Pictures from John Doe and Dead Rock West

I don't expect to have a chance to write a detailed review of this show. I need to be up early tomorrow for a business trip, and my buddy Aaron from Munich rolls into town tomorrow evening en route to 10KLF. All I will say is that my instincts were right on - this was a great, great show - full of powerful performances and fun song selections. . . like the encore A Case of You (yes, Joni Mitchell) and Gimme Shelter. Lots of material from A Year in the Wilderness - which I really enjoy and recommend. Dead Rock West was very solid in the opening slot as well as backing up John.

Frank Lee Drennen and Cindy Wasserman of Dead Rock West
He knew how to use these effects, too!

Join me at John Doe w. Dead Rock West

Didn't I convince you in my last post that the upcoming John Doe show has “Sleeper of the Year” written all over it - and should not be missed? . . . Well, I certainly tried!

Few of us are connected enough to gain entrance to a John Doe show in Chicago or LA. But you and I have the great good fortune to be able to see him here in one of my very favorite Madison venues - the warm and intimate confines of High Noon Saloon - on Monday night, July 16. . . If you think about it, that is totally boss!


Advance tickets are only $12 – but if that’s holding you back, be the Lucky #7 person to email me and get two free tickets!! (. . ."Need not be poor to win.")

Some of you have been with me at HNS for shows that were the bomb. This one has that potential too. So support your local music scene - and do not miss this show! (How's that for an imperative?)

See ya Monday night!

PHOTO by Autumn DeWilde

Coming Soon! John Doe with Dead Rock West

One of the things that I think is very fun about participating in this MMR project is that I now look a little more closely at what is coming through Madison. . . One of the next shows I plan to catch is John Doe, playing with Dead Rock West at the High Noon Saloon on Monday July 16 at 8pm ($12 adv/$15 dos).

As a founding member of LA punk rock legends X , in the late ‘70s, John Doe holds a rightful place as one of the most influential musicians in American alternative music in the 1980's. In fact, Greg Prato writes in AllMusic.com that “X were undeniably not just one of the greatest punk bands, but one of the greatest live rock acts of all time.”

In addition, by the mid-80’s, Doe further solidified his groundbreaking reputation with the formation of The Knitters’ - pioneers of cowpunk or folk punk, the genre which gradually evolved into alternative country. (The Knitters' name is a play on the name of the legendary folk group The Weavers.) . . . I'm not even going to talk about his acting career in films and television. Let's just leave it at this - he's a true artist.

John Doe just released his sixth solo album on June 12th – A Year in the Wilderness (YepRoc Records) and its been garnering fine reviews. He describes the record like this, “. . . Sometimes it sounded like a Replacements', then a Velvet Underground record, then Blonde On Blonde...twelve-strings, six-strings, electrics, upright bass, big kick drums, pianos, organs, slides, floating & screaming voices. These may be the darkest moments recounted but you have to look inside to hear that, and in there is some of what happens during a year in the wilderness.”

Sounds right up my alley. . . Hope to see you Monday at the High Noon!

Dead Rock West has been described as “X meets Wilco” and they will be backing up John, as well as opening the night in support of their new album, Honey and Salt.

PHOTO by Autumn DeWilde