06/25:  Song of the Day.  A Tribe Called Quest–Can I Kick It?

Somewhere in my brain function parking lot there was a young man in my head singing “The Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” by Digable Planets.  I know this for a fact because I could hear him and I began singing it too.  On repeat.  Like a needle on an old dusty record.  So to quiet that young man with his repititous horn and “I’m Cool Like Dat” chorus, I turned to De La Soul to drown him out. 

Before we continue Eye Know what you’re thinking.  It goes something like this.  “The name’s Plug2 and from the soul I bring you the daisy of your choice/May it be filled with the pleasure principle in circumference to my voice”.  It’s all true what’s said but let’s digress.  All was well in my brain function parking lot until the potholes needed fillin’, so if ol’ Lou Reed is willin’, let’s walk on the wild side.

Here’s your Song of the Day: [after the break] »Read More

Popularity: 39% [?]

We’re just a couple days away from the next big show taking the stage at the Paramount Theater as Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet visit Charlottesville on Friday, June 27.  The quartet is currently on tour throughout North America in support of the their self-titled debut album which was released on Nettwerk Records in May of this year.  The band performs folk, bluegrass and old-time music with a very unique twist, one that you almost have to hear and see to believe.  Tickets are still available for this performance.  For details click here.

The Sparrow Quartet consists of Ben Sollee on cello, the Grammy-nominated Casey Driessen on fiddle, the no need for further introductions of Bela Fleck on banjo, and Abigail Washburn who also plays banjo.  The real twist in the band’s music arises when Abigail begins to sing, because there are moments when the words might not sound familiar even if the music does.  That’s because those words are being sung in Chinese, a language that Abigail Washburn speaks (and sings) fluently.  In this way the whole concept of old-time music takes on new meaning, expanding it beyond the roots of Appalachia by digging into the old time of one of the world’s most ancient cultures. »Read More

Popularity: 35% [?]

My first experience with a nude model started off a little rocky. I was a little late for my drawing class the day we started “life drawing” only to find the last space left was right smack dab in front of the model. Then I found out “Life drawing”= Looking at a really naked person.

»Read More

Popularity: 34% [?]

I never saw Emmylou Harris perform with her Hot Band.  I became a fan of her music in the years after her performances with the Nash Ramblers.  Going into Monday’s performance at the Charlottesville Pavilion, the best band that I’d seen Emmylou perform with was Spyboy (Buddy Miller, Brian Blade, and Tony Hall) at the Warner Theater in D.C. back in 2000.  I didn’t think it could get much better than that.  Boy was I wrong.  Joined by an all-star band on a clear evening that was filled with countless stars, it was Emmylou Harris who shined the brighest and most brilliant.

Rolling through and hour and half set that touched on every musical aspect of Emmylou’s legendary career, long-time fans and new converts alike were treated to an evening of music that stretched from Harris’s early beginnings with Gram Parsons although through to her latest songs from her new album All I Intended to Be.  With her extraordinary band The Red Dirt Boys providing back-up for one of the most extraordinary voices of our time, Emmylou Harris proved once again why she is one of the most celebrated figures in American contemporary roots music.

[Emmylou Harris publicity photo]

»Read More

Popularity: 34% [?]

Previous Episodes:  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 

When I was little, my parents bought some property in Powhatan County right on the James River.  To me it’s a magical place full of memories, secrets and secret memories.  It’s really just natual forest land, with some trails that we’ve cut to get to certain key spots, like the “top of the hill”, the “old home sight”, “Daffy Duck’s Fantasy Island” (which was just a tiny waterfall in a creek).  As a family we would go out there every couple of months and camp.  It was real camping, too.  No running water, no electricity, pooping in the woods, wiping with poison ivy, cooking over open fires, etc.  Sometimes, my stepdad and I would just go out there and build dangerously big fires for no reason at all.  We had an old ATV 3-wheeler that we’d ride around way too fast, crash into trees and flip over.  My brother and I built a tree fort, and a deck/dock over the river for my mom one Mother’s Day so she could get in and out of the water more easily, although I’m pretty sure she never used it.  I could go on and on about the nostalgia I have for this place, but I’ll go ahead and tell the story now.  I think it’s an appropriate story for the start of festival season. »Read More

Popularity: 30% [?]

06/24:  Song of the Day.  Weezer–Say It Ain’t So

hootenanny:  a meeting of folk singers, as for public entertainment.

So as the band Weezer has been moving through their West Coast tour in support of their new Red Album, they’ve been inviting local musicians, singers, and music fans in general to join them for a special hootenanny performance along the way.  The hootenannies have been recorded live during the day in each city of the tour and then broadcast over local radio stations.

Last week the band posted a YouTube video in advance of the upcoming tour dates, explaining the whole hootenanny concept and letting fans know which songs they would be required to learn in order to participate.  The Hootenanny concept video is posted below:

Weezer Explains the Hootenanny Concept

To date, five cities have played host to Weezer’s Hootenanny and most of the performances have now made their way onto the tangled web of tubes we call the interweb.  Included after the jump, is the Weezer Hootenanny performance of “Say It Ain’t So” »Read More

Popularity: 22% [?]

Here’s something a little different that may intrigue those of you out there who are currently stuck somewhere between your old Atari 2600 and that PlayStation2.  On Wednesday, June 26 there is going to be a Write Your Own Nintendo Music Workshop at ourspace on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall (located below the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar).  And yes, you read that correctly. 

The workshop begins at 7pm and is hosted by Brendan from MAGfest (Music And Gaming Festival).  Cost is $5 and the proceeds all go to ourspace.  I can almost hear the sweet sounds of up, down, up, down, A, B, Start right now.

[Event press release after the break] »Read More

Popularity: 16% [?]

Three shows in six days.  From Innsbrook Pavilion oustide of Richmond to the always delightful intimate setting of the Gravity Lounge, to a perfect summer evening at the Charlottesville Pavilion, it’s been a pretty good week for live music.  I saw the Avett Brothers at Innsbrook for the first time since their Satellite Ballroom appearance in Charlottesville last September.  I caught the always entertaining Scott Miller and his solo acoustic set at Gravity last Friday.  And I definitely kicked off the work week in fine style with Emmylou Harris’s stunning performance at the Pavilion last night.  Like I said, it’s been a pretty good week.

I’ve got a couple more shows on tap for this coming weekend as the Hackensaw Boys help celebrate Gravity Lounge’s Five Year Anniversary on Friday, June 27th and then there’s that little show at the Pavilion on Sunday, June 29th as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Modest Mouse come to town.  But before we go putting our cart in front of our horses so to speak, let’s recap the The Music Seen over the past seven days.

[Scott Avett Banjo photo by Hollie]

»Read More

Popularity: 30% [?]

[Stacked Totem Forms by Liz Vercruysse]

You may have seen some of these interesting sculptures around town…and we talked about it here. Well guess what sculptors, the deadline for submitting your application is July 1st. Large and smaller works are welcome. Your work will be on display for 11 months and you get a gift of $1500! The application info and requirements listed on the Art in Place site here.

Popularity: 24% [?]

06/23:  Song of the Day.  R.E.M.–(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville

To be honest, it’s been awhile since I listened to R.E.M.  And I’ll be the first to admit that there’s a lot of R.E.M.’s music that I just completely tuned out.  (pretty much everything since Automatic for the People).  So this weekend, as I was scanning the shelves, I came across this little gem from back in the early days of Michael Stipe and crew.

Reckoning, R.E.M.’s second full-length album was released in 1984.  Along with Murmur and Life’s Rich Pageant, Reckoning is right up there as one of my favorite albums the band has ever done.  As soon as I heard the first drum beats of “7 Chinese Brothers” I instantly remembered why I love this album so much.  So many great songs:  “Letter Never Sent”, “Pretty Persuasion”, and “Camera”.  For my money, R.E.M. is still near the top of the heap when it comes to the 1980’s.  It sure is nice to step into the “Way Back” machine from time to time.  You can find a live performance of ”(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville” from Reckoning after the jump.  (It’s Michael Stipe at his southern twangy best!) »Read More

Popularity: 21% [?]