Jay Blakesberg’s enthusiasm for rock ‘n’ roll is undeniable.
That much is clear as the famed Bay Area music photographer recounts a shoot from a few years back with eccentric songsmith Tom Waits. The story was told at lightning-fast speed, lasted some 20 minutes and included humorous anecdotes about riding in the car with Waits (who did woodpecker imitations while driving), jumping barbed-wire fences and chasing the star down a dusty driveway in the middle of nowhere. If Blakesberg took a breath while reliving the moment, it wasn’t apparent.
“That’s a true story,” finished Blakesberg, smiling broadly. “You’ve got to wonder if that kind of (expletive) happens to Tom Waits every day.”
The images of that odyssey, as well as pictures from hundreds of other equally intriguing musical trips, can be found in the photographer’s new career retrospective, “Traveling on a High Frequency: Jay Blakesberg Photographs 1978-2008.” Blakesberg will celebrate the release of this hard cover coffee table book with a signing/party on Tuesday (Nov. 11) at the Independent in San Francisco. The public is invited to attend and admission is free.
The book, which retails for $40, is vastly impressive, numbering 304 pages and containing exquisite images of such rock ‘n’ rollers as Phish, Bjork, R.E.M., Nirvana, U2, Radiohead, Dave Matthews and Carlos Santana. Its most immediately arresting characteristic is the sheer magnitude of pics displayed – some shown full page, others in multi-image collages. Read the rest of this entry »
How much longer can Neil Young and his crew make us wait to get the lineup for the 2008 Bridge School Benefit? The concerts are basically only a month away. I’d say that the announcement of the featured artists comes soon. Real soon. Like, I’m saying we will get it today. (Please note: I’ve been wrong before.)
While we wait, here are some videos of memorable performances from past Bridge concerts:
It always is when it’s the last concert of a lengthy tour. Yet, this closing night of the Dave Matthews Band’s annual summer trek carried far more significance than usual. Sunday, you see, would’ve been LeRoi Moore’s 47th birthday.
The saxophonist didn’t make it to the party. He died on Aug. 19 due to complications stemming from an ATV accident he suffered on his Virginia farm back in June.
His fans, however, turned out in full force, filling the 8,500-seat UC Greek Theatre in Berkeley to capacity for three nights, Friday through Sunday. It was, in effect, a three-day memorial for this founding member of one of America’s most popular rock acts. In that sense, it resembled every other stop that DMB has made since Moore’s passing. Matthews, through both his words and his actions, has turned each show held over the last few weeks into tributes to Moore. Read the rest of this entry »
Sunday Sep 7 2008
University of California, Berkeley - Greek Theatre
Bartender *
Everyday *
Old Dirt Hill *
#27 *
Drive In Drive Out *
Crash Into Me *
Corn Bread *
Loving Wings *
What Would You Say *
The Song That Jane Likes * Read the rest of this entry »
Friday Sep 5 2008
University of California, Berkeley - Greek Theatre
The Stone *
One Sweet World *
Don’t Drink the Water *
So Damn Lucky *
Dancing Nancies *
Eh Hee *
Water Into Wine *
Gravedigger * Read the rest of this entry »
Dave Matthews Band Cancels Performance at Raley Field in Sacramento and at USANA in Utah
(Drat, I was hoping that they’d reschedule those postponed shows - not cancel them. Here’s the release from the Raley Field folks:)
West Sacramento, Calif. – Raley Field and Another Planet Entertainment officials were advised today (Sept. 5) by the Dave Matthews Band that their concert at Raley Field, originally scheduled for Monday, August 25th, and their concert at USANA Amphitheatre in West Valley, UT, originally scheduled for Wednesday, August 27th, have been cancelled. Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s a look at some of this week’s top concerts:
Dave Matthews Band: Veteran rock band attracts mix of college kids and jam-band fans, 7 p.m., Sept. 5-6, 6 p.m., Sept. 7, UC Greek Theatre, Berkeley, 925-685-TIXS, 415-421-TIXS, 510-625-TIXS, www.apeconcerts.com.
Nine Inch Nails: Trent Reznor returns to share his pain with paying fans, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 5, Oracle Arena, Oakland, $39.50-$55, 925-685-TIXS, 415-421-TIXS, 510-625-TIXS, www.coliseum.com.
Brian Wilson: Beach Boys leader is touring in support of his first new studio album in years, 8 p.m., Sept. 5, Paramount, Oakland, $45.50-$125, 510-465-6400, www.paramounttheatre.com.
Luis Miguel: Latin music superstar who does his best work on romantic ballads, 8 p.m., Sept. 6, HP Pavilion, San Jose, $40-$150, 925-685-TIXS, 415-421-TIXS, 510-625-TIXS, www.hppsj.com. Read the rest of this entry »
Raley Field and USANA Amphitheatre Shows Postponed
release date: 08/25/2008
Dave Matthews Band is postponing tonight’s show at Raley Field in West Sacramento, CA and Wednesday’s show at USANA Amphitheatre in West Valley, UT. We apologize for any inconvenience and will announce more information on these two dates as soon as it becomes available. Read the rest of this entry »
Getting to the festival on Saturday was no problem. Hopped on the N Judah Muni and, 25 minutes later, I arrived. As per my normal routine (not!) I arrived early to the show, which gave me some time to explore the place before the throngs arrived. Grabbed a Red Bull, a quesadilla and I’m now ready for some action.
Found my way backstage and started chatting with folks. Just when I thought that meeting Boz Scaggs’ brother would be the highlight, I ran into Coran Capshaw, the guy who seemingly has a hand in 90 percent of all musical happenings in the U.S. He’s the manager for the Dave Matthews Band, Trey Anastasio (my fave) and other acts. He also co-produces Bonnaroo and, more directly significant to this post, Outside Lands. Read the rest of this entry »
