Tuesday, August 25, 2009

It Might Get Loud | A New Power Trio

The Edge uttered the words that became the title of director Davis Guggenheim's new documentary "It Might Get Loud". U2's guitar player was about to demonstrate an element of his technique when he gave the warning, and this subsequent demonstration was just one of the many that revealed the unique artisty of three of rock's most legendary guitar players.

Guggenheim, the Oscar wining director of "An Inconvenient Truth" arranged a summit, where the guitarists would come together on a sound stage without ever meeting each other. When asked what he expected of the meeting, Jack White of The White Stripes and Raconteurs says "There will probably be a fist fight." The fact that the players not only didn't know each other but, also, had all in their own way and time rebelled against each other's music, provides a compelling story line that unfolds over the course of the movie. In the end they do come together, still at somewhat of a distance, and along the way we are all treated to insights into the music that these three created that will now, forever, be part of the experience of listening to their music.

Davis, a longtime Vineyard visitor and fan of mvyradio stopped by the station this week to talk about the film.

Hear my interview with Davis Guggenheim

Friday, August 21, 2009

Kate Taylor | Home On The Vineyard

In the new documentary about her life and music, Kate Taylor says that of all the places that she and her family have lived in, the Vineyard is "home". The Vineyard fits Kate like a glove and many of the songs on her new album "Fair Time" are about her experience as an Island girl. Kate is in fine voice and this is a total band record --a wonderful collaboration with guitarist, songwriter, producer and engineer Billy Derby, plus drummer Sam Zucchini and bass player Dave Anderson. The connectivity between all the players is ultimately what makes this album so sweet and vibrant. Check out information on Liz Witham and Ken Wentworth's documentary about Kate at www.docutunes.com

Hear Kate Taylor "Soap Opera Life"

Thursday, August 13, 2009

A New Friend- Peter Mulvey

I have a new friend and his name is Uncle Peter. I never expected to make such an acquaintance on a record but that's exactly what happened. I met Uncle Peter while listening to Peter Mulvey's most enjoyable and engaging new CD "Letters from A Flying Machine". Uncle Peter is Peter Mulvey himself, appearing on the record as a character, a narrator of sorts, offering his worldly wisdom and stories to his actual (I think) nieces and nephews. He does this from his seat on an airplane in the form of several spoken word pieces that serve as the connective tissue between songs on the album. Mulvey's done this in his performances for years, but it's the first time he has presented such pieces on record. The effect is progressive; step by step you are granted wider entrance into a very personal and rich world made all the more substantive and compelling by Mulvey's folksy delivery and language. The songs are fantastic, too, and you forget just how good they are because of the strength of the spoken segments.

A good friend is hard to find --thanks Peter.

Hear Peter Mulvey "Letter From A Flying Machine" & "Windshield"

Friday, August 7, 2009

New Music Today and Tonight on mvyradio

The new music is flowing in and I'll be sending it out today during mvyradio's The Lunch Hour (12:20-12:50 pm) and Uncharted Waters (9-10 pm). Fridays have been new-music centric for awhile now and it's a chance for you to get a strong hit of the newest music on our radar. I'll be playing Bob Schneider, These United States, Imogen Heap, and Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers. Vineyarder Nancy Jephcote will be in for a chat about her new cd "Garland Of Rain" at 12:20. Stop on by for lunch and/or take a ride on the water with me tonight!