New Tunes: Teddy Thompson
This, my friends, is a fall in love at first listen type of tune. Teddy Thompson is the son of Richard and Linda Thompson – both well respected musicians in their own right. So Teddy comes from good stock.
“In My Arms” is beautiful, sunny harmonies, a killer B3 solo, a catchy hook… It’s got it all!
It’s June – summer has descended upon us north of the equator. So may I nominate “In My Arms” as a great kick-off-the-summer tune? I can? Good.
This is the first single from his new album, A Piece of What You Need, which comes out June 17th.
Teddy Thompson – In My Arms (streaming .wax file)
Order his new album here (out June 17th on Verve Forecast):
Some tour dates:
Jun 6 – Pittsburgh, PA – Three Rivers Arts Festival
Jun 7 – Detroit, MI – Detroit Festival of the Arts
Jun 10 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
Jun 11 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
Jun 12 – Madison, WI – University of Wisconsin Terrace
Jun 14 – Covington, KY – Molly Malone’s
Jun 15 – Nashville, TN – 3rd and Lindsley
Jun 17 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle
Jun 20 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Jun 21 – Philadelphia, PA – North Star Bar
Jun 27 – Bristol, UK – Fiddler’s Club
Jun 28 – Pilton, UK – Glastonbury Festival Q Magazine Stage
Jul 5 – London, UK – Kenwood House opening for Rufus Wainwright
Jul 8 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
Jul 9 – Los Angeles, CA – Coronet TheaterWhat the Kids are Listening to: Katy Perry
Getting a high profile shout out from Mama Madge when you’ve not even released your first record sets some damned high expectations. From what I can tell of young Katy Perry it seems like she has the ability to deliver with some bombast of ‘shock and awe’. She’s got a hell of a voice and a wicked sense of humor. Think of her as the US answer to Lily Allen with a Cyndi Lauper grade voice. And while it’s not exactly taboo these days to admit to some same-sex tomfoolery, admitting to screwing around on your boyfriend with a chick just for kicks is, well, yeah.. not so taboo. Either way it’s got a funky beat and I can bug out to it. Enjoy the video and be sure to check the parodies that are cropping up all over…
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Katy Perry – I Kissed a Girl (Video)Bonus: Check out her truly excellent (albeit loose) cover of The Outfield’s “Your Love”. This scores instant points with me as this one of my favorite 80’s tunes:
Katy Perry – Use Your Love (Last.fm)
Pre-Order One of the Boys: Amazon
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
First Listen: The Orchid Highway
Upon opening the case of The Orchid Highway’s self-titled debut you get a sense of exactly what you are in for. The image of floor to ceiling stacks of vintage amps, guitars and keys sets the expectation that is fully realized when you hear the ringing opening barrage of “Sofa Surfer Girl”. Reveling in tried and true FM Rock with shades of psychedelic and pop leanings this record delivers ten solid tracks with absolutely no filler. Check out the lead off single “Next World”.
The Orchid Highway – Next World (MP3)
Buy The Orchid Highway: Amazon | iTunes
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
Will’s Clean Rap
A Family Guy classic. I just can’t get enough of this show…
Giveaway: Mickey’s Drums, Jerry’s Greatest [All About de Riddim]
Hey! Let’s talk about drumming and rhythm and percussion, and give away a couple of CD’s: Mickey Hart’s 1991 collaboration with Airto Moreira and a number of amazing percussionists from around the world – Planet Drum; and Mickey’s latest project, Global Drum Project, a collaboration with some of the same legends, including Nigerian talking drum legend Sikiru Adepoju.
- You can check out the eCard here.
- And check out the Mickey Hard Collection here.
But that’s not all! I’ll also throw in The Very Best of Jerry Garcia, Rhino’s 2-cd release chock full of Captain Trips’ excellent solo and live material.
For the contest in question, let’s focus on the drummin’. To have a chance to win these CD’s, I pose one question to you fine ladies and gents….
Who is your favorite drummer(s) / percussionist(s) and why?
Neal Peart? Bonzo? Bun E. Carlos? Animal from the Muppets?
I just realized I have no clear favorite, but if I had to choose, I know who would be up there. Jon Fishman of Phish always blew my mind at their shows – how he could stay in rhythm and navigate through their myriad of mind-blowing jams. Fela Kuti’s drummer, Tony Allen, never ceases to amaze me when listening to Fela’s great Afrobeat catalog. I love the way Prince drums in “Irresistible Bitch” – a 1999-era B-side. But I recently found out that’s Morris Day doing the drummin’.
So let’s pick your brains. Leave a comment below with your opinion. The winner will be chosen from the comments in a week or so.
More about the Mickey Hart CD’s after the jump….
One for Barack Obama
Tonight, an African American man is the Democratic nominee for the President of the United States. This is truly an historic day – one of the brightest in our nation’s 231 year history. And how does Hillary Clinton handle the news and reality of the day? She does everything but concede to Obama in her speech tonight. Classless as far as I’m concerned. Shame on her for not recognizing Obama, on a night when the entire Democratic party should be united, and the entire country should pause for a moment to salute Obama’s accomplishment.
Take it all the way, Barack Obama!
photo courtesy of Yahoo News / AP
Digging the Virtual Crates: Shaggy
Austin City Limits Schedule Released…
..and here come the conflicts! Last year, the big one was Wilco vs. My Morning Jacket ( I ended up splitting it half and half). And this year is not without its frustrating scheduling choices…
The big one: on Saturday night – we’ll be forced to make a choice between seeing Beck (8:30-10) or seeing Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (8:15-9:30). Boo! Especially since Friday’s headliners are Manu Chao vs. Mars Volta (both whom I wanted to see too). But really, couldn’t Beck or Plant & Krauss have been scheduled for Friday, and Mars Volta or Chao moved to Saturday? Sort of a bummer.
Other personal conflicts:
- Friday: N.E.R.D. (6:30-7:30) vs. David Byrne (6:30-7:30) vs. Antibalas (7:15-8:15) vs. Alejandro Escovedo (7:45-8:45)!
- Friday: Patty Griffin (4:30-5:30) vs. M. Ward (4:30-5:15) vs. Gogol Bordello (4:30-5:30).
- Saturday: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (2:30-3:30) vs. Back Door Slam (2:50-3:30) vs. Drive-By Truckers (2:30-3:30).
- Saturday: The Black Keys (7:30-8:15) vs. Iron & Wine (7:30-8:30).
- Sunday has Gnarls Barkley (6:30-7:30) going up against The Raconteurs (6:30-7:45).
But hey, in the scheme of things, these are all good problems to have.
Other places you’ll be – how you say? – seeing my ass:
Band of Horses: Sunday, 7:30-8:30
Old 97’s: Saturday, 12:30-1:30
Hot Chip: Friday, 5:30-6:30
Rodney Crowell: Friday, 12:30-1:30
Vampire Weekend: Friday, 2:30-3:30
Erykah Badu: Saturday, 4:30-5:30
Duffy: Saturday, 5:30-6:30
Okkervil River: Sunday, 5:30-6:30ACL SCHEDULE (Sept. 26-28): See Day One Schedule | Day Two Schedule | Day Three Schedule
Bo Diddley (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jujGZMS2vGY 425 355]
Bo Diddley – Hey, Bo Diddley (Video)Sad news this morning as another pioneer of rock n’ roll, Bo Diddley has passed away at 79. Our condolences to friends, family and fans alike.
From Pete: In October of 1998, I was sitting in an empty lobby of the Four Seasons in Wailea, Maui (my spoiled brother and his family were staying there). I glanced over to the check-in area to see a man dressed in black, with a very recognizable hat and glasses. I grabbed a pen and paper and slowly made my way over to the registration desk, getting a better look at the man in black.
“You look an awful lot like Bo Diddley”, I said with a grin.
He smiled and said “That’s me”.
“I’d be honored if you’d sign this for me sir.”And that was my random brush with the greatness that was Bo Diddley. Rest in Peace, sir. The all-star band in the sky picks up another legend….
Wattstax
I watched Wattstax today for the very first time. Now, I’m burying myself in Stax music, and totally in a 70’s funk / soul / R&B frame of mind. What a film!
Wattstax was a music festival that took place at the L.A. Coliseum in August of 1972. Organized by the Memphis-based Stax record label to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the Watts riots, it featured Stax artists like Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, the Bar-Kays, the Staples Singers, Luther Ingram, and a lot of others.
The film features music footage interspersed with interviews of Watts residents, a pre-‘Love Boat’ Ted Lange (Issac!), and Richard Prior, who all talk frankly about being Black in 1972 America.
By far the highlights for me were this Rufus Thomas performance of “Do the Funky Chicken”, and this, the Bar-Kays’ “Son of Shaft”. You just have to love the style of the times. And just check out how the Bar-Kays hit the stage. Now that’s showmanship! I guess the band wanted to come on to the field in a chariot, but that was rejected at the last minute. Well, the outfits stayed. S-t-y-l-e.
It really doesn’t get any better than this….
If you want a new (or renewed) appreciation for 70’s soul & the Stax label, as well as a fascinating document of the early 1970’s L.A. Black community, check out this film.
Thanks Gonzo for the recommendation!
By the way, if anyone can recommend any other good films / concert videos that document this era of 70’s soul, funk, and R&B, please drop a comment below. I want more!
