Alexandra477

Free Concert Series Debuts at Garden Theater in October

 

"Sunday on the Island of the Grande Jatte" by Georges Seurat

 

The Johnstone Fund for New Music, in partnership with Sunday at Central and Short North Stage, recently joined forces to create “New Music Salon at Short North Stage,” a free contemporary classical music series at the Garden Theater in the Short North. 

For the opening performance on October 23 at 7:30 p.m., violinist David Niwa (Artistic Director, Sunday at Central); violinist Olev Viro @Columbus Symphony); violist Ken Matsuda (Columbus Symphony); violist Belinda Reuning Burge (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra); cellist Luis Biava (Columbus Symphony); and cellist Michael Carrera (Professor of Cello, Ohio University) will perform Arnold Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night (Verklärte Nacht, 1899). The musicians also will perform Pulitzer-Prize-winning American composer Charles Wuorinen’s String Sextet (1989).

“As we look into the uncertainty of a new century, these two great 20^th century works for string sextet show how connected we are to the past,” said Zoe Johnstone, co-founder of the Johnstone Fund for New Music.

The October 23 concert coincides with Short North Stage’s production of the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine Pulitzer-Prize-winning musical Sunday in the Park with George, which is based on Georges Seurat’s painting “Sunday on the Island of the Grande Jatte.” Both Transfigured Night and “Sunday on the Island of the Grande Jatte” were completed at the end of the 19^th century as romanticism in the arts gave way to the modern era. 

“The Garden Theater was built in 1920 specifically for live music performance,” said Short North Stage board president Peter Yockel. “These concerts help bring the theater back to its original purpose.”

The series continues in 2014 with free concerts on February 19 and June 4. 

Independents’ Day Expands to 3 Days September 20-22

The sixth annual Independents’ Day takes place on September 20-22 at Gay Street and Pearl Alley in downtown Columbus. The free all-ages festival features local bands, artists, crafters, filmmakers, comedy acts, fashion designers, food trucks, emerging chefs, brewers, and distillers.

More than 40 local bands will perform on four stages, including Lydia Loveless, Fields and Planes, Connections, The Whiles, The Regrettes, Cadaver Dogs, Way Yes, Nick Tolford & Company, Karate Coyote, Cliffs, Bummers, Sleep Fleet, Indigo Wild, The Girls!, Washington Beach Bums, and an appearance by New Bomb Turks.

Friday, September 20: 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in Pearl Alley
Nina West will emcee the kickoff celebration, which includes live music by Forest & the Evergreens and Tin Armor, food trucks, and craft vendors. 

Saturday, September 21: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Gay Street and in Pearl Alley
Crafts: Local crafters, including Columbus Crafty Cotillion, will showcase wares. Columbus Craftacular will host a Make N’ Take booth.

Food Trucks/Carts: Mikey’s Late Night Slice and Pattycake Bakery will be on hand, as well as newcomers The Coop, Ajumama, Explorers Club, Mashita Noodles, Tatoheads, Paddy Wagon, Freedom a la Cart, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, and J-Pops. 

Up-and-Coming Eats: Emerging chefs, aspiring entrepreneurs, and ambitious home cooks will share free samples.

Beverages: Local brewers and distillers will pour spirits, beer, and mead.

Film: Selections from the Film Festival of Columbus (FFOCOL) will be screened. The Residence Inn will host entries from the Wexner Center for the Arts Ohio Shorts competition, as well as a series of short films by Central Ohio filmmakers.

Comedy: Due Amici will host local comedy acts including Justin Golak and State of Play, and a live recording of the Comedy Sitdown podcast.

Fashion: Local fashion designers will host a collaborative fashion show and T-shirt Remodel workshops. 

Records and Comic Books: An array of vinyl from local record stores and works from local comic book writers and artists will be available.

Chalk Art: As a preview to Chalk the Block at Easton, local artists will create chalk art alongside the festivities.

Sunday, September 22: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Pearl Alley

The Hills Market and Due Amici will host Brunch and Bloody Marys, followed by urban bobsled cart racing and live acoustic music.

“Expanding this festival to three days is beyond thrilling,” said Independents’ Day captain Alexis Perrone. “Each day was thoughtfully crafted so that people can experience the best of what independent outlets in Columbus have to offer.” 

Design
Local designer and pop art aficionado John Buckley created this year’s troubadour-themed festival artwork, signage, posters, and T-shirts.

Beneficiaries
The Dick and Jane Project, Momentum, and Project Zero Ohio.

Volunteering
Sign up for volunteer shifts here.

Spain in New York: Confessions of a Flamenco Fanatic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all know New York is the city that never sleeps, but it’s more than that. It can morph into any country from around the world at any moment, making it the ultimate shape shifter. I recently asked New York to become Spain, as Spanish culture is my catnip. Last weekend, I went to a flamenco show by Alegrías en la Nacional near the Meatpacking District. Flamenco pulls people on a moody and mysterious journey through love, anger, attraction, and defiance. It ignites something in the deepest part of me. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           As I settled into our table (right in front!) and sipped on some (authentic!) sangria, the guitar began strumming and I was a goner. Dancers stomped furiously, their bodies jerking and strutting while their faces glowered and snarled. The intensity was hypnotic. Next time you’re in New York on a Saturday night, please consider supporting Jorge Navarro and his team in this fierce contribution to the flamenco movement. Tickets cost $20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My next stop was 100 Years of Flamenco in New York at Lincoln Center, which is the only dedicated flamenco exhibit I’ve ever attended. Described as a “love letter” to flamenco in New York, it uncovers the lives of renowned performers through historic photographs, drawings, programs, newspaper articles, sheet music, and costumes. Highlights include a rare video clip of La Macarrona in 1918, photographs of the arresting Carmen Amaya, and an 1840 Currier & Ives lithograph of Fanny Elssler. 100 Years is presented by the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, and is on display until August 3. Admission is free.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly, I visited Back Tomorrow: Federico García Lorca / Poet in New York at the New York Pubic Library. Lorca is considered to be Spain’s greatest modern poet and playwright. I read several of his works when studying for my undergraduate degree in Spanish. A free thinker at a time when liberalism wasn’t publicly embraced in Spain, he was a true trend bucker. He wrote Poet in New York after spending several months there in 1929. This is the first time that the manuscript has ever been on display. The exhibit, produced in collaboration with the Fundación Federico García Lorca, features drawings, photographs, letters, and mementos. Lorca was assassinated in 1936 at the onset of the Spanish Civil War, but his rebellious spirit hovers at the core of Spanish culture. Back Tomorrow is on display until July 20. Admission is free.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    I’ll always be grateful to New York for being New York, and for being whatever any of us need it to be.

Goodale Park Music Series 2013 Lineup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 5th annual Goodale Park Music Series kicks off in July with these Columbus performing acts:

July 14: Forest & the Evergreens
July 28: Angela Perley & the Howlin’ Moons
August 4: The Spikedrivers
August 11: Way Yes
August 18: The DewDroppers
August 25: Eric Nassau and Friends
Rain date: September 1

All shows take place at the Goodale Park gazebo from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. The series is made possible with generous support from theShort North Foundation, Short North Civic Association, Columbus Recreation & Parks, ComFest,Friends of Goodale Park, and Italian Village Society. Click here for photos of past concerts.

Live Art: A rotating group of artists will create live art throughout the series, including Adam Brouillette, Andrew Lundberg, Fresh A.I.R. Gallery, Michael Quinn, Sara Adrian, TRANSIT Arts, and Urban Scrawl.

Food Carts: A variety of food carts will sell refreshments, including Crepes A La Carte, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Kenny’s Meat Wagon, Lac Viet, Pattycake Bakery, and Short North Bagel Deli.

Kids Activities: Columbus Artmobile will host free kids art activities on August 4, 11, and 18, andopenheartcreatures will perform in body puppets on August 4 and 25.

Vendors: Participating vendors include 2-Headed Monster Comics, Accessorize Your Accessories,alison rose, Badala, Candle with a Cause, HOMAGE, Sweet Simpliciteas, Todd Beistel (The Horror Show), and What The Rock?

Emcees: Ed Francis and Kyle Hofmeister from CD102.5FM, and Maggie Brennan and Jim Coe fromWCBE 90.5FM.

Sound Engineering: Above Sound

Check-In Partner: Yelp Columbus

Angela Perley & the Howlin' Moons

The Spikedrivers

The DewDroppers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eric Nassau 

 

 

 

 

 

Forest & the Evergreens

Way Yes

5th Annual Independents' Day.

The 5^th annual Independents’ Day takes place on Saturday, September 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Gay Street and Pearl Alley in downtown Columbus. Presented by Gateway Film Center, this all ages festival celebrates indie culture, commerce, and creativity by offering live music on four stages, artists, crafters, dancers, street performers, restaurants, food trucks/carts, beer tents, and a kids area.

Independents’ Day represents a collaboration of organizations including Capitol Square Rotary, CLOUDHAUS, Columbus Crafty Cotillion, Columbus Young Professionals, The Couchfire Collective, DRAC (Downtown Residents’ Association of Columbus), Etsy Team Columbus, Experience Columbus, Franklinton Arts District, Kobo Live, Locality 2012, Music Loves Ohio, Ohio Historical Society, The SBB (Small Business Beanstalk), and Wonderland Columbus. This year’s Independents’ Day beneficiaries are Columbus Youth Guild and TRANSIT Arts. Sponsors include Gateway Film Center, Alexandra477, Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District, Columbus Alive, ColumbusLocalMusic.com, Due Amici, Eartha Limited, Greater Columbus Arts Council, Little Industries, The Other Paper, and WCBE 90.5 FM.

New This Year
A free Independents’ Day mobile phone app will launch in August. Other new elements include a dance stage, an Ohio-grown short film festival, a local author fair, a Fashion Collection area with apparel and accessories from local fashion designers, a craft vending machine, a social media corral, and a comedy show.

Vendor Applications
The application deadline for musicians and vendors is August 1. Dancer applications are due on September 1. Click here to apply.

Volunteer Opportunities
People who are interested in volunteering at Independents’ Day can sign up for a shift here. 

       

Goodale Park Music Series 2012.

The 4^th annual Goodale Park Music Series will host six free concerts at Goodale Park’s Gazebo this summer. The lineup features Tony Monaco on July 8, The Fabulous Johnson Brothers on July 15, Maza Blaska on July 29, Mary Adam 12 on August 12, Nick Tolford & Company on August 19, and The Spikedrivers on August 26. All shows run from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.

New This Year: Live Art + Comic Book Creators
A rotating group of local artists will create live art at the park throughout the series, including Short North artist Josey Joseph, Hayley Meyers with Terra Gallery, and youth artists from TRANSIT Arts. Local comic book creators including 2 Headed Monster Comics, Max Ink, Nix Comics, Sunday Comix, Vantage:Inhouse Productions, and Yuri The Comic will sell comic books at the concerts.

Food Carts
A variety of local food carts will sell refreshments at each show, as organized by Food Fort Columbus.

Free Kids Activities
Columbus Artmobile will provide rotating kids arts activities throughout the series, and openheartcreatures will perform in body puppets at the July 15 and August 12 concerts.

Sound
Veteran sound engineer Fred Blitzer with Vital Companies will run sound for all six shows.

Donors
The series is funded by the Short North Foundation, Short North Civic Association, ComFest, Friends of Goodale Park, and Harrison West Society.

Photos
Click here to see photo albums from the series.

 

Ohio Hip Hop Expo.

There’s no crying in Hip Hop. I know this. But at yesterday’s 18^th annual Ohio Hip Hop Expo, I just couldn’t help myself. The minute I stepped into the day-long affair at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, this is what I saw: Talent. Pride. Community. Friendship. Joy. Positivity. And some ridiculously vicious dance moves. Presented by BHB (Brothers Helpin Bruthas), the Expo celebrates Hip Hop culture and its positive impact on Ohio’s urban communities. In addition to Krump and MC Battles, there were live performances by groups including A Breath of Fresh Heir, Columbus Dance Troop, The Deepest Entertainment, Goody The Great, I Am D.A.N.C.E., and TRANSIT Arts Dance Crew. Through this event and his multiple city-wide workshops, BHB is one charismatic and constructive force. Click here for more photos.

   

Hot Times Festival.

The 35^th annual Hot Times Community Arts & Music Festival graced the corner of Parsons Avenue and Main Street in Olde Towne East this past weekend. Like ComFest, Hot Times is a magnificent celebration of community spirit and culture that’s organized completely by volunteers. This year’s festival offered three stages with 60 bands and performing art groups, children’s activities, poetry slams, drum circles, art cars, food vendors, a marketplace, visual artists, and eco-friendly demonstrations. My favorite part of this pre-autumn fete is its diversity. Genres of music ranged from reggae and jazz to folk and rock. Food items varied from smoked ribs and Jamaican jerk chicken to vegetarian burritos and vegan pizza. Attendees represented an array of ethnicities and walks of life. And yet one thing was beautifully clear: a sense of harmony through passion and unity. Click here for more photos.

              

4th Annual Independents' Day.

The fourth annual Independents’ Day takes place on Saturday, September 17 from noon to midnight at Gay Street and Pearl Alley. This free all-ages celebration features an explosive array of local artists, bands, food vendors, crafters, dancers, street performers, and small businesses. Four live music stages, presented by GCAC, Capital Crossroads, Woodlands Tavern, and Athens Business Remixed, will feature dozens of bands, including roeVy, The Receiver, JBRW (members of New Bomb Turks), 21 pilots, Colin Gawel and the Lonely Bones, Necropolis, Clay (reunion), and Ex-Whites. Columbus Crafty Cotillion will organize a handcrafted goods area with several local crafters and designers. Clowns, fortune tellers, and magicians will set up throughout the festival. Dance in Columbus will offer improvisational, contemporary, jazz, and guerrilla performances, as well as creative movement experiences for children. Urban Scrawl will host live mural painting, CLOUDHAUS will create an art dance floor, Café Brioso will host a poetry slam, and a special youth area will provide art activities, a fashion show, face painting, and a parade. Skillet Rustic Urban Food, Spinelli’s Deli, and Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails are among the participating restaurants, and food carts/trucks include Earth’s Crust Pizza, The Cheesy Truck, Leslie’s Creperie, and Mojo TaGo. Three beer tents will be available, offering Harpoon IPA, Magic Hat #9, and Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Stand Up For Ohio Festival.

We swung by the Stand up for Ohio Festival yesterday afternoon at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. It was presented by Stand up for Ohio, a coalition of community, labor, civil rights, and environmental groups who “stand up for good jobs and strong communities.” The free daylong event hosted speakers that addressed repealing Senate Bill Five, growing the middle class, revitalizing our manufacturing base, caring for the environment, and protecting our right to vote. Musical acts included Grand Funk Railroad, The Ohio Players, Over the Rhine, Happy Chichester, Two Cow Garage, Renee Dion, Nick Tolford and Company, and Ghost Shirt. Click here for more photos.

      

Festival Latino.

This past weekend marked the 16^th annual Festival Latino. Held in Genoa Park along the downtown riverfront, it’s a deeply passionate and colorful celebration of Latin American music, dance, food, and art. Musical acts Déjà vu Latin Fusion featuring Enrique Infante, 24 Horas, Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution, and Tito Rojas with the Sammy DeLeón Orchestra seized the stage with fervor, as did dancers from Centro Esperanza, El Corazón de Mexico, and the Salsamante Dance Academy. Artwork by Ecuadorian painters Jose Bastidas and Wladimir Muñoz, Columbian painter Nohra Bermeo, and Puerto Rican photographer Melissa Peña was on display, while the marketplace brimmed with jewelry, clothing, and crafts. Dozens of food vendors offered zesty plates of Caribbean, Columbian, Cuban, Mexican, Nicaraguan, Puerto Rican, and Venezuelan cuisine. A children’s area offered interactive bilingual storytelling, sing-alongs, and drum circles.

According to a recent article, Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in Central Ohio, with a population nearing 70,000 (from 15 countries). As someone who has devoted much of her life to studying the Spanish language and appreciating Hispanic culture, this brings me such joy. Columbus is also home to thousands of people from China, Ethiopia, India, Japan, Russia, Somalia, Vietnam, and numerous other countries throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe. I’m proud to be an Ohioan, but I’m even more proud to live somewhere that heralds the preservation of cultural traditions from around the world. Click here for more photos.

                  

Jazz & Rib Fest.

The 32^nd annual Jazz & Rib Fest took place this past weekend in the Arena District. Presented by Columbus Recreation & Parks, it featured 44 bands on three stages and 23 rib burners from across the country. There were grilling demonstrations, product samplings, and heaps of killer jazz from local and national acts. There was even a cornhole tournament sanctioned by the American Cornhole Organization, if you’re into that sort of thing¹. One of my favorite parts of this event is watching people kayak in the Scioto River, which breathes an entirely new energy into our skyline. I’d like to try it someday, if I can convince myself that I won’t wind up flailing in the water (or that it won’t matter when I wind up flailing in the water). The Jazz & Rib Fest is known for serving menu items that, how should I put this, aren’t conceived of anything related to bodily health. I’ve attended this festival for more than 20 years without consuming nary one rib, but I have devoured the daylights out of the music.

1: I am not. But that’s okay.

       

Goodale Park Music Series 2011.

This morning, I was extremely excited to announce the lineup for the third season of the Goodale Park Music Series. I couldn’t be happier about all of the new elements being introduced this summer. These concerts are free and open to the public, and they take place on Sunday afternoons in the gazebo at Goodale Park. The lineup features these Columbus performing acts:

July 10: Happy Chichester
July 17: Daddy Romance with Jim Maneri
July 31: The Andy Shaw Band
August 7: The Spikedrivers
August 14: Kique Infante
August 21: The Randys

All shows run from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. rain or shine. Fred Blitzer from Vital Film Works will run sound for all six shows. New this year will be the addition of local food cart vendors. Food carts selling refreshments include Earth’s Crust Pizza, Jeni’s Ice Cream, Leslie’s Creperie, and Rad Dog Gourmet Meatless Hot Dogs. They were organized for the series by The SBB.

Also new this year will be two craft vendors: Columbus Crafty Cotillion and THOUGHTco. The Crafty Cotillion will sell a variety of craft items made by Columbus artists and designers at each show, and THOUGHTco will sell Goodale Park Music Series T-shirts, the proceeds of which will be donated back to the series. Columbus Artmobile, which provides arts education and hands-on instruction for students, will be on hand at all six shows with rotating kids arts activities including bubble painting, multi media collages, tie dye T-shirts, printmaking, recycled art, and eco-friendly jewelry making. OpenheartART, a community based performing arts and creative self-expression organization, will perform in Openheart Creature body puppets during the July 10, 31, and August 14 concerts. Eartha Limited will donate its services to make all six of these events zero waste.

My deepest thanks go to the six area organizations who have funded this series from the start: Short North Foundation, Short North Civic Association, Friends of Goodale Park, Harrison West Society, Italian Village Society, and ComFest.

“The Soldier’s Tale” at The Columbus Foundation.

A free performance of The Soldier’s Tale beguiled a packed house yesterday afternoon at The Columbus Foundation. Its rousing mix of live music, dance, and theater showcased Columbus Symphony musicians, narrators, and members of OSU Dance. The Soldier’s Tale is based on a Russian folk tale that follows a deserting soldier who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for a book that predicts the future. Igor Stravinsky composed its virtuosic score in 1918. Yesterday’s ensemble included David Niwa on violin; Gary Wasserman on bass; Robert Jones on clarinet; Betsy Sturdevant on bassoon; Tom Battenberg on cornet; Rich Howenstine on trombone; Bill Lutz on percussion; and conductor Olev Viro. The ebullient Sebastian Knowles transcribed the text and served as narrator alongside Robert Downey. Erik Abbott-Main choreographed the plucky dance sequences featuring Brian Devine, Eric Falck, Adam Houston, Alexandra Runyon, and Rashana Smith. The performance was made possible by major funding from the Johnstone Fund for New Music with additional support from The Columbus Foundation, Sunday at Central, and The Ohio State University. Inclusive events like these, that offer kinetic entertainment (and enlightenment) to the public for free, are true gifts to the community.

       

OSU Contemporary Music Festival.

The 2011 Contemporary Music Festival takes place on April 28 and 29 at Weigel Auditorium. Presented by The Ohio State University School of Music, it includes four world premieres, live dance, and a documentary debut. This year’s festival pays tribute to Donald Harris, who recently retired his professorship at OSU after 22 years of service, and who has made a passionate, prolific 44-year contribution to classical music.

“Music is my life,” said Harris, who turned 80 years old earlier this month. “To serve as Composer-In-Residence for a festival that I founded [in 2000], and to offer a retrospective of my work as performed and conducted by colleagues, former students, and friends, is a deeply humbling experience.”

The April 28 performance features world premieres of souvenirs/résolutions by Thomas Wells; Moriarty’s Necktie by Matthew Saunders; and Souvenir from Poland by Jan Radzynski . It also includes Fantasy in Two Movements by Ross Lee Finney with Kia-Hui Tan, and Darius Milhaud’s La Création du Monde conducted by Russel Mikkelson with BalletMet Columbus dancers and original choreography by Jimmy Orrante. The April 29 performance highlights six pieces of music written by Harris: Lyric Fanfare with the OSU Symphony Orchestra and conductor Marshall Haddock; First String Quartet featuring The High Street Four; Of Hartford in a Purple Light with Christine Shumway Mortine and Maria Staeblein; Pierrot Lieder with Lucy Shelton; Five Tempi as conducted by Mikkelson; and the world premiere of A Letter From Home with Shelton, Shumway Mortine, and Cosmos. A documentary entitled Sonata 1957, about a piece that Harris composed in Paris as a young man, will be screened an hour before each concert. It explores his development in mid 20th-century Paris, when pre-war musical thought bridged with post-war experimentation. Tickets to the festival cost $12 for the general public and $6 for students and seniors.

 

 

 

 

 

Columbus Record Store Day 2011.

Today marked the fifth anniversary of Record Store Day. Every third Saturday in April, hundreds of independent record stores throughout the world unite to remind us that nothing sounds (or smells) better than fresh (or used) vinyl. More than 250 special releases were issued in honor of the occasion. Kevin and I visited two Columbus record stores celebrating their first Record Store Days: Spoonful Records, which opened downtown last July, and Dreadful Sounds, which opened in Clintonville last June. Then we promptly went home and blared our new purchases, because that’s how we roll spin.

Click here to read my post about last year’s Record Store Day in Columbus, and here to read my review of Spoonful Records right after it opened.

          

DeVotchKa: "100 Lovers."

I’m a contributing writer for The Agit Reader, a weekly music webzine based in Brooklyn. Here’s a recent review that I wrote about DeVotchKa’s new album “100 Lovers.”

Listening to DeVotchKa is like careening around in a chariot fueled by molten chutzpah. The Denver foursome blends Romani, Bolero, Mariachi, Germanic, and Slavic rhythms with indie fervor to create a profoundly nomadic musical experience. Its fifth studio album, 100 Lovers, was produced by Craig Schumacher (Calexico, M. Ward, Neko Case) and recorded in the Arizona desert, and though it offers guest performances by members of Calexico and percussionist Mauro Refosco (David Byrne, Thom Yorke), it spotlights frontman Nick Urata’s thundering desperation through elegantly eerie groans of theremin, trumpet, and accordion.

Following the gypsy folklore to which it pays homage, DeVotchKa’s sound is roving and mysterious. All 12 of 100 Lovers’ songs force you to behold the pleading, warbling tenor bursting from the throat of Urata, whose mammoth soundscapes can also be found in the soundtracks of Little Miss Sunshine, I Love You Phillip Morris, and the television show Weeds. “All the Band in All the Sea” and “100 Other Lovers” harvest the volcanic momentum, the latter of which has been set to a babushka-starring stop-motion video. Bouncy and incandescent and accompanied by a children’s choir, “Exhaustible” is a splendid lone ray of optimism. 100 Lovers is a sublime killer of doldrums that dissects such lucid ephemera as sinking ships and embarrassing grace. Enjoy the 45-minute multicultural ride, and don’t tell Mom you didn’t wear a seatbelt.

    

Amos Lee: "Mission Bell."

I’m a contributing writer for The Agit Reader, a weekly music webzine based in Brooklyn. Here’s a recent review that I wrote about Amos Lee’s new album Mission Bell.

It can be frustrating when a natural singer-songwriter glides through a conveyor belt of clean arrangements and glossy tweaks. On his fourth studio album, soul-folk artist Amos Lee unfolds a dozen songs which mostly droop from too much slickness. Mission Bell features such notable guest musicians as Lucinda Williams, Sam Beam (Iron and Wine) and Willie Nelson and was produced by Joey Burns (Calexico), but it doesn’t rival the brusqueness of Lee’s 2005 self-titled debut album.

Overall, Mission Bell is safe, pleasant, and pretty. “Windows Are Rolled Down” is characterized by intense radio-friendliness, while “Flower” is an uncanny mix of Pure Prairie League’s “Let Me Love You Tonight” and the Commodores’ “Easy.” Glimmers of sweet coarseness appear on more honest cuts like “Learned A Lot.” The most poignant track is the 12th, “Behind Me Now/El Camino Reprise,” the second half of which Nelson sagely contributes. If the rest of the album would have sounded as unhinged, its value would have risen.

Lee’s record label refers to him as “one of the most important and prolific songwriters of our time,” and while he’s clearly gifted, he shines more without lights. He doesn’t need egregiousness or overproduction. Predictable records have their place in dentist offices and department store bathrooms. This, however, is a man with something to say who simply needs simple means. Where’s Rick Rubin when you need him?

The Jayhawks In Chicago.

Watching a favorite band perform live is wondrous. Seeing a favorite band with a proclivity for breakups and reclusiveness perform live is soul shifting. This happened to me last Friday night at the Vic Theatre with The Jayhawks. It was an experience I never thought I’d have, and it was made possible by my wickedly cool fiancé.

The Jayhawks formed in Minneapolis more than 25 years ago. As I wrote in a 2009 review, they were quietly credited with being a backbone of the alt-country movement. Maybe it’s their tragic harmonies or rugged lyrics, but I’ve never found another band whose music makes me so equally happy and sad. And even though I’ve attended hundreds of concerts and worked at a music hall when I was younger, this show presented several firsts. We were among the youngest people in attendance. There was no elbowing to get up front or shoving near the beer line. And I actually suggested that we move to the back of the room midway through to avoid post-show-ringing-ear-syndrome. These mini epiphanies taught me that life really is fleeting and you really should seize seemingly unseizeable moments. It proved that a band with more personality conflicts than Real World cast members can mend and move on. It taught me the value of concert etiquette and the wisdom of caring for oneself. Clearly, I’m getting older — but I’m still learning how to bask in music instead of just listening to it.

 

Top 10 Albums Of 2010.

I’m a contributing writer for The Agit Reader, a weekly music webzine based in Brooklyn. Here’s a reprint of my recent piece for its Best of 2010 issue. The editors let us format our top ten lists however we liked, so I tried to have some fun with mine.

For me, 2010 was a warm and sudsy whirlpool of easy beats. I filled my ears mostly with new records from long-time favorite artists and new records from longstanding artists that were new to me. Here’s a customized emotional chart for each of my 10 picks.

10. The Apples in Stereo: Travellers in Space and Time (Yep Roc/Simian/Elephant 6)
Apparently, perennial American indie-pop outlet Apples in Stereo endeavored to make their seventh studio album sound like aliens playing ’70s R&B from a spaceship. I think they succeeded admirably.
Snapshot: Champagne optimism
Mood: “It takes less muscles to smile than to frown!”
Goes well with: multivitamins, kitten heels, not winning the lottery but not caring

9. Groove Armada: Black Light (Om)
This decoupage of digital rhythms and bright vocals knocked me over like a bag of synthesizers. “History,” featuring Will Young, wins my vote for Most Righteously Kinetic Song of the Year.
Snapshot: Shut up and dance.
Mood: I bleed electronica.
Goes well with: leftover gin from the bottle and hangovers associated with leftover gin from the bottle

8. The Budos Band: The Budos Band III (Daptone)
When you want to gyrate like no one’s watching and drink like no one’s judging, you’re Budos-bound. Pumped full of flint, this West African and Afro-Cuban soul outfit delivers an ambush of instrumental attitude.
Snapshot: achy Afro-soul
Mood: You’re welcome.
Goes well with: beating someone up, video games, scotch

7. Tracey Thorn: Love and Its Opposite (Merge)
If you miss Everything But the Girl and like stashing weapons for stressy days, this could be your record. “Why Does the Wind?” and “Oh, the Divorces!” are estrogen flag-fliers, while the Lee Hazlewood and Unbending Trees covers are committed and imaginative.
Snapshot: Everything But the Boy
Mood: gorgeous scorn
Goes well with: cardigans, Earl Grey tea

6. Freedy Johnston: Rain on the City (Bar/None)
Johnston’s first album in eight years convinced me that it’s possible (and sometimes preferable) to be filled up with loneliness. “The Devil Raises His Own,” “The Kind Of Love We’re In” and the title track are stunning examples of that.
Snapshot: melting snow
Mood: Me, myself, and I don’t really need you.
Goes well with: ’90s-era pining, good domestic beer

5. Horse Feathers: Thistled Spring (Kill Rock Stars)
Horse Feathers’ placid assemblage of folk-inspired tunes lends well to quiet homemade dinners, letter writing, and/or overall decompressing.
Snapshot: acoustic utopia
Mood: pillows—lots of them
Goes well with: melatonin, fuzzy socks

4. Belle and Sebastian: Write About Love (Matador)
The eighth studio album from this Glasgow group is predictably pithy but enjoyably unassuming, sort of like that moment when you dunk a spoon into your giant cereal bowl and anticipate the first crunchy mouthful.
Snapshot: As if.
Mood: stolen cigarettes
Goes well with: vintage eyeglasses, espresso

3. Sade: Soldier of Love (Epic)
At 51, Sade’s still got it—more than most of us will ever have it. Her first album in a decade is a gift to those who love intensely, act defiantly, and sometimes sing loudly in the car/shower/closet.
Snapshot: That’s right, you’ll bow down.
Mood: fierce sultry
Goes well with: sex, grudges, empowerment

2. Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs: God Willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise (RCA)
I wanted to hate Ray LaMontagne after everyone and their Labradoodles became fans, but god, he’s good. God Willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise’s “New York City’s Killing Me” has secretly haunted me for months.
Snapshot: He did it. Again.
Mood: How many grains of sorrow are on the earth?
Goes well with: regrets, Rioja

1. Laura Veirs: July Flame (Raven Marching Band/Bella Union)
Named after a type of peach and recorded during the pregnancy of her first child, July Flame is pure and distinct and elevating and serene and nurturing and eloquent and dignifying.
Snapshot: girlie forest rock
Mood: ethereal antidepressant
Goes well with: knitting, Tofurky

 

3rd Annual Independents' Day September 18

The third annual Independents’ Day, a festival that celebrates all things independent and distinctly Columbus, will take place on Saturday, September 18 from noon to midnight at Gay Street and Pearl Alley. This free event features 200 vendors, two main stages with more than 20 local bands, artists, dancers, street performers, and public art projects. This year, Independent’s Day will collaborate with such area organizations as ARTillery Ohio, Capitol Square Rotary, Central City Recording, Columbus Music Co-Op, Couchfire Collective, Columbus Crafty Cotillion, Dine Originals Columbus, Downtown Resident Area Commission, Etsy Team Columbus, Local Matters, and Small Business Beanstalk. These alliances help fuel the mantra for the 2010 festival: “Independent we stand, united for all.” People who are interested in volunteering at Independents’ Day should visit thisisindependent.com to sign up for a shift.

 

Spoonful Records.

We Columbus urbanites haven’t been able to combine the words “vinyl” and “downtown.” Until now. Thanks to Brett Ruland’s week-old Spoonful Records, we have a new place to flip through stacks, play pinball, and yap about music until our mouths fall off.

Located at 116 East Long Street next to B1 Bicycles, Spoonful Records is a zero-pretension-zone named after a Howlin’ Wolf song. Its thousands of records rest in wheeled cases that can be pushed back to host live local bands. The store is (marvelously) as accessible as it is cool. Because we all know that there are two kinds of music people: those who blast you with knowledge avalanches and those who just want to spread musical love. Brett, thank God, is unquestionably the latter. Whether you’re buying a used Martika LP or a re-released Black Heart Procession 7-inch rarer than an albino moose, he’ll grin and suggest a couple of other bands you might like. He may even play you stuff on his iPod. He’s a genuine guy who genuinely loves vinyl. And he’ll custom order any records that are still in print. Spoonful Records is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m.

P.S. This past weekend I made a pants-peeing vinyl purchase at Spoonful Records: The Jayhawks’ first album, which had only 2,000 copies in its initial pressing and has been unavailable for nearly 40,000 years. 

 

ComFest 2010.

ComFest is usually lots of things, but not mellow. After 38 years, however, the festival created to uphold community spirit and neighborly kindness rekindled its mission. The three-day Goodale Park extravaganza that attracts more than 70,000 people grew so frenzied in recent years that organizers scaled back band lineups and hours of operation in 2010 to help increase the peace. And it worked.

This year’s ComFest was devoid of stomped toes, claustrophobic crowds, and angry energy. As such, there were probably less awkward run-ins and fiery rants. And drunken texts, but that’s another story. It was simply (and beautifully) about music, food, crafts, and workshops. There were endless rays of sunshine, light breezes, smiles, hugs, environmental awareness, and overall appreciation. This is how it should be. Out of the five years that I volunteered at the Off Ramp beer tent, this was the calmest. We caught an array of sets performed by talented local bands, including Shin Tower Music, The Max Power Trio, Organic Roots, Blastronauts, The Spikedrivers, Bicentennial Bear, Mooncussers, and Stucco Jones. Foley covered Soul II Soul, Kansas, and Fleetwood Mac, and Paper Airplane covered “You’re the Best” from Karate Kid. We ate hummus wraps and peanut noodles and broccoli burgers. It was all lovely and uneventful, which made it one of the best ComFests yet.

Goodale Park Music Series 2010.

June is finally here. After months of planning and organizing, we announced the lineup for the second annual Goodale Park Music Series this morning. We also launched the new website, created a Facebook page to replace the old group page, and formed a Twitter account. This year’s lineup features these Columbus bands:

July 11: Colin Gawel & The Lonely Bones
July 18: The Mooncussers
August 1: Quartet Yumbambé
August 8: The Spikedrivers
August 15: fo/mo/deep
August 22: Flypaper

All shows are free and will be held at Goodale Park’s Gazebo from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. rain or shine. This season includes some new and exciting elements: Wholly Craft will sell a variety of items made by Columbus artists and designers at each show. Every performance will also feature a potluck hosted by one of six prominent local food bloggers: CMH Gourmand, Columbus Foodie, Hounds In The Kitchen, Hungrywoolf, Restaurant Widow, and Taco Trucks Columbus. Community personalities Jill Moorhead and Lauren Wilson will orchestrate and promote the potlucks, which will be themed according to the types of music being performed.

The purpose of these concerts is to offer inspired and diverse local entertainment in an inclusive, community-minded environment. Children and well-behaved pets are more than welcome. Camaraderie, picnics, and bare feet in the grass are highly encouraged. The series is funded by the Short North Foundation, Short North Civic Association, Friends of Goodale Park, Italian Village Society, Harrison West Society, and ComFest. Kevin Fox designed the website, poster, logo, and helps photograph each show.

“New Music” Concert At Goodale Park Shelter House.

On Wednesday night amidst the beginning blazes of summer swelter, 250 people ventured to Goodale Park’s Shelter House to experience the rare and adventurous sounds of “new music” performed by Carpe Diem String Quartet and OSU’s New Music Collective. 

New music is consistently unpredictable. It’s daringly experimental. And it has taught me it’s that music, like many things, needn’t have borders. When you expand your mind enough to embrace sounds free of traditional structure and melodies, you embrace new ways of listening. And that leads to new ways of hearing and interpreting. Factor in a standing-room-only audience as diverse as the musical pieces, and you have an organic musical terrarium. 

The seven pieces that were performed at this free concert weaved a complex yet fluid tapestry of emotion and rigor. Plus I got to witness a couple of personal firsts, like a bass clarinet solo performance. Gunnar Hirthe’s interpretation of Press Release by David Lang was a veritable woodwind explosion. Having played the clarinet for six years as a youngster, I was equipped with enough knowledge to realize that 1) If I played the clarinet for 40 years, it would never sound like Gunnar, and 2) This guy should be training Navy Seals on lung capacity. Thanks to Mark Lomax’s String Quartet, Movement II, I got to witness my first string quartet play an entire piece by plucking instead of bowing. It was a warm invitation to look beyond the conservative personalities of stringed instruments.

Thanks to the Johnstone Fund for New Music, community members united to try something different. University students had the chance to perform with accomplished professionals. And free scoops of Jeni’s Ice Cream perfectly punctuated a sweet evening. Click here for more photos.

Record Store Day in Columbus.

Yesterday we celebrated the sacred national holiday known as Record Store Day by visiting four independent music havens along North High Street: Magnolia Thunderpussy, What The Rock?, Used Kids Records, and Lost Weekend Records. Our vinyl treasure hunt yielded hours of happy fingertip rifling and special savings on new and used LP’s.

We began at Magnolia Thunderpussy in the Short North. The 40-year-old establishment teemed with shrieking adolescent girls, thanks to Ben Folds’ in-store appearance. Then we darted across the street to What The Rock?, a “hip and unique rock-n-roll boutique” that hired an 80’s hair metal deejay for the festivities. Things were jamming a mile north at Used Kids Records on the Ohio State campus. Several bands performed throughout the day and I scored an unthinkable three Sade records. Lastly, we hit Lost Weekend Records in Clintonville. A multi-room forest of new and used vinyl awaited us, and I snagged a copy of The Smithereens’ Especially For You faster than Bob Pollard can down a beer. And then a minor miracle occurred. Hidden in a back room stack, my boyfriend found an album that I’ve sought for years: J.J. Cale’s Troubadour. Yes, I could have ordered one online...but nothing rivals the thrill of discovering a prized album in your own backyard.   

 

OSU 2010 Contemporary Music Festival.

Yesterday evening we attended opening night of the OSU School of Music’s 2010 Contemporary Music Festival. The 10-year-old event celebrates the fiery, imaginative world of contemporary classical music (sometimes referred to as new art music). The six distinct pieces that were performed last night sparked similar inward thoughts and vibrant emotions to the ones I felt when visiting MoMA last weekend.

The concert’s two world premieres, 13 for Lucky for cello & computer and Premonitions for Alto Saxophone and Computer-generated Sound, were composed for solo instruments and computers, and were intended to demonstrate our progress in technology. The former was performed by cellist Mark Rudoff and composed by Marc Ainger as a tribute to the late Stephen “Lucky” Mosko. It intermittently reminded me of a barreling train, furious flamenco guitar, and arresting silence. The latter, created by Thomas Wells and performed by Casey Grev, was conceived in Germany and took six years to complete. Based on “spectral manipulations of natural sounds,” it employed painstaking digital synthesis techniques.

Inspired by an Amy Lowell poem, Mirage is an experimental piece of computer-assisted algorithmic music involving a flute and a vibraphone, as performed by Erin Helgeson Torres and Darin Olson. It was created by Bosnian composer Igor Karaca. And then there was The Moment, an explosively technical piano work performed by Yung-jen Chen and written by Korean composer Gui Sook Lee. It explores “the dividing line between the end of winter and the beginning of spring” and “the delicate inner atmosphere of autumn.” Christine Shumway Mortine provided the evening’s sole vocal performance with Of Hartford in a Purple Light, an homage to poet Wallace Stevens. Composed by Donald Harris, it mixed lilting operatic soprano with haunting piano accompaniment by Maria Staeblein. Jan Radzynski’s Serenade for Wind Quintet was the debut performance of the School of Music's new faculty performing ensemble, Scarlet Winds. Featuring the flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, horn, and bassoon, its three movements were spry and dramatic, like an avant-garde film score.

Former dean of the College of the Arts and esteemed music professor Donald Harris has managed the Festival since 2000. His passion for and commitment to this groundbreaking genre of music is an undeniable force. The festivities run through Sunday and are made possible through generous support from The Johnstone Fund for New Music, The Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Laura Veirs: Dealing Like A Natural Woman.

I’m a little obsessive about my favorite musicians. Those who know me know this. I recently ran into an old friend that I hadn’t seen in years. “Every time I hear Laura Veirs I think of you,” he said.

We all have different parts of our personalities. Laura Veirs and her diorama of crystalline sounds spark my inner naturista. She’s feet in the grass and warm wind in the face, but with a dash of cerebral grit. I once knitted an entire blanket listening only to Carbon Glacier and Year Of Meteors. Thankfully I got to see her perform at Little Brother’s shortly before it closed. Two months ago, she released July Flame, her seventh album and first release in three years. The 13-song collection features contributions by Jim James and the Tosca String Quartet, as well as such empyrean instruments as the jaw harp, thumb piano, viola, and archtop guitar. One song was even inspired by a historic French poet. Similar to Hayao Miyazaki, Laura paints a world that's inherently and uniquely transportive. She lives in Portland and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese. I bet she has a killer quinoa recipe and owns more than one pair of hiking boots. 

 

Honoring Forgotten Columbus Musicians.

Last Thursday night I ventured to the Grandview Library to hear local author David Meyers speak about the history of music in Columbus. Only a dozen people attended the free lecture, but those who made the sojourn were gifted with spirited tales of well-kept local music secrets. A Columbus native, David has interviewed more than 500 musicians. Two years ago, he wrote Columbus: The Musical Crossroads with Arnett Howard, James Loeffler, and Candice Watkins. “The history of music in Columbus remains largely unwritten,” reads the first line of the book. So David dedicated himself to discovering and showcasing both acknowledged and forgotten Central Ohio musicians.

According to David, the Columbus music scene began gaining traction in the 1900’s. Precocious vaudeville performer Elsie Janis was “one of the biggest stars to come out of Columbus.” She starred in her first Broadway production at the age of 15 and was later nicknamed “Sweetheart of the AEF” for her tireless commitment toward entertaining World War I soldiers. In addition to minstrels and traveling shows, we had a number of military bands led by people like Frederick Neddermeyer, a “largely forgotten” composer who wrote operas and cakewalks. Several companies, including Roxane Labs, had their own in-house bands. And several historic Columbus musicians led double lives, like Charles Parker who was a barber by day and violinist by night who managed a whopping 38 bands.

Like many other cities, Columbus had a cast of unique musical characters. Archie “Stomp” Gordon played piano with his feet. Rahsaan Roland Kirk played three saxophones at once. Madame Rose Brown sang with such projection that she didn’t need a microphone. We also bred musicians who later formed powerful alliances. Guitarist Austin “Skin” Young performed with Bing Crosby. Trumpeter Harry “Sweets” Edison played with Frank Sinatra. Art Ryerson played guitar with Elvis and Bill Haley and the Comets. My favorite tidbit was learning that vocalist Billy Valentine penned “Money’s Too Tight To Mention,” which Simply Red covered decades later.

In addition to jazz and big band, Columbus was known for cowboy songs and Wild West shows. At one time, we even had bands of policemen like the Singing Sheriffs and Hot Pursuit. Local country musician Hank Newman (of the Georgia Crackers) made such an impression on the national scene from his home on Johnstown Road that Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn summoned his assistance for various projects. Throughout the 90-minute presentation, David’s desire to pay tribute to under-recognized Columbus musicians grew increasingly apparent. He wants people to know about Chuz Alfred, Hank Maar, and Rusty Bryant. He praised Dick Stolzman (of The Embers) as being one of the greatest clarinetists of all time. And in 1995, he co-created The Columbus Senior Musicians Hall Of Fame to honor prolific Central Ohio performers. I’m grateful to him and his colleagues for helping to preserve and protect our musical heritage.

 

Sade Keeps Sultry in a Chokehold.

Last month, Sade released Soldier Of Love, her first studio album in 10 years. The ponytailed and ear-hooped goddess with a knack for penning love songs that apply to people with pulses has proven that, at 51 years old, she’s still got it. 

Love is and always was Sade’s muse. When you listen to her music, you’re forced to contemplate your current (and past) love situations. I’ve always admired that about her. Countless artists claim not to write love songs so as not to be deemed over-passionate, but she has been unapologetic about doing so this whole time. She’s what you throw in when you want to feel sexy and understood, and sexy and misunderstood.  

Even though I have been a fan of Sade’s for most of my life and own all of her albums, my expectations for Solider Of Love weren’t high. I’m just glad that she still feels the desire to write and produce music. She doesn’t need the money; the woman has sold more than 50 million albums and continues to be Britain’s top solo female recording artist. I think that she recorded this album for her family and her conscience. The rest of us are just fortunate enough to be able to access it. Her voice sounds a little deeper and her lyrics are a little wiser. “The Moon And The Sky” and the title track pack the most unchartered fervor, while the remaining eight songs serve up her trademark cocktail of breathy vocals atop digital beats, hip-grinding bass, and earthy strings. Her teenage daughter sings backup vocals on “Babyfather.”

Soldier Of Love debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart, which is Sade’s highest debut in 22 years. It also garnered her first number-one debut in the United States, selling more than 500,000 copies in its first week. Good things come to those who love.

 

Winter Jamboree Benefits 3 Columbus Groups on Jan 21.

The first ever Winter Jamboree will take place on Thursday, January 21 from 6:00 p.m. to midnight at Victorian’s Midnight Café. Proceeds from the event, featuring live musical performances by Eric Nassau, The John Turck Trio, The Tin Hearts, Cowboy Hillbilly Hippy Folk, and Erika Carey and the Calamities, will benefit the Goodale Park Music Series, Third Hand Bicycle Co-op, and WCBE 90.5 FM. Tickets cost $10 at the door or can be purchased here. Free chili dinners will be provided to all attendees.  

The Goodale Park Music Series was founded last summer to replace the Short North Sunday Jazz series (which was canceled by Columbus Recreation and Parks due to city budget cuts). Featuring six outdoor concerts and multiple musical genres, it’s free and open to the public thanks to donations from The Short North Civic Association, Short North Foundation, Friends of Goodale Park, Harrison West Society, Italian Village Society, and Comfest. The series will host its second season this summer.  

The Third Hand Bicycle Co-op was created by a group of Columbus cyclists to advocate responsible bicycle transportation and education. It provides community members with facilities and tools to help make cycling an essential part of their everyday lives, and aims to promote cycling as a safe and environmentally responsible mode of transport. 

WCBE 90.5 FM is a public radio station that serves the cultural, informational, and educational needs of Central Ohio. It has provided superior public radio programming since its inception in 1956, and strives to provide the community with services that transcend the stereotypical “heritage” formats of public radio. To that end, it combines public radio news and cultural mainstays with an eclectic blend of local news coverage and local and world music.

Pelican at The Summit Tomorrow.

If you happen to be in Columbus tomorrow night and could benefit from getting lost in some dark melodic head-thranging, check out Pelican at The Summit. I recently came across the Chicago instrumental riff masters and was quickly drawn to their heavy yet emotive style. The quartet has performed together for a decade and just released their fourth studio album What We All Come To Need on L.A. indie label Southern Lord. Several of the band’s songs hover around seven minutes, resulting in deft deep rock novellas. “The Creeper,” the strongest cut from their new record, wields a hefty punch that reminds me of what Karma To Burn would sound like after hitting a little methadone. 

Pelican is Trevor de Brauw on guitar, Bryan Herweg on bass, Larry Herweg on drums, and Laurent Schroeder-Lebec on guitar. This will be the band's only Ohio appearance and the second to last show of their fall tour. L.A. doom metal duo Black Cobra, Boston heavy metal outfit Disappearer, and Columbus’ own Brainbow will share the bill. Tickets cost $13 and doors open at 9:00.

The Black Swans at Rumba Cafe.

The Black Swans, Essie Jain, and Bird and Flower will perform at the Rumba Café this Friday at 10:00 p.m. Admission costs $7. If Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen speak to you in any way, you'll like The Black Swans. They have released three records since 2004 and have two new ones coming out in the next six months. One of those is Don’t Blame the Stars, a concept album “about being agnostic and placing your faith in music and friendship instead of a higher power, with nods to R&B, country, and rock and name-checking Joe Tex, Roy Orbison, Jimi Hendrix, Sam Cooke, and Iris Dement.” It was mostly recorded in a garage and mixed in a kitchen. Frontman Jerry DeCicca is one cool peach; you can check him out here. Essie Jain is a “very British” gal who now lives in New York. Her last Columbus gig was several years ago opening for Beirut. She describes her music as “gentle, warm, open, and intimate.” I’ve written about my girl Eve’s band Bird and Flower here and here.

    

 

 

Peloton Records Showcase.

Peloton Records will celebrate the release of its first compilation CD City Sampler during a live music showcase on Friday, November 6 at Rumba Café from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. Live music will be provided by The Bygones, The Calamities, Matthew Hoover, Heidi Howes, Todd May, and Wonder Twin Powers. The 20-track City Sampler features songs by several Columbus artists, including The Alphabet, The Alwood Sisters, The Bygones, The Calamities, Deerhead, DJ Drastic, Mallards, Matthew Hoover, Megan Palmer, Twin Souls of Sulfur, and Wonder Twin Powers. 

“Columbus is, and always has been, an incredible music town,” said Steve McGann, musician and founder of Peloton Records. “This compilation features a variety of genres and captures a snapshot of how our scene is evolving.”

Admission to the release party costs $5 and copies of the City Sampler will be available for $5. The first 50 attendees will receive a free copy of the City Sampler. 

10 Favorite ACL 2009 Moments.

Last weekend we trekked to Austin for the eighth annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. It was my second visit to the gargantuan “music party” (as my friends like to call it) that features 130 bands on eight stages. Though it’s impossible to recount every colorful highlight, a few come to mind.

[To read my Agit Reader review of the festival, click here]

1. Hearing Phoenix lead singer Thomas Mars say we were the largest crowd he’d ever performed in front of before playing “Too Young.” I loved that song when I first heard it in Lost In Translation, and it sounded perfect live.

2. Mudboy Slim. He achieved more enlightenment through mud yoga postures than all other 64,999 festival goers combined.

3. The guy with the Ohio State Buckeyes branded lawn chair. I should have acknowledged you, buddy. O-H!

4. Seeing John Legend cover “Remember The Time.” That was the only Michael Jackson song I heard during the entire festival, and his horn section and backup singers were amazing.

5. The guy in front of me at Pearl Jam who, when forced to hear about the awesomeness of Journey from the guy next to him who was dribbling beer on his Rush t-shirt, replied “Dude, Journey sucks ass.”

6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O’s leather jacket with “KO” on the back. And her electric pink spiderweb face mask. And her yellow fishnets. I don’t know anyone else who could pull any of this off.

7. The lady wearing cowboy-boot-shaped rainboots. I should have gotten a picture of those.

8. The decision to leave B52s and slog through the entire park for Clutch. I have the utmost respect for any band that formed the year I was born, but sometimes you just want to thrash your head around and feel your insides form devil horns.

9. Deflecting Dave Matthews. I have not now, nor during any point in history, understood the appeal of DMB. Thankfully some merciful soul scheduled electro-funktasma Ghostland Observatory at the same time, and I didn’t have to bury myself in escape mud.

10. Cleverly describing Ghostland Observatory frontman Aaron Behrens as the Native American Axl Rose. Because no one else has ever thought that.