photo by Shawn Brackbill
Bonnie “Prince” Billy and the Cairo Gang played a couple shows at Monster Island in NYC on April 1st and 2nd. Brooklyn Vegan has a review from one of the shows and some great video. Enjoy.
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VIEW MORE VIDEO FROM THE SHOW HERE
Sunday night in Louisville was one for the history books. Put on by Motherlodge, an special “cross-pollination” of art between NYC and Louisville, this show combined talent from all corners of your imagination. It started off will Penny Arcade (NYC) who blasted-off a monologue about the Mona Lisa and her love/hate for her vagina. Her show has been described as a “cutting-edge sex and censorship show.” I can’t say it was my dish, but intriguing none the less. The parents of the Louisville Leopard Percussionists may have felt different (a lot of covered ears).
She introduced the next act with glowing praise, basically telling Louisvillians to get their shit straight and support Tyrone Cotton. I can’t agree more. He is a singer/songwriter that goes heavy on the blues but with a folk/Americana. His voice is well traveled and can scratch like sandpaper, but it adds the necessary touch to tell the story of his songs. I highly recommend checking him out next time he plays in town.
A short film was played next highlighting the cause for the evening, The Salvation Army Center of Hope Kitchen’s Culinary Training Program run by Chef Timothy Tucker (see video below in two parts). While the program is more than I can put in words, Chef Tim trains individuals down on their luck in the culinary arts and provides them with a valuable skill to improve their lives in a multitude of ways.
The Louisville Leopard Percussionists took the stage next and we all got to witness the future great musicians of our city. The LLPs (as I’ll call them), is a non-profit organization that trains 7-12 year olds on a number of different percussion instruments including the xylophone, drums, congas, bongos and more. It was energizing to see kids barely taller than their instrument just rip it up. Solos and all, they threw a wall of rhythm at the crowd and we ate it up. The LLPs finished with a “Low Rider/Oye Como Va” combo which led to a standing ovation. How would you like to have opened for My Morning Jacket and Will Oldham at the age of 12? I’m jealous.
The men of the hour, Will Oldham and Emmett Kelly (a/k/a part of The Cairo Gang), concluded the night with a powerful, 7 song performance highlighting their new album, The Wonder Show of the World. The album is classic Bonnie Billy and Kelly adds a nice compliment to mix. The Oldham/Kelly album has the capacity to raise all emotion. You’ll love, laugh, cry, stand up and shout and often at the same time. Oldham thrives on his performances and his energy bounces off the walls. It is truly something you have to see to experience. To make things even better, Oscar Lee Riley of Thomas A. Minor & The Picket Line was asked to join the duo on stage for their final song, “Go Folks Go.” Oldham offered up a dollar to anyone in the crowd who could drown out Oscar’s voice, but no one took him up on the offer (it would have been a tough go at it anyway). Bottom line… beg, borrow and steal what you have to in order to get your hands on this album (and all other BPB albums for that matter). For your health (says Steve Brule). The set-list is below.
Oh, there was a dinner afterward prepared by students in the culinary program. My compliments to the chefs! Louisville’s Bad Blood provided some tunes while everyone ate. A wonderful way to end the night. Best $15 bucks I’ve ever spent.
SET LIST
1. Kids
2. Merciless and Great
3. Troublesome Houses
4. With Cornstocks Or Among Them
5. That’s What Our Love Is
6. Someone Coming Through
7. Go Folks Go
I hope you have your tix t0 Bonnie Billy’s show here in Louisville on Sunday (3/28) already. He’ll be playing with The Cairo Gang (Emmett Kelly) with whom his new album, The Wonder Show of the World, features. In the meantime, we’ll tide you off with this great new track from the chameleon artist, our own, Will Oldham. Here is a track from Hot Chip featuring BPB, “I Feel Bonnie” (a remix to their song “I Feel Better”). It will be released as a 7″, limited to 1000, in the UK for their Record Store Day on April 17th (DAMN!). Anyway, it’s fantastic. Enjoy.
Hot Chip- I Feel Bonnie (Feat. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy)
Hot Chip- I Feel Better
Bonnie “Prince” Billy has announced a new live LP (with digital download) through Drag City with The Picket Line called Funtown Comedown. Remember the Funtown Show?!?! From Drag City:
Bonny Billy and The Picket Line Funtown Comedown
LIVE (in the studio) is the Bonny one with next-generation bluegrass band known as The Picket Line. They’re the official dance band of Funtown, a metaphysical little community in the woods outside Louisville. Bonny and the boys (and girl) run through a set of BPB classics, some Palace songs and a few classic country covers. VINYL ONLY! (And download exclusively on the new-and-retro-improved www.dragcity.com!)
BPB is also releasing a 7″ single with “Stay” performed with Joshua Abrams, Jennifer Hutt, Emmett Kelly, Michael Zerang and “People Living” performed with Emmett Kelly and Cheyenne Mize! It comes out October 20, 2009. You can pre-order it here for just $5 bucks.
