On New Year’s Day 1979, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band concluded their seven-month Darkness on the Edge of Town tour, one of the greatest in rock history. Laying low since then, it was quite exciting to hear that in late September Bruce and the boys would reconvene for the two No Nukes shows […]
For almost 20 years, I followed Hamell on Trial’s every record. Never though was I in the right place at the right time to see (Ed) Hamell perform live. This night at Nashville’s best-sounding little room, I finally got the chance to see the mightiest one-man act in show business open for another solo performer, […]
While in training to become a music nerd in the mid-70s, I went to see 50’s doo-wop vocal group The Platters. What I did not know was that this was only one of several bands then touring the country using that name. Not one of them featured a single original member of The Platters. Today, […]
It has been a tough week for Rolling Stones’ sidemen now with the passing of The Small Faces / Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan. Following the death of sax player Bobby Keys, British-born McLagan died in his longtime home of Austin, Texas at age 69 after suffering a stroke. After the Faces disbanded in 1975, McLagan […]
Sad new today that Bobby Keys has died at age 70. Undoubtedly one of the greatest, if not the greatest, rock saxophonist of all time. I was so blessed that in addition to seeing Bobby play with the Rolling Stones in enormous stadiums, I also got to see him up close and personal. In the […]
Forty Years Ago: Elton John & John Lennon @ Madison Square Garden / New York, NY / November 28, 1974
Elton John was huge in 1974—about as popular and successful as a recording artist could be. Back then, I was an 18-year-old college student who was also in heavy training to become a music geek. This preoccupation often led to pontificating with friends about where we thought Elton ranked with the stature attained by The […]
After seeing Ian Hunter twice this year (Brooklyn in September and now again back home in Music City) my one wish from a genie would be that I will look as great as he does at age 75. The former front man for Mott the Hoople and prolific solo artist since 1975, not only looks […]
Thanks to New York radio (WNEW-FM in the City and WLIR-FM out on the Island) I fell in love with two radio-friendly songs by Connecticut band, Dirty Angels: “Radio” and “Tell Me.” (That’s a different MusicMike in the video.) If you have never heard these power pop gems from their overlooked 1977 LP, Kiss Tomorrow […]
Jason Isbell has been on one hell of a ride since June 2013, when he released his fourth solo LP, Southeastern. In between touring the world to promote the record with his crack 400 Unit, Isbell has taken in beaucoup accolades for having produced perhaps the best singer-songwriter album of this young century. The praise […]
New Nashville Music Venue Has Americana Soft Opening Last week’s Americana Festival also provided an opportunity for Nashville’s newest and most-anticipated music room to show itself off. The just-about-ready City Winery opened its doors to three sold-out nights of showcases plus a standing-room-only Sunday morning Gospel brunch. Yours truly had the pleasure of making two […]
Music City Mike 