Dry Paint Signs

Minus the Bear Celebrate Ten Years of Planet of Ice at Irving Plaza

2018-04-28T04:33:00.001-04:00

The first song I ever heard by Minus the Bear was "Knights" in 2007, but I never saw them in concert. When I got the opportunity to catch their stop at Irving Plaza on the 10th anniversary tour for Planet of Ice, I was ecstatic. Outside of building a time machine and then using it for such a trivial reason, it was the closest I would get to seeing a show by the band when I'd first gotten into them.

To be honest, I had no idea what they'd even look like, as their album artwork doesn't feature the members, so it was a little surprising to learn that frontman Jake Snider has a graying Mark Hamill beard. But it's not about looks with MTB; it's about the music, as evident in their sparse stage setup of a few standing light rigs in front of a backdrop of the cloudy snowscape of Planet of Ice's cover. The band wasted no time in revisiting the record, revving up the opening cut "Burying Luck" to start the show. "You guys are fucking incredible. Thank you," said Snider, who couldn't seem to address the crowd without using the f-word. And that fucking crowd was full of diehards, singing to the rafters on "Ice Monster" and even along with the guitar part on "Knights." While it was annoying to have my favorite POI song blemished by the guy behind me doing just that, you almost couldn't blame him, as guitarist Dave Knudson posted himself at the front of the stage to rock out. As they progressed through the album's tracklisting, the entire band played with such confidence and passion that it was apparent they weren't going to phone these numbers in, even if they were a decade-old. I will admit that my ear can get a little fatigued listening to math rock, so Alex Rose's saxophone on "Part 2" and the extended noise jam in "Lotus" were welcome diversions. They followed the Planet of Ice portion by hopping around their discography, going as far back as 2002's Highly Refined Pirates and as recent as last year's Voids. The Coathangers, who had opened the show, introduced some red balloons (not 99, like 8) into the audience to toss around during a righteous "Secret Country." This kicked off a trio of the only tracks the band would play from 2010's Omni, culminating in the smooth synth lines of "Dayglow Vista Rd." to finish out the set.

It was Alex's birthday, so for the encore, his bandmates presented "the old man" with a cane as a gift. "It was gonna be cake!" spoke Jake. As a cake materialized from backstage, he added, "And it is. There's cake. Eat up, motherfucker." After a round of "Happy Birthday to You" from everyone in the venue, Rose rested his birthday treat precariously on the top of his keyboard while he played on "Invisible," the standout track from Voids. They wrapped things up with an emo-flavored pair of tunes that have by now become MTB standards, "Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse" and "Pachuca Sunrise." I'm glad I finally got to see them, and it's likely I'll be in the fucking crowd for the Omni anniversary in a few years.

MINUS THE BEAR - 04.27.18 - IRVING PLAZA (1 hour, 44 minutes)

SET -
Burying Luck / Ice Monster > Knights / White Mystery / Dr. L'Ling / Part 2 / Throwin' Shapes / When We Escape / Double Vision Quest / Lotus / Hooray / Last Kiss / Women We Haven't Met Yet / Michio's Death Drive / Secret Country / Hold Me Down / Dayglow Vista Rd.

ENCORE -
Happy Birthday to You / Invisible / Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse / Pachuca Sunrise

Jimmie's Chicken Shack Returns to Rams Head Live for 25th Anniversary

2018-02-18T02:47:00.000-05:00

"We're officially classic rock," joked Jimi Haha, the eccentric frontman of Jimmie's Chicken Shack, who celebrated their 25th anniversary last night at Rams Head Live in Baltimore. While their 20th anniversary show had purposefully highlighted the band's different eras, the silver anniversary was a decidedly looser affair, with no setlist to guide them through an evening of jams and personnel changes.

Former-WHFS disc jockey Rob Timm had the honor of introducing them, encouraging the audience to "Please welcome the fowlest band in the land, Jimmie's Chicken Shack!" As the crowd cheered with acclamation, the guys (Haha on vocals/guitar, Christian Valiente on bass, Jerome Maffeo on drums, and Dave "Double D" Dowling filling in for the band's current lead guitarist Island Styles) got things rolling with a pair of classics, "Sitting with the Dog" and "Blood." "Dropping Anchor" was dedicated to a fan/friend who'd flown in from San Diego to have his bachelor party at the show. "Give it up for him. He's dropping anchor and getting married," Haha said, offering him the first shot from a bottle of Patrón that would be empty by the night's end.

"Lazy Boy Dash" marked the first selection from Bring Your Own Stereo, and although Haha flubbed some of the lyrics, he got a chance to redeem himself on his favorite track from that album, "Fill in the Blank." Jimi called up guitarist Matt Jones from the back of the venue to join them on a rowdy "School Bus" detour back to their first album, before they swerved back into BYOS territory with "Pure." That song's backing vocals were impeccable, but Haha messed up his guitar part on the mellow "30 Days" that followed. No longer in possession of the Afro-puffed "wig of shame" used to humiliate members after they fuck up, Haha volunteered to wear a set of pink, light-up cat ears that Double D dubbed "the ears of fear" during "Let's Get Flat." Casey Hean accompanied them on the number. Hean was not present at the 20th anniversary, so it was my first time seeing the wild guitarist. While most members have always been willing to let Haha take the spotlight, Casey's ebullience created an interesting dynamic onstage, as he competed for attention. Jimi eventually gave up on the tune, claiming, "No one wants to hear any more of this fucking song. This song is stupid," before wrapping it up with a noisy "big rock ending." During "Outhouse," the crowd tossed a big-titted blow-up doll around like a beach ball. She ultimately made her way to the stage, where Haha demonstrated on her inflatable breasts how assholes in the '90s would grope crowdsurfing girls, and maintained that he would stop songs when he saw this happening. Keep in mind, this was decades before the Architects and Drake went viral for doing the same thing last year.

Mike Sipple, whose ":" jersey still fit, took a seat at the drums for "Spiraling," which also featured an all-too-brief sit-in from original bassist Ché Lemon, who was then traded out for Derrick Dorsey on rarity "Slow Change." While it may be Haha's favorite JCS tune, it had only been available on a mail-in EP, so its scarcity resulted in fewer crowdmembers singing along and a consequential drop in the room's energy level. Fortunately, a raging "When You Die You're Dead" brought everybody back onto the same page. My personal favorite, "Another Day" came next, with a surprise drop-in from Kelly Bell on congas. I didn't take note of the time, as I never expected them to jam on it so long, but several solos took it well over the ten-minute mark, culminating in a swirling, almost psychedelic groove. For a cool-down, Matt Jones returned for "Beautiful," the only number performed from Re.Present and the only song of the evening that Double D did not play on.

As the lineup switched yet again, Jimi remarked, "We've got three songs left. We're supposed to be done at 1, but fuck that. 'Cause George Clinton fucking went past 1." (P-Funk had played Rams Head the previous night.) The first of the three was their 1999 charting single, "Do Right." Jimi went the reggae route towards the song's end, delving into Sublime's "Smoke Two Joints" and teasing "No Woman, No Cry." "I've never played a solo in that song since I wrote it," he revealed with a smirk after plucking out a slinky improvised passage. Then they loaded the stage with all three lead guitarists, both drummers, Ché, and Kelly Bell. "We're like the fucking Allman Brothers," chuckled Haha before giving props to John Mayer for his guitarwork in Dead & Company. He then proclaimed All Mighty Senators to be the best Maryland band, spouting off a few lyrics from "No Clothes On" prior to "Milk." Every guitarist took a solo, with Haha holding up a wooden Maryland flag with the word "Boo" emblazoned across the Calvert sections during Double D's. Before his own solo, Jimi boasted that we were about to witness the "best guitar licks you've ever seen," and lapped his tongue up and down the fretboard of his six-string. "Eric Clapton will never do that," confirmed the drunk guy next to me.

As the show wound down, things got emotional, with Double D disclosing that Kelly Bell had saved his life a few years back, and a misty-eyed Haha referencing the lyrics to "Stop." "We had a song where I said, 'I feel lucky I made it to 25.' Now the band is 25." He also made sure to clarify that we weren't supposed to be booing Dave's solo, but that the sign was in tribute to Ramon "Boo" Valdez, Rams Head's talent buyer that passed away in 2016. Of course, no JCS show would be complete without their raucous first single, "High," so they made it their closer. "I don't want to end this show or concert or whatever the fuck it was with applause. I want to end it with a 'Boo,' requested Jimi. As he held up the the flag artwork again, the crowd booed their approval, grateful to have had this band in their lives for 25 years, not to mention twenty minutes after curfew.

JIMMIE'S CHICKEN SHACK - 02.17.18 - RAMS HEAD LIVE (2 hours, 20 minutes)

SET -
Sitting with the Dog / Blood / Dropping Anchor / Lazy Boy Dash / Fill in the Blank / Waiting / School Bus / Pure / 30 Days / Let's Get Flat / Outhouse / Spiraling / Slow Change / When You Die You're Dead / Another Day (feat. Kelly Bell) / Beautiful / Do Right > Smoke Two Joints > No Woman, No Cry (tease) > Do Right / No Clothes On (tease) / Milk (feat. Kelly Bell) / High

J. Roddy Walston & the Business Brooklyn Steel Setlist

2018-02-08T00:56:00.000-05:00

Review to come.

J. RODDY WALSTON & THE BUSINESS - 02.07.18 - BROOKLYN STEEL

SET -

Don't Break the Needle / Full Growing Man / Ways & Means / Marigold > Same Days / Bad Habits / I Don't Wanna Hear It / Numbers / Take It as It Comes / Brave Man's Death / Caroline / American Girl / Bleed Out / Used to Did / Midnight Cry

ENCORE -

Sweat Shock > You Know Me Better / Heavy Bells

Deer Tick Shows Two Sides at Brooklyn Steel

2017-12-03T02:43:00.001-05:00

"This show has two sets: one quiet, one loud. The drunker you get, the louder we get," Ian O'Neil informed the Saturday night audience at Brooklyn Steel. I first got word of Deer Tick's "Twice is Nice" tour in June by way of an email containing a pre-sale code. The band would be playing an acoustic set and an electric set, representative of their upcoming albums Vol. 1 & 2, and a stand-up comedian would be opening the show. I bought my tickets immediately, and anxiously waited for December like a kid who's been good all year. After a long walk from the subway and an even longer security process, I made my way into the showroom at Brooklyn Steel to find the comic already onstage. It turned out to be my pal, Nore Davis, who once headlined my comedy show, Free Rad Jokez. Wearing a red bandana, Nore made the packed house laugh at his desire to open a 24-hour farmers market to compete with fast-food chains. Not even ten minutes past nine, he welcomed Deer Tick to the stage.

While normally content to wear white t-shirts or nothing at all, the band dressed up for the occasion, looking quite dapper in various combinations of crimson and black. They greeted the crowd and began with "Sea of Clouds," the first track on Vol. 1. They followed promptly with the tango intro to "Card House," the record's second song and coincidentally my personal favorite of the two-disc collection. "Do an oldie," McCauley declared, leading the band on "Art Isn't Real (City of Sin)" and alleviating worries that a) the albums would be performed in sequence, and b) they'd only be playing songs from Vol. 1 & 2. Highlights included "Me & My Man," which made way more sense to me after Dennis Ryan revealed it to be about his dog, and "The Dream's in the Ditch," my most-played Tick tune. "Mange" capped off the unplugged portion with an energetic finish, McCauley and O'Neil embellishing their guitar strums into a choreographed routine à la ZZ Top.

During the break, stagehands traded the red backdrop for a yellow one, keeping with the ketchup and mustard theme of the albums' artwork. Nore emerged once again to introduce the band, this time donning a yellow bandana. I suddenly understood why he'd worn a red one earlier, and sure enough, Deer Tick also returned with an ochre wardrobe change. Taking a cue from the first set's structure, the boys led with the first two songs from Vol. 2. They broke the order with "Clownin Around," Dennis Ryan's ode to John Wayne... Gacy. Ian O'Neil informed the crowd that the show had sold out during set break, and the band appeared to relish the news, kicking off "The Bump" with an extended jam. While I'd enjoyed the first set, it was apparent that they were having more fun in the second frame, even dipping into Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" mid-"These Old Shoes." Ryan sang "Wants/Needs" from behind his Plexiglas drum fortress before careening into Chris Montez's "Let's Dance," McCauley strapping on a harmonica for the ride. Covers of the Pogues' "White City" and Tommy Keene's "Places That Are Gone" injected some '80s guitar tones into the mix. Following the latter, the band departed stage left, with the exception of John, who moved to the keyboard. Although he admitted he was a bit under the weather, he persevered on a spirited take of "Christ Jesus," his bandmates rejoining him after the second refrain. Deer Tick wrapped up the set with a trio from Vol. 2, "It's a Whale," "Look How Clean I Am," and "Mr. Nothing Gets Worse," and left the stage.

Would they come back and play more songs? Would they be acoustic or electric? A minute later, John returned, took a seat at the keyboard, and said, "Alright, we'll do a few more." While the lyrics to "Goodbye, Dear Friend" made it a good encore choice, it's a bit of a downer to end on, so the band fired off a joyful "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, & Understanding?" with John windmilling through the closing power chords. They kept the party going with a pair of their most beloved tunes, "Baltimore Blues No. 1" and "Ashamed," the crowd offering ample vocal assistance. McCauley wanted to ensure that his appreciation for the fans didn't go unnoticed, remarking, "Some people think this is bullshit, but it isn't," as he segued into Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful." After the ketchup and mustard of the first two sets, the encore was gravy.

DEER TICK - 12.02.17 - BROOKLYN STEEL

SET ONE, ACOUSTIC (56 minutes) -

Sea of Clouds / Card House / Art Isn't Real (City of Sin) / Houston, TX / Smith Hill / Hope is Big / Me & My Man / Cocktail / The Dream's in the Ditch / Only Love / Mange

SET TWO, ELECTRIC (1 hour, 11 minutes) -

Don't Hurt / Jumpstarting / Clownin Around / The Bump > Easy / Tiny Fortunes / White City / These Old Shoes > Superstition (tease) > These Old Shoes / Twenty Miles / Wants/Needs > Let's Dance / Make Believe / Miss K. / Dirty Dishes / Places That Are Gone / Christ Jesus / It's a Whale / Look How Clean I Am / Mr. Nothing Gets Worse

ENCORE (19 minutes) -

Goodbye, Dear Friend / (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, & Understanding? / Baltimore Blues No. 1 / Ashamed > You Are So Beautiful

The Next Round - Episode 54: Elizabeth & the Catapult

2017-11-30T10:28:00.001-05:00

Usually I buy the drinks on The Next Round, but when the coffee shop we were supposed to go to was unexpectedly closed, Elizabeth Ziman improvised (She is a musician.) and invited me into her apartment for tea. We had a great talk, starting with her childhood in the Village and ending with the release of her fantastic fourth record, Keepsake, an album so good, you'd never guess it was the result of mashing up old journal entries with NyQuil-influenced fever dreams.

Stream below, download directly, or subscribe on iTunes (and rate it 5 stars).

Elizabeth is on tour now. Check here for dates.
Read my review of her release show.
Buy Keepsake on vinyl/CD/digital.

Listen to "Ambrosia" and a song from every guest on The Next Round Companion Playlist.

The Next Round - Episode 53: Matthew Logan Vasquez

2017-11-22T08:58:00.004-05:00

It's that time again, when rock critics start posting their best-of-the-year picks. While I still like to give December its fair shot, my album of the year (so far, and since April) is Matthew Logan Vasquez's second LP, Does What He Wants. I got the opportunity to interview MLV back in April for the podcast. It was a great talk, but his tour ended before I was able to schedule the episode. Now that he's about to go on the road again, it's finally time to hear what Delta Spirit's frontman has to say about fatherhood, stage presence, and the sound of discovery.

Stream below, download directly, or subscribe on iTunes like the good person you are.

Click here for MLV tour dates.
Order Does What He Wants on vinyl.

Alex Lahey Music Hall of Williamsburg Setlist

2017-11-17T02:57:00.002-05:00

NERVOUS DATER - 11.16.17 - MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG (28 minutes)

SET -
Fun Dumpster / Vominos / Run Home / Bad Spanish / Pigeon Language / Serenity / Don't Be a Stranger

DUDE YORK - 11.16.17 - MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG (34 minutes)

SET -
Black Jack > Lonely Girls* / Something in the Way > Tonight / The Way I Feel > Love Is / Twin Moons / Paralyzed

ALEX LAHEY - 11.16.17 - MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG (1 hour, 11 minutes)

SET -

Every Day's the Weekend / Wes Anderson / Perth Traumatic Stress Disorder / L-L-L-Leave Me Alone / Awkward Exchange / I Want U / Ivy League / Let's Call It a Day / I Love You Like a Brother / Lotto in Reverse / Backpack / Torn / I Haven't Been Taking Care of Myself

ENCORE -

There's No Money / Let's Go Out / You Don't Think You Like People Like Me

White Reaper Le Poisson Rouge Setlist

2017-11-11T00:06:00.002-05:00

Review to come.

WHITE REAPER - 11.10.17 - LE POISSON ROUGE (1 hour, 1 minute)

SET -

Wolf Trap Hotel > Last 4th of July > Pills / Little Silver Cross / I Don't Think She Cares > Crystal Pistol > Sheila / Eagle Beach / Friday the 13th / The World's Best American Band / The Stack / Judy French / Make Me Wanna Die > B.T.K. / Tequila Crowdsurfing Jam*

ENCORE -

Half Bad

Elizabeth & the Catapult Shares Her Keepsakes at Le Poisson Rouge

2017-10-19T01:42:00.001-04:00

Last night at Le Poisson Rouge, Elizabeth & the Catapult (Elizabeth Ziman) performed an intimate album release show for her fourth LP, Keepsake. The collection of songs is aptly named. It's a sophisticated pop record that travels effortlessly through styles while still packing a melodic punch. I've already listened to it multiple times, and it hasn't even come out yet.

The subterranean space was arranged in a way I hadn't seen there before, with the stage in the center, surrounded by a flotilla of tables. My view of the stage was bisected by a column, but I was able to see Elizabeth take a seat at the piano in the right half. She began with LCD Soundsystem's sombre "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" before brightening things up by segueing into her own "Mea Culpa." With an intrusive squeal, the noisy air conditioner above the stage kicked on right after the song's final lyric, "More bad mistakes for us to make before we fuck it all up," which was actually kind of endearing in that moment. Elizabeth thanked the audience and promised, "I'm just gonna give you everything I've got tonight until until I burst into a million pieces, and then I just have to lie down." A five-piece band materialized onstage to back her on the chorus of "Magic Chaser." After a pair of tunes from her previous LP, Ziman got on her feet and moved to keyboard to her right for a breakneck "Less Than You Think." Despite a technical issue with the keyboard that required Elizabeth to switch to the piano during "Method Acting," the song was one of the evening's best performances, culminating in a beautiful vocal harmony that included Secret Someones' Hannah Winkler. Ziman conceded the keyboard to Winkler and took a handheld mic to the center of the stage. The band proceeded with Keepsake's first single/track, "We Can Pretend," with its lush, Polynesian sounds evoking imagery of Technicolor musicals. They followed it with the album's peppy second single/track "Underwater" and then the band scattered, leaving Elizabeth alone. She performed a solo vocal rendition of Greg Laswell's "Embrace Me" and then shared acoustic guitar duties with Jonno Linden on "Let's Make a Mess of Our Love," a number new enough to not even be on the record.

"So the experiment continues," Ziman said, returning to the keyboard. "I had a children's choir sing on this song on my album, but I couldn't get them in here 'cause they're children." "We'll sing! We'll sing!" offered an eager crowdmember. "Will you be my children?" Elizabeth asked with a laugh. Looping her breath as percussion, she pressed on with "Ambrosia." While it may have been a lot to ask the audience to sing along on a song that they'd never heard before, its hopeful lyrics over a plucky, staccato refrain just beg for audience participation, and I have no doubt that over time this will become an Elizabeth & the Catapult concert staple. At its denouement, Ziman held up a paper to read a list of thank yous, as well as a political speech in which she encouraged the crowd to "keep spreading love however you know how."

Elizabeth welcomed a mustachioed Jeff Taylor to the stage for his clapper "Kadoka," which was followed by a quick round of "Happy Birthday to You" for Wiman's mom and a "Better Days" bouncier than its studio version. "I just threw the setlist out the window," Ziman announced as she invited Emily Mure and Jeff Taylor to help close out the set with "Where Were You the Night," her reaction to last year's surprising election results. The elegy crescendoed into a chaotic jam, the vocalists' haunting wails intertwining to suggest a ghostly choir of past presidents spinning in their graves.

ELIZABETH & THE CATAPULT - 10.18.17 - LE POISSON ROUGE (1 hour, 26 minutes)

SET -

New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down > Mea Culpa > New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down > Mea Culpa / Magic Chaser / Salt of the Earth / Happy Pop / Less Than You Think / Method Acting / We Can Pretend / Underwater / Embrace Me / Let's Make a Mess of Our Love / Ambrosia / Thank You for Nothing / Kadoka (feat. Jeff Taylor) / Happy Birthday to You / Better Days / Where Were You the Night (feat. Emily Mure & Jeff Taylor)

ENCORE -

Go Away My Lover (feat. Jeff Taylor)

Afropunk 2017 Sunday Setlists

2017-08-28T10:31:00.000-04:00

Review to come.

SON LITTLE - 08.27.17 - COMMODORE BARRY PARK, AFROPUNK FESTIVAL (25 minutes, 30 seconds)

SET -
Alice / Blue Magic (Waikiki) > Go Blue Blood Red / Your Love Will Blow Me Away / The River / Charging Bull

GARY CLARK, JR. - 08.27.17 - COMMODORE BARRY PARK, AFROPUNK FESTIVAL (53 minutes)

SET -
When My Train Pulls In / Next Door Neighbor Blues / Ain't Messin' 'Round / Our Love / Cold Blooded / Bright Lights / Things Are Changin' / You Saved Me

RAPHAEL SAADIQ - 08.27.17 - COMMODORE BARRY PARK, AFROPUNK FESTIVAL (1 hour, 23 minutes)

SET -
Intro > 100 Yard Dash > Heart Attack > Be Here > Will It Go Round in Circles / Movin' Down the Line > Good Man > Get Involved > I Chase You* > Dance Tonight > Don't Mess with My Man / Let's Get Down > Still Ray > Blind Man / Oph > Charlie Ray / You're the One That I Like > Never Give You Up > Just One Kiss / (Lay Your Head on My) Pillow > Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop) > Anniversary / Kissin' You > It Never Rains (in Southern California) / Soul Sista (feat. Bilal) / Ask of You / Lady > Just Me & You > Cranes in the Sky > Skyy, Can You Feel Me > Outro

Nicky Francis Pete's Candy Store Setlist

2017-05-19T11:23:00.001-04:00

Review to come.

NICKY FRANCIS - 05.18.17 - PETE'S CANDY STORE (35 minutes, 30 seconds)

SET -
Meant to Last / Don't Push Me / Crooked Path / Did Her for the Love / Tattoo / Nobody Knows / Talking / The Way That We Are

The Next Round - Episode 52: Caleb Caudle

2017-05-18T11:16:00.001-04:00

Caleb Caudle is in a never-ending battle to improve himself, whether that means quitting alcohol to increase his productivity, or expanding his sound by exploring new musical styles on his upcoming LP, Crushed Coins. After receiving accolades last year for his seventh record, Carolina Ghost, it would be easy for someone in his position to rest on their laurels. But the battle rages on inside in Caleb. Thankfully, we get to hear it.

Stream below, download directly, or subscribe on iTunes like a decent human being.

Read a review of his Rockwood concert.
Listen to "Tuscaloosa" and more on The Next Round Companion Playlist.
Go see Caleb on tour now!

Matthew Logan Vasquez Rough Trade NYC Setlist

2017-04-30T03:35:00.000-04:00

Review to come.

MATTHEW LOGAN VASQUEZ - 04.29.17 - ROUGH TRADE NYC (1 hour, 26 minutes)

SET -

Old Ways / Personal > Same / Fires Down in Mexico / Red Fish / Maria / Halfcolt / Crippler King > Ace of Spades (tease) > On the Road Again > Crippler King / Spanish Moss > Bushwick Blues / The Old Revolution / From Behind the Glass / Blue Eyes / Theater / Stand Up > Everything I Do is Out > Shit Luck > Little Star of Bethlehem (tease) > Everything I Do is Out

The Next Round - Episode 51: Tall Tall Trees

2017-04-21T08:16:00.003-04:00

With a shaggy brown beard that extends down his torso, Mike Savino looks like a wizard. And as Tall Tall Trees, he gets to become one, summoning a multitude of sounds both shambolic and ethereal from his "Banjotron 5000." We had a beer before his "greasy dance party" at Rockwood Music Hall. Check it out.

Subscribe on iTunes, download directly, or stream below.

Pick up a copy of Freedays.
Go see Mike live.
Hear "A Place to Call Your Own" on The Next Round Companion Playlist.

Caleb Caudle Gets Intimate at Rockwood Music Hall

2017-04-15T13:07:00.000-04:00

"New York City. Friday night. There's a lot of things going on. Thanks for choosing this thing," Caleb Caudle addressed his audience in the subterranean Stage 3 of Rockwood Music Hall. Armed only with an acoustic guitar and his twangy mid-range, Caudle began his set by stripping down "Piedmont Sky" and "Tuscaloosa" from last year's Carolina Ghost. He followed with "Trade All the Lights," a fan favorite in which Caudle claims he'd trade all of NYC's luminance to be in New Orleans with a loved one. "No offense," he assured the crowd of New Yorkers at its conclusion. After all, the song was written in a different time in Caleb's life about a woman he's no longer with. He'd explained to me in a podcast interview before the show that even if he doesn't have the same connection to its lyrics as he once did, he realizes that his listeners might, so he has to give it his all for them.

The excellent acoustics of Rockwood's basement made it possible to hear every little nuance of the performance, with Caleb demonstrating a soul singer's keen awareness of his spatial relationship to the microphone. In the small room, remarks from the crowd were also amplified, promoting conversation between Caudle and his fans and fostering the kind of intimacy that the venue is famous for. Following "Uphill Battle," Caleb admitted that he'd only just noticed that he'd sung the first five songs with a cough drop in his mouth. He was supposedly battling springtime allergies, but you wouldn't have known it from his impassioned cover of Springsteen's "Atlantic City" that had an Asbury Park-native in the front row swooning like a young Courteney Cox. Caudle also unveiled "Stack of Tomorrows" and "Madeleine," two numbers from his upcoming record, Crushed Coins. If they're any indication of what's on the way, it's gonna be a doozy. The latter ranks among his best songs and was captivating enough that the waitress didn't dare interrupt to take orders for a second round. Caleb finished off the show with a toe-tapping "Borrowed Smiles," not a person in the room second-guessing their Friday night plans.

CALEB CAUDLE - 04.14.17 - ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL (51 minutes)

SET -
Piedmont Sky / Tuscaloosa / Trade All the Lights / Broken Hallelujah / Uphill Battle / Stack of Tomorrows / Anne Marie / White Dove's Wing / Atlantic City / Madeleine / Carolina Ghost / Come on October / Borrowed Smiles

The Next Round - Episode 50: Reformed Whores

2017-03-30T10:17:00.000-04:00

Fifty episodes! For this wondrous occasion, I grabbed cocktails with Katy Frame and Marie Cecile Anderson of the country comedy duo, Reformed Whores, who're about to embark on a month-long U.S. tour. With their songs about dicks, cunnilingus, and pooping (and empowerment if you're listening close enough), the libidinous ladies have been able to follow their dreams, from opening for "Weird Al" Yankovic to recording an album in Nashville's legendary RCA Studio A. So have a listen to find out what Howdy Doody says when the cameras are off.

Stream below, download directly, or subscribe on iTunes.

Check out "Willy for a Day" on The Next Round Companion Playlist.
Visit the Whores online.
Buy their albums!

Tall Tall Trees Takes His Greasy Dance Party to Rockwood Music Hall

2017-02-26T02:22:00.000-05:00

Mike Savino has been growing a beard for five or six years. By now, the tangled nest of brown curls extends down to the middle of his chest. It's the first thing most people notice, but if you'd seen him on Saturday night, it would've been his toothy grin as the capacity crowd at Rockwood Music Hall sang back to him: "I was a seagull / You were an eagle."

Just three songs prior, a good portion of this choir had never heard of Tall Tall Trees, the name Savino performs under. While it's a delight to see a musician enjoying himself so much, one of my favorite things to do at a Tall Tall Trees show is to watch people's awed expressions as they first experience the spectacle of what Savino is able to do with a banjo. I should mention that Mike doesn't play an ordinary banjo. His "Banjotron 5000" is a custom-rigged Swiss Army knife of an instrument that he fingerpicks, bows, pounds with a mallet, sings through, etc., effectively transforming Mike into one-man band. In an upcoming podcast interview that we taped before the show, he explained that many of the instrument's features come as a result of him breaking it and re-breaking it. Its latest casualty was its trademark ring of flashing lights, inexplicably stuck on red. "I think it's out of anger," quipped Mike. "It's gonna stay red for a few years, and then we'll have to get the Banjotron back to blue... hashtag."

Although he normally performs solo (when not improvisationally sparring onstage with Kishi Bashi), Savino was joined by Ashevillean Micah Thomas on drums. "After four years, I got tired of driving alone," Savino admitted. He introduced "Say Something Real!" as Micah's favorite, the bombastic march of its refrain allowing for Thomas to pound away joyously. The duo had been playing together for less than a week, and it was exciting to watch Mike keep Micah on his toes. During the aforementioned "Seagullxeagle," an interspecies romance that Savino described as "Romeo & Juliet for the David Attenborough set," Thomas stood up at his drum kit, spread his own wingspan, and cawed like a bird.

The singalong helped the crowd to loosen up a little in the sauna-like conditions of the small room. "Are you guys ready to have a greasy dance party?" Mike polled the sweaty audience before plunging into the bhangra-informed "Waiting on the Day." Mike's foot missed a pedal during the intro to "Being There," and he decided to restart the number, owning up to it with an "I effed up, bro." The mistake was quickly forgotten as the duo veered the song into a spacey jam, with Savino utilizing a toy megaphone and a laser gun to interact with the Banjotron's electronics. The jam segued into final number "Highwire," Savino again enlisting the crowd for accompaniment on a few takes of its falsetto chorus before Mike and Micah brought it all home with a circusy dirge.

TALL TALL TREES - 02.25.17 - ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL (56 minutes)

SET -
Picture Picture / Backroads / Say Something Real! / Seagullxeagle / Waiting on the Day / Being There > Jam > Highwire

Monthly Mix #24: January 2017

2017-02-07T14:33:00.000-05:00

January 2017:
January is a month to further investigate the previous year's releases, while simultaneously looking forward to this year's crop.

1. Vitamin String Quartet - "As the World Falls Down"
When I posted this on Spotify last month (Follow theonlydustin to get these mixes the moment I finalize them.), it was a tongue-in-cheek way to address Bowie's deathiversary and the new administration. Now that we actually seem to be teetering on the brink of WWIII, it doesn't feel quite the same.

2. Blitzen Trapper - "All Across This Land"
I wasn't the biggest fan of Blitzen Trapper's eighth album when I first heard it, but the title track deserves a spot in their greatest hits.

3. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - "Nuclear Fusion"
Australia's most prolific psych-rock ambassadors are back with another offering of groovy weirdness.

4. Kris Kristofferson - "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)"
While I'll always know Kristofferson as Mace Montana, the ringmaster in Big Top Pee-Wee, I hear he's also a pretty good songwriter.

5. Vindata feat. Anderson Paak - "Own Life"
Vindata provides the chaotic, bombastic production for Paak to do his thing.

6. St. Paul & the Broken Bones - "Flow with It (You Got Me Feeling Like)"
Dig the old-school soul vibe.

7. Robert Ellis - "California"
This powerful tune nearly made it onto the Top 40 Songs of 2016.

8. Morgan Heritage - "Strictly Roots"
When the weather gets cold, I like to listen to reggae in an attempt to trick myself into thinking it's warmer outside than it is. Here's a new banger from Denroy Morgan's children, Morgan Heritage.

9. Day Wave - "Stuck"
This was another leftover from last year's list. Jackson Phillips (Day Wave) will be releasing his debut full-length in May as well, so keep your ears open.

10. The Flaming Lips - "Nigdy Nie (Never No)"
Gotta love that fuzzy bass squelch.

Top 40 Songs of 2016

2017-01-10T18:28:00.000-05:00

So here we are, one year after David Bowie's passing and ten days away from Donald Trump's inauguration. It's easy to view 2016 as a total wreck, the country divided, coupled with a seemingly endless flow of influential artists' deaths. And I'll admit that 2016 was the roughest year of my life personally as well. But to discount 2016 as simply "The Year the Music Died" belies that fact that a lot of excellent music came out. I've made it a habit to create a playlist of my top 40 songs each year, and I'm not going to stop just because it feels like the world is falling apart. Now that we're ten days into 2017, hopefully we can look back on 2016 and say, "Well, at least there were some good tunes."

Now you may be asking, "Speaking of Bowie, why isn't he on this list?" Well, I have very strict rules for eligibility. While Blackstar remains an important album and one that I enjoy, its best tracks were all released prior to 2016. "Killing a Little Time" from the Lazarus recordings almost made it, however. Anyway, don't let that stop you from opening up Spotify and enjoying 2.5 hours of 2016 jams.

Top 40 Songs of 2016

40. A Giant Dog - "Sleep When Dead"
This snagged the opening spot in the final week of December while I was returning to NY via the Lincoln Tunnel on a Chinatown bus. The aggression of the music mixed with the determination in the lyrics makes it the perfect soundtrack to kick those New Year's resolutions into gear.

39. Animal Liberation Orchestra - "Summer Dream (We Got the Time)"
I wasn't aware ALO had released this sunkissed single exclusively through Amazon until I saw them play it live at Brooklyn Bowl in August. It's not on Spotify, so you can check out an acoustic version performed by Zach and Steve below.

38. Frightened Rabbit - "Get Out"
I think most of us can relate to this shimmery rock number, wherein lead singer Scott Hutchison compares his love interest to an "uncut drug" that he can't quit and doesn't want to.

37. A Tribe Called Quest - "Movin Backwards"
Phife Dawg's death wasn't a complete surprise to anyone familiar with his battle with diabetes, but what was unexpected was the release of a new Tribe album eight months later. This song addresses police brutality and the confusions and frustrations of being black in a society where racism has returned to the forefront. It also features Anderson Paak, who we'll hear from later on down the list.

36. Daniel Romano - "Maybe Remember Me"

Romano expands upon his country sound with this poppy folk ditty stuffed with vivid imagery like the orange bird that rests upon his shoulder. As if that weren't enough of a stylistic jump, the song's conclusion segues into what feels like an early Red Hot Chili Peppers demo.

35. Billie Marten - "Teeth"

Speaking of birds, you'll hear them chirping in the background of this beautiful performance by Billie Marten. It's so raw, you can hear the clunks of the piano's foot pedals.

34. The Invisible - "Save You"
I hate to resort to a TV on the Radio comparison, but it's the best TVOTR song they never wrote.

33. Tokyo Police Club - "Not My Girl"

After going solo with last year's All Signs Point to Yes (and talking to me about it on The Next Round), Dave Monks returns with another excellent power-pop number from the first of two 2016 EPs by Tokyo Police Club.

32. My Morning Jacket - "Magic Bullet"

MMJ released this funky plea for peace the Sunday after a particularly brutal week of gun violence in July.

31. Busman's Holiday - "What We Need We Know"
The Rogers brothers hired a 21-piece orchestra to flesh out their DIY acoustic sound on their sophomore record, Popular Cycles. The result is powerful and organic.

30. Leonard Cohen - "You Want It Darker"
Another legend gone. Crazily enough, I actually didn't start listening to Cohen until the beginning of 2016. While I prefer his early folk material, the organ and choir make this song absolutely chilling.

29. Sturgill Simpson - "Brace for Impact (Live a Little)"
A Sailor's Guide to Earth, Simpson's 2016 major label debut, was conceived as an instruction manual for his son. Here, he encourages his son to "live a little" before his impending death. The chugging groove prevents it from being too morbid.

28. The Heavy - "Not the One"
There's some nice, funky guitarwork here, reminiscent of John Frusciante. I guess it's obvious I was extremely let down by The Getaway and had to get my jollies elsewhere.

27. Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals - "Shine"
If I were to call Ben Harper's 13th studio album, and first with the Innocent Criminals since 2007's Lifeline, what it is, I'd call it a disappointment. "Shine" is a definite keeper though.

26. Matthew Logan Vasquez - "Personal"

Delta Spirit's frontman may have "struck out on his own," but fortunately, he didn't strike out, as evidenced by this energetic rocker.

25. Beyoncé - "All Night"
So much of Lemonade is about vengeance, but it's on "All Night" that Beyoncé forgives her husband for his infidelities, choosing to salvage their marriage instead of ending it. As a result, it's the most fearless song on the record. Obviously not on Spotify.

24. Radiohead - "Identikit"
I don't consider "True Love Waits" eligible for 2016 consideration. While it would easily be included in the top ten if I did, I feel that having a live version officially released as far back as 2001 disqualifies it. I say this knowing full well that "Identikit" was performed live in 2012, albeit unreleased. Ed O'Brien's frenetic guitar solo is a welcome return to what was sorely missing from The King of Limbs.

23. White Denim - "Holda You (I'm Psycho)"
The Austin band went through some lineup changes for Stiff, reigniting that freewheeling energy that seemed in shorter supply on Corsicana Lemonade for this balls-out rocker.

22. D.D Dumbo - "Walrus"
It took me up until the final week of December to decide between four of the tracks on D.D Dumbo's debut LP, Utopia Defeated, which song should be represented here. I went with the persistent opener that exemplifies Oliver Hugh Perry's multilayered production.

21. The Stray Birds - "Third Day in a Row"

I saw more sunrises last year than any year in my life. Honestly, I probably saw the majority of the 366, so this one speaks to me.

20. Caleb Caudle - "Tuscaloosa"

One of my good friends used to work with this guy at a pizzeria in North Carolina, which is funny because you'd never a expect pizza guy to be capable of writing a line as moving as "Well, I'm not lookin' to be fixed / Just understand that parts are broken."

19. Aloha - "Faraway Eyes"
I'd heard of Aloha before 2016, but they didn't really demand my attention until Little Windows Cut Right Through, which would surely be on my albums of the year list if I made one. It was hard selecting just one track, but the lyric "I know you're scared / I'm scared too" resonated with me, even if it was mainly due to a Rory Scovel joke.

18. Bruno Mars - "24K Magic"
While not as infectious as his Mark Ronson collaboration "Uptown Funk," Mr. Mars has returned with another slice of retro R&B to get your ass (and your ugly-ass friends) on the dance floor.

17. Kevin Morby - "I Have Been to the Mountain"
My favorite guitar solo of the year.

16. Bear Hands - "Marathon Man"
I actually discovered this song on Spotify. It was the first Bear Hands tune I heard, and it inspired me to promptly order their back catalog on vinyl. Their latest effort, You'll Pay for This, was a bit underwhelming, so my rabid fandom has tapered off, but I still enjoy it.

15. Dawes - "Roll with the Punches"
Its theme of persistence is characterized by the galvanic organ.

14. Will Joseph Cook - "Girls Like Me"
You can definitely hear the Talking Heads influence, but at only 18, Cook has plenty of time to grow. If he's writing songs this catchy now, just wait until he gets some patina on him.

13. Catfish & the Bottlemen - "Soundcheck"
You could teach a songwriting class with this one, which merges its big pop chorus with esoteric verses, even going as far as to use the term "fag break." The details paint a fuller picture, allowing the listener to relate.

12. Pop Etc - "Please, Don't Forget Me"
Chris Chu didn't forget the '80s when he crafted the lively lead-off track to Souvenir. Hear him discuss how the band whittled down literally hundreds of ideas to the album's ten tunes on The Next Round.

11. Honne feat. Izzy Bizu - "Someone That Loves You"
British songbird Izzy Bizu assists electronic soul duo Honne to create the most danceable number on Warm on a Cold Night.

10. Nico Yaryan - "Witch Love"
Yaryan wrote What a Tease while working at a cannabis farm in Humboldt County and spending time with a romantic interest in Amsterdam. The laid-back influence of the weed can be heard in the music. It's not groundbreaking by any means, but it's refreshing to hear someone crooning so genuinely.

9. Emily King - "Focus"
In July, Emily King released a deluxe edition of last year's The Switch, adding this among the bonus tracks and proving it worth the upgrade. She discussed the album's expansion on my podcast.

8. Bon Iver - "33 God"

Electronic artists and lo-fi balladeers have been experimenting with sound quality for years, so it wasn't exactly a new idea when Justin Vernon did it on 22, A Million. In fact, it's often frustrating to have the songs obscured as such. Be that as it may, it forced the studious listener to question its purpose. Could it be part of some puzzle to unlock, or is it all just pretentious hipsterism? If it weren't so damn melodic, I'd strongly consider it the latter.

7. Eric Krasno - "Waiting on Your Love"

Soulive's guitarist steps solidly into the spotlight on this bluesy funk cut.

6. Esmé Patterson - "Feel Right"

Esmé's hiccups and howls coalesced into my favorite individual vocal performance of the year.

5. Cris Jacobs - "Jack the Whistle & the Hammer"
If you can listen to this without bobbing your head or tapping your foot, stay the fuck away from me. If you'd like to hear more about the genesis of the titular characters, check out my podcast interview with Cris.

4. Kishi Bashi - "Honeybody"
K. Ishibashi was having quite the slump when he sat down to write for record #3, feeling like he was going through the motions while simultaneously watching his marriage suffer, so it's amazing that such a joyous nugget came out of it.

3. Hero the Band - "Expectations"
I'm not sure why this is no longer available on Spotify, but it was in constant rotation on my iPod in the early months of the year, providing a 4-minute serotonin boost whenever I needed.

2. Francis & the Lights feat. Bon Iver - "Friends"
For this song, Francis invented a special audio codec, dubbed the Prismizer. The result is similar to Auto-Tune, yet it retains the brightness of the human voice. It's especially effective when combined with a call for friendship in these rough, divisive times.

1. Anderson Paak - "Come Down"
We may have lost a lot of legends this past year, but hip-hop/R&B artist Anderson Paak has been staking his claim as a star of the future. I could've picked several of the songs from Paak's fantastic Malibu album to include in this list, but my limit is one per act. I decided to go with "Come Down" because it's supremely funky and fun despite the complexity of its syncopation and production. He's nominated for two Grammys, including Best New Artist, so you'd do well to hop in the Paak seat now.

Phish MSG Night Two Setlist

2016-12-31T13:49:00.000-05:00

Review to come.

PHISH - 12.29.16 - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

SET I (1 hour, 18 minutes) -
Sweet Adeline / Peaches en Regalia > Mike's Song > Secret Smile > Weekapaug Groove / Roses Are Free / Poor Heart / 46 Days / Brian & Robert / Beauty of a Broken Heart / Theme from the Bottom > Split Open & Melt

SET II (1 hour, 14 minutes) -
Down with Disease > What's the Use? > Fuego > Meatstick / Twenty Years Later > Kung > Twenty Years Later > Makisupa Policeman / Harry Hood

ENCORE (8 minutes) -
Julius

Phish MSG Night One Setlist

2016-12-29T11:17:00.000-05:00

Review to come.

PHISH - 12.28.16 - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

SET I (1 hour, 20 minutes) -

The Star-Spangled Banner / Stealing Time from the Faulty Plan / Lonesome Cowboy Bill > Free / Train Song / Prince Caspian / Roggae / Funky Bitch / Halfway to the Moon / Corinna / Stash / Cavern

SET II (1 hour, 19 minutes) -

Wolfman's Brother / Golden Age > Simple > Chalk Dust Torture / Martian Monster > Tweezer Reprise > Martian Monster / Wingsuit / Possum

ENCORE (7 minutes) -

Good Times Bad Times

The Majorleans Return to Mercury Lounge

2016-12-08T18:12:00.001-05:00

Mercury Lounge's most iconic feature had to have been its wall sconces. The dim incandescent bulbs entrenched in decorative wire cages looked like giant firefly abdomens, just barely illuminating the showroom's brick walls to give it a feel that was somehow simultaneously dingy and classy. They were even used in the lounge's website design for years until the Bowery Presents overhauled the page to include their other venues. So imagine my shock last night when I stepped into the room to find them replaced with new fixtures that appear as if someone sliced a scalloped pitcher in half, stuck it over a LED light, and glued it to an elongated octagon made of reflective material streaked with blue wisps. They look like shit and I don't know what they were thinking. Almost exactly a year ago, when the original sconces remained, the Majorleans played the Mercury Lounge, unveiling a selection of new tunes that Nicky Francis and Chris Buckle had been workshopping for their next album, Carouser's End. Last night, the band played all seven songs from the upcoming record.

The set got off to a shaky start, as inconsistent monitor levels had the members struggling to hear each other, with Buckle having difficulty harmonizing during "Mr. Magic." After some adjustments, the band rallied behind "Give It All to Me," having lived in the Carouser's tunes long enough now that they've become staples. The older Black Belt numbers benefitted from being reworked as well. "Imaginary Plane" has always been my least favorite Majorleans song, but for this go-round, they slowed it down, allowing me to hear just how deep the pocket of rhythm section Bongers & Brooks goes. By the time they'd reached the end of "What I Mean" five songs in, the confidence was visible, Nicky shaking his narrow hips as the crowd clapped for more. "Once the pendulum starts swinging, it doesn't stop," Francis acknowledged. "Not in those jeans!" came a teasing rebuttal from a crowdmember. Trading out his Rickenbacker electric for a Gibson acoustic, Nicky led the band on a duo of Carouser's ditties, "Under the Spell" and "Sunrise Mary," the latter of which was greeted with knowing cheers from the audience.

Almost as big of a surprise as the new lighting on the walls, but entirely more welcome, was the second live performance ever of "Lonesome Seaside Driving School." Written while driving along the southern coast of France, the introspective and atmospheric ballad stood proudly amid the band's rockers. Having pulled it off without a hitch, Nicky warned the people, "It's all biscuits in your mouth from here on out, so be ready." He held onto the Gibson for a terrific "Under Ma Wheels" before returning to the Rick on "Tattoo." Chris sustained the song's final note to give Francis enough leeway to slap on a capo for their frequent closer and time-tested crowd-pleaser "Never Had Enough." While it definitely sucks about the sconces, fortunately the Mercury Lounge will always be about the music, first and foremost.

THE MAJORLEANS - 12.07.16 - MERCURY LOUNGE (53 minutes)

SET -

Mr. Magic / Give It All to Me / Imaginary Plane / Set to Receive / What I Mean / Under the Spell / Sunrise Mary / Lonesome Seaside Driving School / Under Ma Wheels / Tattoo > Never Had Enough

Monthly Mix #23: December 2016 (Secular)

2016-12-05T15:56:00.003-05:00

December 2016 (Secular):
I'm not solely listening to Christmas carols right now, so neither should you.

1. Bruno Mars - "24K Magic"
While not the instantly likable "Uptown Funk," I think I was hooked after three listens.

2. Sing Street - "Drive It Like You Stole It"
I was charmed by John Carney's coming-of-age film when I saw it over Thanksgiving break. I'd recommend the movie (currently streaming on Netflix) and this Hall & Oates-inspired ditty.

3. The Game feat. Too $hort, Problem, AV, & Eric Bellinger - "Or Nah"
Sorry if it's a little crass, but it's got that beat. Eric Bellinger's hook is smooth AF too.

4. John Legend feat. Brittany Howard - "Darkness & Light"
Legend enlists Alabama Shakes' frontwoman for the sultry title track of his fifth studio album (sixth if you count his collaboration with the Roots).

5. Neil Young - "Here for You"
Back in September, this was the father-daughter dance at my friend's wedding. I really liked the choice, and Neil's catalog is finally available on Spotify.

6. Johnny Marr - "Easy Money"
Propulsion epitomized.

7. Jim James - "Same Old Lie"
While it may feel like our current political climate is drastically different than what we've come to expect, Jim reminds us that in fact, "it's the same old lie."

8. Syreeta - "I Love Every Little Thing About You"
Syreeta recorded this cover of Stevie Wonder's song in the midst of their divorce, one-upping the original and adding a whole new layer of depth.

9. Jack Garratt feat. Anderson Paak - "Worry"
I'm not a big Jack Garratt fan, but Paak throws down one of his top verses here.

10. Mike Doughty - "I Can't Believe I Found You in That Town"
This was on my Top 40 of 2015 list when it was merely a demo on Mike's Drip.fm feed. While I still prefer the stripped-down original over the DJ Good Goose production that you'll hear here, the effective lyrics remain unchanged.

Monthly Mix #22 - December 2016 (Holiday)

2016-12-05T14:46:00.001-05:00

December 2016 (Holiday):
The holidays are approaching.

1. The Staple Singers - "The Last Month of the Year"
It's the last month of the year.

2. Mariah Carey - "All I Want for Christmas is You"
Like it or not, this is now a bonafide Christmas classic.

3. David Bazan - "Happy Xmas (War is Over)"
Bazan puts his lo-fi spin on Lennon as part of his new Christmas record, Dark Sacred Night.

4. Kacey Musgraves feat. Leon Bridges - "Present Without a Bow"
Cute seasonal number featuring two of music's shiniest new stars.

5. Grace Potter - "Naughty, Naughty Children (Better Start Actin' Nice)"
Potter looks at the bright side of getting coal for Christmas.

6. Andy Williams - "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
The other day, I put this on and pretended I was living in a musical. So fun. I'm not ashamed to admit that, so try it for yourself.

7. Wham! - "Last Christmas"
No comment.

8. Jeremy Messersmith - "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Starts off like a bedroom demo until the strings sneak in and open the door. Remember when Jeremy was on the podcast?

9. Stevie Wonder - "Merry Christmas/Happy Kwanzaa"
Taken from an UK promotional single, this interesting little piece mashes up "Jingle Bells" with Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely."

10. David Bowie & Bing Crosby - "Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy"
This has always been my Uncle Mike's favorite holiday song, and it's even more poignant with Bowie's passing this year.

Monthly Mix #21: November 2016

2016-11-22T15:42:00.001-05:00

November 2016:
The end might be near. At least we have music.

1. Leonard Cohen - "You Want It Darker"
Another legend gone. Fortunately, he took Bowie's cue and released one dark-ass final record right before he passed.

2. Mayer Hawthorne - "Time for Love"
Mayer Hawthorne returns to form on this track off his Party of One EP.

3. The Panics - "Passenger Side"
This Australian band has been around since 2002, but this is my first time hearing them. I've got some homework to do.

4. Honus Honus - "Heavy Jesus"
Man Man's frontman goes solo.

5. A Tribe Called Quest - "Movin Backwards"
A lot of people have been singing the praises of the new Tribe album. I dig it, but I'm not blown away. Three guesses who's featured on this track, hehe.

6. Busman's Holiday - "What We Need We Know"
For their sophomore album, the Rogers brothers did something very non-sophomoric: they added a 21-piece orchestra. This is the powerful result.

7. D.D Dumbo - "Cortisol"
It was hard to narrow it down to one song from Utopia Defeated, Oliver Perry's first full-length, because I really love the instrumentation and production, but this frenetic track won out.

8. Hayley Kiyoko - "One Bad Night"
Yes, this is a pop song, and yes, I like it.

9. Dawes - "Roll with the Punches"
That organ though.

10. Harry Belafonte - "Jump in the Line"
It's been a shitty month, a shitty year even. There's a reason this song is at the end of Beetlejuice. It's too hard not to dance and sing along. Stay positive. Never lose hope.