Pearl Jam’s official website recently got a complete redesign and has been focusing on more content. The best so far is this multi-camera recording of Mike McCready doing Hendrix’s Voodoo Child live at a charity concert last November. His voice is so so, but come on, the guy can play guitar. It’s over eight minutes long but who cares. The audio quality is also the best I’ve heard in a YouTube video.
Chris Cornell Video Can’t Be Embedded, Sucks Too
Chris Cornell…what happened to you? I’m a child of the 1980s and teenager of the 1990s, meaning I loved all music from Seattle, obviously Pearl Jam, but Soundgarden was amazing. Cornell is one of the best singers, on record. Live…that’s a different story. Audioslave might have been…umm forced, but Cornell’s solo work has been more the acoustic singer/songwriter thing.
Those records have been mediocre. Cornell and his handlers must have known that and teamed him up with Timbaland for his upcoming solo record. The idea sounded to me like it might work when I first heard about it. I was kind of optimistic. But this video is not good. No, not how awful Cornell looks, but because the song is awful. I don’t mind the beats, but they drown out Cornell’s voice. Hello! That’s all he has Timbaland. Plus there is no real rock chorus or any climax in the song. Ugh. Awful.
I have a feeling Interscope isn’t allowing embedding on YouTube because they know word of mouth will be B-A-D. Or they just want you to buy it on iTunes because of things like KickYouTube.
From Dave's Archives: Pelican, Cleveland 12.11.03
Here's an experiment I've been thinking about doing for years. As many of you know I was an avid taper when i covered music from roughly 1996-2005. I taped almost every show I covered with a DAT machine and mics and/or soundboard. Over the years I really amassed some amazing recordings. I've never known what to do with them as far as distribution outside of the traditional trading with other tapers. Over the years I traded cassettes, DATs and eventually CD-Rs. Now it seems digital is the way to go. While I don't really need anymore live shows in my collection as trades, I figured my originals should get out there.
However, there is a lot of legal issues with that so if any band comes across this page and wants me to remove a file just email me or leave a comment.
First up is a show by Pelican. The Chicago-based band is one of my favorite. They do instrumental, hard rock/metal which is spectacular live. Why is it a Cleveland show? I was writing a piece on them for a music mag and this was the only show they were playing nearby in the timeframe of my deadline. I was just starting covering cars and had a brand new Mazda3 at the time and thought the drive following the band's van would be fun. It was quite a test drive, quite a show and I've loved this band ever since.
You can download the show here. PLEASE go buy some Pelican merchandise or music from the band. These guys are not rock stars, but hardworking musicians. They deserve support.
Pearl Jam Reissuing Ten! Remixed by Brendan O'Brien
After years of talking about it, Pearl Jam is finally re-releasing its debut album Ten. The set will come out March 24, 2009 in a number of different sets. But all of the releases will feature both the original album remastered and a newly remixed version of the album by the band's longtime producer Brendan O'Brien with six bonus tracks including “Brother,” “Just a Girl,” “State of Love and Trust,” “Breath and a Scream,” “2,000 Mile Blues” and “Evil Little Goat.”
The band says this is the first album in a series of re-releases of the entire catalog to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary in 2011. Yep, I'm old.
There is a super deluxe edition of Ten with the two CDs mentioned above, two DVDs, the vinyl versions of the Ten discs and a live set on vinyl along with tons of extras. The only issue of course is the deluxe edition (pictured here) costs $140. Daaaaaaamn! And way too late for Xmas.
Still, I can't wait to hear the remixed version as the band was never very happy with the sound of the original. It also makes me wonder if there will be any new material released before 2011. Their last self-titled disc came out in 2006. And they're usually releasing albums every two years, so we're pretty far behind. Also will the band tour behind reissues? Play the entire albums front to back? Hmmmm.
Eddie Vedder: Auditorium Theater Night 1
I’m so conflicted. After last night’s amazing Eddie Vedder show at the Auditorium Theater do I go again tonight? Seems like tickets are plentiful, but I think in the end I’ll let last night stand alone as one of the better Pearl Jam/Pearl Jam member shows I’ve ever been to (which is out of about 50 if you include all the side projects).
The Auditorium Theater’s sound was amazing. Our Ten Club tickets weren’t great. There’s no seniority now, just random so we were about 20 rows back. I’d gather I’d have been about row 2 or 3 if it was seniority. Anyway, seats were still great with a nice view. The sound for Vedder was terrific. He just sat on a stool with an array of guitars, ukes and mandolins and ran through one amazing and rarity filled setlist (after the jump).
The highlight was the song “No More” written about a crippled war vet named Thomas Young who came out on stage in his wheelchair for the song. He was at Lolla last year too but he seems to have gotten worse physically. I’m not sure if that’s possible, but he did not talk and barely could wave to the crowd or turn his head. It was a powerful version of the song too with the entire crowd singing the chorus and standing and cheering Young.
There are other reviews out there along with one my wife has lovingly crafted for our son Carter on his blog here. Check it out with lyrics to "Someday We’ll Go All The Way" which should totally become the Cubs’ anthem. I would say if you can try and go to the show tonight, there were lots of people with extra tickets for far less than the face value.
Continue reading "Eddie Vedder: Auditorium Theater Night 1" »
Eddie Vedder Playing 2 Nights at Auditorium Theater
Update: "I scored Ten Club tickets to night one but got shut out of night two. Courtney says I'm on my own for the second night anyway so I'll try and hunt down a single on Craigslist or TM."
As a few readers may or may not know I'm a Pearl Jam freak. Seen 'em 30 or so times in many, many states and two countries. The band just wrapped up an east coast tour which I did not attend. Having a baby sort of negates road trips to see Pearl Jam. But hey, Eddie playing two solo gigs in Chicago isn't a bad second choice.
He plays Aug. 21 and 22 at the Auditorium Theater. Tickets go on sale to the public next week with a Ten Club pre-sale Monday. I didn't get pre-sale tickets for the Vic Show last summer and was devestated, so Courtney says not to get my hopes up. But I'd have to think I could secure tickets to at least one show if not both. And if not, I'll just have to go the Craigslist or Stubhub route.
I've seen Eddie play with C Average, but not completely solo. It's a much looser show than with Pearl Jam obviously. I really thought he did a good job with the Into The Wild soundtrack and am looking forward to hearing that stuff live.
I've been on a bit of a Pearl Jam kick following the recent tour and downloading a bunch of new boots from the 2006 tour that are now tradeable. Good stuff.
50 Cent at the New York Auto Show
Here's a shot I took of 50 Cent talking about the new Pontiacs at the press days of the New York Auto Show two weeks back. I'll have some more updates this week. Haven't been eating out as much because of the young one but there's some music and tv writing to bring you.
