Google's Music Beta Service Announced

Just announced... Request a Beta invite here: http://music.google.com/about/

First Amazon, now Google.  Apple better come out with something pretty compelling.

Video Tuesday

Some great new videos... The Cave Singers' Black Leaf (Coming: 6/14/11 @ Grog Shop) / Com Truise's glitchy FairLight (Coming: 7/31/11 @ Grog Shop) / Tennis' Take Me Somewhere (Hopefully coming sometime soon)

Tomorrow: Vandaveer @ Beachland Tavern

This is going to be an amazing night of music at the Beachland Tavern tomorrow night.  I'm gonna be there - for sure.  You should be too.

Here's a free download Vandaveer's of Concerning Past & Future Conquests off their new release Dig Down Deep (out April 26th).  I've been listening to their album alot recently (in preparation), but now I'm bummed I didn't start listening more intently sooner.  I might have made this show a featured May performance.  Ferraby Lionheart & Lowly, The Tree Ghost opening ($8)

Here's a new video for Dig Down Deep, then another one of these one-take, "perform in an usual" location videos.

Oberlin Folk Festival (5/6/11)

Oberlin is my kinda town.  Well, it's a little small for my taste, but I love how quaint, pretty and liberal it is.  Having a free Folk Music Festival is just icing on the cake.  We booked it to Oberlin as quick as possible after work on Friday - getting there in plenty of time to grab a bite at The Feve. It was then a gorgeous walk through the main park in town...

A quick glimpse at an amazing venue - Finney Chapel (where I've seen Ani DiFranco, Indigo Girls AND Dar Williams - swoon).

Finally we found our way to the Cat in the Cream Coffeehouse.  Not quite what I was expecting...

We arrived for the Dust Busters - great bluegrass sound... essential to any Folk Festival.

Holcombe Waller took the stage, but unfortunately for a brief set... still, he played some great tunes and I'm really glad I got to see him.  I'm definitely going to keep my eye on him.

Finally, Chris Pureka took the stage, surprisingly with some supporting musicians (nice addition).  I've gotten away from her songwriting as of late, but she went back and played some of her older songs as well.  Here's one of my favorites:

More photos here:

Tonight: Chris Pureka @ Oberlin Folk Festival

Well, the Oberlin Folk Festival is going on all weekend, but tonight is going to be really great.  I've been following Chis Pureka for some time now, though I've rarely had the chance to see her (just once at the Barking Spider back in 2006!!).  So this is going to be treat.  Even more so because performing before her is this guy I just started listening to:  Holcombe Waller.  I love his kind of 70's folk sound, and his album Into the Dark Unknown is quickly grabbing me.

And here's some Chris.

of Montreal (5/4/11)

I'll admit that this show didn't excite me when I first heard they were coming to town.  But after listening to some Painted Palms (the opener) and seeing some photos from their live show, I knew I at least wanted to go for the photos.

Painted Palms were excellent.  With a mild(er) stage presence, these boys laid down the kind of electro-pop/disco sound that I've just been loving lately.  Their new Canopy EP is out now.  I highly recommend you check it out (below).

Then of course, the circus began when of Montreal took the stage...

Here are some clips... including the raucous ending.

I was entertained for about the first 4-5 songs, but then I almost became a little over-stimulated with all the antics and found myself just pulling away from the show.  I think being under an influence would have really helped - as it seemed like many were.  But there's no doubt that of Montreal really puts on a spectacle.

(Lots) More Photos:

New Find: Emil & Friends

Check these guys out...

Somewhere inside the glowing rectangles, Emil found album worthy tinkerings of nylon strings, waterfalls of voices, flutterings of bells whistles and synths. So goes descriptions of danceable weirdpop act Emil & Friends. As a boy Emil would show up to guitar lesson with a produced track on a cd, with no guitar. Heads were scratched. Emil would show up to a dj gig with only a guitar. Brows were lifted. Years passed. Attics were changed into bass drum batcaves...

TONIGHT: of Montreal @ House of Blues

If you haven't yet seen my list of shows to see in May... well, get on it.  The first featured performance this month is of Montreal, TONIGHT at the House of Blues ($18).

Opening is Painted Palms who I think will be awesome, so get there early!

 

Video Tuesday

A great new Lykke Li video for Sadness is a Blessing.  See some hip Dad's in the new Holy Ghost! video for Wait & See (these are actually their Dad's).  See the real New Jersey with Titus Andronicus in their new video for No Future Part Three: Escape from No Future.

Does anybody really listen to music anymore?

Valid question. I even feel at fault sometimes...

Does anybody really listen to music anymore? | The Audiophiliac - CNET News
by Steve Guttenberg

Music is all around us, it's just that very few people actually listen to it. Sure, you have music in your car, iPod, or computer, but is the music just a soundtrack to other activities? If music, a la carte, can't hold your attention from time to time you're definitely not an audiophile. Worse yet, you're missing a lot.

Think about it: the people who made the music sweated the details, agonized over the sound, the mix, and the performance for weeks or months. The composer tweaked the work to the nth degree, and still, very, very few 'listeners' ever give music their undivided attention. They only hear the surface, the most obvious elements of the music. Multitask all you want, but can you just focus on the music? Let it really get to you."

(Continued...Does anybody really listen to music anymore? | The Audiophiliac - CNET News)