It's no secret that all of us at Mexicali love the Grateful Dead and their unimitable frontman, Jerry Garcia. Today we want to share with you a bunch of cool videos of Jerry from back in the day!
Here Jerry talks about the hippie culture of the 60's at the Playboy Mansion, and joins the rest of the band to play "Mountains of the Moon":
Here's a rare clip of him jamming with friends at Woodstock in 1969:
In an interview, he describes what making music feels like for him:
Awesome clip of singing/jamming with Rick Danko, Janis Joplin, and more from the awesome documentary Festival Express :
Another clip from Festival Express; the Dead performing "Don't Ease Me In":
Broken Bells is the musical duo of Brian Burton (better known as Danger Mouse) and The Shins frontman James Mercer. They describe their music as "melodic, yet experimental" with Mercer's distinctively earnest and melancholy voice given buoyancy by Danger Mouse's catchy beats and sparkling arrangements. Broken Bells has just one self-titled album that just came out on March 9, 2010, and it is definitely worth your time to give these songs a listen!
The nights are cooling and crab-apples are thunking to the ground; the first whispers of Fall are in the air. Now don't get scared; it's still summer! But it is good to be prepared, and since Winter in New England is what it is, it's getting to be about time to restart your Netflix subscription or at least update that queue. With that in mind, here are some of our favorite music movies you should definitely consider watching!
Stop Making Sense (Talking Heads)
Stop Making Sense is one of the best concert films we've ever seen, with striking imagery and direction and a flawlessly energetic performance by a great band. The movie was filmed over three nights on the band's 1983 "Speaking in Tongues" tour, but is edited together so well it forms a cohesive story-like structure like the best singular concert experience of your life.
A Hard Day's Night (The Beatles)
Part concert film, part mockumentary, A Hard Day's Night describes a couple of days in the lives of the group as they perform, deal with celebrity, and get into trouble. It's funnier than you would expect it to be, and the Beatles are at their charming best. If you like the band at all and haven't seen it yet, do it!
The Devil and Daniel Johnston (Daniel Johnston)
Artist, singer, and songwriter Daniel Johnston has written some of the most strikingly honest and clever lyrics we've ever heard. This documentary explores the life and creativity of a fascinating character who dances on the edge of what we would call 'sanity' and creates amazing art because of it. Never heard of him? Watch it. You won't forget.
Gimme Shelter (The Rolling Stones)
Created by the amazing documentary filmmaking team of Albert and David Maysles (also responsible for the awesome movies The Beatles: The First U.S. visit, Grey Gardens, and Salesman), this film explores Rolling stones 1969 tour, culminating in the disastrous Altamont Free Concert. With a lot of great footage of the Rolling Stones seriously rocking it, behind-the-scenes insights into what it was like putting a free festival together, and an unbiased look at the sinister events that transpired as the show went on, this is as much an important cultural film as a musical one. The Last Waltz (The Band, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Dr. John, Muddy Waters and many more)
The Last Waltz documents The Band's performance at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom in 1976. They perfomed with a ton of awesome singers/musicians all in their prime with amazing energy and stage presence, sublimely directed Martin Scorcese. Is this the best concert film of all time, as has been stated by many? We're not saying no!
Anvil! The Story of Anvil (Anvil)
Anvil?! Who is Anvil? Exactly. All of the bands that performed at Japan's Super Rock Festival in 1984 made it big (Bon Jovi, Scorpions, Whitesnake) except for this Canadian metal band. This documentary explores what it is like now for the once-promising band to continue trying to 'make it' as they deal with middle-aged life. It is hilarious, charming, and surprisingly moving. Even if you have absolutely no interest in heavy metal music as a genre, you will still fall absolutely in love with this movie. (We did!) We hope you enjoyed our music movie roundup, although it was by no means comprehensive. We would love to know what your favorite music movies are!
The Arcade Fire hails from Montreal and are fronted by married couple Win Butler and Regine Chassagne with an oft changing cast of super-talented multi-instrumentalist collaborators singing and playing piano, violin, hurdy-gurdy, French horn, and more. Their music is indie rock with an epic sweep, filled with lush instrumentals and heavily layered harmonies.
They released a sweet self-titled EP in 2003, but it wasn't until 2004 that the released the absolutely amazing Funeral, a solid and moving album that was lyrically and tonally influenced by the deaths that year of several of the band members' relatives. This album managed to be both somber and uplifting, and was extremely well-received, both critically and commercially. Here is the official video for the first song off of that abum, "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)":
In 2007, the band released Neon Bible which was also universally praised and definitely awesome. Here is the first single off that album, called "Intervention":
Here is an amazing acoustic performance of the song "Neon Bible", played in an elevator, using a ripping magazine for (surprisingly effective) percussion. This is one of our favorite performance videos ever:
They recently released their newest album, The Suburbs, and once again, we think they have created an awesome piece of art! Give a listen to the titular song here:
The Arcade Fire is currently on tour, and just played a couple of days ago (August 5) in Madison Square Garden, a show that was to be directed by Terry Gilliam. They streamed it live on Youtube and you can see the whole thing here. We really like the claymation/puppet promo video they made for the event:
Sweet! We love the Arcade Fire and hope you do too. Check out their website here for all kinds of fun things to hear and see!
The music of LCD Soundsystem could be catagorized as something like dance-punk-electronic-pop-indie-rocktastic. Led by the clever and often self-effacing James Murphy, this is music with a dance-demanding beat and lyrics that will make you laugh and think once you settle down. Murphy began the group in 2002 with the witty, wordy eight-minute single "Losing My Edge."He describes this tune as "an athem" to growing older and realizing that musical styles change with generations. Check out the song (and watch Murphy get slapped in the face for eight minutes) below:
LCD Soundsytem released a self-titled double album in 2005, to much critical acclaim. The first song, "Daft Punk is Playing at My House" quickly gained popularity, particularly in the UK. The album and the song were both nominated for Grammy awards that year. Try to listen to this song without moving at all; it's hard!
In 2007, the band released Sound of Silver to more critical acclaim. Why? Because it is awesome! This album retained the bouncy dance feel of older songs, while making a succesful leap to straight-up rock; all the while retaining the sound that is undeniably, uniquely LCD.
Evidence that Murphy does the melodic just as well as dance-punk:
Here's a song from the same album that will make you want to move and groove:
This is Happening just came out a few months ago, and is amazing! (We think so, anyway) The music itself is filled with fun drums and weird little beeps that will not allow you to sit still, while the lyrics are honest and insightful. Here, the single "Drunk Girls" describes with wit and humor the difference between "drunk girls" and "drunk boys":
Another great tune, "Dance Yourself Clean":
You really should just listen to the whole thing.
Ok, that's all you get for free. Go buy the album! You'll like it! Check out their website here if you dig LCD Soundsystem like we do.
Those of us Mexicali folk who are going to the Nateva Festival this weekend can think of hardly anything else! To benefit those who might be heading up that way, or to another fest in the future (and also so we can commit all of these necessities to memory by writing them down), here is a list of 10 essential festival supplies, to make your experience the best musical hootenanny you've ever attended!
Don't wind up like this guy! illustration by Mike Feeney
1. Sunscreen A painful sunburn can make an awesome time unbelievably less fun. You can probably buy it where you are going but you know it will probably cost three times as much as in a store, and surely you have better things to spend your money on! We like the spray stuff because it is ridiculously easy to apply; be sure to put reapply often, and don't forget the tops of your ears!
2. Toilet Paper It's true that they have plenty in the porta-potties at the start of the show, but as any festival-goer knows, the supply inevitably runs out. Bring your own and you also have tissues for blowing your nose or cleaning up spills. Good job!
3. Headlamp Flashlights are cool, but the hands-free capability of headlamps have proven invaluable for night-time journeys and searching for stuff in your tent (also bedtime reading, if that helps you wind down!).
4. Bottled Water Would you like to pay $6 for a $1 bottle of water? No? Bring your own! Stay hydrated while you're dancing, and especially if you're also drinking as that also dehydrates you. Nateva will have free water available to those who bring their own bottles, so do so!
5. Blanket or Chairs You will probably want to sit down at some point for listening to mellower music, so something to sit on that is portable is ideal. Those low-to-the-ground camp chairs are comfortable and easy to carry, and we love sprawling on blankets like this traditional Mexican Falsa blanket.
6. First-Aid Kit Although there is usually some sort of first aid booth set up, rather than waiting for an hour to get a band-aid or some aspirin, bring your own! Single-use alcohol swabs are also useful for disinfecting cuts and scrapes.
7. Toys & Entertainment Hoola hoops, frisbees, kites, sidewalk chalk, bubbles. . . . all of these things are fun to play with, and you probably don't do it too often these days. Festivals are great places for reconnecting with that youthful sense of playfulness, and if you have something collaborative to share the fun, you just might make some new friends!
8. Rain Gear/ Rain Boots Perhaps this doesn't apply in some places, but if you are going to a festival in New England, you want to be prepared for this. Just trust me on this one, and remember, a trash bag makes a fine (albeit funny-looking) poncho if you have nothing else.
9. Camera If all you have is a fancy, expensive camera that you would die if you lost, pick up a couple of cheap disposable ones before you get there!
10. Food Bring something to eat, keeping within the rules of the festival you're attending. You can save a lot of money by bringing your own grub, and sometimes you are allowed to bring grills or stoves for cooking as well. Portable snack food like granola bars, trail mix, and nuts are awesome to have for an energy boost.
Leave expensive items at home, dress comfortably, and be kind to your neighbors in the campground! We hope to see some of you at Nateva! And we would also love to know what you consider the most essential supplies for a positive festival experience?
Formed in 2001 in Akron, Ohio, The Black Keys are the blues-rock musical duo of guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and producer/drummer Patrick Carney. Their songs are often rough and swinging, though the degree of noise and action changes depending on the tune. From a barroom brawl taken outside to the the foggy-headed lament of a hangover, there is some intangible quality to their music that seems to reek of booze.
And that isn't necessarily a bad thing:
With nine albums under their belts, the Black Keys have had some sonic ups and downs, with good reviews and bad. Their newest album, Brothers, is definitely one of the good ones. The fuzzy pounding baseline contrasts really nicely with the sweet, swinging blues of Auerbach's falsetto on the first track of the album, "Everlasting Light":
Another awesome song from the new album is "Tighten Up", which is super catchy and includes whistling! It also has a great video. Be warned, there is some brawling and a bit of (presumably fake) blood towards the end, so if you are very sensitive to violence you may not want to watch it.
If you decided to forgo the video, you can still listen to the song (and you should, because it rocks!) below:
If you want more of The Black Keys, check out their website here for photos, tour dates, and more good stuff!
Andrew Bird is a Chicago singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who plays primarily violin and guitar. Trained in the Suzuki method from the age of four, Bird steps up to many instruments (including piano, mandolin, and glockenspiel) with equal aplomb. He whistles like a bird in a Disney cartoon, and has a consistently smooth voice that often warbles up to falsetto without ever playing as parody. His lyrics are densely packed with allusions and alliteration, though the meaning is sometimes hard to muster. He initially gained commercial exposure playing the violin with jazzy swing band, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, and then took on the role of ringleader of his own Bowl of Fire. When that band unnofficially disbanded in 2003, Bird continued to evolve as a solo artist, starting with the mellow and atmospheric album Weather Systems. Here's a cool video for a song off of that album, called "Lull":
The next album, The Mysterious Production of Eggs continued a progression to a more indie-folk sound, trading in lush arrangements played by a backup band for layered samples using a loop pedal. Here he plays a song off of that album called "A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left", and although you can't see his foot on the pedal, he is looping each little riff he plays so it repeats under the next one:
His next album, Armchair Apocrypha, was recorded in collaboration with electronic musician Martin Dosh, and includes a track composed by Dosh (with lyrics by Bird) entitled "Simple X". It was also for a song from this album that he has made his only official music video, for "Imitosis":
The newest Andrew Bird album is called Noble Beast, and we think it's awesome, particularly this song:
If you like Andrew Bird, check out his website here for more good stuff including a clip from an upcoming claymation music video!
In 51 days (that's July 4th weekend, for those of you not yet counting down), the Nateva Music and Camping Festival is coming to rock Oxford, Maine and everybody in it! With a lineup headlined by Further, moe., and the Flaming Lips, there is something for everybody who likes music, Maine, and outdoor dancing! Tickets are on sale here for the weekend, with a limited number of tickets for the 4th only (headlined by Further) also available. If you have little ones, keep in mind that kids under 10 are free with a paying adult, and there is a "family camping" area that you can park your tent in if you make arrangements ahead of time, so yee haw!
Further is the current incarnation of the Grateful Dead sans Jerry, led by both Bob Weir and Phil Lesh. According to the website, "fans can expect Lesh & Weir to push the musical envelope with jaw-dropping improvisations and loving renditions of Grateful Dead classics, with an all star band that includes keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and percussionist Jay Lane (RatDog), drummer Joe Russo (Benevento – Russo Duo, Trey Anastasio), and guitarist John Kadlecik (Dark Star Orchestra)." All this with fireworks above it is going to make for a truly magical evening. A friend posited this question: Will Bob Weir be wearing his classic look, the cut off jean shorts? You won't know if you aren't there!
The Flaming Lips are known for their spacey lyrics, lush psychedelic arrangements, and wild theatrical live shows. They are awesome, weird, and lead singer Wayne Coyne walks the walk; he also has a habit of rolling across the top of the crowd at their concerts in a giant inflatable hamster ball. We can't wait to see what they come up with for Nateva!
Moe is the bartender of Moe's Tavern in Springfield. Will he be at Nateva? Maybe, but hopefully not.
moe. is a jamtastic rock band with a short name and long grooving songs. They put on a killer live show, and we are super psyched to rock out when they bring it on the first official night of the festival!
Whether you're tired of the music you always listen to or want to add some variety to your next mixtape, discovering a new band that you really dig is always an awesome feeling! The internet is a perfect place to find pretty much anything, but if you don't know what you are looking for you can get lost for hours. So, here below are several cool and convenient ways to find new tunes!
Tune Glue is a user-friendly "music map", in which you type the name of an artist you enjoy, and it suggests six more based on that. You can keep clicking away and it will reccommend more and more bands. Some band names allow you to click on them for a small bio, but in general once you see a name that strikes your fancy, you have to seek it out yourself (see below for the best ways to do that).
A couple of other sites that work using the same concept (recommendations of artists similar to those you already like) are Music Map, Bloson, and Music Roamer.
Say you are wanting to branch out from your usual tastes, however, and aren't seeking music similar to that you already listen to. Music blogs are a great place to find bands and even genres you had no idea existed. The Hype Machine searches music blogs for the best in music reviews and blog posts that contain mp3 files to stream or download. Music on the Hype Machine can be browsed in many different ways. One way that this blogger likes to use it is typing in a band I like, and seeing what else the bloggers that have mentioned that band have going on on their page. These tunes are usually not sonically similar, but sometimes rock in their own way! Try it; you'll like it!
There are also cool blogs like One Track Mind that make it easy for bands to share their tunes by submitting them for review to the site. Each song is accompanied by a blog post about the artist, and you can also download the mp3 for free, and rate the song. The ratings are reflected in three criteria: originality, repeat listen potential and overall verdict.
Once you've found some new music that you think you might like, ifyou weren't able to listen to it during your search there are several options available to you. You can listen to clips of most songs on Amazon, return to the Hype Machine and seek it out there, go to the artists' websites, or use Lala. I personally think Lala is the coolest musical internet thing ever! You can listen to any song once for free (and they have quite a large selection), and then there are really low prices if you want to buy songs or albums in mp3 or CD form. The only downside is that you do have to register to use Lala, but it is quick and relatively painless (no credit card information or address needed).
Now get out there and find some new music to love!
The EasyStar All-Stars are a reggae collective with a rotating cast of singers and musicians from New York's reggae, ska, jazz, and dub scene. Using their musical skills and reggae roots, they transform (already good) popular albums into something a little more dub. Their first album, Dub Side of the Moon, was a reggae re-imagining of Pink Floyd's classic album. Not just a remake, the All-Stars' version stands on its own as the rare homage worthy of the album it reflects. Here is their version of the song "Money"(just audio):
The next album they made was "Radiodread", a reggae take on various Radiohead songs, adding a new element of fun and danceability to some awesomely dour tunes. Here, their take on "No Surprises" from OK Computer:
The most recent Easy Star All-Stars project takes on the Fab Four with their Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band. They play with a bunch of friends on this one who are pretty well known in their own right. Here, their "Getting Better" with The Mighty Diamonds:
Listening to the Easy Dub All-Stars is a new and fun way to rock out to your favorite songs, and their live shows are ridiculously fun. Look here for tour dates and at their website for more info, merchandise, and videos!
We had to pick two winners, because we think both of these bands are awesome. Actually, we really dug all of your suggestions (except we aren't sure who this "Grateful Dead" band is), and are bummed that we can't carry all of their merchandise.
Winner number one, with an overwhelming majority vote:
Enter the Haggis! This Toronto Celtic rock band brings it like no other, with energetic performances and a unique sound that is ridiculously fun to dance to. Check out the video below if you haven't seen them yet:
Check out their web page where you can listen to more tunes and stay up-to-date on their touring schedule. It looks like the closest they are coming to us Mexicali Mainers in the near future is Lowell, Mass on April 8. It's only $10 and could be a fun road trip!
We really hope you have heard Wilco! A Chicago band formed in 1994, they create awesome rock that is sometimes slightly country-fried, but in a good way. Check out Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, one of their best albums in a catalogue of solid goodness. Here's a cool music video where they are jumping out of an airplane! Also, their website will provide you with lots of photos, tour dates, and information; so check it out if you dig what they do!
Honorable mentions go to Jack Johnson and Michael Franti & Spearhead. These guys are great at making music and also have awesome and admirable takes on the world and how to make a difference in it. As in 2008, Jack Johnson will donate 100% of his tour profits to charity. He also contributed to the Best of Bonnaroo album at Music for Action, an organization dedicated to passing a new Climate bill (read about it further down this here!). You can visit his website here.
The music of Michael Franti & Spearhead is indisputably inspiring, without ever being schmaltzy. His lyrics are able to lift you up even when he is singing something sad, and the rhythms and tunes themselves add a whole other element of joyfulness and soul. Here's his website.
We love all these bands/musicians, and we also love you for voting for your favorites! Keep your eyes peeled for Enter the Haggis and Wilco merchandise arriving in our stores and on the web soon!
Mexicali Blues is a Maine-based company that since 1988 has offered an original line of Mexicali clothing, one of a kind jewelry, and handmade giftware. By traveling to distant countries such as Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador, India, Nepal, Thailand and Indonesia, the Mexicali crew responsibly searches out the finest variety of unique items. By directly importing and avoiding catalog suppliers, Mexicali Blues can directly pass along the savings on quality merchandise at an affordable price.
