Stern Grove 71st Season

Modern Classic

New Music II

New Music

New Beginnings

It's Good Friday today, and right now we are blessed with days full of sunshine and cool breezes. This time of year is always one of both introspection and optimism for me, after settling into the routines brought on by numerous New Year's resolutions and personal goals. I like to think of this time of year as a time to check in, see how you're doing, and take some quiet time to look around and be grateful. It really doesn't have anything to do with Easter so much as the rising of Spring and the wonder I feel when I am faced with when seeing something beautiful in nature, or enjoying a great time with friends.

I decided to make a mix CD to go with my mood. It's called "Spring Forward" and it's mellow and upbeat at the same time. It's not all roses and sunshine, though. There are definitely deep feelings expressed in the songs, things that touch on some of my worries and fears. But music has that amazing ability to lift the spirits, and to soothe the soul.

1. Those Dancing Days are Gone, Carla Bruni
2. There's Too Much Love, Belle & Sebastian
3. Eli, the Barrow Boy, The Decemberists
4. When You're Mind's Made Up, from the "Once" soundtrack
5. Hope, Jack Johnson
6. Metal Heart, Cat Power
7. Happy, Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
8. Foundations, Kate Nash
9. Just, Mark Ronson featuring Alex Grenwald
10. Hold on to Your Friends, Morrissey
11. Sea Legs, The Shins
12. Give It Away, Zero 7
    

1. 

Dan & the Pip, part 2

Oh, man, did we catch a great show last night. dan le sac Vs. Scroobius Pip, a sort of hip-hop duo from the UK, with cool beats, sharp lyrics and original style. The show took place at Cafe du Nord, which is a nice & tiny venue, underground (literally). They played the songs from their EP, as well as a Prince cover that I thoroughly enjoyed.

They sometimes get compared to The Streets, but we saw The Streets a few years ago at Bimbo's, and let me tell you, these guys are light years ahead of that band. Charles talked to Scroobius Pip for a little while and said that he seemed like a nice guy. Long live love small venues!

Here is a recent interview by Tim Sullivan from the Chron with Scroobius Pip. I can't wait to see what these guys do next.

___________________________________________________________________

Take electro dance beats, add some spoken word and what do you get? Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip. Take a few well-made videos, add 2 million YouTube hits and what do you get? A virtual phenomenon. We caught up with Scroobius Pip just before the band's current tour of the United States. 11 Things vs. Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip follows:

1. Scroobius Pip's name is based on an Edward Lear poem called "The Scroobious Pip." Other animals wanted to classify the Scroobious Pip, but the Scroobious Pip was unclassifiable. Dan le Sac's name is classifiable (but we're not going to go there today).

2. "We come from a small town called Stanford le Hope in Essex, U.K. All the big towns are near enough to travel to, so it kind of forces you to."

3. "We've never been to San Francisco, although I (Scroobius Pip) intended to live there once. I moved to Santa Monica and knocked about at a few hostels, then went on to L.A. and Vegas and ran out of money."

4. "We mash spoken word with electro-type stuff. It's a bit hard to describe."

5. "We've supported Mark Ronson, Saul Williams, Billy Bragg, El-P, Basement Jaxx and RZA. It's been great to be picked by these people we really respect to open up for them and get in front of different crowds." (If you happen to be on YouTube, you might also want to check out I Shouted Gun, featuring Scroobius Pip.)

6. "We're on our second U.S.A. tour, which, to us, is amazing. We get to come halfway around the world before even releasing our debut album. We like it in America. It's hotter here and the food is bigger."

7. "We'll be playing Coachella. We're having thousands of beard-shaped fans made up as a way for people to keep cool."

8. "We're both very hairy (sideburns versus beard). We seem to have become quite known for this fact, which is weird. I guess it makes us memorable in a sea of skinny jean wearers." (Please note: They've never lived in the Mission or Haight.)

9. "We have a MySpace page ( www.myspace.com/lesacvspip). We also have a great U.S. artist (Gene Goldstein) working on a 'lesacvspip site' that should be up soon. Our debut album will be coming out later this spring."

10. "Thou Shalt Always Kill" always kills. If you're not familiar with it, check it out at www.lexrecords.com/lesacvspip.htm. (If you are familiar with it, check it out again.)

11. Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip play Cafe Du Nord at 8 p.m. Sun. 1865 and Pants Pants Pants open. $12-$14. 2170 Market St. www.cafedunord.com. Thou shalt not miss it.

Power to the Cat

Dan & the Pip

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Well, I have found the first new group of the year whose music I love. I can just picture myself cruising down the road, rocking out to their songs. The band is called the Ting Tings, yet another UK band that has tickled my fancy.

Check out their sound here.

"That's Not My Name" - fun!
"Fruit Machine Live" - catchy!

Now, here's the thing. I cannot find the album anywhere. It's not on iTunes, or Amazon. They don't have a web page and the mySpace page only lists their tour dates.

I guess that the Ting Tings will just have to be "ones to watch" for now.

Wahhhhhh!!!

(Not to worry. I've emailed my cousin in London who is in the music biz. I have faith that she will track them down - the Ting Tings will be mine!)

Top Tunes 2007

1. The Fratellis, "Costello Music" - this is by far my favorite album of 2007. Every single track is rock-solid. They play the shit out of their guitars while giving you enough pop hooks to keep your foot tapping and head bobbing. They are good songwriters, mixing genres like rock-abilly and punk with Brit-pop, and are not afraid to put together a pretty refrain without taking themselves too seriously. Why is it that Scottish bands, and people, are so much more fucking awesome than everyone else?
   
2. Kate Nash, "Made of Bricks" - between this album and Lily Allen's "Alright Still", I chose Kate Nash as the more appealing/promising artist. She leans a little more towards the indie genre, while still being fun and girlish. Her voice is also more mature and interesting, and I think she actually plays an instrument. Mostly, I can't resist an album with a song entitled "Dickhead" - that's just too good. [Note: US release of this album will be in 2008]
   
3. The Shins, "Wincing the Night Away" - since their incredible 2001 album "Oh, Inverted World", this band has yet to put out one disappointing album! I keep waiting for their sophomore slump, but it never comes. I don't always understand their lyrics ("New Slang" wins for most beautifully obscure song ever), but they are very nice and poetic and you can tell that James Mercer is a word-lover - he trills words like "crucible" and "repulsive" with attention to each one and its natural rhythm. Safe to say that they are my favorite band of the decade so far.
   
4. The Kooks, "Inside In/Inside Out" - this album is just really enjoyable, and their sound seems more established than their short history on the music scene would indicate. I can never get "Ooh La" out of my head: "Pretty pretty pretty petticoat..."
   
5. Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black" - it's so sad that Ms. Winehouse's social antics seem to overshadow the fact that she is an absolutely amazing artist. "Train-wreck" or not, I had the opportunity to see her in concert this Fall, and it was her performance that blew everyone away. Her songs have that underlying sensuality that reminds me of that scene in "Hairspray" when the kids just can't stop dancing to the "dirty" music. This album blurs the lines between age, sex, generation, and race in a timeless way. An instant classic.
   
6. Mark Ronson, "Version" - Mark Ronson is a genius in arrangements. I have always been a fan of good re-mixes, the cardinal rule of which is that they must be respectful to, but sound completely different than, the original. Ronson totally gets this, and in addition to successfully interpreting beloved songs such as "Stop Me" by the Smiths, he manages to add his own signature sound to each track, so that the album is completely cohesive. I like Lily Allen's version of the Kaiser Chiefs "Oh My God" equally as much as the original, and more than any of the tracks on Lily Allen's solo album. A must-have album and great for parties.
   
7. The Stanton Warriors, "Stanton Sessions Vol. 2" - apparently, I have seen the Stanton Warriors perform live twice in the last two years. The first time (the time I don't remember) was at Burning Man in '06, after a jamming performance by Freq Nasty and Bass Nectar. The second time was at Fabric in London this November. This is the first electronica album that I have really gotten into in a while, and now it stands among my favorites with Thievery Corporation and Kruder & Dorfmeister. What I like is that they incorporate different styles of music, like reggae and rap, into their beats, sort of like Thievery, but more driving. If you see me car-dancing these days, you can be sure that I am listening to the Stanton Warriors.
   
8. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins, "Rabbit Fur Coat" - this is not a new album, in fact it was released in January 2006, making it almost 2 years old. But I heard it for the first time late this year, and immediately fell it love with it. Jenny Lewis has a beautiful and pure voice, reminiscent of Alison Krauss, but her lyrics have a darkness, edge and campiness that is fitting with her L.A. roots. The Watson Twins are wonderfully weird as well - they have a Southern gothic quality that I find so appealing. The standout track is "Rise Up with Fists" - my favorite line being : "it was not pretty, but she was (...not your wife)" Goooooood stuff.
   
9. The Decemberists, "Picaresque" - another not new album (2005), but new to me! The Decemberists had been on my radar for a few years, but I had never gotten around to buying one of their albums. I finally did late one night, one of those late, late nights when I was searching the internet desperate for new music, and I was very happy when I finally bought it. Their sound is pure American indie, with a twist: kind of Violent Femmes meets Billy Bragg, pleasant with a slight sneer and reminiscent of traditional ballads from lands afar.
   
10. Hard Fi, "Once Upon a Time in the West" - not as good as their amazing debut album "Stars of CC TV" but still great. It was between this and the Kaiser Chiefs "Yours Truly, Angry Mob", and I probably like both albums equally, but "OUATINW" has less-silly lyrics. Oh what are you going to do, it's pop. I am kind of a sucker for their ballad-driven songs - takes me back to the '80's in a very good way (like a Housemartins way).
    

Honorable Mentions:

1. Spoon, "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"
2. Bloc Party, "A Weekend in the City"
3. Kaiser Chiefs, "Yours Truly, Angry Mob"

Could Be Contenders*:

1. LCD Soundsystem, "Sound of Silver"
2. Robert Plant/Alison Krauss, "Rising Sand"
3. Wilco, "Sky Blue Sky"

* (I keep seeing these albums over and over on Top 10 lists, but I have yet to buy them. However, they sound REALLY promising)

Take Two and Call Me in the Morning

Love, Part Deux

Three's Company

Music is a wonderful mood-enhancer, and I have to admit I am a big sucker for Christmas songs, a guilty pleasure I indulge when no one is home. At full volume, and with singing of course! My favorite era is the 50's and 60's when they would do wonderful television specials and people really dressed up and everything just seemed like one big cocktail party. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is a sweet and sexy anthem for the season. I love the original version of this song by Dinah Shore and Buddy Clark, but this one with Ann Miller and Fred MacMurray in a threesome with Dinah Shore is a whole lot of fun.

Old Soul

He walks away,
The sun goes down,
He takes the day but I'm grown,
And in your grey, in this blue shade
My tears dry on their own

Wow. That's what I have to say about the Amy Winehouse concert we saw last night at Brixton Academy.


What a contrast to my day spent amidst the idyllic and posh surroundings of North London. Brixton is in the heart of South London - rough, working-class, agressive. And as is the case with many struggling communities throughout the world, music is continually born there and rises above its humble roots to fill the space with passion and feeling.

Along with having been the home to a select number of artists, most recently the Streets, Brixton is the birthplace of both David Bowie and Mick Jones. Talk about street cred!

The theater iself is great, both acoustically and spacially. The first floor slopes downward, so that anywhere you stand offers an unobstructed view of the stage.

The crowd waited anxiously for Amy to come onstage, remembering other concerts where she has kept the audience waiting and then refused to play. Estimated on-stage time: 9:15pm, actual arrival time: 10:00pm.

She looked much prettier than I expected. She wore her signature beehive and exaggerated eye liner, with a micro-mini dress that showed off her impressive gams. It didn't seem extreme - it worked for her. Contrary to her media image, she was neither emaciated nor intoxicated, and gave a fantastic performance. Her band and back-up singers were full of energy and the music was awesome!! The show incorporated elements of soul, r & b, ska and Amy's own personal style. Her voice is incredible, defying race, age or era. Every song was arranged and performed perfectly.


All in all, one of the best shows I have seen in this year.

UPDATE 11/27: I just read that Ms. Winehouse has cancelled the rest of her tour, due to health reasons and under doctor's orders. It was a miracle that we got to see her!

You Don't Drink, You Don't Smoke...What Do You Do?

We saw the band "Good Shoes" last night at the Astoria. Just the type of venue that I like - old, beer-soaked, medium-sized and no frills. The guitars were grinding, beer was being tossed and the crowd was in great spirits.

I may leave the "Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll" days to the 20-somethings, but I still love rocking out to a great band.

The World According to ME ME MEEEEEEE!

Which is exactly as it should be, no?

So listen up, music lovers, I am going to clue you in to one of the coolest sites ever. It's called Pandora, and it is an interactive site where you choose a band or song and it plays a selection of related tracks in a continuous stream, in the format of a "radio station".

You can create multiple stations on your account, according to your different tastes and moods (almost like having a Playlist that searches your music for you, except that their database is much bigger). So I started off with "The Decemberists" for some indie rock, and got songs by them, Yo La Tengo, Special Needs, etc etc. A window with the artist and title pops up so you can rate the selections, and so that Pandora can get more acquainted with your tastes. I decided I wanted to hear some electronica, so then I created an "Underworld" station. Now I am listening to a song by some guy named Yoshimoto that has a similar kind of driving beat - love it!

When you sign up, you can either pay $36/year to have advertising-free multiple-channel access, or you can be a cheapie like me and choose "free radio". Just for signing up, you get a thank-you note in your email in-box and a picture of a cute guy who I would assume to be the founder of the site, Tim. I'm gonna assume it, because in my fantasy I am laying in the tub while cutie Tim is playing all of my favorite music and simultaneously dusting and cooking dinner.

Fuck, I just knew my day would come some time. All I had to do was open Pandora's box!

The Fabric of Our Lives

So, next week we are going to London for Thanksgiving. Yes, back to the mother country that our forefathers fled from.

While we are there, we are going to go to Fabric, a nightclub known throughout the world for electronic music. So many great DJ's have played there - Sasha, Digweed, Carl Cox, Chemical Brothers, etc. Next Friday night is an event called Fabriclive, a 2 day/night event with multiple acts in all 3 rooms of the club. One of the performers will be FreqNasty, who plays at Burning Man - Charles ran into him in the Phoenix airport last month, and said he was very cool. It will be great to see him again.

The headliner will be the Stanton Warriors. They're best known for a song from Stanton Sessions, Volume 2 called "Get 'Em High" and a great remix of Gorrillaz "Feel Good Inc."
Why is it that UK DJ's do breakbeat so well? I don't know, but I can't wait to get my grove on to these guys!!

Here is a track from their Fabric compilation album.

New Kid on the Bloc

Creepy

Blast from the Past

While driving up to wine country this weekend, we were searching in the glove box for a tire gauge, and instead found one of my old music compilations, entitled Summer Mix 2000. I popped it in, and it was still in great shape. It was fun to open this musical time capsule - hard to believe that it was over 7 years ago that I made it! What were you listening to in 2000?

Side A:
Blur "Tender"
K.D. Lang "Summer Fling"
Van Morrisson "Real Real Gone"
Dido "Thank You"
Moby "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad"
Santana/Everlast "Put Your Lights On"
Delerium "Euphoria"
GusGus "LadyShave"
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Otherside"
Sublime "Santana"

Side B:
Luscious Jackson "Beloved"
Smashmouth "I Just Wanna See"
Eagle Eye Cherry "Comatose"
Chantal Kreviazuk "Far Away"
Elliott Smith "Wouldn't Mama Be Proud"
Shawn Mullins "Shimmer"
Fiona Apple "A Mistake"
Beck "Mixed Bizness"
Travis "Fear"
Hole "Malibu"
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"