October 31, 2013

"Then I asked every geisha from the willow town
But nobody wanted to see death of a clown
We danced Shanghai tango like no tomorrow jive
When kung fu master found me, he asked me, "Are you still alive?""

And when it comes to great live acts it is hard to not, sooner or later, mention Gogol Bordello and their enormous amount of energy when playing live.

I do hope a tour will follow their newly released album.

Gogol Bordello – Lost innocent world is found on the record “Pura vida conspiracy” released in 2013.

October 30, 2013

"I know of a lady
Looks a little crazy
Says she’s gonna save me
From the penitentiary."

About a year ago I went to a concert with The View, a rather good concert by the way. The brightest memory I have from this concert is however the “in-between-songs” talk from the band. They talked very fast with a charming but heavy Scottish accent; I picked up every fifth word or so.

Anyway it is the music that counts and I do not mind heading to another The View concert tonight.

The View – Kill Kyle is found on the record “Seven year setlist” released in 2013.

October 29, 2013

"I'm in here, all ready to be found
I try to see sharks off the ground
Where do we go from here?
Tonight feels real."

My second experience of Porcelain Raft was a rather strange experience. I was heading to a concert in Los Angeles; I do believe that Yuck was the main act, when I got this peculiar feeling that I recognized the opening act.

It took me quite some time to realize that the opening act was Porcelain Raft and that I had seen Porcelain Raft as an opening act to Blonde Redhead a few months earlier.

Tonight I will get my first chance to catch Porcelain Raft as the main attraction. Needless to say I am looking forward to it.

Porcelain Raft – The way out is found on the record “The way out” released in 2013.

October 28, 2013

"When I'm printed on your wall
My face won't change at all
The smile beneath my hair
Hangs lifeless in the air
Like a net in water
I'm running through it all
And I'm shuffling away
With nothing more to say."

Sometimes I really do need something that kick-starts the week. When strong coffee is not helping, maybe Ride will.

Ride - Cool yor boots is found on the record "Going blank again" released in 1992.

October 27, 2013

"Day by day I was hoping you'd be
The kind of love that would give me peace of mind
But it may just have passed me by
Cause I'm not the loving kind."

Mark Lanegan is back in town and as always it is tempting to head to the venue and be entertained for an hour or two. Well why not by the way, there are worse ways one can spend a Sunday evening.

Mark Lanegan – I’m not the loving kind is found on the record “Imitations” released in 2013. The original version was recorded by John Cale in 1975.

October 26, 2013

"And everybody cloaking in and out
Working from the same advice
And everybody got their lies to shout
I didn't listen when they gave the prize."

This is another of my strange music encounters. I do not believe it ever was a big hit but it is a song that is following me. Last weekend it happened again when I heard it played at a bar while sipping on a beer.

Maybe I will see the true nature of this song one of these days…

Seafood – Cloaking is found on the record “When do we start fighting…” released in 2001.

October 25, 2013

"And I don't come here for the exclusivity
I just come here for the view
And the minuscule chance of some close proximity
Or an awkward conversation with you
Yeah that'd be cool."

A couple of years ago I truly enjoyed the single “Let’s dance to Joy Division” released by The Wombats. A catchy little tune that was impossible to resist.

I kind of forgot about The Wombats following that single but when listening to their new single I do get that exact same feeling as I had a few years ago. A promising first release from their forthcoming album.

The Wombats – Your body is a weapon is found on the single “Your body is a weapon” released in 2013.

October 24, 2013

"You leave in the morning
With everything you own in a little black case
Alone on the platform
The wind and the rain
On a sad and lonely face."

1984 was the year when I really started to listen to electronic/synthesizer music, among the first bands I listened to was Alphaville, Yazoo, Depeche Mode, Ultravox but also Bronski Beat.

Though almost 30 years has passed since then I do enjoy going back listening to these bands. And though almost 30 years has passed I still have a very hard time watching this music video without crying.

Bronski Beat – Smalltown boy is found on the record “The age of consent” released in 1984.

October 23, 2013

"I want to be next to you
While your covering, covering is soft
When I try to crawl up next to you
Your covering becomes leather."

Another rainy, gloomy day where I realize that I am over and over again is daydreaming myself back to the Austin City Limits festival.

The Cure was the top act, no doubt about it. But a close second was yet another amazing show by Silversun Pickups. They are great on record, they are awesome live. This song opened their show and set the bar very high but they kept that height of the throughout the show.

Silversun Pickups – Skin graph is found in the record “Neck of the woods” released in 2012.

October 22, 2013

 

"It was a good day for love that way
Maybe not such a good day for me
But a good day for you."

A rainy, gloomy day today, for some reason the outside conditions make me think about this song maybe as “rainy” and “gloomy”…

The Zephyrs – Setting sun is found on the record “When the sky comes down it comes down head” released in 2001.

October 21, 2013

"It’s 3:47 am, June 13th
It’s my sister’s birthday today, I think
I wanna give her a call, see how she’s doing
She had a rough divorce, I hope she’s improved."

Though I just came back from trip where I have enjoyed tons of music I still have a hunger for even more.

Live on stage tonight, Mark Kozelek.

Mark Kozelek – Ceiling gazing is found on the record ”Perils from the sea” released in 2013.

October 20, 2013

"Walk back into Stockholm - Stockholm - our travels take us further north."

There is no place like home someone say. I do not know about that especially when just coming back from a simply wonderful trip filled to the brim with music, stunning food and amazing beer.

Well I guess I will have to give it a day or two then I probably do enjoy being home again a lot.

New Fast Automatic Daffodils - Stockholm is found on the record "Body exit mind" released in 1992.

October 19, 2013

"I had learned something of Miami from people who had visited there, so I knew what to."

Making a quick stop in Miami; I just have to listen to this song today.

Jan Hammer - Miami Vice is found on the Miami Vice soundtrack released in 1985. The qoute above is taken from the American actor Sidney Poitier.

October 18, 2013

"I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world."

A lifelong dream of mine is to visit a shady jazz club in New Orleans listening to some classic jazz tunes played by local talents. Just like Louis Armstrong started off once upon a time.

It is indeed a wonderful world.

Louis Armstrong – What a wonderful world is found on the record “What a wonderful world” released in 1967.

October 17, 2013

"Basin Street is the street
Where the best folks always meet
In New Orleans, land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems
Or just how much it really means."

Besides Bourbon Street the most famous street in New Orleans, at least seen from a music perspective, has got to be Basin Street.

Of the many artists singing about Basin Street, this has got to be one of the better takes.

Ella Fitzgerald – Basin Street Blues is found on the record “Lullabies of Birdland” released in 1954.

October 16, 2013

"There's a moon over Bourbon Street tonight
I see faces as they pass beneath the pale lamplight
I've no choice but to follow that call
The bright lights the people and the moon and all
I pray everyday to be strong
For I know what I do must be wrong
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over Bourbon Street."

Well when in New Orleans it is hardly possible to not listening to this one… Bourbon Street, here I come!

Sting – Moon over Bourbon Street is found on the record “The dream of the blue turtles” released in 1985.

October 15, 2013

"I've got my suitcase in my hand
Now, ain't that a shame
I'm leavin' here today
Yes, I'm goin' back home to stay
Yes, I'm walkin' to New Orleans."

I may be flying not walking but nevertheless I am heading to New Orleans today. Another of my "wish list places to visit" is a now fact.

Fats Domino – Walking to New Orleans is found on the single “Walking to New Orleans” released in 1960.

October 14, 2013

"Another Mikey took a knife while arguing in traffic
Flipper died a natural death he caught a nasty virus
Then there was the ever-present football player rapist
They were all in love with dying they were doin' it in Texas."

I am spending one more day in Austin and to honor this I just have to listen to what likely, in my humble opinion, is the best song ever recorded by a band that origin from Austin, Texas.

Butthole Surfers – Pepper is found on the record “Electriclarryland” released in 1996.

October 13, 2013

"Today
You were far away
And I
Didn't ask you why
What could I say
I was far away
You just walked away
And I just watched you
What could I say."

Day three of Austin City Limits! Of all the bands playing live today there is one that I will under no circumstances miss, namely my favorite band since 2010 The National.

I cannot wait..

The National – About today is found on the EP “Cherry tree” released in 2004.

October 12, 2013

"Gonna open my heart, out of the scars and listen up
Gonna do what I'm told, though I'm told and listen up
Take a shot in the rain, one for the pain and listen up
I traveled the way."

Day two of Austin City Limits, tonight I will be there when The Cure are closing as headlines of this day. Unfortunately The Cure and Kings Of Leon play live at the same time but then again there is no way  I will choose Kings Of Leon before The Cure.

But I can at least listen to the latest Kings Of Leon as a substitute…

Kings Of Leon – Wait for me is found on the record “Mechanical bull” released in 2013.

October 11, 2013

"For the life of me I cannot remember
what made us think that we were wise and
we'd never compromise
for the life of me I cannot believe
we'd ever die for these sins
we were merely freshmen."

So after months of waiting I am finally there at the Austin City Limits festival. More or less every band that I have listened to a lot the last few years are playing live at ACL and I am there to be part of it all.

The headline of tonight is Depeche Mode and it will of course be fantastic to see them once again. At the same time I am really curious to cross paths with Verve Pipe again. I met the members of Verve Pipe back in 1996; they turned out to be the nicest band that I have ever met. It is great to have them back in the music business again.

Verve Pipe – The freshman is found on the record “Villains” released in 1996.

October 10, 2013

"Deep in the heart of Texas."

Off to Austin today, off to the heart of Texas. I have heard so many awesome things about Austin; I cannot believe I am soon there.

MDC – Deep in the heart is found on the record “Metal devils cokes” released in 1989.

October 9, 2013

"Oh and you said we go where nobody knows, with guns hidden under our petticoats
No we're never gunna' quit it, no we're never gunna' quit it no
Yeah we're dressed in black, from head to toe, we've got guns hidden under our petticoats
We're never gunna' quit it, no we're never gunna' quit it no."

It is my brother's birthday today. With the information that he turns 38 it is easy to figure out that he is borned in 1975.

Of course I will have to choose this band today though I suspect that my brother would hate them if I played them to him. Not his cup of tea musicwise so to speak.

The 1975 - Chocolate is found on the record "The 1975" released in 2013.

October 8, 2013

"And that's why, everybody wants a piece of the action
Everybody needs a main attraction
I've got what everybody needs satisfaction guarantees
That everybody wants a piece of the action."

Action! I for sure want a piece of the action today...

Sweet - Action is found on the record "Give us a wink" released in 1976

October 7, 2013

"I beg to serve, your wish is my law
Now close those eyes and let me love you to death
Shall I prove I mean what I'm saying, begging
I say the beast inside me's gonna get ya, get ya, get..."

I sometimes become too aware of the fact that time flies. Just the other day I was reminded about the sad fact that it is more than three years that Peter Steele, singer and bass player of Type O Negative, passed away.

October rust as real as it is...

Type O Negative - Love you to death is found on the record "October rust" released in 1996.

October 6, 2013

"You complicate my easy life
maybe your filling a function."

Got nostalgic and dug deep down the music memory lane a few nights ago. This was one of the records I found among the stack of CDs I have at home.

Felt surprisingly good to play this one again.

Witness – Scar is found on the record “Before the calm” released in 1999.

October 5, 2013

"We we're pulled from our path
Of least resistance."

I have seen at least1000 concerts in my life, probably a lot more than 1000 concerts but I have never kept track of them.

From time to time I get the question “which is the best concert you have ever seen?” One may believe that is a hard, almost impossible, question to answer but in fact it is a very easy question to answer namely Gary Numan March 17, 1998.

I am of course very glad to have been there in the audience witnessing a concert that was beyond fantastic. At the same time I am a bit sad since I, somewhere deep inside my conscious, is aware that I will never ever witness a better concert.

Gary Numan is about to release new album, his 20th, and likely a tour will follow. Will I be there in the audience? I really do not know; I am afraid that I will spoil a dear memory of mine.

Gary Numan – I am dust is found on the record “Splinter (songs from a broken mind)” is scheduled to be released in 2013.

October 4, 2013

"Oh girl you pick me up when I'm down
You take me to the top when you're round
And I don't think about the hard times but of you."

Well it is once again time for a Friday song that gives the weekend a flying start.

Caesars Palace – Crackin’ up is found on the record “Cherry kicks” released in 2000.

October 3, 2013

"Here only love, don't invent me till you need me."

A very late night many years ago I had trouble falling asleep. As far as I remember there were no specific reason, it was just one of those nights when the Sandman seem to have forgot about visiting my house.

Somewhere in the middle of the night I turned on the radio and if there was something good about not being able to sleep that night it was that this song was played right there in that very moment.

This is how I discovered the wonderful band Mandalay…

Mandalay – Don’t invent me is found on the record “Instinct” released in 2000.

October 2, 2013

"We’re singing for the Stingin’ Belle
She's clearly lost her way
Craving all the simple times
Inside her tragic day."

It is time to add one song to the best rock or punk songs in the world that include sounds of a bagpipe. When hearing the bagpipes in this song I capitulate, there is no defense left, there is no resistance.

Biffy Clyro – Stingin’ belle is found on the record “Opposites” released in 2013.

October 1, 2013

"I'm never alone
I'm alone all the time."

Moving on from Natalie Merchant, this is another song I have not heard in years. One once again it feels like song that was made for the first day of October it is something Autumn-like about this song.

Something fragile, something withering, something like a phase of life about to end.

(By the way... This blog celebrates its second birthday... Hooray!!!)

Bush – Glycerine is found on the record “Sixteen stone” released in 1994.