New music, old music, everything from electronica to hip hop to bluegrass. The Beat Box will simply be a blog-avenue for music exposure that bypasses commercial media and gets us all listening to something new. With a short review on the musicians, the aesthetic quality of their songs, and why they captivate us, this is your brain, your life, and your weekend on music.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
The question is: Were you singing it? Or were you just singing along?
LCD Soundsystem
Mental image. Blue, green, yellow lights flashing, fog rolling over fists, hands held over heads, an enthralled audience jumps up, down to the beat, hair whipping around heads, eyes closed, bodies covered in sweat, shouts, vocal callouts (Don't it make you feel alive?), calves burning.
Entering the LCD Soundsystem concert at Orpheum was like incorporating into a Urban Outfitters human soup, rich with floating melodic beats, sonorous voices, and entrancing rhythms. As LCD was by far one of the top 5 best concerts I attended in 2010, I figured they would be a good band to feature to kick off 2011.
Mainly characterized as Electronica, LCD Soundsystem is a "musical project," lead by James Murphy (also co-founder of DFA Records). When performing live, other band members include: Nancy Whang (vocals, keyboards, synths), Pat Mahoney (drums, percussion, drum machine, claps, synths, vocals), Tyler Pope (bass, guitar, synths, claps, drum machine), and others. LCD has released three albums, LCD Sounsystem, Sound of Silver, and This is Happening. Their first self-entitled album was nominated for two Grammy awards in the Electronica Category. At the time of its release in 2007, Sound of Silver received massive universal acclaim and a 9.2 rating on Pitchfork, went on to be Grammy-nominated for best Electronica/Dance album of 2007, and was rated best album of 2007 in multiple review publications, such as The Guardian and Uncut.
A song about living life without apology or regret, All My Friends, was ranked #4 in top 10 best songs of 2007 in Time magazine, and was ranked second best song of the 2000s by (the often quite critical) Pitchfork Media.
LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends by e.armstrong.2
And some other new and old biscuits:
love this. thanks kurt
If you're one who appreciates the drums, THIS is a classic.
Kings of Convenience, an indie folk pop group from Norway, create some lovely and soothing melodies such as this one.
Kings of Convenience - Misread by bullyboy85
Also featuring some R&B/Soul Fats Domino classics this week:
Domino, Fats - I'm Walking by musicintimeshow
Fats Domino
De La Soul- Itzsoweezee
11 Itsoweezee by OOPMAG
one miiiilllion dollars.
Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar by stonesthrow
The Upsetters- Sufferer's Dub
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
More songs about buildings and food
Oh when they carry me out,
Oh when they lay me down,
Oh when they bury me in the ground.
I want my people in the street,
doing that second line beat,
and I don't want no one to cry for me.
The California Honeydrops are a roots, blues, soul, and R&B American band formed in Oakland California. Their New Orleans sound and vocal harmonization make for an uplifting and rhythmic style of music.
The California Honeydrops- Cry For Me
11 Cry For Me by TheBeatBox-Arconti
Fleet Foxes- a Seattle Based Folk quintet, describing their music as "baroque harmonic pop jams."
Fleet Foxes- Ragged Wood
03 Ragged Wood by Stephen Branch
Arcade Fire- Haiti. thanks raf
Haiti - Arcade Fire by soundslikesaha
New Lil Weezy - what do you think of Cory Gunz?
Lil Wayne - Six Foot Seven Foot (Feat Cory Gunz) by pigeonsandplanes
Daft Punk is playing in my house... this video is terrifying.
Upbeat and positive, Jay Electronica's got nothing to complain about..
For those of you We No Speak Americano fans... this remix is sick
Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP - We No Speak Americano ( Vhyce Remix ) by Vhyce
WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO. BARBARA STREISANNDDD. REMIX.
DJ Jukez - Barbra's Bonker's (Dizzee Rascal VS Duck Sauce) by jukez
Act Nice and Gentle
Thursday, December 16, 2010
When they play the drum, I spray my tongue these words I manifest might make you numb.
When asked to name a favorite band of all time, the reply is usually not an easy one for those of us music lovers. I usually immediately respond with Neil Young, then retract that statement, and end up staring at the ceiling thinking, rubbing a nonexistent beard, and heming and hawing until the subject gets changed. The elements of a favorite band of all time are myriad. Maybe they have one song that's always been your favorite song EVER, maybe you don't even like their music that much but just think they fit the "coolest band" bill, or in my case I usually judge based on volume. Statistically speaking, the percentage of songs I love by a musician will usually tell me whether or not they fit the top 10. The Black Keys, for me, most certainly fall in that range.
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney began The Black Keys in only 2001. Since the band's inception, they have sold over 1.7 million records. Their first album, The Big Come Up, released in 2002, was recorded entirely in Carney's basement on an 8-track tape recorder from the 1980s. Their next album, Thickfreakness (off of which three singles were born), was also recorded in Carney's basement on a Tascam 388 in only 14 hours. Rubber Factory, my favorite of their albums, was recorded in a real abandoned factory in Ohio. Next came Attack and Release, Brothers, and the Blakroc project. The Blakroc project is a compilation of tracks in which Carney and Auerbach collaborated with numerous hip-hop artists including RZA, the late ODB, Mos Def, Ludacris, Nicole Wray, Raekwon, and others. What you do to me is probably my favorite track that Blakroc produced, and has been featured before on this blog. Enjoy The Black Keys, a band name taken from the meaning "off center" or "not quite right."
The Black Keys - The Lengths
07 - Black Keys - The Lengths - LenArt by Dr. JVC
Closer than my peeps you are to me. Thanks Alex!
GET. IT. IN.
The Black Keys- Have Love, Will Travel (originally by The Sonics)
The Black Keys - Have Love Will Travel by donknox
UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ because I should add some pop:
relatively dirty but good oldschool track off of Ghostface Killah's Supreme Clientele
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
We are the music makers. And we, are the dreamers.
My review of the new Kanye album in poetry form:
Dear Kanye,
Are you smooth enough to
write a rap? To have a staff
with energy that’ll
never tap. Or
maybe you need an entourage
before you can relax
and realize you that made it
and you ain’t gotta go to
rehab.
It’s your talent, your genius,
your self-proclaimed wisdom
you boast
now
your “haters” know
your spartan acumen.
You’re no milquetoast.
We reread
that line
you wrote cause it came from your
mind and no one had ever
put it like that.
Maybe this douchebaggery
you toast is you-- a
method of celebrity demagoguery?
Or maybe it’s your inner
child you pine for, as you beg
for custody.
By not aiming for a hit single (songs
too long, too deep lyricically
with beat flowing synergy)
do you appeal to the masses?
With new beats and versus,
you whisk other 2010 rap tracks
away in hearses. Sermonize
about these customs
we elect, these preachers
we lionize who, like fish,
open and close
their mouths, but no
words come out.
Yeah, you ain’t gotta pay
that tab or anyone back.
Cause you’re the man now and
you’re synthesizing sound like
a meth-lab.
Piano? Violin?
finally some hip-hop
harmonizing?
A long way since
H to the IZZO, now
when asked if you’re a spokesperson
for our generation you say,
Mi no hablo.
It’s original. Is it original?
Only if it’s
truly twisted fiction
or sick
addiction. The times
when you felt glad
felt inspired, diaphanous, and
curious and didn’t care if people
saw that.
Do you aim to reach
those Americans
flipping burgers?
Or just
students, stealing
our attention,
an adderall burglar.
Anyway who cares? You’re the man, hell
and your in ads—
that sell?
Or maybe you’re just a fad
and you could become a had
been and then
you’re back where you started,
which may not be all that bad.
It was your life
endeavor, even if it was
short and your fame wavers.
Forget the haters.
Cause it’s been sung, it echoes, and
you’ll most likely die young and therefore
live forever
anyway.
And your mind?
It was full of figment and it
had always been mad or have you gone
mad? Do you know how it feels
when something you write
makes you
question that?
techno tad. Thanks Rawlins
Le Roux - In For The Kill
Girl Talk album download All Day
http://illegal-art.net/allday/
some Elvis uplift
http://hypem.com/track/1281916/Elvis+Presley+-++Marie+s+The+Name+His+Latest+Flame
New Basement Jaxx... I'd imagine if you were weight lifting, this would be a pretty good song to lift to:
Dracula - Basement Jaxx by Atlantic Jaxx Recordings
One of the best Joplins
Thanks Weidman
Kanye fulfilling our wildest hip hop musical fantasies of 2010
Don't you want to see what you've never seen?
Langhorne Slim- Land of Dreams
Sunday, December 5, 2010
All that meat and no potatoes
GOO-etta
Once upon a time in a magical land called Pacha…
Enter the real world of zombies. Such universes, urban foxholes, where investment bankers, doctors, writers, critics, cooks, you name it, dive in head first donning chewable glow sticks, blue wigs, light-up sunglasses, and wife beaters to dumb out to deep bass pumping and the occasional foghorn. Everyone is attractive and everyone is aggressive. Cambodia-style trampling is not out of the question.
This is the world of David Guetta and in my opinion could be aptly, succinctly, described as psychedelic social catharsis and exponentially overrated. Do not interpret this review as negative, necessarily. It’s simply an observation. Apparently, going into Guetta expecting to hear anything remotely familiar is wildly optimistic and borderline naïveté. The number of recognizable songs “played” by Guetta could be counted on one hand. Once I accepted that my “American Top 40!” chant pleads were falling on deaf DJ ears, I resorted to my own vocal call outs and free-styling for entertainment. Luckily, fun was had due to the extravagance of the occasion; enthusiasm was palpable. Yet, I’m left wondering, David Guetta what exactly do you do? You do nothing. How do you get famous for standing behind two turn tables, fist pumping with both hands, and playing simple repetitive bass beats to a massive crowd of dry humping musical sheep?
PS- Pacha is more intense and thorough than going through customs. 5 floors, absolutely enormous, don’t expect to find anyone, and plan on losing at least one valuable item, maybe an electronic device. You may not even leave with both shoes on. (Yes. One member of the party did manage to leave missing a left shoe).
Portishead - Glorybox
Sarah always sends me good stuff... como esta
pretty cool. Thanks W
have Miles put you to sleep
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
I wear my garment so it shows, now you know.
Bon Iver
Am I the only person who just found out that Bon Iver is not a person, but a band? I guess it would make sense now why whenever I'd say, "Oh I love Bon Iver, he's so good!" people would respond with puzzled looks, back away slowly, and then run screaming into the woods.
Anyway, Bon Iver is only a little pup of a band, having formed in 2007 by indie folk singer Justin Vernon (the face and voice of Bon Iver). The other lesser known band members include, Michael Noyce (vocals, baritone guitar, guitar), Sean Carey (drums, vocals, piano), and Matthew McCaughan (bass, drums, vocals). Vernon's credit is not undue either, as he independently released Bon Iver's first album "For Emma, Forever Ago," and had recorded most of the tracks sequestered in a remote cabin in Northwestern Wisconsin (um..). The ebb and flow of Iver's Lump Sum, Stacks, Flume, and Skinny Love may encourage a listener to stare into a puddle or sit in a rocking chair on a front porch in the woods of Northern Wisconsin, smoking a pipe and contemplating life. To name only a couple of the debut album accolades, "For Emma, Forever Ago" was released in the UK and gained immediate and significant acclaim. The album received 5/5 in album of the month in Uncut and Mojo Magazines and was rated seventh best album of the year on the review-aggregator site Metacritic. Bon Iver also recently collaborated with Kanye West on two of the tracks (Lost In The World and Monster) in Kanye's new (venerable) album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." It looks to me as though Iver's career has only begun to gain momentum; we will hopefully be hearing and seeing a lot more of them in 2011.
Nice Iver "rerub" Thanks for helping me survive the workweek Raf
Phantogram
will be pumping this all weekend..
this video takes a minute to start. The Sun Recordings are fun to cook to and truly show you how amazing Elvis was, especially because of the fact that Elvis included all of his recording bloopers on the album.
Select Jazz. 26,000 views and not a single dislike. Thanks Andy
Sad Brad Smith
Friday, November 19, 2010
You have to go on and be crazy. Craziness is like heaven.
John Fahey's contribution to American music is extensive, underrated, and difficult to encompass in a short blog post. Ranked number 35 in Rolling Stone's top 100 guitarists of all time, John Fahey was the main pioneer in solo steel string guitar prowess. Often incorporating folk, blues, Brazilian, Portuguese, and even Indian sounds into his work, Fahey's original compositions paved the road for what is now known as "Primitivism" (also a term used in painting), used to describe a self-taught and minimalist style of play. Fahey, known for his aloofness and dry humor, could be described as living the typical "tormented artist" life. Despite his musical genius, his true musical credit was established only after his death; he suffered poor health, and lived mainly in poverty. During the worst of his health battles, Fahey would often live in cheap motels and relied on income made from pawning guitars and selling rare albums he found in thrift stores. Aside from the sad aspects of Fahey's career, his music is a peaceful and soothing listen.
thankfully someone posted this version on youtube. only 94 views so far.
shoutout to Har Pottttt
harmonica battle -these are awesome thanks Sarah
heard this at the Wiz opening had to find it
fave comment under this "I always thought this song reminded me of Ewoks."
word to the drum. Malcolm and Martin.
off the new j. cole mixtape
mykonos
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Well if you're hot to trot you think you're slicker than grease.
Hello Nasty,
Happy Hump Day.
Love,
Jessica
classic throwback
New girl talk album? top notch.
the ole feel goods
triple double kinda like The Runs
Friday, November 12, 2010
'Cause G-E-D was it B-I-G, I got P-A-I-D
Last week's Pretty Lights concert was fun, and as many have said of Pretty Lights before, it was a perfect excuse to "dumb out." Stumbling out of House of Blues with the masses, I realized I was glad to have seen Pretty Lights; but I was blown away by Jurrasic 5 mastermind, Chali 2na. He was incredible live. Sadly, after listening to 2na's newest mixtape Fish Market 2, it became clear to me that 2na's appeal lies solely in his sonorous baritone voice and authentic rhyme flow. While many of the tracks off of his albums are rich with lyrical clout, the beats that 2na raps over are overly repetitive, vacuous, and unoriginal. With that said, I am brought back to an interview I saw a while back, in which Drake said "it's really hard to rap over other people's songs and have it be timeless... it's hard to tour off of that." This deja-vu sound is a downfall suffered by too many big hip hop artists-- we rush to get the newly released album or mixtape only to find ourselves groaning, "commme onnnnnn, we've heard that before." (Is this why everyone is now gravitating towards mash-ups?) Thus, I suppose I will have to suck up my occasional boredom; as it is the poetry rising above the beats and, above all, the publics' tendency to gush over apocryphal tracks, that allow the hip-hop industry to survive. Right?
This is my favorite track off 2na's most recent mixtape Fish Market 2, released in June. Unfortunately, the beat he raps over is flat, but as far as flow is concerned, 2na is talented.
somehow I missed this goodness that came out a while ago; thanks Mike.
cream cheese and a bagel
have a glass of milk and
an ego
... sounds Rafalicious
fire. thanks Chono
this song is beautiful. beautiful. beautiful.
why I DONT hate winter
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
NOW is the time, to be alive.
This is a performance everyone must see. Known as The Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva Masterpiece, this performance is made up of all deaf dancers. The dancers follow the light fluctuations, the vibrations from the sound, as well as the breathing and movements of the other dancers around them. As you can see, they are incredibly synced not only with each other, but also with the sound. Would they be able to be this synced if the dancers were not deaf? Of course, this performance undoubtedly shows that you do not have to be able to hear in order to feel, appreciate, and be moved by music.
ALSO! Do me a favor, and turn off the sound to this actual video and watch this video with the 1940 submarine remix (below) playing instead... you won't regret it.
Ready to back that up on a Wednesday? I know I am.
1940 Remix, WIll's on a role these days
The 1940 original by The Submarines is just as good as the remix
Know how to rock a house party at the drop of a hat
Oscar Peterson... also one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time
Anais Mitchell- Old Fashioned Hat
Get ready for bed, what a lovely lullaby...
Sunday, November 7, 2010
If you love music, then you know
Antidotes
Feel each note
B flat, A flat, C-D Rest.
Sound pounds G D C sharp
in my chest. Down to my
toes, A clings so sweet, with
D flat, C sharp, F--
Repeat. B resonates, inside
my heart. My blood pumps
A minor-7 and D
sharp. Can't hear noise
outside my
bed. Just stroke the keys, and breathe
instead. I writhe, and sigh
and fall apart.
My bones, they heal
in darkest dark
to A flat B flat
end C sharp.
Featured artists of the day:
Check out Wayside, a local Boston band that I heard is pretty sick live. Not only are the band members a few of the coolest people I've met in Boston, but also their range of sound is notable, with hints of everything from classic rock, blues and folk to heavy metal and punk. My favorite off Featured Audio, their newest album, might have to be Days to Remember--here's the link to their website. Their album was released a couple of days ago on Nov. 5th and you can see them live at Copperfields on November 20th at 8pm. LETS GO!
whimsical
hopefully our dog days are far from over. Thanks Betsyyyyy
Mike Hammond. This is hilarious... and also really catchy
here's another good track off the Neutral Milk Hotel album, thanks Raf
There's always a lot of Mumford fans...
in these bodies we will live, and in these bodies we will die
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Dis beat was bubblegum, so I had to chew it
A lesson in jazz:
Art Tatum was an American Jazz pianist that began his career as a musician at the age of three. A child prodigy with perfect pitch, Tatum was able to pick out rhythms off radios, records, and church hymns and convert them into innovative sound on the piano. Tatum was also nearly blind from childhood due to disputed complications involving cataracts. Known as one of the best jazz pianists of all time, Tatum sweeps his hands along the piano, titillating listeners with swinging jazz improv and elaborate cadenzas. Hints of later forms of jazz peek through numerous works of Tatum's, suggesting ingenious musical foresight during the era in which he performed. Sit back and enjoy.
relax with Art Tatum
insane hands
You wanted a hit?
You think you know everything about everything, but don't know a damn thing.
Local Natives
Here's a good band recommended by Sarah for those of you who may be looking for some new acoustic rock/pop
http://www.myspace.com/themorrisonbrothersband
Do D.A.T.
This is a new artist I had never heard of before that Ian introduced me to-- I think he's a pretty good rapper. If you like the stuff on his myspace I can send you his most recent album. I can't find any links to it on youtube though.
http://www.myspace.com/datamen/music/playlists/dat-39-s-what-39-s-up-468581?ap=1
thanks Stephan. Muse. Pretty solid concert.
Aparna's suggestion, so good.
Delhi to Dublin. After watching some of their youtube videos it looks like this band really gets the crowd going-- if they come to your town I highly suggest you go see them.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
We only know what to say because we practiced at home
Francis Wolff - Herbie Hancock, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1964
A meditation on the music market and a lesson in Music History.
Quick Hist:
The exponential growth of the music industry in recent years, with the advent of itunes, ipods, youtube, and the internet, got me thinking today. I decided to enlighten myself with a little music history research that I will gladly share with those of you who may be interested. If you're at all like me, your attention wanders so I'll try to keep this succinct and as educational as possible, before reaching diminishing returns on information retention.
Music as we know it, of course, all began with sheet music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Publishers of sheet music reached the public mainly with the help of churches and aristocracies. Then along came the original gangstas and composers, such as Mozart, who saw marketability in their talent and sound; thus, the commercial music industry was born. Hallelujah.
According to Wikipedia (a very credible and fool-proof source) the sales of recorded music have dropped off substantially since year 2000, while live music performance sales have sky-rocketed. Not surprising, considering the easy-peazy-lemon-squeezy-ness of free downloads nowadays. Four major corporate labels dominate the music market, they include: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Entertainment, and EMI. These corporations are essentially our music market umbrellas that branch off into smaller companies and labels that serve myriad regions and markets.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) is the organization that represents the recording industry worldwide-- it's headquarters are in London, with other offices in Miami, Moscow, Hong Kong, and Brussels. I don't know if those cities could be any more random.
Live Nation is not only the largest, but also the furthest reaching promoter and venue owner. In my opinion, Live Nation is a razor-toothed monopoly that takes advantage of the music-loving public, but that's neither here nor there. (I'm not entirely sure what that expression means).
The Mediation:
Most music lovers probably evolved as I had, making mix-tapes off the radio with a bedazzled boombox, pressing start and stop frantically in order to jot down the lyrics to Will Smith's "Just the Two of Us," rocking out to Nirvana Nevermind in janco jeans. The old days of the real mix-tape were, as Sanjay aptly put it "The Days of the Top 40," when the radio top 40, featuring Ja-Rule duets and Alanis tirades, was the only real way to get dat new new. The birth of youtube, ipods, grooveshark, pandora, napster, and itunes, has completely changed the way we are exposed to and expose ourselves to music. Fortunately for us, today's music market is monsooned. Music floods not only our ipods, but also our icals with concert ops and iphone apps. What has this done to the recording industry? Well, if you want to make money as a musician you better pimp your bus ride, because you will be spending a lot of time on the road. Festivals and concerts are back in style and have gained notable momentum in recent years. Are we reliving the 60s and 70s music explosion? I'm beginning to think so. But as Yonder Mountain String Band wisely sings, there is no way to know which way the wind will blow. I guess all we can do now is sit back, enjoy the sound luxury, and let the beat build, leaving the fate of la musica to the Gods of the Rhythm. Namaste.
for those of you who enjoy coldplay mashups- here's a great site recommended by Will
http://www.octobersverycold.com/
"I never thought kazoo playing could actually be... sexy." (also for those of you with kazoos, this is a really fun song to attempt at kazoo-ing along with)
awesome lyrics
Thanks Nick
Dawn Landes - Kids in a Play
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
If I'm free, it's because I'm always running.
You are the music, while the music lasts.
- T. S. Eliot
Violon Hip-Hop
Uploaded by allcurious. - See the latest featured music videos.
thanks V. this is so cool.
Well, now I'm in trouble...
Take Five. A glass of Lagavulin would go well with this...
Chemical Brothers- Battle Scars
um yeah we're blasting this at work today
peaceful
Monday, October 25, 2010
Comin' down the street like a parade, MACYS
Featured artist of the day: Wiz Khalifa
Twenty three year old Cameron Jibril Thomas, also known by stage name Wiz Khalifa, gained significant notoriety within the rap community with the debut of his free mixtape Kush and Orange Juice in April 2010. Known for blending singing with rapping and voted Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010, Khalifa has worked with numerous other rappers such as Redman, Method Man, Rick Ross, and Curren$y. His stage name originates from the Arabic word Khalifa, meaning wisdom (leading to his nickname "Wiz") although Wiz humbly claims that his name comes from everyone referring to him as "young Wiz... cause I was good at everything." Wiz will be gracing us with his self-proclaimed genius at The Paradise Rock Club in November. We'll see how the Wiz-ard gets the applause.
thanks Wilbo
Miami Horror - Sometimes. Sick pick Ian.
Twenty three year old Cameron Jibril Thomas, also known by stage name Wiz Khalifa, gained significant notoriety within the rap community with the debut of his free mixtape Kush and Orange Juice in April 2010. Known for blending singing with rapping and voted Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010, Khalifa has worked with numerous other rappers such as Redman, Method Man, Rick Ross, and Curren$y. His stage name originates from the Arabic word Khalifa, meaning wisdom (leading to his nickname "Wiz") although Wiz humbly claims that his name comes from everyone referring to him as "young Wiz... cause I was good at everything." Wiz will be gracing us with his self-proclaimed genius at The Paradise Rock Club in November. We'll see how the Wiz-ard gets the applause.
thanks Wilbo
Miami Horror - Sometimes. Sick pick Ian.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
You never give me your money
You only give me your funny paper.
Here's a really cool website recommended by ol' rosie G. This guy drives a cab around and gets various artists to perform in the back. Pretty good idea. Why didn't any of us think of that?
BLACK CAB SESSIONS
Leave it to V to pump us up. Apparently this DJ is going to be in Boston this weekend ... could be interessttinnngggg
s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-sraattcchhh
For those of you who just feel like smokin' a cigar...
Shake what your mama gave you, Guy
"makes me want to dance like a f**in fish" - nice Ian
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Eatin' beans and makin' love as long as I am able
I know this is a bold statement, but The Carolina Chocolate Drops were by far the most captivating band I have ever seen live. They sang originals, covers, and acapella with the kind of voices and sound that reverberates in your vertebrae. The most you can do while listening is either dance your pants off or stand wide-eyed, mouth agape. I looked around at one point and could not see a single person that wasn't smiling ear to ear. The music was uplifting and simply flawless. They even danced, blew into jugs, and did tricks with their instruments. I really can't find the words to describe this band. But if you ever see them, especially in an intimate setting like the Paradise, be ready to have a wonderful night's sleep afterwards. They will satisfy you down to your soul.
Mini-doc about the artists
A mini doc about the origin of their music and old time string bands
Mike. incendiary.
Sonny. mixtape. yesss
Friday, October 15, 2010
They say that this is where the fun begins
Nothing like a banjo, acoustic guitar, standing base, and cello to get your head bobbing and your boots clacking on a Thursday night. I went into this concert as an Avett Brothers novice and came out an Avett Brothers die-hard. They had me dancing around and feeling so warm and fuzzy that I think I gave everyone in my concert posse at least three hugs. A blend of pop, country, bluegrass, rock, folk, and ragtime, the Avett Brothers (Scott and Seth), along with Joe Kwon (cellist) and Bob Crawford (bassist) make for a very good evening. Like armfuls of confetti, they hurl glee and passion onto the audience below. Thought provoking lyrics were heartfelt and deep, yet far from maudlin. Whether we were clapping our hands above our heads or swaying with our eyes closed, the music was buoyant and fresh and has had me downloading their discography all morning.
Slight figure of speech!!!!
put your clothes on, I've got all that I can take
Working hard or hardly working?
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