Rock News: Music's high and low notes

HOMELAND SECURITY BEGINS AT HOME

Thousands of New York City firefighters will gather for a "Concert to Save Firehouses" Monday, just three days before Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. George Pataki push through their plan to cut back on the front line of Homeland Security forces by shutting down eight city firehouses in Harlem, Brooklyn and Queens.

Planners expect 10,000 people to attend. The concert and rally will star Grammy Award winner Sammy Hagar and his Waboritas and will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Battery Park in downtown Manhattan. Bloomberg has threatened to close eight New York City firehouses by May 23 to save $11 million dollars out of the $44 billion city budget. The free concert and rally is part of the continuing effort by the Uniformed Firefighters Association to educate New Yorkers about the public safety danger if the cuts are not stopped. Sammy Hagar is the former lead singer of Van Halen. For more information on Hagar visit redrocker.com.

COLDPLAY KICKS OFF SOLD OUT TOUR

Coldplay will kick off the second leg of its 2003 North American tour Tuesday in Edmonton, Alberta. The sold-out run of major arenas and amphitheaters will include two headline shows each at the Hollywood Bowl, May 31 and June 2, and Red Rocks Amphitheatre on June 5-6. The tour will end June 13 with a performance at Madison Square Garden. On this 17-date tour, Coldplay will play in front of more than 200,000 fans. On Saturday, May 31, at 6 p.m. ET, radio listeners across America will be treated to a special Westwood One broadcast of "Coldplay: Live From the Hollywood Bowl." The two-hour special will air on more than 150 stations nationwide, including WXRK-FM in New York and KROQ in Los Angeles. Check local listings for station information.

Coldplay's "A Rush of Blood to the Head" has sold more than 1.5 million units in America and won a pair of Grammys, for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal. Coldplay's debut album, "Parachutes," also won the former award last year, making Coldplay the only band to have won the Best Alternative Music Album award in two consecutive years.

THE GREAT BAMBOOZLE

This summer's festival-jammed schedule adds another interesting twist with The Big Bamboozle, featuring The Roots, Medeski Martin and Wood, Keller Williams, Dark Star Orchestra and the David Grisman Quintet in a three-day bash that will kick off the New Jersey shore summer season May 30-June 1. The festival will take place on the grounds of New Jersey's most famous music venue, the Stone Pony, known as headquarters for Bruce Springsteen, who often plays impromptu jams at the club. Other national acts on the bill include Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, DJ Logic, Topaz, Antigone Rising, Seth Yacovone Band, Mike Farris of the Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies and, leading a Drum Circle, Jim Donovan of Rusted Root. Balancing out the national list is a considerable local talent roster: Juggling Suns, J. Pat, Unexplained Bacon, New Blood Revival, Borialis, Bamm Hollow, Sunny Daze, Under New Ownership, Mike Brody, the Remedy, Secret Sound, Bugg, Moroccan Sheep Herders, Jaski and One-Eyed Jack.

"The jambands brought out our first loyal fan base after I purchased the club and we reopened at the beginning of the 2000 summer season," says Stone Pony owner Domenic Santana. "That first year was really tough, but their fans were fearless in trekking where no man would go, and they helped establish a regular scene here. And when we needed support during our Save the Pony campaign, those were the fans who came out and marched for us. It's no coincidence that we named our street team the Hippie Army. They have been fiercely loyal."

QUETZAL CELEBRATES 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Quetzal, the groundbreaking band stemming from the barrios of Los Angeles, has a new album, "Worksongs," set for worldwide release on Vanguard Records July 8. The release also marks the band's 10-year anniversary of creating real heartfelt Latin folk and roots-rock music. "Worksongs," an 11-track collection of powerful songs collaborated on by the six band members, follows their critically acclaimed album "Sing The Real." Quetzal takes a grassroots approach to fusing the folk styles of Mexico and Cuba in son and bolero along with elements of rock and blues. The album was produced by longtime Los Lobos saxophonist Steve Berlin, whose playing and production credits include Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, Sheryl Crow, Faith No More and Paul Simon.

"It's profound, there's not enough articulation about what's going on in East L.A.," Berlin said. "'Worksongs' is not just a record; they are the voice of the culture. We've (Los Lobos) carried the torch long enough, and I think Quetzal is the next to step up and speak for the community."

LES PAUL PLANS 88TH BIRTHDAY BASH

On Monday, June 9, at 8 p.m., guitar legend Les Paul will celebrate his 88th birthday at his long-time New York City home, The Iridium. To help him celebrate special friends, Al DiMeola, Russell Malone, Pat Martino, Bucky Pizzarelli, Jon Paris and many more surprise guests, will be in the house. Paul is a living legend and an icon of the music world. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, received multiple Grammy Awards, pioneered the modern electric guitar and invented numerous recording techniques. He has influenced countless musicians and guitarists. Paul's regular Monday night appearances at The Iridium Jazz Club since April 1995 attract devoted fans from all over the world. Musicians such as Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Tony Bennett, Steve Miller, George Benson, Pat Metheny, Jeff Beck, Slash and countless others come to pay homage, making this the music industry's most important regular music gig in New York.