Greetings, and welcome to my favorite time of the year! Reservoir Music is moved (to 711 Route 28 in Kingston), so I’m back this week with a full length column. Since I took a short break from writing to move the store, y’all might not know that this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies were held over the past weekend. This year’s inductees in the “Performer” category were Guns n Roses, Small Faces/Faces, Donovan, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Laura Nyro. The great Freddie King made it in the “Early Influence” category. “Sidemen” inducted this year included Tom Dowd, Cosimo Matassa, Glyn Johns, and Don Kirshner. Also in the “Performer” category, backing bands The Blue Caps, Crickets, Midnighters, Miracles, Famous Flames, and Comets were inducted.

Last year at this time, in my column of March 17^th, 2011, I wrote a column called “The Top Ten Bands that should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Aren’t”. I wrote this particular column in response to last year’s class of inductees, who I felt were particularly weak. Three of those on my list, Guns n Roses, Donovan, and Small Faces/Faces were inducted this year. A fourth, Tom Dowd, is a talent I have championed for many years. So I feel a little bit vindicated, but I’m still looking for the rest of my list, which was Love, T Rex, Gram Parsons, Little Feat, J. Geils Band, Joe Cocker, and Johnny Winter.

In other music news, the classic Bob Dylan album, “Blood on the Tracks”, is being made into a movie. I always thought that album played like a movie, but I’ll bet the movie sucks, unless they put a vampire in it! The subject matter is usually better in song than stage, but, of course, I reserve judgment until seen!

And sadly, Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb is reportedly in a coma and not expected to live more than a couple more days. He’s been fighting cancer.

So I guess we’re up to this week’s live music picks. Here they are.

Wednesday, April 18 – It’s the final night for FURTHER at The Beacon Theater in Manhattan. They’ll be back this Summer though, so, not to worry. A few blocks further downtown, PAUL SIMON is getting together with his two friends from Nawlins, WYNTON MARSALAS and AARON NEVILLE, at Rose Hall in the Time/Warner Center. Should be a real uptown getdown!
Thursday, April 19 – The WOODSTOCK WRITERS FESTIVAL kicks off tonight with a Rock n Roll Story Slam at Oriole 9 in Woodstock. Many more events are planned for the entire weekend. The one I’m interested in is Augusten Burroughs at The Bearsville Theater Saturday night. Full schedule and more info at www.woodstockwritersfestival.com.
Friday, April 20 – This week is really a great week for music, and tonight, if you’re downstate, is a real beaut! Local resident, GRAHAM PARKER, is at City Winery with his current backing band, THE FIGGS, Americana hero, JOHN PRINE, is at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ, and Texas rockers, LUCERO, are at Webster Hall in Manhattan. Graham Parker with a full band is one of the rockin’est performers you’ll ever see! (And he’s real good solo too!). John Prine is one of our best songwriters. And Lucero just rocks! Catch one of ‘em if you’re in the city!
Saturday, April 21 - The Wellmont is on some kind of roll this weekend! They’re following last night’s John Prine show with SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY tonight and Allison Krause on Sunday! Whatta weekend! The aforementioned AUGUSTEN BURROUGHS, author of “Running with Scissors” and other books, will be holding court at The Bearsville Theater, and PATTI ROTHBERG is at Market Market in Rosendale. I’ve heard mixed reports about Patti’s live shows, but if she does “Dirt”, it’s worth the price of admission.
Sunday, April 22 – The Wellmont continues it’s roll with ALLISON KRAUSE AND UNION STATION featuring JERRY DOUGLAS. Douglas is considered the best Dobro picker around, Allison’s a great singer, and the rest of the band is top notch too! One of the premier Bluegrass/ Newgrass groups around! THE AVETT BROTHERS is a band that I just have been unable to get into. My friends from BR 549 toured with them before they were big and they told me about them back then. Critics love ‘em. Fans love ‘em. So far, I don’t really get it. But everyone says they’re great, so make up your own mind! At The Palace Theater, Albany.
Monday, April 23 – The Incomparable GYPSY KINGS bring their troupe to The Beacon Theater in Manhattan.

Please keep my dear friend, Buddy Cage, in your prayers and meditations. Buddy was just diagnosed with cancer and will be undergoing chemo soon. Buddy was the pedal steel guitarist who for The New Riders of the Purple Sage for most of their career, after taking over from Jerry Garcia early on, and also was a member of my band, The Brooklyn Cowboys, amongst many other impressive credits, not the least of which is Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks”. Get well soon pal!

Have a great week! It’s good to be back!

Fred Perry is the owner of Reservoir Music Center on Route 28 in Kingston, and founding member of Alt-Country supergroup, The Brooklyn Cowboys, is from a 3rd generation musical family and lives in the Hudson Valley, where he does what he can to promote live music.