Old Man Quackenbush

Rakim - When I B On tha Mic

Apologies from all here at the Quackenbush Lodge for our extended hiatus from musical musings. It’s been a crazy fall for the fellows with higher learnings, cross country moves, and all around life-ass-kicking. Hopefully, we’ll be able to pick things up again here in the new year. 2012 coming at you live and uncut.

To kick us off before ringing in a new year once again, I give you Rakim with “When I B on Tha Mic”. I wish I could say that I’m more familiar with the stylings of Senor Rakim, but unfortunately I know but this one song. I was reading Jay-Z’s “Decoded” (highly recommended if you want to get some incredible insight into the mind of a hip-hop legend and lyrical mastermind), when I came across his mention of being greatly influenced by Rakim as a young Brooklyner and aspiring rapper.

First song I found on the tubes was this anthem to the streets and to rapping. Like Jay-Z describes in his book, Rakim gets into what ‘hustle’ is all about. With lyrical flows, a dope beat, and a music video that reminds us what MTv was like in its heyday, When I B On Tha Mic, brings it for sure and excites me to think about what other gems this Hova inspire’r may have in his repertoire.

Happy New Year, Quackenbushers!

“To my comrades that keep it flaming hot, on dangerous blocks, claiming spots. Where the goal is, to be one of the top ranked soldiers, 45 holders, one of the high rollers. Get respect in the hood, credit is good, knock it down lumberjack style baby extra wood. Rock it all night long, the bang-a-thon baby, keep hanging on, we like it with the lights on. Don’t have to blow twenty thou to get to know honey’s style. Show her the town, steal her heart, no money down….I’m internationally known, when I be on the mic. “

Jeremy Fisher - Scar That Never Heals

In homage to my older brother and the wonders of the ‘mix tape’, I bring you Jeremy Fisher (not to be confused with Max Fischer). Unfortuntately, I don’t know much about this gentleman, as I only have the one song…on a mix…from my brother. Looks like Fisher’s a 34 year-old from Canada and in 1999 he spent six months biking from Seattle, WA to Halifax, Nova Scotia on a tour he called, “One Less Tourbus”. Good enough for me. What I also know, is that I love this song. So, thanks, hermano! And thanks to all those others over the years who have partaken in the fine art of mix-taping and mix-exchanging! You all rock.

She runs guns, everyone wants guns, she runs guns, everyone wants, there she go-oes!

Gillian Welch - Wayside/Back in Time

One point twenty-one jiggawatts! Time travel is a dream we’ve all shared at one point or another. Gillian Welch tunes, and this one in particular obviously, hearken back to a time of Appalachian roots folk bluegrass. A simpler time when all you may have had (or needed) was an acoustic guitar, a harmonica, and a bottle of moonshine around a campfire. Maybe we all wish our lives could be simpler and feel like there were days way back when that they were. What if we could travel back and re-live certain events or times in our lives? What if we could sit around a campfire drinking moonshine with our long passed on relatives? And at the same time, where are we heading? What are these new days bringing? Wayside reminds me of a Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi’, with Nashville playing the role of Mitchell’s ‘paved paradise’. Come all you good time ramblers, listenin to my sound and drink a round to Nashville before they tear it down…foreboding the unknowns of what may happen when we tear down the old to build the new.

Welch and her cohort, guitarist David Rawlings, have 5 critically acclaimed albums and you may have heard her name in conjunction with the Album of the Year Grammy winning, “O’Brother Where Art Thou” soundtrack, which she was a producer and performer on. Despite all the incredible music and success, there are some who question her authenticity. See, Gillian was born in NYC and moved to Southern California when she was 3, but writes songs about Appalachia, coal miners, and Americana themes not usually associated with city living. The Wall Street Journal’s Taylor Holiday backed her up though, writing, “”Stingy critics give Ms. Welch a hard time because she’s a California city girl, not an Appalachian coal miner’s daughter. But as Lucinda or Emmylou might attest, love of the music is not a birthright, but an earned right. Listen to Ms. Welch yodel, in a tune about that no-good “gal” Morphine, and you know she’s as mountain as they come.“

To me, it sounds like Gillian’s got an old soul and an excellent ear for good music regardless of where she’s from. However, like time travel, it’s fun to think about the possibilities of who we may have been in a past life and/or how much our heritage over many, many generations and geographic changes plays a role in who we become. And what better backdrop for such waxings than some excellent folk/bluegrass from Welch and Rawlings?

See also: Look at Miss Ohio, Wrecking Ball, One More Dollar

Harry Nilsson - Everybody’s Talking At Me

This is one of those songs that I’ve always dug and remember hearing in my parents’ car as a young’n.

According to his Wikipedia page, ‘When John Lennon and Paul McCartney held a press conference in 1968 to announce the formation of Apple Corps, John was asked to name his favorite American artist. He replied, “Nilsson”. Paul was then asked to name his favorite American group. He replied, “Nilsson”.’ There you have it…the Beatles dug Nilsson. Maybe you should too!

Banking off of the northeast wind, sailing on summer breeze. Skipping over the ocean, like a stone.

Ghostpoet - Survive It

Over across the Pond, they awarded their prestigious Mercury Prize to the best album of the year. For the first time ever, it was a repeat recipient, P.J. Harvey, who also won in 2001. Surely deserved, a handful of names amongst nominees are also owed some acclaim. One of those nominees who is criminally unrecognized amongst the American audience is Ghostpoet.

Last month while parts of London burned, a fair share of my neighbors asked, “What are they upset about?” Ghostpoet, a.k.a. Obaro Ejimwie, gives voice to the realities of the British working-class. While Europe is entrenched in Islamophobia, the riots proved that the real unrest lies across a much broader section of the populace. His entire album is inspired, but the mellow rhythms of this track allow his voice to be the forefront. So put those headphones and listen to Ghostpoet speculatin’.

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Sep 7
Author

The Joy Formidable - Whirring

Caught the last few minutes of this one on the radio today and thought it had a great sound. So here you go Quackenbushers, a new one for you perhaps and a new one for me. The Joy Formidable hail from North Wales and now London. Great band name, I’d say. And from this song and video, they clearly like rocking out, which I’m all for. Definitely a group I’ll have to do a little more looking/listening in to. Go on Quackenbushers, smash some shit and enjoy this song.

You make me sleep so badly, visible friend.

Elbow - Snooks (Progress Report)

One of those, “Gotta know what/who this is” songs that send you to the internets in search of answers….One of those, “How come nobody told me?” bands…Elbow came on the old Pandora the other day and I was convinced at first it was some coolass Dave Matthews song I’d never heard before. But, although the lead singer sounds a lot like DM, Elbow definitely has their own thing going and have since the late 90’s.

Hailing from the United Kingdom, all five of their albums have made the Top 20 there and seven of their singles have been in the Top 40. They’re one of those bands that I feel like I’ve heard somewhere or someone told me about at some point, but I can’t put my finger on it. For now, I’ve only just scratched the Elbow surface, listening to various songs on the youtube, but I’m in. Give me a beat like this one every day of the week and twice on Fridays.

I got deep, warm, drunk. And I’d lost my hands.

Post note - For Boston area Quackenbushers, these fellas are playing the Paradise on 9/26

Piebald - We Believe in Karma

It seems nearly impossible to put into words what this band means to me and this post could never be as complete as I’d like it to be. But, as Piebald represents so much that is good in the world, I couldn’t continue to hold them back from you Quackenbushers.

They represent Rock’n roll. Freedom. Boston by way of Andover (represent, represent). Motorcycles. Wit and humor. Just not giving an F. Sticking it to the man. Friends (even though friends sometimes fight). Hard times. Long nights. Indie bands scraping to get by, by touring non-stop for little pay, but putting on the most kick-ass, high energy, bringing-it-every-night shows you’ll ever see…

Alas, for many of you who are just hearing Piebald for the first time here on this blog, you are too late to witness this greatness live. The boys have moved on after 15 or so years of straight asskicking. From Boston to LA to Europe and back again. As this video reflects, they put on amazing shows. They were four buddies from high school who made a band and just kept getting after it because they loved making music. They had the best job ever. They were nobody’s robots. Nobody’s monkeys.

But I don’t post this song in remembrance. I post this song in celebration. Though you may not be able to see Piebald live (though rumor has it they recently got together to tour around Europe some more. Pfft, nbd.), they have multiple albums worth of finely crafted songs, head rocking beats, face melting guitars, and mind bending lyrics that’ll make you think, laugh, cry, and want to go out and get after it. Whatever “it” may be.

We pulled it off! Right in front of your eyes. Like it was magic.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Old Man!!

Lionel Richie - All Night Long

Well, my friends, the time has come. Raise the roof and have some fun. Throw away the work to be done. Let the music play on….

Here’s to a summer Friday, fiestas foreva, letting the music play on, friends old and new, and most importantly a year (or so) in the Quackenbush blog spectacularness!

What better way to celebrate than with a couple of Mountain Brew Beer Ices to the dome and one of the best party songs of all time. Sing it Lionel!

Coldplay/Jay-Z - Lost Dirt

Mash’n it up on a Wednesday like we do. Came across this the other day and at first thought it was done live, which would be unreal. Irregardless, turn it up to hear Hova spit’n hot fire over the anthemic Coldplay crowd pleaser. Straight cash, homey. Side note, both of those concerts look incredible. I have the jealousy.

Old Man Quackenbush

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