I played a show with Vanessa Kafka, Matt Beals, and Aaron Pearsall at Sally O’Brien’s last Saturday. Thanks to everyone who came to see us perform. We had a great time. Here’s one track John DeTore caught on his iPhone: I have some footage of the entire show, which I should have up soon. Also, we’d love any suggestions for a band name. Vanessa Kafka and the…
I was lucky to catch Ryan Adams’ solo show at the Orpheum last night. It was just Ryan, two acoustic guitars, and a piano. His performance was warm and dynamic, with songs ranging from soft ballads such as ‘Dirty Rain’ from the new record, to more upbeat tunes like ‘Let it Ride’. He played about 25 songs in all, touching on a wide range of his collection with an emphasis on Heartbreaker, Cold Roses, and Ashes & Fire. Ryan showed a self-critical and reflective side throughout the show. He opened with ‘Oh My Sweet Carolina’ and was clearly distracted throughout the entire song. The guitar work and vocals were so subtle and nuanced that the sound of audience members hurrying
This band reminds me of Dr. Dog, only the singer is a bit more tolerable for long periods of time: The song is “Cats and Dogs”. The video is from YouTube user VacuumPacked13.
The Black Keys with their new single on Colbert:
Via the Big Picture. This is extremely weird, but even more impressive, I think:
The introduction also happens to be followed by a great version of Airline to Heaven:
Rolling Stone has a new greatest guitarists list compiled by an impressive number of musicians. A few personal highlights: Keith Richards at #4. Enough said. Take that Scott Wilson. Jonny Greenwood at #48. ‘Radiohead are the consummate 21st-century rock band, and in Jonny Greenwood, they have one of the 21st century’s defining guitarists: an effects-loving wizard whose endlessly mutable style has powered the band’s restless travels – from the interstellar pomp of “The Tourist” to the misty shimmer of “Reckoner.” Like the Edge, only farther out in the art-rock stratosphere, Greenwood is a guitar hero with little apparent connection to the blues and little interest in soloing. He’s been known to attack the strings with a violin bow, and plays so
Watch my friend Todd get into it:
Lonely Boy, off El Camino, scheduled to be released December 6th: