2000 Light Years from Home, My night with Brandi Carlile, Kaki King, Son Volt and Joe Arthur
So the next chapter in my bizarre life begins something like this..... Monday night, wife having small contractions, no sleep. Fat Tuesday aka Mardi Gras watch my wife give birth to son number two in the water. Watch him float right on up to the top like a cork. No Sleep. Spend Ash Wednesday getting the house in order and parenting son number one who obviously shares my anxiety that tomorrow son number two will be coming home. Everything needs to be ready, buy flowers, lots of flowers, no sleep. Thursday, pick up wife and new addition, drive home, leave... read more
Rocky Balboa the Italian Yoda (A Love Story)
I am a child of Rocky films. That is the good ones. You know what I mean, Rocky - Rocky IV. Memories of Star Spangled Trunks, punching sides of beef, ditching the KGB, chasing chickens, drinking egg yolks, and weird celebratory man hugs in the ocean after beach running make me feel young again. What a simple time we once lived in when there were only four Rocky movies to love. How many times a month do you think about Rocky? I bet it’s more than you’ll admit. Whenever I sprint up the long flight of stairs to the Salem... read more
Be My Valentine ( a Day late as always)
Hallmark Blows Chunks. How come they couldn’t send me a reminder that the Holiday they made up was on a Wednesday this year? For you clueless and forgetful souls out there looking for the ultimate make-up “because I forgot your freaking box of roses and your bouquet of Chocolate and I guess I’m really sorry?” , I offer the following gift ideas: * The entire Truth & Soul Records Catalog: This is the best RECORD label going bar none. Check out the various soul covers of Wu-Tang by El Michels Affair (Truth & Soul and tell ‘em Sweet Talk Sent... read more
Joseph Arthur on Prince’s Purple Rain
As Prince stood with his arms raised triumphantly in the Superbowl halftime rain looking like a Little Richard Oompa-Loompa, I realized heck, this little dude still manages to win me over every time. Whether its baggin’ Apollonia and an EARLY 90’s Kim Bassinger, or rippin’, lickin’ or humpin’ that ensignia/guitar of his, Prince has always been at the top of his or any other game. Music needs more lunatics like Prince. Prince can do no wrong. The guy is the black Bowie, just when you think he has strutted too far over into the “maybe-I-have-a-penis-maybe-I don’t-fraggle-rock-on-ice-unitard-assless chaps” stage, he... read more
The City That Never Sleeps
As I realized many moons ago, my job as Editor at Large is somewhat weird, fantastic, and nebulous. These truths always seem magnified when I leave my rural abode by the sea and plop myself into Manhattan. To wit, here’s a quick synopsis of my last 24 hours on the island. Land at JFK take a cab to the Whole Foods Market in Union Square, overwhelmed with choices, decide on Chicken Tikka Masala, four kinds of Tofu, and a dark chocolate coated pretzel. Eat lunch with the four headed monster of The Festival Network in their offices. By the time... read more
Loney, Dear
Loney, Dear is an equisiste addiction. I have been using it as headphone kindling since New Year’s Eve. While some may coin Emil Svanangen’s baklava layered master work as a cold fusion of Belle & Sebastian and Kelley Stultz with a side of Swedish meatball, this is selling his joyous confessional short. Pile on the merits; they are all deserved. Here is what I scribbled on the back of my drink coaster, after accidentally falling into a vat of dirty martinis on a tuesday night: “I Am John” is basement pop perfection. Somewhere far, far away, Brain Wilson’s muse and... read more
I am a Patriot
My favorite sports writer, Bill Simmons aka The Sports Guy, is the ultimate homer. Meaning he’s not afraid to write as a fan of his home team. I’m especially lucky because he’s a Boston homer like me. After the Red Sox won in ‘04 I wanted to write long essay on the burden that had been lifted from my father’s soul and my superstitious compulsions. However after reading Simmons’ book Now I Can Die In Peace, it was unnecessary for he perfectly captured everything I ever wanted to say on the subject. In fact he routinely does this in his... read more
Matisyahu like teflon, no shtick
Sweetalk had the pleasure of visiting with Matisyahu and Josh Werner at one of their recent winter shows. It’s always good to meet up with friends over the chaos of holiday cheer, but it’s made all the sweeter when the catching up comes before and after a ripping set of dub dripping beat bombs and spiritual accompaniment. Sweettalk has been a fan of Matis for sometime and it’s reassuring that music has evolved to the extent that a Hasidic Jew reggae rapper is not simply viewed as a novelty act or a one hit wonder. Ironically the show was the... read more
Ma Na Ma Na Phenomena
Having a three year old son allows for a lot of time revisiting Sesame Street, which I don’t mind at all. Especially when I find those great clips of Stevie Wonder, James Brown or Johnny Cash kicking it with Big Bird. Cookie Monster and Prairie Dawn singing "Letter B" to the tune of "Let it Be" or "Hey Food" to "Hey, Jude" were major early Beatles references that imprinted on my formative gray matter. However, I believe the earliest and most subconscious musical implant via Henson and his quiver of shag furred puppets has to be "Manah Manha". Say those... read more
Life Imitates Art, Wes Anderson Style
Many of you may remember Sweet Talk’s cover story on director Wes Anderson (Wow, what a great Story about Wes! ) PASTE even commissioned Wes’ very talented brother Eric whose works have been featured in Time, the New York Observer, and the Criterion collection version of all his brother’s film to illustrate a one of a kind cover for the occasion. He even did the “flap” with a little pic of R.E.M. (see above) under the flap, which you can not see on the pic above, is a pic of Owen Wilson’s character from Life Aquatic plus the rest of... read more
Georgia On My Mind
Most of the Sweet Talk Community knows that Brother George works the dusty groove desk with reckless abandon, scouring the bins for signs of life. He has succeeded once again by professing his love of Georgia Anne Muldrow. A break beat goddess with pipes, Muldrow is not for the faint of heart. If Sharon Jones and D’ Angelo were to ever fuse like a soulfood version of All of Me you might come close to capturing her peanut butter sound. With a pinch of Sun Ra and a twinkle of Sa - Ra Muldrow’s overlaid harmonies burrow holes into any... read more
Click and Shoot
I first heard about Anna Gabriel’s fine photography through the New York brother directing team of Mike and Tripp Swanhaus ( Pigeon - Holed) Gabriel had the uncanny knack of capturing rock stars at their most unguarded best. In fact, I actually discovered the amazing talents of musician Joseph Arthur through her intimate pictures which were so emotionally engaging they ended being used for his album Big City Secrets. Because of her artful click and shoot talents Sweet Talk has followed her varied career ever since, including her more recent work on music videos ( Less Than Jake, Glampire, Goudie). ... read more
James Brown Soul Center of the Universe Bridge
While the passing of James Brown is sure to spark a series of retrospectives, I did not want a small but significant parable of Mr. Brown’s ability to spread SOUL and good cheer, much like a sweaty, funky, pompadour Santa in a sequined cape (Hey it’s Christmas....) escape notice. From preventing riots in Boston after MLK was shot to avoiding being shot himself while playing for the troops in Vietnam, James Brown was usually at the center of attention when it came to issues of race, even in the small ski-town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In April of 1993 I... read more
Under the Covers Part One
Okay, so many of you know that Sweet Talk has embarked on a book regarding cover songs currently titled, Underneath The Covers. Luckily, ST’s brilliant financial and reggae correspondent (he mans both bureaus in the ST offices), Sir Choward, offered up a new chapter heading for possible inclusion in what will surely be the definitive book on cover songs since the first Hymnal was scratched out on sheep gut. So it’s on the table for you, our dedicated readers to absorb, research and set the spark for furious debate in the comment section below. The best three entries will win... read more
Deerhoofing It With The Little Drummer Boy
So this morning I heard the new Deerhoof Single “+81” Click and Listen Which reminded me of a nice night in September when Sweet Talk had the pleasure of catching up with our friends the Flaming Lips in Boston. It’s always a good time when friends come to town and their visit was no exception. (Wayne and ST after the show, sorry for the blur but this was after a long day of “fun” ) One of the real highlights of the evening was getting to know Greg Saunier the drummer for Deerhoof who served as the opening act. Now... read more
You Say It’s Your Birthday…?
So I woke up to this picture staring at me from my crackberry..... I have the pleasure of knowing the charged person in this picture, and I sincerely hope he takes some time after his upcoming run of Holiday shows to go off with his beautiful family for some much needed rest. The last thing we need to report is another rock and roll casualty. Other Birthday wishes: Penn follows Teller and goes mute. I mean is Identity the single worst show on the neglectomatic? I can hear the pitch now, “Okay, we have the most annoying magician this side... read more
