Chatta-Music

Hiya. I have been pleased to go to some local shows and enjoy some pretty dang good music recently. Last week, Lisa, Abby, and I went to see Charles Allison, Reeve Hunter, and Mermaid Police in a red church basement that, at times, smelled like farts.

Here are some pictures to prove it (not the fart part). It was our first time to see Reeve perform and we thoroughly enjoyed it--this dude is krazy creative and quirky fun. Here is a picture of Reeve and an mp3 of one of my fave songs of the night:

"The Rummage" Mp3
Some of my other recent local faves are the good guys from The Heroes are Horses and Christmas Fiddle (guy singular).
Check out their music here:
The Heroes are Horses
Christmas Fiddle
Below: Christmas Fiddle is spoilt by choice at the new Greenlife:

Lastly, a few weeks ago I got to see a kooky fun band called How I Became the Bomb from not-far-away Murfreesboro, TN.
Their show was fantastic--tight, spiffy music full of energy and fun. Lots of synthesizers- and a synth player decked out in baggy seersucker pants and a pastel jacket who entertained us with near flips and multiple jumps while performing. The bass player had on a slick black Members Only jacket. Nuff said. Here is a groovy foto of above described synth player, followed by an Mp3 by the band. Be sure to also check out the songs "Robo" and "Secret Identity" on the above linked Myspace page.

Killing Machine Mp3
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I'm still pretty short on time and unable to write anything really substantial. But please do stay tuned. I have a few comments, soon to be made, on No Country For Old Men, Flannery O'Connor, and Friedrich Nietzsche . And the once promised, never-written, post on the rebirth of religious imagination in indie music IS coming at some point, although I have forgotten most of what I wanted to say in the first place.

Some People I Would Love to See Right Now

I was just looking though my photos folder, and realizing how many lovely photos I have found (stolen!) from various places on the web of folks I love and miss.
*Darling Dominique and Maarten (from Germany and Holland respectively)--in Newcastle:

Naomi,dear friend from L'abri-the koolest 19 year old I have ever met:

Workers from English L'abri--Stefan, Andrew, and Jeff (Jeff and Heather now live in Chattanooga-yay!):

Newcastle Flatmate, May, frolicking at the Coast:

David, now in London, then smoking in Paris:

Dear Delphine in the South of France--I haven't seen her in so long:

Bill, who is now in Iraq. Before leaving, goofing around with kids from the Compound:

What Do You Think of This? Will Oldham and Kanye West

I was so excited the first time I saw this--Will Oldham in a Kanye West video! At first, I found it very funny and entertaining, and still do to some extent. But the problem is that I REALLY like this song and think that the lyrics are brilliant. One of my students even wrote a kick-ass essay on it last semester. After thinking through the lyrics and watching the video again, I just really don't like it (the video that is) all that much. This particular brand of kool indie dude everything is so funny and we are so detached humor just does not work for me in this context. Yes, Kanye is ironic and funny, but in a very different way--and the video seems to detract from the song, turn it into something "just funny" that two really cool (of course we all know they are) white dudes both mock and, perhaps, still appreciate. Hmmm. I think there is a lot more to say on this strange juxtapostion--I need to think about it a bit more. Maybe my mind will change on this one--am curious to know what anyone else thinks.

I think I am going to ask my classes what they think about it tomorrow, especially the girl who wrote the essay. They probably have no idea who either one of the guys in the video are.

Yeah, Oh Yeah

So, I do plan to write something of some substance sometime soon. But for now...
Just for Fun: I found three versions (two covers) on youtube of a song I have liked for a while from the Magnetic Fields. Here is the original (mp3) of "Yeah, Oh Yeah", followed by a vid Stephin Merritt and Co. performing it live. The next two versions are by John Vanderslice and St. Vincent and Tullycraft (so fun!). Hope you like 'em.
"Yeah, Oh Yeah" mp3 by the Magnetic Fields
Magnetic Fields Live:


John Vanderslice and St. Vincent Live


Tullycraft Live