Blitzen Trapper Coming To Off Broadway In June

Well, I may have to see if I can just live at Off Broadway this june. or maybe they will allow me to do odd jobs around the place to help pay for all the shows I'll be seeing there?

You'll first find me there on June 15, to see Mumford & Sons. I've already posted about them here, but you can also read about them on Paste's site, if you want to find out more about this up-and-coming band.

And then, six days later I will be back to see Blitzen Trapper, on Monday, june 21. I can not resist. The last time they were in town, November of 2008, I caught them at Vintage Vinyl, before they played an opening slot for Stephen Malkmus at the Pageant, and wished I could have caught them later, but commitments called. They were wonderful, even in the low-key record store setting. Their new album will be out on June 8 on Sub Pop, and you can download a free MP3 by going to their official site.

And then another six days later, just long enough time to re-charge the mind and wallet, I will be back to see Black Joe Lewis on Sunday, the 27th.

I eagerly await who I should be seeing there on July 3, six days after that concert. I'm thinking it will be good, no matter who is there...

Black Joe Lewis Postpones Off Broadway Show

Well, it is a bummer, but due to a death of one of the band's family members, the Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears show that was scheduled for Saturday was postponed until June. Toronto, Columbus, Chicage, and Lawrence, KS shows are also postponed.

Jeff, you have more time to recover from your surgery. If you are not better by June, then there is something really wrong with you.

Here they are performing on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to hold us over:

Dave Matthews Announces Summer Tour

I know what you're thinking, Professor: Who the flip cares? (or something like that, but with more colorful, sailorly language)

Well, are you still with me? Now I'm going to show the schedule, and the opening acts. Stay with me just a little longer, please:

DATE CITY VENUE SUPPORT
05/28 HARTFORD, CT Comcast Theatre Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
05/29 HARTFORD, CT Comcast Theatre Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
06/01 TORONTO, ONTARIO Molson Amphitheatre The Felice Brothers
06/02 DARIEN CENTER, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center The Felice Brothers
06/04 SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center The Felice Brothers
06/05 SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center The Felice Brothers
06/07 MANSFIELD, MA Comcast Center Yonder Mountain String Band
06/08 MANSFIELD, MA Comcast Center Yonder Mountain String Band
06/15 CINCINNATI, OH Riverbend Music Center Robert Earl Keen
06/16 MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Robert Earl Keen
06/18 NOBLESVILLE, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center Robert Earl Keen
06/19 NOBLESVILLE, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center Robert Earl Keen
06/22 COLUMBUS, OH Huntington Park Robert Earl Keen
06/23 CLARKSTON, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre Martin Sexton
06/25 CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH Blossom Music Center Martin Sexton
06/30 CAMDEN, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center Martin Sexton
07/01 CAMDEN, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center Martin Sexton
07/03 EAST TROY, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre Zac Brown Band
07/04 EAST TROY, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre Zac Brown Band
07/09 HERSHEY, PA Hersheypark Stadium Zac Brown Band
07/10 PITTSBURGH, PA PNC Park *VIP Packages Available Zac Brown Band
07/13 BETHEL, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Amos Lee
07/14 SCRANTON, PA Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain Amos Lee
07/16 NEW YORK, NY Citi Field *VIP Packages Available Zac Brown Band
07/17 NEW YORK, NY Citi Field *VIP Packages Available Zac Brown Band
07/20 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA Virginia Beach Amphitheater Amos Lee
07/21 CHARLOTTE, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte Amos Lee
07/23 WASHINGTON, D.C. Nationals Park *VIP Packages Available Zac Brown Band
07/25 LOUISVILLE, KY HullabaLOU Festival Tickets On Sale Now
07/27 ATLANTA, GA Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood Gov't Mule
07/28 TAMPA, FL Ford Amphitheatre Gov't Mule
07/30 WEST PALM BEACH, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre Gov't Mule
07/31 WEST PALM BEACH, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre Gov't Mule
08/14 WICHITA, KS InTrust Bank Arena Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
08/17 WEST VALLEY CITY, UT USANA Amphitheatre Brett Dennen
08/20 CHULA VISTA, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre Brett Dennen
08/21 IRVINE, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Brett Dennen
08/23 LOS ANGELES, CA Hollywood Bowl Raphael Saadiq
08/25 CONCORD, CA Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord Raphael Saadiq
08/27 MARYSVILLE, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre Raphael Saadiq
08/28 MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre Raphael Saadiq
08/31 BOISE, ID Taco Bell Arena SUPPORT TBA
09/03 GEORGE, WA Gorge Amphitheatre Ben Harper & Relentless7
09/04 GEORGE, WA Gorge Amphitheatre Ben Harper & Relentless7
09/05 GEORGE, WA Gorge Amphitheatre Ben Harper & Relentless7
09/10 WOODLANDS, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
09/11 DALLAS, TX Superpages.com Center Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
09/14 OMAHA, NE Qwest Center Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
09/15 St. PAUL, MN Xcel Energy Center Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears

OK, they're coming to STL on 6/16. But I don't care. What I care about is the fact that Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears are opening for them on the last four dates, and one wild-card date in-between.

That means you better see them on March 6 at Off Broadway, Dr. J.

Because after those damn DMB folks see BJL & THB, they won't be playing there anymore. And to think I saw them at that very intimate venue opening up for our very own Gentleman Auction House. They're making the climb. Good for them.

New Video From Black Joe Lewis: I'm Broke

Indeed. His release is one of my favorites of '09.

"I'm Broke": Black Joe Lewis Live

When I saw BJL at Vintage vinyl recently, I was disappointed that he did not have his keyboard player with him. The band still sounded good, but that organ sound really cements the groove, methinks. Well, here's a live shot from SXSW, at Waterloo Records. With the WHOLE band. I sure hope that they didn't sack him. Anyone know?

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears: Sugarfoot

Another SXSW highlight, with an obvious musical cue from James Brown. But, hell, is there anything wrong with that? Black Joe needs to practice his lip sync, but other than that, this is a good representation of the band. And Ian "big show" Varley is fun to watch live on the keys. I'd say go see these guys if they come to your town.

They'll be here in the Lou on Friday April 24 at the Pageant opening up for Robert Randolph and the Family Band:

SXSW Music: In Bad Photos Part 1

The cameras were out for Tori Amos.
Line for Peter Murphy.
Living Things tore it up.
Someone told me that Redd Volkeart used to play for Elvis.
Black Joe Lewis, one of the highlights.

Sorry folks. This camera is the worst: Konica Minolta Dimage X50. Avoid at all costs. The camera phones were taking better photos than this guy.

I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine

I recently saw Black Joe Lewis at Off Broadway and enjoyed the showmanship of the performance. Everyone in the band wore white shirts and vest, some with ties. BJL wore all black, and worked the stage while the backing musicians worked some (semi) synchronized moves behind him. The red curtain behind them made for a great image. And they looked like they were having a blast.

Black Joe Lewis reminded me of a combination of James Brown and Prince, musically, but what really struck me was how I thought he resembled Ike Turner. That leads me to my favorite Ike and Tina Turner song, "It's Gonna Work Out Fine". I found this medley on Youtube. Check out those fine moves by Tina and the Ikettes at the beginning of "Work Out Fine". Oh, yes:



One more Black Joe Lewis tidbit: it seems he has this label on his tour van: "St. Joseph's Catholic Church". Says BLJ on his flow of logic:

"There are only two kinds of groups that ride in those types of vans: bands and churches. We're trying to get the cops to just keep going when we drive by and all of the thugs that want to jack our stuff. Who wants to steal from a church?"