In a few hours, 2013 will come to an end. For the last couple of weeks I’ve been intending to post this and that but, I just never got around to it. Procrastination? Laziness? Who knows? Most of my blogging year has been one long ‘I’ll get around to it,’ shoulder shrug kind of thing. Heck, several times, I even considered just quitting. But hey, I celebrated QNYC’s fifth anniversary this year so, quitting seemed silly. Five years is a long time in the field of random blogs.
I meant to write a lot more this year. I meant to do more photography. I meant to go to more shows. Yeah, that last one I really meant to do considering I blog about music! Off the top of my head I think I went to four or five, no six shows. I feel great shame, no, not really. But, I feel like there should be some sort of shame or guilt or something!
The shows:
John Michael Rouchell - One word, “Holler”. John Michael, who released The Separation EP not long before this show, always puts on a good show.
Newport Folk Festival - It was sold out. It was a day longer. I got rained on. I fell in love with the adorable Milk Carton Kids. I stood in the ladies room line with Nicki Bluhm (who did a great set by the way). I sat on the wall and said hey to several people...mostly really friendly, bearded dudes in bands. I got a grand kick out of Frank Turner, Michael Kiwanuka and several others. I finally broke my Avett Brothers photography curse. And, I still don’t understand that which was Jim James’ set.
Newport Jazz Festival - I wanted to enjoy Natalie Cole (childhood sentimental stuff and whatnot) but,...we’ll leave it at that. I meant to be more active photography wise but it didn’t work out that way. I enjoyed Jon Batiste...everyone did. I barely got to see any of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s set. I enjoyed the sets of Gregory Porter and Dee Alexander. Robert Glasper brought his Experiment to the festival and it was weird, trippy, weird (yeah, I said that twice) and fun. Wayne Shorter celebrated being 80 years young.
Jazz In The Valley - More music by water but this time in Poughkeepsie, NY. It was drizzly and muggy but had a nice river view. Denise Thimes put on a great set though I couldn’t get a good photo of her to save myself.
U.S. Royalty - I hadn’t seen them since what, 2011? They played stuff from their upcoming album Blue Sunshine...looking forward to that release. They left it all up on the floor and exhausted me in the process just like rock ‘n’ roll should.
Jake Lewis and the Clergy - It was the first time I’d seen them. Crammed into a tight space by the front door, they played a good set. I got to catch up with my pal Katie who was drumming. I had some wonderfully non-stingy drinks and a nice plate of fries.
The records:
Wow, I liked a lot of stuff. Some of it new, some of it just new to me. Off the top of my head, I can only think of one release that I got kind of giddy over, pre-ordered even… That was the deluxe reissue of Wings Over America...yeah, y’all know my weak spot!
I spent a lot of time listening to He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister. Yeah, I know their album, Nobody Dances In This Town, came out in late 2012 but I listened to it a lot and I mean A LOT this year.
I spent a ridiculous amount of time listening to Swear and Shake’s song, “The Light”.
I fell in lust with Great Peacock’s self-title EP...still loving “Take Me To The Mountain”.
Mission South released Migration, Vol. 2...still grooving hard on that one. And, I loved their video for the track “Peaches.” I really need to make it out to see one of their shows!
Those Darlins - “Oh God” from their latest album Blur The Line. This song was on repeat from the moment I got a hold of it. Actually, a few songs from this album have spent time on repeat.
Nico Vega covered “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)”. Not my favorite song but, I do dig their version. It's a perfect fit for Aja's voice. I’m looking forward to their upcoming record. I haven’t seen them play in a while; I must rectify that.
Def Leppard released Viva! Hysteria. I meant to write about this record but I couldn’t get excited about it. I wanted to, but, I just couldn’t. I realized that I would have rather have had a ‘Viva! High ‘n’ Dry’ or ‘Viva! Pyromania’ or even ‘Viva! On Through The Night’...then again, maybe not. It’s not that I dislike Hysteria, it’s just not my favorite ‘back in the day’ Def Lep album. So, as a result, a live track by track of it really didn’t work for me. I’ll probably be hunted down and beheaded by angry Def Leppard fans but vocally, I had to check and see if I was still listening to Def Lep on a couple of tracks. I thought I’d accidentally switched to AC/DC only to realize it wasn’t Brian Johnson I was hearing but Joe Elliott!
I just realized that I can’t think of one major ‘mainstream’ album that caught my ear. I'm sure there must be one but, I can't think of it.
There are a lot more records that caught my ear this year, however, I think my first paragraph pretty much sums things up. I meant to put this post together earlier this month but, I just now sat down to do it...
I hope 2014 brings great things for everyone. May you have much happiness, good health and lots of love. Be safe my friends.
Happy New Year!
LaNita
Quirky NY Chick
In a few hours, 2013 will come to an end. For the last couple of weeks I’ve been intending to post this and that but, I just never got around to it. Procrastination? Laziness? Who knows? Most of my blogging year has been one long ‘I’ll get around to it,’ shoulder shrug kind of thing. Heck, several times, I even considered just quitting. But hey, I celebrated QNYC’s fifth anniversary this year so, quitting seemed silly. Five years is a long time in the field of random blogs..jpg)
epy Eyes," up on their Soundcloud page. And, nice fellas that they are, they're offering it up for free. Their exact words ... Go stream/download new song "Sleepy Eyes" from our soundcloud. Share it with a friend. So, we're sharing it here with you, my friends. Enjoy and remember, they're cool to you so be cool to them ... support them live and otherwise. Check out the handy widget below to download the song.
t get around to mentioning throughout the year. This year, I wanted to change things up a bit. I considered putting together one of those nifty little best of lists. But then, I started thinking... that happens from time to time! There are several records that came out this year that I like be it because they were well crafted, catchy or just because. But, how many of those albums do I really listen to? By really listen to, I mean in regular rotation and can sing-a-long to sort of thing.
t care what the lyrics were. The music combined with vocalist John Thornley’s phrasing dripped of musical sexiness and, I happen to like when my rock ‘n’ roll is sexy and a little dirty sounding. However, it’s the catchy “Monte Carlo” that gets stuck in your head for hours at a time. It is quite simply one of those wonderful pop rock songs that is worthy of being #1 on the Billboard charts. The fact that it is reminiscent of some of those classic Buckingham/Nicks era Fleetwood Mac songs (check out Paul Thornley’s guitar work on the track, Buckingham would be proud) just adds to the charm. From there you’re led into “Equestrian” full of driving rhythms that sound incredibly grand. “The Desert Won’t Save You,” another song I listened to several times before even listening to the lyrics, is also rather grand in sound with it’s Zepplinesque vibe. It just sounds intensely heavy reeling you in with seductive guitar work that weaves throughout the song then it pounds you hard before easing you back down through a maze of rhythm to let you go gently. Put on some headphones, grab a glass of wine (or some mother nature if that’s your thing), light some incense and candles and just let it take you away; it’s that kind of song.
ing to put thought to word. I get that tingly feeling in my stomach, that shivering chill that goes up your spine. You know, the way classic rock 'n' roll is supposed to make you feel. U.S. Royalty gave me that feeling Tuesday night. I got butterfly stomach. I stood there, okay, I wiggled about oddly trying to take some photos while happily remembering why I love loud guitars and decadent frontmen (think young Mick Jagger or Rod Stewart), why I still plant myself up front at shows and why nearly getting whacked with a wayward mic stand is just part of the adventure.
song is from their recently released album, Mirrors. Check out the video below. And, if that wasn't enough, scroll down to the bottom of the post and grab the Flosstradamus remix of "Equestrian."
ut, it's on my list of recommended listens. Also yesterday, they announced they would be embarking on a tour. They'll be out on the road with Broken Records. That means good news for New York. We'll have two opportunities to catch the band. They will be on the LES at Mercury Lounge on February 22 and the following night, February 23, they'll be in Brooklyn at The Rock Shop.
o haven't wrapped their happy little hands around the record, it's a rootsy, bluesy, burning and emotional romp that rocks from beginning to end. I've been enjoying this record a lot. I'm totally in lust with "Hollywood Hollows," seriously in lust. "Monte Carlo" is something that reminds me of the well crafted 70's classic rock of Fleetwood Mac while "Equestrian" mixes modern alternative with a bit of early Santana flavor. Maybe that's just me though. I put MIRRORS on my list of recommended listens.
e record is scheduled for January 25. I've had a chance to check out the record and I'm diggin' it. "Hollywood Hollows" has been on repeat, lovin' this track to bits.