OK, I’ll buy that, I guess.  No reason to downplay excitement for the future.  Even if the recent past has not been nearly as bad as many want to paint it to be.

But, regardless – 2010 opens with some great news for fans of the long, lost Soundgarden.

Chris Cornell made the announcement last night on Twitter: The 12 year break is over & school is back in session

Yes, folks, Soundgarden is back and it’s way past time for this reunion to take shape.

Kim Thayil, Ben Shepherd, Chris Cornell, & Matt Cameron of Soundgarden

Check out this Billboard feature today which provides as much detail as possible at this early date. 

One interesting note from the article states that reunion plans began to take shape shortly after Cornell’s appearance at an October Pearl Jam show in Los Angeles where he reprised the Temple of the Dog song “Hunger Strike” with Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron (a PJ band member for over a decade) onstage and guitarist Kim Thayil and bassist Ben Shepherd watching backstage.

It’s all rumor and speculation now, but soundgardenworld.com looks like the official spot for all future announcements.  And whatever evolves in the days ahead, we’re all winners as the details emerge.  Especially if we can bury the memories of that last Chris Cornell solo album.  

Stay tuned.

And Happy New Year!

As an added bonus, I can’t even take credit for this particular recommendation.  That actually goes to one Mr. Ed Vedder (courtesy of this post on pearljam.com).

What book is it that spurred Vedder’s interest in passing along the good word to his fans and followers?  Not one of the variety that you might think.  The book in question is The Old Leather Man: Historical Accounts of a Connecticut and New York Legend, authored by Dan DeLuca. 

And here’s why you should care.  The Leatherman is one of those characters that make up the fabric of America.  His legend may be of the regional variety – his old stomping grounds in the Northeast – but the mystery of the man that attracted the people of his day to immortalize Leatherman continues to reverberate.  The study of his soul allows us just a little more insight into the human spirit.

And, if that sounds deep, well I guess it is. 

Leatherman, circa 1885

For more on Leatherman, check out this short documentary (Part I, Part II, & Part III) from 1984.  Originally shown on Connecticut Public Television, and posted to YouTube by Motion Inc., the production might be a little dated but does a great job of whetting the appetite to learn more about Leatherman.

So, you’ve got the book.  You’ve got the documentary.  And, as a bonus, you’ve also got a blistering live performance of Pearl Jam’s ode to Leatherman here.

Here are the lyrics to Pearl Jam’s “Leatherman”, available as a very obscure b-side befitting the very obscure subject of the song:

I heard about a man to whom I may be related. He’s Leatherman.
Died a long time ago in the 1880′s. Leatherman. Leatherman.
Covered with leather but it wasn’t tight. Underneath a moon in the woods at night.
Making the rounds ten miles a day. Once a month they’d spot him and here’s what they’d say:

“Here he comes. He’s a man of the land. He’s Leatherman
Smile on his face. Axe in his pack.
He’s Leatherman. Leatherman. Leatherman.”

Comes out of the caves once a day to be fed.
He wasn’t known to say much but, “Thanks for the bread.”

So, modern day I walk my way with my jacket faded just like a man of leather whom I may be related.
Rolled cigarette for which he’d ask for a light.
Appear to be an animal. Yet, so polite.
Making the rounds ten miles a day. Once a month they’d spot him and here’s what they’d say:

“Here he comes he’s a man of the land. He’s Leatherman.
Smile on his face. Axe in his pack.
He’s Leatherman. Leatherman. Leatherman.”

Leatherman. Leatherman.
Shake his hand. He’s Leatherman. Bake some bread. He’s Leatherman.
Shame he’s dead. I saw his bed.
It’s all that’s left of Leatherman. Leatherman.
Give me some skin. He’s Leatherman.

Hope you find Leatherman’s legacy as interesting as we do here.  Stories like these are the ones worth exploring.

If you are on the fence in deciding whether or not to check out the new album, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, or to make it out to see their live show the next time they come to town, you might just need a little push.

Consider it done.  Today’s debut of The Pearl Jam Radio Takeover provides a great opportunity to catch up with the band in their own words.  Each member of the band weighs in with their perspective on the new songs and their take on where Pearl Jam is at this point in their history.

Hear a good chunk of the new album along with live versions of some classics.  And, best of all, not only is it free but ties in with the band’s commitment to the non-profit organization Feeding America.

It’s great to hear the band so inspired to produce new material that competes with the best of what they have done over the years.  And it’s not hard for me to champion their cause.  Take some time for yourself to hear what all the fuss is about.

Neil Young, co-founder of the Bridge School and event organizer, rolled out the official lineup on The Bridge School’s website to bring increased attention to the mission of the Bridge School.

As always, all proceeds from the acoustic shows at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. will go to the school in Hillsborough, CA., chartered specifically for children with severe physical and speech impediments.

Event dates are October 24-25 and tickets go on sale this Sunday through LiveNation.

Neil Young

So who’s on the bill this year?  Take your pick of first-time performers Jimmy Buffett, No Doubt, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Fleet Foxes, Wolfmother, Gavin Rossdale, or Adam Sandler, or enjoy repeat performances from Sheryl Crow, Conor Oberst & Jim James (who return as part of “supergroup” Monsters of Folk), and (of course) Neil Young himself.

Not entirely my dream lineup, but there are always enough surprises on a cool Bay Area evening to make the event a worthwhile ticket, with the added bonus of contributing to a cause. 

And, as Jim Harrington of the Oakland Tribune points out, the lineup is seen by some as “a breath of fresh air” by those who have been hoping for the addition of artists to the bill who have not been part of the Bridge School rotation since the creation of the benefit concert in 1986.

Me, I’ll hold out hope that Pearl Jam finds its way to Northern California that weekend, but will be there nonetheless. 

I’ll enjoy what are certain to be some magical performances from Fleet Foxes and Monsters of Folk in the outdoor, acoustic setting.  And honestly, Neil alone is worth the price of admission. 

Roll the dice on this show some year before it’s too late to see the man onstage at his most important concert of the year.  Every year.  Last weekend in October – artists subject to change but always a great time for a great cause.

Not only has Perkins renewed his association with the Village Voice after a lengthy absence due to cost-cutting measures, but he picked up a pretty sweet gig in the interim.

As detailed in this feature in today’s New York Times, his friend Eddie Vedder unexpectedly hooked him up with the prize gig of designing the album cover for Pearl Jam’s Backspacer, due in stores on September 20th.

Vedder says, “I wasn’t sure if our politics were hard-core enough for him,” but apparently this mutual admiration society is now in play for the long haul. 

In his role as “part of the family”, Perkins is now designing Pearl Jam concert posters as well as the cover of the October issue of Spin Magazine – on sale two days after the album release and obviously featuring the band, embarking on a tour in support of the new record.

If you’re not familiar with the work of Tom Tomorrow, be sure to check out his collected works of political satire at salon.com.

And for some alternative bedtime reading for the kiddies, be sure to check out Tom Tomorrow’s first book for children, The Very Silly Mayor.  This just-released little story looks something like this:

The fact alone that Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, and Mike McCready have hung together for the last 20 years as a core unit speaks volumes to the chemistry that these guys maintain after a point when most bands have splintered.  Fortunately, the sound has evolved during that time – even if mainstream music fans often see the band only referenced as a “grunge era” relic.

The release of a new Pearl Jam record is still a major event in the world of acme eclectic.  Backspacer will be released on September 20th, and the band recently posted a 10-minute promotional video through myspace to allow fans to preview the new songs “Just Breathe,” “Got Some,” and “The Fixer” as well as viewing footage of the band in the studio and around Seattle.

Backspacer will be released on September 20th

This 9th studio release is the shortest in length of any of their studio albums to date and the band, at least, seems to believe that it is their tightest.  I have no illusions that Backspacer will be the best of those albums (in my mind, that honor will always go to Yield), but I also have no doubt that it will be a fantastic rock album that supercedes almost anything else in the genre released this calendar year.

Of course, these songs will breathe best once performed live and the band keeps adding dates to give you that opportunity once Backspacer is released. 

There are bound to be more Pearl Jam updates as the year progresses and you’ll have to indulge my interest.  I only hope that it helps spark yours.  But don’t let me tell you about it – go check out the new music and decide for yourself.

Soundgarden (Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, Chris Cornell, Ben Shepherd)

Yes, the “grunge” label can certainly be applied too, but there probably isn’t a true musical descriptor that can do justice to a decade’s worth of recorded material that still sounds great to this day and has outlasted almost everything else that came out of the Pacific Northwest during those heady times.

The notable exceptions, of course, are Nirvana and Pearl Jam, the latter of which gladly brought Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron into the fold after Soundgarden’s demise.  Like Cameron, Soundgarden lead singer Chris Cornell has been particulary busy in the post-Soundgarden years, both with the solid Audioslave and working on his (ahem) solo career.

But founding member Kim Thayil, one of Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Guitarists of All-Time, has been mostly quiet since the breakup.  Short of a Soundgarden “semi-reunion” this past spring at Seattle’s Crocodile Cafe (joined onstage by Cameron, former Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd, along with vocals by Seattle legend Tad Doyle, and contributions from a giddy Tom Morello), Thayil has intentionally stayed out of the spotlight.

But in this interview with Rolling Stone, Thayil discusses the past, present, and future of the band.  Don’t count out a reunion, but it’s not looking imminent.  The good news is that Soundgarden is about to unleash a treasure chest of rarities, with B-sides, live performances, and remixes to be compiled in a box set.

The news from Thayil follows up on Rolling Stone’s recent interview with Cornell, who also confirmed the pending release of the set.  Hey, if Rolling Stone wants to bang the drum to keep Soundgarden’s music in the news, then I’m going to bang the drum with them. 

I don’t expect any freshly recorded material, and I’m not even sure that I would want that at this point, but it sure will be great to hear what they’ve stored away all these years.

And, if the reunion concept ever does pick up steam, how about a headlining appearance at Coachella?  I’d love to see the same stage that has hosted the latter-day, re-formed versions of the Pixies, Rage Against The Machine (and so many others) welcome this great band back to the spotlight. 

They might just Blow Up The Outside World.

Pearl Jam

The number of North American PJ concerts from August through October now stands at 15 for the moment.  While more dates are certain to be added later this year or early next year, many interesting options already abound. 

With three festival dates (Calgary’s Virgin Festival, San Francisco’s Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, and the Austin City Limits Music Festival) to go along with single dates in Toronto and San Diego, and multiple dates in Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia (helping to close out the historic run of the Spectrum before its pending demolition), there are ample opportunities for fans of the band to re-connect with the legendary live performers. 

And those of you who haven’t experienced a Pearl Jam concert recently (or ever) have every opportunity to venture out to discover what the fuss is all about.

To hear the new song, “Got Some” from Backspacer, click here to re-visit their recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.  Or, for one of many great live clips that provide evidence of what a Pearl Jam show entails, check out this.

Tickets for some of these shows are on sale, with the rest available no later than Saturday, July 18th.  Hope to see you there!

IZ & his uke

I just had no idea that the soothing experience of ukulele music extended to therapy for average joes like you and me.

But, indeed, NPR reports that “Even In Bleak Times, The Ukulele Thrives”.  Turns out that ukulele jams have gained in popularity and sales of the instrument are up considerably, despite the obvious decline in overall instrument sales.

“If you’ve had a rough day, whatever you’re doing, if you’re working or you have difficulties, you pick up the ukulele and strum it a few times,” says ukulele teacher (and jamming musician) John McAuliffe. “Then pick out a song you want to try, and all of a sudden, things are better.” 

McAuliffe is not alone.  For what it’s worth, the New York Times was already buzzing about the resurgence of the ukulele last summer.

I might actually give the uke a shot.  Although, I’m guessing that my playing would be better served for my ears only.  For public displays of ukulele strumming, I’ll stick to Pearl Jam encores or wait for my next trip to Hawaii.

On the heels of their highly visible (and successful) Super Bowl commercial and free breakfast campaign this past February, Denny’s brings you the Allnighter.

Time Magazine covers all the angles (including a very enlightening accompanying 4 minute video) in their recent feature, “Rocking Out at Denny’s?”  Turns out that Denny’s has started playing alternative music in the wee hours at their joints to go along with their sponsorship of more than 30 bands which “get free meals on the road as long as they occasionally head to Denny’s for a postshow jam session.”

What do I know about some of these bands like Me Talk Pretty, The Maine, or La Secta Allstar?  Not much, but I do know that more and more “baby bands” will be taking the once-derided corporate route to increase their exposure.  The labels just don’t have the influence or the ability to break bands anymore.

And it’s pretty low-risk for Denny’s.  Not to be crass, but a good portion of Denny’s customers aren’t going to be around many more years to enjoy the Grand Slam Breakfast or the Moons Over My Hammy.  So why not update the menu with Kickin’ Flavor Wraps & Pancake Puppies?  Maybe the kids will find it and, if not, at least you made the effort.

I still don’t see myself eating there anytime soon – at least not unless Pearl Jam, Ben Harper, or the Foo Fighters decide to take the money and start popping up in Denny’s around the country for acoustic performances and some late night dining.  Stranger things have happened, I guess.

If this thing actually takes off, score one for the marketers.  If not, expect history to expel it to the barrel of bad ideas involving American restaurant chains – led off, of course, by this.