In 2007 I was working on a new website for John Brown’s Body. While meeting with a designer in NYC, we spoke of merchandise storefront options for the band. He suggested that I reach out to Merchline, and showed me a storefront that they had created for ISO50.… Read More
I discovered Reggae Regular’s 1984 album Ghetto Rock at Deep Groove in Richmond, VA.
Ghetto Rock features everything that I enjoy about UK reggae- vocal harmonies, the occasional synth stab, and a deep riddim section. With the exception of Marco Benevento’s, Between the Needles and Nightfall I have listened to this LP more than any other album this summer.… Read More
The first time I saw Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, I got bruises on my armpits. This is a story about how that happened.
Before I was 21 years old.
I closed my eyes and took in one last deep breath.… Read More
When emailing a band’s management for the first time, you only have a few chances to get our attention. Mess that up, and your email is lost.
Below is a list of common mistakes and pet peeves from years of receiving emails, along with suggestions for ways to improve your communication to people you do not already know.… Read More
‘Solace’ (2004) the second album from Xavier Rudd, helped the Australian roots musician develop a grassroots following throughout the US. Rudd’s songs create a melodic social awareness supported by exceptional slide guitar, foot stopping, didjeridu, harmonica, and various percussive instruments.
Its an interesting daydream to wonder what would have happened if Ben Harper had written ‘Solace’ and released it after his 1995 album ‘Fight For Your Mind’.… Read More
By Dave Poe
Booking Agent for: The Green, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Seeed, The Cat Empire, Trevor Hall, etc.
Ah, the question that every band or manager has heard before while in negotiations (or begging pleas for that matter) to book a show at a music venue… big or small.… Read More
Serge Gainsbourg’s ‘Aux Armes et caetera’ (Aux) is this weeks #ThrowbackThursday featured album. In 2005 Aux was my introduction to Gainsbourg’s catalogue, a collection which I have had a hard time digging much deeper into than casual listens to his recordings with Jane Birkin.… Read More
In 2002, Elliot Martin of John Brown’s Body (JBB) released a solo album named Blackcastle. It may be the most progressive roots album ever released.
Blackcastle was put out before JBB underwent a tidal wave of line up changes (most prominently from 2005-2007).… Read More
Rootfire Mixtape 003 showcases artists from around the world who contribute to the progressive roots music scene. Connecting mid-‘90s John Brown’s Body with upcoming artists like The Skints and Stick Figure, and incorporating New Zealand heavyweights Fat Freddy’s Drop and The Black Seeds, producer Brendan Dane, better known as Alific, delivers a seamless mixtape complete with audio samples a la’ Jeff Bridges.… Read More
For over 100 years the expectations of how bands and fans connected was relatively well defined.
Until the last few years, fans could bring a band into their lives in 2 direct ways:
1. Fans could buy music and feel an intimate connection with the bands they loved by purchasing records.… Read More
The Grateful Dead cracked a recorded music shell by allowing fans to tape their shows. Addresses were traded in parking lots and new friends mailed bootleg recordings to each other via the USPS. In 1971 A call for all freaks to unite was added into the liner notes of a dead album, and through physical mailings, concerts, paper, typewriters, etc- a movement formed.… Read More
