These two songs, though by current artists, really borrow from older styles of rock and roll. The Black Keys seem to have taken a lot from the fuzzy rock of the ’60s and ’70s especially bands like The Who and (perhaps to my ear only) Norman Greenbaum. Dan Sartain, as has been noted elsewhere, relies on the surf-rock sound mixed with older rock licks. I’ve really taken a liking to these two songs and I hope you do as well.
Monthly Archives: January 2011
ProvFolk No. 3
I mentioned a while back that more of Elvis Perkins in Dearland would be on this blog, and here they are. Originally based out of Providence, RI they mix folk with a little bit of old school rock and roll. They are the epitome of folk and roll. These guys are beyond incredible. They are fantastic live. They use a harmonium. And if that wasn’t enough for you they also use a marching band drum. Here are a few of their songs:
Elvis Perkins in Dearland – Doomsday
Elvis Perkins in Dearland – While You Were Sleeping
Great find
The credit for finding this song goes to my sister, Nancy. While Dead Man’s Bones probably gets most of its press because Ryan Gosling is the lead singer, this song is deserving of a listen.
Some old school folk
While these songs are not necessarily old, old school folk, they are definitely not new. Lead Belly is amazing and always worth a listen, plus the old recordings sound cool. Joe Hill is a great song best known by the Bob Dylan and Joan Baez version, but I like the Paul Robeson version the best.
Addendum to The Felice Brothers
So, after posting the previous post I was listening to The Felice Brothers and stumbled across this gem. There is something so moving about the rasp in Ian Felice’s voice combined with the cracking rise in his voice as he sings. The accordion is also just such a full sound that really adds to the feeling of the song.
The Felice Brothers
I first saw The Felice Brothers this past summer at the Newport Folk Festival and then shortly thereafter on a booze cruise down the East River. They have amazing energy live and seem to having a pretty good time making some pretty great music, all of which is excellent to drunkenly sing/yell along with. Between the accordion, the washboard, fiddle, and the guitar they have quite the setup.
The Felice Brothers – Run Chicken Run
Hasil Adkins – the godfather of psychobilly
I feel like not a lot of people have heard of Hasil Adkins. His sound is raw and crude, like most of his lyrics. However, he does have a few softer songs, like Beautiful Hills. He is definitely worth a listen.
It’s not folk or roll, but it’s good
Last night I rediscovered Animal Collective. I hadn’t forgotten about them, but I stopped listening to them regularly a couple of months back. They are magnificent. Here are a few of their songs that I like the most, the beat that kicks in 1:30 into Derek is the best.
Animal Collective – Summertime Clothes
Sticking around for the lyrics
There are some songs that I listen to for a while before thinking about the lyrics. These two songs are ones that I began to listen to because I loved the sound but now listen to because I love listening to the lyrics. This is not to say that I analyze the words, I just love the diction.
ProvFolk No. 2
Another fantastic band that’s come out of Providence, RI is The Low Anthem. I first heard them at a tiny show at Firehouse XIII in Providence and since then have made a point of seeing them as often as I can. They are an amazing group with a great sound created by a crazy mix of instruments including a WWI pump organ, crotales, clarinets, guitars, harmonicas, a harmonium, musical saws, a double bass, and some drums. Their cover of Cigarettes and Whiskey is one of my favorite songs ever.
The Low Anthem – Cigarettes and Whiskey
The Low Anthem – Keep on the Sunny Side
The Low Anthem – Ghost Woman Blues
