I think the album title caught my eye in a is-this-an-album-of-elvis-costello-covers-i-see sort of way, and on Rhapsody, all the music is ‘free’, so download I did, without bothering to look beyond the track titles enough to see they weren’t Elvis songs. Turns out to be a fairly decent rock album, very peppy and energetic, without a single song skipped so far, and every one a toe-tapper even on first listen.
Recommended – Costello Music
Went and saw Frank and friends at the Jazz Alley last night. He brought rhythm guitar and violin, a sparse setup on stage of three little sound cubes, only the violinist having a pedal to fiddle with. They started out fast and just kept getting faster. He is truly amazing when he gets going. It was a very funny and energetic show, with covers of Led Zepp, ballet, and opera, alongside the expected Django renditions. Every once in a while, they’d thrown in a synchronized physical flourish, like little faux ballet moves during the ballet cover, and guitar-kicks during the rock numbers. Which is not to say it wasn’t a jazz show, with intimate audience interaction and banter with a recognized regular in that oh-so-knowing tone of who-remembers-when-best-oh-weren’t-those-the-days. He had this funky little tuning device on the end of his guitar, looked almost like a prism, and would change colors between red, green, I think yellow, and blank, as he played.
Foodwise, the spaghetti and meatballs was it’s usual tasty, but for whatever reason, our waitress never gave me a chance to order dessert, oh well. I suppose if I’d really had to have some key-limey-ness, I could have stopped by Whole Foods on the way home, but I was hurrying to get my Chocolati fix on.
I don’t remember how long ago it was that I made the reservation, but when it came up on the calendar, I did what the google told me to do. I did not lead myself wrong. I’m quite fine with recent rise in gypsy-jazz style bands, what the kids are calling “hot club jazz” these days. Connie Evingson has a very jazz singer-y voice, smooth and strong, and a very good match for the material chosen.
Shilelagh Law – Half The Bottle Down
A very nicely boisterous album of celtic folk, it puts me to mind of a mix somewhere between Amadan and Altan. I’m pretty sure I actually found them because I was looking for other people’s versions of “Big Strong Man”, and while I still prefer the one by Stone Soup Band, their version of “Tell Me Ma” is worth at least 3 listens so far =p
Sally Gardens/Joe Cooley’s – an instrumental number, fast paced drums and flute, a good song for dancing
Muirsheen Durkin/Whiskey in the Jar -Nice and rollicking versions of both
A couple slow songs I skipped. Overall, well worth the emusic credits I spent.
Straight In, No Kissing [Explicit]
The first song I’d heard from this band was the cool video for Pony by the same guy that did a nifty animation for Big Rock Candy Mountain, a nice hard driving tune. The rest of the album has a similar level of energy, with the female singers voice reminding me of The Sounds, just a little grittier. Recommended.
