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CONCERT
REVIEW 25th
ANNUAL ROOTS OF AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL- NEW ORLEANS TRIBUTE LINCOLN
CENTER OUT OF DOORS FEST NYC IRMA
THOMAS & MANY MORE AUGUST
23, 2008 It borders on the remarkable that an
event of this magnitude can be free. But it’s just that. And what a show it was. Opening with a battle of the brass
bands, the all-woman Pinettes Brass Band and the all male Hot 8 Brass Band marched throughout the park making a joyful noise.
Not as polished as some of the veteran acts to follow, it nonetheless was a happy way to start what would be- for the most
part- a wonderful day Betty Harris of Cry to Me and Nearer to You fame is being billed as a “lost” New Orleans R&B queen as she had
dropped out of sight for the longest time. Well, I’m certainly glad they found her as she was in fine voice. Unfortunately,
she got the short end of the stick for sure, as she did all of four songs before getting the hook. The woman deserves better. Harris was followed by one of the greatest
live acts on the planet in gospel act The Campbell Brothers’ Sacred Funk. Backed by sousaphone great Kirk Joseph’s
Backyard Horns, The Campbells had the thousands on their feet with their sacred steel. But again, the set was a bit too short
and kind of felt like a tease as when I saw them stretch out at BB Kings’ Supper Club last year I saw firsthand the
full effect of their musical virtuosity. Singer John Boutte was someone I had
thus far been unaware of, so was I ever startled when Sam Cooke’s voice came out of this dynamo. They sound so similar
it’s almost eerie. And what a wonderful, charismatic performer the man
is. His songwriting is also both sharp, heartfelt and witty in an Oscar Brown
Jr. kind of way. I’m told in New Orleans he’s revered and I was so impressed by his soulful singing that I will
be seeking out his CDs. Finally, headliner Irma Thomas at age
67 hasn’t lost a note. What a beautiful voice, great band, and royal stage presence this woman possesses. Why she never attained the mainstream success of so many of her peers is probably due to the business end
of things, because talent wise she’s got it and always has. Playing a generous hour and a half, she got a standing ovation
and deservedly so. She’s just marvelous and you should make every effort you can to see her when she leaves her home
turf of New Orleans. Although the pacing of the event was
odd with some bands getting time to deliver their full shows and others cut off at the knees, I can’t complain about
a 6 hour show featuring all this greatness on one stage. CONCERT
REVIEW STILL
BLACK, STILL PROUD: AN AFRICAN TRIBUTE TO JAMES BROWN FRED
WESLEY, PEE WEE ELLIS & MANY MORE w/SPAM
ALL STARS LINCOLN
CENTER OUT OF DOORS FEST 8/22/08 NYC This one was special. Take James Brown vets Pee Wee Ellis,
Fred Wesley, vocalist Martha High, and mix them with world class African musicians Cheikh Lo and Vieux Farka Toure and what
do you have? And what an interesting show it was. Hearing the colorful Cheikh Lo in a
thick accent doing This Is A Man’s World, was an almost indescribable experience.
Sitting third row center, I watched Pee Wee and Fred look at him in both amazement and amusement as he put his own unique
stamp on the tune. And watching the joy on the face of Toure as he sang Say It Loud,
I’m Black and I’m Proud in French was just wonderful. I should mention that Lo played multiple
instruments and Toure is a tremendous guitarist. I look forward to catching their bands down the road. Although sitting on stools for much
of the show and looking quite their age (with both extremely heavy), Pee Wee and Fred nonetheless haven’t lost a note.
It was a joy to hear them once again doing many old Brown tunes and even sneaking in some P-Funk. I’ve seen several James Brown
tributes since he died and they’re always great, but you also feel there’s sort of a hole on stage with his absence.
But THIS was a unique concept and presentation and truly triumphant. File this concert under memorable and
magical. Evan Ginzburg’s 1 sentence concert reviews! Hilary Cole/Billy Stritch (Birdland
Jazz Club 8/15 NYC) Jazz meets cabaret as wonderful vocalist and great pianist join forces for a lovely set in a lovely
setting. Neil Diamond (Madison Square
Garden 8/16 NYC) A master showman with moving lyrics and still powerful vocals backed by an ultra-tight
band of 32 years- a sure-fire combination for his ever-adoring audience. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings/Mehanham Street Band/Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens (Central Park Summerstage 8/17 NYC) A tireless 4'11 52 year old bundle of energy, talent, and showmanship with an ever-tighter band
making for a great, great concert; instrumentalists Menahan Street Band were tight (particularly
for their first live gig) but lacked showmanship, and Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens won over the crowd with some old
school gospel. CONCERT REVIEW
JOEL DORN TRIBUTE-"KEEP A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW"
LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS FESTIVAL- AUGUST 13, 2008
NEW YORK CITY
It almost feels “wrong” to review an incredibly heartfelt concert which for all intensive
purposes could have been a memorial service.
But I’ll do it anyway.
For those who don’t know, Joel Dorn was a legendary record producer for Atlantic Records. He
was not only one of Ahmet Ertegun’s in-house producers for Atlantic Records, but a multi-Grammy winner. In his prolific
lifetime, he founded the 32 Records, Night, and Hyena labels and produced great pop, rock, R&B and jazz recordings with
Bette Midler, Leon Redbone, Roberta Flack, Mose Allison, The Neville Brothers, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Yusef Lateef, and Max
Roach and many others.
That Allison, Flack, and Kirk’s widow were at the event made it all the more special.
The event was hosted by Dorn’s son, musical great Mocean Worker whose casual dress and tone made
the event feel relaxed rather than somber. The show itself was virtually flawless musically- each and everyone on that stage
was a topnotch musician deserving to be in front of a 5,000 or so strong crowd.
Highlights included a duet between Dr. John and Cornell Dupree, the reuniting of the R&B/go-go
band Black Heat after 35 years, noted New Orleans producer Wardell Querzergue standing alone on stage “conducting”
a stunningly beautiful Aaron Neville tune, surprise visits by Hugh Masekela and The Persuasions, and the showstopper being
Les McCann joined by Mocean’s band for a smoking rendition of Compared to What?
And it was very appropriate that Dorn’s recent discovery, Leslie Mendelson, was allowed to showcase
her great skills; she played piano while singing a beautifully slowed-down version of Be My Baby. Sometimes
you just hear someone for the first time and go “Wow.” Well, I’m sure we’re going to hear great things
from this brilliant young musician. Thank you, Mr. Dorn, for yet another gift to the world of music.
Clocking in at around 3 hours, this Hal Willner produced epic was more consistent musically than his
Bill Withers tribute, but frankly not quite as exciting as they relied more heavily on ballads for this one. Plus some of
the rather long speeches about Dorn- as entertaining as they were- took away from the flow of the music.
A video interview with the colorful Dorn himself, however, proved to be very illuminating, as
we saw that great sense of humor that so many of the speakers had already acknowledged.
All in all this was a beautiful show, with many great moments. Mocean wrapped up the program by saying,
“My dad would have f’in loved this.”
He apologized for his cursing. But I’m sure his dad certainly would have just done that- “loved
this.”
I know I did.
Great work to all concerned.
NEW CENTURYʼS TOP 30 MONTHLY TRACKS AUGUST 2008 1 SISTER ROSETTA GOES BEFORE US (4 Wks. @ #1) (#1 ADULT ALTERNATIVE) (#1 HOT AC) (#1 AC)
(#1 MAINSTREAM ROCK) SAM PHILLIPS (MySpace/Nonesuch) 2 NEPTUNE CITY (#1 MODERN ROCK TRACK) (#1 VIDEO CLIP) NICOLE ATKINS (YouTube/Columbia) 3 MOMMYʼS PLANNING YOUR BAR MITZVAH (***HOT SHOT DEBUT***) (#1 R&B TRACK) (#1 NOVELTY TRACK) (#1
DANCE TRACK) TWO LIVE JEWS (Empire/Universal) 4 SPINNING (Re-Entry) GREGG SWANN 5 OUR TOWN (#1 COUNTRY TRACK) (#1 AMERICANA TRACK) (#1 FOLK TRACK) IRIS DEMENT (DUET with EMMYLOU HARRIS) (YouTube) 6 OY! ITʼS SO HUMID! (#1 RAP TRACK) TWO LIVE JEWS (MySpace) 7 ONTARIO (***FLASHMAKER***) LORRAINE LECKIE (MySpace) 8 PARTAKE (DEBUT) COSMIC JUG 9 MY FIRST HURRICANE (#1 SPOKEN WORD TRACK) (#1 JAZZ TRACK) (***GREATEST GAINER***) LARISSA SHAMILO with BOBBY PERFECT (MySpace) 10 ONLY MONEY (#1 BLUES TRACK) MICHAEL McHUGH with JACK OʼHARA (MySpace) 11 ITʼS TIME FOR A CHANGE (Re-Entry) THERESA SAREO (MySpace) 12 SHAKE YOUR TUCHAS (DEBUT) 2 LIVE JEWS (MySpace) 13 THE CIRCLEʼS NOT BROKEN (DEBUT) THE BRILLIANT MISTAKES (MySpace) 14 BARGAIN TOWN (DEBUT) 2 LIVE JEWS (Empire/Universal) 15 THE AMERICAN NIGHT MICHAEL McHUGH (RDU) 16 GOOD YEAR FOR A CHANGE (DEBUT) THE BRILLIANT MISTAKES (MySpace) 17 ST. CLAIRE JACK HARDY (YouTube) 18 DELAY ON THE 4 TRAIN (DEBUT) SCOTT CORNWELL 19 BECOMING (DEBUT) THE BRILLIANT MISTAKES (MySpace) 20 CHINA DOLL (DEBUT) JIM HANFT (MySpace) 21 JAVA JIVE (DEBUT) FOOD OF LOVE (MySpace) 22 SAVING THE PLANET (DEBUT) CAROLINE ENGLAND (MySpace) 23 FOUR COLD ANGELS (DEBUT) LORRIANE LECKIE (MySpace) 24 NO EXPLANATIONS SAM PHILLIPS (Nonesuch/MySpace) 25 QUANTUM LOVE (Remix) (#1 ELECTRONICA TRACK) LARISSA SHAMILO with BOBBY PERFECT (MySpace) 26 LITTLE FLOWER CASEY CYR (MySpace) 27 POST DATA WE COMMUNICATE LISA BIANCO (MySpace) 28 WRIGHT STREET MICHAEL McHUGH (RDU) 29 MIKE ROWE IS DEAD DAVID INDIAN (Folksmith.com) 30 THE UNEARTHLY FIRE ROD MacDONALD (MySpace) CONCERT REVIEW- HAL WILLNER’S
BILL WITHERS PROJECT PROSPECT PARK BROOKLYN AUGUST 9, 2008 Noted producer Hal Willner’s Bill Withers tribute
concert was loud, long, and some of the performances just plain didn’t work. It was also at times simply magnificent. The event featured not only Bill’s hits, but far more
obscure album cuts. Particularly interesting was the fact that so many of the
renditions sounded nothing like the originals, with artists allowed to stretch out and paint their stamp on Bill’s genius. On the negative side, the great Howard Tate muddled through
a tune he clearly wasn’t familiar with. How did I come to this conclusion? Well, he was reading the lyrics off several
pieces of paper. Come on, now- does this even border on professional in a major event in front of 5,000 plus fans? I’m
also a big James “Blood” Ulmer fan, but the sound wasn’t quite right during his first number and just wasn’t
doing him any favors. The wonderful Sandra St. Victor sang like her life depended on it, but was drowned out on much of her
first number, although she tore the place up and was one of the evening’s highlights on her second. And as much as I
love The Swell Season, whose movie Once is just a beautiful, beautiful indie film,
their quite sweet performance just couldn’t touch many of the other vocalists this evening. But then there was greatness and plenty of it. And then there was Bill himself. It’s always a shock when you haven’t seen a
performer in a long, long time. Out came a 70 year old, white haired Bill, to open the second set. As the great guitarist
Cornell Dupree did a beautiful version of Grandma’s Hands, it appeared that
Bill’s accompanying him was spontaneous. The massive crowd rose in a deserved standing ovation, and I could feel the
goosebumps that weren’t there much of the first set. What a thrill to see this reclusive performer who hasn’t
released an album in almost a quarter century! And, clearly moved by it all, towards the end of the show he was back on stage
shaking hands and hugging each and every performer as The Persuasions, his daughter, and a host of other singers did a long,
powerful rendition of Lean On Me. With the audience begging for an encore, his
lovely and talented daughter sang Just the Two of Us. It was both dramatic and
quite touching watching a beaming Withers conduct a great crew of musicians including Music Director Steven Bernstein, Lenny
Pickett, a full string section, and the fine band Harriet Tubman featuring Melvin Gibbs, J.T. Lewis and Brandon Ross. The evening may have had its ups and downs, but to see someone
of Bill Withers’ stature “get his due” in an event of this magnitude, and to see so many marvelous world
class performers on one stage, made this an unforgettable evening. That Bill himself was there and graced us by performing
made it that much more of a thrill. I may have done a few things differently if I had organized the show, but all in all this
was a musical memory to treasure and I look forward to seeing the documentary on Withers that this concert will be a major
part of. CONCERT REVIEW- RICHIE HAVENS BAM R&B FEST- METRO TECH BROOKLYN THURSDAY AUG. 7, 2008 For
a man who is generally labeled a “folkie” and not a soul singer, Richie Havens sure has a lot of soul. He’s
one of those rare performers who is a “sure thing.” I’ve never once seen him put on a bad show. Singing
insightful, passionate songs about the human condition, he’s a wonderful guitar player, songwriter, and a great vocalist. And
Freedom is one of the all-time great live concert performances. Now
I probably could have lived without one or two of the many “new ageisms” Richie threw at us between songs. For me it got in the way of the flow of the show. For example, I learned we are “all
connected.” And even though we may never see most of our fellow concert-goers again, we were all “one family”
during the event. But
what was ironic is that the guy’s absolutely right. Sitting there with a student from China, Soul-Patrollers Sally from
California and fellow New Yorker Selah (both of whom I was meeting for the first time) as well as other friends, this beautiful
music had brought us all together. And who knows if the stars will ever align
where we’d all share such a nice experience together again? If
you’ve never seen Richie Havens live you should. You’re going to hear some heartfelt, well performed music. And
you may even learn a thing or two. CONCERT REVIEW- LIZA MINELLI/CHRISTOPHER CROSS ASHER LEVY PARK BROOKLYN AUGUST 7, 2008 Part
of Liza Minelli’s “magic” is that she is so vulnerable. And
it’s not just show business “shtick.” She truly is. Stating
she was “jet lagged,” “weak,” and “needed a chair,” one wondered if she would get through
the show. Coughing repeatedly in the middle of several numbers, she clearly was not well. But
remarkably, in that Judy Garlandish “Show must go on” manner, she still
managed to tear the house down. Even
if she spent most of the night in her chair. Backed
by an impeccable orchestra and noted pianist Billy Stritch, Liza remains one of the great forces in modern music; she’s
a throwback to a seemingly lost era. The woman knows how to “tell a story” with a song. And although she barely
dances anymore, she is a showman supreme whose every gesture is passionate and means something. Sitting
next to a young singer in a park packed with thousands of people, my companion studied her- as should all performers. What
she does is almost a lost art. She is simply put- even on an “off night”- a force of nature. Patti Labelle and
very few others can touch her in pure emotion, glamour, and showmanship. Opener
Christopher Cross was the exact polar opposite. Looking and dressing like the guy next door cleaning out his garage; he never
once got off his stool and exhibited zero charisma. Having been weaned on Al Green, James Brown, P-Funk and other master showmen,
I almost wanted to tell the guy to get off his butt and perform. Surprisingly, his music is quite jazzy in person and actually very soothing.
He has a fine voice, is a serious songwriter, and his band can play. A song about a friend who died young in a car
accident was very touching and memorable. But
a showman this guy isn’t. All
in all, though, it was a memorable evening. Liza survived, she triumphed, and fans left knowing they’d seen greatness.
And
you can’t say that every day. CONCERT
REVIEW HEZIKIAH
WALKER/KURT KARR/DAVE HOLLISTER & MORE CENTRAL
PARK’S SUMMERSTAGE NYC JULY
19, 2008 Imagine a field filled with thousands
of people. They’re hugging. Kissing. Telling
friends, family and even strangers how much they need and love them. Some are so emotional that they’re openly crying. Haight Ashbury 1967? A hippie love-in? No, it’s Hezikiah Walker and
his massive Love Fellowship Choir at Central Park’s Summerstage doing the profoundly beautifully I Need You To Survive. To say that being part of this was
a moving experience would be an understatement. Mixing modern and old school gospel
along with R&B and hip-hop elements, Hezikiah has the perfect formula to reach people of all ages. And reach them he does
with his powerful outfit of some 50 or so folk on stage. Kurt Karr’s no slouch either. Braving the 95 degree heat, he went with a chordless mike right into the crowd, working
the entire length of the park. A tremendous showman and preacher, he got the place rocking right quick. Just thoroughly enjoyable. However, the rest of the show was nowhere
on this level. Now here’s how it works. Yours
truly took multiple buses and trains and coped with scorching heat to see a show. I also made a voluntary donation upon entering
the park. So as a fan I certainly fulfilled my end of the bargain. I should also add that there were some
real positive messages offered throughout the day whether you’re religious or not. Dave Hollister openly talked about
doing tons of drugs and being shot and stabbed multiple times before turning his life around. And Hezikiah Walker wondered
why the media wasn’t at a tremendously positive event like this and instead always turns up in his community when something
bad happens. Point well taken. All in all, this was not only a memorable
day, but because of “Hez” and Karr, a great day in the park. THE NEW CENTURY TOP 50 CROSSOVER TRACKS JULY 2008 * The Top 50 tracks culled from audio and video online sources by both Mainstream and ʽHeatseekerʼ artists Posting soon on: Top 1000 Heatseeker Tracks of All-Time on www.myspace.com/mcqandthedude 1 SISTER ROSETTA GOES BEFORE US (***4 Wks. At #1***) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6IebxrcMj0SAM PHILLIPS (Nonesuch/MySpace) 2 LONG AGO, SO CLEAR (FROM ʽHEAVEN & HELLʼ) VANGELIS with JON ANDERSON (YouTube) 3 OY! ITʼS SO HUMID! TWO LIVE JEWS 4 DIRTY CITY STEVE WINWOOD 5 THE INVISIBLE MAN JOE JACKSON 6 I KISSED A GIRL KATY PERRY (YouTube) 7 MY FIRST HURRICANE LARISSA SHMAILO with BOBBY PERFECT (MySpace) 8 ALL SUMMER LONG (***HOT SHOT DEBUT***) KID ROCK (Atlantic) 9 SISTER ROSETTA GOES BEFORE US (***FLASHMAKER***) ROBERT PLANT/ALLISON KRAUSS (Rounder) 10 TONIGHT NICK LOWE (YepRoc) 11 THE SOUND OF BREAKING GLASS NICK LOWE (YepRoc) 12 QUANTUM LOVE LARISSA SHMAILO with BOBBY PERFECT (MySpace) 13 SAVING THE PLANET CAROLINE ENGLAND (MySpace) 14 IF A TREE FALLS BRUCE COCKBURN (YouTube) 15 EASTER PATTI SMITH (Arista/MySpace) 16 RIVER SONG DENNIS WILSON (CL/Legacy) 17 OUR TOWN IRIS DEMENT with EMMYLOU HARRIS (YouTube) 18 NO EXPLANATION SAM PHILLIPS (Nonesuch/MySpace) 19 ONTARIO LORRAINE LECKIE (MySpace) 20 CREEP RADIOHEAD (Red) 21 FREE MELISSA OTERO (MySpace) 22 WRIGHT STREET MICHAEL McHUGH (RDU) 23 UNDER THE MOONLIGHT DENNIS WILSON (CL/Legacy) 24 VOLCANO BECK (Interscope) 25 FREDERICK PATTI SMITH (Arista/MySpace) 26 ALIVE CAROLINE ENGLAND (MySpace) 27 RUDE LOVING (Live) LUCY GALLANT (MySpace) 28 ALL THAT YOU HAVE IS YOUR SOUL EMMYLOU HARRIS (Nonesuch) 29 MERCY DUFFY (RoughTrade) 30 YOU HAVENʼT DONE NOTHINʼ JOE COCKER (J) 31 SHINE OVER BABYLON SHERYL CROW (A&M) 32 IN LOVE WITH A GIRL GAVIN DEGRAW (J) 33 POST DATA/WE COMMUNICATE LISA BIANCO (MySpace) 34 BEWARE OF DARKNESS JOE COCKER (J) 35 NUTTED BY REALITY NICK LOWE (YepRoc) 36 ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER EDDIE VEDDER (Columbia) 37 COME TOGETHER JOE COCKER (J) 38 TOMBSTONE BLUES RITCHIE HAVENS (Columbia) 39 TOKYO BRUCE COCKBURN (YouTube) 40 THE UNEARTHLY FIRE ROD MacDONALD (MySpace) 41 LOVE ME BACK JESS KING (YouTube) 42 HOME PAUL CATALDO 43 THE AMERICAN NIGHT MICHAEL McHUGH 44 LANGUAGE OF THE NIGHT LORRAINE LECKIE (MySpace) 45 JESUS FREAK DC TALK (YouTube) 46 FREAKY LUCY GALLANT (YouTube) 47 SIDEWAYS LISA BIANCO (MySpace) 48 FOUR COLD ANGELS LORRAINE LECKIE (MySpace) 49 RUTDER RED HUBBARD WALTZ STEPHANIE CARLIN (MySpace) 50 CREATION DREAM BRUCE COCKBURN (YouTube) CONCERT
REVIEW- PHOEBE SNOW METRO
TECH CENTER BAM RHYTHM & BLUES FEST THURSDAY
JULY 17, 2008 12 NOON If Phoebe Snow had Beyonce’s looks and body she’d no doubt have a fortune sitting in the bank. She made covers of All in the Game , Jackie Wilson’s Work Out, and even Janis Joplin
tunes her own. And her compositions remain sensitive, introspective, and poignant. Even more powerful was Ms. Snow trying to cope with facing her birthday without her daughter who passed
away earlier this year. Struggling to sing a song about her, it was one of the most touching moments I can remember at a live
event. What had been a mere concert transformed into something more- a “love fest” as Phoebe herself put it. The audience- deeply moved by what they were witnessing- spontaneously burst into a rendition of the traditional
Happy Birthday followed by Stevie Wonder’s Happy Birthday, while Phoebe stood on stage shaking her head
at what she was witnessing. It was truly beautiful. Adding to the great vibe, an African woman in traditional garb walked
up to her and graciously gave her a beautiful ring while another man passed along flowers. Mentioning the heat repeatedly, it was clear Phoebe was feeling it. And she did maybe a dozen numbers total.
So I’ve seen longer, even better concerts in my life. But I sure don’t remember too many that felt this good. Bravo Phoebe. And happy birthday. -Evan Ginzburg www.evanginzburg.com GEORGE
CLINTON AND PARLIAMENT-FUNKADELIC CAPITOL
ONE THEATER AT WESTBURY WESTBURY,
NY THURSDAY
JULY 17, 2008 I tell people all the time that some of the best nights of my life have been seeing P-Funk. Looking older, frailer, even somewhat shorter, George took his sweet time before coming out to a
2/3 empty house. This didn’t have the makings of a great evening yet it somehow was. And George has a charisma
that is beyond description; when he finally walked on stage, virtually every person in the building rose in love and respect
for the man. With literally 20 members of the entourage jamming, they tore the place up for two and a half furious hours
with the world’s funkiest grandpa singing, conducting, dancing, smirking, and even smoking weed. Interestingly enough the audience was about 80% young and white with many clearly “Deadheads”
doing that herky-jerky “Grateful Dead Dance.” Being an old school P-Funk fan it was odd witnessing this, but they
loved every minute of the gig and have obviously adopted a new hero. My only criticism is that faced with a strictly enforced 11PM venue curfew, the band probably should have
come out on time. Yet I somehow doubt at this stage of the game George and crew follow the same rules or clock that
us normal folk do. So I missed hearing One Nation Under a Groove and a few other classics. As an announcer demanded
the fans clear the venue, George stood on a now darkened stage without a mike, conducting the remaining fans to
chant "Shit...goddamn...get off your ass and jam." All I can say is there’s one constant in this galaxy. Somewhere George Clinton is out on that endless
road, wearing something that no other 67 year old would dare to, and playing that wild, wonderful music. There’s something just reassuring about the whole thing. Live long George. We love you. -Evan Ginzburg www.evanginzburg.com CONCERT
REVIEW In 1986 at Madison Square Garden’s
sold out Felt Forum, I saw what may have been the greatest concert of my life in Fela Kuti, with his incomparable band Egypt
80. With an army of musicians and dancers/wives on stage, the building shook for 3 ½ glorious, unforgettable hours. So when I heard that his son Seun Kuti
would appear with Egypt 80, I knew I just had to be at Summerstage. But could it compare to his late, great, truly legendary
dad? Shockingly, in many respects it did. First off, the resemblance between
Seun and Fela is almost eerie. And he has that same almost cocky, charismatic swagger. And then there’s that band. With 15 musicians, singers and dancers
on stage it most definitely is a joyful noise. And a driving one at that. Musically, Seun’s politically
astute songs are very much in the spirit of Fela’s. Thousands danced and chanted along in the hot July sun, and to say
that nobody wanted the magic to end would be an understatement. And thus my sole criticism- the set
clocked in at a mere 90 or so minutes. Fela would have just been hitting his stride at that point. Which begs the question why opening
act- electronica’s Love Trio- were allowed to noodle around on stage for a good 45 minutes with virtually no audience
interaction before being joined by the late (as in tardy- not dead!) toaster U-Roy. Frankly, they didn’t quite gel anyway,
and we were now an hour plus into the gig. A 40 minute break between sets didn’t help the show’s flow either. The second act, though, tore the place
up as the great Afrika Bambaataa proved to be everything rap should be. His crew rapped to various classics like Kurtis Blow’s
The Breaks and Chic’s Good Times
and were upbeat and positive, emphasizing “Love, peace, unity and having fun.” Plus President Bush haters would
have just loved ‘em with their scathing attacks. All in all, I may not treasure this
show 20 years from now like I do Fela’s, but it was most certainly a musically memorable day in the Big Apple. Evan Ginzburg www.evanginzburg.com CONCERT
REVIEW BAM
R&B FESTIVAL METRO TECH BROOKLYN JULY
3, 2008 Oleta Adams has everything a performer
could dream of. Belting out her own hits like Get Here and fine covers of classics like Don’t Let The Sun Go Down
on Me, Adams overcame occasional sound problems to put on a crowd-pleasing 90 minute show. Although I could have lived without
her performing New York State of Mind which has been done to death, and one or
two other numbers left me uninspired, the bulk of the show better utilized her powerful vocals, sensitive lyrics and fine
band. Adams sat at the keyboards the first
half of the set, eventually getting up for the uptempo numbers which helped the show build to a strong finish. Although I
would have liked to have seen her totally let loose ala a Patti Labelle, I would be hard pressed to find a soul who walked
out of the show disappointed. I give this one an 8 as in near great. SOME
MUSICAL NOTES & THOUGHTS 7/1/08 By
Evan Ginzburg This is going to be some musical stream
of consciousness, so enjoy the ride. New York is a musical smorgasboard.
Over the past week or two I’ve not only been involved in but caught a bunch of events that I’ve been too busy
to fully write up, but here are a few thoughts. Orchesta Baobab from Senegal is one
of the greatest bands anywhere. Incredibly influential in many musical genres and throughout the world, don’t miss them
the next time they’re around. Their live shows are simply joyous. Fela’s son Sean plays with his
late, legendary Dad’s band, Egypt 80, this Sunday at Central Park’s Summerstage. Afrika Bambatta also on the show.
The Fela show I saw at Madison Square Garden’s Felt Forum mid-1980s may have been the greatest concert I ever went to.
Sean’s getting rave reviews, too. Looking forward to it. Sounds of Tibet is also a great world
music band with gorgeous vocals and simple yet beautiful instrumentals. They’re playing around New York . Had Portuguese singer Ramana Vieria
on my radio show. Lovely music. Speaking of World Music, how come clubs
like Satalla that feature these wonderful artists tend not to last? Is it the rents, the economy, or just the apathy of music
“fans” (I use the term loosely). I just threw an end-term party in NYC club Zinc featuring 3 live bands and drew
a nice enough crowd, but you wouldn’t believe how many people wouldn’t come out 6:30 PM because they “just
go home after work.” Like it’s a law or something. I get so tired of this way of thinking. Folks, if you haven’t
paid to see your favorite artist since “back in the day” or purchased one of their CDs in forever, you’re
just not the fan you think you are. Support LIVE music! My friend Carlton J. Smith is in the
middle of a several month run in China. He gets lots of ink there which he sends me. If only R&B got the same attention
in his own home town of NYC. Caught R&B singer Bobby Harden
at an outdoor concert the other day. Leaning towards the jazzy side, I enjoyed his wonderful original compositions more so
than some of the covers he did, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable hour and change and he’s a good showman to boot. TV One in NY ran a one hour Jill Scott
concert at 1AM the other night so I wanted to see what all the hype was about as I really don’t follow her. Strong vocals.
Fine band. Quality songs if not incredibly memorable. But there was nothing there that made me say “I must see her live
next time.” At $35-$95 a pop which is what I believe they charged at her recent JVC Jazz Fest show, I want Patti or
Chaka or Aretha. Or maybe I’m missing something? Speaking of Chaka she’s on one
of those AM morning TV shows live this Friday singing between 7-9AM. Has anyone been to one of these freebies? Just wondering
if it’s worth the effort, or if the artists only do 2-3 songs. Al Green on Letterman yesterday. Always
great with the cameras rolling- wish he were that consistent live. And why doesn’t Letterman actually talk with the
guy? He’s got to be a lot more interesting than celebs hawking their latest films. Rocker Gavin McGraw impressed me on
one of the late night shows yesterday. And there’s not all that much rock I get into, so there must be something to
this guy. Speaking of great New York talents,
check out singer/songwriter/vocalist Ansel Matthews. Reminds me a lot of Jon Lucien. You just mellow out immediately and the
lyrics are intelligent, adult, and so introspective. Definitely a talent deserving far wider recognition. Folk legend Pete
Seeger raves about the guy. Here’s an interesting one. New
York City Swing band somehow successfully mixes swing with hip-hop as they bring out a young, rather large rapper named BIG.
You would think the combination would be disastrous, but it works. I’ve even seen senior citizens get into this at their
shows. The Nelson Mandella tribute concert
from England ran yesterday. So who got the most air time? That very spiritual bastion of peace and love, Amy Whinehouse, who
just clobbered a fan at one of her shows. Sometimes I just scratch my head at who is pushed on TV. For those who care, her
voice sounded somewhat weak, but her band was tight anyway. On the same show, Will Smith defined the word mediocre with his
rap number. And Bono didn’t exactly make me forget about Sinatra or Luther or Marvin with his vocals. Not much here.
I caught some of the BET Awards. Just
wondering if the shirtless rapper who assaulted my eardrums realized that maybe, just maybe, on an awards show he might want
to go a bit more formal than that? I lasted about 8 minutes on this show before turning the channel. I don’t know what’s
worse, the negative images BET sends out or the complete dumbing down of VH1. If you have any IQ whatsoever the former music
channel VH1 will no doubt insult your intelligence. What’s Evan listening to? Late
jazz giant Chris Anderson’s Solo Ballads Two, This is Ryan Shaw, Jazz Funk Hip HoPoetry Phaze 2 by the Sounds of
Urban Life Soldiers, Meet Lee, and the truly amazing Kid Creole Going Places- The August Darnell Years 1976-1983. And finally, somebody please tell Kanye
West to stop whining. First it was his not winning some meaningless MTV award. And now he’s complaining that fans were
up in arms when he came out to a Bonaroo Festival show two hours late. Hey, his elaborate set wasn’t ready. I guess
just performing wasn’t an option, huh Kanye? Did James Brown or Jackie Wilson need some fancy set to tear the roof off?
This crybaby’s just too much already. And those are just some musical missives. Evan Ginzburg www.evanginzburg.com CONCERT
REVIEW- AL GREEN/DIANE REEVES JVC
JAZZ FESTIVAL JUNE 27, 2008 Having been weaned on jazz, next to
R&B it’s the music that’s closest to my heart. So I was curious to finally hear Diane
Reeves, whose reputation exceeds her. Her bit where she sings her introductions
to her splendid quintet is also unique and charming. Although I wouldn’t put her in
the class of late legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McCrae, or Betty Carter, I think she is that link to
those giants, and I was certainly glad to finally catch her live. And then came Al. Those who know me well will tell you
that Al Green is my all-time favorite performer. I’ve not only been to his church in Memphis, but have seen him a good
dozen times or so, going back to 1975. No doubt that on the right night, the
Reverend is the greatest performer in the world. In fact, this was one of the notorious
“Sing Along With Al Nights.” But Stan the Plumber was in fine voice
when Al did his classic R&B medley. I think he did two classic hits straight
through the entire night and was out the door at just over the 60 minute mark. Maybe it’s just his eccentricities.
Or maybe he just occasionally “calls it in.” But I would have been far happier sitting at home watching an old
concert video of him. Ironically, while a couple dozen people walked out, most seemed thrilled by what they saw, so I guess
some people “just don’t get it.” By the way, Al never even bothered
to do You Oughta Be With Me or Call Me.
Hell, most likely Barbara the Lawyer in Row 12 would have sung lead on it anyway. I can only file this one under “major
disappointment.” CONCERT
REVIEW- REGINA
BELLE/ELLIS MARSALIS/KIDZ IN THE HALL J&R
MUSIC WORLD FESTIVAL AT CITY HALL PARK NYC 6/12/08 J&R Music runs several free outdoor
concerts a year varying in quality from triumphant (Teena Marie) to tragic (Chaka Khan minus band struggling to sing over
a defective track). This show was also a mixed bag. Openers Kidz in the Hall are an up
and coming rap group who have seemingly gotten that “next big thing/young geniuses” label. Playing in front of an audience whose
age generally skewered older, the amiable enough young trio struggled to win over the crowd. Not helping their cause was the
deafeningly loud sound system. I felt the back of my head literally vibrating while the hearing in my right ear was being
sucked out. A wonderful experience this wasn’t. Nothing that us old heads weren’t
“throwing our hands in the air” with the enthusiasm they desired, we were informed that our nieces, nephews, kids
and even grandkids were listening to this music. Hey, better them than me. Now I’ve heard far worse live
rap shows but I’ve certainly heard better (KRS-1, De La Soul, Run DMC, Public Enemy quickly come to mind). But the sheer
volume made me think back to director David Cronnenberg’s sci-fi classic, Scanners,
where heads suddenly exploded, leaving bloody stumps. Was mine next? Glancing to my right, I noted my student from China looking
like he was lapsing into shock. Mantra-like, he repeated over and over…”It’s loud…It’s loud.” And it was. Throughout the 20 or so minute set,
I fully realized that Kidz In The Hall have talent, potential, and “flow.” But to be honest, all I could decipher
was one tune, Drivin’ Down The Block, about a car whose wheels kept turning
and turning. Not exactly profound. So when jazz piano giant Ellis Marsalis
took to the stage next to do a wonderful 45 minute Thelonious Monk Tribute, the quartet sounded so heavenly in comparison
that I was beyond thankful. Marsalis plus Monk equal magic. Headliner Regina Belle came out next,
sans band, and I literally groaned, assuming the worst. How unprofessional to have a name performer and not spring for live
musicians. I figured I’d be “out of there” by the second number. But then a miracle happened. Doing only gospel numbers, she proceeded
to tear the place up. Kudos to J&R for having the guts
to put together an eclectic bill of rap, jazz & gospel. All the pieces may not have fit, but it’s brave programming
anyway that ultimately made for a flawed yet memorable show. CONCERT
REVIEW OTIS
CLAY & RYAN SHAW BAM
R&B FEST METRO
TECH BROOKLYN 6/12/08 Whenever I see a young artist get that
hot and heavy record label push, I grow a bit suspicious. Young, “cute” and gifted
is a powerful trio of qualities that marketing geniuses drool over. But too often they’ll take a raw talent and water
down his or her work into commercial pablum. So when I went to see Ryan Shaw I wasn’t expecting much. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Dripping talent out of every pour,
and working hard in the hot noonday sun, Shaw would have torn the roof off had there been one. With a mere trio behind him, he covered
artists such as Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Bobby Womack & Janis Joplin. Hey, the kid has taste. And while his versions may
have paled somewhat in comparison (How could they not?), they were nonetheless worthy renditions. Although I couldn’t compare him
to an Al Green or James Brown at the same age, this 27 year old is most certainly a star in the making, exhibiting not only
great vocals, but strong showmanship. Already touring arenas as opening act for Van Halen (of all people!), it was almost
reassuring that here was a young man singing his guts out “old school” all the way. I can’t say enough great things
about Ryan Shaw who added to the experience by graciously greeting each and every fan who enthusiastically swarmed him after
his set. His debut CD, This is Ryan Shaw also is worth checking out. If I didn’t
know better I’d have thought it came out in the sensational 60’s. It’s that good. And mere minutes after Shaw left the
enthusiastic crowd, Otis Clay headlined the concert with one of the tightest bands anyone will ever see. Clay at 66 does things the way we remember.
While Shaw came out in a ripped pair of jeans, Clay was dressed s-h-a-r-p and the band all wore matching outfits. And he had
a horn section to die for. I can’t imagine anything better than this outfit doing O.V. Wright’s Nickel and a
Nail or Love and Happiness. Both were thrilling. When Clay talked about friends he missed,
like Johnny Taylor, O.V.Wright, Otis Redding, Bo Diddley and a laundry list of so many others, I sadly realized that here
was one of the last of a literally dying breed. Support artists like this with a CD or ticket purchase because when they’re
gone there will be few to replace them. Which was more the reason why seeing a Ryan Shaw coming up is so special and Clay
noted just that. After a generous hour and a half or
so set, I realized that this was one of those shows where the stars just aligned and all was good in the world. Both opener
and headliner were great and the beautiful weather and fine sound system worked in their favor as well. My students, mostly
from China, had never seen anything like this, nor will they ever forget it. -Evan Ginzburg www.evanginzburg.com CONCERT REVIEW DIANA ROSS- NEW YORK STATE
THEATER- LINCOLN CENTER 6/2/08 I’ve always had mixed emotions about Diana Ross. Ditto this concert. Wildly overmiked, the still beautiful and glamorous Ms.
Ross appropriately entered the cavernous venue to I’m Coming Out. Unfortunately,
she sounded like Diana Ross on steroids. The icon proceeded to bust out several Supremes classics
in rapid succession with Vegasy arrangements. Somewhere on the long road from Motown to Vegas the soul just got sucked out
of these songs. And somewhere in American there was a singer in a Karaoke bar singing the very same songs with far more passion. About four or five numbers into her show, though, she let
loose a bit and I felt those little goosebumps go down my spine. Our Diva was in fine form and with two torch songs she actually
was a “better,” more jazzier singer than in her youth. But something just wasn’t “clicking.”
Maybe at 60 plus the great lady was pacing herself? Love Hangover was
the biggest disappointment of the night, wherein the band “jammed” lounge style while she made yet another of
five costume changes. When she came back she didn’t even finish the tune which should have been a highlight. Throughout the evening Ms. Ross complained about the “loud”
miking, asking if the crowd was OK. Clearly distracted and even annoyed, at one point she said she didn’t know whether
to sing louder or softer. “It’s too loud!” she said repeatedly. And it was. That sound issues should plague
one of the most beautiful and prestigious venues in the world borders on disgraceful. Another sound issue was a noisy fan behind me who treated
the event like she was in her living room calling a New York Mets game. Literally yelling over the music to her cronies, she
swooned as her “girl” Diana sang all of HER favorites. It brought me back to my 1970s 42nd Street grindhouse
film days when fans shouted at the screen. Had I been in a jazz club I would have been tempted to put a bullet in my brain.
Or hers. The high point of the show for me was Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, which even this restrained band couldn’t murder. Diana was also in
good voice and rocking on The Boss. With her classic Diva mannerisms, Diana Ross remains a great
showman and you can’t take a thing away from her incredible book of hits. But this was a mixed bag at best. It nowhere
touched the majesty of a recent show I saw with her former labelmate Smokey Robinson who was simultaneously being put into
the Apollo Hall of Fame mere minutes away. Hey, Motown lives I guess. It just got sidetracked in Vegas. Evan Ginzburg www.evanginzburg.com
CONCERT
REVIEW- FRIEND ENTERTAINMENT’S 20th ANNIVERSARY DOO WOP CONCERT 5/3/08
Kupferber Performing Arts Center- Queens College NYC Review
by Evan Ginzburg (www.evanginzburg.com) There’s something inspirational about a Doo Wop Concert. Partly it’s the 1,500 or so seniors who still have
the get up and go to be out on a Saturday night and be entertained. There’s also that gorgeous music that still resonates
some fifty years later. And then there’s the performers themselves. They’re
still vital, energetic, and even great. And some, like Earl Lewis, Willie Winfield and Barbara Harris, seem to have sipped
from a cup of eternal youth, looking virtually the same year after year. Friend Entertainment provides a great service in doing innumerable
charitable fundraisers for a variety of worthwhile causes. And keeping these classic artists working and “on the road”
is, of course, priceless as well. Yet their 20th Anniversary show was a mixed bag. Wonderful groups were rushed
off after as little as two numbers, while MC/promoter Norm assaulted the audience with what felt like an endless barrage of
plugs going into 2009. Maybe, just maybe, some interesting facts about the artists would have made for better entertainment
than hearing about the 2009 cruise and New Year’s party they were already hyping. And after what felt like the twentieth
time Norm was thanked for “keeping the music alive,” with multiple plaques and speeches rendered, audience members
began to groan audibly. Frankly, it started to feel like a testimonial and stopping a song in the middle to bring out Norm
to play tambourine already felt like some invisible line had been crossed between deserved acknowledgement and pandering.
We most certainly had gotten the point. Two intermissions didn’t help the flow of things either. But there were, indeed, magical moments throughout. Barbara Harris and The Toys stole the show. Her Lover’s Concerto and boundless energy was just wonderful. I’ve probably seen Earl Lewis and The Channels
a dozen times on “the oldies circuit”and he remains a great showman. The
soothing Willie Winfield and the Harptones feel like the link between The Ink Spots and early rock and roll. Cleveland Stills
looks sharp some fifty plus years after his first hit and his Dubs have gorgeous group harmonies. The Teenagers with original
member Herman Santiago served as the headliners. And although their four song set was disappointingly short, they sounded
great and their music is just timeless. “10 year old singing sensation” Kayla belted
out some classics. With a booming voice that reminded me of a young Judy Garland, her embracing this music rather than rap
felt almost inspirational. Vito Picone & The Elegants, The Encounters, 3rd
Edition, The Cavaliers, the Passions, The Fireflies, The Demensions and house band Sammy Sax and the MDs rounded out what
turned out to be a marathon five hour event. You can’t say they don’t try to give you your money’s worth
anyway. It never fails to amaze and inspire me when a still vibrant
performer had their first million seller some fifty years ago. Yet critics in mainstream publications have no qualms about
mocking “blue haired and balding” audience members or even the performers themselves. Seemingly ageism is the
last “acceptable” form of prejudice with young critics’ writing in mocking tones while writing about events
such as this. Frankly, it’s disgraceful. And maybe I’m crazy but I’d rather see Little Anthony over Lil
Wayne any day. Let’s hope that these great artists stay on the road
for many years to come and continue to inspire.
NEW CENTURY MUSIC AWARDS 2008: FEATURING THE BEST
HEATSEEKER ACTS, CDs, TRACKS & VIDEOS: BEST HEATSEEKER ARTISTS 2008: THE MINOR HEATSEEKER CATEGORIES: THE WINNERS/2008: BEST NEW HEATSEEKER R&B ARTIST: MARCELL & THE TRUTH BEST NEW HEATSEEKER URBAN ALTERNATIVE ARTIST:
ART & SCIENCE BEST NEW HEATSEEKER ROCK ARTIST (SOLO): LISA BIANCO BEST NEW HEATSEEKER ROCK ARTIST (DUO): WAR FOLK BEST NEW HEATSEEKER ROCK ARTIST (GROUP): THE C.J. VINSON BAND BEST NEW HEATSEEKER MODERN ROCK ARTIST: NICOLE ATKINS BEST NEW HEATSEEKER ADULT CONTEMPORARY ARTIST: KATHY ZIMMER BEST HEATSEEKER MAINSTREAM ROCK ARTIST (SOLO/MALE):
SEAN LENNON BEST HEATSEEKER MAINSTREAM ROCK ARTIST (SOLO/FEMALE):
EMILY EASTERLY BEST HEATSEEKER MAINSTREAM ROCK ARTIST (GROUP):
CHRIS CUBETA & THE LIARS CLUB BEST HEATSEEKER MAINSTREAM ROCK SONG: "BUZZKILL" - MICHAEL McHUGH (Songwriter) BEST HEATSEEKER ROCK SINGLE: "BREATHE IN AND BREATHE OUT" - MAT KEARNEY BEST HEATSEEKER MAINSTREAM ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
(MALE): "PARACHUTE" - SEAN LENNON BEST HEATSEEKER MAINSTREAM ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
(FEMALE): "SHOTGUN WEDDING" - EMILY EASTERLY BEST ROCK HEATSEEKER MAINSTREAM VOCAL PERFORMANCE
(GROUP): "ME AND THE RADIO" - CHRIS CUBETA & THE LIARS
CLUB BEST HEATSEEKER BLUES ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE):
"ONLY MONEY" - MICHAEL McHUGH BEST HEATSEEKER BLUES ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE):
"BABY IT’S YOU" - BONNIE BURNS (WITH BLUES
IN PROGRESS) BEST HEATSEEKER BLUES ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (GROUP):
"PONY BLUES" - WILLIE McBLIND BEST HEATSEEKER ROCK CD: ‘DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY’ -
NICOLA BEST HEATSEEKER ALTERNATIVE/MODERN ROCK CD: ‘NEPTUNE CITY’ - NICOLE ATKINS BEST HEATSEEKER ALTERNATIVE ROCK TRACK: "DRIVE MY CAR" - THE DONNAS BEST HEATSEEKER ALTERNATIVE ROCK PERFORMANCE (MALE/SOLO):
"SHAME TRAIN" - ERIC NEHER BEST BEST ALTERNATIVE ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE/DUO):
"BROKEN RADIO" - JESSE MALIN (DUET with BRUCE
SPRINGSTEEN) BEST HEATSEEKER ALTERNATIVE ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
(FEMALE); "SHY" - EMILY EASTERLY BEST HEATSEEKER ALTERNATIVE ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
(GROUP): "DESTINY" - SONIC ART BEST HEATSEEKER ALTERNATIVE ROCK SONG: "BROKEN RADIO" - JESSE MALIN (Songwriter) BEST HEATSEEKER HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE: "LOVE COMES DOWN" - REZ BEST HEATSEEKER HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE (FEMALE): "LIGHTHOUSE" - NICOLA BEST HEATSEEKER ROCK/RAP TRACK: "DESTINY" - SONIC ART BEST HEATSEEKER METAL PERFORMANCE: "LOVE COMES DOWN" - REZ BEST HEATSEEKER ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE:
"EVERY HEART" - EMILY EASTERLY BEST HEATSEEKER ELECTRONICA ARTIST: IMOGEN HEAP BEST HEATSEEKER ELECTRONICA CD: 'SPEAK FOR YOURSELF' - IMOGEN HEAP BEST HEATSEEKER ELECTRONICA TRACK: ‘THIRD EYE’ (ELECTRO MIX) - TOM GLIDE
Featuring EKAYANI BEST HEATSEEKER ELECTRONICA ‘REMIX’
TRACK: "LIKE FIRE"- TOM GLIDE Featuring EKAYANI BEST HEATSEEKER SPOKEN WORD/ELECTRONICA TRACK:
‘THIRD EYE’ (ELECTRO MIX) - TOM GLIDE
Featuring EKAYANI BEST HEATSEEKER SPOKEN WORD/HIP-HOP TRACK: "QUANTUM LOVE" - LARISSA SHMAILO BEST HEATSEEKER SPOKEN WORD/MODERN ROCK TRACK:
"DESTINY" - SONIC ART BEST HEATSEEKER SPOKEN WORD/MAINSTREAM ROCK TRACK:
"OHIO" - LAUREN O’BRIEN BEST HEATSEEKER SPOKEN WORD TRACK OF THE YEAR:
"OHIO" - LAUREN O’BRIEN BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT TOP 40 TRACK: "BREATHE IN AND BREATHE OUT" - MAT KEARNEY BEST HEATSEEKER NEW AGE ARTIST: DAVID BELMONT/WIND WATER ENSEMBLE BEST HEATSEEKER INSTRUMENTAL TRACK OF THE YEAR:
"WEAR YOUR LOVE LIKE HEAVEN" - DAVID BELMONT/WIND
WATER ENSEMBLE BEST HEATSEEKER INSTRUMENTAL CD OF THE YEAR: ‘THE JOURNEY’ - PREMIK BEST HEATSEEKER NEW AGE CD: ‘POSTMODERN PANACHE’ - DAVID BELMONT/WIND
WATER ENSEMBLE BEST HEATSEEKER NEW AGE TRACK: "THE JOURNEY" - PREMIK BEST HEATSEEKER R&B SONG: "RELIGION" - TIMOTHY DARK/NELLIE McKAY (Songwriters) BEST HEATSEEKER TRADITIONAL R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE:
"TIME STOPS" - MARCELL AND THE TRUTH BEST HEATSEEKER R&B PERFORMANCE (FEMALE):
"LIKE FIRE" - EKAYANI (Remix with TOM GLIDE) BEST HEATSEEKER R&B PERFORMANCE (MALE): "ROCK U" - TIMOTHY DARK BEST HEATSEEKER R&B PERFORMANCE (GROUP): "TIME STOPS" - MARCELL AND THE TRUTH BEST HEATSEEKER R&B CD: ‘HOPES TOO HIGH’ - MARCELL AND THE
TRUTH BEST HEATSEEKER RAP/SONG COLLABORATION: "RELIGION" - TIMOTHY DARK & NELLIE McKAY (YouTube
version) BEST HEATSEEKER RAP SONG: "ROCK U" - TIMOTHY DARK BEST HEATSEEKER RAP PERFORMANCE: "ROCK U" - TIMOTHY DARK BEST HEATSEEKER INSPIRATIONAL RAP PERFORMANCE:
"LETTER 4 THE LORD" - TIMOTHY DARK with LIZH BEST HEATSEEKER RAP ARTIST: TIMOTHY DARK BEST HEATSEEKER RAP CD: ‘DARKROOM’ - TIMOTHY DARK BEST HEATSEEKER DANCE TRACK: "LIKE FIRE" (Original Remix) - EKAYANI with TOM
GLIDE BEST HEATSEEKER DANCE ARTIST: EKAYANI with TOM GLIDE BEST HEATSEEKER REGGAE SONG: "BUSTED IN BARBADOS" - BANKIE BANX BEST HEATSEEKER REGGAE PERFORMANCE(SOLO): "BUSTED IN BARBADOS" - BANKIE BANX BEST HEATSEEKER REGGAE PERFORMANCE (GROUP): ‘MARCUS GARVEY" (Version) - BLUES IN PROGRESS
BEST HEATSEEKER REGGAE GROUP: STEEL PULSE BEST HEATSEEKER REGGAE ARTIST (SOLO): BANKIE BANX BEST HEATSEEKER COUNTRY SONG: "IRA" - CHARLIE LOUVIN (Songwriter) BEST HEATSEEKER COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE (GROUP):
"GOD’S PROMISE" - THE BURNS SISTERS BEST BEST HEATSEEKER COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE
(MALE): "GREAT ATOMIC POWER" - CHARLIE LOUVIN BEST HEATSEEKER COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE):
"MARYLAND TO TEXAS" - EMILY EASTERLY BEST HEATSEEKER COUNTRY PERFORMANCE (DUO): "WHEN I STOP DREAMING" - CHARLIE LOUVIN (DUET
with ELVIS COSTELLO) BEST HEATSEEKER COUNTRY PERFORMANCE (TRIO): "BLUES STAY AWAY FROM ME" - CHARLIE LOUVIN (with
BOBBY BARE and TOM T. HALL) BEST HEATSEEKER COUNTRY ALBUM: ‘CHARLIE LOUVIN’ - CHARLIE LOUVIN
BEST HEATSEEKER COUNTRY-ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
: "DRINKIN’ WHISKY" - ZANE CAMPBELL BEST HEATSEEKER ALT-COUNTRY PERFORMANCE (MALE): "DRINKIN’ WHISKY" - ZANE CAMPBELL BEST HEATSEEKER ALT-COUNTRY PERFORMANCE (FEMALE):
"NEIL YOUNG KNOWS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT"
- EMILY EASTERLY BEST HEATSEEKER ALT-COUNTRY PERFORMANCE (GROUP):
"PAPERBACK BIBLE" - LAMBCHOP BEST HEATSEEKER ALT-COUNTRY ALBUM: ‘DAMAGED’ - LAMBCHOP BEST HEATSEEKER LATIN ARTIST: XTREME BEST HEATSEEKER JAZZ ARTIST: DAVID BELMONT/WIND WATER ENSEMBLE BEST HEATSEEKER JAZZ VOCAL PERFORMANCE: "IF I NEEDED SOMEONE" - NELLIE McKAY BEST HEATSEEKER INSTRUMENTAL JAZZ TRACK: "MR. MILES" - DAVID BELMONT/WIND WATER BEST HEATSEEKER INSPIRATIONAL SONG: "BREATHE IN AND BREATHE OUT" - MAT KEARNEY (Songwriter)
BEST HEATSEEKER WORSHIP SONG: "ARRAYED IN MAJESTY" - DAVID CHAPIN BEST HEATSEEKER CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN CD: ‘NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE’ -MAT KEARNEY
BEST HEATSEEKER INSPIRATIONAL PERFORMANCE: "BREATHE IN AND BREATHE OUT" - MAT KEARNEY BEST HEATSEEKER WORLD MUSIC ARTIST: BEBEL GILBERTO BEST HEATSEEKER WORLD MUSIC TRACK: "MOMENTO" - BEBEL GILBERTO BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM: ‘MOMENTO’ - BEBEL GILBERTO BEST HEATSEEKER BLUES ARTIST: WILLIE McBLIND BEST HEATSEEKER BLUES ALBUM: ‘WILLIE McBLIND’ - WILLIE McBLIND BEST HEATSEEKER BLUES TRACK: "PONY BLUES" - WILLIE McBLIND BEST HEATSEEKER CHILDREN’S ARTIST: LEO’S MOM BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT CONTEMPORARY SONG: "FALLING SLOWLY" - GLEN HANSARD (Songwriter) BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE
(FEMALE): "UNDER MY MOON" - CURLY KAREN BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE
(MALE): "EVERYDAY IS A WINDING ROAD" - DAVID BELMONT BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE
(DUO): "HEART, HEART" - EMILY EATERLY with CHRIS CUBETA
BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE
(GROUP): "BRING THEM HOME" - THE BURNS SISTERS BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT CONTEMPORARY SINGLE: "BREATHE IN AND BREATHE OUT" - MAT KEARNEY BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT CONTEMPORARY ARTIST (SOLO):
RHETT MILLER BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT CONTEMPORARY ARTIST (DUO):
GLEN HANSARD & MARKETA IRGLOVA BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT CONTEMPORARY ARTIST (GROUP): THE BURNS SISTERS BEST HEATSEEKER TOP 40 ADULT ARTIST: MAT KEARNEY BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT ALTERNATIVE ARTIST: NELLIE McKAY BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT ALTERNATIVE SONG: "NEPTUNE CITY" - NICOLE ATKINS (Songwriter) BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM: ‘PRETTY LITTLE HEAD’ - NELLIE McKAY
BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT ALTERNATIVE SINGLE: "BREATHE IN AND BREATHE OUT" - MAT KEARNEY BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT ALTERNATIVE VOCAL PERFORMANCE
(MALE); "CHANGE" - CHRIS CUBETA BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT ALTERNATIVE VOCAL PERFORMANCE
(FEMALE); "20 SUPERHEROES" - LIBBY JOHNSON BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT ALTERNATIVE VOCAL PERFORMANCE
(DUO): "OLD MAN" - CHRIS CUBETA with EMILY EASTERLY BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT ALTERNATIVE VOCAL PERFORMANCE
(GROUP): "MODERN LOVE" - THE LAST TOWN CHORUS BEST HEATSEEKER CONTEMPORARY FOLK ARTIST: ROD MacDONALD BEST HEATSEEKER CONTEMPORARY FOLK SONG: "MIKE ROW IS DEAD" - DAVID INDIAN (David Ruderman,
Songwriter) BEST HEATSEEKER TRADITIONAL FOLK SONG: "MY FATHER’S AMERICA" - JOE VIRGA (Songwriter)
BEST HEATSEEKER TRADITIONAL FOLK ALBUM: ‘DIRT FARMER’ - LEVON HELM BEST HEATSEEKER CONTEMPORARY FOLK ALBUM: ‘BIGGER IS ALWAYS BETTER’ - DENI BONET
BEST HEATSEEKER CONTEMPORARY FOLK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
(MALE): "MONEY TO BURN" - MICHAEL McHUGH BEST HEATSEEKER TRADITIONAL FOLK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
(FEMALE): "WILD MOUNTAIN THYME" - LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE
BEST HEATSEEKER FOLK/ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE):
"SKY FULL OF ROCKETS" - CHRISTINA LaROCCA BEST HEATSEEKER FOLK/ROCK PERFORMANCE (MALE):
"ALWAYS AT WAR" - AD AUGERI BEST HEATSEEKER FOLK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (GROUP):
"HANDS ACROSS THE WORLD" (Live At The Knit, NYC)
- PEACE PROPHET BEST HEATSEEKER AMERICANA SONG: "MY FATHER’S AMERICA" - JOE VIRGA BEST HEATSEEKER AMERICANA ALBUM: ‘DIRT FARMER’ - LEVON HELM BEST HEATSEEKER AMERICANA TRACK: ‘BEAUTFUL DREAMER’ - RAUL MALO HEATSEEKER VIDEO OF THE YEAR: ‘I WANNA BE A HIPPY’ - TECHNOHEAD
BEST HEATSEEKER DANCE MUSIC VIDEO: ‘TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART’ - NIKKI
FRENCH BEST HEATSEEKER ROCK VIDEO: ‘ROCKS’ - EMILY EASTERLY (Director:
K.P. Alvarez) BEST HEATSEEKER URBAN VIDEO: ‘RELIGION’ - TIMOTHY DARK/NELLIE McKAY
BEST HEATSEEKER HARD ROCK VIDEO: ‘LOVE COMES DOWN’ - REZ BEST HEATSEEKER CONTEMPORARY FOLK VIDEO: ‘A FOG OF WAR’ - GILLEN AND TURK (Director:
W.L. Jackson) BEST HEATSEEKER NEW ACOUSTIC VIDEO: ‘MODERN LOVE’ - THE LAST TOWN CHORUS
BEST INSPIRATIONAL VIDEO: ‘SOUL OF A MAN’ - OLLABELLE BEST HEATSEEKER VIDEO/NOVELTY: ‘DETERIORATA (FLUKE OF THE UNIVERSE) - NATIONAL
LAMPOON BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT ALTERNATIVE VIDEO: ‘NEPTUNE CITY’ - NICOLE ATKINS BEST HEATSEEKER COUNTRY MUSIC VIDEO: ‘TENNESSEE BIRD WALK’ (Live) - JACK
BLANCHARD & MISTY MORGAN BEST HEATSEEKER ALT-COUNTRY VIDEO: ‘TELL IT TO ME’ - OLD CROW MEDICINE
SHOW BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT CONTEMPORARY VIDEO: ‘LOVE ME BACK’ - JESS KING BEST HEATSEEKER ADULT 40 VIDEO: ‘BREATHE IN AND BREATHE OUT’ - MAT
KEARNEY BEST HEATSEEKER LIVE MUSIC VIDEO: ‘SARI’ - NELLIE McKAY (ALL VIDEOS ARE ON YOU TUBE) CHRIS
ANDERSON MEMORIAL- ST. PETER'S CHURCH
NEW CENTURY’S TOP 100 HEATSEEKER TRACKS OF 2007 NEW CENTURY ANNUAL CHART 1 BUZZKILL (Live At The Howl Fest ‘07) (#1 MAINSTREAM ROCK TRACK)
(#1 ADULT ALTERNATIVE) McQ & THE DUDE’S WAR FOLK (RDU/MySpace) 2 BROKEN RADIO (#1 MODERN ROCK TRACK) (#1 HOT AC) JESSE MALIN (DUET with BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN) (Adeline/MySpace) 3 TENDER LOVING LIES (#1 CONTEMPORARY FOLK) (#1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY)
(#1 AMERICANA TRACK) JOE VIRGA (MySpace) 4 RADIO LITTLE EMBERS 5 SHOTGUN WEDDING EMILY EASTERLY (MySpace) 6 REAL LOVE NELLIE McKAY (HungryMouse) 7 WILD MOUNTAIN THYME (#1 TRADITIONAL FOLK TRACK) LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE (MySpace) 8 MY FATHER’S AMERICA JOE VIRGA 9 SUNGLARE LISA BIANCO (MySpace) 10 WAITING FOR YOUR CHRIST TO COME WENT Featuring SARA WENDT 11 HAPPY FLOWER NELLIE McKAY (HungryMouse) 12 SLOW MOTION BLINK EMILY EASTERLY (MySpace) 13 IT DON’T MATTER TO ME THERESA SAREO 14 BUSTED IN BARBADOS (#1 REGGAE TRACK) BANKIE BANX (MySpace) 15 MOMMY DON’T LOVE DADDY ANYMORE (#1INSPIRATIONAL/HARD MUSIC)
REZ BAND (Light/MySpace) 16 REAL LOVE MIKI HUBER (MySpace) 17 TWO WAY ROAD ASHLEY ACREE (MySpace) 18 THE WORD (FROM ‘THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN’) (#1 INSPIRATIONAL TRACK)
(#1 INSPIRATIONAL/COUNTRY) MINDY SMITH (Razor&Tie) 19 THE ONE I LOVE PETER PASCO (MySpace) 20 BRING THEM HOME THE BURNS SISTERS (Ithica/MySpace) 21 20 SUPERHEROES LIBBY JOHNSON (MySpace) 22 ROCK YOU (#1 R&B TRACK) (#1 RAP TRACK) TIMOTHY DARK 23 MUSE BLUES LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III (Columbia) 24 THE DINO SONG (Live In NYC) McQ & THE DUDE’S PEACE PROPHET (RDU/YouTube) 25 RAGMAN (Original ‘Fast Folk’ Version) DAVID INDIAN (Smithsonian/Folkways) 26 LIFE FIRE (Original Tom Glide Remix) (#1 DANCE TRACK) TOM GLIDE Featuring EKAYANI (Damn’It) 27 HANDS ACROSS THE WORLD (Live At The Knitting Factory NYC) PEACE PROPHET Featuring McQ & THE DUDE (RDU/YouTube) 28 DEAD MEAT SEAN LENNON (EMI/Capitol/MySpace) 29 IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE THERESA SAREO (MySpace) 30 WHITE FLAGS (Live at Howl Fest ‘07) (#1 INSPIRATIONAL/ AC) AD AUGERI 31 DESTINY (Live In NYC) SONIC ART Featuring MIKE McHUGH (MySpace) 32 OLD MAN CHRIS CUBETA with EMILY EASTERLY (MySpace) 33 OHIO (#1 SPOKEN WORD TRACK) LAUREN O’BRIEN (MySpace) 34 MODERN LOVE THE LAST TOWN CHORUS (WireWaltz/MySpace) 35 BREATHE IN AND BREATHE OUT (FROM ‘GRAY’S ANATOMY’) (#1
INSPIRATIONAL/ADULT ALT) MATT KEARNEY (Hollywood) 36 SOAKING WET JOY DRAGLAND (MySpace) 37 DOWN FROM THE HILL BONNIE BURNS (Folksmith.com) 38 ALIVE AGAIN THERESA SAREO 39 DARK ROOM TIMOTHY DARK 40 HIT ME UP (FROM ‘HAPPY FEET’) (#1 SOUNDTRACK SONG) GIA FARRELL (MySpace) 41 YOUR COVER EMILY EASTERLY 42 LIGHTHOUSE NICOLA (HotCherry) 43 DON’T LET THEM TAKE YOU DOWN (BEAUTIFUL DAY) JESSE MALIN (Adeline/MySpace) 44 BOUND TO YOU EMILY EASTERLY 45 BABY NICOL (MySpace) 46 MEDIA CULT (Live @ The BPC NYC) THE SERVICE MONKEYS (RDU) 47 ALL EMILY EASTERLY 48 WHAT YOU CAN’T TAKE AWAY BREAKING LACES (MySpace) 49 EGYPT (#1 INSPIRATIONAL/ROCK) BRYN HAWORTH (MySpace/Chapel) 50 ALWAYS AT WAR (Live At Howl Fest) AD AUGERI 51 PONY BLUES (#1 BLUES TRACK) WILLIE McBLIND (FreeNote) 52 THE HIPPIE FROM NEW YORK CITY DAVID PEEL & THE LOWER EAST SIDE (AuraVox) 53 WASTED TIME THE ROCK CONWAY PROJECT (MySpace) 54 WEIGHTLESS WITH LOVE SARA WENDT (CityCanyon) 55 TAPPING MY OWN PHONE RON WHITEHEAD (TappingMyOwnPhone.com) 56 I TRY AND BE AS CLEARLY AS I CAN JOE BENDIK 57 THIRD EYE (Original Mix) TOM GLIDE Featuring EKAYANI (Damn’It) 58 DRIVE MY CAR (FROM ‘THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN’) THE DONNAS (Razor&Tie) 59 SHALLOW WATER SERVANT (Retroactive) 60 PRESSING ON (#1 GOSPEL TRACK) TINA CERNERO (MySpace) 61 CHANGE CHRIS CUBETA (MySpace) 62 CHANGES (#1 PROGRESSIVE ROCK TRACK) GLASS HARP (Decca/MySpace) 63 BIGGER IS ALWAYS BETTER DENI BONET (Yukon) 64 RARE AND BEAUTIFUL LIBBY JOHNSON (MySpace) 65 EVERYWHERE LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE 66 STOP THE WAR ROD MacDONALD (Gadfly) 67 BEAUTIFUL DREAMER RAUL MALO (AmericanRoots) 68 RIVERSIDE OLLABELLE (Verve/Forecast) 69 Y’ALL SHOULD GET... N.Y.O.I.L. (MySpace) 70 BABY IT’S YOU (#1 ADULT R&B TRACK) BLUES IN PROGRESS Featuring BONNIE BURNS (MySpace) 71 DROPPIN’ THE BOMB (Live At Howl Fest ‘08 NYC) WAR FOLK Featuring McQ & THE DUDE (RDU) 72 I’M FOR YOU SARA WENDT (CityCanyon) 73 THE ROAD MIKI HUBER (MySpace) 74 SARI NELLIE McKAY (Columbia) 75 PLACE TO ROCK THE BURNS SISTERS (Columbia) 76 SWEET IMAGINATION WENDY WALL (MySpace) 77 SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION POEZ 78 GARDEN OF DELIGHT JENN ELLIOT (MySpace) 79 MIKE ROW IS DEAD DAVID INDIAN 80 MILITARY MAN REZ BAND (Light) 81 SHAME TRAIN ERIC NEHER (MySpace) 82 MODERN MAN BESS ROGERS (MySpace) 83 BROOKLYN SONG MARK JOHNSON 84 HOLD ON THE BURNS SISTERS (Columbia) 85 SUMMER KATHY ZIMMER 86 ARRAYED IN MAJESTY DAVID CHAPIN 87 LUMINOUS PATRICIA OSSOWSKI (MySpace) 88 SUPERFAST (2007 Re-Mix) JULIA JONES (MySpace) 89 BULLETPROOF RUTH GERSON (NearMint) 90 RIDER ON AN ORPHAN TRAIN DAVID MASSENGILL (MySpace) 91 WATER WATER WENDY WALL (MySpace) 92 ONLY MONEY MICHAEL McHUGH (MySpace) 93 DAUGHTER LOUDON WAINWRIGHT (MySpace) 94 A DREAM JULIAN VELARD (MySpace) 95 PALESTINE, TEXAS T. BONE BURNETT (OMZ) 96 THE EAST VILLAGE IS DEAD MICHAEL McHUGH (YouTube) 97 THUNDERSTRUCK MARY LEE’S CORVETTE (MySpace) 98 EVERY DAY IS A WINDING ROAD DAVID BELMONT (MySpace) 99 I CAN’T STAND THE RAIN THE BURNS SISTERS (Ithica) 100 MR. MILES (#1 JAZZ TRACK) DAVID BELMONT/WIND WATER (M.S.) HEATSEEKER TRACKS OF 2007 NEW CENTURY ANNUAL CHART New Century charts posted on: The 2008 New Century Music Awards will be 4/2 @ Wicked Willys NYC 1 BUZZKILL (Live At The Howl Fest ‘07) (#1 MAINSTREAM ROCK TRACK)
(#1 ADULT ALTERNATIVE) McQ & THE DUDE’S WAR FOLK (RDU/MySpace) 2 BROKEN RADIO (#1 MODERN ROCK TRACK) (#1 HOT AC) JESSE MALIN (DUET with BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN) (Adeline/MySpace) 3 TENDER LOVING LIES (#1 CONTEMPORARY FOLK) (#1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY)
(#1 AMERICANA TRACK) JOE VIRGA (MySpace) 4 RADIO LITTLE EMBERS 5 SHOTGUN WEDDING EMILY EASTERLY (MySpace) 6 REAL LOVE NELLIE McKAY (HungryMouse) 7 WILD MOUNTAIN THYME (#1 TRADITIONAL FOLK TRACK) LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE (MySpace) 8 MY FATHER’S AMERICA JOE VIRGA 9 SUNGLARE LISA BIANCO (MySpace) 10 WAITING FOR YOUR CHRIST TO COME WENT Featuring SARA WENDT 11 HAPPY FLOWER NELLIE McKAY (HungryMouse) 12 SLOW MOTION BLINK EMILY EASTERLY (MySpace) 13 IT DON’T MATTER TO ME THERESA SAREO 14 BUSTED IN BARBADOS (#1 REGGAE TRACK) BANKIE BANX (MySpace) 15 MOMMY DON’T LOVE DADDY ANYMORE (#1INSPIRATIONAL/HARD MUSIC)
REZ BAND (Light/MySpace) 16 REAL LOVE MIKI HUBER (MySpace) 17 TWO WAY ROAD ASHLEY ACREE (MySpace) 18 THE WORD (FROM ‘THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN’) (#1 INSPIRATIONAL TRACK)
(#1 INSPIRATIONAL/COUNTRY) MINDY SMITH (Razor&Tie) 19 THE ONE I LOVE PETER PASCO (MySpace) 20 BRING THEM HOME THE BURNS SISTERS (Ithica/MySpace) 21 20 SUPERHEROES LIBBY JOHNSON (MySpace) 22 ROCK YOU (#1 R&B TRACK) (#1 RAP TRACK) TIMOTHY DARK 23 MUSE BLUES LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III (Columbia) 24 THE DINO SONG (Live In NYC) McQ & THE DUDE’S PEACE PROPHET (RDU/YouTube) 25 RAGMAN (Original ‘Fast Folk’ Version) DAVID INDIAN (Smithsonian/Folkways) 26 LIFE FIRE (Original Tom Glide Remix) (#1 DANCE TRACK) TOM GLIDE Featuring EKAYANI (Damn’It) 27 HANDS ACROSS THE WORLD (Live At The Knitting Factory NYC) PEACE PROPHET Featuring McQ & THE DUDE (RDU/YouTube) 28 DEAD MEAT SEAN LENNON (EMI/Capitol/MySpace) 29 IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE THERESA SAREO (MySpace) 30 WHITE FLAGS (Live at Howl Fest ‘07) (#1 INSPIRATIONAL/ AC) AD AUGERI 31 DESTINY (Live In NYC) SONIC ART Featuring MIKE McHUGH (MySpace) 32 OLD MAN CHRIS CUBETA with EMILY EASTERLY (MySpace) 33 OHIO (#1 SPOKEN WORD TRACK) LAUREN O’BRIEN (MySpace) 34 MODERN LOVE THE LAST TOWN CHORUS (WireWaltz/MySpace) 35 BREATHE IN AND BREATHE OUT (FROM ‘GRAY’S ANATOMY’) (#1
INSPIRATIONAL/ADULT ALT) MATT KEARNEY (Hollywood) 36 SOAKING WET JOY DRAGLAND (MySpace) 37 DOWN FROM THE HILL BONNIE BURNS (Folksmith.com) 38 ALIVE AGAIN THERESA SAREO 39 DARK ROOM TIMOTHY DARK 40 HIT ME UP (FROM ‘HAPPY FEET’) (#1 SOUNDTRACK SONG) GIA FARRELL (MySpace) 41 YOUR COVER EMILY EASTERLY 42 LIGHTHOUSE NICOLA (HotCherry) 43 DON’T LET THEM TAKE YOU DOWN (BEAUTIFUL DAY) JESSE MALIN (Adeline/MySpace) 44 BOUND TO YOU EMILY EASTERLY 45 BABY NICOL (MySpace) 46 MEDIA CULT (Live @ The BPC NYC) THE SERVICE MONKEYS (RDU) 47 ALL EMILY EASTERLY 48 WHAT YOU CAN’T TAKE AWAY BREAKING LACES (MySpace) 49 EGYPT (#1 INSPIRATIONAL/ROCK) BRYN HAWORTH (MySpace/Chapel) 50 ALWAYS AT WAR (Live At Howl Fest) AD AUGERI 51 PONY BLUES (#1 BLUES TRACK) WILLIE McBLIND (FreeNote) 52 THE HIPPIE FROM NEW YORK CITY DAVID PEEL & THE LOWER EAST SIDE (AuraVox) 53 WASTED TIME THE ROCK CONWAY PROJECT (MySpace) 54 WEIGHTLESS WITH LOVE SARA WENDT (CityCanyon) 55 TAPPING MY OWN PHONE RON WHITEHEAD (TappingMyOwnPhone.com) 56 I TRY AND BE AS CLEARLY AS I CAN JOE BENDIK 57 THIRD EYE (Original Mix) TOM GLIDE Featuring EKAYANI (Damn’It) 58 DRIVE MY CAR (FROM ‘THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN’) THE DONNAS (Razor&Tie) 59 SHALLOW WATER SERVANT (Retroactive) 60 PRESSING ON (#1 GOSPEL TRACK) TINA CERNERO (MySpace) 61 CHANGE CHRIS CUBETA (MySpace) 62 CHANGES (#1 PROGRESSIVE ROCK TRACK) GLASS HARP (Decca/MySpace) 63 BIGGER IS ALWAYS BETTER DENI BONET (Yukon) 64 RARE AND BEAUTIFUL LIBBY JOHNSON (MySpace) 65 EVERYWHERE LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE 66 STOP THE WAR ROD MacDONALD (Gadfly) 67 BEAUTIFUL DREAMER RAUL MALO (AmericanRoots) 68 RIVERSIDE OLLABELLE (Verve/Forecast) 69 Y’ALL SHOULD GET... N.Y.O.I.L. (MySpace) 70 BABY IT’S YOU (#1 ADULT R&B TRACK) BLUES IN PROGRESS Featuring BONNIE BURNS (MySpace) 71 DROPPIN’ THE BOMB (Live At Howl Fest ‘08 NYC) WAR FOLK Featuring McQ & THE DUDE (RDU) 72 I’M FOR YOU SARA WENDT (CityCanyon) 73 THE ROAD MIKI HUBER (MySpace) 74 SARI NELLIE McKAY (Columbia) 75 PLACE TO ROCK THE BURNS SISTERS (Columbia) 76 SWEET IMAGINATION WENDY WALL (MySpace) 77 SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION POEZ 78 GARDEN OF DELIGHT JENN ELLIOT (MySpace) 79 MIKE ROW IS DEAD DAVID INDIAN 80 MILITARY MAN REZ BAND (Light) 81 SHAME TRAIN ERIC NEHER (MySpace) 82 MODERN MAN BESS ROGERS (MySpace) 83 BROOKLYN SONG MARK JOHNSON 84 HOLD ON THE BURNS SISTERS (Columbia) 85 SUMMER KATHY ZIMMER 86 ARRAYED IN MAJESTY DAVID CHAPIN 87 LUMINOUS PATRICIA OSSOWSKI (MySpace) 88 SUPERFAST (2007 Re-Mix) JULIA JONES (MySpace) 89 BULLETPROOF RUTH GERSON (NearMint) 90 RIDER ON AN ORPHAN TRAIN DAVID MASSENGILL (MySpace) 91 WATER WATER WENDY WALL (MySpace) 92 ONLY MONEY MICHAEL McHUGH (MySpace) 93 DAUGHTER LOUDON WAINWRIGHT (MySpace) 94 A DREAM JULIAN VELARD (MySpace) 95 PALESTINE, TEXAS T. BONE BURNETT (OMZ) 96 THE EAST VILLAGE IS DEAD MICHAEL McHUGH (YouTube) 97 THUNDERSTRUCK MARY LEE’S CORVETTE (MySpace) 98 EVERY DAY IS A WINDING ROAD DAVID BELMONT (MySpace) 99 I CAN’T STAND THE RAIN THE BURNS SISTERS (Ithica) 100 MR. MILES (#1 JAZZ TRACK) DAVID BELMONT/WIND WATER (M.S.) Never
miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. NEW CENTURY MUSIC AWARDS 2008: FEATURING THE BEST MAINSTREAM ARTISTS AND RECORDINGS
of 2007 : BEST MAINSTREAM ARTISTS, SONGS AND CDs OF 2007: THE MAJOR CATEGORIES: RECORD OF THE YEAR: "REHAB" - AMY WINEHOUSE Also nominated: "RADIO NOWHERE" - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN "WITHOUT YOU, WITHOUT YOU/TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS" - THE BEATLES "GIMME SHELTER" - PATTI SMITH "FIDELITY" - REGINA SPEKTOR SONG OF THE YEAR(Songwriter’s Award): "FRANK AND AVA" - SUZANNE VEGA Also nominated: "MAGIC" - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (Songwriter) "ROCKSTAR" - NICKELBACK (Kroeger/Peake/Kroeger/Adair- Songwriters) "DON’T YOU WISH IT WAS TRUE" - JOHN FOGERTY (Songwriter) "GOD GAVE ME EVERYTHING"- MICK JAGGER/LENNY KRAVITZ (Songwriters) ALBUM OF THE YEAR: ‘MAGIC’ - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Also nominated: ‘REVIVAL’ - JOHN FOGERTY ‘BEGIN TO HOPE’ - REGINA SPEKTOR ‘TWELVE’ - PATTI SMITH ‘RAISING SAND’ - ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS BEST NEW ARTIST: AMY WINEHOUSE THE MINOR MAINSTREAM CATOGORIES: BEST NEW R&B ARTIST: AMY WINEHOUSE BEST NEW POP ARTIST: INGRID MICHAELSON BEST NEW ADULT ALTERNATIVE ARTIST: REGINA SPEKTOR BEST NEW URBAN CONTEMPORARY ARTIST: SEAN KINGSTON BEST NEW ROCK ARTIST: PLAIN WHITE T’s BEST NEW MODERN ROCK ARTIST: REGINA SPEKTOR BEST NEW CONTEMPORARY FOLK ARTIST: INGRID MICHAELSON BEST MAINSTREAM ROCK ARTIST: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BEST ROCK SONG: "RADIO NOWHERE" - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BEST ROCK SINGLE: "ROCKSTAR" - NICKELBACK BEST ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE: "GOD GAVE ME EVERYTHING" - MICK JAGGER BEST ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (GROUP); "RADIO NOWHERE" - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E ST. BAND BEST ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE): "GIMME SHELTER" -PATTI SMITH BEST ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE): "GOD GAVE ME EVERYTHING" - MICK JAGGER BEST ROCK CD: ‘MAGIC’ - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BEST ALTERNATIVE/MODERN ROCK CD: ‘THE INFORMATION’ - BECK BEST ALTERNATIVE MODERN ROCK TRACK: "WORKING CLASS HERO" - GREEN DAY BEST ALTERNATIVE MODERN ROCK SINGLE: "ROCKSTAR" - NICKELBACK BEST ALTERNATIVE MODERN ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE); "SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT" - PATTI SMITH BEST ALTERNATIVE MODERN ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (GROUP): "ROCKSTAR" - NICKELBACK BEST ALTERNATIVE MODERN ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE): "THINK I’M IN LOVE" - BECK BEST HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE: "SWEET SACRIFICE"- EVANESCENCE BEST METAL PERFORMANCE: "THE ECSTACY OF GOLD" - METALLICA BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE: "ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST" - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Track from: We All Love Ennio Morricone BEST ELECTRONICA ARTIST: MOBY BEST ELECTRONICA CD: ‘GO- THE BEST OF MOBY’ - MOBY BEST ELECTRONICA TRACK: "NEW YORK, NEW YORK"- MOBY Featuring DEBBIE HARRY BEST CONTEMPORARY POP/ROCK PERFORMANCE: "EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD" - PATTI SMITH BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE: "ONE WEEK LAST SUMMER" - JONI MITCHELL BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL CD: ‘THE MIX-UP’ - BEASTIE BOYS BEST TRADITIONAL POP CD: ‘LIVE IN CONCERT 2006' - BARBRA STREISAND BEST CONTEMPORARY POP PERFORMANCE (DUO): "GONE GONE GONE (DONE MOVED ON) - ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS BEST CONTEMPORARY POP PERFORMANCE (GROUP): "MAGIC" - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E ST BAND BEST CONTEMPORARY POP PERFORMANCE (MALE): "BEAUTIFUL GIRLS" - SEAN KINGSTON BEST CONTEMPORARY POP PERFORMANCE (FEMALE): "SHUT UP AND DRIVE" - RIHANNA BEST CONTEMPORARY POP SONG (Songwriter’s Award): "REHAB" - AMY WINEHOUSE (Songwriter) BEST CONTEMPORARY POP CD: ‘LOVE’ - THE BEATLES BEST CONTEMPORARY POP SINGLE: "BEAUTIFUL GIRLS" - SEAN KINGSTON BEST R&B SONG (Songwriter’s Award): "NO ONE" - ALICIA KEYS BEST TRADITIONAL R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE: "ALL NIGHT LONG" - RANDY CRAWFORD with JOE SAMPLE BEST R&B PERFORMANCE (DUO): "BABY" - ANGIE STONE with BETTY WRIGHT BEST R&B PERFORMANCE (FEMALE): "ANGEL" - CHAKA KHAN BEST R&B PERFORMANCE (MALE): "BEAUTIFUL GIRLS" - SEAN KINGSTON BEST R&B PERFORMANCE (GROUP): "PARTY LIKE A ROCK STAR" - SHOP BOYZ BEST R&B SINGLE: "BEAUTIFUL GIRLS" - SEAN KINGSTON BEST R&B CD: ‘FUNK THIS’ - CHAKA KHAN BEST CONTEMPORARY R&B CD: ‘SEAN KINGSTON’ - SEAN KINGSTON BEST RAP/SONG COLLABORATION: "UMBRELLA" - RIHANNA with JAY-Z BEST RAP SONG: "CRANK THAT (SOULJA BOY) - TELL ‘EM SOULJA BOY (Songwriter) BEST RAP PERFORMANCE (SOLO): "THIS IS WHY I’M HOT" - MIMS BEST RAP PERFORMANCE (GROUP): "PARTY LIKE A ROCK STAR" - THE SHOP BOYZ BEST RAP ARTIST: KANYE WEST BEST RAP CD: ‘GRADUATION' - KAYNE WEST BEST DANCE ALBUM: ‘BLACKOUT’ - BRITNEY SPEARS BEST DANCE ARTIST: RIHANNA BEST DANCE SINGLE: "ME LOVE" - SEAN KINGSTON BEST COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE (GROUP): "NIGHT LIFE" - THE LITTLE WILLIES Featuring NORAH JONES BEST COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE): "BEFORE HE CHEATS" - CARRIE UNDERWOOD BEST COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE (DUO): "LOST HIGHWAY" - WILLIE NELSON & RAY PRICE BEST COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE): "AMAZING GRACE" - WILLIE NELSON BEST COUNTRY SINGLE: "HOW LONG" - THE EAGLES BEST COUNTRY SONG: "BEFORE HE CHEATS" - JOSH KEAR/CHRIS TOMPKINS (Songwriters) BEST COUNTRY ALBUM: ‘LONG ROAD OUT OF EDEN’ - THE EAGLES BEST COUNTRY SONG: "GOTTA GET DRUNK" - WILLIE NELSON (Songwriter) BEST LATIN ARTIST: DADDY YANKEE BEST CLASSICAL ARTIST: STING BEST CLASSICAL CD: ‘SONGS FROM THE LABYRINTH’ - STING BEST CLASSICAL CROSSOVER ARTIST: JOSH GROBAN BEST CLASSICAL CROSSOVER CD: ‘NOEL’ - JOSH GROBAN BEST JAZZ ARTIST: HERBIE HANCOCK BEST JAZZ VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE): "SCATSVILLE" - MICHAEL FRANKS BEST JAZZ VOCAL PERFORMANCE (DUO): "RIVER" - HERBIE HANCOCK with CORINNE BAILEY RAE BEST INSTRUMENTAL JAZZ TRACK: "BOTH SIDES NOW" - HERBIE HANCOCK BEST INSTRUMENTAL JAZZ CD: "PILGRIMAGE" - MICHAEL BRECKER BEST JAZZ CD: ‘RIVER: THE JONI LETTERS’ - HERBIE HANCOCK With Featured artists: Leonard Cohen, Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell, Corinne Bailey
Rae, Luciana Souza & Tina Turner BEST NEW AGE ARTIST: THE PAUL WINTER CONSORT BEST NEW AGE ALBUM: ‘CRESTONE’ - THE PAUL WINTER CONSORT BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE: "NEVER GONNA BREAK MY FAITH" - ARETHA FRANKLIN/MARY J. BLIGE BEST CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL CD: ‘A DEEPER LEVEL’ - ISRAEL AND THE NEW BREED BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN CD: ‘OH GRAVITY’ - SWITCHFOOT BEST WORLD MUSIC ARTIST: BEBEL GILBERTO BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM: ‘MOMENTO’ - BEBEL GILBERTO BEST BLUES ARTIST: B.B. KING BEST BLUES ALBUM: ‘ROAD TO ESCONDIDO’ - J.J. CALE/ERIC CLAPTON BEST BLUES TRACK: "RIDE THE RIVER"- J.J. CALE/ERIC CLAPTON BEST FOLK/AMERICANA CD: ‘WASHINGTON SQUARE SERENADE’ - STEVE EARLE BEST REGGAE CD: ‘YOUTH’ - MATISYAHU BEST CHILDREN’S CD: ‘EXPERIENCE...101' - SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK BEST SPOKEN WORD CD: ‘THE AUDACITY OF HOPE’ - BARACK OBAMA BEST MUSICAL SHOW CD: ‘SPRING AWAKENING’ - DUNCAN SHEIK BEST SOUNDTRACK CD: ‘LOVE’ - THE BEATLES BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR FILM: ‘LOVE’ - THE BEATLES BEST COMPILATION TV SOUNDTRACK: ‘GRAY’S ANATOMY (SEASON 3) - VARIOUS ARTISTS BEST FILM SOUNDTRACK SONG: "SCARED" - JOHN LENNON (FROM ‘THE U.S. Vs. JOHN LENNON’ - JOHN LENNON) BEST TV SOUNDTRACK SONG: "KEEP BREATHING" - INGRID MICHAELSON (Songwriter) (FROM ‘GRAY’S ANATOMY’) BEST MOTION PICTURE SCORE: ‘HAPPY FEET’ - JOHN POWELL, COMPOSER BEST HISTORICAL CD: ‘FOREVER CHANGING: THE GOLDEN ERA OF ELEKTRA RECORDS ‘63-‘73' -VARIOUS ARTISTS BEST ENGINEERED CD: ‘BEAUTY AND CRIME’ - SUZANNE VEGA PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: MICK RONSON BEST LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO: ‘THE CONFESSIONS TOUR’ - MADONNA (Jonas Akerlund, Producer) BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO: ‘GOD’S GONNA CUT YOU DOWN - JOHNNY CASH (Tony Kaye, Director) BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE (GROUP): "MAGIC" - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E ST. BAND BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE (FEMALE): "FIDELITY" - REGINA SPEKTOR BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE (MALE): "WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS" (Demo) - GEORGE HARRISON BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY SONG: "FRANK AND AVA" - SUZANNE VEGA (Songwriter) BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY SINGLE: "BEAUTIFUL GIRLS" - SEAN KINGSTON BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ARTIST: SUZANNE VEGA BEST TOP 40 ADULT ARTIST: SEAN KINGSTON BEST TOP 40 ADULT SONG: "BEAUTIFUL GIRLS" - SEAN KINGSTON BEST TOP 40 ADULT SINGLE: "REHAB" - AMY WINEHOUSE BEST TOP 40 ADULT PERFORMANCE (GROUP): "HEY THERE DELILAH" - PLAIN WHITE T’S BEST TOP 40 ADULT PERFORMANCE (MALE) "BEAUTIFUL GIRLS" - SEAN KINGSTON BEST TOP 40 ADULT PERFORMANCE (FEMALE); "REHAB" - AMY WINEHOUSE BEST ADULT ALTERNATIVE ARTIST: REGINA SPEKTOR BEST ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM: ‘BEGIN TO HOPE’ - REGINA SPEKTOR BEST ADULT ALTERNATIVE SONG: "WORKING CLASS HERO" - GREEN DAY (John Lennon, songwriter) BEST ADULT ALTERNATIVE SINGLE: "FIDELITY" - REGINA SPEKTOR BEST ADULT ALTERNATIVE VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE); "THINK I’M IN LOVE" - BECK BEST ADULT ALTERNATIVE VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE): "FIDELITY" - REGINA SPEKTOR BEST ADULT ALTERNATIVE VOCAL PERFORMANCE (GROUP): "WORKING CLASS HERO" - GREEN DAY BEST CONTEMPORARY FOLK ARTIST: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE SESSIONS BAND BEST CONTEMPORARY FOLK ALBUM: ‘LIVE IN DUBLIN ’ - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE SESSIONS BAND BEST FOLK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE): "MAGIC" - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BEST FOLK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE): "HELPLESS" - PATTI SMITH BEST FOLK VOCAL PERFORMANCE (GROUP): "AMERICAN LAND" - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE SESSIONS BAND BEST BLUEGRASS ARTIST: ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION
NEW CENTURY’S TOP 50 CDs OF 2008 A NEW CENTURY SPECIAL ANNUAL CHART Charts are posted on blogs on www.myspace.com/mcqandthedude The 2nd Annual New Century Music Awards will be 4/2 @ Wicked Willys NYC 1 TWELVE PATTI SMITH (Columbia) 2 LOVE THE BEATLES (Apple/Capitol) 3 BEGIN TO HOPE REGINA SPEKTOR (Sire) 4 BACK TO BLACK AMY WINEHOUSE (Universal/Republic) 5 SEAN KINGSTON SEAN KINGSTON (BelugaHeights/Sony) 6 MAGIC BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (Columbia) 7 BEAUTY AND CRIME SUZANNE VEGA (BlueNote) 8 REVIVAL JOHN FOGERTY (Fantasy) 9 INTRODUCING JOSS STONE JOSS STONE (Virgin) 10 RENDEZVOUS IN RIO MICHAEL FRANKS (Koch) 11 FREEDOM’S ROAD JOHN MELLONCAMP (UM) 12 SOMETIME IN NEW YORK CITY JOHN AND YOKO (Capitol) 13 MEMORY ALMOST FULL PAUL McCARTNEY (Hear) 14 INSTANT KARMA: SAVE DANFUR |