The Current Music Blog: June 17, 2009 Archive

Today In Music History: The Kinks Arrive In The States

Posted at 7:42 AM on June 17, 2009 by Steve Seel

Barry Manilow, (born Barry Alan Pincus) is 64.
Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) is 51.

1967 - Moby Grape released five singles simultaneously in their debut with the CBS label.
1968 - The Ohio Express got their first gold single with "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy."
1978 - "You're The One That I Want" by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (from the film Grease) started a nine week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart.
1978 - Jefferson Starship failed to perform at a festival in Germany because singer Grace Slick was unable to go onstage. Angry fans started a riot and caused over a million dollars in damage.
1989 - Ringo Starr announced he would tour again for the first time in several years. His first All-Starr Band included Clarence Clemons, Joe Walsh, Billy Preston, and Nils Lofgren.
2005 - Soul Asylum bassist Karl Mueller died of throat cancer. He was 41.

Today in 1965, The Kinks made their US concert debut at the Academy of Music in New York City. An early Kinks song from that era was our choice today: "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion."

Another free tune to get you prepped for Rock The Garden!

Posted at 10:10 AM on June 17, 2009 by Barb Abney

Calexico will be playing Rock The Garden along with The Decemberists, Yeasayer and Solid Gold this Saturday.

Today on our Song Of The Day podcast you can grab the tune "Two Silver Trees" from their record, Carried To Dust for free!

If you're a new subscriber to the Song Of The Day podcast, you'll also receive new music from Polly Scattergood, local music from Solid Gold and Yeasayer

Later this week we will be featuring new music from The Decemberists and local music from Two Harbors.

Calexico have recently contributed a song to the tribute album Man of Somebody's Dreams a tribute to musician Chris Gaffney.

Clap Your Hands Say "Woo"

Posted at 10:15 AM on June 17, 2009 by Steve Seel

It's a trend we've noticed for some time: songs that end in a small smattering of applause. Not live performances; songs recorded in the studio. We're not sure where it began (the Beatles' "Continuing Story of Bungalo Bill"? Captain & Tennille's "Love Will Keep Us Together"?), but over the years it's become a kind of quirky stylistic production element at the end of a song. Every time I play one of these tunes, I think, "someday, we're gonna have to do a set around this topic." Well, we made it our topic today, for the 9:30 Coffee Break.

The problem with doing such a set is remembering which songs have these little mini-ovations at the end, because Jill and I never remember to keep a running list of them. The solution, then, is asking our listeners to remind us. And you did! We played six.

1) Weezer, "Photograph"
2) Wilco, "Casino Queen"
3) Fountains of Wayne, "Red Dragon Tattoo"
4) Sufjan Stevens, "Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!"
5) Badly Drawn Boy, "Four Leaf Clover"
6) The White Stripes, "Well It's True That We Love One Another"

Nice job everybody!

Win tix to SOLD OUT shows..

Posted at 11:38 AM on June 17, 2009 by Barb Abney

Sure, we are giving you chances to win tickets to these shows. But don't you wanna hanna hedge your bets to win tickets to a couple of the most highly anticipated shows of the next week or so?

Tonight, Brits Pub will be giving away 10 pairs of Rock the Garden tickets at their Pre Rock The Garden Party.

More Cowbell is giving away tickets to next week's SOLD OUT Phoenix show.

3 songs for when you can't get through on the request line...

Posted at 12:05 PM on June 17, 2009 by Barb Abney (2 Comments)

Jacob S. from Oakdale, MN picked today's My 3 Songs set because...

"I listen to The Current every day of my life, on the ride to and from school, and when I drive anywhere else, even though I have an ipod, I usually find that you guys play what I want to hear. I plan on becoming a supporting member as soon as I get a full time job, which will be September.

If you play it, thank you so much, if you dont play it, no biggie, I'll always listen "

We Are Scientists - "It's a Hit"
Von Bondies - "C'mon C'mon"
Unknown Prophets - "The Road Less Traveled"

Make your "My 3 Songs" requests here.

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