Up Next on the Stage: Damien Jurado...

I consider Damien Jurado and his music to be a milemarker in my life. The song "Ohio" represents the moment in which I took my first step into the ocean of indie music. Nearly ten years later, I have never looked back and that song still pulls and tugs at my heart strings for the full three minutes and fourty-two seconds. Damien Jurado's music was exactly what I needed in my life and it has made me into who I am today. Tomorrow nite, I will finally experience the songs of Damien Jurado performed live and in person. I have had several opportunities to see Jurado over the years, only to pass them up, but...this time I am not letting him slip away.

Background:

Damien Jurado is a singer/songwriter in the indie-rock tradition of Seattle, Washington. Damien Jurado's solo career began during the mid-1990s, with him releasing lo-fi folk based recordings on his own cassette-only label, Casa Recordings. Gaining a local cult following in Seattle, he was brought to the attention of Sub Pop Records by Sunny Day Real Estate singer Jeremy Enigk and later signed to the label.

Songs I most want to see performed:

Ohio
Tether
Johnny Go Riding
Denton, TX
Rehearsals for Departure
Chevrolet
I Had No Intentions
White Center
Go First
Abilene
Air Show Disaster
Northbound
Medication
Everything Trying

Suggested listening:

'Rehearsals For Departure' (1999)



'Ghost of David' (2000)



'I Break Chairs' (2002)



'Where Shall You Take Me?' (2003)



'On My Way to Absence' (2005)



'And Now That I'm in Your Shadow' (2006)



'Caught in the Trees' (2008)

5 Artists I Would Like to See (If I Had a Time Machine) Vol. 4

The artists listed are either:

A) dead
B) still alive but I have no desire to see them now
C) the band is no longer performing together
D) some/all of the above

1. Jackson Browne, 1977



Jackson Browne is one of my personal favorites. An amazing writer, not to mention an amazing musician. I would love to transport back to the 'Running on Empty' tour to witness Browne in the absolute prime of his young career.

song I would most like to see performed live: "Late for the Sky"

2. Led Zeppelin, 1970



Led Zeppelin were quickly becoming the biggest thing in rock n' roll around 1970. There is no doubt I would take them on their tour to promote the album 'Led Zeppelin III' .

song I would most like to see performed live: "Your Time is Gonna Come"

3. Mötley Crüe, 1986



The crowd, the fashion, the experience that was Mötley Crüe in the 80's is something I would never pass up given the chance. My uncle had a poster of the band performing live, I cannot tell you how many times I snuck into his room and stood and stared at those images. Mötley Crüe had to be one of the best concert experiences in the decade of excess.

song I would most like to see performed live: "Home Sweet Home"

4. The Kinks, 1972



The Kinks created their own sound out of the British invasion time period, and it just so happens to be a sound I really enjoy. Brothers Ray and Dave Davies were notorious for fighting on stage, but when they weren't fighting...they were creating some of the greatest songs of all time.

song I would most like to see performed live: "Animal Farm"

5. The Police, 1983



Three men, three huge ego's. The Police only lasted from 1977 to 1983 before dropping the curtain on one of the most unique and successful bands of that time period. Given the opportunity, I would never pass on seeing the Police at the peak of their artistic genius.

song I would most like to see performed live: "Wrapped Around Your Finger"

15 Years Ago Today: Kurt Cobain Found Dead in Seattle, WA

Kurt Cobain was found dead at his home in Seattle, Washington on April 8, 1994. Cobain, the lead singer of the American grunge band Nirvana, had checked out of a drug rehab facility and been reported suicidal by his wife Courtney Love. The Seattle Police Department incident report states that Cobain was found with a shotgun across his body, had a visible head wound and there was a suicide note discovered nearby. The King County Medical Examiner noted that there were puncture wounds on the inside of both the right and left elbow. The Seattle Police Department investigated, and after an autopsy by the King County Coroner's Office, Cobain's death was ruled a suicide by a single gunshot wound to the head.



On April 8, 1994, Cobain was discovered in the spare room above the garage (referred to as "the greenhouse") at his Lake Washington house by Veca Electric employee Gary Smith. Smith arrived at the house in the morning to install security lighting and saw Cobain lying inside. Apart from a minor amount of blood coming out of Cobain's ear, Smith reported seeing no visible signs of trauma, and initially believed that the body was a mannequin then thought it was Cobain asleep. Smith found what he thought might be a suicide note with a pen stuck through it beneath an overturned flowerpot. A shotgun, purchased for Cobain by Dylan Carlson, was found resting on Cobain's chest. He had been listening to R.E.M.'s 'Automatic for the People' before taking his own life. Cobain's death certificate stated that his death was a result of a "contact perforating shotgun wound to the head," and an overdose and concluded his death a suicide. The report estimated Cobain to have died on April 5, 1994.



Suicide Note:

"To Boddah

Speaking from the tongue of an experienced simpleton who obviously would rather be an emasculated, infantile complain-ee. This note should be pretty easy to understand.

All the warnings from the punk rock 101 courses over the years, since my first introduction to the, shall we say, ethics involved with independence and the embracement of your community has proven to be very true. I haven't felt the excitement of listening to as well as creating music along with reading and writing for too many years now. I feel guilty beyond words about these things.

For example when we're back stage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowds begins., it doesn't affect me the way in which it did for Freddie Mercury, who seemed to love, relish in the the love and adoration from the crowd which is something I totally admire and envy. The fact is, I can't fool you, any one of you. It simply isn't fair to you or me. The worst crime I can think of would be to rip people off by faking it and pretending as if I'm having 100% fun. Sometimes I feel as if I should have a punch-in time clock before I walk out on stage. I've tried everything within my power to appreciate it (and I do,God, believe me I do, but it's not enough). I appreciate the fact that I and we have affected and entertained a lot of people. It must be one of those narcissists who only appreciate things when they're gone. I'm too sensitive. I need to be slightly numb in order to regain the enthusiasms I once had as a child.

On our last 3 tours, I've had a much better appreciation for all the people I've known personally, and as fans of our music, but I still can't get over the frustration, the guilt and empathy I have for everyone. There's good in all of us and I think I simply love people too much, so much that it makes me feel too fucking sad. The sad little, sensitive, unappreciative, Pisces, Jesus man. Why don't you just enjoy it? I don't know!

I have a goddess of a wife who sweats ambition and empathy and a daughter who reminds me too much of what i used to be, full of love and joy, kissing every person she meets because everyone is good and will do her no harm. And that terrifies me to the point to where I can barely function. I can't stand the thought of Frances becoming the miserable, self-destructive, death rocker that I've become.

I have it good, very good, and I'm grateful, but since the age of seven, I've become hateful towards all humans in general. Only because it seems so easy for people to get along that have empathy. Only because I love and feel sorry for people too much I guess.

Thank you all from the pit of my burning, nauseous stomach for your letters and concern during the past years. I'm too much of an erratic, moody baby! I don't have the passion anymore, and so remember, it's better to burn out than to fade away.

Peace, love, empathy.
Kurt Cobain

Frances and Courtney, I'll be at your alter.
Please keep going Courtney, for Frances.
For her life, which will be so much happier without me.

I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!"

Suggested viewing:

New Music: Eminem - "We Made You"

I'm not real sure what to think of this one?

My Top 100 Songs: 1960-1969

Over the next few months I am going to be rolling out my top 100 favorite songs by decade. Considering that I really don't like any music pre-1960, I'd probably have a difficult time listing more than 10 songs from the 50's, so this project begins with the 1960's. Look for the 1970-1979 list in the months to come.

Top 100 Songs: 1960-1969

(in alphabetical order)

The Animals - The House of the Rising Sun
The Animals - We Gotta Get Out of This Place
The Association - Never My Love
The Band - I Shall Be Released
The Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
The Band - The Weight
The Beach Boys - God Only Knows Why
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
The Beatles - Golden Slumbers
The Beatles - For No One
The Beatles - Yesterday
The Beatles - Blackbird
The Beatles - In My Life
The Beatles - A Day in the Life
The Beatles - Dear Prudence
The Beatles - Rocky Raccoon
The Beatles - I'm Looking Through You
The Beatles - We Can Work It Out
The Bee Gee's - First of May
Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home
Bob Dylan - Boots of Spanish Leather
Bob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine Man
Bob Dylan - Visions of Johanna
Bob Dylan - Positively 4th Street
Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone
Bob Dylan - Girl From the North Country
Bob Dylan - Lay Lady Lay
Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth
Buffalo Springfield - Expecting to Fly
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Helplessly Hoping
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Long Time Gone
David Bowie - Space Oddity
Diana Ross & The Supremes - Reflections
Donovan - Hurdy Gurdy Man
The Doors - The End
Elvis Presley - In the Ghetto
Elvis Presley - Kentucky Rain
Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds
Fleetwood Mac - Man of the World
Glen Campbell - Witchita Lineman
The Grass Roots - Live for Today
Harry Nilsson - Everybody's Talkin'
Jackson C. Frank - Dialogue
Jackson C. Frank - Blues Run the Game
Jefferson Airplane - Today
Jefferson Airplane - Coming Back to Me
Jefferson Airplane - Volunteers
Jimi Hendrix - Castles Made of Sand
Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe
Jimi Hendrix - The Wind Cries Mary
Jimi Hendrix - If 6 was 9
Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
Johnny Cash - Wanted Man
Johnny Cash - If I was a Carpenter
The Kinks - Animal Farm
The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset
Led Zeppelin - Your Time is Gonna Come
Led Zeppelin - Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You
Led Zeppelin - Thank You
Leonard Cohen - Suzanne
The Mama's & The Papa's - California Dreamin'
Marianne Faithfull - Something Better
The Moody Blues - Tuesday Afternoon
The Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin
Neil Young - Down by the River
Nico - The Fairest of the Seasons
Nico - These Days
Otis Redding - Dock of the Bay
Peter, Paul & Mary - 500 Miles
Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale
Roberta Flack - Compared to What
The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
The Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday
The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want
The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
The Rolling Stones - As Tears Go By
The Rolling Stones - Paint it Black
The Rolling Stones - Under My Thumb
The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil
The Rolling Stones - Get Off My Cloud
Roy Orbison - Crying
Roy Orbison - In Dreams
Scott Walker - 30 Century Man
Simon & Garfunkel - America
Simon & Garfunkel - Homeward Bound
Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence
Steppenwolf - Pusher
Tim Hardin - Reason to Believe
Tim Hardin - Black Sheep Boy
Tommy James & The Shondell's - Crimson & Clover
The Turtles - Happy Together
Van Morrison - Slim Slow Slider
The Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes
The Velvet Underground - Heroin
The Youngbloods - Darkness, Darkness
The Zombies - The Way I Feel Inside
The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year
The Zombies - Time of the Season

41 Years Ago Today: '2001: A Space Odyssey' released to theaters

'2001: A Space Odyssey' is a 1968 science fiction film directed by Stanley Kubrick, written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke. The film deals with thematic elements of human evolution, technology, artificial intelligence, and extraterrestrial life, and is notable for its scientific realism, pioneering special effects, ambiguous and often surreal imagery, sound in place of traditional narrative techniques, and minimal use of dialogue.

Despite receiving mixed reviews upon release, '2001: A Space Odyssey' is today recognized by many critics and audiences as one of the greatest films ever made; the 2002 Sight & Sound poll of critics ranked it among the top ten films of all time. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, and received one for visual effects. In 1991, it was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in their National Film Registry.

Suggested viewing:

Top 5 Songs I am Currently Listening To...

1. Banjo or Freakout - "Mr. No (Phaseone Remix)"
2. Throw Me The Statue - "Written in Heart Signs, Faintly"
3. Throw Me The Statue - "Honeybee"
4. Phoenix - "1901"
5. Death Cab for Cutie - "A Diamond and a Tether"

From the Vault: Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Scar Tissue"

It was summer 1999 and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were back. I had just graduated high school and received "Californication" as a graduation gift by way of a $20 Sam Goody gift card. Upon purchasing, I knew there was an extremely high possibility of me listening to "Scar Tissue" over and over because it was so damn good.

The opening shot is of guitarist John Frusciante driving, a metaphor for Frusciante's return and ascension to musical leadership of the band after his long bout with heroin addiction. The four band members appear battered, beaten, and bandaged (an obvious analogy for their journey as a band). The Chili Peppers travel in a rusty and wrecked convertible, all while playing broken instruments on their comeback trail.

I spent that summer of 1999 discovering and re-discovering my love for "Scar Tissue". It was the perfect song at noon, it was the perfect song at eight o'clock at nite and it came off as especially great in the hours past midnight. After 10-12 cans of Budweiser, I typically felt closer to the song than ever before. The song itself eventually became an overplayed radio track but I never let that tarnish the personal connections I had made with the song during that long, hot summer.

Spring '09 MicroMix

Tracklist:

(in order)

M83 - "Birds"
High Places - "Head Spins (Extended Version)"
Animal Collective - "Daily Routine"
Genesis - "That's All"
Suicide - "Cherree"
Ric Ocasek - "Emotion in Motion"
Beirut - "The Concubine"
The Magnetic Fields - "Washington, D.C."
Cut Copy - "So Haunted (Knight-Life's Sun Soaked Reprise)"
Flock of Seagulls - "Space Age Love Song"
Yeah Yeah Yeah's - "Hysteric"
Cocteau Twins - "Lorelei"
The Clash - "Straight to Hell"
Khonnor - "Calico Dong Veil"
The Radio Dept. - "South Side"

Download/Stream:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/58032888c1621a88/

25 Years Ago Today: Marvin Gaye Shot and Killed

Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr., better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer-songwriter and instrumentalist. Starting as a member of the doo-wop group The Moonglows in the late fifties, he ventured into a solo career after the group disbanded in 1960 signing with the Tamla subsidiary of Motown Records. After a year as a session drummer, Gaye ranked as the label's top-selling solo artist during the sixties.

Due to solo hits including "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)", "Ain't That Peculiar", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and his duet singles with singers such as Mary Wells and Tammi Terrell, he was crowned "The Prince of Motown" and "The Prince of Soul".
Notable for fighting the hit-making but restrictive Motown process in which performers and songwriters and producers were kept separate, Gaye proved with albums like his 1971 'What's Going On' and his 1973 'Let's Get It On' that he was able to produce music without relying on the system, inspiring fellow Motown artists such as Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson to do the same.

His mid-1970s work including the "Let's Get It On" and "I Want You" albums helped influence the quiet storm, urban adult contemporary and slow jam genres. After a self-imposed European exile in the late seventies, Gaye returned on the 1982 Grammy-winning hit, "Sexual Healing" and the 'Midnight Love' album before his death. He was posthumously inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2008, the American music magazine Rolling Stone ranked Gaye #6 on its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time, and ranked #18 on 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Death



In March 1983, Gaye gave his final performance in front of his old mentor and label for Motown 25, performing "What's Going On". He then embarked on a U.S. tour to support his album. The tour, ending in August 1983, was plagued by health problems and Gaye's bouts with depression, and fear over an attempt on his life.

When the tour ended, he isolated himself by moving into his parents' house. He threatened to commit suicide several times after bitter arguments with his father. On April 1, 1984, one day before his 45th birthday, Gaye's father fatally shot him after an argument that started after his parents squabbled over misplaced business documents. Gaye attempted to intervene, and was killed by his father using a gun he had given him four months before. Marvin Sr. was sentenced to six years of probation after pleading guilty to manslaughter. Charges of first-degree murder were dropped after doctors discovered Marvin Sr. had a brain tumor. Spending his final years in a retirement home, he died of pneumonia in 1998

Suggested viewing: