The xx (5/3/17)

 While I usually like to stick to the smaller venues for shows, going at least once a year to a show at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica is like a tradition. I like to look for one good show each season, and was delighted to see The xx would be performing!  Even more exciting was seeing that Sampha was opening!  I’ve been thoroughly enjoying his album, so this was an extra special treat.

And then The xx. 

"But during last night's concert at a chilly Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, the low-end and beats came alive, giving the band space to improvise in an organic way as the XX delivered a passionate performance that warmed up guests that were bundled in blankets and jackets. You can see a slideshow of photos from the concert here.

The band played a number of tracks from their newest album, I See You, and mixed them with a good portion of the older material. The group also played a song from band member Jamie XX’s solo album."

(Via Indie Rockers the XX Deliver an Emotional Performance in First-Ever Cleveland Show | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog.)

Station Hope 2017 / Buck McDaniel

You couldn’t help but hear about this Station Hope event if you were listening to NPR leading up to it!  A group of friends were performing as the kick-off to the event.  Accompanying them were the Choir of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church performing two songs from Southern Songbook: “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “I Wish I Knew How It Would Be To Be Free” arranged & Conducted by Buck McDaniel.

Cleveland State University Symphony Orchestra (4/28/17)

One of my friends performed with the Cleveland State University Symphony Orchestra as one of the winners of the student solo competition!  Great stuff!

Vita and the Woolf (4/25/17)

This was a double header evening for the Beachland.  I was there to see Hurray for the Riff Riff, but also noticed Vita and the Woolf would be playing.  Originally I was excited thinking this band was the opener for Hurray, but turns out they were headlining their own show in the Tavern!  Vita and the Woolf have a few great singles out, but the full album has yet to be released.  That might be the reason for the light crowd in the Tavern that night, but Vita still put on an exceptional show.  I can’t wait for that new album, and another night where I can stay in one venue to see them!

Hurray for the Riff Raff (4/25/17)

Hurray for the Riff Raff returned to the Beachland Ballroom.  It’d had been almost 2 years since I saw her last time, and her newest album is pretty incredible.  Going again was a no-brainer.  The challenge this night was that there was a competing show in the Tavern as well.  As usual on these nights, we did our best to bounce between and catch as much as we could of both acts.  Having seen Hurray for the Riff Raff before, I did tend to stay over on the Tavern side.  But still.. 

Video Day #tzaupbeat

 !!! is reminding us that Dancing is the best revenge.  I’ve been really enjoying this new Goldfrapp album, and this Systemagic video fits right in.  Cassius has a great new split screen video for Go Up, feat. Cat Power and Pharrell!  

Bonus:  Bleachers are coming back with with the full cheese appeal with their video for Don’t Take the Money.

Article: The Winchester Music Tavern to open in Lakewood's Birdtown

The Winchester is back (again).  I’m intrigued… 

"On Memorial Day, Shane Motolik will open the Winchester Music Tavern at 12112 Madison Ave., which just so happens to be the former location of the Winchester Music Hall.

Like its namesake, the new club's main focus will be on music. Opening weekend features an eclectic mix, with performances by local indie act Goodmorning Valentine and Dayton psych-rocker M Ross Perkins on Saturday night. Sunday will feature Cleveland alternative hip-hop act Case Barge.

'Having a part in the Cleveland music scene is kind of a dream come true,' says Motolik. 'Music's been the biggest part of my life - through the good, through the bad.'

A small food menu and bar snacks are planned. The front bar will feature cocktails, and craft brews will flow."

(Via The Winchester Music Tavern to open in Lakewood's Birdtown | cleveland.com.)

Video Day #tzachill

Rostam finally has a new single out and video for Gwan, hopefully signaling  anew full length album soon!  Jeremy Messersmith hasn’t had anything new in a while, and this new track for Everything is Magical is oddly refreshing.  Nora Jones has slipped off my radar recently, but this new video has brought some new focus, with her political lyrics and new album on Blue Note.

 Bonus.  I’m not quite sure what’s going on in this video, but if it’s from Big Thief then you know it’s worth watching.  :-) 

Zippy and the Slow Tones (4/22/17)

This show wasn’t on my concert calendar for obvious reasons, but I stumbled upon this show when I was back home visiting family.  This bar is actually one that I frequented quite often (pre-21) when I was living back home and playing in pool leagues and tournaments.  That alone makes it fun to actually see a band performing there - especially a song that I often played on their jukebox back in the day (Dwight Yoakam's Little Sister!)

Article: In Music, DRM Is Back While Ownership Is Going Away

I understand the convenience, but I think this is unfortunate in the long run...

"An even more important indication of change is the shift in consumer preference from ownership to access models. This won’t come as a shock to those who have been watching the music industry evolve for a while, but it’s reality now: people have found that when music is available everywhere on any device, it’s not so important to own it anymore. As we’ll see, this is now music listeners’ majority view."

(Via In Music, DRM Is Back While Ownership Is Going Away | Copyright and Technology.)