Fresh off sold-out shows at Cafe Du Nord in SF opening for Jakob Dylan, Aidan Hawken is set to release his next solo full-length in June, The Sleep of Trees.
We're floored by what Aidan's created up in that Nor Cal hide-away, nestled amongst the redwoods of Mt. Tam. The production, the arrangements, and the guy plays more instruments than Prince and Herbie put together. And I haven't even mentioned the songs, which still melt the heart like nothing else. Aidan is definitely getting into some new terrain in his songwriting, spreading out and leaving the Highwater Rising days behind. Preview some songs to the right.
Listen to The Sleep of Trees: Innocent Prodigal Son The Great Escape Run Around In Circles Bandage For A Bleeding Heart
May 2008
Singer/songwriter Pyeng Threadgill is a recipient of a 2008 grant in music composition from New York Foundation for The Arts. (Big up!) On May 26 Pyeng is hosting a rare event: a live filming and sound recording of her newest collection of songs, "Portholes To a Love & Other Short Stories" in front of a studio audience. Backed by a stellar band of swingin' cats at an up-and-coming space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, this event is sure to please and astound.
Due to the nature of the event, all tickets must be purchased in advance ($15).
Tickets available only through Paypal here: PayPal Reserve by sending $15 to: threadlady1@yahoo.com
Pyeng Threadgill - Live Recording
"Portholes To a Love & Other Short Stories"
Monday, May 26, 7pm
@ Medialabs, Brooklyn
Bassist/composer Andy Cotton has released his latest opus, Last Stand At The Havemeyer Ranch. A swirled, homegrown mix reflecting
Cotton's incredible reach and ability across genres such as jazz, reggae, and R&B, Last Stand features folks from the CrystalTop fringes and beyond,
including Luz Mob, The Dang-It Bobbys' Kris Bauman, and Palo Colorado's Nico Georis.
The crazy part:
Cotton is letting all you good people enjoy these new tunes
for free. "What's the catch?" you ask. Well we don't exactly understand either, but apparently Cotton's caught that fr*ee bug that's been goin
around, and he's willing to let us all consume at no charge. So go ahead and grab the high-quality, DRM-free MP3s
completely gratis:
Listen to Last Stand At The Havemeyer Ranch: Redux Early In The Morning Prophet Has Arise Slow Reggie Don't Let It Get To You Shit Rock Gunga Din Macallan's Waltz
March 2008
On February 15, our friend, producer and engineer extraordinaire Scott Harding (AKA Scotty Hard) was the victim of a car crash in which he was broadsided by a stolen car, leaving him partially paralyzed. His
condition is serious and he's without health insurance and facing large medical and legal fees.
The musical community that Scott has long been a part of quickly united, offering performances in the form of a benefit concert for The Scotty Hard
Trust, a special account that has been set up to handle Scott's short-term financial needs. The confirmed lineup for the Scott Harding benefit concert
includes John Medeski, Billy Martin, John Scofield, DJ Logic, Bill Laswell, Antibalas, and many more.
100% of proceeds go to The Scotty Hard Trust. Personal donations can also be made directly to the Scotty
Hard Trust, payable to "The Scotty Hard Trust" c/o Heesok Chang, 970 Kent Ave #401, Brooklyn, NY 11205.
Somehow we missed this glowing review of Smoke and
Licorice when it first ran, but it's so nice, I had to throw up a link for it here. Check, "don't be surprised if you find yourself drawn back
into these songs repeatedly, wandering between the sad-eyed bucolic majesty of 'Lullaby' and the spaced-out swagger of 'Why I Cry' until they've
burrowed completely under your skin."
Or, "The blogosphere is packed to the gills with music geeks who would gladly elbow their grandmothers in
the neck to be able to call firsts on a talent like Ryan Scott". That's some good stuff.
Our boys over at Names You Can Trust are back with a couple of new 7-inch singles, one of
which features our very own Luz Mob's cumbia banger, Tabaco Y Ron remixed and reimagined by NYCTrust's Greenwood Rhythm Coalition (Monk-One & E's
E).
This floor-tested Latin dance number has now echoed back and forth from the Carribean down the halls of Brooklyn and is picking up new
sabor every time one of us gets our hands on it.
Head on over to NYCTrust's site and pick up the 45 to rock at your
very own house party. Digital, what?!
Ryan Scott appeared on WNYC's Fair Game With Faith Salie. He rocked two gorgeous
new songs, Better Off Dead and Ebb & Flow , as well as Harmony and a nice shorty interview on the live broadcast. Five O'Clock News was also recorded.
It's currently up there on their homepage, but I imagine that will get pushed back to the ol' archives as the next show rolls. Here's what I'm
thinking is the permalink.
Out now, Smoke and Licorice is the sophomore effort from Ryan Scott, an
avant guitarist turned singer-songwriter who has carefully melded his musical interests across rock, jazz and beyond. Ryan sings us both meditative
lullabies and aggressive laments. Gentle, airy, acoustic-driven songs dip into bouncy jazz-inflected changes, and sometimes continue floating into
another mood entirely. John Scofield and Brill Frisell meets Marvin Gaye and Randy Newman?
Ryan says Smoke and Licorice "...is all about documenting a point in my life...Smoke and Licorice -- it calls to mind something sweet, kind of salty,
blended with some rich flavor." Yahoo has some pretty high praise: "Ben Harper wishes he could write something this dark and mysterious, yet oddly
uplifting. Like the rainbow relief after the perfect storm." On sale now.
