Weepies On The Morrow

4 Nov

Track 4 on the Weepies’ new album Be My Thrill sings that “I Was Made For Sunny Days.” According to the popular comedy show, it is always sunny in Philadelphia. That is where my friend Anthony and I will be traveling to see The Weepies perform tomorrow night at the World Cafe Live. And, such a coincidence can only be a fantastic omen for a night of chill songs that highlight a melodic blend of pop and folk music.

If you have never checked out the Weepies before I suggest you find them on Youtube and listen to some of their music. Or, better yet, I will embed a song below. The reason I initially got into this band was because their music stuck. It is innocuous, yes, but like the common cold (which I am currently suffering from) it is so damn catchy, or, better yet, infectious. Ever since becoming a pair, Deb Talan and Steve Tannen have created harmonious music. Their smooth voices effortlessly jump between somber and effervescent pieces.

The Weepies’ music is also marketable. It has been featured on several television shows, including Scrubs (where I first heard the Weepies), Grey’s Anatomy, One Tree Hill, How I Met Your Mother, etc. “Can’t Go Back Now,” which I will include below, was included in a campaign ad for now President Barack Obama (and it obviously was the sole reason he was elected to office).

Be My Thrill was released in August and has been seen as a success. Some songs even feature slight experimentation. The Weepies, though, are best in their niche, which they have mastered. Soft folk/pop is alive and well in their shows and as they continue on their first tour in four years, we will be meeting up with them to celebrate their great music.

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Happy Election Day

2 Nov

Note: The song starts at one minute but I suggest listening to Roger McGuinn’s great opening talk.

November 2nd. A great day for democracy. Where every citizen of the United States has a chance to vote for the candidate they believe will represent their beliefs the best. And, as people from the gargantuan skyscrapers of New York City to the bucolic prairies of the Midwest make it to the polls, I am about to get dressed and go to class.

But, not before I post this fabulous piece by Roger McGuinn and Jacques Levy. Little fun fact. Jacques Levy also co-wrote “Hurricane” with Bob Dylan. Is that important to this post? No. But, in case you were wondering, there you are. McGuinn and Levy pulled “I Wanna Grow Up To Be A Politician” from a failed Broadway play that the two were writing. It tells the tale of Gene Tryp and his running for president of the United States. Byrdmaniax, which was released in 1971 with a line-up of McGuinn, Clarence White, Gene Parsons and Skip Battin, also features “Kathleen’s Song” a song about Gene Tryp’s lover waiting for him to come home from his travels.

The Peace, Crazy, Love Train. Wow, That Can Drive Someone Insane

1 Nov

Drew Angerer/The New York Times

This past weekend saw the Comedy Central sponsored “Rally To Restore Sanity and/or Fear” provide both humor and seriousness to television viewers and those who attended the event at the National Mall. Political satirists Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert hosted the event. And, while the event was politically based, there were several defining musical moments. This was the best one.

The clip may be a bit lengthy but I suggest you watch the entire thing. It is just a wonderful combination of musicians that I am sure no one ever thought would be together in any shape or form. Well, leave it to the Comedy Central duo to produce such an amazing concert. The exchange is scripted, but, funny. Big shout out to Ozzy, Yusuf (Cat Stevens) and The O’Jays. Yes, Ozzy vs. Yusuf provided a mash-up of two songs that should have never been put together, but, hey in the name of train comedy. It was nice hearing the sweet sounds of Cat Stevens (he did record “Peace Train” as Cat Stevens). Actually, for the sake of this article, let’s call him Steven Demetre Georgiou. Yeah, I dug up his name before Cat before Yusuf Islam. He is a tremendous singer and performer. Ozzy was Ozzy and that’s just fine.

The O’Jays had the longest performance and their uninterrupted “Love Train” was a hit.

Some people may be calling this a train crash, but, I thought it was fun.

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Tame Impala – Innerspeaker

30 Oct

Well Fall this year is actually beautiful. Aside from the fact that it has been raining at least once a day consistently for at least two weeks, I think it hit like 80 degrees one day this week. It felt and smelt like summer. You know that summer smell where the air is just telling you to go do fun things. If only finance could be done without using books, writing utensils, or calculators and could be done in the woods. Staring at trees is just as productive as staring at stock price fluctuations anyway.

All this summer weather reminded me of my favorite band from a couple months ago. Hailing from Australia (which is now only preparing for its summer) is Tame Impala, with their debut album Innerspeaker!

I couldn’t find my favorite song off the album on youtube, so you get two other ones! (And neither three are the single at that!)

“I know where you went, but I don’t know how you get there”

I’d be sitting in a car with my friends on a warm day watching people walk by doing things, and I’d be smiling because this is probably one of the best lines ever.

Not to mention the music is like being transported to 1970 where everyone still kept the 60’s chill-out vibe. They sound like the Beatles would have if they started playing hard rock. No one else seems to agree but the singer sounds like John Lennon!

The random talking, the noises, reverb mixed with phasers. The lyrics speak to exactly the sound they are aiming for! If anything can describe this, it is simply professional. These Aussies definitely knew what they were doing. Specially considering that there are no Impalas in Australia. They must have envisioned this entire musical project a good while before it was enacted.

This band lists Dungen as one of their influences which excites me because I hear it and it is awesome. It is specially evident on my favorite song, with its psychedelic break-down at the end. Tame Impala can easily be the summer component to the winter Dungen.

I want everyone to listen to this music, close their eyes, and imagine summer. It’s like casting a spell and when you do it right you will start to feel warm inside as if the sun is shining upon you. Or it’s actually just meditation – same thing.

-oko

P.S. My favorite song is Desire be, Desire Go. There is only a live version on youtube, which I honestly didn’t listen to all the way. lol &)

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Great Covers: “Hey Jude” by Wilson Pickett

28 Oct

It was well into Wilson Pickett‘s illustrious singing career when he recorded a successful version of The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” that turned into a #16 pop hit. No surprise about the great ranking. Pair a talented vocalist with an excellent song and generally you will produce good music.

Wilson Pickett’s version of “Hey Jude” was recorded after Pickett moved on from Stax Records after Stax banned all outside production in 1965. Pickett left to go to Fame Studios in Alabama where he recorded the highest charting version of Chris Kenner/Cannibal & The Headhunters’ “Land of 1000 Dances.” The reason I put Cannibal & The Headhunters is because their addition of the famous “na, na, na, na” lyric (which was originally a mistake, the singer forgot the lyrics mid-song) was used by Wilson Pickett and was instrumental in making his version famous.

*Six Degrees of Your Ipod Moment* Cannibal & The Headhunters helped put Wilson Pickett on the charts in a big way. They were also the opening act on The Beatles’ Second American Tour. Cannibal to Beatles to Pickett?

Back to the article. Pickett left Fame and went to American Studios in Memphis in 1967. He worked recording numerous Bobby Womack songs. After returning to Fame in 1968/69 he recorded “Hey Jude” with a band that featured Duane Allman. How about that? Listen to his impact and the amazing passionate voice of Wilson Pickett on this awesome recording of a Great Cover.

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