40 Day Dream

There is not enough words for me to sum up how much I like this group. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are welcome in my world anytime. Their music is such happy great fun music and their live performances are so full of emotion, its just a great time for everyone involved.

The following is one of my favorites of theirs and this particular video shows exactly what I mean about their live performances. They are having so much fun up there, you can see it in the way they move. This group is unlike any other. Please research more of their music. Its worth it.

Time Waster

Its Friday, if your like me and your waiting until you are told that you are free until Monday here is a site I think you would like.

www.songfacts.com

Go there. Indulge. If for no other reason then its Friday.

Them That Do Nothing

In case you really didn't believe my last blog post, here is another video to confirm how talented the members of Field Music really are. Trust me!

Field Music

Field Music is a band for people who like good music. Some may ask, well thats just a dumb statement. But its true. This band is for people who know what truly good music is as is not afraid of where it may go. This band pushes limits and does so in such a way that they literally create their own type of sound.

This song in particular called "Lets Write a Book" features a fabulously funky bassline along with a nice rhythm groove to back it up. Every so often they throw in a musical surprise that will make your ears urge for more. If you enjoy this music at all I highly suggest you go out and pick up their fully cd Measure.

Great Cover

Check out the cover that I stumbled upon today. NPR has made a list of their favorite five covers of 2010 so far and well at a very well deserved number one is this song. Basically Beck, who we all know and love creates great music on his website featuring this place called Record Club, where he invites his friends and fellow musicians to cover entire albums in one day and then release it song by song once a week. Its just an amazing concept and the gems that come out of these recordings are unblievable.

For example take this breakdown of an INXS classic "Never Tear Us Apart". Sit and enjoy!

Record Club: INXS "Never Tear Us Apart" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

Just Because

New Music! KT Tunstall

Alert! New music alert! One of my favorite artists is back with a new song. KT Tunstall which most pop people know as the "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" but her bigger fans know that really her best songs are "Suddenly I See", "Other Side of the World" and "Another Place to Fall". When this girls cd came out last year I was one of the first on line to buy it. She is original, super talented and just overall amazing.

This new song shows the direction she is taking with her new album. A blend of acoustic and electronic. Very exciting. Looking forward to September to hear the full album.

For now enjoy the first cut "Push That Knot Away".

"When the dark comes, when the dark comes to your door

Will you deny him don't recognize him

He's not welcome anymore

In your life, in your life, in your LIFE"

Ain't No Rest for the Wicked!

I really am enjoying the latest single from the band Cage the Elephant called "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked". Not only is the music video pretty innovative but the songs message is pretty dead on. The song talks about a few different circumstances where the singer realizes that there truly is "no rest for the wicked."

First he stumbles upon a hooker asking if he desires to spend the night with her, when he asks her why she does what she does the chorus kicks in and analyzes the reasons that people do the things that they do in this life. Things such as "Money don't grow on trees, I've got bills to pay, mouths to feed...". Next he is robbed by a criminal where he asks the same question and gets the same response. Finally he turns on the tv and sees a preacher stealing the funds from the church. This is followed by the the final chorus saying that everyone is the same and we all have no rest "until we close our eyes for good".

Its widely known that the lead singer wrote this song about a co-worker of his who was dealing drugs. When Matt asked him why he did the things he did he looked at him and said "there ain't no rest for the wicked" and just like that a song was born.

Ghost Town

"Lite a match and burn it all down"

Jewel Undercover

Please just watch this video. Jewel rocks. haha. Just watch!

Undercover Karaoke with Jewel - watch more funny videos

Living of Love

If I ever do get married, you can be sure that if this is not my first dance song it will definitely be on the playlist. Just beautiful. I imagine it also while dancing in a field full of flowers.

Okay now I'm just losing it.

"Say yes we live uncertainty

And disappointments have to be

And everyday we might be facing more

And yes we live in desperate times....

There's only one thing here worth hoping for....

Say love, say for me love

Say love"

Janelle Monae

I could write about this next artist for a few hours. She is such a breath of fresh air for the music scene. Janelle Monae is hell bent on making it for who she is and not what people expect her to be. Her debut song "Tightrope" is just amazing. If this song does not have your foot tapping under your desk well I would check your pulse.

Again I can't stress enough how much I dig this girls whole vibe (not to mention her stellar dance moves!) That and its always nice to see a cameo from Outcast's Big Boi.

Can't wait to hear more from her!

The Black Keys

Happy Tuesday! (I know that just sounded pathetic) Tuesdays really aren't any better than Mondays. You still have four full days until the weekend and that realization is never fun. Yet here is something that will surely make your rainy (if here in Richmond) day a little better. Its hands down the cutest video I have seen in a long time.

The following is a song from the band The Black Keys called "Tighten Up"; and the following video depicts a childhood playground and the quest for love. Watching these kids lip sync to this throwback 50s soul music is just fantastic. Great idea guys!

Enjoy

Video of the Day

Here is my favorite new video for the day. Its the first single from upcoming singer/songwriter Matt Morris (Another one found by Justin Timberlake). The video is very American Beauty esque; but its got a great feel to it. Not too sure about the song, sure it will grow on me but this video is defiantly worth the watch.

Undecided

Okay now I have stated my love and respect for all things Lady Gaga before on this blog. I'm sorry but you can not hate on her. She is making music history. Like her or not. Nobody has ever really had this impact on pop culture since Madonna. Yeah I said it. Like I said like her music or not; you have to respect what she is doing to the music game right now. (And I'm not just saying this because I'm going to see her live on my birthday this year).

So yes, I do love her.....BUT

I don't know how I feel about this picture.

Here she is over the weekend at Yoko Ono's house playing John Lennon's famous "White Piano". Yes this is the very piano where John sat and wrote "Imagine". The piano in which he gave to Yoko after writing that song. This is the most famous piano (in my opinion) in history.

Now Lady Gaga I have one question for you. Why didn't you wear pants!!

Damnit Gaga.

You need to at least learn an inch of respect when playing iconic things. I don't have an issue with you sitting down and playing the piano at Yoko's house but you really need to wear pants. I mean look at this video below, this piano has earned its respect.

Okay mini rant over. Continue on with your day.

Great Quote

"Most of the shadows in this life are caused by standing in our own sunshine"

Airplanes

"I could really use a wish right now..."

Welcome back. After a great weekend spent with my mom, I'm back at work and ready to tackle yet another week. Everywhere we went this weekend this song kept popping up on the radio, in stores, on car radios driving by my house. It was everywhere. And you know what, it isn't half bad.

Has my girl Haley Williams singing the hook and well I know its really cheese pop/rap but well like I said. I don't mind it. So yes, I'm featuring it here today.

Hope everyone had as good a weekend as me. Sometimes its just what you need a visit from your mother to reassure that everything that you are doing is right on track.

Its the Weekend!

Thats right you saw your calendar correctly. Its Friday. Time again to cut loose and take some time for yourself! Its the weekend! My plans! Hanging out with this fantastic lady!!

(creepiest picture of my mom ever taken)

So yeah my mother is coming for a last minute visit! Now I understand how I am able to just get up and travel at a moments notice. I got that from her! She literally called me yesterday and said that she was on her way! Love that.

So today and for the rest of the weekend you will most likely find us at some museum, eating massive amounts of food, at Target shopping for stuff for my apt, and finally at the grocery store because well she is going to be disappointed to find that I only have butter and syrup in my fridge.

And while we are doing these activities you can be sure that we will be listening to something like this. My favorite, my mothers favorite. Again, there is a reason I love her so much.

~Have a great weekend everyone~

No More Dancing?

So this morning when reading my daily news I found an interesting article online at Styleweekly.com. In this article is announced plans for a new city ordnance here in Richmond that well, how can I explain this in terms that people will understand. Its basically so vaguely written that it will require a space "where dance is permitted" to obtain a permit and hire extra security and if they don't comply no dancing will be allowed.

Again. No dancing will be allowed.

Are you serious? People all over the city are outraged over this. The whole idea of this in general was to stop the violence that is plaguing Richmond cities OUTSIDE of their nightclubs. Yes outside. So why come in and punish the people inside? More security will easily lead to higher fees and ticket prices.

This ordnance is so poorly written that it will even in some cases if not followed correctly will outlaw dancing at the Richmond Ballet. So Richmond, come on do we want to be compared to the town in footloose? Get your heads back out of the sand and stop passing stupid things!

Thank you. This has been your daily announcement brought to you by the committee of individuals who enjoys getting down.

Signing off.

K. Boogie

Alumni Blues>Letter to Jimmy Page>Alumni Blues

Phish ended an epic run last week, completely solidifying the fact that the boys are back and in my opinion better then ever. Their set lists are unpredictable, different band members are taking leads during shows, and most of all they are having a lot of fun which is always great to see. During this run they had a great two night stand at one of my favorite venues in Camden, NJ. There they opened up the concert with songs that we haven't heard in ages. Again nobody predicted it, yet it was such a great surprise. Enjoy this treat.

Phish - 6/25/10 "Alumni Blues > Letter To Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues" from Phish on Vimeo.

Carole and James... 40 Years Later

If you are a music fan in general; take the next 12 minutes out of your life and listen to this story. This is the story of two of the greatest songwriters to ever grace this planet. Carole King and James Taylor have been making music both together and separate for the last 40 years. The 61 and 64 year old respectively, have joined forces again for the Troubadour Tour this year. The tour name is after the club that they first played together over 40 years ago in Los Angeles.

These two artists are very similar. They are almost cut from the same fabric, listening to them talk about each other is like listening to two old friends reminisce. Its magical.

Take some time today and visit with two of my favorites of all time. And yes, I will hopefully be seeing this tour. Definitely.

Brandon Flowers

What do you get when you put music to a video with Charlize Theron and ninjas kicking ass. Oh yeah thats right, a pretty fantastic video from The Killers front man first solo project "Crossfire".

I like this video. I think its hilarious that its Brandon who time after time finds himself in a situation where he is in over his head and needs Theron to come and save him. And well she not only does it in style but while looking fantastic. I would like to know anyone in the world who hates this girl. You can't. Shes like Uma Therman; if she can kick you in the ass while looking great, shes got my respect.

Check out the video:

Ready or Not

I play my enemies like a game a chess....

Last week I basically reintroduced my brain to some old school music that I loved back in middle school/high school. The Fugees were a group straight out of NJ. West Orange to be exact. I know this because when we would play them in basketball they would break out an old school tape of Lauryn Hill singing the National Anthem when she came and visited the school she once graduated from. They were so proud. They had to have security escort us on and off the bus but for those few minutes there was calm in the room.

I love the Fugees. Love them. I am not ashamed to admit that I literally know every single word to their album. Every single one. Especially this song right here. This was my JAM. When Lauryn would come on with her rap verse I thought that she really was going to take over the world.

I miss music like this. The music that just makes you go there. Makes you not ashamed to roll down your windows turn up the beat and literally rap like you think you belong.

Don't deny it. If you know this song, you at one point in your life thought you were tough. ha. True.

Killing In The Name Of...

Well as I gather myself from an epic 4th of July weekend complete with beers, the river, more beers, hot sun, more beers, my car being smashed into and well a lot of sleep I'm back.

And as I gather myself I'm also trying to figure out all of the issues I seem to be having with my fonts lately on this site. I mentioned before that I got a new Apple laptop that I've been posting from and well my work computer is very slow and stupid. The combo of the both have left this blog in editing hell. So yea I apologize for that. And for a treat here is what is an EPIC THROWDOWN from Phish's 4th of July show down near Atlanta. Harpua>Killing In the Name of>Harpua.

Watch the crowd go friggin nuts around the 5:00 point in this video. What I would have given to be in the middle of this madness!!! Ahhhh! So great!!

Loving You Is Easy

Well she has hit this title right on the head. Sarah McLachlan it is easy to love you... especially when you have been gone for so long!

As a girl that grew up on her Lilith Fair, its nice to see Sarah back in the music scene. She brings the beauty, the lyrics and well the class back into pop music. Shes been doing it forever, we all know her classics "I Will Remember You" and "Angel" but this new lighter tune is a great one to bring her back to her fans. Its light, its easy and well it shows off whats so great about Sarah's music. Its completely understated.

Its great music, mixed with fantastic lyrics in a neat little package. I was happy to see this video today.

Oh and yes, hope everyone had a great 4th and was able to be outside (even in the blistering heat here in Richmond)

Jimi Hendrix

The time. Woodstock 1969. The artist. The legendary Jimi Hendrix.

He walked up on stage with just his guitar and like usual the audience had no idea what it was about to see. He starts off just ripping into the Star Spangled Banner, it was fully instrumental. It started sounding just as the original, he was even giving the peace sign to the crow... then he came to the part where the words "And the rockets red glare" and he just went off. What he did to his guitar for the next three minutes would never be duplicated again. For generations to follow they will look back at this performance as inspiring, epic, perfect, insane just about every word to describe "fantastic". This performance was it. It proved to the world just who Jimi was and showed exactly what he was all about.

It gets more and more amazing every time I see it.

Simon And Garfunkel

You can't talk about America without talking about Simon and Garfunkel. These guys who have been strumming along for years and years to their amazing original tunes. Most of the tunes deal with specific points and places in America... New York City mainly.

Their song "America" perfectly sums up the sentiment of 1972 a time where everyone was "gone to look for America". You can't make a list of songs that sum up our country without including this song its timeless....

USA USA USA

I am super excited for this weekend. Not just because its the 4th of July, which gives every American an excuse to drink beer, eat hotdogs, act like fools and watch fireworks. But also because its the first weekend in a while where wait whats that....I have nothing planned? No travel. No Phish. No Weddings. No nothing! It will be a whole lot of me eating, drinking and being merry..thats for sure.

So in celebration of the 4th and for my awesomely fantastic weekend of nothing ahead I'm bringing you America's tunes. The best songs writting for or about the US of A starting with a gem. Its from one of my favorite artists...Tom Petty and its a little song called "American Girl".

Enjoy

King of Anything

Here it is, I have been talking about it on this blog a few times over the last few weeks but I'm really excited for this video premiere and well her entire album. This video is as close to perfect as they get. It beautifully depits the song in a literal way while keeping its style and fantastic bursts of color. I particularly like the part where she is singing on the bus with a brass band behind her. Why? Well who doesn't want to sing along on a bus with a brass band... I know I do.

So here it is my favorite song of the summer. The song that literally is written about someone who just gets too much advice and well she is sick of it. She wants to stop listening to everyone else and just live her own life. Because really "who made you king of anything". I'm 100% behind that line.

Neutral Milk Hotel

Yes, that is the name of an actual band.

On Saturday night at the Phish show we were treated very well. Not only did the band throw down for one of the craziest second sets I've seen in a while (only to be topped on Sunday) but the first set they threw down a new cover. Its not a suprise to Phish fans everywhere to hear them tear into some new covers this tour, its almost like they are going back to the early 90s. Where bust outs during shows were completely expected and welcomed. I love this Phish. They are if nothing else having a ton of fun, and expanding our music tastes as they go.

Here is the original of the cover that they played Saturday called "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea", and well I love it. Great choice boys!