Christmas Around The World - Palestine

For the final Christmas Around The World, I thought I'd go to where it all began. I hope today finds you happy, safe and peaceful, where ever you are in the world. Merry Christmas.

Ella Fitzgerald - "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" (mp3) from Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas

Christmas Around The World - Indonesia

For some reason I had always assumed Christmas Island was in the Pacific (maybe I had it confused with Kiritimati). Turns out it's in the Indian Ocean, and though it's only 600 miles from Jakarta, it's actually a territory of Australia. Crikey! Geography never was my best subject. I hadn't meant for so many of these Christmas Around The World posts to be tropical in nature, but songs about the sunnier scenery in December make a nice counterpoint to the traditional winter tunes we're used to hearing this time of year.

Leon Redbone is probably familiar to most people as Zooey Deschanel's original duet partner, and the voice of Leon the Snowman from Elf. Most of his career has been spent swimming just under the mainstream, and he's maintained quite an air of mystery. Not much is known about his past, and at one point it was thought that he was one of Andy Kaufman's alter egos. I guess the fact that Leon's still here and Andy's not finally put that rumor to rest.

Leon Redbone - "Christmas Island" (mp3) from Christmas Island

Christmas Around The World - Ireland

They say when you're Irish, everyday is St. Patrick's Day. Does that mean if you're half Irish that it's every other day? The one advantage wearing green would give you at this time of year is it gives you a head start on dressing festively... throw on a red scarf and you're ready to go!

I'd mention some of the customs of the season in Ireland, but this song does a much better job of it than I possibly could.

Bing Crosby - "Christmas In Killarney" (mp3) from White Christmas

Nollaig Shona Duit!

Christmas Around The World - California

I spent Christmas in San Diego ten years ago. My dad's entire family met down there for the holidays, and I remember going to my Aunt's condo on Christmas Eve and thinking how weird it was that it was in the mid-70's and people were laying out on the beach. But despite the warm weather, it was one of the most memorable Christmases of my life. Watching the sunset from the boardwalk at the Hotel Del Coronado, and then heading into the lobby for a family picture in front of their absolutely massive Christmas tree was a lot of fun. And when you've got family together for dinner and presents, it really doesn't matter whether it's cold outside or not.

I absolutely fell in love with this song last year. The lyrics reminded me of the two holiday seasons I spent in Las Vegas, plus I was in the middle of falling in love with my fiance last December, so the almost overwhelming sweetness of the lyrics that aren't talking about fake snow and billboard lights fit my frame of mind perfectly. The original version features Simone White on the female vocals, but this acoustic version has Wedding Present bassist Terry de Castro singing with David Gedge. Whether you're under a blanket in front of a fireplace or on a blanket sitting on the beach, this is a perfect song for Christmas cuddling.

The Wedding Present - "Holly Jolly Hollywood (Acoustic)" mp3 from the Holly Jolly Hollywood EP

Christmas Around The World - Trinidad

I was going to post a different song to represent Trinidad and Tobago in the Christmas Around The World series (Lord Nelson's "A Party For Santa Claus," I promise I'll post it next year), but as awesome as it is, it didn't fit in with the apparent theme of songs that describe Christmas in the location. So here's one that does.

Machel - "Soca Santa" (mp3) from Mas! A Caribbean Christmas Party

I'm pretty sure I paid two dollars for this CD many years ago, and it was worth is just for Joseph Spence's beautifully bizarre version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (check it out here). But this year it's made its way into the yuletide rotation, and it's been a treat. If you're feeling adventurous and craving something different from the same dozen song you seem to hear ad nauseum this time of year, it's worth checking out.

Farewell Chris Feinstein

As news broke yesterday that Chris Feinstein passed away on Monday, most of the stories have focused on him being the bass player for Ryan Adams and the Cardinals. I guess that's understandable, since it was both his most recent and most popular gig. But he'd been an important part of Nashville's rock scene for years. He'd been a member if some of Nashville's seminal rock bands... The Questionaires, Shadow 15, Bedlam and Iodine among them, as well as recording and touring with Matthew Ryan. He'd also done studio work with Patty Griffin, Moby, the Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr and former Split Enz guitarist Tim Finn. And while his musical resume is impressive, I'll remember him most just for being a really nice guy. I got to know him during the Iodine days, and it was always a treat to talk to him. He was one of those people who would always greet you with a smile, and he could excitedly talk music with you for hours. He may have been a New Yorker for quite a while now, but there are surely a ton of people here in Nashville who are immensely saddened by the news of his passing. I'm definitely one of them.

For those of who who may only be familiar with his more recent discography, here are a few highlights from his musical legacy. Godspeed Chris... you will be missed.

Iodine - "Swan Dive" (mp3) from Baby Grand
Patty Griffin - "Blue Sky" (mp3) from Flaming Red
Tim Finn - "Good Together" (mp3) from Say It Is So
Shadow 15 - "The Last Forever" (mp3) from City Without A Subway
The Questionnaires - "Boomtown" (mp3) from City Without A Subway

I was going to post Matthew Ryan's "Heartache Weather" from his second album East Autumn Grin as well, but I couldn't find the CD. Turns out Matthew has made a tribute video to Chris using the song...

Christmas Around The World - Louisiana

New Orleans is one of my favorite cities that I've ever visited, and I've been itching to find an excuse to get back there. It's probably a fun place to be this time of year. Not that they need an excuse to party, but I can just imagine the balconies of Basin Street decorated with garland and lights, and the sound of carols being played by a brass band drifting out of the clubs. They might not have snow or be wearing scarves and mittens, but I imagine there's no shortage of Christmas spirit in the Big Easy when Saint Nicholas goes marching in.

Louis Armstrong - "Christmas In New Orleans" (mp3) from The Best of Louis Armstrong - The Christmas Collection: 20th Century Masters

photo by JustUptown

I Told You I Was Freaky

Flight Of The Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky

I remember reading a review of the Flight Of The Conchords' show at the Ryman back in February that commented on how so many of their songs were really salacious slow jams disguised as acoustic ditties. After listening to their second album, I Told You I Was Freaky, it's obvious why... because a lot of the songs they played that night are indeed R&B seductions.

I've been listening to this album without the benefit of having watched the entire second season of their HBO show, so I've been able to judge most of the songs on their own merits, without the context of the show to frame them with. There are some great and hilarious tunes on here, but in general you can definitely tell that a lot of these songs were written for the show, rather than their first album where the show was written around the songs. That shouldn't be interpreted as a knock on the album, just an observation. "Sugalumps" is quite possibly the most hilarious thing I've ever heard, and "Rambling Through The Avenues Of Time" is an absolutely perfect send up of Billy Joel. But a song like "Demon Woman" is probably appreciated more when you've seen the setup that their show provides.

The other obvious influence of the show on this album is in the production. While there are still a few acoustic based tunes, most of these songs have much fuller and much more electronic arrangements than their debut did. For a band that used to bill themselves as New Zeland's fourth most popular folk comedy duo, they sound surprisingly at ease kicking out the electro-jams. As they declare on the opener "Hurt Feelings," "Some people way that we are not rappers. We're rappers." They're also one of the funniest shows on television, which makes their announcement last week that they wouldn't be back for a third season utterly depressing. Here's to hoping they at least keep releasing albums.

Flight Of The Conchords - "Sugalumps" (mp3) from I Told You I Was Freaky

A Sinatra Family Christmas

Happy Birthday Frank. To celebrate, here's a seasonal sing-a-long with the kids...

Frank Sinatra & Family - "I Wouldn't Trade Christmas" (mp3) from Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection

Christmas Around The World - Italy

It's that time of year when your email inbox fills up with a thousand forwarded messages from cousins and aunts that you haven't seen in the last decade, but for whatever reason they feel like forwarding a holiday message with a thousand lines of address headers makes them feel closer to their family this time of year. Next time send a card.

That said I actually enjoyed the Christmas trees around the world email that I'm sure everyone has already seen by now. And if you haven't, enjoy the world's largest Christmas tree on the slopes of Mt. Ingino, just outside of Gubbio, Italy. Apparently it's been an annual tradition since 1981. If you speak Italian, you can read all about it. If not, it's designed with 500 colored lamps and 40,000 feet of cables, and it lights up every year on December 7, the eve of the feast of Immaculate Conception.

This song actually came up in conversation at my annual Christmas party Saturday night. A couple of my friends had heard it in the car earlier that day, and thought it was absolutely the stupidest song they'd ever heard. I couldn't disagree more. Yeah, it's goofy, but that's what makes it one of my absolute favorite Christmas songs.

Lou Monte - "Dominick The Donkey" (mp3) from The Very Best of Lou Monte

Heaven Tonight

Cheap Trick, w/ Superdrag
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
Thursday, December 3, 2009

Christmas came early for pop nerds in Nashville this year, as one of the best double bills I've ever seen shared the stage at the legendary Ryman. Really, if you are a fan of rock and roll, you could not have asked for a better bill, or two bands more perfectly suited to be playing together. If you had been paying by the melody, tickets would have been five times the top tier price of fifty bucks.

Adopted hometown heroes Superdrag took the stage promptly (and I mean promptly) at 7:30. They may have been playing to a half full house at the start of their set, but the guys were clearly pumped to be playing at the mother church. Kicking things off with "Slow To Anger" and "Keep It Close To Me," they delivered a 40 minute set that was heavy on their mid-nineties Modern Rock radio classics. "Do The Vampire," "Sucked Out," and their standard closer "Destination Ursa Major" were all present and accounted for. And though they were tearing up the entire time, their smiles seemed to grow with each song as more and more of the crowd filed in. Even if frontman John Davis hadn't made repeated comments about what an honor it was for them to be playing there, their demeanor on stage made it obvious that they were having one hell of a good time.

After a forty minute wait that was spent listening to fortysomethings explain to their significant others how great Cheap Trick was when they last saw them in high school on the One On One tour, the house lights thankfully went down. An intro tape that featured an animated Japanese announcer, song snippets, and various quotes about the headliners from episodes of The Simpsons made it clear that yes indeed ladies and gentlemen, we were ready to rock. With a one-two punch of "Way Of The World" and "Come On, Come On," Rockford, IL's finest came out swinging and made it clear that they definitely belong among the greats who have played Nashville's most fabled stage. The set was heavy on the hits and surprisingly light on deep album cuts. I'd have gladly sacrificed any of the songs they played from their most recent album The Latest (although "Sick Man Of Europe" was a highlight) in order to hear fan favorites like "He's A Whore" or "Southern Girls." The pop purists among the crowd may have cringed when they broke out their 1988 power ballad "The Flame," but the song definitely highlights Robin Zander's still formidable vocals, and it gave the middle aged wives and girlfriends their "hug and sway" moment. When the band next tore into "Surrender" (the most perfect pop song ever written, says me), all was forgiven, although it seemed a bit early in the set to be playing their most popular song. As it turned out, it was the end of the main set already, just an hour into the show.

They kicked off their encore by reprising a song from their Las Vegas Sgt. Pepper residency, playing an outstanding version of "A Day In The Life." The Beatles' classic made an impressively appropriate segue into a raucous version of "Dream Police" that featured a guest appearance from Journey's Jonathan Cain on keyboards. After that back to back powderkeg, and entire audience was floating on a musical high that seemed like it could last forever, which is why it was all the more surprising when Rick Nielsen and Bun E. Carlos started off the intro to "Good Night." Surely the band wasn't going to call it quits after a mere 75 minutes? When Zander sang "That's the end of the show, now it's time to go," they meant it, and we got our unfortunate answer.

All though the concert was way too short, it feels like it's hard to complain. Yeah, it was brief, but it was also incredibly good. After over thirty years together, the guys have lost absolutely none of their ability to put on an utterly fantastic show. And frankly any setlist that includes "She's Tight" can do no wrong.

Cheap Trick - "Goodnight (Live)" bonus track from In Color

And since it's the holiday season, I'll throw this one up as a bonus...

Cheap Trick - "Christmas Christmas" (mp3) from Gift

photo by Steve Cross, lovingly stolen from Nashville Cream. Read their review, or check out their show galleries of Cheap Trick and Superdrag.

Christmas Around The World - Hawaii

I've never been to Hawaii. My parents promised my sister and I a trip there when we were kids, but then we moved from Washington to Tennessee, and suddenly it was no longer feasible. They took us to the Bahamas instead. Now I'll admit the Bahamas are nice, but they ain't Hawaii. My fiance and I looked into a trip there recently while honeymoon planning, but as soon as we saw the cost of airfare, it was crossed off the list of possible destinations. It'd be cheaper to fly to Europe, and we aren't going there either.

What does any of this have to do with Christmas? Absolutely nothing, so I'll get back on track. I used to work with a lady from Hawaii, and I loved that she always signed her Christmas cards Mele Kalikimaka. It's funny that sometimes we learn language through song. I mean, everyone knows how to say Merry Christmas in Spanish, right? We can thank Jose Feliciano for that.

Until last year the only versions of this song that I'd ever heard were Chris Isaak and Bing Crosby with The Andrews Sisters. Two years ago I picked up KT Tunstall's Christmas CD at Target for 75 cents. I'm not really a fan of hers, but I do love Christmas music, and at ninety percent off I'll check out just about anything. It turned out to be a pretty good CD, and her version of this song is ridiculously fun.

KT Tunstall - "Mele Kalikimaka" (mp3) from Have Yourself A Very KT Christmas

Christmas Around The World

One of my favorite Nashville Christmas memories was going to see the Trees of Christmas exhibit at Cheekwood. A few years ago they ended the annual event, apparently after a falling out between the various garden clubs that did each of the themed trees. They still have Christmas exhibits there, but they aren't nearly as big or as cool as they used to be. My favorite was the year they did Christmas Around The World, where each tree represented the various yuletide traditions from countries all over the world. Not only was it festive, but it also appealed to the history nerd in me.

I always post a bunch of Christmas songs this time of year, and I thought this December it'd be fun to do a theme. So every couple of days I'll be posting a song celebrating Christmas around the world. I haven't really planned exactly how many songs I have that fit into this theme (feel free to leave suggestions in the comments), but I came up with a half dozen off the top of my head, so I figure I'll be able to dig up a few more in order to do a post every 2-3 days leading up to Christmas. To kick things off, here's a theme song for the series, courtesy of the Candy Man...

Sammy Davis Jr. - "Christmas Time All Over The World" (mp3) from Christmas With The Rat Pack

Giving Thanks

For a lot of different reasons, I'm especially thankful this year, so this song seemed more than appropriate when I heard it this morning.

Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby - "Let Us Break Bread Together" (mp3)

It was originally released on America, I Hear You Singing in 1964, and though it has never been reissued on CD, you can find a few of the tracks on Frank Sinatra's The Complete Reprise Recordings, which though also out of print is much more attainable.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

The Muppets do Bohemian Rhapsody

I hate to post to videos in a row, but oh my God... if you haven't seen this yet, take five minutes out of your day RIGHT NOW and watch it. Absolutely effing brilliant. Even if it just stopped after Animal's bit, it'd be one of the funniest things I've seen all year, but it just keeps getting better after that. You'll never hear Queen the same way again.

RIP Velvet Thunder

If you ever spent anytime downtown Nashville in the last thirty years, chances are you saw and heard Velvet Thunder. The guy was an institution, and the exception to the disparaging remarks I made a couple months ago about not being interested in local street musicians. He had a regular post sitting just outside the Spaghetti Factory, and frankly a trip to Second Avenue where I didn't see him was always a bit of a disappointment. The guy seemed to know every song anyone ever requested, and he always had a smile on his face. He told stories about singing with Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, and even though the tales were probably bullshit, it didn't make them any less entertaining. He was even the cover star of a seven inch EP put out by legendary local punk label House O' Pain that featured one of my old bands. To me he is just as big a part of Nashville's musical legacy as anyone who ever graced the Ryman's stage.

I was reading the Tennessean yesterday, and Velvet died last week. Second Avenue will never be the same.

You can still toss a few bucks his way... stop by any Bank of America branch to contribute to the Elringo De'Angelino Fund to help pay for his funeral expenses. You'll be helping to commemorate one of Music City's true musical treasures.

Tonight Is The Ghost

Hurricane Bells - Tonight Is The Ghost

Hurricane Bells is the new solo project from Longwave singer/guitarist Steve Schiltz. And you weren't supposed to be hearing it yet. Schlitz originally envisioned it as something he'd release on his own. But then his song "Monsters" got included on the surprisingly stellar lineup for The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack and, well, plans change. His debut album is now being released by Vagrant Records, although the sped up schedule means that a digital release is preceding the actual physical release by three months.

So what does Tonight Is The Ghost sound like? Basically it's a stripped down version of Longwave. It has a similar atmospheric vibe, but much less dense. Schiltz wrote, played, recorded and mixed every note on the album himself, and some of the songs have the kind of laid back, late night quality you often expect from a home recorded solo project. Other songs, like "This Is A Test" or the instrumental closer "Tenterhooks" sound a lot like his main band with a few less layers of guitar, and a few more layers of vocals.

And what about this New Moon movie he's gotten himself involved with? For reasons that I still can't quite explain, I went to a midnight showing of it last night, and it's actually not bad. I thought Twilight was the chickiest chick flick I'd ever seen, but the sequel is a lot better. There's a lot more action, and the story, while still a bit corny, isn't nearly as cringe worthy as the first one. So if you're a guy getting dragged to it by your girlfriend this weekend (which is how I saw it), you can rest easy... it's definitely watchable, and maybe even slightly enjoyable.

Hurricane Bells - "This Year" (mp3)

Witness Blues

Elvis Perkins In Dearland w/ A.A. Bondy
Mercy Lounge, Nashville, TN
Tuesday, November 17, 2009

If you were at the Mercy Lounge Tuesday night, you never would have guessed that Nashville had been experiencing sunshine and 75 degree temperatures just two days earlier. It seemed like everyone in attendance had spent the indian summer weekend digging their winter clothes out of the back of the closet. Every other person was wearing either a sweater, scarf, knit hat, or some combination of the three.

For a while it seemed like the openers would be experiencing the familiar curse of a Nashville weeknight crowd, but just as A.A. Bondy and his bandmates were taking the stage, people materialized seemingly out of nowhere, and the place ended up being about two-thirds full. They also were surprisingly attentive and respectfully quiet throughout the mostly subdued hour long set, so much so that Bondy thanked them several times for being such a great crowd. With just three people on stage, the songs from Bondy's most recent album, When The Devil's Loose, were much less atmospheric than on record, making the sound much closer to that of his debut album. The only hints of the former Verbena frontman's rock and roll past were during a distortion drenched ending to "Slow Parade," and the cacophony of noise that "Killed Myself When I Was Young" decsended into. Only two songs approached the lushness of their album versions: "Mightest of Guns," on which his drummer played pedal steel, and the closer "I Can See The Pines Are Dancing," when they were joined on stage by Elvis Perkins and two of his bandmates. Don't take that as a complaint though. It might have been a laid back, bluesy set, but it was also utterly fantastic.

Elvis Perkins In Dearland is one of those bands where every member seems to play at least three different instruments. So despite only being a four piece, it looked like the stage was setup for Arcade Fire or Belle And Sebastian. Perkins kicked off the set solo before being joined by his bandmates. And three songs in, Bondy returned the favor affored during his set by joining them on guitar for "Doomsday," the title track to Perkin's most recent release. While not a huge fan, I'd heard several Perkins songs before. But before Tuesday night it had never occured to me that he often sounds a bit like Paul Simon fronting the Decemberists. That's a cool combination, but it couldn't overcome the fact that I was tired and it was a school night, so I ended up heading home about halfway through their set.

Elvis Perkins - "While You Were Sleeping" (mp3) from Ash Wednesday
Elvis Perkins In Dearland - "Slow Doomsday" (mp3) from The Doomsday EP
A.A. Bondy - "When The Devil's Loose" (mp3) from When The Devil's Loose
A.A. Bondy - "There's A Reason" (mp3) from American Hearts

photo of A.A. Bondy by minervacat

Why You Runnin'

Lissie - Why You Runnin'

As introductions to a new artist go, the debut from Lissie Maurus, is a pretty promising one. Blessed with the pipes of her barbershop quartet champion grandfather, and the vagabond spirit of her train jumping great-grandfather, this Rock Island, IL native has unveiled a stellar EP that is sure to turn heads. With an assist from Band Of Horses' Bill Reynolds and Tyler Ramsey, she sounds like a more homespun version of Neko Case, while the production invites comparisons to Emmylou Harris' work with Daniel Lanois. "Little Lovin' " is a lively opener, but the rest of Why You Runnin' is a more subdued affair. A gorgeous cover of Hank William's "Wedding Bells" shows that her heart's in the right place, and sets the tone for the originals that follow. "Oh Mississippi" is a wistful ode to the river she grew up with, while "Everywhere I Go" and "Here Before" are yearning ballads whose minimal arrangements are the perfect setting to showcase her gorgeous vocals. Lissie is definitely an artist I'm looking forward to hearing more from.

Lissie - "Little Lovin' " (mp3)

A Day In The Life

Friday afternoon I was listening to my ipod at work. In the space of an hour three different versions of "A Day In The Life" came up on shuffle, and not one of them was the The Beatles' original version. What are the chances?

This is probably my second favorite Fab Four song, so it didn't really surprise me that I had so many versions of it (I don't have any covers of "In My Life" in my collection, because anyone who does that song tends to make it overly sappy). All three of these are live versions, and two of them are much, much better than the third one... I'll leave it up to you to decide which is which.

Cheap Trick - "A Day In The Life" (mp3) from Sgt. Pepper Live
Robyn Hitchcock - "A Day In The Life" (mp3) from Live Death
Sting - "A Day In The Life" (mp3) from Demolition Man

Capgun Coup's Maudlin

Capgun Coup - Maudlin

The sophomore album from Omaha, NE's Capgun Coup is frenetic collision of 60's garage rock and 70's punk spirit. Recorded live in the studio, it documents the madhouse atmosphere of the house shows the band is known for in their hometown. Frontman Sam Martin delivers his biting lyrics with a Dylan-esque delivery, conjuring up images of what Mr. Zimmerman might have sounded like had he been five years younger and headed to Detroit or the Pacific Northwest instead of the folk scene of Greenwich Village. Whether it's the Farfisa fueled "Computer Screens and TVs," or the Ventures homage that kicks off "When I'm Gone," Maudlin is filled with a relentless energy that stands in stark contrast to the album's title.

Capgun Coup - "Sitting On The Sidewalk" (mp3)
Capgun Coup - "Bad Bands" (mp3)

Sinatra Live at the Meadowlands

Frank Sinatra - Live at the Meadowlands

Eleven years after his death, you have to wonder if the Frank Sinatra estate is going to run out of new material to release at some point. Three of the four labels he recorded for have already done "complete recordings" box sets, and you can only put out so many themed "best of" compilations. There's always live albums, and with a performing career that spanned seven decades, surely there are a lot of recorded shows in the archives. But even with that you can only release so many before the marketplace gets cluttered, and the CD racks already contain nine live albums, including a five CD boxed set of performances from Las Vegas. Add in countless bootlegs, and it begs the question how many more concerts can actually be worth hearing?

Apparently the answer is at least one more.*

Live at the Meadowlands documents an 1986 concert in New Jersey. And while Sinatra's setlists in the later years of his performing career could be hit or miss, the song selection for this show was pretty spot on. Heavy on the classics, and almost totally devoid of the MOR schlock he sometimes recorded in the 70s and 80s, this sort of homecoming show is full of gems from the great American songbook. With signature anthems like "My Way" and "Strangers In The Night" relegated to the opening instrumental medley, Frank was free to concentrate on the likes of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, the Gershwins, and a triple shot of Rodgers and Hart. And as he did throughout his career, he frequently credits the songwriters and arrangers who were responsible for the foundations upon which his career was built. "Change Partners" is presented in a fantastic non-bossavnoa arrangement, and as great as the studio version of "It Was A Very Good Year" is, here Sinatra gives the song even more meaning with an additional 20 years of living behind him. Following it with "You Make Feel So Young" proved that despite being 61 years old at the time, there was still plenty of life left ahead of him. The only turkey in the set is the inclusion of Quincy Jones' television theme song wannabe "L.A. Is My Lady," but I guess you can't fault the guy for wanting to promote what was at the time his most recent album. Frank was clearly energized performing withing spitting distance of his hometown of Hoboken, and his enthusiasm is apparent throughout the concert. Far from being the kind of CD that only appeals to completists, this is a live album that any level of Sinatra fan would love.

Frank Sinatra - "My Heart Stood Still (Live)" (mp3)

*NOTE: Well, I guess the answer may be more than just one more. Turns out the same day I finish this post, the estate has released Sinatra:New York, a five disc set of live material recorded in the city that never sleeps. With material ranging between 1955 and 1990, this is sure to be a treat. And so my Christmas wish list begins...

Do You Believe In Blood?

Lylas - Do You Believe In Blood?

Lylas has always been a band for all seasons. They've recorded spring songs, summer songs, and two EPs full of Christmas songs. But perhaps the time of year their music is most appropriate for is Halloween. Even when they aren't name dropping the October holiday in their songs (something they do twice on their new album), their music has long been full of themes appropriate the season of ghosts and the ghoulish. It's the kind of world where courting couples sweetly embrace, only to have one of them fall back with a knife wound.

Their second full length album continues the lyrical themes that their press release accurately describes as "the strangely sweet and the gently macabre," but the addition of Features drummer Rollum Haas to their ranks has added a bit of muscle to their chamber folk/pop. Don't get me wrong, you're not going to suddenly mistake them for a rock band, but they've never previously recorded anything quite as rambunctious as "Baby Brimstone." And Kelli Shay Hix's fiddle serves to accentuate the subtle country influence that has always been present in their sound. Like a Hitchcock film set to a Django Reinhardt score, Do You Believe In Blood? is equal parts chilling and charming. If you're looking for the perfect soundtrack for sipping some witches brew while chasing frightened children off your porch tomorrow night, this is it.

Lylas - "Fix Me Dixie" (mp3)
Lylas - "Baby Brimstone" (mp3)

Beast Rest Forth Mouth

Bear In Heaven - Beast Rest Forth Mouth

Brooklyn's Bear In Heaven was one of the bands that I saw earlier this month at Next Big Nashville and made a mental note that I needed to check them out. Turns out if I had done a better job of checking my inbox, I could have checked them out before NBN... I'd already been sent a link to their sophomore album.

Beast Rest Forth Mouth is full of moody, sequencer driven indie rock. The songs seem to float through your head, riding through aural clouds on beds of vintage synths. Even the more upbeat songs have an airy, slightly ominous feeling. On "Dust Cloud" they sound like My Bloody Valentine on valium, but the rest of the albums pulls equally from 80's new wave and late 70's prog rock. It's like if Yes' Jon Anderson fronted Tangerine Dream, and they covered Gary Numan songs. While I might personally wish for a bit more guitar to add variety to the proceedings, you can't deny that these guys create one hell of an atmosphere. It's no surprise that they're one of the buzziest bands on the blogs right now.

Bear In Heaven - "Lovesick Teenagers" (mp3)

Bluegrass Hitchcock

Robyn Hitchcock
Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN
Saturday, October 17, 2009

There was a real sense of curiosity as people were waiting in line to get into the Bluebird on a chilly Saturday night. The show had seemed to pop up out of nowhere, and most of the fans in line were saying they had just found out about it in the last couple of days. Additionally, the evening was billed as "Robyn Hitchcock Presents," so everyone was wondering exactly what that meant. But the fact that no one knew quite what to expect certainly didn't keep anyone away. The place was absolutely packed with a bizarre mix of hardcore fans and curious tourists who just wanted to see the legendary venue, and if you didn't have reservations you were out of luck.

I was almost one of those unfortunate souls that didn't get in. By the grace of God, I was in line in front of someone who had made reservation for two, and their friend didn't show up. So instead of heading home early, cold and disappointed, I found myself at a table right in front of the stage, for what ended up being the most unique Robyn Hitchcock show I've seen.

After starting the show with a five song solo set that included "The Museum of Sex," "I Often Dream Of Trains," and a cover of Gillian Welch's "Elvis Presley Blues," Robyn welcomed Abigail Washburn and Rayna Gellert to the stage. With accompaniment on banjo and fiddle respectively, they tore into a mind blowing bluegrass version of The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows." At that point they could have said goodnight and left the stage, and I still would have felt like the night was worth twice the fifteen dollar cover. But they played for another hour, alternating between Robyn's vast catalog and traditional folk songs and murder ballads that featured Washburn and Gellert on vocals. The show had a somewhat loose feeling, like you were watching friends jamming in someone's basement, but it also had that sense of fun that you get from seeing something completely out of the ordinary. Though Hitchcock has had a few songs throughout his career with a somewhat country feel, hearing his quirky pop played with a bluegrass tinge was a treat. Washburn and Gellert seemed to be having a great time as well, especially during Hitchcock's hilariously surreal between song banter, this time featuring recurring themes of airline announcements and "sucky olives."

For the encore, Robyn returned to the stage alone for absolutely beautiful renditions of The Door's "The Crystal Ship" and Nick Drake's "River Man" before inviting the gals back onstage for a rousing stomp through "Ye Sleeping Knights Of Jesus," a song that was tailor made for the evening's down home, folksy feel. As his guests left the stage, he began a return trip to the Jim Morrison catalog, singing "The End" in its entirety, complete with the Oedipal monologue.

Hitchcock has played the Bluebird several times before, and after recording Spooked here with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, he's obviously developed a real affinity for Nashville. But it's a safe bet to say that Saturday night was an experience unlike any of the shows he's played here before, or anywhere else for that matter.

Robyn Hitchcock - "The Ghost In You (Live)" (mp3)

To see the complete setlist, check out Miles' review at Reading Pronounciation. Photo by John Brassil - note: the photo is from a show at the Bluebird five years ago, but oddly enough, Robyn was wearing the same shirt Saturday night.

Feral Harmonic

Old Canes - Feral Harmonic

Folk music and punk rock have always been distant cousins. Often times they share a state of mind, a certain anti-establishment attitude, and a belief that anyone can pick up an instrument and make their voice be heard. Musically though, you usually lean one way or another. Either you strum an acoustic guitar and make wistful, quiet records, or you plug into an amp and raise hell. Old Canes' Feral Harmonic doesn't fall comfortably into one category or the other.

Maybe it's the way the songs were recorded. Appleseed Cast's Chris Chrisci started all the songs by recording the drums first. And though they were then layered with entirely acoustic instruments (including trumpets that sound like they were borrowed from Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire"), that foundation creates a bold, boisterous, and intensely rhythmic sound. Sure there are tracks like "Trust" and "Southern Radio" that have the quiet sound like you would expect from something labeled folk music, but the majority of the album has a rambunctious energy that is usually reserved for rock and roll. Songs like "Little Bird Courage" and "I Will Be The Sun" come flying out of the speakers with an almost explosive joy. Feral Harmonic is one of the most exciting acoustic albums I've ever heard.

Old Canes - "Little Bird Courage" (mp3)

Next Big Nashville 09 Saturday Recap

My final night of Next Big Nashville didn't get off to the start I had hoped for. After a pregame nap that lasted about an hour and half longer than planned, I headed out about 9:30 and figured I'd catch the tail end of Mikky Ekko's set at 12th and Porter. But when I got there, his set had evidently ended early, and the next band was already setting up their gear. So I made my way to the Exit/In with my sights on seeing the last half of Other Girls set. What I got to see was them tearing down. With my count now 0-2, I walked over to The End just in time to catch the last minute and a half of Denny & The Jets set. After an hour and three different venues, I'd managed to see absolutely no one. Last year set a precedent of NBN shows running pretty much on time, but never in my life would I have expected three different venues to be running ahead of schedule.

My luck changed eventually though. Matt Friction and the Cheap Shots thankfully waited until their scheduled time to go on, so I did catch the former Pink Spiders frontman's new band. They've got all the pop melodies and catchy hooks of his old outfit, but they lean more towards Ryan Adams territory than the Spiders punky brashness. Part two of the evening's "night of the former major label frontpersons" featured ex-Be Your Own Pet singer Jemina Pearl. Her solo material was pretty similar to the BYOP stuff... attitude heavy punk rock jams, played with the same amount of energy but with a little more finesse.

Other than dodging cars on Elliston, I also managed to hop the shuttle to catch some of The Protomen's set at Mercy Lounge. They were thrilling an absolutely packed house with their Blade Runner meets Bat Out Of Hell opera rock. It seemed like the spectacle took precedence over the music, but the crowd was absolutely eating it up. Jim Steinman would be proud.

Infinity Cat shows often feel more like an excuse to party than an actual concert, and the label's showcase at The End Saturday nite was no exception. Unfortunately Daniel Pujol fell into the same "end of the set" curse the plagued me earlier in the night, but I managed to catch substantial bits of the rest of the bill's ramshackle garage rock. Natural Child played ragged punk rock, while Heavy Cream were a bit like a bunch of kids who broke into a music store and were trying to squeeze in as much fun as possible before the cops showed up. Capping of the night was one of the worst kept secrets of the weekend, a "surprise" appearance by JEFF The Brotherhood. Love 'em or hate 'em, their minimalist stoner rock had the sweaty crowd jumping. Towards the end of their set there was a massive surge of stage divers, though some of them found unwilling helpers in the crowd and quickly made their way to the floor (check out The Opening Acts for pics). As the last notes of their set ran out, opener Sound Tribe Sector CY made a return appearance as the stage filled up with other band members and fans, all chanting along with his Casio powered keyboard jams. Lights were swinging, people were singing, and I'm sure mine weren't the only ears that were ringing. The wild ending made a fitting coda for a fantastic weekend.

JEFF The Brotherhood - "Screaming Banshee" (mp3) from The Boys R Back In Town
Jemina Pearl - "Looking For Trouble" (mp3) from Break It Up

photo of JEFF the Brotherhood courtesy of Next Big Nashville

Next Big Nashville 09 Friday Recap

Friday night confronted me with one of those scheduling dilemmas that Next Big Nashville seems to torture you with every year. Do I head down to The Rutledge to catch an increasingly rare appearance by Venus Hum, or head to Exit/In to see my absolute favorite local artist, Cortney Tidwell. Normally scarcity would win out over favoritism, but since I was meeting friends for The Black Angels headlining set, it meant spending the night on Elliston. That also meant I would miss Lylas at The Anchor later that night, but the lineup at Exit/In was so strong it was hard to complain.

Bear In Heaven kicked off the evening with a set of new wave inspired psychedelia, or maybe it was psychedelia inspired new wave. You could tell the moment you walked in the room they were a Brooklyn band, but you also knew right away that they were pretty damn good. They did suffer from what turned out to be a recurring problem for Exit/In bands over the weekend... vocals being absolutely buried in the mix. The sound at Nashville's grandaddy of rock clubs is usually spot on, so I don't know what caused the sporadic issues over the weekend. Next up was Cortney Tidwell, who luckily didn't suffer from the same problem. I've written about her a lot on here over the years, and her set Friday night did nothing to diminish her spot as my fave local. Pulling heavily from the recently released Boys, her set built in intensity until the thundering climax of "17 Horses," which literally gave me goosebumps. How the girl doesn't have a US record label is surely one of life's great mysteries.

Between sets we made a quick run across the street to catch the tail end of Twin Tigers set. The Scene described them last week as "...like The Fiery Furnaces playing from the bottom of a gloomy, reverbed-out U2 cave." The two songs we did hear were enough to make us wish we had gotten to see more of it. Luckily we'll get the chance, as the band will be returning to Nashville to play the Basement next month. We'll definitely be delving more into them before then. Back across the street, we caught Disappears, who were dripping with both reverb and sweat.

I got to see the Black Angels play at the Exit/In last year, so I had a pretty good idea what to expect. And even though they were missing the light show and video projector they had on their last trek through town, they still put on a hell of a show. Opening with "You On the Run," their 75 minute set made us feel like it was 1969 all over again. Their droning version of psychedelic rock is like Altamont's answer to the Summer of Love... dark and foreboding, with a hint of menace.

The fact that the Exit/In was running forty-five minutes behind schedule all night meant we didn't make it across the street to catch Eureka Gold before they were finished, but there was still another night of rock and roll to be had...

The Black Angels - "The First Vietnam War" (mp3) from Passover
Bear In Heaven - "Wholehearted Mess" (mp3) from Beast Rest Forth Mouth
Cortney Tidwell - "17 Horses" (mp3) from Boys

photo of Bear In Heaven by Tyge O'Donnell

Next Big Nashville 09 Thursday Recap

Three nights, five venues, eighteen bands, and too many beers to count. That was my Next Big Nashville 2009 in a nutshell. Not quite as crazy as NBN08, but still one hell of a good time. So now that the ringing in my ears has died down, let the recapping begin.

Thursday night we kicked things off by meeting Tyge from The Opening Acts at the Basement to catch The Carter Administration. Unfortunately they suffered the sparse crowd curse that often accompanies an early slot, but they still turned in a great set of classic power pop. Bassist Andy Wilhite was MIA due to work obligations, so new guitarist (and former Superdrag and Guided By Voices bassist) Sam Powers moved temporarily into the rhythm section. It's a testament to their tightness that the casual observer never would have guessed they were operating from a deficit position. We also managed to catch a few songs of Wheels On Fire's classic garage rock before pulling up stakes and moving the party to Elliston Place.

Once we hit the Rock Block, the plan was to alternate between The End and Exit/In for the evening, but what was supposed to be a quick pit stop at the Gold Rush turned into an extended gab session with friends. We had such a good time that it's hard to complain, but it did limit our exposure to the evening's lineup. I did manage to get across the street to catch Jessica Lea Mayfield, who was utterly fantastic. With a backing band that included Richie Ghostfinger, she sounded like Mazzy Star covering Fleetwood Mac. We finished off the evening with David Vandervelde's retro-fueled shimmery pop before calling it a night.

The Carter Administration - "Oxycontinental" (mp3) from Air Guitar Force One
David Vandervelde - "Someone Like You" (mp3) from Waiting For The Sunrise

photo of The Carter Administration by Chris Wage

Thunder$troke

Beaten Awake - Thunder$troke

If you need to know how far the technology of home recording has come, just look at the evolution of the term "lo-fi." It used to be more of a description than a label. It was used for bands like Guided By Voices or The Folk Implosion to describe records that were made in bedrooms and garages on 4-track cassette recorders and boomboxes, and the results sounded every bit like the way they were created.

Kent, Ohio's Beaten Awake might share inspiration and a state of mind with the former forbearers of the lo-fi movement, but sonically their second album is a millions miles away from the likes of Bee Thousand. Thunder$troke is equal parts rocking and pulsating, mixing straight ahead indie rock with dreamy soundscapes. At times it sounds a bit like a stripped down take on Built To Spill, with a healthy dose of new wave influence mixed in. It's almost odd that an album that features two lead singers and alternates so much between guitar driven songs and keyboard-centric tunes can come together so well as a cohesive whole. But whether it's the funky fuzz bass riff on the title track, the manic guitar pop of "Danger Pins," or atmospheric closer "I shot the Mayor, not the Deputy Mayor," these songs are definitely all coming from the same fertile creative soil. Thunder$troke comes out tomorrow (October 13) on Fat Possum.

Beaten Awake - "Thunder$troke" (mp3)
Beaten Awake - "Coming Home" (mp3)

Next Big Nashville Friday Preview

It's Friday, and that means you can really throwdown at Next Big Nashville tonight. No having to worry about the alarm clock ringing in the morning, or going to work hungover. And if you're living in poverty and couting the days til payday next week, you don't even have to worry about having a badge or wristband to get a taste of NBN09. This years festival features the absolutely free Honky Tonk Takeover from 7-10 pm tonight on Lower Broad. Tootsie's will host Black Diamond Heavies, The Clutters and We Were The States, The Wheel features Blacklist Royals and Joshua Black Wilkins, Paradise Park will have Dixie Whiskey and Branded Sons gracing their stage, and The Wheels and Justin Kalk Orchestra will be playing at Full Moon Saloon.

Black Diamond Heavies - "Everythang is Everythang" (mp3) from A Touch of Someone Else's Class

But if you're not willing to mix with the tourists downtown, here's the best of the rest of tonite's showcases...

Cortney Tidwell - Hands down my favorite artist in Nashville. Her voice can go from a whisper to a scream and sound heavenly either way, and with a backing band featuring the cream of the crop of the local rock scene, they can create ethereal soundscapes or driving walls of sound to match. 9 pm at Exit/In

Cortney Tidwell - "17 Horses" (mp3) from Boys

Venus Hum - Since it's members have scattered to the four winds (well, Cincinnati and NYC anyway), appearances from Music City's premiere electro-poppers have become increasingly rare. Dance music rarely has songs this good, and frontwomen rarely have voices as divine as Annette Strean. 9:30 pm at The Rutledge

The Black Angels - One of the big names headling the fest this year, and sure to be one of the best shows. It'll also the best way to trip out this weekend and still be able to pass a drug test Monday morning. You may be merely drunk, but you'll feel like your on a peyote fueld midnight roadtrip through the desert. 11 pm at Exit/In

The Black Angels - "Doves" (mp3) from Directions To See A Ghost

Lylas - With Halloween just around the corner, there is no better time to introduce yourself to the macabre chamber folk of Kyle Hamlett and company. Never before have you heard such creepy sentiments sung with such sweet melodies. 11:20 pm at The Anchor

Since you're undoubtedly going to be having a really good time tonite, it's probably a good time to remind you about the free shuttles that will be running between venues all weekend. I took advantage of them heavily last year, and never had to wait more than ten minutes to get picked up at any of the venues. Early in the evening, they basically operate like your own personal taxi service, taking you promptly to wherever you want to go. But regardless of what time of the night you take them, they'll save you from a costly DUI.

Remember, we'll be tweeting the festival throughout the weekend, so follow us on Twitter @page300 for live updates.

Next Big Nashville Thursday Preview

Next Big Nashville 2009 kicked off yesterday, but things really get rolling tonight, with showcases happening at a dozen different venues around town, plus another film premiere at the Belcourt. As always you can play your activities at the NBN Schedule page, but if you need a few suggestions as to where to get started, here you go...

The Carter Administration - Possibly Nashville's longest running indie band, and for good reason. Tight as hell, and with just the right amount of smartass attitude, nobody in town plays straight ahead pop/rock better. 8 pm at The Basement

The Carter Administration - "The Wakeup Call" (mp3) from Here Comes The Copout

The Deep Vibration - They won't win any points for originality, but rock fueled alt-country rarely gets played any better than this. The ghost of Graham Parsons would be proud. 9:30 pm at The Basement

Dexateens - One of the most fun sets I saw last year, these guys sound something like if Lynyrd Skynrd jumped in a time machine and became an indie rock band instead of classic rock staples.
9:30 at Exit/In

Dexateens - "Neil Armstrong" (mp3) from Hardwire Healing

Oblio - These guys take all the best parts of 70s AM radio and combine them into a glorious indie-pop stew. 10:30 pm at The Rutledge

The Non-Commisioned Officers - Originally formed to record the soundtrack for Make-out With Violence and perform a few shows to promote the film, the band has had a much longer shelf life than expected, and has kept rolling due to popular demand. 10:50 pm at Mercy Lounge

I'll be out and about this evening, so you can follow my take on the action live by following @page300 on Twitter.