Gary Shider R.I.P.

Gary Shider passed away last week...legendary guitar player, hugely influential.  I first heard of Shider back when I was in college (early 80's) when I discovered Parliament and Funkadelic, where Shider was  a lead guitarist (along with another classic player, Eddie Hazel, also deceased).  Shider co-wrote and played on some of the best 70's soul/funk music - "Cosmic Slop", "One Nation..." and many more.  Shider was from Plainfield, NJ and before he was in the George Clinton universe (whom he met at  Clinton's barbershop) he played with his brothers in bands backing gospel groups like The Mighty Clouds of Joy.  Parliament/Funkadelic's music was an incredibly original mix of doo-wop, soul, and unusual for black artists at that time they also used heavy Jimi Hendrix/acid-influenced guitar as well, many times within the same song.  Shider really was an original, and another great musician is gone.

new music june

Some great new music out this spring/summer so far...the new Widespread Panic disc "Dirty Side Down" is their best album since 1999's "Til The Medicine Takes".  I'm grown used to their inconsistency on studio albums, and have looked forward to each release for 1 or 2 songs that would be as good as some of their earlier material.  "Don't Tell The Band" (their 2001 disc) had "Little Lilly" and "This Part of Town", the post-Hauser disc, 2003's awful "Ball" at least had "Fishing", 2006's "Earth to America" had "Time Zones" and "Second Skin", and 2008's incredibly mediocre "Free Somehow" had......well, I guess "Up All Night" is a good song.  But the new disc incorporates all the positive aspects of what the band has become...Jimmy Herring will never replicate the sound Michael Houser brought, but he's an incredibly talented guitarist, and has finally blended in with this band.  The opening song "Saint Ex" is excellent...it opens with moody guitars and organ and a pseudo-Latin feel.  The difference is in the songwriting...these songs aren't just a few mediocre riffs strung together...the songs are relatively complex, and they've got some really strong grooves on this disc.  "Cotton Was King" is an amazing rave-up in the style of "Time Zones", and "North", a Vic Chestnutt tune, has some great lead guitar and builds nicely.  There are of course some weak tracks here (wouldn't be a Panic disc without em), but when I can count more than 4 strong songs on a new WSP disc it means I'll have some good listening this summer.


I just read that Donavon Frankenreiter has just released a disc ("Revisited") that consists of some of his early material re-recorded to reflect his love of Hawaii.  I listened to some snippets of a few songs and it sounds awful.  It's like he put the songs thru some Don Ho machine to give it Hawaiian guitar flavor and mellow the songs out even more...and these songs were already really mellow.  From what I heard there's no percussion, it sounds like Hawaiian elevator music.  The songs are narcoleptic now.  Why he did this is beyond me, he must be bored.


On a better note, the new Tom Petty album "Mojo" is excellent, and now probably my favorite disc of his.  He was always a bit too poppy for my taste but I've always respected his music. (His 4 disc live compilation is great).  The new songs on "Mojo" are great, and he follows his blues-inspired Grateful Dead/Allmans muse here.  The songs sound like they pick up right where Mudcrutch left off...easy bluesy/folky songs but this time with Mike Campbell's guitar taking front and center.  There are some excellent songs here, my favorites are "First Flash of Freedom" and "The Trip To Pirates Cove", but the disc is very consistent.  They veer from Led Zep to the Dead, and the songs are anything but pop.  


I've got to write about Mountain Jam as well...great music again this year and a smoking Gov't Mule show....next time.

Lanois Hurt

I was never a fan of motorcycles...too much risk of injury for me.  Certainly hope he's ok..... Daniel Lanois Critically Injured In Motorcycle Accident Singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Daniel Lanois has canceled all upcoming appearances by his latest project, Daniel Lanois' Black Dub, after he was injured in a motorcycle accident last weekend in Los Angeles. ' Lanois was hospitalized with “multiple injuries” following the crash, according to a press release quoted by Entertainment Weekly. The highly respected producer (U2, Bob Dylan) “is expected to be released from intensive care soon.” “ Due to the severity of the injuries, Lanois … will be recuperating for the next two months.” Fans holding tickets for Black Dub’s July tour of Europe should check with point of purchase for refund information. The band’s debut album has also been postponed and will be released “when circumstances permit.”