Sharon Jones

Polvo are a critically acclaimed and widely influential rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that were active during the 1990 before reforming recently for a benefit for WKNC at the Pour Haus. The band was fronted by vocalists-guitarists Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski. We asked David Brylawski to give us a rundown, in his own words, about the music that inspires him. This is his Secret Playlist. Jimi Hendrix / If 6 was 9 It’s probably not in my Top Ten Hendrix songs, but I have to say something about Mitch Mitchell, and this is an indicative song of why he was probably the best. About three minutes into the song, Mitch takes over the ‘lead’ in the sparse part, just doing his jazzy-heavy-free thing in the spaces: loose, yet totally propelling it. No one else was doing that in rock, as far as I know, at least, in that way. I got to see him on stage two weeks before he died at the Hendrix tribute show in New York and can’t believe, just like that, he’s gone. Only Billy Cox remains from the whole Experience-Band of Gypsies ‘axis’. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings / What Have You Done For Me Lately Sometimes I like to fantasize that I am a member of The Dap Kings, bass guitar in particular. I can delude myself for a while, but in the end, I just do not have the requisite chops. I like the original in a 1980s high school prom kind of way, but Sharon Jones transforms it into something moodier and more assertive. Om / At Giza I finally got to see them a couple of times this past summer, and I think they are my favorite band at the moment. This one is 16 minutes of heavy groove and sometimes I have hit repeat after it ends. It is spiritual music. I believe that is the intent, and it certainly conveys this lyrically and sonically. Charley Patton / Mississippi Bo Weavil Blues I got the Ted Gioia Delta Blues book for Christmas and just finished the chapter on Patton. Usually on the iPod, Robert Johnson, Son House and Skip James get more play, but while I was reading I was reminded why Patton is the cornerstone’s cornerstone. The iconic picture of him you always see makes him look almost delicate, but he sounds like a grown man. I’ve visited his grave a couple of times near Indianola, too. Electric Wizard / Torquemada 71 A friend of mine a long time ago took me for a night drive in Chapel Hill during a rare snowfall and let me listen to a four track thing he did with all these delayed arpeggios. Not trying to be all fancy here, but the car lights hit the snow so nicely, the visuals were perfect and everything just fit so well together that I haven’t forgotten it. A similar thing happened with this song not so long ago when I went for a walk on my lunch hour during a particularly rough day at work. It was snowing, and the buildings soon disappeared as the sightlines narrowed. Everything was slow and white and ripe for a stony soundtrack. Chubby Parker / King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O Also known as one of the hoary variants of Frog Went A Courtin’, this version is from the Anthology of American Folk Music. Murder and marriage in the ‘holler tree’. I have to add this just to keep it honest regarding what I am really listening to, even when it is not particularly my choice. Let’s just say that my year and a half old son discovered this via my wife, and asks to hear this song over and over, pretty much every day. He’ll ask for ‘Kimo’ when he wakes up, before he goes to bed, and at least a couple times in between. I finally made him a CD burn with it ten times in a row, so I don’t have to keep hitting repeat. It’s not a bad song by any means, and I am thrilled he likes music, but sometimes I just have to tell him ‘No, son, no more Kimo’. Birds of Avalon / Set You Free Whenever I see them, or we play with them, I always tell them, ‘You have to play, Set Me Free! That’s my jam!’ Then they look at me and say patiently, ‘Thanks. By the way, it is called Set You Free’. And then they don’t play it. This has happene

Welcome to another installment of The Baker’s Dozen, a feature in which I will deliver a playlist of some of the things I’ve been listening to lately and tell you why. I’ve been listening to Charles Bradley quite a bit lately because I love songs that sound like they were made in Muscle Shoals or Detroit back in the 1960s, or sound like they wish they were. With that in mind, I present to you the latest edition of The Baker’s Dozen, hot and fresh out the kitchen: 1. Charles Bradley (feat. Menahan Street Band) – “You Put The Flame On It” Because of the funky bass line, the silky horns, the smooth female backup vocals, and the inimitable blend of Otis Redding and James Brown in Bradley’s voice. 2. Justin Timberlake – “That Girl” Because I’ve been shouting Timberlake’s praises from the mountaintops for years and this seemed like a good enough excuse to get him onto another playlist. Just be happy I don’t put him on every single week. And this is the best fusion of vintage sounds and modern production sensibilities on the whole list. 3. Vintage Trouble – “Nobody Told Me” Because I love guitars that sound just as vulnerable as the cracks in the lead singer’s voice. I saw these guys open up for The Who and totally win over a crowd of 60-year-old stoners who couldn’t even remember how they got there. 4. JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound – “I Got High” Because this sounds exactly like a song from Motown circa 1966, except for the lyrical content about smoking weed. And listen to those keys! 5. Raphael Saadiq – “Go To Hell” Because Raphael Saadiq is the greatest at what he does and this song builds and builds and builds until you reach a point of pure ecstasy about two and a half minutes in. “Let love bring us together!” 6. Lee Fields & The Expressions – “Faithful Man” Because songs about infidelity are the best kinds of secular soul music. Preach, Lee! 7. Cody ChesnuTT – “Til I Met Thee” Because sometimes your soul needs a little funk guitar to get you outta your seat. 8. Allen Stone – “Celebrate Tonight” Because who knew a long-haired hippie could sing falsetto like that? He looks like he works at a coffeehouse in Williamsburg. It just goes to show that you really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. 9. Alabama Shakes – “Hang Loose” Because Alabama Shakes make old sounds seem fresh and new better than anybody else out there right now. 10. Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings – “How Long Do I Have To Wait For You?” Because Sharon Jones had to exist before we could even fathom somebody like Brittany Howard coming along. And for that, we thank you. 11. Cee Lo Green – “Satisfied” Because Cee Lo might seem like a big joke when he’s petting that stupid kitten on The Voice, but the dude knows how to craft a great soul pop song. And because Cee Lo Green is the soul machine. 12. Ray LaMontagne – “You Are The Best Thing” Because even though this is the only song LaMontagne has that even comes close to sounding like R&B, he has the voice for it and absolutely knocks it out if the park on this one. 13. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears – “Bitch, I Love You” Because I couldn’t resist ending with a slow blues romp called “Bitch, I Love You” featuring a Hammond b3 organ and canned horns. Dirty. Until next time, keep it hot and fresh. -The Baker

photos by Chris Graham Mavis Staples @ Beale Street Music Fest Earlier this month, soul legend Mavis Staples made her way over to Memphis for the Beale Street Music Festival, which she played day 2 (5/4) of. Pictures and a video of her set are in this post. Mavis has other dates coming up this year, including a free Celebrate! Brooklyn show on June 14 at Prospect Park with Cody Chestnutt. Then the next day (6/15) she heads a bit north for the Clearwater Festival in Croton, NY, which she plays along with Antibalas, Judy Collins, Hot Tuna, Nicole Atkins, Sharon Jones, and more. Tickets for that festival are still available. Mavis is also working on a new album, One True Vine, which is due out on June 25 via Anti-, and being produced by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. You can listen to the track "I Like The Things About Me" from that album below (via Complex). Mavis isn't the only living legend Jeff Tweedy is hanging with this year. As mentioned, Wilco is touring as a support act for Bob Dylan, and that tour hits the NYC-area for a few shows in July (some with My Morning Jacket, one with Beck). All upcoming Mavis Staples dates are listed, along with the song stream and more pictures and video from Beale St., below... Continue reading "Mavis Staples played Beale St, playing Prospect Park before Clearwater, releasing Jeff Tweedy-produced LP (pics, dates)" at brooklynvegan

Waiting on Wednesday idea from Jill at Breaking the Spine.-----Dead Jealous by Sharon Jones* Published by: Orchard (UK)* Format: Paperback/e-book (UK)* Release Date: July 4th, 2013 (UK)* On Amazon: hereSummary from Amazon.co.uk:People think of Mother Nature as a gentle lady. They forget that she's also Death. Sixteen-year-old Poppy Sinclair believes in quantum particles, not tarot cards, in Dawkins, not druids. Last summer, in a boating accident in the Lake District, Poppy had a brush with death. But the girl she finds face down in Scariswater hasn't been so lucky. As she fights to discover the truth behind what she believes is murder, Poppy is forced to concede that people and things are not always what they seem and, slipping ever deeper into a web of lies, jealousy and heart-stopping danger, she comes to realise - too late - that the one thing that can save her has been right there, all the time. I've been talking to Sharon on Twitter for years, and I'm really glad she's finally going to have a book published! Yay! She's a cool lady, and I'm happy that her book sounds so good. Dead Jealous sounds unusual and different to other books out at the moment, which I think is always a good thing. I'll definitely be picking this one up!

Here Lies Love, a concept album about the life of former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos written by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, was adapted for the theater and premiered earlier this year in New York. On Monday night, the two writers were given the award for Best Music and Lyrics at the 2013 Obie Awards. The Obies are presented by the Village Voice to salute achievement in the Off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway theater. The Monday night ceremony included a performance by the cast of the musical. The Here Lies Love concept album was released on April 6, 2010 and included performances by Tori Amos, Steve Earle, Cyndi Lauper, Allison Moorer, Sharon Jones, Natalie Merchant, Kate Pierson of the B-52's, Alice Russell, St. Vincent, Santigold, Martha Wainwright and Florence Welch among others. The theater production opened on April 2, 2013 and was scheduled to run through May 5 at the Public Theatre's LuEsther Theater; however, the run was recently extended through July 28. A cast album has also recently been recorded. It has also won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical, Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Music, Lighting Design and Projection Design and the Theatre World Awards for actors Ruthie Ann Miles (Imelda Marcos) and Conrad Ricamora (Aquino).

“Fiery brass and gospel infused funk” (LA Times) band Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds have partnered with Grammy Award winning producer and esteemed American Idol Judge Randy Jackson to produce their upcoming EP, Fight. Joining Jackson in the studio in March, powerhouse vocalist Arleigh Kincheloe (Sister Sparrow) along with The Dirty Birds recorded the four song EP due for a Fall 2013 release. The first single, “The Long Way” is set to premiere in July. Coming together in 2008 and holding down a 5 month residency at New York’s famed Rockwood Music Hall, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds released their debut album in 2010 and embarked on nationwide tours both in 2011 and 2012. They’ve shared the stage with Dr. John, Gov’t Mule (at New York’s famed Beacon Theater), The Avett Brothers, The Counting Crows, Fitz and the Tantrums, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and performed on a three week run with Allen Stone leading up to a late night set at Austin City Limits. http://www.sistersparrow.com

Turns out you won’t be missing Sharon Jones tonight after all. @GoogaMooga Today’s cancellation is surely a disappointment for everyone involved, but it’s not really a day that you want to be outside. Organizationally, the festival seems to have stepped it up a few notches this year, but mother nature just wasn’t on their side. Hopefully, it wasn’t too much of a bloodbath and they’ll be able to give it another go in 2014. I like what they are trying to do, and this year seemed like a big leap forward. PS Not surprisingly, I received an email this morning advertising that more GA tickets would be available for today’s event. As of this posting, I haven’t received the email saying today was called off. The post Great Googa Mooga Sunday Event Cancelled appeared first on Bumpershine.com.

Great Googa Mooga (May 17-19, 2013) Photo: D. Caplan The second annual Great Googa Mooga starts tonight in Prospect Park with a paid concert by The Darkness, The Flaming Lips and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, who were supposed to headline Sunday’s show, are being replaced by Kool and the Gang due to “an urgent family matter.” I’m sure that will be a disappointment for both concertgoers and Sharon Jones alike, who last played to a rapturous crowd of 20,000 strong at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Free tickets for both Saturday and Sunday are sold out, but if you hang out at the gate or keep checking in with the folks at myfreeconcert, you can probably score yourself a pair. Full Googa Mooga Saturday and Sunday music lineup after the jump. Saturday, May 18 Matt & Kim Jovanotti Father John Misty Sharon Van Etten Lee Fields & The Expressions Red Baraat Pearl and the Beard Jonathan Batiste and Stay Human Banda De Los Muertos Lady Rizo Sunday, May 19 Kool and the Gang De La Soul Cults The Soul Rebels Delicate Steve M.A.K.U. Sound System The Hot Sardines Marcelle Davies Lashley James Murphy The post Great Googa Mooga Starts Tonight | Kool and The Gang Replacing Sharon Jones on Sunday appeared first on Bumpershine.com.

The Darkness in The Daylight @ GoogaMooga 2013 (via Ana Bollocks) GoogaMooga 2013 is now officially underway. Flaming Lips on at 6:15pm, also in the light (followed by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs). Check out pictures from the Lips' dark show in NJ last night. Saturday afternoon brings Sharon Van Etten, Father John Misty and more to Googa, and Sunday has De La Soul, James Murphy and Kool & the Gang but not Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings. If you're missing the Darkness today in Brooklyn, they also have shows coming up this month in Albany, Montreal and Philly. Check out their list of tour dates with a short Vine clip from GoogaMooga below... Continue reading "It's 4:45 & The Darkness have taken the stage #GoogaMooga" at brooklynvegan

Kool & the Gang (not a recent picture) Bummer news from GoogaMooga:We regret to share the news but due to an urgent family matter, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are unable to perform as scheduled this weekend. Sharon and the Dap-Kings are all tremendously disappointed they are unable to appear at GoogaMooga and trust fans will understand. They hope to see everyone at another show soon. While GoogaMooga will miss Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and wishes them all the best, we are thankful and excited to announce that festival goers will still be able to get their moves and grooves on with Kool & The Gang, who will now headline the Nethermead Stage on Sunday, May 19 at 6:45pm.Well that makes Sunday officially Ladies Night now? While general admission tickets to Saturday and Sunday are gone, you can still buy tickets to the (very) early evening kickoff show on Friday (5/18) with The Darkness, Flaming Lips and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. And if you do that, "All Friday General Admission tickets will include a guarante