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Email to Dan - Well you know me. Never A Phoebe fan. She has hooked up with Matt B of the National now. A mediocre tune, in my opinion. Wonder why? I am not touching that. We need David to do that one :) Peace & hugs   Dan to me -   Bet the National Guy is looking to make out with her. Hope he got to. Me to Dan - I am guessing it went further... Oh yeah he is married too.  Bleach blonde homewrecker.   Then I told him a story. I need to make out with someone lol. Now Keanu went and got a Silver Fox gf. I actually met him in Soho at an art gallery.  I Should have given him my #. We chatted for 20 mins.  He basically asked me to hang with him because these cougars were honing in on him. They owned the gallery. It was comical. He said I looked nice. The exhibit was for his ex-girlfriend’s photography show.   His ex was Amanda De Cadenet. She was badass. Her photos were lovely actually. I remember he and I stared at the one of a bird for a long time. “What do you thi

Patti Smith was trending on the holy grail of misunderstood hashtags, Twitter. I took a breath. Please not Patti.  Nah. It's her birthday. It reminded me of Barney’s lush song that rides on nostalgia and retro centric grooves. The native Philadelphia musician is crafting music with late 70s ambiences and alternative bending styles.  He penned a song titled for an artist he admires, the one the only Patti. Barney is a raconteur of the highest order. He pulls you in with swirling lyrics like:   Do you know I think of you all the time?/ Someone wrote a song for me/ But I don't love her / Barely know her name/ I want the song to come from you / That cruel game   He also finger picks his acoustic Harmony guitar with practiced flair and panache without arrogant swagger. He takes on an almost Charlie Chaplin like humility as he saunters in to the garden area in the finely arranged video soaked in lush colors and a simple arrangement. It caters to my love of retro films that

There are a plethora of guitar players out there but few with sublime graceful yet edgy playing that makes Steve Gunn a standout. Steve was part of Kurt Vile's Violators but left PA to pursue his dreams of being a solor artist  in the urban chasm of New York City.  He has quietly put out 15 LPs and live versions. His latest offering, The Unseen In Between, consists of 9 tracks. The song that grabbed me was "Luciano". A bodega cat was the inspiration for the track that showcases Steve's unique finger picking style and his elevated use of acoustic guitar. He frequently partners with women with ethereal voices and harp as well as piano playing prowess. On Luciano, the lovely Meg Baird adds her angelic backing vocals as well as handling the keys. Mid way through the song, Steve digs into his otherworldly vibrato. It is comforting as he sings the following lyrics, no doubt invoked by the death of his father last year. Apparently this album is showered with drips of gr

T he latest single from the Brighton band, Fragile Creatures, does not take on the p olitical system as the 5 piece did on the edgy “A New Low”. Instead this song, penned by front man and band manager, Adam Kidd, rips the band aid of an old romantic wound. If you haven’t been cheated on I applaud you. If you have, it’s kind of like getting fired, it’s confusing and hurtful but ultimately toughens you up. Or in Adam’s case becomes fresh material for another of Fragile Creature’s absorbing songs.   The bending guitar sounds in the intro stab your auditory system like freshly sharpened knife. Adam winds up his Fender to offer a mix of perplexing riffs along with a muted keyboard beats. This is a visceral song as Adam sings with a wounded growl. There is nothing light about this track. This song was conceived on a desolate plane ride back from Spain after a painful end of a long term relationship. He admits “It hurt inside to let the killer go free but I numbed it with the evil we

Bad Mary , the spirited band from Long Island, guns along in pure punk DIY fashion. They are unmanaged, handle their social medias solo and they even take the plunge to go live on Patreon, "the membership platform that makes it easy for artists and creators to get paid." They throw down at their live shows with big sounds mixed with the hardy candy they throw at their loyal audience. Bad Mary  has that Big Bertha Badass musical persona yet they still remain loyal to their hometown by performing at the 5th Annual Bad Mary Holiday Disaster on December 13th in Bethpage, LI.  Amanda Mac handles vocals with wide eyed curiosity and subliminal confusion. Her sig other, Mike Straub, leads the rhythm section with his tasty bass lines. The Mighty Professor (Mike's actual college prof) applies his scissor rip up guitar sty while Amanda's Pop handles the kit. Bad Mary keeps it genuinely all in the family (no fights unlike the Robinson's. Seek out our Crowe's

The tasty pop rocking tune "Dwell on It" has earworm quality plastered all over it. Perry Shall, the multi creative artist and musician from Philly, and his band Wildflowers of America, gifts us a tune that is ripe with nostalgia and a fake ending. This delicious track marries Elvis Costello vocal impersonations along with the rip and rev of the Replacements.  The video, shot by Bob Sweeney, is ripe with a home movie grainy feel. The long haired, bespectacled artist  floats around a greenhouse complete with a running waterfall. He appears perpetually amused by the colorful flowers and the fauna.  He sings in a rubbed out, nasal baritone voice about  his thoughts about drinking. He quickly U turns to say that won't solve what is besieging his mind.   I can tell myself to get over it But that just feels unrealistic   He plays a game of hide and seek with himself while walking in wonder of the flower power surrounding him.  The edgy, amped up guitar flickers a

The first time I heard the Philadelphia based musician, Matt Vantine's power popping song "Drop Dead" I was driving.   I immediately started that little car groove I do when a song comes on that grabs me. The track ripples with shimmery guitar sounds mixed with dark subject matter. In short, it’s a snarky jam that made me say Yes! While Matt and I are not of the same generation (X vs. Millenial) I dated before cell phones. Being able to tell a person, whether a romantic interest or friend to "Go Drop Dead" was a right of power. One couldn't hide behind a text back in the day. Now if a "Go Drop Dead" text sailed onto the screen it would be a slap in the virtual face. Either way, Matt’s righteous bop sums up getting fed up with narcissists and flakes.  Matt is a seasoned musician who spent the past decade fronting Fleeting Ends, who came upon moderate success in Indie rock circles.   Matt makes his money as a guitar instructor who told me