Luz de Vida, Music for Tucson
Summers are hell, the nut jobs are many, but I love my home state of Arizona. And in the almost 19 years I’ve called it home, nothing that has happened here was more shocking, sad and incomprehensible than the tragedy in Tucson on January 8th, 2011. The shooting outside a Safeway store took the lives of six, and injured 13 more, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
Tucson-Based music writer Eric Swedlund, who has been an online pal of mine for years (via his music blog, Catfish Vegas), was communications director for Gabby Giffords’ campaign back in 2008, and he was deeply impacted on that January day, having known many of those killed and wounded. In the days and weeks after the shootings, Eric – along with a like-minded group of Tucson writers, venue operators and recording engineers – banded together to form Music Against Violence.
Throughout the year, they gathered contributions from a host of musicians both from Tucson and with strong ties to Tucson. The result is a 37 song (!) compilation called Luz De Vida: A Compilation to Benefit the Victims of the Tucson Tragedy. It features the likes of Tucson artists Calexico, Giant Sand, Dead Western Plains, Sergio Mendoza y La Orkestra, among many others. It also features national artists like Neko Case, Spoon, Jimmy Eat World, Meat Puppets and Chuck Prophet (here’s a full track listing).
Local label Fort Lowell Records is offering the set in digital format as well as a twelve song limited edition yellow vinyl.
I encourage you to check out the compilation – 100% of proceeds go to the Tucson Together Fund, which is the only officially sanctioned fund to assist the victims and families of this tragedy. This is an exceptional collection of southwest-flavored music, and it goes toward a great cause.
BUY – Luz de Vida: on Amazon, on iTunes, or Music Against Violence / Luz de Vida
VISIT – Music Against Violence official site | Music Against Violence Facebook
LISTEN – Check out a couple of songs here from alt-country pioneers Giant Sand and rock/soul/electronic outfit Dead Western Plains:
Giant Sand – “Recovery Mission” (mp3)
Dead Western Plains – “People Beat” (mp3)
Howe Gelb and a Band of Gypsies
As an Arizona resident for the past 18 + years, and a lover of many things Americana/roots, especially with a west coast / southwest vibe, it’s damn silly that I’m not more familiar with the Tucson’s Howe Gelb and his former band Giant Sand. I’m correcting that as we speak by dialing up all of Giant Sand’s early albums on Rdio. I started this morning with 1985’s Valley of Rain
, which sounds like unmistakable precursors to the Pixies, and another Tucson outfit, Calexico (which makes sense – John Convertino and Joey Burns actually started out in Giant Sand).
Yes, I posted many moons ago about a great Giant Sand tune (“Big Fish”) on a Victoria Williams benefit CD. But overall since then, I’ve had – well – my head in the sand about Giant Sand.
So Mr. Howe Gelb has a new record on tap with a new band, A Band of Gypsies. It’s called Alegria, and was recorded in Spain with an actual band of Flamenco guitar-playing gypsies. Featured among them is Flamenco guitar virtuoso Raimundo Amador.
The new album will release stateside on May 10th.
Keep an eye on the Fire Records web site for a chance to order in the U.S. (you can already order overseas).
2:28
A lot can be accomplished musically in two minutes and twenty eight seconds. What brought this to mind was a Little Feat tune I heard on my way to work recently: “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now”. It funks and it rocks & rolls and grooves…makes me wanna strut down a crowded street with a sweet hat and some big fat shades – a grin on my face. “GIT the hell outta my way people, I’m coming THROUGH!”
I sorted my iTunes by Time, and found 37 tunes in my online collection that clock in at 2:28 (three of ’em by Jim Croce, go figure). Here’s that sweet-ass Little Feat tune and eight other nuggets of under 2:28 goodness…
If you’ve got a spare 22:12, listen to ’em all now…
Little Feat – Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (mp3) – from Feats Don’t Fail Me Now
Steve Earle – South Nashville Blues (mp3) – from I Feel Alright
Reverend Horton Heat – Baddest of the Bad (mp3) – from Liquor in the Front
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Who’ll Stop the Rain (mp3) – from Cosmo’s Factory
Old 97’s – Coahuila (mp3) – from Drag It Up
The Byrds – I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better (mp3) – from Mr. Tambourine Man
Calexico – Sunken Waltz (mp3) – from Feast of Wire
Jim Croce – Time in a Bottle (mp3) – from The Definitive Collection
Paul Weller – Spring (At Last) [mp3] – from Illumination [Limited Edition w/ Bonus DVD]
Two Years of Ickmusic
This is a picture of the Millau Viaduct in France, the tallest vehicular bridge in the world. Pretty amazing if you ask me. It opened on December 14th, 2004. Guess what else opened on Dec. 14th, 2004? Why, this web site of course… Yep, today marks the 2nd birthday of Ickmusic. 429 different posts, 715 comments, and still plugging along.
Sing it with me: R-I-A-A Stay Awayyy, let me blog another dayyy
Looking back, here are a few milestones:
First Post & Song: Dec. 14th, 2004 – It’s Worth a Try | Song :
Quattro(Calexico)First Prince Mention: Jan. 5th, 2005 – Baby What’s Your Phone Number | Song:
777-9311(The Time)First Bruce Mention: Feb 1st, 2005 – Let There Be Chicks | Song:
Stolen Car(Patty Griffin)Long-Winded First Birthday Post: Dec. 14, 2005 – One Year of Ickmusic | Song:
Show Me Your Heart(Need New Body)First Christmas Post: Dec. 23, 2004 – Happy Merry Christmas Funtime | Song:
Alan Parsons in a Winter Wonderland(Grandaddy)So hey, thanks to all of you who stop by from time to time. I reiterate, leave a comment or shoot me an email from time to time. Let’s commune. Peace and Love. Adios…
I leave you with one request, and that is for you to watch, in its entirety, Tex Haper’s “Country New Wave.” You will not be sorry.
It’s Worth a Try
Well, let’s have a go at it, shall we? As I immerse myself more and more into the endless world of internet blogs (music blogs in particular), I find myself itching to join the game. This is going to be trial and error, but I think it’s worth a shot. I am creating IckMusic out of my pure and unadulterated, compulsive and passionate love of music. I love traveling from blog to blog and discovering tunes, and reading other’s interpretations of songs, and, though I am by no means as eloquent as those I’ve seen, I figure it’s time for me to try. So, from my little corner of the world outside of Phoenix, Arizona, here you go…
Let me cut to the chase and put something out there. I just saw Calexico open for Wilco a few weeks ago, and was very impressed. Trumpets, a stand-up bass player, pedal steel, guitars… I’ve heard them referred to as Spaghetti Southwestern. Very cool stuff. From Tucson, Arizona, I give you… Calexico.
