The instrumental trio Medeski, Martin & Wood has continually pushed musical boundaries by exhibiting a restless creative streak. But the trio - keyboardist John Medeski, percussionist Billy Martin and bassist Chris Wood - is taking its adventurous side to an even higher level in 2008 with a series of shows known as the “Radiolarian Series.” The series finds MMW writing new music to be performed exclusively at a limited series of shows and the process will be repeated three times during the year. Eventually, the results will be released in both audio and video formats.

On Tuesday, July 15, MMW will perform at Workplay. The show marks a quick return to the venue for Chris Wood as he performed with brother Oliver in his other project, The Wood Brothers, in June. In August, MMW will hold “Camp MMW” in the Catskill Mountains. The camp is an interactive experience that allows musicians of various levels to live and study music alongside the trio for five days. 

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Popularity: 5% [?]

The daughter of a Japanese mother and Irish-American father, Marie (pronounced “Ma-ree-AY”) Digby has garnered tremendous exposure during the past year. The singer/songwriter and Los Angeles native has become a favorite on website YouTube and has found her songs placed in a number of television series. Toss in some positive press from Rolling Stone magazine and an appearance on Last Call with Carson Daly, and you get a sense of the whirlwind that has surrounded her. On Wednesday, June 11, Digby will make her debut Birmingham appearance at Workplay. Recently, Digby spoke to the Weekly’s Brent Thompson from her Philadelphia hotel room.

BT: Marie, is there any way to describe what the past year has been like for you?

MD: It feels like it’s been one long continuous day (laughs). It’s been exactly one year since I started posting videos. For me to look back and think of all the different places I’ve seen and the people I’ve met, it’s just incredible. I can’t believe this has all happened within a year.

BT: You’ve been able to gain exposure from modern outlets such as YouTube and iTunes. This is obviously an exciting time for artists given the technology that is available.

MD: I do feel like I’m part of this new genre of artists that are using the tools that we can find to get our music out there. Obviously, the biggest, fastest and cheapest one is the Internet. There’s no substitute for actually getting out on the road and playing for people live, but it’s a great supplement to that.

BT: Being a native of Los Angeles, did you see any benefit to growing up in a music industry town?

MD: I can honestly say that even though it was all around me, I never paid attention to it until I decided that’s what I wanted to do. But when I did make that decision, I think it was beneficial that I was living in a big city. I was an intern at a record label for about six months and I learned a lot from that experience.

BT: How did the material on your new album, Unfold, evolve? Had these songs existed for a while or did they come to you in a short creative burst?

MD: The saying that you have your whole life to write your first record is true. The songs span as far back as when I was 16 or 17 years old and I’m 25 now. Luckily, they still feel relevant.

BT: Given that some of the songs date back nine years, how do they stay fresh to you today?

MD: If the song is written honestly, it’s not hard to go back to that place when performing it even if you don’t feel the same way anymore. I only chose the songs that I thought were real honest to put on the record, so I don’t find it difficult to get into them when I’m performing live.

BT: Your songs have appeared in television series including Smallville and The Hills and they’ve been heard in a number of made-for-TV movies. If you will, talk about these placements and their effect on your career.

MD: It’s true. Radio is very tough to break - they seem to be playing the same thing over and over. That’s why film and TV are becoming so important in gaining exposure for artists. It’s done wonders for me.

Marie Digby will perform at Workplay on Wednesday, June 11. Justin Nozuka and Eric Hutchinson will open the 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at www.workplay.com or by calling 380-4082.

Popularity: 16% [?]

If you say something’s been missing recently from Birmingham’s music scene, then you would be 100 percent correct. Last year, Birmingham musician Rick Carter, of the bands Telluride, Rollin’ in the Hay and Frankie Velvet and the Mighty Veltones, put his Monday Night Guitar Pull on hiatus after 11 years of hosting the open mic jam sessions for crooners, bluesers, rockers, balladeers, pickers, strummers, singer-songwriters and the like at Oasis in Lakeview.

But Rick now says he’s ready to get back to the every-Monday-night grind - this time around at WorkPlay. Rick Carter’s Guitar Pull returns Monday, June 2 with special appearances from Guitar Pull and American Idol alumni Bo Bice and Taylor Hicks. Join Rick and the local boys done good for an evening of impromptu performances by some of the Magic City’s undiscovered musical talent. Things get started at 8 p.m. and there’s no cover, but keep in mind that the WorkPlay bar is for ages 21 and older. For more information, call 879-4773 or visit www.workplay.com.

Check out the video below from Rick Carter’s Guitar Pull at Oasis in 2006:

Popularity: 12% [?]

moe. has been described as a “legendary jam band” and “the preeminent progressive rock band on the music scene today.” On the heels of touring behind its 2006 release The Conch, the band retreated to rural Massachusetts for the writing and recording of its next studio release. The result is Sticks And Stones, released in January on Fatboy Records. Convening in a space once occupied by a church, the band wrote eight of the album’s 10 tracks during the recording session. A diverse effort, Sticks And Stones feels both familiar and fresh at the same time.

Known for superior musicianship and a devoted fan base, moe. - Al Schnier, Vinnie Amico, Rob Derhak, Chuck Garvey and Jim Loughlin hosts the festivals Summer Camp, Snoe.down and moe.down. In addition, the band has appeared at Lollapaloooza, Langerado and the Ottawa BluesFest.

moe. will perform at Workplay on Friday, April 11. Show time is 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.workplay.com or by calling 380-4082.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Things are moving so fast for Tea Leaf Green that its collective members should have windburn. Following the release of the 2005 CD Taught To Be Proud, the band took “Song Of The Year” honors for the album’s title track at the 2006 Jammy Awards. Shortly following the success of Taught To Be Proud, director Justin Kreutzmann - son of The Grateful Dead’s Bill Kreutzmann - captured the band on film for the documentary Rock’n'Roll Band. In addition to being released as an audio CD, Rock’n'Roll Band couples live footage with a behind-the-scenes look into the life of an emerging rock band.

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Popularity: 29% [?]

When I hear singer/songwriter Cary Brothers describe the aura that surrounds the Hotel Cafe Tour, I keep thinking of the 2003 documentary film The Festival Express. The film captured a group of like-minded artists and friends - namely The Grateful Dead, The Band and Janis Joplin - as they traveled by train across Canada in 1970. The Hotel Cafe Tour parallels The Festival Express by featuring a collection of artists that are touring as much for the camaraderie as the music.

“The energy is fantastic,” Brothers says, speaking by phone from El Paso, Texas. “There’s something really special about this tour in particular. It’s just a bunch of friends on a bus together - you really can’t go wrong.”

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Popularity: 47% [?]

Greyboy Allstars perform at Workplay

The jamband scene is best known for improvisational music, taper-friendly live performances and fiercely loyal fans. But equally prevalent are multiple musical projects that connect many of the scene’s high-profile artists. The Greyboy Allstars - a quintet formed on the West Coast nearly 15 years ago - exemplifies this collaborative spirit. Led by keyboardist Robert Walter (Robert Walter’s 20th Congress, Frequinox) and saxophonist/vocalist Karl Denson (Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe), the band’s groove-driven sound is self-described as “70s soundtrack music.”Walter feels that participating in multiple projects is a key to creative and artistic growth.

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Popularity: 33% [?]