As Part of the Appalachian Voices Tour supporting Yim Yames.
Review by Halloween Head(the biggest Simone Felice fan I know)
And he didn't play "Nowhere New York"
This was the first time that I've seen Simone solo and as an opening act. I sensed a strong heartfelt connection with parts of the audience but the majority (it seemed) were there for Yim James and the Appalachian Voices. Still, Simone was very warmly received and performed a beautiful (if brief) set that included:
Ol' 55 (he explained how this song had been on his mind lately) If You Ever Get Famous (including a new verse involving a trip to the sea) Summer Morning Rain (dedicated to his daughter born in the rain last week!) New Song (sadly don't recall any lyrics but Simi and another female vocalist helped audience with the singalong chorus) O' Gloria (track off of his solo album dedicated to his "liitle, giant brother, James") Shower The People (by James Taylor, a song dedicated to all of the people who helped him get through his recent health scare) Don't Wake the Scarecrow (this song was played by audience request after Simone was granted permission for one more song : )
I think that was all of them, Simone mingled with the crowd following the set and enjoyed parts of The Appalachian Voices excellent show stageside. The merch table listed his solo album but there were none available by the time I approached (only had Nothing Gold, Arizona, and Amelia). Overall, a great experience!
The Felice Brothers are a fiercesome live proposition. Mad, bad and possibly dangerous to know they’re a band of upstate New Yorkers who have a reputation for ripping the roof off venues with the kind of regularity that most bands reserve for moaning about their effects pedals. If I wanted to get all flowery about it I might say they’re like a bunch of possessed Pogues fanatics with a penchant for making the kind of roots racket that makes you glad to be alive while channelling the spirit of both the Carter and Manson families in the process. That however might be overselling things a little. Let’s just say they’re pretty damn good by anyone’s standards.
I’ve only caught them in the flesh once but it remains one of the maddest gigs I’ve ever witnessed. They were playing in a makeshift tent type thing out the back of a pub at South By South West in Austin, Texas a few years ago when every coke addled journo from every coke addled music magazine was fawning over the band as “the next big thing” in American roots music. As I remember it was elbow to elbow with rayban wearing wasters, rubbing their noses and telling each other that “these Felice guys are the hottest band on the planet right now”. A pretty nightmarish crowd to be trapped in frankly but such was the quality of the brothers performance that I stuck it out right to the end. It was a seriously sweaty gig from start to finish with people literally hanging from the rafters at one point. Admittedly most of them were members of the band but I’m all for a bit of showmanship and stagecraft when the moment calls for it and the noise those guys made was shockingly good despite most of them spending a good part of the evening suspended a couple of feet above the stage. Anyone who listens to my radio show will know I’m a big fan of the band’s first two studio albums, Tonight At The Arizona and The Felice Brothers, and Simone from the band is a good friend (his side project The Duke And The King are equally astonishing and were the highlights of last year’s Open House for me in case you’re interested) but live these guys are something else altogether.
That they’re on a double bill at festival this year with the mighty Wilco only proves how big and proud Open House is getting these days. I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing Jeff Tweedy and co live but I remember buying their debut album Being There like it was yesterday. I was well taken with their ragged arse take on classic Rolling Stones riffery and while it’s been a wild and wondrous ride with the band since then I still find myself going back to that first album to this day.
That’s why you’d be well advised to make sure you don’t miss Wilco and The Felice Brothers at this year’s fest. I’m not sure what the rafters situation is for Custom House Square but I have a feeling the marquee just might not be able to take the strain.
Ralph McLean, BBC Radio Ulster Presenter, Tuesday – Friday, 8 – 10pm, 94.5FM
Saturday ended on an unusual note with The Felice Brothers. Had you asked me who would likely close the festival’s second day, I’d have guessed the preceding performer, Roseanne Cash. Regardless, the Brothers brought their homespun roots-rock to a very receptive audience. Their set featured some of their best known songs from their three wide-release albums, namely “Run Chicken Run,” “Whiskey In My Whiskey,” and “Greatest Show On Earth.” During their signature tune, “Frankie’s Gun!,” leader Ian Felice mixed up some of the lyrics. All was forgiven, of course, and the band pressed on with the crowd’s support right behind them. Though the band has completely nailed the sound of The Band‘s peak days, they have yet to deliver their career-defining material. Still, it’s great to see a young band met with the reception usually reserved for long-established superstars.
As we speak I am on my way home for a visit with my mama. I couldn't be more excited to see her, but going home always gives me feelings of ambivalence.
I think it's pretty common for people to find the place where they grew up both attractive and repulsive. You have fond memories and bad memories, you recapture some moments when you visit, but some are lost forever. This is how I feel about the countryside of upstate New York. The name itself is contentious--what really counts as "upstate," anyway?--but you know when you are what I consider there because of a feeling. It's that small town charm stretched out across the miles in a way that changes it, makes it a little tired. It's the people, perhaps somewhat stereotypical in their practical dress or their gaudy lawn decor, who tend to their children, their livestock, or their other livelihood.
The top five professions of people I know there are 1. State or Federal Correctional Facilities workers (aka prison guards and the like) 2. farmers (mostly dairy), 3. teachers (SUNY schools have excellent education programs) 4. factory workers (toys, trains, chandeliers, or chemicals) and 5. state troopers or border patrol.
I find my childhood home beautiful and sad, but I don't want to objectify these people or this place. It's not a simple portrait to paint. I've found a band of brothers who write songs that feel like home: The Felice Brothers.
The band reminds me of my family--not all technically brothers, or even related--but still a family. There's Jimmy, a big guy with old school accordion licks and the rasping voice to match, and Ian, who sings about poverty and old boxers with a heart-squeezing clarity. There's Christmas, who seems to not want to be noticed on bass and Dave who eagerly keeps time on the drum kit. There's Farley who is big with big hands on a fiddle or washboard, whose gold chains and mic grabbing seem idiosyncratic, but in a fitting way.
They play sad, sad melodies and brawling, stomping ditties. They drink and dance and sometimes call the whole audience up onto the stage. The Catskills aren't so different from the Adirondacks, and I think their music settles my spirit when thinking of home. I'm not their only fan, but I mark myself among the special ones for that.
Please check them out, and I'll say hi to my motha for ya.
From Jambands.com today The Felice Brothers stormed through many hearts during their ’08 iconic gig, when a power-out planted them barefoot in the mud with a drenched audience. “We were in the middle of the worst weather imaginable,” Sweet recollects, “and [the power] goes out right during [The Felice Brothers’] performance, and they just hopped off the stage, rolled up their pants in the middle of the mud and made everybody circle up around them. It was the true spirit of the festival.” After such a performance, odds are fans of the Catskills-goes-New-York-subway-folkers cross fingers for monsoon at this year’s show.
Iconic nice to hear that word associated with them
This is the Aquariam Drunkard's review of their set the day after their 2008 set:
With the mud creeping in and the stage seeming too removed from the crowd, the Felice Brothers opted instead to play on the ground, Simone Felice’s snare and hi-hat literally half-buried in a mud puddle and everyone else stomping around in bare feet and rolled jeans. The brothers (and their good friends Christmas and Farley) played a completely unplugged set that would have hearkened back to Newport’s early days were it not for the frenetic energy and the glorious slop of the entire affair. Simone routinely left his drums, stalking his way through the crowd and inciting everyone to sing along while the fantastically-bearded James Felice convinced half of the girls in the tent to dance with him as he squeezed the hell out of his accordion. Somewhere in the mud and confusion, Ian Felice broke three guitar strings and went hoarse, prompting the small but rabid crowd to shout back the words to “Frankie’s Gun!!” in what was one of the most invigorating performances of the day. .
Review from Backin15minutes blog: When the Felice Brothers opened for the Dave Matthews Band in Toronto only two months back, they must have made some impression. The band, looking much cleaner cut than they sounded, played to a packed and sweaty crowd at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern. The band of brothers and close friends filled the low-ceilinged venue with their high-energy drunken sing-a-longs and tender ballads. Members of the audience, most of which were quite familiar with the Felice Brothers large catalogue happily draped themselves over one another and belted out the lyrics to most of the songs during the 90-minute set. Lead singer and guitarist Ian Felice poured his scraggly and often wobbly voice into every song, but it was really his childhood friend Christmas who shined the brightest. Christmas’ stage presence and performance on both the accordion and keyboard is so genuine and heartfelt that it’s hard to look at the large man without an ear-to-ear smile on your face. While most of the songs the Felice Brothers played were quick paced and filled with hoedown dance opportunities, the band really hit a high point when they slowed things down on songs like the haunting “Saint Peter’s End” and “Katie Dear”. The crowd simply erupted for the band’s biggest hit “Frankie’s Gun” which featured some down and dirty washboard playing by Greg Farley, who was quick to switch between his fiddle, extra percussion and some straight up crazy dancing throughout the entire evening. The crowd barely had the opportunity to catch their breath before the group launched into “Whiskey In My Whiskey” and then “Greatest Show On Earth”. The latter of which had Ian sounding more like Bob Dylan than ever, but nobody seemed to mind
The Felice Brothers hopped off stage for a couple of moments but the cheers from the crowd would not let up. The boys came back out with a few more stompers to sustain the whiskey-induced crowd. “Chicken Wire” had the whole audience stomping their feet before the group closed the show with a choice cover song by Townes Zan Vandt that fit the Brothers’ sound perfectly. Those who attended this stellar performance will surely agree that the Felice Brothers truly earned that coveted opening slot for the Dave Matthews Band. Toronto welcomed the Felice Brothers as their own last night, and I’m sure these up-and-comers will make their way through Canada again soon enough.
The Felice Brothers hit the road again for a final lap around the US and Canada to wrap up 2010. The guys have been hard at work on a new album and will likely drop a few new tunes along with the classic bangers we all love so much. Adam Haworth Stephens of Two Gallants supports on most dates. In addition to these newly announced dates, you can catch the Brothers at their previously announced shows.
Watch for updates and news on Facebook.
Tour Dates
Previously announced: Tue 27-Jul - Toronto, ON - The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Wed 28-Jul - Montreal, ON - Il Motore Fri 30-Jul - Sackville, NB - Sappy Festival Sat 31-Jul - Portland, ME - SPACE Gallery Sun 1-Aug - Newport, RI - Newport Folk Festival Thu 9-Sep - Glasgow, UK - Oran Mor (Sold Out)**** Fri 10-Sep - Belfast, UK - Belfast's Open House Festival Sat 11-Sep - Leeds, UK - TJ's Woodhouse Club **** Sun 12-Sep - Dorset, UK - End of the Road Festival Mon 13-Sep - Bristol, UK - Thekla **** Wed 15-Sep - London, UK - Troxy
Just announced! Tue 10-Aug - New York, NY - Rocks off Cruise** Sat 18-Sep - Bristol, VA - Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion Sun 19-Sep - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge Mon 20-Sep - St Louis, MO - The Old Rock House Wed 22-Sep - Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe Brewing Company Mon 27-Sep - San Diego, CA - Casbah Wed 29-Sep - Los Angeles, CA Echo Mon 4-Oct - Arcata, CA - Humboldt State University *** Tue 5-Oct - Portland, OR - Doug Fir* Wed 6-Oct - Seattle, WA - Tractor * Thu 7-Oct - Vancouver, BC - Media Club * Sat 9-Oct - Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room * Sun 10-Oct - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge * Tue 12-Oct - Omaha, NE - Waiting Room * Wed 13-Oct - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club* Thu 14-Oct - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall * Fri 15-Oct - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle * Sat 16-Oct - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick * Mon 18-Oct - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr Smalls * Tue 19-Oct - Morgantown, WV - 123 Pleasant Street * Thu 21-Oct - York, PA - Capitol Theater * Fri 22-Oct - Washington, DC - Rock N Roll Hotel * Sat 23-Oct - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's * Fri 29-Oct -* Sat 30-Oct - Poughkeepsie, NY - Chance * Sun 31-Oct - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg * Mon 1-Nov - Milford, CT - Daniel Street * Wed 3-Nov - Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater * Thu 4-Nov - Raleigh, NC - Kings Barcade * Fri 5-Nov - Greenville, NC - The Handlebar * Sat 6-Nov - Atlanta, GA - The Earl * Mon 8-Nov - Orlando, FL - Social * Tue 9-Nov - Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder at FSU * Wed 10-Nov - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks * Fri 12-Nov - Austin, TX - Emo's Lounge * Sat 13-Nov - Dallas, TX - The Loft * Sun 14-Nov - Little Rock, AR - Sticky Fingerz Rock-N-Roll Chicken Shack * Mon 15-Nov - Oxford, MS - Proud Larry's * Wed 17-Nov - Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall * Thu 18-Nov - Newport, KY - Southgate House * Fri 19-Nov - Columbus, OH - Rumba Cafe *
*Adam Haworth Stephens (of Two Gallants) support **Diamond Doves support ***with Justin Towne's Earle ****Admiral Fallow support
I was at Lebowskifest this past weekend, dragging my blow up sex doll across the lawn, (The costume was "Fuckin' Eagles") When i came across a friend i hadnt seen in a while and we got to talking about the forthcoming The Duke and The King album, . The Friend asked me what my thoughts were on it, since i had previewed the tracks. I said without thought, "it's the boldest and best call for love and community since Sly and the Family Stone. Wow, i thought, that is heavy praise. It immediately brought me back to something i had said to The Deacon (AKA Rev Loveday, AKA Nowell Haskins) of The Duke and The King at a concert last fall. I had told him that the song they should cover was Sly and the Family Stone's "Everybody is a Star", since it captured the sound and the sense of the band as well as the visual aestetic. The new tracks stood out in my mind, likely because artists don't often write songs reflecting optimism and love, but rather, they tend to eschew these subjects for cynicism, self indulgence, and bravado.
After Lebowskifest was over Sly remained on my mind. I hadn't really listened to his music in a long time, and i thought of that moment in the film "White Men Cant Jump" where Wesley Snipes (as Sidney) tells Woody Harrelson (Billy) that he can listen to Jimi Hendrix, but he can't "hear" Jimi.
I headed over to Ear-X-Tacy records in Louisville, and picked up some Sly and the Family Stone. Even though i had made some sort of parrallel to Sly Stone with the Duke and the King, I knew that as good as The Duke and The King record could be, it won't and could never be Sly Stone. But i had to reinvestigate Sly's music.
Sly was always to me, The JD Salinger of Rock and Roll, the elusive genius, whose problems deprived the world of their talent for decades. The parallels with the Duke and the King was mostly both bands present a united front, a shared vision of not so much what the world is, but what it should be.
I was listening to one album and then stopping in another town trying to scrounge up another. What i heard was someone as bawdy as Little Richard, arranging harmonies like Brian Wilson, writing lyrics like John Lennon, and as creative as the Beatles, only a whole lot free-er and funkier. He had collected everything that had happened before him and alongside him and incorporated it into his own brand hippie musical evangelism. While it incorporates aspects of 60's culture most associated with white artists, They had much in common with James Brown and Miles Davis. Sly and the Family Stone made the songs and sights of Motown seem patently fraudulent. This wasn't trying to look and sound like a white artist, but a black artist who was taking influence from white artists, and making it "Bad". Robert Johnson's rightful heir to the throne of the king of the blues, Sly is completely free. The music was a celebration lyrically and rythmically of life, unlike any rock era artist save for Curtis Mayfield. (Whose "It's Alright" is echoed on The Duke and The King's "Union Street") On Stand!, the pimpadelic Sly sings a song that might have well been his mission statement:
Stand In the end you'll still be you One that's done all the things you set out to do Stand There's a cross for you to bear Things to go through if you're going anywhere Stand For the things you know are right It s the truth that the truth makes them so uptight Stand All the things you want are real You have you to complete and there is no deal You've been sitting much too long There's a permanent crease in your right and wrong Stand There's a midget standing tall And the giant beside him about to fall Stand. stand, stand Stand. stand, stand
They will try to make you crawl And they know what you're saying makes sense and all Stand Don't you know that you are free Well at least in your mind if you want to be
Sly continued to push his vision of a funky and free America on songs like "Fun", "Life", "Love City" "Harmony" "Sing a Simple SOng", "Everyday People" (with its beautiful'I am no better and neither are you / We are the same whatever we do.)” and "You can Make it if You Try" but the early tracks that standout are "Higher", "Everybody Wants To Be a Star", and "Thank You". "Higher" was Rock's ultimate showstopper of the time,(and featuring the wonderful 'BOOM-lakka-lakkalakka, BOOM-lakka-lakka-lakka') one which brought the house down at this Woodstock performance.
"Everybody is a Star" with its presentation of the band as conspirators in Sly's utopian vision, was supposed to be a call for individuality and self expression, instead knowing what was to follow, in sounds resigned and tired. It makes the song more beautiful, a Coda on the dream of Sly and the Family Stone. The vocal performances are fantastic and portray the end of a Quixotic journey.
"Thank You" presents the signature slap and pluck technique of the innovative Larry Graham on bass, (Graham would soon leave the band because Sly tried to kill him in a PCP and Cocaine fueled paranoid attack). The lyrics and sound forbode a change in Sly's vision. He was now consumed by drugs, and surrounded by Black Panthers and Mafioso, who fueled his suspicions of others, but fed him ample amounts of illegal substances.
step off'n the collar slugged me in the face chit chat chatter trying shoved me in the place thank you for the party but i could never stay (his obvious rejection of being Woodstock's (and the generations) "house nigger")
many things are on my mind the way.......
Flamin' eyes of people fear Burnin' into you Many men are missin' much Hatin' what they do
Youth and truth are makin' love Dig it for a starter. Dyin' young is hard to take Sellin' out is harder
(I must preface this next clip with this, it was the seventies, yes that guy with the blue shirt is way gay, and yes it might be Roger from "Whats Happening")
The last great gasp of Sly and the Family Stone was the critically hailed "There's a Riot Going On" from 1971. This music isn't about unity, but about desperation, loss, paranoia, and defeat. The dream of the 1960's is over, and where the dream was, is a morally vacant America, a fragmented, broken society. Sly had stared at the monster so long, he became one, he's Ahab. The album features little of the vocal harmonies and optimism of his early work, instead it was replaced by pained vocals, with drum machines producing insistent, aggravating pressure. The drugs had robbed his love and optimism, but had yet to strip his gall and talent. The bass is unrelenting thump throughout the record, not the funky, "Dance to The Music" lines of his previous hits but rather like the slow drip of a faucet driving you mad. Sly sabotaged what his white audience wanted him to be, the optimistic face of Black America. He turns his back on them and "the Promise". The death of the "Promise" was evident in songs like "Running Away"
The deeper in debt The harder you bet Hee! Hee! Hee! Hee! Need more room to play Look at you fooling you
Sly defends his artistic right in "Poet"
My only weapon is my pen Oh, and the frame of mind I'm in I'm a songwriter Ooh, a poet I'm a songwriter Yeah, a poet
and his new sense of pessimism is no more evident than in the opening of "Family Affair"
One child grows up to be Somebody that just loves to learn And another child grows up to be Somebody you'd just love to burn
Ultimately, Sly burned himself. Maybe he carried too much for any person to handle, the symbol for racial and gender unity, couldn't even hold together his band. At least i got those 19 hours riding back from Louisville with him.
David Wild Huffington Post "A Little Less Conversation"
Take a look around, and you might notice that we are making a mess of things. By "things," I mean our world. And by "we," I mean all of us together -- left, right and center.
Our current media conversation is fast becoming a nasty, partisan free-for-all in which we mostly divide into enemy camps in order to conquer or gain any higher ground or small electoral advantage. Yet more than ever in my lifetime, we collectively face a number very real and profoundly serious issues. Clearly, this is a time in American and global history that cries out for us all to pull together and take action. And yet . . . not so much.
Angrily pointing fingers at one another isn't really taking action. Loudly blaming everything on our current President by serving up a dangerous combination platter of fear and hate doesn't help at all. By the same token, just waiting for this -- or any -- President to do everything for us isn't going to improve things either.
Now that we're all depressed, what the hell are we going to do? Today, I have a semi-modest proposal for the next generation of teens and twentysomethings -- those same young Americans who are likely to inherit this big mess: Do something. Do something to help that matters to you personally. Do something for the sick. Do something for the poorest or most disadvantaged among us. Do something in your hometown, or anywhere else in a world of hurt. Do something for our troops who have been asked to sacrifice so much for too long. Do something for human rights. Do something for animal rights. Do something nice like read books to someone in your town who can't read -- or help teach people how to read so they can do something new for themselves. But whatever you do -- do it now.
On Monday night July 19, I'll be working behind the scenes on a groovy thing -- VH1's first-ever live television presentation of The Do Something Awards, an entertaining and inspiring event hosted by one of the funniest and nicest people on earth -- Jane Lynch of Glee fame that airs at 9PM. The show will feature all sorts of stars from George Lopez to Snoop to Twilight's Kellan Lutz and lots of cool music from Travie McCoy with Bruno Mars, Lifehouse and Natasha Bedingfield, as well as "inspirational" moments from Bret Michaels and the cast of Jersey Shore that may make you think, but more likely will just make you laugh.
Do Something is a national non-for-profit youth organization that's been around for nearly a decade doing their part to help motivate and support young people to get more involved in their communities, their country and their world. Even with all the familiar famous faces you'll see on The Do Something Awards, five of these outstanding young people are at the very heart of Monday's show for their good works. And by the end of evening, Jane Lynch will announce one of these five impressive young Do Something Award finalists as the winner of $100,000 grant to help continue their work live on the air. I semi-humbly suggest that you not only watch the show on VH1, but also follow Do Something at dosomething.org, on Twitter at @DoSomething, where you can follow all the #dsawards action in real time, or just go to http://www.dosomething.vh1.com.
As a parent, I cannot see giving up on our world as an attractive or even viable option. My wife and I have two genuinely beautiful children. I look at them -- and their only slightly less beautiful friends -- and I feel something very much like hope. As a group, these kids seem remarkably untainted by the petty prejudices that seem to divide so many of us now. For instance, these young people don't seem hung up about anyone else's race, or religion or sexual orientation. With the possible exception of their rather frightening love of "reality" television, these kids are alright by me. I can only think, hope and pray that this next generation will do something better than we're doing right now. Because if they don't, there may not be too many more generations to worry about.
When I was about the age our kids are now, my parents took me to see Pete Seeger speak and sing as I got my first lessons in ecology on the Clearwater sloop on the Hudson River. I believe that's the first time I ever heard the song "If I Had A Hammer." I'm ashamed to say that I don't think I've ever played that song for my kids. Let's all make sure that our kids understand that they do have a hammer, and that they ought to be using it to build a better world now.
Come on, Young Americans, do something. Do the right thing, and do it with "A Little Less Conversation" and little more action.
A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION - Elvis Presley YOUNG AMERICANS - David Bowie PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER - Patti Smith WHAT YOU GIVE AWAY - Vince Gill WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING - Infant Sorrow LEAN ON ME - Bill Withers LET'S SEE ACTION - The Who HELP THE POOR - B.B. King & Eric Clapton LEND A HAND - Jakob Dylan WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? - Bob Dylan GIVE IT AWAY - Red Hot Chili Peppers WORKING ON A GROOVY THING - The 5th Dimension SOMETHING IN THE AIR - Thunderclap Newman BEAUTIFUL DAY - U2 THE HOUSE I LIVE IN - Frank Sinatra ISN'T IT A PITY - George Harrison GET UP, STAND UP - Bob Marley THE RISING - Bruce Springsteen UMI SAYS - Mos Def DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' - Journey BELIEVE IN HUMANITY - Carole King CLIMB THAT HILL - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers MAN IN THE MIRROR - Michael Jackson WHO'S GONNA HELP BROTHER GET FURTHER - Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint DO SOMETHING - The Eagles LITTLE WONDERS - Rob Thomas SOWING THE SEEDS OF LOVE - Tears For Fears LET'S WORK TOGETHER - Canned Heat TAKE THIS BREAD - The Felice Brothers I CAN HELP - Billy Swan GET TOGETHER - The Youngbloods RIGHT NOW - Van Halen HE AIN'T HEAVY, HE'S MY BROTHER - Neil Diamond ONE WORLD - Utopia BREAK THE SPELL - Gogol Bordello COME TOGETHER - The Beatles REACH OUT OF THE DARKNESS - Friend & Lover EVERYBODY HURTS - R.E.M. SHOWER THE PEOPLE - James Taylor WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW - Aimee Mann PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART - Jackie DeShannon IF I HAD A HAMMER - The Weavers
Follow David Wild on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Wildaboutmusic
white limo katie dear greatest show on earth (with new lyrics in the opening verse, "i'm in the office of the head of state," etc) murder by mistletoe loves me tenderly run chicken run stepdad (really really good) chicken wire frankie's gun cypress grove st. stephan's end helen fry (really excellent version)
Available on Diverse Vinyl. Reinterpretations of some of his songs through the years as a member of the Felice Brothers and The Duke and King. This is a solo acoustic record.
This is a bit of an exclusive for Diverse Records. Simone got in touch with us and told us that he'd recorded a solo album. He'd re-recorded a host of The Duke & The King and Felice Brothers songs with just him, a microphone and an acoustic guitar. It was going to coincide with his solo tour of the UK and be sold on merch stands. Then came the bombshell, 'do you want to release it on vinyl?'.
Of course, we said yes. It sounds amazing. For those of you that like a back story, Simone was rushed into hospital a couple of months ago, a post appeared on his website saying...
'We must tell you all, with a heaviness we cannot convey of the news that our dearest brother Simone Felice was rushed late last night to Albany Medical Center. Simone has been scheduled for emergency open-heart surgery as a result of Aortic Stenosis.'
Obviously this was shocking news to his band, to his fans and to me and Paul. Luckily he pulled through and is keen to get back on the road. This album was recorded during his recovery and is Simone at his raw and emotional best.
Here's Simone's post-op message to his fans:
'I’m alive. Got my breast-bone sawed in two and my lungs collapsed and the main valve of my heart replaced by a carbon device that ticks like a pocket watch to the beat of my blood for the rest of my days, but I’m alive. Strange days indeed. What a wild thing to learn from the doctor: that for years you’ve been existing off 1/8th of the blood and oxygen your body and brain need, that he’s baffled your still alive, that you would’ve surely died within the next year. Before I could say ‘It’s the day of the big surprise’ I was under the knife. I want everybody who prayed for me or sent me their warm thoughts, to know that your goodness did not fall on deaf ears, I’m convinced that in some way I must have received every last one, and that all the love I’ve been shown in this hard time has indeed helped me make it through and to heal up so well and quickly.'
The Setlist is posted here but reportedly very innacurate but likely the pre show band written out version.
White Limo Run Chicken Katie Dear Greatest Show On Earth Tendorly Carrior Pigeons Stop Dad Frankies Gun Roll On Arte Whiskey In My Whiskey Better Be Best I Ever Had Take This Bread God Damn You Jim Ooh My Love Two Hands
01 Greatest Show On Earth 02 White Limo 03 Katie Dear 04 Loves Me Tenderly 05 Dead Flowers 06 Whiskey In My Whiskey (with steve on spoons) 07 Run Chicken Run 08 Step Dad 09 Murder By Mistletoe 10 Where'd You Get The Caucasian 11 Roll On Donnie 12 Ballad Of Lou 13 Happy Birthday Mindy 14 Lay You Down Slow (Farley) 15 Take This Bread 16 Frankie's Gun
Notes:
10 Lyrics changed to honor Lebowskifest 13 Farley helped wish Mindy Happy Birthday with the crowd and the band joining in
Show Notes; Amazing Show, best performance i've heard yet. The band just seemed so in sync, all thier beautiful slop knitted together nicely. Loved Whiskey In My Whiskey, you will when you hear it, the beginning more scatted then sung and more emotional for it. The first time i could really understand the words of 'Stepdad' and really enjoyed it. Where'd you get the Caucasian was a difficult stunt, but well pulled off. 'Lay You Down Slow' which we come to know as "Two Nickels" can no longer be named as such. New lyrics, new meaning. I like the lyrics, but seems like a completely different song, while the changes to the chorus tied in nicely "These lives, tying up tight, friends say gotta grab yourself and better move along"
Lively set, even if beset by a few mistakes. The band looked good and They soundchecked two relatively new numbers, "the Great Kaleidoscope" and "Roll on John" This was the 5th time that the band has played Barley's and it was like a home game. The crowd was heavily into the band, and very rowdy. Setlist: White Limo Greatest Show Run Chicken run Chicken wire Lou Step dad Loves me Tenderly River Jordan Fuck the news (with the line "fuck the news, fuck the house of blues, fuck my whole career") Frankies gun Murder by mistletoe Whiskey Roll on Arte Goddamn you Jim (with added last verse "lightly goes a childs soul, will swallow a woman whole.....) Better Be (Farley with all new lyrics) Take this Bread Hank to Hendrix (Neil Young) Liquor Two Hands Penn Station drum dive by Farley
Simone Joins My Morning Jacket's Jim James, Daniel Martin Moore & Ben Sollee to help shed light on Appalachian Mountaintop Removal!
Thursday, July 29, at Woodstock's Historic Bearsville Theater, Felice will perform a special 40 minute acoustic set as part of the "Appalachian Voices" tour in support of this splendid and necessary cause. More info @ www.ILoveMountains.org
Approx setlist - will try to write a review later...
Lou Fire on the Mountain White Limo Loves me Tenderly Katie Dear Run Chicken Run Take this Bread Goddamn you Jim Farley song Stepdad Cyprus Grove (Christmas+Ian only) Tonight's the Night Whisky in my Whisky Frankie's Gun Greatest Show on Earth Marlboro Man Christmas song ?? Roll on Arte E: Helen Frye Two Hands
7pm - "Year's Work In Lebowski Studies" discussion with professor and author Aaron Jaffe @ Carmichael's Bookstore - 2720 Frankfort Ave
Friday July 16
12pm - Lebowski Live Lunch - Lebowski covers and original sets by The Seedy Seeds, Thomas A Minor, Softcheque & C+ @ WFPK Studios - 619 S 4th St. - Very Limited Seating - Free
8pm - Movie Party - Music by The Felice Brothers with Thomas A Minor & The Picket Line followed by a screening of The Big Lebowski with an appearance by Jim Hoosier (Liam!) @ Executive Lawn - 911 Phillips Ln - 8pm. All Ages - Children 12 and under free. Chairs and blankets welcome. No outside food or beverages, man $18 adv / $20 day of
8:00 Gates Open 8:45 Thomas A Minor & The Pickett Line 9:30 Pin Heads 9:45 The Felice Brothers 11:10 Special Guest Jim Hoosier (Liam!) 11:15 The Big Lebowski
Saturday July 17
Saturday Pass (Garden Party + Bowling Party) - $30
3pm - Achiever Meetup - Meet and greet hosted by Lebowski Podcast @ Executive Strike and Spare Bar - Free
4pm - Garden Party - Music by Iron Horse (Heavy Metal Bluegrass covers of Metallica, Sabbath, Modest Mouse, etc.), The Seedy Seeds, Kentucky Prophet, C+ and Lebowski Burlesque. Plus Lebowski-themed games and what-have-you. @ Executive Lawn - 911 Phillips Ln - 4pm to 8pm. All Ages - Children 12 and under free. Chairs and blankets welcome. No outside food or beverages, man $8 adv / $10 day of
4:00 Gates Open / Games Begin 4:05 Lebowski Burlesque 4:10 C+ 4:40 Pin Heads 4:45 Lebowski Burlesque 4:50 Kentucky Prophet 5:25 Lebowski Burlesque 5:30 The Seedy Seeds 6:20 Lebowski Burlesque 6:30 Iron Horse 8:00 Garden Party Ends
Here's the set list: Take This Bread Katie Dear Greatest Show Whiskey in my Whiskey Murder by Mistletoe Step Dad Frankie's Gun Roll on Arte St Stephens End White Limousine Chicken Wire Song by Farley - not sure Run Chicken Run Two Hands Where'd You Get Your Liquor? New Song - Ian Glory, Glory Review by Blue Eyed Jane
For what it's worth, my "review" of last nite's show:
Amish Country Gets Felice-d A sea of lawn chairs covered the grounds in front of Long’s Park Amphitheatre in Lancaster on July 11. Regulars to the free concert series – families with young children and older folks with cute dogs in tow filled the audience at the pet friendly park, shaping the evening up to be, if nothing else, the Felice Brothers show with the largest ever attendance by dogs. As the band stepped up to the mics, the audience members seemed to be settled into their places, like parents at a school play. But the Felice’s had other plans. “Come close!” Ian made a come-closer gesture, shouting “We’re not afraid of you, if you’re not afraid of us!” (or something along those lines) Instantly , fans who had come far and wide to see the band, as well as some folks just really ready to have a good time and sensing one on tap, emerged from the anonymous chairs and blankets with big I-thought-you’d –never-ask grins on their faces and pooled at the front of the stage. What followed was Felice Brothers perfection – a performance that brought sheer happiness to fans, charmed initiates who would be telling their co-workers the next day “I saw the craziest band last night!” and sent some of the audience, who were hoping for something akin to top 40 country, scrambling for their cars. The Felice’s were energized and up (a far cry from the last performance I saw in Harrisburg a few months ago – I enjoyed it immensely and they were great, but the entire band, with the exception of Dave, seemed downright despondent) Some of the setlist were (as far as I know) less often performed songs – for example Roll on Arte and St. Stephen’s End, and the audience itself was the sixth Felice Brother, singing along to many of the songs with enthusiastic encouragement from Jimmy and Farley. By the time fans rushed the stage to sing along with Glory Glory, the park management seemed to have pretty much given up on its efforts to maintain control – especially on their newly instituted “no smoking” policy. Some things you might have seen, and a few you might have missed, if you were there: - A guy yelling “Christmas will you marry me?” when the band came onstage. -Christmas delivering a wonderfully intense version of Step-Dad. -Jimmy entertaining the questions of a very young fan at the front of the stage while Ian sang St. Stephen’s End. -Ian being swallowed by a mob of mostly much larger dudes, and disappearing with a big grin on his face, still singing. -Christmas kneeling with a couple of kids on the stage after the show, chatting and seemingly writing or signing something. -Someone observing that the Felice Brothers’ winnepago and trailer, parked next to the stage, looked like they had “just been pulled out of the junkyard.” -The band gamely signing a box of Little Debbie oatmeal cream pies for a fan. -A quiet young man sitting reservedly in a lawn chair throughout the show, then suddenly jumping up and hopping onstage with the mob during the last song.
So, on behalf of the happy mob – thanks, Felice Brothers!
Phosphorescent, the indie band now based in Brooklyn , had all it's equipment stolen last night and need help as they were about to begin their six week tour today.
Last night, after an amazing show at Pier 54 in New York City, Phosphorescent's rental van - along with all of their equipment - was stolen from outside a residence in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Last night's show was the first night of their scheduled six-weeks US Tour. Among the stolen items was Matthew Houck's custom, irreplaceable 1955 Gibson ES-125 guitar, vintage amplifiers, and a vintage pedal steel with losses totaling around $40,000. If anyone has ANY information or leads on what might have happened, or if you see any of this gear in pawn shops, on Craigslist, etc, please call the NY Police Department, Vector Management, or anyone you think might be able to help recover this gear. The van rental company is insured - they are covered for their van and are therefore not greatly concerned with recovering it. Phosphorescent DOES care though, greatly, about recovering any of this gear possible, and about right now figuring out how to rally up and make this US Tour happen. Anything anyone can do to help would be simply amazing. We have set up a PayPal account for anyone wishing to donate funds to help replace gear - anything helps. We will be sending updates about the upcoming tour dates ASAP. Thanks inadvance for any goodwill and assistance and thank you for your support over the years. Donations are kindly accepted via the link below. Management: Nick Sternp: 212.317.2323 nick@vectormgmt.com
TakeThisBread: Thanks for sitting down with us. Mr Lebowski and Mr Sobchak
Dude: I'm the Dude, that's what you call me, or His Dudeness, or El Duderino if you are not into the whole brevity thing. Mind if i do a "J"?
Takethisbread: Be my guest.
Takethisbread: Are you a fan of the Felice Brothers?
The Dude: yea man, i dig the Brothers, man. They have a lot of similarities with musical acts i have liked for a long time; like Bob Dylan and Creedence of course.
Walter: I knew a guy named Felice once, back in Nam.
Takethisbread: What songs are your favorites?
Walter: "Roll on Arte" has the bowling theme, and The Dude and I sang an a capella version of this song at Donny's 10 yr Memorial service at the lanes, we changed the words to "Roll on Donny, Roll on"
Dude: I like "Don't Wake the Scarecrow" its got that whole Wizard of Oz thing, which is cool, man.
Takethisbread: What is your view of Lebowskifest and the cult following surrounding the film?
Dude: People dig the Dude's vibe, man. Take it easy, smoke a bone, listen to some good tunes, bowl. Just like GOD Intended, man. People all over the world love the movie.
Walter: Not in Nam, of course.
TakeThisBread: Still hate the Eagles?
Walter: Fuckin' amateurs.
Dude: Man, i always hated those motherfuckers. Kind of band Jackie Treehorn would love. met Don Henley once at the Los Angeles Forum when i was a Roadie for Metallica, it was back in his "ponytail" years, a real angry cat, man.
Walter: The Dude has softened over the years on the Eagles. "Peaceful, Easy, Feeling" reminds him of Donny. Well that and "I am The Walrus".
TakeThisbread: Whats on your ipods?
Walter: "Mein Kampf" audio version narrated by Henry Rollins, and Santana.
Dude: Santana? That creep can play, man.
Takethisbread: And you Dude?
Dude: I just got an ipod, i am not sure how to use it, but i had Marty the Landlord load some of my favorites on it: Bob, of course ,Creedence, The Felice Brothers, the 2004 league semifinals, and Autobahn. Karl Hungus, was a fuckin' genius man. Like Van Gogh, who also had a missing ear.
Walter: I can get you a Toe, or an ear.
Dude: Either way, i cant figure out how to navigate my ipod anyway, so i usually just jam an old mixtape of Bob into my car cassette player and roll my windows down so i can hear it in the house.
Takethisbread: You folks plan on going to Lebowskifest?
Dude: Yea man, fuckin A, bread. I'll be there, White Russians, a little Thai stick, a few frames. fuckin' nirvana, man.
Walter: I may gO friday, but thats it. Shomer Shabbos. Jewish day of rest. That means i don't work, I dont drive a car, i dont handle money i don't turn on a oven, and i sure as shit don't fucking roll! Why they having this Festival on a Saturday? I told that Fuck down at the Fest offices...
Dude: Take it easy Walter.
Walter: am i wrong? ' Dude, No Walter, you're not wrong , you're just an asshole.
Takethisbread: What songs would you like to see the Felice Brothers play next weekend?
Dude: Their own stuff? "Marie" or "Forever Green" but they never play that one. From the film? i'd say "Looking out My Back Door" by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Walter: "Roll on Donny, Roll on" or "I am the Walrus"
TakethisBread: Thanks fellas, see you next weekend.
Shaky Bagdhad she's a mean old town I get the feelin she don't want me around no more I started seeing things in my funkin (?) eye
Shaky Makes me all so shaky mama Cmon wake me up We go dancing how ever you wanna Cause we were just babies The Jackson 5 grew up so fast Cmon baby Just come and shake that country ass
Lately it's been getting hard So they gave me Some pills supposed to calm my hands But now I'm Superman in the firefight
Crazy from nicotine I pass away She's got sad machine gun eyes She's smiles at me and it kills my heart
Shaky Makes me oh so shaky mama Cmon shake me We go dance how ever you wanna We were just babies The Jackson 5 grew up so fast Cmon and shake that country ass
Bagdad She's a mean old girl Baby it's a mean old world I know Maybe I'll make it home alive
Harmony: if You don't see me again please tell my daughter I love her
Shaky Makes me oh so shaky mama Cmon shake me We go dance how ever you wanna We were just babies The Jackson 5 grew up so fast Cmon and shake that country ass
From the Blog Farms and Fables regarding the song Goddamn you Jim
http://farmsandfables.blogspot.com/
On a side note: Yesterday I went to Nateva, a big music festival in Oxford, ME. The Felice Brothers may have become one of my new favorite groups, and they sang this gorgeous song that, as they put it, is about farm life and the hardships that can sometimes accompany it. It reminded me of a lot of conversations we've had, in and out of story circles, about the rollercoaster of emotions involved in farming -- and, also, about that romantic view of farming as "the simple life." I think the song takes a romantic view of farming, although it certainly doesn't paint it as easy. At any rate, it affected me a lot and here it is.
. Those lucky few who had found their way to the Maine Stage early enough were treated to an Appalachian upgrade courtesy of the Felice Brothers, who played a raucously melodic boot stomper of a gig. Word of mouth must have spread quickly as their late night set at the Port City Music Hall was extremely well-attended.
During the afternoon the always reliable Umphrey’s McGee followed the Felices and seemed to be the first act to truly engage the slumbering giant that is the Nateva audience. An adoring crowd slathered on sunscreen and found themselves stepping into the festival with Umphrey’s holding open the door.
