Booker T. in the Studio and Playboy

2009-05-20T10:48:00.003-04:00

Booker is the subject of a feature profile in the June 2009 issue of Playboy magazine, on newsstands and behind convenience-store counters now. Written by Robert Gordon, the music historian and author of the book It Came From Memphis, the piece finds Booker reflecting on his life, career and new album, Potato Hole.

Of the new album, Gordon writes: "Potato Hole is as funky as most anything he has done, and as soulful, but the mass of rocking guitars is new territory and thrilling"

After recording the acclaimed album with the snarling guitars of Neil Young and Drive-By Truckers, Booker T. has assembled his own band of crack musicians for his upcoming tour dates through 2010. The guys assembled in a remote studio to rehearse, and Spookie Films was there with an HD camera or two. The video was synched to a multi-tracked recording of the rehearsal session, and you can check out the result below.

Stock Tip: Booker T. in WSJ

2009-05-07T11:36:00.002-04:00

Wall Street Journal rock and pop music critic Jim Fusilli interviewed Booker at the Coachella Music Festival in April and combined the interview with his review of Booker's new album Potato Hole (ANTI-), which was released April 21, 2009 and is currently #135 on the SoundScan Top 200 albums.

Fusilli writes: "But on most [of Potato Hole's]tunes, out of the organized chaos comes Mr. Jones's Hammond B-3 organ, a rich, distinctive instrumental voice and a bedrock of American soul music."

You can read the full piece here.

CNN Coverage of Trombone Shorty

2009-04-29T11:40:00.003-04:00

Trombone Shorty played Friday April 24, 2009 at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and CNN's cameras were there to cover the show, which also streamed live on AT&T Music's site. Blasting away on the Gentilly Stage immediately prior the day's last act, Texas indie rockers Spoon, Jazzfest poster boy Troy Andrews and his band held the capacity crowd in thrall.

Check out CNN's conversation with Troy here, and watch the quick shots of Shorty playing Jazzfest CNN aired starting around the 2:20 mark of the video below.

'Native New Yorker' Premiering Now

2009-03-30T16:27:00.002-04:00

The lead track from Booker T.'s forthcoming solo record is exclusively premiering now on The Huffington Post, along with Booker's commentary about air guitar and recording with Neil Young.

Potato Hole (ANTI-), Booker's first solo record in twenty years, drops April 21, 2009, days after he plays Coachella with the Drive By Truckers.

Mavis, Booker Sampler Tracks for Free

2009-03-25T16:28:00.005-04:00

You can check out the track 'Warped Sister' from Potato Hole, Booker T's first solo album in 20 years, for free right now on ANTI's 2009 Label Sampler. Also included is a track from Mavis Staples' landmark live record, November 2008's Mavis Staples Live: Hope at the Hideout, as well as tracks by Neko Case, Jolie Holland and Bob Mould.

Meanwhile keep an eye out for new North American and European tour dates for Booker T. with his all-new, all-rock, two-guitar, four-piece backing band.

GZA, No Age, Vegans to Judge Holy Hail @ SxSW

2009-03-09T14:20:00.004-04:00

Holy Hail is one of eight bands selected to rumble in The Dickie's Upstart Battle of the Bands, to be held outdoors on Friday, March 20, 2009 at The Compound (1300 East 4th Street between Attayac and Navasota Street) in Austin, TX from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. The winner of the Battle will be named after input from judges GZA, No Age and Brooklyn Vegan (in conjunction with audience response) and will win $10,000.

Admission is 21+ and free; for VIP entry to the Dickies Battle, please email your name and affiliation to: battle@dickiesupstart.com.

Holy Hail is also showcasing on the SESAC showcase at midnight on Wednesday March 18, Volume, 614 E 6th St (image).

RMB Featured Artist on Sun Studio Sessions

2009-02-25T10:58:00.006-05:00

It took over a year to surface, but the Ryan Montbleau Band's 2008 peformance of Honeymoon Eyes at Memphis's legendary Sun Studios (the hallowed ground where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis helped define rock and roll) is online now at Sun Studio Sessions.

Check it out:

The Sun Studio Sessions are also aired on a national PBS station feed, currently hitting 50+ markets around the country. Previously featured Sun Studio artists include Grace Potter, Amy Lavere and Backyard Tire Fire.

Ryan Montbleau Band Joins 525 Roster

2009-02-17T12:01:00.015-05:00

525 Worldwide is excited to announce the addition of the Ryan Montbleau Band to its artist management roster.

Ryan Montbleau's songs reveal the eye of a novelist and the lyricism of a poet. Having begun his career playing small New England venues as a solo artist with an infectious, percussive guitar style and soul-fired vocals, Ryan has evolved into the front man for the Ryan Montbleau Band, which spins a tapestry of folk, Americana, r&b, country, gypsy jazz and psychedelia. The band is powered by Matt Gianarros (acoustic upright bass, electric bass, vocals), Laurence Scudder (viola, vocals), Jason Cohen (keys) and James Cohen (drums).

Click the player to listen to 'Maybe Today' from the band's most recent self-release, 2007's Patience on Friday.

Closing out 2008 with two back-to-back sold out nights at Boston's Paradise Rock Club, the band is poised to export that success to other markets. Over the last five years, the band has kept up a blistering pace of over 200 shows a year. Playing from coast-to-coast, in Canada and through the Caribbean, they've built a dedicated fanbase along the way--the band's Top 6 Achive.org live recordings have been downloaded over 100,000 times and they've streamed over 1 million song plays from their MySpace page. When the band's first group album One Fine Color was self-released in 2006, the CD quickly sold 10,000 copies.

The band is shooting to get back into the studio in 2009 to record the follow-up to Patience--it's just a matter of finding the time. "My touring’s not going to slow down any time soon," vows Montbleau. "My favorite thing in the world is looking out from the stage and seeing smiling faces."

Click here to read a recent show preview that appeared in The Washington Post in advance of the band's sold-out Iota show in January, one night before their sold-out World Cafe Live show in Philadelphia.

Booker T.'s Warped Sister Up On Pitchfork

2009-02-04T13:37:00.007-05:00

Give a listen to a track from Potato Hole, Booker's first solo record in two decades on Pitchfork--click here for their exclusive stream, on which Booker is rocking with the Drive-By Truckers and Neil Young.

As Steven A. Deusner puts it: "Despite the high-profile support players, Booker T. clearly takes the lead, opening with gigantic chords before coaxing out a surprisingly catchy melody from his organ. He gets so much texture and nuance out of his instrument that it sounds like it's actually forming words."

Potato Hole (ANTI- Records) will be available April 21, the same week Booker and the Truckers (as Booker T. and the DBT's) play an Acura Stage set at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The group's Jazzfest date is preceded by three dates in Australia and an April 18 set at Coachella, and followed by an appearance at Bonnaroo the weekend of June 11 to 14, 2009.

Booker T in USA Today & Potato Hole Announced

2009-01-16T11:38:00.006-05:00

Click here to check out the USA Today preview on Booker T.'s new record, Potato Hole, out April 21, 2009 on ANTI- Records.

The official word:

TRAILBLAZING SOUL MAN BOOKER T WRITES MOST AUDACIOUS CHAPTER OF HIS CAREER WITH ANTI- RECORDS DEBUT ‘POTATO HOLE,’ SET FOR APRIL 21 RELEASE

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAMER IS BACKED BY DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS AND NEIL YOUNG ON FIRST SOLO ALBUM IN TWENTY YEARS

JAZZFEST PERFORMANCE CONFIRMED WITH OTHER FESTIVAL DATES FORTHCOMING

With Booker T. and the MGs he led one of the first-ever integrated groups to soul immortality. As a producer, he has helmed sessions for million sellers. On April 21st, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Booker T will write the boldest, most dramatic chapter of his fifty year career with the release of his searing new album Potato Hole, on Anti- Records.

With backing from the Drive-By Truckers (at left) and guitar contributions from Neil Young on nine of the album’s ten tracks, Potato Hole is the rawest, funkiest music Booker T has recorded since his archetypal hit ‘Green Onions.’ Booker T plays organ, acoustic and electric guitar on Potato Hole and wrote seven of the album’s songs. Potato Hole was recorded last fall in Georgia and California and produced by Booker T and Rob Schnapf.

Booker T will tour extensively in support of Potato Hole. An April 24 Jazzfest performance with the Drive-By Truckers has already been confirmed, with other festival dates to be announced soon.

Booker T was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 with his group The MGs. In 2007 he earned a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His production credits include Bill Withers’ debut album Just As I Am, and Willie Nelson’s Stardust.

For more info and press tool, visit: http://www.shorefire.com/clients/bookert

Rolling Stone Lists Mavis Among 100 Greatest Singers

2008-11-13T17:36:00.002-05:00

Rolling Stone has released an issue focusing on the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, and Mavis clocks in at no. 56 on the list.

The magazine compiled a blue-ribbon panel of musical experts who voted, including Mavis herself. Select ballots appear on RollingStone.com, and voters from Keith Richards to Courtney Love to Billy Gibbons to Roger McGuinn listed Mavis on their ballots.

In the same issue, Booker T. Jones writes a great essay recalling his memories of the no. 8 singer on the list, Otis Redding.

Independent Pleasure Club Out Now

2008-11-11T23:11:00.000-05:00

Holy Hail's debut record hits stores today (Kanine Records). Its blistering lead track 'Elemental' is part of MTV2's 'Subterranean' podcast, along with tracks by Paper Route, Wolf Parade and Iran.

The quick CMJ review: "While Holy Hail's multitrack harmonies and diverse make-up may solicit comparisons to contemporaries Black Kids, they are hardly the type to jump on a bandwagon. From the band's 2005 inception they've been determined to "put lyrical potency back into pop music," and their debut album is proof." Full review (as .jpg) here.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue and Amanda Shaw Join 525 roster

2008-11-06T12:00:00.002-05:00

525 Worldwide is extremely pleased to welcome Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue and Amanda Shaw to its management roster.

Trombone Shorty comes to 525 as client co-managed by The Rosebud Agency. Shorty has been called "a rock star" by the NY Times and he has performed and toured with Lenny Kravitz, U2 and Green Day among many others. At the recent Voodoo Festival in New Orleans, Juvenile sat in with the band and Louisiana Weekly wrote about the performance "To put it simply, Andrews, who has always shone brightly, now definitely displays all the makings of a superstar." TS and OA will be recording this winter and they are touring with JJ Greay & MOFRO this month.

18 year old New Orleans-based singer, songwriter and fiddler Amanda Shaw is a rising star among New Orleans roots musicians. The Boston Globe wrote that Amanda "is poised to break out as a refreshingly earthy alternative in a scene littered with cookie-cutter teen dreams." Amanda is working on her upcoming record, which will be released in 2009.

Mavis' Hope Rewarded

2008-11-04T23:28:00.005-05:00

Mavis Staples's first-ever live album, Mavis Staples Live: Hope at the Hideout was released today. Recorded in Chicago in June, when Mavis was 68 years old and the presidential race was just beginning in earnest, the album captures a lifetime of hope, heartache and musical joy that might be said to have culminated in the election of an African-American as leader of the free world.

Now that fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama has been elected President of the United States, Mavis reflects: "To come up in a time when there was racism, the KKK, and Jim Crow, I'm just so grateful to still be here to enjoy this historical time in our lives. It is so surreal, so completely overwhelming. This young black man has inspired and brought the country together. There's something about him that makes me feel he is the chosen one. There's something about his leadership that makes people feel calm and safe. He has inspired hopes and dreams of all people--black, white, brown or yellow. Doctor King and Pops I just know are so happy. 'The Dream' is alive."

Mavis Gets Some Hometown Love from Pitchfork

2008-10-21T23:56:00.004-04:00

Patrick Sisson wrote a great feature on Mavis and her new album Mavis Staples Live: Hope at the Hideout for Chicago's own Internet revolutionary, Pitchfork Media

The blurb goes like: "The gospel and soul legend, who recently recorded a live album at Chicago's famous Hideout, talks about the pain of singing the blues, Dr. King, and keeping on Michelle Obama's good side."

Please take a minute to read the full article here.

BigStereo Plugs Holy Hail Track

2008-09-10T11:07:00.005-04:00

Musicologist curatorium-slash-blog BigStereo has Holy Hail's 'Samo Son' remix featured today, check it out. The remix is Ghost Note's take on a track on the band's debut album Independent Pleasure Club which comes out on Kanine Records November 11th

Cool Hunter calls BigStereo "an amazingly refreshing resource site dedicated to not only bringing you the latest on the greatest but unearthing rare gems as well."

Hope at the Hideout Due Nov. 4th

2008-08-07T16:26:00.003-04:00

Truly great live albums are about capturing lightning in a bottle, that rare and perfect convergence of time, place and performance. When Mavis returned home to Chicago in June for a performance at The Hideout, Chi-Town’s renowned stronghold of alt country and purist rock and roll, it was undeniably such a moment.

Those who packed the sold-out club were blessed with a riveting musical statement as Staples, backed by her fiery three-piece band and three backup singers, put on a rousing musical tour de force. For those unable to be there in person, the show was recorded and the album, Mavis Staples Live: Hope at the Hideout, is set for release November 4th on ANTI-/Epitaph.

Acclaim for Mavis' Hideout performance:

“Anyone who was hearing this American treasure in concert for the first time learned precious lessons about where we have been and where we are today. Staples stood tall and shouted, ‘My mind is made up, my heart is fixed.’ And she smiled. She was not alone.” - Chicago Sun Times

“There are few living musicians who can lay claim to being America’s conscience, even fewer who continue to make vital music. On Monday night at The Hideout, Mavis Staples proved she’s still capable of both… Staples showed she can light a fire, agitate for change or re-energize the American songbook.” - Time Out Chicago

“While performing a 14-song set that canvassed her 52-year career, Staples sang with a voice that has long distinguished her from the R&B greats of her era and those who reach for that crown today.” - Chicago Tribune

Anders to Perform in Denver, Minneapolis During Conventions

2008-08-05T14:34:00.000-04:00

Anders will be performing with the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars (Tab Benoit, George Porter Jr., Cyril Neville, Waylon Thibodeaux, Johnny Sansone, and Johnny Vidacovich) August 24 at the Fillmore in Denver, CO and then Sept 1 at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN in a Friends of New Orleans-sponsored effort to raise money for New Orleans and remind people that the greater New Orleans area has not recovered even three years after Katrina.

Also performing will be members of the Meters, Randy Newman, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Allen Toussaint, Terence Blanchard, Henry Butler , Irma Thomas, Marva Wright, Marcia Ball and an all-star horn section.

Pic: Anders Osborne (L) and George Porter Jr. (R) with VOW.

Mercedes Flips for 'Cool Town Rock'

2008-07-25T14:51:00.005-04:00

Holy Hail's UK-charting single 'Cool Town Rock' has been tapped for use by Merceds-Benz 'Mixed Tape Vol. 6' music website. The 30 minute long Mixed Tape music magazine highlights video clips, album tips, and artist portraits, as well as a slide show in the download area. With 2.5 million users and 28 million downloads, Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape has been one of the most successful legal music download platforms in the world since its launch in 2004.

Full program is online here.

In other HH news, the band have been selected as songwriter and publisher affiliates of SESAC, the second oldest performing rights organization in the United States.

Look for details of the band's debut full length due in Fall 2008.

Pic: Holy Hail singers Cat Hartwell (L) and Kevin Cooke (R) in a still from Mirrorshade's video.

Mavis Live Recording Review on Daytrotter

2008-07-20T11:00:00.003-04:00

Daytrotter's Allison Felus has posted a heartfelt review of Mavis's recent live recording at the Hideout in Chicago at the end of June.

Allison writes, "Ms. Staples can also put on one hell of a show. Her voice rises up like the Chicago skyline—full of steel and majesty and sharp edges that let the stars know she has their number. She’s also assembled an ace band possessed of coolly controlled good taste."

Read the full post called "Mavis Staples Goes On Moving You" here.

Pic: Illustration by Ally Trigg.

Booker T. Jones Named to Musician's Hall

2008-07-08T14:44:00.000-04:00

Booker T. Jones will be honored with induction into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville as a member of Booker T. & the MG's. The group helped create the famed Memphis/Stax sound in the 1960s, playing on recordings by Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, The Staple Singers, Albert King and Rufus Thomas among many others. They were also stars in their own right with legendary hits including "Green Onions," "Time Is Tight," and "Hang'Em High."

Other 2008 inductees include the Memphis Horns, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Buddy Holly's band the Crickets, Al Kooper and producer Billy Sherrill. A formal induction ceremony will be held in October. Booker is currently writing and recording material for a new solo album as well as on the road playing tour dates with the MG's and his own band.

Booker Keys Jammy All-Star Lineups

2008-05-08T14:49:00.002-04:00

Booker T. took the stage at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden for the 7th Jammy Awards, playing a rollicking version of "Hip Hug Her" with Galactic, a soulful version of his classic "Born Under a Bad Sign" with Sharon Jones and rocking "Gold Dust Woman" with Warren Haynes, Grace Potter, Will Lee and Stanton Moore.

Read Rolling Stone's recap of the night's events.

Pic: Backstage, Booker was photographed with members of Galactic, Dougie Fresh and Chali 2NA [photo (c) 2008, courtesy Michael Weintrob]

17-Date Run Through Europe a Success for Mavis

2008-05-03T15:42:00.000-04:00

Mavis recently completed a seventeen-date run of theaters and festivals in UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Germany and Norway leaving the continent to rave reviews. The Manchester Evening News said Mavis's set there April 14 "served as a timely reminder that hers is a voice that has been vital to most of the major American music strands – gospel, folk, soul and blues – for decades and that her powerful, passionate and political music is as relevant today as it has ever been."

Dutch daily Trouw summed-up Mavis's sold-out Amsterdam show April 23 with a simple, “Mavis Staples is the true queen of soul and gospel.”

Mavis is slated to return to Europe this summer for the festival season.

Mavis Cleans Up Down Under

2008-03-15T15:33:00.004-04:00

Mavis is in the midst of a ten-date festival tour of Australia and New Zealand. Following her performance at WOMAD New Zealand, The New Zealand Herald said: "The highlight of the evening was a stirring set from gospel/soul singer Mavis Staples, beginning with a gospel-tinged swamp-blues version of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" and the gospel standard "Wade in the Water" before drifting into her historic soul hits."

For her encore, Mavis was joined onstage by Sharon Jones from soul revivalists Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings.

Pic: Mavis onstage in New Zealand backed by drummer Stephen Hodges. (c) Karim Sahai.

Be Kind, Rewind In Theaters February 22

2008-02-14T18:10:00.004-05:00

Booker T. Jones is featured on the soundtrack of Be Kind, Rewind, a new movie starring Danny Glover, Mos Def and Jack Black. The soundtrack is available now on Lakeshore Records, and also includes music from Mos Def, Jack Black, Fats Waller and Billy Preston.

Even director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) got into the act, performing on "I Ain't Got Nobody" and "Lulu's Back in Town" with Booker and MGs Steve Cropper, and Donald 'Duck' Dunn.

The soundtrack has its own MySpace page, which you can visit by clicking here.