The saddest sad songs...

So I'm having a bit of a bad, sad day.  Usually when I get in my moods, I want to listen to a happy song that will pick me up but some days I just want to wallow in my sadness.  Today is one of those days.  My sadness is named men disappoint.  So even though the songs where someone is lost are really sad that's not my flavor of sad today. 

This is my saddest sad song.  Beth Orton's cover of I wish I never saw the sunshine.  This is also a great example of how a cover can have so much more depth and emotion than the original. 

Gary Jules cover of Mad World is my son's saddest song.  It is very melancholy. 

Guster's The Empire State - I wish I could find the words to describe how this song makes me feel.  It makes me want to cry and gives me hope at the same time.  That's the best I can do.

Okay, enough wallowing in sadness for one day.  Maybe I will balance this with happy songs tomorow.  So my imaginary readers, what is your sadddest sad song?

Quiet Company at the Live Oak, Fort Worth

I caught Quiet Company at the Live Oak in Fort Worth last night.  My musical crush on Taylor Muse continues to grow.  I adore his music and admire his lavish beard.  My top signs of a great show are if I can't be still and if I want to follow them to their next show.  I never get to follow them to their next show but I wish I could.  I think the entire band is great.  Jeff Weathers, Matt Parmenter, Cody Ackors and Thomas Blank, you are all fabulous.  This reminds me of  Almost Famous where the lead gets all the props and the rest of the band fades in the background. 

So I grabbed a new CD, which is actually an old CD that they improved, and a cutie cute T.  I think it's important to financially support musicians especially when they're not at the superstar multi-millionaire level.   I meant to go back for a poster but since I had to go to work this morning I just headed out after the show.  I'm really  hoping that they didn't come back on after I left.  They put on an amazing, very high energy show.  My only request would be that they play longer.  I also wish we could show them more love and just pack a place.  I think their music deserves more appreciation.  

Here's the setlist or my best efforts at a setlist.  I'm really not sure that they played the same song to open and close the show but somehow that's what I had written down.  Everyone thinks I'm bored at the show and playing on the phone but what I'm actually doing is keeping a setlist.  I only had one beverage so I'm assuming I got it mostly right. 

The Easy Confidence (What I would say to you now
You, Me & the Boatman (Truth is, I've been thirsty my whole life
Preaching to the Choir Invisible Part II (What do you think happens when we live?)
It's Better to Send Money
On Modern Men
Holland, 1945 - Neutral Milk Hotel cover
Set Your Monster Free (My New Years Resolution is to Cope with my Morality)
The Easy Confidence (What I would say to you now)

This was my first time to the Live Oak and I really liked the venue.  We did have to park and walk a bit but that was fine.  I love that it was nonsmoking.  Smoke really bothers me.  I also thought it was a  nice size venue, a cool location on the near Southside/Magnolia area.  The above pic is not my pic and not from the show last night.  My pics were horrible so I grabbed one off the interwebs.  I do not know the photographer but they're greatly appreciated and I would be delighted to give credit where credit is due.  I'm glad that the trombone player is in the pic.  I love that they have a trombone player.  Horns make music better.  It just mixes it up when you add something that isn't the norm. 

So I wanted to say a word about the spiritual doubt portrayed in their We Are All Where We Belong album.  I do like that listening to these songs pushes me to think about my beliefs.  I had a hard time listening to some of these songs.  I am a questioner and a seeker of spiritual truth.  If I were an apostle, I would have been doubting Thomas.  I believe but I don't know.  I would like to know.  I would like to have absolute faith and certainty that what I believe is the right thing.  I question whether my beliefs are truly my own or if they are just what I was taught by my church, school and parents.  I had moments of thinking I shouldn't be listening to this band.  I had moments of  thinking I need to pray for Taylor Muse, that he finds his way back to God.  Then I realize that this is exactly what I had a problem with religions, the idea that MY way is the right way.  I have always had a problem with the idea of "believe what we do - or you'll go to hell."  I do believe that spirituality and religion are a personal journey.  I wasnt everyone to have beliefs that bring them peace and comfort.   Beliefs that make them happy, a better person and help them to love and serve others.   I only have a problem with other belief systems when its used as a justification to hurt others.  My simple beliefs, helping good, hurting bad.  I do absolutely believe in God.  I just worry that my belief isn't for God's benefit but for my own benefit.  I have had some very low lows and the belief that there is a plan and purpose was hugely comforting to me.  The idea of  "you meant it for evil but God meant it for good" gave me hope that my struggles were part of a bigger plan and a bump on the road to the good.  I love that this music is more than just a five minute distraction.  It's something with much more substance.  I'm interested to see what comes next from Quiet Company.  I also really wonder about the spiritual beliefs of the other band members. 

Quiet Company is an Austin band and they will be back in the area at the Dallas Homegrown Fest on May 11.  I won't be able to make it because I have a graduation to attend but I would love to see them again and encourage everyone to catch them if they can.  

It's not country...it's Texas Country!

I like mainstream country but LOVE Texas country.  My friend, Amanda Sue, gets lots of credit for turning me on to Texas Country.  She is a huge fan and as I've gone to more shows with her and listened to more music she sends me on Spotify, she's won me over to the Texas Country party.

So how is Texas country different from mainstream Nashville country, I'll give you my take.  Texas Country is more heartfelt, genuine, predominantly male, not always but usually a Texas born and raised artist.  I don't think you will ever hear a Texas country song cross over to the pop charts.  It's maybe not quite as polished.  There are Texas country artists that have gone on to mainstream such as Pat Green with Wave on Wave or the Eli Young Band but I say once you're Texas Country we won't ever stop claiming you.  If you live in DFW, 95.9 the Ranch is Texas Country.  Oh and for those who don't know Red Dirt is Texas Country's Oklahoma cousin.  Now the hard part is picking just a few songs to share with you. 

First up, Stoney LaRue.  He put on a great show and we were so close to the stage but we had some ridiculous drunk females who did their best to ruin our night.  They seemed to think that they were going to push their way in front of us, I don't think so! lol.  I believe we may have even inspired a comment from Stoney about how country shows don't ususally have a mosh pit. This is One Chord Song.

 

 

 

Wade Bowen - Saturday Night.  Before I went to see him at Billy Bob's, I could not stop singing this song.  To the point that my son would ask me "still? with this song?" I then just sing louder because I have to get pumped up for th show.  Jeesh.   My son thinks country music is all about complaining but heartbreak is part of the human experience.  This song is much more mellow in the acoustic version. 

 



 

 

Randy Rogers Bands - Kiss Me in the Dark.  A lovey dovey song to make me wish I had a love to kiss me in the dark.  "Let your skin talk to my soul"  -  I love that line.

 

 

 



I know that Kenny Chesney has done a cover of this song but you have to listen to and appreciate the original.  El Cerrito Place by Charlie Robison.  I think it's just has much more feeling.  It's the real deal to me. 

 

 









I have to add Mike Ryan, the Cold One, for my friend Amanda because he's her favorite.  I missed him the other night and Amanda has pics of him all hugging all over her.  No fair. 

Okay, more Texas country to come but that will do it for today.  For those who are new to Texas country, what do you think?  What do you think is different between Texas country and mainstream country?

New music with that 60's sound

I love so much music but one of my favorite genres is 60's Motown, girl groups, the Supremes.  I have noticed several new songs that have a little bit of that 60's feel so that's my inspiration today. 

 

 

 

 

I think I've already posted another song by the fabulous Canadians - Chic Gamine.  This song is called Closer. 

 

 

Allen Stone - Say So - described as a white, seeing Stevie Wonder, lol.  He will also be at the Fort Worth Music Festival this year.  Unfortunately on Saturday, so I won't get to catch him but he's definitely worth a listen. 

 

 

 

Best Coast such a California loving band.  This song is called the Only Place.  This album, The Only Place, came out last year and I love it.  They will be coming to Granada Theater in Dallas soon.  I doubt I will make it but I think they're fabulous. 

 

 

This is new Beach Boys - From There to Back Again.  I love the fact that they are still writing and recording new music.  This song is just very sentimental.  It's from their 2012 album That's Why God Made Radio. 

 

 

 

 

 



The John Wayne by Little Green Cars

It's easy to fall in love...

Aubergine by Lady Lamb the Beekeeper

 

 

 

Absence makes my heart grow hollow...

Milk Carton Kids - The Ash and the Clay

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Love, love, love!!!