HNY

A moe.ish happy wishes...

sundries...

VB/WS is back in action and so am I :).
Was in my hometown for the last two months, a well deserved break! I will update about my trip, staying and laziness around in my next posts.

For the time being, enjoy this *Bengali* songs. The bands in the order are:- (Insomnia, the Watson Brothers, Black, Artcell & Lakkhichhara). Where the first and the last band are from Calcutta, the rest are from Bangladesh. For the sake of records, Insomnia is my current favorite bangle band. Enjoy!

Wishes...

Stay warm, peace and dry in this festive season...

...How many of us Sing?

...each totemic ancestor, while traveling through the country, was thought to have scattered a trail of words and musical notes along the line of his footprints, and how these Dreaming-tracks lay over the land as "ways" of communication between the most far-flung tribes. A song was both map and direction finder. Providing you knew the song, you could always find your way across country....

(from the inlay detail of the album cover - Songlines)

Saw the Derek Trucks Band a few weeks back. The shy maestro did not utter a single word during the show, only meticulously picking the notes n sliding through spacetime. Ah...
The band was also in a very tight mood, I was really floored by Mattison's energetic but relaxed vocal efforts..
Wish to catch them again very very soon....

The recent album *Songlines* can be a great substitute to get high. Trucks in pretty restrained in the first half of the album (very few guitar players do this to me - play a few and leave some notes to play in unconscious minds, like Kimock does) but sooner he starts his live staple -"sahib teri bandi" the album and the maestro start revealing themselves song by song. Amazing R&B feel-good-factor, with a midas texture of African rhythm section painted with some fresh Indian laid back bends. Mattison with/without any squabble is the best vocalist in the current jam circuit. Check him out.

This podcasts contain studio versions of the songs uploaded from the album. My favorite track is the last one. For a note, a nice review of the album is here.

Grateful Poll # 1

For last few weeks am tripping n jamming with my forever friend; the dead. and only with the dead! Humming a lot with various Dick’s Picks (especially 3 and 12), hooked into bt.etree and archive.org repertoire as much as I can or simply reading the songs in silence. Grateful..grateful.

This is a poll (such as market research. hehe), inspired by Ben. you need to be born again Ben.
A you choose request for my all time favorite jams of Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain. Which Scarlet Fire is you?

Scarlet > Fire
(1977-05-08 – the coveted Cornell show)
or
Scarlet > Fire
(1984-10-30 - Berkeley Community Theater)

The wind in the willows playing Tea for Two
The sky was yellow and the sun was blue
Strangers stopping strangers just to shake their hand
Everybody is playing in the heart of gold band
Heart of gold band

Long distance runner, what you standing there for?
Get up, get off, get out of the door
You're playing cold music on the bar room floor
Drowned in your laughter and dead to the core
There's a dragon with matches that's loose on the town
Take a whole pail of water just to cool him down

Fire, fire on the mountain....

Back...

It has been a long hiatus mostly due to the mysterious absence of my crusader friends (read- my blogger pals). It is kind of a contagious disease (finally, what’s the point of posting if no one reads/listens?). I am unaware where K, or WS or the others is! Are you fighting off the ninjas or aliens? Come back soon.

The following tracks are for my friend/blogger S and the youngster M selected from Nitin Sawhney’s latest album – Philtre.
Enjoy...

Oh Moe.

Was in a Moe. concert (their winter/spring tour) few weeks back. They are even tighter, sweeter and as good as possible. Chuck Garvey shined all through; Al Schiner was mostly busy with keyboards in the first set, but his magic fingers were mesmerizing in the rest of the show. Vince and Jimmy are never tired with their rhythm section (go Gatorade) and thunder-finger Derhark is proving him as one of the best bassists around!

The show opener was “Head” and the best thing was after almost three hours and twenty minutes (at the end of the second set) they came back to “Head” again! Circle of life you see!

I love Moe. :)

Also, they released a new studio album (the Conch – I guess inspired by the flies), somehow the raw energy of Wormwood is missing..or may be its just me.


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Livin' in space
Is all fine and good
If you're an astronaut
But life is a dream
That calculus could never predict
I lift up my feet
Everytime I cross those railroad tracks
I'm not superstitious
It just reminds me of you...

Feedbak;'06

I know this is late. But better late than anything else:)
This is sort of my picks from the previous year. It’s always been a rough task to create a list which can blow away me or anyone (and I doubt certainly, if it does).

The Slip - Eisenhower
The Slip seems to be a so-called jam band trio from MA. But this album definitely more than their jammy signatures, it’s an interesting amalgam of smart studio sounds and their jazz roots. Critics said they failed in doing this, I felt it’s a stimulating attempt.

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Donald Fagen – Morph the Cat
I love almost everything about the Dan and their solo efforts or anything. MTC is sleek, smart and as the critics said – the album reveals more complexity with every single spin.

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Bob Dylan – Modern Times
Hmm. You should contact TR for his brilliant review here.

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Disco Biscuits – the Wind @ 4 to Fly
A collection of live tracks. The album is groovy and lots of fun (well, I think that’s the Biscos are famous for) to listen.

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DJ Logic – Zen of Logic
I heard turntablist DJ Logic first time in a show with MMW. This album is his latest, interesting mix of contemporary jazz sound with a hip hop touch.

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The Flaming Lips – at War With the Mystics
Always experimenting TFL, I was wondering if they can make anything suitable to follow the footsteps of Yoshimi. The lyrics are contemporary, songs are war related and the sound is typical of Mr. Coyne. For a nice review go here.

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Snow Patrol – Eyes Open
Never heard this brit indie-rockers before this album. Good songwriting, nice guitar works and sing-along choruses make this album in the list.

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TV on the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain
It’s punk, its electronic, its guitars over hip-hop beats; well it’s something more.

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Derek Trucks Band – Songlines
Derek Trucks, the slide wizard is back with this album and I felt perhaps this is still date the best effort of the band. This one surely puts Trucks not only as the slide Monk but a spirited serious songwriter. And yes, this album contains a neat version of the live staple Sahib Teri Bandi.

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Dixie Chicks – Taking the Long Way
Finally a tribute to the movie.

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Will post some updates on live recordings of '06 in next post!
update - and this is the dl. link.
Go sendspacing :)

Parents and sliding

..much more occupied these days as my parents and winter; both are here.
Can’t remember the last time was staying with them and only them (without any of my siblings) and that too in a single bedroom apt.!
:)

I have a trip plan to a place called Stranger than Paradise next week, till I come back, enjoy this sweet short stint with Derek Trucks.

show detail:-
Paradise Rock Club
Boston, MA

1. 2 min Jam>
2. Impressions
3. Ain't that Lovin
4. Naima
5. 555 Lake
6. Tutu
7. Travelin' South
8. Egg 15>Bass & Drums>Egg 15

soundcheck:-

Peace...

It all rolls into one
and nothing comes for free
There's nothing you can hold
for very long
And when you hear that song
come crying like the wind
it seems like all this life
was just a dream...

2006 was not that bad, rather lots of changes in paradigm and coordinate.
Wish all my blogger friends and their close ones a warmer 2007.

Keep Dry…
And a stellar Stella Blue

Lake Effect...

Anyone into Medesky Martin & Wood?

If yes, check out their show @10k Lake Festival here. For some added bonanzas there is Trey in the * marked tracks. I am quite unsure about the setlist as many of the MMW fans considered the tracks as just improvisations and jams! Nevertheless enjoy this 200mb+ trips of the avant garde trio :)

Disc 1. crowd> Improv > Improv > Improv > Improv > Improv > "Bass Slide & Drone" #> Drums > Improv * >
Disc 2. What'd I Say? * > Exploration * > Exploration (breakdown) * > Night Marchers *
Encore: New New Orleans

Back...

I hear them chatting, discussing, murmuring. I overhear their silent lullaby and laughter. Some stories are of spoiled pickles, some bring 7*24 sunshine, some I have wore for decades yet some are yet to perform. It is always dark late nights and a mysterious firework ring my eyes. I put my ears beside the wall almost as a peeping tom. Their immaturity and adulthood are sneaking in my bedroom, using the space below the door...

They are like the wet sands...never let you go far...
they are like three cyclists traveling as past, present & future while you are watching a movie based on you...
they are like the neighborhood kid bouncing a basketball, the sounds fade after hours...
they are like knitting wool balls - unfolding and folding in clockwise-anticlockwise on the floor..

Does Mr. X wish to share the anecdotes?
Deeds and ghosts? Crowded or marching a solitary?

Some random music from my CD rack :)
1) Yatra - An early Fareed Haque; from the album Voices Rising
2) Riders on the Storm - the O'2L version from Doyle's Brunch
3) Elemelo Haowa - by Krosswindz; a very talented bengali band...probably was ahead of their time.
4) Mountain Girl - Remember Carolyn Adams? Here she is reciting some incidents with the Cheese. Album - Untying the Not
5) Under Wraps- the acoustic showcase of Tull from A little light music
(if you love Tull - missing this album is a crime!!)
6) Look into the Sun - inspired by WS's comment :)

Leme know if anyone wants the mp3s.
Enjoy!

Land's End...

Saw the Biscos few weeks back. I possess most of the studio efforts & few show (courtesy LMA) and was eager for a real gig. Disco Biscuits is supposedly one of the foremost acts in electronica-jam genre and damn original. It’s difficult to name their sound but a “human stroke to electronica/trance” will be nearer to appropriate. As someone already said, some songs are typical psychedelic fest, some sounds like part of star wars trips. As I am not a connoisseur in their live shows, at times it was difficult to judge the “teases” and the “jumps”. Out of the set list particularly liked spacebirdmatingcall, mindless dribble, whip it and a nice rendition of – you can’t always get what you want.
Check out a popular Bisco track – Little Lai.

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Also, this is known as the Stolen Tracks 2, the unreleased supporting materials of the album - the wind @ 4 to fly. The tracklist - World is Spinning,Caterpillar,Voices Insane,Rock Candy>Abraxas>Rock Candy,??:)).

ps - sorry for the buffering problem. here is another little lai from LMA.

And finally, it’s official. Bill Nershi is leaving SCI after the summer of 2007. Not only that, the official sources say there will be hardly few incidents till then and rest of the band is still undecided about the future plans. Personally the news made me very upset; but it was kind of an inevitable sad departure. Any big time followers of SCI is somewhat reluctant of their neo-signatures (especially the recent album - one step closer) and can point out very clearly it is no more the “Nershi driven sound”. Fans feel he is bored to play the hippie-trance stuffs.

As most of the band members have their respective side-projects to fall back on I surmise it might going to be the final encore of the Cheese. Though there is a gossip going on – is Keller joining the band as fulltime?

so long the pirates, so long the land's end...
will always adore that jellyfish swims in my head...

Voyage

Some new music for the extended weekend :)

Sit back and dl Herbie.

I am not sure about the track listing - traders might be wrong sometimes! Check out the lineup..(herbie+jaco+maupin).

Wasted...

I am repetitively again and again listening to this track; and oh even today too.
Check the youtube version

And the studio version is here

If you don’t have the album Billy Breathes, you are missing something. This is a wonderful example of where Phish bridged mainstream and the jam genre. A long time favorite of mine.

Come waste your time with me..

Princess Caspian

Aishani is the latest love of my life. She is the cutest, smartest and without any squabble, the sweetest possible on earth :) My vocabs will fail miserably; naturally I am not trying to explain her prettiness. Our first date as fixed is coming Saturday and I just just cannot wait to meet her…

While writing this post, however toRi (her nickname, inspired by the raaga in the same name) is only 4 days old. Though I was more interested in an old school Tagor-ite nick name my family did not give any attention to my words as always, anyway…

The last Friday was such a collection of good things! Not only due to A’s “naughty” mama ran to Buffalo to celebrate her THE FIRST birthday occasion with his ample of “naughty” friends & lots of “hics” it was also for the first time he understood the meaning of the saying - tears of joy..

while A was only few minutes old my sis was describing her…
and the tears connected PA to NY in an wink…


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The Flaming Lips doing the classic Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
No connection between Yoshimi & Aishani, as she is tooo small to fight the evil robots of the world!!!

Play Pause Stop

These days I spend most of the daytime off my laptop. I don’t carry any mp3 players as such so mostly what I am doing is copying songs from my personal sources and dumping/ripping into blank CDs to listen :)

Putting what I am listening is always the best fun (and I do such often) and so here goes the list; in no particular order. Not repeating with Dead, SCI, Moe, Kimock, Phish etc.this time, as I did the same soo many times....

I don’t know how to keep track of “most played” songs in a computer, but definitely these songs are featured very very often in my media player playlist. ( so hopefully not breaking the tagging law!). Also, I have linked the album names.

Let me know if you guys suggest uploading the mp3s/albums. Somehow “sendspace” is damn slow these days…

1. Porahoto (Black) – Utshober Pore
2. Waiting Here (Buckethead featuring Shana Halligan and Serj Tankian) – Enter the Chicken
3. Nobina (Fuad featuring Punom) – Variation No. 25
4. Ozark (Pat Metheny/ Lyle Mays) – As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
5. Elephant Talk (King Crimson) – Discipline
6. In this Divide (Azam Ali) – Elysium for the Brave
7. Where Are We Going? (Donald Byrd) – Black Byrd
8. Watermelon Man (Herbie Hancock) – Flood
9. Overdue (Bitter:Sweet) – The Mating Game
10. Magic Hours (Explosions in the Sky) – How Strange, Innocence
11. Spacebirdmatingcall (Disco Biscuits) – They Missed the Perfume
12. Too many Humans (Buckethead) – Population Override
13. Inspiration Information (Shuggie Otis) - Inspiration Information
14. Elephant Woman (Blonde Redhead) – Misery is a Butterfly
15. Unrequited (Pat Metheny & Brad Mehldau) – Metheny/Mehldau




Thanks Ws(VB) for the help in podcasting :)

update - the dl link of the mp3s (its aroun 130 mb..sorry!)

Random religious picks

My Alma Mater is seems to be a Jewish addicted. I am not damn sure but with the array of people wearing the black skull cap in the campus, sporadic Jewish holidays and cafeterias ornamented with kosher munchies, I do believe my guess is somewhat correct!

Probably these religious hookups have encouraged the school to have a room for preaching scientology and etc. Early summer I and CD were walking through a place called “commons” (basically all Tee and school merchandise shops) in the campus and suddenly saw a glimpse of a “Bengali” book beside a glass window. Before we could read the heading and the author name and guess what is the book all about two women came out quickly from the room and invited us to do a “free” stress test. Me and CD (presumably!) did not have any clues about scientology except names of few *s (Mr. Holmes) related to this dogma. Anyway we had a brief introduction, education and “free” stress test with the two devotees. Without any squabbles, we both hit the zenith of the stress-meter (actually watching that made me tensed) and were guaranteed that we can reduce the same by reading a book (or watching a DVD). So what else scientology can do for you? Well reducing the stress of mind is nothing, it can be such a powerful tool that can substitute any medication you need, can take care of your skin and actually your life in detail (one of the women commented – psychology is nothing!)..to cut a story shorter, somehow we managed to escape with full assurance that next time definitely we are going to watch the DVD etc.

After the brief education and suffering from the high stress (indeed) me and CD met our deer quiz mate K in a break. After listening to this small anecdote K commented, man that S is not fad anymore, you guys should try Kabbalah or the Shinto’s....

Hmmm….!

Hence some religious tracks…
Kalighat – (from the album Kali’s Son; a Must buy for all)
Havah Nagilah (a Hebrew folk track, from Warts and All Vol. 4 – Moe.)
Bodhisattva (Countdown to ecstasy – the Dan)
Cole’ Law (SKB – 06/19/04 – the Tralf; Buffalo ..for the sake of record I and CD were present in the show :))

hard to explain...

good wishes to all in the rainy festive season...
as usual the journey is nostalgic about the 1st rain back home,
if I knew the destination, I would take her home..

songs of the day - What I'll Remember Most & Ohio - from Over the Rhine; the Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist duo. Below is the first song; you can find the second lyrics here.

The saddest songs are the happiest
The hardest truths are the easiest
Put us both to the test
And tell me if you still need me
And I will swallow these words
And see if I can still believe

The biggest lies are the little ones
When the look in your eyes is the distant one
Angel or demon
You know that they can share one bed
I've laid awake so long
I've got them both inside my head

This American dream may be poisonous
Violence is contagious
Crowded or empty
I walk these city streets alone
Whoever brought me here
Is gonna have to take me home

This is what I'll remember most about dying
Loading these moments like a gun
Hoping to kill the pain
You were 80% angel
10% demon
The rest was hard to explain...

New day...

Finally the term “move on” has played a trump card. I have phase shifted myself, from the place I belonged for last days, better last many days. Mr. X was permanently dejected; but the sun shined through the clouds in such a manner he always reached by stretching his arms. The bestest anecdote in his life is, more he has faced troubled times, the more he has faced better and best people in life. And that continued with the stint in Buffalo too..Such a virtue in life, yet such common…

I have moved to another place in the western New York (can not live outside the empire state :)) recently. Lived in a suitcase for a while, gazed at a newer place from the 18th floor window of a hotel room for a week and now finally in a brand new house. Are all houses are homes? The walls smell new, even the air; Mr. X feels something very unknown..unknown premonitions of unknown..

From the connotations of the first para, Mr. X is also such grateful to his blogger pals… initially it was a place for storing an unrest mind and soul, a solace of distressed self, but permanently it is now his second home. Thank you all my pals. I came across such talented and erudite minds, that I cannot write down. I loaded myself with songs almost every day, bended knees to Dead once again with VB; shared the happiness with S for the “special one”, enjoyed the political rivalry between “bow bow” and his “evil twin” with A, charmed by the elegant pictures of CD…to name a few…

Thank you, you, you and you..many thanks are still unsaid…as Mr. Jobs says, stay hungry..stay foolish…

Songs for the new day:-
Better Day - Sound Tribe Sector 9
Unknown 1st & 3rd track - Ustad Ali Akbar Khan
(this is from a ripped CD without info, sorry!)

ps - though I just got my net conxn at home (after a killer waiting period of more than 3 weeks) I was able to roam around (a little) in the blogs; I wonder why I can't post any comments..what is the "beta" thing? Any idea?

images & cheerful insanity

Have you seen this beautiful short film? (little terrorist – directed by Ashvin Kumar) Thanks to CD for the google link. Though as the link says, I doubt if the film is the winner of academy award actually...

Also, Herbert is a must see movie; get it in any DVD store.

Anyone loves the fripping sound? Check out The Cheerful Insanity Of Giles,Giles & Fripp. Well, I have uploaded the music here for you guys, if needed :). Over 130 MB of dl, so be aware!

Chronicle of Fevers, Delirium and *NO* Discovery

Disclaimer - This is a damn lighthearted post about *fever*, any serious reader can consult this.

I was a natural and always was/is a weak boy. And above that guess what, I can vividly recollect countless pleasant (!) familiarities of being *down with fever*. Primary school days (and why mostly in summer holidays and in handsome monsoon of Calcutta?), come fever in late night in a wink and I could surmise with a sheepish smile of getting a few days break from the school. What is healthier than relaxing in daytime on bed, listening MJ, reading phantom comics, discovering stories of feluda with the adventurous tintin? A stipulated body aching, pulling the bed sheet onto you (and if the fever is little rushing, the bed sheet is replaced by a comforter), someone putting cold waters on the head, you are lying with closed eyes, listening the humble breathes of the slower ceiling fan and replacing feluda in Sonar Kella by yourself?

A very unlike me, I always used to talk and sing (!) a lot while being *down with fever*. And this comes so naturally…makes me wonder. Sitting in my balcony in a settling evening with covers, sipping tea, a feverish and confused mind, watching a tired one getting back home.. I used to feel there is *someone* standing with two legs on my shoulders and in a frenzy watching the whole earth (or was all due to delirium?) After getting a modest seniority in life, I derived that I have a tendency of getting allergic to *dust* (brotherhood of Cal) and *cold*. So savoring a taste of the first rain drop, walking on a rainy evening without headgear, ASAP switching to AC coveted room (after being out in a hot wet afternoon in month of june) were all strictly NO-NO business in my days. But anyway, as I said before, I cherished the pleasant familiarities.. .so I tried out all of them! After all, bunking offices in a week day is/was always priceless! The feluda was little phase shifted by Lem’s Solaris, WHAM was replaced by American Beauty (and the feverish Morrison yelling – LA Womaaaaannnnn)..but MHO…I absolutely loved the feeling of pulling the bedsheet once again over me…resting…

This alien land made so many changes, resting been replaced by rusting, and age is catching up such fast I can’t reckon…it is irregular but I started disliking of being *down*..

Is it because the predetermined time is such limited?

Random Pick - Stairway to Watchtower (Moe. & Keller)

Grass n Blue n Phish-net

Saw Yonder Mountain String Band on last Thursday. It was my first time experience with the band (as they said – lots of blue without the grass!) and it went pretty pretty well :). I never saw such an interesting line up (banjo, acoustic guitar, mandolin, bass) and the kids know to jam..jerry jerry hard.
Some of their stuffs – think for yourself (a beatles tribute), lonesome fiddle blues (a must one from earlier SCI shows) and it takes a lot to...

Also, my latest *listening now* series contains this show. I feel Phish is also going through a same track of Dead; that is officially releasing their all first-class shows (Phish’s picks?), whatever this is a must buy for all caught in the Phish-net.

Check out - auld lang syne > weekapaug groove & the rocking encore of johnny b. goode :)












I am down with fever for last few days :((

64...

Jerry, my friend,
you've done it again,
even in your silence
the familiar pressure
comes to bear, demanding
I pull words from the air
with only this morning
and part of the afternoon
to compose an ode worthy
of one so particular
about every turn of phrase,
demanding it hit home
in a thousand ways
before making it his own,
and this I can't do alone.
Now that the singer is gone,
where shall I go for the song?

Without your melody and tase
to lend an attitude of grace
a lyric is an orphan thing,
a hive with neither honey's taste
nor power to truly sting.

What choice have I but to dare and
call your muse who thought to rest
out of the thin blue air
that out of the field of shared time,
a line or two might chance to shine --

As ever when we called,
in hope if not in words,
the muse descends.

How should she desert us now?
Scars of battle on her brow,
bedraggled feathers on her wings,
and yet she sings, she sings!

May she bear thee to thy rest,
the ancient bower of flowers
beyond the solitude of days,
the tyranny of hours--
the wreath of shining laurel lie
upon your shaggy head
bestowing power to play the lyre
to legions of the dead

If some part of that music
is heard in deepest dream,
or on some breeze of Summer
a snatch of golden theme,
we'll know you live inside us
with love that never parts
our good old Jack O'Diamonds
become the King of Hearts.

I feel your silent laughter
at sentiments so bold
that dare to step across the line
to tell what must be told,
so I'll just say I love you,
which I never said before
and let it go at that old friend
the rest you may ignore.

~Robert Hunter

Walking Blues, Lazy River Road, Bird Song (09/24/1994)
Download this sweet show from here.

ps - a nice reading!

Truckers & Family

Saw the Drive by Truckers and Robert Randolph with his family last week. The Truckers were in usual southy tone and high on cherry whiskey, blasting with three six strings and a pedal steel. It was almost seeing a rehashed version of old school Lynard Skynard, seems they are really *too* inspired by this southern legends. The evidence is damn clear in Days of Graduation (from Southern Rock Opera –Act 1), a narration dedicated to the spirit of free bird. Also, check out Ronnie and Neil; a song primarily about meddles between Ronnie VanZant and Neil Young (southern man, alabama etc.).

As always, Robert Randolph was in a killing spree, far more than I saw last time. Together with his family, it’s a band to watch live. The setlist was awesome, the renditions of MJ (don’t stop ’til you get enough), Doobie Bros (jesus is just alright) and Led Zep (good times, bad times) were breathtaking and real foot tapping. Here is JIJA (07/16/06 – in flac, you need VLC to play this), GTBT (07/27/06) and encore Roll Up (07/27/06). Have Fun :)