More than Before

With the capitol being marched on and around and through by over 75,000 people today, (correction, over 100,000 people) I shared in another day of believing that my voice matters. Before marching, I had the privileged to play some art over the free airwaves (well, sorta). I want to thank Tony Brown for blessing the show with his call in with discussions and stories or things real and true. Tony will be live at the Brink Lounge March 1. I also want to thank Doug Jenkins from the Portland Cello Project for being another phone in guest today as we talked about what to expect when they are in town on March 4th at the High Noon Saloon, how beer and cello go well together and the hope to march together on the square when they arrive. Here is what it looked like in the box score:

Bigredbutton- Carey Ott
What do I Care?- Eddie Spaghetti

—————–
Palestine- Yann Tiersen
(For the Love of) Mr. Okra- 7 Walkers

Dignity (Piano Demo)- Bob Dylan
Mountains of the Moon- Keller & the Keels (live)
Snake Woman- Charlie Wooton Project
——————-
Break my Heart- Judybats
River Deep, Mountain High- Ike & Tina Turner
Best Bad Luck- Bandallamas w/Jane Wiedlin
Permanent Record- the Golden Dogs
Honey Bee- the Bridge
Dixieland- Swamp Cabbage (live)
——————-
Sir Duke- Devon Allman’s Honeytribe
Drill Motor- the Francesco Brothers
Janxta Funk- the Pimps of Joytime
Get Ready- Basement Freaks
Soul Clap- Frootful
Dapper Dan- Speedometer
Getting Squinty- Club d’Elf
Tragedy in Blue- DJ Harry
Milano New York Solo Andata- Calibro 35

——————
Infalilibe Chisoni- the Green Arrows
Bamako- Les Chicharrons
——————-
4 9 8- Gutbucket
Brain Dance- Carlo de Rosa’s Cross Fade
Black Tusk- Lumerians

——————-
Destiny- Dub is a Weapon
Africa is Calling- Mamadee & Kymani Marley
Kuan Yin’s Tears- Tony Brown
**Live on air Chat with Tony Brown**
Do Whatcha Want me to do (Remix)- Tony Brown
——————
Sand- Club d’Elf
*On air Chat w/Doug Jenkins from Portland Cello Project*
All of the Lights- Portland Cello Project
—————–
Early in the Morning- Charming Hostess
Home- the pickPocket Ensemble
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Bang Band- Monophonics
Salahahdeen- Jajouka Soundsystem

History on the Square

With all the action going on at our capitol with the governor trying to be bold….I was keeping the flow focused on open minded peaceful protesting and putting down some tunes that would keep the walkers walking. There are sometimes when you feel history being made around you, these have been some of those days. Here’s where the flow took my march:

Girl on the Billboard- Eddie Spaghetti
Darkness Darkness- Robert Plant
(hey Uncle Sam) leave us pot smokers alone-the Toyes
—————–
Can’t be mad for Nothing- Banjo or Freakout
Dying Bed- Charming Hostess
Stropy- Už Jsme Doma
Your Cat- Steve Tibbetts
Final Sun- Beaten by Them

Dark Matter- Bruce Arnold
——————
Too High for the Supermarket- the Uninvited
Makumba- Hi Fi
——————
Tar Hani- Bombino
At Vaani- Yemen Blues
Ecos de Radio Iguana- Sarazino

——————
Move!- Damian Marley w/Stephen Marley
Forwarding Home- Dub is a Weapon
The Harder they Come- Josh Charles
——————
a Love Jam- Melvin Sparks
Walking-the Pimps of Joytime (ft. Roy Ayers)
Boo Lynn Waltz- Mamarazzi
Hawt Sauce- Frootful
Speed Trap- Speedometer
the Source- Empresario
Svolta Sul Caso D’amario- Calibro 35

——————
Hey Mama- the Bridge
King of the 2nd Line- Dr. Michael White (live)
Some Iko- Henry Butler (live)
Go to the Mardi Gras- Cowboy Mouth
Carnival Time- Cowboy Mouth

Til your fool Comes Home- James Hunter
——————-
Where do I begin- Bill Easley
State of Mind-Marcus Miller w/L’Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo ft Raul Midon/Roy Hargrove (live)

——————-
Fortune teller- Xavier Rudd
Edna’s Biscuits- Skeebo Knight
Kubrick- John Scofield
——————-
Vida de Estrela- Pierre Aderne
Railroad- Monla
African mailman- Rhythmagic Orchestra

——————-
The Bass- Quad City DJs
Crowd Control- MC Zulu
Anti Pop Song- Ancient Astronauts

Ever More Better- Tough Junkie

Miss Meaghan Owens’ Voice

….is so downright filled with meaning and sass that I don’t quite know how to describe it. Miss Meaghan Owens is a delight as a person and a treat as a story teller and stage presence. Don’t let her “cute’ fool ya either. She can sing you a song that’ll make you blush but the next one can make you want to watch your back on the way out and all the way home. This night she was playing at a local spot and while people enjoyed the dining experience, many made sure to wave goodbye and share a wink or a smile with Meaghan. She is a memorable singer/songwriter and I wouldn’t just take it from me, check her out and she when/if you’ll have a chance to catch up with her next.


photo: Sweet William Images

It went That-a-Way

And Let’s Follow it:

Come on in my Kitchen- Keb Mo
Louie Louie- Robert Plant
Walk the Way- Aerosmith (live)
Back on the Streets- Chow Nasty
——————-
So High- Ringo Deathstarr
Stick w/me Kid- the Dears
Round and Round She Goes- New York Dolls

———————
Blue Drag- Allen Toussaint
C’est L’heure pour Changer- Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
Gardes la bas- Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole
the Mardi Gras 2nd Line- Los Hombres Caliente (live)
Zulu Street- Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen (live)
Bittersweet- Galactic
Funky Bird- Galactic
———————-
Astronaughty- Frootful
Work it out- Speedomter

House Party- the Funkmasters
Blast!-Marcus Miller w/L’Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo (live)
———————–
Kibo- the Shaolin Afronauts
Get Up- Kaleta & Zozo Afrobeat
Voodoo Child (slight Return)- Angelique Kidjo
Dem They Those Us and We- Tony Brown
See Dem a Come Deh- Buju Banton
Arena- Crookers FT. Poirier & Face T

Indecisive Baby- Hi Fi
Calvert Street Rock- Ancient Astronauts
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Green Tea- John Scofield
Bobby White in the City- Todd Clouser’s A love Electric
Fire in the Brain- Club d’Elf
Wisdom of Antiquity- Break Science
———————-
Let’s Get it on-Marvin Gaye (Beatnick/K Salaam Mix)
———————-
Is this Heaven?- Euphoria
I don’t Want to Work- Kabanjak
Clownie- Innamorati

———————-
Song of Hope- BT3
W.R.U.- Matt Haimovitz
Armitage Shanks- the Claudia Quintet w/Gary Versace
Dance of Reflection- Omar Sosa

Creole and Beyond

The great hall of the Memorial Union here on the campus of the University of Wisconsin Madison has many faces on tonight. As the music began it was Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole causing a whole lotta happiness, dancing happiness from the first note all the way through. Playing songs that obviously had much meaning to the band, which carried right over to the crowd filling the hall. Ced went from fiddle to accordion and Lance Boston’s clarinet found a home right on the tips of my inner ear that I swear was the tickle of the band that I felt was personal to me. I would always make sure I’d see a show where this band, in any form was a part of the scene. A good time is sure to follow! Speaking of, right after Cedric and Bijou Creole, we were treated to the unique stylings of Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys. As Steve mentioned in our recent conversation on the show, this album “GRAND ISLE”, is a pot filled with “Survivor Joy” and gets much of it’s meaning and backbone from the Cajun people and their strong will through many struggles and such devastating atrocities. Both Steve and co-leader, David Greely take that energy while playing the new tunes but sure seem to add that “truth” to the tracks they played that came along before some of the more recent events in memory. A Madison crowd certainly takes to that real feel and the dancing was continued to be driven with smiles at the wheel. What a perfect billing of two incredible acts that share so much tradition being kept alive by the very people who reflect the sounds that continue to come from the souls of the Cajun people. From solo ballads to swamp pop blasts and funkified two-steps, this night had it all.

The Wailers BrinG it.

The feeling was easy to let you get away, as the Wailers were in town to bring their mighty soul and sound into Madison on a night where temperatures were hovering at 0 degrees all night long. The Majestic Theater was almost filled with an all ages Reggae fest that closed up with the HIGHlite of the night, the band that “Legends” were made from. Opening the night was, Tomorrow’s Bad Seeds and Duane Stephenson. I caught a couple of tunes by Duane Stephenson which carried the roots/dancehall rhythms with it wrapped tightly in a positive vibe and a beautiful voice. The Wailers came on with the beautiful “Coming in from the Cold” off up UPRISING, which was the album they decided to sample throughout the night here in Madtown. The sound immediately took over the crowd with an ebb and flow that must have carried itself out onto the streets downtown, as a really interesting “I Shot the Sheriff” weaved its way past the renditions we all were accustomed to and led us off the path to familiarity where only live music can. As the show went on, the band took on a taste of the favorites with many tracks off of LEGEND, which had the crowd voice tested several times as they sang along as if they too were in the studio feeling the song for the first time. Aston Barrett’s bass thumps stretched out over the room as a center point to the groups legacy, and I for one was glad my ears got another chance at grabbing at that sound in a setting other than an outside large music festival setting. The sound of his bass was like a handshake between friends. This event was well attended by ages groups that covered a wide range, and here in Madison…..I think we like it that way.

aBRIDGEd

Today was a show filled with connections. I want to thank Miss Meaghan Owens for being an early riser and being a guest in the first hour talking about what she’s been up to since our Ramblin’ Jack hang, her show tonight in Madison and the shower thing. A big soulful embrace of a thank you to Chandrika Tandon for making the time to share stories about life and music as she prepares for the Grammys next week. Cris Jacobs was another on air guest, his band, the Bridge will be at the Majestic on 2/17 with the Pimps of Joytime and Galactic. Here’s the shape the show took on:

Doom- Tim Reynolds
Apparition- Keller Williams
the Garden- Nathan Moore
La Curva- Vinicius Cantuaria & Bill Frisell

**Miss Meaghan Owens On air Conversation**
Texas Girl Storm Devil Thang- Miss Meaghan Owens
——————-
Try to Understand- Eric Lindell
the Hustle is on- Taj Mahal
Furious Angel- Soulhound
the Hottest Spot in Hell- JJ Grey & Mofro
Don’t Tread on Me- John Popper & the Duskray Troubadours

Big Medicine- Treat Her Right
the Rest of my Life- Yellowbirds
——————
the Hook & Sling- Eddie Bo (Rob Swift Mix)
Hope you got the Message- Speedometer
Journey Through Time- the Shaolin Afronauts
Dirty Laundry- the Pimps of Joytime
Bass & Time- Ancient Astronauts

Rope on Fire- Club d’Elf (live)
Open Country Joy- Matt Haimovitz FT. John McLaughlin
Moondance- Herb Alpert w/Lani Hall

——————–
Parade- Revolutionary Snake Ensemble
Gimme Some more- the JB’s (live)
Ain’t it the Truth- Catalyst
——————–
Just a Dream- Taj Weekes & Adowa
Higher Meditation- Yvad
Jah Army- Stephen Marley w/Damian Marley

Hurt us no More- Buju Banton
the Lost Song- the Cat Empire
——————–
Basanth- Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon
**On Air Conversation w/Chandrika Tandon**
Basanth Mukhari (edit)- Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon
——————–
Rome wasn’t Built in a Day- Morcheeba
You can Count on me- Angelique Kidjo
Heavy Water- the Bridge
** Live on air chat with Cris Jacobs of the Bridge**
Rosie- the Bridge
——————-
Swoon Unit- Digable Planets
Rude Profile- Fleck & Fish Finger
High(Redux)-Break Science w/Bajah & the Dry Eye Crew FT. Jahdan Blakkamoore

Time for Livin’- the Beastie Boys (live)
Deep End- Robert Miles

Keller Williams Loop

The treat during winter time is when artists come on into Madison and warm the place up. That is exactly what the uncanny charm of Keller Williams seemed to do tonight as he brought his guitar goodness to the Majestic. He has his stage set up for antics and “in the moment”-ness, but it’s the sound and crowd involvement that really sets the show apart. He quickly got the “MADISON” portion of his show nailed down, including the city in many of his tunes. His bass loops gave the show it’s heartbeat that danced on into the night. It is always a festival feel when Keller gets it going. The environment was filled with happy-go-lucky listeners and groovers that stayed with him in the moment. As some Dead came off his strings, you just had to poke around a few steps away for the heart of the crowd. As usual, Keller put forth many covers done in a way only a loop-star can pull off and there were plenty of KW originals in the mix to keep the crowd on their improvisational toes. Whenever I see Keller Williams live, the one thing I can always appreciate is the “expect the unexpected” and that is exactly just what I believe live music is mostly about.