Video

Musical Bits (the good stuff)

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

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.

Joseph Arthur

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,

Joseph Arthur solo in NYC at City Winery (January 2010)

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

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.

The Savage Nomads

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.

GORILLAZ – Last Living Souls (live)

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)

The Autumn Defense at The Beachland Tavern

John Stirratt and Pat Sansone with The Autumn Defense at the Beachland Tavern (photo by Shan)

I attended another live show this weekend, The Autumn Defense, the side project (but every bit of a full production as any band) of two members of Wilco, John Stirratt and Pat Sansone. They played at the snug little Beachland Tavern in my neck of the woods, so no cross country trip necessary this time. The show started off with a short but lovely set by Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion. Silly me, I didn’t hear Sarah Lee’s last name last night at the show, and it was only after looking further into it today did I discover and realize that, yes, she is that kind of Guthrie, Woody Guthrie’s granddaughter, and the daughter of Arlo. She’s got an incredible voice and while harmonizing with Johnny it was hard to pick out where one voice ended and the other began.

As for The Autumn Defense, the last time they came around I had plans to see them in Philadelphia, but ended up with the flu so it never happened, but last night’s performance made up for it all. From the start the audience was in very capable hands indeed, and it was nice to see John and Pat step out from behind Wilco and to be able to really focus on their musicianship. Material from their first album, The Green Hour, their second (and my favorite) release Circles, all the way through their just released Once Around (possibly rivaling Circles) was played. It was a night of vocal perfection as Stirratt and Sansone possess a lock and key aspect to their voices complimenting one another so thoroughly and beautifully. The set started off with the smooth, mellow acoustic sounds that define The Autumn Defense, but by the end of the set and during the encore the energy level rose to the same fever pitch that I have experienced at so many Wilco shows. I was also pleased to see a familiar face on the drums, G Wiz, who I last saw drumming with Joseph Arthur and The Lonely Astronauts in Akron on Halloween in 2008, though I didn’t recognize him until he was introduced as last time he was dressed in a get up that looked something straight out of Hilarious House of Frightenstein. T’was a fantastic evening. The Autumn Defense will be touring around the east coast for the next month so if you have an inkling to catch them, do!

That’s all for ze moment.

GORILLAZ – Superfast Jellyfish (Live on Letterman)

Footage taken by Ady during the insane and fabulous Live on Letterman performance on October 7, 2010 at Ed Sullivan Theater, New York City.

(Adrienne, let this serve as an official announcement, you’ve been promoted from janitor to Videographer, finally vindication after all those years of the terrible reign of your sister . . . xo)