Channuka is coming up next week, and I’ve decided what I want. If someone could figure out a way to get me an awesome singing voice, I would certainly reply with an excellent gift, like the new cd from Dem Franchize Boyz, or a really nice multi speed blender. I saw Sondre Lerche and Dan Wilson last night, and it made me come to this conclusion.
First off, they’re both phenomenal songwriters. And seeing someone in the context of 1 guitar, 1 vocal, is just the perfect way to experience someone’s music. I had seen Sondre once for about 3 minutes, when he was the guest on the folk themed radio show before mine at our college station, but I didn’t pay much attention. I was more there to see The Wilson. But as it often goes, I was pleasantly surprised by his music. Call me an elitist music hipster if you will, but I live for being proven wrong and caught off guard by new things…just deal with it, ok? yeah, take that. He was very reminiscent of The Costello in his structure and lyrics, then he pulled out an actual Costello Cover, which put a nice bonus on the set. He kind of sounds like a Norwegian Frank Sinatra, mixed with Costello and just a little bit of Joe Strummer.
Wilson also lived up to expectations, although some songs sounded oddly political- which I’ve never been into. I don’t know why, but they always seem to fall short to me. His straight pop material remained stellar though. And yes, he did “Closing Time”. He gave the back story, which amused all- it was about his daughter when she was born, but too often a songwriter uses this as the excuses to write his “junior song” a tribute to themselves in the form of a new child….so he disguised it, and then i guess it kind of made his career…so theres something to be learned from that.
One thing missing from both was a great Angry Love song. Maybe I was just in the Costello mood, and really wanted to hear “No Action” or something like that. I feel like if a songwriter can hit you with maybe 40% sarcasm in a song, but still keep things upbeat, they will stand the test of time. You know, i was just trying to think of examples, and maybe its a british thing? Costello, Nick Lowe, Dylan (he counts as half), Joe Strummer….hmmm, maybe i can get some funding for a research project on this.
Well, anyway, back to my original point. Its a little known fact that I was the Co-Lead Vocalist in my first 2 bands, yes, the Twisted Pretzels was one of them. I was not ashamed of it, I belted out the hits. But then, somewhere around the end of high school, I was mentally unable to sing. Maybe it was my move to the percussion world, and I’m no Phil Collins. Maybe I can sacrifice some things to the gods, create a shrine, meditate a bit. But I’m not sure what to do- does it work just like practicing an instrument? Like you keep doing it and get better? Because if so, my roommates are not going to be too excited ( a common phrase around the house is “Paul Wagner On Lead Vocals Ladies And Gentlemen” and i dont think hes ready to give up that crown) Or are you just fucking born with it homes? Like me and KG.