Cool, New Song: Parquet Courts "Mardi Gras Beads" (Official Video)

 My video of "Mardi Gras Beads" live in Santa Cruz, California, February 22, 2018: 

Top 2018 Indie Albums

Jack White Boarding House Reach (out now)

Arctic Monkeys Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (May 11)

Parquet Courts Wide Awake! (May 18)

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Sparkle Hard (May 18)

Courtney Barnett Tell Me How You Really Feel (May 18)

18 "New" Songs From 1967 By Byrds Co-Founder Gene Clark: The Holy Grail?

Amazingly, there are two new releases this year, Gene Clark Sings For You (Omnivore) and the Back Street Mirror EP (Sierra/Entree), with a total of 18 "new" Gene Clark songs from the critical 1967 era between them. This constitutes the closest to a "Holy Grail" that Gene Clark fans are likely to find at this point in time.

As a Byrd, Gene Clark harmonized with Roger McGuinn and David Crosby on the classics "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn! Turn! Turn!", and was the principle writer of "Eight Miles High". He wrote some of the best Byrds originals including: "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better", "Here Without You", "Set You Free This Time", "The World Turns All Around Her", "She Don't Care About Time", as well as the lost gem "The Day Walk (Never Before)".

Gene Clark left The Byrds (which he co-founded) in 1966 for a solo career that never really took off, despite releasing several under-appreciated masterpieces such as White Light (1971) and No Other (1974), both with guitarist extraordinaire Jesse Ed Davis, and a marvelous collaboration with The Textones' Carla Olson: So Rebellious A Lover (1987). 

Hard to believe that more than a quarter of a century after Gene Clark's premature death, we are still hearing rediscovered "new" and "lost" material, most of which the general public has never heard.

In 2013, Omnivore Recordings released the White Light demos as Here Tonight, perhaps my favorite Gene Clark album of all-time (just Gene on vocals, guitar, and harmonica). Then in 2016, Sierra Records released GENE CLARK-THE LOST STUDIO SESSIONS 1964-1982, a fantastic collection of Gene Clark rarities (including several "instant classics" we had never heard before, most notably: "Back To The Earth Again", "The Lighthouse", "The Awakening Within", "Sweet Adrienne", "Walking Through This Lifetime", "The Sparrow", and "Only Yesterday's Gone", Gene solo with voice, guitar, and harmonica, recorded 1969-1970 in a transitional period between the Dillard & Clark albums and White Light).

Now with these two new 2018 releases, Gene Clark Sings For You (Omnivore) and the Back Street Mirror EP (Sierra/Entree), most of the important unreleased or unavailable Gene Clark material from the key transitional period when Gene had left The Byrds and was going solo, will be available, most of it for the first time ever. Between the two releases, there are 18 "new" (to us) Gene Clark songs for us to cherish.... Well, actually 18 performances of 17 songs, one of which ("Yesterday, Am I Right") there are two different versions of.

From Gene Clark Sings For You (1967 - all previously unreleased or unavailable):

• On Her Own
• Past Tense
• Yesterday, Am I Right
• Past My Door (leaked online in early 2000's)
• That's Alright By Me (different version on 1998 Flying High compilation; now out-of-print)
• One Way Road
• Down On The Pier
• 7:30 Mode

According to The Clarkophile, Flying High's "That's Alright By Me" is from a 1968 session and is different from the 1967 version on Gene Clark Sings For You.

Also on Omnivore's Gene Clark Sings For You, Gene Clark's 1967 Rose Garden Demos (previously unknown Gene Clark songs submitted to the band Rose Garden to consider recording; all previously unreleased/unavailable):

• On Tenth Street
• Understand Me
• A Long Time
• Big City Girl
• Doctor Doctor
• Till Today (Rehearsal Demo)

Available June 15 From Omnivore Recordings (Pre-order available now!)

From the Back Street Mirror EP (Sierra/Entree Records):

Side A: 1967 Sessions with Leon Russell, Hugh Masekela, et al

• Back Street Mirror (available on The Lost Studio Sessions)
• Don't Let It Fall Through (available on The Lost Studio Sessions)
• Yesterday, Am I Right (previously unreleased; different version than on Gene Clark Sings For You)

Side B: Three Previously Unreleased/Unavailable Songs Featured on The 1967 "Chip Douglas Tape"

• She Told Me
• If I Hang Around (previously unreleased original demo)
• That's What You Want

The version of "If I Hang Around" on the Back Street Mirror EP is the original demo without the vocal and instrumental overdubs added later by Chip Douglas. The Chip Douglas overdub version was on 2003 Byrd Parts II compilation; now out-of-print. 

The Back Street Mirror EP was a vinyl-only Record Store Day exclusive, but Sierra/Entree Records confirms it be will available later in 2018 on both vinyl and MP3. I hope the same is true about their other Record Store Day release of "new" material from a classic artist, Tim Hardin's Lost In L.A. EP. Sounds great!

UPDATE May 2018: The Back Street Mirror EP is now available for sale, on vinyl, to the general public. You can order it online here...

I'm really liking If I Hang Around, which I only heard for the first time recently. The version I heard is from the 2003 Byrd Parts II compilation, and contains vocal and instrumental overdubs added much later by Chip Douglas. I'm very interested in hearing the original demo without the overdubs on the Back Street Mirror EP.

I've enjoyed That's Alright By Now for some time. It's a great song. I stumbled upon Past My Door a month ago, which it appears leaked online in the early 2000's, and I dig it, but the chord changes are a little unusual and it feels unfinished. In fact, I've seen a few things online that imply that most of these "new" songs are second-rate, but we're talking about 18 songs, well 17 songs and two versions of one of the songs ("Yesterday, Am I Right"), and I've only heard three of the songs so far. Just by the law of averages, there's got to be at least a few good songs among them, and maybe even a couple of great ones.

I can't wait!

RELATED ARTICLE: "Gene Clark Sings For You" (1967) Album From Byrds Co-Founder Re-Discovered PLUS Rose Garden Demos PLUS Chip Douglas Tape

Note: The "Chip Douglas Tape" was a tape of Gene Clark songs given to Chip Douglas in 1967 to learn for Gene's new backing band he was forming at the beginning of his solo career. 

These songs were on the "Chip Douglas Tape":

1. I'd Feel Better
2. The Way I Am
3. If There's No Love
4. She Don't Care About Time
5. She Told Me
6. If I Hang Around
7. That's What You Want
8. She Has A Way
9. You Showed Me (with Roger McGuinn)

With the issue of the three "new" songs from the Chip Douglas Tape, versions of all songs on the tape are now available. It is not certain that they are, in all cases, the same versions. Songs 1, 2, 3 are on Gene Clark: The Lost Studio Sessions 1964 - 1982. Song 4 is on Turn! Turn! Turn! Songs 5, 6, 7 are on Side B of a vinyl-only release: Gene Clark, Back Street Mirror EP (Entree Records). Song 8 is on Preflyte and Mr. Tambourine Man. Song 9 is on Preflyte.

Patti Smith Live with Springsteen and Stipe at Tribeca Screening Of "Horses" Film: "Because The Night" & "People Have The Power" & "Horses" Trailer

Movie trailer for Horses

Parquet Courts Are "Wide Awake" Live On "Ellen"

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

Comedian Jim Carrey's Latest Political Art: Hannity, Cohen, Giuliani, Comey

Sean Manatee: some endangered species aren't worth saving! ;^P #SeanHannity

Is there a short bus to take "all the best people" to prison? ;^P

Auto-moronic ASSphyxiation. ;^P

Ghouliani: Finally, a face we can trust! 8^¥

The road to Trump’s White House was paved with good intentions. ;^\

More Political Art From Comedian Jim Carrey...

Cool, New Song: Bonnie "Prince" Billy "Wild Is The Will" (Susanna cover) For #NationalSchoolWalkout: Plus Interview With Billy 0n Susanna and Living In the Age of Trump & Parkland

Very powerful video! "The will of the woman with a heroic heart..." I thought of Heather Heyer, who died at Charlottesville (see bottom of page), I thought of Emma Gonzalez and the brave kids protesting gun violence today, April 20, 2018... and the kids who died that day in Parkland and all those other days... and Pussy Riot... and #MeToo and #TimesUp... and Sophie Scholl (below) of the White Rose group, executed for opposing Hitlerism...

Stream or Buy "Wild Is The Will" here...

Bonnie "Prince" Billy covers a Susanna (Norwegian singer Susanna Wallumrød) song "Wild Is The Will", accompanied by a new video. Billy covered an entire Susanna album (Sonata Mix Dwarf Cosmos, Billy's version is Wolf Of The Cosmos) in sequence in its entirety last year.

For me, it was one of the most striking albums of the year.

I questioned Billy about how the album seemed to address the stark divisions in our country currently. Billy responded:

"You've asked some of the very questions the record is intended to raise...." 

The conversation continued...

Why use footage from Charlottesville in the video "People Living"? Because it works.  We were mixing the record in mid-August.  During the mix for "People Living", the song was fucking me hard in a brand new way.  I asked Dan Koretzky from Drag City if he could find someone to pull footage from C-Ville to juxtapose with our jammer.  He found David Andalman and Andalman in turn hit it further and firmer than I had imagined possible.  And because for many people it's gone.  Charlottesville is history.  We can throw out a reminder that it hasn't gone anywhere, for those eager to move on. Would you care to comment on the current divisions in our country? There seems to be so much division today: rural vs. urban, North vs. South, The "Coastal Elites" vs. "Fly-Over" Country, etc. Rural places like Kentucky offer hateful public figures like Jim Bunning (who I saw pitch for The Phillies as a kid), his successor Rand Paul, and anti-gay clerk Kim Davis. On the other hand, there are plenty of Progressives from rural areas, such as Johnny Cash and Steve Earle. Even Kentucky's premiere artistic family, The Everly Brothers, were a house divided, with Don supporting people like McGovern and Bobby Kennedy, while Phil supported the likes of Goldwater and Nixon. What can artists do to heal these wounds? I'm trying to figure out if this is possible.  I am doubtful that any artist can heal the wounds you speak of. Why an album that is entirely covers of songs from someone else's album?  Because you hadn't listened enough to SONATA MIX DWARF COSMOS. What does Susanna mean to you as an artist? There's something in SONATA MIX DWARF COSMOS, and in Susanna's work with Morten Qvenild on the Magical Orchestra records LIST OF LIGHTS AND BUOYS and 3, that is close to the heart of what I recognize to be among the more compelling and valuable possibilities of recorded music.  The music's power leaves the artist and gets to the audience with very little interference.      Heather Heyer killed in Charlottesville, Virginia by a Neo-Nazi protester, August 12, 2017 Who is God and where is God  and what is he doing for you? Is it easy to pretend? Is it hard to look back at you? What is real and what is good for all of us? How can it be? That your convictions are gonna be valid to me... How can it be? People living on the outside Living on the wrong side Living on the outside Living on the wrong side What is true and who is true  and where is the truth now for you? Is it hard to confess to yourself? Is it easy to view? Who are wrong in your eyes and what will do to satisfy? How can it be that you want us to simplify? How can it be? People living on the outside Living on the wrong side Living on the outside Living on the wrong side... Susanna's cover of Leonard Cohen's "Who By Fire" cover (2015): An old favorite from Bonnie "Prince" Billy, "There Is No God" (2011): Two Bonnie "Prince" Billy videos I shot in Felton, California in 2015. His cover of The Everly Brothers' "It's All Over" and his own "Quail And Dumplings": Bonnie "Prince" Billy joined Johnny Cash at the end of this 2000 recording of Billy's breakthrough song from 1999 "I See A Darkness": Susanna's original version of "Lilly" (2007): Susanna and Bonnie "Prince" Billy together in concert in 2010:

First Listen: Prince Original Demo "Nothing Compares 2 U" (1984)

Cool, New Video: Courtney Barnett "City Looks Pretty"

"City Looks Pretty" is taken from Courtney Barnett's forthcoming album Tell Me How You Really Feel out on May 18, 2018. 

Pre-order here: http://courtneybarnett.com.au/pre-order/

Stephen Malkmus Salute To The Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia: "Bertha" & "Been All Around This World"

On March 30, 2018 at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, several artists gathered together to celebrate life and work of The Grateful Dead's late guitarist Jerry Garcia.

Stephen Malkmus, seen here in fan videos, performs "Been All Around The World", and is then joined by Los Lobos' David Hidalgo in a spirited version of "Bertha".

Fans will recall that Los Lobos did a killer version of "Bertha" on the 1991 Dead tribute album Deadicated and have performed it in concert ever since.

Malkmus & The Jicks contributed a stunning 11-minute version of "China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider" for the 2016 Dead tribute album Day Of The Dead. They performed an even longer version at the second night of celebration of Malkmus' former Pavement bandmate Scott Kannberg/Spiral Stairs' 50th birthday extravaganza in San Francisco's The Chapel in 2016:

The first night at The Chapel, Malkmus & Scott thrilled the crowd with several Pavement covers:

Cool, New Music Playlist April 2018: What The Cool Kids Are Listening To...

Bob Dylan "He's Funny That Way" Universal Love EP

Unknown Mortal Orchestra Sex & Food

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - new album coming Sparkle Hard, singles out now... The Jicks perform "Middle America" Live On "Live From Here"... and Stephen Malkmus (solo acoustic) Live From Saint John's and Stephen live (electric) at Jerry Garcia tribute "Been All Around This World" and "Bertha" (feat David Hidalgo)

Manic Street Preachers Resistance Is Futile

The Lemon Twigs "Foolin' Around"/"Tailor Made", Brothers Of Destruction, and Do Hollywood

King Tuff The Other

John Prine The Tree Of Forgiveness

Gene Clark "If I Hang Around". Good News: 17 "New" Gene Clark songs coming out in 2018

Gang Of Four "Ivanka (Things You Can't Have)"

Jack White Live On SNL

Johnny Marr "The Tracers"

Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite No Mercy In This Land

The Vaccines Combat Sports

Jennifer Hudson: "The Times They Are A-Changin'" (Bob Dylan cover at anti-gun March For Our Lives)

Lost Highway Soundtrack: Lou Reed "This Magic Moment", Bowie "I'm Deranged"

Bonnie "Prince" Billy "I See A Darkness" from Now Here's My Plan EP. Have liked this song for a long time but had only heard the original version (and then one he did later with Johnny Cash). This version is totally different... and very cool....

Courtney Barnett - new album coming, singles out now... Also, love Courtney on "Never Tear Us Apart" (INXS cover for Aussie Apple ad)... and her album Lotta Sea Lice last year with Kurt Vile was so good too...

Parquet Courts - new album coming Wide Awake! (produced by Danger Mouse), singles out now... also love singer/guitarist A. Savage's solo album Thawing Dawn and his "Frightened" (The Fall cover, tribute to the late Mark E. Smith)

Jimi Hendrix Both Sides Of The Sky

John Parish & PJ Harvey "Sorry For Your Loss" (tribute to Sparklehorse)

Mike Bloomfield San Francisco Nights (live at The Old Waldorf, April 18, 1977) - stumbled upon this online and it got me on a major Bloomfield super session....

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (feat Michael Bloomfield) Strawberry Jam (live 1966 - 1968), and Live Winterland, San Francisco, 9/30/1966

Bob Dylan (feat Michael Bloomfield) Live At Newport, July 25, 1965. Dylan Goes Electric: "Maggie's Farm", "Like A Rolling Stone", and "Phantom Engineer (It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry)"

The Pixies "Born In Chicago" (Paul Butterfield cover)

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks "Middle America" Live On "Live From Here", April 14, 2018

In addition to "Middle America", The Jicks also performed the new songs "Refute"and "Solid Silk", as well as "Jennifer And The Ess-Dog"...

Listen to audio of the entire show here: "Live From Here" with Chris Thile, live broadcast: April 14 with David Crosby, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, and Janeane Garofalo


Stephen Malkmus Plays 4 Cool, New Songs Solo Acoustic: "Solid Silk", "Shiggy", "Middle America", "Refute", & 2 classics: "Freeze the Saints", "Trigger Cut": Live from Saint John's Episcopal Rectory (2018)

RELATED ARTICLE: Cool, New Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Song "Shiggy" Out Now; Album Out In May! PLUS Spiral Stairs w/Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Live Videos 2016

RELATED ARTICLE: Stephen Malkmus Tribute To Lou Reed; Covers Velvet Underground "Beginning To See The Light" (2013)

RELATED ARTICLE: Could Pavement Reunite In 2019 For 30th Anniversary?

Malkmus Live Videos: "Stereo", "Stairway To Heaven", "Surreal Teenager", and "Mr. Soul"...

Free Concert To Celebrate 49th Birthday of Berkeley's People's Park April 29th

Gang Of Four Says, "Ivanka Trump Is Complicit!" + Cool, New Song "Ivanka (Things You Can't Have)" (Audio)

BoJack Horseman Rocking Out Backstage at Coachella During Beyonce's Set

@BoJackHorseman: 

beychella had me drunk in love waitnojustdrunk

Comedian Jim Carrey On Bombing Syria & Operation Desert Stormy Daniels

@JimCarrey: “Bombing Syria should interrupt the news cycle for a day or two, Mr. President. Moscow has agreed to act like they’re upset. We’ll call it: OPERATION DESERT STORMY DANIELS.”

More Political Art From Comedian Jim Carrey...

Jack White Live On SNL: "Over And Over And Over", "Connected By Love" & "Wedding Toast" (Comedy Bit): "Saturday Night Live", April 14, 2018

"Wedding Toast": a comedy bit featuring Jack White, sadly cut for time from the live broadcast, but posted on the "Saturday Night Live" website...



Jack White's last major tour and album were in 2014. Here's a ThisSmallPlanet.com original live video from his San Francisco show on August 22, 2014 featuring "Lazaretto", "Steady as She Goes", "Sixteen Saltines", and a snippet of Beck's "Devil's Haircut"...