There's always a lot of music to see in New York City. Here are two shows you should check out this week: I Was Totally Destroying It at Piano's on Thursday and The Dig at Cameo Gallery on Saturday. Read on for more details.
The good people at Deschutes River Recordings (a subdivision of the enviable Deschutes Brewery) out in Oregon are back with episode two of their fundraiser for the Deschutes River Conservancy. This time they are accompanied by Eric Earley of Blitzen Trapper and Denver for a spot on performance of The Band's eternal classic, Up On Cripple Creek.
The goal is simple. Raise money by way of a local non-profit by giving away first class music performances from top tier musicians in exchange for donation to help keep the natural splendor of the Deschutes River Basin sustainable for today and tomorrow's generations to enjoy. It's craft beer. It's music. It's environmentalism. It's a cause I want Dig Nation to support and enjoy. Read on for more information as well as the video of Eric Earley's sensational performance. You dig?
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What's up, Dig Nation? It was a long week battling a cold for me, but the weekend was fun and I've got some great music to share in the newest Weekly Roundup.
Coming out of Minneapolis, Minnesota the band Dark Dark Dark is getting set to release their third full length album October 2nd entitled Who Needs Who. If you're late to the party you can catch up before the new release with a quick trip to itunes for their previous work.
Seamlessly melding together a soundscape that owes tribute to many genres, the band sculpts their compositions around the pristine vocal work of Nona Marie Invie. Check out the track How It Went Down below as a teaser for the new album and then read on for a tour schedule around the Baltimore, DC, NYC area. You dig?
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There are more good shows featuring friends of the Dig this week in NYC. Oh! My Blackbird plays Friday at the Folk Art Museum and Town Hall plays Saturday at Shea Stadium. Read on for more details.
Clean rivers and delicious beer are two things that we at Those Who Dig hold near and dear to our green hearts. All of us hold roots in Erie, PA and watched the reputation of the lake water improve as we grew up. This is why I was so thrilled to see this gem from Draft Magazine this week.
Deschutes River Recordings (a subdivision of Deschutes Brewery) out of Oregon has teamed up with Deschutes River Conservancy to produce a series of videos that is ripe with rivers, beers, and music. Their aim is to give away free downloads of this music in exchange for a monetary donation in an effort to restore streamflow and improve water quality in the Deschutes basin.
Eric D Johnson of the Fruit Bats is the featured artist in this video premier and Eric Early of Blitzen Trapper and Laura Gibson are slated to follow. Read on for my full thoughts on the project as well as to see Eric D Johnson perched riverside performing The Ballad Of Easy Rider by The Byrds.
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Dolly Parton's third studio album, In The Good Old Days (When Times Where Bad) was released in 1969. I found this record in Arbutus MD at their record trade show a couple years back and have been in absolute love with it ever since. This is the kind of classic country that wields pun and tragedy alongside infectious hooks and a backing band that any performer would take into battle.
I think it's incredible that this album came out in the same year as the summer of love, Johnny Cash's San Quentin concert, the Beatles Abbey Road, and the Apollo 11 moon landing. What a watershed year – I'm not sure my generation has seen anything like it.
Regardless, this can be a tricky record to track down unless you're willing to drop some serious coin. It looks like amazon has a couple of copies both new and used, but I suggest you get out into your community of vinyl enthusiasts and dig around. When you uncover your copy it will sound ever sweeter. Go out and dig. You dig?
Dolly Parton: Go Getter
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When I think back to my prime music video watching days, there is no question Busta Rhymes was one of the most significant and creative artists. Today's installment of Music Video Throwback is devoted to "Dangerous," to me, his most memorable video.
Chet Baker (1929-1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. I once heard it said that concert promoters were not sure whether they should bill him as one over the other, so they just started booking him as the handsome guy. Either way, Chet had an ability to live on the back end of a beat that was unlike anyone else I've ever heard, and his conversational phrasing was always informed by his skill as a vocalist. Nevertheless, he was also the controversial king of the California Cool School of jazz where his drug habit was just as well known as his musicianship. He was in and out of jail, relationships, musical partnerships, and was perhaps nothing more than a slick con man with a cool smile and a good story to tell. In 1988 he was found dead outside of a Dutch Brothel and although no foul play was suspected, it is presumed that Chet was simply too high and fell out of the window to his death.
If all this sounds like the makings of a good story it's because it is. In 1988 writer and director Bruce Weber complied the story of Chet Baker into a documentary entitled Let's Get Lost. This film is a collection of interviews and footage with Chet's ex-wives, friends, and associated musicians in an attempt to paint the full picture of the man. Watch the documentery and then dig into itunes for some further Chet Baker knowledge. For my money, the album It Could Happen To You is Chet's best work and absoluetly one of my all time top five favorite albums ever. Check it out, you dig?
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There are some exciting shows to check out this week, NYC. Two friends of the Dig are playing: Cultfever at Cameo Gallery tonight and Field Mouse at the Rock Shop tomorrow. Both of these bands are amazing live, you best not miss! Read on for more details.