The music world has lost a legend.
We are all better for having heard and seen him play.
Clarence, you will be missed.
News Coverage: Backstreets.com (the most comprehensive write-up, and probably the best), New York Times, CNN.com, Rolling Stone, L.A. Times, American Songwriter, NJ.com, TMZ.com, MSNBC.com, US Magazine, Asbury Park Press
The Big Man, Clarence Clemons, and Bruce, circa 1974.
My heart is breaking.
News out tonight that Clarence Clemons, the E Street Band member affectionately known as “The Big Man” and Bruce’s right hand man, has suffered a stroke at his home in Florida and is in serious condition.
Bruce and E Street are a huge, huge part of my musical landscape, and I can’t possibly imagine an E Street without Clarence.
Get well soon, Big Man. We need you.
UPDATE Noon, June 13: Backstreets.com is reporting some hopeful news this morning, that Clarence is responsive and “vital signs are improving” since yesterday. Keep up the good thoughts for him!
I’ve been grooving out to this song a ton the past three days. Cincinnati’s Walk the Moon sure can write a sugary little dance ditty – and that’s on top of their awesome name, which just conjures up images of Michael Jackson in the 80s. If you listen to “Anna Sun” and don’t find yourself completely wanting to dance like Sarah Jessica Parker in Girls Just Want to Have Fun, there is something wrong with you.
And really, how great is the line “We’ve got no money but we’ve got heeeaaar-ar-art…?” L-O-V-E this song, kids. And the rest of the record is just as fabulous.
They’re playing at Bonnaroo this week, so I can only imagine that the kiddies will be buzzing about them soon! Be one of the cool kids and beat them to the punch. Burn calories by desk dancing – pick up their album I Want I Want at Bandcamp, iTunes or Amazon.
Kill the Alarm's introspective rock record – a dream come true!
When I went on my first Rock Boat in 2003, I sat down at perhaps the only empty table left in a crowded breakfast room. A very nice fella named Garen was looking for a place to sit and asked if he could join me, since I was solo. I said sure and we had a lovely chat about bands, music, etc. Only when I was getting up to leave did he mention that he was going to play an open mic later, if I wasn’t busy, I should come by. As with all things Rock Boat, I never saw him again on the Boat, but it wasn’t the last time I would ever cross paths with Garen…or at least his music, anyway.
A little research when I got home revealed that Garen was a fairly accomplished musician. He (sometimes with a band, sometimes not) had released a bunch of albums under the name Granian. I managed to get my hands on one and liked it – his voice was freaking HUGE! I had a hard time believing it was the quiet guy I’d had breakfast with!
Then, in 2006, Garen reshaped his band and rebranded himself as “Kill the Alarm.” The band’s debut album followed the next year, Fire Away, had some AMAZING rock tracks on it – the title track and a song called “Sit Up” were my favorites.
So imagine my excitement when I was catching up on band and music news this weekend and realized that Kill the Alarm had put out a new EP called Against the Grain in May. I obviously missed the announcement in all of my work craziness, but … hello, fabulous!
I have to say, this EP is amazing – perhaps even better than Fire Away. It reveals a softer side to the band and showcases Garen’s voice and versatility – absolutely soaring vocals.The writing is absolutely stupendous; it seems very personal, and I LOVE that kind of writing. The soul-and-heart-on-your-sleeve kind of stuff – and yet, Kill the Alarm does it while still retaining their rock sensibility. Fans of the hard driving Fire Away might be a little disappointed with this quieter side, but I hope they’ll give it a chance because it’s really freaking good.
Awesomesauce, actually.
Highly recommend picking this one up as soon as you can get your paws on $4.95. Need a sampler? Get the best tracks (IMHO): “Don’t Run Away” and “Against the Grain.”
Me and Mindy after the San Antonio Rock n' Roll Half-Marathon in November 2009.
Okay, kids. I need your help.
Training for the half-marathon (because I need pre-training training!) has begun in earnest. It’s exactly five months from today, so it’s time to start getting motivated. Of course, it’s hotter than blazes outside and I didn’t go out until 10:30 AM this morning, so after only two miles, I looked like a giant purple beet, but at least I got out there, right?
However, I’m going to need motivation to get through the summer months – did I mention I live in North Carolina and it is rather reminiscent of a sauna in Hell come July and August? Which brings me to my point…musical motivation. I need it. I crave it. I want new stuff.
So, I started piecing together my Summer Running Playlist this morning. Creating a running playlist, like all of my Krissie Mixes, takes forever for me to get right. And I have to have songs that have words – I can’t do all those techno-housey songs that go on forever with just beats. My perfect mix builds up slowly (for pacing purposes), and then gets really rocky and rhythmic in the middle, slows down a bit, and then has a killer finish so I end on a high note. And I’ll admit, I have my favorites that make their way onto every mix – Moby, Luna Halo. And there’s stuff on my running playlists that would probably shock some folks – New Kids on the Block, Pink, totally Top 40 stuff. Hey, if it’s a good running song, it’s a good running song!
But I digress…as of right now, the Summer Running Playlist is only about 45 minutes long, but here’s how we’re looking (and this will be a constantly evolving list!):
1. Probably Nothing – Red Wanting Blue
2. Neon Eyes – Saints of Valory
3. MoneyGrabber – Fitz & The Tantrums (The Gin Mill inspired song! Hear it every time I’m there!)
4. Scale Your Walls – The Enemy Lovers
5. Every Tear Drop Is A Waterfall – Coldplay
6. Shot In the Dark – Augustana
7. Pumped Up Kicks – Foster the People (Shawn Fisher, this is your fault!)
8. Sex U – The Hundred Days (Shelia Taylor recommendation and road tested this morning – awesome to run to!)
9. Animal – Neon Trees
10. Matador – The Soldier Thread
11. Bodyrock – Moby
12. Kings & Queens – Luna Halo
I’d like to get this playlist up to about two hours and twenty minutes worth of serious running music. I’ve got tons, but I need some fresh blood! What are your favorite workout songs? Bring ’em on! Nothing is off limits! Post your recommendations as comments or shoot me an e-mail. Can’t wait to hear what music I should be running to….
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