Space Oddity Music Video

Are you ready for the best music video of the year? You may be thinking, "Oh is this a new Beyonce video??" NO. Does Beyonce film her videos IN SPACE? Don't think so (Still love you though B). However Commander Chris Hadfield and his surprisingly angelic voice do. Now please enjoy Space Oddity and some pretty epic views of earth.

Its been a while...

Hi friends and fellow music lovers! I realize its been a very long time since I've posted anything and that makes me sad. Life has been busy with a new job and lots of side projects but I wanted to share some new favorites with you all. Hope to be regularly posting soon! Enjoy!

Night Beds "Ramona" (Live at Ocean Way Studios)
 Hurray For The Riff Raff "Look Out Mama" Waverly Sessions
 Little Green Cars "My Love Took Me Down To The River (To Silence Me)"
 Mystery Skulls "The Future"

Penny and Sparrow - Full Feature and Interview!

A few weeks ago my friend Courtney tweeted her new favorite band and mentioned me knowing I would love them. Well the girl knows me well because her discovery, Penny and Sparrow, pretty much made my week. Melodies and harmonies to swoon for, lyrics that hit home and a new album named after Corie Ten Boom whose story inspired me as a kid to stand up for what was right and true. Andy Baxter and Kyle Jahnke, former roommates out of Austin, TX have  just released their first album this month and were kind enough to answer a few question so we can learn more about them and their music. Make sure to stream my favorite track from the album as well as both of theirs while you read. I guarantee you'll enjoy and want to be friends with them and go for some Chipotle when you're done. Make sure to go buy their album and support the band!
Mary: When did each of you first start playing music? 
Kyle: Started playing drums when I was about 12, and picked up guitar in college.
Andy: Started singing in the car seat next to mom (she drove a green ford tauras) and I still don't really play guitar...but I started faking it around age 14...seriously I'm no good...

M: What was the first live concert you ever went to? 
K: My first concert was a 98 degrees concert and I don't care what kind of judgement I get for saying it because it was fantastic.
A: I saw Paula Cole open up for Matchbox 20....yup, I sure did...I saw the freaking Dawson's Creek theme song live and in person....("I don't wanna wait, til our lives will be ov-ahh")

M: What is your favorite song on this album and why? 
K: It changes all the time.... we played "A woman caught" last night at a show and its so emotional and hard to not get caught up in, so it's currently at the top of the list.
A: still "Duet" for me...I love that it sounds dark, sexy, ominous, and romantic...I'm proud of us for that one...

M: Are either of your families musical at all? If so, how was music present in your lives as you grew up? 
K: I don't think I have ever heard anybody in my family sing and didn't grow up with an instrument in the house. My dad loves music though, he is the one who got me to fall in love with classic rock.
A: My Mom sings better than me without question...none of us ever played instruments in the house, but we sang all the time...with dad it was classic rock/country (Eagles, Foreigner, Bad Co., Hank Will Sr., etc.) with my mom it was pop, 80's/90's country, & broadway (literally Reba all the way to 10th anniversary Les Miz)

M: When did you both decide you wanted to pursue a career in music? Has it always been your dreams or did you ever want to do something else? 
K: I've always loved music, but never really considered pursuing it as a career until recently. We both still have day jobs, and I think they represent the other half of what we love. Pursuing music is definitely a dream for me though!
A: Check out Kyle's answer...it's perfect....only thing I'll add is that for the longest time I think we both let insecurity and questions about whether or not we were "good enough" keep us from really seeing if music could be our job....I think we might be done with letting fear make decisions for us...

M: What does music do for you personally? For example, is writing a form of therapy for you? 
K: The easiest way to put it I guess is that it produces joy. It's always so inspiring. Writing is definitely a form of therapy, but is equally a form of community. Andy and I get a chance to hang out, talk and laugh, and write songs together, and it's always incredible time even if the song we write is a bust.
A: It's a knee jerk reaction to joy or inspiration....if I have a really badass day, or if I read/watch/see/hear some book/comic/article/song that blows me away....I immediately want to make stuff....usually the stuff I wanna make Is Music...so in that way, music is a daily thing...

M: When are you inspired to write music? Can you write at any time or do events in your life spark your creativity? 
K: A little of both -- sometimes its out of the blue and an idea pops in my head, but lots of the time its after watching an awesome movie, reading a great book, or listening to music that I'm fired up to write.
A: well crap, I kinda answered this one in the last question....see above...hahaha

M: What do you do if you ever feel a creative block or experience discouragement in your career? 
K: Luckily, writing with a good friend means you have another guy that gets to either encourage you through it or you can just drop the song you're working on and start with one of his.
A: I get hung up on a lyric I like a lot...and sometimes I'm crazy reluctant to erase it and start over...that keeps me stuck for sure....and it's frustrating... But like Kyle said, having each other is a great weapon against repetition and being stagnant...

M: Do you both enjoy performing live? Do you get nervous or stage fright? If so, how do you get past it? 
K: Totally - still learning how to do it well though. I haven't had stage fright in a while, but I know that as soon as a bigger show comes up it'll be there again. Usually once you start the show it goes away pretty quickly.
A: Yes. Always yes. I won't be nervous by song two...but straight outta the gate, I'm scared every time...I think I just need to remember that I don't suck...once I remember that, I'm pretty ok for the rest of the show...

M: What is the hardest thing about pursuing a music career? 
K: Booking venues - its a tough nut to crack. Other than that, it's been such a joy. Getting to write and play music with good friends is the best thing ever.
A: Hmmm....today I think it's knowing what to do next...sort of like asking yourself, "Ok, am I writing enough? Am I calling the right people?" "Have I prayed about any of this?"....I wanna spend my time in ways that aren't stupid...and I dont always know how to do that...I usually Call Kyle when I think my time Management sucks...

M: How do your friends and family support you in your music? 
K: Our friends and family encourage us like crazy - just constant affirmation that we don't suck, which has really helped push us along. Our friends and family are pretty much the ones that funded the album as well, which was a huge blessing. We did a kickstarter campaign, and the majority of the funds came from our friends.
A: We literally have a family/friend army...and if we don't ever play for anyone but them....I would keep writing music...I love them so much and don't deserve one single member of this crazy huge support group...

M: What activity, place, person, etc. brings you joy? 
K: My wife, my family (shout-out my little niece and nephew), playing or watching soccer, CrossFit, Lake Austin, Estes Park, Bananagrams.
A: My wife, my family, Crossfit, broadway, and reading comic books pretty much everyday...chips & verde salsa also........one more: Chipotle, oh how I love chipotle...

M: When you both were roommates which one of you didn't do your dishes? (There's always one...) 
K: Oh it was for sure both of us. We lived in a 4 bedroom house with like 10 guys so it was just constantly disgusting and awesome.
A: Kyle's being sweet....(typical Jahnke) I was messy as hell.... I didn't do dishes because I ate dollar menu items all day erryday...

M: Any plans for a tour? 
K: Absolutely...
A: Absolutely...

Thanks Kyle and Andy for sharing and looking forward to your tour!

Enjoy a few videos from Penny and Sparrow!

Penny and Sparrow Website

Facebook

Bandcamp

Twitter

Rai Thistlethwayte - Come Together (The Beatles Cover)

Its been a while since I've shared any new music with you all and I have a ton in the reserves but in the mean time here is a great video from Aussie Rai Thistlethwayte covering Come Together by The Beatles. If you are a huge Beatles fan then you'll probably either love this or hate it. Also 10 point to whoever can figure out how to pronounce Rai's last name... or his first name for that mater...

Video - Charlie Hardin: Oh Holy Night

Nashville artist Charlie Hardin who is a friend and familiar face on Mary's Musicology has made a little Christmas video of one of my absolute favorite, give me chills, I could sing it every day songs O Holy Night. Give it a watch! You may remember his Kickstarter campaign for his new album which is looking to release this spring!

Christmas Playlist 2012!!

Merry Christmas! I hope this finds all of you enjoying this season and not overwhelmed with holiday prep.

For this year's playlist I had the intention of getting it done early before the Christmas rush was in full force. Yet, as I sat down to do it in my apartment void of decoration or Christmas tree I realized that I had no inspiration and no desire to listen to Christmas music yet. When I was a kid I could not wait for the day after thanksgiving so I could start playing Christmas music. Now as I'm getting older I don't feel that rush even though Christmas preparation seems to be happening earlier and earlier each year. So now that I have a few Christmas parties under my belt, a beautiful Christmas tree and mandatory viewing of Love Actually and White Christmas I'm finally ready to share my Christmas music picks this year.

I pray this Christmas you find yourself with those you love. So grab some cocoa (add some brandy...), a blanket and spend some time snuggled up with someone special just enjoying the moment (and this super awesome playlist). I think I'll grab the electric blanket... and the brandy... ;) Blessings to you all!

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For playlists of Christmas past click 2010, 2011.

The Ultimate Bearhug

If you are as big a fan of The Civil Wars as I am you've heard the story of how they met. Joy and John Paul were randomly paired together at a songwriting session for another artist and magic happened when they started working together and the rest of the story resulted in music that makes my heart sing. Finding that music magic is something that most artists hope to find in some way or another. Recently hearing the story of Los Angeles duo The Ultimate Bearhug its an all too familiar story. Doll Knight and Barrett Johnson met, chatted, decided they should write together and that music magic happen and they just knew they were meant to work together. After a year of writing their debut album Just South of Los Angeles was released. This album has been the soundtrack of last week as I've been going through a major career transition so its already found a special place in my heart and I think you will all love it too! Stream their album on Spotify and if you like it too join me at their show this Thursday, October 25th at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood.

 



 This week I was also given the opportunity to ask them a few questions and find a little more about Doll and Barrett. I'm going to honest and admit I'm a little jealous Doll was able to go to a Ricky Martin show at 11... wait, I mean not at all jealous...

1. How old were you both when you realized you wanted to do music for a living? 
Doll : 6 yrs. old
Barrett: When I was in grade school and first heard Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone."

2. Who are the artists/bands that inspire your music? 
We're inspired by a lot of older music, particularly jazz and folk. Sam Cooke, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, Bob Dyland, Simon and Garfunkel, and Joni Mitchell, and thousands more. There are definitely modern musicians that inspire us as well, such as Rufus Wainwright, Fiona Apple, Richard Swift, Jolie Holland, the list is seemingly endless.

3. What was the first live concert you ever went to? 
Doll: Ricky Martin 11yrs. old, on his "Shake your Bon Bon" tour
Barrett: One of the earliest concerts I went to was Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters.

4. What is your favorite venue to play at? 
So far, we like Hotel Cafe because of the audience that is usually there to listen. Dream venue... Hollywood Bowl :)

5. What is your favorite song on this album and why? 
Doll: They're all special to me for such different reasons. In terms of writing them, Foolish Things was a very fun one to write and for that reason it always reminds me of that really fun night when we wrote such a silly song.
Barrett: Either Foolish Things or Just South of Los Angeles. Foolish Things was a lot of fun and Just South of Los Angeles' lyrics mean a lot to me.

Website & Free Album Download

Spotify: The Ultimate Bearhug – Just South of Los Angeles 

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