Evening Machines

Gregory Alan Isakov - 'Evening Machines' from 2018 on vinyl and the Dualtone label. Singer/Songwriter from Colorado, first heard live on a National Public Radio broadcast a few years ago. 

Turned out to be a great day to be tuned in or else I might have remained clueless through life.

I never see any of his recordings in record stores. I finally ordered a cd offering online a few months ago. Very excited upon its arrival which quickly soured upon discovery of Rickie Lee Jones, 'Flying Cowboys' inside the packaging. Nothing against RLJ but I already have Flying Cowboys on vinyl in my collection. After the passing of a month or so, I decided to take another chance on this one. 

Jazz Conversation

A short conversation with a fellow old guy in the narrow aisle of the record store. He apparently recognized this record I had chosen and asked if I was a Jazz fan? He told me that he had ordered a Julie London record. Just moments before, I had been listening to female Jazz vocalists from the 1950's on the car radio. He said that he was buying as much vinyl as he could right now. That he was retiring soon and was afraid he wouldn't be able to afford the habit at that point. I told him that was one of my great fears as well. In fact, it's one of my top five reasons why I have not seriously considered the thought of retirement yet.,

Record stores are great places for striking up conversations with random strangers. And these days, for us oldsters, a greater sense of the people and community around us is needed. 

Picked up three records: 1) Bill Berry's L.A. Big Band - 'Hello Rev' .... 2) Stan Kenton and His Orchestra - 'Live at Humbolt State College' .... and 3) Duke Ellington and His Orchestra - 'Such Sweet Thunder.'

AM Radio

Listening to the local AM-radio, oldies station that I grew up listening to as a young teen in the late 1960's ...... In the days before I discovered FM-radio. It was a top forty station back then. If you heard a song that you really liked, you'd just have to wait an hour or two and there was a good chance you would hear it again. Of course it worked like that for the songs you didn't care for also. Hence my distaste at the time for the song, 'In the Year 2525' by Zagar & Evans.' 

I've since made my peace with old emotions and can tolerate that song if it comes on the radio these days.

The station has survived and kept the same four letter ID all this time. But now it's an oldies station with no rhyme or reason to their playlist order. They might play 'Hotel California' by The Eagles and follow it up with that 'Louie, Louie' song from the 1950's or early 60's or whenever the hell it was from. I don't call that 'easy listening' ..... More like 'difficult listening.'

• Neil Diamond - Shilo
• Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In the Sky
• Eric Burdon & The Animals - Sky Pilot
• Tony Joe White - Polk Salad Annie
• Main Title from the movie, 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly'

Late Night Frenzy

Just another late night hour (or two) with OPB Music Radio .....

• Best Coast - Boyfriend
• Cloud Cult - Chemicals Collide
• No Aloha - In Your Car
• RAC - Passion
• Caveman - Thankful
• Kyle Craft - Of Lucky Hand
• Eleanor Friedberger - He Didn't Mention His Mother
• Deerhoof - Future Teenage Cave Artists
• The Good The Bad and the Queen - The Poison Tree
• Margaret Glaspy - Stay With Me
• Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart
• Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Faded In the Morning
• Caroline Rose - Feel the Way I Want 

Short But Great OPB Radio Playlist

• Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Bad Brood *****
• The National - Conversation 16
• Elbow - The Delayed 3:15  ..... I keep mistaking Elbow's lead singer for Peter Gabriel. I'm sure that Guy Garvey will enjoy reading that. But hey!! It kept me listening the first time. It sent me on a voyage of discovery.
• Julien Baker - Something
• The Decemberists - Make You Better ..... And their from Oregon!!!

Afternoon OPB Playlist

A rare early afternoon session with OPB Music. Usually reserved for late nights.

Sudden sad news yesterday that my local record store is closing. No indication beforehand that it was being considered, even as I spoke to one of the owners the day before about sisters (mine) and fathers (hers). It says '#retirement' on the store's facebook page but I can't help but wonder if the sight of too many people in the store with limited floor space during this covid crap has something to do with it? I know that it caused me to feel uncomfortable and exit much sooner than I usually would have. I actually wondered at the time if they were feeling uncomfortable as well? If they saw closing the store as the only option for staying safe and healthy?

• The Strokes - The Adults Are Talking
• The Beths - Dying to Believe
• Post Animal - Special Moment
• The Cure - Lovesong ..... A classic from the 1980's.
• Leon Bridges - Sweeter
• The Velvet Underground - Femme Fatale
• Elbow - White Noise White Heat ..... I hear something in this that reminds me of Peter Gabriel.
• Andrew Bird - A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left
• Margaret Glaspy - Devotion
• Pinegrove - Phase
• Doves - Winter Hill *****
• Mondo Cozmo -  Upside Down
• Soccer Mommy - Lucy
• Christian Lee Hutson - Get the Old Band Back Together ..... First time I've ever heard the words in song: "You know I can still kick all your asses."
• The Airborne Toxic Event - Hollywood Park

Another OPB Radio Playlist

Late night, in and out of the room, tuned in to OPB Music Radio, playlist .....

• Hanni El Khatib - ALIVE
• Caribou - Home
• The Clash - Spanish Bombs ..... Their 'London Calling' album continues to be one of the holes in my vinyl collection. Can't ever find it at a price I am willing to pay. 
• Car Seat Headrest - Can't Cool Me Down
• The Pixies - All Over the World
• Cloud Control - Scar ..... The highlight of the listening session.
• Andrew Bird - Fake Palindromes ..... What's a palindrome?
• Brownish Black - Dance Fever ..... Reminding of the disco dance competition television show from the 1980's.
• Phosphene - Cocoon

May 1977 Late Night Jazz

Because I came across an empty cassette case that I had labeled: 'Steve Kuhn ..... Side One ..... album "Motility"  ..... And dated the recording to tape, 5-11-77. It was from a Portland, OR radio station late night broadcast program, called 'Light's Out.' Anyway, the tape is missing so this is what came up when I entered 'Steve Kuhn - Motility" in a youtube search.

There are several other items on this tape. It was just a younger me, recording from radio broadcasts of this program over several nights. There's some Chick Corea, 'The Hilltop', Keith Jarrett from his 'Facing You'  album. Also some Gary Burton from his 'Passengers' album, some title less John Abercrombie, plus music from a 'State of Siege' soundtrack .... and more.

Good chance that this was my introduction to Jazz.

Sunday Evening Playlist

Sunday night listening to OPB Music Radio, hoping to discover something new.

• Houndstooth - No News From Home
• Michael Nau - Hoops ..... OK so now I'm thinking about basketball, even if that's not what the song is about.
• Woods - Where Do You Go When You Dream? ..... Seems like frightening places more often than pleasant places.
• Phantogram - Into Happiness
• The Black Keys - Gold on the Ceiling
• Deer Tick - Mange ..... 'Mange'? I'm going to attempt to use that on the word game I play online.
• Stephen Malkmus - Shadowbanned
• Laura Marling - The Muse
• Ages and Ages - No Nostalgia ..... That's always been one of my biggest problems .... Way too much nostalgia. For everything that's passed it seems.
• Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
• Weyes Blood - Something to Believe
• The National - Bloodbuzz, Ohio

Big Band Jazz Radio

A few years ago, I stumbled across this treasure trove of  recordings of old radio programs in an antique shop. There were nine or ten records in the bins. I knew nothing about them but the price was good so I took a chance on one, loved it and quickly returned to purchase the others. Shortly later, I discovered three or four more records from the series in my local record store.

Live recordings of Big Band Jazz and Swing from the 1930's and 40's on the Hindsight Records label. I think there's a few from 1950's programs as well. There's an announcer introducing each song which gives the feeling of sitting around a radio in those years, possibly on a Saturday or Sunday evening ..... Maybe a glimpse into what my parents and grandparents life may have been like.

Mono recordings. Interesting liner and song notes on the back side of each album cover. Part of my awakening in recent years into styles other than the music I grew up with. Sometimes the search for vinyl records leads to great discoveries. History!!!

Just Another Late Night Online Radio Listening Playlist

• Shearwater - The Snow Leopard
• Dum Dum Girls - Too True To Be Good
• Deerhunter - Plains

I can always count on being exposed to bands and music that are new to me. These late night listening sessions are quite possibly my main source of discovering new sounds these days. 

• Summer Cannibals - Not Your Turn
• Eyelids - The Accidental Falls
• Spoon - Black Like Me ..... There's a few seconds of piano that remind me of Martha My Dear by The Beatles. Not sure if anyone else would hear it.
• The Afghan Whigs - Algiers ..... One of those bands whose name I've seen around for years but have no idea what they sound like ..... until now that is. This has a slight early to mid 1980's, U2 feel to my ears. Further investigation required.
• Wajatta - Don't Let Get You Down
• The Raveonettes - Aly, Walk With Me
• King Tuff - Keep On Movin'

Prior to this listening session, I was making up a online grocery list but quit in frustration as every pickup date for the next week was apparently taken. I guess they don't want my money. 

• MAITA - Kid Anymore
• Fontaines D.C. - Boys In The Better Land
• Broken Social Scene - 7/4 (Shoreline) ..... Another familiar name and no previous idea of their sound. I think I saw a recording or two just this morning while looking at the Third Man Records page. Again, more investigation needed.
• Bright Eyes - Persona Non Grata
• Feist - I Feel It All ..... "I know more than I knew before." *****

OPB Playlist

Stay at home order in effect and being followed. Time for another OPB Playlist ….

• Marika Hackman - Blow
• Phoebe Bridgers - Motion Sickness
• Sam Phillips - Don't Do Anything ….. Love when an musician/band pops up on OPB's playlist who I can claim to be a longtime fan of.
• Rilo Kiley - Portions For Foxes ..... It's looking a little like it's a female artist spotlight type of night. Not that there's anything wrong with that. 
• Eyelids - The Minutes
• Andrew Bird - Fallorun
• Patti Smith - Dancing Barefoot ….. I should know this and am embarrassed to even ask here, even as I know no one will likely read this page but is this a cover version? Seems like I know this song by another musician. 
• Sandy) Alex G - Hope
• The Antlers - Hotel
• Dirty Projectors - Overlord
• Jose Gonzalez - This Is How We Walk on the Moon

A quick search and the discovery that 'Dancing Barefoot' is an early U2 song. No wonder it sounded so familiar. A B-side that appeared years later as a bonus track and one of the reasons that I loved the concept of bonus tracks on compact discs. But why didn't I just recognize it without the research? 

• Jonathan Something - Unfortunately Blue
• Lomelda - Interstate Vision
• Sharon Van Etten - One Day
• Alela Diane - Moves Us Blind ..... Nothing quite like being up at 2:00am, sipping orange juice,  listening to internet radio and discovering new sounds. I never know when to stop, always telling myself: "Just one more."
• Black Belt Eagle Scout - My Heart Dreams *****
• Y La Bamba - November ***** ..... Was thinking: Who does this tune remind me of? Oh Yeah, The Sundays!!
• Houndstooth - No News From Home

Saturday Evening Radio Playlist

Saturday evening. Too wet and chilly to be running about outside. So a little Oregon Public Broadcasting music stream is in order. Always with some new and different sounds mixed with a few classics for these aging ears.

• Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside - God's Away On Business
• The Devil Makes Three - All Hail
• Daniel Norgren - Dandelion Time
• STRFKR - Open Your Eyes
• Dan Dan - Circuit
• David Bowie - The Stars (Are Out Tonight) *****
• Andy Shauf - Things I Do
• Jeff Tweedy - Family Ghost
• The Prids - Summer Cult *****
• Alvvays - In Undertow
• Lala Lala and WHY? - Siren 042
• Saintseneca - The Awefull Yawn
• Toro Y Moi - Girl Like You
• Tommy Alexander - Time and Time Again
• She-Devils - Hey Boy

I keep saying to myself: "Time to end this and move on to whatever's next in my evening …. But maybe just one more song." Because the alternative tonight was watching my list of Twitter followers go up and down.

• Bon Iver - Naeem
• Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Heavy Metal
• Dana Buoy - Bloom
• Corridor - Junior *****
• La Luz - Cicada

Weekend's End Playlist

Because the weekend is nearly over. One needs a playlist for that occasion right? Via OPB Music …..

• Low - Just Make It Stop
• Aan - Cause and Effect
• Stars - Ageless Beauty
• Reptaliens - Olive Boy
• Wild Ones - It's Real ….. Has a Portlandia, girl band feel to it. Assuming I know that sound when I hear it.
• Black Belt Eagle Scout - Loss and Relax
• Sharon Van Etten - Kevin's
• Kings of Convenience - Misread *****
• Daniel Norgren - Dandelion Time
• Elliott Smith - Condor Ave. ***** ….. About as Portlandia as it gets!!
• Alabama Shakes - Hold On
• Midlake - Head Home *****
• A Tribe Called Quest - Dis Generation 

Afternoon Playlist

Another OPB Playlist. This time late afternoon/early evening listening …..

• Marika Hackman - I'm Not Where You Are
• Tracy Chapman - Change
• Fruit Bats - The Bottom of It
• Midlake - Head Home
• Crooked Still - Can't You Hear Me Calling
• Amelia - Between the Bars
• Phantogram - Into Happiness
• Sparklehorse - Piano Fire *****
• Post Animal - Ralphie

Discovering Gold

OPB Music overnight streaming ….. turning me on to new sounds and causing sudden trips to the record store. This is from three evenings ago.

• Craig Finn - When No One's Watching
• Geographer - I'm Ready
• Wye Oak - Before
• Beirut - Gallipoli ***** …… I'm obsessed with the trumpets on this. I'd heard it once or twice before but it was this listen that opened my ears to the beauty of the trumpets.
• Dan Black featuring Kid Codi - Symphonies ***** …..  Leading to a download.
• Other Lives - Take Us Alive
• Nilufer Yanya - Paralyzed
• Boreen - Lovely
• Aan - Cause and Effect
• Dinosaur Jr. - Watch the Corners ***** ….. Research, followup research and two trips to the record store. Good amount of music to discover under this name or the band's frontman, J Mascis. .
• Babehoven - Lena
• Pavement - Stereo

And a few from the current early morning listening session …..

• Damien Jurado - Allocate ..... Been following his music for the past ten years. Loving the violins used. 
• Generationals - When They Fight, They Fight ***** ..... Has a 60's era feel to it.
• Booker T. Jones featuring Sharon Jones and Matt Berninger - Representing Memphis *****
• Dirty Projectors - Cannibal Resource
• The National - Apartment Story *****
• Emma Ruth Rundle - Fever Dreams *****
• Blind Pilot - Keep You Right *****
• Jonathan Something - For All My Life ..... "I brought my donkey to a horses show" I'm not saying he sounds like George Harrison but that's who came to mind as I listened.

Night Listening

Another late night radio playlist ….. because I'm always listening and searching for something new and exciting.

• Nilufer Yanya - Thanks 4 Nothing
• Angie McMahon - Keeping Time *****
• The Shaky Hands - Another World …..  A few introductory notes that brings to mind CSNY's song, 'Shadow Captain.'
• Bahamas - Lost In the Light
• Blood Orange - Clipped On
• Peter Gabriel - Digging In the Dirt ….. You don't hear a lot of older classics on this music stream. A longtime favorite.
• Photo Ops - Once Around the Town Square
• Saint Seneca - The Awefull Yawn
• Ellen Jewell - Sea of Tears
• Just Lions - Paper Cage
• Palehound - Aaron
• Ten Fe - Won't Happen

Friends and Neighbors

Listening to a KLCC-fm (Eugene, Oregon) radio broadcast of their "Friends and Neighbors" program. Actually a podcast of a past program. Mostly singer/songwriter and folk music sounds. When I remember the day and times, I try to tune in for this program and their "Front Porch" program. Podcasts make it all convenient. It's nice to have a few music programs remaining on the radio.

There's also a program called, "The Mist Covered Mountain" that has Celtic Music themes. Years ago I used to record selected parts of it from reel-to-reel tape onto cassette tapes. Still have those cassettes in a shoe box in my closet.

OPB Music Playlist

Late night, because I'm dead freaking tired but don't want to go to bed yet and would rather listen to the radio playlist as spun by DJ Doug .....

• The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez - Cello Song *****
• David Byrne - Good and Evil
• Eels - Prizefighter
• Pond - Elegant Design
• George Harrison - Any Road ..... I've been hopelessly in love for the longest time with the sound of a slide guitar and George's playing has an especially beautiful tone.
• Lord Huron - Lonesome Dreams
• U.S. Girls - Velvet 4 Sale
• Ty Segall - Diversion
• My Morning Jacket - All the Best
• Death Songs - Let This Body Go ..... I generally avoid anything with the word, "death" in the title.
• TV On the Radio - Wolf Like Me
• Spindrift - The Legend of God's Gun ..... Has a little bit of a 1960's Surf Rock meets Garage Rock with narration sound. I'm thinking this would be a cool addition to the vinyl collection.
• Aesop Rock and TOBACCO - Corn Maze ..... Hip Hop
• Here We Go Magic - Hard To Be Close
• Stevie Wonder - Boogie On Reggae Woman ..... Heard this song dozens of times over the years but never knew its name. 
• Shuggie Otis - Strawberry Letter 23

Once I start listening I often have issues of separation and abandonment with turning off the music for concepts like getting sleep. The inner voices keep resolving: "Just one more." 

• Wye Oak - Symmetry
• Clinic - The Second Line

I fell asleep sitting at my desk with the lights turned down low and missed a few songs. Back now to the mystic fuzzy world of the barely awake aging dude of the late night!!

• Richard Swift - Lady Luck
• Daniel Lanois - Where Will I Be? ***** ..... (A sudden visit to Amazon to order the album.)
• Paul Simon - I Know What I Know
• Floating Action - Dying Punch ..... Reminding of David Lindley and Wally Ingram recordings.
• Desaparecidos - City on the Hill
• Yeasayer - I Remember

Another List

I love making lists. Any kind of list. But music is a particular favorite. The middle of the night feels like the perfect time to listen to music. When everything else around you has quieted down.

What am I listening to today? Same as I've been listening to all week. Late night radio.

• The Essex Green - Don't Leave It In Our Hands *****
• Fountains of Wayne - Valley Winter Song
• Wooden Shjips - Staring at the Sun
• Anna Burch - Asking 4 a Friend
• The National - Conversation 16
• The Morning Benders - All Day Day Light
• Sam Evian - IDGAF
• Joseph - Canyon …. "Joseph" is either a female or a band with a female lead vocalist.
• The Decemberists - Cutting Stone
• R.E.M. - Turn You Inside Out …. One that needs to be played loudly. One of my choices for desert island songs.
• Anna Burch - Quit the Curse
• Wild Ones - You're a Winner
• Nick Jaina - Walking Into a Burning House