I’m slightly in love with the new Steve Mason (him out of the Beta Band) single, Stars Around Your Heart, and its deliberately shonky video. For 4 minutes, I’m transported back to being 13 again, in a good way (without the spots and angst).
What’s got you smiling recently?
fentonsteve says
Edith: that should be Stars Around My Heart
pawsforthought says
Every time I’ve heard that I’ve forgotten that it’s Steve Mason as it sounds a lot like Guy Garvey. Great song, though.
Twang says
I just discovered the Lost in Paris Blues Band album today. During a guitar tour of France, French guitarist Paul Personne, Robben Ford, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and John Jorgenson (Elton John and Stéphane Grapelli’s favourite guitarist) had their schedule disrupted, so with time on their hands they repaired to a local studio and made a supersession album. I mean, you do, don’t you? It’s great – classic songs well done with some tremendous playing as you’d expect. Here’s Tom Waits’ “Downtown”.
Beezer says
As a fat fingered, uncoordinated guitar player I’ve long been in awe of Django Reinhardt and his ultra melodic playing with Le Hot Club de France.
He’s long gone now, but this feller gets close to his style and spirit. Bireli Lagrene.
A youtube trawl last night produced this. it got me smiling.
Twang says
Pah, he’s using 4 fingers. Cheeeet. The aforementioned Jorgenson uses an authentic 2.
Beezer says
Looks easy with two, doesn’t it? I might try that.
Might make me sound a little better and not, as someone once told me, like someone throwing bananas at a guitar from 30 feet.
Vince Black says
I saw John Jorgenson and his quartet play Hot Club jazz during my first visit to Merlefest in 2005. His quitar playing was clearly top notch. Then about half way through the set he took up a clarinet and romped through “After You’ve Gone” like he was Benny Goodman. I remarked on this to a British festivalgoer I met later that day. He said something like “there are some people who can just do that kind of stuff. It’s like they’re from a different planet. Hand them an instrument, give them 5 minutes to work out how to play a scale, and they’re off”. I checked out Mr Jorgenson when I got home and read that he also played sax and pedal steel when playing in Elton’s band. I also discovered he had been playing a UK and Ireland tour of venues that held about 100 people. It would seem he does some gigs for big bucks, and others for the joy of it
Twang says
He learned to play the mandolin in 2 weeks to performance standard when he was on his uppers in the early days as Disney world needed a Mando player for their bluegrass band. He plays smoking Hammond organ on that track I posted above. Love him with the Hellecasters in a everything at 11 kinda way.
mikethep says
I saw the Hellecasters years ago at the Half Moon in Putney, the ideal venue. Toadally awesome. That was the night I found myself standing next to Hank Marvin and offered to buy him a beer. Oops.
Twang says
I saw them at a guitar show. Incredible players of course but really funny too, and obviously having a ball.
Mike_H says
I was very impressed by Gwenifer Raymond, when I saw her play a short set last Saturday. I bought her album but haven’t listened to it yet.
duco01 says
Yeah, I really like the Gwenifer Raymond album. She’s clearly a big talent.
Mike_H says
A recent rediscovery is Bill Frisell and his album “Unspeakable”, with Hal Willner, in particular.
atcf says
I am on my way home from seeing First Aid Kit in Birmingham. Set highlight for me, I don’t think I will ever tire of this song:
mikethep says
Ever seen this? A real something-in-my-eye moment.
Mike_H says
A recent rediscovery is Bill Frisell. His album “Unspeakable” in particular.
Morrison says
Quite a year for “blue eyed soul” – but this is a standout from a really classy AOR-influenced UK album. Can imagine Hall and Oates doing this:
Morrison says
…and this – more 70s-style soulful loveliness from 2018:
Carolina says
I am pretty in love with American artist Gabriel Kahane’s latest album, Book of Travelers. Mainly voice and piano, a very interesting play of dissonance and melody and some extremely moving songs, including this one, which is a favourite of mine, the dark and haunting Model Trains. Has anyone else heard of him?
Lemonhope says
I hadn’t heard of him before seeing this which I very much enjoyed. I’m listening to the album as I write this.
This track is from one of my very favourite albums released this year, it reminds me somewhat of the Kahane track, it has a similar ‘vibe’ and the video is a in a similar travelogue style.
Damien Jurado – Over Rainbows and Rainier
Carolina says
Glad you enjoyed it, Lemonhope and have checked the album out. His past albums are really good too. I meant to do a blog post about him as I don’t think he is much known about over here and he should be. I can hear echoes of Sufjan Stevens, Rufus Wainwright, even Kate Bush in some of his music, although he has a distinctive voice all his own with the dissonance and almost filmic soundscapes he uses.
Here is his epic Empire Liquor Mart. Thanks for posting the Damien Jurado too, it was lovely.
pawsforthought says
I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but this lot really are my absolute favourites at the moment. I cannot wait until the debut album is released (early 2019 since you ask).
I think I spent last weekend watching just about everything I could find on the internet about them. What you might call a quiet weekend.
retropath2 says
From the new Cat Power, The Wanderer
It’s bloody marvellous