The Young Romans don't play country music, but I do hear some pretty guitar picking on today's PJOTD, and it resembles early solo Ryan Adams. And that's basically a surefire way to keep me from switching to the next song. So, congrats to these Young Romans -- they killed me with simplicity and a familiar sound that I happen to love.
Go ahead and meet Brad Hooks and Sari Mellafe, the new duo on the block. Their music is built more for autumn than summer, but we don't pick the timing here at SIC. We just let in the tunes that knock the loudest.
On Today's Jam of the Day, "Body of Work," the second single from The Mynabirds' upcoming album, GENERALS, percussion is a main character, taking center stage again after its original work in the lead single, "Generals." However, while the latter is a drumming battle cry, this new track contains a steady global beat that's as optimistic as the song's lyrics.
Vocalist Laura Burhenn explains that the track represents our ability to constantly remodel our lives into anything we want, regardless of what the past holds: “We are living things, bodies of work to edit.”
"You are a body of work... You are electric... You are not a dead end... You are a living thing."
Apparently, growing up in the rougher neighborhoods of Sacramento not only makes you tough as nails, but it also preps you for the day you decide to start making music. For Terra Lopez, a little quiet isolation in the LBC, and a long night of drankin', apparently doesn't hurt as well - since after boozing it up, Lopez wrote a letter to a close friend and upon awaking the next morning, she noticed that she had inexplicably signed the letter “Sister Crayon."
Listen to our Jam of the Day below. And make sure you see their live show at Hopsctoch this year if you're around the Raleigh area. Supposedly, it's quite different than their records...but in a good way.
Just a wild prediction here, but Paul Simon's Graceland will most likely influence bands and artists for many years to come. Personally, I would be hard pressed to name 25 or 30 better albums, and Simon's not even necessarily one of my favorite musicians. It's just that Graceland is almost a perfect work of art.
For Louisiana's GIVERS, it's already made its mark.
"Our connection to Graceland is the fact that most of us grew up with that album in our household," explains vocalist and guitarist Taylor Guarisco. "It's probably made its way into our subconscious and it's influenced the way we play as a band."
Here's Guarisco and his fellow GIVERS, along with Dickie Landry and the Lost Bayou Ramblers, covering Simon's "That Was Your Mother." It's their contribution to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Graceland, which will be released as a special CD/DVD/LP box set on June 5th.
In less than a week, festival goers including this SIC writer will be making their way into the heart of Arkansas' Ozark National Forest, towards Mulberry Mountain, for the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival. This four day extravaganza features a wide array of musical genres from bluegrass, funk, and folk rock, to hip hop and dance music. While the festival boasts such bonus features as yoga, hiking, and disc golf, let's face it, most of us will be braving the Arkansas heat for the varied blend of aural entertainment, which will pulse deep into the morning hours on some stages. Here are some of the artists SIC will be checking out next weekend:
Colorado born Derek Vincent Smith, aka Pretty Lights, is an electronic dance music producer who throws down action packed sets filled with his own original compositions and samples from today's pop and hip hop stars. With his unique blend of EDM, coupled with a stunning visual array of... pretty lights (hey-yo), Pretty Lights is sure to keep the late night kids dancing and happy.
Touring in support of the release of their new record Here (out 5/29), Alex, Jade, and company will fill Mulberry Mountain with their eclectic brand of love-in style folk-pop. The "straight outta Laurel Canyon" collective, who have a penchant for magnificent live shows, will surely drop the near ubiquitous mega hit "Home" along with newer jams "Man on Fire" and "That's What's Up."
North Carolina brothers Scott and Seth Avett have be picking and strumming their way through the gentle waters of banjo tinged indie-folk since 2000. The 2009 LP,I and Love and You, received critical acclaim and commercial success, hitting #16 on US charts. The follow up LP, with production from the legendary Rick Rubin, has been recorded but has yet to be released. Look for it later this year.
Mash-up guru Greg Gillis is now well known for his rapid fire, multi-genre sampling DJ sets. With a stage likely filled with costumed and dancing festival-goers, Girl Talk will bring the ruckus to the Wakarusa Main Stage, from 1 to 2:30 in morning
Some of the music produced by Philly based DJ RJ Krohn, aka RJD2, has been featured prominently in advertising campaigns and, perhaps most notably, in the opening sequence for AMC's Mad Men. RJD2's diverse mix of electronic, hip-hop, and trip-hop beats will surely have the Wakarusa grounds thumping 'til the wee hours of Sunday morning.
Check out the official preview video below. Tickets are still available here.
See you on the mountain.
