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!
Ickmusic’s Friday Five: May 30, 2008
Four day work weeks always throw me for a loop. If it weren’t for the season finale of Lost being on last night I may very well have missed this week’s Friday Five. That said let’s cut straight to the main course…
Here are this week’s tracks:
1. Crash Test Dummies – Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm (from Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm)
This has to be one of the oddest tunes ever. Three seemingly unrelated tales with a disjointed chorus that consists merely of a hummed tune and somehow it was a huge hit.
2. Taco – Puttin’ on the Ritz (from Taco: The Greatest Hits)
It’s shaping up to be an odd shuffle with another bizarre “one hit wonder” track, this time from the 80’s. Taking the Irving Berlin and putting a new wave twist on it this was a radio staple for the better part of the decade. It’s aged surprisingly well and I really enjoyed hearing it again. I imagine ya’ll might too…
3. Snoop Dogg – Who Am I (What’s My Name?) (from Doggystyle)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Funky as hell, Snoop never disappoints. A little bit of Funkadelic‘s “(Not Just) Knee Deep” and a sprinkle of George Clinton‘s “Atomic Dog” makes for a instant party starter.
4. Beastie Boys – Body Movin’ (Fatboy Slim remix) (from Anthology: The Sounds of Science)
Looks like the shuffle is gonna keep the party moving with some help from Bed-Stuy’s favorite sons with a detour to Kent courtesy of Mr. Norman Cook.
5. Shania Twain – You’re Still the One (from Come on Over)
There was a time when you could not escape this tune. Hell, even Prince covered it. Perhaps a bit ironic these days (the tune was written by Twain in response to critics of her and soon to be ex-husband Robert “Mutt” Lange) it still stands as a beautiful testament to the power of love.
Now it’s your turn, grab a Coke, Pepsi, Stella or Mojito, hit shuffle and let the world know what’s getting you started on your weekend!
Money at the Moon by Matt Hartin
A combination of job-related sleep deprivation, a stomach ailment of some sort, and post-holiday weekend laziness have conspired to keep me away from posting any new material for a few days. Apologies to those who notice.
I got a short & sweet email (just the way I like ’em) from Matt Hartin last week: “I’ve been checkin your blog lately and thought you might like this.” Spooky. I did like it. And I think you will too.
The song, “Money at the Moon”, has that alt-country, saloon duet feel that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Steve Earle album. I could picture Mark Knopfler rockin’ this tune too. Don’t know what it is… But this song belongs to Matt Hartin. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, right? This tune reached out and grabbed me, and I’ll be checking out more of Mr. Hartin.
Matt has a nice little site he’s put together. In one of the sections, he writes about what inspired him to write “Money at the Moon”…
While attending an art gallery opening, a painting caught my eye. The title was Throwing Our Money at the Moon. I spoke to the artist, Jamie Frankie, who told me that he and his wife like to take their coin jar down to the big tree in the field behind their house when the moon is full. They make a wish and throw their money at the moon. Mrs. Frankie’s first name is Penny. Seriously. Thus inspired, the words just spilled out and were put to a melody I had laying around for a long time.
Matt Hartin – Money at the Moon (mp3)
Buy the Let It Go EP for $5 (you can preview the EP here):
Visit: Matt Hartin.comBand of Horses at Amoeba Records (full performance)
Wow!
Looking forward to Austin City Limits Festival. The more I hear (and see), the more I like.Thanks Amoeba Records.
