Let it grab your soul

I usually like to talk up the musicians on this blog, but with this group the music truly speaks for itself. Fistful of Mercy is Ben Harper, Dhani Harrison (son of the late George Harrison), Joseph Arthur. Jessy Greene plays violin with them on these songs.


It is pure, beautiful music. It's also powerful; these songs reach out and grab my soul.
Listen for yourself! (I recommend headphones to fully appreciate all the beautiful layers)

At KCRW in LA ("Morning Becomes Eclectic")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkfIlV7Nur8

Eddie Vedder joins them at a rally in Little Rock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBTFm7JVtGI

At KEXP in Seattle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcg9scKfbhM

Their album comes out October 5th, tour starts in November:
www.fistfulofmercy.com

I wanna know...

I listen to Amos Lee's music a lot. I listen to it so much you'd think I'd be sick of it, but it's quite the opposite. I find different things I like about songs I've heard a hundred times. He keeps producing new quality stuff, so that helps too.

I suppose you could describe his music as R&B/southern folk. He has such a rich expressive voice. I recently made a comment to a friend that I would listen to him sing the phonebook. Really, he's that good--check it out for yourself.

And yes, I did have the distinct pleasure of meeting him when he played at The Mill in Iowa City in 2007. I don't have any pictures, though I do have a signed copy of Supply & Demand :)

p.s. I promise that the fact I would have his babies in a heartbeat does not skew my objective analysis of his music!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp16QnpX7mE

And if there's any question about the baby-making comment, just watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjqyeKE8fNU

He did the same cover when I saw him at Outside Lands in SF this weekend-made my whole week!

(though the "angel" had on a dapper Sunday suit at the O.L. show instead of wings)

And another treat--he's been performing this a lot lately, but not released on an album yet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgzFPP-Fa8o

Someone out there is listening to the same song, feeling the same way that I do.

It's a line from "I Do" off of the album Closer by Better Than Ezra. What? You didn't know these guys had more than one album? Well, you have some catching up to do if the last song you heard from them was "Good".
While they don't get as much media attention as they did in the mid 90s, this New Orleans based band is definitely still putting out quality music. Their fans are quite loyal as BTE still tours around the country.

If you ever have the chance to see them in concert, do it. They put on excellent live shows-there's always at least one great cover, funny banter between songs, and they play the hell out of each and every song. I've been lucky enough to see them four times. When they played at the University of Iowa's homecoming in 2005, it was just a few months after Hurricane Katrina. I was able to meet them after the show--very nice guys, and definitely interesting to hear their perspective on what was going on in New Orleans

I think their albums have a little something for everyone, from bouncy pop to heart wrenching ballads. I love the lyrics to so many songs written by lead singer Kevin Griffin. Griffin has written music for many other musicians, including the song "Collide" for Howie Day.

Here are a few songs to check out with an old familiar one thrown in there :)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji0pyRmSnTY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rft0-FA1sbg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hWyieVnkVs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhkNMQF7_fI&feature=related

One reason I'm a big fan of Kevin Griffin...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqSbKKkqouU&feature=related

Tell It To Me...

If someone had told me several years ago that one my favorite bands to see live would be an old-time string band, I would have called them crazy. It's funny how one's music tastes can evolve, because I absolutely love Old Crow Medicine Show.

I first heard of Old Crow in 2005, when Nickel Creek covered one of their songs at a show. It wasn't until 2007 that I actually got to see OCMS live at The Englert in Iowa City-which remains one of my absolute favorite concert experiences. These guys definitely put it all out there for their fans.

To call their sound bluegrass or old-time string band wouldn't fully describe their sound. The exact label doesn't matter anyway--don't let the fact that you may not listen to this sort of music already deter you. Give them a listen--more than once, and see what you think. I'm certainly glad I did.

A great cover of a great song--I also recommend checking out Gillian Welch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXf-SuBbJa0

This song is just beautiful-not the best video quality, but Emmylou Harris joins in..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPLom6s2OtY

One of my favorites from their most recent album Tennessee Pusher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6bpS45cdw4

And my all-time favorite OCMS song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH0CnjXqCLE

Pleeease, baby please...

Ben Lee--I just love the guy. I don't know how anyone could hear him and not at least tap their foot and smile a little.

If you're looking for a catchy musical pick-me-up, this is your guy. Especially this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjmS-VH7K9A&feature=related 

If that's a little too "Sesame Street" for you, check this one out-I like his onstage banter too..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e76AwCF6cM

He has pretty fun videos too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EstY-8NWSgE

I was super lucky to meet him after he performed at the Iowa Arts Festival in Iowa City a few years ago. I just wanted to run up and hug him. (I didn't). But I wanted to :)

And now for something completely different...

I like finding covers of songs by musicians that are very different from the original but still great performances.

Here's one I discovered recently:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXzQpySxFNk&feature=related

And a few I've liked for a while:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpRcKDaUFUg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hENgb3JR3cE&feature=related 

I don't know a whole lot about the first guy, Mike Zito. However I strongly recommend checking out Yael Naim and Mike Doughty. I've been lucky enough to see both of them in small venues. They're both absolutely amazing! Check out their other stuff!!

From the sky down to the sea...

One of the apps I have a lot of fun with on my phone is Shazam. It's the one that identifies songs by simply holding up the phone and clicking "tag song"

This past summer there were multiple occurrences of "Hey, I really like that song". There were three or four times where the artist turned out to be James Morrison--no, not from The Doors-that's Jim Morrison ;) It only made sense to check him out.


There's a huge soul influence to his music (which I always dig). The song "Save Yourself" is slightly reminiscent of Stevie Wonder's "Heaven Help Us All", without trying too hard to imitate it.

He has a raspy, passionate singing style that fans of Ray LaMontagne will appreciate. The songs have a healthy mix of guitar, piano, horns, and Hammond organ--the instrument featured in many of my favorite songs from the 60s & 70s. Listen to "Whiter Shade of Pale" to know what I mean.


I hope you enjoy him as much as I do. Here are a few songs for your listening pleasure:

"Wonderful World"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOqBkhD__rM&feature=related 

"You Give Me Something"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AweURFBgHkA&NR=1


A great acoustic version of "Save Yourself"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLeA2c4W-NE 


Brian and Jim (Roogs) from Chicago do a pretty good cover of this too :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvtBZWyz460&feature=related

I Love You & What You've Done With The Place

It's the title of the one and only album recorded by Burn Disco Burn--one of my favorite Iowa City bands from college.

This is the link to their myspace page (still works). 

http://www.myspace.com/burndiscoburn

Listen to Seven Kinds of Summer first. It's not on the album, but oh how I wish it was.
I believe their album is still available on iTunes.

Maybe it's just me (and my friend Raechel), but Nick Burd's voice, the lyrics, the melody; everything really, just hits me right in the heart.

Let me know if it hits you too :)

Ahhh! Real Monsters! (of Folk)

I found out about this group back in October and they are AWESOME!

Monsters of Folk is a band made up of Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes, M.Ward, and Jim James of My Morning Jacket.

I definitely feel like I have to be in the right mood to listen to them, but when I am--I absolutely love them.

A few of my favorite songs are "Dear God" and "Say Please"-the latter definitely reminds me of late Beatles stuff in a good way. The music doesn't fall into any one genre, you'll just have to give it a listen.

They only have one self titled album out right now, but I'm definitely looking forward to more!

"Say Please"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIiDvOdkyCc 

"Dear God"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmWOJEYjp3Y

http://monstersoffolk.com/

Where the title of this entry came from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm_wfo_zLes

Damn Right I've Got The Blues...

When I came across this artist during my junior year of college, he had already released three albums. He's also only a year older than me.

Jonny Lang has been referred to a prodigy not only for his incredible guitar abilities, but the fact that he's excelled in a genre you rarely see anyone under 30 performing--the blues. The great Muddy Waters has been quoted, "He's so good, I want to break his fingers!".

Jonny released his first album at the age of 14. His first few albums are more traditional, along the lines of his idols (and now collaborators) Buddy Guy, B.B. King etc. A Long Time Coming (2003) seems to have more rock elements to it, and Turn Around (2006) is more gospel.

He has a very distinct voice-you either love it or hate it. I happen to love it :)

I was able to see him at the Iowa Memorial Union in 2004. It was general admission, and was able to make it right up to the front with a few friends. It was such a great experience to see such talent in person. I had to laugh a little at the way he contorts his face when he plays, as if it hurts him to be so good on the guitar.

I was also lucky enough to chat with him a little bit after the show. For the way he wails during songs, he's surprisingly soft-spoken. He's also extremely gracious--an amazing musician and a good guy. Check him out!!

 

An old favorite "Lie To Me"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx4t6cZoCy8&feature=related

One of my favorites from "Long Time Coming"--shout out to Ms. Northway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sWeVoLTczs

House of Blues in Chicago with Buddy Guy--Jonny was only 16 at the time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrmdgfsEkCw

Another blues prodigy on stage with Buddy Guy--Quinn Sullivan (thanks Becky!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix4TNJvVk8M&feature=related

Sweet Soul Music

When I was at Outside Lands music festival this summer I came across an artist I knew I had heard before performing a different style of music than what I was used to hearing from him.

Raphael Saadiq, the former lead singer of Tony! Toni! Tone! (as in "If I Had No Loot" and "Anniversary") was on stage performing some sweet soul music.

He has such a smooth style and you almost "hear" him smiling when he sings. He reminds me a lot of Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson, and early Marvin Gaye. He even has "the look" down, with tailored suits, skinny ties, and thick rimmed glasses :)

On his latest album The Way I See It he does an awesome duet with Joss Stone (another great soul singer of the younger generation). Jay-Z helps out on a version of "Oh Girl"-an interesting mix of genres. There are many other songs that are just plain catchy.

A few to check out:

"Just One Kiss" with Joss Stone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUwZVjBT16w&feature=related

"Oh Girl" feat. Jay-Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbVn3nQtIRo 

"Love That Girl"-yes the video is a little cheesey, but one my favorite songs on the album
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1k7lNMyRpw

For Starters...

I've never written a blog before, so I figured I would start with an artist I know really well. That artist is Ben Harper. His first album came out in 1994 and has gained popularity mostly by word of mouth from his very loyal fans.

He has a very eclectic sound, one of the reasons I like him so much. Some songs remind me of Bob Marley, while others have a Stevie Wonder vibe. His albums always seem to have a great blend of rock, funk, reggae, blues, and folk. There are songs to rock out to, and songs that can tear your heart out if listened to after a bad breakup. In short, he has a little something for everyone :)

He has played with 2 main bands during his career. The first being the Innocent Criminals which he has made several records with. He is currently touring with a group of Austin based musicians called the Relentless 7. They are featured on his latest album, White Lies For Dark Times.

Ben is also well known for collaborating with Jack Johnson. They co-headlined an arena tour in 2003. He also recorded a gospel album with The Blind Boys of Alabama--a group I highly recommend checking out.

Ben Harper plays the electric guitar, but his specialty is the lap guitar called a weissenborn. I've had the privilege of seeing Ben Harper live three times (and am jonesing for a fourth). If you're looking for someone who absolutely plays the hell out of every song-Ben Harper is one of those musicians.
No matter how tired he and the band may be from touring, they bring so much energy and passion to every song.
And let's be honest, it certainly doesn't hurt that he's really hot too...

Here are a few of my personal favorites:

One to rip your heart out ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVXFP89EeqU

And one to rock out a bit (with The Innocent Criminals)--features the weissenborn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZa7IiYkJyM


With The Blind Boys of Alabama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkKOnS8J5GM

With The Relentless 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTMqPTIbvzI