Dawn Landes @ Club Passim 1-19-10
Dawn Landes, originally from Kentucky, now living in New York City, just released her 3rd album. At least she thinks that’s right. It may be a little more because there are a few EPs thrown in the mix throughout the years. Yes, Dawn has been jamming in the new wave of folk / country scene for roughly ten or so years now. In fact, she played Club Passim about eight years ago. She slung her gee-tar on her back, made the trip on the Fung Wah and played solo during one of Harvard’s folk festivals.
The album is called Sweet Heart Rodeo and the overall theme is about relationships and the way it can feel like you’re riding a bull just to keep everything on track to… happiness? Sure, that sounds about right. In fact, the title track is based on her grandmother who ran away to join the rodeo back in the depression era after her grandfather ran off with all their money.
Dawn and her tour mates – Josh Kaufman and Ray Rizzo – have been playing together for a couple of years. But Ray, the drummer, and Dawn have known each other since her Louisville days. And it shows in their brother / sister like aurora that I got from the both of them. Ray, as both Josh and Dawn claimed, is their renaissance man. He’s not just a drummer, he’s a harmonica player, keyboard and tambourine man all wrapped in one. I’m sure I’m missing one or two other instruments he toyed with. My favorite though was his mini Korg sitting strategically to the right of his kit for easy access.
Not to leave Josh out, he’s written his own song for the album, Dance Area, which matches perfectly with Dawns singing style. He played bass for most of the show but picked up his guitar for various occasions, something that Dawn clearly enjoyed when he did so. And I did too.
While Dawn may have country influences, her vocals are not your typical Dolly Parton type country sound (Dolly happens to be one of her favorite country singers). Combined with her move to New York then to France and back to New York over the past ten or so years, that southern accent has gone bye bye. But she’s able to real in a country tinge here and there where appropriate.
Listen to Dawn and Justin Townes Earle singing a Dolly Parton cover, Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
After Danielle Doyle opened the show, who did her part to make us laugh and even sing a little, Dawn and company came up to put on a very enjoyable show. The majority of the set was filled with songs from Sweet Heart Rodeo. They opened with Wandering Eye, a stand out in my opinion on the album, which may entirely be because I’m a sucker for the harmonica or that she mentions going to Philly, my birth city and also secretly my favorite city (but don’t tell that to my Boston brethren). Oh, wait, I just did.
Romeo, a playful swing and sway tune followed. She sings of being stood up by her boyfriend on her birthday. Men. So typical.
I took a minute to capture live footage with my trusty iPhone camera. Little Miss Holiday is a song that was written about Jodi Foster’s character in Taxi Driver. Watch them play it live:
While she played mostly her new songs, they threw in some covers from time to time. One traditional tune that I think was The Storms Are on the Ocean, an old 60’s French song originally sung by a super model that Dawn said nobody truly understood or listened to her music with a seriousness it deserved. They finished off the night with a Tom Petty song, Southern Accents. Perhaps a slight poke at her lack there of.
But the standout of the night was the song Bodyguard, which is found on her 2006 release, Fireproof
Listen to studio version of Bodyguard
Download Young Love from Sweet Heart Rodeo
Watch the video for Young Love
Buy Sweet Heart Rodeo
(Photo credit: C. Van Slyke – View more Pics at his Tumblr page)
Toussaint and Buru Style @ Johnny D’s 1-15-10
Back in November I stumbled upon an article in the Boston Herald discussing the return of a local legend – Toussaint the Liberator. For years, Toussaint played at Matt Murphy’s in Brookline with the China Band. Nights would get pretty hot and packed at the small Irish style pub in the heart of Brookline. When I use to live on Beacon Street just between Coolidge Corner and Washington Square we would go at least once or twice a month. Many nights spent in the back room hanging out with Bill Carbone, Johnny Trauma, Toussaint and who ever else happened to find themselves out back to grab a smoke. Those were some good times.
But those good times have past. Since then, Toussaint had broken off from the China Band and went on tour with Soulive as their lead man. After a couple years of touring and an album on the legendary Stax Label, they went their separate ways. Not because they didn’t get along, but rather it wasn’t the right fit. Toussaint even made it clear in the Herald article that he still communicates with the band members and has the utmost respect for them and the music they create.
Which brings us to last night. Bill Carbone, a fantastic drummer well known for his chops here in the Boston music circuit. Some of you may remember him from his Miracle Orchestra days. He started Buru Style a couple years back and when Toussaint came back into the fray after being away for a little while from the music scene, he saw a perfect fit for his vocals.
Those of you that are fans of the Budos Band or anything from the Daptone Record label for that matter, will find themselves drawn to Bill’s creation – A keyboard player that also has a Moog (I believe) which helps bring in the funk when needed; two sax players that play tighter then an old sailors knot; a bassist that knows how to lay the grooves and a guitar player, who was surprisingly a crowd favorite towards the end of last nights show. I hadn’t paid much attention to him all night but it took Toussaint to turn, look and make us recognize his guitar players abilities. He had a great way of floating notes in and out of Toussaint’s vocal rhythms. All in all, they do a great job of mixing in the reggae influences with a touch of funk and a boat load of soul.
There’s no question that we saw a very grown up Toussaint last night. Our crew all noticed that immediately upon seeing him on stage. I talked briefly to Bill after the show where he explained they just finished up recording their first album. It’s now going into the mastering phase. They are taking a little break after a few more shows here in January while Toussaint makes a trip down to the islands (Virgin I believe). They’ll be back in Boston at Church in March and if you’re a fan of energy, dancing and seeing one of the best under appreciated vocalists, then I’ll see you there.
They have an EP available in various outlets. You can also pick up the Buru Style instrumental album, The Crab, and Toussaint and The China Band’s album over at their Store.
I shot some amateur video with the phone last night:
Simian Mobile Disco: Cruel Intentions (ft. Beth Ditto)
I haven’t talked much about dance music on hip2besquare in awhile. It’s pretty clear that I have a craving for this type of music in my blood otherwise bands like Hot Chip wouldn’t be on my radar. But the dance / electro scene isn’t exactly my style. If I walked into, lets say, the Heartthrob night at Middlesex Lounge on a regular basis I’d become very well known, real quick. And not for my flashy outfit. Heck, those are a dime a dozen at that show. Nope, I’d be the nerdy looking dude that wears loafers to the party.
Simian Mobile Disco is about as top of your game as you’re going to get with dance music in today’s over populated dance music genre. Hailing from the island of Great Britain, these guys are every where. This little track includes the out spoken songtress, Beth Ditto, who is the front singer for the British group, Gossip.
Starting out innocently enough with a piano line, it immediately reverts to 80’s synth juice within a matter of seconds. Enter Beth. Her power stop singing reminds me of singers like Tina Turner. You know that by looking at her face she’s feeling the intensity of the song but knows how to restrain herself vocally where appropriate. In the chorus as she belts, “Finally…” it’s hard to resist calling out “…It has happened to me”.
Listen:
Download MP3 for free at RCRDLBL
Besides the slowed down action that Heartbreak puts on this tune, there’s not much difference between this mix and the original, but I feel this speed is very fitting for the music and Beth’s vocals to boot.
Michael Cera + New Islands Video = Trippy 80’s Vibe
This kid keeps getting hipper and hipper. Been a fan ever since I jumped on the Arrested Development band wagon a few years back. Here, Michael is recruited by those infectious Canadian indie rockers, Islands.
The song, “No You Don’t”, is part new wave part electronica, it’s even got remnants of Cyndi Lauper’s song, “All Through The Night”. Listen for it just under the melody.
Their third album, Vapours
Can James Mercer not sound like The Shins?
In 2010 we’ll see a number of anticipated albums come out such as the new Hot Chip due out in early February. But one you may not be aware of is an album that is the product of a unique collaboration – James Mercer (lead singer of The Shins) and Danger Mouse. They are calling themselves, Broken Bells.
An interesting combo, but hey, so was the announcement that Cee-Lo Green and Danger Mouse were working together oh so many years ago. But what’s a bigger challenge for DM this time around is dealing with the notion that you can take James Mercer out of The Shins but can you take The Shins out of James Mercer? Lets face it, his vocals are the signature sound of The Shins ever since “Oh, Inverted World” was forced upon Zach Braff’s listening pleasure by Natalie Portman in the move Garden State.
Per usual in this day and age, we get a chance to decide on how Danger Mouse and James did in avoiding the obvious comparisons to James own band. But then again, is it really such a bad thing if all this album does is come out sounding like a Shins album?
Listen to “The High Road”
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Bonus Listen: “Vaporize”
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Thoughts?
About Editor
Name: Luke "Kip" Owen
Location: Boston, MA
Contact: kippy[AT]hip2besquare[DOT]net
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