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Larry Folk’s “Hey Politician!” Is A Bluegrass Scorcher Taking Aim at Today’s Divisive Political Climate
Retribution; in-fighting; stalling; personal attacks; Sounds like a plot from HBO’s hit series Succession. Actually, it’s politics as usual these days. And just like that hit show, it’s hard to find a likeable character among our current elected officials. Toronto-based composer and vocalist Larry Folk follows up his moving song of goodbye (“Gathering of Friends”) with a to-the-point commentary on the current political climate called “Hey Politician!” Though never intended to be released publicly, the atrocious level of un-civility that exists in today’s politics begs for the song’s inclusion in his upcoming album Lessen the Blue. In the tradition of the great protest songs of the past, Larry’s view on the outrageous behavior is a biting statement on our divided reality. “Hey Politician!” is a fast, upbeat bluegrass scorcher that calls for a return to civility. In the words of Bob Dylan, “You gotta serve somebody.” When it comes to our public officials, that should be the people.
For more than 45 years Larry Folk has written and performed in a variety of styles, moving with ease and sustained emotion from simple folk ballads to the swinging standards of the Great American Songbook. On “Hey Politician!” He plays everything except for the bass playing of Pat Collins, and Folk engineered the recording which Murray Daigle mixed.
Folk’s ability to write lyrics that create stunning visuals for his listeners is matched perfectly to his masterful guitar playing. Larry’s early songs mused about love and the beauty of the vast Canadian wilderness but didn’t shy away from more serious subjects such as the horrible treatment of North America’s Indigenous Peoples. In the 80’s he performed his original song “Amandla! Ngawethu! (Power to the People)” on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill and at Toronto City Hall during rallies to end Apartheid in South Africa. A completely new version of that song called “There is a Power” appears on Lessen the Blue.
Larry’s songs continue to challenge the status quo, confronting our complex relationship with the planet, political divisions, the loss of innocence, and his response to Covid 19. He wrote his guitar piece, “Nunca Mas,” in response to the atrocities inflicted on the citizens of Argentina by the military in the 70’s. The title is the name of the committee formed to investigate what happened and translates as “never more.” The forthcoming album includes a new version for solo guitar.
Toronto Pop Artist And Actress Harriet Chung Takes Us Through A Bad Romance With Glam-Inspired “Popcorn Film”
When someone ghosts you, it hurts like hell. But pop artist Harriet Chung manages to make the whole thing sound glam – and even somewhat rock opera – in her whimsical and soaring new single “Popcorn Film.”
Accompanied by guitars, piano, and beautiful backup-singer harmonies, Harriet Chung sets up the premise of her “Popcorn Film” love story:
Our popcorn film seemed complete
We shared our favorite things to eat
Then took a stroll along a sandy beach
We held hands
Skipped rocks
Took some pics
Kissed in bright Muskoka chairs
A crack of thunder rumbled down from the sky
And then we get an actual crack of thunder, right before we learn that the narrator’s lover is ambivalent at best: “Cuz I could see a cloud over you/ Something inside you wasn’t true/ I could sense it all within your sighs.”
The romance unravels, until the beloved disappears and the ‘popcorn film’ is revealed to be an imaginary bliss. “It’s a heartfelt journey through love and loss, and it captures the bittersweet essence of a relationship that felt perfect but slowly revealed its cracks,” says Chung.
For “Popcorn Film,” Chung is joined by Warren Robert (arranger, bass, guitars, midi), Christopher Siu (piano), Randy Cooke (drums), and Rique Franks (backup vocals).
Harriet Chung was born in Hong Kong and grew up dancing, singing, and playing the piano. As a member of children’s choirs that performed around Europe and the United States, Harriet became enamored with the west at a young age. After graduating from high school, she majored in dance at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.
Harriet moved to Toronto to further her dance training at the National Ballet of Canada. Afterwards, she danced professionally with the Empire State Ballet, Ontario Ballet Theatre, and Xing Dance Theater, among others. During this time, she also landed roles in operetta and musical theatre productions. Harriet’s career took a huge turn when she was cast in the Toronto production of The Phantom of the Opera. Most notably she has won numerous Best Actress awards for her portrayal of the titular character in the internationally acclaimed musical Golden Lotus.
Harriet’s debut album A World Away was released in January 2023 and includes her hit track “A World Away (Remix)” and “Today and Tomorrow,” which won Best Original Song at the New York Movie Awards. Its music video won Best Music Video at the Los Angeles Film Awards and the Seattle Filmmaker Awards. Harriet was also awarded as Best Artist of the Future for her single and music video of Old Montreal at them World Class Film Awards in Mexico City.
Harriet will also be appearing at the Stratford Festival in the world premiere production of “Salesman in China” opening August 23.
Copyrighting All The Melodies To Avoid Accidental Infringement
In the litany of copyright infringement lawsuits, technology lawyer and musician Damien Riehl demonstrates that music is merely math, and has a finite number of possible melodies. If you’ve ever thought a song you like sounded similar to another, the culprit may not be an unethical forger, but rather the limited mathematical musical equations that our favorite artists have to work with. Current copyright law is at risk of severely limiting future music creation and future human creativity. This talk suggests a new way to handle these legal cases. Damien Riehl is a technology lawyer with a B.S. in music. After beginning to code in 1985, and for the web in 1995, he has worked for the chief judges of state and federal courts; litigated for a decade; taught law-school copyright classes; and led teams in software development, digital forensics, proactive cybersecurity, reactive cybersecurity incidents, and world-scale investigations. Damien’s combined experience in the law, technology, and music has inspired his most recent project—copyrighting billions of unique melodies. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
“Let’s All Sing Like The Birdies Sing” – The Beagles’ 1964 Novelty EP Brings Canine Crooning to the Charts
In a whimsical twist on musical novelty, The Beagles’ 1964 EP “Let’s All Sing Like The Birdies Sing” delivers a playful and unforgettable auditory experience with its unique concept: dogs barking to the tunes of two popular songs. This quirky release, featuring the distinctive barks of canine vocalists set to well-known melodies, captured the imagination of listeners and showcased a creative take on the novelty genre. With its lighthearted approach and charmingly absurd premise, the EP quickly became a cult favorite.
The Kennedy Center Announces 47th Class of Honorees: Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval and The Apollo
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced the selection of five Honorees who will receive the 47th Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements. Recipients to be honored at the annual national celebration of the arts in Washington, D.C. this December are: acclaimed director and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola; legendary American rock band the Grateful Dead (Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Bobby Weir); blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Bonnie Raitt; jazz trumpeter, pianist, and composer Arturo Sandoval; and The Apollo, which will receive a special Honors as an iconic American institution. Done+Dusted are Executive Producers of the 47th annual Kennedy Center Honors, which airs on the CBS Television Network for the 47th year and will stream on Paramount+*.
“The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes artists who have made an extraordinary impact on the cultural life of our nation and continue to have an immeasurable influence on new generations,” stated Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein. “A brilliant and masterful storyteller with an unrelenting innovative spirit, Francis Ford Coppola‘s films have become embedded in the very idea of American culture; a social and cultural phenomenon since 1965, the Grateful Dead‘s music has never stopped being a true American original, while inspiring a fan culture like no other; Bonnie Raitt has made us love her again and again with her inimitable voice, slide guitar, and endless musical range encompassing blues, R&B, country rock, and folk; ‘an ambassador of both music and humanity,’ Arturo Sandoval transcended literal borders coming from Cuba 30-plus years ago and today continues to bridge cultures with his intoxicating blend of Afro Cuban rhythms and modern jazz; and on its 90th anniversary, The Apollo, one of the most consequential, influential institutions in history, has elevated the voices of Black entertainment in New York City, nationally, and around the world, and launched the careers of legions of artists.”
“Our Honorees this year have each played an invaluable, pioneering role in developing American culture—not with one act of art but with their decades-long devotion to pushing creative boundaries,” said Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter. “In December, we are thrilled to pay special tribute to New York City’s renowned Apollo Theater on its 90th anniversary. Throughout its history, The Apollo has guided us and the world forward by discovering and nurturing raw talent, molding a unique cultural identity that still defines American culture today. Across Honors weekend, artists with special connections to The Apollo will serve as ambassadors of the institution’s legacy.”
Throughout its 46-year history, the annual Honors Gala has become the highlight of the Washington cultural and society calendar. On Sunday, December 8, in a star-studded celebration on the Kennedy Center Opera House stage, the 47th class of Kennedy Center Honorees will be saluted by today’s leading performers from New York, Hollywood, and the arts capitals of the world. Seated in the Box Tier of the iconic Kennedy Center Opera House, the Honorees will accept the recognition and gratitude of their peers through performances and tributes. The 47th Kennedy Center Honors Gala concludes with a post-performance party in the Grand Foyer.
The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes and celebrates individuals whose unique contributions have shaped the way we see ourselves, each other, and our world. Recipients have each had an impact on the rich tapestry of American life and culture through the performing arts. Whether in music, dance, theater, opera, motion pictures, or television, each Kennedy Center Honoree has a unique place in the national consciousness and their influence has inspired audiences from all walks of life.
The Honoree selection process includes solicitation of recommendations from former Honorees, the artistic community, the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, and the general public. This year’s selected Honorees were chosen based on the recommendation of the Center’s Special Honors Advisory Committee, which is chaired by David Bohnett and includes past Honors recipients and distinguished artists Gloria Estefan, Sally Field, Renée Fleming, Herbie Hancock, Judith Jamison, Lionel Richie, and John Williams, as well as David M. Rubenstein, Deborah F. Rutter, Bryan Lourd, Cappy McGarr, Shonda Rhimes, and Daryl Roth. These individuals play a critical role in the evaluation and selection process, and the Kennedy Center is indebted to them for their involvement.
Each year, Honorees are confirmed by the Executive Committee of the Center’s Board of Trustees. The Honors are not designated by art form or category of artistic achievement; over the years, the selection process has produced balance among the various arts and artistic disciplines.
*Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service as well as on demand in the United States. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs in the U.S. only.
Matchbox Twenty Honored With SoundExchange Hall Of Fame Award
SoundExchange, the premier music tech organization powering the future of music, announced today that Matchbox Twenty has been honored with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award. The honor for the band responsible for such hits as “Push,” “3AM,” “Unwell,” “Bent,” and “If You’re Gone” recognizes their stature as one of the most streamed creators in the organization’s 20+ year history of administering digital performance royalties.
“It’s not hard to understand why Matchbox Twenty continues to delight an ever-growing fan base – between their legacy of hits, plus new music and packed tour dates nearly three decades into their career, the band is as vital today as they were at their start,” said Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange. “We are thrilled and honored to present Matchbox Twenty with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award.”
“What a great honor it is to have Sound Exchange bestow us with their Hall of Fame award,” said Matchbox Twenty guitarist Kyle Cook. “To me it affirms through earnings the hard work and dedication we in Matchbox Twenty put into the music we make.”
Matchbox Twenty has quietly woven their songs into the very fabric of American popular culture. The band has sold over 50 million records worldwide, dominated charts, garnered multiple GRAMMY Award nominations, and played to millions of fans in arenas, amphitheaters, and stadiums across continents.
Earning hits in each of the last three decades, Matchbox Twenty has gone from perennially dominating radio airwaves and ruling MTV to piling up streams in the billions, speaking to the enduring appeal of their music. Fueled by such classic songs as “Real World,” “Back 2 Good” and the No. 1 smash hits “Push” and “3AM,” 1996’s Diamond-certified Yourself or Someone Like You proved a worldwide sensation and instantly established the band as global superstars. 2000 saw the band release the four-times Platinum Mad Season, containing the No. 1 singles “Bent” and “If You’re Gone.” Their third release, More Than You Think You Are, also was certified double-Platinum and featured the No. 1 hit, “Unwell.” 2007’s greatest hits compilation album with six new songs, “Exile On Mainstream” yielded yet another No. 1 track, “How Far We’ve Come,” while 2012’s North, exploded into the top position on the Billboard 200 release – Matchbox Twenty’s first-ever chart-topper and No. 1 debut.
The band sounded refreshed as ever on 2023’s Where the Light Goes, benefiting from the musicians’ respective solo journeys. Rob Thomas has proven one of the most highly decorated artists of recent years – releasing five solo albums and receiving three GRAMMY Awards, 11 BMI Awards, the first-ever Songwriters Hall of Fame Hal David Starlight Award, two Billboard “Songwriter of the Year” honors, and top 5 placement on Billboard’s Top 20 Hot 100 Songwriters (2000-2011). Meanwhile, Paul Doucette has scored and contributed original music to film and television series such as Utopia, For All Mankind, and more.
Rex Orange County Announces North American And UK Tours
On the heels of announcing his new album The Alexander Technique yesterday, Rex Orange County returns to announce North American and UK tour FINALLY: A Theatre Tour by Rex Orange County. Rex Orange County has built acclaim for his incredible live shows, documented on his 2020 live album Live At Radio City Music Hall, but in the upcoming run produced by Live Nation he’s taking a decidedly different approach to his music’s live presentation. Instead of playing the biggest venues possible in each market, Rex has opted to build out a stage show best suited for theaters that will allow him to bring The Alexander Technique to life in a stage show unlike any that he’s done before across multiple performances in nearly every market on the tour.
Speaking about the approach, Rex Orange County shares:
For this tour, I’m going to play a select number of cities in carefully chosen theatre venues, but will be playing multiple nights within them. Historically with each album that I’ve released, I’ve always played bigger and bigger shows. But I wanted to do something different for this particular project because sonically the new songs lend themselves to being heard in a more intimate and traditional setting. These particular venues have allowed me to create a show with a theatrical stage set to further narrate the themes of the album alongside the music. I love playing live and I can’t wait to bring this new album to life across so many beautiful rooms and iconic stages.
Presale tickets for UK dates start Wednesday, July 24th at 9am local time. Presale tickets for North American dates start Wednesday, July 24th at 10am local time. All tickets for both territories go on sale next Friday, July 26th at 10AM local time. Sign up for early access to tickets at rexorangecounty.com/live.
In addition to announcing The Alexander Technique yesterday, Rex also released two new songs and videos; “Alexander” and “Guitar Song.” Listen to and watch those above now and see below for all upcoming Rex Orange County tour dates and The Alexander Technique info.
Upcoming Live Dates
10/4 – Chicago, IL @ The Auditorium
10/5 – Chicago, IL @ The Auditorium
10/7 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
10/8 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
10/9 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
10/11 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
10/12 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
10/13 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
10/18 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
10/19 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
10/23 – Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
10/24 – Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
10/26 – Tampa, FL @ Straz Center
10/27 – Tampa, FL @ Straz Center
10/29 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
10/30 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
11/3 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/4 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/5 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/6 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/8 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/9 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/15 – Las Vegas, NV @ Fontainebleau Las Vegas
11/19 – Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
11/20 – Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
11/21 – Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
11/25 – Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
11/26 – Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
02/16 – London, UK @ The London Palladium
02/17 – London, UK @ The London Palladium
02/18 – London, UK @ The London Palladium
02/19 – London, UK @ The London Palladium
Norah Jones Enchants with Intimate Tiny Desk Concert
Norah Jones finally graced the real Tiny Desk (she performed one from home during the Pandemic) with an show of serene beauty and emotional depth, performing a set that showcased her signature blend of jazz, soul, and folk influences. The concert began with the reflective and lush “Paradise,” setting a calming and introspective mood. Jones then effortlessly transitioned to the dreamy “Swept Up in the Night,” capturing the essence of her evocative storytelling. Her performance of “Staring at the Wall” was a poignant display of her vocal nuance and lyrical intimacy. The set culminated with the timeless and universally beloved “Come Away with Me,” leaving the audience spellbound with its warm, inviting charm. Jones’s performance was a testament to her ability to connect deeply through music, making for an unforgettable Tiny Desk experience.
Phish Delivers a Magical Tiny Desk Concert
In an intimate and electrifying Tiny Desk Concert, Phish showcased their unparalleled improvisational prowess and genre-blending creativity, performing a captivating set that spanned their extensive catalog. The band kicked off the session with the evocative “Sigma Oasis,” setting a serene yet adventurous tone. This was followed by the dynamic and ever-evolving “Evolve,” which showcased their musical growth and dexterity. The crowd was then treated to the classic and beloved “You Enjoy Myself,” a masterclass in musical interplay and audience engagement. The energy remained high with the infectious “Sample in a Jar,” and they closed with the high-octane “Chalk Dust Torture,” leaving viewers and fans alike in awe of their ability to transform a small space into a grand concert experience.
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/17/g-s1-10899/phish-tiny-desk-concert?curator=MusicREDEF&jwsource=cl
