July 2010 Archives

Miles Davis
Live At The 1963 Monterey Jazz Festival

This previously unissued Monterey Jazz Festival set captures Miles Davis in transition. Davis' relatively new quintet (Herbie Hancock, George Coleman, Ron Carter and Tony Williams) plays material that defined his work with his previous group (which featured John Coltrane). Miles and Co. torque up "So What" considerably and deconstruct the standard "Stella by Starlight." Coleman would soon be replaced by saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and the next critical phase of Davis' musical journey would truly begin. — Nick Dedina

What is the Latin Alternative Music Conference? It's the only gathering in the world dedicated solely to Latino artists who are making hip-hop, electronic music and indie rock, and it's happening in New York City between from July 6 through July 10. LAMC turns 11 years old this year — here's to staving off the adolescent blues with good music — and it's bringing an absolute boatload of excellent shows to New York City this week.

If you'll be in the area, we've got a guide to all the buzz-worthy shows. If you have to sit at home, moping about all the fun you're missing, we've got a playlist to get you up to date on what Latin alt bands are doing right now.

Dig in, and don't forget — all this music and more is available when you join the elite club of Rhapsody subscribers. Why not sign up for a free trial?

Tuesday, July 6
Apple In-Store with Ana Tijoux @ 7 p.m.
We've already waxed rhapsodic (excuse the pun) about Ms. Tijoux. French-Chilean rappers = extremely good. We love her latest album, we love her lyricism, we love her old-school style. Hit this, even if it's hosted by the evil empire.

Madlib
Yesterday’s Universe: Prepare for a new yesterday Vol 1

Madlib rarely records under the same name twice and here he takes this schizophrenic approach to a new level, dividing himself into 15 jazz acts (each with their own style) for a set that is as scattered and brilliant as the man himself. The album moves from the smooth West Coast cool of "Umoja (Unity)" to the free jazz, Sun Ra-inspired freak-out of "Slave Riot," and eventually lands in Axelrod's backyard for the dramatic "Cold Nights and Rainy Days." Guest spots from Azymuth drummer Mamao and frequent Dilla collaborator Karriem Riggins ensure the integrity of the groove. — Sam Chennault

On the Record is a video series where rock stars gush about their favorite records -- in exactly 45 seconds. Click above to watch John Hiatt talk about his favorite album of all time. Rhapsody subscribers can listen to The Open Road and millions of other albums whenever and however they want. Click here to sign up for a free Rhapsody trial subscription and see what we're all about.

ARTIST: John Hiatt RECORD: Blonde on Blonde

---

More videos you might like:.

We are just over two weeks into the summer, and the charts are getting hot, hot, hot — they're jam-packed with new singles. The last couple weeks in particular have seen an influx of new material from hip-hop and R&B artists, some of whom are very interested in capturing the season's sunny, carefree mood and some of whom ... aren't (we're looking at you, Eminem!). This edition of single-phile breaks down the latest from the likes of Kelly Rowland, Kelis and Flo Rida, complete with a Corresponding Summer Activity for each tune!.

You're forgiven for believing that Big Boi's debut album, Sir Lucious Left Foot ... The Son of Chico Dusty, would never be released. Since Big Boi announced the project in late 2006, it has endured numerous recording sessions, several failed teaser singles, and even a label switch, from Jive (onetime home of Outkast) to Def Jam. In retrospect, four years doesn't seem like a long wait, especially when judged against a graveyard of shelved, infinitely delayed and/or simply lost rap epics, from Dr. Dre's decade-in-the-making Detox to Black Star's rumored second album.

Sir Lucious Left Foot is symptomatic of the Dungeon Family these days: embattled, perhaps a far cry from its glory years, yet resolute. The famed collective — once centered on groundbreaking music from Outkast, Goodie Mob and production crew Organized Noize — no longer exists as a functioning unit, at least in not any real sense, beyond one-off reunions and retrospective magazine articles. Its legacy endures, however, from the triumphant debut of Janelle Monae's The ArchAndroid to Andre 3000's fanciful remake of The Beatles' "All Together Now" for a Nike commercial that aired frequently during the 2010 NBA Playoffs.

Neil Young
Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House 1968

Shakey has released some obscure treats from his early days, but Sugar Mountain is a revelation. Recorded not long after the breakup of Buffalo Springfield, here Young is a 22-year-old kid discovering himself before an intimate crowd at Ann Arbor's Canterbury House. He's a tad nervous, yet tells a ton of jokes while unveiling future classics ("Birds," "The Loner") and reworking some Springfield fare, the best of which just might be a "Mr. Soul" that's slowed down and stripped to its essentials. — Justin Farrar

Some artists or bands appear, leave us with one or two amazing records and then disappear. These acts are usually heralded because their legacy is short, sweet and perfect. It's impossible for them to let you down; they are already gone.

But an artists needs a special kind of focused talent to have an amazing career instead of just one or two amazing records. Is it better to burn out or fade away? Hey, how about neither?

Some special artists may get knocked down from time to time but they always stand back up, dust themselves off … and amaze us all over again.

Which brings me to the one and only Bruce Springsteen.

Springsteen released his debut in 1973 and became a rock god with Born to Run in 1975. If you think you know the “Springsteen sound,” listen to his first three albums of the ‘80s back to back: The River, Nebraska and Born in the U.S.A. That last one made him a true global institution.

In the 1990s, he snagged an Oscar for “Streets of Philadelphia” (which is actually more powerful then the movie it was written for) but pulled back for most of the decade, coming back strong in the 2000s after 9/11 with the unifying The Rising. He’s been going nonstop since then.

Everyone has a favorite Springsteen song; mine is “Atlantic City” from Nebraska. I am not sure why I go with that one — the man has so many acknowledged classics that his essential collection is a three-disc box set. The number gives me shivers every time I hear it and unfolds like a movie I am seeing for the first time … every single time I listen to it. The opening line, “Well, they blew up the Chicken-Man in Philly last night and blew up his house too,” is so mesmerizing and just so strange. Recently, I read the book Public Enemies, about the overwhelming crime wave that rolled through America during the Great Depression, and I realized how accurate a portrait of the times Springsteen's song remains.

Springsteen is known for writing songs about good men getting knocked down, but “Atlantic City” is about a good man who realizes he is going to die if he goes bad … and he is about to go bad anyway. The pop landscape is littered with violent boasts, but Springsteen never exploits violence. He paints a portrait of a man you want to help and protect. What a brilliant songwriter.

He can do epic like nobody else, which just makes his quiet songs all the more intimate and direct. His tunes can be sad or funny or triumphant or sexy or silly or just plain rocking.

And I haven’t even brought up Springsteen’s special bond with his audience or his legendary concert performances or the peerless E Street Band!

With the help of my fellow Rhapsody editors (special props go to Bruce fanatics Linda and Mike), I offer you essential albums from every part of Bruce Springsteen’s illustrious career.

Rhapsody had a minute backstage with Pharrell Williams and Shae Haley of N.E.R.D where they talked to us about the new album Nothing, the idea that N.E.R.D. are punk (something) and the correlation between social change and musical evolution (everything). Coup de Stereo: Summer Blockbuster Tracks By Nick Dedina July 6, 2010 11:25 AM 4 Comments | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Ever since Jaws rose from the depths to chomp on unsuspecting skinny dippers, a big part of the American summer experience is a cinematic blockbuster that the entire country can unite around. The current summer blockbusters include Toy Story 3 and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and we've seen spikes in Rhapsody search terms that reflect their success. And even a misfire like Knight & Day has Rhapsody users digging out old Hall & Oates hits. While Hollywood tries to manufacture digital effects-laden blockbusters, they can never truly tell where the next massive hit is going to come from. Take last summer, for instance: The Hangover, Julie & Julia and Inglourious Basterds were all summer smashes around the globe … and they all featured a number of groovy song selections. Here is a sampling of songs and themes from summer blockbusters, past and present. Feel free to listen to a selection of songs from each movie on this playlist. Continue reading Coup de Stereo: Summer Blockbuster Tracks. Video Q&A: John Hiatt By Lauren Tabak July 6, 2010 10:02 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Rhapsody had the pleasure of interviewing Americana heavyweight John Hiatt at this year's Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI. Watch the video above to hear John talk about songwriting, his next upcoming release and getting prank calls from Eric Clapton. Rhapsody's Album Of The Day By Rhapsody Editorial July 6, 2010 9:52 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Newsboys Born Again Newsboys' 14th studio album, Born Again, marks a new beginning for the Grammy-nominated, Dove-winning band. It's the first recorded with frontman Michael Tait (dc Talk, Tait) and features a wonderfully rejuvenated sound. Produced by The Write Brothers and Mark Heimermann (dc Talk, TobyMac, Michael W. Smith), the album is jam-packed with energetic rock made for live performances. Auditory treats include the funky "When the Boys Light Up" and the redemptive "Build Us Back." Also listen for a cover of "Jesus Freak" and, on the deluxe version, the Tait version of "Glorious." — Wendy Lee Nentwig Extra! Extra! Newsboys Through the Years By Wendy Lee Nentwig July 6, 2010 8:49 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks To celebrate the release of Newsboys' 15th studio project, Born Again, we thought we'd take a look back at the Aussie band's storied history. During their quarter-century in existence they've sold more than 6.5 million units, recorded five gold albums, had 21 No. 1 songs, earned multiple Grammy nominations and Dove wins, performed jaw-dropping stage shows, launched their own label and tour, and experimented with multiple lineup changes. Through it all, they've made music that continues to light up the Christian charts and keep the faithful singing along. The current lineup features a foursome — Michael Tait, Jeff Frankenstein, Duncan Phillips and Jody Davis — and Born Again is Tait's first studio project with the band. Not that he's a newbie. Any Christian music fan knows him from his days in the groundbreaking group DC Talk and his own band Tait. Of course, there are plenty of other names that have been associated with Newsboys through the years. Continue reading Extra! Extra! Newsboys Through the Years. Rhapsody's Album Of The Day By Rhapsody Editorial July 5, 2010 9:57 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Talking Heads Remain In Light Many forward-thinking releases are so unique it takes years for audiences to catch up with them. A weird thing happened with this 1980 Talking Heads classic -- nobody had ever heard anything quite like Remain In Light yet the masses immediately loved it. An amazing best-selling mix of African and funk rhythms, urban paranoia, new wave rock, intellect and heart, songs such as "Once In A Lifetime," "Houses In Motion," "Born Under Punches," "The Great Curve" and every other cut here has not aged a nanosecond. How on fire were the Talking Heads during this era? They crafted "The Overload" after reading about what Joy Division sounded like in a music magazine! — Nick Dedina Rhapsody's Album Of The Day By Rhapsody Editorial July 4, 2010 9:47 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks The Holmes Brothers Feed My Soul The Holmes Brothers have put out a sublime batch of albums over 20 years, and Feed My Soul gets their third decade started in style. This time out, the Brothers have a tough blues-rock sound behind them, though the slower numbers sometimes pack the most muscle and punch. With songs like "Fair Weather Friend," "Rounding Third" and the title track, this set can give comfort to even the weariest of souls. Hats off to producer Joan Osborne's backing vocals and the "live-in-the-studio" sound. Here's hoping the Holmes Brothers continue to help us all heal for years to come. — Nick Dedina Rhapsody's Album Of The Day By Rhapsody Editorial July 3, 2010 11:16 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Dolly Parton Dolly: Live From London On Live in London, Dolly Parton effortlessly runs through longtime classics such as "9 to 5," "Here You Come Again" and "Jolene," and sounds as enthusiastic as she did when they first hit the charts. It's pleasantly surprising how newer songs -- "Better Get to Livin'," the stunning "Only Dreamin'" and the hilarious "Jesus and Gravity" -- sit so well alongside her decades-old classics, a true testament to Parton's strong and seamless songwriting. Musically speaking, this is a solid live album, but the cute banter between Dolly and her enraptured audience is an added bonus. — Linda Ryan Summerfest Day Three: Classic Rock Crate Digger By Justin Farrar July 3, 2010 7:42 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Ah, day three of Team Rhapsody's intrepid sojourn into the bowls of Summerfest, the largest music festival in our wondrous solar system. This is our final stand -- the last hurrah. Friday is the busiest day yet, no question about it. A ton of patriotic Americans, more than primed for the three-day weekend, have obviously ditched the 9-to-5 slave trade in favor of wandering Henry Maier Festival Park for the next 10 hours. As our routine now dictated, we kicked-off our early afternoon schedule with an interview: Christian metalcore missionaries The Devil Wears Prada, who headlined the CoolTV Rock Stage. Fun stuff for sure -- they're young and sassy and talkative. Hold on a second; did I mention young? The band and just about everyone in their entourage looked as if they required permission slips from their parents to tour the country without a chaperone watching their every move. By the way, if any TDWP fans are reading this, lookout for a special EP release in the very near future. Hopefully, we'll be adding it to Rhapsody's catalog as soon as it comes out. While chatting about Mike Hranica's now-defunct grind project xGUMBYx, I heard a low, ominous grumble. I initially assumed it was Hranica shifting into his cookie-monster growl, some kind of pre-show ritual, possibly. But it was actually my stomach. A massive VACANCY sign was plastered across it. After parting ways with Hranica and his vocal foil Jeremy DePoyster around 2:30, I scoured the festival grounds for the ultimate in Summerfest cuisine, which is basically [insert food] dipped in fried grease. The Crate Digger's poor, little tummy wasn't totally prepared for this; despite my love of the heavy jams and hard rock, I'm an organic-loving wussy when it comes to food. (Yes, this means I often crank Thin Lizzy's Fighting album while sipping a warm cup of green tea.) Nevertheless, I felt a weird compulsion to do a Charles Kuralt-inspired "slice of American life" tour of the concession stands in order to discover what unique culinary treats the fine people of Milwaukee enjoy devouring. So, without further ado, here are three dishes that totally scream SUMMERFEST! Continue reading Summerfest Day Three: Classic Rock Crate Digger. Summerfest Day Three: The Ethos of Summerfest By Rachel Devitt July 3, 2010 4:20 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Day Three in the trenches and conditions are brutal. We have been reduced to subsisting only on various wursts and copious amounts of funnel cake, with only $6 cups of MGD Lite to wash it down. An army of cover bands lies in wait, ready to assault us with a barrage of pitch-perfect, genre-hopping tributes (as I write this, for instance, Cerfus Project is bombarding me with the Who's "Baba O' Riley" in an attempt to trick me into thinking theirs is friendly fire, but I'm not falling for it! I'm onto you, Cerfus! I'm staying in the air conditioned media trailer until I have to make a run through the huddled, drunken masses to the American Idols! headliner show in thirty minutes!). I am sunburned, my dogs are barking and the number of times I have heard a cover of Sublime's "Santeria" is now up to four -- from as many different bands (Milwaukee=the SoCal of the Midwest?!). The outlook is grim, people. We may not make it. Tell my wife I love her very much (she knoooows! And the cover band goes, doo-do-do-do-do-do-dodo.) But our "struggle" has not been for naught. First and foremost, we have seen some damn fine shows. Just from a pop perspective (see the Crate Digger's post for the more rock and roll highlights), the highlights from today alone included: catching the American Idols tour on the mainstage with a bunch of excited kiddoes (onstage and off); hearing the Bravery perform "Ours," their song off the Twilight soundtrack, for the first time ever live; and getting the opportunity to hang out with Pharrell Williams and Shay Haley of N.E.R.D. in their dressing room at the Miller Lite stage just before they headed out to perform. But most of all, we may have very well cracked the code of the Big Gig -- the reasons behind its overwhelming popularity among both bands and fest-goers, the things that make it tick and, of course, the parts of it that just stink. So, here, in no particular order, we present the, uh, carefully researched and laboriously obtained tenets of the Summerfest Ethos (with particular attention to its Pop Philosophy), complete with nuggets from today's fest: Continue reading Summerfest Day Three: The Ethos of Summerfest. Video Q&A: Wes Scantlin - Puddle of Mudd By Lauren Tabak July 2, 2010 6:05 PM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks We spent a few minutes here at Summerfest on the tour bus with Wes Scantlin of Puddle of Mudd where he shared his thoughts on Joan Jett, Jim “Dandy” Mangrum's spandex pants and sausage eating contests. Rock on! Summerfest 2010 Photo Gallery - Day 3 By Lauren Tabak July 2, 2010 2:00 PM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Jeremy DePoyster and Mike Hranica of The Devil Wears Prada backstage at Summerfest 2010. Nappy Roots - Big V x Michael Jackson By Lauren Tabak July 2, 2010 1:13 PM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks On the Record is a video series where rock stars gush about their favorite records -- in exactly 45 seconds. Click above to watch Big V of Nappy Roots talk about his favorite album of all time. Rhapsody subscribers can listen to The Pursuit of Nappyness and millions of other albums whenever and however they want. Click here to sign up for a free Rhapsody trial subscription and see what we're all about. ARTIST: Nappy Roots RECORD: Bad More videos you might like:. Jay Z On the Record 8 Ball On the Record Black Milk On the Record Sean Price On the Record O.A.R x Pearl Jam By Lauren Tabak July 2, 2010 10:57 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks On the Record is a video series where rock stars gush about their favorite records -- in exactly 45 seconds. Click above to watch Marc Roberge and Chris Culos of O.A.R. talk about their favorite album of all time. Rhapsody subscribers can listen to Rain or Shine and millions of other albums whenever and however they want. Click here to sign up for a free Rhapsody trial subscription and see what we're all about. ARTIST: O.A.R. Record: Ten More videos you might like:. The Avett Bros On the Record La Roux On the Record Alice in Chains On the Record Rob Thomas On the Record Concentric Pleasures: Summertime House and Disco By Philip Sherburne July 2, 2010 10:29 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Dance music isn't immune to photosynthesis; club culture itself follows a kind of annual rhythm. Every year, the summertime months give rise to an explosion of anthems, vocal tracks, Latin instrumentation and "Balearic" classics, so termed for their invocation of a mythical golden age on Ibiza. Sure, it's kind of a cliché. But I'm not going to pretend I'm immune, either. If you're going to dance all night on a beach somewhere — something I don't do as often as I'd like, admittedly — you'd rather hear something uplifting. Even in Berlin, where I live, DJs rearrange their crates come June or July, setting aside wintry whoomp-whoomp-whoomp in favor of slower, sultrier tunes. (Then again, it might actually be easier to dance outdoors in Berlin than it is in many Mediterranean cities, given the number of riverside bars, clubs with walled-in gardens, and open-air parties in public parks — the city's reward for surviving yet another winter here.) Continue reading Concentric Pleasures: Summertime House and Disco. Rhapsody's Album Of The Day By Rhapsody Editorial July 2, 2010 10:12 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Bad Reputation Joan Jett, a pre-punk stalwart from the Runaways, got key members of the Ramones, Blondie and the Sex Pistols to join her on her 1981 solo debut. Jett's signature style is all here -- a mix of glam-era glitter drum and guitar riff stomp, N.Y.C. retro garage rock and driving punk. The title track and her cover of Gary Glitter's "Do You Wanna Touch Me" got more FM radio play than expected; making her record company put some real support behind her next release. Two decades later, "Bad Reputation" was used as the theme song to the TV cult classic Freaks & Geeks. This remastered edition is loaded with bonus cuts. — Nick Dedina Summerfest 2010 Photo Gallery - O.A.R. By Lauren Tabak July 2, 2010 7:45 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks O.A.R. performing live at Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI. Continue reading Summerfest 2010 Photo Gallery - O.A.R.. Summerfest Day Two: The (Nappy) Roots and B-52s By Rachel Devitt July 2, 2010 1:53 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Day two at the Big Gig (day eight of the whole fest) and we're getting into the groove. And that's not a phrase your resident poptimist uses lightly! After slogging through a gazillion post-grungers and jam banders (then reveling in the superstardom that was Usher!) yesterday, pop fans have been rewarded today with a rather exhilarating lineup that spans retro funk-&-B (Cameo), camptastic alt-pop (the B-52s!!!) and the Roots! OK, we're still not reaching Gaga-esque proportions here, but that's the point: Summerfest appears to have an interesting definition of pop and we're attempting to pull it apart. For now, however, let's focus on the day's pop highlights, which were many and varied: Continue reading Summerfest Day Two: The (Nappy) Roots and B-52s. Summerfest Day Two: Classic Rock Crate Digger By Justin Farrar July 1, 2010 11:18 PM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Thursday started off in spectacular fashion, if I do say so myself: blazing yellow sun, clear blue skies and talking Thin Lizzy with Craig Finn, whose band The Hold Steady was running through a morning soundcheck at the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage in preparation of their 10 p.m. performance. Actually, during our interview we talked about several bands near and dear to our classic-rock loving, uh, butts, including early Scorpions and the mighty UFO. But we really dug into Thin Lizzy. I told Finn -- who is a super-swell dude, as well as a top-shelf record nerd -- that I thought too many rock critics mention Springsteen when attempting to parse his influences. It's true. You can't read a review or feature that doesn't contain a reference to The Boss and how his street-rock storytelling helped shape Finn's own rock-and-roll poetics. Springsteen is definitely a defining force, but I also hear a strong Phil Lynott influence. In fact, on the new album, Heaven is Whenever, the tune "Rock Problems" contains a few key tricks (especially the twin-like guitar lines) clearly inspired by Thin Lizzy. Finn wholeheartedly agreed and was pretty stoked to be talking about one of his favorite bands. I got the feeling that he wishes more writers would cite the great Phil Lynott. Continue reading Summerfest Day Two: Classic Rock Crate Digger. Video Q&A: Craig Finn - The Hold Steady By Lauren Tabak July 1, 2010 2:41 PM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Craig Finn of The Hold Steady was kind, and boss, enough to take some time after a morning soundcheck at the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage to chat with fellow music nerd Justin Farrar (a.k.a. Rhapsody's The Classic Rock Crate Digger). Watch the video above to hear Craig's thoughts on Summerfest, The Brewers, reggae music, the genius of Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott and more. Summerfest 2010 Photo Gallery - Day 2 By Lauren Tabak July 1, 2010 10:41 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Fish Scales and Big V of Nappy Roots talking about The Pursuit of Nappyness backstage at Summerfest. Continue reading Summerfest 2010 Photo Gallery - Day 2. Rhapsody's Album Of The Day By Rhapsody Editorial July 1, 2010 9:58 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim Sinatra/Jobim: The Complete Reprise Recordings Tom Jobim's melodically (and harmonically) rich, emotionally complex songs were a natural fit for Frank Sinatra, who mines new insights from brilliant compositions like "How Insensitive," "Corcovado" and "Wave" (normally self-deprecating, Frank loved the low notes he hit on this one). Their first album (tracks 1 to 10) is essential; Jobim was so overjoyed at the results that he gave the solitary Sinatra a big hug. Their second meeting was more problematic but still offers many riches, including a luxurious "Bonita," which was aimed at Candice Bergen, the bossa nova master's secret squeeze. A career highlight for both artists. — Nick Dedina Summerfest Day One: Classic Rock Crate Digger By Justin Farrar July 1, 2010 1:13 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Sclemeel, Schlemazel, Hasenfeffer Incorporated. We’re gonna do it, people: the Classic Rock Crate Digger, along with the rest of Team Rhapsody, is here in Milwaukee attending the all mighty Summerfest. Now, there might be music festivals out there with more hipster cache or street cred as they say, but none are bigger, or longer, than the “Big Gig,” as it has come to be known through the decades. Summerfest is, according to the Guinness World Records, the largest music festival in the world. Each and every year hundreds of thousands of ready-to-party-hard concert-goers pass through the gates of Henry Maier Festival Park (a 75-acre spread tucked in between downtown Milwaukee and Lake Michigan) to catch a who’s who in rock, pop, hip-hop, R&B, country, comedy, folk and more. Surrounding the festival’s 11 stages is what amounts to a sizeable carnival: a gazillion food vendors, copious amounts of beer, family fun stuff, a market where trinkets are sold and an actual Skyglider that runs the length of the park. So yeah, this sucker is no joke. Continue reading Summerfest Day One: Classic Rock Crate Digger. Summerfest 2010 Photo Gallery: Umphrey's McGee By Justin Farrar July 1, 2010 12:25 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Bass player Ryan Stasik, guitarist/singer Brendan Bayliss and the rest of Umphrey’s McGee get their jam-on at Summerfest 2010 in Milwaukee. Continue reading Summerfest 2010 Photo Gallery: Umphrey's McGee. Summerfest Day One: Usher, Cheese Fries and the Poptimist's Perspective By Rachel Devitt July 1, 2010 12:01 AM | PERMALINK | No TrackBacks Ah, Summerfest. A wonderland of cheese fries, overpriced Miller products and classic rock jam sessions. At least at first glance. Rhapsody's here in Milwaukee, hanging out at the massive, annual festival, an 11-day extravaganza featuring more than 800 bands. Our own Classic Rock Crate Digger, Justin Farrar, is spearheading the Summerfest coverage, and quite frankly, it seems to be very much his territory. Over the course of day one, we chatted up excited Moody Blues fans (everyone's favorite "Nights in White Satin" played tonight), interviewed Puddle of Mudd and got lost in one of Umphrey's McGee's epic grooves. But hold onto your favorite Gaga t-shirt, pop fans: there's a place for us here, too. In fact, Summerfest has quite a lot of spaces for fans of pop (not to mention just about everything else). My goal over the next few days is threefold: One, I want to dig out the pop nooks and crannies in the Crate Digger's coverage. Two, I want to see if we can find common ground between the rockers and the popsters. And three, I want to try to figure out what makes the World's Largest Music Festival -- the "Big Gig," as it's known -- just so big and so well-attended year after year. Oh yeah, and I want to eat some cheese fries. Like, a lot of them. Let's start with the pop fare. Summerfest's range varies widely. The headliner for the entire festival is Tim McGraw -- and then the country coverage all but drops off until July 4, when Carrie Underwood takes the stage. Tomorrow features a bunch of good hip-hop. And today, tucked into a day that seemed to be overrun with jam bands and post-grunge outfits, was none other than Usher. That's right: the R&B singer known for his fly dance moves, impeccable style and ability to make the ladies say "Yeah!" rocked Milwaukee's Marcus Amphitheatre tonight. And oh, what a show. Opener Lyfe Jennings managed to get the crowd both warmed up and in a thoughtful mood, performing new material from his upcoming album like "Statistics" (which encourages women not to fall into the booty call trap) and older faves like "S.E.X." Then Mr. Raymond took the stage. Continue reading Summerfest Day One: Usher, Cheese Fries and the Poptimist's Perspective. « June 2010 | Main Index | Archives | August 2010 » Rhapsody's Album Guides The As, Bs and Kilos of Coke Rap Mafioso rap, crack rap, even gangsta rap: the coke...More Coup De Stereo: Truly Epic Rock Epics One of the joys of music is getting lost...More The Best of BRUUUUCCCCE!!!!!!!!!! Some artists or bands appear, leave us with one...More Monthly Archives Select One... December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 Categories Select One... 2010 VMA 2010 VMA Artist Interviews 2010 VMA OTRs Acura Adele Air Force Air Force On the Record Album Guide Album of the Day Alt/Indie/Punk Alternative Amstel Amy Winehouse Austin2011 Awards Bandmating Best of 2007 Best of 2008 Best of 2010 Best of the Decade Beyonce Blackberry Blues Bon Iver Britney Spears Cheat Sheet Children's Christian/Gospel Christmas Chuck Eddy Chuck Eddy's Chuck It All In Classic Rock Crate Digger Classical Coachella 2010 Coachella 2011 Coachella2011 Comedy Concentric Pleasures Country Country Corral Country Strong Coup de Stereo Dance Diary Dig This! Disco Dispatches Drake Drunk Dialing Earth, Wind & Fire Electronic Eminem Fallen Through The Cracks Featured Festivals Field Trip Folk Foo Fighters Frank's World Friday Mixtape Funk Garrett Kamps Gloriana Green Day Guide Halloween Hip-Hop Hip-Hop's 100 Non-Essential Tracks Holiday HTC Indie Interview Jack Johnson James Blake Jason Aldean Jazz Jen Guyre John Mayer Justin Farrar Katy Perry Lady Gaga Latin Lauren Tabak Leak Lil Wayne Linda Ryan Listening Party Live LMFAO Lollapalooza 2010 Lollapalooza 2011 Marc Music Marley Lovell Metal Michael Jackson Mike McGuirk Mosi Reeves Motorola MSN Nate Cavalieri Neil Strauss New Age News Nick Dedina Nick's Picks Nicki Minaj Nine Inch Nails Oldies On the Record Outside Lands Philip Sherburne Photos Photos Photos Pitbull Playlist Pop Premieres and Exclusives Producers Corner Product/Marketing productnews Punk Q&A QA QA R&B R.I.P. Rachel Devitt Radio Rap Is Not Pop Rap/Hip-Hop Recap Reggae Rhapsody 5 Rhapsody by the Numbers Rhapsody Exclusives Rhapsody MP3 Discounts Rhapsody Radar Rhapsody Reviews Rhapsody Rocks Rhapsody TV Rhapsody's Song of the Day Rhapsody.com New Features RhapsodyRocks Rob Harvilla Rob Thomas Rock Rock Star Guide to the Galaxy Rock the Bells Roundup Sam Chennault Sarah Bardeen Senior Year Singer-Songwriter single-phile Soul/R&B Soundcheck Soundtracks soundtreks Source Material South Park Sessions Sparks Speakeasy Spoken Word Sponsors Stephanie Benson Steven Curtis Chapman Summer SXSW Team The Box vs... Tim Quirk TV on the Radio ubykotex Weird Music Wendy Lee Nentwig World Music Zac Brown Band Subscribe to this blog's feed Recent Entries Neutral Milk Hotel, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea Melody Gardot, My One And Only Thrill "Weird Al" Yankovic, The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic Classic Rock Crate Digger: Prog's Red-Headed Stepchild ... Krautrock The Sweet By and By Rap Is Not Pop: Slum Village's Detroit Connection Die Antwoord: But What Was the Question? Single-phile: Dark Horses and Up-and-Comers Aretha Franklin, I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You New Indie Releases Portions of album content provided by All Music Guide © 2011 All Media Guide, LLC ® 1999-2011 Rhapsody International Inc. Rhapsody is a trademark of Rhapsody International Inc. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners.