A treat from last week

He was Plush. One of my favorite artists! Got to see him with three of my favorite people. Only wish he could have played longer...get some of his music free here.  An impeccable album

End of Summer: o the music

I've been discovering tons of great music from a website called NoiseTrade.  They have artists put up specific albums, and then let you download said albums for free - YES FREE.

Artists like The Civil Wars, Alexi Murdoch, and Page CXVI (who I mentioned earlier on the blog) are just a few of the artists that I've been able to dwell in this summer because of this website.  

Thanks NoiseTrade!

But just for a memorial to music of this past summer, here were some favorites (that may or may not have come out in the summer):

The Decemberists, Don't Carry it All

[Though this NPR video makes it seem very acoustic, the album is actually much more rock-eque - very nice]

Juanes, Tr3s Presents Juanes MTV Unplugged

[this is EPIC]

Judah & the Lion, First Fruits

[A band I found when a friend and I were hunting for worship music that doesn't musically suck. Their song "Life Up My Soul" is actually my favorite, but it's not on YouTube, so you guys get this taste!]

Page CXVI

I've been totally rocking this album by a band called Page CXVI that I got for free.   They take hymns and redux them, which we often do at my church, so it's been awesome to listen to their renditions.  They also sing through some hymns I've never heard, having grown up Catholic.

I really like this one, which is near and dear to my heart - and don't you just love how she rocks out when she plays!?!  And gotta love the slide guitar!  Mmm mmm...

Below is the song I've actually been practicing and belting at the top of my lungs. :)  It's such a BEAUTIFUL hymn, and I really like the funky background drums...sounds so awesome!  They don't have a video for it, so excuse the cheesy Youtube lyrics video (I tend to hate those), but you can still hear it, which is totally worth it.

newness from waterdeep

Waterdeep is one of my all-time favorite bands.  They're silly, serious, melancholy, and joyful, and often they are singing about the reality of life with Jesus and how sweet and sometimes painful that can be.  The two main members these days are Don and Lori Chaffer, two musicians who eventually got married as Jesus had them headed in the same direction...and I'm always a sucker for a cute story, but I love how Jesus united them for a common purpose.  

And I so enjoy their harmonies and songwriting...tasty...

two new gems to enjoy!

joshua james rocks my socks off

Ok I haven't even watched this yet - I'm headed to bed because I'm SOOO tired - but I felt the need to share it with you ASAP because I LOVE his music...and when I say LOVE, I really mean am OBSESSED with :)

[found the embed link!]

angus and julia stone

I was cruising through some youtube videos the other day and found this cover.  I always liked them for her strange voice, but you gotta love this particular song.  I'm definitely not a big fan of Grease, but this was just too awesome not to share...

 

the drummer from Coldplay is awesomely insane

in case you've never had the privilege of seeing them live, try to catch glimpses of the drummer - Will Champion.  he's one of the most passionate musicians I've ever seen and can do, I think, 50 things at once.

Lisa Hannigan

An Irish singer (yes on purpose) that deserves much recognition.  She often sang/toured with Damien Rice but is currently doing her own solo stuff.   I LOVE her voice.

First Aid Kit

This lovely duo from Sweden has been showing up a lot on KXCI lately.  Conveniently I bought their album a few weeks ago, so it's been awesome hearing songs I know on the radio! 

If you live in Tucson, 91.3 is the way to go...on occasion there are some shows that aren't your style (like for me, zydeco on Sunday nights are not my thing), but there are some shows that will always be a treat!  Such as Celtic music at 8 am on Saturday morning.  Yes, sadly I am up at that time. 

First Aid Kit has been touring lots, with people often remarking they sound like they just came out of Nashville.  A song like the one below shows you why.  The name of it is "Emmylou", referring to Emmylou Harris. The chorus goes as follows:
I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June
And you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too.
No, I’m not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me.

I must say it definitely hits on some longings for me personally, to have music and singing be a part of daily life with someone (if you didn't know Gram and Johnny are the beloved of the women mentioned).  For now, I'm just enjoying this song, and as I tell God what I want, go ahead...talk to him about what you want too! :)

5 people play 1 guitar = great cover

The band Walk off the Earth has been enjoying their viral YouTube fame as of late, and I think it's well worth it.  Hats off to Emily for showing me this video in Tombstone, because I showed my kids this week and they were all downloading it within the first 15 seconds of the video :)  It is a cover, with the original making the Top Ten on iTunes at the moment (which doesn't usually equal good music, but in this case I'd make an exception).  

Everybody usually has a favorite in the band, and in my case, it's the guy in the middle. I love how  high he can sing and how he sounds so dang pissed - who's yours??

Gregory Alan Isakov

I don't believe I've posted about this musician before - but I very much should have!  His name is Gregory Alan Isakov, and he's got such a great voice.  On occasion Brandi Carlile has sung back up for him.   I have been enjoying his music for quite some time, so I thought it was about time I posted a video!   It's very rich and succulent...simple instruments, but complex sounds...mmmmmmmmm. This song is one of my favorites (and illustrates what a sappy romantic I truly am!) - plus, the sound quality is awesome on this video, which is always a plus on youtube.

Enjoy!  Turn it up LOUD and listen carefully with a glass of wine and perhaps a signif other ;)

 

Fleet Foxes & Bon Iver

Drove up to see these 2 bands play after school, after our CRAZY storm on the south side where it took me 1/2 hour to go 3 miles!  Oh and by drove "up", I mean to Phoenix.

And yes...I drove back that night and went to school.  Main realization of that day:  My 25 year old body cannot handle that.  I am still recovering...

Here's some pics/vids of the evening:


I love Fleet Foxes' drummer, Josh Tillman. I saw him play here in Tucson at Solar Culture years ago...soooooo good.

And the main event:

Twin violins!


I'll try to post a few other videos later...

LISTEN TO THIS!!!!

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