The Duke And The King vs Michael Jackson - "If You Ever Get Famous"

Idle Hands are the Devil's Playthings

And by the evidence of their new single "Loaded" The Idle Hands are a pretty fair rock and roll band, too. Check out how they stumbled into heavy rotation at our old pal Jim McGuinn's station The Current in Minneapolis.

Idle Hands, "Loaded"

The Angel and the King

On July 4, 1826, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two architects of the republic, died exactly fifty years after the nation’s birth. On June 25, 2009, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, two architects of the modern culture, died approximately forty-one years after mine. While the former duo may have meant more to world history, the latter stood as pillars of my own personal history. Excuse me, Michael, HIStory.

When I was eleven, I treasured nothing more than my Farrah poster and my Off the Wall LP. Each spawned an awakening in me. It’s hard to articulate just how beautiful Farrah seemed then; if you made a movie of my memory, you’d have to represent her face as a luminous glow, a physical form that could not be replicated or represented. I didn’t know much about women then, but she made me certain that I wanted to be near them. Farrah filled me with a wonder that is reserved for the young.

Michael simply filled me with awe. I had known him since I knew anything. When I first discovered music, he was still fronting the Jackson Five, and he was the most electrifying thing I’d ever seen. To watch him tear into “The Love You Save” on Flip Wilson’s show was to understand that music had mystical, magical powers. It was alchemy and electricity. It was the power of possibility. At a time when we were still visiting the moon, I’d watch astronauts and Michael Jackson with equal slack-jawed amazement, in wide-eyed wonder that mankind could do that.

That Michael Jackson vanished twenty years ago or more. The damaged shell that walked around that past couple of decades bore no resemblance to the force of nature that came before. In 1983, during the Motown 25th anniversary show, an entire nation gasped and cheered, held riveted while he performed “Billie Jean.” And he was lip-synching. Dressed like Sgt. Pepper, he was the new Elvis, able to move the earth with the tiniest twitch.

Michael Jackson-Billie Jean-Motown 25 live
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What followed was a sad descent to madness, interrupted by occasional flashes of brilliance. But no matter how weird it got – and it got really, really, uncomfortably weird – the memory of what he once was remained. The big afro and million-watt smile are frozen in time. That Michael Jackson never grew up, never got old. That Michael never left Neverland.

Ike Reilly News! New Album in September!

Here's a little blurb sent out from Ike Reilly's label - make room in your top 10 for this one.

New Record Coming Soon!

A record that exploits the talent of all the members of the Assassination as well as members of the Libertyville High School Choir, World War II and Gulf War veterans, landscapers, pot growers, David Lowery and Johnny Hickman of the band Cracker, rock and country music star Shooter Jennings, infamous Barrel House Chuck and more....

Please participate in naming Ike's new record. Select one of the following titles. Your vote will be considered but not necessarily counted:

Click here to cast your vote!

1. Don't Go Round Breaking People's Tambourines
2. The Half Black Jesus Story
3. First Thing Monday Morning
4. PlexiGlass or Plastic
5. The Halftime Wreck
6. The Windy City Blows For Me and You

Here's an interview from last week right here!

And a concert review from Minneapolis!

Ike... come to Philly soon.

Some vintage Ike to tide you over:

Hip Hop Thighs # 17 (from Salesmen And Racists)

Garbage Day (from Sparkle in The Finish)

Valentine's Day in Jaurez (from We Belong To The Staggering Evening)

http://www.ikereilly.net/
http://e2ma.net/go/2089655391/1910634/71110696/29390/goto:http://www.myspace.com/ikereilly

Battle of The Blogs - Part 2 on 6/18/09 @ The North Star

Teenage Kicks is proud to be part of this Thursday's second installment of Heyday Entertainment's Battle of The Blogs at The North Star. Last month local heroes The Robes prevailed in a ferocious round one battle.

Teenage Kicks entry in this month's battle are Langhorne's Splash1, who caught our ear at the M Room a couple months back. Splash1's melodic alt country mixed with strummy power pop and sunny harmonies is just the tonic to fire up a warm June night. Fans of Elvis Costello, The Shins, The Byrds and big pop hooks will be overjoyed.

Also on tap are Philly's Victor Victor band (presented by the awesome popwreckoning) and New Jersey's Lima Research Society (presented by champion of local music and all around superbly nice guy Bag of Songs Tom - he's also in one of the bands - see if you can tell which one.

SO COME ON OUT THIS THURSDAY!!! My sources tell me set times are 9 (Lima), 10 (Splash1) and 11 (Victor). Tickets are $8.00. The North Star is at 27th & Poplar.

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Splash1 - Attack of The 50 Ft Woman

Splash1 - Sister Something

Splash1 - Never Give Up The Fight

Home Movies

What isn't on the internet?

And I still can't believe how good The Duke and The King were.

My Wife The Critic

So I'm in the basement listening to some tunes and "Camo Jacket" by Two Cow Garage pops up on iTunes. My wife says "That's either early Replacements or a Replacements wannabe band". Good call.

Two Cow Garage - "Camo Jacket"

and because I love this song, some bonus Two Cow:

Two Cow Garage - "Skinny Legged Girl"

More Photos From The Duke and The King Show

Thanks to Charlie Wellock for the following photos:

The Duke And The King - If They Ever Get Famous

I believe The Duke And The King may have ruined concert going for me.

Where do I go next? How do you top the thrill of seeing a band bursting at the seams with creative sparks and a kinship with the audience that bordered on familial (you know, familial as it pertains to the parts of the family you still speak to)? How do you react as decades old friends and minutes old friends get swept up as one and are smiling, singing, clapping and stomping along with the unbridled enthusiasm that only the young-at-heart can muster? How do you react when you see your skeptical 12 year old break away form the Xbox, open the back door and peek his little head out to bop around and join in on the sing-along chorus of “Radio Song”? And it’s all happening in your BACK YARD? That’s right… last night The Duke and The King were playing at my house, my house.

The sun was setting, there was a faint, early summer pre-buggy breeze, the beer was flowing, there was the sweet ambient chimes of Mister Softee a street or two away, the leaves protected the yard like a mama bird and the worst seat in the house was 15 feet from the stage. Perfect.

Simone Felice was the drummer and co-founder of the shambolic backwoods caravan that billed itself as The Felice Brothers. The Brothers are still going strong (back In Philly on 8/7 at The Electric Factory), but Simone has set out to express his vivid stories in a soulful new venture with Robert “Chicken” Burke called The Duke and The King. You probably haven’t heard them yet - their stunning debut Nothing Gold Can Stay won’t be out until August. Their music hints at Bee Gees psychedelia, Sam Cooke’s gentle soulfulness and singer-songwriter perfection. Last night’s show heralded a major new voice – Simone Felice comes across like a sweet faced mashup of Robbie Robertson circa The Last Waltz (smoldering sexuality intact) with the storytelling , passion and inclusiveness of the skinny 1975 Bruce Springsteen. Who knew that a genuine, charismatic front man was lurking behind the drums when he was wreaking wild-eyed havoc for The Felice Brothers? I kinda did. Simone’s lead vocals were always gorgeous, heart-stopping moments at their shows… so why not.

But I was still unprepared for the warmth and genuine appreciation that seeped out of every person in attendance last night, whether audience member, band member or both (more on that later). Opening with a spare “Don’t Wake The Scarecrow”, from last year’s Felice Brothers disc, it’s immediately apparent that this will be a special, one-of-a-kind night. Simone’s close-eyed intensity amplifies the urgency of an unrequited love story, and “Chicken” Burke’s deft brush strokes shimmer like gently breaking waves. This is a stripped down show in every way imaginable - all the pomp of a big rock show has been removed, the three piece band plays quietly but firmly, with a good bit of singing coming off mike. “If You Ever Get Famous” is a no-looking back love letter to the band he left behind (“If you ever get famous, don’t forget about me/ I hope it’s everything you though it would be”), but that will live forever in his heart.

Next up is "Water Spider", a tribute to great inspirational leaders (Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman) that included the sure to be oft-quoted line “Jesus walks on water, but so did Marvin Gaye”. I can’t believe I’ve gone this far without mentioning Nowell “I don’t need no stnkin’ mike” Haskins, whose booming, earthy vocals made the gospel burner “I Know I Been Changed” a set highlight and also featured a guest turn on electric guitar by my brother, Scott. It’s all about family with these guys. Haskins' counter-point response vocals and exhortations (mostly un-miked the rest of the night) added grit and unabated joy to a night that reeked with gospel type fervor.

The soft, strummy “The Morning I Get to Hell” provided a chance for audience participation (along with several other numbers) and also interspersed were Felice Brothers’ songs “The Devil is Real”, the emotionally super charged “Your Belly in My Arms”, the gorgeous “Mercy” and the perfect radio song, “Radio Song”. And how about The King’s (Robert Burke) solo turn on the quiet, plaintive, blink and you-missed it 75 seconds of “I’ve Been Bad”? The night came to a too brief end with an all hands on deck version of Neil Young’s “Helpless” that brought the show to a close hootenanny style.

Everything had fallen into place, the weather cooperated and the band couldn't have been more gracious. Simone is an amazing front man, captivating and incredibly earnest, and he, Nowell and Chicken treated each member of the audience like long lost family. In the weeks and months ahead, when people that were there last night start to see ecstatic, glowing reviews for Nothing Gold Can Stay (which right now is my front runner for album of the year), the epic quality of last night's show will resonate deeply.

Hey Simone – if you ever get famous, don’t forget about us.

The Duke And The King - "If You Ever Get Famous" (live 6-7-09 at MY HOUSE!)

The Duke And The King - "Water Spider"

The Duke And The King will play the intimate Chapel at The First Unitarian Church on August 3. You buy tix here.


The Duke And The King MySpace Page
Simone Felice MySpace Page
Loose Records (UK Label)
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Thanks to Eric Hartline for the photo, Lisa for the idea and Cathy for putting up with me.

Mr. President

I have a new gig.

Tweet, Tweet

I'm on twitter now. Yeah, I know, I know.

How the Thermals Saved My Life

My life has encroached upon my leisure. I’ve recently taken on significant non-profit and for-profit projects (details to follow). My kids have reached the age of serial obligations (gymnastics, tee ball, dance, etc.) which seem to eat at the edges of every day. They’ve also discovered music and television of their own, which has slowly pushed mine to the margins. In the rare quiet moments, I’ve embraced the silence, guarded it zealously, and begrudged those who would take it from me. For the co-proprietor of a blog devoted to music, the result has been a historically fallow period. Thank goodness for Trip. Without him, this place would be gathering dust.

For a while, I thought that I had reached that point where music seemed not to matter so much. I’ve seen it happen to others, but I never thought it would happen to me. Through January, February, March and April, I just wasn’t interested. Sure, I bought things and gave them a spin. Some (A.C. Newman, the Felice Brothers) resonated, but most simply fell on apathetic ears.

So I went chasing music. I tried to latch on to Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion, the buzz album of spring ’09. But for me, the Prog Rock of the Future is a lot like prepared fish. If done just right, it’s great, but way more often than not, I just don’t like it. And I kept chasing but not finding, until one day I decided to relax and let the music find me.

And then, like magic, it did. Lou sent an mp3 by e-mail. It was “I Let it Go” by The Thermals. I clicked. Six scratches on an electric guitar followed by the “POP-POP-boom-boom POP-POP” of a thunder-loud snare. Those four seconds alone would be enough to obliterate my musical ennui, but the song goes on, blasting up a mountain road, kicking gravel over the edge as it slides through the turns, cheating death all the way to the top.

Oh yes. Now I remember. Rock and roll.

I’ve listened to the song on the computer, on my iPod, and in the car at volumes that made my kidneys ache. I’ve sung along till my throat burns. I’ve danced in ways that have attracted attention from local authorities.

If the rest of the album, Now We Can See, fails to reach those stratospheric heights, it’s still pretty terrific, good enough that the Thermals would be minor legends had it come out in 1978, instead of marking them simply as keepers of the flame, a band like so many that have come before. And lest you think that the music is any less joyous because it’s the sort of thing that has been done countless times already, let me invoke the Ice Cream Principle: I’ve had ice cream thousands of times over the years, yet ice cream remains awesome.

And by blasting out the cobwebs, the Thermals have opened my ears to other great new things – Lissy Trullie, Roman Candle, Heartless Bastards and Wussy, to name but a few. They’ve also reminded me of who I am at heart. While my advancing age has allowed me to appreciate subtleties that would have escaped me in my youth (I’m looking at you, Nick Lowe’s last few albums), the thing I love best is still the thing I loved most when I was nineteen, namely the combustion of guitars, bass and drums, plus the adenoidal bluster of a singer flush with righteous rage. I may get old. Rock and roll never does.

The Thermals, "I Let It Go"

How Does It Feel?

Blogger tells me this is the 500th Teenage Kicks post. What better way to celebrate than to present one of the all-time greatest rock songs by the greatest rock and roll live performer I've ever seen?

Bruce Springsteen - Like A Rolling Stone

Rod The Mod

Apparently Rod Stewart was on American Idol the other night and continued to bludgeon his legacy. I can not, will not, shall not defend him, but for a five year period the guy had one of the great rock and roll winning streaks of all time. Courtesy of my brother Kevin, (great find, Doc!), here's a reminder of why many still get weak-kneed at the mention of "Gasoline Alley", or "Mama You Been on My Mind", or "Too Bad", or "Pool Hall Richard", or "True Blue" or "Handbags and Gladrags", or, or, or, or.... well, I think you get the idea.

Free Downloads: LoveLikeFire and Linfinity

A couple of interesting tracks from heretofore unknown (to me) bands hit the inbox this week. First is LoveLikeFire, a San Francisco quartet with a new EP called William. The first single from the well-polished, guitar-driven effort is called "Signs" and is available here. Also be sure to check out their MySpace page to hear "Stand In Your Shoes," a scorcher that isn't on the EP.

LoveLikeFire, "Signs"

Next is six-piece New York outfit Linfinity, who dress like hipster morticians, and whose music is a melting pot of sophisticated art-rock influences. The single "Molly Mar of Rome" is a little Arcade Fire, a little late-period Roxy Music, and a hint of Hothouse Flowers.

Linfinity, "Molly Mar of Rome"

Bruce Springsteen, Social D & The Gaslight Anthem

With Bruce and The E Street Band pulling out at least one different great cover (Clash, Kinks, Ramones!) every single night of their current tour, it's time for a Teenage Kicks sampler. Here's a video for the band's joyous, greasy garage band cover of the 1967 Soul Survivors (Philly represent!) hit "Expressway To Your Heart" from earlier this week at the Nassau Coliseum.


We've also got Bruce and the band with Social Distortion's Mike Ness in a truck stop gala version of "Bad Luck" from Los Angeles back on April 16.



Bruce Springsteen & Mike Ness - "Bad Luck"
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And, since my good friends Vince (in Atlanta) and Mary & Kevin (in Towson, MD) were out this week seeing The Gaslight Anthem without me (infidels!), here's a bonus cut from The '59 Sound. .
Gaslight Anthem - "Once Upon A Time"

McCarthy Trenching Covers Beyonce

Team Love, home of The Felice Brothers, Tilly & The Wall and Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins plus many others, frequently offers free music - some if it readily available elsewhere for your hard earned and some only available through The Team Love Library, which you can join for the princely sum of zero dollars.

The latest exclusive is from Nebraskan Dan McCarthy, the forlorn one-man band who mucks about as McCarthy Trenching, whose jaunty, acoustic take on Beyonce's # 1 smash hit "Single Ladies" is by far the greatest lo-fi one man band cover of an R&B diva anthem that I've ever heard.

McCarthy Trenching - "Single Ladies"

The Duke And The King

There's a classic joke that goes something like:

Q: What's the last thing the drummer said before he was kicked out of the band?

A: Hey, wanna do one of my songs?

Well, Simone Felice has left The Felice Brothers and that's no joke. Oh the brothers will soldier on without him and their recent shows still explode in controlled , loose limbed chaos. But Simone was no ordinary drummer - he wrote lyrics, sang lead in his sweet choirboy voice and brought a sense of imminent danger and desperation to their frantic stage shows. The angel with a dirty face and quite frankly, the emotional soul of the band.

And now, after a period of "tragedy, sadness, and regeneration", he has emerged with The Duke And The King, a two man project with Robert "Chicken" Warren (Run Chicken Run?) and they'll be debuting later this month with a limited edition UK only 4 song EP followed by a full length album, Nothing Gold Can Stay, later this summer.

Here's the first track, "If You Ever Get Famous", a gentle piece of alt-country soul that lilts along like a wistful goodbye love letter. It's a stunner. Look for The Duke And The King on tour later this summer.

The Duke And The King - "If You Ever Get Famous"

Hidden Jazz

For those who dig jazz and/or insight into the mind of an obsessive fan, our buddy Hook has a new(ish) blog called Hook's Hidden Gems, where he shares thoughts about and sounds from some of his favorite old jazz LPs, espcially those that are rare or out of print. The topics range from titans like Duke Ellington to more esoteric figures (was I the only one who hadn't heard of Tete Montoliu?). The site is old-school vibe and old-soul cool, and you should check it out.