Friday, December 4, 2009

Details In The Fabric - Jason Mraz feat. James Morrison

Calm down
Deep breaths
And get yourself dressed instead
Of running around
And pulling all your threads saying
Breaking yourself up

If it's a broken part, replace it
But, if it's a broken arm then brace it
If it's a broken heart then face it

And hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
Hold your own
Know your own name
And go your own way

And everything will be fine
Everything will be fine
Mmmhmm

Hang on
Help is on the way
Stay strong
I'm doing everything

Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way

And everything, everything will be fine
Everything

Are the details in the fabric
Are the things that make you panic
Are your thoughts results of static cling?

Are the things that make you blow
Hell, no reason, go on and scream
If you're shocked it's just the fault
Of faulty manufacturing.

Yeah everything will be fine
Everything in no time at all
Everything

Hold your own
And know your name
And go your own way

Are the details in the fabric (Hold your own, know your name)
Are the things that make you panic
Are your thoughts results of static cling? (Go your own way)

Are the details in the fabric (Hold your own, know your name)
Are the things that make you panic (Go your own way)
Is it Mother Nature's sewing machine?

Are the things that make you blow (Hold your own, know your name)
Hell no reason go on and scream
If you're shocked it's just the fault (Go your own way)
Of faulty manufacturing

Everything will be fine
Everything in no time at all
Hearts will hold

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Can't be everything to everyone...

First off Happy Birthday to the greatest mother in the world! Thanks for being so awesome all the time!

December 3rd, 2009. Time is flying by and yet sometimes it seems to be crawling along. Somedays my mind is racing and I can't figure out where to start and then the next day I can't get out of bed to get my day started. There is a lot going on with everyone. The past couple weeks it just feels like we are on the edge of something. Good, bad, indifferent it just feels like something is about to break. It's just this feeling of pressure from everywhere at work, at home, with friends. I don't think it's just me either because other people have mentioned it.

I think one of the things I've struggled with for a while is trying to be everything to everyone. To try and do everything. I struggle with limits and saying no and sometimes saying yes. I can't live peoples lives for them and while sometimes I want to prevent people from making mistakes that I've made, but at the same time people need to learn for themselves. That's so hard to experience because I have this problem with caring. I fucking care alot and it fucking sucks to watch people you care about get hurt, because I take that with me. I'm always thinking about other people and their shitty situations and how I can fix it. Most times I can't fix it, I may not be able to help, but I just can't wrap my brain around that. I just want to tell people that everything is going to work out and we are all going to be okay, but the scary part is I don't know if that's true. Maybe it's not going to be okay, maybe shit is just going to get worse.

And I don't know if there is actually more bad shit going on or if I just am more aware of it. It's kind of like cancer. When I was younger I didn't really know about cancer because I didn't know anyone with it, or if I did people didn't talk about it, because cancer sucks and who wants little kids to worry about that. But now that we are older I feel like it's everywhere. Like seriously old, young, good, bad tons of people are dealing with cancer or know someone dealing with cancer. I don't know if there is more cancer and more bad shit going on in the world or if I'm just more aware of it. Screw people who say awareness is good. It would be much easier to not care if I didn't know all this shit was going on.

Then I try not to care, and I come off as an asshole and I'm totally not an asshole. I wish I could just go on cruise control or have a day where I don't hear about other people's problems and just sit back and talk about fun stuff like music or TV or go see a movie and just veg out. I need a vacation without anyone as weird as that sounds. Maybe even just hang with a random group of people where there is no pressure and no expectations. I can't be alone, because I hate being alone. So definitely in a crowd of people, hm.

So for now I'm going to continue caring, but just focus on productivity and try to be better at everything. I need re-prioritize some things in my life and maybe make a few sacrifices.

But here's hoping that we will all be okay, that the dust will settle and we'll all figure out whatever we are struggling with. And if not that we'll continue to fight the good fight because tomorrow could be the day that it all turns around (when I win the lottery and buy an island in the Carribean).

-Sh

"At the end of every hard earned day, people find some reason to believe" - BS

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Ten Out of Tenn 9/29

Sometime last year I heard about this touring group of musicians know as Ten Out of Tenn. As you might guess they are Ten musicians based out of Nashville, TN. The current line-up is the Vol 3 and features Kyle Andrews, Andrew Belle, Jedd Hughes, Madi Diaz, Joy Williams, Sarah Siskind, Ashley Monroe, Mikky Ekko, KS Rhoads, and co-founder Trent Dabbs. Last night Vol 3 made its way to Berklee's The Red Room @ Cafe 939.

The performers each take turns highlighting each others songs with each performer getting to spotlight 2 of their own songs. One thing is clear these guys (and girls) enjoy playing with each other. Take Joy Williams 'perma-grin' for example. Another member called living on the bus with all of them like being at summer camp, including the smells.

This year's group is quite eclectic, where Ashley Monroe and Jedd Hughes were a bit more country, Kyle Andrews was a bit more electronica/pop. Mikky Ekko and Berklee Alum's Madi Diaz got everybody moving and KS Rhoads was a bit reminiscent of the Mat Kearney show I attended last week, right down to freestylin' about his short stay in Boston at the end. Sarah Siskind stripped it down for a solo version of her song Lovin's for Fools, which has been recorded by Bon Iver and Joy Williams smile shone through on her "Charmed Life", which was co-written by Trent Dabbs and featured on
the "Grey's Anatomy" finale last year. Andrew Belle's "Static Waves" was a highlight for me with Joy Williams stepping in gracefully on back-ups, and Trent Dabbs "Your Side Now" really resonated with me.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this set-up is watching the musicians share the spotlight with such ease. Moving from keys to bass to guitar or from lead vocals to backing vocals, this was clearly a collaborative effort. If this tour is anything like the last one we will soon be seeing these individuals up here in Boston again for sure.

Next week Ten Out of Tenn Vol 2. alum Erin McCarley will be joined by Landon Pigg for two shows 10/9 & 10/10 at The Red Room @ Cafe 939. Another show not to be missed.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Mat Kearney / Diane Birch 9/23/2009

So about a week ago, LiveNation started offering a 'passport' which would get you into all* shows for the rest of the year at various LiveNation venues/clubs across the country for $49.99. I thought it about it for a minute but then noticed the * which usually means there is a catch. The catch was it wasn't any show at House of Blues it was a limited number of shows, and only if those shows are not sold out. So is it really worth the hassle? Not for this guy.

I still managed to get into last week's Rusted Root/The Kin show (thanks to The Kin) and to last night's Mat Kearney/Diane Birch show (thanks Steph & Katarina). Both shows were great. The Kin are playing a show here Oct 16th and if you haven't heard these guys I would definitely recommend checking out their MySpace (www.myspace.com/thekin).

Mat Kearney was a last minute show and I have to be honest I wasn't too familiar with the newest album. 2006's Nothing Left To Lose was one of those albums that I could listen to start to finish on repeat, especially when I first got it. I was glad to see that the show was heavy with tracks from that album. The new album stuff worked well also especially the title track "City of Black & White" & "Closer to Love" both featured in the encore. Check out a unique rendition of "Closer to Love" featuring basketballs for percussion from Mat's tour blog http://tinyurl.com/njsu3f.

Opening this show was Diane Birch who not too long ago played a headlining show at Berklee's Red Room @ Cafe 939. Diane's soulful voice is a mix of Carole King and Grace Potter. She can bring it down real slow or get the crowd moving and clapping like a revival. Her album, aptly titled Bible Belt features the single "Nothing But A Miracle".

To close the evening in honor of the birthday boy Bruce Springsteen Mat's band brought out Diane and her band for a rousing version of "Dancing in the Dark".

The crowd seemed a little more interested in the drinks or each other, but the hits got some great reactions. A large group up front seemed to be singing along with Diane and while Mat seemed to be struggling to get audience participation the somewhat reluctant crowd played along. Overall a great show.

Next up Ten Out Of Tenn Tuesday at The Red Room @ Cafe 939.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Boyle and Nadal lose, Kate+8-Jon, Dave Matthews Band takes over Fenway and more

Susan Boyle lost Britain's Got Talent and soon after checked into a clinic for exhaustion. After going from practically nothing to being a worldwide overnight sensation has to take its toll. From a humble home in Britain, to our living rooms via YouTube, Larry King and Oprah there was tremendous pressure on her to win being the heavy favorite and after losing it is no doubt that she felt the need to recover away from the limelight. I hope that she is able to capitalize on her success, even if only for 15 minutes.

Nadal, the king of the clay, lost to the 23 seed in the French Open over the weekend. I love that immediately following in interviews people always ask, what are you going to do to prepare for next match. Give the guy a break it was like people being mad that Lebron didn't run over to congratulate the team that destroyed him. Lebron said imagine someone beating you up then running over to congratulate them for beating you up. It just doesn't feel right. Nadal said he's going to prepare for his next match by hanging out by his pool. Maybe he can invite Boyle and they can enjoy the lack of pressure for a while.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Discovery Health shows, but I never got hooked on Jon & Kate plus 8, but you can be sure that we watched the season premiere to see the drama unfold. Us and the other 9.8 million viewers who turned in. I think it's interesting to see how different Jon and Kate look from the first documentary about the birth. Much less 'real' and much more cleaned up for the cameras. I don't think that anyone is winning (besides TLC) from the whole situation and no one can confirm any alleged infidelity, but I think Jon said it at one point that somehow the show went from a documentary for their kids to see, to a business. The show moved from being about their life to being their life. Unfortunately the kids may be able to see the dissolution of their family on TV. I don't think that was ever the plan.

Dave Matthews Band returned to Fenway Park this weekend for the second time, the first since the loss of horns player Leroi Moore. The band was fresh as ever playing a healthy mix of new and old songs. Jeff Coffin of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones stepped in as a horns player along with Rashawn Ross (A Berklee graduate) and long time Dave collaborator Tim Reynolds filled out the guitar sound. Both nights had their strong points, but there was something about night 2. Willie Nelson stepped in to help on Gravedigger and recalled the lyrics a little better on night two. Night one saw an epic Jimi Thing while night two brought out Two Step and Dancing Nancies. The crowd was a Fenway crowd, strongest participations came during Yankees Suck chants and the night 2 cover of Dirty Water. My brother Mark, in town to celebrate his 21st bday, pointed out that during night one's Everyday the audience didn't seem to know the Honey Honey part. Makes me really wish I was going to the SPAC shows. New album "Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King" comes out tomorrow! Overall a great weekend of music. Phish also graced centerfield Sunday although I didn't make it to that show.

Heavy week of shows at work this week. Jessica Lea Mayfield kicks of the week tomorrow night along with shows by Julius C, Kid:Nap:Kin, and bass legend Stu Hamm. Be sure to check out www.cafe939.com for more details.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Twitter has taken control of my writing...

It so easy and convenient and I do it all the time. It's kind of like having a radio show, but not quite as cool. I'm doing song of the day and now talking about TV shows. I've realized that I'm such a pop-culture sucker and I'm just going to embrace it.

Missed the Bruce show in Albany tonight. It looked like a good setlist (Backstreets AND Kitty's Back) and got a phone call during Kitty's (Thanks KATE).

I did not get selected to go to New Orleans for Habitat for Humanity this year, but I will be re-applying for the program next year for sure.

LOST, Fringe, and Grey's provided great Finales this year. Excited for Summer, but hate having to wait several months to see the conclusion of these cliff hangers.

This weekend is the CF walk in Albany and unfortunately I will not be walking, but it's a great cause and Sarah is walking so please do anything you can. Even a $1 counts. Here's hoping you guys have great weather http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/dsp_DonationPage.cfm?walkid=5955&idUser=119750

Now it's time for The Office and Parks and Recs and 30 Rock. Working tomorrow night then the WEEKEND.

Peace Love and Cocoa Puffs!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Cage The Elephant

I had the great opportunity to work with this band on Friday and after getting their promo CD a couple weeks back I knew it was going to be a great show. I wasn't sure how it was going to be working with them, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was one of those nights like in SXSW where I just realize how lucky I am to have the job I do and meet the people I do. These guys are extremely professional and genuine.

Originally from Bowling Green, KY Cage the Elephant is made up of brothers Matt and Brad Shultz and friends Jared, Lincoln, and Daniel. After meeting in high school the band has had great success overseas and is just starting to see it hit in the states. Their single "Ain't No Rest For The Wicked" is getting seriously airplay in Boston and I'm sure elsewhere. (UPDATE: According to Mediabase 24/7 it is currently the 10th most played song on alternative radio stations across the country.) It was the boys' first trip to Boston and the sold out crowd made them feel welcome.

After a set this weekend at Bamboozle Cage heads to UK. Then it's back to several American festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and All Points West. Next time they are back in Boston we'd love to have them back, but I'm guessing these guys will be playing Paradise Rock Club if not House of Blues.

Check out their website
Follow them on Twitter
Get a free download here