The similarities to The King are in name only, as Perkins, in my humble opinion, may be throwing around some of the best obtuse lines out there. How about this couplet for your consideration: “Your vampire mirrors face to face; they saw forever out into space/and found you dreaming in black and white while it rained in all the colors of the night.” If that doesn’t have you reaching for your cereal-box, singer-songwriter decoder ring, I don’t know what will.
Mr. Perkins also carries one of the sadder life stories – his dad, famed actor Anthony Perkins died of AIDS from a blood transfusion and his mother died on one of the 9/11 planes. That’s kind of heavy stuff to be talking about on this here rag, but it’s no wonder his album Ash Wednesday (one of my Top Ten from last year) is an achingly beautiful yet, somber affair. Check out this fantastic and innovative performance of “While You Were Sleeping” from the Late Show:
[youtube]NmEoUNWQrwg[/youtube]
Elvis and his band In Dearland are a ramshackle affair, and his shows often evoke a 1960s hootenanny, if I can be permitted to drop a dated reference, or what I think one would have been like. Check out this performance of “May Day” and you’ll see what I’m talking about:
[youtube]hV3ixdg8xiM[/youtube]
If you’re interested in hearing more from Elvis and his band, and I know you gotta be, you can grab this show from Dimeadozen: Elvis Perkins in Dearland – 2007-12-03 – Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA
3 Responses
I’m right there with you on Elvis Perkins. He totally blew me away when he was in Boston last time. I probably woulda never used the word hootenanny but that’s exactly what his live show feels like. Just tons of people letting the music flow.
For my money though, it don’t get any better than Mason Jennings.
Yes, yes and yes… get involved
if you want to d/l that show in mp3 format, there are links here.