This is a great moment in the history of music on the internet. Both Fleck and Washburn caress the fretboards of their respective banjos, one bluegrass style, the other frailing style, with such delicacy that they refashion this uberdramatic metal tune into passionate chamber music. Also, Bela looks awesome-tastic with long hair… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5AsyuNia5Y
Month: September 2015
This guitarist reminds of a young Michael Hedges. This vid is fun. The tune he’s playing is Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and the acoustic rhythms are imaginative, strong and splendiferous.
Imagine Dragons took an honest and introspective approach to creating the music video for their new single, “Roots.” The video follows lead singer Dan Reynolds in his struggle to maintain a sense of self and balance in the chaotic whirlwind of tour life by rediscovering his roots.
(((This turned into an essay of sorts about my dog Ruby’s cremation day (a word I hated when it came to being associated with her) and it’s about her essence of course… written not of sound mind perhaps, but there’s beauty in the story and I needed to tell it quick…thank you all so much …
one more time, i’m posting this amazing record cover. it’s the cover of the LP (issued in 1967, a few months after “sgt. pepper” hit the streets) of the mothers of invention’s “we’re only in it for the money.” the delicious parody of the sgt. pepper cover is beyond cassic. it’s beatles anti-matter. the story …
I was writing a song in my backyard on my Spanish guitar, when a pair of raccoons came out of the bushes to check me out. The hood is alive… with the sounds of these little thieving quasi monkey bears and the sound of sensitive pony tail music. – Davin Michael Stedman
last wednesday, i was honored to be at a book signing event for a rather momentous and very important little poster book project. scott mcdougall is one of the best experts i’ve ever met on all things psychedelia. his own artwork (he desgned the cover, for instance) is enough to entrench him into the hall …
This is my new favorite video. This house should be made into a national historic place. I’m a little surprised there hasn’t already been a reality show…
This is downright hilarious: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/09/24/442822266/a-visit-to-the-worlds-first-boozy-taco-bell – Chuck Strom
Nations of the Soul are an indie folk duo from Norway who have just released their second single, “To the Loved Ones” (above). It’s a lovely, catchy tune which you’ll adore once you hear it. The duo’s first single, “Dancing Spirit,” released sometime before summer, was picked up and loved by the Norwegian press and …
Every couple of years, a new generation discovers folk singer/songwriter Jackson C. Frank – and gets all obsessive about him – similar to Nick Drake, Judee Sill, (and for reasons I’ve never understood) Vashti Bunyan – and yet, oddly not enough people do that with Sandy Denny. Anyway Frank is worth some obsessing – and …
New article in Grantland by Charles Pierce: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/peytons-place-why-the-broncos-quarterback-should-retire/ Very thoughtful on the current state of Peyton Manning’s career and the physical toll it has taken on him. The NFL season has just begun, and conversation already seems to be more about casualties than the games. It makes me wonder if football may decline, like boxing, …
The Queen of Rock n' Roll by The Sinners The Sinners have released a straight ahead rocker which is AWESOME and have chosen to have their world premiere on East Portland Blog which is even more AWESOME! Timothy Riley (that’s him in the photo on the right) is the chief among the Sinners as he …
Pope Francis has landed at Andrews Air Force Base for his first visit to the United States. There’s a lot of speculation about what he might say, especially when he addresses Congress Thursday morning in light of first visiting Cuba. I am hopeful that he will discuss American capitalism’s flaws, a theme he has hit …
Blending the gospel with the secular; Dylan in New Orleans, November 1981: This show was recorded for a proposed live album, which was never issued (apart from “Heart of Mine”, which appeared on Biograph), Dylan scholar Paul Williams calls this “one of his most inventive tours”, and the setlist — which mixes songs from the …
I had been a resident of San Francisco for all of 24 hrs when I strolled into a South of Market bar in October 1987 and spotted Chuck Prophet propping up a bar stool. I sat down, didn’t introduce myself, then started making comments and asking questions about the other members of Green On Red; …
Last night while watching neutral Al-Jazeera TV, I saw a clip about the US Army having committed $500 million to train Syrians to fight ISIL. The clip was a Senate Armed Service Committee hearing chaired by Senator John McCain. General Austin testified about the program that strove to train 15,000 Syrians to fight. General Austin …
The last time I saw Bowling For Soup was in 2009 at El Corazon. That’s the last time they played Seattle. Six long years I have awaited their return, and judging by the totally packed club and it being a Tuesday. It seems they were missed but not forgotten in Seattle. Bowling For Soup know …
this is my very favorite MOOG record – The ELECTRIC ECLECTICS of DICK HYMAN (his real name, by the way). stop laughing. i have 3 copies of this (just in case i ever lose one.) this is actually a really great over-the-top MOOG synthesizer recording done by a guy who is a trained jazz musician. …
I clearly remember Peter Holsapple and DB’s playing “Suspicious Minds” at Scorgies in Rochester, NY circa 1984 and Peter making an impassioned plee for folks not to believe all the myth and horseshit of Elvis and just dig the music – that made a strong impression on me. During that era doing an Elvis tune …
When I compiled a listing of my favorite singles of all-time about eight years ago (a kaleidoscopic endeavor that eventually BALLOONED to 800 entries, even though no artist was permitted more than ONE!), this string-fueled, now-rather-obscure, Family Soul smash from Summer 1972 (#2 in BILLBOARD, but #1 in CASH BOX!) came in at #19, just …
In New York City, a gig with Norwegian jazz singer Karin Krog joined by piano maverick Steve Kuhn for $14 is almost “free” – at Joe’s Pub on Wednesday September 30th, at 7:30 pm (one set only) – I think I may even roll into town for this. Click here for ticket info. Here’s a …
The always lovely Jasmine Jordan has a video out for her song “Smile” below which must not be missed. This LA-based RnB siren burns torch songs of powerful love with positive messages and upbeat sounds. She will be appearing live at Holocene in Portland on 9/17, and at Columbia City Theater in Seattle on 9/18. …
https://youtu.be/0v53_2eQ9zw There’s a great look to this video. They definintely project like they’re havin’ a great time… Philadelphia progressive soul ensemble Johnny Popcorn is emcee/producer/singer Hezekiah, producer/bassist Tone Whitfield, and vocalist Jani Coral. Before forming Johnny Popcorn, Hezekiah released music with Rawkus Records, in addition to working exclusively, writing for renowned neo-soul artist Bilal. Like …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFobb7n7AzE
I’ve always preferred men over boys and women rather than girls, so when I heard this ‘adult’ version of the Jackson 5 bubblegum hit (recorded just a few months after young Michael took it to the top), I asked myself ‘why in the hell’ did Motown sit on releasing it for 34 years ? The …
this is sicks’seattle stadium, a baseball stadium in the rainier valley that was home to seattle’s only baseball team – minor league – for 50 years. they were called the ‘seattle rainiers’ and were funded entirely by the rainier brewing company what was then called “sicks’ brewing company’. it was owned by a guy name …
The September 29, 2015 Richard Lloyd Band show at The Columbia City Theater hit top gear about halfway through the main set, and from that point right on through the all-Jimi encore, Richard was on FIRE! Here’s how he brought it all back home on his battered Strat: “Friction”, “Pleading”, “Alchemy”, “Field of Fire”, “Amnesia”, …
Last night Bill Larsen and I and a few others were sharing some musical memories from the late ’70s, and it struck me that I really can’t underestimate the cumulative effect that several records from roughly 1979 or so had on me — “Starry Eyes” (The Records), “Girl of My Dreams” (Bram Tchaikovsky), “Too Late” …