Jungleland: The Bridge

The man is a genius. 4:40 into this live "Jungleland" from 1975, Bruce is able to close his eyes and conduct his E Street Band (Orchestra) into one of the best instrumental bridges written in any rock song...ever. The bridge in music is my favorite part; it does exactly what it sounds like. You travel and then you get to a bridge. James Brown said it best in "Sex Machine" numerous times, by belting "take me to the bridge, take me to the bridge!" This is when a song really opens up and brings you into a new place, and then right back to solid land. "Jungleland's" bridge sounds a bit like Pink Floyd, and that is a huge compliment. It's mellow, chopped down into a slower time signature, and simply allows "The Big Man," Clarence Clemons to show off his tenor sax chops and drive you safely across the bridge. Thanks to Dan Noschese (shout out to your 30th birthday party last night, tasty Budweisers all around) for sending this over.

Sit back and enjoy The Boss.

Cheers.

R.I.P. Teddy Pendergrass: "Love T.K.O."

Does it get much better than this? Smooth is the only word that comes to mind. We unfortunately lost Teddy last month...here's his best jam in my mind. Cheers.

Love T.K.O - Teddy Pendergrass

Glen Hansard: "Say It To Me Now"

Glen Hansard's emotion while he sings will make ANYONE stop in the middle of the street and watch. For those that don't know who he is, he's the lead singer of an Irish band called "The Frames," and is most recently part of "The Swell Season" with his co-star, Marketa Irglova, from "Once"...my favorite movie. "Once" is about music, love, and everything in between (even though there isn't much in between). It's perhaps the most perfect depiction of what it's like to be a singer/ songwriter; living day to day with your songs as your motivation and your girl as your engine. These two met on the set of the movie and are now married, playing together in "The Swell Season" and touring around the nation. "Once" is a beautiful story...check it out asap. The soundtrack will knock your pants, skirt, kilt off.

Speaking of the soundtrack, the movie opens with Glen standing in the middle of an empty street in Dublin, very late at night. It's just him, his guitar (with multiple holes in it) and his voice. No mic, no amp, no listeners, no anything; the true epitome of what a true music lover plays music for...the music, not the fans. Due to copyright restrictions, I can't play the movie version here, but below is a live version of "Say It To Me Now," the opening tune from "Once." This was recorded at a screening of the movie up in Canada. If you don't get chills 1:10 into this video, well, then you should go to the doctor. I remember seeing this opening performance on the movie and forgetting to breath for about 2 1/2 minutes; totally in shock and awe at the level of emotion one man can emit by simply standing up with a beaten guitar and just his voice. I'm convinced that this movie is called "Once" because we've all been looking to relate, react, feel a certain way by watching and listening to music. Just this "Once" we're truly shown why we've been looking to feel this way. Glen shows it all; heart on his sleeve, and eyes closed. And, you can't just watch it "Once." I've seen the movie at least 6 times.

Cheers.

Rocky Votolato: "Red River"

This guy is true. This guy is real. This guy has rasp. If any of ya'll are looking for the best record to put on while cleaning the house, cooking dinner, talking on the phone, breathing...check this one out. Rocky Votolato is a Texan, born and raised in Dallas (Cowboys suck, Go Giants). I first heard him in about 2004 while working at The Harry Fox Agency handling his publishing companies' royalties, and I was hooked ever since. He has this storytelling vibe that truly makes him one of a kind. It isn't typical singer / songwriter stuff though. He catches you like Bruce, sings a bit like Stephen Kellogg, has songwriting skills like Van Morrison, but there's something to it that's different. I can't put my finger on it, but it might have something to do with him being labeled "Alt-Country" in most record stores. You'll find yourself totally immersed in a beautiful acoustic tune, and then the next tune will get your feet tapping and your spirits up; wanting to grab a bottle of Jack and a Winston. His new record "True Devotion" just came out 2 weeks ago. Check out the below track called "Red River." Absolutely awesome tune and really dig the vocals. It reminds me a bit of Bob Seger, in a higher key.

Cheers.

Red River - Rocky Votolato

Not Sure What To Say Here....Just Watch

So I bet a bunch, if not all of you, are waiting for me to write some introspective piece about the human voice and how it's all we really need to make a song into a piece of legitimate art. How the art of simply vocalizing is far more powerful than singing actual lyrics; how our voice is the true form of our contemplative self or something. Challenge. Nothing could be further from the truth in 99% of cases. Unless you're Bobby McFerrin, please, STOP "scatting"...especially if you're a creepy Russian in a late 70s/ early 80's American Bandstand/ Soul Train looking performance filmed in the heart of Communist Russia. All this dude does is say "la la" and "ya ya" awkwardly while popping in and out of the camera shot. This was disturbing and actually made me debate changing my entire perspective on music. Then again, this guy's perspective on music is to sound as close as possible to a russian Tickle Me Elmo doll after drinking too many Red Bulls while getting Botox, so I think I'm alright. Look at those cheeks. It's like Joan Rivers' twin. Hold your loved one(s) after this.

Cheers.

Erik Hassle : "Hurtful"

If this song isn't the #1 selling single on iTunes by May, I'll give you all $20. Seriously.

Sweden is back. Here's Erik Hassle w/ "Hurtful." Talk to me about vocal range! Wow. Ironically enough, as the US music scene is way behind Europe, this song has already been at the top of the charts in Sweden for the past year. Wake up America. Damn.
Cheers.

David Sides : "Halo" (Beyonce)

Do I still need to praise the piano? I mean, seriously. Let's just let David Sides show you what I've been talking about this whole time. Music is made up of two cornerstones...the melody (vocals, the part we all hum to) and the rhythm (background-make-my-feet-move-stuff). Together, these cornerstones support the building structure which we all call the "song." I have an idea, why don't you play both the rhythm and melody at the same time and I'll shut up and go have a beer. Thanks, David Sides.

This guy has like 100 videos on YouTube, covering everything from Coldplay to Kanye...interpretation at it's finest. Reminds me of Stevie Ray Vaughan's version of Jimi Hendrix' "Little Wing." No need to sing when the instrument does it for you.

Cheers.

Ray Lamontagne: "Crazy" (Gnarls Barkley)

Ok, so check it out. Ray Lamontagne. Born and raised up in Nashua, NH...actually not too far from where I write this, on a snowy Tuesday in Boston. The dude used to work at a paper mill, or shoe factory or something and absolutely hated his life. He couldn't play an instrument, but one morning he woke up to Stephen Stills "Treetop Flyer" and decided from that moment forward that he wanted to be a musician. 30 something years and after connecting for 1 brief moment to a song recorded 30 years ago...he changed his life forever. Ray quit his job and started writing songs.

He then released "Trouble," his debut record, which was on rotation at 114 Grandview Ave for some time and I believe still is. The man is a genius. Listen to the rasp and smokey tone of this voice, covering Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy," the #1 song in 2006 at the BET Awards. THE BET AWARDS! Gotta love the interpretation. Who would have thought New Hampshire was so Urban.

Cheers,

Tyler Hilton : "Use Somebody" cover (Kings of Leon)

Piano is the most pure sounding, spine chilling, hair-stand-up-on-arm elements of music, outside that of our natural voice of course. However, the two are basically identical if you look closely. If you open up the top of a piano you'll see strings and these felt looking "hammer" things that are triggered whenever you hit a black or white key. That's really all it is. The strings are like our vocal chords and the felt triggers the note we're singing.

Put these two together and you can make any pop song sound like a true ballad. Tyler Hilton shows this perfectly with his mellow cover of "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon. Musicians out there take note...stop using so many effects on your instruments and just play the damn thing. There's a reason why the instrument was born before the effect pedal and the delay moduler. Chicken or egg?

Cheers.

Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat

Now these things are tasty. Not going too in depth on this one since my head hurts a bit, but check it out. When it's 14 degrees outside, you've been playing Golden Tee since 2pm, you just finished candlepin bowling with good friends and you're looking for a tasty treat to sip on, well here you go. Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat. Lighter than Blue Moon and more refreshing than Hoegaarden, Leinenkugel is the way to go. Spring was in the air last night my friends, and after a few of these so was TLC Waterfalls at Farragut House karaoke. Drink Sunset Wheat beer and you sound amazing at Karaoke. Trust me.

Cheers.