Good friends Screaming Js, the house band at MoDaddy’s, needed a poster to help with some promotion. So they asked me to put something together, and this is what I did. I tweaked the type (I used Blackmoor) and stole the piano from the 1902 Sears, Roebuck Catalogue. They liked it, I liked it and I think it represents their music pretty well.
You can catch them, and often me, tonight at MoDaddy’s and every Wednesday. They put on a kickin good show, and you owe it to yourself to catch these guys. And it’s free. See you there!
I’m very excited to have my Andrew Bird tickets (Orange Peel, $25) already purchased. He is one of my absolute favorite musicians and songwriters out there right now, and his live shows are spectacular displays of his musicianship and uniquely melancholy heart, proudly bruised and bandaged in esoteric words that make me reach for a taxonomic glossary. His lyrics recall the most flowing lines of Tennyson’s work, without the classical allusions. I saw him in 2007 with Reese, who played with him briefly in the early 2000s in the Squirrel Nut Zippers, and I got to shake his hand and speak to him briefly, but in rare form I was star struck and couldn’t think of a single bit of conversation. I’m not familiar with the opening act — has anybody seen St. Vincent?
He’s just as good live as in the video. I’ll see you at the show.
So this weekend I’m going to the Trinumeral Music and Arts Festival at Deerfields. It’s just outside of Asheville, abotu 20 minutes past the airport. Should be a great time, a few days out in the wild with some friends and excellent music will be a nice break from the grind. I’ve been working everyday for three weeks in some capacity, as well as a 15 credit hour load at school. It keeps me stimulated and engaged, but I’ll be glad to go rusticating for a few days. I’ll be back Sunday night.
Photograph by Lydia See
Transfigurations for me was all diamonds and no rough, and I only saw six of the acts. One of the highlights was being there last Friday at Diana Wortham Theater for Will Oldham / Bonnie “Prince” Billy, who played a long set with lots of rare gems, including this song written by Gayle Caldwell and recorded as the title track by Frank Sinatra on his 1968 Cycles LP. I’m going to be on the lookout for that on vinyl, but until then this will have to do. He introduced this as a ‘recession song.’
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Check out all the other recordings I made at Transfigurations. By the way, these awesome photos were taken by Lydia See. You should click on them and see her other work. You’ll like it.
Photograph by Lydia See
I’m desperately trying to figure out the name of this song. Any help? Thanks to @aidanz and @bentmatches for coming up with the title! It’s a Chris Knox cover called “My Only Friend,” performed by Bonnie “Prince” Billy / Will Oldham, and it’s going to be on a forthcoming compilation to benefit Chris after a stroke he had last month. You heard it hear first.
This was recorded at Diana Wortham on August 14, 2009 during the Transfigurations music festival.
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