Close Personal Friend

Battles, Sex and Death

2012-01-14T17:31:00.001-05:00

As I write this, I’m listening to the BeeGees’ “Trafalgar”(on vinyl), inspired by a viewing last night of “That Hamilton Woman,” a 1941film starring then-newlyweds Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh as,respectively, Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton, who carriedon a long-term affair while both were married to others and Nelson was keepingEngland safe in perpetual naval battle with Napoleon.

It was a big, grand, old-fashioned movie, part manly actionflick (the sea battle was quite impressive for its time) and soapy chick weepie.Watching old movies, especially ones with torrid love affairs, shown in chaste1940’s style, where passionate kisses are strictly lips smushed together (notongues, please!), makes me wonder how the great screen couples of that period– Leigh and Olivier, Hepburn and Tracy, Gable and Lombard – would have handledthe Nearly Anything Goes style of today’s sexy films. How would these great screen iconshave played tonsil-hockey?

Olivier has a death scene, too, as Nelson is killed inbattle at Trafalgar (hence, the inspiration for today’s musical selection andaccompanying visual). I know I’m watching way too much MSNBC when, in themiddle of our tragic hero's death throes, I’m thinking to myself that he kinda looks likepundit David Corn, of Mother Jones magazine…And then there’s the moment whenLeigh/Lady Hamilton gets news of Nelson's demise and goes into a immobile starebefore collapsing to the ground. Cinephiles tend to talk about so-and-so’sdeath scene, but I’m actually more fascinated by actors who need to portray theintense emotion of hearing that a beloved one has died. On the whole, Vivien Leigh did a pretty good job.

Anyway, that’s the sex and death part. As for battles ofthe non-naval type, I was asked to judge again this past week at Jammin Java’s6th Mid-Atlantic Band Battle. I was there for two nights; sevenbands competed on each night for top honors and the right to return for the finals inFebruary. Fourteen acts in two nights...it's still a bit of a blur.

Local musician Nate Ihara, of We Were Kings, hostedagain and he always does a good job of pimping this here blog when he introduces me in the Meet the Judges moments, promising photos, videosand scandalous backstage stories. Sorry to say there’s no scandal here, but Idid post a story and photo slideshow of Wednesday night’s event at examiner.com. So,please visit there and you can get a full(er) report.

In that article (part two, covering Thursday night, will followsoon), I gave background on the competition and tried to give each band atleast one photo; most got two. Needing to stay put at the judges’ table, Iwasn’t able to get up close, and some bands were just easier than others to shoot from a distance. I have a few random shots that didn’t run in theexaminer story as they would have looked redundant. Here, then, are some outtakes fory’all:

The Dirty Jacks won the night, although there was some stiff competition.

Grand Rivival opened the show. Turns out, I had seen them at a previous MABB (put their name in the search and you'll see). With a new drummer, the band has really tightened its sound since then.

Grand Revival again (note shirtless guitarist on left).

Here's Groove 8, whom I would definitely try to catch again.

The Later Sun brought some nice folk-rock harmonies to the evening.

Finally, the "dreamy" (he likes me to say that) Nate Ihara, opening the envelope that contains the name of the winning band.

As I said, a second examiner.com story will go up soon. My twitter account (@mariannemeyer) will announce it right away, or you can watch this space.

Hey, it's Saturday night - go out, have fun, be safe!

Heavy Metal Ha-Ha (first of 2012!)

2012-01-06T21:46:00.000-05:00

Some of the best music writing out there - or at least the most entertaining - comes to me in the form of press releases about heavy metal (or super hard rock, grindcore, etc. It's a pretty wide field...of blood!). From the names of the bands to the album and song titles to the descriptions of music that wants to rip your face off, it's a thesaurus of aggressive fun. Here then, my first HMHH entry of the new year, with two bands featured. (Both are excerpts, with my emphasis added.)

1. Following their first ever trek throughBrazil with Aborted, California goregrind ministers EXHUMED will spraytheir blood overseas next month on the Grind Over Europe Tour 2012.

EXHUMED will betouring in support of All Guts, No Glory, issued earlier this year viaRelapse Records. The band's first new record in almost eight years offers up 11slaughter-filled tracts of soul-raping, grind-infused death metal that toppledan array of Year End lists including Decibel, Pitchfork, NPR.org,MetalSucks and Skulls N Bones.

[CPF NOTE: yes, you read that right –NPR. The socialist propaganda outfit covered Exhumed's show at Maryland Deathfest 2011.]

“…fans of dripping blood, gaping autopsies, and ravenous zombies will absolutelyadore this record.” — Revolver

“EXHUMEDhas aged like corpse putrefaction: that is indeed the highest compliment youcan pay to one of 2011’s best records.” — Brave Words

And here’s a little something about another band, ToxicHolocaust:

"If The Exploited and Nuclear Assaulthad a kid, TOXIC HOLOCAUST would take its lunch money and toss it in thedumpster." -- Hails & Horns

“….sweetly redolent of thrash, d-beat, and rawsewage, the album simmers with tar-thick riffage, staggering breakdowns, and acorroded dose of self-loathing. —The Onion’s A.V. Club
Throw your devil horns, people!

Singular Sensations? Not So Much.

2012-01-05T23:03:00.000-05:00

OK, so I had every intention of posting, as mentioned last time, my top singles of the year, as submitted to the Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll, but now I can't find my original list nor can I access the site to see the titles. Why can't I just name them, you ask? For the same reason I couldn't get past number 7 in the final list - individual songs just didn't have the same visceral impact on me in 2011 that I felt in years past. There was Adele, of course. You couldn't escape "Rolling in the Deep," be it at a middle age dinner party, grabbing a drink at Starbucks, stealing cake at a tween neighbor's birthday party or eavesdropping on a drunken night of twentysomethings. Luckily, the song was so good and so rife with pure talent, that you didn't mind hearing it yet one more time.

And for me more personally, there was Fleet Foxes' "Helplessness Blues," a song so rich in gorgeous harmonies and heartfelt emotion that I bought it immediately upon hearing it and played it over and over in that manner one used to do with actual physical singles that you feared you might wear down the vinyl. The album is lovely in a general overall sense, but no other track comes close to that one shining beacon of musical beauty.

After that...not so many new classics. I had "No Light, No Light," from the new Florence + The Machine album on the list; not even sure if it's a real single (by which I guess I mean featured track), but it's the only song on that much-anticipated new album that stands out to me and even then, only after an SNL appearance gave it a boost.

When I attempted to boost my list-making memory, I pulled up a few Great Songs of The Past Year articles from the usual suspects - Spin, Rolling Stone, Paste, etc. - and will admit that, for every compilation of 100 supposedly great songs, I literally didn't know dozens of them and couldn't quote you lyrics or hum you the melody of many that I sort-of-had-heard-of. It's such a fractured market out, with so many niche styles and I rarely listen to any commercial radio. So, I'm content with my album choices and there are many wonderful songs to be heard therein.

Anyway, I've had two beers tonight and that's just enough to fog my faculties so that I cannot recall the other four songs that made the cut. Another day, then. Sleep tight (as I will), friends.

Looking Back to Good Albums and Forward to More

2012-01-02T23:08:00.001-05:00

I'm actually pretty optimistic about the year ahead, but this illustration, from yesterday's New York Times, was too good not to share:

Anyhoo, as 2011 was drawing to a close, I got my reminder from the Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll to list my ten favorite albums and singles of the year. I had a hard time whittling the album list down to ten, but here's the final list as submitted to the poll, which will be published in the January 18th edition of the esteemed alternative weekly:

Elbow - Build a Rocket Boys! (Downtown/Cooperative Music)

Paul Simon - So Beautiful or So What (Hear Music)

Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto (Capitol)

Wilco - The Whole Love (dBpm/ANTI)

James Blake - James Blake (Universal Republic)

Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones (Epitaph)

Ballake Sissoko & Vincent Segal - Chamber Music (Six Degrees)

Scattered Trees - Sympathy (Musebox)

M83 - Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (Mute)

Radiohead - The King of Limbs (Ticker Tape)

As for the singles, in sharp contrast, I had a hard time coming up with ten songs that reached out and grabbed me in the way that a great single is supposed to do. What made the list? I'll get to that tomorrow. (I'm really gunning to blog every day, if possible, so I need to pace myself!)

Keep On Rockin' In The New Year

2012-01-01T16:37:00.000-05:00

Greetings, Close Personal Friends, and a most happy new new to all!

For a change, the hubby and decided to get out of the house on New Year's Eve and drove off to my favorite local venue, Jammin Java, for a "Big Ol' Super Classy Throwdown" celebration with Native Run (formerly known as Big River) and other local musicians who've helped make the club a hub of great area talent. It was an all around wonderful night, with dancing, laughter, kisses and a champagne toast for all at midnight. A nattily-dressed Nate Ihara opened the show.

Native Run's Bryan Dawley joined Nate for a few songs, adding beautiful mandolin accents to "3000 Miles."

Among the added guests, the Miller sisters, Justina and Marie, whose harmonies worked very well on two covers, "Moon River" and "Kiss Me" (the Sixpence None the Richer track)

Luke Brindley's solo set showed off what a fine songwriter he is, with "You Are Not Alone" and "We Go Together" as standouts, again with support from Bryan.

Brindley Brother Daniel came onstage to add his musical support...

...alas, I didn't get a good shot of Daniel playing what appeared to be tabla drum as he accompanied Luke on the always show-stopping instrumental, "Dervish."

I grabbed a shot of Nate, his lovely girlfriend Aleksandra and producer/musician Mark Williams as they posed for someone else.

This was actually the first time that The Band Formerly Known as Big River performed as Native Run.

A peek inside, from outside.

You lookin' at me?

Native Run has energy to spare, always an invigorating show, and a great way to welcome in 2012.

2011-12-31T13:27:00.000-05:00

Heavy Metal Ha-Ha (Halloween edition)

2011-10-27T14:08:00.001-04:00

This just in (verbatim from the press release, with my bold added):

Sweden's whore-filth death metal horde, BASTARD PRIEST, return to stink up your speakers with latest full-length, Ghouls Of The Endless Night.

Featuring eight flesh-tearing tracks, the follow-up to 2010's Under the Hammer of Destruction is set for release via Pulverised Records on November 7, 2011! Recorded in mere days at Parasit Studio with Fred Estby (Necronaut, ex-Dismember) and mastered at Enormous Door Studio (Poison Idea, Phobia, Extinction of Mankind, etc.), Ghouls Of The Endless Night offers up a decomposing smorgasbord of primitive death metal and snarly hardcore punk perfectly fit for fans of Master, Autopsy, Dismember, corpsefucking and grave digging...

Ghouls Of The Endless Night Track Listing:
1. Pestilent Force
2. Ghouls Of The Endless Night
3. Enter Eternal Nightmare
4. Poison
5. Fucking Slaughter
6. Sacrilegious Ground
7. Last Scream
8. Enormous Thunder Of The End

Play this for the little kiddies coming to your door for trick or treat and you'll scare the crap out of them and their parents!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Pruning the Bonsai - Learn from My Mistakes

2011-10-22T18:21:00.000-04:00

A typical Saturday afternoon finds me playing with the music collection, sorting through new CD/digital releases and old LPs, trying to decide do they stay or do they go? Trying to revive the O/CD Tally, I started a new database which allows me to sort by artist, album title, digital or physical delivery, purchased or promo, etc. Why? Because I want to.

If a new CD replaces an old LP, I check to see if the vinyl is worth selling on amazon.com (it has to fetch more than $10 and not have more than a dozen copies available to make the process worthwhile). If it isn't, it goes into the pile for the trade-in store. Going into the LP shelves invariably leads to finding stuff I haven't heard in ages and want to hear again. Today's "Oldie But Goodie" - Aztec Two-Step's "Second Step." I was especially excited to hear "Faster Gun" again - a gentle love song that knocked me out Back In The Day, when I saw the acoustic duo perform at my early alma mater Stony Brook (two years there and then I finished at NYU) - yeah, it was that long ago. And I rediscovered "Humpty Dumpty," a sweet/sad song that tells of unrequited love and asks if the Eggman jumped. (Sounds goofy but trust me, it works.)

And then I found some old Arlo Guthrie (I heard he and Pete Seeger showed up at OWS, NY, so good on them) and I thought I'd see if "Washington County" is worth holding onto. Frankly, listening to it now, I'm surprised I put up with that nasal-y whine as much as I did. Not to bash AG; he's written some fine songs, it's just that a little of that voice goes a long way. Ultimately, I think I'll just use my remaining emusic.com credit for the month, grab a few songs from this LP and add it to the Outta Here bag.

Oh, and while I was ripping some songs from CDs that don't need to be kept (if it's not a favorite artist and there's nothing special about the packaging, I convert to digital and trade/sell off the physical copies) I discovered that I've lost a bunch of previously ripped tunes! My own damn fault; I wasn't paying full attention to the iTunes playlists. I have just learned the hard way that, if the time of the track is "Not Available," that means it wasn't transferred at all. And there's a bunch of songs that are suspiciously short. Checking them out, there are a few tracks under 30 seconds that are meant to be that way - interstitial (great word!) bits and band introductions, dialogue snippets, etc. - but again, a really short time listing is a sign that a song didn't get fully transferred. Oh, poop!

As I have often told the kids, if I can't set a good example, let me be a horrible warning...

Heavy Metal Ha-Ha

2011-10-14T16:56:00.000-04:00

I love press releases touting very heavy rock music. Not because I listen to deathcore or grindcore or extreme metal or whatever the variations are, but because it has the most descriptive writing, and it's often unintentionally hilarious. Like this (emphasis added):

"NUNFUCKRITUAL's In Bondage To The Serpent crawls from the gutter like a diseased, decayed and decrepit corpse; a choking dirge; a hideous, malformed infestation of filthy underground metal that ignores trends, defies categorization and brings together some of the darkest, blackest, nastiest manifestations ever committed to tape. Degraded and corrupt, these six blasphemous conjurations call upon decades of extreme metal experience to devastating effect, resulting in an album so gross, rank and genuinely disturbing that it is the aural equivalent of being cannibalized by the leprous sisters Plague and Death. An insidious poison running through your veins, slowly devouring your life force, until nothing remains, but ruin. Obsidian incantations seethe with pure evil energy, summoning ancient deities to commit terrible atrocities against organized religion, a celebration of the ultimate triumph of mankind's dark side. Swarming, swirling and shimmering with mal-intent, In Bondage To The Serpent breaks new ground with its omnipresent, all-consuming evil vibe. This eerie, potent brew is, quite simply, a manifestation of pure, undiluted evil. Sickness never sounded so real..."

Damn. I just missed my mom's birthday...

The Final Battle (for Now) of the Bands

2011-08-26T01:07:00.003-04:00

Last Friday, I returned to Jammin’ Java for the finals of the 5th Mid-Atlantic Band Battle but this time, I was not a judge. And though I missed the camaraderie – and free food – at the judges table, I was able to float around more, chat with some of the bands without fear of seeming partial and got a little closer to the stage for photos. So, still a pleasure.

I had seen two of the acts – Lightspeed Rescue and Bethany and the Guitar - before. LSR had made it to the finals in a previous Band Battle in which I was a judge, in February, where they lost out to Delta Rae. (The Silver Liners were also on the bill that night, making it a particularly tough competition.) BATG (the initials want to make me call the band Batgirl) were the victors of one of the semi-final nights I served as a judge for in July. So I knew coming in that I was going to enjoy at least two of the sets.

When I came in the door, the first act onstage was a new one to me, Static Cinema, a quintet from Warrenton, VA. They were impressive right away, with a tight, muscular rock sound, a charismatic frontman and smooth moves from quiet melody to hard-bouncing party noise. Having just Googled the band for more info, I’m even more impressed to see that the group “consists of five members ranging from ages 16-19.”
Well-played, young sirs! Here’s a few shots from their performance…

Next up was Bethany and the Guitar, as good as I remembered them with bright harmonies, sweet acoustic guitars and friendly, female pop of the Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson school.
I just looked back to my older posting on the subject and saw that that’s pretty much how I described them last time. And these new pictures show pretty much the same stage visuals (So sue me.) You can listen for yourself to a few songs at the band's web site.

During a break between bands, a few members of Lightspeed Rescue (it’s a Power Rangers reference) came up to say hello. I could honestly tell them that I was looking forward to seeing the group again, as I’d thoroughly enjoyed their set last time.
Though there was a little hiccup in the momentum, with sound set-ups taking a bit longer than usual, the band came out roaring.

You can hear a few tracks from LSR’s debut EP, “Celebration,” at their site and, while I was happy to get a copy from them after the show and listen on the ride home, it’s not half as much fun as seeing them live, when the boundless energy, dueling guitarists and buff hip-hoppin’ vocalist Brandon Bester (he’s taken his shirt off both times that I’ve seen them) kick it up many notches. The group sites influences such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Outkast, which is all well and good, but I daresay Lightspeed Rescue can carve out a niche to call its own someday.

The final act on the bill was The Understudies, who had a strong fanbase present - lots of people walking around with black T-shirts with the band logo on it. At the risk of alienating those nice people, this was the one act of the night that didn't rock my socks. I think it's a genre-thing; I'm just not one for mid-tempo, kinda MOR blues rock, however capably performed. The drummer was kind enough to give me a cool bumper sticker ("Piano is the new sexy," it said) and a copy of the band's EP and I gave it a spin, but songs about the blues guitar player in Memphis who broke my heart are not my cuppa...

And thus, with four finalists having shown their stuff, it was time for the big announcement. The night’s Host With the Most, Nate Ihara, took to the stage with club staffers David Silberstein and Amy Jones, to open the envelope…

And the grand prize winners of the Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 5? Bethany and the Guitar.

Those last moments of the Band Battles are always a little bit sad. One act gets to celebrate while the others have to deal with disappointment. Having sat at the judges table in the past, I know that the final result can come down to very small numbers. I can't argue with the outcome, as I thoroughly enjoy Bethany and the Guitar and wouldn't say they didn't deserve the win.

Still, Lightspeed Rescue had an energy that couldn't be denied, even if, in a sense, it was by the final vote. I saw the guys in the band bunched together in a consoling group huddle after the winner was announced and I wanted to pat them on the back and say, "Don't give up. You're winners in my book."

But that's just me, not a judge, speaking.

We Get Out (part one) - Scattered Trees at Red Palace

2011-08-21T23:18:00.002-04:00

I'm rather ashamed to admit it but, since I'm among friends, I'll cop to the fact that I've been living in the DC area and writing about local music for double-digit years and, until last Sunday, had not been to the NE club area. Despite being a transplanted New Yorker who knows full well how people cop out of enjoying all a city has to offer for dubious reasons, I hesitated to go into this unexplored territory. Is there safe parking? (I once had my car broken into two blocks from the 9:30 Club, albeit many years ago.) Would I be okay wandering the streets alone? (I'm comfortable going to most NW places alone, but was waiting for someone to go exploring with me this time.) Bottom line, I was a wuss.

Push came to shove when I got word that Scattered Trees would be playing the Red Palace (former home of two clubs - The Red and the Black and the Palace of Wonders - which knocked down some wallage to form one new entity) on H St. NE. The band's album, "Sympathy," was advanced to me earlier this year, and I was pretty quickly smitten, especially by one track, "A Conversation About Death on New Year's Eve," which is, happily, available as a free download from the group's publicity gang. Take a listen and see if you don't love it, too.

Finally, spurred by my love of the album, I was determined to suck it up and see what NE has going on. My trusty Plus One pal, Sally, agreed to come along. Lesson learned - when in doubt about taking a chance on something that's intimidating (but not actually dangerous) - just do it! We had a great time. After taking a few wrong turns on our way into the NE quadrant, we came upon H Street - wide, well-lit, filled with cool-looking shops and free street parking - and walked into the Palace, a neat venue with a fascinating collection of carnival and burlesque signage and props (including a few that would be downright creepy if they weren't so obviously fake), a pleasent outside patio and a small (150 max?) performance space upstairs.

We ran a little late and so caught only the last song of the show's opener, Australian singer-songwriter Paul Dempsey, and even that was just as we walked up the stairs. Dempsey's publicist was kind enough to send a zip file of his debut, "Everything is True," when I told him I was going to the show and, having heard some of the songs pop up on the iPod shuffle since, I can say I'm sorry I didn't hear more. Again, there's a song available to share - "We'll Never Work In This Town Again," so hear it here . And, as a former Brooklynite, I gotta post this pic of Dempsey at a C train station.

The next act on the bill, the Alternate Routes, is one that Sally and I have seen before, a fine local act that tills the rootsy rock field. To give their music a culinary metaphor, I'd call them a Five Guys burger - nothing fancy or exotic, but a simple, solid, comfort recipe done with care and good taste. The guitarist who was closest to me is kinda cute, too...

Here's the whole group...

One song featured a tool box as a percussion instrument...

And I just happen to like stage accessories...

But the night, for me, was all about Scattered Trees who (staying with the food theme) are like finding a great all-night cafe that adds just the right new accent to a favorite dish. In this case, the sound is meditative, melodic rock with layered harmonies and melancholy, but not depressing, lyrics. Lead singer Nate Eisland wrote the album after the death of his father, making its beauty all the more bittersweet.

I've been enjoying "Sympathy" since I first downloaded it in January (it came out in official physical form in April) and the Chicago-based band started its first full U.S. tour earlier this month. So I was psyched to finally get a chance to see them. And they didn't disappoint.

Given the album's quiet charms, it's one that I frequently listen to in the late evening but, not unexpectedly, the band ramps things up in concert, adding muscle to the songs without stripping them of their tender sentiment.

Besides lead singer Eisland, there's a double threat guitarist/keyboard player guy and a cool female (in this photo), another guitarist and a drummer...

When I win the lottery, I'm getting a digital SLR camera that can be pushed past these orange exposures. Until then, here's an example of what happens without flash...

And what I get with it...

And we'll end the photo gallery with a second low-angle shot that features another visual obsession of mine, Shoes of the Stars...

Apologies for the randomness of this posting, BTW. College girl was watching "Hairspray" while I was working on it and I was continually and happily distracted by the upbeat musical action. You can't stop the beat!

Beauty Pill - the pictures

2011-08-04T22:41:00.002-04:00

So, when we last left me (see the previous entry), I was sitting in the balcony at the Artisphere, watching Beauty Pill record in the Black Box Theatre. Here's how it looked from that perch...

I was expecting that, since it was the last day the band was scheduled to be in the space, it would be a time of reviewing finished tracks. And yet, as I was watching, a guitarist came in and Clark began talking to him about a new track he wanted to add to a previously-recorded bit. It took about a half-hour to set up the guitar...
(making records is a lot like making movies or TV, a lot of waiting between actual creating)

And while I'm watching this, someone new arrives to check out the scene as well. We chat about how cool it is to watch the process unfold and, when I ask the guy if he'd heard Beauty Pill before, he tells me that he's Chad Clark's brother! Ha. I hand him one of my bizniz cards and ask him to pass it on to Clark and tell him I said hello and would have something on the blog later. Shortly thereafter, the guy's phone rings and Clark looks up to wave him down. We exchange goodbyes and he heads off. A few minutes later, Clark looks up and seems to be waving for me to come down, too. I look around me. Yep, I'm the only one here. I point to myself. "Me?" He nods.
I guess his brother put in a good word.

And so, I returned to the actual studio, where the adventure started, and sat quietly while the guitarist finished his track. My view got much better.

In a break, I asked the photog who the guitarist was and he told me it was Ryan Nelson, who co-wrote the song in progress with Clark some time ago. (BTW, Nelson said he had a terrible toothache, so more praise for his playing and good attitude.)

After Clark signed off on the guitar part, there was a brief break while the mics were being reset for a vocal part to be done by Jean. Clark and I chatted briefly and, though he didn't seem to remember our correspondence about the film, he was very gracious about having me crash his party. I'll keep y'all posted when the next phase of the project - the album release "exhibit" takes place.

In the meantime, here's a piece that explains the project in more detail and tells the story behind the song that was being recorded.

Live from the Artisphere - Beauty Pill records

2011-08-02T16:56:00.001-04:00

Throughout the month of July, DC area band Beauty Pill has been working in full view of the public, recording a new album in the Black Box theatre of the Arlington modern art museum, the Artisphere, while the public looks on from behind a large window on a balcony perch above the well-stocked studio space. That's where I'm sitting right now, watching as guitarist Ryan ( last name I don't know) lays down some chunky guitar rhythms to pair with an atmospheric music bed that band founder/producer Chad Clark was reviewing when I first came into the session.

And when I saw I came into the session, I mean it. I walked directly into the Black Box studio, not seeing any signage to tell me otherwise, and found myself right behind the soundboard, where Clark was working. Wow, I thought, they really ARE letting the public get a close look. And as I looked for a place to sit, a nice young woman came up nd introduced herself. "I'm Jean," she said politely, putting out her hand. I shook it and told her my name. Then she asked if I'd been here before (yes, to the Artisphere, no to a recording session) and offered to walk me up to the balcony, where the audience is supposed to be. What can I say?
I like to be in the heart of the action.

As I was just typing that line, Clark looked up and directed a comment to me. (I'm the only one here.) "we're professionals. That's all you need to know," he said. I gave him a thumbs- up and he flashed one back.

Actually, I needed to know more. Thanks to this brave new world on instant info acces, I pulled up the band's site to learn who I am watching here. While I've heard the band's music before and once had some phone./mail exchanges with Clark over using one of his songs in my long-lost family rock&roll comedy film, I had no idea what he looked like, nor did I know when I was shaking her hand that the nice young woman is Jean Cook, one of two women in the band.

I will post some pictures when I get home. Though I envy the guy who's roaming the studio, getting up close with his pro camera.

Alas, this wonderful opportunity to watch a band at work ends tonight (I just heard about last week and barely made it here myself) so I can't tell you to rush right over yourself.

However, the second phase of this "exercise in radical transparency" ( a phrase attributed to the band, as if they said it in unison) will occur in the winter, when it is said they will return for another interactive installation that will feature the new album.

Considering I typed this on an iPad, forgive the typos...
More anon

Marky Ramone, Pasta Sauce King? Who knew?

2011-07-13T23:26:00.000-04:00

I'm interrupting my usually (ir)regularly scheduled blogging to bring you this little news item, which I just discovered in my emails. Sorry I didn't get this out to my L.A.-based friends before the Big Event.
(I'm only about half as sarcastic as I sound. I think it's cool that Marky's a foodie. Oh, and note the typo in the dateline.)

HOLYWOOD, CA (July 5, 2011) - Whole Foods Market is excited to host Marky Ramone, drummer for the Ramones, for an in-store tasting event of his new, award-winning pasta sauce, and live musical appearance. His pasta sauce is exclusively available at the Whole Foods Market West Hollywood and Fairfax locations. Marky will be signing jars of his pasta sauce and some souvenir drum sticks. Ten percent of net proceeds from the sale of the pasta sauce from these events will benefit Autism Speaks. At the West Hollywood store, there will also be a BBQ with all proceeds benefitting Autism Speaks, who will be here to share what awesome things they do. We will also have several fun vendors here to make this a family affair. Of course…there will be free tasting of this most delicious sauce at both locations!

Marky Ramone, a legend in the punk-rock scene, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2002), and just this year, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammy’s for his musical achievements.

Back into Battle - Mid-Atlantic Band Battle V

2011-07-09T23:48:00.000-04:00

Jammin’ Java, the local, little music venue that’s so comfy and friendly I consider it a second home, hosted its Fifth Mid-Atlantic Region Band Battle over the past four days. The club gang was nice enough to ask me to judge, as I have for the past three battles, so I was there last night (would have done more, but I was out of town) and it was, as always, a great night for sampling the local scene.

Host/”hottie” Nate Ihara, leader of his own fine local band, We Were Kings, was the MC. While pimping my credits, Nate made me promise to post some photos on the web site by tonight. So, here we go….

For those of you who like to read the last few pages of a book before you commit, we’ll start with a photo of the night’s top musical act, Bethany and the Guitar, who ended the evening with a lovely set of girl-pop tunes marked by three-part harmony and bright, singalong melodies.

Bethany and the Guitar’s win did not come easily. I don’t judge and tell, but there was at least one other band that I thought had a chance of winning the night. (BTW, each judge keeps a separate scoring sheet, based on a set of attributes like musicianship, songwriting, crowd response and such. We don’t compare them, so I have no idea of how close the final results were.) Here’s how the deal went down…

It’s never easy to be the first band at one of these contests; the club had only a few patrons early enough to hear the first of the six-band bill, an outfit called Kill Lincoln. But the guys blasted into their first number, two horn players setting a Mighty Mighty Bosstoness tone, and tore through their set to launch the show.

Next up was Fourth Quarter Comeback (good name), who minedthe emo/punk vein, with lots of support from a vocal crowd of fans.

As Wings of Apollo set up for their 15-minutes, we knew wewere in for something intense – the power trio were stripped to the waist andbuff. Their set was loud and strong, tapping into the spirit of LedZeppelin's hard rock blues.

A trio of a whole ‘nother type – two rappers and a DJ on anApple laptop – appeared next. Nightclub Fight Club impressed as much for thesmooth dance moves of one of its vocalists as for the fat, fun beats andBeastie Boys-like smartass lyrics.

The penultimate (love that word) band of the night was FeedGod Cabbage. The silly name and the casual attire made methink the sound would be jam band noodling, but the singer/drummer had a greatvoice and the playing was tight, with an appealing reggae rhythm beneath. Oneof the compliments I can pay them is that I planned to visit the merchtable after the show and pick up a CD, but they were packed up and gone by thetime I was heading out.

With five bands down - all of them male rock outfits withhard-driving tempos, the set-up for Bethany and The Guitar - a mixed-gender quintet with acoustic guitarsand a drum box (just discovered, via Google, that it’s called a “cajon”) –could have indicated a dip in the energy level, but the group forged on with solidprofessionalism and radio-ready songs in the upbeat, crowd-pleasing style ofIngrid Michaelson or Sara Bareilles. A second femalevocalist and guitar/vocal support from Bethany’s brother, Kurtis Parks (he hashis own band, and made it onto the preliminary roster of “AmericanIdol,” season four) gave the material an added lift.

With so much talent and such diverse musical styles on display, there are usually some grumbles when the winner is announced since everyone's got their own taste and preferences. Judging is fun but not easy. Every band who appeared at the Battle has something going for them. In fact, the same night this competition took place at J2, a multi-act bill was taking place at the much larger 9:30 Club, and some of those bands are veterans of previous Band Battles who did not take home the big prize. So, no losers here.

Meanwhile, along with the winners of the three previous Battle nights, Bethany and the Guitar will move on to the finals, to be held in August. Maybe I'll be judging again. If so, see you there...

Hey Nate, I met the deadline you gave me. Where's my White Russian?

www.whatchagonnaplay.com

2011-06-23T22:12:00.000-04:00

I've been a bit distracted lately since I've just launched a new web site that's been taking up my time and energy. I haven't abandoned this blog, but it will have to take a back seat for a little while longer while I take care of the new baby...

Ladies and gentlemen, please say hello to
whatchagonnaplay.com
Please let me know what you think, and spread the word.

See you back here soon!

We Get Out - Matt Nathanson, Sarah Jarosz

2011-05-28T23:56:00.002-04:00

Trying for a quick recap of the musical week just past...

It began, as Mondays generally do, with the posting of my weekly concert picks column for Citysteam.com in which I wrote about shows by Hey Rosetta!, Glasvegas and Sierra Leone's All Star Refugees, among others.

But first, I throw us back in time to the week before, and a different set of concert picks with acts like
The Antlers, Todd Snider, River James and others. The one show that I made a distinct effort to get off my butt and see was Todd Snider's, but the label never answered my request (file under: Work With Me, People! just send an email one way or the other, 'K?) and other things came up. The last show on the list was Matt Nathanson, a personal favorite, but he was opening a three-act bill at Merriweather Post and that meant a bad ratio of hassle:fun.

The great thing, though, was that I had gotten word that Matt (he's such a good guy, and I've followed him so long, I'll break from the last name convention) would be doing a "secret" show at Jammin' Java on Monday night and, thanks to my lovely pals at the club, missing the very brief ticket window announcement on Twitter and email was not going to stop me from getting in.

I saw the show, loved it, wrote about it for examiner.com and got over 1,000 hits in one day for the review and photo gallery. The hits came, I do believe, from the fact that Matt's people posted the link on his Facebook fan page, which came as a nice surprise.

For the full review of the show and lots of pics, check out the story on examiner.com.

Among the shows that were listed in this past week's previews there was a return area appearance by the lovely Sarah Jarosz, who did a wonderful sold-out show at Reston's cozy CenterStage last month and was coming back to Jammin' Java with her two amazing sidemen on cello and fiddle. I made it out to that show, too. Also SRO and a thing of string-fueled beauty.

Afterwards, I chatted with the trio and they pretended to remember me. Nice people, gorgeous music.

Today was a day to add some new music to the collection in actual, physical CD form. Borders, which appears to be decreasing its music department all the time, had sent out an email about a 40% off sale on CDs and DVDs, so I took a ride out Route 7 for a look-see. As I've said before, Borders prices are high to begin with ($15 and up for most new releases), so it takes a sizable discount to make buying there worthwhile. I tried to stay within budget and brought home the following:

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE - The Open Door EP (Atlantic)
Five-tracks from 2009. ($2.99)
PATTON OSWALT - My Weakness is Strong CD/DVD (Warner Bros./Degenerate)
Local boy (he grew up in a Virginia town about 90 minutes from here) made very good, and very funny. I once saw him walking past the movie theatre at Reston Town Center and blurted out the name of a neighbor/friend who went to school with him. Strange, I know, but he's probably used to much worse. ($10.19)
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC - Original Broadway Cast (Columbia)
Confession: I have to check to see if I already have this (or is it just on vinyl?) but couldn't risk missing out. Save the receipt. ($5.99)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - London Calling: Live in Hyde Park DVD
I'm not the Brooooooooce fanatic I once was, but when I saw that this concert opens with "London Calling," (doh!) I felt I had to see what the Boss has been up to live lately. ($11.99)
SLY & The FAMILY STONE - Stand/The Woodstock Experience (Epic/Legacy)
Hubby and I had both "Monterey Pop" and "Woodstock" on our Netflix queue in recent weeks and were struck with how well the music has held up over the years. Some of the performances were jaw-dropping. This Sly double-feature - the original "Stand" album plus the full Woodstock performance - made for groovy Saturday afternoon listening. ($11.99)
UNCUT Magazine ($9.99) - Happy Birthday, Bob Dylan issue, with a 16-track CD of Dylan cover songs (Robyn Hitchcock, North Mississippi North Stars, Soweto Gospel Choir) or birthday-themed songs (Sufjan Stevens, Wanda Jackson, Hank Williams). The magazine is publishing four different covers for the mag/CD. I opted for the young, Tarantula-era Dylan.

YTD O/CD Tally: 50

The-Not-So-Sweetlife Festival (explained)

2011-05-16T23:22:00.001-04:00

I never got around to telling the story here, though I did send an email to an editor, telling her what went wrong. So, I'll use that as a starting point to tell the tale. Though I generally try not to live in the past, I saw one glowing review of the event written by someone who must have had either VIP seats (the only people allowed in and out of the pavilion) and/or an extremely strong bladder. For the rest of us, Sweetlife was a travesty.

For me, the show was a mess on the professional and personal level....

professional:
we (hubby and I) got there about 2 pm.
there was confusion about my press tix and photo pass -
even with a printed email confirmation
(got the first, not the second)

was going to cover for my examiner.com column, but needed pit photos,
which I wasn't going to be able to get.
so, we thought we'd just hang and hear the music.
or not...

which leads us to the personal level mess:

hubby and I go into the GA pavilion seats.
since they are GA seats, only one of us at a time can go out for food, drinks, bathroom, or we lose the seats.

meanwhile, the lawn is filling up with people and it begins to rain.
after Cold War Kids' set, hubby leaves to pee, and when he returns to the pavilion, there's a crush of people wanting to get away from the rain and he's told he can't come back in.
since the ushers can't tell who had seats inside and who's just trying to get out of the rain, they're not letting anyone in.

hubby calls me on the cell phone and tells me he's stuck. (thank god he had his cell phone)
the crowd is growing and getting restless.
one guy gets abusive and the bouncers drag him away.
another bouncer tells the crowd he's going to start picking up people and carrying them out.
the vibe is ugly.

At this point I figure, as much as I want to see Girl Talk and the Strokes, I will have to pee in the next 4 hours and then I'll be stuck on the cold, wet lawn, too.
and I miss hubby :-)
maybe I shouldn't make him wait outside?
so we split.

my other regret - the drunk guy we'd been sitting behind - the one dressed like a Tequila bottle (foam suit) - is coming back from the rest room as we're leaving.
I would have liked to have seen his reaction to being told he couldn't get back in.

we left as Crystal Castles were going on.
got home while Lupe Fiasco was playing.
I started following the twitter feed from the event and couldn't tell if things had gotten better.
tweets were split between people inside the pavilion (with full bellies and strong bladders) who were simply loving the music
and people outside who were really, really mad.
not sure when/if they resolved the crowd situation.

BTW, though Merriweather Post events are usually run by IMP, this was (badly) handled by a different group.
but a lot of IMP people were there and everyone associated is going to be blamed for what could have turned into a riot.

I didn't pay for my tickets, so I was just frustrated, but if I had paid, I would have felt royally ripped off.
there may be some very angry people out there.

a shame, too, since the cause was great and the music line-up was terrific.
I blame it on inexperience, not greed.
still, a mess.

The Not-So-Sweetlife Festival

2011-05-01T22:40:00.000-04:00

You know there's probably gonna be trouble when the guy in front of you is dressed as a tequila bottle.
(It was one of those foam sheaths with a hoodie-like head piece that made the cap, although he just let it dangle down his back). And that wasn't even the first sign that the Sweetlife Festival, which is probably ending just as I type this, wasn't going to go well.

Oops. The president is about to make a speech, so I'm totally distracted. Here are a few pics of Ra Ra Riot, whom we thoroughly enjoyed (I just downloaded their latest from emusic.com) and Cold War Kids, whom we've seen before and who solidified their rep as a damn fine band.

I would have more and better photos but the PR people messed up my photo pass. That, too, will be explained further. But for now, let's go to the White House...

Cold War Kids

Ra Ra Riot

We Get Out (Part One) – Mike Viola at Jammin Java

2011-04-06T20:48:00.000-04:00

Some weeks, despite telling the visitors to Citystream DC what concerts I think are worth seeing, I don’t get out myself. Sometimes, I just stay home and listen to the music, as I am doing tonight, playing EZRA FURMAN & The HARPOONS’ “Inside the Human Body” (1) rather than moving my butt down to Jammin Java to see the live show. You could call me lazy but, since I opted to stay home and get some work done, including updating this here blog, I will not take your insult.

Besides, I was at the club last night, enjoying the delightful pop tunes of Mike Viola. He was one of my picks for this week’s Citystream column, based on the high praise of a FB friend – one I met, coincidentally, through this blog. Since we share similar (great) taste in music and she adores Viola and his previous band, The Candy Butchers, I felt it a good bet that I would enjoy him, too.

And now I am, in fact, a fan. Taking the stage alone, with just a guitar or piano to accompany him, Viola played almost two hours worth of songs that I had never heard before, and yet my attention never flagged. His writing is crisp and tight - each word means something - and he has a way with pop melody that makes it seem effortless which we all know (or should) is extremely hard to do. I was reminded, at times, of artists like Fountains of Wayne (though Viola is less sarcastic) and Harry Nilsson.

Though he was written for numerous films, and yeah, I would have loved to hear his version of “That Thing You Do!,” he rambled through his deep catalog, graciously accepted requests, and told amusing tales of teenage music geekdom. When an artist who’s been around a long time comes to a small venue like Jammin Java and the crowd is about 50 people, I flinch a little and worry that maybe he/she will be grumpy and feel unappreciated. Viola, however, was in a great mood. He had a quality, not quantity, audience – they listened intently, called out for obscure favorites and were with him every step of the way. He said it was the last night of the current tour and that the tour had been wonderful, and I believed him.

He was also a sweetheart after the show, chatting merrily with anyone who wanted a photo, an autograph, even advice on moving to L.A. I wanted to buy one of the CDs he had for sale, but had no cash on hand, so I went off to find an ATM. By the time I got back, there were only two of the half-dozen titles left for purchase. I told Viola about the preview blurb, and mentioned that, being “late to the party,” I wanted him to recommend which CD I should buy. He glanced at the merch table, saw the two lonely discs and said to forget it, he’d send me something in the mail. And he wouldn’t even take my $10, just my card.

In all honesty, I was disappointed on the ride home that I didn’t have a disc of his to play, as I was eager to explore his material. He mentioned that he hoped to back this way for a gig in May. If he returns, count me in. Here’s me and Mike Viola, an artist I’m looking forward to getting to know…

(photo by Lisa Winston Wilentz)

Concert Picks for the Week of March 28th

2011-03-30T00:01:00.000-04:00

A quick hello and an update on my latest...
Here's this week's list of concert picks, as presented on Citystream DC. The site also put up a nice photo and my bio on its contributors page. Trouble is, they misspelled my last name! (It's usually the first one that gets mangled.)

And just to add a little more, here's a quick peek at some of the new music I picked up earlier this month when I was up in Toronto, which is, BTW, a fabulous city. I was there to visit College Girl and see her performance in a UofT production of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" (it's a mother's dream to see her daughter in a corset and ripped tights while she does the pelvic thrust). The show was great fun, she was terrific and it just happened to be Canadian Music Week. The PR person I contacted via email was kind enough to give me credentials for the two days I would be there, so I had lots of fun checking out the music scene. On the Saturday, I walked around the Royal York hotel and checked out the exhibition booths, gathering a few freebies...

PREACHERS SON - Love Life & Limb (self-released)
A pretty impressive package - full jewel case and insert booklet with artsy design, although I’m not sure I want to know what that fleshy, bloodied thing is in the photo under the disc tray. Gavin Friday appears on one track (“Lipstick”) and the overall look of the male/female duo is The Ravenettes gone Goth.

TORONTO’S SUPERSTARS - Various Artists
18 tracks by 18 different artists in a full jewel case with a cheesy, generic art cover. Despite going through the CMW program a few times, and reading about over 100 bands who'd be playing in the city during the fest, I can’t recall seeing any of these names before, which would mean not a single one of them played the festival!? Doesn’t bode well.

RAISED EMOTIONALLY DEAD
Oops. I generally avoided picking up the freebies that were obviously metal or super-hard rock, since it’s a style I generally don’t enjoy. Looking at this one - in a simple clear plastic sleeve - more closely, I see that the band’s logo is the initials (are?) R.E.D. dripping blood. Probably not gonna be my bag, baby.

JOSE CLAUDIO SILVA
Another general rule I had was not to grab CD-Rs that had no markings other than a name in sharpie, thinking it’s a sign that the act hasn’t put enough effort into what they're doing. But this one was being distributed in the cushy international lounge, so I felt it might be an exception.

MUSIC FROM IRELAND: SXSW 2011/CMW 2011 - Various Artists
The front cover lists SXSW in the title, the back cover cites CMW. Hey, at least the Canadian fest gets some billing. The only reason I even heard about CMW in the week before I visited was a casual mention in an email with a band's itinerary that included a Toronto date. Meanwhile, every other music related missive I got was SxSW this and SxSW that. The Canadian fest was definitely way smaller, but that made it so much more mellow and easy to navigate. Anyhoo, in this two CD package, the first lists artists heading to Austin (hey, there’s James Vincent McMorrow, whom I met at Jammin Java when he opened for Bell X1), the second is split between CMW players and a bunch listed as “Indie.”

JENAVIVE - Demo (self-released)
A cardboard case with a photo, it says “Demo” as the title of the four track disc.

O/CD Tally: 43
(if I ever get around to actually counting all the digital downloads, thus number may amount to something)

Happy Saint Patrick's Day with the Pogues and a flash mob

2011-03-17T20:57:00.001-04:00

Top o' the evening to ya. Me grandmother was a Gillis. And, while I did not wear green nor drink a beer today (I need not play to stereotype), I hope you had a most wonderful day.

In one bit of Irish celebration, I posted a new story to examiner.com, with a photo gallery from last week's 9:30 Club concert by the Pogues.

And here's another bit of Celtic fun, a flash mob of Irish dancers.

Drink responsibly. Get home safely!

evolution of a musical love affair - Elbow is the band I adore.

2011-03-07T22:47:00.002-05:00

It started with a Facebook posting from my friend, Nate, a musician who lives in Chicago (I’d give credit to his lovely bands but, since he’s about to pass me a leaked album advance, I’ll keep it at that).

Nate wrote:

Just listened to the new elbow record 3 times in a row at the coffee shop while trying to read a book... I've read 14 pages in 3 hours and stared out the window for the remainder. Either this record is brilliant or ive just had some sort of stroke.

Upon reading that, I immediately added a comment:

I adore that band. Jealous you got to hear it in its entirety. Arriving this week, yes? Guy Garvey... Be mine.

Some background:

Elbow is a British (Manchester-based) band, featuring a supremely talented singer-songwriter (the aforementioned Guy Garvey) that I was turned onto by a guy who works at my local CD trade-in store. Based on the stuff that I give away and purchase/trade for in return, he suggested a 2002-dated album called “Asleep in the Back,” by said Elbow. He was right; I thought it was great. Over the past few years, hubby and I have seen the band a few times and about two years ago – at Sixth and I Synagogue – promoting the wonderful CD, “The Seldom Seen Kid,” they gave one of the best live concerts we’ve ever been to together.

So, the prospect of a new Elbow album is, indeed, exciting. The new album, “Build a Rocket Boys!” gets a physical release in the United States on April 12, but a digital version will be available tomorrow (March 8) to coincide with the March 7 UK release.

I was delighted to hear a song from the album on Internet stream from KCRW, the hip Los Angeles NPR station. (I was on the phone with my husband when it came on, courtesy of KCRW's Internet stream and he immediately said, "I'll hang up so you can listen." That's how much we love 'em!)

When I got a press email from a publicist who’s working the new album, I tried to score an advance of the music, but she balked. (“Thank you so much for the lovely words - the love that has been pouring in has been next to none. This band is truly loved!” she wrote back to my gushing comments. But no music.) So, a few hours after leaving the comment on Nate’s wall, I got an email from him that started with a link to a zip file…[redacted] and then said:

not sure how you fee about piracy, somali or otherwise.... but do with this link what you will. alls i know is the first track alone is worth it.

To which I replied:

(sound of Marianne screaming with joy!)

it's not piracy.

I will buy the CD when it's out and see the show and throw myself at Guy and do all other forms of fangirl worship.

burning a copy immediately to share with Terry.

thanks so much!

(how'd you get it?)

Nate’s explanation:

i have many dear nerd friends that are able to troll the internets for things like this.... and even if it's just to hear something like this a few days early it's completely worth it. what an amazing record!

i'm a late comer to the elbow party after just finding out about them last year. but i can't remember the last band i heard that i was able to go back and love everything they've done. so this is a pretty exciting record for me and i can't wait to see them live...

See? This is not about pirating music. This is that rare joy that the music-obsessed share when a band makes music that means something very personal to them and the anticipation of new material is delicious temptation.

And so, last night and tonight, hubby and I immersed ourselves in the new album. And yeah, it made a helluva first impression. And I trust it will grow to reveal itself even more over time.

Here is a taste for you of the extraordinary Elbow, recorded live:

Me and Justin Bieber

2011-03-01T15:52:00.000-05:00

We share a birthday today. I hope he's having as much fun as I am!

My Own Cash Money: Culture Vulture

2011-02-27T01:01:00.000-05:00

I don’t like to see retailers go out of business. I still get a pang in my heart whenever I pass by either of the two local shopping centers that once held Tower Records stores. Still, I like a bargain as much as the next person (probably more), so I make a point of checking out any media outlets that put up those black, red and yellow “everything must go” signs.

Happily, Borders Books isn’t closing all of its stores and there’s only one here in Northern Virginia that’s going under, the Tysons location, which is not one I frequented often. The Borders on Route 7 in Sterling is my preference and I was just there before Valentine’s Day, picking up a copy of SUN KIL MOON’s “Admiral Fell Promises” (1) as a present for Hubby.

Compared to the pitiful music section at my local Best Buy, and the hit-skewed shelves at Target, Borders is one of the few stores in my area that can actually offer a chance to browse, find more obscure titles and maybe make some discoveries. The trick, though, is that the chain’s prices are higher than most other options. In today’s look-see, the deal was 20% off list price so most CDs, ticketed at $14.99 and up, were no real deal. I’ll be back when the discount gets to 30%, but there was one rack of discount CDs – most $10 and under – that made for a good treasure hunt. That’s where I found:

THREE DOG NIGHT – Icon (Geffen)

Twelve tracks, and I could sing almost every one from memory. Some personal favorites – “Liar,” “Eli’s Coming,” “One” and “Mama Told Me (Not to Come).” 3DN may not have written their own stuff but they knew how to choose ‘em and how to make ‘em sound good. That said, the packaging is a total snooze – just one group shot on the back cover – so I will rip the tracks and send the disc on its way. (2)

PATTI SMITH GROUP – Wave (Arista)

It’s not that Patti Smith can do no wrong. Sometimes her stuff is over-the-top, indulgent and pretentious. But she’s Patti GD Smith (!) and she's earned the right to do as she wishes. And when she hits the nail on the head, as on “Dancing Barefoot” here, she’s the goddess. I have this on vinyl, as I do a few of her LPs, but I’m willing to swap analog for digital at a cost of under $5 and with two bonus tracks. (3)

The magazine racks were 40% off, so it was time to catch up with the latest issue of Uncut, the British magazine that mounts a CD on each issue. The February issue offers NEW MUSIC FOR A NEW YEAR, with Wanda Jackson, The Low Anthem, Old 97’s, Joan As Police Woman, and a bunch of artists I don't know - yet. (4)

A week or so ago, I picked up another of the British publications with CD's attached:

HARVEST REVISTED – Various Artists

From Mojo, a collection on which you have a grab bag of contemporary artists covering the Neil Young classic. I don’t know most of the names here – Doug Paisley, Jane Weaver, Neville Skelly – but have heard of Phosphorescent and Villagers, and saw Smoke Fairies open for Laura Marling last year. On first listen, I enjoyed hearing the songs again after a long time, but my main response was to want to go back and hear Neil Young sing the material. Tracks like “Old Man” and “Alabama” have enough inner strength to hold up under new interpretation, but only Young can sing the lyrics to songs like “A Man Needs a Maid” and make them not sound silly. (5)

On the way home from Borders, I stopped for groceries and popped into the Blockbuster in the same shipping center. It, too, is going out of business and, cruising through the $5.99 previously viewed DVDs, I kept saying to myself, “yeah, but I can get it on Netflix” and thus reinforced why the store is doomed. And yet, I grabbed a dirt cheap ($1.00!) copy of an HBO film starring Grad Girl’s favorite actor and, next to the cashier, found a cardboard display with CDs going for half off. And thus, I found (for $6.25):

TWILIGHT: NEW MOON – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Atlantic)

I’ve read one book, seen one movie (on video), so you can’t call me a Twi-hard. But this soundtrack contains previously unreleased (as far as I know) recordings by Death Cab, Thom Yorke, The Killers, Bon Iver & St, Vincent, Grizzly Bear…like tuning in to a cool radio station (another dying breed. Sigh). The jewel case has a series of scratches across the front cover – has Jacob been here? (6)

Catching up on some other recent purchases, back at ye olde CD Cellar, I traded in a bag of no longer wanted physical discs and brought home just a few new acquisitions:

CIAO MY SHINING STAR: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy – Various Artists (Shout! Factory)

As one half of the Miracle Legion, Mark Mulcahy was responsible for one of my favorite albums of 1989, “Mr. And Mr. Ray,” a little known, and therefore highly underrated classic of early alternative pop (Michael Stipe was a big fan and touted them at the time). When Mulchay’s wife died a few years back, a group of musician friends like Thom Yorke, The National, Dinosaur Jr., Juliana Hatfield and others recorded this tribute album to help him out financially and no doubt, emotionally. At the time of its release (2009), I got this album as a generic-sleeve advance, and wanted to have it in the permanent collection in its full packaging. ($1.99) (7)

DEAD CAN DANCE – Spiritchaser (4AD)

I keep buying DCD albums in hopes of getting more tracks like “The Carnival is Over,” which I discovered on a late-night chill compilation and fell in love with because of Brendan Perry’s beautiful, sonorous voice. But this is the second album of theirs I’ve bought and been disappointed by (the other was “Serpent’s Egg”), being dominated by a middle eastern chorus. ($3.99)

I need to go back further into the band’s catalog and find “Into the Labyrinth.” (On amazon.com, it appears to be out-of-print, with new copies starting at $30 and used at $13.) (8)

BEN HARPER & The INNOCENT CRIMINALS – Lifeline (Virgin)

I couldn’t resist – a CD and a DVD, both in nicely designed gate-fold sleeves in a slipcase with a photobook. ($3.99) (9)

If you don’t know about the “Pop Deal of the Day,” head over to the Columbia Records sales site that offers one sweet offer each weekday, usually a box set at greatly reduced prices, sometimes special deluxe editions that would be very hard to track down in these days of no damn record stores!

Though almost every day is a temptation, I have so far stayed sober and purchased just two:

LOUIS ARMSTRONG – The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings (Columbia/Legacy

Billed as “The definitive box set celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the legendary jazz innovator,” this was a steal at $18 - a box set of 89 songs on 4 CDs, remastered, with hardbound book. And speaking of Satchmo, our family had a strange and wonderful experience recently. One of hubby’s elderly uncles passed away and, being a WWII veteran, his graveside service featured a flag-folding ceremony and a live rendition of taps. In an email exchange with the young man who played the funereal trumpet, he mentioned that one of Louis Armstrong’s surviving relatives gave the soldier a trumpet mouthpiece that had been used by the Great One and told him to use it at military services. So Uncle Ed went to a better place with Satchmo helping him along. How cool is that? (10)

BROADWAY: The AMERICAN MUSICAL – Various Artists (Columbia Broadway Masterworks/Legacy)

This one was $24 for 5 CDs, over 100 songs from classics like “My Fair Lady,” “West Side Story,” “Cabaret” and tons more from the Great White Way. When I was growing up in Queens, NY, my mom and brother and I used to go to the theatre about once a month, or more, sitting in the cheap seats and taking advantage of any student discounts we could get in on. Columbia Records was the go-to label for all the original cast albums and I still have a ton on vinyl. Until such time as I can properly transfer them for digital use, this will be a great holdover and, if I choose to rip/burn the set, a good gift idea for the family. (11)

Wait! There's two more...

ARETHA FRANKLIN – Greatest Hits 1980-1995 (Arista)

“Freeway of Love,” “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” “Who’s Zooming Who” and a bunch of tracks I confess I don’t know at all. Since I got this one for just $1.50 at the Thrift Store, I can’t raise a real stink, but the 1985 hit duet with Annie Lennox, “Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves,” is not included, so I guess RCA was being dickish about letting it go. (12)

BRIGHT EYES - The People's Key (Saddle Creek)

I have a monthly subscription to emusic.com, which offers digital downloads at about half the price of iTunes and came thisclose to buying the new Bright Eyes album there, for $5.99. Glad I hesitated, 'cause I found the physical CD for just $7.99 at Target, and Conor Oberst is a guy who knows packaging. After all, he and his little indie label once hand-glued individual mirrors to the covers of "Fevers and Mirrors" in its initial pressing. This one is a die-cut, fold out cover with a booklet of photos.

And so, O/CD Tally: 37

The Battle is Over.

2011-02-23T00:07:00.000-05:00

Why has it taken me so long to racap the last night of the Jammin’ Java Mid-Atlantic Band Battle, which took place this past Friday? There’s some of my usual inertia, no doubt (rare and happy are the writers who welcome and honor deadlines) and maybe it's because it’s always so much fun that I’m sorry when I have to admit it’s over. The club is always such a fun place to hang, but to have a free tab for food and drink (that’s our “pay”), a comfy seat with a clear view of the stage, the chance to hear fine local music, chat with area friends and promote the CPF cause of world domination…that’s a great night out!

The judging part can be hard, though. Not in the sense of it being a labor but in that it can be very difficult to choose just one favorite band. The four acts that competed in the finals were of wildly varied styles, but each earned its place on the bill by winning a previous night of competition. So, unlike the preliminary nights I’d judged, I knew there wouldn’t be a stinker in the bunch. As I said to some of the musicians I chatted with, sometimes the scoring (we rate on a set of criteria including songwriting, musicianship, style and audience response) makes me think of a swimming meet. It can come down to fractional differences that determine the winner.

Here’s how the night played out...
First up was Light Speed Rescue, a band of young players whose hip-hop/rock blend was as potent as the first night I saw them.

Despite having the unenviable opening slot, the guys gave it all they had, and the lead singer even wound up stripping to the waist in the final song. It's the kind of gesture that can seem over-the-top, but it didn't feel contrived at all, and the guy was buff, so all good.

Second to the stage was the Chris Collat Band, an older bunch of cats whose veteran status came through loud and clear in tight jams.

Last time I saw the CCB play, they reminded me of Dave Matthews Band. This night, the songs made me think of Hootie and the Blowfish, but that's a double-edged sword (as huge as Hootie was, I never got it).

Delta Rae was next, another totally pro outfit whose choice of soundcheck song (Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind") hinted at the strong melodic nature of their originals. Here's one of the two female vocalists with Nate Ihara, the Hardest Working Man in Local Showbiz, who hosted the event yet again. (BTW, Nate's band, We Were Kings, are playing with Delta Rae on March 10 at the IOTA. See you there.)

With four-part harmonies and a bit of southern soul, these North Carolina siblings and friends became the band to beat.

And here's where the joys (and pains) of judging really come in. The last act of the night, The Silver Liners, won the one preliminary Battle that I didn't judge, and so was the one band on this night that I hadn't seen before. What a great surprise! As one of the club staff told me afterward, "they really brought it."

The band came roaring out of the gate with a garage pop song called "Hot Mess" and proceeded to rip through eight tunes in their half-hour set, all of them crackling with guitar-fueled hooks.

Though they didn't need extra help, the Silver Liners brought on a friend, rapper Dom-O, onstage for one number.

A highlight of the set, "Better Than Your Boyfriend," became my new favorite track, the kind of sharp, angular pop that Franz Ferdinand made safe for radio. I was delighted to see it listed on the six-track demo EP that the band handed out after the show. (O/CD Tally: 24)

Like I said, it was a tough call to choose just one winner. When the scoresheets were taken away to be tallied, I was as eager as the audience to find out which band would win the cash, equipment, studio time and future headlining show. (The judges don't talk about their scoring; it's all secret ballots.) As it turned out, Delta Rae took the top honors and, though I felt bad for the other guys, I'm sure you'll be hearing from all of them again - especially here, as I look forward to writing about their future shows. When the music's good, nobody's a loser. (Does Hallmark do a line of cards for musicians?)

Hey, look what I found....(I can't remove the second Silver Liners link; sorry)...support local music!

Once More Into the (Judging) Breach

2011-02-18T18:43:00.001-05:00

Tonight, I'll be back at the judges table at Jammin' Java for the final round of the fourth Mid-Atlantic Band Battle and since our resident "dreamboat" host, Nate Ihara, is very good at mentioning the web site in his judge introductions, I felt I'd better put up something new to let y'all know that, yes, indeed, CPF is open for action. I've actually been pretty busy with another web project that will be going online in the next few weeks, but I can say no more at the moment.

For now though, here are two recent things that have gone interwebal in the recent past. The first is a new outlet, Citystream DC, which is very much like Citysearch DC, not only in nominal similarity but in how it's looking to cover the same local content. And it has the same editor as well. Much like my weekly concert roundup for the 'search, I am giving the 'stream a listing of upcoming shows, this time in a thingy we're calling The Next Ten Days...

Meanwhile, back at examiner-land, I posted a photo gallery from an intimate promo show given by R&B star Raphael Saadiq...

Since I opened my last posting with a gripe about getting caught in the awful snowstorm-induced "carmeggedon" of a few weeks ago, I feel obliged to mention that today was an absolutely Bee-Yoo-Tee-Ful day. I know that spring isn't yet here to stay, but it was certainly lovely to get outside and feel some sun.

That's all for now. It's off to the Battle. If you've come here on Nate's recommendation, I hope it will be the start of a nice relationship and yes, I will post photos from the event ASAP.

Battles Musical and Automotive

2011-01-29T19:14:00.000-05:00

I am still recovering from “carmageddon,” this past Wednesday’s horrific commute in a snowstorm that put the DC area into gridlock from mid-afternoon to the following morning. For myself, I got into my car at 4 pm, leaving from in front of Jammin’ Java, in Vienna, which I have tracked as being approximately eight miles from my home.

I walked through my front door at 12:30 am. Yep, it took 8.5 hours to get home. I could tell you the whole story but I’m trying to get past my personal suburban version of PTSD, so we’ll move on. But first, a shout-out to Sully, the Brave Little Yaris, who made it home even while scores of other, bigger cars were left wanting.

Speaking of Jammin Java (did I mention that five hours into my commute, I was back in front of the club, having been twice turned around by disabled cars that made the previous roads I was on unpassable?! Oh, wait. I said I’d move on…)

Anyway, I wanted to put up the last photos from the Battle of the Bands in case any of the bands and/or fans who were there have come to the site, even after all this time, to get a little love…

(a few of the bands gave me CDs, so you’ll the O/CD Tally going up.)

HYE-TENSION opened the show with an engaging set that put me in mind of Elvis Costello and the Strokes, which is a very nice mindset indeed. (O/CD T: 20)

CURBSIDE MANNER is a five-piece band that offered two lead vocalists and a violin player, who did a credible take of the Charlie Daniels’ chestnut, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” (O/CD T: 21)

BTW, the band's 5-track EP has a nice, Beach Boys-y sound, which was not fully in force during the live show.

For just three guys, RHYTHM SECTION made quite a noise, including what they said was a Katy Perry cover, but I didn’t recognize it in the trio’s brooding style.

Ooops. We can't forget Nate Ihara, who hosted the night yet again and pimped out Close Personal Friend in every introduction. Here he is, introducing the fourth act of the night, Delta Rae...

DELTA RAE, a six-piece act from one of the Carolinas, is a country-tinged outfit with two female and two male vocalists. They did one nearly a cappella number that was extraordinary and won the night’s top honors with a set that was totally pro from start to finish. (O/CD T: 22)

An all-female quartet named IVY ROSE also had its act honed to a sharp edge. I love watching young women rock out and, like I said before, sometimes the scores come down to just a few minor points indeed.

Again, the night ended with a band that went for the jugular, ONE CITY MILE, who roared through a hard, but polished, rock set. (O/CD T: 23)

Again, the winner this night was Delta Rae. They will return to Jammin Java on February 18, along with the Chris Collat Band, Light Speed Rescue and the first night's winner (I wasn't a judge), The Silver Liners, to compete for the grand prize. I'm not sure yet if I'll be judging then - if it's snowing, I may just stay home and whimper - but from the bands I've seen compete, it's gonna be a tough call to pick just one champion.

Oh, and one more Battle of the Bands-related thingy. I got an email from Aaron Thompson, who competed on the night I didn't judge. He asked if I'd link to his video on the site and, since I think it's quite good, glad to do so. You can check it out here.

And, as Aaron wrote in his note, "Be sure to watch the end. ;) "

Okay, now that I’ve caught up with that, we’ll return to our (ir)regularly scheduled blogging about other musical happenings.

Thanks for dropping by!

Back to the Battle

2011-01-24T23:22:00.002-05:00

If anyone came to the site during its "down time" to see photos from the Jammin Java Battle of the Bands, held earlier this month, I'm sorry you didn't get to see them in a more timely matter. But now, without further ado, here's what went down on Wednesday, January 12th:

The first act to take the stage was the CHRIS COLLAT BAND, who set the bar very high for the night with an accomplished set that had a polished, DMB-style vibe.

Next up was I AM AVERNA, five young guys led by a singer with a monster voice.

Yet another young quintet. SUB-RADIO STANDARD, had the middle slot. (There were only five bands this night as one group, Starryville, was no longer in the lineup).

And now, a special guest star! While I was grabbing a drink between acts, I ran into another fine local musician VINCE SCHEUERMAN. Vince was just a teenager when he fronted beloved area band Cactus Patch, which morphed into Army of Me, and now leads a new outfit called River James. I told him I wanted to take his picture for the blog, but Vince vetoed a solo shot ("I feel like a farm animal," he protested gently) so here's a Facebook-style shot of me and him.

The penultimate (I told you I love that word) band was SKYLINES, a six-piece band that had lots of energy and a violin player to help vary its sound.

And the final band of the night, OH SO PELIGROSO, took us out with a fiercely compelling set that made the final decision a tough one.

Still, the winner was....Chris Collat and company. Sometimes, it really comes down to just a few points on the scoring card.

Which brings me to another, different kind of point. The last time I wrote about the Battle of the Bands, a few people left comments calling into question the judges' decision on Tuesday night. They complained that the band that won didn't have the same number of vocal fans as one that didn't. Just for the record, the judges work from a set of criteria that includes musicianship, style, songwriting and other factors, crowd support being just one of them. So, ultimately it's a talent, not a popularity, contest. The judges don't discuss the scores as we each write them down and the final tally is done by someone else working at the club. Hope that clears things hope.

BTW, OH SO PELIGROSO gave me a copy of its full-length CD and I picked up two CD-Rs that other acts distributed to promote upcoming shows.
McTWIST - "So I'm Off"
BRIAN HUBER - 3-track sampler (including a song called "Snuggies" which is as scary as it sounds)
All of which makes the O/CD Tally: 19

We Now Return to Our Regulary (?) Scheduled Blog

2011-01-23T22:39:00.001-05:00

Ah......I exist again.

A little over a week ago, just as I was in the midst of judging the Jammin Java Battle of the Bands, where the CPF site was mentioned repeatedly over the course of three nights, leading to more traffic than I've seen here in quite a while, the site disappeared. This was the result of my renewing the domain name and, while doing so, transferring to a new domain service where I made mistakes in resetting the DNS. (And if that makes sense to you, you're much more of a geek than I am.)

I watched in horror (well, disappointment) as closepersonalfriend.com seemed to evaporate. I knew the bits (bytes) and pieces of it still existed somewhere on the web, but I couldn't get the URL to connect to the material. It's the first time that has happened in five + years of doing this blog and I was surprised to realize how much it means to me to have CPF out there where people (all six of you?) can see it.

I had resigned myself to another day of dealing with GoDaddy customer service (their commercials suck, but the people on the phone are lovely; I don't blame them for my error) but then, a friend who came to dinner this evening was kind enough to answer my call for help and found the key to making it all work again. Hurrah for Mark!

CPF is back, baby! Better late than never, I hope, I will post the remaining photos from the Battle.
In the meantime, here's my ballot for the Village Voice Pazz & Jop Poll (I'll tell you more about my choices soon).

Thanks, as ever, for stopping by.

A View from the Judges Table

2011-01-12T16:13:00.002-05:00

Last night, I was one of three judges at Jammin Java’s fourth Mid-Atlantic Battle of the Bands, and will be there again tonight and tomorrow night as we choose one band each night (it also took place Monday, but I wasn’t there) to compete for the grand prize - including $$, a headliner show at the club and a recording session - on February 18th.

This is the third time I’ve been asked by the club to be a judge, and it’s a lot of fun. I’m no Simon Cowell, and so I’m not out to dash anyone’s hopes of moving up in the music business, but there are definitely bands I’ve seen and enjoyed at past events - like Sing Me Insomnia, Escape the Armada and The Shields Brothers - that I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. My favorites don’t always win, and there are bands I wouldn’t cross the street to see platy again, but everyone who takes the stage got there legitimately. Some don’t have what it takes - yet, or maybe never - but kudos for trying.

The first band up was a group from local high schools, Friday Harbor, who didn't have much of a crowd due to snow delays, but made their moment count.

Next up was Grand Revival, whose frontman had the look of INXS' late Michael Hutchence and the vocal style of Eddie Vedder.

Nata Ihara, lead singer for a fine local band, We Were Kings, has been the host for many of the nights I’ve judged. He’s a fun, humorous flirt (tell him he’s “dreamy”) and keeps the crowd pumped. When he introduces the three judges, he usually calls me “freelance writer for the Washington Post,” but I haven’t contributed to the paper since they cancelled the biweekly local sections (one for Arlington, one for Fairfax county) where my “Live!” columns appeared (for five years; it was a great gig while it lasted).

So, last night I told Nate to mention this blog and tell people I would be posting pics from the event. I had only my small point-and-click camera and didn’t want to leave the judges table to get close, so these are not quality shots but, hopefully, they’ll give you a sense of the event and let the participating bands know they were, indeed, being noticed.

The act in the next three shots is Light Speed Rescue. It was the third band to play but took the top spot, winning the night with a nice blend of rock, funk and hip-hop.

The only female on the bill was Robin Cook, who took the bold move of appearing solo, accompanied by a computer playing dance beats and with some cool lighting effects. She was mostly in shadow (sorry about the dim shots) and brought a disco vibe to the otherwise rock-skewed night.

Here's "dreamy" Nate, stopping by the judges table...

Nate took my camera up close to the stage to get a shot of The Elevators, a funk band who were fifth on the bill. That makes them the penultimate band. (Look it up; I love that word!)

I took this shot of the band's lead guitarist, who played some tasty Pink Floyd-like licks during a longer jam - and yeah, I know Floyd's not technically funky, but it was cool.

And the last band of the night was billed as Scott Norris, led by the lead singer of the same name. Is it just me, or does he have a bit of a Justin Timberlake look? The sound, however, was more straight-on rock.

And finally, here's Nate again, announcing the winner. I can’t tell you how I voted, but suffice to say I think justice was served.

If you read this and you’re coming to any of the remaining Battle nights, stop by the judges table and say hello. And Nate is also giving away free copies of the new We Were Kings two-track CD, which I enjoyed listening to on the ride home. So come to the show and grab one while they last. (O/CD Tally: 15)

Friday night, counting at the keyboard

2011-01-08T00:23:00.004-05:00

I thought I was going to get to bed early tonight, but I just discovered, while looking to see if Bill Maher is on tonight (he’s not), that HBO is playing the Ricky Gervais stand-up, “Out of England 2” at 11:00. (HA! I just realized that his special is following a Mel Gibson movie, which is pretty funny itself considering how Gervais skewered the anti-semitic GF-beater at the Golden Globes last year.) So, while I enjoy the fang-toothed British wit with the endearing, contagious laugh, I will attempt to catch up with some of this past week’s musical acquisitions.

With one exception (to be discussed later), it’s been an onslaught of digital downloads for this first week of the new year. Some are freebies I can share, like BLOODSHOT BEST OF 2010 SAMPLER, eight tracks from the respected Americana-skewing indie. (You can grab one at amazon.com.)

There’s also a nifty gifty from Largehearted Boy, who hosts a great blog that offers free legal downloads on a daily basis. ONE TRACK MIND - The 10 Best Songs of 2010 includes Sarah Jaffe, The National and more. (Sorry, I went to the site to find the link for that particular collection, but I can’t find it.)

And then there were the zip files, sent from the publicists, for these new/upcoming releases:

AMOS LEE - Mission Bell

JONNY BURKE – Distance and Fortune

JJ – Kills

KELLI SCARR – Piece

WRETCHES & JABBERERS –

Soundtrack with 20 tracks from a new film, with contributions from Ben Taylor, Judy Collins. Bob Weir, Paul Brady and more.

TINA DICO – Welcome Back Colour

Sent to me because Dico is coming to the area (but not real close) to play the Rams Head in Annapolis on January 30. The 2-disc album (if it were on discs) is a collection of her greatest hits (she’s big in Denmark) and five new tracks.

OBERHOFER – o0O0o0O0o 3-track 7”

That title is cool to look at a pain in the ass to replicate.

(Hmmmm….Gervais just did a bit about the pervert across the street who showed him “magic tricks” when his family went out. Not working. Back to the music….)

ELIZABETH & The CATAPULT – The Other Side of Zero

The album was sent in advance of the group’s show last night at Jammin Java, which will be an examiner story/gallery soon. (That's Elizabeth, above) I also grabbed the band’s Daytrotter Session (4 tracks recorded live). If you haven’t visited Daytrotter's site, it’s worth checking out for all the live performances, mostly from bands flying just below the radar - although I got one from MGMT this afternoon.

(So, adding in those 12 bold-faced new titles, the O/CD Tally: 14)

As a writer who often has to describe what I'm listening to, I appreciate anyone who can make me laugh while explaining a band's sound. While I don’t listen to metal as a rule, I greatly enjoy reading press releases for their often awful/awesome descriptions of the material. Like the one which came for a band called American Heritage, whose Sedentary comes out on March 1 (which just so happens to be my birthday, for those who want to start shopping early). According the press email I got, Anthem magazine described the music as "...Wagner after a bottle of Jack Daniel's and some ludes.”

Something else fun to share. Here are a few samples from a project where graphic artists reinterpret covers from their favorite albums.

Well, time to go to bed. Gervais is done and, although I still count myself a fan, I wouldn't recommend this particular special. He admitted early on that it was a work in progress and some of the stuff would be dumped along the tour as he saw what worked and what didn't. I would say about a third of it wasn't up to his usual standard. The encore piece was yet another bit on child abuse which left me cold, as did some of the middle bits, too. But, as they say, that's show biz...

Thanks for stopping by and especially for your patience with the crazy fonts and spacing (blogger's starting to get on my nerves; WordPress, here I come.)
G'night, all.

First Show of the New Year - The Shields Brothers at Jammin Java 1-2-11

2011-01-03T00:13:00.001-05:00

I'm tired and I want to got to bed, but in keeping with my new commitment to blog often (dare I say everyday?), I wanted to toss up a few pictures from my first concert of 2011. The band above is The Getaways, a Baltimore-based pop/punk outfit that opened the show. I didn't see their full set, but chatted with guitarist Matt Higgins after the show and he gave me a copy of the band's most recent CD, "The Boldest Thought." (O/CD Tally: 2) Listened to it on the way home and think it might be something the girls might enjoy, being that they are fans of the style.

The rest of the photos here are of The Shields Brothers, a sibling band from a nearby small town here in Northern Virginia; the act that I specifically wanted to see. The guys had very much impressed me at a previous J2 Battle of the Bands, where their unflagging energy, goofy good humor and over-the-top showmanship made them contenders for the evening's top spot. They ultimately lost (as much fun as the Shieldseseseses were, another band had stronger original material) but I definitely wanted to see the trio do a full set sometime.

And so, despite being a bit draggy after a day's mall-hopping with the girls, I got myself to the show and had a great time. These guys really know how to put on a show. Above, you've got Devin Shields showing the audience how to do the dance that goes with the tune "Shark Attack."

Next, you see guitarist Tristan, who also sang lead on a righteous cover of Kings of Leon's "Sex on Fire," facing off with Devin. And next up is Rory, who drums not only with power but with style, adding fancy stick swirls to the big beat.

And this time around, the three bros played some new material that showed exponential growth from the last time I saw them. I'm telling you here and now, The Shields Brothers are a band to watch.

I'm going to post more photos and a more "formal" concert report on examiner.com tomorrow, but I wanted CPF to get the first draft.

And so, a good start to the year in live music!

Hello, Mr. New Year

2011-01-01T23:54:00.003-05:00

As you may have noticed, there's a new look to the CPF Blog. This New Year's thing - with its fresh starts, blank slates, resolutions and such - has me revved to make some changes and, hopefully, get back to regular posting. This is not the final look; I am going to revisit and possibly even switch to WordPress as I go, but at least you know I've been here!

As the new year began, I put the musical year 2010 to bed, as it were, by cleaning up my iTunes library for the past year. My trusty old laptop is short on memory, so I bought a big ass hard drive to hold music and put all the new music that publicists sent to me in mp3 form onto that beast, pulling material back to the laptop as needed. Though it's not a totally reliable count (some old material slipped in and various singles and compilations were lost in the tally), that drive ended 2010 with 4528 songs on it, and I eyeballed some 279 albums or EPs total. This year, I intend to add each new CD (physical or digital) as it arrives, in the infamous O/CD Tally.

Speaking of which, while I never left the house today and there was no mail delivery, I did grab an album from an old email which offered a download link to something that struck me as intriguing. I'm a sucker for the sound of a cello, so a release from November, touting a collaboration between Ballaké Sissoko, a traditional kora player, and Vincent Ségal, a French cellist, called to me. It's called "Chamber Music," and my first listen tells me it was a lucky choice, gentle world music with a Penguin Cafe Orchestra vibe. A good first acquisition to start the year.

I also happened upon a link to a story about Stereogum's 50 Most Popular Downloads for the year, which is full of free, legal mp3s. The one I was most excited to hear was Phoenix, covering Dylan's “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands.”

In other music news, today I confirmed that I'll be acting as a judge again at the upcoming Mid-Atlantic Battle of the Bands IV, taking place at Jammin Java later this month. The whole shebang runs from January 10 to 13, with the finalists coming back for a night in February. I'll be there on Tuesday (11). Wednesday (12) and Thursday (13). (Monday is reserved for family time with Grad Girl before she heads back to England).

The club asked for a bio to run on its site, so I was in that strange position of having to talk about myself in the third person and make me sound important. So I gave them this:

In her long career as a freelance writer, Marianne Meyer has written music and arts previews and features for The Washington Post, New York Times, Rolling Stone and other publications. She has both an Emmy and a Peabody award for her television and radio work. Marianne currently blogs at ClosePersonalFriend.com and writes two columns for Examiner.com, one about digital music and another featuring reviews and photo galleries of DC area concerts. You can follow her twitter feed @mariannemeyer.

So, for those of you stumbling upon this blog for the first time, that's me.

Presley, Lennon and...Rockwell?

2010-11-24T20:34:00.001-05:00

Sunday was a day for reconsidering. With Mom in town for Thanksgiving, we decided to head into DC for brunch and to visit the National Portrait Gallery, which is hosting two good shows. The one that we thought Mom would enjoy was a retrospective of Norman Rockwell works, both sketches and finished oil paintings, all from the collections of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

I went in thinking I would have to stifle my annoyance so as not to spoil Mom's fun. Rockwell, after all, is known for those highly sentimental Saturday Evening Post covers and cutesy-wootsy kids in oversized uniforms, dripping with nostalgia for an era of innocence and honor that didn't actually exist.

And while there was a hint of that stale air and musty sentiment in the room, I must admit that the guy's technique was stunning. The care that went into his composition was painstaking and his mastery of oils is remarkable. Even more surprising to me, after Grad Girl came home from a previous visit with talk of his implied sexism ("all the women are dumb blondes or frumpy housewives"), I found Rockwell's women to be on equal footing with the men - sometimes dippy but often strong. All told, a revelation.

And now, at risk of pissing off the classicists out there, I'll admit to never being a huge Elvis fan, either. I like some of the songs, but I never got the idol worship. Trouble is, I was too young to see Elvis in his youthful glory and a little bit of Fat Elvis goes a long way. (BTW, check out the reading matter in the picture above - an Archie comic book!)

That impression, too, was brought up short by the exhibition of photographs taken by Alfred Wertheimer when he tagged along with Elvis at his prime on a trip to NYC, before the big hits, before the mania, before the adulation.

First off, I'll admit, the guy sure was pretty. I'm not a pompadour and curled lip lovin' kinda girl, but there's no denying Elvis was a looker. And these photos caught him in such unconscious poses as this, sharing some of his new music with a former girlfriend...

I liked this shot (below) for showing Presley taking a break from his fan mail. We can all relate to not wanting to do our homework, right?

In this shot, Elvis is on the train ride home to Memphis, listening to the songs he recorded in New York...

Now, zoom in and check out his little toy-like record player. Remember the world without iPods!?

Of course, showing you these little pics here is no substitute for seeing the show yourself if you're in the DC area. The prints are big and beautiful and the text plaques give you much more background, albeit often with that hagiography that drives me mad. (from the introduction: "When Elvis Presley walked on stage in 1956, time stopped and the world exploded. The earth shook on its axis, and the beat of everyday life was jolted. In an instant, mainstream America's culture of complacency was shattered.")

Much more interesting to me are the little stories like the one told for the set of shots above. On the ride home to Memphis, Elvis requested that the train let him off at the suburban stop that was walking distance from his home. He saved an hour by not going into Memphis and having to cab ride back out to Audubon Avenue. And here the text made sense: "It would be among the last uncomplicated stops on Elvis' journey to stardom."

"Elvis at 21" runs at the Portrait Gallery here in DC until January 23, 2011 and then will tour, at these locations.

And finally, to John Lennon. Anyone who knows my atheist husband knows that Lennon is closest we've got to a god around this house. And so, we sat down to watch the American Masters production of "LennonNYC" on our local PBS station Monday night with a warning to my mom that this was like going to church - reverence, please.

Perhaps her mind was changed in a manner akin to my reconsideration of Rockwell. The show was extremely enlightening as to the reasons for John & Yoko's deportation fight and a somewhat frightening/reassuring reminder of how America has weathered great civil unrest in the past. The studio clips were fascinating, the interviews actually contained new Lennon/Beatles' insights and there was little revisionist redemption (hey, Yoko *is* much cooler than many of us gave her credit for at the time).

Most of all, for someone like myself, who loves the Beatles, but didn't share Husband's life-changing response to them (again, I was just shy of the curve; I had the Monkees), it was a great reminder of why Lennon holds such a special place in his heart. He and I often argue about whether being a great artist excuses a person from striving to also be a good human being. (He has it can; I say it shouldn't.) John Lennon made mistakes and could be a difficult guy, but he wasn't an arrogant prick. And when he sometimes did something arrogant or pricky, he seemed to regret, learn from it and try to do better. And he was one hell of an artist. So, I highly recommend "LennonNYC" as well.

And hey, everybody - Happy Thanksgiving!

When in doubt, crank up some Christmas

2010-11-18T23:04:00.005-05:00

So, for reasons that we won’t go into here (diddly interpersonal family stuff), I got thrown off course today and needed to feel productive while also doing something to cheer myself up. Voila! Time to work on the 2010 edition of “Cool Yule,” the annual holiday mix CD that I’ve created every year for the past 20 or so years (and yes, it was initially distributed on cassette). While I try to hold back on getting wildly Christmasy before Thanksgiving, attention must be paid early to the “Cool Yule” imperative if I am to get songs selected and sequenced, discs duplicated and in the mail in time for my audience to enjoy it.

The "Cool Yule" collection is, if I may say so myself. quite a popular annual event with those Close Personal Friends who get it each year, so become a follower, send me an email and maybe you, too, will get a puffy envelope full of holiday tunes in the next few weeks.

And therefore and henceforth, with a reheated Starbucks holiday latte at my side (it’s “BOGO” between 2 and 5 pm through the weekend, so I doubled up), I’ve been checking out some of the new zip files that have come in over recent weeks with Christmas music (not much Hanukkah action yet) in ‘em and have started making a bigass playlist from which to pick this year’s top 20+ selections.

One of the tracks that might make the cut, and which I can share as a free download, is this version of “Santa Baby” by the Puppini Sisters.

Whoa. Just checked my emails and discovered that I received my first publicist note about this album on August 31^st! And even then, it was second after an even earlier announcement of the Indigo Girls’ first holiday album. So much for me jumping the gun!

At any rate, I needed a little Christmas and I got it. I feel better already. Hope you do, too.

An Attempt to Kickstart Back Into Blog Action

2010-11-11T22:37:00.001-05:00

“Special thanks to all my friends and family without whom I would have been snooker loopy by now.”
Kathryn Williams, in liner notes for “Dog Leap Stairs,” 1999.

Those are words I can relate to and as good a way as any, I would say, to dive back into the ongoing bit of snooker loopydom that I call the O/CD Tally. The last time I bothered to add to the count of new albums - physical or digital - coming into the Close Personal Friend music library was March (!?) of this year, and the batch of used CDs I purchased then brought my calculated (not actual) tally to 61. Add in the 5 albums I mentioned in the (now abandoned) effort to move the Tally to another section of the blog (it’s up top, a page called “Hey, What Happened to the O/CD Tally?” that’s not gonna work for me) and we’re at 66. That doesn’t begin to tell the tale of all the music that’s come my way - and gone away.

I’ve started lists repeatedly throughout the year to keep the tally tallying, but my sad mantra in that effort appears to be “often begun, never done.” Well, I’m trying to kick start my way back into regular blogging. One way to clear the decks and text is to pull up one of those lists and Post It the *&^% Up Already...

Here’s from a document I call TITTS (the unfortunate anagram for “Taking It to The Stores”), a list of albums that were acquired but then “recycled” back to the CD trade-in store for the various reasons you’ll see here.

Sometimes I get perfectly good CDs, full of great music, that I nonetheless trade away. Case in point:
1. DIRE STRAITS - Making Movies (Warner Bros.)
I interviewed Mark Knopfler in the studio when he and the band were working on this and heard one track (“Romeo and Juliet,” I believe) while they were mixing. Knopfler was so gracious, especially when my tape recorded malfunctioned and we had to redo most of the conversation, that I developed a bit of a crush on him. (Not so producer Jimmy Iovine, who was kind of a dick about the whole thing.) Anyway, I love the music on this album but, after getting a CD copy to replace my vinyl version, through the Swaptree site, I realized I didn’t need the physical disc. After putting the songs on my “Enchilada” hard drive, I am sending this one back into the marketplace.

I’m also getting a little fussy about CD packaging, If there’s nothing special about the case, I might as well digitize the sounds and save space, as I did with these:
2. LUKA BLOOM - Dreams in America (BigSky Records)
3. BOB SCHNEIDER - Lovely Creatures (Kirtland)
4. JODY PORTER - Close to the Sun (EngineRoom Recordings)
Porter’s in one of my favorites bands, Fountains of Wayne, but he’s not one of the songwriting team that give the band its bite. His solo album, as to be expected, has the power pop snap of FoW, but not quite the same lyric heights.
5. JUSTIN CURRIE - The Great War (Rykodisc)
The main man behind the once glorious Del Amitri released another solo album earlier this year with a dark and somewhat cranky sound.
6. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - Original Television Soundtrack, Vol. 2 (Arrival/Scion Music Group)
A nice collection of tracks like “Percussion Gun” (one of last year’s greatest tracks, a song from one of my favorite (new to me) bands, the Avett Brothers, and other miscellaneous people I like - John Doe, AM, Sufjan Stevens.
7. 90210 - Various Artists (CBS Records)
Here’s where the packaging makes the difference. I ripped all the songs into iTunes for future exploration and there’s a bunch I’m sure I’ll want to keep -- but the artwork - silly little photos from a TV series I never intend to watch - isn’t worth the paper and plastic casing it came in.
8. The DANCE PARTY - Touch (Hell Ya! Records)
There’s catchy disco/pop happening here but the cover is so skanky, with grab-ass shots of various types - girls touching themselves, hands down pants, lacy pantied butts and more - I just want to get rid of the thing before my kids see it - and they’re not even impressionable children anymore! The band no doubt think they’re being cute and coy and clever, but it’s cheap and classless and will bother me even as I bop my head to the sounds. Promo FAIL.
9. EILEN JEWELL - Presents Butcher Holler: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn (Signature Sounds) A few years ago, I hosted a casual BBQ for Eilen (rhymes with “feelin’”) Jewell and her band when they were playing a gig at the upstate NY lake resort town where my mom has a summer home. She’s a sweetheart and a fine performer, just so you know.
10. MARK CHESTNUT - Outlaw (Saguaro) Another covers album, this one of classic country tunes, produced by the esteemed Pete Anderson. I’ll grab a few tracks, but country’s generally not my bag.

Speaking of not my bag, here’s the rap cast-offs:
11. VADO - Slime Flu (Entertainment One)
Here’s a guy dropping the n-word and “bitches” and all the rest and I feel bad for the publicist listed on the press release ‘cause I remember how she used to work indie rock bands with genuine enthusiasm and now has to promote this (self-dubbed) slime.
12. DWELE - W.ants W.orld W.omen (E1 Music/RTMG)
I thought maybe I’d give this one a listen since the cover showed a guy busting stereotypes in a tryptic view, including one dapper suit shot. Then I opened it up and saw a photo of him lounging in bed with two women and a video camera. And I said, nah.
13. FAT JOE - The Darkside, Vol. 1 (E1 Music)
This one’s got a track called “Money Over Bitches.” Next!
14. SLUM VILLAGE - Villa Manifesto (E1 Music/Ne’astra)
15. 8 BALL & MJG - Ten Toes Down (Push/E1 Music)
16. DEVIN the DUDE - Suite #420 (E1 Music)
Hey, I’m a middle-aged white woman who loves in the suburbs. I can’t pretend it’s talking to me!

Stuff I’m Just Not Gonna Listen to Again:
17. JOHN JORGENSON and ORCHESTRA NASHVILLE - Istiqbal Gathering (J2 Records)
Two tracks feature the Turtle Island Quartet, whom I have liked on other recordings, but this is just too MOR for me.
18. STICK MEN - Soup (self-released?)
Tony Levin was in King Crimson, so I won’t argue his pedigree or chops. I just don’t like this ersatz jazz noodling thing.
19. BETH NIELSON CHAPMAN - Back to Love (BNC)
“How We Love” is a good song for my funeral mix (yeah, I’ve started a list of songs I want played at my funeral. You mean you haven’t?) Other than that, as much as I feel bad for her going through some bad health issues, her backstory doesn’t endear this very sentimental material to me.
20. GRANT DERMODY - Lay Down my Burden (self-released)
I’m not much for hard-core folk, either.
21. THUNDER BUFFALO - S/T (Sarathan/Fontana)
Slow, loud sludge. Probably fine for people who like that kind of thing.
22. KELLER WILLIAMS - Thief (SCI Fidelity)
After an explanation of how the money will be shared with the songwriters, thereby not making him the titular villain, Williams warns that it would be a “DOUBLE hit to your karma” if you “achieve this record for free, or simply burn it for a friend.” Not leaving well enough alone, he includes a boxed “KARMA WARNING” that threatens, “If you thief this record in any way, your body will be used as a butt plug for an elephant” and goes on to explain it in more detail including the website www.iamanelephantbuttplug.com where there’s a Art Crumb style illustration of same. TMI, Keller and the attitude is enough to make me feel better about passing the CD off to my retail contact. That, and the unattractive mug shot-style photos, and music that’s more novelty than novel. Less bluegrass than hackey-sack doodling on covers like “Rehab,” “Se and Candy” and “Teen Angst.”
23. HOPE SANDOVAL & The WARM INVENTIONS - Through the Devil Softly (Nettwerk)
I kinda liked Sandoval’s other band,, Mazzy Star (again, in short bursts) but a whole album of this melancholic, drowsy music makes me...melancholic and drowsy.
24. The LOST FINGERS - Lost in the 80s (Tandem)
This band plays classic, and not-so, pop potboilers in the style of Le Jazz Hot. It’s a better-than-average gimmick which makes for fun in a track here and there, but a whole album of such novelty numbers wears thin quickly. I wonder if the band also get tired of using its considerable skills performing what is essentially the same trick over and over.
25. THRICE - Beggars (Vagrant)
I can sense that this band has grand ambition, and may well be able to bring it to fruition, but it’s a more aggressive style than I care for.
26. FALLING STILL - May All Magic Guide and Change You (Peace, Man)
Ditto.
27. MIDLAKE - The Courage of Others (Bella Union)
Great press for this, but I find it a little bland.
28. TRANSIENT SONGS - Cave Syndrome (Indian Casino)
One of those albums I would like better if I didn’t speak English. There’s a laid-back psychedelia to the music, like Pink Floyd or Flaming Lips, but the lyrics are pretty lame.
29. HOT CLUB of COWTOWN - Wishful Thinking (Proper)
I saw this band perform a few years back at the Barns of Wolf Trap, after writing them up for the Post, and I had a fine time, especially watching the older audience members who knew how to dance genuine two-step to the country swing. This album, however, didn’t have any spark.

Sometimes, I’m just dumping garbage, pure and simple:
30. 20 BEST ROCKIN’ 60’S - VARIOUS ARTISTS (Madacy Entertainment)
I hate when this happens. I buy a CD of oldies and, as I’m listening, I’m thinking, “did it really go like that?” Then I check the fine print: “New stereo recordings by the original artists.” Bah! I’m sorry if people like Tommy Roe, Lou Christie, Gary Lewis and “Paul Revere” got ripped off in their original deals, but that’s really no excuse for ripping off the fans years later. Into the reject pile!

And so, we have a new
O/CD Year to Date Tally: 96

Waste Not, Want Not - the Citysearch concert previews that didn't run

2010-10-15T12:31:00.000-04:00

One of the reasons I don't blog here as much as I would like (besides inertia) is that I've been doing a weekly concert preview thingy for Citysearch DC. It's been a great outlet and a chance to talk about acts I like that are coming to town, so it steals some of the energy from this enterprise.

Citysearch is undergoing some changes these days and the listings system is being traded for a blog style. In working with the new format, there were some logistical glitches with my proposed column for this week. The national editors are out of the office today (Friday), so it won't be posted until Monday, which not only makes moot about half of the shows I wanted to mention, but kills my intro/outro, which marvels at the every night/sometimes two each night offerings of this busy week.

Rather than toss the column into the scrap heap, here's what I wrote....

You could be out and about every night this coming week and still kick yourself for missing out on something. Yep, it’s one of those blessing/curse kinda times when an abundance of options makes for tough choices.

On Friday night (October 15), Thermals and Cymbals Eat Guitars bring the noise – of a melodic, rocking kind – to the Black Cat. Meanwhile, the Sensitive-in-a-Paul-Simon-kind-of-way Charlie Mars starts off a stretch of great shows at Jammin Java. It’s also worth making the trek to that Vienna venue to see a rare acoustic appearance by Irish rockers Bell X1 on Sunday (October 17), along with a bright newcomer, James Vincent McMorrow.

Remind me to tell you the story of seeing Bell X1 in Dublin, when they were just a baby band, and then having dinner/drinks with them many years later...

The weekdays at Jammin Java bring a trio of female singer/songwriters all worth your attention. Tuesday’s (October 19) attraction is Susan Cowsill – yes, the same little girl from those “The Rain, The Park and Other Things” Cowsills, but now she’s all growed up and playing her own stuff, like on the new “Lighthouse” CD with special guests like Jackson Browne, Cowsill brothers Bob, Paul and John and Vicki Peterson (Bangles/Continental Drifters). Wednesday (October 20) is for Jill Sobule, “songwriter, guitarist and gypsy” who kissed a girl before Katy Perry made it chart-worthy and recently opened for Fountains of Wayne. Now she gets a headline set of her own to display her quirky humor and well-crafted songs. Finally (at least for the Vienna visit), Thursday brings Catie Curtis, a veteran artist with a catalog of warm, rainbow coalition pop/rock material.

Do you think Susan Cowsill will sing "The Rain, The Park and Other Things"? No one wants to live in the past, but it's such a great song!

While music is the main thing we’ve been previewing here, comedy is also a good bet when you’ve got the caliber of talent coming to town this weekend. But oh, how to choose?!
On Saturday (October 16), all you fans of public radio’s smart and silly news quiz, “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me,” can catch regular contributor Paula Poundstone at the Birchmere . But then you’d miss out on seeing the real king of late, late night when Craig Ferguson brings all his cheeky monkeyshines to the Warner Theatre. My mom joins me in being crazy about this Scottish-American scamp, but I wouldn’t bring her to the show – you just know that, without the CBS censors looking over his shoulder, Ferguson is gonna talk a blue streak.

Craig Ferguson is adorable. Case closed. That man is on my 15-minute list.

Sara Bareilles turned in a fine set earlier this year when Lilith Fair came into town, including a fine, flirty take on “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).” She’s got plenty of catchy material of her own, like (who made you) “King of Anything,” from her new CD, “Kaleidoscope Heart,” and she’ll get to play it all when she stops at the 930 Club on Monday (October 18) with Greg Laswell opening. The club site lists this show as sold out, so hit the alternate ticket market if you want in. Tickets are still available for Richard Thompson on Tuesday, though, and you can never go wrong with this classic singer/songwriter who also knows how to shred a guitar without histrionics.

Ten shows in seven days? Literally can’t be done. But aren’t you glad you live in a city with such an embarrassment of riches?

Richard Thompson, class act.

Last weekend, Part One: Honor By August, The Bigger Lights and The Kin at 9:30 Club

2010-09-19T18:02:00.001-04:00

I am slowly catching up with the photos and such from last weekend's 3-Shows-in-3-Nights DC marathon.
A vicious head cold threatened to ruin my weekend, but I fought back, using the time spent on the couch to see some movies ("The Station Agent" is wonderful, "The Matchmaker" not so much) and satisfy my craving for comic punditry (Stewart, Colbert, Maher, etc). More to come, but this to start...

Honor By August, The Bigger Lights and The Kin at 9:30 Club, 9-11-2010 - Washington DC concert photography | Examiner.com

New Favorite Band.

2010-09-16T01:02:00.002-04:00

Four Shows in One Week. Not Bad.

2010-09-14T14:08:00.002-04:00

One week ago tonight, I was at the lovely Sixth & I Synagogue for a show by Airborne Toxic Event, an LA-based quintet that is in the midst of a short "acoustic" (actually, they were plugged and plenty loud) tour with a string quartet. It was one of the shows I had touted in my weekly column for Citysearch DC - along with Blondie, The Dirty Projectors and others - which led to a pair of tickets from the publicist, which led to attending/greatly enjoying the show, which led to the following photo gallery:
The Airborne Toxic Event at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, September 7 - Washington DC concert photography | Examiner.com

Hubby and I just got back from a four-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in DC. He had to work at his annual convention, but I got to play, exploring the city by day and going to shows at night. It became a 3-day weekend of 9:30 Club outings:
Saturday - The Kin, The Bigger Lights, Honor by August
Sunday - The Young Friends, The Drums, Surfer Blood
Monday - Janelle Monae, Of Montreal
and I took pictures at all of them, got set lists from a few.

So, after a period of recovery, mails snail and e-, unpacking, laundry and such, I will be back with more.

The Bigger Lights and I get our hair done.

2010-09-09T11:38:00.002-04:00

I will write a real post soon (you've heard that before!) but I think I just discovered that a mere click will send material from my examiner.com site to here.
In which case, you can amuse yourself with this:
The Bigger Lights are coming back to town.

Funny thing is, the reason I was revisiting the article is that I met three members of this band last night, in unusual circumstances.
Because I've been writing for Citysearch DC, I was invited to a party/makeover event (Me Get Pretty One Day) at the Sassoon Salon in Tysons. After all the girly fun, as we were getting ready to leave and the place is way past closing time, in walk three tattooed rock dudes [note: I'm told only one band member actually has tattoos, but he has enough for all of them ]- Christopher "Topher" Talley (singer) Chris McPeters (guitarist) [tattooed guy!] and Ryan Seaman (drummer) - from The Bigger Lights.

Though the band is originally from Northern Virginia, it turns out that Chris is now living in ~~Kentucky~~ Louisiana and makes a point of coming to the salon whenever he's in town to get his hair cut by his favorite stylist. I've heard of secret club gigs before, but not afterhours haircut gigs! I chatted with the guys for a while, told them I'd seen/photographed/written about them and said I'd send a copy of the story.

And that's what sent me to the examiner.com DC Concert Photography Archives this morning.
Anyhoo, the band is playing this Saturday (September 11) at the 9:30 Club with local heroes Honor By August and a fine NYC-based duo called The Kin. I think I'll be there.

Not Dead. Yet.

2010-08-06T12:29:00.000-04:00

No, I haven't been posting here in a while. (Just looked at the archives and see that the entire month of July passed without a peep.) However, if you've glanced at the "Yep, I'm Tweeting!" column to the right, you'll see that I have been writing - not so much for examiner.com (that may change) but now at a new outlet - Citysearch DC, where I post a weekly feature on Concert Picks for each coming week. A new one is up today.

And I've been to a lot of shows, some of which led to picture galleries on my Facebook page. I will be moving to Flickr soon to share upcoming shows with the Big Bad Web but for now, here's a picture to show that I am, indeed, still breathing. It was taken with the lovely Andrew Belle when his Three Out of Tenn tour stopped at the IOTA a bit ago -

So, if you want to know whassup with me before I get back to more/better blogging, please sign on for Twitter feeds @mariannemeyer, or read my stuff at Citysearch and examiner.com.

Hope you're having a cool (in all ways) summer!

Athlete - live and on examiner.com

2010-06-21T16:49:00.001-04:00

A quick hello. I just posted a new story to the examiner site, an interview with Stephen Roberts, drummer for the fine British band Athlete. And here are some shots from the band's appearance earlier this month at Jammin' Java. That is all.

In My Other Life...

2010-06-17T20:10:00.002-04:00

For the past few months, I've been pretty busy working on a video project for the American Institute of Architects. That's not an excuse for being absent from the blog, but it did make me some money which is something that the music writing doesn't do all that well.

So, if you're fan of architecture, Apple stores, gorgeous homes for wealthy people with taste, check out the video tribute to AIA's 2010 Gold Medal recipient, Peter Bohlin...

7,000 words (in pics) plus mp3s from Morningbell

2010-06-09T23:18:00.001-04:00

One of the great things about this job/hobby (I can never tell but my accountant, if I had one, would say it's the latter) is that people send me free music I might never have heard otherwise. Morningbell's "Sincerely, Severely" came in as a digital download from a publicist I've dealt with for many years. He was looking for some press and I said I'd give a listen. And I loved the album - varied, smart, well-played and produced and hooky as hell. (BTW, it's marked "explicit" but there's only a few naughty words)

So, I went off to the show Monday night at the tiny (a full house is about 30 people) Galaxy Club and was impressed yet again. The band travels with its own "$100 Light Show" that made for fun picture taking, too. I'm free to share two mp3's -"Hello, Dali" and "Marching Off To War."
I'm going to do an email interview sometime next week with frontman Travis Atria for a short examiner.com feature, so check back later for more. I obviously still don't know quite how to get this new Blogger picture/word interface working...

There's a reason I haven't posted much lately...

2010-06-09T16:54:00.000-04:00

I've been kinda busy saving the world...

7,000 Words (in pictures) about Sarah Borges

2010-06-06T00:08:00.002-04:00

Not sure how to deal with the new Blogger photo uploading system...So, until I figure it out, here are some shots of Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, as they appeared at Jammin' Java on Friday night, June 4th. .And if you decide you want to check 'em out, here's another new deal for Blogger - the amazon "monetizing" link. So, yeah, I recommend the album. Go ahead and get it and make me rich.

Video Fun - Owl City Parody: Key of Awesome

2010-05-22T18:02:00.000-04:00

I've been readying some photos from the Laura Marling show at IOTA last Sunday, but this just came to my attention, courtesy of Andrew Sullivan's blog, and I had to share it.
I LIKE Owl City, but this is right on, too:

How Sweet to Be An Idiot

2010-04-21T09:32:00.011-04:00

No, the title of this post has nothing to do with Sarah Palin.
To those who followed the classic British comedy of the early 70's, a guy named Neil Innes was (is) a musical hero who worked with Monty Python and was a member of both The Bonzo Dog (Doo Dah) Band and The Rutles. He appeared last week at Jammin' Java and I popped in to see his one man show, a mix of classic Python numbers like "The Philosophers' Song," Rutles favorites (in a piano medley) and new tunes, some of which were actually more poignant than novelty numbers. I meant to write an in-depth review, but time is tight and I'm off to Toronto Friday morning, so I'll give you some photos and odd bits between.

I recently pulled out a factoid from an UNCUT magazine compendium of rock trivia that fits here and now. There's a popular indie band that took its name a Bonzo Dog Band track. The title of the song – and the band’s name - comes from the lyric: “Death cab for cutie/Someone’s going to make you pay your fare.” So now you know.

“I've suffered for my music,” he famously said once, introducing a song. “Now it's your turn."

The picture above was taken from a song that mocked Elton John, the one below shows Neil leading the crowd in blowing raspberries.

"How Sweet to be an Idiot" was performed at the piano, with duck chapeau.

If you want to see Innes in action, here are the remaining dates on this tour:
APRIL 23 - THIS AIN'T HOLLYWOOD - HAMILTON, ON
APRIL 25 - THE DOIUG FIR - PORTLAND, OR
APRIL 26 - TRIPLE DOOR - SEATTLE, WA
APRIL 28 - COBBS - SAN FRANCISCO, CA
APRIL 30 - McCABES - LOS ANGELES, CA
MAY 1 - ACCOUSTIC MUSIC - SAN DIEGO, CA
MAY 2 - SKYE - PHOENIX, AZ

Neil was very nice about hanging out after the show and signing all sorts of fan collectibles. I brought a vintage Rutles ad from the Rutland Dirty Weekend Book. (I am not in the habit of destroying my books; the glue had lost its stick'em and the pages were loose.)

And so ended the evening for two "veterans" of Back in The Day. Take that, you young whippersnappers.

A short, happy, beautiful thing...

2010-04-15T16:58:00.002-04:00

Banksy and Beiber and old skool VHS

2010-04-11T22:02:00.007-04:00

In Sunday summation, my past few days in music, movies and old skool video:
On Friday, the Hubby and I saw a screening of “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” the new film by British artist/provocateur Banksy. It has been, as Hubby put it, “tickling our minds” ever since. While "Exit..." is presented as straightforward documentary, I have my suspicions; after all, this is Banksy. He appears – a hoodie covering his face and his voice electronically altered – to say that this is the true story of an obsessive videographer who documented the illegal street art scene before becoming the artist known as Mr. Brainwash, but I’m not buying all of it.

My personal theory is that the first half of the film is an accurate depiction of how a Frenchman named Thierry Guettathe became chief chronicler of a scene that included Banksy, Shephard Fairey, Space Invader, Borf and others. But about midway through, when the previously un-artistic videograher begins to create his own, highly derivative pieces for a massive LA exhibition fueled by hype and the name-dropped power of his friends, I began to believe that Mr. Brain Wash is a new Bansky creation and his biggest prank yet on the art community. (In looking up Mr. Brain Wash's real name just now, I see that one reviewer wrote that Sundance viewers were guessing that maybe Spike Jonze actually directed!)

For me, the film might well be a cerebral, art-themed “Spinal Tap.” I’d break it down as 60% true, 40% bullshit and 100% brilliant, moreso if it is, indeed, created from whole cloth (or canvas?). Looking forward to seeing it again when College Girl, a huge Banksy fan, returns from school. In the meantime, be sure to see it and get back to me with your theories.

Risking intellectual whiplash, and the backlash of more discerning (snobbish?) readers, I will now discuss my second favorite cultural event of the week – Justin Beiber on “Saturday Night Live.” There have already been aghast comments on my Facebook page for saying that I muchly enjoyed The Kid. Yes, it's a big switch from making joyful, drunken fun of him at a New Year’s Eve party full of cynical revelers who couldn’t believe this unknown (to us) little pipsqueak was a featured performer.
When the Easter Bunny left a copy of My World 2.0 in my candy basket, it was a joke, inspired by the fact that writing about JB for examiner.com earned my greatest number of reader hits yet. But by then the scales were already tipping in the teen sensation’s favor. I wrote about the takeover of the Funny or Die site (“Beiber or Die,” along with other April Fools pranks by musicians (Coldplay’s new fragrance, Angst, and the super-deluxe 176 disc reissue of “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” The latter, alas, has been removed from the Backstreets site.)

But The Kid (shall I trademark the nickname?) won me over with his self-mocking display of video diva-dom on FoD and, when I actually listened to the disc during a Wii sports workout (I am the Joan Jett of bowling, Hubby says), I liked its pop smarts. And I’ve since learned that Beiber was not concocted in the test tubes of the Disney music laboratory but earned his first break through YouTube exposure. Good on you, JB.
For a mere 16-year-old who just happens to share my March 1 birthday, Beiber was an MVP on SNL, appearing in skits and doing right by his dual live performances. In the second, during “U Smile, I Smile,” he even ad-libbed a sweet little shout-out to Tina Fey and held his own with my comic heroine in a wildly inappropriate – and all the better for it – teacher/cougar sketch.
So, yeah, I’m on Team Beiber. And all the snotty older white male music critics who would deny my rock credibility as a result can go back to their own ridiculous/childish entertainment choices and KISS my ass.

As for today’s musical adventures, it started innocently enough with the perpetual cleaning of the basement/rec room/media storage facility and the viewing of some vintage VHS tapes. I started with the family home movies, which need to be organized and labeled in hopes of eventual conversion to editable digital video (anyone out there have any good ideas of how to do this at home, cheaply?). Watching them has been a delightful, sometimes moving peek back to the past, complete with adorable children and views of since-departed loved ones. It’s gonna take a long time to get through them all, but I’m looking forward to it.
Along with the family tapes, there’s an unhealthy bunch of music/TV videos – concerts, SNL segments, MTV award shows and other remnants of LBT (life before TiVo) as I recorded things to watch later and then didn’t record over them. I pulled one random tape out to survey as I began typing this, thinking that I could send it off to the Thrift Store after confirming that there wasn’t anything of a personal nature on it. But now I’m having second thoughts.
The first third of the tape consisted of live performances taken from SNL and some MTV show that featured in-studio appearances from the likes of Hole, L7, TMBG, Cracker, Blur and Liz Phair (who pretty much butchered “Supernova"). Then the tape switched to a History channel show on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. At this point, I was fully confident I could toss the tape with no regrets – or offer it to anyone reading this blog who might want to claim it.

Even as the History channel show gave way to some old MTV clips, I didn’t feel any attachment. If I want to see Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” again (how did they get away with that crucifixion imagery back then?!), I could always call it up on online.
But then, after a Beastie Boys clip cut short, I’m looking at Michael Stipe hosting “120 Minutes.”
I used to love that show, the Sunday evening (right?) two-hour block of music that really excited me at the time. Here’s Weezer (“Buddy Holly”) and PJ Harvey (“Man-Sized”), Soul Asylum in a clip with Kevin Smith, Grant Lee Buffalo (like “Heart-Shaped Box,” “Mockingbirds” was directed by Anton Corbijn and is even more bizarre), where-are-they-now stars like James and Luscious Jackson and, of course, vintage R.E.M. Other highlights are Flaming Lips’ “She Don’t Use Jelly” (Wayne Coyne with bright orange hair), a B-52s video I don’t even remember (“Revolution Earth,” looking like MGMT with zebras) and “Supernova” again in its video version, where Phair can sorta hold her notes.
Even with its smattering of people I didn’t relate to (Samiam, Dink, Bad Religion), the show is great fun to see again and Stipe is a host unlike others. Changing his shirt for nearly every new segment, his deadpan intros are initially off-putting, but then he seems to warm slightly to the task, as when he introduces Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power” and I remember why he was such a major figure in my life at the time.
Damn. Looks like I can't let go of this one.

We Get Out - Norah Jones

2010-04-04T22:40:00.006-04:00

So, that examiner.com column I keep asking you to subscribe to doesn't pay worth a damn, but it's always been less about making money than staying in the loop. And, there are the delicious perks - not just the free music, but comp tickets, too. Having done a short piece about Norah Jones' fine album, "The Fall," late last year, I was emboldened (though not necessarily entitled) to ask her publicist if there might be tix available for the concert in DC, Friday night at the 'luxe Warner Theatre.To my pleasant surprise, she sent back a confirmation and the hubby and I were in for a real Friday night date (as, it seemed, were many other couples!) The opening act was Sasha Dobson (seen in the photo below, at right) who sings with a lovely, Jones-like voice and plays guitar, also helping out in NJ's back-up band. Dobson's short set - marked by beautiful contributions by her two sidemen (a graceful guitarist and a pianist/xylophone-ist?) and largely dull songs - sent my head back, eyes closed, as I nestled into the comfy Warner seats and nearly fell asleep. Contrary to what some of her detractors might say, there's nothing sleepy about Norah Jones in concert. She actually spent more of her time onstage playing guitar and, as the songs on the latest album push a little harder and deal with a love gone wrong, there's more bite to her music than you'd suspect. Three songs into her set, she moved to a keyboard to play the delightful "Chasing Pirates" and, awhile later, sat at a piano for some other highlights, including a most moving, "Back to Manhattan" and a reworked "Don't Know Why" that kept things fresh for the players while displaying the melodic hooks the fans wanted to hear.
During the encore, Jones came out with a handful of players, all bearing acoustic instruments, and they huddled around a single mike, looking more like a folk quartet than a jazz or soft rock outfit. It was a charming end to Date Night Friday.

We Get Out - Joseph Arthur

2010-03-26T12:29:00.008-04:00

Why am I not a better, or at least more frequent, blogger? Let's blame "Old Dog, New Tricks" syndrome. I'm so used to writing Real Journalism Stories - beginning, middle, end, with pauses for researching, transcribing and fact-checking (not that there's anything wrong with that!) that I lose sight of the nature of blogging itself. Just Do It. Say what you're thinking and get out. Instead, I get caught up in all the things I've meant to mention - recent shows, new additions for the O/CD Tally, etc. - that I freeze.

In an effort to break that cycle, I will interrupt myself and proceed to photos of Joseph Arthur, who played at Jammin Java last night.

I didn't see the whole show, as I was there waiting for a call from Grad Girl to pick her up at a nearby Metro station. But what I saw before the taxi whistle blew was good stuff. Arthur records his shows as they happen and sells them - along with an unusual array of merch, like art books and hand-printed shirts - after each show. On stage, he's surrounded by instruments, electronics and art supplies. He sings and plays, and sometimes sets up a loop so that he can sing while he paints (!) or performs spoken word pieces.

It could all be insufferably arty, but he has a laconic sense of humor that takes the edge off.
Since I wasn't going to be there for the end of this show, I picked up a discounted copy ($10 vs. $20) of a previous night from this tour, March 5 at NYC's City Winery. In the brief time I spent listening on the ride home, he did a cool cover of Peter Gabriel's "Shock the Monkey," which makes sense given that (I was told) he was once signed to the Real World label by PG himself.

Arthur's been around a long time, and I've heard good things about him, but our paths hadn't crossed before. The lovely Mei, who tweets as @JamnJavaDoorGal, is a big JA fan and told me I needed to see him live, so thanks to her for the tip (and for letting me in!) The club really is a great place for live music but you don't have to take my work for it. The new City Paper, Best of DC 2010 edition, lists the venue twice in its reader polls - as runner-up for Best Music Venue (the venerable 930 Club was top dog) and as Best Place to See Local Music.

A brief, but fine, night out.

Sloppy Shopping (but I wasn't drunk)

2010-03-18T00:04:00.008-04:00

This post has nothing to do with Saint Patrick's Day, but I wanted to wish you a good, green day anyway.
This is about “pruning the bonsai,” or you could also say “culling the herd.” That’s me, facing the ever-growing music library lately and figuring out what stays and what goes. These days, it’s less about the music than the packaging. I still love physical CDs and, when bands go the extra mile to make the case interesting and/or fill the booklet with nice photos and background info, I’m much more likely to want to get – and save – the actual disc.
But now that I’m getting so many new albums as digital zip files with just an album cover to go with them (and those who don’t even include the artwork, shame on you), I’m learning to let go – a bit. And since I like the occasional shopping spree on other people’s money, I’ve taken to moving a larger number of CDs to an external hard drive and “recycling” the no-longer-needed discs at my local trade-in store.
[With that resolution, a brief warning: I moved a crapload of my holiday CDs to a dedicated hard drive in the weeks leading up to Christmas. While it made the compilation of the annual “Cool Yule” mix much easier, I also lost a lot of files when said hard drive – a purchased new Western Digital – crashed. Luckily, I had burned duplicates of my most favorite discs, so I generally lost only lesser selections. But Be Warned!]
So, yesterday I brought a bag of CDs and about a dozen LPs to my local trade joint (after checking on amazon.com to see if any of them were worth big bucks, of course). It appears that the rest of the world is doing similar CD purges as well. Everything in the two bags netted me a grand total of $16 store credit. The cashier dude told me that all my carefully selected offal was probably going into the clearance section ($1.99 each, 10 for $15.99) and therefore earned only about 50 cents per. I might have argued the point – I bet there were five or six things there that will be sold at $5 to $8 a shot and, in future, I think I’m gonna stockpile the LPs to make a boxload sale down the line – but it’s not worth the hassle. And besides, he gave me an ever better deal on the clearance items – 10 for $9.
More than that, I was there with a friend and not in my usual Record Geek mode. I was pretty sloppy in my perusal of the clearance racks. Between busily chatting with my pal and being a little self-conscious about my usually obsessive browsing, I didn’t do my needle-in-haystack search for all the cardboard and slimline cases that often mean advance/promo discs. Instead, I just grabbed anything that looked interesting. And then, having gotten close to the magic number of 10 (when the $1.99 discs become 10/$16), I simply carried them all to the checkout without a careful process of re-examination/elimination.
And that’s how I wound up with two Rod Stewart CDs!
ROD STEWART – Every One a Winner (n/a)
The simple B&W text cover, neatly printed, led me to believe this was some kind of promo, but only after getting it to the car and checking did I realize it’s a home(well)made CD-R! Well, kudos to the person who did such a nice job. The 16 tracks here are pretty much all winners; the only track I don’t recognize is “Stone Cold Sober.”
ROD STEWART – Human (Atlantic)
Now I fear this is the same album I seriously trashed in a review for e!online.com when it first came out. I didn’t recognize it in its commercial case, as I had worked from a generic advance. I think it was from Rod’s “I don’t really give a toss; I just need some cash” period.
MADE in BRITAIN 2007: The BEST NEW BRITISH MUSIC (Mojo)
I’m a sucker for British music mag compilations. This one has bands I’ve heard about – Noisettes, Bat for Lashes, Rumble Strips, Young Knives and a whole bunch I haven’t. Since the comp is from three years ago, I guess those others never broke through to the USA.
The SMITHEREENS – Downtown Train (The Right Stuff)
A five-track EP said to be the 2nd “single” from an album called “One Step Up, Two Steps Back: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen.” Not a big Smithereens fan myself, but I like to hear reinterpretations of good songs, even if there’s only one other artist here (Greg Kihn) that I recognize. And it’s sealed, which means it could be a good resale item (just found it listed on a British site for $13 American).
HOPE of the STATES – Left (Sony/BMG)
A 2006 imported dual-disc (DVD material on flipside of the CD) from a great British band I saw many CMJ festivals ago, but they never seemed to catch on here.
JOE HENRY – Fuse (Mammoth)
Saw him just last week at the Wolf Trap Barns, care of a friend who’s a big fan and gave me a ticket for my birthday, earlier this month (thanks!). Though Henry’s songs tend to blur together after a bit – mature/melancholy ruminations on live and love, in minor keys with great, Tom Waits-ian arrangements – there was one song he performed that I was hoping to find, adding to the trio of albums I already have of his. Confession – I couldn’t read the tiny (really!) print on the CD, but didn’t recognize the cover, so I took a chance. Turns out I have this already, in a slimline advance with a different cover. Now, which one do I get dump?
EMMA POLLACK – Watch the Fireworks (4AD)
Promotional copy of the 9/11/07 release which always makes me think of Grad Girl (there’s only 3 letters difference in their full names). On first listen, I think I like it, too!
HEAR IT NOW: The SOUND of the ’60’s (Columbia)
The usual suspects from the Columbia Records hippie/folk/rock roster – Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, Donovan, etc. Probably the only track I don’t have is “Time Has Come Today” by The Chambers Brothers,
LIAM FINN – I’ll Be Lightning (Yep Roc)
He comes from good stock, and it was in one of those cardboard letterpress digipacks.
[Careful counters will note that there are only 9 CDs here. The tenth was one for my friend – a remastered version of Mile Davis’ “Kind of Blue.” Given its position in the racks alongside a number of titles I had brought in the last time, there’s a very good chance she just bought my traded-in duplicate! She also scored a copy of Wilco’s “Sky Blue Sky” for a mere $1.99, so that shows you just how low the prices can go these days for stuff that isn’t Big Name/Recent Release.]

I wound up giving some money back to the store, as I also grabbed a pair of CDs at full(er) price:
The KILLERS – Live from the Royal Albert Hall (Island)
Grad Girl wrote Killers on her list of CDs she wanted, but wasn’t specific and, since we already own the first album (two great singles and some above-average filler) but I haven’t much cared for their releases since (“Are we human? Or are we dancer?” What the hell does that mean?), I went for the best deal – this CD/DVD set for $11.99. And I will watch the live DVD to see if the band has improved over time; on the tour I saw for the first album, Keane (of all people!) blew them away.
STEVE FORBERT – The Best of (Epic/Legacy)
I knew he was coming to Jammin’ Java soon, so a $5.99 greatest hits might well replace my vinyl copy of his first LP and prepare me for the show, as in help me decide whether I even want to go. And now I see that he’s playing this Friday (March 19) and it’s an early show, so I need to make up my mind soon.

YTD O/CD Tally:61

Happy Weekend!

2010-03-12T22:56:00.007-05:00

Yes, I know I've been bad, but I was also sick in bed much of last weekend, so be kind.
Anyhoo, in a bid to get something up here and re-establish my presence, here come some recent examiner.com links (have you subscribed yet? c'mon, save us both some time and make me some pennies!):

Another story about my favorite young singer/songwriter, Andrew Belle.
ANDREW BELLE – Live At Hotel Cafe, March 3, 2010

ANDREW BELLE - Live at Rockit!
The first CD is one that Andrew sent out via email to those on his email list. The second was sent to me in a zip file by his manager when I was writing the story. It's also being given away on Belle's site with orders of his new CD, "The Ladder."
In early February, I wrote about OK Go and their fun live video for a song that they were also giving away for free. And then, within a few short weeks, they came up with a wild new clip that I couldn't resist writing about, too. If you haven't seen the band's contraption-laden video for "This Too Shall Pass," catch it here and now. I mentioned the new album,
OK GO – Of the Blue Colour of the Sky before, when I got it in digital download form, but the publicist followed through with the actual disc so, as the band itself would put it, "here it goes again."
Late February brought with it a new Johnny Cash album and the Man in Black's birthday, so that brought this story and accompanying digital zip file.
JOHNNY CASH – American Recordings VI: Ain’t No Grave
Wilco gave away free downloads of two fine 2009 concerts in an effort to raise funds for Haitian earthquake relief, so I wrote about that, too. I made my donation, so now I can listen, guilt-free, to:
WILCO – Live in Brooklyn
WILCO - Live in London

All of which brings the
YTD O/CD Tally to a tidy 50

There's a positive frenzy of downloading lately; almost every day I get a few single tracks and a full-length CD or two, so prepare for the digital odometer to spin mightily when I finally get around to that.

Me and Yoko, we're likethis

2010-02-23T14:12:00.002-05:00

Think she reads any of the 228,000+ tweets?
I wouldn't be surprised if sometimes she did.
And made art out of it.
If Yoko wants to organize a flash mob, I'm in.

We Get Out - Sing Me Insomnia, The Bigger Lights

2010-02-22T09:48:00.013-05:00

No, I am not a cougar, but I do enjoy me some cute boy pop/rock. And that was what was on the bill Friday night at Jammin' Java, my musical home away from home, where Mei the lovely door lady stamps my hand without even looking at the guest list. (I don't take it for granted, and I love it so!) This night, I came to see the second act on the three-band bill, Sing Me Insomnia (missed Action Item, who opened the show).

SMI won last year's Mid-Atlantic Battle of the Bands, hosted by the club - and for which I was a judge on two of the four evenings, including when these guys won their night. I was muchly impressed then by the group's three-song set. It was smooth, bright and tight and when I realized how young they are, the level of professionalism on display was even more remarkable. Seeing them again, in a longer set, I was not disappointed.
Let's get a little closer with the guys, Tiger Beat fans. Here's singer/guitarist Jared:

And Marshall (they don't generally use last names) on keyboards....

Here's a trio of good looking, talented young guys (the drummer is in the back, and he's cute, too). Sing Me Insomnia have just released a five-track debut EP on iTunes. Check 'em out.

I knew nothing coming in about the headliner, The Bigger Lights, but the size and response of the crowd led me to believe that this quintet, also local Northern Virginia boys, has a reputation. The band has toured with Cartel and Never Shout Never and records for Doghouse Records. By the look of the well-inked guitarist, you could guess that TBL's sound is a little rougher than SMI's, but it's still catchy and non-agressive.

Guitarist John Kendall "JK" Royston is a founding member of the band...

But it's vocalist Topher Talley who really grabs the spotlight with a bit of Jagger swagger...

...and, dare I say it, maybe a dash of brooding Edward Cullen?

And he knows how to work the stage, to a point that it was hard to get a still picture of him!

All in all, an energizing night and a nice reminder that talent is blooming in my little suburban world, helped along by a great venue that books national names but continues to support the local scene with quality, all-ages shows.

The best Frank Zappa tribute yet?

2010-02-19T23:48:00.008-05:00

Ooops. I left an important set of pictures out of yesterday's NYC trip recap. On the drive home, we took a break at one of the rest stops in Maryland, just north of Baltimore and guess what I found? (The headline may help.)

I am a sucker for squashed penny machines and try to remember to carry some shiny coins to make especially pretty ones when I find them on my travels. I do prefer, however, that the penny has some relation, even a tangential one, to the region that's selling it.

And since Frank Zappa was born in Baltimore, his penny most definitely qualifies. He's the only musician I've ever seen immortalized in such a manner. Anyone out there seen any others?

I [heart] NY

2010-02-18T23:09:00.011-05:00

Oh, New York City, you are a shiny toy, indeed.

(all pics by Terry, BTW, this one shot at Pearl River Mart on Broadway)
With the snowpocalypse finally behind us (here's the view outside our front door after the second wave hit), we were able to get out for a trip to our beloved former city.

Luckily, we had my 4-wheel drive Honda, so didn't have to dig Terry's car out...

It was a family field trip, long planned by the girls with the express purpose of seeing the Tim Burton show at the Museum of Modern Art. Pictures were prohibited within the exhibition (I snuck a few) but it was OK to pose with the huge figure on the ground floor so, of course, I did. GO SEE THIS SHOW. It's amazing.

It was fashion week in the city and there were beautiful and well-dressed people out and about. We passed by the showroom of the late Alexander McQueen and noted the tributes left on the sidewalk outside.

That was the same day that Terry and I took a walk along the elevated Highline walkway, cool (literally) in the winter and I bet it will be spectacular in the spring. And you'll no doubt have to fight for one of these comfy chaises.

After the Highline, we stopped at a closet-sized coffee joint called DubSpot on 14th Street, where they offer DJ lessons and you sit/sip at tiny tables attached to drum kit stands.

A small shop with a big heart, the place was selling a compilation CD - FUNK AID FOR AFRICA – Various Artists (Dubspot) - for African relief, mixed and compiled by one their own, DJ Obah, for a mere $10. So, yeah, I bought one.

Alas, the huge record stores I once prowled are no more although, this being NY, there will always be small boutique places to buy. We walked past the former downtown site of Virgin Records, and stopped briefly in the old Tower Records building, where an artists' collective called No Longer Empty was holding a gallery showing/concert under the banner title of "Never Can Say Goodbye" (the signage was done in Tower's trademark red on yellow).
We considered stopping in Other Music to get the new Sade album, until I had second thoughts about buying such an MOR release in such a cutting edge shop and being mistaken for - gasp - tourists (yeah, I know that's silly).
The Strand, of course, is known as a book store. One hell of a book store, to be sure. But on a previous NYC visit, I'd scored some amazing finds at the Wall Street area Strand, where a table of cast-off/cut-out/clearance CDs netted me a Johnny Flynn advance and MGMT's debut at steal-deal prices. The Village Strand has only a few racks and fewer rarities, but I came away with:
BETH ORTON – Trailer Park (Arista/Legacy/Heavenly)
The sticker says “Indie-folk classic," here in a 2-CD set with B-sides, live and instrumental versions. (I have the original, but couldn't resist this two-fer at $12.) Listened to the first disc on the ride home and was reminded what a revelation Orton's mix of electronica and folk was at the time. And it still holds up, enough that Terry asked when there'd be time to hear the extras disc.
UP. DOWN. TURN AROUND (Circa 80) – Various Artists (Starbucks/Rhino)
More great car tunes, including a few obscurities I've wanted on CD (China Crisis' "Working with Fire and Steel," "So Alive" from Love and Rockets, "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" from Split Enz) and many fine favorites by Bowie, Talking Heads, Kate Bush and more.
Between those two albums and the fine sounds of radio WFUV and WXPN, we never got around to the final Strand purchase:
PATIO PARTY! – Various Artists (Starbucks/Universal)
There were a number of Starbucks samplers on sale for $6 each and, if money were no object, I'd had bought more, but this one made the cut for having artists I need to know more about - Miriam Makeba, Tito Puente (the original "Oye Como Va"), Mongo Santamaria - and some sweet oldies (Roy Head & The Traits' "Treat Her Right," Nina Simone's "Feeling Good"). It's not patio time just yet, but a musical hint of spring will help us get through this snowy month.

Add in some great reunions with old friends and family and the NYC trip was a hit on all levels.

YTD O/CD Tally: 44

SnOMG! Music to cure cabin fever

2010-02-07T00:34:00.004-05:00

Well, we didn’t break the record, but we came close with the second major snowfall of this crazy winter season. Some called it Snowmageddon, others liked Snowpocalypse 2: Electric Boogaloo, but whatever you called it, it was pretty amazing and amazingly pretty. We had nowhere to go and nothing particular to do and there’s still plenty of beer, milk and food staples, so what’s not to like? Pajama party!

It was also a chance to do a few household tasks, like clean up my clothes closet with the help of Grad Girl, who made sure that I got rid of the stuff that was neither hip nor age appropriate. And music, of course, helps make being trapped inside more tolerable.

I turned the computer on to stream while I walked the bedroom runway, catching up with a few recent digital deliveries, Wasn’t impressed by a handful of tracks from
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives – Communion (Yep Roc)
It’s a double album, but I lost patience after about five tracks, which had a certain MOR taste to the them, too close to the cheesy album cover photo of a middle-aged couple that looks like something you’d find in the plastic pages of a new wallet. The group is playing in DC on February 18 and the PR email says, “These dudes put on an epic live show.” Really? Based on this sample, I don’t see how, so maybe I’ll revisit.
On the other hand, I much liked
PEASANT – Shady Retreat (Paper Garden Records)
Peasant is Damien DeRose, a 23-year-old poet turned musician, from Bucks County, PA, who worked out of his bedroom studio throughout high school, and released his debut album, "On The Ground," in 2008. He records in a converted studio in the woods, inspired by the likes of "Pet Sounds" and Nick Drake; the sound is sweet, simple and pretty, reminding me of Blind Pilot and Fleet Fixes. I’m allowed to share one track with you. This is “Well Alright” and if you like, the album comes out on March 2.

Meanwhile, one of my favorite new releases, in steady rotation around the house, snowbound or not, is:
The BIRD and The BEE - Guiltless Pleasures Volume 1 (Blue Note)
Subtitled “A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates,” the CD is billed as “a love letter to [the] famed ‘rock and soul’ duo’” in eight cover tunes and one original song (”Heard It On the Radio”) that fits comfortably alongside, like a fellow Top 40 pop radio hit.
I can say without reservation that Hall and Oates make really great pop tunes because I like the tunes despite the fact that, back in the days when I did lots of feature interviews in person, said Hall and Oates were the most obnoxious people I’ve ever had to chat with. As you might expect, Oates sat there and didn’t say much of anything. Hall, meanwhile, dripped attitude and preened with a self-regard that seemed to imply that, because I was a female reporter, I must want him. The two were embarking on a seriously scaled-back tour since they hadn’t had a hit in years and talked grandly about how they had decided to make a daring move to get close and personal with their fans in small venues. God, they were pompous jerks.
So, anyway, the fact that I love this CD is a tribute both to the durability of the songs and to the much nicer duo reinterpreting them - the lovely Inara George on vocals and multi-instrumentalist/ producer Greg Kurstin, who can make synthesizers sound fun again. “I Can’t Go For That” has been a staple of the pair’s live act since I saw them in late 2008. Loved it then, love it now. The album comes out on March 23.

YTD O/CD Tally: 40

Oh, dear. I’m watching SNL while I type this and just saw a commercial for the new season of “Celebrity Apprentice.” It always makes me sad to see Cyndi Lauper among those losers. She was one of the nicest people I ever interviewed and has real talent. She deserves so much better.

Digital Deliveries - with some for you, too

2010-01-25T23:12:00.009-05:00

It’s been a frenzy of downloading here at the CPF HQ – some sent to me via zip, some purchased, some that I can share with you. So let’s have at it!

I paid for the full album of songs HOPE FOR HAITI NOW – Various Artists (iTunes) that was made available the day after the big telethon. You’ll get all 20 tracks (the Jay-Z, Bono, The Edge and Rihanna collaboration comes in both live and studio versions) for just $7.99 – a steal of a deal. But if you want for some reason to get only one song, the Justin Timberlake version of “Hallelujah” is as good as I remembered.

There’s another way to get lots of fine music at low cost and fee good, too. My pal Mark (check out his local news/political satire blog) turned me on the fact that the wonderboys of Wilco are pitching in to help raise money for Haitian earthquake relief. The band has posted recordings of two live shows (including one from last July that included live collaborations with Feist, Yo La Tengo, and Grizzly Bear's Ed Droste) at its web site.
WILCO - Live at Keyspan Park, Brooklyn 7-13-09
WILCO - 11-04-2009, HMV Forum, London
You can download the shows for free, but Wilco is asking that you donate at least $15 to Oxfam or Doctors Without Borders in return.
Bless ‘em. And catch ‘em doing a tune on Craig Ferguson’s show on January 28 (that means Thursday night, right? Even if it’s technically Friday morning the 29?).

Every month, I have 30 downloads to enjoy care of my emusic.com account, working out to about 50 cents a track (take that, iTunes!) so I decided to catch up with these:
ATLAS SOUND – Logos (emusic.com)
The FLAMING LIPS – Embryonic (emusic.com)

Zip a dee doo da; these were sent to me via zip file:
BENJY DAVIS PROJECT – Lost Souls Like Us
Really enjoyed this band’s album from last year and like this album cover, so it’s all a good start.

SEASICK STEVE – Man from Another Time
VIA AUDIO – Animalore
NOUVELLE VOGUE – NV3
NORAH JONES – Chasing Pirates Remix EP (Blue Note)
Love the single so much I named it one of my Top Ten of the year in the Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll, but I can’t say that the remixes are adding much to my enjoyment.
CLOUD CULT – Lost Songs from the Lost Years
Put this band’s name in the groovy new search feature above and you’ll get to my rave review of last year's DVD documentary release that traced its history and offered lots of live music. Now the band is releasing a special collection of previously unreleased songs from the past 15 years in hand-numbered CDs that are available only on the group web site (unless the publicist is nice enough to send it digitally). Also from the vaults:
CLOUD CULT - Aurora Borealis/They Live On the Sun
The former was originally released in 2004; the latter in
2003, but now they’re being reissued in a two-fer.
I truly love this outfit; looking forward to diving in.

It’s always a joy to discover good new music and, while casually scanning (is there a audio equivalent of that visually-oriented word?) new material that came in through the promo zips I found two new acts that make me smile:
RADAR BROS. – Auditorium
GOLDSPOT – And the Elephant is Dancing
The Goldspot CD came out last year, but is on its way to becoming one of my faves of this new year. It’s the sophomore release from frontman Siddhartha Khosla who plays under the band name, much like Owl City is really Adam Young and whoever joins him on tour. And, like Owl City, Goldspot has a joyous, sunny pop sound, influenced by Bollywood, the Beach Boys, R.E.M. and the Beatles (especially George). The album title comes up in the delightful love song to a faraway voice, “Call Center Girl,” which is in heavy rotation on my ipod.
OK GO – Of the Blue Colour of the Sky
I’m going to do an examiner.com story on these guys soon, so I won’t get into it now. But here’s a little oddity – I wanted to include the label name but I don’t have the disc in front on me. And yet, even after a quick scan of emails from the publicist and a visit to the band’s own web site and myspace page (it only says “label: major,” as if embarrassed to go into detail) I didn't see it. So much for how important labels are these days.

Let’s end with a pair of freebies from a Brooklyn-based band that’s on the edge, I think, of big things. They will play DC on February 21 at the 930 Club with the Editors – a show I’m gunning to see – and made a sweet, sad album last year, called “Hospice,” that came thisclose to getting on my aforementioned Top Ten. A visit to the Antlers' site myspace gets you two free EPs (look to the right and scroll down a bit to find them):
The ANTLERS – New York Hospitals
A 2008 release,
The ANTLERS - Cold War
From 2007.

Year-to-date O/CD Tally: 37

A great night of TV

2010-01-22T23:47:00.004-05:00

As Conan does his last show (I always watched Letterman, but I think Coco got screwed, big payout or no), I salute the Hollywood/NY liberal media elite for the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon. Damn fine music.

Once you put aside Madonna (if only we could) who still needs a huge chorus to hide her lame live vocal abilities (remember Live Aid? that was even worse), there wasn't a bad performance in the bunch. Even people I'm not generally crazy about (Kid Rock, Sting) rose to the occasion. And some of it was truly stunning. I thought John Legend's "Motherless Child" was going to be the highlight but then Justin Timberlake appeared, with his protege Matt Morris (and co-producer Charlie Sexton) and started "Hallelujah." I thought it was a brave, maybe foolish choice and then they nailed it! Gorgeous.

And the ladies ruled - Alicia Keys set the bar high with her opening song, Mary J. Blige may be our new Aretha Franklin, Rihanna got me (or maybe I got her?) for the first time, and I was taken by Shakira (it took a while to even realize it was her) for her power and restraint. I'd also praise Christian Aguilera for the same things, but memories of "Dirty" still linger.

I've pre-ordered the music from the show from iTunes. The whole thing for just $7.99? Can you even call it a contribution when you get so much back, including a good feeling?
Same thing applies, if I may, to what Paste magazine is doing, with 200+ downloads being given to anyone who donates. I wrote about it for examiner.com, if you want to check it out. But it's not about me. Watching the show, eating a lovely meal prepared by my dear husband, with my happy, healthy kids out and about, one of them about to celebrate her birthday, I know how very, very, very lucky I am.

Oh, and one more thing - Brad Pitt, man up and own your beauty. In other words, lose the goat-tee!

Ahhh...Neil Young is singing "Long May You Run" for Conan. A sweet musical ending to this post.

OMG O/CD Tally run amok

2010-01-20T13:01:00.004-05:00

Too early in the year to fall so far behind with the Tally. There's a handful of My Own Cash Money purchases to get to, plus the PEP (Puffy Envelope Promo) Squad, and the always hard to keep track of Digital Deliveries, but I'll start with yesterday's first trip of the new year to the CD Cellar, my go-to swap shop in Falls Church. My bag of cast-offs netted me a couple of new release DVDs and a healthy bunch of musical acquisitions. As usual, I spent much of my time scouring the clearance section, where discs are just $1.99 or 10 for $15.99. Also as usual, once I found more than five or six I wanted, I went for the even 10. And so, I add these:

The BLACK CROWES – Warpaint (Silver Arrow)
Haven’t listened to these guys in a while, and the package design is cool.
ALBERTA CROSS – Broken Side of Time (ATO)
I confess – the first time I heard this band, I thought it was the name of a female singer with a gruff, tough voice. Either way, I liked the one track I heard, so now I can explore the rest.
HEADLESS HEROES – The Silence of Love (World’s Fair)
I got this album last year in digital form and since I’ve been enjoying the music – female-fronted mid-tempo smart rock - and think the cover is beautiful, why not?

OLIVER TWIST – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Sony Music Soundtraxx)
Music by Rachel Portman, who’s done some lovely stuff for the likes of “Emma,” “A Little Princess” and “Chocolat” – yikes, just checked Wikipedia and she’s composed for about 100 films! People like that make me feel sooooo lazy.
LESS THAN JAKE – Greased (No Idea Records)
I like the band OK, but was really taken by the cover – a parody of “Grease,” the totally inappropriate for HS musical theatre production (lesson: girls, give up your own personality and be a tramp and you’ll get the guy). And yes, the band is actually performing songs from the soundtrack so, if you’ve ever wanted to hear “You’re the One That I Want” played in breakneck punk style, here’s your chance.
MIDDLE DISTANCE RUNNER – The Sun and the Earth (Engine Room Records)
Simple cardboard cover with a nice insert card from a hard-working local band. Didn’t even know this title existed, even though I was in regular touch with a member of the band for awhile.
MATT MORRIS – When Everything Breaks Open (Tennman)
Just before I left the house, I saw that this guy was coming up on the Ellen Degeneres show (mom was watching) “with Justin Timberlake.” The advance listed JT as a co-producer (with Charlie Sexton of all people!), and one reference from a Google search named MM the JT of Colorado. Hey, RH at “All Things Considered” – I got your watermarked copy here. Tsk, tsk, tsk.
CITY of LIGHT’S CAFÉ PARIS MELODIES - Various Artists (Delta Entertainment/Laserlight)
A 2-CD set of songs sung in French by uncredited vocalists. Risky, but could be amusing dinner music.
BEST TRACKS from The BEST ALBUMS of 2002 – Various Artists (Q Magazine)
For a while, I was buying all the British music mags with CD samplers, so I may well have this one already, but I don’t recognize the cover and the acts included are so good – Doves, Moby, Bowie, Polyphonic Spree, Badly Drawn Boy, U2, Flaming Lips, that it’s like (barely) paying for someone to make me a cool mix CD. I do, however, bristle at the inclusion of Nickelback.

And a few more at "full" price:
DEAN MARTIN – Making Spirits Bright (Capitol)
“The Greatest Holiday Songs” it says here. Maybe, maybe not. But I love Martin’s voice and laid-back, near insouciant (a fancier word than “nonchalant") manner. I hesitated at spending the $5.99, but wasn’t sure if I’d be able to find this again before next year’s Cool Yule.
MAX REBO BAND – Return of the Jedi (LucasFilm/RCA)
This sweet little single, only $1.00, features the alien band that played in the cafe scene in the Star Wars film. It's one of those clear discs with a colorful graphic (of three aliens) that makes it appear to be a die-cut disc. One day it will make a great gift for a SW fan in my life, or I'll find someone willing to make me a profit for it on ebay.

Year-to-Date O/CD Tally: 20

When I was fab

2010-01-16T21:02:00.010-05:00

Some days you feel like it's time for a little ego massage. That's when you Google yourself - and don't tell me you haven't. If self-Googling sounds a tad naughty, I think it may well be. The urge to reinforce one's own existence and/or relive past glories is probably not a healthy one.

But then you discover that there are other people, perhaps even dozens, with your same name. And, as you read what they've done, you may get jealous. Or maybe they haven't done anything particularly interesting and you get protective of your own name, wondering if old boyfriends might mistake that dowdy French author for you.

This philosophical musing is brought to you by the fact that, two days ago, I bought myself a late Christmas gift (it was on my list, but Santa didn't bring it) - the Rolling Stone Cover-to-Cover CD-R collection, which contains every page of every issue (yes, including ads) from its launch in 1967 to May of 2007. Maybe there's a new one coming soon to bring us up to date; this old one, originally priced at $125 is now going for $24.98 in Barnes & Noble clearance (10% off if you're a B&N member and another 15% if you use the coupon emailed last week). So, under the pretense of having a good reference tool and maybe dumping some of my old copies of the magazine (as if), I bought it.

And now I'm looking up the pieces I wrote for the magazine in the period of 1984-1990. That's the first thing that took me by surprise - the smattering of articles I did for them really spanned six years? Here's what the search engine brought up for my name:

This listing doesn't include a few Random Notes bits I contributed from various DC-based events, mostly WHFStival summaries. A handy thing about having these discs is that I need not bother now with finding old magazines and scanning my articles to add them to my online archives. But I do need to figure out how to resize the pages from the database software. For now, the one piece I can screen-grab at legible resolution is a bit forecasting the death of the 7" vinyl single in the mass-marketplace. Here's that blast from the past:

Of course, I just realized that these bits are too small in blogger pic view for anyone to read. But if you click 'em, they pop up to larger, legible size. Eventually, I will convert the full list to post in my archives. If only to say, yes, I once wrote for the illustrious Rolling Stone. So there.

And yet, as if to tease me for being self-referential (in a less pejorative sense of the word?), Fate has played a prank on me in the RS search index. When I clicked on the August 1989 article entitled "Alternative Bands Make Their Stand," which is listed as one of mine (although I didn't recall it), the printed page shows that it was written by a fellow female (oxymoron?) scribe named Moira McCormick.

Hey Moira, if this blog post pops up in some search engine of yours, leave a comment and let's reconnect!

In the meantime, I am reminded that byline fame is, indeed, fleeting.

Freebies in lieu of real news.

2010-01-14T00:13:00.005-05:00

Greetings, blog people.

I planned to do a real posting, with news and links to new examiner.com stories and an O/CD tally, but then I started checking email and, while looking for an eddress for the publicist at Merge Records, so I could propose a story on the NPR stream of the new Spoon album (and maybe hit her up for a copy), I realized that she'd sent a bunch of free mp3s that were cool for sharing. So, instead of babbling on, I give you a Merge mini-sampler. I haven't heard all of the songs yet myself, so these are not necessarily recommendations. But hey, at these prices, what do any of us have to lose?

Download “Take It In” from “The Knot,” by Wye Oak.

Grab "Coast of Carolina" from Telekinesis! (I do like them)

From "Goodnight Unknown" by Lou Barlow, here’s "Gravitate."

Enjoy a download of "We are the Men You’ll Grow to Love Soon" from “In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s.” Singer Wesley Patrick Gonzalez describes this song as “Let’s Wrestle’s Barmitzvah from whence they turned from punk pre-teens into men who rock.”

Shout Out Louds’ new CD is called "Work" and due out digitally on February 2. The free MP3 I can share: "Walls.”

From the Radar Brothers’ "The Illustrated Garden", here’s "Horses Warriors.”

An album called "Mister Pop" contains The Clean’s “gorgeously hazy sunset anthem” called “In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul.” and an “Autobahn-referential instrumental moment” called ”Tensile."

And here’s a whole CD’s worth of songs from various artists doing material in the “old lonesome sound.". I think I posted this last year when it was first made available, but it popped up when I was sorting the mail and it's still there to grab, so why not?

And finally, though this blog has no illusions of being a force for world change, think of/pray for/donate to the people of Haiti if you can, and send good karma their way. And remember that, whatever crap we may go through day-to-day, we're damn lucky to sit here playing on our computers and listening to music.

Tally Ho!

2010-01-07T23:55:00.005-05:00

Since I don’t have much to say about last night’s People’s Choice Awards (suffice to say that I felt sorry for the “Glee” cast having to shill frozen pizza), let’s get the O/CD Tally rolling, with the past two day’s worth of acquisitions.

And since Letterman has Rachel Maddow and Nick Jonas as guests tonight, I can take my time to write ‘em up.

Digital downloads:
PR contacts at EMI have kindly sent some new music via zip file:
CORINNE BAILEY RAY – The Sea
First response: mellow and melodic; need time to see if anything sticks.
2010 GRAMMY NOMINEES CD - Various Artists
20 tracks to catch me up with some of the bigger hits of last year that slipped by.
Release date: January 19, so if you need a cram course before the big awards night (usually a much better show that the PCA), it’s there for you, too. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the CD benefit the MusiCares® Foundation and the GRAMMY Foundation® (non-paid commercial announcement).

Freebie Alert!
DOCTOR ROSEN ROSEN – 2009 Remixes
Last year, I did a story for examiner.com about this remixer’s freebie reinterpretation of Lily Allen’s “It’s Not Me, It’s You” album. Now the good Doctor is it again, offering a compilation of 10 remixes he did in 2009, including Phoenix, Weezer, Eminem, Lady Gaga (a take on “Poker Face,” the original of which is in the Grammy collection), In the year to come, the DR2 promises some new official remixes like Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce (did you hear it here first?) so it appears his star is on the rise. If you want your own set of tunes, click here. You’re welcome.
ITUNES NEW MUSIC SAMPLER - Various Artists
I've already forgotten how I heard about this (Senior moment?), but iTunes is offering a free 20-track sampler to anyone who signs up as a fan on Facebook. A lot of it is unfamiliar (kinda the point, I'd say) but there are cool tracks from Metric, Moby and Sting to add star power and the price, as they say, is right. And, since I just went to FB to look at the page and got a second free download code, here it is: XP4FENTTXKH4
One time only use. So let's see who's getting CPF on the RSS!

PEP (Puffy Envelope Promo) Squad:
NUKE THE SOUP - Make Waves Not War
The first official physical promo disc of 2010 is a little-known (by me, at least) Maryland-based band led by a dude named Mark Davidson, formerly of an outfit called Cubic Feet. The album was produced by Pete Solley, who’s done the deed for Oingo Boingo and the Romantics. Given the band’s name and the accompanying sticker (tiny swag is better than none) of a mushroom cloud emerging from the titular (snicker) snack bowl, I was expecting a pop-punk sound suitable for a Warped tour slot. But it’s actually more of a DMB-via surf club vibe, the type of sound they could easily make fun of on SNL’s “The Mellow Show with Jack Johnson.” And – I am not making this up – there’s a song whose title is explained thusly: “apparently, male dolphins excite easily and are known to offer a certain body part to swimmers as a ‘Finger of Friendship.’”
Not the most auspicious beginning.

Thrift Store Finds:
Always fun to trade off a few bags of unwanted clothing and housewares if it gives me a chance to browse the $1.50 CDs and today was no exception, especially since I got the holiday albums at 75% off!
ELECTRO LOUNGE – 3-track sampler
Whoa! I just looked up this disc on amazon.com to see a date (1999) and see that it’s discontinued, with the price for a used copy starting at $24 bucks. I actually hesitated in buying it ‘cause it was just three songs, but I was intrigued by the combination of Dean Martin and Julie London on a remix of the title track remix (there’s also Martin’s original and a James Brown theme). Guess what’s gonna ripped to hard drive and put up for sale?
BELLY – King (Sire/Reprise)
On the other hand, I bought this, even though I already have a copy (signed by the band at a radio show) ‘cause it was sealed and I thought it might have resale value. No such luck, says amazon; there are scores on sale for less than a buck. So, it’s off to swaptree.com, where I can trade it for something on my wanted list for the cost of postage.
WINTER WONDERLAND – Various Artists (Varese Saradande)
Always on the lookout for new additions to the Cool Yule collection, even if it means buying in advance. This collection has a lot of vintage stuff – “Button Up Your Overcoat” by Dick Haymes, for example – and there’s a lot of stuff here that is winter-themed, but not Christmas specific. So it may get some play before it goes into the bin.
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL – original soundtrack (Jim Henson Records/BMG)
But this, ah, this was the big score. Grad Girl adores this movie, a regular feature of our family’s December celebrations. She was able to get a few of the songs from a friend who did some Internet magic, but asked me to keep an eye open for the full album. And it wasn’t even in the CD bins; it was left on a shelf in the toy section and just happened to catch my eye as I was waiting to check out. It was fate, I tell you!
And it’s the inordinate joy I get from finding a CD like that in a thrift store – and giving it to my daughter - that makes me, now and forever, a true music geek.

And so, ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in this new year of 2010, CPF presents the
O/CD Tally: 9

Let's Get This Party Started!

2010-01-05T19:05:00.007-05:00

Yes, I know it's five days into 2010 already and this is only my first post. I wanted to start with something big and dramatic, like the relaunch on a new site, but I'm still looking into Wordpress. I haven't been to any shows yet, and the only disc I've acquired in the new year is a CD-R of cover tunes by my husband's friend's bar band, so the O/CD Tally isn't ready to go, either.

But I have heard some fine new music which I can share, somewhat. The new Vampire Weekend album, Contra, comes out next week, and it's being streamed in its entirety in two locations:
care of NPR.org
or via the band's web site.

I've listened only once, but I liked what I heard and am eager to revisit. It would appear that the guys, who hubby and I saw in concert last year and enjoyed muchly, have beaten the sophomore slump.

Meanwhile, in ExaminerLand, my first story of the new year turned out to be tour news (with presale code) and a free remix download from Owl City. Again, I was gearing up to do something with a more punchy End of One Year/Beginning of Another vibe, but the details just fell together and it seemed timely in its own way.

So, while this is less than sensational opening salvo for the CPF 2010 Blog, it's got new music and a freebie - and I did play with the settings somewhat (more to come), and that's not a bad beginning, right?

And hey, it would be really great if there were more comments this year. Nudge, nudge, know what I mean?

Happy Penultimate Day of 2009

2009-12-30T16:14:00.003-05:00

Resolved: The CPF Blog will be much more active in 2010.

I'm afraid I let things fall apart in the last month, but I am determined to get back on track, try new things, add more features and otherwise rededicate myself to this enterprise as the new year/decade dawns.
(And none too soon. 2009, don't let the door slap yo' ass on the way out!)

As I look to the new year, I am thinking of a redesign, maybe even taking it to another blogging site. (Wordpress, anyone?)
If you're still out there and you're still reading, thanks for hanging in there.
Now please let me know what you'd like to see more - or less - of. (I know it's bad to end a sentence with a preposition, but how else could that last one go?) Concert preview listings, the O/CD Tally, concert photos (will Painasonic ever fix my malfunctioning camera?!), links to examiner.com and other stories published elsewhere, videos that make me smile...everything's up in the air! How will it land?

Vote early and often.
And stay tuned.
Most happy new year, dear blog-mates.

Something I Found

2009-12-10T13:52:00.000-05:00

Okay, it's been forever, and I've been meaning to drop in and say something about it, but then I saw this pretty clever video and, since I couldn't email it, I needed to park it somewhere.

I could have done without the grotesque cyborg, but otherwise...enjoy.

Dorsey Shaw: The Beatles Remembered In The Year 3000 (VIDEO) - Really - Air America

I'll be back. Sometime.

This Week (or so) in Digital Downloads

2009-11-06T23:31:00.005-05:00

When I started the O/CD Tally, I didn’t foresee how much music I’d be acquiring in digital form, not actual CDs. As I’ve mentioned before, I still like that dinosaur plastic, much as I love the dinosaur wax that came before, but since old skool media is fossil fuel-intensive, I will try to learn to live without the plastic cases. But I will always miss liner notes! (And you won’t get label info, which I generally include when working from physical discs.)

Anyway, I’m taking this mellow Friday night opportunity to review some of the new music that’s come my way recently over the Internet. Thanks to iTunes' “Recently Added” playlist, we’ll work in reverse chronological order until I run out of steam.

One-off singles (not to be tallied):
TEGAN and SARA – Hell
amazon.com free download
VAMPIRE WEEKEND – Horchata
free download from the band’s web site.
The new album comes out in January. Looking forward to it, big time!
MITCHEL MUSSO – Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
OK, so this is embarrassing. I’m a sucker for amazon.com's free downloads. I don’t grab ‘em all, but I’ve always liked this Police track, so what the heck, I clicked on to the site. And then I see it’s from the soundtrack from “Wizards of Waverly Place” and I realize that Disney is grooming yet another tousle-haired actor kid to be a pop star. The track is sorta catchy, in that evil Disney way.

And back to full-lengths:
PHOENIX – It’s Never Been Like That
amazon also gets me with their Daily Deals, which sometimes offer albums, such as this one, for as low as $1.99. (I just checked and it’s now going for $6.99). Since “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” is shaping up to be a shoe-in for one of the year’s Ten Best, I will gladly spring the cost of a cuppa to hear what they were up to in 2006. From first listen, they were a bit less dancey, a bit more rocky, but that lead singer’s voice is distinctly wonderful.
ELIZABETH and the CATAPULT – Taller Children
They play tonight at Historic Sixth and I Synagogue, opening for
JUSTIN NOZUKA – Holly
While I had heard of E&tC, thanks to an NPR profile, I was only dimly aware of Nozuka, which worries me. How’d he get to Sixth & I headliner status under my radar? I consider myself fairly well-connected.
The few tracks of his that I’ve sampled so far seem fine, but not earth-shaking, whereas E&tC, playing as I type, are already engaging my attention. Elizabeth (I’d tell you her last name, but I don’t have the friggin’ liner notes!) can sound like Bonnie Raiit in one place, Amy Winehouse in another. Covering Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows” is a good sign, and the title track touches on the Wall Street meltdown with mockery rather than anger. Sounds like a keeper. Hope they’ll come back soon and headline.
SPRING TIGERS – S/T (Bright Antenna)
The publicist asked me on Wednesday afternoon if I could be of help in garnering some coverage for the band’s show at North Hall of Eastern Market tonight. First off, who knew that Eastern Market was now hosing concerts? And with such short notice, I said the best I could do was a blog mention and he said that was cool. Trouble is, I got the date wrong in my head and thought the show was tomorrow. Oops. (Sorry, Bill.) But I just noticed that the band is offering two free downloads, so they may get “examined.” In the meantime, I offer you the tracks now:
"New Improved Formula"
"Just Suggesting"
By the way, the singer/frontman of Spring Tigers is the very same Kris Barratt who fronted The Capes. As the publicist wrote, “It's supposed to be a secret, but screw it! People need to know!” Scoop!?
HARMONIA & ENO ’76 – Tracks and Traces
This is a reissue of a collaboration between Michael Rother (an early member of Kraftwerk) and Cluster's Hans Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius with Brian Eno come aboard for the ride. Supposedly, the sessions were unreleased for two decades and now emusic.com has ‘em. It’s little bit ambient, a little but art-prog, but that can be fun. I found this when I was looking for:
The AVETT BROTHERS – I and Love and You
My new favorite band. I heard the track “St. Joseph’s” on a sampler and fell in love with its tender melody, vulnerable vocals and bittersweet lyrics. When amazon (yeah, it’s getting to be a thing) offered the album from which that track was taken during one of their $1.99 deals, I jumped on it.
The AVETT BROTHERS – The Second Gleam
And before that, I searched emusic for other Avett releases and got
The AVETT BROTHERS – Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions
And, as I work my way through this band’s back catalog (I had a physical copy of “Emotionalism” on a reference shelf), I find that the trio’s roosty, folky blend and sharp songwriting - smart and sensitive and soothing - is just what I need in my life right now.

Okay, my battery light is starting to blink. I’m turning to some quick hits, albums that I downloaded to write about for examiner.com. You can read about them there. I need the pennies.
NORAH JONES – The Fall (Blue Note)
My article is about how you can listen to a live stream (but the PR person sent me a digital download, she bragged).
TIMBER TIMBRE – S/T
One friend who downloaded this freebie said listening to it was torture. I didn't think so. I report. You decide. Alas, the free download offer is over, but I think you can stream the tracks.
TOM WAITS – Glitter and Doom (Anti-)
Eight tracks, free downloads from the upcoming live double-disc set.
PHILIP GLASS – The Orange Mountain Music Sampler, Vol. 1
Another (dare I say it?) amazon download, this one totally free. Not sure how long it’ll last, though, so jump on it now.

YTD O/CD Tally: 321

And just so you’ll have the complete set, here are two other examine-ations that haven’t appeared here on the blog before.
Halloween music mixes.
Musicians united for climate change action.

Get Off the Couch - Concerts a' Coming

2009-11-02T14:30:00.003-05:00

I’m staring at two foot-high stacks of CDs that need to be dealt with (yeah, cry me a river). Time to revisit ye olde O/CD Tally so I can file some of them away. And, as tribute/thanks to those kind folks who wrote to say that they were sorry to see my WaPo “Live!” column dumped in the redesign, here’s pretty much every album related to upcoming shows in the DC area. They were sent as pitches for possible preview. Those artists that particularly appeal to me - and might well have been "columnized"- are marked with *.

And now that the "Live!" column is in my rear-view mirror, I will reclaim my original, proposed name for it - "Get Off the Couch." Maybe I’ll go to some of these shows anyway. See you there?

Coming to Jammin’ Java, the nicest little listening room in the region and my Home Away from Home:
RICHARD SHINDELL - Not Far Now (Signature Sounds)
Wednesday, November 4. $20 in advance/$25 at the door.
* STEVE MOAKLER - All the Faint Lights (self-released)
Playing with his full band, this Saturday. November 7. Honor by August, a local band that I’ve been hearing nice things about, is also on the bill. Tickets $12.

FIVE for FIGHTING - Slice (Columbia)
This show has come and gone, and an act of this stature was quite a coup for the joint, but you couldn’t have paid me to go. It’s all about the vocals, and I can’t stand this guy’s voice. (And since this is a watermarked copy, I can’t do anything with it. Not even offer it as a premium to you, dear reader.)

The guy who works press at the Birchmere, a larger, sit-down joint (except when the show takes place in the open bandstand area) that’s been the site of many a fine night out, has been sending CDs to tout his upcoming shows. (I fear that gravy train is gonna skip my station in future.) I missed out on a few shows:
PLAYING FOR CHANGE - Song Around the World (Hear Music)
CD/DVD set. Show was on October 20.
CANDYE KANE - Superhero (Delta Groove Music)
Opened for Bill Kirchen & the Hammer of the HonkyTonk Gods on October 30.
The new album is a tribute to her staying power, since she's fought cancer. Good on you, girl! Still, I prefer Kane's older stuff when she was a Bette Midler-style broad, with Sophie Tucker single entendres to spare.

Here's some shows you can actually still see at the Birchmere:
KITTY DONOHOE - Northern Border (Roheen Records)
Opening for Don McLean on Saturday, November 14. Tickets are $49.50, but she’s playing for free at the Kennedy Center at 6 p.m. the previous evening, so you can save money, and spare yourself yet another treacly version of “Vincent.”
The FOUR BITCHIN’ BABES - Diva Nation (Hem and Haw Productions)
Friday, December 4 and Saturday the 5th. Tickets are $35.

In other Birchmere news (sent from various PR peeps):
* CHRIS SMITHER - Time Stands Still (Signature Sounds)
Playing with his band, The Motivators, on Friday, November 13. Tickets are $25.
I’m not the biggest blues fan (maybe my life is too good?), but this guy adds just enough roots/rock power and sly lyrics to pull me in. Includes covers of Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler, so you know he has good taste.
* SID and SUSIE – Under the Covers, Vol. 2 (Shout! Factory)
This album - a generic advance - was a gift, passed on to me by one of the lovely clerks at the CD Cellar a few weeks back, when I was trading my Didn’t Dig ‘ems for others I might. It’s a fun, fun disc and that’s coming from someone who is just OK with Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs as solo artists. The songs they chose to cover are fun to hear again (“Here Comes My Girl,” “Bell Bottom Blues”) and often surprising (“I’ve Seen All Good People/Your Move,” “Beware of Darkness”) and their voices work well together (“Go All the Way” sounds especially good), adding new twists to tracks you might not have thought of in years. Sunday, November 8. Tickets are $25.

And a few more shows I missed:
* PORTER BLOCK - The Gowanus Yacht Club (Engineroom Recordings)
MIKE DOUGHTY - Sad Man Happy Man (ATO)
Block opened for Doughty on October 29. Bet that was a good show. Block’s fourth album is a collaborative effort with a bunch of talented folks in his Brooklyn neighborhood (where I spent many happy years Back in the Day), like Angela McCluskey. Doughty’s still doing his “Question Jar” thing, where he takes requests and answers questions that audience members put in the object mentioned. It’s a concept I wish more artists would try.
* KEB’ MO’ - Live & Mo’ (Yolabelle International)
Played October 27 and 28. (Tickets were $59.50 each - whoa!) I really like this guy’s voice and laid-back - but not lazy - style. He’s on the road through November 23, if you’re reading this from beyond the Beltway. (www.kebmo.com)
* AMONG The OAK & ASH - S/T (Verve Forecast)
New country/folk duo comprised of two touring veterans - Garrison Starr and Josh Joplin. Opened for A Fine Frenzy (Landon Pigg was also on the bill) which is a nice triple play. But the show was on October 31, which meant missing Trick-or-Treaters and a Yankees World Series game. No how, no way.

YTD O/CD Tally:309

I only want to hear you laughing at the Purple Prose

2009-10-28T23:02:00.004-04:00

The Yankees are currently letting me down, so I turn to a press release I received today for amusement. First off, there's the name of the CD - "Verbal Penetration." Sounds like something you'd make up for a B-movie about a hapless metal band.

But not, it's the "long awaited" project by guitarist Jesse Johnson, formerly of Prince's cohorts and rivals, The Time. The two CD-set of original material – "produced, performed, recorded and directed by Johnson – is the kind of benchmark work that redefines careers..." while his "adventurous amalgamation of soul, funk, rock and jazz finds him at the apex of his recorded creativity, ambitiously going where few artists dare venture in these days of fast food funk and freeze-dried passion." Johnson co-wrote two of The Time's biggest hits - “Jungle Love” and “The Bird" and now he's penned an "anthemic title track [that is] is a call to cerebral arms, an impassioned plea for us to open up our minds, mouths and our hearts and communicate with one another." In summation, "The work is lofty, yet sexy; introspective, yet in-your-face. It’s where all artists end up if they are brave enough to take the chance. Jesse Johnson has taken that leap."

Now if only the Yankees could get on the scoreboard.

I'll field a few pop hits myself with a quick dip into the O/CD Tally, this one being a recap of a visit some time ago to the CD trade-in store, where I feasted at the clearance bin, 10 CDs for $15.99:
JASON LYTLE – Yours Truly, The Commuter (Anti-)
Cardboard advance, with full color cover and bio info on back. So, do I replace the generic, no cover jewel case version I bought last time?
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE/CHRISTINA AGUILERA- Justin & Christina (RCA/Jive)
There’s a Target logo on this, so I guess it was some kind of store promotion. Six tracks, three each from J & C and though I’m mostly here for the JT remixes (from his first solo album), I may get behind the club mix of CA’s “Beautiful.” ($2.00, in the singles section, but the cashier counted it in the clearance bundle).
CIAO MY SHINING STAR – Various Artists (Shout Factory)
Subtitled “The Songs of Mark Mulcahy,” he’s the front man of the late, great Miracle Legion and this is a benefit for his wife. Performances by Thom Yorke, The National, Michael Stipe and a host of other (mostly lesser known) artists.
GREEN RIVER ORDINANCE – Out of My Hands (Virgin)
Released in February, though this a cardboard cover advance. At the time I bought this, they were coming to town, but that's all in the past now, like the chance of the Yankees pulling this game out of the toilet.
GOSSIP – Music for Men (Columbia)
This generic cardboard advance is marked as having “a unique identification number that can be used to trace unauthorized use” and has the woman’s name stamped on the disc (MG, you naughty girl!). Glad to have the chance to hear whassup with this band, which I've heard so highly touted in the British press.
The APPLESEED CAST – Low Level Owl: Volume II (Deep Elm Records)
I’ve heard the name before, the cover is intriguing and I needed a few more discs to hit the 10.
U2 – War (Island)
Wow. I know there’s a new, remastered version of this album, but I see dozens of the original on sale at amazon for less than a buck. I don’t mind paying less than two for 10 fine songs.
THIS IS MUSIC – Various Artists (Uncut)
15 “new & classic tracks” – Marah, Paul Westerberg, The Go! Team, Blue Nile, and a Clash demo of “Rudie Don’t Fail.” And maybe I have it already, but…
The GABE DIXON BAND – S/T (Fantasy)
Advance copy, in full jewel case with band info on back and, though I have it already, I can't let these favorites sit forlornly in the clearance bin. I shall give it to my friend Sally, who’s been to see the band with me twice, including when they opened for Loggins & Messina (and Gabe played keyboards in the L&M band).
KEVIN HEARN and THINBUCKLE – Havana Winter (Celery Music/Warner Music Canada)
One of the Barenaked Ladies.
YTD O/CD Tally: 295

Jim Messina, Kenny Loggins, bandmate, Gabe Dixon.

Things You Might Have Missed

2009-10-24T15:41:00.005-04:00

As usual, it feels like I’m playing catch up, with lots of new music coming, concerts seen, concerts to come and links to other stuff I want you to see. So, in the interest of creating bite-size (or is that fun-size?) posts that don’t overwhelm you as a reader and me as a writer, I’ll start with a recap of everything you missed if you don’t already subscribe to my examiner column (c’mon, it’s free, and I need the hits!), where I point the way to (mostly) free downloads and other digital music news.

* Oh, Pookie! An appreciation of Soupy Sales .
* Band From TV is a charity band featuring Hugh Laurie and other familiar faces from TV dramas (which I generally don’t watch).
* Tom Waits is giving away eight free live songs and launches an action-packed web site. What’s not to love?
* Sherwood is a nice new group that opened last week for Hanson and Hellogoodbye (more on that later).
* Noah and the Whale is a big hit in our house; Grad Girl turned me on to them and you can grab some sample songs for free.
* Portland Cello Project makes alt. rock with one of my favorite instruments.
* Making slideshows for the web is fun, as I discovered creating this overview of the MTV Video Music Awards show
* Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is about to release a live CD, and offers a free remix.
* One of the best songs of the year comes from White Rabbits . Check out the video here.
* Hope Sandoval offers a free track as she starts a new tour.
* Amazon.com offers oodles of free downloads, including these world music samplers .