The Fugs: America’s First Radical Folk-Rockers
Co-founded by Tuli Kupferberg and Ed Sanders in Manhattan’s East Village, the Fugs invented hippie political activist folk-rock in 1965 with their grammatically incorrect Folkways debut, The Village Fugs Sing Ballads of Contemporary Protest, Point of Views, and General Dissatisfaction. The group’s releases through the end of the decade combined protest music, English literature, and…
Disco Biscuits Tour Planet With ‘Anthem’
Continuing our two-day tribute to MTV News, the Disco Biscuits have announced a 25-show tour beginning January 28 with four nights at Boulder’s Fox Theater and concluding April 25 at the Webster Theatre in Hartford, CT. Then on May 29, the quartet will host their second annual Bisco Inferno at Red Rocks. Along the way,…
State Radio Rides Again With ‘Pre-Show Action’
Last month marked the thirtieth anniversary of the Clash’s London Calling, one of the best rock albums ever. While there’s sadly few bands left to build upon those punks’ massive yawp of agitated roots-rock, State Radio happens to be one of them. And while I’m not sure the Clash were particularly eager to man the…
‘Mock Show’ Draws Attention During Phish Run
Among the myriad of things to do during the sunny off hours of Phish’s four-night Miami New Year’s Eve run, the Mock Show topped the list for many. The poster and art exhibit featured the work of Jim Pollock, David Welker, Jeff Wood, AJ Masthay and many other artists and a set of music from…
Industrial Hemp’s Impending Growth Spurt
Industrial hemp may see federal legalization soon. States including North Dakota and Montana have been testing its use since the mid-’90s and North Dakota is suing the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for the right to grow hemp. Farmers in North Dakota and Vermont, along with David Bronner (of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps) and…
Dave Matthews, Other HeadCount Bands Meet Their (Big) Numbers
HeadCount supporters the Dave Matthews Band topped the Associated Press’s list of the decade’s 50 biggest concert tours, selling 11.6 million tickets for $529.1 million (“based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers”). Other top moneymakers include Celine Dion, Kenny Chesney, Bruce Springsteen, and the Rolling Stones. Phish…
Give Your Ears Some Love In The New Year
I love hearing but I hate earplugs. It’s a predicament I’m sure is shared by most of the live-music community. I’ve tried to wear those fluorescent pieces of foam that constantly fall out, prevent you from talking to friends, and make it seem like you’re listening underwater. I usually decide that Jake Cinninger’s guitar solo…
Animal Collective’s Deacon Raising Funds For Desert Adventure
Animal Collective’s Joshua Dibb, AKA Deacon, hopes fans will kick in funds – and soon! – for his early-January trip to an amazing African festival. Dibb has been invited to Mali’s annual Festival in the Desert, which takes place smack in the middle of the Sahara, in Essakane. It’s a heavy trip combining local economics,…
Drink Up, America, It’s The Holidays
As Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and a host of other wintery holidays invade our homes with annoying music, pine needles, Grandma’s perfume, and loving yet judgmental relatives you see only a few times a year, one substance in particular helps most of us get through December relatively unscathed: alcohol. While seeing a typically shy co-worker…
Phish Back ‘Your Three Words’ On ‘Good Morning America’
There’s a strange phenomenon any true Phish fan is familiar with: When you hear a Phish song outside the usual context, on television or at a stadium or in a store, it stops you in your tracks and sometimes puts a lump in your throat. I’ve gotten up and danced to “Guyute” on The Weather…