With the word "collective" bringing images of hippies and the faint scent of patchouli to mind I wouldn't normally jump on a band that defines themselves as such however if you start tossing around names like Glen Phillips and Sean Watkins I start putting aside preconceptions and take notice. Tell me they just released an album and you'll get me excited. Well that's just what's happened. Works Progress Administration has released WPS. I can't figure out how to describe Works Progress Administration so I'll just them do it in their own words: [...]
For every band, there's always a disenfranchised member who wants to do more. Maybe get a little more exposure, come out from behind the drums, or even hear some of his lyrics actually being sung back at him (or her). Maybe that's the problem. Maybe it's a female tired of hanging out with these smelly guys all the time. Well, how come there's no Meg White solo record? Sideprojects are predominantly a man thing. Men seem to lose it when trapped in one groove and want to move on (note, this is no way a reflection on me or my [...]
he Works Progress Administration is not quite a supergroup (well it, is but...), instead they claim that it's an expandable collective, centred around Glen Phillips of solo and Toad the Wet Sprocket fame, Sean Watkins from Nickel Creek, and Luke Bullett who was a member of Lyle Lovett's large band. The WPA also features many other performers, including Sara Watkins (fiddle), Benmont Tench (piano), Greg Leisz (various), Pete Thomas (drums), and Davey Faragher (bass). The self-titled album also features some of the best album art/liner notes I have ever seen. Here is what frontman Glen Phillips had to say about [...]
The original Works Progress Administration was part of FDR's 1939 New Deal initiative which put millions of people to work in the darkest part of the Great Depression. This spirit of community and creativity is carried in the philosophy of a band that takes its name. Works Progress Administration is a supergroup of sorts- an "expanding collective" according to the band's website. At its core it is Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket and solo, Sean Watkins formerly of the excellent Nickle Creek and Luke Bulla [...]
It's that time once again... Wednesday night at 7:00 (Eastern), WDVX and wdvx.com will broadcast this month's edition of Tennessee Shines live from the Bijou Theatre in downtown Knoxville. This month's lineup is a pretty solid one featuring Americana stalwart Dave Alvin, former Nickel Creek fiddler Sara Watkins, Band of Horses guitarist Tyler Ramsey, and up and coming Oklahoma songwriter Samantha Crain. Obviously, the biggest name on this month's bill is Dave [...]
Glen Phillips made a name for himself as founding frontman for Toad The Wet Sprocket , a high school rock band made good; if you're a child of the eighties like myself, or just a fan of retro alt-rock radio, you've heard his distinctive voice plenty of times, most notably on cultural staple Walk On The Ocean . Indeed, my own personal experience with the artist, now pushing forty, is restricted to a single lawn-seat glimpse at a mid-nineties H.O.R.D.E. festival, an event most memorable for being the first and last rock concert which [...]
Glen Phillips' brand of Southern California folk-rock has always flirted on the edge of its bluegrass and country and western roots. In the years since Toad the Wet Sprocket closed up shop his songwriting has danced closer and closer to those roots and with 2000's Mutual Admiration Society - pairing Phillips with members of Nickel Creek - it seemed to come to the forefront. Taking that collaborative spirit to the next level, Works Progress Administration consists of Phillips and his MAS cohorts Sean and Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek, Fiction Family) with Luke Bulla (Jerry Douglas [...]
Once I hear about a new Glen Phillips project, I'm sold. WPA (Works Progress Administration) consists of some of the most accomplished and legendary musicians in today s American music scene. Founding members Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek), and Luke Bulla (Jerry Douglas Band, Ricky Skaggs, Lyle Lovett) have teamed up with Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Greg Leisz (Joni Mitchell, Wilco, Sheryl Crow, Beck), Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Randy Newman), and Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Cracker), and long-time acclaimed producer [...]
Last week, news broke that English heavyweights Chelsea were to be banned from buying any talent in the next three transfer windows (January '10 and Summer '10) after improperly inducing French teen Gaël Kakuta to jump ship from RC Lens . Now, without the ability to supplement their aging squad with new faces, Chelsea will face a tough task in keeping up with Europe's elite as it standard practice for teams to reload every transfer window. Consider the fact that Chelsea has a strong African contingent (Drogba, Essien, Obi Mikel) that they'll lose in January [...]
WPA I suppose I could have also titled this one "Attention Nickel Creek Fans" or "Attention Toad The Wet Sprocket Groupies", but bumpershine is pretty much Elvis country, so when in doubt, you go with what you know. The WPA is a musical collective that (most likely) owes its genesis to 2004's The Mutual Admiration Society album and the ensuing tour with Pete Thomas . This 2009 version of this "admiration society" known as Works Progress Administration or WPA is set to release [...]
[Apologies for the server problems that befuddled Buzz Bands all morning. Back to disseminating:] Big doings all over town — under the stars, there is Jackson Browne at the Greek Theatre; Buddy Guy, Dr. John and the Lower 911 and James Cotton at the Hollywood Bowl; and, on a smaller scale but no less enjoyable, Olin and the Moon's free early show at downtown's Pershing Square. ... ... N.A.S.A. [pictured] brings its Intergalactic Circus to the El Rey [...]
I was fighting a cold last week, so I didn't make it out at all. Hopefully this week is different. Some cool stuff going on in town.... Monday 8/10/09 [Pick of the Night] Local Natives / Red Cortez / Swim Party / Rademacher @ Spaceland (Free) – The first night of the residency was packed last Monday. [Recommended] Lower Heaven / The Moon Upstairs / Hi Hos / Shine Brothers @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – The Moon Upstairs [...]
[Notes gleaned on a gorgeous Saturday morning in L.A. ...] Half of me wishes I were in Grant Park in Chicago for Lollapalooza — the other half thinks that it's OK that I missed a rain-soaked Day 1 . Of local interest: The Henry Clay People (recommended by the likes of MTV ) played early and didn't make much of an impression on veteran music critic Jim Derogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times ; and No Age's Randy Randall, playing in a [...]
Just a little post today. It's my (Kraig) 3rd wedding anniversary today, and I figured I'd share a song that's really hitting home right about now. Any of you with a significant other should be able to relate with this track. I'm posting a demo that's a bit darker than the version found on Winter Pays For Summer. I prefer the darker touches here. The lyrics truly make the song in this case so I thought I'd share them. My favorite lyrics are bolded: Glen Phillips - Easier [...]
The music collective known as Works Progress Administration is heading out on tour to support their self-titled debut, which is to be released on September 15th. At the core of Works Progress Administration (or WPA , for short) is the trio of ' Founding Directors' Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek, Fiction Family) and Luke Bulla (Jerry Douglas Band, Lyle Lovett). In addition to the base is the group of ' Executive Board Members' consisting of Sara Watkins [...]
(It's been 12 years since the release of Toad the Wet Sprocket's last album Coil, but in 2009 the band still tours the nation, playing to adoring fans whose lives their music touched in the 80's and 90's. Glen Phillips took a moment out of his day to speak with me about Toad's relationship to [...]
Today's free and legal mp3 downloads: Cracker : 2009-05-17, Nashville [mp3,ogg,flac] "Friends" [mp3] other Cracker posts at Largehearted Boy Dan Bern : 2001-12-28, New York [mp3,ogg,flac] "Lovesick Blues (Hank Williams cover)" [mp3] other Dan Bern posts at Largehearted Boy Drive-By Truckers : 2009-03-28, St. Louis [mp3,ogg,flac] "I'm [...]
Friday Five : \ ˈ frī-( ˌ )dā,-dē ˈ fīv\ : On the sixth day of every week I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five and drop a little knowledge and insight for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, sometimes there isn't. Sometimes we have guest, but most of the time it's just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments. [...]
Not really sure where to start with this lot, so I'm just going to post all of it... Adam & The Ants - Ant Rap (Todd Terje Re-Edit) http://www.mediafire.com/?1ynd nz1m1m2 Afro Cuban Band - Something's Gotta Give (Todd Terje Rekutt) http://www.mediafire.com/?mlzm zxmqtzu Alicia Keys - You Don't Know My Moonflowers (Todd Terje Edit) http://www.mediafire.com/?hmzm wm02j5g America - Horse With No Shame (Todd Terje aka Wade Nichols Edit) http://www.mediafire.com/?r5to kywmgzi Andreas Vollenweider - Belladonna (Todd Terje Re-Edit) http://www.mediafire.com/?ozoj 2monvy0 Antena - Camino Del Sol (Todd Terje Remix) http://www.mediafire.com/?umz4 tmmntem [...]
new music from vampire weekend – cousins + music video
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Friday Five: Surf Songs
HOT CHIP TAKE another crack at IT and I’m IN
