Sarah Jarosz is a bluegrass multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. Jarosz was born in Austin, TX, but was raised in Wimberley, TX. She picked up the mandolin at age 10 and has been called "a songwriter of uncommon wisdom" by the Austin Chronicle. Fourteen year old Sarah Jarosz emerged on the scene around 2005 as someone to watch. Jamming onstage with bluegrass icons such as David Grisman and Ricky Skaggs. She then started writing songs on the guitar and took up the banjo. While her instrumental talents are formidable, Sarah is very much a singer. During her senior year in high school Jarosz released her debut album, writing all but two of the thirteen tracks. This was followed up her freshman year in college (New England Conservatory of Music) with her second album (released May 2011). This is "Tell Me True" off of her debut album Song Up In Her Head.
Said the Whale is a Vancouver based indie rock band started by Ben Worcester and Tyler Bancroft in 2007. The current lineup consists of Ben Worcester (guitar/vocals), Tyler Bancroft (guitar/vocals), Peter (bass), Spencer Schoening (drums), and Jaycelyn Brown (keys). The quintet embarked upon a rigorous touring schedule in 2008, crossing Canada numerous times and landing high profile gigs at V-Fest in Calgary and the nationally televised Canada Day celebration on Parliament Hill. This is "This City's a Mess" off of their debut album Howe Sounds/Taking Abalonia.
Bombadil is a four-piece folk pop band from Durham, NC. The band are known for their creative and somewhat elusive lyrics, quirky sound, and upbeat, energetic live show. The band consists of Daniel Michalak (vocals/bass/piano/zampona/saxophone), Bryan Rahija (vocals/guitar/bass/charango), James Phillips (drums/bas/vocals/tenor recorder), and Stuart Robinson (keys). Bombadil began in early 2005 after guitarist Bryan Rahija and bassist Daniel Michalak decided to start a band while Duke University students studying abroad in Bolivia. They recorded several demos at an elementary school during their spare time. After returning to the United States, Michalak recruited his brother John to write drum parts for the songs and the three spent the holiday break pulling the songs together. Pianist and friend Stuart Robinson joined the band a couple months later. Bombadil dresses for shows in a style characteristic of elderly Bolivian men, employing fedora hats, suspenders, and old, faded pants and shirts. As of July 2009, the band had been on hiatus as Daniel was suffering from nerve damage in his hands. They are scheduled to play two shows in September of this year on the East coast. This is "So Many Ways to Die" off their 2009 release Tarpits and Canyonlands.
Benyaro is an acoustic indie duo from Brooklyn, NY. The duo is led by Ben Musser (vocals/guitar/drums/percussion/wurlitzer/harmonica) and Bobby McCullough (upright bass/hihat/vocals). There are others that join them in the studio and in live performances. These members contribute vocals, many percussion elements, keys, dobro, and tenor saxophone. Meg Chamberlin (Ben's sister) can be seen most often live with them singing and using unique percussion instruments. They have just released their sophomore album this past March. This band emits a soft folky pop that grows on you. I am not sure of the origin of this song (Soul Brother)..still looking into it.
The Haunted Windchimes are a folk band from Colorado Springs, CO. Their sound is very traditional with folk and blues, and the songs have a vintage quality. It is as if they might have been written yesterday or 75 years ago. The band consists of Desirae Garcia (vocals/ukulele), Chela Lujan (vocals/banjo), Inaiah Lujan (vocals/guitar), Mike Clark (harmonica/guitar/mandolin), and Sean Fanning (bass). It’s the vocal harmonies that really set them apart from other traditional folk bands. When the trio of voices blend, it is nothing short of beautiful. The sound is often moody and melancholy, but it is always deeply affecting. That sound is embroidered by the instrumental mastery of the entire ensemble. This is "Lordy, Lordy" off of their album Verse-Visa.
Today is my brother Jon's birthday. He is celebrating it in the wilderness of Wyoming searching for dinosaurs. Just wanted to wish him a Happy Birthday and let him know that he shares his birthday with Tom Monaghan (founder of Dominos Pizza), Elton John, Tom Glavine, Doug Stanhope (comedian), Danica Patrick, and Juvenile (rapper). Holla!
This post is in honor of my grandfather's passing. Tex Rick was a great human being with such a positive outlook despite all of his hardships. Growing up with polio he lost his left arm and had a leg that was shorter than the other. This in turn left him with serious back problems in his older age. If that wasn't enough, a doctor misdiagnosed a sore on his leg, which was later amputated below the knee. Through all of these struggles he remained positive and faithful to God. He was a draftsman in Denver during the 70's and 80's all the while ministering at his local church and the Denver Rescue Mission. He was one of the greatest men that I have ever met and I am ever thankful that I was his grandson. Wherever he may be I know that his suffering is complete and he is at peace. I will never forget you and will always treasure our time together. Thanks for everything grandpa!
Rodrigo y Gabriela (Rodrigo and Gabriela), also known as "El Rodri y La Gabi", are a Mexican musical duo who specialize in playing fast, rhythmic acoustic guitars. The duo's members are Rodrigo Sanchez (lead guitar) and Gabriela Quintero (rhythm guitar). The musicians gained a reputation by playing in the pubs and bars of Dublin, Ireland, and despite their unusual style, gained a cult following. They regularly dismiss being classified in a particular genre of music, preferring to say they play a fusion of many influences. The duo met in Mexico City while playing in a thrash metal band called Tierra Ácida. Growing frustrated with the limited scope of the domestic music scene, they moved to Europe, where they met considerable acclaim. They took up residence in Dublin after hearing it was particularly welcoming to travelling musicians. Playing live gigs in various pubs and busking on Grafton Street and Temple Bar allowed them to practice their sound. They received their break when Damien Rice approached them to provide the support for the Irish music festival Oxegen. This is "Tamacun" off of their 2006 release Rodrigo y Gabriela.
Admiral Fallow (formerly known as Brother Louis Collective) is a Scottish musical group formed in 2007 by singer-songwriter Louis Abbott. This ensemble of talented musicians consists of Louis Abbott (guitar/vocals), Kevin Brolly (clarinet/paino/drum), Philip Hague (drums), Sarah Hayes (piano/flute/vocals), and Joseph Rattray (upright bass). Citing influences including Tom Waits, Elbow, Low, Midlake, King Creosote, and Springsteen, Admiral Fallow adds clarinet, flute, double bass and four jaw-dropping voices to the usual indie line-up to smash through their joyous, heart-filled, orchestral-tinged and beautifully well crafted songs. Louis is proud to be Scottish and his accent is to the fore in his singing, contrasting magically with the Northumbrian tones of Sarah Hayes, the second vocalist. This is "Squealing Pigs" off of their debut album (under the new moniker) Boots Met My Face.
American Roots Music artist, D.B. Rielly was only six months old when, upon hearing Michael Bolton sing, he immediately soiled his diaper and vowed to bring good music back to a starving generation. Since then, he has tirelessly pursued his quest, all the while narrowly avoiding work, debt collectors, and liver failure. Rielly was born in the hearts and minds of lonely widows. He was raised by a traveling vacuum cleaner salesmen and fed a strict diet of Cream of Wheat and Gilligan's Island until, at the age of three, he was sent off to receive his education at the "I Don't Like Your Attitude, Young Man" Academy of Discipline. Decades later, realizing he'd never be able to snatch the pebble from anyone's hand, they "graduated" him. D.B. was unprepared for a world full of choices, opportunity, reality TV, and boy bands, so he wandered – clutching tightly to the only memory he had left: the sound of a Hoover Deluxe 700. It's no surprise that he gravitated toward the accordion – and is shunned by music-lovers everywhere. So back on the road he goes. You may spot him hitching a ride somewhere, anywhere you're headed is fine. You may spot him in a deserted diner trying to look up the waitress' skirt. But one thing is certain: wherever dogs are howling and little children are holding their ears, you'll find D.B. Rielly and his squeezebox. This is "I Got a Girlfriend" off his 2009 debut Love Potions and Snake Oil.
Mumford & Sons are an English folk rock band. The band consists of Marcus Mumford (vocals/guitar/drums/mandolin), Ben Lovett (vocals/keys/accordion/drums), "Country" Winston Marshall (vocals/banjo/dobro), and Ted Dwane (vocals/string bass/drums/guitar). The band formed in October 2007, rising out of what some in the media labelled the "West London folk scene" with other artists such as Laura Marling, Johnny Flynn and Noah and the Whale. Band members variously play guitar, drums, keys, bass guitar, and traditional folk instruments such as banjo, mandolin, and resonator guitar. The band name originates from the fact that Marcus Mumford was the most visible member at the time, organizing the band and their local performances. Lovett indicated that the name was meant to invoke the sense of an "antiquated family business name." Mumford & Sons are noted for their energetic live performances in which band members juggle varying setlists and exchange musical instruments. In interviews, they express attraction to a culture of personal connection with audience members and "downsizing". The band members have stated many times that live gigs are by far their favorite part of the music experience, and that they strive for a lively, inclusive atmosphere. This is "Little Lion Man" off of there debut album Sigh No More.
Taj Mahal (Henry Saint Clair Fredericks), is an internationally recognized blues musician who folds various forms of world music into his offerings. A self-taught singer-songwriter and film composer who plays the guitar, banjo and harmonica (among many other instruments), Mahal has done much to reshape the definition and scope of blues music over the course of his almost 50 year career by fusing it with nontraditional forms, including sounds from the Caribbean, Africa and the South Pacific. Born on May 17, 1942 in Harlem, NY, Mahal grew up in Springfield, MA. Raised in a musical environment, his mother was the member of a local gospel choir and his father was a West Indian jazz arranger and piano player. His family owned a shortwave radio which received music broadcasts from around the world, exposing him at an early age to world music. Early in childhood he recognized the stark differences between the popular music of his day and the music that was played in his home. He also became interested in jazz, enjoying the works of musicians such as Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk and Milt Jackson. His parents came of age during the Harlem Renaissance, instilling in their son a sense of pride in his West Indian and African ancestry through their stories. Throughout his career, Mahal has performed his brand of blues for a predominantly white audience. This has been a disappointment at times for Mahal, who recognizes there is a general lack of interest in blues music among many African Americans today. He has drawn a parallel comparison between the blues and rap music in that they both were initially black forms of music that have come to be assimilated into the mainstream of society. He is quoted as saying, "Eighty-one percent of kids listening to rap are not black. this is him performing "Fishin' Blues" off of his 1969 release Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home.
John Denver (1943-1997), born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., was an American singer-songwriter, actor, activist, poet, photographer and avid pilot. One of the most popular acoustic artists of the 1970s, Denver recorded and released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he composed. He was named Poet Laureate of Colorado in 1977. Denver became outspoken in politics in the mid-1970s. In 1976, he campaigned for Jimmy Carter, who became a close friend and ally. Denver was a supporter of the Democratic Party and of a number of charitable causes for the environmental movement, the homeless, the poor, the hungry, and the African AIDS crisis. He founded the charitable Windstar Foundation in 1976, to promote sustainable living.
On October 12, 1997, Denver was killed at the age of 53 when his Experimental Rutan Long-EZ plane, crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Pacific Grove, CA. This particular aircraft had an unusual reconfiguration of the fuel selector valve handle, which had been moved from the instrument panel to behind the left shoulder of the pilot. Apparently it also had a sticky O-ring and was hard to move. Both factors may have led to Denver pushing the right rudder pedal when he turned to switch fuel tanks by moving the handle. The aircraft then entered an uncontrolled turning descent. Flying at an estimated altitude of 500 feet, he did not have time to recover. As the wreck badly disfigured Denver's head and body, making identification by dental records impossible, records of his fingerprints taken from his arrests for intoxicated driving were used to confirm that the fallen pilot was indeed the singer. Upon announcement of Denver's death, Colorado governor Roy Romer ordered all state flags to be lowered to half staff in his honor. Denver was cremated with the 1910 Gibson guitar given to him by his grandmother which had inspired much of his career.
The B-52s are an American rock band, formed in Athens, GA in 1976. From 1976, the group consisted of Fred Schneider (percussion, vocals), Cindy Wilson (vocals), Kate Pierson (keyboards, vocals), Ricky Wilson (guitar), and Keith Strickland (drums). Ricky passed away due to complications from AIDS/HIV in October 1985. The band was completely unaware of his illness and went into seclusion after his death. It wasn't until 1989 that the band resurfaced. Rooted in New Wave and 1960s rock and roll, the group later worked in many genres ranging from post-punk to pop rock. The "guy vs. gals" vocals of Schneider, Pierson, and Wilson, sometimes used in call and response style are a trademark of the band. Presenting themselves as a positive, enthusiastic, slightly oddball party band, the B-52s tell tall tales, glorify wild youth, and celebrate wild romance.
OutKast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, GA. OutKast consists of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin (formerly known as Dré) and Savannah, GA-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast. The group's original musical style was a mixture of Dirty South and G-funk. Since then, however, funk, soul, rock, electronic music, spoken word poetry, jazz and blues elements have been added to the group's musical palette. The duo is one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time, having received six Grammy Awards. Over 25 million copies have been sold of OutKast's eight releases: five studio albums, a greatest hits release, and the Grammy Award-winning (for Album of the Year) Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, a double album containing a solo album from each member. Along with their commercial success, OutKast has maintained an experimental approach in their music and are widely praised for their originality and artistic content.
Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) is an instrumental band that formed in Atlanta, GA. They are known for their surreal upbeat live performances. The band’s genre-blending sound is based heavily on instrumental rock and electronic music crossed with elements of funk, jazz, drum and bass, psychedelia, and hip hop. Self-described as "post-rock dance music". The band mixes standard live rock instrumentation with electronics, favoring group rhythm over individual solos. STS9 has released five studio albums, one remixed album, and one live DVD (Live As Time Changes) on their own label 1320 Records. As an independent artist, they have succeeded by using their live performance to conduct multiple concert tours and appear at music festivals. They have achieved significant niche popularity in a few areas of the country through frequent appearances, most notably in greater San Francisco Bay Area including Santa Cruz; the greater Denver area including Boulder; as well as Austin, TX, and the greater Atlanta area including Athens, GA. The band's name has changed over time. The band's original name from their first two albums was Sector 9, but due to copyright conflicts with a pre-existing longboard company of the same name, was changed to Sound Tribe Sector 9. Sector 9 is a reference to the current era on the Mayan calendar. Since the release of Artifact in early 2005, the band has promoted themselves full-time under their named initials STS9.
STS9 sometimes partners with non-profit organizations for their tours. Over the last several years, they have partnered with Conscious Alliance to bring food drives to various concerts on their tour. Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods to the concert. In exchange for their donation, STS9 and Conscious Alliance thank patrons with limited edition art work posters, often created by the same artists who accompany the band on stage. In 2005, STS9 put on a benefit concert where they raised over $20,000 for Hurricane Katrina victims. Beginning in Fall 2006, as part of their Live as Time Changes tour, STS9 traveled across the country in a carbon neutral tour bus and powered their live concerts using renewable energy. The band hoped to offset 100%, or about 138,000 pounds, of their carbon dioxide emissions from their tour by donations of Renewable Energy Credits from their partnership with environment-friendly companies.
Goodie Mob is a hip hop act based in Atlanta, GA that formed in 1991 and currently consists of members Cee-Lo Green, Khujo, T-Mo and Big Gipp. The group's name acts as a double backronym. As explained on the track "Fighting" on Soul Food, Goodie Mob means "the GOOD DIEMostly Over Bullshit". All four members were born in Atlanta, and the group is based there with the rest of the Dungeon Family, a collective which includes OutKast and P.A. (Parental Advisory). Goodie was first heard featured on several songs from OutKast's first album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.
Of Montreal (styled as of Montreal) is an indie pop/rock band from Athens, GA. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance with a woman "of Montreal." The band is one of the founding bands of the Elephant 6 collective. Throughout its existence of Montreal's musical style has evolved from vaudeville and Beatles influenced psychedelic twee pop to a mixture of electronica, funk, glam, and afrobeat music influenced by Prince and David Bowie. This music isn't for all ears, but seeing one of their shows is one hell of an experience.
R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, GA, in 1980. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's unclear vocals. After considering names like "Twisted Kites", "Cans of Piss", and "Negro Wives", the band settled on "R.E.M.", which Stipe selected at random from a dictionary. R.E.M. was pivotal in the creation and development of the alternative rock genre. Allmusic stated, "R.E.M. marks the point when post-punk turned into alternative rock." Throughout R.E.M.'s career, its members have sought to highlight social and political issues. The band has helped raise funds for environmental, feminist and human rights causes, and has been involved in campaigns to encourage voter registration. Since the late 1980s, R.E.M. has been involved in the local politics of its hometown of Athens, GA. Buck explained to Sounds in 1987, "Michael always says think local and act local—we have been doing a lot of stuff in our town to try and make it a better place." The band has often donated funds to local charities and to help renovate and preserve historic buildings in the town.
Collective Soul is an American rock band formed in Stockbridge, GA. The band broke into mainstream popularity with its first hit single "Shine", which came from their debut album Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, released in 1993. They have recorded 7 number one mainstream rock hits. Collective Soul was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 19, 2009.
Arrested Development is an American alternative hip hop group from Atlanta, GA. The group was founded by members Speech and Headliner as a positive, Afrocentric alternative to the gangsta rap popular in the early 1990s. It took the group three years, five months and two days to be offered a record deal. Arrested Development had already been offered a single deal for the song "Tennessee," hence the name of the first album, 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..., which produced several hit tracks. These included "Tennessee", "People Everyday", and "Mr. Wendal," all of which hit the Top Ten. The group won two Grammy Awards in 1993 for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, and were also named Band of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine. 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... was the number-one album in the Village Voice's 1992 Pazz and Jop Critic's Poll.
Delta Spirit is a band from Long Beach, CA. The group combines unconventional instruments such as trash cans lids and orchestral bass drums, multi-instrumentalism and spiritually themed lyrics into a hybrid of rock and northern soul. The group consists of Jon Jameson (bass), Brandon Young (percussion), Matthew Vasquez (vocals/guitars), and Kelly Winrich (multi-instrumentals). In 2005, Jonathan Jameson and Brandon Young, who had played with each other in many bands, decided to form a band with their new friend Sean Walker. Young first spotted Vasquez busking on a bench at two in the morning, and the two exchanged information. Delta Spirit hired Kelly Winrich as a producer, but he joined the band within the first year. The band got its name from Jonathan's great uncle, "Uncle Red", who was a flight control operator near Birmingham, AL. He also ran a company, "Delta Spirit Taxidermy Station of North Central Alabama". The band released their debut EP, I Think I've Found It, on Monarchy Music in 2006. This is "Bushwick Blues" from their 2010 release History from Below.
I will be traveling back to Georgia until Monday the 16th. However, I will be featuring musicians from the good ole Peach State..even though GA grows more peanuts and they are actually prized for their pecans than peaches all togehter. Enjoy!
Bon Iver is an indie folk band founded by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. Vernon is joined live by Sean Carey (drums/vocals/piano), Michael Noyce (vocals/baritone guitar/ guitar) and Matthew McCaughan (bass/drums/vocals). Noyce was actually Vernon's guitar student during high school.Vernon independently released Bon Iver's debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago in July 2007, the majority of which was recorded while spending three months in a remote cabin in Northwestern Wisconsin. Because of the extensive use of vocal harmony on the songs of For Emma, Forever Ago, Vernon was concerned that there would not be enough voices to duplicate the sound of the songs on the album in a live setting. To compensate for this problem in early performances, Vernon passed out lyrics for some songs to the audience to sing along to. In an interview with Pitchfork, he described this dilemma. "I don't want to be the guy with an acoustic guitar singing songs, because that's boring for the most part. The song actually needs 80–500 people singing or whatever the vibe is of that room, it needs that fight. The name, Bon Iver, is a play on the French phrase "bon hiver", meaning good winter. He is set to release his second album Bon Iver Bon Iver in June of this year. This is "Skinny Love" off of For Emma, Forever Ago.
Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) and Alison Krauss (Alison Krauss & Union Station) got together and put together an LP featuring cover songs from many different musicians. The album Raising Sand was released in October of 2007 and was critically acclaimed. It won the Album of the year at the 2009 Grammy Awards, along with the other 4 awards in which it was nominated. Apart from the influence of Plant and Krauss' vocal styles and talent, the album's producer, T-Bone Burnett is credited with giving the album its skeletal musical style. Although there was much praise and success with this album, another is not in the works. The duo got back in the studio in late 2009 and had little success. The two said that there wasn't any magic and that things weren't coming together, so they ditched the project. That said, I would highly recommend listening to this album. This is the first track off of the album entitled "Rich Woman." This song was originally written by Dorothy LaBostrie and McKinley Millet.
Fleet Foxes is a Seattle-based folk band that consists of Robin Pecknold (vocals/guitar), Skyler Skjelset (guitar/mandolin), Christian Wargo (bass/vocals), Casey Wescott (keys/mandolin/vocals), Joshua Tillman (drums/vocals), and Morgan Henderson (multi-instrumentalist). The quintet describes its music as "baroque harmonic pop jams." Today the band releases their second full length album in the United States. It has been a long time coming for fans, with the their first album being released in 2008. This is "Bedouin Dress" off of their new release Helplessness Blues.
Ólöf Arnalds (born 1980) is an Icelandic singer/songwriter and indie musician who has been active within the Icelandic music scene for quite some time. Apart from her own music and being a touring member of Múm since 2003, she has cooperated with many bands and artists. Between 1988 and 2002 Ólöf studied violin and classical singing, and in 2002-2006 she studied composition and new media at Iceland Academy of the Arts. In 2007 her debut album Við Og Við was released by 12 Tónar. The album features a set of songs performed mostly in a traditional troubadour style. Ólöf's second album is Innundir Skinni and was released in September 2010. This is "Klara" off of her first album.
