Hear It First: Milo Greene

The interns at NPR Music created something that may be even better than NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts...Interns' Deskless Concerts! They were sick of their bosses not listening to them about good music & took matters into their own hands. I just heard this band today (more like, 10 minutes ago) and I just knew I had to blog about them. This year has been HUGE for me and male/female harmonies so it's no surprise that I fell in love with Milo Greene  before I even heard them (saw the denim, plaid & beards first). Their debut album is due out in 2012 and with a tour opening for The Civil Wars on their heels, I'm sure this won't be the last time you hear them.

The Lumineers

      While the tv shows on the CW may not have quality storylines, they somehow manage to get REALLY great music. In an episode of Hart of Dixie that also featured songs by Needtobreathe and The Head and The Heart, I heard a song that my ears just needed to hear again. After much googling, I finally found it. "Ho Hey" has got everything I love about a song - a simple yet catchy chorus, a foot stomping beat, and an awesome "HEY" shout. The full length album isn't out until March 2012 but there are plenty of youtube videos and an EP to hold me over until then. For fans of the folk rock scene, definitely keep your ears open for The Lumineers in 2012.

Now Playing - Delta Rae

Soulful, foot-stomping, harmonizing, gospel, alt-pop. It's really hard to find the words to describe this band. Delta Rae has not one, not two, not three, but FOUR lead singers (3 of which are siblings) and somehow manage to still form a signature sound. They all equally share the spotlight while getting SO into it that it's impossible for the passion not to translate to the crowd. Check out "Morning Comes" off of their self-titled EP for a taste of the Delta Rae that got me hooked last Saturday at their show. Their new video for "Bottom Of The River" is really great too. It's haunting, yet lovely. WARNING: The masks are creepy.

Now Playing - Chris Velan

I went to see my friends, Eric French & Mr. Hyde, play last week & got there early enough to catch the opener.  So glad I did! Canada's own Chris Velan took the stage and the combo of his voice, the use of a loop pedal, + his beard won me over. I picked up Fables For Fighters on vinyl and couldn't wait to listen. It takes off with ukelele on "Any Number of Ways" and continues on into the dreamy "Oceans Ago". Velan has that 70's singer-songwriter sound to him and the whole album is incredibly tasty.





Hurting You Kind - Chris Velan

You're On Your Own Now - Chris Velan

Now Playing - Quiet Hounds

I have to admit, most times when I'm blogging about a band, I know very little about them. Usually, I haven't yet had a chance to see them live & I'm just anxious to talk about the music. So, I do some googling and can easily find some background info to pull together a post. Well, a background is something that Quiet Hounds don't have. A google search turns up lots of cute puppy images, but that's about it. So how did I hear about them? Well, when JrzyGyrl recommends something, I listen.

Apparently, they wrote & recorded their self-titled EP in a warehouse in just two short weeks. You'd never know it was put together so quickly. These 5 songs are so fantastic they sound like they could've taken months to create. I just can't get enough of the catchy beats, incredible melodies & great lyrics. Their elusive facebook bio describes the EP as "anthemic nostalgia" and I really can't think of a better way to say it.

I can't wait to hear more from these guys (I'm assuming they're guys....). Until then, I'll continue to wear out the EP. "Southern Charm" is my current favorite track due to its sing-a-long-ability. As for you, the EP is up for free download HERE.

Newport Folk Festival - Brown Bird

While looking through the schedule for Sunday's lineup of the Newport Folk Festival, I came across Rhode Island's own Brown Bird. One look at that gorgeous beard and I knew I couldn't miss their set. I got there super early & managed to get a seat in the Harbor Stage tent for their early morning show.
David Lamb & his partner, MorganEve Swain, are beautiful. They win for most adorable couple actually in a relationship at Newport. (The Civil Wars win most adorable couple not in a relationship.) David came out playing banjo & I thought my heart was going to explode. MorganEve played strings throughout the set, switching up between violin, cello & upright bass. Their voices compliment each other perfectly.
The duo is releasing a new album in October & I'll definitely be picking it up and catching them at a show.
Some of my favorite tunes - "By the Reins" & the new one, "Fingers to the Bone"

You can also hear their whole set from the festival on NPR.

Major Update - Summer 2011

Turntable.fm, I wish I knew how to quit you....

Between my new friendship with Krissie (@jrzygyrl), the introduction of Spotify to the U.S. & my obsession with TT.fm, I have an abundance of new music. If only I could get off the DJ booth long enough to listen to it all!

Nothing is more satisfying to me than sharing new, great tunes with people. When heads start bobbing to my song of choice, I can't help but feel proud. I'm lame, I know.

So here's some stuff I have discovered through some DJ friends. Most of it I haven't given thorough listens to (nor have I purchased)because I haven't had time, but I've liked everything I've heard so far. -

Pepper Rabbit. Free downloads on Noisetrade.
Older Brother is a fixture in my TT queue.

Roman Candle. Check out their Daytrotter session.

Hey Rosetta! Free downloads on Noisetrade.

Here's some stuff I can thank Krissie for -

"Tommy and Krista" - Thirsty Merc
Kind of obsessed with this song. The video is awful though so beware.


Justin Hopkins.  Listen on his facebook page.

She played a great song, "Perfect Day", by a band The Constellations for me. A few days later I went to see Horrible Bosses and heard it in the movie. That's just weird.

Finally, here's some stuff I didn't need any help with -

The new TFDI album. Anything that has Tony Lucca's name on it deserves a listen. When mixed with a little Matt Duke and a little Jay Nash, it's even better. Get When I Stop Running for $1.99 on amazonmp3.

Needtobreathe's new tunes. If "Slumber" and "Drive All Night" are any indication of what the new album is going to be like, I will surely love it.

Andrew Belle. I've been meaning to get his album The Ladder for a while but kept putting it off. WHY? Because I AM A MORON!! SO GOOD! Free download of a live show HERE.

And I've been rockin' this song for a while now thanks to various people. It is addicting and so fun! DANCE PARTY!

Current Obsession: Being an Internet DJ

So I have a new addiction. Turntable.fm is the biggest time suck I've ever encountered on the internet. (Okay, that might be a lie. I spent a 12 hour shift at the sleep lab playing a stupid game called Noah's Ark once or twice).

Right now, the service is in beta and invite-only. It's not all that exclusive though. You just have to be facebook friends with someone that's already in (which you probably are if you know me). It's a simple concept, yet, SO brilliant.

Once you've chosen a room to enter, you see that there are 5 DJ spots. It's rare that one is available when you first come into the room. Each room usually has a genre assigned, but the vibe of the crowd always varies. You can also check out the "room info" to see what songs have been recently played to get an idea. Playing your first song as a virgin DJ is a little intimidating. We all know people on the internet can be harsh. If enough people declare your song "LAME", it gets skipped and your ego gets bruised. Luckily, I ended up in a great room with some really nice people and after listening for a few songs I hopped up for my debut. The room had a folk/alt/rock/pop label but the crowd had somewhere along the line decided on a "Location" theme.  The database had almost everything I searched for and if it doesn't, you can upload from your own library. My first choice was a Middle Brother cover of The Replacements' "Portland." After a few seconds, I got a few "Awesome" votes and some heads bopping along to the song with me. One person even said "You'll be just fine here, Elise" after I expressed how anxious it made me.  If someone likes your song, you get a point. The more points you get, the cooler you are. Haha. Avatars are based on the number of points you have. I've only got 960 points to go until I can be a gorilla. And you KNOW i'll get there eventually, as long as there aren't any huge licensing issues that shut it down.

I have already discovered some great tunes and bands from turntable.fm and hope to use it to introduce others to music that I love. If you're interested in checking it out, let me know & I'll open up a room and it will be a little less scary then DJing for strangers.

Another plus: So far I have noticed that it doesn't time out like last.fm or pandora does. As long as there are DJs in the room, it will keep playing.

Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers Field Day June 3-5, 2001

There are just some things one will never do with their favorite band. I can cross 3 legged race, Duck Duck Goose, Egg on a Spoon, Water Balloon Toss/fight, & Tug of War off my list. Night one consisted of probably the best setlist I have ever seen from the band. It was a night of B-Sides and Deep Cuts, all requested by the fans.

I have been begging SK to play a song for a short 6 years. It's a song that many of you probably haven't heard. It's called "Bees" and he played it once in '05 and the show got recorded. I downloaded and fell in love with the song, but Stephen didn't, so it never made the cut. He very unwillingly played it for me at this show and called it a conspiracy. I dare you to request it the next time you see them. This song needs some recognition.

Bees - Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers

Saturday morning, my girls & I headed to the park for Field Day festivities! We were pumped up from hearing "Eye of The Tiger" on repeat and ready to dominate! We counted off to determine teams and to no surprise, I ended up on Steamer's team. We got 3rd place in pretty much everything but had a blast doing so. Steam Team quote of the day - "Next year, we're having Steamer-themed games....like keg stands and flip cup. We'll be sure to win!" Boots' team dominated and won pretty much every single event (by cheating). The rest of the day consisted of lots of Katy Perry, sunshine, burgers, cornhole, laughs & a ribbon ceremony.

The Saturday night show was a typical Sixers set - always awesome & entertaining. It finished just in time for us to hop over to The Alternate Routes show a few towns away. Such a fantastic music day!

Sunday morning, members of Sixertown (SK & The Sixers' fan club) met up for one final get together. We had brunch, chatted with the guys, said bye to new friends, got to vote as a group on a song to hear (Sun), & heard some new tunes out of a really great sound system (the back of the van). Let me just say, the new album is going to be fantastic.

Such a great weekend in Connecticut with great friends, a great group of musicians, and the best tour manager on the planet. The Steam Team is already training for next year!

Top 5 Songs of All Time

Everytime I hear Gin Blossoms' "Hey Jealousy", I say "this song is definitely in my top 5 favorite songs of ALL TIME." It's one of those songs that's great if I'm out, home, in the car, at work....or anywhere. I found myself making that statement all the time and many people agreed with me. Then one day I realized that I couldn't come up with the 4 other songs. So I guess "Hey Jealousy" is it. It's #1....and 2, 3, 4 & 5. I know absolutely NOTHING about Gin Blossoms. I know a bunch of their songs but have never owned a full album, nor have I been to a show. Until last night. I saw them play for free at the Wolf's Den at Mohegan Sun and had a blast. They've got tons of great hits ("'Til I Hear it From You" - off the soundtrack of my favorite movie!, "Follow You Down", "Allison Road") but "Hey Jealousy" tops them all. I had a ridiculously fun dance party during the encore last night. It was so great to finally hear this song live.

Be Sure to Check Out: Hunter Hayes

I wanted to post this before the CMT Awards because I'm pretty sure he's performing on them, but I didn't get a chance. I was on a little road trip with my friend Cat from Nashville last weekend and she told me I had to hear this kid. All she had to say was "He's like the Bieber of country music" and my ears were wide open. He's 19 and blonde and adorable. Hunter plays all of his own instruments & he's got the kind of talent that you don't always find in country music. His single "Storm Warning" is so damn catchy. I haven't been able to get it out of my head since I heard it. This summer he's opening up a bunch of the Taylor Swift shows (unfortunately not the one I'm going to). I am convinced he's going to blow up and be the next big thing on the pop/country scene. I'm having a hard time finding out when his album is being released but he's got a few tracks up on his website. 

Storm Warning - Hunter Hayes

Can't Get Enough Of: Son of a Bad Man

I'm following in the footsteps of some of my favorite bloggers and jumping on the Son of a Bad Man bandwagon. Why has it taken me so long to hear these guys? I knew I had to check them out after Ben blogged about them, but sometimes it takes me longer than I'd like to hear things I know I should. About a week ago, someone I follow on twitter was offering to gift the new single to the first 5 people to respond. I was lucky enough to be one of the five. If you need music suggestions, this girl has got 'em. I don't know her personally, but have heard about her mixes through many mutual friends.  I had never received an iTunes gift before and it is surprisingly easy. I immediately downloaded "Written In Stone" and it didn't take me long to realize I needed to hear more from this band. Frontman Shawn Fisher has got some serious pipes! I picked up their EP right away and my only issue with it, is that there aren't enough songs! Hopefully a full-length record is on its way, thanks to their kickstarter campaign.
In the meantime, get "Written In Stone" on iTunes & check out their awesome cover of Foster The People's "Pumped Up Kicks"

New Music Tuesday: Tim Blane - You Can't Go Back

You Can't Go Back - Tim Blane

A Few Reasons why I love Tim Blane: 

1) His tweets are some of the best on my twitter newsfeed. 

2) The random run-ins with him at Boston area shows. 

3) He's part of Who's That Pack?

4) He can teach me guitar on GarageBand. 

5) This album. 

6) His "Write me a song, Tim" campaign. (In the month leading up to the release of the album, he used suggestions from fans to write a song each day, my favorite being "Ninja Sex.")

You Can't Go Back is full of catchy singer-songwriter pop tunes which is just how I like 'em! "Magnetic" has been stuck in my head since I first heard it. It is such a great song that it is currently a finalist in the 2011 International Songwriting Competition. One of my favorite lines from the whole record comes from the song "Mischief" - "What good's the world if I can't have obsessions? Demons get bored when you hide them inside."

Magnetic - Tim Blane

Recap: Pat McGee's Down the Hatch OBX 5/12-5/15

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. I have been caught up in a vortex filled with The Alternate Routes, Tony Lucca & Pat McGee after a fantastic weekend at Pat McGee's Down the Hatch OBX event. If you're not a Rock Boater, you don't often get to experience some of your favorite musicians in such a casual intimate setting. Many artists are trying to make this happen more often. Besides Sixthman, Pat McGee is the king of these events. We all set up shop at a hotel right on the beach in Nags Head in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It is the perfect setting. The beach is right there & there's a huge deck with an outdoor bar. Inside, there's a restaurant and ballroom in case the weather doesn't cooperate. A great music venue for the Friday & Saturday night rock shows is less than a mile away. In the past it was Stephen Kellogg who got me there and I was a little upset he wouldn't be there this time. Let me tell you, the rest of the artists more than made up for it. In addition to some great friends, I was joined by Pat McGee & his band, The Alternate Routes, Tony Lucca, Keaton Simons, Michael Tolcher, Kill The Alarm, Benjy Davis, Pat McAloon, & Jen Lowe.

One of the most amazing musical moments happened for me on this trip. Brittany and I literally got chills and got weak in the knees. We were across the deck just taking it all in when Tony, Keaton & Tim Warren got up there to sing Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me." I have heard Tony do this song multiple times with different artists, but this was by far the best. Here's a pretty bad quality video to make you jealous.


The Alternate Routes also forced their new drummer to learn "Toe the Line" for us in exchange for a few vodka soaked gummy worms. He was upset because he had to listen to the song THREE whole times instead of doing other things. They played it out at Kelly's on Friday and it was awesome.

Saturday night at Kelly's, they played a cover set which while not as epic as last year's 80s set, it was still amazing. Tony Lucca's version of U2's "With or Without You" blew my mind. If anyone has video from this, I NEED IT!

Also, if you've been a fan of Michael Tolcher and haven't yet heard "Pave The World", do yourself a favor and look it up. It's hilarious and apparently making a huge comeback.

I wish every weekend could be a Down The Hatch weekend. I made so many friends & heard so much great music. It was perfect and I can't wait until next year!

Mother Mother

Mother Mother - Eureka

I've been big into boy-girl harmonies lately (The Belle Brigade, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, The Civil Wars) so it's only natural that Eureka has gotten just as much play time. The Canadian indie rock quintet starts with high energy songs like "The Stand" and "Original Spin" and slowly brings you back down with the melancholy "Born In A Flash." The lyrics are a little abstract at times and I find it a little weird to be singing along to things like "some kind of tropical fish in a tropical storm." The album ends strong with the upbeat, synth heavy "Calm Me Down." If you're looking for something fun, different and more on the power-pop end of things, you'll love Eureka.


The Stand - Mother Mother

In addition to a fun listen and repeat plays, this album sparked a memory of a show I used to LOVE.

Can't Get Enough Of...

Everything - Outasight
Get the whole Figure 8 EP for free.

Rusted Wheel - The Belle Brigade
I posted 2 of my other favorites off of this album in an earlier post. It's my go-to driving record right now.

Counting Stars - Augustana
I am obsessed with this band right now. I cannot get enough of this album. It is ridiculously amazing.

What I Want - Jon McLaughlin
New tune from Jon McL. I was excited to hear more new stuff at his show on Monday at The Met, but it got canceled. Boo.

Meant to Be - Javier Colon f. Stephen Kellogg
Not sure if you heard Javier on NBC's new show The Voice, but I know millions of others did. He is the reason I tuned in to a show I thought I would hate (not a fan of American Idol & similar shows) but I will continue watching to see how he does. I don't completely understand the rules because I tuned in about 45 minutes late, but if he doesn't win, there's something very very wrong. His cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" has been climbing the iTunes charts since it aired. I was lucky enough to see him open up for Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers last New Year's Eve and let me tell you, if anyone has THE VOICE, it's this guy. It helps that he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met, too. This video is from the night before and one of my favorite bloggers dedicated an entire post to it.

New Music Tuesday Preview: Augustana

Not much going on in the music world of Elise lately. I finally found something worth blogging about.

Augustana has a new album out tomorrow but the whole thing is available for streaming on myspace. It is an amazing album and I can't wait to buy it. Watch the video for the single "Steal Your Heart" and then check out the rest!

Movies about Music: Top 10

So these aren't all necessarily about music but music definitely plays a major role in all of these flicks.

10. Runnin' Down A Dream - great (but long) rockumentary about Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.

9. Never Say Never 3D - Totally ridiculous but actually a REALLY good doc that follows the Biebs from childhood to selling out Madison Square Garden. I laughed, I cried & had a great time watching this one (alone because I couldn't bribe anyone to come with me).

8. Golden Days - Such a heartbreaking story about the greatest band you've never heard (and one of my favorites), The Damnwells. For fans of the underdog.

7. It Might Get Loud - Great movie that follows 3 electric guitar gods - Jack White, The Edge, & Jimmy Page. The scene at the end where the 3 of them are jamming out to The Band's "The Weight" is great. It's instant on netflix if you're interested.

6. The Lizzie McGuire Movie - I have a spot in my heart for Hilary Duff. I have no idea why. I went to see this at the movie theater when it came out (I was in college) and I remember the crowd cheering at the end. It's a silly movie & totally cheesy but definitely one of my top guilty pleasures.

5. Moulin Rouge - I have a thing for musicals, but I feel that the movie version always disappoints. Since Moulin Rouge was never a stage production, it didn't have a chance to fail on the big screen. Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman do a great job.

4. The Wedding Singer - One of my favorites growing up. Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore are just so damn cute together.

3. Harold & Maude - Although it's an odd movie, you can't go wrong with a Cat Stevens soundtrack.

2. Once - The chemistry between Glen & Marketa is amazing. The soundtrack is fantastic and the story is just as good.

1. Empire Records - This is my all time favorite movie. I named my blog after it. I grew up watching this movie sometimes more than twice in a night. I wore out my VHS. I can practically recite the entire script. If you haven't seen it by now, you'll probably hate it.

Preview: The Belle Brigade

The Belle Brigade has done something not many bands can do. They have a buzz surrounding them even before the release of their debut album. That doesn't happen too often. I have seen numerous tweets, facebook posts & blogs praising this folk-pop-brother-sister duo. There's definitely a reason for it. Paste magazine named "Losers" the #1 song of 2011 (so far). There's just something about siblings and the music that they can create together. They're just so in sync with each other & the chemistry is crazy. The self-titled album isn't due out until April 12, 2011 but you can stream the full album courtesy of KCRW right now! 

Sweet Louise

Where Not to Look for Freedom

Justin Townes Earle

So I don't know if I've said it before, but I LOVE amazonmp3. I'm not sure how great it is for the artists, but they have fantastic deals for those of us with music addictions. Every month they have at least 50 albums for only $5, plus a daily deal where albums are sometimes as cheap as $1.99. Nevermind the tons of free mp3s that they offer as an added bonus. I rarely buy hard copies of stuff anymore. The main reasons being that I don't have the room for it, or that the music I want is impossible to find in stores. If it's a band I really love, I buy their stuff at shows or I'll pre-order a new release but the internet has just made things so damn convenient. The first of the month is one of my favorite days now because I get to go through and see what $5 albums I don't own yet. This month, I was pleased to find Justin Townes Earle's (son of legend Steve Earle) Harlem River Blues on sale. I've been meaning to check him out for a while & even more so recently because he's on the bill for the Newport Folk Festival this summer. Classified as a country album, I find that Harlem River Blues has more of a folk/singer-songwriter feel to it. The songs he sings are timeless & if you didn't know, you'd think you were listening to something made decades ago. The album is about New York but told through the eyes of Nashville, TN. "One More Night In Brooklyn" expresses this the best. "Christchurch Woman" & "Rogers Park" are my favorites but save for "Workin' for the MTA" (I just can't get into a song about working on a railroad), they're all great. Hear the title track and check out a great in-store video.

Harlem River Blues

New Music Tuesday: Bronze Radio Return

There were two new artist additions to The Rock Boat yesterday. One of which was The Damnwells! Eeeek! Now I am convinced that nothing can stop this from being the best rock boat ever. My 2 favorite artists in the same spot? YEP! I am crossing my fingers for some Alex Dezen/Stephen Kellogg collaborations. I should probably bring along some Bayer in case I start to have a heart attack from the shock of how amazing it will be.
The other slightly-overshadowed addition was Bronze Radio Return. I immediately googled them & realized their new album  Shake! Shake! Shake! was being released today. How convenient! They are streaming the entire album on their website. I didn't even have to make it through a whole song before I knew they'd be a must-see on the boat. I bought the album on amazonmp3 today & it's my first addition to my "cloud" or whatever they're calling it. Chris Henderson's voice has got that rough, yet polished sound to it and the music sounds fresh, yet familiar. "Shake, Shake, Shake" is definitely one of those songs that will get people in the crowd moving....because that's what it's written about. "Blurry-Eyed Worries" and the opening track "Down There" stand out initially but I haven't skipped a song yet! Definitely check this album out if you're looking for something fun & new. They also have a great cover (although it sounds almost TOO much like the original) of The Black Keys' "Tighten Up" that I found. Check em out!

Down There

Tony Lucca & Micah 3/7/11 at The Middle East

I just realized I never posted about the Tony Lucca show I went to a few weeks ago. We all know Tony Lucca is an amazing singer & songwriter. I don't think I need to explain that to you, but if you're unaware, you can get his newest album Solo for free. Because Tony's shows usually blow everyone else away, I didn't have very high hopes for the 2 openers that night. When Micah hit the stage first, I was pleasantly surprised! Maybe I was blinded by the plaid, the beard & his overall adorable-ness but I thought he was pretty damn good! It turns out he went to Northeastern (my alma mater) & I'm sad I didn't know him then. Although, I think I've got a few years on him. Ha. He also threw in a medley that included Justin Bieber & Miley Cyrus, and you all know I'm a sucker for the Biebs! He's the kind of guy that should be playing colleges & coffeeshops, which isn't meant to be insulting. Most of my favorites started out that way. He's young & he's got a long road ahead of him but it's sure to be a promising one. Check out this video of his song "Coast to Coast" off the album of the same name from SXSW & if you dare log in to myspace, you can hear his stuff there. (P.S. when are artists going to quit the myspace thing? It's dead & no one wants to have to go on there anymore).


Seriously, how cute is he??

The other opener was not as promising so I won't waste your time.

And of course Tony was amazing.

Ivan & Alyosha

Ivan & Alyosha (I don't totally understand the name...I think it's some sort of literary reference) is a band I just kind of came across by accident on twitter & through NPR. I took a chance and bought their older EP, The Verse, The Chorus before I even listened to more than 30 seconds of it. I'm glad I did. Check out their NPR Tiny Desk Concert to get a taste. They just put out their second EP & it's just as good as the first.

Now Playing: Matt Hires Live Sessions EP

It's been a big music month & to be honest, I haven't given a lot of stuff a chance yet. I'm still all caught up in the releases by The Damnwells and Hotels & Highways. I definitely made it a point to pick up Matt Hires Live Sessions EP though. If you liked Take Us To The Start, you can't lose with this EP. There are 2 previously unreleased songs that are well worth the $3.99. His cover of MGMT's "Kids" is fantastic. Definitely check it out.

Music Marathon Weekend

             So I'm 3/4 of the way through my music marathon weekend and let me tell you, it has been AMAZING. I started out on Friday with Middle Brother at Lupo's. They just put out an album last Tuesday and this was only their 3rd show together on the tour. I was exhausted and they were hitting the stage pretty late but as soon as they did I got my second wind. Someone managed to catch a great video of their first song, "Blue Eyes." The guys were joined on stage by members of all 3 of their bands. It was super fun to watch them all jamming up there together. I wish I had a picture of one of their guests, Jonny Corndawg, because he was wearing the most amazing sweater I have ever seen. I think he hopped out of his time machine from 1970 and jumped right on stage. Now that I've looked at his website, I'm pretty sure he crafted the sweater himself. He apparently does leatherwork & airbrush work. Damn. I will find a picture of it. I promise.


          On Saturday, I was a little bummed out because I had to go to this library show in Pepperell, MA all by myself. Google maps directed me to the wrong Main Street but I still managed to make it there before Hotels & Highways started playing. I would've hated to be the one who comes late to a quiet show at a library. I am SO glad I made it. Hotels & Highways is like a perfect love story. They've all known each other for years but never thought about starting a band together. Eventually, things just fell into place and they realized they were meant to be. The chemistry between them is clearly evident when they play. Lisa Piccirillo's voice blew me away on "Work It Out." I'm not gonna lie. I totally have a crush on her...and Syd...and Patrick Thomas. Can I date Hotels & Highways? Is that possible? I got chills when they dimmed the lights and started playing "Night Song." It was one of those songs that didn't even need words it was so good. Because they have all been doing the solo thing for so long, not one of them is afraid to take the mic and tell stories to keep us entertained. I find that really important when seeing a band live in a small room for the first time. If they go from song to song without any banter, I get bored. I like hearing what they have to say in between. This show was a little different because it was in such a small space, they kind of had a Q&A session halfway through the set. Because it was a family friendly show, Syd switched up the lyrics for "Nothing Hurts Like Nothing" to "No one in this town could give a hoot." They closed their set with a cover of Ryan Adams' "To Be Young" and I must've really shown my excitement because Syd totally called me out on it after. It was the perfect way to spend a Saturday night....especially since I was home and in bed by 11 even with a 1hr+ ride home. I think the whole show was recorded and I've been trying to track it down with no luck yet. If I find it, I will definitely give you guys a heads up because you need to hear it. Pick up Lost River on Tuesday. You won't be disappointed.

This video isn't from the show on Saturday but it will do.




            So as if these 2 shows weren't enough, I got to see the one and only Matt Nathanson last night at URI. He is probably my favorite live act. I call it an act because he doesn't just play music, he also makes me laugh uncontrollably. He played a perfect mix of old and new stuff including "To The Beat Of Our Noisy Hearts", "All We Are", "Faster", "Pretty the World" and "Sad Songs." He even played "Laid" and "Starfish and Coffee" which are always fun sing-alongs. He played for almost 2 hours and I could've stayed for another 2 because I was so entertained. I managed to get a pretty good video of a new song "Kept" on my phone. I was up in the balcony so you can't really see much, but the audio isn't bad.




For the encore, Matt & Aaron did a great cover of AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" because according to them, Metal is a dying genre. Then, of course he had to appease the crowds with "Come On Get Higher" as the finale. That song is the reason why a lot of those kids were there, but definitely not the reason why they'll keep coming back for more. I can't wait to get my hands on his album this summer because I know with a new album there will be a tour to go along with it.

Up next: Tony Lucca at The Middle East tonight.

Best.Week.Ever.

That might be an exaggeration but it seriously has been a GREAT week for music. March is off to a fantastic start and I hope the rest of the month follows suit.

We all know I've been counting down the seconds for The Damnwells to release their new album. I finally got my digital copy of No One Listens to the Band Anymore on Tuesday morning (I downloaded before I even got out of bed) with the hard copy on its way. It is just as amazing as I expected. I had heard most of the tracks already but there's just something about hearing a polished version of a song you've been singing for months. The title track is one of my new favorites and it was a perfect choice to open the album with it. I keep finding myself going back to Let's Be Civilized.  "No one's gonna rescue you, cuz no one has a fucking clue. So let's be civilized. Let's say I love you."


So I hadn't even made it through one full listen of No One Listens to the Band Anymore, when at work, I check twitter and find that Matt Nathanson announced a show in little old Rhode Island for THIS SUNDAY! If you have yet to see him live, DO IT. He's not only entertaining as a musician but he's hilarious! His highly-anticipated new album isn't out until the summer but I think this show will hold me over for a while. It's been forever since I've seen him. As I was typing this, I got an email with a free download of a new song off the album he just finished. It's a little heavy on the pop side and reminds me of George Michael's "Faith" at first listen. I hope he plays this on Sunday. It's fun and kinda sexy.

If you haven't heard of Middle Brother yet, you are missing out. They put the super back in supergroup. John McCauley of Deer Tick, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, and Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit combined forces to create one amazing record. From the start of Daydreaming, you'd think these 3 were playing together for years. Although that's not the case, the chemistry between them says otherwise. I get a doo-wop feel from a few of the songs, and others are just straight up rock. Some are slow and gloomy (Daydreaming, Blood & Guts), others are upbeat and fun (Me, Me, Me; Middle Brother, Portland). They do a good job of switching up the lead vocals and it seems like each song was sung by the right person. I bet they have an amazing stage presence and I will soon find out! They are in Providence at Lupo's on Friday! (I told you this was a good week)



Middle Brother

In addition to those shows, I get to see Hotels & Highways on Saturday night and Tony Lucca on Monday. Talk about music overload.

Can't Get Enough Of....

Sing Out - The Grand Magnolias

Poison & Wine - The Civil Wars

Train Whistle - Hotels & Highways

The Great Unknown - The Damnwells

The Beat - Ben Rector

Not much time for a post because I am totally caught up in Water for Elephants. Such a great book. These songs (and the albums they're on) have been the soundtrack while I read.

And Now For Something Completely Different....

Sometimes I don't know what takes me so long to check out a band that someone I trust musically has been talking about for years. Bad Rabbits is one of those bands that I wish I had listened to a long time ago. I actually went to Northeastern with these guys and I'm sure I missed out on lots of shows while I was there. Although, I think they were formerly known as The Eclectic Collective (try saying that 3 times fast).  Recently, another friend, Mike Feeney, has been posting a lot about them so I decided it was about time I checked them out. Again, why did it take me so long when they are giving their music away for free??

Anyway, Bad Rabbits are definitely shaking things up. With a mix of R&B, funk, soul, and pop; they apparently couldn't fit into any already defined genre of music so "New Crack Swing" was created just for them. I have NO idea what this means but let me tell you....these tunes are catchy and fun as hell! They're about to head on tour with Travie McCoy (I wanna be a billionaire so frickin bad...) and are on the bill for Warped Tour this summer.
Grab the Stick Up Kids EP and I promise you won't be able to sit still in your chair.

Who doesn't love a video that features puppets rockin' out??



Booties

the greatest band you've never heard....

The Damnwells "No One Listens To The Band Anymore" is my most anticipated release of 2011. I pledged to help fund their album within 24 hours of them announcing it. So far everything I have heard has exceeded my expectations. Paste Magazine is featuring a new video AND free download of the song "The Great Unknown" today. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen.

If you like what you hear, go here to preorder the album & help out The Global Fund. There's a bunch of pledge exclusives (songs, videos, pledger-only ustream concerts) that are definitely worth it.

If that's still not enough, I believe their last record is still available as a free download on the band's website. And if you have netflix, add their rockumentary "Golden Days" to your queue. It's heartbreaking and fantastic.

I never wanna turn the band down

photo credit: Paul Yacovone III

I could talk about Stephen Kellogg forever. He is my absolute favorite. I'm sure there will be many more posts about SK & the Sixers, but right now I just want to talk about their Live album they released last year. SK6 has played over 1000 shows together as a band. I've been to almost 80+ of them. Last spring, they were counting down (up?) to their 1000th show with the Road to 1000 tour. I was lucky enough to attend 998 (Boston), 999 (Burlington, VT) & 1000 (NYC). Me and 4 of my favorite sixers girls packed into my tiny Yaris hatchback and did a little road trip vacation on the most ridiculous route ever. Show #999 goes down in history as probably my favorite SK show EVER. Everything about it was amazing. The setlist was great. I was in great company. The emotion and energy from the guys was the most powerful I had ever seen. After 999, I wasn't really sure how 1000 was going to top it.....and unfortunately, it didn't. Now don't get me wrong, the show was amazing but I just couldn't stop thinking about the night before. Since I don't have a recording of 999, I will settle for the double disc "Live From The Heart" that they released a few months later. It's got some great photos and memories in the booklet and definitely worth waiting for the hard copy (which is only sold at shows btw).

So it starts off with Stephen solo and then he brings up the band members in the order in which they joined (Goose, Boots, Sam). I'm not a huge fan of live albums because something always sounds off. They did a pretty good job with this one though. They invited a bunch of guests (Josh Ritter, Marc Roberge, Serena Ryder, Chris Soucy) to join them on stage for a few songs. Some of the highlights: Now I'm Not So Lost with Old Man Souce. If you've seen the sixers live, I'm sure you've seen them do this song. They break out some of the best movie quotes in this version (Ricky Bobby, anyone??). Lonely in Columbus with Serena Ryder sounds amazing. It totally livens up the song when it's done as a duet....but it still sounds kind of haunting. I love it. Wagon Wheel is one of my favorite covers that they do. This version is a little slower than usual but still great. A 12 minute Milwaukee is definitely the apex of the show. It seriously showed how much they love each other up on stage. Stephen was so emotional (even more so at 999) during this part that it was hard not to tear up. I totally want a tattoo on my heart that says Goose too, by the way. So after that, some couple had to go and ruin it by getting engaged on stage before Diamond. Hopefully they're still together because it was recorded and people will be stuck listening to it for eternity. Then to end out the show, the guys went up to the balcony for an off-mic acoustic version of See You Later, See You Soon. It turned into a bit of a sing along, which I see nothing wrong with, until the girl next to you doesn't KNOW THE WORDS and SINGS VERY LOUDLY. I hope she can hear herself now because she sounds like a moron. I could also do without all the clapping at the end....

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I like the live record. Maybe if I wasn't at the show, I wouldn't like it as much, but I was and it's kinda fun to relive the night over and over again.

If you want a copy of Live From The Heart and can't get yourself to a show any time soon, let me know & I can pick one up for you.

Wagon Wheel

I almost forgot....

Just wanted to add on a few EPs from 2010 that I couldn't get enough of.

Matt Hires - A to B EP

"You can live your life walking in a straight line but it's more than just A to B" - A to B It's only a 4 song EP, 2 of which are the same song and are already on his full length Take Us To The Start. BUT the other two songs are AMAZING.

Green River Ordinance - The Morning Passengers EP

I.Love.This.Song.SO.much.

Trevor Jackson - The Greenpoint Demos

Trevor Jackson is the weirdest person you will ever meet. Years ago, LBurt & I were TJ's only fans when they debuted a song at Club Passim called "Little Jackrabbit With A Carrot In Its Mouth." We begged for him to play the song again but Trevor...or Jackson...is a jerk so he didn't. We referenced the song often and our friends thought we were making it up. I almost started to agree with them. A while later, Trevor Jackson released their first album. We weren't really surprised when Little Jackrabbit didn't make the cut. I just assumed I'd never hear the song again. Boots told us he found some old TJ demos and would be releasing them on iTunes. I had no idea what to expect but I wasn't getting my hopes up. I almost choked on my chobani when I saw the track listing. LITTLE JACKRABBIT is back from the dead. It's exactly how I remember it. Weird...and about a jackrabbit with a carrot in its mouth. The rest of the EP is pretty normal....or so I thought. Earth Move is a GREAT song. I wore out kyle's video of it a while back and was so glad to have a recorded version of it.

This brings us to "Tail of the Drunken Cat and Jamaican Escort" I have no words. You just have to hear it. It's creepy. It's awesome. It's also super obnoxious once the drunken cat starts talking.

Top 25 of 2010

I am currently making my way through Music Is Golden's Top 25 of 2010 and I'm surprised to say that I only own 6 of the albums on the list. So as I'm checking out new (old) stuff from last year, I got the inspiration to make my own top 25. It's not as easy as I thought. I have a terrible memory. I tend to obsess over things for a short period of time and once I'm done, forget about them pretty easily. Withthe help of last.fm and my iTunes, I was able to compile some sort of list that seems pretty accurate although I know I probably missed some. There are also a few albums from 2010 that I just haven't gotten around to listening to enough and I know they may have made the cut, but couldn't be considered at the moment.

Disclaimer: I realize my taste in music is a bit questionable at times. Don't judge.

25. The Lady Killer - Cee Lo Green

You've all heard the song. You all know every word. You all saw his ridiculous bird outfit at the grammy's. While "Fuck You" obviously stands out as the hit, the rest of the album is pretty solid. Check out "It's OK"

24. Teenage Dream - Katy Perry

I'm a sucker for pop music. I am forced to listen to top 40 radio at work all day and sometimes I don't hate it. Katy Per

ry's songs are ALWAYS stuck in my head. Even the ones I hated are catchy as hell. I'm pretty sure "Peacock" is about a penis a

nd I still find myself singing it aloud. This is just a fun windows-down-sun-shining kind of album.

23. Tourist History - Two Door Cinema Club

The first track "Cigarettes In The Theatre" sounds a lot like Vampire Weekend...which isn't a bad thing. I checked out this band because they were playing a show in RI at The Met that I wanted to go to. I never made it to the show but bought the album anyway. It has gotten a decent amount of listens and I'll definitely be sure to check them out if they ever make it back here.

22. You Get What You Give - Zac Brown Band

I have very fond memories of ZBB from TRB Niner. I had a blast rocking out on lido until all hours of the night. Then ZBB got HUGE. I saw them last summer at Tweeter (or Great Woods or Comcast Center...whatever you call it) and from what I remember, it was great. A little too much tailgating made for a very fuzzy show. There are songs on this album that I LOVE but there's a few that really just don't do it for me. "Knee Deep" makes me wish I was on vacation indefinitely. If this album consisted of only "Colder Weather" on repeat, I'd be happy. All in all, a solid album but not as stellar as I was expecting.

21. Habits - Neon Trees

Sometimes when a song gets as much radio play as "Animals", it's hard to like it. I heard the song before 92ProFM started playing it over and over and over again and I still get excited when it comes on. The album is fun all the way through with "1983", "Sins Of My Youth" and "In The Next Room" being my favorites.

Neon Trees also put out a christmas single "Wish List' that got a lot of play on my holiday playlist last year. If it wasn't for the jingle bells, it could be easily mistaken for just another song on the album.

Another treat for you: a Neon Trees mashup cover of Justin Bieber & Ben E. King.

20. The Incredible Machine - Sugarland Jennifer Nettles rapping is probably one of the funniest things I've ever heard....and I love it. You'll hear it quite a bit on this album. "I am not perfect, but I know I'm worth it and I gotta believe there has to be a you for every girl like me" is my favorite lyric from the entire album. I'm not going to get into my love life in detail but let's just say that it's not good. Sometimes a girl just needs a song that makes her feel like she's not alone. "Little Miss" is another favorite off the record. The video for "Stuck Like Glue" is also hilarious.

19. Nearer the Earth - Honeychild

I think we can all agree that the best kind of music is FREE music. This was another Music is Golden find. (Ben owes me for all the free publicity) "Driving Song" is exactly that....a driving song. If you'll notice, my favorite stuff is best enjoyed driving on a sunny 70 degree day (this is rare in New England) with the windows down and radio blasting. This album is perfect for that. No excuses - now go download the album for free here.

18. Hands All Over - Maroon 5

Just yesterday I heard "Never Gonna Leave This Bed" on the radio and said to myself that Maroon 5 never disappoints me. Then again, I never really set the bar too high. I won Songs About Jane from WBRU (definitely my favorite RI radio station) what seems like 10 years ago (2002, maybe?). Since then, I've always looked forward to their album releases. There's just something about Adam Levine's voice that I love. It helps that he's pretty damn sexy, too. (have you seen the Misery video???) According to my iTunes, "Just A Feeling" had quadruple the plays that the rest of the album did and I believe it. That track definitely stands out for me. "Out of Goodbyes" with Lady A ends the album on a great note too.

17. My World 2.0 - Justin Bieber

Before you X out the page, just hear me out. The kid is TALENTED. He's got such a good heart too, which makes it that much better. (I say this like I know him personally....haha). I was obsessed with his song "Eenie Meenie" with Sean Kingston and would watch the video over and over again on youtube before I finally caved and bought the album. I have recently become a total fangirl and I watch anything that he has to do with (which is TONS lately). Believe me, I don't think his music is groundbreaking or anything...but at least he can sing and actually play a few instruments. This is more than most popular artists can say these days. Bieber Fever is spreading like the plague. I'm not gonna lie, I want to see his movie and will do so as soon as I can find someone my age who will actually pay to sit through it with me. If you're still skeptical, watch this SNL skit. Tina Fey explains bieber fever way better than I can.

16. Between the Sounds - The Candles

Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers (shocked I haven't mentioned them yet?) played a very rainy radio festival in Newburyport, MA this summer with The Candles. The band was super nice and great to work with. For a few weeks after the show, Between the Sounds didn't leave my CD player in my car. I saw them again last weekend opening up for The Alternate Routes and they were just as great as I remembered. The first 3 tracks are my favorites.

15. I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart - Butch Walker & The Black Widows

Butch Walker is one of the best live performers I have ever seen. That being said, sometimes when someone is that great live it doesn't translate as well in the studio. Not the case with Butch. He has been doing this a long time and obviously knows what he's doing. The super catchy "She Likes Hair Bands" gets the most play off the album for me. "I kinda dance like I've been shot in the leg before" makes me laugh every time. "Be Good Until Then" reminds me of a modern, better version of "Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen."

14. The Suburbs - Arcade Fire

I'm sure you don't need me to introduce you to Arcade Fire now that they've won a Grammy for this album.

13. The Wild Hunt - The Tallest Man on Earth

While it's not for everyone, I think his voice is great. This album is so simple and it works. He doesn't need much more than his voice and a guitar (or piano in the case of "Kids on the Run") to get his point across.

12. Easy Wonderful - Guster

I've been listening to Guster for years and they haven't really changed much but I love that about them. Thanks to twitter, I got a free download of "Bad Bad World" before the album was released. It incorporated everything I loved about Guster and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the record. When I did, the first song "Architects & Engineers" had me hooked. I love how they brought in the banjo on "Hercules" too. How can you say no to banjo?

11. Metal & Wood - Tyrone Wells

I always forget how amazing Tyrone is until I see him live. Tyrone does not look like you would expect him to. He's a yodeling, tall, bald, white man. He's definitely a romantic and it shows in his music but obviously there's nothing wrong with that. This is a really cute (I can't think of another way to describe it) acoustic album. Someday I hope I find someone like Tyrone to write songs about me. "You are the girl that's been running around in my dreams" isn't exactly an original idea but he makes it sound like it's the first time I've ever heard someone use those words. It's also got a great cover of Kings Of Leon's "Use Somebody"

10. Flamingo - Brandon Flowers

I am not a huge fan of The Killers. I like them but never got into them as much as everyone else did. I heard a lot of good things about Flamingo and loved hearing "Crossfire" on the radio (I swear I don't listen to the radio that much...just at work) so I figured I'd check it out. I'm so glad I did. Jenny Lewis is featured on "Hard Enough" and it's definitely the song that stands out most for me. "Swallow It" is a little weird but whatever. Haha.

9. Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

The title song was pretty much my anthem for last summer. Lady A clearly cleaned up at the Grammy's and they definitely deserve it. It's a solid radio-friendly country/pop record. While I like their first release better, Need You Now doesn't disappoint. The chemistry between Hillary & Charles is fantastic. I love that they use the phrase "Love my heart all busted up" in "Love This Pain." As my friend said, "Stars Tonight" sounds like it should be on the soundtrack to the next High School Musical movie. I can totally see it.

8. Gorilla Manor - Local Natives

I have to admit, the first time I heard Local Natives I thought they were weird. Now that I've listened a lot more, I know they're weird but I totally dig it. They have this crazy energy that translates through every song. They collaborate on everything and it makes the sound so much stronger. I love when that drum beat comes in on "Who Knows Who Cares." There's so many different layers to that song, yet it's so carefree. I love it. I definitely need to get to a Local Natives show if they ever make their way to the northeast.

7. Truth & Salvage Co. - Truth & Salvage Co.

This is a true American rock & roll band. I am so glad Sixthman added them on The Rock Boat. I had no idea who they were but when they got announced, I went to their website to check them out. One listen and I fell for their sound. It felt like they could've been successful 30 years ago. I was shocked to learn that this was their debut album. Sadly, due to scheduling conflicts and an unexpected blackout in Mexico that required a few hours of recovery, I only caught one of their sets on the boat. Songs like "Heart Like A Wheel" and "Hail Hail" stick out because they're fun and upbeat but they really nailed it when they ended the show with "Pure Mountain Angel." The vocals really shined.

6. Lately - The Alternate Routes

Tim Warren is one of my favorite people ever. He's one of the nicest musicians I've ever met and has one of my favorite voices. They are one of the bands I could see night after night and never get bored. I always find that they are so much better live than what comes through on their studio albums. A Sucker's Dream was one of my top albums of 2009 and still gets a lot of play now. I hadn't seen AR for a while before TRB this January so I hadn't really heard any of their new stuff off of Lately. How can you not love an album that starts off with a song that includes the lyrics "I'm drunk on the dance floor, carry me home"? It's like Tim is speaking to us. Haha. While not as strong as A Sucker's Dream, Lately is still great. "Rocking Chair" is a great sing along and we all know I love to sing along.

5. Ry Cuming - Ry Cuming

Ry opened up a few shows for SK6 last fall (after touring with Maroon 5) & I was lucky enough to be there for them. Before I saw him, I had only heard "Some Kind of Love", which I really liked, but just never got around to checking out more of his stuff. I wish I had done it sooner. The day after he played Tupelo in NH, I had a long lonely drive to NJ. I didn't listen to anything other than this album the whole way. Australian surfer-turned-musician, his laid back personality definitely shows in his music. There is not one song I skip over. "Tearing Me Apart" and "Chemistry" are my upbeat faves. I actually changed my mind while writing this and moved him higher up on my list. The video for "Always Remember Me" is HOT.

Ry is a bit of an odd duck, but he was super nice. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for him in the future.

4. Kaleidoscope Heart - Sara Bareilles

As you may have noticed, I'm not into women musicians but I save a spot in my heart for Sara Bareilles. I can't believe she hasn't released an album since 2007. I'd be upset if it wasn't for the fact that Kaleidoscope Heart was totally worth the wait. "King of Anything" is a powerful fuck you song that I find myself quoting way more than I should. While I love them all, "Uncharted", "Hold My Heart" and "Say You're Sorry" are at the top of my list. I just found out she's coming to Lupo's in April and I've already got my ticket. Can't Wait.

3. Speak Now - Taylor Swift

Now that I told you I don't like female musicians, here's another one. Taylor Swift writes hits. That's just what she does. I don't care if all her songs are about the same thing because they are GOOD. Before the album came out, I remember being in the car with my dad driving up to see my uncle's band in Boston and scanning the radio for "Mine" because I knew it would be on at least one station. I love how much "Dear John" sounds like John Mayer actually wrote it. She did such a great job with that song and getting her point across. She obviously doesn't care if people know she's singing about them...and she shouldn't...because she's awesome. I have tickets to see her this summer and it's extra exciting because Needtobreathe is opening up the tour!

2. Around and Around and So On - The Vig

So even though SK6 didn't release an album in 2010, you knew I had to sneak them in somewhere. Sam "Steamer" Getz has a side project with some buddies back home. Sam is the newest addition to the sixers and he quickly won me over with his pedal steel and Charlie Kelly impersonations. When I found out he was coming out with an album, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. It is everything I am loving about music right now. It has a very americana/folk feel to it. I will probably never get to see The Vig play a full show live and that makes me sad. I did get to hear Sam play "Gonna Be Alright" at a Sixertown set and it was awesome. He obviously isn't used to being a front man and that's okay because his guitar playing makes up for it. They also threw "Impatient Man" into the Holiday show setlists which was fun. Just so you know, that song was written before he got his nickname...which makes it even funnier. In addition to those two, "12 Round Boardwalk Blues" and "The Scars" are the faves.

1. Part or Execution - Boots Factor

If you ever make it past "Trying to Try", you will find a bunch of other fantastic songs on this album too. I know it's tough, but you can do it. I watched this youtube video for "Right, Right Now" SO many times before I somehow ended up with the audio from it.

I'd like to thank the rest of the artists from the Sixthman Sessions that year for giving Boots the boost he needed to make another solo record. If this song doesn't do it for you, then I don't know what will. I have watched Boots grow as a musician over the years. I remember watching him as a chubby, curly-haired drummer just singing backup when SK forced him to. His voice has gotten so much stronger, he now plays mandolin and banjo, and although he's gotten skinnier...somehow his pants have gotten tighter. Other than "Right Right Now" & "Grow" at the Sixthman Sessions set, I've only heard "Trying to Try" a few times at Sixertown/Holiday shows. He will be opening up for Pat McGee in a few weeks and no doubt about it, I WILL BE THERE. Oh, and I like hearing him say he's gonna "steal your fuckin' girlfriend" in "The Killing Kind." If you're a fan of Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, definitely pick up a copy of POE (and a copy of The Vig album) at the next show you go to. You will not be disappointed.