Music
The Jazz Loft Project. Read the New York Times story about the project here.
Great essay by Susannah Felts for the Book Notes series at Largehearted Boy. In this long-running series, authors write about the music that influenced and inspired their books. Felts discusses the music that impacted the writing of her novel This Will Go Down on Your Permanent Record. I have not yet read the book — it’s been on my radar for a while now, and due to my reading of this Book Notes essay, it has moved up to the top of my “To Read” list.
You might recognize that the book’s title is a lyric from the song “Kiss Off” by the Violent Femmes. If you came of age in the 80s, then you defnitely know it’s a lyric, and you probably have vivid memories of flinging yourself around in someone’s living room at midnight (at that friend’s house whose parents regularly went out of town), super drunk off of Schafer Beer or California Cooler, and screaming out the lyrics, word for enunciated word, at the top of your lungs while the song, excuse me, the anthem, blasted from the stereo.
Ah, in the words of Eddie Money, “I wanna go back, go back, and do it all over, but I can’t go back, I know.”
Felts discusses several other musical inspirations — Love and Rockets, for example. I haven’t thought about that band in ages, and was immediately reminded of how the song “Haunted When the Minutes Drag” haunted me… and no doubt, for all the wrong reasons, all those girls who I made mix tapes for as well.
Anyway, the book is published by Featherproof Books, and is available at Amazon. I can’t wait to read it.
Got a chance to see the Hot 8 Brass Band at Southpaw in Brooklyn last week. Great music, great band, great show. You can give the Hot 8′s sounds a listen and check out their tour schedule at the band’s myspace page. Totally worth seeking out.
The new album from David Byrne and Brian Eno.
More info on the album can be found at everythingthathappens.com.
Amazing tune from The Smithereens — "In A Lonely Place," off the Especially For You album. Just heard it again and had forgotten that Suzanne Vega sings on the tune. This whole album was an anthem of sorts "back in the day" for me and my pals. "Cigarette" remains one of my favorite songs, ever.
Looks like the band has put together a Christmas album. I’m very intrigued.