Dax Riggs' live session with us was the most appropriate to dig up for Halloween. I'm pretty sure his voice pulls spirits from their graves. Dax Riggs - Say Goodnight To The World (HearYa Live Session) Dax Riggs - Let Me Be Your Cigarette (HearYa Live Session) Dax Riggs - Sleeping With The Witch (HearYa Live Session) Dax Riggs - I Hear Satan (HearYa Live Session) Dax Riggs - Heartbreak Hotel [...]
![WATERS – Out In The Light [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3827983_lg.jpg)
WATERS is the band that emerged after Port O'Brien dissolved. Founding POB front man, Van Pierszalowski, fled the States for Oslo, Norway after the breakup before continuing his travels to Alaska where he'd spent time working with his father, a commercial fisherman. Then off to his hometown in Northern California, over to Brooklyn, then back to Oslo to put a band together and form WATERS. Port O'Brien was a band near to my heart after discovering them shortly after I moved to the Bay area in 2007. I saw them in four different cities, had a [...]
I had the pleasure of interviewing Jason Isbell about his latest album, Here We Rest , and it continues to hold up as one of my top 3 favorite albums of the year. It may be my top pick. My phone conversation with him is certainly one of my highlights of the year and restraining my fan-boy gushing was not easy. After four or five IPA's, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have an itchy trigger finger ready to speed dial him. When I first got an advanced copy of Here We [...]
![Deer Tick – Divine Providence [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3820069_lg.jpg)
I was talking about Deer Tick to some guys that had never heard of them before. My description was one of an old time rock and roll band who are about drinking canned beer, smoking reds and wearing their hearts on their sleeves. In any Deer Tick album, you're going to have a few moments that are filled with no-holds barred raucous behavior, a few moments that are truly sentimental and some in between. Deer Tick's fourth album, Divine Providence , starts off on the raucous side and has much more of that hard party vibe than [...]
The Black Keys have a preview of their new album, El Camino , with the release of this video for their first single "Lonely Boy." If you pre-order the album (due out on Dec. 6th) you'll get an instant download of this track. As part of Record Store Day's "Back to Black" Friday on November 25th, The Black Keys will release a limited edition 12-inch of "Lonely Boy" to participating indie music retailers. Both the lead track and the B-side, "Run Right Back," are featured on El Camino . Watch the video. [...]
Have you ever had a buddy tell you, (insert band name) is great, but you really need to see them live? You roll your eyes and call him (insert derogative name) and move on with your day. Well, get ready because that's the message I am about to deliver to you. There are a number of bands rolling around the country these days that get people worked up, but I have yet to see one who whips the crowd into a raucous frenzy like The Devil Makes Three. As I mentioned back when we had them in for [...]
1954: Some say soul music is invented by Ray Charles with "I Got a Woman". The word "soul" as we know it is born. 1960's: Soul music becomes wildly popular, with acts like Otis Redding, Little Richard, James Brown, Fats Domino, Aretha Franklin, Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke reaching superstar status. Everybody loves "soul". The word is commonly used, and if you have soul you are a certified badass. 1970's: Soul music is still incredibly popular with musical acts like Al Green, and if you call someone "soul brother" it is legitimately cool and not at [...]
![She Keeps Bees – Dig On [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3803569_lg.jpg)
Since we've been blogging about music, I've discovered new bands in all sorts of unique ways. This one might take the cake. I was coaching my kid's kindergarten baseball team and mentioned to the other coach that I was going to go to Schubas that night. It turned out that his brother-in-law and his girlfriend were playing that night as the opening act. I had planned on being all nice, telling them that they were great no matter what they sounded like. To my surprise, it took one verse to realize that my honesty wouldn't be compromised. She [...]
![The Deep Dark Woods – The Place I Left Behind [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3801024_lg.jpg)
There isn't a band in existence that I've evangelized more than The Deep Dark Woods. I have recommended them to family and friends and nearly all have fallen in love with the warm folk sounds produced by these Canadians. I was on a business trip not long ago and it was the most turbulent flights of my life. I'm typically a great flier, but this one had me thinking the worst. I looked at my iPod and thought, "If this plane were to go down, what would I listen to?" Surely I'd crank up some good tunes as the ground/mountain/water [...]
James Vincent McMorrow made a splash with his debut album, Early In The Morning , released in March of last year. Dublin's answer to Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) just released a video for "We Don't Eat" which reminded me how great that album is, especially considering it was written and self-produced in an isolated house by the sea off the coast of Ireland by a guy that had thrown in the towel on his day job - pushing trolleys around in an airport. From the album: James Vincent McMorrow - If I Had [...]
This video is worthy of your Monday attention. Wilco visited NPR for their Tiny Desk Concert Series and shared four tracks and three denim jackets. Scratch that. Two denim jackets and one denim shirt. I'm thankful that Wilco still does these intimate type sessions. It has inspired me to continue spamming them with requests for a HearYa session. You can download the audio over there at NPR . Set list: Dawned On Me Whole Love Born Alone War On War [...]
Justin Townes Earle took home song of the year at the 2011 Americana Music Awards for "Harlem River Blues." It was a fitting end to what has been a long year back from an abyss filled with addictions, demons, rehab and redemption. I have met Justin a handful of times, including a Cubs game with him in Chicago. He's always been a pleasure to spend time with so I am glad he is reaping the reward for his continued excellence. An edited version of the awards ceremony will be on Austin City Limits on Novemeber 19th. On the [...]
Up and coming Athens, GA act, The District Attorneys have released a free EP full of demos and one excellent cover of Wrecking Ball. Lucky for them they chose one of my favorites by Gillian Welch. As I mentioned in our original post , if you dig The Futurebirds; you'll most likely enjoy these fellas as well. Look for a full debut in 2012. Wrecking Ball by The District Attorneys Tweet
![The Barr Brothers – S/T Debut [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3789854_lg.jpg)
"Hey! You cellist! Turn it down. C'mon, I'm trying to think over here." Thankfully Brad Barr didn't have that reaction when living next door to cellist Sarah Page or else I might have been robbed of one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. In a scene that can only be recreated in a horrible rom-com, Brad and Andrew Barr from The Slip moved to Montreal only to be harassed incessantly by classic cellist Sarah Page, and thus The Barr Brothers were born. I have cast the movie with scruffy Mark Ruffalo as Brad, Bradley Cooper as [...]
![First Aid Kit unveil The Lion's Roar [Dear god, you must listen to this]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3787803_lg.jpg)
Swedish sibling folk rock act, First Aid Kit, are releasing their second album entitled The Lion's Roar on January 24th, 2010. I fell in love with their debut, The Big Black and The Blue , and was blown away by their vocals in our live session . Keep this between us, but I was secretly very nervous that they'd start heading in a more commercial direction to cater to the mainstream. Sometimes happens when attractive young musicians with great voices enter the music scene. I'm pleased to report that the [...]
Other Lives released their sophomore album, Tamer Animals , earlier this year. It's not one of those albums that was created spontaneously in one session. The band spent 14 months crafting the arrangements and placing all the right sounds in all the right parts. Lead singer Jessie Tabish was quoted as saying ""There's nothing like, 'Hey, let's rock out on this!' It's homemade in a way. For better or for worse, it's all our sound." The album is magnificent. If you've fallen in love with the album but have never seen them live, this session will give [...]
Only in the music world can you create a headline like that without blinking. HearYa favs, Trampled By Turtles, are doing their part for Mother Earth by releasing a bluegrassy cover of The Pixies' "Where Is My Mind." The song is available for free on their site and below or for a buck at online retailers in support of WhyHunger. WhyHunger is an organization founded by the late singer-songwriter Harry Chapin and supports grassroots solutions to inspire self-reliance and community empowerment to connect people to nutritious, affordable food. For more informati, visit WhyHunger [...]
![Pepper Rabbit – Red Velvet Snowball [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3782892_lg.jpg)
Pepper Rabbit are back with another unique collection of pop-based tunes on their sophomore effort, Red Velvet Snowball . Pepper Rabbit are comprised of Luc Laurent on percussion and Xander Singh on vocals and a wide array of instruments that he taught himself via YouTube videos. Amongst these are the ukulele, a bunch of horns and some old-school synths. While the songs are full of layers and overdubs, at the core of each tune is a catchy melody. I'm sure a good deal of the experimentation is due to Singh sitting in front a computer with a [...]
Ryan Adams has a new album, Ashes & Fire, coming out tomorrow. Adams has had some misses in his day, but his latest release is one of his winners. I have spun through it twice and was immediately hooked. Here is the video for Lucky Now. Tweet
![Pepper Rabbit – Red Velvet Snowball [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3781903_lg.jpg)
Pepper Rabbit are back with another unique collection of pop-based tunes on their sophomore effort, Red Velvet Snowball . Pepper Rabbit are comprised of Luc Laurent on percussion and Xander Singh on vocals and a wide array of instruments that he taught himself via YouTube videos. Amongst these are the ukulele, a bunch of horns and some old-school synths. While the songs are full of layers and overdubs, at the core of each tune is a catchy melody. I'm sure a good deal of the experimentation is due to Singh sitting in front a computer with a [...]
HearYa: An Indie Music Blog
Sleigh Bells - Demons (Official Music Video)
The Rains of Castamere by The National
A-Trak & Dillon Francis - "Money Makin'" (Official Video)
DIIV "How Long Have You Known?" (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
Nas - Daughters
Monday Music – 28 May 2012
Bison - Quill
