Endearing Hats

Okay so another whole week has passed. What is my problem? You’d think in the summer I’d have more time to write but it’s been the exact opposite. Of course I may write more during school time just to avoid homework. But none-the-less I am here now and ready to report more on music. I think my exuse this week for missing so many days (because there is always an exuse) is that I was away on the “culinary adventure” with my mom and we were to busy stuffing our faces (to put it really nicely. I always hate when people say that, not quite sure why I did…) with the most delicious food to write about music or anything else. Basically we just ate, and ate. But of course only the finest of foods (and one or two mishaps). But I have returned, am back on a normal diet (well an all salad diet to compensate for the amount of well not salad I ate well away) and ready to write. Sadly not much musically happened well we were away. I did though come across quite a wonderful little gem while searching for a topic for the day. I was thinking Aidan Knight and on a search for his video’s I came across a duet of him and Dan Mangan which seemed far to perfect. You already know how much I love Dan Mangan (speaking of, he has one song with the line “there’s a place I sometimes like to dine” in his song The Indie Queens Are Waiting and well that place for me is Ithaca, New York where we just went for our eating marathon) and I’ve just recently discovered Aidan Knight so for 3:27 of this song I was in complete and utter music heaven. Dan Mangan also sometimes performs with Shance Koyczan. He makes many heavenly music moments for me. Thank you Dan Mangan.

But back to the song. Like I said I’d only just discovered Aidan Knight (on last.fm of course) and only had a few of his songs including Altar Boys, Fighting Against Your Lungs, and Sorrows. But the discovery of his song Jaspar was a great one indeed. He has a great indie, folk, singer-songwriter vibe (which is just what I like) but also an added…twang? He has this other “thing” to him that makes him even more special and not just “another one of eyetunes folky indie guys” (of course he doesn’t have a beard either so take that world). I’ll let you see for yourself though. Here’s the video for Jaspar. Enjoy and talk to you in 3:27.

I like that their in the wilderness (well there’s a road behind them but still) I’m thinking probably close to Jaspar due to the snow and mountainous humps behind them. Plus it looks pretty darn cold, Mr. Knight and Mr. Mangan’s hands must have been quite frozen. The cold puffs of air coming out of their mouths each time they sing also adds quite the effect. The things people do for good music and the right atmosphere and feel. They could have just stood infront one of those fake scenes you see at photography places. That’s how you know a hardcore musician. Their red hats are also quite indearing (I’m a sucker for a red toque, but aren’t we all?). Oh and the song lyrics are quite lovely as well, they have a bit of an old-timey folk song feel and I like that. But that’s all for me tonight. For some reason I seem to write best at night but by the end I get very incredibly sleepy and my spelling and grammar probably just dies completely (sorry about that). For now though enjoy the video check out the musicians you won’t be disappointed and I’ll see you tomorrow for Random Playlist Monday, HOORAY!

A Double Dose of Monday

It’s Monday! And this Monday I’m actually going to do my Random Playlist. Now I think I’m going to do 20 songs this week just for the fun of it (and to catch up a bit). So sit back relax and enjoy, I have a feeling today is going to be a good one.

1. Anywhere I Lay My Head – Tom Waits (there’s always Tom Waits, and this happens to be my dads funeral song)

2. Let My Love Open The Door – Pete Townsend (old school)

3. Somebody Got Murdered – The Clash

4. Sh0t In The Back Of The Head – Moby (this is quite the playlist so far)

5. I’ve Just Seen A Face – Across The Universe Version (and a great version at that, if you haven’t see that movie, go do it, NOW!)

6. Thunder In The Mountain – Danny Michel (always Danny as well, now all we need is Hawksley)

7. (Bit Part) – The Wooden Sky (this is one of my new favourites, it’s fantastic)

8. Atlantis! – Shane Koyczan (this is a great one, not quite as sad)

9. Action/Reaction – Choir Of Young Believers

10. Old Bloody Orange – Hawksley Workman (and there’s the Hawksley, with quite the lovely title)

11. Too Many Nights – Matt Giraud

12. Hello Goodbye – The Beatles (this is one of my favourite Beatle songs)

13. Sweet Medicine – Jason Castro

14. Please Call Me, Baby – Tom Waits (more Tom. I think this is the song where I finally start to fall asleep on Heart of Saturday Night)

15. Airplanes – Local Natives (I’ve been really loving this song lately)

16. Dashboard – Modest Mouse (this is a classic. One of my favourite Modest Mouse songs)

17. Tickle Me Pink – Johnny Flynn

18. What Katie Did – The Libertines (I loved this song and this band when I was little. It’s really to bad they broke up so early)

19. Sweater Song – Hedley

20. Kids – MGMT (you just can’t help but love this song. Even my mom likes it)

So after perusing all the songs on this list (and it really is quite the list), I’ve decided to go with Modest Mouse today. I find that I often forget about Modest Mouse, but than I remember and think “how could I ever forget about this, I won’t this time” but than it just happens again. I’m not sure what that is because they really are awesome and seem unforgetable. As Modest Mouse goes their CD Good News For People Who Love Bad News is my favourite CD. It has classics like Dashboard (of course), Bury Me With It (the perfect funeral song) and Bukowski. For today though, here’s the video for Dashboards. I kinda like this video, it’s a little quirky, but quirky is good.

It’s an old man video so of course I like it. It also includes cool beards and the water not to mention monsters. All my favourite things (well maybe minus the monsters). But for now I’m off to bed ’cause my mom and I are off early on a bit of a culinary adventure inlcuding the Moosewood Restaurant, perfect for a vegetarian like myself and a foody like my mom. I’ll see when I get a chance to blog, but between awesome veggie dishes and pastry over-doses I may not have much time for music.

Eyes Full Of Horse Feathers

It’s Wednesday. Half way through my Hillside week and I have the perfect half-way through band. This is a band that like The Wooden Sky I knew I liked going in but left loving. They blew me away with the beautiful melodies and haunting voices. Horse Feathers combines a whole bunch of techniques to create a really beautiful sound. Some of these including cello, violin and Justin Ringles impossibly hauting and lovely voice. All three of these pieces not to mention the rest of the band are what make Horse Feathers a great live show and a great recording.

But a difficulty arose when I consulted the Hillside schedule to see who was playing and when. The insane schedulers of the Hillside scheduling department put Zeus and Horse Feathers on at the same time Sunday afternoon at 2:00. Now I don’t who did that, but I know I was mad about it. I just couldn’t decide who I would go see. In the end I decided Zeus (even though I’d already seen them twice, this was based purely on weather because Horse Feathers was on the main stage and that can be little risky). But than Sunday came around and it was a gorgeous day and I was back at base one. So I thought go see a few songs of Zeus (just to say I’d been there and than head off to the main stage for Horse Feathers). Well that was the perfect solution. I saw my favourtie Zeus song Kindergarten done, and than a whole lotta’ Horse Feathers.

That afternoon was gloriously sunny with a slight breeze so I sat on my mat and watched Horse Feathers lemonade in one hand, dumplings in the other (if you hadn’t already noticed this festival is mainly about food and the food you’re eating at certain performances, it’s quite an art to plan the perfect meal for the perfect show). People dozed around me sleepily swaying to the music and clapping along. Of course I was completely present for the whole show (no dozing here).

I was completely awed by the band and the music which made me wonder, how to do so many great bands come out of Portland, Oregon and why don’t I live there? I mean what’s so great about Portland, the Pacific ocean air must really get to all the people. Transforming them from fishermen (and women) to budding musicians creating soft indie, folk, country music. That’s certainly what Horse Feathers creates. At first I pinned them as a “country” band and than realized no, their far from that. More a folky, country band. Song titles like Curs In The Weeds don’t really help them from not being named a country band though.

So, if you’re looking for a Horse Feathers introduction I’d try checking out Eyes Full Of Rose and Curs In The Weeds first. And then just dive right in and download a CD. I’m really loving House With No Home right now but be sure to checkout their others to (oh and if you know where I can find a vinyl copy of it let me know, I missed them at the merch tent and couldn’t get it ).

For now though, check out the video for Curs In The Weeds. It’s a simple video and simply lovely song.

So enjoy the rest of your rainy Wednesday and check out more Horse Feathers, but for now have a goodnight until next time.