James Reed is editor of Globe Calendar and a frequent music contributor.
Devra First is interim assistant arts editor for the Boston Globe.
Ask the Globe's music writers a question about local bands, forthcoming shows, or anything else.
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« May 06, 2007 - May 12, 2007 |
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| May 27, 2007 - June 02, 2007 »
May 24, 2007
Michael Hearst of the band One Ring Zero has singlehandedly restored Sound Effects' faith in the future of humanity with his new album, "Songs for Ice Cream Trucks." Here's a man who noticed a problem -- ice cream trucks playing the same two songs over and over, year after year -- and did something about it. Hearst wrote, produced, and recorded 13 new ice cream truck songs using such ice cream truck-appropriate instruments as glockenspiel, melodica, and theremin. "A miniaturist masterpiece, it somehow feels as crucial, in a tiny, strange, magical way, as the trucks of summer whose fleeting melody it invokes," gushes author Michael Chabon, who engaged in a weird collaboration with Hearst. A number of independent ice cream truck operators are using Hearst's music, thank god.
Posted by Joan Anderman at 03:49 PM
May 24, 2007
Following their exuberant performance on last night's "American Idol" finale with runner-up Melinda Doolittle, gospel heavyweights BeBe and CeCe Winans have announced that they are reuniting.
The siblings-- two of ten in one of the most well-known families in black gospel music-- plan to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their musical partnership with their first new album and tour in 13 years, due out this fall.
Posted by Sarah Rodman at 03:26 PM
May 24, 2007
U.K. buzz babe Amy Winehouse won "Best Contemporary Song" for "Rehab" at the Ivor Novello Songwriting awards today in London. The singer, who recently got hitched, was feted alongside other winners including Arctic Monkeys, the Feeling and Peter Gabriel.
Posted by Sarah Rodman at 03:17 PM
May 24, 2007
  
Clearly a good day for music. Best wishes to Bob (66), Rosanne (52)and Patti (63)!
Posted by Sarah Rodman at 03:11 PM
May 23, 2007
 
It's going to be an extraordinary newgrass machine playing the Bank of America Pavilion on August 17 as gifted chanteuse Fiona Apple is teaming up with the fleet pickers of Nickel Creek for a summer tour.
The artists, who've been collaborating off and on for years at Largo in L.A., will play separate sets, one together and the Creek will serve as Fiona's backing band. No info on tickets yet but they will be available through Ticketmaster.
To get you warmed up here's a little video of Fiona and NC doing a cover of "Tonight, You Belong to Me," which all dedicated fans of Steve Martin's "The Jerk" will remember fondly. No trumpet though.
Posted by Sarah Rodman at 03:04 PM
May 23, 2007
Linkin Park's "Minutes to Midnight" is the biggest debut so far of 2007. The band's third album, which deemphasizes their signature rap-rock in favor of tortured singing and atmospheric murk, scored the number one spot on the Billboard charts with first-week sales of 623,000.
R&B singer Tank took the number two spot, pushing last week's chart-topper, crooner Michael Buble, to number three. The alt-country outfit Wilco bowed at number four, marking the group's biggest sales week ever with "Sky Blue Sky," which sold 87, 000 copies -- a quarter of them through digital retailers.
Posted by Joan Anderman at 01:19 PM
May 22, 2007
 
How goes the mainstreaming of YouTube? With the premiere of Paul McCartney's new music video at 5pm tomorrow, we'd say: mission accomplished. The video for "Dance Tonight," the lead track from Macca's forthcoming CD, stars Natalie Portman (as a ghost) and was directed by Michael "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind" Gondry. McCartney explained these unlikely hookups in a press release.
On Gondry: "His work is simple, witty, and just good fun."
On Portman: "My daughter Stella makes non-leather shoes that Natalie buys. So I rang her up and said "Hey I'm Stella's dad!"
"Memory Almost Full" will be in stores and online June 5.
Posted by Joan Anderman at 02:25 PM
May 21, 2007
 SHAUNA BITTLE / THE TENNESSEAN
Befitting of its title of Music City, Nashville was the place to be for cool concerts this past weekend. I was there to see country legend Porter Wagoner's 50th-anniversary show at the Grand Ole Opry. As if that weren't enough reason to get me there, special guests included Marty Stuart, Patty Loveless, Little Jimmy Dickens, Connie Smith, and Porter's former duet partner, the great Dolly Parton (above, singing to Porter "I Will Always Love You," which she wrote for him).
But that was Saturday night, a full day after I took my father to see the White Stripes at the Cannery Ballroom. He hadn't heard of Jack and Meg White, but as Meg's drumming rumbled through the floorboards, my dad was an immediate convert: "That Meg is a really great drummer," he decided. Not even mentioned on the band's website, it was a last-minute show, the duo's first since December 2005. They were in fine form, too, with black-and-red motif intact. They previewed new songs from their upcoming album, and in homage to their surroundings, they also played songs by Nashville's greats: Hank Williams ("Tennessee Border"), Dolly Parton ("Jolene"), and Loretta Lynn ("Rated X," with a nice vocal solo by Meg). Sadly, Loretta wasn't in attendance.
The next day, as we toured the historic Ryman Auditorium, Bright Eyes's crew was setting up for that night's show with Gillian Welch. I asked if Conor Oberst was hanging around but got a chilly response from a burly dude in a black T-shirt emblazoned with "CREW": "I have no idea." I secretly hoped I would run into Conor and Gillian at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. Alas, no dice. We did run into pop singer Seal in the lobby of our hotel, though, which was more of a thrill for my dad than me. No sign of wife Heidi Klum.
Porter's party that night was an incredible event, broadcast on "Grand Ole Opry Live." It comes on the heels of Porter's fantastic new album, "Wagonmaster," out June 5 on Anti- Records. As we watched the show from the sidelines, I realized I was 5 feet away from Dolly at one point (look for my crummy, poorly lit photos tomorrow). Inquiring minds want to know: Did you talk to her? I did not, and here's why -- No one talks to Dolly unless it's planned. She was friendly, of course, giggling and saying hello to everyone who caught her eye, but she was also escorted to and fro pretty quickly with bodyguard and small entourage in tow.
It was fascinating seeing in person an iconic celebrity you've always known from albums, movies, magazines, and television. I also couldn't take my eyes off of Judy Ogle, Dolly's longtime friend who stood at her side the entire night. Whether Dolly was chatting with someone or watching the show, Judy picked at Dolly's hair, putting pieces in place and combing it ever so. She also kept handing Dolly tissues to clamp her lips on, then she'd reapply her cherry-red lipstick.
Wow, a real live dolly.
Posted by James Reed at 05:08 PM
May 21, 2007
Paula Abdul tripped over her chihuahua, Tulip, and broke her nose. If you don't believe me click here.
Posted by Joan Anderman at 04:40 PM
May 21, 2007
AOL Music is going to premiere the first studio recording from this year's "American Idol" winner on Wednesday at 10pm -- right after either Blake or Jordin is crowned. This means, of course, that two singles are in the can, one of which is destined for the trash bin and the other destined for instant (if perhaps not lasting) fame. The annointed song will be available for purchase on iTunes, but the AOL stream is free.
Posted by Joan Anderman at 03:46 PM
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