The Iron Horse's 30th Anniversary is 2009. Have any old photos from those days?

Here are a few of Shawn Colvin that I took in 1988. This is when the Horse was half its present size. The stage was where the ticket desk is now.

Project/Object: The Mother of Live Zappa Reinventions this Wednesday at the Iron Horse

The members of PROJECT/OBJECT feel that Frank Zappa is one of the 20th Century's greatest and most important composers, and they are on a mission to bring his music to the masses by faithfully recreating the live Zappa experience.

PROJECT/OBJECT formed in the early '90s as an offshoot from an annual Frank Zappa birthday celebration that took place in guitarist Andre Cholmondeley's basement in New Jersey. As the event grew in size and popularity, PROJECT/OBJECT decided to take their show on the road, performing Zappa's music in more cities and larger venues, with a growing set list from every era of Zappa's 30-year recording career. The band strives to stay true to Frank's vision of constantly challenging the musicians and the audiences.

During Zappa's 1984 and 1988 tours, members of PROJECT/OBJECT became friendly with Ike Willis, the legendary 10-plus year Zappa vocalist and guitarist whose career with Frank began in the role of "Joe" on the quintessential Zappa album, Joe's Garage. In 1995, the members of PROJECT/OBJECT sent a tape of a live show to Ike and he was impressed enough that he agreed to come out to the East Coast to join the band onstage for a few gigs in the New York area. After that tremendous first outing, Ike agreed to repeat this experience in the future.

Ike felt the members of PROJECT/OBJECT were able to recreate the fun and excitement that he felt with Frank Zappa on stage. Many other Zappa alumni feel the same way, which has also inspired them to perform with the band, some for entire tours. Since 1998, when the band first took their act on the road, the following alumni have performed with the band: Willis, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Jimmy Carl Black, Ray White, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Denny Walley, Mike Keneally, Arthur Barrow, Ed Mann, Roy Estrada, Billy Mundi and even Al Malkin. Other notable artists they've collaborated with include Phish’s Jon Fishman, Capt. Beefheart/Jeff Buckley guitarist Gary Lucas, Chuck Garvey, Al Schnier and Jim Loughlin of moe., New York City big band leader and "Zappologist" Ed Palermo, and Dweezil Zappa drummer Jerry Cucurullo.

In every new city they visit, PROJECT/OBJECT converts the curious into dedicated fans. They want to remind old Zappa fans of the way it used to be and let younger fans, who never experienced a Zappa show, see and hear the way it was. This show also features Ed Mann, who started his tenure with Zappa when he applied percussion overdubs to "Zappa In New York". Ike Willis joined in 1978, and together or individually they appeared on every Zappa tour thereafter, and almost every album until his tragic death. Both Ed and Ike were integral parts of Zappa's final tour in 1988, some say his most historic tour, and one that he certainly richly represented to his fanbase with several live recordings.

Swedes Loney Dear get us weepy, rare video for Fountains of Wayne's knee-crumbling song Troubled Times, Dar Williams covers FOW.

Here at IHEG Towers in downtown Northampton today, Brendan and I were talking about how music sounds different, usually better, on rainy days. This may explain why I teared up at a song or two from Loney Dears MySpace page. Try the song Hold Me. Your going to need some duct work. Loney Dear (pictured at left, sometimes spelled Loney, Dear) is Swedish. I knew I was going to be a pushover for the band when I saw their top MySpace friends: Andrew Bird, Arvo Part, Innocence Mission, Grizzly Bear. It's flowing with the minor chord aspects of Beatles/Beach Boys. We might bring them in for a gig in Northampton. What do you think? Troubled Times, one of the most gripping and moving Fountains of Wayne songs, is covered by Dar Williams on her new album Promised Land. She chose to say "everything you put her through" rather than "all the shit you put her through." No big deal I guess. I'm trying to figure out if Dar, as a female voice, is adopting a female perspective lyrically, which means the song is a woman talking to a guy about another girl instead of the lyrics being the guy's voice in his own head mulling it over. These things keep me up at night. Listen to Dar's version of Troubled Times here on her MySpace page. You have to find it in the songs. Dar plays at 7 and 9:30 on Friday night December 26th at the Iron Horse. Can you say "magical evening?" A little bird whispered something about a full band acoustic Fountains of Wayne show in the Spring as will. Gird your emotions melodramaticists! This video recently resurfaced on YouTube Japan. It's not a fan video though it has the homemade quality.

Spoliler warning! Review of David Byrne live at the Egg in Albany last Wednesday

Don't read this if you'd rather be surprised at the David Byrne show at the Calvin on Tuesday December 2nd. I'm sure the show won't be exactly the same of course but I'm just sayin'. Me, I don't even like to watch a movie previews. (Courtesy Metroland Online)

Ain’t No Foolin’ Around- David Byrne at The Egg in Albany, Nov. 5th. By David Greenberger

Over the course of more than 30 years, David Byrne has managed a rare feat. He has succeeded in the popular music marketplace but has not been trapped by it, maintaining his stance as an artist. His latest tour finds him playing venues that, for the most part, are smaller than what he could fill, but that allow him to maintain tighter control over the sound and present his 11-piece troupe on worthy stages.

Last week’s concert at the Egg was the night after the election, an event Byrne acknowledged with his opening words, “I woke up this morning to a different America.” This was met by cheers from the sold-out crowd, as further comments revealed that he and his international band had been receiving happy and congratulatory e-mails from friends and family around the world.

The concert was titled “Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno,” and it opened with “Strange Overtones,” from the new Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. It’s a testament to the clearly delineated sound mix, and to the smart pacing of the set, that eight songs from the new collaborative album with Eno were performed, especially since the album is currently available only as a download, and will not be released as a physical CD until later this month.

With the second number, the full cast was assembled across the stage when the tour’s three dancers emerged to the opening notes of “I Zimbra.” Byrne on guitar was part of a five-piece band (keyboardist, bassist, drummer, percussionist). Three singers stood to his right, adding percussion and occasional acoustic guitar. And everyone was dressed in white—not matching outfits, but the varied possibilities of white clothing.

Given the evening’s theme, all of the dozen and a half selections were from works in which Eno participated. Besides the new release, these songs first appeared on My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, The Catherine Wheel and the three Talking Heads albums Eno produced (More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music and Remain in Light).

The varied crowd was a mix of well-heeled professionals and purposefully casual hipsters. The main thing most appeared to have in common with each other, as well as with Byrne, was having been born in the ‘50s. Beyond that, there were significant differences, largely in the realm of art vs. nostalgia. Two-thirds of the way into concert, audience members were encouraged to their feet, and unfortunately they remained standing for the rest of the night. I could see some in attendance re-creating Byrne moves from 20 years ago, most notably his hitting-myself-in-the-forehead from “Once in a Lifetime” and seen in the film Stop Making Sense.

This is where Byrne the artist comes into focus. He is more about reconsidering, reinventing and reinterpreting than simply re-creating. As he sang in “Psycho Killer,” “Say something once, why say it again?” Byrne is an artist, but he also understands the dynamics of showmanship. From the beginning he’s known to surround his tentative manner and slight physique with funky rhythms and theatrical flair. Every aspect of this current tour is perfectly considered and executed. The showman in him made sure it was an unforgettable night, while the artist elevated it to an even more potent level, because the next time he comes back he’ll do something different.

Murder By Death, William Elliott Whitmore, J Roddy Walston and The Business at Pearl Street TONIGHT- Thursday. (Cue horror film theme music)

Formed in 2000 as Little Joe Gould, Murder By Death is a five piece band from Bloomington, IN. They signed to Eyeball Records in 2001 and, to fit their sound more accurately, changed their name to Murder By Death after the 1976 murder/comedy film (with an insane cast: Truman Capote, Peter Sellers, David Niven, Peter Falk, Alec Guiness...)

MBD is highly influenced by horror show and western music (usually communicated via keyboard and cello) with a nice heavy guitar and rhythm section as the backbone. Album titles: Like the Exorcist, But More Breakdancing, Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?, In Bocca Al Lupo. and Red of Tooth and Claw are indicative of their mission. Comprised of equal parts vaudeville dramatics, one-eyed orchestral slashes, and polka-- or more specifically Johnny Cash, pirates, and Tom Waits, their live shows a rollicking good time.

William Elliott Whitmore's voice sounds decades older than his tattered birth certificate indicates, burnished by smoke and drink and full of emotional depth. While comparisons to the gravelly voice of Tom Waits and the lyrical story telling of Johnny Cash (yes, again wih Tom and Johnny) are prevalent (and not altogether inaccurate), Mr. Whitmore is clearly doing more than just regenerating the music of the past. He's a favorite of ours and has won new fans each time through.

Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, J. Roddy Walston and the Business sounds like a more masculine, Americanized version of Queen. They have a pure traditional American rock and roll sound that is unsurpassed by others in the genre today. It’s a folky, rhythm and soul kind of rock and roll with J. Roddy’s vocals and use of piano. Their explosive energy onstage they make James Brown look lazy as they hammer away at their instruments frantically. They eat you up and spit you out before you even realize it.

All three of 'em on one bill this Thursday! Get your tickets here!

Who is Murder By Death? \

Formed in 2000 as Little Joe Gould, Murder By Death is a five piece band from Bloomington, IN. Thursday vocalist Geoff Rickly helped the band get signed to Eyeball Records in 2001. Shortly after the band name was changed to Murder By Death, after the 1976 film, to fit their sound more accurately.

The band is highly influenced by horror show and western music (this effect is usually achieved through the keyboard and cello). The guitar and rythm sections are often moderately heavy.

Their firs...>>

Formed in 2000 as Little Joe Gould, Murder By Death is a five piece band from Bloomington, IN. Thursday vocalist Geoff Rickly helped the band get signed to Eyeball Records in 2001. Shortly after the band name was changed to Murder By Death, after the 1976 film, to fit their sound more accurately.

The band is highly influenced by horror show and western music (this effect is usually achieved through the keyboard and cello). The guitar and rythm sections are often moderately heavy.

Their first LP, Like the Exorcist, But More Breakdancing was released on Eyeball in 2001. With the release of of Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them? in 2003, a concept album about the devil's assault on a western town, the band gained some notable popularity.

In 2004, keyboardist Vincent Edwards left the band to pursue further education and was temporarily replaced by Brandon Copper. Cooper left later that year and the band continued without a keyboard player until cellist Sarah Balliet took over the role.

Recently, the band reported that they had parted ways with Eyeball records. They released their third album, In Bocca al Lupo, on their own Tent Show Records on May 23, 2006.

Longtime drummer Alex Schrodt left the band in February 2007, to be replaced by Dagan Thogerson.

You need more Iron (and Wine) (and Horse) in your musical diet. Well, supper is served!

Sometimes we book so many great shows in one night that we kick ourselves later. This Saturday for example. How are we supposed to choose between Ira Glass at the Calvin, Iron and Wine at Pearl Street and Alejandro Escovedo at the Horse? Is this some kind of cruel joke we’re playing on ourselves? And what of you? Hmmm. Shall I have the fine wine, the chocolate truffle or the caviar?

But here we are. At this point if you’re coming to Northampton this Saturday night, I’d suggest This American Life's Ira Glass at the Calvin. All three shows (Ira, Iron & Wine, Alejandro)are going to be tight for tickets, but we’re pretty sure we’ll have some decent seats for Ira’s “Radio Stories and Other Stories.” We’ve got some wiggle room for Alejandro. Iron and Wine? Put on some extra deodorant.

Sunday night at the Horse, the never-less than, and usually greater than or equal to amazing, Richard Shindell plays the Horse with Caroline Herring, one of Jim Olsen’s latest finds on Signature Sounds. When songwriting becomes a craft and words are used solely to manipulate or influence the emotions of others, an artist can become nothing more than a technician. Mississippi-born Caroline Herring is in no danger of falling into that trap on her third album. A musical tapestry woven from stories of Southern women, Lantana is reflective without being self-conscious.

Sunday night also holds good news for fans of passionate ‘80s bands like (Flock of Seagulls, Ultravox, New Order, Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins, Sugarcubes, etc) with M83 at Pearl Street. They’re from France. This band is really starting to spread in the states lately. It appeals to geezers like me who used to live for dark moody synth rock back in 1983 and the new kids who have learned about the sound from bands like Ladytron and The Rapture.

Monday, I’m personally excited about the Sondre Lerche/Sylvie Lewis gig at the Horse. I’ve never seen Sondre live and whenever I happen upon his music I say, “who the heck is this?” and people reply, “Jim, that’s Sondre Lerche. We thought you knew all about everything!” And I say, "well, I know you’re not pronouncing his name correctly,” and they say, “shut up we are too.” Then I say, “Okay, then, but who cares anyway, GOSH!”

Man, you’re killing me, us! The Blasters on Tuesday? Those guys are still around? Heck yes is the answer, and they still have full blast power. Did you see X at Pearl Street last time through? Same vintage as the Blasters and neither are any the worse for wear. (Rumors of X coming back…). Okay, I’m cutting and pasting this next bit from their website: The Blasters stink of rockabilly. They project the essence of small streets of post-war neighborhoods, car culture and the sun-bleached concrete of Downey, California. They are lead by Phil Alvin's soulful bellowing about causing chaos, chasing women and the loss of the citrus groves. Influenced by the likes of The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and many others who came and went during the 1950's, The Blasters play the songs of the working man's curse and rock and roll romance. Founding members Phil Alvin and John Bazz, with the addition of Keith Wyatt on lead guitar and Jerry Angel on drums, are carrying on their hard-won legacy of one of the most credible and recognizable bands in Americana music.

So that's the skinny, whatever that means. How y'all doing out there anyway. Is anybody reading this blog? Check one two. Check check.

JD Souther, the former Eagle who wrote many of their biggest hits, returns after 25 years with a new album and a stop at the Iron Horse this Thursday

JD Souther, who decided not to be an Eagle but wrote several of their biggest hits anyway, is playing his first tour in over 25 years and it is in support of his new album, IF THE WORLD WAS YOU.

JD Souther was Glenn Frey's roommate as The Eagles were forming. Their downstairs neighbor was Jackson Browne. JD is one of the principal architects of the Southern California country-rock sound. He famously played a key role in the formation of the Eagles and co-wrote their hits “Heartache Tonight,” “Victim of Love,” “New Kid In Town,” and “Best of My Love,” as well as writing Linda Ronstadt’s classics “Faithless Love,” “Simple Man, Simple Dream,” and "Prisoner in Disguise.” Souther’s new release, IF THE WORLD WAS YOU is both a bold step forward and a return to his Amarillo, Texas roots, where the young multi-instrumentalist grew up steeped in the improvisation sensibilities of John Coltrane and Miles Davis as well as in the music of rock pioneers Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, and Roy Orbison, all of whose influences are evident throughout. His biggest hit as a solo artist was his 1979 Orbison-influenced song "You're Only Lonely" from the album of the same name and a collaboration with James Taylor called "Her Town Too" from Taylor's Dad Loves His Work album. He was also one third of Souther, Hillman, and Furay and having JD in to the Horse completes our goal of getting all three of them on our stage this year.

April Smith opens the show. If you combine the dramatic presence of Freddie Mercury, melodic sweetness of Jeff Buckley, range and power of Ann Wilson, smoky sarcasm of Tom Waits, and the ornate imagination of Michel Gondry and you’re getting close to the sounds of April Smith. Tickets Here.

Area’s beloved singer/songwriter Shawn Colvin performs 8PM THIS Friday November 7th at the Calvin Theatre with special guest Erin McKeown

The Iron Horse of the late ‘80s was an incubator venue in the launching of Shawn Colvin’s successful career. Her gigs in Northampton ever since have always felt like homecomings for longtime fans who have memories associated with her music, and epiphanies for new fans who have been weaned on younger female singer/songwriters who were inspired to play by Shawn.

For those of us who fell in love with Shawn’s heart-rending, even tear-jerking opening sets for the likes of Loudon Wainwright, Richard Thompson, and other Iron Horse stalwarts, it was no surprise when she was signed to Columbia Records. Her “Live Tape” recorded at The Horse and the Somerville Theatre in 1988 was a rare and coveted item as the only available recordings of her songs, but then her debut Columbia album Steady On came out. It was quite a shock to hear all of those beautiful solo acoustic songs now with studio production and full instrumentation. It felt like a sell-out to many of us in the Valley. I felt betrayed by the album…but eventually came to love it. Listening now I can’t imagine what I was thinking. It’s a corker.

Roughly seven albums later, Shawn Colvin is now among the canon of female singer songwriters, easily in legion with Joni Mitchell, who she cites as her primary inspiration. (Richard Thompson is #2.) Colvin’s sound and vulnerable but tough, self-possessed attitude, was the zeitgeist-du-jour as the female singer-songwriter frenzy of the 90’s got under way, culminating in the phenomenon of Lilith Fair. Sarah MacLachlan may have conceived the tour, but Colvin can easily be credited with laying the musical groundwork that made it possible.

Her latest album is 2006’s These Four Walls, and while incubating a new album and continuing to raise her daughter, Shawn has also been writing a memoir, A Few Small Repairs, due out in early 2009. Shawn will appear solo acoustic where she is arguably at her best and will undoubtedly have an even better arsenal of funny and poignant stories to share given her recent writing and recollecting.

Virginia’s Erin McKeown, Northampton’s adopted daughter who wrote her senior thesis at Brown University on playing at house parties, opens the show.

From The Washington Post 8/29/08: After releasing two albums in 2007 (a bubbly collection of jazz standards called "Sing You Sinners" and a live album titled "Lafayette"), Erin McKeown has spent this summer "off the grid," spending time in Nova Scotia, remote Michigan and rural Maine, where she recorded her upcoming album.

"I've actually been kind of disconnected from the communicative world this summer, and I prefer it that way," she says with a slight laugh. "There's definitely a thrill that I get from traveling, and I love to play for people . . . but I think my natural state is a more disconnected state."

The Fredericksburg VA native's career spans five albums, earning her a devoted following drawn to her powerful voice and guitar skills. During her dynamic live performances, she illustrates a diverse set of styles: swing, pop, flat-out rock.

McKeown, 30, has averaged 200 shows a year during her career. Although she has played the piano since she was 3 and guitar since she was 12, she never pictured performing for a living until she was 19 or 20. She says "music was just another thing I did, like going to gymnastics practice or doing homework." Now, she participates in Girls Rock! camps, which aim to teach and inspire young girls to play music. Rest of article here.

Get your tickets here!

Jazz and Jam Collide with Marco Benevento Trio at the Iron Horse Thursday, November 13th at 10PM.

There is a link between jazz and the broad, less-defined jamband scene. Performers in both genres place a high value and emphasis on improvisation. That commonality is exemplified by the young and talented jazz pianist Marco Benevento, whose namesake trio is doing a string of eight Northeast performances including the show on Thurday 11/13 at the Iron Horse.

"I'm very much into improvising music with my friends and people I meet for the first time these days," Benevento notes via e-mail. "I love hearing different drummers' interpretations of the same tune, or different guitarists' or saxophonists'."

He describes the loose collaborations as a "bright new discovery awareness zone" for the musicians. Improvising with new collaborators is "something that's different every time and nothing is expected by anyone, including the audience. So there is that totally open feeling of, 'OK, all I've got is my ears, I have no idea what's going to happen ... GO!' And, ultimately, the result is a gradual collective unfolding process that is truly satisfying and somewhat indescribable."

Benevento, 31, was raised in New Jersey and studied piano at Berklee. Resettling in New York City after graduating, he ran into a school friend, drummer Joe Russo, at a Medeski, Martin & Wood performance, and they formed a free-jazz combo, the Benevento/Russo Duo and, together, have released four CDs.

Another link between the two genres is the loose collectives of musicians that perform together in various combinations. In 2006, the duo performed as part of Trey Anastasio's band, which included bassist Mike Gordon, both of the über-jamband Phish. Benevento's trio consists of bassist Reed Mathis, who plays full-time with both the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Tea Leaf Green, as well as drummer Andrew Barr, who performs with the Slip, among other bands. While Barr is currently on tour in Europe, another of Benevento's "friends" will sit in behind the kit Friday: Phish drummer John Fishman.

He admits to being a fan of Phish and of how the band incorporated humor into its music. But the band's main influence on him comes back around to improvisation.

"They used do these circle jams that involved 'passing the ball around' melodically and rhythmically — and slowly getting to new worlds within their improv," " says Benevento.

At the Horse, Benevento will be performing music from his album Invisible Baby, as well as from an upcoming CD to be released in early '09.

"This new disc is going to be called Me Not Me. It'll be different from Invisible Baby in that most of the songs are cover tunes," he says. "One particular song that'll be on the new record is a song by Leonard Cohen called 'Seems So Long Ago, Nancy.' I've been listening to this song for nine years now — I've played it at least one-thousand times and every time it hits me deep in there."

You may also hear "Golden" by My Morning Jacket, as well as many of Benevento's own songs. Otherwise, the best advice is to leave any expectations at home. -Bill Clifford

Pamela Means, unannounced (unti now) special guestto perform with Alix Olson tonight at the Iron Horse!

Alix is a trip. A dictionary with an uzi. The spoken word and poetry revival is well underway. FLASH: Pamela Means will perform with Alix tonight!

"Short Bus" singer/songer Jay Brannan kicks of 10 city US Tour in Northampton at Iron Horse Sat 11/8

After spending a month playing sold shows across Europe and Australia, gay singer/songwriter Jay Brannan will kick off a special ten-city North American tour on November 8th at Iron Horse Music Hall in
Northampton, MA and will conclude with an already sold out hometown performance at Joe's Pub in New York City. This tour will be in support of his critically acclaimed debut album goddamned which was released earlier this year on Brannan's own Great Depression Records label. In addition, Jay will be releasing a new music video for the hit song "Can't Have It All" to coincide with the upcoming US tour.

You may remember Jay from his role as Ceth in John Cameron Mitchell's recent film, Shortbus, performing one of his original songs 'Soda Shop'. Brannan has operated an enviable online campaign from his studio apartment, premiering bedroom versions of his songs on MySpace, YouTube and Facebook.

An EP entitled Unmastered has sold over 30,000 tracks through iTunes and a 1,000 piece run of this EP, each with a different Polaroid cover, sold out in a day. Almost 4 million people have watched his clips which were shot entirely from his laptop. This online devotion has translated to a live draw, with worldwide sellouts including Los Angeles, London, Paris, Cape Town, Tel Aviv, Toronto, and Vancouver.

Commenting on his musical career, Jay says "I don't think that the movie or my music is hanging the world or anything, but I do think that it's a small way in which I can contribute. I think that if we present things like sexuality in music and film, among other things that are sort of taboo in American culture, eventually we're going to have to get used to it."

It's Northampton's turn, Jay Brannan, Saturday November 8th at the Iron Horse. Doors open @ 5:30pm for dinner. Show starts @ 7pm

Tickets for all IHEG shows are available at the Northampton Box Office. Charge by phone 586-8686. Order online at http://www.iheg.com

Vermonter Gregory Douglass will open the show. His passionate amalgamation of contemporary folk, pop, and rock has been compared to Tori Amos, Jeff Buckley and Patty Griffin. With six critically acclaimed, independent CDs under his belt, the 27-year old Vermont native evokes the songwriting skills of an old soul with the voice of an angel.