Lowland Hum - Austin Sessions

July 22, 2013 / JG

It's rare when I feel like I've found good music. A lot of my friends listen to a lot more of it than I do. A lot of good music. They're usually the ones who enlighten me. That's how I found originally found out about bands like Pond, Radiohead, Lymbyc Systym, Grizzly Bear… You get the idea. Sooo…less than a year ago, I discovered the All Songs Considered podcast hosted by Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton. This was a defining moment in my musical development as an aging 30-something. *COUGH-36!-COUGH* It's not that good music is hard to find. It's finding the time to find good music. NPR's podcast has given me a way to get a spectrum of styles and tastes that I normally would never go for, much less give them a chance. Thanks to this little podcast I've found bands like alt-J, Tame Impala, Woods, Low, and Small Multiples. Is this an NPR plug? Newp. Regardless, here I sit singing praise. I have a point. I am going somewhere with this. Just pick up the bread crumbs. Mk?

Recently I was listening to an All Songs episode and one band really stuck out. Lowland Hum was introduced as a husband and wife duo from North Carolina. The song I heard was called War Is Over. Listen. Full disclosure. I'm not a writer nor do I know how to review music. That being said…the song was fucking great. Daniel Levi Goans and Lauren Plank Goans have the most amazing voices and harmonies that intertwine beautifully. I'm not gonna try to put their music into a specific category. Just give them a listen. You won't regret it.

Their upcoming album Native Air, releases in early August and was recorded in Daniels' parent's house in Greensboro. Why not in a studio? Well, maybe because the album was made possible by funding from a Kickstarter campaign. They asked for $12K and they got $12K. God Bless Amerka. While collaborating on Daniel's previous solo album BrotherStranger the two fell in love. A year later they were married and restructuring their musical style to fit their new life. Let me tell you people. They found a style, and it's sounds gorgeous. I've found them on Facebook, Twitter, and I've even had conversations with their manager via Gmail asking when they'll be coming to Austin. (Hopefully this fall) I've checked out some of their other songs on their YouTube channel , preordered their album on iTunes and so far I've liked everything I've heard. I can't wait. With some luck, maybe I'll be posting a follow-up blog this fall gushing about how I saw them at Cactus Cafe or Lucky Lounge. We'll see.

-J

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With Friends Like These - Austin Sessions

May 19, 2013 / JG

When I started Austin Sessions I wanted to capture each episode visually to compliment the audio. I knew I wanted great photography that would enhance my posts and give my guests something they could always go back to. As luck would have it, I have several friends who are fantastic photographers. Of these friends, the Moore brothers have stepped up to help me get this project off the ground.

Casey Moore and I have know each other since we were kids growing up in San Marcos just south of Austin. Incidentally, in 1989, the original Gameboy was released. Considering I didn't have one and he did, I knew we would likely be good friends. We've since been in a band together, been roommates, been each other's Best Man, and most importantly stayed friends for almost 20 years. Last year Casey and his wife Marissa had their first child, Caden.

By proximity, Taylor Moore acquired his older brother's friends. I've know him just as long as Casey. Aside from playing the guitar, bass, and piano, he's an amazing photographer. He currently installs and programs high-end home theater systems all around the U.S. Taylor recently got engaged to his girlfriend Jacqui and is currently working on a new photography website.

(512) Brewery Anniversary with Korey & Meg

I'm extremely lucky to have such artistic friends who are generous with their time. I know everyone is busy and time is a precious commodity. I'm thankful that I've got people like these in my life. Cue the Wonder Years theme song.

-J

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Charles Bradley - Austin Sessions

May 04, 2013 / JG

When Gabriel Roth, co-founder of Daptone Records first saw Charles Bradley, he was performing as a James Brown impersonator in a band called Black Velvet. Roth set Bradley up with a band, had him write some lyrics (on the spot), and they cut some songs to vinyl. In 2011, almost ten years later, Bradley's debut album No Time For Dreaming was released. Fast forward to 2012 and his documentary, Soul of America, debuted in Austin at the SXSW film festival.

When I first saw him , it was on a video on my cousin's iPhone during SXSW this past March. After performing, he walked out into the crowd giving out hugs and handshakes. Bradley was covered in sweat, smiling ear to ear, and beaming with gratitude. Hearing about the show and its energy doesn't even come close to understanding the magnitude of the experience.

I was lucky enough to catch his show at Antones recently and there is no way I could write a description of the experience to do him justice but…here goes. His band, the Extraordinaires, warmed the crowd up with two songs before he even took the stage. If you closed your eyes you'd think you were in a small club in Detroit in the early sixties. Bradley was introduced, he hit the stage, and people lost their shit. He was at 100% the entire show. With moves he learned from studying James Brown, he crushed the crowd. It wasn't even fair. It was like going back in a Motown time machine. The audience had an idea of what to expect, but no amount of preparation would've been sufficient for what was happening.

What was it like? Imagine being back in the day when James Brown was in his prime. The show was what I can only imagine it was like. Look. Honestly I could go on and on without ever coming close to describing the vibe of what I saw that night. If I had to sum it up in a statement, it would be this: I felt like I was in on a secret meeting, experiencing history in the making. Even that statement, I feel, falls incredible short. Que sera, sera.

Last month Bradley released his second album Victim of Love and is currently on a world tour. He's on iTunes and Spotify so there are no excuses people. If you have listened to him previously or are just now discovering this spectacular gem, please let me know about your experience by commenting below.

-J

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