Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 6 or above) is required to play this audio clip. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Once the gentle rain subsided on Sunday evening, the sun brought a warm glow to Central Park’s Summer Stage. It remained there until sunset, making it possible for a continuously growing throng of Yael Naim fans to stream in without having to battle nature in addition to long lines. Paris-born Israeli songstress Yael was a yellow fruit bursting with gems of tunes birthed at her tiny apartment, some sung in French, others in Hebrew and English. She played with a band of four, including drummer David Donatien who was credited as her musical partner; a bassist, and a fellow on accordion who at one point impressively raced his fingers on the piano; Yael switched between a guitar, a ukulele and the piano.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 6 or above) is required to play this audio clip. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download “Oceanic” by Imaad Wasif | After listening to Jeff Buckley’s Grace and Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk hundreds of times, you realize the dead does not grow old; it will let you indulge in its immortality that comes from having died, but it will not give you continuation, it will not give you a whiff of the present, and it will not get into deeper crevices with you. So the throne I would’ve sat Buckely on, had he continued to live, I’ve assigned to Imaad Wasif. He with his Two Part Beast promises to fill the void. I hope he lives up to my expectations when he is in town:
July 17 Brooklyn, NY Shangri-La
July 18 New York NY Cake Shop
ps. Jeff lives on another throne, but that one’s reserved for the dead.
These are the corresponding “spirit animals” of the members of The Grates— singer Patience is a seal, drummer Alana is a tadpole, and guitarist John is a grizzly bear, as I have just learnt from the special biography essay posted on the band’s website. I love the song “Burn Bridges” that is now out in video form. The album ‘Teeth Lost Hearts Won’ is coming out on August 2 in Australia. Until then, Fast Louder has Ben Lee interview the band, the band has a blog, and the blog has production photos and more.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 6 or above) is required to play this audio clip. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download “Do You Love Me?”| The band hit a large deer in Montana and broke their van, definitely missing their Seattle show tonight, and possibly missing others. So they’ve asked if you can help with some of the fixing costs involved. Listen to the song and decide if you need them like they need you, and donate if you do.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 6 or above) is required to play this audio clip. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download “Wheelpusher” by Anni Rossi | Everyone seems to love the Ting Tings, but it’s opener Anni Rossi I’ve my eyes on while the two acts are in town for a date at Bowery Ballroom and Southpaw this week - though unfortunately for latecomers like me, both shows are sold out. Regina Spektor and Joanna Newsom comparisons are afloat, and to the extent that these comparisons are useful, they are true for violist/singer/songwriter Rossi, if only owing to the tradition of a stringed instrument (when the arrangement is viola-based), the temperament of some songs I’ve heard so far, and a singing style that can be considered whimsical. The degree of similarities are insignificant, however, but the description on Rossi’s myspace applies: “Great music for Family and Friends! Gather around the table.”
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 6 or above) is required to play this audio clip. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download “Rapture (Sweet Rapture)” by AA Bondy | Download “Vice Rag” by AA Bondy | It was an easy-listening night at Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday, and how wonderful AA Bondy must’ve been with that dreamy, rustic voice of his. I wasn’t there, but Kashish was, and he tells me the performance was mesmerizing. I believe him. A pure crystal of human experience is sheltered in the lyrics, “I don’t want to talk about Jesus / I just want to see his face / The trees are swinging like hanging men / and I just want to see his face”. When a song opens quietly with those words and sweeps you up into the endlessly sweet chorus of “Rapture (Sweet Rapture)”, you can be sure there will be goose bumps. View full post to see all pictures and learn who was suffering from a cold.
hooves on the turf is a mostly-music blog based out of brooklyn. i can be reached at hoovesontheturf [at] gmail [dot] com - please send me your lovely music as an attached mp3 or an mp3 link. if i like what you send, i'll be sure to ask for more.
