Root Down in the Shadow

15 days remain on my most watched fundraiser, helping indie artists Annie & the Beekeepers fund the recording of their new album    I wrote about the Beekeepers just a few short days ago , but I keep thinking about what the new album is going to sound like and whether the funding will be successful so we can hear it soon.  While I wait with anticipation of fans sharing some of their music funds, I caught up with Annie Lynch to for some quick insight into what we might expect! ROOT DOWN IN THE SHADOW : What insight can you give about the new album?    Will it lean toward any mood our sound more so than the previous? ANNIE LYNCH: The new album captures an evolved spirit behind the Beekeepers; the grounded influence of the old outfit with the freshness of the new. Because this album is a selection of songs that have been written over the past 5 years, there is a great deal of variety. It's a bit of a sampling of the various writin...

The modern music world is a fascinating one.   Sites and apps are available everywhere to check out new music.  But where are all of these artists coming from?  How are they paying for these records in this down economy?  Certainly it's not big labels paying the bill for all of this.   Many bands these days are turning to non-traditional means to raise funds.  Two ventures have caught my attention to start off 2012, who I am 100% supporting are album production fundraisers by  Annie and The Beekeepers  and the  David Wax Museum !  Today's post will focus on Annie & The Beekeepers. Annie & The Beekeepers have been featured on Root Down in the Shadow in the past as part of the Molly Song of the Week Feature, with their song  'Charlotte's Web' .   Annie & The Beekeepers are an entirely self-funded operation.  Turning to a non-traditional venue is a must!  No funds raised means no record.  Th...

- Coolest roundabout discoveries on the net.. I was out and about on the net, following up on some leads. I had been turned onto a band Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls, due to their cool cover of 'Crazy Train' found on their debut release The Vain Hope Of Horse 'Crazy Train is an incredible song as you all should know.  Who doesn't know the Ozzy track most recently made famous again on the MegaMind Soundtrack .  But this is the perfect cover as there is a fantastic departure musically from the original. It's only in instances like this that you are forced to get to know the original song, instead of just banging along to a tune you've known for years and never actually listened to deeply. Of course a click or two later, I'm on the video for 'Anarchist Girl' by Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls, from their Packed for Exile (Sampler EP)   A few clicks later, I'm checking out their site ( www.jasonheathandthegreedysouls.com) .  On...

Part of the ongoing series of 'Molly Songs': a weekly look featuring songs that our children will love, but more importantly parents can enjoy as well. In most cases, Molly songs are child focused or rather upbeat.  In this case, 'Charlotte's Web', is neither, rather a captivating song that Molly has loved for the last year and a half.  The child like attraction to the opening track of Annie Lynch & the Beekeepers 2007's self titled album is two fold.  First, for some amazing coincidence Molly refers to the song as "Piggy Song".  Obviously someone had to have mentioned this connection to the children's book, but it wasn't my wife nor I.  Second, Molly has been having quiet time or falling asleep to the Annie Lynch albums since I've picked them up in April 2010. Except for one rousing track on 2009's Squid Hill Sessions led by Mat Davidson vocals instead of Annie Lynch, the albums are incredibly consistent and captivating.  Yo...

Tomorrow night, at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, I will be meeting up with an old friend and watching a band I have really come to enjoy.  The Low Anthem is the headline act, following a band named Bobby and former The Low Anthem band mate Daniel Lefkowitz as a solo act. I came to first listen to The Low Anthem , based on a recommendation from my near & dear friend.   I had started listening to their major debut What the Crow Bring s while exploring the now defunct lala.com site.  At the time it was nothing more than background music for me.   That's no slam against their music as,at the time, it was mostly lighter breathy tracks, such as 'Yellowed By The Sun' with electric guitar and harmonica being featured.  'The Ballad of Broken Bones' is a quintessential Low Anthem track, with lyrics that stick, melodic pump organ, and one of the coolest uses of technology with cell phones echoing Ben Knox Miller's whistling.   ...