Ride the Drive will take place this Sunday, September 25.
Ride the Drive is FREE, open to the public, family-friendly, and a whole new way to experience our great city. For this event, particular streets are closed to cars and open to bikers, walkers, roller-bladers and those out to share in the experience & fun atmosphere.
Along the route there will be activities, information booths, food vendors, and plenty of other ways to enjoy the city...including music stages! The stage is going to be switched around a bit this time to reduce rider congestion up on the square. It will be facing the capitol a little ways down MLK Jr. Blvd. And here's the lineup:
*10-10:45am: Joe Bainbridge
*11-11:45am: Corey Hart
*12-12:45pm: Anna Wang &Â The Oh Boys
*1-1:45pm: Keefe Klug &Â The Surgical Precision
In order to support Ride the Drive, these artists have been kind enough to offer a free download! Right click on the song names below and save the file to download!
-Joe Bainbridge: Â "Searching for Satillites"
-Corey Hart: Â "Extinguish"
-Anna Wang & The Oh Boys: Â "Fickle Heart"
-Keefe Klug & The Surgical Precision: Â "The One"
Any one who's been following Susan Tedeschi for awhile probably knows she's married to Allman Brothers Band guitarist Derek Trucks..and that they've been known to hook up musically as well. At the end of 2009, they formed a band and called it the Derek Trucks Susan Tedeschi Band.
Now they've shortened the band's name to the Tedeschi Trucks Band..and they've recorded an album, "Revelator," which is expected to be released in June.
If you sign up for the band's newsletter, you can get a free download of one of the songs. It's called "Bound for Glory," and it's a good one! It's got a bluesy gospel feel, some great slide guitar solos from Derek..and Susan demonstrates her powerful voice. You do have to wait 'til the very end of the song for her to really belt it out..it's not quite "Hurts So Bad," but it does the trick.
If this song is any indication, it appears that husband of hers has reawakened Susan's bluesy side, something that we've been missing since "Just Won't Burn" blew us all away back in 1998.
To sign up for the newsletter and get the download emailed to you, click here.--posted by Kitty Dunn
The title of Redlight King's first single - "Old Man" - from their debut album Something for the Pain should sound eerily familiar to avid Neil Young fans. Young, who rarely entertains sampling requests, seems to be softening in his mature years.
Against popular assumption (and reality), lead singer Kaz was able to persuade Neil to allow the band to pay homage to his song of the same name. Redlight King's version of "Old Man" is not a cover. Rather, it offers up a reluctant salute to Kaz's own father, a larger-than-life figure who taught school by day and raced stock cars at night.
When you hear the song, you're going to be able to feel it. Check out the video here:
Click here to download "Old Man" for free!
I've been an R.E.M. fan since my brother bought me a copy of "Life's Rich Pageant" back in the mid-1980s. I've got a lot emotionally invested in this band, so when they release a new album, I'm always excited..with reservations. Let's face it..some of the albums that came after "Automatic For the People" were not that good.
So when I threw "Collapse Into Now" onto the turntable...or popped the disc in the CD player...I wasn't sure what I was going to hear.
My first impression of the record was that I'd heard the songs before. Not in a "oh my goodness they're just churning out the same stuff and giving it new titles" kind of way, but each song seemed to remind me of one of their older tunes from back when I was really into the band (and listening on vinyl, by the way).
Uberlin reminds me of "Drive," and "Walk It Back" has a similar feel and message as "Everybody Hurts," with lines including "Reverse and rewind, erase and revise, and try to start again."
Not every song gave me a flashback though. There's an eerily soothing lullabye called "Every Day is Yours To Win," and a quirky rhyme-fest with a great title "Alligator-Aviator-Autopilot- Antimatter," that shows the band's rockin' side. And the last song, "Blue," is a musical beat poet collage that features Stipe and his hero Patti Smith, with a background of swirling atmospheric instrumentation.
And as weird as that is..it seems to fit. Kind of like an old comfy sweater that you just bought today.
-Reviewed by Kitty Dunn
When a woman named Esperanza Spalding was announced as the winner of the Best New Artist Grammy on Sunday night, a lot of people said "who?"
I admit I was one of them. I was hoping for either Mumford & Sons or Florence and the Machine to win, but thought the award would probably go to teen dream Justin Bieber.
I wasn't inspired to go hack into Esperanza's Wikipedia page and disparage her, like some outraged Bieber fans were last night. I was however inspired to do a little research.
Spalding is a jazz bassist, vocalist, and composer, who got her first musical inspiration when, at the age of four, she saw cellist Yo Yo Ma appear on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. She attended Berklee College of Music and became the school's youngest instructor at age 20.
President Obama is a big fan, and has invited her to perform at the White House twice. She even had the honor of playing at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo, Sweden, in 2009.
And much to my surprise, I discovered she even performed in the Madison area not too long ago. She was at the Stoughton Opera House last September.
Find out more about her in her official profile here.--Kitty Dunn
Michael Gomoll is a man with a mission, a mission inspired by grief and love.
In March of 2010, Michael's 5-year old son Joey passed away unexpectedly. He was afflicted with Dravet's Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy. Unable to change the outcome of that story, Michael decided music would be the best way to heal. He established the Joseph Gomoll Foundation, and asked musicians if they would contribute songs to a CD that would raise money to find a cure and help those affected by epilepsy.
The response was remarkable. In fact, it was so remarkable, Gomoll is planning on releasing a series of CD's. The first two CD's are now available for you to purchase: Joey's Song, Volume One, and Joey's Song for Kids.
Artists on the "grown-up CD" include Robbie Fulks, Justin Currie of Del Amitri, Cowboy Junkies, Neko Case, Michael McDermott, and more.
Joey's Song for Kids has contributions from Lowen & Navarro, Ellis Paul, Ralph Covert, Steve Forbert, and others.
Each CD costs $11.99 or $19.99 for both.
Find out more here.
Paul Simon has a new album out next spring, called "So Beautiful or What."Â And he's got a little holiday treat for us--a song called "Getting Ready for Christmas Day."
It's not your average, every day, run-of-the-mill Christmas song. It has that feel-good Paul Simon groove, a little political commentary, and even samples a preacher's speech from back in the 1940's. Paul says it's "one of the best tracks he's recorded in years."
Find out more about the song in this video.
And you can download the song FOR FREEÂ here.
John Lennon has been chosen to be featured on a special edition 5 Euro coin in the UK. In a close race, (he won 92% of the votes) John won out over Jane Austen, John Logie Baird and Walter Raleigh.
The Mint's Director of communications is pleased with the public's choice. He says, "It's entirely fitting that John Lennon has been chosen by the public in what would have been his 70th year," he said. "The massive proportion of the vote he received shows clearly just how much his untimely death still resonates with the nation."
5,000 coins are set to be made and while they have a face value of 5 Euro or 8 dollars, they are being retailed at 72 dollars.
Piano Moguls Steinway & Sons are also offering a limited edition John Lennon Piano. They are calling it the Imagine Series and the piano is modeled after the white Steinway grand piano that John Lennon presented to Yoko Ono on her birthday in 1971.
The Piano comes with these special features:
⢠A choice of one of four of John Lennon's original drawings
⢠The lyrics "You May Say I'm a Dreamer" elegantly displayed on the bass side of the rim
⢠The opening bars to "Imagine" printed directly on the gold plate of the piano
⢠A medallion on the inner rim including John Lennon's Japanese chop mark/signature (which he often used to sign his artwork) as well as the series name and number
⢠A replica of John Lennon's signature gracing the treble side of the fallboard
British songstress Adele has announced her release plans for her anticipated sophomore album and its first single. The followup from 19, Adele's newest project is fittingly called 21 in accordance with her age at the time she recorded it. Adele admits this album is quite different from the first mainly due to a whole new world of influences. "I discovered lots of artists I'd never heard of, particularly Wanda Jackson, Allison Krauss, Yvonne Fair, Andrew Bird, Neko Case, Lady Antebellum and Steel Drivers who I fell in love with," she explained.  Adele goes further, showcasing her very eclectic taste in musicians, "Then I delved in to more from artists I've loved forever - Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Elbow, Mos Def, Alanis Morissette, Tom Waits and Sinead O'Connor. There's something in every single one of these artists that has really really inspired 21." The sound on this album is her British R&B but infusing it with classic and contemporary roots and country.
According to SPIN, "Adele will unveil her new sound when lead single Rolling in the Deep hits radio on November 15."Â Â The full album 21, will be released February 22nd.
If you didn't hear Rolling in the Deep yet and can't wait, check out this video of the track set to studio footage!
Some people are just resourceful...and super creative. A Florida man, Steve Cinnamon, has begun making and selling his own homemade guitars. These aren't your everyday guitars however, they're made out of cigar boxes. This tradition has been around since the civil war era and Cinnamon made it his new hobby after a friend showed him his own creation. Cinnamon has a profound respect to the early makers of these unique guitars saying, âI think what amazes me the most is how the guys back in the old days built these things. I mean, Iâve got a drill press, Iâve got a sander, Iâve got a router, but those guys had nothing.â
Check out some pictures of these awesome guitars. Want one? You can purchase your very own cigar guitar under the title âCottin Pickin Bluesâ on Facebook. Remember, Christmas is just around the corner and what is better than a one of a kind guitar?
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Here is another instance of people being extremely handy and making their own guitars. Check out this clip of Jack White making his own guitar out of a Coke bottle, a piece of wood, a few other elements, from the documentary It Might Get Loud.
In a yet untitled biopic, Sacha Baron Cohen will be taking on the challenge of playing the role of the late, great Freddie Mercury. Portraying the frontman of Queen suggests some big shoes to be filled. Thankfully, Sacha Baron Cohen is no stranger to some leather or a spandex onsie. It has yet to be determined if Sacha will be singing Queen's iconic tracks such as We Will Rock You, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Another One Bites the Dust or whether Mercury's original vocals will be used. Hopefully if Sacha attempts it, he can measure up to Freddie's amazing and distinct voice. The film will reportedly cover the begining years of the band up through their performance at Live Aid in 1985, which is still considered one of rock's all-time great live concert appearences. With the remaining members of Queen having a major say in the film, its sure to be a detailed account of the band's rich history.
                      Â
On Sheryl Crow's latest album, 100 Miles from Memphis, she enlists the help of Justin Timberlake for a cover of Terence Trent D'Arby's Sign Your Name. The collaboration was a happy accident. Crow had been recording and bumped into Timberlake in the hallway. When he heard the track he immediately wanted to cover the background vocals. The result is a beautiful mash up of their distinct voices that flows perfectly with the Memphis style tune. Thank you kismet.
Get a free download of the track and also see footage of Sheryl and Justin in action below!
Last year's Project M winner Mike Droho is asking for YOUR help! Mike Droho along with his band the Compass Rose are looking to continue their musical journey and are asking you to help them by donating to their cause.
Mike Droho & the Compass Rose are looking for donations to help the band purchase a new van to get the band across the country. The vehicle the band has used in the past has seen better days after the 600 shows and 100,000 plus miles traveled.
The band would love your financial help and in return you will be rewarded with some fantastic Mike Droho fan prizes. As Droho explains, "Your donations will not only help us live our dream, but they will also get you really cool one-of-kind merchandise, song recordings, linear note acknowledgments, admission to shows, and even live private performances! Please find it in your hearts to help us, the karmic universe will surely remember it."
So do a good deed and help these young musicians continue their musical adventure. Donations of any value will go a long ways in helping the band. There are only seven more days to reach around $1800 to help the band. If the financial goal is not reached, all "raised" money will go back to the donors. Head over to their Kickstarter page and show your love!
-Sam Ryan
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are back with their first new release in eight years, "Mojo," and you can hear it all only on ESPN.com.
The album isn't out yet, but you can listen to it in its entirety in The Life right now until it is released June 15.
The band also just began a massive North American tour in which every ticket purchased will also include a copy of "Mojo." Visit tompetty.com for dates and more info. You can also pre-order "Mojo" at Amazon.com.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 and have sold more than 60 million records worldwide.

The beautiful voice and melody of Sara Bareilles has returned as Ms. Bareilles preps a new album while releasing a new single. Bareilles is set to release her third studio album this September titled Kaleidoscope Heart which follows her 2007 release titled Little Voice. Little Voice contained the Billboard Pop chart topper "Love Song" that paved the way for Sara Bareilles to establish her piano pop sound in the US mainstream music world.
Although fans will have to wait until September to listen to the entire Kaleidoscope Heart release, Sara has officially released the first single off the album titled "King of Anything." This single maintains the uplifting pop melody of her past work but in a fresh new song. If "King of Anything" is a sign for the direction of the rest of Bareilles' upcoming release, fans of the soulful pop of past Sara Bareilles tracks may be in luck.
The new single "King of Anything" can be heard here.
Keep your ears and eyes open for more tracks off Kaleidoscope Heart and other fresh new music on Triple M!
-Sam Ryan
It's time for more awesome widgets! Stream songs live right now, this week from Paul McCartney. Check it out!
PAUL McCARTNEY
GOOD EVENING NEW YORK CITY
Multi-Disc CD/DVD Special Package Features Dazzling Performances of Beatles, Wings and Solo Classics From Citi Field, Formerly Shea Stadium, Historic Site of The Beatlesâ Landmark 1965 Concert
U.S. Release â 17th November
FROM HEAR MUSIC/CONCORD MUSIC GROUP
âIt was three great nights for the band and for me personally it was very exciting to be back opening a new stadium on the site of the old Shea Stadium where we had played 44 years previously. Even more exciting because this time round you could hear us!â
Paul McCartney's historic three-night musical christening of New York's Citi Field, witnessed by 120,000-plus attendees and universally hailed as a concert experience for the ages, will be immortalized November 17 when Hear Music/Concord Music Group releases Good Evening New York City. This momentous musical experience will be available in two formats: a 3-disc (2 CD + 1 DVD) standard edition and a 4-disc (2 CD + 2 DVD) deluxe version featuring expanded packaging and a bonus DVD including McCartney's traffic-stopping, headline-making July 15 performance on the Ed Sullivan Theater marquee (including bonus numbers not aired on the Late Show with David Letterman broadcast). The set will also be made available in high quality vinyl. In any configuration, the 30+ songs and nearly 3 hours of music comprising Good Evening New York City are a must-have for attendees wishing to relive the July 17, 18 & 21 shows, those who couldn't get tickets and/or anyone interested in an audiovisual document of a living legend. Good Evening New York City marks McCartneyâs 2nd release for Hear Music. The first was 2007âs highly acclaimed Memory Almost Full. The standard version of Good Evening New York City will be available at participating Starbucks company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada and wherever music is sold.
As the inaugural musical event at Citi Field, the site of the former Shea Stadium, the July 2009 shows held special significance not only for McCartney but for generations of his fans. The shows were performed on the same hallowed ground that The Beatles, in 1965, played the 34-minute show that would set the precedent for the modern day stadium rock show--and where in 2008 McCartney joined Billy Joel for the final rock show before the original stadium's demolition. As documented on Good Evening New York City, "I'm Down" from the 1965 set list was revived for the Citi Field shows, albeit this time played through a PA that was not overpowered by screaming fans (though there were still several thousand who tried). Other highlights of Good Evening New York City include faithful takes on Beatles classics "Drive My Car," "Got To Get You Into My Life," "The Long And Winding Road," "Blackbird," "Eleanor Rigby," "Back In The USSR," "Paperback Writer," "Let It Be," "Hey Jude," "Helter Skelter" and more, plus "Something" rendered on ukulele gifted to Paul by George Harrison, and a tribute to John Lennon in the form of a medley of "A Day In The Life" and "Give Peace A Chance." Wings era chestnuts include âBand On The Run," "My Love," "Let Me Roll It" and the pyrotechnic tour de force of "Live And Let Die," while timeless McCartney solo material ranges from "Here Today" to the upbeat "Flaming Pie" and "Dance Tonight" to a pair of numbers from Electric Arguments, the 2008 album released under the alias of The Fireman.
The concert film featured on Good Evening New York City was directed by Paul McCartney. The live performance video was directed by Paul Becher, who has overseen live visuals for McCartney for some 200 performances and counting. The 33-song 2 hour 40 minute performances were shot in High Definition using 15 cameras and digital footage incorporated from 75 Flipcams handed out to fans over the course of the three night stand. The audio mix, in both stereo and 5.1, was handled by longtime McCartney engineer Paul Hicks, whose credits include the recent Beatles remasters, The Beatles Anthology, Let It Be... Naked and two Grammy awards for his mixing work on the Beatles' Love album.
The deluxe edition bonus DVD will feature footage of McCartney's July 15 performance on the outdoor marquee of the Ed Sullivan Theater, previously available only as a webcast on the Late Show with David Letterman website. The marquee set, which marked McCartney's return to the site of The Beatles U.S. television debut, generated front page headlines and literally stopped traffic as word of mouth generated a crowd that packed Broadway from Columbus Circle to Times Square.
Paul McCartney's July 17-21 Citi Field stand has already been unanimously hailed by critics and audiences alike as the concert experience of a lifetime. On November 17, Good Evening New York City will document it for the ages.
Nowadays most albums are produced with state- of- the- art digital equipment. They utilize overdubbing and lots of studio magic. But not Chuck Prophet!
You remember Chuck's "perfect" summer song, Summertime Thing? Well, now he has a new album coming out called Let Freedom Ring. Wanting to make what he called " a political album for non-political people" they took themselves down to Mexico to record in a state-of-the-art studio...for 1957!
Check out this documentary trailer:
Look for the 11 song album on October 27.
Madison's summer music festival season kicks off this weekend with Brat Fest at Willow Island, where there are more bands than you can shake a bratwurst at! Check out the Brat Fest website to plan your itinerary.
Next up is the Marquette...
John Fogerty is making the talk show rounds this week, stopping in to see David Letterman Tuesday and Wednesday, and the ladies of "The View" on Thursday.
He's promoting his new album, "Wrote a Song For Everyone" which comes out next Tuesday...
It's a miracle that both Jonathan and KItty wanted to hear Barry Manilow this morning. They were not alone. Plenty of Fanilow's called in to vote yes. One caller claimed to have seen Manilow in concert 25 times!
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, it is another gorgeous Monday, fit for another great show at the Crystal Corner tonight.
Through locking ourselves in the barn on Irish Lane, tossing some ideas around, as well as a few choice beverages to...
Hey everybody, we were thrown for a loop by the twist this week, but were able to make one of our "oldie but a goldie" songs fit the mold.
We have a few songs that we have played consistently over the years, and we are very happy that we will be...
We just received word of what this weeks twist is, and...oh boy. We need to take our "signature song" and cut it to only 2:30 without going over. Amberstein does not simply play 2:30 versions of our songs...so this could be interesting.
Last...
In 1984, Rockwell rose to number 2 for 3 weeks in 1984 with "Somebody's Watching Me." The backup singer for the song was Michael Jackson. How did Rockwell get Jackson to help him? Well, Rockwell's real name is Kennedy William Gordy and he...
Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
He was born in England, but...
Madison's summer music festival season kicks off this weekend with Brat Fest at Willow Island, where there are more bands than you can shake a bratwurst at! Check out the Brat Fest website to plan your itinerary.
Next up is the Marquette...
John Fogerty is making the talk show rounds this week, stopping in to see David Letterman Tuesday and Wednesday, and the ladies of "The View" on Thursday.
He's promoting his new album, "Wrote a Song For Everyone" which comes out next Tuesday...
It's a miracle that both Jonathan and KItty wanted to hear Barry Manilow this morning. They were not alone. Plenty of Fanilow's called in to vote yes. One caller claimed to have seen Manilow in concert 25 times!
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, it is another gorgeous Monday, fit for another great show at the Crystal Corner tonight.
Through locking ourselves in the barn on Irish Lane, tossing some ideas around, as well as a few choice beverages to...
Hey everybody, we were thrown for a loop by the twist this week, but were able to make one of our "oldie but a goldie" songs fit the mold.
We have a few songs that we have played consistently over the years, and we are very happy that we will be...
We just received word of what this weeks twist is, and...oh boy. We need to take our "signature song" and cut it to only 2:30 without going over. Amberstein does not simply play 2:30 versions of our songs...so this could be interesting.
Last...
In 1984, Rockwell rose to number 2 for 3 weeks in 1984 with "Somebody's Watching Me." The backup singer for the song was Michael Jackson. How did Rockwell get Jackson to help him? Well, Rockwell's real name is Kennedy William Gordy and he...
Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
He was born in England, but...
Last year's Project M winner Mike Droho is asking for 
The beautiful voice and melody of Sara Bareilles has returned as Ms. Bareilles preps a new album while releasing a new single. Bareilles is set to release her third studio album this September titled Kaleidoscope Heart which follows her 2007 release titled Little Voice. Little Voice contained the Billboard Pop chart topper "Love Song" that paved the way for Sara Bareilles to establish her piano pop sound in the US mainstream music world.
Although fans will have to wait until September to listen to the entire Kaleidoscope Heart release, Sara has officially released the first single off the album titled "King of Anything." This single maintains the uplifting pop melody of her past work but in a fresh new song. If "King of Anything" is a sign for the direction of the rest of Bareilles' upcoming release, fans of the soulful pop of past Sara Bareilles tracks may be in luck.
The new single "King of Anything" can be heard here.
Keep your ears and eyes open for more tracks off Kaleidoscope Heart and other fresh new music on Triple M!
-Sam Ryan
