SONG OF THE DAY

Today's song is from Kelly Willis and is from her 2007 album Translated From Love. The song is "Nobody Wants to go to the Moon Anymore."

SONG OF THE DAY

Today we feature Kathleen Edwards from her 2003 album Failer with the song "One More Song The Radio Won't Like."

SONG OF THE DAY

Today's song is from the amazing gifted Marcia Ball and her 2007 show at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. She sings Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927."

SIMPLY SIX: Clara Bellino

Clara Bellino is a singer/songwriter from California.

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they
> knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis
> on
> the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance
> on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?
>

It was putting myself to sleep when I was 9 listening to David Bowie, I
loved his lyrics, metaphors, imagery and personal expression. I was
writing poems, decided I was going to sing them, put them to music. I had
just started playing piano.

> 2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some
> of your favorites?

I listen to a wide array of music: what I catch on radio, in my car, I
love Spanish, sung, and Brazilian grooves of all kinds. But also
classical, big band, japanese pop, instrumentals. Music that has something
to say and does it in an entertaining personal non preachy way that
involves me and talks to me not at me.

>
> 3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either
> on
> record or live?
>

There have been a few. Most recently it was doing an internet radio
interview with someone in Indiana knowing that 400 kids in 2 orphanages in
Kenya and India were listening in to my song we picked for them "Goodnight
Baby", and it lifted them up. I was choked up listening, and when I found
out it cheered them up. Playing the Olympics in my hometown in 1992! was
pretty special too.

> 4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to
> listen
> to? How much can music influence current events?

Music does change the world, imagine the world without it?

Influence current events? sure if we all sing together..

>
> 5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology
> affected your career as a musician?

Technology I suppose has benefited and hindered music as I see it;
technology gives me more control over being exposed around the world and
gives me the ability to connect with the people who enjoy what I do.
Musically speaking, I still prefer the sound of real instruments played by
people playing together who know how to play them.

>
> 6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what
> type of shoes would you be?

A fuzzy pair of warm slippers :)

SONG OF THE DAY

Merry Christmas to all our loyal readers and our apologizes for not being here for the past week. The holidays are a busy time for us in our other lives so finding time to post here sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. We're going to try and make up for it this coming year.

Today's song is "Christmas Carol" from one of our favorite singers Mary Chapin Carpenter. The first time I heard Ms. Carpenter was on a compilation album and it was her song "This Shirt" which grabbed me immediately and I had to listen to it again. That is still one of my favorite songs. Today's song is her original composition to her album of Christmas music Come Darkness, Come Light: 12 Songs of Christmas.

SONG OF THE DAY

This might not quite be a Christmas song but it fits in, it features our favorite Susan Cowsill again and tells about the time it snowed on Christmas Day in New Orleans, which for our city down here in the south is a fairly rare thing. It's called "Crescent City Snow."

SONG OF THE DAY

Today we come closest to a real Christmas song with "The 12 Yats of Christmas" by Benny Grunch and the Bunch from the New Orleans' area and telling a story from New Orleans.

SONG OF THE DAY

Continuing our songs that have something to do with Christmas we feature Brian Stoltz's "This Christmas" from his album Gods, Guns & Money.

SONG OF THE DAY

Today's Christmas related song is "Annunciation Day/Born on Christmas Day" by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists from their Living with The Living album.

SONG OF THE DAY

Christmas is coming and we present "Christmas Time" by Voices favorite Susan Cowsill from her album Just Believe It.

SONG OF THE DAY

Continuing our Christmas related songs we present Jim White and his "Christmas Day" from his No Such Place album.

SONG OF THE DAY

In honor of the coming Christmas day we feature "Saturday Night Before Christmas" by Coco Robicheaux from his Spiritland album.

SONG OF THE DAY

We present Alexa Ray Joel today with her cover of Neil Young's song "Don't Let It Bring You Down" from her ep Sketches. I saw Alexa a couple years ago at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and she was amazing. Why she doesn't have a full length album out by now I have no idea, she should be busy releasing an album every year.

SIMPLY SIX: Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka

Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka are from Philadelphia and combines hip hop with steel guiatr.

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

PROBABLY WHEN I WAS FIRST HANDED AN ACOUSTIC GTR AND MY SISTER TAUGHT ME A COUPLE CHORDS. FELT LIKE AN ELECTRIC SHOCK, NEVER RECOVERED.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites? I'VE BEEN IN A BIG JAZZ PERIOD LATELY, LOTS OF GRANT GREEN, WES MONTGOMERY, CHARLIE CHRISTIAN. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO APPLY JAZZ GUITAR TECHNIQUES AND SOUNDS ON TO LAP STEEL.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live? THE LAST SLO-MO DISC WAS VERY SATISFYING TO MAKE AND LISTEN TO. IT INVOLVED EVERYONE IN THE BAND AND WAS DONE PRETTY QUICKLY. NOT TOO MUCH AGONY SO I CAN STILL LISTEN TO IT AND GROOVE.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

I THINK, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S JUST ANOTHER FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT THESE DAYS. I THINK MAKING MUSIC AND LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT CAN CHANGE AN INDIVIDUAL'S POINT OF VIEW AND THAT CAN, IN TURN, CHANGE THE WORLD. SEEING A GREAT CONCERT CAN CHANGE YOUR HEAD FOR SURE. BUT THE MUSIC BIZ/SELLING MUSIC IS PROBABLY JUST SHIT.

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

CERTAINLY HAS CHANGED HOW WE MAKE IT AND MARKET IT. HASN'T REALLY CHANGED HOW I VIEW MY JOB AS A MUSICIAN, STILL HAVE TO PRACTICE/WRITE/RECORD/GIG. SAME JOB, SOME DIFFERENT TOOLS.

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

OLD, WORN-IN BLACK LEATHER BOOTS

SONG OF THE DAY

Today we feature New Orlean's Paul Sanchez and "Exit To Mystery" from his live show at last year's year New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

SONG OF THE DAY

29 years ago today John Lennon was murdered in New York City. Today's song is "Gimme Some Truth" written by him and sung by Sam Philips from her Martinis & Bikinis album.

SONG OF THE DAY

Today we present Linda Thompson. Linda recorded some classic albums with her than husband Richard years ago and after a solo album stopped recording for over a decade. Lucky for us she came back and this song, "Do Your Best For Rock and Roll" is from most recent album Versatile Heart.

SIMPLY SIX: Chris Daniels

Chris Daniels is a singer/songwriter from Denver, Colorado.

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

"Yes, it was the movie The Last Waltz. Rick Danko walks up to the mic and sings "See the Man With The Stage Fright" and he has the very shaky voice and it is not pretty -- but his conviction -- his ability to have no fear -- the power of his belief in the song with no apology for his funny sounding voice -- well it changed me in my belief about my own singing -- that I could do that -- that all you have to do is believe in yourself." C Daniels

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

"My favorites change. Right now it is a duo called 'The Weepies' who are doing some of the best songwriting -- they are just fantastic. Also Bela Fleck's Africa album and the new Sam Bush CD." C Daniels

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

"Wow, interesting question -- biggest crowd was 450,000 at Parkpop in Holland -- but greatest moment -- sometimes the greatest moment is in overcoming a bad gig -- in feeling the band rise above the bad PA or feeling myself working to rise above all the crap that is going on with my wife and I and the emotional destruction from a long painful time to put that pain into the song I'm singing or the solo I'm playing -- those are the great moments when you fight to get into the moment and you achieve it." c Daniels

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

"That is easy, just think of Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit." That song is so powerful and was part of the movement to end lynching in the South ... that's what music can do." C Daniels



5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

"Yes, And it's a great thing. Musicians used to believe that they could just hand over their lives to a manger who would take care of them. It was paternalistic....'of take care of me.' and that is such crap. Now, artists MUST get involved in the process of making their music available and known by the public ... and that is great ... and the labels that used to control the music are now not even relevant except for the giant Jonas Brothers corporate music bands. The musicians, like the Randolph family, are getting a chance to be known -- and that is magic." C Daniels

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

"Old, very comfortable tennis shoes. The shoes you put on when you don't give a shit what anybody thinks of how you look. The shoes that you put on when you are safe, home and happy. The shoes that make your feet feel good and make you want to dance in your kitchen with your favorite drink as you cook dinner for a true friend who loves you as you are."

SONG OF THE DAY

Today we present the group Megaphone and their song "Write It Down" from their album Exit Silent Mode.

SONG OF THE DAY

Today we feature Doug Folkins and his song "Calico Girl" from the album Another Last Call.

SIMPLY SIX: Family of the Year

Family of the Year is a group from California. They are

Vanessa Jeanne Long - Vocals
Joe Beaulieu Keefe - Vocals, Guitar
Sebastian Keefe - Drums, Guitar
James Buckey - Guitar
Christina Schroeter - Keys
Brent Freaney - Bass

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

Joe: The moment for me was when I heard the guitar break in Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly. That's when I asked my dad to show it to me on the guitar. I was probably like 8.

Seb: The first time I knew I wanted to be a musician was when I was homesick from school one day, and my sister's CD player was out. In it was led Zeppelin IV and I listened to "Rock and Roll" for hours.

Vanessa: Mine was when i got a karaoke machine in 2nd grade. There were five songs on it, including "Nine to Five" by Dolly Parton and "Conga" by Gloria Estefan, but the one that really made sense was "The Words Get in the Way" also by Gloria Estefan. I was in love with my best friendKeith and it just really related to me.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

Well we listen to a lot of Top 40 and talk radio. NPR, AM640, Fleetwood Mac, Taylor Swift, Jay Z, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Beyonce... And we've recently gotten into podcasts and we're kind of addicted.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

Opening for Ben Folds and the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall in Boston was probably the most amazing moment we've had as a band. It was only our fifth show or so, and we were so honored when Ben and Pops conductor Keith Lockhart handpicked us out of about 700 other bands.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

Whoever is changing the world is probably pumped on some pretty good music.
Music can definitely bring people together, but a big part of music influencing current events probably depends on how much attention the media wants to give it.

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

Technology is kind of the reason we're able to do anything. All the music we've released was recorded in various apartments of ours or our old practice space on an old computer. We don't have a budget for a fancy studio or anything, not that you really need it these days. Where's The Sun and Songbook were both self-produced and mixed, and we're able to release all our music digitally on iTunes and Amazon with Tunecore.

As far as getting the word out, technology has helped us a lot there too. Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, and every other social network there is has allowed us to promote ourselves and keep in touch with fans. Now we're fumbling around with Google Wave and trying to see how we can use that to connect with people too.

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

Joe: barefoot
Seb: bright green Tivas
Brent: Clark Wallabys
Samesy: combat boots
Schrodes: tap shoes
Vanessa: many pairs of Jeffrey Campbell shoes

SONG OF THE DAY

Today has been one of those gloomy days. It's been raining all day so I thought we'd feature The Rainmakers doing "Snakedance" from their Tornado album. The Rainmakers is a group that no longer exists, but we talked about in a Buried Treasure column.