Boy & Bear

There is something about Australians I just love. Maybe its the accent, maybe its their cheeky laid back humor and attitude. Or maybe its in my blood since my dad is Australian. In any case I am loving some great artists from down under like Angus & Julia Stone and Ellen Kibble both featured here. Now I'm all about Boy & Bear. After hearing their song Mexican Mavis I couldn't wait for the whole album to be released in the U.S. As of Tuesday it is!! Take a listen to their first two songs and you can stream their album on Spotify and buy it on iTunes.

Members: Dave Hosking - Killian Gavin - Tim Hart - Jake Tarasenko - Jon Hart


Boy & Bear Website
Buy the album on iTunes here
Download Mexican Mavis single here
Stream new album on Spotify here

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

Last year was the first year I heard about the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Fransisco's Golden Gate Park. Sadly it was a little too last minute and I couldn't find any hotels to stay at that weren't already fully booked and wouldn't have weird stains on the bed spread...

This year I've planned ahead and will be making the drive up to San Fransisco with three friends with accomodations already lined up. So far this years line up DOES NOT disappoint. Check out these medleys of who is confirmed so far and see if you can guess the artists. #3 has my favorite selection. See if you can guess why ;)

For more info on this FREE festival click here. 

HSB 2011 Sneak-Peak Medley Round 1 by Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

HSB 2011 Sneak-Peak Medley Round 2 by Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

HSB 2011 Sneak-Peek Medley Round 3 by Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Sneak-Peek Medley Round 4 by Hardly Strictly Bluegrass


The Civil Wars AND The Punch Brothers?!!! Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot!

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Just loving this Fleet Foxes song. The message of this song is hitting me right where my heart is right now.  Enjoy!

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues by subpop

I was raised up believing I was somehow unique
Like a snowflake distinct among snowflakes, unique in each way you can see
And now after some thinking, I'd say I'd rather be
A functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me

But I don't, I don't know what that will be
I'll get back to you someday soon you will see

What's my name, what's my station, oh, just tell me what I should do
I don't need to be kind to the armies of night that would do such injustice to you
Or bow down and be grateful and say "sure, take all that you see"
To the men who move only in dimly-lit halls and determine my future for me

And I don't, I don't know who to believe
I'll get back to you someday soon you will see

If I know only one thing, it's that everything that I see
Of the world outside is so inconceivable often I barely can speak
Yeah I'm tongue-tied and dizzy and I can't keep it to myself
What good is it to sing helplessness blues, why should I wait for anyone else?

And I know, I know you will keep me on the shelf
I'll come back to you someday soon myself

If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm raw
If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm sore
And you would wait tables and soon run the store

Gold hair in the sunlight, my light in the dawn
If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm sore
If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm sore
Someday I'll be like the man on the screen

Gary Clark Jr.

Last Friday I had the pleasure of seeing Gary Clark Jr. live for the first time. Before he started my coworker warned me that I would swoon and to get myself ready. When I saw that he would be playing guitar as well as kick drum and hi-hat all at once I knew my coworker was right. Gary played for 45 minutes and I only wish it could have gone on longer. Gary Clark Jr. is an Austin, TX native raised on blues and soul. He's an incredibly talented musicians who has great things ahead of him. Can't wait for his album to be released!

Gary Clark Jr by GaryClarkJr

Here is the live stream of his performance. Skip to 3:00 in.

City And Colour's New Album!

Yesterday City and Colour (aka Dallas Green) released his new album Little Hell and much to my chagrin I have not had time to buy it yet. Its my first on my to do list when I get home tonight from work even before exercise and laundry (those are not hard for me to reprioritize...). In the meantime I've been listening to his new single Fragile Bird with its intriguing and racy music video about a girl having nightmares about her days working in a brothel. So for those of you who have been awaiting its release or maybe have never heard City and Colour (now is the time people!) here are two tracks from the new album that are holding me over until tonight.

Fragile Bird by cityandcolour

Northern Wind by cityandcolour

Image source

Justin Timberlake - SNL

As you may know or have noticed, I am not a huge pop music fan. I may know the words to a few Katy Perry songs that you can't help but get stuck in your head but if you check my music library you will find it void of any Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas or Ke$ha. However I make a huge exception for Justin Timberlake as I feel he is truly a talented artist with a great voice. I remember watching him on some music awards ceremony a few years ago where he played the piano and guitar incredibly well along with his usual dancing and singing and I was blown away. So when I heard he was giving up music to pursue acting until further notice I was pretty upset. I thought, well if he's going to stick to really good movies like The Social Network then maybe I can get behind it, but Bad Teacher and Friends With Benefits?? Really Justin? Watching his monologue on Saturday Night Live this weekend just made me even more upset. My roommate and I just sat through the whole thing yelling at him through the TV. He's just so good. Can't you do both Justin? Please?

Image source here

Andrew Belle - Static Waves Video and Ten Out Of Tenn Anticipation

Next Wednesday Ten out of Tenn is playing a show at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, CA and you can bet that I bought my tickets weeks ago. I've always wanted to see a Ten out of Tenn show especially Andrew Belle. He along with Matthew Perryman Jones, Amy Stroup, Tent Dabbs and Katie Herzig should make for an amazing show.

And, since Katie will be there I can bet they'll play this in the set. Ooohh! I can't wait!

http://10outoftenn.com/

** UPDATE: I got sick and never made this show. Sad story.