Those Who Dig - Music and Whiskey in Spades

Rebekah Delgado: Sing You Through The Storm

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:02:19 -0700

Rebekah Delgado is a London based singer/songwriter and the title track off of her forthcoming EP Sing You Through The Storm has been striking a lot of right notes with me recently. I think the orchestration of this song is very smart. Straight ahead piano harmonies alongside a charming vocal melody and a singing saw lay down the ground work for this savvy and hook heavy pop tune. Ultimately, the song culminates with a sing-along of choristers, drums, acoustic guitar, playful piano arpeggios, and a horn section.

If this song catches you in the right mood, and with maybe a little bit of privacy, I'm confident that you'll be singing along before the final chorus is over. The EP will be available March 24, 2012 so keep in touch with this songstress via her webpage, twitter, and facebook.

Friday Night Lights: Clear Eyes, Full Hearts

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:18:42 -0700

I first encountered Friday Night Lights as a film. Among the many reasons I enjoyed it was the stellar soundtrack, which I acquired. I next became a huge fan of the TV show. After five incredible seasons (well, four if we are allowed to ignore the many missteps of Season 2) there is no doubt it is one of my all time favorite drama series. I decided to finally cover my one remaining blind spot by reading the book that started the whole phenomenon. My thoughts on it and what music it connects to are the subject of tonight's This Book Is A Song.

Episodes in Virtuosity: Maurice Gendron and Christian Ivaldi Perform Debussy's Sonata for Cello and Piano

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:30:52 -0700

There are so many incredible things about youtube. It is a remarkable tool of the 21st century for marketing, sharing, teaching, logging history, or hearing about all the crazy 'shit people say'. What's also incredible is the amount of worth that is there going unnoticed while others are cracking into the stratosphere of views. Recently I was digging through some videos of classical musicians from the 1960's when I encountered this gem of Maurice Gendron & Christian Ivaldi performing Debussy's Sonata for Cello and Piano.

It's not just a beautiful and nostalgic video of a command performance, but it's also a piece within a time capsule of both musical social history. I believe that knowledge of social and musical history informs your decision making as both listeners and performers. If you never learned any other word for beautiful than pretty, how would you ever know what radiant or gorgeous looks, sounds, and feels like. If you don't know what came before, can you truly appreciate what you have now?

Read on for a few more facts and dates about this piece, the performers, the composer, and the world that surrounded this performance.

Weekly Roundup: Feb 12 - 18, 2012

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:30:22 -0700

I gotta say, this past week was not a very good one. But there's nothing like some great new music to lift the spirits and help move things forward, which is exactly what we have in this brand new Weekly Roundup.

Concert Review: Mobtown Modern Presents Adam Tendler Performing John Cage's Piano Sonatas and Interludes

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:12:06 -0700

Valentine's Day was this week and if you're a regular around these parts you've already seen a glimpse at what Steve was up to that night - For the Couples & For the Single People. As for myself, I spent the evening in the company of Adam Tendler and the good people of Mobtown Modern at the 2640 Space in Baltimore for a concert of John Cage's Sonatas & Interludes for prepared piano.

This wonderful program was a unique concert experience in one of those covert Baltimore concert spaces that always gives the music just a little bit more magic. Read on for the full review, upcoming concert dates from Mobtown Modern, and audio from Adam Tendler's performance.

Cold Specks - Holland

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:58:38 -0700

This is it, the final 2011 release from Arts & Crafts. Maybe not the final installment of Label Year, but as far as the music goes, we are at the end of the road with the 7-inch record "Holland" by Cold Specks. It's not a bad way to go out, if I may say so.

Valentine's Day 2012: For the Single People

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:54:46 -0700

Earlier today, I posted the first of two Valentine's Day song dedication posts. That one was for couples. But now it's my fellow single people's turn. Our time has come!

Valentine's Day can sometimes be rough when you aren't in a relationship. If you happen to be feeling a little down, I have just the song for you! It's one of my all-time favorite rap songs and one so good, I'm inducting into The Shrine of Dig. If you didn't guess from the picture, it's Brother Ali's amazing and empowering "Forest Whitaker."

If you would please turn in your Bible to beauty tips from Forest Whitaker, you'll be feeling awesome in no time.

Brother Ali - Forest Whitaker

Valentine's Day 2012: For the Couples

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:52:17 -0700

If my Facebook and Twitter feeds are to be believed, Valentine's Day is a divisive holiday, split down the line of whether you are in a relationship or not. I'm doing two posts today, one for each group. This one goes out to all the couples and people in love.

Town Hall is a Brooklyn band that we have featured a few times recently because they're very good. They kicked off the year with a cool new EP and have released several cover performance videos. Their latest comes right ... wait for it ... on time for Valentine's Day, a plaintive and beautiful folk take on "Always On Time" by Ja Rule and Ashanti. Finally we have a chance to hear it as the haunting ballad Ja Rule originally intended! I like that the band chose to switch up the gender roles, with mandolin player Stefan taking on Ashanti's hook and singer Phoebe putting on the proverbial do rag to throw down Ja's rhymes. What I love most about this, though, is how it makes lyrics clearer that I hadn't noticed in the original version. For instance, one line references a "Dear Ja" letter. Brilliant! No wonder these two made 800 songs together during the first half of the 2000s.

So for all you lovers out there, find that special someone and let Town Hall set the mood. Happy Valentine's! MUR-DAH!

And stay tuned, single readers, I have something even better for you coming up in a few hours.

Punch Brothers: Who's Feeling Young Now

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:02:22 -0700

It is no secret that we at the Dig love us some Punch Brothers. Point in fact, I've devoted more than a few articles to Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers. Their last album Antifogmatic was a near perfect pop album which blended virtuosity, song craftsmanship, and actual dynamic shaping to create something truly special. There third album, Who's Feeling Young Now? is being released tomorrow and I for one and can't hardly wait. Their label Nonesuch Records released a teaser in promotion of this project with a video clip from their song New York City. If the itunes store had a line, I'd be in it first thing tomorrow morning. You dig?

Dave Newberry: No One Will Remember You

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:40:18 -0700

Dave Newberry is a folk-rock singer/songwriter who will be celebrating the release of his second album No One Will Remember You on March 15, 2012. I have had the immense pleasure of listening to this album this week and am excited to hear that country music does still have a voice in contemporary pop music. Ripe with nostalgia, infectious melodies, and a comfortable feeling of song familiarity Dave Newberry's new release is a must have.

The album opens with the tune All of the Apples in the Basket and sets the tone for all of the artist's subsequent work. With pedal steel guitars, banjo, tag team vocals, drums, and a healthy dose of hook and rhyme this song invites you to sing along from the first listen.

Dave Newberry: All of the Apples in the Basket

This album is a grower. No One Will Remember You feels like an album I've known deeply in spite of the fact that it isn't even released yet. I can easily see this album soundtracking it's way into my spring and leaving an enduring impression on the new year.

Dave Newberry has a plethora of tour stops throughout Canada in 2012 which can be found on his webpage here. Unfortunately we can't all be Canadian but in the meantime you can further your Newberry fix by enjoying his collaborative music blog/podcast Newbsradio which he runs alongside Eric Newby. You can also reach the artist via Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Vimeo.

Weekly Roundup: Feb 5 - 11, 2012

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:23:26 -0700

And we're back! That's right, it's time for another Weekly Roundup. Dig in for six new songs & videos.

Bonus Roundup: Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2012

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:20:09 -0700

Here's a bonus roundup of tunes for your Thursday night!

NYC Concert Alert : Snowmine, Via Audio, Sea Of Bees, Beat Radio

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:26:21 -0700

Join the Digsters tomorrow night at Pianos for a killer line-up featuring Brooklyn heroes Snowmine and Via Audio, the lovely voice of Sea Of Bees, and friend of the Dig, Beat Radio. Hit the jump for a little sneak peak of each band.

Off the Charts: The Song Poem Story

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:36:03 -0700

Off the Charts is a PBS documentary about song poems in which the film makers take an earnest and unbiased look at both the poets and musicians responsible for the 20th century phenomenon of song poems. If you're not familiar with this practice let me try to briefly explain what's going on here. Last century saw the boom of the recording industry, but with it came several companies who decided to dedicate themselves to writing, recording, and releasing songs based on lyrical content which was given to them by anyone who was willing to pay their submission fees. Since lyrical quality wasn't at a premium and mass production was the point, it was pretty much unavoidable that some of the most awkward, graceless, bizarre, and slapstick material in the history of music resulted. Classics such as Non-violent Taekwondo Troopers, Jimmy Carter Says Yes, and I Like Yellow Things are a few of my personal favorites.

Truth is that my buddies and I have been listening to this music while playing poker for years now and I never bothered to look past the absurdity of the product and get the full picture. This documentary does that in a manner which I believe is both fair and heartwarming. It's fair in that you'll see how easily these musicians were slamming together their material and then moving on to the next one - it was a business, not an art. However, you also connect with the lyricists on a personal level after hearing and seeing their side of the story. Most of the submissions did come from sincere, if not slightly misguided individuals who believed in the worth of their work, and found satisfaction and fulfillment through this means of expression.

Thank Jehovah for kung fu bicycles and Priscilla Presley - and song poems. You dig?

Weekly Roundup: Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2012

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:59:42 -0700

We're a day late because of Super Bowl Sunday, but here's the latest Weekly Roundup of a half dozen tracks and videos for you to enjoy.

The Bad Plus Cover Abba's Knowing Me Knowing You

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:46:38 -0700

A new video of The Bad Plus has recently surfaced in which they perform Abba's Knowing Me Knowing You. The Bad Plus has a remarkable way of engaging an audience with the sincerity of their stage demeanor, musicianship, attention to detail, and willingness to explore in sound. These subtle explorations are littered throughout their catalog, but in this video you can see and hear David King playing his drum kit in the opening section with a set of walkie talkies, and later Ethan Iverson motor boats his piano keyboard. Walkie talkie feedback has never been something I've heard as musical before but I'm glad I will now. As for Mr. Iverson's piano motor boating, he is doing this to disrupt the tonality of the composition by banging out tone clusters with his face. A juxtaposition I've also never seen or heard before. In secret, I'm going to practice this later on my piano.

Don't forget to check out The Bad Plus on itunes, facebook, twitter, and Ethan Iverson's blog Do The Math. You dig?

The Flaming Lips: I Am The Walrus

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:44:37 -0700

At the end of last year The Flaming Lips recorded this psychotropic cover of The Beatles classic I Am The Walrus at the Pink Floor Studio in Oklahoma City. It takes a lot of guts to cover the Beatles in meaningful way. Is this meaningful? I'm not sure. What I do know is that Wayne Coyne and The Flaming Lips are the pinnacle of interesting in rock and roll, and this video is testament to their throne.

Django Reinhardt: Georgia On My Mind

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:55:58 -0700

Django Reinhardt (1910-1953) is one of my favorite musicians. His style is always palatable and his technique, musicianship, and virtuosity were completely enviable. He was a musical revolutionary in every sense of the word and his collaborations with violinist Stephane Grappelli lead to a career of exalted and venerable recordings.

Even after loosing the use of two of his fingers on his left hand after a fire, Django relearned the instrument and played with remarkable fluency. There really hasn't been anyone quite like him since.

The band featured on this recording of Georgia On My Mind is Stephane Grappelli on violin, Django Reinhardt on guitar, Louis Vola on bass, Freddy Taylor on vocals, and Joseph Reinhardt and Pierre Ferret also accompanying on guitar.

Django Reinhardt: Georgia On My Mind

Bonus Roundup: Jan 22 - 28, 2012

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:39:19 -0700

After unveiling the very first podcast for Sunday's weekly roundup (which has since been followed by an awesome interview with Jonny Corndawg!), we have quite a packed Bonus Roundup this week. Get ready, because here it comes!

Digcast Episode 2: Jonny Corndawg

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:09:53 -0700

The other day my brother in arms Steve broke TWD into the podcast world with the premier episode of the digcast and his Weekly Roundup. We are all very excited about growing our little corner of the blogosphere into a full fledged podcast, and today I throw my hat into the ring with an interview with country singer Jonny Corndawg.

In the interview we talk about his first two albums, I'm Not Ready to Be A Daddy and Down On the Bikini Line, touring, songwriting, and his new project Dad Country in which he is accompanied by Dawes - Corndawes! This project is still available for financial support via kickstarter if you feel so inclined to help our man out after listening to him discuss the project in our interview. Simply click on the link for Dad Country and Jonny will lead you the rest of the way.

Jonny can also be reached via his Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Webpage for all your Corndawg concerns. The Digcast is available for FREE download via Itunes here. Enough of my jabberin' - let's get to the Digcast!

Digcast Episode 2: Jonny Corndawg

Los Campesinos! - Hello Sadness

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:06:56 -0700

We are nearing the end of Label Year and our journey through Arts & Crafts' 2011 output. The penultimate release is the final album of the year: Hello Sadness by Los Campesinos!

Weekly Roundup: Jan 22 - 28, 2012

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:34:46 -0700

Remember Weekly Roundup? It's back, in podcast form!

John Cage Sonata V

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:15:14 -0700

Bobby Mitchell performs John Cage's (1912-1992) Sonata V for prepared piano from Cage's Sonatas and Interludes (1946-1948) The video was shot by Katy Mitchell. Short of 4'33'', Sonatas and Interludes was one of John Cages premier compositions. In total it is a collection of 20 short pieces for prepared piano which are noted for their improvisational and dance influences. In the performance notes he indicates that he expects the set up time for the preparation to take up to three hours, but he also remarks that "...if you enjoy playing the Sonatas and Interludes then do it so that it seems right to you".

Seeing the piece performed from this perspective is awesome. I think that it makes clear to the audience the music, the technique, and intent of the composition in a way that wouldn't necessarily communicate from the stage alone. This particular selection from the Sonatas and Interludes is super groovy and I can't imagine not finding joy in this performance every time I heard it. You dig?

Show Review - Cass McCombs 1/25

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:48:05 -0700

On Wednesday night, I watched Cass McCombs perform at the Bowery Ballroom. Here's a quick review of the show.

Bonus Roundup: Jan 15 - 21, 2012

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:55:59 -0700

Let's kick it with another batch of new songs and videos in this week's Bonus Roundup!

Cheyenne Marie Mize - We Don't Need

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:16:07 -0700

Cheyenne Marie Mize released an eclectic and enjoyable EP We Don't Need that we music fans absolutely do need. Don't miss this one!

NYC Show: Cass McCombs at the Bowery Ballroom Jan 25th

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:44:18 -0700

Tomorrow night (January 25th), Cass McCombs will be playing a show at the Bowery Ballroom. He is touring behind his two 2011 releases, Wit's End and Humor Risk. It should be a really good show. Read on more for more details.

Weekly Roundup: Jan 15 - 21, 2012

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:01:40 -0700

It's been a crazy week and we weren't able to get this Roundup posted yesterday, but the wait is now over. Here's six new songs for all of you to dig!

Episodes in Virtuosity: John Williams and John Etheridge

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:52:02 -0700

In 2006 Sony released an album of two John's - Williams and Etheridge. The former is the legendary classical virtuoso and the latter is an exemplary jazz guitarist. The album's content is a hodgepodge of classical, jazz, world, and a few visits to the places between. The mixing of their own musical languages sounds effortless and having seen them perform I know it can look that way too. These two are marvelously talented and bring their artistry together with an audible joy for the work.

I listened to this album a lot when it was first released and I've recently found cause to go back and listen again. It's been a refreshing and fortifying revisit and I am happy that I am still moved to smile by this music. This is a guitar players album with a little something for everyone. Taste, technique, tact, and attack, the John's did it right with their album Places Between.

John Williams & John Etheridge: Places Between

Ryan Ferreira

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:39:29 -0700

Ryan Ferreira is a Brooklyn based guitarist/composer who works with ambient sound. In his own words his artistic ambition is to create " ambient soundscapes that provide a comfortable open environment for the listener." I have been enjoying the simplicity and stasis of his music lately via his webpage and his bandcamp page. Sometimes I am moved to use a lot of words when I hear music. Other times I am not. The compositions of Ryan Ferreira are not asking you to think too hard about what you are hearing, just to interact with it in an unhurried and placid way.

<a data-cke-saved-href="http://ferreiramusic.bandcamp.com/track/7910" href="http://ferreiramusic.bandcamp.com/track/7910">7910 by ryanferreira</a> <a data-cke-saved-href="http://5707.bandcamp.com/track/st-peters-excerpt" href="http://5707.bandcamp.com/track/st-peters-excerpt">st. peters excerpt by 5707</a>

Norm Sherman CD Release Party TONIGHT!

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:47:14 -0700

From the oldest epics chiseled onto tablets in the third millennium BC, to the Herculean friezes of Greece and Rome, a man's place in history has always been determined not but the strength of his character or the size of his heart, but by the smell of his fingers, and sound of his guitar. -Norm Sherman

Norm Sherman is the host of the award winning weekly flash fiction podcast The Drabblecast who also brings his spoken wit, sardonic sense of humor, and literary acumen to the stage. His previous album featured classics such as Daddy Drinks Because You Cry and everybody's favorite Everybody's Got Nipples. In celebration of the release of his second album, The Esoteric Order ofSherman, he will be hosting a record release concert with his long time stage partner Dusty Magnum (aka DaveWhoDigs). In addition to the concert, the evenings entertainment will also include variety acts by Paco Fish, Marla Meringue, and a few more surprises to add to the nights rambunctiousness.

The event will be hosted by the good people at the EMP Collective at 306 East Redwood Street in Baltimore MD at 8:00 pm tonight! The space will be also be featuring the art work of Ryan Haase with his collection entitled Night Sweats - A Thousand Ways to Die. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Furthermore, you can follow the event via twitter by way of The Drabblecast and myself, DaveWhoDigs for live updates throughout the evening. There will be burlesque, magic, music, door prizes, and a bathroom obstacle course - what's not to love? Come on out Baltimore and get your weird on with Norm and Dusty.

The Esoteric Order Of Sherman will be available via itunes January 24th.

Norm Sherman: Mongolian Deathworm ( Just Another Lonely Night)

Bonus Roundup: Jan 8 - 14, 2012

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:29:49 -0700

Bonus Roundup is way for us to quickly share more of the great music sent our way. I wasn't sure it would become a regular feature but I don't see the submissions of cool songs and videos slowing down any time soon. That's not a complaint.

Brando and Wax

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:08:19 -0700

Marlon Brando. Vinyl. White cat. Wellesian ambiance.

The Jolly-Boat Pirates

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:53:42 -0700

The Jolly-Boat Pirates were a free jazz project on Umlaut Records that lasted from 2004-2008. The ensemble was a quartet of three Swedes and one American - They were Niklas Barno on trumpet, Devin Gray on drums, Joel Grip on double bass, and Lars Ahlund on saxophones. Furthermore, their time together happened to coincide with the time of my undergraduate study at the Peabody Institute of Music where they were also studying.

The Jolly-Boat Pirates had a few years on me at the time, I suppose they still do now, but the point is that seeing them perform and hearing this kind of jazz music making felt and sounded like something I had never experienced before. It felt somehow more organic, more open to responding to itself as it created itself. Their live performances had a way of messing with my sense of time. You cannot always tap your foot along in a measured way when you listen to them, but I was engaged in the kind of way that allowed large quantities of time to slip away undetected. I found them to be completely engrossing then, and I still do today. Recently I have re-discovered the first of their two releases and have gotten hooked on their sound all over again.

The Jolly-Boat Pirates: Bro

Weekly Roundup: Jan 8 - 15, 2012

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:01:30 -0700

There's a lot on my mind at the moment so this may not be the most coherent Weekly Roundup, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying six great new songs and videos.

Everyman Of Parts - Arid Eyes

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:12:13 -0700

Everyman Of Parts - Arid Eyes

I think I always liked Badly Drawn Boy more than most people seemed to. A lot of this stems from the fact that I loved About A Boy. Yea, jerks, I mean the sentimental Hugh Grant early-oughts heartwarmer. Mostly, i just worship at the alter of Nick Hornby (which in turns stems from my complete obsession with High Fidelity). But, tender admissions aside, Badly Drawn Boy's full-hearted, diverse, sometimes acoustic warblings always struck the right chord for me.

Everyman Of Parts is the musical project of Andrew Sheron who plays almost every instrument of his upcoming album, Travelling Time. Sheron is chanelling Mr. Gough something fierce here, which is refreshing really. It's a form of honest, meandering indie rock that's been lost in the current reverbed, synthy haze. The songs of Travelling Time are comforting with an underlying fierceness. Sheron's talent is always evident as he jumps around genres and woos you with his words.

Check out Everyman Of Parts on Facebook and pick up the album on his Bandcamp page.

Weekly Roundup: Jan 1 - 7, 2012 - BONUS ROUND

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:54:53 -0700

Each week, we receive a ton of great music from bands, labels, PR people, and more. We do our best to listen to everything and share our favorites in our Weekly Roundup posts. But oftentimes, there is simply too much music to include (though I've certainly tried). While planning some changes for the new year, we realized it could be a good idea to add periodic "bonus" roundups to let even more be heard. We're happy to kick that off right now!

The Denzels - EP Release Show Tonight at Glasslands

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:38:48 -0700

Hey Brooklyn / NYC readers, there's a cool show tonight you should check out: The Denzels at Glasslands at 8:30, an EP release party for their latest Easy Tiger. And for those not in the area or who can't make the show, be sure to check out the EP, which is available for free! Read on for a link.

The Gallery at Rockwood Music Hall 1/8/12

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:39:26 -0700

One of my goals for 2012 is to see more shows / concerts / live performances. After their show Sunday night, The Gallery took the honor of being the first band I saw in this new year. Read on for some quick thoughts.

Kapowski - Section 8

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:34:30 -0700

Kapowski - Section 8

Really, I'll give a fair shake to any band potentially named after a Saved By The Bell character. It's icing on the cake that the Bay Area's Kapowski are actually really good. "Section 8" is a tidy little 60's inspired rock song with a sizable portion of awesome organ. The breakdowns are particularly intriguing, only to be sucked out of existence by the hard-driving percussion. All in all, it's a great teaser for the bands' upcoming February 1st album, Boy Detective.

Bonus robot butlers:

Hank Mobley: This I Dig Of You

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:48:15 -0700

Released in 1960, Hank Mobley's record Soul Station boasts the cast of Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Blakey on drums in addition to his own tenor saxophone playing. Soul Station is known for being one of Mobley's most successful records but if you are not familiar with his sound, let me put it like this. Mobley was referred to as the "Middle weight champion of the tenor saxophone" by Leonard Feather because his playing was not as aggressive as John Coltrane and not as mellow as Stan Getz. For Feather, Mobley was the middle man with a balance of mood, tone, and style.

This middle approach makes the music palatable and easy to enjoy, regardless of what your musical taste may be. I personally have been waking up to this song on my alarm for a little over a month now and I have come to decide that compositionally, This I Dig Of You as a composition, has as much balance and equilibrium as any jazz song out there.

Read on and let me try to explain myself.

Hank Mobley: This I Dig Of You

Tiny Desk Concert: The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:15:28 -0700

The Goat Rodeo Sessions is a quartet album featuring Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile. This ensemble is my new definition of professional. These musicians do not get to perform together everyday, they have not built their careers learning and performing together, and yet they have the uncanny ability to read each other's non-verbal gestures and move fluently and artistically through severally complicated music. Furthermore, they perform with beautiful blend and intonation; I do not remember the last time I marveled at an artist for being in tune, but I did here. This performance is brought to us by way of the fantastic NPR program Tiny Desk Concerts who offer style at a premium and have found the perfect balance of formal and informal.

For the most part, the quartet lets their music speak for them in this performance but the set list contains the songs, Quarter Chicken Dark, Attaboy, and Here and Heaven - which also features the lovely vocalist Aoife O'Donavan. Check out the video, Attaboy showcases some rippin' scale technique across the quartet and each piece also has a really cool way of tossing the melodic theme across each instrument for compositional cohesion as well as listener intrigue. I completely admire everyone involved in this project and cannot recommend highly enough that you keep your ears open anytime anyone from this group has music to play.

Weekly Roundup: Jan 1 - 7, 2012

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:27:44 -0700

Happy New Year! Weekly Roundup is back after a month off and ready to bring you all the latest new music we've been digging. Here we go!

Cursive - The Sun and Moon

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:49:31 -0700

Cursive will release their seventh album I Am Gemini on February 21st on longtime label Saddle Creek Records. The first single "The Sun and Moon" is available for download. Since the album's subject is the story of a set of twins, I thought it would be fun to talk about both this new song and an older one.

Collaborative Playlist - Favorite Songs of 2011 Unveiled

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:24:06 -0700

It is now time to unveil a playlist made from you our awesome readers' favorites from 2011. Thanks to everyone that sent us something!

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: Oh Brother

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:51:20 -0700

In this edition of This Book is a Song, I am revisiting something I initially read several years ago: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. Though I liked it the first time, it felt more relevant and enjoyable this time around. And I had some fun thinking about what music connects to it.

The Darcys

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:16:23 -0700

Unfortunately I won't be able to complete my Label Year feature within the year 2011, but I am at least getting one last post in today with a look at the self-titled debut album from The Darcys.

Interview with Old Wives' Tale

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:19:02 -0700

A few months ago, we featured the cool and bluesy song "Momma Devil" by Old Wives Tale in a Weekly Roundup (link here). We recently had a chance to ask singer and bassist Felipe Valencia (he founded the band with his brother Jaime, who also sings and plays guitar) some questions about their latest release Late Night Paraphernalia and more. Here's the interview.

Merry Dig-mas!

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:58:44 -0700

Over the past month or so, we've gotten a lot of Christmas music submissions. It seemed like an appropriate time to share some of those with you. They range from straightforward covers of classics to interesting interpretations to originals - some of which address the stressful or unpleasant aspects of the holiday. Have a listen and more importantly, have a happy holidays! Whatever it is you celebrate, all the best to you from all of us at Those Who Dig!

Kyle's Best Albums Of 2011 (10-1)

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:23:44 -0700

I'm pretty excited about my Top Ten this year. There's some legends, some givens, some surprises, and a few that unfortunately I haven't seen on anyone else's lists. There's something for everyone and I hope you all dig some new music for yourselves, because all of these albums are brilliant.

Steve's Top 10 Most Dug Albums of 2011

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:23:43 -0700

Last year, I didn't listen to enough albums to make anything more than a top five list. That was not the case this year. Here are my ten favorite albums of 2011. These are the ones that I spent the most time with because they sounded good and, more importantly, because they spoke to me.

Eric and Magill - Kick The Covers Vol. 1

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:25:48 -0700

Eric & Magill - Fields

Our pals Eric & Magill have magically released a new album despite being continents apart. Kick The Covers Vol.1 is the first in a series of cover albums they're completing of songs originally written by collaborators and friends like The Snake The Cross The Crown and Shearwater. It's a perfect thank you gift and hearing the Eric & Magill spacey, heartfelt spin on each song is awesome. Head over to their Bandcamp page to download the EP for free!

The lads also just released a great video for the song "You Make It So Good" from their lovely first album, All Those I Know.

Kyle's Best Albums Of 2011 (21-11)

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:26:24 -0700

I've seen a lot of people complaining about this being a sub-par year for releases. I call bullshit on that. I can't remember there ever being a year where there weren't at least 20 albums I loved. This year was certainly no exception.

Top 10 Most Dug Songs of 2011

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:48:01 -0700

It is hard to believe 2011 is almost over, but here we are. This has been a year full of exciting musical discoveries. Here are ten of my favorite songs.

John Statz - Distance

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:39:17 -0700

John Statz - Distance

Some more beautiful, down-tempo midwestern folk coming at you. John Statz is a songwriter who has traveled all over the world to write, record, and perform and lucky for us he returned home to cut Old Fashioned which is due out January 24.

It's hard to be wholly unique when working in such a time-worn genre as folk but the best new folk artists have learned that creating a singular sound is about subtlety and precision songwriting, not experimentation. You can hear from Old Fashioned's first single "Distance" that Statz knows what he's doing. The lovely harmonics and layered guitar work create a glass case of emotion that complement Statz's unhurried vocals.

My Year In Dig

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:22:53 -0700

2011 was quite a year. It was my first full year as a music blogger and personally, I made some big life changes. Here's an overview of some highlights in case you missed anything.

Fort Frances - The Lowlands

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 09:44:25 -0700

<a data-cke-saved-href="http://fortfrances.bandcamp.com/album/the-lowlands" href="http://fortfrances.bandcamp.com/album/the-lowlands">The Lowlands by Fort Frances</a>

It's been a minute since we've heard from the gentlemen of Chicago's Fort Frances but the wait was worth it. "The Lowlands" is a lovely, acoustic, down-tempo number featuing sparse instrumentation that leaves a nice focus on the lyricism and vocal perfomance. The rootsy sound fits the band well and David McMillin's voice is gentle enough to convey the downtrodden country emotion.

Be sure to check out Fort Frances' Facebook page for more information on the lads.

Steve's Top 5 Most Dug Albums of 2010 Revisited

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:19:07 -0700

I love year-end list making, it's awesome. However, it does bother me that I inevitably miss things or come to love certain albums later on that revealed themselves slowly, which means I don't get a chance to honor them because it's a new year and I have to make a new list. But since I have this blog, I do have a chance to revisit my 2010 albums list and share how it looks after another year of listening. So that's what I'm going to do right now.

Collaborative Playlist - Favorite Songs of 2011

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:49:59 -0700

December for a music blog means sharing our picks for the "best" of the year. As TWD's first full year in action, 2011 was certainly memorable. We have some exciting stuff planned for our year-end coverage, and it starts tonight with a call to make a new Collaborative Playlist. We want to know what YOU dug this year!

The idea is this: share with us one or more of your favorite 2011 songs and we will compile all of the submissions into a playlist that will potentially be enlightening and definitely be enjoyable. You can leave your pick(s) in the comment section below, send them via twitter (@ThseWhoDig), or hit us up on our Facebook page. We'll unveil the playlist on Spotify the first week of January. We're excited to hear from you!

Those Who Dig Kiva Team

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:22:19 -0700

We at Those Who Dig have finally decided to use our powers for good instead of evil. While we hope that our promotion and distribution of great music is a service to people in and of itself, we've been wanting to do something just a little bit more with the following we've developed. With the holiday season approaching it seems like as good a time as any to get this rolling.

We've set up a Those Who Dig team page at Kiva.org that everyone is welcome to join. If you're unfamiliar with Kiva you should read about them. Basically, Kiva is a website where you can micro-lend to small-business owners in third world countries. After you sign up you can lend in interest-free increments as small as 25$ to borrowers of your choice whose mission and business is available for you to read about. Remember it's a LOAN, so you get your money back and can either take it or reinvest it in another loan.

It's incredibly simple to do and it's a great cause that does real, calculable good for real people. We don't ask anything of our readers other than enjoying the hell out of the music that we write about, so we'd be honored if you'd take a couple minutes and join our team. There will be a link in the sidebar from now on so feel free to join at anytime and lend away!

Happy Holidays!

Zeus - Are You Gonna Waste My Time?

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:44:41 -0700

Ye gods! Zeus has released the rocking single "Are You Gonna Waste My Time?" as a preview of their forthcoming-in-2012 second album. It hits like a lightning bolt from Mount Olympus and certainly has me excited for that new release. Let's not delay any longer and get right to this newest Label Year.

Eight and a Half - Scissors

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:36:38 -0700

Eight and a Half. It's not just a Fellini film anymore. This new band is made from a combination of The Stills (Liam O'Neil & Dave Hamelin) and Broken Social Scene (Justin Peroff). Their full length, self-titled debut isn't due out until next year, but Arts & Crafts has offered their single "Scissors" to introduce them to the world. Tonight, Label Year considers this first impression.

McCoy Tyner Performs She's Leaving Home

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:59:16 -0700

McCoy Tyner is one of my all time favorite jazz piano players - he is an absolute diamond in the rough. In a nutshell, McCoy Tyner cut his teeth in the jazz scene playing piano in Coltrane's band before a long and healthy solo career. My favorite of his solo albums is Nights of Blues and Ballads and I cannot recommend it highly enough if you don't already have this one in your collection. Regardless, I had a one of those transcendent moments this morning while drinking a cup of coffee and listening to McCoy Tyner perform his rendition of The Beatles classic, She's Leaving Home.

I've already called Tyner himself a diamond in the rough, but more specifically, that's how I feel about his performance amongst a collection of thirteen other jazz interpretations of Beatles songs from the 1995 album (I Got No Kick Against )Modern Jazz: A GRP Artists' Celebration Of The Songs Of The Beatles. If you are curious, or would like to purchase just this track, the album is available on Amazon. The band is McCoy Tyner on Piano, Avery Sharpe on Bass, and Aaron Scott on Drums. Collectively, I enjoy the way they stay true to the original song and its emotional content, while speaking their own language. The best story tellers always manage to get the important parts correct, even if they change the details along the way.

Nicolas Jaar EP

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:21:23 -0700

NICOLAS JAAR / Don't break my love EP by Clown & Sunset

Warning: Listening should occur on good headphones.

This is pretty different fare than you'll normally find on our humble little blog, and I am generally a non-believer in most of the output from the electronic music world. That being said I can't stop listening to Nicolas Jaar. I hesitate to even call his work "electronic" as it combines found sound and organic noises as well as bloops and blips. It comes across with a feeling akin to The Books.

I want to live inside the space in "Don't Break My Love". It's the absolute opposite of current electronic trends (read: brostep) in it's beauty, sparseness, and reliance on subtely and open space to breathe emotion and nuance. The song crackles and pops at a painfully slow speed in the beginning to the point of checking to even make sure the song is playing. As the sounds gradually unfurl themselves a melody and rhythym are established and the groggy bass brings you in. The hook doesn't even drop for a good five minutes.

You can download both tunes by clicked the downward arrow in the player. After hearing this track I immediately devoured Jaar's brilliant release from earlier this year Space Is Only Noise. I recommend you do the same.

Q-Tip Spinning

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:17:55 -0700

Kamaal the Abstract mixing. ZULU!

hexaCollective: Winter Marathon Concert

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:58:49 -0700

The hexaCollective is a relatively new project in the Balitmore/DC area. If you have not yet had the pleasure of getting to know them, let me introduce you. Dig Nation, this is the hexaCollective. hexaCollective, this is the Dig Nation. Let's be friends. You dig?

hexaCollective is a group of singers and instrumentalists that works to fill the niche of diverse chamber and solo music programming.

The origin of the name hexaCollective draws from the six voice categories (soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass). The collective also includes instrumentalists, composers and others collaborators.

This Baltimore/DC based group's foundation is centered on the desire to explore possibilities in new works, some commissioned specifically for the ensemble or rarely performed pieces, with the intent of premiering several such works.

This consortium of talented and adroit musicians is gathering Saturday Dec. 10th at The Mt. Vernon Music Space, 1015 N. Charles St. for their Winter Marathon Concert. Like the collective itself, it will traverse time and genre with music from Xenakis, Ravel, Vivaldi, Boulanger, and Debussy. Tickets are $5 for children/students and $10 for adults. The concert will begin with the vocal portion of the show at 6:15 pm before yielding to the instrumental serving at 7:30.

Read on for more information about the hexaCollective as well as a video of their delightful singing from a recent performance.

Atlantic Guitar Quartet Concert Update

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:40:00 -0700

By now I don't think it comes as a surprise that I am living multiple lives as a blogger, teacher, and performer. My classical guitar quartet the Atlantic Guitar Quartet is a major focus of my creative energy and we have done extraordinarily well in our short life span as speaker heads for contemporary classical music. Currently, we are performing the music of Ron Pearl, Roland Dyens, and Olivier Bensa. The combined language of these composers makes for a concert experience that explores different techniques, sounds, colors, and offers the audience the visual intrigue that only contemporary concerts can. A recording of the work Paroles from Bensa is attached below which was from a recent AGQ performance at Salisbury University.

Our next performance is at the Jordan Faye Contemporary Gallery in Baltimore MD this December 10th at 7:30. Advance ticket sales can be found via Ticket Leap, and more information regarding the quartet and this concert can be found over at Facebook and Twitter. The quartet will also be recording this week so give the twitter account a follow for pictures from the studio!

Weekly Roundup: Nov 27 - Dec 3, 2011

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 10:55:26 -0700

This Weekly Roundup is feeling a little bittersweet, as it is very likely the last installment of 2011. We need to pause it because we'll be busy with year-end features and so that we can prepare some changes to the Roundup format for 2012. Don't worry, it'll definitely be back in a few weeks and there is still one last great batch of songs and videos awaiting you once you click through!

The Visible Man: How To Disappear (Almost) Completely

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:06:32 -0700

There are probably not too many contemporary writers as perfect for a feature on the intersection of music and books as Chuck Klosterman. In the newest This Book is a Song, I'll be sharing some thoughts on his latest novel The Visible Man.

Vinyl Giveaway Contest - Saint Motel

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:39:00 -0700

[THIS CONTEST IS NOW OVER. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED!]

Here's an exciting new thing for Those Who Dig. We have five copies of the new 7-inch record from Saint Motel to give away to five of you lucky readers! It's called 7"1 and features the songs "At Least I Have Nothing" and "Puzzle Pieces," both of which have been featured in Weekly Roundup (here and here, respectively).

All you have to do is send us (@ThseWhoDig) and Saint Motel (@SaintMotel) a tweet. Maybe tell us something you think is cool about the music. And why not like Saint Motel on Facebook? (Or Those Who Dig for that matter, wink-wink).

You can listen to "At Least I Have Nothing" below, but don't waste too much time before you tweet if you want some free vinyl! Good luck!

SAINT MOTEL - At Least I Have Nothing by saintmotel

Plants and Animals - Lightshow

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:31:19 -0700

Plants and Animals - Lightshow by SecretCityRecords

It's so supremely satisfying and comforting when you hear a song that just speaks to you, directly, at a certain time. It's like the artist reached in your brain and spilled your thoughts all over the recording studio. It's almost like you don't want to share the song with anyone else - after all it was made just for you, right?

Fortunately for you guys, I have a music blog and sharing great tunes is kinda what I do. I've been having a tough time lately finding the time/will/energy to post on TWD, but luckily the other Digsters are holding it down. I haven't given up on music or the site - just in a bit of a motivational lull lately and some major life changes have been brewing that tend to take up my thoughts. I needed a spark to light a fire under my ass and it came yesterday courtesy of Kyle the Music Savage (Gardener).

This new song from Montreal-based band Plants and Animals came through my speakers with a 2x4 in hand and whacked me right in the forehead. It starts out simply enough with a carefully strummed acoustic melody and clear vocals. It's when the drums kick in and I started to parse my way through the varying tempo that I realized I was listening to something special. That crunchy guitar breakdown in the middle is the release of every gnawing feeling that weighs on you in times of struggle. It's the aggression at your fingertips clawing for a way out. Shit, I love this song.

Plants and Animals release The End Of That on Secret City Records at the end of February, so be on the lookout.

Feist - Metals

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:13:36 -0700

Last month, Feist released Metals, the long-awaited follow-up to her breakout album The Reminder. It was perhaps the most anticipated release of the year for Arts & Crafts from perhaps their most prominent artist. It is a great album and the subject of this installment of Label Year.

Weekly Roundup: Nov 20 - 26, 2011

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:20:54 -0700

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! One more thing to be thankful for is a new Weekly Roundup. Here we go!

Episodes in Virtuosity: George Adams

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:39:34 -0700

In 1975 Charles Mingus and Company performed a concert in Montreux that knocks me flat every time I watch and rewatch it. The band mates are George Adams (tenor sax/vocals) Don Pullen (piano) Jack Walrath (trumpet) Dannie Richmond (drums). The piece of video I have attached is a portion of Sue's Changes - which is a tune Mingus penned for his wife, Sue. We at TWD love us some Mingus and in particular I lose my cool a little bit every time I revisit this concert footage. George Adams is an absolute beast in this performance for his range, attack, velocity, guts, and imagination. It's a staggering work of jazz and fit enough for today's Episodes in Virtuosity.

Texas Guitar Quartet Kickstarter

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:27:34 -0700

The Texas Guitar Quartet is comprised of Isaac Bustos, Jonathan Dotson, Alejandro Montiel and Joseph Williams II. Their full bio is contained within the article and their accreditation is both enviable and impressive. These are musicians of the finest caliber endeavoring to bring their art into the world with the support of artists and patrons like you. Their new album will be entitled Red and will feature an arrangement of JS Bach's 3rd Brandenburg Concerto, the world premier recording of Antoine de Lhoyer's Air Varié et Dialogué, three works from Isaac Albeniz arranged for the quartet by their own Alejandro Montiel, the Egmont Overture from LV Beethoven as arranged by Isaac Bustos, and finally a new work composed by Joe Williams entitled Red.

The TxGQ is a beautiful and articulate music ensemble. I believe in musicians like them, and I want to believe in a music community that helps to support the arts and artists as they work to express themselves and make the world a beautiful place one concert at a time. Please consider donating to this project and pass on the link to spread the love. As the man says, "From the heart, may it go to the heart." -LV Beethoven

Lee Morgan: The Sidewinder

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:49:35 -0700

Lee Morgan (1938-1972) was an American jazz trumpeter whose career and life had all the hallmarks and stereotypes of a great Bop musician. He recorded prolifically, developed the genre stylistically and technically, struggled with drugs, and was ultimately shot and killed by his common law wife Helen More (Morgan) while prepping the stage for a concert.

His record The Sidewinder (1963) is one of my favorites from the artists long list of works, and is commonly considered to be part of the core curriculum for jazz listening.

Lee Morgan: The Sidewinder

Jonny Corndawg: Chevy Beretta

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:59:53 -0700

Jonny Corndawg has his first music video out from his newest album Down On the Bikini Line. The video is a montage of found photographs and videos which have been compiled and arranged by Sean Dunne and Kathy Gatto. I think the found object approach to this music video is both inventive and appropriate. Jonny's music has a sort of nostalgic feeling to it and being privy to someone else's memories in conjunction with this great song makes for a fun video. Also, what I enjoy is the inherant absurdity in these photographs. I find a new favorite each time I watch, but there is a ridiculous mother and son cigarette bonding photo that probably takes my cake. Hit up the Holler Back! feature and let me know which photo you liked the best.

If you're a daytrotter person, Jonny also just released a new episode with Futurebirds as the backing band. Check that out here. You can also get more Corndawg on Facebook and Twitter.

Weekly Roundup: Nov 13 - 19, 2011

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:43:13 -0700

Get ready because a baker's dozen of songs and videos is coming at you in this latest Weekly Roundup!

EMA - Angelo

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:52:57 -0700

One of my favorite new discoveries of 2011 is EMA. She has a 7-inch coming out for the great song "Marked," that features an equally great b-side called "Angelo." Read on to listen and order.

Lightyear - EP and Live Show 11/18/11

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:39:50 -0700

Lightyear, the new project from Lauren Zettler, has an EP out called All of the Miles and will be performing tomorrow night (11/18/11) at the show room of Piano's. Read on for details about the music and the show!

Out of the Box: David Smooke and NewMusicBox

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:59:34 -0700

It's hard to believe that I could ever look at a 60 gig ipod and feel bored, but it happens. I'm sure you've been there too. So let me throw something at you that might get you out of the box and refresh your tired ears. David Smooke is a composer, musician, professor, blogger, birder, and badass. He is also extremely interested by toy pianos and posted a wonderfully thoughtful and intriguing article on the ever engaging NewMusicBox -the online magazine for the American Music Center.

Read on for a full link to the article as well as videos of his pieces Half the Way Down and Toy With Me. Both of which feature the toy piano and might seem a bit more accessible after reading the artists thoughts and seeing them isolated and in action. You'll also get information about Uncaged which is the 3 day toy piano music festival in NYC where David Smooke will be performing.

Weekly Roundup: Nov 6 - 12, 2011

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:34:13 -0700

This is going to be a very brief Weekly Roundup from my end, but still full of plenty of good tunes & videos for all of you. Check it!

Kitsch Music

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:54:31 -0700

A few weeks ago I was driving home and listening to the low end of the dial on my car radio. My car is kind of a piece and the radio dial can't be read so I can't rightly tell you what station I was listening to when Sherman "Blues" Johnson & His Clouds of Joy came across the airwaves. The tune was Hot Fish and for its time and place the song couldn't have been more perfect for an evening drive home at the end of a long day with the windows down and the city lights blinking an optimistic yellow through my windshield. It felt great, I felt good. I know that the music selection amplified these feelings and I've been thinking about it ever since.

Hudson: Against the Grain

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 09:09:59 -0700

Hudson (aka Travis Aulsebrook) is an Austrailian folk artist with a new EP out this year entitled Open Up Slowly. The entire album can be streamed via his bandcamp page tagged at the beginning of the article or you can purchase the EP for the low low price of 8 bucks. This EP has all the makings of a great future for Hudson with hook, balanced pop orchestration, engaging lyrics, and that innate and hard to define sing-along quality that makes pop music worthwhile. I was really happy that this EP found its way into my headphones this weekend. But here's the best part, stop motion animation! Hudson teamed up with animator Dropbear (aka Jonathan Chong) to create this hip music video for the EP's single Against the Grain. What's not to love? Check it out, buy the EP, and make your next commute with Hudson and Open Up Slowly. You dig?

<a data-cke-saved-href="http://hudsonmusic.com.au/track/against-the-grain" href="http://hudsonmusic.com.au/track/against-the-grain">Against The Grain by Hudson</a>

Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:20:31 -0700

Arts & Crafts has been on a tear with recent releases, and I have fallen way off the pace with my Label Year feature. Tuesday's Los Campesinos! album will mark the the sixth release in the past seven weeks, none of which have yet appeared here. So let's get things back on track and kick off the big finish with a look at Oh Fortune by Dan Mangan.

Unbroken: Zamperini's Testament

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:14:53 -0700

Tonight I'm starting a new feature at Those Who Dig called This Book Is A Song. I have always loved literature and reading and I decided it would be fun to look at the connections to music. The idea is to share some thoughts about books I read and match them up with relevant songs. Let's get to it!

NZ Songs for an Alien Spaceship

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:05:41 -0700

As you probably know if you've been reading Those Who Dig over the past few weeks, I interviewed the seven bands that were playing the New Zealand showcase during CMJ. One thing I asked each was to give me songs for a collaborative playlist. Tonight I'm unveiling it for your listening pleasure.

Interview with Princess Chelsea - NZ @ CMJ

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:59:33 -0700

We've finally reached the end of the CMJ New Zealand showcase interviews and we're going out strong. What follows is a conversation I had with Princess Chelsea. And an added bonus, Pikachunes joined in for the chain and playlist questions. Check it out!

Weekly Roundup: Oct 30 - Nov 5, 2011

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:31:19 -0700

You know what the end of daylight savings time really means, don't you? That's right, a whole extra hour to enjoy Weekly Roundup!

Interview with Andrew Keoghan - NZ @ CMJ

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 12:03:06 -0600

We are approaching the end of my New Zealand showcase interviews. The penultimate installment is with Andrew Keoghan. Check it out!

Interview with The Golden Awesome - NZ @ CMJ

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:41:34 -0600

My New Zealand showcase interviews roll on with tonight's post featuring The Golden Awesome.

XV - Blame Yourself (Ft. GLC, Emilio Rojas, and Casey Veggies)

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:28:35 -0600

XV - Blame Yourself (Ft. GLC, Emilio Rojas, and Casy Veggies)

This one dropped a couple weeks back, but I'm finally finding a couple minutes to post it. Did you guys realize I'm into XV? Wasn't sure if that was clear. "Blame Yourself" is short on the XV and heavy on the guests, but the old school, bassy beat is sick and more than carries the lack of Vizzy. Obligatory XV post ending: CAN'T WAIT FOR THE ALBUM WHEN IT DROPS SOMEDAY!

The Roots and A Tribe Called Quest Freestyle

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:15:56 -0600

Uncovered this gem in a Rolling Rock-inspired YouTube spelunking session. The two legendary hip hop crews have a little fun together in Brooklyn in 1995. Phife is particularly nasty here and while my man Q doesn't get any action, it's still a great document of the peak years of great hip hop.

Interview with Pikachunes - NZ @ CMJ

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:27:42 -0600

Somehow it's 2 weeks after the fantastic New Zealand showcase at CMJ and I still have interviews to post! Let's get back to it with this conversation I had with Pikachunes.

Upcoming Atlantic Guitar Quartet Concert

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:04:58 -0600

The Atlantic Guitar Quartet is a four piece classical guitar ensemble based out of Baltimore. If you read the groups manifesto you'll find that they emphasize performing the works of living composers. This Friday they will be doing just that in a concert at the Engineers Club at the Garrett Jacobs Mansion in Baltimore City - where they have held the prestigious Artist-in-Residence position since 2010.

The concert program will contain works from Olivier Bensa, Roland Dyens, and the world premier of Be Not Afraid: Music from Prospero's Island by Ronald Pearl. The night's music emphasizes the musicians abilities to explore all ranges of their guitar technique, as well as texture, tonal and coloration possibilities. This unique set of repertoire coupled with the ensemble's direct and thoughtful interpretations promise to make the evening a memorable concert experience.

The concert begins at 8:00 pm and doors open at 7:30. There will also be a cash bar available before and after the concert. Tickets are available here and discounts are offered with a student ID or through advanced purchase. Read on for a short video clip of the ensemble performing at Spring Stage Performances last spring in NYC. You can also get the rest of your AGQ fix satisfied by keeping with the group via Facebook, Twitter, or their Official Web Page.

Weekly Roundup: Oct 23 - 29, 2011

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:34:17 -0600

Happy Halloween! This year, TWD is handing out treats in the form of new songs and videos you should check out via this latest Weekly Roundup. Enjoy!

White Arrows Interview and Show Review

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:24:25 -0600

On Thursday night, I watched an exciting peformance by the White Arrows (along with the Chain Gang of 1974 and The Naked and Famous) at Webster Hall. I got to talk with lead vocalist/guitarist Mickey and keyboardist/vocalist Andrew beforehand, too. Read on for more show details and the interview.

Also, a quick FYI: The band is playing TONIGHT (October 30th), again at Webster Hall, but this time it's a headlinging gig at the Studio. It's $10 and begins at 7:00 PM. More info here.

Something New, Something Old, and Something Ineffably Cool: Tom Waits

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:46:11 -0600

Tom Waits is one of favorite musical artists of all time and, in any genre. I would put him on a short list with Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Keith Jarrett, The Assad Brothers and a few others. But that is a blog for another time.

Something New: By now it's not breaking news that Tom Waits released a new album this week entitled Bad As Me. But if you're holding out on purchasing it, just stop it. What are you waiting for? We all know that Tom Waits has been putting out a consistantly quality product since the early 70's, and Bad As Me is no exception. The album snarles, moans, hisses, and croons. Bad As Me is badass.

Something Old: As an obsessive Tom Waits fan I was appalled to learn this week that I've missed a beat. What I learned is that in 2008 Tom Waits teamed up with the tour de force string quartet the Kronos Quartet, and bassist Greg Cohen on a collaborative album entitled Healing the Divide: A Concert for Peace and Reconcilliation. This set was live a re-imagining of some Waits classics which are energized and unabashed in their creative display. I actually found myself pounding on my work desk and dancing in my office when I heard this music for the first time. I hope you have the same visercal recation. After all, Tom Waits is ineffably cool.

Tom Waits: Satisfied

Tom Waits, Kronos Quartet & Greg Cohen: Down In The Hole

NYC Show: White Arrows at Webster Hall 10/27

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:42:51 -0600

Tomorrow night - 10/27/11 - White Arrows will be performing at Webster Hall in the East Village. This is a great opportunity to see an exciting young band that should put on a good show. Read on for more details.

Those Who Dig - Music and Whiskey in Spades

Rebekah Delgado: Sing You Through The Storm

Friday Night Lights: Clear Eyes, Full Hearts

Episodes in Virtuosity: Maurice Gendron and Christian Ivaldi Perform Debussy's Sonata for Cello and Piano

Weekly Roundup: Feb 12 - 18, 2012

Concert Review: Mobtown Modern Presents Adam Tendler Performing John Cage's Piano Sonatas and Interludes

Cold Specks - Holland

Valentine's Day 2012: For the Single People

Valentine's Day 2012: For the Couples

Punch Brothers: Who's Feeling Young Now

Dave Newberry: No One Will Remember You

Weekly Roundup: Feb 5 - 11, 2012

Bonus Roundup: Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2012

NYC Concert Alert : Snowmine, Via Audio, Sea Of Bees, Beat Radio

Off the Charts: The Song Poem Story

Weekly Roundup: Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2012

The Bad Plus Cover Abba's Knowing Me Knowing You

The Flaming Lips: I Am The Walrus

Django Reinhardt: Georgia On My Mind

Bonus Roundup: Jan 22 - 28, 2012

Digcast Episode 2: Jonny Corndawg

Los Campesinos! - Hello Sadness

Weekly Roundup: Jan 22 - 28, 2012

John Cage Sonata V

Show Review - Cass McCombs 1/25

Bonus Roundup: Jan 15 - 21, 2012

Cheyenne Marie Mize - We Don't Need

NYC Show: Cass McCombs at the Bowery Ballroom Jan 25th

Weekly Roundup: Jan 15 - 21, 2012

Episodes in Virtuosity: John Williams and John Etheridge

Ryan Ferreira

Norm Sherman CD Release Party TONIGHT!

Bonus Roundup: Jan 8 - 14, 2012

Brando and Wax

The Jolly-Boat Pirates

Weekly Roundup: Jan 8 - 15, 2012

Everyman Of Parts - Arid Eyes

Weekly Roundup: Jan 1 - 7, 2012 - BONUS ROUND

The Denzels - EP Release Show Tonight at Glasslands

The Gallery at Rockwood Music Hall 1/8/12

Kapowski - Section 8

Hank Mobley: This I Dig Of You

Tiny Desk Concert: The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Weekly Roundup: Jan 1 - 7, 2012

Cursive - The Sun and Moon

Collaborative Playlist - Favorite Songs of 2011 Unveiled

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: Oh Brother

The Darcys

Interview with Old Wives' Tale

Merry Dig-mas!

Kyle's Best Albums Of 2011 (10-1)

Steve's Top 10 Most Dug Albums of 2011

Eric and Magill - Kick The Covers Vol. 1

Kyle's Best Albums Of 2011 (21-11)

Top 10 Most Dug Songs of 2011

John Statz - Distance

Top 5 Most Dug Music Videos of 2011

My Year In Dig

Fort Frances - The Lowlands

Steve's Top 5 Most Dug Albums of 2010 Revisited

Collaborative Playlist - Favorite Songs of 2011

Those Who Dig Kiva Team

Zeus - Are You Gonna Waste My Time?

Eight and a Half - Scissors

McCoy Tyner Performs She's Leaving Home

Nicolas Jaar EP

Q-Tip Spinning

hexaCollective: Winter Marathon Concert

Atlantic Guitar Quartet Concert Update

Weekly Roundup: Nov 27 - Dec 3, 2011

The Visible Man: How To Disappear (Almost) Completely

Vinyl Giveaway Contest - Saint Motel

Plants and Animals - Lightshow

Feist - Metals

Weekly Roundup: Nov 20 - 26, 2011

Episodes in Virtuosity: George Adams

Texas Guitar Quartet Kickstarter

Lee Morgan: The Sidewinder

Jonny Corndawg: Chevy Beretta

Weekly Roundup: Nov 13 - 19, 2011