HOT: Free Energy

August 30, 2009 by · Comments Off on HOT: Free Energy
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My favorite song of the moment, an addictive, guitar fueled, power pop gem, Free Energy, from Philadelphia band Free Energy who are generating quite the buzz with this first single.

Buy the Ltd Edition 7″ Single from DFA
Buy Free Energy on iTunes

By all reports they tore it up at After The Jump Fest yesterday, catch them on tour now in your city.

08/26: Washington, DC @ Black Cat
08/29: Brooklyn, NY @ After the Jump Festival at Littlefield
08/31: Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar
09/01: Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox
09/02: Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern
09/03: Iowa City, IA @ The Music Mill
09/04: Madison, WI @ UW Madison Memorial Terrace
09/05: Minneapolis, MN @ Clapperclaw Festival – Intermedia Arts
09/08: Milwaukee, WI @ Mad Planet
09/09: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
09/10: Buffalo, NY @ Sound Lab
09/11: Philadelphia, PA @ Making Time @ Pure
09/12: New London, CT @ I Am Festival – Waterfront Park

[MYSPACE] [WEBSITE] [FACEBOOK] [TWITTER]

From Langhorne, With Love

August 25, 2009 by · Comments Off on From Langhorne, With Love
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[photo by crackerfarm]

Well, he’s more like New York City Slim these days, but here’s a brand new one from the man that shares a hometown with Bag Of Songs, the one and only Langhorne Slim. I Love You, But Goodbye is the first taste from his new album Be Set Free and sports a soulful, jazz inflected, folk vibe that kind of reminds me of  Van Morrison or early Springsteen.

The album is out September 29th on Kemado Records and Langhorne Slim‘s embarking on what looks like a pretty extensive coast to coast fall tour in support of it that wraps up right here in Philadelphia at one of my favorite venues anywhere, Johnny Brenda’s.

Langhorne Slim – I Love You, But Goodbye
Buy Be Set Free (Available Sept 29th)

Upcoming Shows
10/15 – Bell House – Brooklyn, NY
10/17 – TT The Bears – Cambridge, MA
10/21 – Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
10/22 – Blind Pig – Ann Arbor, MI
10/24 – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI
10/25 – 400 Bar – Minneapolis, MN
10/26 – Waiting Room – Omaha, NE
10/28 – Jackpot – Lawrence, KS
10/29 – Hi Dive – Denver, CO
10/30 – Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT
11/02 – Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA
11/03 – Media Club – Vancouver, BC
11/06 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
11/08 – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA
11/09 – Rhythm Room – Tempe, AZ
11/11 – Mohawk Outside – Austin, TX
11/13 – The Basement – Nashville, TN
11/15 – Cats Cradle – Carrboro, NC
11/16 – The Southern – Charlottesville, VA
11/17 – Rock N Roll Hotel – DC
11/19 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA

[MYSPACE]

BOS Presents : Creatures Of The Golden Dawn & North Lawrence Midnight Singers

August 23, 2009 by · Comments Off on BOS Presents : Creatures Of The Golden Dawn & North Lawrence Midnight Singers
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Come on out this weekend when our monthly Bag Of Songs Presents show moves to Saturday nights at our new location, JD McGillicuddy’s (next to Electric Factory). Kicking it all off this month will be Philly’s own North Lawrence Midnight Singers, whose sound runs deep into rootsy, folk, country territory well blended with a healthy dose of good old rock and roll. Imagine Elvis Costello backed up by The Band and you’ll have a good idea of what they sound like.  Capping the night off will be a rare Philadelphia appearance by Bethlehem, PA legends, Creatures Of The Golden Dawn, the Mark Smith fronted psychedelic garage rock combo that also includes the incendiary lead guitar work of the one and only Brother JT. And best of all the whole mind blowing experience is FREE, that’s right, zero dinero, some come on down and get your late summer party on with two amazing bands on a Saturday night.

North Lawrence Midnight Singers – Friend Of Elvis
Buy And That Old Tyme Living Room Sound
North Lawrence Midnight Singers – All Day, All Night
Buy And That Old Tyme Living Room Sound

Creatures Of The Golden Dawn – Hemlock Row
Buy Standing At The Gates Of Time
Creatures Of The Golden Dawn – Don’t Give It Up Now
Buy An Incident At Owl Creek Bridge
Creatures Of The Golden Dawn – Remembering Memory Lane
Buy Keys To The Kingdom
Creatures Of The Golden Dawn – The Darkest Nights
Buy 1000 Shadows
Creatures Of The Golden Dawn – Satan’s Love Slave
Buy 1000 Shadows

Bag Of Songs Presents:
Creatures Of The Golden Dawn
North Lawrence Midnight Singers

Saturday August 29th
9PM | FREE | 21+up
JD McGillicuddy’s Philadelphia
421 N. 7th Street,(right next door to The Electric Factory)

New Music : Greg Koons And The Misbegotten

August 19, 2009 by · Comments Off on New Music : Greg Koons And The Misbegotten
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Rodney Crowell, Dave Alvin, Radney Foster, James McMurty, all names synonymous with great songwriting, with his new album, Welcome To The Nowhere Motel, Greg Koons firmly cements himself a position on that list as well. The album blends a mix of folk, country and melodic pop with lyrics filled with detail and emotion.  Songs of love and relationships  play like tales from a road long travelled. The pop rush of Elizabeth captures the feeling of a love at first sight crush, Turn Around(2AM On Second Street) is a late night, after last call heartbreak, and  when he sings “Candy used to be a hooker but she ain’t no more” in By The Light Of A Truck Stop Moon you can just imagine the world weary couple who’ve finally found what they’ve been looking for in each other. 

Greg Koons is backed up on this effort by the Misbegotten, a top notch group of performers and musicians in their own right, featuring Matt Keating, who also co-produced the record with Adam Lasus, on piano, organ, and backing vocals, Jason Mercer on bass (Ani DiFranco, Ron Sexsmith), Jordan Richardson on drums (Ben Harper & Relentless 7), Duane Jarvis on dobro (Frank Black, Lucinda Williams), and Kirk Swann on guitar (Dumptruck, John Wesley Harding). Welcome To The Nowhere Motel is an excellent collection of heartfelt songwriting and one of 2009’s overlooked gems.

Greg Koons And The Misbegotten – Los Angeles Looks Prettier On TV
Buy Welcome To The Nowhere Motel

Upcoming Tour Dates
August 18th – Mickey’s Bar and Grill – Lowell, Massachusettes
August 22nd – The Milk Boy – Ardmore, Pennsylvania
August 28th – Open Eye Cafe – Carrboro, North Carolina
August 29th – Sentient Bean – Savannah, Georgia
September 4th – 6th – Texas Music Festival – Meridian, Texas
September 8th – Golden Light Cantina – Amarillo, Texas
September 10th – Bohemeo’s – Houston, Texas
December 19th – Mocha Maya’s – Shelburne Falls, Massachusettes

[MYSPACE]

I’m Gonna Take You On A Trip So Far From Here…

August 5, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
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Earlier this year our friend and fellow blogger-musician The Duke over at The Late Greats one half of the  musical duo Coconut And The Duke,  released a super cool album of avant-folk-jazz called In The Bamboo Forests Of Pennsylvania  that I’ve been seriously remiss in not giving you all more info about. This month the Coconut And The Duke kicked off what they’re promising will be a monthly series of cover tunes set free on the world on the first Tuesday of every month via their blog/website.

Yesterday started off the series by using their unique folk jazz style to reconfigure the DNA on Eddie Money‘s Two Tickets To Paradise from classic rock radio staple into a mandolin laced gypsy jazz gem.  Let’s take a trip, I’m in.

Coconut And The Duke – Two Tickets To Paradise (Eddie Money)
Cover Of The Month Club

[The Late Greats] [Coconut And The Duke]