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Posts Tagged ‘acoustic’

Black Friday / Cyber Monday – Support Indie Music

25th Nov 11 (Fri) Leave a comment

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

Categories: Music News, New Sounds Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Arthur’s Garden by Ric Hordinski

14th Nov 11 (Mon) Leave a comment

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: Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood – In Case the World Changes Its Mind (live)

Categories: Music News, New Sounds Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Michael Kelsey – Submerged (2011)

3rd Jan 11 (Mon) Leave a comment

Michael Kelsey is quite possibly the most intensely amazing guitar player I have ever seen – and I’ve seen a lot of them.  He’s a phenom in the live setting.  He pops, he jumps, he loops, he bends… I’ve heard his style being described as “progressive aggressive acoustic.”  It fits!  Once, I even saw him change a guitar string while still playing.  He didn’t even miss a beat…

Last week I put out a post about anticipated albums in 2011.  Had I even known about the Michael Kelsey’s surprise attack, it would have made that list – easily!  Well, his 6th studio album Submerged was announced on Thursday, December 30th – and it’s officially out now!!!

If you happen to live near West Lafayette, Indiana – you should go to the CD release party on January 15th, 2011 (FB event link).  He’s also doing a little midwest tour (I miss being able to see him now that I live out in Oregon).  If you are a downloader, the album is out now on the Amazons…

If you dig CDs (like I), it’s available via his website with a super-easy PayPal purchase option:
http://www.michaelkelsey.com/music.cfm

Mine is on the way as I type this.  For a taste of what the album’s like:

Do yourself a favor.  New years resolution: new music! :)

~Dan – np: nine inch nails – the fragile

Categories: Music News, New Sounds Tags: , , , , , , , ,

The GOASTT Tour

13th Nov 10 (Sat) 2 comments

Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl‘s band The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger just put out their debut album Acoustic Sessions…

On their debut album, “Acoustic Sessions”, The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger show their love of quirky and whimsical ’60s folk pop, reminiscent at times of Syd Barrett, Incredible String Band and Simon & Garfunkel. Though stripped-down to spotlight their idiom juggling and intriguing wordplay, the sparse arrangements are adventurous and playful, anchored by the beautiful blend of Sean and Charlotte’s voices, acoustic guitar and a smattering of other instruments – a vibraphone here, a banjo there. GOASTT weaves narratives around a metaphysical geography of their own devising, finding a surrealist beauty in the mundane.

They are doing a quick set of dates in France / Germany / Netherlands in December, but they’re making a swing around the US in early 2011.  Check to their dates below…

GOASTT 2010/2011 Tour (backwards order)

I’m really stoked, as The Woods is an awesome, intimate venue in Portland.  I imagine the rest of the venues are similar.  For a feel for their sound, check out this in-studio video:

GOASTT play “Lavender Road” on WNYC

http://www.thegoastt.com/

~Dan – np: Ikue Mori – Class Insecta

Categories: Music News Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jude – The Way That You Want Me

13th May 10 (Thu) 4 comments

Jude Christodal has been on a hiatus as of late… his last album and mini-tour were in 2008.  Well, under the cloak of night, the good ole CDBaby listings for him have become active again:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/Jude5

The new song “The Way That You Want Me,” which was featured on the TV show HOUSE (FOX), is the first single from an upcoming acoustic album. The song is available as a download only as of this time.  $0.99 on CDBaby, and I imagine it will be on iTunes shortly as well.

~Dan -np: Lenny Kravitz – 5

Categories: Music News, New Sounds Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Sufjan’s The BQE

16th Sep 09 (Wed) Leave a comment

So… I’ve heard the new CD from Sufjan Stevens, called The BQE.  (Thanks Asthmatic Kitty for the pre-release download.)  Wow. No vocals, but very much a Sufjan album, though.  The instrumentation borders on classic Sufjan instrumentals from Illinoise and Michigan (specifically the flute trills) mixed with more conservative chamber music (piano, strings, horns, tympani, et al).  It also jumps into a very Enjoy Your Rabbit moment with “Movement IV – Traffic Shock.”

AK DOWNLOAD: Sufjan Stevens – Movement VI–Isorhythmic Night Dance with Interchanges (FREE MP3)

The BQE tracklist

  1. Prelude on the Esplanade (2:56)
  2. Introductory Fanfare for the Hooper Heroes (1:07)
  3. Movement I–In the Countenance of Kings (5:19)
  4. Movement II–Sleeping Invader (4:34)
  5. Interlude I–Dream Sequence in Subi Circumnavigation (3:33)
  6. Movement III–Linear Tableau with Intersecting Surprise (4:09)
  7. Movement IV–Traffic Shock (3:24)
  8. Movement V–Self-Organizing Emergent Patterns (3:45)
  9. Interlude II–Subi Power Waltz (0:28)
  10. Interlude III–Invisible Accidents (0:54)
  11. Movement VI–Isorhythmic Night Dance with Interchanges (3:17)
  12. Movement VII (Finale)–The Emperor of Centrifuge (3:51)
  13. Postlude–Critical Mass (2:59)

I think it fits very well within Sufjan’s oeuvre.  A fan of his instrumental tunes interspersed within his State’s records should truly enjoy The BQE.  The limited edition, which is on order for me, has presumably a lush packaging with a full-color booklet accompanying the vinyl.  I can’t wait to crack it open…

It’s available for pre-order from Amazon and Asthmatic Kitty (and other eTailers):

Amazon CD/DVD ~ LINK
Amazon limited edition vinyl ~ LINK
AKitty CD/DVD ~ LINK
AKitty limited edition vinyl ~ LINK

~*~*~*~*~

And a complete side-note, Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt is planning releasing a Nick Drake-ish acoustic solo album (Blabbermouth link).  Man, I love music.  Seriously.  Frank was right.  It’s the best.

~Dan – np: Sufjan Stevens – The BQE

no free downloads or torrents here

Categories: Music News Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: Spinal Tap / The Folksmen @ Paramount Theatre (Seattle, WA – – 4/20/09)

22nd Apr 09 (Wed) 1 comment

FYI… PHOTOS of the SHOW at the BOTTOM
(only a couple this time)

Spinal Tap - Unwigged and Unplugged
Spinal Tap Unwigged/Unplugged (photo: Shannon Cottrell, LA Weekly)

As mentioned above, I only took a few pictures.  I was in the upper mezzanine, aka nosebleeds.  I tried out my new 60x zoom digital camera; alas, it wasn’t 600x. :)

The show was great.  Christopher Guest (aka Nigel Tufnel / Alan Barrows), Michael McKean (aka David St. Hubbins / Jerry Palter), and Harry Shearer (aka Derek Smalls / Mark Shubb) played for an hour and 45 minutes – – a great mix of Spinal Tap tunes, The Folksmen / A Mighty Wind tunes, a Waiting for Guffman tune, a Harry Sheaerer comedy album tune, and some never released ditties.

Great in between song banter… I guess this was as much of a comedy show as a music show.  Oh, and no drummer… for obvious insurance purposes.

Setlist:

  • opening song with lyrics of “hair as brown as the finest stew”
  • Hell Hole
  • Never Did No Wanderin’ (CG on mandolin)
  • Clam Caravan (CG on didgeridoo at end)
  • Bitch School
  • Loco Man
  • Waiting for Guffman‘s This Bulging River
  • Reading of the “Spinal Tap NBC Memo”
  • All the Way Home
  • Blood on the Coal
  • (Listen to Me) the Flower People
  • Cornwine
  • The Majesty of Rock
  • Harry Shearer’s Elvis parody All Backed Up
  • Stonehenge
  • “Aussie YouTube” snippet
  • Q&A session
  • Start Me Up (Rolling Stones cover as in A Mighty Wind)
  • Cups and Cakes
  • “Lego Video” snippet
  • Old Joe’s Place
  • Big Bottom
  • The Good Book Song
  • Rainy Day Sun
  • Sex Farm
  • Encore: Gimme Some Money
  • A Mighty Wind
  • The Colors of My Life

This past Monday was this audiences’ lucky bun-day… really big, full set.  A+ show all around.  I’m glad I got a chance to catch the show while randomly being in town on vacation.

The Appropriate Linkage:

The rest of the dates:

April 22: Oakland, Calif. (Paramount Theatre)
April 23: Santa Barbara, Calif. (Santa Barbara County Bowl)
April 26: Los Angeles (The Wiltern)
April 27: Phoenix, Ariz. (Dodge Theatre)
April 29: Denver (Paramount Theatre)
May 1: Houston, Texas (Jesse H, Jones Hall)
May 2: Dallas (Nokia Theatre)
May 4: Jacksonville, Fla.     Florida Theatre)
May 5: Miami (The Fillmore)
May 6: Orlando, Fla, (Hard Rock Live)
May 8: St. Petersburg, Fla. (Mahaffey Theatre)
May 9: Atlanta (Fox Theatre)
May 10: Nashville (Ryman Auditorium)
May 12: Baltimore  (Lyric Opera House)
May 13: Washington, D.C. (Warner Theatre)
May 14: Philadelphia (Keswick Theatre)
May 17: Columbus, Ohio (Palace Theatre)
May 19: Cleveland, Ohio (State Theatre)
May 21: Toronto (Massey Hall)
May 22: Mashantucket, Conn.     (MGM Grand Theatre at Foxwoods)
May 23: Boston (The Wilbur Theatre)
May 24: Atlantic City, N.J. (Music Box at The Borgata)
May 26: New York (Beacon Theatre)
May 27: New York (Beacon Theatre)  *review / pictures / videos from this show *
May 29: Detroit (Fox Theatre)
May 30: Chicago (Chicago Theatre)
May 31: Milwaukee, Wis. (Riverside Theatre)
June 30: London, UK (Wembley Arena)

~Dan – np: Celldweller – Celldweller

SPINAL TAP / THE FOLKSMEN PHOTOS
all pictures (cc) 2009 Daniel Temmesfeld,
you may use freely under a creative commons attribution

(click for larger)


Categories: Concert Photos, Metal, Movies & Television, Rock & Pop, Singer-Songwriter Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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