First things first…
Thanksgiving Lobster (?)
Prices are down as low as $3.99/lb. in some places — thanks to an overpopulation boom of sorts. Upside: cut cooking time down to mere minutes. Downside: no wishbone.
Return of the Souvenir
Newspapers had a fleeting moment of value post Obama’s V. Translate to CDs: all the more reason to put on a really really freakin’ great show. Musician-Obamapreneurs, get crackin’!
Yes, He Really Is Our President
If you just can’t believe it’s true, that we actually elected someone SMART to the White House, go ahead and e-mail yourself a little reminder in the future with Future Me… a virtual “pinch me, I’m dreaming” kind of deal. Spaceage!
Mashable Is Annoying
Self-professed “THE social networking blog,” Mashable’s informative for sure but ridiculously overwhelming. Luckily, SmartBrief (seasoned news aggregators) to the rescue with their new SmartBrief on Social Media. Saves time. Saves you from going crazy.
Comic/Rocker Superstardom
Chances are you haven’t heard of James Kochalka Superstar. But your kids may have. Musician, children’s author, comic strip whizbang… the guy’s got it going on. Here’s a band you can both dig on those loooooong car trips:
Souvenirs available here.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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11/24/08 | Comments (0)Tags: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, IN SHORT, KATE BRADLEY, OUTLANDOS MUSIC —
First, best e-mail I got last week (a haiku-ish reply). From my friend Philip Price of Winterpills, who’ve been on this list before:
sorry. election time got crazy. i had volunteered. what a time.
i drank too much.
then my hard drive crashed and i temporarily lost everything. but i found it.
everything is ok.
and i’m drying out.
Somehow, I felt like we’d had similar weeks 
.
Music that gave me comfort this past month:
Denison Witmer Carry the Weight
Hang tight, it’ll grow on you and then, POW. Very Jackson Browne. Sexy-sad. Digging tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 11 — 2, 6, 11 are faves. Especially 2, Life Before Aesthetics (annoyingly, the only YouTube video is acoustic with a long drawnout intro). No matter. Buy this record.
Kings of Leon Sex on Fire
Generally, not a fan but I’ve got to admit, it’s damn catchy. Although for some reason, they’ve disabled “embed” which is altogether fucking STUPID. Do you people want us to spread your shit around or not? Duh.
Beautiful Small Machines Robots in Love
Dear friends Don DiLego and Bree Sharp collaborating yet again but in an all new direction this go ‘round. Yes, it’s dance music. Don’t hate me. C’mon, it’s FUN.
Mission to the Sea Central Park
From the EP, The Sugar and The Queen. Deck Sachse back at it with his brand of Morrissey meets gypsy Kings meets Everything But The Girl, if Tracey Thorn was a man.
Chris Velan Solidago
This is cruel of me because it’s not out yet. But I LOVE this album. Even still, I’m surprised I do. It’s happy & bouncy! I took it on a road trip to DC recently with about 10 other records, none of which made it into my player because Solidago was there the whole time. Alas, scheduled for release in February. I’ll remind you . In the meantime, this is all I’ve got… you won’t believe me… have faith :
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11/17/08 | Comments (0)Tags: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, KATE BRADLEY, NOW PLAYING, OUTLANDOS MUSIC —
Perhaps I’m in denial. Yesterday while hearing “Stormy Weather” on Marketplace (yet again), I actually stuck my fingers in my ears and sang, “La La La La La Laahhhhhhhh! There’s plenty of money and plenty of people who want to give it to ME!”
Yep. I really did.
Oh, I’m not completely delusional. I’ve got a 401(k is for KILLJOY).
But just think. NO ONE ever hits a home run thinking “I suck.” Certainly, NO ONE becomes the first black president of the free world thinking “I don’t deserve it.” And I’m willing to bet that NO ONE gets rich/sells records/concert tickets thinking “no one wants to give me money.”
Again, I’ll risk getting all Norman Vincent Peale on your asses… but basically, just THINKING has a lot to do with it. Because chances are that when all you’re hearing, seeing, and reading focuses on how much money there isn’t, YOU begin to think of how much money you DON’T have. It’s contagious! Fear, negativity, doubt, worry… they FEED off each other. Kind of like smokers (misery loves company — I know, I’ve been one). Kind of like how the more people freak out about money the more the markets drop and vice versa. Quelle suprise.
Conversely, there’s this. A well-known public radio fund raising tactic requires two things: never say we “need” (no one wants to give to a losing, “needy” organization) and specify dollar amounts (“whatever you can give” is wishy-washy); requests for $50 lunches garner $50 pledges and requests for $500 pledges garner $500 pledges. Avoid negative thinking. Ask for what you want. Those folks in public radio are doing pretty well in spite of the economy.
Confidence and courage. You just have to be crazy enough to try it.
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11/10/08 | Comments (0)Tags: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, KATE BRADLEY, OUTLANDOS MUSIC —
Guest post this week from Irish singer-songwriter and one of the nicest musicians I know, Colin Devlin of the Devlins. Look for his solo project A Democracy of One out 2009 (yay!).
Dear Kate,
i’m really not sure what to write in this guest blog, there seems to be too many people writing so much crap on the internet i’m not sure if anything i have to say is going to improve this situation! the election, the war in Iraq, the economy. There’s a million people online talking shite about these issues all the time. I love my computer but some days i want to throw it out the window… i subscribe to two blogs, yours and Bob Lefsetz. I love and hate his letters in equal measure, he makes alot of sense and i like the way he highlights older artists like Jackson Browne or Lowden Wainwright and espouses the dell knell for aging record companies.
So perhaps the best thing i can do is recommend a few of my favourite places and things to do now that i’m living in LA.
I like going to see gigs here at the new Largo. It’s an amazing place and on any given week you’ll see Bill Frisell, Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, or John C. Reilly doing a piece. I’ve played there every month for the last 2 or 3 months and really enjoy asking my friends like composer guitarist Michael Brook or Gemma Hayes to join me onstage. I also like the great outdoor venues like the Hollywood Bowl and greek theatre. Spaceland is also a cool venue in echo park as is the hotel cafe in hollywood. I’m going to see my friend Emmet Tinley play there tonight. He’s a cool singer songwriter with an amazing voice.
I live right beneath the Hollywood sign beside Griffith park which is an incredible maze of trails which you walk for hours with an incredible view over the city. I can walk all the way to the newly renovated griffith park observatory which is such a cool place Made famous by James Dean in Rebel without a cause and more recently it’s been seen in Bowfinger! (the final scene in “Chubby Rain” when the aliens come for Eddie Murphy!)
Possibly my favourite place here in Los Angeles is the Getty museum such a cool place to visit and lose yourself for an afternoon with beautiful architecture and art. It’s high up on a hill with great views.
I also spend alot of time in Venice and Santa Monica, you can hire a bike for 5 dollars and cycle along the promenade, it’s money well spent and there’s no shortage of smoke shops if you want to keep up with the latest pipe technology…
I’m trying to find good people to help me put my new record out at the moment. I met with an amazing guy called Ian Rogers last week who has started this cool company called Topsinmedia.com If you’re an artist you should check it out, it may work for you, who knows. Ian was the guy who came up with the Radiohead pay what you think it’s worth idea. A really cool and smart guy, we need more people like him in the music business today.
I spend half my time in Los Angeles and half my time in Dublin and the only radio station i really listen to is http://www.kcrw.com i also like to check out the Jones jukebox archives on indie 103 and sometimes i tune into my friend John Kelly’s radio show back home the called the JK ensemble. I miss Dublin a little when i’m away, it’s a great place to go back to but it’s nice to have somewhere else to go. I’ve just booked a christmas show there on Dec 16th which i’m looking forward to. I’ll be joined on guitar by my good friend Fiachna O’Braonain from the Hothouse flowers, i love playing with him as he has such a great vibe onstage and we’re good mates. My brother Peter is going to play with me also, Peter is an incredible bass player and i haven’t seen either of them for ages so i think it’s going to be a good night!
Montreal is my favourite city in the world, everyone should go there at least once. I made my first solo record there last year with my friend Pierre Marchand. If i had my way i would move there tomorrow and never come back, i may well do! I love the people and the creativity and the music. Or maybe i’ll move to Sydney, another great city…It’s like what America might have been like before it got all used up.
We also need more people like you in the music industry Kate, people who are passionate and really care about it and want to make a difference and see a way for things to get better fro the artist in these strange times.
Take care and good luck.
Colin. x
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11/3/08 | Comments (0)Tags: Colin Devlin, CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, KATE BRADLEY, LETTERS FROM THE ROAD, OUTLANDOS MUSIC —
