Some Velvet Blog

Black Keys & Hot Chip on World Cafe

World Cafe - In case you missed it (and don't!):

Black Keys on World Cafe w/ David Dye (today)

Hot Chip on World Cafe w/ David Dye (yesterday)

World Cafe is produced by WXPN in Philly/XPN.org and distributed by NPR

Racer X Was Always Cool

I went to see Speed Racer last weekend and despite the mixed, somewhat lackluster reviews, my 11 and 9 year old movie-going partners and I really liked it a lot. Sure, it had it's flaws but I was overpowered by colour and imagination and Chim Chim made me laugh. I actually thought they handled the Racer X/Rex storyline pretty efficiently and it reminded me of how when I was a kid I was totally intrigued by the concept of Racer X himself; you know, race car driver becomes secret agent thing. That's some heavy shit. And then of course, sitting in the movie I recalled this classic...

Racer X - Big Black

New Amos Lee

I'm proud to say that the very talened singer and songwriter Amos Lee and I actually know each other. You know, it's all about the Philly connection. Going back to the early days when acoustic music fans in Philly first started seeing the unsigned Amos Lee perform at open mic nights at the Tin Angel in Philly, we were immediately struck by his soulfulness, his confidence and of course his songs. So when the radio station I work at WXPN/xpn.org in Philly started playing his demos, the overwhelming response we got from listeners was incredible. Naturally, a star was being born and we began to play him a lot. And the listeners responded. More and more people would come out to see him play. We knew it would only be a matter of time when he would get signed and when he signed with Blue Note we expected big things for Amos. He's consistently delivered great albums in the singer-songwriter tradition and continues to win more and more new fans with each new album and touch them with his uncanny ability to touch and convey the emotional essence of life and love in his lyrics.

Amos's third album hits stores on June 24th. It's called Last Days At The Lodge and was produced by Don Was, and features and amazing band of top notch musicians including Doyle Bramhall, Jr on guitar, Spooner Oldham on keyboards, Pino Palladino on bass and James Gadson on drums. Lee mines a territory that's equal parts John Prine, James Taylor and Bill Withers but while these amazing musicians may have served as some early inspiration in Amos's career, Lee himself has carved out a unique place in a new tradition with a singular voice and style.

Ease Back - Amos Lee

Amos's myspace

New Bodies of Water

One year after self-releasing their acclaimed "Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink," LA's Bodies of Water are releasing A Certain Feeling, their debut for Secretly Canadian on July 22. Their grandiose prog-indierock is getting better and better, as this new jam proves.

Under The Pines - Bodies Of Water

myspace

I Still Hate Science but I Love Math

When I last wrote about the Dallas based I Love Math I referred to their "Facebook"-era Yo La Tengo, Village Green Kinks & Everly Brothers sound. Their forthcoming (May 27th) release on Glurp Records is called Getting To The Point Is Beside It. The band includes members of The Deathray Davies, The Old 97's, Apples In Stereo and The Paper Chase. Caution: Simple, honest, straightforward songwriting and playing at work here!

In addition to this new song from the forthcoming record -
Josephine Street - I Love Math

the band just dropped a couple of cool covers for your enjoyment.
A Good Flying Bird - I Love Math (Guided By Voices cover)
I Remember When I Love Her - I Love Math (Zombies cover)

Ida Returning to Hypnotize Your World

God Bless Ida, going strong since the early 90's. Led by songwriters Daniel Littleton, Elizabeth Mitchell (pictured above), and Karla Schickele, Ida’s current lineup also includes violinist Jean Cook and drummer Ruth Keating. They return on August 5th with a new EP called My Fair, My Dark on Polyvinyl Records. It features covers of songs written by Dolly Parton and John & Beverly Martyn and features former Band drummer Levon Helm and Michael Hurley. Ida and Michael Hurley appear at World Cafe Live in Philly on Tuesday May 27th.

Road To Ruin - Ida (new)

Stuff from the Ida vaults
Heart Like A River - Ida
Lovers Prayers - Ida

Idamusic.com

Let's Groove Tonight

Chic "Le Freak"

Earth, Wind & Fire "Let's Groove"

Sam & Dave's Greatest Slow Jam

We all know Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Famers Sam & Dave from their upbeat songs like "Soul Man," "Hold On, I'm Coming," "I Take What I Want," and "I Thank You," from back in the good ol' Stax Records. They sure could shake the chicken shack hard, however they could also turn the lights down low. As good as those hits were, some of their slow R&B jamz were equally as good. As much as I used to love the rockers, it wasn't until I heard Elvis Costello's version of this song on Get Happy that I even realized Sam & Dave did it originally. And with Elvis's hopped up version, I wasn't expecting the slow beauty of the original.

The tune - then Elvis's video of it....

I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down - Sam & Dave

Elvis Costello - "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" (with lyrics! Sing Along!)