tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81052352736635099862024-03-19T14:48:45.932-07:00My Music LifeFeel the music. Breathe it in. This is my life.
Records I love. My musical adventures. It's all here. It's all happening.Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-18403348462539593782018-04-04T11:27:00.000-07:002018-04-04T11:27:06.101-07:00Rest In Peace, Jennifer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPmWjiL3MR0MCc7P8Wfs_TtGaMkitAON1mDXzhxWCIMlTTZ8lvGTCXXiqCG3XpUxwMtINLc463GzUA3_yZlB70DluOt9xF1on2UbVuY6BmbtbNhkqmD43ZcPpvrsFVketdo7mxpKZXZBw/s1600/JenCat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPmWjiL3MR0MCc7P8Wfs_TtGaMkitAON1mDXzhxWCIMlTTZ8lvGTCXXiqCG3XpUxwMtINLc463GzUA3_yZlB70DluOt9xF1on2UbVuY6BmbtbNhkqmD43ZcPpvrsFVketdo7mxpKZXZBw/s320/JenCat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hello Music Lovers! In case you haven't heard, Jennifer lost her battle with breast cancer last week. Below is the life sketch written by her surviving family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jennifer Lynne Holmes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">May 12, 1982 – March 28, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jennifer made her appearance into this world 8 weeks early
while her parents were on a weekend trip to Vancouver British Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started charming people at only a week
old, as the army sent up 3 doctors and 4-5 nurses in a helicopter to bring her
back to the states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stayed in the
NICU for another week or so before she would join the rest of the family. One
of the first times that Jennifer was around extended family, her uncle Mike
nearly sat on her believing that she was a random doll laying on the sofa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As she grew her personality became vivacious and always
curious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From unplugging the cord from
the computer with a question of “what dis do?” to “it’s a Fristmas free not a
fristmas free” always questioning why and how and deciding when she was three
that she was old enough to get in the star swing herself but getting stuck and
not allowing anyone to help her get out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only dresses were worn and yellow was always preferable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fred the wonder horse was her constant
companion for many years and Sleeping Beauty the only movie to watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>School brought many friends and began a passion
for learning things that pertained to the stars, music, rocks, writing and the
ability to stand up for what she believed in, no matter what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jennifer always had a passion for animals and wanted to
become a Veterinarian. Life got in the way, so she settled for becoming the
best barista she could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jennifer worked
at Tulley’s and later Starbucks, always giving great customer service and superb
coffee. Then following her passion for animals, she found a vet clinic to work
at, as a receptionist but they soon realized she was capable of much, much more
and they began to train her to become a Vet Technician.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She followed this path for a few years then
took a break to follow another passion, geology and earth science.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She attended college for several years
following this dream but ultimately the soft and furry animals won and she
returned to be a Vet Technician, becoming certified with the assistance of her
mentors at All Critters Animal Hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life was good! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jennifer made many friends in the music
industry and attended countless concerts for a wide variety of artists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the tragic day came that she discovered
a lump in her breast, which after a barrage of tests turned out to be stage
four breast cancer. She took on this challenge head on like everything else in
her life and fought to live with everything she had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the treatments ceased to be effective
against the cancer, Jennifer made <span class="textexposedshow">a decision that
no person should ever have to make. Try another round of chemo that might give
her a few more months but at great risk to her already fragile body or choose
to stop treatment and let the cancer run its course and kill her. Jennifer
chose to face death on her terms. The cancer grew at a steady pace for about
six months, then as she had been told it would, it exploded and quickly
consumed her. She passed quietly, surround by family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jennifer</span> you were born too early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now you're gone way too soon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jennifer is survived by her parents, and siblings Jason,
Neomi, Linda, Lydia, Emily, Michelle, Mathew and Tiffany and Jason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has too many aunts, uncles, cousins,
nieces and nephews to mention, as well as friends all over the world, from her
many trips and adventures, where she never failed to make new friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all mourn her loss, and are inspired by
the spirit in which she lived her life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-31969200966326173252016-12-10T15:51:00.000-08:002016-12-10T15:51:15.241-08:00An Outlaw Family<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSPNnYU7ujTA2I8F65TGuc_HPIctr4bPv7tnLjwV4fNVLbj2yAoZ1enF-LbudGIfJULqcuJm6JYwNc3hd_cKe-cAlkKGmUG1EvbtkD5WCDhQw-NaVMpqq6vcFeUmHOwRSQ1dffQTHrFwf/s1600/outlaw+owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSPNnYU7ujTA2I8F65TGuc_HPIctr4bPv7tnLjwV4fNVLbj2yAoZ1enF-LbudGIfJULqcuJm6JYwNc3hd_cKe-cAlkKGmUG1EvbtkD5WCDhQw-NaVMpqq6vcFeUmHOwRSQ1dffQTHrFwf/s640/outlaw+owl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artwork by Frank Germano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The last 12 months have been a crazy, crazy time for me. As some of you may know, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer (aka Metastatic breast cancer) in January of 2016. While this has been a year of growth, struggle, strength, and change, one thing has stayed constant, one thing has been there for me every step of the way: The Outlaw Roadshow.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hwj-q7PpGd__C9NFKpgWpY7Y33eMyepXuGBo3gNHr-7EEb425Fb0F3Ewfmw0RcpvGIPZIfc7h5KGfgn5Kl3xyIqp34KLZKyOR3lKAXSyWdUeZXZQVPSg7BbuCs6ENQh736bqTOvTkPeH/s1600/fierce+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hwj-q7PpGd__C9NFKpgWpY7Y33eMyepXuGBo3gNHr-7EEb425Fb0F3Ewfmw0RcpvGIPZIfc7h5KGfgn5Kl3xyIqp34KLZKyOR3lKAXSyWdUeZXZQVPSg7BbuCs6ENQh736bqTOvTkPeH/s200/fierce+cat.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artwork by Frank Germano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
How can a traveling music festival-like showcase be there for someone? Well, it's more than just a music showcase, the Outlaw Roadshow is a community, a family. Within days of my diagnosis multiple "family members" contacted me with their love, support, and positive vibes. One of these people, Golden Bloom and Brothers in Yarn's Shawn Fogel, contacted me with the idea of an <a href="http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/theoutlawroadshow" target="_blank">Outlaw compilation album</a> to help raise money for my treatments. This album would include many Outlaw Alums covering each other's songs. For an Outlaw fan, this was a brilliant idea. The idea of these bands getting together, while miles and miles apart, for me was very overwhelming. This is one of the greatest gifts (if one can call it a gift) ever. I've only heard a few bits of a few of the songs, one in it's entirety, but from what I hear, this is to be a fantastic record. I encourage all of you who haven't yet to check it out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08NEMQ7iLINJhCHnT6fhnPM8CKbKzClPa7oW76GNZxdWeyJJLLZ9TXOQV-a7s04vir0sAjdbER702S3ei_e18eSgfPYBy7EiFl8DVWfIcWXZ6tjmrIeM3u4XRAIdcGRlZ-pFh49OS0JVt/s1600/me+chemo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08NEMQ7iLINJhCHnT6fhnPM8CKbKzClPa7oW76GNZxdWeyJJLLZ9TXOQV-a7s04vir0sAjdbER702S3ei_e18eSgfPYBy7EiFl8DVWfIcWXZ6tjmrIeM3u4XRAIdcGRlZ-pFh49OS0JVt/s320/me+chemo.jpg" width="179" /></a>Cancer is a scary diagnosis. Very few people understand what it fully entails. This is where Dan Nicklin comes in. Now, it's no secret that Dan Nicklin, of Boston's Oldjack, is up there as my favorite Outlaw (but he'll tell you that Adam will always be number one.) The months following my diagnosis cemented him as such. Nicklin's family had also been touched by breast cancer, his mother is a survivor. There were many times I was feeling very down, and scared about what was happening to me. Dan would call, usually late nights after band practice, just to check in, to see how I was doing. If I had posted a vaguebook status on Facebook about how I was struggling with life, I could count of Dan Nicklin calling to check in. Most of the time it was him talking, and me on the other end crying, but I'm so glad he was there. He knew all the right things to say, he had been through this before. His words got me though some really hard nights.<br />
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More than just the amazing musicians I've befriended over the years, I've become friends with some beautiful people all around the world. From great friends in San Antonio, to Indiana, to Boston, to New Jersey. I thank the Outlaw Roadshow for making the last five years of my life so much better.<br />
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That's what the Outlaw Roadshow does. That's what the Outlaw Roadshow is. It's a community of music lovers who over the last several years have become a spread out, long distance extended family. On <a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/12/album-review-what-is-home-to-you-oldjack_27.html" target="_blank">Oldjack's last album</a>, the title track poses the question, "What is Home to You?," my answer is, and always will be, The Outlaw Roadshow.<br />
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Due to my cancer treatments I was unable to attend the Outlaw Roadshow in Austin this year, missing my first one in 3 years. One of my biggest goals this year was to be healthy enough to attend the Outlaw Roadshow in New York City in October. This was the big one, the NYC Outlaw is my favorite time of year. I hadn't missed one in 4 years, and I wasn't going to let cancer get in the way of not attending in 2016. Lucky for me, I had finished my chemo treatments in April, and my oncologist gave me the go ahead to have the best time ever is NYC. This is precisely what happened.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_knRAA4TRQAmZXUI5XgXqp6IMtok_nBn70Gs_rSLJaJnYY8TO5ncPOV-rBfZlPaR2HWk-V3sMwUD6JFqnxPCfx-mXVm_9mU7pE5U0JlU9T1IiRFN0jWLF_jXdiO0Q9Ob1ROfyUOJiNlkQ/s1600/outlaws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_knRAA4TRQAmZXUI5XgXqp6IMtok_nBn70Gs_rSLJaJnYY8TO5ncPOV-rBfZlPaR2HWk-V3sMwUD6JFqnxPCfx-mXVm_9mU7pE5U0JlU9T1IiRFN0jWLF_jXdiO0Q9Ob1ROfyUOJiNlkQ/s640/outlaws.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm sure my diagnosis played some part in the amazing weekend that was the 2016 NYC Outlaw Roadshow. People always seem friendlier when you're sick. Sometimes it was a little overwhelming, I'm not a big fan of attention. All three days brought the most sincere "How are you's" I've ever had in my life, some of the biggest hugs I've ever received; Outlaws truly care about one another. This year brought multiple invitations to The Garden, Thai food with favorite guitarists, tacos with favorite people, song dedications that made me cry from the greatest of outlaws. Late nights spent in New York City are the best late nights. I am so grateful to have these people in my life.<br />
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I'm cautiously hopeful of where the next 12 months will take me. I have three goals for 2017: don't die of cancer, get married to the love of my life, Jonathan, and to attend the Outlaw Roadshow in NYC next October. I hope that Ryan and Adam know just how much the Outlaw Roadshow means to me, and to my life. I can not thank these people enough for all they have done for me, directly and indirectly, over the last five years.<br />
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Thank you, all the Outlaws, <b>for all the things.</b><br />
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<br />Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-72948890357428294442014-12-30T22:17:00.001-08:002015-01-04T00:38:41.470-08:00My Music Life - Best of 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFwhKlROPkXULeEZH_oIbK3U9CJJ_-9GqpVsnELLmLbnH_W0i2fBuUxM6vurBuxQVagfyKcNBL5lFRxxt1A6L65Kd-BQlXB9Fb5RtijpCjplJw-wN1nRtOmsMsKukFWT0FVh6FYDWbZAe/s1600/tophat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFwhKlROPkXULeEZH_oIbK3U9CJJ_-9GqpVsnELLmLbnH_W0i2fBuUxM6vurBuxQVagfyKcNBL5lFRxxt1A6L65Kd-BQlXB9Fb5RtijpCjplJw-wN1nRtOmsMsKukFWT0FVh6FYDWbZAe/s1600/tophat.jpg" height="183" width="640" /></a></div>
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2014 was another fantastic year for music. I got a lot of new music. Some from old friends and some from new friends, some from bands I've never actually met but admire greatly. A lot of the music this year, much like the last two, was discovered through <a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-outlaw-roadshow-nyc-october-2014.html" target="_blank">The Outlaw Roadshow</a> and Nekkid Armadilla Extravaganza, but some I found on my own. Thinking back on my year in music, thinking about what records to include on this year's list, I decided to include the records that meant the most to me, the ones I find myself listening to on a near daily basis. These are the records that made this year in music just that much more special to me. Some of the songs on some of these records have meant more to me than many in the last 32 years of my life.<br />
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So here you go, my favorite records of 2014:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfurm5qywnzghPuO0tXtIxt41ObJP2_lLSOa3U0jyDfceqZk1v0vfU5KTNPzckNOJfGDOuJWeQ98CZEU7vXmBznW-MQOMTZ2gX2fJ7AYZGlau9HgT0Px5lJMiRs0ooLeqrTaOFdBtc-b6/s1600/Elbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfurm5qywnzghPuO0tXtIxt41ObJP2_lLSOa3U0jyDfceqZk1v0vfU5KTNPzckNOJfGDOuJWeQ98CZEU7vXmBznW-MQOMTZ2gX2fJ7AYZGlau9HgT0Px5lJMiRs0ooLeqrTaOFdBtc-b6/s1600/Elbow.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
~ Elbow - <i>The Take Off and Landing of Everything</i><br />
I discovered <b>Elbow</b> just a year and a half ago. But in those 18 months they have become one of my favorite bands. I had the opportunity to see them live back in May in Portland, Oregon, and it was an amazing show. I have a huge music crush on lead singer Guy Garvey. His voice is perfect, and he's adorable. Back in March Elbow released <i>The Takeoff and Landing of Everything. </i>(<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2014/04/album-review-take-off-and-landing-of.html" target="_blank">Full review here</a>)<br />
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I instantly fell in love with the record. The lead off single, "New York Morning" remains one of my life changing songs. I came full circle with this song just a few months ago, listening to the song while walking down the street in New York City on a cool Autumn morning. As I listened to the record more and more, the song "This Blue World" became my second favorite song on it. There's one line that just keeps jumping out at me, and can be applied to so many people in my life, both current and past:<br />
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"While three chambers of my heart<br />
beat true and strong with love for another<br />
the fourth, the fourth is yours forever"<br />
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<i>The Takeoff and Landing of everything</i> is a beautiful record from start to finish. If you haven't listened to it, I highly suggest you do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjub9WNMgVRpcmpMMGPTySdceAZeTcEksoYhZndDdUZxOfQAR0Yt6ZJI2eYoZsFbUiqxiuVtTFmgDSCO_mnD267XGHfHLwFQdWxuIwAjxZL4t0O5oA0B67wph7b24Vql17kuirSkUCY3_QA/s1600/Star-Anna-The-Sky-is-Falling-250x215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjub9WNMgVRpcmpMMGPTySdceAZeTcEksoYhZndDdUZxOfQAR0Yt6ZJI2eYoZsFbUiqxiuVtTFmgDSCO_mnD267XGHfHLwFQdWxuIwAjxZL4t0O5oA0B67wph7b24Vql17kuirSkUCY3_QA/s1600/Star-Anna-The-Sky-is-Falling-250x215.jpg" height="172" width="200" /></a></div>
~ Star Anna - <i>The Sky is Falling</i><br />
Seattle singer/songwriter <b>Star Anna</b> released <i>The Sky is Falling</i> as a digital only album in April. I've been meaning, trying, to write a full review of the record since I got it. But I just couldn't find the right words. I couldn't find words that would express how brilliant the record is. I couldn't form sentences that would convey the feelings the record created. The songs are heartbreaking, but in a totally relateable way. <i>The Sky is Falling</i> was recorded before last year's <i><a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/09/album-review-go-to-hell-star-anna.html" target="_blank">Go To Hell</a></i>, but wasn't released until the moment was right. Star Anna's voice is special. It's really not like anything else you'd find out there these days: smooth, but just a little but gritty, full of so much feeling and power, but not over powering.<br />
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My favorite song on the record is "Love Song." A sort of cynical love song, almost mocking those who believe in love, and love at first sight and fairy tale love. The song is a duet with Screaming Trees' Mark Pickerel, whose voice perfectly compliments Star Anna's. The best part of the song is the chorus:<br />
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"I don't believe in fairy tales<br />
I think they're overrated<br />
I think they're outdated<br />
oh and I, I don't believe in love at first sight<br />
it's only something you'd write, it's only something you'd write"<br />
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Other stand out tracks on the record are "Little Voices," "Annie," and "Easier to Shine," and "Only Guessing."<br />
But seriously, the record as a whole is fantastic.<br />
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~ Counting Crows - <i>Somewhere Under Wonderland</i><br />
What can I say about this record that I haven't already said? (<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2014/09/album-review-somewhere-under-wonderland.html" target="_blank">Read <i>that</i> here</a>.) It's no secret that <b>Counting Crows</b> are my favorite band. I still can't believe that I can call lead singer Adam Duritz "friend," the whole thing is all still very weird and surreal, but it's my life. <i>Somewhere Under Wonderland</i> is Counting Crows' first studio album in 7 years and it's amazing. It's a little big different that their previous records, but still brilliant. "God of Ocean Tides," "Earthquake Driver," and "Possibility Days" are my favorite songs on the record. But I could listen to the whole thing over and over for days (and have.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kNVNTUZ0f4b2zw1sCKtikxG4xFZD11K2InE4cz1XPhLJmbLf0tmVIVJ4WKZb1MmdOgXDuGBPQfxr3XSRr-NssJPXQhgnKulfbZxauIooeiIv-DfFyGIC8ST5jHW_UXIfg1mOw5fzhxLh/s1600/field-report-marigolden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kNVNTUZ0f4b2zw1sCKtikxG4xFZD11K2InE4cz1XPhLJmbLf0tmVIVJ4WKZb1MmdOgXDuGBPQfxr3XSRr-NssJPXQhgnKulfbZxauIooeiIv-DfFyGIC8ST5jHW_UXIfg1mOw5fzhxLh/s1600/field-report-marigolden.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>~Field Report - <i>Marigolden</i><br />
<b>Field Report's</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>debut, self titled album has been one of my favorites over the last two years, with "Taking Alcatraz" and "Fergus Falls" being in constant rotation on many of my playlists. Their long awaited sophomore album, <i>Marigolden</i>, came out in October. Just like the last, it is a colorful, lyrical piece of story telling genius. Chris Porterfield has a way of stringing words together in a way that makes you really listen, to take it all in, coz you'll miss the point if you don't. The songs come from life experiences and he weaves them into songs that you can't turn away from. One of the coolest moments for me this year was seeing Field Report here in Seattle a couple months ago. Seeing these songs live is mesmerizing. The best part though was the acoustic, on the floor sing-a-long to "Taking Alcatraz" and "Fergus Falls." Singing along with the songs, literally a foot and a half from Porterfield, was incredible. <br />
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Stand out tracks:<br />
"Home (Leave the Lights on)," "Pale Rider," "Ambrosia," and "Enchantment"<br />
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~ OldJack - <i>What is Home to You?</i><br />
I know, I know, this record was also on last year's list. Well, it wasn't officially released until Nov. 2014, so there. I <i><b>LOVE</b></i> this record. Obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have included it on two "best of"<br />
lists. <b>OldJack,</b><i> </i>over the last two-ish years has become one of my favorite bands, and their lead singer, Dan Nicklin, one of my favorite people. <a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/12/album-review-what-is-home-to-you-oldjack_27.html" target="_blank">My original review of the record</a> still holds true, if not even more so. Every song on the record is noteworthy (but for the record my favorite track is "Lonely Alone," a song which I refer to as "my song.") The record is so full of feeling, heart, and soul. Now that is available to get on <a href="http://oldjack.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">BandCamp</a>, there's no excuse not to have this record.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-66145628756894191892014-11-23T14:51:00.000-08:002014-11-23T14:51:30.827-08:00Album Review - Man Against Machine - Garth Brooks<br />
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I hate modern mainstream Country music, but I <i>love</i> <b>Garth Brooks</b>. I have loved Garth Brook since his first album came out in 1989. I'm fairly certain he was my first music crush (though he was quickly knocked out by Bryan Adams, but that's another story.)<br />
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Brooks recently released his first record in 13 years. <i>Man Against Machine</i> is classic Garth. It sounds like nostalgia. It sounds like Nineties Country music. It sounds like the Garth Brooks I grew up listening to. Garth is back, and this makes me happy.<br />
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I have no idea how this album compares to any other Country music out there these days, as I don't listen to it. However, I love the sound of this album. None of the songs sounds the same, they all have their own distinct feel to them. Ranging from traditional country western, to country-rock, country-blues. Brooks' vocals are clear and as "Garthy" as ever. Listening to the album, you can't even tell that it's been 13 years.<br />
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I like to think that the title track, <i>Man Against Machine </i>has something to do with Garth Brooks hating the internet. But really what I get from it is a tale of the struggles of working Americans whose manufacturing jobs are being handed over to machines:<br />
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"Day in day out<br />
Bust your back and turn it out<br />
Next morning do it again<br />
Hard job or two<br />
So your children won't have to<br />
That's just the way it's always been<br />
But lately I swear the machines<br />
Are living the American Dream"<br />
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What ever the song is about, it kinda makes you think. Or at lease sing along.<br />
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<i>She's Tired of Boys</i> is a story of a girl looking for a <i>real</i> relationship, or at least real to her, one with a mature man.<br />
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"She said I’m tired of boys<br />
I’m tired of first dates and I’m tired of toys<br />
I want a lover that will understand<br />
Someone who will touch me with a knowing hand<br />
I am tired of feeling emptiness inside<br />
I want to be the one left satisfied<br />
I looked around and now I've made my choice<br />
I’m tired of big talk and I’m tired of noise<br />
I’m tired of boys"<br />
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Really, though, how many times has a girl in her 20s, 30s, whatever, said something like that to herself? This is a very relateable song, and I love it. The background vocals from Trisha Yearwood make the song that much more awesome. (I just love that she and Garth ended up together.)<br />
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<i>Cold Like That</i> is an emotionally charged country ballad about a woman with a cold, uncaring heart. <i>All-American Kid, </i> a story of the High School football hero who joins the military and makes it home alive, all the while his hometown cheering him on.<br />
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<i>Rodeo and Juliet </i>is a fun, up tempo, true country track about a rodeo queen laden with Shakespeare quotes (from <i>Romeo and Juliet</i> and<i> Hamlet</i>.) I love this. Mostly because I love Shakespeare. But it's also a really catchy song.<br />
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<i>Midnight Train</i> is one or my favorite tracks on the album. It's another classic Garth song, though it reminds me just little of the Alan Jackson song, <i>Drive</i>, Not in an "oh my gosh, he ripped him off" way, but in a "I love this sound, this feel, this pace of song. Well done." way. The song plays on like a train chugging along.<br />
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<i>Cowboys Forever</i> isn't all about cowboys. It's about the spirit of the Cowboys. How cowboys aren't just farm boys, or cattle wranglers, or what have you, but cowboys have evolved over the years. Cowboys are heroes, humans.<br />
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"Now they're cops in the city with their lives on the line<br />
They're truck drivers hauling that freight<br />
They're young soldiers leaving their loved ones behind<br />
They're the ones who pull their own weight"<br />
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<i>People Loving People</i> could be the unofficial sequel to 1992's <i>We Shall Be Free</i> from <i>The Chase. </i>Basically the song is saying that we need to love one another, that it will fix all the issues in the world.<br />
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"It's people loving people<br />
That's the enemy of everything that's evil<br />
Ain't no quick fix at the end of a needle<br />
It's just people loving people"<br />
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Oh, Garth. If only it were that easy. The song is great, the message is great. If only people would heed the message.<br />
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Another favorite on the album is the bluesy track <i>Tacoma</i>. A painful story of running away, trying to, needing to, get away so fast that the hurt can't follow.<br />
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"I might make it to Memphis<br />
And if that ain't far enough<br />
I'll speed down the highway to Tulsa or Missouri<br />
So fast that the hurt can't catch up<br />
I'm burning your memory one mile at a time<br />
All the way to Tacoma<br />
By then I hope you're of my mind"<br />
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I am so glad Garth Brooks is back, His music shaped a lot of my childhood. I'm so glad that this album turned out to be so good. I am really, really enjoying it. And for the record, I still have a music crush on Garth Books.<br />
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Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-1884642893585839402014-10-29T23:15:00.001-07:002014-10-29T23:15:14.321-07:00The Outlaw Roadshow - NYC - October 2014<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poster art by Frank Germano @ Man On Fire Design</td></tr>
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Another October, another cross-country plane ride to the once mythical city of New York for what has become my favorite musical thing, The Outlaw Roadshow. Just two years ago New York City, to me, was like a magical far away place, a place oft thought about, but never really meant much. But now, now New York City is something completely different, New York City is part of my life. New York City is Outlaw Roadshow territory. And for three days in October, New York City is home.<br />
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It's come to be expected that Ryan Spaulding (of <a href="http://www.rslblog.com/" target="_blank">Ryan's Smashing Life</a>,) Adam Duritz (of Counting Crows) and their team of amazing Outlaws, will give the fans one heck of a three day musical party down at the Bowery Electric, with this year being no exception. </div>
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The line up included old friends, new friends, and unknown friends. </div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Thursday<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">PARLOUR TRICKS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">HOLLIS BROWN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">CHRISTIAN MCNEILL & SEAMONSTERS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">MAT SUCICH<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">BOOM FOREST<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">TALLAHASSEE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">BAILIFF<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">DAN BLAKESLEE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">CHRISTOPHER PAUL STELLING<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">K PHILLIPS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">LE ROXY PRO</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Friday<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">HALLELUJAH THE HILLS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">THE SILKS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">ARCHIE POWELL & THE EXPORTS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">OLDJACK<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">CORIN ASHLEY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">ALAN SEMERDJIAN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">NATE LEAVITT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">GODDAMN DRACULAS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">DOCTOR GASP</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">MEAN CREEK<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">FILLIGAR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">TIGERMAN WOAH<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">THE GROWNUP NOISE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">NAKIA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">THE LONGWALLS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">THE FEED</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">SONIC COW GRUNT</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tallahassee</td></tr>
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Some of the unknowns surprised me. Some I liked, some I didn't, But not everyone will like everything, right? What matters is I gave them a chance. I was thrilled to see some old favorites in the line up. Though most of them I had seen only seven months prior at SXSW in Austin, it had been seven long months since I'd seen them. The Outlaw Roadshow has become more than just a music showcase, more than just a mini music festival. The Outlaw Roadshow is a musical family reunion. Days began with friends leaping over railings to give you nearly-knock-you-over hugs, and scanning the crowded club each night I saw some of the same familiar faces, faces I'd seen the year before, faces I didn't know the names to, faces I knew and couldn't wait to see. The faces of Outlaws. </div>
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For me this year is was really the old favorites who were the highlight of each day. While I enjoyed several of the "new" bands, there really weren't any that I had to rush home and re-listen to as soon as possible (except maybe for the Longwalls, I really enjoyed them.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOohnI1QRKTJTjVHM7rJTDViigIBSPK-iIH_XYeYbeTPEBddug48h0MgZU35f7HlulH-QsFBg48SEBnVV70D_hTZSjv2JbmObp_I_F_voBatH88wmJkdrrYsmNUfvPEZxW8V4fyZYsofuv/s1600/20141023_192234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOohnI1QRKTJTjVHM7rJTDViigIBSPK-iIH_XYeYbeTPEBddug48h0MgZU35f7HlulH-QsFBg48SEBnVV70D_hTZSjv2JbmObp_I_F_voBatH88wmJkdrrYsmNUfvPEZxW8V4fyZYsofuv/s1600/20141023_192234.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Bloom</td></tr>
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Tallahassee's set opened Thursday. This was only the second time I'd seen Tallahassee play live, and just like the last, I was blown away. The blues/rock/country-esque band from Boston played a fantastic set which included my favorite songs of theirs, <i>Old Brown Shoes </i>and <i>Minor Blues III.</i> <i> </i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boom Forest</td></tr>
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Following Tallahassee was a long time Roadshow favorite, Golden Bloom. Well, really it was Shawn Fogel of Golden Bloom, backed by Scott Thompson and Matt Raskopf of Tallahassee. Fogel is one of the best song writers out there right now. His catchy, poppy songs are laden with feeling, depth and thought provoking images. </div>
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Fogel played several songs from the new record Golden Bloom is working on. Two of these songs are in my current favorite song rotation: <i>Circles Round My Mind</i> and <i>Books You Never Read</i> (I saw Fogel do a solo show Friday afternoon at Rockwood Music Hall. He played <i>Books You Never Read</i> on the piano. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. It seriously nearly made me cry (sure, it was mostly the lyrics really hitting me, but still.)) Their set ended with an on-the-floor acoustic Outlaw sing-a-long of <i>Searching For Sunlight</i>. Always good times when an Outlaw sing-a-long happens.</div>
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Boom Forest played a haunting, echo-y set. J.P. Roney, aside from being one good lookin' dude (yeah, I said it,) writes some amazing songs. I was immediately sucked into his set, it was one you almost couldn't get away from.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">K Philips and DTP</td></tr>
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The last set I saw Thursday night was another friend and favorite, K Phillips. K was accompanied not by his usual band of Concho Pearls, but only friend and guitarist Daniel Thomas Phipps. K's sets are always brilliant. The highlight for me was probably his new-ish track, <i>Coal Burner.</i> Such a great song.<br />
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Friday's line up held the Outlaw band who over the last two years has become one of my personal favorites, like listen to them pretty much all the frickin' time favorites. Also, the band is led by one of my favorite human people, Dan Nicklin, the band Oldjack.<br />
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Another Outlaw alum from Boston, Oldjack brings classic rock and soul in the form of a seven piece band. Oldjack's set was one of the strongest they had never played. Nicklin was on fire, and back-up singer Kelly Davis was in top form. The set included classic Oldjack and several tracks from their new record, What is Home to You?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oldjack</td></tr>
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The highlight of the set, for me anyway, was just as the band is going into the song <i>Lonely Alone</i>, Nicklin gestured to me and said, "This is for you, Jen." Great moment. So yeah. If anyone asks, <i>Lonely Alone</i> is my song. </div>
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Friday's show also included great sets from Hallelujah the Hills, The Silks and another favorite of mine, Air Traffic Controller. Another Boston band, Air Traffic Controller's brand of catchy, jubilant pop filled the Bowery Electric with an undeniable energy. Mixing new and old, <i>The House, What You do to my Soul</i> and <i>If You Build it, Hurry, Hurry, You Know Me,</i> and<i> The Work, </i>Air Traffic Controller had the whole room the whole set. I really loved the new stuff, and am looking forward to their new album (release date unknown.)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air Traffic Controller</td></tr>
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Saturday, day three, promised four Outlaw favorites: Filligar, Nakia, Mean Creek and Sonic Cow Grunt, plus a few newcomers: The Longwalls (the only new band this year who caught my attention,) and Tigerman Woah (I did not care for this band at all. I'm sure some folks did, they just aren't for me,)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filligar</td></tr>
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Filligar rocked their set. These guys are great. Always a treat to see them play. Following the Outlaw norm this year, Filligar played new and old stuff, favorites from <i>The Nerve, Hexagon</i> and the new record they just recorded. Highlight songs from their set included <i>New Local, Money on the Dark</i><i> Horse, </i>and<i> Robbery (Shocking Love)</i><br />
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Mean Creek is probably the most hard rock/punk band I'll ever listen to. Nothing against that genre of music, I'm just not that big a fan. But Mean Creek, well you have to experience Mean Creek to get Mean Creek. They have a fresh intensity about them, When they get going, you'd better watch out, they will rock your socks right off. Their whole set was incendiary from start to finish.Also playing a mix of new and old, highlights of Mean Creek's set were <i>My Madeline, Johnny Allen </i>and <i>Young & Wild.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mean Creek</td></tr>
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The last show of the night was a solo set upstairs from Nakia. I didn't catch all of his set, but I did get to hear most of his cover of Counting Crows' <i>Raining in Baltimore</i>, and that, my friends, was awesome.<br />
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But, probably the best set of the night was that from Sonic Cow Grunt, who for those in the Outlaw loop, is a fragmented version of Counting Crows, this year only David Immergluck, Dan Vickrey and Adam Duritz.<br />
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Like I had the two years before, I had claimed my spot directly in front, and just to the right, of the stage earlier in the day (coz I'm that kind of crazy.) This was my idea of musical nirvana. It's no secret that Counting Crows are my favorite band, and being about to see them play literally less than two feet away from me is amazing. It's kinda like we're all singing together (especially during <i>Rain King</i> when the whole room was singing along together. <i>That</i> was a moment.) I didn't grab the set list that night, so I don't remember what order they played these songs, I'm pretty sure they played <i>The Ballad of El Goodo, Scarecrow, </i><i>Four White Stallions, </i><i>Sullivan Street, </i><i>High Life, </i><i>Earthquake Driver, </i><i>God of Ocean Tides, </i><i>Richard Manuel is Dead, </i><i> Washington Square, </i>and<i> </i><i>Rain King. </i><br />
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Also, Dan is a pretty funny dude. Or at least he was that night. They told good stories, made us laugh, maybe even made us cry. <i> </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0Ae_XRnfkQed3ri_64jUmpJ1qvt0fYQAMldpOkKshj_oexGDaZJXHwbt5w5WVZltVteITo9fLcpgpWrMtMWldlNIRYModj-gU4PUa7wqBcAnK-vP4fn6lKuKzMXquVWWpxuY2iw6f_VK/s1600/New+York+2141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0Ae_XRnfkQed3ri_64jUmpJ1qvt0fYQAMldpOkKshj_oexGDaZJXHwbt5w5WVZltVteITo9fLcpgpWrMtMWldlNIRYModj-gU4PUa7wqBcAnK-vP4fn6lKuKzMXquVWWpxuY2iw6f_VK/s1600/New+York+2141.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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Their closing number was a cover. Probably the most touching and surprising cover ever. A cover of a song written by a friend and fellow Outlaw. Adam didn't say whose song it was in the introduction, that "he'll figure it out when we play it.." Well, he did. A few bars into the song, which turned out to be <i>Kat's Song (What I can't Have) </i>by K Phillips. K was about 5 or 6 people away from me. The look on his face as Adam, Dan, and Immy (accompanied by Nakia on keys) played/sang that song was that of sheer disbelief and happiness combined. K is a great guy and a great songwriter. That must have been utterly amazing for him. I can't think of a better person to have the Crows cover their song. Finally K was able to get up on stage and sing with them. The moment was magical. The air of the room was full of Outlaw love.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KPP-aOpNAF2f6JcVq06gVXkSKd3TZlJGzZooZUhgEQlRHG5FbT64DjOjykrtAmvFYVRS_dd7nJ78fIkHX-haNPBiwpzoKRvuygRxRHy2fbLQsMWDYxTtiBJU6busqvnUfNPbJLvyx9p7/s1600/sxny.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KPP-aOpNAF2f6JcVq06gVXkSKd3TZlJGzZooZUhgEQlRHG5FbT64DjOjykrtAmvFYVRS_dd7nJ78fIkHX-haNPBiwpzoKRvuygRxRHy2fbLQsMWDYxTtiBJU6busqvnUfNPbJLvyx9p7/s1600/sxny.png" height="320" width="240" /></a>After saying my goodbyes to my Outlaw family at the Bowery Electric, I headed out to Dan Nicklin's<br />
South by Northeast showcase, For Liberty's Sake, at Carroll Place. Oldjack was playing again and I had to see them one last time before it was all over. Again, that set was amazing. Oldjack is one of the best live bands out there right now, well, one of the best bands in general.<br />
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Once again, New York treated me well. I had the most amazing time, but then I always do. Seeing all my Outlaw friends and hearing the music that had over the last two and a half years completely changed by life, has become one of my favorite things. The Outlaw Roadshow feels like home. Seeing an Outlaw band feels like home. I feel honored and blessed to be able to call these people my friends, and to say that this is my life; my music life.<br />
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Thank you to Ryan, Adam and everyone involved in making the Outlaw Roadshow what it is. Until next time, Outlaws!<br />
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Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-86527921066505591872014-09-03T21:54:00.003-07:002014-09-07T14:44:28.303-07:00Album Review - Somewhere Under Wonderland - Counting Crows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been seven long years since the music world has had an all-original <b>Counting Crows </b>record. Though they have released two records since 2008's <i>Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings</i>, this is the first to contain all new, all Crows written tracks. The wait has been long. But the wait has been worth it. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Somewhere Under Wonderland</i> delivers the goods. <i>The Crows are back.</i><br />
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I first heard three of the songs off <i>Wonderland</i> last October. In a crowded basement club in New York City, four members of the band, billed as Sonic Cow Grunt, preformed "Scarecrow," "God of Ocean Tides" and "Cover Up the Sun" for the first time. I felt extremely lucky to be able to hear these songs in their infancy, and couldn't wait for the record.<br />
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Though the whole album has been streaming on iTunes radio for the last week or so, I tried my best to not listen to it in it's entirety. I had the first four songs that had been released already ("Palisades Park", "Scarecrow", "God of Ocean Tides" and "Earthquake Driver") and heard a couple more at the show I went to on their summer tour. So, as soon as the record became available to download, I jumped on it. It couldn't download fast enough. I needed these songs. The songs I'd already heard were amazing, and I knew the rest of the songs would follow suit.<br />
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<i>Somewhere Under Wonderland</i> carries all the emotion a Counting Crows record should. All those angsty feelings from the 90's come rushing back. It's like running into an old friend you haven't seen in years, but getting along like you haven't missed a beat. Listening to the record the first time though is a little overwhelming. There's so much to soak in. The words, good gourd the words. I love words. I love the way random words can be so beautifully strung together. There are so many amazing words on this record. Adam Duritz has long been one of my favorite songwriters, and with the nine songs on <i>Wonderland</i> he just keeps drilling that fact into my brain.<br />
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One by one they played in my ears. One by one my heart soared. One by one the smile got bigger and bigger. There aren't many words I can use to describe the feeling of hearing the record play out. It's quite possible to go on and on for hours trying to decipher the songs, trying to guess just exactly what it is they are about, the symbology of the lyrics, the places, the people, the themes. But why try? It's best just to say how they make you feel, what the song means to you. Everyone gets something different out of every song, everyone likes every song for a different reason, not everyone will be head over heels in love with the same songs you are. I get that. I'll just do my best to represent the music, to explain it the best I can.<br />
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Several of the songs have lyrical arcs that connect them, keeping a kind of theme on the record, not a blatantly obvious theme, but a theme nonetheless. We have spacemen and aliens, "I was an alien in utero / somehow missed New Mexico" (Dislocation,) "Mary steers clear of the men from space... Ivan the ancient spaceman race fan / Corners the market on American tastes / And says 'Spaceman! Scarecrow! Peepshow! Freakshow!" (Scarecrow,) "There are aliens on motorcycles / Riding on the radio while we destroy the world" (Elvis Went to Hollywood.) Then there's the climbing, escaping through windows, "He said 'come outside / climb out your bedroom window / shimmy down the fire escape / and say goodbye'" (Palisades Park,) "If you decide to climb out your bedroom window / pain a picture on a cloud" (John Appleseed's Lament.) I love how that works out. I have no idea if it was done on purpose, of if it just kinda happened. Either way, I totally dig it.<br />
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"Palisades Park" was the first track released from the record. I did a little review on the song when it was relaeased back in July, so to quote myself:<br />
"'Palisades Park' is a story. It's an epic. It's a feel good call back to the likes of Mrs. Potter's Lullaby. It's the prefect summer song. It's flows flawlessly from the distant sounding trumpet solo to Adam Duritz's vocals; fresh, refreshed, and slightly jazzy. I think the lyrics to the song might be the origin to the "come outside, come out your window...." lyric inserts Duritz has been adding to live versions of Round Here over the last couple years. Or maybe I'm wrong, who knows. But seriously though, the lyrics are good. And then there's the hook right before the chorus. Good gourd, the hook. But my favorite line, well, lines, the few lines out of the whole 8 minute song, that speak to me the most, right now anyway are:<br />
<br />
"Andy said, "Man, I need a break from the world outside"<br />
And these days my life just careens through a pinball machine<br />
I could do so much better but I can't get off the tilt"<br />
<br />
The last couple years my life has felt just like that.<br />
<br />
The song builds as it goes, grows, grabs your attention every step of the way...Palisades Park is an instant classic"<br />
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"Earthquake Driver" is a trip. On the outside a jaunty, melodic ride of guitars and carefully timed hand claps. When you listen to the words, you realize it goes deeper than that. I hear it as someone who wants to be involved, someone who doesn't want to be alone, someone who wants to <i style="font-weight: bold;">be.</i> Maybe that's why I'm drawn to the song. Or maybe it's just the carefully timed hand claps.<br />
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The song that held the title of favorite up until the whole record came out is "God of Ocean Tides." For as much as I love the guitar driven, rocking Crows songs, I <i style="font-weight: bold;">love</i> those classic Durtiz ballads even more. "God of Ocean Tides" has a bit of a "Washington Square" twang to it, but a bit dreamier. The simple acoustic guitars flow flawlessly throughout the song, the piano dancing along beside them. There are so many lines in this song that I love. I won't list them all, it'd take to much time. So I'll just leave you with this one:<br />
"Colored lights and birthday cakes<br />
Candle wax on paper plates<br />
Breathe the water<br />
Hush-a-bye<br />
You can see through the water<br />
All the way up to the sky"<br />
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The record jumps from electric guitar laden to acoustic and then back again. "Johnny Appleseed's Lament" is one of the heavy guitar laden tracks. It is also one of the songs on the record that surprised me the most. It's one that up until the record came out I hadn't heard. One that I had no idea what to expect. "Johnny Appleseed's Lament" is a confessional song. It opens much like "Round Here" but moves in a different direction:<br />
"I stepped out the front door into winter and the world outside<br />
I stepped out the door to New York City<br />
My hair was barely dry<br />
I could not remember where I was going<br />
So I went back inside"<br />
<br />
The song is like a narrative, with the writer expressing insights into thoughts and dreams and love and life: “Come on Adam, tell me what the hell is wrong with you<br />
Come on Adam, what the hell am I supposed to do?<br />
I could love you, I could leave you, but I can’t live with what you put me through”<br />
<br />
In some ways the song reminds me of the unreleased, holy grail of Crows songs, "August and Everything After." Autobiographical, honest, whole:<br />
"I cigarette the winter air<br />
and then I Fred Astaire my way down 7th Street<br />
Some chick yells 'Jesus loves you more than I know, but less than I need'<br />
I parade down the Bowery to the Battery<br />
and then I step off into the air<br />
Point my sunglasses east toward Jerusalem<br />
And then follow all the Pharaohs there..."<br />
<br />
But I think my favorite part of the whole song, the part that gives me all the feels:<br />
"I call the wind Maria because I do not know her face<br />
I call the endless sky Amelia<br />
Because she stays with me from place to place<br />
I call the sun my love Emmanuelle<br />
Because she cradled me in her embrace"<br />
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The damn song just gets better and better every time I listen to it. And those guitars. Holy cow.<br />
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The song that blew me away the most, the song that when I first listened to it left me breathless (literally, I had to remind myself to breathe, it hit me that hard,) the song that still after listening to it like three dozen times still gives me butterflies is "Possibility Days"<br />
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Why? It's amazing, first off. The words are ridiculously brilliant. The song is heartbreakingly beautiful. Adam's vocals are perfect, with a hint of yearning, a vulnerability, that makes them infectious. The lyrics tell of love, of love that just doesn't work, of love no one wants to admit isn't working, of love that falls apart. The personal aspect the story makes the song all that much better.<br />
<br />
"It was a cold 3am at JFK<br />
I guess you stayed because you wanted to stay<br />
We went from zero to everything all in a day<br />
And then Kennedy took you away...<br />
<br />
You know that the worst part of a good day<br />
is hearing yourself say goodbye to one more possibility day<br />
it goes on and on...<br />
<br />
And the worst part of a good day is knowing it's slipping away...<br />
<br />
We were waiting for winter this year<br />
But you came and it never appeared<br />
Me and you, we know too many reasons<br />
For people and seasons that pass like they weren't even here"<br />
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And on and on with word that mean so much. Word that stop my heart waiting for the next line. Words that I haven't been able to get out of my head since I first heard the song. Word to a melody that waltzes through my body with every beat. Words that with every note make me fall even more for this band.<br />
<br />
Every song on this record is brilliant. Every song is worth everything it offers. This record is a long awaited collection of the most brilliant songs the band has ever put together. The band is sounding tighter than ever, Duritz's writing is just as awesome as it's ever been, if not better and his vocals are sounding better than ever, refreshed, fresh, healthy. I listen to the record and am just so happy that I have this band in my life, that I can call Adam a friend.<br />
<br />
I highly recommend getting your hands on this record, getting your ears on this record (If you haven't already)<br />
<br />
If you want it, the track list:<br />
<br />
1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Palisades Park" <br />
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Earthquake Driver"<br />
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Dislocation"<br />
4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"God of Ocean Tides"<br />
5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Scarecrow"<br />
6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Elvis Went to Hollywood"<br />
7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Cover Up the Sun"<br />
8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"John Appleseed's Lament"<br />
9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Possibility Days" <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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<br />Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-71643251084165342222014-07-08T17:37:00.004-07:002014-07-11T20:46:36.913-07:00Single Review - Palisades Park - Counting Crows<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wrlvYILOuoa8rA0I190ZAt82Bawrbf3NMUyVQ0YcHSJAaUlxO3fGGNf0FwIhgcqh8mCD5ijyq623vL6GFNWM7kaRlSuQN-1XP9bMENh5-S3KZ1NzNjV5RyX8KRGwGkLAgNdiXCNHSQRb/s1600/CountingCrowsSomewhereUnderWonderland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wrlvYILOuoa8rA0I190ZAt82Bawrbf3NMUyVQ0YcHSJAaUlxO3fGGNf0FwIhgcqh8mCD5ijyq623vL6GFNWM7kaRlSuQN-1XP9bMENh5-S3KZ1NzNjV5RyX8KRGwGkLAgNdiXCNHSQRb/s1600/CountingCrowsSomewhereUnderWonderland.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><b><br /></b>
<b>Counting Crows</b> have a new single out. It's called <i>Palisades Park</i>. It's the first track off their upcoming, 7th studio release (out September 2, 2014) titled "Somewhere Under Wonderland"<br />
<br />
Within one listen there's one thing I know for sure: Counting Crows are <i style="font-weight: bold;">back.</i> Now, I'm not saying that they ever really left, but this single is reminiscent of classic Crows. "Somewhere Under Wonderland" is the bands first record of original music since 2008's "Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings" and as a Counting Crows fan, I can tell you that this is a welcome, long awaited addition to their catalog. While 2012's "<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2012/06/album-review-underwater-sunshine-or.html" target="_blank">Underwater Sunshine</a>" was a brilliant album, it was a covers album, and well, I know the world is ready for some Duritz originals.<br />
<br />
And we get one. <i>Palisades Park</i> is a story. It's an epic. It's a feel good call back to the likes of <i>Mrs. Potter's Lullaby</i><i>.</i> It's the prefect summer song. It's flows flawlessly from the distant sounding trumpet solo to Adam Duritz's vocals; fresh, refreshed, and slightly jazzy. I think the lyrics to the song might be the origin to the "come outside, come out your window...." lyric inserts Duritz has been adding to live versions of <i>Round Here </i>over the last couple years. Or maybe I'm wrong, who knows. But seriously though, the lyrics are <i><b>good</b></i>. And then there's the hook right before the chorus. Good gourd, the hook. But my favorite line, well, lines, the few lines out of the whole 8 minute song, that speak to me the most, right now anyway are:<br />
<br />
"Andy said, "Man, I need a break from the world outside"<br />
And these days my life just careens through a pinball machine<br />
I could do so much better but I can't get off the tilt"<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The last couple years my life has felt <i>just like that. </i></div>
<br />
The song builds as it goes, grows, grabs your attention every step of the way. The band, Dan Vickrey, David Immergluck, Dave Bryson, Millard Powers, Charlie Gillingham, and Jim Bogios, backing with the talent we've come to expect from them, but always proves to exceed expectations.<br />
<br />
<i>Palisades Park</i> is an instant classic, though that phrase has never really made sense to me. It's got to be one of the best Counting Crows tracks I've heard in a while (and I love all of them, so that's saying something.) If the first track is this good, I can't even imagine how ridiculously good the rest of the album is going to be.<br />
Pre-order "Somewhere Under Wonderland" via<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/somewhere-under-wonderland/id893471954" target="_blank"> iTunes</a>, or to <a href="http://www.myplaydirect.com/counting-crows" target="_blank">pre-order vinyl packages, go here</a>.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-47934657672120585252014-07-04T15:24:00.002-07:002014-07-07T17:16:54.073-07:00Album Review - Phox - Phox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Breezy, whimsical, melodically magical. These are the words that come to mind when listening to Baraboo, Wisconsin's <b>Phox.</b><br />
<br />
With their self titled debut record hitting stores June 24th, the indie music world had no idea what they are about to hear. The record is flawless. Lead singer Monica Martin's voice is one of the best I've heard in a <br />
long time; the airiness of her vocals, the lyrics seem to float on the melodies. The songs seem effortless. The backing band never failing to perfectly match the feelings the lyrics bring.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhjKgucGZO0Jv15qWpWWOkHJdHu906uwmEvSmuNXJygaXtKhl7-go_nLpdUxyYvWeUXOm40gQRlYdXYjkUQtUs3YdRh7IZ2i1V3n-vv3znlBNzXozXpqVvNpdy36RuyctFLSHCG_XqXbL/s1600/PHOX-self_titled-1500x1500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhjKgucGZO0Jv15qWpWWOkHJdHu906uwmEvSmuNXJygaXtKhl7-go_nLpdUxyYvWeUXOm40gQRlYdXYjkUQtUs3YdRh7IZ2i1V3n-vv3znlBNzXozXpqVvNpdy36RuyctFLSHCG_XqXbL/s1600/PHOX-self_titled-1500x1500.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>The album as a whole is a refreshing listen. I don't even know how to being to describe the sound. Take a little 1960s girl group, add a bit of pop, a bit of folk, a bit of magic, a clarinet solo, and I guess there you have it. That is Phox.<br />
<br />
Of the twelve tracks on the album, <i>Slow Motion, 1936 </i>(which for some reason reminds me of my grandmother,) <i>Noble Heart</i> and <i>Kingfisher</i> are my favorite songs. But really, they are all my favorite.<br />
<br />
This album is an essential for listening on warm, breezy summer afternoons, moonlit summer nights, and all times in between. I'm sure It's even great in Spring, Fall and Winter.<br />
<br />
The band is currently on tour. Check out the schedule here: <a href="http://phoxband.com/" target="_blank">http://phoxband.com/</a><br />
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Get the record at iTunes, Amazon or at your local Barnes & Noble, or at the website above.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-69235509784431920472014-05-27T18:46:00.001-07:002014-05-28T13:55:11.210-07:00A Lesson in Song: Counting Crows Deep Cuts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My favorite band, Counting Crows, are going on tour this summer. Not that it's a rare thing, they go on tour nearly every summer. Which is fantastic; they are an AMAZING live band.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
There are different kinds of people who go to these concerts. You have the super die-hard fans who follow the band around, you have the fans who see the band when ever they come to their town, and then you have the casual fans, the people who have one or two of the band's albums, or who liked the band "back in the day" and saw that they were playing a local show, and well, they have nothing going on that night, so sure, they'll go. I'll admit that the first time I saw Counting Crows back in 2009, I was a casual fan, but now I'm one of those die-hard fans.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
The funniest thing to me about the casual fan is that they get really, really excited when the "radio hits" get played, or on the other hand, get pissy when they don't. But Counting Crows is far more than the radio hits. In fact, some of their best work hasn't ever made it to the radio. So, for the casual fan, I've put together, in my opinion, and also taking suggestions from friends, a list of essential Counting Crows' Deep Cuts, or songs you should know before seeing the band this summer. Now, there's no guarantee that they will play these songs, but at least you'll be prepared if they do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
1. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Cowboys</i> - <b>Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's a very, very slim chance of the band playing this song. But that doesn't mean it's not one to know. The guitars are amazing, Adam's vocals incredible, and the song as a whole is just incendiary. The lyrics are some of my favorite ever, the story they tell, well, just check it out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2.
<b><i>Up All Night (Frankie Miller Goes To Hollywood)</i></b> - <b>Hard Candy</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hard
Candy is a hell of a record. There are so many amazing songs on that album, a
few of them will show up here, Up All Night is just the first. From the simple
piano intro to all the fantastic guitar work, to Adam's </span>brilliant<span style="font-size: small;"> vocals, this
song is all around great. It's one of my favorites to sing in the car, and
though the band plays it frequently at live shows, I have yet to experience it.
Maybe this year?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
3.
<b><i>Anna Begins/Margery Dreams of Horses/Another Horsedeamer's Blues</i></b> - <b>August &
Everything After/Bootleg/Recovering the Satellites</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've
read that the trilogy of Anna/Margery/Horsedreamer was both intentional and
unknown/unintentional. Does it really matter? Probably not. All I know is that
these are three great songs, and being that they all weave together is great. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>4. <b><i>Baby
I'm a Big Star Now</i></b> - <b>The Rounders Movie Soundtrack</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now
we're getting into the real deep stuff. You won't find this song on any Crows
albums, it's not even on<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the Rounders soundtrack on iTunes, if you want
it you'll have to do some digging, but it's totally worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5. <b><i>Chelsea </i>- Across A Wire: Live in New York City</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To call this a Counting Crows song may be slightly incorrect, it's really just Adam Duritz, a piano and a horn section. But that doesn't make it any less special. Listening to this song makes you dream of NYC, makes you visualize every word. But again, don't expect to see this one live, unless you've brought along your own horn section.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6. <b><i>Kid Things – </i>This Desert Life</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When you make it to the end of </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">St. Robinson</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> on This Desert Life, you’re
treated with the hidden track </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kid Things</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.
This jaunty little tune is complete with jangley guitars and great pop-rock
vocals. The Crows will sometimes play this one live, </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sometimes. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7. <b><i> Good
Time </i>- Hard Candy<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another awesome song from <i>Hard Candy</i>, <b>Good Time</b> showcases one of my favorite things about the band: the
guitar players. Not only is the acoustic guitar great, and there’s the added
bonus of the banjo, but the main attraction for me is that sultry, slide-y
guitar from David Immerglück. And there’s that last “would you please invite me
in?” that just kills me every time.</span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8. <b><i>On a Tuesday in Amsterdam Long Ago </i>–
Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;">This song is heartbreakingly beautiful.
It’s just Adam Duritz singing, backed simply by Charlie Gillingham on the
piano. From the “Sunday Mornings” side of the record, the songs lonely,
yearning feeling fits so well with the theme of the record as a whole. The </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;">
“come back to me” lines just gut you. It </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">doesn't</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;"> get much better than that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9. <b><i> August and Everything After </i>– Bootleg<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the quintessential Counting Crows
deep cut, the ultimate bootleg, the holy grail of Counting Crows songs; the
title track of their first record that never made it on the record, or any
record for that matter. There are a few versions of this song floating around
the interwebs. In my opinion, it is lyrically the best thing Adam Duritz has
ever written. I even found my favorite version for you. Enjoy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10. <b><i>Underwater Sunshine (or What We
Did on Our Summer Vacation)<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes. The whole damn album. I’m always
surprised how many “fans” don’t know about this record. Or they heard about it,
but as it is a covers album, didn’t pay much attention to it. It’s their loss,
the record is fantastic. Yes, it’s all covers, but the band takes all the songs
and makes them their own. Most of the songs unfamiliar songs, so you’d never
know they were covers if you didn’t know they were covers. <b><i>Like Teenage Gravity</i></b>, <b><i>Start
Again</i></b>, <b><i>Four White Stallions</i></b>, and <b><i>Borderline </i></b>(iTunes bonus track) are
my favorite tracks, but the whole record is golden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/countingcrows/sets/counting-crows-underwater-2" target="_blank">Do yourself a favor, stream it here</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-67915669713917563052014-04-21T16:51:00.000-07:002014-05-24T08:44:45.931-07:00Album Review - The Take Off and Landing of Everything - ElbowMy first experience with<b> Elbow</b> wasn't even with Elbow, it was Counting Crows. They weaved Elbow's <i>Lippy Kids</i> into their own <i>Rain King </i>during a live show. The track was then released on <a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/04/album-review-echoes-of-outlaw-roadshow.html" target="_blank">Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow</a>. From this brief interlude of music I was drawn to Elbow, and proceeded to get their 2011 release, <i>Build a Rocket Boys!, </i>from whence <i>Lippy Kids</i> came. That record left be breathless. It in some very small, but meaningful ways, changed my life. It remains one of the most beautiful records I have ever heard. Along their 2012 release <i>Dead in the Boot</i>, Elbow has become a band I listen to daily, sometimes solely for days on end. So, needless to say, when Elbow announced they were making another record, I couldn't wait for the release day. I waited patiently for several months for the March 3rd (digital) release. I didn't immediately download it when the day came around, as I was in Austin for SXSW, and knew I'd be getting new music there, and thus and wanted to wait until I got home to fully immerse myself in the new Elbow. However, this didn't work. I couldn't wait anymore. I broke down and got the record on 3/10.<br />
<br />
Over a month later, this record is still hitting me in just the right places. It's one of those records that keeps you thinking, keeps the songs in your brain for long after they are over. These are songs that stay with you, and that's one of the best things a song can be. Aside from being on of my new favorite songwriters, there's just<i> something</i> about singer Guy Garvey's voice. I find it soothing, almost calming, yet bold and powerful at the same time. It may also have something to do with the fact that he's British (I have always had a very soft spot for the Brits.) I have found it tricky to precisely describe Elbow's sound to people who haven't heard of them, but Peter Gabriel and Coldplay have come to mind, while some songs are almost Smiths like, in the best way possible.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DUsKeL6fL_xdZGW1qQCH1jmjzZF2vxH8_oAsIeMjsilTxVaAbYyuog7aM-AhUTXxwHLFtR6l_Y509myu5H11x2tsO1dIZugbRNeSHTOFGigqfi-5wO7c-GlrqGVy22ke6veZ4JVhfDHG/s1600/Elbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DUsKeL6fL_xdZGW1qQCH1jmjzZF2vxH8_oAsIeMjsilTxVaAbYyuog7aM-AhUTXxwHLFtR6l_Y509myu5H11x2tsO1dIZugbRNeSHTOFGigqfi-5wO7c-GlrqGVy22ke6veZ4JVhfDHG/s1600/Elbow.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><i>The Take Off and Landing of Everything</i> is the band's sixth studio album, and much like <i>Build a Rocket Boys! </i>before it, is packed with ten of the most listenable, mood-changeable, uplifting, depressingly wonderful songs one could ever hope for. The melodies and harmonies are some of the best I've heard in a long time. This is a record that almost requires being listened to with headphones, very loudly, as to block out any outside distraction, in a quiet room, just to take in all it has to offer, all the emotion that these songs will put you through. For me, listening to this record, even now, over a month later, is still a welcome musical journey into my soul.<br />
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The album takes you from the soft, welcoming melodies of "This Blue World" to the more guitar laden, jaunty "Fly Boy Blue/Lunette" and "Charge", to the superb vocal back and forth of "My Sad Captains" kind of gives you the feeling of rocking back and forth, like on a boat. The title track, "The Take Off and Landing of Everything" samples music from "With Love" from <i>Build a Rocket Boys!</i> while keeping the integrity of the new album. The song has a catchy rhythm and feel to it, but you can feel the deeper meaning of its words the more you listen to it. "Colour Fields" has a sort of 80s synth pop feel to it, bringing in hints of the band's Peter Gabriel influence.<br />
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I think though, for all the brilliant words, notes, sounds, feels on this record my favorite track is "New York Morning". "New York Morning" is the first song I heard off the record, a few weeks before it's release, it's the song that told me that Elbow had done it again. I can, and have, listen to this song over and over without thought of anything else. The aural masterpiece worms into every sense you have. You can almost <i>see </i>the song as it plays in your ears, smell the streets of New York, feel the crisp autumn New York air on your skin. Just hit repeat and experience the song over and over; turn it up, close your eyes, become the song:<br />
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The First to put a simple truth in words<br />
Binds the world in a feeling all familiar<br />
'Cause everybody owns the great ideas<br />
And it feels like there's a big one 'round the corner<br />
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Antenna up and out into New York<br />
Somewhere in all that talk is all the answers<br />
And oh my giddy aunt New York can talk<br />
It's the modern Rome and folk are nice to Yoko<br />
<br />
Every bone of rivet steel<br />
Each corner stone and angle<br />
Jenga jut and rusted water tower<br />
Pillar, post and sign<br />
Every painted line and battered ladder building in this town<br />
Sings a life of proud endeavour and the best that man can be<br />
Me I see a city and I hear a million voices<br />
Planning, drilling, welding, carrying their fingers to the nub<br />
Reaching down into the ground<br />
Stretching up into the sky<br />
Why?<br />
Because they can<br />
They did and do<br />
So you and I could live together<br />
<br />
Oh my God New York can talk<br />
Somewhere in all that talk is all the answers<br />
Everybody owns the great ideas<br />
And it feels like there's a big one round the corner<br />
<br />
The desire in the patchworks symphony<br />
the desire like a distant storm<br />
For love<br />
Did it come from me<br />
'Cause it feels like there's a big on round the corner<br />
<br />
The way the day begins<br />
Decides the shade of everything<br />
But the way it ends depends on if you're home<br />
For every soul a pillow and a window please<br />
In the modern Rome where folk are nice to Yoko<br />
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There are bands who I have discovered accidentally who quickly become a big part of my music life. Though their discovery may not have been completely accidental, Elbow is one of these bands. I'm excited to see them live in May in Portland, Oregon, and excited to see what they have in store for the future.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-69810654569638088672014-04-06T14:05:00.000-07:002014-04-06T14:07:35.089-07:00Remembering Dave Lamb (Brown Bird)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxrMMDfn68RN6r5bLdvtvZ1bOc8Br-2CyCaNkQ28QVGg2mq97g5avkme4520EebVRvacJXJYpCttVD05No2RTooqxeC-cxQ-wH5b0El_4aTIezQMeoG9AcNfRrmCJH4kekCujI40l-XgU/s1600/DSCN0859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxrMMDfn68RN6r5bLdvtvZ1bOc8Br-2CyCaNkQ28QVGg2mq97g5avkme4520EebVRvacJXJYpCttVD05No2RTooqxeC-cxQ-wH5b0El_4aTIezQMeoG9AcNfRrmCJH4kekCujI40l-XgU/s1600/DSCN0859.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>It's not that I really <i>knew</i> Dave Lamb of <a href="http://brownbird.net/" target="_blank">Brown Bird</a>. I'd only meet him and MorganEve Swain twice at shows in Seattle and <a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2012/05/are-you-ready-to-folk-rock-brown-bird.html" target="_blank">Spokane</a>. But they were the first band I met from all the bands I got into after discovering the Outlaw Roadshow, and they were the first band I wrote about for the blog. Dave was always super nice each time I met them, even giving me a shout out from the stage the time I saw them in Seattle (I had driven out from Spokane for the show.) Though they technically weren't friends, I still referred to them as such, and it's hard when bad things happen to good friends.<br />
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Just under a year ago, Dave Lamb was diagnosed with Leukemia. He fought the hard fight, but on April 5, 2014 he lost the battle. For as sad as this made me, I can't even imagine what his family is going through right now. Sure, they knew going in that this may happen, but no one is ever really prepared for someone so young passing away. Dave Lamb is the only person I've ever known in my age bracket to die. It's kinda weird for me to think about.<br />
<br />
Dave was an amazing person, musician and songwriter. His brand of Americana Folk was a refreshing thing to discover. I instantly fell for Brown Bird's music after I heard their song "Fingers to the Bone," from 2011's <i>Salt for Salt. </i>For being a two-piece band, they have the sound, heart and soul of a "full" band. <i>Salt for Salt</i> is now one of my favorite records, and their follow-up record, <i><a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/04/album-review-fits-of-reason-brown-bird.html" target="_blank">Fits of Reason</a> </i>is amazing as well, showing the duo's musical evolution. I can't say enough about how much I love the music, and even though I really didn't know Dave, how much I will miss him and the music.<br />
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There's a track on <i>Salt for Salt </i>called "Bilgewater," which is one of my favorite songs. There's one bit of the song, a couple lines, that have meant so much to me, and helped get me through some stuff, and I'm grateful to have it in my life:<br />
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"when everyday’s like a war between the will to go on</div>
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and a wish that the world would spiral into the sun</div>
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turn your head toward the storm that’s surely coming along"</div>
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But there is one line from that song that I've sort of adopted as a personal mantra of sorts, one line that now that I have it, I don't think I can give it up:</div>
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"have the strength to know you’re wrong</div>
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and when you’re right the strength to stand your ground"</div>
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Thank you Dave Lamb for all the music. You will be missed.</div>
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Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-54665566295506219652014-03-05T15:18:00.001-08:002014-03-05T15:18:42.274-08:00Album Review - The Wait - Runaway Dorothy<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboy0H3Cy1T9KQQsCdCyfq5du0Ok_IknE4XVyUNrQKZ7zvwo4a1MYwLi9mSxXLIjpxUYxpj_QgzpmzQ_6oCxr1oAl7W8UyH_WoAUSrduK7ylGEgrbxfg2H693yaq9o4qUT46thpv6XSMJR/s1600/runaway-dorothy-the-wait-review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboy0H3Cy1T9KQQsCdCyfq5du0Ok_IknE4XVyUNrQKZ7zvwo4a1MYwLi9mSxXLIjpxUYxpj_QgzpmzQ_6oCxr1oAl7W8UyH_WoAUSrduK7ylGEgrbxfg2H693yaq9o4qUT46thpv6XSMJR/s1600/runaway-dorothy-the-wait-review.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art by Frank Germano (http://www.mofdesign.com/)</td></tr>
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I hate most modern country music. I've hated it since about 1998. But there are a small handful of modern country bands I love. <b>Runaway Dorothy </b>is one of them. I first heard Runaway Dorothy's song <i>Hard Way Home</i> in early 2012, after downloading it from a selection of songs from bands playing that March's Outlaw Roadshow during SXSW in Austin, Texas. Very shortly after hearing that one song, I got their first record, <i><a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2012/05/here-be-audio-httpwww.html" target="_blank">The Arc</a></i>, and it has been an almost constant companion over the last two years. Over those two years I've had the opportunity to see Runaway Dorothy play live twice, both times at the Outlaw Roadshow in NYC during CMJ, both times been completely blown away by their stage presence and all their heart. I am honored to be able to call singer/songwriter Dave Parnell a friend, and hope that I do the record justice talking about it.<br />
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Still riding the wave of <i>The Arc, </i>Runaway Dorothy released their highly anticipated second album, <i>The Wait,</i> on February 25, 2014. <br />
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<i>The Wait</i> is a prefect blend of alt-country beats, lyrics and vocals that will being out all the feels, and all around fantastic music, with undeniable heart and soul, that keeps you yearning for more. Dave Parnell is backed up on the record by Brett Parnell, Sammy Gallo, Evan Mitchell, Price Stephens and Stephen Price.<br />
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The simple acoustic guitar intro of the first song, <i>Sing With Me</i>, will pull you in to the whole record. The song has a twinge of gospel-country to it, as do a couple other songs on the record, but it's not overly so. The harmonies and melodies of the song get you past that, if that's not your sort of thing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g-3SmDAtz7Ak3kgHNcnirirhwtSfb5V_YyB-jVwzPvtQXv3Jk6xyiH4LDWUn-j1pWsaMTcwaOJk8J-BUVhzg39nd0lsFbwGHbpqUqAMehGcjyD4tJU5fV_v_7BPh7qCvUYoXFEKOHT9m/s1600/runawaydorothy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g-3SmDAtz7Ak3kgHNcnirirhwtSfb5V_YyB-jVwzPvtQXv3Jk6xyiH4LDWUn-j1pWsaMTcwaOJk8J-BUVhzg39nd0lsFbwGHbpqUqAMehGcjyD4tJU5fV_v_7BPh7qCvUYoXFEKOHT9m/s1600/runawaydorothy.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>The second track, <i>Let the Right One In,</i> is sort of an anti love song, or at least a cautionary one. Around all the guitars and upbeat air of the song, you'd never realise it, until, of course, you listen to the lyrics:<br />
"I won't fall, I won't brave it, just enough to loose my head, to tell the truth, well I'm worse now then before...<br />
Won't you please, won't you please, won't you please, don't fall in love with me"<br />
<i>Let the Right One In</i> is easily one of my favorite tracks on the record. Not to say that all the tracks aren't good, they all are, but this is one of my favorites. My other favorite is <i>Hurry. </i>I'd go on a limb to say that <i>Hurry</i> completely sums up the feel of the whole record, or really of Runaway Dorothy in general. You hear the song and it sticks to you; it becomes part of you. The beat, the banjo, the vocals, the drive, it's all there, and it <i>will </i>get you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs3WFAaDColzLu-rhZ11yE9VphITKu7nFW_8EYZ76DQKRc0C29YNaWLVqY2QGuNq_WQmrm8x1jDxvtyFMKi5wku5U0yLNB9_Wc8cyDYBBDPpN00ma1804ZATpqBEVTiNIDQS4lS_J6Ikr/s1600/IMG_20131019_131101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs3WFAaDColzLu-rhZ11yE9VphITKu7nFW_8EYZ76DQKRc0C29YNaWLVqY2QGuNq_WQmrm8x1jDxvtyFMKi5wku5U0yLNB9_Wc8cyDYBBDPpN00ma1804ZATpqBEVTiNIDQS4lS_J6Ikr/s1600/IMG_20131019_131101.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>There are a few ballad-y songs on the record, they are all great, and I'd love to talk about all of them, but I won't. So I'll just talk about my favorite one: <i>Background. </i>It's another one of those anti-love songs (I see a theme here...) but it's more than that. It's a song about breaking up with someone who really wasn't all that good for you in the first place, someone who being with just wasn't meant to be, but you'll always be in the back of each other's mind.<br />
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I think the wild card track on the record is <i>Ballad of a Dead Man</i>. It's a short story in a song, a haunting tale of a man who loses his family in a "botched robbery, now the thief he runs loose on a technicality" and decides to take matters into his own hands. The first time I listened to the song I was on my way home from work, and I was so into the song, into the words that Dave was singing, that I actually missed a turn and had to go the long way home. This is what Runaway Dorothy does. They pull you in, keep you in. There's just something about Dave Parnell's songs that keeps bringing me back. I'm not just plugging this record because these guys are friends, I'm plugging this record because I truly love the music. You can find <i>The Wait</i> on iTunes, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wait-Runaway-Dorothy/dp/B00HR6RF9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394061330&sr=8-1&keywords=runaway+dorothy" target="_blank">Amazon </a>or <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/the-wait-digipak-cd/24293025.p;jsessionid=458BFD23013F77ED1411803F80A8397B.bbolsp-app02-188?id=2988624&skuId=24293025&st=runaway%20dorothy&lp=1&cp=1" target="_blank">Bestbuy</a>.com, or if you're not sure yet, check out the (FREE!!) Runaway Dorothy mix tape over at <a href="http://noisetrade.com/runawaydorothy/the-arc" target="_blank">NoiseTrade</a>.<br />
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Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-31626788128832367582014-02-22T15:07:00.001-08:002014-02-22T15:07:17.083-08:00Show Review - The Head and The Heart - Seattle, WA 2/21/14They say there's nothing quite like playing to a home town crowd. Seattle's own <i>Homecoming Heroes,</i> <b>The Head and The Heart</b> proved that last night, playing to a sold out audience at the historic Paramount Theater. The indie folk-rock band had no trouble keeping the crowd enthralled in every moment of every song on their set list. Mixing together just the right amount of old and new material, The Head and The Heart captivated every head and every heart in the room that night, mine included.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKJ4tt_bGZ0Jz0VyDUOwXioUkdWmJIaisjCDHzcKAbvNWxqCMKh8fea9gWUNsQBduOP3fkS7dfJwJHPA-NCt0rmsgIDRGs9n-A0iJ_2xxUrAwlt4R58ciOyW0uO_kki31ceRnMEAnxroS/s1600/1622178_10203360212310102_1049392516_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKJ4tt_bGZ0Jz0VyDUOwXioUkdWmJIaisjCDHzcKAbvNWxqCMKh8fea9gWUNsQBduOP3fkS7dfJwJHPA-NCt0rmsgIDRGs9n-A0iJ_2xxUrAwlt4R58ciOyW0uO_kki31ceRnMEAnxroS/s1600/1622178_10203360212310102_1049392516_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>I became an instant fan of The Head and The Heart the moment I listened to the self-titled first record. Their second release, out Oct. 2013, <i>Let's Be Still </i>(<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/10/album-review-lets-be-still-head-heart.html" target="_blank">read my review here</a>,) kept me a fan. When I saw they were playing in Seattle on their current tour, I jumped at the chance to see them. And frankly, after the week I had leading up the night of the show, I needed this happy in my life.<br />
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The band opened with the lead off single from their new record, <i>Shake,</i> winding up an already electrified crowd. They played on, the hometown crowd soaking in every word, every harmony, every note, every drum beat. You could feel that the band was glad to be home. With their jovial banter, and song break chatting you could just tell they were having an amazing night. They were feeding off the love from the audience and weaving that into their performance; there's no disputing that Seattle fans are the best. <br />
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As our hearts swelled from the music, the critic in me was also very impressed by the pure musicianship from the members of the band. Everyone was in top form. The drummer, Tyler Williams, brought the room to a near stand still with his intensity on <i>Rivers and Roads </i>(which was really one of the greatest songs that night)<br />
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It's magical when a room full of near strangers, gathered together for the sake of music, all join in singing the same song. These are the experiences I live for, this is one of my favorite things about going to live shows. I think the best example of this all night was during <i>Rivers and Roads</i>. All around me I could hear voices singing along, voices throwing out all their cares in the world and focusing on that moment, coming together for the music.<br />
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The Set list:</div>
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Shake</div>
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Homecoming Heroes</div>
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Coeur d'Alene</div>
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Ghosts</div>
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Honey Come Home</div>
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Another Story</div>
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Cruel</div>
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Let's Be Still</div>
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Lost in my Mind</div>
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Winter Song</div>
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Heaven Go Easy On Me</div>
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10,000 Weight in Gold</div>
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Sounds Like Hallelujah</div>
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Gone</div>
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Rivers and Roads</div>
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(Unknown new song - Josiah acoustic)</div>
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Summertime</div>
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Down in the Valley</div>
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<br />Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-66732063567197748752014-02-08T15:52:00.001-08:002014-02-08T15:57:58.231-08:00Album Review - Augustines - Augustines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qFlRAgYzQmLvfStxh2ANX7qlyeRu7KUZmWXSbFx1DPqYQn-AlQWukZWdYe29-XQ1jV3ZMeWFl0rlOpclTcIuSKw4UTTWl1wBDSsOXTb691s0D_MGg19-8aydCW8eLyBbSqk6EWoPQzRl/s1600/augustines_promo2_albumreview-846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qFlRAgYzQmLvfStxh2ANX7qlyeRu7KUZmWXSbFx1DPqYQn-AlQWukZWdYe29-XQ1jV3ZMeWFl0rlOpclTcIuSKw4UTTWl1wBDSsOXTb691s0D_MGg19-8aydCW8eLyBbSqk6EWoPQzRl/s1600/augustines_promo2_albumreview-846.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>I hate genres. I hate putting bands into genres. Sometimes there isn't just one genre big enough to hold a band, or sometimes there just isn't a word to describe that band. <b>Augustines</b> is one of those bands. Sure, they're rock and roll, but these days that's such a broad term. They are just damn good, that's all there is to it. The Seattle via Brooklyn based trio, Billy McCarthy, Eric Sanderson and Rob Allen, (formerly <a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2012/07/im-takin-ya-hometurn-off-phone-well.html" target="_blank">We Are Augustines</a>) released their sophomore album on February 4, 2014. The self titled album is more than just their second album, it's a sort of come-back album, a reemergence album, a "hey, we're still here and we're not going anywhere" album.<br />
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A follow up to 2011's <i>Rise Ye Sunken Ships</i>, <i>Augustines </i>is chock full of emotion, feeling, heartbreaking stories, melodies, lyrics and life. At times it's almost overwhelming, but in the greatest way possible. When you're listening to these songs unfold, they just keep getting bigger and bigger, with several having an epic, anthem quality to them. Lead singer Billy McCarthy's vocals trap you in each and every song. His intensity is incredible. He brings all he has into these songs. This is an album that once you turn it on, once you get it started, you're not going to stop it, not going to turn off until its done, until the last note of the last song ends, just to see how it plays out, just to stay wrapped in the feeling.<br />
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The lead single, <i>Cruel City</i>, keys in to this feeling. The African beats keep the song in your head all day. It really is an all around perfect song. Perfect beat, perfect feel, perfect sound, perfect lyrics. <i>Weary Eyes</i> is probably my favorite song off the album. It has the feeling of an old 80's Peter Gabriel song. The perfection from <i>Cruel City</i> carries into <i>Weary Eyes.</i> OK, who am I kidding, this whole album is damn near perfect. All of the songs holding your heart, your attention (but my favorites are <i>Weary Eyes, Cruel City, Now You Are Free, </i>and <i>Hold on to Anything.</i>) They all have stadium rock qualities, a throwback to U2, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, but with the pure heart you only get from Augustines. This is another album where there aren't a few stand out tracks, every single track is is 10, but should be played cranked up to 11. Mosey on over to your trusty online music retailer and pick this album up.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-59648332590630632322014-02-07T16:56:00.001-08:002014-02-07T17:15:04.811-08:00What's in a name?For the last 21 months I've written this blog under the title "TopHats By Jennifer" and have done fairly well with it, however, it's time for a change. When I started the blog, the title was the hardest thing for me to come up with. TopHats by Jennifer has been an in-joke in the family for nearly 10 years, so that's what I went with, really more as a place holder than anything. Over the last couple months I've been thinking about that name, and that it really doesn't do the blog justice, so I'm changing it. It's by blog, so I can change it if I want.<br />
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The new name? <i>My Music Life.</i> It just feels right. Though it's always been in my life, over the last two years I've made music my life, it's kind of taken over, and I want the blog to reflect that.<br />
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I'm keeping the URL (tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com) the same (for now anyway, it might change when I run out of business cards) just coz it's easy to search for, and for old time's sake.<br />
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Thanks to everyone for reading, and all the support. Thanks for continuing to read. Thanks for making my music life so special (you know who you are.)<br />
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~ Feel the music, breathe it in, this is my life<br />
~JenniferJennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-8571137356948534962013-12-28T22:48:00.000-08:002013-12-28T22:57:38.237-08:00TopHats By Jennifer - Best of 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Best of 2013</span></div>
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
So here we go, my favorite records this year:<br />
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<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/04/album-review-fits-of-reason-brown-bird.html" target="_blank">Brown Bird -- Fits of Reason</a><br />
<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/01/ep-review-golden-bloom-no-day-like-today.html" target="_blank">Golden Bloom -- No Day Like Today</a><br />
<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/02/album-review-another-life-james-maddock.html" target="_blank">James Maddock -- Another Life</a><br />
Steven Roth -- Let it In<br />
<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/09/album-review-go-to-hell-star-anna.html" target="_blank">Star Anna -- Go to Hell</a><br />
<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/10/album-review-lets-be-still-head-heart.html" target="_blank">The Head and the Heart -- Let's Be Still</a><br />
<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/07/album-review-hexagon-filligar.html" target="_blank">Filligar -- Hexagon</a><br />
<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/12/album-review-what-is-home-to-you-oldjack_27.html" target="_blank">OldJack -- What is Home to You?</a><br />
Roem Baur -- Roem & The Revival<br />
Daniel and the Lion -- Final Night and Borrowed Air<br />
<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/04/album-review-echoes-of-outlaw-roadshow.html" target="_blank">Counting Crows -- Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow</a><br />
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There it is kids. Get these records. See you next year.Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-69274734168936983852013-12-27T17:18:00.000-08:002014-11-15T18:27:47.620-08:00Album Review - What is Home to You? - OldJack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes listening to a band's new record is like hearing them evolve right before your ears. Let me present to you <i>What is Home to You?</i> from Boston's <b>OldJack</b>. 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.<br />
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Though I've had the record for nearly a year, this weekend Oldjack is <b><i>finally</i></b> releasing <i>What is Home to You? </i>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.<br />
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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.<br />
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Compared to 2011's <i><a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2012/11/classic-soul-with-bostonian-twist.html" target="_blank">Gone Before You Know</a></i>, <i>What is Home to You?</i> 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 <a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/10/its-always-once-upon-time-in-new-york.html" target="_blank">Outlaw Roadshow in NYC</a> 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 <i>get it. What is Home to You? </i>is full of moments like that.<br />
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Kicking off the record is <i>Miles Away</i>, 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 <i>Oh Daddy</i>. 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.<br />
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Another song along these same lies is <i>Letter from the Frontline. </i>The "frontline" here could be war, but could also be what ever you want, whatever you need it to be.<i> </i>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.<br />
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<i>Lonely Alone </i>is my favorite song on the record, and really my favorite Oldjack song. I like to think of it as "my song." <i>Lonely Alone</i> 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 <i>it.</i>" The opening line is one of my favorites on the whole of the record:<br />
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"You're all alone<br />
in a place you know so well, you call home<br />
one that welcomes you back with open arms,<br />
a place called lonely alone"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw-6EpPX3CA4ioPwc5F7H-3QUUQ-gBR5kRhUP1NGfHlE3hIL11LbQE2ch-8t2roXe1m5j80C1zX3lubUol1mxWy14hjrROIVE7VOvZRKPkFOGM5TZfrzM5vjYnjOPJ6xHBYdPBqENPmkN/s1600/20141024_211859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw-6EpPX3CA4ioPwc5F7H-3QUUQ-gBR5kRhUP1NGfHlE3hIL11LbQE2ch-8t2roXe1m5j80C1zX3lubUol1mxWy14hjrROIVE7VOvZRKPkFOGM5TZfrzM5vjYnjOPJ6xHBYdPBqENPmkN/s1600/20141024_211859.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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.<br />
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<i>Easy to Love</i> has yet another one of my new favorite lyrics ever:<br />
"Guess I chased the rainbow down<br />
And my pot of gold is you"<br />
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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.<br />
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<i>What is Home to You? </i>and other Oldjack music can be found here:<br />
<a href="http://oldjack.bandcamp.com/">http://oldjack.bandcamp.com/</a><br />
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Until then, check out this video of OldJack performing <i>Whistle Blowin'</i> from their One on One Session from the Garden from the Outlaw Roadshow during CMJ 2014, and find the whole session <a href="http://youtu.be/RwLu7EhDrZs" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
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<br />Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-47706504506677464712013-11-17T17:13:00.000-08:002013-11-17T23:21:46.711-08:00Show Recap - Steven Roth at The Seamonster Lounge, Seattle 11/16/13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq42rcrjruqlUQEy_wJ1hEVD230MXbq56N0TjgHOdhcPg9pHFQQHX_X8FAw8_sOHr_O4JV3lHRYBTqSwsmY03_KuiGkMO7YqeHjCXSAJFsgGvoBhv8jrM0QWHHJYba02XNAACwdnzCGiyX/s1600/8840_480657728676374_1913932863_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq42rcrjruqlUQEy_wJ1hEVD230MXbq56N0TjgHOdhcPg9pHFQQHX_X8FAw8_sOHr_O4JV3lHRYBTqSwsmY03_KuiGkMO7YqeHjCXSAJFsgGvoBhv8jrM0QWHHJYba02XNAACwdnzCGiyX/s400/8840_480657728676374_1913932863_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last night's <b>Steven Roth</b> 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.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74GQUaD87jeJW_rLTKwyd2OIerG4dnhR7Isfeq7EDw7c7mAIEqRmtHUVkX4YuHsDftZ82NE-sybjvra2mXQ7ldskTtdkV84abZd3qwqtEiCsp8TnqcpP4mEzHDwhhjqoYatEqttsB9crV/s1600/CAM00106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74GQUaD87jeJW_rLTKwyd2OIerG4dnhR7Isfeq7EDw7c7mAIEqRmtHUVkX4YuHsDftZ82NE-sybjvra2mXQ7ldskTtdkV84abZd3qwqtEiCsp8TnqcpP4mEzHDwhhjqoYatEqttsB9crV/s320/CAM00106.jpg" width="320" /></a>Steven Roth and his band was one I saw in Austin back in March at <a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/04/music-mayhem-memories-sxsw-2013.html" target="_blank">The Outlaw Roadshow</a> during SXSW. When I got home from Texas, I downloaded Steven Roth's debut album, <i>Let it In</i>, 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 <i>Emma</i>. 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.<br />
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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 <i>Emma</i>, to which Roth responded with "You know our music?!" So that was cool. I wanted to also suggest <i>Dancin' in the Fire</i> but for some reason the name of the song totally escaped me at that moment, so, alas, I didn't.<br />
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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.<br />
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They kicked off the night with <i>Emma.</i> Not too far into the song the crowd knew the night would be jam packed with explosive rock and roll. They rolled on with <i>Make You Love Me, Hurricane, Goodbye to Summer, Funky Bitch </i>and <i>Allison </i>in their first set. Coming back ten minutes later, they continued with <i>Love Light, Cali Love </i>(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, <i>No Diggity,</i>and the <i>Bad Boys </i>theme from COPS)<i> </i>and <i>Get Back Jack.</i><br />
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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 <i>Sneakin Sally Through the Alley</i>, a song I hadn't heard before, but Roth and his band were a perfect fit for. They also covered the Rolling Stones' <i>Honky Tonk Woman; </i>amazing. Probably my favorite part of the whole show, well, two favorite parts of the whole show, was their covers of Paul Simon's <i>You Can Call Me Al </i>and <i>Me and Julio Down by the School Yard</i>. 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' <i>Burning Down the House</i>, and really they were. Not literally of course, that would have been bad. But seriously though, it was the best.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0KTmVpP33x9_mBYecxcveid60Ni-iOMoXJlOJ21XpHOYwSCa_6jPu2Zdakdq_vFs5cNma6_5lSDAR0DmtH3vUFbolHtBNjF1TbCyJhnhyALMY6twokkDugoSzCvQ7SvSgdJlrdAU13Nd/s1600/IMG_20131116_192548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0KTmVpP33x9_mBYecxcveid60Ni-iOMoXJlOJ21XpHOYwSCa_6jPu2Zdakdq_vFs5cNma6_5lSDAR0DmtH3vUFbolHtBNjF1TbCyJhnhyALMY6twokkDugoSzCvQ7SvSgdJlrdAU13Nd/s320/IMG_20131116_192548.jpg" width="320" /></a>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 <br />
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. Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-65284214234551392702013-10-30T22:55:00.001-07:002014-02-16T14:16:59.042-08:00It's Always Once Upon a Time in New York City - The Outlaw Roadshow Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvTOH2Uzgms7QzDNMd8kN8f8ddqEIHqZlnzefpTbucbPnExFNx-Wn05LwuvcyLBYpXWnrnGj-VyA-exSfVOR5qlY_Ah6WWQ_2JydN8sC716v6mTaYBKfinwfb2Ig-knlyrAakDpI_qTCq/s1600/outlawBannerBig2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvTOH2Uzgms7QzDNMd8kN8f8ddqEIHqZlnzefpTbucbPnExFNx-Wn05LwuvcyLBYpXWnrnGj-VyA-exSfVOR5qlY_Ah6WWQ_2JydN8sC716v6mTaYBKfinwfb2Ig-knlyrAakDpI_qTCq/s1600/outlawBannerBig2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwfGZUJn49RXLjvfz2XXl33QbxI8wDviKujMu6LB-olAoNX3gFtHtJJVAyCqX8ZPHO8zBOFI8oorJRPqMVwPJFpZp520epxNqLuY0f0shqKgNJ5LuBhlaI3PQNZlyBzKJlZ_ceQ8c6cjw/s1600/The+Outlaw+Roadshow+NYC+art+by+Man+On+Fire+design.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwfGZUJn49RXLjvfz2XXl33QbxI8wDviKujMu6LB-olAoNX3gFtHtJJVAyCqX8ZPHO8zBOFI8oorJRPqMVwPJFpZp520epxNqLuY0f0shqKgNJ5LuBhlaI3PQNZlyBzKJlZ_ceQ8c6cjw/s400/The+Outlaw+Roadshow+NYC+art+by+Man+On+Fire+design.jpg" height="400" width="273" /></a>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 <a href="http://www.theoutlawroadshow.com/" target="_blank">Outlaw Roadshow</a> at the Bowery Electric. It had been way too long since the last one, seven months ago<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/04/music-mayhem-memories-sxsw-2013.html" target="_blank"> during SXSW in Austin</a>, 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<a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-rock-roll-weekend-outlaw-roadshow-nyc.html" target="_blank"> New York showcase</a>. 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.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel and the Lion</td></tr>
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Kicking off the three day music showcase was a special VIP set from one of my favorite bands, <b>Daniel and the Lion</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">. </i>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 <i>Flash Flood</i>, which is the song that Adam Duritz shared all those months ago that got me hooked on Daniel and the Lion, and <i>Free Love</i>, 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.<br />
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The next band I saw was Chicago's <b>Fort Francis</b>. 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 <i>City By The Sea</i>, 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)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Bloom Outlaw sing-a-long</td></tr>
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Another favorite of mine, <b>Golden Bloom, </b>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<a href="http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/goldenbloomlp" target="_blank"> up-coming full length record</a>. One of the new songs that they debuted in their sets is <i>Circles Round My Mind</i>, a song which I am completely in love with. The second new song, <i>Searching for Sunlight</i>, 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.<br />
I caught a couple songs from <b>Doctor Gasp's</b> 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 <i><a href="https://doctorgasp.bandcamp.com/album/vampire-fish-for-two" target="_blank">Vampire Fish for Two</a>.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Gasp</td></tr>
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Later on that night I caught the set from Austin's <b>Nakia.</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>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, <i><a href="http://nakia.net/store/" target="_blank">Down in the Crimson Tide</a></i> and you'll see exactly what I mean. His song <i>Dream Big </i>is absolutely beautiful, and his cover of George Michael's <i>I Want Your Sex</i> was the best thing ever.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64ZECQfbNuzOJj4HmYopzOXSpFy_uEOZw4kwq-rs3xUKRmrNKrObim4VvHr_QZwjzg47lLwRDslnHwG8iNerPNHN_JKOQIMjL4g9K-_bKp3jli-pwk7Pne3EyNdTiAe4Yu9CJ13_C_b_m/s1600/IMG_20131017_225959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64ZECQfbNuzOJj4HmYopzOXSpFy_uEOZw4kwq-rs3xUKRmrNKrObim4VvHr_QZwjzg47lLwRDslnHwG8iNerPNHN_JKOQIMjL4g9K-_bKp3jli-pwk7Pne3EyNdTiAe4Yu9CJ13_C_b_m/s320/IMG_20131017_225959.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nakia</td></tr>
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After Nakia was a set from Philly's <b>Toy Soldiers. </b>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, <i><a href="http://music.ohnotoysoldiers.com/" target="_blank">The Maybe Boys</a>, </i>this band is one that I intend to keep an eye on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlLNROODrVt9KgmMBVuwtucnGbF9a8BLKlkVmB5IIvZuFOnizM6lorniNcZ50B5rRIdDLUMJJXAudLI1k4JBA9rzQYyjS5ZryorPHZ8f-icyIloH7Sc4itQsxaPjv0JlcS3DgXPv5mUEG/s1600/CAM00057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlLNROODrVt9KgmMBVuwtucnGbF9a8BLKlkVmB5IIvZuFOnizM6lorniNcZ50B5rRIdDLUMJJXAudLI1k4JBA9rzQYyjS5ZryorPHZ8f-icyIloH7Sc4itQsxaPjv0JlcS3DgXPv5mUEG/s320/CAM00057.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toy Soldiers</td></tr>
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Following Toy Soldiers came one of the greatest things about The Outlaw Roadshow: a special set from <b>Sonic Cow Grunt</b>. 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 <b>Counting Crows </b>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.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76a7V_9PDvlIlZNZKkknGsRmu44aeO-AmSlHzqq6gZeeVqDiXQ5-faHSAY0kDUP9kWpUSo4QMRzaTvaksk8f8w3Vle4mjIx5JP8bheBTA9d8xhHBFWgaK_UgbepLX9Qgq6qmQkClctjTi/s1600/IMG_20131018_033320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76a7V_9PDvlIlZNZKkknGsRmu44aeO-AmSlHzqq6gZeeVqDiXQ5-faHSAY0kDUP9kWpUSo4QMRzaTvaksk8f8w3Vle4mjIx5JP8bheBTA9d8xhHBFWgaK_UgbepLX9Qgq6qmQkClctjTi/s200/IMG_20131018_033320.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>The set not only included classic Crow's favorites, such as <i>Goodnight Elizabeth, A Long December, </i><i>Hospital,</i><i> Richard Manuel is Dead, Friend of the Devil </i>and <i>Blues Run the Game, </i>but also three NEW, yes kids, new Counting Crows songs, <i>Scarecrow, God of Ocean Times </i>and <i>Cover up the Sun. </i>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 <i>Rain King.</i> 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 <i>Oh Susanna</i>. Having the whole room singing along, not only to <i>Rain King</i>, but then also to <i>Oh Susanna</i> 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.<br />
(<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUl3whoGjec&feature=share&list=UUWyTlakOJ2tUZRfVNrlAa2A" target="_blank">watch the video here. Do it. I'll wait. It's worth it, I promise</a>:)<br />
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**Keep scrolling, there's more after the giant pictures**<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam & Dan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z32j0Ny2zeQRoJFTxBQbAsc_Dwu9NQ8_O_WBIN6SgbAiibJlDODvaG-WONCSMzY1X2rsthjGw2rJi-LY0_FJyAiwnAVL9VOMMFnZV-ymdy6xT1mUypIo61kwN01K3zNhBfKbxftN_U4v/s1600/CAM00074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z32j0Ny2zeQRoJFTxBQbAsc_Dwu9NQ8_O_WBIN6SgbAiibJlDODvaG-WONCSMzY1X2rsthjGw2rJi-LY0_FJyAiwnAVL9VOMMFnZV-ymdy6xT1mUypIo61kwN01K3zNhBfKbxftN_U4v/s640/CAM00074.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immy & Charlie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbJ2vAV2W0HNA7RcE0IeRSs2mPHfro4VtgGiC98CVe4M5svNCCf0hEQyXe6fH39B5dymJk0YtFUR0hBpobhoWSndcC0UxSbmomxWVcGxpJsgVwxw4G7csSkZ7na8LFX2KsPK0_pvzHvN2/s1600/CAM00085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbJ2vAV2W0HNA7RcE0IeRSs2mPHfro4VtgGiC98CVe4M5svNCCf0hEQyXe6fH39B5dymJk0YtFUR0hBpobhoWSndcC0UxSbmomxWVcGxpJsgVwxw4G7csSkZ7na8LFX2KsPK0_pvzHvN2/s640/CAM00085.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shawn Fogel, Matt Sucich, Immy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1CqEO3Mpwq_kgN_Oz72526cnZOoznBapo3c48FHR3VYq-7xxkoXyLrOpMC5L2k5Kr37V4xE-SM4Sqal7zuEgmCpsYvM6ZsR6tMEQJF5P35lwyun9VfXpyyiOTQ7oFfibac_jhSYbrIhf/s1600/CAM00086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1CqEO3Mpwq_kgN_Oz72526cnZOoznBapo3c48FHR3VYq-7xxkoXyLrOpMC5L2k5Kr37V4xE-SM4Sqal7zuEgmCpsYvM6ZsR6tMEQJF5P35lwyun9VfXpyyiOTQ7oFfibac_jhSYbrIhf/s640/CAM00086.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel Pingrey, Dan, Jimmie Linville, Adam, Dan McMahon, Nakia</td></tr>
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Day 2 of the Roadshow was kicked off by <b>Coyote Kolb</b><b style="font-style: italic;">. </b>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: <b>Tallahassee</b>. 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 <i>Minor Blues III</i>, 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 <i>Minor Blues III</i> 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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUY_mI02zVgconUz9jV4m7PRKOR1bD0FhFppWNElKQtjBp4bsMI1XY-HbuE9moOlmYAehcle06k2aZwuVDI6djMTNDqJKVRD1B5LbJ63dWbEOBiLnI6xlSfu9beuQIywn49f44FKThphs/s1600/CAM00091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUY_mI02zVgconUz9jV4m7PRKOR1bD0FhFppWNElKQtjBp4bsMI1XY-HbuE9moOlmYAehcle06k2aZwuVDI6djMTNDqJKVRD1B5LbJ63dWbEOBiLnI6xlSfu9beuQIywn49f44FKThphs/s320/CAM00091.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mean Creek</td></tr>
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Next up was <b>Archie Powell & the Exports</b>, 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. <b>Mean Creek</b>, 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, <i><a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2012/12/knock-knock-whos-there-rock-roll-mean.html" target="_blank">Youth Companion</a></i> 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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvpdvcBZp1VrK1tPAcX5YIdRLPL2qllFSt9LMtOgzxEdteb6QFa4be_CDsRFggtUmfaZUyuA0ByXm97qTy2tLJh9eWFlV2zigOBfRmQZ8V43KPfSFBlCGJPVtgFKOJ8vq_Fme2StKj5E2/s1600/IMG_20131018_222512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvpdvcBZp1VrK1tPAcX5YIdRLPL2qllFSt9LMtOgzxEdteb6QFa4be_CDsRFggtUmfaZUyuA0ByXm97qTy2tLJh9eWFlV2zigOBfRmQZ8V43KPfSFBlCGJPVtgFKOJ8vq_Fme2StKj5E2/s320/IMG_20131018_222512.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">K Phillips</td></tr>
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One of my favorite groups was up next. <b>K Phillips & The Concho Pearls</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">. </i>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, (<i>Does it Hold Water)</i> to probably the best song about sex in the history of songs about sex <i>(The Rambler)</i> K will keep you singing along till the end.<br />
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The last band on day 2 was <b>Jessie Malin, </b>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.<br />
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The third and final day of the Outlaw Roadshow NYC was opened by <b>Eddie Japan</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">. </i>I'm not exactly sure what genre to put Eddie Japan into. They are rock and roll for sure, <a href="http://www.rslblog.com/2012/10/eddie-japan-makes-cinematic-music.html" target="_blank">Ryan Spaulding calls them "cinematic rock"</a>. Listening to them play you definitely feel like you're listening to a movie soundtrack, like an old west movie, or <i>Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas</i>, 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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5CbFIu39T2W0V0lPBaCvLkvoLPloH6RE0v0rJHS-KvvLQCpM5oAFQEhUipADcL56IeJLf6FwQt6_6KLUkaw8bkyCaCJZkndPTg2xBOWJZLoeG1uovaTUL6aob2INsM_KXy3ggqV5QTE-/s1600/IMG_20131019_131101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5CbFIu39T2W0V0lPBaCvLkvoLPloH6RE0v0rJHS-KvvLQCpM5oAFQEhUipADcL56IeJLf6FwQt6_6KLUkaw8bkyCaCJZkndPTg2xBOWJZLoeG1uovaTUL6aob2INsM_KXy3ggqV5QTE-/s320/IMG_20131019_131101.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Runaway Dorothy</td></tr>
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Another favorite band of mine played next on the main stage downstairs: <b>Runaway Dorothy</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">. </i>The alt-country ensemble from Brooklyn played an exceptional set, with songs from their first record <i>The Arc</i> and also songs from their upcoming release, <i>The Wait</i>. 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 <i>Abilene </i>and <i>Hard Way Home</i> got the room excited, and new songs such as <i>Hurry </i>and <i>Victory</i> kept them there. The band's cover of <i>This Train is Bound for Glory</i> 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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvryhsdC2iBJDyXxNCSKmC7lMzZGhRNDiYHWqBqJUTXTuKUp5vBiVWJP-qIeUiykF7cVmydWeN_8Xcq_ESVmHyvB5ersi_eQ9atu_MdaS_QrlCjugvHqxt_L0-uRW5cBkjUYBD3KKwNt2P/s1600/IMG_20131019_135636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvryhsdC2iBJDyXxNCSKmC7lMzZGhRNDiYHWqBqJUTXTuKUp5vBiVWJP-qIeUiykF7cVmydWeN_8Xcq_ESVmHyvB5ersi_eQ9atu_MdaS_QrlCjugvHqxt_L0-uRW5cBkjUYBD3KKwNt2P/s320/IMG_20131019_135636.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boom Forest</td></tr>
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Back upstairs I caught most of <b>Boom Forest's</b> set. John Paul Roney, accompanied by members of Foreign <br />
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.<br />
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After Boom Forest was the second set of the week from <b>Golden Bloom</b>. 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.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oldboy</td></tr>
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I stayed upstairs for the next couple sets. The next band was <b>OldBoy</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">. </i>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 <i>Run</i> nearly brought me to tears. There was just something about the lyrics that hit me. Go listen to the song<a href="https://soundcloud.com/available-on-itunes/run-feat-jenna-fournier" target="_blank"> here</a>, and buy the record on iTunes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan Nicklin of OldJack</td></tr>
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After Oldboy we continued the theme and saw a stripped down set from Outlaw Roadshow favorite, <b>OldJack</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">. </i>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 EP<i>Gone Before You Know,</i> and from their <i>White Label Single Series,</i> 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.<br />
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Downstairs <b>The Field Effect </b>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.<br />
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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 <b>Little Brave </b>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.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wwRPRKPsu9Fu7gr8KW_fQXSBZHfQnlgB5GCtCIwZoAJabicmkUbGQac931FnKrTR89AF1F1nYFFT0kzDmeWONuILh8UMPZAGJfzCRWksY4UWtU5Ylq_LU6b6jBhy6OOvl16c5J69kCvZ/s1600/IMG_20131017_192724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wwRPRKPsu9Fu7gr8KW_fQXSBZHfQnlgB5GCtCIwZoAJabicmkUbGQac931FnKrTR89AF1F1nYFFT0kzDmeWONuILh8UMPZAGJfzCRWksY4UWtU5Ylq_LU6b6jBhy6OOvl16c5J69kCvZ/s200/IMG_20131017_192724.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>To quote Trampled By Turtles song <i>Widower's Heart</i>, "New York was a rough place that treated me well."<br />
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.<br />
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For another recap of the week, check out my friend Katie's blog:<br />
<a href="http://www.katiedarbyrecommends.com/">http://www.katiedarbyrecommends.com/</a><br />
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And now for time more pictures.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & Adam Duritz</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & Shawn Fogel (doing "the Duritz")</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete Simon, Me, Shawn Brewster, Michel Kinsella (Oldboy)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with Oldboy & Ryan Spaulding</td></tr>
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Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-60669164190851323062013-10-10T22:35:00.001-07:002013-10-10T23:12:48.210-07:00Album Review - Let's be Still - The Head & The Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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 <b>The Head and the Heart</b>.<br />
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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: <i>Down in the Valley,Coeur d'Alene </i>(the line "you're in my soul now, you've gotta waste away with me" is one that I'll keep with me forever)<i>, Rivers & Roads, Sounds Like Hallelujah.</i> 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. <br />
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Released on Seattle's famous SubPop records, The Head and the Heart's second record<i>, Let's Be Still</i>, 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 <i>WILL</i> love!" </div>
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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 <i>Let's Be Still</i> 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. </div>
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The record starts out with the poppy, jaunty, melodic <i>Homecoming Heroes. </i>This song hooks you into the record, it gives you a preview of what is to follow. <i>Summertime </i>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 <i>These Days are Numbered, </i>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. </div>
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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 <i>Seat Beside Me </i>on Daytrotter, but <i>Josh McBride </i>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 <i>love. </i></div>
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You are in the seat beside me</div>
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You are in my dreams at night</div>
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You are in grandmother's wisdom</div>
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You are in grandfather's charm </div>
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The current single from the album is <i>Shake</i>. 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 <i>Shake</i> to something early Lennon & McCartney-esque, and I'd have to agree.</div>
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The record's title track, <i>Let's Be Still</i>, 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:</div>
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you can get lost in the music for hours, honey</div>
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you can get lost in the room</div>
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we can play music for hours and hours but sun'll still be coming up soon</div>
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the worlds just spinning a little too fast</div>
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if things don't slow down soon, we might not last</div>
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so just for a moment let's be still</div>
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I really <i>LOVE</i> 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.</div>
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Other songs to check out on the record, well, all of them, but <i>Cruel </i>and<i> Gone. </i>You can stream the whole record before it's October 15 release thanks to<a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-head-and-the-heart-reach-outward-on-lets-be-still-premiere-20131008" target="_blank"> Rolling Stone.</a> But also go pre-order it from your music distributor of choice (you can get it on vinyl from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Be-Still-2xLP-MP3/dp/B00ECL7ZPG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381469520&sr=8-1&keywords=let%27s+be+still+vinyl" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, 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 <b><i>GOOD</i> </b>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.</div>
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Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-33129409209244058702013-09-20T22:12:00.001-07:002013-09-20T22:12:07.882-07:00Album Review - Go To Hell - Star AnnaHailing 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 <b>Star Anna </b>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.<br />
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Titled <i>Go To Hell, </i>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 <i>well</i>. 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 <i>that</i> good, people.<br />
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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.<br />
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The album opens with a song which over the last year or so has become a favorite of mine. Though <i>For Anyone</i> 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:<br />
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I've been drowning in this city of rain<br />
You ripped right through me like a runaway train<br />
God-damn I loved you<br />
Now I just wait around<br />
For anyone<br />
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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 <i>Let Me Be</i>; phenomenal stuff right there.<br />
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My favorite songs on the record, after <i>For Anyone</i>, are <i>Mean Kind of Love,</i> 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 <i>Electric Lights. </i>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.<br />
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Another favorite is the cover of Elvis Presley's<i> Power of My Love.</i> 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.<br />
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Go. Get. This. Record. It's still available for pre-order (along with some other goodies, while you can still get them) here:<br />
<a href="http://www.sparkandshine.com/bands/star-anna">http://www.sparkandshine.com/bands/star-anna</a><br />
Or go order it from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Go-Hell-Star-Anna/dp/B00ENWD88W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379739628&sr=8-1&keywords=star+anna" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, 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.Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-50763696726190090922013-08-21T18:57:00.003-07:002013-11-13T00:22:08.659-08:00GliderOver 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<b> Glider</b>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgaD-Sei-Z4pKiX9GJ-jwRtJybgp6tvSLdMVY429Z3oH1ImynFg1G8QGbxHj-vtDpGru7l-ddy8B8vtpCO3QKEwilh3vPLBvGK88BUmfBJtN4dtOG9IMDMHoCmz0M06GGphAOSxZCxI72/s1600/glider+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgaD-Sei-Z4pKiX9GJ-jwRtJybgp6tvSLdMVY429Z3oH1ImynFg1G8QGbxHj-vtDpGru7l-ddy8B8vtpCO3QKEwilh3vPLBvGK88BUmfBJtN4dtOG9IMDMHoCmz0M06GGphAOSxZCxI72/s320/glider+image.jpg" width="320" /></a>Glider is a side-project of Jim Bogios and David Immergülck of <a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-would-be-lying-if-i-didnt-tell-you.html" target="_blank">Counting Crows</a>, 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.)<br />
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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 (<i>Green Onion</i>), The Chantays (<i>Pipeline</i>) and Santo (<i>Sleep Walk, Tear Drop,</i>) 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.<br />
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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, <i>Sugar Bounce</i>, 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.<br />
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Upon hearing <i>Sugar Bounce</i> I had to hear more. There just had to be more out there. Luckily, <a href="http://jimbogios.com/werdpress/?page_id=11" target="_blank">Jim Bogios' website</a> has another Glider track available to listen to, a cover of the Beatles' <i>Love You Too</i>. 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.<br />
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But alas, those were the only two Glider tracks on Jim's website. I knew there was more. I <i>HAD</i> 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.<br />
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There was indeed more Glider to be found. <a href="http://gimmyimmy.com/site/?page_id=409" target="_blank">David Immerglück's website</a> had a video of the band playing the guitar classic <i>Apache</i> 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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Here's a list of what I've found:<br />
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jimbogios.com<br />
- <i><a href="http://jimbogios.com/mp3s/SugarBounce.mp3" target="_blank">Sugar Bounce</a></i><br />
- <i><a href="http://jimbogios.com/mp3s/LoveYouToo.mp3" target="_blank">Love Me Too</a></i><br />
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gimmyimmy.com<br />
-<a href="http://gimmyimmy.com/site/?page_id=409" target="_blank"><i>Apache</i> (video)</a><br />
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YouTube<br />
<i>- <a href="http://youtu.be/Wf7bINvYxP8" target="_blank">Chicken Pox, Jupiters, Berkeley CA July 15th 2005</a></i><br />
- <a href="http://youtu.be/eCY8Gp8lGNA" target="_blank"><i>Oh Yeah 3-11-06 Hotel Utah San Francisco, CA Live</i></a><br />
- <a href="http://youtu.be/utHk04_wZR4" target="_blank"><i>Live Starry Plough 9/19/08 Berkeley, CA</i></a><br />
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<br />Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-59110536679396990132013-08-14T15:48:00.002-07:002013-08-14T15:48:28.810-07:00Single Review - Maybe I Don't Need You - Roem Baur <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Push play. Drum roll. Guitars. Roem. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Roem Baur's newest single, <i>Maybe I Don't Need You</i> is a trip to listen to. The first listen though the song was exciting. <i>Maybe I Don't Need You</i> has a different vibe to it than Roem's last single<i> <a href="http://tophatsbyjennifer.blogspot.com/2013/06/single-preview-natural-disaster-roem.html" target="_blank">Natural Disaster</a>, </i>which was more rock-y. <i>Maybe I Don't Need You</i> 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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">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. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;">Loneliness</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">, breaking up, the it's better to be lonely apart than lonely together aspect of ending a relationship: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't need you to tell me what to see </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">cause I believe you see things different than me </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't need you tell me what to feel </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cause when I needed you, you disappear </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Can you feel the chill of change </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Your own two feet feeling mighty strange </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe I don't need you </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe I don't need you </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I might be the lonely one </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but that's better than a lonely two </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but you're gonna be lonely, yes, you're gonna be lonely </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">too... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't need you to reply or tell my why </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cause you're running from all your alibis </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I won't take you tellin me how I make </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">every mistake, you turned into a fake </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Can you feel the chill of change </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Your own two feet feeling mighty strange </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe I don't need you </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe I don't need you </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I might be the lonely one </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but that's better than a lonely two </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but you're gonna be lonely, yes, you're gonna be lonely </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">too...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">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 <i>Natural Disaster</i> here: </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><a href="http://roembaur.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">http://roembaur.bandcamp.com/</a></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"> 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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span>Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-3090328866169844902013-07-19T22:47:00.002-07:002013-07-19T22:47:26.809-07:00Album Review - Hexagon - FIlligar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With every record and live performance <b>Filligar </b>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 <b><i>Hexagon</i>. </b><br />
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<b><br /></b>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. <i>Hexagon </i>plays like the big brother of 2010's <i>The Nerve</i>, 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.<br />
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Slated to hit stores July 23 (pre-order the album via iTunes, and <a href="http://www.americansongwriter.com/2013/07/full-album-stream-filligar-hexagon/" target="_blank">stream here</a> to preview) <i>Hexagon </i>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 <i>The Nerve</i>; the guitars, bass and keys layered, deep and emotional, kinda Doors-y, kinda early Boston-y, kinda Kinks-y, kinda awesome.<br />
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For a great example of this, check out the tracks <i>Digging for Water, Great Big Heavy, </i>and the track that's undoubtedly my favorite on the record, <i>Pacific Time</i>; 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.<br />
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<i></i>For some truly rockin', classic Filligar-esque songs, that must be played with the stereo cranked up to 11, <i>Money on the Dark Horse, Knock Yourself Out, </i>and the record opener, <i>New Local. </i>The wild-card track on the record has got to be <i>El Trepador. </i>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.<br />
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<i>Hexagon</i> is another winner of a record from this fantastic band. Filliar is heading out again on tour to support the release of the record. <a href="http://filligar.com/" target="_blank">Get tour dates and other info here</a>. Go see them, get the record, embrace the rock.<br />
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<b><br /></b>Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8105235273663509986.post-30965491251951369742013-06-29T22:54:00.000-07:002013-07-01T00:56:15.170-07:00The Songs That Changed My Life<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"You gotta hear this one song, it'll change your life, I swear" - Sam, <i>Garden State</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you've seen the film <i>Garden State</i>, 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 <i>New Slang</i>, 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 <i>times</i>. 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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Monkees - <i>Daydream Believer</i></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 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. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crosby, Stills & Nash - <i>Southern Cross</i></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>Sometimes people are surprised when I tell them that <i>Southern Cross</i> 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: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"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"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">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 <i>got </i>it. I knew what life was all about.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Beatles - <i>Across the Universe</i></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>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 <i>Across the Universe</i>? Out of all the amazing songs by the Beatles that someone could say changed their life: <i>Strawberry Fields Forever, In My Life, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Baby You're a Rich Man,</i> 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'"</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Counting Crows - <i>Catapult</i></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>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:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"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"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">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. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">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 <i>Catapult</i> for me, for my aunt. They played the song. Though I don't know whether or not they actually played it for<b><i> me</i></b>, 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. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Field Report - <i>Taking Alcatraz</i></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 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:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"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" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">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.</span>Jennifer Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978756686212762071noreply@blogger.com0