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What It Is To be Free: Music As Release

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NTSIB’s good friend Brucini, proprietor of The Black Keys Fan Lounge, has graced us with a rumination on the freeing power of music, as exemplified by a couple of his fellow countrymen.

How does it feel to be free? How is it possible to just be yourself? Most folk don’t think about it. Some musicians wittingly or otherwise are emboldened to consider these notions, it informs their way of being.

Musicians through live performance seem to be able to demonstrate a way to be – free, and real, and honest, if just for a fleeting moment.

It’s not a way others can inhabit easily, it’s just a way, their way.

Music historically has opened a door to a type of personal transcendence. Fears, inhibitions, anxieties are either dealt with onstage through lyrics and music or they are simply put aside during those brief moments of performance.

The stage creates a space in which this personal transcendence can take place. The audience pays its respects to this place. The music urges on feelings to be released, to rage against the world, to do away with the attachments that otherwise chain us.

Two of the best examples of this going around, though definitely not the only, are Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

Have you ever seen two men so free on stage?

2010 – Grinderman “Kitchenette” live:

 

To have the confidence to pursue a singular artistic vision is audacity indeed. To have done it for so long with an unrelenting drive is even more remarkable.

 

1981 – The Birthday Party “Nick The Stripper”

 

Nick and Warren embody an expression of what it is to be free. When you are free or so tangled you are striving to be free, the music seems to become free too.

To listen to and see Warren Ellis’ band The Dirty Three live and in full flight grabs hold of your emotions as he and the band wrestle with theirs. Instrumental music forces you to fill in the vocal blanks, to engage.

Performer and audience both come out the better for it. You’ve been exposed to a way, a pathway to somewhere.

 

2004 – The Dirty Three “Everything Is Fucked”

 

The release of musical freedom walks an unsteady tightrope. The muse can tangle up a normal life. Regular being doesn’t allow pure expression, emotions that need to be released, to be expressed and reinterpreted, endlessly.

There are seemingly many ways to be free. Nick and Warren give life and expression to some of them.

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The Ghost of Ronnie Drew

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That’s right, I’m going to do an Irish music post for St. Patrick’s Day. Bite me.

I’ve always loved traditional Irish music, and my favorite voice in that genre, by far, is that of Ronnie Drew. If you know this classic performance of “The Irish Rover” by the Pogues and the Dubliners, you know Ronnie Drew. He’s the handsome, white-haired gentleman who takes the first verse. (Please excuse the advertisement at the beginning.)


The Pogues & Dubliners – The Irish Rover by Renaud_lyon

 

 

Drew’s deep gravel was sublime on its own, but as a part of the Dubliners (who were originally known as the Ronnie Drew Ballad Group when they formed in 1962), his voice was a beautiful complement to the tenors of Luke Kelly and Ciarán Bourke, as can be heard in the chorus of “The Rocky Road to Dublin”, one of my all-time favorite songs.

 

 

Another example of how fine Drew’s voice was in harmony can be found in this lovely Gaelic tune, “Óró Sé do Bheatha Bhaile”, which translates to “Oh-ro, You’re Welcome Home”.

 

 

In January of 2008, U2, the Dubliners, Kíla and a who’s who of Irish music (including Shane MacGowan, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Glen Hansard, Sinéad O’Connor, Bob Geldof and more) recorded “The Ballad of Ronnie Drew” with the proceeds from sales of the single going to the Irish Cancer Society. The song ended up being a send off of sorts when Drew died the following August.

I could keep this up all day, inundating you with “Slow and Easy, “McAlpine’s Fusiliers”, “Seven Drunk Nights and so on, but I’ll end here with this clip of “The Auld Triangle” that marked Ciarán Bourke’s last appearance before his death in 1988.

 

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Don’t Say I Never Gave You Anything: Ocean Carolina, De Staat, The Wilderness of Manitoba

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This song, “Night and Day”, from Ocean Carolina, out of Brooklyn, NY, reminds me of Grant Lee Buffalo/Grant Lee Phillips in a wonderful way. It is a sweet, heartaching tune.

Ocean Carolina – Night and Day by Now This Sound Is Brave

Ocean Carolina Official Website

 

I was not expecting the sounds that came through my earphones when I hit play on De Staat’s “Sweatshop”. This band from Nijmegen, the Netherlands, mixes rock, dance, industrial and hip hop with ass-kicking verve. You can catch them at SXSW.

De Staat – Sweatshop by Now This Sound Is Brave

De Staat Official Site

 

The Wildernes of Manitoba is actually from Toronto, Ontario, but either way, this track is sunny enough to have come out of the Carolinas. Lovely instrumentation and lovely harmonies complement a bouncing, running-barefoot-through-a-field rhythm.

The Wilderness of Manitoba – Orono Park by Now This Sound Is Brave

The Wilderness of Manitoba @ Facebook

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Massive Tour Alert: Casey Neill and the Norway Rats

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The first time I saw Casey Neill was at the Mercury Lounge in the East Village, somewhere around 2008, when he was one of the opening acts for New Model Army. (There were three; one of the other ones was an instrumental Goth band. It was, as you might be gathering, quite an unusual evening.) In any case, he played this song . . .

Casey Neill - We Are The City

. . . and it immediately became one of my favorites, because, if you’ve ever wondered what the DNA of New York sounds like, there it is. This is the city I am homesick for when I am wandering on far distant shores.

The BIG NEWS that I have for you today, ladies and gentlemen, is that he has gathered up his band, the Norway Rats, and they are hitting the road on a scale not seen since 2007, making numerous stops in the Mountain West and also at South by Southwest. He (and they) will also be playing some Pacific NorthWest shows in April and May before swinging  East later in the spring, but in the meanwhile: Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and Texas, get your calendars out!

CASEY NEILL AND THE NORWAY RATS – MARCH 2011 (featuring Jesse Emerson-bass, Chet Lyster-guitar, Derek Brown -drums on the way there, Ezra Holbrook-drums on the way back)

Tues March 8th – MISSOULA, MT @ Badlander
208 Ryman Street 9pm $7, 21+, opener: David Boone & The Controls
Presented by Stoneflyproductions

Thurs March 10th – DENVER, CO @ Lions Lair
2022 E. Colfax Ave. 8pm with Moe Purdue and Brian Rodgers

Fri March 11th – COLORADO SPRINGS, CO @ the Triple Nickel
9pm, 21 and over, $5 (also appearing The Broken Spoke and Gabriel Rozzell)
26 South Wahsatch Avenue

Sat March 12th- DENVER, CO @ Scruffy Murphys (during St Patricks Day Parade)
7:30pm in the tent (all day St Patricks Day throwdown) 2030 Larimer Street

Sun March 13th (EVENING)- FORT COLLINS, CO @ Avogadro’s Number
7:30pm $8 605 South Mason Street

Sun March 13th (DAYTIME)- LOVELAND, CO opening for SOLAS! @ Rialto Theater
short acoustic set opening for our pals in the Irish supergroup.
228 East Fourth Street $25 advance, $29 day of show

SXSW SHOWS – ALL FREE NO FESTIVAL BRACELET REQUIRED!!

Thurs March 17th- AUSTIN, TX @ THE VORTEX THEATER / BUTTERFLY BAR
7pm set, St Patricks Day Party 2307 Manor Road

Fri March 18th – AUSTIN, TX @ Threadgill’s 12:30pm set
Burnside Distribution Party, our PDX cohort Fernando will also be performing at this legendary outdoor BBQ joint and music mecca. Many more. 301 West Riverside Drive

Fri March 18th – AUSTIN, TX @ Flipnotics Cafe 3pm set
301 West Riverside Drive   The yearly Flipnotics Party hosted by Matt the Electrician

Sat March 19th- AUSTIN, TX @ Yard Dog Art Gallery Party 3:30pm set
This notorious SXSW Party features an amazing lineup starting at 11am. Wilco side project the Autumn Defence, Mark Eitzel, Steve Wynn, Jon Langford of the Mekons and Scott McCaughey & Peter Buck’s adhoc collective the Minus 5 (which Ezra will drum for and Casey will sit in)

… OUT OF TEXAS AND BACK ON THE ROAD…

Wed March 23rd – ALBUQUERQUE, NM @ Low Spirits Bar and Stage
2823 2nd Street NW 8 PM www.ampconcerts.org
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/142929 $10 advance, $15 day of show.

Thurs March 24th – FLAGSTAFF, AZ @ Charly’s Bar (in the Weatherford Hotel)
8pm 23 N. Leroux Street

Fri March 25th – DOLORES, CO @ The Dolores River Brewery, 100 S. 4th St.
with special guest KATYA CHOROVER (exSeattle and now four corners area songwriter extraordinaire, Casey is co-producing her new CD and Jesse and Ezra both have played on the tracks…)

Sat March 26th – SALT LAKE CITY, UT @ Piper Down
1492 South State Street

APRIL/ MAY – West Coast band shows & East Coast solo shows
April 30 – Arcata, CA Humboldt Brews
May 6-Eugene, OR Sam Bonds Garage with Sassparillla
May 7 – Hood River, OR Double Mountain
May 13- Portland, OR Secret Society Ballroom

SOLO EAST COAST TOUR
May 25- Boston, MA Club Passim
many more TBA

FACEBOOK – http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Casey-Neill-and-The-Norway-Rats/128221115191
YOUTUBE CHANNEL – www.youtube.com/caseyneill
TWITTER:  www.twitter.com/caseyneill

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Video: Steel Train – Bullet

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I watched this video late last night and I’ve had the song in my head all day. I love the visuals, though, and the way they tell a familiar story in a way that’s understated and fresh. Mainly this makes me wish I had gone to more basement punk shows in high school, so that I could have the memory of drifting into a room full of friends, some of whom might have been playing the guitar, to dance and sing.

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Close to Live

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I’ve been fighting (and losing to) the flu for nearly a week now, and because of that, I very sadly missed Patrick Sweany’s recent CD release show for That Old Southern Drag at the Zephyr Pub in Kent, Ohio, this past Friday (if anyone who did attend the show would like to contribute a review and/or photos, please let me know – contact information can be found to the right), so we’re missing the final big event of Patrick Sweany Month here at NTSIB.

And as I’ve mostly been listening to comfort music (the Godfathers, the Parting Gifts, the Dirtbombs and the Black Keys… I may have a skewed sense of comfort) when I haven’t been laid up on the couch, watching old movies and making my own music (i.e., whining about being sick), there’s not been a lot of new music intake going on here at NTSIB HQ. And the closest I can get to a live performance right now is via television. So, I give you my favorte televised performance to date: the Afghan Whigs’ fierce cover of Barry White’s “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe”, performed at an MTV-hosted party for the film Beautiful Girls (the soundtrack for which Greg Dulli was an executive producer) in 1996.

And, submitted by the esteemable Brucini of the Black Keys Fan Lounge, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion pretty literally tearing it up while playing “2 Kindsa Love” into “Flavor” on an Australian Saturday morning show called Recovery in 1997.

Do you have a favorite sit-up-and-take-notice television performance? Comment!

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Notable Shows in the Greater Cleveland Area + Patrick Sweany

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Shows worth checking out this week in and around Cleveland:

The Beachland Ballroom & Tavern

  • Fri, Feb 11| 9 PM (8:30 PM door)
    Waterloo Alley Cat Project Fundraiser
    Prisoners
    Rainy Day Saints
    Filmstrip
    $5 / $3 admission with dry or canned cat food
    Tavern | All Ages

  • Sat, Feb 12| 8 PM (7 PM door)
    Cabinet
    Hoots & Hellmouth
    Holy Ghost Tent Revival
    $10
    Ballroom | All Ages

  • Mon, Feb 14| 8 PM (7 PM door)
    James Hunter
    Blue Lunch
    $15 adv / $17 dos
    Ballroom | All Ages

  • Tue, Feb 15| 8:30 PM (8 PM door)
    Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds (feat. Kid Congo Powers – ex Cramps, Gun Club, Bad Seeds)
    Exploding Lies
    Shouting Thomas Torment
    DJ Hot Trash
    $8
    Tavern | All Ages

  • Wed, Feb 16| 8 PM (7:30 PM door)
    Chris Bathgate
    The Modern Electric
    Brian Straw
    Chad Hill
    $7
    Tavern | All Ages

  • Thu, Feb 17| 8 PM (7 PM door)
    Cowboy Mouth
    The Ray Johnston Band
    $15 adv / $17 dos
    Ballroom | All Ages

Grog Shop

  • Sun, Feb 13| 8 PM
    The Godfathers
    Frosting
    Rainy Day Saints
    $12

  • Wed, Feb 16| 8 PM
    Orgone
    Groovesmith
    $8

The Winchester

  • Fri, Feb 11| 9 PM
    Commander Cody
    $12

House of Blues

  • Tue, Feb 15| 8 PM (7 PM door)
    The Robert Cray Band
    Kristine Jackson
    $25 adv / $27 dos / $45 balcony

Patrick Sweany will be playing at Zephyr Pub in Kent, Ohio, on Friday, February 18, and I couldn’t be more excited. Here’s a clip of the Patrick Sweany band playing on an old local show called Crooked River Groove back in 2006. Check out Patrick’s big-ass belt buckle.

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Patrick Sweany: Coming Soon, Baby, to Your City

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It’s Patrick Sweany month here at NTSIB (check out the interview we did with Patrick if you missed it). Patrick kicks off a series of CD release shows for his latest, That Old Southern Drag, starting tonight in St. Louis at Off Broadway (check his website for more dates – more dates coming). To see why you should not miss the opportunity to see Patrick live if he’s coming to your town, check out the videos below.

Here’s Patrick playing the hell out of “Hotel Women” – and blessing a sneezer in the audience without missing a beat – from his album Every Hour is a Dollar Gone at Merlefest 2009.

From the same album, “After Awhile”, filmed at the Old Rock House in St. Louis in December, 2010.

And for the players, here’s a video of Patrick leading a workshop at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp, teaching Papa Charlie Jackson’s “Shake That Thing”.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKmnzIfPmBU?version=3]

Patrick Sweany Official Website

Patrick Sweany @ Bandcamp

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Giveaway: Hugo

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Giveaway is closed.

First, watch this:

You want to go see that guy now, right? Well, if you’re in Cleveland tonight, you’re in luck. NTSIB has a pair of tickets to give away to see Hugo play at the Beachland Tavern (inside the Beachland Ballroom at 8 PM with Attack Cat and Dan Miraldi & The Albino Winos) in Cleveland tonight. Be the first to comment, and you get the prize.

Hugo on iTunes

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I Am Your Champion, Part II

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Here’s the deal, my babies: If you read this post, you’ll see that I’m championing for the Music Maker Relief Foundation as a part of a charity-driven game set up by A Terrible Idea (you can join the game, too – just visit A Terrible Idea for details).

Here’s where you get to pitch in. If you donate $5 – just five measly bucks, less than you’d pay for an actual album download – I will create a personalized music mix just for you. Each person who donates will receive a mix (download or, if you prefer, on CD) unique to him or her.

To donate, Paypal your $5 donation to nowthissoundisbrave@gmail.com (note: you don’t have to have a Paypal account to send money) or e-mail me at the same address, and we’ll work out arrangements. 100% of the donations will go directly to the Music Maker Relief Foundation, and you’ll help keep the roots of American music alive and thriving.

Once I receive your donation, I’ll e-mail you with a question or two (or 30) to aid me in tailoring your mix. Please allow time for pondering, rearranging and crafting. I will try to keep you apprised of progress throughout the process.

And thank you. So much.