Denver: The Way It Is

Hey Dig Nation, some computer problems have kept me out of the game lately, but I'm working on that. A big thanks to my main man Steve for keeping the posts flowing. Today I'm pleased to bring you the video for The Way It Is from Denver.

Since the release of their self-titled debut album on August 18th of this year, Denver has become one of my favorite new bands. Denver is a fresh slice of alt. country pie with tasty layers of steel strings baked over and nostalgic vocal  melodies. With this project Eric Early and company are giving audiences a welcome reminder that country music hasn't been and won't always be Jesus Take The Wheel, Beer With Jesus, or some other combination of pop clinches and generalizations. Country music was, is, and will continue to be meaningful music making where emphasis is placed on shared experiences and the craft of song writing. In this sense, Denver has taken up the torch (alongside a bottle or two) and carries on with or without mainstream support of top forty radio. Denver is county music for the people, not the masses, and that's just the way it is. You dig?

The music video was directed by Patrick Stanton – whose enviable work you should definitely check out in full. Denver (the album) is currently available on 12 inch vinyl & download here, or digitally here if that's not your thing.

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Irvin Dally: Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You

Irvin Dally is a singer/songwriter living in the in between areas of retrospective folk, and the forward looking post-rock world. He is currently based in Los Angeles, but thanks his nomadic parents for allowing him to grow up in all the wonderful variety that is these United States. Irvin believes that this transience experience allowed him to soak up our national flavor, and currently he expresses this feeling in song.

The good folks over at Tune Parade recently caught up with Dally for an impromptu performance on their series, The Ice Cream Session. In this video he performs one of my all time favorite Bob Dylan songs, Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You, from his classic 1969 album Nashville Skyline. At this stage in his career Dylan was singing with his most refined tenor croon, and Irvin Dally shares that same talent. Now if only he could find his own personal Robbie Robertson or Joan Baez to collaborate with he might just be alright. You dig?

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Tim Kuhl: Indigo Blue

Tim Kuhl has recently released a video for his song Indigo Blue off his recent album St. Helena. The video is an acoustic performance shot in Far Rockaway, Queens, NY – an area that was recently devastated by hurricane Sandy. The video was directed by Lee Gingold and the cast of musicians includes: Drums: Tim Kuhl, Guitar: Grey Mcmurray, Trombone: Rick Parker, Accordion: Joshua Valleau, Dobro: Philip Sterk, & Double Bass: Jared Samuel.

If you would like to donate or volunteer to aid in relief from the storm, links to donation and volunteer groups can be found in the description section of the videos vimeo page.

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Dave Holland Solo: Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

Goodbye Pork Pie Hat or the "Theme For Lester Young" as it was later renamed, was composed in 1959 by jazz juggernaut Charles Mingus. The song was composed as an elegy for the then recently deceased saxophonist, and was originally recorded on the landmark album, Mingus Ah Um. Since it's debut, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat has stood as a monument; it's musical worth cannot be overstated. It is a track and a composition that always strikes to the core of me.

Recently, I found this performance of the incomparable Dave Holland performing the tune on solo bass. The composition's evocative and sentimental melody takes on a powerful new life in the hands of Holland. If this performance inspires you to hear more, you can find his studio recording on the album One's All, but good luck trying to find a digital copy of the record.

I don't know where it is you are reading this, but in Baltimore, this performance is perfect for an evening such as tonight. You dig?

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The Bad Plus with Joshua Redman

The Bad Plus recently released a video of a live performance with guest Joshua Redman on tenor sax. The song is an original of theirs entitled People Like You and the concert was from July 21st at The Queen's Hall in Edinburgh. The song's title is a wonderful example of how enunciation can dramatically change the context of the phrase. For example: People Like You, or People Like You, or People Like You. This means that the song's title is open to interpretation, and in this sense it leaves the emotional impact of the song up for grabs as well. 

Read on for further thoughts about the performance as well as information regarding next The Bad Plus performance in NYC on August 2nd at Damrosch Park where they will perform Igor Stravinsky's seminal work The Rite Of Spring

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Stephane Grapelli & Julian Bream: Nuages

The other day I was perusing this site, a diamond in the gem for jazz video resource, when I found something incredible. Nevertheless, this webpage is a YouTube channel guide which breaks down literally thousands of videos of historically significant jazz musicians by instrument and then places them in chronological order. It is a staggering work of dedication and online sleuth work, and a terrific way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Every time I visit I find something wonderful, and this time it was this video of renowned classical guitarist Julian Bream accompanying the maestro Stephane Grapelli in a performance of Nuages; a tune made so famous by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli. I could not believe that I had missed a spot in my own listening education. That it was even be possible that two of my favorite musicians from different sound universes collaborated and I didn't know it, but it did happen, and thankfully I stumbled upon this video and corrected my error.

The performance is brilliant in spite of both performers advanced age. I really dig the crispness of Grapelli's scales and the obvious joy that these two treasured musicians get from playing together. Take a moment of your day to enjoy this unique performance and then dig a little deeper by browsing more videos from this comprehensive collection of jazz videos.

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Jonny Corndawg: Fever Dreams

Friend of the Dig and apostle of country music Jonny Corndawg recently released a new video alongside Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes for his new song Fever Dreams off his forthcoming album Dad Country. The video, which comes to us via Cock and Bull TV (Facebook & Twitter), showcases Jonny's uncanny wordplay and brooding story telling. TWD is anxiously awaiting the release of Dad Country, but until then, this will have to hold us over. 

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