Steve Earle performs City of Immigrants on Letterman
We’ll see how long this stays online, but in the meantime, here’s Steve with his Wire look. Any Wire watchers out there? Have Steve’s episodes began yet? And can anyone tell me if the backup singer on the right is Allison Moorer (Steve’s wife)?
Update: Um, yeah – judging by the kiss after the song, yeah, that’s Allison (I didn’t catch that the first couple times).
Check out Steve on
Go to Sleep with the Avett Brothers
Another tip o’ the hat to Sirius for turning me on to some more good new music. The Avett Brothers are a trio from Concord, North Carolina made up of Scott & Seth Avett, and Bob Crawford. Scott plays banjo and kick drum. Seth plays guitar and high hat. Bob plays the stand-up bass. Their mixture of thrashing, old-timey, acoustic melodies have them thrown into the category of “punkgrass”. But you can’t really pigeonhole them into any category.
Whatever the genre, the Avett Brothers are pretty damn refreshing. Their new CD, Emotionalism
, was released in May, and is strong from top to bottom. It’s a good sign when it’s hard to select one song (be sure to check out “Shame” and “Die Die Die”, and – well – just pick up the whole thing).
The Avett Brothers –
Go To Sleep(mp3)Buy their new CD, Emotionalism, on Amazon
.Check out their Official Site | MySpace | YouTube page
Wilco Video: You Are My Face
Wilco’s new CD, Sky Blue Sky
, goes everywhere I go, and it’s really woven itself into my psyche. If you don’t have it, do yourself a favor. One of my favorites from the album has popped up in some live video action. My man Nels Cline – subject of my one and only interview thus far, kicks it into high gear with his guitar solo… I’m also LOVING Tweedy’s vocals on this tune, particularly in this part:
I have no idea how this happens
All of my maps have been overthrown
Happenstance has changed my plans
So many times my heart has been outgrownForecast for Tuesday: Sky Blue Sky
Kevin Nealon, far right, has apparently donned hipster eyewear and joined wilco!For my favorite artists, I’m still a “have it / hold it” kind of guy when it comes to new albums. I have the need and desire to venture out to my local record store (can I still call it that?), pay my money down, and walk out with the new CD in hand.
Wilco is one of those artists for me. I’ve even shown some restraint in this digital age of album leaks and streaming previews, and avoided listening to their new album, Sky Blue Sky. I’ve only heard “What Light” and “Side With the Seeds”.
Like a lot of you, I like the butterflies in my stomach when I finally get through the plastic wrap, pull off those annoying little tabs, extract the CD, and insert it into my car’s CD player. Weird to think, but even CD’s feel old school these days, much like albums did when CD’s took over my life in the late 80’s.
So yeah, I’m a bit excited to listen to Sky Blue Sky all the way through. So if you can’t make it to the local record store, and you want that CD in hand, go ahead and pick ’em up here.
Buy the Expanded Edition (CD/DVD):
Buy the CD:
Sunday Video: The Blower’s Daughter
This song is 4-5 years old, but I just discovered its brilliance. Damien Rice sings “The Blower’s Daughter”…
Local IckMusic: What Laura Says Thinks and Feels
As a married pops of two living in the sticks outside of Phoenix, my days of spending five out of every seven nights bar-hopping and band-watching have come to an end. So my knowledge of the local music scene is pretty much limited to the local press and the occasional night out.
Today, a columnist for the Phoenix New Times posted about a cool local band on his blog. The title of his piece is ‘Annals of Bad Band Names’, and he has a valid point in this case: the band’s name is What Laura Says Thinks and Feels. They may have a good story behind the name, so I won’t judge. And after hearing these tunes, I was willing to overlook the silly name, because this stuff is infectious… a retro feel but completely unique at the same time. Folky, trippy, Brit-poppy, Brian Wilson-y.
Add your -y’s in the comments.
What Laura Says Thinks and Feels – Couldn’t Lose Myself If I Tried (mp3)
The New Times post has another tune you can listen to.
Their MySpace has three other tunes, including a nice soft one called “Dot Dot Dot” (reminds me of Kings of Convenience). And of course it’s excellent karma to support an unsigned band, so go to their CD Baby page and pick up their album. Or get it on iTunes. After listening to these songs, I think a lot of you will.
Leroy Justice’s Purple Rain
Ya know, I gotta say, this is one of the finer Prince covers I’ve heard. And certainly the best cover of “Purple Rain”. I’ve seen Phish’s cover live, and, as much as I loved the band, I never cared much for the cover, because it seemed to be more of a parody than a heartfelt version of a song they really respected. I mean, the drummer – John Fishman – would play the guitar solo part on a vacuum cleaner. But I guess I’m just a sensitive Prince fan, I dunno. But then again, a lot of Phish’s covers were tongue in cheek.
So a member of my Prince board sent me this cool, twangy, earthy version of the song performed by New York City band Leroy Justice. I don’t know much about them at this point besides the fact that they list Otis Redding, Steve Martin, and John Prine as influences on their MySpace page. For that, they are good in my book.
Leroy Justice –
Purple Rain(mp3)Song appears on their album, Revolution’s Son. Coincidence?
The Missing Years
Whether you’re familiar with John Prine or not, you should at least make yourself familiar with The Missing Years. Produced by the late Howie Epstein of the Heartbreakers, and including such special guests as Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, and the Boss himself, the album is full of warm melodies, and funny & insightful lyrics. You can end the weekend just right by listening to this tune…
John Prine:
The Sins of Memphisto(mp3)Buy The Missing Years on eMusic or Amazon.
Bonus: Todd Snider:
That’s the Way That the World Goes ‘Round(mp3)New Matthew Ryan: From a Late Night High Rise
Many who check in here from time to time most likely share a lot of my tastes in music. A time or two, I’ve passed along a few of my favorites from Matthew Ryan, both as a solo artist, and as a member of the short lived but very impressive Strays Don’t Sleep.
I’ve devoured everything Matthew has released like that Japanese guy at the Nathan’s 4th of July hot dog eating contest at Coney Island (yeah, I need to work on my analogies). You know who I’m talking about, right?
His name is Takeru Kobayashi. I looked it up. The fella knows how to eat hot dogs.
Shifting gears…
Matt is poised to release his next album on December 5th, the introspective From a Late Night High Rise.
There’s a cool timeline page on Matt’s web site, where he takes you through his career, year by year. His 2006 entry says this about the album:
In early 2006 I completed a new record of solo songs called From A Late Night High-Rise. It’s a collection of songs inspired by the death of a dear friend and the sentencing of my brother to 30 years in prison. Between 2004 and 2006 there were a lot of “life in the teeth” things happening. I felt like I had to make From A Late Night High-Rise so I could find some peace with everything. Trouble and sorrow are not unique experiences. But when we’re in their weather, we can feel isolated, burdened, alone. From A Late Night High-Rise is the most beautiful collection of songs I’ve made yet. It looks and sounds like traffic from 52 floors above- ambient, warm and human.
Yes, the man has a way with words, and putting them to music. Take a listen to the great first single off the album. Then mark December 5th on your calendars and pick up a copy of From a Late Night High Rise (don’t worry, I’ll remind you). If you’re in the eastern half of the U.S., check out the tour dates below, and go check him out live. If you’re in the western half, don’t lose hope, because dates out west are being booked as we speak for early next year, including right here in Phoenix. I’ll finally get to see ol’ Matt live.
Matthew Ryan: Never Look Back (mp3) – from the forthcoming release, From a Late Night High Rise, out December 5th.
www.matthewryanonline.com
Available @ i-Tunes on December 5th, 2006Other MR Albums you should check out:
May Day
East Autumn Grin
Concussion
Regret Over the Wires
Strays Don’t SleepFall Tour Dates
11/01/06 Atlanta, GA The Melting Point
11/02/06 Charlotte, NC Evening Muse
11/03/06 Decatur, GA Eddies Attic
11/04/06 Knoxville, TN Corner Lounge
11/05/06 Raleigh, NC The Pour House
11/06/06 Arlington, VA Iota Club and Cafe
11/07/06 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe
11/10/06 New York, NY The Living Room
11/11/06 New York, NY The Living Room
11/12/06 Boston, MA Paradise Lounge
11/13/06 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall
11/14/06 Syracuse, NY Mezzanotte Cafe
11/15/06 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
11/16/06 Lexington, KY The Dame
11/17/06 Chicago, IL Schubas
11/18/06 Springfield, IL Underground City TavernWatch Matt perform “Return to Me”:
Sunday Video: M. Ward on Letterman
I was flipping channels the other night, and came across a Letterman repeat from August. A verry cool tune caught my ear. I watched. I listened. I liked. I found out that it was M. Ward. I went to eMusic and downloaded his latest album, Post-War. I am really enjoying the sound. Figures that M. Ward just stopped through my town about 3 weeks ago. Ah well. Check ’em out.
