W♥M

Norah Jones at Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis (10/07/12)

Tour Dates 10/09/12 Chicago Theater Chicago, IL 10/11/12 Civic Center Des Moines, IA 10/12/12 Orpheum Theatre Omaha, NE 10/13/12 Midland Theatre Kansas City, MO 10/15/12 Peabody Opera House St. Louis, MO 10/16/12 Brady Theatre Tulsa, OK 10/19/12 ACL Moody Theatre Austin, TX 10/20/12 Bayou Music Center Houston, TX 10/22/12 McFarlin Auditorium Dallas, TX 10/23/12 Mahalia Jackson New Orleans, LA 11/04/12 Aichiken Gymnasium Nagoya 11/05/12 Grand Cube Osaka, Japan 11/06/12 Honda no Mori Hall Kanazawa 11/08/12 Budokan Tokyo, Japan 11/09/12 Budokan Tokyo, Japan 11/10/12 Umeda Geijutsu Gekijo Osaka 11/12/12 Shi Bunkakoryo Kaikan Hiroshima 11/14/12 Nitori Bunka Hall Sapporo 11/30/12 Metro Parque Bogota, Columbia 12/02/12 CC Maria Angola Lima, Peru 12/04/12 Movistar Arena Santiago, Chile 12/07/12 Teatro de Verano Montevideo 12/08/12 Luna Park Buenos Aires, Argentina 12/12/12 Teatro Araujo Vianna Porto Alegre 12/15/12 Via Funchal Sao Paulo, Brazil 12/16/12 Vivo Rio Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 02/15/13 State Theatre Sydney, Australia 02/19/13 Brisbane Conv Centre Brisbane 02/21/13 The Plenary Melbourne, Australia 02/22/13 Festival Theatre Adelaide 02/24/13 Riverside Theatre Perth, Australia Read More Norah Jones If you haven't figured it out, Norah Jones is on tour for her latest album, Little Broken Hearts, which was released earlier this year. ...

Norah Jones is currently on tour with Cory Chisel in support of her album Little Broken Hearts. Her appearance at the sold-out Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis last night proves to me that people haven't forgotten her talent and star power. Just to give you an idea, the Orpheum is the papa bear (2,650 capacity) in the three historic theaters in Minneapolis with baby bear Pantages Theatre at 1,000 capacity and mama bear State Theatre at 2,163 capacity.

Vuart: Cory Chisel view from Row Z

Kicking the show off was Cory Chisel (with Adriel Harris on keys). Although Chisel is traveling pretty light, I believe he will be appearing with his full live band, Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, when they appear on Conan O'Brien on November 1st.

Of the brief seven song-set, Chisel did a few songs from his latest album Old Believers, including "Never Meant To Love You" and "This Is How It Goes." He threw "Tennessee" from 2009's Death Won't Send a Letter, and the rest seems like unreleased songs like "In The Deep End." Rounding out the rest was a cover of Tom Waits' "Rosie."

Cory Chisel will be on tour with Norah Jones until she flies off to Japan in November. Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons' latest album Old Believers is out now on Readymade Records.

As for Norah Jones, she's certain talented, watching her ease effortlessly from keyboard to acoustic guitar to electric guitar to piano and back again.

She started off with "Good Morning," followed by "Say Goodbye" and "Take It Back", all from the new album Little Broken Hearts.

Since she's got four previous albums to mine from, we were treated with songs from The Fall ("It's Gonna Be" and "Chasing Pirates"), Not Too Late ("Wake Me Up" and "Sinkin' Soon"), and Come Away With Me ("Don't Know Why", "Cold Cold Heart" and "Painter").

The rest of her set are from the new album, including the title track "Little Broken Hearts", "Out On The Road", "Miriam", and "Happy Pills."

Odd songs from the bunch were cover from Tom Waits' "Long Way Home", her Danger Mouse collaboration for "Black", and her cover of Grateful Dead's "It Must Have Been The Roses."

Highlight of the show was when Cory Chisel and Adriel Harris came on stage to help sing their cover of Gram Parsons' "Hickory Wind."

Encore featured three old songs: "Sunrise", "Creepin' In", and "Come Away With Me."

Norah Jones and Cory Chisel are touring mates at the moment. Jones' album Little Broken Hearts is out now via Blue Note Records.

Confirmed: Norah Jones is prettiest girl at the ball. Norah Jones at Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis (10/07/12)

PS, I wasn't granted a photo pass, so I couldn't move around to take pictures. Instead, I've included a quick sketch of what I saw from Row Z (which near the back of the theater). I think any further, I wouldn't make fun if you brought binoculars.

vu () ♥ norahjones.com ♥ corychisel.com

The Tyger

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry? - William Blake

Read More Cory Chisel The EP I have here is called Cabin Ghosts, and it's listed simply as "Cory Chisel", but I believe the full, and correct, name should be listed as "Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons. "

CORY CHISEL
corychisel.com

It's been a few years since we wrote about Cory Chisel.

Cory Chisel and the Wandering Songs released their album, Old Believers, this Summer in the US, but the UK will be getting it next week: September 10th. The album is coming out on Brendan Benson's Readymade Label and Thirty Tigers. Being on Benson's label made sense, since the two got along famously on tour.

He's currently hanging out/touring with Norah Jones.

Sep 06 Belfast Waterfront Belfast, United Kingdom
Sep 07 Grand Canal Theater Dublin, Ireland
Sep 10 Borderline London, United Kingdom
Sep 12 Forest National Brussels, Belgium
Sep 13 Zenith Strasbourg, France
Sep 17 Auditorium Parco della Musica Rome Rm, Italy
Sep 18 Teatro degli Arcimboldi Milan, Italy
Sep 20 L'Auditori Barcelona, Spain
Sep 22 Campo Poqueno Lisbon, Portugal
Sep 23 Palacio De Congresos Madrid, Spain
Sep 29 Millworks Concert Series Dubuque, IA
Oct 07 Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
Oct 08 Riverside Theatre Milwaukee, WI
Oct 09 Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL
Oct 11 Civic Center Des Moines, IA
Oct 12 Orpheum Theatre Omaha, NE
Oct 13 Midland Theatre Kansas City, MO
Oct 15 Peabody Opera House St Louis, MO
Oct 16 Brady Theatre Tulsa, OK
Oct 20 Lighthouse Beer Festival Wilmington, NC
Oct 22 Summit City Whitesburg, KY

Briefly:

TRUE TIGER truetiger.org True Tiger is offering a free EP called Eye of the Tiger Volume 2 on their Facebook page. They're currently on tour: 09/06 Get Darker Party TV Party- Shoreditch 09/21 Mint Club, Leeds 10/02 Dingwalls, London 10/09-10/18 Supporting Foreign Beggars

EXQUISITE CORPS facebook.com Sacramento's Exquisite Corps recently premiered "Tyger Wine" on Bowlegs. Check out the band if you're on the west coast: 09/05 Sacramento State University 09/13 KDVS Live in Studio A on 90.3 FM 10/04 San Francisco, CA - Hemlock Tavern

TIGER LOVE facebook.com "Summer Rain" the follow-up single from London's Tiger Love. You can listen to "Summer Rain" on Soundcloud.

MY TIGER MY TIMING mytigermytiming.com My Tiger My Timing's latest single and video is called "The Gold Rush," taken from their album Celeste. You can view "The Gold Rush" on youtube.com

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Brendan Benson and Cory Chisel at First Avenue, Minneapolis (11/17/09)

Brendan Benson - Cold Hands (Warm Heart) Brendan Benson Tour Dates 11/18/09 Turner Ballroom Milwaukee, WI 11/20/09 Lincoln Hall Chicago, IL 11/21/09 Music Mill Indianapolis, IN 12/04/09 Le Poisson Rouge NY 12/05/09 Maxwell’s Hoboken, NJ 12/07/09 World Café Live Phila, PA 12/09/09 9:30 Club Washington DC 12/10/09 Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, NC 12/11/09 Earl Atlanta, GA 12/12/09 Exit/In Nashville, TN Read More Cory Chisel http://weheartmus... The EP I have here is called Cabin Ghosts, and it's listed simply as "Cory Chisel", but I believ...

Cory Chisel said it best last night at First Ave: "We bring you the sad songs, while Brendan brings the rock and roll."   This was a good team-up of music, as the two bands complimented each other.

Cory Chisel and Adriel Harris

Chisel has a few fans in the audience, someone shouted it that they're from Appleton West, which I actually have no idea where that is. I mentally picture northern Minnesota as that was what Chisel said he was from originally.

I thought the best song on the live set was "Born Again". Highlight from the show was when Adriel Harris, remove herself from the keyboard to sing a duet with Chisel.

Brendan Benson Setlist

I think most people know Brendan Benson because he's a member of Jack White's The Raconteurs, but the truth is, he's been releasing music way back in 1996. I thought the best song live was "Cold Hands (Warm Heart)" and "Feel Like Taking You Home".

Surprisingly it was revealed that their current live drummer, Travis (replacing their regular drummer Brad) was a quick learner on tour. I couldn't tell if he messed up, it all sounded in rhythm.

The highlight from the show was at the last encore, where Chisel shows up to help sing their cover of Tom Petty's "American Girl". What's funny is that they printed the lyrics for Benson as he's confessed he doesn't know the song that well.

PS, See the smoke around Benson's head?  Yep, he lit and smoked a cigarette on "American Girl".  Maybe someone should have told him that Minneapolis has a non-smoking policy.

 11/18/2009 03:29:20 ♥ vu () ♥ brendanbenson.com / myspace.com/brendanbenson ♥ corychisel.com 

Change

Ben Sollee - A Change is Gonna Come

Stevie Wonder - Happy Birthday

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day, here are some songs about change. King wanted change for the equality of everyone... making it possible for Barack Obama to become the first black President.

MLK Day is a fairly recent holiday, it only came into existence in 1983 when Ronald Regan signed it into law.  What you probably didn't know was that some states didn't call it Martin Luther King Day.  Utah called it Human Rights Day, while Virginia combined a bunch of people into the Lee-Jackson-King Day.  It was only recently in 2000 did all the 50 States decided to call it the same thing.

Either way, enjoy your Monday off work!

Also, please also check out Ben Sollee's A Change is Gonna Come and Stevie Wonder's Happy Birthday (Martin Luther King Jr).

MANZE DAYILA & THE NAGO NATION manzedayila.com ♥ myspace.com Manze Dayila and the Nago Nation-Change Manze Dayila & The Nago Nation-That Feeling Manze Dayila & The Nago Nation's "Change" is about Barack Obama and how he is our president. The music has its roots in African beats and rhythm, much like all their songs from their Solé album. Although "Change" isn't on their (debut?) album, the song is a free download on their website. According to Dayila's biography, she was a refugee from Haiti (she was 19 when she rafted into Miami Beach!). The Haiti would explain why some of their songs have a Carribean, with just a dash of Reggae, in them. Half of the album are also traditional Haitian Folk song ("Kwi", "Miseye Rigaud", "Kafe", "Papa Loko", etc). The stand-out track for me is one of the few English songs on Solé called "That Feeling". The song also features an additional singer/rapper called Bennchoumy Elian, who also sung on the other English song "I Want to Be Free". Other stand-out track is the song "Solé", which although I do not understand the lyrics - I feel it is a sad song, as if a mother is weeping for her child. With the absent of music on this song, it made for an even more powerful emotional connection. Since most of the album is not in English it gives it a Worldly touch. If you enjoy World music, especially Afro-Pop or Afro-Hip-Hop, this album is worth checking out. You can purchase Solé via cd baby ($14) or download via itunes ($10) or amazon ($8).		THE BRILLIANT MISTAKES thebrilliantmistakes.com ♥ myspace.com The Brilliant Mistakes-Good Year For A Change The Brilliant Mistakes are an indie rock/Americana-esque band from Brooklyn, New York. Their music also have great catchy melodies, unlike banging pot/pans and quirky sound of indie music these days (don't worry, I have a few of these experimental albums for review - so fans of this sound will be happy). Between the two singers, keyboardist Alan Walker and bassist Erik Philbrook, I would have to say that I like the Walker songs - they sound vaguely like Ben Folds. The Philbrook vocals sounds more alt-country. I'm more drawn to their upbeat songs like "The Circle's Not Broken" and "The Day I Found My Hands". Even though I didn't know the words to their songs, I feel like I could probably make up words to rhyme with their lyrics. Their "change" ("Good Year For A Change") has nothing to do with politics, but you can read what you want in it.... 2009 will be a great year for a change, right? Anyway, the song sounds a little subdue, but it shows off the Folds-vocals as I mentioned earlier. I think the song may be about changing your life, a fresh start, and finding someone new. Possibly not looking back.... but the song seems to reflect on the past. You can find out details on how you can purchase their album on their website. The page also lets you download "The Circle’s Not Broken" - the upbeat song that I liked, so check it out.
DESCRIBE AND Y-LOVE myspace.com/describeylove ♥ ylovemusic.com Y-Love and Describe - Change I've previously written about Y-Love, so I was kind of interested in seeing what he's up to. His latest release is a collaboration with fellow Jewish songwriter Describe. Much like the "Change" song by Manze Dayila, this "Change" song is the excitement of a new political change in the White House. The song has some auto-tuning vocals, with that distinctive Yiddish sounds of the H sound like in "hhhheh". The lyrics comes in fast and furious and Describe's lower vocals slows down the song when it needs to be. As described by the press material, The Change EP consists of four songs. But instead of releasing the EP in one release date, they are dropping each song per month, starting tomorrow (January 20th). The other scheduled release are February 24th for "Make It", March 31st, and April 28th. All details will be updated over at shemspeed.com/change, which contain links of how you can buy the song(s).		MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD michaelfranti.com ♥ myspace.com Michael Franti & Spearhead-Obama Song There's no "Change" in title, but if there was an alternate title to the simply titled "Obama Song", it would be about change and the message that we can make a difference. This toe- tapping, hand- clapping, feet- dancing song by Michael Franti & Spearhead is very catchy. The song features many vocals, Best of all, the song is free to download via ilike.com/franti. CORY CHISEL corychisel.com ♥ myspace.com Cory Chisel - A Change is Gonna Come We've previously mentioned Cory Chisel before, and here is a live version of the Sam Cooke's classic "A Change Is Gonna Come". I think the song was recorded at the Lawrence Memorial Chapel in Appleton, WI (Aug 15th, 2008), it comes as a break for Chisel to do his solo acoustic-thing.

 01/19/2009 07:18:34 ♥ vu () ♥weheartmusic.com♥podcast.weheartmusic.com♥news.weheartmusic.com 

Americana

Today is July 4^th, America's Independence Day. I have put together a collection of Americana/Roots music as theme. Some artists are not strictly in this genre, and to group them together might be unfair, so I suggest if you like what you read and hear, find out more about them on their respective websites.

 

 

Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark

Bruce Springsteen

Of course, when you think of "America", the one name that really comes to mind is Bruce Springsteen. Since 1973, "The Boss" have been representing the everyman with his American heartland rock music. He's probably best known for his album (and song), "Born in the U.S.A." at the height of his popularity in 1984.

The album tied for "Most Top 10 Songs from One Album" award, alongside Michael Jackson's Thriller and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, with - count 'em - seven songs: "Dancing in the Dark" , "Cover Me" , "Born in the U.S.A." , "I'm on Fire" , "Glory Days", "I'm Goin' Down" and "My Hometown".

With an amazing string of hit songs, it's actually not surprising that find out that Springsteen's albums consistantly hit #1 on the Billboard charts, with eight #1 albums: The River (1980), Born in the U.S.A. (1984), Live/1975-85 (1986), Tunnel of Love (1987), Greatest Hits (1995), The Rising (2002), Devils & Dust (2005), and Magic (2007). With the exception of Jay-Z, all of the chart-toppers are no longer around (The Beatles, Elvis, and The Rolling Stones), so this is a pretty amazing feat for an all-American New Jersey boy.

By the way, I have never seen Springsteen live, but from watching SNL and reading about it, I get the impression that The Boss and the E Street Band plays an amazing, live show, full of blood, sweat, and tear.

CORY CHISEL thewanderingsons.com ♥ myspace.com     Cory Chisel - Home In The Woods The EP I have here is called Cabin Ghosts, and it's listed simply as "Cory Chisel", but I believe the full, and correct, name should be listed as "Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons". There is also no cover art with the EP, so please note that the art that I used to represent them here is not the final CD cover. I tried looking up when the CD will be release, but I couldn't find any details of the details. I am assuming it will be release sometime in 2008 and/or only sold on tour. Listening to the EP, it sounds to me to be very Springsteenesque, especially when Chisel sings out, "The thunder roll, its angry heart, across my shoulders in the dark, maybe I'm losing ground" on "See It My Way". I am also guessing that the EP was recorded live as there's clapping from the audience inbetween the songs, but on some songs, the audio sounds too perfect (you can clearly hear everything, from backup singers to the quiet acoustic guitar). The song I was asked to use is "Home In The Woods", which I can understand as its lyrics and theme is about wanting to escape from the city and live in an isolated cabin in the woods - perfect for an EP called Cabin Ghosts. They are currently on tour with Joshua James. See tour information below. Jul 16 - The Intersection - Grand Rapids, Michigan July 17 - Club Cafe - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania July 18 - Radio Radio - Indianapolis, Indiana July 19 - Beat Kitchen - Chicago, Illinois July 20 - The Ark - Ann Arbor, Michigan July 22 - Shank Hal - Milwaukee, Wisconsin July 23 - Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, Minnesota July 24 - Waiting Room - Omaha, Nebraska July 25 - The Record Bar - Kansas City, Missouri July 30 - Toad Tavern - Denver, Colorado July 31 - Belly Up - Aspen, Colorado Aug 1 - Club Sound - Salt Lake City, Utah Aug 3 - The Triple Door - Seattle, Washington Aug 4 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, Oregon Aug 5 - Boardwalk - Orangevale, California Aug 6 - Hotel Utah Saloon - San Francisco, California Aug 8 - Casbah - San Diego, California Aug 9 - Hotel Cafe - Los Angeles, California Aug 10 - Rhythm Room - Phoenix, Arizona Aug 15 - Lawrence Memorial Chape - Appleton, Wisconsin Sep 13 - Red Rocks Amphitheater - Morrison, Colorado Nov 26 - New American Theater - Rockford, Illinois

SAMMY WALKER ramseurrecords.net ♥ myspace.com     Sammy Walker - Another Sad Song About You Sammy Walker is a folk/country singer/songwriter from Georgia (but I think currently in North Carolina?), was briefly popular from 1975 to 1977, with two of the albums on major label, Warner Brothers. It would seem he went into early retirement until 1994 with Old Time Southern Dream. Now, after 14 years since that release, he is back now with Misfit Scarecrow to be released on July 22nd on Ramseur Records. Walker has a very distinctive, southern, and clear, but aging, voice. Some of the melodies and lyrics really made me think of Bob Dylan. Since I don't have Walker's earlier works, I can only imagine what his earlier works might sound just like early Dylan. Walker's songs all tells little timeless stories, all told through the eyes of the protagonist. Sometime that person might be a corpse ("Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone") or a scarecrow ("Misfit Scarecrow") or a farmer ("Proud and Poor"), but they all tell epic tales. I really enjoyed "Another Sad Song About You", a song about running into someone from the past. It goes into great detail describing someone leaning on a lamp post: "a blue scarf around your neck, and a silver charm across your heart". Despite a timeless feel to the song, I did enjoy the modern references, in such lines like: "I heard about your brother, when the Twin Towers came crashing down." The country/blues song, "Someday I'm Gonna Rock and Roll", ends the album with a humourous tone. I get the impression that the song is really about Walker, himself. He must get a lot of people telling him he should do rock and roll, but he scoffs at it. If you want to make it today, You're gonna have to rock and roll If you want the big money You're gonna have to rock and roll I guess even old Jimmie Rodgers Would've even had to sell a piece of his soul Had to sell a piece of his soul. In case you were wondering why that line is so funny, it's because Rodgers is often considered as the father of country music.

FISKUM fiskum.com ♥ myspace.com     Fiskum - Tom Wait's Bar and Grill Fiskum is actually from Minneapolis, and his album, Darkness/Fire/Dancing was released late last year. The first time I heard "Tom Waits' Bar And Grill", I thought of Harry Chapin's "Taxi", especially when he sings "and she says 'hi, how'd you been? I saw your call, I stopped on in'". With the title, you can tell that he is giving a little nod to Tom Waits, and, like Waits, paints a story about a chance encounter with an old close friend at a bar & grill. I later read Fiskum got the idea for the song from a short conversation with someone trying to "explain to his new girlfriend why he was seen hanging with his old flame." He wrote notes for each of his song on his music page, and this is for "Tom Waits' Bar & Grill": Northeast Minneapolis has dozens of neighborhood taverns where locals gather after work for a beer, for burgers, and maybe a game of billiards or darts. Places where softball teams hang out after the game. I used to frequent these bars often, and I visualize one of them – Tommy’s Bar–as the setting for this song. Its about a man who is torn between his old flame and his new girlfriend. There is a surprise at the end of the album, it's another version of "Winter Moon". The song looks like a live recording, and it's sung entirely in Welsh by an uncredited woman. You can find Darkness/Fire/Dancing at your usual location on Amazon and iTunes.

JOSEPH ARTHUR josepharthur.com ♥ myspace.com     Joseph Arthur - Slow Me Down Peter Gabriel saw something in Joseph Arthur, because he signed Arthur on his record label, Real World. Although he's no longer on Real World, he's releasing a ton of material on his own record label, Lonely Astronaught. Already this year alone these are the EPs that's already released: Could We Survive (Mar 2008), Crazy Rain (Apr 2008), Vagabond Skies (Jun 2008), and Foreign Girls (July 2008). At the rate he's going, he'll probably have three or four EPs released before his album, Temporary People comes out September 16th, 2008. I actually have only two of the EPs, Could We Survive, which seems to have a (anti?) war theme, and his latest, Vagabond Skies. There's something perfectly folk and pop on the lead song, "Slow Me Down", that you should check out. As you can hear on that song, it's not completely traditional folk. Such beat/loop machine can be found in the background of "Pretty Good Company" and "Second Sight". It's also nice to hear Joan Wasser (violins) doing some backup vocals on some songs, I hope she participate more in the upcoming album. I like what he's doing, bundling his limited art prints if you buy two EPs ($20). This is good for hardcore fans to collect his art, while at the same time give the second EP as a gift of music to their friends and family.

PS, this article took very long to write. There may be a part two later tonight.

Links: www.weheartmusic.com