Story of the Ghosts: One-Timers

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One Played Live
Michael Franti and Spearhead – Yell Fire! Live

Considering the strength of the Yell Fire! studio album and Franti’s dynamic stage presence, this seemed like a no-brainer for a great live album. Coming in at a whopping 47 minutes, it’s not. In a solid live album, it’s easy to tell that the band has the place rocking and everyone on their feet (i.e., Ringo > Hajimemashite > Ringo from UM’s Live at the Murat). This feeling is just not there.

The set feels really rushed and largely lacks the energy and trademark, thoughtful propaganda that makes seeing Franti an experience. Franti is one of the few personas that can pull off a Bob Marley sort of social commentary in his live act without coming across too contrived or irritating. Unfortunately, this is not Franti at his most inspired. Nevertheless, the title track rocks, and old standbys Everyone Deserves Music and Everybody On A Move get it going a bit. Still, I like all these songs better on their respective studio albums.

One to Make You Cry
The Felice Brothers – Tonight at the Arizona

Having heard the gushing praises from Ace over the past couple weeks, it was with eager anticipation that I gave these guys a listen. The initial screening took place in a nice window seat on the Metro North train – a perfect locale for the Felice Brothers. As expected, the music is nothing short of gripping. This foursome plays minimalist Americana rootsy folk music that calls to mind the storytelling of Townes Van Zandt. Also, get ready for endless Bob Dylan references in any discussion of the Felice Brothers.

The second track on the album, The Ballad of Lou the Welterweight – easily the most emotional song ever written to include the lyric, “Let me love you from behind” — is mesmerizing. It’s a really powerful tale of a boxer and the love of his life, happy in their mundane lives, but shattered when Lou dies in a bout. Many of the songs on the album have this effect of taking you deep into their worlds and ultimately sending you into a deep daydream. It’s only about four days old in my repertoire and it’s already a favorite, and my tickets are in the mail for the February 1st show at the Mercury Lounge.

One Film for Your Eyes
Once

Once is a lot of things, but at its core it’s a movie about two people who love music and bond through the creative process of writing songs together. A pair of struggling Dubliners meet and develop a close relationship through their music, but meanwhile, they develop a rather complex social relationship, which meanders rather aimlessly throughout the film. This is the type of movie that people will either love or hate, because it is fueled with strong themes, ambitious, very vocal music, and a slightly exaggerated “struggling musician” vibe.

Personally, I found it to be a pretty believable look at the challenges of livin’ the dream and going mental from a relationship, but it’s layered with some thick sap and is pretty depressing at times. It’s tough to tackle this stuff on film and tougher to swallow it, but for the most part, Once pulls it off. There is undoubtedly a low-budget feel and the look of the movie leaves a bit to be desired, but what do you expect with a budget of roughly $150k? Overall, it’s a solid indie film with solemn musical compositions and bright performances.

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One That Money Can’t Buy
Ukelele Cabaret @ Jimmy’s No. 43

When you hear the old “only in New York” thing three-plus times in one night, you know you’re onto something. Some friends and I went to one of our semi-regular haunts this week for a low key evening, hitting up Jimmy’s No. 43, a laid back, underground, beer sanctuary. By dumb luck we stumbled upon an event that I have been meaning to check out for a few months, the Ukelele Cabaret. Sounds cute, right? That’s what I thought.

In fact, I thought it would be a lot like the bluegrass open jam night that takes place on Wednesday nights several blocks away at the Baggott Inn, which is a clusterfuck of bluegrass musicians all playing at the same time vying to be heard; not the case. This is a well-organized, free, full night of eccentric, mostly good Ukelele (ok, some good) performances from some sweet characters. The best part is that all performances are recorded on video and posted at the Ukelele Cabaret website. So, don’t take my word for it, check out some of these Uke folk doing their thing. The event takes place monthly.

One For Exercise
The Disco Biscuits 3/26/99 – Vassillios

This one goes out to all you fat bastards and your New Years resolutions, who’ll be clogging up gyms and toilets across the nation this week. If there’s one thing that can make a trip to the gym bearable and maybe even fun, it’s a good face melter. So, fresh off a Disco Biscuits kick from Friday’s show at the Hammerstein, I took a trip down memory lane and dug up the best Biscuits jam that I ever did see.

My stance on the Biscuits is that I love them some of the time. At their best, they are mesmerizing; at their worst, they are aimless noodlers with cheesy tones on their instruments. Anyway, this one is from 1999 at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. This was the prime of my jamband career and the Biscuits were hotter than Jeno’s Pizza Rolls. This Vassillios in particular comes in around 23 minutes, but it’s the last eight or so that really get you moving. I clearly remember thinking, “Oh my god, I’ve never heard anything like this.” So, pop it on your iPod and go detox.