WORLDS ARE FORMING

WILBUR HUCKLE: He Has His Freedom

He Has His Freedom is the newest album from my new favorite band: Wilbur Huckle. 

My favorite tracks: 1. Not So Crazy about the Crazy Cat Lady 4. Where's my Whiskas?  6. Don't Bother Me (I'm Kind of a Big Deal Around Here)  and 12. So Emo.

(Thanks to Adam, April, and Amy for helping to make me laugh.  My first time playing with Photoshop in awhile, too.  Good times.) 

Watching, Reading, Listening.

My last two weeks in pop culture...

WATCHING:
*Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story...A little profane, but a funny take on bio-pics.
*Juno:Hilarious, deep, great soundtrack.
*The Great Debaters: Sad, inspiring, well produced, great acting.

READING:
*The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
*A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
*Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

LISTENING:
*Sufjan
*Rosie
*Jack

Brandi Carlile and A Fine Frenzy in Spokane.

When something good and creative comes to Spokane, one has to jump at whatever that opportunity may be.  As a lover of music, I am trying to remember what it is like to see good live music.

Tonight, I saw two of my newest favorites at The Big Easy: Brandi Carlile and A Fine Frenzy.  My live music needs have been met.  Brandi even did a cover of Johnny Cash's Fulsom Prison Blues...so good.  Alison Sudol from A Fine Frenzy is beautiful.  Beautiful.   have a crush.

If you haven't listened to Brandi or A Fine Frenzy, do, do, do.

Patty Griffin at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.

Beautiful old Patty and I have had a committed musical relationship for a good four years now, and I have seen her twice in concert.  Last night, I saw her and her wild red hair play a show at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.  Outdoors.  On a huge lawn.  In the rain.  Really, it was glorious. 

She and I had a heart to heart before the show, so she played plenty of my favorite Patty songs.

Musical Highlights:
1. Rain
2. Useless Desires
3. Truth #2
4. When it Don't Come Easy

Hey, I got my one concert in for the summer, and it was well worth it!  The five foot nothin' Patty continues to rank in my top five favorite musicians.  She's brilliant.

New Music: Wilco's What Light

Wilco has a new single out from their Sky Blue Sky disc, to be released May 15. 

You may get a free copy of their single, What Light, here. 

Great lyrics, classic Wilco sound.  Check it out!

Rosie, Denison, and Sufjan at World Cafe Live!

Last night, I got to attend the concert that I've needed.  No really, I've needed it!  Rosie Thomas, Denison Witmer, and Sufjan Stevens are some of my favorite musicians these days, and I have been eager to see them perform live.  So, last night they were at World Cafe in Philly, and a crew of good friends went out to enjoy the show!

When I go to concerts (which is not very often), I expect to be entertained well.  Last night, I was not disappointed.  Their music was transparent and meaningful, they told honest and hilarious stories, and were very connected with each other and with the audience.  (We sat right in front, our view only obscured once in awhile by Camera Guy on stage.)  Apparently those three are great friends, and it showed on stage...it was obvious that they care deeply for each other and respect one another's music.  Their care for one another was tangible...very encouraging. 

Rosie is crazy hilarious, and I'll admit, I have a slight crush on her.  Sheila Saputo, her stand-up character, was alive and kickin' as well.  I haven't laughed so hard in some time.

Glad I got to hear: Little Flowers, Are You a Dreamer?, These Friends of Mine, Death Came and Got Me, and the Kite Song.

That will satisfy my concert needs for quite awhile.  It did my soul well.

Good Music: The Be Good Tanyas.

They have been growing on me over the past six months.  The Be Good Tanyas.  Hard to describe their style.  Indie/bluegrass/folk/fun from Vancouver, BC.  Right now, their song The Littlest Bird off of their Blue Horse album makes me smile.  It's a fun spring song on days when spring feels far away from crazy New Jersey.  Check it out!

Do you have a spring song right now?

New Music: Marla Hansen & Inlets

I recently found some free Marla Hansen as well as a whole free EP of Inlets. Both are unique, New Yorkers, friends with Sufjan (but who isn't these days?), and both have a sweet and relaxed feel.  Check out Shuffle Your Feet and Pictures of Trees.

I'm Getting Old. Sherwood, Mae & Relient K at The Electric Factory.

Last night I went to the Sherwood, Mae & Relient K show at the Electric Factory in Philly. Mostly, well, 99% of the reason that I went, was to support Nick and his buddy's band (Sherwood).  I really like their music, and they put on a great show.

However.  I usually go to laid back shows - Patty Griffin, The Weepies, Indigo Girls, Alison Krauss, etc. right?  I was a bit anxious about going to a pop/emo kid/punk show.  I didn't want to be Old Creepy Guy at the concert (you know that guy, right?), and I didn't want to be Old Cranky Dad (with earplugs, a scowl, and arms folded in the corner).  Also, while I do think middle and high school kids are great, I'm not one, and I was sure that there were going to be about 1,000 14 year old girls there. 

Immediately upon arrival...my age became an issue.  Reflect upon this, an interaction that happened between Random Girl, my buddy Punchy Dave, and Old Man Bro, within 15 seconds of entering the venue:

Random Girl: "Hey, how old are you guys?"
Punchy Dave: "Old enough."
Random Girl: "No, really."
Old Man Bro: "How old do you think we are?"
Random Girl: "I don't know.  I'm 23, and just glad to see other old people here."

OLD.  Sad but true.  I guess I am just facing my mortality.

Songs of the Week.

Stay Humble: Tyler James         Finding Your Feet Again: Denison Witmer
Patty Griffin: Long Road            Put in Me: Waterdeep