Ska is not dead!

I'm in a ska mood today.  I feel like it was just yesterday but it's been a good ten, fifteen going on twenty years since my ska loving days. 

 

 

Let's start off with some awesomeness that is Big D and the Kids Table, Shining On.  I made this song a ringtone at a time when I actually let my phone ring.  Now I have been conditioned just like Pavlov's dogs and whenever I hear this song, I look for my phone. 

 

 

 

Less than Jake - All My Best Friends Are Metalheads.  I can honestly say the most fun I've ever had a show.  I've seen them twice and they are a blast.  Ska music in general just makes for a great show.  It's fun music.  Chris is soooo hilarious too! 

 

 

Here's a little Save Ferris - I'm not crying for you.  They're probably best known for their cover of Come On Eileen, The World is New is a another fabulous song but I needed a female empowerment song, hear me roar. 

 

 

Rancid - Time Bomb, The video version the lips don't match the music and that makes me crazy so here we go. 

 

 

I'll finish up with Streetlight Manifesto - The Receiving End of It All.  Just pure fabulousness with lots of horns, great tempo.  All righty then, who's ready for fourth wave? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five for Friday

I'm sharing five of my favorite songs.  Today I'm leaning towards folk/roots/Americana.  I hate trying to classify music.  I never feel like I quite get it right.  I like to classify music as music I love and not so much, two simple categories. 

 

 

 

 

First up Delta Spirit, People C'mon.  The first Delta Spirit song I heard and still my favorite.  I love the lyrics, the piano.  So I missed them at HOB and I'm going to miss them at the FW Music Festival but this is on my list of bands to see. 

 

 



 

This is Amazing Eyes by Good Old War.  I could listen to this song one hundred times in a row and not get tired of it.  Favorite lyric "I'm a little bit broken, you're a little bit broken but when we get togther my or my"  or maybe just the theme of  "I know I never meant no harm to anyone, I know I never meant no harm at all". 

 

 

Brandi Carlile - That Wasn't Me with Kris Kristopherson in the video.  I don't know if he had anything to do with her song or if he was only in the video.  Bear Creek was one of my favorite albums of 2012. 

 

 

The Head and the Heart - Lost in My Mind.  An amazing band out of Seattle.  I dig them. 

 

 

Last one, Emmy Lou by First Aid Kit some Swedish, female awesomeness. 

Awesome Acoustic

I read an article on NPR about why unplugged recordings last and wanted to share some of my favorites acoustic songs. 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh how I love me some Avett Brothers.  They are one of my favorite bands and definitely in my top five greatest concerts.  I'm looking foreward to seeing them again at KXT summer cut.  

 

 

Alice in Chains Down in a Hole from Unplugged which was 17 years ago.  Life will pass you by.  I can't listen to AIC without being sad for Layne. 

 

 

Guster is my favorite band.  Mainly because at a time when I was incredibly sad, their music made me happy.  This isn't one of their most upbeat songs but it hits a certain place.  Check out their new acoustic album, cleverly titled, Live Acoustic.  I saw them at the Myerson Symphony Center with the Dallas Symphony in January.  I wish I could have followed them to Austin for their acoustic show there.  They're coming back in June with Barenaked Ladies and I forget who else, Ben Folds maybe.  

 

 

 

Love Tift Merritt and Sweet Spot is one of my favorite songs by her.  I missed her at the Kessler but I really would love to catch her show. 

 

Time to share.  Someday I'm going to ask a question and someone will shock me and comment.  It's going to be amazing.  lol.  So the question is what is your favorite acoustic version of a song? 

 

 

Local Love - Left Arm Tan

 

 

 

 

Left Arm Tan is a local Fort Worth Texas Country/Americana band.  They have a new album out which you can check out on Spotify.  Even better they are going to be at the Magnolia Motor Lounge on Friday, March 29 for a CD release.  This song isn't from the current album but is the best video I could find on Youtube.   I haven't quite determined my favorite song from their new album, Alticana.  Right now it's between Bittersweet and 69 Reasons.  So hey wouldn't it be great to hear this band on the Ranch or KXT?  Let's show a local band some love. 

 

Oh and just because I'm shallow I will mention that their singer is quite kissable. He is a handsome, handsome man.  It's those dimples. Who can resist dimples? 

Untapped Fort Worth

So this is a show that I want to go see but have yet to line up a friend to join me or buy tickets for that matter.   Still I thought I would give them a shout out on my blog that I don't know if anyone is reading.  I'm just going to pretend that someone in the vast interwebs is reading my blog and will be oh so happy to have heard about Untapped.  Untapped Fort Worth at the Panther Island Pavillion on April 20.  Indie Beer and Indie music sounds like a good combo to me.  You can get tickets for the show and samples of twelve beers for $30. 

My number one draw at this show is Justin Townes Earle.  I totally dig his music. 

 

 

 

Deer Tick is pretty sweet too. 

 



 

Also there will be Tennis.  Sarah Jaffe a fabulous artist from Denton.  The Orbans that I love and have yet to catch live, a granola crunchy, folky Fort Worth band.  Skeleton Coast another Fort Worth band will be there and they have a unique sound.  I'd like to see them too.  I just might have to make this happen. 

 

My concert bucket list

So take two, I started this accidentally deleted it once.  So annoying.  I'm trying to find a balance between seeing favorite performers and new bands.  Still there are some that I've missed that I've decided have to go on my concert bucket list.  They are priority performances.  I mean what if they die in a plane crash and I miss them.  That would be a double tragedy.  Not only would they be dead, I would never get the chance to see them again. 

Jack White is my number one.  I need to see this man live and he had better not leave early at my show like he did at Radio City Music Hall.  I have been at a show where I felt that the lights coming on was a personal betrayal.  That's the worst. 

 

Beck I love his music and his little alien heart.  So two possible albums from him in 2013 and hopefully a tour to support that. 

 

 

Ah, the Shins were at the HOB Dallas and I was doing this crazy thing where I was trying to be fiscally responsible and leave my money in savings alone.  I tell myself that I will get tickets when i have a little extra in my paycheck and what happens?  They sell out.  Such a bummer.  So I feel doubly disappointed in missing them and will absolutely go see them next time they are town even if I have to sell plasma for tickets. lol

 

Okay I'm going to leave it with my top three.  I do have to say that whenever I hear someone say "you have to see them live" I totally want to see them live.  What was the best concert you've seen?   

PSA - Earworm Be Gone!

Just an article that I thought I would share about how to get earworms, songs that get stuck in your head, out of your head.  The answer to this problem, anagrams?  Who does anagrams?  I guess maybe I should start especially when it's Ke$ha or "we are never ever ever getting back together" stuck in my head.  They also say reading but I say distracting yourself or listening to another more awesome song works good for me.  So what songs get stuck in your head?  The article lists Lady Gaga, Katy Perry California Girls and Train Soul Sister are listed in the article.   

Get that song out of my head!!!

Fort Worth Music Festival

 

 

 

So I just wanted to give a little shout out to the Fort Worth Music Festival.  I went last year for the first time and enjoyed Friday night in spite of the drizzly rain.  Of course, I was with my love who is no longer my love, sniffles.  Last years festival was in the fall and on the lawn by Will Rogers.  I enjoyed Hudson Moore and Reverend Horton Heat.  I would like to see Hayes Carll again.  I do wish I had gotten a chance to see Dr. Dog.  I pray they have better weather this year.  Even more so because this is also the weekend of the Main Street Arts Festival.  It should be a great weekend to be in downtown Fort Worth.

 

This is a new venue this year at the Panther Island Pavilion.  I think the new venue will be a nice change with downtown Fort Worth behind you.  I will only be making it for the show on Friday this year which is quite a bummer because I really wanted to see Delta Spirit.  Still I'm looking forward to the Drive by Truckers, Whiskey Myers, Dirty River Boys and the Old 97's.  Also I will get to catch a couple of local bands Quaker City Night Hawks and Calhoun.  I am the worst about seeing local bands because I always feel like I'll have another chance to see them.  I need to work on that.  Anyways if you're a local DFW music lover you should definitely check this festival out.  $35 for thirty bands and two days of entertainment can't be beat.  

Ivan and Aloysha - Running for Cover

Why oh why did I not get to go see them when they were in Dallas just a few short weeks ago?  I need to get over my fear of driving in Dallas.  Even so I don't think I'll ever get over my reluctance to go to a show solo.  This is the problem when you like different music, your fabulous friends don't always want to acompany you to shows.  Why can't they just take my word for it that a band is amazing?  This is exaclty why I started this blog.  I hear something that I love and get so excited to share it and I have no one to share it with.  I need someone who will immediately say yes that song is incredible, amazing, wonderful, fabulous, changed my life and thank you ever so for sharing it with me.  Be noted if anyone is reading these posts on the vast interwebs, that is exactly the type of comment you should post on my blog.

So thank you to KXT for introducing me to this band.  They are Seattle based and just a wonderful folk-pop indie band.  Their band name is from Brothers Karamazov by Dostyesky.  You have to love a literarate band. 

Chic Gamine - Days and Days

 

 

 

Chic Gamine are another group I discovered via sxsw.  I wonder if maybe next year I could make it to sxsw.  That would be amazing but I digress.  Chic Gamine are a French Canadian band and have wonderful harmonies.  I really like their sound.  There's a little 60's girl group in there.  Maybe not this song as much but listen to their title track, Closer.   They should totally dress like the Supremes.  Their new album is Closer.  Give them a listen and comment and let me know what you think.  

Jim James - A New Life

Babe, let's get one thing clear, there's much more stardust when you're near....

Sometimes you listen to a song and you love it from the first listen.  Other songs are like this, they grow and grow on you.  Each time I listen to it, I like it a little bit more and have a new appreciation for it.  My favorite thing about this song, the change in tempo.  Also I guess I should mention for those who don't know that Jim James is the singer for My Morning Jacket.

Low - Just Make It Stop

Sharing a song from Low's new album, The Invisible Way - Just Make It Stop. Favorite lyric "I'm looking up from a ten foot hole, seeing nothing but blue sky, shining on my soul" I'm too tired to write anything else.  Good night imaginary blog friends. 

Music is a total constant...

“Music is a total constant. That's why we have such a strong visceral connection to it, you know? Because a song can take you back instantly to a moment, or a place, or even a person. No matter what else has changed in your or the world, that one song stays the same, just like that moment.” ― Sarah Dessen

I got my tickets to Quiet Company!!! Woot!

Soo...I just discovered this band.  How? I don't know via someone's SXSW recommendations that also showed Austin bands.  So I find a new band that I dig then I find out they're coming to my town.  Woot!  Happy day for me!  Now the problem of finding someone to accompany me to said concert.  My Gigi Boo Boo comes through.  So I got my tickets and I'm going.  Yay!  Plus this will be my first time going to the Live Oak.  I always like checking out new venues.  Hopefully a non smoking venue.  That's my only problem with clubs.  My lungs don't appreciate cigarette smoke. 

So let's talk about Quiet Company.  Cheerful, melodic, thougthful lyrics, uplifting horns... they make my heart happy.  They also have a new album coming out on April 9.  Maybe it will be available at the show?  I always feel specail when I can get music before the masses.  I'm sure we'll get to hear some new music.  Also can I just say how much I love their album name. "We are all where we belong".  Such a good thought. 

Phospherescent - Song for Zula

 

 

My latest favorite song.  I love the strings.  I love the mood.  Most of all I love the lyrics.  If these lyrics don't touch your soul, your soul might be broken.  

 



Kacey Musgraves - Follow Your Arrow

Kacey Musgraves album Same Trailer, Different Park is what country should be.  Country music needs more Kacey.  I have no problem with catchy little songs that are fun to sing along but sometimes you need more substance and Kacey Musgraves is more substance.  My favorite thing about this song is just the message that you shouldn't worry so much about what other people are thinking.  "You're damned if you do/you're damned if you don't/so you might as well do what you want/follow your arrow wherever it points,''  It should be interesting to see if this song is released as a single and whether it makes it onto country radio with lyrics that say "kiss lots of girls if that's something you're into" and "when the straight and arrow gets a little too straight just roll up a joint... or don't"

BRMC - Firestarter

 

 

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's new album Specter at the Feast is out.  So many great songs and I like them more the more I listen to them.  This is Firewalker.  I'm so looking forward to seeing them at the House of Blues Dallas in April.  I think its been five years since I've seen them and I'm interested to see what's new and different since then besides their new drummer.  My favorite lyric "maybe I'm too far to reach, what's inside of you is inside of me"  I also have always loved Peter but find myself appreciating Robert more and more.   I love that bass at the beginning of this song.  There's just something about the way you can feel the bass come through the speakers and vibrate in your being.

 

 

 

 

The beginning...

Does the world need another music blog? I don't know.  I just love my music so much and want to share it with the world.  I love all kinds of music and not just the mainstream I heard it on the radio music.  There are some great songs played on the radio but so much fabulous music that never gets airplay.  That's what makes the internet so fabulous.  You can discover wonderful songs and artists that you would never hear on the radio and might never have heard at all preinternet. 

I hear an amazing song and I want everyone to love it with me.  I am not a musician but an avid appreciator of all things musical.  I find music to be the greatest mood changing substance in the world.  It can give you hope when you're feeling hopeless.  It can make you run one more lap.  It can even make cleaning the house bearable when you are singing along with your favorite songs.  And there's no hangover after listening to your favorite song.  There are no calories in a fabulous playlist. Music doesn't hurt you or anyone else. 

I don't claim to be some knowedgeable critc.  I just like what I like and want to share it and hopefully find some like minded people along the way.  My music is indie, alternative, folk roots, texas country, classic country, motown, singer songwriter, guitar rock, happy songs.  My favorite bands are Guster, The Avett Brothers, BRMC, The Shins, Kopecky  Family Band, Noah and the Whale, Good Old War, The Head and the Heart and Fleet Foxes.  I love Beck, Jack White, Jason Mraz, Xavier Rudd, Michael Franti.  I need to represent some females; Neko Case, Tift Merritt, Kathleen Edwards, Brandi Carlisle and Ingrid Michaelson are all favorites. Okay there are dozens more but I will be sharing them all here.