About Women in Rock Music

Amanda Ghost Appears as Epic Records President

2009-02-04T01:39:00.000-05:00

Amanda Ghost Appears as Epic Records President

The storied Epic Records now has a new president, one with an unusual pedigree. Amanda Ghost has now been slotted into the position, reporting into Rob Stringer, chairman of the Columbia/Epic Label Group. Epic is part of the freshly-consolidated Sony Music Entertainment, the major label formerly known as Sony BMG. Ghost will be based in New York, and follows in the footsteps of former presidents Charlie Walk, Polly Anthony, and Richard Griffiths.

The choice of Ghost, a singer-songwriter, is unusual. But Ghost is no stranger to success. The Londoner has penned several highly-successful songs, including James Blunt's "You're Beautiful," Beyonce and Shakira's "Beautiful Liar," and Jordin Sparks "Tatoo," among many others. "I'm not a conventional choice as an executive in the music business, but it is testament to the new mood at Sony where content is now king and the music business is being put back in the hands of creative talent such as myself," Ghost said, perhaps alluding to the less-successful executive experiment involving Rick Rubin.

Story by news analyst Alexandra Osorio.

Permalink: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/020209epic

Ruthie Foster Preps For Huge Tour

2009-01-27T20:42:00.009-05:00

By Blurt Staff

01/26/2009

Fresh off a show-stopping performance at last month's Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, songstress Ruthie Foster is about hit the road hitting the road in advance of her new CD THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO RUTHIE FOSTER (out February 3 on Blue Corn Music). She' be on the road with guitar wizards Jorma Kaukonen and Robben Ford as well as headlining gigs and festival dates in Japan, Australia, and closer to home, RUTHIE's non-stop globe trotting will take her through the first half of 2009 - with barely a moment's rest until the end of June.

Highlights along the way include stops at a hometown CD-release show at Antone's in Austin, TX on February 3; a headlining gig at L.A.'s intimate Hotel Café on March 10; festival gigs with the likes of Ben Harper and Patti Griffin; a stop at the Doheny Blues Festival and Strawberry Festival in May; and a series of co-headlining Canadian shows with The Blind Boys of Alabama in June.

Writes Washington Post critic Josh Freedom du Lac's list of Foster's turn at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in May, "The highlight of the weekend came when I wandered into the blues tent just in time to catch Ruthie Foster leading her all-female band through a cleansing, deeply soulful cover of the Lucinda Williams song, ‘Fruits of my Labor.' It was a revelation.

"I was blown away by Foster's vocals, which were the perfect combination of emotion, power and control, with some stunning flourishes, such as her descending vocal runs. On a subsequent song, Foster sustained a vocal note for what seemed, in real time, like three minutes; it was a crowd-stirring, tent-top-lifting, jaw-dropping, lung-emptying, hair-raising, wow-she's-still-holding-it?!!? moment. Foster blended the ache and weariness of a blues singer with the fiery grit and optimism of a gospel vocalist. If you need a vis-a-vis, I'll offer early-era Aretha as a data point. Yes, she was that good. If you'd heard Foster drilling down to the emotional core of the blues stomp, ‘Death Came A Knockin' (Travelin' Shoes),' you'd understand. Awesome stuff."

In a preview of the upcoming Foster disc, Hal Horowitz wrote in Blues Revue, "The truth, according to this remarkable album, is that Ruthie Foster is one of America's finest soul-blues artists...but it wasn't until 2007's The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster that the world took notice. This follow-up is even better...Producer Chris Goldsmith, who helms the famed Ardent Studios board in Memphis, brought in the legendary Jim Dickinson to play keyboards along with guitarist Robben Ford and the Memphis Horns. The result is a full-on blast of soul and blues that mixes some of Foster's finest self-penned material with tunes made famous by O.V. Wright (a stunning ‘A Nickel and a Nail') and Ann Peebles (‘You Keep Me Hangin' On') along with more obscure gems by Patty Griffin and Eric Bibb. The combination of a talented band, powerful songs, and Foster's roaring, gospel-inspired vocals leaves Truth with no weak spots among it's dozen tracks...Throughout the album, the sound is crisp, the playing and production top-notch. If this one doesn't elevate Foster to the next level of popularity, it's impossible to imagine what will."

Ruthie Foster Tour Dates:

**1/30/09 Pittsfield, MA The Colonial Theatre

**1/31/09 New London, CT The Garde Theatre

**2/2/09 New York, NY B.B. King Blues Club & Grill

2/3/09 Austin, TX Antone's

**2/4/09 Morristown, NJ Community Theater at the Mayo Center

**2/5/09 Englewood, NJ Bergen Performing Arts Center

**2/6/09 Harrisburg, PA Sunoco Performing Theatre

**2/7/09 Stamford, CT Palace Theatre

**2/8/09 Poughkeepsie, NY Bardavon 1869 Opera House

**2/9/09 Pomona, NJ Stockton Performing Arts Center

**2/10/09 Virginia Beach, VA, The Sandler Cent for the Perf Arts

**2/12/09 Wilmington, DE Grand Opera House

**2/13/09 Charlottesville, VA Paramount Theater Auditorium

**2/14/09 Greensboro, NC Carolina Theatre of Greensboro

**2/15/09 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse

**2/17/09 Durham, NC Carolina Theatre

**2/18/09 Falls Church, VA State Theatre

**2/19/09 Newark, OH Midland Theatre

**2/20/09 Clinton Township, MI Macomb Center

**2/21/09 Glen Ellyn, IL College of DuPage Arts Center

**2/22/09 Grayslake, IL James Lumber Cent Perf Arts

**2/24/09 Beaver Creek, CO Vilar Center for the Arts

**2/25/09 Aspen, CO Wheeler Opera House

**2/26/09 Monterey, CA Golden State Theatre

**2/27/09 San Rafael, CA Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium

**2/28/09 Redding, CA Cascade Theatre

**3/1/09 Portland, OR Aladdin Theater

**3/3/09 Arcata, CA Van Duzer Theatre (Humboldt St. U.)

**3/4/09 Davis, CA Jackson Hall / Mondavi Cent for the Arts

**3/6/09 Olympia, WA The Washington Center

**3/7/09 Bellingham, WA Mount Baker Theatre

**3/8/09 Seattle, WA The Triple Door

3/10/09 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Café

*3/19/09 Austin, TX SXSW Festival

*3/21/09 Tampa, FL Tampa Bay Blues Festival

3/26/09 Yokohama, Japan Thumbs Up

3/27/09 Tokyo, Japan Cay

3/28/09 Kyoto, Japan TakuTaku

3/30/09 Nagoya, Japan Tokuzo

4/2/09 Brisbane, Australia Judith Wright Centre

4/3/09 Eumundi, Australia Joe's Waterhole

4/4/09 Canberra, Australia, The Folkus Room

4/7/09 Kincumber, Australia Lizottes

4/8/09 Sydney, Australia The Basement

4/10/09 Byron Bay, Australia Bluesfest

4/11/09 Byron Bay, Australia Bluesfest

4/14/09 Melbourne, Australia The Corner Hotel

4/16/09 Hepburn Springs, Australia The Palais

4/17/09 Meeniyan, Australia Meeniyan Town Hall

4/18/09 Fremantle, Australia West Coast Blues & Roots

4/22/09 Adelaide, Australia The Governor Hindmarsh

4/23/09 Sydney, Australia The Factory Theatre

4/24/09 Bulli, Australia Heritage Hotel

*5/9/09 Shreveport, LA 1st Annual Leadbelly Blues Fest

*5/17/09 Dana Point, CA Doheny Blues Festival

5/22/09 Yosemite, CA Strawberry Music Festival

*5/24/09 Silver City, NM Silver City Blues Festival

*5/28/09 Herndon, VA Herndon Festival

***6/14/09 Vancouver, BC, Can Vancouver for Perf Arts

***6/15/09 Victoria, BC, Canada Royal Theatre

***6/17/09 Winnipeg, MB, Canada Pantages Playhouse

***6/18/09 Calgary, AB, Canada Southern Alberta Jubilee Aud

***6/19/09 Edmonton, AB, Canada Northern Alberta Jubilee Aud

*6/26/09 Laytonville, CA Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival

* Denotes multi-act festival

** Denotes tour date with Jorma Kaukonen and Robben Ford

***Denotes tour date with The Blind Boys of Alabama

http://www.blurt-online.com/news/view/1745/

http://www.ruthiefoster.com/ For More Information

Fanny Are Still Rocking!

2008-05-25T13:09:00.001-04:00

If you ever wondered what ever happened to Fanny, the fantastic all- girl rock band of the 1970s, they had a reunion last year and are still rocking!! If you have never heard of Fanny before you have been missing out on listening to music from a great band - here's what David Bowie had to say about them: "One of the most important female bands in American rock has been buried without a trace. And that is Fanny. They were one of the finest fucking rock bands of their time..."

Some of the members of Fanny have set up a web site which features videos of their live performances, exclusive photos of the band, and personal histories; they plan to offer t-shirts and other cool stuff in the near future! Check them out at: http://www.fannyrocks.com

You can also meet other Fanny fans on a new portal and forum that has recently opened at: http://fanny7roads.forumakers.com/

Fans are kicking off and playing fresh remixes of Fanny's music and sharing photos, stories and information about the band. The forum is also of interest to anyone with a predilection for women's rock music - come and join us!

MELISSA ETHERIDGE: THE REVIVAL TOUR 2008

2008-05-01T21:24:00.000-04:00

(Official tour pr release as follows:)

MELISSA ETHERIDGE: THE REVIVAL TOUR 2008

48-CITY HEADLINING TOUR OF U.S. & CANADA RUNS JUNE 15TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 9TH – FIRST MAJOR N.A. TOUR SINCE OSCAR-WINNING “I NEED TO WAKE UP” PHENOMENOM

THE AWAKENING ranked #20 on Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Albums of 2007

2008 marks 20th anniversary year of debut album release, Melissa Etheridge (1998)

(April 24, 2008 – New York, NY) Multi-platinum, Oscar and two-time Grammy Award winning Island Records artist Melissa Etheridge makes a timely summer return to the road for The Revival Tour 2008, her first major headlining North American tour in two years, opening June 15th at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida. The 48-city schedule, with several multiple night engagements along the way, works its way across the U.S. and Canada for 12 weeks, wrapping up September 9th at Midland Theatre in Kansas City. (Please see complete tour itinerary below.)

“I love to perform live, and I am on a new journey in my life,” Melissa says. “Put those two things together, and you have my Revival Tour. I’ll be playing the favorites along with album cuts and songs from The Awakening to tell my story. I hope you enjoy it.”

The Revival Tour 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of Melissa Etheridge’s self-titled RIAA multi-platinum debut album on Island in May 1988. One of rock’s most celebrated debuts, it contained her first four chart singles: “Bring Me Some Water,” “Like the Way I Do,” “Similar Features,” and “Chrome Plated Heart.” 19 years later, in September 2007, Melissa released her most recent (ninth) studio album, The Awakening, featuring “Message To Myself.” The concept album was ranked #20 by Rolling Stone magazine on its list of the 50 Top Albums of 2007.

2007 was a landmark year for Melissa Etheridge, beginning at the Academy Awards on February 25th, when “I Need To Wake Up” won the Oscar for Best Original Song, from Al Gore’s Academy Award winning documentary of 2006, An Inconvenient Truth. Three weeks before the Oscars, the song was issued commercially (for the first time) as a closing bonus track on the enhanced version of Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled, her 17- (now 18-) song RIAA gold career anthology, originally compiled and released in 2005.

In July 2007, Melissa Etheridge joined the all-star cast of participants at Live Earth, where she introduced Al Gore to the crowd at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Live Earth’s emphasis on the perils of global warming underscored the continuing relevance of “I Need To Wake Up.” Melissa reprised the song at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, co-starring Earth, Wind & Fire, Annie Lennox, Alicia Keys and others, attended by Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore, and broadcast to over 100 countries.

MELISSA ETHERIDGE: THE REVIVAL TOUR 2008

Date City Venue

June 15 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall

16 Orlando, FL Bob Carr Performing Arts Center

17 Boca Raton, FL Mizner Park Amphitheatre

19 Jacksonville, FL The Florida Theatre

20 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre

21 Louisville, KY Palace Theatre

24 Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium

25 Washington, DC DAR Constitution Hall

27 Wilkes-Barre, PA F.M. Kirby Center for Performing Arts

28 Albany, NY Palace Theatre

29 Danbury, CT Ives Concert Park

July 1-2 Hyannis, MA Cape Cod Melody Tent

4 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Events Center

5 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion

6 Newport, RI Newport Yachting Center

9-10 New York, NY WAMU Theater formerly the Theatre at MSG

11 Northampton, MA The Pines

13 Canandaigua, NY Constellation Brands Perf. Arts Center CMAC

15 Reading, PA Sovereign Performing Arts Center

16 Poughkeepsie, NY Mid Hudson Civic Center

18 -19 Lowell MA Lowell Memorial Auditorium

21 Montreal, Que. Salle Wilfred Pelletier Place des Arts

22 Ottawa, Ont. National Arts Center

23 Quebec City, Que. Grand Theatre de Quebec

25 Mashantucket, CT MGM Grand Theatre at Foxwoods

26 Shelburne, VT Ben and Jerry’s Concerts on the Green at

Shelburne Museum

28 Toronto, Ont. Massey Hall

30 Madison, WI Overture Center for the Arts

31 Indianapolis, IN Clowes Memorial Hall

Aug. 2 Columbus, OH Celeste Center at the Ohio State Fair

3 Detroit, MI Opera House

7-8 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre

9 St. Paul, MN The O’Shaughnessey Auditorium

11 St. Louis, MO Fox Theatre

13 Austin, TX Paramount Theatre

14 Houston, TX Alice & George Brown Theatre

15 Dallas, TX Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie

17 Albuquerque, NM Sandia Casino Amphitheatre

18 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre

20 Santa Rosa, CA Wells Fargo Center for the Arts

22 Eugene, OR Cuthbert Amphitheatre

23 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

24 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre

26 Denver, CO Human Rights Campaign Event at the Fillmore

28 Oakland, CA Paramount Theatre

29 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre

30 San Diego, CA Concerts In The Park (Alpine)

Sept. 9 Kansas City, MO Midland Theatre

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Needs Help

2008-03-01T15:30:00.004-05:00

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals needs some help getting the word out on their next few tour dates, Read what her people are asking:

Hey everyone!

We had incredible success on the last leg of touring thanks to all the support from GPN fans around the country. There's no way we could have gotten the word out about our shows without you. It is truly appreciated.

With a stretch of shows coming up with the Benevenuto Russo Duo in March, we would love your help again. If you live near the following venues, and would be interested in putting a few posters up in the area, please let us know. You can email hanna@indie911.com for more info and to let us know where to send.

March 11th Headliners Music Hall (Louisville, KY)
March 12th High Noon Saloon (Madison, WI)
March 13th The Cabooze (Minneapolis, MN)
March 14th Pabst Theater (Milwaukee, WI)
March 15th Logan Square (Chicago, IL)
March 16th Mr. Small's Theatre (Pittsburgh, PA)

As always, your support is truly appreciated!

GPN My Space Site

Carly Simon Joins Hear Music For New Album

2008-03-01T15:25:00.000-05:00

February 28, 2008, 3:35 PM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Carly Simon has joined ex-paramour James Taylor, Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell on the roster of Starbucks' Hear Music label. Her first release for the company, "This Kind of Love," will be available April 29.

The 13-track set has a Brazilian-heavy sound, and finds Simon collaborating with Jimmy Webb and Frank Filipetti. That trio was responsible for Simon's 1997 album "Film Noir."

"You don't have to be singing bossa nova or samba to get the essence" of Brazilian music," Simon says. "There are songs that fit no one rhythm or generic type or song progression."

One song each was written by Simon's daughter Sally and son Ben. Among the musicians comprising the studio band are guitarists Peter Calo and David Saw and noted percussionist Cyro Baptista.

"This Kind of Love" is Simon's first album of original material since 2000's "The Bedroom Tapes." Her last two projects have featured standards.

Hear Music, which scored hits last year with McCartney and Mitchell, would seem to be a natural fit for Simon, who has bounced around labels throughout her nearly 40-year career. She most recently recorded for Columbia.

Here is the track list for "This Kind of Love":

"This Kind of Love"
"Hold Out Your Heart"
"People Say A Lot"
"Island"
"How Could You Ever Forget"
"Hola Soleil"
"In My Dreams"
"When We're Together"
"So Many People"
"They Just Want You To Be There"
"Last Samba"
"Sangre Dolce"
"Too Soon to Say Goodbye

Link to the original article

Interesting Articles about Yoko Ono and Donna Jean Godchaux

2008-02-15T16:57:00.004-05:00

Two unlikely women in rock music:

http://www.jambase.com/

Madonna tops Forbes.com list of richest women in music

2008-02-01T10:14:00.000-05:00

Madonna tops Forbes.com list of richest women in music

MUSIC: Madonna tops Forbes.com's list of richest women in singing industry

12:00 AM CST on Friday, February 1, 2008
The Associated Press

NEW YORK – Madonna is the richest woman in music.

The 49-year-old entertainer leads Forbes.com's list of the top 20 "Cash Queens of Music," earning $72 million between June 2006 and June 2007.

The pop star's Confessions Tour pulled in $260 million, Forbes.com said. She also made money from album sales, her fashion line with H&M and a deal with NBC to broadcast her concert performance at London's Wembley Stadium.

Forbes.com said it compiled the list by examining concert grosses, merchandising revenue, album sales and other revenue from clothing lines, fragrance deals and endorsements.

Barbra Streisand is No. 2 with $60 million, thanks to her comeback tour of North America and Europe.

Celine Dion ranks third with $45 million, largely from the successful A New Day ... show in Las Vegas, which she wrapped up in December after a five-year engagement at Caesars Palace.

Shakira is fourth with $38 million, followed by Beyoncé ($27 million), Gwen Stefani ($26 million), Christina Aguilera ($20 million), Faith Hill ($19 million), the Dixie Chicks ($18 million) and Mariah Carey ($13 million).

Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne and Martina McBride each banked $12 million.

Britney Spears ranked 14th on the list, earning $8 million from music royalties and sales of her fragrances with Elizabeth Arden.

Ms. Spears is followed by Carrie Underwood and Nelly Furtado ($7 million each); Fergie, Jennifer Lopez and Sheryl Crow ($6 million each); and Norah Jones ($5.5 million).

The Associated Press
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-forbes_0201gl.ART.State.Edition2.45509c3.html

SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS

2008-01-21T15:29:00.000-05:00

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings on etree:

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=512209
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=512344
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=505185

What a voice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS

Sharon Jones was born Sheron Lafaye Jones in Augusta, Georgia on May 4th 1956. Her mother moved to Brooklyn soon thereafter, however Jones was sent down south for a few months every year to stay with her family. As a child, she and her brothers would imitate the songs and dances of James Brown, who shared their hometown. Like many rhythm and blues entertainers, she began performing in church at a very young age where her voice would find a lifelong home and inspiration. As a teenager in the early nineteen seventies, she began singing outside of the church in talent shows and with local funk groups. Later she would make her living with a combination of sporadic session work as a mostly anonymous voice on various dance records (sometimes credited as Lafaye Jones), singing with wedding bands, and a handful of day jobs which included stints as both a prison guard at New York’s notorious Riker’s Island, and an armored car guard for Wells Fargo Bank. In 1996 she was called in to sing back-up at a Desco Records studio session for 70’s soul legend Lee Fields. To Read More . . .

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings My Space Site

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals On the Road

2008-01-19T04:38:00.000-05:00

Tour Schedule and Tickets

The band has just set out on an exciting nationwide tour, headed to cities around the country. This is a great opportunity to open some ears in places they've never played before, and we could most certainly use your help.

If you're located at any of the stops along the way, and would be willing to put up a few tour posters around the area please let us know. Email john@indie911.com for all the info.

Thanks for all the support!

1/20 Memphis, TN
1/22 New Orleans, LA
1/23 Austin, TX
1/25 Flagstaff, AZ
1/29 Los Angeles, CA
1/30 San Francisco, CA
2/01 Seattle, WA
2/02 Vancouver, BC
2/05 Boise, ID
2/06 Jackson Hole, WY
2/08 Denver, CO
2/09 Lawrence, KS
2/10 Columbia, MO
2/11 Davenport, IA
2/14 Roanoake, VA
2/15 Norfolk, VA
2/16 Washington, DC
2/17 Wilmington, DE
2/20 Ridgefield, CT
2/21 New York, NY
2/22 New Haven, CT
2/23 Portsmouth, NH

For More information about Grace Potter and the Nocturnals read this article:

The band from Potterville conjures a vintage vibe

By Mark Jordan
Special to The Commercial Appeal
Saturday, January 19, 2008

Hailing from Vermont, home to the late-and-lamented jam band Phish, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals have had to battle an image problem since forming in 2002 . . .

Grace Potter plays Jam, looks for long career

2007-12-14T02:17:00.000-05:00

CITIZEN-TIMES.com
By Amy Jones
take5 correspondent
December 14, 2007 12:15 am

After four missed calls over four days and a spotty cell phone connection later, Grace Potter finally clears the air about what makes her and the Nocturnals the next band worth lining up for. More importantly she reminds us all that jamming as well as giving are good for the soul. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals play Warren Haynes Christmas Jam on Saturday night.

Question: For a heavy touring band like you guys, why spend time off at the holidays at a benefit concert far from home? (Grace Potter and the Nocturnals now hail from Waitsfield, Vt., where they still live on a big piece of land also called “Potterville” by those who know it).

Answer: When I found out this was happening it was the No. 1 thing I wanted to do at this time. It’s a special time of year. ... If you can give you should. Plus, it’s a chance for musicians to come together and say something. It’s more powerful than writing one song and slugging it around night after night. It’s one night, the only time it’s going to happen. I’m very happy to be a part of it.

Q: This is the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, which sort of indicates that the guests on the bill are cherry-picked by him. How did you guys make such a strong connection?

A: Actually, we first met Warren years ago in New York City when he just happened to come into this restaurant where we were meeting with a label that was trying to sign us. He knew the label guy and came over and said “Hi” to us, but it was another year until we played with him. Of course, we’ve been on tour with him now, and I would come out and sing with his band, and each of those songs just had their own spirit.

Q: The band has certainly evolved over the last few years and quickly.

A: Yeah. We’re all young, and we have transitioned more than we expected to. We’re from Vermont, not New York City, and the amount of change we’ve been through is more than our share. The early stuff sounds like a jazz band working brunches. I feel like I should still be in college. Not the place, just my mind how it picks up everything.

Q: So do you think how you operate now, what you bring to the stage is something that is unique to young rock and roll?

A: Well I hope this feeling doesn’t fade away. I mean look at Gov’t Mule. I think what they’ve done on their new album is really a stretch. They have made incredible steps. It’s out of their comfort zone. I am just talking about this interest in channeling new personas, working and warping your sensibilities to what is going on around you.

Q: There are few articles where your sex appeal isn’t mentioned in conjunction with your music. What is your perspective on all of this?

A: If it’s there it’s natural, and I’m not going to be hot forever. Really, it’s a tool, and its something else to bring someone in with, get them to come around even if they aren’t sure about what we do yet. It’s something to hook them in and let them wander around and get introduced to us. I’m willing to do whatever I have to, to propel my longevity. Except take my clothes off. I’m not doing that. Truthfully, I’m a hard person to pin down. My cycle of hot-versus-not, image-versus-the rest-of-it, that changes with each show.

Q: Well, hot or not, you’ll be one of very few women who plays this Jam.

A: I love being in the jam band community, but I don’t want to be a jam band. I could go without hearing words like “groove collective” ever again. Our album (“This Is Somewhere,” 2007) gave us a chance to put out a sticky sound made of songs not long jams. I want to do more of that. Of course, if James Brown doesn’t say it — it doesn’t matter anyway.

Amy Jones writes for take5.

Citation

Warren Haynes, Grace Potter on Gold Dust Woman

2007-12-05T23:06:00.000-05:00

With Gov't Mule of course.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qZJE28l8kA

It doesn't get much better than this. Wish we had the whole song,
with The Angel Band intro too. What a show.

Gov't Mule
11.01.07
Voodoo Lounge
Kansas City, MO

Set 1:
Hammer & Nails
Monkey Hill
Thorazine Shuffle
Fools Moon
Streamline Woman
Endless Parade
Bad Little Doggie
Mr. High & Mighty
The Angel Band w/ Grace Potter *
Gold Dust Woman w/ Grace Potter

Set 1:
Banks of The Deep End
I'm A Ram>
Love Me Do>
I'm A Ram
Unblow Your Horn w/ A Get Up, Stand Up Tease
Left Coast Groovies
Drums
Nothing Again
I Believe To My Soul
Mule

Encore:
The Same Thing (Slow Version)

Why aren't there any great female guitarists?

2007-12-02T23:12:00.000-05:00

This question was recently posed on a well respected rock band's message board.

This was my response.

As for female guitarists. I think Melissa Etheridge has done some nice guitar work. Her guitar certainly has helped her write some great rock songs. She is not a lead guitarist however. Wilson from Heart is a good lead guitarist. Recently I've seen Joan Armatrading do some nice guitar work as she has headed back to the blues roots with her new release. Another rocker who is probably not on most people on this site's radar screen is Amy Ray from the Indigo Girls. She flat out rocks and plays lead very nicely. She also has a great voice and great song writing skills.

I am not familiar with many of the female rock guitarists who have often been mentioned as great electric players when this topic comes up: Davies and Hopkins most frequently. I've listened to Davies and don't like her material and can't say she has any guitar work of interest to me. Joan Jett is another who's material I am not interested in. I'll have to check out the other women mentioned in this thread. (It isn't just their guitar playing that matters to me but the whole musical package.) Susan has truly grown as a lead guitarist and overall guitarist over the past six years I've been listening to her. I would say she must have a good teacher or something like that. :-)

To me the question lies in how difficult it is for women to break into the rock world. I agree with the assertion that it is difficult for women who play any instrument within a rock framework, other than singing, and even with singing there aren't nearly as many female singers fronting rock bands as male singers.

I don't want to be perceived as a rabid feminist, though I don't mind the feminist label, but let's face it: the world of rock music is 30 years behind the times when it comes to equal opportunities for women in the field. Why, even in the business angle there is a wide divide. And, it isn't going to change until men start doing things differently. As a female observer new to the behind the scenes activity, I would say, the guys have a lot of growing up to do.

Of course there is also the larger society. Let's face it, most parent's don't tell their daughters "go ahead and learn how to play that thing." "Go ahead and be a rock star, you can forget about going to school to become a teacher or nurse or social worker." Then when the girls look around at the images that are prevalent, they don't see themselves represented. Furthermore, most girls learn not to be so assertive after they hit about 11 because it isn't "lady-like" and the boys won't like them if they are too forward. Studies have been done that actually show that girls lose some assertiveness as they hit their adolescent years just because they want to be "liked" more than their male counterparts.

Then there is the push and shove that happens if you are a female and you do want to play rock music. Men just aren't asked to give other men blow jobs quite as often as women are. So, if you are a woman and you want to be a rock star, you have to face the fact that you may be asked to perform sexually for a chance at your dream. And while many of you might say "oh, no that ain't true," you are kidding someone but not the countless young female adolescents have looked at the field and said "no, I won't do that."

Then there is the issue of looks. For women to be on the stage they must look good. Just look at the women who have made it in the popular music scene over the past 20 years. You would think there aren't any unattractive women who know how to sing or play in the world if you only looked at the surface of the field. I think men face that issue too, though not quite as deeply as women do. Certainly, do not be a fat woman. Sure you can point to one or two women here and there through the last 20-30 years who have made it without the acceptable visuals, but they are rare exceptions to the rule.

Then there is the whole guitar issue. I've tried to learn and I will say it ain't easy. Many guitars are not made to work for women who tend to have smaller hands than men. Of course it is true that some men hand's aren't tremendous as well, but in general the instrument is not designed for a female's hands. Shawn Covin has a nice signature acoustic designed for a smaller hand but most kids learning to play do not buy expensive guitars just to learn on.

Anyway, there is always hope and I am hopeful that the young women growing up today will take up instruments and be supported by their parents. I am also hopeful that things can change in the business end of the field as well. But like I mentioned it really is up to the men who have a lock on the field to be more accepting of women who try to break into the field. Efforts like the Mule bringing Grace Potter and her band to open for them is a case in point. :-)

Also efforts like these:
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/30/32/30_32schoolofroc k.html
http://torontoist.com/2007/08/for_girls_about.php
http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2007/07/24/news/09r ock.txt
http://www.nikkioneill.com/article_rock_chicks.html

are happening throughout the world right now. :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angelemerald

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Tour Schedule

2007-11-29T23:09:00.000-05:00

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Tour Schedule

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals w- Warren Haynes

2007-11-27T22:32:00.000-05:00

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals with Warren Haynes

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=511409

CD - 1 -
01. Come Together**(2007-10-21)
02. Gold Dust Woman**(2007-11-01)
03. Who Knows (2007-10-27)
04. Watching You (2007-10-21)
05. Nothing But The Water (2007-11-15)
06. Jet Airliner**(2007-10-14)
07. Cortez The Killer (2007-10-09)

CD - 2 -
01. Stop The Bus (2007-11-15)
02. Treat Me Right (2007-11-15)
03. If I Was From Paris (2007-11-15)
04. Find The Cost Of Freedom**(2007-11-09)
05. Ohio**(2007-11-09)
06. Tonight`s The Night (2007-10-31)
07. Southern Man**(2007-11-10)
08. Wild Horses**(2007-11-14)

** with Warren Haynes

Women in Rock

2007-11-24T00:57:00.000-05:00

Are In the News

To address the under-representation of women in the rock scene, the Harvard College Women’s Center center invited three female-led bands to perform in the Queen’s Head, as part of its “Women Rock Pub Night.”
For more information: Female Artists Rock Queen’s Head Pub
by Anna Polonyi for The Harvard Crimson

Cinema Blends Top 5: Chick Lead Singers

MUSIC REVIEW: Annie Lennox: Songs of Mass Destruction by JON BREAM for the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Blabbermouth said [I just love the name of that online mag]: The multi-platinum EVANESCENCE proved that female-fronted rock was a serious mainstream force, and more and more hard rocking women in groups like LACUNA COIL and FLYLEAF (on a mainstream level), ARCH ENEMY, WITHIN TEMPTATION, and IN THIS MOMENT (bubbling under), and LEAVES' EYES and THE AGONIST (growing on an underground level) are showcasing their diversity across many subgenres of metal. Such activity should make female rock star progenitors like Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Lita Ford, Grace Slick, and Janis Joplin proud.

Even Bryan Reesman of Grammy.com had something to say about women in rock.

Patti Smith, Juliette Lewis and Shingai Shoniwa are interviewed about rock stardom by Sophie Heawood of the London Times On Line. Here's the Link

“Dreamboat Annie's” comin' 'round the bend again.
By David L. Coddon for the Union Tribune

The 1976 album that introduced the rock 'n' roll world to a rockin' sister act – Ann and Nancy Wilson's Heart – has turned 31 and gone multimedia. The Wilsons performed “Dreamboat Annie” in its entirety in April at L.A.'s Orpheum Theatre. Resulting from that show was a concert CD and an accompanying DVD, “Heart: Dreamboat Annie Live,” which was just recently released. Here's the link to the full review.

LA Women in Music was mentioned on the internet on Top40Charts.com There was also a message about this group's mission and fund raising efforts on a nice message board called Indierocktalk.

Play it as it Lays - Patti Scialfa

2007-11-22T00:43:00.000-05:00

I heard Town Called Heartbreak on Letterman tonight. She has an interesting sounding voice. Not sure if I love it yet, but I like it enough to buy this cd. I'll let you know what I think after I listen to it. Here's some snippets from her web site.

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Play It As It Lays -- Patti Scialfa’s third solo album and her first since 2004’s 23rd Street Lullaby -- will rock your soul and offer a brand new destination for inspiration. For Scialfa, inspiration in this case has been found not just down a Memphis road, but also throughout a soulful album. The most rhythmic, sensuous and accomplished recording of Scialfa’s solo career, Play It As It Lays is an intimate musical passion play that borrows its evocative title from a novel by one of her favorite authors, Joan Didion who once wrote, “You have to pick the places you don’t walk away from.” In the end, Play It As It Lays stands as an inspired song cycle focused on grown up love and that daily decision to not walk away from the things that last.

Musically speaking, Play It As It Lays -- produced by Scialfa, longtime friend and collaborator Steve Jordan and Ron Aniello (Guster, Barenaked Ladies) -- artfully travels down some familiar Memphis roads as well as along other trails blazed in our finer Southern musical capitals. This is powerful music made at the crossroads of rock, R&B, folk, blues and gospel. Though very much a contemporary and vital effort, there are powerful echoes here of everything from Dusty in Memphis to The Staples Singers, from Al Green to Laura Nyro, from Sly Stone to Creedence Clearwater Revival -- all music making time on Scialfa’s iPod during the recording of Play It Like It Lays.

“I think the reason I went more into the soul music genre this time around is because women have traditionally allowed more freedom of expression in rhythm and blues,” Scialfa explains. “Those were very adult records. That’s why Aretha was singing ‘You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman.’ That’s one reason the blues and soul music are so wonderful. Those women always had a long list of complaints and they could belt them all out in a very beautiful and powerful way. Now that I’m 53, I had to find a way to write inside my skin and have it feel timely to me, so moving more into the R&B direction felt like the right place to go.”

The soulful sound of Play It As It Lays is also a stylistic approach that helps underscore a collection of songs with a naturally feminist and humanistic point of view about the many roles women play-- “mother, brother, sister, lover, wife, a friend, a confidant, or an angel or just a fool in the end,” as Scialfa sings on “Like Any Woman Would.” Like some of Scialfa’s earlier work, Play It As It Lays reflects a love for our finest girl groups of the past, but this is clearly an album by a woman in the present tense. Listen closely and you can hear the sound of a woman -- and likely women everywhere -- calling out “You’ve Got To Work With Me, Baby” as Scialfa does repeatedly on the infectious swamp rocker “Town Called Heartbreak.”

Patti Scialfa on the web

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals On the Road

2007-11-19T21:35:00.000-05:00

With their German Fans

With Gov't Mule

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Web Site
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AngelEmerald on Grace Potter:

"I was able to hear a few songs by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (at Mountain Jam 2006) and I will say she has it going on. People who like the Allman Brothers, Susan Tedeschi and Bonnie Raitt will absolutely like her sound. She (Grace) has a great voice, I thought much in the vein of Melissa Etheridge but a little sweeter, with less of an edge. She is definitely another performer I want to hear more of."

By Angelemerald on June 8, 2006
Warren and Mule on Yahoo
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For a photo of Scott Tournet's broken guitar, check out Rock Music Daily.
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Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Tour Schedule

VH1: 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll

2007-11-17T13:09:00.001-05:00

http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1999/vh1women.htm

Top 25 Women In Rock?

2007-11-17T13:05:00.000-05:00

Top 25 Women In Rock?
Written by uao
Published November 02, 2005
Part of Sunday Morning Playlist

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/11/02/001205.php

What Evanescence' Amy Lee has to say

2007-11-16T22:46:00.000-05:00

About women in rock music

Looking back, popular music had these strong females fronting commercially successful, but still hard-rocking, bands: Chrissie Hynde, Patti Smith, Joan Jett. Why do you think the strong female rock figure doesn’t really exist today? (Asked by Aly Comingore for the Santa Barbara Independent)

Amy Lee: It’s the hardest question for me to answer, and I don’t know the answer. … I think it’s one of those things that’s either random, or generally, I think when you see women in music people assume it’s just not them being the group. Because so much of the pop industry is what we see. … It’s just a girl, and that’s the gimmick, and there’s some mastermind man behind the scenes doing all the actual work. So it’s harder for people to buy a chick in a rock band. And that was really the only seriously big challenge for me, being a woman in the industry. I didn’t think it was anything specifically hard, except for the fact that I had to prove that I was real, and that I’m actually a writer first and a singer and performer second.

But I totally didn’t answer your question. Where’s Joan Jett? I dunno. I wish they’d all come back. I think there are female-fronted rock bands out there that are good, they’re just not big, and we need to support ’em.

To read more go to: the Santa Barbara Independent

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals on Etree

2007-11-16T21:46:00.000-05:00

Catch this band!

Grace Potter And The Nocturnals
Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC
November 15, 2007 (Opened for Gov't Mule)

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=511163

Setlist:
01 Mastermind
02 Treat Me Right >
03 Stop The Bus
04 Here's To The Meantime
05 Big White Gate
06 "Border Story"
07 If I Was From Paris
08 Watching You >
09 Nothing But The Water (Part I) >
10 Nothing But The Water (Part II) >
11 Group Drums > Band Intros >
12 Nothing But The Water (Part II) >
13 Nothing But The Water (Part I)

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Grace Potter And The Nocturnals
Alabama Theater - Birmingham, AL
2007-10-21 (Opened for Gov't Mule)

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=511231
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=511061

01. Intro
02. Meantime
03. Ah Mary
04. Ain't No Time
05. Stop The Bus
06. Nothing But The Water(Part I)>
07. Nothing But The Water(Part II)>
08. Drums>
09. Nothing But The Water(Part II)>
10. Big White Gate
11. If I Was From Paris
12. Watching You
13. Come Together* * with Warren Haynes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals -
O'Shaughnessy Aud., College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN
2007-10-31 (Opened for Gov't Mule)

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=510854
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=510860

01. Tonight's The Night [05:03]
02. "Happy Fucking Halloween!" [00:22]
03. Sinkin' Man [05:10]
04. intros > [01:26]
05. Mastermind [04:40]
06. Treat Me Right" [07:03]
07. Come Together [06:06]
08. If I Was From Paris [04:26]
09. Watching You [08:15]

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Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
The Voodoo Lounge, Kansas City, MO
2007-11-01 (Opened for Gov't Mule)

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=510774

01. Here's To The Meantime
02. Ah Mary
03. Treat Me Right >
04. Stop The Bus
05. If I was From Paris
06. Lose Some Time >
07. Mastermind >
08. Sinking Man
09. Nothing But The Water I >
10. Nothing But The Water II

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Grace Potter & The Noctournals
Madison Theater, Covington, KY
Oct 27, 2007 (Opened for Gov't Mule)

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=510635

d1t01. Intro
d1t02. Ah Mary
d1t03. Here's To The Meantime
d1t04. Joey
d1t05.
d1t06. Falling or Flying
d1t07. Nothing But The Water >
d1t08. Who Knows^ >
d1t09. If I Was From Paris
d1t10. Watchin' You

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The Nocturnals are:

Grace Potter - Keys, Vocals
Matt Burr - Drums
Bryan Dondero - Bass
Scott Tournet - Guitar, Vocals