Tampa Calling

Michael Lee (I trust that we don’t need any pronunciation help with this one…) is one cool Californian cat. He grew up in cow-infested Visalia, Ca., and now lives in badass-infested Chico, Ca. He likes to fall asleep watching movies on his couch, drink Jameson, eat at Pluto’s, all while wearing his Two Ton Boa t-shirt.

I featured “The Jealous Type” in January on Episode 8 of The Merry Andrews Show and now Michael Lee is back with a vengeance and a new album that rocks off my britches in a very … elegant and romantic way.

Many artists aren’t into discussing what inspires their songs because they like the songs to have different meaning for everyone or something lame like that. I respect the secrecy, but I’m a nosey little devil and I always ask. I get a major rush out of hearing a song and saying “Oh! This is about blah blah blah…” Michael was a dream and gave me all the gory details about the songs on his new album Yesterday and Every Day After. Are you ready for this jelly? Read the rest of this entry »

One of the best things about being one of the hosts of The Merry Andrews Show is having the opportunity to introduce listeners to new music — but being introduced to new music by my fellow co-hosts is the real treat. For the hour that we record the show, we get to not only play the role of “host” but also the role of “listener” as we all surprise each other with our music choices.

On Episode 8, Ashley featured the song “Mystical” by Philadelphia based goddess, Birdie Busch, and I was hooked. She is the perfect combination of Ingrid Michaelson, Feist, and Jaymay mixed with some sprinkles and home made whipped cream.

Ashley recently asked Birdie about her influences and she explained, “I guess it would be best to say that ‘the time’ I spent with my grandmother was a huge influence. When I began to hang with her on a more regular basis, only then did I start to realize and open myself to the art of true chillin’.” She went on to add, “Not necessarily the chillin’ you think with a beer and a beach, but more like sitting by the kitchen window so you could look at the leaves outside. Since my grandmother was quite old and immobile when we came to develop this friendship, we would spend a lot of time in seats and I started to have to think of life as something I wasn’t going towards but something that was right there with me. She’d show me old photos, or we’d organize her handkerchief drawer, which was pretty impressive.” Birdie continued, “I cherished the importance of bringing joy and peace to someone who very simply adored the friendship. There was a moment where I realized she could very well spend her last years alone on a couch watching TV and I wasn’t going to allow that to happen to her. I really believe the best songs come from just letting life in at all sides and then the thoughts, stories, and songs come along like gifts.” (MUSIC AFTER THE JUMP) Read the rest of this entry »

Trevor Hall is a singer/songwriter from South Carolina, but there’s not a hint of country twang in his speech or his songs. In fact, he sounds like he is from Jamaica, or Africa, or … India … or anywhere but South Carolina.

Trevor says that Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Ben Harper, and Bjork influence him, and his appreciation for diverse artists comes through in his songs. For example, “The Lime Tree” has a slow acoustic feel, whereas “A Sunny Sky” reminds me more of bluegrass, and “31 Flavors” screams “BOB MARLEEEYY!”

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What I enjoy most about Zack Weber has zip, zero, zilch, to do with the fact that he has a sound so unique that every generation can find a piece of his music and dance around to it like it’s nobody’s business. It has nothing to do with fact that his music is so diverse that when I have his CD in my car I forget it isn’t a mixed one. It also isn’t because he’s adorable or gives really great instructional videos on “Drumming 101.” No no no, my little friends, what I like most about Zack Weber is that he can get first place in Mario Kart while playing with his FEET. Read the rest of this entry »

My understanding is that Guillemots are pretty well known in the UK. Because I live in the states, where they aren’t as famous, I think I can stretch this a bit and call them “underground.” Either way, I am absolutely willing to jeopardize my notoriety as a “music discoverer” for them. That really should be enough information to convince you to check them out, but I suppose I’ll write a little more anyway.

Guillemots is made up of Fyfe Dangerfield (lead vocals, keyboard, guitar), MC Lord Magrao (guitar), Aristazabal Hawkes (double bass) and Greig Stewart (percussion). Read the rest of this entry »