TopHats By Jennifer - Best of 2013

Best of 2013

As I scour my musical memories for the best records, my favorite records, of the year, I think back on all the amazing musical journeys I've made this year. It's been quite a ride.

These records are in no particular order. I'm not going to explain why they made the list. Most of them I've already written about, so don't ask questions.
So here we go, my favorite records this year:


Brown Bird -- Fits of Reason
Golden Bloom -- No Day Like Today
James Maddock -- Another Life
Steven Roth -- Let it In
Star Anna -- Go to Hell
The Head and the Heart -- Let's Be Still
Filligar -- Hexagon
OldJack -- What is Home to You?
Roem Baur -- Roem & The Revival
Daniel and the Lion -- Final Night and Borrowed Air
Counting Crows -- Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow

There it is kids. Get these records. See you next year.

Album Review - What is Home to You? - OldJack

Sometimes listening to a band's new record is like hearing them evolve right before your ears. Let me present to you What is Home to You? from Boston's OldJack. Singer/Songwriter Dan Nicklin has done it again. With this new release the band seems to have taken a step just slightly out of their musical mold, into something even more amazing.

Though I've had the record for nearly a year, this weekend Oldjack is finally releasing What is Home to You? In the ten plus months I've had it, it's been listened to at least daily, and has become one of my favorite records.

It can get a little tricky to try to explain the sound of OldJack to someone who hasn't heard them, but once they listen, there will be no explanation needed. The feeling and soul in these eight songs digs into you, and shaking it off will be nearly impossible. There's a common thread of home throughout the whole of the record, coming home, going home, being home, the feeling of home, what ever that may be.

Compared to 2011's Gone Before You Know, What is Home to You? seems slightly darker, slightly more emotionally charged. Seeing OldJack live is always a treat. Last year (2012) they were one of the stand out bands for me at the Outlaw Roadshow in New York, which is where I was really introduced to them. Back in October, at the Outlaw Roadshow in NYC I got the chance to see OldJack again, playing some of these songs in a stripped-down, intimate setting. During the set you could feel the raw power and emotion in the songs, almost leaving you breathless and yearning for more. Hearing them with a full band on this record perfectly emulates that feeling. The depth in the lyrics hits you with every word, brings up some new feeling each time you listen, and then, there's that one song, that one line, that after listening to it over and over, all of a sudden hits you like nothing before, and you just get it. What is Home to You? is full of moments like that.

Kicking off the record is Miles Away, which is a guitar driven, rock and roll number with that classic OldJack soul thrown in. As we dig deeper into the record we are given the gut wrenching Oh Daddy. Over the years there have been countless songs written about families waiting for their Daddy to come home, be it from war, from work, from whatever. But this one, this one song, captures the sheer passion of worry, of longing, of the almost utter hopelessness one feels when they're alone. The song builds as it goes, until it practically explodes in a mass of guitars.

Another song along these same lies is Letter from the Frontline. The "frontline" here could be war, but could also be what ever you want, whatever you need it to be. So many of us have waited for someone we love to come home., that this song speaks to everyone. Both of these songs are lyrically minimalistic, but that's all they need to be. All the words that need to be said are there, the guitars and drums fill in the blanks.

Lonely Alone is my favorite song on the record, and really my favorite Oldjack song. I like to think of it as "my song." Lonely Alone feels most like a "classic" OldJack song, it's a bit peppy, a bit swingy, but then you listen to the lyrics, and you're like "hmm... yup. That's it." The opening line is one of my favorites on the whole of the record:

"You're all alone
in a place you know so well, you call home
one that welcomes you back with open arms,
a place called lonely alone"



This song and I connected. There are times I feel lonely, even in a house full of family, and this song gets it, gets me.

Easy to Love has yet another one of my new favorite lyrics ever:
"Guess I chased the rainbow down
And my pot of gold is you"

Every stinkin' track on this record is brilliant. Nicklin's vocals carry the songs to every imaginable point, and the back up from Kelly Davis rounds out the sound. Though I don't know the guitarists names, the guitar work on the record in amazing. Right down the line, this is a good, solid, record. Definitely on my best of 2013 list. So. Damn. Good.

What is Home to You? and other Oldjack music can be found here:
http://oldjack.bandcamp.com/

Until then, check out this video of OldJack performing Whistle Blowin' from their One on One Session from the Garden from the Outlaw Roadshow during CMJ 2014, and find the whole session here.

Show Recap - Steven Roth at The Seamonster Lounge, Seattle 11/16/13

Last night's Steven Roth show at Seattle's Seamonster Lounge started with a bang and ended with a fire. If it weren't for the venue's underwater theme, they may have burnt the place to the ground with their incendiary rock and roll.

Steven Roth and his band was one I saw in Austin back in March at The Outlaw Roadshow during SXSW. When I got home from Texas, I downloaded Steven Roth's debut album, Let it In, and well, frankly, I totally dig it. His brand of jazzy, soulful, funky, dripping with swagger music is pretty rad. Even my 10 month old niece loves his music. Her favorite is his song Emma. We play it for her all the time, her name is also Emma, and she'll start doing her little baby dance. It's pretty cute.

When I saw the Seattle date added to Roth's tour schedule, I knew I had to go. And go I did. Dragging my friend Kim with me, we ventured into the Seamonster. At the table next to ours, Roth was making his set list for the night, and me being the nosy person I am, poked in and suggested Emma, to which Roth responded with "You know our music?!" So that was cool. I wanted to also suggest Dancin' in the Fire but for some reason the name of the song totally escaped me at that moment, so, alas, I didn't.

As showtime approached, I took my place in the crowd. There was a good amount of people in the bar for the show, and for that I was glad. Whether or not they knew Roth's music, they were going to have a great night. With Roth on keys, backed by his band, Neil Daniels (drums), Jesse Berent (guitar), and Federico Orlandini (bass) the show took off with a flying start and didn't land until the last note of the last song. Some bands sound different when you see them live, compared to what they sound like on their record. This can be a good thing, but this can also be a bad thing. In Roth's case, he sounds very much the same live as he does on his record, but better. He captures the moment in each song, making it his own and pulls all he can out of it.

They kicked off the night with Emma. Not too far into the song the crowd knew the night would be jam packed with explosive rock and roll. They rolled on with Make You Love Me, Hurricane, Goodbye to Summer, Funky Bitch and Allison in their first set. Coming back ten minutes later, they continued with Love Light, Cali Love (not sure if this is their own, or a cover, but they included snippets of classic Cali hip hop music in it, the drummer, Neil, did an amazing rap, a song which I should have know, but can't recall the name of, No Diggity,and the Bad Boys theme from COPS) and Get Back Jack.

Roth and his band played their little hearts out. They not only played the heck out of their own songs, but also did some brilliantly amazing covers. The first was Robert Palmer's Sneakin Sally Through the Alley, a song I hadn't heard before, but Roth and his band were a perfect fit for. They also covered the Rolling Stones' Honky Tonk Woman; amazing. Probably my favorite part of the whole show, well, two favorite parts of the whole show, was their covers of Paul Simon's You Can Call Me Al and Me and Julio Down by the School Yard. These are two songs that I love, and hearing Steven Roth and his fantastic band play them was magical. They turned these already amazing songs into something more, the guitar was perfect, the bass, keys and drums brilliant. Really, really good stuff. They closed out the night with the Talking Heads' Burning Down the House, and really they were. Not literally of course, that would have been bad. But seriously though, it was the best.

I was smiling from ear to ear the whole night, and have also added yet another name to my list of musical crushes. That show should tide me over for a while, as I'm not sure
when I'll be seeing my next show here in town. I really, really hope that Ryan Spaulding asks them back to The Outlaw Roadshow in Austin next year, or maybe Tim Slusher will bring them in to the Nekkid Armadilla family. Either way, I hope I see them again soon.

It's Always Once Upon a Time in New York City - The Outlaw Roadshow Recap

As October rolled on, it brought with it my semi-annual musical vacation. On October 16th, I found myself on a cross-country flight from Sea-Tac to JFK, Seattle to New York City, for yet another Outlaw Roadshow at the Bowery Electric. It had been way too long since the last one, seven months ago during SXSW in Austin, and I was more than ready for a few days of non stop music. This year the showcase had been expanded to three days, a day more then both Austin and last year's New York showcase. The line up over the three days included 30 bands, some I didn't know, but also several of whom I had seen at past Roadshows, who over the last year and a half have become not only some of my favorite bands, but also friends, and some of my most favorite people. Ryan Spaulding and Adam Duritz chose 30 remarkable bands this time around. The line-up at these shows just keeps getting better and better.

Daniel and the Lion

Kicking off the three day music showcase was a special VIP set from one of my favorite bands, Daniel and the Lion. Backed with a full band, Daniel and the Lion put on an amazing show. If you leave a set from Daniel and the Lion and hadn't been brought to tears at least once, you have no soul. Singer Jimmie Linville is an amazing songwriter, and when he sings it brings chills down your spine. His band mates fed off of his intensity and played a perfect set. A bit later that night Daniel and the Lion played a second, if not more brilliant set on the stage downstairs. During both sets the band was joined by Monica Martin (PHOX) on backing vocals. Her voice adds the perfect balance to Jimmie's. Every song they played was a favorite, but the stand out picks for me were Flash Flood, which is the song that Adam Duritz shared all those months ago that got me hooked on Daniel and the Lion, and Free Love, a song that until this show I hadn't heard live from the band, but was totally worth the wait. The audience completely embraced the song, joining in singing the chorus. This is a band I just can't seem to get enough of.

The next band I saw was Chicago's Fort Francis. I had missed their set at the Outlaw Roadshow in Austin, but over the last couple months had become a big fan of their song City By The Sea, so I was looking forward to seeing their set. Although they didn't play that song that night, their set was fantastic. From start to finish I was so into their sound I don't think I moved from where I stood. While their sound is modern, they also have a distinctively classic sound, akin to singer/songwriter bands from the 70s (the Eagles come to mind)

Golden Bloom Outlaw sing-a-long

Another favorite of mine, Golden Bloom, played the first of their two sets of the weekend that night. The set Thursday night was an acoustic set, while the set Saturday afternoon was "plugged in." Singer/Songwriter Shawn Fogel has proven himself over and over to be one of the best songwriters out there these days. During both sets they played old favorites, newer favorites, and new songs from their up-coming full length record. One of the new songs that they debuted in their sets is Circles Round My Mind, a song which I am completely in love with. The second new song, Searching for Sunlight, on day one included an Outlaw sing-a-long, featuring fellow outlaw's joining Golden Bloom on the tiny stage, and on day three brought Golden Bloom out into the main bar floor to sing/play amongst the crowd.
I caught a couple songs from Doctor Gasp's set that first night. He was highly entertaining. Doctor Gasp brought Halloween rock to the Bowery Electric that night. Dressed in costume with Halloween decorations on the stage, Doctor Gasp sang songs fitting with the spooky time of year, about vampires and other such ghouls. If you're having a Halloween party and need some new music for it, check out his new record Vampire Fish for Two.

Dr. Gasp

Later on that night I caught the set from Austin's Nakia. If any of you watched The Voice, you may know Nakia from season 1, but I know him as the singer who totally blew the roof off The Bowery Electric that night. Nakia's voice is as big as he is. The soul and feeling behind it shines in full force when he opens his mouth. Before that night I hadn't really listened to Nakia's music, but now I'm a fan. He's also a super nice guy. Just check out his new EP, Down in the Crimson Tide and you'll see exactly what I mean. His song Dream Big is absolutely beautiful, and his cover of George Michael's I Want Your Sex was the best thing ever.

Nakia

After Nakia was a set from Philly's Toy Soldiers. Their fierce blend of rock fueled country, with a twist of soulful bluesy-ness, set fire to what was left of the club after Nakia blew the roof off. The band has been labeled by USA Today as one of the “Top Bands to Watch in 2013,” and after their set, I can totally see why. After listening through their new record, The Maybe Boys, this band is one that I intend to keep an eye on.

Toy Soldiers

Following Toy Soldiers came one of the greatest things about The Outlaw Roadshow: a special set from Sonic Cow Grunt. This was the second Roadshow appearance from the four piece band. The identity of the members of this band were kept as secret as possible until mid-afternoon. Those in attendance at last year's show knew who they were, but those who didn't know that Sonic Cow Grunt was really Counting Crows were in for a great surprise. It's no big secret that Counting Crows is my favorite band, so having this happen, seeing the band in this small, super intimate setting was just the best. The band (Immy, Dan, Adam and Charlie) took the stage around 1am, and played an amazing thirteen song set.

The set not only included classic Crow's favorites, such as Goodnight Elizabeth, A Long December, Hospital, Richard Manuel is Dead, Friend of the Devil and Blues Run the Game, but also three NEW, yes kids, new Counting Crows songs, Scarecrow, God of Ocean Times and Cover up the Sun. These new songs are brilliant. According to Adam, they're planning on going into the studio in December, with a new record hopefully out sometime next year. This is very exciting. Though really, I think the best part of their set was Rain King. Adam inviting fellow Outlaws up to the stage to sing with them, and were joined by members of Daniel and the Lion, Golden Bloom, Nakia, and Matt Sucich. In typical Crow's fashion, Adam dropped down in the middle of the song and inserted another, this time it was a song everyone knew, a song everyone learned growing up, the classic American folk song Oh Susanna. Having the whole room singing along, not only to Rain King, but then also to Oh Susanna was a mind blowing experience. I could feel the energy in the room, everyone was singing, everyone was having a good time. It's moments like this that change your life.
(watch the video here. Do it. I'll wait. It's worth it, I promise:)

**Keep scrolling, there's more after the giant pictures**

Adam & Dan

Immy & Charlie

Shawn Fogel, Matt Sucich, Immy

Daniel Pingrey, Dan, Jimmie Linville, Adam, Dan McMahon, Nakia

Day 2 of the Roadshow was kicked off by Coyote Kolb. They got the room rocking with their Southern swamp rock, which is a bit odd being that they are from Boston, but it totally works. After Coyote Kolb was a band that put on what I'd have to say was my favorite set for the day, and one of the best of the weekend: Tallahassee. I had missed Tallahassee's set in Austin, and was really looking forward to their set in New York. I had recently discovered their song Minor Blues III, which though it had been on my ipod since March, didn't really get played until a few weeks ago, but I really, really love it. The band's country-rock sound filled and captivated the room, song after song getting better and better. They ended their set with Minor Blues III which was pretty awesome. I almost didn't want their set to end, I could have listened to them play all day, but alas, there were more bands to hear that day.

Mean Creek

Next up was Archie Powell & the Exports, a band which I really, really wanted to enjoy, I liked the sample song that was provided on the Outlaw Roadshow website, but I don't know if it was the venue, of if it was just the band's live performance, but I just didn't get that into it. Maybe it was a but to power pop for me, maybe it was a little too close to punk music, maybe it was a combination on all these things, I don't know. But like I said, I like the recordings, but there was just something about the band's live performance. Mean Creek, is kinda along the same lines. I LOVE their records, and I do enjoy their live show as well, but again, it's almost too punk for me (I'm really not a fan of punk music. I will not apologize for that.) I think in the right situation, under the right conditions, Mean Creek is a hell of a band. Their last record, Youth Companion was truly brilliant. The crowd really dug Mean Creek's set, I too enjoyed it, it was just about as much as I could handle.

K Phillips

One of my favorite groups was up next. K Phillips & The Concho Pearls. All the way from Austin, Texas, K Phillips brings his A game to every Roadshow. This being his third visit to the Outlaw stage, K's shows never fail to leave a smile on your face. His country twang and thoughtful lyrics make him a total joy to see play. With songs about losing a girl to Bob Ross, yes, the painter, (Does it Hold Water) to probably the best song about sex in the history of songs about sex (The Rambler) K will keep you singing along till the end.

The last band on day 2 was Jessie Malin, who is actually one of the owners of the Bowery Electric. He was backed with a full band that night, playing songs from his extensive catalog. Jessie Malin has been a staple in the New York music scene for decades, starting out playing CGBG when he was just 12 years old. I had no idea who Jessie Malin was coming into this show, but the audience sure did. I think there may have been just as many people there for him as there were for the Counting Crows the night before, if not more, really. Malin was so full of energy, and put on a good show. Some of his music was just a little much for me, leaning too much to the punk persuasion, but as a showman he was great. It was a great way to end the night, that's for sure.

The third and final day of the Outlaw Roadshow NYC was opened by Eddie Japan. I'm not exactly sure what genre to put Eddie Japan into. They are rock and roll for sure, Ryan Spaulding calls them "cinematic rock". Listening to them play you definitely feel like you're listening to a movie soundtrack, like an old west movie, or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, when they're driving through the desert. In the near future I intend to get their record and listen to them more, I really enjoyed their set.

Runaway Dorothy

Another favorite band of mine played next on the main stage downstairs: Runaway Dorothy. The alt-country ensemble from Brooklyn played an exceptional set, with songs from their first record The Arc and also songs from their upcoming release, The Wait. Runaway Dorothy was one of the bands I was most looking forward to seeing that week, as it had been last October when I last saw them play. They exceeded my expectations for sure. Their set was so good. Every song they played was amazing. Favorites such as Abilene and Hard Way Home got the room excited, and new songs such as Hurry and Victory kept them there. The band's cover of This Train is Bound for Glory is one of the greatest things I've ever heard. Each member of the band takes a turn singing a verse, Dave, Brett, Warren, Kenji, and finally, Evan, who frankly, steals the song, wins the song if you will. Everyone in the room was singing a long with the chorus, another awesome moment. I love things like that. I love when everyone is in the same musical moment. It makes me happy. Runaway Dorothy makes me happy.

Boom Forest

Back upstairs I caught most of Boom Forest's set. John Paul Roney, accompanied by members of Foreign
Fields (who were playing a set later than afternoon, which sadly I missed) was one of the most beautiful things I'd heard in a long time. His songs were folky, told stories; all around goodness really. Listening to his Daytrotter session I'm reminded of John Denver, or Cat Stevens, only better.

After Boom Forest was the second set of the week from Golden Bloom. But since I talked about that earlier, I won't go much into that, except to say that I really love Golden Bloom and you should too. Check out their music, it's all really, really good.

Oldboy

I stayed upstairs for the next couple sets. The next band was OldBoy. OldBoy is managed by my friend, Nick Mishko, who also manages Runaway Dorothy, so I had to stay and watch their set. I was excited to hear them. Before that day I had listened to one of their songs, and I liked it, but after their set, I LOVED them. The four piece band, fronted by singer Shawn Brewster, and backed by Michael Kinsella, on a two-string bass, Pete Simon on guitar and Greg Hyland on drums, combines folk, rock and country into one spectacular musical package. I was, but at the same time, wasn't surprised by how much I enjoyed every part of their show. I will admit that their song Run nearly brought me to tears. There was just something about the lyrics that hit me. Go listen to the song here, and buy the record on iTunes.

Dan Nicklin of OldJack

After Oldboy we continued the theme and saw a stripped down set from Outlaw Roadshow favorite, OldJack. Like with Runaway Dorothy, it had been a year since I had seen OldJack perform. Lead singer Dan Nicklin did join Mellow Bravo on stage in Austin, but the band didn't play. Their set was "stripped down" meaning just Nicklin on vocals and guitar, being backed by about half his usual band. OldJack played a few songs from their first EPGone Before You Know, and from their White Label Single Series, and also a bunch of new songs. These new songs are fantastic. They seem a bit deeper and darker than previous stuff, but still really good. After hearing the new songs that day, I am very eagerly awaiting the release of a new OldJack record.

Downstairs The Field Effect was finishing up their last song. Though I missed nearly all of their set, what I heard was an incendiary example of Boston rock and roll. After their set Ryan Spaulding thanked and acknowledged all those involved in The Outlaw Roadshow, and then it was time for final hugs, thank you's and goodbyes.

That wasn't the end of my whirlwind musical vacation; there was one more show. I walked a few block away to the Living Room, where Little Brave was playing a solo show in their upstairs lounge. She had played bass with K Philips & The Concho Pearls the night before, and as Little Brave is one of my favorite singers/songwriters, and also a friend, I had to go see her play. The show was just Steph (Little Brave) and her baritone ukulele, but that's when she is at her best. After the show Little Brave, K, Tim & Candyce Slusher and I all had one last NYC dinner, then I caught a cab to the airport for my early morning flight home.

To quote Trampled By Turtles song Widower's Heart, "New York was a rough place that treated me well."
It really was an amazing week, an amazing experience. For those involved, The Outlaw Roadshow is more than just a music showcase; it's become a family, an ever expanding family, growing with every showcase. I really love that I have become part of the family. I have had a hard year, and I truly don't know where I'd be if I didn't have all of this. I'm not one that generally gets mushy or sappy or anything, but I will say that I do feel blessed that The Outlaw Roadshow, and all the people, bands and friends I've found along the way are in my life. I can hardly wait to do it all again in just five months. See you all in Austin.

For another recap of the week, check out my friend Katie's blog:
http://www.katiedarbyrecommends.com/

                                                And now for time more pictures.

Me & Adam Duritz

Me & Shawn Fogel (doing "the Duritz")

Pete Simon, Me, Shawn Brewster, Michel Kinsella (Oldboy)

Me with Oldboy & Ryan Spaulding

Album Review - Let's be Still - The Head & The Heart

Lets face it, Seattle has had more than their fair share of amazing bands. The list is way to long to go into here, but on that list is the indie folk-pop group The Head and the Heart.

I got their first, self titled record in mid 2012 and have listened to it probably, at least, a hundred times. I fell in love with several of the songs: Down in the Valley,Coeur d'Alene (the line "you're in my soul now, you've gotta waste away with me" is one that I'll keep with me forever), Rivers & Roads, Sounds Like Hallelujah. When I saw that the band was releasing a second record, I was thrilled. After listening to it many times thought, all I can say is "wow. that's a damn good record." Coz well, it is.

Released on Seattle's famous SubPop records, The Head and the Heart's second record, Let's Be Still, is everything that a sophomore record is supposed to be: a open letter to the masses saying that, "yes, we're still here! And here we are, better than ever, with new and exciting music that you WILL love!" 

Josiah Johnson (vocals, guitar, percussion), Jonathan Russell (vocals, guitar, percussion), Charity Rose Thielen (violin, vocals), Chris Zasche (bass), Kenny Hensley (piano), and Tyler Williams (drums) have taken the indie folk-pop genre to new levels. While Let's Be Still is slightly less folky and a bit more poppy than their first record, it still has all of what I love about The Head and the Heart. The vocal harmonies, the simple instrumentation; this is what music is supposed to sound like. 

The record starts out with the poppy, jaunty, melodic Homecoming Heroes. This song hooks you into the record, it gives you a preview of what is to follow. Summertime features lead vocals from Charity Rose Thielen, and kinda reminds me of something that you may find on a She & Him record (that's a compliment, kids.) It's bouncy and has a throwback pop feel. Thielen has a very unique voice, it's not a sound that can be easily described, but it fits so well into the songs from The Head and the Heart, fits well into the mood of the songs she sings. This plays well into the slower mood and lower feel of These Days are Numbered, another song Thielen also takes lead vocals on. Her mildly haunting vocals and the sad harmonica make you feel all the hurt and longing in the song, as if you're right in the song with her. 

I was excited to see a song that I knew from the Head and the Heart's Daytrotter session on this album. The song was called Seat Beside Me on Daytrotter, but Josh McBride here. It's a sort of love song, but the love it tells of could be any kind of love you want it to be, it's just love. 

You are in the seat beside me

You are in my dreams at night

You are in grandmother's wisdom

You are in grandfather's charm 

The current single from the album is Shake. A brilliantly catchy, poppy song, with just the right amount of Americana folk thrown in. I couldn't find where I read it, but I'm pretty sure someone likened Shake to something early Lennon & McCartney-esque, and I'd have to agree.

The record's title track, Let's Be Still, is my favorite song on the record. I love the melodies, I love the harmonies, I love the music, I love the lyrics. It's an all around perfect song. It really doesn't get much better than this:

you can get lost in the music for hours, honey

you can get lost in the room

we can play music for hours and hours but sun'll still be coming up soon

the worlds just spinning a little too fast

if things don't slow down soon, we might not last

so just for a moment let's be still

I really LOVE this song. It says all the things I ever want to say about music and how much it means to me. I don' t know if that was the songwriter's intention, but that's what I take from it. Slow down, be still, feel the music, breathe it in.

Other songs to check out on the record, well, all of them, but Cruel and Gone. You can stream the whole record before it's October 15 release thanks to Rolling Stone. But also go pre-order it from your music distributor of choice (you can get it on vinyl from Amazon, if you're like me and totally dig that kind of thing. Whatever format you get it on, just get it. Support local (Seattle) music. Support GOOD music. I can't say enough good words about this band, their first album, or this album. See them on tour if you can. Go to theheadandtheheart.com for all your Head and The Heart needs. Because, frankly, you need them.

.

Album Review - Go To Hell - Star Anna

Hailing from the small eastern Washington city of Ellensburg, best known for wind and rodeos, Star Anna now bases herself out of Seattle. And really, we're glad to have her. The first time I heard Star Anna sing was last Fall at a show at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle. Several weeks later I saw her perform at the Outlaw Roadshow in New York City. Both times I was utterly impressed. Her voice is amazing. It's like Ann Wilson and Stevie Nicks smooshed together. The soul, the power; Star Anna's voice is one of those that you can't stop listening to, and one that you won't get out of your head.

Titled Go To Hell, Star Anna's new record out September 24, is her first release as a solo artist, and for what it's worth, she did a hell of a job. Star's voice matches perfectly with all the genres sampled in the ten songs on the record, from blues to blues rock, from country-esque, to country rock to rock, she covers it all and covers it all well. Since it arrived in the mail earlier this week I've listened to the record in it's entirety at least twice every day, sometimes more. It's that good, people.

Recovering from a personal life in turmoil, Star Anna seemed to focus her pain and rage into this album. It shows in all the songs, all the words, be they her own or someone else's, she makes them hers and takes them where they need to go without looking back.

The album opens with a song which over the last year or so has become a favorite of mine. Though For Anyone wasn't written by Star Anna, and I'm more familiar with another artist's version of the song, she took the song and transformed it; it's hers now. In her rendition of the song you can hear her emotion, hear her anger; the lyrics are somewhat fitting to her situation, or to really anyone who has had their heart ripped out and stomped on:

I've been drowning in this city of rain
You ripped right through me like a runaway train
God-damn I loved you
Now I just wait around
For anyone

I expected the title song to be full of anger and hate and powerful, gut wrenching vocals. Sure, it has all that, but it's wrapped in a soft, bluesy, could be mistaken for a love song if you weren't actually listening to the words song. For another awesome, angry song, that in different words, but the same feel, tells the subject of the song to go to hell, check out Let Me Be; phenomenal stuff right there.

My favorite songs on the record, after For Anyone, are Mean Kind of Love, a deceptively upbeat song with a lovely country vibe, with Star Anna's voice giving the song a youthful spirit, but at the same time the words are killing you. And then there's Electric Lights. This is a song where it's tough for me to describe exactly how it makes me feel. There's just something about this song that I absolutely love. Maybe it's the lyrics (probably the lyrics,) maybe it's the flow of the song, maybe it's the guitars, maybe it's Star's vocals, maybe it's just the whole damn song.

Another favorite is the cover of Elvis Presley's Power of My Love. This is the first song that I ever heard Star Anna sing. This is the song that made me say to myself, "Holy crap, this girl can sing." Everyone should stop listening to the Elvis version, just forget it exists, this is the only version of the song anyone should ever listen to ever again. Star Anna's powerful, yet almost effortless vocals reel you in, suck you in to the total agony of being in love.

Go. Get. This. Record. It's still available for pre-order (along with some other goodies, while you can still get them) here:
http://www.sparkandshine.com/bands/star-anna
Or go order it from Amazon, or check out your local record store next week, see if they have it. If not tell them they need to get it. GET IT.

Glider

Over the years I've found it very difficult to get into music, into songs, that are purely instrumental, that lack lyrics. I have plenty of instrumental songs in my library, and I'll listen to them, they're all good, it's just not my thing; I am a lyric girl to the core. That was until I heard Glider.

Glider is a side-project of Jim Bogios and David Immergülck of Counting Crows, so that's reason enough to listen to them. I'm a huge Counting Crows fan; Jim is a brilliant drummer, and let's be perfectly honest here, I'm completely infatuated with David Immerglück. I find everything he does absolutely amazing. To round out the band, Bogios and Immerglück are joined by Dan Eisenberg (keyboards,) and Yoshi Sako (bass.)

Sadly Glider doesn't have an actual album of any sort, just a couple random tracks here and there, a handful of live recordings around the YouTubes, but what's out there is incredible. Think Booker T & The MGs (Green Onion), The Chantays (Pipeline) and Santo (Sleep Walk, Tear Drop,) think ridiculously awesome guitars, drums, bass and organ all wrapped up in a dreamy, soulful, jazzy, funky, musical gift that not many people can give you.

So if there's no record to listen to, how the heck did I come across this magical musical discovery? Jim Bogios posted a Glider track, Sugar Bounce, on Facebook recently, so of course I listened to it, over and over. I was so enthralled by the sound. That damn Immerglückian guitar, the soulful crying of the Hammond B-3 organ, even without words the song tells a story, it doesn't need lyrics to get it's point across.

Upon hearing Sugar Bounce I had to hear more. There just had to be more out there. Luckily, Jim Bogios' website has another Glider track available to listen to, a cover of the Beatles' Love You Too. I was pleasantly surprised to find vocals on this track, and along with it a mind-blowing rendition of the transcendental Beatles tune. I'm very picky when it comes to Beatles covers. There are very few that I like and will listen to on a regular basis. This has become one of them. George Harrison would surely approve. The guitar is phenomenal, the psychedelic soul of the song shines on.

But alas, those were the only two Glider tracks on Jim's website. I knew there was more. I HAD to find more. I'd discovered this band and there's no going back. They're in my brain; I'd been bewitched by music once again.

There was indeed more Glider to be found. David Immerglück's website had a video of the band playing the guitar classic Apache live. And holy crap, this song is brilliant too. Seriously, can these guys get any better? Watching Immy play is memorizing. Even the 2006 borderline mullet is no distraction for the epic guitar work happening. I mean what more can I say that hasn't been said about Immy's guitar abilities? The dude's got skills. And Jim, well Jim is one of the best drummer's I've ever seen/heard, but I'm probably a little biased given the band he comes from, but still. One of my favorite things about him in the look he gets on his face when he's drumming, you can tell he's totally into it. The funky bass lines from these, and the other Glider tracks that I found are provided by Yoshi Sako (Beatropolis, Syncrosystem,) and fitting with the flow and theme of the band, he's pretty good as well. Completing the band's sound is Hammond B-3 Guru, Dan Eisenburg, who makes the B-3 sing, as if it's playing itself, as if it's telling it's own story and doesn't care what anyone else has to say about it.

These guys need to get into the studio and record an album. Their talents combined are way to good to not share with the world at large. But until then, we'll just have to settle with the handful of Glider songs out there on the internets.

Here's a list of what I've found:

jimbogios.com
- Sugar Bounce
- Love Me Too

gimmyimmy.com
-Apache (video)

YouTube
- Chicken Pox, Jupiters, Berkeley CA July 15th 2005
- Oh Yeah 3-11-06 Hotel Utah San Francisco, CA Live
- Live Starry Plough 9/19/08 Berkeley, CA

Single Review - Maybe I Don't Need You - Roem Baur

Push play. Drum roll. Guitars. Roem. 

Roem Baur's newest single, Maybe I Don't Need You is a trip to listen to. The first listen though the song was exciting. Maybe I Don't Need You has a different vibe to it than Roem's last single Natural Disaster, which was more rock-y. Maybe I Don't Need You is more pop/rock-y, with a hint of leftover disco-funk, more mid-80s Michael Jackson, but of course in the greatest way possible. 

In this lyrically deep song, we get caught up in the music, tempo and flow of the song and don't notice the words, until you stop and listen to them of course. Loneliness, breaking up, the it's better to be lonely apart than lonely together aspect of ending a relationship: 


I don't need you to tell me what to see 
cause I believe you see things different than me 
I don't need you tell me what to feel 
Cause when I needed you, you disappear 

Can you feel the chill of change 
Your own two feet feeling mighty strange 

Maybe I don't need you 
Maybe I don't need you 
I might be the lonely one 
but that's better than a lonely two 
but you're gonna be lonely, yes, you're gonna be lonely 
too... 


I don't need you to reply or tell my why 
Cause you're running from all your alibis 
I won't take you tellin me how I make 
every mistake, you turned into a fake 

Can you feel the chill of change 
Your own two feet feeling mighty strange 

Maybe I don't need you 
Maybe I don't need you 
I might be the lonely one 
but that's better than a lonely two 
but you're gonna be lonely, yes, you're gonna be lonely 
too...

This song really has it all, though I think the guitars and the horn section are my favorite parts (love me a horn section.) Roem Baur is artist who deserves attention. Stop what you're doing and go get this track, and Natural Disaster here: http://roembaur.bandcamp.com/  and if you happen to know anyone in the radio biz, bug them incessantly to play these songs, get the name, and the music out there.  

Album Review - Hexagon - FIlligar

With every record and live performance Filligar has proved themselves to be one heck of a rock & roll outfit. Fresh off a year plus of cross country touring, including a tour with Counting Crows, and a tour of the middle-eastern nation of Azerbaijan, organized by the US Embassy and Department of State as a part of the Cultural Ambassadors Project, Filligar hits us head on with their new record Hexagon. 

The Chicago-based quartet of brothers Johnny, Teddy and Pete Mathias, along with long-time friend, Casey Gibson, have yet again dropped into our laps a fantastic collection of songs, a true testament to the glories of Indie rock done right. Hexagon plays like the big brother of 2010's The Nerve, like the big brother who has traveled the world, soaking up new experiences, learning and growing, then coming home and sharing those lessons with the world.

Slated to hit stores July 23 (pre-order the album via iTunes, and stream here to preview) Hexagon has the potential to be one of the best new records of the year. The music and vocals are slightly more sultry and a bit darker, a bit heavier, than on The Nerve; the guitars, bass and keys layered, deep and emotional, kinda Doors-y, kinda early Boston-y, kinda Kinks-y, kinda awesome.

For a great example of this, check out the tracks Digging for Water, Great Big Heavy, and the track that's undoubtedly my favorite on the record, Pacific Time; flowy and mellow, the song evokes feelings of standing on a cliff on the edge of the world, staring out into the ocean, pleading for your love to come back to you.
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For some truly rockin', classic Filligar-esque songs, that must be played with the stereo cranked up to 11, Money on the Dark Horse, Knock Yourself Out, and the record opener, New Local. The wild-card track on the record has got to be El Trepador. The song has an awesome swing to it, it's got the feel of an old west country-rock song, like they could have used it for that new Lone Ranger movie, and yet it still has that Filligar groove to it. I dig it.

Hexagon is another winner of a record from this fantastic band. Filliar is heading out again on tour to support the release of the record. Get tour dates and other info here. Go see them, get the record, embrace the rock.

The Songs That Changed My Life

"You gotta hear this one song, it'll change your life, I swear" - Sam, Garden State

If you've seen the film Garden State, you'll know what I'm talking about. There's the scene where Natalie Portman's character, Sam, has Zach Braff's character, Andrew Largeman, listen to the Shin's song New Slang, telling him that it'll change his life. That scene spoke to me. We all have songs in our life like that, songs that changed our lives, made us better people, songs that helped shape who we are today. Maybe these songs came into our lives at the most opportune time, when we were feeling down, vulnerable, or maybe something amazing just happened and we're ridiculously happy; maybe they stir misplaced memories, remind us of people in and out of our lives, the good times, the bad times, the times. What ever the case may be, there are songs that we all have some sort of personal connection to, songs that whether we mean to or not, we rely on to get us through life.

I've been thinking about some of these songs in my life. The ones that don't just define me, but the ones that complete me. Some of these songs have been in my life for as long as I can remember, some are as recent as only a few months ago. For some reason I feel the need to share some of these songs. Maybe it'll inspire you to think back on the music of your life and make a list of your own Life Changing Songs.

The Monkees - Daydream Believer
          This song holds some of my first musical memories. I can vaguely recall singing this song on the playground in kindergarten. Every time I hear the song, hear that sweet twinkle of the piano intro, my mood is instantly lifted, it makes me happy. This song is where I take my email and twitter screen-names from, this song is what I listened to a hundred times in a row when Davy Jones died. To this day The Monkees remain one of my favorite bands, and this song will always hold a special place in my heart. 

Crosby, Stills & Nash - Southern Cross
          Sometimes people are surprised when I tell them that Southern Cross is my all-time favorite song. It's not that the song and I go way back. I don't know when exactly it became my favorite song, sometime around 2010/2011, I think. The theme of the song just hit me, searching for something, finding yourself: 

"When you see the Southern Cross for the first time, you understand now why you came this way, 'cause the truth you might be running from is so small, but it's as big as the promise, the promise of a coming day"

This song and I came full circle in May of 2011. I was on the Big Island of Hawaii, on my own, for my birthday, which in itself was a personal spiritual journey of sorts. I had taken a tour up to the top of Mauna Kea, while standing there, watching the sun set from the top of the world, the stars began to come out; I could see the Southern Cross. As we were driving back down the mountain, the song came on the radio in the van. It's so true, seeing the Southern Cross, then hearing the song, the feeling this gave me was overwhelming, it's hard to explain, but I got it. I knew what life was all about.

The Beatles - Across the Universe
          The Beatles. Whose life hasn't been impacted by The Beatles is some way? The Beatles were the first "classic rock" band that I ever got really into, and in doing so, probably changed the course of my life. But why Across the Universe? Out of all the amazing songs by the Beatles that someone could say changed their life: Strawberry Fields Forever, In My Life, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Baby You're a Rich Man, why this one? It's the lyrics. The song is one of John Lennon's best works of poetry ever. The words, it's always all about the words. No matter how crappy I may be feeling, I listen to this song and I think "it's all gonna be ok, I'll get through this. 'Nothing's gonna change my world'"

Counting Crows - Catapult
          I have a deep connection with this song. It's the first song that I heard from the first Counting Crows record that I bought when I started to really get into them a year and a half ago. The timing couldn't have been better for me to re-discover this band, it was the one year anniversary of my Grandmother, who I was very close to, passing away. Then suddenly, this song, that I'd never heard before, came spilling out of speakers on my laptop and I just started crying. It was exactly what I needed to hear:

"All of a sudden she disappears, just yesterday she was here, somebody tell me if I am sleeping, someone should be with me here, 'cause I don't want to be alone"

This song knew exactly how I was feeling. Even though it had been a year since my Grandma passed away, the memories were still way to fresh in my mind. Even now, two and a half years later, it's still a hard thing for me to deal with. Back in April my Great Aunt passed away, and again, this song was there for me. 
A week after she passed away, Counting Crows were playing a show in Sydney, Australia, which was to be broadcast live on YouTube. I had posted on Twitter to Adam Duritz that I'd be watching the show, and asked if they'd play Catapult for me, for my aunt. They played the song. Though I don't know whether or not they actually played it for me, and as much as I want to ask Adam about it next time I see him, I don't think I will. I like going on thinking it was, it makes it that much more special. With this song, I now know I can get through anything, I know that I'm not really alone; I've got my music. 

Field Report - Taking Alcatraz
          It took a while for this song to worm it's way into my soul. I've loved it since I first heard it about a year ago, but now it's part of me. Maybe it was seeing the song perfrormed live, something I've had the honor of experiencing three times, or maybe it's just the more I listen to it, the more it seeps into me. The line that gets me the most, the line that pops out and gets me every stinkin' time:

"And if we die here, well at least we'll make a choice, and if we're fine there, we can tell the boys, that a line in the sand don't matter, if you don't care, that a bird in the hand is worthless, if you're too scared" 

I think maybe more than the song itself, it's the passion and intensity singer/songwriter Chris Porterfield brings to the song when he performs it. I saw the band in Seattle a couple weeks ago, and hearing/seeing this song brought me to tears. Not many bands and/or songs can do that. Witnessing the passion that he brings to the song, and all their other songs is one of the things that helped me realise that I want to be a part of that world, I want to be constantly wrapped up in music. Making the decision to try find a way to pursue music writing as a career was helped along by seeing this band, and many, many others, and experiencing the passion and amazing people and music that is out there in the world right now. 

Well there you have it kids, a slight glimpse into my soul, into what helped make me ME, music wise anyway. Of course there's dozens more songs and bands who have contributed to the awesomeness that is me, such as Bryan Adams, Garth Brooks, and most recently, Elbow, but that's way too much to go into. These are, as of right now in my life, the most important. So as I leave you with probably the most personal thing I'll ever write, I urge you to think about your musical life, what songs have changed you, what songs have impacted your life the most, what songs Cher slapped you in the face and said "Snap out of it!" so you could be YOU.