirty, in May, 1997 in Memphis , Tennessee , Buckley completed only one album to his exacting standards: his 1994 full-length studio debut, Grace. But in these fourteen, definitive performances of his finest original songs and signature covers, what you hear is the bold ambition, serious work ethic and glorious achievement of a very full life – a legacy that still grows a decade after his passing.

Friend Rock by Sufjan Stevens

But have you heard about Friend Rock? It’s very simple: you are going to a show not so much as a fan of the music, but as a fan of your friend, the musician, on stage.

The news from SXSW

"It's not like music went out of style -- it's more popular than ever. People are excited about sharing music. The record companies just can't figure out how to get paid."

Now that's an interesting prize

Download a song, Barenaked Ladies write a song about you!

This Week On Greetings From Area Code 207

This week I interview Jose Ayerve, principal singer-songwriter from the band Spouse. Jose will talk about the new CD and their upcoming tour, as well as his many side projects like Winterpills and The Pernice Brothers.

The World's Greatest Band?

For those who haven't been following along, rock critics have crowned a new World's Greatest Band.

Staying up late with the Shins

These days the Shins are a mild-mannered Portland, Ore., indie band with a bigger-than-usual fan base and a fantastic new album, "Wincing the Night Away."

Everyone else is reuniting so why not....

.......Squeeze?

"Music's New Gatekeeper"

Well-thought-out, well-written, informative... leave it to the Wall Street Journal to produce a solid article about the people and practices behind the iTunes Music Store.

John Popper is prepared, but for what?

A police dog searched the vehicle, finding numerous hidden compartments. Inside those compartments were four rifles, nine handguns and a switchblade knife. They also found a Taser and night vision goggles.

RIP Bill Chinnock

Very sad news about a local music legend.

Lollapalooza History

The spinning of the entire Red Hot Chili Peppers Disc at noon made we go searching for a Lollapalooza History. Ah yes, 1992, why do I remember it so clearly?

Peyton Manning's Sweet 16 Party Cameo

We're sorry, but if you want Daddy to hire someone famous to attend your Sweet 16 party, and you pick Peyton Manning ... you're the lamest teenager we've ever seen.

Millionaire Rock Stars

I don't know about you, but I love stories like this one.

Don't worry if you cannot embrace the portable mp3 experience...

Heaven knows you are not the only one.

Ed Kowalcyzk @ INJournals

It's the spiritual side of the leader of the band Live: Ed Kowalcyzk @ INJournals posts end last March, but there's still lots of revealing stuff here.

Rock archive web site countersues bands, labels.

I find interesting the on-going struggle in the world of music over who owns what, who should get paid for what, and even whether money even needs to enter the equation. Consider this story a tale of another salvo in that struggle.

New Wilco CD old school listening party

Starting at 11PM tonight (Saturday), you can hear the new Wilco CD in it's entirety.

This one goes out to "anonymous!"

(The title line should be read in the voice of a member of Spinal Tap during a show.)

There has been an anonymous responder to CLZ blog entries who seems to think that we should only be posting items having to do with music, and even then perhaps only items pertaining to artists we play.

I'm not a fan of hiding behind "anonymous" in blog discourse, but more importantly, I think a blog is a simple reflection of of what is on the mind(s) of the bloggers. So here's the story of about an 18 year old in Britain losing his license within a day of getting it. I figure if I do this type of posting once a day, "anonymous" will eventually snap and then we'll all have something wonderful to read.

Pearl Jam to reign o'er Lollapalooza

Pearl Jam to reign o'er Lollapalooza is the headline to this rather succinct story out of Chicago.

I don't wanna worry about steroids...

The first spring training games have happened in Major League Baseball, and as always, we are trying to concentrate on what is great about the pastime. Things like 80 year old great-grandmothers who do very important work for the game.