Elmore #59 is here! In this issue, Kevin Korber looks at the ins and outs of crowdfunding and how it affects artists, fans, and record labels. Also, we suggest the perfect gifts for the music lover in your life, and Warren Haynes talks about the importance of giving back. Plus, an exclusive interview with rising Americana star Joe Fletcher, an in-depth look at the State Theatre in Maine, and reviews of all your favorite artists’ newest albums.

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Music lost one of its true icons when Lou Reed passed away on October 27th. A founding member of the Velvet Underground, Lou’s work with that band and his extensive solo career laid the ground work for punk, glam rock, alternative, and many other forms of underground music. His work was massively influential for the likes of David Bowie, Patti Smith, and Iggy Pop, among others. Reed was 71 years old.

The Who’s workload will be considerably lighter after 2015. The band have planned an extensive tour for that year, which marks their 50th anniversary as a group, but Pete Townshend has claimed that their Silver Anniversary tour will also be their last. Bandmate Roger Daltrey agreed with Townshend’s decision, saying that the realities of undertaking massive tours have become more and more problematic as the two have gotten older. This will not spell the end of The Who as a whole, though; Daltrey has gone on record as saying that the band will continue to work as a recording unit after their final tour.
 
If Neko Case asks you to stop taking pictures with your smartphone while she’s playing, you listen to her. Otherwise, she’ll make things very tense and awkward. That’s exactly what happened to a crowd in Cincinnati who drew the alt-country singer/songwriter’s wrath after she repeatedly asked them to not take videos or photos while she was performing. Case reportedly became surly with the crowd, while several attendees stormed out or pointed some obscene gestures towards Case. Some fans have taken to the Internet to complain about Case’s attitude, but the singer has remained silent on the incident since the show ended.

In what may be the most unlikely collaboration ever, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones are teaming up for a duets album in tribute to the Everly Brothers. Titled Foreverly, the album consists of renditions of traditional folk songs that appeared on the Everlys’ 1958 album Songs Our Daddy Taught Us. The first song from their collaboration, “Long Time Gone,” can be heard on BillieJoeandNorah.com. The album comes out on November 25th.

If you think you’ve heard everything that Led Zeppelin have ever done, Robert Plant is here to tell you that you’re wrong. The blues-rock icon told reporters on BBC Radio that he had recently unearthed some old Led Zeppelin recordings that have yet to be heard by anyone but the band themselves. Plant said he discovered the tapes with Jimmy Page while the two were working on remastering the band’s catalog. Plant said that a few of these newly discovered recordings might make it on to the remastered Zeppelin albums, but he joked that Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones would give “two cars and a greenhouse” to make sure that some of the tapes that feature Jones on lead vocals never see the light of day.

FEATURES

Give a hand, fund a band: Kevin Korber looks at the upside and downside of crowdfunding and addresses the question: Should you really hand over your money to guys without real jobs?

Getting together at Christmas: Warren Haynes gives back via his annual Christmas Jam fundraiser. Find your own way to give in our holiday gift guide

DEPARTMENTS

Letter: Not-too-tricky question: Is it better to give or to receive? Answer: Both

Opening Act: Snippets, fun, interviews, reviews. Go meet Elmore at shows and compare notes

Kickin’ in Your Stall: Travis Tritt saves the day. Carl Gustafson gives thanks

Influences: Disciplined, hardworking, focused and over-the-top, Ted Nugent and Henry Rollins may have been separated at birth

On The Record: The Avett Brothers conquer the north…and south, east and west, proving that talented artists can prevail without eyeliner and clingy pants. The Civil Wars may have destroyed both sides, but their album is solid; Robert Randolph also said Lickety Split, but it’s a different split. The Rides Can’t Get Enough, but the Blind Boys of Alabama say, I’ll Find a Way

Re.Issues: Humble Pie was good enough to eat, and with this extra serving of Performance: Rockin’ the Fillmore, we’re done. Bob Dylan’s Bootleg Series continues; the Clash unleash their Sound System; and Nirvana’s last album, rereleased after 20 years, is unfittingly named In Utero

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning: James Harris, Terry Lewis and Prince heated up Minneapolis funk, turning Purple Snow to Purple Rain

What’d I Say: Vintage blues ain’t front-page news… unless it was born yesterday

Also Appearing: The Philadelphia Folk Fest, ever the finest; Duane Allman gets a spotlight of his very own. Books: Graham Nash on Graham Nash, Eric Clapton on his guitars

Listen Up: Arnie Goodman shares his five favorite photographs, while Henry Diltz tells the stories behind his five favorite Diltz photos

The Good Seats: Portland, ME, recently applied its motto, “Resurgam,” to the State Theatre. Dennis McDonough and Michael Franti tell us what that means

This Month’s Trivia

Get to Know: 20 Artists Who Deserved Christmas Coal