Eric R. Danton | Sound Check

Nelly eager for Springsteen collaboration

After a four-year absence from the music scene, Nelly was hoping to return in genre-bending style by collaborating with Bruce Springsteen, the Associated Press reports via the Monterey County Herald.

And why not? The St. Louis rapper has already worked with country singer Tim McGraw, on the former's lackluster 2004 album "Suit." Alas (for Nelly, anyway), the Boss encountered "scheduling difficulties" that precluded his participation on "Brass Knuckles," due in June and featuring Akon, Ashanti, Chuck D, Ciara, LL Cool J, Lil Wayne, Pimp C, Snoop Dogg and T.I.

Nelly, best known for his 2002 hit "Hot in Herre," remains optimistic that the two can work together.

'"We still might get a chance to get it off. We're saving it. We might repackage it for the holidays," he said Sunday on the orange carpet at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.

Among other collaborations, Springsteen contributed guitar and backing vocals to Marah's 2002 album "Float Away with the Friday Night Gods," sang (with Patti Scialfa) on Emmylou Harris' "Red Dirt Girl" album and duetted with Jesse Malin on "Broken Radio" last year on Malin's "Glitter in the Gutter" album. Springsteen hasn't worked much with rappers, at least, not so far ...

Literally everyone but Slash saw Zeppelin

Turns out Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash missed Led Zeppelin's reunion gig in London last December.

In this piece reported by NME.com, Slash says rumors that Velvet Revolver would open for Zeppelin on a tour were "taken out of context" (eh?). He also laments that Velvet Revolver was touring in Australia at the time of Zeppelin's London show.

"I heard like literally everyone was there except me," Slash says.

Literally everyone? I literally don't think that's possible.

In other Velvet Revolver news, Slash says here the band will carry on even if singer Scott Weiland bails. Weiland and drummer Matt Sorum apparently had a falling out after a recent show in Scotland.

Pitchfork festival announces more bands

Never mind Coachella and Bonnaroo — this year's Pitchfork Music Festival has the most promising lineup yet.

The three-day Chicago fest, happening July 18-20 in Union Park, just announced a performance by Dinosaur Jr, and will feature Mission of Burma performing "Vs." in its entirety. Other acts announced today include Jarvis Cocker, Ghostface & Raekwon, the Apples in Stereo, Jay Reatard, Ruby Suns, Dirty Projectors, Cut Copy and A Hawk and A Hacksaw

That's in addition to Public Enemy's performance of "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" and sets by Animal Collective, Spiritualized, !!!, M. Ward, Boris, Vampire Weekend, Dizzee Rascal, No Age, Atlas Sound, Fleet Foxes, Extra Golden and El Guincho.

Last year's festival was a blast, which makes this year's version highly recommended.

Eels cancels New Haven show

Citing the standard euphemism "scheduling conflicts," Eels has cancelled a show Sunday, March 30, in New Haven.

Refunds are available at point of purchase.

Drive-By Truckers at Toad's

Technically I'm off this week, but the chance to see the Drive-By Truckers again was too much to resist. So here's a brief recap from the band's show Tuesday at Toad's Place in New Haven.

First, the sound was much better than it was in Northampton. I'm not sure what went wrong at Pearl Street, but the vocals were clearer and the guitars crisper at Toad's. The lights were a bit less frenetic, too, which was only a good thing.

In Northampton, the band drew more of the older songs from "Pizza Deliverance" and "Southern Rock Opera," which made for a stronger set than the focus on "Decoration Day" in New Haven. Still, it was great to hear "The Deeper In" at Toad's, along with old favorites like "The Living Bubba" and "Zip City." After seeing it performed live a couple times now, and hitting repeat when it comes up on CD, Mike Cooley's "3 Dimes Down," from the new record, is fast becoming one of my favorite Truckers songs.

The band seemed tighter at Toad's, and the music flowed effortlessly. Although singer and guitarist Patterson Hood didn't talk as much from stage, he did note at the outset that the Truckers hadn't played a New Haven club gig since 2000, at what he recalled as a bar made entirely of stone. He was thinking, I believe, of Rudy's.

Seemed like a pretty good crowd, so hopefully the band will return before another eight years goes by.

CD Review: 'Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings' by Counting Crows

It’s been more than five years since Counting Crows released a new studio album, and frankly, 2002’s “Hard Candy” wasn’t all that memorable.

This time, they mean it.

In fact, Adam Duritz and company haven’t sounded so committed, so determined, so tuneful, in years. “Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings” is a sprawling 14-song album divided between the two extremes in the title: The first half chronicles decadent, self-destructive behavior, and the second deals with emotional and physical recuperation in the aftermath.

Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige to play Mohegan

Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige, two of the biggest acts in urban music, have teamed up for a tour that stops May 8 at Mohegan Sun.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. for $150, $125 and $95.

Review: Drive-By Truckers at Pearl Street

When they get up to full speed in concert, the Drive-By Truckers might as well be the runaway truckers.

The band’s songs get bigger, louder and sweatier, like rock ’n’ roll returning to its primal state. You get the feeling that sheer exhaustion (or, occasionally, impending bar time) is the only reason they stop playing at all.

The Truckers rolled through 25 songs Friday at Pearl Street in Northampton, singing stories about haunted war veterans, the toll of life on the road and the seductive lure of big-rig drivers. In a set filled with huge guitar riffs and heartfelt, sometimes biting sentiments, three of the Truckers took turns on lead vocals.

Pearl Jam hits Hartford on June tour

Pearl Jam returns to Hartford June 27 as part of an 11-date East Coast swing that also includes a headlining slot at Bonnaroo June 13-15.

Kings of Leon opens June 11-17, and Ted Leo & the Pharmacists handle the rest, including date at Dodge Music Center in Hartford. (The band clearly has good taste in opening acts: Last time Pearl Jam was here, in May 2006, My Morning Jacket opened.)

No word yet on ticket prices or when they go on sale.

Patterson Hood's favorite records

In a recent interview with Drive-By Truckers singer Patterson Hood (center), we got to talking about Big Star's third record, "3rd," as an example of records that are perfect musical snapshots of a moment in time.

"It may not be the most user-friendly thing they did — certainly ‘3rd’ isn’t compared to the first two records, which are so lovable and accessible and immediately-reach-out-and-grab-you-
pop-records," Hood said. "Then that third record is so inside and turbulent and chaotic, but those of us who fall for it, it’s like, goddamn, it’s one of my favorite records ever made."

The album has been repackaged several different times, but a vinyl reissue a few years ago reverted to the original track listing, which Hood said made a huge difference.

"That sequence makes it all make sense," he said. "That’s the first time that record, to me, really made — I mean, I loved it all along, but when I heard that sequence, it was like, wow. No. 1, it’s the weirdest sequence I’ve ever heard. Starting it out with ‘Stroke It Noel’ makes no sense whatsoever, except it’s perfect."

Read more about the Drive-By Truckers here.