 FEATURES:
DEPARTMENTS
 Letter from a veteran: Photographer Paul Natkin has seen bands come and go. He’s seen them stay, too, and makes his predictions about longevity
Opening Act: Festivals worth the journey (including two where you’ll need a passport), shows to revisit, snippets and things to ponder
Kickin’ in Your Stall: There are good bands, bad bands and—according to Carl Gustafson—a select few that merit the death penalty
 Influences: Sitting down with icons Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones after their book release and before their Rock Hall induction, the two talk about their shared influences and shoot the breeze. Listen in on the fun
On the Record: Outlaw/bad boy Willie Nelson, in his late-70s, decided Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die might be an inappropriate title for his latest release; let’s hope so. Dr. John called it Locked Down, but we disagree; Paul Thorn asked What the Hell is Goin On? despite the fact he’s got it goin’ on; Tedeschi Trucks band knows Everybody’s Talkin’, and who can blame them? Béla Fleck goes Across the Imaginary Divide to join the Marcus Roberts Trio, and good thing he did
Re.Issues: Part deux of the Jethro Tull saga and the unending genius of Ian Anderson. The Ventures with a Vol. 2 collection (expect to hear more later), and, from a different reality, David Axelrod’s rockified Messiah
Pet Sounds: Where are they now? They’re here! Ali Green assesses Jack White, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Neil Young’s latest efforts, and finds their magic as compelling as ever
What’d I Say: Jim Hynes revisits Chi-town and says the new music is as good as the old, and sometimes the two overlap
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning: Managing Editor and In-House Ninja John Kuroski combines his jobs and finds Lou Ragland a quirky, determined I-can-do-it-all kind of guy out there, doing it all
Also Appearing: Jack White and an estrogen-rich band rock Roseland Ballroom. Chuck Berry still duckwalks at 85. Two out-of-the-box instruments had ’em going—the Punch Brothers, where Chris Thile’s mandolin blew out Town Hall, and Jake Shimabukuro’s ukulele made its usual outsized impact at Rhythm N’ Blooms. Buddy Guy’s bio in print and the Grateful Dead—in keeping with their endless sets—on 14 DVDs, oh my!
Collecting: Golden-voiced Steve Marriott started out with Charles Dickens Oliver!, reportedly stormed off stage at a New Year’s Eve Small Faces gig, then formed Humble Pie. Arnie Goodman names Marriott’s records to hear and own
Get to Know 20 List: GPS Edition – Artist or location?
This Month’s Trivia
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God didn’t make the radio to add more tension between Brian Wilson and Mike Love of the Beach Boys, but that’s exactly what’s happening. Coming off of their 50th reunion album, That’s Why God Made The Radio, Love is planning for what will happen after all the [Pet] sounds are over. Love booked fall touring dates with his own version of the Beach Boys, which do not include founding members of the band. Brian Wilson told Rolling Stone magazine, “I wasn’t aware that Mike had some shows in South America, [it’s] news to me.” The reunion is blowing Wilson’s mind, and he has even thought about recording another album with the current lineup.
Radiohead has postponed part of its European tour after a stage collapse in Toronto killed the band's drum technician. Scott Johnson was killed when the stage fell as the crew set up for a concert in Toronto's Downsview Park. Three other crew members were injured. The collapse destroyed its light show and also caused serious damage to its backline. "Whilst we all are dealing with the grief and shock ensuing from this terrible accident, there are also many practical considerations to deal with," the band said. Radiohead plans to begin performing again on July 10 in Nimes, France. The cause of the accident is still being investigated with the Ontario Ministry of Labor requesting documents from all companies involved in the concert.
Dave Matthews Band is set to release its next album only two days after the summer tour wraps up. Away From the World will be the bands eighth studio album and follows the bands previous 1.2 million selling Grammy nominated Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King. Released on September the 11th through RCA Records the album will be produced by Steve Lillywhite. No stranger to the band, Lillywhite steered them to huge success in the 90s with tracks such as “Crash” and “Before These Crowded Streets”. Live favorite “Mercy” is expected to be the lead single but a release date has yet to be announced.
Live Nation has made strides in recent years since its merge with Ticketmaster made it the largest event promotion company in the world. Now, the company just got larger. Live Nation just announced the purchase of Hard Events, a Los Angeles-based company that specialized in festival promotion. Festivals have become big business in recent years, with Coachella, Bonaroo, and Glastonbury becoming worldwide events. Certainly, this recent acquisition does little to set aside concern that Live Nation is monopolizing its realm of the music industry.
The Flaming Lips have given Jay-Z his 100th problem by smashing his record for most gigs played in 24 hours. Filmed by MTV as part of their O Music Awards, the Lips played a mini-set in eight separate cities; Memphis, Clarksdale, Oxford, Jackson, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Baton Rouge, ending in New Orleans. Among the opening artists helping in their endeavor were Grace Potter and the Nocturnalsand Neon Indian, with newbie Grimes opening on the eighth and record breaking show. In a press release discussing his band’s victory, frontman Wayne Coyne stated that to be published in the Guinness Book of Records would be “one of life’s absurd joys.”
Boys of Summer: Allison Johnelle Boron shoots the curl with the Beach Boys, whose 50-year ride has gone from bitchin’ to gnarly, and is now back to rad