Toad on Holiday; Song, by Toad Goes to Dogs
I am off for the weekend, going to the Fence Collective Homegame Festival up in Fife, with the shining light at the very centre of my universe, the lovely Mrs. Toad.
Normally under such circumstances I’d write a pile of posts beforehand and set them to appear at regular intervals so that it appeared that I wasn’t away at all. This time, however, I’ve had a different plan: a guest writer.
Campfires & Battlefields is one of my most loyal readers and regular commenters. His regular feedback has been the sort of thing that makes a blog like this fun to write, and he’s sent me so much good music I’ve lost track of it all. He has already been responsible for introducing me to A.A. Bondy, O’Death and Mariee Sioux (well him, and DC for that last one I think). Recently, though, he’s been prolific – I’ve been getting about an email every other day for the last couple of weeks, all stuffed with excellent stuff, so I thought it made sense to invite him to look after the blog while I was away and write about all this music in his own terms, rather than just mine.
So, there you go – four days of ‘C&B Presents…!’ to enjoy. I should be back on Monday, so make sure you leave him lots of comments and make it worth his while. I’m really grateful he agreed to do this, because those robot posts always seemed a little soulless to me. So show the man some love, and by way of preparation, here’s a taste of the sort of stuff you’ve read about on this blog for no other reason than that C&B introduced me to it.
A.A. Bondy – Killed Myself When I Was Young
Nick Jaina – Maybe Cocaine
Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers – Rising Sun Take 2 (Demo)
Actually, two of them you haven’t heard about on this blog, have you. That’s because I have yet to get round to writing about them. See – told you we needed C&B!
Have you, by any chance, had time to do the SbT slot for next week? Fisk & I are recording it tonight as I am off to that London tomorrow for a few days, then back in the office briefly, then off to Bristol for a couple of days with The Woman of the House for the Peter & The Wolf gig/interview.
½DC
p.s. Samantha Crain? LOVE her. Fantastic voice.
Yes, and she’s 20 or 21 years old. From Oklahoma. Beth at lonesome music actually posted about her (them) a few weeks ago, and that’s where I first heard her. So full marks to Beth on that one.
You posted on her 3 or 4 weeks ago, hey? Ahem. Here I sit, in embarrassed silence, having failed to give you your propers. I really need to start paying closer attention to my surroundings.
Not that it’s a competition old bean. If any dues are due they are due to her herself. Samantha Crain has simply been raved about for a good couple of weeks on the show – we actually played the wrong song when we first played her, if i remember correctly, because i was so excited to slot her into the playlist. Post hard about her, boy, post hard.
Hey guys, you can grab some info and mp3s here: http://www.toolshed.biz/projects/show/449
I agree with you—her voice is so fantastic and distinctive…with that plaintive Oklahoma twang
I live in the DC area and her tour in June takes her straight from North Carolina to Baltimore, as if Virginia/DC didn’t even exist. Sniff. I’ve seen some live videos on myspace and the lady’s got some madd live skillz.
Man, I didn’t realise you were in DC – or did I? I’m in DC & Virginia quit a bit & never remember to see who’s playing in the area when I’m over (I always have spare evenings to fill, which generally end up some bar somewhere in Georgetown).
Next time I’m headed over C&B I’ll tap you up for soe local gig intel.
Happy to oblige. I’m a bit of an old fart, but perhaps if you’re feeling frisky I could even swing by and pick you up in the ol’ minivan (git you summa ‘dat dual cupholder action!). When in DC check out the schedules for The Black Cat, the Rock ‘n Roll Hotel, and the 9:30 Club. All are pretty good. And in Northern Virginia the Iota Club, the Birchmere (lots of country), and the State Theater get some top-flight talent, although you might also find your plans spoiled by an Asia reunion gig or, worse, open-mic night. In any event, all have websites with calendars, etc.
“dual cupholder action” in a minivan? Mr. Toad! Mr. Toad! I’m being groomed by a stranger on the interweb!