street muse project

here is a link to the the street muse project, an effort to document the transformative power of street music across the world. this involves one of my favorite musicians, nate rappole, aka gull, of richmond, va. check this business out, and maybe help kickstart it.



this is something everyone who is a fan of homemade music should get behind. wild music being performed in public on the street has the power to transform our world. and gull is one of the most transfixing performers i have ever had the pleasure of seeing. also, check out his other legendary band, the ultra dolphins. the modern folk music of america.

duo recital and documenting harmony: music education in the holy land

well, this post takes us a little ways outside of america, but i thought i would share to this documentary photography project, out of philadelphia, which jordan perry (who is featured on the folksgiving C90 mixtape) is involved in. here are the photographer's words about what she is trying to accomplish:

----"The project began last spring when I crossed paths with musicians Jerrell Jackson and Vena Johnson.  As a photographer, I had been looking for a project to work on, related to under-privileged children and their access to a nurturing and healthy childhood.  Childhood is such a consequential time, and I've always wanted to do a project that documents the spirit of children facing difficult situations, and their will to aspire to bigger dreams.

When I met them, Jerrell and Vena had recently returned from performing and teaching music to children in Bethlehem, Jericho, Jerusalem, and Ramallah.  The experience left them changed and inspired to give back, so they created The Duo Recital, a series of concerts in Philadelphia and Virginia aimed at raising awareness and funds for music education in Palestine.  Their friend and guitarist, Jordan Perry, deeply moved by their experience, also joined the Duo Recital.

As a photographer, I felt the work they were doing was important because it wasn't about politics, or religion; it was about what can bring us together.  It was about the transformative power of music and artistic expression in children's lives, and the space it honors for them to create and realize greater dreams.  I knew I had found the project I was looking for.

I began documenting their rehearsals and concert series in the U.S. this past spring, and now Jordan and I have the opportunity to travel in December, together with Jerrell and Vena, as they return to the Holy Land.  They will all perform with the International Baroque Festival, and teach music to children through the Al-Kamandjati Music School.  My role will be to tell the stories of the children and the music, through photography."----- 

here is a video about the project that shows the duo recital in action.

not my usual subject matter, but if music is taught to more kids all over the world, then future generations will continue producing what i call modern folk music. music made by regular people because they love it so much they can't stop, and who won't let the drags of modern life get in the way of it. so check out the kickstarter, learn more about the project, and maybe give them a donation. the modern folk music of america.

check out the duo recital's page here for show information.

MFOA folksgiving C90 mixtape

well i've had this thing going for about a year now, so i thought i'd throw together a 90 minute mixtape, just like you could dub onto one of those old fashioned cassettes. there's something here from most every artist i've featured, in most cases a tune i havn't yet posted. alot of the tracks are things i've been invloved in over the years. alot of the tracks are just nostalgic, echoes from the past.  i hope you like it.

SIDE A
download
1-elephant child - cemetary
2-brent emanuel - flea market
3-trade- dirl
4-mudrock and werther - cash money
5-abe po ugly - in the hotel of lost light
6-appomattox - emily
7-the brooms - lies
8-phix -southland tales redux
9-nitemayors - in the pines
10-iron bladen - valentines day
11-matlock 4 - neil
12-finder&found - open hands
13-the tomsmen - i'm a hustler

SIDE B
download
b1-country creatures - today your love, tomorrow the world
b2-badfellows - tuesday the 13th
b3-moss -doomsday cult
b4-jordan perry - title unknown
b5-da bris - why oh why
b6-dirtpond - dance the mountains
b7-april and wayne - aint love strange
b8-jlb - where is my granola
b9-zach barbery - it's hard to leave you sweet love
b10-petal shop - little miss derby
b11-bryan whitten - we look away
b12-port wine band - you're so sweet
b13-uncle bengine - bootleggers
b14-kalamity cat - spring's an hobo

-the modern folk music of america-

pc worship - staring at the sun and southern withdrawal (video)

ran across this today, a pair of new videos from brooklyn, ny's pc worship. they have a new release pending, called 'toxic love', check out their blog to figure out how to get your hands on this limited release. this band has sailed the weedy sea from tribal drumming ornette coleman style jazz excursions to moderately poppy psychedelic grunge, i've been pretty into it all the way. one reviewer called it 'shitgaze'... see for yourself and see about grabbing the new LP 'toxic love'. a more widely known and high profile band than i usually feature here, but i think their music is too good not to post something about them.


PC Worship "Staring At the Sun" from Kreephaus on Vimeo.


PC Worship "Southern Withdrawal" from Kreephaus on Vimeo.

these guys were nice enough to let us crash at the place pictured in "southern withdrawal" one night when the brooms had a show in brooklyn. always glad to hear new tunes from this band. check that site for tour information, and free downloads of most of their older albums. the modern folk music of america.

what da hell? - a documentary about buck gooter

a decent documentary by ben dansby about infamous harrisonburg noise band buck gooter. it's always an experience playing with these characters or going to one of thier shows. henry rollins is among their fans. its a few years old but worth a look.


What Da Hell? A Rockumentary from Ben Dansby on Vimeo.

the modern folk music of america.