LA-based singer and songwriter Jason Damato combines the laid-back feel of Jack Johnson and Ben Harper and is beachy in his musical composition. Although Damato doesn’t have a full- length album to debut, it’s coming. Until then, you can catch some of his tunes on his Myspace page. He brings a young, fresh sound to the mix and at the age of 21 one might expect his lyrical ability to be sophomoric, but he does a fine job of turning life’s hardships into formidable songwriting with some wisdom in the background. 4.5 McRiprock’sRead the rest of this entry »
Nakia–Water to Wine– Nakia got a nod from Sharon Jones at this past year’s ACL by pulling him onstage for an impromptu duet. An Austin local, Nakia produces an album that is southernly delicious and joyous accompanied by his back-up band The Southern Cousins and his back-up singers The Fresh Up Girls. He echoes a soulful voice that is deep into American roots music and Water to Wine is fully potent of this sound. 5.5 McRiprock’s Read the rest of this entry »
Fwd: Petition to Obama to Appoint a Secretary of the Arts
“Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts–now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.”
Then I received it again. And again after that. By week’s end it appeared in my inbox 7 times. I felt the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. The internet was flexing its viral muscle in a way that could not be ignored: community people calling to action a community movement.
Obama, are you listening?
I tracked down the man (there are two, actually) behind this thing and a couple of emails later, the Daze had an interview with Peter Weitzner, a professional musician in New York City. Below is the story of the little petition that could.
The Story Of–Until the Autumn–Their third full-length album, Until the Autumn, was composed and recorded on the banks of the Colorado River. The national release date is set for March 3rd. This album encapsulates their ethereal songwriting style and snaps some northern roots influence from Athens right up. It provides a powerful sound with heartfelt lyrics all wrapped up in an indie rock package. 4.5 McRiprock’sRead the rest of this entry »
Over here at the Daze we are still fighting the economic downturn one restaurant (and one meal) at a time. Here are some more places to spend the money we no longer have and some legitimate reasons to do so…In San Francisco.
Fwd: Petition to Obama to Appoint a Secretary of the Arts
“Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts–now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.”
Then I received it again. And again after that. By week’s end it appeared in my inbox 7 times. I felt the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. The internet was flexing its virile muscle in a way that could not be ignored: community people calling to action a community movement.
Obama, are you listening?
I tracked down the man (there are two, actually) behind this thing and a couple of emails later, the Daze had an interview with Peter Weitzner, a professional musician in New York City. Below is the story of the little petition that could.
Lonesome Heroes—Crooked Highway– Rich Russell and Landry McMeans front this psychedelic country group that’s gritty and twangy and all Texas. The album is a treat with chugging guitar sweeps, McMeans’ trill, duets with an earthy sound and fiddle and French Horn.It’s a little more country than psychedelic, but the psychedelic stands up and takes a bow occasionally producing a sound that’s feels good to the ears and makes for easy listening. 5.5 McRiprock’sRead the rest of this entry »
It’s that time again. Awards season. And while we have absolutely no say in how those little gold statues get handed out it won’t stop us from putting our two cents in mostly because we love to read ourselves write, are never short on opinions, and well, can. Incidentally, you can too. Feel free to add your thoughts on films/television/even music you loved this year. We would love to hear from you.
The 60s were a great time, and Will Taylor from Strings Attached converses with guest singer Suzanna Choffel and Strings regular Steve Zirkel about the significance of the era and it’s effect upon today’s music, unbeknownst to our youth.
I’m beginning to think New Orleanians don’t eat breakfast. I’m hoping someone can prove me wrong. Granted, I’m relatively new to the breakfast game. In New Orleans that is. I’m relatively new to mornings there in general. Well, mornings that haven’t been turned into evenings on account of the fact that I’m first going to bed. So in light of my new I’m-going-to-bed-at-bedtime-and-waking-at-wake-time way of life, I’m looking for breakfast. And having a really hard time finding it.
Broadway is currently enjoying its share of dysfunctional families, and Horton Foote’s Texas clan fit right in. And while they may not have as much bite as their neighbors from Osage County across the street, there is certainly plenty of bark. Some hearty laughs too.
Dividing the Estate, is about well, just that. The estate in question, has been in the family for generations. A once sprawling plantation, it is now surrounded by fast food chains and “Koreans or Taiwanese or something.” (Incidentally, it’s Vietnamese, but that’s another matter). The ailing matriarch of the family, Stella, is hell bent on never dividing it, while her children fight over whether or not to. Those three words “Dividing” “the” “Estate” ring over and over throughout the play carrying those invested in it through emotions of greed, desire, memory, and mockery until exhaustedly landing as a punchline, splat, on the estate’s living room floor.
LA-based singer and songwriter Jason Damato combines the laid-back feel of Jack Johnson and Ben Harper and is beachy in his musical composition. Although Damato doesn’t have a full- length album to debut, it’s coming. Until then, you can catch some of his tunes on his Myspace page. He brings a young, fresh sound to the mix and at the age of 21 one might expect his lyrical ability to be sophomoric, but he does a fine job of turning life’s hardships into formidable songwriting with some wisdom in the background. 4.5 McRiprock’s Read the rest of this entry »
Nakia–Water to Wine– Nakia got a nod from Sharon Jones at this past year’s ACL by pulling him onstage for an impromptu duet. An Austin local, Nakia produces an album that is southernly delicious and joyous accompanied by his back-up band The Southern Cousins and his back-up singers The Fresh Up Girls. He echoes a soulful voice that is deep into American roots music and Water to Wine is fully potent of this sound. 5.5 McRiprock’s 
Over here at the Daze we are still fighting the economic downturn one restaurant (and one meal) at a time. Here are some more places to spend the money we no longer have and some legitimate reasons to do so…In San Francisco.
