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Greetings everyone, Hittin' the Note kicks off 2008 with an issue chock-full of jamming good artists, as HTN features three of the major players on the jam scene today – we take an in-depth look at where they've been and where they're going. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals have been on a serious roll lately; the quintet released This is Somewhere to great critical acclaim, and tore up the concert circuit in the fall, when they were billed with Gov't Mule. Their sensual, intense lead singer has been compared to Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin; in the last year, the band's music has been featured on Grey's Anatomy, and the group made a memorable appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. HTN's Tony Sclafani caught up with Grace and lead guitarist Scott Tournet, and they relate what it's been like for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, a band that definitely is going somewhere good in a big hurry. Singer/songwriter/slide guitarist Papa Mali is a fixture in the Austin, TX music community, and his ability to mix traditional blues, dub music and psychedelia into a uniquely potent sound can best be appreciated on his latest release, Do Your Thing. As Ian Rice found out, Papa Mali is doing just that, and he is enjoying every minute of it. moe. is a proven veteran of the jamband world, but, like all great groups, they see the need to shake things up from time to time. Their new CD, Sticks and Stones, was recorded when the band went on a musical retreat in the mountains of Western Massachusetts, living and working together as a unit. As Al Schnier, Chuck Garvey and Rob Derhak shared with HTN's Rob Johnson, the moe. family experience brought out the best in everyone, because after 17 years, there is nothing like getting back to basics. |
  
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Ebet Roberts has made a name for herself photographing some of the most-renowned artists in music, including Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Bob Marley, and she captured the scene at New York's historic CBGB's wonderfully as well. In our "Photo Session" segment, Ebet shares with Brian Shupe the interesting fact that her career came about almost by accident, but a great accident it turned out to be.
You also will find our usual features within the pages of #56, including Tom Clarke's "Compact Dreams," Jamie Lee's "In Tune," the "HTN 6-Pack" section, and twice the usual number of CD reviews to double your reading pleasure. We also include Chris Doell's fine recap of Live at Piedmont Park, the latest Dave Mathews Band DVD, and book reviewer Todd Prusin offers his take on Grateful Dead Gear, which is Blair Jackson's all-encompassing overview of the equipment and instruments used by the Dead from 1965-95. We also include a tribute to John "Scooter" Herring, the former Allman Brothers Band and Sea Level road manager who passed away recently at age 67. Scooter, who served the Allmans during some very tumultuous times, is remembered as a stand-up guy by fellow Allman Brothers' road crew members Sid Yochim and Willie Perkins, and by ABB and Sea Level keyboardist Chuck Leavell. That's it for this one, but down the road, Hittin' the Note is planning features on Hot Tuna's Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, who are celebrating 50 years of making music together, as well as Chuck Leavell's new live CD release, culled from his recent tour of Germany. We are forever grateful for your support, and we look forward to bringing you more coverage of music that truly matters. Until later, John Lynskey  | |