SXSW- Tricky and DEVO!

A new friend of mine is managing Tricky. He played at least twice while we were in Texas and these were some pictures from the gig at the Austin Performing Arts Center. Jack Bookbinder, Gene Bowen and I saw him there. Tricky is a real trip- and puts on an intriguing show. I enjoyed his performance immensely.

Then there was DEVO on the same billing...

I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with Bob Mothersbaugh the day after this gig. I let him know i believe i now have permanent hearing loss after their performance. It was LOUD and FUN!

Some of my trip to SXSW... Wayne Kramer=MC5 + DEVO= hearing loss X 2= xtra good times:)

Jack Bookbinder, James Walsh, Wayne Kramer, Gene Bowen, Maragret Kramer

I've just returned from a very fun trip to Austin for the SXSW music festival. Along the way I was lucky enough to hang out with "some guy" named Wayne Kramer from a band called MC5 and his better half - wife Margaret:) Salt of the earth- I had some really good moments with them. Here are some things i've learned about Wayne's past and present. I hope you enjoy them as much as i have..

Wayne Kramer (MC5), Bob Mothersbaugh (DEVO)

Deja Vu for Jeff Buckley’s Mom, Drummer & Road Recovery

Here's the text from Road Recovery's last newsletter. Its been quite a couple weeks for them and we're proud to have been a part of it.

Deja Vu for Jeff Buckley’s Mom, Drummer & Road Recovery

New York, NY – 14 years later, Major Who Media’s recording studios, once the rehearsal space for the late artist Jeff Buckley, became the backdrop for Buckley’s mother Mary Guibert and Buckley band drummer Matt Johnson to participate in Road Recovery’s Master Class Series.

January 2009 kicked off for Road Recovery uniting Road Recovery’s Jack Bookbinder of Jeff Buckley's management team and Gene Bowen, Buckley’s tour manager, with Mary Guibert and Jeff’s band mate Matt Johnson inside the late artist’s rehearsal space now the home of Major Who Media.

(L-R) Jack Bookbinder (Road Recovery), Major Who Media’s – James Walsh & Sheldon Steiger together with Gene Bowen (Road Recovery) surround Mary Guibert (Jeff Buckley Music) come together for Road Recovery young people.

In 1995, James Walsh of Major Who Media owned a recording studio that was originally located next door to the Jeff Buckley band rehearsal cave. As neighbors occupying a Dungeness basement in a residential NYC apartment building, a friendship developed between Buckley, Bowen and Walsh. After Jeff Buckley’s accidental drowning in 1997, Gene Bowen knocked on Major Who Media’s door and offered Walsh Buckley’s old space...the rest is history…

(L-R) Jack Bookbinder (Road Recovery), James Walsh (Major Who Media), drummer - Matt Johnson and Gene Bowen (Road Recovery) reminisce about days ago…

During the two Master Class Sessions Matt Johnson and Mary Guibert wove an intimate conversation with a small group of Road Recovery teens and young adults illuminating the twists and turns of their life and career story. Independently, Guibert and Johnson described in great detail their daily quest toward ever finding meaning, understanding and purpose in what drove them; their inner passion toward a life with meaning.

Above: Drummer – Matt Johnson (right corner) ‘kicking it’ about his life with Road Recovery young folks during his Master Class session.

(center) Mary Guibert (Jeff Buckley Music) sharing the love with Road Recovery’s young people, staff and Major Who Media’s James Walsh (far right) after her Master Class.

Even in the wake of great tragedy and loss, Guibert summoned everyone to ‘be their own hero’ by being accountable to themselves through evolving an honest relationship within and the outside world intersecting them.

At the conclusion of each Master Class session with Matt Johnson and Mary Guibert, an unending musical exchange erupted in true Buckley style!

Matt Johnson (center) building a beat with Road Recovery’s young people during his Master Class session.

Matt Johnson finishes his Master Class behind the kit jamming with Road Recovery’s house band Crazy James inside Major Who Media’s recording studio.

"I recommend this experience for people on both sides. I got to meet new people, play music, and talk with others about life…The gift of life!!! Road Recovery is about sharing. I love this organization." – Matt Johnson, drummer

"I have so much respect for these young people. They are constantly dealing with daily challenges to their sobriety with so much courage and integrity. I am in awe of them." – Mary Guibert (Jeff Buckley Music)

For more info about Road Recovery, visit www.roadrecovery.org

UPCOMING EVENTS

* Thursday, January 29th – Metallica’s James Hetfield hosts Road Recovery Master Class

* Caron is presenting their own Concert & Silent Auction to benefit Road Recovery (for the Keeping It Real Program) on Thursday, February 19^th at 8:30 PM at the John Varvatos store (previously the legendary CBGB’s).

Caron is selling tickets for $50.00 each and their phone/email address is provided below.

There are NO complimentary tickets as it’s a 100% fundraiser. This is an open-bar event and alcohol will be served.

Crazy James is performing a short set, along with three other bands. Please read and feel free to circulate the below e-flyer to all those interested to help push ticket sales for February 19^th! If you prefer the flyer in another format, please let us know. More information to come about Road Recovery’s own fundraiser concert in the Spring 2009 for those who enjoyed last year’s concert at the Nokia.

Road Recovery,The Fenwicks, Groove Collective, Jeff Buckley, and MajorWho

Busy Week!!!!

Monday night MajorWho hosted its 5th Road Recovery master class in the studio's live room:

Groove Collective members and Road Recovery mentors Jay Rodriguez and Chris TheBerge were on hand to assist the Crazy James Band in coming up with some new material. Some good times for a good cause, namely our own sanity! Once again, MW producer Jeremy Sklarsky kept us on course and in stitches while we multi-tasked through the event.

Road Recovery founders Jack Bookbinder and Gene Bowen are close friends of Majorwho's James Walsh for many years -dating back to the time when they managed and road managed Jeff Buckley, who incidently, used to have his rehearsal room where our studios main control room now exists.

Here's something we found written on the wall of Jeff Buckley's rehearsal room before we built out the control room, just after Jeff passed..

MUSIC AIN'T NO PRODUCT

Speaking of Buckley, The Fenwicks were at MajorWho over the weekend to lay down some new tracks for a debt relief (get details from jack) program. According to Jack Bookbinder, The Fenwicks were one of Jeff's favorite bands. Check em out- great guys and musicians...


Ahh yes, Old Springs Pike. We had the privilege of going to the show at Joe's Pub with Caitlin Lowery and Heather Holley.
It was AMAZING! We hope to see more of them soon.

Old Springs Pike