Professor Penguin is a London based nine piece we recently featured on the Dig here. Their newest single Pirate was released yesterday and along with it came an uncomplicated, earnest, and nostalgic music video. What I dig about these guys is the cleanliness of their songwriting, and the warmth of their sound. With a nine piece band I expect to be overwhelmed by texture and effort, but Professor Penguin is the perfect balance of harmony, rhythm, melody and countermelody – they've got me hook line and sinker. I look forward to the release of the full album and grand things to come from our friends across the pond. Please do remember to show the guys a little love via their social media at Twitter, Soundcloud, Official Webpage, and Facebook. You dig?

It's safe to say that I've been a quiet fan of Tears for Fears my whole life. More recently however I've been enjoying the way that artists are re-contextualizing their music and taking the originals to strange and beautiful new places. With melody at the forefront of stoic and warm harmonies, the music of Tears For Fears is ripe for exploration in other genres. A few months back I posted a video performance of the incomparable jazz trio The Bad Plus performing TFF's classic Everybody Wants To Rule The World. Check out that article and video here. Today I am happy to share another dip into the canon of TFF by the massively talented and imaginative pianist and composer Michael Sheppard with his new work entitled Mad World Fantasy.

Read on and kick off your Thursday with a little bit of music from the friges of two genres. You dig?

Let's jump in the way back machine and go all the way to November 18, 2011. The place is Wa(r)shington DC, the scene is the 9:30 Club, and the person is none other than friend of the Dig Jonny Corndawg. This was a tour stop for Jonny while he was out pillaging the US of A with juggernauts of newgrass Trampled By Turtles. I was in the audience for this thoroughly enjoyable show and managed to sneak this video of Jonny's performance of the Hank Williams Jr classic Texas Woman. Although he is on the opposite side of the stage, you'll hear that Erik Berry, the mandolinist for Trampled was sitting in for this one. 

This was one of several unexpected treats from that evening's concert, but that's what you get with the always surprising and engaging Jonny Corndawg. You dig?