Carolyn Wonderland, or: Why I love Austin

Before we begin, I'd like to say that I know that this is a very long post, and that that's kind of a turn off. Sorry folks! Feel free to skip to the end for link/video goodness :)

So, a couple of weeks ago my friend Jonathan and I were running around downtown (making our high school history teachers proud) at the Million Musician March for Peace. (Maybe you read about it?) Anyway, while I think that went over splendidly and feel like we really accomplished a lot that day, what I'm interested in talking about today is a certain musician we stumbled across following the actual march.

Having nothing better to do immediately following the protest, we took a seat in the shade and began to chat as musicians and stage-crew swapped various instruments and equipment from the stage, readying it for the next performance. Before we knew it an older gentlemen had taken the microphone and, stage now set-up, announced a certain Carolyn Wonderland was to perform next. With that, a petite redhead sprung forth from the crowd and joined the eclectic mix of poets, musicians, and artists already on stage.

Following some introductory banter, Wonderland grabbed her telecaster and proceeded to blow the entire crowd away with guitar skills that could've rivaled Stevie Ray Vaughn himself. Somehow that managed to go right over our heads, because even though we sat through her entire set, enjoyed it, and ended up staying after for the rest of the performers, we really didn't think too much about any of it after we'd left.

The lady in question, with the telecaster in question.

That's not to say we didn't like her, because later that week when we found out she'd be playing at the Nutty Brown Cafe on the 10th we resolved to see her attend. After all, it's not like we'd made plans for the 10th, and she had played at the protest, after all. I mean, we'd quite liked everything about that protest, so we couldn't go wrong with this, right? Right.

Oh. My. God. We had no idea what we were in for. Carolyn took the stage last night roughly around 9pm (or was it 10?) and, for lack of a better word, dominated.

She started things off with several high-energy, guitar heavy songs, rocking away with intricate runs and a picking style reminiscent of a classical guitarist. (If that classical guitarist hated picks and had in fact originally been a bass player who was quite into slap-style.) It was incredible. Then, after having toned it down for a few songs, she whipped out a mandolin! Nice, we thought to ourselves, as she covered a Hindrix tune on what we eventually decided was the flute of string instruments.

Here she is busting it out on a Les Paul. Photo (c) R.R. Rodriguez

Now, this was all well and good on it's own, right? We were already completely smitten, when, after already having traded the mandolin back in for her original Telecaster, she gives up string instruments entirely in favour of a trumpet! (Is there anything she can't do?) Following a brief solo, she picked up the Tele once more and pretty much continued with it for the rest of the show.

Other memorable moments:

• Carolyn's whistling solo
• Crazy long drum solo while Carolyn and her Keyboardist/Bassist set up for the...
• ...Los Lobos covers at the end (featuring Wonderland and P. Brink on horns!)

She'll be playing at Antone's on the 25th for all you cool cats that live in and around the central texas area. If you can't make it out or would just like to see a full tour schedule, feel free to check out the myspace and her official site.

Also, instead of MP3's today, I give you:



Enjoy!

M.M.N.E.B.B. (an ode to slackers)

I stumbled across this cute little drum machine type thing online today. I do believe I'll have to find a way to work (a variation of) this into my Songs About Band album.

Jackpot, Anybody?

Alright, so, today I'm taking a break from writing about some fabulous-yet-unheard-of band (not that I've been keeping up with that lately anyways, but whatever) in favour of sharing what might just be the greatest thing I've ever stumbled upon.

http://78records.cdbpdx.com/

There's not a whole lot I can say in regards to this site that isn't already explained by the author on the page. What I can do, however, is vouch for it's complete and total awesomeness. Seriously, I've spent the last couple of hours just looking through this thing, finding gem after gem.

Today's song links are to give you a taste of what's to be found on this epic site. Do enjoy, kids.

[mp3] Count Basie - Basie Boogie
[mp3] Ella Fitzgerald w/ Louie Armstrong - Can Anyone Explain

Ahh, I just love the noise in the background.

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down

I was sitting here for about half an hour trying to come up with some witty title before giving up. I just couldn't articulate what it is about them that's so incredible in some short quip, so I'm not even going to bother trying. No, you see, I'll end up wrestling with it through out the entire post.

Hailing from Olympia, the lovely--if not, incredibly eccentric--Thao Nguyen, with the help of her backing band, The Get Down Stay Down, has been eagerly doling out her lovely brand of Indie/Folk magic since before I was born. It is often said that sometime in her twenties she slayed a dragon. This was before she invented her time machine, of course. (Which she subsequently used to go back in time and become the inspiration for leonardo's "Mona Lisa".)*



All that badassery aside, however, she and her band are currently signed to Kill Rock Stars (You may have heard of them? Marnie Stern? Julie Ruin? Gravy Train!!!!? Yeah. I thought so) , where she released her first CD, We Brave Bee Stings and All, earlier this year. She's also currently on tour, and from what I hear (and by "hear" I mean I went to the show and checked this out myself) she puts on one hell of a show. Such energy! Such charisma!

[mp3] Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - Beat (Health, Life, and Fired)
[mp3] Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - Bag of Hammers

She'll be in Austin again August 6th, for all you kids that live around here and what to catch her. For a full list of dates check out her artist page on KillRockStars. If I remember correctly you can also grab a copy of her CD there (you know, if for some weirdo reason you're unable to attend her shows and snag a copy there.)



*The facts portrayed in this paragraph may or may not have been made up on the spot.

IHWV Is Back! Now with improved grammar!

Yes! There's no real post today, in terms of exciting new music and what not. Check out that expression of ecstasy adorning my face though? Yeah. It's there because I'm back to writing about bands and what not, and nothing in the world makes me happier.

On Belaire and my recent hiatus

Oy vey, a week? Really?

My deepest apologies, for reals, but I recently came into computer troubles (like, oh, I don't know, I didn't have one) which kind of impaired my posting abilities. All's well and good now, who's looking forward to more regular updates? Hells yes!

Speaking of hells yes, tomorrow's the 25th, and I'm sure you all know what that means! No, I'm not going on about Baby Mama (although on the reals, I'm super excited about that, too--who has a super duper huge crush on tina fey? this lady), I'm going on about the Belaire show, of course! w00t! And talk about a steal, folks, $6 for not only Belaire, but Elf Power, The Black and White Years, and Yellow Fever. Homygawd, pinch me, this is unreal.

Today, in leu of the hiatus, I give you a bevy of songs to choose from. Enjoy folks.

[mp3] Belaire- Through The Wire

[mp3] Belaire- Shadows Moving on the Wall

[mp3] The Black and White Years- My Broken Hand

[mp3] The Black and White Years- A Wetter Sea

[mp3] Yellow Fever- Hellfire

[mp3] Yellow Fever- Alice

[mp3] Elf Power- Spiral Stairs

[mp3] Elf Power- Midnight Crawls Out

Oh yeah, and I finally got my hands on that Box Social CD I had my eyes on, so look forward to a review sometime over the weekend. Salut!



Edit: Holy crud. Loxly's gonna be there. I think I might cry :3

The Art Party + Trash Trash Trash

The Art Party: Grassroots political party/Collective of progressive hippies (and as a member, I of course mean that in the best possible way) based out of New Orleans, with little branches all over the place.

Trash Trash Trash: Experimental (Hip Hop? Indie? I don't know) band, also hailing from the big easy, who dig singing songs about pot and are currently out of commission (talk about lame.)

So then, how are these two connected? And more importantly, if Trash Trash Trash isn't up to anything why am I writing about them? Well, the answer is propaganda--I mean, PR. Gotta represent, you know?

You see, Trash Trash Trash is a big proponent of said "Art Party", and I'm a big proponent of both. That being said it makes sense for me to give a shout out, no? Exactly.

I really can't say that much though, with out inadvertently repeating something you'd find on either their myspace or the party's website, so I'm not going to ramble on--however, if free albums are what you're into feel free to drop by Trash Trash Trash's page on Last.FM, where you can download their entire EP, 100% free.

And for anyone who'd like a quick sample of their work, I give you:

[mp3] Trash Trash Trash- Art Hrs
[mp3] Trash Trash Trash- Hash Stash

There ya go. And check this out, I finally started hosting my own files (mostly because I was tired of scowering the interweb for 'em.)

w00t!