Root Down in the Shadow

- 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. Everyone once in a while the little ones just need a song to dance to.  But at the same time, you need a song that you don't want to rip your hair out listening to over and over to again.  I had been checking out David Guetta's  Nothing But The Beat , when 'Turn Me On (Feat. Niki Minaj)' caught the ear of my little one.  The result was an epic dance Party, that required the song over and over again.  I had to do something to get this to stop.  Enter Ximena Sariñana .  According to Wikipedia:  "Ximena Sariñana Rivera (born October 29, 1985) is a Mexican singer-songwriter and actress . Sariñana's musical career was launched in 2008 with the release of her first studio album Mediocre , an adult contemporary pop-rock / vocal jazz album that has been critically acclaimed and nominated for ...

On Sunday October 23rd, I had planned to go with a concert buddy to see his favorite band Portugal the Man . For the last two years, every time I ask, "who are you listening to" his response has always been "Portugal the Man". So, when I decided to dive in on concerts recently, catching Portugal the Man was going to be a must. Alberta Cross opened the sold out show at the Theater of the Living Arts with a seven song set. The quintet led by Petter Ericson Stakee vocals+guitar and Terry Wolfers on bass did an ample job of opening. I had trouble warming up with Alberta Cross at first, Stakee seemed to be doing his best Johnny Depp meets Jack White impression, and the band seemed a bit heavy on keyboards. However, once a member of Portugal the Man joined them on the sixth track 'Rise From The Shadows' they seem to erupt into a Perry Farre ll meets White Pony era Deftones meets Wolfmother .  Their final was the best, a drum lead head bobber 'ATX...

- Coolest roundabout discoveries recently via...   From my friends @ Yo Gabba Gabba with Biz Markie, Bootsy Collins, Erykah Baduh, the Roots and friends on Jimmy Fallon!! Free Music ALERT: Via the Spinner Mp3 of the day, I found the White Arrows : <p><p><p><p><p><p>&amp...

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. This week's selection at first seems like an aberration for me as it is neither arty nor a typical kids song.  However, it fits many of the typical pieces of a "Molly Song."   Foremost, Molly digs the song and sings a long.  Furthermore, it has repetitive simple lyrics that are easy to understand and remember for a little one.  Finally, it's catchy.  The real aberration is that it the rest of the album is not fit to be heard by my little on. Hottie Katy Perry is a popular get ready for work/pre-school selection of my wife & little Molly respectively. I picked up Teenage Dream  one weekend with the Tangled Soundtrack.     I am so glad I bought the other album as well, as I quickly had to take  Teenage Dream  out of my cd player.  Many of they lyr...

One of my favorite series here @ Root Down in the Shadow by McGurkMusic is the Cover Song of the Week I featured the Civil Wars last week with their tour favorite Billie Jean . I ordinarily would not repeat the same band the following week, but when putting my 3 year old to bed tonight with The Decemberists , she asked if the could listen to the Civil Wars when it was done?. So really, Molly is requesting these guys, so don't be behind the 3 year old when being in the know of some great music! Between the Bars covered by The Civil Wars I'm a little partial to the version by Paste Magazine . The act actually playing on the Quad Stage bled into the audio recording, however I love watching Joy Williams float along with the recording. The original was featured on the Good Will Hunting Original Soundtrack. The late Elliott Smith made some really beautiful music, so it is only fitting that a talented band such as the Civil Wars has selected his song!

The much anticipated recording of Rhode Island’s Brown Bird Salt for Salt will be released in just a few days. First the band teased with The Sounds of Ghosts EP with two incredible tracks from the forth   coming album ‘Bilgewater’ and ‘Cast No Shadow’. Brown Bird has been teasing fans all Summer playing songs from the album. In fact the Newport Folk Festival show (which you can download) was nearly all Salt for Salt, In early September two more tracks were released. “Fingers to the Bone’ and ‘Thunder & Lightening’. Now the pre-album excitement is almost at its tantalizing end. As I was preparing for the World Cafe Live - Philadelphia show, that just passed, I realized how little I knew about Brown Bird. According to the Newport Folk Festival bio we learn this about Brown Bird: From the influences of the blues, outlaw country, roots rock, early American folk, Gypsy and Eastern European music, Brown Bird offers harmonized voices, haunting lyrics and diverse rhythm an...