Town Hall has done it again! Another amazing cover to add to the list. When I spoke to them last month, they mentioned they'd be taking on an R. Kelly tune and I couldn't wait to hear it. "Text Me" does not disappoint. If you thought things got sexy with Ja Rule & Ashanti, this is going to rock your world. I don't even want to say anymore, just watch and enjoy.

Look for Town Hall on tour this summer throughout the East Coast and Midwest.

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After last night's post on The Belle Brigade and their video "Where Not To Look For Freedom," I realized I've been sitting on quite a few videos from previously featured bands. Let's just get them all out, shall we?

 

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I've been meaning to share this new(ish) video from The Belle Brigade for awhile now, so here it is for your viewing and listening pleasure.

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This performance of Carrie Manolakos performing Radiohead's infamous tune Creep came my way via Gawker and my ears were completely stunned. This beautiful performance showcases not only her obvious vocal talent, but her Broadway experience allows her to draw out the drama in the songs narrative. The performance was done at Le Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village in promotion of her forthcoming debut album Echo. Gawker called this performance upsettingly good and I'm inclined to agree. You dig?

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The Avalanches released their only album Since I Left You in the year 2000 (cue my best La Bamba singing voice) and caught lightning in a bottle with their single Frontier Psychiatry. From what little I've read about the bands compositional process it sounds to me like the greatness of this song came into the world in the same way penicillin did – accidentally. The band makes heavy use of the sampling, DJ scratch-fests, and imagery to sew together nonlinear sound bites into a linear tune. Additionally, the video boasts a large cast of characters who reenact all of the samples in a very Michel Gondry kind of way. The directors were Kuntz and Macquire. 

This video has been around for a little while but I've recently become smitten with it and wanted to make sure that no one in the Dig Nation missed it. Aside from the ghost choir and monkey drummer I dig the shout out to the Baltimore County public education system in the song's introduction.

That boy needs therapy. You dig?

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Lovedrug has been making a video for each song on their recently released new album Wild Blood. We've already featured the clips for "Dinosaur" and "Pink Champagne," and tonight "We Were Owls" is coming at ya.

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That's right, I'm doubling down. I've shown you the softer side of Glenn Miller, so now let's take a look a one of his more up tunes with I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo. I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo. The composition became an absolute spectacle in 1942 in the 20th Century Fox film Orchestra Wives and boast the talents of Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, saxophonist/singer/bandleader Tex Beneke, as well as dancers/singers The Nicholas Brothers.

It was subtlety of interpretation that made Moonlight Serenade so special for me, but this performance is the opposite side of the dime. It is extravagance incarnate. With its star studded cast, beautiful and elaborate set design, and performance in multiple disciplines it bridged the gap between film, live music, and dance in a fashion that I can't turn away from. I dig the use of the tune, and the utter talent of all the involved parties. The band is swinging, the singers have their harmonies and blend on point, and the dancers are made of rubber. It's awesome. I also love the way the timpanist glissandis up at the moment where the dancers use the stage as faux trampolines. 

Maybe I don't want to live in this sound world full time, but it is a far out and renewing place to visit once and a while. It's also great to hear and see a brass  section that isn't relegated to mediocre ska bands or Mahler. Give the guys props, they were kings in their day. 

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Spring has sprung in Baltimore and I took the liberty of a spring break this last week – The Dig included. The much needed R & R felt great and gave me an opportunity to go visit old friends KyleWhoDigs and SteveWhoDigs in Brooklyn. It also gave me time get to Opening day at Camden Yards and see my birds wallop the Twins. 

Baltimore is a sleeping giant in terms of baseball fan base. I still believe in Orioles Magic and I know that this town wants to believe with me. Local band Warning Track Power holds the faith and shows their pride front and center with their catchy fight song Oh Oh Orioles. 

Save for some mediocre lip syncing the video looks great and captures the excitement of a new season. It's also really funny that the song is about the potential of the Orioles but the band name is Warning Track Power implying that they have enough potential to rally excitement, but not enough to get the job done. I really hope they did that one on purpose.

The song is only a buck on their Bandcamp page and the video is embedded in the main article here so read on to check that one out. I'll see you at the Yard Baltimore. Let's go O's!

Warning Track Power: Oh Oh Orioles

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I didn't think Said the Whale would top their great music video for "Lines" (a loving Back to the Future tribute that was one of my favorite videos of 2011), but this one for "Big Sky, MT" from their recently released album Little Mountain is somehow even better. It's an unfair comparison, since they are so different, so let's just say this video is also awesome. Read on for my thoughts on this amazing clip.

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The Ef in Effi is for infectious. Seriously though, what's not to love? With left to right scrolling game boy style animation, astronauts, ukulele, horns, instant sing-along-abiltity, and a playful but ultimately not very helpful paper-mache sun, Effi's new video for Bye Baby is an immediate favorite. Effi is from Graz Austria and his new album Astronaut features 13 tracks that effortlessly playback with the perfect amount of hook and heart to reach out of your ear buds and into your regular rotation. His music is charming, multi-dimensional, and interesting in that way that has massive appeal across genre and market. He also very clearly has an eye for design and visual interest. I expect big things from our man Effi. Check him out via Soundcloud and Facebook. You dig?

Effi: Bye Baby

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