Deltachord

Previously, I had written a few posts about the Merseybeat and promised more so here it is. It sprang from Liverpool, England—a musical sound of the early sixties that mixed skiffle, rock n’ roll, and rhythm and blues together. This style changed popular music forever and even the alternative sounds of today wouldn’t be what they are without it. Albeit, there have been other innovations since then that have contributed to today’s sounds. Still, the Merseybeat overwhelmingly affected popular music and continues to influence it today.

Bob Wooler had a lot to do with the Mersey sound spreading around and getting out to the rest of the world. Wooler was the DJ at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. He announced and introduced all of the live bands at the club and played records between acts. The place where he purchased his records was N.E.M.S., which stands for North End Music Stores. Brian Epstein owned N.E.M.S.; he became the manager of The Beatles.

The music scene in Liverpool exploded during the years of 1958 to 1964. More than four hundred groups played at the clubs and dance halls during the early sixties. Two of the bands that of the Merseybeat that became famous are Gerry and the Pacemakers and The Searchers.

There was a publication that also contributed to the publicizing of the Merseybeat sound and about other musicians that came to Liverpool. Bill Harry started the paper; he was a friend of John Lennon; they both went to Liverpool Art College. Brian Epstein wrote for the paper about new records that he offered at his music store.

Next: Skiffle Explained

If you haven’t heard Duffy listen to her at YouTube. “Mercy” from her album Rockferry (2008) is pure soul and her band rocks too. She was born in Gwynedd, Wales in 1984 and she is a singer/songwriter. Her genres are rock n’ roll, pop, and soul. Apparently, there has been some criticism of her singing a soul sound because she isn’t black, but hey she sounds good and she isn’t the first, remember Janis Joplin??? Even B.B. King said she had soul so give it a rest.

Duffy

What is it about the blues that can make a person happy? That’s a contradiction, isn’t it? Actually, not to everyone, many people say the blues are a positive inspiration that lifts you up. They say sharing the feeling with others is the key. You know you’re not alone and you feel connected to other people that relate to your mood, which makes you feel better.

Another reason the blues can make you happy is because of the versatility of the blues. Say what? Well, blues are akin to jazz, gospel, and rock. You see, there’s a concrete link between jazz and blues in the 12 bar blues pattern in songs like “The Sidewinder,” by Lee Morgan, “Blackjack,” by Donald Byrd, or “Cantaloupe Island,” and “Watermelon Man,” by Herbie Hancock.

Many jazz songs have incorporate blues riffs and a blues overtone. Okay, what about the happy thing? Here goes, jazz sounds happy. The rhythms are snappy. There’s a joyful feeling to many jazz tunes, and it was birthed from the blues.

The whole 12 bar blues pattern is also inherent in rock. Rock had the same mother that jazz had. You think of Buddy Holly and bingo, a lot of happy songs in his discography. The bright, cheerful music and lyrics of The Beach Boys comes to mind. Weird Al Yancovich turned many songs inside out with his funny innovations of familiar rock tunes.

Okay. Okay. What next you ask? Gospel, that direct link thing is hot here because the blues came from gospel music. They go hand in hand. Gospel music is inspiring spiritually and that is a great way to feel happiness. It puts a smile on your face.

In defense of a direct attack of the idea that is posited in this article—a look at some blues songs that are comical or have a happy subject is required.

A case-in-point is “Oreo Cookie Blues” by Lonnie Mack and Stevie Ray Vaughn. This is a funny song about where the songs persona keeps Oreo cookies to have them on hand at all times and the glove compartment of his car holds his emergency stash of Oreos.

Another funny blues song is “There Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens.” This song is about how someone is making a lot of noise and the chickens are trying to sleep because they have a lot of work to do the next day. It also talks about the chicken farmers comical point of view—talking about which basket to put your eggs in.

We’ll look further into this subject another time. Until then, Happy Trails…

Listen to Oreo Cookie Blues at: http://www.mystrands.com/

Watch Patti LuPone performing There Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens

At YouTube

Low Vs Diamond is an alternative, rock, pop band that exhibits a new wave sound in the song “Life After Love.” Field’s voice powers out angst, yet singing spaced lilting notes that weep in “I’ll Be.” The opening has a Pink Floyd quality and the music builds to a rockin’ pace.

The keyboards take the fore in “Stay Awake” during the opening which builds to a full sound with guitar and drums adding heavy emphasis, and the song flows effortlessly in and out of this pattern, then ends with a strong flourish. In “This Is Your Life” the cymbals flash and the tapping high-hat sounds cool, while the keyboards soar high notes like a flute, and the guitar rages just enough coming to a bombastic end.

They’ve already released an EP called “Life After Love” on the Marrakesh label. The band sounds like Roxy, Bowie, Pink Floyd, and XTC mixed in a blender with their own creative style commanding the notes, chords, melodies, and beat into a fresh musical mosaic.

They have a debut album happening this spring. The lead vocalist, Lucas Field, has an eclectic taste in music and enjoys melodrama, and writes insightful lyrics about the melancholy emotions, while never divorcing hopefulness and optimism. Low Vs Diamond creates an atmosphere of dark musical fiction, combining it with the airy melodies that exude light.

The band members are Lucas Field, lead vocals/guitar, Anthony Polcino, guitar, Jon Pancoast, bass, Tad Moore, keyboards, and Howie Diamond, drums. The band formed back in 2002, while Field, Diamond, and Moore attended the University of Colorado and played in a jam band. They now call Los Angeles their home.

Hear Low Vs Diamond at MySpace see their gig schedule for March 2008.

MySpace

Rhapsody

References:

MySpace

Ariel

If you like pop tunes with a good beat and catchy lyrics try the music of Jag Star…

Jag Star formed in 1998 rocked out of Knoxville, TN., until recently when they moved to Nashville to be involved in the songwriting atmosphere. Their genres are pop, rock, alternative, and indie. They have toured 15 countries besides the U.S. and have played for our troops several times.

Sarah has won several awards for songwriting.

She won the USA Songwriting Competition for overall winner in 2002 and 2006. In the 2001 John Lennon Songwriting Competition she was runner up and she won the 2007 Next Big Hit Competition, which inspired iTunes to give Jag Star a week’s feature spot.

The band recorded “A Different Road” for the MTV show Newport Harbor, which was featured December 12, 2007.

On to some of their poppin’ tunes…The chiming cymbals in the song “Something Different” sound great and the guitar is driving on the down-stroke. Sarah reminds me of Lisa Lobe. The guitar drives a little harder in “Does Anybody Know” and the drumbeat is a bit more prominent. The opening guitar riff is nice.”Ridiculous” is a jumpin’ tune. “Disguise” opens with a spoken line and then a keyboard riff; it’s a more dramatic song than the others mentioned.

Band Members:
Sarah Lewis the singer/songwriter/keys
Just J on guitars
Brad Williams on drums
Drew Gilch on bass
Jay Daniel on bass

Jag Star’s influences are Garbage, Imogen Heap, No Doubt, Maroon 5, and The Killers.

Hear Jag star at CD Baby or their MySpace page

Discography
The Beginning Release Date 2000
Crazy Place release Date 2001
Cinematic Release Date 2004
The Best Impression Of Insanity 2006

Upcoming Shows
Mar 7 2008 8:00P
Norfolk Marriott Waterside Norfolk, Virginia
Mar 29 2008 7:00P
FT. BENNING COLUMBUS, Georgia
Apr 23 2008 8:00P
Eastern KY University RICHMOND, Kentucky

Website: Jagstar
MySpace: Jagstar

Crowded House is back–the lineup Neil Finn, Nick Seymour Mark Hart, and Matt Sherrod. Great hooks, strong drummer, melodious ballads, and deeper content.

It has been fourteen years since we last heard from them, but Time On Earth is worth the wait. The album is melancholy, understandable with the passing of Paul Hester in 2005, yet it is “Thoughtful, warm, and endlessly hummable even in its moodiest moments, Time On Earth is a sweet epitaph.” –says Liam Gowing in his review for The Onion (A.V. Club)

Nobody Wants To is imbued with senstive harmony–spots of crying guitar and nice acoustic guitar. Don’t Stop Now is pulsed by solid drumming and the song has a great building of emotion effect. Silent House rocks with fuzz guitar and harmony and musical impact.

English Trees…well, just listen to it and you’ll hear the sound of the music of a gondola ride and The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour and Sgt. Peppers.

She Called Up is more like the old Crowded House in its sound.

This album is an expression of mourning for the death of Paul Hester by his good friend Neil Finn, that said, it is a great musical accomplishment and what is creativity about if the artist can’t express his feelings in the tradition of the Romantic Poets, who weren’t afraid of the sombre emotions.

References:
last.fm
Crowded House: Time on Earth
July 19, 2007

The Onion (A.V. Club)
Crowded House
Time On Earth
July 17, 2007
Liam Gowing

Latimes.com
calendarlive.com
RECORD RACK
Crowded House reunites in grief
– and joy
July 8, 2007
Randy Lewis

Hear Crowded House at:

Rhapsody

The Sea Dragons are the brain child of Darryl Thurston–his creativity and musical influences power the band’s sound. He grew up listening to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Three Dog Night and other 60’s artist. His Aunt was a backup singer and he met many musicians through her and she clued him in concerning new music.

Thurston was born in Philadelphia. He started playing drums at age nine and guitar at 14. He is also a singer and songwriter. A few years later, he moved to Tennessee, which is a land of music itself, where he began playing in cover bands, emulating Jimmy Page and David Gilmour. Then he moved to New York, to sharpen his musical edge in another, different music scene.

There he and his band, Band of Thieves, played the important clubs like Limelight and Cat Club. His other musical milestones range from being on the cover of “Metal Studs,” to working as a sessions artist for influential studios, so that his work has been heard on HBO, Showtime, Cine-max, and ESPN.

The other members of The Sea Dragons are Rob Ritchie on bass and Justin Greville on drums.

Thurston is also a video editor, painter, and amateur astronomer. “Power Trip” which he edited won an award.

Fall Into You is an acoustic based song with a good backbeat. Drown is reminiscent of a Beatles sitar opening, quickly going to a more power driven style, with metal guitar hero moments, rockin’ drums, and good harmony. Stop Draggin’ Me Down has some nice echo twangy guitar licks, followed by harder guitar, bass, and drums, with good vocals. Come September is a mid-sixties like song in lyrics and sound. It is a wonderful, rocky, harmonized song with fuzz guitar.

So listen to this group and enjoy.

Hear The Sea Dragons at:
http://cdbaby.com/