9 songs you should hear.

I am asked regularly to what I am listening to and at the same time was recently challenged to put a # in the title of a posting.  So here it goes, a 'new to me' top 9.  Why ‘Top 9’?  Well I am hoping that from everyone reading these posts, I receive suggestions that I need to listen to a number of songs to select what will go in slot 10.

1.      City and Colour ‘The Lonely Life’

2.      Frightened Rabbit ‘Holy’

3.      Foy Vance ‘Be the Song’

4.      G. Love & Special Sauce ‘Nothing Quite Like Home’

5.      The Head and the Heart ‘Shake’

6.      Lake Street Dive 'Use Me Up'

7.      NEEDTOBREATHE ‘State I’m In’

8.      Trombone Shorty ‘Fire & Brimstone’

9.      J Roddy Walston and The Business ‘Heavy Bells’

Thanks for reading.

I Was a Cosmic Kid in Full Costume Dress.

In February 2014, my 4-year-old son turns to me and recites the following lyrics, "I'm beginning to lose sleep: one sheep, two sheep / Going cuckoo and cooky as Kool Keith" and then asks me who rhymes faster - Eminem or Macklemore?  But rewind a few years to June 2009, when my older son was 2 1/2, he and I adventured to the front row for Trombone Shorty's set at the Three Rivers Arts Festival.  Long story short, we got blown away by the volume to the point in which we needed to escape to the back.  Yes, I am overly excited that my wife and I are exposing our children to music.

A strong memory from my childhood was listening to my parents' records - both The Beatles 1963 albums: 'Please Please Me' and 'With the Beatles' as well as being taken to shows on Broadway and being introduced to 'Bye Bye Birdie'.  Did I understand at the time that The Beatles were introducing me to adult topics like heartbreak with a song like 'Misery' or that I was watching and listening to a satire on American society?  I definitely did not.  And now I ask myself, how different is it from today, when we let our boys listen to the Maroon 5/Wiz Khalifa song "Payphone" which also talks about a relationship that is no more, but with some additional inappropriate language or let them watch ‘PG’ films from 1992-1993.

I know every family must establish their own red line and I know that I certainly do not long for the days of Tipper Gore's Parents Music Resource Center and their "Parental Advisory" stickers, but I do not want to wrestle with what is age appropriate in terms of live and recorded music.  I want to be able to share any and all music.  Do I expect that they will want to accompany me to the next Moon Hooch show - probably not.     But according to Program for Early Parent Support, “There is no downside to bringing children and music together . . . .Whatever the setting - a quiet room at home with mom and dad, a large grassy field filled with people, or a busy classroom - music can enliven and enrich the lives of children and the people who care for them”.

I can only imagine the music that Derek Trucks was listening to growing up () or one day my boys forming a band, but until then my plan is continue to throw everything against the wall and see what sticks.  And of course, feel lucky every day that both of my boys can rap alongside Kurtis Blow’s ‘Basketball’ when it gets played on the way to school.  

Thanks for reading!

Me and homeboy we go one-on-one.

Who better to involve in the live music vs recorded music discussion then a colleague of mine who has worked for both a music venue and a radio station?  Please let me introduce Steve Boyer, currently the Talent Buyer for PromoWest Productions (which books The Basement/A&R Music Bar in Columbus, OH as well as Stage AE in Pittsburgh, PA).  Previously, Steve has also worked as the Promotions & Production Assistant at CD101, WWCD-FM in Columbus, OH.  I had a chance to exchange emails with Steve about how in his role in planning concerts he gets to experience to both live and recorded music as well as ask him some questions about his live music experiences.  I had never been exposed to At the Drive-In, so not only did I appreciate Steve taking the time to be my first interviewee, but I also got a chance to hear ‘Relationship of Command’ for the first time:

HBNS:  How many (new) artists/bands are you introduced to on a weekly basis?

SB:  Usually between 5-10.  I’m on Pitchfork and Metacritic on a regular basis.

HBNS:  What are a couple of the most recent bands that you have been introduced to?

SB:  It seems like there are too many good bands coming out to keep track of, but some of my favorites at the moment are Skaters, Gardens and Villa, and Wild Cub.

HBNS: What is the most common medium of the music being sent to your attention (computer file; streaming audio on artist/band’s website, CD)?

SB:  Mostly bands websites and Soundcloud.  I prefer the latter (Soundcloud), because it takes you right to the music. 

HBNS: How are you listening to music these days (iPod/iPad; Smart Phone; Computer; Home Stereo)?

SB:  I would say it is split using Spotify on my computer and phone.

HBNS: What are the characteristics of a band that would get you to go see them live?

SB: Word of mouth is always a no brainer.  Also, I tend to check out live videos as well.  If it looks good, I’m probably going.  It doesn’t take much for me to check out live music.

HBNS: Is there a specific artist/musician that you listen to regularly but have never seen live?

SB: Radiohead is probably the only band that fits the bill.

HBNS:  Is there a specific artist/musician that you DO NOT listen to regularly but have seen perform live?

SB: The two that come to mind are Flaming Lips, and J Roddy Walston.  They're not necessarily bands I'll listen too, but are incredible live.

HBNS: What’s one recent show you attended as an actual fan (artist/band, when & where)?

SB:  STRFKR (at Neumos Crystal Ball Reading Room) in Seattle this past New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2013).

HBNS:  What’s the best/worst show (artist/band, when & where) that you have ever attended?

SB:  The best would have to be Rage Against the Machine in Detroit (at The Palace of Auburn Hills on November 27, 1999), on their ‘Battle of Los Angeles’ tour with At the Drive‐In opening up.  In hindsight, I’m really glad that I was able to catch At the Drive‐In live.  I can’t really say that I have a “worst”.  Some shows may not be your favorite, but there’s something enjoyable to take away from all of them.

HBNS:  What are some things a band can do to complement its live show in Pittsburgh?  Columbus?  The Northwest?

SB:  Enjoy yourself up there.  How you act on stage is extremely contagious.

HBNS: Do you think there is there any truth to the 'New York, New York' lyrics by Frank Sinatra that "If I can make it there/ I'll make it anywhere"?

SB:  I think that pretty safe to say.  It’s an extremely competitive market, and seems like the world’s ears are always paying attention to what comes out of there.