I didn’t like anything else that came out in December, so instead I’m going to post a band that was new to me in mid-Nov./early December, although it came out in October, and that is Letting Up Despite Great Faults who have put together a fantastic record. I spent the rest of the month listening to Silk Flowers and DMX…that’s right, DMX…what type of game is bein’ played how’s it going down?
One of our favorite local bands, The Instruction, played a show at Skull Alley last Thursday night and we were there hanging out and snapped a few pics. We’ve talked a lot about The Instruction and for good reason. Next chance you get check out one of their shows or pick up their new album, Failure by Design, a fantastic debut for a very talented band. We also grabbed a video of a track from that album, “Mayday.” Enjoy.
Backseat Sandbar and The 930 Listening Room are excited to bring two fantastic artists to the stage on December 14th. London (England) native Bobby Long has been touring the U.S. and Europe since earlier in the year captivating audiences with his blues/folk sound; largely inspired by his heroes Woodie Guthrie, Elliot Smith and Bob Dylan. Bobby has independently released a 10-song recording of original material called Dirty Pond Songs which is available at his shows. The single from Dirty Pond Songs, “Left To Lie,” reached #1 on iTunes “Unsigned” chart and #8 on the Folk chart. His Louisville appearance will be one of the last chances to see him perform before he heads off for a brief European tour the beginning of next year.
Opening the night will be Louisville’s own, Justin Lewis. Justin recently released his first album entitled Man in Motion and has been receiving a tremendous response, including significant play on WFPK and maintaining a 6 week streak at #1 on iTunes acoustic alternative radio. His bluesy riverboat voice sounds as if he’s seen too many rough days, smoking and drinking, but somehow everything balances out for a cool and smooth sailing. His performance will definitely be a treat.
Tickets for the show are $12 ($15 day of) and are on sale now at the930.org and ear x-tacy. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. See you there.
I’ve had the pleasure of see Jim James play solo twice this year, and I am amazed each time at how talented he is. (Note: understatement of the year.) A sold-out crowd gathered in the lower-level gallery at 21c to see James and Daniel Martin Moore as part of a benefit for Kentuckians for the Commonwealth’s involvement with raising awareness of mountaintop removal in Appalachia. 21c has a wealth of resources and has really stepped up as a great music venue in town. From Akron/Family to Rachel Grimes to the OSSO/BQE showing, it has been a great place to see amazing artists in an intimate setting.
Daniel Martin Moore played first and was eventually joined by James for a few songs. (Be on the look out for DMM’s upcoming album on Sub Pop with Louisville’s Ben Sollee, coming out early next year.) Yim finished off the night with a set similar to that at the Rud. He played a few MMJ favorites, including “The Way That He Sings” (below) and a lot from the Monsters of Folk album. The crowd stood silently in awe of his pure genius and echoing voice. I love MMJ live, but James solo (x2) is up there as my favorite shows of the year. He left the stage with everyone wanting more, but satisfied that they just witnessed something special. For info on KFTC and their mountaintop removal awareness program, GO HERE.
Louisville band OK KINO will be bringing their unique indie/jam/prog jazz stylings and punk-fusion attitude to the Nachbar on Sunday Dec 13th from 8-11 pm. There is no cover charge!
About OK KINO:
Emerging from the mind of a son of the Slugger City and materializing into b sides and strange overtones Ok Kino is a persistent soundtrack. Waking head movies and slumbering dreams of an alternate consciousness, broadcasts from uncharted origins filtering and unfurling melodies, break beat grooves, sublime messages of preservation and celerity.
Bro. Stephen (a/k/a Scott Kirkpatrick), Louisville’s Brooks Ritter and Bloomington, Indiana’s husband&wife, are joining forces for a show at Quills (Baxter Ave.) on December 11, 2009. If you are looking for a relaxing start to your Friday night with a warm cup of coffee and some amazing sounds, this is the place to be. We’ll be there.
Bro. Stephen is a project of Scott Kirkpatrick who is also the force behind indie-rock band Chemic. Originally conceived as a songwriting exercise, Bro. Stephen has come to mean much more. Pulling from a childhood of being a preacher’s son, a deep collection of poor decisions, and a constant struggle with Narcolepsy, the songs of Bro. Stephen are a casual dart game: the sound of ennui.
Despite it’s relatively recent inception, Bro. Stephen headed out on the road in 2009 on a national tour playing songs off of his upcoming debut record and armed with hand-made copies of The Front Room EP which was a collection of demos Kirkpatrick had recorded on a cassette tape machine. Along the way Bro. Stephen has supported acts like The Fiery Furnaces, Sun Kil Moon, Anni Rossi, DM Stith, The Daredevil Christopher Wright, and Vandaveer, and almost finished the recording of its debut album Baptist Girls, a record that was largely recorded on an old farm in Northern Indiana (available sometime in 2010 on some record label maybe).
Bro. Stephen will also be releasing an EP in conjunction with The Laminar Excursion Monthly in 2010 (which we already told you about here).
Bro. Stephen- “Patrons of the Arts” (Front Room EP version)
[audio= http://brotherstephentourblog.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/03-patrons-of-the-arts.mp3]
The artistry of Brooks Ritter is a seamless garment. An indivisible blend of voice, musicianship and songwriting that is capable of communicating the wide range of human emotion and illuminating our hopeful, fallen, love-sick, grasping condition. His lyrics are insightful and honest, his music displays the rare kind of versatility that makes you think and makes you move, and his voice is an instrument capable of subtle nuance and supple power that glides effortlessly through the realms of rock, folk and soul.
Kentuckians For The Commonwealth is a community of people taking action for justice. We work with people to organize in their home communities and across the state. We help everyday community members become extraordinary community leaders. We s9upport community leaders as they build effective organizations. Together, we win important issue campaigns.
See more video and photos in our review of Jim James’ show at The Rud in October HERE.
