VIDEO: Little Kid Brings the Underage Funk to a Russian Dance Club

Look at this young kid do his thing at the club. In a couple of years he is going to destroy it on the Bar Mitzvah circuit.

I can only imagine what he's doing to the new Daft Punk. 

Daft Punk - Get Lucky ft. Pharrell Williams

#EDAS Album Review: Steve Earle, The Low Highway

by Justin (@justasstrazdin)

Label: New West - April 16, 2013

Artist-Fair Shopping: Nothing Online, Hit a Record Shop

Style: Cool Uncle Americana, Like Father like Son, You Could Learn Something from This Guy

Audience: Hipsters Chewing Tobacco, Old People Who Still Go to Bars for Live Music, Bearded Thirty-somethings Who Complain at Every Show, Fans of Bubbles on HBO's The Wire

Better Tracks: The Low Highway, Love's Gonna Blow My Way, Pocket Full of Rain

There's plenty of reason to believe that Steve Earle and son Justin Townes Earle help each other sell records by individually being good at the same thing. Justin's profile rose because he releases quality, hipster-friendly Americana. Steve Earle seems settled into his large, gray beard, that I suspect now controls his Americana-leaning country rock, which hasn't slowed down since his return from the depths of self-destruction in the mid 90's, with only a few creative dips along the way. That is impressive.

It's good that Steve Earle had not wandered down the old man rock road and mired his excellent writing with a tired production from some old Nashville cats wanting nothing more than to get the fuck out of the business, as soon as they pay off their boat. Instead, the Dukes and Duchesses sound right, enough that the twenty-something couple swaying together at Pickathon (well, not this year)--with their PBR's knocking together, her breezy cotton summer dress, and his tailored sustainable berry farmer getup--can enjoy it and forget about The Avett Brothers for a minute.

The album opens strong with "The Low Highway," a slow-moving steel guitar guided number that starts strong, and regains momentum near the middle of the album with "Love's Gonna Blow My Way," an excellent New Orleans style fiddle tune--written along with "After Mardi Gras" for HBO's Treme, both by Earle and co-star Lucia Micarelli--with fast dealt, simple lyrics that are strong on its hook. It reminds me of Justin Townes Earle's addictive opening track, "Hard Livin'," from his debut full-length, The Good Life. "Pocket Full of Rain" plays like classy 70's New York piano pop rock, which is fun considering Earle made NYC his home in 2007 (possibly 2006, I found no firm date).

There are a few low points on this record, which is incredible considering he is far along the second wind of a career he revived fifteen years ago, after heroin problems and jail time. "Calico County" sounds lazy, even if it does play to Steve Earle's strengths. I'm usually all for rambling meth rock, but not with so many good cuts on the album. "Invisible" had a similar problem, where the vocal harmony in the chorus is inconsistent with the rest of the material. I figure they are trying to fool a young radio audience by running it as a lead single, but if not, I'm confused. It also sounds like "Down Here Below" on Washington Square Serenade, minus the goofy banjo bridge to fade out. "21st Century Blues" sounds like a late-period Springsteen B-side. Whatever. But everything else makes up for it, given where his career could have ended considering his age and gritty past. Let's see you do better.

Verdict: Excellent Reason to Pound a Six Ringer on a Porch While Slapping Mosquitoes

Steve Earle - The Low Highway

Caveman perform "In The City" Live on the Artie Lange Show

Artie & Norm in "Dirty Work"

One of my favorite New York City bands, played one of my favorite new songs, on a show with my one of my favorite comedians, from one of my favorite movies. Here is the newest single from The Subjects Caveman's self titled new album out on Fat Possum Records. These guys just released an official video starring the beautiful Julia Stiles, but I prefer this live performance which accentuates the celestial voice of lead vox Matty Pickles and also promotes the insane craftmanship Jimmy Carbonetti brings to guitar-making. I guess I just like watching the "Dirty Work."

Caveman - In The City

#EDAS Album Review: Futurebirds, Baba Yaga

by Justin (@justasstrazdin)

Futurebirds – Baby Yaga

Label: Fat Possum – April 16, 2013

Artist-Fair Shopping: Fat Possum Store

Style: Americanarama, Summer Flannel, Teles and Vintage Amps

Audience: Those Guys with Ten Day Beards and Their Really Cute Girlfriends, Dads at Shows, People Who Know What's inside a Silo

Better Tracks: Serial Bowls, The Doewg

There are numerous benefits to letting your band sound like The Jayhawks in good measure. First, it is a safe position to take, because alt-country Americana always has a niche homestead along the dusty roads of fans' hearts. Second, it might be hard for some critics to argue that your albums are derivative after the next time they sip lemonade on a porch and one of your songs arrives on shuffle. Third, Hollywood Town Hall is a minor masterwork to aspire toward, even with all the Jesus stuff.

So the Futurebirds drop Baby Yaga and the comparison is easy to make. The album is easy to listen to. It is smooth and sunny with wonderful runs of pedal steel whine. It makes you want to start a controlled fire. The arrangements are solid, but rough-hewn when they rock. While this album sounds like it has been done before, not every record needs to experiment, especially with PBR Americana. If there is solid writing backed by a road worn band, then the effort is welcome.

Verdict: Roll up Your Plaid Sleeves and Find Some Mosquitoes to Slap.

Futurebirds - Serial Bowls

Sharon Jones Diagnosed With Cancer. Cancels Tour & Upcoming Album. Get Well Sharon!!

A double dose of sad news has just been delivered as reports have confirmed Sharon Jones has been diagnosed with a form of bile duct cancer. According to my mother, a multi-time cancer survivor herself, Sharon should be fine. In the wake of her illness, Daptone Records has postponed the release of her album, Give the People What They Want, as well as all her planned concert appearances. 

The lovely Miss Sharon and I have crossed paths a couple of notable times. Once, you may remember, was when her and I shared the TV screen nearly equally at a taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. 

Click to see larger

The other was at a Valentine's Day show in 2009 when after her performance, she signed my record and gave me a big ol' kiss. She is one of the strongest, hardest working, most beautiful personalities in all of music today, my heart and prayers go out her and her family in their time of need. We here at #EDAS wish her a speedy, full recovery so she can get back to making our lives better with her amazing music and spirit. In the meantime here she is making it look just too easy with her Dap-King associates. 

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Let Them Knock

Rainy Monday Cure: Brazilian Baby Belts Beatles Cover

Get this kid a ridiculous coat and put him on a rooftop because this performance is on par with the original fab four's ultra-soulful swan song. This little boy is an absolute champion and his father deserves some serious Dad of The Week honors. I would not be surprised if this wittle wunderkid develops into one heck of a musician someday. 

I'm sure this teeny taste has you thirsting for the original so I'll let the real guys take it away below. Certainly a cure for the Rainy-Monday Blues, should you be stricken.  

The Beatles - Don't Let Me Down

Another Song: The Fresh & Onlys - Imaginary Friends

by Justin @justasstrazdin

I never had an imaginary friend. If you did, I'm jelly. No way around it for me. If you have like, seven bands like Tim Cohen does/did, I'm jelly about that, too. Magic Trick is fantastic, but if you want some odd sound-toy noise-laden psyched-out garage rock from Mr. Cohen, the first Fresh & Onlys release serves plenty of it. This song makes me want to skip through an English meadow with an imaginary friend in a gripping laser battle with large monsters.

If you don't have Spotify, use the player below.