Just a quick heads up to all of you who are going to this year’s SXSW. Sam has been invited over to play his ‘yorkshirecana’ folk music at this years festival and he’d really love your support. He is playing a couple of other dates too, here’s the lowdown.
16th March Session for Smooth and Demented Radio Austin TX
17th March The Velveeta Room sxsw showcase Austin TX
24th March JJs Bohemia, Chattanooga TN
25th March The Five Spot Nashville TN
Seriously talented folk musician as well as skateboarder from Yorkshire who is a must see as far as I’m concerned. If you mention you came to see him as a result of reading this blog he will give you a free signed album. Actually that last bit might not be true but go see him anyway as you will be blown away by his talent and will most likely buy his album anyway. Enjoy.
In the last few months here in the UK I have noticed a big increase in the amount of shoegaze bands playing and many of them seem to be from foreign shores. Chimes & bells hail from Denmark and are signed to tigerspring records. I will be honest and tell you that I had never heard of them until I saw them playing a couple of days ago here in Brighton and I was totally blown away by them. A 5 piece, they blend folk harmonies with a shoegaze sound but it is swamped in atmosphere and a slightly other worldly feel. Lead singer’s Cecilie Trier’s incredible,deep vocal style sits perfectly alongside the organ and cello she plays and all of this is backed up with at times two screaming guitars, drums, bass and sometimes all five of them harmonising perfectly together. This four track EP doesn’t have a track that comes in less than five minutes giving each one time to build and develop into something really exquisite. After the last couple of years folk revival where so many people seemed to be getting comparisons made with either Nick Drake or Bob Dylan, it’s refreshing to hear a new band that seems to effortlessly blend elements of folk, pop, and rock and therefore doesn’t define a genre, somehow it creates it’s own.
As of yet no news on a full release but as soon as I know I will be sure to let you’s know. Enjoy.
Where: Art Theater of Long Beach
Who: Tadhg Cooke, Jay Buchanan, Shane Alexander and The Guggenheim Grotto
When: Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Fingerprints mailer:
“Our friend Trini, who first introduced us to the boys in Guggenheim Grotto, is stepping up to the “Make a beautiful racket – Long Beach” initiative (which I just invented, but in my mind it’s an umbrella of everyone who’s working to bring more music to our humble, but quiet, little town.) Anyway, Trini is hosting Nozzafest at the Art and it’s a night of fantastic music, great community, and well, it’s going to be a good party. The bands are Tadhg Cooke, Jay Buchanan, Shane Alexander, and The Guggenheim Grotto.
A bit about the bands:
Tadhg Cooke
The Irish Times said, “Tadhg Cooke’s solo debut crisscrosses so many terrains that your musical compass may quiver with the sheer magnetic challenge of Wax & Seal” and, giving it 4 stars, described the record as “eminently likeable, utterly enviable”.
Jay Buchanan
Jay is a local, who’s done a lot with SAM, and whose new album is an absolute killer (it’s not out yet, so you’ll have to trust me, but it’s great); think of the tempestuousness of Jeff Buckley, combined with the reflection of Ray Lamontagne, and the bare-boned soul of Marc Broussard and you’re in the right neighborhood.
Shane Alexander
Shane is an LA based songwriter who says he “strive(s) to have my music to connect on a spiritual level the way classic writers like Neil Young, Paul Simon, and Bruce Springsteen do. I don’t know I’ll get there, but I’m definitely getting closer.”
Guggenheim Grotto
The Guggenheim Grotto have twice filled the house at Fingerprints with their wonderful take on pop music with a folkish flair, so it’s no wonder that we’ve kept an eye on them, and over the past couple of years their star seems to have been on the rise. They’ve had songs feature prominently on KCRW and WXPN, they’ve had their songs play on the TV shows Brothers and Sisters and One Tree Hill, and StereoSubversion said “…if you are a fan of great harmonies, melodic arrangements, and intelligent folk rock sound then this album belongs in your collection”
Taken from the post over on Slowcoustic – this is You Crazy Dreamers post on what was best from 2009 reposted over here!
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Today is Day 11 of this Best of series and we have the You Crazy Dreamers Blog! YCD is compiled of 5 contributors in total with myself included (What you say, Sandy is on two blogs!! Yes, its true!) and we span two continents and 4 countries and thousands of miles between us 5 lovers of music. The title of the blog is taken from a Ray LaMontagne song, so if that is any idea, then you know the style of music we like to feature! There is a lot of albums (and bonus items thank to Trini) below!
So the lists include contributions from Olivier (France), Martin (UK), the US contingent of Trini (California) and Laura (Chicago) and then the Canadian me, Sandy. So five heads have to be able to pick something good…right? Right?
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This is just a start! If you like what you are hearing – you can download the playlist by clicking HERE. Thanks Olivier!!
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Laura has been a bit slammed by work and such lately, but she did advise that besides meeting J. Tillman in Chicago a month or so back she thought the below was the best of the year.
Martin found some love for a lot of music from his Brighton home and between Radio23.org and Simple Folk Radio shows he has found some real great offerings.
Best albums of the year (in no particular order, but you know..still numbered..so you know)
I (Sandy) have managed to like a lot of music this year and I don’t care what anyone is saying about 2009 being bit light on quality releases. I tend to be able to find much to like, adore and obsess over each year, so no real problems here.
I have decided to simply mention a few albums that for lack of a better term are “in my top 20″ of favourite listens for the year. Sure there will be more once I finally listen to the numerous albums that I haven’t given enough time to, but damn it, it’s just a music blogger best of list and you know – we are mostly about telling other bloggers what is good or bad! We (music aficionados) tend to be overly opinionated on what is “good” and what is “great” and what is “totally and utterly disappointing”. I find my niche being Slow and Acoustic makes for bit of an auditory “tunnel vision” when it comes to judging music, but I’m okay with that. Also, despite how I may bitch about how too many people list “The xx” or “Animal Collective” or even “Grizzly Bear” in their top lists, they probably aren’t as bad as I might think that they are. But my choices are better….{sarcasm intended}.
In order to make this fairly easy format-wise, my top albums are from my Rate Your Music profile (a needed website for all music nerds)!
Another triumph for Tillman, gentle and yet showing growth to a fuller sound. You get the dark dusky corners of an old
farmhouse and the sombre timbre of Tillman’s breathy voice over, at times, sparse acoustic songs
Overwhelmingly overlooked by many, but still such a great album. They are bringing their sound into the mainstream
but it is still so lovely to listen along to.
Folk from long ago is still being released today. So dusty you need a drink alongside your headphones. This song is
absolutely amazing and one of my favourite songs of the year.
Dirty, dark and destined to find every last piece of yourself splayed out before you. A little bit rock, folk
and singer songwriter mixed in for good measure
This song-crafter/school teacher is making some of the loudest quiet music around. He sounds graceful but sings of real life,
tragedy and the meaning of it all.
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I (Trini) am going to start of with my top ten albums of 2009. They are really in no particular order other than that each one of these has helped me heal in ways that only music can. I started the year feeling a little lost. Songs from each of these albums helped me find my way back.
1. Cory Chisel and The Wondering Sons – Death Won’t Send A Letter
Song: So Wrong For Me
2. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
Song: White Blank Page
3. Treetop Flyer – To Bury The Past EP
Song: Is It All Worth It?
4. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
Song: You and I
5. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
Song: Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise
6. J. Tillman – Vacilando Territory Blues
Song: Masters House
7. William Fitzsimmons – The Sparrow and The Crow
Song: Even Now
8. Jack Savoretti – Harder Than Easy
Song: Harder Than Easy
9. A.A Bondy – When The Devils Loose
Song: A Slow Parade
10. The Felice Brothers – Yonder Is The Clock
Song: All When We Were Young
In my attempt to gain some sanity, I’ve taken up baking. It is by far the only thing aside from music that helps me relax. I can say with absolute confidence that I’ve mastered the chocolate chip cookie recipe and will forever be making root beer float cupcakes. These two should be a staple in everyone’s baking repertoire.
Now, let me introduce you to my new toy which I’m anxiously awaiting its arrival. The Digital Harinezumi 2 Audio and Video camera. http://poketo.com/shop/archives/1009 What is it you say? Check out this cool little video, can’t wait to start shooting with it.
Insert shameless plug here→ I’m putting together this little nifty music festival next year you should join me. NOZZAFEST! ←
Ending my year for the first time not wishing for it to end, I’ve learned a lot about myself and am looking forward to new beginnings in 2010. Enjoy the tunes, bake something and go record life. It’s what I’ll be doing.
YCD ~ Trini
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So Third Floor Sessions have done it again…a great live performance caught on video (and mp3) from Canadian indie icons Ohbijou!
There is something about Ohbijou, they are just a dreamy pop sound that is thick with lush melodies. They create moments instead of songs…I can very much see them sound-tracking moments in time. That perfect moment in time (or not so perfect moment) where through your mind’s eye it has sound. It is the kind of music that can create something deep within you while listening. The same way (for me) Sigur Rós create such deep emotion with music – the sounds can be epic, heart-warming and tragically beautiful.
Enjoy a couple of the tracks and a video: get the full 8 tracks over at Third Floor Sessions HERE.
Probably my favourite J. Tillman track is “Casualties”. I almost fell of my chair when I saw Luxury Wafers put a nice little video of a live recording of it for their recent session with the Tills.
I know I (and others on this blog) preach about Josh Tillman…but seriously, chills.
Visit Luxury Wafers for 3 live tracks (even a nice version of a track from his new 7″ that just came out last week) for free download with one simple click RIGHT HERE.
Song o the day today is selected for two reasons (well three really) and comes from the lovely Kay Pettigrew.
The reasons go something like this: I listened to the Ohbijou live session yesterday via Third Floor Sessions (which was great by the way) and while there I took a look around, as I tend to, and noticed that Kay Pettigrew was the inaugural episode! I did a quick post with a cover Kay did for the theme song of Fresh Prince of Bel Air over on Slowcoustic (click to listen) a while back so I started thinking. The song generated a fair amount of airplay for Kay around the blogosphere and ended up being on the Hype Machine popular charts via myself and a couple other bloggers. So that is a reason isn’t it?
Another reason is I felt I needed to post again as I wanted to make sure that people see her for more than just that cover track. Her Third Floor Session is full of folkish sing-a-longs, bluesy riffs and gritty Canadiana alongside an incredibly mature sound for this young Torontonian. So this is a reason as well isn’t it?
The last reason is simply because I am located in Calgary which is at the base of the Rocky Mountains and this weekend started our “adventure” into winter (see here for a twitted photo from this weekend in Calgary). So this is definitely a reason isn’t it?
Well if none of the above are not enough of a reason, then I don’t know what else is. You can download the entire session from her live session HERE…maybe that is the reason??
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We (music aficionados) tend to be overly opinionated on what is “good” and what is “great” and what is “totally and utterly disappointing”. I find my niche being Slow and Acoustic makes for bit of an auditory “tunnel vision” when it comes to judging music, but I’m okay with that. Also, despite how I may bitch about how too many people list “The xx” or “Animal Collective” or even “Grizzly Bear” in their top lists, they probably aren’t as bad as I might think that they are. But my choices are better….{sarcasm intended}.
