Sun Domingo - photo by squidtank
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GOD BLESS AMERICA ROCK SHOW!

Received this one yesterday afternoon in my inbox.  Thought I’d share it with you.  This one gives a whole new meaning to wrapping yourself up in the flag.  (or unwrapping yourself as the case may be) 

Here’s the details on the show:  Play hosts The Stabones, Culdera, Against Grace, Two Kings, and Alien Cabbage later this afternoon (July 4).  Doors open at 4pm! show starts at 5pm!?!.  If you’re not familiar with Play, it’s located behind Rivals Sports Bar and Grille.  You can check out the venue’s MySpace page here.  $9 cover.  Rock n roll, I salute thee!

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While there are a lot of great music performances coming up this weekend (Black Crowes, Jesse Winchester, and Bill Kirchen to name just three), all eyes will be on the skies come Friday evening as fireworks will light up July 4th in Charlottesville and surrounding areas.  There are a number of 4th of July events on tap and Haidee over at cvilleStyle has the details a-plenty.  Check ‘em out here:  Guide to July 4 festivities in Cville.  As for your music calendar for the holiday weekend…. 

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07/03:  Song of the Day.  Jimi Hendrix–The Star-Spangled Banner

In keeping with our continuing 4th of July theme this week, there really is no way I could avoid posting this one.  Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, playing the Star-Spangled Banner is a must-hear for me every 4th of July, in much the same that I have to hear Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant Massacre” on Thanksgiving and Cheech & Chong’s “Santa Claus and His Old Lady” at Christmas.

This was essentially the last big performance of Woodstock and actually took place on Monday morning after almost two-thirds of the estimated 500,000 people had already left.  Hendrix, playing here with the band he called Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, performed one of the longest concerts of his brief career at the festival (nearly two hours long) and closed his set with this version of the Star-Spangled Banner that we’ve all come to know and love.

Take it away Jimi!  [video after the break]

And Happy 4th of July everyone!

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Here’s a little something for those of you out there that wouldn’t mind adding a little wine to your Independence Day celebration before heading out to catch the fireworks.  Afton Mountain Vineyards is having an Independence Day Celebration on Friday, July 4th with live music, simple picnic fare, and of course…Wine!  The vineyard opens to visitors at 10am and the event runs until 7pm, leaving you plenty of time to get back and check all things sparkling, booming, and exploding.

Live music begins around noon and ends at 6pm with performances by Beleza Brasil and a flamenco guitar duo.  Admission price is $4 ($3 is you’re a wine club member), children under 12 get in free.  While you’re there, grab a cup of Shinko’s Gazpacho and feel free to bring your own picnic lunch.  If you’ve never been, it’s a beautiful setting!  In addition, Afton Mountain Vineyards will be releasing their 2007 vintage Pinot Noir and Sangiovese.  For more info, give them a call.  540.456.8667.  For directions, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

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07/01:  Song of the Day.  The Violent Femmes–American Music

We’ve almost completed Side A on our 4th of July mix tape Our Crazy Uncle, Sam.  If you haven’t added a song/video yet just click on the link here and add your colorful twist to the musical mix.  In the meantime, to get you ready for Side B (which in a way has already begun), here’s a little ditty from back in the early 90’s that would fit in just fine.  From the 1991 album Why Do Birds Sing? here’s the Violent Femmes with your Song of the Day.  [Video for “American Music” after the break]

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I was sitting on my ass, looking out at the sunset west of town last night and I was thinking about hating. Yea, hating. I’m guilty of it - maybe too often - and a lot of times it is well deserved because lets face it there are a lot of things in this town to hate on. I mean there’s that abomination of terrible sound eminating from Coupe de Villes every weekend night during the school year and that terrible band that… OK .. breathing deeply…

There are also a lot of things about the music and arts scene here that I love. I’m really a lover at heart, and not a fighter. The heart of squidtank is only partially black and opaque, even though all of me loves the Cure.
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Just because the Fourth of July falls on Friday does not mean that the fireworks are over for the weekend here in Charlottesville.  Case in point:  The next big show coming up at the Charlottesville Pavilion featuring The Black Crowes with opening guests Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.  The Crowes, who just kicked off their 90-date North America tour on June 28th, will be lighting up the July 4th weekend in Charlottesville on Saturday, July 5th.  Tickets for the show are still available.  For more info, click here.

[After the break, check out the Black Crowes’ recent performance of “Wounded Bird” on Late Night with David Letterman.]

[photo:  WireImage]

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Previous Episodes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Newman’s drummer, “Nu” was awesome.  He could do things that I’ve never even heard anyone talk about doing.  The first time he sat down to play with us, we got into a jam with a really complicated rhythm.  It took us all a while to settle into it.  Once I had a handle on my part, I looked over at him, and he’s just sitting there playing along with one hand, smoking a cigarette with the other.  »Read More

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Time for another mix tape.  This will be the sixth edition in our continuing series of reader submitted song selections.  I tossed around the idea of pulling out a previously submitted theme, but with the 4th of July coming up at the end of the week, I thought we’d use this particular mix tape to celebrate Independence Day.

There’s a lot of different ways we could go about this, but here’s where I think I’m going to take it.  We’re going to do a Side A and a Side B, with each side having a different theme.  I’m going to give you the Side A theme first.  Once we fill up Side A (10 songs), then I’ll give you the theme for Side B (10 songs).  Got it?  Hopefully by now everyone knows how this works.  As always, we add our gentle reminder:  Please add a video URL link with your song submission.  First come, first serve and in order to allow more folks to play:  1 submission per person per side.

SIDE A THEME:  Red, White, and Blue (songs with one or more of those words in the title)
SIDE B THEME:  Aint’ That America

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