Archive
* Favorite EPs / Vinyl / Live Albums & more of 2011 *
This is sort of a precursor to my “official” Favorites of 2011 blogs. Up later this week, I’ll post my favorite vocal and favorite instrumental albums of 2011. Anyway, on with the music pimping…
Favorite EPs of 2011
- Savanna Coen – Strength
- Auragami – everything. Now.
- Works Progress Administration – 4×4
- Amanda Palmer/Ben Folds/etc – 8in8
- Celldweller – Wish Upon A Blackstar 4
Favorite Vinyl-only Release of 2011
- Secret Chiefs 3 (FORMS & Ishraqiyun) – Saptarshi / Radar 7″
- Chamberlain/Krauss/Phelps – Modular: Sonic Explorations 12″
- John Zorn’s The Dreamers – The Christmas Song/Santa’s Workshop 7″
fave non-vinyl-only issue: My Brightest Diamond – All Things Will Unwind 12″ (is luscious)
Favorite DVDs of 2011
- Fantômas – The Director’s Cut Live
- Kevin Smith – Red State
- Morgan Spurlock – POM Presents the Greatest Movie Ever Sold
- Tucker & Dale vs. Evil
- Sigur Rós – Inní
Favorite Internet Only Releases of 2011
- Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 2 (monthly series from March to December)
Favorite Live Albums of 2011
- Sigur Rós – Inní
- Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy – United Front (live at Newport)
- Damien Jurado – Live at Landlocked
- Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood – In Case the World Changes Its Mind
Favorite Podcasts in 2011 (they’re free, yo! Search for them on iTunes)
- George Hrab – Geologic Podcast
- Keith Olbermann – Countdown on CurrentTV
- Rachel Maddow – The RM Show on MSNBC
- Bill Maher‘s New Rules
- Adam Carolla – The Adam Carolla Podcast, Ace on the House and CarCast
- Kevin Smith & Scott Mosier – SModcast
- Kevin Smith & Ralph Garman – Hollywood Babble On
- The Skeptics Guide to the Universe
- CNN’s Political Notebook
- Marc Maron – WTF Podcast
- Dan Savage – Savage Lovecast
Best Cover Art & Packaging in 2011 
- Steven Wilson – Grace For Drowning (special edition)
- Chamberlain/Krauss/Phelps – Modular: Sonic Explorations 12″
- Over the Rhine – The Long Surrender (special edition)
- My Brightest Diamond – All Things Will Unwind (colorful, lovely cover art)
- Mike Patton – The Solitude of Prime Numbers (stunning die-cut leaf design)
- John Zorn’s The Dreamers – A Dreamer Christmas (vinyl, designed by Chippy)
Favorite Indie Releases in 2011 (DIY all the way)
- Jason Ludwig – Lost in Love and Tanglings (Cincinnati/Austin-based, former Noctaluca frontman)
- Savanna Coen – Strength EP (13yo Eugene singer with a voice beyond her years)
Best Re-issues in 2011
- Dream Theater – Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From A Memory (on vinyl)
- Ben Folds – Best Imitation of Myself (hits w/ some new BFF songs)
- Toad the Wet Sprocket – All I Want (hits, rerecorded)
- Various Artists/Sufjan Stevens – On Joyful Wings (tribute album to Seven Swans)
Worst Music News in 2011 (for me at least)
- Faith No More‘s reunion tour didn’t hit the U.S. proper, again… and the promised Mondo Cane U.S. Tour didn’t happen.
- Dream Theater not wanting to take a short break/hiatus, and thus kicking out Mike Portnoy, one of the best parts of that band…
Best Late-Getter in 2011 (something that came out before 2011)
- Florence + The Machine – Lungs (from 2009)
Best Musical Novelty / Ingenuity in 2011
- F*ck That! Erin McKeown’s Anti-Holiday Album
- Weird Al Yankovic – ALpocalypse
Best Soundtrack in 2011
- Kevin Moore – Shine (for Küçük Kıyamet)
- The Book of Mormon
So, yeah, this was the catch-all post… check back later this week for the more traditional year end wrap-up festivities…
My Other Favorites of 2011 Recaps:
- Fave Concerts & Photos of ‘11 are recapped *HERE*
- Fave Vocal Albums ‘11 are coming soon
- Fave Instrumental of ‘11 are coming soon
- Old Years:
- 2010: Instrumental, Vocal, EPs/etc, Concerts,
- Best of the 2000s Decade (1-10, 11-20, 21-25)
- 2009: Instrumental, Vocal, EPs/etc, Concerts
- 2008: Instrumental, Vocal, EPS/etc, Concerts
- 2007: Vocal, Instrumental, Concerts
- 2006 & 2005
~Dan – np: Ani DiFranco – Which Side Are You On?
John Zorn w/ Mike Patton, Trevor Dunn & John Medeski
These posts from Tzadik mixer extraordinaire Marc Urselli made me giddy…
Mike Patton, Trevor Dunn & John Medeski together on a future John Zorn release?! Excellent! It’s not listed on the Tzadik upcoming releases page, yet…
~Dan – np: Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra – MTO Plays Sly
Favorite Concerts of 2011
Well, this year was once again good to the Pacific Northwest on the concert front… 365 days, 67 shows, 132 artists, many long nights driving home, and a lot of photos…
My favorite concerts of 2011:
- Puscifer :: Paramount Theater :: Seattle, WA {7 Nov} [review with photos] – brilliant new album, fantastic stripped down/meets over the top tour!
- U2 & Lenny Kravitz :: Qwest Field :: Seattle, WA {4 Jun} [review with photos] – one of the biggest tours ever doesn’t disappoint
- My Brightest Diamond :: Mississippi Studios :: Portland, OR {6 Nov} [review with photos] – Shara’s gorgeous voice works well even in a solo setting
- Peter Mulvey :: three shows :: Eugene/Creswell/Corvallis, OR {10-12 Nov} [3-show review with photos] – yes, I’m an addict, but I can’t pass up any chance to see Peter in my neck of the woods…
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor :: Crystal Ballroom :: Portland, OR {18 Feb} [review, no photos] – surreal and amazing!
- The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (Sean Lennon & Charlotte Kemp Muhl):: The Woods :: Portland, OR {28 Jan} [review with photos] – pure pop brilliance, Sean takes after his father…
- Nels Cline Singers :: Doug Fir Lounge :: Portland, OR {30 Jan} [review with photos] – avant garde guitar experimentation…
- Eddie Vedder (of Pearl Jam) & Glen Hansard (of The Swell Season) :: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall :: Portland, OR {14 Jul} [review with photos] – Glen is a great singer-songwriter, and Eddie is an amazing performer (this time, mainly on ukelele)…
- Explosions in the Sky / MusicFest NW :: Pioneer Courthouse Square :: Portland, OR {10 Sep} [no review] – I had to scuttle from this show to a follow-up MFNW show, but this was definitely a highlight…
- Pomplamoose :: Doug Fir Lounge :: Portland, OR {27 Oct} [review with photos] – the youtube stars make good with a real tour… A+!
- Over the Rhine :: Aladdin Theater :: Portland, OR {17 Nov} [review with photos] – OTR will always be a favorite
- Opeth :: Roseland Theater :: Portland, OR {16 Oct} [review with photos] – no cookie monster screams, I missed them, but Opeth still doesn’t disappoint.
- Erik Friedlander plays John Zorn’s Masada Book Two (Book of Angels, Volume 8: Volac) :: The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts :: Eugene, OR {8 Jan} [review with photos] – an amazing cellist playing a amazing book of melodies
- Toad the Wet Sprocket :: Downtown Bend Celebration :: Bend, OR {8 Jul} [review with photos] – anytime Toad or lead singer GLen Phillips are playing in my radar, I’m going!
- Jeffrey Foucault :: Cozmic Pizza :: Eugene, OR {20 Oct} [review with photos] – Jeffrey is quickly becoming a favorite songwriter of mine, full of grit and charm…
Runners-Up: Reptet at Luckey’s (Jan), Elton John at Matthew Knight Arena (Feb), A Perfect Circle at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (June), The Dead Kenny G’s at Sam Bond’s Garage (July), and Jason Webley & Mood Area 52 at WOW Hall (Oct). Even after honorable mentions, I cut some GREAT ones… 2011 was a great year.
My favorite concert photos of 2011: (in chronological order)
(all images are free to use under a creative commons designation,
simply identify Daniel Temmesfeld with a
photo credit and link to pacificlectic.com.
Past Favorite Concerts Lists:
Favorite music of 2011 will be coming soon… EPs/DVDs/etc, vocal albums, instrumental albums…
~Dan – np: Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra – MTO Plays Sly
2011 mix
Time for this year’s mix CD, except I decided to go CD-free this year. It’s still formatted to stay contained on one CD (20 tracks ~77 mins); so if you want to download the whole shebang and burn to a CD – go for it!
Check out 2009’s mix over here and 2010’s mix over here. No major theme this time like some of my prior mixes (4 Elements & A-to-Z mixes)… the only rule I placed before myself was that everything is current (i.e.- released in 2011). This year’s mix ended up mellower than most mixes from me. There are a few rock songs, but whilst re-listening, it’s definitely less rocky. I hope you enjoy.
The following songs were put on the mix from mostly lossless sources where possible and for promotional purposes only (read: free direct market advertising to people who decidedly love music). Most of the artists on this compilation are independent (put out the music themselves) or signed to smaller, independent labels. If you like what you hear, check out their music / support them with your wallet if you are able. The artists’ Webpage, Facebook, and Amazon links are available for each song below. I’ve also included concert review links if I’ve seen the artist recently.
Download the ZIP File (136M) available *HERE*, extract then drag & drop the mp3 files to your iTunes (or other playback software).
All Songs Streaming Playlist (click arrows to skip back & forth… for individual songs find them below. Note: Track 20 has explicit content.)
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01 Puscifer “The Green Valley” from Conditions of My Parole
Tool / A Perfect Circle frontman Maynard James Keenan makes wine and makes other music in his time off from Tool and APC. I loved Puscifer’s debut and the subsequent EP, but this album tops it all. It’s a brilliant record, recorded in one of his wine cellars with his friends – featuring backing vocals from Carina Round. It’s self-released by Puscifer music with a small distribution partner (available in indie shops, primarily). While there are some rockers (maybe 1/3 of the album), this song is fairly representative of the feel of the album. It’s my #1 album in 2011.
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02 My Brightest Diamond “Be Brave” from All Things Will Unwind
Shara Worden (aka My Brightest Diamond) took some time off since her last album – 2008’s A Thousand Shark’s Teeth. She put out some stunning collaborations in the past three years (including her first kiddo); so the lapse in studio work was a-OK. On this album, Shara teams up with NYC-based ensemble yMusic to create a lush backdrop for her gorgeous voice. It’s my #2 album in 2011. I can’t praise it enough!
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03 Ric Hordinski “My Pretty Bagatelle” from Arthur’s Garden
Guitarist extraordinaire Ric Hordinski (formerly of Over the Rhine – in their rockier days) has been a favorite of mine for a LONG TIME. He’s the kind of guitarist who is subtle and unassuming in his approach, but you end up wracking your brain how he gets such lush and complex sounds out of the frets. This album was part of a Kickstarter campaign, and while the physical manifestation hasn’t hit my mailbox yet, I was happy he sent it out to Kickstarter funders early. It’s such a great record… you can get it now on bandcamp!
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04 Goddamn Electric Bill “Sin” from Jazz
GdEB is the one-man brainchild of Jason Torbert. He hits the spot for organic electronic meets post-rock for me. Ambient at times, melodic other times. His latest work has featured some vocals, but he’s primarily a groove-induced soundscape kind of guy. Chirps and glitches, too. Excellent stuff!
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05 Radiohead “Codex” from The King of Limbs
I could probably put the “indie” icon next to Radiohead, too… I think technically they put TKOL out by themselves. But they’re a huge superpower of a band. I like this record, but I’ll admit that it’s still sinking in… I need to give it some more spins. This album spawned a seven 7″ vinyl remix set. The video for “Lotus Flower” also spawned a silly “Thom Yorke dancing” meme… one of my favorites being the tennis/fish and the “Single Ladies” editions.
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06 Garage A Trois “Assault on Precinct 13” from Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil
Skerik, Stanton Moore, Marco Benevento (who replaced Charlie Hunter) and Mike Dillon make their way through Oregon quite a bit. They are a sight to see – you don’t know exactly what kind of show you’ll get, but it’s definitely a fun time. Fun, groove-oriented “new jazz.”
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07 dredg “The Tent” from Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy
I love this band. I hate the album title, but I love the band. Modern progressive rock, tons of talent, thoughtful lyrics, none of that “prog wankery” that is generally detestable. While it’s hard for them to follow-up the stunning The Pariah The Parrot The Delusion, this new album does a hearty job of maintaining their quality rock standards.
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08 Tres Mts. “Makes Me Feel” from Three Mountains
Supergroup made up of dUg Pinnick of King’s X, Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam, and Richard Stuverud of the Fastbacks. They jangle through about an hour of solid rock tunes… more closely resembling a soulful King’s X trajectory vs. Pearl Jam – mainly due to dUg’s vocal duties. This is a great trio that I hope isn’t a one-off. With King’s X on tour in 2012, I doubt we’ll hear more from Tres Mts for a while, though.
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09 Chamberlain/Krauss/Phelps “Everest” from Modular: Sonic Explorations
Gorgeous soundscapes from Matt Chamberlain, Viktor Krauss, and Dan Phelps. The Modular Project is the collaboration of the aforementioned musicians working together to “discover what the spontaneous and organic manipulation of sound can yield. Inspired by the world around them, they set out to discover what it might sound like when continents shift, clouds form, and roots push through soil.” This track, “Everest,” features one of my favorite cellists – Eyvind Kang (who has worked with Secret Chiefs 3, John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Mike Patton). It’s a great mix of cello, vibes and soaring atmosphere. It’s only available digitally or on vinyl (it’s a luscious triple-gatefold!)…
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10 Jeffrey Foucault “Passerines” from Horse Latitudes
Jeffrey Foucault is a favorite Americana artist that I got turned on to by singer-songwriter/storyteller Peter Mulvey. Jeffrey and Peter work together in the band Redbird (with David Goodrich and Jeffrey’s wife Kris Delmhorst). I didn’t pick up Jeffrey’s albums until the past year and a half. He’s definitely more on the cusp of country than I tend to traverse, but I dig his authenticity, poetic wit and charm. He’s a delight on stage and a fantastic Prine-esque songwriter for the new generation.
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11 Peter Mulvey & David Goodrich “Drumlin Trail” from Nine Days Wonder
Peter Mulvey has toured all over the US and the world for about 2 decades. Some of the first times I saw him in concert, he had “Goody” with him on backing guitar. They don’t get a chance to tour together much lately, but they did find some time to hole-up inside a studio to write and record some instrumental guitar duets. While I love Peter’s vocal storytelling, it’s nice to hear his and Goody’s instrumental interplay tell a different story.
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12 Steven Wilson “Home in Negative” from Grace for Drowning
Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson is a hard worker. Whether he’s producing albums for others or making albums & touring with PT, Blackfield, No-Man, Storm Corrosion, or solo – he’s always busy each and every year. 
This year brought his second solo album and a small tour. The album is a bit more stripped down from his other projects. It is reminiscent of Pink Floyd in spots – specifically this song “Home in Negative.” He also rocks out a bit in the almost two hour double album… check out the video for “Track One” here (it’s a bit bleak then startling). Gorgeous work.
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13 Wussy “Pulverized” from Strawberry
Well, I was super happy when I found out that Wussy was putting out their fourth full-length studio album this year. They’re a fantastic rock quartet made up of Chuck Cleaver, Lisa Walker, Mark Messerly, and Joe Klug. They write catchy, poppy choruses and meld it perfectly with Midwest Americana-meets-indie-rock grit (or “Midwestern drone” as their press says). Vocal duties are traded off with Chuck (of Ass Ponys) and Lisa (of Magic Words).
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14 Pomplamoose “Telephone” from The Album You Bought At Our Show…
This is the song that got me into Pomplamoose. It’s a cover of the collaboration between 
Lady Gaga and Beyoncé (whose ridiculous but still kind awesome original video has 129 million hits as of Dec 2011). Pomplamoose does “video songs,” and this was the hook to lure me in. Click the image at the left to see their video of the song. The CD came out this year as part of their first tour ever… which I caught in Portland. Excellent, fun band!
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15 David Bazan “Wolves at the Door” from Strange Negotiations
Continuing in his solo expressions after the official ceasing of Pedro the Lion, David Bazan manifests wit, a sharp tongue, and a questioning mind into his DIY-indie rock. This year, he toured quite a bit, solo and with a band. An album last year (Curse Your Branches), an album this year, and another on the way. He’s slogging away, trekking all over the country, and making some great music on the way.
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16 John Zorn “Song of Experience” from At the Gates of Paradise
“Channeling the work of Romantic visionary William Blake and ancient Gnostic writings from the Nag Hammadi archives, At the Gates of Paradise is the newest installment in Zorn’s ever growing catalog of mystical works. The music is filled with bright light and a childlike innocence, and ranges from long form compositions with constantly shifting time signatures that unfold with a compelling inner logic to mysterious ballads and hypnotic moods.” The album features a quartet that I know and love from many jazz/avant outfits: drummer Joey Baron (Masada and many more), bassist Trevor Dunn (Mr Bungle, Fantômas, Nels Cline Singers), keyboardist John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood) and vibraphonist Kenny Wollesen (Sex Mob, Electric Masada, etc).
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17 Over the Rhine “Days Like This” from The Long Surrender
For those that don’t know Over the Rhine, they started out as a four piece in Cincinnati in 1989 and put out their “post-nuclear, pseudo-alternative, folk-tinged art-pop” indie debut ‘Til We Have Faces in 1991. After about a decade as a four-piece, Ric Hordinski (guitars) & Brian Kelley (drums) left. Karin Bergquist (vocals) & Linford Detweiler (keys) carried on the Over the Rhine flame throughout the years… moving away from a rockier feel to a more folky-pop-Americana thing. What I like about Over the Rhine is they continually change and evolve into a different band with each album and each outing. I’ve seen them rock out, I’ve seen them jazz it up, I’ve seen them happy, I’ve seen them somber, I’ve seen them celebratory, and I’ve seen them tell stories that will make you laugh and cry. This tune was written by fellow Cincinnati singer-songwriter Kim Taylor (it originally appeared on her 2008 EP The Greatest Story). I’d highly recommend checking her out as well.
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18 Elysian Fields “Sleepover” from Last Night On Earth
Brooklyn-based sultry art rockers Elysian Fields don’t really tour outside of NYC often. Jennifer Charles and Oren Bloedow find their way to Europe on occasion, but most U.S. fans only really have their studio albums to sate their musical desires. This is their sixth full-length album in their near 16-year career. Well crafted, well produced, lush vocals and folk meets dusky jazz.
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19 Kevin Moore “Hypnogogic” from Shine
This is a little palette cleanser for the mix CD – right before the end. Kevin Moore’s main projects are the trippy/sample-heavy Chroma Key & heavier prog collaboration band O.S.I. (with Jim Matheos). Shine is the soundtrack to the 2006 Turkish film Küçük Kiyamet (“Little Apocalypse“). It came out in early 2011 after a successful Kickstarter in 2010. The next album from O.S.I. comes out in February 2012 on Metal Blade. I can almost guarantee it will be my Top album of 2012, and I haven’t heard a shred of it yet.
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20 Childish Gambino “Heartbeat” from Camp (warning: explicit content)
I first heard of Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover) like many people – via television. Donald plays Troy Barnes on NBC’s Community. I’ve heard a few of his albums, but this was his first full-length with a wide release. This song almost didn’t make the cut, but the melody in the chorus and the grinding keyboards just made it to difficult to ultimately cut from the mix. Brilliant song about the messiness of dating. If you’d like the “clean” version of the song, there is a “clean” version of the whole album on Amazon.
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Near misses from the mix: something from Earth’s Angels of Darkness Demons of Light 1 & Opeth’s Heritage (songs are too long) and Azealia Bank’s “212” (infectious as hell)… plus songs from several other albums that’ll still be on my Best of 2011 lists (coming soon).
Let me know what you think… If you enjoyed what you heard, please support the music. Definitely feel free to pass the link the mix along:
~Dan – np: Florence + the Machine – Ceremonials
there are no torrents, free mp3 or other downloads available
Chevelle’s “Face to the Floor” (video)
Chevelle’s new album, Hats Off to the Bull, is a hard rock masterpiece. The video for “Face to the Floor” was released yesterday…
~Dan – np: Various Artists – Pacificlectic 2011 Mix (free)
Death Pop Club: pop stars meet heavy metal logos
Made by Mark Hall-Patch. Maybe some of these “musicians” would get a little more street cred with some evil band logos.
~Dan – np: The Roots – Undun
REVIEW: Cellophoria @ House Concert (Creswell, OR – 12/18/11)
House concerts are the best… especially when your $$ goes straight to the artists and you get a smorgasbord of awesome food! Super thanks to hosts Jenny & Mike (same place I co-hosted the Peter Mulvey show last month)!
Last afternoon’s show was by Cellophoria – a cello quartet made up of Eugene Symphony musicians. Dale Bradley, Jeffrey Eaton, Ann Grabe, and Anne Ridlington all play with the Eugene Symphony. They also have vast non-ES experience with the Eugene Opera Orchestra, Oregon Mozart Players, the OSU/Corvallis Symphony, Oregon Bach Festival and many varied teaching and playing opportunities. They obviously keep busy, which made their ability and willingness to set aside a foggy afternoon for us into a true treat!
Their gorgeous set in a gorgeous setting…
Setlist: about an hour
- Slavic Dance [Dale Bradley]
- Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28, No. 4 [Frederic Chopin, arr. Laszlo Varga]
- Four Scottish & Irish Tunes [arr. Dale Bradley]
….Arran Boat Song
….Road to Lisdoonvarna
….Star of the County Down
….Skye Boat Song - Every Breath You Take [Sting, arr. John Reed]
- Ashokan Farewell [Jay Ungar, arr. David Faulkner]
- Gagliarda del Principe di Venosa [Carlo Gesualdo, arr. Árpád Pejtsik]
- Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D Minor For Unaccompanied Violin, BWV 1004 [J.S. Bach, arr. Laszlo Varga]
- Bagatelle No. 5 from Bagatelles for 2 Violins, Cello and Harmonium, Op. 47 [Antonin Dvorák, arr. Rosalynn Heuer]
- Generations [Dale Bradley]
- Eleanor Rigby [Lennon/McCartney, arr. B. Lanier]
- All Through the Night [arr. Dale Bradley]
The sound in the high, vaulted wood ceiling living room was superb. Full from good food and good music, it was a splendid late Fall/lazy Sunday afternoon.
That was presumably my last show of the year (unless something pops up between now and 12/30). 2011 year-end concert and album “best of” recaps coming up soon. Next show for me… Pojama People play the music of Frank Zappa with FZ vocalist Ike Willis at Sam Bond’s on 1/7.
~Dan – np: Childish Gambino – Camp
Glen Phillips “The Next Day” (free download)
On Wednesday, Glen Phillips (from Toad the Wet Sprocket) released a free download of a new song, “The Next Day.” Go get it on his bandcamp site…
http://glenphillips.bandcamp.com/track/the-next-day-2
From the 12/13/11 show at Soho in Santa Barbara. Closest I will make it to a holiday song this year. More of an OWS support ditty with a seasonal reference in the chorus… Be happy, be well.
Also, rest in peace, Christopher Hitchens. You were great. God is Not Great.
~Dan – np: Wussy – Strawberry
Secret Chiefs 3 & Dengue Fever – West Coast Tour 2012
Trickling in via the venues and/or ticketing sites, the official announcement has finally come in…
World metal phenoms Secret Chiefs 3, led by Mr. Bungle guitarist Trey Spruance, is hitting the road this winter with Cambodian/Los Angeles fusion pop band (and former Web of Mimicry labelmates) Dengue Fever. 
Confirmed dates below, more details will be posted shortly:
- Jan 24 – Denver CO – Bluebird Theatre
- Jan 25 – Santa Fe NM – Santa Fe Brewing Company
- Jan 26 – Phoenix AZ – Crescent Ballroom
- Jan 27 – Los Angeles CA – El Rey Theatre
- Jan 28 – Santa Ana CA – Constellation Room
- Jan 29 – San Diego CA – The Casbah
- Jan 31 – San Luis Obispo CA – Club SLO Brew
- Feb 1 – Santa Cruz CA – Moe’s Alley
- Feb 2 – San Francisco CA – Great American Music Hall
- Feb 3 – San Francisco CA – Slim’s
- Feb 4 – Sacramento CA – Harlow’s
- Feb 6 – Eugene OR – WOW Hall
- Feb 7 – Portland OR – Dante’s
- Feb 8 – Seattle WA – Neumos
- Feb 9 – Bellingham WA – The Wild Buffalo
- Feb 10 – Vancouver BC – Rickshaw Theatre
If you’ll be at either Oregon date, let me know. I’ll be there for both Eugene and Portland! Last time I saw them was 2008 (Aug 2008 – Doug Fir, Portland); so it’s been a long time coming…
~Dan – np: Marketa Irglova – Anar
REVIEW: David Bazan Band @ Sam Bond’s Garage (Eugene, OR – 12/14/11)
If anything is certain in life, the move from the Midwest to the West Coast has been good for my David Bazan tour in-take. Being only a short hike from his homebase in Seattle, we get the treat of the former Pedro the Lion frontman in our neck of the woods several times a year.
Many times, he trots out on his own… which is usually more intimate. But the chance to see Bazan with a backing band shouldn’t be passed up. He’s really able to let the rock come forth in his songs. His doubtful, questioning, reflective lyricism work just as well behind a dirty, loud guitar as it does with just him and a guitar in a living room.
Last night at Sam Bond’s, after delightful indie-rock quartet opener Shay Roselip’s short set, Bazan came on to do what I thought was just sound check. Nope… boom goes the dynamite, his mighty three-piece kicked into a tune from Pedro the Lion’s Control… “Second Best.”
Setlist: ~85 mins
- Second Best [Pedro the Lion]
- Wolves at the Door
- Bless This Mess
- How I Remember
- I Do [PTL]
- Of Up and Coming Monarchs [PTL]
- Q&A #1
- Gas and Matches [Headphones]
- Eating Paper
- Magazine [PTL]
- Climb That Hill [Tom Petty]
- Bearing Witness
- Q&A #2
- Virginia
- People
- Cold Beer and Cigarettes
- Big Trucks [PTL]
- Criticism as Inspiration [PTL]
- Q&A #3 with lifetime pass drawing
- Strange Negotiations
No encore
The setlist was similar to other shows on this tour… a great mix of Pedro the Lion tunes, a Headphones tune, a Tom Petty cover and a lot from his two solo albums & EP. 
Strange Negotiations, this years effort, will definitely be somewhere on my Best of 2011 list (still formulating).
Being the last stop of the 40+ date tour across the country, his voice showed some wear – especially on the “right on” part of “Cold Beer and Cigarettes.” He powered through it, dropping the notes to a more suitable weary-throat range. His band, made up of Alex Westcoat on drums and Andy Fitts on bass, blistered away with David. Despite the aforementioned vocal strain, their musical chops were evident last night.
They were driving through the night to make it home to Seattle by sun-up. If you missed them on this tour, David hinted at a new album being done by March 1st, with it coming out sometime in 2012. So the chance of more tours in 2012? High possibility!
The Appropriate Linkage:
- David Bazan’s Site
- David Bazan’s Social Media Links (see below)
- Shay Roselip’s MySpace / Soundcloud
- My Other Related Reviews~
- House Show (Eugene, OR – Sep 2011)
- Sam Bond’s Garage (Eugene, OR – Mar 2010)
- Mississippi Studios (Portland, OR – Nov 2009)
- House Show (Eugene, OR – Jul 2009)
- The Indigo (Eugene, OR – Dec 2007)
- Sam Bond’s Garage’s Website / Facebook
This was the last date of the tour… see other dates below. I’m sure David will be out again in the Spring…
Next show for me… Cellophoria private house concert on 12/18.
~Dan – np: Marketa Irglova – Anar
David Bazan + Band Tour – Fall 2011
11/01 Tue – Spokane WA – A Club
11/02 Wed – Boise ID – Neurolux
11/04 Fri – Colorado Springs – The Black Sheep
11/05 Sat – Lawrence KS – Bottleneck
11/06 Sun – Omaha NE – The Waiting Room
11/07 Mon – Iowa City IA – Blue Moose Taphouse (upstairs)
11/09 Wed – Milwaukee WI – Cactus Club
11/10 Thu – Indianapolis IN – White Rabbit Cabaret
11/11 Fri – Newport KY – Southgate House
11/12 Sat – Grand Rapids MI – Ladies Literary Club
11/13 Sun – Pittsburgh PA – Brillobox
11/14 Mon – Hoboken NJ – Maxwell’s
11/15 Tue – Baltimore MD – Ottobar
11/17 Thu – Charlottesville VA – The Southern
11/18 Fri – Norfolk VA – Jewish Mother
11/19 Sat – Charlotte NC – Evening Muse
11/20 Sun – Columbia SC – New Brookland Tavern
11/21 Mon – Knoxville TN – Pilot Light
11/26 Sat – Athens GA – Caledonia Lounge
11/27 Sun – Nashville TN – Mercy Lounge
11/29 Tue – St Augustine FL – The Original Cafe Eleven
11/30 Wed – Tampa FL – Crowbar
12/01 Thu – Tallahassee FL – Engine Room
12/02 Fri – Oxford MS – Proud Larry’s
12/03 Sat – Memphis TN – Hi Tone
12/04 Sun – Norman OK – Opolis
12/06 Tue – Albuquerque NM – Low Spirits
12/07 Wed – Tucson AZ – Solar Culture
12/08 Thu – Las Vegas NV – Beauty Bar
12/09 Fri – Costa Mesa CA – Constellation Room
12/10 Sat – Santa Cruz – Crepe Place
12/11 Sun – Sacramento CA – Blue Lamp
12/12 Mon – Arcata CA – Jambalaya
12/14 Wed – Eugene OR – Sam Bond’s Garage
MTA Music by Alexander Chen
This falls under a fun experiment in music… Alexander Chen turns the New York subway system into an interactive string instrument. Using the NYC Mass Transit Authority’s actual subway schedule, the piece begins in real-time by spawning trains which departed in the last minute, then continues accelerating through a 24 hour loop. The visuals are based on Massimo Vignelli’s 1972 diagram.
Related, here’s a the London tube map created by Kyle Bean in colorful (colourful) drinking straws…
click for more
~Dan – np: Florence + the Machine – Ceremonials
Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 2 #9
One a month, from March to December 2011…
Derek Webb’s Democracy Vol 2… This month, it is “Falling Slowly” by The Swell Season. It starts out not as expected, a little more rough around the edges compared to the original. I love this song, though – and I think Derek does it justice.
For those not in the know, Democracy Vol 2 is a continuation of the covers project Derek started last year. The fans get to nominate songs and then vote once the nominations are tallied. Here’s what he’s done in 2010 and 2011 to date (you can still go back and buy this volume):
- January 2010: The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- February: Coldplay – Fix You
- March: Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’
- April: Gnarls Barkley – Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
- May: Sufjan Stevens – Chicago *a personal fave*
- June: U2 – Where the Streets Have No Name
- July: Huey Lewis & the News – Power of Love
- August: The Beatles – Eleanor Rigby *a personal fave*
- September: Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound of Silence
- October: Radiohead – Karma Police *a personal fave*
- November: Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah
- December: Robert Robinson (traditional hymn) – Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
- January 2011: off
- February: off
- March: Cee-Lo Green – F**k You *a personal fave*
- April: Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer
- May: The Beach Boys – God Only Knows
- June: U2 – One
- July: Dallán Forgaill (traditional hymn) – Be Thou My Vision
- August: Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
- September: The Beatles – Revolution *a personal fave*
- October: Rich Mullins – Creed
- November: The Swell Season – Falling Slowly
~Dan – np: Childish Gambino – Camp
Democracy Vol. 2 is a series of subscription based albums of cover songs that Derek will be recording annually, starting January 2010. Those who participate will not only receive the exclusive album, but will democratically decide what songs Derek will record.
Ever wished you could hear Derek cover your favorite Beatles song? Or Backstreet Boys song? Or even re-record your favorite old Caedmon’s Call song? Here’s your chance. Songs will be nominated and voted down to 10. Derek will record them (demo quality) and deliver them digitally (320kbps MP3s), one song per month for 10 months (March to December). Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique collaborative project with Derek Webb!
Radiohead to release “The Daily Mail” & “Staircase” next week
Radiohead will be releasing the tracks “The Daily Mail” and “Staircase” next week. They were recorded during The King Of Limbs sessions, but did not end up on Radiohead’s latest album. Both tracks were included in this year’s live performances, as well as their upcoming DVD/Blu-ray – The King Of Limbs: From The Basement.
New French based music service Deezer.com (comparable to Spotify) are rolling out their services in 200 countries in the coming months and a new Radiohead single surfaced, entitled, ‘The Daily Mail & Staircase’. Cover art is included, expect the tracks don’t stream till the release date: December 19th.
Amazon.com has the mp3/digital download single online as well now, listed for $1.98 with the same release date. Here are “The Daily Mail” and “Staircase” from Radiohead’s From The Basement session:
~Dan – np: The Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part 2
John Zorn – Composer Portrait Preview (NYC 12/9)
Avant-garde composer John Zorn has a “Composer Portrait” performance coming up at the Miller Theatre in NYC on December 9, 2011. Here’s a video composer portrait preview…
I always enjoy him talking about his process… of the “people who love what I do and people who hate what I do,” I’m in the love crowd. He’s definitely not for everyone. But if you dig avant-garde, experimental composed music and live near NYC – I’d highly recommend this show!
~Dan – np: Chevelle – Hats Off to the Bull
Puscifer announce Winter 2012 tour dates
updated Dec 13, 2011 & Jan 9, 2012 with a few new dates
PUSCIFER’S CONDITIONS OF MY PAROLE TOUR 2012
All shows on sale Friday, Dec. 16. VIP ticket packages available simultaneously at http://puscifer.frontgatetickets.com
The new Puscifer album, Conditions of My Parole, is available now at Puscifer.com, Amazon.com, iTunes and at independent record stores. 
Conditions of My Parole is a brilliant record; so I think you should go buy it if you haven’t yet. It’s at the top of my pile for 2011 releases (by far).
Check out my review (with photos) from the 1st date of the 1st leg of the tour in Seattle (11/7/11) over HERE. They’re heading out in late winter 2012 on a 2nd leg…
February 2012
23 Austin, TX – Long Center for the Performing Arts
25 Baton Rouge, LA – River Center Theatre
26 Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre
28 Nashville, TN – Andrew Jackson Hall
29 Louisville, KY – Brown Theatre
March 2012
1 Pittsburgh, PA – Byham Theatre (new date)
3 Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
4 Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre
6 Kansas City, KS – Kansas City Music Hall
7 Omaha, NE – Omaha Civic Auditorium
10 Edmonton, AB – North Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
11 Calgary, AB – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
13 Vancouver, BC – The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts
14 Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
16 San Francisco, CA Palace of Fine Arts (new date)
17 Riverside, CA Fox Performing Arts Center (new date)
18 Escondido, CA – California Center for the Arts
I’ll be at the Portland gig! More dates may still be announced.
~Dan – np: Mike Patton – The Solitude of Prime Numbers
Zappadan 2011 (with complete Zappa discography)
December 4th to 21st is Zappadan
In memory of Frank Zappa’s birth (Dec 21st, 1940) and his untimely death from prostate cancer (Dec 4th, 1993) – “Zappadan” is like Ramadan… but with more 32nd notes. Start early, and listen to one Frank Zappa album a day for the month of December. Dig through his vast collection and pull something out you maybe haven’t spun in a while. I’ve got his most-complete discography below…
“You can’t always write a chord ugly
enough to say what you want to say;
so sometimes you have to rely on a
giraffe filled with whipped cream.“
~Dan – np: Frank Zappa – Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch
Frank Zappa’s mostly-complete Discography (ZFT-approved releases)
Comprehensive list here: http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/
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| Freak Out!1966 | Absolutely Free1967 | Lumpy Gravy1967 | We’re Only In ItFor The Money1968 | |||
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| Cruising With Ruben & The Jets1968 | Uncle Meat1969 | Mothermania1969 | Hot Rats1969 | |||
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| Burnt Weeny Sandwich 1970 |
Weasels Ripped My Flesh 1970 |
Chunga’s Revenge1970 | Fillmore East, June 1971 1971 |
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| 200 Motels 1971 |
Just Another Band From L.A. 1972 |
Waka/Jawaka 1972 |
The Grand Wazoo 1972 |
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| Over-Nite Sensation 1973 |
Apostrophe (‘) 1974 |
Roxy & Eslewhere 1974 |
One Size Fits All 1975 |
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| Bongo Fury with Captain Beefheart 1975 |
Zoot Allures 1976 |
Zappa In New York 1978 |
Studio Tan 1978 |
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| Sleep Dirt 1979 |
Sheik Yerbouti 1979 |
Orchestral Favorites 1979 |
Joe’s Garage Act I 1979 |
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| Joe’s Garage Acts II & III 1979 |
Tinseltown Rebellion 1981 |
Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar1981 | Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar Some More1981 | |||
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| Return Of The Son Of Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar1981 | You Are What You Is 1981 |
Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch 1982 |
Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar (The Box Set)1982 | |||
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| The Man From Utopia 1983 |
Baby Snakes 1983 |
London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I 1983 |
The Perfect Stranger 1984 |
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| Them Or Us 1984 |
Thing-Fish 1984 |
Francesco Zappa 1984 |
The Old Masters, Box I1985 | |||
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| Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention 1985 |
Does Humor Belong In Music? 1986 |
The Old Masters, Box II 1986 |
Jazz From Hell 1986 |
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| London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II 1987 |
Joe’s Garage Acts I, II & III1987 | The Old Masters, Box III 1987 |
Guitar 1988 |
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| You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 11988 | You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 – The Helsinki Concert 1988 |
Broadway The Hard Way 1988 |
You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 3 1989 |
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| The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life 1991 |
You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 1991 |
Make A Jazz Noise Here 1991 |
You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 51992 | |||
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| You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 61992 | Playground Psychotics 1992 |
Ahead Of Their Time 1993 |
The Yellow Shark 1993 |
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| Civilization Phaze III1994 | London Symphony Orchestra, Volumes I & II 1995 |
The Lost Episodes 1996 |
Läther 1996 |
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| Frank Zappa Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute1996 | Have I Offended Someone? 1997 |
Mystery Disc 1998 |
EIHN (Everything Is Healing Nicely) 1999 |
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| FZ:OZ 2002 |
Halloween 2003 |
Joe’s Corsage2004 | Joe’s Domage2004 | |||
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| QuAUDIOPHILIAc 2004 |
Joe’s XMASage2005 | Imaginary Diseases 2006 |
MOFO (Deluxe 4-Disc)2006 | |||
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| MOFO (2-Disc)2006 | Trance-Fusion2006 | Buffalo2007 | The Dub Room Special!2007 | |||
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| Wazoo2007 | One Shot Deal 2008 |
Joe’s Menage2008 | LUMPY MONEY 2009 |
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| Philly ‘762009 | Greasy Love Songs2010 | Congress Shall Make No Law2010 | Hammersmith Odeon2010 | |||
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Note: This list doesn’t include some of the mp3 download only Frank Zappa / Zappa Family Trust Vault issues. | ||||
| Feeding The Monkies At Ma Maison2011 | Carnegie Hall2011 | |||||
RECAP: Glen Phillips @ Stageit Sofa Sundays (Santa Barbara, CA – 11/27/11)
Glen Phillips (from Toad the Wet Sprocket & Works Progress Administration) has been doing what he calls “Sofa Sundays” on Stageit.com for a couple months now. I didn’t know what it was all about until the last one (after it happened). He sits down in his living room and plays (at least) 30 minutes of music directly to his computer-connected audience. His shows thus far have cost only $3, and you can pay more (in tips) – but it’s limited to the first 250 people who buy tickets. You can make requests and also chat with others in “attendance.” Here’s what he played…
11/27/11 Setlist: ~50 minutes
- Train Wreck
- Nanci [Toad the Wet Sprocket]
- The Next Day
- Back On My Feet
- I Still Love You
- Cry For You [WPA]
- I Will Not Take These Things For Granted [Toad]
- Don’t Need Anything [fast version]
- Thankful
- Rainbow Connection/I’m Going To Go Back There Someday [teasers only]
- End This Now
- Good Intentions [Toad]
- Redemption Song [Bob Marley]
- Windmills
Easily the best $3 plus tip I’ve ever spent for live music. From here on out, if I’m around, I’m IN. He mentioned after “Train Wreck” in response to some requests, that he’ll do a show in the near future that’s more request oriented on songs that he doesn’t necessarily know off hand (i.e.- he’ll practice).
Stay tuned… the next Sofa Sunday might even be next week!
The Appropriate Linkage:
- Glen’s Site
- Glen’s Facebook / Twitter
- Toad the Wet Sprocket’s Site / Facebook
- Glen’s Stageit page
- My Prior Related Reviews~
- Toad @ Bend Summer Fest (Bend – July 2011)
- Toad @ Crystal Ballroom (Portland – July 2010)
- W.P.A. @ WOW Hall (Eugene – Sept 2009)
- Glen solo @ WOW Hall (Eugene – Feb 2008)
~Dan – np: Explosions in the Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Black Friday / Cyber Monday – Support Indie Music
Update 11/25: Black Friday & Cyber Monday music-loving shoppers… support indie music by supporting Ric Hordinski’s new Kickstarter – Arthur’s Garden. He has 6 days left and need has around $2k left to get it funded.
Guitarist extraordinaire Ric Hordinski has been a favorite of mine for a LONG TIME. He’s the kind of guitarist who is subtle and unassuming in his approach, but you end up wracking your brain how he gets such lush and complex sounds out of the frets. I’ve seen him many times (Monk, Over the Rhine, Kim Taylor, Ellery, solo), and sometimes I wish I was back in Cincinnati, just to see his intimate Monastery shows.
Well, late last week, he announced a way that even those not in SW Ohio can help him make his next record… behold another Kickstarter than I think is worth specific highlighting:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/609278336/arthurs-garden
(watch Ric’s personal video about the project)
About This Project
I’ve been trying to play guitar for over 30 years now. Really, 30 years. It’s been long love-affair, with highs and lows, rich times and lean. The guitar was my doorway into Music. That Music has taken me around the world, it has accompanied me through joy, laughter and tears: as well as allowing me to share the stage with an amazingly varied group of people: Johnny Cash and Moby, Bruce Cockburn and the Indigo Girls, Bob Dylan and Over The Rhine. Through it all, I’ve generally said what I had to say with the Electric Guitar. It’s smaller and a lot less fragile, if you know what i mean…
A couple of years ago I toured playing guitar for one of the great guitarists of our generation, Phil Keaggy. The record we were touring required me to dust off my classical and steel string acoustic guitar chops. This was more challenging (and rewarding) than I could have imagined.The influence of that music and tour on this recording was enormous and I think it planted a seed in me to try my hand at one of the most demanding kind of recordings i could make- one centered around the simple sound of strings vibrating a tiny little cathedral of wood: The Acoustic Guitar.
So, here i am!
I’m joined on this journey by several friends and collaborators. Michael Wilson will be documenting the process with both still and moving images. Grammy Winning Designer Greg Sylvester has signed on to design the art and packaging. I’ll have Josh Seurkamp, David LaBruyere, Dan Dorff and couple of lovely surprise guests (to be announced soon…) I’d love for you to take an even bigger part in the process than you usually do. We’re documenting the recording and mixing and will have a home-spun DVD available as well as some other surprise. Please join me on this journey!
He’s trying to raise $4,500 by the of the month. Take a gander at his site, and if you like what you hear, consider helping him out! For as little a $10, you can make a difference and get some great music in return.
Ric’s records stand out in my collection, and I’m stoked to be a part of making the next one a possibility.
~Dan – np: Ahleuchatistas – Location Location
The GREAT Holiday Recipe Collection
Re-runs are on TV. Re-runs are on this blog… it’s a “slow news day” as it were, and since Thanksgiving is coming up, why not create a “best of” recipes blog? It’ll be your one stop shop!
An all vegetarian, mostly vegan recipes list for your holiday get-togethers. Great for Thanksgiving, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, Eid ul-Fitr عيد الفطر, Christmas, or the also popular Xmas…
Here are some of my favorite recipe creations (dreamt up here)…
- S’mores Pouches – super fun, not too difficult, I’m really proud of this creation…
- Chantrelle & Gruyere Quiche – I also made it with a Cheetos crust, but don’t feel as if you have to follow suit…
- Jalapeno Brie Poppers – Great served with a blueberry compote!
- Taco Scones – How could something so easy and so delicious never have been conceived of before? These are flippin’ brilliant (and versatile for substitutions). Have some salsa, guacamole or sour cream on hand for dippin’…
- Savory Feta & Kalamata Pound Cake – I took an olive oil poundcake recipe and “Greek’d” it up. It’s a fave!
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Cocktail paired with…
Grilled Mac & Cheese Sandwiches – This was one of my favorite, unique recipes. It took some time to test (oh no, I have to taste test vodka again!?). The pairing with the grilled mac & cheese sandwiches worked really well. The peanut vodka is too late to start for Thanksgiving, but I’d recommend trying it!
Here are some classics… they’d go great for your holiday noshing…
- Mushroom Dumpling Stew – brilliant for the cold rainy fall!
- Vegan Biscuits & Mushroom Gravy – I could eat this year ’round, any meal!
- Framboise Cranberry Relish – Easy, but almost a waste of beer. Delightful – no lie!
- Cute Olive Penguins – I wish I had thought of this… I did make ’em though… super cute…
- Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake – super easy, and pretty quick (outside of the chill time).
- Pumpkin-infused Vodka Cocktail – A little too late to start for this year, but outside of time letting it sit, it’s pretty easy.
- Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls – Very time consuming, but oh-so-delicious!
- Bleu Cheese Buttermilk Biscuits – Sort of my own creation, but enough of a staple to include down here. I took a biscuit recipe and added about a cup of bleu cheese to the dough. I’m making these again for Thanksgiving 2011…
- Avocado Fries – I heard about these from Punchy, bassist from one of my favorite bands. They’re super decadent. The avocado fries are, too.
Desserts…
- Vegan Chocolate Pudding – I couldn’t believe how smooth & rich it was…
- Spiced Biscotti – with or without fruit – a really flexible recipe.
- Blueberry Muffin Bread Pudding – I don’t really like bread pudding. But I looooove blueberry muffins.
Raw Vegan Pies – apple & strawberry pies from Jónsi & Alex’s raw cookbook. The crusts are the big takeaway here… super awesome raw pie crusts!- Raw Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake – The secret ingredient is elementary school kids’ hopes & dreams. Tastes as expected… awesome!
- Carl Sagan’s Simple Apple Pie – you must first create the universe…
Back to the normal music blogging shortly… have a great Thanksgiving holiday!
~Dan – np: Peter Mulvey – Letters From A Flying Machine
REVIEW: Over the Rhine @ Aladdin Theater (Portland, OR – 11/17/11)
FYI… PHOTOS of the SHOW at the BOTTOM
Prior to the show, we fought against the horrid Portland traffic, dodged rain and ducked into a fine meal at Portobello Trattoria, a creative vegetarian establishment that is fast becoming my new favorite SE Portland dinner spot. Their cocktail list is impressive (apple-infused vodka ginger hot toddy), their bottle list is impressive (Russian River… yum), and their menu is the kind that is frustrating due to having too many things you want and one that a meat-eater wouldn’t even notice or care. Check it out sometime.
After dinner, we got to the venue a little bit before the opener… we had a little bit of time to catch up with Kentucky-based friend / Over the Rhine photographer Bill Ivester. He’s helping them out on this tour with merch and social media, and photography. After briefly catching up, we found some seats for the opener…
The Milk Carton Kids were a fantastic guitar duo. Based on their name, I was going in hoping it wasn’t going to be a repeat of “The Children’s Hour” opener for Over the Rhine a score ago. Well, I was greatly pleased. They played about a half hour set of mellower folk songs. Fitting for fans of Paul Simon. Excellent guitar chops and quite humorous between songs, as well. They also have all of their recorded music available for free mp3 download (go here for free music).
Over the Rhine hit the stage at 9pm. Karin & Linford had Nick Radina with them again on drums/percussion/cuatro, as well as a slide guitar player Jason Goforth.
The set seemed somewhat similar to last year’s tour, a lot of The Long Surrender tunes. But this time, the album was officially out. It was nice to hear those tunes more in a live setting. I get thrown off that it’s technically a 2011 release, I think I’ve had it too long. Anyway, it’s a beautiful record, and it’ll wind up somewhere at the top of the pile for 2011, for sure.
Setlist: 1 hour 45 mins
- The Laugh Of Recognition
- Rave On
- Undamned
- The King Knows How
- Suitcase
- I’m on a Roll
- Infamous Love Song
- Only God Can Save Us Now
- Latter Days
- “On The Sacred Ground” (new song, currently untitled)
- Jesus in New Orleans
- Trouble (with drum solo)
- All My Favorite People
- Encore: Hallelujah [Leonard Cohen]
- Born
- Drunkard’s Prayer
My favorite tunes of the night were “Trouble” and “Latter Days,” and the lead-in of “Laugh…” through “Undamned” is a great start to the show as well. The new currently untitled song is great… it seemed quite poetic and moving. Karin was about to give out a tentative title, then stopped. I’ll go with “On the Sacred Ground” for now, but I doubt that’s it. I wish I had more listens to digest it.
They’re wrapping up a few more dates this year, culminating in the annual Taft Theatre show in Cincinnati. Catch ’em if you can! Oh, Karin also mentioned that they recorded a Portland Session when they were here. Keep an eye out on the Portland Session Vimeo & Facebook pages for that to be posted in the future (HERE NOW).
many more photos below
The Appropriate Linkage:
- Over the Rhine’s Site
- Bill Ivester’s photos from the 11/17 show
- OTR Nov 2011 Portland Sessions
- Over the Rhine’s Social Media Links (see below)
- The Milk Carton Kids’ Site
- The Milk Carton Kids’ Facebook / Twitter
My Other Related Reviews~- Aladdin Theater (Portland – Nov 2010)
- WOW Hall (Eugene – Nov 2010)
- Doug Fir Lounge (Portland – Sept 2007)
- Bogarts (Cincinnati – March 2001)
- Canal Street Tavern (Dayton – June 2000)
- Aladdin Theater’s Site / Facebook / Twitter
Check out more tour dates below.
Next show for me… Dan Deacon at the Branx in Portland on 12/3.
~Dan – np: Sigur Rós – Inní (live)
OVER THE RHINE PHOTOS
all pictures (cc) 2011 Daniel Temmesfeld,
you may use freely under a creative commons attribution
(click for larger)
Fall 2011 Tour Dates
- Fri, 2011-11-18 Seattle, WA The Triple Door
- Sat, 2011-11-19 Seattle, WA The Triple Door
- Sun, 2011-11-20 Seattle, WA The Triple Door
- Fri, 2011-12-02 Boston, MA Berklee Performance Center
- Sat, 2011-12-03 New York, NY (le) poisson rouge
- Sun, 2011-12-04 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere
- Mon, 2011-12-05 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live!
- Wed, 2011-12-07 Columbus, OH The Lincoln Theatre
- Thu, 2011-12-08 Kent, OH The Kent Stage
- Fri, 2011-12-09 Grand Rapids, MI Calvin College
- Sat, 2011-12-10 Chicago, IL Old Town School Of Folk Music (7:00 PM)
- Sat, 2011-12-10 Chicago, IL Old Town School Of Folk Music (10:00 PM)
- Sat, 2011-12-17 Cincinnati, OH The Taft Theatre
- Sun, 2011-12-18 Norwood, OH Sunday Soiree @ St. Elizabeth’s
-Eyvind Kang
-Frank Zappa
Amazon.com mp3 downloads
Creative Commons
This blog and concert photos therein are licensed under a Creative Commons License. Available with Attribution for Non-Commercial, Non-Derivative Use.
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