Bonnie is more than just a best-selling artist, respected guitarist, expressive singer, and accomplished songwriter; Bonnie Raitt has become an institution in American music and social activism. This nine-time Grammy winner and Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee, was recently named one of the top 100 guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone. She takes on many philanthropies co-founding and supporting causes that are dear to her heart.

From the start, Bonnie was a founding member of MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy.).  In 1988, she co-founded the Rhythm and Blues Foundation which recognizes R&B pioneers. In 1995, she initiated the Bonnie Raitt Guitar Project with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to encourage underprivileged youth to play music. Bonnie currently sits on the Advisory or Honorary Boards of many organizations.

Bonnie Raitt is even inspiring the young; Lex Land, a contestant on NBCs the Voice, sings her version of Bonnie’s song “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”

After seven years, Bonnie will release her 20th album, “Slipstream” on April 10th. “Slipstream” is said to be “daring, bluesy, and steeped with the inimitable slide guitar and soulful vocals that could only be hers.”  Here is the first look into her new album, her first single, “Right Down the Line.”

Lucky for you, her new album “Slipstream” can also be pre-order.

Bonnie Raitt has a special connection to this area; she attended college at the esteemed Harvard University’s Radcliffe College, majoring in African Studies in 1976. Her plan at that time was to travel to Tanzania, where the president Julius Nyerere was creating a government based on democracy and socialism. Bonnie started her music career in Boston as she played alongside blues legends Howlin’ Wolf and Sippie Wallace at downtown Folk and R&B clubs.

And now we anxiously await her performance in June…

Some believe that there is a market for premium priced high definition digital audio. Those of us in our 30’s, 40’s and 50’s remember our parents playing vinyl records at home. This analog experience was warm and full. Music gurus or audiophiles say that while at home there is no better way to listen to music. This high definition music has a complete sound where you can fully hear all of the instruments, the artist’s voice, and the full recording. High definition digital audio creates a quality listening experience which regular MP3’s lack due to file compression. When songs are converted to MP3s to fit onto your iPod or to stream online, data is lost and songs lose sound quality. The convenience of these compressed files has led to music piracy being at an all-time high. The question you may ask yourself… why doesn’t everyone listen to High Definition music if the quality is better?

Although quality and the listening experience is better from high def audio, it turns out that portability and price has benefited the public better. High def music cannot be downloaded to iPods because the size is too large. It takes five times more space on hard drives than most current formats like MP3. Also, the price for the system and inconvenience of getting files onto and from your computer is a major hurdle compared to music devices currently available. If you want high def music you can’t associate it with convenience. Paul McGowan, CEO of PS Audio, explains High Def Audio and the conversion process in this video.

A look to the future: Recently, there has been some talk about the wider development of electronics and distribution channels for high def music. Check out this article; Apple presses pause on high-def music, says Neil Yong- CNN.com.

Is piracy the new radio?

The music we listen to everyday is usually from the popular portable music device, the iPod. Music is quickly and easily downloaded and transferred onto this device creating both convenience and piracy issues. Neil Young has made it his goal to rescue the art form he has been practicing for the past 50 years. He states in the previously mentioned article “I look at the internet as the new radio. I look at the radio as gone.” In today’s world everything is available at our fingertips due to the internet. Music is so accessible via internet that most people don’t listen to the radio anymore. Unfortunately most music is in the form of MP3s which is easy to download and download illegally. As internet speeds increase high def files will be more easily accessible. This would allow for better quality sound but it would also enable piracy even more.

Until the cost of hardware that can store high def files becomes less expensive and the internet connection speeds increase to be able to handle the bandwidth involved in high def files, the average music listener will probably not go out and spend thousands of dollars for high definition sound systems and music files. Neil Young states that downloading high def music might as well be an option since listeners are downloading their music for free anyways; that’s how music gets around and is discovered these days.

Is High Def Audio something you would spend your savings on? Does the quality outweigh the cost? Or are you satisfied with listening to compressed files?

Going to see live music can be a spiritual experience.  Some of my favorite nights out have been in smaller venues seeing an artist that I’ve never seen live before or never even heard of until that night.  Every now and then I come across a person who goes out to see music all the time but they only go to see the “Headliner” for the night.  They won’t bother to go check out an opening act.  They claim to be huge music fans but they won’t take that risk.  Spend the extra hour of their life on the chance of catching some new, something they’ve never heard before.  It’ll surprise me every time I come across these people.

I guess today it’s so easy to find new music with the proliferation of streaming music like Pandora, Spotify, Rdio, and others.  But until you see a band live in concert, you haven’t really experienced them.  I remember years ago talking to a friend who was one of these people who won’t go see the opening act.  He was a big reggae music fan and also liked rock and jamband stuff.  He was going to see the band moe. And I told him to check out the opening act, John Brown’s Body because they were an awesome reggae band that I thought he’d really enjoy.  He was already going to the show; all he had to do was show up a little early and check out some of their set.  Of course he didn’t see them that night.  Years later, John Brown’s Body was headlining a show somewhere and he went to go see them. He loved the show and was really bummed that he missed out on two years of getting to experience the band live.

One of my earlier, memories of going to see an unknown band was a show at this little bar in upstate NY called the Rhinecliff Hotel with a buddy of mine to just see whoever was playing that night.  We didn’t know the name of the band, where they were from, what they sounded like.  We just went because.  The Rhinecliff was an old hotel (only a couple of rooms) that kind of became a boarding house of sorts.  There was a bar on the ground floor, a room with a pool table in it and a back room that had a concrete floor, one brick wall and three other concrete walls.  There was no stage, no pa, and lighting for the room consisted of a single light bulb in the center of the ceiling.

The band that night was a band from NYC called Marmalade.  It was something like an 8 or 9 piece funk band with a rippin’ female lead guitarist (who later went on to play lead guitar for Natalie Merchant).  They played some of the funkiest, sweatiest, nastiest funk I’ve ever heard.  It was unbelievable.  I grooved for hours.  We took a complete risk, driving out to the bar and paying the cover for a band we knew nothing about and it turned out to be one of the best musical nights I had ever experienced.

Since coming to Boston (approximately 20 years ago now) I’ve had countless nights of seeing great new music.  Every time a new (to me) band blows me away, it takes me back to that night at the Rhinecliff, getting down to the funk of Marmalade.  So go see some live music.  Take a chance and see someone you’ve never heard of, get there early and check out the opener, you never know when you might come across your new favorite band.

Anyway, check out the video … he’s not half bad!

Our recent run of shows have taken it upon themselves to up the fun level. Elvis Costello sat next to a Go-Go cage on stage … and even let audience members come up and dance in it. He also let the audience make requests by way of a carnaval game…

[Elvis Costello] has quite a lengthy list of songs to request from and he let audience members (all female) pick the genre by slamming a big wooden hammer and ringing the bell on a carnival-style test of strength.

Read more about the “60s-style bachelor pad” cum “old-fashioned disco” that was the Elvis Costello stage in this review by the Cape Cod Times.

Or if you were at the Aaron Lewis show last night you got to experience his sense of humor first hand. It seems Aaron has added a few extra songs to his repertoire since embarking on a solo career.

[Aaron Lewis] also does a pretty good Madonna and Cyndi Lauper … during Lauper’s “Time After Time,” he put on a feminine falsetto, then transitioned into his natural singing voice for the chorus.

Find out how Aaron balanced his country songs, his Staind hits and a few covers in this review.

Looking for some up-coming fun? Check out Guster on August 2! The Cape Cod Times (which must be on a “fun” kick) recaps a short history of the band and nicely summarizes what you might expect to hear at next week’s show.

Much of [Guster's] charm derives from the playfulness of instrumentation. Bongos are just as likely to emerge in a song as banjos.

- JS

The Boston Globe spoke to Alison Kruass about her years and relationships with the members of Union Station as well as the effort that went into their newest release, “Paper Airplanes.” The Q&A is a good read with some interesting insights to how the group works.

Meanwhile, The Boston Herald was busy talking to Massachusetts native Aaron Lewis – the lead singer of the alt-rock group Staind. Lewis recently put out a solo country album what features quite a few country legends.

Remember, you don’t have to be south of the Mason-Dixon Line to be country. You do to be Southern. But not to be country.

But don’t worry Staind fans, writer Jeb Gottlieb goes on to report that Staind’s next album is coming soon. And Lewis’ set at the Melody Tent will include both his country and rock hits.

And Daniel Sidman of the Cape Cod Times did a nice piece that gives fans an inside look at how Brian Regan works, how he’s shaped his career and why he doesn’t move into TV and films.

 I think of a joke in the shower and I have 100 percent say as to whether I want to say it or not on stage that night.”

(Note: The article mentions Regan at the Melody Tent on Saturday night, that’s NEXT Saturday night on July 30.)

- JS

On The Ocean is a six-song collection of “B-side” material that never made it onto Guster’s other official releases. It will feature some recordings from live performances, some studio recordings, a few songs that will be fimiliar to fans who frequent Guster shows, and even a dance remix. Read more about each song on Guster’s website (scroll down to the July 12 post).

The EP will be available as a free digital download, but the band is recommending you buy the $5 hard copy for the exclusive album art. So come to the Guster concert at the Melody Tent and pick up a copy of their new EP … on the day it comes out … while you’re at a live Guster show!

- JS

This past week we hosted Stephen Marley The Root of Life Tour and on Thursday night some of the biggest names from the 1960s came together for the Happy Together Tour. Both shows were tent raises that drew enthusiasic crowds.

On Wednesday night Stephen Marley, son of the famed Bob Marley, took the stage to showcase some classic reggae tunes and old hits, but also to show off his latest ablum, Revelations Part 1: The Roots of Life (and to get people excited for Revelations Part 2). Marley also proved the old show adage – the show will go on rain or shine! Check out Daniel Sidman’s review in the Cape Cod Times. (And keep an eye on the Melody Tent facebook page, official photos from the show will be posted soon).

“Thank you for all supporting reggae music,” Marley said to the crowd. Even as rain poured off the roof the tent on a stormy night on the Cape, Marley and the Ghetto Youths still managed to create the feel of a sunny summer concert on their island nation.

For the Happy Together, Tour Flo & Eddie of The Turtles, The Association, The Grass Roots, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders, and The Buckinghams took their fans back in time playing some lesser known songs along with their chart-topping hits.

One audience member who was obviously enjoying the show said, “For a couple of hours, we are 20 again.” – Ken Wheeler, Cape Cod Times

Read more about the Happy Together Tour’s Hyannis stop in Wheeler’s review.

This year’s Doo-Wop Party features Gene Chandler (better known as the Duke of Earl), Herb Reed & The Platters, Little Peggy March, The Tune Weavers, Bowzer & The Stingrays, and Rocky and The Rollers, along with special guests from Bowzer’s Sha Na Na days Lennie Baker and Johnny Contardo!

And thanks to Bowzer’s (who’s real name is John Bauman) campaign work you can rest assured you’ll be seeing the real deal. Bowzer helped the Truth in Music Act – which ensures touring bands include at least one original member – get passed in Massachusetts. Plus, Bowzer has personally worked with and idealized most of this year’s performers! Read about his career and his relationships with the other performers in this great preview!

This show is definitely a fun night out and more often than not includes hool-a-hooping and dance contests on stage with the man himself!

To get you excited take a look at this video footage from last year’s Bowzer show at our sister venue the South Shore Music Circus!

httpv://www.youtube.com/user/SSMusicCircus?feature=mhee#p/u/23/VkCnd3xBhdA

- JS

Powerful drums with lots of dramatic cymbal crashes? Check. Wailing electric guitar solos? They’re there. And most of all, Benatar’s powerhouse belting, not at all diminished from the time her earliest singles were released.

Read more in this Cape Cod Times review!

- JS