Fri 03.05.10 - I see the future and it is not just the invasion of Euro DJ Electro music but of the creative bohemian class for whom the word retire has no meaning. Rock on, DJ Mamy Rock! (via Metafilter)
music:
Tom T. Hall at WCRS Live at Country Radio Seminar in Nashville today.
James McMurtry did a killer show at the Mint last Thursday. Stinky Matthew McConaughey (who is known for being a McMurtry fan) was nowhere to be seen, making the show that much more enjoyable.
Billy Bragg and Florence and the Machine's version for the BBC.
Mon 12.21.09 - The best part of this video is the pink striped furry who hugs Billy and Florence at the end.
Happy Solsitce | Yule | Hannukah | Christmas | Kwanza | Festivus!!!!
Melody Records - Chico, CA
If you ever find yourself in Chico - which is about halfway between Sacramento and Redding - I command you to go to Melody Records. You don't need the address, just go to downtown Chico and you'll find it. I would give a link to the website, but there isn't one. Somehow, the store has managed not only to stay open, but has maintained its old-school, incense-scented, record store ambience despite the ravages of time and fashion. The store has been in downtown Chico for at least twenty-five years - maybe even fifty. For all I know, Ray, the owner and proprietor, came out west during the gold rush in a covered wagon full of used records. I lived in Chico during the late 80's/early 90's and spent a great deal of time and money in the store. Back then, there were four record stores in the 3-block-long downtown Chico area. The students of Cal State Chico had a strong and long-standing tradition of selling their records and CD's for beer money. Since mp3's have no resale value, the other 3 stores have shut down. God only knows what those poor students of today are selling for beer.
Fifteen years after I moved away, Ray still remembers me. That's either really good customer service or gratitude that I spent enough money in his store to pay for his house and put his kids through college.
The store has moved a few times over the years, which is the best I can do to segue to some trivial knowledge I would like to share. The space that the store now occupies was once a live music venue called "The Whispering Clam." The first time I saw the Cadillac Tramps was in that room. As you can imagine, it was quite cozy. I also saw Royal Crown Revue there - twice. They played to an enthusiastic crowd of about 10 people and liked it so much that they came back a short time later and played for about 20.
Chico, don't be discouraged. The man he ain't so hard to understand.
For a while now I have been salivating to take classes via UCLA Extension. So I took the opportunity to do so this past summer when I came upon a class that I feel, was made for me . . . Music + Graphic Design. They knew I was coming . . . Here is a class representing my two loves. Music and Graphic Design. How grand is that! Through the years I have been able to design for bands/musicians: CD artwork, websites, logos, and flyers! And now I find a class that marries the two and I was in heaven.
The instructor has been doing art for bands for many years, working for Warner Bros. Records and then has been the designer for Wilco for many years. He brought in many colleagues that work in the industry from photographers, stylists, to managers. My fave was a former designer for Rhino Records. Very cool box sets like this one that were designed by him were amazing. He came in with like 3 duffle bags full for show and tell.
Our assignment was to take a band and carry them though from logo design to merch design.
The class kicked my butt. It was harder than I thought it was going to be. Maybe it was the band that I had chosen or not. Who knows. I know now I need to step up my game and think outside the box. Most of the folks in the class were in the design certificate program so their stuff was phenomenal. A lot of my design sense comes from DIY aesthetics and I get to think like what if I had a huge budget that I can take the design to the fullest and not think like there is no money!
Steve Earle last month at the Troubadour, performing an acoustic set in support of Townes, his tribute to Townes Van Zandt.
Even though he's from Oklahoma, Jason Boland at the Mint Friday night made me (again) want to move to Texas where going to dancehalls every night is a viable option.
If you were a fan of Ryan Adams' Gold CD, you need to have Will Hoge on your radar. Because Will's similar to Ryan, except he's not boring.
Will performed a last-minute show at The Mint earlier tonight. He'll will have a new album (The Wreckage) out in the coming weeks: full CD/digital release will be available September 29th, but you can get it on vinyl starting August 25th. And the first single from the album, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart," is available digitally starting tomorrow, August 11th!
Because one night with Pat Green just wasn't enough.
