Band of Horses: Live from the Central Presbyterian Church in Austin
From LIVE DAILY.
Show Alert: Martin Sexton this Wednesday at the Compound Grill
Photo by Crackerfarm Over the years, I’ve heard from numerous people about the great live show that Martin Sexton and his band put on. This Wednesday, I’ll finally get to experience it for myself. Martin Sexton is just kicking off a nationwide tour, and Scottsdale’s Compound Grill is one of his first stops. The Ryan Montbeau Band will be opening the show, and then backing Martin up for his set.
If you’re in the Phoenix area, come on down to the Compound – this Wednesday, May 5th. Martin will be playing lots of stuff from his new record, Sugarcoating, as well as some rarities and favorites.
Here’s a recent video blog from Martin…
Flood at the Opry
This puts it all into perspective, doesn’t it? This is a photograph of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, taken earlier today. My heart goes out to the folks out east dealing with the floods.
John Prine, “Great Rain”, from The Missing Years
Phish + ACL Music Festival? Yes. Please.
If this rumor turns out to be true, then it’s clear to me that the music gods are on my side. A few weeks ago, I tried for a ticket (one ticket) to see Phish play Telluride’s Town Park in August. My folks live there during the summer, my first Phish show was in Colorado twenty years ago, yada yada yada…
I would even have forfeited my October trip to the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
But I had no luck. Telluride tickets sold out in minutes. “It wasn’t to be,” I sighed and told myself.
So the ACL Festival it was. I secured my three day pass on April 20th, booked my flight and hotel, and all was well. I’ll be returning for my third ACL…
And NOW look – straight from the rumor mill – it’s looking like Phish could be announced as one of the headliners for ACL! Could this be any more perfect (other than a lineup also including Springsteen, Prince, 70’s Stones, and a resurrected Joe Strummer and Elvis Presley)?
Phish. ACL Festival. Yes. Let it be.
Source: Coventry Music: – Phishy Rumor: 2010 Austin City Limits Music Festival
The Friday Five: April 30, 2010
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
Would you believe I actually forgot it was Friday? I was able to sneak in a quick listening session during a short break between meetings, here’s what I heard:
“Let Me Love You Tonight” by Pure Prairie League (from The Best of Pure Prairie League, 1995)
“A Matter of Trust” by Billy Joel (from The Bridge, 1986)
“Rapture” by Seed (from Ling, 1994)
“Stars Fell on Alabama” by Cannonball Adderly & John Coltrane (from Cannonball & Coltrane, 1960)
“3×5” by John Mayer (from Room for Squares, 2001)
What’s on your shuffle today?
Recap: 2010’s McDowell Mountain Music Festival
I’ll admit, my first feeling was of disappointment when I found out a few months back that the 7th McDowell Mountain Music Festival was scaling down – from the spacious polo field of Scottsdale’s Westworld to the parking lot adjacent to the Compound Grill. But my feelings quickly changed to ones of thankfulness and support toward a genuinely good group of people who were determined not to fold it up and call it quits in these tough economic times.
After spending most of Saturday and all of Sunday at the festival, it was clear to me that not only had the festival organizers pulled it off, but they had created a very special and intimate experience for everyone involved. By scaling down the event and bringing everyone and everything closer together, it actually helped enhance the experience. I couldn’t help but feel a stronger sense of community than years past. By the end of the weekend, there were familiar and friendly faces everywhere I looked. And of course, the cozy atmosphere also brought us all closer to the great music.
There was no hot black asphalt to be found within the festival. Fresh green sod had been laid end to end, side to side. The food tent featured a delicious and unique menu provided by the adjoining Compound Grill – delicious turkey burgers, Korean BBQ tacos (teeny-tiny, but delicious), chicken & rice bowls, burritos, and churros with Prickly Pear Jam (a favorite of both my daughters). The beer tent featured about a dozen microbrews – New Belgium brews, Abita, Flying Dog, and others. There were vendors and crafts for the kids…
White Hinterland, “No Logic” (Alan Wilkis remix)
Remixing the ambient dream-pop of White Hinterland is not a task for the weak. Thankfully, electrofunketeer Alan Wilkis is no slouch in the remix chair. Taking the otherwise demure original “No Logic,” from the band’s new release Kairos, and spinning it on its end with a musical drumbeat and his signature sense of funk; Wilkis manages to breathe a gust of life into an otherwise lifeless track. Check it out:
White Hinterland – “No Logic” (Alan Wilkis remix)
The Friday Five: April 23, 2010
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
“Nothin’ On You (feat. Bruno Mars)” by B.o.B. (from The Adventures of Bobby Ray, 2010)
I remember first hearing B.o.B. — aka Bobby Ray – back in 2008 with his track “I’ll Be in the Sky,” and just as abruptly as he appeared, he was gone. A deft amalgam of Andre 3000 and Kanye with the sensibility and flow of Q-Tip, Bobby Ray manages to sound fresh, despite bringing some classic hip-hop clichés to bear. All that shit aside, this track made me giddy like a 12-year-old girl the first time I heard it. Evoking the classic summer single, there just in time to shake off the cold and ready to bump at maximum volume with the car windows down, this cut definitely deserves all the spins it’s getting. It may be “what the kids are listening to,” but in this case, I’m down.
“Hole Hearted” by Extreme (from Extreme II: Pornograffitti, 1990)
Take a open major D chord and shuffle it up the fretboard of a well mic’ed 12-string guitar and you’ve got yourself the recipe for the classic coda to Extreme’s magnum opus Extreme II: Pornograffitti. Seriously, could it get any more extreme? Is it cheesy as hell? Of course it is, let’s look at the lyrics: “If I’m not blind why can’t I see / that a circle can’t fit / where a square should be.” Pass the Gouda, please.
“Head Crusher” by Megadeth (from Endgame, 2009)
If given the choice between listening to a new Megadeth record and a new Metallica record, I will always choose the Megadeth, because no matter who is playing behind Dave Mustaine, you know exactly what it is going to sound like. Hell, at this point, the worst song on a new Megadeth record is still better than the best that James, Lars and company have to offer.
“Ice Cream (feat. Ghostface Killah, Method Man & Cappadonna)” by Raekwon (from Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, 1995)
Speaking of songs that scream “summer,” this track was the jam back in the day, when I had a stereo system in the car that was worthy of turning up. While it might just be me, does anyone else feel like the Wu-Tang fell off after this? Take Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Method Man’s Tical, Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s The Return To The 36 Chambers – The Dirty Version, Genius/GZA’s Liquid Swords, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, and maybe Ghostface Killah’s Ironman – and that’s a big maybe – and you’ve got the makings of a legacy by which almost anything short of “classic” is really lesser. Sure, there have been shining moments after, but nothing that feels as raw and real as the freshmen releases.
“You Are the Woman” by Firefall (from Greatest Hits, 1992)
I’m not going to lie; I love this song. I love its stupid flute solo. I love just about every stupid thing about it.
What’s on your shuffle today?
Flash Delirium
Really enjoying this new MGMT album, and especially the song “Flash Delirium”.
They made a video for this tune, and yeah, it’s pretty o-u-t t-h-e-r-e. An A for originality.
Live from Daryl’s House: T-Bone’s Last Performance
It’s been almost 2 months since the world lost Tom “T-Bone” Wolk from a heart attack at the age of 58. It’ll be an odd feeling to watch Daryl Hall go forward without T-Bone at his side.
The latest episode of Live From Daryl’s House is bittersweet, to put it mildly. It marks the final time that Daryl Hall and John Oates played with their longtime pal and music director. It takes place at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival early this year. Joining Daryl, John and T-Bone are Maxi Priest and gray-dreadlocked Billy Ocean.
As usual with this great series, the behind the scenes footage between songs is just as enjoyable as the music (as is Shanique, the bartender at Memorabilia bar).
But it’s hard not to feel a helpless sadness as you watch T-Bone, so full of life and good humor at the time, knowing what was soon to come. At the same time, it’s a blessing to have footage like this, documenting his passion for music and life.
Maybe it’ll all make sense some day. For now though, it sure doesn’t. RIP T-Bone.
Watch Episode 29 of Live From Daryl’s House, featuring John Oates, Maxi Priest, and Billy Ocean