Peter’s Road Diary: More posting later, including a report on our fantabulous 40 Watt Club show, but this is the tale of the first road tragedy. I got tired of eating greasy food, so I loaded up on yogurt,saltine crackers and yogurt. I set the bag down, and we drove through the snow for ten hours. … Continued
Winter blahs heading your way? Tough time of year coming up? Spread a little sunshine on your bread with my friend David Mallamud’s delightful creation. Blending multiple inspirations and ideas, David has composed a vivid, floral arrangement of melody and fancy. I recommend this music to anyone who needs a lift now, or at any … Continued
Thanks to Nancy Rankin Escovedo for this photo of Alejandro Escovedo and the Burn Something Beautiful Band at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia for Sunday night’s show…
Photos of Alejandro Escovedo and the Burn Something Beautiful Band (The Minus 5) enjoying the weather on their travels and meeting up with some dear friends in Fairfield, CT.
We had a great show at the Helsinki club in Hudson, NY, Friday night. That town is just eat up with quaint. We got to our motel only to find that we were staying in a town called Coxsackie. It’s pronounced exactly like you would imagine–great hilarity ensued. Saturday was a nice, easy drive until … Continued
I’m in a van with Scott McCaughey, Kurt Bloch, Linda Pitmon, and Alejandro Escovedo. We just bought three-dimensional pictures of Elvis and Jesus,we are listening to Canned Heat, and we just ate at a 7-11. Yep,we are on tour. It’s Alejandro Escovedo and the Burn Something Beautiful band. First show in Washington, DC, was great, … Continued
his just in from our good pal, Scott McCaughey: The Minus 5 heads out on tour, opening for Alejandro Escovedo on all dates! The band is Peter Buck, Scott, Kurt Bloch, John Moen, except first four dates where Linda Pitmon replaces John Moen. The four Fivers are Alejandro’s band as well, and will be playing … Continued
Punk priestess Patti Smith celebrated her 70th birthday on Friday night in Chicago at the Riveria Theatre where Michael led the audience in singing Happy Birthday. He also joined Patti onstage for a rousing version of Patti’s “People Have the Power.” Read more and watch a clip of the performance at Rolling Stone
The Mills-McDuffie Concerto for Violin, Rock Band, and String Orchestra received a nice year-end nod in The Aspen Times. If you haven’t already, pick up your copy of the Concerto here: https://itunes.apple.com/…/mike-mills-concerto…/id1156567984
Paste has a feature on Holiday b-sides from the 1990s including one by R.E.M.; Check it out here: https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/12/15-holiday-b-sides-from-90s-singles.html
Our friend Sandra-Lee Phipps is holding her annual R.E.M. print sale just in time for the holidays! Check out her prints here: http://remprints.sandraleephipps.com/
Rolling Stone has a recap of Michael’s appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert including a clip of “It’s the End of the Year As We Know It” with Stephen, James Franco, and Michael bidding a fond adieu to 2016:
Picture Postcard from the end of the year at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
What a great time back in the Ed Sullivan Theatre on Times Square where Stephen Colbert hosted Michael last night— (http://bit.ly/2hOx8fB) Michael and Stephen enjoy a great rapport and the night was enjoyable and fun for all, and funny.
Big Star’s Jody Stephens, violinist Robert McDuffie, chef Hugh Acheson, and director James Ponsoldt have submitted playlists on the occasion of Out Of Time turning 25 this year and the Bitter Southerner has posted them. Check it out: http://bittersoutherner.com/folklore-project/rem-out-of-time-25th-anniversary