Idiot Box 5/5/09 - Lots of Videos About Music

Idiot Box 5/5/09 - Lots of Videos About Music

Idiot box

n. Slang

A television.

From Billboard: "A star-studded medley of musical guests played tribute to Pete Seeger at a benefit concert for the legendary folk singer's 90th birthday. Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Ani DiFranco and" (and Arlo Guthrie) "were among the 40 musicians performing in Madison Square Garden for the Sunday night show, a benefit to raise awareness for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

In what is most certainly the best description, the ubiquitous Dark Was the Night features the biggest names in "NPR-friendly indie music." That being said, the vast majority of the two disc set is filled with ethereal covers and collaborations for an really good cause. And that being said, the recent live performance of the albums, featuring most of the people that contributed must have been fantastic. However, the best part about the NPR friendly nature of this performance was hands down, the moment when it became completely self conscious. That was thanks to Sharon Jones who effectively says "This land is your land, but this song is mine now." Ooooh, burn.

Once upon a time Train Conductor Rivers Cuomo lead a group of eager fans from Long Beach, Calif. in a lively rendition of the Pinkerton Classic, "El Scorcho." This is not a dream that I had once. This happened. In a record shop. The clip is from the DVD Not Alone Rivers Cuomo & Friends Live at Fingerprints. High points include Rivers getting all gangsta around the half minute mark, singing (a beautiful) harmony on the chorus, everyone yelling "how cool is that" way too early, and the actual train whistle (to fit his apparel) that he utilizes about 1:55 in.

Mr. Banhart (whom you can dress) has graced our ears lately with some new tunes. Now there is also this Ameoba Music in-store performance video that features a pretty rad version of "Little Yellow Spider" among seven other stellar takes. (At the 25 min mark, I swear Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes fame shows up on screen). Also check out this awesome interview.

Ólöf Arnalds is from Iceland and writes songs that sound like other things that dont sound like much else. And she probly know that Bjork references will rain down upon her like frogs in Magnolia, but she is still playing a show with her (and the Dirty Projectors) on the 8th. If you are in New York and not going I hereby declare you foolish.

Yesterday I posted a live Akron/Family video that made me physically exhausted just by watching it. This is way way beyond that. This video is by a song called "Celebrate the Body Electric" from Ponytail off their 2008 album Ice Cream Spiritual. If you can watch the whole thing straight through, I will give you a dollar. Also, this song sounds like it would make the best show ever.