Adventures with Dr. Lady Cutie Troublemaker

Chan Marshall of Cat Power two nights ago at the Bataclan in Paris
Creative Commons image by DJ Arbobo

Pay money for this one. I keep thinking of more and more people who will love Cat Power’s Jukebox (just released yesterday). This album is somehow both intimate and spacious. Intimate like the show I saw a few months ago, in that you sometimes feel like she’s singing right to you and revealing herself, making herself vulnerable. But it also has moments where it’s sounds like it’s being recorded in a big abandoned echoey church. Like you are a voyeur who came across something big, and you’re not sure you want to share. There is an importance in these songs… as if you’ve heard them for years. I think it’s going to be in medium-heavy rotation in my life for a long, long time. Very accessible AND very brilliant, a rare co-occurrence. Chan Marshall may be a bit nutty, but man, this woman can interpret the shit out of a song and make it utterly, totally her own.

Download the MP3 album from Amazon (free of all DRM bullshit!)

Here’s a sample. It’s a redo of a song she has recorded previously: Metal Heart. I loved the original version, but this take is equally satisfying and brilliant in its own right:

(Crap. Wanted to stream and not share. Need to do some research on that!)

Well you know I’m always blathering on and on about The Mountain Goats. They live here, but they are most definitely not local. You hear that? Not local at all. The Mountain Goats are a national-level act with worldwide following (I’m straining NOT to say that they are huge in Belgium!), so don’t be thinking I’m sending you off to see some namby pamby local yahoos. I would never do such a thing to you. No, I’m sending you out for some quality entertainment and seriously incisive lyricism. The point I’m trying to make is that TMG are heading toward many people I know very soon. So here’s the tour schedule. If you know me and live in one of these places, you’re going to get an e-mail about it, too. TWO dates in Boston, kids. And Brooklyn AND Manhattan. And even Philly and DC. I have lots of emails to send. John’s put a song from the new album on his blog today. Listen:

John Darnielle (pronounced dar-neel, I’ve just learned) playing a solo spot for the Reach for the Skye benefit at Cat’s Cradle in September - although he did walk out and say, “Hi, we’re The Mountain Goats” despite the fact that he was alone!

John’s bringing The Moaners along. They are a delightfully grungy Delta blues duo - two chicks (That’s hot!”). Take a listen:

The Moaners at Trekky Records’ Christmas at the Cradle a few weeks ago

March is your month:
13 - Northampton, MA, Pearl Street
14 - Boston, MA, Museum of Fine Arts
15 - Boston, MA, The Middle East
18 - New York, NY, Webster Hall
19 - Brooklyn, NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg
20 - Philadelphia, PA, First Unitarian
22 - Washington, DC The Black Cat

Ah, The Middle East. Last time I was there was to see a 50 Foot Wave/Throwing Muses double bill. I was in heaven. And then a few months ago, I got to tell Kristin Hersh about that in person. My musical life is very, very rich these days. I’m not complaining one bit.

Hey, so speaking of local acts, if you haven’t seen the Triangle’s best 35 songs (with free downloads for every one of those songs), you should get right on that.

Last night, I went to Cat’s Cradle to see Okkervil River. I intentionally left my camera at home. I have so many pictures left from the weekend to process, and I have so much else to do that I thought my photography habit could use a night off. Okkervil River were amazing, but I was expecting that. They sound excellent live, and I was going to say that the sound quality at the Cradle last night was better than I’ve ever heard. However, this is probably more a product of the fact that instead of standing near the stage where I can get the best pictures, I stood in the back. The sound is just better back there. The engineers are aiming to make the sounds they hear best, not the sounds just in front of the speakers. Only insane people stand there, right?!

The really nice surprise was Jonathan Meiberg. He is the keyboard player for Okkervil River, but he is also the front man for Shearwater. While the whole Shearwater band didn’t play, Jonathan Meiberg did a solo set with backing by Scott Bracket, the O.R. trumpet player. When we first walked in, I was struck that he was singing in this falsetto. It seems ballsy to use such an intimate voice in a place like Cat’s Cradle. It seemed so earnest, much like many of the crooners and even the activists of the late 50s and early 60s (or maybe Richard Thompson, if you’re looking for something a bit more contemporary). My first thought was “Either this is so cheesy and earnest that I will hate it and will be rolling my eyes soon, OR I love it.” It took about a minute to realize that this intimate, intense performance was actually very much in the second category: a truly amazing and gutsy performance. Even in the Cradle, a place generally dominated by cocktail lounge volume conversation (especially back by the sound board), the audience seemed to be listening carefully and attending to every note. The addition of the sustained trumpet over the wash of sound coming from his voice and guitar reminded me a lot of the band James’ incredible album Seven. Jonathan Meiberg moved from the first voice I heard (the intimate falsetto) to positively anthemic, passionate vocals and back again. So much emotion. It was more evocative than I’m used to when out at a local gig. This is (dare I use this word) special. It’s something to seek out and listen to over and over. It’s more than just a “Yeah, that was really good”.

JMthunking.jpg
Originally uploaded by howrad

While I was there I picked up a Shearwater CD and have been listening to it ever since. It’s really something. I’d listened to a few of their songs a while back because I saw they had some of the same members as Okkervil River and my friend Lalitree seemed to listen to them a lot on Last.FM. She was right. This is worth spending your last $12. It’s that good. Who needs groceries when you can listen to something like this:

I am posting this song so you will hear it and love it and want to buy more. I won’t leave it up long - maybe a week or so. This is a band worth supporting with dollars!

In other words, quit watching Britney, and watch one of the good performances for a change!

Managed to get it into an MP3 format for more enjoyment options. Go me!

If you don’t know and are not noticing the lyrics, they SCANDALIZED the world in 1984. I definitely remember turning this song down when my parents were around! Oh, but What. A. Song. And this version is out of this world.

I’m getting pictures and audio updates mailed to my phone. I think I’m supposed to share!

That audio sounds weird. No time to fix it right now, but know J.D. has a normal voice and doesn’t sound freaky like that!

Full set of pictures