Root Down in the Shadow

This week's edition highlights some free music I've picked up along the way. I apologize for not writing anything for in weeks, I figured December should be the time of year when the music industry slows down.  Yeah right.  There might not be as much touring and shows, but there is a huge push of publicity.  End of the year lists, sales, holiday songs galore, more sales, setting up tours for next year, holiday shows, and even more sales!  Besides sitting back and enjoying the family, I found my self in a music induced tizzy listening to oodles of new music obtained over the holiday and reading list after year end list. With all that said, I have been on complete overload lately.  I finally finished a review from early December's show with Jocie Adams & Co, opening for the Barr Brothers.  I've started plotting out shows to see for next year.  I've been laying the ground work for some interviews.  HOLIDAY MUSIC?  WHAT ABOUT ANTI-HOLIDAY? One of my all t

In the previous post, I linked the Amazon..com $5 albums & free music banner. To give you a head start on the free music, I wanted to give you some suggestions for dowloading. Enjoy! 23 This Year: The Sub Pop Amazon Sampler 1. Helplessness Blues by the Fleet Foxes .  Great track from one 2011's best albums 2. Lost in My Mind by th e Head and the Heart .  If you didn't get this album for $5 at minimum get this song for free, so you can remind yourself in August, how dumb you are for not getting this album for so cheap. Kill Rock Stars 20 Year Anniversary Sampler 3. Eleven by Thao & Mirah .  I don't know much about this duo, but I L-O-V-E this song! 4. 16 Military Wives by the Decemberist s 5. Between the Bars by Elliott Smith.  One of the evocative tracks from Good Will Hunting Merge Records 2011 Sampler 6. Civilian by Wye Oak .  I am strongly considering this $5 album.  Meanwhile, I have this as one of my 2011 best of songs 7. Please Ask for

Dave Matthews & Co stole a page from the Perry Farrel book of festivals (Lollapalooza) and did him one better.  This year, Dave Matthews Band is hosting four three day weekends of music across the U.S. Rather than tour across the country and only get to have one or two openers, he's bringing the country to him and sharing the stage with many deserving acts.  The A.C. and Chicago dates are completely booked up with the bands, the Governors Island NY & the Gorge (George, WA) shows are still being filled out.  Both Chicago and Atlantic City have G. Love, Ray LaMontange, Dave Matthews Band 3x, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Michael Franti & Spearhead, O.A.R, Amos Lee, and David Gray. Atlantic City seems to be the bigger party, with Fitz & the Tantrums, Guster, Damian Marley, Dr. Dog and Carolina Chocolate Drops,  While also having a folk side with the Head and the Heart, Delta Spirit, and Lisa Hannigan, However, Chicago seems to have the heavyweights with th