Ear on TV: Week of 03.15.10: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction

After all the pomp and circumstance surrounding The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert back in November (on HBO), tonight's induction ceremony might seem a bit tame, but don't tell that to Iggy Pop and his newly inducted Stooges. The legendary proto-punkers had been nominated seven times without success before finally getting the call, and they don't intend to enter quietly. The still wiry frontman even hints that it could all be taken away. "Okay," jokes Pop, "now what are they going to do to kick us out?" The Stooges will be inducted by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, and will play what Iggy calls "our two big hits."

Meanwhile, the two biggest names entering into the hall -- Genesis (inducted by Phish's Trey Anastasio) and ABBA (inducted by The Bee Gees) -- aren't expected to be performing, thanks to key members declining to be in attendance. Original Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel is too busy readying himself for a world tour, and ABBA still vows to never reunite, so half the group is staying home. However, there appears to be a Faith Hill-fronted version of ABBA in the works, as Benny Andersson has said "I may play something on the piano, with someone else singing," and Faith Hill is supposed to be in attendance and rumors abound she's been practicing ABBA songs -- so her and my Mamma Mia-loving 5-year old at least have that in common.

The highlight of the night may not be the recording artists, though, as many legendary songwriters are getting the call this year as well, a list that includes the still alive Jeff Barry, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, along with since deceased writers Ellie Greenwich, Jesse Stone, Mort Shuman and Otis Blackwell. Fefe Dobson is scheduled to kick things off with the Barry/Greenwich/Phil Spector composition “River Deep, Mountain High," Eric Burdon (The Animals) will sing Mann and Weil's "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place," Chris Isaak will perform Blackwell's "Don't Be Cruel," Nick Jonas will sing "Teenager In Love" (by Shuman and already inducted Doc Pomus), Ronnie Spector will sing her familiar "Be My Baby" (a Barry/Greenwich/Spector collaboration), and Peter Wolf (J Geils Band) will sing Stone’s "Money Honey." FUSE's telecast begins at 8:30 PM on Monday, March 15, 2010.

Elsewhere, some of the bands on the calendar this week look like proposals for a green initiatives -- Free Energy and Air. The Philadelphia five-piece Free Energy can pack more 70s-era arena rock cliches into a song than you'd think possible. Lets just say you won't need to ask for "more cowbell" when they make their network television debut on Letterman Wednesday night. Friday night sees the French duo Air taking the stage on Fallon, generating rumors that The Roots might be providing some added instrumentation (something the band is sure to do on Monday for fellow Philly rapper Freeway). Maybe if we help spread the rumor, Questo will make that jam happen.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, March 15
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Galactic with Cyril Neville (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: ASG
FUSE: 2010 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: Genesis, The Stooges, ABBA, Jimmy Cliff, The Hollies
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Ziggy Marley
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Freeway, Jake One, The Roots
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Phoenix (REPEAT)
Tuesday, March 16
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Sade (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Bee Gees
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Paolo Nutini
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: La Roux
Wednesday, March 17
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Free Energy
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Snoop Dogg
IFC: Dinner With the Band: Final Fantasy (REPEAT)
NBC: The Bonnie Hunt Show: The Swell Season
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Xx
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Metric
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen [Pt 2] (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: One eskimO
Thursday, March 18
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Ryan Bingham (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Fanfarlo (REPEAT)
FOX: Lopez Tonight: Lucrecia with Andy Garcia
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Kandi-Coded
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Wild Light
Friday, March 19
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Jonny Lang (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Sade (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: OK Go (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Year Long Disaster
IFC: 24 Hour Party People: Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays
IFC: Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten: Joe Strummer
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Barenaked Ladies
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Air
Saturday, March 20
IFC: Kurt Cobain About a Son: Nirvana
NBC: Saturday Night Live: The Ting Tings (REPEAT)

Now Downloading: New Releases 02.16.10

I'm off to Mexico for the next 10 days, so forgive the brevity/sloppiness/unintelligible babble, as I'm firing this off between packing and shut-eye.

It's a deeper week than last, but not as top heavy. I've been loving this new Field Music release, and the Freeway & Jake One joint is a charmer. Elsewhere, there's the latest from Robert Pollard, Local Natives, Mumford & Sons, Adam Green, Tindersticks, Lightspeed Champion, Juliana Hatfield, The Art Museums and a special Preservation Hall Jazz Band benefit release featuring guest vocals from an eclectic collection of voices like Tom Waits, Jim James, Pete Seeger, Jason Isbell, Andrew Bird, Merle Haggard and more.

Playlist: New Releases 02.16.10

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Field Music - Measure
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Measure, in musical terms, is a segment of time defined as a given number of beats of a given duration. With a band that's as precise as Field Music, it seems appropriate that their title be so... um... precise as well. While the band thrives on precision, they build chaos around that proper BritPop sound, bleeding the edge. Field Music went on hiatus back in 2007, citing a boredom with the rock format of guitar/bass/drums, and set out to release projects on their own that broke away from their perceived constraints. As such, we got interesting releases from School of Language (David Brewis) and The Week That Was (Peter Brewis). Measure is like a hodge-podge collection of these different styles in one release, mixing the experimentation of the Brewis bros. projects, and the more straight ahead / XTC-influenced BritPop of the band prior. It makes for an initially disorienting ride, but I've yet to grow tired of it's twists and turns. "Them That Do Nothing" sounds like it was written and Field Music had to reunite just to perform it (it's that good), while "Let's Write a Book" finds the band at it's simplest (and, in this context, greatest). It's a high-wire act all the way through, and at the end you may find yourself relieved that it's over, but exhilarated all the same.

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Freeway & Jake One- Odd Blood
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

I have to confess I'm not a huge Freeway fan, but when word got out he had Jake One in tow for this latest release, I was definitely on board. There's a reason that an instrumental version of the record had to be released as well, as the Seattle producer captures the essence of 70's soul so well, the rap often sounds like it gets in the way.

Free AOL Album Stream

Best part may just be the packaging:

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Robert Pollard - We All Got out of the Army
Tindersticks - Falling Down a Mountain
Lightspeed Champion - Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You
Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Preservation: An Album To Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program / Free AOL album stream
Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
Jason Faulkner - I'm OK... You're OK (AOL Album stream)
The Art Museums - Rough Frame EP
Juliana Hatfield - Peace & Love
Adam Green - Minor Love / Free AOL album stream / "What Makes Him Act So Bad", "Castles and Tassels" [mp3]
Blue Brain - Soft Power / Free AOL album stream / "Ten By Ten" [mp3]
Local Natives - Gorilla Manor / "Sun Hands" [mp3]
The Seven Fields of Aphelion - Periphery
Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La
Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin - Dear Companion / Free AOL album stream / "Something, Somewhere, Sometime" [mp3]
Smoking Popes - It's Been a Long Day / Free AOL album stream
Son Lux - Weapons EP / "Weapons V" [mp3]
Scanners - Submarine / Free AOL album stream
Mark Matos & Os Beaches - Words of the Knife
Backyard Tire Fire - Good to Be
My Name is Khan

REISSUES
Fela Kuti - Open & Close/Afrodisiac
Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight/The Fela Singles
Fela Kuti - Koola Lobitos 64-68/The '69 L.A. Sessions

tags: music, album review, field music, freeway & jake one, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody