Billy Bragg & Wilco//California Stars

I can’t exactly say why this feels like a good song for today, but it does. It’s kind of grey outside. Did I tell you I might be moving to California in about a year? Where I might be going, every day is a beautiful one. I can’t imagine what this might do for my mood. Good things, I suspect. Still, I have to wonder if I might miss the seasons, the overcast mornings, the weather giving me permission, as a coworker aptly noted yesterday, “to feel sad.”

This came out in 1998, when I was just a freshman in high school. It’s a collaboration between British musician Billy Bragg and Chicago-based once alt-country, now more experimental Wilco to imagine melodies and chords for old Woody Guthrie songs that only had lyrics. They did a great job. The result is a gorgeous album containing many beautiful songs, including personal faves “Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key” and “Ingrid Bergman.” The project was organized by Guthrie’s daughter Nora and was named after the street in Coney Island where Guthrie once lived.

Also, when I was about 16, I had this inside joke with a friend that consisted of us shouting, “BILLY BRAGG!!!” in a really gruff bad English accented faux-Billy Bragg voice. I’m not exactly sure where that came from, but I think it had something to do with this album. And maybe The Sex Pistols? I know—they seem so unrelated.



California Stars.mp3

I’d like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars.
I’d like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California Stars.
I love to feel your hand touching mine.
Oh, tell me why I must keep working on?
Yes, I’d give my life to lay my head tonight
On a bed of California stars.

The Ferdy Mayne//Diver (Shallow Water)

Hipsilanti: Local Music Friday
What's up with Local Music Fridays?

One of my favorite things about going on tour is getting to hear and meet lots of awesome bands from different parts of the country. I realize this is kind of selfish, but there's part of me that feels like the shows constitute some kind of personalized multi-city festival that only I (and, ahem, the rest of Palmyra) get to attend. Something else about tour is that you learn to expect that one or two shows might be shitty, either because of a shitty crowd or a shitty lineup. While our show in GR was definitely a bit thin, I am happy to report that we played with nothing but fantastically talented bands. There was not a bad group on any bill. Such a luxury!

In Detroit, we played with White Pines, Chris Bathgate and a band reccomended to me by Brandon called The Ferdy Mayne. Let me say that I LOVED these guys. Led by the charming and roguish Shane Firek (who at one point introduced the band as "The Farty Boys"), TFM were not only super sweet dudes, but they also put on one hell of a show. They simultaneously owned the stage and had a rollicking good time. The music itself is a little bit of alt-country, a little bit 90s indie and a little bit rock and roll. I can get down.

The group is presumably named after the German actor, Ferdy Mayne, although I have no idea why.



Diver (Shallow Water).mp3

Hear more Ferdy Mayne.

Varnaline//Song

Varnaline is one of those bands that nobody likes when I introduce them. Really. Seems like nobody likes them. Although the fact that Pitchfork didn't like them when this came out in 2002 kind of makes me really happy--that said, the part about the "brief banjo solo played by a retard" is fucking hilarious and kinda dead-on. I know they have a rabid fan base out there somewhere, I just haven't ever met a single member of that fan base. Still, I really enjoy them (him?) and think somebody else might too. Maybe? Whatever. Do me a favor, if you like this, can you please let me know?

Seems like Varnaline is mostly Anders Parker, an NYC singer/songwriter type. Although Varnaline seems to be over, turns out Anders is still active and even playing a show at The Living Room on Sept. 27. Damn, I'm on tour.

I like Varnaline because the songs are gritty and down to earth, while also being eloquent. There's something tough and cold northern country and sad about them, but they also embrace modern soundscapes and distortion. Of course, Parker's songwriting is totally solid and heart-wrenching.

I was trying to think of what was distorted and raw enough to put up after yesterday's tune, and Songs in a Northern Key came to mind. I happened upon this album somehow in college and still enjoy it today.



Song.mp3

Don't you know it never comes when you want?

Wiskey Biscuit//Stoner Girl

Last night, I went to a show in Bushwick with some friends. While I was mostly there to see Hospitality (who were pretty awesome), I caught some of the first band too. They reminded me quite a bit of faster, less-countryfied Wiskey Biscuit, so we’re going back in time today to my junior year of high school.

The year was 2000 and I was at Irving Plaza with two friends seeing Elliott Smith on his Figure 8 tour. The show was great. Elliott was a little weird and shy and hiding behind one of those Gilligan-of-Gilligan’s-Island style hats, but he sounded great and I fell in love with his keyboardist.
I didn’t have super high standards in high school.

Wiskey Biscuit was the opening band and although I don’t think they were anything super, super special, I loved them. The lead singer seemed to be on drugs and had really weird hair.
I didn’t have super high standards in high school.

I bought their album and grew obsessed with it. This was one of my favorite tracks and I used to sing it to any of my friends who knew it/had also seen Smith on that tour. Stonnnner Girlllll….

WB was an innocent victim of the mid-90s record label fiascos. Picked up by Geffen in ’93, they were dropped before their debut was even released. Although there’s a claim that they’re releasing a new album in 2006 on their myspace, where they are now, I’m not sure. My first guess is somewhere in LA, wasted.



Stonergirl.mp3

A girl like that could take advantage.
A girl like that could do some damage.

Any Day Parade//Couple Hours

Local Basement! Local North Brooklyn!

[Local! Music! Friday!]
Tell me...what is this Local Music Fridays?

If you’re here in NYC like me, it’s quite a weekend of shows.

First of all, former L!M!F!er Patrick Elkins plays early tonight with Charlie Slick at Pianos in the LES and later tonight at The 50/50. JaaaAaaAms.

Second, Jersey City’s Any Day Parade, releases a brandy new EP on Saturday at Spike Hill in Williamsburg. Here’s a shining example of what you can expect from the band on this forthcoming album.

I first met ADP when we played a really fun/really weird show with them at a Tattoo Parlor for a Jersey City First Friday. The show was a riot for a number of reasons. Here are some:

1. It was in a tattoo parlor…which was functioning.
2. We had to wait until patrons were done receiving tattoos before we could play.
3. Did I mention we were in a tattoo parlor?

Anyway, ADP’s live act was an amazing rock ‘n’ rollin’ straight whiskey-swillin’ party, complete with big sexy guitar riffs and plenty of vocal bravado. This track, which tackles that tricky “are we just hooking up or is something else going on?” relationship, is no exception.



Couple Hours.mp3

Any Day Parade releases their new EP, Where We Fall, tomorrow night with Palmyra at Spike Hill. More details here.

I don’t want to say no.
Why don’t you say yes?
I don’t want you to go.
Well, I haven’t left.

Lucinda Williams//Drunken Angel

Friday night got a little out of hand, so maybe this song is appropriate. I was a drunken angel, almost on the other side of the path tracks after an office-related Christmas party. Yeek!

I love Lucinda Williams. She is a drunken angel! The first time I saw her live was at this weird folk fest with some friends in South Jersey (where I consequently also ran into my aunt). Williams started her set super late and drank whiskey the whole way through. Her band was comprised of the awesomest old cowboy dudes. WHAT A BADASS.
Actually, Lucinda Williams is one of the only acts I’ll always go see live—she really knows how to deliver a quality show. She was also named "America's best songwriter" by TIME magazine in 2002.

This song comes from a remarkable album—probably one of the best of all time--Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. How sexy is that electric guitar tone? So, so sexy. The song, a tribute to Blaze Foley, is truly a musical and emotional gem.

I also have some very fond memories of playing this song with Mr. Beauchamp. We loved us some Lucinda!



Drunken Angel.mp3

Why’d you let go of your guitar? Why’d you ever let it go that far, drunken angel?