Tuesday, March 23, 2010

3.23.10 - I'm Alright...

More Nashville... So this cat 'Ricky Young' is kind of a bad ass. Very talented songwriter with a strong voice I've had the honor of watching mature. He's currently working with a few other guys on a project in L.A. He's got melodies for days. Just check him out, especially songs like 'Your Hands On My Skin', 'Suitcase Afternoon', & 'Sing Me A Song' (all on a record called 'Learn To Steal'). I'm going to post one from when he visited the radio station last fall. It's a song he co-wrote with another great Nashvillian 'Jeremy Lister'. I've only heard this song a handful of times live and it kicks me in the gut every time. I heard it for the first time while this video was being recorded.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

3.16.10 - I'm in love with you Caroline...

Caroline Smith & The Goodnight Sleeps. I've never seen them live, but I love every song on their album 'Backyard Tent Sale'. I have a friend in Seattle who gave my name and e-mail to some guy at this booking agency. They contacted me and we tried to pin down a show here in Nashville. Alas, the stars didn't align and it all fell through. However, I bought the album and flipped. This girls voice is amazing! Such tender lyrics too. The instrumentation is subtle and perfect for showcasing the songs. It fits so nicely underneath her unique style. I really don't know what else to say except get ready to drop your jaw. You'll be asking... why are these guys not signed? Why do they only seem to tour the mid-west? Why can't I marry this girl? Ha ha. Just kidding. Sort of... Anyways, I don't want to get in trouble and I am an amateur at this whole blogging / giving credit thing so I'm just going to post the link to this awesome video that I do believe 'Hooves on the Turf' recorded outside one of their shows. They start out and end with a random cover of some Dr. Dre (yet another reason for my love professing) and do a bunch of their own songs in between. Perfect :)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

3.11.10 - Been Waiting For This One...

I got really into this band 'Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes' last year right around the time their record 'Up From Below' came out. Soon enough they were playing this small little club called 3rd & Lindsley here in town and doing an in-store at Grimey's. My friend Jess & I went to the in-store and loved it. The place was packed, but totally worth bearing the crowd! We left there and basically went straight to the venue to get a good spot. The first opener was okay... can't even remember their name if that tells you anything. Then the second act came on. 'Local Natives' out of Canada. These guys blew me away. Great harmonies, every one of them sang I'm pretty sure. Little bit of gang vocals here and there. Awesome melodies. Lots of percussion. Pretty at times and rocking at others. Just phenomenal and right up my alley. The show was over and I flew to the merch table to buy some little E.P. they put together from an upcoming album and some Daytrotter sessions. Couldn't stop listening to it... especially the songs 'Airplanes' & 'Sun Hands'. A few weeks later I started digging around on the internet and found some 7" records they put out, as well as an import of the new album from the U.K. on Rough Trade. The album is out now here in the U.S. so I picked up a vinyl copy. It's called 'Gorilla Manor' and with all those purchases have basically bought it or some variation of it 4 times. That's how much I love it. And they're playing Bonnaroo this year!!! Can't wait to catch them again! With that said, I'm going to post a song from 'Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes' first and then one from 'Local Natives'. Here ya' go!

This is the official video for the first song I ever heard. It was on Sirius radio one night while driving back to Nashville from Indiana and I was intrigued. Then my Aussie friend Emily wouldn't stop praising them... and I'm glad she didn't b/c I fell in love with them just as much as she had. Here's 'Home'

This video is from a wonderful station out of Seattle. When I was in that area (OMG almost ten years ago... now I feel old) it was the only station I listened to. Amazing stuff. If only there were more like it. KEXP you rock my face! Here's 'Local Natives' doing the song 'Airplanes' for them.

3.10.10 - It was not your fault but mine...

Slacker... That is what I am. Whatever. It sucks b/c I have so many bands I want to put out there for people and just waste my time doing other things. Anyways, I've got a really good one for ya! I was roaming around on the facebook and stumbled upon a link my friend Aaron Robinson posted (also a great artist). It was this clip from a Letterman show featuring 'Mumford & Sons'. They performed 'Little Lion Man'. I listened once and went on with my day. Later, I found myself singing the chorus. It stuck there after only one listen. It wasn't infectious pop rotting my brain either. It was a powerful, driving, almost Irish sounding style. I left the radio station to go spend way too much money at Grimey's New & Pre-Loved Music... mainly to pick up the new 'Clem Snide' record, 'The Meat of Life' (also great!) Of course, there was an in-store performance which hinders your ability to rifle through many areas of the store. So I grabbed Josh and made him find the two albums for me. Again, I was there to pick up 'Clem Snide' but grabbed 'Mumford & Sons' too. I put it in and skipped to the catchy ass song I had heard on the Letterman clip and it was amazing. Then I started listening to the rest of the record. It stayed in my car CD player for 2 weeks I think. Incredible! Front to back to front and back again. I typically like a grittier, dirty type of production... just feels more real I guess, but this album was clean and gorgeous. Probably my favorite full album I have heard in a couple years. I really think this is a must have. It's mostly chalked full of love songs, but hey... that was the mood I was in anyways. Go buy this record... I seriously do not see any age or taste not loving it.

First, I'm going to post the official video for 'Little Lion Man'.

This next song is one of my favorites off the album in a record full of favorites called 'White Blank Page'. Not sure what site this is from, but found it on the YouTube and think it's a cool little performance in a book store. Cheers and enjoy.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

2.14.10 - Happy Valentine's Day

Yeah...

~ I hope you don't get roses ~ (That's a compliment)

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

2.1.10 - Robert's in Nashville

right now...

and


Take that in.
Also, bartender / fiddle player... will you marry me???

Thursday, January 21, 2010

1.21.10 - I'm Alive

I know, I know... it's been almost a month since my last post. Lets just say 2010 has been kicking my a$$ with a wedding, crossword puzzles, beverages, darts, and work. Back on it though. Let's hope for good this time. I have written a couple posts about some local bands, but am waiting for a good video to post. Gotta keep moving along now. This one is about 'Delta Spirit'. They have a ridiculously great album called 'Ode To Sunshine' that I can listen to over and over again. It came out in 2007 or '08 and I really don't think I'm tired of any of it still. I had the distinct pleasure of catching their set at Bonnaroo last year and hope to see them at least 53 more times this year. The guys voice is so powerful and still sincere. The slow songs are gorgeous... the fast songs are great and def. radio worthy. Go buy the record NOW and hopefully we'll be seeing another one from them very soon. I'm going to introduce you to 2 of my favorite websites too.

First is 'Daytrotter'. They post new song sessions everyday with different artists and 'Delta Spirit' has been a guest at least 3 times. The first link I'm posting has a Paul Simon cover called
'Duncan' and a wonderfully slow song called 'House Built For Two'.

http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/delta-spirit-concert/20030101-110636.html

The second link has 'Bleeding Bells' and their single 'Trashcan'

http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/delta-spirit-concert/20030246-110636.html

Thirdly, I'm posting a link to another wonderful site from across the pond called 'La Blogotheque'. They do some amazing videos and kinda just let the artists do whatever they wanna do. I highly recommend wasting at least 12 days on this site. This is 'People Turn Around'

Delta Spirit - People Turn Around from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.


Here's the blogotheque version of 'Trashcan' too... wish i could've been on that trolley :)

Delta Spirit - Trashcan from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.