Check out this fun performance by Anticon artist Jel. Anticon is a great label run by musicians in San Francisco, and I am quite a fan of what they are doing. No more corporate middle man…no damn need! Check out Anticon and buy some of their music…you know where the money is going. One of the greatest things about this quiet music revolution going on is it allows much more creativity for music in general. If artists can make enough to get by doing the music they love, free from the stifling hand of major labels…creativity thrives. Watch as Jel knocks this one out of the park on his samplers…you may not understand exactly what he is doing, but you know this…when he stops, so does the music.
Zappa, maybe he’s too complex, or too cynical, or just too silly for you, but there is no denying his genius. He really stood tall for everything good against the PMRC and other idiots who tried to use controversy in the art of music to promote their idiotic causes, and by extension themselves. Here is a lighter funnier moment with Frank and Mike Nesmith of the Monkees kidding around, two unlikely team mates, and yet they obviously hit it off at some point. The Monkees were certainly dismissed by many as far as their musical abilities were concerned possibly due to the success of the comedic T.V. show. Zappa also makes an appearance in the Monkees film head, and along with his talking cow, offers the lads some sound advice.
The Porpoise Song from the Monkees Movie Head…which is awesome by the way. This song was covered nicely by the band Bongwater in the 90’s.
So I just caught these guys for the first time last night at the Someday Lounge here in Portland. I have been a fan for a while, but it takes a lot to drag me out to a show these days. Magnolia is one project of singer songwriter Jason Molina. Mr. Molina has done his best to perhaps confuse the issue of what band is his, or perhaps he just feels the need to keep things separate and tidy. He used to call the band Songs: Ohia which was more of a revolving door of musicians with Molina playing the part of the door, then in 2003 three he recorded with a full band and the help of engineer guru Steve Albini. After this the name changed to Magnolia Electric Company, however he continues to release solo records under his parental given name.
The songs of Molina are soulful and seemingly rooted in loss or searching through hurt of romance, and have always seemed somewhat country to me (maybe it’s just the Dwight Yoakam size hat he’s been sporting recently). His voice is not bellowing by any stretch, but it cuts through, like Neil Young or Willie Nelson, and he reaches deep to pull just enough emotion out of it to keep the songs believable. Live, the band perhaps played a set that was a bit long for my taste, however with the aid of Jason Groth, who is a really fun and exciting guitarist to watch, the band really can pump it up here and there for some good old fist pumping rock, and then bring down the dynamics to make a quiet point of contrast.
They are still currently on tour with Tucson band Golden Boots who are an excellent pairing. I spoke briefly with Dimitri from the Boots after the show here who spoke with great admiration of the kindness and help Magnolia had been displaying towards Golden Boots on the tour. Lending a helping hand to an up and coming band is always an admirable trait.
“What Comes After the Blues” Live Lleida 2007-
Here is an Mp3 of the excellent song “Farewell Transmission” which they DIDN’T play much to my disappointment-
Every now and again I am reminded just how great Youtube is. I mean occasionally I’ll just drop in a search for some obscure band I loved in the past, and bam! rewarded with some excellent video footage. So here it is, some great quality live footage of Young Marble Giants from approximately 1980, a band I really liked, and was never fortunate enough to see live. If you like this definitely check out their influential album “Colossal Youth”.
Here is a link to one of my favotrite songs of theirs (click the play button on the site)- “Final Day”
