Stick of Wax - Aja Volkman

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.

Stick of Wax by Aja Volkman



Nico Vega on MySpace

Egyptian on MySpace

Keelhauled - Alestorm

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"



Alestorm website

Alestorm on MySpace

Alestorm on Facebook

Stick With Me - J.P. Whipple

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"



J.P. Whipple website

J.P. Whipple on MySpace

J.P. Whipple on Facebook

Tam Lin - Mediaeval Baebes

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"



Mediaeval Baebes website

Mediaeval Baebes on MySpace

Mediaeval Baebes on Facebook

Mediaeval Baebes on Twitter

Masochism Tango - Tom Lehrer

Musician, comedian ... mathematician. Yes, indeedy.

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.)

Kings of Vibration - Diego's Umbrella

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"



Diego's Umbrella website

Diego's Umbrella on MySpace

Diego's Umbrella on Facebook

Diego's Umbrella on Twitter

Meine Kleine Russin - Reverend Beat-Man

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"



Reverend Beat-Man Voodoo Rhythm page

Reverend Beat-Man on MySpace

Reverend Beat-Man on Facebook

The Ghost Who Walks - Karen Elson

Must be getting close to Hallowe'en. I'm in the mood something spooky today. This is spooky. Boo! (Love the dark country-ness of this!)

Model, singer and wife to White Stripes' Jack White, Karen Elson has just released her debut album, "The Ghost Who Walks" on Third Man Records label.

The Ghost Who Walks by Karen Elson from the 2010 album "The Ghost Who Walks"



Karen Elson website

Karen Elson MySpace

Immigraniada (We Comin' Rougher) - Gogol Bordello

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"

Live in Later with Jools Holland


Stripped down & acoustic


The official (and fabulous!) video


Gogol Bordello website

Gogol Bordello on MySpace

Gogol Bordello on Twitter

Gogol Bordello on Facebook