Michael Dorf, founder of the iconic Knitting Factory music venue in New York, became one of the earliest pioneers of innovative live music in the 1990s.
He later launched a wine-making facility in Manhattan for patrons who could also have dinner in a cozy three-hundred-seat venue. They could watch concerts by artists such as Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, and Esperanza Spalding.
Michael Dorf discovered that his City Winery concept worked beautifully so he expanded it into a national network of clubs. His venues are sold out nearly every night, from Boston to Nashville. Patrons are eager for the visceral and sensory experiences he offers them.
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I love Los Lobos live and have seen them 10 times in concert. I am psyched that they have a new live recording an exclusive with Amazon 2 CD/DVD offering, Los Lobos Disconnected in New York City.
The audio and video were recorded last year at the City Winery in the South Village, NYC where Los Lobos performs regularly.
Peter Buck is the first former R.E.M. member to release new music to the public airwaves. He has been working on a solo album for some time now, very few details exist about it. I am cool with that as I like surprises and too much music gets leaked on the Web anyways.
According to Paste Magazine fans got their first taste of Peter Buck’s début on Thursday June 14th with the world-premiere of “10 Million B.C.” after airing on the Thursday episode of Diane’s Kamikaze Fun Machine on WFMU in New Jersey. The episode featured guest DJ Steve Wynn, who was given permission by his Baseball Project band mate Buck to play the song on the air, but had to play it over his phone due to technical issues. You can hear the track, titled “10 Million B.C.,” below, or hear it in the context of the original broadcast on the WFMU website.
Buck is considering putting the record out only on vinyl, with no digital download, love it 😉
Peter Buck made his singing début live on “10 Million B.C.” with Joseph Arthur just a few weeks ago at the City Winery in NYC.
Joseph Arthur, said of the collaboration: “Peter played us his new album. It’s incredibly good. I think it’s gonna blow minds. So we invited him to sing one of his new songs with us. He said okay, and then he said it was his vocal début. It was a great moment. Hopefully he’ll meet us in New Orleans or some of the other dates on our tour.”
Occupy This Album Disk 2 begins with the premier vocal track by Michael Moore, “The Times They Are A-Changin”. I am very taken with his singing voice, he has nice tonality. I especially like that they interspersed part of his bullhorn speech from Zucotti Park into the mix.
Occupy This Album Disc 2:
Copyright 2012 Music for Occupy, Inc.
22. Ace Reporter – “The World Is on Fire”
This band rocked. Their collective energy grabbed my attention as they poured their hearts out on stage.
23. The Middle Eight – “Latter Days”
24. Chroma – “Turn The Lights On”
Chroma was impressive. Articulate with lots of positive energy.
Nanci Griffith was fervent in her support for Occupy. She extended her performances at City Winery by hanging out to support and contribute to Occupy. Loved her devotion to the cause.
39. Tom Morello(The Nightwatchman) – “World Wide Rebel Songs”
Tom Morello continues to grow large in my heart as an artist, a man of conviction to the cause. He has been such an ally to the Occupy movement. His track enters your heart and you can’t help but feel motivated and involved.
40. Third Eye Blind – “If There Ever Was a Time” *
I have watched with pride and admiration the evolution of the Occupy This Album project. I got on-board early as a supporter of Jason Samel’s, Music For Occupy vision. I have written on this blog about the need for a musical outlet for Occupy. Occupy This Album is finally here and you owe it to yourself to plug into the sounds, spirit and activism of the Occupy movement. The avarice and greed of the 1% is imperiling the 99%.
Which Side Are You On?
Occupy This Album is four discs with 99 tracks by 99 artists for the benefit of the 99%!
I am breaking this monumental recording into four separate reviews to do justice to the musicians united in common cause. My wife and I attended the Occupy This Album launch party at the City Winery in NYC on May 8th. We got to see many of the artists who have contributed to this album. I’ll point them out as this review unfolds over the next four days.
Matt Pless opened the record launch party on May 8th and his energy was infectious. It is also his art that illustrates the Occupy This Album cover. He is a modern-day Bob Dylan if you want my opinion. Great first song to kick it all off.
We loved seeing George Martinez and the Global Block Collective perform “Occupation Freedom” on stage May 8th. They have a vivacious move your body, engage your mind track going on.
I feel very strongly that Patti Smith’s song of protest, “People Have The Power” should be the theme song for the Occupy movement. This live rendition has an electricity and passion that ignites your sentiment, as you pump your fist in the air at the 1% who are controlling everything.
We saw the stage début of Michael Moore at The City Winery last night as he capped off a celebration of artists who will be appearing on the Occupy This Album 4 CD recording. He was an energizing force for the core Occupy participants who assembled in the house.
Thank You Sandi Bachom for filming this segment and adding to our memories of this historic event.
The Occupy This Album Record Release Party was a two and one-half hour celebration of the Occupy movement. Music and art now establishes an important voice for Occupy.
We witnessed a diverse cavalcade of artists with unique performing styles and textures. Reflecting today on who we saw and heard, as several performances were striking and novel.
First artist we got our groove on with was Taj Weekes & Adowa, funky reggae party, alright. A little later we caught the legendary David Amram for the first time. His music is timeless and he is a wonderful multi-instrumentalist.
Much credit goes to Jason Samel, founder and executive director at Music for Occupy. We are grateful recipients of free tickets for last night’s event.
Jason, I placed our pre-order this morning, can’t wait to get the Occupy This Album 4 CD set.
God willing, we’ll be attending the Occupy This Album Record Release Party tonight at the City Winery at 155 Varrick St in NYC, doors open at 7PM, where we will hear live music by DJ Logic, Michael Moore, Immortal Technique, Nanci Griffith, David Amram, Richard Barone, My Pet Dragon, Matt Pless, Ace Reporter, Chroma, Fear Nuttin Band, George Martinez and The Global Block Collective, Jennie Arnau, Rejectionist Frong, Greg Smith and Broken English, Los Cintron, and a couple of surprise guests. (We wonder who they will be appearing and performing for us, this is always the fun part, anticipating who will show up as surprise guests…).
We will see the début singing performance of Michael Moore tonight. He will be performing his Bob Dylan track, “The Times They Are A Changing”. There will be lots of new artists for us to get to know and enjoy. Let’s all support this very important cause.
Artists on the album include:
Ani DiFranco, UNKLE, David Amram, Joan Baez, Tom Chapin, Willie Nelson, Rain Phoenix, Patti Smith, Anti Flag, Girls Against Boys, Garland Jeffreys, New Party Systems Featuring Kyp Malone, Yoko Ono, Amanda Palmer, Dar Williams, The Mammals Featuring Pete Seeger, David Crosby & Graham Nash, George Martinez & The Global Block Collective, Jackson Browne, Yo La Tengo, The Guthrie Family, Matt Pless, Filmmaker Michael Moore, Mogwai and More!
The event will be hosted by the DJ’s of Occupational Hazards on WBAI 99.5 FM, John Murdock and Joey Gay!
Occupy This Album, a 4 disc compilation of music by, for, and inspired by, the Occupy Wall Street movement and the 99% available May 15th, 2012. Preorder this bundle now to receive the following: Occupy This Album CD and a MFO Shirt.
I am excited to share with my blog readers that we have been invited to attend the Occupy This Album Record Release Party in New York City at the City Winery on Tuesday, May 8th. I entered the record release party contest on their Web site and was informed today that we will get two free tickets (worth 99.99 each). I am psyched to win this contest and to be able to witness this historic event.
This is a cause I strongly believe in and support. As a music journalist and activist I can’t wait to see & hear some of the 99 songs on Occupy This Album by the original artists. The City Winery in SoHo is a great venue. We have had dinner with our son there in the past. The owner of City Winery, Michael Dorf, founder of the iconic Knitting Factory, wanted to create a space in Manhattan where he could combine his shared passions for wine and music. He has accomplished that and more. He has hosted and coordinated some great music events in NYC.
Dorf has became one of the most prolific independent promoters in New York and main presenter of music in “downtown” New York. In November 2005, Mr. Dorf was lauded by The New York Times as “one of New York’s most important music impresarios.” He has produced the opening celebration concert for 7 World Trade Center, the first new building on theWTC site. Michael Dorf Presents has produced hundreds of concerts including the Music Downtown Series, Music of Series at Carnegie Hall, The Annual New York Jewish Music & Heritage Festival, Jewzapalooza, the “Downtown Seder”, as well as several significant private corporate events. The successful series of tribute concerts at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall includes the Music of Joni Mitchell, Music of Bob Dylan, Music of Bruce Springsteen, Music of Elton John, Neil Sedaka’s 50 years of Hits, The Music of R.E.M., and the The Music of the Who.
The Line Up (So far)*
DJ Logic
Nickodemus
Taj Weekes and Adowa
Grammy Award winning Nanci Griffith accompanied by Pete and Maura Kenedy and the Clap Brothers Michael Moore accompanied by Tom Chapin, Dave Dreiwitz, David Amram, and Kevin Twigg
David Amram
Matt Pless
Mike + Ruthy
Jennie Arnau
Joel Rafael
Rejectionist Front
Aliza Hava
Ace Reporter
Los Cintron
Fear Nuttin Band
George Martinez And The Global Block Collective
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