Root Down in the Shadow

2. People are ready for new music! A few weeks back, I was hanging with some friends.  My pal Bud (charles Bud, not kevin Bud for those of you keeping score) likes punk, so I was playing him Those Darlins . Yeah, they're not punk, but I love their lo-fi sound, and they're playing @ Johnny Brenda's June 14th and I needed some friends to go with. After some iPod "spinning", we listened to Ponderosa, Cake, Danger Mouse, Hayes Carll, Balkan Beat Box , and the Black Keys ! Likewise, another friend came over for some back yard hang out & grill time.  I put on my Newport Folk Fest best of Playlist ( Smart playlist with bands from the '11 Newport + ***** ratings) and she got her introduction to David Wax Museum, Freelance Whales , and Pokey LaFarge !  In both cases, each friend was looking for MORE!!! It's always exciting after listening to some new stuff, and you get energized to write down some names and do some shopping/downloading!    I myself

I came across Sean Hayes , the same way most folks have to his blend of singer/songwriter.  They heard it somewhere and passed it by.  Some of you have heard it featured on a Subaru commercial playing, Powerful Stuff ,  Others have heard the 'Powerful Stuff' on an episode of PARENTHOOD. Or, you heard it on a KCRW Today's Top Tune, last March. For me, like usual as I can be slow to warm up to songs, the Sean Hayes didn't catch me immediately, but after putting it into a song of the day smart playlist, I found myself coming back again and again to 'Powerful Stuff'.  The guitar playing and chorus drags you in right away.  The lyrics just take you away, as the song develops. Excerpt of 'Powerful Stuff' by Sean Hayes "Oh yes this is powerful stuff Got me circling like the moon round the sun Got me acting like a fool on a drunk Hear me this is powerful stuff No way for you to give this up It is in your body It is in your blood Tear you down