Those Who Dig

Rebekah Delgado: Sing You Through The Storm

February 22, 2012

Rebekah Delgado is a London based singer/songwriter and the title track off of her forthcoming EP Sing You Through The Storm has been striking a lot of right notes with me recently. I think the orchestration of this song is very smart. Straight ahead piano harmonies alongside a charming vocal melody and a singing saw lay down the ground work for this savvy and hook heavy pop tune. Ultimately, the song culminates with a sing-along of choristers, drums, acoustic guitar, playful piano arpeggios, and a horn section.

If this song catches you in the right mood, and with maybe a little bit of privacy, I'm confident that you'll be singing along before the final chorus is over. The EP will be available March 24, 2012 so keep in touch with this songstress via her webpage, twitter, and facebook.

This Book Is A Song

Friday Night Lights: Clear Eyes, Full Hearts

February 21, 2012

| Kyle

I first encountered Friday Night Lights as a film. Among the many reasons I enjoyed it was the stellar soundtrack, which I acquired. I next became a huge fan of the TV show. After five incredible seasons (well, four if we are allowed to ignore the misstep-ridden Season 2) there is no doubt it is one of my all time favorite drama series. I decided to finally cover my one remaining blind spot by reading the book that started the whole phenomenon. My thoughts on it and what music it connects to are the subject of tonight's This Book Is A Song.

Episodes In Virtuosity

Episodes in Virtuosity: Maurice Gendron & Christian Ivaldi Perform Debussy's Sonata for Cello and Piano

February 20, 2012

| Kyle

There are so many incredible things about youtube. It is a remarkable tool of the 21st century for marketing, sharing, teaching, logging history, or hearing about all the crazy 'shit people say'. What's also incredible is the amount of worth that is there going unnoticed while others are cracking into the stratosphere of views. Recently I was digging through some videos of classical musicians from the 1960's when I encountered this gem of Maurice Gendron & Christian Ivaldi performing Debussy's Sonata for Cello and Piano.

It's not just a beautiful and nostalgic video of a command performance, but it's also a piece within a time capsule of both musical social history. I believe that knowledge of social and musical history informs your decision making as both listeners and performers. If you never learned any other word for beautiful than pretty, how would you ever know what radiant or gorgeous looks, sounds, and feels like. If you don't know what came before, can you truly appreciate what you have now?

Read on for a few more facts and dates about this piece, the performers, the composer, and the world that surrounded this performance.

Weekly Roundup

Weekly Roundup: Feb 12 – 18, 2012

February 19, 2012

| Kyle

I gotta say, this past week was not a very good one. But there's nothing like some great new music to lift the spirits and help move things forward, which is exactly what we have in this brand new Weekly Roundup.

Gigs We Dig

Concert Review: Mobtown Modern Presents Adam Tendler Performing John Cage's Piano Sonatas and Interludes

February 17, 2012

| Kyle

Valentine's Day was this week and if you're a regular around these parts you've already seen a glimpse at what Steve was up to that night – For the Couples & For the Single People. As for myself, I spent the evening in the company of Adam Tendler and the good people of Mobtown Modern at the 2640 Space in Baltimore for a concert of John Cage's Sonatas & Interludes for prepared piano.

This wonderful program was a unique concert experience in one of those covert Baltimore concert spaces that always gives the music just a little bit more magic. Read on for the full review, upcoming concert dates from Mobtown Modern, and audio from Adam Tendler's performance.

Label Year

Cold Specks – Holland

February 16, 2012

| Kyle

This is it, the final 2011 release from Arts & Crafts. Maybe not the final installment of Label Year, but as far as the music goes, we are at the end of the road with the 7-inch record "Holland" by Cold Specks. It's not a bad way to go out, if I may say so.

The Shrine

Valentine's Day 2012: For the Single People

February 14, 2012

| Kyle

Earlier today, I posted the first of two Valentine's Day song dedication posts. That one was for couples. But now it's my fellow single people's turn. Our time has come!

Valentine's Day can sometimes be rough when you aren't in a relationship. If you happen to be feeling a little down, I have just the song for you. It's one of my all-time favorite rap songs and one so good, I'm inducting it into The Shrine of Dig. If you didn't guess from the picture, it's Brother Ali's amazing and empowering "Forest Whitaker."

If you would please turn in your Bible to beauty tips from Forest Whitaker, you'll be feeling awesome in no time.

Brother Ali – Forest Whitaker

Diggity Damn Good Tracks

Valentine's Day 2012: For the Couples

February 14, 2012

| Kyle

If my Facebook and Twitter feeds are to be believed, Valentine's Day is a divisive holiday, split down the line between those who are in a relationship and those who are not. I'm doing two posts today, one for each group. This one goes out to all the couples and people in love.

Town Hall is a Brooklyn band that we have featured a few times recently because they're very good. They kicked off the year with a cool new EP and have released several cover performance videos. Their latest comes right … wait for it … on time for Valentine's Day, a plaintive and beautiful folk take on "Always On Time" by Ja Rule and Ashanti. Finally we have a chance to hear it as the haunting ballad Ja Rule originally intended. I like that the band chose to switch up the gender roles, with mandolin player Stefan taking on Ashanti's hook and singer Phoebe putting on the proverbial do rag to throw down Ja's rhymes. What I love most about this, though, is how it makes lyrics clearer that I hadn't noticed in the original version. For instance, one line references a "Dear Ja" letter. Brilliant! No wonder these two made about 800 songs together during the first half of the 2000s.

So for all you lovers out there, find that special someone and let Town Hall set the mood. Happy Valentine's! MUR-DAH!

And stay tuned, single readers, I have something even better for you coming up in a few hours.

New Releases

Punch Brothers: Who's Feeling Young Now

February 13, 2012

| Kyle

It is no secret that we at the Dig love us some Punch Brothers. Point in fact, I've devoted more than a few articles to Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers. Their last album Antifogmatic was a near perfect pop album which blended virtuosity, song craftsmanship, and actual dynamic shaping to create something truly special. There third album, Who's Feeling Young Now? is being released tomorrow and I for one and can't hardly wait. Their label Nonesuch Records released a teaser in promotion of this project with a video clip from their song New York City. If the itunes store had a line, I'd be in it first thing tomorrow morning. You dig?

Unearthed Music

Dave Newberry: No One Will Remember You

February 12, 2012

| Kyle

Dave Newberry is a folk-rock singer/songwriter who will be celebrating the release of his second album No One Will Remember You on March 15, 2012. I have had the immense pleasure of listening to this album this week and am excited to hear that country music does still have a voice in contemporary pop music. Ripe with nostalgia, infectious melodies, and a comfortable feeling of song familiarity Dave Newberry's new release is a must have.

The album opens with the tune All of the Apples in the Basket and sets the tone for all of the artist's subsequent work. With pedal steel guitars, banjo, tag team vocals, drums, and a healthy dose of hook and rhyme this song invites you to sing along from the first listen.

Dave Newberry: All of the Apples in the Basket

This album is a grower. No One Will Remember You feels like an album I've known deeply in spite of the fact that it isn't even released yet. I can easily see this album soundtracking it's way into my spring and leaving an enduring impression on the new year.

Dave Newberry has a plethora of tour stops throughout Canada in 2012 which can be found on his webpage here. Unfortunately we can't all be Canadian but in the meantime you can further your Newberry fix by enjoying his collaborative music blog/podcast Newbsradio which he runs alongside Eric Newby. You can also reach the artist via Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Vimeo.