the leather canary

r.i.p.

2009-09-20T19:00:00.010-05:00

well, it looks like this thing has run it's course...thanks to everyone who's visited over the past few years...it's been fun, but so long for now. -dc & dg.

The Radiohead Reshape

2009-08-17T14:31:00.003-05:00

The worlds most progressive band is now giving away their music for free. Click the link below to download their new single for free.

related - these are my twisted words

-wiz

All Points Jay-Z

2009-08-01T16:16:00.005-05:00

Due the unfortunate circumstance surrounding MCA's recent health diagnosis, the Beastie Boys had to cancel a number of shows.

All Points West book Jay-Z as the day one headliner to replace the Beastie Boys. The ultimate showman, Jay-Z came out playing the Beastie Boy's classic "No Sleep Til Brooklyn". Which was a huge hit with the crowd and a bit of a homage to the Boys.

related: too many rappers

-wiz

Air Show

2009-07-28T16:23:00.006-05:00

This is my homage to the air show in Milwaukee last weekend, sorry no Van Halen.

Related: yo la tengo- here to fall

-wiz

ask permission if i want to go out fishing

2009-07-27T16:01:00.001-05:00

This past weekend I had the distinct honor of standing up at the wedding of friend and Canary-in-Chief Cohen as he sealed the deal with his lovely bride, Candace. It was a great time in the Motor City - good to see friends old and new as well as the families of the bride and groom.

Dan and Candace are truly a remarkable couple who I’ve enjoyed spending time with over the years. Much to the dismay of our parents, the three of us decided to pursue Electronic Media majors in college. During our course studies we often found in each other, a great resource of collaboration, challenge and inspiration throughout the program. From all of our collective documentaries, mock newscasts and attempts at sketch comedy programming – Candace and Dan always had it – they’ll now rival Poehler + Arnett for top comedy couple. We wish you all the best together.

Here’s their first dance off Dan’s highly coveted C+D 7-25-09 disc (limited to 300 copies nationwide – check ebay you may get lucky).

Download: Tom Waits - Little Trip to Heaven (On The Wings of Your Love)

The Best Hot Tub Since James Brown's

2009-07-27T15:30:00.007-05:00

-wiz

Kings Go Forth - Free Download

2009-07-25T13:06:00.003-05:00

The Kings Go Forth put on a great show last night at Turner Hall. They have expanded their arsenal of songs and sound. Their set included some great covers; Archie Bell's "Love Will Rain on You", Love's "Alone Again Or" and Mayer Hawthorne's "Maybe So, Maybe No".

This was scheduled to be their CD release show, but the CD is not quite ready. But they did hand out download cards to tie their fans over.

J.C. Brooks and the Uptown Sound opened and equally but on a great show. Their cover of Wilco's "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" was better than the video that DC posted a few weeks back.

-wiz

Incase You Missed It or Want to Hear It Again

2009-07-24T09:17:00.004-05:00

Pitchfork once again was a hit. Great music, good people, and a great location. Incase you could not make it down or want to hear it all over again, here are some links to three shows. Enjoy.

The National

Grizzly Bear

M83

- wiz

Monsters In Chicago

2009-07-23T16:01:00.004-05:00

Just announced... supergroup Monsters of Folk will be performing in Chicago at the Auditorium on 10/30. The pre-sale is on 7/28 and regular tickets are on-sale is 8/1. MOF will donate a dollar from each ticket sold to a local charity.

And don't forget the album comes out on 9.22. In the meantime, enjoy the link below.

download: say please - monsters of folk

- wiz

Yim Yames

2009-07-22T15:10:00.001-05:00

It can't come soon enough.

- Wiz

Blitzen Trapper at the Pabst

2009-07-21T22:31:00.004-05:00

Some blogs said Blitzen Trapper sounded like the mid-60's. But they did in fact take the audience on a musical journey. Each song was layered with great classic American rock harmonies and clean sound. They played off each other well both vocally and musically. Even mixing up styles of folk-pop and big guitar rock, all while keeping their harmonies spot-on all night.

Thanks to the gang at the Pabst Theater for the $10 show and 88nine for the live broadcast. And drummer Brian Adrian Koch would make a dynomite Teen Wolf for Halloween.

- Wiz

Related: photo by C.J. Foeckler

Raaaaaaaandy

2009-07-21T10:05:00.002-05:00

-Wiz

Welcome Matt and Kim

2009-07-16T19:11:00.003-05:00

They say that TV is the radio station. Well if that is the case here comes Matt and Kim. Their song "Daylight" has been on heavy rotation on such spots as Bacardi and the new Joel McHale sitcom (which I am very excited for).

I have been a big fan of Matt and Kim for sometime now. They have ventured into some cool partnerships that offer their fans some free music. I hope more is on the way.

- Wiz

Grizzly Bear from the Front Row

2009-07-14T12:33:00.000-05:00

09: Blue Ribbon Vision: Grizzly Bear @ The Pabst Theater from Pabst Theater on Vimeo.

- Wiz

Chicks Dig the Long Ball

2009-07-13T23:34:00.006-05:00

Including a 503 ft blast....congratulations Prince.

download: prince - kiss (daft punk remix)

-Wiz

The Jayhawks

2009-07-13T10:08:00.002-05:00

My friend Tony headed up to the Twin Cities to the Basilica Block Party for The Hold Steady. But to his surprise, he got a bit of a treat on Friday. The hometown boys, The Jayhawks, headline the main stage. Throughout the evening, I kept receiving texts telling me how great they sounded. The last text of the evening said..."Blue with a full choir....amazing."

I have to admit, I was a bit envious. I could only imagine the rich harmonies of Gary Louris and Mark Olson with the rich and soulful sounds of the backing choir.

The Jayhawks are one of forgotten bands in the alt-country movement. But throughout the years they have always released solid albums and singles that will cement them in the alt-country pantheon.

download: the jayhawks - blue

download: the jayhawks - waiting for the sun

-wiz

What's G?

2009-07-09T17:29:00.005-05:00

Get down to the St. Alfred store this weekend and hope you can score some of the limited VIP tickets for Monday screening.

-Wiz

Separated At Birth

2009-07-08T14:09:00.006-05:00

I was walking past The Pabst Theater today and encountered a large poster in the window of Andrew Bird to promote his upcoming shows in October. I never thought of it before but I had to do a double take, he bears a striking resemblance to the actor Sacha Baron Cohen, or vice versa. See for yourself and you be the judge.

download: andrew bird- heretics

-Wiz

Where The Wild Things Are

2009-07-07T14:36:00.007-05:00

I am sure you have heard about the upcoming Spike Jonze film adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's. The trailer looks great and the movies features the voices of some great actors including: James Gandolfini, Forest Whitaker, and Catherine O'Hara.

If you listen closely, you can hear one of my favorite Arcade Fire tunes "Wake Up". Knowing Spike Jonze and his dynamic ear combined with his cinematography skills, this movie could be pretty amazing.

download: the arcade fire - wake up

-Wiz

It Might Get Loud

2009-07-06T14:15:00.009-05:00

related: Mutant Swinger from Mars

-Wiz

Away We Go

2009-07-06T07:10:00.009-05:00

I checked out Away We Go last night. Sam Mendes put together another solid movie with the help a great story written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida.

Credit John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph for turning in top notch performances. Rudolph, one of my favorites from SNL, did an exceptional job with her character.

What really made the film was the warming and heartfelt soundtrack featuring George Harrison, The Velvet Underground, The Stranglers, and Bob Dylan. The soundtrack is centered around Scottish singer-song writer Alexi Murdoch. His sound has been compared to Nick Drake and you can hear it throughout the film.

download: bob dylan - meet me in the morning

download: george harrison - what is life

download: alexi murdoch - all my days

related: maya as whitney

-Wiz

michael jackson

2009-06-25T21:19:00.000-05:00

r.i.p.

the uptown sound...

2009-06-18T20:11:00.003-05:00

...assassin down the avenue. (via fuel friends)

friday funk & soul

2009-06-05T22:15:00.003-05:00

baby huey's having hard times...kind of like the leather canary.

download: baby huey & the babysitters - hard times

related: was a little surprised to hear this track play over the opening credits of jcvd...decent flick though.

buick mackane

2009-06-03T21:44:00.010-05:00

buick mackane was alejandro escovedo's heavy hitting, early nineties, part-time austin based rock band...they released their only lp, called the pawn shop years, in 1997, though it was recorded somewhat earlier (during the band's pawn shop years, i imagine)...& like most everything alejandro escovedo's involved in, it's pretty fucking awesome.

download: buick mackane - the end

download: buick mackane - falling down again

download: buick mackane - say goodnight

related: a version of the second tune up there, "falling down again", also closed out escovedo's 1992 solo debut, as the second half of the album's lofty title track...& it was perfected, in a medley with lou reed's "street hassle", for the incredible live album, more miles than money a few years later.

download: alejandro escovedo - gravity/falling down again

download: alejandro escovedo - gravity/falling down again/street hassle (10/14/96)

related: chuck klosterman wrote a great paragraph about marc bolan in his book, killing yourself to live, & considering buick mackane took their name from one of bolan's song's, here it is:

"Marc Bolan: Arguably the most pretentious wizard in glam-rock history, Bolan fronted T. Rex, claimed to author science fiction novels that were never published, and honestly believed it was a good idea to name an album "Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow: A Creamed Cage in August". With his signature top hat and solid-gold easy action, Bolan loved to sing about cars: He claims to have driven a Rolls-Royce, apparently because it was good for his voice. He loved his Cadillac. He once pursued a woman named Buick McKane, and he was a jeepster for her love. He even had "highway knees," whatever the fuck that's supposed to signify. And this was all somewhat paradoxical, since Bolan never learned how to drive; the irony is further extended when one considers that he died in a 1977 car accident, two weeks before his 30th birthday (his girlfriend drove them both into a tree). Bolan glorified a machine he could not operate, only to have that same machine spell his doom. The lesson: Be careful what you wish for, lest you get it."

download: t. rex - buick mackane

koko taylor

2009-06-03T19:23:00.001-05:00

r.i.p.

download: koko taylor - wang dang doodle (live)

paul simon + the roots + antibalas

2009-06-03T19:01:00.015-05:00

related: simon & martin

whoa!

2009-06-03T11:35:00.002-05:00

http://www.croz.fm/pages/archive.html

jay bennett

2009-05-25T22:18:00.003-05:00

r.i.p.

download: wilco - pieholden suite

download: jay bennett - replace you

download: jay bennett - talk and talk and talk

galifianakis, ep. 5

2009-05-25T09:54:00.004-05:00

galifianakis, ep. 4

2009-05-11T20:03:00.003-05:00

steve powers

2009-05-09T10:25:00.000-05:00

white freightliner blues

2009-05-03T13:29:00.019-05:00

check out my cousin andrew, jamming to an old townes van zandt number in a little bar on the other side of the world...boy's got some pipes, right...he's also further proof that my mom's the reason i can't grow a decent beard...if you're ever in jerusalem, keep your eyes open...apparantly, he's a yiddish mountain boy.

download: townes van zandt - white freightliner blues (live)

related: steve earle, who once said, "townes van zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, & i'll stand on bob dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that," (to which townes replied, "i've met bob dylan's bodygaurds, & if steve thinks he can stand on bob dylan's coffee table, he's sadly mistaken) is releasing an album, consisting solely of van zandt covers, next week...he recently cleared up that quote, by saying "i was asked for a blurb, & that's what i said. it was literally a sticker. do i believe that he was a better writer than bob dylan? no. do i believe he deserves to be talked about in the same breath as bob dylan? yes. & i think bob dylan does, too. i was opening for dylan in 1988, and the first night i was on the tour bob played 'pancho and lefty'."...so, whatever.

download: steve earle - white freightliner blues

spaceballs (the videotape)

2009-04-29T16:47:00.016-05:00

related: wilco (the album)

i guess this title is confirmed, but when i "spoke with the band" on sunday, they said they hadn't yet made up their minds...of course, they were probably just trying to get rid of me, but still...for the record, the official leather canary interview went something like this:

the leather canary: hey guys, i'm a big fan, mind if sit down & take a picture?

jeff tweedy: uh, sure, let me move my bag.

tlc: so, you excited to get home for a couple weeks?

jt: yeah.

tlc: and how's the new album sound? good?

glenn kotche: it sound's great.

tlc: cool, you guys pick out a title yet?

gk: no, not yet.

tlc: alright, well thanks a lot.

jt: no problem.

tlc: i'm wearing your t-shirt.

jt: yeah, i see that.

tlc: okay, bye.

yeah, so i was a little brain dead from the past few days, but i thought it went alright...not nearly as good as my "talk with mavis" went on thursday, but i think i'll keep that moment for myself...anyway, new orleans was amazing...& the festival was incredible...here's what i dug most about it; the gospel soul children's tamborine player, roy rogers & the delta rhythm kings bringing out long tall marcia ball, booker t & the dbt's doing "time is tight", mavis singing mahalia (oh my god!), the dancing at rebirth, shamarr allen's & boe money's playing (& surfing) during galactic, wilco pulling out all the stops, the budos band's heavy funk at house of blues, & of course shufflin' on stage with sharon (& really, no one should ever be forced to watch themselves dance)...so, it was my first time down & i can't wait to get back...huge thanks to all my boys, & especially my brother, for making it happen...couldn't have asked for a better time.

update: wilco (the fundraiser)
update: wilco (the lawsuit)
update: wilco (the album cover)
update: wilco (the stream)

Hoodoo Voodoo

2009-04-26T17:57:00.009-05:00

Check out this shot coming home via Chicago. Props to the best man for picking a solid airline and winning travel times. Unfortunately in my case, Northwest Airlines has given new meaning to "Sequestered in Memphis".

Related: Mavis Staples
Related: Sharon Jones Dance Off

James Jarvis

2009-04-26T14:00:00.004-05:00

Download: Caribou - Crayons

Shawn Mortensen

2009-04-24T00:07:00.003-05:00

R I P

minivan highway

2009-04-21T22:22:00.002-05:00

i go down to the river, & there i be...

2009-04-21T21:28:00.006-05:00

"You could tell in their music they know where they're coming from and they know where they're going. Each one had an extremely special interest in what they were doing. If you listen to the sound of the way Robbie's notes pop out of his guitar -it must be how far down on the fret he presses the strings- it comes out a very special Robbie way of life. And Garth, the same thing. Garth'll take what normally would be a B-3 but with a little something that only comes from him. And, of course, Rick Danko, his approach, there's nothing like it. Some people you can tell what school of thought they come from on bass or the guitar. I don't know where Rick Danko comes from. I don't know his source of reference on the bass. I couldn't put my finger on anything there. It just was his very own thing and I think it was perfect. They dance by a different drummer, all the time. There was nothing stock about them. Coming together as a group, that magic that formed such individual love and interest, I just felt really good."

-allen toussaint, on the band.

"It was such a pleasure to work with Allen and then have him be so excited about working with us. We asked him, 'What do you want, a piano?' He said, 'No, just a tape recorder and some music sheets, some blank paper.' So we gave him a tape recorder with earphones and he just wrote that off the top of his head. He's a genius."

-rick danko, on allen tousaint, who composed the horn arrangements for the band's 1971 new years run at the academy of music, nyc.

download: the band - don't do it (live)

related: is it possible that danko actually outdid the james jamerson's base line from the holland-dozier-holland original? believe it.

download: marvin gaye - baby, don't you do it

related: couldn't quite pony up the $500 to see allen toussaint perform this thursday night at the 2009 foundation gala down in new orleans, but maybe i'll see him marching down the street over the weekend...in any case, he's got a new jazz album out today called the bright missisippi & it's excellent.

download: allen toussaint - bright mississippi

video: piano players rarely ever play together

related: speaking of new albums, levon helm is following up his phenomenal 2007 release, dirt farmer, with one called electric dirt on june 30th...he'll also be rambling through the chicago theatre on june 9th...i'll be front & center.

download: levon helm - white dove

video: king harvest/long black veil

big easy

2009-04-21T20:22:00.005-05:00

we're heading down to jazz fest in a few days, so i thought i'd throw up a couple audio tracks from the new wilco dvd, recorded live at tipitina's last year, to get in the mood...the film looks & sounds great by the way.

download: wilco - the late greats (live)

download: wilco - kingpin (live)

related: in addition to wilco, & of course mavis, one of the acts i'm probably most excited to see this weekend is booker t. & the dbt's, whose new record, potato hole, is fantastic....unfortunately, neil young, who plays guitar on the album, won't be showing up 'til next week.

download: booker t. - get behind the mule

"the man asked for a grape soda, carl!"

2009-04-21T11:57:00.005-05:00

amazing.

related: michael & michael have issues

unrelated: yes.

soul angel

2009-04-19T15:51:00.015-05:00

can't say i know anything about beyonce's baby sister, or that i'd ever heard the cee-lo greeen/jack splash penned number she sang on jimmy fallon the other night...but that "island letter" intro is the best. (via goldenfiddlr)

download: shuggie otis - island letter

Birds Be Singin

2009-04-17T22:45:00.006-05:00

Download: Biz Markie - It's Spring Again

forte!

2009-04-06T13:48:00.006-05:00

(via goldenfiddlr)

related: easter version

friday funk & soul

2009-04-03T15:53:00.002-05:00

tomorrow night! be there!

download: syl johnson - right on

download: renaldo domino - let me come within

download: the notations - i can't stop

download: nate evans - main squeeze

download: the final solution - where there's a will

related: practice makes perfect

the substance of style, pt 1

2009-04-01T18:23:00.013-05:00

(watch the video, via goldenfiddlr)

update: pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5

"you're fuckin' out"

2009-03-23T17:28:00.006-05:00

only six episodes? what the fuck?

download: shawn lee's ping pong orchestra - kiss the sky

related: it was definitely getting dark as the track above closed out the first season of eastbound & down last night (best show ever?)...but if you're looking to lighten the mood a little, check out shawn lee's latest release, soul in the hole, which features guest spots from dorando, nicole willis & the bees' paul butler...out tommorow.

download: shawn lee - soul in the hole

a positive rage

2009-03-12T23:00:00.000-05:00

(via stereogum)

muy largo video

2009-03-11T21:57:00.003-05:00

celebración de la ciudad natal

"she calls it garfunkeling"

2009-03-02T20:40:00.006-06:00

download: art garfunkel - break away

Death Rock City

2009-02-27T23:44:00.004-06:00

Lost and forgotten OG Punks from the Motor City. Love it when stuff like this is uncovered and sees a proper release (read via Guardian).

fats tuesday

2009-02-24T18:09:00.003-06:00

download: fats domino - blue monday

download: fats domino - walking to new orleans

download: fats domino - let the four winds blow

download: fats domino - mardi gras in new orleans

for your consideration

2009-02-22T18:16:00.008-06:00

heads up, chicago...after quickly selling out their july 22nd gig at wrigley field last week, elton john & billy joel have gone ahead & added a second show for july 16th, on sale tomorrow morning...i can't say i ever got that into billy joel (well, maybe his earlier work), but elton john is a god damn musical genius, or at least he was in the early seventies...& while there's little chance he'll play anything but the hits, what's a few hundred bucks to watch two old fatties play the piano from the upper deck?...hey, it's worth considering..also worth considering, these two bonus tracks tacked onto the 1995 reissue of tumbleweed connection.

download: elton john - into the old man's shoes

download: elton john - madman across the water (original version)

unrelated: "ryan started the fire"

friday funk & soul

2009-02-20T20:55:00.010-06:00

download: bob & gene - gotta find a way
download: bob & gene - your name
download: bob & gene - i can be cool

"basically songwriting is songwriting"

2009-02-20T20:01:00.010-06:00

related: this tune was playing in the grocery store the other day when it caught my ear...then i found out that it was co-written by walter becker, so i thought i'd throw it up here.

download: madeleine peyroux - you can't do me

i've got my own album to do

2009-02-17T16:56:00.000-06:00

in case you missed it, the lovely ladies over at when you awake put together a wonderful pair of valentines mix tapes the other day with a little help from the likes of langhorne slim, howlin' rain, & dr. dog, among others...& believe it or not, the canary was lucky enough to contribute one of our favorites as well, ronnie wood's "mystifies me", from his incredible 1974 solo debut, i've got my own album to do (later covered by son volt for their debut, trace)...anyway, the track led me to revisit the album as a whole, which woody put together between gigs with the faces & the stones, along with a few friends, including keith richards, mick jagger, george harrison, rod stewart, ian maclagan & willie weeks (the baddest bass player in the country!)...it's a loose, funky, forgotten gem from a legend who rarely seems to put himself front & center, even when his name is on the album cover.

download: ron wood - i can feel the fire

download: ron wood - act together

download: ron wood - crotch music

unrelated: in addition to rumors of reunion tours & collaborations, it appears that rod the bod is all set to step into the studio with none other than the dap-kings (nice!)...unfortunately, this info comes along with the news that daptone records was robbed last week (drag!).

real easy-like

2009-02-15T09:50:00.005-06:00

Perfection for a Sunday morning...

Download: The Olympians - How Can I Love (Now That You're Gone)

friday funk & soul

2009-02-13T13:22:00.004-06:00

happy valentine's day.

download: syreeta - i love every little thing about you

download: syreeta - harmour love

download: gary bartz ft. syreeta - my funny valentine

elvis's got the steely dan t-shirt

2009-02-13T11:29:00.010-06:00

zooey & jenny probably would have nailed the "lost wages" refrain if asked to sing along, but this is still pretty awesome. (via stereogum)

download: steely dan - show biz kids

download: rickie lee jones w/ joe jackson - show biz kids

not a font

2009-02-08T11:31:00.004-06:00

I'm even guiltier than usual on lack of postings, but i guess that's currently the way The Lazy Canary has been rolling. Here's a new one on my radar that I've had on repeat. I was going to start throwing out some comparisons but i'll let you decide for yourself. Really feeling this track and excited to jump into their album The Acrobats released last summer I think.

Download: Helvetia - Old New Bicycle

friday funk + soul

2009-02-06T11:48:00.003-06:00

Download: The Fabulous Souls - Take Me

dayton for under $900 a day

2009-02-05T23:07:00.003-06:00

(via michael showalter)

ramble on

2009-02-03T22:29:00.008-06:00

check out this great audio interview with levon helm, recorded last month at his kitchen table after one of his famous midnight rambles (via when you awake)...& then check out a couple tracks from levon's 1977 studio release with the rco allstars (which i'm guessing was around the same time that picture up there was taken)...the rco allstars, by the way, were dr. john, booker t. jones, paul butterfield, steve cropper, donald 'duck' dunn, fred carter jr., howard johnson, alan rubin, lou marini, & tom 'bones' malone.

download: levon helm & the rco allstars - washer woman

download: levon helm & the rco allstars - a mood i was in

download: levon helm & the rco allstars - havana moon

unrelated: ramblin' guy

gene ween at the tonic room

2009-02-03T19:48:00.011-06:00

so, dave mentioned this, but about a hundred of us crammed into the tonic room friday night for an incredibly intimate evening of music with the one & only gene ween...& the guy was literally all smiles all night, giggling after each song, messing around with the crowd, doing the harmonica thing "for the first time", opening with the first tune he ever learned to play on guitar (side 1, track 1), singing a fucking acappella prince medley...it was just surreal...& i think dave summed up the night perfectly when he said after the show, "i've finally got something to tell my grandkids about"...he was serious...huge thanks again to joe c. for hooking us up...we had the best time.

setlist:

tell me why [neil young]

she wanted to leave

baby bitch

oh my dear (download)

marble tulip juicy tree

buckingham green

birthday boy

don't get 2 close 2 my fantasy

the grobe

chocolate town

tried and true (abandoned)

stay forever (download)

tried and true (abandoned again)

your party (w/ saxaphone)

pork roll egg and cheese (what?)

the mollusk

what deaner was talkin' about

-smoke break-

the beautiful ones [prince] (acappella)

if i was your girlfriend [prince] (acappella)

purple rain [prince] (acappella)

the blarney stone

adore [prince] (acappella)

polka dot tale

gener's gone

help me scrape the mucus off my brain (download)

right to the ways and the rules of the world

previously: the mollusk sessions

everlasting love

2009-02-02T19:24:00.000-06:00

shhhhhhh.

Severed on Platters of Purest Gold

2009-01-31T10:53:00.006-06:00

Unless you're friends with Joe C, you'll have to try and catch Gener Band at Schuba's tonight. Last nights private party at Tonic Room review and pics to follow - much love to the magic man for hooking us up big time. No Alan P last night but sure there will be some in the full band treatment tonight.

Download: Gene Ween Band - Eye In The Sky
Download: Alan Parsons - I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You

friday funk & soul

2009-01-30T17:15:00.008-06:00

yeah, neither of the tracks below are actually from the album above...but she looks good in that dress, right?

download: margie joseph - sweeter tomorrow

download: margie joseph - come lay some lovin' on me

john martyn

2009-01-30T16:59:00.003-06:00

r.i.p.

download: john martyn & beverly martin - stormbringer

download: john martyn - may you never

noble beast

2009-01-28T21:28:00.010-06:00

i was lucky enough to catch andrew bird 94 floors up about two weeks ago, performing solo in the john hancock observatory...it was pretty fucking awesome...as is his new album, which may be his most accessible release to date, at least musically...& while i've been listening to it constantly, & really enjoying it, i haven't got a clue what the dude's singing about...i mean it sounds great, it's just over my head...& too make matters worse, even after reading his own explanations of the songs i still don't get them (although it does make me feel a little better that even andrew bird doesn't quite know what "souverian" is about)...oh well, whatever he's trying to say, i dig it...& the other disc is instrumental, so, that's cool.

download: andrew bird - tenuousness

download: andrew bird - anonanimal

download: andrew bird - nyatiti

related: "very impressive" -paul

friday funk & soul

2009-01-23T22:54:00.001-06:00

i'm guessing if marvin were still alive he might rework the lyrics to this one, which was written about nixon in 1972 for an unreleased album of the same name...still, great stuff.

download: marvin gaye - you're the man, pt. 1

download: marvin gaye - you're the man, pt. 2

unrelated: what a douche

to the capital...

2009-01-21T17:33:00.007-06:00

...gainin' on ya!

download: parliament - chocolate city

sound check

2009-01-21T09:22:00.000-06:00

hooray!

2009-01-20T23:34:00.001-06:00

the good shepard

2009-01-19T23:33:00.002-06:00

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Shepard Fairey

observed

2009-01-19T21:24:00.005-06:00

We met Dr. King in 1963 at Montgomery, Alabama. We happened to be there, we were working there that night. And Pops called us all to his room that Sunday morning and said, "Listen you all, I'm going down to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church to see Dr. Martin Luther King. I've been hearing this man and I want to see him and I want to meet him." So he wanted to know if we wanted to go with him. We said, "Yeah, Daddy, we want to go." We all went to his church at 11 o'clock service. Dr. King was a young man. Coretta King was singing in the choir, she had a baby in the arms. And he acknowledged us and at the end of the service, Dr. King stands at the back of the church at the door, to shake hands with everyone. And he spoke to Pops. He talked for a while. We get back to the hotel and Pops called us to his room again. He said, "Listen you all, I really like this man's message. And I think if he can preach that, we can sing it." And we said, "Okay, Daddy." So we started writing protest songs. Our first protest song we wrote was March Up Freedom's Highway. That was for the march from Montgomery to Selma. Then we wrote Washington Is A Long Walk to D.C. for the march to Washington D.C., and on and on. We'll Get Over. When Will We Be Paid For The Work We Done. We joined the movement. We traveled with Dr. King, to help raise funds for the movement. Pops wrote a song called Why Am I Treated So Bad. He had seen the Little Rock 9, you know, we were sitting in the living room, watching the news, Pops laying back in the recliner. And everyone had given these kids permission to go to school, I mean, to board that bus. The governor, the mayor, the president. Everyone had given them permission to board the bus. This particular morning when they got ready to board the bus, a policeman put his billy club across the door. And Pops laying back in the recliner, he said, "Now why they doin' that? Why they treatin 'em like that? Why they treatin 'em so bad?" He started writing that song right then. And that turned out to be Dr. King's favorite. Any time we were together, he would say, "Stape, you gonna sing my song tonight, right?" Pops said, "Yeah, we gonna sing it, Doctor, we gonna sing it." So that was some cherished memories, meeting Dr. King and, and traveling with him, listening to him speak every night. Just moments you'll never forget. - mavis staples

download: mavis staples - why am i treated so bad (live)
download: mavis staples - freedom highway (live)

friday funk & soul

2009-01-16T20:43:00.011-06:00

my favorite artist would have to be james jamerson, a.k.a. the hook, one of my favorite bass players. i love the way he would put notes together. the secret ingredient of motown. i also have to give a special shout out to the jackson 5's cover of "doctor my eyes." -adam yauch

download: the jackson 5 - darling dear (james jamerson, bass)

download: the jackson 5 - doctor my eyes

a cowboy song

2009-01-16T17:55:00.016-06:00

so, my brother & i joined the hold steady in support of numerous cubs charities last night at the house of blues, & even though we intentionally showed up almost two hours late, we still somehow managed not to miss tom morello walk on stage for the opening set...to be honest though, he really wasn't that bad, a little overzealous at times, & obviously taken back somewhat by the crowd's lack of enthusiasm (which was sort of hilarious), but he actually sang some pretty decent folk songs (in a sort of bad imitation of joe strummer kind of way), he also did a nice cover of "ghost of tom joad" & brought out the coup's boots riley for a new collaboration that sounded almost exactly like rage against the machine, except, you know, with boots riley, who's awesome...so, not a total wash, but i think when "the nightwatchman" (which is what morello kept calling himself) finally finished, more people were clapping for what was coming up than what they had just seen...& that was completely understandable, because the hold steady came out & put on the same incredible, high energy show they always do...craig said some nice things about the cubs (to tune of "hey, at least they're not the yankees, right?"), & they broke things up a little with a great version of "cheyenne sunrise", which i had never heard live before...they called it "a cowboy song", & i kept thinking how great it would be to hear them play the real "cowboy song", but they didn't...not much else to say, great show, great time, no "killer parties"...& craig looks exactly like a young lin brehmer.

download: the hold steady - cheyenne sunrise

download: thin lizzy - cowboy song (the peel sessions)

Be kind to animals and trees

2009-01-14T21:20:00.017-06:00

click on MORE after the tour clip to see even more wayne with in an exclusive interview.

Related: borderline?

grumpy old man

2009-01-13T23:14:00.000-06:00

(via huffington post)

saxamaphone

2009-01-13T09:02:00.001-06:00

ryan pickett presents, in association with pickettmax films: candles and panties ‘08 - the itunes ep - live in las vegas! a ryan pickett production. the purpose of this ep is to provide the listener with a sensual and deeply personal method for relaxational listening. it is to be enjoyed on a candle-lit bench, a secluded nook, or a sensuous dinner party. under the careful guidance and watchful eye of ryan pickett, we have developed a highly pleasing method of subtle sensation! who knows how deep thine gentle touch? please to enjoy this ep! -my morning jacket

download: my morning jacket - from nashville to kentucky (live)

2008: listed (pt. 2)

2009-01-12T17:39:00.010-06:00

caught an early showing of gran torino last night with dg...& while he may have been more interested in the pabst product placement than the actual movie, i found it surprisingly hilarious & actually pretty heartfelt...& the notion that clint eastwood (who was great by the way) made this film in a matter of months only makes the finished product more impressive (dude even sings his own song during the closing credits)...anyway, i made it home for the last hour or so of the golden globes & with the exception of mickey rourke's best actor win (& the thanking of his dogs, past & present) it was pretty worthless...i mean, slumdog millionaire's an alright movie, but sort of a poor man's city of god, right?...& danny boyle did "feel good" much better in 2004's underrated family film, millions...at least that's what i think...i also think these were my favorite movies & tv shows of the past year.

01. wall-e

02. milk

03. the wrestler

04. the visitor

05. the dark knight

06. iron man

07. role models

08. snow angels

09. pineapple express

10. frost/nixon

01. generation kill

02. the daily show/the colbert report

03. the wire

04. lost

05. mad men

06. the office

07. 30 rock

08. john adams

09. the sarah silverman program

10. breaking bad

related: obama's top five

related: while i may see the golden globes as worthless, my good friend kristen sees them as her superbowl...when i asked her how she could possibly defend watching eight full hours of red carpet coverage on three different channels, she responded by sending me her own top ten list filled with her favorite moments from last night's show...yikes.

1. Tracy Morgan's acceptance speech; "Tina Fey and I had an agreement that if Barack Obama won, I would talk for the show from now on…” Oh, and he made sure to give a shout out to the Craft Services Ladies, they never get enough praise for their work with starving actors.

2. Marky Mark vs. Ari Gold; on the red carpet Mark Wahlberg made fun of Jeremy Piven’s mercury poisoning by asking him if he was contagious.

3. Heath Ledger wins for his portrayal of The Joker in arguably the best movie of the year, The Dark Knight.

4. Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange; seriously, what the fuck was up with all the hand holding?

5. Dear J. Lo, trying to recapture your youth may have worked when you were with Diddy, but honey you cannot pull that off with Marc Anthony by your side.

6a. Best Dressed: Anne Hathaway - navy is in; Eva Longoria - I guess she put those pregnancy rumors to rest; Kate Beckinsale- people always forget about her but those earring were stunning; Eva Mendez- Candace’s secret crush, watch out Dan; Jennifer Morrison - love that blue.

6b. Worst Dressed: Heidi Klum - she probably weighs 90 lbs but in that dress she looked like she was carrying a 20 lb baby in her pouch; Renee Zellweger - what was that?; Maggie Gyllenhall - not surprising, she rarely gets it right; Cameron Diaz - most consistently fugly person on the red carpet; Tina Fey - she looked like a mess from hair and makeup down.

7. WTF Megan Fox; when asked on the red carpet where her fiancé Brian Austin Green was (some of you may remember him from the best show that was ever made), she replied, "He doesn't want to be here. He doesn't want to be my date. He's a man, he has an ego. I don't think he cares." Then she went on to say this crazy shit, “I'm a tranny. I'm a man. I'm painfully insecure, like I'm on the verge of vomiting right now, I'm so horrified that I'm here, and embarrassed, I'm scared." But I do have a 22 inch waist. BREAK UP WITH HER DAVID SILVER!!!

8. Where was Reese Witherspoon? She is usually the best dressed at these things.

9. Alec Baldwin thanked his daughter, Ireland. The same daughter he called a thoughtless piggy. Guess he's still paying for that.

10. Colin Ferrell assured the audience his sniffling was because of a cold and that “it is not the reason it used to be." Right.

Walking down the road

2009-01-11T15:53:00.004-06:00

The 1971 Studio One release from Dennis Brown If I Follow My Heart is strong all the way through, but his version of "Johnny Too Bad" just may be the toughest.

Download: Dennis Brown - Johnny Too Bad
Download: Dennis Brown - Little Green Apples
Download: Dennis Brown - Grooving Out On Life

friday funk & soul

2009-01-09T21:03:00.004-06:00

download: king curtis - memphis soul stew (live)

tweedy sings fake plastic trees

2009-01-08T20:35:00.004-06:00

related: ashes of american flags...from the guys who shot this & this, but not this.

related: 02/13-14/09: tweedy, solo @ the vic

ocean man

2009-01-08T20:17:00.006-06:00

how am i just finding out about this?

ween, the mollusk sessions, jersey shore, 1995 (zip)

01. mutilated lips

02. cold blows the wind

03. the mollusk

04. waving my dick in the wind

05. kim smoltz

06. ocean man

07. koko

08. did you see me?

09. flutes of the chi

10. she wanted to leave

11. vinnie the eel

unrelated: uh-oh

what?

2009-01-07T19:55:00.005-06:00

unrelated: what?!

2008: listed

2008-12-30T09:31:00.045-06:00

another year gone by...time to reflect on all the remarkable new music that was heard over the past twelve months...in list form...so here, along with a bunch of songs from other albums i really liked, are my favorite releases of 2008...thanks to all of you for stopping by the leather canary this year...see you in the next one.

01. blitzen trapper - furr

download: furr

download: black river killer

02. the hold steady - stay positive

download: sequestered in memphis

download: slapped actress

03. dr. dog - fate

download: hang on

download: the rabbit, the bat, and the reindeer

04. the moondoggies - don't be a stranger

download: ain't no lord

download: changing

05. my morning jacket - evil urges

download: look at you

download: touch me i'm going to scream, pt. 2

06. plants and animals - parc avenue

download: faerie dance

download: feedback in the field

07. she & him - volume one

download: change is hard

download: sweet darlin'

08. fleet foxes - self titled

download: he doesn't know why

download: blue ridge mountains

09. howlin' rain - magnificent fiend

download: calling lightning pt. 2

download: el rey

10. david byrne & brian eno - everything that happens...

download: life is long

download: strange overtones

honorable mentions...

download: beck - chemtrails

download: the black keys - psychotic girl

download: black mountain - angels

download: bon iver - skinny love

download: bonnie 'prince' billy - i'll be glad

download: brendan canning - churches under the stairs

download: catfish haven - set in stone

download: centro-matic - two seats gold reserved

download: drive-by truckers - perfect timing

download: alejandro escovedo - chelsea hotel '78

download: the felice brothers - frankie's gun!

download: fleet foxes - mykonos

download: frightened rabbit - good arms vs. bad arms

download: lambchop - sharing a gibson with martin luther king jr.

download: langhorne slim - colette

download: jenny lewis - tryin' my best

download: stephen malkmus & the jicks - gardenia

download: menahan street band - home again!

download: mgmt - kids

download: mudcrutch - scare easy

download: okkervil river - lost coastines

download: parts & labor - nowheres nigh

download: port o'brien - i woke up today

download: quiet village - keep on rolling

download: silver jews - strange victory, strange defeat

download: mavis staples - this little light (live)

download: sun kil moon - the light

download: tv on the radio - family tree

download: vetiver - hurry on sundown

download: the war on drugs - taking the farm

delaney bramlett

2008-12-29T19:31:00.000-06:00

r.i.p.

download: delaney & bonnie & friends - poor elijiah/tribute (medley)
download: delaney & bonnie & friends - coming home

unrelated: freddie hubbard, r.i.p.

my morning jacket, live in chicago

2008-12-29T09:37:00.015-06:00

if any of you are looking for a belated christmas gift for me, i'd like a suzuki omnichord, like the one jim james played at the chicago theatre last night...just throwing that out there...fantastic show by the way...i'm consistently surprised by how amazed i am at these jacket concerts, & after seeing them close to a dozen times, i know that the only thing i should have been surprised by was jim james showing up clean shaven...seriously, they're the best live band working today, & they continue to blow my mind every time...& that encore was just sick...look out nyc.

setlist:

at dawn

it beats 4 u

evil urges

i'm amazed

gideon

what a wonderful man

golden

i will sing you songs

lowdown

sooner (download)

thank you too

anytime

remnants

lay low (download)

highly suspicious

off the record

i think i'm going to hell

smokin from shootin

touch me i'm going to scream pt. 2

run thru

---

look at you

nashville to kentucky

steam engine

cobra (download)

one big holiday

the mayer

2008-12-26T21:37:00.002-06:00

Check out Detroit representing with this funky newcomer on Stonesthrow.
Hard to believe this is a new cut - definitely fooled me. Style and harmony
actually sound pretty similar at times to label mate Dudley Perkins.
Pick up the heart shaped 7" here.

Download: Mayer Hawthorne + The County - Just Ain't Gonna Work Out

Natty Christmas

2008-12-25T11:28:00.007-06:00

Download: Jacob Miller - On The Twelve Day of Ismas

Download: Joe Gibbs Family - Christmas Medley

Unrelated: Bryan Adams Xmas

astronaut jones

2008-12-23T14:16:00.017-06:00

i was looking for a christmas video to post before i took off for a few days, but this was better than almost everything i came across...so, merry christmas everybody, hope it's a good one. (via goldenfiddlr)

happy hanukkah!

2008-12-22T16:32:00.003-06:00

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Oy To The World

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

the leather canary hanukkah mix
01. woody guthrie - hanukkah dance
02. beck - little drum machine boy
03. stephen colbert & jon stewart - can i interest you in hanukkah?
04. ben kweller - rock of ages
05. fountains of wayne - have a swinging hanukkah

a christmas present to you...

2008-12-21T10:02:00.003-06:00

...from my morning jacket & louisville radio station, wfpk. (via muzzle of bees)

my morning jacket, wfpk, 12.21.01 (zip)
01. introduction
02. santa claus is back in town
03. xmas curtain
04. o holy night
05. interview pt. 1
06. xmas time is here again
07. old september blues
08. i will sing you songs
09. interview pt. 2
10. silent night
11. come closer

friday funk & soul

2008-12-19T16:18:00.003-06:00

shit is fucked up...see flow, courtesy of mca.

download: fela kuti - water no get enemy

deviled eggs!

2008-12-16T21:23:00.007-06:00

stella played this during their show at the vic earlier this month...it was only their second night on tour & black was cracking up pretty much the whole time...which was understandable considering, you know, they're hilarious...anyway, maybe next time around they'll bring along a couple old friends.

related: ''i was at paul rudd's house a couple of years ago, and he said, 'you have to watch this,' within two minutes, i'm like, 'okay, this is my favorite thing i've ever seen.' i've watched it over and over and over. we've had a lot of fun thinking which character we're going to play when we do our shot-for-shot remake." -david wain, ew (via videogum)

volume one

2008-12-16T20:42:00.011-06:00

and i...

wes anderson + brad pitt

2008-12-15T20:20:00.006-06:00

wtf? (via defamer)

'tis the season...

2008-12-14T21:30:00.012-06:00

Showbiz Pizza

2008-12-14T16:31:00.004-06:00

Come for the Pizza, Stay for the Fun. Documentary in the works.

Download: MGMT - Electric Feel