Don't Ever Stop This Train

John Mayer is one of the best musicians of this generation with his guitar excellence and beautiful song writing. About a week ago I watched his "Where the Light Is" concert on DVD.

The concert had 3 parts:

Acoustic John Mayer
"John Mayer opening up for The John Mayer Trio"
This is the way I like music the most: sincere, simple and stripped-down. The first two songs he played (Neon, Stop This Train) are two of my favorite John Mayer songs: Neon for the guitar, Stop This Train for the songwriting. He also played a cover of Tom Petty's Freefallin', Daughters and a song I hadn't heard before called In Your Atmosphere.

John Mayer Trio
Whenever Try! was released, I realized that John Mayer was a serious and studious musician. Mayer didn't team up with just anyone; he teamed up with jazz legends Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino. This set was artfully done, starting with Every Day I Have the Blues. This 8 song modern jazz set was infused with so many solos, I almost forgot that this was the same guy who had just played the acoustic set.

John Mayer Band
This is the John Mayer I learned to love back in high school. I'm a sucker for pop. Good pop, that is. Mayer had a full stage of accompanying musicians, complete with horns, for this set 9 song set of Mayer standards like Why Georgia, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, Waiting on the World to Change and Belief.

The best part about this concert was that it seemed like it was never going to end.

Bonnaroo Hating

I've been reading up on a lot of message boards for any leaks or inside information on 2010 Bonnaroo. What bands have summer tours? Which ones are likely to play 'Roo? Are they going to grab some unlikely headliners?

What I found was not secret information, but the open hyped-up hate towards Kings of Leon.

Man, are some people angry about them. I understand that their most recent album Only by the Night "Sex on Fire"... yeah, yeah.... is more finely produced than their previous records, but it still possesses the same gritty rock and roll they've always had. I remember my first year at Bonnaroo in 2004 waiting for Saturday's music to start up at 12:30 in "That Tent." Who was I going to see? This new, young southern rock band from Tennessee named Kings of Leon.

The music started and people, previously passed out in the vast expanses of grass, started waking up to find the music. And that's when the people of Bonnaroo found Kings of Leon.

After seeing that show as well as one in 2008, no matter how many records are sold, how many fans there are, how produced they sound, Kings of Leon has it.

Kings of Convenience

While on Pitch Fork checking out the latest music news, I came across a headline about Kings of Convenience. More specifically: about their Asian tour. I thought, Sweet. Asia. They've obviously got to come to Bangkok. So I went to their website, almost shaking at the possibility of live... Western... music, specifically Kings of Convenience.



And to my dismay, although they're going North (Korea, Japan) and South (Malaysia, Philippines), they're completely overpassing Bangkok. It almost makes me want to redirect my post-teaching travel. Almost.

MGMT

Nominated for two 2010 Grammys, including best new artists, MGMT is a duo that I can't get enough of. Their style and digital sound is completely original, without cluttering their music with too much "electronica." Their next album, Congratulations, is due out this spring. The Bonnaroo lineup hasn't been announced yet, but I'm crossing my fingers that they'll be there.

And Here's to Christmas Cheer!

My top three favorite Christmas songs:

1. The Christmas Song
Quite possibly the best description of Christmas spirit. Always best if sung by Nat King Cole.


2. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
One of the songs playing at every department store during the Christmas season.


3. Baby It's Cold Outside
Though the lyrics are a bit (okay, mega) creepy, it's a great duet. And it always reminds me of Elf.

Brothers McCann

Brothers McCann released their first album on iTunes. The album is soulful with groove and pop undertones. Simply stated: It makes you want to get up and dance.

Brothers McCann is a five person band, of which two are brothers (Pat and Mike). I've stayed updated on their musical journey through Facebook and, since I've been away at college and away in Thailand, I can't wait to get home and catch a live show. Check out a track for yourself through...

1. Their website: http://www.brothersmccann.com/
2. iTunes
3. YouTube

Or just listen to the track I selected below.

Word up to Franklin, Mass!



And if you're a Ray LaMontagne fan at all, here's a nice cover of "Shelter"...

The Song and The Album

Music: The gift that keeps on giving...

Okay, that saying can be true for so many things. But today we're going to assume it was made for music.

I've felt so out of the loop on music for the last several months- that is, until my Dad came to visit and gave me all of the new music he's purchased since I've been in Thailand. Magical, I tell you.

Of many album options, I gave my first listen to my oldest and most loved band: Wilco. As Wilco has matured in their musical creativity, they've moved away from the gritty, southern-pop (Being There, A.M.) and towards refined, well-produced studio albums (A Ghost Is Born, Sky Blue Sky). Growing old with a band is enjoyable, being able to hear all the directions their music has gone. But sometimes, I just love the "original material." And that is exactly why I love the track Wilco (The Song) from Wilco (The Album). It's comical, up-beat and, if the name doesn't say it all, Wilco.

Enjoy the camel!