Now that we’re deep in the heart of the summer, here’s a mix from my personal soundtrack — just stuff I’m listening to, some old, some new. First up is Spooky Tina from Jackie Greene’s Till the Light Comes, an upbeat, poppy number, followed by Surprise Me Mr. Davis’s funky bucking Sissyfuss from their recent EP. Finishing out a trifecta of the same mood, The Mother Hips offer up Red Tandy from their spring tour before we switch gears a bit for STS9 doing Lo Swaga from their Axe the Cables acoustic show — this whole show is phenomenal, by the way, a perfect performance. Even if you always avoid the band, or maybe especially if you do, you owe it to yourself to listen to this beautiful show, as this tease will make clear.
For some older material, there is an early Bob Marley and the Wailers recording of Bend Down Low and a nice West LA Fadeaway from the ’88 GD soundboards that have be so much in circulation lately. Beggar in the Morning is a killer track from the best album of the year thus far, the self-titled release from The Barr Brothers. It’s actually the follow up to The Slip’s Eisenhower aesthetically, although bassist Marc Friedman doesn’t play on it. It’s filled with incredible, clever songs, enthusiastic performances and a rich, moody tone. You’ll have to put some effort into getting a copy though because it’s only available on a limited release cd through their website. For a finale, it’s Phish’s long and completely gorgeous Farmhouse from Hartford, and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals charging through Paris from an afternoon expo set in Camden. As always, enjoy!
