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Dec. 9th, 2004 01:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jianantonicThis is a letter I sent to a friend of mine who asked for my musical suggestions. She didn't know what she was asking! Anyway, I felt like I wrote a good letter and everyone should read it. So here you are. I know I left some off...feel free to add your suggestions/thoughts in the comment field. Peace:)
Hey Christina,
I know I gave you a long list and maybe you've already
lost it, but after all of our class discussions, and
listening to the music on the way home, I've just
noticed how entirely relevant it all is. I should be
writing a paper right now, but I don't have time to go
to the library before work, so I am going to send you
a very long email instead, and you can give it some
thought when exams are all over.
I should preface this by saying that obviously I'm
very passionate about all of these artists, and I
would love it if I could make just one person feel the
same way...but I'm finished after interterm and I
promise I will never come after you and ask what you
think of this...so you can ignore it or whatever, but
I feel like it is my liberal duty to pass it on. I
hope you will check some if not all of these artists
out and I'm confident that you will enjoy them.
First off, some websites:
www.falconridgefolk.com (this is the festival I can't
get enough of, where I discovered most of these
artists for the first time)
www.archive.org (free concert downloads...of course I
recommend the eventual purchase of all the CDs to
support the artists, but they really don't mind if you
record or download their shows. It's free and totally
legal)
Ok, now the music:
1. Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer
Their story: The two were life partners, but not
married. Dave wrote all the songs. They split the
duties of lead vocals, and he played guitar while she
played fiddle. Now Tracy is a solo act, but usually
has a guitar player at her live shows to play Dave's
parts. He died in 2002, a week before Falcon Ridge.
She went on anyway, and played solo. She's amazing.
You will love them because: Their music is some of
the most beautiful poetry ever. Not just their
lyrics, but also their instruments.
Don't be turned off by: The occasional
bluegrass/country sound. They are a versatile duo and
play lots of different styles. If the first song of
theirs I'd heard was "Highway 80," I probably wouldn't
have listened much farther...but now I love them all.
Song recommendations: "Gentle Arms of Eden" on Drum
Hat Buddha, "I Go Like the Raven" also on DHB...and
all the others, too, really.
2. Girlyman
Their story: Three gay Sarah Lawrence grads who ended
up living together in NYC and decided to form a band.
They played at my wedding. This is by far my favorite
band of all time.
You'll love them because: Their music is so
progressive, politically speaking, as well as totally
fun. Their second album will come out in May 2005 and
I definitely recommend that you buy it.
Song recommendations: "Amaze Me," and "Fall Stories"
on their current album, Remember Who I am, and "Young
James Dean," "Commander," and "Soldier" on their next
one. You know what, every song. They are all great.
I can't pick.
3. Eddie From Ohio
Their Story: This is the first folk band I got into
after being an Indigo Girls fan for years but not
really branching out. I went to my first Falcon Ridge
to see them, and in turn learned of all the others on
this list.
You'll love them because: They're from Virginia and
their music really shows it:) The three guys in the
band went to JMU and Julie went to VT. They have 10
CDs, I think, and all of them have songs about
Virginia. Yay VA:)
Songs to check out: "Old Dominion" (they play it at
every concert), "Imagine Me," "Jerusalem," "Cowboy"
4. Indigo Girls
Their story: Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are from
Georgia, both lesbians but not together, and probably
the most commercially successful folk group of our
generation.
You'll love them because: They're so political, while
still maintaining a truly lovely sound in their music.
Every song is filled with wisdom.
Song recommendations: "Perfect World," "Galileo,"
"Closer to Fine," um...again, all of their songs are
great. These are just the fan favorites.
5. Dar Williams
Her story: I don't really know...she's married, but a
lot of her songs are gender ambiguous. She's very
political, as well.
You'll love her because: The line from the song "What
do you love more than love?" that goes "When you
question what your desire is for, when you don't just
figure that you just want more..." and others.
Song recommendations: "Iowa," "The Babysitter's
Here," "What do you love more than love?" "Christians
and the Pagans"
6. Ani DiFranco
Her story: Also pretty commercially successful...I
would define her as a poet with a guitar. She's
completely unapologetic. I hate to use the word
feminist, because it has such negative
connotations...but she's the good kind.
You'll love her because: See above.
Songs: Hmm, I don't know any of her song titles
because I don't own any of her CDs...but check her out
because she's great.
7. The Kennedys
Their story: They met a decade ago, started making
music together, are now married...probably the most
outwardly liberal group on the list.
You'll love them because: While acknowledging the
shit that is this world, their music brings a very
hopeful message.
Songs: "Stand," "Just Like Henry David," "You can't
kill hope with a gun," "I'd run red lights for you"
8. Rachel Davis
Her story: Cute little girl, you'd never know what
kind of voice was lurking in there...
You'll love her because: her voice...wow
Songs: "Gramma's Hands," "Cocktail Wieners"
9. Da Vinci's Notebook
Their story: A mostly disbanded a cappella group
specializing in humor
You'll love them because: They're sooooo funny
Songs: "Title of the Song" (a formula for any boy
band song ever) "The Gates," "Enormous Penis."
10. Arlo Guthrie
His story: Son of Woody Guthrie, the father of folk
music. I grew up listening to "Alice's Restaurant,"
but didn't get it until I was older.
You'll love him because: He started performing during
Vietnam. He's still going. He's awesome.
Songs: "Alice's Restaurant," "Motorcycle Song," "City
of New Orleans"
11. Richard Shindell
His story: Don't know much because I only recently
got into him, but he's a Falcon Ridge staple.
You'll love him because: His music makes you want to
marry him.
Songs: "Waist Deep in Big Muddy," "Cancion Sencilla"
12. Moxy Fruvous
Their story: This band has been "on hiatus" (broken
up) since 2001, but there is still a camp of their
fans at Falcon Ridge every year. They're canadian,
amazingly tallented, and hilarious.
You'll love them because: Everyone loves them.
Songs: "King of Spain," "My Baby Loves a Bunch of
Authors," "Greatest Man in America," "And the Band
Played On."
Okay, that's it. Thanks for reading, if you got all
the way to the end! Enjoy:) Let me know what you
think, if you care to.
Peace,
Meg
Hey Christina,
I know I gave you a long list and maybe you've already
lost it, but after all of our class discussions, and
listening to the music on the way home, I've just
noticed how entirely relevant it all is. I should be
writing a paper right now, but I don't have time to go
to the library before work, so I am going to send you
a very long email instead, and you can give it some
thought when exams are all over.
I should preface this by saying that obviously I'm
very passionate about all of these artists, and I
would love it if I could make just one person feel the
same way...but I'm finished after interterm and I
promise I will never come after you and ask what you
think of this...so you can ignore it or whatever, but
I feel like it is my liberal duty to pass it on. I
hope you will check some if not all of these artists
out and I'm confident that you will enjoy them.
First off, some websites:
www.falconridgefolk.com (this is the festival I can't
get enough of, where I discovered most of these
artists for the first time)
www.archive.org (free concert downloads...of course I
recommend the eventual purchase of all the CDs to
support the artists, but they really don't mind if you
record or download their shows. It's free and totally
legal)
Ok, now the music:
1. Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer
Their story: The two were life partners, but not
married. Dave wrote all the songs. They split the
duties of lead vocals, and he played guitar while she
played fiddle. Now Tracy is a solo act, but usually
has a guitar player at her live shows to play Dave's
parts. He died in 2002, a week before Falcon Ridge.
She went on anyway, and played solo. She's amazing.
You will love them because: Their music is some of
the most beautiful poetry ever. Not just their
lyrics, but also their instruments.
Don't be turned off by: The occasional
bluegrass/country sound. They are a versatile duo and
play lots of different styles. If the first song of
theirs I'd heard was "Highway 80," I probably wouldn't
have listened much farther...but now I love them all.
Song recommendations: "Gentle Arms of Eden" on Drum
Hat Buddha, "I Go Like the Raven" also on DHB...and
all the others, too, really.
2. Girlyman
Their story: Three gay Sarah Lawrence grads who ended
up living together in NYC and decided to form a band.
They played at my wedding. This is by far my favorite
band of all time.
You'll love them because: Their music is so
progressive, politically speaking, as well as totally
fun. Their second album will come out in May 2005 and
I definitely recommend that you buy it.
Song recommendations: "Amaze Me," and "Fall Stories"
on their current album, Remember Who I am, and "Young
James Dean," "Commander," and "Soldier" on their next
one. You know what, every song. They are all great.
I can't pick.
3. Eddie From Ohio
Their Story: This is the first folk band I got into
after being an Indigo Girls fan for years but not
really branching out. I went to my first Falcon Ridge
to see them, and in turn learned of all the others on
this list.
You'll love them because: They're from Virginia and
their music really shows it:) The three guys in the
band went to JMU and Julie went to VT. They have 10
CDs, I think, and all of them have songs about
Virginia. Yay VA:)
Songs to check out: "Old Dominion" (they play it at
every concert), "Imagine Me," "Jerusalem," "Cowboy"
4. Indigo Girls
Their story: Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are from
Georgia, both lesbians but not together, and probably
the most commercially successful folk group of our
generation.
You'll love them because: They're so political, while
still maintaining a truly lovely sound in their music.
Every song is filled with wisdom.
Song recommendations: "Perfect World," "Galileo,"
"Closer to Fine," um...again, all of their songs are
great. These are just the fan favorites.
5. Dar Williams
Her story: I don't really know...she's married, but a
lot of her songs are gender ambiguous. She's very
political, as well.
You'll love her because: The line from the song "What
do you love more than love?" that goes "When you
question what your desire is for, when you don't just
figure that you just want more..." and others.
Song recommendations: "Iowa," "The Babysitter's
Here," "What do you love more than love?" "Christians
and the Pagans"
6. Ani DiFranco
Her story: Also pretty commercially successful...I
would define her as a poet with a guitar. She's
completely unapologetic. I hate to use the word
feminist, because it has such negative
connotations...but she's the good kind.
You'll love her because: See above.
Songs: Hmm, I don't know any of her song titles
because I don't own any of her CDs...but check her out
because she's great.
7. The Kennedys
Their story: They met a decade ago, started making
music together, are now married...probably the most
outwardly liberal group on the list.
You'll love them because: While acknowledging the
shit that is this world, their music brings a very
hopeful message.
Songs: "Stand," "Just Like Henry David," "You can't
kill hope with a gun," "I'd run red lights for you"
8. Rachel Davis
Her story: Cute little girl, you'd never know what
kind of voice was lurking in there...
You'll love her because: her voice...wow
Songs: "Gramma's Hands," "Cocktail Wieners"
9. Da Vinci's Notebook
Their story: A mostly disbanded a cappella group
specializing in humor
You'll love them because: They're sooooo funny
Songs: "Title of the Song" (a formula for any boy
band song ever) "The Gates," "Enormous Penis."
10. Arlo Guthrie
His story: Son of Woody Guthrie, the father of folk
music. I grew up listening to "Alice's Restaurant,"
but didn't get it until I was older.
You'll love him because: He started performing during
Vietnam. He's still going. He's awesome.
Songs: "Alice's Restaurant," "Motorcycle Song," "City
of New Orleans"
11. Richard Shindell
His story: Don't know much because I only recently
got into him, but he's a Falcon Ridge staple.
You'll love him because: His music makes you want to
marry him.
Songs: "Waist Deep in Big Muddy," "Cancion Sencilla"
12. Moxy Fruvous
Their story: This band has been "on hiatus" (broken
up) since 2001, but there is still a camp of their
fans at Falcon Ridge every year. They're canadian,
amazingly tallented, and hilarious.
You'll love them because: Everyone loves them.
Songs: "King of Spain," "My Baby Loves a Bunch of
Authors," "Greatest Man in America," "And the Band
Played On."
Okay, that's it. Thanks for reading, if you got all
the way to the end! Enjoy:) Let me know what you
think, if you care to.
Peace,
Meg
