February 13, 2009 1:14 PM
February 13, 2009 12:48 PM
It's always a learning experience to chat with the Roots bad-ass drummer ?uestlove. Last night we chatted with him about the Grammys -- where he, by extension, won two Grammys for his production work on Al Green's 2008 disc, Lay It Down -- and ?uesto also gave us the scoop on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, which hits NBC on March 2nd. As you probably know, the Roots will be the house band, and ?uestlove will follow in the footsteps of Paul Shaffer and Max Weinberg, as a bandleader and comedic foil. Here ya go:
• Grammy producers were desperate to find a replacement for their Chris Brown/Rihanna slot: "It was very interesting watching them run around the audience," he says. "Initially they were trying to get Justin, Kenny Chesney and Al Green, but Kenny was too nervous, so he dropped out at the last minute."• The Roots will commute to New York City from Philly to tape their Fallon segments: "Were commuting via tour bus every morning at 8 am," he says. "I have to do adult shit now, like go to bed before 11, which I've yet to do." • NBC will no longer pay for published music: That means, the only thing that the Roots can play are original songs. "We have to write 200 new songs, which will probably last about a year," he says. "We've written about 55 so far."• ?uestlove gives each piece of music a special name: "Some people call them beds or bumpers," he says, about the musical interludes that tie a late night show together. "I call them sandwiches. If the song sounds like the Meters, then we call it a po boy sandwich. If it's pop, i call it the Subway sandwich. Disco or Philly soul, we call it a cheese steak. When we're referencing some UK rock shit, that's the Marmite sandwich. If it has a didgeridoo, then it's a Vegemite sandwich."• The Roots will not be retiring from the road!: "We didn't tell anybody we were retiring! I never want to pull some Eagles/Kiss shit where it's like, 'Okay, this is the last time you'll see us.' "They'll allow us ten weeks of touring time every year. We'll start with five shows each week night, but I'm certain that Jimmy will want to do it Letterman-style, taping two shows one night so we can get Fridays off. That's an extra 52 days so I'm sure we'll fill those up with shows." Roots are also planning to host a regular late-night residency at New York's Highline Ballroom, beginning March 5th. • The Roots are booked for five years: "I think if Jimmy turns on the charm like he did on Saturday Night Live, I'm almost certain that this show will work. Anything can happen. Knock on wood that this isn't the Chevy Chase Show or the Magic Hour.
February 12, 2009 5:54 PM
In the last week news has come down the pipeline that both Limp Bizkit and Blink-182 will be reuniting.
We think that they should join forces for an all-out suckfest called Blimp-Shit.
Honestly, we'd rather see Nickelstank -- a fictitious band consisting of members from Nickelback and Hoobastank -- or, along those lines, how about Toad the Wet Starship, the Spin Travelers, or Third Eye Buffett?
We were at the Grammy ceremony, where the Blink dudes "surprised" the crowd with news of the reunion. After that announcement the sound of crickets could be heard all over the Staples Center.
And where do we even begin with Limp Bizkit?
In a joint statement, Fred Turdst and Wes Borland said, "We decided we were more disgusted and bored with the state of heavy popular music than we were with each other. Regardless of where our separate paths have taken us, we recognize there is a powerful and unique energy with this particular group of people we have not found anywhere else. This is why Limp Bizkit is back."
Best of luck to them, but our question is this: Which reunion do you give less of a shit about?
Tough call.
Limp, it is.
What about you?
February 12, 2009 3:41 PM
Photo: Fusco/GettyFebruary 12, 2009 3:00 PM
Photo: Brecheisen/WireImage February 12, 2009 1:42 PM
February 12, 2009 12:40 PM
Photo: NIN.com
February 12, 2009 11:37 AM
Heartless Bastards - "Hold Your Head High"
[Video: Pete Maiden/Eric Helton; Editing by Pete Maiden]
Over the past few months, we've made it ridiculously clear that the Heartless Bastards new album, The Mountain, is blowing our minds.
Hailing from Dayton, OH but now living in Austin, TX, Erika Wennerstrom and the Heartless Bastards got their start when Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney passed along a demo he received from Erika, landing the Bastards a spot at Fat Possum Records. Two full length albums followed, Stairs and Elevators came out in 2005 and All This Time a year later. The Mountain, was released last Tuesday, after a "year and a half of writing," Erika says.
Erika was nice enough to swing by the S.S. and play us a few songs.
Check out one of the sickest tunes on the album, "Hold Your Head High," above. Click the jump for "Be So Happy" and "The Mountain," which Erika says is about "the diminishing middle class and how capitalism can go a little too far."
Do it! She's ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!!
February 12, 2009 11:12 AM
Photo: Denholm/WireImage
Neil Young has just been added to the 40th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival.
The two-weekend festival -- held at the Fair Grounds Race Course, April 24-26 and April 30-May3 -- include gigs by Dave Matthews Band, James Taylor, Joe Cocker, Ben Harper & Relentless7, Kings of Leon, Wilco, Bonnie Raitt, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Wynton Marsalis, Sugarland, Earth, Wind & Fire, Neville Brothers, The O'Jays, Erykah Badu and hundreds more.
A bit of a bummer: Aretha Franklin has canceled her appearance, citing scheduling issues.
Click the jump for the full line-up, and click here for more info.
New Orleans needs us all... Book it now -- flights are still cheap!
February 12, 2009 11:02 AM
Photo: Mazur/WireImage 
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