Hello again music fans. Having just returned from an off-season trip which included a week in New York City seeing shows ranging from Nashville country (The Wrights w/ Jerry Douglas), to Heavy Metal (Dead Child), to the most amazing new Jazz (Bill Frisell Septet), to electronic Noise (Black Dice), to South African indie rock (BLK-JKS), and finally a good old-fashioned honky-tonk review led by former Drivin’ and Cryin’ singer Kevin Kinney and the Madison Square Gardeners, I am excited to share my enthusiasm for new sounds. Daily Planet alumnus David Callicott was an open and helpful comrade on our musical scavenger hunts, and sends love to his friends and admirers.

 Looks like it’s shaping up to be a great spring and summer for live music in our area, and it started with a bang with Wilco in a Grand Junction theater this past Wednesday. Hitting different and out-of-the-way towns and venues, it was a treat to see Wilco close to home, in one of the smaller venues of the tour. A quick trip up to Red Rocks to see Rush leads right into the Telluride Jazz Festival with its great artists and new dates two weekends prior to Bluegrass, which yet again offers a stellar and eclectic lineup including new pop-soul heartthrob Paolo Nutini, Solomon Burke, who appears to be filling the Sunday gospel slot, country charmer Tift Merrit, the prolific Ryan Adams, and The Frames. I also got early word that the Gourds are part of the sunset concert series in Mountain Village this year, playing on August 6. Our friend Denise Mongan has also put together a wonderful concert series in conjunction with the Sheridan Opera House for later in the summer. More on that as the details roll in.
Some music found on or inspired by recent travels includes:

Dread Clampitt
The Florida boys are still going strong at Grayton Beach’s Red Bar, playing Sunday afternoon and Monday evening high energy kid-friendly sets of country and bluegrass that make for a rowdy, fun and noisy family dining and drinking experience. These guys got fourth place (I think) in the Bluegrass Fest Band competition a few years ago, and are excited to return someday, which shouldn’t be too hard, as Sam Bush himself vacations in Grayton Beach and frequently joins these guys onstage at the Red Bar. Check out their live CD from 2004 recorded by former Tellurider John Rosenberg.

Dylan’s Artist Choice
I have always been a little suspect of Starbucks’ HearMusic label’s Artist Choice CD series. Basically mixtapes made by the likes of Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones and others, the marketing and corporate vibe of these releases steered me away initially, but I have come to realize that my biases did me a disservice. Driving through rural Alabama and Florida with no way to play my iPod through the rental car stereo and no CDs, and desperate for a good cup of coffee, we came upon a Starbucks where our rural state highway crossed under Interstate 10. I picked up the Bob Dylan edition of the series and was blown away. I have not stopped listening to it since. Ultra-classic and obscure (to me at least) early tracks of Jazz, Blues, Country, and Soul make you wonder about all the great old music that’s out there waiting to be discovered. My favorites are tracks by Patty and the Emblems, Clancy Eccles and Stuff Smith. Amazing stuff, old but timeless, and highly recommended.

Boris: “Smile”
Japan’s Boris have been on a hectic release schedule the last few years, and the records keep getting better and better. Not for everyone, this stuff is very hard and noisy rock and roll. “Smile” feels more friendly and accessible than previous releases, sticking to mostly straightforward song structures. Try this record first and see if you want to dig deeper into their catalog, and play it really loud. “My Neighbor Satan” is at times like an electronic lullaby, and the nicest track here; a good starting point.

Does It Offend You, Yeah?
“We Are Rockstars”
Trendy electro-rock track of the week. Despite their name, these guys have created an undeniably catchy modern dance-rock tune. The sound mix on this single is excellent, and the music contains elements of Justice and Daft Punk with harder guitar rock. If you like LCD Soundsystem you’ll love this.