I’m a big fan of alt-country blog Twangville. They’ve just released their ‘best of the year so far,’ and it’s worth checking out …
Twangville Best So Far ‘09: The Songs: “
(Via Twangville.)
Ginny’s Printing will print up 50 posters for local art and music events, free of charge.
Bitchin’!
I read this quote in the paper a couple of days ago, and thought it was heavy on the awesome. It’s Sam Beckett from Worstward Ho:
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
I found this track from Ray Wylie Hubbard today.
So screw you, we’re from Texas
Screw you, we’re from Texas
Screw you, we’re from Texas
We’re from Texas baby, so screw you
And I gotta say, I enjoyed it.
One of the nice things about being a songwriter in Texas (besides the company, the constant stream of musicians, and the plethora of cheap dive bars) is that you get access to a whole lot of imagery and bravado that’s hard to come by in, say, Missouri.
“Screw you, we’re from St. Louis. Screw you, we’re from St. Louis. We built the arch, so screw you.” … you probably see where I’m going here.
This phenomena first came to my attention with this lyric from Terry Allen in the cowboy classic “Amarillo Highway” (made famous by Robert Earl Keen) — which I heard for the first time live at a county fair deep in the heart of Texas under a clear night sky with a Lone Star in my hand:
I don’t wear no Stetson
But I’m willin to bet son
That I’m a big a Texan as you are
I mean. Where else is that phrase going to work? … “I’m as big an Iowan as you are?”
The Indie Band Survival Guide: The Complete Manual for the Do-It-Yourself Musician
Guerrilla Home Recording, Second Edition
>t;My name is Wade Phelps. I am the creator of the Christian Choir Preservation Society. Please post any future concerts and events on the site so that we can get the word out. There is no fee and the goal is to get the word out to those in your area who love choral works.”
We do some lovely choral works. Right after the song about how Abel had it coming.
I went out looking for a autoharp for the iPhone today, and I found Frontier’s Guitar. While it’s not quite as fun as playing a real guitar, it’s still a pretty solid good time, and certainly enough to meet the on-the-go “let’s write a song” needs.
There’s a demo here, and more info here.
I’m having a hard time getting over how awesome this is: http://ping.fm/NVsEn
It’s a full synth! On a gameboy!
A friend of mine — hi, Nathan! — had an idea for a site that’s an art project — something that would demonstrate that we are all real Americans.
On Tuesday night, we launched a site that aggregates videos of people giving their names, a line about themselves, and then saying, “… and I’m a real American.”
So far, the results have been pretty fun.
*Love* the square dance caller:
http://iamarealamerican.com/2008/10/ricky/
Here’s mine:
http://iamarealamerican.com/2008/10/dave/
We’d like to get more people to participate. … We’re impatiently waiting for “I’m a dominatrix, and I’m a real American.”
Kitty pointed me to this NPR story about a preacher who uses Springsteen’s music as an aid for spreading the good word.
My Dad has often said, “Any event that brings men closer to God, or men closer to men, is a religious event.” The best concerts I’ve attended have done that — made me feel more full of life, and brought me closer to others — and Springsteen’s are among those. This idea was one of the reasons I named the band “St. Joe’s Choir.” Music, and concerts in particular, are religious events — a time to gather to celebrate what is right and condemn what is wrong, and to share the experience of life on the planet.
Still. It feels wrong to me to co-op one man’s words to support those of another — particularly without either’s consent.
