Playful Dancing

I just ran across this video tonight and it was a delight to watch. I love how playful these two both are. And once Ann decided to "march" around, she stuck with it and worked it.

New Tunes: J.E. Sunde & Big Lake

I love the Twin Cities. It is a place full of talented musicians, and I've been lucky enough to cross paths with a handful them. A few of them have been in the process of making new music that they've just released or are releasing soon. I want to share of a few of their new projects:

First off, J.E. Sunde. He just released his single "Passport" for the album Shapes That Kiss The Lips of God that is supposed to come out June 3rd.  This isn't the new single, but check out this video for his song "Easy Kid."

Second, Big Lake is releasing their self-titled LP on April 25th. Which is great, but what has gotten my attention more is a video of cover (Big Star "13") that they did with Joey Ryan. Check out the video and their CD release show at the Turf Club (April 25th).

I have yet to tell you about The Ericksons, We Are the Willows, Dewi Sant, and more. But, alas, I have run out of time.

Kalispell's Kickstarter

I haven't written on the blog in ages! What brings me back is wanting desperately to help a friend, Shane Leonard of Kalispell, reach his Kickstarter goal to help record his second album.

This is the same Kalispell that I wrote about more than a year ago when he released his first album. That album was recorded in the spare room in his apartment and was hand packaged and was essentially all self-made. This time, Shane wants to create a more professional record.

As of right now, there is only only 62 hours (2 1/2 days) left to raise the remaining $6,690. I think that that goal can be achieved with a little help from my blogging friends! 

Check out his Kickstarter link!

Even if you don't contribute, would you mind helping spread the word? If anybody deserves this, it's Shane. 

Dance Whirlwind

The dance world has been kind to me this year.

For some reason, I made finals in the Amateur Jack and Jill at Lindy Focus. Not only did I make finals, but by the grace of God, I placed 2nd (with an amazing partner, James Pack)! That felt like a good start to the new year.

(Taken by the great Bobby Bonsey)

  But my year has gotten even better. And it's only March! Last weekend, I attended Heartland Swing Festival and was surprised to find myself with 3 medals and 2 overall awards, including:

• 2nd in Solo Jazz
• 2nd in the Jack and Jill with Baron Smith
• 1st in the Any Swing Goes (aka Strictly) with Joseph Bojang
• Overall Collegiate Jitterbug Champion, alongside my friend Bradley Smith.
• Dancer's Choice Award, alongside my friend Joseph Bojang.

 I don't feel like I deserve any of it. I'm not that good, really. I'm grateful, for sure...but I still think ya'll are crazy.

But I want to take the time to try to communicate something that I've been thinking about since Lindy Focus:

Where I am at in my dancing will always be tied to all those who came along with me through my dance journey. I'm only at this place because you all helped get me here, whether you knew it or not. You were my motivation, my help, my struggle, my pick-me-up. I'm only me because of you and that's HUGE.

So, thank you. You made me feel like a million bucks this past weekend.

Stefan and Bethany

I am really enjoying Stefan Durham and Bethany Powell's dancing right now. Their dancing isn't exactly what I want to aspire to technique wise, but they've got their own thing going on. And that is inspiring.

They're coming up with some creative stuff that's fun to watch.  Check out their performance at Lonestar this past year:

I've been itching to dance the past couple of days, but after watching this performance, that itch has gotten more intense.

Kalispell

Do you remember, folks, when I told you briefly about my buddy Shane's band Kalispell? Well, he finally released his full-length album Westbound a little over a week ago. I hitched a ride to Eau Claire so that I could be there for the CD release show and am extremely glad I did. We Are the Willows and The Daredevil Christopher Wright opened, which that in-and-of-itself would have been a good line up. But the final build up came from seeing Shane finally perform all his great tunes from the album, start to finish, with a full band. The stage was sometimes packed with the likes of violins, upright bass, steel guitar, drums, and even a cello; and sometimes the stage slimmed down to simply Shane and one other on stage. And it was good. His old-time infused Americana-folk is the kind of stuff I love.

My favorite on the album so far is probably track 2, Methodist Lift. How can you go wrong with a song that starts with the twanging of a banjo? And I really dig the lyric: "The church taught me how to hold a grudge, My brother taught me how to let it go, He learned from his father, and We learned from our fathers. Isn't that the way it's supposed to go?" And if you're not sold yet, you can download my second favorite track, Lucky a Hundred Times, for free. 

Give him a listen. Give him a try. Then go see him in town near you!

Jonas David

If you like S. Carey or Bon Iver at all, I think you're going to love Jonas David. Jonas David hails from Germany and is a musical gem. Very ethereal folk tunes with poetic lyrics. Please take the time to give this guy a listen. Please.
Or watch:

Sam Amidon

Folks, Sam Amidon has done it again! He has made a master piece of an album that I'm sure too many people will never know about (though I hope I'm wrong).

Back in 2008, Amidon released the album "All is Well." This album has been standard in my collection, with Amidon's almost mumbly voice, soft strings, and overall authentic folk sound. It is a beautifully constructed album.

This year, Sam Amidon gives to us another great album "I See the Sign." Once again, Amidon sings with his standard mumbly voice, gives us a traditional folk sound fused with a new artistic twist. I haven't finished listening to the album yet, but I can tell you that I'm excited to hear it all and to listen to it over and over again.




Also, if you live in the Twin Cities, he's coming to town soon. He will be playing at the Walker Art Center on March 22 & 23. It will be a show worth checking out.

Aaron Espe "Songs From a Small Town"

I've simply fallen in love with Aaron Espe's album "Songs From a Small Town" (link to free download). He is an artist that was recommended to me by a friend a few years ago, though I never really looked into him then. Recently, I was perusing NoiseTrade (a site where all the music is available for free download) and saw the album there, remembered his name, and decided to give him a chance. Best choice I've made in a musical while.

The album starts off with "Small Town," a tune about the simplicity and small pleasures of living in a small town. His singing is story-telling. It's basic but heartfelt, just like a small town.

This next song "Change" is more mellow in tone. It is about not being able to accomplish quite what you want, how things sometimes just don't work out, and how that can sometimes defeat a person. It's an honest assessment of life, and Espe's voice and soft guitar chords give it credibility.

The pinnacle of the album is the second-to-last track "Faith and Doubt." Espe's Christian background comes out most clearly through this honestly emotive tune. The song rises and falls with strong guitar chords, but also with surges of emotions of wanting to believe and descents into soft hues of confession of doubt and unknowing.

Throughout the entirety of the album, where Mr. Espe rises above other folky singer-songwriters is in his honesty. He never shares too much, but he shares enough where one can identify and feel exactly what he is singing about. His gentle honesty has won me over. Maybe it will win you over too.

Some Jazz Favorites

I realized that I post a lot about dancing and a lot about current music, but rarely do I post anything about jazz music. This isn't a well-thought out post, but I figured it was about time that I shared with you some great jazz.

First and foremost, I'm nuts about Sidney Bechet and Skeets Tolbert (free downloads).

Mr. Bechet with my favorite rendition of "Summertime":

Skeets Tolbert (Alice and Thomas are dancing to "Hit That Jive Jack"):

Also:
Duke Ellington "East Saint Louis Toddle-oo":

Fletcher Henderson:

Well, gotta run. Too much blogging and not enough of doing what I really ought to be doing.

O Boy, O Balboa!

Remember when I posted a day or so ago and told you that I haven't been that inspired by Lindy Hop? Well, in the past day I've come across a few balboa videos, with the help of my friend Becca, that have got me ITCHING to dance.

This one makes me weak in the knees. I love how both Kelly and Bobby play with the music, especially around 1:00. Noises shot forth form my lips at that moment to express my awe.

I also really love this little ditty of Nelle Cherry and Nick Williams from Lindy Focus this year. Can I just say that I really love Nelle's enthusiasm for the dance? Watching her dance is like watching joy in motion, as her smile says it all. Somebody once made the criticism of saying she gives away her flaws in competitions because she laughs so easily at them. Well, maybe so, but dancing isn't always meant to be perfect, and when you can laugh at and enjoy even your flaws in a dance, even more so in a competition, that speaks of only good things. Anyways, check out the video:

I really want to dance now.

They Just Get To Me

I feel like I've been a blogging fool this past day. All my dancing and music thoughts have been pent up or something.
Anyways, I wanted to share some songs with you that are getting to me. Making me listen to them over and over because there is something more there that just gets to my very fiber.

1. Jeremy Messersmith's "Love You to Pieces"



2. We Are the Willows "A Family. A Tree."



3. Feist "Caught a Long Wind"

4. Dark Dark Dark "Wild Go"

Kasey Rogers

I heard about Kasey Rogers because he's played with my pal John Davey. For some reason, John knows how to pick some great musicians to play shows with (other examples: Bro. Stephen, Moor Hound), including Mr. Rogers (bah! I didn't even intend to make that joke). 

Kasey Rogers is of the country-folk variety, but his voice almost sounds as though he should be in a pop-punk band. He sings out his songs with heart-felt energy, to the point where he is at times just belting out the words. It is great folk, but it's also pop-y, in the sense that his tunes have a tendency to put you in a feel good mood. Oh, and the guy plays the banjo. Definitely a plus in my books. 

Check out his video:

And here he is playing with John Davey:

So, there are no free downloads from this guy, but you can purchase his EP on i-Tunes. (Do it!)

"You've Been Found Wanting"

Recently, I've lost a bit of my enthusiasm for lindy hop. Why? Well, after watching a slew of videos tonight and not being terribly impressed by any of them, I think I may have realized part of the reason.

These are some of the videos I watched:
Swinglandia Jack & Jill Final 2010
Dax and Sarah
Max and Natasha
Dax and Sarah ESDC 2011

Well, I think that I haven't been terribly impressed or inspired because it seems as though people aren't really dancing to the music or that they're trying too hard to dance to the music. It feels a little bit artificial or forced. Too many "moves" and not enough dancing. What I mean by that, is that I've seen a lot of dancing that is "good" or takes practice and effort, but recently I feel as though I haven't seen a lot of dancing that is the result of loving the music and the feeling and embracing that dance for what it is. Because, ultimately, those are the dances that are the most inspiring. The kind of dances that the goal is to be in the moment and to embrace the spirit of lindy hop, not where the goal is to dance lindy hop well.

I think that this video of Frida is inspiring. She appears to be taking each moment as it comes and really dancing.

I think I need to remember my own criticisms for my own dancing. Since starting to compete, I have a harder time not just enjoying each dance for what it is. I focus on my mistakes, what I'm not doing well. Maybe I need to re-learn what it is to really love lindy hop. Maybe I just need to dance.

No Touch Lindy

Crazy! This video is off a No-Touch Lindy competition at Lindy Focus this year. I could not take my eyes off the pair on the left. They seemed to work together well and even were quite creative in the process.

Looks like a challenge. I wonder if learning to read each others body language for this competition helps with their overall partner dancing skills? Or, as follows, does it just make it easier to second guess and/or back lead?

Adelyn Rose

Eau Claire, Wisconsin is best known for it's local legend Bon Iver (Justin Vernon), but it's also home to a whole slew of musicians, many of which you may not have heard of.

One of these bands, Adelyn Rose, just released their single "Never Get Tired" from their upcoming album release Mezzanine due out in March. After seeing these folks play shows and switch up their sound in the past year and get better with time, I'm eager to find out what the full length will sound like. But alas, the single will have to do for now (plus it's a free download from Bandcamp, along with other free downloads from their previous work). Check it out:

Dark, Dark, Dark

I live in a wonderful city (Minneapolis) where there is a rich artistic culture that thrives. This includes the local music scene. So many great musicians and musical admirers that call this city their home and thus help this rich musical culture thrive. With that all being said, I'm continually surprised by the amount of people who still have not yet heard of the local band Dark, Dark, Dark.

This band invokes a darker mood, though not grim.They have a sound similar to Beirut, as they utilize an orchestral sound, but that is also distinct from Beirut. Where Beirut often sounds like they are taking influences from the circus or carnival, Dark, Dark, Dark sounds like they are using influences from Eastern Europe. A darker, melancholy, Eastern European, orchestral sound.

My own experience with Dark, Dark, Dark started with brief exposure to as they were played on The Current. Then I downloaded one of their Daytrotter sessions, which I highly recommend. But the thing that did me in about them was when I saw them perform for The Walker's Music and Movies in the Park. They were commissioned to write and perform a live score to go along with the 1938 silent German film SPIES. The following video is part of that live score and is of one of the greatest live music experiences I've ever experienced (though you must forgive it, as the sound quality is not the greatest).

Oh, and you can find a free download of their single "Daydreaming" over at Bandcamp!

Months of Music

I haven't blogged in a long time, and then about a month ago, my computer died. And you know what the best thing about that is? That was the time that I wanted to blog the most. But I am a lucky girl and now have a temporary computer replacement. I really should be looking up a bus schedule right now, but first I want desperately to share with you some music that I've been digging on the past few months. Ready for it? Set. GO!

Jeremiah Nelson: Saw this guy open up for We Are the Willows. Liked him then, but his music is the kind that grew on me more and more as time went on. So listen to him, but let yourself listen through more than once. If you're anything like me, after about the fifth time you've listened to the album, you will be pumped to pass it along to your friends.

The Milk Carton Kids: I work at this really great cafe in Minneapolis where I have the chance to experience some really great up and coming musicians, and these guys were one of the best gems I've gotten to see there yet. These two guys are out of Los Angeles and are super nice fellas. Their tunes have a nice, mellow Ryan Adams feel to them and they sound just as great live as they do on their album. Their two albums are free on their website, and they also have a really great Daytrotter session, all of which are worth checking out and downloading. Then, if you get a chance, you should find out if they will be coming to your town on tour and see and meet them for yourself. Really, everything about these guys is worth it.

Kalispell: This is a friend's band, but I really am excited about their music. These guys will make something of themselves if they keep with it. Their folky tunes are the type that make you close your eyes and let your body gently sway as you sink deeper into a reminiscent mood. Listen to the following tune to understand what I mean if you don't already:



Their EP, Last Year, is also available to listen to on Bandcamp! And if you are in the Midwest and get a chance to see a show, you should go.

My Reasons for Blogging

When I tell people that I have a blog about Lindy Hop and "Indie" music, one of the more common responses from friends and acquaintances is a groan of, "Oh no, not you too."
And then there are the expectations that those people and the other bloggers have: if you are going to have yet another blog on dancing or music, you better be damn good at articulating what you mean and know what you're talking about.

Since the above happens and since I've been lazy with this blog this past summer, I thought I would leave a post here about why I even started this blog in the first place.
So here I go. I started this blog because:
-I didn't want to be the annoying girl on facebook who posted videos all day long and crowded everybody's news feed. What I want to share with people is mostly contained to this site, so you can easily choose to read it or ignore it.
-I get really excited about the music that I like at any given moment and I wish that more people knew about it. So I this is an outlet to share my music finds with more people who may not know about them.
-There were too many times I would ask people if they had seen such-and-such video, blog, or website and then I would try to remember to send them a link to it. Whether or not I remember to individually send you the link, this blog provides the source to many of the videos or sites that I may have made reference to in a conversation.
-I selfishly wanted an outlet for all the thoughts and ideas that often raced through my mind about music and dancing. It is a means of processing for my own purposes.

My reasons are listed above. And note that these reasons don't include the statements, "because I'm a good writer" or "because I'm an expert on this." Because neither of those statements would be true. I'm not a great writer and I don't always know what I'm talking about. But I'm open to criticism, input, and new ideas. Share your thoughts with me, help me to write a better blog, and share your finds with me too. This kind of input only adds to ultimate goal of this blog: to share with others Indie Rock and Lindy Hop finds.

ILHC 2011

Just like so many other Lindy Hoppers, I eagerly awaited and then watched the new batch of ILHC videos. Today I literally sat if front of my computer, clutched my hands to my chest, and squealed in delight over various YouTube clips. For those of you who know me, you know that I'm not exaggerating.

To start: It's official. Alice Mei is my favorite dancer. After watching this clip, I don't think I could love her dancing anymore than I do now. The girl dances because she loves it. Not just because there is some judge watching or because she is trying to please the crowd, but because of the sheer joy of it. The way she smiles when she dances makes me think that it can be no other way.

Maybe I'm just incredibly partial to her dancing right now, but I also think that her Jack and Jill Spotlight with Peter Strom is adorable. Not to mention the height difference between these two is amusing.

Next: The Champions Strictly Finals was so much fun to watch. And I definitely still love Jo Hoffberg's dancing. Check out her and Kevin's spotlight starting at 7:00 that ends with them....(watch the video to find out).

I'm antsy for more of the videos to go up!