Tomorrow is June 5th, which is a great day to shell out some funds to the artists and labels of your choosing. It's kind of like Record Store Day, except you don't have to wait in line, and the choices are much better (and cheaper), so it really is a win-win situation. You get new music, and the musicians and labels get some money, either to help them survive these economically unstable times (and when are times not economically unstable for artists?) or for them to donate to some just causes, as outlined in some of the previous posts. Both from Facebook and from e-mails I've gotten over the last couple of weeks (you know, the ones sent through Bandcamp from pages where you have already purchased music), I notice that a lot of bands and labels will be releasing new music to coincide with the fee-waiver day. I can't wait to purchase The Tiger Lillies' second (!) album about Covid-19. I also have a whole list of other music I want to support as well.
I'm not sure if I'll continue these daily posts after tomorrow. This has all been stream-of-consciousness and train-of-thought, but I feel that I have posted enough links to keep myself (and anybody who is reading this) busy for awhile. I would like to continue posting, but it may become more sporadic. I'm starting to forget who I've already written about, and it would be humorous to have to read my own blog so I'm not repeating myself in the future. Not that there is necessarily anything wrong with some repetition, of course.
Okay, here are some more blurbs with links.
If you like bass clarinet, check out local group Edmund Welles, who are a bass clarinet quartet. They throw in some fun cover versions along the way, from the likes of Black Sabbath, Spinal Tap, Sepultura, and Iron Maiden. Brilliant music!
Speaking of local, I don't think I've mentioned Kitka, who are a vocal ensemble that doesn't really sound local at all, given that they sing mostly Eastern European folk songs, sounding more like Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares than some indie band you just saw in a small venue in Oakland. They have been doing this for years now, and produce some amazing music, the kind that you can lose yourself in n the best sort of way. Time just seems to disappear when the waves of vocals harmonies hit the ear.
Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble Bandcamp here.
Kristine Barrett has worked with Kitka, and has released some beautiful albums on her own, including the recent Unvisited Tombs: Mödrar, which uses Barrett's musical exploration into her Swedish ancestry as a springboard for a more general meditation on matrilineal family history and landscape. I'm not sure if there has been a delay in producing the physical version of this, because I'm still waiting for it to appear in my mailbox.
Kristine Barrett Bandcamp here.
Loretta Lynch are a charming alt-country band with deep roots in the East Bay music scene, featuring members of Ramona the Pest, Hoarhound, and The Hanes Family. The deliver music with beautiful harmonies and a sense of fun. Support them!
Odessa Chen is another local singer/songwriter who produces lush, delicate, cinematic pieces of music to lose oneself in.
I first saw Bonfire Madigan (aka Madigan Shive) on my birthday, opening for Penelope Houston on my birthday in Palo Alto ( of all places). She plays cello-driven indie rock with great lyrics.
Bonfire Madigan Bandcamp here.
Noe Venable is another well-respected member of the local scene, and she has lately taken up playing the harp. She has a delicate, almost childlike voice, thoughtful, impactful lyrics, and bunches of well-written songs to wrap your ears around.
Being Italian, Ribess Records aren't local at all, but they do have the most recent LP from one of my favorite local bands, Hazy Loper, who play rough-edged americana with excellent lyrics showing a penchant for history, and most importantly some really memorable songs. Pretty much every one of their releases has been on my list of favorites for the years they were released. Cd Baby used to sell their music, but has since changed their focus and no longer sells music. As for the other bands released by the label, I can't comment, but I'm sure there are some gems in there somewhere. I have some more spelunking to do.
Now we're moving on to some non-local bands and projects...
Disemballerina are a fantastic acoustic doom troupe who produce music of tragic beauty. I have seen them play, and it is a profound experience. Related projects include A Stick And A Stone, Negative Queen, and Ominous Cloud Ensemble. I'll let the music do the talking here, but let it suffice to say that if you like one of them, you're probably going to find something to like in all of them.
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