Cheating, Lying & The Brass Kings

Posted at 6:00 AM on February 20, 2010 by Dale Connelly (12 Comments)

Tonight on Radio Heatland on Minnesota Public Radio News stations, we'll start with an hour of songs that chronicle the full catalog of human romantic misery. We'll get mistrust, denial, blame & jealousy - all your favorites - a toxic brew of unhappiness sure to counterbalance any feelings of starry-eyed love left over from Valentine's Day. This hour was originally broadcast last August, but the emotions are timeless.

In hour two, I'll welcome The Brass Kings to our studio. Steve Kaul, Mikkel Beckman and Brad Ptachek have a new disc called "Live Humdinger", which was recorded at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. Like one of those weird M.C.Escher prints full of impossible perspectives, vanishing stairways and odd reflections, the band will play a live concert at the Cedar to officially release this recording of a live concert at the Cedar.

Don't think too hard on that. It'll hurt. Their show is on Friday, February 26th.

One of the songs they guys will perform tonight is so new, it doesn't have a name yet. Radio Heartland listeners are encouraged to listen to the tune and post a suggestion here on the Trial Balloon blog. It's not a contest and there's no guarantee that they'll use the name you offer, but the certainly can't use it if you won't write it down!

Songs of emotional strife and The Brass Kings, tonight on Radio Heartland!

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Comments (12)

Dale, I've never quite figured out what qualifies a musician to be included in RH. My current favorite performer is someone you never (to my knowledge) have played: Vienna Teng. She is a powerful and intelligent performer who writes songs that stand up to the standards of poetry and then sings them so well it is hard to imagine anyone else doing that material. Maybe she's too avante garde for RH.

Vienna Teng's "Antebellum" is a masterpiece in the genre of songs about love gone amok. The singer refers to the little understandings she and her former lover have worked out to keep the battles from raging out of control. She speaks of good times, but:

But then the fights...
The sharp words splintering the night,
How I couldn't be what you'd need...
But oh how I could make you bleed...

Something much more conventional but radical in its time is Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, it's Alright." It is a breakup song that manages to diss the former lover who "just wasted my precious time." Ouch!

Posted by Steve in Saint Paul | February 20, 2010 9:58 AM

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Greetings! Steve, she sounds like a cool musician. I'm not always attracted to words in songs -- more the tone, style and rhythm. So I'm looking forward to hearing the Brass Kings tonight. I'll be sure to get a nap after karate so I can stay awake!

Posted by Joanne in Big Lake | February 20, 2010 11:32 AM

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But Steve - wouldn't you agree that if you relinquish your heart, but the lover insists on possessing your soul, s/he has it coming? (RE: Don't Think Twice)

Hi Joanne! What time will you be napping? We should synchronize.

Posted by Donna | February 20, 2010 1:39 PM

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On Saturday afternoon, it is time for a nap,
I will not answer, if on my window you tap.
I will think for a moment of love long lost.
Merely for a moment; then think small cost
Of giving up those who then at that time
Seemed all and everything I wanted to find.
But now I am here with a heart close to mine
Two lives long walking in very close rhyme.
Together we'll sleep an hour, maybe two.
We'll wake and walk, our one end to pursue.

Posted by Clyde | February 20, 2010 3:58 PM

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Hi Everyone, nice music and good conversation. I enjoyed tonight's selections, not mentioning my old favorite Tom Waits blaming the piano. Dale I am remembering listening to the morning show a few years ago and you commented that Tom Waits' piano sounds "distressed" I think you suggested that he might throw it down the stairs before playing it. This still makes me chuckle.

Posted by michelle in Winona | February 20, 2010 9:59 PM

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Clyde, that is a lovely ode to naps. I don't normally do naps, but I had one today from 4-5pm, so I could listen to whole show tonight. Keeping busy making raw date cookies and now I'm starting my homemade granola. A spot of tea sounds wonderful, too, now that I think of it! Anxiously awaiting the Brass Kings ,,,

Posted by Joanne in Big Lake | February 20, 2010 10:03 PM

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Brass King's are smokin! I'm lovin it! Thanks for the Radio Heartland Express....loved the thump you had going!

Posted by Tohr in St Paul | February 20, 2010 10:44 PM

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Greetings! Not sure what to call that new Brass Kings song -- "Now That You're Gone Blues" or "Tapping out of Town." The beginning sequence sounded like Fred Astaire tap dancing to me -- finally realized it's their washboard! I'm sure someone else can come up with a better name ...

Love the Radio Heartland Express!

Posted by Joanne in Big Lake | February 20, 2010 10:45 PM

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Thanks for the song title suggestions, Joanne!
I'll pass them along to the guys.

Posted by Dale Connelly | February 20, 2010 11:00 PM

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Listened to the BK's untitled song a second time - thanks to RH's additional programming - and came up with:
"Back Roads Roam" or "Road to Roam" or "Take Me Back to Roam."

Posted by Donna | February 21, 2010 2:19 PM

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Dale, the Escher analogy was very clever; I have a friend who says le lives an Escher life.

Posted by Clyde | February 21, 2010 2:25 PM

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OR "Gone to Roam or "Up and Gone to Roam."
(definitely have roam stuck in my head)

Hi Clyde - good nap poem, dude!

Posted by Donna | February 21, 2010 2:34 PM

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