Welcome to Roadtrip Central! This is a continuing chronicle of my journey around the country, as I meet with Pandora listeners and musicians to learn about what you want to see happen with music in this digital age. I hope you enjoy reading about my past stops - from a three person meet-up in a Biloxi diner to a packed get-together in a huge MIT lecture hall.
I hope you'll take a minute to share your favorite bands, clubs, lodging and eateries in your city. If you don't see your state on the blog, just post to 'Other States' and I'll make a note to try and visit! I look forward to meeting and hearing from you!
Cheers...
Tim (Founder)
Return to Nashville Recap...
Nashville, Nashville. What can you say. There's just no place quite like it. I knew I was headed there when half the people I boarded the plane with were carrying instrument cases...
Had a terrific couple days. Started with pancakes at the Pancake Pantry, with the camera crew from DigForFire who have joined us for the roadtrip (keep an eye out for some cool road trip videos coming soon...they're a very talented bunch - if you have a minute check out their great live video of St. Vincent performing live at Other Music in NYC... check it out) -
I recommend the 'sugar and spice' pancakes. Betty, who's been slinging dishes for 37 years there took great care of us. Sweetheart. The extra carbs wound up coming in handy... what a day it became...
Continue reading "Return to Nashville Recap... "
TownHall Recap... catchup part 1
I've been quite remiss in the past month on the regular town hall recaps... it's not for lack of events.
End of August was a whirlwind. St. Louis (where I heard one of the most moving comments by a listener - father who's son had introduced him to Pandora, I got a little choked up), Minneapolis - my hometown. What a great to give a town hall full of aunts, uncles and cousins... Unfortunately, my camera was on the fritz (anyone have any pictures - I'd love to post them)...
Then spent several days in Boston at the AARP conference. Great to spend some time talking about music with our older crowd... First time we've had a Pandora "learning lab". Kind of a cool new way to try.
Very glad to have Nina there to help... lots of one-on-one time.
See more pictures from the show on the next page...
Continue reading "TownHall Recap... catchup part 1"
Aspen meetup recap
Tempted as I am to write this up, a picture tells a thousand words. Monk, Marie, Bill, Josh, Terry, Morgan, Mark and Rich, thanks for a lovely evening.
Pacific Northwest recap... Seattle to Portland
Brief pause in Aspen, CO (blog post to follow on last night's meetup here), giving me a chance to catch up on some meetup recaps. Two weeks ago I had a fun swing up to the green lands of the Pacific Northwest with stops in Seattle and Portland. Both favorite destinations when I was in bands... great music scenes.
Tuesday was at the Seattle public library...
Continue reading "Pacific Northwest recap... Seattle to Portland"
Aspen Get-together Wednesday, August 1, 2007
I'll be hosting a picnic in Aspen's Herron Park tonight to get to know area listeners. Hope to meet you. Don't forget your appetite!
Where: Herron Park - meet me at the entrance on Neale St, just off S Original St
When: Wednesday, August 1, 2007 @ 6:30 PM
RSVP: tour@pandora.com
Cheers,
Tim
Twin Cities Get-together Thursday, July 26, 2007!
This Thursday, I'll be at the Cedar Cultural Center for a Pandora meet-up. You can RSVP by emailing tour@pandora.com with "Twin Cities" in the subject line. Hope to see you there--excited to meet our Minneapolis/St. Paul listeners!
When: Thursday, July 26, 2007 @ 7:00 PM
Where: The Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave South, Minneapolis
(map, directions & parking, public transit, light rail)
Cheers,
Tim
St. Louis Get-together Wednesday, July 25, 2007!
This Wednesday, I'll be at the Tivoli Theatre for a Pandora meet-up. You can RSVP by emailing tour@pandora.com with "St. Louis" in the subject line. Hope to see you there--excited to meet our St. Louis listeners!
When: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 @ 7:00 PM
Where: Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Blvd in The Loop, St. Louis (map, public transit)
Parking: Parking is available in the municipal lot next to the theatre, in the parking garage directly across the street, or in large, free lots located just north of Delmar between Leland and Kingsland.
Cheers,
Tim
Norfolk Get-together Thursday, July 19, 2007!
I'll be at The Boot restaurant for a Pandora meet-up. You can RSVP by emailing tour@pandora.com with "Norfolk" in the subject line. Hope to see you there--excited to meet our Norfolk-area listeners!
When: Thursday, July 19, 2007 @ 6:30 PM
Where: The Boot 123 W. 21st St., Norfolk (map)
We'll have complimentary appetizers from The Boot's wonderful menu starting at 6:30 pm and if you'd like to purchase additional items from a special light fare menu, you can do so before 7 pm. The kitchen will be closed when the discussion begins at that time.
Cheers,
Tim
Brooklyn Get-together Thursday, June 21, 2007!
I'll be at the Brooklyn Lyceum in Park Slope for a Pandora meet-up. You can RSVP by emailing tour@pandora.com with "Brooklyn" in the subject line. Hope to see you there--excited to meet our Brooklyn-area listeners!
When: Thursday, June 21, 2007 @ 7:30 PM
Where: Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Ave, Park Slope (map)
Cheers,
Tim
Portland Meetup Wednesday, June 20, 2007!
On Wednesday, I'm going to be in Portland to meet up with Pandora listeners to talk about Pandora and the future of online radio. If you'd like to join, please RSVP by emailing tour@pandora.com with "Portland" in the subject line. It should be a great night, and I'm looking forward to it.
Details:
When: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 - 7:00 pm
Where: Disjecta
5 SE 3rd Avenue, Portland
map, , public transportation)
Hope to see you there--excited to meet our Portland listeners!
Tim (Founder)
Seattle Town Hall meeting Tuesday June 19, 2007!
I' ll be in Seattle on Tuesday to meet up with Pandora listeners. You can RSVP by emailing tour@pandora.com with "Seattle" in the subject line. Hope to see you there--excited to meet our Seattle listeners!
Details:
When: Tuesday, June 19th, 2007 - 7 pm
Where: Central Seattle Public Library, Microsoft Auditorium, 1000 Fourth Ave, Seattle
Hope to see you there!
Tim (Founder)
New York City meetup recap...
Another great get together in NYC. Started off a little badly as we waited a half hour for the film in the theare we were using to end. One of those 4 hour French epics...
Thanks to everyone who patiently waited in the jammed lobby to be let in. Hope the free popcorn helped ease the hassle...
Continue reading "New York City meetup recap..."
Portland Maine Recap...
Great, albeit short trip to Portland. Drove the steadily more scenic I95 up from Boston.
Portland is a very picturesque town. Cold!
Thanks a ton to Nat for having us at his great 'Space' in downtown - and for kindly spreading the word locally. Space is a great destination for music, art and other cultural events (including a Michael McDonald concert coming soon !).
A little over a hundred folks showed up. Really felt like a true town hall. Combination of wood beams, cold weather and wonderfully friendly people...
Continue reading "Portland Maine Recap..."
Phoenix, AZ recap
FInally time to catch up on the cross country swing from before the holidays - AZ, CO, DC. Kicked it off with a lovely visit to the Arizona desert. Balmy weather.
I started the day with fun visit to the Cahill Senior Center to meet with some older listeners. Was hit with caustic glances when I suggested we try a Tommy Dorsey station to start... they wanted some 'rock stuff', like Coldplay, U2 etc. and "some country". "classic country?" I asked... "no, you fool, Leanne Rimes and Keith Urban.." Talk about stereotyping... guilty. Very fun to see how easy Pandora was for folks who aren't all about technology. They talked about sharing it with their grandkids. Love it! Thanks to Diana for being such a gracious host.
Then drove over the Thunderbird - the big local business school for a chat with some energetic entrepreneurs. Lots of questions about the business model, not surprisingly...
Continue reading "Phoenix, AZ recap"
UC Berkeley Recap..
Another much belated recap... gradually catching up. Great to finally host a town hall meeting in what is truly our own backyard... Berkeley, CA. Not suprisingly, the group was full of ideas and irreverence.
A number of great discussions, including a lot of talk about integrating with existing collections...
Continue reading "UC Berkeley Recap.."
Philly Recap
Just coming up for air after a few crazy weeks. Rewinding a little... Great trip to Philly. Was picked up at the train station by some wild Australian guy, claiming to be part of a local podcasting group... wound up on theBestDamnTechShow... period for a humorous, and at times completely random segment. Always great to see these kinds of groups popping up - videographer, programmer, lighting expert, radio guy, recording engineer, spontaneously forming a creative group and launching a podcast. Good luck guys...
Drew was kind enough to drive us to the UPenn bookstore for the town hall.
Continue reading "Philly Recap"
UPenn Town Hall tonight!
Tonight, I'm going to be hosting a town hall on the UPenn campus. Looking forward to an intimate discussion with passionate music lovers and Pandora listeners. If you're free and in the area, don't hesitate to stop by!
Details:
When: Thursday, November 2nd, 2006 - 7 pm
Where: Penn Bookstore, University of Pennsylvania
Hope to see you then!
Tim (Founder)
UCLA Town Hall!
Coming back to the LA area to host a town hall on the UCLA campus. Hoping to meet and have interesting conversations with pandora listeners, musicians, and students. If you're free and in the area, don't hesitate to stop by!
Details:
When: Monday, October 30th, 2006 - 6:30 pm
Where: Northest Auditorium, Covel Commons, UCLA
Hope to see you then!
Tim (Founder)
Ohio, Indiana, Michigan recap...
Great midwest swing last week. Ohio, Indiana, Michigan...
First stop was Columbus, home of the #1 ranked buckeyes (a fact of which was was frequently reminded). Had a nice chat with some OSU undergrads in the afternoon, then headed over to for a terrific evening town hall. About 60 people showed up for an engaging discussion at the Milo Arts center. Great old restored elementary school that has been converted into an artist friendly community center. We need more of those. Thanks again Jana for being such a welcoming and generous host. A very engaged and inquisitive group. (anyone have pics? my camera didn't work)
Second stop was Bloomington, IN...
Continue reading "Ohio, Indiana, Michigan recap..."
Boston, MIT Recap
Memorable day in Boston, capped off with a terrific MIT meetup.
Spent the morning touring the Berklee College of music - amazing facility. State of the art everything. Kids everywhere with guitars, saxophones, drumsticks... was waiting for everyone to suddenly break out into some big choreographed number... "fame?"
Continue reading "Boston, MIT Recap"
Red Barn Recap...
Well I must say, that's some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen. Took me quite a while to get to Amherst because I kept stopping to take pictures of the changing foliage. Mesmerizing. Passed the stunning stone buildings at Mt Holyoke College (which I learned from some evening attendees are all haunted). I took the liberty of adding some of these pix to the blog for your viewing pleasure...
Thanks to everyone who came to the gathering. We met in a beautiful, rustic wood cabin on the Hampshire College campus...
Continue reading "Red Barn Recap..."
Providence Meetup!
The tour is going strong! This Wednesday, October 4th, we're meeting Pandora listeners at the Columbus Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island. Looking forward to a lively talk and discussion with local Pandora users.
Details:
When: Wednesday, October 4th, 2006 - 7:00pm
Where: Columbus Theatre
270 Broadway Directions
This is a FREE event. If you have any questions, please send an email to tour@pandora.com.
Hope to see you there! Tim (Founder)
MIT Meetup Tonight!
Woke up this morning to a Charles River full of rowers... what a great time of year to be in Boston.
Come join us for a town hall meeting tonight at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Promises to be a great mix of students and townies...
Details:
When: Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006 - 6:00pm
Where: MIT Campus: Building 26, Room 100
General campus address is 77 Massachusetts Avenue, access to Building 26
is via 60 Vassar Street Directions
Should be a great conversation - perhaps a little extra technical discussion from the aspiring engineers... We'll of course have our pandora gifts too.
See you soon. Tim (Founder)
Hampshire College - Red Barn Meetup
Finally getting out to Western Mass - thanks to everyone who sent us suggestions and invitations on the blog. Look to forward to meeting many of you tonight:
When: Monday, October 2nd, 2006 - 7:00pm
Where: The Red Barn
It's located on the Hampshire college campus on Rout 116 - Directions
This is a FREE event, and we'll have some cool Pandora gear. Looking forward to an amazing drive through the leaf-changing Berkshires...Please email tour@pandora.com if you have any questions about the meetup!
Hope to see you there! Tim (Founder)
Los Angeles Recap...
Started the day off with a stimulating conversation with students at USC's Annenberg school. Thanks to Aram for inviting me. Particularly interested to hear the students' thoughts on the listener-to-listener part of the service. Los of lessons to be learned from the existing social network sites.
Amazing location for the evening get together at the Silent Theatre. Quite a bit of discussion around the rigths and opportunities for artists - clearly reflective of the many musicians, and music label folks in the audience.
I was impressed with the general commitment of everyone there to furthering the interests of musicians...
Continue reading "Los Angeles Recap..."
Meetup in Los Angeles!
Heading south to the city of angels... Come join us for a town hall meeting on Thursday night in Hollywood.
Details:
When: Thursday, September 28th, 2006 - 7:00pm
Where: The Silent Theatre
611 N. Fairfax Avenue (just south of Melrose)
Please rsvp to tour@pandora.com. Should be a great conversation - hopefully we'll have a good contingent of folks from the biz... We'll of course have our pandora gifts too.
Tribute to the Triangle!
What a week! Charlottesville, Raleigh-Durham and Chapel Hill (plus Dallas last night, recap of that on the next post). Beautiful part of the country, super-hospitable people, and lots of music. Been a while since I've seen so much green.
Thanks to everyone who attended the various meetings and talks. I left town energized and armed with a bunch of great new ideas. I've posted some pix and thoughts below... if you have any you'd like me to add, please send 'em in - tour@pandora.com
First stop was Charlottesville, VA and UVA's gorgeous campus where I spoke to Prof. Fred Maus's music theory class...
Continue reading "Tribute to the Triangle! "
Dallas Meetup!
Moving on south! This Thursday, September 21th, we're meeting Pandora listeners at the Magnolia Theatre in Dallas. All the meetups this week have been really fantastic, and we'll be sure to share some recaps soon.
Details:
When: Thursday, September 21th, 2006 - 7:00pm
Where: Magnolia Theatre
3699 McKinney Avenue Directions
This is a FREE event. Seating is limited, so if you'd like to attend, please RSVP to tour@pandora.com with "Dallas" in the subject line.
Hope to see you there! Tim (Founder)
Durham Meetup!
Our fall tour continues! This Wednesday, September 20th, we're meeting Pandora listeners from the Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill areas at the Carolina Theater in Durham.
Details:
When: Wednesday, September 20th, 2006 - 7:00pm
Where: Carolina Theater
309 West Morgan Street Directions
This is a FREE event. Seating is limited, so if you'd like to attend, please RSVP to tour@pandora.com with "Durham" in the subject line.
Hope to see you there! Tim (Founder)
Charlottesville Meetup!
Calling all Pandora listeners near Charlottesville! We're getting together for a Town Hall meeting this coming Monday, September 18th at the Gravity Lounge, a cozy cafe/bookstore/art gallery recommended by several listeners on the blog comments.
Details:
When: Monday, September 18th, 2006 - 6:30pm
Where: Gravity Lounge
103 South First Street Directions
This is a FREE event. Seating is limited, so if you'd like to attend, please RSVP to tour@pandora.com with "Charlottesville" in the subject line.
Hope to see you there! Tim (Founder)
Flashify.. and Wikifi!! Blacksburg Town Hall
Well that just about sums it up. Thanks to everyone who showed up this evening for the Virginia Tech get together. Great lively discussion. Lots of very interesting thoughts and questions from about 150 students and Blacksburg locals in attendance. I was particularly struck by the interest in use of audience members to work on the genome. 'Flashify' the training and data input process to select the best analysts, and 'wiki-fy' the collection of musical information. There is certainly a strong current of enthusiasm for that approach - of which our process is most definitely not an example. It's a conversation I'm looking forward to continuing in the years ahead.
Tonight's event has me particularly excited about the upcoming college visits we have planned.
Sorry for those who didn't get hats/shirts - drop me a note and I'll make sure you get one. Also let me know if you have blogs/photos we should link to.
cheers to everyone. Tim (Founder)
Blacksburg VA Town Hall !!
Heading for Hokie country! We're holding a Town Hall meeting next Tuesday, September 5th on the Virginia Tech campus. Looking forward to visiting the town that is apparently the most connected place in the country... Hope to learn a lot from you tech savvy types...
Details:
When: Tuesday, September 5th, 2006 - 6:30pm
Where: Squires Colonial Hall
225 Squires Student Center
Virginia Tech Campus
VT has a great number of pandora listeners... one of the most of any campus. Should be a great evening. And we'll have some cool pandora stuff...
This is a FREE event. Please RSVP to tour@pandora.com
Hope to see you there! Tim (Founder)
FALL 2006 TOUR...
We're gearing up for a whole host of get togethers this Fall and would love to hear thoughts, suggestions, etc. from all of you. Already have Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina, Virginia, New York, Indiana, and more on the itinerary. We've created links for those respective states to the right on this page. We'd welcome your input, including suggestions for other destinations.
Also, if you like to help out, please send us a note to tour@pandora.com We can use all the help we can get!
Hope to see you in your hometown soon. Cheers. Tim (Founder)
Orlando Meetup!!
Calling all Pandora listeners near Orlando! We're getting together for a Town Hall meeting this coming Friday, August 4th in Ocoee--just a few miles from downtown Orlando. We'd like to meet our Floridian listeners to talk about the service and more generally about the future of online music... We'll have food, drink, Pandora gifts and undoubtedly some great musical conversation at the House Blend Café--lovely spot that donates all their profits to local charities.
Details:
When: Friday, August 4th, 2006 - 7pm
Where: House Blend Cafe
10730 West Colonial Drive (Hwy50) near Bluford Avenue Directions
This is a FREE event. Seating is limited, so if you'd like to attend, please RSVP to tim.westergren@pandora.com
Should be a great evening. Hope to see you there! Tim (Founder)
MEETUPS!!!
What a great couple weeks... We had 5 town hall meetings across the country... New York City, Washington DC, Chicago (2), Seattle. What an amazing experience to spend so much time with Pandora listeners... 150 folks showed up for the NYC gathering - funny to think that just a couple months ago there were three... including me! Planning on many more.
Seattle 'Town Hall' Meeting at the EMP May 31st, 2006
Come join me for an informal get together in Seattle next Wednesday, May 31st. I'd like to meet local Pandora listeners to have a conversation about the service and more generally about the future of online music...
When: Wednesday, May 31st, 2006 - 7pm
Where: JBL Theatre at EMP (Experience Music Project)
325 5th Avenue North at the Seattle Center Directions
This is a FREE event. If you'd like to attend, please RSVP to tim.westergren@pandora.com
Guests are welcome, but please provide names as we'll have a guest list. Seating is limited.
Should be a fun evening. Hope to see you there! Tim (Founder)
Nashville Part 2
Left Gibson's and headed over to meet the folks at Grimey's - a happenin' indie record store. Mike Grimey and Doyle Davis are clear music fanatics. They had a downstairs club to boot.
Was really heartened to hear that their sales are growing rapidly. My new theory about music retail is that it's the real music-centric indie stores that are going to start thriving in the new digital age. As digital tech skims off more and more of the mass audience that are the primary buyers of music in big box stores, success in retail is going to come more and more to those who really emphasize service and value for shoppers, to draw music fans that still long for that experience. People who like walking through narrow aisles stuff with music.. surrounded by music obsessed shop clerks eager to help out...
Continue reading "Nashville Part 2"
Nashville Part 1
Any city that has a music club where they kick you out if you talk during the performance is ok in my book... such is the Bluebird Cafe, an unassuming little venue that is a coveted spot for visiting musicians (also a consensus favorite from the many comments to our TN post - thanks everyone!)
Nashville... what a music town...
Continue reading "Nashville Part 1"
Clarksdale
The first guitar was called 'wire on the wall' . Workers on the southern plantations took the wire from worn out mops, and strung them between two nails pounded into the wall. They used rocks wedged on either end as bridges to tighten the wire enough. Then someone decided to pull the board off the wall and lay it on their lap, using bottles as slides. This was called a diddley bow. Flip those words and now you know where Bo Diddley got his name... So much history down here...home of the famed 'crossroads' where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in return for mastery of the blues guitar...
Memphis
Well, I didn't make it to Graceland, but there was lots more to see. I'll just have to go back. There's a certain aura about Memphis - music history so rich you really feel it in the air. Across the street from my first stopoff (Stax Museum) was an old church where Rev. Herbert Brewster used to pen songs for the legendary Mahalia Jackson. He wrote them on the cardboard inserts for laundered shirts, that parishioners delivered to him every Sunday...
Hattiesburg
Wound my way up to Hattiesburg, home of the University of Southern Mississippi and little known fact, home to the world's first rock recording. Anyone know what it is? Had a nice lunch and chat with John Smith - longtime band manager and mainstay of the Hattiesburg music scene. Popped our heads in on his latest project, Friday Night Gigolos who were working on the finishing touches to their CD. Familiar vibe of the studio..."let's isolate the kick and bass guitar..."
John riffed on what is fast becoming a familiar theme - organic growth of bands. Worked with 2LiveCrew, Afroman...
Continue reading "Hattiesburg"
Biloxi
Arrived in Biloxi after a drive through the windblown, woodsy/marshy Hwy 10. Evidence everywhere of the storms. Fallen lamposts, litter, even still some abandoned cars that are gradually getting cleared away.
First stop was the Government Street Grocery cafe in Ocean Springs, a quaint little town that was spared the flood because it sits on higher ground. After a nice evening chatting with local musicians/fans, and a beautiful sunset, I headed out with my guide, Justin Hooks, the entertainment editor for the Sun Herald for a tour of the local music scene. (Justin thanks for everything).
We wound up out in the woods several miles off the main highway at a storage shed that has been adopted as the rehearsal space for a bunch of local bands...
New Orleans
I need to go in reverse order on this one. Spent the last night at Maple Leaf Bar near Tulane's campus listening to Papa Grows Funk. Monday regulars for the past 4 years. For anyone who has ever played in a band and really tried to funk, you know how hard it is to really funk.
Papa Grows Funk could FUNK...
Continue reading "New Orleans"
Baton Rouge
Any day that starts with a garbage bag full of fresh crawfish, homemade cocktail sauce, wine, and bluegrass music is likely to end well... If first impressions count the most, I'm moving to Louisiana.
Big thanks to John and Alan for the warm welcome and great food. John regaled me with stories about the clubs known as the 'crawfish circuit' and salt&pepper bands. Imagine a mixed race band playing across the South in the 50s. Johnny said those mesh wire cages really were used...
Continue reading "Baton Rouge"
Meetups
Meetup tonight in New Orleans, LA
MONDAY, April 3rd, 2006 at 8:00pm
Carrollton Station
8140 Willow Street
New Orleans, LA
504-865-9190
Meet up in Mississippi
A special thanks to everyone who wrote in with suggestions on where to go while I am in Mississippi this week.
If you live nearby and want to meet-up for a drink, here's where you can find me:
TUESDAY, April 4th at 6:00 pm:
Government Street Grocery
1210 Government Street
Ocean Springs, MS
228-818-5676
WEDNESDAY, April 5th at 8:30 pm (drinks, then open mic at 10:00):
The Thirsty Hippo
211 S. Main Street
Hattiesburg, MS
601-583-9188
Houston day 2
Continued a very enjoyable stay in Houston. Morning with John Lomax (great nephew of the music historian Alan Lomax), a long time Houston music journalist. His father managed Steve Earl and Townes van Zandt - John was Earl's youngest roadie (12 yrs old). As with so many folks who've been around music, John was full of interesting anectodes and history. Explained how Zydeco was largely supported by the churches - clubs wouldn't have it because people came to dance, not drink. Most Zydeco bands tour regional parishes, where their shows are actively promoted by the priests, and often include a potluck. Arhoolie, a label in Berkeley is the principal label for these acts.
Continue reading "Houston day 2"
Baton Rouge - NOLA - Biloxi - Hattiesburg
I'll be in Baton Rouge this evening, then heading to New Orleans tomorrow:
Meetup in Baton Rouge, LA
Meetup is set for Saturday, April 1st at 6:00pm
The Chimes
3357 Highland Road, Baton Rouge (north end of the LSU campus, next to the Varsity Theatre)
(225) 383-1754
Meetup in New Orleans, LA
Meetup is set for Monday, April 3rd at 8:00pm
Carrollton Station
8140 Willow Street, New Orleans
(504) 865-9190
Biloxi & Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Biloxi, April 4th
Hattiesburg, April 5th
If you have suggestions for must-sees and must-dos in either town, please drop us a comment.
Thanks. Tim
Houston Day 1
Began my tutorial in Chopped&Screwed today at the side of Eric 'BigLove' - long time Houston rapper, composer, producer and entrepreneur. Eric spent many years alongside DJScrew at the inception of what has become the next big evolution of rap/hiphop. It's a totally infectious style of music, mashups of the latest rap & hiphop records, or classic R&B sounds, slowed to half speed and mixed with samples, grooves and original parts. It's hypnotic. I was treated to a realtime screw session in his northside studio with Stink, BigLove's up and coming protege); including a freestyle duet with Big Tee (the file will make it's way to this post soon enough) thanks for the shout out you guys). I have to say, I've always been blown away by folks who could freestyle. I highly recommend that anyone who hasn't done so, go check out a freestyle rap show, genius poets at work. Plain and simple.
Continue reading "Houston Day 1"
Denton, TX
For those who don't know about Denton, its time to find out. It's a small town about 30 minutes north of Dallas and is home to the nation's largest, and most distinguished music program - the University of North Texas. Their '1-O'clock' jazz band is world renowned, and truly the gold standard for undergraduate jazz performance.
Dallas, Part 2
Dallas part 2
Started the afternoon hanging out with Chelsea and Tony - diehard music fans from Crystal Clear - a Dallas distributor. They focus on the local Texas sound - gave me a box full of stuff to check out. Interesting to know that virtually none of the musicians they gave me are making a living at it. Let's hope we can start building the musician's middle class.
Continue reading "Dallas, Part 2"
Dallas, Part 1
Wow. This was a day of love and good karma. Texas has an extraordinary music scene, period.
First, the morning.
Guided by our local guardian angel, Kim Young to whom I will be forever grateful, I spent the morning at Booker T. Washington high school. Probably the nation's most productive music magnet school, whose alums include Erykah Badhu, Norah Jones, and countless others.
Continue reading "Dallas, Part 1"
Meetup in Denton, TX
Meetup is set for this week, Wednesday evening (3/22/2006) at 7:00pm
The Flying Tomato
1226 W Hickory Street, Denton
(940) 383 1111
Come by for some food, drink, music talk and maybe a flying tomato or two...
Tim
Austin, Day 3
Coming up for air.
Spent a great evening over Texas ribs (and a string of awesome bluegrass bands) with Stuart Sullivan, owner of Wire Studios, and a veteran recording engineer. Grew up in rural Indiana, eventually gravitating to the music mecca of Austin, via Bloomington and a degree in audio recording at IU. It was a period of revolution in recording - multi-tracking arrived which completely transformed the art of making records, and suddenly elevated the role of the producer and audio engineer who's talents could now be harnessed - instead of just placing mics for a one-take live recording. Lots of experimentation (often aided by assorted substances) as artists pushed the new medium. John Lennon sang hanging upside down from a rope, spinning around to emulate the sound of a rotating leslie amp... crazy and great.
Continue reading "Austin, Day 3"
sxsw digest 3 = roundup
so sxsw is over and I'm back home, sitting in the living room. I'm too tired to nap - go figure. my bags and guitar are still in texas most likely, and I'm too tired to even be properly angry about that. I know I have to post some pictures and summary show notes before the memories fade too much. it was a great long weekend...
Continue reading "sxsw digest 3 = roundup"
rare birds and such
well, the booth's all packed up and in the hands of (hopefully) capable shipping companies, and I'm in the austin airport waiting for my plane, drinking some tea, and feeling very tired but good. I'm thinking about this email I got yesterday:
Continue reading "rare birds and such"
sxsw digest no 1
it's been quite excellent here in austin so far. every hour at the pandora booth is surprisingly fun and also kind of intense. I don't usually talk this much. it's sort of like a high school reunion, but it's better because I don't know these people (and let's be honest, it's easier to go to a reunion where no one knew each other back in high school). I'm hoarse. jolly ranchers do not help for this.
Continue reading "sxsw digest no 1"
San Antonio
Quite a day in San Antonio. Turns out it's a mecca for heavy rock. Frequent destination.
Continue reading "San Antonio"
Pandora at SXSW
Kevin Seal, one of the music analysts from the Music Genome Project, just sent in this update from the SXSW conference:
Music Analyst Seal here. Long-time listener, first-time caller. I'm here in Austin all week to shake hands, kiss babies, and hear live music. I love my job. For me, these are the five most revelatory music moments so far at this year's SxSW:
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sxsw digest no 2...
so I was at the keynote interview yesterday with young and jonathan demme, which was ok, but I have to make a confession: I have major issues with the big boomer dinosaurs of song. I guess it's mainly because I think they never accepted the teaching responsibility that naturally belongs to leading artists. teaching is a necessity for artists who work in less financially remunerative forms, and I say that's a good thing. it's good for the artists and the students/future artists, and it's good for the art. it creates a scene, community, etc (however insular and backstabbing it might be).
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Austin, TX Day 1
My first visit to Austin, TX, got off with a great start. Had a great lunch with Michael Point at Threadgills, one of the town's longest standing restaurant and music joints. It was founded by Kenneth Threadgill, the first man to put Janis Joplin on stage (playing fiddle in a folk band).
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Meetup in San Antonio on Wednesday
Heading to San Antonio on Wednesday morning, March 15th, 2006.
If you'd like to meet me for some hearty Tex-Mex food at the Taco Garage, please do.
I'll be the guy in the Pandora hat ordering carnitas at around 7:30 p.m. From there I'll head to Salud! There is an open mic there hosted by Eric Geyer which I have heard good things about.
Hope to see you there. Tim
Meetup in Austin on Tuesday
When: Tuesday, March 14th, 2006 6:30pm
Where: Spider House Coffee Bar, 2908 Fruth Street (512) 480 9562
Come by for some food, drink and musical conversation. Have a CD? Bring it along.
Hope to see you there. Tim
Portland, Day 2
Another great day in Portland. Woke up buzzing from last night's open mic.
First stop, breakfast with Ezra Ace Careaff, local music editor for the Portland Mercury and owner of indie label Slowdance (home of the Velvet Teen). I continue to be inspired by the entrepreneurs who have started these labels. 50/50 joint ventures. It's the future model for indie music.
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Update from Portland
First let me say the Kennedy School is far and away the most unique and interesting hotel I've ever stayed at. A converted Elementary school that still looks and feels like... an elementary school. Complete with art projects on the walls and chalkboards. Great fun.
Started my day with great conversation with Dave Allen, bassist for the Gang of Four, and serial entrepreneur who's most recent company, Pampelmoose is filling the new role of modern label/manager/producer in the digital age. I was joined by his business partner Ned Failing, drummer for the up and coming Dirty Martini in Portland, and former drummer for Pacific Northwest favorites, the Strangers. Also there was Ezra Holbrook, very talented local producer and musician (I listened to his latest effort Michael Jodell in the car after our meeting - really good sounding record, nice stuff Ezra - can't wait to hear the mastered version). Ezra also books bands for the Imbibe in town.
Spent most of the lunch talking about the changing relationship between record labels and artists... and things ARE changing. Portland is a microcosm of the change. It has a great grassroots indie scene, full of musicians that are chasing alternative career paths. Forgoing traditional label deals to release records as joint ventures with small labels or artist management companies. It's a very fundamental shift that shows signs of accelerating. The essential arrangement is a 50/50 split on expenses/revenues. The partners grow the business organically, never getting ahead of themselves, and there's a living to be made there for all parties.
Ezra hit the nail on the head when he pinpointed cheap home recording software as a pivotal factor in this change. And as a former Capitol and Geffen artist, he speaks from experience. Artists can now produce high quality records without needing big up-front investment to finance them - it's the need for the big advance that has long dictated label deals. These deals are rational but tough on the artist - the label puts up all the money (often over $500K for a first record/tour) and gets the lion's share of the profits. Labels lose money on most of their records, and hope for a couple big successes to carry the business - just like the venture capital business. Now, with artists often coming to the table with a completed record, the dynamics have really shifted. Lots of what you now hear on the radio was recorded in someone's basement studio on ProTools (ProTools is one of numerous software programs that turn a standard computer into a professional quality music recording system... all you need is a good mic and a good pair of ears).
After swinging by Pampelmoose to load up on their latest projects, I jetted out to Clackamas Community college for a chat with Jadon Triplet - budding journalist and punk rock guitarist.
Dropped in on Jim Brunberg the owner/operator of Mississippi Studios - a beautiful listening room that books mostly acoustic shows. The room, decorated in old wood, deep red fabric and warm glowing lamps, is entirely focused on the stage which makes it a very attractive venue for visiting players. These venues are really a dying breed, which is a terrible shame because they're such great places for musicians. Jim filled my arms with local talent - all soon to be in the Music Genome Project. He particularly recommended Raina Rose and Mira Flores. Death Cab for Cutie, Ricki Lee Jones, John Wesley Harding, Fastball, are among the better know artists that have come through.
I've known Jim for many years, back to when his band Box Set and my former band gigged together in San Francisco. Box Set was a great band that worked it's way up from coffee houses to headlining the Fillmore, then got signed to Capricorn after a showcase at South by Southwest (see the upcoming Texas leg of the trip). The record didn't pan out and they've since gone their separate ways. Really interesting to talk to someone who has truly been through the whole arc. Even though the label went under, the leftover advance allowed him to start the studio - happy ending. Jim has really found his niche up in Portland where he thinks of his role at band 'coach'. Does everything from producing, and engineering (they have a full blown digital studio upstairs) to helping bands plan their touring strategy.
Topped the night off with an evening at Goodfoot Pub's open mic. I was blown away by the talent. First band I walked in on called themselves the Prescott Trumbo's - terrific songwriting. They're just getting started, so it was raw, but let's hope this trio makes a CD some day - would love to have them in the genome. Two Vandals Lawncare ripped through a Phish-esque guitar rock set. Some fancy arranging and good melodies (rare bedfellows).
And the cover charge... wait for it... $1.
Can't wait for tomorrow.
Pandora in Portland - March 6th & 7th
I'm very excited to announce our trip next week to our friendly neighbors to the North. I'll be heading up to Portland, Oregon for a couple days of musical exploration and conversation - March 6th & 7th, 2006. The main event of the trip is a 'town hall' get together at Music Millenium (801 NW 23rd Avenue) on Tuesday evening at 6pm to talk radio and digital music. Terry Currier, the longtime owner has generously agreed to host us at this indie music mecca. I'll be joined by Rick Emerson, a much beloved local radio personality, active blogger, and longtime music industry commentator for a provocative discussion on 'radio in the digital age.' Peter Carlin, journalist for the Oregonian, and a thoughtful writer on media will moderate, incite and lead what will hopefully be a lively and informative conversation about the impact of the digital revolution on the modern music industry, with a particular focus on radio.
It should be great discussion. I hope you'll come by to join the conversation.
We have couple other events planned as well, including a meetup at Mississippi Pizza (3552 N Mississippi Avenue) on Monday evening at 6:30pm. After this I'll be heading over to Goodfoot Pub then possibly Ash Street Saloon to check out the local talent at their weekly open mics. Company is welcome. The more the merrier.
Last time I headed up I5, there were six of us packed in a van with the PA system and more music equipment that we should have been able to fit. This time I'm heading out with a laptop, boxes of T-shirts and caps, and empty bags that I hope to fill with a wonderful and eclectic collection of local recordings. I'm hoping to come away with a better understanding of the local music scene, and with armfuls of great new music for our musician analysts to sink their teeth into.
If you have any comments or suggestions please share your thoughts below. The musical conversation starts now!
Tim (Founder)
I'm still planning my itinerary for Georgia. I know Athens is a can't-miss and Atlanta is of course a music mecca. Please leave any comments or suggestions below.
I'm still planning my itinerary for Louisiana. New Orleans is certainly on the map. Also Baton Rouge. This will likely be the week of March 20th. Please leave any comments or suggestions below - especially looking for spots off the beaten path.
I'm still planning my itinerary for Mississippi. Really excited to hit the birthplace of the blues... New Orleans is the only place I've been in the whole delta region. Please leave any comments or suggestions below.
Update: I'll be at the Carolina Theater (309 West Morgan St) in Durham on Wednesday, September 20th, 2006 at 7pm for a meetup! If you plan to attend, please RSVP by sending an email to tour@pandora.com with 'Durham' in the subject line.
I'm currently planning an itinerary for my tour stop in North Carolina - amazing music scene. Come mid-September, I'll definitely be stopping in Raleigh and Durham for a town hall meeting, and would love the opportunity to meet Pandora listeners at nearby universities. Asheville and Chapel Hill residents have been great with suggestions for concert clubs and local bands. Keep the tips coming! If you have any suggestions for appropriate venues in the area or on college campuses, don't hesitate to leave a comment below. I can't wait to visit!
We love reading and responding to your feedback on the blog - the comments have been a treasure trove of great insights and guidance as we plan our visits. If you have a particular idea you want to discuss, or just want to get more involved, we're eager for help - just drop us an email at tour@pandora.com. Please include your location in the subject line of your message too. No idea is too big or small!
I'm still planning my itinerary for Tennessee. I'll be in Nashville, Clarksdale, Memphis and at least one other town the week of April 17th. Please leave any comments or suggestions below - it's my first time in the state and I know there's a lot more to its musical history than the King.
Update: The Charlottesville meetup will be on Monday, September 18th, 2006 at Gravity Lounge (103 South First St), starting at 6:30pm. Please RSVP by sending an email to tour@pandora.com with 'Charlottesville' in the subject line.
Charlottesville looks like it's going to be the place where I'm launching my fall tour. What better place to start than the home of DMB... Looking like September. My itinerary is still a work in progress, though local listeners in Charlottesville can definitely expect a town hall meeting. Seen a lot of energy for Norfolk, Roanoke, Virginia Beach and others on our blog comments. Hoping to hit UVA, and other schools too - any students out there with suggestions? I've really enjoyed the campus visits we've had so far. Please leave any comments or suggestions you may have below.
We love reading and responding to your feedback on the blog - the comments have been a treasure trove of great insights and guidance as we plan our visits. If you have a particular idea you want to discuss, or just want to get more involved, we're eager for help - just drop us an email at tour@pandora.com. Please include your location in the subject line of your message too. No idea is too big or small!
Washington DC
Another very interactive evening at American University's Greenberg Theatre. Joined by David Oxenford and Gary Greenstein, two attorneys who have been in the music rights debate trenches for some time, about 130 DC listeners.
Took advantage of the trip to visit some local music haunts including a local community music school for all ages and skills ...the father-and-son-in-the-hallway-waiting-for-the-recital really brought me back...
the cozy Revolution Records (our original town hall meeting host, before we got 200 rsvps!)
Full recap of June tour here!
