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CXCW is Coming!

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It’s almost that time again. Time to sit around on the couch in your underwear with a beer in your hand and your laptop overheating your legs. Okay, for some of you this is just known as “Thursday”, but come March 11th – and extending through the 18th – you’ll be able to do this while communing with your fellow poor and lazy people who won’t be attending South by Southwest and still get to witness one-of-a-kind performances from up-and-coming musicians

This is Couch by Couch West, where the beer is cheaper, and the only hipster is you. Run by a secret cabal, CXCW started last year as an alternative entertainment gathering for those uninterested in or unable to go to SXSW, and we are thrilled that it’s being brought back for a second year because it was a hell of a good time.

The virtual showcase takes place over two platforms, with sharing of beer recommendations, pictures of zonked-out pets, and, most importantly, couch session videos on the CXCW Tumblr shiny new main stage to be announced this weekend (follow on Twitter or Facebook for the premiere) shiny new main stage and lewd and drunken conversation happening on Twitter (follow @couchxcouchwest and hashtags #cxcw, #cxcw12 and #cxcw2012).

MUSICIANS! If you want to participate by taping a couch session, post the video of your session to YouTube or Vimeo, then e-mail your video link to cxcwest at gmail dot com. You can begin submitting now and keep submitting until the 18th. It’s a unique and fantastically fun way to gain a little exposure. (And if it’s good enough for Neko Case, well…)

Here are a few favorite couch sessions from last year (you can check out more at last year’s CXCW Tumblr)…

 

Conrad Plymouth – “Texas in a Drawer” (A Heidi Spencer Cover)

 

The Imperial Rooster – “God Has Left the Building”

 

Doc Dailey – “German Train”

 

The Ridges – “Not a Ghost”

 

Daniel Knox – CXCW – You Win Some, You Tie Some from Daniel Knox on Vimeo.

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Have You Met Elbow?

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I sometimes forget that, even though I think a band is big shit, not everyone has heard of them. I was genuinely surprised when I made a post of various Mark Lanegan videos a little while back, and it helped people discover him for the first time.

In that vein, I’ve been listening to a lot of Elbow this weekend, and while I surmise that they are a decently big deal in the UK, they don’t seem to be as known as they deserve to be Stateside. They traffic in full, lush, sweeping arrangements set off by Guy Garvey’s gritty, wrought vocals (keeping his accent beautifully intact and not trying to sing like an American, thank you very much – I love Garvey’s voice to pieces, if you can’t tell). Their songs are tailor-made to be played with a full orchestra, and, hey, whaddya know? They’ve done just that. Here’s a selection from a concert Elbow played with the BBC Concert Orchestra and choral group Chantage.

 

“Starlings”

 

“Grounds for Divorce”

 

“An Audience with the Pope”

 

“The Fix” with Richard Hawley

 

“One Day Like This”

 

And, as a bonus, the song that introduced me to Elbow, a thoroughly delightful, off-kilter cover of Destiny’s Child’s “Independent Woman”.

 

 

Elbow Official Website

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Saturday Matinee: Rock and Roll Singer

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I had an itch to listen to Gene Vincent last night, then woke up this morning to find that, hey, it’s the anniversary of Vincent’s birth today. The intense rock ‘n’ roller would have been 77 today. This documentary, Rock and Roll Singer, filmed for the BBC, covers the first four days of a 1969 tour, beginning in England.

 

 

It was recently announced that a number of backing bands would this year be following their lead men into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, among them, Vincent’s Blue Caps. Here’s Gene and his Blue Caps performing the slinky “Baby Blue”, I believe from the 1958 film Hot Rod Gang. (This clip typifies what HiLobrow has to say today about Vincent’s appeal. Yow.)

 

 

And here’s another performance from 1958, this time of Vincent’s most enduring song, the incomparable “Be-Bop-A-Lula”, played on the Town Hall Party television show.

 

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Drew Smith: Smoke and Mirrors

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Canadian musician Drew Smith first showed up on NTSIB when we shared his enchanting video for “Love Teeth”. Here we have him again with this lovely, “outsourced” video for “Smoke and Mirrors”.

 

 

Both “Smoke and Mirrors” and “Love Teeth” appear on Smith’s album The Secret Languages, which you will likely read more about here very soon.

 

Drew Smith Official Website

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Feel Bad For You, February 2012

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The Feel Bad for You February mix is 25 songs worth of badass designed especially for YOU! (The universal you, not you specifically. Get over yourself.) If you’ve never downloaded an FBFY mix before, lovingly crafted by music lovers, music makers and music enablers (for more information about your generous contributors, check the FBFY site), this is the one to start your habit. First hit’s free.

 

 

Download.

 

1. Title: Weight of the World
Artist: Shayfer James
Album (year): Counterfeit Arcade (2011)
Submitted By: Popa2unes
Comments: Shayfer James is devilishly captivating and deliciously unusual. A man of bewitching grace, grisly humor, profound story telling, and whiskey-flavored wit.

2. Title: Don’t Lie to Me
Artist: “Mississippi” Charles Bevel
Album (year): Charles Bevel – Meet “Mississippi” Charles Bevel (A&M Records SP-4412, 1973)
Submitted By: Simon
Comments: First heard this track on an Oxford American Music edition CD a couple of years ago and loved it, always gets me up and dancing around. I’ve managed to track down a dinked 7” single but still looking for the album…….

3.Title: Unmade
Artist: Timothy Bracken
Album (year): Long Untied (2012)
Submitted By: philnorman
Comments: Great songwriting, great hooks, great guitar sounds all over this record. You need these songs. Name your price at http://timothybracken.bandcamp.com/

4. Title: No Draws Blues
Artist: Valerie June
Album (year): 5 Dollar Cover Soundtrack
Submitted By: Autopsy IV (ninebullets.net)
Comments: Stumbled across this song the other day. Had forgotten how much I liked it.

5. Title: You Used to Be a Sweet Clover Shaker
Artist: Robert Pete Williams
Album (year): Mojo: Brotherhood, a compilation of tracks from Mojo, from 2011, I think
Submitted By: Brad Kelley
Comments: Sometimes I think he’s the only blues artist that really matters, then sometimes I think he’s the only artist that matters. There’s nothing like him in the history of blues. His most famous song, I’ve Grown So Ugly, was covered by the Black Keys (on Rubber Factory).

6. Title: One Way Or Another (I’ll Be Free)
Artist: Dirty Bourbon River Show
Album (year): Volume One (2010)
Submitted By: Romeo Sid Vicious
Comments: I have been in a little bit of a slump lately and digging through my older gems to find some solace and rediscovered this little beauty. I love the guys in DBRS and this song has music that’s kind of happy and jumpy as well as lyrics that give a nice big “Fuck you” to just everything bringing someone down. It’s a fun little tune!

7. Title: Behind The Nut Love
Artist: John 5
Album (year): Songs For Sanity (2005)
Submitted By: erschen
Comments: I make to no bones about my metal head past and I love to watch That Metal Show on VH1 Classic. They have a different musician (mostly guitarists) that take them to break on each episode. I was quite intrigued by John 5, unique and varied styles. I knew he was a shredder and was most famous for being Marilyn Manson’s guitarist but I didn’t know that he has been a session guitarist for folks ranging from K.D. Lang to Garbage to Lynyrd Skynyrd to Ozzy. He’s a big Buck Ownes fan and has a penchant for chickin’ pickin’ as well. Really love this track, a bit of twang on this one. He’s fingering the strings behind the nut to make it sound like a pedal steel.

8. Title: Unfolding
Artist: Folk Family Revival
Album (year): Unfolding (2011)
Submitted By: Mike Orren
Comments: My friends literally dragged me out to McKinney, Texas, to catch this young Houston band a few weeks ago and I’ve worn out their album since. In their early twenties, these three brothers and their best friend are turning out some of the most mature, nuanced lyrics I’ve heard in a while with a sound that at times echoes the Avett’s, the 97′s and Ray Wylie Hubbard. It’s spiritual music, but not in a preachy way. It sneaks up on you and manages gravitas and fun in the same number. My only quibble is another tune where they have a beautiful line about being alone and maybe, like Johnny, finding your June Carter when you’re old. (Sorry boyos, I refuse to call 36 old.) That said, it’s a varied and polished disc without a clunker– but this song, the title track is my favorite. It’s become the theme song of my 2012 to date.

9. Title: My Epitaph
Artist: Ola Belle Reed
Album: Rising Sun Melodies (2010)
Submitted By: Truersound
Comments: Beautiful song from one of Appalachia’s most unsung artists.

10. Title: Jack and Joan
Artist : The Bear
Album : 7″ split w/ Belle Adair (2012)
Submitted By: Corey Flegel (This Is American Music)
Comments : Just another Muscle Shoals band…doing good things. This is from their recent split w/ fellow Shoals-ians Belle Adair. This is available via Itunes and you can order the 7″ through Pegasus Records. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard that they will have a new record done at some point later in the year. Backtrack to their 2010 self-titled one if need be. I love it…lots.

11. Title: Spotlight
Artist: David Allan Coe
Album: Longhaired Redneck (1976)
Submitted by: Adam Sheets
Comments: The best song from a truly underrated, but deeply divisive songwriter.

12. Title: For You
Artist: Roky Erickson (with Okkerville River)
Album (year): True Love Cast Out All Evil (Deluxe) (2010)
Submitted By: annieTUFF
Comments: Roky Erickson doesn’t need any explanation. And if it does, then watch his documentary “You’re Gonna Miss Me.”
Also, and this is just a silly random note, next time you need to pass anyone anything (for instance…the telephone, salt, the remote, french fries) sing the first line of “For You” but replace an actual lyric with the item you’re handing them. Just like this….”For You, I’d do anything for you, For You there ain’t nothing I wouldn’t do…For you, your beauty makes the sunrise, For You, so I’m passing you these fries” and see if they get it….if they do, give them a high-five and become best friends forever.

13. Title: Don’t Love Me Wisely
Artist: The Setters
Album: Self-Titled (1994)
Submitted By: toomuchcountry
Comments: Though we have no defined theme for the month of February, I felt compelled to submit some sort of love song. Right? The Setters was a Super … err, umm … Way-Above-Average Group featuring Alejandro Escovedo, Walter Salas-Humara from The Silos, and Michael Hall, who once fronted The Wild Seeds before releasing several solo albums. The release was produced by solo performer, guitarist for Lucinda Williams, and champion of the music and legend of Blaze Foley, Mr. Gurf Morlix. Hall – who now writes for Texas Monthly magazine – is on vocals with Escovedo on guitar. Salas-Humara contributed percussion rhythms by riffing on snare drum cases, Tropicana orange juice crates, and metal shelving.

14. Title: I’m So Bored With The U.S.A.
Artist: The Clash
Album (year): The Clash [US] (1979)
Submitted By: BoogieStudio22
Comments: Here I sit, wearing my Clash t-shirt. I wanted to hear something from the 70s, created a playlist, hit play and this was the first song up. Must be an omen.

15. Title: The Gravedigger’s Song
Artist: Mark Lanegan
Album (year): Blues Funeral (2012)
Submitted By: Ryan (Verbow @ altcountrytab.ca)
Comments: Love me some Mark Lanegan. First track off of his new album that should be out by the time this mix is posted (2/7/12).

16. Title: The Great Atomic Power
Artist: The Louvin Brothers
Album (year): Weapon of Love (1962)
Submitted By: Rockstar Aimz
Comments: One of my new years resolutions is to listen to more pre-1970 classic country music. You don’t get much more classic than the Louvin Brothers.

17. Title: Say Goodnight to the World
Artist: Dax Riggs
Album (year): Say Goodnight to the World (2010)
Submitted By: Shooter

18. Title: Marley Purt Drive
Artist: Bee Gees
Album (year): Odessa (1969)
Submitted By: TheSecondSingle
Comments: An unexpectedly great homage to The Band by one of the lamest (and secretly greatest) bands of the ’60s. Sure to turn even the most ardent Bee Gees hater around (however slightly).

19. Title: Angel From Montgomery
Artist: Old Crow Medicine Show
Album (year): Broken Hearts And Dirty Windows (Songs Of John Prine) (2010)
Submitted By: Mike Beebe
Comments: I defy anyone to listen to this song and not instantly be a fan of both John Prine AND Old Crow Medicine Show.

20. Title: Get Your Ass On Out Of Here
Artist: Texas Wettnex
Album: Leaning In (2006)
Submitted by: Mando Lines
Comments: Just discovered Michael Wren in the last couple of weeks. He was the singer songwriter for the Texas Wettnex, now he’s a solo act. His most recent record is Rien Vraiment. You can stream some of his songs at www.michaelwren.com. Good stuff.

21. Title: Sweet Red Wine
Artist: Some Dark Holler
Album (year): Some Dark Holler EP (2011)
Submitted By: TheOtherBrit
Comments: These guys/gal are awesome live plus their EP is FREE on thisisamericanmusic.com!

22. Title: Tar Hani (My Love)
Artist: Bombino
Album (year): Agadez (2011)
Submitted By: April @ Now This Sound Is Brave
Comments: The recent Rubber City Review post about Bombino reminded me that you all need a shot of this desert rock. This is another one of those gems that Rick Saunders introduced me to, and it is sublime stuff. This song is a particular favorite because it makes me think of Sandinista!-era Clash.

23. Title: Drift (Live on InDeKringloop.nl)
Artist: Kim Janssen
Album (year): to be released on “Ancient Crime” – March 2012
Submitted By: Slowcoustic
Comments: As a member of The Black Atlantic, Kim Janssen is no secret to the “folky” community and this song proves he is coming into his own. His sophomoric album “Ancient Crime” should see him gain many fans on the genre. This audio rip is of the video of his performance that can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-r60xATwUg

24. Title: Uncle Sam
Artist: Anthony Leon & The Chain
Album (year): The Pistol, The Bottle & Shaded Pastures
Submitted By: Dusty Vinyl
Comments: Good friends of the Imperial Rooster; Santa Fe’s Anthony Leon & The Chain are really great country rock and roll. This is an awesome song about getting weed.

25. Title: Blood Relations
Artist: The Maldives
Album: Listen to the Thunder (2009)
Submitted By: Captains Dead

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Saturday Matinee: New Garage Explosion: In Love with These Times

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A nice little documentary on modern garage rock featuring Jay Reatard, the Dirtbombs, Davila 666, and Hunx and his Punx, among others. It contains performance and interview footage of Reatard filmed just three months before his death on January 13, 2010.

 

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Songs from Satan

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To follow up yesterday’s review of Nick Tosches’ rollicking good time, Save the Last Dance for Satan, we present a selection of songs mentioned in the book. Hold tight, because the first one’s a doozie.

 

“Gila Monster” – Joe Johnson

 

“Sally, Go ‘Round the Roses” – The Jaynetts

 

“All Right, OK, You Win” – Ella Johnson

 

“Big Mary’s House” – The Solitaires

 

“All in My Mind” – Maxine Brown

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Mark Lanegan Band: Blues Funeral

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It seems we turned a few people on to their new favorite thing the last time we posted about Mark Lanegan. Well, get ready to get happy again, because the Mark Lanegan Band (the heavier, grittier outfit with whom Lanegan recorded 2004’s Bubblegum – which includes one of my favorite of favorite songs, “Methamphetamine Blues”) has a new album coming out next week, Blues Funeral. Here’s a taste with “The Gravedigger’s Song”.

 

 

If you just got as excited as I did when I first listened to that song, you can listen to a stream of the full album at KEXP (U.S.) or Mojo (International).

Blues Funeral will be released on February 6, and the touring begins the next night.

7 Feb New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
9 Feb Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
24 Feb Tromso, SE – Aurora Rock @ Kulturhuset
25 Feb Oslo, NO – Rockerfeller
26 Feb HELSINKI, FI – The Circus
28 Feb GRONINGEN, NL – Oosterpoort
29 Feb AMSTERDAM, NL – Paradiso
1 Mar EINDHOVEN, NL – Effenaar
2 Mar ANTWERP, BE – Trix
3 Mar Antwerp, BE – Twix
4 Mar BRISTOL, UK – Academy
5 Mar MANCHESTER, UK – Academy 2
7 Mar DUBLIN, IE – Academy
8 Mar BELFAST, NI – Mandela Hall
9 Mar GLASGOW, UK – ABC
10 Mar LEEDS, UK – Cockpit
12 Mar BIRMINGHAM, UK – Library
13 Mar LONDON, UK – Shepherds Bush Empire
14 Mar COLOGNE, DE – Gloria
15 Mar HAMBURG, DE – Gruenspan
17 Mar COPENHAGEN, DK – Amager Bio
18 Mar BERLIN, DE – Columbia Club
19 Mar WARSAW, PL – Proxima
20 Mar PRAGUE, CZ – Lucerna Music Hall
22 Mar VIENNA, AT – Arena
23 Mar Zurich, Switzerland – M4Music
24 Mar BOLOGNA, IT – Estragon
25 Mar MILAN, IT – Alcatraz
27 Mar BILBAO, ES РKaf̩ Antzokia
28 Mar SANTIAGO, ES – Sala Capitol
30 Mar PORTO, PT – Hard Club
31 Mar LISBON, PT – TMN ao Vivo
1 Apr MADRID, ES – Sala Kapital
2 Apr BARCELONA, ES – Sala Bikini

 

Mark Lanegan Official Website

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Someone’s wall is about to get much more badass…

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Two years? Fucking two years? How did that happen?

Now This Sound Is Brave is two years old today. And year two was even more exhilirating, life-affecting and life-affirming than the first year. We have heard so much great music, seen so many righteous shows, talked to so many cool people and made some amazing friends. I could be here all day listing people who deserve our thanks, like the bands who share their work and sometimes their friendship with us, the good people who run and staff the venues where we see shows, the other blogs who have given us encouragement, the CXCW crew… There’s a whole damn lot of people, is what I’m saying.

But I do want to give individual thanks to four special individuals. First, to NTSIB’s beneficiary, the person who provided the idea in the first place, provides the access and provides the equipment that helps me keep this thing going, Duane. Next, to my intrepid co-blogger who gets giddy with me, makes me laugh and has more than pulled her weight lately, Jennifer. Then, to my wonderful friend, confidante, mentor and so many other things besides, Rick, whose encouragement, belief and helping hand have changed the whole game for me. And most of all, to YOU. You beautiful fucking people who come and read and check out the music and support the bands and support us. I fucking love you. Thank you for being here.

Okay, enough sentimental bullshit! I know there are five of you who are very eager to learn who won that droolacious Black Keys concert poster. That winner is: Jessica H! Jessica’s entry typifies the passion for music, and the passion for helping connect others with music (as a Black Keys fan whose co-blogger is a Panic! diehard, I could relate), that I hope we show here on the blog. Jessica, I’ll be in touch soon to find out where to send your prize (and, yes, I do want to see pictures of dog Dan Auerbach… oh, I do…).

For your enjoyment, the winning entry:

I remember my first not-Raffi concert vividly: my dad took me to see Ozzfest in Las Vegas. It was the first time I was cognizant of marijuana (“What are they rolling on their programs, dad?” “Oh, um, I don’t know, Jess.”) and it was the first time I felt the center of my chest vibrate, just as the concrete of Thomas & Mack was vibrating, from the incredibly loud music. Pantera played an extra long set (I didn’t know what a treat that was at the time) and I heard Black Sabbath play all the songs I’d listened to as a little kid with my dad. He shared a fond story of seeing Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult with my mom at the Ventura Fairgrounds in 1980 — it was so loud that they got noise complaints from miles behind the stage, so he said. And I saw Marilyn Manson who was my latest curiosity. The flesh-colored boobsuit? The Hilteresque podium and grandstanding? What did it mean? Why did he do it? It was so fascinating. But that’s not my favorite musical moment.

My favorite musical moment is probably my least favorite concert ever. I took my baby sister to her first concert: Panic at the Disco at a venue in San Diego. She’d been obsessing over them — my whole family knew all the lyrics to all of their songs because we heard Panic so much — and she was ECSTATIC to finally see them live. The venue was overcrowded — dangerously so — and it was hot. So fucking hot. The place was crawling with screaming adolescents. My sister kept wanting to get closer, closer to the stage and even though I saw security pulling crushed and crying little girls from against the railing by the stage, I acquiesced. My less-adventurous middle sister went to hang in the back so that left me, as chaperone, next to my baby sister who kept pushing forward. The crowd surged and swirled and I kept a firm grasp on my sister who was rocking a permanent grin. Since my adolescent Ozzfest, I’ve traveled the country to see amazing concerts, but I’ve never been so packed like a sardine at a concert ever. As the crowd swayed en masse, my sister and I commiserated about how soaking wet we and our clothes were. We realized that it wasn’t our own sweat — it was the sweat of the strangers pressed up against us. Yuck. Big smile. I saw fights and fists as people bumped into people. Feeling maternal (and unsafe) I asked my sister to go to the back with me but she pleaded no, please, Jessica, please, I want to be closer. Okay, okay. At one point she looked at me, I thought she was going to cry, I hope she was going to ask to move to the back, but instead she said, out breath, “Jessica? I forgot to wear a belt today and my pants are falling down and I can’t move my arms to reach down to pull them up. Will you pull up my pants?” So I elbowed my way down to pull up my sister’s jeans because the crowd was so tight that she literally couldn’t move her arms. That’s my favorite music memory: sharing my sister’s first concert with her because the mix of emotions that music elicits is to be shared. It might be a better memory than losing my virginity. Certainly more sweaty. Let me think about that.

As an aside, I’ve never really had a favorite band. Even when I was in elementary school and my friends screamed over New Kids on the Block, I was too cool for that. Those girls were stupid. I never had my own Panic at the Disco. I’ve loved Led Zeppelin, like everyone else (thanks, dad); I love Neil Young and Radiohead; and I had a pretty serious Talking Heads phase… But I don’t know if any of those are favorite musicians . . . Till the Black Keys. I’m an adult woman and the Black Keys are my favorite band. Like those girls in elementary school, I have a band I listen to pretty much every day; I have their full discography on vinyl that I’ve culled from various record label stores and music shops, despite my poverty; and I have a dog named Dan because he looks exactly like Dan Auerbach. The Black Keys introduced me to dirty, Fat Possum blues and I love them for that, too.

I can send you a picture of Dan Auerbach if you’d like but he’s wearing a cone of shame right because he just got castrated and he won’t stop licking his scrotum.

Love and thanks to the other entrants – Sam G, Ashleigh Jordan, Yoin Segundo and the esteemable Mr. Dave Polak. You rock hardcore.