Jack White’s new band, The Dead Weather, performing “Hang You from the Heavens.”

Jack White is a busy man. Beside playing in both The White Stripes and The Raconteurs, White is now drumming and singing backup for a new band, The Dead Weather. The Dead Weather also features Alison Mosshart of The Kills on vocals, Jack Lawrence from The Raconteurs on bass, Dean Fertita from Queens of the Stone Age, and Jack White on the drums!

In honor of spring: “Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins

I saw an ice cream truck today, which if you live in the Midwest like the Chum Master does, signifies one thing:  it’s spring!  In Michigan, spring is the season that’s only slightly warmer than winter, and precedes construction season. Enjoy “Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins from their 1993 release, Siamese Dream.

Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson” as covered by The Vines

Not a bad cover overall.

“Steal My Kisses” by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals

Live at the Hollywood Bowl in 2003.  Ben Harper is the official house band at Chum HQ.  Naturally this is an unpaid position which requires artists to show up at my whim to perform in my basement.  We’re still looking for a band to actually honor the imaginary contract they never signed.  Such prima donnas.

Anyway, Ben Harper mixes it up so much, writing songs in many styles, folk, rock, reggae.  The beat boxer featured in this performance is Jeremy Nelson, son of Innocent Criminal bass master Juan Nelson.

“Not Dark Yet” by Bob Dylan

Since Bob Dylan is touring near Chum HQ, we present one of my favorites, “Not Dark Yet” from Dylan’s 1997 album, Time Out of Mind.

“Dancing in Chains” by aKido

“Dancing in Chains” from the album Blink by aKido. Filmed by Thien Vu Dang.  Check out aKido’s official website as well as their Myspace.

Alice in Chains to Release New Album

Refresher: Original lead singer Layne Stanley died in 2002.  And, here’s footage of Alice in Chains’ current frontman, William Duvall, who has been singing with the band for 2 yrs.  What do you think of his rendition of “Man in the Box” from a live show in 2006?  New album hopefully do out by beginning of 2009.

When Celebrities blog: Courtney Love’s Latest Myspace entry

If I was a celebrity, I’d have a full time assistant to handle many of my duties. Said assistant’s principal duty would be to save me from myself. Exhibit A: Courtney Love’s blog. Keep in mind, this part listed here is all ONE SENTENCE. Hit the link below for the rest of the babble.

Monday, September 08, 2008

How was russell?

i didnt go to the “VMAS” as we used to call them but theyve gotten so fucking Urban i dont know i guess Van Toffler thought ( hes an exec at MTV ) he was being edgy and he WAS by letting my darkling prince Brand host the mtv awards- but theyre not the “VMAS” and they never will be again – i had ZERO desire to watch let alone go and thats one of my very favourite people ive ever known or had the honour of being friends and fiends with hosting it so i feel horribly rude that my desire not to watch assholes with chastity rings- oh for fucks sake ive had some great conversations but not ONE has ever ended in an Orgasm, y’all need some pussy and some cock and shut the hell up- i say this after spending a lovely lovely LOVELY evening with a new friend- friend of Diablos actually’s fathers birthday mostly i sat with his parents and just fell utterly in love i wish they were MY parents- no wonder he directs brilliant horror movies- he has had a pretty perfect life- these two were seriously the nicest parents ive ever met- prettty much- plus i like him alot- but thats enough of my personal life i downloaded every one of Conor Obersts lyrics and read them all ALL straight thru – very impressive- very sexual in a very dark and lyrical no pun intended, way- i actual;ly do sing the word LOVE in the proper context for once in my life on this record- i didnt even choke on my bile when singing it- my gall my biluous misanthropy mysonginay and general isms that im so densely full of i just know i like to write lyrics with my rhyming dictionary and thesaurus on one side of the table- Yeats and Rilke to the other ( Ive passed….WAY passed Fluers De Mal thats for rock writing 101) and listen to people who sing words well who challlenge me and not ONLY will i HAPPILY stick up the 854,000 dollars in American Express Fraud Bills Ryan Assams knowingly used tomake that piece of utter shite- and im repeating myself but tonight this morning my Ipods on shuffle and right after the excellent excellent Bright Eyes song about the you know”i wanna lover who doesnt give a fuck…where is the kid with the chemicals” that one- its beautifully demented that song was a fucking shit shit faux country crap song about trains and longing for Jacksonville, NO NO NO it could NOT BE- i pressed the little button on my Ipod fucking a! Ryan with a cowboy hat or something on..oh just singing BULLSHIT-= hes just not being truthful-= in fact hes so fucking mediocre hes the Dave Grohl of the would be Dylans and hey im one, just cos im a little batshit doesnt mean im not going for the prize- I was ALL ready to finally do my Dylan Rite of Passage cover and its just not meaningful in the context of the dizzying amount of songs we already have and the lyrical challenges that face me i mean to aim for absouloute perfection = and see Bright Eyes – he wraps the melodies about his words- i do not do that i have the melodies first and scat my way thru and see what comes out of me- GOD I DO HAVE A FANTASTIC JOB! my matrices may scatter and shed skins off the red snakes crawling in my sobbing dense demonic hell of self loathing and tossed off Chanel and an Ossie Clarke jumpsuit that i swear to God is the coolest thing ive ever seen-= i have to get it for Noel Fielding- will he really truly appreciate the Pallenberg of this blackthin jersey jumpsuit witha neckplunge down to THERE and a bouncy sac? actually yes- there Noel if you can turn on a computer you just found your christmas present and since im Crashing Guildeford for Xmas anyways- i guess i better be bringing a good present.

Read the rest of the blog here.

Neil Young, I’m a fan….

So, I just finished watching a great concert film by Jonathon Demme, “Heart of Gold.” Demme filmed Neil Young performing at the Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Ole Opry. Most of the songs in the film are from Neil’s 2005 album, “Prairie Wind.” It reminded me of why I love that guy’s music. Great folk singer with some strong country roots. But, I love how he mixes it up, too, with some nasty, sloppy guitar. Passion trumps shredding ability sometimes. So, enjoy the videos below. One is a live version of “Old Man” from the Harvest album, I believe filmed in 1971 or 1972. The other is from a 1993 performance where Neil and Pearl Jam play a rocking version of “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

“Old Man”

Live performance of “Rockin’ in the Free World”

Now that’s some good drumming

Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band on “Say Goodbye.”

Buddy Rich vs. Animal on the Muppets, 1980

Neil Pert of Rush, drum solo