Robert Gordon & Marco DiMaggio Trio touring Spain

+ Last night we went to Orihuela (Alicante) to hear and see the old rockabilly master Robert Gordon. Dressed with black slacks and shoes, and wearing a nice black shirt with fire flames, the good ol' rocker sang about a dozen songs, including rockabilly boogie, the way I walk, the fool, and fire. The man still has his trademark voice that made irresistible records more than 25 years ago. And also keeps his star statute, as we observed reverential looks both by the local organization (bikers' murcia chapter) and by his backing band. But this is another point. His backing band, I mean.

+ Of course, Mr. Gordon was very nice to everybody. He thanked the audience after each song and finished his act sending them some kisses (even most of the audience was full of bikers, you know, long hairdos and beards, big bellys and all that stuff, but nice guys and girls, music lovers).

+ But, as we were very pleased by Robert's singing, we were more than impressed by his band. The Marco DiMaggio Trio, which you can see at the right of this text. The bassman is on the left, Mattheo, Marco is at Robert's left, and the drummer, also Marco I believe, at the right of the image. The guitarist himself really keeps the show intense, the guy knows very well this style, using the pick (with the thumb and the index finger) and the other three fingers in a very professional way.They also maintained the audience rocking and rolling in the intermezzo Robert Gordon went to have a rest. His voice recalls a bit that of Raul Malo, but his guitar technique is superior. They performed a wonderful full-band version of the Buddy Holly's classic a capella Everyday that you can add to your Holly records as the version he would have recorded if not for the plane crash. A rockabilly version of The Police hit every breath you take did not satisfy as much as the rest of the set, but gave the opportunity the bikers to hug each other, he, he.

+ You better try to see the band in action. In the meantime, check out the following videos:

+ Robert Gordon videos:

*Rockabilly boogie. * The fool. * The way I walk. * Rockabilly boogie.

+ Marco DiMaggio videos:

* Just found out. *Crying, waiting, hoping. * Instrumentals mix.

+ Or listen to these favorites:

* Fire.

+ Long live to rock and roll!

The War

+ THE WAR tells the story of the Second World War through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women from four quintessentially American towns. The series explores the most intimate human dimensions of the greatest cataclysm in history, and demonstrates that in extraordinary times, there are no ordinary lives.

+Music is an integral element in the success of the award-winning documentary films produced and directed by Ken Burns, and three of his most recent projects have been accompanied by soundtrack albums released by Legacy Recordings: JAZZ (2001, certified multi-platinum), Mark Twain (2001), and Horatio’s Drive (2003).

+ Every musical track has been selected to underscore events or themes in the film. There is an eclectic mix of vintage era jazz (Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Nat ‘King’ Cole), popular singers (Kay Starr, Bing Crosby with guitarist Les Paul), classical works by composers Aaron Copland, Sir William Walton, and modernist Arvo Pärt, and evocative performances by Edgar Meyer (and friends) and Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble.

* Listen to The War podcasts by visiting this link.

* Listen to THE WAR Audio Streams:

“American Anthem” by Norah Jones,

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_01_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_01_full_smil.mov

“Two Pieces For Strings: Passacaglia: The Death Of Falstaff” [Edited Performance] by Leonard Slatkin & The London Philharmonic Orchestra

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_02_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_02_full_smil.mov

“The Wang Wang Blues” by Benny Goodman Sextet

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_03_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_03_full_smil.mov

“Movin' Back” by Wynton Marsalis

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_04_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_04_full_smil.mov

“How Long Blues” by Count Basie

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_05_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_05_full_smil.mov

“In the Nick of Time” [Instrumental] by Edger Meye, Joshua Bell, Sam Bush, & Mike Marshall

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_06_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_06_full_smil.mov

“It's Been A Long, Long Time” by Bing Crosby, with Les Paul

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_07_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_07_full_smil.mov

“America My Home” by Wynton Marsalis

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_08_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_08_full_smil.mov

“If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)” by Kay Starr, accompanied by the Capitol International Jazzmen

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_09_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_09_full_smil.mov

“Blue As The Turquoise Night of Neyshabur” [Edited Version] by Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_10_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_10_full_smil.mov

“Until I'm In Your Arms Again” by Wynton Marsalis

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_11_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_11_full_smil.mov

“Variations For The Healing Of Arinushka” by Kalle Randalu

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_12_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_12_full_smil.mov

“Basie Boogie” by Count Basie & His Orchestra

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_13_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_13_full_smil.mov

“Solitude” [78rpm Version] Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_14_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_14_full_smil.mov

“Concerto For Clarinet & String Orchestra” by Benny Goodman, Aaron Copland, & Columbia Symphony Orchestra

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_15_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_15_full_smil.mov

“If You Can't Smile And Say Yes” by The King Cole Trio

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_16_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_16_full_smil.mov

“American Anthem” by Amanda Forsynth & Bill Charlap

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_17_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_17_full_smil.mov

+ Enjoy and think about it. Don't let others tell what you should think or say.

Music goes to film - U2 PopMart Live in Mexico

+ U2, PopMart Live in Mexico City.

+ ¡Muchos huevos!, finally a rock band publish a concert not recorded in Barcelona!+ The performance took place at Foro Sol Autodromo, in Mexico City, and it was filmed 3rd December 1997. The director was David Mallet. It was ten years ago, but it looks like today. One more video to add to the huge videography list of the group.

+ Impressive sound, impecable realisation and edition. And the music... and the mise en scene. From the de Niro' s The Bull's inspired entry of the band, surrounded by mal encarados real bodyguards to the huge watt consumption of the thousands leds of the videoscreens at the back of the band, the DVD bring us back memories of a time when U2, then THE rock band par excellence, ruled the arenas and stadiums throughout the world, with their succesful mix of pop-rock emotional anthems and bloody popular hooks, and made the change to a more modern, nocturnal and global sound.

+ There is another thing that impressed me. The booklet that accompanies the package. I thought about using gloves to touch it, it is so futuristic, so brilliant, so glossy. I thought, oh boy, this is plastic!. But, it was paper. Incredibly prepared and printed paper.

+ Please, check out these videos to have a glimpse on that superb film:

* Pop Muzik/Mofo.

* Even better than the real thing.

* Staring at the sun.

* Bullet the blue sky.

+ If you like U2 you should get the whole show. It is worth, I declare.

+, hey, catalonian fans, it's only a practical joke for you, don't get angry!. Now, even the Boss changes Barcelona for Bilbao. Happy Spanish National Day!

Brian Setzer, keep on swingin'!

WOLFGANG'S BIG NIGHT OUT.

+ Fun title, the man that revived rockabilly in the eighties with The Stray Cats is already rockin' with Mozart.

+ Following the succesful treatment of other previous geniuses such as Chuck Berry, who rolled over Beethoven and told Tchaikovsky the news, Brian Setzer and Orchestra takes on Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus.

+ Check out his space to listen to some of their new swingin' songs, which include rocking samples of the original masters, Amadeus and Ludwig also (take the 5th).

* If you wish, download (for a limited time only) two of these songs: one more night with you and the rocking Beethoven's 5th, Take the 5th.

Tick tack ticket, same old pirates

+ We won't be able to go see Bruce 's Magic because some modern pirates play with people, lying about selling tickets by phone or by web. Lies, damn lies!.

+ Instead, we will see the Boss playing (acting) in his videos. And the Band?, well, they were on their jobs, you know...

* Long walk home.

* Livin' in the future.

* Livin' in the future (live).

* Radio nowhere (live).

* Last to die (live).

* The promised land (live).

* Night.