WOOD BURNING ON A MONDAY MORNING

"It's my new invention. It takes bones out of fish. And also, although I don't see the point, it puts bones back in fish."

Woody Allen, from "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy"



There was a pre-sale on Saturday morning for Live Nation members for the Ryan Adams & the Cardinals "Halloween Extravaganza" at NYC's famed Apollo Theatre. As a member of the "world's largest concert engine," you receive "perks and benefits" that the average blue collar pinhead concertgoer does not. F'rinstance--as a member of Live Nation you were able to purchase tickets in the Upper Mezzanine, all the way to the right or left for Ryan Adams, two full days before the general public will be able to purchase tickets in the center orchestra or lower mezzanine. Sounds great, doesn't it?


WHERE WAS JOHN HIATT?

On October 2nd and 3rd, the 2nd annual benefit concerts for the Richard deLone Special Housing Project which assists those with Prader-Willi Syndrome took place at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. (You can read more about that here.) Headlining this year's concert was "Guitar, Bass, Drums," better known as Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe and Jim Keltner. Special guest Elvis Costello opened the show with a brief acoustic set. Those fortunate enough to attend, got to hear a set that included such Cooder classics as "Fool For A Cigarette" and "How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times & Live," as well as some Nick Lowe gems like "Gai-Gin Man" and "Half A Boy & Half A Man." For the unfortunates, I offer this as a consolation prize. Click here and you won't be sorry.


JAM OUT THE KICKS

The New Orleans-based jazz-funk ensemble Galactic continues it's never-ending tour with a run of shows being dubbed as the "Brass Tacks Tour." For this string of shows, New Orleans treasure and monster of the skins Stanton Moore and friends, have added the exciting young trumpet player Shamarr Allen and trombonist Corey Henry of the Rebirth Brass Band to the ensemble. I caught Friday's show at The Fillmore At Irving Plaza At The Copa At The Latin Quarter In NYC On Earth (or whatever my least favorite venue in NYC is now called) and it was definitely a New Orleans party. Galactic's non-songs are propelled into a musical earthquake by Stanton Moore. His drumming never fails to boggle the mind.With the intensity and piston-pumping throbs of John Bonham and the laid back subtlety and in-the-pocket grooves of NOLA greats Zigaboo Modeliste and John Vidacovich, Moore's magic carries this band, whose extended jams on simple riffs would become quite monotonous without his creativity and what seems like impossible moves on the drums. Shamarr Allen was a joyful addition. Allen is a tasty player and master showman. His presence and playful solos were a highlight on just about every song.
Click here and have some fun with their version of Herbie Hancock's "Rockit," from Wednesday night's show in Boston.

MY NEW HUFFINGTON POST POST

RIGHT HERE


SKIP THROUGH MY LU

I've already tired of "Little Honey," the new, disappointing record from Lucinda Williams. I am happy that she is happy, but the record does not work. It's Lucinda light and lacks sincerity.


BURNING WOOD'S E-MAIL BAG

Fern Budgets, an avid Burning Wood reader from Toluca Lake, sent this e-mail:

Sal, great job. I especially enjoyed your piece on Christine McVie. (Editor's Note: I didn't write a piece on Christine McVie) If your "Where Are They Now" feature from last week is to continue, any chance you know the whereabouts of "Sly Fox?" I loved their 80's hit "Let's Go All The Way," but then they just disappeared.

Fern, sorry to say, I have no info regarding "Sly Fox." Although I do remember another Sly Fox song, "Stay True," that was even better than "Let's Go All The Way." Do you have that? I'd love to hear it again. Check back this week to see the further adventures of "Where Is David Werner," continue with some rare audio.

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