I'm going to see Ryan Adams & The Cardinals Feb. 22 at the Wellmont Theater.

David Byrne at Hamer Hall, Melbourne on February 9. Wish I could have afforded the second show too but couldn't stretch to 2 nights away from home. Daughter and I have great seats though and it's a 3 hour show with some old rockers on first ... The Church

AC/DC next Thurs(Jan 15) in Omaha. Ninth row....SOOOOO excited!

James Hunter in St. Catharines, Ontario in March -- Niagara Fan is going to demonstrate her stage climbing technique for anyone interested.

FifiKitty,

Since you are in the front row... might be easier for you to jump the stage. I'm in the 5th row.. but never say never. BTW... I'll try not to disrupt the performance.

I can always switch seats with you at the encore.

Well Miss Angiekay?????
What were our most famous exports like over there????
Enquiring minds wanna know

Cheers,

They were AWESOME!! It was loud and obnoxious with fire and cannons and raunchiness! Everything you expect from an AC/DC concert! My ears are STILL ringing! lol!

I know I'm replying to myself but I thought people would like to see this little clip that aired last night. I saw it by a complete fluke ... I don't watch TV anyway and avoid Kezza like the plague, I can't bear him

Anyway, DB has some interesting comments, as always, about the music scene. I love his speaking voice and that white hair looks so great with those dark brown eyes, doesn't it?

I haven't dared think about getting to the show next week because of this bloody awful weather. I feel like shit even when it's cool, so you can imagine My sympathy to all those with no a/c. Ours is far from great and couldn't cope, but it's a lot better than nothing ... again, I feel for everyone.

HOWEVER ... latest forecast ... 40 again on Saturday but warm and humid Sunday and 26 and COOL and 20 on Monday, the day of the show. I'll believe it when I get there, I daren't hope too much

Love this guy!!

His is the first interview at the moment.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/


review of the first show at the Opera House.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...0-16947,00.html

Byrne celebrates long musical life with Brian
Iain Shedden | February 03, 2009

The Australian
DAVID Byrne has, throughout his career, presented ample opportunity and inspiration for people to dance. The Sydney Opera House Concert Hall has rarely boasted such a thing. It intimidates feet with its ornateness as much as it abhors decibels beyond a certain level.
And so this menage a trois of performer, venue and punter endured extensive uneasy foreplay before the night emerged as an exhilarating triumph.
Byrne, mastermind of Talking Heads and a solo career that has involved numerous collaborations and musical styles, is here on the back of his latest CD, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.
The album, written and performed with Brian Eno, is a sprightly pop celebration and the musos' reunion has led to Byrne's stage tribute to the work the pair has done together over the past 30 years.
That meant we heard material from their groundbreaking 1981 album My Life in the Bush of Ghosts as well as tracks from the new album and highlights from the Talking Heads' More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978), Fear of Music (1979) and Remain in Light (1980), which Eno produced.
It's a show as much for the eyes as the ears, with Byrne and his 10 collaborators, including a four-piece band, three singers and three dancers, dressed in white and often working the songs with highly original choreographed routines.
The imposing, gospel-tinged Help Me Somebody from My Life in the Bush of Ghosts was startling in its theatricality as well as its musicianship, with Byrne delivering the sermon as potently as the preacher sampled on the original recording. He topped and tailed the show with new tracks Strange Overdose and Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, but the folkie hymn One Fine Day from the latest album provided the most striking contrast to the funkfest that dominated most of the set.
It was this unleashing of Byrne's dance credentials that finally convinced the concert hall crowd to stretch their legs, in particular to the Heads' Once in a Lifetime, Life After Wartime and their take on Al Green's Take Me To the River.
Throughout, Byrne -- now white-haired but otherwise a youthful presence -- cajoled, shimmied, directed and commanded attention, with a voice by turns soulful, sweet and threatening.
By the time he reached another Talking Heads classic, Burning Down the House -- a short but nonetheless welcome diversion from the Byrne-Eno brief -- not a bum was on seat. And rightly so.
Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno. Sydney Opera House, Sunday, February 1. Tomorrow, Perth Zoo. Tickets: $115.00. Saturday, Brisbane Convention Centre. Tickets $105.00. February 9 and 10 Melbourne Hamer Hall. Tickets $75.00 to $147.00.

I got to see Ryan Adams & The Cardinals Sunday night. It was such a great show!! Way better then I expecting. Very impressive band, love the steel petal guitar!! This was suppose to be one of their last gigs together as a band and very happy I got to see them. I love getting out there and seeing live music!!

I'm going to see Mad Sin play in April....for those not familiar, they're kinda THE psychobilly band, along with the Meteors.....they're very fast. And fun.

Just got tickets to see Depeche Mode. So excited to relive my youth. Seeing James Hunter next week. See you there FifiKitty.

U2, U2, U2!!!

See you there, Niagara Fan. Will also see you at Depeche Mode in July. Haven't seen them since I was......hmmm......20, I think.

Let's hope Dave Gahan isn't "wacky on the junk".

Niagara & Fifi

Be sure to post a review for the James Hunter show. I'm so bummed he canceled 'round here.

Lisa

Sure, Wildflower. We can do that. (I've just volunteered Niagara Fan. ) Sorry James cancelled in your area.

Come on up here and see him. The university he is playing at is offering a money back guarantee if you don't like the show:

JAMES HUNTER IS FANTASTIC.

I realize it is difficult to purchase tickets to see an artist you may have never heard of. But if you’re ever going to take a “chance” and discover something new…now is the time.

I am so confident you will enjoy James Hunter’s performance, that if you honestly tell me with a straight face you didn’t…I will personally refund your money! And by that I mean, I won’t personally refund your money. But “The Boss” will, as she has authorized me to make this offer. However, we both agree refunds will be non-existent as James is such a talented, exciting and likeable performer.

No matter your age or taste in music, James Hunter and his skin-tight band and horn section are guaranteed to get you groovin’.

A performer’s style and sound is always difficult to describe. But to give you a general sense, his smooth retro soul sound has elements of blues, Motown, R&B and classic rock & roll of the ‘50s & ‘60s. But it’s his personality, energy, charisma and showmanship that are really turning new audiences into lifelong fans.

I sincerely hope you are able to catch this amazing artist while he is in the country briefly and truly enjoy the show.

Thanks again for taking the time to read this and for your continued support. See you at the theatre!

Michael Chess
Promotions Assistant
Centre for the Arts, Brock University

Thanks to Niagara Fan who found this article about James Hunter in yesterday's edition of the St. Catharines (Ontario, Canada) Standard:

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article....aspx?e=1475819

Busy R&B singer finds the time to take in local colour

Posted By Lori Littleton Standard Staff

British rhythm and blues singer/guitarist James Hunter admits he used to complain about not having enough work.

“Now I’m able to complain of having too much,” he said, in an e-mail interview from London. “I certainly know which I prefer.”

To get an idea of the Grammy-nominated performer’s level of occupation, you need only look at his touring schedule. He’s starting a nine-day, seven-date Canadian mini-tour, which includes a stop at Brock University’s Sean O’Sullivan Theatre on March 19, followed by a three-date California jaunt. After that, he returns to Europe, playing steadily until the end of May, with stops in Germany and Monte Carlo.

Hunter said what he enjoys most about being on the road is seeing new places and people.

“We (once) passed through a town called Likely in California. If you’d blinked you would’ve missed it, and there wasn’t a motor vehicle in the place that was less than 50 years old. It was like a little Cuba,” said Hunter, who lives in West London with his wife, Jacqueline. “The people of Likely might not think their town is all that amazing, but we did.

“There are lots of little pockets of the U.S. that are untouched by time (often in the west). America is no more reverential of its history than we are of ours, but the country is so huge that they can’t get around to destroying it at the same rate we do.”

The 46-year-old was born into a working-class family in Essex, U.K. His earliest musical influences came from a collection of 78s of 1950s rock and roll and R&B records given to him by his grandmother and older brother, Perry.

Hunter put together a band in the 1980s, and released three albums as Howlin’ Wilf and the Vee-Jays in the latter part of the decade, but his widespread success came about just recently.

In the early 1990s, Van Morrison was at a London newsstand when he was approached by a fan, who told him about this great R&B singer/guitarist. Morrison went to check out one of Hunter’s gigs in Wales and hired him as a backup singer for several years.

Hunter appeared on Morrison’s 1994 live album, A Night in San Francisco, as well as his 1995 studio disc, Days Like This.

In 1996, Ace Records released Hunter’s debut album, Believe What I Say, which featured guest appearances by Morrison and the late Doris Troy. His second disc, Kick It Around, was released in 2001.

Then, in 2003, two of Hunter’s friends created Go Records to release his third CD. That disc, People Gonna Talk, was released in March 2006, and it became Hunter’s first North American release and a bonafide hit.

The disc garnered a Grammy award nomination for best traditional blues album, and Hunter himself was nominated for best new/emerging artist at the annual Americana Music Awards in Nashville, Tenn. That success also prompted HepCat/Ace to rerelease his debut album in the U.S. in 2006.

Last June, Hunter issued his follow-up CD, The Hard Way, making it his second disc in a row to hit No. 1 on Billboard’s blues chart. Though he admits he felt pressure about following up People Gonna Talk, having that pressure was a good thing.

“Half of the songs on Hard Way were already written by the time the project was initiated and I had a short amount of time to come up with the other half,” he explained. “Apparently I work well under pressure, and the songs came out all right. I hate to write anything that’s too throwaway so the few weeks leading up to the recording were a bit hard on my rhyming muscles. I don’t expect someone who works 40 hours a week in a factory to shed a tear on my behalf for this, but I’m British and we like complaining, OK?”

Before achieving his recent success, Hunter said he frequently became fed up with being in the music business — “or rather, being on the periphery of it.” However, he never considered giving it up “for lack of an alternative.”

“This was reinforced for us (on) one occasion when we were booked for a corporate gig on a boat on the Thames (River in London),” he said. “There were some speeches before we went on, and the ‘hilarious’ anecdotes on offer illustrated that, for all their financial security, these people didn’t have the most enviable of lives.”

Though loathe to hand out advice to struggling musicians, Hunter said budding performers should keep plugging away if they really believe in what they’re doing.

“The way the business is, even if you’ve got all the talent in the world you still need someone with the vision to steer you the right way and a few bob (dollars) to throw at you,” he said. “The only way that’s going to happen is if you keep doing it.”

Concert note: Michael Chess, Centre for the Arts promotions assistant at Brock, and a big fan of Hunter’s, is challenging anyone who is waffling over whether they’re going to attend Hunter’s concert. If someone who purchases a ticket can honestly say they didn’t enjoy the performance, their money will be refunded, he has promised.

James Hunter, with Jon Amor, perform at the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, at Brock University, on March 19, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $42 to $49 for adults, $20 for Brock students and $5 for high school students through eyeGO. Centre for the Arts members can bring a friend for free. Call 905-688-5550 ext. 3257 for tickets or information.

Heading on over to the James Hunter thread....

http://board.chrisisaak.com/index.php?show...amp;#entry41872

Just got tickets to see U2 with Snow Patrol opening up. I haven't seen U2 in over 15 years so this will be exciting. Now all I need is a Chris Isaak show and my summer will be complete.

That is cool Niagara Fan! The U2 show I want to go to has Black Eyed Peas opening. ICK! I wanted Snow Patrol.

Wow, 15 years since you've seen U2. You are in for a treat. I just know this tour is going to be awesome. I've seen them 34 times since 1982.

Bonoist,

Wowie! I've never seen a band 34 times. Totally awesome! U2 has been to Toronto many, many times. I've never had the money when they came. This time I had to see them. I have the concert fever!

Niagara Fan - I'm so excited for you. You will have to let me know what you think of the show.

"I've got a fever, and the only prescription... is more cowbell!"

FifiKitty,

Is this a "play" on words. You take your pic... Carrot Cake or the Cowbell.

Thanks so much bonoist!

My pick is definitely the carrot cake.

Have a great time at the concert. I know how much you wanted to get tickets.

Got my McFly AND Duran Duran tickets through the post today, and have Simply Red on Tuesday night........so looking forward to them all........they'll all be fantastic and all so different..........

Still no internet access as work - don't you hate power surges..........so whilst i have a few before i go to work, i'll tell you about Simply Red last night in Newcastle.............
What a voice that man has.........he just gets better and better even after 20 odd years. They started with Its Only Love, A New Flame, i have trouble remembering the songs in order but you name a Simpy Red song, he sang it..........done a absofeckinglutely jaw dropping version of You Make Me Feel Brand New, Fairground, The Right Thing, Holding Back The Years, Thrill Me, brought a tear to my eyes with For Your Babies and dedicated it to all our children........of course, being quite the outspoken person that he is, was very scathing towards the bankers dedicating Money's Too Tight To Mention to them, not to think that he'll be affected by the credit crunch in any particular way!! The crowd varied immensely in age, we were beside a wee girl about Lanna's age who knew every single song, and the camera was always picking out different people in the crowd, from blokes standing with their arms crossed to slightly older ladies singing like linties!! Two encores which included Something Got Me Started, Stars and then they finished with If You Don't Know Me By Now.........all in all a fanbloodytastic concert......he has hinted in the past that this is the last ever Simply Red Tour but gave little hints last night that they'll be back next year..........this particular plum will be waiting.........

Next stop McFly next Saturday............from one extreme to another!!!
Right off to work i must go............lol

Woohoo.You go for it Miss Plummy.Hey,and while you're at it.howz bout
you wear your new shirt huh????
Cheers mate.
P.S. Happy Easter and all that type stuff.

A small list for us so far this year.......

Russell Peters

John Fogerty

U2

Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 a week today. (one of the Venus 3 is Peter Buck, guitarist for R.E.M.)

Going to see Huey Lewis and the News in June.....why, i have no idea. I think it's a nostalgia thing. I'm also seeing Mad Sin at the end of this month, the only time they've played Ontario ever in a 20 year plus history.

I'm so damned broke, that's about it. Oh, Chris in July. But it says other than Chris, doesn't it?

Robyn Hitchcock cancelled last week because he lost his voice. Don't know what the new date is.

I've never seen Mad Sin, Mark but hope to get to the John Doe show at the Horseshoe Tavern on April 30th. I might also catch The Reverend Horton Heat in Vegas next weekend.

I'm envious of your trip to Vegas, Ja....Fifi.

Heya.

Cheech and Chong "Still Smokin" this weekend straight
after our Anzac Day footy clash between ESSENDON and Collingwood.
Geez,gunna need some serious stamina for this lot.

Have a great day guys,

Cheers,

Just found out that the Brian Setzer Orchestra is playing the Ottawa Blues Fest in July.....I'm broker than dirt, but will have to drive the 6 hours...can't miss it!

Went to see McFly last night again in Glasgow and, again, will sum it up in two words - ABSOFECKINLUTELY BRILLIANT!! Will start by saying how much I enjoyed the opening act and i don't usually listen to the openers at all but David Archuleta was really good - i think he was runner up on American Idol or something - he had the crowd in the palm of his hand and set the tone excellently.......

McFly came on with the same stage set as last year, tho a wee bit smaller due to a the Armadillo being a smaller venue but I think I've said before that the energy these boys have is amazing and the place rocked from the opening "Song For The Radio"right thru to the final song "Five Colours In Her Hair" they also did a fantastic cover version of a Girls Aloud song "The Promise" which was interesting to say the least lol, the crowd sang along to "Obviously", ""All About You" most of the songs from "Radio Active" and a lot of the older ones as well..........

Leanne and I always seem to have a better time than the kids do at the McFly concerts but that must be an age thing i think, sometimes i should remember that am 40 now and should stop doing the bouncy bouncy at concerts whilst waving a neon glow stick in the air and singing like a linty!!! But then again, I don't think I ever will

Next stop Duran Duran at Edinburgh Castle in July..............

I did catch the Reverend Horton Heat in Vegas last Sunday night. LOUD, lots of tattoos and beer. Mark T., you would have loved it. Jimbo is still playing his flaming bass. (the bass has flames, that is) Manic Hispanic played before them (not my thing) but the first band really caught my fancy -- Old Man Markley:

http://www.myspace.com/oldmanmarkley

Gotta love a band who has an electric washboard!

Also........cowbell, kazoo, autoharp, and train whistle. I'd love to see these guys and girls open for Chris one day. They are unsigned and can really play. I bought three of their homemade CDs out of a cardboard box.

Glad to hear that you had a good time, Fifi. That's very cool. I love Manic Hispanic too, all of their latino punk rock covers (Mommy's Little Cholo, haha), but haven't heard old man markley. I'll have to check them out.

Thanks, Mark. Old Man Markley is managed by Youth Brigade's manager. I'm sure you know them, being the punk expert that you are. Old Man Markley's drummer idolizes Youth Brigade. We tried to shoot a video of one of their songs but were told "no photos". (Weird, because last year at "X" at the same venue, photos and videos were allowed.) The bass player had just invited everyone to take photos and HOB people stopped us.

So, here is a VERY short video. Look at the bassist's bass -- it looks like an outdoor tin bathtub with a neck.

Old Man Markley at HOB

We snuck a bad shot of the Reverend Horton Heat. The Reverend is standing on Jimbo's bass.

That was a very short video, alright!

I know. Sorry. I tried to make it a still instead but that didn't work so you just have to pause and look.

Can't complain about three bands for $12.50. (HOB had a special 2-for-1 deal)

I got Springsteen tickets for Giants Stadium, September 30th. He sold out 3 shows, I think 180,000 tickets in less then two hours and now they are adding 2 more shows. It's going to be that last live show there ever, after football season there knocking down the stadium. I got really crappy seats but I'm just happy I got 'em!

Just saw Huey Lewis and the News in Windsor the other night. Great show, fantastic sound. Only downsides were that we felt really young, most of the audience seemed to be in their late 60's, early 70's. I figured that Huey fans from the 80's would be about my age, but apparently not. The other downside was that he did NOT play Hip To Be Square. I don't know what that was all about.

Short show as well, just over an hour i believe, but the seats cleared fairly quickly a few songs in, so we stood by the stage. He's a great singer still, and his band was right on. They're not really my cup of tea all in all, but they were entertaining and worth the price of admission.

I'm going to see The Old 97's this weekend. Their lead singer, Rhett Miller, is the opening act. Kinda strange to be your own opening act but I guess he's out there promoting his new CD. I'm so excited cause we got on the guest list and we're going for free!! We know one of the owners of the club, Maxwells in Hoboken, NJ.

Wow! Maxwell's is still around???

Indeed, Maxwell's survives, I've seen Marshall Crenshaw there twice, but that's it. Would go more, but from Queens, NY to Hoboken NJ is a bigger pain in the ass than a map would make it appear...

I too am seeing Springsteen at the final Giants Stadium run, Oct. 3, I think...the Saturday night show, got seats just above the field, should be pretty great...

I saw Huey Lewis a bunch of times from 91 to 97 or so....always a fun show, but indeed, they're doing shorter shows these days but still charging decent money, and with scant new material (although they're currently working some up) the setlist isn't that different from what I saw in the late 90s...but Huey and the band are tight and talented musicians, definitely worth a look if you haven't seen them...

Saw Bryan Adams acoustic at the Beacon theatre earlier this year, just after they reopened it...was a terrific show. Seeing 3 concerts this year (Adams, Isaak, & Springsteen) is quite a feat since I think we've only gone to one (Robert Cray) since the baby was born 2 years ago...

I'll be in Queens in October for my friends' wedding.

I didn't know Maxwell's is that famous that you would know it up in Canada. btw...The Old 97's put on a great show and Rhett Miller did an even better job as their/his own opening act. The funny thing about Maxwell's is the band has to walk through the crowd to get to the stage. I've never seen that any place else.

My next show is Pete Yorn next month and then my two Chris Isaak shows!!! It's such a great summer for live music, so many I wanna see.