LIFE GOES ON

Melnick in the Afternoon Set List:

        

1. "Dust Bowl Dance" - Mumford & Sons - "Sigh No More"
2.  "Spoiling For A Fight" - AC/DC - "Black Ice   
3. "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" - Hank Williams Jr. - ABC MNF 1984
4. "Victory Dance" - My Morning Jacket " - "Circuital"
5. "Cus's Catskill Gym" - The Felice Brothers - "Celebration, Florida"
6. "Star Spangled Banner" - Roger Doucet - "Songs For Glory"
7. "When I'm Gone" - Tupac & Eminem - (Remix)
8. "Last Crusade" - Sam Roberts Band - "Collider"
9. "Are You Ready For The Country?" - Neil Young & The International Harvesters - "A Treasure"
10. "I've Been Everywhere" - Johnny Cash - "American II Unchained"
11. "You Are My Sunshine" - Norman Blake - (Soundtrack) "O Brother Where Art Thou?" (Deluxe Edition)
12. "Jesus Is Just Alright" - The Doobie Brothers - "Live At The Greek Theatre 1982" (Farewell Tour)
13. "Black Water" - The Doobie Brothers - "Live At The Greek Theatre 1982"
14. "Take The Bastards Down" - The Dropkick Murphys - "Going Out In Style"
15. "Life Goes On" - Tupac Shakur - "All Eyez On Me"

          

         

I STILL MISS SOMEONE

Melnick in the Afternoon Set List Monday September 12:

         

1.  "New York Skyline" - Garland Jeffreys - "Ghostwriter" 
2.  "Come To My Window" - Melissa Etheridge - "Concert For New York City"
3. "It's My Life" - Bon Jovi - "Concert For New York City"
4. "The Man Comes Around" - Johnny Cash - "Johnny Cash American IV The Man Comes Around"
5. "I Still Miss Someone" - Johnny Cash - "Johnny Cash Live At San Quentin"
6. "The Canal" - Mumford & Sons - "Sigh No More"
7. "Murphy's Law" - Priestess - "Prior To The Fire"
8. "Light You Up" - Shawn Mullins - "Light You Up"
9. "When New York Had Her Heart Broke" - John Hiatt - "Dirty Jeans And Mudslide Hymns"
10. "Let It Be" - Paul McCartney - "Concert For New York City"
11. "White Lightning" - George Jones - February 1959
12. "(Theme From) The Monkees - The Monkees - "The Monkees"
13. "Biko" - Peter Gabriel - "Peter Gabriel"
14. "God's Gonna Cut You Down" - Johnny Cash - "Johnny Cash American V: A Hundred Highways"
15. "Crossroads" - Jeff Healey Band - "The Live Series - Live At Grossman's 1994"
16. "All Along The Watchtower" - Jeff Healey Band - "Live At Grossman's 1994"
17. "Miracle Worker" - SuperHeavy (Damian Marley, Joss Stone, Mick Jagger, Dave Stewart, A.R. Rahman)  www.rollingstone.com
18. "Save My Love" - Bruce Springsteen - "The Promise"
19. "Dirty Old Egg Suckin' Dog" - Johnny Cash - "Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison"

           

           

NEW YORK SKYLINE

Friday September 9 Set List on Melnick in the Afternoon:

         

1. "Soul Of America" - Ian Hunter - "Shrunken Heads"
2. "No Sure Way" - Loudon Wainwright III - "40 Odd Years" Box Set
3. "Going Out In Style" - Dropkick Murphys - "Going Out In Style"
4. "Salt Of The Earth" - Mick Jagger & Keith Richards - "Concert For New York City"(2x)
5. "The Rising" - Bruce Springsteen - "The Rising"
6. "After You've Gone" - Judy Garland - "Judy At Carnegie Hall"
7. "On That Day" - Leonard Cohen - "Dear Heather"
8. "These Arms Of Mine" - Otis Redding - "The Very Best Of Otis Redding"
9. "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley Live On Ed Sullivan Show Sept 9, 1956 - "Elvis A Golden Celebration" Box Set
10. "Long Before My Time" - The Baseball Project - "The Baseball Project Vol. 1: Frozen Ropes And Dying Quails"
11. "Who Are You" - The Who - "The Concert For New York City"
12. "Waitin' On A Sunny Day" - Bruce Springsteen - "The Rising"
13. "I'm Alive" - Garland Jeffreys - "The King Of In Between"
14. "High Water (For Charley Patton)" - Bob Dylan - "Love And Theft"
15. "Thompson 25" - Annakin Slayd - www.annakinslayd.com
16. "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" - The Clash - "The Clash Live At Shea Stadium"
17. "London Calling" - The Clash - "The Clash Live At Shea Stadium"
18. "I'm Down" - Paul McCartney - "The Concert For New York City"
19. "Won't Get Fooled Again" - The Who - "The Concert For New York City"
20. "Miss You" - Mick Jagger & Keith Richards - "The Concert For New York City"
21. "New York State Of Mind" - Billy Joel - "The Concert For New York City"
22. "My City Of Ruins" - Bruce Springsteen - "The Rising"
23. "New York Skyline" - Garland Jeffreys - "Ghostwriter"

           

NO BANKER LEFT BEHIND

Melnick in the Afternoon Set List Thursday Sept 8:

1. "The Things (That) I Used To Do" - Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble (Live at the Spectrum in Montreal August 17, 1984) - "Couldn't Stand The Weather" (Legacy Edition)
2. "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" - Hank Williams Jr - ABC Monday Night Football
3. "We Want The Airwaves" - The Ramones - "Hey Hey Let's Go The Ramones Anthology"
4. "Satchel Paige Said" - The Baseball Project - "The Baseball Project Vol. 1 Frozen Ropes And Dying Quails"
5. "I'll Fight" - Wilco - "Wilco (The Album)"
6. "Hey Good Lookin'" - Hank Williams - 1951
7. "Never Enough" - John Doe - "Keeper"
8. "Right Place Wrong Time" - Dr. John - "The Very Best Of Dr. John"
9. "Waitin' On A Sunny Day" - Bruce Springsteen - "The Rising"
10. "New York Skyline" - Garland Jeffreys - "Ghostwriter"
11. "Come Back To Sorrento" - Dean Martin - "Dean Martin's All Time Greatest Hits"
12. "No Banker Left Behind" - Ry Cooder - "Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down"
13. "I Fall To Pieces" - Patsy Cline - "Live At The Opry"
14. "So What" - Pink - "Funhouse"
15. "Howlin' For You" - Black Keys - "Brothers"
16. "L'Assomption" - Shane Murphy - "Street Money Miracle"
17. "Alive" - Pearl Jam - "Ten"

        

ALCOHOL & PILLS

Melnick in the Afternoon Set List Wednesday September 7:

1. "Ghost On The Canvas" - Glen Campbell - "Ghost On The Canvas"
2. "Alcohol And Pills" - Fred Eaglesmith - "Lipstick, Lies & Gasoline"
3. "Alone And Forsaken" - Social Distortion - "Hard Times And Nursery Rhymes"
4. "Mr. Bad Example" - Warren Zevon - "Mr. Bad Example"
5. "Without A Map" - Sam Roberts Band - "Collider"
6. "Glory Days" - Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band - "Born In The USA"
7. "New York, New York" - Ryan Adams - "Gold"
8. "Plath Heart" - Braids - "Native Speaker"
9. "The Fixer" - Pearl Jam - "Back Spacer"
10. "Viva Las Vegas" - ZZ Top - "ZZ Top Greatest Hits"
11. "Not Fade Away" - Buddy Holly - "Gold"
12. "Lawyers, Guns And Money" - Warren Zevon - "Excitable Boy"
13. "Back On The Chain Gang" - Pretenders - "Learning To Crawl"
14. "Going To See My Friend" - Pearl Jam - "Back Spacer"
15. "Walk With Me" - Neil Young - "Le Noise"
16. "New York Skyline" - Garland Jeffreys "Ghostwriter"
17. "Act Naturally" - The Beatles - "Help!"
18. "Werewolves Of London" - Warren Zevon "Excitable Boy"

LET ME SING, AND I'M HAPPY

It's time. And it's about time.

For years now, I've heard from listeners who have suggested I list the names of the songs and artists I play during the course of a Melnick in the Afternoon show. I've tried to figure out a way to make it work without it being intrusive. And it's been staring me in the face for over two years now.

Originally this music blog was going to feature (almost) instant reviews of various concerts I've attended  or attended by friends and/or relatives. Great idea. Until I get home and decide I'd rather do something else while time slips away and we get further and further away from the actual event (most recent example was Eminem at Osheaga. I had a wonderful piece planned on why more people my age ought to be paying attention to somebody who's work will continue to resonate long after he's gone. But I got sidetracked. And unlike 20 years ago when there seemed to be over 30 hours in a day, I now feel lucky if there's a totally free hour or two. Plus, I was planning to add the odd photo or two but my smart phone features a camera that ain't too bright. Another reason to take the dive into I-Phone territory. Our new bosses at Bell promise a product that will deliver. Not to mention a discount).

I'm still hopeful of turning this into a full scale meeting point for lovers of all kinds of music but in the meantime, and with a loving nod to Aaron Rand who is starting a web site to list the songs he would have played, if they only let him, here now, to be updated on a daily basis (but don't hold me to that), is the list of songs/artists/albums heard earlier today between 3 and 7 on The Team 990:

1. "Most Likely You'll Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)" - Bob Dylan/The Band (Live) - "Before The Flood"
2. "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" - Bob Dylan/The Band (Live) - "Before The Flood"
3. "Burn The Bridge" - Jesse Malin & St. Marks Social - "Love it to Life"
4. "Take 'Em Down" - Dropkick Murphys - "Going Out In Style"
5. "I'm The Slime" - Frank Zappa - "Strictly Commercial (The Best Of Frank Zappa)"
6. "I'm Going Home" - The Jeff Healey Band The Live Series - "Live at Grossman's - 1994"
7.  "Theme from New York, New York" - Frank Sinatra - "The Reprise Collection"
8. "New York, New York" - Ryan Adams - "Gold"
9. "Tide Is Turning" - Roger Waters -"Radio K.A.O.S."
10. "Candle in the Wind" - Elton John Live at funeral of Princess Diana Sept 6, 1997
11. "This House Is Rockin'" - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Box Set
12. "I'm Goin' Down" - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Jeff Beck (Live) SRV Box Set
13. "Save My Love" - Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band -"The Promise"
14. "Alcohol & Pills" - Todd Snider - "East Nashville Skyline"
15. "Spaceman" - Harry Nilsson -"All Time Greatest Hits"
16. "Tell The Truth" - Derek & The Dominos "Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs" (Deluxe Edition; Phil Spector produced b-side)
17. "Shoot Out The Lights" - Richard Thompson - Live on "Spectacle: Elvis Costello With..."
18. "The Spirit Of Radio" - Rush - "The Spirit Of Radio Greatest Hits 1974 - 1987"
19. "Working Man" - Rush - "The Spirit Of Radio Greatest Hits 1974 - 1987"
20. "Let Me Sing, And I'm Happy" - Al Jolson - "20 Golden Greats"

            

WASN'T THAT A PARTY? (HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB DYLAN)

Wow.

Yes it was a wow kind of night at Petit Cafe Campus on Bob Dylan's 70th birthday. A very Montreal wow.

No matter who or what I'm listening to I always make it back to Dylan. At least once a month. Yes, I'm somewhat addicted (not obsessed as one Gazette Letter to the Editor suggested. If you're really looking for obsessed, you have no idea.) but it feeds my core belief about the human condition. That the head, the heart and the soul are one. And when they're all working together it's sheer beauty. Music, especially live music, gets me to that place. Dylan's music transports me out of the ballpark, out of sight and out of this world. Nobody comes close. A Bruce Springsteen concert is a live event like no other, the greatest show in rock and roll. Some of his songs are brilliant and attending a Springsteen concert can be a spiritual experience but ultimately I've always felt more affected in a physical sense. Listening to Dylan makes the experience metaphysical.

I'm constantly plugged in to a wide variety of music but in anticipation of Dylan's birthday I started working backwards all the way to his debut album in 1962, aided by the newly released Mono versions of his first eight albums plus the also recently released Witmark Demos which feature many of his classics being recorded onto tape for the very first time. The number of quality songs that Bob Dylan has written is beyond staggering. The fact that he managed to write so many great songs that also happen to be so meaningful is beyond remarkable. And that so many of these great songs have crossed the borders - often straddling them - of so many various American music genres (folk, country, blues, rock, gospel, soul) is almost beyond belief.

Bob Dylan will always be identified, mostly, with the 1960's. If, God forbid, he had never gotten up after falling off his motorcycle in Woodstock in 1966, his body of work would still be held up as a model for aspiring songwriters and performers. His troika of albums in the mid-60's, "Bringing it all Back Home", "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde", recorded during an 18 month period, raised the bar to a level that's never been equalled. And doubtless, never will be. But his production in the 60's didn't stop there. While recuperating from his accident and/or an addiction to heroin (perhaps) and amphetamines (probably) Dylan and The Band recorded the highly influential "The Basement Tapes" (only a portion of which were ever officially released) followed by "John Wesley Harding" and "Nashville Skyline". No wonder he decided in 1970 to record a double album of mostly covers ("Self Portrait"). Although derided by critics, time has again proved that Dylan was way ahead of the pack. Which major rock star since has NOT put out their own version of "Self Portrait"?

Dylan in the '70's was almost as brilliant beginning with "New Morning", which featured Bob on keyboards for the majority of the songs ("What's he doing on keyboards???" has been a common complaint by some of his "fans" after attending a Dylan concert in recent years. Well, he was actually doing it 40 years ago). He composed his first film soundtrack "Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid" and then, if not replicating his mid-60s output, coming fairly close in releasing "Planet Waves", "Blood on the Tracks" and "Desire" in rapid succession. Some people point to 1978's "Street Legal" as the beginning of a decline but I love that album. It's sound was horribly muddy upon initial release but nicely cleaned up in a recent remastering. His marriage over by then, it's Dylan singing at his soulful best. As the 70's ended Dylan released "Slow Train Coming", an album that revealed his conversion to Christianity which prompted hundreds of thousands of his "fans" to replay, en masse, the chant of "Judas!" that was hurled at Dylan while on stage in Manchester, England in 1966 because he had the audacity to pick up an electric guitar. This time it was because the same guy who sang "..don't follow leaders" had apparently committed the ultimate betrayal by singing about Jesus. As somebody who has never been a believer in organized religion I did not, as many of my fellow Jews did, throw in the towel and consider him to be some kind of traitor. His vocal performances on that album - and on the tour that followed - left little doubt as to the sincerity of where he was emotionally. And, dammit, how else would I have discovered Shirley Ceasar or The Dixie Hummingbirds or The Blind Boys of Alabama?

There's no doubt Dylan floundered in the 1980's. His autobiography "Chronicles Vol. 1" explains that era well. But the 80's also featured songs like "Solid Rock", "The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar", "Every Grain of Sand", "Jokerman", "Dark Eyes", the epic "Brownsville Girl", "Silvio", "Everything is Broken",  "Most of the Time" and one of his greatest ever, "Blind Willie McTell". A life's work for some. A "bad" decade for Bob Dylan.

Dylan seemed to get his groove back in the early 90's. And, as Van Morrison once suggested in concert, "It's Too Late To Stop Now!" He's still on the road, "...heading for another joint..." at age 70 bringing his body of work to a new generation of fans and, on those real good nights, reminding so many of his long time fans what attracted them in the first place. It's Dylan as performance artist. I watch him now, as I had the opportunity to do so a few months ago at UMass in Amherst, spitting out his words at the lip of the stage, to "Ballad of a Thin Man":

You see somebody naked
And you say "Who is that man?"
You try so hard
And you don't understand
Just what you will say
When you get home


Performing naked, with nothing but a harmonica in one hand while answering the never ending criticism that still comes his way. (A recent Wall Sreet Journal editorial suggested he should retire while Maureen Dowd of The New York Times raked him for agreeing to perform in China while being "censored".  A claim that had no truth to it at all.)

All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie
  -Things Have Changed (Oscar winning song, released 2000)

I don't know when or even if I would have discovered Dylan if not for my late sister Cherise who was playing something off "Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits" while I was reading Red Fisher in the Montreal Star. I put the paper down and walked into the room where my sister was. Anticipating my question while no doubt studying my face, she said "It's Bob Dylan. You like it? He's great".

 It was in the spirit of Cherise, and the city I love and the musicians who help me love it, and of course the man who links us all, that I decided, with a little help from my friends Lloyd Fischler, Gary Silverman, Glenda Rother, Mojo Len and Bill Brownstein, to throw a Bob Dylan 70th birthday bash at Petit Cafe Campus. Every musician who was asked to play, for nothing but beer, played. Some waited nearly eight hours but they played their asses off. Gary and I tried to get a surprise special guest to show (Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Jimmy Lafave and Greg Keelor, among others, politely declined) but then it wouldn't have become the magical Montreal moment that it was. Jammed to beyond capacity, the front door was locked at some point after 9:30. Yes it was noisy, but shit happens in a bar. And the artists gave so much. Some of the most mesmerizing performances took place in the final hour in front of about 50 die hards who waited out 30 acts and nearly seven hours.

Among those still applauding at 3 AM was my sister, Rhona.

Thank you all.

BobFest 2011
May 24 @ Petit Cafe Campus
8:10 PM - 3 AM

1. Bob Dylan (Recording)  - "All I Really Want To Do"
2. Future Ex-Wives (Andrew Tupper & Graham Playford) w/Shane Murphy - "If You Gotta Go, Go Now (Or Else You Gotta Stay All Night)"
3. Craig Morrison & Friends w/Ryan Fleury, RD Harris, TerryJoe Banjo & Danielle Lebeau-Petersen
4. Alex Nesrallah - "Love Minus Zero/No Limit
5. Alex Nesrallah - "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"
6. Craig Morrison - "Seven Days"
7. Craig Morrison - "My Back Pages"
8. Craig & Alex - "Mr. Tambourine Man"
9. Gerry Kandestin - "Just Like A Woman"
10. Gerry Kandestin - "Man in the Long Black Coat"
11. Pat Loiselle - "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues"
12. Danielle Lebeau-Petersen w/The Jimmyriggers & Lee Mellor  - "Buckets of Rain"
13. Danielle & Everybody - "Odds & Ends"
14. Lloyd Fischler - Reads Greil Marcus on Dylan
15. Beaverness (Mathieu Dudemaine & Simon Turcotte) - "Love Sick"
16. Beaverness  - "John Wesley Harding"
17. Bill Brownstein - Speaks & Intros...
18. The Steamfitters (Peter Kalichman, Marc Gold, Gord Langsner, Richard Weiss) - "Goin' To Acapulco"
19. The Steamfitters - "Ring Them Bells"
20. The Steamfitters - "Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat"
21. Lloyd Fischler - Reads Patti Smith on Dylan
22. The Van Roskies (Jaime Roskies, Susan Khouri, Jeff Montesano, Mel Backstrom, Tony Odze) -     "Like A Rolling Stone"
23. The Van Roskies - "I Shall Be Released"
24. Lazarus Moan (Mark Goodwin, RD Harris, Ron Stutz, Stuart Patterson, Eric Lemoyne) -      "Going, Going Gone"
25. Lazarus Moan w/Jim Zeller - "Watching The River Flow"
26. Bones Malones (Bones Malones, Mike G, Pat McLelland, Phil Cahouette) - "Political World"
27. Bones Malones - "Beyond Here Lies Nothing"
28. Matt Large & The Smalls - "Lonesome River"
29. Matt Large & The Smalls - "Man of Constant Sorrow"
30. Terry Joe Banjo - "Man on the Street" & "Troubled And I Don't Know Why"
31. Pat Lesyk & Jonathan Moorman - "It Ain't Me, Babe"
32. Pat & Jonathan w/TerryJoe Banjo & David Pearce  - "Wagon Wheel"
33. Norm Rennie w/TerryJoe Banjo on mandolin - "Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)"   
34. Pat Mastey w/TerryJoe Banjo - "Tangled Up In Blue"
35. Pat Mastey w/TerryJoe & Craig Morrison - "Isis"  
36. Tim Smith - "Simple Twist of Fate"    
37. Laurel Jackson w/DLebeau-Petersen, Katie Sevigny, Andre Kirchoff & David Pearce - "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere"
38. Bobby Dove - "The Cuckoo"
39. Bernard Perusse - Reads Arlo Guthrie on Dylan & Intros...
40. The Echohunters (Larry Cassini, Gord Fleming, Carl Rufh, Rob Couture, Sylvain Dancausse) - "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright"
41. The Custom Outfit (Derek William, Kevin Moquin, Derek Harrison, David Dixon, Catherine Planet) w/TerryJoe Banjo - "Ballad of Hollis Brown"
42. The Custom Outfit  w/TerryJoe Banjo - "Masters of War"
43. The Future Ex-Wives  - "Girl From The North Country"
44. The Future Ex-Wives w/Shane Murphy - "It Takes A Lot To Laugh (It Takes a Train To Cry)"
45. Filly & The Flops (Felicity Hamer, Eddy Blake Eaton, Gabrielle Lambert, Christopher Reid, Mike Hand) - "Wallflower"
46. Fillly & The Flops - "You're No Good"
47. The Jimmyriggers (Andre Kirchoff, David Pearce, RD Harris & Mark Goodwin) - "Queen Jane Approximately"
48. The Jimmyriggers - "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You"
49. The Jimmyriggers w/Lee Mellor & Jim Zeller - "Cold Irons Bound"
50. Lee Mellor w/The Jimmyriggers & Danielle Lebeau-Petersen - "Chimes of Freedom"
51. Lee Mellor & The Jimmyriggers - "Slow Train Coming"
52. Dave & Bill Gossage w/ Bud Rice - "Ballad of a Thin Man"
53. Dave & Bill Gossage w/ Bud Rice - "Forever Young"
54. Annakin Slayd - "Subterranean Homesick Blues"
55. Leela (The Damn Truth) w/Jim Zeller - "She Belongs To Me"
56. Leela w/ Jim Zeller - "Oh Sister"
57. Johnny Griffin w/ Anthony "Ducky" Lombardi & Nick Power- "Meet Me in the Morning"
58. Johnny Griffin w/Anthony "Ducky" Lombardi & Nick Power - "Satisfied Mind"
59. Rob Lutes & Rob MacDonald - "In My Time of Dying"
60. Rob Lutes & Rob MacDonald - "I Threw It All Away"
61. Rob Lutes & Rob MacDonald  w/JZeller - "Blind Willie McTell"  
62. Jim Zeller w/ JD Slim (Jean-Denis Belanger) - "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"  
63. Jim Zeller w/ JD Slim, RD Harris, Mark Goodwin, David Pearce & Tony Lombardi - "Lay Lady Lay"
64. Paul Deslauriers w/Sam Harrison on Cajon - "Most Likely You'll Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)"
65. Paul Deslauriers w/Sam Harrison- "Down in the Flood (Crash on the Levee)"
66. Shane Murphy Band  - "Highway 61"
67. Shane Murphy Band  - "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean"
68. Shane Murphy Band  -  "Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35"
69. Shane Murphy Band  -  "Highway 61 (Revisited)" 

         
   The Lights came on at 3:05 AM.

   So When does Keith Richards turn 70?