The buzz continues to build around Tobias Jesso Jr. and his music. The young singer/songwriter with an old school take on melody released his debut album, Goon, earlier this month on True Panther Records to rave reviews from the likes of Pitchfork and New Musical Express. Already being compared to iconic artists such as Randy Newman and Nilsson, the Argyle grad will perform tunes from his new album at a sold out concert at the Electric Owl on Monday, March 30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JIVnLhQawE.
Courtney Barnett has a way with words and she’s in fine Dylanesque form on her latest release, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, out this week on Mom + Pop Music. Barnett performed live in Seattle at the Triple Door as part of KEXP’s VIP Club concert series on July 7, 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtEJuhHWRwc&index=18&list=RDGq5qshxXQ2Q.
Alt-roots diva Allison Moorer performs “Like It Used To Be” the opening track from her new album Down to Believing just released on eOne Nashville: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm3ivWT-1UM.
Action Bronson featuring Chance The Rapper on “Baby Blue” off his new album Mr. Wonderful out this week on Atlantic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVP_w1rQweE. And behind the scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZeaRdP6iME.
Grimes has released a previously unheard, unfinished track “REALiTi” from 2013 sessions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9XKLqGqwLA.
Carly Rae Jepsen convinced Tom Hanks to star in her new video “I Really Like You” which has 16,666,000 clicks and counting at press time. Good boost for Hanks’ career: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV5lzRHrGeg.
Calgary’s Viet Cong are upsetting some people with their choice of a band name. The band, paying homage to the era of Joy Division and Gang of Four, play tunes from their fantastic debut at the Biltmore Cabaret on Saturday, March 28: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW1kP99mok4.
Welsh-born singer/pianist Donna Lewis brings the Bad Plus on board for a career-defining set of tunes mixing originals with covers from the likes of David Bowie (“Bring Me the Disco King”), Neil Young (“Helpless”) and Bacharach/David (“Walk on By”). Great stuff start to finish. She sets things up with her own “Sleep”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr28d1fVreQ.
Smithsonian Folkways’ new 5-CD set of Lead Belly, features a 140-page, large-format book and five hours of music including 16 unreleased tracks. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana showed their appreciation of the man’s music by performing “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” on their 1993 Unplugged in New York sessions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOZKz_sPM6U.
Alex Chilton was still a teenager when The Box Tops’ single “The Letter” went to the top of the charts in August 1967. A new album, Soul Deep: The Box Tops’ Original Albums 1967-69, documents everything the Memphis band recorded during their short-lived heyday. Video clips from the time tell the story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIWY8UyW9bw — The Box Tops performing “The Letter” in a lip-synced 1967 appearance by the band on the old syndicated TV show Upbeat, broadcast out of Cleveland. A new biography of Chilton by Holly George Warren, A Man Called Destruction: The Life and Music of Alex Chilton, From Box Tops to Big Star to Backdoor Man puts the late, great musician in context: www.hollygeorgewarren.com/a_man_called_destruction__the_life_and_music_of_alex_chilton__from_box_tops_to_b_121591.
