Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands for some kind of model for a better society. I guess it’s just that I glimpsed something beautiful in a flashbulb moment once, and perhaps mistaking it for prophecy have been seeking its fulfillment ever since.
- Lester Bangs
I can't remember your name but I can't forget you. I first saw you play almost 2 years ago when I was out with friends. You had a girlfriend and I had a boyfriend. We only talked for a few minutes but you asked intriguing questions. I wanted to talk much longer.
Later that summer I saw a band and thought you were singing, but couldn't be sure it was you and I couldn't stay to find out. I also think I saw you out walking downtown with your guitar a couple of different times over this summer. I kick myself for not stopping and asking if it was you.
You're tall with a beard, and you have a kind of brooding quality. You said you write your own music, but play cover songs more because that's what people in bars want to hear. You were funny but seemed very sad. I would like to see you play again if you're still in the area. For some reason I think you moved to Newark from somewhere else.
If this sounds like anybody you know of please let me know.
It's been a really, REALLY, long day on this end....so I just wanted to leave you with one last new classic....from my hero, Glen Hansard...enjoy and have a great rest of your weekend!!
I have seen Glen Hansard 4 times now(twice w/the Frames and twice w/Swell Season) and on three of those occasions he mentioned his love of the Pixies. In fact at two of the shows he played Pixies songs, 'Where Is My Mind' and 'Cactus'.
After seeing the Swell Season again at Coachella in April I came home and I've been listening to Surfer Rosa/Come On Pilgrim ever since...such a brilliant collection of music. EVERYONE should own these records...everyone.
Here are a couple of clips of Glen paying tribute...with the Pixies originals right behind the video clips:
I think covering a Will Oldham song is sort of like rollerblading. It may look like a really good idea, but if you mess it up you can look REALLY stupid.
Oldham's songs are so incredible that it probably seems like they would just sing themselves, right? But that wonderfully off beat voice of his does an amazing job of bringing his dark, beautiful lyrics to life and if you don't get the song right, it could be a disaster.
I wish I had more evidence to back up my hypothesis, but alas the only other cover of an Oldham song that I can think of off the top of my head is Johnny Cash's gorgeous version of 'I See A Darkness' and it's Johnny Cash for God's sake, so of course he handles it perfectly.
The Frames version of 'Ohio Riverboat Song' that I have posted here also does Mr. Oldham more than proud. Glen Hansard channels his Irish soul and puts his own spin on the tune, making it his own but keeping it equally as beautiful.
I winked at you when I threw my change in your guitar case while you panhandled downtown. I would love to be your muse to inspire a love song that will help you make it big.
******
It's SUCH good karma to support your local buskers...
In honor of the 'Once' DVD release this week I thought I would post Glen Hansard covering one of my all time favorite songs, from one of the greatest albums ever recorded, of the same name...enjoy!
I never get tired of seeing or hearing Glen strum his heart our on that old Tamaki guitar...i think at the Swell Season show I sawhe said he has had it since he was 14.
I closed my eyes for a second during 'Falling Slowly' and I swore I was in a music shop somewhere in Dublin watching Glen and Markéta sing. Then the full band(the bassist and violin player from The Frames, as well as a Cello player) kicked in and as Glen stopped singing and 2500 people picked up the chorus, I got chills...and chills were a recurring theme all night.
I have to give major KUDOS to the crowd at the Wiltern. I have never heard a crowd that big be so quiet and so respectful at the appropriate times, but spark to life when prompted by the band. And there is no underestimating how well that movie has done...when I saw the Frames two months ago at the Fonda, there were maybe 500 people there...maybe. The Wiltern was sold out tonight and has been for weeks. Oh, and apparently 'Once' comes out on DVD Dec 19...someone yelled the question to Glen, who (awesomely in my opinion) had no idea when it came out...but several people in the audience did and happily yelled back.
The set list was as you'd expect, leaning heavily on the songs from the 'Once' soundtrack. The show started with a solo glen ripping through a passionate performance of 'Say It To Me Now'...incredible...then Markéta joined him for a beautiful duet on 'Drown Out'...then the rest of the band came out, and the show was ON.
After about an hour an fifteen minutes...the really amazing moments started with the first encore. First off was Glen and Markéta rocking out to a GREAT Michelle Shocked song, 'Fogtown'. Then joined again by the band, 'Star Star', 'I Want My Life To Make More Sense', an incredible Irish song that I need to find called 'Ragged Road(i believe that was the title)...then they took one last break, came back and played the title track from 'Once' then finished off the night with an insane version of Dylan's 'You Ain't Going Nowhere'...with the whole crowd once again singing along!!
One of the best nights of live music I have ever seen. I didn't even get into Glen's charming pre-song rambling introductions or Marketa's adorable shyness...or the way they looked at each other as they played. The sweetest moment of the night came right at the very end, when during the Dylan tune he slipped her a little peck on the lips, right in mid song...crazy kids in love!
...or my email is anyway! Hey, it's me Blair...the Certain Songs staff of one. I just do this for the love of the music and am in no way trying to rip anybody off, so if you are an artist or a record label and you are not happy that I am promoting your music, or you want me to take a song down, just shoot me an email and I will most definitely oblige.
And please support the artists I post here in whatever way you can if you do download a song...go to a show, buy some merch, buy an album...these songs are the soundtrack to my life and I just love to share them. But I can only do that if the insanely talented artist responsible for said songs are able to eat.
I also love hearing new stuff...so any submissions can also be sent to my email, I will try my bestest to listen to everything and get back to you all...peace,love,rock n' roll.
csmusicblog@gmail.com
Monthly Mix Tape
Mission Statement
I guess you're old enough to know. Kids out on the east coast. Roughly twenty years old. Got coaxed out by a certain perfect ratio. Of warm beer to the summer smoke. And the meat loaf to the billy joel. Certain songs they get so scratched into our souls.
She goes low on the seats when she gets high in her car. She looks shallow but shes neck deep in the steamy dreams of the guys along the harbor bars. She's pulling out her shirttails and jacking up her socks. Stern and stoned and confident, coming up towards the jukebox. Born into the only songs that everybody finally sings along. B-1 is for the good girls. It's only the good die young. C-9 is for the making eyes. It's paradise by the dashboard light. D4 is for the lovers. B12 is for the speeders. And the hard drugs are for the bartenders and the kitchen workers and the bartender's friends. And they're playing it again. Ellen Foley gives us hope. Certain songs they get scratched into our souls.
I guess you're old enough to know. Kids out on the west coast are taking off their clothes. Screwing in the surf and going out to shows. They get high and ride around in gtos. I guess you're old enough to know. CERTAIN SONGS THEY GET SCRATCHED INTO OUR SOULS. - The Hold Steady
