Kenny Stahl's Back to School Album

A local musician, Kenny Stahl (previous post) has released an album last year called Back to School. The albums begins with a title track, that sings about the fantastic years of high school and how he being only 20 begins to miss those years and how quickly they pass. I so understand this song, realizing how the years are going so fast. The next song, "Only the Brave" and it includes a fantastic hook-- musically and lyrically with "I don't want to be there when the planes and ships collide, into one another, to one another," it just sticks in your head with the pop melody and guitars that make this record something to smile about and the CD isn't even halfway through. "Colossus" proceeds and it is a quieter love song, that is filled with a general sweetness. "Lonely City" is one of the quieter tracks on and it lives up to the title. It is filled with great musical composition. Oh, if there was a "Perfect World" "we'd be together all of the time," a classic rock subject-- love, or loss of love. This Beatles inspired musician definitely brings his many influences into his songs. The song, "Make a Man Out of Me" reminds me of classic country, or a pop-folk inspired song. I don't know what artist Kenny reminds me of-- I know Sondre Lerche, but there's something there that has something there-- a true singer-songwriter quality. "Story Time" is a very story singer-songwriter song, that seems to be a guy and his guitar...simple, yet so beautiful. If you haven't figured it out, I like a "troubadour" quality to music. The next song moves to a slower beat, "Wait Till You See" is an acoustic pop song, and it has a Beatles quality to it...with Kenny's own spin, of course. I love that in Kenny's recordings you can most definitely hear his influences, but they never directly sound like one another. A little bit of Beatles, Sondre, and Elliot Smith, and some other influences, it's great. Kenny is a hard-working musician, who with the "Woes of a Working Musician" that is an anthem for all striving bands and artists. Filled with humor and honesty is part of what makes this song great, especially hearing it live in a local coffee shop. "Parkview" then plays along, and it is a cute love song that no girl can help but smile to. :) There's no denying it. It's so sweet and sincere. During the conclusion of the song, Kenny experiments with using more electronical instruments, which help into the beginning of the last song, "Jupiter" which sounds like your going into outer space and has a electronica/techno vibe to it. All around a great record from an up-and-coming artist, who has a ton of passion and potential. Can't wait to see what will come from this artist later!
Check out his myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/kennystahl

The Black Keys & Manu Chao

A night or two ago, I was flipping through the channels at 11 pm looking for something to watch. On Sundance network, one of my favorite networks, Live At Abbey Road was on. One of my favorite shows to watch, I always find to artists to love. And I normally hear the band that I've heard about for a while. Also Austin City Limits was on, but the artists on Abbey Road got my attention. Seeing that I love to tape the indie shows I go to, I see it as inspiration.

The Black Keys

I've heard of this band from reading my Rolling Stones, but I never listened to them, and also my mom is a fan. Now, I see why. They are a guitarist and drummer. That's it. The riffs from Dan, seem like Hendrix was a southern rocker...and with his voice it brings me back to Lynard Skynard. And then the drumming, so bold and loud creating a fantastic rythum for the songs they write. Patrick plays and produces for them. I can't wait to own their CD. I really want it now, and if I ever learn to play electric guitar, I want to learn to play like Dan. It's just so good, loud and what you think of when you think of rock and roll. "Perfectly unperfect"...Dan, amazing words.

Manu Chao.

Believe it or not, they were both in the same program.

Manu is a French Latino singer, who knows many languages that are sung in his beautiful songs. He takes influences from all sorts of genres-- from punk, reggae, salsa, tango, and has a rock feeling to it. With that in mind, his songs remind me of The Clash and their songs dealing with the world and mistakes our world has made, and still being very insightful at the same time. Hearing "Polotik Kills", made me think of that, a very punk influence but it reminds me of songs I grew up listening to because of Bob Marley, and has something to say than just an upbeat vibe filled with lyrics that don't matter in the long run. Amazing songs, that are modern folk influenced and super talented.

I have a few more blogs coming soon...

one a recap of a local concert I went to!

Support Local Music!

This is a subject that means a lot to me. In the recent year, I have been going to concerts that are filled with local musicians. Some my friends, some not. Actually a majority not. But I think it is your responsibility as a citizen to go to these shows. After all they could be the next Bob Dylan, except your not going to the Gaslight or the Troubadour to see him. It's a different venue, but same idea. I imagine these artists who have the guts to play in front of local audiences as the next big star, only your seeing them before the big break. Another reason why I love going to these shows is that you get to talk to them afterwords, and tell them you love their music and support them. You can't do that at huge shows. Your lucky if you see the artist without binoculars. Well, some shows, and without amazing tickets. And with that communication, I don't know, it starts to become fulfilling helping these artists. It's pretty amazing, and as I have realized it becomes quite addicting. I love supporting these artists, because you support them, they support you. Win-Win :) Another reason, it's cheap! Local concerts are waaaayyy cheaper. At least a quarter of the price of a ticket at a large venue. And that intimacy at small venues, there's nothing like it. It's awesome. I was going to make a Support Local Musicians/Artists print and T-shirt for Art, but now I'm thinking... Save $$, Support Local Music! who knows?

I love how there seems to be more a personal connection to the music too. I love the short stories and the unpredictability of these shows. It also can help create a more community atmosphere in supporting these young adults who are putting themselves out there and listening to their music. It also can help ignite the arts in the cities where you live, and it can start an art community where everyone helps each other. It can help local businesses, because fans may travel to see these artists and profits rise if the performance is held there. It helps everyone.

Just something I believe in! Hope you do to, if not go to a local show!...it's so worth it.

Local Indie Rock

A few days ago, I went to a concert hosted at The Snuggly Mug where Kenny Stahl, The Brites, and This April played their sets. It was a great show of indie acoustic pop-rock.

From the first act, This April aka Zach played his songs from his EP Ups and Downs. The songs talked about love, and his life at being at the ripe age of 21. His songs are simple, his voice, a guitar and maybe a few other instruments. Lyrics filled with a quiet honesty that is hard to come by, and they exceed his age. It's filled with fantastic hooks, and the recording is similar to his live performance. As time has gone by since the show, I have been going to his EP to listen to-- it's very addictive. Also in talking to him, he said he has a "hardcore-ish" band, Come Find the Lions. Two very different sounds, but he has the talent to perform both. He lives in Grand Rapids, loves making music (got from his info.) and you can hear it in his tunes. Great live show.

The guitar is put away. New bands sets up.

The Brites.

A Theremin. Drums. A Banjo. A Guitar. A xylophone. The music they play is the true definition of indie. Filled with unusual instruments, lyrics that are cheerful and they have a great sense of humor. They played a cover of Sujfan Stevens and they played a great show live. They are recording currently, and they have a very distinct style. Very fun to listen to.

They break down their equipment. Then Kenny Stahl!

Kenny Stahl and his band, the Lemon Tests play a set. Songs filled with love stories, unfortunate circumstances, and a some beautiful pop songs. He is influenced by many artists, from The Beatles, Ben Folds, Sondre Lerche :) Elliot Smith, and various others, but these are the artists that I love listening to that definitely relates to his style of music. Kenny played some great songs, and with talking to him after the show I learned that he played Hell's Half Mile 2 years past. Funny how small the world is. His songs are pop inspired, and while watching him perform I thought of Sondre, and Bob Dylan, The Beatles.

It was a great show, filled with awesome local music.

If you want to check out their myspaces:

http://www.myspace.com/thisapril

http://www.myspace.com/comefindthelion

http://www.myspace.com/britesband

http://www.myspace.com/kennystahl

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

I just finished the book, written by Dito Montiel. A story of a young boy from Astoria, Queens from in the 80's. With a Nicaruagan father, and an Irish mother travelling to the city taking the tiny alleys that only the locals know, making fun of tourists. Going on the subway, and only knowing New York as home. But with this local neighborhood that is similar to a small town, inside one of the biggest cities that Orlandito (his full name) calls home. He remembers going to the local pool at midnight with his friends, Nerf, Guiseppe, Antonio, and Laurie. Dito also remembers when seeing his best friend/older brother, beat a kid to death with a baseball bat in a gang fight. They were know as "kids from nowhere going nowhere." So many memories. The film was written by Dito, directed by Dito and with that an accuracy of detail, feeling comes along. I have to say from reading the book there's a lot missing in the movie, but there's plenty of information that the movie shows that's not in the book.

Funny thing is, I was going through my Sundance On Demand and only really wanted to watch the movie because Channing Tatum is in it (Step Up).

It's also weird because there are some major names in this, and yet everyone I have talked to has never heard of it. That makes me sad, especially when I was in a state of almost crying when the film ended. And I don't cry for movies. Robert Downey, Jr. is in it, Shia LeBouf (his best movie I've seen yet-- real emotion), Channing Tatum, Melonie Diaz (Hamlet 2, Lords of Dogtown) are stars of this. It's a coming of age story, and can relate to about every teenager I know. The thing that is most relateable is, that exposure to the bigger world out there and the strings of people that link us to our past to and the saints that have helped him along the way-- even though by Webster's definition they weren't exactly the normal "saints."

I love how in this film it shows true, real, raw emotion and it brings an intensity that's hard to come by.

It's a great book to read at about any age, but recommend it for anyone that's a teenager and beyond. Guide to Saints has an On the Road feeling to it that I can't quite capture, but it's there.

Dito dreams of going to California, and making a band with his friend, Matt O' Shea who plays guitar. He wants to leave the city, but is drawn back to it.

With this film, I am starting to recognize some of the Saints in my life. The people who have influenced me, or who I just think are really cool and inspire me to do what I want and will help.

Whether the are my mom's friends, family, my friends, or strangers who later become friends to connections, or a band that I met randomly on the street. My journey has barely started, and I thank you for giving me the encouragement to keep it going. Saints are everywhere, you just have to recognize who they are.

More Shoes.

I saw this film at Hell's Half Mile in Bay City, MI a year ago. Lee Kazimir (the director) was there, to take questions and answers. Let me give you a short synopsis of it.

This man, Lee, was struggling having dead-end jobs, and was never fully satisfied with them. He came up with an idea to follow Herzog's advice,"filmmakers should skip film school and instead make a journey alone on foot, let's say from Madrid to Kiev... this journey would teach one more about cinema truly means than would five years sitting in a classroom." Lee took this advice, and he had no reason not to take this adventure. He met an elderly French woman who was picking asparagus on her birthday, and a man at a bar who wanted to take him home to give him something to eat, and various others with their own story to tell. This film is his journey, the people he met, the scenery surrounding him, the strangers who wanted to take care of him (sometimes reluctantly) and the lessons learned from this journey. He travels to Madrid to meet a friend from London to prepare for his trip. Before watching this film, and part of what intrigued me was that I read On the Road by Kerouac a few months earlier. This was only a different version of that, and the man who went on this daunting journey by himself was in front of me. Amazing.

He becomes friends with fellow travellers, and meet the locals, and tries to avoid the tourist places, yet he still visits them. My favorite parts were his commentary, and the short stories given from the people he met on the road. Parts of life we never hear about, and the struggles or victories that we forget about...

I have now talked to Lee, asked advice about cameras, film stuff.

His film intrigued me in more ways than one. I am waaayyyy more interested in film than I ever was, and it has inspired me to backpack Europe (at least), but now take a camera along. I have read a book, by Robert Downes called Planet Backpacker (fantastic, instead of visually seeing his trip you read it) and now it's a dream, but I know I will make it a reality.

He has also inspired me to think of other movies I want to make. :)

This film is so good, and I hope you all will watch it. I have not watched it in over a year and I forgot how good it was.

If you want to check out his website here it is:

http://www.madridtokiev.com/

And it features music from a Brooklyn artist known as Birdie Hilltop:http://www.myspace.com/birdiehilltop

Thanks Lee~!

Top Chef and Food TV

I love this show. I like food television. I watch many of the Food Network shows, and some Travel Channel. But Bravo has brought addiction to these shows, like Top Chef and Chef Academy. The watcher learns about cooking, a chef's perspective, and a lot of aspects of going to a restaurant and the food are closely examined and becomes a learning experience even though you are thoroughly entertained by the conflicting personalities and tastes in food. I am one of the few (that I've realized) that in season 6 of Top Chef, really liked the winner. Mike to me was the most creative, and he can back up his ego. Really back it up. He knows what's he doing. And in the finale, Kevin, who is known for simple food with subtle complexities, and Brian who is an overall good chef who can do many types of cuisine, and then there is Michael, who does creative food that leaves you stunned. All main points of the spectrum: simple, somewhere in-between, and creative. It ended up that the creative end had a better night. I think about food so differently after watching these programs.
I've learned so much about food by these shows. I've learned that letting a steak rest for a few minutes is good, and that you are loosing all of it's wonderful juices if you cut it immediately. Another lesson, in order to have the most juice come out of citrus (lemons and limes): roll it, so the juices are flowing and then cut and press the juice out of it. Simple as that. These tricks work. A tip from Chef Novelli (French Michelin star chef) says leave "pips" from lemons in your rosotto, and leave garlic pressed-- all skin and all. I've learned to use those tips when I make my own Fatoosh (Middle Eastern Salad), incredibly simple recipe, by the way. First couple times I used the recipe, but after about 5 times it's memorized and no need for it to be out.
First food post, won't be the last.
Maybe some fashion stuff will be on here, too.