Word on the streets (and in cyberspace) is that one and only The Penny Black Remedy are currently working on their second album…I will keep you updated as information rolls in, or you can keep up on your own via their website. If you sign up for email updates, I promise you will receive some of the funniest and best news updates from a band ever.
So I was at a concert last night, except I wasn’t really. My sister was, and she decided to give me a call during the show. Not to talk over the performance, not to give me the low down, but to set the phone down so I could listen. I put mine on mute, defied the constraints of time and distance and attended a show 8 hours away in Philadelphia at Tin Angel. Two Sisters and a Show 21 century style. He played one of my favorites, “Devil’s Broom,” and Adrienne filmed it, along with a few others. So, now I get to see what I was hearing live. From what she told me, he was joined on stage by Kraig Jarret Johnson (member of the Jayhawks and one of Joseph Arthur’s Lonely Astronauts), who I had seen perform with Joseph Arthur with the rest of the Lonely Astronauts in 2008. Here’s footage of the same song from both performances.
Joseph Arthur with Kraig Jarret Johnson, “Devil’s Broom”
Tin Angel, Philadelphia PA, January 21, 2011 (video filmed by Adrienne)
Joseph Arthur and the Lonely Astronauts (in full Halloween garb) “Devil’s Broom”
Musica, Akron, OH, October 31, 2008 (video filmed by me)
(l-r: Jen Turner—sporting a wonderfully outrageous wig, G. Wiz, Joseph Arthur, Sibyl Buck, Kraig Jarret Johnson)
And a little extra encore . . .
Joseph Arthur “In the Sun”
Post show at the merch table, Tin Angel, Philadelphia PA, January 21, 2011 (video filmed by Adrienne)
There are some other Joseph Arthur live concert footage clips, as well as other live performances (Gorillaz, Wilco) taken by Adrienne (or official blog concert videographer) and parked on her youtube channel, which has become the official blog concert footage home for Tulip Tree Presents.
Heaps of goodies to share today so I’m going to get right to it by sharing some of the recent interviews, video clips and news from some of the bands I love most-est. So grab a cuppa whatever and check out this bevvy of great tunage I’m about to unleash on you!
The Penny Black Remedy recently appeared live at BBC Radio 5 Live Show for a short interview (with a nice little mention of drummer Wilco’s name likeness to another of my long time favorite American bands, Wilco). You have to hurry though, the interview will only be up until this Saturday, December 11. They are on around the 3 hour 30 minute mark. Another great clip (and a must watch!), an appearance by The Penny Black Remedy on Croatian television channel Nova TV on a program called Provjereno, which you can watch here. It’s quite a unique interview, taking place in a hair styling parlor and includes a chihuahua, as well as some very unique drumming during a snippet of an acoustic version of “The First Time I Saw Angels” they performed in the salon. A very fun clip, here is The Penny Black Remedy on Provjereno!
Much luck to the band at their upcoming performance on Saturday, December 11 at their Soundinistas Winter Jam at the Luminaire in London.
Stateside, I’ve been watching with joy as Joseph Arthur has been touring around with his new band, Fistful of Mercy, which includes bandmates Dhani Harrison (a son-of-a-Beatle), and Ben Harper. I have seen JA (originally from my neck of the woods, cheers to NEOhioan musicians!) perform live many times in various configurations—with his band The Lonely Astronauts,
completely solo, and also performing briefly with Emily Wells—all in intimate settings, so I know just how much talent Joseph Arthur is loaded with, and it is really great to see him take off in yet another creative setting, and gaining momentum. His very distinct songwriting style and voice still shines through within the band of three, but synthesized with the sounds and styles of Harrison and Harper, the result is a very beautiful album: a softer Arthurian Traveling Wilburys in a way. I’ve noticed in the process of the band’s promotions that over on Joseph Arthur’s website a free six-song mp3 download sampler of some of his solo works is being offered. I won’t give away what’s in the download, you’ll have to do yourself a favor and check it out. Follow the link above to go directly to it, or you can find it on the front page of his website.
Here’s a clip of the title song “Fistful of Mercy,” a very Joseph Arthuresque tune, filmed during the recording sessions.a
The Yalla Yallas have also been active lately as well, appearing on two separate radio programs recently, and I have a couple of interviews with Rob Galloway and the band from these programs to share. From Stockholm, Sweeden comes The Ronny B. Goode Show, and through Rob I have been put in touch with Ronny and Ann, two very cool people I am so pleased to have met in the process of making arrangements to share their feature on The Yalla Yallas (thank you for that again, Rob!). The Ronny B. Goode Show airs every Wednesday at 1900 UTC (2-3pm EST in the USA) on Radio Österåker 103,7.
The interview was conducted by Ann Bergholtz during one of their performances in London and is a great conversation that reflects the exuberance and passion for music that Rob brings to his band. The entire show is filled with great songs, and you’ll find The Yalla Yallas about a quarter of the way into the show.
Rob Galloway interviewed by Ann Bergholz on The Ronny B. Goode Show, November 17, 2010
The second interview is from a show called Punk Britannia out of Leeds, that airs as a weekly show on an internet punk rock station in Los Angeles, California called punkrockdemo.com. In the words of the man behind the show, Paul Aich, Punk Britannia is “aimed at giving UK punk and ska bands a bit of exposure both in the UK and in America. It’s not a nostagia trip. I scour the internet to pick up on new bands, although there are one or two older bands that are making new music that I also play.” The show airs California time Tuesdays noon to 1pm and Fridays 11pm to midnight (UK time Tuesdays 7pm to 8pm and Fridays 6am to 7am).
Rob Galloway on Punk Britannia, November 16, 2010
Time keeps getting away from me, but I have made arrangements to do another interview with Rob here on the blog, so much more on them to come in the near future. Until then, go here to listen to a few tracks from their latest album, Diamond In Dirt.
And finally comes The Savage Nomads, self described as experimental/pop/rock, these guys from London are popping up all over the place lately, most recently having won November’s Best of Myspace and they have recently released their debut record, ‘What The Angel Said EP’ on Alaska Sounds which has received many positive reviews. Check out their tracks via myspace, a blend of ethereal, funky groovy tunes, nice jangly guitars and swirling melodies that are all tied together with lead singer Cole Salewicz’s rich and powerful voice. Good stuff. Give a listen to a couple tracks via the videos here, and follow the link above for more.
Happy listening, and stay tuned for part 2 with a few more goodies regarding my favorite musicians and bands.
Music of the Week: Gorillaz live
One final video from Camden, NJ, a great live version of Last Living Souls, with a whole lot of Mick Jones screen time in this one, and a fabulous dramatic performance by Damon Albarn.
I have to say thanks once more to my sister Adrienne for her videography skills, she has learned how to do something I have not: how to stay still during a song rather than dancing, and how to turn one’s own body into a human tripod while filming live music. She took on this task so I could dance (all I wanna do is dance!), and so we could share the Gorillaz extravaganza. (All photos and video contained in this post by Adrienne)
Music of the Week (Gorillaz live series), another from the Camden NJ show featuring The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, photo and video courtesy of Adrienne!
Sisters Dissonance 