The Paper Kites

Greatly refreshing Australian folk band. Listen to their entire album!  Here's a sample: "Bloom" - The Paper Kites

New Life for Edith Piaf

One fateful Friday (this last one), a dear friend of mine held a very important fundraiser for the homeless. This fundraiser was held at an art gallery. Upon exploring the space, I came across an interactive exhibit surely commenting on the demise of physical audio storage media, in which obserers were meant to pick a record from a large stack to smash with a hammer. I nervously went through the stack, coming across fantastic records such as Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and a couple of Edith Piaf records. Speaking with a woman who donated a number of her albums to the artist for the exhibit, she sighed and said that none of them were worth anything, but if I was dying for one and actually had a player, I could take one. Edith's sound, I thought, was absolutely made for the warmth of a record player. I put the other good albums on the bottom f the stack in hopes that those in attendance would not get that far, and then I snuck Edith out in a friend's friend's vinyl-sized bag, and took her out with me for the night. We went to the wonderful James Vincent McMorrow show at Bowery Ballroom, then out dancing, then home.

Tonight I hooked up the player my brother left for me. I've never set up a player in my life, but was determined to have an evening with my new friend. Oh, the beauty that is this evening! To think that this lovely album was on it's way to never be heard again! Now that I'm finally experiencig it, I'm devastated that other albums met their end that night. I should have done more...Smuggled more! But I'm so satisfied that this album can go on to do that which it was meant for: to bring pleasure and comfort and utmost coziness to the ears of others throughout time. She will last as long as her grooves can hold, and let me tell you...there is no sign of an end for this lady!

Lucky Across the Seas

 
New Zealand, Australia, and Europe have it good these next few months.  With the exception of the popular US music festivals, many of my favorite musicians are touring overseas.  Hey Sufjan, Mumford, Stith, Tallest Man, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, etcetera etcetera etcetera: how about hitting NYC again?  I guarantee you good crowds!

Mumford Magic

I, my friends, am on a concert high for the first time since my last Elvis Perkins concert (and I have been to quite a few concerts since then, let me tell you). My day (yesterday) started with a near-overdose (if such a thing is even possible) of Mumford and Sons on ipod repeat. My friend and I had been looking forward to a live show of this band, as we considered it evident from their album that they would be awe-inspiring live. And so they were.

King Charles opened with pants much too tight, but music that was clearly worthy of the first opening spot of our beloved M&S.

Then came Cadillac Sky, a band of big-boned, incredibly bearded men from the middle-of-nowhere states + Texas. Marcus of M&S came out to drum-assist for a song, getting the crowd ready for what was to come.

And then Mumford and Sons took the stage. The began the night with "Sigh No More," the perfect opener to their album (which, by the way, is the best-arranged album since Modest Mouse's Good News For People Who Love Bad News).

Of course the fact that they have been touring for 2 years worried some that the show might not be as amazing as I was expecting. However, other than a few fleetingly pooped looks from Marcus Mumford following certain strenuous blow-out songs, it seemed clear that they were honored to be there and happy for the love they were feeling from the crowd.

I can't go into any more detail than this as I need my sleep for work tomorrow, but I will attempt to edit with more detail (and concert photos!) when I have a bit more time. As I plan to indulge in the details later, I thought I'd share with you one of Mumford and Songs old compositions, which was neither performed at the concert, nor was it on their last (and first) album. New fans should not miss out on this just because it pre-dates their appearance on the charts:

Mother Don't Worry...

While the softer album version of this song, "Upwards Over the Mountain," is beautiful and much more in the style of Iron & Wine as we know him, this live recording (which, you should not worry, is excellent quality), is a crisp take on the song. And it truly shows what Samuel Beam can really do with his voice...Niiiiice.

Enjoy!

I'd Be OK with Being Kicked in the Face by One of These.

audiobullys - only man from EL NINO on Vimeo.

EPID Live Again!

Ready yourselves for concert photos & regalement. Sufficeth to say, for the time being, that Elvis Perkins in Dearland puts on a damn good show, with brass marching through the audience, feet stomping, a very hoppy percussionist, swaying & rock-n-rolling bromances, and the lovely & intense vocal stylings of the talented Mr. Perkins.

"I'll Be Arriving" stole the show both nights, although the emotion behind Perkins' "Ash Wednesday" (a song about the loss of his parents), was definitely one that should not be dismissed (particularly at the Friday night show).

As I told Kinsey, the EPID drummer, I hate it when they leave. My soul, and excuse my emotional investment, reacts to their music as it would a Lost Love.

And man, oh man, it truly is better to have loved.

And in this case, I do believe I will continue doing so for evermore.