Root Down in the Shadow

Just under a month ago, Vermont-based artist Anaïs Mitchell released her new album Young Man In America on Wilderland Records/Thirty Tigers .  Unlike Bruce Springsteen's brand new recession rock Wrecking Ball which takes a look at how things feel right now, Young Man In America takes a look back at how we got here! Young Man In America takes a hard look at how things used to be.  'Dying Day' takes a look at an older view of work, looking at work as a rite, as opposed to the pre-recession view of jobs as a vehicle of excess.  She has a solemn tune, 'Shepherd,' based on her dad's novel The Souls of Lambs . It's a somber look at the sacrifices of hard-working souls. In this case, the shepherd, at his wife's urging, was working to bring in the crop before it spoiled, with the consequence of his wife dying before she could get medical attention and give birth. On 'He Did,' she examines the same kind of hard work and sacrifice of the ...

Touring in support of her brand new album Young Man in America Anaïs Mitchell and her Young Man Band came to Philly's Tin Angel .  Young Man in America “Inspired by American manhood, British ballads and my father.” released Tuesday February 28th by Wilderland Records / Thirty Tigers, the fourth album from Vermont-based artist Anaïs Mitchell . While I was waiting on the stairs before the show, looking at all the portraits of those before her, Patty Griffin, Radney Foster, Amy Correia, Roseanne Cash, Gil Scott-Heron, and Dar Williams amongst others; I realized it was only a matter of time before her portrait hung with them.  Likewise, it's fitting that this was the chosen location for her album's Philly unveiling.  The tight narrow space of the Tin Angel was filled nearly to capacity as only a few spots remained.  One patron was even overheard exclaiming "all the singer songwriters are here", and the crowd brimmed with excited faces in anticipation...

The best thing about living along the megalopolis of I-95 cities is the close proximity and ease of travel to each other!  Here are the best upcoming shows that I have spotted for your viewing pleasure!  If you go, please let me know how the shows were.  I'll review as many as I make it to! FEBRUARY 13th PITTSBURGH Allen Stone @ Stage AE  Young White guy with Soul... Are you sure? Check out his awesome single ' Sleep ' or ' Another Break Up Song' and decide for yourself!  For more info check out this article by the Pittsburgh City Paper FEBRUARY 16th  BALTIMORE Blind Pilot with Cotton Jones @Ram's Head Live.   Although it is going to require me to take a day off, I'm going to head down to Baltimore. Two reasons: I saw them in November at Union Transfer and it was awesome, so I must go again.  The second reason is a boneheaded one.  I picked up their fantastic poster by drummer Ryan Dobrowski , and the band was hanging out afterwar...