Tag Archives: California

Novelist Michael Goldberg & Grammy Winner Henry Kaiser to Perform Together

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I’ll be reading from my new novel, The Flowers Lied, and the Grammy-winning experimental guitarist Henry Kaiser will be improvising when we do “a post-beat happening – words + music” on May 6, 2016 at The Octopus Literary Salon in Oakland, CA.

If you’re interested, check out the events Facebook page, “a post-beat happening.”

And please let your Bay Area friends know about this.

Here’s more info:

Celebrating ex-Rolling Stone Senior Writer Michael Goldberg’s new rock ‘n’ roll novel, The Flowers Lied, Goldberg and Grammy winning experimental guitarist Henry Kaiser will collaborate on “a post-beat happening” at The Octopus Literary Salon in Oakland, CA on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Goldberg will read from his new novel while Kaiser improvises on electric guitar. Plus a solo set by Kaiser. Note that no meat will be served during this event! Free.

What the critics say about Goldberg’s novels:

“Radioactive as Godzilla!” – Richard Meltzer

“Kerouac in the 21st Century.” – Dennis McNally

“Penned in a staccato amphetamine grammar…” – Simon Warner

“Holden Caulfield meets Lord Buckley?” – Paul Krassner

“Our hero drinks and drugs and dances to the nightingale tune while birds fly high by the light of the moon.” – Larry Ratso Sloman

“Reads like a fever dream from the dying days of the Summer of Love.” – Alina Simone

“If Lester Bangs had ever published a novel it might read something like this frothing debut by longtime music journalist Michael Goldberg.” – Colin Fleming, Rolling Stone

Michael Goldberg was a senior writer at Rolling Stone magazine for a decade. He has interviewed Jerry Garcia, Patti Smith, George Harrison, Captain Beefheart, Stevie Wonder, Sleater-Kinney, James Brown, Frank Zappa, Berry Gordy Jr., John Fogerty, Neil Young, Lou Reed, Black Flag, The Replacements, Flipper, Robbie Robertson, Sonic Youth and many more. In 1994 Goldberg launched the first Web music magazine, Addicted To Noise, and “invented music journalism on the web,” as journalist Denise Sullivan put it. Goldberg currently writes a column, The Drama You’ve Been Craving,” for Addicted To Noise and feature stories for the online animal rights magazine, The Daily Pitchfork.

“The Flowers Lied,” the second of the Freak Scene Dream Trilogy, is a story of love, friendship and the search for identity, set in the early ‘70s. Although it takes place in the past, themes running through the book — trying to live an authentic life, struggling against the powers that be, navigating the terrain between love and lust, loyalty and betrayal — are as relevant today as ever. Goldberg’s first novel, True Love Scars, was published in 2014.

Henry Kaiser in action - not to be missed.
Henry Kaiser in action – not to be missed.

Grammy winner Henry Kaiser is widely recognized as one of the most creative and innovative guitarists, improvisers, and producers in the fields of rock, jazz, world, and contemporary experimental musics. The California-based musician is one of the most extensively recorded as well, having appeared on more than 250 different albums and contributed to countless television and film soundtracks.

A restless collaborator who constantly seeks the most diverse and personally challenging contexts for his music, Mr. Kaiser not only produces and contributes to a staggering number of recorded projects, he performs frequently throughout the USA, Canada, Europe and Japan, with several regular groupings as well as solo guitar concerts and concerts of freely improvised music with a host of diverse instrumentalists. Among the numerous artists Kaiser has recorded or performed with are Herbie Hancock, Richard Thompson, David Lindley, Jerry Garcia, Steve Lacy, Fred Frith, Terry Riley, Negativland, Michael Stipe, Jim O’Rourke, Victoria Williams, Diamanda Galas and Cecil Taylor. Kaiser’s latest album, The Celestial Squid, was released last year.

The Octopus Literary Salon is located at 2101 Webster St #170, Oakland, CA 94612

Phone: (510) 844-4120

– A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post –

World’s Best Roots Music Record Store Now Carries Rock ‘N’ Roll Novel ‘True Love Scars’

Known around the world for carrying the best in roots music (and world music) – and rootsy world music.

While you can always order my rock ‘n’ roll novel, “True Love Scars,” from any physical book store, I’m thrilled to have the book carried and in stock at one of my favorite record stories, the irreplaceable Down Home Music, located in the down home capital of the world, El Cerrito California.

El Cerrito, which is located between Berkeley and Richmond, has a reputation for great music.

Both Down Home Music and Arhoolie have been based in El Cerrito for decades.

Arhoolie was founded in El Cerrito in 1960, when the late Chris Strachwitz released Mance Lipscomb’s Texas Sharecropper and Songster.

Down Home Music, Strachwitz’s record store, has been at 10341 San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito since 1976, and the folks there can be reached by phone at (510) 525-4827. The store is open each week Thursday through Sunday, from 11 am – 7 pm.

Also worth noting: the great John Fogerty grew up in El Cerrito, which is where Creedence Clearwater Revival formed and were based during their ’60s and early ’70s heyday.

Les Blank, the award-winning filmmaker who made many important music documentaries including “The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins, lived in El Cerrito. Bob Dylan thinks enough of Les Blank that he has included “The Blues Accordin’ To Lightnin’ Hopkins” as the only film recommended on his website.

The excellent community world music radio station, KECG, which is based in El Cerrito, can be listened to here.

And James Brown, of course, played in nearby Richmond in the ’60s.

For more on “True Love Scars,” head here.

Audio: Bob Dylan’s ‘Another Side Of Bob Dylan’ Released, August 8, 1964; Hear the Outakes – ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ ‘Denise,’ ‘California’ & More

Bob Dylan’s fourth album, Another Side Of Bob Dylan, was released 50 years ago, on August 8, 1964.

The album was recorded during one session, on July 9, 1964, in Columbia Studio A in New York with Tom Wilson producing.

Four songs that were recorded during the session were not included on the album. All were eventually released with the exception of “Denise.”

Here are the outtakes.

Enjoy.

“Denise” and “New Orleans Rag”:

“California”:

California by Bob Dylan on Grooveshark

“Mama, You Been On On My Mind”:

Mama, You Been On My Mind by Bob Dylan on Grooveshark

“Mr. Tambourine Man” (Ramblin’ Jack Elliott is on the track):

Mr. Tambourine Man (Alternate Take) by Bob Dylan on Grooveshark

[I just published my rock ‘n’ roll/ coming-of-age novel, “True Love Scars,” which features a narrator who is obsessed with Bob Dylan. To read the first chapter, head here.

Or watch an arty video with audio of me reading from the novel here.

Of just buy the damn thing:

–- A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post: sounds, visuals and/or news –-

Audio: Van Morrison Covers Bob Dylan’s ‘Just Like A Woman,’ San Anselmo, CA, 1971

When you pair the amazing Van Morrison with a Bob Dylan song you usually get magic, and such is the case with this live recording of “Just Like a Woman.”

It’s from the late show of a two set performance at the now defunct Lion’s Share club in San Anselmo, CA, August 8, 1971.

Morrison played the small club –it was really a hole in the wall, but a great hole int he wall — 13 times in the early ’70s. I caught one of those shows and it was incredible.

But then I saw a lot of Van Morrison shows. I saw him at Winterland and at the Inn of the Beginning in Cotati and at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco and at the Old Waldorf, also in San Francisco.

He’s one of a kind, every show was different, every show was pretty damn excellent.

Anyway, enjoy Van Morrison covering Dylan for over seven minutes.

[In August of this year I’ll be publishing my rock ‘n’ roll/ coming-of-age novel, “True Love Scars,” which features a narrator who is obsessed with Bob Dylan. To read the first chapter, head here.]

– A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post: sounds, visuals and/or news –-

Audio: Bob Dylan’s First Session For ‘Bringing It All Back Home’ Begins Inauspiciously — Jan. 13, 1965

On January 13, 1965, Bob Dylan entered Studio A, the Columbia studio that he favored, and during a three-hour session with Tom Wilson producing, recorded 14 songs.

This session, the first of three for an album, Bringing It All Back Home, that would be his transitional move toward rock music, was business as usual. On that day Dylan recorded alone, accompanying himself, as he had done for his previous albums, on guitar and piano and harmonica. There are wonderful takes that were recorded that day, but clearly Dylan was ready to try something new, and he did during the sessions that followed.

From Wikipedia:

The first session, held on January 13, 1965 in Columbia’s Studio A in New York, was recorded solo, with Dylan playing piano or acoustic guitar. Ten complete songs and several song sketches were produced, nearly all of which were discarded.

None of the versions recorded that day were used on Bringing It All Back Home, and only five of them have thus far been officially released.

“I’ll Keep It With Mine” was included on Biograph, and “Subterranean Homesick Blues” and “Farewell Angelina” are on The Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3. One of the “Outlaw Blues” takes was released as an iTunes exclusive in 2005.”California” is on 2009’s NCIS: The Official TV Soundtrack – Vol. 2.

(Check out my other posts on the Bringing It All Back Home sessions: January 14, 1965 and January 15, 1965.)

“I’ll Keep It With Mine” (with Dylan and producer Ton Wilson talking before Dylan plays the song):

I'll Keep It With Mine #1 (Mono Mix with Intro) by Bob Dylan on Grooveshark

“It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”(outtake):

It's All Over Now Baby Blue #1 (Mono Mix) by Bob Dylan on Grooveshark

“Subterranean Homesick Blues #10” (outtake):

Subterranean Homesick Blues #1 (Mono Mix) by Bob Dylan on Grooveshark

“Farewell Angelina” (outtake):

Farewell Angelina (Mono Mix) by Bob Dylan on Grooveshark

“You Don’t Have To Do That” (fragment):

Tou Don't Have To Do That (Mono Mix) by Bob Dylan on Grooveshark

“Outlaw Blues” (outtake):

Outlaw Blues by Bob Dylan on Grooveshark

“California” (outtake, early version of “Outlaw Blues”):

California by Bob Dylan on Grooveshark

Here’s some info about the session from www.bjorner.com.

If you liked this post, check on the one I did on the second Bringing It All Back Home session here.

Writer Michael Krogsgaard got access to Sony Records’ archives in New York and has published detailed information online.

Here’s his information about the January 13, 1965 session:

Studio A
Columbia Recording Studio
New York City, New York
January 13, 1965, 7-10 pm

Produced by Tom Wilson.
Engineers: Hallie and Catero.

1. Love Minus Zero/No Limit CO85270 Take 1b
2. Love Minus Zero/No Limit Take 2C

3. I’ll Keep It With Mine CO85271 Take 1C

4. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue CO85272 Take 1C

5. Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream CO85273 Take 1b
6. Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream Take 2C

7. She Belongs To Me CO85274 Take 1C

8. Subterranean Homesick Blues CO85275 Take 1C

9. Sitting On A Barbed Wire Fence CO85276 Take 1C

10. On The Road Again CO85277 Take 1C

11. Farewell Angelina CO85278 Take 1C

12. If You Gotta Go, Go Now CO85279 Take 1C
13. If You Gotta Go, Go Now (Addition) Take 1

14. Bending Down On My Stomick Lookin’ West CO85280 Take 1C

15. Love Minus Zero/No Limit CO85270 Take 3C

16. She Belongs To Me CO85274 Take 2C

17. Outlaw Blues CO85281 Take 1b
18. Outlaw Blues Take 2C
1 and 2 “Dime Store” on recording sheet.
3 “Bank Account Blues” on recording sheet.
5-6 “B. Dylan’s Later Dream” on recording sheet.
7 “Worse Than Money” on recording sheet.
8 “Subterranean Homesick Blues #10” on recording sheet.
9 “Barbwire” on recording sheet, corrected on the tape box to “Sitting On A Barbed Wire Fence”. On the copyright card listed as “Outlaw Blues”.
11 “Alcatraz To The 5th Power” on recording sheet.
12 and 13 “You Gotta Go” on recording sheet.
17 and 18 “Tune X” on recording sheet, corrected to “Key To The Highway” on one tape box and to “Outlaw Blues” on another. This CO number is not listed in the contract cards.
3 released on Biograph.
8 and 11 released on The Bootleg Series.

-– A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post: sounds, visuals and/or news –-

Watch: Mazzy Star Do “California” on Fallon

Mazzy Star made their first TV appearance since the ’90s on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” last night. The lighting is murky as it always is when Mazzy Star perform. Adds mystery, you know. This is a beautiful rendition of “California” off their new and fourth studio album, Seasons Of Your Day.

Check it out:

— A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post —

The Time Machine: Joni Mitchell On BBC, 1970

Joni 1

I’ve been a fan of Joni Mitchell for many, many years.

Mitchell’s confessional songwriting remains so intimate and, well, real. Her voice and accompaniment is perfect for these songs. Heartfelt performances.

This video is 31 minutes of classic Joni Mitchell from her best days. Sound is great and the footage is pretty damn great too. Watch as she performs “Chelsea Morning,” “Cactus Tree,” “My Old Man,” “For Free,” “California,” “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Both Sides Now.

Cool to see her play the dulcimer.

Watch: Mazzy Star Drops Moody “California” Video

Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star.
– Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star.

The ongoing Mazzy Star comeback continues with this atmospheric video (posted below) for one of Seasons Of Your Day’s standout tracks, “California.” Although it’s been 17 years since the last Mazzy Star album, in recent interviews David Roback said that him and Hope Sandoval never stopped making music, they just stopped releasing it.

“We were always recording and writing,” Roback tock The Guardian. “We just didn’t release any of it publicly.”

Which almost makes Mazzy Star the J.D. Salinger of indie rock.

“I don’t think it’s unusual at all,” Sandoval said in the same interview. “I don’t think we were really in the mood to release music.”

Seasons Of Your Day  is the group’s fourth album.

“Maybe, for musicians, it’s common to release things more frequently than we do,” Roback said. “[We’re] like other types of artist. They make their sculpture or painting, they write books or poems, and whether they have an exhibition is almost irrelevant.”

Read the whole interview, which went live today at The Guardian website, here.