It’s crazy to think that the recently launched Villa Sessions from Pico vs Island Trees is recorded right up the road from Lake Fever Productions - where our sessions are recorded. Their sessions are recorded in the bands house (on Villa St, naturally), softly lit and roll along with an engaging bit of blurring focus on subjects. It has an intimacy to it that doesn’t feel staged or setup, it’s as if the band is just having a stripped down practice and these are the results. I look forward to seeing more of them launched as time goes on and maybe, just maybe, they’ll record some friends in the same space.
While you’re checking out those sessions it would also be worthwhile to give a look at Joey Ciccoline - the man behind the camera and responsible for the whole engaging look.
Let’s admit it, this blog has been far too neglected in terms of content. It’s time to fix that. I’m openly committing myself to adding new content here at least a few times a week. A meager goal? Probably so but it’s better than just posting only when we have new content.
That being said, I think it’s time to start singing the praises of other endeavors that are doing things similar to Lake Fever Sessions. Obviously we owe a lot of our lineage to those that broke ground before us - namely La Blogotheque - but what about others that have picked up similar mantles to our own and record unique performances, document their region and create content for the Internet that is worth taking time out of your day to partake in?
One such undertaking is We Have Signal - a Birmingham, AL based project that is underwritten by Alabama Public Television (APT). They record performances from a bevy of artists coming through Birmingham and intercut interviews with each to give some further insight into their history. I highly recommend following them on Vimeo, as I’ve yet to stumble across a performance that isn’t incredibly engaging. Here are some examples:
Dan Deacon
The Dodos
Beach House
Blitzen Trapper
Au
and many many more…
New Lake Fever Session! Brendan Benson with Ashley Monroe. Watch it here.
The Lake Fever Sessions collective recently decided that it’d be a great idea to start distributing podcasts of the sessions every few months to treat our loyal listeners. So, to start things off right, we’ve compiled a little something from each and every one of the sessions of 2009 and are offering them here for your downloadable enjoyment. Once we get into March and launch a few more sessions we’ll launch Volume 2 with more goods from 2010.
Consider this a big thank you to our viewers.. it certainly wouldn’t work without you.
[ Download Lake Fever Sessions Podcast - Volume One ]
- The Privates - You Never Take Me Dancing
- Elle Macho - Bombs
- Roman Candle - Why Modern Radio is A-OK
- Hotpipes - Respectable Street (XTC)
- Superdrag - Live and Breathe
- Luisa Lopez - Together
- Cursive - From the Hips
- And the Relatives - Animals
- St. Vincent - Actor Out of Work
- Those Darlins - Hung Up
- Keegan DeWitt - Wild Heart (Fleetwood Mac)
- The Features - Drawing Board
- The Carter Administration - These Boots Were Made for Knockin
- The Low Anthem - This God Damn House
- The Dexateens - Down Low
- Travis - Big Chair
Yesterday we recorded Sondre Lerche. The session went incredibly well and he’s a helluva guy. Can’t wait to get this one out to the masses.
Today Ryan and I recorded a new Sunset Bros song! It’s called “Dirty Talk.”
Relying too much on proof distracts you from the real mission—which is emotional connection.
Seth Godin - Too much data leads to not enough belief
I think this one sentence sums up one major problem with the music industry in breaking new acts.
This industry is full of facts and figures: Soundscan, BDS, Pollstar, etc, etc.
Facts are nice. I mean it’s nice to know what is and what isn’t selling, or what is and what isn’t reacting at radio. But trusting that information too much, too soon, doesn’t give the artist and fans time to make that emotional connection that inevitability breaks an artist.
Think back to Berry Gordy and Ahmet Ertegun - when they started their labels in 50s/60s, they didn’t have this kind of information to study. They couldn’t judge a “hit” on numbers like iTunes downloads or BDS radio plays. They just had to believe the song was a hit and then get it to people and let them decide, based on an emotional connection.
All of the classic acts like Elvis, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, etc, etc, created a certain emotion with fans that still lives today. The emotion keeps them relevant.
Having managed an act on a major label, it’s amazing how fast they start looking at Soundscan sales and comparing that to ticket sales at venues and how much they spent making the album. If these numbers don’t add up fast enough, you’re gone.
Information is good but it can’t take the place of emotion in art. That emotional reaction is what labels should be pursuing, not the X factor in the music business algebraic success equation.
(via hartleymanages)
Sam Fink - Sing To Me, Caitlin Rose
Yes, as in my artist, Caitlin Rose.
This was written, performed, recorded and uploaded to youtube from Sam to Caitlin.
I’m used to posting videos of Caitlin performing…this is the first video I’ve posted of someone performing to her.
If we ever get to do a Caitlin Rose session we’re totally calling this guy in to make her feel awkward (and maybe duet).
New Lake Fever Session debuts today! Thanks to Elvis Perkins in Dearland and American Songwriter for helping make such a great piece of work.
Partytown Hospital - A Very Partytown Hospital Christmas, Too!
Download for free on Bandcamp.
Recommended for anyone wondering what a John Zorn holiday album would sound like.
We Own This Town: Volume 30: Best of Nashville
I compiled a lengthy list of artists for the We Own This Town year end Best Of podcast and have unleashed it upon the world today. Get familiar with many Nashville acts that you may have missed out on all in one sitting!
if you want to know what happened in Nashville in 2009 musically (minus the Kings of Leon/Paramore/Jack White obvs) then check out this podcast. wonderful.
We worked with a number of these artists and will work with many more of them in 2010. Great listen.
New session launched today - Live at Next Big Nashville 2009. Check it out!
Caitlin Rose is “band of the day” on the UK’s Guardian website.
Click through for whole article…
“This tambourine-toting 22-year-old is true to the spirit of country artists like Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.”
New We Own This Town podcast ready for consumption. Go download it or stream it.
Glossary frontman Joey Kneiser releases free solo album - The All-Night Bedroom Revival. It’s available immediately for your procurement and enjoyment. Get it here.
New Lake Fever Session is up! From the AMA conference this year. Enjoy!
Spoon’s Transference. Yes please.
New Spoon record on the way.. talk about a dream Lake Fever Session!
From the desk of Tugboat Productions: Footage shot during the Southern Girls Rock ‘N’ Roll Camp in Murfreesboro TN this summer. These girls rock!!!
FREE Music:
I’m happy to announce the return of De Novo Dahl back to theory 8 (my label) today by giving away three new songs on Bandcamp.
DND and I spent a couple of years surfing the waves of a certain major label that did not work out too well at all. Since then the band has been recording new music and asked me to release it. I could not have been more excited.
The three new songs are part of the City Driver single.
I’m excited about the direction. Personally, 1918 is my new favorite track.
Stream the new songs or download for free via Bandcamp.
Let me know what you think!
We’ve finally released the session video for The Features “Thursday”! It was a performance of epic proportions and we could not be more pleased with how it turned out. Thanks to everyone who swarmed the studio to make it such a great time and thanks to the band for writing music that continues to be completely enjoyable. Watch it now!
Join our mailing list to be notified the moment our new sessions go live. We also plan on offering a few additional goodies further on down the line and you'll be the first to know about them. There's no downside here, only benefit.
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Brendan Benson with Ashley Monroe» View Session -
The Black Hollies» View Session -
Elvis Perkins In Dearland» View Session -
Live at Next Big Nashville 2009» View Session -
Americana Music Association: Live at Lake Fever» View Session
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Mar15The Non Commissioned Officers» Official Site
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Apr05Sondre Lerche» Official Site