Karli Fairbanks, a country-folk musician from Spokane, Washington, performed at The Grind Coffee House with support from Henry Nordstrom and Cedar City locals Wood-Skin-Steel. Photos are also available on my Flickr.
Archive for the ‘Media’ Category
Concert Photos: Maybelle’s Music Box at The Grind
I’m still alive, people. Don’t worry. Things have been busy on my end — and I’ve been lazy. Shame on me! Anyway, here are some photos of Salt Lake City-based bluegrass outfit Maybelle’s Music Box performing at my favorite coffee shop in Cedar City, The Grind Coffee House. They’re also available on my Flickr profile. More photos from Cedar City concerts will be available
in the coming days.
Politics and Music: Mark Berube
Mark Berube, a Canadian indie musician who performs folk-inflected indie with his group, Mark Berube and the Patriotic Few, discusses his perspective on music and politics. This is the third in a series of interviews with musicians discussing political perspectives.
What role do politics play in your music?
Politics in modern music can very easily have the tendency to be preachy. I avoid this sort of statement as much as I can, unless I really want to put some balls behind something. I prefer subtlety, like “Ojala,” by Silvio Rodriguez, probably one of the most potent and subtle statments made in a song against Castro.
Mark Berube and the Patriotic Few – “Flowers on the Stones” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/08-flowers-on-the-stones.mp3]
What role do you think music should play in politics?
Music has always been a reference point for society to bounce itself against, or it has been pure escapism. Most of the time it fills an entertainment quota in politics … you only have to look as far as Palin’s use of “Barracuda”. (more…)
Southern Utah: Open Mic Night at The Grind
For eight years, Open Mic Night has taken place at Groovacious, a Cedar City record store; one week ago, Open Mic Night was moved to The Grind Coffee House. The new ownership at the coffee shop has already shown a great willingness to support music in Cedar City, which is a breath of fresh air.
Open Mic Night takes place at The Grind Coffee House and starts at 8 p.m.. Those interested in performing should arrive at 7:30 p.m. such that scheduling can take place effectively with the newly revised night. Entry is free, but visitors are encouraged to purchase product from the coffee house –I opt for the coffee. Go figure.
The Moroccan Mint green tea is nice, too — both iced and hot. Using a good blend is essential, and I’ve never really been served a bad cup at The Grind, though do be sure to ask for another cup to place your tea bag in, or just be sure to throw it away. Leaving the leaves steeping in the water for too long can leave you with a bitter taste.
Photos from Open Mic Night for yesterday, Sept. 10, after the jump.
Review: What Laura Says – Thinks and Feels
What Laura Says
Thinks and Feels
Terpsikshore Records, 2008
What Laura Says opens their second release with a collection, of sorts, of musical styles: “Couldn’t Lose Myself If I Tried” opens with a gentle folk-inflected tune before it transitions (with a door knock, of all things) into an a capella medley, then making a segue into a Ben Folds Five-style piano-romp, complete with the group’s trademark vocal harmonies.
Thankfully, What Laura Says doesn’t keep up this strange method for long, opting to not make such bold breaks in style mid-song but still keeping the music convincingly engaging. “Fashionably Moral,” dark Western mood and all, bursts with acoustic energy midway through the song before settling down again, and the following track, “Illustrated Manual” marks another appearance of some nice piano-based pop — it’s clear that What Laura Says either get bored with a single style of music rather quickly, or they simply wish to showcase a bit of diversity in the music.
What Laura Says – “July 23” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/july23.mp3]
From the archives: An interview with Sean and Christian of Monster Movie
The following is an interview conducted with Christian Savill and Sean Hewson of Monster Movie from 2005. The interview is being resurfaced mostly because I think it’s interesting. Nothing in the interview — aside from formatting — has been changed, though multimedia content has been added in for user interest.
As a child, were you around music much?
Sean: Only when I got to school and started learning instruments. I think we’re just classic geeks and we spent a lot of time at home listening to music when we were teenagers because we didn’t know how to get girlfriends.
Christian: Not that much. My Dad didn’t even know who the Beatles were, he is a bit of an opera man. I was also hopeless at music at school. Aside from kids music like The Wombles, I remember hearing “Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush when it first came out and being really interested in it, but not knowing why or what it was. After that I loved listening to the radio and taping the Top 40 singles charts every Sunday night. Those cassettes would literally get worn out. I didn’t get a guitar until I was about 16 or 17, my Dad bought me a right handed guitar, I’m left handed.
Monster Movie – “Letting You Know” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/lettingyouknow.mp3]
Music Geek #11: Post-rock: reproducing in the back seat since the ’90s
From the chart attached — from VerySmallArray.com, a wonderful little site of charts and graphics and things by Dorothy Gambrell, creator of my favorite web comic, Cat and Girl — it’s clear that instrumental music is not very popular right now. If that wasn’t painfully obvious, though, I’m not sure what was. Sadly, not much post-rock hits the #1 spot on the charts, much to my bemusement. I’d rather like the music I enjoy to be enjoyed by many, many people!
Godspeed You! Black Emperor – “Dead Flag Blues (Intro)” | download (via official site)
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/godspeed_you_black_emperor-dead_flag_blues_intro.mp3]
I suppose I recognize that people are generally interested in music that’s catchy, especially lyrically and vocally. It’s rather hard to sing along with Godspeed You! Black Emperor, let alone Tortoise — this, I admit. And, if I’ve learned anything from people, it’s that they really, really like to sing along to things, for better or worse. (more…)
Politics and Music: Jon Crocker, ever-touring folk artist
Jon Crocker, the ever-touring folk artist, discusses his perspective on music and politics. This is the second in a series of interviews with musicians discussing political perspectives.
What role do politics play in your music?
Not a very large one … if I ever write topical songs, they’re usually about social or environmental issues as opposed to political ones, and even with those issues I don’t really write about the political sides.
What role do you think music should play in politics?
I think that should be up to the musicians. If someone wants to make political music, they should. I think songwriters should write about whatever they are passionate about.
Jon Crocker – “Six Day Sinners’ Son” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/jon-crocker-six-day-sinners-son.mp3]