Americana

SONG OF THE DAY – “MY MAMA SAID BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU LAY YOUR HEAD” by The Wind and The Wave

June 30, 2014

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The Song of the Day is not yet available on iTunes. Clicking the button above will take you to the link for the new single, “With Your Two Hands.”

I have been having a difficult time getting back into writing for this blog. I think I may have writer’s block. I have been having so much fun with this blog, but I stopped for a few days and I began to feel like my creativity just disappeared, and I started second guessing every song that I wanted to share.

I had a funny thought today though. Don’t you find music critics interesting? Do you read a music review by someone who thinks a band is “remarkable” or the “next big thing” or “horrible and untalented” and decide that you like the music based on those reviews OR do you listen to the music and decide for yourself. I know that I am in the second category.

Sometimes I like a single song by an artist and other times I like everything they do. Sometimes I just know they are going to be a huge success and other times I am not sure if they will ever make it big, but I know I like their song. Sometimes I love a song forever and other times I like a song just for a season. No matter how it comes around, I know that I love music and I think you do too. I don’t expect that everyone will like every song that I enjoy, but although we may not always like the same music, the fact is that music touches our lives, moves our souls, and brings us joy … that is the common thread we share.

Today I am sharing a song by a band that I discovered for the first time when I went to see Stereophonics in concert here in NYC at Terminal 5 in the fall of last year. The Wind and The Wave were the opening act and they were incredible. The Wind and The Wave is the collaboration of Dwight Baker (The Wind) and Patricia Lynn (The Wave), two Austin-based friends who started the duo in late 2012. When I saw them in concert that night, I had no idea who they were but I felt like they stole the show. It was just the two of them on the stage and they had so much energy and passion that it was fabulous to watch. It is hard to imagine that incredibly powerful voice coming out of Patricia’s small frame.

Their passionate sound just struck a chord and I immediately came home to search up their music on the internet. They were new enough at the time that it was difficult to find many songs online and they were absolutely not available on iTunes or Spotify, so I have been waiting to share their music. They have recently released a single, “With Your Two Hands“, (the song above on the iTunes button) and their debut album, From The Wreckage, is expected out later this year. It is definitely time to share their music and introduce you to The Wind and The Wave. During your discovery, another song you should check out is “It’s a Longer Road to California Than I Thought.” These three songs all show a different aspect of their fantastic music.

 

SONG OF THE DAY – “MASTER PRETENDER” by First Aid Kit

June 14, 2014

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Just a quick note on this lovely Saturday afternoon.

I am posting a song today from two sisters who form the talented Swedish-duo, First Aid Kit. I love finding bands that so many other musicians are talking about. This group is one of those bands. First Aid Kit is made up of sisters, Johanna and Klara Soderberg, from a suburb outside of Stockholm, Sweden. They have great vocals and create amazing harmonies.

The song is from their third album, and the first one from a major label (Columbia). The album was released in the US just a few days ago – June 10, 2014. They are performing at Bonaroo this weekend and are very popular festival performers. They are young and love to tour; currently on tour, they would be a great live show.

SONG OF THE DAY – “HEAD FULL OF DOUBT/ROAD FULL OF PROMISE” by The Avett Brothers

June 1, 2014

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Well, it has been a very busy and somewhat overwhelming weekend.

I moved my daughter to Washington D.C. this weekend for a summer internship. We moved her into her Capitol Hill apartment on Friday evening and then the two of us got to spend the next two nights and all day Saturday together in that great city. It was really a wonderful time to get to spend with her as she was getting ready to start a whole new life adventure.

I must admit that it is a learning experience as a parent to leave my 18-year-old daughter alone in a city. Okay … not alone – she has two roommates, but she will not be with me and that is a little stressful for this mom. I find that I am in awe of her all the time – she is incredibly brave, adventurous, and accomplished. I know that she will be amazing! So, I am discovering that this is a learning experience for both of us. I am so very proud of her.

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The Avett Brothers are awesome. I absolutely love their music! They combine Americana, folk, country, blue grass, a little pop, and rock and roll like no other band that I know. The band is made up of two Avett brothers (Scott and Seth), as well as Bob Crawford, Paul Defiglia, Joe Kwon, and Mike Marsh. Their music captures life and the emotion of all that life brings.

I got exposed to The Avett Brothers while I lived in Dallas. I was a little behind on this one, but I was an instant fan of their music and have to thank a friend of my daughter’s for introducing me to the band after listening to him sing an incredible rendition of their song, “I And Love And You.” I have not yet been able to see them live, but they are currently on tour and I am hoping to make it to one of their live shows this summer; I have heard that they are a live band not to be missed!

Today’s song is an older song (from the 2009 I And Love And You album), but it totally reminds me of my daughter and I wanted to post it for her today. Tomorrow is her first day at work and, although I know she is nervous, she will be fabulous! My daughter sees her dreams like very few people I know and it is exciting to watch her reach for them. I hope that you love this song as much as I do.

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it.
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out.

SONG OF THE DAY – “CROSS MY MIND” by Twin Forks

March 24, 2014

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I just got home from a quick trip to Dallas. It was fantastic to get to meet up with my husband in our old stomping ground for a fun weekend during the middle of his crazy travel schedule. We ate out at our favorite restaurants, drove past our old home, walked on the Katy Trail (our old running trail, but the broken back is not yet ready for a run yet!), and visited with some good friends. Even more importantly, my son got to spend the entire weekend with his two best friends!

When you move as often as I have, you sometimes realize how many memories and people you have left behind along the way. I have certainly felt it this year as I have made an effort to return to visit and reconnect with many old friends. It is not an easy task to maintain long distance friendships, but it is absolutely worth it … particularly when you find people with whom you really connect. Sometimes I find myself wishing that I had taken better advantage of the time together with people when I lived someplace, because suddenly that easy friendship is gone.

“From time to time, you cross my mind; good company is hard to find.”

I love the connections that I have made along the way and wouldn’t trade my crazy life because I realize how many of them I would never have crossed paths with if not for this wild ride. I am also happy that so many of these friends are willing to maintain a long distance friendship, particularly with a friend who just snuck into their life for a brief moment. All those people cross my mind often!

I love this song and I love the musical sound of Twin Forks. The band was formed in early 2013 by Chris Carrabba, the lead singer and guitarist of the band Dashboard Confessional (posted a song by them on this page in November 2013). Dashboard Confessional was also started by singer-songwriter, Chris Carrabba, in the early 2000s as an intimate acoustic project, but grew into a full-fledged, successful emo rock band. In early 2013, Carrabba was inspired to return to the music that he loved and which had initially inspired him – classic folk and roots – and he formed the quartet known as Twin Forks. The band includes Carrabba, Suzie Zeldin, Ben Homola and Jonathan Clark. Carrabba is a very talented man and a fabulous songwriter and this project seems to have reinvigorated his musical and creative spirit. This song is from their self-titled album, Twin Forks, which was released in February of this year. There are many great songs on this album and a couple others that you might like to check out, include: “Can’t Be Broken” and “Kiss Me Darling.”

 

SONG OF THE DAY – “I COULD BE A KING” by The Dunwells

February 27, 2014

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It’s Throwback Thursday! Today’s #tbt song was originally posted as my daughter’s Song of the Day on October 15, 2012!

I was first introduced to The Dunwells in the summer of 2012. I had listened to their music online and was then lucky enough to see them perform live at #AloftLife – the Live at Aloft Hotels Festival 2012 in Dallas in October 2012. I love this song – great lyrics and a great musical sound (I love the banjo!).
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The Dunwells are incredibly fun to watch perform live. They have amazing 5-part harmonies and just a casual, relaxed stage presence. I enjoy the sound of their music which is folksy, rootsy, and rock-inspired. The instruments are just a beautiful accompaniment to their voices, and I love the lyrics of their songs. They have been compared to the likes of Mumford & Sons and Crosby, Stills & Nash. When I first heard The Dunwells, Crosby, Stills & Nash came to my mind, I am sure mostly because of those amazing harmonies. The Boot (theboot.com), in an interview they conducted with them in January 2012, referred to their music as a “British spin on Americana music.”
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The Dunwells are from Yorkshire, England and were formed in 2009. The band features two Dunwell brothers (Joseph & David Dunwell), one of their childhood friends (Jonny Lamb), Lamb’s cousin (Rob Clayton), and another local artist from their town (David Hanson). It is no wonder that their on-stage chemistry just screams comfortable. I hope that you enjoy this song and exploring this band’s music if you are not yet familiar with them. A couple other songs worth checking out from their 2012 released Blind Sighted Faith album include: “So Beautiful,” “Blind Sighted Faith,” “Elizabeth,” and “Follow the Road.”

SONG OF THE DAY – “HARD WAY HOME” by Runaway Dorothy

January 21, 2014

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The day seemed to fly by today and I am just finally getting around to posting. It has been a crazy snow day here in the northeast. We have nearly 12 inches of snow outside my house and the wind chill temperatures right now are below zero. They are calling it the “Polar Plunge” as temperatures are dropping and it sounds like we are in for two weeks of bitter cold weather. I have to admit … I don’t think I really like winter. 😉

I am posting a song from a new band for me today. The band is Runaway Dorothy and if you have not yet heard of them, I am quite certain that you will. I love the acoustic sound of their music and their passionate lyrics. I would classify them as Americana, but they have such an eclectic sound to their music that I am sure it could be described many ways. They are a very talented band with a unique and diverse sound. David Parnell is the singer-songwriter for the quartet who now lives in Brooklyn, New York. I can totally relate to this song and wanted to share it.