JEM Freelance Writing - Joe Milliken

06/04/2026

Local Press: Published in the Bellows Falls Shopper News

The Westminster Fit Body Boot Camp recently hosted its fourth annual Murph Challenge event, to honor the late Navy Lt. Michael “Murph” Murphy.

06/03/2026

Local Press: Published in the Vermont Journal/The Message

Domino’s Pizza, the largest pizza company in the world, recently opened a new shop at 9 Red Barn Lane in Walpole.

05/30/2026

Local Press: Published in the Bellows Falls Shopper News

Three generations of the Cota family have dedicated their lives to not only serving, but understanding their communities...

05/27/2026

Hey-Hey, pretty cool! Mr. Alvin posted about my Bellows Falls Shopper review article (and photo) about his recent show at the BF Opera House.

Of the East Coast dates, Vermont Journal summed up their performance stating Dave and Jimmie “create a stunning chemistry onstage that grooved seamlessly between Alvin’s California electric blues and Gilmore’s mellow acoustic-rhythm vibe.”

Get tickets for the JULY TOUR DATES!

⭐️Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore - Almost Acoustic Duo
* with Special Guest Lenny Kaye

July 10 & 11 – Santa Monica, CA –McCabe's Guitar Shop (Sold Out)
July 12 - Santa Barbara, CA – Lobero Theatre *
July 14 – Morro Bay – The Siren *
July 15 – Santa Cruz, CA – Moe's Alley, Santa Cruz *
July 17 – Sacramento, CA – Harlow's *
July 18 – Berkeley, CA – The Freight *
July 19 – Nicasio, CA - Rancho Nicasio Restaurant & Bar

Info and tickets: www.davealvin.net/tour

05/24/2026

COMING SOON: Hello Friends! With the recent launching of a website for my upcoming book “Livin’ on the Edge! The Life and Times of Joe Perry,” we will also soon be unveiling not only a new JEM Freelance logo design, but also for the first time, a JEM “article archive” featuring my past music writing (and select business and sports writing) published over the past 25 years, including feature articles, profiles, interviews, concert/CD/DVD reviews, photos, and more.

Additionally, for all my Ben Orr/Cars followers, I will also be making some BIG changes and improvements on the “Let’s Go! Benjamin Orr and The Cars” book website as well, so stay tuned for more details and announcements coming soon. Please visit my various websites and social media platforms for more details on all these upcoming projects, and please remember you can now pre-order my upcoming Joe Perry book at the Bloomsbury Publishing website. As always, thank you all for your continued interest and support. *Original logo design by Dan "Quigs" Quigley, 1988
www.bloomsbury.com.
www.joeperrybook.com.
www.benorrbook.com
Livin' on the Edge - The Life and Times of Aerosmith's Joe Perry
Jock of Rock's Joe Perry Page
Let's Go: Benjamin Orr and The Cars
The Jock Of Rock Presents
JEM Freelance Writing - Joe Milliken
www.instagram.com/joeperrybookproject

05/21/2026

LOCAL CONCERT REVIEW: I wrote this review for a local newspaper and haven't seen the online version yet, so I wanted to post it on a few of my platforms because this show was a very pleasant surprise. A "photo album" of the show is also coming soon.

Dave Alvin, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Lenny Kaye at the Bellows Falls Opera House. Review and photos by Joe Milliken

BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – The soulful one-two punch of roots legends Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, recently brought their Almost Acoustic Duo tour to the Bellows Falls Opera House last Saturday night, while also promoting and performing songs from their previous collaborations together, "TexiCali" (2024) and "Downey to Lubbock" (2018).

While churning up their contrasting guitar blend of blues-folk Americana, the show marked the final date of their spring tour and featured special guest, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist, songwriter, author, and Patti Smith Group (PSG) bandleader, Lenny Kaye.

After sixty-plus years in music, and now 79, Kaye recently (and finally) released his "debut" solo album titled "Goin’ Local," and performed multiple songs from the solo effort including the title track and “The Things You Leave Behind,” as well as delivering the PSG classic “Ghost Dance” and the Velvet Underground’s “Run Run Run.”

Additionally, and in between songs, Kaye read short passages from his 2021 book "Lightning Striking," including memories of recording the iconic 1975 PSG album "Horses," an interesting touch to his quiet, almost delicate 40-minute set.

Alvin and Gilmore then strolled onstage to a rousing applause from the die hard fans, Dave on electric and Jimmie Dale on acoustic, facing-off and syncing-up as they eased into the single from the aforementioned "TexiCali" album titled “We’re Still Here.”

Over the next couple of hours, the Grammy Award-winning Alvin and the multi-Grammy Award-nominated Gilmore would create a stunning chemistry onstage that grooved seamlessly between Dave’s California electric blues, and Jimmie Dale’s mellow, acoustic-rhythm vibe.

The duo performed several songs from Alvin’s solo albums including the favorite “Johnny Ace is Dead,” as well as Gilmore stepping out front for “Tonight I Think I’m Gonna Go Downtown” and the love song written for his wife, “Borderland.” Other highlights included the Blasters’ cover (Alvin’s former band) “Marie Marie” and the Sam Cooke gem “Bring It On Home To Me.”

Kaye would return to the stage towards set’s end, as the new trio (you wouldn’t know it, the way they gelled before our eyes) performed three songs including a cover of the Youngblood's hit “Get Together,” and a very cool rendition of “4th of July” by the vintage L.A. alternative band X.

Walking in, this fundamental “classic rock” fan had no expectations. Walking out, a new-found respect for two grizzled, road-tested, talented veteran musicians who have obviously honed their songwriting and guitar-playing crafts into legendary status. Hats off to the Almost Acoustic Duo!

05/20/2026

NEW BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT Ladies and gentlemen, my friend, Robert “Kelly” Kelleher, legendary Aerosmith Tour Manager during the band’s “classic and crazy” era of the 1970s, has self-published his long-awaited memoir in all its backstage glory! Written with his close friend and co-author, Barbara Bellani, Kelly reveals intimate details of his roller-coaster ride on the Aerosmith crazy-train during their legendary prime. Please visit Amazon to order your copy of “I Walked This Way!”

I WALKED THIS WAY!: By One of the First Road Warriors

05/17/2026

Rockingham, Vermont
Photo by Joe Milliken (2020)

02/15/2026

Local Press: Published in the Bellows Falls Shopper News

Cheesemakers Peter Dixon and his wife Rachel Fritz Schaal have been making cheese and perfecting their craft for more than five decades...

01/14/2026

Local Press: Published in the Bellows Falls Shopper News

BFUHS juniors have taken matters into their own hands, to ensure that their classmates will experience the lifelong memories they deserves.