Courtney Barnett "Never Tear Us Apart" (INXS cover) Aussie Ad for Apple iPhoneX Celebrates Gay Marriage Equality

Courtney's new single "Nameless, Faceless" (addressing gender issues in the  #TimesUp era) is out:

Will always love her collaboration with Kurt Vile from last year:

Two Pussy Riot Members Detained by Russian FSB in Crimea! Hey Putin! Free Pussy Riot Now!

                                                              Just prior to being detained

According to @pussyriot on Twitter.com:

"two pussy riot members Olya Borisova and Sasha Sofeev have just been detained in Crimea. they're now being held at the local FSB department. they were arrested at the very first second they stepped on the land of Crimea."

Pussy Riot is a collective of feminist artists and activists, three of whom served hard time in 2012 for a punk protest in a Russian church.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 after a phony referendum. The United Nations has condemned the annexation, and supports Ukraine's claim to Crimea, which provided vital sea access for the Soviet Union back in the day (and for Russia today). Only ten nations support Russia's claim to Crimea, a virtual rogue's gallery of nations and assorted Russian client states: Afghanistan, Bolivia, Cuba, Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.

We call on Putin, the FSB (today's KGB), and all Russian and Crimean authorities to release the two Pussy Riot members immediately!

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UPDATE February 26: The two Pussy Riot activists have been freed, as per Pussy Riot's Twitter:

"pussy riot members who were detainee in crimea are free now. thanks to all of you who shared the info. it helps to put pressure on the cops"

UPDATE February 27: Activists detained in Crimea "several times" by FSB/KGB who "broke their phones and computers". 

From Pussy Riot's Twitter:

Two Pussy Riot members are missing. Olya Borisova & Sasha Sofeev disappeared in Crimea yesterday.
FSB detained them several times. Yesterday cops broke their phones and computers. We can not reach out to them. We don't know what has happened to them.

UPDATE February 27: The two have apparently been released and forced to go back to Moscow. They are currently safe.

UPDATE February 28: As per Pussy Riot's Twitter:

we came with action to occupied Crimea to stand for Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who in prison in Russia and who will die without our help.
we've been arrested. we've been attacked. but we made it. share! #freesetsov

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Pussy Riot North American Tour 2018:

3/6 chicago 3/10 st paul 3/18 mexico city 3/20+21 portland 3/22+23 seattle 3/25 vancouver 3/27 santa cruz 3/28 sf 3/31+4/1 la

Parquet Courts: The Best Young Rock Band in The 21st century (so far). Check out live videos featuring songs from their forthcoming Danger Mouse-produced album "Wide Awake!" ThisSmallPlanet Video: Parquet Courts live Santa Cruz, February 2018

Parquet Courts, one of my favorite indie rock bands, played Santa Cruz, California last night, featuring songs from their forthcoming Danger Mouse-produced album Wide Awake!

Parquet Courts: 35 Live Videos (2013 - 2018)

Opening for Parquet Courts was The Thurston Moore Group, with guitarist Thurston Moore and drummer Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth.

One had to wonder if bassist Sean Yeaton from Parquet Courts (who did the Yellow Kitchen album last year with Sun Kil Moon's Mark Kozelek) and Steve Shelley (who also drums for Sun Kil Moon) had any wacky Mark Kozelek stories to share while on the tour.

                                   Parquet Courts setlist, Santa Cruz, February 22, 2018

A wag seated at a table near the back of the room, unheard by the crowd, yelled at the stage to Moore: "Why did you break Kim's heart?... Why did you betray true love?... Why did you tell us Santa Claus isn't real?... And that dead puppies don't go to doggie heaven?...." and so on.

It wasn't very funny.

Still, it's true, many of us indie folks cried a little bit on the inside when Thurston and Kim broke up both as a couple and as the band Sonic Youth. It meant there was literally no hope for true love in today's world. Sad.

I have to admit I was never a Sonic Youth fan, although I did like their covers of "Superstar" (made famous by The Carpenters) and Dylan's "I'm Not There" for the film of the same name. I liked Kim's book a lot, and appreciate her friendship of Kurt Cobain and her powerful singing of Nirvana songs with the surviving members at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in 2014.

Thurston's new stuff was interesting but unremarkable.

Parquet Courts has a new album coming out, produced by Danger Mouse, responsible for such masterpieces as The Grey Album and Dark Night of The Soul, so many people are expecting big things from this forthcoming release (it's due out May 18th).

They were in fine form Thursday night, playing some older songs as well as several new ones.

Here are some videos from the Santa Cruz show:

RELATED POSTS:

Cool, New Song: Parquet Courts "Almost Had To Start A Fight/ In And Out Of Patience"

Parquet Court's A. Savage In Tribute To The Late Mark E. Smith Covers The Fall's "Frightened" (Audio)

Parquet Court's A. Savage In Tribute To The Late Mark E. Smith Covers The Fall's "Frightened" (Audio)

Listen (above) to Andrew Savage (of Parquet Courts) In Session at BBC Radio 6 doing a tribute to the late Mark E. Smith, covering The Fall's "Frightened".

Parquet Courts, featuring two dynamic lead singer/guitarists (Andrew and Austin), are one of the most creative avant garde high energy bands around. Bass player Sean did the album Yellow Kitchen last year with Sun Kil Moon's Mark Kozelek, and Andrew, under the monicker "A. Savage", recently released a solo album of Americana-leaning songs called Thawing Dawn. 

 

Parquet Courts are currently on a West Coast tour of North America with Thurston Moore Group (including a stop in Santa Cruz on February 22nd). Parquet Courts will play Levitation 2018 with Ty Segall at Stubb's BBQ in Austin on April 26th.

Was very impressed by the work Parquet Courts & Karen O (of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs) contributed last year to Daniele Luppi's Milanoproject:

Finally, here are ThisSmallPlanet.com favorite live videos we shot of Parquet Courts in Portland and San Francisco 2013 - 2016, including two versions of their slacker classic "Stoned And Starving":

TOP POSTS:

February 2018: Come Out And Play Playlist, Best New Music: Ty Segall, Kyle Craft, Ezra Furman, Jack White, Stephen Malkmus, The Hold Steady, Seun Kuti, Santana, The Wombats, MGMT, Franz Ferdinand, Bobby Leecan, Os Mutantes, Sly & The Family Stone, Stevie Wonder

ThisSmallPlanet Year In Review: "The Sun Will Rise Again Tomorrow" - Top 10 Albums - The Best Music & Politics of 2017

Jared Kushner & The Observer's Cheap Shot At Roger Waters...

Cool, New Song: Parquet Courts "Almost Had To Start A Fight/ In And Out Of Patience"

Parquet Courts, one of the best indie bands today, has a new album out Wide Awake! on May 18, 2018.

"Almost Had To Start A Fight/ In And Out Of Patience" is the first single from the forthcoming album.

A. Savage, one of Parquet Courts' singer/guitarists, recently recorded a cover of The Fall's "Frightened" as a tribute to the late Mark E. Smith. You can listen to it here... 

Parquet Courts is playing Santa Cruz, California tonight, opening for The Thurston Moore Group.  

Cool, New Song "Mr. Tillman" by Father John Misty (Audio)

Gun Reform Now! Rallies In DC and Everywhere March 24, 2018

                         marchforourlives.com

ON MARCH 24 JOIN US TO:

MARCH FOR OUR LIVES.

On March 24, the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets of Washington DC to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today.

March with us in Washington DC or march in your own community. On March 24, the collective voices of the March For Our Lives movement will be heard. 

Florida student Emma Gonzalez to lawmakers and gun advocates: 'We call BS'

CNN Staff

Updated 9:14 PM ET, Sat February 17, 2018 

(CNN) Emma Gonzalez, a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, addressed a gun control rally on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, days after a gunman entered her school in nearby Parkland and killed 17 people.

Below is a full transcript of her speech:

We haven't already had a moment of silence in the House of Representatives, so I would like to have another one. Thank you.

Every single person up here today, all these people should be home grieving. But instead we are up here standing together because if all our government and President can do is send thoughts and prayers, then it's time for victims to be the change that we need to see. Since the time of the Founding Fathers and since they added the Second Amendment to the Constitution, our guns have developed at a rate that leaves me dizzy. The guns have changed but our laws have not. 

We certainly do not understand why it should be harder to make plans with friends on weekends than to buy an automatic or semi-automatic weapon. In Florida, to buy a gun you do not need a permit, you do not need a gun license, and once you buy it you do not need to register it. You do not need a permit to carry a concealed rifle or shotgun. You can buy as many guns as you want at one time.

I read something very powerful to me today. It was from the point of view of a teacher. And I quote: When adults tell me I have the right to own a gun, all I can hear is my right to own a gun outweighs your student's right to live. All I hear is mine, mine, mine, mine.

Instead of worrying about our AP Gov chapter 16 test, we have to be studying our notes to make sure that our arguments based on politics and political history are watertight. The students at this school have been having debates on guns for what feels like our entire lives. AP Gov had about three debates this year. Some discussions on the subject even occurred during the shooting while students were hiding in the closets. The people involved right now, those who were there, those posting, those tweeting, those doing interviews and talking to people, are being listened to for what feels like the very first time on this topic that has come up over 1,000 times in the past four years alone.

I found out today there's a website shootingtracker.com. Nothing in the title suggests that it is exclusively tracking the USA's shootings and yet does it need to address that? Because Australia had one mass shooting in 1999 in Port Arthur (and after the) massacre introduced gun safety, and it hasn't had one since. Japan has never had a mass shooting. Canada has had three and the UK had one and they both introduced gun control and yet here we are, with websites dedicated to reporting these tragedies so that they can be formulated into statistics for your convenience.

I watched an interview this morning and noticed that one of the questions was, do you think your children will have to go through other school shooter drills? And our response is that our neighbors will not have to go through other school shooter drills. When we've had our say with the government -- and maybe the adults have gotten used to saying 'it is what it is,' but if us students have learned anything, it's that if you don't study, you will fail. And in this case if you actively do nothing, people continually end up dead, so it's time to start doing something.

We are going to be the kids you read about in textbooks. Not because we're going to be another statistic about mass shooting in America, but because, just as David said, we are going to be the last mass shooting. Just like Tinker v. Des Moines, we are going to change the law. That's going to be Marjory Stoneman Douglas in that textbook and it's going to be due to the tireless effort of the school board, the faculty members, the family members and most of all the students. The students who are dead, the students still in the hospital, the student now suffering PTSD, the students who had panic attacks during the vigil because the helicopters would not leave us alone, hovering over the school for 24 hours a day.

There is one tweet I would like to call attention to. So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities again and again. We did, time and time again. Since he was in middle school, it was no surprise to anyone who knew him to hear that he was the shooter. Those talking about how we should have not ostracized him, you didn't know this kid. OK, we did. We know that they are claiming mental health issues, and I am not a psychologist, but we need to pay attention to the fact that this was not just a mental health issue. He would not have harmed that many students with a knife. 

And how about we stop blaming the victims for something that was the student's fault, the fault of the people who let him buy the guns in the first place, those at the gun shows, the people who encouraged him to buy accessories for his guns to make them fully automatic, the people who didn't take them away from him when they knew he expressed homicidal tendencies, and I am not talking about the FBI. I'm talking about the people he lived with. I'm talking about the neighbors who saw him outside holding guns.

If the President wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and how it should never have happened and maintain telling us how nothing is going to be done about it, I'm going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association. 

You want to know something? It doesn't matter, because I already know. Thirty million dollars. And divided by the number of gunshot victims in the United States in the one and one-half months in 2018 alone, that comes out to being $5,800. Is that how much these people are worth to you, Trump? If you don't do anything to prevent this from continuing to occur, that number of gunshot victims will go up and the number that they are worth will go down. And we will be worthless to you. 

To every politician who is taking donations from the NRA, shame on you. 

Crowd chants, shame on you.

If your money was as threatened as us, would your first thought be, how is this going to reflect on my campaign? Which should I choose? Or would you choose us, and if you answered us, will you act like it for once? You know what would be a good way to act like it? I have an example of how to not act like it. In February of 2017, one year ago, President Trump repealed an Obama-era regulation that would have made it easier to block the sale of firearms to people with certain mental illnesses.

From the interactions that I had with the shooter before the shooting and from the information that I currently know about him, I don't really know if he was mentally ill. I wrote this before I heard what Delaney said. Delaney said he was diagnosed. I don't need a psychologist and I don't need to be a psychologist to know that repealing that regulation was a really dumb idea.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa was the sole sponsor on this bill that stops the FBI from performing background checks on people adjudicated to be mentally ill and now he's stating for the record, 'Well, it's a shame the FBI isn't doing background checks on these mentally ill people.' Well, duh. You took that opportunity away last year.

The people in the government who were voted into power are lying to us. And us kids seem to be the only ones who notice and our parents to call BS.Companies trying to make caricatures of the teenagers these days, saying that all we are self-involved and trend-obsessed and they hush us into submission when our message doesn't reach the ears of the nation, we are prepared to call BS. Politicians who sit in their gilded House and Senate seats funded by the NRA telling us nothing could have been done to prevent this, we call BS. They say tougher guns laws do not decrease gun violence. We call BS. They say a good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun. We call BS. They say guns are just tools like knives and are as dangerous as cars. We call BS. They say no laws could have prevented the hundreds of senseless tragedies that have occurred. We call BS. That us kids don't know what we're talking about, that we're too young to understand how the government works. We call BS. 

If you agree, register to vote. Contact your local congresspeople. Give them a piece of your mind.

(Crowd chants) Throw them out.

Barbara Dane 2-Disc Retrospective For Her 90th Birthday: "Hot Jazz, Cool Blues & Hard-Hitting Songs" On Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Celebrating 90 YEARS

BARBARA DANE

A Lifetime of Hot Jazz, 

Cool Blues and Songs for 

Peace & Justice

from Barbara's website

Hot Jazz, Cool Blues & Hard-Hitting Songs

From Smithsonian Folkways: This 2 CD retrospective reflects over 60 years of Barbara Dane’s musical history in folk, blues and jazz. The 38 tracks include 14 never-before-released recordings, featuring collaborations with Lightnin’ Hopkins, the Chambers Brothers, Doc Watson, Pete Seeger, Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon, Art Hodes, and others. 

Dane’s singular trajectory is as an outspoken and indomitable artist who struck out on her own path, singing for peace and social justice. 

You can purchase the collection here... 

Barbara & Doc Watson

Barbara & Lightnin' Hopkins



Barbara & The Chambers Brothers

Barbara Covering Dylan

DEAR FRIENDS,

I’ve never recognized borders: all music is a source of great wonder and revelation for me, and I suspect the same goes for you, since you have dared to step into my musical world for a visit. Welcome! I hope you find things here that will surprise you as well as some beloved old favorites that will comfort you.

When Smithsonian Folkways suggested bringing a few of my songs from each of the labels under their roof into the same virtual room together, it felt a little like reintroducing long lost brothers and sisters to each other. I’m deeply touched by their vision, making possible this family reunion to mark my 90th year.

But still, there were important parts of the picture that were missing. As it happened, we had recently unearthed a treasure trove of never-before-heard material on 7” tapes from dusty boxes in my basement. 

To my delight and surprise, we found a great deal of music worthy of sharing there, much of it made with beloved musicians who have been dead for years now. You’ll find samples of some of it here, including collaborations with my dear musical partners Kenny Whitson and Wellman Braud, some informal teamwork with Doc Watson, a late-night jam with Willie Dixon and Memphis Slim, improvised harmonizing with the Chambers Brothers, and a rally in support of coal miners with Pete Seeger and Hazel Dickens.

With great pleasure I offer you these musical renditions unsullied by commercial concerns, made entirely by musicians opening our hearts and tendering our skills mostly to each other, in moments of abandon, inspiration, and joy. 

I take this opportunity to acknowledge all my musical collaborators and bow deeply in their direction.

I’ve been working on my autobiography for some years now, and there you will find many stories, some about my hometown of Detroit during the Great Depression, my improvised forays into the stages and backrooms of the jazz and blues world, mindful marches for peace and civil rights, clandestine tours in dangerous places, and my discoveries of people and music along the way, including friendships with folks like Mama Yancey, Lenny Bruce, Count Basie, Pete Seeger, and others whom you will meet there for the first time. And unavoidably, slices of my personal philosophy.

Many of these experiences are reflected in this musical collection. I hope my abiding love for this benighted country is also apparent, along with my steadfast support of the 99% of people who suffer and struggle every day to keep it going, and my determination to expose the hypocrisy, cruelty, and greed of the 1% who seek to profit from them.

You may also discover how a young white girl, taught to walk and talk with Jesus, followed a different path, to a secular world, working for the same peace and justice for humankind that he was willing to die for. And I hope you notice that it is possible to speak your mind in pursuit of that world and still survive. You may lose a few chances for fame and even fortune, but you will gain a priceless dignity and a seat on the train of humanity with destination justice.

In the end, it’s all about respect and love, the communication and understanding that can bring peace to all that we love and respect. Keep your heart, hands, and mind wide open. Go well each day, and live a musical life.

All praises to the organizers of solidarity among the world’s people. And remember the words of Muhammad Ali: “Impossible is not a fact. It is an opinion.”

Hasta siempre,
Barbara Dane
Oakland, California, October 2017 

                                                                          Barbara in 1964

                                                                                Barbara in 2017 with Tammy Hall

Last year, while reading Ian Zack's wonderful Say No to the Devil: The Life and Musical Genius of Rev. Gary Davis, I was struck by the charming friendship the book painted between Rev. Davis and Barbara Dane during the 1960's folk revival (they often played on the same bills at venues and festivals) and was delighted to find out Barbara was still recording and performing and was about to turn 90!

It led me to do a deep dive into her work, especially with The Chambers Brothers and Lightnin' Hopkins, and both of those albums have been in heavy rotation in my world for a year now.

It is inspiring to listen to Barbara's firm and loving commitment to peace, social change, and justice. We need so much more of those sentiments here today.

Here's hoping this new collection gets the attention it deserves and that Barbara and her work continue to inspire awe, anger, and hope; long after Trump and his ilk have been confined to the garbage dump of history.

Free Download: Sun Kil Moon's Mark Kozelek New Song "Day In America" Takes On Florida School Shooting

Free download on on Mark's website here

Mark Kozelek with Donny McCaslin and Jim White (featuring Kevin Corrigan) "Day In America"

On February 14, 2018 a former student killed 17 students at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

On February 17, 2018, Mark Kozelek released this 15-minute-long song.

From Mark's website: 

Mark Kozelek is at work on a new collaboration featuring Donny McCaslin, Grammy nominated saxophonist who played on David Bowie's Blackstar album, and Jim White (The Dirty Three, Xylouris/White). The album will be released in 2019. This will be Mark's 3rd full length album with Jim White, including Mark Kozelek with Ben Boye and Jim White released in 2017, and a new Sun Kil Moon album to be released in November of this year. "Day In America," the first single to be released from Mark Kozelek with Donny McCaslin and Jim White was recorded February 14th and 15th of this year. The album title, release date and track listing will be available later in the year. Mark's new self-titled album will be released May 11, 2018.

Updated February 2018 Playlist: Best New Music & Cool Classics

A. Savage (Parquet Courts): "Frightened"(The Fall cover) from A. Savage In Session BBC 6 (2018), and Thawing Dawn (2017)

Bobby Leecan (Blind Bobby Baker): "Nobody Needs You When You're Down And Out" (1927)

Car Seat Headrest: Twin Fantasy (2018), remake of his 2011 home-made release

Courtney Barnett, "Nameless, Faceless" (2018)(new single)

Doc Watson: Live At Club 47 (released 2018, recorded Cambridge, MA., February 10, 1963)

Ezra Furman: Transangelic Exodus (2018)

The Fall: "Totally Wired" (1981)(live in New York)

Hoyt Axton: Various

Jack White: "Connected By Love", "Corporation", "Respect Commander" (2018) from forthcoming album Boarding House Reach

Kyle Craft: "Chelsea Hotel #2" (Leonard Cohen cover)(2017), Dolls Of Highland (2017 debut), and Full Circle Nightmare (2018)

Lou Reed: Various

Mark Kozelek: "Day In America" (2018) Free download Sun Kil Moon singer takes on Florida school shooting

Mick Ronson: Various

Rent: Original Broadway Cast: "Season of Love"

Os Mutantes: Os Mutantes (1968 debut), Mutantes (1969) 

PJ Harvey: "An Acre Of Land", from the Dark River soundtrack (2018)

Ronno (formerly The Hype): "4th Hour Of My Sleep"/"Power Of Darkness" (1971)(single feat. Mick Ronson (g), fellow Bowie collaborators Tony Visconti (b) and Mick "Woody" Woodmansey (d), and Benny Marshall of The Rats (v). Available as bonus tracks on YUI Orta (1989) by Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson).

Sly & The Family Stone: Various

Steely Dan: Various

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks: "Middle America" (2018)

Stevie Wonder: Various

Superchunk: What A Time To Be Alive (2018)

Susanna: Go Dig My Grave (2018)

Ty Segall: Freedom's Goblin (2018)

The Wombats: "Dip You In Honey" from Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life (2018)

Cool, New Song Courtney Barnett "Nameless, Faceless" (Video)

"Nameless, Faceless" is the first single from Courtney Barnett's forthcoming album Tell Me How You Really Feel out May 18, 2018. 

In it, she takes on sexism, trolling, and fears of sexual assault in the #TimesUp era. 

The chorus is based on a chilling quip attributed to novelist Margaret Atwood: "Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them."

The song features backing vocals from Kim Deal of The Breeders and formerly of The Pixies.

Pre-order here: https://courtney-barnett.lnk.to/pre-o...

The San Francisco show in May is already sold out, but enter here to win free tickets!!!

We loved last year's collaboration between Courtney and Kurt Vile Lotta Sea Lice and look forward to this album very much.

Courtney's breakthrough song "Pedestrian At Best" (2015):

Cool, New Song From Julian Casablancas' The Voidz "Pointlessness" (Audio)

Parquet Court's A. Savage In Tribute To The Late Mark E. Smith Covers The Fall's "Frightened" (Audio)

Listen (above) to Andrew Savage (of Parquet Courts) In Session at BBC Radio 6 doing a tribute to the late Mark E. Smith, covering The Fall's "Frightened".

Parquet Courts, featuring two dynamic lead singer/guitarists (Andrew and Austin), are one of the most creative avant garde high energy bands around. Bass player Sean did the album Yellow Kitchen last year with Sun Kil Moon's Mark Kozelek, and Andrew, under the monicker "A. Savage", recently released a solo album of Americana-leaning songs called Thawing Dawn. 

 


Parquet Courts are currently on a West Coast tour of North America with Thurston Moore Group (including a stop in Santa Cruz on February 22nd). Parquet Courts will play Levitation 2018 with Ty Segall at Stubb's BBQ in Austin on April 26th.

Was very impressed by the work Parquet Courts & Karen O (of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs) contributed last year to Daniele Luppi's Milano project:

Finally, here are ThisSmallPlanet.com favorite live videos we shot of Parquet Courts in Portland and San Francisco 2013 - 2016, including two versions of their slacker classic "Stoned And Starving":

TOP POSTS:

February 2018: Come Out And Play Playlist, Best New Music: Ty Segall, Kyle Craft, Ezra Furman, Jack White, Stephen Malkmus, The Hold Steady, Seun Kuti, Santana, The Wombats, MGMT, Franz Ferdinand, Bobby Leecan, Os Mutantes, Sly & The Family Stone, Stevie Wonder

ThisSmallPlanet Year In Review: "The Sun Will Rise Again Tomorrow" - Top 10 Albums - The Best Music & Politics of 2017

Jared Kushner & The Observer's Cheap Shot At Roger Waters...