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Four (Avetts) for Friday

Last Saturday, Alison and I took Cole and Ben to their very first concert experience. And I have to say that I’m afraid we may have ruined them for life. Seeing The Avett Brothers live sets the bar pretty high for every subsequent concert experience. The thing that puts an Avett Brothers concert in a class all its own is that it just feels like the they show up ready to have a really good time. I’ve seen them twice, and both times the fellas held nothing back. I love listening to their music recorded, but their live performances take it to another level.

Ok, enough fawning. Here are four that were played last Saturday. Enjoy!

The Avett Brothers – Distraction #74

The Avett Brothers – Spanish Pipedream (John Prine Cover)

The Avett Brothers – Swept Away

The Avett Brothers – Blue Ridge Mountain Blues (Cover)

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Phour phor Phriday

Let me introduce you to Jacob Slaton. He’s a photographer, so I’m sure I’m breaking some sort of law by putting a tampered with image of his up here. I’m going to risk it.

He and his family have been coming to our church for a while, and I’ve recently had the pleasure of getting to know him a bit better. I’ll let his online presence speak for himself.

Anyway, it didn’t take long for our conversations to turn towards music, and I think he was appalled when he discovered I wasn’t more familiar with a band that is near and dear to his heart…

Phish.

He graciously put a introductory compilation into my hands and I have been listening to it on and off for month. And during that time, I’ve grown in my understanding of the Phish phenomenon. Forgive me for making comparisons, but they have a sound that is reminiscent of The Grateful Dead, Widespread Panic, and Dave Matthews. All of whom, by the way, have massive cult followings. And deservedly so.

But I tarry. Let’s get down to the music. It was a little challenging to pick four, but I persevered. And here’s what I came up with…

Phish – Limb by Limb

Phish – Down with Disease

Phish – Heavy Things

Phish – Prince Caspian

Ok, so if there are any other Phish phanatics out there, I’d love to hear what your favorites are.

Many thanks Jacob for helping me see the light.

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Four for (Spring Break) Friday

Around here, we’re in full-get-ready-for-Spring-Break mode. Here’s some music to launch you into what I’m hoping will be a great week for all.

Nate Dogg – Oh No (feat. Mos Def and Pharoahe Monch) // First order of business… honoring one of rap’s finest. I’m certain you’ve heard that Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (aka Nate Dogg) passed this week. He will be missed.

Architecture in Helsinki – Contact High // I tried to think of any other context in which “Contact High” might mean something other than what I’ve known it to mean. I couldn’t think of any.

The Head and The Heart – Down in the Valley // I’m guessing you might tap out early on this song. That would be a mistake. “I wish I was a slave to an age old trade.”

Ravens and Chimes – Division Street // Good and depressing.

Regulators… Mount up!


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Four (sxsw) for Friday

Alright folks, one day it will happen. I’ll be able to attend the music event that someone custom made for me… sxsw. Until then, I’m sharing four of the (hundreds) of shows that I would have gone to had I been down there. Since we’ve recently been over my affinity for Andrew Belle, James Vincent McMorrow, The Civil Wars, The Romany Rye, and so on, I’ll share four more that would have been great to see/hear.

Noah and the Whale – L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N // I think I’ve mentioned my distaste for clever song names that make me type more than I want to.

Vandaveer – The Waking Hour (A Minor Spell) // You may not love this song, but I’ve got a good feeling that they are probably pretty great to see live.

Maps & Atlases – Living Decorations // This band is a little quirky, but they end up getting more play around the office than is probably warranted. Again, I’m guessing a pretty interesting live show.

Lupe Fiasco – The Show Goes On // Once again, my rap-guru from the NW hasn’t steered us wrong.

Let’s go ahead and decide now. We’re all going next year.

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Four (so-so songs) for Friday

Promising title, eh? I’m sure you just can’t wait to dive in.

Well, when I go from one pretty average Four for Friday posting to the next without anything else substantial in between, this is what we’re left with.

That said, these songs really aren’t all that bad.

The Strokes – Under Cover of Darkness // This one is off their upcoming album, Angles, due out later this month. Not my normal kick, but nothing wrong with branching out a bit.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong // Also off my well-worn path of ultra low-key, but there are things to like about this song.

Jamie Barnes – Approach My Soul, The Mercy Seat // Now this is more like it.

Mumford & Sons – Sister // So word is that they were on the Grammys. That’s big time. Of course, it also means that now that they’ve gone “mainstream” I’m probably all done with them. That’s not entirely true (just mostly true). I’m actually glad that some quality music got a little well-deserved recognition.

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Four for (a snowy) Friday

So you probably should have seen this coming.

That’s right, songs about snow.

What sets these songs apart is that you don’t need snow to appreciate any of them.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Snow // Ok, I know that this song isn’t really about snow. Who cares? “Hey Oh. Listen what I say oh.”

Matt Pond PA – Snow Day // Something we’ve had a few of around here lately.

William Fitzsimmons – Covered in Snow // I never miss a chance to fill your ears with more of “The Beard.” Mr. Fitzsimmons deserves an honorary doctorate in #Blife.

Sleeping at Last – Snow // This song comes from their intriguing “Yearbook” project. You are getting the added bonus of the video for two reasons. One, it’s really good. Two, it was edited by my brother-in-law.

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Four (covers) for Friday

Schools are closed today in anticipation of snow.

Crazy.

I think we are forecasted to get an inch of snow. So on this day that it will be impossible to leave your house, here’s some music to pass the time.

First Aid Kit – Universal Soldier (Buffy Sainte-Marie Cover) / First Aid Kit is a couple of Swedish sisters (20 years and 17 years old) doing the folk thing.

Bon Iver – Come Talk to Me (Peter Gabriel Cover) / Got this song from my brother-in-law. Bon Iver and Peter Gabriel? Too much goodness in one place.

Lissie – Bad Romance (Lady Gaga Cover) / I realize that having anything “Gaga” on here is shameful. Just shameful.

J.Period & K’Naan – Relationships Lay (Bob Dylan Tribute) / Not a cover per se, but you know… K’Naan.

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Four (more downers) for Friday

Ok, first thing to notice. I got a new look. I know, it’s fly…  like a G6.

Now, down to business. Last week, I promised to offer up some tunes that weren’t of the the “sad b%$#@*&” variety, but I just wasn’t able to pull it off. What you see before you is the best I’ve got to offer from the previous week.

Get excited.

William Fitzsimmons – The Tide Pulls from the Moon // Folks, this one is worth the price of admission alone.  You did pay to get on my site, right?

James Vincent McMorrow – If I Had a Boat // “I’d row in the morning. I’d row in the evening.  All over this land.” If you missed out on the somewhat obscure Peter, Paul, and Mary reference, that’s ok.  It was pretty lame.  Great song though.

Andrew Belle – The Ladder // Somehow I missed out this guy’s music last year.  Criminal.  If you close your eyes, you would think you are listening to Greg Laswell’s long lost twin.  I guess you don’t really have to close your eyes.  It doesn’t make any difference. My good friend Bobby threw a couple of his tunes up yesterday.  By the way, Bobby does have twitter.  @bharrison24.  You should flood him with twitter messages until he caves and joins the #twitterevolution .

The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow // So I thought these guys were pretty cool. Then I went to their myspace page, and saw that they played The Tonight Show. I guess that’s forgivable. Maybe. By the way, their theology is pretty spot on. No preacher man can save their soul. 

And that’s a wrap my friends.

Be safe.

And don’t listen to crappy music.

Words to live by.

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Four for Friday

It’s Friday…  again.

1) Freelance Whales – Day Off // Brand new single from one of my favorites.

2) Ben Ottewell – Lightbulbs // Ottewell is the frontman for Gomez, and this is a single off his forthcoming album, Shapes and Shadows.

3) Chris Bathgate – No Silver // Another single off of a much anticipated (by me) album, Salt Year, due for release this spring.

4) The National – Conversation 16 // As anyone who has been married for a while knows, it takes work to keep the daily interaction from becoming so predictable that the conversations can be allotted their number.

Kind of a downer list here.  I suppose I’ll have to come up with something more “cheery” next Friday.  Peace.

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Four for Saturday?

Ok, so sort of slacking around here.  What else is new?  Here’s your songs.

Mumford & Sons – Unfinished Business (White Lies Cover)

Ugly Casanova – Here’s to Now

First Aid Kit – Tiger Mountain Peasant Song (Fleet Foxes Cover)

Sufjan Stevens – Heirloom

Happy Weekend!