I got real fired up after reading this preview of Les Claypool’s new film project The Electric Apricot which will be unveiled at the Malibu Film Festival on Sunday, April 9 (get your tickets here). The film is a documentary of the contemporary live music (more specifically, the wext coast jam scene)scene going down right now. Bob Weir, Mike Gordon, and Warren Haynes appear along with many others on the scene. I’m really excited to check it out!

I never realized that Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan had ever played together but apparently they have and below is the MP3 to prove it! What an amazing moment in music that was. When I listen to the sessions I can really hear the mutual respect that the two have for eachother. They play eachother’s songs as well as many standard tunes. I know that Johnny Cash always had an admiration for Bob Dylan as does almost every musician. My favorite part of the Johnny Cash movie Walk The Line is when Johnny and June (played by Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix) play It Ain’t Me Babe. I found this on An Aquarium Drunkard which is quickly becoming my favorite MP3 blog!

Get the Dylan/Cash Sessions MP3s here.

Details Here

I just got my ears on The Black Crowes unreleased album Meet The Band which was recorded in 1997 and is incredible! I wonder why they never released this album because it would surely have achieved great commercial success. The Crowes insted released the album By Your Side which wasn’t nearly as good in my opinion. Thanks Aquarium Drunkard!

Album details here.

blackcrowes.com

Get the lossless sessions here

MP3 download here.

The new Ben Harper album Both Sides Of The Gun comes out tommorow. I had a chance to hear Both Sides Of The Gun and the songs are definitely signature Ben Harper with many gut wrenching balads that cover various political topics including Hurricane Katrina. Ben Harper has taken his slide playing to a new level on Both Sides Of The Gun. Its funny how music can take you to another place in time. When I hear Crying Won’t Help You Now I’m taken to the place in time when I first heard Ben Harper. I was an unhappy person who longed for a big change in my life. I’m happy to report that change found me and I couldn’t be more grateful. Its funny how music can make you take pause. At any rate, go buy this album as soon as you can!

Here are some mp3s to get you by untill you pick up your copy of Both Sides Of The Gun:

Ben Harper - Get it Like You Want It
Ben Harper - Better Way
Ben Harper - Black Rain

The big question on every deadhead’s mind lately has been will The Dead tour this summer and if so, in what formation? Well sorry to be a debbie downer, but there will be no reunion this summer according to this interview with Bob Weir. To be honest, the best post Grateful Dead shows I’ve been to have been Ratdog and Phil and Friends shows. The reunion shows I’ve seen have always left me thirsty for more of this or that. They have these killer all star lineups with so many great performers that none of them get enough time to shine. I’d rather see Warren Haynes with Govt Mule than with The Dead because I know that I will be able to see him really whale with the Mule. Same with Derek Trucks, Steve Kimock, Chris Robinson and Joan Osborne. Don’t get me wrong, The Dead and will see them any chance I get, its just that Phil and Bobby have both done such a killer job perfecting their own flavor of Grateful Dead music that the void is filled.

As always, a related offering of must hear musical nugs (thanks nugs.net):

Last night on my favorite radio program, Dead to the World, Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann and his son Justin Kreutzmann gave an interesting interview. In the interview Bill talks about his approach to drums and his style. He also talks about meeting Pigpen, Jerry Garcia and playing with Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon (as Serial Pod). Bill also spends some time describing his digital artwork which you can check out here. Mike Gordon calls in for part of the interview as well.  You can stream the show here or read the transcript from the interview here.

One of the things that makes Keller Williams such a great musician is his influences and choice of cover songs. He plays everything from Grateful Dead to Billy Joel to Bill Monroe to Marley to Funk to Punk to Bluegrass. His influences include Michael Hedges, Ani DiFranco, Jerry Garcia, String Cheese Incident, and many many more. So its a natural transition for Keller to host a radio show in which he plays his favorite music. Enter Keller’s Cellar, a radio show hosted by Keller that is as eclectic ast the music that Keller plays.

On a side note, have you heard Keller’s new release with the Keel’s, Grass? If not check it out today, its very bluegrassy and contains some new territory for both Keller, Larry, and Jenny Keel.

Don’t forget to vote for Keller at this year’s Jammys.

Launch Keller’s Cellar here.

Have you heard about the Neil Young’s new film Heart of Gold? It was released last month and features Neil Young performing at the Ryman Auditorium with legends such as Emmylou Harris. Read more about it here.

Thanks to Phish & Chips, I present you with Neil Young at Willie Nelson’s fourth of July picnic:

Neil Young & Crazy Horse
“4th of July Picnic Weekend”
Two River Canyon Amphitheatre
Spicewood, TX
July 5, 2003

Tracks:
1. Love To Burn
2. Sedan Delivery
3. Powderfinger
4. Prisoners of Rock & Roll
5. Roll Another Number(For The Road)
6. Down By The River[with Willie Nelson]
7. Rockin’ In The Free World

Download the entire show in .flac here

All those bad apples out there trying to ruin it for everybody else really make my skin boil. Some selfish heartless bastard stole most of Derek Trucks Bands’ gear in Georgia last Thursday while Trucks was playing a show in New York with the Allman Brothers Band. Here is the official statement from derektrucks.com:

I really hope they catch the fools that did that.

If you haven’t picked up a copy of the new album Songlines yet, do yourself a favor and grab that one ASAP. Its the best album of 2006! Or better yet, go see Derek Trucks Band live:

Here is a killer Derek Trucks Band show from the archive:

Band/Artist: Derek Trucks Band
Date: January 25th, 2006
Venue: UB Center For The Arts
Location: Buffalo, NY