I like talking about music and sharing some of the stuff I listen to. I also enjoy the contributions of others.
How about a thread where we talk about some performers who are good and deserving of more attention?
I have a request or two. Please just post one performer/group per post. I have a hard time when there are 4, 5, 6, videos to watch in just one thread. Let's post one at a time and talk about them. The other thing is not to add someone who we've all heard of.
My first entry is Jade MacRae. I chose her because I think her new stuff is pretty damn good. Kind of a mix between soul and jazz. I also have a good friend who knows her and he is somewhat of a music guy himself and he highly recommended her.
I became aware of Jade when my daughter and I went and saw Joe Bonamassa last spring. We both liked the two background singers and Jade really stood out throughout the show and when she performed a solo. She had a great stage personality and I was very impressed.
Btw--------both of her parents are musicians in Australia. Her mom was a vocalist and her dad a pianist.
First of all............copy the text in the web address bar at the top of the page.
Then, go to the line that is just above the white reply box...The Smilies is first, then create a link to a webpage, etc. Go to the 5th icon from the left. It looks like a blue screen.
Click on it and then click on the YouTube Video thingy and then paste the address from the YouTube video you have selected.
This is one of my recent discoveries. Well, w/in the last 3 months. It reminds me of some of the stuff from the '20s and I like the upbeat tempo. My dogs and I dance to this every time it comes on the kitchen Bose on one of my Pandora stations.
Give it a listen and tell me you aren't tapping your feet. LOL
That song isn't meant for her, but I hear big-time potential. She needs a strong song-writer that can take advantage of that voice, which is considerable.
This is one of my recent discoveries. Well, w/in the last 3 months. It reminds me of some of the stuff from the '20s and I like the upbeat tempo. My dogs and I dance to this every time it comes on the kitchen Bose on one of my Pandora stations.
Give it a listen and tell me you aren't tapping your feet. LOL
If you like this style of music look up a band called The Squirrel Nut Zippers. If you have not already heard of them that is.
I have heard of them, but I didn't care for them. I think I'm more of a fan of Caro's voice and delivery than anything. Although, I do like rhythm and sound of that one particular song I posted.
I post this song as "off the beaten path" Although it really isn't. I don't think Gary Glitter was known for much other than this. And he is some kind of perv.
But back in the 90's when I went to NBA games....this was THE song.
Very familiar. Seen them a few times over the years. Worked a charity event, doing some lighting, with the lead singer sitting in with other musicians. Pink Martini is not my general style but they do what they do well. So I can appreciate it.
I love to hear different styles of music so I appreciate this post. I never heard them before.
I have strong jazz roots and have always loved the blended sound of sax and trumpet. Getz and Gilberto back in the day blended the South American beat and sound with the tenor sax of Stan Getz to create some magic.
I like Gorillaz and the song and this cover brings new light to that song.
It has always interested me how some covers work.
If you have a stylist who brings it to a great song sometimes it works better than the original.
I am a Dylan fan. His lyrics are simply amazing. Sometimes I prefer his version. But then you hear Hendrix do All Along The Watchtower and it blows your mind.
Funking up your Saturday morning... bring the horns, bring the keys, bring the bass, and bring the heat... add in a good message and you got... The Motet
I think some of you may have heard of her, but probably most have not.
I am not a musical expert, but Mazzy Starr combined several unique elements. Folksy. Druggy. Mystical. Shy. Reclusive. Mesmerizing.
I have seen her live...as Mazzy Star twice, once in the 90s and again a few years ago when they released a new album. Also seen her solo three times (Hope Sandoval & the New Bavairans). She is beautiful, but painfully shy and apparently suffers extreme stage fright. All 5 times I have seen her the club is almost entirely black with maybe just a soft blue light on her. She barely moves, rarely talks to the crowd and often covers her face with her long hair. It is awkward, yet strangely mysterious and alluring. On record, however, she is phenomenal. That said, they all sound very similar in that dreamy, folky, droney, psychedelic way (even her solo records do).
My wife and I just saw these dudes....new band out of Seattle and they were amazing! They have one album out and it is a killer! We have played it often since seeing them!
Do you like jazz? Soul? Acid influences? Funk? Haunting vocals? Orchestras?
Well, you can enjoy them all if you listen to Portishead.
Not as haunting as Portishead, but England had a lot of this jazzy, trip hop/lounge bands in the 90s/early 00's. Massive Attack and Morcheeba are a couple others who are well worth checking out. However, I love the first couple Zero 7 albums. Very soothing, hypnotic and rather gorgeous to the ears:
How did this thread slip by me? Great topic! I've been in a rut listening to the same stuff lately. Looks like the little woman and I will have quite the YouTube playlist, while we hang out tonight. Good times a comin.
This is a cover of Pink Floyd's "Shine On" done by Christy Moore. Although he is not well known stateside,he was a member of the group Planxty with Paul Brady and Donal Lunny.That would equate to a super group of tradional Irish musicians.
Erika Hughes and the Well Mannered. A Columbus based band. Some very good friends of my brother in law. He plays in band with Erika’s husband. Enjoy...
Had to bring out the laptop for this, so if my syntax is sinful it's my own darn fault and not the autocorrect on my kids tablet. Grandma took all the grandkids so we ended up with my brothers in law over tonight. I was forced to share the music selections. The southern fried variants went over well with the group and DAMN I really liked that Motet, Portland. Nobody else did, but it had me goin.
The fam pooped out early, but I'm still standing, which brings me to my first contribution. You all read The Giving Tree, Light in the Attic, or Where the Sidewalk Ends when you were little? Me too. Always loved that stuff. It's not okay to say you smoke down yet, but Shel Silverstein never cared. Beware of being the roller when there's nothing left to roll.
If I was stuck on a deserted island and could only pick one album side worth of music to listen to on repeat this would make the cut. Have to rebuy this, but can't find it.
This dude can play! He gets on that groove and I feel like my chest is gonna burst. Guess he always played, but lacked confidence. Decided to play covers at a local pizza joint gradually working in his own tunes as he bent favorable ears.
Had to bring out the laptop for this, so if my syntax is sinful it's my own darn fault and not the autocorrect on my kids tablet. Grandma took all the grandkids so we ended up with my brothers in law over tonight. I was forced to share the music selections. The southern fried variants went over well with the group and DAMN I really liked that Motet, Portland. Nobody else did, but it had me goin.
The fam pooped out early, but I'm still standing, which brings me to my first contribution. You all read The Giving Tree, Light in the Attic, or Where the Sidewalk Ends when you were little? Me too. Always loved that stuff. It's not okay to say you smoke down yet, but Shel Silverstein never cared. Beware of being the roller when there's nothing left to roll.
Glad you liked that Motet track. Not sure what’s not to like. If you’ve got any soul you have to like funk. Check out their album Totem. They picked up a new vocalist and added a new keys player around then. Changed their sound significantly. Took a step up from their previous stuff for sure. Glad you dug it. Sure you’ll enjoy Totem too. Let the haters hate.
I’ve seen Leftover Salmon a bunch over the years. Met them all back in the mid 90’s backstage at the Newport. RIP Mark Vaughn. Man that kid could play a banjo. Their original bass player, Tye North, is an acquaintance of mine now here in Portland all these years later. Vince Herman still plays a festival that I work out here just about every year. Super talented group of kids they were.
This is one of my recent discoveries. Well, w/in the last 3 months. It reminds me of some of the stuff from the '20s and I like the upbeat tempo. My dogs and I dance to this every time it comes on the kitchen Bose on one of my Pandora stations.
Give it a listen and tell me you aren't tapping your feet. LOL
Didn't get to this last night, but I sure wish I did. I don't know what you look like Vers, but I imagine what I imagine you look like doing dancing dishes in an assembly line where you dogs dries.
this has me beboppin round the house, while cleaning up before the kids got home this morning. However my boxer wouldn't dance, he wouldn't even hold the trash bag for me the lazy mutt.
Dude?! How did you even find this. It's certainly off the beaten path, those Mongolian bikers just made their own on the grassy expanse of the steppe. I actually found myself enjoying this though. I feel like this could be played at the stadium on Sundays with some minor modifications, but still keeping the throaty singer. Picture the stadium packed, as the team is about to be introduced the heirs of Chinggis Khan begin:
When Bengal come we rumble like thunder, Raven come we strike like lightning, Steeler come we crush and obliterate, Cleveland Browns bring the wrath of heaven.
At this point, instead of Mongolian bikers chanting Hu Hu Hu, 70,000+ Woof Woof Woof as the team bursts onto the field. The few visiting fans either capitulate and assimilate by donning Orange and Brown or they are engulfed and consumed.
listen to that progression! listen to how the music literally flows with the singers vocals. its methodical, its peaceful, its make you feel like you're floating through the milky way.
I love the music threads. We don't argue very often on these threads and that is cool. I tend to not listen to the songs one by one, but listen to several in a row when I am not posting.
I love hearing new things from other posters. It's all pretty cool.
Dude?! How did you even find this. It's certainly off the beaten path, those Mongolian bikers just made their own on the grassy expanse of the steppe. I actually found myself enjoying this though. I feel like this could be played at the stadium on Sundays with some minor modifications, but still keeping the throaty singer. Picture the stadium packed, as the team is about to be introduced the heirs of Chinggis Khan begin:
When Bengal come we rumble like thunder, Raven come we strike like lightning, Steeler come we crush and obliterate, Cleveland Browns bring the wrath of heaven.
At this point, instead of Mongolian bikers chanting Hu Hu Hu, 70,000+ Woof Woof Woof as the team bursts onto the field. The few visiting fans either capitulate and assimilate by donning Orange and Brown or they are engulfed and consumed.
I totally feel that as a stadium song! Somebody make a deal with them! I could listen to that all day.
I randomly found an article about that band today and got hooked. Its absolutely going in my youtube favorites.
Hey Vamint.............I love your posts, enthusiasm, and contributions.
I am not sure if this girl is completely "off the beaten path," but I have a feeling you may not have heard of her and will enjoy her music.
I'll play two. I apologize f you already have listened to her.
Bro, she's sweet, smooth, sultry, sophisticated, and sexy. That's an alliteration. LOL
She was also hit by a SUV while riding her bike when she was 10. She suffered brain trauma and still has to often use a cane and wear shades due to the headaches light causes her.
If you like those two, check out some of her other stuff. She's incredibly awesome and one of my top three listens right now.
I saw GOAT live in Portland several years ago. I am torn on them...in terms of performance...the gig was without a doubt a spectacle. The band were all wearing African style masks, pounding witchcraft and shamen sticks, female singers with feathery tribal headdresses and batik dresses in the front dancing in a ritualistic tribal way and the music had tribal rhythms, chants and manic percussion, but overlaid on top was an ultra cool 'Shaft' style psychedelic wah and tremolo drenched fuzz guitar. On the surface, I admit it was pretty damn cool.
Why am I torn then? The band are, or at least they were when I saw them, all white hailing from Sweden. Most/all in the audience were white and some in the audience were also wearing tribal inspired masks. It was, without a doubt, the most over the top and blatantly obvious/textbook example of cultural appropriation I have ever seen and it made me feel very odd witnessing it as an audience member.
I like jazz, but it is a genre that has always intimidated me as it's hard to know where to start. That said, Eddie Harris is one of my favorites. Hell, he may actually be my favorite jazz artist.
His early/mid 60s stuff is fairly traditional and his LP 'Exodus to Jazz' is an absolute beauty and you can still find original copies for about $5-10. He is also probably best known for his 1969 Swiss Jazz Fest gig and LP with Les McCann ('Swiss Movement').
HOWEVER, in the 70s he recorded a handful of killer, jazz funk albums, which are bit more difficult to find. The cover art would make most record buyers flip past them rather than pick them up, but underneath the gawdy, kitsch artwork are some infectious grooves and this one, in particular, is probably my all time favorite jazz song, ever.
Brings tears to my eyes and floors me everytime I hear it. One of those songs that makes you stop what you are doing, sit down and....listen.
I love all three of Drake's albums. There is nobody who can pick the guitar quite like him. And, what sounds so simple is actually highly complex. I guess that is part of his charm & beauty. There is also a great biography by Patrick Humphries that is well worth reading. It definitely gives insight into this gentle, haunted, introspective and lonely English folkie who barely sold any records during his life, but has since become highly respected and a huge influence.
I saw GOAT live in Portland several years ago. I am torn on them...in terms of performance...the gig was without a doubt a spectacle. The band were all wearing African style masks, pounding witchcraft and shamen sticks, female singers with feathery tribal headdresses and batik dresses in the front dancing in a ritualistic tribal way and the music had tribal rhythms, chants and manic percussion, but overlaid on top was an ultra cool 'Shaft' style psychedelic wah and tremolo drenched fuzz guitar. On the surface, I admit it was pretty damn cool.
Why am I torn then? The band are, or at least they were when I saw them, all white hailing from Sweden. Most/all in the audience were white and some in the audience were also wearing tribal inspired masks. It was, without a doubt, the most over the top and blatantly obvious/textbook example of cultural appropriation I have ever seen and it made me feel very odd witnessing it as an audience member.
Well that is disappointing. Sounds pretty annoying. And I've been checking up here and there to see when they tour again. I knew they were from Sweden.
I am a huge Mark Lanegan fan. Some of you may remember him from the 90s band, The Screaming Trees (they were always my favorite of the Seattle bands). However, in the mid-90s Lanegan started releasing some of his own solo stuff and it is incredible. Seen him live a handful of times and even had a drink with him after one gig. Amazingly, he looks quite moody and melancholic and somewhat intimidating, yet one-on-one he was super talkative and chill. Anyway, there are 4-5 Lanegan records that are absolutely essential, but here are a couple tasters to sink your teeth into.
I have no idea why, but it makes me feel good if I can introduce another person to music that they like. It's kind of weird, but it makes me happy.
I've been wanting to see Melody Gardot since I discovered her music. She doesn't tour much. I don't think she has any upcoming scheduled tour dates, but I might be wrong about that. I believe most of her prior concerts are in Europe. I don't feel very confident that the SE USA will be one of her priorities. LOL
I think her physical issues from her accident makes it hard for her to tour. She is still very sensitive to light and that is why you see her w/the shades on all the time. She also uses a cane.
I get my fix in a couple of ways. I listen to her--and many others--at night when I'm on this board. I have the music playing while I am reading or typing on here and then flip back to YouTube to watch parts of the performances.
I also created a Pandora station and named it Melody Gardot radio. That is how I discovered Caro and Skye, as well as many other interesting performers.
I'm rambling, but I really do love music and I'm happy that you are enjoying a new discovery.
No one will read all of that article, but it's pretty cool.
Our friend Clem often talks about the powers of music and introducing your children to music and all its wonders. This excerpt validates Mr. Clem's claims.
Quote:
And then a simple Google search reveals that not only does she have amazing talent, but she also has a jaw-dropping backstory. Seven years ago, at 19, she was hit by a car while on her bike and suffered devastating injuries, especially to her brain. After months of going through all the traditional therapies for the brain-injured and still being unable to read, still struggling to speak and walk, she was encouraged by her doctor to try playing music, since she'd played piano as a child and teenager. The reintroduction of music to her life affected a kind of miraculous awakening. Lying on her sickbed, she taught herself to play guitar, began to sing for the first time, and even started writing songs, which unbeknownst to her a friend posted on MySpace. It turned out she could sing like an angel, and her songs were good by any measure.
Naturally, the media flocked to her. The Times of London, The San Francisco Chronicle, Le Monde, The Korea Times, National Public Radio, The Sydney Morning Herald, The New York Times, and CBS Sunday Morning, to name a few, tell variations on the Only Music Can Heal Her story. I flocked to Gardot too, hopping a plane to Spain to interview this amazing singer, a walking example of the healing powers of music.
Musicophilia, the 2007 book by the neurologist Oliver Sacks, illustrates the ways in which music is a therapeutic boon. Aphasics, he writes, cannot locate words, but they're often able to sing the words to songs. A Parkinson's sufferer, unable to speak or move, can, when listening to music, actually get up and dance gracefully.
But the Melody Gardot case represents success on an entirely different scale. Music therapy didn't just allow this young woman to enjoy a relatively normal life after a traumatic injury—it brought out such a gift that she has actually become famous.
No one will read all of that article, but it's pretty cool.
I read it all and I enjoyed it a lot!
I will also make a claim about the importance of art education (visual and performing) and art therapy. Not only do the arts help with critical thinking and problem solving, but they allow for abstract and "out of the box" thought as well as visual, expressive & creative communication. Studies show that students who take at least one art class at a higher level (HS or even at college) do much better across the board than their peers who don't take any art. Students who take art throughout school often perform significantly better in all testing statistics. Sadly, however, we continue to strip funding from the arts, which pushes art education into the private sector or at museums where people have to pay, which makes it harder for lower income demographics to access forcing it to be a middle/upper class education privilege.
I'm impressed that you took the time to read that article. It was fairly long.
I also totally agree w/your comments about the benefits of art and that it is a damn shame to not utilize them enough in our public schools.
We should perhaps start a thread on this someday. I like a balance of regular academics, the arts, and physical education. I had a student who was born in China and her explanation of the school day amazed me. It seemed so extreme, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. It may also help why Chinese culture looks at education so differently than American culture does. It's not "we have to go to school today." Rather, we get to go to school today."
Btw--------I wish I had the funds to start a school. It would set our current educational practices on it's collective ear.
I too have had students from China and they have told me that the difference between US and UK art education is: in China they learn the technical skills REALLY, REALLY well. For example, how to draw or paint something that looks realistic. However, (and this is in their words), there is a "lack of creativity in how it is taught". In the US and UK art also focuses on skills, but it pushes thinking outside of the box and being creative with your expression and your voice. We all know art is subjective and some folks will prefer art that looks realistic because it showcases something they can't do. However, for myself, I have always preferred the arts that evoke an emotion and make me think. That, in my opinion, is where honesty, creativity and soul comes into play.
This may also explain why the US and Europe still lead when it comes to creativity in computer/digital technology and, currently, robotics & engineering (although Asia is/have quickly catching/caught up with us on the latter).
PS: when I say "art" I am referring to all of the arts: visual, music, theatre, dance, literary etc.
Sadly, however, we continue to strip funding from the arts, which pushes art education into the private sector or at museums where people have to pay, which makes it harder for lower income demographics to access forcing it to be a middle/upper class education privilege.
I'm a one-man crusade against that.
I am a product of America's last great truly Socialist policy experiment of the late 50/early 60's. When I was 9 years old, I received my first cello- a 1/2-size plywood mass-produced little abomination with an aluminum "Kay" badge on the tailpiece. My folks could rent that li'l box for- get this- 10 dollars per school year.
We were a one-income family. Dad was a beat cop at the time. Money was tight. I've mentioned before that I had a paying job at the age of 7: Three Aces Moving. My Pops, my Great Uncle Oliver ('Uncle Babe') and myself hauled pianos and organs sold by a local music store on Saturdays. Just so happens that one of the salespersons was a cellist in the local community orchestra. Bruce Sims. When I turned 10 and showed some dedication, he agreed to give me private lessons. 2.50/hr (He had other students whom he charged more for).
Fast-Forward. Bruce retired when I was 12, and handed me off to another teacher, who left after 9 months, and handed me of to another teacher. And another. By the time I was 14, I'd had 4 different teachers. My progress was starting to suffer from all the inconsistency. (Sound familiar, Browns fans?)
We were told about this teacher at BGSU, 1:15 away. Momz drove me there for my audition. Yes, audition. Peter Howard didn't take just any student. If you didn't make his cut, he'd refer you to his wife Mary, who would get you in shape for lessons with Peter.
Dude's credentials were impeccable. Taught at Oberlin Conservatory, played first desk in the Cleveland Orch, had a soloist's career in Europe, the whole nine. I must have played for an hour and a half for that dude. When it was over, he agreed to teach me. When Momz asked him his hourly fee, our jaws dropped. He was charging what Lawyers did. Momz cut the check, thanked him for his time, and explained that we were folks of very modest means, and have learned to make do with the best we could afford. She then asked him if he could refer us to some other teachers who might charge less. Pete said no.
What he did next changed the trajectory of my life. He told my Mom: "Pay me what you can. It's more important for your son to get a quality education than it is for me to get rich from teaching. Besides, some doctor's talentless kid will come along wanting lessons, and I'll just charge them double." He then slashed his fee IN HALF.
I studied with Peter for 5 uninterrupted years, which upped my game from promising youngster to young competitive adult. Without him, I spend 30 years at the local refinery (a great job, but not a career in music, you know?)
_________________
To this day, I carry two teaching rates: my standard hourly fee (about the same as an attorney's billable hours) for those who can afford to pay, and "whatever you can afford" for those students who are like I was. I've taught for as little a $5.00... and those kids get the same quality ed that I give to the students whose parents pay the full rate.
I've actually sent poor kids from the inner city to music schools on talent scholarships they've won through intensive auditions and testing. It's a great feeling to see these kids come out of their shells, escape hood life, re-wire their brains, and become next generation's leaders. There is no other work like it.
My crusade: to put music in the hearts, hands, and minds of every child who wants it. I've already set up my estate to continue that legacy after I'm gone.
Art and music education is a nice, extra, bonus activity.
Everyone has heard of a starving artist sale. Has anyone ever heard of a starving electrician, engineer, or plumber sale? Take a few moments and think about that.
While it is true that most kids in music programs have better grades, it is also true that most kids in music programs ALREADY HAD better grades, that's why they had the available time to enter a music program.
Sure there are success stories. The much larger number of total failure stories are not nearly as interesting.
Right next to my City Hall, there is a large sculpture of what looks like a giant Flintstone's snow tire. A large stone circle, with a hole in the center, with grooves around the outside. SIX FIGURES of taxpayer dollars.
The best part is they have a retrospective of this artist's work displayed inside. There is a half circle, with a hole in the center and grooves around the outside, a three-quarter circle with a hole and grooves, a complete circle with a hole but no grooves, and a complete circle with grooves but no hole.
For several hundred thousand dollars, at least the citizens of my county got his most advanced work.
Meanwhile, kids in school did not have enough textbooks to go around, potholes in roads went unrepaired, new equipment for police and firefighters went unpurchased, a whole slew of needed and important services for citizens failed to materialize.
It never crossed my mind at the time, but I should have known better than to highlight the excerpt about how music helped Miss Gardot recover and the benefits music can provide to our society.
Perhaps, instead of a knee-jerk reaction regarding a pet obsession, you might engage is some comparative thought.
If every school system in the country bought fewer textbooks and more oboes, would our students be BETTER OFF, or WORSE?
As with many things, it's all a matter of "Compared to WHAT?"
One of the above is more important, and more necessary, than the other. There is not an unlimited supply of funds available to apply to everything everybody wants. Priorities must be defined.
That does not mean that art and music are not good things, or are not beneficial. There are, however, quite a number of things that are more beneficial, and more important.
Art and music education is a nice, extra, bonus activity.
Everyone has heard of a starving artist sale. Has anyone ever heard of a starving electrician, engineer, or plumber sale? Take a few moments and think about that.
While it is true that most kids in music programs have better grades, it is also true that most kids in music programs ALREADY HAD better grades, that's why they had the available time to enter a music program.
Sure there are success stories. The much larger number of total failure stories are not nearly as interesting.
Right next to my City Hall, there is a large sculpture of what looks like a giant Flintstone's snow tire. A large stone circle, with a hole in the center, with grooves around the outside. SIX FIGURES of taxpayer dollars.
The best part is they have a retrospective of this artist's work displayed inside. There is a half circle, with a hole in the center and grooves around the outside, a three-quarter circle with a hole and grooves, a complete circle with a hole but no grooves, and a complete circle with grooves but no hole.
For several hundred thousand dollars, at least the citizens of my county got his most advanced work.
Meanwhile, kids in school did not have enough textbooks to go around, potholes in roads went unrepaired, new equipment for police and firefighters went unpurchased, a whole slew of needed and important services for citizens failed to materialize.
But, hey, we have a big granite snow tire.
Yesterday I sat in the office of my studio with my buddy/co-creator of our art. We spent time looking over the plans for our public art piece were about to begin building. Our city will soon have a crazy piece of giant art in it because of the our collaborative efforts. If our art inspires even one kid to look at life differently, to think outside the box, to be creative in a world that needs creative thinkers, then our job is well done. I’ll gladly accept the public money and will apply every time a city wants to give out more. Why? Because art is more important to society than you’re giving credit for. Maybe your city chose poorly. Maybe you should sit on the board that chooses public art pieces so that your tastes can be accounted for. I leave it at that.
Actually an addendum: So you know. Our project requires a structural engineer, an electrician, and a certified welder to complete. So, see, the arts have a ripple effect. My guess is the team that’ll help us put this together will have never worked on something so outside the box. My guess is they’ll be enriched through the experience too. Art is cool that way.
Apple pie is a good and wonderful thing which brings many people enjoyment and pleasure.
What percentage of the taxpayer-funded school lunch budget should be devoted to serving apple pie?
If occasionally serving apple pie for lunch meant there would be no supplemental breakfast program, which would you choose?
In case you are blissfully unaware, the decision on which of the two is MORE IMPORTANT than the other, has already been made for you. This choice is made by people who actually confront reality, rather than live in fantasy land.
I wonder how the two of you feel that money was extracted from your wallets to pay for a statue of the Madonna and child made out of elephant poop?
Likely before Swish's time, but Vers certainly was involved. Somebody decided that you needed to pay for that. Not sure if it is still on display, or if it served a useful purpose as fertilizer.
Me, I'd rather buy schoolbooks, or feed hungry children. But, I guess "art" is more important to some folks.
It's OK, don't bother to think, evaluate, or make decisions. I understand.
Hey guys. Please don't respond to him. Hopefully he will go away and we can talk about music again. Again, it was my fault for mentioning the benefits of music. My apologies.
Trying to get back to the topic... So not as melodic, vocal forward and such as other offerings but it’s got a bit of a beat to it and is a sexy track. Plus it’s already Swish approved.
Growing up poor, her parents couldn't even afford to name her - now she just goes by "spoon lady". Her school was filled with textbooks but no musical instruments. Alas - her passion prevailed.
The rest of that Motet album is going to drop soon. They changed their lineup in the past couple of years. Added a great vocalist and a new keyboard player. The last album they put out, with the new line up, called Totem, is so so good. Look it up. I’m really looking forward to the rest of this new one. Not sure when the rest drops.
Hey guys. Please don't respond to him. Hopefully he will go away and we can talk about music again. Again, it was my fault for mentioning the benefits of music. My apologies.
No, it wasn't your fault. You brought up an excellent point about an artist and education and one that is worthy of discussion. If it were not for the art or artifacts left behind we would know nothing of so many cultures and civilizations. STEAM: (Science/Technology/Engineering/Arts/Mathematics) is essential education and the Arts play a significant role. The arts help in so many ways, they make a well rounded student and they also allow students to think critically and to problem solve. PortlandDawg highlighted it perfectly when talking about his massive sculptures (which I have had the pleasure to not only see first hand, but to do my small part in helping/supplying two more hands whenever I can). The amount of problem solving and abstract critical thinking (not to mention engineering, electrical work and geometry) needed to create his massive sculptures from a small doodle to the physical structure and the amount of unforeseen problems that present themselves along the way is creative & applied mathematics at its best. The finished piece they share may not speak STEAM, but PortlandDawg's audience receives aesthetic enjoyment in return for his and his partner's brain, muscle and creative powers that were painstakingly bled, sweated, cried, laughed, smoked, burned and absorbed into the metal or whatever materials they choose to create with.
I left this place for the entire football season as I had enough with the digital drama, pollution & petty arguments, which I don't need in my life. I decided to return and vowed to myself to stay out of the muck and move past those who choose to freely throw it. Please don't apologize Vers. As you rightly said...just ignore the philistines.
The term is STEM, there is no "A" in what we are expending a national effort towards promoting for, and teaching to, our children.
Not even to women and other oppressed minorities. S T E M.
Fascinating that much art promotes acknowledgment of shades of gray and the lack of absolutes in so many areas, yet its most rabid proponents seem near-totally unable to grasp that vitally important fact.
Continue discussing your free music and studying your free art. I'm gonna go get some apple pie. Actually, more likely some fresh bakery turnovers cause they're on sale. Not free, though.
Oh art isn’t free. You should see the check we’re cashing. Nor is it free as I spent thousands of dollars for art school and countless hours honing my skills. Nothing free about that. Enjoy your turnover. Baking is a creative endevour. An art in and of itself.
The term is STEM, there is no "A" in what we are expending a national effort towards promoting for, and teaching to, our children.
Not even to women and other oppressed minorities. S T E M.
Fascinating that much art promotes acknowledgment of shades of gray and the lack of absolutes in so many areas, yet its most rabid proponents seem near-totally unable to grasp that vitally important fact.
Hmmm...that's odd. I was just at a STEAM conference.
My wife and I see a lot of live music. Even more so now that we are empty nesters (son went to college and daughter has moved out). We were at a club just last night and saw this great funky band from Seattle, 'Down North'. They were SO GOOD, the guitarist absolutely smoked! His guitar tone reminded me of Eddie Hazel from early Funkadelic (they even did a cover of a P-Funk tune), the lead singer danced throughout the set and channeled his inner James Brown screaming & dancing (at one point he was down on the floor w/the audience singing and dancing), the drummer was phenomenal...so fast and a ball of energy and the bassist laid down the thickest, fuzziest and funkiest bass. I was by his amp and could feel it throughout my bones. Great gig!
Oh, and they will be in Cleveland on Feb 7 @ the Beachland. GO SEE THEM!
And...if you want to watch their full show at KEXP:
Wow! I really liked the Heartbreaker piece. I've never heard of them before. It was all good, but I really loved the bass. I'm kind of rudimentary when it comes to such things. LOL
I'm going to check out more of their stuff tonight when I sit down to chill.
I like coming on here and being turned on to new stuff. I don't like all the additions, but it's cool to listen to new things and to find some new music to incorporate into your playlists. And I really enjoy just talking w/folks w/out all the bickering and drama.
I love both the Living Colour and Rage ATM covers with brass! Thanks Clem & Vers.
I saw a band from New Orleans years ago at the Portland blues festival called 'Bonerama'. Yeah, hilarious name and fun pun as they were/are a trombone heavy band who play originals as well as unique brass takes on rock tunes. Their take on Sabbath's 'War Pigs' blew me away! Here's a vid of them doing it...not from the Portland gig I saw, but this was essentially what they sounded like. I thought you gents might dig this!
That was cool. I was never a Metal Head, but I still loved Sabbath and War Pigs is a great song. That was pretty amazing what those guys did w/that song.
Hey PDX, since you like Rage Against the Machine, I figured I would ask you if you like this, as well?
[quote=Versatile Dog] Hey Vamint... I have a feeling you may not have heard of her (Melody Gardot)and will enjoy her music...
...She was also hit by a SUV while riding her bike when she was 10. She suffered brain trauma and still has to often use a cane and wear shades due to the headaches light causes her. quote]
I had never heard of her before. Thankyou for sharing. I really liked it, especially "Who will comfort me." I was practicing pool in the basement and it fit in perfectly for the tempo I was trying to establish. Perfect to just get lost in and not overthink the angles.
I also like that you included some backstory. When I hear I need a break; troubles been weighing me down, it help me realize there is weight behind the words.
Have you heard this one yet:
I post the lyrics because I know you dig that.
Some Lessons Melody Gardot Well I'm buckled up inside It's a miracle that I'm alive I do not think I can survive On bread and wine alone To think that I could have fallen A centimeter to the left Would not be here to see the sunset Or have myself a time
Well why do the hands of time So easily unwind
Some lessons we learn the hard way Some lessons don't come easy That's the price we have to pay Some lessons we learn the hard way They don't come right off and write easy That's why they say some lessons learned we learn the hard way
Remember the sound of the pavement World turned upside down City streets unlined and empty Not a soul around Life goes away in a flash Right before your eyes If I…
Listening to Melody Gardot got me in the mood for some old school acoustic blues guitar. It's a crying shame that more of their legacies weren't recorded. This song has one jammin' groove. Folks who listened to Clapton Unplugged beyond Tears in Heaven and Layla will recognize this one:
Looking at the rest of this thread from the last week and it seems that Gardot resonates with a lot of us. Thanks to Bone for the article.
Eve, I would like to apologize for my poor choice of wording in my response to you. Of course I am aware that you are a woman, I did not consider your gender when I began my response with "dude." I know from similar mistakes with my wife and sister that girls do not like to be called dude. I was reminded today of the power our words possess and I didn't mean for my words to hurt you. I will do my best not to make the same mistake again. Except regarding my sister, I like to give her a rough time.
Hey PDX, since you like Rage Against the Machine, I figured I would ask you if you like this, as well?
I too am not into metal. Although, my first record was Kiss Alive! and I had a brief period in my early teens where I liked a lot of those bands, but I was never an angry teen so a lot of that stuff didn't do much for me and it was a brief phase in my life. However, I do greatly respect Sabbath and I did love RATM's 1st album when it came out as it spoke with a brutal honesty and it's anger felt so authentic compared to the cheesy theatrics of a lot of metal (goofy Norse or Tolkien imagery, wizards, death etc.). The power of RATM just sliced through that other crap and kicked serious butt and put it all to shame. I still own it and occasionally play it when I want to clear the cobwebs.
Regarding Tool, again, a name I am familiar with but I don't believe I have ever knowingly listened to them. Saying that...I dig brass with a bit of edge and the above tune is pretty cool. I am fairly confident when I say that I would probably prefer it over the original.
I have noticed that she will sing the same song in many different versions. She did a song acapella with just finger cymbals and her high heel. Totally cool.
From one of our PM's (apologies, Vers- but I figured you wouldn't mind):
Quote:
Thanks. These are very nice. Very nice indeed.
Every year in Spring, we get a questionnaire: what pieces would you like to see performed? What guest artists would you like us to invite? That sort of thing. It's how I got to meet Al Jarreau years ago.
I've liked this gal since you first dropped her name.
Although I never played an instrument I have been around music and musicians most of my life.
I have always listened to music. It is a huge part of who I am.
I was exposed to jazz early in life. Best friends brother went to Boston Berklee School of Music. He played baritone sax with Buddy Rich. So I got to know a bunch of jazz musicians in my early teens. Got to hang out with older guys who we thought were way too cool.
It really left a impression on me. I never lost interest. Just migrated to all kinds of music.
I have listened to all the great female vocalists.
It can be as simple as 12-bar Blues, and as sophisticated as works by Ornette Coleman and Paul/Carla Bley.
Listening to Jazz no doubt opened your ears to most anything else out there, no matter how exotic or off-the-path. It is my art form of choice when seeking my own pastime.
Got a private student who just began his grad studies at Berklee/BostCon. He's intimidated a little bit. but totally geeked to be there. Just talked to him yesterday. I've known him since hewas 11 years old. Very satisfying to see them fly successfully from the nest.
Speaking of jazz and musicians off the beaten path, here Matthew Shipp is very interesting. He makes a comment about jazz is becoming very academic and that people need more wisdom and less knowledge, which in and of itself is brilliant. I think this guy somewhat embodies improvisational jazz. Most of his videos are longer, but this one is fairly short. Have a listen.
Shoot. I thought this one was only 7 min. It's longer. Sorry. Maybe just check out the first part?
Man, check out these guys. I clicked on them because they were on the same YouTube page as the Shipp video and I decided to give them a try. This is very good.
Jazz. The Ken Burns documentary. I love to listen to those who played behind Billie describe the time.
Love to hear Wynton Marsalis talk about Louis Armstrong.
The stories behind Bird. Some of the film of the greats in that documentary. I go crazy for that all that. There is a deep richness to the quality.
I can not count even to myself the number of times I have listened to Kind of Blue. I still have an original vinyl.
When the Beatles and Stones first arrived and all the great music that followed I moved away from jazz. And then came back many years later.
Now with the digital format and availability from Spotify and other sources I am all over the place. It is so cool to able to think of a song and there it is to listen too.
I have found myself going back to musicians that I not have listened to in ages. Guys like Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack McDuff, and Horace Silver.
There’s a funk/acid jazz band called Galactic. Been around for awhile. Great live show. They’re about to drop a new album and are priming the pump by ‘leaking’ a couple tracks. This is a collaborative effort with a different vocalist. Pretty different sounding from their past efforts but I dig it.
So it’s friday. I’m in the mood to share more music. Not like the browns are playing this weekend. So...
This is Odesza. Generally on the ‘girly’ side for my daily listening but they’ve got a few songs that have heart and some have a beat I can get behind. This one is more heart than beat. I caught them at a festival this past summer. They put on a good live show. The girls in our group sang along to most of the songs. As were most of the other girls in the crowd. It was a fun night.
This is a good video of them live... background singers, string section, horns, etc.
Ry Cooder has been around a long time. Most of that time he was a studio slide guitar player. I have no idea of who knows him. But he played with everybody. Stones, Dylan, and on and on. He also has always just done his own thing.
I got this mixtape at a Jurassic 5 show many years ago.....they only pressed like 6000 copies initially...
There were 2 sides, but I couldn't find both on youtube, so I just posted the full length video....nearly an hour of awesome sampling work.....
This was literally the prize of my music collection for years....If you're into DJ Shadow or Cut Chemist, definitely take the time to listen to this all the way through, its long, I know.....but just an incredible production....plz take the time to cheick it out....
-TD
ps.....you're welcome......to anyone who gets it, digs it,,and thinks damn.....how have I never heard of this before....
And if you don't think its your kind of thing.....just give it ten minutes of your time.....
There’s a funk/acid jazz band called Galactic. Been around for awhile. Great live show. They’re about to drop a new album and are priming the pump by ‘leaking’ a couple tracks. This is a collaborative effort with a different vocalist. Pretty different sounding from their past efforts but I dig it.
When I was working at that venue back in the early 2000's, Galactic was a band that came through at least twice a year...….it was always a great show.....Another cool band that I'm pretty sure hails from the same city; JJ Grey and the Mofro's, my gf turned me onto them awhile back.....
Here's another group off the beaten path that I dig.....Lucero....
Every Garcia Grisman album is amazing. My favorite being the self tiled one the song you posted is on. Great album. There’s some breath taking playing on that album. The song, Arabia, is 16 minutes of jaw dropping talent on display.
This is group that’s pretty known on the west coast and Hawaiian islands. Not sure about the Midwest. The end of this song, from about 4:57 on, has been in commercials. So it’s likely you’ve heard it in the background at some point. Now you’ll know the artist. A quick intro to Nahko and Medicine for the People. Nahko is the singer songwriter for the band, and the primary ‘actor’ in the attached video. The album that this song comes off of, Dark as Night, released in 2013, kinda tells his story. If you’re interested look it up his background. A mixed race kid with a rough start from the word go. It’s pretty hard story. Follow this if you’re interested... https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/etcetera/music...yself-1-4629174 In opposition to this, his music is primarily uplifting. At times bordering on spiritual. Even when the topics he’s speaking to are dark. There’s some real heart throughout that entire album. Anyway... kind of an island song to make all you suffering through the frigid temps remember the warm. What a beautiful life. I Mua.
One of my best high school friends played for Buddy Rich. So we used to go see him play when ever possible. If you think you have ever seen a good drummer and you never saw Buddy play. Check this out from beginning to end.
He was one of my heroes growing up. Man, I loved it when he would go on the Tonight Show. He made me become a drummer in school ..... but I think that I could have practiced for 100 years and never even started to approach his level of speed and precision.
Okay, to take this thread back to ‘off the beaten path’ from the well known Tom Waits’ and Buddy Rich’s of the world, no offense bone, here’s a singer songwriter name John Moreland.
I just threw a Buddy solo in there because it was so cool and felt most younger people would have no idea who he was.
Waits, I would not consider main stream but yes he is not obscure either.
All good. And you’re correct you never know who others’ know. I knew of Buddy and Tom. Buddy was a monster. I’m not much a fan of Tom’s music. He’s a musical and vocal Thorazine drip. Lyrically he’s a great storyteller. In the same genre I much prefer John Hiatt. A similarly great lyricist with a better voice.
I wouldn’t consider John Hiatt off the beaten path. But who knows what others’ know.
More than a couple of you liked Miss Melody Gardot. I'm not saying this girl is as good as the divine Gardot, but she is similar in several respects. Don't be too harsh w/your initial judgement and let it linger for awhile. She isn't well-known at all, but I think she is pretty dame good.
Jeff Buckley. American singer songwriter that sadly didn’t live long enough to get the acclaim he deserved. He drowned in 1997 while swimming in a river. He was only 30 years old.
Jeff Buckley. American singer songwriter that sadly didn’t live long enough to get the acclaim he deserved. He drowned in 1997 while swimming in a river. He was only 30 years old.
AND, son of Tim Buckley, who also died way too soon and who released some wonderful albums.
I have a story about Jeff Buckley....In the early 90s I lived in Albany, NY for two years and while there a buddy called me up and said his friend, who is a musician, was in town from NYC and he wanted to introduce him to me. They came over, we listened to some of my records, drank beer and talked about music. Eventually the conversation turned to him and he said he was a bassist and had just finished recording an album with a guy named "Jeff Buckley" and that he had a cassette on him taken from the masters and would play it for me if I was interested. That evening we listened to the entire 'Grace' album before it was released to the world and I was nearly in tears with how astonishing it was/is. I told him I had never heard of Jeff and he just looked at me, smiled, took a swig of his beer and said...."You will".
I moved to London later that summer/early fall and the name "Jeff Buckley" was all over the British music press and standing next to Jeff in the many photos was also Mick, the same guy who was in my apartment and who played me 'Grace' before others had heard it. He was right...I did end up hearing about him and so did many, many other people around the world.
I have since picked up several of his dad's records too. Well worth checking out. At times eccentric and odd, but very, very good. 'Starsailor' is my favorite from Tim.
I would not consider myself a country music fan. But there are songs and artists that I like.
Gram Parsons is one that I like. Again some may know him. I don't know. He died very young 27 but he left a mark.
I always liked this song that he wrote about his mother who died when he was young.
Excellent call bone! Excellent.
I too am not a country fan, but when I do listen I tend to go for hippie west coast country like Gram as well. I don't consider it country, however. Instead I think of it "Cosmic American Music".
The harmony between Gram and Emmylou Harris on songs like "Love Hurts" from the Angel album is unreal.
They were magic together.
His death was a shame. There is a story there. His wishes were to be cremated and ashes spread in Joshua Tree National Monument. His step father made arrangements to be buried in Louisiana. His friends stole his body and took to it Joshua Park. Poured gallons of gas on the coffin. What remained ended up in a Louisiana graveyard.
The thread subject is 'off the beaten path.' OK. I can do that.
This is so cool. LMC(lassical)AO, Clemmy
The hidden joke at 2:12... American composer John Cage 'wrote' a piece entitled '4:33' ('Four Minutes, Thirty-three Seconds'), wherein the performer is instructed to make no sounds on their instrument. The premise it that the most minimalist form of composing controlled only the length of performance. The 'music' was produced from ambient sounds in the hall- for 4 minutes, thirty-three seconds.
But yeah... this is def not on the interstate of mainstream.
And if you do know El-P.....but didn't know of his short work with Camu Tao (RIP....Cancer) Central Services......they did this tiny lp Forever Frozen in Television Time....hard to find.....but great....kinda unclassifiable greatness.....
Maybe another day I'll post some Girltalk...if you don't know...
Odd you should bring this to light. I saw he and his band(not the Velvet Underground)preform this at CBGB years ago.For along time I would tell people that everyone on stage that night,except for Lou Reed,is dead.That story changed a few years ago.
This is one of the finest pieces I have ever heard and it's on many of my playlists. Alvin Lee is the guy who is "off the beaten path," but George Harrison plays slide guitar on this smoking number.
The sad thing is that both have passed, but this great song will live forever. Oh, and dudes........stay w/it because it kinda starts off slow, but some of the riffs that come later are freaking amazing.
Derden: Dude... I'm still in your debt for hipping me to this guy. 'None Shall Pass' made me lose my [*].
And this flow: "One, two, three- that's the speed of the seed..." ...is just fantastic.
Makes me wish I'd known Lucy. Dude's serious skill set allowed him to tell an entire life story (with detail and nuance) in under 5 minutes. That's prodigious talent.
When I bought an ep of his...."Fast cars, Danger, Knives," or something like that.....it came with a book that contained all the lyrics to his entire song catalogue.....I never realized how deep he got with a lot of his stuff....it was eye-opening....
This video just reminded me of that and I had to share it....
This is one of the finest pieces I have ever heard and it's on many of my playlists. Alvin Lee is the guy who is "off the beaten path," but George Harrison plays slide guitar on this smoking number.
Alvin Lee was the guitarist from British blues band, Ten Years After. Probably best known for their barnstorming performance of "I'm Going Home" at Woodstock. Their first couple records are standard white boy blues, but they released a couple really great albums after Woodstock where they find their own identity and take it beyond the obvious 12 bar blues. I actually saw a reunited Ten Years After at the Akron Agora in 1986 (?) and Alvin could still smoke on the guitar. Sadly he passed a couple years ago.
He also recorded a pretty amazing LP with Mylon Le Fevre called 'On The Road To Freedom'. The whole album is pretty fantastic and well worth picking up. Still very cheap and easy to find. You shouldn't have to pay more than $5 for original copies of it.
I didn't realize he was w/Ten Years After. I liked some of their stuff.
I have been listening to The Bluest Blues for quite awhile now and I marvel at how good Lee is on that song. It's one of those songs that has guitar playing that unseat multiple emotions. It's a damn shame he passed away so early.
I will check out the On the Road to Freedom album. Thanks for the heads-up.
Tyler, Thanks for sharing Aesop Rock. Pretty cool of you to share the video explaining the depth of his repertoire. I like a view into others perspectives; it gives me a starting point in finding common ground to relate to.
I liked None Shall Pass, but that song is cursed with a bad beat. I start to tap my foot, but it never works it's way up and gets the back of my brain buzzing. It reminds me of the Redman line, "If I have a beat that's whack, I'm gonna sell it to ya." Dang shame, it takes away from an otherwise kicking jam.
I realized I'd heard Rings from my nieces. I like that, though it might be the more of his mainstream songs.
Take a moment, and look up his poem "The Devil and Billy Markham."
Published in 1979, it first appeared in Playboy magazine.
Classic Shel: funny, pithy, homespun... and with a great ending.
I'd link it here, but then I'd probably spend some time in 'banned camp.' Because: Shel, you know?
Sorry for the late reply. I had never read this before.
Read with my wife a few weeks ago. I love the part where our hero has a showdown for heaven with "God". When he arrives at the match lined up by the Scuzz, God is shooting pool. He explains that on the seventh day that is how he gets down; "Straight pool for heaven."
That part of the story really got my wife and I into a serious debate. "God" is unmasked as the devil, Scuzz is revealed to be the devil as well, and BIlly is warned not to look to closely at himself or he might not like what he sees. My wife took this as Shel saying that there is no God or Devil, but our collective choices and actions that create good and evil. I was raised a good Catholic, so I immediately thought that it was just the devil deceiving Billy all along; God would never scratch.
Thanks so much for sharing! I never would have thought Shel Silverstein had so many faces when I was reciting Boa Constictor in front of my 1st grade classmates.
Portland, Galactic jams. I feel like everything you bring to the table brings hope and love. Even better your a fisherman. I'll probably never make it out to the pacific northwest, but if you're ever back in Ohio I would love to fish Steelhead on the Rocky River with you; with your mentality I would have a good time even if we didn't catch a dawg-gone thing.
I'm digging this tune. Crescendos have to fall, but a good horn section goes a long way.
Us Ohio boys might be familiar with Jonathan Edwards. The Shanty should be on every jukebox in Ohio. However, its the only song of his you'll hear (except Sunshine which sucks). Our wedding party walked down the aisle to Train of Glory. I love the lines:
Here come doctor I'ma gonna ask you once again, didn't you leave Ohio with a heavy load of friends. He said yes boy when we left the station your friends were on board, but West Virginia was all they could afford.
PDX, I thought I was tired until I listened to Down North. I gotta a little life left in me just TURN ME LOOSE! Wish I would've seen this in time to check out a show. I gotta get out more. Good call on the Eddie Hazel, by the way. Make my funk the P-Funk, I wants to get funked up!
Portland, Galactic jams. I feel like everything you bring to the table brings hope and love. Even better your a fisherman. I'll probably never make it out to the pacific northwest, but if you're ever back in Ohio I would love to fish Steelhead on the Rocky River with you; with your mentality I would have a good time even if we didn't catch a dawg-gone thing.
I'm digging this tune. Crescendos have to fall, but a good horn section goes a long way.
[video:youtube][/video]
Thanks. I listen to a ton of music. It’s my reprieve from my very heavy, very real work I do for my career. I see enough sadness and hopelessness and such in my 9 to 5 that I use music to counter the heaviness of it all. With that most of what I listen to is upbeat, hopeful, and in general uplifting. I did the morose, heavy, ‘dark’ stuff in my 20’s. In my 40’s I want an escape from all that. Though I’ll occasionally listen to Tool or whatnot. My tastes are pretty diverse. So thankfully I have a huge slice of the musical pie to choose from. Hip hop, jam bands, funk, bluegrass, electronica, and much that falls in between. I just know when I turn on my stereo my goal is to come away in a better mental, emotional, and spiritual place than when I started.
These are the types of messages I’m trying to ‘inject’ into my psyche.
PDX, I thought I was tired until I listened to Down North. I gotta a little life left in me just TURN ME LOOSE! Wish I would've seen this in time to check out a show. I gotta get out more. Good call on the Eddie Hazel, by the way. Make my funk the P-Funk, I wants to get funked up!
Yeah man, shame you missed them when they were in Cleveland and touring. But, they will no doubt come back around. We went to a local jazz bar here in town and they opened for the band we paid to see as headliner and they BLEW them away. We left much more excited about Down North than the headliners. So good. The singer has some moves, that's for sure.
Regarding funk, I absolutely love original black funk that has soul, grit, and a bit of down home truth to it. I actually struggle with white funk music as it seems void of honest, raw, deep from the gut, soul (imho).
Speaking of Funk.........I have a new [well, I've been wanting to do this one for over a year] idea for a Music thread. I am going to PM you and Portland and ask you a question about it. I'd love to hear input from both of you before I start the thread. Let me know in the PM and I'll start the thread.
And one more...While Post Modern Jukebox is outstanding, the real gem here is Morgan James, the smoking blonde with the powerful voice. If you do a YouTube search you can find a large number of Morgan's songs. I saw her in Akron and got my picture with her.
(The last woman to sing is Ariana Savalas...Telly's daughter.)
Gotta admit, I was wondering where is the beat; slow starter. Once it started, I had a feeling like it was on the tip of my tongue, but couldn't quite place it. I was standing back absentmindedly chalking up my cue and trying to visualize a shot line when I just started singing, "We sick an' tired of-a your ism-skism game - Dyin' 'n' goin' to heaven in-a Jesus' name, Lord. We know when we understand: Almighty God is a living man. You can fool some people sometimes, But you can't fool all the people all the time. So now we see the light We gonna stand up for our rights!" Right after the horns started to kick in on the last part. Wish I could say I nailed the shot, but it was a nice moment of recognition anyway.
Thanks for the listen. Gives me an idea for a comparison as well.
When I was about 12, my friend and I decided we were going to panhandle out by the bus stop. We set out or hat and proceeded to play some horrible music that nobody heard, since there wasn't a soul around. Some dude drove by smiling with his head hanging out the window of his pickup.
He stopped and asked us what we were doing. We gave him our line about how we were bluesmen trying to earn our way back home. He looked down at my beat up hand me down guitar and asked if I knew how to play anything. I did my best to play Clapton's version of "Malted Milk."
When I finished he told me to wait there and he'd be back in a half hour. This guy stopped whatever the heck he was doing that day and drove to his house three towns away to bring me two cassette tapes. One was entitled acoustic blues and one was electric blues. I asked him how I was supposed to return them to him. He asked if I knew Joel (so and so). I said yeah, and he just told me to give them to Joel when I was done with them.
Joel never got those tapes back. I wore those suckers out, especially the acoustic tape. There was a version of "Gallows Pole" on there that blew my mind. This isn't exactly it, but as close as I can get:
I had a Bob Dylan 3 disc set called "The Bootleg Series." The first disc is amazing; listen to "Last Thoughts on Woodie Guthrie," but the second disc has a gem called "Seven Curses."
Listen to this and tell me it's not a variation of Gallows Pole:
So many of these songs were just part of a common consciousness that can't be reserved by rights. When you share something with others that you want them to relate to in a very personal manner you don't get to dictate how they relate to it. Despite your intended meaning.
I'll lighten it up some. I'm a firm believer that there isn't enough fishing music in the world. This song dates back to the 20's. Taj Mahal is best known for it:
Her's my favorite version. It's just some random guy jammin' it out. I think he might me a painter because he's got it smudged on his pants. Regardless, he can play. I change some of the words, but you better believe I'm singing this when my wife and I are motoring down to the honey-hole looking to catch our limit and steal a moment together:
My wife & I went and saw this band last night and I am not exaggerating when I say this...I have honestly probably seen 1000+ gigs and this may well have been the greatest of them all. I went in knowing what I was going to hear, but I had no idea what I was going to witness when it came to the live experience. My god...the sheer love, joy and funky soulfulness of the grooves were infectious and mind blowing. My wife and I were BLOWN. AWAY. Like nothing I have ever seen....tears, goosebumps, exhilaration and absolute awe at watching them and being absorbed into their art. I also don't think I have EVER seen a band so honest in their conviction and their love & joy in sharing it with an audience. Honestly, words can't do them justice. Btw, War & Treaty are also a real couple....they have an amazing story behind how they met, making music and the name of their band.
This isn't a video from the Portland show I saw, but it captures them enough to share with you all somewhat of their live experience, but I will be honest....they KILLED this song last night and Tanya channeled her inner Tina Turner as they freakin' rocked the house down!
Support the arts, support live music and PLEASE...GO SEE THIS BAND! I promise that you won't be disappointed. My soul won't ever be the same...music is love.
He then slashed his fee IN HALF. 
