MAJOR DUDES

[My friends over at Fathom asked me to write/curate another small something for them.  A medley of songs & liner notes for those of us not taking an Indio, CA spring break for this year’s Coachella music festival.  The original article (playlist included) is down below and right here.  Happy Coachella!].

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For all you music fans out there getting high on festival fumes: Fathom’s resident mixtaper Beth Silverman strings together a dozen Coachella anthems for your listening pleasure.

Heading to the desert? Consider this mixtape as a means to pump you up.

Lameting the fact that you didn’t get your act together in time for the fest? Then enjoy the consolation Coachella sampler below. It’s no substitute for the real thing, but there’s still a whole summer of festivals to look forward to.

Track Listing:
Listen to Coachella 2013 on Spotify and iTunes and get down.

1. “Time to Run,” by Lord Huron 
Overflowing with strong beats and heartfelt words. Gentle nudge to choose your own adventure with no regrets.

2. “Lightening Bolt,” by Jake Bugg 
Eighteen-year-olds have no business being this good. Damn straight.  

3. “Concrete Schoolyard,” by Jurassic 5 
Long live the Lyrical Wizards of Hip Hop. This Coachella appearance better mean step one of a comeback. I’ve been missing Chalia 2na’s voice for a good long while.

4. “Shiraz,” by Action Bronson
Sharp-witted lyrics from a Queens Chef turned Rapper. Smart career move.

5. “Latch (feat Sam Smith),” by Disclosure 
Alternative slow dance jam. Side of irresistible beats. On permanent repeat for me.

6. “Keep It Goin Louder,” by Major Lazer 
Instant dance party. I can’t hear you.

7. “Too Close,” by Alex Clare 
Poptastically indulgent in all the best ways.  

8. “Wandering Star” by Polica  
Haunting vocals. You’ll fall hard at first listen.

9. “Glass of the Microscope,” by Yeasayer
Pyschadelic pop laced with mighty melancholy lyrics. My favorite track from Fragant World. 

10. “Every Man Needs A Companion,” by Father John Misty 
Sweet and kinda gloomy all at once. The Joseph Campbell reference is the best part. Watch this for bonus points. 

11. “Crucify Your Mind,” by Rodriguez
A singer unknowingly lends a poetic voice to apartheid resistance in the ’70s and ’80s. His story and this song are stunning.  If you haven’t watched Searching for Sugarman, do so immediately.

12. “Wakin On a Pretty Day,” by Kurt Vile 
Perfect track for a roadtrip mix. Even if you’re not headed towards Indio, CA, roll your windows down for this one. 

(Image courtesy of Vinylrecordsaremylife)

Here it goes.  The final 2012 wrap up post for Major Dudes.  Since I spread this series out so long… I’ll keep my introduction short.  The songs below are the soundtrack I kept on steady rotation throughout the year.  And the songs I turned to for the company of an old soul (Lee Fields), a lover’s lament (Rhye), or a good old fashioned anthem to dance to (Electric Light Orchestra).  The mix is best enjoyed in the order below.

HEAR it.  In iTunes and Spotify.  

1. “The Fall,” by Rhye -  Just slow enough.  Just soft enough.  With vocals so breathtaking you might forget how sad this lover’s lament really is.  I was hooked in the first verse.

(Image courtesy of Last.fm)

2. “Surrender” by Electric Light Orchestra - Sometimes you just need to.  It’s that simple.

(Photo courtesy of  Hulton Archive, Getty Images). 

3. “Lost,” by Frank Ocean - Ocean’s debut album is packed with so many good tracks that I nearly missed this one.  I love the beat, subtle baritone vocals, and the last 30 seconds where he just says lost over and over again.

4. “Wish You Were Here,” by Lee Fields and the Expressions-  Hands down one of the most spellbinding, holy amazing live shows I’ve ever seen.  To quote my friend Lani, “Every once in a while, someone like Lee Fields comes around and makes you feel a lifetime of beauty and pain.”  Can’t say it better than that.

(Lee Fields killing it at the Bowery Ballroom, February 2013.  Photo courtesy of Major Dudes)

5. “Oooh,” by De La Soul  - Rediscovered this gem in 2012.  Bonus points for how amazing the video is.  To up your street cred, watch The Wiz  immediately. 

(Photo Courtesy of MTV.com)

6. “Ramona,” by Night Beds  -   Lead singer Winston Yellin wrote this song in Johny Cash’s old cabin and I wonder if that has something to do with how good Country Sleep turned out.  I was dragged to their late set at the Mercury Lounge a few months back; I left with shivers and a favorite new band.

7. “Crucify Your Mind,” by Rodriguez - A singer unknowingly lends a poetic voice to apartheid resistance in the ’70s and ’80s.  The story is wild. And this song is stunning.  Watch Searching for Sugarman immediately.

8. “Swing On Low” by Willis Earl Beal - Dare I compare Beal to Lead Belly…I won’t but his music is so raw and beautiful. No doubt that voice is channeling an old musical soul or two…

9. “Wandering Star (feat. Mike Noyce)” by Polica - Hauntingly good vocals. Thank you Paul Adams for letting me poach this one.  I fell hard at first listen.

(Photo courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio)  

10. “It’s Only Make Believe” by Conway Twitty —Unrequited love at it’s finest.  Twitty’s 1958 hit became one of my favorites in 2012.

(From top: The beloved Sunny’s bar in Red hook, Red Hook Criterium #3/Kidd Yellin Gallery)

Editor’s Note: I met Dave 6 years ago at one of my favorite places in the world — Sunny’s in Red Hook, Brooklyn.  I was there to swig a Peroni and watch bluegrass with my good pal, Diana.  Dave was there for almost the same reasons.  A few hours, beers and bluegrass standards later—  we all made immediate plans to hang out the following weekend…we made good on those plans. After many Sunny’s excursions, mix exchanges, homemade Shenandoah Mountain running races (I lost), and collaborations (on Dave’s epic fixed gear criterium bike race — the Red Hook Criterium), Dave has become a real good friend and a trusted music source.   

Like Teresa’s previous year end wrap up post, Dave’s top ten is not heavy with songs that came out in 2012, but rather what was on his steady rotation this past year. which I love, because good music has no expiration date. Enjoy!

HEAR Dave’s top ten tracks here(Spotify) and here (Itunes):

• Yo La Tengo - Sea Urchins
• The Good Life - A Little Bit More
• Michael Hurley - Slurf Song

(Photo Courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan)

• Neil Young - I’ve Loved Her So Long
• Beastie Boys (featuring Santigold) - Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win

(Photo Courtesy of Philly.com)

• Grimes - Genesis
• Evan Dando - All My Life 
• Dirty Beaches - Lord Knows Best 

• The 6ths - Movies In My Head 

• Girls - Hellhole Ratrace 

Editor’s Note: You know that friend — the one that’s an encyclopedia of amazing (and all over the place) musical knowledge, introducing you to your favorite songs you just didn’t know yet… well, that is Teresa.  The first time we rapped about music we discovered a mutual appreciation for everything from gospel (Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers) to DC-rooted punk (Fugazi) to a healthy dose of mid 90s hip-hop (De La Soul).  And she’s never once made fun of my love of Dolly Parton (if that’s note a musical litmus test then, I’m not sure what is).  Her far reaching ear and good taste is precisely why I asked for her contribution to this series.  I also love that her top 10 weren’t necessarily produced in 2012.  There are gems a plenty to be found both in the tracks and accompanying notes below. Enjoy.

(Don’t be surprised if some of the songs below make you want to bust out and dance like these kids…)

This was harder than i thought. because these songs are my friends. They are attached to the themes that emerged this past year. They are the soundtrack to my memories. They are symbols of people I love and some that I wish i didn’t. But here it is. Top ten of twenty-twelve.   HEAR Teresa’s top ten tracks here (Spotify) and here (Itunes).

1. Alice Gerrard & Hazel Dickens - “Won’t You Come And Sing For Me.” Its all about the harmony and fellowship. I listen to this song on repeat and it chokes me every time.

2. Tom Waits. “Long Way Home.” Because sometimes home just isn’t enough.

3. John Maus. “… And the Rain.” In a cabin in cold Minnesota there is a musical genius. His name is John Maus. And he understands the beauty of a synthesizer.

4. Dr. Lonnie Smith. “And the World Weeps.” At first it appears to be another Dr. Smith classic. But five minutes in the song shatters. It becomes epic.

(Photo courtesy of Major Dudes. The Lonnie Smith Trio. Jazz Standard 2013)

5. Dolly Parton. “The Seeker.” The most perfect love song about the most perfect love.

(Editor’s Note:  This is one of my favorite Dolly songs. Dolly On…) 

6. Bat for Lashes. “All Your Gold.” Listening to Laura sing is like looking through a prism in the sunlight. Explosive.

7. Brett Dennen. “Comeback Kid (that’s my dog).” Don’t listen just dance.

8. Oumou Sangare. “Seya.” Lift your voice in joy and sing-a-long. You can’t help it can you? Me either.

(Photo courtesy of Seb Mann for BBC Radio. )

9. Mason Jennings. “Butterfly.” Written for those who fly inside you and make your heart beat with the flutter of their wings. Right on, Mr. Jennings. Right on.

10. The Devil Makes Three. “St. James.” I may own 15 different versions of St. James Infirmary. But this take on a classic is bit faster. A Stetson hat is required

(Photo courtesy of Max Bau for Owl and Bear)

Next up is Michael Hartman.  By way of brief introduction, Mike was my highschool prom date. Back in the day, he won me over with impeccable mix tape craftmanship (I have one surviving mix that is forever on rotation in my 1999 Jeep Cherokee, which plays cassette tapes only).   Mike is actually responsible for this series since it was because of his gentle nudging that I decided to poll a few friends (and think of my own) for their top tracks of 2012. HEAR Mikes’s top ten tracks here (Spotify) and here (Itunes).

MICHAELS’S TOP TEN (IN ABC ORDER) FOR 2012:

• Azaelia Banks- 212

• Beach House - Myth

• Dirty Projectors - Offspring are Blank

• Father John Misty - Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings

• Frank Ocean - Thinkin’ Bout You

(Mr. Ocean belting it out at the Oya Music Festival in Oslo.  Photo Courtesy of Rolling Stone)

• Grimes - Be A Body

• Japandroids - Nights of Wine and Roses

(Photo courtesy of Punknews.org)

• Kendrick Lamar - Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe

• Miguel - Adorn 

(Photo courtesy of washingtonpost.com)

• Sharon Van Etten - Give Out

(Photo courtesy of stereogum.com)

To round out all things musical for 2012, I’ve called on 4 pals with impossibly good taste to share their top ten songs of the past year.  Teaser: Frank Ocean has quite the fan club.  As the final post of this 5-part series, I’ll even narrow down my top picks and try not to poach from everyone else’s lists.  Here it goes… Enjoy.

(James Brown, Brian Jones, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger.  Photo courtesy of Awesome People Hanging Out Together)

First up is Paul Adams of Bang the Drum.  I met Paul because he’s married to Laura.  And I love Laura.  So I knew he had to be some mighty fine people.  This became very clear during a shindig I threw last summer when Paul noticed someone messed with the carefully sequenced party playlist by skipping over two tracks — Glen Campbell’s Witchita Lineman and the Kinks’ Waterloo Sunset, and cried party foul along with me.  

PAUL’S TOP TEN (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER) FOR 2012:

Michael Kiwanuka - May This Be Love (Spotify exclusive track) - A special live treat  where the music from his debut record was brought to life in ways the album perhaps didn’t suggest.  This Hendrix cover by Michael is beautiful and considered.  There aren’t many artists that could pull this off.  I actually prefer Michael’s version and like the fact that he picked a little known track to cover and make all his own. (Editor’s note: Paul ran the spotify sessions where this track, among other gems, was recorded this past Fall).

Blur - Under The Westway - If there was any doubt that Damon Albarn is one of England’s finest songwriters and Blur one of England’s finest bands, this track, released to coincide with their headlining the Olympics Closing Ceremony in Hyde Park is classic blur.  All the parts are there.  The only downside is the band claimed this is it for new material from them.  A shame when it’s all clearly working so well…

Poliça - Wandering Star

Second single from their superb debut “Give You The Ghost”.  Two drums, bass, keys and haunting vocals.  It’s hard not to fall in love with this band, and if you see them live, that’s it, you’re theirs.

Calvin Harris ft. Example - We’ll Be Coming Back

When it comes to pop music the year really did belong to Calvin Harris.  The biggest songwriter of the year enjoyed hits with Ellie Goulding, Ne-Yo, Rihanna, Florence Welch and this one with Example (amongst others).  This isn’t necessarily the best track on his album “18 Months”, but I love Example too so decided on this one nails it with a ‘two birds with one stone’ approach.

Rudimental - Not Giving In

The bluesy vocals over piano that start the tune give you no idea where the track is going to go and when it kicks in with some proper UK urban flavor, the pay-off is well worthwhile.  I particularly enjoy DJing this track.

Katy B - Got Paid (mix tape, free from her website)

Katy B is my absolute guilty pleasure.  And she rocks live.

Jake Bugg  - Simple As This

It’s really tough to pick a track from his self-titled debut record as the standout highlght.  The only thing I don’t like about his record is the fact that 18 year olds have no business being this good.  (I picked this track just coz it’s about as different to Katy B as you can get, so if you’re making a playlist this will fuck with people.  Ha.)

Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools (Drank)

The state of Hip-Hop in 2012.  Simple as that really.

Frank Ocean - Sweet Life

So many good tracks on this record it’s really hard to pick just one.  Can we just opt for the album as a whole in place of one track?  No?  OK, well I picked this one because I love the tune but really love the lyric “My TV ain’t HD that’s too real”.

Haim - Don’t Save Me

Just glorious.  A perfect first single proper, not counting their indie debut EP “Forever”. from the LA band.  If Haim aren’t this biggest new band of 2013 I’ll eat my hat.  Well, maybe not, but I will be very surprised.

HEAR Paul’s top ten tracks here (Spotify) minus the Jake Bugg and Katy B tracks, which you can sample here and here until they’re available on Spotify.  You can also check em out here (well 7 of them until iTunes gets it together).

(Photo courtesy of Vibe Magazine) 

By Eric Hutchinson

Editor’s note: I met Eric Hutchinson when I was 15.  At a party, on someone’s driveway.  Fast forward to my early 20s where I met Eric again.  We got to talking music and well, anyone that can wax poetic about Donny Hathaway is someone worth continuing to talk to.  Eric always has been and remains one of my favorite friends to talk music with.  He also makes a mean mix tape (one introduced me to Nina Simone’s Baltimore, if you’ve never heard that gem listen immediately) – with homemade covers, thoughtful sequencing, and a damn good blend of old and new.  I can’t remember who owes who a mix, but here’s hoping I’m due for another of his… Back to my point — Eric emailed me recently about the new Frank Ocean album.  It’s the only reason I gave Channel Orange a second chance and the origin of Eric’s guest post below.  Enjoy.  

I listen to a lot of music.

As a touring musician and songwriter, I also make a lot of music. I love music, but sometimes it feels like the same thing every day — like the same 10 albums are on my iPod, with the same 100 songs shuffling on my playlist. Feeling a little stale and (I hate to admit) uninspiring.

Why I love Frank Ocean’s new album Channel Orange is because I forgot what it felt like to fall in love with music. To hear an album and get lost in it. To wake up excited to play those songs again. To listen in my car. Or with headphones on.  To fast forward to precisely 1 min 13 sec to play my favorite part of a song for a friend. Music that makes me wanna open my bedroom window, stick my head outside and declare “I’M LISTENING TO SOME GOOD SHIT HERE, PEOPLE!” 

Frank Ocean came to me the way most music comes to me these days — a friend sent me a text, telling me to listen. So on a long car ride home to NYC one afternoon, I listened. Listening to Channel Orange was not unlike meeting a good friend for the first time. I recognized the things I loved instantly and the things that were gonna take some time to understand (and eventually love): I was struck by Ocean’s voice. He uses it with such precision. He knows when to lay down a low tenor, when to leap to a fragile falsetto, when to add a single, honied harmony. It’s reminiscent of Stevie Wonder without being indebted to him. He oozes soul in the classic sense of the word: you can hear he really means it. It made me incredibly jealous. 

The second thing I noticed was how sparse the production is, but also how thoughtful and tasteful it is. A single reverb electronic snare drum. A subtle piano line in the background. And the songwriting matched — unique lyrics, complex but accessible melodies, new ideas. It felt fresh to me. By the second listen through the album I was hooked.

Now back to that friendship analogy… sometimes in meeting a new friend, I am instantly aware of what will forever drive me crazy about them. Channel Orange is no exception. There are too many songs. Too many experiments. ”Fertilizer” has a brilliant beginning that cuts out after 45 seconds, leaving behind a ghost of what might have been my favorite song. Sometimes Ocean’s ambition (which also makes the album so good) derails the listening experience as he chases an idea down a rabbit hole that takes 2 songs to recover from.  Fortunately or not, we live in the era of song selecting, so I have shortened the album on my iPod. And while it’s only a few songs, they pack a punch I haven’t heard in a long while:

Loving the new Frank Ocean also reminded me of other music. Music that as soon as I heard it, I sat up in my chair and asked “What is THIS?”. I’ve shared a few of these songs down below.  These are some of the gateway songs that let me dive into an artist’s whole catalog and fall in love.  Which is the best part of it all.

HEAR IT (iTunes).

· “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” - Rolling Stones

· “Suzanne” - Nina Simone

· “Love’s In Need of Love Today” - Stevie Wonder

· “Mercy Mercy Mercy” - Cannonball Adderly

· “Rehab” - Amy Winehouse

· “Lay Away” - Isley Brothers

· “Through the Wire” - Kanye West

· “Cape Cod Kwasaa Kwasaa” - Vampire Weekend

· “Alison” - Elvis Costello

· “The Ocean” - Led Zeppelin

· “Is This Love” - Bob Marley

· “Scenario” - A Tribe Called Quest

· “At Last” - Etta James

· “Jump, Jive & Wail” - Louis Prima

(Image courtesy of artistic wizard Brian Stegall)

Editor’s Note: I first met Jessica Berta at Paper Cuts, a homemade Brooklyn book club where no one reads the same thing.  Sadly, Ms.  Berta left me last year for better bike rides and the west coast.  She’s a badass cyclist and a Lionel Richie loving professional writer.  (You may notice an uptick in quality with the entry below.) Luckily she forced the First Aid Kit album down my throat (I know, the album came out months ago; I’m very slow.) so we could have bi-coastal conversations about how we wish we were a Swedish sister folk duo…  Enjoy the banter below.

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Damn you, Sweden! You’ve struck gold once more.  This time to the tune of First Aid Kit, the melodic folk duo barely out of grade school.  And we – Beth  Silverman plus guest blogger Jessica Berta – have a cougar crush on them.

First Aid Kit first gained traction back in 2008.  You and 3 million of your friends might recall their Fleet Foxes cover that went viral on the ol’ boob tube.  If you weren’t blown away, either you made a severe error in judgment, or you were distracted by all that flannel. 

Flash forward to present day.  Their second album, The Lion’s Roar, is enchanting and lovely.  Johanna and Klara Söderberg, how are you only 21 and 19 years old?! If we could sing like you…if we were sisters who could sing like each other, like you…well let’s just say we wouldn’t be sitting here blogging from the couch with one hand in the cookie jar.  (Crumbs brushed from keyboard.) 

Let’s get down to it.  Our thoughts on the album –

01.  The Lion’s Roar


 JAB: The title track opens the album.  Its folksiness feels somber and enchanting.  But it’s a waltz, so jubilee simmers just under the surface.  It makes me feel like running through fields or smashing clay between my fingers.  Favorite lyric: “And I’m a goddamn fool, but then again so are you.”



BCS: Berta! You stole my favorite lyric! KEXP’s Song of the Day podcast introduced me to this track way back in February. Standout for me is the near perfect use & pronunciation of goddamn.  It flawlessly captures this soulful anthem’s sentiments on love, loss, and how crippling it all can be.  I wish I could say goddamn like that sometimes.

02.  Emmylou


JAB: The song is so catchy! I can practically hear Casey Kasem squealing in his rocker.  Emmylou is a love letter to two great musical duos: Emmylou Harris & Gram Parsons, and June Carter & Johnny Cash.  These girls are sweethearts, which makes me like them even more.  



BCS: Growing up, I listened to a lot of June Carter and Johnny Cash.  When your dad believes his musical soul mate is the man in black, you memorize the complete Cash catalog before the age of 10.  How could I not love a nod to two musical duo gems? It’s a sweet, musical valentine.  Very well done girls. 

03.  The Hearts of Men


JAB: Taken as a whole, this isn’t a favorite of mine.  I wish it had a little oomph.  It feels like a tepid pond surrounded by lush tidal waves.  It has one standout moment though – the line “And then, do it all, with a goddamn smile” followed by some heart-wrenching la’s, first by Johanna, and then both of the girls together.  Bliss.  



BCS- This one’s a dud.  All I hear is something disjointed.  If only there was a snippet of thread to make the vocals and instrumentation get along… But hey now, they still practice the near perfect art of incorporating their signature la las there at the end. 

04.  Blue


JAB: Blue has a childish quality, full of music boxes and tiddlywinks.  Is that a xylophone? Despite all that, these precocious sisters sound incredibly mature.  Then you look at their faces and realize they’re Muppet Babies.  And your life, in comparison, feels cold and depressing.  Then the lyrics say, “Why do you look so blue?” I don’t know, First Aid Kit.  I DON’T KNOW.



BCS: This ditty reminds me of every 1960s folksy pop album (i.e.,The Mamas and the Papas) my older brother forced down my throat before I’d be able to appreciate how well that exposure would serve me later… ok I digress. I dig on this one A LOT.  The animated xylophoney beats paired with lyrics like “You’re just a shell of your former you” kill it.  Yes, we’ve all heard those words before, but here it sounds like I’m hearing them for the first time.  And those words are fucking brilliant in this song.

The Lion’s Roar, First Aid Kit’s second album

05.  This Old Routine


JAB: The story fits the song.  The melody is consistent, but the tale goes from mundane to maddening, without skipping a beat.  I picture Jimmy and Angela Darmody of Boardwalk Empire season 2 (flashbacks notwithstanding), and their empty pocket of a relationship.



BCS – Piercing lyrical storyline.  A lonely ballad that captures melancholy with perfect precision.  Mostly with the echo of “This old routine will drive you mad.  It’s just a mumble never spoken out loud…” repeated throughout.

06.  To a Poet


JAB: Channeling Joni Mitchell.  Times two.  The gestalt theory is in full effect here.  Alone, each of the girls sounds dreamy.  Together, they are the entire bag of cookies AND the milk, the former dunked into the latter for not a moment too long.  As for the name, the award goes to poet Frank O’Hara.  The song cribs a line from his work: “You can’t plan on the heart.”



BCS: I can’t compete with Jessica’s nugget above.  I’m crushing big time on the cookies and the milk.  Big time.  These ladies are so young and they’re already well versed in O’Hara. 

07.  I Found a Way


JAB: This one is in the top three for me.  I enjoy its journey from haunting to happy, once the morning arrives.  Bravery comes easy alongside a rising sun.  Nighttime is for disappearing.  I can’t think of many artists who are able to walk that line between glee and sorrow so delicately.  Neko Case does it well, like with “Deep Red Bells.”



BCS: I get swept away each time the chorus marches in.  With lyrics equal parts haunting and honest … this is one of the standout gems of the album for me.

08.  Dance to Another Tune


JAB: “Everything gets tiresome, everything grows old.” This tune is chilling! I saw them perform it in San Francisco earlier this year, and it was heavy.  They sang with such confidence…I was a deer in lights.  It gets a tad psychedelic at the end, which I can’t explain.  But live, it sounded righteous.  



BCS: I need to hear this one live.  The last minute or so is the best part – swooping in beneath all those sad words and making the song feel a little less lonely. I’m suspending any further judgment till I see First Aid Kit in person.

09.  New Year’s Eve


JAB: This song’s nice, even with the cliché of lonely hearts on New Year’s Eve.  But there’s always a moment of redemption – here, it’s the tender line “That’s what’s going to save me.” So drip a few more tears into that plastic flute of low caliber champagne, for a new year is upon us.



BCS.  Not my favorite.  But no matter the overdone theme, with indulgent shades of lonely and slowed down beats, the vocals are strong and unapologetic.  And for that, this song has the possibility to grow on me…

10.  King of the World


JAB: Mr. Conor O-bursts onto the scene for this happy closer.  And just like that, everything turns into a jamboree.  There are trumpets and handclaps! An accordion! A violin! And well, you just have to smile at the sound of these two girls singing, “I’m the Queen of nothing, I’m the Kiiing of the world.” 

BCS: King of the World is by far my favorite track of the album. Everything comes together with those trumpets and menagerie of sounds.  Mr. Oberst’s guest star appearance…  Whatever it is, it works.  And I want to be jumping around and shouting along “me too, me too, I’m the kiiing of the world”.  Keep this one on steady rotation.

July 14th marks what would have been Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday.  Four days before mine.  

As a card carrying member of the Steve Earle fan club, I couldn’t pass up a chance to catch him MC the City Winery’s Woodyfest.  The evening was a jamboree of performances from Rachel Yamagata, The Wood Brothers and Allen Toussaint, toasting the late Guthrie.  There were many a Guthrie tunes (of course This Land is Your Land got some love) and some originals from each artist.

2/3 Woodstock and 1/3 New Orleans, everyone was dressed in ripped jeans, except for Toussaint.  He donned a dapper purple silk suit.  

Yamagata played a shiver worthy rendition of Elephants with Kevin Salem.  Raspy, sad, and beautiful.  But the standout set for me was the Wood Brothers.  When they let out a version of Postcards from Hell, the crowd erupted.  And Toussaint, well the man wears a purple suit.  Doesn’t that say it all?

A few minor notes on Guthrie:

• Guthrie came to NYC in 1940.  
• Along with Lead Belly, Pete Seeger, Burl Ives, Millard Lampell, and others, the Almanac Singers was formed.  With a musical compass set to social causes, they fought for what they believed using songs for active political protest.
• Following his WWII service Guthrie settled in Coney Island with his wife and kiddies. Coney Island (Long live the Cyclone)!!!
• Firmly rooted in country and blues, Guthrie’s repertoire is much more than just This Land is Your Land.  If that’s all you know, try Stagger Lee and Philadelphia Lawyer.

Near the show’s end, Steve Earle remarked, ”If you want to change the world with music, you gotta sing…loud… and long…”.  Mr. Guthrie taught everyone how to do just that.

A smattering of favorites to celebrate beaches, busted open fire hydrants, sparklers and beyond.  I’ve been listening the new Tallest Man on Earth album (on repeat pretty much since it came out) and some old favorites — Loudon Wainwright, Donny Hathaway, Jurassic Five — these past few weeks.

Here’s To Summer:

Here (iTunes).  And for Spotify, right here.

Track Listing: 
1. “Tidal Wave” by Richie Allen & the Pacific Surfers

2. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Girls” by John Fogerty

3. “If She Wants Me” by Belle and Sebastian

4. “Concrete Schoolyard” by Jurassic Five

5. “Nantes” by Beirut

6. “I’ll Get Along” by Michael Kiwanuka

7. “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” by Mel Carter

8. “High Wide & Handsome” by Loudon Wainwright

9. “1904” by The Tallest Man on Earth

10. “Please Go Easy With Me” by S.E. Rogie

11. “You Know You Like It” by Aluna George

12. “I Left My Wallet In El Segundo” by A Tribe Called Quest

13. “The Tide Is High” by Blondie

14. “This Is the Day” by The The

15. “Misty’s Nightmares 1 & 2” by Father John Misty

16. “Jealous Guy” by Donny Hathaway

17. “Surfer Girl” by The Beach Boys

Photo above — Quite possibly the best example of how to capture summer in the city.