12.27.09 - Finally, Something Local

Here in Nashville, I have many good friends that are musicians. That aside... there are many great artists here in town. Friends or not, this is one of my favorites. He's a transfer here from Chicago and I'm so glad that he's around. This kid is amazingly talented and recorded his last record pretty much in his house. Also, it is appropriate that he is the first local artist I write about since he is really the reason I got into local music here in Nashville in the first place. I thought it was all country (like many of you) and heard this kid while interning at the radio station (Lightning 100). It was a track called 'Radio Symphony' and was completely different than anything we had listened to. I quickly found out his name was Kyle Andrews. Soon after, he released an album called ' Amos In Ohio' and I knew this kid was the real deal. We played the track 'Your Tester Bunny' on the station and I personally used just about every song from it on compilations I made during college. Such a great record. Dark but playful and highly recommended. Then came a small change in his sound... and I still loved it. It was an E.P. called 'Find Love, Let Go' and featured great songs like 'Give Up The Anger', 'Get Mad', & my personal favorite that is completely different than most all of his songs, 'Lackluster Love'. On that track, it's basically Kyle and a guitar and in my opinion (sorry Kyle if you are reading this) should only be played that way :). The song stands on its own. No need for bells and whistles. It's an intimate look inward. The simplicity of the recording and instrumentation reflects that sentiment perfectly. It's so personal, but yet universal in it's lovelorn message. The perfect song. Again, just my opinion. Moving on. 'Real Blasty' came out in 2008 and he embraced the electronic experimentation he had been hinting at for years... and it was brilliant. Easily one of my top 2 favorite records of that year. Front to back, awesome dance party rock your face off and slow it down goodness. Which brings me to the video I am posting. The first track is 'Sushi' and the video is great. It's a YouTube mosaic and you can click the videos they use to take you to something random in the internet video world. So here it is...

Kyle also just released an X-mas E.P. called 'Damn Baby, You're Cold' which I think works year round for the most part. So much fun.

On a personal note:

Kyle... you are one of the most interesting and talented people I've ever had the privilege of meeting. Keep at it, b/c you have what it takes to be doing what you love for a long, long time. And I will always be eagerly awaiting to hear what you come up with next.

12.18.09 - Part I

To do:

Australia

Scotland

Pittsburgh

Record Label

Ummm... Save $

Sit-Ups

Keep Car Clean

Buy Fantastic Mr. Fox on DVD when it comes out

Protomen... Be there every time they play

Music to come...

12.15.09 - Back on it

I've realized that I'm basically just writing about my favorite bands on here. I'm going to continue that trend with this one. Short and sweet... I think. This band is out of Kansas, I do believe Lawrence maybe. Anyways, the lead singer and I guess mainstay of the band is Chris Crisci. He was in a band called 'The Appleseed Cast' awhile back. Now he focuses a lot on recording for the most part. His latest project though is 'Old Canes'!!! I love this band. 'Early Morning Hyms' was the first release back in 2004 and is one of those albums you start, let finish, and continue to listen to again. It's a brilliant record! A few months back he released 'Feral Harmonic' on Saddle Creek Records (awesome label) which is great too. Highlights from that album are 'Little Bird Courage', 'Flower Faces', ok I'm going to stop before I just list the entire record. Getting back to 'Early Morning Hymns' though... It is amazing (one of my favorite albums ever, fo realz) and I wanted to share a video of a song from it. This is 'Both Falling Bright' from some web thing called 'The Turnpike'. Chris plays solo on this video, but the albums are so much more full with strings, horns, saws, and whatever else... KINDA "Neutral Milk Hotel - y" I guess. Just check it out and then go buy 'Early Morning Hymns' on the Myspace or at your local record store or something. Totally worth it.
By the way, the song starts 1:10 into this video... not just a montage of pictures.
Thanks for reading and watching.

12.12.09 - II - Done Djing

I really want to keep on this blog. Therefore, even though I just got off Djing after working at the station today... here is my post. I want it to kind of flow from the first one. Let me preface this by saying that I don't ONLY love singer-songwriters and these posts will move forward to bands and rap and anything else. That said, here's another wonderful singer-songwriter. Haha! Actually, I will introduce a wonderful band from Portland, OR too. First though, this cat is from Chicago, IL and goes by the name Joe Pug. I don't know any other way of saying it better than Dylanesque. This kid is deep and writing about things that are rarely thought about by guys our age. Last time I saw him play was at the legendary Bluebird Cafe here in town. It was part of Next Big Nashville, a festival here started by Jason Moon Wilkins. It's expanding each year and put on one of the best shows I've ever seen. It was Cory Branan (see first post), Joe Pug, & Carl Broemel (the guitar player from My Morning Jacket). I saw Joe at Bonnaroo
and first caught him at The Basement with a band called 'Horse Feathers'.
I was there to see them and couldn't wait. They're like an Iron & Wine with
heavy strings. So beautiful andintricate, yet simple. They have two albums
out and I recommend both! Def. recommend 'House With No Home'. Kill
Rock Stars is a great label! Anyways, Joe opened for them and I was nailed
to the seat. Such detailed stories. I felt like he had actually been a

character in each point of view he wrote from. Horse Feathers were
wonderful too, but Joe sucker punched me with his songs. So I'm going
to shut up now and here's a video from each...

Ok... two from Joe Pug :)

I mean, "the more i buy the more i'm bought - the more i'm bought the less
i cost." RIDICULOUS!

All these HearYa.com session videos are fantastic! This is 'Rude To Rile'

12.10.09 - The Start...

So yes.  Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Justin Hammel.  A 27 year old living in Nashville, TN.  Music City U.S.A.  I want to share that with you.  This town gets pegged as a hub for country music, and it is... but there is so much more going on here.  I want to show you the underbelly.  I work at an independent radio station here called Lightning 100 and DJ at a bar called the Flying Saucer... and the occasional house party :)  I love music.  Live music, vinyl, physical media, REAL country, REAL hip hop, soul, music that's real in general.  It's my life.  I have to say that I am a huge lyrics person so it doesn't really matter what style it's in.  As long as the message is real.  At the radio station I edit a show called Music Business Radio.  This week, I've been editing a show with two of the founders of Rounder Records.  They, along with a co-worker (Lt. Dan Buckley), have inspired me to finally start posting about shows I see and bands I love.  So thanks guys for the encouragement.  I've always been like, "who cares what I have to say?"  Not really sure if you will but, maybe someone will actually dig it.  So, the only way I can think to start this blog is with my favorite songwriter in the world.  He's from Memphis and goes by the name of Cory Branan...  One of the first shows I saw when I moved to Nashville in 2002 was Mary Lou Lord @ a tiny club called 'The End'.  It was E.J. Friedman (who as far as I know doesn't play anymore but was a decent songwriter),  Cory, & Mary.  When Cory went on, I was floored.  He stood on stage completely alone with an acoustic guitar.  His songs were fierce and yet tender.  So much emphasis on every word.  He used the last bit of breath he could muster to finish his metaphors.  He let you in on the most intimate moments of his life.  He was tongue and cheek and in the same line dead serious.  He made you feel like... well, a friend.  I was so taken back and felt so inferior.  Hence, me being apprehensive about my own writing.  After the show was over and Mary (who I went to see in the first place) and the boys were all selling merch near the bar, I snagged a poster off the wall for her to sign.  I got up there and started talking to Cory.  Immediately, I bought his CD 'The Hell You Say' and Mary asked me if I wanted her to sign the poster.  To which I replied, "if you want."  and continued my conversation with Cory.  Afterwards, I felt like an ass b/c I didn't mean it like that at all.  But, I think she understood... hopefully.  You can't deny this guys lyrics and he stole the show.  Oh, and he continues to do so.  So here's a video.  It's not a song off 'The Hell You Say' (Amazing album by the way) but a more recent one that isn't really on a record just yet but was recorded by Ardent Studios.  It's called 'Survivor Blues'.  If it's too much, just look up some vids and find 'Tall Green Grass'... everyone seems to like that one.  Probably because it's a happier love song haha.