....not a lot of artists in the road right now but there're a few with buns in the oven. Here's a few releases that'll keep you from taking the bridge:-Courtney Love --- Maximum Courtney Love, April 3-Joy Division --- Closer (re-release), March 27-Yardbirds Story: 1963-66 ---The Yardbirds, March 29

And let me just say listening to radio in Australia --- its content, its lack of commercial bullshit, and its loose on-air restrictions --- convinced me of two things: Airborne is gonna be the next band to watch, and we here in America are kidding ourselves if we still think we're living in the land of the free.I braved the tundra my first night back out to support BML, which was taping its Friday night show for an upcoming DVD. I figured the crowd would be light, what with the weather and all, but the joint was full. Show openers

I was gonna need a nudge to see The Nuge get noteworthy Friday night as the numbing wind chill spanked the thermometer stupid outside. Rochester International Jazz Festival promoter and all-around swingin' saxocat John Nugent was sitting in this weekend with jazz guitarist Bob Sneider and his group at The Grill at Strathallan.Once the steam emanating from my chest cleared, my eyes fell on a cozy scene. The band parked itself on the floor to one side and swung mellow and righteous, frequently giving way to one another for solomente sojourns to elsewhere. The joint was filled, with this town's

As the magnitude of the Rochester International Jazz Fest grows, it's getting increasingly harder for promoter John Nugent to keep things under wraps until the line-up announcement in April.Last year, thanks to a little stealth, City Newspaper was able to announce several major artists well before Nugent's press conference, including James Brown and Etta James. It wasn't that we liked spoiling surprises; it's just that, well, it was so damn exciting we just had to share.But now Nugent's toying with us. He's put a gag order on booking agents, publicists, and record labels to prevent leaks. Yet he jokes with

Rochester had two Atlanta connections to last night's Grammy Awards. Big up to Eastman alum Christopher Theofanidis, who won a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Classical Composition category for his The Here and Now, performed by Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.But, alas the Atlanta-based Mastodon lost out to Slayer in The Best Metal Performance category. I gotta admit, that new Slayer video is riveting and I'm positive this wasn't Mastodon's last nomination. See why this Wednesday at Water Street Music Hall. The rest of the Grammy's just bored me. I love the Police --- they were my first

Maybe Andy Summers can come and play after all, given that dull rendition of "Roxanne" The Police pulled out on the Grammys. I was thinking, after the awesome night of swingin' the Jack Allen Big Band gave us last year, it might be a good idea if The Nuge got Royal Crown Revue, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, The Big Town Playboys, The Mighty Blue Kings, Savage Faith and the Believers, or the George Gee Big Band. Jazz fan or not, young or old, alive or dead, you simply cannot resist this stuff. And of course, I keep hearing rumours about the 2007 line-up,

I feel for bands like Johnny Smoke. The band rocks live and has an equally rockin' new CD, For A Dollar. Yet the band's show at Spenders last Friday night was predominantly covers --- good covers, but nothing compared to its originals. And I blame this on a large segment of the Rochester rock audience. You know who you are: you're lazy, you're unimaginative, you suck. Yeah, yeah I know --- everyone wants to sing along and nod their mullet in familiar approval. But there once was a time when, oh, let's say that Led Zeppelin song you've heard a

You know you're hardcore when all this snow still can't cool your jones for the blues or BBQ. So after seeing Molly Ringwald in "Sweet Charit"y (it's about hookers, you know) me and the better half braved the precipitating precipitation and headed to  the Dinosaur for some grub 'n' grind. Too Tall and the Howlin Mercy Blues band supplied the beat in which to eat. Too Tall positively dwarfed his Strat but still made it sound as big as he is. I got to sit in on a coupla shuffles after they dug into the Prince library....four white dudes playing "Purple

Stopped into the Bug Jar just long enough to catch a coupla tunes from the Baby Shambles Ensemble as the members sang a song about wanting to be friends with a bear. The line-up --- cello, ukelele, guitar, and elctric piano --- was fractured, fragile, and beautiful. The gang vocals were like the marriage of a drinking song with a lullaby. Expect to be hearing more from them.

Rochester punk rock darlings The UV Rays just announced they will support punk legends Gang Green on a U.S. tour this spring, including shows in GG's hometown of Boston. Holy shit!

You know you're hardcore when all this snow still can't cool your jones for the blues or BBQ. So after seeing Molly Ringwald in Sweet Charity (it's about hookers, you know), me and the better half braved the precipitating precipitation and headed to the Dinosaur for some grub ‘n' grind. Too Tall and the Howlin' Mercy Blues Band supplied the beat in which to eat. Too Tall positively dwarfed his Strat but still made it sound as big as he is. I got to sit in on a coupla shuffles after they dug into the Prince library. Four white dudes

After prying my ass of the couch, I got all the way down to the Dinosaur to find out swamp bluesman Jimbo Mathus had bailed on the whole tour. Apparently he has marital problems, financial problems....his world is collapsing. Well s'far as I'm concerned that's when it's best to hit the road with your guitar. But alas no jimbo. The replacement act, Scotty Mac and the Gold Tops, bopped solid with soundman Scott Sterling jumping in at one point to resurect Lou Reed and The Modern Lovers.

Blues legend and walking blues encyclopedia John Hammond will play Thursday, May 17, at  Water Street Music Hall, 204 North Water Street, 325-5600, at 8 p.m., call for more info.

Man, Dr. Lonnie Smith is one cool cat. His B-3 pumped and swirled smoothly before two enthusiastic crowds at Venu last night. The joint was positively sardined as Smith and guitarist Mel Henderson and drummer Yuron Israel laid it down. Smith even sang a tribute of sorts to Johnny Mathis, holding the last note for easily a minute and a half. At one point, his fingers left the keyboard but continued to play as he held them up - as if summoning something out of the audience. Reminiscing about his Buffalo rock 'n' roll days (as he described a greasy

After prying my ass off the couch Wednesday night, I got all the way down to the Dinosaur to find swamp bluesman and ex-Squirrel Nut Zipper Jimbo Mathus had bailed on his whole 18-city tour. Apparently he really has the blues --- you know, marital problems, financial woes....his world is collapsing. Well s'far as I'm concerned that's when it's time to hit the road with your guitar. Hurt and happiness frequently sound the same with only body language to tell the truth beneath the tale. A good audience feeds on that truth and sustains the musician. All of a sudden

Spent the eveing with Dick the Dancing Record and wife over chicken and gingerbread with a jug band pumping in the background. A one-time band of guitar, tamborine, and harmonica emerged over coffee as we pontificated real estate and revisiting classics like Townes Van Zandt. Musical moments in time like this send me. Woulda sent you too...and I'd have saved you a drum stick.