More Bing and Bowie sort of

Here is Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as David Bowie and Bing Crosby.

Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy with Will Ferrell & John C. Reilly from Will Ferrell

Bing and Bowie

Here is a classic holiday song from Bing Crosby and David Bowie.

David Bowie and Bing Crosby - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy (mp3)

Dawes

If you have not had a chance to check out the band Dawes you should go listen to their debut album North Hills.  They have a great sound with good lyrics.

Dawes - Give Me Time (mp3)
Dawes - Bedside Manner (mp3)

Mavis Staples

I recently picked up Mavis Staples' new album You Are Not Alone.  It was produced by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco.  The album is good to listen to because it is mixed with blues, gospel and folk.  Good stuff!

Mavis Staples - Don't Knock (mp3)
Mavis Staples - Wrote A Song For Everyone (mp3)
Staple Singers - I'll Take You There (mp3)

Lissie

Lissie is a new artist from Rock Island, IL that I have been listening to quite a bit lately.  She is poppy with a little edge.  She has a very nice sound.  I have also included some interesting covers she has performed live.  She is worth checking out.

Lissie - Cuckoo (mp3)
Lissie - Little Lovin' (mp3)

Kid Cudi - Pursuit of Happiness (mp3)

Lady GaGa - Bad Romance (mp3)

Buffalo Springfield to Reunite

The 60's band Buffalo Springfield will reunite at Neil Young’s annual Bridge School Benefit Concert on October 23 and 24.  The band’s lineup will feature classic members Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina.  Buffalo Springfield has not performed since 1968.

Rain Rain Go Away

photo via @gorillavsbear

We have just been getting hammered by rain in Dallas the past 3 days.  We need the rain but not in this volume.  There were actually tornadoes that touched down yesterday evening.  We need a break.  In the meantime, here are some rainy songs.

Blind Melon - No Rain (mp3)

Bryan Ferry - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall (mp3)
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Who'll Stop The Rain (mp3)
John Hiatt - Feels Like Rain (mp3)
K-OS - The Rain (mp3)
Paul Weller - Early Morning Rain (mp3)
Red House Painters - I Feel The Rain Fall (mp3)
William Elliot Whitmore - Let the Rain Come In (mp3)
Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble - Texas Flood (mp3)

Happy Birthday Van Morrison

George Ivan Morrison was born on this day 65 years ago.  Many of you know him better as Van "The Man" Morrison.

Van Morrison with Georgie Fame - Early In The Morning (mp3)
Van Morrison - Saint Dominic's Preview (mp3)

I'm Goin' Down

Vampire Weekend covered Bruce Springsteen's "I'm Goin' Down" the other night in concert.  Check how they compare to the original.  Not too bad.

Bruce Springsteen - I'm Goin' Down (mp3)

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

I just recently started listening to Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' latest album, I Learned the Hard Way, that came out in April of this year.  Just like their previous album, 100 Days, 100 Nights, this album is great from beginning to end.  Sharon Jones has such a powerful voice and the Dap-Kings are awesome.

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights (mp3)
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - Better Things (mp3)

Recently, at a festival in a Chicago suburb, a teen band (Northbrook Garage) performed a cover version of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' "She Ain't a Child No More".  They do a good job.  Here is their version along with the original.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - "She Ain't A Child No More" - WOXY Lounge SXSW 2010 from WOXY on Vimeo.

One Eskimo

There is a great band called One Eskimo that the local public radio station, KXT, has been playing.  My wife really likes the song "Kandi" and she wears the kids out every time it plays on the radio.  The song is real catchy especially when they sample Candi Stanton's song "He Called Me Baby".  One Eskimo is definitely worth checking out.

One Eskimo - Simple Day (mp3)
One Eskimo - Kandi (mp3)

Candi Stanton - He Called Me Baby (mp3)

Happy Birthday John Lee Hooker

John Lee Hooker was born on this day back in 1917.  Please take a moment of silence and pour yourself one bourbon, one scotch, one beer.  Then let John Lee Hooker play the blues.

John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom Boom (mp3)

John Lee Hooker with Bonnie Raitt - I'm In The Mood(mp3)

John Lee Hooker with Van Morrison - Gloria (mp3)

Cadillac Ranch

On our way back from Colorado we stopped at Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo, TX on I40.  It is a public art display of old cadillacs sticking in the ground of a farm pasture.  If you are ever driving near Amarillo it is worth the stop and make sure you bring spray paint.

 

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Cadillac Ranch (mp3)
Bruce Springsteen - Cadillac Ranch (mp3)
Bruce Springsteen - Pink Cadillac (mp3)
Rosanne Cash - Black Cadillac (mp3)
The Clash - Brand New Cadillac (mp3)
Drive-By Truckers - Carl Perkins' Cadillac (mp3)
Peppermint Harris - Cadillac Funeral (mp3)

Road Trip

I am sure at some point this summer you have loaded up the family in the family truckster and headed out on a road trip.  Here are some great road trip tunes so do not spill your Big Gulp while you are tapping toes and heading on down the road.  Safe travels!

Matt Pond PA - Holiday Road (mp3)

Willie Nelson - On The Road Again (mp3)

John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads (mp3)

Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel (mp3)

The Replacements - Someone Take The Wheel (mp3)

Steve Earle - Guitar Town (mp3)

James McMurtry - Walk Between The Raindrops (mp3)

Gram Parsons' International Submarine Band - Folsom Prison Blues/That's All Right (mp3)

John Fogerty - Lookin' Out My Back Door (mp3)

Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road (mp3)

Rolling Stones - Memory Motel (mp3)

Roadside Graves - Holiday Road (mp3)

In Between Days

"In Between Days" by The Cure is a song that always brings back fond memories.  We were all listening to The Cure in the eighties.  Here is a couple of good cover versions by Ben Folds and Superchunk along with the original.

The Cure - In Between Days (mp3)

Superchunk covers The Cure

Jerry Garcia's Birthday

Photo from mannythmovieguy.com

Today is Jerry Garcia's birthday.  If he were still living he would be 68 today.  Happy birthday Jerry!

Grateful Dead - Scarlett Begonias (mp3)
Jerry Garcia - Deal (mp3)

Sarah Jaffe

Last night I took my two older children over to see Sarah Jaffe.  She played a free concert at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas.  It was a great show.  We hooked up with David Beck and his two younger kids.  Here are some pictures from the show along with a picture of David & I with Sarah.

Sarah Jaffe - Vulnerable (mp3)

Jackson Browne Sings "Freebird"

Andre "The Hawk" Dawson

Yesterday, Andre Dawson was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame.  Although MLB told him he had to wear a Montreal Expos hat, he gave thanks to Cubs fans.

Steve Goodman - Go Cubs Go (mp3)

Steve Goodman - A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Wish (mp3)

The Brothers Defino - WGN Cubs Theme (mp3)

Chicago Cubs Singers - Hey Hey Holy Mackarel (mp3)

Mick Jagger is 67 today!

Crowded House with David Byrne

As mentioned over on Sterogum, Crowded House just finished playing three nights in New York.  On the final night, David Byrne came on stage to sing "Once In A Lifetime" and "Little Creatures" with the band.

Country Music Concert Tickets Selling

Country Music does not seem to be having the same problems as pop and rock concert acts (see older post).  Maybe the folks in country music are more in touch with their fan base.  For one thing, their ticket prices are much more reasonable.  Read more at billboard.com.

Shooter Jennings - Solid Country Gold (mp3)

Carolina Chocolate Drops

If you have not checked out the Carolina Chocolate Drops you must do it now.

Carolina Chocolate Drops - Cornbread and Butterbeans (mp3)

Band of Joy

Before Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant was in a band called Band of Joy.  He performed in Memphis, TN on July 13th with a new lineup for the band consisting of Patty Griffin, Darrell Scott and Buddy Miller to name a few.

Here is the setlist from the show:

01. Down To The Sea
02. Angel Dance (new song) 
03. Please Read The Letter
04. House of Cards (new song) 
05. Misty Mountain Hop
06. MonkeyAdditional (new song) 
07. Twelve Gates to the City / Wade in the Water / In My Time of Dying 
08. Rich Woman
09. Gone, Gone, Gone Done Moved On 
10. All The King's Horses 
11. Nobody's Fault But Mine 
12. Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down (new song) 
13. Central Two-0-Nine (new song) 
14. Houses Of The Holy 
15. Tall Cool One 
16. Harm's Swift Way (new song) 
17. Gallows Pole 


Encore:
18. Thank You 
19. Rock & Roll 
20. And We Bid You Goodnight 

M.I.A. on Letterman

Did anyone catch M.I.A. on Letterman last night?  It was an interesting performance. Letterman did not quite know what to think about it.

Under the Covers

Here is some local music for you with Ishi covering "Clementine" by Sarah Jaffe.  Sarah Jaffe's latest album, Suburban Nature, is good stuff.

Sarah Jaffe - Clementine (mp3)

Distribution of Music Revenue

As my earlier post from the WSJ article illustrated how the music industry model is not making sense to the fans.  Here are details illustrating how the current business model does not make sense for the artists either.

Is a patronage model the answer?

JULY 12, 2010

SAD PIE CHART ILLUSTRATES DISTRIBUTION OF MUSIC REVENUE...

THE ROOT | READ FULL STORY >

The Root:

If you thought the life of most musicians was comparable to the blissful and blinged-out existences of Kanye and Rihanna, you’ve clearly not heard much about our ever-desiccating music industry. According to the latest Nielsen research, only 2.1 percent of the albums released in 2009 sold even 5,000 copies—that’s just 2,050 records out of nearly 100,000, and to fewer people than go to a small liberal arts college.

James Brown - The Big Payback (mp3)
Mojo Nixon - Big Payback (mp3) 

Concert Business Struggling

There is a great article that appeared in the WSJ last week depicting the music industry's struggles this summer to get fans to buy concert tickets.  There has to be a better model.  No one likes the high ticket prices plus the high fees.  It is time for the music industry to change its ways.  The big question is what model works for both fans and the performers?

The End of the Road?
by John Jurgensen

The concert business a lone bright spot in the struggling music industry, is in trouble this summer.  A tale of bad backs, cancelled acts and angry fans.


You can read the entire article here.

Redferns/Getty Images

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day at Wembley Stadium on June 19.

It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It) - The Rolling Stones (mp3)

Thieves

I am back from vacation.  We drove to northern Colorado over the 4th of July.

Here is a video from She and Him.

Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def and More Jam for Gulf Aid

This is a great song that Mos Def, Lenny Kravitz and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band put together to provide support for the oil spill damage.

Wingless Angels

Keith Richards' side project, Wingless Angel, has release its second album of Rastafarian Spirituals.  You can download the single "Oh What A Joy" on their website.

A.V. Club Undercover

Ted Leo And The Pharmacists cover "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" by Tears For Fears.

Ted Leo And The Pharmacists cover Tears For Fears

A.V. Club Undercover

Here The Antlers cover Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here".

The Antlers cover Pink Floyd

A.V. Club Undercover

Ben Folds covers "Say Yes" by Elliott Smith.

Ben Folds covers Elliott Smith

Yim Yames Performs with The Roots

Yim Yames and The Roots perform "Dear God 2.0" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  This single is from The Roots' new album, How I Got Over, which comes out today.

A.V. Club Undercover

Retribution Gospel Choir covers "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys.

Retribution Gospel Choir covers The Beach Boys

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all of you Dads out there!

Chuck Berry - Dear Dad (mp3)
Roadside Graves - My Father Sat Me Down (mp3)
Drive-By Truckers - Daddy Needs A Drink (mp3)

A.V. Club Undercover

The Wedding Present covers "19th Nervous Breakdown" by The Rolling Stones.

The Wedding Present covers The Rolling Stones

A.V. Club Undercover

Motion City Soundtrack covers "Cut Your Hair" by Pavement.

Motion City Soundtrack covers Pavement

A.V. Club Undercover

Wye Oak covers "Strangers" by The Kinks.

Wye Oak covers The Kinks

Broken Social Scene

Broken Social Scene performed "Texico Bitches" from their new album Forgiveness Rock Record last night on Jimmy Fallon.  It is good stuff, check it out.

A.V. Club Undercover

The Clientele covers "Paper Planes" by M.I.A..

The Clientele covers M.I.A.

A.V. Club Undercover

Maritime covers "Enjoy The Silence" by Depeche Mode.

Maritime covers Depeche Mode

Summer Camp

Well, our daughter heads out this morning for summer camp in Colorado.  She will be gone for a month.  This is her third time to go for a month but this is the first time she will be flying to and from camp.  We usually pick her up.  She has a great time and now has camp friends from all over the country.

Wilco - Just A Kid (mp3)

A.V. Club Undercover

Justin Townes Earle covers "Atlantic City" by Bruce Springsteen.

Justin Townes Earle covers Bruce Springsteen