Amy Winehouse made it to the Festival… Just in time. I spoke to Rob Timm at WRNR who was supposed to interview her before her set, but she arrived so close to set time that there was no interview. So we will create one:
Rob: Amy, what’s in the flask?
Amy: It’s tea – HOT British tea, not that creepy iced Nestea crap you Yanks drink.
Rob: Earl Grey?
Amy: Johnny Walker.
Rob: ahhhh yes, wink wink nudge nudge know what cha’ mean, ‘deed I do, Luv.
Amy: Security!
Not a creature was stirring, except for Dad and his mouse. We are all going to the Virgin Music Festival by Virgin Mobile at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore tomorrow. Even Mom! She scammed a press pass via her employer, a local newspaper and has promised to blog the experience detailing the different viewpoints on music and popular culture between a teen age girl and a 50 year old adult. Wow – what a great idea!
Of course, Mom and I are most excited to see The Police, one of the great bands I always admired, but never saw. I have seen almost everyone I ever wanted to see, I was living in Queens when The Police played Shea Stadium, but didn’t make the show. Shea sucks. Seriously. It was a terrible ballpark back in the early 80’s – I hope they did some renovation since then.
Anyway, Chelsea is excited to see Fountains of Wayne who go on first at high noon, when the temperature should have already passed 90 on it’s way to 95 with a decent chance of a thunderstorm.
The complete schedule is posted here – the worst conflict is The Police from 8-9:50 on the North stage and Modest Mouse from 8:45-10 on the South stage. Arrrrrgh. May have to skip the Encores and go see MM for a bit.
So, our planned itinerary is:
Fountains of Wayne
Cheap Trick – how the heck did they get on this bill anyway? We will most likely dash over to catch at least part of The Fratelli’s set.
AmyWinehouse – she wraps up at 3PM – we’ll skip Incubus and Paolo Nutinio and hit the Freak Lounge and other assorted diversions, and yes, I might be ready for a beer – or 12 – by then. 
After that we’ll be running back and forth between stages the rest of the day… Peter,Bjorn and John, LCD Sound System, Ben Harper, TV on the Radio, Beastie Boys and then The Police and Modest Mouse. Man, I better go get some sleep.
By the way – after a really loooong day in the sun, The Police will hit the stage right at sunset and should play "Bring on the Night" but it doesn’t appear that they have been doing that one at all on the tour. But they should, damn it! It’s not too late!
Get me Sting on the phone!
"Excellent Idea! We’ll do it!"
We celebrated the 4th of July at home this year and we were glad we did as several waves of thunderstorms with torrential downpours rolled over the area during the evening hours. We sat on the porch and gave the neighbor children some sparklers and they ran around and delighted us with the mini pyrotechnic display.
Later, during yet another thunderstorm I recorded this ambient mix of the Thievery Corporation’s "Universal Highness" from their first release "Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi". The original work is cool enough blending a trip-hop beat with African call and response singing and Miles Davis-esque trumpet bursts. This version was recorded on my mini digital recorder and adds heavy rainfall, distant thunder, a passing car or two and fireworks. No editing – this is exactly as we heard it on July 4th, 2007
It’s really cool.
Download TC_UH_GailsPorchMix.mp3
While I was out of the car, Chelsea, Megan and Mom played an impromptu game of "Guess that Ringtone"
What’s on your cellphone?
Do you have differnt rings for differnt callers?
I have grown to love the audio caller id.
This is a short silly little podcast.
Download GuessThatRingtone.mp3
Enjoy!
There is an amazing story in the current issue of Vanity Fair, the July 2007 Africa issue which was guest edited by Bono and features 20 different covers shot by Annie Liebowitz. This particular article is NOT online so IS NOW ON THE WEB! READ IT! I will quickly summarize and strongly encourage you to go buy a copy – or at least borrow one or even stop in to your local library and read their copy. It is that cool a story.
"Showtime in the Sahara" by Tom Freston is the story of a group of music loving friends who travel, literally, beyond Timbuktu, to attend what’s billed as the world’s most remote music festival. "The Festival in the Desert" is held at an Oasis in the Sahara desert. Many attendees arrive after a long trip by Camel. 
The group of friends includes Tom Freston, former CEO of MTV Networks, Jimmy Buffet, Chris Blackwell, legendary founder of Island Records (Bob Marley U@, Cat Stevens, dozens of African artists), veteran music journalist Bill Flanagan, Kino Bachelior, who has toured with Buffet for 30 years, and Jonathon Brandstein a manger of comedians who is also a world music nut and has been to Mali before.
The tale of the trip from Dakar, Senegal, to Timbuktu, Mali and then on into the desert is fascinating, exhilarating and inspiring. There is a sidebar article where internationally renowned Senagalese singer Youssou N’Dour – who you have heard sing with Peter Gabriel on "In Your Eyes" offers up a list of 15 songs that give a nice overview and introduction to West African Music. You can buy them all via iTunes and the proceeds – 100% of the proceeds go to The Global Fund.
Here’s Youssou performing with Peter Gabriel.
And here’s a link to a video of Annie and Bono working on the cover shoot.
Here is a brand new Dad’s Car Radio podcast!
This one was recorded during the last week of school and features Chelsea and Dad of course, but also special guest Megan. It was Field Day and in addition to that topic you will also hear Dad giving directions to a stranger, what the Spanish TMX Elmo is really doing, a story about Dad’s friend Franklin, a couple of tunes and a discussion about our favorite attraction on the road to school, Dead Kid Hole!
Promoted by it’s developers as Quarry Lake at Greenspring, but re-named by Chelsea in honor of the accident that is, sadly, certain to happen someday.
Low fences, high cliffs, deep water, all surrounded by homes, offices and shopping. What could possibly go wrong? We’ll tell you when you listen to this episode of Dad’s Car Radio.
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in June we loaded up the car with blankets, lawn chairs and various 
other supplies and went to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland to experience "A Day in the World"
This concert – starting at an extra early 5:30PM featured Thievery Corporation, Manu Chao, Bebel Gilberto and 3 DJ’s from ESL Music Ursula1000, Thunderball and Nickodemus.
When the show was announced, we decided that this was a Lawn show. At Merriweather they have a Pavilion and then an expansive lawn which can be heavenly or hellish depending on the weather and crowd around you. We also decided to wait until a few days prior to decide if we would go – wishing to avoid hell…
We lucked out.
A more perfect day could not be imagined for June 23rd in Maryland. Chelsea was not so sure about this show – but we suggested she bring a friend and at worst they could make fun of people and at best they would love it.
As we arrived Bebel Gilberto was in mid set and her fine voice and the 21st century Samba beats floated over the lawn as we found our way to the top of the hill. By the time we settled in her set was ending and one of the DJs took over… So it was a good time to go hunt for Food and Beverages.
We got in line behind this:
THis was, without question, one of the most beautiful Tattoos I have ever seen. She said it was 4 months old and had taken 12 hours over 4 sessions.
Thievery Corporation’s set was wonderful. They featured Drums, more drums, Violin, Sitar, Bass, Trumpet, Sax, Guitar, plus Rob Garza and Eric Hilton – the duo that creates the music and produces the records on keyboards, computers and turntables.
On their albums they feature many famous guest vocalists. The last CD The Cosmic Game featured David Byrne, Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips and Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction) Live, the lead vocals changed from song to song, the singers were from Columbia, Argentina, Brazil, Jamaica, Washington DC and I don’t remember them all. This band does not really tour – they are only doing this show and a festival in San Francisco this summer. Last December they did 5 nights at the 9:30 club in DC. If they do come to your town don’t miss it!
Rob Garza – Not a typical Rock Star.
Several Thievery Corporation songs featured a Belly Dancer.
Meanwhile, up on the lawn, we were dancing too…
We knew very little about Manu Chao before he and his band Exploded onto the stage, I had heard just a few samples of songs and knew it was an upbeat dance happy party groove, that he sang in several languages, often mising them up inthe same song and was a superstar in various parts of the world.
You know you are in for high energy when half of the band STARTS the set shirtless. None of this – "Oh, I am warming up and need to cool off now". They started out effectively saying saying "Yes, we are hot, now get up and dance!" The crowd responded. The music had elements of The Police "Cha! Cha!" Bob Marley "War in th East, War in the West…" Plus the shirtless funkified intensity of The Red Hot Chili Peppers – and dozens of other elements beats and grooves. He won me over completely, but by this time – now about 10:30 all 3 girls were tired and we made a run for it.
Here’s a free legal MP3 sample Download RainininParadize.mp3
By the way, I took all of the band pictures with my little Canon digital camera shooting from our place on the top of the lawn – zooming in on the giant screen. Here is what the view looked like – un-zoomed. But the sound was perfect!
The Big Bright spot is the screen at the outer edge of the Pavilion, the little spots are the screens on either side of the stage, and the little tiny light at the top of the picture is the Moon.
It was a beautiful night for A Day in the World.
Chelsea and I made a few recordings over the past month and finally we’re getting them uploaded. Here is the first of a couple new podcast posts. This one features a bit of discussion about a trip that day to Hershey Park and by Chelsea’s request, the Dead Milkmen and their classic "Instant Club Hit" – Better known as "You’ll Dance to Anything".
It’s a short one – only 2 minutes and 40 seconds. Download HersheyPark.mp3 A little longer than a roller coaster ride…
This past February 20th was Kurt Cobain’s 40th birthday. We
caught up with Kurt on a recent Saturday morning as he watched
daughter Frances Bean’s soccer game.
Dad: Kurt, a lot of people never expected you to live to be 40
years old – how does it feel?
KC: I feel great, better than I have in years, really. Sure, I’ve got a
few gray hairs and have put on a few pounds, but I can still play!
Dad: Well, there’s no doubt about that, the new music is stunning –
when did you take up the lute?
KC: Well after I heard Sting’s "Songs From the Labyrinth" that collection of 16th century ballads, I thought – "Why let him have all the fun? – I can play a friggin’ Lute!" But it is actually harder than it looks, mainly because of the tights and frilly shirts you
have to wear in order to get the authentic feel. Lucky for me, Courtney is an amazing Lute player and she taught me a lot of tricks.
Dad: You are a Renaissance man!
KC: (Laughs) Well, Elizabethan really. (Yells) "Frances – get back
on defense! Run!" Yes, a Renaissance man, a soccer Dad, married 15 years to the same great gal – it’s not the same crazy rock and roll lifestyle… but I like it.
Dad: That reminds me – where are the twins today?
KC: Courtney has ’em at Gymboree. We’re all going to Chuck E.
Cheese after the game – some 4 year old’s Birthday party – I dig
that giant rat they have there.
Dad: Speaking of giant rats, when you played HFS-tival in 1999
and sang that year’s HUGE anthem "Y2K WTF?" – well, the
memory of 65,000 people chanting along "Y2K, Y2K, Y2K What
the F***?" will be with me forever.
KC: That was a highlight for me as well, and that episode with
the giant rat in the dressing room – all is forgiven.
Dad: Thanks Kurt. So, at the end of the set that night when Krist
Novaselic threw his bass in the air and it hit him on the head *–
again – was that when you decided to make a change?
KC: Well that was the 5th time Krist had done that – he could
barely speak anymore his brain was so scrambled so yeah, that’s
when Jaco Pastorius joined the band and we went all Jazz-Fusion
for a couple years.
Dad: I do miss the old thundering Nirvana sound, rolling around a
stadium…
Kurt: Well, you won’t have to miss it much longer. The rumors are
true. Krist is feeling better now – Jaco is working on a spoken
word poetry thing with Jim Morrison and the old band has been
recording together for 3 months. The new album is out on June
19th and then we hit the road. We’ll be on tour from July well into
next year. It’s the massive world-wide stadium tour I always
thought I would never do. But that was then, now it’s a damn
good excuse to get out of the house!
Dad: Wow – that is huge news!
KC: The other surprise is Dave Grohl plays some guitar and sings on
the new CD.
Dad: What??? No way! Dave Sings?
KC: Yeah – Who knew? He’s been so shy about it. But turns out he
has, like, 145 songs he recorded at home – he might release them
as solo projects – "Foo Fungus" or something – I forget what he
calls it.
Dad: Amazing. So, are you spending most of your time in the
Seattle area again?
KC: Yup. We sold the houseboat to Johnny Depp and moved back
from France last fall – I have a place on Lake Washington right next
door to Hendrix. We hang out a bit – you know, Bar-B-Q and shit.
He’s doing another collaboration with Sun Ra this summer – guy
never slows down – this will be his 100th album!
Dad: It’s tough to keep up with Jimi – I do read his blog. Speaking
of writing, that children’s book you did – "Whatever" – is my
daughter’s favorite!
KC: Aww it always makes me feel great to hear that. Tell her I said
"Nevermind!"
________________
* Watch the video clip from the MTV Video Music Awards 1992 – at
4:09 Novoselic tosses his bass in the air and misses the catch.
