Rocky Votolato

I am fully aware that Rocky Votolato has been around for some time, but I wish the general public liked him as much as I do. Votolato has released eight albums and EPs over the past 8 years and is still flying under the mainstream folk media bar of popularity. He was born in Texas but grew up the Pacific Northwest and now calls Seattle home. His last two albums, Makers and his latest release, The Brag and Cuss, were released on Barsuk Records, home to Death Cab For Cutie, Harvey Danger, They Might Be Giants and Jesse Sykes. He is not getting much radio play, but he does deserve some attention.

My favorite Votolato song:

Click For His Website:
http://www.rockyvotolato.com

Click For His MySpace Page:
http://www.myspace.com/rockyvotolato

Thom Yorke Covers Neil Young

Great cover version of Neil Young’s “After The Gold Rush” by Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. It was recorded at Neil Young’s annual Bridge School Benefit Concert last year.

Click To Listen To “After The Gold Rush”:
http://rawkblog.dreamhosters.com/Thom_Yorke-Bridge_School_Night_1/09goldrush.mp3

Click To Learn About The Bridge School Benefit:
http://hyperrust.org/Bridge/Overview.html

Click To See What Artists Have Played the Bridge School Benefit In The Past:
http://hyperrust.org/Bridge/Benefit.html

No Stairway

Bob Dylan Goes Electric on July 25, 1965

This was pulled from an email from my former colleague Frank and I thought it quite appropriate for today…

On this day, folk legend Bob Dylan performs for the first time with electric instruments. His fans, who were used to hearing him play folk songs on an acoustic guitar, were so disappointed that they booed him off the stage. (Still debated if they were booing or reacting to the inadequate PA system…)

Dylan first heard the Beatles and returned to his early interest in rock and roll. By 1964, he was writing rock and roll songs, and in the spring of that year he gave a series of rock concerts in England that were smashing successes. That year, he released Another Side of Bob Dylan, which included rock songs, and in May 1965 he released Bringing It All Back Home, which included electric guitars. The record was a hit in England but not in the United States. Later that year, he released his breakthrough rock and roll album in the United States, Like a Rolling Stone. However, he was still known primarily as a folk singer, and at the annual Newport Folk Festival, organizers expected him to continue his powerful solo folk performances.

On July 25, 1965, Dylan surprised the audience and organizers when he came onstage with musicians–including an electric bassist and electric guitarist–and launched into “Maggie’s Farm.” The crowd erupted in catcalls, calling him a sellout, and organizers like Pete Seeger fumed. After three songs, Dylan left the stage, later returning to sing two folk songs.

Of other interest… the infamous band for the event was:
Mike Bloomfield – Guitar
Sam Lay – Drums
Jerome Arnold – Bass
Al Kooper – Organ
Barry Goldberg – Piano

Here is that performance:

Billy Dee Williams

Billy Dee Williams…ain’t he so cool? This has nothing to do with music, but just thought I’d point out that Billy Dee Williams was the face of Colt 45 for years. I would also like to point out that Billy Dee Williams was also in the motion picture Lady Sings The Blues with Diana Ross and rock stars do like malt liquor so I guess that is the musical connection. I have yet to find out if Colt 45 works every time, but I am going to make it a mission to find out just because Billy Dee says so. I don’t know why I just shared this with you…