New video and single “Legs” file under “Vermont Pop”

While most kids his age study for midterms, singer-songwriter Jer Coons studies pop. While most twenty-year-old guys attend shows to sneak drinks and hit on girls, Jer Coons watches from the back, observing the guitarist’s pedal board and the singer’s in-ear monitors (the girls then approach him – an old trick).

FREE download: “Legs” MP3

While most young people pick the music they listen to because it is trendy, Jer Coons listens asking, “What makes this popular” and “Are my songs as memorable?” Despite his idiosyncrasies, from every tweet he posts to every lyric he writes, Jer Coons is instantly familiar and engaging.

Two decades into life, it seems Jer’s studies have finally paid off. The young Vermonter will release his debut CD ‘Speak’ on September 29, 2009.

From the graceful power chords of the title track that open the album to the closing, endearing ballad “The Only Trace,” listener’s can hear Jer’s persona captured within each song. There are no “album tracks” or “filler tracks” as they all stand alone as well-executed pop songs, crafted with maturity well beyond Jer’s years.

His backing band of musicians – all Vermonters as well – keep the songs radio friendly without playing anything they can’t recreate live; a feat that many bands spend their whole career trying to achieve.

Though ‘Speak’ isn’t out until fall, the world got a little taste of Jer Coons this June. His first slick and impossibly catchy single “Legs,” was featured on the Hollister June in-store play list.

While other artists have songs that find their way into a store, most don’t get the same reaction. As the song played throughout the day in over 6,000 stores, his MySpace plays skyrocketed to over 4,500 per day with “Legs” alone getting 3,000+.

All this traffic has turned Jer into the 3rd most popular artist on MySpace from the Green Mountain State after Phish and Grace Potter. At the same time, he sold over advance 4,000 singles across the month of June on iTunes. All this is without any other promotion.

“I’ve been waiting my whole life to make this album,” Jer says with a grin. It truly shows. As his debut release, ‘Speak’ really seems twenty years in the making. The melodies, the lyrics, the production and most of all, Jer’s personality sync together perfectly to create a unique brand of Vermont pop.

To catch a glimpse into Jer’s world, check out the music video for “Legs”, filmed in various Vermont locales in hi def.

Watch “Legs” video:

Jer Coons live:

August 20, 2009 Recher Theatre w/ Colin Hay of Men at Work Towson, MD
August 21, 2009 World Cafe Live Philadelphia, PA
August 22, 2009 Hiro Ballroom New York, NY

Buy Music:

Jer Coons on amazon.com

For more information, go to:

MySpace
YouTube Channel
Jer Coons on Twitter
Jer Coons Official Website

Phish will extend its summer tour with 12 additional dates, including a four-night stand at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, marking its first shows at the legendary venue in more than 13 years.

The outing launches June 4, 2009 and will include performances on two separate days at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. See below for a complete itinerary. An online ticket request period is currently underway for the newly announced shows at http://phish.portals.musictoday.com/.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Thursday, March 26th. For information on where to purchase tickets, visit http://www.phish.com/tourdates.

Phish on amazon.com

Phish on amazon.co.uk

The announcement comes on the heels of the band’s three-night stand at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, VA last weekend. “Over a massive, four-hour set, guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, drummer Jon Fishman and keyboardist Page McConnell ripped through dozens of crowd-favorites,” said Rollingstone.com. “They kicked things off with some of their most compositionally complex tunes, from the knotted prog-funk of ‘Fluffhead’ to ‘Divided Sky,’ where the group’s quiet, mellifluous interplay of guitar, drums, bass and keys suggests they’re as well-oiled of a machine as they’ve ever been.”

The New York Times, which ran two features on the concerts, noted: “as the opening passage of the anthem ‘Fluffhead’ enveloped the room, the eruption of exultation was not merely for the band itself but also for the millions in the Phish diaspora who make up perhaps the most fervent fandom in pop music,” while USA Today said: “the foursome built the backbone of its first set on old-school material, expertly navigating hairpin changes and showing as much spunk as they ever have in this millennium.”

The band has already recorded demos of 20 new songs and will enter the studio in April to begin work on its new album with Steve Lillywhite (U2, Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band), who produced Phish’s 1996 album, Billy Breathes. The Clifford Ball, a seven-DVD box set from JEMP Records/Rhino capturing the band’s entire performance at this landmark 1996 festival, just debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Music Video chart.

Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983, the Grammy-nominated band was included in the Top 10 Grossing Concert Tours in North America from 1995-2000 and from 2002-2004. Phish has released 11 studio albums, six concert videos and a series of 44 complete live concert CDs, including 13 on its own JEMP Records. Its series of full concert downloads on livephish.com, the band’s digital download store, currently totals 91.

PHISH -SUMMER 2009 U.S. TOUR DATES:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

6/4 Wantagh, NY Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach sold out
6/5 Wantagh, NY Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach sold out
6/6 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center sold out
6/7 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center sold out
6/9 Asheville, NC Asheville Civic Center sold out
6/12 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival Manchester, TN ON SALE NOW
6/14 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival Manchester, TN ON SALE NOW
6/16 St. Louis, MO Fox Theatre sold out
6/18 Burgettstown, PA Post Gazette Pavilion sold out
6/19 Noblesville, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center sold out
6/20 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley sold out
6/21 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley sold out
7/30 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre PUBLIC ONSALE 3/26
7/31 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre PUBLIC ONSALE 3/26
8/1 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre PUBLIC ONSALE 3/26
8/2 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre PUBLIC ONSALE 3/26
8/5 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre PUBLIC ONSALE 3/29
8/7 George, WA The Gorge PUBLIC ONSALE 3/27
8/8 George, WA The Gorge PUBLIC ONSALE 3/27
8/11 Chicago, IL Toyota Park PUBLIC ONSALE 4/4
8/13 Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center PUBLIC ONSALE 3/27
8/14 Hartford, CT Meadows Music Theater PUBLIC ONSALE 3/28
8/15 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post PavilionPUBLIC ONSALE 3/27
8/ 16 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center PUBLIC ONSALE 3/27

Phish tour dates

Phish Official Website

Phish will launch its first summer tour in five years with a two-night stand at the Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY on June 4th and 5th. Yesterday the band resumed rehearsals, which began in November, in preparation for the upcoming shows.

Phish on amazon.com

Phish on amazon.co.uk

An online ticket request period is currently underway at http://www.phish.tickets.musictoday.com. Tickets will go on sale to the general public the weekend of January 30th and 31st, 2009. For information on where to purchase tickets, visit http://www.phish.com/tourdates.

Phish’s summer tour will be preceded by a trio of concerts (March 6th, 7th and 8th) at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia. The shows at the 13,800-capacity venue sold out just seconds after tickets went on sale last fall. They will mark the group’s first concerts since its August 2004 performance at the Coventry festival in Vermont.

On March 3rd, Phish will release The Clifford Ball on JEMP Records/Rhino. This major archival release features the band’s entire performance at the 1996 festival, which was the largest concert in North America that year and the first of many two-day festivals staged by the group. Over 70,000 fans turned out for the event, which was held at a decommissioned Air Force base in Plattsburgh, NY. The seven-DVD box set will contain more than nine hours of music, including a bonus disc with Phish’s extended soundcheck, its late night flatbed truck jam and a 30-minute featurette with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. The original multi-track recordings have been remixed for stereo and 5.1 audio. Fans can pre-order The Clifford Ball at http://drygoods.phish.com.

Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983, Phish quickly became renowned for its live performances. “Phish offers something rare in pop: a long, complex, and completely different show every night,” said the Village Voice. The GRAMMY®-nominated band became one of the top touring groups in the U.S. and, by 1998, Rolling Stone had proclaimed Phish the most important band of the decade.

Phish – comprising guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio, drummer Jon Fishman, bassist Mike Gordon and keyboardist Page McConnell – has released 11 studio albums, five concert videos and a series of 44 complete live concert CDs, including 13 on its own JEMP Records. In addition, the band offers a selection of 88 full concert downloads at livephish.com. LivePhish.com is Phish’s digital download store and has been widely hailed as one of the first band sites to offer high-quality, unedited soundboard recordings of full concerts.

Phish June 2009 US Tour Dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

6/4 Wantagh, NY – Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach
6/5 Wantagh, NY – Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach
6/6 Mansfield, MA – Comcast Center
6/7 Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center
6/9 Asheville, NC – Asheville Civic Center
6/16 St. Louis, MO – Fox Theatre
6/18 Burgettstown, PA – Post Gazette Pavilion
6/19 Noblesville, IN – Verizon Wireless Music Center
6/20 East Troy, WI – Alpine Valley
6/21 East Troy, WI – Alpine Valley

Phish Official Website

Trey Anastasio from Phish is set to release his live album, ‘Original Boardwalk Style‘ on June 10th, 2008.

The album was recorded at the House of Blues in Atlantic City, NJ on December 30th and 31st of 2006. Trey Anastasio and the Undectet is the band name and members on the recording include Tony Hall (bass, vocals), Ray Paczkowski (keyboards), Jeff Sipe (drums), Christina Durfee (vocals, synthesizer), Jennifer Hartswick (vocals, trumpet), Peter Apfelbaum (saxophone, flute), Russell Remington (saxophone, flute), Jeff Cressman (trombone), Dave Grippo (saxophone) and Cyro Baptista (percussion).

“Plasma” is the second track on ‘Original Boardwalk Style’ and can now be downloaded for free, here on Band Weblogs! “Plasma” is a great track. It has a Zappa/Phish feel, with a kickin’ jam.

Download Trey Anastasio and the Undectet “Plasma” MP3

Proceeds from the sale of the album will benefit the Seven Below Arts Initiative, which supports artistic development and arts education in Vermont. You can pre-order the album at Trey’s online store.

Trey Anastasio on amazon.com

Trey Anastasio Official Website

By: Jenny May – BandWeblogs.com

‘Original Boardwalk Style’, a live album from Trey Anastasio and the Undectet, will be released on June 10th, 2008 by Anastasio’s Rubber Jungle Records.

Proceeds from the sale of the album will benefit the Seven Below Arts Initiative, established to foster artistic development and support arts education in the state of Vermont. The program offers residencies for visual artists at The Barn, a uniquely restored property on 65 acres in Vermont that previously served as the recording studio for Phish, Anastasio and many others.

The album was recorded at the House of Blues in Atlantic City, NJ on December 30th and 31st of 2006, coming at the end of the band’s tour – and just 15 days after Anastasio’s much-publicized arrest in New York. With his trial looming, the future was uncertain – and he knew these shows were likely to be the last he would play for a long time.

The raw, emotional energy permeated the set as the composer/vocalist/guitarist led The Undectet, comprised of Tony Hall (bass, vocals), Ray Paczkowski (keyboards), Jeff Sipe (drums), Christina Durfee (vocals, synthesizer), Jennifer Hartswick (vocals, trumpet), Peter Apfelbaum (saxophone, flute), Russell Remington (saxophone, flute), Jeff Cressman (trombone), Dave Grippo (saxophone) and Cyro Baptista (percussion), through electrifying big band arrangements of his classic songs, replete with big horns and dazzling Brazilian percussive stylings.

The shows came at a turning point in Trey’s life. The energy is palpable, and the songs explosive. The events of the previous weeks give the music an added depth, noticeable in the bluesy guitar of “Plasma,” or as the New Year’s countdown approaches during “Mr. Completely.”

The night proved to be one of transcendence, apparent in the crowd’s intense reaction and the cohesive sound of the band onstage. This alchemy imbues “Drifting” with fresh meaning – “I’ve been drifting/for years at sea/But now, you’ve come along/to rescue me” The shows arguably contained some of the best guitar playing of Trey’s career.

‘Original Boardwalk Style’ will be available in CD and double-gatefold LP configurations at Trey Anastasio’s online store.

Digital audio downloads (in both MP3 and FLAC formats) will be sold at Live Phish Downloads.

Fans can pre-order the album in their preferred format at both sites.

All pre-orders will automatically be entered to win a print – signed by esteemed photographer Jeff Kravitz and Trey Anastasio – of the band on stage at the House of Blues. Color corrected by Jennifer Brown, it will be framed in barn board crafted by Lars Fisk, a creative contributor to The Barn’s Artist-in-Residence program. The photo will be utilized in the album’s packaging. Ten runners-up will receive autographed copies of the vinyl.

Original Boardwalk Style track listings:

CD/Digital configurations:

1. Drifting
2. Plasma
3. Alive Again
4. Mud City
5. Simple Twist Up Dave
6. Tuesday
7. Money Love and Change
8. Mr. Completely

Bonus track (digital only): First Tube

Vinyl configuration:

Side A
1. Drifting
2. Plasma

Side B
1. Shine
2. Alive Again
3. Mud City

Side C
1. Simple Twist Up Dave
2. Tuesday

Side D
1. Money, Love and Change
2. Mr. Completely

About The Seven Below Arts Initiative:

A partnership with Burlington City Arts, the Seven Below Arts Initiative is open to visual artists at any stage of their career. The program offers residencies at The Barn in Vermont, which provides a peaceful, inspiring and supportive living and working environment. While at The Barn, each artist leads an educational activity for local children or adults interested in the visual arts.

For more information on the program, including how to make a contribution, please visit:

Seven Below Arts Initiative – Official

Trey Anastasio on amazon.com

Trey Anastasio – Official
Trey Anastasio Myspace

There’s a great blog entry over at Create Digital Music regarding the infamous Shure SM58 microphone. It’s so refreshing seeing this kind of information getting spread around the internet.

There’s a hilarious video that shows the SM58 going through some vigorous “torture” testing done by Swedish Studio magazine. Tests include the SM58 being used as a hammer, getting dropped, frozen, heated up in a microwave, run over by a car…beer poured over it. I love how it’s noted in writing after most testing segments: “The Result? The microphone still works just fine!” Brilliant.

Watch the Shure SM58 – the world’s toughest microphone? video. Background music is provided by Black Opal Rough:

There was only ONE time that I dropped an SM58 microphone on stage. It was embarrassing because I was sitting in with a band at Nectar’s in Burlington, Vermont a few years ago, singing a couple songs, trying to impress Nectar the owner. It was such a popular venue (due to Phish playing there before they made it “big”), so it was difficult getting gigs there by just submitting demoes. I was hoping that by sitting in with a band, I might have a better chance at booking a gig for the band that I was singing with at the time.

The first thing I did when I got up on stage was drop the mic. How amateur. Well, for awhile I worried about the mic, but of course I know how hardy SM58’s can be. Now it’s been proven! And – I did get the gig at Nectar’s, and we ended up playing there quite a bit, which was great.

Shure SM58 – the world’s toughest microphone? video link

Shure on amazon.com

Shure Official Website

By: Jenny May

The Simpsons soundtrack is set for release on July 31, 2007, and you can pre-order at amazon.com. Maybe not the most eco friendly packaging, but this is Homer Simpson we’re talking about. What do you expect?! Maybe next time he’ll become more environmentally aware.

I wouldn’t mind having the little Simpsons donut souvenir, though. The only problem is everytime I see one of those pink donut images, I start to crave donuts. Not good.

The premiere will be held at the Springfield Theater on Main Street July 21st in Springfield, Vermont. There were 14 Springfields, USA competing to host The Simpsons Movie premiere by entering the Hometown Movie Challenge. Springfield, Vermont won and I can see why. The video is great.

When I lived in Vermont, on occasion I played gigs in Springfield. One of my old drummers lives there – I was looking for him in the video and anyone else that I might recognize, but didn’t see anyone I know. I remember playing outside at the Plaza that’s in The Simpsons Springfield, Vermont video a long time ago. Maybe for the Grand Opening of a store or something.

The Simpsons movie is being talked about quite a lot in the UK. It was so surreal watching the BBC news here in England and seeing some of my old stomping grounds around Vermont when they showed clips from the Hometown Movie Challenge winner. Simpsons creator Matt Groening was on UK TV show Richard and Judy the other day talking about the movie, which was fun to watch.

The Simpsons will be celebrating the 400th episode this season to coincide with the movie release. I’m looking forward to watching the movie and hearing the songs off of the soundtrack.

I can remember where I was the very first time I watched an episode of the Simpsons. It was around 1989 and my family was visiting my grandparents who at the time lived just outside of Seattle, Washington. I was sitting on the floor in their living room flipping through channels and when I saw it, couldn’t help but watch the whole show.

Can you remember where you were the first time you saw your first episode?

Soundtrack description: “This movie score souvenir will contain the familiar themes from the TV show as well as original movie score by award winning composer/producer Hans Zimmer. The Soundtrack will be a must have for all Simpson’s fans and donut lovers alike!”

Track Listings:

1. Simpsons Theme (Orchestral Version)
2. Trapped Like Carrots
3. Doomsday Is Family Time
4. Release The Hounds
5. Clap For Alaska
6. What’s An Epiphany?
7. Thank You Boob Lady
8. You Doomed Us All…Again
9. …Lead, Not To Read
10. Why Does Everything I Whip Leave Me
11. Bart’s Doodle
12. World’s Fattest Fertilizer Salesman
13. His Big Fat Butt Could Shield Us All
14. Spider Pig
15. Recklessly Impulsive

Buy The Simpsons Movie: Limited Edition Donut Packaging on amazon.com.

The Simpsons Movie Official Website

Watch all of the Simpsons Springfield Challenge videos

By: Jenny May – Band Weblogs

Some of the things we did included going to the beautiful Middlebury College in Vermont to see my cousin graduate. One small observation that I made while waiting for the outdoor ceremonies to begin, was that the music selection coming out of their speakers was surprisingly loud and that whoever was in charge of the music must have been a big Steely Dan fan.

Bill Clinton was the commencement speaker which was interesting to say the least. His speech was good and most people seemed impressed. The weather was great and the only time it rained during our trip was when everyone was finally seated at the graduation and then the heavens decided to open up.

We were able to stop by a couple of my favorite watering holes -  Five Olde Nugget Alley (NH) and the Norwich Inn (VT), which I highly recommend to anyone visiting the Dartmouth area.

We met up with some friends and during a conversation one of them said that they remembered seeing Joe Strummer coming out of the Norwich Inn with a bottle of something or other back in the early 80’s which I thought was cool. I know a couple people that went to see The Clash play in Hanover, NH around that time so maybe they were staying overnight at the Inn during their tour.

Unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to see any live music but I was able to catch up with some musicians from the Vermont/New Hampshire area that I hadn’t seen in awhile – and of course hear the latest gossip that I’ve been missing out on.

We heard “if only you could stay a little while longer” quite a few times and one of the instances included a missed opportunity to see The Bags play in Boston at TT the Bears. Oh well – maybe next time. Time goes by so quickly when you’re having fun!

I tried my best to keep up with Band Weblogs while I was away but it wasn’t easy and luckily there were some interesting Guest Music Blogger entries, press releases and music reviews that were sent in that I just about managed to publish as often as I could.

My blog entries here will be back running as usual as I slowly get over the jet-lag and get back into the blogging saddle!

Thanks for stopping by Band Weblogs and if you have any music stories, band press, music reviews etc. that you would like to contribute just sign up for free in the Guest Music Bloggers section where you can add music entries, public profiles, links and more!

By: Jenny May

Jeff’s debut CD – RELEASED – was voted the 2005 Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album by broadcasters worldwide who compile the charts at New Age Reporter.

Jeff is mixing (in 5.1 surround and stereo) in Los Angeles with Bryan Carrigan (Alanis, No Doubt), and should be finished in early 2007. Also joining the project is legendary mixing engineer Bruce Swedien (Michael Jackson’s THRILLER)

These tracks were recorded in Vermont at Imaginary Road Studios with Grammy Award winners Will Ackerman producing, and Corin Nelsen at the board.

Jeff’s new CD features world class performances from Keith Carlock on drums (Steely Dan, Sting), T. Bone Wolk (Hall and Oates, Carly Simon, SNL Band) and Michael Manring on bass, Eugene Friesen (PaulWinter Consort) on cello, Philip Aaberg (Peter Gabriel, Elvin Bishop) on piano and synthesizer, Samite from Uganda on vocals and mbira, Melissa R. Kaplan (Splashdown, Universal Hall Pass) on vocals, Patrick Gorman on guitar, Noah Wilding on vocals, Derrik Jordan on percussion, and Will Ackerman on guitar.

The disc will be mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering in May, 2007.

Look for Jeff’s new CD in early summer 2007…

For more information, check out:

http://www.jeffoster.com
http://www.myspace.com/jeffoster

Check out a recent live show clip here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ia67Yof7-aQ

Now I’m not saying they’re the next Phish – but you might want to keep that thought in the back of your mind if you’re considering going to one of their shows. Afterall, they are a jam band, they’re playing the same venues – like Nectar’s and even have included Phish’s bass player Mike Gordon as an influence on their Myspace page as well as Zappa who is also an influence of Phish. I can hear why they’ve listed the Grateful Dead, too.

The guitar and bass are incredible along with the drums keeping a wicked pace with all the jamming going on. If they’re this good through computer speakers, then I can almost guarantee that their live show is even better.

Check out Greyspoke’s music on Myspace right away if you are in need of some serious jamming:

www.myspace.com/greyspoke

They’ve noted on their website that they’ve played venues like: Riley Center for Perfoming Arts – Manchester, VT, Bennington College, SUNY Potsdam, University of Vermont (Cook Commons and Redstone), Nectar’s -Burlington, VT, Club Metronome – Burlington, VT, Dartmouth College, University of New Hampshire, and Higher Ground – Burlington, VT. Try to get to one of their shows if you see that they’re playing around these areas!

By: Jenny May

James Sharp is the podcaster and he’s located in Montpelier playing a variety of bands from Vermont as well as other locations, ranging from grass rootsy sounds to reggae, rock and more! Quite an eclectic mix, but just what I like to hear in a podcast.

The description on the Heavy Syrup (I just like saying those words for some reason) website is ‘podcasting Vermont music, politics and cuisine’ although I didn’t hear much talk about politics or cuisine on the particular podcast that I listened to which is fine with me. I was just looking forward to hearing what was going to be played next.

Definitely worth checking out:

www.heavysyrup.net

By: Jenny May