Shine A Light

Alright, Alright… I am putting all your entries for “The Best Concert Eva” together for a Special Blog Article about Live Concerts in General…  How Live Music truly represents the artist… how Live Music is now how Artists make their money (Well it AIN’T CD sales, I’ll tell you that!), how live music is what it is all about….

Every now and then I like to go to this site: songmeanings.net . It’s fun… basically every song is there and it includes the lyrics and also, the  individual people’s take on the meanings of the song and other assorted commentary. Check it Out!

So I was looking up this Ryan Adams song (and for whom of you who have never met me, might be my favorite artist ever) entitled “Dean John”, a duet with Norah Jones. And it’s a sad song. A Very Sad Song.  I have this bootleg of Ryan Adams (solo with an acoustic guitar), and he basically says after playing 12 slow, sad songs, about un-requitted love and other depressing topics, “Here’s another sad song, cause this guy, this machine… does not write happy song.”  and I could not have been happier!

So I started thinking about the times we need sad songs: After a break up is definitely one of the times, I mean isn’t that really what half of music is about… love you lose, or love you want! I once heard Bruce Springsteen (solo with an acoustic guitar) do his song, “Dancing In The Dark” slow and sad… and I listened to the lyrics… I guess it would be better to say, I thought about the lyrics. Hey everyone… It’s not a happy song!!! here’s a sampling of the lyrics…Let’s listen together shall we?

“I’m just living in a dump like this.”

“man I’m getting nowhere”

“wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face”

Believe me, it’s a sad song, there’s hope, but not much… Bruce doesn’t write happy songs… yeah, yeah, I am sure there are 1 or 2, but as a body of work there are not many… seriously, find me one on “The River” or “Nebraska” albums. Look at the lyrics for “Brilliant Disguise.” ‘Nuff said

But sometimes we need those sad songs, we need the house/apartment/room/car/what-be-it  alone and we need the volume loud, and we need those moments of melancholy that a sad song makes you feel, and imagine, and reflect and most importantly, reaffirm the desire to feel that way again…. Because if we lose the ability to feel it … we lose what was important and what we loved about it in the fist place.

Here’s a couple of sad songs for you:

Highway Patrolman - Bruce Springsteen

How Do You Keep Love Alive  – Ryan Adams & the Cardinals

Lost Cause  – Beck

Nothing Compares 2 U  – Sinead O’Connor

What is the best concert you’ve ever been to and why???? I had to do some soul searching recently when I was asked that question. I am going to publish the top answers from this survey, just ‘hit’ me back with a the best concert you ever went to and why. We’ll publish the results in the reader’s mailbag!!

Click The ’Comments’ below or reply via Facebook!

Wyclef Jean who has famously championed his charity www.yele.org for helping the impoverished nation of Haiti in the past is reaching out for your help. Wyclef has always been a believer in the power of  music, and it is time to show that we understand what this means. The best way that YOU can help is by donating $5 to Yele Haiti!

This earthquake is the most devastating natural disaster to strike a country in our lifetime. This is worse than the Tsunami that struck 12/26/2004. Not in sheer numbers of dead, but that one country has been so completely devastated by a lone event. It is estimated that over 2 Million people sleep homeless tonight in Port Au Prince and that 33% of the country has been affected by this tragedy of epic proportions. Please do your part to help by donating $5.

You can do this  simply by:

1. Text: Yele to 501501 (your phone company will ad $5 to your next phone bill)
2. Go to www.yele.org if you can afford to give more than $5. 

Please support Wyclef and his charity. There are so many people living in sheer terror and complete loss right now. Let us use music to help!

Slumdog Millionaire (Featuring Cyndi Lauper) - Wyclef Jean

One of the more original bands to make it across my desk lately are called The Low Anthem and hail from Providence, Rhode Island. Their latest release, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin  is drawing heavy notice and has earned them a spot opening for the Avett Brothers upon their return from their European tour in February. Much like the Avetts, the Low Anthem have the ability to play multiple instruments and have been known to exchange instruments between songs, to keep things interesting not only for them, but for their audience as well. Consisting of a couple of Brown University Ivy Leauguers, and a NASA technician The Low Anthem bring songs that question the basics of morality, science, and religion centered upon soaring harmonies, The Low Anthem have one of the best albums of 2009. Other tracks bring forth a jazz/blues quality that will have your toe tapping in rhythm in time to the Tom Waits(ish) vocals or perhaps of Leonard Cohen, especially the track, Ticket Taker  This one doesn’t take but a couple of listens to catch the bug, but it slowly becomes infectious… much like all good albums!

Check out the infectious The Horizon Is A Beltway:

The Horizon Is A Beltway - The Low Anthem

The horizon is a beltway that we may never cross
The tops of buildings tremble like children lorn and lost
The stain runs deep it’s deeper than the blood upon the cross.
The horizon is a beltway that we may never cross.

You’ll hear that distant love song when the wind blows right
Hear the whistle blowing put a tear into your eye
You hear the distant love song but widows know the lie
The horizon is a beltway, the skyline is on fire.

The skyline is on fire, the skyline is on fire
The horizon is a beltway and the skyline is on fire

You come up from the lowlands to the city on the air
Where pilrims and commissioners currate Christian fare
From Havisu to Brownsville feel the long unbroken stare
I wonder what it smells like in that city on the air

You’ll hear that distant love song when the wind blows right
Just the same blue love song made my grand dad cry
You’ll hear the whistle blowing put a tear drop in your eye
The horizon is a beltway, and the skyline is on fire.

The skyline is on fire, the skyline is on fire
You’ll hear the distant love song, when the skyline is on fire
The skyline is on fire, the skyline is on fire
The horizon is a beltway and the skyline is on fire

This old house stood empty now for fifteen years or more
Willows falls half way to meet the weeds around the door
Time throws up her curtain and we know not who we are
The horizon is a beltway, the skyline is on fire

You’ll hear that distant love song when the wind blows right
Hear the whistle blowing put a tear drop in your eye
Jagged as the jaw bone once the flesh expires
The horizon is a beltway the skyline is on fire

Here is their beautiful stop-animation video for their song, Charlie Darwin:

Christmas has come early for yours truly, as I have just recieved tickets to one of the most anticipated homecoming shows, that Boston has seen in some time… Yes, I am talking about Passion Pit. If I had to publish a year-end list and reflected on the music that best shaped my year, Passion Pit would be right near the top.

Electronic music is once again on every-one’s minds as we have moved away from the techno-era of 12 minute never-ending beats and moved back into song craftsmanship and pop-sensibilities. This is what wonder-kid Michael Angelakos has created, with an interesting story of an original mixed-tape made for his sweetie on Valentine’s Day, that quickly ushered in a major-label deal, Michael proved with his full-length release, Manners,  that his talent was no fluke. What he does best, is craft original happy pop songs and synths that will leave you humming the melodies for days. The songs are the perfect blend of bittersweet lyrics coupled with music that evokes hope and happiness.

If you happen to be in Boston on 01/06/2010, please join me and catch the show at the House of Blues on Landsdowne Street. They will not be back in the States for some time as they head to Austrailia, Japan, and Europe. If you can’t make it, at least check out the new album!

Moth’s Wings - Passion Pit