#WhatchaListeningTo Wednesday

Here's what I'm listening to on this final week of my summer job (Can't be too excited, yet - the school year is right around the corner!)

• The Killers - Runaways - I saw them perform live a few years ago, and it was a very fun show - Brandon Flowers is a huge talent.
• Florence and the Machine - Spectrum - "Say my name/ as every colour illuminates/ we are shining/ and we'll never be afraid again"
• Needtobreathe - Hurricane - The band came to the Radio 92.9 Boch Studio 2 years ago - I'm a little late to this song, apparently, but I love it.
• Sara Bareilles - One Sweet Love - Simply a sweet, sweet love song. It got me.
• Peter Bjorn and John - Nothing To Worry About - A quirky song that I can't stop listening to. 

So, #whatchalisteningto?

In Concert: The Grownup Noise

On Friday, August 10, Boston-based indie-pop group The Grownup Noise brought their music back to town at Club Passim, and certainly did not disappoint.

They opened with "Just So You Know", one of my favorite songs off of their 2007 debut album. They then delved into their 2011 LP, This Time With Feeling.  Looking around the room, there were certainly more than a few family members and friends of the band - lots of local support!  

The Grownup Noise is made up of vocal and musical stylings of  Paul Hansen (vocals, guitar, keys), Adam Sankowski (bass, keys, vocals), Rachel Arnold (cello, vocals), Aine Fujioka (drums, vocals), and Todd Marsten (accordion, keys).  That's right, kids, accordion AND cello.  How often do you see that? 

I was so happy when they played a Nick Drake cover - "Northern Sky". Such a beautiful song, and Paul's voice and the band's harmonies really did this song justice.  Paul mentioned a desire to have a Nick Drake Tribute Show at Club Passim - how great would that be?

The sound at Club Passim was really great (my first time there - go early for dinner from Veggie Planet!) and I was able to hear every lyric, which was important since their songwriting talents match their instrumental abilities.  

Another favorite song that they played was "Outside" - "You're breaking in but you're bringing the sunshine with you/ You're breaking in but you're bringing the outside, too."  Also, their song "Carnival" was a crowd favorite - this video put up by PopMatters really encompasses the atmosphere at a Grownup Noise show (and Katie is in it, too, on keyboard!).  

Check The Grownup Noise out on Facebook and Twitter to see when they will be performing at a venue near you -- it's definitely a band worth putting on your concert-seeing radar or online-music-listening-radar.  If you get to see 'em, tell Adam that Joanna sent you!

#WhatchaListeningTo Wednesday

Here's what I'm listening to this week:

• The Tallest Man On Earth - 1904 - A bit Bob Dylan-esque, voice-wise, to me.  "Sometimes noise is just your mind..."
• The Grownup Noise - Carnival - Paul's voice is so smooth - I love how it mixes with the music. Shoutout to my friend Adam on bass!  A blog post is coming about their recent show at Boston's Club Passim. 
• Dispatch - Circles Around the Sun - New music!  I SO want to see them in concert, it's not even funny.
• Youngblood Hawke - We Come Running - Check out the post I wrote about them yesterday!  Also, go to iTunes to get this single for FREE! No dough, yo!
• Mayer Hawthorne - No Strings - Mmm-MMM! Oops, sorry, was that out loud?  I have loved this album for a while now, and when I heard this on the radio the other day, I may have* cheered out loud. Another show I'd love to see!

*may have = actually did

So, #whatchalisteningto?

#MusicMyFriendsGotMeInto: Youngblood Hawke

"Check out this song and let us know what you think," asked friends at Radio 92.9.  What else would a girl with a music blog do?  I clicked on the link:

I'm glad that I did!  If you're a fan of, as Sam from the band calls it, "weird pop," you're in business. Youngblood Hawke is the band for you.

Their first single, "We Come Running," was released today on iTunes, and seems to be jumping the charts quickly!  I started following them on Twitter and couldn't sleep last week, and found myself checking out a live streaming Stickam show where the band was being interviewed by DJRossStar:

DJRossStar on Stickam with Youngblood Hawke

You can hear my call at about the 48 minute mark - thanks for having me on the show, guys!  The band seems very interested in connecting with fans, as is evident on their Twitter page (@YoungbloodHawke) - I can certainly say that fans recognize and appreciate any effort a musician or band puts in to stay connected!  

During the live streaming show, I asked the band who their musical influences have been.  They threw out such names as Electric Light Orchestra, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Tom Petty - any "good, great songs with great hooks."  Some of the names being thrown around for who Youngblood Hawke sounds like have been Fun., The Killers, Walk The Moon, MGMT... what do YOU think?

When asked if a song is ever truly completed, one of the guys commented that "a song is never done - it's done when someone rips it from your hands."

For more information about this band who is sure to hit airwaves near you soon, check out their Facebook page!  If you start to follow them on Twitter, tell 'em that @JoannaB sent ya ;-)

#WhatchaListeningTo Wednesday

Here's what I'm listening to this week:

• Mumford and Sons - I Will Wait - This is their new single, released on local radio yesterday, and I'm loving it.  That banjo really drives this song, and I love that this track is accompanied by video of a birds-eye-view journey down a road.  The video ends with 'Road To Red Rocks' - boy oh boy, do I want to get on the road to Red Rocks one day!
• Guster - Careful - I've gotten to see Guster a few times, and have met them twice.  They've got a fun attitude during their shows and cover some great songs.   And how does Brian Rosenworcel (from my hometown!) still have his hands attached to his body after all these years? Crazy.
• Josh Ritter - Change of Time - "I had a dream last night..."
• Arcade Fire - The Suburbs - This is an incredible album all around, and I was so excited when this album won the Grammy for Album Of the Year in 2011.  A great driving album.
• James Morrison - Wonderful World - Beautiful song, and I love the Ray Lamontagne-ness that his voice has.  Yes, that's right, I just made up a word. "Well I thought that I was doing well/ But I just want to cry now/ Well I know that it's a wonderful world/ From the sky down to the sea/ But I can only see it when you're here, here with me..."

So, #WhatchaListeningTo?

#HearThisNow - John Butler Trio, "Ocean"

I have slowly gotten to know John Butler Trio's music, and this song has apparently been off my radar - until now.  

I am very glad to have heard it.  My brain feels a bit better, musically-speaking.  It was a trying day for me, and I definitely needed this song.  I couldn't help but get caught up in its ebbs and flows.  Beautiful.  Thank you, @JohnButlerTrio.

Turn off your TV, mute your IMs, put your texts aside, 

and

just

listen.

Bonus: you can download it here. 

Update! He read it!  It's the little things in life, people.  Thanks so much for reading, John/trio!

#WhatchaListeningTo Wednesdays

Here's what I'm listening to this week, as we are moving into the first week of August (where'd the summer go?):

• The Avett Brothers - Live And Die - Their new song was featured on NPR's Summer Music Preview back in June, and their new album is to be released in September. I just heard this song for the first time this week and it's making me excited to hear more new songs.  Also, who doesn't love NPR? 
• Amos Lee - Flower - I was lucky to be at a meet-and-greet with Amos in April 2011 and then see him perform at the Wilbur Theater and he played this song, of course. It wasn't so much of a 'meet-and-greet' as it was a 'sit-and-look'... but that's a different story altogether.  Also, the artist within me loves the video. "I know there's darkness before the dawn/ Tomorrow's comin' and yesterday's gone..." 
• Punch Brothers - Movement and Location - A new-ish band to me, looking forward to checking out more from them...
• Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction - my mom was really excited when this came on the SiriusXM station she had on this past weekend when I was visiting - both of my parents started to reminisce/talk about music.
• Gomez - See The World - cool video, and this is a band that I've been wanting to see for a while, and just keep missing every time they're in the area. "Day to day/ Where do you want to be?"

So, #whatchalisteningto?