NEIL YOUNG is in the midst of his solo acoustic Twisted Road Tour which hit Knoxville last night for a show at the Civic Auditorium. To celebrate Neil's revered legacy, METRO PULSE ran a nice feature paying tribute to him through the words and thoughts of Knoxville's finest songwriters and creative minds.
My favorite Neil Young song? That depends. Which album? See, the man made albums, all different and with this attitude of I-don’t-care-if-the-critics-get-it-or-you-even-like-it. True Neil fans will argue all night over his best album: Harvest? (Frat boys.) Tonight’s the Night? (Stoners.) After the Gold Rush? (Folkies.) American Stars ’n Bars? (Country rockers.) Time Fades Away? (Really stoners.) Or my favorite, On the Beach. Before I continue, I must say those are my top five albums, and each one has songs or even individual lines that speak to the listener: “It’s a cold bowl of chili when love lets you down,” from “Saddle Up the Palomino” on Stars ’n Bars. Hell, I’ll even drop a needle on Trans (techies) or Everybody’s Rockin’ (’50s rockers) but only once, only once, on Landing on Water. Neil, if you are reading this, regarding that album: WTF?
So it’s the album I owned on 8-track and left on the “endless” setting—the 1974 release On the Beach and the song “Motion Pictures,” a song I still cover, although sometimes I substitute “I hear the valley is doing fine” for the line “I hear the mountains are doing fine.” It painted life on the road (and not in a flattering light) before I even became a road denizen. And it has a message to your friends who chose a “normal” path: “All those people who think they’ve got it made, I wouldn’t buy, sell borrow or trade/anything I have to be like one of them/I’d rather start all over again.” That album is so depressing, even compared to other albums of Neil’s, but it leaves me with this sense of hope. “Newspaper headlines, they just bore me now/I’m deep inside myself but I will get out somehow.” I don’t know if he got out, but he got in me. Damn Canadian. I think of that album every time I’m on the road staring down a hotel television and drifting away for even a moment: “Motion pictures on my TV screen/A home away from home and I’m living in between.” ___________________________________ SARAH LEWIS - Lead singer, songwriter for JAG STAR
“Long May You Run” The Stills-Young Band, Long May You Run (Reprise, 1976)
“Cinnamon Girl” Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (Reprise, 1969)
I think my fave Neil Young track would have to be “Long May You Run.” The lyrics to this song are so deep to me, and I just looked up what it means to him and apparently it’s about an old car! I guess I should’ve known—“with your chrome heart shining in the sun.” Another fave is “Cinnamon Girl.” Our 18-month-old loves to dance to it so apparently it is her fave too! One thing is for sure, songwriters like this don’t exist anymore. There is such emotional depth to his music, and that is why everyone is a Neil Young fan.
NEIL YOUNG TWISTED ROAD TOUR May 2010 18 - Albany, NY - Palace Theatre 19 - Buffalo, NY - Shea's Performing Arts Center 21 - Worcester, MA - Hanover Theatre 23 - Wallingford, CT - Oakdale Theatre 24 - Washington, DC - Constitution Hall 26 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Palace Theatre 27 - Knoxville, TN - Knoxville Civic Auditorium 29 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theater 30 - Spartanburg, SC - Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
June 2010 1 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium 2 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium 4 - Houston, TX - Jones Hall 5 - Austin, TX - Bass Performance Hall 7 - Dallas, TX - Meyerson Symphony Center
Our sprawling journey to Anaheim aptly interpreted the Latin phrase Memento Mori, which means “Be Mindful of Death,” as a cautious heed to the exacerbation of crawling congestion. With this mental memento in mind, we took the path heavily traveled to unite with a cavalcade of southbound cars on I-5 to fight our way to the serenity of the OC. May the carpool lane expeditiously transport us to the salvation of FLYLEAF amongst the shiny black Mau5 ears at The Happiest Place On Earth.
Fortunately, we descended upon mouse-town with ample time to imbibe in all that comprises the trolly lot of consumerism that is Downtown Disney. First up is the Jazz Kitchen so we can soak up some New Or-leans flavor. Wonder if they have a “Treme” inspired appetizer? They do. A credible live band colors the patrons’ wine from red to sublime.
After watching the Lakers eek out a win against the Jazz, we head over to Naples for some ‘za. Along the way, we pass a guy playing Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” on the hammered dulcimer. Hmmm, Lacey quite often sings metaphorically about “Hammers”. Curiosity took hold. “Know any Flyleaf? We’d love to hear you hammer out ‘I’m So Sick”. We were ready to elicit some impromptu karaoke. We would bill ourselves as The Dulcimer Duo. But, an ensuing quizzical look portended that it was not meant to be, not on either count. Thinly sliced pepperoni soon consoled our mild disappointment.
Right around this time, the arc of the evening dialed into focus and a revelation congealed. Beautiful Southern Californian evening? Check. Delicious over-priced cheese and meat wedges? Check. Hammered dulcimer caressing the night? Check. Anticipation of yet another momentous chapter of the revered FLYLEAF chronicles? Check. Actually, check please. It’s almost 10PM. We gotta rock.
(photo by Frank Gatto)
IN THE DARK - There’s only artificial light here. My flaws hide well here. I used to be afraid of cluttered noises. Now I’m afraid of silence. Fill this space. Idle words.
We enter stage left. Lights dim as distortion severs the palpable white noise. The FLYLEAF fivesome, predominantly draped in black, fill in the stage gaps. The conductor of this mission, in her requisite frilly gown and ballet shoes, is in triumphant command as she voraciously delivers the “words” italicized above (it’s eerie how literal these lyrics apply to this exact moment in time). The entire opening number bustles with road-tested determination and it’s hard to imagine a better way to ignite a combustible engine. Ironically, or purposefully, as we’re all singing about being “In The Dark,” we actually begin to enter the light…of the leaf.
(photo by Frank Gatto)
BEAUTIFUL BRIDE - Unified diversity. Functioning as one body. Every part encouraged by the other. No one independent of another. You're irreplaceable, indispensable. You're incredible.
This song’s message parallels the foundational thought behind the Disneyland attraction It’s A Small World which features 400 brightly costumed dolls in the style of children of the world, frolicking in a spirit of international unity. Seems apropos then that this song is unfurled as the faithful frolic on the hallowed grounds of the beautiful bride that Walt Disney built.
And while the words to BB are about uniting humanity, I can’t help but think that they also represent a sold-out-rock-show-mantra like never before. From the muscular opening riff, the crowd feverishly chants along and the sweaty densely-packed room thrusts with vibrant energy. The engine is revving at about 4000 RPMs. More rock ‘n roll coal please.
AGAIN - Trying to find air to breathe again. And only surrender will help you now. The floodgates are breaking and pouring out. Here you are down on your knees.
‘Again’ also follows ‘Beautiful Bride’ on the Memento Mori album. It’s the surreptitious yang seizing the sonic ying. Together, they form a bond to behold. Much Like Led Zep’s ‘Heartbreaker’ and ‘Living Loving Maid,’ it’s nearly sacrilegious to not hear ‘Again,’ again and again, as a musical digestif to the beautiful bride.
(photo by Andrew Phares)
CASSIE - All heads are bowed in silence. To remember her last sentence. She answered him knowing what would happen. Her last words still hanging in the air. In the air.
From being in the dark to hanging in the air, the calculated levitation continues as FLYLEAF pulled the trigger and Cassie came charging out of the speakers. All heads, however, did not bow in silence but gyrated in convalescence. It was a very cathartic display of romp and circumstance though we’re once again trying to find air to breathe again. Had I mistakenly surmised that sufficient air would be all around me?
ALL AROUND ME - The music makes me sway. The angels singing say we are alone with you. I am alone and they are too with you. I'm alive, I'm alive. I can feel you all around me. Thickening the air I'm breathing.
Even though it’s clearly all around me, it has only just begun to seep within me. As I’m trying to find an heir to breathe again, the translucent exhilaration is thickening. It's musical molasses that swiftly dabs the stubble on my countenance with the seemingly elusive promise of a bountiful French moustache. Please give me something. I’m so thirsty, I’m so thirsty. Please pour me a pitcher of prescience to pamper my predilection.
CHASM - Break up already, Wake up now. Walk away, Take it all back now.
It’s hot as Hades in here. Even the dramatically expressive twirly girl is feeling the heat as Lacey keeps reiterating over and over again that she’s SO thirsty. Well, our collective thirst is quenched with this muted-chord shuffle, one that plods along like a majestic Middle-Eastern waltz. We sip. We sway.
(photo by Frank Gatto)
SO I THOUGHT - A year goes by. And I can't talk about it. The times weren't right. And I couldn't talk about it. Chorus romance says goodnight. Close your eyes and I'll close mine. Remember you, remember me.
The beginning notes remind me of Tesla’s ‘Love Song’ and it might as well be because this is FLYLEAF's version of a power ballad (Bic lighters have been replaced by mobile phones). When Lacey emotes “A Year Goes By,” the audience virtually gathers round her with rapt unrestrained vocals that purge the remnants of troubles left behind.
There is a devoted fan, front and center, with a text tattoo on her arm similar to Ms Sturm’s that seems to be emotionally experiencing every word of this song as if her very existence depended on it. And then I notice another fan and another and before you know it, we all sing freely as Frank Hannon, I mean Sameer Bhattacharya unleashes a heavenly solo that unifies our diversity. Was I really witnessing the rebirth of the 80’s power ballad in full effect in Downtown Disney? Kind of preposterous or so I thought.
(photo by Frank Gatto)
THE KIND - And you know the truth. And I pray this is the last song I will sing to you. I’m sorry Father. I’m sorry sister. I’m sorry brother.
I hadn’t seen the set list so I didn’t know the exact truth but I felt pretty sure that this was not the last song Lacey would sing though I felt confident that we would not be surprised with the inclusion of any rarities or unusual cover songs as the band was intent, and proudly so, to showcase the majority of their brilliant new record.
Therefore Tina & Red Sam, I’m Sorry, the warriors will not be There For You on this gilded evening so, unfortunately, you will not get the Bitter Sweet opportunity to Breathe Today as no set list can be Perfect. Who Am I you ask? I’m the Enemy. I’m Uncle Bobby, here to remind you that you can only move as fast as who’s in front of you!
SORROW - Sorrow lasts through this night. I'll take this piece of you. And hold for all eternity. For just one second I felt whole. As you flew right through me.
Lacey hits the disenfranchised sweet spot with the simplicity of “For Just One Second I Felt Whole”. Prayers; a human connection; crispy tater tots; SportsCenter; are all, to varying degrees, requisite means to a preferred, if only fleeting, end. Her words succinctly echo this sentiment in a way that soothes the soul.
THIS CLOSE - I had a dream that we were dead. But we pretended we still lived. With no regrets, we never bled. And we took everything life could give.
I had a dream that my 9-to-5 died and then I went to The Happiest Place On Earth to sing with friends and rejoice with strangers as cascading heavy hymns coursed through the veins that I feel deep within me. Hear it? I’M SCREAMING IT!!!
(photo by Andrew Phares)
MISSING - Oh, something's missing in me. I felt it deep within me.
My common sense may be missing in me as I’ve been debating whether or not to actually give space to the word ‘Dewmocracy’ because it is indicative of a larger “common” sense that is missing in America. But, for now, it exists. In fact, the aforementioned “word” is probably still visible on a conference room white board somewhere. Regardless, FLYLEAF recently won a fan-supported vote tally and is reaping the rewards of airplay on AMTV. My common sense prevents me from espousing any further because...
SWEPT AWAY - Evil fell from your pretty mouth. Wrapped in your classic voice. Angelic in your syntax. Demonic in your motive. Your pretty eyes don’t know that. The water flowing from this well isn’t fresh…I rage against everything that you do.
…I couldn’t have said it any better. Words (and searing feedback) to exorcise the lowest common denominator prefabricated corporate demons. Look at the healing come. A towering crescendo of distorted grace and it’s all uniformly swept away.
SET APART THIS DREAM - You’re a princess now. You own this world. Twirling in your twirly dress. You’re the loveliest far above the rest.
While written with her younger sister in mind, Lacey embodies this dream every time she's on stage. One thousand of the FLYLEAF faithful on this fateful night would agree. They would all twirl in unison if not united in a spatial fight.
(photo by Frank Gatto)
I’M SO SICK - I'm so sick. I'm so sick. Hear it, I'm screaming it. You're heeding to it now. Hear it, I'm screaming it. You tremble at this sound. You sink into my clothes.
At long last, the double-barreled bottom of selfless bliss hikes up its skirt and exposes its anointed intentions once more. For those that haven’t yet released their inhibitions to become fully alive; boisterously bellowing “I’m So Sick” is a guiding light.
[By the way, for posterity's sake, my transformation of sick selfish bliss actually happened on a non-descript weekday in a very well-lit office complex a few years ago. Unbeknownst to me, I was about to be fiercely pelted with the utterance "I WILL BREAK! BRRREEEEAAAK!!!" It was FLYLEAF FTW. Game over].
CIRCLE - Circle encircles the earth.
I fully appreciate the auspicious ascent of allegory, alliteration and assimilation that these first four words of this Encyclical entitled Circle provide. I’m elaborately envisioning the visual on a fly FLYLEAF tee. Uhh, Pat, can you help a brother out?!?
FULLY ALIVE – Hammers fall on all the pieces. Two months in the cover creases.
This picture describes being Fully Alive about as Fully as possible…Reverend Seals is encircled.
(photo by Frank Gatto)
ARISE - Hold on to the world we all remember fighting for. There's still strength left in us yet. Hold on to the world we all remember dying for. There's still hope left in it yet. Sing, sing. Arise. Arise and be. All that you dreamed.
After a perfunctory spoken preamble of modesty and encouragement, these tenacious Texans launch into a new world anthem that implies the plight to Arise, Unite & Fight.
HOW HE LOVES US – When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory. And I realize just how beautiful You are.
['How He Loves Us' Live from the Memento Mori Tour at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on October 29, 2009]
Unity expressed and solidarity intact, this tribute to the words of another is a cherished way to embrace the congregation with a sturdy cloak. Once again, as I’ve noticed at past performances (i.e. at the El Rey in L.A. in the video above), Lacey’s spiritual essence visibly escalates when she belts out this cover song. It seems to comfort her like a mother embracing her precious child. She is fully alive with nothing to hide. And we are fully alive by her side as the sheer velocity of the downtown train begins to subside.
Eighteen wheels of steel etched into our psyches with rigid surgical precision in a little over an hour. The Happiest Place On Earth? Check.
HOW I THANK THEM – With aplomb. Special thanks to Jason @TheGauntlet, Polly @HouseOfBlues, Doug @A&M/Octone, photogs Andrew Phares and Frank Gatto and to Heather for carving a crowd-parting path to the photo pit.
After ten monumental shows at this year's SXSW, LISSIE MAURUS and her sidemen, guitarist Eric Sullivan and bassist/percussionist Lewis Keller, jumped the pond to begin promoting the June 21 release of LISSIE's debut album CATCHING A TIGER (CAT will first be released in the U.K. with an August 17th street date in the U.S. thru Fat Possum/Columbia).
This stunning debut album will include three of the five tracks that were on her critically-acclaimed WHY YOU RUNNIN' EP that came out in November and featured a heart-wrenching version of Hank Williams' "Wedding Bells". It also contains "In Sleep," one of my favorite songs this year. It's a tour-du-force that will remind you of a lil ole album called Rumours. Not because it's an homage to Fleetwood Mac but because it stands on its own as an instant classic, few of which are made anymore. It has that something special. And that something special is rooted in the pure unrestrained cadence of a free-spirited soul who, for years, absorbed the dark mystical energy of the Mississippi River near her hometown of Rock Island, IL. Osmosis occurred. Ms. Maurus is a vessel.
And while her vocal palette draws upon full-throated Gospel, plaintive Americana and raspy Rock N Roll, she's most often compared with vintage Stevie Nicks. It's easy to concur. At the very least, she's channeling that intangible essence. It's very organic. LISSIE doesn't seem like the 'shawl and scarf' type but perhaps, after a tambourine or two, a gold-dust doppelgänger will be in full effect. "When I'm Alone" evokes a strong case for the comparison:
LISSIE CATCHING A TIGER 1. Record Collector 2. When I'm Alone (LISTEN) 3. In Sleep (LISTEN) 4. Bully 5. Little Lovin' (Get a FREE MP3) 6. Stranger 7. Loosen The Knot 8. Cuckoo 9. Everywhere I Go 10. Worried About 11. Look Away 12. Oh Mississippi
I know it's only May, but she already has my vote for Best New Artist on the Grammy Ballot later this year...I saw five of her ten shows in Austin and ever since, I've been spreading the LISSIE gospel everywhere I go. And with Angels following me everywhere I go, I'm off to catch a tiger...I heard one was prowling down by the river.
CHRISTINA AGUILERA's new album BIONIC is releasing on June 8th and will come in multiple editions including a special Fan Edition available exclusively at ChristinaAguilera.com. Pre-order the BIONIC Fan Edition today and you will also get exclusive early access to concert tickets for her upcoming North American Tour this summer!
CHRISTINA AGUILERA BIONIC (FAN EDITION) includes: 12" x 12" custom designed Box BIONIC triple vinyl BIONIC Deluxe CD featuring 23 tracks and a lenticular album cover! 2 Exclusive Christina Collector Photos styled by D*FACE Exclusive 24" x 36" custom printed and personalized poster featuring the names of the first 5,000 pre-order customers (LIMITED TIME ONLY) Exclusive Early Access to pre-sale tickets for CHRISTINA's US Summer Tour (LIMITED TIME ONLY)
CHRISTINA AGUILERA BIONIC (DELUXE EDITION): 1. Bionic 2. Not Myself Tonight 3. Woohoo feat. Nicki Minaj 4. Elastic Love 5. Desnudate 6. Love & Glamour (intro) 7. Glam 8. Prima Donna 9. Morning Dessert (intro) 10. Sex For Breakfast 11. Lift Me Up 12. My Heart (Intro) 13. All I Need 14. I Am 15. You Lost Me 16. I Hate Boys 17. My Girls feat. Peaches 18. Vanity 19. Monday Morning 20. Bobblehead 21. Birds Of Prey 22. Stronger Than Ever 23. I Am (Stripped)
CHRISTINA AGUILERA NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES July 15 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena July 17 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Performing Arts Center July 18 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live July 20 – Toronto, ON – Molson Canadian Amphitheatre July 22 – Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center July 24 – Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre July 25 – Chicago, IL – First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre July 28 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater July 30 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center July 31 – Boston, MA – Comcast Center Aug 03 – Pittsburgh, PA – First Niagara Pavilion Aug 05 – Atlanta, GA – Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood Aug 07 – West Palm Beach, FL – Cruzan Amphitheatre Aug 08 – Tampa, FL – Ford Amphitheatre Aug 10 – Dallas, TX – Superpages.com Center Aug 12 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Aug 14 – Phoenix, AZ – US Airways Center Aug 15 – San Diego, CA – Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre Aug 18 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre Aug 19 – Irvine, CA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
L.A. based INFANTREE with band members Alex Vojdani (vocals, lyrics, guitar, keys), Matt Kronish (vocals, lyrics, guitar, banjo), Donald Fisher (vocals, lyrics, keys, bass, mandolin, guitar) and drummer Jordan Avesar recently put the finishing touches on an incredible EP called FOOD FOR THOUGHT that was released today through Vapor Records. Produced by Niko Bolas (Neil Young, Crosby Stills & Nash, Melissa Etheridge), it is available at fine digital music stores worldwide.
INFANTREE FOOD FOR THOUGHT [EP] (Vapor Records) 1. Speak Up (Listen) 2. Mourning Glory 3. Euphemism 4. Feet of Clay 5. Rubbed Raw 6. Oil Can
Check out the terrific video for the mesmerizing song OIL CAN (directed by Matt Rabinowitz)
Anchored by a lifetime of songcraft and production know-how, synthesizer-pioneer Gary Wright will release CONNECTED on June 8th, his first pop-rock album in over 20 years.
This bold new album is an inspirational journey that instills Wright’s self-realized world-unifying vision with the magical transcendence of his all-time classic hits “Dream Weaver” and “Love Is Alive” and a masterful reminder of Gary’s innate ability to forge a sublime musical connection with the inner human desire that engages one to move, to groove, to clap one’s hands and to sing along.
The mood heats up from the get go with the majestic first single “Satisfied,” featuring iconic legends RINGO STARR on drums and JOE WALSH on guitar. Replete with a deliciously funky keyboard riff amid life-affirming vocals, it’s an effervescent soul-enriching sojourn. “Satisfied” will be available as a digital single beginning May 18th. Future singles from CONNECTED include ‘Get Your Hands Up’ and ‘Gimme Some Time’ with Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter on guitar.
Two years in the making, Wright recalls the album’s genesis, “Right before I started the last Ringo All Starr tour in 2008 I began to write for what would be this new studio album. I wanted it to be in the same direction that my album The Dream Weaver was; not too over-produced. So I recorded a few tracks with my engineer Rob Calhoun, who was very helpful in running the technology part of the process and then I went on tour with Ringo. That September after the tour was over I went to Sardinia, Italy where I wrote more songs (on acoustic guitar) and returned home to finish writing and recording the album.”
A wave of high-profile events will surround the release of CONNECTED beginning with Gary’s participation in a 30-city national trek as a part of the ‘RINGO STARR and his ALL-STARR BAND’ tour from June 24th through August 7th. This fall, Wright will appear in Martin Scorcese’s GEORGE HARRISON biopic while ‘Dream Weaver’ will be prominently featured in a May 18th episode of the hit TV show GLEE and Disney’s TOY STORY 3 in 3-D. A new generation is set to have their hearts, minds and souls CONNECTED.
GARY WRIGHT CONNECTED TRACK LISTING: 1) Satisfied 2) Get Your Hands Up 3) Under Your Spell 4) No One Does It Better 5) Can’t Find No Mercy 6) Life’s Not A Battlefield 7) Gimme Some Time 8) Connected 9) Kirra Layne 10) You Make Me Feel Better
PERSONNEL Gary Wright- vocals, keyboards
w/ Special Guests: Ringo Starr – Drums (on “Satisfied”) Joe Walsh – Guitar (on “Satisfied” and “You Make Me Feel Better”) Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter – Guitar (on “Satisfied” and “Gimme Some Time”) Will Kennedy – Drums Valerie Pinkston – Backing Vocals Lisa Vaughn – Backing Vocals
NEIL YOUNG is in the midst of his solo acoustic Twisted Road Tour which hit Knoxville last night for a show at the Civic Auditorium. To celebrate Neil's revered legacy, METRO PULSE ran a nice feature paying tribute to him through the words and thoughts of Knoxville's finest songwriters and creative minds. 
“Motion Pictures"
“Long May You Run”
