James Hunter

I discovered that James Hunter had a new album coming out the other day and after hearing some sound samples was pretty stoked. In a RARE stroke of luck, I managed to see that he was playing at Lincoln Hall here in Chicago BEFORE the show actually happened and went down to check it out. 

Now as the James Hunter 6 the band was super tight and super funky. Maybe it's the 5 years since his last album or the personal stuff he's had to go through but his sound is way "rougher" than I remember from his last CDs.

Case in point, these 2 covers which KILLED IT. By the age of these video posts, the band has had significant time to hone these tunes into the soulful funky goodness that I experienced this past Saturday.


Baby Don't Do It - The Five Royales
 




Down Home Girl - Originally The Coasters, but this is more a Stones cover tempo wise





 

Makana

Caught some Ki Ho'alu to warm up a cold Chicago evening tonight at Old Town School of Folk Music. Lucky to see Makana for the first time. Even though I have a few of his songs, I didn't know of his slack key knowledge or pedigree (Sonny Chillingworth) much less the extent of his talent.

Heard some familiar favorites like Hi'ilawe and Ku'u Lei Awapuhi along with a Led Zeppelin cover (Going To California) but his instrumentals were where he really lit it up.



This song, close to the end of the set, was really touching after he told the story of what it is about. The Waterfall of Nu'uanu and how Jay Kauka wrote it at 18 when his dad died.


 
 

Thanks Platurn

So Dj Platurn posed a request to his friends on Facebook asking for a new song to get stuck in his head. I'm digging on some of the suggestions he got. 

Oddly enough, I was familiar with two of the artists but not the songs shared.

I LOVE Beautiful World by JJ Gray and Mofro, but this is from their first album.
 


and I had downloaded a couple of songs from the Allen Stone record when it came out, but I missed this one



The last one, is something for the wish list:



credit is incorrect as the band is Mudie's Allstars (Harry Mudie as producer)

*** UPDATED 2 days later with more links! ***

super fun uptempo and catchy!




 

hip hop yo...




 

First show of 2013

How odd that my last post was of D'Angelo.

Went to my first show of the new year last night at Lincoln Hall and had a great time. I don't know if it's the James Poyser arrangements/production or his laid back vocal style, but Jose James invites all kinds of comparisons to D.



 I also wasn't familiar with Mister Joshua who dj'd an opening set but he played some nice groovy stuff to start. Amp Fiddler, Sade and I had to Shazam a couple of tunes:




 

2013

First post for 2013 and I'm thinking about when the hell the new D'Angelo album is coming out.

If it's got shit like this on it....I'm sold. Don't be fulled by the ridiculous "sexiest performance ever" tag and the How Does It Feel opening.

NPR's top 100 from 2012

Found a couple of things that piqued my interest after checking the list...heard a few things this morning on the radio so I went and looked up their picks:



Their pick from this is Mulata (which I need to hear in it's entirety) but this track Mala is dark and ominous. Interesting mood music.




On Epitaph...yes, really!




So beautifully sweet




play this loud. :)




kinda fun poppy number





She sounds like Sade you say? Sure, I'll take a listen...



St Vincent & David Byrne? well, yeah....didn't expect all the horns, but I like em





not sure how much I like this, but it IS some next level shit yo...at least for me.




they certainly like these 80's sounding joints...this is kinda fun :)

and finally...




I didn't listen to everything on the list, but I got through most of them. Let me know what else you're liking :)

Mixtape

Super cool video on the artist and process behind this uber-dope coffee table. Someone please spot me $5000.

Mixtape from Jeff Skierka on Vimeo.