Part IV – Jon Brion (Part 2 of 2)
Disclaimer: This column is pretty overwhelmingly positive. I surprised myself a little bit. So seekers of snark should probably seek a different column this week. Wouldn’t wanna frighten anyone with such a sudden tonal shift…
Memo to self: “Seekers of Snark”: possible video game idea?
Chapter 4 ½: The Jon Brion Show
“I love that shit.”
–Jon Brion, after “Random Felix”
Yes, I’m backtracking a bit.
As promised a couple weeks ago, I went to one of Jon Brion’s shows at Largo. It was one of the best live performances I have ever seen. Let me see if I can explain it in a way that does it justice—or, failing that, meet my goal of 800 words per column (I like to set the bar low but aim high).
The stage of the Coronet Theater was packed with instruments. There was a drum kit, an upright piano, three or four supplementary keyboards of varying types, two electric guitars and an array of pedals, a rack of at least ten more guitars (mostly acoustic, I think), and a frigging vibraphone. After a brief introduction, Jon Brion came out, sat down at the upright piano, and played a couple short pieces (one was the opening theme from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). The rest is sort of a blur. (more…)
Siria’s April Playlist
Ever since I asked everyone else involved with TRAffIK to put together their playlists of what they are listening to each month I’ve been putting off doing my own.
Mainly for this simple reason…wherever I am no matter time of day music is almost ALWAYS on (well except conference calls and meetings but even then it might be on in my head) so I put it off because I figured there’d be no honest accurate way to really list what I’d listened to over the course of a month without making it up or having my playlists end up too tampered with.
Then I thought…ok Siria who cares what you are listening to just list every song that is playing at a certain time that you know you listen to music each day.
So below is a list of every song that has been playing for the past month in my vicinity Mon.- Fri. at 2:05 pm. Truth be told despite not being reflected by this list all March I listened to a lot of Psychedelic Furs, Modern English, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Country.
If you still need more of a guide to my playlists go here (warning! It’s a loooong read)
XTC – “Respectable Street”
The Service Group - “Last To Know Club” from Priciples of Electronic Circuitry
U2 - “War” from Seconds - parts of this song remind me of two different songs by two local bands Eject’s “Fight” and A for Attack’s “You’ve Got the Guns”
The Rolling Stones - “Too Tough” from Under Cover
The Psychedelic Furs - Title Track from Forever Now
Willie Nelson - “I Will Follow You”
Buddy Holly – “Maybe Baby”
Jay and the Americans – “This Magic Moment” – Does anyone remember The Sandlot? Maybe this is why I got into baseball?
The Bird and The Bee - “Polite Dance Song“ from Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future – I got this CD way before it was released and that was the song I was instantly drawn to
Dressy Bessy – “Second Place” from Electrified
Here’s a video from Dressy Bessy for Electrified’s Title Track
The Pretenders – “Time The Avenger” from Learning to Crawl
The Parson Redheads - “Punctual As Usual” - I am never on time I guess I can relate and this song makes me want to put on a cute dress (oh wait, I’m already wearing one and play the tambourine or clap or something)
Amusement Parks on Fire – “Venus In Cancer” – I have this placement… it makes me want to take care of everybody…I really like this song and video
R.E.M - “Pretty Persuasion” – Reckoning – I don’t hear this song enough or ever really. I forgot how much I like it.
Los Campesinos - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed “Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown #1″
Chad Van Gaalen - “Traffic” – just missed him at Spaceland – have never seen him live, has anyone seen him live?…Saturday night shows are a no can do for me…if you want me to watch you don’t play weekends…
The Talking Heads – “Wild Wild Life” this is my absolute FAVORITE Talking Heads Song
Bad Brains - “Just Another Damn Song” from Black Dots – This song should be listened to super loud but unfortunately I couldn’t do that
The Format - “She Doesn’t Get It” from Dog Problems – this is one of my favorite Power-Poppy songs (I know it’s like I’m 12 or something but I find The Format very entertaining) for these lyrics alone “I thought your coffee table was more clever than that“…doesn’t that sum up a lot of conversations with people in our neck of the woods?
The New Fidelity - “33rd Sleepless Night” I think it’s from their Self Titled CD/EP - Speaking of Power Pop –Alright, I’m biased but this is one of like 20 local bands that I am always happy to catch live, if you’ve never seen them you really should. Great Cute Nice Fun Guys. I said I was biased right?
Here’s a video for one of their other songs “Second Once In a Lifetime Girl”