They actually released this song and video a couple weeks ago but I wanted to save my sharing of it for New Year's Eve. And guess what! It's New Year's Eve! (Confession: I actually hate New Year's Eve/Day.) This is, like everything else The Urban Voodoo Machine does, a party in a song. And the topper is Lady Ane playing the sousaphone. How can you not love a sexy lady blowing a giant horn like that?
Goodbye to Another Year by The Urban Voodoo Machine from the 2011 (I think the release date is in March) album "In Black & Red"
The Urban Voodoo Machine website (Come play on the forums! It's a great way to stay up on what's going down and to meet other fans ... and even members of the band.)
It's been awhile again. Sorry for that. The holidays are keeping me pretty busy this year.
Speaking of holidays ... I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I do. The whole season of Christmas from Thanksgiving through the Solstice and right on up to the Big Day of Christmas itself. It really is my favorite time of year. And I love a good cheesy song. It's sort of my guilty pleasure. So I was quite happy this morning when I came across this song. It just makes me ... happy. Plain & simple. (And did you notice the tuba? How can you not love a tuba?)
You should really check out the website for the story behind this song. I'd try to nutshell it here, but really wouldn't do it justice. Just click the link below and read it for yourself.
My Favorite Time of Year by The Florin Street Band
Oh, sadness! Nico Vega is coming to my town again this weekend ... and I can't go ... again. *cry* Between my own rehearsals and family obligations it's just not happening. The one time I did have the opportunity, Aja ended up with vocal injury and had to cancel the part of the tour that included my city. Luckily for the world her voice is all back to mesmerizing, thank The Powers That Be.
While I pout, here's another fabulous acoustic performance:
So So Fresh by Nico Vega from the 2009 self-titled album "Nico Vega"
I've been becoming more and more frustrated with the state of affairs lately. It's been bad for a long time - the lies, the deceit, the betrayals - but the last couple years it seems to me to be getting worse. Our power-hungry leaders are taking away more of our freedoms, driving us further into debt, creating deeper divisions between us, while the voting populace stands by, shaking their heads with a sense of defeated apathy. And it's not just here in my own American backyard. I've been watching the whole world jumping into that nasty little hand-basket to hell. Perhaps Mr. Waits is right. Perhaps God really is away on business. Leave a message at the beep. Beep.
God's Away on Business by Tom Waits from 2002 album "Blood Money"
This song brings back some happy memories. I'm not going to share them with you, 'though. But they are VERY happy memories. I think my husband would agree. 'Nuff said.
Based in New York City, White Zombie was founded in 1985 by Rob Cummings, better known as Rob Zombie. The band turned out 4 studio albums, 5 EPs, 1 live album and an album of remixes and won 4 Grammy awards before disbanding in 1998.
More Human Than Human by White Zombie from the 1995 album "Astro-Creep: 2000 - Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head"
Bottom line: This is just plain hot. It's one of those songs that dances its way into your consciousness and makes itself at home. And with such an infectious group as this zydeco trio from Switzerland, that's not a bad thing at all.
Le Pistolet by Mama Rosin from the 2009 album "Brule Lentement"
We've had wind, rain and snow today ... and it's not even time for lunch, yet. Perfect day, if you ask me, for a song invoking the Afro-Brazilian goddess of wind.
Formed in 2002, German pagan folk band Faun is known for playing old instruments and singing in German, Latin and Scandinavian languages.
Iyansa by Faun from the 2005 album "Renaissance"
Just try to listen to this and not dance! The infectious rhythms of this song (the whole album, for that matter) drive right out of your seat and set your whole body moving. Tod A is brilliant! Lyrically, musically, rhythmically, energetically brilliant.
This Is My Life by Firewater from the 2008 album "The Golden Hour" (one of my all-time favs!)
OK, so I don't know what they're saying, but I don't really care, either. This is a fun song! It definitely got my blood pumping this morning. I love finding music from countries I've never visited sung in languages I don't understand that still moves some part of me. To me, it's just more proof that music IS the universal language. If it strikes a chord in you or elicits an emotion, pleasant or un-, or just plain ol' makes you want to get up and dance, it has done its job.
I did a little online translating and found the name of this band is Leprikonsy. I even managed to find their website (which I also used the online translator to read) and found out these guys are from Belarus and have been playing together for about 14 years.
Девчонки Полюбили не Меня (Girls do not love me) by Леприконсы (Leprikonsy) from the 2010 album "ДЕСЯТИЛЕТКА"("Ten Year")
Leprikonsy website (unless you read Russian, you'll need a translator for this)
This is a solo thing from Aja, the singer for the L.A. band Nico Vega. I absolutely love her voice. It gives me such happy goosebumps. It seems that she has another side project going on now, too, with Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragon called Egyptian. Check 'em out - it's quite the departure from Nico Vega, but her voice is still beyond amazing.
Before I go any further, I need to make it perfectly clear that I detest the keytar. I think it's a goofy instrument and the only thing I find goofier would be people who play the keytar. That said, this song makes me incredibly happy for some very strange reason. Perhaps I really have lost my mind, but ... PIRATE METAL! Harrrrrrrrr! (I need some rum now.)
I would track down some info on the band to share, but my kids are home and very distracting. (Did I mention the need for some rum now?)
Keelhauled by Alestorm from the 2009 album "Black Sails at Midnight"
J.P. Whipple is a local boy - well, local-ish to me - and while I've never met him nor have I seen him play (YET), he fits into my 6 degrees of separation. The man playing drums on this album, Jason Giron, is a friend and played drums for a production of The Rocky Horror Show I was involved with a few years ago. And just last week, the mandolin player in my current project, Tony Semerad, played with Filthy McWhiskey who plays a slew of strange and wonderful instruments on this album (and is seen playing banjo in this vid). Did you follow all that? Anyway, it's very cool music. I like it bunches!
Stick With Me by J.P. Whipple from the 2009 album "Bible Milk"
Now here's a beautiful, spooky tale. The ethereal voices of the Mediaeval Baebes and the simple,understated arrangement of the orchestration lead the imagination into the world of the fae. I love listening to this on dark and gloomy nights when the lights are low.
Tam Lin by Mediaeval Baebes from the 2005 album "Mirabilis"
I'm not sure why this song decided to bop around in my head today, but I'm enjoying it nonetheless. Cracks me up every time. The first time I remember hearing this song was actually at an audition for a musical play when I was a junior in high school. I thought it was brilliant then, I think it's fabulous now!
Masochism Tango by Tom Lehrer from the 1959 album "More of Tom Lehrer"
Tom Lehrer YouTube channel (Go kill some time there. It's worth it.)
A new band! Well, to me, anyway. They've actually been around a few years. Giving credit where credit is due, Steve, the bass player for The Penny Black Remedy, turned me on to this band. So much fun, this one!
Based in San Francisco, California, and named for their friend's arm tattoo, Diego's Umbrella first came to be in 2000. Founded by Vaughn Lindstrom and Tyson Maulhardt, they debuted their first album in 2001. With the addition of Benjamin Leon, Kevin Blair, Jason Kleinberg and Jake Wood, Diego's Umbrella is now a 6-piece monster of flamenco infused gyspy rock.
Kings of Vibration by Diego's Umbrella from the 2009 album "Double Panther"
Continuing the spooky theme from yesterday, THIS is spooky. I love this guy's scary rough voice and the images he creates with it, even though I don't know a word he's singing in this song.
Reverend Beat-Man is a Swiss one man band. Performing with just a guitar, kick drum, a single hi-hat and a microphone, he spins tales of death, life, killing, lost love, and finding the light.
Meine Kleine Russin by Reverend Beat-Man from the 2008 DVD "Surreal Folk Blues Gospel Trash, vol. 3"
It's no secret how much I love Gogol Bordello. The first time I heard them I was floored. They still floor me.
I'm including a few different versions of this song here: a live version (they are beyond amazing live), a stripped down acoustic version, and the official video. Enjoy! Mishto!
Immigraniada (We Comin' Rougher) by Gogol Bordello from the 2010 album "Trans-Continental Hustle"
New York's Squeeze Rock is Julian “Julz-A” Hintz. He is "An Accordion Alternative." And I am happy I found him.
Play Your Ax (Hey, Julz-A) by Squeeze Rock from the EP "Squeeze Right"
Sorry to resort to going back to last year. I've been cooking all day long getting ready for our traditional family feast so I haven't had a real opportunity today to go find something new. But I do love this song and it is so perfect for today. So ... click HERE and enjoy!
We're halfway through the month and closing in on the end of summer and the autumnal equinox. I love this time of year as the leaves start hinting at changing color, the nights are cooler, and the gardens that were planted in spring are ready for harvest.
September Song, composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Maxwell Anderson, made its first appearance in the 1938 Broadway musical "Knickerbocker Holiday." The show closed after only 6 months, but the song has gone on to become a jazz/pop standard and has been performed and recorded by many artists including Django Reinhart, Sarah Vaughan, and Lou Reed.
September Song by Willie Nelson from the 1978 album "Stardust"
This weekend, an amazing line-up of incredibly talented musicians will be streaming LIVE to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Details here:
Best. Earworm. Ever! Seriously. This is the funniest - and funnest - thing I've heard in quite awhile. And it is so very much the way I tend ramble on while thinking aloud about conventionally morbid topics.
Part of London's "gypsy punk" scene, The Penny Black Remedy is an irreverent foursome consisting of Scottish singer/songwriter/guitarist Keith M Thomson, Croatian classically trained vocalist Marijana Hajdarhodzic, Dutch percussionist Wilco van Eijk and English bassist Steve Nelson. A dark humor pervades their songs along with catchy melodies that get in your head and prompt you to sing along loudly and with abandon. You just can't help it.
I Won't Argue When I'm Dead by The Penny Black Remedy from their 2009 debut album "No One's Fault But Your Own"
It's no secret how much I adore Tom Waits. Yesterday, whilst mindlessly traipsing through new-to-me music, I came across this cover of "Alice" by HUMANWINE and it's been teasing my brain every since.
HUMANWINE (an acronym for "Humans Underground Making Anagrams Nightly While Imperial Not-Mes Enslave") is a dark cabaret band cofounded by husband and wife, Mat (M@) McNiss and Holly Brewer, in 2002.
Alice by HUMANWINE - Sadly, this doesn't seem to appear on any of their albums.
How is that I have never heard of these people until now?!? The shame! This is a delightfully raucous group of performers, a little reminiscent of The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. Founded in 1998 and based in Seattle, Washington, Circus Contraption combines dark cabaret, old world circus and vaudeville for a thoroughly entertaining experience. It's too bad they disbanded last year.
Drunkard's Dream by Circus Contraption from the 2002 album "Grand American Traveling Dime Museum"
I've been listening to this song for last two days almost non-stop. This is one of those songs that I just can't get enough of. There is an emotional build to this song that is so subtle, yet so powerful that it almost makes my chest burst. Once again, the Dutch band Omnia blows me away.
Niiv by Omnia from the 2009 album "World of Omnia"
Yeah. It's silly. But it's stuck in there, just the same. I blame my mother. She's having another knee replacement surgery today and the anesthesia tends to knock her wonky. So, yeah ... this is for her.
Raffi was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1948 to Armenian parents. He moved with his family to Canada when he was 10 years old. He was initially uncomfortable with the idea of performing for children, but has since become one of the world's best know children's entertainers.
Knees Up, Mother Brown by Raffi from the 1996 album release "Raffi in Concert with the Rise & Shine Band"
Are you ready for some goosebumps? This one'll do it to ya. We all know this traditional ballad - and many different arrangements of it. This is such a beautiful arrangement and Chris Wood's vocalization of this classic is heart-wrenching.
Scarborough Fair by The Imagined Village from the 2010 album "Empire & Love"
Another great project out of the U.K.! Alex (guitar/vox) and G.C. (bass) have their hands dirty from playing with The Urban Voodoo Machine (whom I adore so much), and that energy and sense of malicious fun carry through here with The Great Malarkey. Besides, how can you possibly go wrong with a kickass band that includes accordion, fiddle and a banjo? A banjo! Man, I love this band!
Ponders End by The Great Malarkey from their 2010 demo debut
Our newest song, Kasojeni Bay! This was a lot of fun to do. My friend, Jeremy Young, helped out with the Slovene translation and pronunciation as well as lending his voice to the music. So much fun! It will be available for FREE download at http://juanaghani.bandcamp.com/track/kasojeni-bay for a limited time.
Kasojeni Bay by Juana Ghani, to be included on our debut album due out later this fall. Yay!
Lucky me! I was invited to sing with No Blood to Spare at the Utah Arts Festival again. This was my third year with them and it was a blast! This year, the beautiful and sweet Naia joined me on vocals.
Fogsnarl Guardian by No Blood to Spare, performed live at the 2010 Utah Arts Festival
It's been awhile since I included any Tom Waits here. I'm surprised at myself, really. This song brings me tears every single time. Absolutely beautiful. See? I'm crying already.
Tom Traubert's Blues by Tom Waits from the 1976 album "Small Change"
Once again Lindsay Heath has taken my breath away. A multi-instrumentalist (and I do mean MULTI), she is an amazingly poetic songwriter with a beautiful and haunting voice. Her CD "Orchestra" is fast becoming a favorite of mine with the songs making frequent appearances on my ipod. (Did I mention she's one of the nicest people I've ever met, too?)
Painted Queens by Lindsay Heath from the 2010 album "Orchestra"
My grandmother is dying. She is 92. I got the call last night that her body is winding down and it won't be long now until she passes.
I grew up in a military family. So many times my dad would be stationed aboard a ship somewhere and we'd stay with my grandparents for months at a time until he once again had shore duty and we could be together. Grandma's house was home. We'd drink hot Red Zinger tea on cold afternoons, play in the vegetable garden on hot summer days, swing on the giant swing-set my grandpa made for us from lodge pole pines (they looked like telephone poles), and bake cookies and pastries wearing Grandma's frilly aprons. She taught me to schottish and fox trot in her living room. And she let me listen to all her old records in the basement. That's how I found Mario Lanza. Such a voice!
Grandma, I going to miss you when you move on. I love you.
Time has a very slow warped feeling for me today. Like swimming through thick molasses. My brain isn't entirely engaged in reality. This pain, too, shall pass.
Kroke is a Polish klezmer band formed in 1992 in Kraków by Jerzy Bawoł, Tomasz Lato and Tomasz Kukurba. Since their formation, they have released 8 albums.
Time by Kroke from the 1999 album "The Sounds Of The Vanishing World"
Here's another from one of my favorite bands ever! Sweden's Diablo Swing Orchestra combines elements of death metal, swing jazz, opera, and uber-yumminess laden creativity. Their newest album, "Sing-Along Songs for the Damned and Delirious" is one of my all-time favorites and one of those rare albums on which every song is a winner. And this song, in particular, rocks my socks.
Bedlam Sticks by Diablo Swing Orchestra from the 2009 album "Sing-Along Songs for the Damned and Delirious"
I woke up early this morning with this song in my head. My husband and I bought this DVD a few months ago (BEAUTIFUL movie - everybody should see it - really) and have absolutely fallen in love, not only with the movie, but with the soundtrack as well (as is evidenced by its permanent rotation position on my ipod).
Bublitschki by Gogol Bordello from the soundtrack of the 2005 movie Everything is Illuminated
I'm still stuck on the sofa recuperating from last month's surgery, but that's not stopping the feeling of Spring in the air from enveloping me today. You just can't escape that kind of giddy.
Hello Bluebird by Janet Klein and Her Parlor Boys from the 2006 album "Oh!"
In full disclosure, I am a HUGE fan of Johnny Depp, Tim Burton, The Cure and Alice in Wonderland (and Alice Through the Looking Glass), so it should come as no surprise to anyone how absolutely giddy I am about this movie (opening in just a few days on March 5). In fact, adding in Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen (I used to pretend to be the Red Queen when I was little girl, running around commanding, "Off with their heads" to anybody who crossed my path) makes me even more than giddy. One might use the word, "delirious." Yay!
You can listen to the clips from the soundtrack HERE. Very Good Advice by Robert Smith from the soundtrack of the 2010 Disney movie "Alice in Wonderland"
Here it is! Our newest song, with Camron Cressall joining us on guitar and mandolin. This one was a lot of fun ... and it's a polka! There's just something about a polka that makes ya smile and sets your toes to tapping.
I've shared stuff from this band here before. I love them! Love them love them love them! Absolutely one of my favorite bands right now. Musically and artistically fresh (and downright naughty), the guys I've had the pleasure of chatting with online are very friendly and downright fun. I look forward to the day I get to meet them face-to-face.
(at the end of this video is a teaser for their next release coming out next week - i've seen it and it's deliciously naughty)
Orphan's Lament by The Urban Voodoo Machine from the 2009 album "Bourban Soaked Gyspy Blues Bop 'n' Stroll"
The Urban Voodoo Machine website (Come play on the forums! It's a great way to stay up on what's going down and to meet other fans ... and even members of the band.)
Emily Hope Price is a friend of a friend of mine. I've never met her. In fact, I'd never heard of her until recently. Shame on me! She is Amazing (with a capital "A"). Based in New York City, she plays with the band Pearl and the Beard and also tours as a solo performer.
I'm on day 2 of a nasty migraine so I'm not blogging a lot about this song, BUT since is New Years (blech) I wanted to make sure and share it before the pain killers kick in. I love it. It makes me smile.