Philly Local Pick of the Day 11/20/09: Lizanne Knott

Every weekday at 1 PM listen up for the Philly Local Pick of the Day, a song from the new tunes Philadelphia has to offer.

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Pick of the Day 11/20/09:

"Why Baby Why"
by Lizanne Knott

Singer-songwriter Lizanne Knott boasts one of the most impressive résumés of Philadelphia’s music scene. As a managing partner of MorningStar Studios, Philadelphia director of the New York Songwriter’s Circle, and a member of groups such as the Americana Music Association, ASCAP, NSAI, and the Recording Academy (the organization that organizes and decides on the GRAMMY Awards), Knott seems to have hands in all the right places to put her on the path toward a wildly successful music career.

Known for a depth and warmth usually characteristic of singers and songwriters much more established than the budding musician, Knott has been receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from both audiences and the music press.

Her reputation has steadily been building in both the United States and England, where she is regularly featured on the Bob Harris Show on BBC 2. The iconic DJ Harris has said of our hometown hero: “We've rarely had as big a reaction to any artist in recent years that we've had for Lizanne Knott.”

Catch Knott live tonight or tomorrow night at one of the following concerts:

Kimmel Center, Philadelphia
5:30 – 7:30 pm
Free

Delaware Institute of Science, Media, PA
Arts Against Abuse
7:30 pm
$20

If you can’t make it to these shows, hear her live on the air at 8:00 PM on Sunday on the Folk show ....right here on WXPN .

Attention Philly Musicians! A Christmas Song for the New Generations?

By the time mid-November rolls around each year, we can begin to sense the presence of the approaching holiday season – grocery store aisles fill up with candy canes, Starbucks starts to put peppermint in our coffee, shorts and t-shirts sit in our closets developing the film of dust that won’t be shaken off until May. Then, of course, there’s the music. And no song says, “You’d better string up those lights and work on your eggnog tolerance” more clearly than “White Christmas.”

Written by Irving Berlin and popularized by crooner Bing Crosby, “White Christmas” is among the most iconic songs in the American repertoire. The Crosby version is, by most counts, the best selling single of all time; the Guinness Book of World Records estimates that combined single and album versions of the song have sold over 100 million copies – about the same as the number of households in the entire United States. The song is so deeply American that the United States Army used its broadcast as a secret signal to coordinate the evacuation of Saigon in the Vietnam War. It has been covered by artists ranging from Alvin and the Chipmunks, Destiny’s Child, and New Kids on the Block to Kenny G, the Flaming Lips, and Gloria Estefan.

Almost seven decades later, is America ready for a new iconic holiday song? We think so. Philly bands and musicians: WXPN invites you to submit your original holiday song. You write the songs, and we’ll help ingrain them in the fabric of American society. Don’t let Bing Crosby have all the fun.


Submit original holiday songs by November 30th. If you can’t get an original done by that time, we welcome seasonal cover songs, too! Send songs by mail or e-mail at the following addresses:

Attn: Helen Leicht
LOCAL MUSIC
WXPN
3025 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

MARK PACKAGE: HOLIDAY/SEASONAL SONG

Or

wxpnphillylocal@gmail.com

Grant-Lee Phillips: Confessions of a Mac Loyalist

Grant-Lee Phillips may best be known as the front man for Grant Lee Buffalo, however Phillips' career as a musician starts with his first band, Shiva Burlesque, who recorded two albums prior to Phillips forming Grant Lee Buffalo with Joey Peters and Paul Kimble in 1991. With critical acclaim and a couple of "Modern Rock" hits, the band have a creative, highly literate body of work to their name. In 2000, Phillips began a solo career and recently released a new album Little Moon. Today, Phillips performs on a double bill Free At Noon along with Bob Schneider and tomorrow Saturday night Grant-Lee plays a full show at World Cafe Live.

Our thanks to Grant-Lee for blogging on the XPN blog this week!

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OSX SOS!

Enough already with the operating system upgrades! Mac recently introduced their “Much Anticipated” Snow Leopard. Whether it’s worth the wait, I wouldn’t know. I’m still on Saber Tooth or something from the Pleistocene era. My laptop runs fine, but it’s at that age where
it can’t be taught another trick, it can’t undergo having it’s insides replaced every week. I keep wondering when Apple is going to run out of feline names so we can finally breath a collective sigh of “Finally.” Don’t get me wrong, I love my Mac and I’m deservedly smug when it comes to the superiority, functionality and design of my beloved machine. Next to the macchinetta stovetop espresso pot there is no greater thing in the service of mankind.

But what’s with the upgrade thing? Come on! Does my computer really need a colonic so bad? Nevertheless, I’ve started doing the software updates. I did this in response to a younger friend who explained to me that my resistance to software updates was very much a “Generational thing.” Apparently, those of us in our forties have an ingrained mistrust of institutions probably because we grew up with Watergate and Soylent Green. So I had to prove my friend wrong by
upgrading my software. Of course my world went wonky at the push of a button. Like Oprah stranded outside a Parisian department store after hours, I can no longer get into the itunes store and it’s killing me. So I go gently into the dark digital night until I decide to shell out
for a new laptop.

I don’t want to come off as the Joe Lieberman of Mac loyalty here. I laugh at, with, and around John Hodgman in those brilliant Mac commercials, but I’ll never go near a PC because they’re too much like an alien to me - cold and calculating like a lizard. So what’s next for Mac, now that the term Cougar means something entirely different? Serval? Calico?

Sincerely,

Catscratchfever

My Morning Download 11/20/09 - Siskin

Galen Ayers and Kirsty Newton are Siskin, an indie-pop band from the UK whose self-titled debut album was released in August. Galen's dad is Kevin Ayers, who was one of the founders of the legendary British psychedelic band The Soft Machine. On their album, these girls musically aim more towards the sunny bright pop of Cali than the dark Brit-Rock essences of Canterbury. The album is filled with songs high on melody and not your ordinary boy-meets-girl/girl-loves-boy tunes with lyrics that show a deeper, more thoughtful side to their creativity. Siskin often remind me of The Cardigans with some subtle Brit-rock influences. Here's the song that has got them noticed in the UK, a cover a Joe Jackson song.

It's Different For The Girls - Siskin

XPN General Manager Roger LaMay
On His Recent Road Trip with World Cafe
to Ithaca, New York

You don’t have to go too far down the road to appreciate the impact of WXPN and the World Cafe. I am writing you from the bus on the way back from World Cafe’s overnight trip to Ithaca, New York, and a rendezvous with Lyle Lovett.

Ithaca is a university town (Cornell, Ithaca College) and nestled among the Finger Lakes. Famous for its waterfalls, they boast that there are over 120 within 15 minute drives. It’s also very much a music hotbed, with a thriving local music scene including well established bands such as The Horse Flies and Donna The Buffalo. The latter appeared at last year’s XPoNential Music Festival.

Local public radio station WEOS, affiliated with nearby Hobart and William Smith College, features World Cafe webcasts from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and David Dye is quite well known here. Combine that with the fact that Philadelphia is a prime target market for Ithaca tourism and the result has been an active Ithaca underwriting presence on XPN.

This relationship has now culminated in this unique World Cafe road trip. With the considerable support and planning of the affable Fred Bonn and the Ithaca Convention and Visitors Bureau, David Dye and crew accompanied by 22 XPN members (selected in a random contest drawing during the fall fund drive) bussed the four hour drive to New York’s lake country for a densely packed 26 hour adventure.

First stop was a book signing where local World Cafe listeners gathered to listen to David’s take on favorite guests and interviews from 18+ years of the World Cafe. It was a love-fest as clearly they were thrilled to have him in their midst. Then it was to the historic and beautiful State Theater and a fundraiser for WEOS. A hundred of their members paid to watch David conduct a World Cafe session with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. Lyle was in great form, kibitzing with David and the crowd and hanging out after for a meet and greet.

Our travel group dashed down the street for a wonderful dinner at the famous Moosewood vegetarian Restaurant. Their cookbooks have been a staple in many of our homes for decades. Then it was back to The State Theater for Lyle’s sold out concert. In the midst of “Here I Am,” Lyle delivered a warm and lengthy tribute to David and the World Cafe. The XPN staff contingent left mid-concert for a nearby watering hole to meet with a select group of local musicians and producers to talk about the Ithaca music scene and get their CDs.



The next morning was devoted to a quick tour of local wineries and spectacular waterfalls. It is for good reason the tourism slogan is “Ithaca is Gorges.” As our tour bus winds back toward Philly, it is clear that many other places are appreciative and a bit envious of Philadelphia’s musical community called XPN. As someone from our tour group etched in the dust on the back of our bus,

“it’s all about the Music
WXPN
Music that needs to be heard.”

~ Roger LaMay

Best Coast Download

Best Coast is essentially the work of one Bethany Cosentino. She's released some singles on various labels and this time out she's got a new double-sided single on Black Iris Records
The A-side here sounds like the Girl Group sound on indie-rock steroids. Or some crazy futuristic indie doo-wop mashup of Jesus and Mary Chain meets The Angels. Nice.

When I'm With You - Best Coast (via The Fader)

Best Coast blog

Grant-Lee Phillips on his Family Tree

Grant-Lee Phillips may best be known as the front man for Grant Lee Buffalo, however Phillips' career as a musician starts with his first band, Shiva Burlesque, who recorded two albums prior to Phillips forming Grant Lee Buffalo with Joey Peters and Paul Kimble in 1991. With critical acclaim and a couple of "Modern Rock" hits, the band have a creative, highly literate body of work to their name. In 2000, Phillips began a solo career and recently released a new album Little Moon. This Friday November 20th, Phillips performs on a double bill Free At Noon along with Bob Schneider and on Saturday night November 21st plays a full show at World Cafe Live.

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Gene Genie - My experience with Family Tree DNA

Have you ever wondered where your ancestors came from? How about your ancestors’ ancestors? Why stop there? I became fascinated with this genetic pursuit earlier this year when my wife and I purchased a home DNA kit from Family Tree DNA, an online database. The process begins by swabbing the inside of your cheek to collect a sample of DNA. This is mailed back in a bag provided by the service. After a few months you begin to receive information on the origins of your bloodline. This is broken down into paternal and maternal bloodlines. It’s a bit
too scientific for me at times, but I was able to trace my maternal line to where my ancestors dwelt some 50,000.00 years ago. This type of classification is referred to as a haplogroup. Like opinions and blogs – we all have one, two actually. On my mom’s side I spring from haplogroup B, one of five Native American haplogroups. Being of Creek descent, this was to be expected. That it goes back so far is simply amazing. It turns out haplogroup B is also found in eastern and
southeastern Eurasia, Tibet, China, Korea as well as Polynesia. No wonder I love a good Mai Tai!

My paternal line is R1b1b2, a common haplogroup in Northern Europe. Services like Family Tree DNA can give you a great deal of information on your genetic origins. I’ve tried to scratch the surface here and I apologize for any errors I may have committed in my attempt at boiling
it down to a salt. Combined with voluminous genealogy databases like the popular Ancestory.com you have the tools to do some serious investigations into how the heck you got here. If you decide to take the plunge which costs around 100 bucks or so, make a big bowl of
popcorn and prepare to become immersed in this fun and rewarding pursuit.

Grant-Lee Phillips on the Swine Flu Vaccine - The Shot Hurt Around The World

Grant-Lee Phillips may best be known as the front man for Grant Lee Buffalo, however Phillips' career as a musician starts with his first band, Shiva Burlesque, who recorded two albums prior to Phillips forming Grant Lee Buffalo with Joey Peters and Paul Kimble in 1991. With critical acclaim and a couple of "Modern Rock" hits, the band have a creative, highly literate body of work to their name. In 2000, Phillips began a solo career and recently released a new album Little Moon. This Friday November 20th, Phillips performs on a double bill Free At Noon along with Bob Schneider and on Saturday night November 21st plays a full show at World Cafe Live.

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SWINE FLU VACCINE – THE SHOT HURT AROUND THE WORLD

In the interest of full disclosure, I’m a chicken when it comes to shots… make that a bucket. It’s always been a source of anxiety and as an adult I’ve avoided vaccines altogether for the most part. That said, it’s not uncommon that I sometimes fall prey to whatever bugs
are going around especially given the social nature of being a traveling musician. I’m often in a crowded club. Might the flu vaccine have protected me on tour? Or when I spent untold hours next to a sneezing child on an airplane? Perhaps, it would, but who knows for sure.

Along comes the Swine Fu. We haven’t seen that one since the 1970s. A comeback tour, we could have done without.

The fear of a pandemic like the Spanish Influenza of 1918, estimated to have killed 50 to 100 million people worldwide, has now seized the global consciousness. It’s a sobering statistic. Also sobering are the mounting concerns regarding the potentially dangerous side effects of vaccinations, particularly the H1N1 vaccine. According to one recent poll as many as 60-percent of Americans say they won’t get vaccinated.

Still, the media has gone the distance to promote the safety of the vaccine and to delegitimize the many reasonable concerns and questions that have been raised about potential side effects. I think we deserve to know more about the manufacturing of the vaccine we aim to shoot into our arms. We need to understand more about Thimerosal, adjuvants, human error rates related to multi-dose vials, and other questions. If this terminology is merely the stuff of conspiracy theorists as some suggest, again we deserve to know more. I respect the sensitive nature
of decisions involving one’s health and our children’s health. These are tough choices. I simply believe once again, we the public have been given an incredibly monochromatic presentation of the details. The media has been lax to go deeper, choosing to condescend in a manner I find appalling. The fear factor is so volatile, the story so sensational and horrific our rational mind goes right out the window. Sometimes the hardest thing to avoid is paranoia. I plan to avoid that
like the plague.

My Morning Download 11/18/09 - David Gray World Cafe song

Here's an exclusive track from a recent World Cafe session with David Gray -

Jackdaw - David Gray

If you missed David Dye's interview and David Gray's performance you can listen to it hear

My Morning Download 11/17/09 - Sunset

Austin's Sunset was formed by Bill Baird, formerly of the band sound team, whose Movie Monster was an underrated classic when it came out a couple years or so ago. Sadly, the band broke up and Baird (who has an amazing recording studio in Austin) formed this new project. On November 24th, they've got a beauty of an album coming out called Gold Dissolves To Gray on their hometown based Autobus Records (home also to the cool new Brazos record).

Here's a couple of tunes from this fine new album -

Gold Dissolves To Gray - Sunset
Pocketful Of Debt - Sunset

Grant-Lee Phillips on AOL news story comments

Grant-Lee Phillips may best be known as the front man for Grant Lee Buffalo, however Phillips' career as a musician starts with his first band, Shiva Burlesque, who recorded two albums prior to Phillips forming Grant Lee Buffalo with Joey Peters and Paul Kimble in 1991. With critical acclaim and a couple of "Modern Rock" hits, the band have a creative, highly literate body of work to their name. In 2000, Phillips began a solo career and recently released a new album Little Moon. This Friday November 20th, Phillips performs on a double bill Free At Noon along with Bob Schneider and on Saturday night November 21st plays a full show at World Cafe Live.

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AOL Comments - The Bathroom Wall Of The Internet

I’ve had an AOL account since the 1800’s. Why America online? No big
reason really. It sounded like a company that might be around for a
while. Over the years, I’ve signed up to other services, forgotten my
name, my address, my password and so on. I’ve wandered aimlessly in
state of digital dementia for years and yet somehow, I’ve kept AOL.
It’s a familiar place. There’s my mail, my horoscope, and the
lightning speed news I’ve come to depend on.

When a bear gets his head stuck in a toilet seat, a moose crashes
through a convenience store window or Sanjay Gupta comes down with the
sniffles, AOL news is there. As much as I’ve come to rely on these
thumbnails of truth, what I’ve really become obsessed with are the AOL
comments that accompany the stories. It’s a kind of bulletin board
where regular folks like you and me, with a broad range of personality
disorders, get to air their grievances.

These grievances are mostly with “Obama,” as they refer to the
President Of The United States, but generally with any and everything
you can imagine. If you haven’t tried it yet, reading the comments is
a wonderful way to pass the hours, if you can avoid having your head
explode. I personally enjoy this challenge. I don’t get enough
physical activity so this is my way of my getting my cardio in. Here’s
how it works. Click on any AOL news story. How about this one? AOL’s
10 Worst Renditions Of The National Anthem: everyone from Roseanne
Barr to Michael Bolton has stepped up to the plate and taken a swing
at this timeless classic and many have perished. It’s not an easy song
to sing. Why isn’t the regular news talking about this? AOL News is!
And so are the people. Ultimately this particular story inspired a
litany of posts on topics like “Diet-itus”, rumors of an Angelina
Jolie bootleg video circulating on the web, the evil of Rap music, and
of course, “Obama”

One who goes by the humble name of Jo writes…
“…Perhaps instead of singing songs about Obama we should have our
children sing our national songs. It appears they've been neglected.” Jo

There ya have it… just a regular Jo. Being an American who happens to
be online way too much. I can’t resist a slice of AOL pie now and
then. Whipped cream anyone?

Grant Lee Phillips on Michael Moore's Capitalism-A Love Story

Grant-Lee Phillips may best be known as the front man for Grant Lee Buffalo, however Phillips' career as a musician started with his first band, Shiva Burlesque, who recorded two albums prior to Phillips forming Grant Lee Buffalo with Joey Peters and Paul Kimble in 1991. With critical acclaim and a couple of "Modern Rock" hits, the band have a creative, highly literate body of work to their name. In 2000, Phillips began a solo career and recently released a new album Little Moon. This Friday November 20th, Phillips performs on a double bill Free At Noon along with Bob Schneider and on Saturday night November 21st plays a full show at World Cafe Live.

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Michael Moore’s new documentary Capitalism – A Love Story is stirring, entertaining, at times heartbreaking. The director of such lasting works as Roger and Me, Bowling For Columbine, Fahrenheit 911 and Sicko goes into the belly of the beast to understand the corrosive practices that led to the recent catastrophes on Wall Street, to record level job loss and the pandemic foreclosure of homes across the United States. Not a pretty picture. Moore, in a style unique to him, manages to inform, to stimulate dialogue, to bring levity and to inspire along
the way.

Capitalism – A Love Story touches upon the 2008 worker occupation of Republic Windows & Doors Factory of Chicago. It’s a scene reminiscent of another sepia toned era when workers rights were valiantly fought for in the 1930s. Capitalism is a personal film, even featuring some
super-8 footage from Moore’s own childhood. There are some who take issue with a documentary filmmaker possessing a point of view, believing it would inevitably spawn propaganda. Moore is upfront with his motivations, however. Over the last 20 years we’ve gotten to know him, to trust him and, in some crowds, to loathe him. Admittedly, I’m a fan. In a piece of film footage almost never seen, as if from the grave, President Franklin D. Roosevelt speaks of what he termed a Second Bill Of Rights that would insure the basic necessities of home, access to healthcare and a good education among other things. These moments and such high performance art as when Moore wraps the entire New York Stock Exchange building in yellow crime scene tape make Capitalism – A Love Story well worth the hard earned price of admission.

My Morning Download 11/16/09 - Surfer Blood

Photo: Ian Witlen


One of the breakout bands this year at the CMJ conference in New York was the band Surfer Blood from West Palm Beach, Florida. The buzz on the band has gotten pretty heavy pretty quickly; Pitchfork selected this song as one of 2009's best new songs and music bloggers have been singing the band's praises for their crunchy, screechy, slightly askew power pop/rock. Surfer Blood sound like a mashup of the Pixies and Weezer which is a pretty good thing by us. This song is from their debut album Astro Coast coming out in January on Kanine Records.

Swim (To Reach The End) - Surfer Blood
Via Pitchfork

Joshua James Blog Takover #5 - The Final Edition

Joshua James released his new album Build Me This in September to excellent reviews. In his review of James' album when it was XPN's Featured Album recently, XPN's Mike Vasilikos said: "singer-songwriter Joshua James may be more an artist than he is simply a musician. As you listen to his new album it's evident that his compositions take shape more as musical portraits than just plain songs. Noticeable from the start is that James has no tolerance for simplicity. And at the same time, James seems unwilling to compromise his full vision. Each song is executed remarkably; from the instrumentation to the production to the songwriting James stresses every nuance."

This week Joshua takes over the XPN blog with some notes from the field, where he is currently on tour through the end of November.

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It has been an incredible adventure.
It still is an adventure.
One that has lasted over two months now.
We had an amazing conversation till three in the morning with an amazing woman last night in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and it really got my mind moving.
People still are good.
I find myself focusing on the bad a lot.
But it isn’t.
And I shouldn’t.
Truly we are good creatures.
Truly we are kind (some).
And in one way or another we are all the same.
TRULY.
The tour has gone like this always.
We play music, but it isn’t the music that I enjoy (the most).
But rather the interaction with people.
People that are trying and living and breathing and hurting just like you,
Just like me.
The connection.
The rise and fall of the chest when something has touched you.
The search in the meaning behind the song.
That is the truth to it all.
And that truth we have experienced more times than I can count on this tour.
We have two weeks left and we are home.
Home to go back to “normal” lives.
Home, where not much changes.
Where reaching out, connecting, and living is a curious thing.
But I just hope it all balances itself out.
I am excited to watch my grass grow in American Fork,
And to see old friends.
To see the snow form.
But to connect (with a stranger).
To move someone (a stranger).
To be moved (by a stranger).
There is NOTHING more pleasing.
Never has there been.
To the moon my friends!
We shall forget ourselves.
Today we shall sing more
We shall feel more.
Make love more.
Think more,
Howl at the moon more.
Trust more.
Float on the breeze more.
Yes, that mad man of a breeze that enters our lungs and makes us....
Believe still.

Recreating always!
ALWAYS!

-Joshua James & The Great Northplatte.

Joshua James Blog Takeover #4 - Joshua in Japan

Joshua James released his new album Build Me This in September to excellent reviews. In his review of James' album when it was XPN's Featured Album recently, XPN's Mike Vasilikos said: "singer-songwriter Joshua James may be more an artist than he is simply a musician. As you listen to his new album it's evident that his compositions take shape more as musical portraits than just plain songs. Noticeable from the start is that James has no tolerance for simplicity. And at the same time, James seems unwilling to compromise his full vision. Each song is executed remarkably; from the instrumentation to the production to the songwriting James stresses every nuance."

This week Joshua takes over the XPN blog with some notes from the field, where he is currently on tour through the end of November.

Every time that I get on a plane I accept the fact that I might die.
I say to myself “this might be the day that you die”.
And then I board the plane.
This was the case when leaving for Japan.
We had driven all night to make it to Boston,
Which is where our flight was leaving for Tokyo.
Early morning.
We boarded the plane and strapped ourselves into
The largest plane I had ever had the pleasure of being in.
But it was terribly frightening at the same time.
Hundreds of people flying over the Pacific ocean, just accepting the fact
That today just might be the day that the oversized hunk of metal that we
Were trusting our lives with might just decide to give out and plunge into the ocean.
But...it didn’t happen.
Thank goodness.
We arrived, unharmed.
TOKYO was amazing.
The first show we did was at the foot of Mt. Fuji. It was a festival called
Asagiri Jam. Spirits were high. We were elevated by the enthusiasm of the crowd.
But we don’t speak Japanese. No worries, no need, they loved it anyhow.
We were happy for it.
The guys that put on the festival decided to take us out for dinner.
An experience to remember.
We had to take off our shoes.
I loved that.
We sat down at a table that came to my shins,
Crosslegged, and a bit uncomfortable to be honest.
The food began to arrive.
It started with a small cup of cut up jellyfish.
I was a novice when it came to this dish, but I was delighted to try.
Next was a beef intestine dish mixed with fresh onions.
Delicious.
A fresh pasta came third, followed by one of the best green salads I have ever had.
I didn’t know when the food would stop coming.
Fifth on the nights evergoing meal was raw horse meat.
....raw horse meat!
I was getting nervous, it looked like slabs of clotted blood and cartilage.
But I was in Tokyo, and I didn’t die on the way over, so I had been lucky.
I had to try the horse, it was a must they said!
So I did...not bad, but not my favorite.
Last on the menu was a full plate of sashimi sushi.
For those who have not eaten much sushi, sashimi is INTENSE.
It is full thick slabs of raw fish with no rice, just fish.
It wasn’t the best note to end on our dinner but it was fine.
The night was over, and we had been in Tokyo for three days.
Two days left.
We walked through the amazingly electric streets of downtown.
Tokyo made NYC look like Lincoln, Nebraska.
It was incredible how many people there were at all times of the day.
We visited the emperors palace, and all the other “hot spots” that the
Tokyo for dummies recommended to us.
The food was incredible.
The people even more so.
It was a bittersweet feeling leaving Tokyo.
The plane ride went a bit quicker back to Boston.
But we made it.
Safe
Sound
Blissful and Blessed.
This is truly a dream.
And we are happy to be having it.

Joshua & The Great Northplatte

XPN Free At Noon with James Maddock

Today's FAN was James Maddock, probably best known as the lead singer of the now-defunct British band Wood. Remember Songs from Stamford Hill? The Columbia Records release in 2000 that was all over the air (and for good reason)? With his rugged vocals, ridiculously good song-writing, and that air of intimation that can take over the most skeptical of listeners, it seemed like Maddock was going to be the next big thing--in the league of Springsteen or even Dylan.

But, as fickle luck would have it, things didn't really play out as expected. Dropped from his label, in the U.S. as a divorcee, and uncertain of what to do next, Maddock has been off the public radar for about 10 years. Enter "Sunrise On Avenue C", the acoustic-pop singer's solo debut. If current reception is any indication, Maddock could be on the same path to fame he started a decade ago--including the reception he got at the World Cafe this Friday.

Today's FAN was a bit more crowded than usual. Maddock's rough voice, deft blend of acoustic and electric, and the undercurrent of piano were drawing long applause and cheers from the crowd, especially during the interlude of the title track's keyboard and guitar conversations. Maddock traded off between his two acoustics, alternating loud riffs and sweet melodies.

This is one guy who knows how to make his guitar sing, and this is one fan who can't wait to get her hands on Sunrise On Avenue C.

Rebekah Larsen
UPenn Intern


Setlist:

1. Chance
2. Stay You
3. Stars Align
4. Straight Lines
5. When the Suns Out
6. Sunrise on Avenue C
7. Prettier Girls
8. Hollow Love

My Morning Download 11/13/09 - Aimee Mann

Here's a live cover of The Decemberists' "The Engine Driver" (backed by members of The Decemberists) by Aimee Mann who kind of makes it a classic Aimee Mann song.

The Engine Driver - Aimee Mann
Via Magnet

Radio Video #38 - 2009 Countdown costume party

Join WXPN's General Manager Roger LaMay as he discusses revelers costumes at the Halloween Countdown costume party.

Weathervane Music Benefit Show tonight!

Tonight is the first fund raiser for a new local based non-profit called Weathervane Music Organization. Founded by Philly local musician and producer Brian McTear, Weathervane works with independent musicians to support and advance their careers. The main thrust of their work are ongoing curated audio and video projects spotlighted in the Project Series. So far, projects have included the bands East Hundred, Danielson, BC Camplight and Sunset. All four bands are performing this evening starting at 9PM. It's a great cause and promises to be a fun night of music.

Below are some MP3's from the bands playing tonight and check out this interview with Brian McTear on Phrequency.com for a more in depth look at Weathervane.

Pocketful Of Debt - Sunset
Lord I've Been On Fire - BC Camplight
Slow Burning Crimes - East Hundred
Animal In Every Corner - Danielson

My Morning Download 11/12/09 - The Armchairs

Photo by Mike Persico

The Armchairs are another new fun and fantastic psychedelic-pop influenced new bands from Philly that we're digging. The assorted compliments they've gotten from the local press are coming in droves from a number of places and including Phrequency and Philly Weekly. With a new full length album on the way, the band are performing at Johnny Brenda's this Saturday night November 14th along with another Philly band we dig called Cheers Elephant . These guys have a ton of exciting energy and some pretty groovy tunes to go with that. Check out this song..

Nebraska - The Armchairs

Joshua James Blog Takeover #3

Joshua James released his new album Build Me This in September to excellent reviews. In his review of James' album when it was XPN's Featured Album recently, XPN's Mike Vasilikos said: "singer-songwriter Joshua James may be more an artist than he is simply a musician. As you listen to his new album it's evident that his compositions take shape more as musical portraits than just plain songs. Noticeable from the start is that James has no tolerance for simplicity. And at the same time, James seems unwilling to compromise his full vision. Each song is executed remarkably; from the instrumentation to the production to the songwriting James stresses every nuance."

This week Joshua takes over the XPN blog with some notes from the field, where he is currently on tour through the end of November.


A pot of gold on the other side?
 Lord, I hope so.
We are at the 2 month mark, and it feels good.
Homeless and happy.
Traveled and tried.
We have seen this beautiful country.
Or atleast a small fraction of it.
But even for that we have been so pleasantly surprised.

We spent a wonderful night in Charleston South Carolina.
We made it to the other side of the bridge to watch the sun
go down behind the ocean.
We danced in the dusk’s intoxicating light.
Nothing but a salty splash on the shoreline.
Beauty at its finest.
We are heading to Wilmington, North Carolina.
This countryside has truly been touched by king of mischevious beauty.
We have been so lucky.

Recent band comparisons:

Chicago, IL: U2 (?)
Charlotte, SC: Kings of Leon (??)
Madison, WI: TLC (??????)

These are strange times.

Joshua James & The Great Northplatte

My Morning Download 11/11/09 - Brazos (with White Denim)

Two terrific Austin bands hit Philly tomorrow night at Kung Fu Necktie, Brazos and White Denim. Brazos' new album Phospherescent Blues is out now on Austin's fantastic hometown label, Autobus Records. And recent Downtown Records signees White Denim released the very fine Fits last month. Enjoy this tune from Brazos, monsters of their own kind of folk.

Day Glo - Brazos
via Tripwire

Joshua James Blog Takeover #2

Joshua James released his new album Build Me This in September to excellent reviews. In his review of James' album when it was XPN's Featured Album recently, XPN's Mike Vasilikos said: "singer-songwriter Joshua James may be more an artist than he is simply a musician. As you listen to his new album it's evident that his compositions take shape more as musical portraits than just plain songs. Noticeable from the start is that James has no tolerance for simplicity. And at the same time, James seems unwilling to compromise his full vision. Each song is executed remarkably; from the instrumentation to the production to the songwriting James stresses every nuance."

This week Joshua takes over the XPN blog with some notes from the field, where he is currently on tour through the end of November.

*****************
Another experience to grow from.

TWO (grow from this or die trying)

We should start this off by saying that in an instant everything changes.
Just like THAT!
We made it to sound check on time in Champaign, IL in late September.
The crowd was humble but kind.
We stayed at a couchsurfer’s house.
Their dog would not STOP biting.
It was bound to be a bad night of sleep.
We had a radio show in Ann Arbor, MI in the morning.
We had our alarm set for 5am.
Ring, Ring.
We were up, in the van, and started out of Champaign.
We pulled on to the freeway when a burst of bright yellow light came from the back right side of the van.
We were sure that it was an officer pulling us over.
As we were pulling to the side of the road we saw in the rearview mirror that the burst of light was most definitely not an officer but rather a fire that was rapidly consuming the rear wheel well.
No one had a clue of what action to take to save the van.
All that was going through the mind was FIRE.
We ran into the field afraid that the van was to blow up and leave our belongings in flames.
I can’t describe the fear.
Just as soon as we had made it to the field for safety we noticed a McDonalds diesel behind us.
The man behind the wheel was already running towards the van full speed.
Fire extinguisher in hand.
He dove beneath the van and within 30 seconds put the flames to sleep.
He was heroic,
Amazing,
Gone?
Just as fast as he had appeared the man behind the wheel was gone.
He ran back to his diesel and pulled right back onto the freeway.
We were astounded,
Intoxicated,
ALIVE!
Oh lordy, lordy. It was incredible.
My description is mediocre at best.

CURRENT WHEREABOUTS.

We played in Baltimore, MD last night.
We met the kindest, most warmhearted people after the show.
They invited us to their home for Pumpkin Pancakes and Chai Tea.
We could NEVER resist.
Nor should we.
We ate and drank through the night.
It was one for the books.
We just need more experience.
Please don’t hesitate any longer.

To the moon!

Joshua & the Great Northplatte

My Morning Download 11/10/09 - Josh Rouse

Josh Rouse has a new album coming out called El Turista, out February 16. Check out this new tune via Vanity Fair. Right now, he's got a 4-song EP out now with this song on it...

Valencia - Josh Rouse