compared to what

Rhythm and wit. That’s always been the essence of John Hiatt for me, never more so than after hearing him live recently for the first time. Interviewed recently in Acoustic Guitar Magazine about his most recent album, “Same Old Man”, Hiatt compares his current recording approach to his first demo tapes:
“…this record reflects the same [...]

Some basic research in companionship, with possible wider applications:
(from NPR Morning Show, 11/06/07)
[audio=http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/6/3/1140363/mp3s/Qrio-npr.mp3]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdweH56Ra_Q]

Off the tour with Taylor Hicks, guitarist Josh Smith will be laying down some blues close to home:
Cafe Boogaloo
Hermosa Beach, CA
October 18, 2007
9pm
Cafe Boogaloo is a phenomenom, a place for white-hot electric blues, Cajun, and various other amalgamations of American music.
Dead Wrong, Deep Roots
[audio=http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/6/3/1140363/12%20Dead%20Wrong.mp3]

[audio=http://www.c2wspeakeasy.com/media/01%20Soulfinger.mp3]
It’s here. Our new message board, the Speakeasy. This takes you there, as does the link in the sideboard above the pics. Be patient as I clear moderation. It’s new, I’m new, but we’ll get it done. If you didn’t read the rest of this post yesterday, it’ll give you a sense of what we’re [...]

An interview with Tyler Hacks:
[audio=http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/6/3/1140363/TH-Finebaum9-26.mp3](Taylor Hicks with Paul Finebaum, 9/25/07)
Islands in the Stream, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rodgers
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=NiwcOaaRo1Y]
Running on Empty, Jackson Browne
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=RREDe8OkKps]
But is Japan ready?

Can an artist tell his fans what’s really on his mind? Apparently so.

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…and why it matters:

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A garden-variety, wtf? type of post:

Back before the Taylor Hicks spring tour started, Ted “alltheanswers” (tour guitar tech) commented on one of Hicks’ guitars in a thread at graycharles.com:
Taylor is playing a Gibson Les Paul 1959 custom shop reissue tobacco burst. This is a guitar that is not made anymore, but the wonderful people at [...]

Jim DeRogatis: Do you see a lot of concerts? Go see bands a lot?
Lester Bangs: No. I don’t, you know. I’ve never liked live music that much, to tell you the truth.
—from “A Final Chat with Lester Bangs”
Lester Bangs (1948–1982), the legendary and controversial rock critic, wrote deeply entertaining and affecting prose combining the feel [...]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FImwVKsBfEM&mode=related&search=]
Elvis died on 16 August 1977. The Times has a comprehensive retrospective here with many video links and a reexamination of his career and the potential he did/did not live up to. (Obligatory fried banana sandwich recipe included.)