The Showbiz Kids: Top Ten of 2011 (Part 2- Mike's list)

10. Discovering a new band right under the wire of 2011 called Alabama Shakes.  Still don't know much about them yet but their self titled EP was a fantastic discovery yesterday morning.  Just go to their website and download the EP now.

9. Bob Mould's book See A Little light . Several several years ago his band Sugar and the album Copper Blue wore out my CD player.  Then I went backwards to discover his Black Sheets of Rain and of course Husker Du.  Interesting life journey in his book.

8. Widespread Panic at the Tennessee Theatre...was my first experience of the Panic live and all the special visuals and smells that comes with it were a great experience.

7. Meeting Colin Hay on his solo tour and previously of Men at Work.  It was a special intimate setting at our local Knoxville record store Disc Exchange and he played old hits like "Overkill" and beautiful new ones off of Gathering Mercury.

6. My niece learning to play the trumpet.  She has really taken an interest in the instrument and learning to play it.  She allowed me to open her musical world up to the trumpet sounds of Miles Davis and other jazz albums.  So who knows...maybe we'll sit around one day talking about the influence of Lee Morgan and his album Sidewinder.

5. Crowded House Live in Denver   is special because its a recording that was released for Record Store Day of the same tour that my wife and I saw them at the Ryman in 2010.  I don't think sonically I have heard a better concert ever.  The band sounded great and the welcoming arms of the Ryman only enhanced the evening to be one of the best.

4. The Pixies at The Tennessee Theatre only out ranks Crowded House because it felt like a once in a lifetime to see them with all original members.  Plus they rocked...I cant remember the last time I 'head-banged' at the good ole' TN Theatre.

3. Wico Live at the Ryman was a blast.  They had released The Whole Love and I had missed them on the Sky Blue Sky tour so I was hell bent to see them no matter what.  They were all I had anticipated and an added surprises was getting to see Nick Lowe open up and play with Wilco as well as Nels playing Duane Allman's guitar on "Impossible Germany."






2. House of Cash by John Carter Cash is an excellent collection of photographs and memorabilia from Johnny Cash and the entire family.  It is essentially a scrapbook with some unique features such as handwritten notes,family recipes and Johnny's artwork.  Many times its actual pieces that you can pull out of the book as if it was the original document.

1. Circuital by My Morning Jacket The combination of the opening two tracks and seeing them live on the computer for their release party this year puts them at the top for me.  Its essentially about the music and these guys unique sound makes me a full time fan.

The Showbiz Kids: Top Ten of 2011 (Part 2- Mike's list)

10. Discovering a new band right under the wire of 2011 called Alabama Shakes.  Still don't know much about them yet but their self titled EP was a fantastic discovery yesterday morning.  Just go to their website and download the EP now.

9. Bob Mould's book See A Little light . Several several years ago his band Sugar and the album Copper Blue wore out my CD player.  Then I went backwards to discover his Black Sheets of Rain and of course Husker Du.  Interesting life journey in his book.

8. Widespread Panic at the Tennessee Theatre...was my first experience of the Panic live and all the special visuals and smells that comes with it were a great experience.

7. Meeting Colin Hay on his solo tour and previously of Men at Work.  It was a special intimate setting at our local Knoxville record store Disc Exchange and he played old hits like "Overkill" and beautiful new ones off of Gathering Mercury.

6. My niece learning to play the trumpet.  She has really taken an interest in the instrument and learning to play it.  She allowed me to open her musical world up to the trumpet sounds of Miles Davis and other jazz albums.  So who knows...maybe we'll sit around one day talking about the influence of Lee Morgan and his album Sidewinder.

5. Crowded House Live in Denver   is special because its a recording that was released for Record Store Day of the same tour that my wife and I saw them at the Ryman in 2010.  I don't think sonically I have heard a better concert ever.  The band sounded great and the welcoming arms of the Ryman only enhanced the evening to be one of the best.

4. The Pixies at The Tennessee Theatre only out ranks Crowded House because it felt like a once in a lifetime to see them with all original members.  Plus they rocked...I cant remember the last time I 'head-banged' at the good ole' TN Theatre.

3. Wico Live at the Ryman was a blast.  They had released The Whole Love and I had missed them on the Sky Blue Sky tour so I was hell bent to see them no matter what.  They were all I had anticipated and an added surprises was getting to see Nick Lowe open up and play with Wilco as well as Nels playing Duane Allman's guitar on "Impossible Germany."






2. House of Cash by John Carter Cash is an excellent collection of photographs and memorabilia from Johnny Cash and the entire family.  It is essentially a scrapbook with some unique features such as handwritten notes,family recipes and Johnny's artwork.  Many times its actual pieces that you can pull out of the book as if it was the original document.

1. Circuital by My Morning Jacket The combination of the opening two tracks and seeing them live on the computer for their release party this year puts them at the top for me.  Its essentially about the music and these guys unique sound makes me a full time fan.

The Showbiz Kids: Top Ten of 2011 (Part 1-Will's List)

Will's Top Ten of 2011

 ***Honorable mention: The resurgence of vinyl has made Knoxville, TN a collector's hot spot with some incredible shops such as: Disc Exchange, Lost and Found Records, Raven Records, and the newly opened Wild Honey Records.  


I am including the Strokes' 2011 release, Angles, in the 'honorable mention' section because the album is enjoyable and I must say that I love the 80s-flavored album cover so much that I purchased it on vinyl.  With that said, the Strokes did not include a CD copy of the album or a coupon to download an MP3 version of Angles with my vinyl purchase, so I had to essentially purchase the album twice on its release date and for that the Strokes did not make the top 10 this year on merit.  





10. Fitz and The Tantrums’ debut, Pickin’ Up The Pieces, was easily one of my favorite new albums over the past year.  I grew up listening to old soul from Motown and Stax, and this soul/indie pop band from Los Angeles, CA ‘delivered the goods’ on their fantastic debut record. 

9.  The Canadian rock trio, Rush, released their classic album, Moving Pictures, re-mastered in stunning 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound. Rush also followed up the reissue with their successful Time Machine tour where fans were treated to  Moving Pictures in its entirety.

8. Phish has really hit a home run in my humbled opinion with their ‘Live Phish App’ which enables Phans to stream and download the previous night’s show while the band is on tour.  Certainly handy for a married father and working stiff!  Thanks, Phish!

7. Before calling it quits, one of my favorite bands of all-time, R.E.M., released their final album, Collapse Into Now, which was easily their strongest body of work since New Adventures in Hi-Fi.   I will certainly miss R.E.M. but am pleased that they ended their career on a high note.

6. Thomas Dolby released his first new music in well over a decade, A Map of the Floating City. The album is a more mature work for the 80s New Wave pioneer, but one that I have come to appreciate after repeated listen. 


5. Wilco toured in the United States behind the release of their latest album, The Whole Love, and I was fortunate to see them at the Ryman in Nashville, TN.  Fantastic show, and being the casual Wilco fan, I can say that I was completely blown away.


4. 2011 was a busy year for Pink Floyd, who saw the release of their entire catalog remastered in various forms-individual discs, boxed sets, etc.  The sonic improvements to albums such as Meddle and Animals are only paralleled to The Beatles remasters from a couple of years ago.  


3. In celebration of their 25th anniversary,Widespread Panic, returned to Knoxville for another three night stand that was one of the best runs I have witnessed in the Jimmy Herring era of the band.  


2. Better late than never, but I finally showed up late to the Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings party.  After hearing a few tracks from their recent B-Sides and out-takes compilation, Soul Power!, I have quickly purchased most of their albums.  I am really digging this band, their music, and their retro sound.


1. When I look back at 2011, the one album that I can easily say was my favorite release of the year was The Foo Fighters' Wasting Light. If songs like 'Bridge Burning' and 'Rope' don't do it for you, then I suppose nothing will.  A fantastic album from a band that continues to get better with age and still know how to rock.  (Be sure to check out their excellent rockumentary, Back and Forth, too!)










-Will Fisher
The Showbiz Kids

The Showbiz Kids: Top Ten of 2011 (Part 1-Will's List)

Will's Top Ten of 2011

 ***Honorable mention: The resurgence of vinyl has made Knoxville, TN a collector's hot spot with some incredible shops such as: Disc Exchange, Lost and Found Records, Raven Records, and the newly opened Wild Honey Records.  


I am including the Strokes' 2011 release, Angles, in the 'honorable mention' section because the album is enjoyable and I must say that I love the 80s-flavored album cover so much that I purchased it on vinyl.  With that said, the Strokes did not include a CD copy of the album or a coupon to download an MP3 version of Angles with my vinyl purchase, so I had to essentially purchase the album twice on its release date and for that the Strokes did not make the top 10 this year on merit.  





10. Fitz and The Tantrums’ debut, Pickin’ Up The Pieces, was easily one of my favorite new albums over the past year.  I grew up listening to old soul from Motown and Stax, and this soul/indie pop band from Los Angeles, CA ‘delivered the goods’ on their fantastic debut record. 

9.  The Canadian rock trio, Rush, released their classic album, Moving Pictures, re-mastered in stunning 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound. Rush also followed up the reissue with their successful Time Machine tour where fans were treated to  Moving Pictures in its entirety.

8. Phish has really hit a home run in my humbled opinion with their ‘Live Phish App’ which enables Phans to stream and download the previous night’s show while the band is on tour.  Certainly handy for a married father and working stiff!  Thanks, Phish!

7. Before calling it quits, one of my favorite bands of all-time, R.E.M., released their final album, Collapse Into Now, which was easily their strongest body of work since New Adventures in Hi-Fi.   I will certainly miss R.E.M. but am pleased that they ended their career on a high note.

6. Thomas Dolby released his first new music in well over a decade, A Map of the Floating City. The album is a more mature work for the 80s New Wave pioneer, but one that I have come to appreciate after repeated listen. 


5. Wilco toured in the United States behind the release of their latest album, The Whole Love, and I was fortunate to see them at the Ryman in Nashville, TN.  Fantastic show, and being the casual Wilco fan, I can say that I was completely blown away.


4. 2011 was a busy year for Pink Floyd, who saw the release of their entire catalog remastered in various forms-individual discs, boxed sets, etc.  The sonic improvements to albums such as Meddle and Animals are only paralleled to The Beatles remasters from a couple of years ago.  


3. In celebration of their 25th anniversary,Widespread Panic, returned to Knoxville for another three night stand that was one of the best runs I have witnessed in the Jimmy Herring era of the band.  


2. Better late than never, but I finally showed up late to the Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings party.  After hearing a few tracks from their recent B-Sides and out-takes compilation, Soul Power!, I have quickly purchased most of their albums.  I am really digging this band, their music, and their retro sound.


1. When I look back at 2011, the one album that I can easily say was my favorite release of the year was The Foo Fighters' Wasting Light. If songs like 'Bridge Burning' and 'Rope' don't do it for you, then I suppose nothing will.  A fantastic album from a band that continues to get better with age and still know how to rock.  (Be sure to check out their excellent rockumentary, Back and Forth, too!)










-Will Fisher
The Showbiz Kids

Phish @ Madison Square Garden

Phish kicked off their four night New Year’s run at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, with the first-ever “Free” opener. The solid first set also included: “The Ballad of Curtis Loew,”  “Glide,” “Bathtub Gin,” and “Contact.”

“Birds of Feather” began the second set which then then began an extended segue that started with “Carini,” which led into a “Tweezer” before moving into “My Friend, My Friend,” and a rocking(pun intended) “Rock and Roll,” followed by “NICU.”  

Phish also made University of Tennessee football fans happy by possibly playing one of the only versions of “Rocky Top” to be heard during bowl season this year in the encore before closing out the show with “Tweezer Reprise.”

Phish returns to MSG tonight for show #3.

Complete setlist from Wednesday below courtesy of Jambands.com:

Madison Square Garden New York, NY

Set I: Free, Glide > Possum, Cities, The Ballad of Curtis Loew, Stash, Contact > Sample in a Jar, Kill Devil Falls > Bathtub Gin

Set II: Birds of a Feather, Carini > Tweezer* > My Friend, My Friend^ > Rock and Roll** > NICU, Bouncing Around the Room, Harry Hood > Bug

Encore: Tube > Rocky Top > Tweezer Reprise

Notes: *Streets of Cairo tease ^No “Myfe” ending **Birds of a Feather jam

Phish @ Madison Square Garden

Phish kicked off their four night New Year’s run at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, with the first-ever “Free” opener. The solid first set also included: “The Ballad of Curtis Loew,”  “Glide,” “Bathtub Gin,” and “Contact.”

“Birds of Feather” began the second set which then then began an extended segue that started with “Carini,” which led into a “Tweezer” before moving into “My Friend, My Friend,” and a rocking(pun intended) “Rock and Roll,” followed by “NICU.”  

Phish also made University of Tennessee football fans happy by possibly playing one of the only versions of “Rocky Top” to be heard during bowl season this year in the encore before closing out the show with “Tweezer Reprise.”

Phish returns to MSG tonight for show #3.

Complete setlist from Wednesday below courtesy of Jambands.com:

Madison Square Garden New York, NY

Set I: Free, Glide > Possum, Cities, The Ballad of Curtis Loew, Stash, Contact > Sample in a Jar, Kill Devil Falls > Bathtub Gin

Set II: Birds of a Feather, Carini > Tweezer* > My Friend, My Friend^ > Rock and Roll** > NICU, Bouncing Around the Room, Harry Hood > Bug

Encore: Tube > Rocky Top > Tweezer Reprise

Notes: *Streets of Cairo tease ^No “Myfe” ending **Birds of a Feather jam

My Sweet Lord...first #1 US Single in December 1970

George was the first ex-Beatle to have a #1 US single with "My Sweet Lord" off of his double album All Things Must Pass.

It was certified Gold and sold well over a million copies.  However the single wasn't without controversy.  There was a 10 year battle over the musical similarities between his song and The Chiffons' hit "He's So Fine".

Here are some big names that George was always associated with but Eric Clapton,Gary Wright,Ringo Starr,Billy Preston and Klaus Voormann  played on My Sweet Lord.

Coming soon...George amassed a large collection of guitars over his career and his son Dhani is organizing a way for us to view them along with background and history of the guitars.

Mike Smith,The Showbiz Kids

My Sweet Lord...first #1 US Single in December 1970

George was the first ex-Beatle to have a #1 US single with "My Sweet Lord" off of his double album All Things Must Pass.

It was certified Gold and sold well over a million copies.  However the single wasn't without controversy.  There was a 10 year battle over the musical similarities between his song and The Chiffons' hit "He's So Fine".

Here are some big names that George was always associated with but Eric Clapton,Gary Wright,Ringo Starr,Billy Preston and Klaus Voormann  played on My Sweet Lord.

Coming soon...George amassed a large collection of guitars over his career and his son Dhani is organizing a way for us to view them along with background and history of the guitars.

Mike Smith,The Showbiz Kids

The Stranglers

Where's my credit card.........

Happy Birthday Alex Chilton

photograph by Stephanie Chernikowski

"December boys got it bad"

NY Times article

photograph by Stephanie Chernikowski

Mike Smith,The Showbiz Kids

Happy Birthday Alex Chilton

photograph by Stephanie Chernikowski

"December boys got it bad"

NY Times article

photograph by Stephanie Chernikowski

Mike Smith,The Showbiz Kids

Magazine - Rhythm of Cruelty 7'' (1979)

I guess since I'm talking about John McGeoch it's only fair to post one of his finest moments. Here it is.

Mediafire

I must have worn out 50 record player needles on this one 7'' alone.

Punk Lives issues 1-11 (a long time ago)

Seems like yesterday......as it says; Punk Lives issues 1-11.

Mediafire

Mediafire