The Return of Mudcrutch!

Mudcrutch doesn't sound like a rock group as much as a Rob Zombie horror film. In reality, Mudcrutch is the name of Tom Petty's new band. Well, not so new. Mudcrutch was Petty's first band in the early 70's before the days of The Heartbreakers. Apparently they were quite popular locally during their time together. They got signed to a label and began recording an album in L.A. but it was never released. Petty then broke up the band to start The Heartbreakers bringing only guitarist Mike Campbell with him. Fast-forward 30+ years later......

After Petty finished interviews for the recent "Running Down a Dream" documentary, he decided to call up the old Mudcrutch guys to get the band back together; much to their total surprise. Thus....the return of Mudcrutch. After a few spins through the disc, I admit I was hoping for a more different sound then Petty usually delivers with The Heartbreakers. After all, he plays no guitar on the disc but bass instead. In reality, it sounds like a very good but rushed Heartbreakers disc. That isn't surprising seeing how the current configuration of Mudcrutch features not only Campbell on guitar but also current Heartbreaker keyboardist Benmont Tench on keyboards. There are a couple of choice covers (Gram Parsons-Six Days on the Road & The Byrds-Lover of the Bayou) and Mudcrutch at least sounds like Petty breaking out of his comfort zone a bit. The highlight of the disc is the 9 minute, languid guitar epic called "Crystal River". Not only is it the longest song in Petty's cannon, but it's also one of the prettiest. Mudcrutch is a must for any Petty fan, and I guarantee this will sound great cranking out of my speakers this summer. Let's hope Mudcrutch isn't just a one-off thing for Petty, but somewhere he feels he can go to break out of the Heartbreakers formula a bit.

You can hear two of the songs in my Electronic Mixtape posted below and here are a couple of vids to enjoy as well.

Electronic Mix Tape #3

It's that time again. Time for me to share some songs I have been living with lately. This batch includes a couple of tracks from the excellent new (old) Tom Petty project called "Mudcrutch" and some new My Morning Jacket from their much buzzed out disc "Evil Urges". I hope you enjoy some more of the old and new tunes that I'm digging these days!

Side A:


Side B:


Side A
1. Bob Dylan-Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You (Live, 1975)
2. My Morning Jacket-I'm Amazed
3. The Church-Just For You
4. Howlin' Wolf-Sittin' On Top of the World
5. Patti Smith-Within You Without You
6. Gram Parsons-A Song for You
7. Built to Spill-Conventional Wisdom
8. Ryan Adams-My Love For You Is Real
9. Peter Tosh-Johnny B. Goode (Live)
10. Mudcrutch-Shade Grove

Side B
11. R.E.M.-Laughing
12. Donovan-Barabajagel
13. Iron and Wine-Naked As We Came
14. Lucinda Williams-Real Live Bleeding Fingers
15. Louis Armstrong-On the Sunny Side of the Street
16. The Replacements-I Will Dare
17. Jimi Hendrix Experience-One Rainy Wish
18. The Hold Steady-Chillout Tent
19. Mudcrutch-Orphan of the Storm
20. Bob Mould-I Can't Believe What You're Saying

Garcia Project

1995 was a rough year in Grateful Dead history. Jerry Garcia's health was in serious decline and so was the health of the Dead scene in general. During 99% of all Dead shows from that year, Jerry seemed present in frail body only. Garcia would forget complete verses and his guitar playing was for the most part, a total shell of his former self. Those who were actually paying attention at Dead shows in 1995 knew the end was near. Jerry Garcia passed away a month to the day of the final Dead show on August 9, 1995.

When Jerry wasn't on the road with the Dead, odds are he was on tour with what I feel was his true love; the Jerry Garcia Band. Listening to the smattering of those JGB shows he was able to play in 1995 prove that the man could still deliver when he wanted to. Thanks to an amazing download project going on over at BT.Etree, the proof is in the tapes. BT Etree member "The Bus" has uploaded what he calls the Jerry Garcia Project; every JGB show played during a specific year. I highly recommend grabbing the 1995 shows, if for no other reason to hear a memento of what Jerry was still capable of towards his end. It was a true revolation for me to hear these. In any case, the Jerry Garcia Project is a extravagance of riches for any Garcia lover; whether your into 1983 or 1990. Grab them while you still can here!!

30 Rock

I admittedly do not watch much TV. As a music geek, I always feel I'd rather be listening to tunes instead of committing time to television. But every once in a while a show comes along that just hooks me in. Good TV can be great (Twin Peeks, The Wire, Cheers, Six Feet Under, Freaks and Geeks, The Sopranos, Lost) and bad TV makes me want to throw my television out a window. Because of this, I usually don't get into a show until after it's been on for a while.

I was in my local library a few weeks ago and came across the DVD set of "30 Rock"-Season 1. I'd read good reviews and loved Tina Fey on SNL's Weekend Update so I though I'd give it a shot. I am SO glad I did. "30 Rock" is like a comedy show from heaven. For those who don't know, "30 Rock" is a fictional behind the scenes look at a weekly NBC comedy series. Tina Fey plays the witty producer (Liz Lemmon), Tracy Morgan plays the shows star (Tracy Jorden), and the absolutely hilarious Alex Baldwin plays NBC "Head of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming" (Jack Donaghy).

The show works so well for me because
A. It's smart
B. It's hilarious
C. Plot lines follow from week to week
4. It has some of the best ensemble acting I have ever seen in a comedy.

Tina Fey has to be the most talented comedy writer/actor working on TV and Alex Baldwin steals every single seen he is in. His character will go down in history as one of television's all time greats. Two of his character's big TV show ideas included a 3 Hour "Salute to Fireworks" (in which the entire city of New York thought they were under a terrorist attack) and "Milf Island".

Do yourself a favor and check out the show if you've missed it. Season 3 has just started but you can watch Season 1 and 2 over at Netfix. You can also watch all of Season 2 at the amazing legal streaming site known as Huku.

R.I.P. Danny Federici

A very sad day today on E-Street. Longtime E-Street Band instrumentalist Danny Federici has passed away after a three-year battle with melanoma. Danny had played with Springsteen in one form or another for 40 years. Bruce has cancelled his next two concerts and I can imagine the band is just devistated.

In Danny's honer, here is a classic 1975 video of him tickling the accordinan on "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)". He will be missed....

A Quick One!

My video of the week is one of my favorite covers of all time; My Morning Jacket with Eddie Vedder nailing The Who's mini-opera "A Quick One (While He's Away). Pete, Keith, John, and Roger would be very proud.

Part One


Part Two

Bruce Springsteen with Guests = Awesome!!

It's been about a month since I've had any Springsteen content so here you go. Two killer new videos from the ongoing "Magic" tour. The first is of Bruce with guest guitarist/activist Tom Morello blistering through a tour premiere of "Ghost of Tom Joad" from Anaheim, CA. If this doesn't give you chills, you have no soul.

The second video is Bruce joined by friend Alejandro Escovedo in Dallas to sing Alejandro's new tune "Always a Friend to You". The amazing thing is this song isn't even released yet. It will be on Alejandro's forthcoming disc. This one is worth it just to see Bruce having so much fun.