Un-Freaking-Real…
I am way late to the Dubstep party, truth is I probably won’t ever get there – but damn, it is downright inspiring to see one person redefine what is possible when it comes to dance/movement. Just one dude, a camera and a hell of a lot of work – and your mind is blown…
Republic of Letters: Don’t Change (INXS Cover)
Speaking of music from The Lost Ark Studio, here’s the first video done there. Sweet…
Head here for more about Republic of Letters.
Improv Everywhere: Carousel Horse Race
I love these guys… So simple and smart, making a rough world a better place…
Strikkly Vikkly – Strikk Nein Dub
Victor Rice is, without question, one of the best dub producers out there. An American living in Sao Paolo, Brazil, “Strikkly Vikkly” not only creates some of the most sublime dub mixes in the style of the Jamaican masters of the late 70s, but he shows all how he does it via many a video out there on YouTube.
And not only that, he is an incredibly helpful master as well – when we were looking to add some dub options to The Lost Ark and sent some questions his way, he was kind enough to respond with a gear list, encouragement and more.
Victor rocks…
For more information, head to Total Running Time…
Ted Hawkins: Green Eyed Girl
A friend of mine pointed me to this amazing singer. And I don’t know anything about how musicians tune their guitars, but the “open” tuning he’s using just sounds so sweet.
Sadly, Ted Hawkins lived a relatively short and rough life, and I only wish I could remember if I ever saw him on one of my trips up to Venice Beach. From Wikipedia:
For the next ten years or so he drifted in and out of trouble around the country, living in Chicago, Buffalo, Philadelphia, and Newark. In the middle of the mid 1960s folk music boom Hawkins set out for California to try for a professional singing career. He recorded several tunes without commercial success, worked at odd jobs, and took up busking along the piers and storefronts of Venice Beach as a way to supplement his income. Hawkins made ends meet by developing a small following of locals and tourists who would come to hear this southern black man, sitting on an overturned milk-crate, play blues and folk standards as well as a few original tunes in his signature open guitar tuning and raspy vocal style (Hawkins claimed the rasp in his voice came from the damage done by years of singing in the sand and spray of the boardwalk).
In world of American Idol processed cheese music, it’s nice to know that you might be taking a walk someday, be it on a boardwalk or sidewalk, and the next truly talented person could be there, right in front of you…
Cee-Roo Rocks
Not much I can say here, except that this guy is one of the most talented remix artists I have ever heard – and in the case of the first two clips – that I have ever seen.
Absurdly talented, great choices for remixing/sampling, the videos are as good or better than anything done by the biggest artists out there – and here he sits, online and sharing his amazing talent with anyone looking for it.
And check out the live remix in the last clip – like any great artist he makes it look easy, but damn he knows what he is doing, clearly a lot of talent meeting a hell of a lot of work to get to that level.
Cee-Roo rocks…
Karl Denver Trio: Wimoweh
And another from the 60s… Just in case you only know the quiet, tame version of the “Wimoweh” from the Kingston Trio or Pete Seeger (or any other version of “Lion Sleeps Tonight) – get ready to hear some fierce singing and mean guitar playing in this one.
Seriously… People think punk sprang out of some pissed off kids in London or New York? That was years after these guys came out and ripped it up – and for people that were just listening to Pat Boone the week before.
Rockin…
The Ventures: Wipe Out
Everyone (okay everyone from my time, or at least those into early rock n’ roll tracks) has heard “Wipe Out”, the classic wall-of-guitars instrumental (with one bad ass drum solo thrown in for good measure).
But you gotta love YouTube, bringing these tracks to life with live performances buried somewhere, now out there for all to enjoy.
Go for it…
Booker T. & The MG’s: Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG’s rockin in a French TV show from the 60s – Donald “Duck” Dunn and Steve Cropper doing their thing. Cool, man, cool…