Music News - 2008-03-09

Cover Story: Jack Johnson - The Dude Abides

2008-03-09 03:00:12.340387
Click href="http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/18653440/jack_johnson_rocks_mellowest_sup" target="blank">here for a photo gallery of rock's mellow superstar onstage and off.

"I get completely haunted," he says. In his most vivid dream, Johnson is standing on the beach with a guitar, gazing into the shore break. "Our stage crew was there, the band were all set up, it was a normal show, but the ocean was where the crowd should be," Johnson recalls. "I was thinking, 'What's going on here?' " Johnson and his band played on as the tide crept up. "We were knee-deep, then waist-deep, and still playing. I had a feeling like, 'When do we stop?'

"You've got to listen to your dreams," says Johnson, sitting at a picnic table in the quiet, grassy back yard of his home in Santa Barbara, California. He's wearing his usual outfit — board shorts, a T-shirt and flip-flops — and talking in a relaxed surfer's lilt. "That's when I know I've got to take a break, kick...

Jack Johnson, Filmmaker

2008-03-09 09:00:11.879352
Jack Johnson isn't just a chart-topping songwriter and former professional surfer - he's also a filmmaker. In fact, he co-directed the acclaimed 2000 surf movie Thicker Than Water, a zen-like meditation on life in the waves. Click the video to hear Johnson's thoughts on filmmaking and to see some choice footage from Thicker Than Water and color="#ff0000" href="http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/18684236/cover_story_jack_johnson_8212_the_dude_abides" target="blank">click here to read the cover story.

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The Machinery of Hope

2008-03-09 23:00:15.859166
href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/19106551/a_new_hope"> Click here for Rolling Stone's endorsement of Barack Obama.

• href="http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/19066990/barack_obama_a_photo_history" target="blank">Barack Obama: A History in Photos

It's Presidents day, two weeks before the Texas primary, and Adam Ukman has come to the small city of San Marcos to train precinct captains for Barack Obama. A soft-spoken native of Houston, Ukman has served on the campaign's front lines in Iowa and Utah, organizing grass-roots supporters to secure decisive victories in both states. This evening, more than eighty residents of San Marcos have crammed into a yellow clapboard recreation center on a street dotted with shacks that date from the Jim Crow era. "Our job is not to run in here to tell you how it's going to be," Ukman tells them. "This is your campaign. Not our campaign."

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3 Hootie and the Blowfish go it alone (AP)

2008-03-09 21:00:12.583364

1 hour, 6 minutes ago

COLUMBIA, S.C. - When Hootie and the Blowfish play at a fundraiser to benefit the Animal Mission this week, the bandmates likely will compare notes on their recent solo efforts.

Guitarist Mark Bryan and lead singer Darius Rucker are working on their second solo efforts, while drummer Jim "Soni" Sonefeld is making his solo debut. Bassist Dean Felber doesn't have any solo plans yet.

Bryan's effort includes a punkish track "Glad to be Alive" that didn't make the cut for the most recent Hootie effort — 2005's "Looking for Lucky."

"I can totally respect it's not a Hootie song," Bryan said. His "End of the Front" has a diverse lineup from punk to pop, rock to bluegrass.

"Stylistically it's all over the place," Bryan told The (Columbia) State. "But it's because the songs were written over a 10-year period."

Rucker, who released his first solo effort "Back to Then" in 2002, is going a little bit country for his second effort.

"I know that a lot of country fans have 'Cracked Rear View,' " Rucker said of the band's breakthrough album, which has sold more than 16 million copies and put the Columbia-based group on the map. "We've never really been that far from country. It came out so organically."

For his debut, drummer Sonefeld went more progressive with his "Snowman Melting" being released by independent label Aquarian Nation.

"It just feels so alive," Sonefeld said. "It's killing me not to have it ready yet."

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Adnan Sami Khan wins British Music Award

2008-03-09 12:00:10.143841
LONDON (UK): A prominent Pakistani vocalist Adnan Sami Khan, who has many musical hits to his credit won the best international singer award at the UK Asian Music Awards ceremony held at the Royal Festival Hall on the banks of River Thames. Fans and

Album: Ska Cubano, Ajiaco!: the Remix Album, (Casino Sounds)

2008-03-09 01:00:18.627156
Search Search Go Independent.co.uk Web Bookmark & Share Reviewed by Howard Male We can all tire eventually from having a bass drum use our head as a punchbag, which is why remix albums are rarely a good idea. And when the band's music is already

Avril Lavigne to launch fashion line (AP)

2008-03-09 23:00:15.038186

Sun Mar 9, 8:09 PM ET

NEW YORK - Avril Lavigne, known for her pairing of frilly dresses and combat boots, will bring her style to the juniors department at Kohl's department stores.

The edgy, pop-rock star's clothing line "Abbey Dawn" was named after her childhood nickname.

"I actually am the designer," she told Newsweek for editions on newsstands Monday. "I try everything on and approve it all."

She joined a long line of celeb-turned-designers, including Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Simpson.

Lavigne kicked off her 2008 world tour in Victoria, B.C., Canada, earlier this month.

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Bassist Marcus Miller courts R&B audience (Reuters)

2008-03-09 11:00:15.85142

By Gail Mitchell Sat Mar 8, 5:41 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - A multi-instrumentalist and electric bass virtuoso, Marcus Miller has logged more than 500 credits as a session player, band member, songwriter and producer.

His work has encompassed rock (Eric Clapton), jazz (Miles Davis), pop (Paul Simon), hip-hop (Jay-Z), new wave (Billy Idol) and opera (tenor Kenn Hicks). He also has scored soundtracks for film ("Boomerang," "This Christmas") and TV ("Everybody Hates Chris").

His biggest claims to fame are his collaborations with the late Luther Vandross, co-writing, co-producing and playing on...

Beatles - Macca Positive On Beatles Download Deal With Itunes

2008-03-09 03:00:09.993404
Caption: The Beatles back-catalogue is set to be released for download thanks to a deal between Sir Paul... The Beatles back-catalogue is set to be released for download thanks to a deal between Sir Paul McCartney and iTunes, according to reports. A deal

Beatles songs set for iTunes downloads

2008-03-09 10:00:08.9172
The Beatles back catalogue could be made available as legal downloads for the first time, According to reports the Fab Four are on the verge of doing a deal said to be in the region of 300m. According to the Daily Telegraphy, the downloads are set to

Gamble and Huff: Philly Soul to Rock Hall of Fame (Reuters)

2008-03-09 15:00:10.725433

By Steve James Sun Mar 9, 7:49 AM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Three years after The O'Jays were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the two men who wrote and produced their biggest hit, "Love Train," will be joining them on Monday.

Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the architects of the Philly Soul sound of the 1970's, will be the first recipients of the Ahmet Ertegun Award, in memory of the late co-founder of Atlantic Records.

"It's a dream come true for me because I always wanted to become a songwriter," Huff said in a recent interview with Reuters.

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Heppner to miss Met opener with virus (AP)

2008-03-09 01:00:18.621219

Sat Mar 8, 8:22 PM ET

NEW YORK - Tenor Ben Heppner will miss Monday's opener of the Metropolitan Opera's highly anticipated revival of Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" because of a virus.

Heppner and soprano Deborah Voigt, two of the world's leading Wagnerian singers, had been scheduled to sing "Tristan" together for the first time, and the six-performance run is close to sold out.

Heppner missed Friday's dress rehearsal because of the virus and was replaced by John Mac Master. Mac Master will replace Heppner on Monday night, the Met said Saturday.

Heppner remains scheduled to sing with Voigt in performances on March 14, 18, 22, 25 and 28. The March 22 matinee is scheduled for a high-definition telecast to theaters around the world.

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On the Net:

http://www.metopera.org

http://www.benheppner.com

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Hip-hop stars speak out on gang thuggery

2008-03-09 17:00:11.14102
A summer of senseless violence has prompted New Zealand's hip-hop fraternity to release a charity single urging people to make better decisions. 'Think Twice', by the Aotearoa Allstars, is the brainchild of Phil Bell, aka DJ Sir-Vere, and features

Hollow Jan Wins Award at Korean Music Awards

2008-03-09 21:00:12.99007
The screamo/hardcore act HOLLOW JAN won the 'Best Rock Album' award at this year's Korean Music Awards (the Korea's equivalent to Grammy Awards) for their 2006/2007 release 'Rough Draft in Progress'. The awarding ceremony was held March 5 at the

Kenny Chesney Wins Big

2008-03-09 06:00:10.464213
Leading the pack with an astounding eleven nominations, country superstar Kenny Chesney will no doubt be a very happy man at the Academy of Country Music awards show. Among the eleven nominations, Chesney is up for Single of the Year, Top Male Vocalist,

Knightley to debut vocal talents

2008-03-09 13:00:10.502507
Actress Keira Knightley is set to add singer to her resume - after debuting her vocal talents on the soundtrack to new movie The Edge Of Love. The star, who appears in the forthcoming film, will perform three songs on the album, despite protestations

Live disc to accompany Morrissey hits album (Reuters)

2008-03-09 07:00:10.869619

Sat Mar 8, 5:38 PM ET

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Morrissey's "Greatest Hits," which debuted last month at No. 5 on the U.K. album chart, will be released March 25 in the United States in three versions.

Fans can choose from a single-disc, 15-track edition; a double-disc set with a bonus CD of nine live songs taped June 8, 2007, at the Hollywood Bowl, including "Life Is a Pigsty" and "The National Front Disco"; and a double-vinyl LP set.

"Greatest Hits" (Decca Records) includes two new songs, "That's How People Grow Up" and "All You Need Is Me." The rest of the track list is a strange, seemingly random mix of early solo hits ("Everyday Is Like Sunday," "Suedehead"), recent album tracks ("First of the Gang To Die, "Let Me Kiss You") and...

Rock Remixes Help Baby Nod Off

2008-03-09 04:00:18.009667
Whats bad and good in media? Debate hot topics and weigh in on books, music, television, movies, video games and Internet sites. Getting Your Tween Hooked on Books Feel like the Xbox is taking over your kids attention? Try these tips to tune your tween

Rott Brings Bite with International Recording Contract

2008-03-09 08:00:15.865266
Female fronted Idaho Gothic Rock band Rott has landed an International recording and distribution contract with USA label Renaissance Records. Their album Out of Time will be released in May in the United States and Canada with international release by

SCARRED HIP-HOP GAL SUES

2008-03-09 13:00:10.50015
A blonde from New Jersey whose face was permanently scarred two years ago when she was punched by hip-hop radio host Ed Lover at a Chelsea nightclub has filed suit against him. Letitia Belford was furious a few months ago when Lover, a morning DJ on

Tampa Bay Gets Its Own Biggest Music Business Conference and Award Show

2008-03-09 09:00:10.488803
The Biggest Music Biz Conference and Music Award Show hits the Tampa Bay Area in November. Top Industry Professionals will teach at the conference and celebrity's will walk the red carpet at the televised awards. Tampa Bay, FL is Arbitron ranked market

Tenor Ben Heppner out with virus at Met (AP)

2008-03-09 16:00:11.11758

Sun Mar 9, 1:21 AM ET

NEW YORK - Tenor Ben Heppner will miss Monday's opener of the Metropolitan Opera's highly anticipated revival of Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" because of a virus.

Heppner and soprano Deborah Voigt, two of the world's leading Wagnerian singers, had been scheduled to sing "Tristan" together for the first time, and the six-performance run is close to sold out.

Heppner missed Friday's dress rehearsal because of the virus and was replaced by John Mac Master. Mac Master will replace Heppner on Monday night, the Met said Saturday.

Heppner remains scheduled to sing with Voigt in performances on March 14, 18, 22, 25 and 28. The March 22 matinee is scheduled for a high-definition telecast to theaters around the world.

___

On the Net:

http://www.metopera.org

http://www.benheppner.com

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The Beatles MP3 Downloads To Go On Sale Soon

2008-03-09 15:00:09.75072
The Beatleswill finally have their back catalogue available to buy as MP3 downloads soon, following months and months of speculation. Reports are saying a deal is on the verge of being formed, worth 300m, which will mean the band's music will be sold

The Sixteen: The power and pleasure of tiny things

2008-03-09 23:00:13.320224
Ivan Hewett reviews The Sixteen at St John's College, Cambridge The sound of a perfectly tuned and blended choir echoing among the stone vaults of a church is one of the most beautiful things in all music. But Harry Christophers, director of the chamber

Tribal remix on 'Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites'

2008-03-09 23:00:13.333607
Wow, another week, another 43 minutes of betrayal, complicated challenges, and reversals of fortune interspersed with some quality information regarding products that will enhance and improve your life! Put down that active lifestyle, grab your Tivo

Williams tempted to dump pop career for alien hunting

2008-03-09 17:00:11.139473
Singer Robbie Williams would dump his pop career to become an alien investigator, according to a new interview. The Angels hitmaker was being interviewed by soul singer Joss Stone for a radio show - and even tried to enlist the 20-year-old's help in his