Janis Joplin Joins the Walk of Fame

Janis Joplin has already been dually recognized in Chicago as a 1995 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and in 2005 with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. But now, America’s hardest rock and roll chick will be honored in Hollywood with a Star on the Walk of Fame.

Joplin first sprung into the limelight while fronting the psychedelic-acid rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company, but later progressed to a more bluesy-soulful solo career. Besides Jefferson Airplane's Grace Slick, Janis Joplin is perhaps the only female rocker whose voice was so domineering and lively, it could suffice for an entire album alone with no backing instruments needed.

I’m surprised it took so long for Hollywood to honor my favorite San Fran hippie. She died in 1970 at the young age of 27 (welcome to the 27 club!), and is only now being recognized. What a shame.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce meets every year to select about 20 honorees from hundreds of nominations. Other nominees this year include Jane’s Addiction, the late Luther Vandross, Jennifer Hudson, Ellen DeGeneres, Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Bloc. Considering the latter two, it clearly isn’t too difficult to be awarded a Star.

Actual dates of the 2013 ceremonies have not been announced, but stay tuned for more information, and check out the videos below to hear some of my favorite Janis Joplin originals. A voice like hers should never be forgotten.

"Piece of My Heart," the epitome of girl-power

"Combination of the Two"

"Mercedes Benz"

"Me and Bobby McGee"

"Cry Baby"

And on an entirely different note, I saw the Dave Matthews Band this past Friday at Hershey Park. The stadium had amazing acoustics. I highly recommend the venue, even if it is a far drive. We got pretty close up, so I wanted to share some (albeit low-quality) pictures with you!

Dave and bassist Stefan Lessard

Violinist Boyd Tinsley

Electric guitarist Tim Reynolds

Hershey Stadium. You can see a lighted-roller coaster in the background

Willie Nelson and Pearl Jam Learn to "Just Breathe"

The worlds of soft rock and country collide once again with Willie Nelson’s rendition of the Pearl Jam ballad, “Just Breathe.” And his cover is not half bad.

Willie Nelson released the music video just this past weekend, about a month after the release of his album Heroes. In the video he adventures on a road trip with his son, Lukas, an up-and-coming country star himself.  The song is very similar yet different from the Pearl Jam original: Nelson’s short Southern draw contrasts with Eddie Vedder’s raspy tone, and his harmonica adds a well deserved touch, as well as Lukas’ guitaring towards the end.

That is not the only cover song making an appearance on Heroes. Nelson also covers “The Scientist” by Coldplay, which was previously heard on a Super Bowl commercial aired last year. It generated so much buzz he decided to include it. The song is also great, almost toppling the original; once again just a basic cover that sounds very similar to the original, only it replaces Chris Martin’s rather winey voice with Nelson’s country southern drawl.  

Heroes is out today for purchase.

Also, if you like Willie Nelson’s coverings as much as I do, you may find this pretty cool as well. In 2007, he released a cover of Dave Matthews’ “Gravedigger.” 

Boyd Tinsley Makes a Film

"This is a film that is not only meant to be seen, it's meant to be experienced." -Boyd Tinsley

Boyd Tinsley rocks the violin on stage with the Dave Matthews Band at the 2005 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

What is the Dave Matthews Band known for? Besides crazy music, crazy concerts and Dave's crazy dancing skills? I’d say Boyd Tinsley, their fanatic electric violin player. Watching him play on stage is like watching a victim of an exorcise. Except in a less sinister way; instead of being satanically controlled by the devil, he is feverishly controlled by his own music. Nonetheless, Tinsley is now bringing his magic to the realms of cinema.

Faces in the Mirror follows a young boy, Ben Fisher, who comes home to bury his deceased father, but on the way he is led into a dream-like revelation. At the bottom of the website’s synapse, Tinsley adds, “This is a film that is not only meant to be seen, it’s meant to be experienced. An experience of music, visuals and emotions. It’s like a dream.”

To me, it sounds like he’s hoping his audience is hella high while viewing.

The trailer is a mish-mosh of short clips from the film and don’t really give any true insight into the basic plotline of the movie, but that isn’t what is really important to Tinsley.

Faces in the Mirror is unique because the plot was developed around the movie score, rather than the usual vice-versa. Members of DMB, including Dave Matthews, Stefan Lessard and Tim Reynolds, along with Shawn Smith, Maktub and The Silent Comedy, performed the score, which was written by Tinsley.

The film was previously shown to a select group of fans at the band’s Gorge caravan last summer. Now, SnagFilms has purchased the movie (along with several other independent films) and plans to release it on various media platforms, including their own website, Hulu. Faces in the Mirror will be released either this summer or upcoming fall. It will be interesting to see how the movie plays out. Dave Matthews and his band have musically integrated themselves into American culture since their birth in 1991, and I am curious to see if Boyd could achieve the same success in this different field of art.

Wishing him the best of luck.

Click here for a sneak peak of the trailer. Click around and explore the website for more information.

And just in case you are unfamiliar with the violin virtuoso, here are some of his greatest onstage accomplishments (Hint: No. 3 is my favorite. "Everyday" is one of my ultimate summer songs).