Darger

I've been putting some of my music up on band camp! Check it out. And you should know that I can see whenever someone skips a song without finishing it. I KNOW.

NMH

Neutral Milk Hotel with Half Japanese opening was an amazing show. The 40 Watt was packed to bursting, as you might imagine. NMH is touring for the first time in, what, 15 years? And the 40 Watt in Athens, GA is their original stomping grounds. People came from all over for this show. I went with Lucy. It was a 2 hour drive from Greenville.

We parked right behind the 40 Watt and had time to split a (cream cheese and jalapeno!) burger from the diner next to the club. Julian Koster was there, like right in front of us. And Anthony Bourdain was at the table next to ours.

After dinner, we stood in line for a full cigarette before getting carded and stamped and ushered into the dark, crowded club. We went immediately to the merch table. I didn't have much money, but I got two posters and had enough leftover for the coat check girl.

For Half Japanese, we stood about 10 people from the front, bodies pressed together, you know how it is. They played songs about love and monsters. All the innuendo was right up Lucy's and my mutual alley. I wished James was there!

When Half Japanese finished, it was our chance to scoot on up to the front. Everyone would take a drinksandpotty break, right? Wrong! Nobody moved, except to shove closer in anticipation. Luckily, we were able to make a deal with a guy and get about 2 bodies from the stage. And there we stood for the next few hours.

I can't really describe to you all that happened after that. I believe it will require an in-depth illustration to fully process. Suffice it to say, they played all the songs that I needed to hear and I left with the feeling that it was a once in a lifetime evening.

Lesson Learned

James got his birthday present a week early this year. And I learned an important lesson: 4 year olds can't keep secrets. Well, mine can't anyway.

I got James a ukelele and idiotically let the kids see it before I hid it away in the workroom.

That was Friday. We had a busy day and went over to Irene in the evening. We stayed late, drank mint juleps and the kids got good and tired. Messy too. When we finally came home around 10, I stuck the kids in the bath to wear them out a bit more.

James got Bea out of the bath and talked to her about settling down for bedtime. She said,"First I want to play the ukelele."

Said James, "We don't have a ukelele, honey. Do you even know what a uke is?"

"Yes, Daddy," said she. "It's like a guitar, but very little. And we do have one."

At this point, it was getting unfair. She knew she was right and James was saying she was wrong and she was getting mad. So I intervened.

"Bea, if we have a ukelele, where is it?"

"It is in the workroom, but we just have to find it!"

James put her down and she ran out there, but she didn't know where it was hidden. I discretely pointed and she pulled out a uke shaped box! Oh, you should have seen the look on James' face!!! It was so perfect! We all screamed and clapped and laughed.

Now the house is even more full of music. :)

Awful

I'm playing a show tomorrow night!

Or, at least I'm schedule to play a show. I have something like a flu, but for sure it can't be the flu, right? I'm achy and feverish with a sore throat.

But I'll probably feel better by tomorrow night and I don't want all this practicing to have been a waste. So there it is.

This is a poster that someone I don't know made for the show. I love it.

Mermaid Avenue

Well, I broke down and got the whole darn complete sessions of Mermaid Avenue. The lyrics are all by Woody Guthrie, previously unrecorded. The music is written and performed by Billy Bragg and Wilco.  I love this stuff! There's some slow ballady songs, plenty of jiving rock and just enough twang to make this southern girl smile.

Woody Guthrie's lyrics are amazing. Words that paint this man so you feel like you know him. A few of the songs are just so tender you don't know what to do, but then he's bragging and causing a ruckus and womanizing. Then he sings about women being ahead of the men all along. Oh, and that love song to a flying saucer. What's that about? (Future Darger cover song is what!)

via

I know that on my blog when I'm obsessed with something it shows. Remember all those Dune posts? Well, here's a lyric for ya,

"I ain't the world's best writer 

or the world's best speller, 

But when I believe in something 

I'm the loudest yeller." 

Current Listening :: The Avett Brothers

Man, I can't get these boys out of my cd player! I love the new album, The Carpenter. I had an older album way back when, but only a few songs resonated with me. A few were so-so. I think I gave it away... But this one? Spot on. There are catchy pop songs, slow-pretty ballads and a few straight up riff rock tracks. Check it out.

Smashing Pumpkins

James and I are doing a cover version of a Smashing Pumpkins song for a local contest. It's going great! Honestly, I don't know when James and I had this much fun working on a collaborative project. Maybe we should just be a cover band...

Ghost

A few years ago I wrote and recorded this collection of songs. I call it my third album. But James says that it's probably too short to be considered a real album. It's like 17 minutes. Who cares? My songs are just short, that's all. If you can't say it in under a minute, don't say it at all. 

The lyrics on this album are more introspective than anything I've written since, but don't let that put you off. You'll still find them (almost) all to be catchy, singable numbers. My genre is "lo-fi pop." This album was all recorded on 4 track. 

It's free to download. 

Fast-Cheap-Easy

This is the most comfortable outfit ever. My brother-in-law mistook it for pajamas. In fact, to photograph it, I decided to curl my hair and wear make-up so you wouldn't make the same mistake. These are my most famous pants and I found them on the dollar rack! I am so cheap: the glasses were free and the shirt is from Goodwill just like the pants. I honestly can't see why anyone would shop at the mall.

Tonight, I am looking forward to making a music video for one of my poppiest pop songs. It will be made in the "fast-cheap-easy" method that we are applying to our musical pursuits lately, James and I. As my paintings get more meticulous, my music gets less so. 

The fast-cheap-easy route came to be after James' old computer crashed and the album he had worked on for ages was lost. The Lost Album, as I think of it. It was the best. It was amazing. He really put a lot into those songs. They were fun and catchy with that special touch that makes them your favorites. 

Now, why risk that again? Why let anything keep you from getting your work out there right now? You don't have the fancy camera to make an awesome video? Photobooth. You don't have awesome recording gear? Tape deck. 

TONIGHT!

Tonight is my birthday party! I can hardly, hardly wait!

Pink Elephant

Here's a song about pink elephants and various other animals. It was recorded in our new studio/lounge. The room is so stinkin' disorganized in the video, but I swear this place is going to look like a genuine mom cave before I'm through with it...

Paint Me

Here's my latest song. It is a love song to Picasso.

My Lovely

I'm really loving this song these days! It is super easy to play, but I dare you to attempt to learn all the millions of lyrics. (Did Wes Anderson introduce you to this song in Darjeeling Ltd or are you hipper than I am?)

Playing guitar has become a fairly important part of my life lately. It is so relaxing during these hectic midterms.

School could easily have me stressed to the max. But it doesn't. I balance it with all my other responsibilities and it just becomes one more thing. The thing I do after the kids are asleep.

Better get back to work now.

(P.S. Spring Break is coming up pretty soon and rumor has it that the latest Darger album is waiting in the wings to burst forth in all its catchy popness.)

Half in Love

My husband James is a musician, did you know that already? He just finished a new song for a local movie. I really like this song because it is a sweet love song with a twist. It's always the twists that really get me- in music as much as in books and movies. I'm pretty sure this sing deserves a music video. What do you say?

Secret Project

I made merch for my friend Jake Xingu to sell at his show. I made (with help from friends/husband) 6 t-shirts and 10 cds! There are three different shirt designs, two of which are in this dark and blurry picture taken last night at the venue...

You can also see the cd cover, a drawing that I did based on a picture of Jake taken a few months ago at one of our parties-- back when he had hair and a beard. Jake was just as surprised as I had hoped!!!

The show was so much fun, but then I always love to see Jake perform! You can download some of his music here.

Unfortunately, Jake's wife Lucy didn't come to the show last night. They are expecting their first child and she is just getting toward the end of that not-so-pleasant first trimester. I do not miss the fatigue and nausea of those months with Bea and Am!

James Gets Famous!

My husband James (who sometimes contributes here on my blog) is a musician. He has music here and here and even here and it's free. Well today, his stuff got reviewed on a pretty cool site. Here's what they had to say:

The three member band from Greenville named No Yes originally released the LP Goodbye, Strange Planet in 2008, but re-released back in October with alternate versions of some tracks. In addition to the title, the LP features songs entitled “All You Earthlings Look the Same,” “Androgynous World,” and “We are Aliens,” giving a true Science Fiction outside appearance. The music further supports that feeling.

James Noyes is responsible for the main vocals, but also plays a wide variety of other instruments on the LP. First on the second track (“Beam Me Up”), and later throughout the album, Lily Darger*, does backup vocals and the pair is comparable to Mates of State. Jake Xingu occasionally sings, but primarily plays the keyboard and drums. Additionally, other friends of the band harmonize on the LP.

James’ vocals are upbeat, cheerful, and very easy on the ears. The lyrics go along with the title of the LP and its tracks, concentrating on life in space/another planet and keeping the Science Fiction theme going. The background handclaps that are featured in many songs add to the cheery vibe.

All around, the music is playful and helps to create the imagery provided by the song titles and lyrics. It could be loosely described as Pop Punk. As the LP moves into the latter songs, the fast drums and guitar give off a more powerful sound, equivalent to old school punk rock. In some parts, it just sounds like a collection of noise, but quickly snaps back into the less cluttered music from the beginning.

A few personal favorites on the LP include “Hurtling Through Outer Space” and “Swimming the Cosmic Sea.” “Hurtling Through Outer Space” starts off with strong vocals that echo and remain catchy throughout the song. When you listen to it, you feel like you really are hurtling through outer space in some sort of space craft, making the song adventurous. “Swimming the Cosmic Sea” is a softer song, with multiple vocalists in the chorus, chanting “Come with us.” No Yes does not show this softer side often, but when they do, it gives a good break from the more fast paced music and blends pleasantly. 

I'm awfully proud of his work. I know that if you give it a listen, you will LOVE what you hear! Make sure you let him know by leaving him some kind words on his blog!!!

*I am Lily Darger, but I had to change it in the text because everyone assumes that I have the same last name as my husband.

Fictional Bands

We've got soooo many bands: No Yes, Darger, MBF, Charles & Henri, Johnny Hand & the Hots; the list goes on and on. Trouble is, most of them are not real. I mean, they're real in the sense that it's a group of people who get together and play original music. But they're not real in the sense of a Band that drives around in a van and works on a business plan, man. Nope, we do it for its own sake. Don't get me wrong, if someone offered me money for my music or to play a show, I would take it! But it's not a career. It's a way to connect with our friends and loved ones and hopefully meet more of them.

So we treat the bands like works of fiction. We play roles, use stage names, wear costumes. We assume alter egos. Our Wolf Note label has dozens of artists and bands, but only consists of about half a dozen actual people. And why not?