Video: Good Night States at CMJ

Enjoy this clip of local favorites Good Night States' showcase at the CMJ Music Marathon in NYC, followed by a brief interview with the band.



p.s. So sorry, guys, but I'm over the comma.

New Masthead Photo

This one is courtesy of Brad Morocco, Photo Editor for the Duquesne Duke.

The P.J. McArdle Roadway may be one of the worst roads in town, but it does offer one of my favorite views of the city's skyline, giving the great contrast of those gold and green onion domes of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church in the foreground. I nearly crash every time I drive up that barely paved urban byway.

As always, if you have a photo of your own you'd like to submit, do send it along: sitkot@gmail.com

New videos from the locals

Not sure why I thought Gene the Werewolf was a local rap crew. Turns out I was way off. More of a Van Halen thing going on here really. I guess I should know these things as a local music blogger. Anyway, take in the local sites in their new vid:



Emily Rogers, on the other hand, I had no doubts about: melodic modern folk. Although I must admit, this track off her new nationwide release suggests something more complex than I previously gave her credit for. Enjoy:



Upcoming shows from both are on the concert calendar at right.

Dylan's Christmas Album: Not That Bad

From the reviews I’ve seen, I really expected this thing to be terrible. I mean absolutely awful. But I have to say after two go-rounds, it really isn’t all that bad, at least to one who’s a fan of both mainstream Christmas tunes (check) and modern Dylan (check).

For the most part, the album sees its high points when the band spreads out a bit, and its lows when Bobby tries to stick to the blueprints and falls victim to the limitations of his own death rattle. Here’s a half-assed track-by-track review:

1. Here Comes Santa Claus – Good
2. Do You Hear What I Hear – Average
3. Winter Wonderland – Average
4. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing – Really Bad
5. I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Barely Above Average (but might fit nicely amid a playlist consisting mostly of tracks from Tom Waits’ 1976 album, Small Change)
6. Little Drummer Boy – Below Average
7. The Christmas Blues – Good
8. O’ Come All Ye Faithful – Average
9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Below Average
10. Must Be Santa – Awesome
11. Silver Bells – Decent
12. The First Noel – Pretty Bad
13. Christmas Island – Average (unless compared to Leon Redbone’s superlative rendition)
14. The Christmas Song – Below Average
15. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem – Average (saved by its brevity and simplicity)

Honestly, I really like the tune “Must Be Santa,” and I’ll even venture that it could become a holiday radio standard alongside the likes of Paul McCartney’s “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time,” a controversial favorite of mine.

It’s also worth noting that the proceeds from all sales of this record go to charity.

And so, finally, for your listening pleasure:

Download/Stream:
Bob Dylan – “Must Be Santa”

Blue Notes on blu.black

Jim White at the P-G offers his take on Corey Harris' latest album.

Fans of Muddy Waters and Manu Chao alike should appreciate this one, so get yourself a copy, then get a ticket to his Calliope show this coming March.

Taking the Next Step (yet another country-related post)

Bluegrass and alt-country may be gateway drugs to the fearful world of Froggy and Y-108. Luckily, I haven't yet been drawn that deep. But with my belated discovery of Jamey Johnson's latest album, I might be considered "at-risk".

Nonetheless, I march onward to Mr. Small's for tonight's show, and I urge all readers with a healthy appreciation for American music to do the same.

Johnson is without a doubt heir to Waylon Jennings' coveted crown, and the Country community at large seems slowly to be realizing that, along with standard rock rags SPIN and Rolling Stone.

If you are not a frequent Froggy listener, please skip over or ignore this next sentence: Johnson penned Trace Adkins' 2005 hit, "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk."

If you are not a frequent Froggy listener and read that one anyway, forgive him his past indiscretions. A man's got to make a living.

In his defense, I give you the following tracks, both of which foretell a catalog of songs which should safely render names like Brooks and Dunn forgotten by history when we someday look back on the music of the early 21st century.

Jamey Johnson - "High Cost of Living"

Jamey Johnson - "Between Jennings and Jones"

Countrify Your Tuesday

It's surely coincidence that tonight should see such a great blend of country-influenced music all across town, but it's a great chance to broaden your tastes if you've avoided the genre in the past. I'm giving you a SITKOT 90% no-twang-guarantee.

If you lean toward the jam, the bluegrass-hippie stylings of Yonder Mountain String Band always please the ear, as they will tonight in Millvale. If you're in the over-35 crowd or just in the mood to chill, western-style, you might consider staying in town for the lush compositions of Cowboy Junkies.

I'll be in the South Side for Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses.

Bingham stands to take his place somewhere among the likes of John Hiatt and John Prine, with perhaps a tip of the ten-gallon hat to John (Cougar) Mellencamp. His songs are deceptively tight, and his sound and style belie his relative youth. My initial interest in country led me to my introduction to Bingham. Lyle Lovett made the move to Lost Highway Records, and I noticed that several other artists along alt-country lines started to put out records on that label. I signed up for the newsletter, and was soon turned on to Bingham. The first song of his I heard remains my favorite, but his recent material is as good as anything on the first record.

Likely soundboard problems notwithstanding, I expect great things from tonight's show at Club Cafe.