Beachwood Sparks

The summer of 2012 is here and I needed a new album for those PCH wind through your hair days. Sifting through a ton of new music, I kept coming back to Beachwood Sparks and their new album The Tarnished Gold. 

Beachwood Sparks formed in 1998, but The Tarnished Gold is only their third full length album. After a long hiatus, the Alt-Country boys are back! With a feel reminiscent of late '60s & early '70s Laurel Canyon, The Tarnished Gold is the perfect summer chill album. 

Who Shot Rock & Roll

Yesterday I had a chance to check out Who Shot Rock & Roll, the new exhibit that opened this weekend at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles. Running June 23-October 7, 2012 Who Shot Rock & Roll explores the transformation of music photography from 1955 to the present through a combination of album art, prints, and short film.

Who Shot Rock & Roll does a nice job of mixing rare photographs with iconic images. You'll see Annie Leibovitz's album cover of Bruce Springsteen's rear end for Born in the U.S.A and Bob Gruen's famous John Lennon New York City T-shirt shot. All in all there are 166 prints from over 100 photographers featured in the exhibit, capturing everything from artists at the start of their careers to live performances by musicians and the fans who fill the seats.

As great as the photographs were, the 35 minute short documentary film they showed was even better. Who Shot Rock & Roll: The Film contained interviews with many musicians and photographers including Alice Cooper, Debbie Harry, Linda McCartney, Noel Gallagher and Lynn Goldsmith.

In addition, the Anneberg Space for Photography will be hosting 15 free lectures over the course of the exhibit's run. Notable speakers include Mark Seliger, Henry Rollins, and Bob Gruen. Online reservations are on a first come, first serve basis.

For more information on the exhibit and lectures you can visit Annenberg's website at:
http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/

Free Kenny Chesney Concert Tonight

Ironically I'll be in New Jersey tonight, but unfortunately I will not be on the beaches of Wildwood, the home of tonight's FREE Kenny Chesney show. Everyone can however help Kenny and the crew celebrate the release of his new album Welcome To The Fishbowl by logging on at 8:30PM ET via the link below- Enjoy!

http://bit.ly/N3OsYK

The Opening Act

"Rise Of The Opening Act," was last Friday's entertainment section cover story for The Wall Street Journal with a secondary headline of, "Now it's often the headlining artists- not the promoters or the labels- who choose the bands playing first. Show up early."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303640104577436361300474458.html

As I read the article, it made me think about all the shows I've seen or worked over the years and I realized how often the majority of seats were vacant at the start of the opener's set. Maybe because I'm a music lover I've always tried to catch the opener even if I wasn't familiar with their material or sound. Sometimes I became a fan for life (Radiohead) and sometimes I've stepped out for a beer (Big Head Todd & the Monsters). Either way I'm always excited to see who's opening for who. It rarely sways my opinion on if I'll attend a show, but it can add to the excitement for the night to come.

I always write the name of the opener  on the back of my concert ticket or pass to serve as a reminder for when I flip back through my collection. Thanks to Sheryl Crow I've seen some amazing openers including Semisonic. Without them as an opener, I may never have become familiar with Dan Wilson- the very talented singer, songwriter and producer.

I forget sometimes all the people I've seen as openers and I'm happy to hear that all artists, not just big time draws are gaining more control over who they share the stage with. So as the summer concert season heats up check out the opener, you may just be surprised with who you see and how good they are!


My Top Ten Opening Acts:
1. 1995 Radiohead for R.E.M.
2. 2006 Sugarland for Kenny Chesney
3. 2000 Travis for Oasis
4. 1999 Semisonic for Sheryl Crow
5. 1997 The Wallflowers for Sheryl Crow
6. 2001 Pete Yorn for Semisonic
7. 2002 Michelle Branch for Sheryl Crow
8. 2012 Matt Nathanson for Kelly Clarkson
9. 2000 Tonic for Third Eye Blind
10. 1999 Lucinda Williams for Tom Petty