Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes

Yeah, I know...I'm a bit late on this one. These guys have been playing many of the top US music festivals this year. I was introduced to their goodness by a friend, and they fit right in with my heavy indie folk obsession (you can see the attraction once you understand my obsession with Elvis Perkins in Dearland, who, btw, I just saw at NYC's The Bell House back to back on 4/23 & 4/24).

They have a good bit of variation in regards to their style. Check out their album From Below to see for yourself.

Here are a few samples of their wonderful sounds:

"40 Day Dream"


"Jade"


"Kisses Over Babylon"

Perkins on Tour Again!

Elvis perkins in Dearland made me nervous at their Music Hall of Williamsburg show in December when Perkins said it was their last show of the tour, and they weren't sure when they'd be going on tour again.  It was a major relief when I received an email with a handful of Spring dates.  Perkins (sans Dearland) is joining Norah Jones on tour!   The man is shooting upward at an alarming pace that concerns my wallet.  Last summer I saw him with Dearland for $3.  Last year the band went for ~$15.  Soon tickets with Perkins' name on it will be going for $30-40.  I'm calling it, so keep an eye out.  You'll be able to tell how far they've come by the increase of stage size and location next time they play Bonnaroo or the Newport Folk Fest, etc.

The rest of Perkins' spring dates WILL include his Dearland mates (whose instrumentation and general energy adds a great epic-osity to Perkins' already mind-blowing goodness).  In addition to two NYC dates for the entirety that is EPID, the band will also be playing the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival weekend.  The festival's lineup is comprised of an insanely massive list of great talent that includes Simon & Garfunkel.... Enough said. 

Mar 20 Chicago Theatre w/Norah Jones Chicago, IL (Elvis solo)
April 23 Bell House w/Dawn Landes Brooklyn, NY
April 24 Bell House w/TBD Brooklyn, NY
April 30 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival NO, LA
Ticket Link: http://www.nojazzfest.com/tickets/
May 06 Saenger Theatre w/Norah Jones Mobile, AL (Elvis solo)
May 08 Orpheum Theatre w/Norah Jones Memphis, TN (Elvis solo)
May 09 Alabama Theatre w/Norah Jones Birmingham, AL (Elvis solo)
May 11 Thomas Wolfe Aud w/Norah Jones Asheville, NC (Elvis solo)
May 12 Ovens Auditorium w/Norah Jones Charlotte, NC (Elvis solo)

Happy slightly belated, Pete!

The wonderful activist, folk revivalist, and (of course) 1996 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee (see his HoF profile here: http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/pete-seeger) Pete Seeger, was 90 years old yesterday (b. May 3, 1919). Unfortunately I had to miss his birthday party in Madison Square Garden because, ironically, I'm writing a term paper on the music of the Vietnam War, which of course has quite a bit of Seeger in it. Thus I must wish Seeger a happy birthday from my on-campus suite just 22 hours before this paper is due (and, not to belittle the importance of this post, that's where the procrastination comes in).

In honor of this great musician, who inspired the likes of Bob Dylan, as well as the rest of the Vietnam War protest music, I'm enlightening you, my imaginary (& apparently Seeger-unawares) audience, of his ohsogoodness, that makes my life ohsonice, and was created to make everyone's lives ohsonice&peaceful&loving&beautiful.

"Where Have All the Flowers Gone," written by Seeger & Joe Hickerson



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Here's Seeger's birtday invite, including the amazing birthday lineup which makes me want to weep bitterly, thank you very much Peace & Justice major final term paper (from: http://www.seeger90.com/)

"You are cordially invited

The Clearwater Concert:
Creating the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders

A benefit concert in celebration of

Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com.

Tickets range in price from $19.19 (the year Pete was born) to $250,
with the majority of seats at $90 to honor Pete's 90th birthday.

Every ticket purchased includes a one-year membership to Clearwater (new members only).

Featuring....
Pete Seeger
Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine)
Bruce Springsteen
Tyler Ramsey (Band of Horses)
Dave Matthews
Warren Haynes
John Mellencamp
Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet
Ani DiFranco
Bernice Johnson Reagon
Arlo Guthrie
Dar Williams
Béla Fleck
Eric Weissberg
Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses)
Guy Davis
Ben Harper
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason
Billy Bragg
John Hall
Bill Nershi (String Cheese Incident)
Kate & Anna McGarrigle
Bruce Cockburn
Larry Long
Del McCoury
Martha Wainwright
Emmylou Harris
Mike & Ruthy Merenda
Joan Baez
NYC Labor Chorus
Keller Williams
Ruby Dee
Kris Kristofferson
Scarlett Lee Moore
Michael Franti
Tao Rodriguez-Seeger
Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers)
Teddy Thompson
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Tom Chapin
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Tom Paxton
Richie Havens
Tommy Sands with Moya & Fionan
Roger McGuinn
Tony Trischka
Steve Earle
Toshi Reagon
Taj Mahal

And the Native American Indian Cultural Alliance...
Bill Miller
Margo Thunderbird
Casper Lomadawa
Oren Lyons
David Amram
R. Carlos Nakai
Eddie Benton
Tiokasin Ghosthorse
Joseph Firecrow
Vernon Masayesva
Joanne Shenandoah
Victorio Roland Mousaa

All proceeds to benefit the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater (www.clearwater.org),
a non-profit organization created to defend and restore the Hudson River."

Ouchies, that hurt BIGS.

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And here's a link to the post-party article in some publication I hadn't heard of. I post this link mainly because of a most excellent Seeger quote midway down the page:

"Springsteen said that he never saw Seeger more happy than at Obama's inauguration, noting that Seeger saw Obama's ascendancy as proof that he, Seeger, had 'outlived the bastards.'"

YES.

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/05/03/pete_seegers_90_birthday_concert_and_president_oba/

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So happy 90th, Pete. You have no idea how sad I am to have missed it. I'll see you next year, at your 91st!