Back again with another edition of Joe’s Music Picks.  March has brought good things musically to the people of Hooville.  Highlights include not only Tea Leaf Green, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, but also the upcoming Galactic concert.  Spring is upon us, let the music warm our hearts.  Music brings all the people together, it brings “we over me”.

Looking ahead, April is going to be solid.

04/05: Antibalas*
04/11: Toubab Krewe* or Trans Am, Zombi, and Psychic Paramount`
04/19: Robert Randolph & The Family Band^
04/22: Acid Mothers Temple`
04/26: Rose Hill Drive`
04/28: Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band#

* Starr Hill
` Satellite Ballroom
^ Charlottesville Pavilion
# Outback Lodge

Grudge Match of the month is Toubab Krewe vs Trans Am.  I’m still not sure which I will goto, new age indy craziness or good old hippy get down.  I dig the psychic electronic sound of indy and am more or less just discovering it.  Major props to Satellite for delivering the goods.  On the other hand, I haven’t ever caught Toubab and would love to see them take Starr Hill down.  Acid Mothers Temple is a must see.  Touring from Japan, AMT shows America how psychedelic rock is done. 

Will Satellite continue bringing the goods and top the big guy on the hill’s lame top 40 replays or will Starr Hill wake up and deliver some quality music over the rehashed RIAA quick bucks?  I hope so because competition is good.  If not for that you get the same old garbage.  Starr Hill used to deliver in spades twice a week, now we are lucky to get the phatty goodness twice a month.  All things equal though, Coran does bring the love through the Pavilion and perhaps the Jefferson will reopen as a premere midsize venue, however only time will tell.

Did I miss anything?  Let me know.

Charlottesville is finally livening up for some jams. Satellite Ballroom has a little love coming, and Starr Hill awakens from a weaker winter season.-

3/10 – Guano Boys @ Satellite
3/20 – Tea Leaf Green (Opening:William Walter & Co.)
3/22 – Larry Keel & The Natural Bridge
3/28 – Galactic (rescheduled from 2/11)
3/31 – Hackensaw Boys

Starr Hill has lined up four excellent bands in the final two weeks of March. Hopefully the venue can deliver some solid bands for the Spring but so far we have only a twinkle of the energy delivered in 2006. Looking forward, April is already highlighted by Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra hailing from Brooklyn and Toubab Krewe from Asheville, NC.

On the Corner we always have the Wednesday Night Music Showcase at Orbits, which showcases bands from Charlottesville. You never know what guests might play, previously members of Parliament sat in during some Man Mountain Jr. Meanwhile, In April Satellite Ballroom will feature Acid Mothers Temple; a psychedelic rock band from Japan.

Please everyone write your legislator as we are nearing a time when Dominion gets another monopoly after we just were freed from it.

Del. Harvey Morgan, R-Gloucester, warned that Hogan’s measure could help an already prospering Dominion to get even richer at the expense of its 2 million Virginia customers. He also suggested “re-regulation” is being rammed through the legislature in too much of a rush.

From Bill to end electricity deregulation clears Senate – DailyProgress

I wrote the State Corporation Commission to make sure what was happening is true and this was the response:

As the legislation now stands, it would end retail electric choice for residential and most business customers. That would include the 1,335 retail customers in Virginia currently receiving their electricity supply service from a competitive supplier providing renewable energy options. The proposed legislation includes incentives for utilities like Dominion Virginia Power to use renewable sources of energy through voluntary renewable portfolio standards.

Andy Farmer
Education Resources Manager
State Corporation Commission

You can see the two bills here:
Senate 1416
House 3515

This painting measures 24″x36″ and was painted live during Particle on 11/14/06 at Starr Hill in Charlottesville, Virginia. It’s signed by the members of the band on the back, which I think is spiffy-neato. I haven’t decided on whether or not I’ll sell it. Prints, maybe?

Yeah yeah, what the hell right? I haven’t posted in almost three months. Three months! I make a pledge, yes, you heard it. To make sure that I post at least every four months. You heard it here first folks. Anyway, I am going to the Duo at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC saturday night. It’ll be sweet, hopefully the boys aren’t tired.

How about that Trey show. For as much shit that I talk about Trey, he rocked it out. I hate to admit that I was grining as hard as I ever would (or can remember) at a good Phish show. Speaking of the boys, check out Tom Marshall’s blog post about the Phish looking for a new home. Charlottesville is a good town. Soon as Coran Capshaw re-opens the Jefferson as an indoor venue to shows, balcony with seats, downstairs is floor space, few tables on the sides, same as the State Theatre, we will have pretty much every accomidating venue possible for music.

Speaking of music, last night I was struck silly of the choices of music in the area. First up of couse was Orbit’s Wesnesday Night Showcase. The sweet sounds of funk, soul, rock, and even ween flow through the corner of the Corner as garage doors are opened full. Next at Starr Hill three different bands including Richmond’s own the Grove. Some Widespread Panic love came from Crozet where Bloodkin ripped out some crazy twanging good times. Rebel Vibe from D.C., which I attended, brought the raggae sound. When I was driving home from work Wednesday night, I thought to myself, I really want to listen to some reggae and then boom, get a phone call form friends and away we go.

Charlottesville is an excellent musical city. I promise I’ll update with a full dump of everything I got pictures of. Hopefully soon I will manage to start a podcast of the shows I record. Maybe I’ll do a show. Should be fun. Updates ever four months right? Yup, leaving that window open. Peace y’all.