More Material for TDCW video....

Can't wait to see my nephew in a couple of days. He's also got some moves. I dance more like the girl in the background. Also, Kim must be mistaken in her blog post below. I've never listened to music not considered cool.

Chicago. No, not the city.

I just found this music blog. And I haven't had a chance to look through the archives yet. But this post makes me think I'm going to love it. Go ahead. Stream the song. (button is at the top of his post) You know you want to.

Everyone has at least one of these songs - one song that they are a little, or a lot, embarassed to admit they love ... that they may even play on repeat a few times ... on occasion ... when no one else is around. A secret song crush if you will. "If You Leave Me Now" by Chicago is definitely one of mine too. Sometimes it's more about memories associated with the song than the song itself. Sometimes it's just something about the lyrics or the melody that hook you in. You just can't help it, you love it. In thinking about other secret favorite songs, one that came to mind - I don't know if I can say it ... ugh, here it goes ... I have a soft spot for "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" by Air Supply. Wow. I can't believe I am putting this out there on the internet. My high school best friend introduced me to this song and I can't tell you how many times we sang along with it. (yes, Alycia Waters Crall, I am looking at you)

So - confessions anyone? What's your song?

Some Good Energy

I had one of those days yesterday. Today was worse. My typical cure for a bad day is to curl up with a bottle of red wine and some Van Morrison. But, because the weather outside matches my mood, I decided to go with Bob Marley instead. When I listen to him, the weather is always 76 degrees and sunny. So, here are Three Little Birds and No Woman, No Cry. Close your eyes, listen, and feel the warm sun on your face.

The Best Ideas Anyone Has Ever Had, Ever

So many of you may already know this, but Brendon (who sometimes contributes to this blog) knows some guys that are in a band. And not only that, it's a good band. Some of you may think this makes Brendon cool, but it doesn't. There are other things about Brendon that make him cool, though. I've put some stuff up about The Daredevil Christopher Wright on several occasions, but I've always been bummed that they didn't have a music video I could post. Well, when Amy posted the Savoir Adore video, there was an advertisement for $99 music videos. I thought this might be the perfect opportunity for these guys to pull together a music video that would hyperdrive them into super stardom--sort of like the OK GO video. So, while procrastinating instead of writing my dissertation, I came up with some great ideas for a music video for them. Many of these ideas were inspired by the movie "Hot Rod". Here's a few clips I pulled together from the movie.



So here they are:
1) There are three band members, right? So, they can each wear stuntman costumes with a cape on the back. One saying "Daredevil", the other "Christopher", and the other "Wright". We can find some fake moustaches and jump suits too. I would choose gold jumpsuits as a tribute to "Dignan" in Bottle Rocket (one of my favorite movies).
2.) I can contribute some dance moves similar to those featured in the "Two of Hearts" clip. And anyone that has seen Nick dance, knows that he can too. He's often been called out as the person to "get the party started".
3.) I don't know Jon, Jason, and Jesse very well, but I'm assuming they can manage the two feet of air needed to jump over trash cans. Brendon will be available for any dangerous stunt work.
4.) We'll need to find some scooters that you pedal to crank.

Additional inspiration comes from a video that Brent posted from Coconut Records. Rachel, Jeremy, and I spent some time planning out a fictional art exhibit that involved my old Mark Gonzales skateboard and "Aloha Mr. Hand" Beastie Boys t-shirt. There was also mention of flaming hula hoops and robot costumes similar to those fashioned by Murray Huwitt. I guess it would be important to ask the band the same question I asked them: Do any of you have a fear of heights, enclosed spaces, fire, and/or a combination of these?



I'll get busy working on a storyboard......

The Avett Brothers - New Videos!

I'm still on an Avett Brothers high after seeing them Friday in Boulder. Fortunately I can keep the high going with these new videos I just stumbled on, courtesy of My Old Kentucky Blog and Laundro Matinee.

Telling Time:


Late in Life:


Laundry Room:

The Walkmen - "On the Water"

Alycia posted a video from the Walkmen a short while ago. I just saw this video over on stereogum for "On the Water." I really love the colors of the animation and it matches perfectly with the mood of the song.

I couldn't find the video for embedding, so check it out at stereogum: The Walkmen - "On The Water"

Update: Found it!

Savoir Adore

I very recently downloaded the new album by Savoir Adore "In the Wooded Forest" and am really enjoying it. In fact, I've been doing tiny desk dance moves (you know, the shoulder/head groove ones?) to "Bodies" for a few weeks now.

This is the video for "MERP." There is a lot of joyful dancing and drum-beating in a sunny, grassy park. Reminds me of the summer that we DIDN'T have here in Colorado.



One of my favorite songs from the album, "Early Bird," can be heard on NPR's Song of the Day: "Savoir Adore: Dreams of Warmer Days"

If you're into "sprightly and uplifting" indie pop - download this now!

Otis Taylor

NPR's song of the day featured Otis Taylor. Paul introduced me to him a couple of years ago, and I think he's great. You should too.

Population: 3,498

I spent some time in Blackshear last week. Being there reminded me of a mix a friend made for me a few years ago. She grew up in Kansas and we had a late night discussion on growing up in a small town. So, here are a couple of songs from that mix that I thought some of you might enjoy.

This was the only video I could find for this one.

A picture is worth a thousand words ...

... Or one perfect line from a song.



This is a new blog I stumbled upon this morning. The blog's author posts daily entries of song lyrics imposed over her own photos. The song and band are listed underneath the photograph. The above is from "Innocence" by Airborne Toxic Event. The prints are for sale and fit a standard record frame. She also does commissioned work - could be a cool gift for a friend or significant other.

An underused word: hodgepodge

Here's a happy musical hodgepodge to start off your weekend. All pretty upbeat light stuff that puts a smile on my face ... and I hope yours as well. Have a great weekend!

The first is "5 Years Time" by Noah & the Whale. Found this earlier in the week on a friends blog - she's in the wedding planning business and sometimes posts wedding stuff on her largely fashion related blog. This is some couples wedding video... I immediately loved the song. And since their video is actually a pretty cool style I decided to use it instead of one of the band.

The next is a song that was covered at the concert I went to last Sunday night (The Big Surprise Tour). I've embedded the video for "End of the Line" performed by the original band, The Traveling Wilburys (made up of George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan).

And the last song is "She's Got You High" by Mumm-ra. It played during the credits at a movie I saw last night (500 days of Summer. I give it two thumbs up).

Megan & Mihir Sunday Wedding 8mm from A Bryan Photo on Vimeo.

The Be Good Tanyas

We've been having a couple scorcher days here in Charlottesville. I wish I could just sit in a shady spot with a pretty view, drinking ice cold sweet tea and limiting my movement to the blinking of eyelids while watching the condensation trickle down the glass. And The Be Good Tanyas - that's the music I'd be listening to...

Human Thing (video is pretty cool)



Ootishenia (yup, that's the name of the song. it's kind of fun to say)



The Littlest Birds



In Spite of All the Damage

The Big Surprise Tour

The press release described it thus "In a free form ramshackle flow, the bands and artists will share the stage, taking part in each other's songs, resurrecting old standards, and playing newly written collaborative material as they go..."

Went last night. Great show!!! A little bit country, a little bit bluegrass, a little bit rock'n'roll. If you have a chance to go to one of the few remaining performances left - go! Remaining stops are Cary, NC, Louisville, KY, and Nashville & Knoxville, TN.

Unheard Music

So sometimes Alycia listens to bands that don't even exist yet. I haven't gotten that far yet, but occasionally I can listen to albums and tracks that weren't even released yet, or ever.

So can this guy:

http://unheard78.blogspot.com/

The blog is great. It has a good variety of music on it and he updates it frequently. There are plenty of unreleased albums and tracks on there and he will also do monthly mixes with a good variety of music.

I came there for the Soul Coughing and stayed for the Neil Young.

In a valley in view of the Blue Ridge Mtns

I went to the Albemarle County Fair this weekend with friends. We, of course, wanted to see the animals ... sad eyed jersey cows to floppy eared goats to baby ducks that made you want to dig a pond in your backyard so you could take one home. And there were the blue ribbon fruits and vegetables... the biggest sunflowers, the longest beans, the champion cantalope. And the corn dogs, funnel cakes, ice cream, bbq, homemade donuts. And the flashing lights and the blur of spinning rides. And after partaking in all of this, we were ready to head back into town and kick off our cowboy boots.

But there was the last band of the day starting at 9:30. And we'd heard they were good. There were only about 50 people in the tent. I had my doubts. So glad we stayed to listen.

Introducing The Alternate Routes.