Fall Music

There are so many good shows coming up. Amongst the things I could easily quit my job and do right now, going to shows is up there for the fall.

First of all, I have really high hopes for the Virgin Festival (and that sounds REALLY weird, no? I'm trying to ignore it. Virgin Store, Virgin Festival...weird.) I hear we're going on a rented schoolbus, which adds to the hilarity. "Yes, I'm going to the Virgin Festival in a schoolbus." Freaaaaaaaakkkkkkk. Anyway, Anthony Kiedis and the Killers. Scissor Sisters. The New Pornographers. Thievery Corporation. And oh right...The Who. Haha! Some really fun people are going, too, and I'm looking forward to it. Could be mayhem, could be chill, I don't know - but I'll take it, either way.

Second, check the Girlyman schedule and see if they'll be showing up near you. If you like great songs, a fun show and some talented people on guitar, banjo and a bigass drum, you should drop by. Their homepage is here, but the first link I gave was their myspace profile, where the songs are streamed so you can hear the excellent music that Willis is talkin' 'bout.

Dar Williams is back on tour, too, and I'm actually going to see her this time. I'm not sure what's new musically with her, to tell the truth, but I've been back listening to "The Beauty of the Rain" again and have "My Better Self" in my regular rotation at work. She's - this sounds weird but I'll type it anyway because I seem to be all about PAINFUL SELF DISCLOSURE lately; someone please shut me the hell up, thanks - a seasonal person for me. I seem to want to listen to her when I'm ready for it to be fall, which I so am. She's a New England/NYC AUTUMNAL sort of person, okay? Anyway, I'm happy to see her and I love the Ram's Head, ...so that'll be nice.

Last Train Home is still on the road, too, and they have a ton of fall dates (heavier than usual in the motherland of the DC area, if you're around here.) I love these guys, because they're so talented, plus so nice, and their live show is always a party. Same deal - if country (with a little bit of alt-? Is that still the right prefix?) with an edge is okay with you, you'll like them. (And if you listen to the stream of "Hendersonville" on their page, don't blame me if you cry. Not that it's a guarantee, but it might happen, so know that going in. It's about Johnny and June, and the song kills me every time.)

Citizen Cope. Hot. I keep missing him! And I think I'm going to again! Damn! Don't you do that to yourself! I love this man. He's got a new record out, almost. Check it.

Shelby Lynne's coming to the Birchmere, and I'm signed up for that, too. I've never seen her live but I love her records. I'm excited about the club's second location opening up in Silver Spring soon. Sometimes when I'm so over living here, I remember that I do have access to some great things and I should shut up. Bloom where I'm planted, as it were.

Hem's on tour, and they're an overwhelming group of talented people. They don't have any dates coming up here, but they'll be lots of other places. If I could marry a voice, it'd be Sally Ellyson's - and if shapeshifting is real for a second, add Dan Messe's body and certainly his brain.  (Check this article out for a good description) I just downloaded "Funnel Cloud" and you should probably do that too. "Not California" (with "Betting on Trains" a close runner-up) is the latest in a line of their songs that I cannot get out of my head for days, and whereas "Stupid Mouth Shut" remains my ultimate song of theirs (beat "The sidewalk bends/where your house ends/ like a neighborhood is on its knees" for a lyric, will you? I dare you.) I totally have their version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in my rotation right now. Heavily.

There's a shot at seeing The Red Piano, too, but I'm not getting too worked up about that until it's definite. We'll see.

My dog can't go to shows with me, but I'm getting him in the spirit. He's a rockstar, you see.

Better shots later...He's trying to go incognito, I think.

Comments

[joanna]

Is that one of his "handlers?" And I guess that makes you a pupperazzi--eh?