The brightest spot of 2011′s music for me was that I could’ve happily watched handsomely crafted live videos and downloaded radio sessions and bootleg recordings all year and never reached for an actual record. It’s both a tribute to modern technology and a sign that we have a welcome surplus of quality videographers and engineers. Hopefully they keep it up. Here are six essentials. Read the rest of this entry »
If you missed Ryan Adams on tour this year (I saw him three times, four counting the Bob Mould tribute — not a humblebrag, just a regular one), this is a pretty great document of his 2011 setlist/magnificent performances/A+ banter. If you like acoustic guitars and can watch this set without heading directly to the record store to buy the man’s back catalog, you’re probably reading the wrong blog. Ryan Adams, performer of the year? I think so.
Here’s Ryan Adams playing one of the better songs from this year’s Ashes & Fire, showcasing once again that this has been the best year in DRA performance history. Here’s my review of the show; look for the full session on KCRW tomorrow.
In which High Highs continue to remind me of Radiohead (this time, “These Are My Twisted Words”) and continue to be terrific. This is from the group’s SXSW 2011-closing set at the Velveeta Room during the festival’s final moments earlier this year. The group’s debut EP is out now on Small Plates.
DRA and a number of rock heroes (Britt Daniel, Craig and Tad from the Hold Steady, No Age, Jon Wurster, Dave Grohl, etc.) paid tribute to Bob Mould (Sugar, Husker Du) last night at Disney Hall, and it was as great as you would hope. I’ll spare you a full review since I’m frankly oblivious to most of the Mould catalog (the fiancee brought me along), but here’s Ryan sounding as spectacular as ever on “Heartbreak a Stranger.” That voice! (Via Stereogum)
