Can't Wait!!!!!!

I just wanted to remind the masses that the new Son Volt album comes out in less than a week. Most of you probably already know this and have been counting the days. It's understandable if you've been scouring the web for special deals/collecter CDs/give-aways/pre-order insentives. It's perfectly normal to check the "news" page on the bands website several times a day for new updates. It's OK to ride your bike to Ameoba records during your lunch break on Tuesday, March 6.

Personally, I haven't been doing any of those things. But if you have, then you're not weird or anything.

Random Crazy Youtube clip

I'm so glad that Al Gore invented the interwebs so that we have things like this video of some really strange Norwegians. This is just funny.

blog activity and new song posted

New post on my creative blog. Mostly notes on recent recording sessions with Peter Stanley. Journal style like normal. Also, a new song called "Blame" has been posted here that we just finished.

Two Albums

There are two "country" albums I've been listening to a lot lateley that have even ended up mixed up in each other's CD cases, but which greatly contrast with one another.

One is "Roots and Crowns" by Califone. I failed to report about this record in my "Best of '06" post because I didn't own it at the time. But I just have to say this: BEST RECORD OF 2006! ...well next to Midlake. Tim Rutili is a genius and if you haven't heard these guys, click here and play the song "The Orchids". Check out my wife's review of this song. And if you're the type of person that likes to by single songs off iTunes, buy "The Orchids" ....it's so beautiful.

And I guess when I say this is a country album, I'm stretching a bit. Most of Califone's stuff is "atmospheric", hinging its sound on layers upon layers of percussion (a lot of found percussion) and electronic samples and analog tape manipulations. They blend these lo-fi elements with a folk/country sound and the result is beauty.

The other record is "What aCrying Shame" by the Mavericks. It was released in 93/94 at the height of the whole "young country" thing. So it definately has that pop production style, but the songs are just so great. I find myself playing this loud. Yesterday, I was driving around town playing this record so loud without knowing it that I pulled up next to a car with loud rap music and they sneared at me the way that people snear at them, as if to say, "Young wippersnapper!" Except I was playing early 90's young country.

Love the line:
Hey now, mister bouncer
All I wanna do is dance.
But I swear I left my wallet
Back in my workin' pants.

M. WARD- show review

A week ago, I went with some friends to see M. Ward at Bimbo's in Northbeach.

He played a solo show- meaning it was just him. Him and an acoustic guitar and a piano. Usually, if someone's just gonna do a guy-and-a-guitar thing, I'd rather be seated in a coffee shop, but this guy is so talented, he really kept the show going. I've seen Matt Ward before when he was on tour opening for Vic Chesnutt, so I knew that if it was just him and a guitar, he was entertaining enough to carry the show based on technical guitar chops alone.

But it was obvious that in the years since then, constant touring has allowed him to really hone his showmanship. He added a lot of cool showy touches that went off so slick, like very cool covers, the "premier" of a funny "music video", using a loop station to layer guitars on guitars, finishing by having a young kid come up and play piano with him for the last song.

What a fun night.

Barber Shop

I love the barber shop. When asked what my hobbies are, I am usually too sheepish to say that getting my hair cut is one of them. There's something about it that I just love- that you can't get at a salon......like:

* When your'e waiting your turn and a shrunken old man climbs up into the chair the way a child scales a jungle gym and quietly suggests, "My wife likes the waves." and points to his head. He means- leave it longer on top.

* Watching a boy get his first haircut at the barber's.

* Listening to barbers' stories- like about the drill seargents in boot camp who, when teaching a group of new enlistees to hand wash their clothes, said, "First, you take the left sock...." just so they could mess with the guy who said, "Which one's the left sock, sir?"

or chatting about the strange habbits of the mysterious men that actually exist somewhere who come in and pay the $10 for a "Beard Trim".

* Hot foam shaving cream. Straight razors. Cigar smoke.