Month: January 2017

Friday News and Notes

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Lots to catch up on since my last news and notes post. To be honest, I’m having trouble posting these days because the world seems so grim, but there is still so much good music worth celebrating, and I’m trying to let the light in. Here are a few things that have been shining particularly bright for me lately:

  • This is almost a month late, but I’d recommend Amanda Petrusich’s thoughts on the Mariah Carey NYE debacle. After reading it, my first thought was that it’s a pleasure to read along as Petrusich makes sense of things. It reminds me of one theory about dreams — that they help you process and file away the things that are happening around you. That’s Petrusich’s writing to me.
  • While I’m tempted to say the outfits are the best part of this hour-plus video of Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters performing in Germany in 1974, the groove is too damn good. Cheers to Aquarium Drunkard for posting it.
  • I included Spencer Tweedy’s Geezer Love in my best EPs of 2016 post, and just weeks later, his brother Sammy released his own EP, called Canoe Country, comprised of looping synth sounds and guitar. Really neat. Jeff Tweedy has some talented kids.
  • How’s about a recent Daniel Bachman live set recorded in Richmond? While you’re at it, check out the Liza Kate set from that same show that starts with the following joke:
    “What do you do when you see a fireman?
    “Put it out, man.”
  • This Phantogram cover of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes” is precise and wonderful and I don’t know how you repeatedly and consistently arpeggiate guitar chords like this without your name being Jonnie Greenwood.
  • I didn’t go too crazy for Conor Oberst’s Ruminations album, but hot damn am I psyched for this upcoming Salutations album. (This NPR write-up had me at “Guests on Salutations include Gillian Welch…”) I’ve listened to this updated version of “A Little Uncanny” more than a dozen times and counting. Fuck Ronald Reagan. Seriously.
  • So Ryan Adams is coming to The National here in Richmond, and I’ve managed to snag my ticket for the Sunday (3/5) show. Tickets for that one and the next night’s show are on sale now, unless they aren’t because they’ve already sold out. This might be my favorite pairing of artist and venue since Landlady came to Hardywood last year. (Oh yeah, they’re coming to Richmond — to The Camel — on the second night Adams is in town, so I get to see him and them on consecutive nights. Pretty sure I’m going to happy cry at one or both.)

Thanks, Obama

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No News and Notes today. No songs. I just want to say thank you to our outgoing president — someone for whom I’ll harbor deep respect and gratitude for the rest of my days.

Above you’ll find video of his farewell address. If you haven’t watched it, I recommend you do — and not just for the way he makes you feel feelings near the end when he thanks Michelle and Joe Biden does finger guns. Watch for the way he steadfastly and convincingly projects hope for the future, even in the face of… you know.

I watched last night and felt genuinely hopeful when he was done, which is better than the way I felt before I watched. That hope may be irrational, but it’s essential in equal measure. To quote Martin Luther King Jr. via Matthew E. White via Monday’s post: “Darkness can’t drive out darkness. Only light can do that.”

I’d also like to post a couple of links to pages where you can donate to worthy causes, in case that feels right today. Here’s where to give to the ACLU, and here’s where to give to Planned Parenthood.

I love you guys. Thanks for reading this blog.

Sound Gaze

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sound-gaze

I posted in November about two special episodes of Sound Gaze that Doug Nunnally had titled “I’m With Them” — episodes comprised completely of music by or featuring women musicians. It was a beautiful, meaningful, and well-executed idea, but apparently Doug was just warming up.

He’s just posted 10 (!) more I’m With Them episodes, each 75 minutes long, with songs in pairs, so you can consecutively hear a recommended song and a song by the musician who recommended it. 750 minutes total = running music for the foreseeable future. Can’t wait to dig in.

Click here for more information and download links, or better yet, subscribe to Sound Gaze via iTunes. And while you’re at it, check out this wonderful Style Weekly article about Doug and the I’m With Them series.

Alabama Shakes — “Hang Loose” [Spotify/iTunes]

American Tunes: “Will You Love Me”

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Big Inner

[Editor’s Note: American Tunes is a series of posts dedicated to songs that address America’s social and political challenges. For more information on the series, click here.]

I dunno about you, but given the way January 20 has been looming — ominously, darkly — on the horizon, the days before then have seemed unusually pregnant and worthy of cherishing. Today, especially, given that Martin Luther King Jr. preached lessons of love, progress, and decency that have, unfortunately, become urgently relevant of late. Holding up his example seems crucial, which is why I’m posting “Will You Love Me” — a song from Matthew E. White’s debut album that gently adjusts a King quotation on loving your enemies and refusing to co-opt despair:

Darkness can’t drive out darkness
Only love can do that

The original quote — “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.” — appears to have first been said in a 1957 sermon, though it can also be found in King’s book Strength to Love. As it happens, I heard the very same quote at my mom’s church this past Sunday, when the rector included it in his sermon. With all the ugliness of the 2016 election, it may seem harder than ever to live up to King’s compassionate, loving example, but these words exude a deep, unchanging truth that’s bigger than any one politician, businessman, or political party, and I truly believe they represent the most direct line between where we are and where we need to go.

Matthew E. White — “Will You Love Me” [Spotify/iTunes]

No BS! Brass Band

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no-bs-brass-band

This post contains:

  • A quick update about an article I wrote that’s on newsstands now
  • A ticket giveaway — so be sure to read to the end!

I had the honor of interviewing Reggie Pace of No BS! Brass Band recently, and the resulting River City Magazine article can be found online here and in the real world as well.

He and I met up at Perly’s and discussed — between bites of matzoh ball soup — everything from the history of No BS! to the need for more coverage of Richmond’s hip hop scene. It’s a conversation I won’t soon forget, and it’s one I feel very grateful to have had. Many thanks to Pace for meeting up and to Lauren Serpa for letting the magazine use one of her photos for that amazing cover.

Now for the giveaway — be the first to comment below or on this blog’s Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr and you’ll win a pair of guest list spots for tomorrow’s No BS! ten year anniversary show at The Broadberry. Really excited for this one. I’m feeling a little under the weather, but I don’t care — I’m not missing it. Hope to see you there!

No BS! Brass Band — “Brass Knuckles” (live) [YouTube]