Wednesday, March 10, 2010

John Prine Returns To The Old Town School

John Prine returned to the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago this past weekend. As a boy, he often went there to learn more about guitar and folk songs. This special benefit concert was highlighted in the Chicago Tribune as a truly magical night.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

John Prine Featured In Chicago Tribune

There was a great article on John Prine in a recent edition of the Chicago Tribune. Click here to enjoy the interview about his upcoming benefit concert at the historic Old Town School of Folk Music.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Steve Goodman Featured In Chicago Cubs Film "We Believe"

Director John Scheinfeld (The U.S. vs. John Lennon) has inked a DVD distribution deal for the acclaimed documentary film “We Believe” with New York based distributor Virgil Films & Entertainment (Super Size Me). Following the film’s sold-out premiere screenings at the Chicago Theatre last summer, the DVD release is slated for April 13th. Narrated by award-winning actor and Chicago native Gary Sinise (Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, CSI:NY) “We Believe” features a veritable who’s who cast of Chicagoans and explores the extraordinary love affair between the city of Chicago and its baseball team, the Cubs. In addition to the 104-minute feature length film, the DVD will be loaded with bonus extras including interviews and deleted scenes.

“We’re delighted to be working with Joe Amodei and his team at Virgil Films. Not only for their experience, but equally important for the passion they bring to the titles they represent. After all, passion is at the very heart of a Cubs fan and so, too, it has to be for everyone involved with our film,” said director Scheinfeld.

“Chicago has always been my kind of town and this film reminds me why,” said Joe Amodei, President Virgil Films & Entertainment. “It is a love letter not only to the city itself but the people that live there and in particular the always hopeful Cubs fans. This is much more than a documentary about baseball. It is a film about hope, dedication and the never give up attitude we see in the Cubs faithful. It is a look at what’s best in America. Every Cubs fan and Chicagoan must see this film. It’s about them!”

“We Believe” is the first theatrical documentary to be fully authorized by the Cubs and it is unlike any other team-related production. Produced with the complete cooperation of Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Player’s Association, the film features a distinguished array of journalists, authors, cultural commentators and stars from the worlds of film, TV and music, all offering their unique perspectives on America, baseball, the city of Chicago and its people. Among those interviewed are Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Bob Costas, Dennis Franz (NYPD Blue), Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm), legendary Blues musician Buddy Guy, Hugh Hefner, Bonnie Hunt, Joe Mantegna, George Will and rare interviews with Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball and Francis Cardinal George, the Archbishop of Chicago.

During the 9-month shooting schedule the filmmakers shot more than 220 hours of footage. Cubs officials and team executives committed to participating in the production and provided extraordinary access to players, Wrigley Field and the team’s expansive archive. The result is a compelling and visually striking movie that showcases many neighborhoods within the city of Chicago, seamlessly blended with timeless and beautiful images of legendary Wrigley Field.

The Producers and production staff are Chicagoans, the film was shot by an award-winning Chicago production company (Sedgwick Productions), edited by the city’s finest editor at one of the city’s top post-production facilities (Cutters) and the Director/Writer/Producer is Chicago-born and a graduate of Northwestern University.

“We Believe” is a love story about Chicago and its baseball team and with every love story there is bound to be some heartbreak. So, without a big, happy Hollywood ending in which the Cubs win the World Series for the first time since 1908, the creative team rose to the challenge, employing Bruce Springsteen’s anthemic “Land of Hope and Dreams,” to drive the film to a powerful, emotional, inspiring finish. After all, it’s the journey that’s important, not the destination.

Official website: www.WeBelieveTheMovie.com

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

John Prine - 2/19 Philadelphia Concert Review

The great people at the Philadelphia City Paper had wonderful things to say about this past weekend's John Prine and Sara Watkins concert at the Merriam Theatre. It is always a fabulous show when John and Sara get together, read on for more details.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

More Dan Reeder Reviews

Big thanks to our friends at PopMatters for their great review of Dan Reeder's "This New Century" album.

And for our friends in Germany, check out what the folks at Nurnberger Zeitung and Sueddeutsche have to say about the record!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Dan Reeder "This New Century" Album Reviews

Dan Reeder's third album "This New Century" will be in stores this Tuesday, February 16th. But you can get it early via our special MusicFansDirect.com presale or download the digital copy now on Bandcamp.

The CD is Dan's most polished release to date and truly shows him at his best. Many reviews have been coming in from publications around the world. Better yet, some of the songs are even showing up on Americana radio across the US!

Here is a taste of what some people are saying about this great album.
New Yorker Magazine Online
Iowa City Press-Citizen Newspaper
Moors Magazine in The Netherlands

Free John Prine Live MP3 On March 1st

Please sign up for the Oh Boy Records mailing list on our website. You can do so by using the toolbar at the top of the site. Everyone who does so by the end of the month will be emailed a free John Prine live MP3 on March 1st!

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

John Prine to play Bonnaroo 2010

We are very pleased to announce that John Prine will be performing at the 2010 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. The festival takes place June 10-13, and John will be playing that Saturday.

There are many other great acts joining the festival lineup, so it certainly will be a fabulous event. The last time John played Bonnaroo was in 2005, and his memorable set was not to be missed. That performance can be purchased and downloaded here.

For ticketing information and complete festival lineup, visit the Bonnaroo website.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Oh Boy Records Now on Bandcamp

We are very excited to announce that Oh Boy Records’ music is now digitally available on Bandcamp. A wealth of music including John Prine, Steve Goodman, and Dan Reeder is available to purchase or stream.

Bandcamp is compatible with iTunes, and often costs less to download songs and offers higher-quality downloads than iTunes. Available download formats include MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, and ALAC.

Some of the available John Prine albums include “The Missing Years”, “Souvenirs”, “John Prine Live”, and “Fair & Square”. All of these great albums and more can be downloaded immediately.

Many Steve Goodman albums are also available through Bandcamp. A few titles include No Big Surprise: “The Steve Goodman Anthology”, “Live at the Earl of Old Town”, and “Unfinished Business”. Check them out here.

All of Dan Reeder’s albums can also be found on Bandcamp, including his brand-new album titled “This New Century”. This album hits stores February 16th, but is available in advance right now at Bandcamp.

We hope you enjoy this excellent new resource. It is a perfect opportunity to revisit classic albums and discover fantastic new songs.


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

John Prine on TV's "Spectacle with Elvis Costello" TONIGHT

John Prine is a guest on Elvis Costello's critically-acclaimed show "Spectacle with Elvis Costello" tonight at 10pm eastern, along with Ray LaMontagne and Lyle Lovett. Look for the show on the Sundance Channel. It is sure to be an awesome show, and a great chance to see excellent songwriters perform together. Check here for all the air times: http://tr.im/KiXY

"Spectacle with Elvis Costello" features everything from intimate one-on-one conversations with legendary performers and notable newcomers to thematic panel discussions.

Guest artists not only talk but perform - demonstrating the development and creation of their music and playing new, stripped-down or solo versions of some of their best and most loved songs.

Costello also performs, starting each episode with his interpretation of a song either by or connected to the featured guest. In addition, "Spectacle" features extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime collaborations and duets.

Hope you have a chance to watch it!

Monday, December 07, 2009

Prine Calvin Theatre Review

Here's a great review from John Prine's recent concert this past weekend at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton, Massachusetts. Check it out here.

Friday, December 04, 2009

Handwritten John Prine Lyrics Auction

The Americana Music Association is auctioning handwritten lyrics by many noted artists, including John Prine. John donated his classic "Angel From Montgomery," and you can view it here. These handwritten lyrics are truly works of art and makes the ultimate holiday gift for that someone special on your list. All proceeds benefit the Americana Music Association.

Monday, November 23, 2009

John Prine Flagstaff Appreciation

Our friends at the Arizona Daily Sun wrote wonderful kind words about the music of John Prine and his Flagstaff appearance this past week. If you have moment, please see if you can relate to their thoughts.

Monday, November 09, 2009

Prine Boston Concert Reviews

Please check out two great concert reviews from John Prine's recent concert last Friday night in Boston. There is one from the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Prine Featured in "Coal Country Music" CD

John Prine's "Paradise" and "Angel From Montgomery" are two of the featured tracks on an upcoming compilation CD entitled "Coal Country Music." The disc will be available on November 10th, and you can read more about this special project here.

Friday, October 09, 2009

John Prine Birthday & Pre-sales

Saturday, October 10th is John Prine's birthday, and we are offering great pre-sale tickets available through Musicfansdirect.com for three upcoming shows: 2.26 Dallas@ McFarlin Auditorium, 2.27 Austin @ Bass Concert Hall and 3.26 Nashville @ Ryman Auditorium. Click here to purchase now!

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Review

On Friday, Oct. 2nd, Prine performed at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco. If anyone is not familiar with this event, it's one that's not to be missed. The artist line-up is always amazing and, oh wait, did I forget to mention...IT'S FREE!!!

Check out the SFweekly.com review here.

Monday, September 21, 2009

New John Prine Interview with BBC

John Prine was interviewed by BBC jock Bob Harris this weekend in conjunction with the Americana Awards. Click the link below to listen now! John's portion of the program begins at 2:06.26.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Remembering Steve Goodman

This Sunday, September 20 marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Red Pajamas Records recording artist and famed songwriter Steve Goodman. Steve Goodman (July 25, 1948 - September 20, 1984) was born and raised in Chicago, and by 1969 had become a regular performer at the city's celebrated folk music clubs.

In 1971, with a little help from Kris Kristofferson, he signed his first major recording contract. It was also at this time, when he met Arlo Guthrie, who later made Goodman's hit "City Of New Orleans" legendary a year later.

In 1974, Goodman's "You Never Even Call Me By My Name" achieved considerable success on the country charts with artist David Alan Coe. Goodman's passion also rested with the city of Chicago and his beloved Chicago Cubs. He wrote and performed many humorous songs about them, including "The Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" and "Go, Cubs, Go."

Goodman was closely involved with the Old Town School of Folk Music, where he met and mentored his good friend, John Prine.

Around the time Goodman's career began to take off, he was diagnosed with leukemia. The entire time he was writing and singing, he was also fighting cancer. On September 20, 1984, Goodman died at University of Washington Hospital in Seattle, Washington.

In 2007, the Chicago Cubs began playing Goodman's 1984 song "Go, Cubs, Go" after each home game win. When the Cubs made it to the playoffs, interest in the song and in Goodman's prolific career surged, resulting in October 5, 2007 being declared Steve Goodman Day across the state of Illinois.

We encourage you to check out stevegoodman.net to learn more. We also are running special prices on all CDs from Steve in our online store. Please check out Musicfansdirect.com for details and enjoy our newly revamped storefront.

Thanks and have a great weekend. Talk soon.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

John Prine AZ Pre-sale Tickets

There are great pre-sale tickets available through Musicfansdirect.com for three upcoming John Prine concerts in Arizona: 11.18 Flagstaff @ The Ardrey Auditorium, 11.20 Phoenix, AZ @ The Dodge Theatre and 11.21 Tucson @ The Fox. Click here to purchase now!