Sunday, January 31, 2016

Song of the Day for Susan: Whole Wide Word - The Bahamas

Glad we found each other. And we didn't have to go all the way to Tahiti.
Love The Bahamas chill version of this Wreckless Eric tune.


Wreckless Eric's original, with lyrics:





Saturday, January 30, 2016

Song of the Day for Susan: Tugboat - Galaxie 500

That song for when you really don't want to go out. You don't want to hang with a bunch of friends. No crowds, please. You just want to be alone with that one person. Baby, I just want to be your tugboat captain. 

I came late to Galaxie 500's music. Glad it finally found me. 



(One Day Late) Song of the Day for Susan: Patty Griffin - One Big Love

This song come out in 1998, but the lyrics and freewheeling energy reminds of autumn 1990 when we met, dated for four months, lived in "sin" or a couple of weeks and then got married on February 8, 1991. And it reminds me of all the wild adventures we've had since (and those to come):

"I guess I'm taking my chancesGiving up the ring throwing in my glovesI guess I'm taking my chancesTrading in my thingsFor a couple wings a little white doveAnd one big love..."

Patty Griffin - One Big Love (Buy on Amazon) 



Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Song of the Day for Susan: Shake Sugaree by Rhiannon Giddens

Rhiannon Giddens wonderful cover of the Elizabeth Cotten song. "Shake Sugaree."


And the fabulous original by the truly original Elizabeth Cotten.




Buy Rhiannon Giddens' version of "Shake Sugaree" on Amazon.

Buy Elizabeth Cotton's music on Amazon.

Monday, January 25, 2016

Two Songs of the Day for Susan: Joe Henry -- Sparrow and Sunday Mornin' Coming Down.

Joe Henry, an artist I admire, but don't listen too often enough. Fixin' to remedy this starting today.

Joe Henry - Sparrow from the album Invisible Hour


Buy on Amazon.

And that was so good, how about one more from Joe Henry, his solid cover of Kris Kristofferson's Sunday Mornin' Coming Down from Americana Fest 2014.


Joe Henry joins an amazing list of artists who've performed this powerful song, including Ray Stevens, Johnny Cash and, of course, Kris Kristofferson. "Sunday Mornin' Coming Down" will also be performed by Kristofferson and Buddy Miller in a cut from the January 29 release Cayamo Sessions at Sea.




Sunday, January 24, 2016

Song of the Day for Susan: Brushy One String -- Chicken in the Corn

The best one-string guitar player you'll hear today, or ever, for that matter. Love the energy. Brushy One String - Chicken in the Corn.


Buy on Amazon.




Saturday, January 23, 2016

Song(s) of the Day for Susan: Fred Eaglesmith Playlist

Seems like it was about 1997 when I started listening to Fred Eaglesmith. I remember first hearing Fred on public radio, maybe it was Morning Edition, reporting on what it was like to be a traveling musician, living out of a bus. Not long after that, I started hearing his music on WNKU. One listen to "105" from Lipstick, Lies and Gasoline and I was a Fredhead for life. Here's a short playlist of Fred song's for Susan's Saturday.

"Wilder than Her" -- one of the first Fred Eaglesmith songs that hooked me and still one of my favorites.



"Johnny Cash" -- Love the big, crunchy Neil Young and Crazy Horse style guitar work.


"Water in the Fuel" -- Along with rural life, so many of Fred's songs are about the necessity and isolation of being on the road. In one place and wishing desperately you were in another.






"18 Wheels" This may be the same driver as the one in "Water in the Fuel," thousands of miles and dozens of years further down the road, running out of pavement. 



Three of my favorite Fred Eaglesmith releases available on Amazon:

             

Friday, January 22, 2016

Song of the Day for Susan: Jason Isbell -- 24 Frames

My favorite song from 2015 from my current favorite songwriter. At least 100 listens and it's fresh each time. And each time I listen, I get chills. The fragile, temporary beauty of life. Reminds me I need to be present in each moment, or each frame.

Jason Isbell -- 24 Frames


Susan's song of the day for me: Garland Jeffreys - Love is not a Cliche

Great pick, Susan. I've been all in on Garland Jeffreys and his music since first hearing "Escape Artist" from first cut to last on a road trip from Dayton to Athens, Ohio when it debuted in 1981. Fortunate to see Garland perform at SXSW in 2006 and 2012. Amazing artist and live performer.

Garland Jeffreys - "Love is Not a Cliche"




Garland Jeffreys performs Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.

Garland Jeffreys on tour. 

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Song of the Day for Susan: Bon Iver - Blood Bank

Small moments and stolen intimacies. Scarce winter sunlight retreating into the frozen dusk. Thank you for always keeping my hands warm.


Bon Iver - Blood Bank, lyrics.

Buy on Amazon.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram at 2015 Pilgrimage Fest (photo gallery)

Absolutely one of my top live music highlights of 2015, seeing the amazing Christone "Kingfish" Ingram launch the inaugural Pilgrimage Fest with a sizzling set of electric blues. It may have been Saturday morning at 11 a.m. in a Franklin, Tennessee horse farm field, but for those of us in the crowd, it felt like 2 a.m. in a southside Chicago blues club.

Christone Kingfish Ingram at Pilgrimage Fest 2015