B-sides: Gift-wrapped tours

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The nearly 20-minute-long tale of war and redemption got its Thanksgiving roots thanks to Guthrie’s annual Thanksgiving weekend concert at Carnegie Hall.
Guthrie, the son of singer-songwriter Woody, who boasted Scotch-Irish roots and rose to fame singing about his heartland upbringing, inherited his father’s social conscience.
The song, which Guthrie recorded in 1967, starts off innocently enough about a trip to the local dump gone awry when doing a favor for local restaurateur Alice, which later comes back to haunt him when he goes to register for selective service. As it turns out, Guthrie would have been a better fit in the military as a gung-ho warmonger than as a convicted litterbug.
Never one to disappoint, Guthrie will make the following appearances:
Nov. 25, Newark, NJ, N.J. Performing Arts Center
Nov. 26, New York, N.Y., Carnegie Hall
Dec. 3, Ann Arbor, MI, The Ark
Dec. 5, Chicago, IL, The Vic Theater

Dinosaur Jr.
In something out of an early-90s dream come true, recently reunited Dinosaur Jr. is making its older, wise path across the U.S. with the original lineup, featuring Irish America’s own Emmett “Patrick” Murphy on drums.
The tour, which has been recently expanded, is just the beginning (or so hope fans). While no firm talk of new recording has gone on, the band has announced their first official DVD release.
The DVD will be filmed over two days at local shows Dec. 2 and 3 at Irving Plaza. Aside from live cuts, fans are promised “interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.”
The lineup currently touring is rounded out by J. Mascis and Lou Barlow, both well-known in their own right — though this isn’t the lineup that had the band’s best-known hit, “Feel The Pain.” Murphy, Mascis and Barlow haven’t played together since 1989, but early reports from the road point to the right chemistry. Dinosaur Jr.’s next few weeks look like this:
Nov. 28, Ann Arbor, MI, Blind Pig
Nov. 29, Chicago, IL, Metro
Nov. 30, Chicago, IL, Metro
Dec. 2, New York, NY, Irving Plaza
Dec. 3, New York, NY, Irving Plaza
Dec. 4, Cambridge, MA, Middle East Club

Sinead O’Connor
Perhaps the public was too smart to blink an eye when Sinead O’Connor came out from retirement to record an album of reggae covers. While she has hinted at roots music in some of her latest offerings, it still does not warrant many questions. This, after all, from a woman who declared herself a bisexual Catholic-Tridentine priest.
“Throw Down Your Arms” has managed to get decent reviews in the U.S., and her musicians deserve much of the credit. Produced and credited to the well-regarded Sly and Robbie, and made with their venerable stable of backing musicians, O’Connor is testing the waters with a national tour. UK shows have seen her in good form, if not slightly, er, dazed. Catch her if you can:
Nov. 29, Chicago, IL, Riviera Theatre
Dec. 2, Cleveland, OH, House Of Blues
Dec. 5, Boston, MA, Avalon
Dec. 6, Washington, D.C., 9:30 Club
Dec. 9, New York, N.Y., Webster Hall
Dec. 10, Philadelphia, PA, Electric Factory

Donovan
“Iconic” and “troubadour” are surely overused in the musical lexicon, though one person befitting both titles would be Donovan.
Celebrating 40 years since he first hit it big with “Catch the Wind,” a song that is currently enjoying a very-2005 renaissance in a Volvo commercial, Donovan Leitch is setting out on the “Hurdy Gurdy tour 2005,” celebrating the anniversary.
The Scottish-born Leitch, who was always quick to embrace his Celtic roots, currently resides in Ireland with wife Linda,
Leitch embarks on his tour in addition to the recent release of a career-spanning box set and a soon-to-be released autobiography. Having been present at some of rock’s most momentous moments (The Beatles in India, Isle of Wright Festival), it should make for an interesting read. Donovan will be appearing at the following venues:
Nov. 23, San Francisco, CA, Palace Of Fine Arts
Nov. 29, Los Angeles, CA, Wilshire Ebell Theatre
Dec. 2, Glenside, PA, Keswick Theatre
Dec. 3, Annapolis, MD, Maryland Hall
Dec. 4, Somerville, MA, Somerville Theatre
Dec. 7 and 9, New York, N.Y., Society for Ethical Culture
Dec. 10, Atlantic City, NJ, Borgata Music Box
Dec. 13, Chicago, IL, Park West