I'm not going to whine about it (well, maybe a little) but this has been a hellish spring for me, starting with the death of my dog on April 1, winding its way through difficult taxes, having to pass a homeland security clearance to coach jr. track (with fingerprints! and background check!), and just being insanely, insanely busy. last friday, for instance, my largest, least-turn-downable client demanded that I write five 8-page brochures by Tuesday ... and normally you'd get 2-3 days each. But anyway, I am starting to see a bit of daylight and tonight after the track meet, I am heading down to Northampton to see my first show since SXSW.
It's Shearwater, which is jonathan meiburg's non-Okkervil River project (I hesitate to the use the word "side" implying that it is Robin to Will Sheff's Batman, because, if anything, I'd give a slight edge to Shearwater.)
I haven't heard the rest but this free mp3 of "Rooks" is quite wonderful. Until I do hear the other songs, I'm enjoying the idea that the whole thing is a concept album about chess, but that is probably just wishful thinking.
Voila! and happy spring finally.
http://www.matadorrecords.com/mpeg/shearwater/shearwater_rooks.mp3
My Trusted MOGs
have fun girl , horrible about the dog ...my regards - I know what ya mean by busy , I am working two jobs so I can move to Cali in a year- I dont know where you find the time to post all that you do , but sister I am glad you do! good luck and godspeed Jen.
My Trusted MOGs
Thanks Cameron...I knew you were a dog person. I still expect him pretty much I come home from somewhere, and sometimes i sort of hear him out of the corner of my ear when I'm working...I really miss him, though. I don't have a lot of easy relationships in my life, and he was definitely one of them.
I'm glad you're liking the music I'm throwing up. Shearwater was really good last night...It was a big band with, at times, two trumpet players, two keyboards and two basses (people switched around quite a bit)...and a drummer (thor harris) who moonlights on clarinet and hammer dulcimer. And Meiburg's got a really unusual voice, almost two voices, one a fluttery, flute-y falsetto, the other really clear and loud like a trumpet. I'm going to try to write it up soon for PopMatters and put a link here.