Sat. June 22

The Grateful Dead and the Boston Pops? The ghost of Jerry Garcia (in the person of Warren Haynes, in photo) and Keith Lockhart? Yeah, we expected that. (Actually, I'm only half-joking: I didn't ever expect to see the Pops play with Amanda Palmer either.) But the music of Garcia and the Dead, the ultimate jam band, with an orchestra - the ultimate, uh, control band - as played by Dead/Govt Mule guitarist Haynes and the Pops, celebrating what would have been Garcia's 71st birthday. Well, here it is. It's an eight-concert tour, which stops at Tanglewood Saturday June 22. These things can go horribly or wonderfully. I'm thinking back to Metallica's "S & M" live album (symphony and Metallica) which I absolutely loved and a whole lotta Metallica fans hated. I'm thinking here of the country-blues-psychedelic base of most Dead songs, the lumbering, some would say lethargic, pace and down-low vibe. How will that work with an orchestra? Will there actually be any improv allowed? A space drums section? How will stoners be treated? Recovering stoners? (That's a big part of today's Dead community, too.) Traditional Pops fans? Will straggling hippies invade Tanglewood on Friday night looking for a miracle? How does everyone play "Sugar Magnolia," "Touch of Grey," "Bertha," "Fire on the Mountain" and "Ripple"? Lots of questions dangling here. Ticket info TBA.

www.bso.org http://www.warrenhaynes.net/showsthday

Sun. June 23

     The Channel was a rock club nearby The Children's Museum in South Boston and it was one of the best and most diverse places to catch rock 'n' roll in the '80s. I spent, well, several hundred nights there when I was a rock critic for the Globe, seeing everyone from the Jam to James Brown, from the Cramps to P-Funk, from the Ramones to Jerry Lee Lewis . It was a national spot, and a worthy competitor to a Boston concert scene dominated by Don Law and his venues. (To come: An excerpt from this piece I wrote about its history and closing New Year's Eve, 1991 for the Globe.) But here's the "new" news. Robin Moran, a former bartender there, has helmed a Channel reunion of sorts taking place at Royale Sunday June 23. How do you stage a concert honoring a club that had such a wide range of talent? Well, you're certainly not going to bring back the national stars - those that are still alive and kicking - but what you can do is bring in Boston-based acts that made the Channel a second home. Jon Butcher (in photo) will open the show. And you'll then get Robin Lane & The Chartbusters, Farrenheit, Lizzie Borden & The Axes, New England, Woody Giessmann, the Stompers and the Fools.
    I asked Moran how this came about and her thoughts on what was to come. Here's her take: "The Channel Reunion Concert began with a phone call to one of my old co-workers Debi Longo. We were reminiscing about our days of working at The Channel. We both said we wished we could go back for just one more night. I had worked in many clubs through the 80's and The Channel was by far my favorite. Although I only worked there the last year and a half that the legendary club was open, the staff was like family. We watched out for each other, partied together and always had each others backs. Where else could you go to work and look up to see your favorite band playing? Local and national, make money and work with the BEST staff. After thinking about this for about a half second, I said, 'Well, why can't we?'' I had produced many small events for venues I had worked for and always wanted to do something bigger on my own. A sort of bucket list and this was at the top.

 ongoing 

   As Apple launched its iPad 2 in San Francisco, Blue Man Group unveiled its GiPad in Boston. Let’s hope Steve Jobs is not in litigation mode, or at least has developed a sense of humor.
    We were at press preview of the new show in early March. At the start, three GiPads – eight-by-five-foot electronic screens that resemble iPads – descended from the rafters at the Charles Playhouse, The three black-clad men in cobalt blue body-paint and skullcaps looked at them with curiosity.  
    Blue Man Group – which has been up at the Charles since 1995 - presented a 45-minute press performance, showcasing new or retooled material in their 105-minute show.
    The gigantic faux iPads made perfect sense. Blue Man Group has always done a lot with technology and communication. We live in an age of information overload and are awash in smart phones, tablets and apps. And so now are the Men.
   After the GiPads were lowered, the quizzical Blue Men touched the screens. A GiPad announced it would “do for reading what texting has done for driving.” It was time for “Synopsize Me!” (or “Twit Lit”) with Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Twain and Melville  rendered in Twitter-ese.
    “Moby-Dick” in `140 characters: “Where is that damn whale? Here whaley whaley! There he is! I think I've got him! Actually, no I don't That's off: He's coming towards the ship! I've got a bad feeling about”
     There was also on-screen give and take about texting and face-to-face communication. “Don’t you ever want to have a real conversation?” read one screen. “What do you mean by ‘real’?” read another. And, of course, there was yet another of modern life’s major online distractions, the cute cat video.

My niece, Deborah Yarchun, me, Amos Lee, my wife Roza. At Lowell Summer Music Series, Boarding House Park, July 9

My wife Roza, me, Chef/host Daniel Bruce at the Boston Harbor Hotel's Wine Festival 2010

Thurs. Sept. 19 

      If you were a rock fan and the mid-'70s and had a radio (AM, FM) you heard Fleetwood Mac, the soft-rocking, pop-ized and California-ized Mac with incoming co-leaders Lindsey Buckinghams and Stevie Nicks. Some of Mac's old fans cried heresy, but the band hit commercial heights previously unimagined. "Fleetwood Mac," released in 1975 sold mega-millions as did the followup two years later, "Rumours." Then, came ... nothing until, under immense pressure from the powers that be, they emerged with the double-LP, "Tusk" in 1979, and album that drew a big "Wha?" from Mac's new fan base. Truth be told here: The constant Mac hits of the mid-'70s both annoyed me and enticed me, but I loved the boldness of "Tusk," especially the title track with the marching band. But just the experimental nature of it, the idea that, Buckinghams (mostly), said, we're not going to repeat, we're going to change. And we've listened to what's going on in the punk/new wave world.
      What does this mean today?
      It means, "in appreciation and celebration of musician Lindsey Buckingham's mad genius and one of modern music’s most 'punk rock-soft rock' albums, Fleetwood Mac’s 'Tusk,' The Lindsey Buckingham Appreciation Society will perform its interpretation of the classic 1979 double album in its entirety Thursday Sept. 19 at Johnny D's."

Named after the region where Chef/Owner Anthony Caturano’s grandmother was born, Prezza brings traditional Italian tastes into the 21st century. Having recently marked their 10th year in business, Prezza continues not only to survive in the competitive Boston market, but to thrive. In fact, their last year was their best and Caturano continues to come up with new ideas and new tastes that will surely sustain him and his devoted fans far into the future.

Jim Sullivan Ink; How did you get into cooking?
Anthony Caturano: I think I got into cooking the way most chefs do- I could barely pass my SATs and couldn’t see myself working in an office, so I got a job in a kitchen and my passion grew from there. Luckily, though, I grew up in a family that revolved its life around food so I was lucky to have a lot of good exposure to great food at a young age. It just seemed like a natural progression.

JSI: Where was your first professional kitchen experience?
AC: My father was doing some work for Todd English when I was in college. He called in a huge favor from Todd. I had no idea what I was doing; I started out as a prep cook and got demoted from there. Finally, Todd was like, “Go to cooking school and don’t ever call me again!” I didn’t listen though and about two years later, I went back to work for him after I graduated.

JSI: What is your favorite dish to prepare?
AC: I don’t really have one favorite dish to prepare but I love cooking over wood- especially lamb.

   In Southie, traditions die hard (and some former residents apparently die even harder). And yet, change can be a good thing! Such is the case with Local 149, a new eatery in what was once the City Point home of the famed Farragut House.
    Co-owned by Jason Owens (Newton’s Biltmore Bar & Grill), Local 149 combines an old-school watering hole vibe with contemporary flavors and flair. From its wood-burning fireplace and fire extinguisher fixtures, it is a great place to heat up the night or to douse a thirst. Having worked at Stoddard’s and other popular Hub haunts, Cape Cod native Chef Leah Dubois has a fine local pedigree that extends far beyond Boston’s city limits. Combining her passion for healthy options (including raw foods) with Owens’ southern roots, Dubois offers an eclectic tavern menu that features local seafood, cheeses and meats and other by-the-neighborhood-for-the-neighborhood favorites. With a Night Owl menu, 22 taps and a slew of creative cocktails, Local 149 can easily become your “local” no matter how far away you live.

JSI: How did you get into cooking?
Leah Dubois: I am a natural leader, an artist and need to be able to express myself creatively. Cooking seemed just the right fit. I get off on satisfying one's most primal desire to eat.

 JSI: Where was your first professional kitchen experience?
LD: My first professional cooking experiences were working garde manger at The Roobar on Main St in Hyannis, Cape Cod.

JSI: What is your favorite dish to prepare?
LD: My favorite dish to prepare is the dish with the freshest, most seasonal and locally sourced ingredients available. I love food that has color and mixing hot with cold.

JSI: What is the best part of your job?
LD: The best part of my job is that every day has new challenges and that I have the opportunity to mentor and lead young, bright shiny faced cooks to success. Every day we have something to be proud of.

JSI: Who is your favorite chef in Boston?
LD: I really enjoy going to the Uni Sashimi Bar and splurging on Chris Gould's masterpieces.

JSI:  What do you usually make for yourself at home?
LD: At home I make fresh juice on the regular, exquisite salads and smoothies. I always keep it fresh and sexy.

JSI: If you could dine with any three people, who would they be?
LD: My mother, my lover Samantha and Madonna.

- Matt Robinson

Local 149, 149 P Street South Boston 617 269 0900 www.local149.com

Not since the days of Paul Hogan has it been so much fun to say “Put another shrimp on the Barbie” for not since then (if even then) has there been such an authentic (and Bonzer) Australian food place in the Boston area. In fact, according to owner Samuel Jackson (no “S”), KO Catering and Pies is the only place of its kind in all of New England!
     From the hand-rolled titular meat and veggie pies, chicken schnitzel burgers and the KO take on fish and chips to mushy peas and fortifying ANZAC cookies, KO knocks out trays of sustainable, locally-sourced Down Under delicacies for one or 100. For “brekky,” lunch or dinner. They even have Australian groceries like Tim Tams and the ever-famous Vegemite.
     So whether or not you have dined on devon or even know what it is, take a trip to Southie for some southern hemisphere favorites. No matter what tucker you try, you’ll be taking the “Ken Oath” and joining the “gum tree” soon.

Jim Sullivan Ink:: How did you get into cooking?
Samuel Jackson: I realised once I had finished high school I was done with studying and was keen to work in an environment where I could still surf during the days and find a trade that would allow me to travel. My best mates brother offered me a job washing dishes for the busy holiday season. Once the holiday season was over he then offered me an apprenticeship and that was that.

JSI: Where was your first professional kitchen experience?
SJ: It was in the Italian restaurant where I started off washing dishes. It was right in the CBD (central business district) of Sydney. It was hard, fast and the chef took no s--t from anyone. The food was great and everyone worked their arses off. At that stage I was still only 17, so I couldn't afford to live on my own so I was commuting by train from my parents place which was 60 miles away, getting on a train at 5.15am and a lot of the time not getting home until 8-9pm. I'm forever thankful for that first experience as it moulded me into a hard worker with great appreciation for food.

JSI: What is your favorite dish to prepare?
SJ: If I can get the ingredients (and fortunately in Boston I can) it is a seafood Laksa. It is a Malaysian/Singaporean soup/stew/noodle dish all in one. The ingredient list for the base paste is as long as your arm and you need to find super fresh Asian herbs to garnish it. You can't beat the colours, aromas and texture of the dish.

JSI: What is the best part of your job?
SJ: Having people really enjoy eating something that I really enjoy making. People have a lot of options out there and for them to come and eat your food it means a lot. Having the freedom to do something creative and tasty and then actually have people come from all over the place to enjoy it is really as good as it gets.

JSI: Who is your favorite chef in Boston?
SJ: That is such a tough question with the talent that Boston has to offer. If I had to choose just one, it would be Tim Cushman of O Ya. From the first time I went in there to today, he has stuck to his guns with amazing food with such attention to detail all whilst making you feel very comfortable exploring such unique flavours. It took a lot of balls to open that place and I respect that a lot.

JSI: What do you usually make for yourself at home?
SJ: Fried rice. I always seem to have leftover jasmine rice sitting about and the fridge never contains much more than ginger, garlic, chili and loads of Asian pastes and sauces. A lady from Singapore once showed me the easiest, best way to knock up a fried rice once and I use that as the foundation every time. Basically you heat a decent amount of oil, a shitload of finely diced ginger and garlic then add whatever other veg/protein you have lying about, chuck in your rice, add your sauce/paste, mix for a minute or two and serve. It's super quick, always tasty and very comforting. I'll eat that three to four times some weeks.

JSI: If you could dine with any three people, who would they be?
SJ: As long as it's assumed they all will eat anything and don't have any weird table habits I'd say Lou Reed, Bill Bryson and Diego Maradona.

KO Catering and Pies, 87 A Street, South Boston, 617-269-4500 www.kocateringandpies.com

It's Patti Smith's 66th birthday. (Well, it was when I posted this. Dec. 30, 2012.) A story by me from 1988 as she was re-emerging. I was in Detroit, where she and her late husband Fred "Sonic" Smith lived then.

"I'm still shaky from this," says Patti Smith, who's been driven by her husband, Fred Smith, through a hellish rainstorm and rush-hour traffic to make this late afternoon interview at a hotel. The traffic and the rain, Smith can bear. What's shaken her was driving past the aftermath of what looked to be an extremely recent, extremely violent, car crash in this Motor City. The more twisted the wreckage, the more fragile life looks. And, make no mistake, Patti Smith -- wife, mother, poet, painter, writer, singer, artist -- values life.

"I stand guilty of being positive and hopeful," she says, smiling. "I've always been optimistic. I mean, I've had my dark periods and certainly now I'm more worried about the condition of the planet than I've ever been, but I've always loved life and I've always been inspired by other people. I just saw 'Empire of the Sun.' To see somebody do such a beautiful piece of work makes me optimistic. A new William Burroughs book, a new Jean-Luc Godard movie, a new Robert Mapplethorpe photograph. There's a million things that make me optimistic."

Smith, dressed in a black jacket, off-white blouse and faded black jeans, tries to compose herself, as she settles in to talk. Coffee helps. It's her only vice, she says, and she had to give it up during her two pregnancies. Now, she says, "I'm making up for lost time."

Smith -- in the vanguard of New York's mid-'70s punk-rock/ new-wave explosion, the co-author, with Bruce Springsteen, of the 1978 pop hit "Because the Night" -- waved goodbye to the rock 'n' roll world in 1979. She married Fred "Sonic" Smith, former guitarist of the MC5, a revolutionary rock band of the late '60s-early '70s. She moved to Smith's home turf, Detroit, and had two children, a boy, Jackson, now 5, and a girl Jesse Paris, now 2. Those details leaked out during the '80s. But Patti Smith -- rock 'n' roller -- was MIA. She resurfaced only this year with her fifth album, "Dream of Life," and its first single, the power-of-positive-dreaming song, "People Have the Power."

 I met Roy Orbison at the Club Casino in NH, covering him (seeing him for the first time live) and talking with him extensively backstage in the '80s. He was the warmest, most generous man and the music, it soared. Nothing sounded dated at all, it was timeless. I wrote this after Orbison died in December 1988. I had interviewed him just prior to his Boston shows. Former WFNX dj Julie Kramer took this photo backstage at the Channel.

Here's what I wrote when he died ...

And, now, it's over. Roy Orbison's life ended Dec. 6 of a heart attack, at his mother's home in Hendersonville, Tenn., just when he was poised to reenter the upper atmosphere of a star-studded, star-crossed pop world.

Orbison -- the stocky, solitary guy in trademark dark shades and uniformly black garb -- was the world's most popular male singer from 1960 to 1964. Success came to him after he'd made a minor hit for Sam Phillips' famous Sun Records, the stable of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. Orbison's star faded when the Beatles and other British bands invaded the United States during the mid-'60s. His songs missed the top of the charts, yet he survived -- and prospered -- on the concert circuit.

In showcasing his multi-octave range last weekend in Boston at the Channel, during his next-to-last concert, Orbison again proved himself the premier pop balladeer, a man for whom heartbreak and loneliness were always a breath away, no matter how "dated" the songs. The man still felt it.

Dec. 8

  (I wrote this story initially for the now-defunct halloffame.com,) The John F. Kennedy assassination, the John Lennon assassination. Funny, you never forget where you were when you heard about the two Johns.

      I heard about JFK from my second grade teacher in class. We were sent home in November 1963. But in December, 1980, I was writing rock criticism for the Boston Globe and had just left an Iggy Pop concert at the Paradise Theater. It was Iggy on the comeback trail – wild, raw, ferocious. I went with a few friends to their nearby apartment, to wind down and listen to some late-night music on the radio. Then, the news came crackling through, life changed, and that Iggy review was never written.

     Shot! Lennon!? Why?!

     I called my colleague at the Globe, Steve Morse. Through shock and tears, we discussed what we knew we had to do: Put the sorrow and anger aside, dig deep into the memory bank of Beatles and Lennon’s solo music, go in to the paper and cobble together a Page 1 appreciation for the next day’s paper, and get it done in about an hour. We divvied up his career, somehow made some sense and staggered to our homes early in the morning.

      I had dinner with Steve recently and it came up. “I still remember the incredible emotions of that night,” he said. “In many ways, we lost our youth and I can still feel the tears, but a job had to be done, and, ultimately, it was an honor to write a joint appreciation of the man.”

     That was pretty much how I felt, too. Steve and I had both had seen the new documentary “The US vs. John Lennon,” and that period – when Beatlemania had vanished and Lennon had begun his ascent into anti-war activism as a songwriter and as a person – was made vivid again. And the government’s attempts to yank his visa and deport him – with the furtive work of the FBI and the INS – made you ashamed all over again. Lennon was clearly targeted because of his anti-war, anti-Nixon sentiments, and, moreover, his power to stir the people. I wonder what people who weren’t around then will make of this.

      Lennon had always been quick with a quip. In the film, longtime Lennon friend Elliot Mintz opined that “when he met Yoko, he found the rest of his voice.’’

When John and Yoko got married in 1969 at the Rock of Gibraltar and then staged their Amsterdam “bed-in” honeymoon, I thought it was a crazy stunt. Watching this again through the tunnel of time in the movie, I thought perhaps Lennon was just being canny, figuring that since the media was going to surround them anyway, why not try to impart a message of peace?