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.

New Devendra Banhart Songs

New Devendra Banhart Songs

Thanks to all those purveyors of freakalicious folksterdom, there is gonna be some new tunes from great musicians in the next undetermined amount of time. First Ms. Newsom debuted a ton of new material out of the blue at a live show and now Mr. Banhart has done the same. Via Jp's Blog, a couple videos surfaced last week of a show Devendra played prior to his Coachella set. He decided this was a good time to debut a couple new songs. Maybe we'll get some "I Hate Natalie" tracks? At any rate "Chin Chin & Muck Muck" sounds really cool, although he says at the beginning of the video that the song won't sound like this again.

Devendra Banhart - Rejoicing in the Hands (with Vashti Bunyan) - Rejoicing in the Hands [Young God; 2004]

Newsom, Banhart and Antony in New Documentary

Newsom, Banhart and Antony in New Documentary

No New Newsom is Now Growing Oldsome
If you are like me, you have been hitting your head over anything close enough to hit your head over wondering when Joanna Newsom was going to come out with new material. The Joanna Newsom and the Y's Street Band Ep came out two years ago, and though interesting, it has not been enough to satiate my hunger for warbly voiced labyrinthine, baroquely orchestral folk gems of near perfection. That being said, the excruciating wait continues as Newsom does whatever she does in complete reclusion. Maybe she hangs out with Thomas Pynchon?

So naturally, in order to capitalize on mindless followers like me, Currituck Co. frontman Kevin Barker is releasing a documentary that consists of 2004 tour footage from Newsom, Devendra Banhart, Antony and the Johnsons and others. The film is called The Family Jams (which, as it turns out, is a terrible choice for the title as it is shared by an album made by Charles Manson). It is set to premier at The Sarasota Film Festival on April 2 and 3 (via P4k). According to the synopsis, the film is "brimming with beautiful footage of intimate live shows," and "is more than just a revealing portal into a very special moment in time. It reflects the engaging spirit of a special group of artists connected by their passion for music and care for one another." Touching.

Actually this trailer looks fantastic. Anything set to Joanna's music will have a difficult time being bad.

Still no word on whether or not this film will be playing at SIFF, but I sure hope so. For more "freak folk" documentary goodness, check out Eternal Children.

Download Joanna Newsom "Bridges and Balloons" - Milk Eyed Mender (2004)

Download Decemberists "Bridges and Balloons (Joanna Newsom Cover)" - Picaresqueties (2005)