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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Ryan Adams Live

Ryan Adams Nashville 10/28/99 - Photo By Stephen Schenkenberg

Well the number of you that have been stopping by looking for new Ryan Adams songs has been incredible the past few weeks and with the impending release of Easy Tiger and the upcoming tour, anticipation has been reaching a fever pitch. To hold you over for the next three weeks or so here's a classic show from the Exit/In in Nashville from October 28, 1999. This show happened prior to the release of the now classic Heartbreaker and is one of Ryan's first solo outings. Plenty of still unreleased songs here, as well as a guest appearance from Gillian Welch. This show still ranks up there for me as one of Ryan's all time best performances.

Ryan Adams
October 28, 1999
Exit/In Nashville, TN

Born Yesterday
Funny How I'm Losing You
Memories Of You
Oh My Sweet Valentine
To Be The One
Hey There, Mrs. Lovely
In My Time Of Need
Onslow County
Folklore
Revelator +
Dancing With The Women At The Bar +

Encore
Helpless +
Return Of The Grievous Angel +
16 Days +

Encore 2
Nighttime Gals
Statuettes With Wounds
Avenues

+ w/Gillian Welch

Complete show as a zipfile

[from archive.org]

Ryan Adams Upcoming Tour dates so far(via pollstar)
Sun 06/03/07 Paris, FRA La Maroquinerie
Thu 06/07/07 London, UK Koko
Fri 06/08/07 Manchester, UK Manchester Academy
Mon 06/18/07 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center
Tue 06/19/07 Chicago, IL Black Orchid Showroom
Wed 06/20/07 Detroit, MI Gem Theatre
Fri 06/22/07 Toronto, ON Enwave Theatre
Sun 06/24/07 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground
Thu 06/28/07 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore Philadelphia At TLA
Fri 06/29/07 Somerville, MA Somerville Theatre
Fri 08/03/07 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Sat 09/01/07 Turin, NY Snow Ridge Ski Area

Pardon Our Appearance...

Apologies for any weirdness that appears on the page over the next few days or so. I finally broke down and converted the page to the newest version of blogger and ended up needing to rebuild a lot of the things I had customized. I'm still tweaking things here and there, so don't be surprised to see things out of place a bit.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Concerted by Jonathan Fischer

Concerted by Jonathan Fischer - www.myspace.com/concertedcomic

Bloghopping : Jeff Buckley,Smashing Pumpkins,The Police,Joy Division,Springsteen,The Clientele

Some odds and ends from around the blogosphere.

Heather at I Am Fuel,You Are Friends has a heartfelt and insightful post on the tenth anniversary of Jeff Buckley's death.

Shameless Complacency points us to brand new live Smashing Pumpkins from the Grand Rex in Paris at thepumpkins.net

Stereogum tips us off to the trailer from the new Ian Curtis/Joy Division biopic.




What Became Of The Likely Broads has the setlist of the first full show of the Police Reunion tour from Vancouver.

A Deeper Shade Of Soul has a newly unearthed copy of a Springsteen concert from 12/31/75 at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia. (Part 1, Part 2)Originally mixed from multi track master tapes intended for a live album that never saw the light of day until now.

God Save The Clientele is fast becoming one of my favorites of the year. The Smudge Of Ashen Fluff brings us The Clientele Live on KCRW from 5/24/07.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Bad Covers : WTF Was I Thinking ?

In the words of Jenny Owen Youngs, "What The F_ck was I thinking" is a line all of the artists below must be saying to themselves after recording these recent "gems". Here's a few of my picks for the worst cover versions of the year so far.

I'm sure there's many more, what are some of your picks ?
On a tribute disc chock full of clunkers, Sufjan Stevens still manages to distinguish himself from the pack with this especially lame rendering of a Joni Mitchell classic. WTF was he thinking ?
UPDATE : 05.30.07 The Asthmatic Kitty website posts a brief essay by Sufjan explaining exactly WTF he was thinking when he covered this song.
Jesse Malin's obviously a big Replacements fan, but I guess he couldn't make up his mind whether he wanted to cover Androgynous or Bastards Of Young and ended up with this mess which does both songs a disservice. WTF was he thinking ?
I don't even really know how to describe this next one. Chris Cornell takes one of the biggest dance floor hits from the "King Of Pop" and turns it into a seventies style sludge rocker. WTF was he thinking ?

Saturday, May 26, 2007

LIVE:The Broken West,The Comas,Nethers 05.25.07 @ Johnny Brendas

The Broken West has released one of the best albums of the year so far with I Can't Go On,I'll Go On. Last night at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia they played an equally impressive show along with The Comas, and Nethers opening up. The bands were hot, but my sadly photo taking abilities were a bit lacking last night, here's a few of the better ones. Philly was the third date on the current leg of The Broken West tour so get on out there and see them when they hit your town, there's plenty of chances coming up.

Upcoming The Broken West tour Dates
May 26 2007 8:00P Mercury Lounge (w/ The Comas) New York, New York
May 28 2007 9:00P Bowery Ballroom (w/ The National) New York,, New York
May 30 2007 8:00P Middle East Upstairs (w/ The Comas) Cambridge, Massachusetts
May 31 2007 8:00P Maxwell's (w/ The Comas) Hoboken, New Jersey
Jun 1 2007 8:00P Black Cat (w/ The Comas) Washington, Washington DC
Jun 2 2007 8:00P Cat's Cradle (w/ The Comas) Carrboro, North Carolina
Jun 3 2007 8:00P The Earl (w/ The Comas) Atlanta, Georgia
Jun 5 2007 8:00P Exit/In (w/ The Comas) Nashville, Tennessee
Jun 6 2007 8:00P Little Brothers (w/ The Comas) Columbus, Ohio
Jun 7 2007 8:00P Diesel (w/ Fountains of Wayne) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Jun 9 2007 8:00P House of Blues (w/ Fountains of Wayne) Cleveland, Ohio
Jun 10 2007 8:00P Lee's Palace (w/ Fountains of Wayne) Toronto, Ontario
Jun 11 2007 8:00P St. Andrew's Hall (w/ Fountains of Wayne) Detroit, Michigan
Jun 13 2007 8:00P First Avenue (w/ Fountains of Wayne) Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jun 14 2007 12:00P Waterfest (w/ Fountains of Wayne) Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Jun 15 2007 12:00P Taste of Randolph Street Festival (w/ Fountains of Wayne) Chicago, Illinois
Jun 17 2007 8:00P Emo's (w/The Stills) Austin, Texas
Jun 25 2007 8:00P Casbah (w/ The National) San Diego, California
Jun 26 2007 8:00P El Rey Theatre (w/ The National) Los Angeles, California
Jun 27 2007 8:00P Bimbos 365 (w/ The National) San Francisco, California
Jun 28 2007 8:00P Berbatis Pan (w/ The National) Portland, Oregon
Jun 29 2007 8:00P Richards on Richard (w/ The National) Vancouver, British Columbia
Jun 30 2007 8:00P Neumos (w/ The National) Seattle, Washington


The Broken West - [Website] [Myspace]
The Comas - [Website] [Myspace]
Nethers - [Website] [Myspace]

Nethers

The Comas
The Broken West

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Don't You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Neko


Photo By Victoria Renard

Well now she can be. Check out this ebay auction and you can own the very bustier Neko Case is wearing in this picture.

From the ebay listing :
THE ITEM: This item is a 50's era black lace full length girdle-style bustier with 6 garter attachments made by Lady Marlene. The tag says the cup size is 36 C but I am a 38 D and it fits great. The materials are elastic, nylon and rubber and the back is made out of a sort of satin-like material. It has flexible metal boning throughout to keep the goods propped up and the bads tucked away and in place. THE STORY: It was originally owned by me but I lent it to Neko Case for the pictured photo. At the time, Neko wore a size 12 and begged me to give it to her so she could "squish away her flab". She bugged me relentlessly for a year until I finally caved in and gave it to her. We dubbed this little number "The Secret Weapon" because it made you look hot in or out of your clothing and mysteriously attracted members of the opposite sex for either of us when worn. Then, she went on a diet and fitness program and got down to a size 7. Two years after I gave it to her, she gave The Secret Weapon back to me. Why am I selling such a nostalgic piece of my past, you may ask? Because I couldn't stand the competition and went on my own weight loss regime. Now, The Secret Weapon is too big for me too. Not to mention, I'm presently in a long term relationship and it would be far, far too dangerous for me to wear The Secret Weapon out of the house. In the heyday, however, my measurements were 38-31-40 meandering somewhere between a size 10 and size 12. Though it is in very good condition, The Secret Weapon has experienced (among many things) some gentle stretching along the sides of the waist and hip area. It has some very slight fraying around each side of the bra cups and is missing two eyes from it's six hook and eye set that fastens down the front. It also zips up in front so I have never felt the need to replace the missing eyes. All six garters are in tact and in good condition. No holes or stains. Overall, it's in great shape for it's age and considering what it's been through (many, many adventures indeed). I hope I look as good at 50+! The winning bidder will receive an original 8x10 color print of the photo (pictured here) of Neko wearing The Secret Weapon. Though magazines such as Rolling Stone, Esquire, and GQ have requested permission to print the photo it has only been published in a year 2000 girlie calendar put out as a promo piece for the record label Sympathy For The Record Industry which can be viewed here, http://sympathyrecords.com/calendar/2000/index.shtml. Neko is Miss February. She's wearing The Secret Weapon again in a photo shoot published on the web only for Kutie Magazine and in a never released super 8 stag loop reel shot in a rest stop bathroom at 3 AM in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. Those two scandously sextacular secrets are presently more closely guarded than Fort Knox by me and no bribe is big enough for anyone to see them and the full naughtiness involved. The pictured Miss February print is also available for sale separately through my website, http://victoriarenard.com/. More photos of this rare and seductive item also available upon request to serious bidders. THE CHARITY: Partial proceeds from this sale will go to Great Expectations Greyhound Rescue in honor of Neko's beloved greyhound, whom she rescued. Thanks for viewing my auction. Happy bidding!

Here's some Neko to listen to while you enter your bid.

MP3 : Neko Case - Rated X
Buy The Tigers Have Spoken


UPDATE : This baby went for a sassy $300

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Grab Bag : New and Recent Releases

Miranda Lambert is back with a second album, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and sets loose her inner Dixie Chick for an excellent disc that rocks as hard as it twangs. Proving she's not some one album flash in the pan, Miranda wrote the bulk of the tunes on this new disc. Check out the blistering title track.

MP3: Miranda Lambert - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Buy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Nick Lowe may or may not have an inner Dixie Chick, but he surely knows how to weave the country into his soulful pop gems.
He brings it full circle with At My Age, a new disc that's closer to his Brinsley Schwartz roots than to his Jesus of Cool Pure Pop For Now People years.

MP3: Nick Lowe - A Man In Love
Buy At My Age
Photo By Ken Hinchey

Rap accompanied by lap steel guitar, in the words of the band :
Many have seen us, but they don't know what our name is
They can't remember,what I often hear'em say is
The white guy, in the white suit, with the black tie, on the slide, with the black guy, is fly
Hey Yo, We're Slo Mo...The Odd Couple Of the Year
We love to play for people, mingle, and have a couple beers
- Slo-Mo "Odd Couple"

MP3: Slo-Mo - Aramingo Takeout
Buy Smokey Mountain

Put Philip Glass, The Chemical Brothers and Ween in a room, tell them all to start playing at the same time, and you'll have an idea of what Baltimore's Dan Deacon sounds like. The Pitchfork rave of the moment is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but his noisy cacophony of song is definitely different.

MP3: Dan Deacon - Okie Dokie
Buy Spiderman Of The Rings



The National - Boxer, the anticipation and buzz on this disc was so loud I had to check it out for myself.
I'll commit blogger blasphemy and say I'm still not sure what the big deal is. Here's one song I really liked. Listen for yourself and see what you think.

MP3: The National - Apartment Story
Buy The Boxer

Monday, May 21, 2007

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Brand New Beastie Boys

A couple videos of songs from the upcoming all instrumental Beastie Boys disc The Mix-Up. Listen as they take 60's psychedelia and merge it with the groove of a 70's b-movie soundtrack.
The new album is due out June 26th.
Beastie Boys - Off The Grid

Beastie Boys - The Rat Cage

Friday, May 18, 2007

5 On A Friday : Merge - 2007 Label Of The Year ?



1989 was the year Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan started a band(Superchunk) AND a record label(Merge) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina . Merge Records started with cassette releases followed by a few years of 7" vinyl releases, and now CDs an LPs. In 2007, Merge is well on it's way to becoming one of, if not the, most important record label of the year.
For today's 5 On a Friday here's 5 reasons why.

1: Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
MP3: Antichrist Television Blues

2: The Broken West - I Can't Go On, I'll Go On
MP3: So It Goes
3: The Clientele - God Save the Clientele
MP3: Here Comes The Phantom
4: The Ladybug Transistor - Can't Wait Another Day
MP3: Always On The Telephone
(via Cause=Time)
5: Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
MP3: Don't You Evah
(via Cause=Time)

[Merge Website]

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Grab Bag : Ryan Adams,Bless 1, Feist, AI

Many thanks to all of the Ryan Adams fans who have been dropping by. Download the Halloween Head and Two over at ProductshopNYC. Live versions of a bunch more of the new songs here.

Forget about the new Kanye West and Common leaks, Chicago has a new contender. Get the new track from Bless 1, "My Existence" over at Thirty Three Jones.

File this in the "I just don't get it" category. Someone please leave a comment explaining why Feist is so extremely popular right now. I mean there's nothing really offensive about her, but nothing I can see to drive so much hype either. Here's her recent appearance playing live on a bus for the Jimmy Kimmel show.

Feist on the bus on Jimmy Kimmel 5.15.07- "I Feel It All" and "The Park"


American Idol, hmmm now what's that quote again ? :
"A bad day of music on a preprogrammed Clear Channel radio station is still better than a good day on American Idol"

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Artist Of The Day : Elliot Jack

Music To Make You Feel Better is the title of the most recent album from Birmingham, UK's Elliot Jack. Its seven songs are a warm, ethereal blend of keyboards, guitars, sampled sounds and the occasional vocal. Often hypnotic and always compelling, each song seems to wash over you with its own sense of serene calm. Olympus Mons starts with just a keyboard, eventually adding guitar, drums, and other sounds, building to an intricate climax before slowly fading away just as it started. Kind of like a surprise rain shower on a sunny afternoon that disappears as quickly as it arrives. My personal favorite on the album, My Tongue In Vickie uses voice samples interwoven with softly strummed guitar and keyboard to create an almost Alice In Wonderland type feel as a female voice repeats "you have to catch me" over and over amongst the mix. I can just picture a surreal dreamlike chase scene happening throughout the song. All of the songs conjure up images in your mind, like the soundtrack to a dream you haven't had yet.

The BBC have also taken to Elliot Jack as well using their music for the TV show Countryfile and a short Film entitled "Over The Edge"

How can you not love a band that lists Dr. Who, Shostakovich, and volcanoes among its influences. Elliot Jack are currently working on a new 10 track album to be released later this year, you can hear some samples of the new songs on the band's myspace page.

Elliot Jack :
Rob - microkorg, casio PT-30, yamaha MU-15, yamaha VSS-30, zoom sampletrak, hohner melodica
Rich - epiphone rivera, zoom 2020, boss RC-20, digitech jamman, art and lutherie electro acoustic
Simon - G4, takamine EAN10, alesis SR16, vocals
Jon - fender jazz bass, vocals

MP3: Elliot Jack - My Tongue In Vickie
MP3: Elliot Jack - Don't Get Your Hopes Up



Upcoming Shows
May 25 2007 8:00P Kings Heath Mobile Disco @ Hare & Hounds Birmingham


[Myspace] [Website]

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Random Song Of The Day : The Noisettes - Don't Give Up

Coming on like a hyper-amped up version of last year's one off hit by K.T. Tunstall, "Black Horse and The Cherry Tree", this song has been smoking the paint off my iPod all week. The rest of the new Noisettes disc, What's The Time Mr. Wolf ain't too shabby either, part punk rock,part psychedelia, all raw power. Turn it Up. LOUD.

MP3: The Noisettes - Don't Give Up
Buy What's The Time Mr. Wolf
MP3: KT Tunstall - Black Horse and The Cherry Tree
Buy : Eye To The Telescope

The Noisettes [Website] [Myspace]
KT Tunstall [Website] [Myspace]

Monday, May 14, 2007

Friday, May 11, 2007

5 On A Friday : Girls Talk

There are some things you can't cover up
With lipstick and powder
Thought I heard you mention my name
Can't you talk any louder

Don't come any closer, don't come any nearer
My vision of you can't
come any clearer
Oh, I just want to hear girls talk ...

Girls Talk- (e. costello)


1: Blue Mountain - Mountain Girl
Buy Dog Days
2: Olu Dara - Harlem Country Girl
Buy In The World From Natchez To New York
3: The Byrds - Truck Stop Girl
Buy Untitled
4: Cracker - Euro Trash Girl
Buy Kerosene Hat
5: Kings Of Leon - Taper Jean Girl
Buy Aha Shake Heartbreak

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

LIVE : May 7, 2007 The Clientele,Ladybug Transistor,Public Record at Johnny Brendas

Around 9:15 or so Philadelphia's Public Record hit the stage to kick off the Monday evening festivities @ Johnny Brenda's last night. I had never seen them before but their blend of instrumental-ska-jazz-dance music really rocked the house. I could easily picture this band opening for someone like !!! or LCD Soundsystem and packing the dance floor with gyrating bodies. With a two drummers,two guitars, a bass and a saxophone in the lineup, they know how to cook up a good groove. Someone I will definitely see again.
Ladybug Transistor was up next with a smooth pop set that seemed influenced equally by the late 60s early 70's west coast pop sound as it did from 80's new wave folk sound of bands like the Go Betweens.
The Clientele finished out the night with a set that drew heavily from their brilliant new disc God Save The Clientele. Live, their Beatle tinged pop songs definitely took on an added dimension that made them sound even better. An excellent show by a band that is most likely going to pick up a lot of new fans soon.

Upcoming Clientele Tour Dates :
May 8 2007 8:00P Black Cat Washington DC, Washington DC
May 9 2007 8:00P Satellite Ballroom Charlottesville, Virginia
May 10 2007 8:00P Cat's Cradle Carrboro, North Carolina
May 11 2007 8:00P Map Room Charleston, South Carolina
May 12 2007 8:00P The Earl Atlanta, Georgia
May 13 2007 8:00P The Basement Nashville, Tennessee
May 14 2007 8:00P Hi-Tone Memphis, Tennessee
May 16 2007 8:00P Spanish Moon Baton Rouge, Louisiana
May 17 2007 8:00P Walter's On Washington Houston, Texas
May 18 2007 8:00P Hailey's Denton, Texas
May 19 2007 8:00A Emo's Lounge Austin
May 21 2007 8:00P Modified Tempe, Arizona
May 22 2007 8:00P Casbah San Diego, California
May 24 2007 8:00P Knitting Factory Los Angeles, California
May 25 2007 8:00P Howie and Sons Pizza and Beer parlour Visalia, California
May 26 2007 8:00P Great American Music Hall San Francisco, California
May 27 2007 8:00P Doug Fir Lounge Portland, Oregon
May 28 2007 8:00P Crocodile Cafe Seattle, Washington
May 31 2007 8:00P 400 Bar Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jun 1 2007 8:00P High Noon Madison, Wisconsin
Jun 2 2007 8:00P Subterranean Chicago, Illinois
Jun 3 2007 8:00P Magic Stick Detroit, Michigan
Jun 4 2007 8:00P El Mocambo Toronto, Ontario
Jun 6 2007 8:00P QUE Club Lambi Montreal, Quebec
Jun 8 2007 8:00P Bowery Ballroom New York City, New York
Jun 9 2007 8:00P Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Massachusetts
Jun 20 2007 8:00P The Legion London and South East
Jul 22 2007 8:00P Benecassim Festival Valencia, Valencia



Here's some photos from the show:
Public Record
The Ladybug Transistor

The Clientele





From The Mailbag: JadeMcNelis, Mieka Pauley,The Swimmers Live

Shuffling through the mailbag to bring you some recent music fom the inbox.

First up is Jade McNelis. Good Fences Records label mate to BOS favorite Memphis.

Jade McNelis’ debut EP is a terrifically beautiful amalgam of fate and destiny. This 20-year-old singer-songwriter was born in Taiwan, adopted by an American couple at only 42 days old and began learning the piano at age 4. Discovered when she opened for Stars in her hometown of Tallahassee, Florida, she was quickly signed to new Montreal label, Good Fences. She came to Montreal in the summer of 2006 to record and never went back. Chris Seligman (from Stars) co-produced the All The Fables EP. His co-producer and engineer was Drew Malamud, who has worked with The Dears, Death From Above 1979, and Stars. Murray Lightburn from Dears plays guitar, as does Gregory Paquet, formerly of the Stills. Andrew Barr of The Slip plays the drums. It was mixed by Ryan Hadlock at famed Seattle’s Bear Creak Studio. Yet her sound is all her own, a frozen stream unlocking its force by way of hungry piano playing, haunting melodies and a voice that brims with all the hope of a bright dawn pouring through the window. As the EP’s title indicates, McNelis writes songs that are like fairy tales, little stories with their own morals and mysteries. “Aesop’s Fables were one of my first influences as a human being when I was growing up,” she says. Her songs are the decisive moment, a call to adventure, arrows of destiny. Wistful lyrics that soar above rich and affecting piano arrangements. The sun is rising, the town is deserted, but the enchanted landscape is filled with golden, ghostly harmonies.

MP3: Jade McNelis - Life In Grey

Some of Jade's Upcoming shows:
May 15 2007 10:00P The Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, Ontario
May 20 2007 8:30A Bar St-Laurent 2 Montreal, Quebec
May 29 2007 8:00P The Tranzac Toronto, Ontario
May 31 2007 9:00P Union Hall Brooklyn, New York

[myspace] [website]


photo by Baratunde

Next up is Mieka Pauley

Mieka Pauley was born in Boston and raised in Kentucky, Colorado and South Florida. School brought her back to Boston where she makes her home. She started singing as a child and studied classical voice and piano. In high school she sang in alt rock garage bands and Motown funk bands and in jazz, classical and church choirs. In high school she taught herself guitar on an uncle's old acoustic, then cut her teeth in college playing on the street corners of Harvard Square. Her immediate ability to captivate audiences quickly made her a favorite of Boston's best clubs including the Paradise Lounge, House of Blues, Club Passim, and Kendall Café – next at New York's renowned Bitter End, Living Room, Makor, Knitting Factory and Village Underground – and then at the best clubs and festivals throughout the U.S., North, South, East and West.

She follows her own vision for her music and her soul/blues/rock/acoustic/alternative style has brought comparisons to Ben Harper, Cat Power, Neko Case, Patty Griffin, Martin Sexton and others. She came up listening to all of those artists, and also to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Eva Cassidy, Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill. She has traveled in several directions as well in her recordings and bands while defining her own personal sound and style, and this road has lead her to take the reins in her own hands and draw her own map from here forward.
date

MP3: Mieka Pauley - All The Same Mistakes

Upcoming Shows
May 10 2007 8pm Pianos New York NY
May 12/2007 8:20pm Rusty Rudder Dewey Bch DE
Dewey Beach Chick Fest showcase
May 17/2007 10pm Pianos New York NY
May 18/2007 11pm Twisted Tree Cafe Asbury Pk NJ


[myspace] [website]



The Swimmers just finished a short Spring tour. Here's a few songs from some radio appearances they made.

From the World Café Live in Philly:
MP3: The Swimmers - It's Time They Knew
MP3: The Swimmers - Heaven
From WHFR in Detroit:
MP3: The Swimmers - Mr Blue Sky(ELO cover)

[myspace] [website]

Monday, May 07, 2007

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Seis De Mayo

Oh those mornings after. Here's one for those of you who may have a had a little too much Cinco De Mayo last night.

MP3: Dave Edmunds - What Did I Do Last Night ?

[photo credit]

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Cinco De Mayo !!!

Happy Cinco De Mayo !!!

Cinco de Mayo is a national, but not federal, holiday in Mexico which is also widely celebrated in the United States. It commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin over the French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
El Cinco de Mayo es una fecha significativa en la historia de México: la Batalla de Puebla. Marca la primera vez que el Ejército Mexicano pudo derrotar a una potencia extranjera mejor preparada. La batalla tuvo lugar en la actual ciudad de Puebla de Zaragoza el 5 de mayo de 1862, entre los ejércitos de México y Francia.
celebrate safely ! - celebrar con seguridad !

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

The Mesmerizing Sounds Of The Last Town Chorus

The slow, echoey, almost piano like guitar picking slowly builds before breaking into a steel guitar crescendo signalling that the trip into Megan Hickeys's universe has begun. With a voice that's equal parts Hope Sandoval and Sinead O'Connor and a lap steel guitar sound that's as soaring as David Gilmour and as rootsy as Greg Leisz she's a musical force all her own. Wire Waltz is the opening track and title of the new album from Last Town Chorus and sets the dreamlike mood perfectly that permeates throughout. Next up is the anguished, lament filledYou which segues seamlessly into a cover of David Bowie's Modern Love that owes more to Major Tom than the crooning Thin White Duke. Hearing the familiar lyrics over the serenely ethereal take on the music puts a whole new spin on the song. It's not over also pays homage to Bowie with Megan playing an extended outro that recalls the end of Moonage Daydream. Songs like Caroline and Huntsville, 1989 or Wintering in Brooklyn use visual lyrics to develop their own distinct sense of place, all the while surrounded by otherworldly sounds that make them seem surreal at the same time. This is the world of Megan Hickey and Last Town Chorus, strangely familiar, yet somehow inhabiting a universe all its own at the same time.

Give a listen to the song Huntsville, 1989 and watch the video for Modern Love and decide for yourself. Then grab yourself a copy of Wire Waltz and be transported.

MP3: The Last Town Chorus - Huntsville, 1989

Anchored by Megan Hickey's' stellar lap steel guitar playing, The Last Town Chorus also is reknowned for their captivating live shows. Be sure and catch them when they come near you.

MAY Shows
1st, Hamden, CT. The Space. 9pm.
2nd, Boston, MA. Paradise Rock Club. (WUMB session at noon.)WITH MICHAEL PENN
3rd, Northampton, MA. Iron Horse Music Hall. WITH MICHAEL PENN
4th, State College, PA. Penn State University, Chronic Town
5th, Pittsburgh, PA. Club Cafe. (WYEP session @ 1pm - listen online). WITH MICHAEL PENN
6th, Cleveland, OH. Beachland Ballroom. WITH MICHAEL PENN
8th, Ann Arbor, MI. The Ark. WITH MICHAEL PENN
9th, Chicago, IL. Schuba's Tavern. TWO SHOWS. WITH MICHAEL PENN
11th, Minneapolis, MN, 400 Bar. 7PM Early. THE LAST TOWN CHORUS HEADLINING
12th, Madison, WI, NOT YET CONFIRMED THE LAST TOWN CHORUS HEADLINING
14th, Toronto, Canada. Elmocambo. THE LAST TOWN CHORUS HEADLINING
15th, Albany, NY. Valentine's. Early: 6pm doors, 7pm show.
16th, Burlington, VT. Higher Ground.
29th, New York, NY. Joe's Pub. 9:30pm. The Last Town Chorus headlines a hometown evening.


[BUY IT] [Website] [Myspace] [Hacktone Records]

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

A p:ear Grows In Portland

Portland's Arena Rock Records took some of Portland's finest musicians - The Decemberists, Dandy Warhols, Chris Walla and more and paired each of their talents up with a classic cover song. The end result was the excellent 19 song collection called Bridging The Distance.

Not only is it a fantastic collection of songs, all of the proceeds benefit a Portland organization called p:ear.
p:ear programs build positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth, through education, art and recreation to affirm personal worth and create more meaningful and healthier lives. Each year p:ear serves more than 350 homeless and transitional young people in the Portland, Oregon area.

There's nothing but highlights on this one, but some of my favorites are Pat McDonald's(Timbuk 3) rocking take on The Harder They Come, The Thermal's smoldering version of Zeppelin's Tangerine and Britt Daniel's(Spoon) percussion workout on Bring It On Home to Me.

Buy it. Not only will you get some great music you'll be investing in a brighter future for someone at the same time.

Bridging The Distance - A Portland OR covers compilation
The Decemberists - Think about Me (Fleetwood Mac)
Pat MacDonald - The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff)
The Joggers - Long Distance Runaround (Yes)
The Snuggle Ups - Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen)
The Thermals - Tangerine (Led Zeppelin) MP3
Christopher Walla - Shattered Dreams (Johnny Hates Jazz)
Viva Voce - Eye in the Sky (The Alan Parsons Project)
The Minus 5 - That Smell (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Talkdemonic - Sombre Reptiles (Brian Eno)
The Minders - Don't Bring Me Down (Electric Light Orchestra)
The Kingdom - Sister Christian (Night Ranger)
Lackthereof - What a Fool Believes (The Doobie Brothers)
Whip - White Wedding (Billy Idol)
Wet Confetti - Invincible (Pat Benatar)
The Dandy Warhols - She Sells Sanctuary (The Cult)
Point Juncture, WA - Pearl of the Quarter (Steely Dan)
Blitzen Trapper - Crazy on You (Heart)
Crosstide - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding? (Nick Lowe)
Britt Daniel - Bring It on Home to Me (Sam Cooke)
MP3


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