Happy Pride Month to all who celebrate, which really should be everyone when you think about it. What kind of person wouldn’t celebrate people celebrating all the things that make them beautiful? Of course the answer is quite a few right wing politicians, who have once again mounted a hate filled push to strip some of their fellow Americans of rights, safety and dignity. So what better time than now for singer-songwriter and long time LGBTQ rights activist Ryan Cassata (with assistance from Hello Noon) to drop a modern day anthem in “Hold On, You Belong (People Like Us).” Like Baez, Seeger, Ferrick and Bragg before them; Cassata recognizes the best protest song is one with a chorus designed for an impassioned sing along, and one that acts not so much like a molotov cocktail to the powers that be (although those are always good too) as an uplifting mantra. Like “We Shall Overcome” and “Blowin In The Wind” the focus of “Hold On” is on the strength and resilience of the oppressed and the assurance that no one is alone in the fight.
Wordless Wednesdays
Short and sweet, slinky and sublime, “Movement 2” by Paul Cortese finds his viola dancing through the space where traditional folk melodies meet the sophistication of classical. A piece that would be just as natural on the stage of a concert hall as it would be in village pub, it does what all great art should do; scratches a previously unknown itch and leaves you wanting more.
Tuesday Tip-Off: The Lied To’s
Fun fact for you gentle reader, Postcard Editor loves the Tom Waits song “Time” so much he has one of the lines tattooed on his body. “Time” by Pink Floyd? Another all time classic. We can now add to that short list of Time songs that are in their own stubbornly contradictory way timeless the song “Time” by The Lied To’s. Despite it sounding like the name of a political hardcore band, The Lied To’s is actually singer-songwriters Susan Levine and Doug Kwartler and with this one they lay it down with the utmost tastefulness. That restrained tasteful approach puts the entire focus on the song’s narrative which balances a simple poetic lyricism and a wistful understanding on the back of Levine’s divine vocals for stellar results. A lot of time songs like this can be too straight forward, too on the nose, but The Lied To’s have created something here that is both plainspoken and profound, and that’s what makes this a new classic.
Mike’s Monday Muse – Jess Sah Bi & Peter One
Originally released in 1985, Jess Sah Bi and Peter One’s sweet debut album of Ivory Coast-West African-country-soul-folk-reggae tunes Our Garden Needs Its Flowers was reissued 33 years later by Awesome Tapes From Africa. It’s stunning and worth reminding everyone to get yourself these jams.
Play Listy For Me – Americana, Folk & Roots Vol. 5
Back from our vacation in the Smoky Mountains, but still feeling that vibe, so here’s a playlist to get you on our level.
Play Listy For Me – Americana, Folk & Roots Vol. 4
Oh, look, it’s another grouping of the best Americana and Americana related songs we could find for you, lover of music and appreciator of a nice grouping.
We Never Asked For This
Today we have new music from Simone Istwa, Vypera, Disturbios, Karaboudjan, Ari B. Ingber, ameliarose, NATL PARK SRVC, Plaster of Paris, the HVNZ and seasonal.
Mike’s Monday Muse – Sunny War
Sunny War is a blues and folk artist creating songs inspired by her experiences from living on the streets and coming together as a community. She made her most recent record, Simple Syrup, in Venice Beach and founded a Food Not Bombs chapter in LA during the pandemic.
The B-Side: Sean Tobin
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone. Here’s Sean Tobin & the Boardwalk Fire with a rocking little ditty to get you in the Covid-era spirit. Since the video takes place in a pub you can get your going out fix virtually while staying home and staying safe. As Sean says, “to keep people from dying, I’ll stay home for you.” Let’s all do our part and make it so St. Paddy’s 2022 a rager.
The B-Side: Meditating Cowboy
Like a Raymond Carver short story come to musical life, “Shadows” by Meditating Cowboy is both gorgeous and melancholy, which just happen to be two of our favorite types of music. The sparse, mostly guitar-only arrangement and big open production serves MC’s expressive vocals well; giving them plenty of room to dive, dip, soar and expand to fill the space. And just like the best short stories, this one is just a short vignette, a snapshot of a moment in the character’s life that fades before you know it, leaving only the echo of the emotion behind.