SHOW REMINDER!

DO NOT MISS THIS GIG!  

We will be covering it, and will have all the details for you in a few days.  :)

We have done features on two of the artists playing:

Sydney Wayser: our feature.  her myspace.

Will Knox: our feature.  his myspace.  his website.

(the banner was taken from Will Knox's mypsace.  http://www.myspace.com/willknoxmusic.  and yes, i enjoy shamelessly promoting him as often as possible!  haha)

SHOW REMINDER!

TODAY IN MUSIC HISTORY: 6/4

A MARKETING PHENOMENON WAS BORN!

It was 66 years ago (1942) that Glenn Wallichs created Capitol Records, a label which helped revolutionize the promotional process of records by having them sent out to disc jockeys to play on the air.  

TODAY IN MUSIC HISTORY: 6/4

Join the Silent Parade of Sydney Wayser

NEW MUSIC REVIEW:

Sydney Wayser, Silent Parade

Jenna Avery-Lawyer

At age 21, with the debut of her first record under her proverbial belt, Sydney Wayser has only just begun her artistic journey. Silent Parade, released in 2007, reflects a deep understanding of life and love; a perspective rarely seen in artists at such a young age.

Wayser's sound has a wise and beautiful quality that pleads to be heard. Never without melancholy, her voice glides along with the finely placed strings; the two complimenting each other perfectly. As she sings, the cello weeps with cascading sounds of sorrow, adding to the ever present, but never over powering, sadness that swirls in the air. Along with sadness, I hear contentment. Sydney seems at peace with life and all its hardships.

My favorite song featured on MySpace from Wayser’s debut, is the beautiful and sincere “Papa Don’t Worry.” It tells the story of a person who is no longer a girl, but a woman. It’s about breaking free, and becoming an adult. A harmonica blows, announcing its worried presence. Sydney then enters, crooning “Papa don’t worry, I’ll be alright,” as she tries to sooth its upset tone. I hear a question and response between the harmonica and Sydney; perhaps a conversation between parents? Putting the gorgeous and tightly knit orchestrations aside, the harmonica itself adds a completely different level of emotion to the track. It is these simple additions that make songs so attention grabbing and memorable.

The ironic and delightful “Carousel,” showcases Wayser’s French-American heritage. Its whimsical French melody, bouncing up and down on the piano, is slightly offset by the entrance of lyrics that contradict the set mood, as she sings, “Oh misery, stop this spinning.” The acoustic guitar, which can be heard swirling around and around, adds to the visual of an old French carousel. The song stops as the carousel finishes; slowly winding down to the end.

One of Wayser's main self-proclaimed inspirations is the artwork of the Italian born, but French inspired, Amadeo Modigliani. Being submerged in such an array of creative mediums ensures that her music will only continue to grow with time. Her overall artistry and apparent love of life will help her to produce more sweet and melancholy tunes. I suspect Silent Parade has only touched the surface of the deep pool that lies within Sydney Wayser.

Sydney will be playing a show this Thursday at Moomia in NYC along side several other acts, including our featured artist of the week, Will Knox.

Sydney Wayser's MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/sydneywayser

Join the Silent Parade of Sydney Wayser

TODAY IN MUSIC HISTORY: 6/3

Who Shot Andy Warhol?

It was Valerie Solanas, and it was 40 years ago today.  

Solanas was a feminist icon who was working as a prostitute to try and make a living in the city.  Like so many girls with abusive pasts (such as Edie Sedgwick), she was drawn to Warhol, but on June 3, 1968, Solanas shot both him, and curator Mario Amaya, in Warhol's New York City studio.  Warhol was severely wounded, and just barely made it through with his life.  She was ultimately driven to this extreme after Warhol lost a script she had given him to look over in 1967.  The script was for a play entitled Up Your Ass, and Warhol had dismissed it thinking it was a trap set up by police.  Warhol found it was too pornographic to think otherwise.  This is saying a lot, as his own films were commonly shut down for being so controversial.  I originally wanted to post a clip from one of them, but even clips are too inappropriate to show you.  Feel free to look them up on your own.  He's done some interesting work.  And yes, I am aware that this is not a piece of "music" history, but what a great bit of pop culture information it is!

Since I can't show you anything else, here is a 4 minute clip of Andy Warhol eating a hamburger.  Enjoy.

TODAY IN MUSIC HISTORY: 6/3

R.I.P. Bo Diddley (12/30/1928 - 6/2/2008)

Music legend Bo Diddley passed away today, June 2, 2008, in his Archer, Florida home.  The icon was 79-years-old, and the cause of death was heart failure.

Mississippi born and Chicago raised, Diddley worked as a mechanic and carpenter, but expressed his love for music by becoming a street musician.  These early years on the streets evolved into something much more.  In the course of his lifetime, Diddley was fortunate enough to tour with some of the worlds finest musical acts.  Some of these musicians include The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, the Everly Brothers, and Little Richard.  He is also a recognised honoree in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 1987.

Perhaps the greatest impact he had on music came through the introduction of his self-entitled "Bo Diddley Beat."  This rhythmic pattern has been used by musicians of every genre in countless songs over the years. 

Bo Diddley was loved and admired by both artists and fans alike, and will be sadly missed by the music community. 

Watch this man ROCK:

R.I.P. Bo Diddley (12/30/1928 - 6/2/2008)

Who needs a man made of steel, when you can have one made of Iron?

NEW MOVIE REVIEW

IRON MAN

Released: May 2, 2008

Jenna Avery-Lawyer

I'm sorry, all I can say is... "It was money, baby!" 

Come on! It was directed by Jon Favreau! I had to get my one allotted Swingers reference in. But damn, he was firing off all cylinders when he brought this sparkling gem to theaters. Something definitely went right.

I have waited for this delicious tray of eye candy for months. As soon as I heard the words, I was bouncing on my heels with excitement. The words, of course, were "Robert Downey Jr." He is one of my absolute favourites. I did not doubt him as Iron Man for one second. His beauty, his wit, his muscles, his… Where was I? Oh right. He was quite possibly put on this earth to play Tony Stark.

Terrence Howard, also seen in the award winning film, Crash, does a fantastic job of playing Rhodey, Tony Stark's best friend. Expect to see him suiting up for the sequel as Iron Man's partner, War Machine. 

Gwyneth Paltrow adds to this amazing cast with her quiet-cool. Well, more like quiet awkwardness, but I loved her all the more for it. She plays the role of Pepper Potts, the highly professional and devout personal assistant to weapons mogul, Tony Stark. The sexual tension between Ms. Potts and Mr. Stark absolutely crackles against the screen! Half the time I expect to see embers shooting off of them as during their many tension filled silences. If their chemistry had a sound effect, it would most likely resemble the sizzle of a frying pan. Spicey!

It's not all fun and sexual tension, though. The first portion of this film is a very dark and tense 25 minutes. It adds so many layers to the blossoming characters, paving the way for a deeper connection. No spoiler alert here. I won't divulge any further.

I was pleased to see that Favreau did not pull a Spider-Man 3. I'm sorry Spidey, I love you, but I had to say it. Unlike the third, and far overdone, installment of Spiderman, this film does an excellent job of developing the characters into people we can feel for. It's done at a leisurely pace, so the audience doesn't feel rushed. Some have said that Iron Man is just an introductory tail. I agree, and it makes me impatient for more. This beginning contains plenty of action, comedy, and drama; A spectacular blending of genres. If the full cast can be gathered for the sequel, we can certainly expect another box office smash!

Here is the official theatrical trailer:

Who needs a man made of steel, when you can have one made of Iron?

TODAY IN MUSIC HISTORY: 6/2

Can you hear me Major Tom?  Good...because Bowie's a flop!

Before I start getting hate mail from angry Bowie enthusiasts, know that I too, am a follower of David Bowie!  Unfortunately, back in 1967 the UK was not.  It was this day back in '67 when Bowie released his self-titled debut record, David Bowie, and it bombed terribly on the UK charts!  Don't worry, Bowie, I think you have more than redeemed yourself...I'm sure you were full of doubt.

I Spy, with my eye...a Spy.

This story is too good to be fabricated.  Today, in 2005, Alex Kapranos ran into some trouble with the law when trying to board a plane in Moscow.  The frontman for the indie supergroup, Franz Ferdinand, was traveling with his real last name of Huntley, which shot up red flags (no pun intended) to Russian police.  As it turned out, police had mistaken Kapranos for a spy by the same name.  Kapranos was finally released, but only after it was determined that the man they were pursuing was actually 13 years his senior.  The spy on the loose was an M16 agent, wanted for stealing weapon information from the Russians back in the early 90s.  I'd love to get ahold of those tour journals.

TODAY IN MUSIC HISTORY: 6/2

FEATURED ARTIST 6/1/08: WILL KNOX

THE WILL KNOX EXPERIENCE

Lindsay Van Osten

Let me first start out by saying that one of the main reasons I even created the RED BANANA was so I could expose more of the world to the greatness of Will Knox, and others like him. I am someone who ravenously hunts for music, as a starving lioness does a buffalo. While this may not be the most glamourous of analogies, it certainly is an accurate one. If any of you are friends with me on MySpace (and you all should be, so if you aren’t, add me!), you know that I have over 1,000 friends; more than half of which are musicians. I make a point of listening to every band that sends me a friend request before I will add them back. Even though I have a slew of pending requests, it never seems right to add something without even giving it a listen- not only is it unfair to the band, you could also be missing out on something amazing. Like the British superstar that is Will Knox.

In preparation for writing this feature, I retraced my steps and found that Knox had added me on September 30, 2007. At the time I must have enjoyed him, because I commented on his page and put his profile in the random artists section of my top. A few months and a break-up later, I was going through my MySpace and there it was: Will Knox. Was it fate that brought his music back into my life? Anyone who believes in the concept would undoubtedly say yes, as the first song I listened to during this Will Knox revival was “Never Letting Go,” from his Buckled Knees EP (featuring his band: Jeni Magana on bass, Clayton Mathews on fiddle, Timur Yusef on drums, and Kyle Hauser on banjo). As soon as it started playing I broke down into tears. This was what I needed. This song expressed perfectly all of the pain and suffering I was struggling so desperately to purge myself of. The connection was immediate. I’m sure you will have a similar experience once you listen.

Here is an interview Knox did for “Ears Wide Open,” at his alma mater, Berklee College of Music, in Boston, MA. At the end he speaks of the writing process for “Never Letting Go.”

Here is the official music video for “Never Letting Go.” Absorb everything, and listen to the lyrics. 

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Will Knox is one of the songwriting geniuses of our time. A comment like this is not something I would casually throw around about anyone; this is music I sincerely believe in. Every element of his music is absolutely brilliant. It is practically impossible to speak of strengths when there are no weaknesses to be found. Often times, bands hide behind what they do best. For Bob Dylan, it certainly wasn’t musical complexities or sparkling vocal lines that made people love his music; it was his poetry. Did we all grow to love Miles Davis for his relatable lyrics? No, it was his playing and creative instrumental expression. But here I sit, trying to explain to you what it is I love most about Will Knox, and I am at a loss for words. Every person I have exposed to his music has enjoyed it; no matter what style line they typically travel. Some people find joy in the flawless wit of the lyrics, others in his exquisite musicality. There is something for everyone, because EVERYTHING is there.

I’ve experienced Knox in every medium. I’ve been to live shows, watched videos online, and listened to recordings. (Once you’ve caught this bug, you are always wanting more.) One thing that never waivers is the intimate connection between Will and his instrument. He seems to use his voice and guitar as an outpouring of his soul, and this is so overwhelming that it forces the audience to do the same. You cannot simply listen to the music of Will Knox, but are instead forced to experience it.

While Will’s emotional connection to his audience is strong, his music is not all tear jerking. During lighter tunes, he never sacrifices his lyrical perfection. We are still taken on a visual journey with each one. Here is a video of one of my favorites, “Cog in the Machine.” The performance was filmed by Jenna at a show in New York City at 55 Underground. I absolutely love the way the instrumentation helps illustrate the lyrical analogy of being a worker bee cog in the machine of life.

At that same show, Will talked about Jimi Hendrix and credited him as the inspiration for picking up a guitar. (Thank you, Jimi.) As a tribute to Hendrix, he played his own rendition of “Voodoo Child.” I too am a major fan of Hendrix, and this is one of my favorite tunes. Of course the result was slightly different than the original, as it was acoustic, but the passion is what shined through. It was a great performance, and I’m sure Hendrix would be proud.

Take a gander:

You can watch the rest of the show by visiting Jenna’s YouTube collection.

Knox is not a one-genre man. He understands music, and truly appreciates the magnitude of its power. This comes out in both his songwriting and his performing. Another video I want to share, to demonstrate this, is a collaboration with Abstrakt. While it is obviously not the kind of track you will find on Knox’s Buckled Knees EP, I still really love it, and I hope you do too.

As I’ve said to many, the tunes of Knox are ones that can be left on repeat in your iTunes for months, and you would never be sick of them. This is something that rarely happens, as even our favorite artists can begin to grate on our nerves. If you do nothing else after reading this review, please visit his MySpace and take a longer listen. Share these musical gems with everyone you know, and everyone you’ve yet to meet.

Here are some dates and places you can try to catch Will performing live:

June, 5 2008 08:00 PM - Moomia
157 Lafayette Street, New York, New York 10013

June, 13 2008 08:00 PM - The Parish Center for The Arts
Westford, Massachusetts
A hootenanny up in Westford.. more details to come!

June, 26 2008 02:00 PM - SummerFest (Chevy Stage)
200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

June, 26 2008 04:00 PM - SummerFest (Chipotle Stage)
200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

June, 27 2008 12:00 PM - SummerFest (Chipotle Stage)
200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

June, 27 2008 04:30 PM - Summerfest (Chevy Stage)
200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

June, 28 2008 02:00 PM - Summerfest (Chevy Stage)
200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

June, 29 2008 02:00 PM - SummerFest (Chevy Stage)
200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

June, 30 2008 03:00 PM - Summerfest (Chevy Stage)200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

July, 8 2008 08:30 PM - The Red Lion (Cooper Boone at 10pm)
151 Bleecker Street, New York, New York 10012

August, 1 2008 08:00 PM - Coffee Works
910 Berlin Road, Voorhees, New Jersey 08043
http://www.coffee-works.com/music.html

August, 6 2008 08:00 PM - Rockwood Music Hall - Rebel Spirit Music Series
196 Allen Street, New York City, New York 10002

August, 23 2008 07:00 PM - MilkBoy Coffee
824 W. Lancaster Av. Bryn Mawr, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
http://www.milkboycoffee.com

August, 30 2008 12:00 PM - Nashua Folk Festival
Nashua, New Hampshire

September, 18 2008 08:00 PM - Club Passim (w. Cooper Boone)
47 Palmer St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

October, 11 2008 12:00 PM - PumpkinFest
Springhouse Commons, Route 97, Barryville, New York 12719

Will Knox MySpace:  http://www.myspace.com/willknoxmusic

Will Knox website:  http://www.will-knox.com

Abstrakt MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/abstraktmuzik

FEATURED ARTIST 6/1/08: WILL KNOX

TODAY IN MUSIC HISTORY: 6/1

It's a nice day for a White wedding.

At this time back in 2005, there were wedding bells for Jack White (of the White Stripes) and his British model girlfriend, Karen Elson.  The pair got married in a canoe in Brazil, on the Amazon River.  White's ex-wife and band mate, Meg White, was Elson's maid of honour, and the band's manager, Ian Montone, was best man.  The couple has two children, Scarlett Theresa and Henry Lee.  Both children have the last name "White," which is slightly odd since the name was taken from Jack's ex-wife.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALANIS MORISSETTE!

This jagged little pill turns 34 today.

Her new record, Flavors of Entanglement, will be out tomorrow!

Check out her MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/alanismorissette

TODAY IN MUSIC HISTORY: 6/1