• Rock n' Folk

    Courtney Jaye + Ben Bridwell

    Where the voice of Ben Bridwell goeth, I shall follow.

    And the boy has brains, apparently, because hubba bubba pow wow (sorry – that’s my reaction to the pic above). Ben (Band of Horses frontman) shows up on singer/songwriter Courtney Jaye‘s brand new record, The Exotic Sounds of Courtney Jaye (out Jan 12). From the samples in iTunes, Courtney’s record sounds really promising – melodic, sunny, rootsy. And this duet with Ben leads the charge…

    Courtney Jaye (w/ Ben Bridwell) Sometimes Always (mp3)

    Buy: The Exotic Sounds of Courtney Jaye

    Visit: Courtney Jaye’s MySpace

  • Rock n' Folk

    Sham-a-Ling-Dong-Ding

    The beautiful thing about music – and I’ve said it many times before – is there’s always something new to discover. The act of hearing a song for the first time, and having it make that instant connection right to the soul – that is why I am obsessed with music, and always on the search for that next gem – regardless of era or genre.

    This song came to my attention from a Twitter update from Popdose’s Jason Hare – okay okay, his tweet! He had just watched Elvis Costello’s Spectacle show on Sundance, and one of the special guests was Jesse Winchester. Jesse is a Canadian folk artist (an American expatriate actually) who started out in the business over 40 years ago.

    “Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding” is the song. It’s a newer one from Jesse actually, from his latest album – last year’s Love Filling Station. The song is a sentimental and nostalgic love song from the 65 year old , looking back through the years to the beginning of a love affair, and to the music that accompanied and nurtured them – and still does to this day.

    Oh to have the talent to write a song like this (watch Neko Case tear up next to him).

    The boys were singing shing-a-ling
    The summer night we met
    You were tan and seventeen
    O how could I forget
    When every star from near and far
    Was watching from above
    Watching two teenagers fall in love

    The way we danced was not a dance
    But more a long embrace
    We held on to each other and
    We floated there in space
    And I was shy to kiss you while
    The whole wide world could see
    So shing-a-ling said everything for me

    And O the poor old old folks
    They thought we’d lost our minds
    They could not make heads or tails
    Of the young folks’ funny rhymes
    But you and I knew all the words
    And we always sang along to
    O sham-a-ling-dong-ding
    Sham-a-ling-dang-dong

    So after years and after tears
    And after summers past
    The old folks tried to warn us
    How our love would never last
    And all we’d get was soaking wet
    From walking in the rain
    And singing sham-a-shing-a-ling again

    And O the poor old old folks
    They smile and walk away
    But I bet they did some
    Sham-a-lama-ding-dong in their day
    I bet that they still close their eyes
    And I bet they sing along to
    O sham-a-ling-dong-ding
    Sham-a-ling-dang-dong

    O those sweet old love songs
    Every word rings true
    Sham-a-ling-dong-ding means sweetheart
    Sham-a-ling-dang-dong does too
    And it means that right here in my arms
    That’s where you belong
    And it means sham-a-ling-dong-ding
    Sham-a-ling-dang-dong

  • Rock n' Folk

    Open All Night as Bruce takes a rest

    After the whirlwind schedule that Bruce and the Band have put themselves through the last couple of years, they’ve definitely earned some much needed R&R. And with some sort of hiatus underway (1 year? 2-3 years?), Boss Geeks like me start to speculate on what his next move might be. We know he can’t stay idle for too long, especially these days.

    After The Rising Tour, 2005 and 2006 brought about two great albums and tours away from the E Street Band: Devils and Dust, and We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. Thankfully, Bruce made it through Phoenix on both tours. Seeing him solo was certainly a treat (as was the Tom Joad tour) – but that damn Seeger Sessions tour. Man oh man, what a show they put on!

    Counting Bruce, the Sessions Band numbered 18 musicians & singers. Eighteen!  It was a joyous concoction of sound, as they tackled old folk songs, new originals (“American Land” and “Long Walk Home” debuted), gospel music… and then there were the Seeger Sessions tweaks to Bruce’s catalog. Well, more like overhauls than tweaks… from “Blinded By The Light” to “Ramrod” and “The River”, the results always brought out new elements in the songs, and seeing them performed by so many on so many instruments – steel guitar, banjo, trumpets, trombones, and tubas…

    One of the best examples is how Bruce modified “Open All Night”, a track from the sparse acoustic Nebraska album. It’s actually one of the more uptempo numbers on Nebraska. But the Sessions Band took the song to another level – a piano and horn driven stomper right out of the 1950’s.

    I put on the Live in Dublin DVD earlier this evening as my family and I set up the Christmas tree. The Sessions Band had everyone shimmying and shaking, but “Open All Night” really got the joint rocking. I gotta confess, I enjoy this DVD as much as any E Street live DVD, and as far as speculating and hoping and wishing goes – I hope Bruce gets the Sessions Band together for another tour!

    Here’s some evolution for ya – a trio of “Open All Night”…

    Bruce Springsteen & the Sessions Band – Open All Night (mp3) – from Live In Dublin

    Bruce Springsteen – Open All Night (mp3) – from Nebraska

    Bruce Springsteen – Open All Night (mp3) – Short outtake from the Nebraska sessions

  • Acoustic,  Rock n' Folk

    Thrasher

    A couple weeks back, I finally got a couple of good CD display cabinets, mounted them on the wall, and released my CD’s from years of exile in plastic storage bins. It’s nice to have them in my face again, and it’s making me revisit a lot of favorites from my past that haven’t yet made it to the iTunes rip machine.

    One such CD is Neil Young & Crazy Horse‘s Rust Never Sleeps, which I initially bought because of my love for the song “Powderfinger”. But upon listening to it recently, it was the beautiful lyrics, intense imagery and the simple & sweet melody of “Thrasher” that hit me.

    The amazing lyrics have undoubtedly been absorbed and closely studied by longtime fans of Neil, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around them – even just the last few lines:

    Where the vulture glides descending
    On an asphalt highway bending
    Thru libraries and museums, galaxies and stars
    Down the windy halls of friendship
    To the rose clipped by the bullwhip
    The motel of lost companions
    Waits with heated pool and bar.

    But me I’m not stopping there,
    Got my own row left to hoe
    Just another line in the field of time
    When the thrashers comes, I’ll be stuck in the sun
    Like the dinosaurs in shrines
    But I’ll know the time has come
    To give what’s mine.

    There’s magic in those words. And the sort of melancholy, matter of fact style in which Neil sings it…  Wow… Such a good tune…

    Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Thrasher (mp3)

    Buy Rust Never Sleeps

  • Folk,  Rock n' Folk

    Buzz Cason’s Sentimental Attitude

    Oh here’s a nice one. Sort of like Rodney Crowell singing an up-tempo 60’s Bob Dylan tune. The singer is Buzz Cason.

    When I heard the song this morning on Sirius Outlaw Country, I pictured Buzz as a younger 20/30-something alt-country rabble rouser a la Todd Snider. Come to find out Buzz was born in 1939 and was a backup singer for Elvis in the 70’s.  Whaaa?   But that doesn’t do justice to his career accomplishments. Read his bio here, with name drops like U2 and the Beatles.

    And enjoy this catchy, quick Nashvillian shit-kicker of a number….

    Hear: Sentimental Attitude (mp3)

    From his new album, Busload of Love.

  • Rock n' Folk

    Wilco w/ Feist on Letterman

    Before I venture off to watch Paul McCartney on Letterman, I thought I’d post last night’s Letterman, in which Wilco and Feist took over the Ed Sullivan Theater for a nice version of “You and I”. The band is clearly completely in synch and enjoying their time together. The vibe is relaxed, loose, and just pretty damn nifty.

  • Rock n' Folk

    Bruised Orange – Anger Management with John Prine

    Some days are better than others. And when I find myself with my patience thinning (way too frequently as I get older, it seems), I always think of the chorus of this John Prine song…

    You can gaze out the window get mad and get madder,
    throw your hands in the air, say “What does it matter?”
    but it don’t do no good to get angry,
    so help me I know

    The sage advice of John Prine. What good does it really do to raise your voice? To pound your fist? To yell an expletive that your neighbors can probably hear from the street? With reality slapping you in the face every day – bills, a family to support, short tempered kids (where’d they get THAT from?), stupid drivers – well, it’s hard not to lose your cool.

    And when I feel it coming on, I always try to take myself to this John Prine song..

    For a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter.
    You become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there
    wrapped up in a trap of your very own
    chain of sorrow.

    Stop. Take a deep breath. Put everything into perspective. And don’t sweat the small stuff.
    Stay cool, peeps.

    John PrineBruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow) [mp3]

    From Bruised Orange

    Take a look at this 1980 Soundstage special, with John driving around his hometown in Illinois, telling the story behind the song…

     

  • Bruce Springsteen,  Rock n' Folk

    Bruce Meets Band of Horses

    Not only did Bonnaroo bring together two of my favorites in the form of a Phish-Springsteen collaboration, but, as it turned out, Bruce also found time to catch Sunday’s set by Band of Horses. And as you can see from some brand new pics posted to BoH’s blog, Bruce hung around to meet Ben Bridwell and the band afterward. Thanks and props to Christopher Wilson Photography for capturing the moment!

    My musical universes continue to converge.

    Check out Band of Horses Tour blog with more pics of the encounter, and a bunch of others from Bonnaroo.

    By the way – if you’re a Boss fan wondering about Band of Horses, check out this Amoeba in-store video for a good intro.

    Photo Credit: Christopher Wilson Photography

  • Rock n' Folk

    New Tunes: Reed KD

    Here’s a good first impression: Reed KD out of Santa Cruz, California.

    Right up my alley, really. Uptempo, spirited, folksy & rootsy. The bass drum makes me think of Zeppelin’s “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp”, and his voice sounds juuust a bit like Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses. Something about the annunciation. I dunno. I dig this one.

    Hear: If the Tide Swings (mp3)

    From his new album: In Case the Comet Comes

    Visit: Official Site | MySpace

  • Rock n' Folk

    Ticket to Heaven

    Nestled deep into the last album that Dire Straits ever made – 1991’s On Every Street – is a song that I consider as close to perfection as there is. The cornerstone of the song is the calm and gentle demeanor of Mark Knopfler in his vocal and instrumental delivery… I mean, who can pick a Fender Stratocaster with more beauty and eloquence?

    In his work with Dire Straits and in his solo work since, Mark just has an innate ability to craft together beautiful &  sublime melodies: “Romeo & Juliet”, “Water of Love”, “Love Over Gold”, “Why Worry”,  “Brothers in Arms”, “All That Matters”, “Shangri-La”, “Love and Happiness”, “If This Is Goodbye”… and the list goes on.

    I’m a fan.

    And then there’s “Ticket to Heaven”.  On the surface, a gorgeously crafted song about faith in eternal life. But digging in a little deeper, if you pay attention to the verses, it’s a scathing, tongue-in-cheek slam on tele-evangelism…

    Now there’s nothing left for luxuries
    Nothing left to pay my heating bill.
    But the good lord will provide
    I know he will.
    So send what you can
    To the man with the diamond ring.
    They’re tuning in across the land
    To hear him sing.

    Still as true in 2009 as it was in the early part of the 90’s. They fan out across the country every Sunday, and every night on television I’m sure – preying on anyone with a doubt and a pocketbook.

    If you search on Youtube for a video of Dire Straits performing this song, you won’t find Knopfler and the Boys. What you will find, is Popeye. Whoa whoaaa there… don’t disparage Popeye. Don’t write him off at first glance. This tattooed, spirited Dutchman will put a smile on your face. Feel the essence, the essence of POPEYE!