My Music

Here is a list of what I have been listening to (and why in some cases).

Your Vegas opened for Duran Duran last year and after the show my girlfriend and I talked their ear off. Anyway, their music is what I would call Brit Pop, but my kids and husband like it so you may too. It’s lively and fun to rock out to. Plus, if you like skinny British guys in tight black pants this is the band for you!

The next set of artists is what I would consider indie music.

Last year I reconnected with one of my friend’s from middle school (really I found a lot of people from that time of my life - thank you Facebook!). He is known as Josh Joplin and I love his music and lyrics. I may be biased but again my husband likes it as well as my mom. A reviewer called him a “longtime indie-rock favorite”. Check out his stuff.

Josh lead me to his friend Garrison Starr. I don’t know how to classify her music as she has a country voice, yet lots of Rock & Roll thrown in too. A review called her a “premier alt-folk rocker”. I completely connect with her and she is a great performer as well. Her voice is like honey and you feel all that emotion and pain come through. She’s my first true girl crush.

Josh and Garrison embarked on a musical collaboration that they have been working on for the past year. Their band and debut album is called Among the Oak and Ash. They have reworked some traditional folk songs with their own bent on them. I should get a cut from all the promoting I have done for them. They are playing shows here and there so they may be in your town soon.

Garrison’s friend, Jay Nash has a voice a little like Bruce Springsteen and is a cutie. He’s the type that all kinds of women fall for. Nice love songs, but can rock out too and he is very sweet and gracious. I really like his album, A Stream Up North. He is a Labor Day baby just like me (different b-day as it is a movable holiday)!

While seeing Jay perform this past March I was introduced to Greg Laswell‘s music. Greg and Jay played an awesome show together (she my blog on it in March 2009) and I was hooked. Yeah, his music can be a bit of a downer at times, although my husband thinks it is uplifting. But Ryan is the optimist in our pairing. Anyway, just saw Greg perform again and you can tell that he and his band love making and playing music.

Pete & J headlined a show with Garrison. These two skinny guys and their band mates come on stage and boy was I surprised with their show. Who knew they had so much energy and could be so much fun?

Another group to keep your eye on is Elizabeth and the Catapults. They opened with Greg and one of her songs was featured on the latest Paste CD.

Interestingly, many of these musician’s share the same friends, bassists, and so on. The bass player from the night with Pete & J has since performed with Jay Nash. Greg Laswell promotes Pete & J and often times many of these musicians get together for benefit shows or group shows. I know there are more out there but this will get you started.

My favorite picks for what I consider more popular music and who don’t need help getting promoted from me are: Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, and Allison Krauss & Union Station

Photo Friday, In Shadow

Greg Laswell at the Rock & Roll Hotel, Washington DC

July 16, 2009

This is one of those photos that may only be appreciated by the person who took it, but I love the grainy quality for this rockin' night time portrait.

Dog Days in Point of Rocks

I had a good day today, for a lot of reasons, but one reason was that I realized I was not the only stay-at-home mother who felt this way. I took the kids to Story Time at the local library, our regular Tuesday morning routine. While holding my new daycare infant I chatted with two of the moms as the kids listened intently to the stories (such a relief as I used to have to sit in there with them). As we talked, one mom of three said this summer she is spending nearly each day out of the house, since they are more mobile now. She used to stay home, plan play dates, organize crafts and stories, just like what I used to do in my daycare. Now she is tired of it and instead they spend their days at the pool, nature center, playground and other activities. I kept saying that’s how I feel and I have spent the past year beating myself up over not running my daycare like the little preschool I used to envision. But looking at the dynamics of my current group, (my boys: 5 and 3 ½, a toddler some days and an infant) what’s the point? So I left with a huge weight lifted. All this time I thought there was something wrong with me, but instead it happens to other mothers. Sometimes we just need to shake things up without any pre-planned lesson and just let the children direct their own learning.

Then of course, as these things tend to happen, I typed in a few choice words in Google and up popped a job opening perfectly suited for me. So I’ll research and find out about it. Meanwhile, I need to continue stimulating my kids with daily outings when we can and otherwise they seem content to dig in the dirt, play in the sprinkler and draw their own pictures without following any preconceived set of rules. After all it is the dog days of summer.

Photo Friday, Eyes

Goggles