tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279553184620367632024-02-21T03:56:26.322-06:00Ten Thousand Words (on Music)"Ain't It Like Most People (I'm no different); we love to talk on things we don't know about." (Avett Brothers)specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-65820776105785466482014-01-01T12:12:00.000-06:002014-01-01T12:23:07.501-06:00Polar Dash 10k Sound Track<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YghtqMNTfbvUY71AlQVWdAKR4nOD6ha8kASe230PIDGmy0x7doPjMXHL8cJ0WoIggPkDnQFFj66AjLkWJOhBPAG1eCf-b1bMemyYdnP1G0GeOs5oYl-dFGWtIVLbcTV-It6Hce-31KqD/s1600/polardash10kmetal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Polar Dash 10k FINISHER" border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YghtqMNTfbvUY71AlQVWdAKR4nOD6ha8kASe230PIDGmy0x7doPjMXHL8cJ0WoIggPkDnQFFj66AjLkWJOhBPAG1eCf-b1bMemyYdnP1G0GeOs5oYl-dFGWtIVLbcTV-It6Hce-31KqD/s320/polardash10kmetal.JPG" title="Polar Dash 10k FINISHER" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks so pretty...once the ice melts <br />
off your eyelashes so you can see it...<br />
and you peel it off of where it froze to your hand...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<h2>
-4F, with wind chill -18F; no reason to dillydally</h2>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>I
and Love and You (Avett Brothers)—<i>as always; tradition requires it</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>January
Wedding (Avett Brothers)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>January
Song (Billy Bragg)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Good
& Gone (Frank Turner)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Little
Lion Man (Mumford & Sons)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Plain
Sailing Weather (Frank Turner)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Prizefighter
(Eels)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>The
Crane (Trip Shakespeare)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Way
Over Yonder in a Minor Key (Billy Bragg)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Badlands (Bruce Springsteen)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Devil’s
Haircut (Beck)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Dillinger's
Eyes (Jeremy Messersmith)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Four Simple
Words (Frank Turner)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Elevation
(U2)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>The Warmest
Room (Billy Bragg)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Yeah, I’m not that fast. On the plus side, it means I get to listen to more music. Official final time: 57:50)</div>
specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-84782378904511602322013-12-31T19:15:00.000-06:002014-01-17T00:53:25.845-06:00Totally Biased, Only Moderately Informed, By No Means Comprehensive, Completely Capricious Personal Favorites of 2013<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I began by thinking of this post as a “best of” or “top of
2013” list, but that just seems too inaccurate. I know how much I don’t know
about all the music that came out this year; so I’d be leaving off
music/artists that would manifest themselves as dope-slaps later (see
“how-the-hell-did-I-miss-them?” category). I also don’t want to get into noting
music or artists from this year that “Yeah, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> know, but for me—ehhh, not so much.” Also, if all politics is
local, certainly all music is local, too. So my perceptions are skewed both by
concerts available to me here and the musicians based here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h2>
So here instead are my “Totally Biased, Only Moderately
Informed, By No Means Comprehensive, Completely Capricious Personal Favorites”
of the year 2013.</h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
Favorite New (more or less) Artists of 2013</h3>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://jakebugg.com/" target="_blank">Jake Bugg</a></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What can I say—I’m getting nostalgic for some good old
British punk. And he delivers it fresh, 2013 style, not frozen in some 1980s
cryogenically preserved rehash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two fingers and two thumbs up.</i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://valeriejune.com/" target="_blank">Valerie June</a></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A voice like nothing else. If Valerie June
met the devil and Robert Johnson at the crossroads, they’d be so darn charmed,
one would offer to play backup and the other would happily just hand her
success—no strings attached. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And bake her
a pie. </i><br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
Favorite How-the-Hell-Did-I-Miss-Them-Until-Now Artists of
2013</h3>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://frank-turner.com/news/" target="_blank">Frank Turner</a></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the humiliating “what rock have you
been hiding under?” category, but still it does seem like you’da thunk I would
have run across Frank Turner’s name by now. At the ripe old age of 32, he’s
practically an elder statesman. Or, as he might put it “God
dammit Amy, we<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Frank.</i></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
</h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://charlieparr.com/" target="_blank">Charlie Parr</a></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seriously, the man lives in my own state, has
been a fixture for more than a decade, and literally I only seem to notice his
name this year? There were teenagers at a recent performance who knew every word
of this rootys blues artist’s songs. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teenagers.</i>
They didn’t even have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">iPods</i> to listen
to him on yet when he first started recording, for god’s sake. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wakey
wakey.</i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://americanmary.com/" target="_blank">The National</a></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok, they were on my mind with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">High Velvet</i>, but even that was so far
from their first rodeo that I’m thinking maybe I fell off my own bronco and
suffered some sort of memory loss that I’m only now really paying attention. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Trouble Will Find Me</i> much more quickly
than this blogger found The National. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hel-LOOOO</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">—oooh.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
Favorite Singles</h3>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Good and Gone (Frank Turner)</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/0dzMIPn3YEQ?rel=0" width="560"></iframe> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dzMIPn3YEQ"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dzMIPn3YEQ</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I frankly (ha!) could have picked any one of a number of
titles off <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tape Deck Heart</i>, but
there’s something about the wheels-on-road guitar strum and refrain
“Sometimes the things you need are right back where you started from” that has
you suddenly bursting out singing it at strange moments. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So
fuck you Hollywood<br />
For raising us on dreams of happy endings<br />
In postcards of the prom kings and the prom queens<br />
For teaching us that love was free and easy</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h4>
No One Knows Nothing Anymore (Billy Bragg)</h4>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6xDd-BvClH8?feature=player_embedded" width="560"></iframe>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xDd-BvClH8"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xDd-BvClH8</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bragg’s strengths are in poetry not pottery, he says, although
both build something artistic and useful out of lumps of nothing. Ah, Nothing
and Nothingness: cue quavering bass. I can’t get the simple yet well-krafted
visual of a Zen Buddhist finding humanity frustratingly unfathomable from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No One Knows Nothing </i>out of my head—no
matter how hard I bang said head against a wall. It’s been that kind of a
political and personal year. But, of course, being Billy Bragg, he still turns
“nothingness” into “hopeful new beginning.” I guess he just can’t help himself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">High
up on a mountain top, somebody with a skinhead crop<br />
Is thinking deep thoughts for us all.<br />
Serenity is all around, but if you listen you can hear the sound<br />
Of one head being banged against the wall.<br />
<br />
But what if our ancestors had stayed up in the trees<br />
Would we still be weighed down by these worries?<br />
<br />
No one knows nothing anymore<br />
Nobody really knows the score<br />
Since nobody knows anything<br />
Let</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s break it down and start again</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
What
Doesn’t Kill You (Jake Bugg)</h4>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/bxjZbFpBpbE?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxjZbFpBpbE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxjZbFpBpbE</a><br />
Something on this “Favorite Songs” list
needs to be able to be cranked up to 11 and danced to hard, and this one
certainly allows you to do that. It’s a simple lyric in some ways, yet a
perfect, “well, welcome to the school of hard knocks” anthem that’s needed when
you enter your 20s… and 30s…and 40s... and—you get the picture. (In that way, it’s
similar to Turner’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Good and Gone</i>, which
sums it all up in one particularly tired “Oh, fuck you.”)<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What doesn</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>t kill ya?<br />
What doesn</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>t hurt?<br />
Sometimes you feel you</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>re up against the world <br />
What doesn</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>t kill ya?<br />
What doesn</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>t break?<br />
This life it seems can bring you to your knees<br />
You try you bleed, then finally you breathe.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Line of Fire (Junip)</span></h4>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/omb4zzbvEeY?feature=player_embedded" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omb4zzbvEeY"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omb4zzbvEeY</span></a><br />
One word: haunting. From the first time you heard it to the last time you heard
it: haunting. I’m sure 20 years from now it will haunt us again, resurfacing on
some film soundtrack or unearthed by some kid from the old folk’s record
collection. <i>Turns out not everything they listened to was total shite after all,
eh kid?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
If put to the test<br />
Would you step back from the line of fire<br />
Hold everything back<br />
All emotions and desires<br />
<br />
Convince yourself to be someone else<br />
And hold back from the world<br />
Your lack of confidence<br />
What you choose to believe in<br />
Dictates your rise or your fall</div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Good Friend (Cloud Cult)</span></h4>
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/07pDgNMJbDo?feature=player_embedded" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07pDgNMJbDo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07pDgNMJbDo</a></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“All
I need is a good, good friend.” I can get behind that sentiment, and at this
point we need something cheerful, don’t we? That said, there’s certainly still
sadness to this song, but the chorus soars and lifts you up with it. I could
have instead suggested as this song’s more melancholy twin the kidney punch
that is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Elephant</i> by Jason Isbell. But
since I’ve already got none of us knowing anything and the rest of us good and
gone and in the line of fire and almost killed</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;">—well, I don’t want any potential
readers too depressed to read on, so I’m sticking with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Good Friend</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of us are laughing, while some of us are choking <br />
Some of us can<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>t change til every bone has been broken. <br />
All the while the maker just sits there joking, <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“</span>You never really were
alone.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span> <br />
<br />
All I need is a good good friend <br />
To get me through this…. <span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3>
Favorite Albums</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzECl-LQLpAxvqyXgsN2nYti2C8cVo-AjHHhDznKGCIjb7R6ZW_-H3t99vIbwkztLfS2rwypV-rXmdgyPoLMBpARECkeCiznl_SY8xTmySfTbUhtHbUNCPTvCMEdyuxDLgQPR3QbKoWf04/s1600/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzECl-LQLpAxvqyXgsN2nYti2C8cVo-AjHHhDznKGCIjb7R6ZW_-H3t99vIbwkztLfS2rwypV-rXmdgyPoLMBpARECkeCiznl_SY8xTmySfTbUhtHbUNCPTvCMEdyuxDLgQPR3QbKoWf04/s200/th.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<h4>
<a href="http://www.billybragg.co.uk/toothandnail.php" target="_blank"><i>Tooth and Nail</i> (Billy Bragg)</a></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With the exception of the Mermaid Avenue records, this is hands
down Bragg’s best album since <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don’t Try
This at Home</i>. Between then and now, he put out some solid music, positioned
himself as much as a political writer at home as a musician, put on the mantle
of godfather to a younger, up-and-coming pool of musicians (now referring to
himself as “Uncle Billy” and “Folkie-wan Kenobi”). He’s also at this point a
fully adopted member of the Americana
clan. But for all that aging and evolving he sounds quite fundamentally and
quintessentially Bill Bragg on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tooth and
Nail</i>. He jangles, he croons, he rocks, he twangs, he fist-pumps, he holds toes
to the fire, he continues to unite us all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the itching-to-begin opening <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">of January Song</i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
I’m so tightly wound and tensioned</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Feel just like a guitar string</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Waiting to reveal emotions</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Touch me and you’ll hear me sing</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To the authority-challenging verses of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No One Knows Nothing</i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Let</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s stop pretending<br />
We can manage our way out of here.<br />
Let</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s stop defending the indefensible.<br />
Let</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s stop relying on<br />
The lecturing of the experts<br />
Whose spin just makes our plight incomprehensible.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To the
equal parts flawed, faithful, and infuriating lover in several songs, including
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Swallow My Pride</i>:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">How can a man be strong</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If he can’t even lift a telephone and say he’s wrong?</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And
of course the inspirational Bragg in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tomorrow’s
Gonna Be a Better Day:</i></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To the misanthropic, misbegotten merchants of gloom</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Who look into their crystal balls and prophesize our
doom,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Let the death knell chime, it’s the end of time</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Let the cynics put their blinkers on and toast our
decline</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Don’t become demoralized by this chorus of complaint</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It’s a sure sign that the old world is terminally quaint</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tomorrow’s going to be a better day</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">No matter what the siren voices say</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tomorrow’s gong to be a better day</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We’re going to make it that way. </span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Let’s
hope Mr. Bragg forgets the brutal tour schedule he’s given himself in 2013 and
instead just remembers delivering a satisfying album in only 5 days (thanks to
the clearly magical Joe Henry) and so (the hard part of the labor forgotten) delivers
another bouncing baby bragg in 2014 or at least 2015. Five years is too long to
wait. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We’re not getting any younger, Uncle Billy.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h4>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG6yTKBKgMw3i3Pm1a3v8u5oUI_BZiZ8eazkRyM8h27KTlfEwRkV-IhKbdIwRWzXcgraraZtROwBXS69GNGTZTsrA4VMmvN32vFrI3s4XaiyWIBuZ5lBobsfTpEaKKOYkq-p-S0XFryWm/s1600/frankturnercd2013600.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG6yTKBKgMw3i3Pm1a3v8u5oUI_BZiZ8eazkRyM8h27KTlfEwRkV-IhKbdIwRWzXcgraraZtROwBXS69GNGTZTsrA4VMmvN32vFrI3s4XaiyWIBuZ5lBobsfTpEaKKOYkq-p-S0XFryWm/s200/frankturnercd2013600.jpeg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="http://frank-turner.com/discography/tape-deck-heart/" target="_blank"><i>Tape Deck Heart </i>(Frank Turner)</a></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I mean fuck, god damn, this album
is good! Quite literally, “fuck” and “god damn” as Turner does use those words
liberally on the album. My English major mind did at first make me want to say, <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“</span>Come on, Frank, use your big boy words,<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span> but FUCK GOD DAMN he DOES.
O joy to find lyrics that are poetic and yet something you<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>d shout and dance
to. English major mind satisfied. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are so many gems on here,
whether in the stories told through the lyrics or the poetry of the lyrics, it’s
hard to not just scan the whole booklet and link to it, but here are a few:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Plain Sailing Weather</i> [extra points
for referencing a favorite movie of mine]</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Amelie
lied to me: This was supposed to be easy. I found</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The one
damn person to help me fall asleep in the night.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
But
sleeping gets tiring, and dark reminds me of dying</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
And as
long as this feeble heart is still beating, you will</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Find me rushing
through every room, switching on all the lights.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Tell Tale Signs</i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
You know you
kind of remind me of scars on my arms</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
That I hid
as best I could, that I covered with ink, but in</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The right
kind of light they still bleed through,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Showing
that there are some things I just can’t change</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
No matter
what I do: the tell-tale signs of being used, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Of being
trapped inside of you.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Fisher King Blues</i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
We were
born without meaning, we will die without reason, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
and the
world will not shrug all that much at our passing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Yes you
can try and try and try.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
But no one
ever makes it out alive.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Broken Piano</i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
I found
the hulk, the rusting bulk</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Of a
shattered old piano.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Someone had
torn out some of the keys</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
With cruel
care, not thoughtlessly,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
In such a
way that one could only play</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Minor
melodies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
So I sat
down in my sadness, beneath your window,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
And played
sad songs on the minor keys of a broken piano.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And he<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s willing to take risks
musically, as he does in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Broken Piano</i>
(whether due to hubris or hutzpah, but I’ll shortly establish I appreciate
hutzpah). I don<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>t think I<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>ve heard something like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Broken Piano</i> dropped into what is essentially a rock album (for all his labeling by “real
critics” as some sort of folk offshoot) since Jeff
Buckley dropped a little something called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Corpus
Christi Carol</i> smack between <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lover,
You Should Have Come Over</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eternal
Life</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The imagery and lyricism of the
song deserve the <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“</span>unusual<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span> vocal treatment. And kudos as well for
making <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Broken Piano</i> remind me of two
other favorites <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Way Over Yonder in
a Minor Key</i> and (oh, how things can be tied together) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hallelujah</i> (<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“</span>It goes like
this, the fourth the fifth; the minor chord, the major lift...the baffled king
composing hallelujah.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have long used the guide that if
you like at least 3 songs off an album, you should get the album. That’s my
tipping point. Invariably, I find on the album more great songs that haven’t
made it into radio rotation. Of course, in these days of streaming, this is an
old-fashioned notion all the way around. But my point here is that I don’t just
like 3 or so songs off this album, I like all 12. Wait—who am I kidding?—I pretty
much <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">love</i> all the songs on this
album, and since mine is the one with bonus tracks, technically that number is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">16</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The only thing missing from this
album is a guarantee in writing—for instance, in a tattoo on his person—that Frank
Turner will be putting out another such in 2014. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pretty please, Frank?</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSCYqwoCwDIPxMazcVqFudPyIZvd27beHP89qirS67o9xHA8eoKGOYuqRRm7j-o3f0Zao3D7gbw3VdiFs2hyphenhyphenh6wcRQkbzakckQ-nAgEkLezUlfjr6_P63OeZcUrNiSmZxf131aZ4e_n_e/s1600/tpushingjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSCYqwoCwDIPxMazcVqFudPyIZvd27beHP89qirS67o9xHA8eoKGOYuqRRm7j-o3f0Zao3D7gbw3VdiFs2hyphenhyphenh6wcRQkbzakckQ-nAgEkLezUlfjr6_P63OeZcUrNiSmZxf131aZ4e_n_e/s200/tpushingjpg.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://valeriejune.com/" target="_blank"><i>Pushin</i></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://valeriejune.com/" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span> Against a Stone </i>(Valerie June)</a></span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://tenthousandwordsonmusic.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-valerie-june-rose-in-december.html" target="_blank">Elsewhere </a>I gave a rundown of some issues I had had with this album, but when your criticism is that you love the person<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s voice so much that you want to hear it even more front-and-center that<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s not much of a criticism, now, is it?<br />
<br />
Where to begin? I guess with <i>Workin</i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span> Woman</i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s Blues</i>, since it starts the collection. I just love that this is that old blues style and yet so fresh—and coming from a woman. About time! Hey, if anybody knows the blues, it<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s women. Step aside, boys, Valerie June is here. <i>Tennessee Time</i> and you<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>re in another place, a little further north and more country, but also still in another time (<i>Tennessee</i> time, of course). <i>You Can</i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>t Be Told</i> yet another <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“</span>like nothing else / crank up the radio<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span> tune. And then the dark <i>Shotgun</i>—like I said, boys, step aside.<br />
<br />
I skipped over several songs, as I’ve already reached my “more than 3 songs” threshold, but with the full intention of coming back to <i>Somebody to Love, </i>which you can hear not one but <i>two</i> ways on this collection. I think what would have been perfect would have been the arrangement of the original track two, but with the main vocal brought more forward as on the <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“</span>hidden<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span> (or twelfth) track. Not quite the same thing, as this is just a shared song <i>title</i> not the same <i>song</i> as Jefferson Airplane, but as Otis Redding purportedly said of Aretha<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s <i>Respect</i> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“</span><span class="st">That girl stole my song</span>. <i><br /><br />If you need somebody (musically) to love, let me recommend Valerie June.</i><br />
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<h4>
Very Honorable Mention: <a href="http://www.theavettbrothers.com/music/magpie-and-the-dandelion/" target="_blank">The Avett Brothers, </a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.theavettbrothers.com/music/magpie-and-the-dandelion/" target="_blank">The Magpie and the Dandelion</a> </i></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnd3PGvbAkrH9qWNp8DC7rAHroUydNarY0Cz6ixTzZKW6iaW_UenJwjrkkyuaUQK8wb7FAdhRQg04pVdl-qB8b6c0CeqeQ27yRgsmXK8fJRNf3mTy2odNutdRaTLpJ2ooF5mhYdzgp2YQ/s1600/tave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnd3PGvbAkrH9qWNp8DC7rAHroUydNarY0Cz6ixTzZKW6iaW_UenJwjrkkyuaUQK8wb7FAdhRQg04pVdl-qB8b6c0CeqeQ27yRgsmXK8fJRNf3mTy2odNutdRaTLpJ2ooF5mhYdzgp2YQ/s200/tave.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i>Having delivered <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I and Love and You</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Carpenter</i>, and touring and
touring and touring you’d think the bros would perhaps have nothing left to
give as soon as 2013. But no, they crank out another gem (or, rather, discover
it among the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carpenter</i> sessions).<br />
<br />
But
perhaps what blows everything away is bassist Bob Crawford and his family’s
circumstances, as their little girl Hallie fights brain cancer. If you think
you’re having a rough day, check out this: <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9fK-sMm7ys#t=537"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9fK-sMm7ys#t=537</span></a>.
On the lighter side of Avett Brothers band parenting experiences, there’s this: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAtFqDhV6As"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAtFqDhV6As</span></a>.
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /><br />Three words that just get easier and
easier to say about The Avett Brothers: I and Love and You.</i></span></div>
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Favorite Performances </h3>
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<h4>
Billy Bragg – Cedar Cultural Center (Sept)</h4>
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Oh, yeah, big
surprise there. I am unapologetically a big Billy Bragg fan, so of course that was
my favorite show. I’ve already elsewhere noted that Bragg is to his fans as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lembas</i> are to hobbits traveling through
Mordor: enheartening, delivering the strength to get up and live another day.
And it’s not that he’s relentlessly cheerful. It’s more like he’s just …
relentless. He’s a wide-eyed optimist but in a twist of that meaning “Eyes open
wide, knows what he’s looking at, and yet still an optimist.” When he sang
“Tomorrow’s gonna be a better day, we’re gonna make it that way” by golly
everyone at the Cedar believed him. Still do, months later.</div>
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Bragg gets flack from various social media trolls that claim
he’s now a sell-out and “champagne socialist,” living in a fancy house—but the
man said clearly more than 30 years ago “I like toast as much as anyone, but
not for breakfast, dinner, and tea.” Apparently, they weren’t listening then,
either, to what he’s trying to say. Apparently some people’s interpretation of
all people having a decent standard of living means…people aren’t supposed to
have a decent standard of living??? Ok—that makes no sense, trolls. If the
trolls did as much pro bono and sheer advocacy work in their entire lives as he
does in a single week (including, as he had done that day, appear at a union
rally at the U of M), the world would be a better place and we’d all be washing
down our toast with champagne. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Prost</i>, <i>Uncle Billy.</i>
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Anyway, he writes good songs, he tells good stories, and he
gives you hope. There you have it—end of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rhapsody
in Bill</i>: Favorite Performance. Period.</div>
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<h4>
Trip
Shakespeare Reunion – New Standards Holiday Show (Dec)
</h4>
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<a href="http://www.thecurrent.org/listen/minnesota/the_current/performances/2013/12/23/new_standards_holiday_show_2013_20131223"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.thecurrent.org/listen/minnesota/the_current/performances/2013/12/23/new_standards_holiday_show_2013_20131223</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(beginning at about 1:09:15)</div>
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I’m sure Elaine Harris’s family and friends love her, but I
still bet not so many have yelled so loud just because she walked into a room
as what happened at that first New Standards Twin Cities show this year. The
guys have played together before, but it wasn’t a true reunion without Elaine
as well—after a 20-year hiatus. And a lovely twist on the perennial performance
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Snow Days</i> at this show to have the
originating band play it (although also fun to have Chan Poling guest-sing the
bridge and lyric-drop his own recently<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>reunited (although we don’t know for how long) ‘80s band The Suburbs in
the middle of it. <br />
<br />
This “Favorite” is very much personal, as I was one of those
people listening to Trip Shakespeare in the backs of tiny bars with crowds of
perhaps 30-40 people, back in the late 80s. Substitute your own reunion memory
you hopefully had yourself this year, and we’ll just smile nostalgically at
each other as we each take our own “TripS” down memory lane.</div>
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Low – Rock the Garden (June)</h4>
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This gets the award just for sheer hutzpah and
it couldn’t have been all that easy to pull off. But perhaps I should explain, as news of the “Drone Not Drones”
performance may not have reached you? I’m actually indebted to someone in the
audience near me for confirming that, at the end of the “performance,” that is
indeed what Alan Sparhawk said. </div>
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I will admit I was at first disappointed when I realized
that all Low was intending to play was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do
You Know How to Waltz</i> turned into one long drone (yes, literally, just what
would be normally described as drone, played by the 3 players, for their entire
set), resulting in a big social media and local music scene brouhaha. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had heard Sparhawk’s Retribution Gospel
Choir several times but I had yet to actually hear <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Low</i> perform (I know, I know—this blog is just one humiliating
revelation after another), and I had been looking forward to it. </div>
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But it struck me while they were still droning on stage that
perhaps I was actually seeing the most Low-like concert anyone was ever going
to see: That this was perhaps the penultimate,
what-better-captures-the-unique-entity-that-is-Low performance than this
political statement. Plus, it looked like something of a performance feat to
me. It had the feel of a jazz improvisation piece, sustained over about 20
minutes (as I can see from the video—I didn’t clock it myself at the time; I
was busy staring and tilting my head from side to side like dogs do in TV commercials).</div>
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<h4>
Honorable Mention: Valerie June – Cedar Cultural Center (Dec)</h4>
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<br />
Did I already mention she is
charming? And her voice is like nothing else? Yep, I guess I did. <i>Catch her at
a small venue while you still can.</i></div>
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Favorite Touching Concert Moment: </h3>
Joe Henry (yep, guy who
produced Billy Bragg’s album) performing a stripped-down <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Taken on the Chin</i>, dedicated to Slim Dunlap’s wife. <i>Somebody hand me a hankie. </i>(The
Dakota, 12/3)</div>
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Favorite Humorous Concert Moment: </h3>
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<br />
Benson Ramsey’s (The Pines) journey to the center of the earth. Read the <a href="http://tenthousandwordsonmusic.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-pines-cedar-molten-lava-and-forest.html" target="_blank">video setup I put in another blog post</a> and play the video.
What makes this so funny to me? Is it what he’s saying? Or how he’s saying it?
Or how little it has to do with anything he was doing before or did after?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, it’s the indulgent reaction of his fellow
band members; that’s what really makes it for me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i>Goof ball. </i> </span>(Cedar Cultural Center 11/22)</div>
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Favorite Ironic Concert Moment: </h3>
Father John Misty, having
just chastised the audience about being present in the moment rather than
filming it and so got people to put away their cell phones, then turning around and asking if anybody had
caught on their cell phone the freak boomerang shot to his forehead made by a
demo CD flung on the stage by someone in the audience. Nope. Sorry, dude. <i>Don’t
worry, no Father John Mistys were harmed in the not-making of this film.</i> (First
Avenue 10/11)</div>
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Favorite Classy Concert Moment: </h3>
Father John Misty not being
mad about getting hit in the forehead as noted above. Of course the collective
gasp of horror from the audience would have had some ameliorating effect; but
still, he had the right to make at least a little fuss and chose instead to
absolve the (probably also horrified) guy, and undoubtedly saved him from getting
escorted from the building.</div>
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<h3>
#1 Overall Favorite Concert Moment<br />(Technically, After-Concert-in-Autograph-Line Moment): </h3>
Getting a hug from Billy Bragg (a very
kind man; have I mentioned he’s a favorite of mine?). Technically a hug has
nothing to do with music, except as a tangible, physical manifestation of how
good music can make you feel.</div>
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And on that note, bring on 2014.</div>
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specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-4987050809953855302013-12-31T15:11:00.001-06:002013-12-31T16:47:51.402-06:002013 Top 50 Singles <h2>
Totally Uninformed, Incomplete, and Prejudiced Top 50 Songs of 2013.</h2>
<br />
<h4>
(No artist allowed more than 2 songs; listed alphabetically by song title.)</h4>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 533px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9691; mso-width-source: userset; width: 199pt;" width="265"></col>
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</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt; width: 199pt;" width="265">Cloud Cult</td>
<td style="width: 201pt;" width="268">1x1x1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Pixies</td>
<td>Bagboy</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Jeff Tweedy</td>
<td>Ballad of the Opening Band</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros</td>
<td>Better Days</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Neko Case</td>
<td>Bracing for Sunday</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Mazzy Star</td>
<td>California</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Nine Inch Nails</td>
<td>Came Back Haunted</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Polica</td>
<td>Chain My Name</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Cage the Elephant</td>
<td>Come A Little Closer</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Black Joe Lewis</td>
<td>Come to My Party</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Dan Wilson</td>
<td>Disappearing</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Tame Impala</td>
<td>Feels Like We Only Go Backwards</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Janelle Monae</td>
<td><div role="main">
<br />
<section class="content">Givin Em What They Love</section></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">John Grant</td>
<td>GMF</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Frank Turner</td>
<td>Good and Gone</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Cloud Cult</td>
<td>Good Friend</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">The National</td>
<td>Graceless</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Atoms for Peace</td>
<td>Judge, Jury, and Executioner</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Low<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></td>
<td>Just Make It Stop</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Har Mar Superstar</td>
<td>Lady, You Shot Me</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Junip</td>
<td>Line of Fire</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Laura Marling</td>
<td>Master Hunter</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Johnny Marr</td>
<td>Messenger, The</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Cold War Kids</td>
<td>Miracle Mile</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Avett Brothers</td>
<td>Morning Song</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Dawes</td>
<td>Most People</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Eels</td>
<td>New Alphabet</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Billy Bragg</td>
<td>No One Knows Nothing Anymore</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Low<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></td>
<td>On My Own</td>
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<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">The Civil Wars</td>
<td>One That Got Away, The</td>
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<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Har Mar Superstar</td>
<td>Prisoner</td>
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<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Arctic Monkeys</td>
<td>R U Mine?</td>
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<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Charlie Parr</td>
<td>Rattlesnake</td>
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<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Elvis Costello and the Roots</td>
<td>Refuse to Be Saved</td>
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<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">James Blake</td>
<td>Retrograde</td>
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<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Franz Ferdinand</td>
<td>Right Actions</td>
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<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Pearl Jam</td>
<td>Sirens</td>
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<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Dessa</td>
<td>Skeleton Key</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Valerie June</td>
<td>Somebody to Love</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Dawes</td>
<td>Something in Common</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Phosphorescent</td>
<td>Song for Zula</td>
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<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Jason Isbell</td>
<td>Stockholm</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Billy Bragg</td>
<td>Swallow My Pride</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Frank Turner</td>
<td>Tell Tale Signs</td>
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<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">The Joy Formidable</td>
<td>This Later Is Ours</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Best Coast</td>
<td>This Lonely Morning</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Jeremy Messersmith</td>
<td>Tourniquet</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Jake Bugg</td>
<td>Two Fingers</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Jake Bugg</td>
<td>What Doesn't Kill You</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Mason Jennings</td>
<td>Wilderness</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Valerie June</td>
<td>Working Woman's Blues</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Black Keys</td>
<td>Your Touch</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Eels</td>
<td>You're My Friend</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"><td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">(It's actually more than 50. So sue me.)</td><td><br /></td></tr>
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specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-32213569667964167272013-12-31T01:00:00.000-06:002014-01-17T01:00:11.432-06:00When My Time Comes to See Dawes and Field Report <h2>
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<h2>
Field Report, opening for Dawes, Varsity Theater 12/30</h2>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7fXK4lnQoiTRct03-iINwSoSr_Q6WpZEc5jQiao6P1hKJSTBB8sfkAwm5RD-aNxKeZCO-seIv_PxRLLM9h1B7kE5KQoObD-NxHf9_KrtXws5X09Vjlr9yXc3uVhBEbNNa_87cb4bUcyc/s1600/20131230_231613-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7fXK4lnQoiTRct03-iINwSoSr_Q6WpZEc5jQiao6P1hKJSTBB8sfkAwm5RD-aNxKeZCO-seIv_PxRLLM9h1B7kE5KQoObD-NxHf9_KrtXws5X09Vjlr9yXc3uVhBEbNNa_87cb4bUcyc/s320/20131230_231613-sm.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terry Goldsmith of Dawes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
First off, I have to apologize to <a href="http://tenthousandwordsonmusic.blogspot.com/2013/12/still-crazy-after-all-these-years-run.html">the
young guy complaining about rude middle-aged women at the Run Westy Run show on
12/27</a>. After having stood, as had all those around me, for the last 2½ hours in order to get our first and second “row” positions to the side of
center stage—an hour prior to opening act Field Report taking stage, through
their performance, teardown, and the following setup, until Dawes was clearly
just about to take the stage—looky who comes quite literally pushing her way
into the middle of said prime positions but…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a</i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">middle-aged woman</i>. </div>
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<br /></div>
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When I comment on her rudeness, her reply? “What’s your
problem? I’m not in your way.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Well, yes,
yes you are, not just in my WAY but in my SPOT. You’re standing where half of me used to be and the
other half is where the guy on the other side of me used to be, and as you’re
bopping around, you keep knocking into the guy’s girlfriend.</i> You could see our
interloper was sizing up whether she could push all the way through to true center stage, but apparently after a while decided against it. So apologies, young
guy annoyed by obnoxious middle-aged women, and I’m embarrassed for my sex and
my age group. Thankfully, like the stellar fan she clearly was, she left a good
twenty minutes before the end of the show. Good riddance. Now on to better part
of the evening….<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3UzzWTEMdOzx03fi2jU1Q-M47JcJhZonNfth1ILRYtZfo3N4D11yeAll-fO4OzmXDHyTk_ckAyVxOy3VNoQ-1ep81yuGLKbKaQZsGBueLuWht0U2UgMYh3Rxc6Ub4YOVQc3tpemzwRCA/s1600/20131230_204354-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Field Report" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3UzzWTEMdOzx03fi2jU1Q-M47JcJhZonNfth1ILRYtZfo3N4D11yeAll-fO4OzmXDHyTk_ckAyVxOy3VNoQ-1ep81yuGLKbKaQZsGBueLuWht0U2UgMYh3Rxc6Ub4YOVQc3tpemzwRCA/s1600/20131230_204354-sm.jpg" title="Field Report" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Field Report - The report is in, and it's good news for 2013 and 2014.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_X0IA3uACKmMoLn4_54Um-VV-kxJb63J9chZUECBeYBhGLZqbGrNeiCmsRu7je_PXOHDLTOYlppSHFr0INFbWgVpC4361SAaFh68OvVIP6COQ5sZMBsg7WQf2QC1nrYqL5Aj-rIc-QgK7/s1600/20131230_204913-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_X0IA3uACKmMoLn4_54Um-VV-kxJb63J9chZUECBeYBhGLZqbGrNeiCmsRu7je_PXOHDLTOYlppSHFr0INFbWgVpC4361SAaFh68OvVIP6COQ5sZMBsg7WQf2QC1nrYqL5Aj-rIc-QgK7/s320/20131230_204913-sm.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe Goldsmith should try <br />
Christopher Porterfield's <br />
paper towel method of <br />
remembering lyrics.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.field-report.org/#f44/facebookpage">Field Report</a>
treated us to a dry run of several songs they had just recorded in Canada—so,
people, you have something to look forward to in about March. I like supporting
local (Wisconsin and Minnesota ties) bands, in particular when
first I like the song(s) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">then</i> I
discover they’re a local band, as is the case here. One advantage of being a
nonprofessional fan is you can be pleasantly surprised after-the-fact to
discover things like the Bon Iver and Megafaun connections, and details like
Field Report having opened for EmmyLou Harris (you bet your butt that’s “<a href="http://www.cmj.com/columns/on-the-verge/field-report-milwaukee-wi/">pants-shittingly
cool</a>,” Mr. Porterfield). Best case, of course, is just going to the bar and
discovering the band that happens to be playing is fantastic; but I don’t do
much in the way of bar first/music second nights these days; and you can’t be
everywhere all the time, especially if you don’t have a time machine and a
Dorian-Gray-like deal with the devil.</div>
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These songs were so new that <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Porterfield" title="Christopher Porterfield">Christopher Porterfield</a></span> commented he
had to write lyrics for one down on some paper towel so he’d be sure to
remember them. He wasn’t joking; I got a shot both of the industrial-style
paper toweling and a notebook he had at the ready on the floor. Plus, it was
fun to hear him mention that while staying in Rochester over the holidays, his parents let
the band practice in their basement. Ah, yes, Mom and Dad’s basement: Enough to
restore a sense of youth in anyone. </div>
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In addition to some new songs, we also of course heard songs
off the first album, including what must have been Porterfield’s own anthem in
2011: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am Not Waiting Anymore</i>. </div>
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All of which goes to point out something <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I</i> at least don’t need to be told: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Show up for the opening act, middle-aged
ladies.</i></div>
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Now Dawes. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;" valign="center"><a 1em="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPYq3knJSaBdXbWR54UIm71jz8sDbABN_11_BBeVFcSMfii19fcGkDbG9t5eRP3alBK9Mkkba4JJwqs84QUpCpXYRm979Lmf_o4uZdwfJTC9d8nu_guLgZqn5kob60ww3a4OfO1Qe15OD/s1600/20131230_231523-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" margin-bottom:="" margin-right:="" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPYq3knJSaBdXbWR54UIm71jz8sDbABN_11_BBeVFcSMfii19fcGkDbG9t5eRP3alBK9Mkkba4JJwqs84QUpCpXYRm979Lmf_o4uZdwfJTC9d8nu_guLgZqn5kob60ww3a4OfO1Qe15OD/s200/20131230_231523-sm.jpg" height="213" /></a><br />
<span class="tr-caption" style="font-size: .8em; text-align: center;">Tay Strathairn (rear)</span></td><td style="text-align: center;" valign="center"><a 1em="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemlAroaEeZlEqffst8bEWLtdJXKdNh2aELidwLg5QuomHr1QGtW0PmalnyyhIvSXhs2XxAU3SrFsWwcmpHO79nJR2VYaCrY7SBtqxJxHGXuIN3t9HUQsvUSiEp1MDd-RWv0zRrZkr6_xz/s1600/IMG_9046-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" margin-bottom:="" margin-right:="" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemlAroaEeZlEqffst8bEWLtdJXKdNh2aELidwLg5QuomHr1QGtW0PmalnyyhIvSXhs2XxAU3SrFsWwcmpHO79nJR2VYaCrY7SBtqxJxHGXuIN3t9HUQsvUSiEp1MDd-RWv0zRrZkr6_xz/s320/IMG_9046-sm.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a> <span class="tr-caption" style="font-size: .8em; text-align: center;">Taylor Goldsmith; next photo: Griffin Goldsmith (rear)</span></td><td style="text-align: center;" valign="center"><a 1em="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEejxsaVRXXuaXSG2NaMXDl8yGyh1M3NCn9dkKyNLshJRLs-DKI8vceTEmcaz9SNdXPiP99C1Cmx5YgkAoDXC0i6loTvjR2eQHnYXSLuTyr8dH4XrTkrXeLedtz7ZlLoKOn2_W8csfQfsc/s1600/20131230_223915-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" margin-bottom:="" margin-left:="" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEejxsaVRXXuaXSG2NaMXDl8yGyh1M3NCn9dkKyNLshJRLs-DKI8vceTEmcaz9SNdXPiP99C1Cmx5YgkAoDXC0i6loTvjR2eQHnYXSLuTyr8dH4XrTkrXeLedtz7ZlLoKOn2_W8csfQfsc/s200/20131230_223915-sm.jpg" height="213" /></a><br />
<span class="tr-caption" style="font-size: .8em; text-align: center;">Wylie Gelber</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Technically they do not have local connections; but as the <a href="http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/210492541.html">StarTribune</a>
points out, Minneapolis embraced these guys early on, due to plugs by The
Current, a music scene very open to anybody wanting to be a bit folky, whether
in the sound or just the lyrics (the latter more the case for Dawes), and,
well, there is the whole talent thing. That could have something to do with it.
</div>
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But it’s nice to be appreciated, whether you are the act or
the audience, and definitely this was another “mutual admiration society” night
at the Varsity. I cannot stress enough the necessity of both “sides” being
engaged to really make for a good event. For myself, I enjoy being able to
watch both the band <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> the crowd for
entertainment (except for the annoying few—<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">go
away, rude middle-aged lady. Oh, good, you just did.</i>).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nHhfol1zUDFwauq26htLAurj_hD3XTVwAkt_mjJvIYU18qo4MjTD366jVPJ2RDVO3d1oQomihU9-uN7DC3RFMQ9Db7ZWU-0yVzidrGCgBTVuultlNpIWvf6BBduFFlhJdSRtI4G4DtDt/s1600/IMG_9062-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nHhfol1zUDFwauq26htLAurj_hD3XTVwAkt_mjJvIYU18qo4MjTD366jVPJ2RDVO3d1oQomihU9-uN7DC3RFMQ9Db7ZWU-0yVzidrGCgBTVuultlNpIWvf6BBduFFlhJdSRtI4G4DtDt/s320/IMG_9062-sm.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Despite the many passes through town Dawes has made, this
was my first opportunity to see them live. There’s of course nothing like seeing
players live, but in this instance I also got a better sense of Taylor
Goldsmith’s guitar playing, much more than I feel it comes through on the recordings.
On the other hand, the keyboards seemed a little lost in the mix that night,
although Goldsmith, while firmly the front man, definitely made several efforts
throughout the evening to draw attention to Tay Strathairn, as well as bassist Wylie
Gelber, and drummer and little brother Griffin (he seems <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">just a</i> little proud of him<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">—and with good reason)</span>. There was also a guest appearance by a
member of Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros.</div>
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As happens with most shows where the audience clearly knows
the lyrics quite well, there were the moments when Taylor literally turned the mike over to the
crowd. It’s so common that the cynical can find it corny. But I like corn.
Plus, the smile on the band members’ faces seemed quite sincere; so even if
this happens to them multiple times a month (if not a week) while on tour, well
they appear to like corn, too.<br />
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/zGOWLndZLDc?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
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This night held something slightly more unique in that Taylor had to admit, as
he tried to perform one song (ironically, the name of which escapes me now),
that he frequently forgets the lyrics to it. He was struggling for several
long moments—enough time for mild bemusement to start slipping into
mild distress—when catching sight of someone in the front row he goes over,
kneels down, pulls out his ear piece, and comes up nodding and able to complete
the song. And no, I don’t think it was a stunt (mainly since the helpful
individual was some guy rather than a girl).</div>
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Speaking of helpful, another guy in the front row just gets
handed a copy of a setlist after the show by one of the main stagehands. Why? I
assume because after Taylor,
without knowing, had knocked over his water bottle, this guy in a split second grabbed
and uprighted it, thus saving the electronics it had been set next to. So the
tally this evening? Youngish guys: 2; middle-age women: -4 below, like the
temperature.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2lFlHeqvNclOBRWW44uGvOOSGXi-8YNfLBKBgw8hQJh8krpCK0IQeWazLPRD6oimKTdz2t3nnA8N2-IPq3-8Ip9pQ9QidMO6cG5GCO7Xfu3JegTzOketyfUh1tMvSm1a7UO2_bwtCZ8y/s1600/IMG_9071-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dawes - Taylor Goldsmith" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2lFlHeqvNclOBRWW44uGvOOSGXi-8YNfLBKBgw8hQJh8krpCK0IQeWazLPRD6oimKTdz2t3nnA8N2-IPq3-8Ip9pQ9QidMO6cG5GCO7Xfu3JegTzOketyfUh1tMvSm1a7UO2_bwtCZ8y/s1600/IMG_9071-sm.jpg" title="Dawes - Taylor Goldsmith" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbtImRRAUwJKaS_BQmdn0FAQ9op0V0LXjThzMxc6ZkWZ2TrqrZu9PWutT1CiSc9HHLNZbsnLByXP9f2OVrXjWDB8SCJpxVBjUtq3smU2CoWQzYoS3oRN0rLkGjYa8L5lNgBsRziWgtv9J/s1600/IMG_9072-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dawes - Taylor Goldsmith" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbtImRRAUwJKaS_BQmdn0FAQ9op0V0LXjThzMxc6ZkWZ2TrqrZu9PWutT1CiSc9HHLNZbsnLByXP9f2OVrXjWDB8SCJpxVBjUtq3smU2CoWQzYoS3oRN0rLkGjYa8L5lNgBsRziWgtv9J/s1600/IMG_9072-sm.jpg" title="Dawes - Taylor Goldsmith" /></a></div>
</div>
specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-73787840707926419062013-12-29T21:05:00.001-06:002013-12-29T22:10:10.184-06:00Still Crazy After All These Years - Run Westy Run Reunion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASQsVItoL2Klhij8t5HQXd8u5EbjI4YH0FUN-m-LFIzlnfJ8WJRNDDExnPVTJRi3sUm_LL9HSsXfqIw4wXwZOjl8-HHBW9nzqNf3PYXQM57V_AcZRNxtTtvV9UXQfpImidQDvEwd-xz6i/s1600/IMG_9086-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Run Westy Run" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASQsVItoL2Klhij8t5HQXd8u5EbjI4YH0FUN-m-LFIzlnfJ8WJRNDDExnPVTJRi3sUm_LL9HSsXfqIw4wXwZOjl8-HHBW9nzqNf3PYXQM57V_AcZRNxtTtvV9UXQfpImidQDvEwd-xz6i/s640/IMG_9086-sm.jpg" title="Run Westy Run" width="540" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kirk Johnson of Run Westy Run</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was a decidedly grayer than normal crowd at First Avenue on Friday, December 27, for the Run Westy Run reunion. Most of the twitter posts seemed to be reflecting either the “homecoming<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span> feeling or the geriatric nature of the audience (one from a young guy who probably has political aspirations but apparently no interest in the middle-aged female vote!).<br />
<br />
It<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s been a year of reunions, from Trip Shakespeare to The Suburbs to The Replacements (although <i>come ON, guys<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">—</span>still no LOCAL show? Even DYLAN played here this year. PRINCE is making us PANCAKES in his PAJAMAS, for criminy's sake. Show your homies some love, already.</i>) And it can be true that sometimes it<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s best to just fade away than give a halting hobbly performance that just makes your audience also realize “Shit, we <i>are</i> old, aren<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>t we?<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span><br />
<br />
But happily, I can report that Run Westy Run put on a very credible performance for their first of two reunion shows. True, lead singer Kirk Johnson didn<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>t hang from the ceiling nor did he stagedive, but then the rafters in the Mainroom are much higher than in the Entry, and while he might have survived the stage dive, who knows how many brittle hips he might have broken in the audience? Best to play it a little bit safe.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6IHJ6ZlihDMiko_Nve02M2HUf6nIVKWGoUAlaOX6r_l-vediNG4bT0snebvR2jKgiY9nyEbmJwWnNO9uppgOfZlmCl8a0-iUmc8zk-PzaT-5YM-9mISqDpHCFnJ4Tto5OAXi9zLGzGQY/s1600/IMG_9102-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6IHJ6ZlihDMiko_Nve02M2HUf6nIVKWGoUAlaOX6r_l-vediNG4bT0snebvR2jKgiY9nyEbmJwWnNO9uppgOfZlmCl8a0-iUmc8zk-PzaT-5YM-9mISqDpHCFnJ4Tto5OAXi9zLGzGQY/s400/IMG_9102-sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kirk is either taking a little nap or looking under the stage <br />
for his lost youth during a number at the show.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not that this was by any means a tame performance. Kirk started the show by emerging from a long canoe- (or coffin-) shaped box on the floor as the curtain went up, and proceeded to gyrate around the stage for pretty much the rest of the performance. Lead guitar Terry Fisher, wearing what I swear were identical pants to those worn on an old 1986 taping of a show (faded yellow by this time) intently sweat his way through every riff. If his fingers were stiff from arthritis, I couldn<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>t tell in the least.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEOqkGtSixRj0pz6w89yOfUdOr8t_joxTCOW14h9SmAfab-gHUVLNLXJOpn5GsyaUKMpIGRVB3ZyfAvL-HkmaCITbgCTxSqbhR27bYXZaUBWuI3I3lr_bmIrBZiU8W1iMNsZs1CYU0Sax/s1600/IMG_9124-sm.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEOqkGtSixRj0pz6w89yOfUdOr8t_joxTCOW14h9SmAfab-gHUVLNLXJOpn5GsyaUKMpIGRVB3ZyfAvL-HkmaCITbgCTxSqbhR27bYXZaUBWuI3I3lr_bmIrBZiU8W1iMNsZs1CYU0Sax/s320/IMG_9124-sm.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terry Fisher: Plaid worked for him <br />
in the '80s; why change now?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Kyle Johnson was conspicuously absent, and shouts of “Where<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s Kyle?<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span> from various crowd members went unanswered (even though I do believe they were heard).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j2qY4gyf3e_w5gdhpKmwDgoNzxjUiSUllX8W3OXUllfAATIgjhxj2YFAP9oUDzjek9LcfMf9jb296bJUwXcw0uGoNIsDMhX8OG7UJWluOlLtIctcPhFapNBPS6Nq3JpiXuOhyin1S1RO/s1600/IMG_9133-sm.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j2qY4gyf3e_w5gdhpKmwDgoNzxjUiSUllX8W3OXUllfAATIgjhxj2YFAP9oUDzjek9LcfMf9jb296bJUwXcw0uGoNIsDMhX8OG7UJWluOlLtIctcPhFapNBPS6Nq3JpiXuOhyin1S1RO/s200/IMG_9133-sm.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Run Westy Run, <br />
The Interior Decorating Firm</td></tr>
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Kraig Johnson looked like he was having a fantastic time, with a huge smile on his face I swear for the entire performance<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">—</span></i>which I<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>ll mention started late. The crowd waited and waited for the curtain to go up. I eventually tweeted “Still waiting for Run Westy Run. Did someone forget to yell <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>Stop Westy Stop<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>?<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span> <br />
<br />
I<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>m assuming some of the delay was due to the accoutrements added to the stage: balloons and balls, styrofoam and cardboard (including the aforementioned box Kirk arose from). Throughout the performance a couple people wandered the stage, constructing objects. To what purpose was never entirely clear. It sort of reminded me of their cover art, particularly from <i>Hardly Not Even</i>, but whether that was the intent, only they know.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOSmegGYRk3lsx0_SY34XLLpoPozvwraH8BTlIHKIw0p2KDHdOLSxtK17HgLUDP1BJMcE3YeNIqKtI9Uo415IgtHbylXyuzyUMlKbQP8QnZAqex4PkbMjY45yq5jFKt-vdruQCzSw62Bx/s1600/IMG_9106-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOSmegGYRk3lsx0_SY34XLLpoPozvwraH8BTlIHKIw0p2KDHdOLSxtK17HgLUDP1BJMcE3YeNIqKtI9Uo415IgtHbylXyuzyUMlKbQP8QnZAqex4PkbMjY45yq5jFKt-vdruQCzSw62Bx/s320/IMG_9106-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really, Kirk, if you<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>re that tired, maybe you should <br />
just lie down? Terry had to escape several <br />
times from Kirk<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s grasp in order to keep playing that evening.</td></tr>
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The band covered alot of material from their self-titled album, opening with <i>Dizzy Road</i>, and covering fan favorites <i>Circles of Joy </i>and <i>Mop It Up. </i>It served to remind me how much I had forgotten (sadly I only own <i>Hardly Not Even</i>). However, plenty in the crowd remembered and sung along to everything, particularly those apparently inebriated and rude middle-aged ladies that the previously mentioned tweeter complained of. </div>
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Perhaps that tweeter did experience some abuse. Usually, it<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s <i>young</i> drunk girls I find to be the obnoxious ones that either just shove forward or try to find a gullible young guy to bat their eyelashes at and ask to be let in front by them (<i>Dude, ain't nothin' gonna happen later; she<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>s just using you</i>). From what I saw (the non-verbal “hi!<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span> and “hey! great to see you!<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span> wave and response vs. the usual wild fan gesturing to stage and “my fans love me<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span> response) these were women who actually <i>knew </i>the band members (and I mean as friends, not biblically). This really did feel like a reunion event, in the sense of old colleagues and classmates gathering. As for troublemakers, the only ones I saw were some maybe 35-45-year-old men front and center of the stage who were still trying to live out their thrash-dancing youth. But, except for a glass bottle thrown suddenly against the stage late in the Westies set, the problems occurred earlier, during the opening acts.*<br />
<br />
This was by no means a “perfect<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">”</span> show by Run Westy Run, but who the heck was expecting that? It was a great reunion and I think both they and their fans were pleased it happened. I had hoped they<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>d play <i>Yolk of the Dumb Wish</i>, as much for the title as the song itself (which <i>rocks</i> by the way, even if the lyrics are crazy, to say the least). But that dumb wish was unfulfilled, at least at this show. Maybe next reunion.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home is anywhere someone <br />
in the crowd throws you their hat to wear.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic8fVzPgWDDnhFMcEQQplkIAl_x1orlUBsb1PuYPaszis_NafPiQ_lIP-OKeVsroDt4BB1U1eNNlV8Q9Vcy_fkU-HidCCMOL1WUc4SlCX5msLcM3W6fj-d0kS56A6UUIT6yq5nE1q0baJ/s1600/IMG_9120-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic8fVzPgWDDnhFMcEQQplkIAl_x1orlUBsb1PuYPaszis_NafPiQ_lIP-OKeVsroDt4BB1U1eNNlV8Q9Vcy_fkU-HidCCMOL1WUc4SlCX5msLcM3W6fj-d0kS56A6UUIT6yq5nE1q0baJ/s320/IMG_9120-sm.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why do I feel like Cindy Lou Who when I <br />
look at this? You<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>re a strange one, Mr. Kirk.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7wQNdtDeepnrv-Zl7RvgPsSkbvzcOHsILLYwNtl-4oo6ZXplWIIh56XTIzU6F8MLpKn1p5v5i5pN77plU7K5JsBgn0EGgNJpom7JJ2yjHwAUrzFlvbgZyUiRKqM55rmK0GR1AtlIr9mP/s1600/IMG_9121-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7wQNdtDeepnrv-Zl7RvgPsSkbvzcOHsILLYwNtl-4oo6ZXplWIIh56XTIzU6F8MLpKn1p5v5i5pN77plU7K5JsBgn0EGgNJpom7JJ2yjHwAUrzFlvbgZyUiRKqM55rmK0GR1AtlIr9mP/s320/IMG_9121-sm.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nope, no signs of arthritis.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhtfI0pTRjxDQQyAE7s-rh2L4hsN0jLU3fern_jJ6v17SaavPpLkTG7ASSplBhOQ5wB9-GeiDrt0y-DdMrEaFLbrxpS17B2ZAvTE4pA3w6Y7ZO3PP_U5tyEg-q7sr1xIFNVqWHE9_btWl/s1600/IMG_9127-sm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhtfI0pTRjxDQQyAE7s-rh2L4hsN0jLU3fern_jJ6v17SaavPpLkTG7ASSplBhOQ5wB9-GeiDrt0y-DdMrEaFLbrxpS17B2ZAvTE4pA3w6Y7ZO3PP_U5tyEg-q7sr1xIFNVqWHE9_btWl/s320/IMG_9127-sm.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once upon a time, he just wore a page <br />
from a magazine taped to his bare chest. <br />
Now, in his old age, Kirk apparently needs<br />
a little more to stay warm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, Kraig Johnson (far right) stopped smiling for this shot from the encore, but just for a second.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First opening act, the Goondas. Turns out <br />
they<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>re going on an undetermined haitus; <br />
this was announced as their last show. <br />
They kinda reminded me of...<br />
Run Westy Run, circa 1986.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwUFRqcMRjgsWAeF4g60oEPyi_OBbepPlDpEVCh62B6wg1uAPKmnMb-0kHNXEO8kX6_Uk590jKhJkINgSTdwWf6OcILiiF6xfW62wVyIRH_kVH6IjjRHzTrR3wJa0AhIY40MVbuCd4sos/s1600/IMG_9067-sm.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwUFRqcMRjgsWAeF4g60oEPyi_OBbepPlDpEVCh62B6wg1uAPKmnMb-0kHNXEO8kX6_Uk590jKhJkINgSTdwWf6OcILiiF6xfW62wVyIRH_kVH6IjjRHzTrR3wJa0AhIY40MVbuCd4sos/s200/IMG_9067-sm.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goondas lead guitar. Next Terry Fisher?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8-tF2260NWnUvMsBwRZi6DeK5Xtea0-_KRTU0BZNmg1GZTSuSNtqbuR10vIpcd2_CRAERdJgBbPZP65J9MPXuIDx7vl7LNUiC4oTvB354mBR_32GdObGbA-BD0OCTZ0xP1iwSDwuwvff/s1600/IMG_9073-sm.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HkVpIgyNmQGbAdi7ixk38_qB8ne9oRA8leZC19IOo0KAJ3Sov67QSHu0W4eFOmBAnjzU4Hp40dbfivqeWee22uAo1X0U2c8gCchwTU3AZSKsqwJhPgw6aIl_zDJ3cW20KK9nMADazNML/s320/IMG_9071-sm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, I took some other pictures of the next opener, <br />
San DiMas, but this one of Cousin It was my favorite. <br />
I actually liked the more flaky Goondas over San DiMas. <br />
(It was the stronger presence of lead guitar I preferred.) </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HkVpIgyNmQGbAdi7ixk38_qB8ne9oRA8leZC19IOo0KAJ3Sov67QSHu0W4eFOmBAnjzU4Hp40dbfivqeWee22uAo1X0U2c8gCchwTU3AZSKsqwJhPgw6aIl_zDJ3cW20KK9nMADazNML/s1600/IMG_9071-sm.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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* In case you<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">’</span>re wondering, I sipped my one beer of the evening quietly
from the front row, behaving myself in a very decorous, dull, non-rock-and-roll way, thank you very much.<br />
<br />specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-50467437418179030092013-12-16T01:55:00.002-06:002013-12-28T21:41:20.949-06:00A Valerie June Rose in December<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg682hRNwR347g_slZmmIHk1PtHkJWAtUDIkX1p0F0Zh5JPRN26JCvM7o6TD6xXKYlrY3sqsHg4mGEJYtLTOxmpzv7yJ2_SZT6j9Z0P9qzwFNu1I3a5LxSYn7lP5AaAsqm_vZwtMyNoVTg6/s1600/IMG_8804-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg682hRNwR347g_slZmmIHk1PtHkJWAtUDIkX1p0F0Zh5JPRN26JCvM7o6TD6xXKYlrY3sqsHg4mGEJYtLTOxmpzv7yJ2_SZT6j9Z0P9qzwFNu1I3a5LxSYn7lP5AaAsqm_vZwtMyNoVTg6/s1600/IMG_8804-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valerie June</td></tr>
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I always have two hopes for a concert: 1) That the artist
will clearly be happy to be there, and 2) That the audience will clearly
reciprocate the feeling. Under those conditions, a great evening of music is
essentially guaranteed.</div>
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When a third element is added—for instance, a uniqueness of
voice (literal voice) or message (figurative voice) or some force of character is
added—the result is not just a great but an exceptional evening.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOIc4JqXrNS6GHa5msYV5Nk9xyDSxBW7Z9_DbyFrSibLeVOxEVixc-0364eCHynMzGJxydGGuN5IFnrn_40z4f-EOZyl23-k8VAJfXFFtTK9CawnWxhd3zLK8D1r27zBiHD_DsXsPunCL/s1600/IMG_8801-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOIc4JqXrNS6GHa5msYV5Nk9xyDSxBW7Z9_DbyFrSibLeVOxEVixc-0364eCHynMzGJxydGGuN5IFnrn_40z4f-EOZyl23-k8VAJfXFFtTK9CawnWxhd3zLK8D1r27zBiHD_DsXsPunCL/s320/IMG_8801-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption">Laughing at some technical difficulties.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Billy Bragg is of course my gold standard in that regard—as he
is for many other people. He is, quite simply, like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lembas</i> to a hobbit in Mordor: He enheartens. Imbibing his message
gives you the courage and strength to fight another day; he sticks with you—and
he leaves a good taste in your mouth (no <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cram</i>
he).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With <a href="http://valeriejune.com/" target="_blank">Valerie June</a>, Mordor is a place that hasn’t even
occurred to you yet. It’s a lighter, more joyous trip you’re on (well, except
for that <i>Shotgun </i>song, perhaps). It’s more like a stay at Rivendell: plenty of
stories, song, and laughter. I hate to sound like an old lady; but, like your
grandma might have said: “She’s a delightful young woman.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Valerie June is both talented and original. She claims her
hands are misshapen from her childhood of reclaiming bricks (the family
business), but they look thin and graceful flying along her various
instruments: her guitars, her “Baby,” as she calls her miniature banjo, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and her “Big Baby” (regular banjo). They look
like the hands of a concert pianist or violinist. But her chosen instruments
are perfect for that Tennessee
twang voice—so perfect for the bluesy music she clearly prefers to play. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That folk-blues style suits her, and it’s one that would be
great to have a young female artist championing. Valerie June asked us if we
knew any blues women, and while a few people were able to suggest a few names,
I will admit I was stopped cold. Unless I could cheat and suggest a bluesy jazz
or gospel or r&b artist, I had nothing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Valerie June mentioned that “they” wanted her to sing soul
music, a style she indicated she felt was best left to others. I can only
assume “they” are some sort of record company “experts.” There’s evidence on
her CD (at least to my ears) that that is indeed the direction in which they
are attempting to push. Don't get me wrong: the CD is fantastic. It's just that compared to the fire and energy of a live
performance, some songs also appearing on the CD sound relatively flat and overproduced. Not that soul should be flat either; but it feels like a third hand reaching in,
attempting to force a square peg through a round hole, instead of just looking
for an already square peg and letting the round peg do its round thing. A great example: Listen to track 2, and then go to track 11 and forward
to about the 5 minute mark for the “hidden” track—the same song. Track 2
is great; track “11-plus” is <i>powerful</i>. Instead of muffling her voice in a “wall of sound” background, it’s right up front, where it belongs. And yes, I’m aware little-old-me is apparently telling Dan Auerbach how to produce a record. But seriously, dude, why did you bury her vocals?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Valerie also mentioned Townes Van Zandt, speaking of him as
a special, positive influence, and not just because of his blues
style but because she learned he claimed songs often came to him in dreams.
Until she read this about him, she thought she was perhaps a little crazy, as
songs come to her in dreams.* They arrive complete, sung by a voice she claims is
more beautiful than her own and that she can’t replicate. She figured if Van
Zandt dreamed songs then it was no reflection on her mental state if she did,
too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoQIxqAMVfzsP9u0kmJVO6du3FvRzd937PpbrshlS-6WaLu3wrkHzkWDDCr6PAbK75WOrXdJ-m1wkpnt2Vk6SbgqX9l1860jWfp8Ah4lrhfjF6-Ndta42Y7vgnTP03Gs5LvCqnQjsDhyZ/s1600/IMG_8800-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoQIxqAMVfzsP9u0kmJVO6du3FvRzd937PpbrshlS-6WaLu3wrkHzkWDDCr6PAbK75WOrXdJ-m1wkpnt2Vk6SbgqX9l1860jWfp8Ah4lrhfjF6-Ndta42Y7vgnTP03Gs5LvCqnQjsDhyZ/s320/IMG_8800-1.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With "Baby"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, my hope would be that she listens to the voice in her
head rather than any put forth by any “they” trying to shape her into their
vision of the perfect profit machine. We already have a Nora Jones; we don’t
need two. If the voice in Valerie June’s head says “play soul,” (or jazz or whatever) then fine. But
until then, she should just tell “them” that she “Can’t Be Told” what to sing
or how to sound. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
*PS, There is now a “Cedar Secret”: A little something that
she shared for the first time with the Cedar audience and then swore us not to
repeat. And I’m not gonna. Guess you shoulda been there; too bad for you! But
then we did tell her to come back as soon as ever she wanted (and it certainly
seemed like she wanted); so maybe she’ll share it with you then, if you go. Although
I suspect the venue will be larger and perhaps less conducive to the sharing of
secrets than the (wonderful little) Cedar Cultural Center the next time she comes around.<br />
<br clear="all" />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/0Cjr-IKcr7U" width="560"></iframe>
specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-67723036232912199822013-12-08T16:14:00.000-06:002013-12-27T16:15:22.068-06:00I'll Be Home For Christmas - New Standards Holiday Show / Trip Shakespeare Reunion<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">It was a great night for music last
night (December 7). Could have gone to 3 different shows and all would have been
excellent in their own way. But I'm glad I did get to the New Standards
Holiday Show for that first-ever reunion of Trip Shakespeare. Loved them
back in my yoot...</span><br />
<br />
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">No time to say more and the pictures aren't the greatest (nor inclusive of everything), so check out instead the <a href="http://blog.thecurrent.org/2013/12/trip-shakespeare-reunite-at-star-studded-new-standards-holiday-show/" target="_blank">blog on The Current</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOBHBwFEEX0x7ioruMgWmyervgh4z-xW_T91NBdrBnLMoFNeGRaR3uhd1AnRUCskUGHgj6d79UNTtOuHJQET8MLKSC3kPFub6GrJjn5lys0bM-ECKsKlFNyQ7q15DLG8Xg_pu2Pa1gW4M/s1600/1-20131207_210046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOBHBwFEEX0x7ioruMgWmyervgh4z-xW_T91NBdrBnLMoFNeGRaR3uhd1AnRUCskUGHgj6d79UNTtOuHJQET8MLKSC3kPFub6GrJjn5lys0bM-ECKsKlFNyQ7q15DLG8Xg_pu2Pa1gW4M/s640/1-20131207_210046.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairytale of New York, with St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman leading the bagpipes. Nope, that was not a typo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRt4Ji8QlYkjSCLhtHUolc4rLH1w3-duDAG8j0ZOSgvPwdehvdh6gRDe5VFhCjn0v4M00cGja9RkF3zQH7BWpDCbdPNdS8_6fj-P4FCBas8IcUH5ZgNIytyqjj28SoYx0klEhYScebAZx/s1600/1-20131207_220955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRt4Ji8QlYkjSCLhtHUolc4rLH1w3-duDAG8j0ZOSgvPwdehvdh6gRDe5VFhCjn0v4M00cGja9RkF3zQH7BWpDCbdPNdS8_6fj-P4FCBas8IcUH5ZgNIytyqjj28SoYx0klEhYScebAZx/s640/1-20131207_220955.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trip Shakespeare reunited: Dan Wilson, John Munson, Matt Wilson, and the heretofore elusive Elaine Harris.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrKbM6MVL_0PiaqG2kReZi2VunzG6ZYTVuNZEqFbMxxJWJcGg2l7fpHlpRFydu6SjTy7H9GSLTvkJSfwA66lRL_2RONwfRPU2h5VASRMAXV_UGn2bF_XmcLhMovi7rCdFKj2pt3uz2WNX/s1600/1-IMG_8609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrKbM6MVL_0PiaqG2kReZi2VunzG6ZYTVuNZEqFbMxxJWJcGg2l7fpHlpRFydu6SjTy7H9GSLTvkJSfwA66lRL_2RONwfRPU2h5VASRMAXV_UGn2bF_XmcLhMovi7rCdFKj2pt3uz2WNX/s640/1-IMG_8609.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chan Poling, Haley Bonar, and <span class="st">Maurice Jacox: <i>Ain't No Mountain High Enough</i>. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuzb9-v9kY5p6way-vNJCxaXLMcf6prlIzb33W9XPRe6Sa7PYqcfLDvc6FWfRUMUUSbyJ06fYvkrHhV9gD0Htua8NwOthIz1gNqur9kBMASKxlQX2MDQ738zt3reS64kHf02oGCxpwVMR/s1600/1-IMG_8613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuzb9-v9kY5p6way-vNJCxaXLMcf6prlIzb33W9XPRe6Sa7PYqcfLDvc6FWfRUMUUSbyJ06fYvkrHhV9gD0Htua8NwOthIz1gNqur9kBMASKxlQX2MDQ738zt3reS64kHf02oGCxpwVMR/s640/1-IMG_8613.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan Wilson appears to play <i>Disappearing</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgiC9uuWSce6FEPhg8EY_AmRWey9sEDRLLsRZt21SzdONxsxv2HsYf2x8hfjyVIzW_6s726WqiLbuphimTnL7u5cPjTbK7r8qEs3D_s0DynZ6QBmhOHCbXHWQeeeaC-Fs1j2osIAkvI8a/s1600/1-IMG_8620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgiC9uuWSce6FEPhg8EY_AmRWey9sEDRLLsRZt21SzdONxsxv2HsYf2x8hfjyVIzW_6s726WqiLbuphimTnL7u5cPjTbK7r8qEs3D_s0DynZ6QBmhOHCbXHWQeeeaC-Fs1j2osIAkvI8a/s640/1-IMG_8620.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't Jeremy Messersmith such a babe? In <i>Toyland</i>, here, of course. He also makes a mean <i>Tourniquet</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-54228401566944699572013-11-30T15:40:00.000-06:002014-01-01T12:01:50.071-06:00Channy My Name - Poliça & Marijuana Deathsquads <span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Night 1 of a 2-night "homecoming" series for <a href="http://www.thisispolica.com/us/" target="_blank">Poliça</a> at Mill City Nights 11/29/2013. Marijuana Deathsquads opened. <br /> <br />
As for the openers, Marijuana Deathsquads, I knew so little that I had no idea P.O.S. was a
member. In fact ALL I knew at first was that the gal who cuts my hair
knows someone (I think she said Isaac) in the band--"he's just crazy."
I'll leave it to Wikipedia to explain them in detail (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMarijuana_Deathsquads&h=RAQHl-JsT&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>wiki/Marijuana_Deathsquads</a>);
but to me it was like performance art. One shouldn't be mislead by
their categorization as "noise"--there's both a choreography and
jazz-like improv clearly going on, even if it is all with equipment and
not what (as one guy in the room kept heckling) guitars or more
"traditional" instruments. If you've got an open mind and don't go into
seizures under strobe lighting, I'd definitely suggest taking them in.<br /> <br />
Poliça also has its electronic influence, and in that way they are a
good pairing (sharing also band members, as I learned, too, so that also
explains that...). But where MDS would be more heavy metal (and quite
literally), it would be Channy Leaneagh's altered vocals mainly
representing the "electronic" in Poliça, backed by a beefy rhythm
section of two drum sets and bass guitar. Channy is left, frankly, to
carry the entire stage presence, and she handles it well--like an
ethereal, swaying, young Audrey Hepburn. Certainly, she had the guy
standing next to me completely transfixed.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KNS_VsrhhGsQxObKKr3wx1Pcyx03AWtc6fgxQ550vc8gg9vNwMBJdQSHOF3QBJYsQs7Grc1S7ALZRV9yr4jBDtOtyPJljfQeszNCAbQsNUW7DCTg7CRq5nf1_kN-xsCDLCHpa65KQfq_/s1600/2013_11_29_2555-med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Channy Leaneagh of Poliça" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KNS_VsrhhGsQxObKKr3wx1Pcyx03AWtc6fgxQ550vc8gg9vNwMBJdQSHOF3QBJYsQs7Grc1S7ALZRV9yr4jBDtOtyPJljfQeszNCAbQsNUW7DCTg7CRq5nf1_kN-xsCDLCHpa65KQfq_/s320/2013_11_29_2555-med.jpg" title="Channy Leaneagh of Poliça" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Rather prooud of this shot; <br />made lemonade with the obstruction <br />to the right IMHO.<br />Channy Leaneagh of </span><br />
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Poliça</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNX9QVXPvWZsdIbp5C6FLM3cimjpbJjXWChwttJrid7uFjHss3EeL2XAbmVL89Qa0hfCuYMjgjmgIrrzmOHej96aID-wHq5WcJ5-VWdZ94VVDgtx3YoMVwIrC3pv-bNUsaMnmSooTIPHL_/s1600/copy-2013_11_29_2557+(2)-med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Channy Leaneagh of Poliça" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNX9QVXPvWZsdIbp5C6FLM3cimjpbJjXWChwttJrid7uFjHss3EeL2XAbmVL89Qa0hfCuYMjgjmgIrrzmOHej96aID-wHq5WcJ5-VWdZ94VVDgtx3YoMVwIrC3pv-bNUsaMnmSooTIPHL_/s320/copy-2013_11_29_2557+(2)-med.jpg" title="Channy Leaneagh of Poliça" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Channy Leaneagh of Poliça</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br clear="all" />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWESI9-lS4INbNaQirFJNsSDPbyuxbr73opw2s3Krfyf03CJQ5cCgjpdYeaViE5tCLKnMTa59CoqeDszkq0BYQ4JCBJfYNX2BehUMqCjom-cCS7jc-sXD-vK9zBrAD763gOrj3lJMu1H6/s1600/20131129_213103-med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marijuana Deathsquads" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWESI9-lS4INbNaQirFJNsSDPbyuxbr73opw2s3Krfyf03CJQ5cCgjpdYeaViE5tCLKnMTa59CoqeDszkq0BYQ4JCBJfYNX2BehUMqCjom-cCS7jc-sXD-vK9zBrAD763gOrj3lJMu1H6/s320/20131129_213103-med.jpg" title="Marijuana Deathsquads" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marijuana Deathsquads, <br />
the accidental watercolor portrait.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAg_81Yntc9vM2rGpjd__ytfj351-Y1eg1DjDKIEY638SlWDihc2dWckX-S89K6D-pV6HNqBsyeqFy9sXxKHUYhtYFR1Cbv27oBOb0u1ekGC-lCBjKGhT4gjVH5V8jeATvORskqW7J3NZk/s1600/20131129_213634-med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAg_81Yntc9vM2rGpjd__ytfj351-Y1eg1DjDKIEY638SlWDihc2dWckX-S89K6D-pV6HNqBsyeqFy9sXxKHUYhtYFR1Cbv27oBOb0u1ekGC-lCBjKGhT4gjVH5V8jeATvORskqW7J3NZk/s320/20131129_213634-med.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five seriously intent dudes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-19328316437957746122013-11-24T00:59:00.000-06:002013-12-27T15:42:05.996-06:00The Pines, the Cedar, Molten Lava, and a Forest of SoundI continue to be astounded by the depth and breadth of music
flowing out of the <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:place></st1:state>
music scene, and I’m speaking as someone who has only ever <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dipped</i> their toes into it.<br />
<br />
Consequently, I’m “discovering” bands that frankly many hard
core <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:place></st1:state>
music fans have been following for years. I hang my head before your collective
“ah DUH” but will soldier on in talking about them, anyway.<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDZpA10MmUOXQY4hw1_LtWj879R6r5I-_9zwpHFYzraF2VuMtEp4QkJbp7riKh6ssd0JZJYCIvZQH2DzUwFKte_yEVGVrGe2HjfEx-QCTKsQGlFuuSEXGIwVTe_jyIzHDeTXfo1Yq99AT/s1600/IMG_8012-med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDZpA10MmUOXQY4hw1_LtWj879R6r5I-_9zwpHFYzraF2VuMtEp4QkJbp7riKh6ssd0JZJYCIvZQH2DzUwFKte_yEVGVrGe2HjfEx-QCTKsQGlFuuSEXGIwVTe_jyIzHDeTXfo1Yq99AT/s1600/IMG_8012-med.jpg" width="540px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pines (l-r: Benson Ramsey and David Huckfelt, with bassist James Buckley.<br />
Not pictured: Michael Rossetto, J.T. Bates, Jacob Hanson, Alex Ramsey) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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Cases in point: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">: Dave Simonett, frontman for Trampled by
Turtles (<a href="http://trampledbyturtles.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://trampledbyturtles.com</span></a>),
and the band he opened for The Pines (<a href="http://thepinesmusic.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://thepinesmusic.com</span></a>).
The Pines did a two-night stand at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cedar</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Cultural</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<a href="http://www.thecedar.org/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.thecedar.org</span></a>)
November 22 and 23; Simonett opening on the 22<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>nd</sup>. I’ll set him aside
for now and concentrate on The Pines.</span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhit1HexAVmhf1aJq5_6XeQYBNcedBZEKBCTKQq_yiJhyjTwPhbZq5RjZ9vEx2-QRaPaP5J_mKCCdfTHuMxOn4ZLo-RT0_bGu2_OMDZ-0lKYiYmshNxtpfs6-l4g1xklWYjXrLWuheymvjq/s1600/IMG_7986-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img align="right" alt="Benson Ramsey" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhit1HexAVmhf1aJq5_6XeQYBNcedBZEKBCTKQq_yiJhyjTwPhbZq5RjZ9vEx2-QRaPaP5J_mKCCdfTHuMxOn4ZLo-RT0_bGu2_OMDZ-0lKYiYmshNxtpfs6-l4g1xklWYjXrLWuheymvjq/s200/IMG_7986-sm.jpg" title="Benson Ramsey" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benson Ramsey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While it’s easy to shorthand Indie-roots band Trampled by
Turtles for those who haven’t heard them, at least when referencing their song “Wait So Long” (“Think Hüsker Dü, but with a fiddle
and a mandolin.”), I’m finding The Pines harder. What first drew me to pay
attention was this Steve Earle song I kept hearing on the radio, “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyQ5FZ9y51s"><span style="color: blue;">Heart and Bones</span></a>.”
Except, it’s not Steve Earle, it’s Benson Ramsey, taking a turn on vocals for
the band. He also is the voice on the beautiful <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZbcWxWCGqE"><span style="color: blue;">Cry, Cry, Crow</span></a> from
their 2012 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dark So Gold</i>. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTPTWmZ8CsQsixZMMvSHSmixu4NVjPfWlikp7V-LefuPulbSFhDkUbK2R8AVSzJ6OWQhPJD_aBoJefFbz1zHjA8SToCMqOR20JHMUEVoocknKsz_sTzHc8JCviLHZcBdK9wQYvLePkvbW/s1600/IMG_7968-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img align="left" alt="David Huckfelt" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTPTWmZ8CsQsixZMMvSHSmixu4NVjPfWlikp7V-LefuPulbSFhDkUbK2R8AVSzJ6OWQhPJD_aBoJefFbz1zHjA8SToCMqOR20JHMUEVoocknKsz_sTzHc8JCviLHZcBdK9wQYvLePkvbW/s200/IMG_7968-sm.jpg" title="David Huckfelt" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Huckfelt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<o:p> </o:p>And then I heard this song <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0egFAFsSmJA" target="_blank">“Rise Up and Be Lonely”</a>, which vaguely
reminded me of Dylan’s “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyQ5FZ9y51s"></a>Not Dark Yet”—if Jakob rather than his dad was singing
it (so the voice does<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NAUGGGTT sound like
THISSSS, but still sounds vaguely Dylanese). Well, that’s David Huckfelt.</div>
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Both these guys actually hail from <st1:state w:st="on">Iowa</st1:state>,
which is good for <st1:state w:st="on">Iowa</st1:state>, since after Michele
Bachman I was pretty much inclined to write off <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iowa</st1:place></st1:state> and lock our borders down there from any
Iowan immigration. So apologies, <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iowa</st1:place></st1:state>—you’re
probably as embarrassed to be associated with her as we are. And thanks for
loaning us these guys.</div>
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<br />
So, anyway, after that bit of research (thanks, google), I
realized “oh, The Pines—turns out I <i>like</i> The Pines; I should go <i>hear</i> The Pines”,
and so I got tickets for the Friday night show at the Cedar.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggc8XIChyGRsz-nCnRy6AjpJ7aaL38R_7AewLpFRwVnRJ7Pnfoz2bQjcbmNe_JfsAKpow0xhA1lu9PI_rfGJZMyred_vuuaaOOx_LftNVU07k65xfbaQPbJBOKXTil7qONO55uqeTuwZh/s1600/IMG_7977-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggc8XIChyGRsz-nCnRy6AjpJ7aaL38R_7AewLpFRwVnRJ7Pnfoz2bQjcbmNe_JfsAKpow0xhA1lu9PI_rfGJZMyred_vuuaaOOx_LftNVU07k65xfbaQPbJBOKXTil7qONO55uqeTuwZh/s320/IMG_7977-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a>When I got to the Cedar, a venue I love for many reasons,
not least of which is the introductions given by—well, we’ll call him The
Master of Ceremonies—I feared the worst when I saw chairs not just on
the floor but on the stage. Generally, I hate a sit down show. I think of them
as “sit down and fall asleep” shows. But that’s how I saw Peter Himmelman at
the Cedar, and there’s no way you fall asleep during a Peter Himmelman show.
Turns out, it’s the same for The Pines. The chairs are there to keep you from falling
down as you are transfixed by the swirl of sound. </div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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It’s strange to describe folk music as “lush,” but I think
that fits The Pines very well. It’s a surround-sound kind of feeling, but much
more of a welcome-home-arms-around-you-hug surround than an Enya-woo-woo-mystic
kind of surround. It feels intimate and home-y and beautiful and joyful. I am
very glad I did a little homework and then got myself tickets and down to the
show. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fiothwW9a2s" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Before setting aside The Pines and moving backwards to Dave
Simonett, I’ll mention a little story from the end of the show: Benson
mentioned having suddenly contemplating on the ground beneath him while standing in
line at a local coffee shop. The story begins, for him, with reflecting on a
comet (ISON) that is approaching earth, then moves on to the
molten lava beneath his feet and the distance to the center of the earth. It’s at
this point that I realized “I should be recording this,” so watch the video for
the remainder of his story. I think what I love about it best is not even just
Benson’s wonderment at the world but the loving, amused indulgence
in the faces of his band members, as they let him go off on this storytelling
tangent.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3UY-iTExfg8ODtW3sgFvXK85iamE2RDjN5Dq-cnZL2QOKbyyGVU2x7q_jSe0mFk_K3q_CpQKAuUJptd0Y6FCpkZ4BOp77UgGX1_E04iT3ePjekW78smn7nLESHOimET443hL0-6ynzKF/s1600/IMG_7957-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dave Simonett" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3UY-iTExfg8ODtW3sgFvXK85iamE2RDjN5Dq-cnZL2QOKbyyGVU2x7q_jSe0mFk_K3q_CpQKAuUJptd0Y6FCpkZ4BOp77UgGX1_E04iT3ePjekW78smn7nLESHOimET443hL0-6ynzKF/s320/IMG_7957-sm.jpg" title="Dave Simonett" width="320" /></a></div>
Now, Dave Simonett. I’d say this was—going back to my Hüsker
Dü analogy—a bit like hearing Bob Mould’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Workbook
Songs and Stories</i> when having been (honestly) only a passing Hüsker Dü fan
and realizing “holy shit, the guy writes great lyrics and man, can he play the
guitar/create a melody!!!”. Once again, I hang my head in shame at the
collective groan of all the Hüsker Dü fans saying “Jesus, how many years did it
take you to figure THAT out, lady???!!” Better late than never? Mea culpa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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Dave gave a stripped down presentation of his Trampled by
Turtles songs (basically). Alone with a guitar, he sang mainly with his eyes
closed—something I assume he can’t normally do in a more energetic and
staged-crowded Trampled performance, or he’d probably get knock down or off the
stage. It was wistful and also lovely—and with amusing moments, such as him
mentioning, clearly with a joke and a smile, that the audience might be more familiar with a song “how those other guys (Trampled by Turtles) ruined it.” </div>
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Bottom line: <st1:city w:st="on">Nashville</st1:city> ain’t
got nothin’ on <st1:state w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:state> (or <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iowa</st1:place></st1:state>). If you see a Pines or Simonett or
Trampled by Turtles bill in your town, just get yourself a ticket. You’ll be
glad you did—“<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3MGAXcf8NE" target="_blank">All the While</a>” (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3MGAXcf8NE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3MGAXcf8NE</a>). </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/kDl0MooPw6I" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Yeah, well I was shooting blind, with the camera sitting on my lap and the viewfinder not visible. All things considered it is better than it could have been.<br />
<br />specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-46255198820467780702013-10-12T15:57:00.000-05:002013-12-28T21:59:13.741-06:00Play, Father John Misty, for Us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhelnOovgMWvTOlnS2ser5hdO4WS8Hb2wrCaxBCARyxf-vqz1uKUGzI4QuEK4bV4MhoAyER-snLhPJFKvsIr5PChIIJgmGEhdnJVElHC_eM7-vIlbRztM5wroLqC9e7_hAB8r0cQ_X7st/s1600/IMG_7459-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Father John Misty" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhelnOovgMWvTOlnS2ser5hdO4WS8Hb2wrCaxBCARyxf-vqz1uKUGzI4QuEK4bV4MhoAyER-snLhPJFKvsIr5PChIIJgmGEhdnJVElHC_eM7-vIlbRztM5wroLqC9e7_hAB8r0cQ_X7st/s320/IMG_7459-sm.jpg" title="Father John Misty" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Father John Misty is no Nancy: <br />
He can take a lickin' by a projectile CD <br />
(Flying Burritos Brother tribute <br />
band demo???) and keep on playin'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">It was an enthusiastic sing-along crowd
at First Avenue (albeit a bit talky even during numbers--hate that)
this evening. Josh Tillman (aka <a href="http://www.thisispolica.com/us/" target="_blank">Father John Misty</a>) was engaged and
engaging and clearly appreciative of the crowd response, despite <br /> <br />
1) joking about people wasting the "present" experience taking pictures
(Hey! I resemble that remark) and even putting a person-sized, standup
smartphone cutout in front of himself to make his point; <br /> <br /> 2) noting he'd been through town a gazillion times already recently; and <br /> <br />
3) somebody hitting him on the head with a demo disk. A guy threw it
towards stage; it ricocheted off a light and actually wacked Tillman on
the forehead. <br /> <br /> Tillman just asked if anybody happened to catch
it on their phone, since "what were the odds that would happen?" But,
dude, you convinced us to put our cameras away; so nope--no replay of
THAT present of a moment for you....<br /> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPplQ5_-IcCjOeuTmzGMIbkmd5JUXUgH3MrUr2YeMwxjbhNPUliMmNv7ev6dQGBcXj6m9DwGJNaGnuU8IQ2KM4la3oKx01w5VPemT7KTlGo3gKOd3Y4LCX1IjqQ7SH4b0bNu2Fe87EDT_m/s1600/IMG_7465-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Father John Misty" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPplQ5_-IcCjOeuTmzGMIbkmd5JUXUgH3MrUr2YeMwxjbhNPUliMmNv7ev6dQGBcXj6m9DwGJNaGnuU8IQ2KM4la3oKx01w5VPemT7KTlGo3gKOd3Y4LCX1IjqQ7SH4b0bNu2Fe87EDT_m/s320/IMG_7465-sm.jpg" title="Father John Misty" width="320" /></a>Tillman's stage presence
is thankfully lighter, funnier, and more playful than I expected, based on perhaps media-amplified bad boy reputation. While I
can appreciate his 3-5 minutes doses of quirky (and even dark) sensuality
(or I wouldn't have bothered to go at all), a brooding Heathcliff on
stage would wear thin pretty quickly. Tillman played a few new songs,
including one about his recent marriage, that the crowd did not know.
But he was accompanied by the crowd on just about everything else. They
even earned his praise ("very nice, very pretty") on more than one
occasion when they rather than he led on vocals.<br /> <br /> The concert suffered by comparison to my recent <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=44905697470&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/billybraggofficial">Billy Bragg</a>
experience, but really it's unfair to expect anybody to meet that high a
standard. Tillman's
was a solid performance and I'm glad I caught it. Jesus Christ,
girl--you can't really ask for more than that.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy42Lb5b6cMCPHiGCqHgaJPkxIwUaLq7dxwdz4MX9QXD4Cve-5e_slbNZbDIgjrJVSwdDERUEwupEtG1mPgl6hZxjx6ad84ZR4Ds9mpyxIy7cDxhWo92u3-RsgSHqTk5aDvjmThi_jLmwd/s1600/IMG_7462-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Father John Misty" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy42Lb5b6cMCPHiGCqHgaJPkxIwUaLq7dxwdz4MX9QXD4Cve-5e_slbNZbDIgjrJVSwdDERUEwupEtG1mPgl6hZxjx6ad84ZR4Ds9mpyxIy7cDxhWo92u3-RsgSHqTk5aDvjmThi_jLmwd/s320/IMG_7462-sm.jpg" title="Father John Misty" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The glass and bottle sat their all evening.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8o5gkqQaJs5Z8IlrbU3up9Tgitka2nazCcsuVETy4oqqWhS6SSBZ4xqHL7qifc5LKH5HVOP3z0CcjnO6-U03-PaT9-bjJqeOnniNCIXRdE7iD-J401kRE2JH3AaZpZeCisTF-f8QNgjFy/s1600/IMG_7463-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Father John Misty" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8o5gkqQaJs5Z8IlrbU3up9Tgitka2nazCcsuVETy4oqqWhS6SSBZ4xqHL7qifc5LKH5HVOP3z0CcjnO6-U03-PaT9-bjJqeOnniNCIXRdE7iD-J401kRE2JH3AaZpZeCisTF-f8QNgjFy/s320/IMG_7463-sm.jpg" title="Father John Misty" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then he just poured it all out, <br />
overflowing the glass, and left it there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin99Qd2qJE16LtDNcX9L_SGQo-ByvFar93c4LN8hvJNMNagvS91zRTnHbjsui4DUtMw1CIU4BOSx0AzyoZvYV_vH1LhxTtnvGCMotMiuQPy-Y1_IbCyt6ajyL80zvSU_qeXc1YQ5izLceF/s1600/IMG_7476-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhelnOovgMWvTOlnS2ser5hdO4WS8Hb2wrCaxBCARyxf-vqz1uKUGzI4QuEK4bV4MhoAyER-snLhPJFKvsIr5PChIIJgmGEhdnJVElHC_eM7-vIlbRztM5wroLqC9e7_hAB8r0cQ_X7st/s1600/IMG_7459-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"></span>specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-68033668419817852372013-09-28T17:07:00.000-05:002013-12-31T16:19:06.766-06:00Still Bragging About Him, 30 Years Later<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SYrvs6LYYorKjlQmN9E-CLJlhIUc-AcrGrXKp6d539ULwD_snGLq4Xmy1bgMATflQ8P5myVGd_bL7lMSbaOPtXnhyTbLn8tSFsMvU1m55sIyT5D_sd-rNDQxoCwIG9_QH9veODAK8jnL/s1600/IMG_7220-sm.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Billy Bragg" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SYrvs6LYYorKjlQmN9E-CLJlhIUc-AcrGrXKp6d539ULwD_snGLq4Xmy1bgMATflQ8P5myVGd_bL7lMSbaOPtXnhyTbLn8tSFsMvU1m55sIyT5D_sd-rNDQxoCwIG9_QH9veODAK8jnL/s400/IMG_7220-sm.jpg" title="Billy Bragg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">He's held up fine for his 55 years <br />(heck, he's just a youngster), but <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=44905697470&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/billybraggofficial">Billy Bragg</a> <br />was joking that the beard wasn't <br />so much a fashion statement as <br />a way to "hide a multitude of chins."</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
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<h2>
<a href="http://billybragg.co.uk/" target="_blank">Billy Bragg</a>, Cedar Cultural Center, September 26, 2013.</h2>
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I never thought I'd ever say I was <i>too </i>close at a concert, but I had brought a prime 85mm and ended up right up
against the stage. I literally could have reached out and touched
him--and since he generously spent time after the show (a good 2 1/2
hour show) signing and talking to people, I <i>did </i>get to touch him, as he
allowed me a hug. Who knew how good socialists are at hugging? I guess
it's just that communal, sharing spirit. :) <br />
<br />
He played a nice balance of
older, mid-career, and newer songs. I do think <i>No One Knows Nothing</i> has
got to be one of his best recent songs. If he had played <i>Levi Stubbs Tears</i>, I probably could have just died happy then--but guess I'll have
to live another day. Maybe he'll come back next year....<br />
<br />
<br />
[Post pub note: I made no effort to write up something like an actual review of this performance at the time, and while I sort of regret that, it would have been difficult to produce anything more coherent than the above and perhaps a gurgle and a coo. Best leave well enough alone.]<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first Bragg concert, nearly 30 years ago.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upside down set list.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dear Lord, he's looking right at me. <br />
Frankly, when that would happen I'd find myself lowering my camera. <br />
I really didn't want the camera to be distracting, and seeing him staring straight at me through the <br />
viewfinder made me worry that was exactly the case. Also, it was a bit discombobulating. <br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Ergo this out-of-focus shot, actually the best of any "head on" shot I got.<br />After the show, when I was getting things signed, he comments "You had a
really good view." <br />"Yes," I said, grinning (undoubtedly like a maniac), "Yes, I
did." Anyway, hope I wasn't a bother, Billy.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With guitarist CJ Hillman. Will be interesting to see where he ends up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Hillman/Bragg shot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CJ Hillman by himself.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br />Hidden yet effective drummer Luke Bullen.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br />Hopefully I have the band right- Bassist Matt Round. </span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">I didn't get a photo of Owen Parker, since the keyboards blocked him even worse than the drums blocked Luke.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autographed! First Bragg song I ever heard and fell for: <i><br />Scholarship Is the Enemy of Romance.</i> I'm such a geek.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVRIFPEOZlSKn5XlnrcooU9d3BvkslWc3L56faxD0HTS1TKF594X5AUizki6OxQaS4n_XaIPieTsPLDufvpv1IpQ_didO42XcXN1I3OJtVgoU_0SlYqMiV-Wv8Dr4vctwXwyvFbIHzBc_/s1600/IMG_7264-sm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVRIFPEOZlSKn5XlnrcooU9d3BvkslWc3L56faxD0HTS1TKF594X5AUizki6OxQaS4n_XaIPieTsPLDufvpv1IpQ_didO42XcXN1I3OJtVgoU_0SlYqMiV-Wv8Dr4vctwXwyvFbIHzBc_/s400/IMG_7264-sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br />The
album on the right? He's celebrating the 30th anniversary of its
release (UK 1983; US 1985). <br />But that's the <i>original </i>thing, not the
re-release. Bought back in the day. <br />Drove 100 miles (uphill through snow
both ways) to get that and its cousin on the left at <br />Northern Lights
back in 1985. Remember Northern Lights? <br />Heck, remember <i>record </i>stores?</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
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specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-85609644559140184682010-05-22T12:04:00.021-05:002010-05-24T00:56:19.974-05:00Funeral for a Friend<p>Yeah, that's right. Just like the title says, you're going to listen to a little <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/dmusic/media/sample.m3u/ref=dm_mu_dp_trk1_smpl?ie=UTF8&catalogItemType=track&ASIN=B000W192B0&DownloadLocation=CD">Elton John</a> (only a little--you can take it) and you're going to like it. Or at least keep quiet for the few short seconds it takes to play. </p><p>I guess I could have just linked to the entire <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Chill_(soundtrack)">Big Chill </a>soundtrack, but that feels even more cliqued.</p><p>So in no particular order, rhyme, or reason, here are a few other things to hear. Because, sometimes, things have no rhyme or reason.<br /></p><p><blockquote>Not entirely spot on, but it keeps coming into my head, perhaps because I saw the video as part of a public theatrical presentation of a bunch of videos and earlier <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens,_GA%3A_Inside_Out"><em>Athens, GA Inside Out</em> </a>when it came out umpteen years ago:<br /><object width="200"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XmC87hXM1WM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XmC87hXM1WM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="200"></embed></object><br /><br />Because said friend has a flair for the theatrical:<br /><br /><br />Again, due to theatrics and also locale:<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwz-ZLGX3cHqCKOTz8LdSTMBJlIq4aqrdVbfvAqJXFwUI59pzCFR5F4Ocif7Uyxfz3rvuRrsl2VUMPOVsDYUw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><p>And, finally, because I want it at my own funeral, and I am just talking to myself here, anyway:<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw-qtnSQHXY7dtsyzoflfqRg-BfFTNcsDOt62pTXSfK6l64HvW_XlphuWelSChfVUJPUutq5BlX_brtqxioEQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p>"O gracious light.... Now that we come to the setting of the sun..."</p></blockquote><p></p><p><br />Not that I'm all weepy here. In fact, somewhat alarmingly far from it. I think I've shed maybe 2 tears. I don't know if it's just that I'm an unfeeling bitch/automaton. Or that I'm in shock that somebody I knew could actually, essentially systematically, purposefully, and somewhat slowly kill themselves. Or that, as the family has said (and this is a fairly close, loving family--so can't suggest they are automatons) that they already said their goodbyes more than 6 months ago and now it's more a relief and final acts to be played out--and that their lack of widespread weeping is interfering with my own grief/empathy triggers (hell, I cry along to the TV all the time).</p><p>Or other reasons. Who knows. </p><p>It's made me run; it's made me write; it's made me play music; it's made me cover myself in dirt and dog hair and cat pee (helping clean the house). But it hasn't made me cry (<a href="http://popup.lala.com/popup/432627058349073816&ei=ivb5S6vRA4H4M8iI7dgE&sa=X&oi=music_play_track&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=2&ved=0CBMQ0wQoADAA&usg=AFQjCNHqyt_NLXzTLwHKLOeDMskQg1O9nA" target="_blank">I can't cry anymore</a>??? oh, geez, and now I've got <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmVvgo1wxh4&feature=related" target="_blank">Frank Zappa </a>in my head, too).</p><p>And so while ironically sipping a drink, I compose this requiem--disjointed and (relatively) dry.</p><p>Prosit.</p><p></p><p>(ok, ps</p><p><object width="200"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZknBTATrBlU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZknBTATrBlU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="200"></embed></object></p><p>And I looked and behold, a pale horse<br />And his name that sat on him was Death.)<br /></p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZknBTATrBlU"></a>specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-86743945969838743512010-05-17T23:47:00.003-05:002010-05-18T08:11:05.906-05:00You Win, Surprise TruckWell, that didn't take long. The Surprise Truck claimed its victim/target and now others (not me--I'm nearly just a spectator; a witness however blind to this hit and run) are left to clean up the carnage.<br /><br />Some day I'll do a blog on Misappropriated Songs, like the Republicans with <a href="http://popup.lala.com/popup/504684637828764164"><em>Born in the USA</em> </a>and anyone who <em>still</em> thinks <a href="http://s0.ilike.com/play#The+Police:Every+Breath+You+Take:14922:s141419.16877.8650394.1.1.18%2Cstd_a73f9215da0ad0201a08d7b419914b87"><em>Every Breath You Take</em> </a>is a love song.<br /><br />And so with this one. Pay attention to the lyrics, people. This is not a song for Grandma in heaven*. Not unless Grandma was a very, very unhappy woman.<br /><br />But it is appropriate here. For the Surprise Truck. For everybody who has ever been in a stark, cold hotel room and knows the thoughts that pass through your head and why it's dangerous to dwell on them.<br /><br /><em>Angel</em>. Sara McLachlan.<br /><br /><blockquote><p><br />There's always some reason to feel not good enough<br />And it's hard at the end of the day....<br />It don't make no difference; escape it one last time.<br />It's easier to believe in this sweet madness--<br />oh, this glorious sadness [that brought you to your knees]. </p><p></p></blockquote><br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2LuGzwNy2ws&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2LuGzwNy2ws&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />* Yeah, I'm aware of the "made for movie" aspect of the song.specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-40015469382338614172010-05-12T18:39:00.012-05:002010-05-12T19:57:03.433-05:00The Pledge of Allegiance<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJf3UlsAAXcmOBvbjrebDpWFj7lEJiNnqz8vBYre9mUJKFMRPiiGOBSZSbuUg_IlTYPQMTCc4wVky7xaVPf3qU1jTfG9Krmlh-7CGlhyphenhyphenEHXbVu_7DAdQ1NkdAhamDwXRNvOCTkZURjd57/s1600/20100506_893-the-current--great-music-lives-here_46.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470539717395743922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJf3UlsAAXcmOBvbjrebDpWFj7lEJiNnqz8vBYre9mUJKFMRPiiGOBSZSbuUg_IlTYPQMTCc4wVky7xaVPf3qU1jTfG9Krmlh-7CGlhyphenhyphenEHXbVu_7DAdQ1NkdAhamDwXRNvOCTkZURjd57/s320/20100506_893-the-current--great-music-lives-here_46.gif" /></a><br /><br />It's membership time at my local public radio station. A good time to tune away with most stations, but a reminder to me to give props and dig into the local music angle I promised.<br /><br />Said station is <a href="http://www.thecurrent.org/">The Current</a>, an interesting little experiment I was highly cynical of when I first heard about it. Minnesota Public Radio was going to launch a contemporary music station? I knew what they were looking for was replacement* members for the news and classical music station members dying of old age (exaggeration but fundamentally true, demographically). The Current was to be the harmless joint given to <a href="http://s0.ilike.com/play#Paul+Simon:Me+And+Julio+Down+By+The+Schoolyard:14441:s1062371.13158538.4311954.0.2.276%2Cstd_636b9e98af7e41eb999346a907206f19"><em>Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard</em> </a>that would eventually leading to the full-blown crack addiction that is the Leadership Circle Pledge Level.<br /><br />And, of course, I'm still convinced I'm right on that point, but a funny thing happened on the way to the membership drive: <em>Minnesota Public Radio created a kickass radio station.</em><br /><br />Not that they didn't have good, raw working material. If you know music, you know Minnesota has always had a pretty vibrant music scene, from the grunge days of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Tone_Records">TwinTone Records </a>to the pranciness of His Purpleness, over to the jam of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Jam_and_Terry_Lewis">Flyte Tyme Productions</a>, and now the rap, rattle, and strum of <a href="http://www.doomtree.net/about/">DoomTree</a> and a host of other individual and collective artists. There are only so many jobs at restaurants these musicians--and the thousands of other musician wannabees--can have. Some of them have got to be DJs.<em> </em><br /><br />To the credit of the Minnesota Public Radio Powers-That-Be, they started with a station philosophy that embraced the eclectic, the independent (including the playlists and the DJs--no, let's not hang them), and the local. And after five years now, they haven't yet managed to f~ck it up.<br /><br />And I mention this all now, because The Current is doing several great local-artist centered activities right at the moment:<br /><ol><li>All day May 15, 2010, is going to be nothing but <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/music_blog/archive/2010/05/minnesota_takes.shtml">MN music</a>.</li><br /><li>They are streaming all month long the <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/services/the_current/features/2010/05/peter-wolf-crier-inter-be/">entire album of local artist Peter Wolf Crier</a>. (Don't have 40 minutes or so, just listen to the first song, <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/services/the_current/features/2010/05/peter-wolf-crier-inter-be/">Crutch & Cane</a>.</li></ol><p>On an ongoing basis, </p><ol><li>They also have great in-studio performances (including nonlocal artists) that you can catch on YouTube. Check out Dessa and <em>The Chacone--</em><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/F8dt8mY2WiQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/F8dt8mY2WiQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="320"></embed></object>with backing vocals by Jeremy Messersmith, who had his own in-studio performance recently and whose entire album you can also <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/services/the_current/features/2010/04/jeremy-messersmith-reluctant-graveyard/">stream</a>.</li><br /><li>You can stream The Current from anywhere, anytime.</li></ol><p>I've lived in Chicago and Portland, in addition to Minnesota. I've streamed WFUV in New York and twisted the dial both left and right in every major city I've ever been to (about 50 so far). While I will always give a shout out to central Minnesota's little <a href="http://kvsc.org/">KVSC </a>("Less Power Than a Lightbulb--and Proud of It")**, I don't think I've found any station (IMHO) so consistently entertaining as The Current.</p><p>So, no need to <a href="http://popup.lala.com/popup/360569513892347201"><em>Panic</em> </a>on the streets of Minnesota (or wherever you are): Just tune in The Current, turn on, and pledge allegiance.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />* Yes, at some point, of course I'll get around to talking about The Replacements.<br />** You can start humming Robyn Hitchcock's <em><a href="javascript:amz_js_PopWin(" ref="pd_krex_dp_001_006?ie=UTF8&track=006&disc=001',winName,winArgs);void(0);"">Man with the Lightbulb Head</a></em>, if you must.specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-29582026957635081352010-05-12T02:12:00.012-05:002010-05-12T03:45:00.351-05:00Stephen W. Hawking IS the Most Interesting Man in the WorldForget the Double X guy with his Triple X girlfriends, Stephen Hawking <em>is</em> the most interesting man in the world.<br /><br />I mean, think about this ladies: The guy can make things happen just by wiggling his eyebrows. He lays the mysteries of the universe open at your feet. He knows <em>all</em> about the Big Bang and Black Holes.<br /><br />Cue Pink Floyd's—although (blasphemy) I like Camper Van Beethoven's cover better—of <a href="http://popup.lala.com/popup/1657606219834636076&ei"><em>Intersteller OverDrive</em></a>.*<br /><br />But enough with the double entendre, because I’m dead serious. This guy ROCKS. He really DOES lay out the mysteries of the universe for you. I remember years ago reading <em>A Brief History of the Time</em> and thinking, “Whoa, did he really just make me understand that?”<br /><br />What brings on this burst of <em>amore</em> (sorry, no Dean Martin link)? Well, if you watch the Discovery channel (and surely you watch the Discovery channel) my man Stephen is on with a program called <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/stephen-hawking/"><em>Into the Universe</em></a>. (Ok, you know it's coming: Cue the <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/The+Beatles/_/Across+the+Universe">Beatles</a>. God, I love that song.)<br /><br />Anyway, Stephen (my man) is at it again (he and a few buddies), making my wee little brain absorb concepts that are surely beyond its capacity.<br /><br />He also reminds me what a whiney little brat I am.<br /><br />How so? Well, since you watch Discovery, you know that other program, <em>Deadliest Catch</em>. The captains on that show frequently mention that often the big, burly tough guys last about 5 minutes on a crab boat before they turn into whiny little girls (hey, I resent/resemble that remark!)<br /><br />Because it's not about physicality, it's about <em>mental toughness</em>. Well, with all due respect to all the <em>Catch </em>crews, my man Stephen can whoop your a~~ when it comes to mental toughness. He doesn't endure, he doesn't make due, he <em>excels </em>against all odds.<br /><br />Which Peter Himmelman (<strong>LOCAL MN MUSICIAN ALERT**</strong>) and I both know shows up our whiny little a~~es—as Peter wrote in a song about a visit to a female fan, who was a quadriplegic (and, more to the point, a social activist):<br /><blockquote><p>I was speaking to you with my voice<br />You were speaking to me by choosing letters with your eyebrow<br />You didn't have no choice<br />And yet you had an attitude like that's just the way that it goes now<br />...<br />From the moment I saw our face<br />I knew all my so-called troubles were nothing<br />You put me in my place<br />I knew right then I better start living for something<br />...<br />Susan, I owe you an apology<br />For all the days I just let slide right through my hands<br />You are the woman with the strength of 10,000 men<br />...<br />(and the words come ticking out; and the words bring us together<br />and the words come ticking out; and the words must keep you sane)<br /><br />(Peter Himmelman, <em><a href="http://www.peterhimmelman.com/audio/woman10000.html">Woman with the Strength of 10,000 Men</a></em>)</p></blockquote><br />And so, humbly, I submit: Stephen W. Hawking is the most interesting man in the world.<br /><br />And so Stephen, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WeezerVEVO#p/u/11/cDIzMGh94vo"><em>If You're Wondering If I Want You To</em></a> explain the mysteries of the universe to me, I say, yes, yes, YES!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />* I know, I know--that's two references to the same band in only two blogs, but <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYIGy1dyd8"><em>One Thing Leads to Another</em></a>.<br />** Yes, he doesn't live here anymore, but he knows he's Minnesotan. Oy vey, ubetcha!specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427955318462036763.post-26030968092645217562010-05-10T23:31:00.005-05:002013-11-27T23:02:29.348-06:00It's the Surprise Blog!<br />
<div>
<b>Why start a blog?</b><br />
<br />
Well, as the Avett Brothers say: “Ain't it like most people (I'm no different), we love to talk on things we don’t know about.” (<i><a href="http://popup.lala.com/popup/504684659309463344">Ten Thousand Words</a></i>)<br />
<br />
And thus, as you see, the name of this blog and what it will primarily talk about.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Why start a blog now?</b><br />
<br />
Well, I won’t bore you with details (or myself, since I’m essentially talking to myself here), but let’s just say I’ve encountered a <i><a href="http://popup.lala.com/popup/1657606168295028524">Surprise Truck</a> </i>(Camper Van Beethoven aka Cracker, lyrics edited): <br />
<br /><blockquote>
Well, some people say<br />
That it's the ice cream truck<br />
But it's not<br />
No, it's not<br />
It's not the magic bus<br />
And it's not one of those family buses<br />
And it's not the sheriff's truck<br />
And it's not the cement truck<br />
No, it's the surprise truck<br />
Surprise truck<br />
It's the surprise truck</blockquote>
<br />and although I’m not the one who got run down (I am talking metaphorically, here), it was a bit of shock. And music has always been how I’ve processed what I’m feeling.<br /><br />As a poor recent travel companion (a gal who didn’t really know me all that well when we started our shared pilgrimage) can attest, absolutely everything can remind me of a song, and it will likely burst out of me unexpectedly. For instance I may not even know I’m sad until I suddenly find myself singing the last few lines of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/radio/B000023YYQ/ref=pd_krex_dp_001_010?ie=UTF8&track=010&disc=001">Brides of Jesus</a> </i>by Little Feat: <br />
<br /><blockquote>
[It brings] you so much sorrow<br />
That you may be entertaining angels unawares</blockquote>
<br />(specifically, the version sung by Syd Straw for former David Letterman drummer Anton Fier’s supergroup, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Palominos">The Golden Palominos</a>).<br /><br />An annoying habit, but not unique to me. So, as another song notes: 3 or more of us, and it’s an organization; 50 or more and it’s a movement (<i><a href="http://popup.lala.com/popup/360569449464275612">Alice’s Restaurant</a></i>, Arlo Guthrie). Well, welcome to the first movement of <i>Ten Thousand Words</i>.<br />
<br /><b>What this is NOT:</b> <ol><br />
<li>An attempt to be a professional music blog. I’m not a professional critic, I’m a fan of music, and not anywhere near the most informed one you’ll ever come across.</li>
<br />
<li>Thorough analysis on any band, musical genre, or song “meaning,” providing accurate and complete background info on any said subject. Again, I’m not a professional, I’m a fan. </li>
<br />
<li>Fair and balanced. Hello, I’m a <em>fan</em>.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>What this will ATTEMPT to be:</b> <br />
<ol><br /></ol>
<ul>
<li>Thematic or event-matic (well, it's a word now)—because I like to pretend I’m organized, and it gives me something to hang a hat on—a home base to start from (<i><a href="http://popup.lala.com/popup/432627056443811298">Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head</a></i>, Elvis Costello). </li>
<li>Local—by no means exclusively but with attempts to bring to light local Minnesota musicians others may not have heard of (see bullet points #1-3 above). </li>
<li>Legal – I want to include clips—they’ll appear just as hypertext links—but they’ll be fair use one way or another. I’m a fan. I support music. I buy music, and you can, too! </li>
<li>About music I love, as I reflect on it and describe it in my own head—see points #1-3 in “not” section above. I’ll write like a fan, who is thinking “Oh, you’ve got to hear this.”</li>
<li>Which is to say I will undoubtedly from time-to-time (if not all the time) sound stupid, uninformed, of dubious musical taste, pretentious, obnoxious, ridiculous, and a host of other ‘ous-es’ that may occur to you. The good news for you is you don’t have to read this if you don’t like it or don’t want to—and <a href="http://popup.lala.com/popup/576742240202525519"><i>I Can’t Make You Love Me</i>, if you don’t</a>. (See what I mean?) Don’t waste your time flaming me; I’m sure you’ve got better things to do. </li>
</ul>
On the other hand, if you <i>do</i> stumble upon this and have a comment you want to make, or have a useful, informative, and gently phrased correction—that would be great. And if you have another music suggestion you want to add to a particular blog via comment—that would be terrific. Most of my biggest music loves/finds have come at the recommendation of others. Seven of my favorite of the ten thousand words out there are “Oh, you’ve got to hear this!” <br />
<br />
So, now that I’m done talking to myself about talking to myself about music, next time I’ll start talking to myself about music. <br />
<br />
A final note on my use of a copyright or watermark on images and video of mine in these posts: That is in regards to commercial or uncredited use of those materials by people other than the artists themselves. If any artist sees media featuring themselves, they are free to use it for any reason, (and I can provide an unmarked version, if they ask). Any artist that feels the use of any material here is not promotional and infringes on their rights: Let me know, I'll take it down. I'm writing about you or showing information about you because I like what you do and want you to eat, have a roof over your head, medical, dental, retirement, etc. I don't want to steal your image or your creative work, I want <em>more</em> people to buy it.specialkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037287805526680162noreply@blogger.com0