This Weekend in Review: Jazz at the BMA, J Roddy Walston and The Business at Artscape

This weekend, Kristen and I had a fun (and music)-filled time. Saturday night was jazz in the sculpture garden at the Baltimore Museum of Art. We hadn't been to the BMA since a jazz performance from last year (maybe the year before) that was rained out, so with the wonderful weekend weather, we were able to hang out in the garden and listen to Dave Valentin along with Bill O'Connell and their Latin-flavored jazz project. Kristen's opinion of jazz is far lower than mine, as I love to listen to live jazz. A good performance (what I caught of it, as it was a more casual, conversational affair), with virtuosic flute performance and a smokin' show that would have had people dancing if they weren't so stuffy at the BMA. Not being well-versed in the language of jazz (I know what I like when I hear it, that's about it) I can only say that there was a flute solo that I swear came right out of "Locomotive Breath" by Jethro Tull. It came in following a Coltrane cover, so if anyone else heard that, please tell me so I know I'm not crazy. I'd love to check out the Lafayette Gilchrist performance on August 11.

More in line with my vocabulary, and my ear, was Artscape on Saturday afternoon. We missed Salim's set with The Music Lovers and Wendel Patrick, just catching Team Salim (hey, Salim, there's the name for your street team. . .you heard it here first!) as they were packing up shop and heading out. Maybe I'll have better luck and catch the set this Friday when the group opens up for Talib Kweli at Sonar.

A big highlight of Artscape for me was meeting up with my old friend Nicole (from high school!) and hanging out for the afternoon. I even got a 2-for-1 bonus when another friend, Jaime, called and I got to chat with her for a few minutes. These old friends go back to the halcyon days of Rehoboth as a teenager, and it really is special to catch up. I can only say that I wish (1) I had stayed better in touch, and (2) circumstances hadn't led me to make certain judgment calls that caused me to alienate myself from those friends. Friends of your childhood are the first, and sometimes only, 'real' friends you will ever have. Hopefully it won't be another five years before we all talk again!

So, after the all-important re-introductions, we traipsed around Mount Royal Avenue, finding ourselves in Langsdale Auditorium for a set by Kate Porter & Russel Kotcher, performing "classically tuned improvisations". Pretty interesting, very challenging, but just as I was thinking how awesome the violin (Kotcher) is, Nicole pointed out that she wants to learn to play, which is awesome. I forgot to mention Murder By Death to her, and their awesome electric cellist.

The key part of the afternoon for Kristen and I was the J-Roddy Walston and The Business (read a review of their latest, Hail Mega Boys) set, which kicked off at 5 (just in time for us to catch before the BMA). As scandalous as it is, we hadn't seen the boys live yet, though we've been rocking the album for a while now. Zach's stage presence is absolute insanity. This dude shreds the bass and is more intense in his flailing, headbanging, and singing than any bassist I have ever laid eyes upon. And I go to a lot of metal shows. It was a scene of awe and splendor, really. And no, that doesn't mean I have a crush. He just looked so freakin' cool on stage. In fact, that's what I loved most about the band. Rod, Billy, Steve, Zach, these cats are rock and roll, for real. It is rare that I see someone else who loves original Budweiser as much as I do, and can still rock so hard after what looked like at least six of 'em (and that's just during the set). This late afternoon/early evening crowd was kind of a downer, no dance party in effect, and a modest audience, but the set was on fire. Apparently no one got the joke about "Nineteen Ought Four" being Rod's "love song to Baltimore". Seriously, guys, let's get a podcast together. That set rocked my socks!

Kristen and I left after J-Roddy's set, but Nicole stayed for Lupe Fiasco . . . maybe she'll leave a comment and let us all know how that set was!

And now is a good time to reiterate how awesome Kristen is, and how much I appreciate her support of what I'm doing here on AGT and over at SEN Baltimore. Tonight, I was out doing an interview until about 10, and I'll be doing another interview tomorrow, and it's just so wonderful that she's so supportive in not getting angry when I put so much time into this stuff. She understands and appreciates my love for music, and it's just proof positive that she is the best thing that's ever happened to me! Thanks, Kristen!

Updated and Revised Artscape Schedule

More developments in the Artscape schedule. Artscape will be held in Baltimore from Friday, July 20 to Sunday, July 22. Some serious developments, like Lupe Fiasco and Keyshia Cole being added to the main stage on top of Burning Spear, who was previously announced.

I tried to give credit to local artists, but if I missed you, let me know and I will update.

Here's the latest schedule:

Main Stage
Friday, July 20
4pm To be announced
5:30pm Gordon Chambers
7pm Nuttin' But Stringz
8:30pm The Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley

Saturday, July 21
1:30pm To be announced
3pm Marcel & The Truth
4:45pm Emily King
6:30pm Lupe Fiasco
8:30pm Keyshia Cole

Sunday, July 22
1pm To be announced
2:45pm Clarence "Bluesman" Turner
4:30pm Ryan Shaw
6pm Burning Spear

Festival Stage
Friday, July 20
5:30pm The Bridge (Baltimore)
7pm Martin Sexton
8:30pm Los Lonely Boys

Saturday, July 21
12:30pm Matt Wigler
2pm The Crawdaddies (Maryland)
3:30pm Far From Earth (Baltimore)
5pm To be announced
6:30pm Avett Brothers
8pm To be announced

Sunday, July 22
12pm Winner of the Billie Holiday Competition
Winner of the Cab Calloway Competition
1:30pm Archie Edwards Barbershop Players
3pm Los Hermanos
4:30pm The Greencards
6:30pm Sam Bush

University of Baltimore Stage
Friday, July 20
12pm Baltimore Islanders Steel Band
1:30pm To be announced
4:30pm Damsels
6pm Soul'd Out
7:30pm Elikeh Band (Maryland)
9pm June Star

Saturday, July 21
12pm Deanna Dove
2pm Wes Tucker & The Skillets
3:30pm Kirsten Thien
5pm Wendy McIntyre
6:30pm Santa Mamba
8:30pm Rob Thorworth (Baltimore)

Sunday, July 22
12:30pm Neenah Taylor
2pm JaneilaSoul Afrique
3:30pm Smooth Play
5pm The Hint (Maryland)
6:30pm Fools & Horses

DJ Culture Stage
Complete schedule for this stage is forthcoming.

Lollapalooza Lineup Leaked A Day Early

Lollapalooza's lineup leaked today.

Pearl Jam
Daft Punk
Ben Harper
Muse
Iggy & The Stooges
Modest Mouse
Interpol
My Morning Jacket
Satellite Party
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Snow Patrol
The Roots
Patti Smith
Kings Of Leon
The Black Keys
Regina Spektor
Spoon
Lupe Fiasco
TV On The Radio
Pete Yorn
G. Love
Paolo Nutini
Amy Winehouse
LCD Soundsystem
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Silverchair
Femi Kuti
Yo La Tengo
Hold Steady
Jack's Mannequin
Stephen Marley
STS9
M.I.A.
Slightly Stoopid
Blonde Redhead
Sparklehorse
Sean Lennon
!!!
Blue October
Son Volt
Motion City Soundtrack
The Polyphonic Spree
Peter Bjorn & John
Silversun Pickups
Cansei De Ser Sexy
The Rapture
The Wailers
Roky Erickson
Tapes 'N Tapes
Heartless Bastards
The View
The Cribs
The Fratellis
Ghostland Observatory
Tokyo Police Club
Rhymefest
Soulive
Cold War Kids
Annuals
Fields
Electric Six
Jim Noir
Elvis Perkins
Sam Roberts
Black Angels
Charlie Musselwhite
Aqueduct
Juliette & The Licks
Dios
Viva Voce
David Vandervelde
Los Campesinos!
Chin Up Chin Up
Ryan Shaw
Colour Revolt
Satin Peaches
Illinois
Arckid
Mickey Avalon
The 1900s
Bang Bang Bang
Bound Stems
High Class Elite
Carey Ott
Matt Roan

Bumbershoot 2007: The Shins, Wu-Tang, more!

As festivals pop up everywhere with silly names, especially in the Pacific Northwest, Bumbershoot continues the trend. Slated for September 1-3 at the Seattle Center in Seattle, WA, tickets arepriced at $75 for all three days (if you buy before 8/17).

The juicy info, of course, is the lineup: The Shins, the Wu-Tang Clan, Panic! At The Disco, Crowded House, Lupe Fiasco, Gogol Bordello, Kill Hannah, Norma Jean, Plain White T's, The Gourds, Lyrics Born, Holmes Brothers, Steve Earle, Devotchka, Devendra Banhart, Roky Erickson, Allison Moorer and Magnolia Electric Company, with many more TBA.

The Roots Prepare New "Synth-Heavy" Album, Kick Off Tour Tonight

The Roots are already working on a follow-up to the six-month old Game Theory, their Def Jam debut. The new album is expected in October 2007 or February 2008, and ?uestlove reports that "We are using a lot of synthesizer, but I don't know if I could call this the electronic album or not."

The Roots, along with Lupe Fiasco, will hit the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore on March 8, and DAR Constitution Hall in DC on March 9.

Complete tour dates:

02.07.07 The Fillmore San Francisco CA
02.08.07 The Fillmore San Francisco CA
02.10.07 Gibson Amphitheatre Universal City CA
02.12.07 House of Blues - San Diego San Diego CA
02.14.07 House of Blues - Anaheim Anaheim CA
02.16.07 Harry O's Park City UT
02.17.07 The Fillmore Auditorium Denver CO
02.19.07 Gypsy Tea Room Dallas TX
02.20.07 Stubb's Bar-B-Q Austin TX
02.22.07 House Of Blues - New Orleans New Orleans LA
02.24.07 House Of Blues - Downtown Disney, Orlando Lake Buena Vista FL
02.25.07 Revolution Fort Lauderdale FL
03.03.07 House of Blues - North Myrtle Beach North Myrtle Beach SC
03.04.07 The Tabernacle Atlanta GA
03.07.07 The NorVa Norfolk VA
03.08.07 Lyric Opera House Baltimore MD
03.09.07 DAR Constitution Hall Washington DC
03.10.07 Radio City Music Hall New York NY
03.11.07 Nokia Theatre Times Square New York NY
03.12.07 Nokia Theatre Times Square New York NY
03.13.07 Avalon - Boston Boston MA
03.17.07 Chicago Theatre Chicago IL
03.18.07 Eagles Club Milwaukee WI
03.20.07 Myth Saint Paul MN
03.22.07 The Pageant Saint Louis MO
03.24.07 The Guvernment - Kool Haus Toronto On
03.25.07 Metropolis Montreal Qu
03.31.07 West Coast Blues & Roots Festival Fremantle, AU
04.03.07 Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts - Verizon Hall Philadelphia PA
04.04.07 Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts - Verizon Hall Philadelphia PA
04.07.07 East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival Byron Bay, AU
04.08.07 Great Escape Festival Sydney, AU
04.10.07 Enmore Theatre Newtown AU
04.12.07 Thebarton Theatre Adelaide, AU
04.13.07 Metro Nightclub Melbourne, AU
04.14.07 Metro City Perth
04.29.07 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Indio CA