Yesterday was Canada Day (aka “Canada’s Birthday”), and I trust my Canadian friends spent the day doing appropriately Canadian-ish things — you know, like singing “O Canada” and drinking an appropriately Canadian alcoholic beverage. With that in mind, the good folks at Molson Brewing honored Canada Day by sharing the most ingenious and wonderful kind … Continue reading
Bruce Springsteen singing Lorde’s hip-hop-influenced pop tune “Royals?” Believe it. As a matter of fact, both song and singer hold up very nicely, thank you very much. Actually, it makes perfect sense that the quintessential blue-collar bard from New Jersey would cover the working-class 17-year old girl from New Zealand to offer this unlikely take on the anthem which thumbs its … Continue reading
“Golden Brown” by the punk/new-wave/post-punk band, The Stranglers, from their 1981 album, La Folie. In addition to the liberal use of harpsichord, you’ve gotta love the time signature alternating between 6/8 and 7/8 in the main riff. Given that the song’s title refers to obsession with heroin, a girl, or both, the occasionally disjointed rhythm is perfect. You have … Continue reading
In honor of Fat Tuesday 2014, I offer you the magnificent Preservation Hall Jazz Band with one of the oldest Mardi Gras songs around: “Tootie Ma is a Big Fine Thing.” In fact, since I’m feeling generous, here are two different versions of “Tootie Ma . . . ” The video above features a pared-down … Continue reading
George Gershwin is one of my favorite composers, easily in my top three if not my absolute favorite of all time. His classical music compositions, harmonically and rhythmically complex yet thoroughly lyrical and organic-sounding, were so inimitable and uniquely formed that both Maurice Ravel and Arnold Schoenberg refused to give him composition lessons on … Continue reading
David Warren Brubeck, legendary jazz pianist/composer and native Californian known better to the world as “Dave,” was born on December 6, 1920. If he were still with us, he would have turned 93 years old today. Sadly, he passed away last year just one day shy of his 92nd birthday. Earlier in 2013, an all-star … Continue reading
Here are more pictures from last Sunday’s concert at the Hollywood Bowl by Rodrigo y Gabriela, DeVotchKa (with The Section Quartet), and Lord Huron. Once again, all images are care of my good friend and photographer extraordinaire, Tim Strempfer, exclusively for All is Yar. To read my review of the concert, click HERE. The usual reminder: if you … Continue reading
