There are some crazy things going on over here at my blog. You may have missed my posts, but I am happy to say I have many new readers/listeners that have signed on to follow me. It all began with a random hello on a shared supportive blogger’s post.
It is a bit of a problem when I am so busy listening to music, learning about bands, and going to shows that I rarely have time to market and reach new followers. I have now learned an important lesson, the people who appreciate the music and personal stories I share are my best marketers. So as Facebook rules change, and algorithms become more complicated, I am hoping you might like what you read, comment when you want to express your view, and maybe even share it with a friend. I welcome your thoughts and know I have many loyal followers, but I would love to hear from you all.
Thanks y’all! Now, let’s get to the music.
Does David Byrne of The Talking Heads need any introduction? If so go look him up, HERE. He dropped a new track from his upcoming album, American Utopia. In his liner notes he says…
“Is this meant ironically? Is it a joke? Do I mean this seriously? In what way? Am I referring to the past or the future? Is it personal or political? These songs don’t describe an imaginary or possibly impossible place but rather attempt to depict the world we live in now. Many of us, I suspect, are not satisfied with that world — the world we have made for ourselves. We look around and we ask ourselves — well, does it have to be like this? Is there another way? These songs are about that looking and that asking.”
Then he goes on to add….
“I have no prescriptions or surefire answers, but I sense that I am not the only one looking and asking, wondering and still holding onto some tiny bit of hope, unwilling to succumb entirely to despair or cynicism.
It’s not easy, but music helps. Music is a kind of model — it often tells us or points us toward how we can be.”
Any day with new music from David Byrne is a much better day, am I right?
David Byrne-Everybody’s Coming To My House
Kississippi is an indie pop band from Philadelphia, PA. They are Zoe Allaire Reynolds, Adam DaSilva, Jeremy Probst, Allegra Eidinger, and Kaylen Alan Krebsbach. Zoe had a life long dream of pursuing her music passion and the band has brought her early demos to life. With a new album in the works, they recently dropped this awesome track. I have been playing it on repeat.
Kississippi-Cut Your Teeth
“Cheekbones that shine like diamonds
Oh darkness, I am nerveless
Eyes closed for lack of purpose
Lack of light or fear that I’ll lose it
I’m still afraid of the dark
You were my light for so long Oceans deep and mountains tall
Our future plays tricks on us, huh?
Stories that wreak of fiction
Adorned, written in cursive
You were a catholic school kid
You kept quiet for fear that you’d choose this
Dimples that cut through eyelids
Oh, heartlessness is burden
High lows, for you’re uncertain
Of eagerness or fear that you’ll lose it
Or fear that you’ll lose it (x4)
The person you made yourself out to be
Would feel sorry for what you’ve done to me
Like scrapped sheet metal shaves ivories
You started out slow
But you cut your teeth
You cut your teeth
Cheekbones that shine like diamonds
Oh darkness, I am nerveless
Eyes closed for lack of purpose
Lack of light or fear that I’ll lose it
Or fear that I’ll lose it (X4)
You’ve never felt sorry at all (x4)
The person you’ve made yourself out to be
Would feel sorry for what you’ve done to me
Like scrapped sheet metal shaves ivories
Started out slow but you cut your teeth
You cut your teeth.”
Nightshifts is Andrew Oliver out of Toronto, Canada. There is not a lot out there about his band, but I have been following the Facebook page and saw his new track and the cool video teaser. So, I found the tune on Soundcloud to share. The video will probably come soon, so follow him. Love it! Can’t wait for more…
Nightshifts- Walking Away
When you love a new sound or follow a new band, it opens up other new sounds and bands. Remember Haley Heynderickx? Well click here to check it out again. Her music was chosen as someone to watch in 2018 by NPR. I love it when I can find a distinct creative sound and music gurus confirm. Well, after celebrating her good fortune, I had to research NPR’s entire list, and found this amazing talent as well. Worth your ears, for sure.
Sidney Gish is a singer songwriter from Boston. She creates infectious melodies with charming inner thoughts and ideas as she navigates her new adult world. I imagine skipping, skating, and whistling along while I listen. “Where The Sidewalk Ends” is from her album, No Dogs Allowed, it is not 2018, but I find it to be incredibly fresh. It is new to me…
Sidney Gish-Where The Sidewalk Ends
“I wanna write a book
And put it in your mailbox and when you go to pick it up
You would send it back to amazon
I wanna write a list
I wanna pepper it with everything unvalidated
Just to see if you’ll agree with me
Cause that’s all fine with me
Toeing on the line
Of reality
And the mud in your mind
Where the sidewalk ends
Is the only place
We can be good friends
I wanna circle you
Like a rabbit courting both my shoes
For fun we just assume
Characters and never get confused
I wanna play a song
Nobody in the world interprets wrong
But that’s hilarious
At this point everyone is caked in mud
And that’s all fine with me
Toeing on the line
Of reality
And the mud in your mind
Where the sidewalk ends
Is the only place
We can be good friends
Cause that’s all fine with me
Toeing on the line
Of reality
And the mud in your mind
Where the sidewalk ends
Is the only place
We can be good friends
We can be good friends”
It is funny how I meet amazing people at live shows. I am always out there and happy to chat with others in the hope that I can get a true pulse of their most recent music appreciations. Many times, I luckily meet artists and band members that are local and trying to get their music out there.
I met this band at a show recently. They were personable and totally fun. I don’t always share the bands’ tunes that are sent to me, but after listening, I know this tune is worthy of your time. I am impressed with the production, the writing and the music of Ashley and the X’s, out of Chattanooga, Tenn. This song makes me excited about the music scene here in the south. I expect there may be more music to follow, and I am incredibly excited for them and happy to share.
Ashley and the X’s is a rock/blues indie band with Ashley Hicks: Vocals, Banjo, Eric Parham: Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, Dan Walker: Percussion, and Matt (Yosh) Shigekawa: Guitars. With steamy sultry vocals, singing guitars, and a rockin’ beat, Ashley and the X’s has a presence that demands listeners.
Ashley and the X’s-Red (road mix)
It seems like Philadelphia is cranking out some great music lately. Here is another Philly band, Hurry. They are Matt Scottoline, Rob DeCarolis, and Joe DeCarolis. This is a new track off of their album, Every Little Thought, coming out in February via Lame-O-Records. Sparkly indie pop, listen.
Hurry-Waiting For You
A great song from a while ago, but now we have it paired with a fun new animation from Noah Farrar, and Aaron Yankowiak of @dolorondu. It is a song seeping strength and conviction, yet has a chill alt vibe. They are a young boy band with lots of promise. I have featured them before, so check it out HERE and HERE if you are into this track and new video.
Hippo Campus-Buttercup
I first learned of Caroline Rose at High Water Fest in Charleston last spring. She has an alt country, indie vibe that is infectious and she is a charmer with true guitar talent on stage. She has a new album, Loner, arriving next month. So when I saw this hilarious video, I couldn’t help but appreciate her ability to laugh and exude joy while creating fun music. We all need that right now, seriously (haha). So tap your toes and chuckle with me, as I watch again for the hundredth time.
Caroline Rose-Soul No. 5
I heard Sylvan Esso‘s track “Coffee” the other day, and after having not listened to it in a long while, I was struck by the everlasting newness of their sound. When Sylvan Esso came to my ears back in 2014, they were making music in their house, or was it their closet? Her incredible vocals are so forward in their music, but the balanced electronic sounds, claps, and production transform their music to another level. Fresh and fun, this track is not just more of the same…Sylvan Esso continues to surprise and enlighten us with their careful production, wowing vocals, and lyrical surprises. Listen to their newest song…
Sylvan Esso P A R A D (w/m) E
So there you have it. Some amazing music came out in the first few weeks of January. It is beginning to look like an incredibly fruitful music year, yea! I hope you’ll hang around with me and explore it all!
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